A few weeks back, my Mum came to visit me in India. What did she think about it? Her thoughts? This is what she sent me below…

Some observations from my trip to India:

• All the stray dogs look the same – is there only one breed of dogs in India?
• I couldn’t believe that there are still people drawing water from pumps in the street
• You don’t see young couple out together or on dates – pre-marriage courtship is not part of the culture
• Toilets – what the bucket, jug and hosepipe all about
• I only saw 2 women car drivers in Chennai
• Hugging and hand-shaking is a no-no
• Families of 3 or 4 on a motor bike – scary
• Education is very important from an early age
• Crime rates appear to be low – may have something to do with lack of available alcohol
• There are no pubs or bars as in European cities just for drinking although you can buy alcohol in hotels and restaurants
• Lots of things taste sweet which shouldn’t, like milk, bread, tea and cereals – they love sugar

What I missed from home:

• Being able to clean my teeth with tap water
• Carpet especially in the bedroom
• Soft mattresses and a duvet
• Bread, milk and tea without sugar
• Quietness especially at night
• Radio 2
• Variations in daily weather
• Mosquito free bedrooms
• Windows you can see out of instead of being fitted with bars, frosted glass and AC units
• Just paying for things without bartering

What I miss about India:

• The sunshine and warmth
• The delicious and varied food
• The friendliness of everyone I met
• The respect and warm welcome I was given
• The colours – clothes, food, shops all so vivid and bright
• Learning about different cultures
• Seeing goats and cows wandering the streets untethered
• Watching children on the streets amuse themselves for hours without PSP, X-Boxes or Wii’s – just sand, sticks, balls, old tyres and scaffolding!
• The tranquility and simple life of the backwaters in Kerala
• The spectacular sunsets in Goa
• The cost of living!