Nathan's Insights

So it’s now over.  I’m finally back home after 31 days exploring 🇮🇳 India and 🇯🇵 Japan.  This trip come about after I cancelled my planned longer trip from October last year to Africa for 2 months (South Africa to Kenya camping) and Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.  I selected this smaller trip based on recommendations from friends.  And I’m extremely happy I did.

The major highlights of this trip includes in India; seeing the Taj Mahal, playing cricket with local kids in Swarda, walking the slums of Dehli, visiting the underrated Agra Fort, the noise and craziness of India everywhere, experiencing the vast difference between North and South India, a canoe trip under the stars in Alleppey, and in Japan; visting Miyajima Insland especially the mountain hike, experiencing Hiroshima Peace Park & Museum, visiting a Japanese Tea Ceremony, mediating with monks, staying in a temple on Mt Koya, singing karaoke!!, the Ninja Show and the Robot Show, experiencing the excellent train infrastructure, learning differences between shrines and temples, visiting a marriage ceremony in traditional dress, eating dinner in traditional dress, and seeing the Golden Temple.

Japan is definitely the easier place to visit.  The locals are very polite, most speak some English and pretty much everywhere has an English sign.  The customs are also easier to understand.  I was felt safe and the countryside is very beautiful has an added bonus. 

 India is a bit more complex.  There is extreme poverty and extreme wealth so near each other you can’t ignore it. The countryside towns and villages seemed to be much happier.  The road system is a mess and drivers are crazy.  The traditional sights are however amazing highighting when India was the wealthest place on earth in 1500 to 1600 centurys.  You are almost guaranteed to get sick every if taking precautions but you can limit the impact by being careful and having medicine to help.

 I’m glad I visited both but if I only had time to visit one it would be Japan, however India is more exotic and takes you more out of your comfort zone so it is a very close decision on which one to recommend.    

Now for the next trip in 2016! ✈️🚢