Welcome to India

India, it's hard to know where to begin, we've only been here for 8 days now and it is already beginning to feel like a home. Mainly because of such a welcoming host family; Akshay, Dilshad, their 5 year old Sarah, Raekka the nanny and (saving the best till last) Afut and Shanti their two dogs they took in from the street.
Arriving here I did feel like a rabbit in headlights, with India there is so much to get used to, everything is unfamiliar, the roads, the people, the buildings, the animals. It would be extreme to compare it to another planet but I wouldn't be far off.

The view of Pakistan from the plane

So the story begins..
Myself, J.P and Nathan were all happily suprised when we managed to fly our 3 boats successfully from London Heathrow to India New Delhi, at 0 cost, as we were expecting to pay at least £150. Instead we were greeted with smiling staff who gladly took our kayaks on their plane, big thanks to Jet Airways.

Nathan negotiating our boats onto the plane

Arriving in India as a women (as I left the UK) I wanted to see what the locals were wearing so I could fit in (got to look stylish, and discrete) so as we got off the plane I began to eye up what the clothing norm is, many wore beautiful long saris, most with shoulders and legs covered. Although I spotted one or two with very short shorts on, especially for India, plenty of cheeky ankle showing, which I expect wasn't well received.

With the kayaks on the trolley we left the airport and were greeted by an OB worker who took us to our minibus. The walk with the kayaks was hilarious as I watched (helped slightly) J.P and Nathan tackle objects and people with the kayak trolly. I think in total 4 pedestrians were knocked into, 1 pushed off his chair as the kayak trolley forced its way through, leaving destruction in its wake.

Pedestrians watch out

Kayaks being attached with string, much to Nathans disapproval

The journey from the airport, I began to get my first taste of Indian life; no seatbelts, standard, families of 5 travelling on 1 moped without helmets of course, monkeys strolling along the pavement, lanes have been made redundant here, its more of a free for all, the sound of tooting was the background music to our journey. 

My first evening in India consisted of getting taught karate by Sarah, realising how terrible I am at karate, then my a taste of my first Indian cuisine which was rice, I know a big shocker there, a delicious bean curry, fried something in yoghurt, air fried chips and chipati. I then gave some presents to the family I had brought from the UK, Dairy milk, lotions and some dvd's, minus the dvd's my theme was things they couldn't get here in India, they all laughed as later that evening they took me to the local shop which selled everything I had brought, however they were very appreciative of the gifts.

Shanti giving me the eye

Already I have been given a taste of Indian life and I am hooked! I am going to have plenty of adventures this year and I will try to keep you updated a long the way.