Embarking on your first solo international trip is a bit like jumping into the deep end of a pool when you don’t know how to swim—exciting, terrifying, and guaranteed to leave you with a few stories to tell. But when that trip happens to be to India—and you’re a 23-year-old woman traveling solo—it feels a little more like you’re being dropped into the ocean with nothing but a tiny inflatable raft. Add in the fact that this was my first trip to Asia (India being my very first stop), and you can imagine my nerves.
Naturally, I was flooded with well-meaning warnings from friends, family, and the internet. The most common phrases I heard were, “It’s going to be so hot,” “India is chaotic,” and “Be super careful, especially as a woman!” Spoiler alert: I survived, and while my adventure was filled with moments of surprise, laughter, and some mild panic, it was also unforgettable—and not nearly as overwhelming as I had been warned. Shocking, right? If I’m being honest it was a journey that would change me forever—and not just because of my sunburns.
The Long Journey (and Surprisingly Decent Airplane Food)
I began my journey in Budapest, with a long flight ahead of me. The first leg, from Budapest to Dubai, was, frankly, nothing to write home about—except that the food was better than I expected. I’m not saying it was gourmet, but I was pleasantly surprised by the decency of airplane food. If anything, it provided a solid base to endure the next part of my journey.
After a layover in Dubai (where, naturally, I made every attempt to not buy everything I don’t need from the duty-free shops and about you can read more here), I hopped onto the next flight—heading to New Delhi. By this point, I had accepted that the next few hours would be spent trying to convince myself that I wasn’t just pretending to sleep but was actually deeply meditative and fully in tune with my inner zen.
The flight wasn’t too long, and I passed the time listening to music. To be fair, I slept through most of it, waking up only for the occasional snack, but I did manage to overhear snippets of conversation from the people around me, and let me tell you, the moment I landed, I had no idea what to expect.
The Moment of Truth: Stepping into the Heat of India
I don’t know what I was expecting, but when I stepped off the plane in New Delhi, I was immediately hit by what can only be described as a “wall of heat.” Now, I don’t mean “Oh, it’s a bit warm” heat. I mean “the sun has personally come over to hug you with the intensity of 1,000 suns” heat. And let’s not forget the humidity.
I tried to look dignified, wiping sweat from my brow and adjusting my hat to hide the inevitable frizz forming on my head. It wasn’t just the heat that hit me hard though; it was the noise. The honking, the shouting, the engine roars—it was like living in the middle of a Bollywood movie. After the quiet, sleepy streets of a pretty small city from Eastern Europe, this was like someone had just hit the “full volume” button on life itself. And I don’t complain, it was a unique experience, that this was my first taste of India’s vibrant life,
Getting Around New Delhi: Uber, Metro, and Surprises
As I stepped into my Uber, my senses were on overload. But here’s the thing—Uber in India is not just a car service; it’s an experience. You can even choose a tuk-tuk for your ride. And let me tell you, riding in a tuk-tuk is an absolute must-do. It’s like riding in a little metal box on wheels, surrounded by the pulse of the city. It’s windy, noisy, and slightly terrifying—but in the best possible way, and somehow, despite all the chaos, you feel like you’re living your best life.
Oh, and here’s another thing: Driving on the left side of the road was a bit of a mind-bender. I kept mentally preparing myself to, you know, not get run over by a car that came from what seemed like the wrong direction. It took some time, but eventually, I stopped flinching every time a car approached.
Now, the transportation system in New Delhi is… an experience in itself. You can also get around by the metro. The New Delhi Metro is, hands down, a modern marvel. It covers a lot of areas, is affordable, and for the most part, is remarkably efficient. It’s also clean. the one thing that particularly surprised me was that there were separate metro cars for women. It’s just one of those things that made me feel a little safer in the hustle and bustle.
So far, so good, right? It’s been an adjustment, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
People, People Everywhere: And They Want Photos With You
Okay, let’s talk about the people. In my experience, the locals in New Delhi are incredibly friendly—so much so that you’ll feel like you’re constantly being welcomed with open arms. At least that’s how I felt, despite being a confused tourist trying to figure out whether I should be buying fruit or figuring out how to cross the street without being flattened by a bus.
And then there was the bargaining. Oh boy, did I learn fast. If you have even a hint of “tourist” written on you, expect to haggle for everything. From souvenirs to rickshaw rides, the price you pay is rarely the first price they quote. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with this. I didn’t know the local customs, I didn’t know what was reasonable, and honestly, I felt like I was being swindled at times. But by the end of the trip, I was practically a professional. I had become a master of the negotiation game. I could talk a vendor down from the moon to the ground in seconds. It was like I had earned a degree in bargaining without even trying. Who knew my future career could involve being a professional haggler?
Here’s the thing: In India, if you even look like a tourist (or, in my case, wear enough sunscreen to practically glow), you’ll be noticed. Now, I knew I was going to stand out a bit, but what I didn’t expect was the endless requests for selfies. Yes, you read that right—people just wanted to take photos with me.
I tried to blend in, of course, but my skin? Yeah, it screamed, “I am a tourist and I am so not from here.” The sunburns, the clueless smile—it was all very “I’ve never seen a tuk-tuk before.”
So there I was, a walking, talking tourist attraction. And you know what? I gave in. I became the “celebrity” I never asked to be. I stopped questioning it and just started smiling for the cameras like it was my job. Just be prepared to get your “patience muscles” in shape. You’ll be asked for loots of pictures.
Street Food: A Gamble, but the Fruit Is Everything
Now, let’s talk about food. Ah yes, the famous street food of India. Unfortunately, I had a few health restrictions that made it… less than ideal for me to dive into the full street food experience. But that doesn’t mean I was left empty-handed. I dove straight into the fruit game.
Mangoes, papayas, coconuts. The fruits in India are otherworldly. Seriously, I’d never tasted anything like it in my life. The mangoes were so sweet that it felt like nature had decided to give me a taste of summer all at once. I couldn’t get enough. And the papayas? Don’t even get me started. It was like eating a fruit that had just been pulled from the tree, bursting with flavor and juiciness.
And coconut water? Wow. No offense to the canned versions I’ve tried back home, but drinking it straight from the coconut in India was a whole new experience. It was refreshing, hydrating, and delicious—basically, the perfect remedy for the heat. I drank it constantly.
Language Adventures: Guess My Nationality (Spoiler: It’s Not What You Think)
Now, I’m a firm believer that language barriers are meant to be overcome with a mix of humor, patience, and a willingness to look slightly ridiculous. Fortunately, in New Delhi, English is widely spoken, so I didn’t struggle too much. ButI have to tell you, there was some fun confusion, especially when people started guessing where I was from. They asked me all the time: “Where are you from?” And I’d throw it back to them: “Guess!”
You know what was crazy? They were good at it. I got guesses ranging from Poland to Serbia to Germany—and even the UK and the US. I can’t quite figure out why they thought I was American or British (since my Eastern European accent is pretty much impossible to hide), but hey, I’ll take it.
The real fun began when someone overheard me speaking Romanian on the phone (which, by the way, sounds nothing like English), someone overheard me say “da” (which means “yes”in Romanian but also in Russian), and they started speaking to me in Russian. They asked, “Vy govorite po-russki?” (Do you speak Russian?). Now, I’m not fluent in Russian, but I know enough to answer with a confident “net” (meaning “no” in Russian).. The look on his face was priceless. We both laughed about it, and I ended up having a fun conversation with him about languages. It was one of those cultural moments that made me realize just how interconnected and diverse the world really is, despite language barriers.
Final Thoughts: My First Impressions of India
So, here we are. India: loud, chaotic, colorful, and a little bit overwhelming—yet so full of charm. My first impressions were everything I expected and nothing like I expected. From the moment I stepped off the plane to the moment I left, I was constantly in awe of how the country embraced me, flaws, sunburns, and all.
Stay tuned—this is just the beginning of my adventures in India, and believe me, there’s much more to come. From the sights to the sounds, the people to the food, this trip has been nothing short of life-changing.
