Hello everyone
I am really excited about this holiday and am about to book for October. Would like to chat with anybody who has already been or thinking of going on this trip.
Best Wishes.
Jan
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Hi Jan
I'm really jealous of you because I know what a great time you have in store for you. I did the Spirit of India holiday back in March 2012 (on the same group as Bob Gray, whom you'll find frequently posts on these message boards).
I've done several JY holidays now and enjoyed them all, but I think the India one remains my favourite so far. It's a real treasure trove of experiences. There are the obvious delights such as stepping through a big archway to behold the splendour of the Taj Mahal at sunrise (well worth getting up early for!), or sitting in a jeep in hushed awe as a tiger takes a leisurely stroll just metres away from you, or taking in the incredible sights and sounds of the evening Aarti ceremony from your vantage point on the river Ganges. There are India's other, lesser talked about, tourist attractions such as the Agra Fort, Humayun's Tomb, the observatory in Jaipur and the Qtab Minarette, all impressive in their own right.
But the real highlight, for me anyway, was just experiencing LIFE in India. The bizarre traffic, the cows milling round, people cleaning their teeth in the street with twigs, the children waving and smiling at you, the overcrowded vehicles, the people who walk vast distances along lonely stretches of road in searing heat, the countless people who can still smile despite their crushing poverty (puts us to shame), there's just so much to take in. Not everything you see will be pleasant, but the memories will stay with you always.
Dave