Today, I would like to reveal few of my secret dreams.
We all have dreams- some of them come true, some of them not…
I have a great number of dreams in my head, waiting to be fulfilled one day 🙂 Many of my secret wishes are connected with India. I wonder why… 😛
To be honest, during my last trip to India I shared some of them with few our family members. I have also mentioned this topic to few our friends in the UK (Indian friends). I I was so happy telling them my Indian dreams. I explained them number 1, 2 and 3 (see below) with full passion and excitement and I was expecting the same level of enthusiasm from their side. Instead, they all laughed at me (and some of them looked at me like I’m crazy 😛 )! They said that they have never tried to do so or even never thought in their wildest dreams of doing so. They continued saying that if Indians are not keen on experiencing it, why would foreigner want to do it? I was… disappointed 😦 I thought they will support me and say ‘Let’s do it together’! In fact, I felt like I was the only one dreaming about these things. Well, I don’t care now. I’m gonna make them come true anyways- sooner or later.
I wonder if you agree with me. Would you join me or leave me on my Indian adventures ? 😛
My 5 Indian Dreams
1. Sitting on top of a truck and travelling through wonderful Punjab.
How cool is that? How fun would that be? How fabulous would be sitting among fellow Punjabis, admiring colourful fields and meadows, eating homemade samosas and parathas (made by fellow passengers of course- hopefully they would offer me 😛 I could give them Polish/British sweets instead :P), talking with all of them about anything, stopping at small lovely villages, listening to bhangra played by the driver, singing Punjabi songs (I will mostly pretend, but I’m good at pretending :P), feeling the wind in my hair, feeling the sun on my face, feeling freedem and happiness 🙂 Wow- I’m so excited!!! Are U?
Some Indian friends tell me I watched too many Bollywood movies… Well, I did watch quite a lot and obviously they had an impact on me. However, that’s my decision I want to do it- movies just helped me to visualise it 🙂
Please, don’t tell me it’s unsafe, no seatbelts etc. I’m not listening- dadadadadada (closed my ears).
Who is joining me on top of a truck? 🙂
Images: Bus, Fields of Punjab
2. Driving Indian truck
Another dream related to trucks in India- I guess I’m a fan of them 🙂 They are so different, so colourful, so loud, so funny. Each of them looks like a personalised truck with some text at the back, front or on the sides. I know that truck driver is not a dream job in India, but I would love to have a try and drive for… 50 metres 🙂 I guess that’s enough to make my dream come true. I’m not brave enough to drive it for long, but I’m good at pretending (I think I wrote that before :P). I just want to get a feeling of driving it, have some photos to prove it (:P) and dream could be considered done and dusted. Unless I want to repeat it… 🙂
Who wants to be my passenger? 🙂
(Below, me in the truck and beautiful Punjab fields)
Image: Indian truck
3. Sitting on a local train in India next to window (no window in fact, just railings)
Few years ago that dream was upgraded to much wilder option- me hanging off the open door/ hanging on the outside of the local train. However, since I’m a mum I am much more cautious, so sitting inside next to open window is enough 🙂
I would love to travel on a local train through many parts of India- meet different people, befriend fellow passengers, listen to their life stories, watch beautiful landscapes, eat Indian snacks served on the train and on the platforms, play with young kids during the journey, observe people’s habits/behaviours/customs, feel the hot weather on my body, feel the wind in my hair, enjoy the real India 🙂
Of course, I would plan this travel with my husband and kid, because if I tell anyone I would like to go alone I would be considered a crazy, mentally unstable person 😛 They would say it’s too dangerous, too risky and anyways I can’t eat street/train food because I will be sick (well, that’s true… I always end up visiting hospital/doctor while being in India, but I hope one day it will stop). So… this is our family dream :):):) I just have to inform about it my husband and my son 🙂 Wish me good luck.
Image: Local Indian Train
4. Sitting on elephant
This wish is going on for 10 years as exactly 10 years ago, as soon as I met my husband, I told him about it. He said: “No problem! Although I have never tried it, I can make you sit on elephant whenever we go to India. Easy peasy”. Well… We went to India 8 or 9 times since that promise… and still nothing. Apparently, it’s hard to find an elephant in Maharashtra or in Punjab 😛
I just want to emphasise that I’m wholeheartedly against elephant mistreatment. I am aware that riding elephants can cause a long-term harm to those fabulous creatures. I’m also aware that elephants in captivity cannot be domesticated and be the same happy as they are in their wild environment. That’s why I don’t want to ride them, I would love to just sit for 10 seconds. Is it still cruel?? If yes, then I will skip this wish forever. Let me know what you guys think about it.
Afterwards, I’m happy to wash them with buckets and feed them 🙂
Image: Elephant
5. Support a
This dream is completely different from others. It’s not related to any transport modes (trucks/buses/trains or even elephants) 😛 All other dreams can be fulfilled within either 1 minute or few days. This one has to last forever- as long as I’m alive.
We (especially my husband) help many charities and organisations. However, it’s mostly financial help. We are not emotionally or even physically connected to any specific place.
I want to change it. I want to find a place in India, which we can support not only financially, but also by going there, inquiring what they need, meeting staff, meeting children who stay there. We would like to spend time with them, get to know them, become a part of them, be in touch with them when we are away and visit them as often as we are able to do it.
We would like to feel we make a change in somebody’s life. We would like them to know, there are people in the far world who care about them- not anonymous some people, but their friends.
We know we cannot help the whole world, but we also know we can help a tiny percentage of it.
We are still searching for the right place for us to support. We have few in our minds . I’m pretty sure I will write about it when we finally decide which one is ‘the one’.
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You have just learnt all my top Indian dreams.
Do you have your own (Indian) dreams? 🙂 Share them with us 🙂
Cheers,
Marlena
Those are sweet and full of enjoyment dreams !! Surely you will go through them !!
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Thank you 🙂 I do hope so 🙂
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It was absolutely wonderful to read about your Indian Dreams. Though I have never driven a truck…but I can well claim to have done all the others and whatever everyone else says – it is fun 🙂 You can do elephant safari at most of our forest reserves, if you are in Northern India – take an elephant safari in the Rajaji’s sanctuary (quite near to Delhi) in the east take an elephant safari in Kaziranga in Assam. In South- feed and bathe elephants in Dubare Elephant camp in Coorg near Bangalore. There are many other elephant camps across the country that will provide you an opportunity to be up in front of these huge,lovable, gentle beings. India does have a lot of romance to offer. Hope your dreams are fulfilled soon enough.
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Hello Ruma,
Wow, thanks a lot for all your information about elephant safaris. It’s really helpful. I do appreciate it.
I hope some of my dreams will be fulfilled this year 🙂
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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It’s great
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Thank you! 🙂
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hii girl i saw yo posts…n yo dreams are as cool as india..to knoww more aboutindia plz follow me..visit my site
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Thanks a lot 🙂
I will definitely check your site.
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Hi Marlena, it’s always gives us immense pleasure when someone appreciates or want to be part of our country in any which ways. Since, India the largest democracy in the world who welcomes each of her visitors with a huge heart and respect. I was just curious to know, what made you fall for our country so much? I will be glad if you could share? Also, if next time you visit here. Do let me know, If i could be help in any ways 🙂
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Hello Snigdha,
Thank you so so much for such a kind words.
I have fallen in love with India because of my husband. He was born in India, he introduced me to India and this is how it all started.
Hopefully, I will visit India soon again 🙂 Thanks a lot for offering your help :*
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Please read this satirical take on how Indians are stereotyped abroad: https://columntribe.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/no-mr-amitabh-bachchan-is-not-my-neighbor/
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I’ve just read your article- it’s so true what you wrote there 🙂 I had a good laugh 🙂
Btw: (I don’t want to show off, but … :P) I met Amitabh Bachchan personally and his wife. He even signed our marriage photo 🙂 one day I’m gonna write post about it.
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you have nice dreams nice blog thanks for sharing here .your always welcome in India
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Ohh, that’s so sweet. Thank you so much 🙂
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Your always welcome Guest is like a God for us.
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Wow! Super awesome list …but I insist you that u taste Indian food . It’s probably the best part of a India tour
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Hi Anubhav 🙂
I believe I’ve tried like 80% of Indian food. I’ve been to India 9 times 🙂 However, I know I still haven’t been to many beautiful parts of India and I haven’t tasted their typical dishes. I hope I will visit every Indian state one day 🙂
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Wow, i totally love your dreams, especially the first one. I would gladly ride with you on top of that truck given that we get acquainted with the driver first. During my visit to India last year, I was always having a mini heart attack when the buses and trucks pass by with their really loud horns hahaha. Driving is not my thing though. I didn’t get to ride the train too 😦 as most of the places we went to were more convenient to visit by car, and the elephant visited the village a few weeks after i went home only.
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Yeah, let’s make it happen!!!! By now, I have a group of people wanting to join me on that truck 😛 Isn’t that amazing?? I think there will be no place for local Punjabis on top 😛 It’s great to know other people share my dreams too 🙂
Regarding elephant…. hahaha- sorry, I couldn’t stop laughing when I read it. You have to coordinate your meetings (you and the elephant) much better next time 😛 😛 btw: and of course, call me whenever you know he is coming!!! 🙂
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Hahaha I think the locals would be so amazed to watch that truck going around Punjab. And for the elephant, I felt so bad that time coz I was so close to getting personal with one. I really hope I get to meet it next time I visit India.
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Nice to read your fascination for India. My dream already has come true: https://harrienijland.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/india-from-slides-prt1-bombay/ This is on my first blog, which is ‘full’. The India from Slides series goes on to part45 or something and is sometimes interrupted by other posts or series. If you like, take a look. See you
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Hi Harrie,
That’s so great to hear somebody has fulfilled his dream 🙂 I’ve read your few posts and watched many of your photos. India in 1990 looked really different to India 2007. Great blog 🙂
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Awww I love the way you wrote this! You know what’s funny I think a lot of British Indians would laugh at the thought of those things because they take their culture for granted!!! I’d happily join you on all of those adventures! My dad is Indian but I have never been in 30 years of my life!!! Need to play a visit soon 🙏🏽
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Hi Safiyya,
Thank you so much 🙂 That’s so true- people in India (and of Indian descent) take these things for granted. They cannot imagine it might be somebody’s else dream 🙂
I’m so happy you are the next person who wants to join me. I think we should gather a group now 🙂
And one more thing- have you never been to India? Or I didn’t get you correctly?
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Yesss unfortunately I have never been to India! My dad never wanted me to go with him and he always said I should go with my husband lol so we are adding India to our list of places to go! So crazy right?!
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Well, as you have your husband now, you are free to go there anytime 😉 I’m pretty sure you will feel like ‘at home’ there 🙂 Do you know which part of India you would like to visit first?
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Yessss we just need to plan! We also want to go Jamaica where hubby is from lol! So many places to go!!! I think in India I’d love to go to Gujarat where my dad is from!
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You guys are a great example of fabulous fusions 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I would love to ride on a train and eat street food. It is definitely on my bucket list to go to India. I like the truck wish as well
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Hi Mary 🙂
That’s great to read a voice of support 🙂 I can already see trains and trucks in India full of foreigners… 😛
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I really love the last one!
Even I’m personally thinking to raise funds or support society (especially girl’s education) in some time, when we move permanently to Tamil Nadu… My wish is to build library for unprivileged children.
The biggest challenge is to choose the most needed place which will be maintained continuously.
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Hi Drivelle,
Thank you 🙂 We want to concentrate on overall children or just on girls.Let’s see. The idea of library for unprivilaged children sounds fabulous! I’m willing to help- honestly, let me know more details. Moreover, a move to Tamil Nadu sounds fabulous too 🙂
You are right- the biggest challenge is to choose the most needed place- the right one for us. I believe we are at the end of our search 🙂
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Need to go to Kerala to get on an elephant and houseboat ride,but its great!
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You are right 🙂 My next Indian destination will be Kerala- with its beautiful tea plantations and elephant of course ! 🙂
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