Why were you inspired to do this?

It is a country I have always been fascinated with as it is so vastly different to so many other places. I had also always wanted to see the Taj Mahal. India represents some hardcore travelling, a place that really changes your perspective on so many things. It is confronting, incredible, and can be dangerous for a woman to travel alone. Bring it on!

What were 3 things you did to make this happen?

The inspiration of a friend of mine who reminded me that life can be too short to put off doing what you've always wanted to do.

The support of my family and friends and partner to give me the strength and belief that I could go there and see what I had always wanted to see - without any of them there to protect me.

The financial backing from saving and an attitude adjustment to stop worrying about when the next paycheck was coming.

How did you feel once you had accomplished this?

Exhausted!! India is just truly incredible and the experiences I had were unforgettable. I learnt to relax and go with the flow in a frenetic environment. I was confronted by a sort of reverse racism due to being white and female and not chaperoned. Being at the Taj Mahal, somewhere I had always wanted to go was an incredibly rewarding and almost surreal experience. I still look back on it and smile.

Additional notes and tips:

A white woman should probably travel with friends wherever possible. Do some reading on the cultural differnces and treatment based on your gender and or race, because that was some of the more trying parts. Learn the language and engage with the people - they are so excited to hear you try to speak hindi it is worth all the confusion if you don't know what you've said or what they're responding to! Learn how to eat with your right hand first, make sure you see the Taj Mahal at sunrise from a village across the lake. And take every opportunity to absorb everything - and you will still forever feel like you didn't absorb enough!