India can be overwhelming from the moment a tourist arrives, with chaotic traffic, crowds, sounds, delays, and sensory overload unlike any other destination. However, for a couple of tourists from Australia, exploring India now seems to require embracing the chaos that exists here.
Sandy Grant Frankish, an Australian tourist, shares a funny yet relatable experience while visiting India in a video uploaded on Instagram. Sandy and her friend provide fellow travelers from abroad with a fun yet useful guide that can help them survive in India during their first visit. The tips offered by the duo are based on their observations regarding something they jokingly refer to as 'Indian time.'
'One lesson we've learned in India so far – Don't wait for when you're hungry before ordering the food,' Sandy says. 'That's basically what one needs to understand – you're on Indian time, so simply wait until you are at such a point that you aren't quite sure but still understand you are going to be hungry shortly.'
She goes on to joke about a delay of one hour that happened to be another example of dealing with 'Indian time.' Instead of feeling frustrated, the tourists present this experience as something travelers should simply get used to when visiting another country.
Appreciating the Chaos
However, it is this aspect of their description of the atmosphere in India that particularly attracted attention from viewers of their video. According to Sandy's friend, while in India you will see noise and chaos, there will be no signs of aggression.
'The thing I love about India the most is its chaos but it's calm,' she says in the video. 'There's no anger, there's no ego. You can hear how busy it is — there's horns, there's a lot of busy sounds — but nobody's raging at everybody. There's no road rage. It's just beautiful.'
This comment refers to something that foreigners often find hard to describe about India – the possibility of millions of people coexisting in seeming chaos.
Practical Tips and Invitation
The visitors also suggest carrying Indian rupees in cash form, which is yet another helpful piece of advice that many tourists only learn once they land in the country. At the end of the video, the Australians extend an invitation to the Indian audience to give them more tips that can assist them in having a more comfortable stay in the country. It seems that this open-mindedness has contributed to the video's popularity online.
Social media users, especially Indians, reacted positively to the video, with some praising the tourists' ability to enjoy their time in India instead of getting frustrated with the situation. Some even participated by giving their tips and suggestions to the visitors.
Understanding 'Indian Time'
For travelers who have visited different countries, the concept of 'Indian time' is not anything surprising. However, for first-time travelers from other countries, adjusting to 'Indian time' turns out to be an unplanned but unforgettable aspect of their journey.
About the Author: TOI Lifestyle Desk
The TOI Lifestyle Desk is a dynamic team of dedicated journalists who, with unwavering passion and commitment, sift through the pulse of the nation to curate a vibrant tapestry of lifestyle news for The Times of India readers. At the TOI Lifestyle Desk, we go beyond the obvious, delving into the extraordinary. Consider us your lifestyle companion, providing a daily dose of inspiration and information. Whether you're seeking the latest fashion trends, travel escapades, culinary delights, or wellness tips, the TOI Lifestyle Desk is your one-stop destination for an enriching lifestyle experience.
