Jämtland 6 April 2024

Hi Ann!

Thank you for your letter and thank you for supporting my crazy India/Sri Lanka trip. I can tell you that over this past month, I’ve received quite a few different reactions. Many people are saying it will be impossible to travel alone. Partly because of accessibility issues, but also because it’s dangerous. They say I'm an easy target to be attacked, robbed or maybe even assaulted. And of course, they’re right - it’s hardly going to be "a walk in the park," and yes, it could be dangerous. But I could just as easily get attacked in my home town. And no, I’m not going to change my plans. I still want to believe that the majority of humanity on this planet is kind and helpful. After all, this isn’t my first solo trip, and my past experiences confirm this belief. Think of all the wonderful people I’ve met on my previous journeys. Why would Indians and Sri Lankans be any different?

What else is new? Well, not much really. I've been googling and reading a lot about both India and Sri Lanka, and I found a mountain village that I would love to visit. The village is called Kalpa and is located at about 3,000 meters above sea level in the Himalayas. Apparently, they grow apples there. We’ll see if I can make it there, or perhaps to another mountain village. It would be fun to visit something that isn’t the first thing people think of when they imagine India.

I’ve also made an Indian contact through an acquaintance, which feels reassuring for several reasons. I’ve emailed a few different places for contact and possible visits. I’ll tell you more once I know for sure.

I've also started packing – well, only in my head for now. I’m wondering how I’ll manage to bring everything? There are so many “nice-to-have” items that I’m considering. And then there’s all the extra stuff I have to drag along. Extra tubes, a pump, and other things that you and most people don’t have to think about... Anyway, as I said, I have until September. I’ll have plenty of time to repack in my head before then.

But mostly, I’ve spent time trying to figure out the transportation issue. I think it might be smart to hire a driver to take me around to various local spots and maybe also act as a bit of a guide. Trains seem hopeless – but maybe I should just buy a ticket and see how it goes. Planning too far in advance doesn’t seem to be typical in India, but once I’m there, and with a big smile, maybe everything will work out? Yes, I’m probably a bit naive, but otherwise, you’d find my letters boring.

//Kristina