1) Because rush hour here is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0(Calcutta)<\/p>\n

2) And no matter what day it is, you’re likely going to see a parade.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

3) Because eating fresh isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s the norm.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

4) And this is what your grocery store looks like.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Bodhgaya)<\/p>\n

5) Because the British left behind some amazing buildings . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Writers’ Building)<\/p>\n

6) \u00a0. . . and so did the Muslims . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Bara Imambara)<\/p>\n

7) \u00a0. . . as well as the Mughals.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Humayun’s Tomb)<\/p>\n

8) Because toilets are incredibly simple (it’s what you do when you’re done that’s confusing).<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

9) Because you may find enlightenment anywhere, even your hotel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Bodhi Tree Guest House, Calcutta)<\/p>\n

10) Or at the exact spot where the Buddha did.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Bodhi Tree, Bodhgaya)<\/p>\n

11) In India, the only thing that seems to outnumber the people are the number of temples (almost).<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

12) For many children here, going to school means going to monastery.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

13) This is how their day is spent . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

14) . . . and this is what what their classroom looks like.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

15) Here, the real heros are the motorcycles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

16) In India, they know how to put the “mass” in mass transportation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

17) Sometimes it seems like around every corner, you run into a religious ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

18) Some including fire . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

19) . . . and others involving water.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

20) Perfume shopping is done a little differently here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

21) Cows are pretty much everywhere you go . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

22) . . . and so are dogs (they’re just not loved as much).<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

23) The River Ganges is a great place to take a bath at the end of the day . . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Varanasi)<\/p>\n

24) . . . as well as in the morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

25) Because it’s only sunrises like these that can make any sane person get up at 4:30 in the morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

26) India was home to the 20th century’s most revered person.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

27) In India, kids are everywhere, and they love having their picture taken.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

28) Even when you’re in the same country, you sometimes feel like you’re in a different world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Darjeeling)<\/p>\n

29) And prayer flags never get old.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

30) Because border crossings are like something out of a movie . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

(India\/Nepal border — Singalila Ridge)<\/p>\n

31) . . . and so are the hiking trails.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

32) But with views like this in the morning . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Mt. Kangchenjunga, the 3rd-highest mountain in the world)<\/p>\n

33) Chances are, you’ll never want to leave.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Mt. Everest)<\/p>\n

By Matt Stabile<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Stabile<\/a> is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheExpeditioner.com. You can read his writings, watch his travel videos, purchase the book he co-edited or contact him via email at any time at TheExpeditioner.com<\/a>. (@TheExpeditioner<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1) Because rush hour here is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. \u00a0(Calcutta) 2) And no matter what day it is, you’re likely going to see a parade. 3) Because eating fresh isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s the norm. 4) And this is what your grocery store looks like. (Bodhgaya) 5) Because the British left […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2049,1,35,2576,2562],"tags":[547,673],"yoast_head":"\n