Australian woman opens up about her experience with Indians after month-long visit
An Australian traveller said a month-long solo trip across India left her feeling welcomed by strangers who repeatedly helped her. Her video drew warm online reactions, with many saying such moments reflect India's culture of hospitality.
An Australian woman who spent a month travelling across India said she had fallen in love with the country, crediting the kindness and hospitality of strangers for making her feel welcome as a solo female traveller.
Paige, an Australian traveller who shares mini-vlogs from her adventures, posted the video on her Instagram account, where she described why she believes Indians are "the most hospitable people ever."
In the clip, she recalled arriving in Delhi late at night and finding that the area around her hotel had been closed off to pedestrians. According to Paige, her Uber driver parked as close as possible and then personally walked her to the hotel to make sure she reached safely.
She also recounted another incident during her trip when she visited a pharmacy and the cashier did not have enough change. Rather than simply ignoring the small difference, the pharmacist handed her a free bottle of hand sanitiser to make up for the amount.
Calling these just a couple of examples, Paige said people in India constantly went out of their way to help others and insisted that it was "a hill she would die on" that Indians were among the most hospitable people she had ever met.
In the caption accompanying the video, she shared several more moments that had left a lasting impression on her. She wrote that one woman had walked her to a bus station when she got lost, while a restaurant owner offered her a ride on his scooter after she was caught in the rain.
She also remembered an elderly woman who gave her a plate of pakoras simply because she insisted that the traveller had to try them.
Paige admitted that she had initially been nervous about returning to India alone as a solo female traveller, but said she could not have felt more welcome. She added that the warmth and generosity of people she met during the past month was one of the many reasons she had grown so fond of the country.
Watch the video here:
The video prompted a wave of reactions online, with many people pointing to the Sanskrit phrase "Atithi Devo Bhava" meaning "Guests are God's representatives" and saying that welcoming visitors had always been a part of Indian culture. Several users wished Paige an enjoyable trip and thanked her for appreciating the country.
Others said they hoped positive experiences like hers would reach more people around the world, adding that while negative stereotypes and bad news often spread quickly, stories highlighting kindness deserved equal attention.
Many commenters also expressed happiness at seeing India being praised, saying they loved hearing foreigners speak positively about the country and appreciated Paige for sharing her experiences.
An Australian woman who spent a month travelling across India said she had fallen in love with the country, crediting the kindness and hospitality of strangers for making her feel welcome as a solo female traveller.
Paige, an Australian traveller who shares mini-vlogs from her adventures, posted the video on her Instagram account, where she described why she believes Indians are "the most hospitable people ever."
In the clip, she recalled arriving in Delhi late at night and finding that the area around her hotel had been closed off to pedestrians. According to Paige, her Uber driver parked as close as possible and then personally walked her to the hotel to make sure she reached safely.
She also recounted another incident during her trip when she visited a pharmacy and the cashier did not have enough change. Rather than simply ignoring the small difference, the pharmacist handed her a free bottle of hand sanitiser to make up for the amount.
Calling these just a couple of examples, Paige said people in India constantly went out of their way to help others and insisted that it was "a hill she would die on" that Indians were among the most hospitable people she had ever met.
In the caption accompanying the video, she shared several more moments that had left a lasting impression on her. She wrote that one woman had walked her to a bus station when she got lost, while a restaurant owner offered her a ride on his scooter after she was caught in the rain.
She also remembered an elderly woman who gave her a plate of pakoras simply because she insisted that the traveller had to try them.
Paige admitted that she had initially been nervous about returning to India alone as a solo female traveller, but said she could not have felt more welcome. She added that the warmth and generosity of people she met during the past month was one of the many reasons she had grown so fond of the country.
Watch the video here:
The video prompted a wave of reactions online, with many people pointing to the Sanskrit phrase "Atithi Devo Bhava" meaning "Guests are God's representatives" and saying that welcoming visitors had always been a part of Indian culture. Several users wished Paige an enjoyable trip and thanked her for appreciating the country.
Others said they hoped positive experiences like hers would reach more people around the world, adding that while negative stereotypes and bad news often spread quickly, stories highlighting kindness deserved equal attention.
Many commenters also expressed happiness at seeing India being praised, saying they loved hearing foreigners speak positively about the country and appreciated Paige for sharing her experiences.
