Hi I'm Debby…Some places never really leave you.
No matter how many years pass, a small part of them quietly stays with you, waiting for the day you return. India had been that place for me.
I first visited India forty-seven years ago as part of a college excursion. I was young, curious, and seeing the world through completely different eyes. Like many student trips, everything moved quickly. We visited remarkable places, met wonderful people, and before I knew it, I was back home carrying photographs and memories that slowly became stories I shared with family and friends.
Life moved on. Careers, family, responsibilities, and eventually retirement filled the years between that first visit and today. Yet every now and then, India would find its way back into my thoughts. Whenever I saw a documentary, read a travel article, or watched someone else's journey through the country, I would quietly think to myself, "One day, I'd love to go back."
That "one day" finally arrived.
This time, however, I wasn't looking to recreate my first visit. I wanted something completely different. I wanted to travel slowly, appreciate the places I visited, spend time talking to local people, and experience the India that often gets overlooked by hurried itineraries.
Travelling all the way from Alaska, I knew this wasn't just another holiday.
It was a reunion with a country I had carried in my heart for almost half a century.
Choosing a Different India
Like many travelers, my first instinct was to revisit India's famous landmarks. But after speaking with the Planout team, we realised that what I truly wanted wasn't a checklist of monuments.
I wanted peace, Nature, Wildlife, Train journeys, Small conversations, Beautiful landscapes.
The team suggested focusing on South India, where the pace felt gentler and every destination invited me to slow down rather than rush ahead. They carefully recommended boutique stays, heritage properties, comfortable transport, and a route that allowed me to truly enjoy each destination instead of constantly packing and unpacking my suitcase.
Looking back, that was one of the best decisions we made.
Kerala – Where Time Slows Down
Kerala welcomed me with a sense of calm I hadn't expected.
Everything felt greener, quieter, and wonderfully unhurried. Walking through tea plantations, watching fishermen begin their mornings, enjoying fresh local meals, and speaking with people who welcomed me with genuine warmth reminded me why travel can be such a powerful experience.
It wasn't about sightseeing anymore.
It was about feeling present.
Some of my favourite memories weren't famous attractions at all.
They were conversations with people I'd never met before.
Sharing tea with strangers.
Listening to stories.
Smiling despite language differences.
Those simple moments became the highlights of my journey.
A Journey Through the Nilgiris
One experience I had dreamed about for years was riding the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway, often called the toy train.
The slow journey through forests, tunnels, tea gardens, and mountain villages was everything I had hoped it would be. Unlike modern trains built for speed, this one encourages you to slow down, look outside the window, and simply enjoy the landscape unfolding around you.
Sometimes the slowest journeys become the most memorable ones.
This was certainly one of them.
Looking for Tigers
One of the biggest reasons I returned to India was to experience its incredible wildlife.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve had been on my wish list for a very long time.
Although seeing a tiger always depends on a little luck, simply driving through the forests felt magical. Elephants wandered freely, deer grazed peacefully, colourful birds filled the trees, and every turn carried the excitement that perhaps, just perhaps, today would be the day.
Nature has a beautiful way of teaching patience.
Whether or not you see everything you hope for, the experience itself becomes unforgettable.
Standing Where Three Oceans Meet
Another place that left a lasting impression on me was Kanyakumari.
Standing at the southernmost tip of mainland India, watching the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean come together, felt incredibly emotional.
There was something symbolic about it.
After waiting forty-seven years to return, I found myself standing at the edge of a country that had once inspired my love for travel.
I stayed there longer than planned, simply watching the waves and reflecting on how much life had changed since my first visit.
Madurai – A City Full of Stories
Madurai introduced me to another side of India.
Walking through the magnificent Meenakshi Temple, wandering busy markets, tasting local food, and watching daily life unfold reminded me that India's greatest attraction isn't just its monuments.
It's the life that surrounds them.
The energy.
The traditions.
The people.
Everywhere I looked, there was another story waiting to be discovered.
Traveling During Uncertain Times
Our journey happened during a period of uncertainty.
News headlines spoke about rising tensions in the region, and there were concerns about fuel shortages that affected parts of daily life. Friends back home asked whether I should postpone the trip.
For a moment, I considered it.
But after discussing everything with the GoPlanOut team, understanding the local situation, and adjusting our plans where needed, I decided to continue.
Looking back, I'm so glad I did.
Travel isn't about waiting for perfect circumstances.
Sometimes it's about adapting, trusting local knowledge, and allowing the journey to unfold naturally.
Despite the challenges, every destination welcomed us with kindness, warmth, and incredible hospitality.
The India I Remembered... and the India I Discovered
Returning after forty-seven years was a strange feeling.
Some things had changed beyond recognition.
Cities had grown.
Technology had transformed daily life.
Modern conveniences made travelling easier than ever.
And yet, something important remained exactly the same.
The warmth of the people.
Everywhere I went, strangers smiled, started conversations, offered help, and made me feel welcome.
That kindness was exactly what I remembered from my first visit all those years ago.
It was comforting to realise that some of the best things about a country never change.
Until Next Time, India ❤️
When I boarded my flight back to Alaska, I realised this journey had given me something I never expected.
Closure.
For years, I had wondered whether returning after so long would live up to the memories I'd carried.
The answer was yes.
In fact, it gave me something even better.
New memories.
New friendships.
And a reminder that it is never too late to return to a place that once changed your life.
If India has been quietly waiting in your heart the way it waited in mine, don't keep saying "one day."
One day arrives much sooner than you think.
