ChiefTree's Blog

In December 2002, after finishing my first year of university, my winter started with a backpacking trip to India. The time I spent over a month with the diverse culture and long history of India and the various people I met on the journey was a profound period of personal growth. I am writing to keep and share my old memories of my voyage, which I started with a single copy of Lonely Planet.

My first overseas trip started from “Trip to Sky Lake”

The seed for my Indian odyssey was planted by Ryu Si-hwa’s “Trip to Sky Lake”. It’s an essay full of mysterious stories that Ryu Si-hwa experienced through a trip to India. Devouring the book in one sitting, I found myself returning to its pages multiple times, each read bolstering my resolve to venture into the unknown. The reality of India trip, however, was quite different from my expectation. 🙂

ChiefTree’s Spark: Anything can inspire and motivate you to change yourself and explore new things like a solo backpacking trip. Get inspired and Take action!

Shouldn’t I wait to go with a friend who I can rely on? No, I’m just going to challenge myself! It is okay!

When I decided on a backpacking trip to India and looked for friends to go with, everyone had plans during the winder vacation as it was too last minute. However, something came to mind at that moment! “Travel can be done alone or with friends. It is more important for me to have the courage to challenge myself. It is okay. Let’s go alone”

After that, it was a breeze. Got permission from your parents and bought a plane ticket right away! And I developed my travel itinerary and route drawing insights from an online backpacking community and my trusted ‘Lonely Planet’.

Two decades later, a retrospective glance via Google Maps reveals the impressive scale of my travels: a 4,146 km odyssey spanning roughly 81 hours, even considering today’s improved infrastructure.

ChiefTree’s Spark: Traveling alone can be a rewarding and liberating experience, as you can make your own decisions, follow your own pace, and discover yourself. If you feel young, buy a ticket and go on an adventure!

The Southern part of India

My adventure to India began in early of Jan 2003 by taking a flight for the first time. The flight of Air India arrived in Mumbai after long hours of flights and 2 stopovers in Bangkok and New Deli.

I wanted to see and experience the southern part of India, where there were not many Korean travelers around that time while the northern part of India was in the opposite situation. After 1 month India trip in the southern part of India, I flew out from Calcutta with memorable and exotic memories.

The slums that surrounded Mumbai’s downtown

I was shocked by the first sight after landing at the Mumbai airport and taking a cab to a guest house. The slums in Mumbai were huge and dense, filling all the space between the downtowns and the airport. I realized then that it was a totally different world from where I lived (South Korea). I also saw the real India, which was nothing like what I had imagined and read before. I think it would be very different from the current life in India, 20 years later.

Precious people I met on the journey

I quickly recovered from the shock and immersed myself in the trip by meeting various people and building precious relationships with them.

A female tutor who flew with me to Mumbai and shared a taxi for safety, and an older brother who I met at the guest house and visited Aurangabad with. He was the one who got scammed for $200 on his first day in India by a taxi driver and whose story I heard from many travelers. 🙂

Several backpacking travelers who were elementary school teachers, an ROTC student, and a retired businessman whom I met in Goa. Some of them looked after me on a boat tour when I was very sick.

Two different types of older sisters who I met in Kerala where I stayed to recover from the sickness and enjoy a peaceful beach @Sea Flower Beach Resort.

I also met two Indian friends who dreamed of opening a big restaurant in Puri. Thanks to them, I joined the tuna fishing boat and helped them for a few hours and enjoyed the beer & tuna party with their extended family. I still remember the cute baby who peed on my pants in the village. 🙂

I was also invited to the wedding party of an Indian friend whom I met on the train to Kolkata and who worked in a Korean company then. They all remain in my memory as precious relationships.

ChiefTree’s Spark: Be open and authentic with the people you meet on your travels. Share your stories, cultures, and perspectives. They will do the same. As a result, you can form meaningful friendships and connections with them. That is the real beauty of travel.

First True Challenge, A Beginning of My International Journey

This journey marked my first significant challenge. Immersed in an entirely new environment, I found opportunities for personal growth and learning. It inspired me to pursue international work, connecting with people from varied backgrounds and forging bonds of trust and shared experiences, albeit brief. I often find myself reminiscing about the flavors of curry and chapatti and the wonderful individuals I met along the way. The memory of the cobra charmer I encountered on my first day in India lingers, almost beckoning me back to this land of rich diversity and vibrant culture.

ChiefTree’s Spark: My trip to India was a life-changing and eye-opening experience for me. I developed a global and cross-cultural mindset, as I interacted and collaborated with people from different backgrounds and cultures. I believe you will have your own life-changing experience. When the time comes, go for it! You can learn and grow from the challenges and opportunities that you encounter.