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Freedom beckons them
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Tourism in India is not the same as in the USA, Africa or Europe. Backpackers who come here generally stay for a long time, travelling freely. Freedom is their main attraction, says CAROLINE
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``I was really afraid before coming here, I thought I would have a culture shock, even if Kerala is very rich compared with other parts of India. In fact, I saw more poor people in Zurich (Switzerland) than in Kochi,'' says a surprised Michele. Michele, 34, is Swiss. She saw a movie called `Ayurveda' and decided to come to South India for three weeks.
``Varkala is so nice. I don't know how much longer I will
stay, maybe two days, maybe two weeks'', says Sally. Sally and Mitchele are what we call `backpackers'. This young Australian law student took a semester off to travel all around India, alone.
Why India? ''I choose to come here because it is a fascinating country, it is safe for women, cheap and people speak English,'' she explains.
Alan, an American, and Vered, an Israeli, met in India. Since September, the young couple have been touring the country on a Royal Enfield. Paul, around 50 years old, is a French farmer. Andreas, a German student, came here with his faculty to study Indian architecture and chose to stay five weeks more.
Of all the western tourists in India, 60 per cent are between the age of 25 and 35. Most of them are British, followed by French, German and Japanese.
Besty, the owner of Basoto Lodge in Ernakulam, is happy to meet the travellers, Dutch, Australian and Israeli. The latter often come after their military service just to rid their minds of the rigours of military life. Although they are very different in character, all the backpackers have one thing in common: their love of freedom. They never know where they will go next and when; they just move where the wind takes them.
Most of them work in their country of origin in order to save money to spend here, to benefit from all that India has to offer. They generally lead a modest life here, sleeping in small lodges and travelling by bus or train, but they surely are not deprived of anything: the average budget is between Rs 100 and Rs 500 a day.
What travellers like in India are landscapes, temples and cities, but above all, they love the people.
``Indians are very nice and helpful, especially. It is very pleasant. You cannot get lost, there is always somebody to explain the way to you, to show you the right bus,'' explain Jim and Lucy, both Australians.
Indian culture and spirituality fascinate travellers. Costy, a Greek Yoga teacher, comes to the south of India every winter:
However, this omnipresent spirituality can be uncomfortable for unseasoned travellers in India. Not infrequently, people lose
touch with reality since so many come here in search of a meaning for their life, knowing India only from the various bohemian tales floating around.
The French government noticed this trend and decided to put a psychologist in each French embassy in India. One of those doctors wrote a book, `Crazy about India'.
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