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Carmen Ballesteros's avatar

I loved walking the streets of Goa with you. What a beautiful piece. I also reconnected with my creative side while travelling, and backpacked around the world for a year in 2015. One of the best experiences of my life.

I think we're going to get along 🤗

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R. S. Hampton, Thriller Author's avatar

Thanks for writing this journey. It gives me hope.

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

I'm so happy to hear that!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Love souther India! Great photos!

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

Yes, me too! And thank you! I've been to Goa and Kerala and they were both wonderful.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

We bypassed Goa (30 day visa only-so much to see in India ) straight to Kerala and absolutely loved it. I feared too touristy in Goa. Rented a rice boat for 2nights. It was incredible, and also loved gazing at the Arabian Sea! Goa for you was such a rite of passage. Wonderful.

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

That sounds absolutely divine. And yes Goa was definitely a rite of passage for my solo trip. There's so much more to tell in the coming chapters!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Oh good! India in general, absolutely loved it! Especially northern India. Really fell for Rajasthan and that gentile old colonial mansion culture of the former raj's. We were there during wedding season--man, the huge parades of bride-groom and hundreds of attendees, led by elephants with lights (!) bride on a pedestal, etc. It was simply amazing! Also though loved Chennai. I wanted to go to the original Theosophical Society grounds (rather ramshackle now) just to see them. I'd studied theosophy for a while, took their astrology courses years ago in SoCal. In Chennai- an incredible metaphysical bookstore - they're publishers, and I went a little wild, though of course traveling couldn't buy too many. In Kerala we went to a seaside pilgrimage city, can't recall name now, but it was incredible and so was the temple. Our rice boat in Kerala, $30USD per night. So amazing. Years ago though. Delhi was great too, and Agra. Not so big on Bombay.

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

Ahh you make me want to explore more of India! I agree about Mumbai, I spent a day there waiting for my flight and it was more than enough. What unbelievable experiences you had - just, wow. India is such a special place.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

At the time we were in India, Ta ta (huge entrepreneur- cars, etc) had just bought an airlines. Like a Ryan Air, $35 usd flights nearly everywhere, and you know the size of India. So we could get to some major places. Chill for 4 days, to get the overall India pic before future travel there. It was a good way to go. Would love to go back.

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Lindsey Fears's avatar

“It’s lovely to see someone appreciating the details.”

These person’s words to you were a light, almost like a compass, that it sounds like you needed to hear… at just the right time 🤍

I loved reading this! Beautifully written.

I’ve only dabbled in painting, but I’d love to learn more of this art. What would you recommend for starting? I think I’m drawn more to watercolor.🎨

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

Thanks so much for your comment. I love that you also backpacked around the world! You must have many stories to tell too.

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

You're absolutely right, Lindsey. Her comment meant a lot to me in that moment, reassuring me when I had huge imposter syndrome.

I would say if you're drawn to watercolours, go for it. But if you only have a pencil or a pen then that works perfectly too.

As someone once said to me, it's more about practising. Just draw whenever you can, even if it's on the back of an envelope or on a napkin!

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