Welcome to Marvelous India!
Hello, and welcome to Marvelous India. The site has been active for some time now but let’s consider this a relaunch of sorts.
My work here at Marvelous India began out of a longing to travel during the early days of the Pandemic. Particularly to travel back to India, which in many ways I would consider my home. This may seem odd if you take a look at the picture of my white face or heard my clearly American accent (it has become much more pronounced since returning “home”). I suppose it’s another example of why we should not judge a book by its cover. I spent the majority of my youth in India, split between the stunning Thar Desert of Rajasthan and the beautiful Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu in the south. But oddly enough my life began in a mission hospital in the mountains of northern Pakistan. My childhood was spent playing legos, cowboys and indians and other make-believe games with my two brothers and our Pakistani friends in that same Thar Desert but on the western side of the border. When we were not at our compound there in Punjab, we journeyed to the pine covered foothills that lead to the Himalayas, for school. Once making the move to India my life was filled with boarding school, chai, biryani, auto rickshaws, mountain hikes and dodging traffic in the big city.
Photo by Nolan Pierce
Pakistan and India are so similar and yet so incredibly different. My rich experience in both countries has made me into the person I am today, and I believe I am the better for it. I know you would be too if you carved out the time to visit. I will never claim to know the beauty of South Asian culture with the depth of a true South Asian. But I do have a unique perspective as an American growing up there, and I desire to use it to help other western’s experience, enjoy, appreciate and respect all that South Asia, specifically India, has to offer.
Building and publishing this website has a vulnerable experience. Why vulnerable? A piece of my heart is in India and to me it feels like posting a private love letter for everyone to see. The reflections, memories and mounds of research involved in creating this website were both pleasant and taxing. My current situation in life as a family man make it difficult to visit India with the frequency I would like, so Marvelous India became a great way to enjoy and relive so many of the cherished memories that I have. It is my hope that many folks who stumble across Marvelous India will feel inspired, equipped and empowered to travel to India. I am always available for contact to help you on your journey. Trust me, you will not regret stepping out the door.
There is nothing quite like international travel. Exploring a part of the world you have never experienced before creates a feeling that cannot be recreated in any other setting. Plus, it can be addictive. When you arrive home with that first international stamp in your passport, carrying the stories, the memories, the photos and the new experiences that you now have, it is impossible to not long to head out the door again. India is the queen of travel destinations, and I challenge anyone to prove that statement wrong.
It is my hope that Marvelous India would inspire more people to experience India in all its magnificence, chaos, beauty and enchantment. It is a land of many diverse peoples, languages, cultures, religions, foods and geography. There is something in India for every traveler in search of an adventure.
I am not really known for my creativity or artistic ability so I am thankful for everyone who browses through the site or takes the time to read my humble blog. May God bless you richly and you may find Him on life’s journey, just as I have.
Until next time, safe travels!
Seth
P.S. If you appreciate or enjoy the work I am are doing at Marvelous India, feel free to say thank you by buying me a cup of chai!
