A Gentle Journey of Choosing Peace of Mind — My First Time in India, Leaving Room for the Unexpected —

Introduction

— Tips for going, staying, and returning in good health —

I am a naturally curious person with an endless interest in India, but I am also an HSP and an INFJ.
I am easily exhausted by stimulation and have less mental and physical energy than others.

To be honest, my anxiety and worries were far greater.

My first time in India.
An unknown country.
In my imagination, there was too much stimulation and information, and
I didn't know if my mind and body could keep up.

That is why I decided on one quiet theme for this trip.

“To go in good health, stay in good health, and return in good health.”

While I had a desire to see this and experience that in my heart,
I decided to prioritize “touching upon things lightly” first,
without forcing myself to step in or pursue things too deeply.

I don't have to try to understand India.
I don't have to try hard to like it.
I just want to place myself in that atmosphere
and quietly feel my own reactions.

I kept telling myself that that alone was enough.

My luggage, my schedule, and my mindset,
I kept them as simple as possible.
I chose things that gave me peace of mind and left room for the unexpected.
Prioritizing my health above all else,
I tried to have a journey without greed.

On the eve of the trip,
there was still tension deep in my chest.
But right next to it,
a quiet conviction that “it will surely be okay” was also budding.

This trip is not about accomplishing anything.
It is a time to practice trusting my own senses
through the country of India.

When I could think that way,
my heart felt a little lighter.

So, I tried a few things in my own way.

It might sound like an exaggeration, but
the theme of this trip (to repeat) is strictly

“to go in good health, stay in good health, and return in good health”.

It is my first time in India.
I will not overreach or push myself.
I gave myself permission to prioritize peace of mind.

Actually, I am not very familiar with Indian cuisine
either.
Meals with a lot of oil and spices are hard on my stomach and I am not very good with them.
Along with hygiene concerns, I had been worrying about how to handle meals since before the trip.

That is precisely why
I took the measures I could in advance as carefully as possible.
To reduce my worries
and to be able to enjoy my first time in India with peace of mind,
I quietly made preparations.

I hope this article
will be helpful to those who are interested in India just like me
but also have significant anxiety.

1. Choose accommodation where you can feel at ease

I stayed at the Shangri-La New Delhi.

I booked a room with Horizon Lounge access.

Staying at a five-star hotel,
and having access to the lounge,
provided me with a great sense of security for this trip.

At check-in,
since my return flight was at night, I asked for a late check-out,
and they were able to accommodate me for free just by registering for the Shangri-La app.

My room was on the 18th floor of the hotel.
The Horizon Lounge was on the top floor, the 19th.
During breakfast, tea time, and happy hour from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM,
you can enjoy light meals and alcoholic beverages.

In winter, Delhi's air pollution made the scenery look hazy and white,
but even so, the time spent looking down at the city from a high vantage point helped calm my mind.

I arrived after the happy hour had ended,
but the staff was thoughtful enough to,
bring me peanuts and chips,
and after consulting with the kitchen,
they served me grilled shrimp
along with some wine.

That kindness warmed my heart.

During my stay, I naturally found myself spending more time in this lounge.
It was a place where I could quietly enjoy delicious tea and meals I felt safe eating.

I truly feel that choosing the five-star Shangri-La was the right decision.

In the morning, many birds would fly around outside,
and sometimes they would even come to visit the window.
During my stay, a pair of parrots made an appearance.

Thanks to this lounge,
the freeze-dried miso soup and porridge I brought with me,
which were meant as a safety net in case I felt unwell,
fortunately went unused, and I was able to bring them back to Japan.

2. Use bottled water for everything

Even though it was a top-tier hotel, to be extra cautious, I used bottled water not only for drinking,
but also for washing my face and brushing my teeth.

I was also careful not to get water in my eyes or mouth while showering.
It made me realize once again the importance of water and how grateful I am for Japan.

The hotel provided bottles in the room every day, but

a flight attendant I met on the flight over
told me, "I was careful about everything, but I still got sick just from soaking in the bathtub,"
and ever since hearing that,
I became even more vigilant.

I don't know the cause,
but the phrase "it's better to be overly cautious"
has stayed with me.

3. Items for health care

While travel is fun, it is also easy to get tired.
Especially since this was my first time in India.

I brought several items with me to take care of my health.

Fortunately, I didn't end up needing the stomach medicine.

What I found especially useful was plum.
Things like "plum extract," "charred plum," and "ume-sho bancha."

In addition to that, I took small amounts of natural supplements like mugwort
morning and night to support my digestive system.

I also brought homeopathic remedies like Aconite and Arsenicum.

Beyond that, I brought masks and disinfectant wipes, of course,
as well as flushable tissues, just in case.

4. Arrange airport transfers and currency exchange in advance

I arranged airport transfers for my arrival and departure in advance.
I created a stress-free flow so I wouldn't have to make difficult decisions on the spot,
ensuring peace of mind.

In reality,
arranging things on the spot using services like Uber
seems to keep costs significantly lower.

However, this time,
after reading reviews and personal accounts about the airport,
I decided to book round-trip transfers between the airport and my hotel in advance
with a travel agency I felt I could trust.

To avoid being scammed,
being taken to places I didn't intend to go,
or getting caught up in unnecessary trouble.

It might sound a bit dramatic, but
take every precaution possible.
That was my choice this time.

I booked withKizuna India Travels.

Communication via LINE was surprisingly smooth,
and it was in Japanese.
The replies were very fast,
which already gave me a sense of security before I even left.

When I arrived at Delhi airport and exited the gate,
a driver was waiting for me holding a board with my name on it.

Shortly after getting into the car,
I received a confirmation call from a Japanese-speaking staff member
asking, "Did you get into the car safely?"

With those words,
the tension I had been holding onto suddenly melted away.

It was truly helpful that the currency exchange I had requested in advance
was handled right there in the car.

In truth, just arriving at Delhi airport,
between the fatigue of a long flight,
the atmosphere of an unknown world,
and the nervous tension, I felt a little lightheaded.

In that state,
having someone hold a board with my name on it
and guide me by saying, "This way, please," was incredibly reassuring.

Since this was an individual trip rather than a tour,
and because it was my first time in India,
this peace of mind was the greatest luxury of all.

I also booked a half-day Delhi sightseeing tour for the following afternoon,
and used the same company for everything, including the return airport transfer.

In both cases, I met up with the driver in the hotel lobby, and
the process was very smooth.

(Communication with the driver is in English.)

If you are energetic and an experienced traveler,
I think you can move around more freely and cheaply
using the subway, tuk-tuks, and so on.

However, this time,
it was a trip to "go energetically, spend time energetically, and return energetically."
I think this choice was just right for me.

5. Choose a Japanese airline

I arranged the flight with JAL.

Since I booked a ticket that could be canceled,
there is a sense of security in knowing I can handle it even if there is a sudden change.

For the outbound flight,
I reserved an emergency exit seat with extra legroom for an additional 10,000 yen.

There is no window right next to you, but
I could stretch my legs out fully, and my body felt very comfortable.

Although you must assist with evacuation in an emergency and
you need to put your carry-on luggage in the overhead bin during takeoff and landing,
on a long-haul flight, this extra space makes more of a difference than you might think.

The return flight was a standard economy seat, but
remembering the comfort of the outbound flight,
I felt that "that 10,000 yen was well worth it."

The reason I chose a Japanese airline was that
the fact that Japanese is spoken was also a great relief.

On board,
Japanese meals are provided, and
attentive service is offered with the usual warmth.

Just with that,
I felt as if I had already returned to Japan,
a sense of relief.

Having time to relax your mind
while on a journey to a foreign land.
I feel that is also an important element for protecting your physical condition.

6. Do not push yourself

When you go on a trip,
your feelings naturally expand, wanting to do this and go there.

However, winter in Delhi
was a time when the air quality was very severe.

On days when smog and dense fog overlapped,
even when looking outside from the hotel room,
everything was covered in white, to the point where nothing could be seen.

Even if you wear a mask,
you cannot completely prevent the strain on your body.

In fact, on the return flight,
I saw many people coughing.

This time, I honestly struggled quite a bit with whether or not to
take the 3-4 hour one-way drive from Delhi to
Agra or Jaipur,
and go see the famous Taj Mahal.

But in the end, I made the choice to
prioritize exploring Delhi at a leisurely pace this time.

It was a short stay of only three nights.
Plus, I was arriving on the first night.

If I pushed myself too hard here,
instead of "staying healthy,"
the trip itself might end up becoming a painful memory.

As it turned out,
I feel this decision was a very good one.

Rather than rushing through the city,
I focused on catching my breath in one place,
and getting used to the air and the passage of time.

The tourist spots can wait for another time.
By leaving that space for spontaneity,
this trip became a gentle experience for me.

Don't push yourself.
Don't be greedy.
Quietly listen to what your body is saying.

I believe that, too,
is an important choice for deeply savoring a journey.

7. Preparing Your Mind

I feel that the state of your heart
is also very important before a trip.

When anxiety and worry grow too large,
strangely enough,
"reasons not to go"
can sometimes manifest as real-life events.

Injuries or fevers before departure,
sudden illness,
missing a flight, or unexpected trouble.

You could call it a coincidence,
but based on my past experiences,
I have felt several times that
the more your heart strongly resists,
the more likely such events are to occur.

That is why for this trip,
instead of trying to force my anxiety away,
I focused on quietly preparing my heart.

Instead of telling myself "it will be okay,"
I gently asked myself, "What do I want to go and feel?"

When I go to India,
what do I want to see?
What do I want to experience without pushing myself?

I jotted those things down in a notebook.

On the flight there,
while opening that notebook,
I quietly imagined the air of India, the colors of the city,
and the expressions of the people.

Not imagining exciting events,
but rather, a vision of myself spending time peacefully.

Myself, walking with peace of mind.
Myself, taking a deep breath.
Myself, feeling that it was 'gentler than I had imagined.'

By doing that,
by taking my heart on the journey ahead of time,
my anxiety gradually became calm.

A journey is
not just about moving your body,
but also about taking your consciousness along with you.

So that my heart wouldn't be left behind,
preparing my mind
was also an important part of the preparation for me.

After the journey

Looking back on it now,
I feel that this trip to India
was a 'journey of accumulating peace of mind.'

Even for me, a travel lover who has visited many places both in Japan and abroad,
India was still an 'unknown' country.

That is precisely why
I made sure not to intentionally approach the vortex of anxiety or trouble.
Even while in India, I tried to keep my journey as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Despite it being the New Year's holiday season,
the luxury hotel I stayed at cost about 50,000 yen per night.

Considering that it included breakfast and light refreshments in the lounge,
compared to hotels of the same class in Japan,
it felt like a realistic and reassuring price.

There were people from various countries in the lounge, but
everyone's demeanor was very quiet and elegant,
and what flowed there was
a relaxed stillness,
somewhat similar to the lounge of a cruise ship.

Being able to catch my breath within a protected space
while in India.

I think that was also
an important element that made this trip a gentle memory.

Without ignoring my fears,
without pushing myself too hard,
quietly making choices that allow me to feel at ease.

Just by doing that,
the journey becomes much gentler.

Since returning from my trip,
many people have started asking me about India.

'How was it?'
'Wasn't it difficult?'
'I feel like I want to go, but I'm still scared...'

While listening to them, I realized that
there are more people interested in the country of India than I had imagined.

But at the same time,
anxiety and fear come first,
and there are also many people
who cannot easily take that first step.

Precisely because it is unknown,
precisely because there is too much information,
you might find yourself quietly hesitating in your heart.

I believe that is not because you are timid,
but a very natural feeling of wanting to take care of yourself.

I myself stood in that same place for a long time.

That is why,
I wanted to put into words
the feeling I had on this trip that "you can travel while still choosing peace of mind."

It is okay to still feel afraid.
You do not have to force yourself to erase your anxiety.

I believe that touching the world little by little,
just as you are,
is also a form of a gentle journey.

If there is a place you want to go
but feel too anxious to take the first step,
it is okay not to force yourself to be brave.

A journey where you protect yourself,
leaving room for the unexpected,
and gently reaching out has its own meaning.

If this record
can be something that gently supports you,
rather than pushing you forward, I would be happy.

I hope that for your journey too,
you go safely and return safely.