About 10 years ago I visited a few villages in India within a region called Ranthambore. It is located just south of Jaipur, which is located just south of New Delhi and Northeast of Bombay (Mumbai). It is included in the state of Rajasthan. I went with my family from Delhi. It was a long and hot drive to Ranthambore, packed in tight with cousins. India, as a country, was nothing new for me—as far as I knew, at least.
I have been to India many times, but never a place like Ranthambore. This was the first venture out there by anyone in my family. Ranthambore is known for its vast jungles and Bengal tiger-spottings. This was the main reason for our trip. It was incredible to see the people who lived out there. I had thought that the quality of living situation was quite bad in the cities, but it is another world in the outskirts and villages.
Coming from the western world, seeing people in the villages was extremely eye opening and foreign.. Even my cousins living in Delhi felt the foreignness. In the midst of the scarcity of food and falling economy, it was arid. The heat and dryness was unbearable.
Not everything was negative as it may seem.. It was a really cool place. We did end up going on an open-convee tour (elevated off the ground about 6 feet) and I did actually see a wild Bengali tiger.. standing about 7 feet away from me.
At the age of 7, or in the case of my parents, aged in their early forties at the time, this was quite a frightening experience but nevertheless, one of the most memorable we've had.
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