Olivia Redfern, formerly Internal Recruitment team leader at GC, recently moved on to pastures new in London. Before she left, to help us celebrate South Asian Heritage Month, she kindly shared her inspiring journey to India which she undertook earlier last year as part of a sabbatical.
My experience in India was one of exploration and wonder.
It was always on my bucket list to visit India, and on my sabbatical leave last year it was the perfect opportunity to take the leap and explore this magical country.
The trip encompassed 2 weeks across the region of Rajasthan with the end point at the country’s capital New Delhi. We travelled through Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Agra and, finally, New Delhi where we took our flight home.
Favourite food:
When you think of India, sampling the range of foodie delights is top of the list. Everywhere I went in India was a feast for the senses. The smell of cooked onions at local restaurants, the spice-infused back streets of food markets, and the sickly sweetness wafting from the dessert shops in Jaipur. It was nothing short of spectacular.
My favourite dish was a veggie Thali which featured an aubergine curry, a lentil-based curry and a pepper-based curry (see image above). It was cooked by a local woman in Jodhpur whose family owned the restaurant. She also offered to show us how she made it.
My boyfriend and I are vegetarians; therefore, it was refreshing to have so many restaurants in India cater to our needs with a variety of veggie-friendly dishes.
What I enjoyed most about India was the breakfasts, I loved waking up to a Dosa and Chai Masala tea every morning. This was made even more glorious with amazing views to gaze at such as that in Jodhpur. The Image above shows our view of Merangarh Fort in the famous Blue City.
I love how Chai Masala is traditionally served in Clay pots. See the Image for reference.
My Favourite place in India was Jaisalmer, one of the only lived-in forts in the world. This place made you feel like you’d be transported to ancient times with impressive architecture and sandy-toned towers. It really was a marvel.
If you’d like an excellent read about India’s vast history I would recommend: John Zubrzycki’s ‘The Shortest History of India: From the World’s Oldest Civilisation to its Largest Democracy’.
South Asian Heritage Month 2024 aims to encourage education and knowledge of this region and its people. Although I only travelled to a small part of India, I learnt a lot about its history, culture and traditions and how its diaspora influences so many aspects of the UK today. I learnt (and ate) a lot and intend to visit again in the future.