What nobody tells you about visiting India

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from India. Some things matched: Kerala backwaters is as spectacular as every review says, and Jaipur has a genuine energy I'd read about. The chaat obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: overwhelming sensory experience. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: persistent touts at tourist sites. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.