From Skeptic to Superfan: My India Adventure
Guest blog by Krystina Smith
Let me start with a confession: The night before flying to India, I was frantically contemplating whether I should pack an emergency loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter. Seriously. I was worried I'd get there and starve for 12 days.
But here's the thing about Laura's trips—I trust her enough to follow her literally anywhere. And holy shit, am I glad I did.
Embracing the chaos of Holi! Covered in vibrant colors from head to toe during the festival celebrations.
Our group in front of the iconic Taj Mahal.
Holi-day of My Dreams
It's a toss-up between Nandgaon and Agra for my favorite destination. Jaipur was definitely my least favorite (sorry, Pink City!), but Nandgaon during Holi? Pure. Freaking. Magic.
Picture this: I'm a self-proclaimed clean freak who hates being dirty. Now imagine me letting complete strangers pour unknown liquids on my head and smear colored powder all over my face while I'm walking BAREFOOT through street puddles of questionable origin.
If you know me, you're already laughing.
But that first Holi celebration was nothing like I ever thought I'd experience. I've got the photos to prove it—apparently, I became something of a micro-celebrity, gaining nearly 2,000 followers on Threads and 900 on Instagram from the pictures Laura took of me covered head-to-toe in pink powder. (She always gets my best angles, I swear.)
The wildest part? I made actual friends with some of the locals during all this chaos, people I'm still in contact with months later. Worth every uncomfortable, filthy moment.
Kusum Sarovar near Mathura.
Not Just Another Tourist Trap
Then there was the Taj Mahal. I know it sounds basic, but standing there hit differently. I texted my dad a photo and wrote, "You never thought you'd see your daughter at the Taj Mahal, did you?" It's exactly why I travel—to find myself in places I never imagined I'd be.
Dad—bet you never thought you'd see me here!
The accommodations were great throughout, but what made this trip special was the unexpected moments: riding on the backs of motorcycles to a temple in Nandgaon, or that night we just hung out at a local bar taking it easy. It felt real, not like we were checking tourist boxes.
Our guide Tushar was sweet and attentive, though I might have traumatized him a bit with my interrogation about women's safety in India. (Sorry not sorry, Tushar—that conversation was enlightening for both of us!)
Laura and I at the Nandgaon Holi celebration.
The After-Hours Magic
Some of my favorite moments happened after the day's "official" activities ended. Like that late night with Natalie, whiskey in hand, while she passionately ranted about how beautiful India is despite all the litter. Or when we begged that guitar player at the fort to serenade us (Laura knows exactly who I'm talking about).
The Plot Twist
Here's what genuinely shocked me: I actually want to go back to India. If you know me, this is HUGE. I never revisit countries because there's too much world to see, but India wormed its way into my heart (right next to Japan, of course).
I've even been learning some Hindi since coming home. Dancing, however? Never gonna happen. I'll forever break into twerking when I don't know what's going on. Some things never change.
Our amazing group at the stunning Galtaji Temple (Monkey Temple) outside Jaipur.
The Laura Effect
This is why I keep booking Laura's trips (Georgia and Kenya are already locked in) and why I've successfully converted my coworkers Amber and Jason too. Laura's trips never feel like standard group tours.
There's always something unexpected—like that perfect moment at the first Holi celebration where I felt completely out of my comfort zone yet totally alive.
Taking in the breathtaking night views of the city from a rooftop viewpoint.
Oh, and fair warning: I might avoid CUMIN for the rest of my life after this trip. Laura knows my hatred for this spice runs deep, and I dodged almost every Indian meal because of it. But I'd bottle up that bhang lassi in a heartbeat!
The Six-Word Summary
If I had to sum up India in six words?
"Vibrant, spiritual, chaotic, unity, tradition"
...okay that's five words, but I'm saving the last one for when I return. Because against all odds and my pre-trip bread-hoarding anxiety, I absolutely will.
Krystina is a 31-year-old psychiatric travel nurse who has been working in her specialty since graduating in 2018. She embarked on travel nursing during the pandemic in 2020 and recently completed her master's degree as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
When not working, Krystina enjoys traveling, playing video games, and spending quality time with her cat, Molly. Her friendship with Laura began during a trip to Cuba where they were roommates, and has flourished through shared adventures in Morocco, Greece, Mexico City, Japan, and India. She's already booked future trips to Georgia and Kenya, and plans to join Laura's India adventure next year as well.
Krystina describes Laura as "a delight" and values their friendship highly, noting that any travel plans involving Laura are guaranteed to be exceptional.
