Short but Sweet

Mumbai - Goa - COCHI - Delhi - Rishikesh

We could not have imagined that a single day could be so enlightening on our way to Kerala.

We owe the extremely intense short time in the port city of Cochi one hundred percent to our companions whom we met through Couchsurfing. The three guys, Akheel, Tanseer, and Seben, not only showed us the hidden sides of the city, which is shaped by colonization (Portugal, Netherlands, England) like hardly any other, but they also taught us two things:

Hospitality and Gratitude.

Even before our arrival, Akheel tried very hard to find accommodation for us because it is often difficult to accommodate guests in large Indian families, which is the actual principle of Couchsurfing. When we arrived at the train station, he and Tanseer picked us up by car and drove us to our hostel, only to introduce us to the culinary specialties of Kerala and invite us for ice cream right after. During every subsequent meal together (except the farewell dinner), Emely was unable to convince Akheel that it was our turn to pay. Even a 500 rupee butterfly that she had painstakingly crafted was rejected with the words, "You are our guests...plus, I don't like butterflies!"

The selflessness with which the three friends guided us and invited us, even though they themselves long to travel the world, especially Europe, and every rupee counts, left a lasting impression on us and a deep feeling of gratitude. Gratitude for having the privilege of being born in Germany and traveling the world with a passport that opens almost every door. Gratitude for being citizens of the European Union, whose currency is so strong that we can explore a country as large as India so intensively, like few Indians can. Gratitude for the unconditional support from our families. For young Indians like Akheel, Tanseer, and Seben, it is extremely difficult to convince their families that traveling has great value.

But more than anything else, we feel grateful for being able to meet such amazing people who already feel like lifelong friends after just one day. And so, we sincerely hope that the guys can muster the patience and strength that is demanded from less privileged people than us all over the world. Because there is nothing we would rather do than return the favor and welcome the three into our home.