Namaste
I am Aleix Val and I work as a mental health nurse in a CSMA, specialized in crisis care, prevention and approach to suicidal behavior. At the age of 18, and with the consent of my family I went to live in the Lacandon jungle, as International Observer. Also I specialized in Theater of the Oppressed. and did several workshops with Julian Boal. I worked in a theater company for years with disciples of Peter Brook, together with Yoshi Oida, where I learned about the "Mahabharata" the greatest poem of India.
When did you feel the "call of India"?
It was really an inner call to travel, observe and learn, it was not the destination itself that sent me a divine sign. Maybe the call to India came to me from Peter Brook with the Mahabharata. I was really interested in his reading about India being the oldest epic in the world and the longest in history, even longer than the Bible.
What was the main reason that made you choose India as a destination?
At that time I was looking for a country with strong contrasts, I wanted to experience first hand a culture that was totally different from the European one and that I could afford.
After several options, I decided that India had many elements in all aspects and that this trip would really make me grow as a person and rethink many things. I wanted to discover their culture, traditions, palaces, I was interested in ayurvedic medicine,The Sanskrit theater Kutiyattam, the Yogis, and the Sanskrit Kutiyattam theater.
Your favorite place?
My favorite place in the north was Púshkar and the magical sunsets on the lake. In the south I will stay with Cochin.
What did you like most about your trip?
I was fascinated by the different architecture of the north and the south. Its monuments, temples, gopura, stupas, pagodas. I also loved the Kathakali which is one of the oldest theatrical forms in the world. However, discovering the cultural diversity of the Indian cuisine was something fundamental that I really liked about the trip. I loved the Masala Chai,the dhal and naan. Finally the color, their clothes and fabrics transmit good vibes.
What about what you didn't like so much?
What I didn't like is that in two months of backpacking I didn't meet any friendly or hospitable people. There wasn't a day that went by without someone approaching me to mess with me, although I always took it with humor, let's see what this one says to me today. I always smiled and played the foreigner. However, at that time 20 years ago I went, I did not like the religious machismo, the castes or the unfair social system in my opinion. Finally, the air pollution and the accumulation of plastic was very unpleasant.
Your biggest learning experience on the trip?
My greatest learning experience was be more aware of poverty and what it does to people's health.
What has been "India's imprint on you"?
One woman said to me during my trip to India, Aleix "You have to be the man who makes his life a gift."The phrase stuck in my mind. In fact, months later I reflected and complemented the phrase with: you have to be the man who makes his life a gift, but not only for me but also for others.
What impact has that "footprint" had on your day-to-day life upon your return from the trip?
I went to nursing school.
Has your experience had any impact on your profession?
Today I am a mental health nurse and I am dedicated to caring for people in the most professional way possible, exercising real empathy. Traveling has given me a greater ability to adapt and understand the cultural diversity of the people I care for and to practice transcultural community mental health nursing with a more open mind, which is very necessary in the contemporary society in which we live.
Describe India in 3 words
Hierarchy, symbolism, learning. I don't know if I have described the country, but these are the first three words that came to my mind when I thought of my trip to India.
What would you have liked to know before your trip?
At that time I was very young, I didn't want to know anything, I didn't want to have any prejudices, I wanted to observe, to have a beginner's mind, to learn a lot and to draw my own conclusions based on the reality I was living without making comparisons.
Would you travel to India again?
I have my doubts, I do not like to repeat destination. It is a trip that I made for 2 months and for free, without internet, only with the help of my Loney Planet,I consider that it was enough and now I believe that I can live other experiences as intense in other destinations.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to travel to India?
I would ask him what he is looking for, what experiences you want to live. There are many ways to travel and they are all great. I love to go through the jungle as a survivor as much as I love to wear a bracelet, sleep in a hut or sleep in the Shangri-La.
I try to find value in the experiences I live. Was it my trip to India? I don't know. Luckily, there are now trips organized by guides who are Travel Bloggers, photographers and content creators who organize trips in small groups and currently I think it is one of the best options to contemplate.
They are incredible professionals and people who can help you to put aside prejudices, motivate you to have an open mind and understand with curiosity and kindness a country that is both fascinating and complex at the same time.
And what would you say to a person who has not felt the desire to visit India (to motivate them to do so)?
Concretely it has happened to me, it is my partner at the moment and I have told him that in the future I will pay it to him (that motivates the first one) that yes, I would do it in an organized way in a very small group and something more personalized. To conclude, regardless of my opinions and personal experiences, I recommend traveling to India to everyone and at any age, it is an incredible country, fascinating, with a lot of history and I am convinced that it will leave its mark on you. India does not go unnoticed, there is always something that will stay in your corazón❤️. Thank you for reading about my trip to India, you can always contact me through social networks at En Route Camera, See you soon!
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Aleix and his experience in India and inspire you for your trip. At the moment he has no plans to return to India but as soon as he can, he doesn't miss the opportunity to visit places like the Singapore's Indian quarter
Don't miss the rest of the interviews with travelers in India and their advice for for traveling to India.
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