To be perfectly honest, India is thief. The moment I stepped off the plane in Delhi, there was a shift in me that altered my perspective; stealing and repositioning my center. It was a late night arrival in November. The air was thick with smoke from fires farmers set on their fields at the end of the growing season. We arrived at our hotel, not knowing what to expect when the sun came up. The smog settled in, but I knew it couldn’t last forever. The days were spent exploring, eating, meeting new people and experiencing life at a totally different pace. I could not get enough of it. Here are five things about India that keep my coming back.

The People

I have never been in a place where people were so kind and ready to share their lives with me. On my third trip, I had been invited to a party at friend’s farm. It was a beautiful afternoon meeting new friends and finding common ground despite the language limitations. At the end of lunch, I had been invited to visit some of my new friends in their home on my way out of Udaipur the next morning. I was touched that they had put together a lovely welcome, showed me their home and a glimpse of what their life is like.

The Noise

Indian cities have a unique soundtrack. From the broadcast call to prayer to the beep beep of the tuk tuks, it’s music to my ears. At first, I was bewildered why there was so much honking but then I realized it was more of a greeting/checking in as you drove past. I love hearing snippets of the city sounds when I’m looking at my India social media accounts. The sound of the horns and din of the bazaar makes me homesick. I realize I don’t feel complete unless I have either just returned from India or have a trip planned.

The Color

As a maximalist, India speaks my love language. Color and pattern are embraced in ways that defy explanation. Pink is neutral and I am here for it. I find that when I return home, I miss the joyful combinations, scheming to find ways to bring more color in my life.

The Weather

February in the Rajasthan desert is like no other season. The cool nights, warm days and sunlight are the tonic of life. There is a sense of renewal and anticipation in the air that is hard to define. Life is lived outside. Almost every meal is to taken outside. There is nothing like morning coffee on the terrace in the sunshine.

The Landscape

From the lush tree lined streets of New Delhi to the arid valley and surrounding mountains in Jaipur, India offers landscapes that tell century old stories of opulence, conflict, hardship, love and possibility. Where else can you hike up a lush mountainside that is home to a monkey temple, sacred waters and a path that wanders up and over into bustling Jaipur? It’s indicative of everything in India. You never know what experience is beyond the next corner.