Foreign tourist cries and says what she found in India was 'so unexpected'
There are journeys that are carefully planned for months, and then there are journeys that quietly transform you in ways that you did not even imagine. For Alicia (@runtheworldwithalicia on Instagram), who is an ultrarunner from Germany, the physically demanding run along the western coast of India was not only about the run; it was also about something much deeper, something that was deeply human.
Alicia landed in Mumbai with the sole intention of running almost 700 kilometers along the Konkan coast to Goa. It was not just about the run; the run was also about the cause that Alicia wanted to support, the cause of girls' education in India. Every single kilometer of the run was supposed to be symbolic of the steps that were being taken towards providing opportunities to young girls who did not have the same opportunities as others.
Alicia's journey began early, and as early as it gets, with the iconic Gateway of India as the starting point. She took a ferry from here to Mandwa, after which she began running towards Alibag. The first day, as with most things, was a reality check, and Alicia encountered a lot of heat, traffic, and a backpack that felt heavier with each passing step. What was supposed to be a smooth run became a mix of walking and jogging, but even on the first day, something changed for Alicia.
Alibag welcomed her with colourful homes, quiet lanes, and a warmth she was not prepared for. It was not the scenic coastline she was to remember but the people she met along the way. Strangers who smiled at her, helped her, and made her feel safe in a foreign land.
Beyond the stereotypes
Alicia continued further into the Konkan region, and her experience was to take her beyond a stereotype she was accustomed to hearing about India. Like any outsider, she was fed information and images of a land overpopulated, polluted, and chaotic.
Villages opened up to her with a sense of calm and simplicity. Nature, in its raw beauty, was to accompany her along the way. The miles of lush greenery, the coastal breeze, and the seemingly endless stretches of road through quiet landscapes.
She was to find herself repeating a phrase that was to define her journey. India is not what people think it is.
On the seventh day of her run, Alicia went to a school in a village in the Konkan region. The school was a small, nature-based school, far removed from the kind of infrastructure most schools in cities take pride in. But what it lacked in terms of infrastructure, it made up for in attitude and spirit.
Alicia talked to the children, especially the girls. She told them her story of running and of believing in one’s own strength. For her, this was more than just a run. It was a reminder of what she was doing this run for. The young girls’ interest and attitude touched her.
The unexpected kindness of strangersIf there is one thing that touched Alicia the most, it was the people she met along the way. Running alone was a lonely experience, but she was never really alone.
Alicia met a group of running and cycling enthusiasts at a place called Ratnagiri. They were not just cheering for her; they ran and cycled alongside her. They wanted her to feel part of a larger group.
During her journey, aside from running, her interactions with the locals have also left her emotional and speechless. She recalled one particular incident where a local man she met on the road, who possibly had his own financial struggles too, offered to buy her some water. She said that she reflected on this particular incident that had deeply affected her because it was not just the man’s generosity that had touched her heart; it was the purest form of compassion.
When running becomes something moreOn the ninth day of her journey, something had changed for Alicia. What was supposed to have been a mere “unsupported” running journey had become a journey with the locals who believed in her mission and wanted to help in whatever way they could. For the first time during her journey, she did not have to worry about anything; she simply ran. And during that particular time, she said that she felt like flying. She mentioned that she was overwhelmed with the kindness she had encountered during her journey and also with the fact that even if small things could help, the gap between the world’s inequalities was just too great.
After running more than 500 kilometers, Alicia finally reached the border of Goa. It was a milestone, marking almost the end of her arduous journey. But what Alicia was carrying at this time was much more significant than the distance she ran. She was carrying stories of people who helped her selflessly, people who welcomed her as their own, and young girls who, like her, were sources of inspiration for her.
India was more than a place for Alicia. It was an experience, an experience of learning, of overcoming stereotypes, of understanding the power of human interaction.
Alicia’s experience is a reminder that sometimes, the most surprising discoveries are not about places, but about people.
Alicia landed in Mumbai with the sole intention of running almost 700 kilometers along the Konkan coast to Goa. It was not just about the run; the run was also about the cause that Alicia wanted to support, the cause of girls' education in India. Every single kilometer of the run was supposed to be symbolic of the steps that were being taken towards providing opportunities to young girls who did not have the same opportunities as others.
Alicia's journey began early, and as early as it gets, with the iconic Gateway of India as the starting point. She took a ferry from here to Mandwa, after which she began running towards Alibag. The first day, as with most things, was a reality check, and Alicia encountered a lot of heat, traffic, and a backpack that felt heavier with each passing step. What was supposed to be a smooth run became a mix of walking and jogging, but even on the first day, something changed for Alicia.
Alibag welcomed her with colourful homes, quiet lanes, and a warmth she was not prepared for. It was not the scenic coastline she was to remember but the people she met along the way. Strangers who smiled at her, helped her, and made her feel safe in a foreign land.
Beyond the stereotypes
Alicia continued further into the Konkan region, and her experience was to take her beyond a stereotype she was accustomed to hearing about India. Like any outsider, she was fed information and images of a land overpopulated, polluted, and chaotic.
Villages opened up to her with a sense of calm and simplicity. Nature, in its raw beauty, was to accompany her along the way. The miles of lush greenery, the coastal breeze, and the seemingly endless stretches of road through quiet landscapes.
She was to find herself repeating a phrase that was to define her journey. India is not what people think it is.
On the seventh day of her run, Alicia went to a school in a village in the Konkan region. The school was a small, nature-based school, far removed from the kind of infrastructure most schools in cities take pride in. But what it lacked in terms of infrastructure, it made up for in attitude and spirit.
Alicia talked to the children, especially the girls. She told them her story of running and of believing in one’s own strength. For her, this was more than just a run. It was a reminder of what she was doing this run for. The young girls’ interest and attitude touched her.
The unexpected kindness of strangersIf there is one thing that touched Alicia the most, it was the people she met along the way. Running alone was a lonely experience, but she was never really alone.
Alicia met a group of running and cycling enthusiasts at a place called Ratnagiri. They were not just cheering for her; they ran and cycled alongside her. They wanted her to feel part of a larger group.
During her journey, aside from running, her interactions with the locals have also left her emotional and speechless. She recalled one particular incident where a local man she met on the road, who possibly had his own financial struggles too, offered to buy her some water. She said that she reflected on this particular incident that had deeply affected her because it was not just the man’s generosity that had touched her heart; it was the purest form of compassion.
When running becomes something moreOn the ninth day of her journey, something had changed for Alicia. What was supposed to have been a mere “unsupported” running journey had become a journey with the locals who believed in her mission and wanted to help in whatever way they could. For the first time during her journey, she did not have to worry about anything; she simply ran. And during that particular time, she said that she felt like flying. She mentioned that she was overwhelmed with the kindness she had encountered during her journey and also with the fact that even if small things could help, the gap between the world’s inequalities was just too great.
After running more than 500 kilometers, Alicia finally reached the border of Goa. It was a milestone, marking almost the end of her arduous journey. But what Alicia was carrying at this time was much more significant than the distance she ran. She was carrying stories of people who helped her selflessly, people who welcomed her as their own, and young girls who, like her, were sources of inspiration for her.
India was more than a place for Alicia. It was an experience, an experience of learning, of overcoming stereotypes, of understanding the power of human interaction.
Alicia’s experience is a reminder that sometimes, the most surprising discoveries are not about places, but about people.
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