If there’s one thing most people agree on, it’s that India is not a place you can just “tick off” your list. The more you explore it, the more there is to discover. From the chaos of bustling cities to the calm of spiritual towns, from mouth-watering street food to breathtaking natural beauty, India is a whole mood. If you have experienced this country once, then it is difficult to walk away.
A Danish woman named Astrid Esmeralda knows exactly what we mean. She quit her life in Copenhagen and moved to India on a whim and now, after 10 months of living here, she calls it one of the best decisions of her life.
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Taking to Instagram, Astrid shared a reel about her journey and penned an honest caption that’s now going viral.
“I needed a change. It felt like there was nothing left for me in Copenhagen. I loved my job, my apartment, my friends (I miss you!), but I was so bored of the city… It’s only fun in the summer! The rest of the time, we’re all just waiting for summer, and it feels like such a sleepy place,” she wrote.
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So what did she do? She quit everything, sold it all, and moved to India. No plan. No expectations. Just a desire to feel alive again. And India didn’t disappoint.
“Now in India, I feel soooo alive!!!! India has opened my eyes to so much. First of all, I’ve fallen in love with a country that’s so diverse, wild, and beautiful. I’ve fallen in love with the culture, the people, and the nature.”
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Over the past 10 months, Astrid has travelled across Rishikesh, Goa, Mumbai and more. From yoga retreats to bustling beaches, street food to sunsets, her time in India has been full of what she calls “mini adventures”. She also shared how this journey helped her reconnect with herself.
“India has shown me new sides of myself, awakened my dreams, and given me trust in my journey. It’s also shown me the real effects of karma. I’m grateful for everything—most of all, the privilege to be able to travel, live abroad, and explore the world.”
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While she’s planning to spend the summer travelling around Europe, Astrid says she’ll be back in India after the monsoon. Because let’s be honest, once you’ve fallen in love with India, there’s no going back.
Have a look at her full post here:
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Honestly? Same, girl. Same.