I've been delaying this post for some time already.

Many things have happened, and I wanted to process everything so that my mind would be a bit clearer about what to write - but I'm not sure I'm there yet. Still, I decided it's time to do it.

My last volunteering experience took place in Kathmandu. It lasted 2 weeks, and I'm so happy I did it - especially because of the kids. It was the experience where I felt I connected the most with them, and I felt a bit sad to say goodbye at the end.

The place was a children's home. Many kids live there: some are orphans, some come from abusive families, and others were rejected by their parents after divorce and remarriage.

There are kids aged between 3 and 17, most of them boys. This time it was easier to connect with them through football. They also had a ping-pong table, which is another sport I really enjoy.

They go to school from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we'd meet them after school and stay until dinner time - usually around 8 p.m.

On the other hand, this time I didn't connect much with most of the volunteers. There were also some misunderstandings between us and the host. For a few days, I even considered leaving earlier.

In the end, I decided to stay because I was really enjoying being with the kids - and I'm happy I stayed for the full 2 weeks.

Two days later, I was heading to India - very excited to start this new part of my trip.

I took a flight to Delhi and stayed there for 2 nights.

Before arriving, I kept hearing how chaotic the city is, and how Indians have a different notion of personal space - that they love asking foreigners for selfies, for example.

Surprisingly, I wasn't asked even once. I walked quite a lot during those 2 days, in both poorer and more luxurious areas of this huge city.

To be honest, I was more shocked when I arrived in Kathmandu from Portugal than when I arrived in Delhi.

I admit that Delhi is a bit more chaotic - and the poverty is more visible than in Kathmandu - but Kathmandu kind of prepared me for it.

It's official now - I look like an Indian. I was told this even before I ever considered travelling here, but now, after being spoken to so many times in Hindi or being told directly that I look local, I don't doubt it anymore.

In Nepal, it happened quite a few times that locals thought I was one of them. But in India - and I've only be here a week - it has happened even more often.

The first time was on the day I arrived, at the airport. I went to buy a local SIM card. The seller asked for my passport, and even after seeing I was from Portugal, she still asked if I could speak Hindi. I said no. Then she asked if my mother or father were Indian - she told me I really look like one.

It probably helps to look local. Maybe that's why I'm not asked for selfies or bothered much on the streets. I feel I can walk around more freely.

I've felt safe everywhere I've been. In general, I feel Indians are even more open than Nepalese people - and much more so than Europeans.

They seem to enjoy getting to know strangers. They often take the initiative to start a conversation, and once they realise I'm a foreigner, they get even more interested.

This happened everywhere - in hostel dorms and even on the street. One random guy started talking to me (he did realise I wasn't local), and ended up helping me reach a place he recommended - even though it wasn't on his way.

After those 2 days, I took a very comfortable night bus to Manali. It's located in Himachal Pradesh, in the northwest of the country - even further north than Kathmandu. I chose this area because the temperatures are cooler than in most of India during summer. There are mountains all around, as this is part of the Himalayas.

I stayed for a few nights in Old Manali, a somewhat touristic village - but also a charming one, with plenty of nearby trails for trekking.

I'm now in Naggar, close to Manali and even closer to my next destination - a small nearby village where I'll do my next volunteering.

It will be a different experience from the previous ones, as there won't be any kids this time. It's an eco-village, where I'll probably help with cleaning, cooking, gardening, or maybe even guiding guests on hikes. That's the theory, at least. I'll find out once I'm there.

Naggar is a nice place to rest. Also surrounded by mountains, it's quieter than Manali because it's less touristic. I felt I needed a few days like this before starting the new volunteering experience.

You might wonder why I began this post by saying I'd been delaying it, that I had to process many things.

Obviously, I didn't go as deep as I could have. I'm keeping some things to myself - nothing serious, just things I don't feel like sharing publicly.

This has been an intense and beautiful experience, with many things happening every day.

Not all days are amazing - far from it. This is not a typical holiday trip of just 1 or 2 weeks. This is life happening every single day.

I'm not just doing tourism - and definitely not luxury tourism. Sometimes I stay in uncomfortable places, sometimes I have bad days, sometimes I spend time with people I'd rather not.

But, as I did before this trip, every single day I keep trying to make the choices I believe are best for me - trusting they will take me to places and situations that hold meaning for me.