I know you probably don't want to read about this topic. But the thing of it is, no one talks about it. But that doesn't do much good for the soon-to-be-travelers who are worried about getting sick on the road. So, for all of those fine folk, I'm going to step right into it. This topic, I mean.

During our round-the-world trip, it took me five visits over six months before I enjoyed Bangkok. I fully expected India to be a similar challenge for me. But not once did I hate it. Not once did I want to leave. Not once would I have changed a thing.

You can practice traveling before your first international trip. Of course, it's difficult to create conditions at home similar to what it's like when you're traveling long-term abroad. But we were able to do a few things before our round-the-world trip that helped prepare us quite a bit.

Leaving Notre Dame, we were greeted with the views of Parisian streets and small cafes; exactly as you would imagine there to be. And with no pressing agenda in mind, other than to perhaps make our way toward the Eiffel Tower, we began walking along the left bank of the River Seine.

India is a photographer's dream. The golden tones of the desert, the intricately detailed temples, the blindingly bright saris, the magnificence of forgotten forts, the flowing chaos of cities, and the constant movement of one billion people all compete for your attention and beg to be remembered.