"Local is the true exotic, because it’s right there and you’re not even looking at it." - Has Traveling Killed Traveling?

As I wandered in the streets of Ahmedabad, India for the first time last fall, making my way through the vibrant saris and pungent smells of the open market, I suddenly noticed I was the only white person wandering here in a crowd of busy Indians buying papaya or peppers while chomping on nuts. I paused as hundreds of pairs of dark brown eyes were staring at me in bewilderment and perplexity, wondering what the hell I was doing here.