In 2008, readers of the British edition of Cond Nast Traveler named India as their second favourite holiday destination (after New Zealand). Yet 2008 was also the year when two Indian cities, Mumbai and Jaipur, were struck by terrorist attacks. Go to India on a holiday - for a couple of weeks or perhaps four months like this author did during the winter of 2009-2010. One of two things may happen: Either you will return home in despair at the poverty, corruption, and castes of India - promising never to visit that part of the world again. Or you will return with the certain knowledge that a completely new and young, promising future is around the corner. A future which this time begins in the so-called Third World. Should the latter be the case do not bother unpacking your backpack. You will be leaving again.