Wolves fan Gulraj Kular returns from the 'trip of a lifetime'

A lifelong passion or hobby? Check. A far-flung country of which we know relatively little about? Check. A four-yearly event which draws like-minded people from all corners of the globe to said country? Check. As you may have guessed I'm referring to the 2014 World Cup currently being held in the spiritual home of football – Brazil.

As usually happens when a worldwide event is held, the host country was put under the magnifying glass. My mother Sangita, father Kulbinder, brother Gobindraj and I watched on from a distance as daily reports of protests, casualties and even deaths were beamed back to the UK. Needless to say it was a little unnerving as we were prepared to dive headfirst into the unknown. All manner of precautions were taken purely due to the fact we just didn't know what to expect – caipirinhas or chaos?

All of those emotions dissipated upon landing in Rio de Janeiro however. Symbolised by the ungoverned favelas which underwent a mass process of pacification before the start of the tournament, stories of drugs, crime and a coldness towards outsiders were never far away. But what we experienced could not have been further from the truth.

It was far from reckless and lawless, instead, free-spirited and jovial. Fans of all 31 visiting countries and more were made to feel at home. It was as if there was a mass meeting called on the eve of the tournament with everyone agreeing to show the world what Brazil was really all about. In fairness, the police presence was massive, and barring a small blot on the copybook for the opening game at the Copacabana beach fanfest – a stampede to get inside in time for kick off – the authorities managed to keep a lid on whatever was inside the Brazilian version of Pandora's box.

Rio, with its enchanting views and magnificent landscape, tops the billing when it comes to Brazilian tourist destinations. But there was a slightly diluted feel about the city, as if it wasn't Brazil in its purest form. That came when we visited Manaus.

The sight which met us as the plane landed at Santos Dumont Airport was something which will remain with me for a very long time. They weren't joking when they said the Amazon rainforest is huge. Greenery dominated the scenery as far as the eye could see. Then suddenly – civilisation. Manaus is a celebration of natural beauty and human engineering rolled into one. Where there was nothing but vegetation and all kinds of wildlife someone had the vision of a prosperous city – in the early 20th century the area was booming, primarily thanks to the booming rubber trade.

Roy Hodgson may not have been keen on the region, but for us Kulars it was the highlight of our trip. It was here where we would take in two matches – the now controversial Cameroon vs Croatia and the exhilarating draw between USA and Portugal. It was clear that tourism wasn't as high on the agenda as in Rio. Hotels were reminiscent of classic 1970s movies, while there was distinct lack of English speakers around. But that didn't dampen the experience at all. Thankfully, we were located right next to the cultural hub of the city in Largo do Sao Sebastiao – during the day an outdoor theatre displaying live football and at night a hive of activity as tourists and Brazilians alike mingled over a few caipirinhas and cervejas. It was also the home of the Amazon Theatre, which laid claim to being the first building of its kind in the vicinity of the rainforest.

It was also in Manaus where we embraced the nature lover within us with a tour along the Rio Negro which bisects the city. Our river adventure was one of the highlights of the trip taking in an Amazonian tribe, a floating restaurant and even a caiman, boa constrictor and a sloth.

As far as matchdays were concerned they couldn't have possibly gone any smoother. The Arena da Amazonia was a wonderfully designed structure, fit for any league or club in the world. The local area was blocked by police around 1km away from the ground, with only those holding tickets allowed past. This was a sensible ploy ensuring the safety of those attending. How refreshing it was to see zero segregation of fans from opposing teams and no friction whatsoever. Despite their gap in footballing knowledge the attitude of those from 'across the pond' in America towards their side was admirable and they ensured that all enjoyed themselves as much as possible. Brazilians were happy to play the role of host, photobombing their way into many tourists' hearts.

We went for the World Cup. We were so close to the action and immersed within the country and its culture that it we weren't aware of quite what was happening on a global scale – this is being considered one of the greatest tournaments in living memory. And we were there to witness it. I cannot sign off on a better note than that.