Monday, August 21, 2006
India Week 2.
My mantra for this trip is: THE TOTAL INDIAN EXPERIENCE! It's a fabulous mantra, if I may say so, allowing one to sail through the highs and lows of a country that can bring out the best and the worse in people.
The Indian Experience List
1. Washing your ass after a poop with water instead of toilet paper
2. Seeing people hang off buses. It's definitely not the same seeing it in person. The bus really tilts to one side, and once, a man was spread spiderman like on the back of a bus. Wish i got that on camera *sigh*
3. Have a 530pm flight postponed to 1145pm, and then having the flight cancelled after waiting 2.5 hrs.
4. Swearing in Tamil
5. Saree shopping!!! No one saree is the same, and you have to let the sales guy fold out the fabric and throw it over your shoulder!
6. Lazing the whole day in the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat
7. The million dollar question in India: 'Your Name?' and this is closely followed by: 'You're from?'
8. Indian men in their dhotis/lungis worn ultra-mini style
9. Cows and goats lazing by the roadside
10. Non-indian food in an indian restaurant... be afraid, be very afraid.
My mantra for this trip is: THE TOTAL INDIAN EXPERIENCE! It's a fabulous mantra, if I may say so, allowing one to sail through the highs and lows of a country that can bring out the best and the worse in people.
The Indian Experience List
1. Washing your ass after a poop with water instead of toilet paper
2. Seeing people hang off buses. It's definitely not the same seeing it in person. The bus really tilts to one side, and once, a man was spread spiderman like on the back of a bus. Wish i got that on camera *sigh*
3. Have a 530pm flight postponed to 1145pm, and then having the flight cancelled after waiting 2.5 hrs.
4. Swearing in Tamil
5. Saree shopping!!! No one saree is the same, and you have to let the sales guy fold out the fabric and throw it over your shoulder!
6. Lazing the whole day in the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat
7. The million dollar question in India: 'Your Name?' and this is closely followed by: 'You're from?'
8. Indian men in their dhotis/lungis worn ultra-mini style
9. Cows and goats lazing by the roadside
10. Non-indian food in an indian restaurant... be afraid, be very afraid.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Mad in Madras.
Day 1: Singapore-Chennai
Mom drove me to the airport today. We chatted over coffee for a while, and when it was time to go, she gave me a hug at the departure gate. Undramatic, but a major milestone nonetheless. To be able to receive love, and to be able to give love. Considering the struggle we had over the past two years, this experience is priceless.
Chennai has a lot of white cars. To reflect the heat, S says. And oh i love the Ambassadors! A car brand that has an old world feel to it. http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=123753088&size=s
Chennai also has the 2nd longest beach front in the world, after Miami, and i'd be staying in a room that looks out to one bit of it.
Ayush is the ayurvedic spa that's found on the resort grounds, and after having a doctor take my pulse, he declares me a very healthy Vata-Kapha. And after filling in a 2 page questionnaire, i'm declared the only balanced Vata-Kapha-Pitta he's seen. Hmmm...
Day 2: Chennai, GRT Temple Bay Resort
Had the whole day to myself, and have lots of work to do. I can only stare at the beach from my room, and try to remind myself that I'm in India with some Tamil music from the ipod.
Day 3: Chennai, GRT Temple Bay Resort, GRT Grand, Train to Kerala
Went out on a short ride to sea on a catamaran (like a long boat). The sea was choppy, which makes it all the more fun. Saw the tops of some submerged temples off the shore. And floated happily in the sea for my 'sea water therapy' for a good 15min.
Left my bling bling gold pouch at the resort, one hour after checking out, and too hungry to head back. Fortunately, it's kept in a very safe place by the resort staff. Will get it once i'm back from Kerala.
Now at GRT Grand Hotel lobby. It's in the city centre, and S has left me here to work while he goes to the office. In two hours, we'd head for the train station to get on the overnight train to Kerala.
I was expecting a lot of stares, but interestingly, the only one I got was from a chinese looking guy at the restaurant today.
I suspect India has not hit me yet.
Day 1: Singapore-Chennai
Mom drove me to the airport today. We chatted over coffee for a while, and when it was time to go, she gave me a hug at the departure gate. Undramatic, but a major milestone nonetheless. To be able to receive love, and to be able to give love. Considering the struggle we had over the past two years, this experience is priceless.
Chennai has a lot of white cars. To reflect the heat, S says. And oh i love the Ambassadors! A car brand that has an old world feel to it. http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=123753088&size=s
Chennai also has the 2nd longest beach front in the world, after Miami, and i'd be staying in a room that looks out to one bit of it.
Ayush is the ayurvedic spa that's found on the resort grounds, and after having a doctor take my pulse, he declares me a very healthy Vata-Kapha. And after filling in a 2 page questionnaire, i'm declared the only balanced Vata-Kapha-Pitta he's seen. Hmmm...
Day 2: Chennai, GRT Temple Bay Resort
Had the whole day to myself, and have lots of work to do. I can only stare at the beach from my room, and try to remind myself that I'm in India with some Tamil music from the ipod.
Day 3: Chennai, GRT Temple Bay Resort, GRT Grand, Train to Kerala
Went out on a short ride to sea on a catamaran (like a long boat). The sea was choppy, which makes it all the more fun. Saw the tops of some submerged temples off the shore. And floated happily in the sea for my 'sea water therapy' for a good 15min.
Left my bling bling gold pouch at the resort, one hour after checking out, and too hungry to head back. Fortunately, it's kept in a very safe place by the resort staff. Will get it once i'm back from Kerala.
Now at GRT Grand Hotel lobby. It's in the city centre, and S has left me here to work while he goes to the office. In two hours, we'd head for the train station to get on the overnight train to Kerala.
I was expecting a lot of stares, but interestingly, the only one I got was from a chinese looking guy at the restaurant today.
I suspect India has not hit me yet.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]