Jojo in India: August 2006

PDAs : a big cultural difference

I've been waiting to get the right picture to make this post since I first observed it. However, stopping to take pictures of men as they pass me seems to garner some unwanted attention! So this pic will have to do.

In the US when we think of Public Displays of Affection some of us think of slobbering teenagers (or perhaps a certain female friend who shall go unnamed!) making out in public places (bars). It's quite the opposite here. Couples, even married couples, never touch in public. I have yet to see as much as a hand-holding.

From Wikipedia:
In India, the Supreme Court of India - the seat of the highest authority of the law of the land - has described PDA to be in bad taste and an unacceptable act, which may be considered an act of public nuisance, and sometimes leading to conviction and/or fine from the involved parties.

On the other hand, where in the US some guy friends will actually sit with a seat in between them at a movie, men in India are very affectionate with their friends.
I was at first taken aback by the sight of two men walking holding hands, fingers actually intertwined as well as men with their arms around each other. Our connotations of these behaviors is quite different. In India, homosexuality is still quite taboo, and these are purely gestures of friendship.

Just another cultural difference observation from me to you!

Debauchery

Just got some pictures from my coworker from the first night we went out a few weeks ago. This was the night after which I decided I could no longer keep up with the 21-year olds!

Cheers!

Down the hatch...

Indian whisky = no bueno!

my first rickshaw ride on the way home w/Julie. We don't look at all intoxicated :)

Supermarket fun!

Getting my camera out & taking pictures in the market drew a few stares from the shopkeeper but I couldn't resist.

I have no idea what flavor this is but the thought of green milk really grosses me out!

This crap is everywhere. I swear every other commercial on TV is about how to make your skin look whiter. It's kinda sad. We spend a ton of money on self-tanners and they're trying to get the opposite. If you didn't see fairness cream on the label and you saw this in the US you would think the left-hand side was the desired outcome. It's ridiculous.

My first "Indian" wedding

Actually neither the bride nor the groom are Indian, but they did meet here at the office. I researched some of the traditions so please let me know if I got something wrong. Here's a little of how it went....

The groom gets on his white (kinda) horse..

Everyone dances in front of the groom in a slowly moving procession towards the wedding...

Just before we reached the hotel they cleared the road and set up this long line of firecrackers...

When the groom arrives he goes through the ritual of haath boravanu where the groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he negotiates an amount of money to pay to the to sisters of the bride (or friends).

He enters the room and then a sheet is held in front of him so he can't see as the bride is carried into the room.

They exchange garlandsand everyone throws rice.

The ring is put in pot of water mixed with milk and vermillion. The first one to find it 4 times is said to be the one who will rule the household! the bride won :)

Then dancing and more dancing

Closeup of the brides hands, which took 7 hours to paint

jewelry in India...

the jewelry here is just my style... big chunky natural stones. So in addition to the ring in my henna post I picked up this necklace for ~$45 USD. Ladies get your requests in now! Necklace, earrings, or bracelet?

How slow?

very serious about the speed limit around here...

I got a tattoo!!

Don't worry mom, it's not permanent! It's a henna tattoo which should last 2-4 weeks.

After the paste was applied.

an hour later when it's starting to come off...

a little orange....

with my cool new moonstone ring, it has turned a little darker..

Jason's coming to India!

Jason has reserved a flight to come visit, & it looks like he'll be on 5 different flights to get here....Now that's love!

Rough idea of how our trip might go, starting in the north. All of this is about 17 days!

More on the places we are planning to go later...

Leela Palace

Leela Palace is basically the Ritz Carlton of Bangalore. Rooms go for about $500 USD /night. We're a little more cost-conscious so instead of staying there we just went for the Sunday Champagne Brunch. Real meat, cheese, chocolate fountain & all the champagne you can drink for 4 hours!

The group, clockwise from the front: Stuart, Jo, Kris, Sat, Isabella, Canadian Mike, Mikey, Obie, Julie, Josh & Jules

Apparently our former Commander-in-Chief is a big fan of the Leela!

More pics of Leela

the pool..

the hot tub...

flowers everywhere, it smells fantastic in there...

More pictures of Leela here

More on the spa later :)

Thanks Dad!

Well I had a pretty crappy day yesterday, just not feeling well, woke up on the wrong side of the bed. So it was really nice to come back to the office last night & find I had a delivery waiting for me.

Thanks Dad!

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Jojo the teacher....

So it's not all fun and games here...

Some shots of me in action

Me talking to the boss, KP, and fellow trainer JJ on the left

Hiding in the back

Bannerghatta National Park

Yesterday, despite a wicked hangover (I'm so done trying to keep up w/the 21 year-olds!), I went on a group trip to Bannerghatta National Park which is a wildlife refuge.

We got on the bus....