It's cliche, but I seriously can't believe I'm about to leave India already. I've settled in and made a little home here. I have routines, I've learned the ropes, I've learned some Hindi, and I feel like India can't do much that will shock me anymore. Now that I'm comfortable, I'll uproot myself and head 'home.' On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I got here just yesterday. The summer has flown.
In celebration of all things India, I've been keeping some lists:
Numbers
In celebration of all things India, I've been keeping some lists:
Numbers
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| wtf. |
- Elephants: 7
- 3 working (Bombay, Jaipur)
- 1 trumpeting (Jodhpur)
- 2 hanging out eating leaves (Kerala)
- And 1 named Akbar, that I paid 100 Rs to pet adoringly (Kerala)
- Monkeys: 8 (until I lost track in Kerala)
- Times asked to be a Bollywood extra: 2
- Times asked to take a photo with strangers: 13
- Times asked to take a photo for strangers: 0
- Photos "sneaked" of me: countless
- Edible Arrangements: 1
- Party Rock Anthem: 1
- Starbucks: 0
- Camels: 21 in one day, then I lost count (Ahmedabad + Rajasthan are camel central)
- Broken dinosaur sculptures: 6
- Peacocks: I lost count after one jumped at me in Jaipur. Rajasthan is the place to go for peacocks.
- Cats mating: 2 pair
- Favorite bumper sticker: "Watch out - I STOP at red lights"
- Favorite way of being asked if I need to use the toilet: "Urine?"
- Favorite reassurance when the entire bus windshield shatters all over us, and after a quick dusting off we continue windshieldless at 100+ kmph, in the dark, in the monsoon: "Don't feel uncomfortable."
- Favorite brand rip off: tied between "Google Denim" and "Facebook Restaurant"
- Favorite sign advertising a police station: "Better late than never."
- Favorite roadside warning: "When care dies, accident happens."
- Favorite men's underwear ad: "Style to negotiate a complete surrender." [See 'women' post...]
- Mumbai
- Restaurants: Yoga House, Cafe Britannia, The Village, Suzette, Bagel Shop, Fellas, Caravan Serai (but be clear that you are ordering a full chicken, not four chickens.)
- Shopping: Anokhi, Play Clan
- Activities: Colaba art galleries, walking along Marine Drive, riding the train, strolling the neighborhoods
- Ahmedabad
- Restaurants: Swati Snacks, Green House
- Highlights: Ghandhi everything
- Jaipur
- Restaurants: Haveli
- Highlights: peacocks, elephants, Amber Fort
- Jodhpur
- Restaurants: Omelette shop
- Shopping: all over the old city
- Highlights: walking around the old city, Mehrangah Fort, jeeping out all over Rajasthan to meet with rural communities
- Kerala
- Restaurants: just have your meals cooked by the houseboat crew
- Highlights: Munnar climate, houseboating
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| they say... |
- Showering without a bucket
- Sleeping without DEET
- 6 craft beers for the price of one Hoegaarden
- My cell phone
- Lack of papaya
- Lack of Yoga House
- That other kind of stress
I hear you on the "other kind of stress" and, related, "my cell phone." Oy vay. Great post! I can't believe it's over.
ReplyDeleteHave fun traveling through Europe and see on the flip-side!