The Griswolds Go To India

i decided to do the tourist thing the other day to try to get my head around the fact that i'm in india and i'm not taking it by storm... so instead of trying to blend, i decided to be the blatant tourist... except i forgot my camera... Mandy's camera actually (thanks girl)... so i had to photoshop a visual reference for my fans. Hopefully, i won't forget it again or you're going to see this image a lot.

i ended up taking a rickshaw ride to the maharajah's palace (side note: a rickshaw is not a little asian man pulling white americans around on a two wheel cart, but a miniture automobile americans stuff themselves into if they don't want to walk) because my Rough Guide To India says it's the biggest tourist attraction in mysore... why go small really? if you're gonna do it, then do it...

being the only single white female in this joint, it's safe to say i got a lot of looks... actually, it was like i was in a zoo... except there was no glass. i learned that indians travel in packs for the most part, so i really looked alone... kind of like that little red fish in a see of blue fish. a lot of people goggled at me, some even asked for my picture... i felt like a famous polar bear in the desert. a group of woman were laughing at me as i walked into a temple. one of them even followed me in there, grabbed my arm and pulled me back out to the group so they could laugh some more. apparently my sunglasses were funny. i laughed with them.

the people in india seem lighter than americans. they don't carry the weight of their problems on their shoulders... and they smile easily. the children are my favorite. they are so excited and sincerely curious about me. what is your name? what is your country? and if i see them again, they run by screaming "Elisabet! Elisabet!" and laugh the whole way.

i'm slowly getting adjusted and more comfortable being in india. i started my yoga practice yesterday and it was absolutely amazing. i've never felt such a tangible energy before.

i haven't sat next to a live chicken yet (or dead)... sorry Kristen... but i did get swooped by a family of monkeys. Cows are everywhere except for my dinner plate and i haven't got the delhi belly yet... knocking on wood.