It's been busy here, thus the reason for my neglecting of the Blog-o-sphere.
We've had 2 long hikes to Vischist since I last wrote. Each with some hot-spring bathing. Last Tuesday we hiked to Vaschist early morning, we met a woman from California on our hike there. She's a pretty avid follower of the Dali Lama and came with us to the baths. After bathing, we met with Chhape, a local friend of ours who runs an adventure and trekking company, and his family. His wife and his brothers wife had made us breakfast - we sat on the floor of their kitchen and they served us Rice with Subji (Vegetables), it was delicious! We had tea, and then headed home.
Friday I went to the market with a mission in mind: I was going to get my shoes fixed! I knew that I'd pay twice as much, because I'm so blond, and white - and though they rarely assume I'm American, being blond is enough to pay twice. (being american means paying 3times, blond americans pay 4times as much --- for pretty much anything). Anyway, I still was set on haggling at least a little bit, so I talked my shoe guy down to a 60 rupee shoe repair and a 20 rupee shoe shine. Then an Indian-German (these are rare) came up and started talking to me - told me I'd been had. That I should have paid 30 Rupees for the whole deal. But, he took me for tea and bought me butter - which more than made up for my lack of sales-manship. He spoke poor english: so for the second time in my life: My Highschool German came in Handy! I enjoyed practicing my Deutsch with him, and enjoyed my free butter and tea.
We went back to the baths yesteraday, Saturday, and had breakfast again with Chhape's family. Also, after our bath, we had papaya with lime juice and mint tea. We then stopped and visited with a man who makes pants, so that he can make a pair for me - I'm too short to wear the Small size. So I am looking forward to my own custom pair of Salwaar's this Wednesday!
We had a bath because we wanted to be clean for the Indian Wedding we had been invited to last monday. It was in the village of Dungree, with a local man who is sort of an A-lister as mountain men go. Anyway, he had plenty of money to throw a fun party, and we were invited to join. So we got dressed up and headed out. We ate well, and danced late. Became closer with the family, and enjoyed some classic Indian music, as well as some modern Indian hip-hop. The friendliness, hospitality, and general kindness of the Indian people (at least from what I've experienced) cannot be overstated. Talk about a great crowd! If I wanted, I could pass days on end with no plans, just walking about, accepting invitations to dinner that people pass out like halloween candy.
After the wedding, Simone's friend Pankish gave us a ride on His motorbike - and this ride was much scarier than the last one! Pankish went REALLY fast especially down the hills, and everytime I screamed he just went faster! I really thought you'd never see the pictures or hear the stories, because I was positive I was gonna die. But, what an adrenaline rush! And just goes to show me: taking rides with strangers is safer than with friends!
Anyway, the wedding was great fun - We took some Pictures, and I've got them here to share!!
This is Papa- he is the patriarch of the family of the wedding. Think that hat is way wicked cool? Just think how cool it was when he gave it to me as a token of his (albeit drunken) appreciation of my dancing. Simone says that makes me a local. I wouldn't go that far - I just think it makes me a blonde girl in a brown world with a cool hat. (And maybe a few friends) Anyway, the hat is part of the Kullu Valley (that's where I live) fashion, it's pretty much only available here, and sporting it is very indicative of your regional roots... they are really beautiful with full, rich colors.
This is the whole set up - the entry way and some folks on the road. Pretty fun colors and great fabrics!
I just liked this image. It's impossible to explain the richness in color, and in life that is omnipresent.
Hey look! It's us. This is Simone and I - and next to simone is Anita, a sister of a brother of the groom --- I think. Anyway, you can see we're having dinner here, rice and subji (veggies!) and for me, Mutton (lamb). Yum yum! I also had a beer!
We made friends with this little kid. I mean, how could we not? His mom spoke great english and was from southern India. She was really sweet and invited me to meet her family, her adopted father was a writer in southern India, originally from D.C., and has lived in India for 33 years. He was a little squirrely, but kind and generous, like everyone else I've met.
These guys were great fun. There was lots of boozing to be done at the wedding (a friend I made that was staying at the house said they'd been drinking for the last 2 days - sounds like a hoovler/hillenmeyer wedding to me!). You can see the mountains a bit in the background here too - thought it was twighlight and the mistiness from the river makes it hazy.
This is a photo of the bride and groom. We knew the Grooms father and a friend of his - that's how we managed an invite (they arent that hard to come by). And yes, he is wearing a money necklace, those are all 10 Rupee bills hanging around his neck (worth approx 25 cents each).Okay! I'm off to bed, Yoga early every morning means I have to scoot to sleep or else I regret it!
Love you all!
