Friday, January 15, 2010

India Blog 1



Mumbai, India – Day 1

I would like to preface this Blog with “We don’t have a great title for this Blog (wahhhhh)” We usually have a great Movie Title instead we would like to include one of the best Indian newspaper headlines ever!
“HERMAPHRODITIC LOCAL CRIME BOSS “FAT MURPHY” DROPS HIS STRAP-ON WHILE BEING SEARCHED BY POLICE. POLICE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON GENITIALIA”.

 


We are staying at the ITC Grand Central Hotel in Mumbai and its sweet! A beautiful hotel with a great view of the old textile factory & city, fantastic food and service. When we finally got out on the first day, we spent 1.5 hours in traffic (wahhh) but the photos along the way were worth it. We stopped at all the mandatory shopping streets for tourists (we’ll have to find something more local tomorrow) the city is imbedded in smoke and smog and we went to view smog harbor, between that and the tourist rip-off stores we lasted about 2 minutes.



From there, we went to one of the highlights of the day – Victoria Terminus in Mumbai – the one from Slum Dog Millionaire, a wonderful sea of humanity and crazy energy!




Next stop - the humongous outdoor laundry. The local teen Goon (bad sunglasses and shirt – no photo included) shook us down for 400 rupees, but I went flea market on his ass and he got half. I was very pleased with myself until I realized I didn’t have to pay him at all. 10,000 people work here and some live here. Picture a barefoot city built around grey cement stalls (about coffin size) big vats of gem colored water and clean clothing of every color and size hanging above your head.

Andrea’s photos kick ass and we’ll be showing our photos together this time. (She went digital for the day and also took some video.)


Day 2 – Mumbai

Found that local market we were looking for. If you like the smell of heavy garlic and Chicken sh_t (rhymes with poop). The butchering area smelled even worse. It was like the Texas chainsaw massacre with guts and red blood-stained feathers everywhere. Theses smug Spice guys tried to shake us down for a lot of rupees, we walked away and got it all for half – again. Nice. Went back to the Laundry one more time and ended up buying 20 children desserts from the cake guy (see photo) for 5 rupees each – best $2.00 we ever spent.

Laundry children photo here.

Next stop - Ahmedabad for the Kite Festival and our friend Pratik’s wedding.

Remember “The Green Eyed Boy” from the kite market?
… Well, make that “ The Green eyed GIRL”!!!


We went back to the Kite market to try to find this little boy that I photographed 3 years ago (I use his image on my postcard). We heard that a street market in Ahmedebad was bombed about 6 months after we left, so we wanted to find him. The second we got out of the car this little boy was standing there – I mean the first kid we saw – No Sh_t! But now, a beautiful young girl (see photo)- I had her image in my hand when we saw each other. Her name is ? we have it written down but can’t make it out, bummer. The first time I photographed ‘her’, her mother had cut her hair because she was sick (or had lice?). Which explains the boyish looks. She lives in the street with her Mother & 2 sisters selling garlic on a blanket 7 days a week. She remembered us immediately - hard to imagine that, a big white guy and his wife with cameras hanging all over them - tourists? I went crazy buying her and sisters chocolate, candies & kites with string for the festival, stuff which the other street kids tried to steal, I had to kick some scrappy street kid ass - did that sound tough?





Our good friends from Udaipur, Farooq & Shakil came down to see us on a 5-hour motorcycle trip. Had tea with them last night. Also Andrea’s friends from work came in for the wedding south of Ahmedebad in Anand, India. We all met up for a fantastic day in the streets and rooftops for the kite festival. Started out at the Kite market where we bought some more kites. Our friend Farooq’s daughter Selma now lives in Ahmedabad so after the market we hit her roof and joined the rest of the town in a crazy screaming kite cutting down competition (see photo). Talk about gregarious, these people (what do you mean by these people?) are all smiles, hellos and come over to my house for tea and snacks. Andrea cut down her first kite and was screaming like a mad woman along with her new found buddies. I guess if you haven’t read or seen The Kite runner this probably sounds pretty boring, but I must tell that being invited into this world that’s completely beyond of all our experiences is a truly wonderful, the colors, sounds & smells, are all amazing!

Just got back from dinner with Farooq, Shakil, Tamika, Tasha, Sumeida and Carlos – a typical Gugurati-style dinner on the rooftop of an old mansion-turned-hotel. We tried most everything on the plate and then sat and had Chai tea and coffee together. Now everyone wants to change plans to go to Udaipur. (Adam and I already changed our flights and hotel to spend time there. Too hot in the south and we miss Kerun and Shabana.)

Shopping on the docket for tomorrow and then off to Anand where we’ll try on our wedding outfits, buy some shoes and the girls will get some henna……

6 comments:

  1. It's stuff like this that makes me proud to call you my friend. Honestly, your photos and writing are something to be admired. Just one thing, MAKE A DAMN BOOK JACKASS! This stuff is gold.

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  2. I can't wait to see more pictures!!!

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  3. I love love love that my favorite photo of yours - "the green eyed boy" is now even more interesting/beautiful.

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  4. I did not realize how much I missed your travel photos and writings, thank you both and please keep them coming. The green eye boy/girl experience is simply amazing. Be safe, Much love Will

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  5. So how do they get their whites so white? Seriously, these photos are amazing! Loving your stories (the green eyed boy/girl is fantastic)! Looking forward to reading more of your adventures. Karen

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  6. you guys are doing fantastic- great read and beautiful fotos!

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