Categories
About Me (2)
Australia (15) Cambodia (9) China (13) England (3) General Stuff (9) India (66) Laos (11) Malaysia (13) Mongolia (5) Nepal (1) New York (3) Oregon (9) People I've Met (6) Preparations and Inspiration (3) Scotland (23) Singapore (1) Thailand (44) Wales (1) Washington (2)
Recent Entries
Lurking Around on Travel Sites
Continue Blogging? In My Own Bed Pray For It Seattle and Interesting Uses of Pyrex Heading to Seattle Weekend Out of Hippyville New Photos!!! Better Moods The $330 Trip to the Oregon Country Fair July 4th, 2004 More Books I've Read Why Are These People Talking to Me? Two Wheelin' Culture Shock There And Back Again More Pampering Freaky Meetings I Wanted To End It All Summing Up the Gobi
Archives
|
September 30, 2003Pushkar
"Madam, everything is possible" I visited the small holy Hindu city of Pushkar for a few days and this was the catch phrase of every salesman. I felt like I was back in Yangshuo, China because of all the eastern/western shopping. Pushkar is a city where there are herds of Israelis around. If there are cheap drugs to be taken or sold, there are Israelis. Most are embittered by their time in the army for a cause they don't care about and just want to get high. In the process they have populated this small Hindu city and many are very rude to the locals. This is not to say all Israelis are crackheads, but I didn't see one that wasn't strung out either on drugs or the infamous "special lassi". The "everything is possible" phrase gave me a good laugh because when you would walk into a shop, a tout would run over and say it. THen when you asked about a different color or size they answered, "no madam, not possible" and would try to interest you in something that didn't fit or was hideously ugly. According to our group leader (who is Indian), the prices I got on my silk chinese pants were dirt cheap (70 rupees which was originally 80 but they had a small hole which I wasn't very fussed about but I felt compelled to bargain). I also bought a pair of cotton pants that are VERY flowy and almost like bellbottoms but they dont go tight around the knee, just straight up to the waist. They match a beautiful silk punjabi top, which together cost 320 rupees ($6.50ish). Again the group leader said I did really well. After a shower, I put on my new duds with my usual travel head rag and wandered around a bit more. One quiet old man walked up to me and told me I looked like a beautiful maharani and then walked away. I suppose there are worse compliments!!! I also find that I get more attention when I am in local dress than not. Why, I don't know. This really confuses me. Oh well, go figure!!! Pushkar was a welcome sanctuary for a few days and we stayed in a resort that doubled as a plant nursery. We got the fun of shopping and bargaining while staying in an oasis of greenery. ROCK ON! :) Comments
I am grinning from ear to ear, last day at work today....cya soon I am a bit confused.. why are there so many Israelis in India? Did I miss new about an occupation? What cause? (I feel really ignornant.) Posted by: Stephanie on October 3, 2003 11:01 AMHi Sounds like things are going well. When does Ant show up? Reading your stuff sounds like stuff out of Passage to India or Gandhi!! I'm glad to see you are meeting Ness without Joey!!!!!!!!!! I would love to see a photo of you in native gear. How is the money situation working out? Dad, the money situation is alright, not great, but hopefully I will have enough.... Steph, the Israelis are all just out of their mandatory army service and stressed out. They feel like their country has trained them to be killing machines for a cause (the protection of Israel) that they don't care abotu and they are not patriotic. They just want to sit back, get stoned, and feel like kings so India has become a drug haven for them unfortunately. Dusty, congrats. :) Posted by: Claudia on October 4, 2003 07:51 AM |
|