one and a half months in India...(continued from old blog)
Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89801190@N00/
Almost here for 1.5 months now and apparently I have a few non-Dutch speaking readers; for them I will write my little story in English, but only for now.
The last few weeks I actually managed to get a daily routine, and made friends with my domestic-cockroach (Kees) which lives in my bathroom. Unfortunately it decided to take advantage of my trust and started an unacceptable relationship with my beloved toothbrush. Therefore I decided to move out of my apartment and join the 13 guys at the Robertson house in Frazertown (a part of Bangalore), where I will replace a Japanese trainee.
Last week we visited Mysore (130 km from Bangalore), during Dussehra, a religious festival which meant an extra day off! (There are a lot of religious holidays, and thus many days off). In Msyore, we visited the Sultan’s palace, the biggest attraction of this city, especially at night when the building is lighted by thousands of small lights, truly a beautiful sight. Also we paid a visit to the local market, where mainly fruits, flowers and household appliances were sold.
The following day we attended the parade, a once a year festivity which attracts people from all over the state. Too bad it was really too busy to take a few decent pictures of the whole thing, but luckily (especially for the girls who where continuously being harassed in the crowd) we were invited by a family to enjoy the whole spectacle from their roof!
After my return by bus to Bangalore, I noticed that two new roommates just moved in and occupied the two empty beds in my room; an Indian who works for an IT company (could it be something else?) and a Dutch guy from Rotterdam, Rob who seems to be a great fan of Feyenoord and sports in general. Too bad for Rob that he managed to catch the infamous Durchfall, or Delhi belly... I guess it’s not very nice to spend most of your first week in India on a toilet seat…
Last weekend we went to INXS, a rockband known by many, at least in western society. The concert was at Bangalore’s Palace grounds and expected to attract at least a few thousand people, but too bad just a few hundred people showed up, I guess there’s not much of a concert culture here. Anyway, it was a great concert and probably one of the few opportunities to be that close to the stage. I tried to take a few pictures, and the ones that actually are not too blurry are posted on my Flickr account.
Finally I will provide an overview of a few of the Indian peculiarities I’ve noticed until now;
• It is totally acceptable to pick up your cell phone and start a loud conversation in the cinema.
• In case of a Bollywood movie, don’t expect to be home on time; it will take at least 3 hours…
• Don’t try to understand Indian food, it’s no use. Eat or avoid it.
• Efficiency is just like alcohol, smoking and sex, a taboo for the largest part of the population.
• Most probably the injuries of the beggar are self-inflicted in order to receive more money.
• Earning a wage of a little bit more than 90 eurocent/hour makes you a part of the Indian middle class.
• Yes, I will haggle for 5 Rps. (8 eurocent) with a rickshaw driver and later spend his weekly income on a drink.
• Blond hair seems to be an invitation for harassment.
• “Yes Yes” doesn’t exactly mean yes; it can mean maybe, try again tomorrow, simply no, or I hear you but please piss off.
• If ever to arrange official stuff (ie. Extending visa, acquiring a residential permit) it’s best to take a week off from work. Your boss will understand.
• A good friendship in India extends beyond the mental linkage.
• Good service is expressed in behaving in a slavery way.
• Indian Standard Time (IST) is just a practical joke; actually it means Indian Stretch Time.
• Just being friendly to hawkers, touts and rickshaw drivers will end up in you being ripped off.
pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89801190@N00 /
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89801190@N00/
Almost here for 1.5 months now and apparently I have a few non-Dutch speaking readers; for them I will write my little story in English, but only for now.
The last few weeks I actually managed to get a daily routine, and made friends with my domestic-cockroach (Kees) which lives in my bathroom. Unfortunately it decided to take advantage of my trust and started an unacceptable relationship with my beloved toothbrush. Therefore I decided to move out of my apartment and join the 13 guys at the Robertson house in Frazertown (a part of Bangalore), where I will replace a Japanese trainee.
Last week we visited Mysore (130 km from Bangalore), during Dussehra, a religious festival which meant an extra day off! (There are a lot of religious holidays, and thus many days off). In Msyore, we visited the Sultan’s palace, the biggest attraction of this city, especially at night when the building is lighted by thousands of small lights, truly a beautiful sight. Also we paid a visit to the local market, where mainly fruits, flowers and household appliances were sold.
The following day we attended the parade, a once a year festivity which attracts people from all over the state. Too bad it was really too busy to take a few decent pictures of the whole thing, but luckily (especially for the girls who where continuously being harassed in the crowd) we were invited by a family to enjoy the whole spectacle from their roof!
After my return by bus to Bangalore, I noticed that two new roommates just moved in and occupied the two empty beds in my room; an Indian who works for an IT company (could it be something else?) and a Dutch guy from Rotterdam, Rob who seems to be a great fan of Feyenoord and sports in general. Too bad for Rob that he managed to catch the infamous Durchfall, or Delhi belly... I guess it’s not very nice to spend most of your first week in India on a toilet seat…
Last weekend we went to INXS, a rockband known by many, at least in western society. The concert was at Bangalore’s Palace grounds and expected to attract at least a few thousand people, but too bad just a few hundred people showed up, I guess there’s not much of a concert culture here. Anyway, it was a great concert and probably one of the few opportunities to be that close to the stage. I tried to take a few pictures, and the ones that actually are not too blurry are posted on my Flickr account.
Finally I will provide an overview of a few of the Indian peculiarities I’ve noticed until now;
• It is totally acceptable to pick up your cell phone and start a loud conversation in the cinema.
• In case of a Bollywood movie, don’t expect to be home on time; it will take at least 3 hours…
• Don’t try to understand Indian food, it’s no use. Eat or avoid it.
• Efficiency is just like alcohol, smoking and sex, a taboo for the largest part of the population.
• Most probably the injuries of the beggar are self-inflicted in order to receive more money.
• Earning a wage of a little bit more than 90 eurocent/hour makes you a part of the Indian middle class.
• Yes, I will haggle for 5 Rps. (8 eurocent) with a rickshaw driver and later spend his weekly income on a drink.
• Blond hair seems to be an invitation for harassment.
• “Yes Yes” doesn’t exactly mean yes; it can mean maybe, try again tomorrow, simply no, or I hear you but please piss off.
• If ever to arrange official stuff (ie. Extending visa, acquiring a residential permit) it’s best to take a week off from work. Your boss will understand.
• A good friendship in India extends beyond the mental linkage.
• Good service is expressed in behaving in a slavery way.
• Indian Standard Time (IST) is just a practical joke; actually it means Indian Stretch Time.
• Just being friendly to hawkers, touts and rickshaw drivers will end up in you being ripped off.
pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89801190@N00 /
3 Comments:
alcohol, smoking and sex are taboo for a large part of the Indian population?!
Dude - get your facts straight! :-) We have a billion people in this country and you live in bangalore! Jeez..that's like saying the architecture in Rotterdam makes sense.
sorry the earlier post was by me. didnt intend it being anonymous.
That's damn hilarious! Why didn't I read that till now?!
Post a Comment
<< Home