Wedding in India: Epilogue

Day 7

Congratulations on your marriage Jeswant and Deevya. It was a revealing view into Hindu and Indian culture. I know we all valued and appreciated it greatly. Your wedding was also the mid-point and turning point in the two week trip. Before it, we were being "hand held" by you Jes and seeing India with your guidance - as authentic an experience as I could have ever ask for. After your wedding, we were simply tourists - a plight I tried to buck whenever possible by observing the life of every day Indians as we went.

Day 8

It won’t be long before the India that we’ve witnessed will be gone. She’ll continue to develop and modernize. I have faith that health care and basic sanitation will triumph over poverty. Education will provide new opportunity. In the same process, India will inevitably lose some of its intriguing character. As in Western societies, TVs and pop culture will replace family time and focus on religion, vanity will increase while humbleness decreases, and the use of toilet paper will become the norm.

Day 5

The experience was intense for me, especially the first week. The second week I may have become numb. My senses were so overwhelmed, and I was so touched that for a few moments I became emotional to the point where I cried uncontrollably (Day 4). That’s only happened twice in my adult life. I have empathy for people and witnessing the poverty was difficult. Seeing simple people live spiritually (with meaning) was inspiring. My senses were fully engaged with new colors, sounds, tastes of curries, broken streetscapes, constant buzz of activity. People were kind and generous. An imam called out above it all to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

I do this (blog) because I love to write and share through photography. It's a simple labor of love and an outlet for my creative side. My hope is that it entertains and educates as to what the world is really like. I usually focus on the beauty, but when necessary to tell an accurate story, I'll dive into some ugly themes too. For example, instead of ignoring poverty and manipulation I highlighted it. Focusing solely on the pretty stuff would have been a disservice. The turn around is that it's all beautiful. There are those who do not know. There are those who know. American Beauty - Plastic Bag Scene

Day 1

I found Indians to be soft-spoken, curious, and genuine. I greatly enjoyed my time with the ones I chose to open up to. My favorite had to be with the Muslim boys on the train to Bapatla (Day 5). Indians generally took a lot of interest in us, which was at times overwhelming. I believe this is because they identify white people as manifestations of the outside world standing before them and a chance at discovery. The question I heard the most was, “what country are you from?” Indian culture has a strong element of community, and they readily incorporate unfamiliar people around them. I found this to be charming, but at the same time difficult for a person (such as myself) who is naturally private.

Day 5

Though I believe Andrew got close a time before me, I was about to declare that I won the prize for getting sick first. Then I remembered being told by an anonymous source that Jes got sick at his family’s home in Bapatla before we arrived to rejoin him. I got sick after that. It was supposed to have been Crispin, or at the very least one of us Western visitors to have gotten sick first. So ironic.

Day 10

I'm very pleased with my travel mates. They were good company, a nice support network (in terms of planning, coordinating, and having “strength in numbers”), and a great aid to me in providing anecdotes and a Western perspective for my blog. You pick your fiends well Jes, and I count them among mine now. Thanks guys. See you in Australia.

Biggest Surprises: Crazy driving with no apparent rules, stumbling upon the burial place of one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles (St. Thomas; Day 3), almost being attacked by a dog (Day 3), Qutb-Minar (Day 9), extent of the extreme poverty and widespread filth/rubbish, livestock living on city streets, huge Muslim influences (past and present), and a ride in an Indian disco rickshaw (Day 12).

Day 1

If you want to visit India for the first time, here are some tips (in no particular order):

1) Do your research. For example, read the Lonely Planet and reviews on TripAdvisor

2) Hire a driving service. Westerners have no business driving here, plus it’s cheap and provides freedom and relaxation in the craziness. You should be able to find good driving services through the hotels that you book with.

3) Take trains. India is all about the trains. Don’t be afraid to go cattle class. You can also fly for cheap inside the country, but what a Western thing to do!

4) Expect a constant barrage of poverty and trash, beggars, and people trying to sell you things. Don’t let it get to you.

5) Expect regular people to be genuinely interested in you. Take the time to converse with them. It’s rewarding.

6) Bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

7) Eat veg Indian cuisine. It’s good stuff and the safest when hot. You can usually get Western meals also, to break things up. In general stay away from meat products.

8) Tip well. Most will expect it from Westerners. Most will deserve more than they are getting paid.

9) Don’t give to beggars. It will break your heart. If you do, expect to get mobbed by other beggars going crazy for the opportunity to receive. That’s the justification I was told by more than one source. Trains may be the exception because there will be a limited number of beggars.

10) Get your visa well in advance of your trip. This will likely involve you mailing your passport, application, and a fee to an Indian visa agency.

11) Only drink bottled water from trusted brands.

12) Consult a physician who specializes in immunizations for tropical diseases a few months before you go.

As always, this epilogue includes my favorite photos of the adventure.

That’s a wrap!