India was sensory overload as always: tastes, sounds, sights.
We had an amazing time visiting with family. My mom, Ms K and I took a three day multigenerational trip just prior to our departure. We went to the gorgeous city of Jaipur where we stayed at the Rambagh palace (a "real" palace where the previous royal family had lived) and where we met the elegant and very warm Judi Dench who was in Jaipur shooting for the sequel to the exotic marigold hotel.
400 peacocks were on the property and we got to see them in all their glory!
We also had a traditional welcome with the showering of rose petals, garlanding and application of kumkum- orange dot you see on Ms K and me.
This was the trip of a lifetime!
We also visited the Amber/Amer fort and we rode up an elephant to get there! I had ridden an elephant briefly in Bangkok as a young teen but this was a 20minute long trek up a mountain and was a pretty incredible experience.(picture 53)
pictures are what we ate, wore, saw.
Some general style on the street observations:
In Bombay/Mumbai across most economic strata women are wearing "western" dress. I was hard pressed to find anyone in traditional dress except for the household staff.
There is an insane "fit flop" revolution (in Bombay at least) that I do not understand! Every woman seemed to be wearing them and most shops from the tiny ones in the bazaars to the ones in upscale malls were displaying them. Since I forgot my sandals my Mom gave me hers ( fit flops that is). What could I do: I needed some casual daily footwear so gave in. In picture 39 and 40 you can see me wearing them!
Other interesting things about the pictures:
14: My mother and daughter look very alike. And yes, yes I know my Mom does not look like she is 67!
28: The back drop is one of Bombay's most famous beaches: Juhu beach.
29: Tory Burch dress. ( I wore a lot of dresses as we went out a lot). Mainly a lot of shifts with nude pumps and my trademark statement earrings ( various).
In picture 30 I am with my cousin who is a famous Bollywood producer of some of the best movies to come out of Bollywood in recent years.
32-33: bebe dress I wore for New Years eve. It was a cocktail party on a penthouse terrace so the short length was appropriate to the kind of event.
37: betel leaf plant. Betel leaves are chewed in this part of the world as breath fresheners.
42: Christmas: Indian style. Tiny (fake of course) tree adorned nevertheless with lights and ornaments. Ms K is kind of puzzled though: Santa brought only a few presents to India; the rest were waiting for her at home!
In picture 43 I am with my little niece- my sister's daughter and the main reason we went to India. all of 4 months old!
34-38 are pictures of elements in our bungalow in a nearby "hill station" . Roses in picture 38.
43-51: pictures of some of the goodies I brought home. I designed the necklace in pictures 46 and 47.
53: Finally able to scan one of the pictures "on" the elephant. The picture was taken by one of the many photographers who chase you up the hill. He demanded $2.50 for one picture. My mom gave him the requisite amount and grabbed all the pictures out of his hand.She said "Well you are going to destroy them anyway". Wow: she is awesome at bargaining in addition to everything else. That was the best part: hanging out with my family!
54: my beautiful sister (with our cousin- the Bollywood guy)
55: my handsome brother ( with his wife)
This post has 55 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.
If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.
