In this first post, I bring you two photos of Indians taken during my trip to India. What’s so unusual about two Indians in India, you ask?
Good point. *claps to you*
The uncommon thing about these two photos is not the composition or the lighting (or some other photographic mumbo-jumbo) but the story behind these two people:
1) PULIS PATOLA
Some things are the same the world over. This guy is a policeman stationed at the stunning Amber Fort (pronounced Amer Fort) which is located around 11 kilometers from Jaipur. As in the Philippines, it seems policemen in India just flock around, gossip and watch their beerbellies grow. This cop was standing near a bridge which made me think, “May pulis, may pulis sa ilalim ng tulay!” Fortunately for this policeman, his mustache makes him look very badass. That right there is a deterrent better than most Filipino cops can muster.
(An aside: It's fun to find familiar things in foreign land. This never ceases to bring a smile to face. And it makes me a little less homesick)
2) PROFESSIONAL MODEL
This photo was also taken at Amber Fort. This woman and her young son (not pictured) are locals whose sole occupation is seemly to go around this structure and wait for unsuspecting foreigners to take pictures of them. The moment you take a picture of her (or her son), BAM! You now have to pay her some rupees. SHOW ME THE RUPEES! In my travel group, three of us took pictures of her and we all ended up paying for it.
You really have to hand it to this woman. With more than 1.2 BILLION competing for employment opportunities, you have to find alternative and creative ways to make a buck. For this, I salute you!
THE USUAL TRAVEL RELATED JABBER:
- I would most heartily recommend a trip to India. It is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever visited. The people are friendly. The food is amazing. The ancient structures make you feel like you've been transported into a Star Wars movie set--particularly into those scenes in Naboo and Tatooine. (Star Wars geek alert!)
- For a trip to India on the cheap, I recommend flying into Dehli with Air Asia and joining a group tour with Travel Factor. With this winning combination, you get to go to India on the cheap and you get to travel with amazing like-minded people. (end shameless plugging)
Hey Kaisie --
ReplyDeleteBut others who have been there bring back tales of how dirty the place is... once you go of the beaten track of the usual tourist areas. Not anymore?
But I like that your first post about your travel is about the people -- not the food, the views, the shopping --- but the people. Hurray!
Hi Tita Peggy! Yes, it was a bit dirty. Our first hotel was located in an area that's a cross between binondo and baghdad (because of this cloud of haze that hovered over the area).. It was a bit shocking at first but you get used to it. Personally, I think I'm the type to not be bothered by the dirt as long as accommodations are clean. Depends on the person, I suppose. A good tip for India is to travel during their colder season, November to January. During that time, the infamous smell of locals isn't pervasive at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! I love locals. It's one of the main reasons I travel. :D