Confessing my Indian Fetish :)

Most of my friends know that I am a big fan for India and Indians. Some obvious facts:
- I have been to India 3 times and visited 6 different cities - more than I have done in any other countries apart from China.
- I wrote my graduation thesis on economic comparison between India and China post their open and reform policy era.
- My favorite TVC on BBC is Incredible India! I froze when I was watching it each time.
- India left a permanent mark on me - the scar I got after passing out due to diarrhea at IC'05. Yet I still went back after 2 months.

I have planned to go back to India once again for some traveling along Gangi River and some meditation in the mountains (they shall be covered by snow already now) though it feels like a luxury for me at this moment. Then this morning, once again India came to my mind, just makes me smile like every other time.

Top reasons why I fanscinate this country so much:

No. 1 reason is dedicated to CHAOS.
It's so different from the busy cosmopolitans because it is more original and more authentic. India's chaos is about the sound (imagine people driving with one hand on the honk), the color (I always think about those colorfully painted trucks running in between the cities), the creatures on the street (camels, cows, elephants, you name it!), the traffic (I have never sit at the front seat in a car yet), the dust (on the floor as well in the plates sometims), and the one million things people are doing on the street. Indeed, the country got its vibe which I will never get over with.

Indians are the happiest people I have ever seen.
I was so lucky in Mumbai in early September last year and got to see 'Ganesh into the sea' festival. There were huge trucks with Ganesh's statue inside, and people dancing and singing around it on the street everywhere. I was totally amazed. I couldn't help joining them clapping and chanting a few times. I felt complete cheered up and indeed happiness is a valuable and simple thing.

I still really want to attend 1 Indian wedding because I heard it's usually with thousand people dancing and singing for 3 days. And this will be the best reason for me to see India once again.

Inspiring conversations:
I found Indians very phylosophical (no wonder they originated so many religions) when I met my first Indian in my life (sounds a bit weird, anyways!) - he made me stronger during my first time abroad. Since then I have made quite a few friends who are Indians. Some of them I always turn to whenever depressed.

After all, I enjoyed the most my interaction with Indian parents. Once in Hynderabad, I talked to a Deepti's parents till 2am about religion, world issues, their life paths, China and India (of course!) I was defending for India while they were for China! Another time I shared VK's dad's coin collections. He had some ancient Chinese coins which surprised me. (I have collected a lot of coins for him while traveling.) His mum made me different Indian sweets. Rajiv's mum taught me how to be stronger after I told her how much I miss my parents crying (hehe...that was just 3 months into my AI term). Afterwards, she took me to the Lotus Temple in Dehli which was a very calming and refreshing experience. Abhinav's dad taught me the most regarding religion's power on an individual though he is a scientist! And his mum took me everywhere in Mumbai to see the Ganesh festival though she disliked me at the 1st site thought I was Abhinav's girlfriend.

Then, it is MUMBAI!!!
In all my visits to India, I have visited Mumbai. I wouldn't want to compare Mumbai to any other financial capitals I have been to or currently living in. Mumbai is Mumbai. It is simply unique!

The first time I landed in Mumbai, Kartik took me to a midnight buffet in a 5 star hotel at EUR 5! I love India for that! Hehehe...

During my very last visit, I spent Eit (the 1st day after fasting) eve downtown Mumbai. Everyone was out eating the best Muslim food. It was so crowded that our taxi left us hundred metres away and we had to walk into the city centre. I was simply overwhelmed by the atmosphere so I kept looking around and smiling when Parthiv was so worried about my safety. ;p

I have watched the silly Indian MC boys singing Karaoke on the stage in 'Starters and More'. I have got drunk in a car with Abhinav and his friends, because it is too expensive to drink in the pubs. I have danced with cute Indian boys in the club 'By the way, it's not just jazz'. And followed by the quiet and romantic 'Marine Drive' right outside the club after 2am.

I loved the cafe chain called Moca not due to the coffee but the shisa! ;p It'll be ideal if I can see belly dancing. Then if kissing is considered pornographic, let alone belly dancing in public!

Living with 8 Indian MC boys in their shithole 4 room apartment was like hell but with great fun. Rishabh even flooded 1 of the apartment cuz he forgot to turn off the tap! Flood doesn't make the apartments much worse. ;p Then I forgave him cuz he took me to breakfast for Southern Indian cousine every morning!

Most of all, I loved the train ride from Vekhroli to downtown Mumbai because I could observe the couples, parents, men, women, kids, both inside the train and outside on the streets. Then of course, I enjoyed my privilidge to sit in the 'women only' compartments some times especially when people passing by selling cheap earings! ;p How smart!

Speaking of India, I simply cannot stop. Thinking of the people I have met, the love they generously granted me... I'll go back soon! ;-)