Just back from a weekend spent in Kanyakumari, the very southern tip of India where three seas meet. It was my first time on my own tackling the public transport and I'm pleased to say I survived! It was my shortest journey yet, a mere 5.5hrs and 3 changes. I met up with another volunteer who lives in Nagercoil. She's 18 and spent most of the weekend having to explain the meaning of various words that I'd never come across - felt like a right old fart! She also spend a substantial amount of time doing make-up, has visited most of the world already and never missed a ski-season since she was three.....as you can imagine we had soooo much in common! My favourite comment was "I love the way they (Indian street sellers) assume we're made of money" .... I tried to point out that in comparison to the majority of people over here we may as well be made of solid gold. All said and done she was a nice person and we muddled along just fine.My bus trip down was beautiful. The mountains provided a stunning backdrop to the bright green paddy fields and every now and then there would be a track carpeted with red chillies, laid out in the scorching midday heat to dry. Signs flew past advertising Poomer Panties (Indian knicker company) - brilliant name - definitely "been there, done that and got the T-shirt", the spices play havoc with your guts! I got chatting to the girl sat next to me. She was 22 and due to be married next year. I asked if she was excited. She said it would be the end of her freedom and she would no longer make decisions for herself as her husband would take full responsibility for what she did. She's currently working, but again whether she continues to do this is up to her husband. It must be so strange marrying someone you have only seen in a photo - if that. You also have to go and live with your husband's family which may be far from your own. It made me feel so lucky for all the freedom we have in our country, it's so important to appreciate it, I can't imagine being in her position. I have had long debates with the Grandad in my "family" and there are clearly positives and negatives to both kinds of marriages - arranged and otherwise. One's not necessarily better than the other but it's certainly nice to have to have a choice. It's hard to explain "love marriages" to the Grandad - he said to me that when I get home I must make sure I arrange my "love marri
age" as soon as possible!! If only it were that easy!Kanyakumari is famous for it's sunsets and we saw a really stunning one. The sun slid behind the clouds but they weren't thick enough to hide it. We could still see a big deep pink disc sinking into the sea. Sadly on route to the beach I got a double handed arse grope - when wearing an outfit suitable for the most modest of nuns! I saw red and punched him...I don't think he'll think western women are slags anymore just a touch violent...hope he'll think twice next time.
1 comment:
Hi Pip, If you have a digital camera can you put some of your loveley photos on the blog so we can see your sunsets too? I think I would be travel sick travelling in a bus for the long distances and times you endure just for your 'short' weekend trips! I would moan at 3 hours on a train, but I guess your getting used to it now your a true traveller.
I wish I could afford to go skiing just the once,let alone every season, with the time and money for other charity work or holidays!That would be the life. I think you will have to educate your newly found middle class friends to the harsh reality of working for a living,in the UK, let alone in the less economically developed countries. Sorry, I think Im experincing a touch of jealousy or just annoyance of some ignorant people who can't see past their privileged lives. Not that Im any better ethically or environmentally as I can't wait to do more travelling and see the world, Im just going to be skint for a while now after my next hloiday, to china. Ill take loads of photos and stick it on my blog, for anyone that knows me.Sorry, for going off at a tangent.So when can we all sort out your arranged marriage then, or, are you dreaming of prince charming and waiting for a love marriage? Im glad Im not an indian lady being pushed into an arranged marriage but I guess it works for some people and not for others, just like the success rates of marriage in the UK! I know about equal numbers of my single male and female friends who would like to be with someone but Id get told off again if i tried to match make them up.May be we enjoy our independance and ability to travel, work and live anywhere in the UK that we're just getting more picky with a choice of partners. Id rather be single and happy than in a partnership and miserable. Its food for thought, lots of love liz x Ps/ good on you for defending you honour against an uncontrollable man. I never knew you had it in you to be so violent. Only joking, fair play to you and well done for sticking up for yourself.
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