Namaste ~ It's Sammy Sunshyne here;
The time is currently 6 am in India. Coco and I keep waking up at outrageous morning times because our bodies are stuck on America-mode. The jet lag is finally ceasing as we adjust to Indian life. Or perhaps we are just too excited to close our eyes again. Today we have a four hour car ride to the city of Jaipur to prepare for our first performance tomorrow, so we are packing up and hitting the road with our manager Sujit and assistant manager Nelish. On the road here they drive on the left side, there are little to no stop signs or traffic markers, and everyone is constantly honking to "make others aware that they are driving there." I feel constantly as though we are about to be rear-ended, the Indians call it "car kisses." No Indian car is without a few dents and scratches... or a missing side mirror. Sujit is a good driver through all the organized chaos, don't worry.
Yesterday we had our first experience with beggars in the bazaars we visited. A little boy with no shoes was standing before an entrance to a toll booth, banging his little hands on the windows of passing cars. It was heart-wrenching. But we were told that it is the beggar’s job to look heart-wrenching. Little boys were selling magazines, flowers, and other items when the car was stopped at a turn, and a man with no arm tapped on our window to get attention from us. They come right up to the car in the intersection and put their faces on the windows.
Sujit asked me if I ever wear denims (if you know me, I am never wearing jeans, I wear long flowy skirts and pants & colored crop tops [of course I didn’t bring those, I left my belly baring shirts at home!]) so of course I said “No, I don’t dress like a normal American,” my style is so Indian-inspired already. You should SEE the clothes here, ladies! It’s like a giant festival shop with so many colors and textures, and not many things are alike. Unlike a festival - the clothes are at dirt cheap prices. Sujit refused to let me buy a handmade crocheted, dyed, tie-top because it was “too expensive” and they jacked up the price for me. It was 250 rupees which is approximately $5.50. He said it was only worth $150 rupees, or about $2. He wouldn’t let me overpay.
We haven’t seen much of Delhi yet, but our first performance is on its way. We will be performing at the Pink Street Mall with our LED hoops. Coco and I have been preparing everyday by doing yoga, intense stretching, and practicing in a dance studio here. Pictures soon, I promise.
~ May all your journeys be joyful. ~
The time is currently 6 am in India. Coco and I keep waking up at outrageous morning times because our bodies are stuck on America-mode. The jet lag is finally ceasing as we adjust to Indian life. Or perhaps we are just too excited to close our eyes again. Today we have a four hour car ride to the city of Jaipur to prepare for our first performance tomorrow, so we are packing up and hitting the road with our manager Sujit and assistant manager Nelish. On the road here they drive on the left side, there are little to no stop signs or traffic markers, and everyone is constantly honking to "make others aware that they are driving there." I feel constantly as though we are about to be rear-ended, the Indians call it "car kisses." No Indian car is without a few dents and scratches... or a missing side mirror. Sujit is a good driver through all the organized chaos, don't worry.
Yesterday we had our first experience with beggars in the bazaars we visited. A little boy with no shoes was standing before an entrance to a toll booth, banging his little hands on the windows of passing cars. It was heart-wrenching. But we were told that it is the beggar’s job to look heart-wrenching. Little boys were selling magazines, flowers, and other items when the car was stopped at a turn, and a man with no arm tapped on our window to get attention from us. They come right up to the car in the intersection and put their faces on the windows.
Sujit asked me if I ever wear denims (if you know me, I am never wearing jeans, I wear long flowy skirts and pants & colored crop tops [of course I didn’t bring those, I left my belly baring shirts at home!]) so of course I said “No, I don’t dress like a normal American,” my style is so Indian-inspired already. You should SEE the clothes here, ladies! It’s like a giant festival shop with so many colors and textures, and not many things are alike. Unlike a festival - the clothes are at dirt cheap prices. Sujit refused to let me buy a handmade crocheted, dyed, tie-top because it was “too expensive” and they jacked up the price for me. It was 250 rupees which is approximately $5.50. He said it was only worth $150 rupees, or about $2. He wouldn’t let me overpay.
We haven’t seen much of Delhi yet, but our first performance is on its way. We will be performing at the Pink Street Mall with our LED hoops. Coco and I have been preparing everyday by doing yoga, intense stretching, and practicing in a dance studio here. Pictures soon, I promise.
~ May all your journeys be joyful. ~
