Invited to Indian Wedding!
Trip Start
Dec 08, 2006
1
15
31
Trip End
Mar 25, 2007
Chennai,
India
Sunday, February 4, 2007
His family is so amazingly friendly, engaging, generous and just an example of how I aspire to treat others to make them feel welcome and at home. They are such gracious hosts and I so hope to have the opportunity to repay their graciousness if they visit me someday, wherever that may be.
Today, I am just hanging out under a fan at the internet spot for only $1/hour, much better than $8 an hour in Dublin so nice break from the heat.
Funny enough, I am off to dinner tonight with a guy I met earlier this morning who is from Massachusetts. He is a musician studying percussion here and it was sooooo funny how I met him. I popped into an internet spot to ask rates and i see this white face in the crowd. Please note, I don't intend anything by saying white or seeming overly anxious to meet people who look like me, but when traveling alone in a completely foreign land, it is amazing how excited you can be to see someone with some similar roots! So, I catch his eye, but leave b/c the place was too dundgy.
As I walk away, I am thinking, gosh, there is tourist # 4 (1 a day I see it seems), maybe I should say hi and ask him what on earth he is doing in this residential neighborhood. As I think this, he pops his head out and says hi, we chat, and we are off to buy my first fresh coconut to drink out of on the side of the road. He knows some people as he comes here once a year to study and is in a band back home, and does acupuncture, and we chat for a while realising we are at same hotel. So, he asked me to grab dinner and I of course, must oblige as I can't bear being the only female at the hotel restaurant again. Not that bad, but diversion is great.
I tell ya, this is why I love traveling, you meet the most random people in the most bizarre places! I love it!!!! Well, we will see how dinner goes.
Am off on own to Mahallapurm just an hour South of city for two nights to chill out in what I have heard is a relaxed oceanfront spot. Then, to the wedding Wednesday night.
PS Fyi, fam, I registered online with the US Embassy so they have a general idea of itinerary and email me updates of country status for India, Maldives, Oman and United Arab Emirates.
Peace, Lanah
