30 December, the Wedding - Ted's First Update

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  Baroda, Gujarat, India
Tuesday, December 30, 2008

We are on Day 3 of the wedding.  Every event has been a brilliant mish-mash of colours and food.  On the evening of the first day, Tanek's aunt (the groom) put on a fabulous party at her house in Baroda.  The setting was stunning with 200 people in the garden of the beautiful home.  Tanvi wanted her guests to experience real Indian street food as it is meant to be the best example of Indian food.  However, it is rarely available in restaurants as it is considered inferior to other examples of Inidan food.  As the food on the streets can be a little dangerous to westerners, Tanvi had the caterers prepare their own version of it.  All I can say is that I had third helpings.  It was wonderful.  I cannot tell you the name of a single dish but I enjoyed every one! 

The second day included the Mehendi ceremony and lunch at the Mahi Valley Resort.  We all piled onto a bus for a fascinating drive through Baroda and out into the country-side.  It is mind-boggling to see a shiny new glass-covered Siemen's building next door to the typical "slum".  Many people simply live in tents on the side of the road and together these tents form the slums of each city.  Zero hygiene, no comforts but they exist.  We were all shocked that we didn't run someone over as the bus barreled through crowds of locals on bikes, carts and scooters.  The only thing that slowed our head-long journey was the obligatory cow wandering across the street!  The lunch featured all the ladies getting henna'd hands and the gentlemen standing around self-consciously in our "funky tunics", as Martin designated the long tunics that we all wore.  Tanvi had organized athletic and colourful traditional dancers to put on a show for the crowd.  With a fantastic view across the river delta, it was a truly satisfying lunch. 

The evening was a highlight that I will not forget.  We were taken to the Lakshmi Palace for dinner and dancing.  The Lakshmi Palace is the Maharaj of Gujarat's private palace, and is not open to tourists.  It was only through the personal friendship of the bride and groom's parents with the Maharaj himself that were we able to have a guided tour and then party on the grounds with the Maharaj in attendance.  The palace is a mix of Hindu, Muslim and Christian architecture built in the late 19th century.  Every little while, I would pause with my drink halfway to my lips and gaze back at the building lit with hundreds of lights making it glow in the night sky.  It's not every day that we are able to party like that! 

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Ready for a party	The girlies together	Tanvi's henna	Indian attire for Mehendi
The original funky tunic	Mehendi	Mehendi	Mehendi
Mehendi	Mehendi	Mehendi	The Maharajah's palace
The Maharajah's palace	The Maharajah's palace	The Maharajah's palace	The Maharajah's palace
The Maharajah's palace	From tall to short	Matt & Mel	Elisa, Ben, Sally
Michelle 7 Clare	Baroda	Baroda	Baroda
Ted in a rickshaw

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