The numbers: 4 places, 8 days, about 1400km, 1 upset stomach, 4 (maybe more) marriage proposals, dozens of relatives
I don’t think that visiting relatives counts as a vacation, more so since this entire summer is one long vacation. However, I like the title and it stays.
The last time I went on such a trip was exactly two years ago. The next time I will be able to go on such a trip is unknown. So, it was important for me to meet the people I wouldn’t see for a long, long time. Not all relatives are fun to meet with but I think I had mostly pleasant experiences on my trip. Some assorted memories from the trip:
- Met my newest and youngest niece for the first time. She cries a lot.
- I tutored my younger cousins (father’s side of the family) for their exams. Yelled at them occasionally.
- Managed to get some reading done. I have a backlog of MRS Bulletins I need to clear.
- I got sick with gastritis thanks to the medication I took for my cold/sore throat issues from the week before. Saved me from a reportedly awful dish at dinner that night.
- Was constantly reminded that I looked weak.
- Ate lots of Ras Malai, including some from Jaipur’s famous Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB).
- Ran into about two and a half dozen relatives on Rakshabandhan in Jaipur.
- Bought some nice shirts and a tie. Also bought a Manchester United tee (not the team jersey) and a replica Team India (cricket) tee as well. I look forward to wearing both at MIT on days either team is in action.
- We got invited for dinner by a relative who failed to follow-up and left us in limbo. Ended up going to Pizza Hut to satisfy my Mom’s pizza craving of the last 4 years.
- I had to explain my educational present and future a bunch of times.
- I like how most places in Rajasthan have scheduled power cuts. That way, you can plan your day around the cuts instead of cursing the electricity supply company each time there’s an unscheduled cut.
- It was cooler there than it is here, despite the lack of rain. Seriously, so much traveling and not a single drop of rain anywhere.
- I also found out that my 13-year-old niece is into Hannah Montana. Having not seen her for six years, I didn’t have the heart to break to her that Hannah Montana is manufactured, corporate crap specifically created by Disney to scam teenage girls into buying their shit.
- Mom got calls from someone interested in marrying their daughter to yours truly. B.A., M.A. in Hindi and a B.Ed.? I don’t think so, guy.
I might do a part 2 in case more vivid memories stir up between now and my next blog entry. By the way, what’s up with these near-weekly WordPress updates?