Indian Wedding

Temple

Mumbai

Traditional Southern Indian Food

Sari at wedding

Henna

Chinese Fishing Nets

I was invited to a wedding in India over the summer! I only went for a week because of commitments I had had in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. First I went to Bangkok, Thailand to take my GMAT exam. It was good to get that over with before enjoying my vacation in India.

Mumbai was an assault to my senses after living in Cambodia for one year. Life in Cambodia just has a different speed. After a one day tour of Mumbai I took a flight to Cochin in the State of Kerala. I had never been to the south before and I was pleasantly surprised. As I was landing I let out a sigh relief, (the hustle and bustle of Mumbai had unconsciously stressed me out). The landscape reminded me of a mix of Florida and Cambodia.

I spent 2 wonderful days in Fort Cochin at one of the most relaxing hotels I have ever been to. It was on the water and next to some beautiful Chinese Fishing nets. Next time I go back to India it will be straight to the south.

There I met up with Lauren (a Peace Corps friend) and went on a three hour car ride to the wedding site (still in Kerala). The wedding was great but still stressful, because our saris did not fit (mine in particular) and we spent a long time trying to pull the stitching out. I also discovered I did not really have the proper attire for the 2 day wedding events and had to scramble to find something in the small town. As usual in Asia, things that are pre-made are size 0-6.

The 3 back to back flights were not very fun, considering I had also come down with bronchitis and an ear infection the last day of the wedding (sorry fellow airline passangers)! I'm glad I got to see the south of India and get to an Indian wedding, but next time I will go for a longer period of time!