I was given an idea for this piece. So here is a big acknowledgement to Allysha. Right. That's that done. So. A piece on magnificent India. It's a country, suprisingly large one at that. 22 languages a population of over a billion or something like that. That's could be wrong, as they seem to grow in the thousands daily. And thankfully die at the same rate.
I was from there. Well, technically speaking of course. I am an Indian by race. The country where I was born and raised still seems to think its better for all of us to be separated by that race thingy. Honestly, I don't really disagree with them. Malaysia is a diverse country, and most of the different races do look different, so all right I suppose.
Anyway, India. Right. First time I went there, was for my cousin sisters wedding back in 200-something or rather. Can't really remember. Never was too good with date's. Serious failing of mine. So, I cant really give you a proper account of what it was like that year. But thankfully, I have been there another 5 times after that and yeah, I can sorta-kinda-maybe tell you that it's nothing like what you think it is.
If you think it is a dirty, smelly, poverty stricken, overpopulated place, because that is what people project into our minds through the tv, then you would be about 50% right. It is grossly overpopulated, most people are subjected to the hard life due to that and it is dusty. Or that may have been the place I visited.
See, the story is funny. My grandfather, this is my mothers father, had decided that, after he had retired and gone back to India with his daughters and wife, leaving behind his sons in Malaysia, that his daughter's who had to marry at the time (or else people would talk), had to well, marry. My mother wasn't a candidate, but her two elder sisters were. This ladies and gent's is the real reason, I go to India. Not to see the sights, not to backpack and see the slum's and feel sorry for all of the poverty stricken, but to see my aunts. And along the way, I do see slums and sights that tickle and touch your heart at the same time.
So both my aunts live in two seriously far away places. A day's journey on the train. Yes, I have been on it. It was very different and it will put KTM to shame. One is in Bombay, familiar. One is in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh. I make this distinction because there is another Hyderabad, Pakistan. Which was a part of India, much like Bangladesh and Punjab, all of which are not now. I wont go into detail as I don't know the whole story.
They speak different languages in both states. Telugu, in Hyderabad, and Hindi in Bombay. My aunts can both speak their own states respective languages added to English and Malyalam, our mother tounge. Which makes them quite versatile. In a very languagy sort of way. Its a place that grow's on you. It is culture shock to the max for people who have never been there before. So people like my dear idea giver wouldn't do too well, but I have my doubts. People do what come's naturally on the sides of streets and if you are unlucky enough you will have the great chance of seeing one in action. Like I said, it grows on you.
Then there is traffic, which is a adventure on its own. If you survive it, it shows you are very alert and agile. If you don't, you will die. The country has the most worst driving the world has ever seen. I make this up not. This is a fact. The can make three lanes in a one lane road, and then a cow passes you in a perpendicular direction. I have made a solemn oath that for the sake of my future wife and future children that I will NEVER drive in that country. I don't want to live forever, but I don't want to die fast either.
All this is not enough to summarize the whole of India, so I will continue, now I have more pressing things to attend to. It starts with a P and ends with a 3...
I was from there. Well, technically speaking of course. I am an Indian by race. The country where I was born and raised still seems to think its better for all of us to be separated by that race thingy. Honestly, I don't really disagree with them. Malaysia is a diverse country, and most of the different races do look different, so all right I suppose.
Anyway, India. Right. First time I went there, was for my cousin sisters wedding back in 200-something or rather. Can't really remember. Never was too good with date's. Serious failing of mine. So, I cant really give you a proper account of what it was like that year. But thankfully, I have been there another 5 times after that and yeah, I can sorta-kinda-maybe tell you that it's nothing like what you think it is.
If you think it is a dirty, smelly, poverty stricken, overpopulated place, because that is what people project into our minds through the tv, then you would be about 50% right. It is grossly overpopulated, most people are subjected to the hard life due to that and it is dusty. Or that may have been the place I visited.
See, the story is funny. My grandfather, this is my mothers father, had decided that, after he had retired and gone back to India with his daughters and wife, leaving behind his sons in Malaysia, that his daughter's who had to marry at the time (or else people would talk), had to well, marry. My mother wasn't a candidate, but her two elder sisters were. This ladies and gent's is the real reason, I go to India. Not to see the sights, not to backpack and see the slum's and feel sorry for all of the poverty stricken, but to see my aunts. And along the way, I do see slums and sights that tickle and touch your heart at the same time.
So both my aunts live in two seriously far away places. A day's journey on the train. Yes, I have been on it. It was very different and it will put KTM to shame. One is in Bombay, familiar. One is in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh. I make this distinction because there is another Hyderabad, Pakistan. Which was a part of India, much like Bangladesh and Punjab, all of which are not now. I wont go into detail as I don't know the whole story.
They speak different languages in both states. Telugu, in Hyderabad, and Hindi in Bombay. My aunts can both speak their own states respective languages added to English and Malyalam, our mother tounge. Which makes them quite versatile. In a very languagy sort of way. Its a place that grow's on you. It is culture shock to the max for people who have never been there before. So people like my dear idea giver wouldn't do too well, but I have my doubts. People do what come's naturally on the sides of streets and if you are unlucky enough you will have the great chance of seeing one in action. Like I said, it grows on you.
Then there is traffic, which is a adventure on its own. If you survive it, it shows you are very alert and agile. If you don't, you will die. The country has the most worst driving the world has ever seen. I make this up not. This is a fact. The can make three lanes in a one lane road, and then a cow passes you in a perpendicular direction. I have made a solemn oath that for the sake of my future wife and future children that I will NEVER drive in that country. I don't want to live forever, but I don't want to die fast either.
All this is not enough to summarize the whole of India, so I will continue, now I have more pressing things to attend to. It starts with a P and ends with a 3...
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