We went to Lalbagh Gardens which is a huge park in the city. Plants from all over the world have been brought and planted here. There were trees from other tropical climates all over the world.The tree that most resembled any tree back home was an African Cedar.
As we walked around the park we, again, got a lot of attention. Not only do people want to touch the boy's hair, but more than that they want to touch William's cheeks. He still has those baby-soft chubby cheeks and they are irresistible to young and old, men and women alike. It is a culture where staring isn't rude so people will stare at us as we approach them and wait for us to say "Hello". The first question we are usually asked is "Where are you from?" and immediately following that most people will ask what the kid's names are and they all point to William first :) Kids that are 2 and 3 years old will run up to William to say "Hi" and even if we don't engage in conversation to all the people we are walking by, they reach out and touch William's cheeks as we pass them. William like the attention for the first day or so and now he is not so fond of it but some women did get him to blow them some kisses today in the park. I got my picture taken with a couple of women by one of their husbands. Also, our whole family posed for a picture with two young boys so their dad could take a picture. It is fun to have so much attention because it allows us to chat with people. On the other hand, I am finding it hard to be looked at by others as someone with wealth. Everywhere we go we are asked to buy things and it is such a hard sell. Vendors will say things like "only 100 rupees, is nothing for you" and it hurts my heart. It is true, but it is not in my personality to buy a lot of stuff I don't need. I am learning that it can really bless someone to have a few extra rupees and we have been leaving good-sized tips everywhere we go. We had some interesting conversations with our tuktuk driver from the other day about costs of food and shelter in India and food is such a huge expense, even for someone making 10,000 rupees a month (which is almost twice the average income in Bangalore).
As we walked around the park we, again, got a lot of attention. Not only do people want to touch the boy's hair, but more than that they want to touch William's cheeks. He still has those baby-soft chubby cheeks and they are irresistible to young and old, men and women alike. It is a culture where staring isn't rude so people will stare at us as we approach them and wait for us to say "Hello". The first question we are usually asked is "Where are you from?" and immediately following that most people will ask what the kid's names are and they all point to William first :) Kids that are 2 and 3 years old will run up to William to say "Hi" and even if we don't engage in conversation to all the people we are walking by, they reach out and touch William's cheeks as we pass them. William like the attention for the first day or so and now he is not so fond of it but some women did get him to blow them some kisses today in the park. I got my picture taken with a couple of women by one of their husbands. Also, our whole family posed for a picture with two young boys so their dad could take a picture. It is fun to have so much attention because it allows us to chat with people. On the other hand, I am finding it hard to be looked at by others as someone with wealth. Everywhere we go we are asked to buy things and it is such a hard sell. Vendors will say things like "only 100 rupees, is nothing for you" and it hurts my heart. It is true, but it is not in my personality to buy a lot of stuff I don't need. I am learning that it can really bless someone to have a few extra rupees and we have been leaving good-sized tips everywhere we go. We had some interesting conversations with our tuktuk driver from the other day about costs of food and shelter in India and food is such a huge expense, even for someone making 10,000 rupees a month (which is almost twice the average income in Bangalore).
Hey sis,
ReplyDeleteHope you are all settling in well. Were the gardens close to the apartment? When do you leave for your vacation?
Love you lots!!
Susan & family
Great pictures!! Thanks for the posts!
Thanks Sis! The gardens were a couple of km from our apartment, we took a tuktuk (all you have to do is walk on the roadside and plenty of them will stop for you) and it cost 40 rupees (less than $1).
DeleteWe leave for Goa tomorrow!
Love,
Nancy