Tuesday, May 31, 2011

L is for...

On Sunday we woke up to this:


The branch president didn't give us callings...instead, he asked us spread out and lift where we stand.
What's next?
Ale and Sean- Musical number. 
More updates on that later



Now for the good stuff
Secretly, or not so secretly I suppose- I've always wanted to be a wedding planner.
I REALLY wanted to go to a wedding in India
and last night, I got my chance
The couple was a friend of people in our branch and they asked our whole group to come



The happy couple.
To be honest- the bride seemed less than happy the whole night


but we were THRILLED


Getting the traditional wedding pictures taken


We were treated like honored guests and people could not stop taking pictures with us or asking us to dance!
They didn't want us to dance with them but FOR them.
Weird I know.
They seemed to think all white people are good dancers and kept playing American dance music to get the whole group to dance together.
We finally obliged and danced for about 1 minute before someone came up so say DO. NOT. STOP.
Eventually we had to...and the party left with us.
Literally...everyone walked out when we did.


I think the most fun I had was with all the kids at the wedding. 
They LOVE cameras and they got the biggest kick out of taking a picture with my camera...
Hence the reason there are a MILLION pictures of kids in this post.
These boys took my camera for a half and hour and took a LOT of pictures on it until it eventually died!










I'm not sure what they did to make the picture turn out this way...but I wanted you to see what was opposite of the stage.
There were a lot of people there to celebrate!




These are a few of the ones that I actually took...







It was amazing to see the traditions of an Indian wedding.
This was a tradition Hindu wedding.
Meaning it was arranged.
I wouldn't have been smiling that much either if it were my wedding.
What do you think it would be like to have your partner for the rest of your life picked for you?

The bride certainly looked beautiful but I only caught her smiling a few times....I really do hope she is happy


And the kids were at it again...
We tried to take a jumping picture


TRIED being the optimum word


The groom seemed thrilled!


Ah there's a smile....I think it might turn out to be a happily ever after


The happy couple and the white people...I hope this goes in their wedding album


And they fed us afterward


It was quite the party


I swear no one believes in trash cans here...even at weddings


Dessert wasn't cake
it was a cobbler nut concoction I still can decide if I liked...
but this little girl was darling




The girl on the right followed me around all night




I love weddings!
This is one of the coolest experiences I've had in India so far.
What better way to learn about a culture than at a wedding?

Love,
A

Monday, May 30, 2011

The Spittin' Image

Remember Doppelganger week?
We all chose the people we looked most like...
Many of us chose the people we WANTED to look like, but that's besides the point...
Anyway, since I've been in NYC I get a new celebrity look alike on a daily basis...
"You know who you look like..."
I even had a lady stare at me on a Subway, and say
"I don't mean to stare but you look exactly like..."
I think I just like Elora... but these are some of what I've been told...
Do you really think they're true?
Lindsay Lohan... Why?
Kaley Cuoco... I think it's because we're both blonde...
Dianna Agron...flattering but not at all.
The last is the best because its just funny!
The Olsen twins... really?

With love,
E






Sunday, May 29, 2011

Zoo Day

We had quite the weekend!
Saturday started with a trip to the zoo.
This is the lake in the middle of the city...and THAT is a Buddha statue in the middle


And we're here!
From the moment we stepped into the park we realized the animals aren't as much of an attraction as we are.
We couldn't take ten steps without someone asking to take a picture with us, staring at us, or asking us "which country?" apparently it's of extreme importance to find out exactly which country we are from


It was a busy place...




I'm absolutely in love with these trees


and turtles...I love turtles





White tiger!


Getting our picture taken...


Then getting asked what country we are from




Elephants! They wouldn't let us ride one though


Don't worry...this is just the fence keeping the elephants in...



Apparently moose are found in Baja, California


Best part of the day was by FAR the Lion Safari


Other people might find this slightly lame...but it got better and better



This tiger came right up to our bus





It was especially fun when the driver went REALLY fast down a steep hill...it was like a roller coster safari all rolled into one




Indian grave digging



After the zoo me, Aleesha, and Lexie went for a little shopping at Char Minar
This was just along the way



THIS is Char Minar or "four towers" 
It was built in 1591



Beautiful huh? It's right next to Mecca Masjid- one of India's largest mosques


Then it was on to pearl shopping
Hyderabad is known for it's pearls


This is a wholesale shop


You pick the strand and they will make it into a necklace for you



Amazing day

Love,
A