Comments on: Airport Musings During a 50 Hour Journey

By: Sreedevi

Sreedevi — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:58:40 +0000

@Nora- I’m getting hooked to this series of comments…!?! A good thing there are writers and bloggers like you to set atleast some perceptions straight! I’m quite keen to catch up with you too- would love to show you the places I know.
@ Dick- You forgot the sunflowers and the poppy fields- If you miss them, watch any of our Bollywood ‘romantic’ songs!

You’re tempting me to travel too- I wish the dollar exchange rates weren’t so loaded against the rupee- its hard to imagine travelling anywhere outside the subcontinent. If I did get a visa, that is!

By: Dick

Dick — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:55:39 +0000

Hi Nora,

Your B&B is waiting….

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:24:38 +0000

@Dick – I would suggest that both India and Holland share many of the same “Great…” stereotypes. What? There’s more than marijuana and red light districts in Holland? NO! Couldn’t be! What? There’s more than cows and elephants in the streets of India? NO! Couldn’t be! (smiles)

I can’t wait to visit both of your awesome countries and discover the finer treasures held within for myself.
Thanks!

By: Dick

Dick — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:21:07 +0000

Hi Sreedevi ,

I know just how you feel ! I’m Dutch , and if you believe everything you read and hear there is baccanalian debauchery (love that expression !) on every streetcorner over here … Which there is not of course …or maybe I just got accustomed to it … I don’t know !

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:21:56 +0000

@Sreedevi – That was not a harassment or offensive at all! On the contrary; thank you so much for contributing!
I must say, as much as I don’t want it to be the case, popular media has implanted certain perceptions and expectations for many of the countries I visit. It’s hard not to set expectations (even subconscious ones), as much as we all try to be open-minded on a conscious level.
But I am pleased to say that once I arrive, I usually see the environment for what it is instead of keeping the rose-coloured spectacles on. Sometimes this reality check is disappointing or jarring; and sometimes it is a welcome and treasured surprise.
I must admit my pre-conceived visions of India are not too far off your “Great Indian” description….lots of beautiful colours and flowing fabrics, cows in the streets, and also a very different (to me) culture of people who – like you say – straddle both eastern and western cultures gracefully. And I can’t wait to arrive and discover what the “real India” versus the “Great India” is all about! The calling is getting strong…..maybe you and I will meet sooner than later…. (smiles)

By: Sreedevi

Sreedevi — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:35:58 +0000

@Nora: Hey, no you didn’t. But I’m a little sensitive to the “colourful, exotic, vibrant, cows-on-the-streets and painted elephants” view of India. There are these shows on Discovery Travel & Living, NatGeo & Fox History- they seem to think India is full of garishly dressed subcultures, temples, elephants, paan-stained historical monuments and weird people in hot villages with no electricty or running water, and Bollywood. A colonial remnant, perhaps.

There’s so much more….young, well educated highly creative people, men and women who successfully straddle the Western & Eastern cultures, the close knit families, the amazing variety in cuisine and languages and music…. And ofcourse, people just like other ordinary people around the world. And the biggest achievement, if we can call it that, is that this country hasn’t really split up or lost its democratic nature in the 60 yrs since Independence. Infact, our culture is so varied that the very idea of India is an external construct, imposed after the British came here. And all the stresses and strains apart, it is the largest working, effective democracy in the world.

I used to take all this for granted, until I saw how Western cultures see India. That is one of the limitations of TV- the only perspective is that which sells. Anything that begins with “the Great Indian…” makes me just switch off.

I know I’m just venting off at the wrong person, but do consider this: How often are your views/ thoughts/ travel writings influences by what you already believe about a place or its people? Or, once you go someplace, do you revise what you thought of it? I mean, do you really go with an open mind..?

And I don’t mean to harass you with so many questions, so no offence taken if you completely ignore this comment. 🙂

I really do enjoy your blog- so keep writing. Thanks!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:07:47 +0000

In reply to Sreedevi. @Sreedevi - Oh my gosh. Did I do it? What is the Great Indian Stereotype?

By: Sreedevi

Sreedevi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:21:02 +0000

@Sherry: It is sad that you’ll be locked inside the airport for 9 hours..do let me know if there’s any way I can make it easier for you (home cooked Indian food, perhaps? 😉 I think they have wireless, but whether it works is anyone’s guess.

@Nora: Anytime!! I’d be thrilled to show you around.

And do avoid The Great Indian Stereotype (oops!) when you write about my country.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:46:49 +0000

In reply to Dick.

@Dick – You rock! Sorry your flight was so crappy, but what a great dose of melodrama to have fun with after the fact! 🙂 Cheers…

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:45:47 +0000

In reply to nomadic matt.

@Matt – I can’t tell you how many times I wished for a transporter during this journey. It certainly pointed out that although it’s a small world, it isn’t exactly….Australia is a bloody long way away from a lot of places!