Dream Trip 2008: July

Great Travel Moment

On the road from Jodhpur to Udaipur, our guide spotted a road-side wedding and had the driver pull over. We were incredulous when he told us we were free to mingle with the wedding guests and take pictures. Amazingly, the guests clearly welcomed us and posed for our cameras. This red-turbaned gentleman has taken such care to honor the occasion and the newly-weds with clean attire, meticulously wound turban, and gold ear-rings, in spite of the obvious thread-bare condition of what may be his only clothing, held together with a safety pin. This air of gentle pride poignantly illustrates the overwhelming poverty we encountered in India. The bright colors and respectful attention to detail contrast starkly with the filth and disarray we experienced in the cities. To me, this man is the face of India patiently enduring his karma and hoping for a better life next time.