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Winter Break in India
by Amruta Deshpande

You know, $2000 per head for three airfares to India seems a bit excessive when the goal of the trip is to attend a wedding. But decision made and tickets in hand, how do you salvage the expensive venture? You spend more money on tours, hotels, and shopping of course, and give yourself the most eventful three weeks in India! This trip I came across all of the following: historical monuments, one of the 7 wonders, the Indian capital, state aff airs, quality crafts, clothes, foods infamous all over India, ayurvedic medicine, yoga, family, music, a wedding, more shopping, more food, and...

The Taj Mahal is stunning. In the cool foggy air of the northern winter, its conical tips have no affi liation with earth, as they pierce the hazy-blue mystic sky. Snapping us back to reality, the guide informed us of cool structural features intended for longevity, and that it took 22 years to build as everything was done by hand. We then visited government shops that produced decorated marble items using the same hand laying technique used in the Taj Mahal, as well as gorgeous embroidery on rugs and wall hangings fit for nothing less palaces. That was exotic India - a part I had never seen in my 11 years of residence.

I came across ayurvedic medicine at home when I got ridiculously sick. The ayurvedic doctor checks only your pulse at your wrist and prescribes you medicine. I was functional again within 1.5 days. My dad decided to wake my sister and I up in our vacation at 6 every morning for yoga classes off ered by a local lady in a nearby neighborhood. We learned some essential breathing exercises, some of which will make observers cover their ears and avert their eyes. At the same time I saw some really cool positions that I'd previously only seen in books or on TV by some crazy-flexible, skinny guy. Apparently, it's within grasp of regular people.

Shopping too was impressive. With roadside vendors, you can haggle each other's brains out. I had two mind-boggling experiences. On a shopping street, our friend haggled for us, and paid no more than half the quoted price. We did this 5 times in a row. Secondly, a guy came to my aunt's door with the good shawls from the northern region of Kashmir. He quoted 1700 Rs/- for a particular shawl my mom wanted. At the end of the 30 minutes he was there, we bought that one and 2 others, and paid him a grand total of 1600 Rs/-. Your wallet will suffer major dents if you shop alone.

The wedding was 2 days followed by the reception on a third day. It featured 3 ritual ceremonies spread over the 2 days. The bride and groom had to endure sitting in front of a fire for a few hours and some other activities as rituals. The reception was most colorful since all dressed their best as the two families combined and happily mingled.

It was a plenty eventful trip. I came back and slept - a lot.

*Rs/- stands for Rupees only. Rupees = Indian currency, and only => that that's all the money involved.