I should have really nice legs by the end of this trip. I’m sure I will appreciate escalators more once I get home. We’ve had a great time thus far in Italy. We’ve seen the pope float across a crowd, had a few gelatos, and walked up (and then down) thousands of steps, literally.

Rome was like one large museum — you could spend months, maybe even years there, and not see it all. Florence, on the other hand, is rather small and no matter what direction you are headed or what street you take, you seem to end up back at Piazza del Duomo. Every time.

I would have uploaded photos, but the internet seems slower here, so no photos for now 🙁 Ah, and Nin — wirehair dachsunds seem to be in here…

Filed under:
Honeymooning by Courtney

As a wedding present Raju’s cousins sent us on a sunset trip into the desert, dune bashing. It was oooooh so scary but ooooooh so fun. The Land Cruisers were sliding this way and that way, and some were getting stuck, but not our driver.

We headed into a camp after watching the sun set for eating, drinking, camel riding, falcon holding, and watching belly dancing. We made friends with the other passengers in our car, Saresh, Sandeep, and his mother Mrs. Kunder. They really made the night — we watched Sandeep mimic the belly dancer by balancing his mother’s cane on his belly!

I’ve made a highlights gallery with some of my favorite pictures so far from Singapore, India (Bangalore, Bandipur, and Belur), and Dubai and Sharjah. Lots of animals and some nice sights, too!

Filed under:
Honeymooning by Courtney

The picture above is not mine — our friend Pathy has already posted pictures on Picasa of our wedding in Bangalore and I thought I would share.

Click here for pictures.

Update: A bit of a recap of the wedding from Raju’s cousin, Indu.

Raju & Courtney Wedding:
The Bangalore Finale

You’ve seen the movie, now read the book.

As the pictures show, it was traditional, colourful, solemn in parts, joyous in most, and a splendid time was had by all.
But what the pictures don’t yet show are the befores and the afters
So here’s a verbal picture of that too…

The pre-nuptial excitement set in with a grand lunch-and-mehendi party hosted by Latha and Shankar at Chimes Inn. Ashok and Bhanu, the ‘inn-keepers’ had everything meticulously in place to give us a sparkling welcome. Apart from the Uttar Karnataka fare, there was Latha’s own delicious parsley soup and lasagne, and Shankar’s puliogare bhat that were competing for our compliments.

Then the mehendi lady began her work on the bride’s hands. The visitors were given a quick background of the significance of mehendi: the darker the patterns, the luckier Courtney would get…with her mother in law! And that as long as the designs remained, she would not be expected to do any housework. (Furtive applications of lime juice over the mehendi patterns assured very dark designs…)

Soon Bollywood music was switched on.
And then began the dancing—also known as the seduction of Shankar by the dancing ladies. As Shah Shankarjehan lay about on the takias, red rose in hand, Aishwarya, Madhuri, Hema Malini, and Rekha (names changed to protect their identities) performed several item numbers in the grand Indian film tradition. Then it was mayhem as everyone was lured to take the floor, and dance their way towards Courtney and bless her. Raju did a particularly deft number.

How much we missed Anu and her adorables, Nina and Rhys, the dancing sensations of America…

And then the Wedding!

Even as we were rushing about searching for our mascara and mallipu, a flood of guests arrived very early… (unusually clear Bangalore streets devoid of traffic was the reason!) And then Raju and Courtney made a royal entrance. “Asal bommai attum irruka! Aha…Raja madiri irrukan!” were frequent exclamations. We welcomed the gathering and then Mrs Sharma the Arya Samaj high priestress conducted the hour-long ceremony. Debra (mother of the bride) and Tammy (her sister) were dressed by Leela in grand silks and looked like they’d worn sarees all their lives. Courtney articulated Sanskrit slokas with ease. Raju flashed his devastating grin. And it was a lovely, intimate moment when the entire gathering moved up right around the stage to shower the lovely couple with flowers.

While the official pictures were being taken, some of the guests moved over to the Banquet Hall to see a fun audio visual , earlier played at the Washington reception, showing clear evidence that that this tryst was ordained since the baby days of Raju and Courtney. Then as guests sat down to enjoy lunch, the couple moved around and greeted people at every table.

A truly wonderful day.

And now… we hear there’s shortly going to be a Bollywood version of the earlier Hollywood hit, starring Jennifer Lopez, “The Wedding Planner”. This time of course it will star Bhanu. A rousing applause here!

Krishnamurthy and Leela met up with so many cousins and pals who’d made the effort to be there. There was much catching up, smiles and laughter.

And then a family tradition that began with the time Krishnamurthy and Leela got married over 40 years ago was religiously repeated, at the wedding of their son.

Several relatives accompanied Raju and Courtney on their honeymoon :-).

A bunch of determined cousins, who decided they needed a treat after the hard work at the wedding, merrily joined the couple on a fabulous trip to Bandipur Game Sanctuary. The American visitors were delighted to find that we have animals in our forests too, apart from the ones that roam in our streets.

Fortunately the cousins have stayed back from the rest of their honeymoon plans, and even as you read this, Raju and Courtney are enjoying themselves in Dubai.

Cheers!

Filed under:
Honeymooning, Wedding by Courtney

Singapore, Chingi Airport, October 12th, 5:10 pm:
So, really, not much has changed from my day-to-day life. Except soothing voices are paging passengers as I type this.

We arrived at SFO Wednesday (it’s Friday here, I think it’s Friday at home). I was bummed because we were seated in row 1 on the plane — I would have seat to stick my luggage under. Mind you, this is after Raju has said, “We can get in the First Class line”.

So, internalizing that I’m bummed, I then realize, “Row 1 — wait, isn’t that first class?” Raju smiled a small grin. “Surprise! I’ve been trying to keep this from you forever.” Apparently that’s not too hard, as it didn’t even hit me when we were in the first class line. At that point, had he not smirked, he probably could have told me it was a one time, during-the-trip upgrade.

This life rocks. Sitting in lounges, eating free food, drinking free drinks. The best part is the new Singapore Airlines first class is apparently tops — 35 inches of seat, that lies flat into a bed. Your own 23 inch flatscreen, filled with the newest movies as well as TV shows from around the world (old and new, I got to watch Pinky and the Brain which I haven’t seen since high school). Oh, and as much vintage Dom and Krug as you can drink. I seriously was ready to spend the next 30 days on the plane. I just need to take a moment and say the husband — BEST HUSBAND EVER.

But, they did eventually land the plane, and we’re in Singapore, which is pretty cool. We arrived last night, and hopped in bed in the airport’s hotel. Today, they let us through immigration, so we headed out to explore. We took a cable car from the Harbour Front over to Sentosa (I think… tourist trap I’m sure, but the cable car ride sounded fun and that’s where it took you) and saw the merlion statue. The cable cars were pretty high over the water — a bit scary, especially when they left the station. Then we headed back over for a trip through the mall. I have never seen so many high-end shops. Between the airport and the shopping center we went to, I’ve been bombarded with Fendi, Bvlgari, Gucci, Burberry, Cartier, and the list just goes on, and on, and on. These people have money. And I should have never worried about buying beauty products before leaving — the airport has many duty-free shops that definitely rival Sephora (though, a huge thank you Kristen for that Caudalie travel kit — the refreshing spray is just that – jeez my skin is soft now).

Pictures, I’m sure, will come at some point, but not today. We’re set to take off for Bangalore in a few hours, so for now, I’m just going to relax, and continue sipping my champagne.

Filed under:
Honeymooning by Courtney

Old photo, same sentiment — HAPPY!

In other holiday news, we are ready for our holiday, as the Europeans say. So, not that I’ve ever gotten around to updating this blog daily anyways, but updates will still continue to be spotty. If I can get some photos uploaded along the way, though, I will update.

Ciao!

Filed under:
Day in the Life by Courtney