Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

The Raj Mandir Theater. Photo Taken by Paula Anderson, friend of Author.

It’s glitzy, glamorous, and rhymes with Hollywood… it’s the very dramatic, very Indian, and very fabulous Bollywood!

After a hectic venture to the train station, we arrived at the infamous, enormous Raj Mandir Theater in Jaipur, India for a screening of House Full II. Though we may not have been in the actual Bollywood, the big screen and buzzing crowd was enough to make it feel like the real deal.

We bought snacks of Samosas, lemon sodas, and chocolate bars. When I asked if he had change for a 100 rupee bill in the changeless Jaipur, he responded “No Problem!”, yet administered my 5 rupees change in the form of cheap candy. Oh well…

The lights faded in the lobby 15 minutes before the screening and the illuminated theater revealed a crowd dawning silk saris and traditional tunics. We slid into a row amongst Indian teenagers and families, and by the number of stares, soon recognized that we were the only foreigners at this screening. We found refuge from the attention as the lights dimmed, but then the true ridiculousness began.

Imagine a story of trickery and deception encompassed in an extravagant display of physical comedy, enormous group dance numbers and a Hinglish script.

The Big Twist Revealed at the Wedding. Photo by Friend of Author.

We were able to work out the bits about an arranged engagement that sours when the man finds a new woman to love. Then, in attempt to seek revenge on another family, a series of staged engagements converge on an island, in a house divided, and eventually in a palace for a wacky yet tremendous eight person Bollywood wedding.

Don’t get it? Probably because even after watching it, the movie made just enough sense to be terribly confusing.

Though the finer details of the twisted plot were lost in translation, plenty of drama, some shoddy special effects and the occasional English “What have you done?!” served as an illuminated walkway to eventual understanding.

So my very first venture to a Bollywood film was altogether better than expected. It was crazy but genuinely funny, well produced, and filled with elaborate song-and-dance numbers that were as catchy as the slightly modified Western originals.

Only the truly stoic could have left without breaking a smile and that’s more than I can say about most Hollywood romantic comedies.

Not interested in going to a Bollywood movie anytime soon? You can also check out some of the wacky movies coming out of the enormous cinema industries of the United States (Hollywood), Nigeria (Nollywood), Indonesia, Hong Kong & Egypt.

Have you ever had a funny experience in a foreign movie theater? Let me know in the comments below! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Raj Mandir and Mid-Day Adventures with Bollywood)

Author at the Taj Mahal with Some New Friends

I’ve been traveling abroad for a year and haven’t seen my family for months, yet it seems like I’ve posed for more family photos than ever.

“How?” you might ask?

Well… excluding the family Christmas Card with my face Skyped in, my ‘family’ photos have been taken with other people’s families–Indian families, Thai families, Indonesian families. You name an Asian nationality and I probably have a family portrait. Not to mention the hundreds of shots with flirtatious youngsters, silly girls and enthusiastic old fellows.

Initially this phenomenon was amusing. While my friend and I scaled the stairs of Borobudur in Indonesia, we were accosted by a giggly group of school girls and asked for a photo. I thought it was just because my male companion was handsome, but soon, one photo turned into a photo shoot with every person in the place. By the end of the day, I found myself ducking behind ruins to catch a look at the temple without being pulled into a photograph.

Author at Borobodur

I suppose I was a little less surprised when the same thing continued to happen throughout Asia– at Bangkok’s Grand Palace, at Agra’s Taj Mahal, at the temples of Bagan in Myanmar. No matter how spectacular the background, it seemed like my American friends and I were the preferred subject of people’s photographs.

Author at Amber Fort

Closely zoomed shots of our faces cut off entire pillars or cropped out Buddha’s head or omitted the family’s youngest son. Arms were slung around our shoulders and handshakes were given simply for the photo opportunity. Within the snap of a shutter we had suddenly become the fictional “English friend” or “the Canadian girls that I hung out with” of the beholder for years to come.

I didn’t get it. Why would they want a picture of some random girls? Do they show to their friends? Frame them? Put them in family albums? Show their grandkids?

…

Today I was flipping through years of photos in my iPhoto library–through albums overflowing with memories of friends, places traveled and family gatherings. But then, there were also my “artsy photos”… photos of boys playing soccer in Ghana, the aged face of my fortune teller in Hong Kong, and fruit vendors dispensing mangoes in Jakarta. People going about their daily life and me capturing it with my DSLR to look at later on– in frames hanging on the walls to show my friends and grandkids (someday).

And for the first time, I realized how weird it must seem to the subjects of my photographs that I want a picture of them doing… well… nothing in particular.

After this realization, I don’t think I can resist it anymore. In fact, I think I owe it too all the photo happy tourists to offer up my smiling face for photos if they want it.

I guess I had it coming all along. So, here’s my travel photo pledge of good will: As long as I shoot, I consent to be shot. EVEN if it means I become the imaginary “American girlfriend” of a Punjabi man I hardly know.

Have any funny “family” photos from your trips abroad? Where were they? (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: Posing for Other People’s Family Photos)

Image provided by Flashpacking Life

Every good traveler needs to expand their vocabulary every once and a while. Whether it’s learning a few phrases of a foreign language or mastering a local dialect in your own language, expanding your vocabulary is generally a very good thing.

I recently expanded my vocabulary to include the word funicular. A cable railway where a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other. Plus it offers great bragging rights to those who ride one.

Implemented throughout the world where steep inclines make transportation difficult, the funicular comes to the rescue.

Have you ridden a funicular? Have you encountered any other interesting modes of transportation with names as fun as funicular? (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: Funicular Friday Blog Post)

Only in India can a quick walk to the bank be interrupted by a scuffle with a petitioner, a negative aura reading, and a near death-by-rickshaw experience…

Notorious for its touts and scams, navigating your way through New Delhi is a learned art. Whether you’re walking to your favorite spot or exploring a new part of the city, the best way to avoid any unwarranted attention is to walk like you’ve had the direction in your mental-GPS since the day you were born… and when you walk past the same street again 10 minutes later, utterly lost, you act like you just wanted to check out the area.

It’s a confidence and an assertiveness that you’ve got a direction, and usually, with the walk, you can avoid some unnecessary ventures into tour shops and rickshaw rides without even breaking your smile.

Usually, I pride myself on my ability to stay out of unwanted situations when traveling, but today, the hawkers were coming on strong, and there was no amount of poise that could get me through unscathed.

At this point, I had been a solo traveler for approximately two hours. My friends took off in the morning and I was left behind in the hotel room with a head cold, an almost empty wallet, and a nearly unplanned itinerary. I took initiative and peeled myself out of bed for a quick jaunt to the bank, but as I was reminded, nothing comes so easily in New Delhi.

I pioneered my way into my alley and was immediately accosted by a woman collecting “signatures and no money”– as usual, “no money” actually meant “some money”– but I managed to decline as politely as possible and escape her sharp-nailed grip before getting seriously trapped into anything.

I had barely strided away when I received a complimentary-yet-unwelcome aura reading from a baba pacing beside me on the road. “Hello ma’am. I want to tell you… You have a good heart but a negative energy from my three very serious problems. Very very serious. Your life is terribly out of balance. I think you are a little insane.” …Thank you? I suppose I could have paid to learn that I am oversensitive and that I lack focus, but I actually already know that, and I really just need an ATM.

“Oh Wow. Thank you sir… maybe I come back later?” I said as I quickly changed to the other side of the road.

Listen guys… I’ve got a head cold and an attitude, do you think we could do this later?  I thought. Maybe they would have left me alone if they realized I had less than $8 in my possession.

Finally, as I rounded the corner to the bank, a bicycle rickshaw sharply cut left behind me. I jumped back to find my space obstructed by a mango stall. Luckily, I made it up on my toes, pinned against the steel table and barely avoided getting my feet crunched by the passenger cart of the rickshaw. I didn’t expect an apology, or even wait for some acknowledgement of what just happened. It happens at least thirty times on a good day.

Getting to the bank, the intention of the trip was nowhere near as significant as the trip to get there. When traveling, it always takes a while to find your feet and even longer to grow your teeth. There is a steep learning curve to knowing when to talk and when to walk, when to smile and when to scowl, when to be polite and when to argue.

After today, I suppose even walking like you know where you’re going isn’t always enough, but it’s still worth a shot.

Here are a few quick tips for avoiding touts when traveling:

1. Most important of all is walking with purpose!

2. Throw on sunglasses and look straight ahead in touristy areas. Pretend not to hear the “hellos” and “where are you froms” coming out of nearly every shop if you don’t have the time or interest in buying.

3. When confronted directly by someone, simply say a genuine “No, thank you” and keep walking. If you slow down, it becomes a lot more difficult to walk away without being rude. If they are persistent, it helps to have an excuse about why you’re in a hurry.

4. Ask for information from people with no vested interest. Don’t get directions from a rickshaw driver or shopping recommendations from a silk shop owner! Instead, ask at an upscale hotel, someone on their way to work, or a fellow shopper.

What’s your best trick or tip for avoiding touts when traveling? (Can’t see Facebook comments? Click here to view the full version of the Walking Like You Know Where You’re Going Blog Post)

My family of 5 just finished spring break. Well, most of us were on spring break but one member of the family had to work (gasp!) during the week of our family vacation.

Due to the working nature of one family member, part of our vacation included a stay at a traditional “business” hotel. Not a family friendly resort but a wear-your-professional-attire kind of place.

The decision to stay at a hotel predominantly occupied by the traveling business person turned out to have a boatload (yes, that is a technical unit of measurement) of benefits that bear repeating as we will definitely repeat a trip like this.

By being the only family staying at the hotel, the staff was quite enamored by us. We were singled out (in a good way) with complimentary cookies and milk for the kids, extra special treatment in the restaurant and best of all – a pool all to ourselves.

While everyone else worked the days away and the meeting rooms were filled to capacity, we ruled the pool and the hotel grounds. The nights and weekend were a different story but during the workweek days we were hotel royalty.

I’m sure this isn’t always the case but in my humble opinion, it might be a gamble worth trying. Especially if your kids are as cute as this one. (But, I’m a little biased.)

Have you had an unusual trip become a pleasant surprise? Share with us in the comments! If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Getting Down to Business on Spring Break Travel Blog.

Hula Dancers at Hawaiian Sunset Luau

When visiting Hawaii many travelers wonder if a luau is on the “must-see” or “must miss” list. For me, it is definitely a must-experience each and every time we visit the islands. The following are my own personal top 5 reasons never to miss a luau when the opportunity presents itself:

5. A Festivus for the Rest of Us – A luau is a wonderful festive gathering. People are generally friendly attending these soirées and I have met many lovely people from around the world when partaking in the luau experience.

4. Music and Dancing – Hearing those distinctive drums and watching the fire dancers just makes me happy.

3. The Sunsets are Breathtaking – The luaus I have attended have had amazing sunsets in full view. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the end of yet another beautiful day in Hawaii.

2. The Mai Tai – Enough said.

1.  When will you ever see a darling baby look as cute as this little girl?

Well, do you luau? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below! (Having trouble viewing Facebook comments? Click here)

THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

Inspired by his father the biker, Filmmaker Guillaume Blanchet spent 382 days exploring life on two wheels. All aspects of life take on a new appeal when experienced by bike, like… shaving, cooking eggs and winning a tennis match… Check it out! Then tell us your favorite biking story in the Facebook comments below.

(if you’re having trouble seeing Facebook comments below, click here)

I’m well aware that the desire to look especially fly (get it? get it?) while traveling does not lie deep within the hearts of all wanderers. If you’re the type of blissfully carefree schlep who breezes through the airport with your flip-flops for ease of removal and Saved by the Bell: The College Years-era hoodie, more power to you. This blogger, on the other hand, is not.

If the first paragraph didn’t tip you off, I’m the type who agonizes over a 48-hour trip to her parents’ house nearly as much as a two-week Eurotrip—and don’t get me wrong, I look no more or less stylish than the average bear, I just think about it more.

That said, sisters (and brothers) in blogland, I’m sure I’m singing your saddest song when I bemoan the perils of wearing boots to the airport. Stylish? Check. Comfortable? Double-check. Problematic going through security? Oh my god, triple-check.

I am aware that the jeans-in-socks “solution” is no real solution at all, but a way to keep bunchy jeans from turning your ankles into cankles. Not ideal, certainly, and slightly embarrassing if all of your socks are either covered in animals or full of holes (ahem), but it works….and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

For the love of all that is good in this world, please, PLEASE don’t resort to these. That is all.

Parents of small children know that traveling with those under 4 can be quite challenging. Often so much so, it deters many a young family from venturing outside their own postal code.

Here are some sure fire ways to ensure that your trip with small people goes horribly wrong.

Have no time to spare – Nothing screams travel disaster more than leaving no time to spare with little kids in tow. Arrive at the airport early. I’m talking freakishly early. You never know when a mishap can set you back on your timeline and if you start a holiday on that note you all may never recover.

Abandon All Schedules – The best way to make sure a small child has a thermonuclear melt down is to guarantee that they have no idea what is next. Do your best to keep on schedule to the degree that you can.  Try to have some semblance of their “normal” day. When you travel, part of the point is that you are off routine, but help your kids feel more comfortable by keeping up what part of their schedule that you can.

Bring No Comforts of Home – If your child has a favorite blanket or other treasured lovely, bring it along and by all means keep track of it.  Seriously, keep track of it like your life depends on it, because it just might.

Have No Patience – Patience breeds cooperation.  The calmer you are, the easier time you will all have. You may have to abandon some of your expectations but cooperation makes for happy and memorable travels.

Make Everything A Chore – When you are having fun, your kids have fun. Even the mundane things can be intriguing and fun to kids. Let them hand their tickets to the gate agent. Let them find the row and seat numbers. Make the little things exciting and they will keep engaged. Engaged kids are too busy to fuss.

No Food. No Rest – I was once given the parenting advice that fussy kids are often just tired or hungry.  I’m well beyond the preschool years and this rule even applies to me. Keep snacks and drinks bountiful and a comfy place to rest at the ready. Even if it’s on your shoulder, it still counts as rest. Don’t we all just need a little break? Isn’t that part of the reason you wanted to take the trip in the first place?

Aren't you happy this isn't your dad?

We’ve tried pointing and laughing. We’ve tried outright mocking. There have even been some instances of physical abuse. But, nothing – not even begging – has successfully dissuaded travelers from wearing fanny packs when they are on the holiday prowl. I write this piece from the philanthropic urges within my human spirit. I don’t know what else to say, except that I want a better world – a world where Bambi runs free, where Xbox is a national sport, and mostly, where we don’t have to look at fanny packs when on vacation. I appeal to your reasoning faculties, and urge you to please put down your fanny pack!

It’s all in the name

For a long time, I could not understand how society had allowed the word fanny to be used as an adjective for describing a satchel. Growing up in South Africa we called fanny packs moon-bags. The word fanny had quite a different meaning and it was considered less than appropriate to point out that a grown man had a fanny (pack). It wasn’t until much later (today) that I discovered the American definition of the word – and I am delighted to inform you that it has nothing to do with the erogenous zones of any creature. Semantics aside, I think we can all agree that wearing something that features the word fanny would not be considered cool in any country – except, perhaps, Japan.

Becoming a target

If you are a reasonable person, then I can presume that you wouldn’t purposefully engage in activities that are dangerous. I can also presume that you understand the importance of exercising caution when visiting a different country. This brings into question the prudence of wearing an item that literally renders you a target in the travel wilderness. Do you know why chameleons successfully survive in the wild? No, it’s not because they can change color – It’s because they don’t wear fanny packs.

If you don’t need it on a normal day, you don’t need it on holiday

There are endless mysteries in the universe: Stonehenge, the pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle and the always-pressing question of what Charlie Sheen’s girlfriend did in the cupboard for a whole weekend. But of all these mysteries, none is more perplexing than the contents of a fanny pack. What is it that the fanny-pack-clad traveler finds necessary to carry around when on holiday? I am confident that their passports are at the hotel, and a Fanny pack isn’t large enough for a Glock. So, what is it that gives the fanny pack its awkward bulge?

If you have any idea what travelers carry in their fanny packs, please let me know. The mystery is interfering with my ability to work, and I would really appreciate someone putting an end to this torture!

Leave your interesting and creative responses below…