Monthly Archives: February 2013

Hey Angela! How’d you like the shout out! 🙂

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Khana drove us here and bought us postcards and seemed excited to share his culture. That day was a very good day!

These caves are shrines to different Indian Gods. People (young, old, physically challenged, everybody!) walk up the never-ending steps to reach a huge cave system that has statues of cows and gods. Many people bring cow’s milk in ornate containers to serve as a gift to the gods. Cows are sacred to many Indian people. A lot of Indians cut out meat entirely from their diet and become vegetarians. I heard people say that they don’t eat dirty (meaning they don’t eat meat.) Or some will say that they eat clean which means the same thing. We saw people with white dots smudged onto their foreheads. Our cab driver, Khana, explained that the white powder is partly made from cow dung (poop) and is very sacred. Some babies had it rubbed all over their heads.
We were probably the only white people from quite a distance and many people stopped to say hi or hello and take pictures with the boys. Maddux’s blonde hair and Lennon’s curls are unusual here. Someone even took a picture with Jesse and he wasn’t even a soccer fan. I was transfixed on the monkeys and Emerson wanted to leave the cave because the smell was pretty gnarly.

Our taxi driver, tour guide and new friend, Khana!

Ok, so this sushi doesn’t come close to Antonio Park’s restaurant in Montreal, but the conveyor belt was really cool! You just grab whatever you want. The plates are each a certain color that determines the price. Our waiter was super nice and their bathroom actually had a toilet seat and toilet paper! Yay! It’s the little things…

Photo credits: Emerson

Below is the Menara Communications Tower

We met an incredible man at the mosque. he was an Imam. He talked to us for at least 45 minutes about the Islamic faith. He taught us so much. He said that not many Americans visit the mosque, but he would like them to so he can help educate people about Muslims. Sometimes what we see on our news stations might be a bit different or skewed from the truth. I went to shake his hand, but he reminded me that he could not touch me.

I had to wear the garb because Muslim women are supposed to resemble the Virgin Mary. Women must cover their hair and not let skin show. Some women only have their eyes showing. A woman can be touched by her mom, dad, siblings, husband and children but no one else. The double kiss, hugging, even shaking hands is a no-no. While we were at the mosque, a couple was getting married. They were sitting on fancy pillows in the middle of friends and family. A man was officiating and two other men who had to be righteous and at peace with their God spoke up in favor of the couple tying the knot. After the ceremony, a special card is made with a picture of the couple so they can legally check into hotel rooms together. They must have proof that they are husband and wife.
Jesse is wearing the garb because they said his shorts were too short and they were at his knee!