This weekend we all went to see the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves in northern Maharastra. It was so refreshing to get away from the city and breathe nice, clean country air, but it was not nice to encounter country attitudes. For whatever reason we became the central focus of everyone's attention. While visiting these gorgeous caves, dug out of sheer cliff face with only a hammer and chisel, it is remarkable that WE were the ones being stared at rather than the architecture. While in Pune we all get looks and sometimes shouts, but never has it been as bad as this. While at the Ellora caves we actually had to have a security detail because we were being swamped by all the Indians who were redirected from there trip to the caves to look us. All I could think was, "REALLY, REALLY! we travel thousands of miles and cross oceans to see your beautiful county, to appreciate your art, and you return the compliment by swarming us, staring at us, and taking pictures of us! I know that you have probably never seen western people outside your television, but really, this is silly, and it makes us feel really uncomfortable."
So although the caves were stunning and well worth the trip, the most memorable thing about our trip was maybe not the caves but all the other tourists.
Love from India
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