Going to relive the World War- Thailand-Burma-India Road Trip

This is going to be real fun.

A 12 days expedition organised by Mahindra and Mahindra (the makers of TUV, KUV, XUV and all the other UVs to come), the event called as IMT (India-Myanmar-Thailand) Adventure.
I will be trying to keep this thread live with VLOG and PhotoLogs, depending on the availability of internet.
So far the plan is below-
Day 1 - Start from Bangkok, reach Sukhothai.
Day 2- Sukhothai - Chiangmai (Thailand-Burma)
Day 3 - Chiangmai - Myawaddi (Burma)
Day 4 - Myawaddi - Kyaikto (Burma)
Day 5 - Kyaikto - Yangoon (Burma)
Day 6 - Yangoon - Mandalay (Burma)
Day 7 - Mandalay (Burma)
Day 8 - Mandalay - Bagan (Burma)
Day 9 - Bagan - Kale (Burma)
Day 10 - Kale - Imphal (Burma/India)
Day 11 - Imphal - Kohima (India)
Day 12 - Kohima - Guwahati (India)

The vehicle provided to us is Scoprio (not that I am excited about it), its the events which is gripping us both Anshul and I. Altogether it is going to be 16 days since we leave and reach our home back in Bangalore (thanks Indigo Air and Thai Air). Certainly our better halves will be huffing and puffing in the meantime.
I am still thinking about my gear, since its the materialistic baggage which u have to carry if you have spent so much.
I am hoping to get good photo ops, and I will give my best to keep this blog updated with clicks.
Lot of junk and fast foods will keep us going while covering the longest distances. 

When Vinay ate Shaadi ka Laddoo Part-1

Shaadi ka laddu
ˈlʌduː/
noun
noun: shaadi ka laddoo
an Indian sweet made from a mixture of several rituals, ceremonies, whose shape is hard to define. The sweet has multiple layers. The top layer is sweetest which converts to bitterness in gradient towards its core. Those who dont eat it have a long wish to have it, and who does wishes he never had eaten it.

Vinay was in a phase to have a wish to eat it. This is a blog about the unfolding story of Vinay eating that laddoo.
Since Vinay is my nephew-in-law it was natural for him to be energetic, smart, intelligent and good looking ;) . Buddy made sure that the wedding should be something to be remembered for ages, he was successful and how.

The bride hunting finally came to an end when these two people (Vinay and Sushma) started to like each other and agreed to see each other's face first thing in morning, everyday, for life.

To celebrate this determination we were invited, and how can I miss this golden opportunity to witness the sacrifice.
Main character of this play were Akshitha (my sis-in-law), Nayana (niece-in-law), Deepa (co-sis-in-law), Chinmaya (brother-in-law) Chakravarty (nephew-in-law), Nishanth (nephew-in-law) Dhavala (niece-in-law), Jayant (nephew-in-law), Meghana (niece-in-law), 5 yrs old Vijeta  (niece-in-law), Giri (co-brother-in-law), Reshma (niece-in-law), Bhagya (sis-in-law) and last but not the least and certainly the most important Vinay(nephew-in-law) and now his wife Sushma.

Nevertheless, cut the crap. After 380 kms of treachorous driving in Bangalore-shimoga-siddapur hwy with same song played countless times, infinite milestones, trucks, cattles, goat, dogs, tea, coffee, and sleeping in-laws as companion in the car to make me self-talking we managed to reach Siddapur after noon.
After a warm welcome and hogging good food we were back to business. It was Vinay's naandi ritual. Naandi ritual is bascially sentencing the punishment and reminding the groom a very simple line- 'Dude you are done!'.

Vinay did not want to leave a chance and he was all set to put anything on his face to make him look, lets say, more beautiful. So the ladies managed to trap him and convinced him to get banana pulp massaged on his face. This seems makes the skin soft, glowy and pink.

Since Vinay's face was an experimental ground, no one was leaving an opportunity to put up their idea. Passers-by like Uncle who was assigned outdoor work too wanted to validate his recommendation, which was hushed away immediately.

He sulked and went to bed leaving his work

Ajji (grandma) was suspicous about me, she might have been thinking that I am hired photographer who steals jewellery too.

And the result of experiment- A new goat ready to be sacrificed.

Crown readied for the gutsy fellow

Next was mehendi fest. Basically during mehendi all unmarried ladies inherently imagine their own wedding day with mehendi on their hands and the married ladies recall theirs. Bottom line is, none are present mentally since everyone is lost in their own world. And are confused about the behavior of ladies.

It is believed that the redness of henna determines how much love a lady will get from her hubby. There are cheat codes to make henna leave more redness, one of them is putting lemon water over it. Ladies begging for few drops of Lemon water

I mean look at the sheer happiness

Hallucination was a state where the groom was also in. Look at the face at guess what might be going on in his  mind. I tried but could not guess a thing. Looks like the banana facial did work.

Idle brothers, Uncles, grandads, gets to do petty chores like this.

This is end of Part-1. Goto Part-2

When Vinay ate Shaadi ka Laddoo Part-4

Here comes a bunch of severely, dangerously, acutely, bored 4 persons on earth. Even though the fourth person on extreme right might have an opportunity to have fun time, but his opportunity visibly seems to be snatched away by bunch of freedom fighters.

How to make Rumali Roti in Swimming Pool?

Down came the reception time. Vinay and his dad made awesome arrangement for hospitality. Among other items in the gourmet, one item was Rumali Roti. Note that Rumali roti needs a big space to keep the burners and other equipments to make. It came during eleventh hour that there was no place to give to the cook to make rumali roti. So a few Uncles came up with this great idea. Use the swimming pool for this. Vinay was like 'Whaaaat?' No point, decision was taken and the real estate claimed by the dried pool was used as a kitchen, probably first time in World.

Rumali Roti preparation in progress, in swimming pool.

The night of reception the bed of bride-groom is decorated for their first night. Jayant, Akshi and Dhavala took responsility of doing this in addition to other such similar chores. While they were doing so, I was sitting beside them overlooking the work in progress. These three will talk in Kannada in front me if they want to keep such things discreet. Alas! little they knew that I can read between the lines.
For some reason I dont know why, Jayanat was busy blowing and sticking Balloons on the side of bed. While doing that said to other two while trying his best I should not get what he is saying (I get a little elderly treatment from them)

Jayant - 'Yaaru bereavarige haasige alankaristaaro avara maduve bega aagutte matte avara haasigenu , ade riti alankarisalaguttade'
(It is believed that the person who decorate bed for others get married pretty soon and his/her bed too gets decorated in similar fashion)
And the three started giggling among themselves thinking that the fourth elderly(me) did not get the joke. Well yeah, hmm, pretty much LAUGH OUT LOUD (lol) ! ..

We had to get to bed early since next day was going to be eventful.

On the next day of wedding there use to be games organized for bride-groom and for the family. When I came out to the courtyard I saw everyone doing some sort preparation which was something similar to what is done during Holi Festival. Upon enquiring I happen to understand that a big pot will be filled up with colored water and turmeric, a coin will be dropped in the water and on count of three the bride and groom has to fetch the coin from water. In the meantime colored water will be splashed on to the couple.

I am being brought up in a state where Holi is main the festival and I understand the nitty-gritty of preparation of Holi. And the nitty-gritty is that there has to be no preparation, no rules, no policing, no civilization, no decorum and no decency. The rule of holi in our state is basically how much 'junglee' can one be.
On the contrary, here in siddapur the preparation in progress was reminding me of my office when a white CEO is paying visit to our India develpment center.
I asked Akshi wassup. She said 'shh..!' we are preparing for this game and she explained me the rules.

It was looking too organized and civilized. Something completely against the rules.

While 'civilized' preparation was in progress.

I thought since it was my domain area, I should take charge from here on. I went back, packed my camera, changed my clothes and here I was, Ready to rock and roll.
First I took a hand full of colors and pretty violently painted Akshi's face and hair. I started to look out for another target. It was a scene straight out of a city in UP where a stray raging bull randomly starts charging at people in market and the population caught unawares start running helter-skelter.

After the raging bull attack.

Now If you remember I earlier spoke about the 5 year old Vijeta who literally made everyone dance? Yup she indeed did..

https://youtu.be/v-i-JHGEJsc

The water tank got emptied but the energy was still. This is when Giri Jiju came with the 20 litre sealed Drinking water can and emptied it in the Pot for us to continue fun. We could easily see his wife, bhagya akka screaming and shouting at him that there is no water at home. Will he listen? Nopes. Will anyone listen? Nopes.

After every ounce of water got over.

So, water got over with no water even to drink, everyone is painted in pink, green, yellow, and everyone forgot that the colors needs to be washed. No water at home, nearly 15 people to bathe, interesting situation. Giri Jiju came to rescue, he immediately called up a Minivan and took us all to the nearby Dam for bathing. What fun man !

Singing the throat out in minivan

And off everyone was in water

I told everyone to run towards the camera to take a panning shot. This idea did not work too well with small flop show. Check the sequence and notice Meghana (third from right in black t-shirt)..

Go......

Goa........

Gone........

Time to support PM Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The leader

So this is how the first layer of Shaadi Ka Laddoo got over. A ceremony full of events for everyone to save the memory for life. I myself cannot forget the fun for life and keep storytelling this fest to my friends. Vinay's family is a gem and I am glad to have got such gold hearted in-laws.
God Bless you guys both ! .

Thank you all for reading.

When Vinay ate Shaadi ka Laddoo Part-3

After a lot of fun and masti, the D-day finally approached. At Vinay's place it is customary for the groom to weat his ancestral blazer while going for wedding. It is a one size fit all blazer.

Uncle helping Vinay wear dhoti probably first time in his life

And some photo op

And finally the blazer. Seeing Vinay getting into Blazer was like someone entering into a car.

During every wedding you have a person who is busiest of the lot and they arrive late at party. This dude my brother-in-law Chinmaya came a day late and he entered house the same way how in movie Kabhi-Khushi-Kabhi-Gham Shahrukh khan entered his house after de-boarding a chopper and ran towards the house to meet his mother. However, after he came he was the most idle person as evident in this pic

Enters our lead, Miss Vijeta, 5, also called as pocket-rocket. She has the capability to make everyone dance on her steps, quite literally (wait for the climax).

Everyone all set to roll after breakfast

The holy coconut to be carried by the groom all the way till wedding temple.

Nayana tying holy thread on Vinay's wrist.

Getting ready with ample jewellery

Some last minute reviews

The holy ritual of Arti

Here is what I think these two ladies are talking and thinking (they are looking at their previous day's selfies).

Akshi to Nayana - 'Ni ee photo dalli rashi chanda kanta idde (Nayana you are looking gorgeous in this photo)'
Akshi to self - 'Huh ! .. I am THE BEST ask anyone ! ..'

Nayana to Akshi - 'Illiye, nine rashi chanda kante' (No akshi u are looking so beautiful)'
Nayana to self - 'O yeah? Really? Everyone knows who looks better'

Lalitha Aunty behind to herself - 'Eega ee hudgiyarigu hudugan hudukal shuru madakaatu. Aiyo Devre yentha maadadau'
(Its time we should start looking out prospective groom for these girls as well.O God ! what should I do. Jiski bitiya badi ho gayi uski Khatiya khadi ho gayi.)

First layer of laddoo is not over yet.

Happy Aunts

Getting Blessed

Drinking the holy milk

Getting blessing from elderly, basically best wishes from max experience holders

Dulhe raja is all set to go get his dulhaniya (groom is all set to go get his bride)

Leave no room for error

My favorite shot

Mummy-ji of Bride and mummy of Groom was not ready to take any chance. Multiple last minute reviews

Happy faces across. Groom's sis Nayana and dad Giri Jiju.

Celebrating his last laugh

The decorator and decorated. Thats a smiling Toyota Innova happy about her jewellery and make up done by Akshi poising with her.

Happy groom poising inside an equally happy Innova

Dilwale entering to take his Dulhaniya

No, wait for a while to see these ladies in a different Avatar. I know I am going to get crushed for sharing this pic.

Comes my favorite part - The Kitchen

This guys has question in his eyes, poor guy only he has the answer to the question I have in my eyes. And my question was - 'Anna, whats cooking? '

Pulav it is..

Last minute preparations

Our stud is all set to entertain.

Lalitha aunt in full enthusiasm

Nayana of Nayana (eyes of Nayana)

Busy with preparations

More preps

Never so Happy

Cute lady

Enter Her-Highness

The long wait finally got over

And it left many more happy faces

Another experienced couple - Deepa and Chinmaya

Recall this image? (small size of this image is intentional)

Now see the following images. Believe me, this transformation took place in a span of 1 hour.

Coming back to Her-Highness

The most important knot of Mangal-Sutra

The holy thread

And the grandness

Rituals

And the finally outcome of begging lemon water

Made for each other

He was holding her tighter than how much he was told to.

Mobile photographers galore.

The 'Saari khudai ek taraf, Jodu ka bhai ek taraf' shot ! . (God on one side, brother of wife on the other) . .. meaning, to please your wife make sure u keep her brother in good books.

The most common ritual across every Hindi community in India

So the wedding got over and we all came home not without Chinmaya and I racing our cars on the way back home.
Fun did not get over for youngsters, however the elderly had a different tale to tell.
The tale is continued in Part-4 of this sequel.