Monday, February 15, 2010

Salaam Bombay!

So here I am in Mumbai (previously known as Bombay), India, a place that I have wanted to go to ever since I was a little girl and saw a Bollywood movie playing at a childhood friend's house. What kind of magical and crazy place created such colorful and exuberant things? Oh, India...

Yet, now that I find myself here after all these years of anticipation, I don't know how I feel about actually being here. Granted, when I first arrived, I was on the recovering end of rubella and basically took a few days to rest and mend but I can't seem to find my usual enthusiasm and curiosity for exploring a new place. Maybe because every single time I've ventured out into the city, I've literally seen people defecating and urinating in the streets (I kid you not). This makes Mumbai a little scary to me, not to mention grossly unappealing. And this is coming from me. ME! The girl who always talk potty.

The truth of the matter of why I haven't been so excited about Mumbai has to do with the fact that I plain out miss Burma. Even after just a few days, I already miss that messed up country and hanging out with my cousins. In fact, on my way to the airport in Yangon on the day I left, I remember thinking about how I was going to miss it. I just didn't realize that it was going to be so soon!

I'm really looking forward to going back to Burma before returning to the States next year. But first, I need to get my head back into the traveling mode and start experiencing India! Wish me luck!

© Connie Hum 2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Fortune and Doom

The other day I decided to go with my mother and her sisters to get our palms read. I don't really give fortune telling much stock since I'm a firm believer that you are in charge of your own destiny and that you can make your own luck, but I thought it would be a fun and interesting experience.

My fortune, as told by a Ph.D. in Palmistry (does that really even exist?) is as follows:
  • I will meet my future husband this year (talk about pressure and expectations on every boy I meet!)
  • There will be 3 suitors and I should choose the one my mother chooses (hmm...wonder if there was any bribery taking place?)
  • I will get married by the end of next year
So if indeed my future is literally in the palm of my hands, everyone should be getting ready for a pretty awesome wedding party next year! Haha!

Now for the doom part. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with my fortune! For some very odd reason, my month in Burma has been plagued with inexplicable illnesses. This is rather puzzling to me as I usually do not get ill, especially while I'm traveling. So far, I've had three days of hotel confinement, moving only between the bed and toilet, a short but ferocious bout with dengue fever and now, a horribly itchy red rash spreading all over my body! The only thing I can think of saying in response is in Burmese: "Dohk kah beh!"

The year is still early so we'll just have to keep an eye out to see if my fortunes come true. Only time will tell. But then again, I too am a player in this game of life and my future will be what I want to make of it. In any case, this just keeps things a little bit more interesting!

© Connie Hum 2010

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