Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

What I was up to other than here:

  • I’m in Israel until the 19th! I’ve spent this week in Israel on a “boutique” trip with a company called Vibe Israel. I’ll be writing all about it soon, but until then you can follow on Instagram or Facebook to see live updates and pictures. It is the most photogenic place I’ve ever been and the pics are AMAZING if I do say so myself haha, plus I am using my new camera so it’s been really fun taking photos here. So far we’ve just been in Jerusalem. You would not believe how trendy and cool this place is… definitely not what I imagine and so many cool bars, street art, and shops everywhere.
  • I have read a few good books recently. I read the
    [easyazon_link identifier=”0802125557″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Mountain Shadow[/easyazon_link], the follow up to Shantaram which if you like India, is really good. I also read
    [easyazon_link identifier=”0345533666″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Defending Jacob[/easyazon_link], a quick read about a DA investigating a murder (with some crazy twists). I just finished
    [easyazon_link identifier=”0062429078″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Pretty Girls[/easyazon_link] which intense… a psychological thriller I guess you’d call it. I read it in 2 days! Now, I’ve started
    [easyazon_link identifier=”0143108867″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]After You[/easyazon_link], the follow up book to Me Before You (the one they made the movie about).

Now your story,

Driving down the highway in Povorim there was a sudden burst of something into the air, coming from the car in front of us and hitting a bike rider next to us in the face.

It was glitter.

We had been glitter bombed.

Why? The car in front of us was new! You don’t simply buy a car in India and not celebrate it by decorating it like a present. I’m not talking about a red bow on top, I’m talking some serious decor!

They cover them in garland, flowers, glitter, bows, and ribbons. It’s a huge deal and rightly so as cars are expensive and the average income in India is much lower than I think you would believe.

The average monthly wage in India is $302. The average monthly salary in America is $2,769. Buying a car just isn’t in the cards for most people here and that is why you may often see entire families with their babies riding on scooters and bikes.

Maybe this is why they celebrate or maybe cars are just really exciting! Either way it’s so fun to see them all decorated leaving the dealership for the first time. It’s not the only time you see decorated cars – as there are many festivals they involve adding flowers to your cars.

This is India!

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