"Celebrity" pictures

At almost every tourist site in India we have visited, we are stopped and politely asked if we will stop for a picture opportunity. We call these our "celebrity" moments because it must be what celebrities feel like when they are out and about. We are happy to oblige for the pictures, as it often opens an opportunity to chat with locals and learn a little bit about them.

I have to admit my first instinct to the very first of these requests was suspicion. I was afraid that we were going to be asked for money or the pictures were an opportunity to get close to us for pickpocketing or ... who knows. But after dozens of these requests, it's become very clear that we're really just wanted for the picture opportunities!

I also thought that Grantland must be the main attraction of the two of us. Clearly, he is so light and taller compared to most of the general population. But surprisingly, I'm usually asked to participate in the photo-taking opportunities too, but then again, maybe they're just being polite :)

In Chandigahr, which I believe in general encounters less tourists, Grantland and I were walking down the sidewalk to the rock garden. A group of 3 young men (probably about our age) were driving by on motorcycles. When they saw us, they excitedly stopped their motorcycles and ran over to us to take pictures with their cell phones! We later learned that that particular weekend in Chandigarh, there was a rose festival going on. Our friend Gary, who is from Chandigarh, had mentioned that many people had traveled from villages on that particular weekend to partake in the rose festival, and perhaps that was why we seemed to make a bigger splash in Chandigarh than other cities/sites.

Typically the folks who stop us are young men and families. If it's the latter, then sometimes we'll get to hold a baby/child or two (though sometimes the poor kid doesn't want to be held).

My personal favorite group of "fans" are Indian kids. They have no inhibitions so they just stare unabashedly. When I wave and smile, they often wave and smile back. When we encounter a group of kids, after an initial shy period they'll just storm you, asking you questions in simple English. They also seem to love in the picture partaking. After I snap the pictures, they'll crowd around the camera viewer to see themselves, look up, smile and laugh, and then demand more pictures to be taken of them!

The last picture above was taken at Mamallapuram, on the way back from Puducherry. There were beautifully carved stone monuments at Mamallapuram, but my highlight memory of this place is probably going to be these kids. They followed us around the entire time we were at the site, smiling, laughing and talking to us. They LOVED the picture taking - they would excitedly pose for the camera by putting their arms around each other, pulling in what must have been their brothers/sisters. Then they would joyfully laugh and laugh when I showed them their pictures.

Here's some more pictures of these adorable children: