Backpacker fallacies

robotvoice · Jan 16th, 2007, 03:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by YogaGal

Lately I've noticed more and more comments like this in various threads about westerners wearing Indian clothes, that if worn, westerners will stick out like a sore thumb at best, or pointed out and laughed at, at worst.

Now I address male fashion.
A curiosity that i noticed in India was that many indian men are dressed in a way that looks quite western; in baseball caps, jeans, western style collared shirts, western name brands, etc. meanwhile a lot of tourists are wearing clothing from india. It's like some kind of a polar reversal. When was the last time you saw a tourist in india wearing a Nike hat? And how about a local?

Yetijuice · Jan 16th, 2007, 04:02

Where did my Beer Lao shirt go? My wife must have thrown it out. I visited Laos with my two eldest sons over Christmas 2000. My eldest son was occasionally wearing his Beer Lao shirt to elementary school as recently as two years ago. Nothing lasts forever. Holy shirts get thrown away!

Sama · Jan 16th, 2007, 04:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by robotvoice

Now I address male fashion.
A curiosity that i noticed in India was that many indian men are dressed in a way that looks quite western; in baseball caps, jeans, western style collared shirts, western name brands, etc. meanwhile a lot of tourists are wearing clothing from india. It's like some kind of a polar reversal. When was the last time you saw a tourist in india wearing a Nike hat? And how about a local?

my point exactly.

I usually wore SKs. when my autorick driver picked me up on a Sunday to take me to his house for dinner, I looked at him and said "I look more Indian than you do", and he laughed.

when I got home and showed my husband the photos from that day, he said "he looks like he's going to a baseball game..."

see the pics in my gallery....

and if anyone accuses me of hijacking this thread,

it all started with the fat westerner in a kurta remark....

palerider · Jan 16th, 2007, 04:21

I have a confession to make....I was that fallen fat bastard in the Kurta. I'm going to do it again, and I don't care who knows.
I just noticed it, that's all. It reminds me of the Olympics in Sydney. A lot of people came from everywhere, and they pretty much wore western Clothing, but they looked like they were from the country they were from.

palerider · Jan 16th, 2007, 04:46

By way of explanation, here i am....

As you can see, quite fat,

in a Kurta, a bit of a bastard, and certainly fallen....

woodlouse · Jan 16th, 2007, 19:46

eh eh eh
guilty as charged on the 'real india thing' and may have damaged my fly-phobic friend for life, but hey - life's rich tapestry etc etc!

JayBee · Jul 4th, 2007, 01:35

I wear my punjabi suit with pride back here in the UK - I managed to haggle for it, find a tailor to put it together and it's sparkly and pink. Not a major challenge in the run of things but I was proud of myself for a first time traveller.

I also have two sari's (one an internet purchase which, with only a rudimentary knowledge of sewing, I managed to put in the correct measurements and the blouse pretty much fits). They make great ball dresses and cost nothing by comparrison.

I quite like wearing this stuff and seeing people's reaction. I once got asked if I'd converted to Islam (not a very observant comment that one!). I only wear it for special occasions because I don't want it to get ruined.

I had an amazing time in India and I'm very proud to have Indian relatives. I enjoy wearing the clothes I brought back. Does this make me ignorant/naieve/arrogant/a bad person? I will admit I didn't wear it in India, but that was because I was sweating like a beast most of the time!

PortieOwner · Jul 6th, 2007, 09:36

A few times now I have shown up on the Delhi doorsteps of friends from grad school wearing Indian clothes and they always look very surprised at what I am wearing so I will keep doing it. I think the best effect is the woolen shawl, which I wear in the Indian manner. A further incentive: the ladies tell me I look good in Indian clothes.....

vistet · Aug 6th, 2007, 03:25

I wear a Tibetan shirt , at home and on the road so often that friends are startled by me in a t-shirt.

When I went to the Library in McLeod, every morning for a couple of weeks , I would meet and greet the same old lady every day.

One day she roped in one of the off-duty librarians outside in jeans and t-shirt, to make sure that I had understood what she had said a couple of times .... and at the same time making a dig against the guy translating : "really nice unchu .. so many people to day use these (imitated buttoning shirt , with scrunched up face ) .. no good !"

julesa · Oct 16th, 2007, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by robotvoice

Now I address male fashion.
A curiosity that i noticed in India was that many indian men are dressed in a way that looks quite western; in baseball caps, jeans, western style collared shirts, western name brands, etc. meanwhile a lot of tourists are wearing clothing from india. It's like some kind of a polar reversal. When was the last time you saw a tourist in india wearing a Nike hat? And how about a local?

i bought some clothes in Goa and was wearing them in Jaisalmer, the ubiquitous fishermen's pants and a red collarless shirt.

some Jaisalmeri local yelled out to me "where's the bull fight?"

he was a bit confused when i and my partner cracked up laughing

mikraz · Dec 23rd, 2007, 13:16

I leave for India on Jan 7th for 5 weeks; first time; bookmarked this site months ago, educating, researching, *enlightening* myself in the ways of "Mother India"... This posting single handedly shattered all reservations and anxieties about going[ And also had me laughing out loud

], yet reaffirmed my instincts on how I should conduct myself; with humility, charm, bottled water and a mature perspective.

What a fantastic community this is. Thank you all and I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences upon return.

machadinha · Dec 23rd, 2007, 13:21

Well... go and enjoy

Be sure to share how you found it.

Jan 16th, 2007, 04:02	#77
Yetijuice Old Trekkers Never Die, They Go Over the Next Pass Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, California Posts: 174	Thou shalt own a Beer Chang/Singha/Lao T-shirt. Where did my Beer Lao shirt go? My wife must have thrown it out. I visited Laos with my two eldest sons over Christmas 2000. My eldest son was occasionally wearing his Beer Lao shirt to elementary school as recently as two years ago. Nothing lasts forever. Holy shirts get thrown away!

Jan 16th, 2007, 04:21	#79
palerider adam singh Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Udayapura, Bangalore soon Posts: 196	Mia Culpa I have a confession to make....I was that fallen fat bastard in the Kurta. I'm going to do it again, and I don't care who knows. I just noticed it, that's all. It reminds me of the Olympics in Sydney. A lot of people came from everywhere, and they pretty much wore western Clothing, but they looked like they were from the country they were from. __________________ I finally realised, in the nic of time, that Life was for Living.

Aug 6th, 2007, 03:25	#84
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,777	I wear a Tibetan shirt , at home and on the road so often that friends are startled by me in a t-shirt. When I went to the Library in McLeod, every morning for a couple of weeks , I would meet and greet the same old lady every day. One day she roped in one of the off-duty librarians outside in jeans and t-shirt, to make sure that I had understood what she had said a couple of times .... and at the same time making a dig against the guy translating : "really nice unchu .. so many people to day use these (imitated buttoning shirt , with scrunched up face ) .. no good !" __________________ high road to ..

Dec 23rd, 2007, 13:16	#86
mikraz journeyman creative Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Rafael CA Posts: 6	This post is Brilliant! I leave for India on Jan 7th for 5 weeks; first time; bookmarked this site months ago, educating, researching, enlightening myself in the ways of "Mother India"... This posting single handedly shattered all reservations and anxieties about going[ And also had me laughing out loud], yet reaffirmed my instincts on how I should conduct myself; with humility, charm, bottled water and a mature perspective. What a fantastic community this is. Thank you all and I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences upon return.

Dec 23rd, 2007, 13:21	#87
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,089	Well... go and enjoy Be sure to share how you found it. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Jan 16th, 2007, 04:46	#80
palerider adam singh Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Udayapura, Bangalore soon Posts: 196	By way of explanation, here i am.... As you can see, quite fat, in a Kurta, a bit of a bastard, and certainly fallen....

Jan 16th, 2007, 19:46	#81
woodlouse firefly lovers club Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: UK Posts: 82	eh eh eh guilty as charged on the 'real india thing' and may have damaged my fly-phobic friend for life, but hey - life's rich tapestry etc etc!

Jul 4th, 2007, 01:35	#82
JayBee Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Posts: 30	I wear my punjabi suit with pride back here in the UK - I managed to haggle for it, find a tailor to put it together and it's sparkly and pink. Not a major challenge in the run of things but I was proud of myself for a first time traveller. I also have two sari's (one an internet purchase which, with only a rudimentary knowledge of sewing, I managed to put in the correct measurements and the blouse pretty much fits). They make great ball dresses and cost nothing by comparrison. I quite like wearing this stuff and seeing people's reaction. I once got asked if I'd converted to Islam (not a very observant comment that one!). I only wear it for special occasions because I don't want it to get ruined. I had an amazing time in India and I'm very proud to have Indian relatives. I enjoy wearing the clothes I brought back. Does this make me ignorant/naieve/arrogant/a bad person? I will admit I didn't wear it in India, but that was because I was sweating like a beast most of the time!

Jul 6th, 2007, 09:36	#83
PortieOwner Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 351	A few times now I have shown up on the Delhi doorsteps of friends from grad school wearing Indian clothes and they always look very surprised at what I am wearing so I will keep doing it. I think the best effect is the woolen shawl, which I wear in the Indian manner. A further incentive: the ladies tell me I look good in Indian clothes.....

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