I know what you're thinking: "Wow good job coming up with Sunday's action the very next day, Vinoj. You're totally punctual." I admit, I've lagged a teensy bit behind. So I'm just going to sum up last Sunday as saying that it was really fun because I went to a place in Bangalore called Opus and had a blast at Karaoke Night. They had this local celebrity lady there too (Usha Uthep, I believe) who's a wicked good singer. She ranged from traditional Indian songs to a KICKASS rendition of Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis. Then she brought the house down with I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. I sang Sweet Home Alabama, to a very responsive crowd.

But that night I saw a video that I need you all to see. It's on YouTube. It's an old video of Rajkumar (a South Indian actor) from the 60s and he's doing some kind of English song. It totally cracks me up and I love it. Check out the lyrics too.

Anyway, in homage to the great video and awesome singer, I've done a 'cover' of it, if you will. Just open it with Quicktime, you'll be good to go. (If you've got iTunes, then it already comes with Quicktime.) And yes, that's really me singing on top of the video in the background.

Ciao.

This weekend was quite possibly the most fun weekend I've ever had in India. It's a long as hell story to cover the two days, so I think I'll be breaking the weekend into two posts. So let's start with Saturday.

Sandwich and Biryani Day

Saturday was Sandwich Day, which I had decided on earlier in the week. I decided it's time to get some cold cuts and make some REAL sandwiches instead of the weak sandwiches you get around town. Of course you can get some pretty decent/good sandwiches at the 5 star hotels, but that's like paying $50 for a patty melt. Do ya really wanna do that? No thanks.

I wanted to tell Jojin (my other cousin/roommate) that I'm gonna be having a bunch of people here for it, but boy was nowhere around. Finally around 12 he shows up with a bunch of bags and about 4-5 friends of his. GULP. Uh-oh. He was going to have people over as well, I thought. "What's up, dude?" He explained that he bought groceries. "Oh," I sighed, relieved. As I was getting ready to leave he says, "Where are you going?" "Oh we're buying groceries too-- because we're making sandwiches." "I'm making biryani!" "SWEEET!!!" So Sandwich Day effectively became Sandwich and Biryani Day.

At about 5 or so everyone shows up, and there's altogether like, 15 of us. There are groups just hanging out playing Playstation, talking, listening to music, cooking, and just chillin. Just a totally relaxed environment and we were all having fun. We obviously ate, and then put on music and danced like crazy people at home. We were doing Irish Riverdancing to Hindi music and rap. Insane, and we decided to go out for dancing afterwards. Suha, one of Apsi's cousins, sorta knew this chick who knew this other chick who was having a wedding reception. That's right... we were gonna go crash a wedding.

Wedding Crashers

We arrived at the place and everything had already been going on for a while, it seemed. The music was just ripe, and people had already eaten. NINE of us jumped onto the dance floor and started dancing like crazies. (I say that with utmost respect to the crazies out there.) The music was typical Hindi-- stuff from movies and also some Punjabi music. That's the stuff that goes, "Bolay Bolay!!! PPRRRRRRRRAA!" Anyway, I pulled out every move that I'd ever seen in any horrid dance scene in an Indian movie and it was a blast. I danced until my abs cramped up, got better, and got up again. Apsi and her cousins were dancing NON STOP for an hour and a half. We danced until the music died.

MTV Celebrity?
So afterwards we're all tired as hell and sitting around. The others got food, but I was still full from the subs in the evening. I noticed this girl in front of me had looked back to check me out. A second later, she AND her mom turn around to look at me. Ooookeee...and then her DAD, her mom, and she turn around and look at me. I just smile politely thinking, Hey there... I know you're staring...can I help you? This other guy who apparently knows that family comes up and asks if we're with the DJ. Apparently we were dancing our asses off so well that they thought we were professionals! (Prolly not me, but the others.) The girl then says, "You are on MTV, right?"

Duhhh...whaaa??????

"No..maybe someone who looks like me but me...no.."
"No it's you- you're on MTV."
"Not that I know of..?"

Finally I convinced them that I wasn't on MTV and it was a mixup of some sort. But I must say, I had a huge head for the rest of the night.

RAVE!

We all stumbled out, completely high on adrenaline, and ready for another party. Someone mentioned that there was a rave in some remote location. Basically the night life shuts down at 11:30 pm here now, so you have to go to places that the police cant find you to party all night and into the morning.

Now I've never been to a rave, either in America or here. And wow this was an eye-opening experience. The trance the DJ played was absolutely mind-blowing and there were a crapload of people just in the dark in the middle of a forest just dancing the night away. People (including me) who finally got to see the stars-- a sight that's not possible in Bangalore because of the city lights. Amazing trance music, dancing, and the company of the heavens.

It was glorious.

So that's SATURDAY. Sunday coming up...