In the time of Halloween, most people choose to celebrate the idea of feeling different, being a person from a new culture, existence, background. That's pretty much the feeling I experienced coming from Canada and placing my bare feet on the grounds of this city. Halloween or not, when your whole life is spent hearing stories about your culture, meeting people who speak the language, and trying to assimilate with ideals that you know are real for the natives of this land -- undoubtedly you feel like you've just put on a costume and are standing out. Despite this, I chose to go out for halloween garmented. It's funny because only 1 out of 100 people seemingly get dressed up here, and the others choose to stare awkwardly into your taxi, some, baffled when they beg for change.
I partied with people I could only describe as the cool kids of Bandra, a sprawling suburb on the south side of town. It's expensive to party here -- 500 rupees to get into the club, and another 500 for every additional drink. That's about 20 bucks just to get your night started, which in Indian standards, is a full day's wage for a common man. Nevertheless, I didn't take to drinking in more than just the oddity that I was in a club in India on Halloween! Bumble bees, police guards, the Joker, butterflys were some common costumes, still again half the people were happy just dressing their day to day.
The night floated by with remixes of common North American pop and rock songs (not to mention Queen and Blur) and I eventually went to an afterparty at a common friend of Charlie's flat. Everyone has a clique here, and there is a clear sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that unites people, whether it be from youth, school, family ties, or common interest. I was just happy to know anyone at all, knowing that most of this trip I will be lone drifter. A couple of drinks and some spiced chips and my night was spent, only to end up at a friends tiny apartment in a condemned and cobwebbed building.
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