Growing up in the 90's, I as many others grew up seeing the exotic locales of Europe through the eyes of the Hindi movie industry. Remember Yash Raj's productions with our delightful actresses with ample bosoms , deep cut blouses, saris worn way below the "belt line".....swaying along the Steppes of Europe . As to how the flora and fauna of Europe could match our local sentiment of love & longing, I could never understand. But one thing was for sure, even with a Non HD quality view, 11 inches "Japanese" TV & VCR, I as the rest of India could see, those places were mind blowingly beautiful.
And so when I landed at 'Ums' in late April, a small & picturesque mountain village in Northern Italy, I could only think back of those times with nostalgia. The undulating valleys, the shadows of the clouds falling, the lush green carpet of grass spread across, interspeded with tiny yellow and white flowers, the forest filled with pines, the cute fairytale houses with the Dolomites/ Alps forming a perfect background with their snow capped peaks. Almost picture perfect! But this was real!
This part of Italy is more Germanic influenced than of Italian. As I settled in a mountain restaurant "Hofer Alpl" for lunch after an arduous 1 hour climb, I noticed that I am the only person with dark skin there. Hell I must the only dark skinned person for miles around. I was convinced about this when a puzzled 5 year old sitting at the next table asked his father, "Papa', perche' lei รจ marrone?"...." Dad, why is she brown?". Amidst our laughter, I thought life is funny, as I went in search of the exotic, I became the exotic.
The air was chilly when we left. As I tightened the shawl around my body , It flashed my mind... just how the hell did Madhuri Dixit wear those flimsy chiffon saris in this weather? Well! its just another thing I would never know!!!!
P:S- Attached are some pictures taken at Ums.
Cheerio!
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