Travel Channel

How many times does Melanie need to be told that wearing shorts in India is not too common??
She keeps on "showing her legs" and wearing thin stappy tops..well then, get used to the stares! By the way, they are not staring cause they think you are pretty....its the bare skin!!

I started watching the show with much the same criticism about the show (I have a vested interest). But, I think the whole thing was done like that on purpose. Yes, there are more polished travel show hosts. That's not the point--the Ulles are supposed to be average. There is nothing wrong in that. Travel changes people. I can already see that happening. The Ulles are trying on strange clothes, eating different foods, and if you listen carefully, you will note that their thinking is changing. That's what travel does. More to come...

Jadhu

quote:

How many times does Melanie need to be told that wearing shorts in India is not too common??
She keeps on "showing her legs" and wearing thin stappy tops..well then, get used to the stares! By the way, they are not staring cause they think you are pretty....its the bare skin!!

P.S. Melanie is American. I don't expect her to become Indian because of one trip to India. It may not be common for Indian women to show their legs. But Melanie is not really offending anyone. India is a pretty tolerant country. Goa has handled the nudity of hippies in the 60s. Showing her skin is not the issue--if she were topless, that would be a problem...

It's not a matter of Melanie acting "American" or "Indian" or anything else. It is simply a matter of cultural sensitivity. While most people in India will not be offended (according to Jadhu, anyway), there are plenty of places in the world where Melanie would be assaulted, raped and/or killed for her ignorance or indifference to local custom.