Friday, February 20, 2009

Man Love




India has some social codes prohibiting hand-holding and touching in public. Fortunately, for those who enjoy a good cuddle, this applies only to contact between opposite sexes. You will almost never see a husband and wife holding hands or touching when they are out and about. In fact, if two couples go out together, the husbands will stroll along holding hands with each other, typically with their wives following along behind.


We have been travelling in India and Nepal for almost five months now, and had become quite accustomed to same-sex interdigitation and cuddling as a normal, everyday, occurrence. Then, one evening as we were enjoying a walk along the Arabian Sea, we realized that everywhere we looked, men were holding hands and cuddling each other. We had our camera with us, and here are a few pictures we shot:










We have noticed that same-sex affection, or "man love," as we have dubbed it, is actually a non-homosexual, worldwide phenomenom. Maybe it is Westerner men who are missing out...  or maybe not...

4 comments:

Gary said...

Ummmm...I think I'll stick to cuddling and holding hands with Sheila in public. I'm good with that!

Denise and Ed said...

I'm not sure your brothers or your friends will be fond of trying this "world-wide" practice...but you can try Rustin.

Anonymous said...

very interesting. You are teaching us so much!

Heidi said...

This is sort of crazy. Has Rusty found anyone to hold hands with?