Munchkin Travelers

The South Asians have arrived, claims Pico Iyer, exemplifying Little Zara, who at ten months old had traversed the world and travelled to some ten countries, seen oceans and mountains and cricket matches and soccer finales.

Very true. Nowadays, the intrepid traveler is not likely to be the loud mouthed, pink faced, mild brained American expressing curious disdain for anything different. Rather its likely to be bhuuja-munching, thepla carrying, Munni-listening desibhai and family, loudly muttering kemchos and kinda sohna ji, carrying Chintu and Pinky and leaving a trail of wrapping papers and salty trail mix of puffed rice and peanuts in their wake. Ayahs, bulters, cooks, et al follow in the cattle class, minding Chintu and Pinky for the duration of the flight. From Anchorage to Johannesburg, desis can be found, with entire clans, enjoying the scenery if not the food. No doubt then that little Zara (or for that matter baby Chintu and Pinky) tend to be well travelled, coke guzzling, video on demand watching brats.