We just had a wonderful day. The morning kind of drug by, but it
was nice to sleep in and just get ready for the day in a slow and
leisurely pace. I commented to Chris while we were eating breakfast
that I felt better than I had in a long long time. I am trying new
foods: fruits I've never heard of and some I've never tried
(pomegranite and papaya) I even tried something that sounded kind of
nasty the first time I saw it on the menu----spinach and cucumber
juice...that stuff is pretty good! A great way to get in the
vitamins and minerals of spinach w/o having to eat it. Tonight at
supper I had corn/spinach au gratin; that was really good, too.
This afternoon we went shopping. Oh my goodness shopping in India
is an experience. If you show the least little bit of interest in
something then someone will come over and try to get you to buy
it...if you gently shake your head and tell them 'no thank you' they
quickly show you something else. You basically have to just ignore
them while you browse---but get ready to haggle when you decide on
something. We bought so many things and didn't spend over $150
dollars. It was fun. I took a lot of pictures, but I don't have
them on Chris's computer they are on mine. My computer can't get on
the hotels internet--I'll share pictures another time.
We got to India at a great time. Pongal time is here. Pongal is a
celebration of the harvest...kind of like our Thanksgiving; but it
is also celebrating the end of the monsoon season and other fun
things. One of the past times for kids in India during Pongal is to
fly kites. Chris and I saw dozens and dozens of kites in the sky
this morning. It was an awesome site. Right now our plan is to go
on a roof top sometime Tuesday (the 'official' day of Pongal) and
fly a kite.
There is security everywhere. You have to walk through metal
detectors to get into *any* store or place of business. Including
the hotel. Bags and purses are searched, too. It all gives me a
false sense of security as I asked our guides today if murder,
stealing, and rape are problems----I was told they are. I can't
help it...I feel safer here than I ever did in New York City. Maybe
it is because Chris is right there with me so much of the time.
Well, since it is almost one in the morning and I haven't washed
today's dust and gunk off of my face, much less gotten ready for
bed...I'm going to get off this computer and go do just those things.
I'm having a great time. Of course come Monday it will be back to
the grindstone----but even that is fun as it is such a new
experience meeting and working with everyone.