I am in Mysore!
Mar. 13th, 2006 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Hooray!
Mysore is very pleasant, and I am staying with Shayla (Prasad's friend) and her family. They are taking on looking after me with enthusiasm - apparently I am to be taken to the doctor tomorrow for Ayurvedic treatment for asthma. There is some kind of nifty hill here with a thousand steps that Shayla's daughter Bhoomika wants to climb with me, but Shayla says that I am only allowed if the doctor says yes.
And now, in point form:
* There are posters all over of a Jain guru who has been giving talks here. He is a neat-looking man with a well trimmed beard and glass, and he never wears clothes. So, just to reiterate: holding hands with your husband/wife - Not Allowed. Giving speeches completely naked: Allowed.
* Burping is allowed, also. It was amusing being at Raj's house with his very traditional older female relatives, wearing full Rajasthani dress and burping massively. (They would beat most Australian males, I think.)
* The first time I saw a small, white, dog with a fluffy tail (maybe a pomeranian?) here, I giggled a lot. Since then I have seen them everywhere. They look incredibly out of place in rurual villages, amidst cows and such.
* This morning I tried ragi balls. A big reddish ball of ragi wheat mixed with water, very dense. You break off bits and roll it into smaller bits, which you dip in curry and then swallow without chewing (otherwise you'll glue your teeth together). I was doubtful, but they were quite nice.
* Last night Shayla, Bhoomika and I all went on her little moped to see the palace here. It was pretty awe-inspiring - huge, intricately carved, covered in lights, and also very pleasant. So nice to walk around in the fresh evening air and see everything. I am feeling more relaxed about staying with near-strangers for a week than I would usually be.
* I bought some crazy Indian pants. They are white, very big at the top and very small at the bottom. Somehow, this all works out.
Work news: I called four people today, all of whom are either out of town or not answering their phones. Maybe I will be having more of a holiday in Mysore than I realised?
Well, time to go make another attempt to find some work to do.
Mysore is very pleasant, and I am staying with Shayla (Prasad's friend) and her family. They are taking on looking after me with enthusiasm - apparently I am to be taken to the doctor tomorrow for Ayurvedic treatment for asthma. There is some kind of nifty hill here with a thousand steps that Shayla's daughter Bhoomika wants to climb with me, but Shayla says that I am only allowed if the doctor says yes.
And now, in point form:
* There are posters all over of a Jain guru who has been giving talks here. He is a neat-looking man with a well trimmed beard and glass, and he never wears clothes. So, just to reiterate: holding hands with your husband/wife - Not Allowed. Giving speeches completely naked: Allowed.
* Burping is allowed, also. It was amusing being at Raj's house with his very traditional older female relatives, wearing full Rajasthani dress and burping massively. (They would beat most Australian males, I think.)
* The first time I saw a small, white, dog with a fluffy tail (maybe a pomeranian?) here, I giggled a lot. Since then I have seen them everywhere. They look incredibly out of place in rurual villages, amidst cows and such.
* This morning I tried ragi balls. A big reddish ball of ragi wheat mixed with water, very dense. You break off bits and roll it into smaller bits, which you dip in curry and then swallow without chewing (otherwise you'll glue your teeth together). I was doubtful, but they were quite nice.
* Last night Shayla, Bhoomika and I all went on her little moped to see the palace here. It was pretty awe-inspiring - huge, intricately carved, covered in lights, and also very pleasant. So nice to walk around in the fresh evening air and see everything. I am feeling more relaxed about staying with near-strangers for a week than I would usually be.
* I bought some crazy Indian pants. They are white, very big at the top and very small at the bottom. Somehow, this all works out.
Work news: I called four people today, all of whom are either out of town or not answering their phones. Maybe I will be having more of a holiday in Mysore than I realised?
Well, time to go make another attempt to find some work to do.
no subject
on 2006-03-13 06:35 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-03-13 11:12 am (UTC)x
Rachael
no subject
on 2006-03-13 04:07 pm (UTC)When you come back you must regale us with tales a la an 18th Century explorer. As such, I demand a pith helmet be worn.
no subject
on 2006-03-14 12:12 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-03-15 05:55 am (UTC)Also: 'fake waxed moustache' sounds like a delightful euphamism.