Enjoying india

[rhyll]

Yesterday was pleasant - I wandered around a bit, and talked a little to some people. Mostly to a woman with a baby, and it wasn't so much talking (she didn't speak English) as just cooing, but I also started buying some pictures of gods and was shortly joined by two or three people who joined in to help me. (Lucky, otherwise I might not have got pictures of Hanuman and Ganesha!) There are a lot of people here who are very helpful, and jump in to translate or point the way when it becomes clear that I'm having language difficulties.

One guy followed me after a mutually incomprehensible exchange with a couple of young men about whether I could take photos, and offered to show me around. He works near my hotel and doesn't seem sleazy, so I may very cautiously attempt to talk to him again.

I'm also massively in love with my book of Canadian poetry. It has three poems by Leonard Cohen in it, and also a stamp in the front that says it was last owned by York District School Board, with the names and forms of the two girls who borrowed it back in 1976 and 1978. How did it get here?

Plus, last night I did some maths, and even though it was very difficult for me to remember how it goes I'm really enjoying it. Today I'm working on logarithms and indices! hooray!

And I wrote some very bad poetry. I would like to write better poetry, like this young lady, whose poetry I like very much.

Today I've been doing a lot of calling around, with not too brilliant results so far but definitely enough to give me hope. I also registered for the WSF in Karachi, and did my second bookcrossing release for India. After I finish here I'm going for my second round of calls.

And next Monday I'm going to NIAS to talk to some people. Hopefully exciting things will happen before then, though - I have a lot of people still to call.

And I got my photos developed, which was nifty. They're quite overexposed, but I still like them a lot. I got different film for my next load of photos, so hopefully the next lot will turn out better.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Doing maths, writing poetry, writing short stories... you are much more disciplined than i am at the moment, but are inspiring me to get on with things. i'll log off right now and go do some maths too:-) good luck with locating those phone numbers you need.

[tiny-monster.livejournal.com]

YAY!

[boxer-the-horse.livejournal.com]

I did say it before, but I do think you are rather brave.

News from home unlikely to be on international wire services:

Geoff Gallop quit as Premier of WA and Member for Vic Park yesterday by the way, which is slightly interesting news for you, and quite devastating news to me. Geoff quit due to depression which everyone except for his family only found out he had yesterday.

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

wow. That is quite big. Who's replacing him?

[boxer-the-horse.livejournal.com]

The contenders are factionally unaligned Alan Carpenter (current Energy Minister) and Jim McGinty. The Caucus ballot will be on Feb 2. My guess is that they'll give it to Carpenter.

when in Mysore

[(Anonymous)]

I just discovered that Mysore is the home of a form of Yoga.

Its all sounds pretty good. You sound more confidant everyday.

Lots of love, Roselt

[profundamente.livejournal.com]

hmm, i am not sure how different the photos will turn out despite yr film change, but if you like them, that's what counts.

have you seen indian construction of buildings and roads? more people/less machines? women in long 'skirts' working on construction? pretty mindblowing.

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's pretty crazy seeing women in bright saris doing most of the work carrying around loads of cement and sand on their heads.