It's been a few days since I've updated and I intended to, before I left Hampi, but it was just my luck that the Internet was down all over the town that day. I've been on the road the last few days going to Bangalore and then catching a bus to Pondicherry, which was 18 hours total travel time!!
But first some updates of my last few days in Hampi before leaving to Pondicherry. I had a busy few days in Hampi and met some of Kiran's good friends. His friend Ramu just married a month ago so Ramu invited Kiran and I to his home (which he shares with his brother and a guy from Holland named William) Ramu met William a few years back and William has been instrumental in helping Ramu build his home and start his graphic designing business. William is single with no family in Holland and will retire soon and has become like family to Ramu and his family.
Kiran and I took a rickshaw out to Ramu and his wife, Kavita's home. Kavita is 18 years old and sized me up and didn't say much to me for about an hour. She kept telling her husband, how beautiful I was and how much she loved my hair in her own language of Telegu. Ramu would translate and I would become increasingly uncomfortable at the attention of this young girl. She was so curious about everything I did, how I drank the coconut water they plucked from the tree in their yard, how I interacted with Kiran, how I sat, how I ate. It was so bizarre. But after she got to know me and became more comfortable with me, she relaxed a little and eased up on the incessant starring. And then I became her new best friend. She taught me how to tie a Saree (and I have pictures of this and me wearing the Saree) and she gave me her mother's Saree, which was a very kind gesture.
Kiran is worried about me making friends and having people to talk to, and he said that I could come out to Kavita's and Ramu's home whenever I wanted, and that Kavita could be someone I could talk to. I understand Kiran's wanting me to have girls to talk to, as it can be a challenge as Indian women are difficult to make connections with, but I told him, that it would be difficult for me to be friends with her, and what would I speak to her about? Our lives are totally different and the experiences I have had would probably make her head spin. Sure, she is someone I could learn from (how to cook, Indian traditions etc ) and I welcome this opportunity. But as a girl I can have legitimate girl talk with, I don't think so. Her English isn't advanced enough to have more than small conversations with anyway. But I am sure I can teach her with that a little bit.
Later in the day, Kiran wanted to take me for a ride in Ramu's beaten up jeep. It is a 4 gear manual jeep and has 2 seats and a back area where people can sit (like a truck). Kiran drove for a while and my curiosity and sense of adventure kicked in and I asked him if I could drive. I am not sure what reaction I expected, but he said sure and stopped the truck so I could get in. Now Indians drive on the wrong side of the road (ok, ok, the left side of the road). So I got in and started driving Indian style, in the middle of the road changing gears and dodging sheep, cows and people. I think I impressed Kiran and Ramu with my driving skills, although they did look a little white when I came to a stop. I told them that was Canadian style driving!!!
Kiran and I then took Kavita and Ramu out for dinner to celebrate their recent wedding and the restaurant we chose was a nice riverfront view restaurant. We ate lots of vegetable and cashew nut curry and garlic naan and finished our meals off with sweet lassies.
it was a really nice day, and I glad to meet Kiran's friends, who now consider me their "sister."
The following night we finally made it out for a movie in Hospet. I really wanted to see the Bollywood movie Om Shanti Om, and so Kiran and I went with Ramu and Kavita and Ramesh, and Ramu's younger brother Akil. The movie was quite cheap and cost about $1.75, and the seats were very comfortable. There were about 150 men in the theater and about 5 women. The movie was terrific and was completely in Hindi. But it wasn't difficult to understand what was going on. Kiran explained a few parts that were more difficult to understand. There was lots of dancing and singing and I just loved the colours and the music. When good love scenes (mind you love scenes with no kissing but just cuddling) or dance scenes came on, people in the audience cheered and whistled. It was quite an enjoyable experience actually, and so different. Also half way through the movie, there was an intermission to go to the toilet, buy Indian snacks and stretch (the movie was over 2 hours). I enjoyed the movie so much I bought the soundtrack.
It was good few days in Hampi but I needed to leave for a few days to see a few other things in India and run some errands in Bangalore. Some things are more difficult to find in Hampi, and I needed some English books, and a few other odds and ends.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I would be accompanying Kirans' cousin (who is very close to him they call each other sister and brother) to her aunt's place who just had a baby in Bangalore. Her parents were very worried for her to travel on her own, she was also a little nervous.
After the 10 hour overnight journey to Bangalore I took her by rickshaw to her aunt's place (kiran's mother's youngest sister). There I was greeted by very kind and welcoming people. I was given a south Indian breakfast, and they let me use their bathroom to shower and clean up. I played with their daughter who is 3 and half (super cute, and I will get a pic on my return journey) and I also played with the one month old new daughter named Megena. After finishing my errands I was told to come back for a lunch of Dal fry (lentil curry) which Kiran's aunt made for me herself as she was told it was my favourite. Kiran's aunt is 28 years old and had been married since 2001. Here being a non-married women is very strange to Indian people, although in bigger cities it is more acceptable. But I was welcomed and made to feel very comfortable. I had to rush though, as I had to catch the bus at 2pm for Pondicherry and had to look forward to another 8 hours on the road.
Luckily I met 2 Austrian girls on the bus and we all suffered through the bumpy ride together while listening to our Ipods. We decided to share a room together as it would be cheaper and it was well after 10pm when we arrived. The room was certainly not the best room I had seen, but we were exhausted and it would have to do for one night.
This morning we've been out exploring the town. We had breakfast at a French bakery, and dined on chocolate croissants, and cafe au lait. We've been wondering the city a little bit and it way more hot here than in Hampi and Bangalore (which was rainy and cool). Cool for me right now means anything under 25 degrees I think.
Pondicherry is on the sea, and the bay of Bengal so it definitely is hotter. I will attach a new map to let you all see where i have been and where I am.
I am in Pondicherry for a few days and leave Monday night on the night bus (God help me) back to Bangalore, where I will spend the day with Shruthi (Kiran's cousin) and her aunt, and do more errands and spend time with the baby, before heading back with Shruthi to Hampi.
There seems to be quite a few things to do here, so I am sure I will be busy for the next few days exploring, speaking French, downloading more pictures, and hanging out at the beach front eating French cuisine.
I am sure everyone is covered with snow in Ontario and getting into the Christmas spirit. To be honest, I doesn't feel like Christmas, there are no signs of it here and it's too hot to think about it. I guess that just makes being away from home for Christmas that much easier. Plus being here, in India, traveling, and spending time in Hampi and with Kiran is the biggest and best Christmas gift I could ask for.
I feel very lucky.
No comments:
Post a Comment