Last Moon Day in India
January 18th last moon day for me in India. It is the new moon, a time for beginnings and starting over. Perhaps even re-committing so to speak. The family that runs the "hotel" I am staying in, fast on the new and full moon for 36 hours. They begin their fast at 6pm the night befopre the moon day. No food or water for the next actual moon day. Then the following very ealrly am at 3am they break the fast with hot lemon water and at 6am the day after the moonday they take prashad.
Last night I walked in to ask for something which I cannot remember now and Hema was in the puja room doing prayer.
I have grown to love Hema and Thampy and their 2 children Shyam their son, 15 and Pooja their daughter 13. It has been really interesting to learn about their culture and plans and hopes for thier children. How marriages are arranged and how it is better for their son to work for the government in India than a private firm.
Their time at their temple is lengthy and frequent and I often find myself doing the room cleaning and have done my laundry. All but one time since I arrived. I prefer this actually and it has given me a true sense of living here. I have been openly invited into their home and been offered meals many times. I must say Hema is a fabulous cook and I have learned a fare share of traditional kerala cooking. Unfortunately, some of the vegetables we cannot get in the states. I am sure i will be able to improvise.
8 full more days here in Kovalam and at lighthose beach. The time has gone by quickly. The only time that has felt long was morning practices. It's been amazing to have that much time for a practice, never mind 2 months of such incredible teaching.
I have my opinions about bikinis and indian beaches. Westerners are gawked at and I have found myself to have reached a threshold but I remind myslef that I am just a visitor. This culture has it that the woman's body should not be seen below the waist hence the sari, sawar kameez and various other garments worn to keep a woman covered.
I have seen many indian women in the ocean in these garments but I must say the craziest was one who wore her heels into the water. The men swim in their under wear and a sight in and of itself. The local fishing boys go in to the sea wearing their lungies. I have had many a good day body surfing with these boys as they are excellent swimmers and were a bit fascinated by my abilty to ride the waves. I tried to explain to them that I grew up on the ocean and was an ocean lifegurad myself. We do have lifeguards here and they have been terrific. Indian baywatch.
I have met only a handful of folks from the US. One woman from NH. and older man from CO, a couple from San Fran, and another guy from LA.
So it has been great to chat with all the Europeans and British and pick up on their expressions. It is also very clear that we as Americans are considered to have a barbaric government in that we have the death penalty and this war in Iraq. Bush, Blair and Buscularone.
I think this is it for my blogs, but if something interesting does come up I will write more. I am looking forward to meeting Pattabhi Jois with Lino and checking out Bangalore and Mysore on the 27th. and meeting up with Chris.
Much love,
Randa
Last night I walked in to ask for something which I cannot remember now and Hema was in the puja room doing prayer.
I have grown to love Hema and Thampy and their 2 children Shyam their son, 15 and Pooja their daughter 13. It has been really interesting to learn about their culture and plans and hopes for thier children. How marriages are arranged and how it is better for their son to work for the government in India than a private firm.
Their time at their temple is lengthy and frequent and I often find myself doing the room cleaning and have done my laundry. All but one time since I arrived. I prefer this actually and it has given me a true sense of living here. I have been openly invited into their home and been offered meals many times. I must say Hema is a fabulous cook and I have learned a fare share of traditional kerala cooking. Unfortunately, some of the vegetables we cannot get in the states. I am sure i will be able to improvise.
8 full more days here in Kovalam and at lighthose beach. The time has gone by quickly. The only time that has felt long was morning practices. It's been amazing to have that much time for a practice, never mind 2 months of such incredible teaching.
I have my opinions about bikinis and indian beaches. Westerners are gawked at and I have found myself to have reached a threshold but I remind myslef that I am just a visitor. This culture has it that the woman's body should not be seen below the waist hence the sari, sawar kameez and various other garments worn to keep a woman covered.
I have seen many indian women in the ocean in these garments but I must say the craziest was one who wore her heels into the water. The men swim in their under wear and a sight in and of itself. The local fishing boys go in to the sea wearing their lungies. I have had many a good day body surfing with these boys as they are excellent swimmers and were a bit fascinated by my abilty to ride the waves. I tried to explain to them that I grew up on the ocean and was an ocean lifegurad myself. We do have lifeguards here and they have been terrific. Indian baywatch.
I have met only a handful of folks from the US. One woman from NH. and older man from CO, a couple from San Fran, and another guy from LA.
So it has been great to chat with all the Europeans and British and pick up on their expressions. It is also very clear that we as Americans are considered to have a barbaric government in that we have the death penalty and this war in Iraq. Bush, Blair and Buscularone.
I think this is it for my blogs, but if something interesting does come up I will write more. I am looking forward to meeting Pattabhi Jois with Lino and checking out Bangalore and Mysore on the 27th. and meeting up with Chris.
Much love,
Randa