Impressions from my bike ride this morning....An Energy Drawing Me to India
July 31, 2003
Color of the woman seems to offset and distract from the stark reality you see, and almost breathe in with each breath. There is much harshness around, but the neat pyramid shaped piles of fruit in the market catch your eye and excite your taste buds. Pomegranates, apples, papaya, mango, pineapple, oranges, plums, grapes, and endless variety and endless number of merchants plying their wares laid out on mats on the street. The contrast between the old and new city is palpable and the contrast between the structural beauty of the buildings, offices, railroad stations etc. in THIS part of the city...and the pitiful thatched roofed one room structures which serve as homes for many in the same area...
I cannot explain why but the bike ride today to the optometrist left me with the feeling that if I was plunked down in the middle of India and had to live here, I could be at peace and feel at home. I am definitely NOT of this place. I am a foreigner,,, ,but I feel an energy drawing me to this place-even more powerfully than my first trip. And I am only in a city right now...I doubt I could survive here on my own as I so easily do in Israel-this is a man's country and any single woman would probably have a difficult time--especially a foreigner. I imagine even a foreign couple would have many difficulties navigating through the layers of Indian culture and tradition -probably the best way to live here is as part of a community or at least with a local man as your protector and guardian (no, I am not looking for anyone here-just stating a fact)
My cold is in full form today-(it is now 11:30 at night after coming home for Rachel and Zvika's house where we sat for several hours and had a great time talking about the differences between Israel and Indian and comparing funny stories about India, including Ravin...and ate Shakshuka and chocolate cake and had just a great time....and my cold seems to have gotten over the hump and hope to sleep well tonight)...probably the worst will be over by tomorrow-Ravin actually asked me this morning-I must have looked terrible "Are you SURE you can travel in India?" But this is the same thing that happens every time I go to a new place-not just India-was sick on my trip to Kenya-was sick in Greece, was sick my last time here the first couple of weeks and I even get sick just going down to Eilat...I guess it's the price I pay for the pleasure of traveling....it doesn't change my mood however...just annoys me that I can't do everything I want to.
Last nite we had chiken Biryani that Ravin's father prepared...outstanding! But if you ask for the recipe forget it...he cooks the same thing only once-never remembers exactly what goes into it...so each meal is a delightful surprise (Ravin says not always "delightful")
We went today to get my glasses done-Ravin took me to the wholesale district in the old city where he says he NEVER goes-the eye guy usually just comes to their house - But he took me. From the scene outside on the street you would not imagine what you find inside. Except for the pictures of Indian gods on the wall and garlands of flowers strung across-it looks no different than any similar business in Israel. Had my eyes examined with the same computerized method as my guy at home just got recently. My prescription changed slightly and I chose a really really nice frame. Latest in fashion I was told. I'm quite pleased and if they are goo once they are on my face, may get another pair. I know the techniques used for checking focus on multi focal, and it was no different here than any place else I've been. Of course the frames I chose were twice as much as the ones I first chose-actually not cheap at all-but the whole business comes to 6000 rupees instead of 4000 shekel I'd pay at home. And ever more, I got them cheap even by Indian standards-in the high class neighborhood shop, they said I would have paid 12000 or more. (Note: In the end, as usual, cheap is expensive as I would soon discover)
I've got to get to sleep today...it's been another long and quite pleasant day...it is going to be hard to leave here...between Ravin and his family and the wonderful food and pleasant home atmosphere, and my new friends down the block..this is really starting to feel quite like home. Tomorrow I want to go to a big shopping center..perhaps Rachel will come with me...if not...I don't mind going alone.
Color of the woman seems to offset and distract from the stark reality you see, and almost breathe in with each breath. There is much harshness around, but the neat pyramid shaped piles of fruit in the market catch your eye and excite your taste buds. Pomegranates, apples, papaya, mango, pineapple, oranges, plums, grapes, and endless variety and endless number of merchants plying their wares laid out on mats on the street. The contrast between the old and new city is palpable and the contrast between the structural beauty of the buildings, offices, railroad stations etc. in THIS part of the city...and the pitiful thatched roofed one room structures which serve as homes for many in the same area...
I cannot explain why but the bike ride today to the optometrist left me with the feeling that if I was plunked down in the middle of India and had to live here, I could be at peace and feel at home. I am definitely NOT of this place. I am a foreigner,,, ,but I feel an energy drawing me to this place-even more powerfully than my first trip. And I am only in a city right now...I doubt I could survive here on my own as I so easily do in Israel-this is a man's country and any single woman would probably have a difficult time--especially a foreigner. I imagine even a foreign couple would have many difficulties navigating through the layers of Indian culture and tradition -probably the best way to live here is as part of a community or at least with a local man as your protector and guardian (no, I am not looking for anyone here-just stating a fact)
My cold is in full form today-(it is now 11:30 at night after coming home for Rachel and Zvika's house where we sat for several hours and had a great time talking about the differences between Israel and Indian and comparing funny stories about India, including Ravin...and ate Shakshuka and chocolate cake and had just a great time....and my cold seems to have gotten over the hump and hope to sleep well tonight)...probably the worst will be over by tomorrow-Ravin actually asked me this morning-I must have looked terrible "Are you SURE you can travel in India?" But this is the same thing that happens every time I go to a new place-not just India-was sick on my trip to Kenya-was sick in Greece, was sick my last time here the first couple of weeks and I even get sick just going down to Eilat...I guess it's the price I pay for the pleasure of traveling....it doesn't change my mood however...just annoys me that I can't do everything I want to.
Last nite we had chiken Biryani that Ravin's father prepared...outstanding! But if you ask for the recipe forget it...he cooks the same thing only once-never remembers exactly what goes into it...so each meal is a delightful surprise (Ravin says not always "delightful")
We went today to get my glasses done-Ravin took me to the wholesale district in the old city where he says he NEVER goes-the eye guy usually just comes to their house - But he took me. From the scene outside on the street you would not imagine what you find inside. Except for the pictures of Indian gods on the wall and garlands of flowers strung across-it looks no different than any similar business in Israel. Had my eyes examined with the same computerized method as my guy at home just got recently. My prescription changed slightly and I chose a really really nice frame. Latest in fashion I was told. I'm quite pleased and if they are goo once they are on my face, may get another pair. I know the techniques used for checking focus on multi focal, and it was no different here than any place else I've been. Of course the frames I chose were twice as much as the ones I first chose-actually not cheap at all-but the whole business comes to 6000 rupees instead of 4000 shekel I'd pay at home. And ever more, I got them cheap even by Indian standards-in the high class neighborhood shop, they said I would have paid 12000 or more. (Note: In the end, as usual, cheap is expensive as I would soon discover)
I've got to get to sleep today...it's been another long and quite pleasant day...it is going to be hard to leave here...between Ravin and his family and the wonderful food and pleasant home atmosphere, and my new friends down the block..this is really starting to feel quite like home. Tomorrow I want to go to a big shopping center..perhaps Rachel will come with me...if not...I don't mind going alone.
posted by Jane @ 10:02 PM
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