Delhi Belly

Sometimes it's important to delay travel plans when there is a new relationship to pursue. That's the beauty of living in the moment, and travelling without a set itinerary.

I wish this new relationship was as romantic as I would imagine it to be upon reading that sentence..unfortunately it is a relationship with the squat toilet like I have yet experienced on this trip. Suffice to say it is sure nice to have a travel companion who graciously seeks water and crackers and abandons his own plans to stay an extra day in Raipur keeping a weak stomached Lauren company. Thank you Hayden!

Raipur is a bustling little city in the state of Chhattisgarh, same state as the last town of Jagdalpur. It is an area that seldom sees foreign travellers we have discovered. Apparently Jagdalpur had only 200 of us in the whole 2007 year! For this reason everyone is extremely friendly, that is if they can bring themselves to talk to us. As our young friend on the bus ride (another Santos) said, most are too shy to try their english on us because they never get a chance to use it here! So they are either too shy or simply stunned by us walking by and not sure how to react. Those that do approach us have been nothing but helpful and hospitable...eager to ask questions and answer any of ours. Santos spoke about the mysteries of the caste system here, marriage, relationships between muslims and Hindus, different laws for each and much more. very interesting.
The typical questions asked of us are: hello what is your name? from what country to you belong? you are married? no? when will you be married? (usually i'm with a male traveller)
not everyone asks these questions, but of those that are asking, these commonly come up.

And the english used by many is so delightful! A man in a Kolkata market had a stream of smiling, smile inducing sentences during his attempted sale interaction ..."oh but madam it would be my pleasure for you to buy this kulta"..."no this is not just pink, this is dirty rose and it is most becoming on you".
The woman's voice on the train station intercom was equally polite when announcing a delayed train.."The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted". These are a few examples, but they are everywhere everyday.

Tomorrow, assuming sound bowels, I"m headed to an ashram that is focused on rural sustainability and run by about 33 women. Then, perhaps, I will actually be going south, as I've been meaning to do for a month now!

Cheeriloo!