This is the best room I've had so far. It's Vikram's mother's room, but she is away in another part of India having an operation. I'm up on the top floor of a big house, with a private bathroom and an actual SHOWER! Since we're staying here for six days, I was actually able to unpack my clothes for the first time.
I'm sitting here in a nice, wooden rocking chair. After all the commotion of the huge family in Belgaum, it seems unnaturally quiet here! This morning in Belgaum, Veerdhaval, his sister, and two of the kids took me upstairs and taught me seven of the pranayama. Then he demonstrated some yoga poses - one where he moved his stomach muscles as if they were alive! Pretty cool... and maybe a little disturbing.
Veerdhaval and his son demonstrating the Lion pose.
The car ride to Kolhapur was a lot of fun. Me, Elizabeth, Rajiv and Misty talked about all kinds of things and I got a chance to phone home for the first time.
Elizabeth and Rajiv -- goofing around as usual.
I'm not quite sure what to do with myself at the moment. This host family isn't all over me... I guess it's kind of nice, but also kind of weird. And I can't figure out how to flush the toilet.
While I have some time, I think I'll write a little bit about my thoughts on India at this point. Being in India is like being on another planet. The climate and the geography, but also the people and the way of life. You can't really compare it to the U.S. I guess some people would get stuck on the hygiene aspect and dismiss India as being third world.
But in so many ways, they are way ahead of us. And it's in ways that really count. They are peaceful, contented, family-loving people. They're not stuck on status. They're not all cynical. They are one with the earth. They get it.
I just wish they had toilets that flush.