I attended a music program last night at 6:00. Rajiv's host had organized a sitar, violin and tabla player and they performed some classical music - a raga - in his living room for just a handful of us. It was really cool! And this guy's apartment was like a museum - all kinds of art all over the walls. Very, very cool.
Sitar player.
Tabla player.
Rajiv's host is the guy on the left with the gray hair.
This is his museum-esque living room.
From there I met up with Rajiv and Elizabeth and we were taken to a Rotary family get-together about 30 miles away at Panhala hill station. There were tons of people there, musicians and a whole lot of food. I tried my first paan and am still not sure what the fuss is all about. People in India sure do seem to like their paan.
I met one of the Rotary past-presidents last night and - as God as my witness - this guy was the spitting image of my late cousin, Julius. He looked, sounded, and acted exactly like him. In fact, I have found that so many people here remind me of people I know back home. I guess Carl Jung was right about archetypes.
I must say that my digestive system has probably been the best it has been in years. I am thinking it's because I am only eating whole, vegetarian food, fruits and a lot of water. I've also had no artificial sweeteners (which means no gum either, and I am a self-proclaimed "chain chewer!")
I just had a shower and then bathed myself in Deet. I am being eaten alive here -- I even have a mosquito bite on my eyelid. Today we're traveling to a town called Sangli and I think we'll be gone until evening. I feel like I haven't even seen my host family here. I feel kind of bad because they have been so nice to me - letting me stay in a big, clean room; feeding me; taking care of my laundry...
I find that every now and then I get these pangs of missing home. Most of the time we are so busy that I don't get a chance to be sad. But last night at the get-together, I felt kind of lonely - even though there were well over 200 people there. I suppose I should get up now and start the day.
Namaste.