Saturday, Shabbat, and I need a day of
rest! I have been to Yoga class
every afternoon since we got here, plus three Ayurvedic treatments, and my body
is going through a definite healing process. Today, I take the day off of Yoga and most other activity,
though there are plans for this evening.
India is such a strange and wonderful
place. There are things about it
that are incomprehensible, illogical, and generally weird. Examples:
Yesterday I saw a family of five on a
motorcycle, daddy driving (of course), mommy and three kids, including a babe
in arms. And – one helmet for the
driver. This is called normal
here, one helmet, the others don’t need.
Why? Don’t ask.
Every bank machine will only provide 10,000
rupees (about $185), and there is a $5 charge each withdrawal. The sign on the ATM says “30,000
maximum withdrawal” – meaningless.
And ask the man who “guards” the ATM why, he says this is the way it is. Then Amy goes to a machine, and she can
take 20,000. Why? Don’t ask.
The electricity is up and down like a yo-yo
in this town. Usually there is a
half hour in the morning and a half hour in the evening. While “the current” is out, it gets
really hot in the room, with no fan.
Sometimes it can go down three or four times a day for various lengths
of time. Why? Don’t ask.
Kochin is the site of a major naval base,
perhaps the largest in South India.
It boggles the mind how much land it occupies here, how many men are
employed, and the billions of dollars spent on helicopters airplanes, warships
and so on that are visible and active each day. Yet, most people are very poor. Why? Don’t ask.
Malay English is a different language – the
vocabulary, the accent, the expressions.
The street signs and store signs are ridiculous. Flyers advertising Ayurvedic Treatment
centres pay no attention to spelling, punctuation, or “proper” English. Example:
“Ancient India had remarkable advancement
in various branches of science and so-on.
Thousands of years age Ayurveda, the science of life span originated
from the Divine memory of Lord Brahma in the time immemorium and practised by
the Ancient ‘Rishis’ in India. It is a medical system that emphasis prevention
of all ills, ailments and ethies on living to attain Physical and mental
happiness and longivity.” I kid
you not – I’m going right away!
The first European church in India is here,
St. Francis, founded during the time of Vasco da Gama, who lived and died here
in the early 1500s. The church was
more recently renovated – in 1776!
Vasco da Gama’s tomb is in the church, but his body is not, it was
removed back to Portugal.
Also the oldest “active” synagogue in
India, the Paredesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, a few kilometre bike ride from
us, in Jew Town (!). There are
only a handful of Jewish residents left, and they are passing on, or moving to
Israel, so it’s future is in doubt.
They can’t often get a minyan, so there are no services.
My favourite thing about India and Fort
Cochin is the people! The local
people are virtually all open, friendly, interested, and smiling. They reach out to say hello, ask where
you are from, and smile. And the little ones? They melt my heart just to look at them, they are so lovely
and wide-eyed. I don’t know why,
but I almost never hear a child crying here. In spite of hardship and suffering, poverty and illness,
happiness exudes from almost everyone.
They are rich, rich people, and I love being around them. I am comfortable being here, in spite
of the heat and mosquitoes, the garbage and sewage. The least friendly people
are most of the western tourists, many of whom walk around with scowls on their
faces. Oh well.
Here are some photos from the last few days - shopping trip to Jewtown (!)
Look who's riding! |
Ferry boat near Jewtown |
Lunch at Ginger Restaurant |
Part of Ginger Gallery |
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