Day 15 I think

Again I blogged yesterday before the day was through and missed a good portion of our time spent.

We had made a date with Omaha`s friends family to go to Lakshmi Road (the large market). Now the evening before in our tea with our good Dr I told him this and he said it is quite expensive there. I replyed we would be going with locals and he said `` Ah yes, then this should help``. Well it did, financially as well as socially I learned something about the culture and the people. How negotiation is not an insult it is a way of life. I watched as Vasant and his wife (whose name I have yet to write in my journal and therefore can not recount as of yet, but I will as it deems recounting) went back and forth each transfering the role depending on whom was in the better position to choose the quality and cost there of, if they had exact or if they required change. It is an art and I loved it especially considering I got for Omaha a beautiful dress that was a demanded price of 500rs for 300rs and for myself a kurta and pants for 500rs. We did bangle shopping and bought henna and nail varnish for the girls so that the next time they are together they can Mehendi each other and do manicures.

After 2 hours we were tired, the girls were out of their minds demanding ice cream and jumping like crazy so we donned a rickshaw and went to Asha`s dinning hall, now this was a surprize. Both for us and to us. For us being we did not know we were going and to us meaning it was `the best we have had here. I think I should add at this point that when the family came to fetch us via rickshaw they obviously dressed for the occassion and it was a privilage that not only Omaha and I felt having the locals take an interest in us but also the privilage was theirs to show their city and the fineness of it.

OMG I ate like I have not eaten in a long while. Well at least since the last supper chez moi that Eleni cooked and we ate Etheopian, it was that good I was willing to make myself sick to keep eating, then I had dessert. Omaha and I were the only only white people there and everytime I looked up form my plate, which was seldom or to say yes to more, there were dozens of eyes on me. Those eyes were smiling as were the lips, that I was appreciating the food as much as I did.

As I have said I must repeat I could find a home here so easily.

We are served a plate with chippatis and 3 different sauces, one sweet, one sour, one spicey and a carrot salad, they then continue to pass and place fresh chippati`s and rice and seconds and thrird`s of what ever you want. By the 4th or 5th chippati I was slowing. I managed to finish all of mine and Omaha`s then have a mango custard for dessert. I will not leave Pune with out eating there again, this is sure.

Omaha is now outside playing cricket with Yashehe and tomorrow is Gurupoodma a sacred day for the Guru`s we have sweets to give and there is much preperation for the event on Friday.

Salutaions from India