mebtravelling

Between San Francisco and Dubai, and Dubai and Chennai, I continued my research into what clothes to wear at the ashram. In an attempt to really force the issue, in fact, I had packed only one pair of capris and two tops. While still in Minnesota, I had talked to Indian women, read IndiaMike.com and a few other India blogs, and looked at several online clothing companies. As I say, I continued my research aboard those two Emirates flights (with 1500 channels on Emirates, can I ever again fly Delta?). I knew “Eat, Pray, Love” well enough to skip to the “Pray” section, where I studied Julia Roberts’ ashram wardrobe, pausing the video to be sure of the kameez cut and rhe salwar fabric.
Those silk, and silk-cotton blends are spectacular, and I watched Elizabeth pick out several. Having lived in Asia so long, she distinguishes between smooth silk, from the interior of the cocoon, and rougher, “natural” silk, which is from the outside. I was very tempted, but in the end, of course, I had to take my lead from Julia, not Elizabeth, and so I’ve been scouting street merchants and the two big name companies here, wondering, as i wandered, if i shouldn’t just do what so many others do – purchase fabric and run to a tailor. But this afternoon, after a false start at Boutique d’Auroville, where I bought a Salwar Kameez that is almost preppy, I went to FabIndia and found my wardrobe for the next 6 weeks. Nobody in the U.S. will ever see it, b/c the idea is to leave the clothes at Ananda when it’s time to leave there.

On the other hand, I might need them that week in Delhi/Agra.

So, yes, while you have probably been wrapping Christmas gifts, or unwrapping them, I have been completing my research, and it took all day long. This evening after a lovely dinner at the 4th restaurant we tried (we are now expert at walking on pitted streets and over brokien cobblestones – in the dark), E. and I came home.

In an AUTORICKSHAW.

Ever since, as you will know if you are a Facebook user, I have been trying to find a Mass for us for tomorrow.The French woman with whom I visited this a.m. – she is a yoga instructor – came up to tell me she, too, had had a massage (“C’etait tres bon, non?”), AND to say that her husband had just run off to the midnight Mass a kilometer away! And now, I hear the bells…
It is odd enough to realize it will be mid-80’s on Christmas, odder still to think I might not go to Mass, unless some FB afficionado comes through. I just heard from Ann, who says one of the churches stopped updating its website a year ago, and I’m here to say, THAT IS SO TYPICAL OF THIS PLACE (am I repeating myself when I say that I am beginning to form An Opinion on India?). In any case, God is in her heaven, or God seems to be [a she, right Hannah?], b/c in front of the computer, staring me down, is a lifesize statue of Kuan Lin. All’s Well With the World.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a very, very good night…and day.