Saturday, January 12

How will the night be, I wonder?

But let's start with the morning: I was already downstairs at the hotel's beach exit at 6.30 am, finding a good spot with a clear view of the shore, placing my camera and starting to film. The hardworking Indians were really going for it. They were already at it when I came down, and spent another half hour pulling in the seemingly endless net in the same rhythm. And pulling and pulling! I was getting tired just watching! Some tourists got really close and stood there, men with crossed arms and women just standing or with cameras. Somehow strange, to blatantly watch others work. But at least they could say that they were really close! Well... Since the weather in the morning is rather gloomy and the visibility is not that great, my videos also turned out a bit blurry. So I will go down again tomorrow morning. Half an hour earlier and a bit closer. Not too close that I'm almost in the way though!

Wait! I'm definitely NOT doing this tomorrow morning! Because yes, it's finally here, tonight is the night: I just came from my last meal and 2 hours later, I am allowed to drink the small bottle with the dark green-brown, viscous sauce in it. Along with a lot of hot water. I've already had a thermos filled and I'm almost 'ready' for it. After taking the drink, you mustn't lie down and go to sleep right away. You should move around, enjoy nature or do something else. But NOT sleep. Only after that should you go to bed. I think I'll leave the light on in the toilet all night. That way, I don't have to search for the switch for long when 'it' suddenly becomes urgent... You know what I mean!

Anyway. After the morning excursion, I went straight to breakfast, then to the consultation, and then to the massage. 'Same procedure as yesterday, James'! Or rather not James, but Ajitha! Smile. She dismissed me, like every day, with a little heap on my head. Yes, a real heap made of powder mixed with a little oil. Apparently, it's supposed to help with concentration and memory. All neatly wrapped under a white, coarse-mesh headscarf that she ties around my head. Then slip into the red 'dress' and goodbye until tomorrow. But tomorrow, not at 8 am (who knows how my intestines will be feeling) but rather at 12 pm, just to be on the safe side. You never know! And I definitely don't want to jump off the massage table, all oiled up, and rush to the toilet at turbo speed! How embarrassing would that be?!

After that, I skipped the morning yoga. Not because I feared that 'it', the high-pitched voice, has taken over, but because the yoga from yesterday still lingers in my neck, forearm, and especially in my abs! Not funny!!! Ouch....

So, from now on, I had a free day. Yay! At 3 pm, I went to the reception to make a phone call to Switzerland (-.80/minute to landlines). Before that, I read the newspaper (the one that I officially don't want to get) and started the third book. This time a thick chunk, so it should last longer than 2 days.
Afterwards, I felt like taking a tour with the camera. And so, over 2 hours passed in which I, among other things, made a stop at the lonely Indian at the tea counter (hardly anyone passes by there all day!) and also shot a whole battery's worth of photos (and had to go back to the room briefly to get the spare). Flowers and other things. And then I had a really beautiful sunset. See pictures.... That was a great way to end the day, and so I could go to dinner, satisfied with the result. As I said, I just got back.

Oh, now there's a lovely fresh breeze at the reception! Nice.....

I saw in the pictures that there's a bit of snow in Switzerland? Greetings to Loris! But I am definitely in the right place right now! The other nationalities here also talk about a lot of snow back home. The Swiss, the Germans, the Italians, the Finns/Swedes/Norwegians (I don't know exactly where from), the Spaniards, the Russians, the French, the Spaniards/Portuguese (here too, I don't know exactly where from), the English, and what else.... hmmmm... let me think..... oh yes, the person from Basel. I completely forgot about them! lol - Most of them are women. Occasionally alone, but mostly in pairs or groups. It's the same with the men, and of course, there are also 'normal' couples. I think next time I'll just bring Bruno with me. I mean 'my' Bruno. Not the other one! They have already left anyway. Smile.

In my newspaper, I read about the increase in gasoline prices.
One liter of gasoline costs 69 rupees/liter = -.96 CHF
One liter of milk costs 80 rupees = 1.11 CHF
A fresh special fruit juice in the restaurant here costs between 100 and 175 rupees = 1.39 and 2.44 CHF
And the statue in the hotel's own shop that I like so much costs almost 400 euros! But that's a different topic and the last word has not yet been spoken!!! Or, to be exact, not even the first word has been spoken about it. Because after he mentioned the price, I almost fled the store and had to recover! Maybe more about that another time. If I can bring myself to bargain with this guy. Because negotiating is definitely NOT my talent and so embarrassingly awkward!