hey y'all...i know uncle mike (as i've come to call him over the past month or so) has brought you up to date on most of the details of the trip...but speaking of t r i p, i just gotta reiterate that that snake ritual that CA Menon took us to in the middle of nowhere was straight from outer space! i like to think that in the year i've spent in india over my five visits, that i've been around the block and seen a lot. but this took the cake.
it was set in a little local village where the people greeted us shyly and excitedly on their doorsteps - not used to westerners, they stammered their hello's and showed us to the back of the house where there were drums and horns, about 50 candles lit against the night, and people moving in a procession. CA Menon (our man "who helps other people" and didn't want to be called a "guide") had told us that people would be entranced but who knew what to expect? about 30 people moved in a procession moving with a beat, and 3-4 people were pretty easily spotted in their trance...just out of it. one man kind of started growling and pawing at his face and head. one woman grabbed a stick and started smacking people with it...she eventually fell over and smacked her head pretty hard against a stone. the 2 other people were more mellow but definitely...somewhere else. with the drums and the candles and everything, you just can't describe the energy in the place, it was palpable and strong, and very much devotional.
and then after the people came out of their trance they were just walking around like nothing happened. w i l d, i tell you.
we did have a 24-hour train ride, business as usual. mumbai was 110 degrees last week and today it's about 80 - thank you mother india, for that huge blessing! leaving kerala struck my heart a little bit because that's my home away from home away from home, and the people are so sweet and lovely there, as is the land. we only have one more full day left in mumbai. today we visited the largest slum in asia, which was a good educational experience. the thing i notice there is that the people are underprivileged, but man they're happy. so quick to smile so genuinely. makes me wonder what really does make us happy. the guide told us that a lot of people have the means to move out of the slum but choose to stay there because of the community that they're part of.
as i type away, the world cup for cricket is taking place about a mile away from our hotel - india made it to the finals, so the whole country is abuzz. this is of superbowl proportions. india is at bat right now (for the next 3.5 hours) and they've got some catching up to do. i've got my fingers crossed that tomorrow is a very happy india...it's our last full day for the tour and what a way to go out. we'll see what's up mother india's sleeve for this one...may even wander out to the street to have a gander at the scene - little crowds of men craning their necks to look at a little tv in a shop, may just explode with joy in a few hours...fingers crossed, once again!
happy day!
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