Day 23: Getting Around for Cheap

A few developments to remember by (as I am writing this entry three days late!) Cook made food with no salt, but that was because I didn't tell her anything. She has the habit of complaining and I tried to understand her in my limited Hindi. But I don't remember her asking me about the salt. I tried to get her to bring bring her only child over, a son. Free English lessons! My first visit to a government agency. It was the Elections Commission for this state. The building was quite nice, outside and inside. Very clean. But in the end we found the two officials we talked to regarding Jennifer's project to be nearly useless. Still, for me it was so interesting to see what other government buildings look like. On our way back we took a rickshaw through the old parts of the city: Aminabad and Chowk. There I saw my first monkey! He was just sitting there, watching and scheming.... For those who didn't know, monkeys are supposed to be everywhere and protected by religious laws, just as cows and bulls are. While looking for a place to have lunch I noticed that the pot of a chai-wallah (tea dude) was covered with flies! Appetizing.... More shopping for the cook on stuff she needed, like a rolling pin for making fresh bread everyday (it's called chapati, which is really a whole-wheat flour pancake with just the flour and water). This night the wind howled and the dust got carried into our house. The electricity was off for nearly an hour (far from a record for Jennifer, who had to endure once an eight-hour black out). Electricity is another one of those things we Westerners take very much for granted. The wind reminded us the impending monsoon season, which is a blessing because the heat is really unbearable for anyone, not just us foreigners.

monsoon starting