1/23/2006 Day 5: Mangalore

I take that back about the cell phones--people started turning them on as we descended. I heard messge beeps going off right and left.

Mangalore was nice and toasty when we landed. The airport was small with one baggage claim carousel and a crowd of people around it. Yeah, I was definitely in Southern Indian. Thankfully, my suitcase is in one piece although the left side's wheel is a little caved in. I think it will hold out. I collected my stuff and walked out. Father Ben was there with a Star Spangled Banner baseball cap and a giant smile. He is a priest who oversaw a few churches close to where my mom and dad live in Montana--although, he is originally from India. He had his brother-in-law, Larry, and nephew, Eril with him. Fr. Ben style, he took me to a coconut stand so I could have a drink straight out of a fresh coconut. The man at the stand had a machete like knife in his hand and tossed and chopped the top of the coconut open. He then inserted a straw and gave it to Fr. Ben to give to me. SO REFRESHING!

They brought me back to Fr. Ben's house. He had it built specifically in mind that he'd have many guests. Already, there were two gentleman from Plentywood, MT staying. They are traversing through from Goa into Southern Kerala. One of them had just spent a couple of months in Thailand.

I sat and watched cricket, then Eril's brother, Edril, came in and the three of us with their father headed to the beach. It was absolutely beautiful! The water was as warm as bathwater. and the sun was on it's way down. Eril, Edril and I walked trying to catch sand crabs. After the sun set, we went back so we could freshen up before dinner.

Fr. Ben LOVES being a host. Afer I had arrived, his sister and the girl that helps out at Fr. Ben's , Mary, made tea. Fr. Ben had a cake that the three guests sliced as our hosts sang "Happy Welcome to You" with the birthday song tune. Then he proceeded to force us to eat more than we could.

Same thing for dinner. Dinner was late but, the party started with another priest from Canada stopping by. Then, Eril, Edril and Larry came over and we had drinks and chatted. The two Marys (Edril and Eril's mother's name is Mary also) cooked up an amazing feast. Fish curry, prawns and okra. I took a little at first. I had quite a few Goan sausages while drinking before dinner but, I immediately popped up for a second plate. I shoulnd't have eatn so much because then came the apples--of course, I couldn't get away with eating just one--then a dessert piece which I managed to force down half. I was near bursting.

We all went to the living room and caught the last half of the Manchester United/Liverpool game. I was starting to fall asleep from all the food.

I did fall asleep on my bed while I tried to force myself to get ready for bed. But, I woke up close to 1am, stumbled out, got my teeth brushed and fell asleep.

Today is going to be jam packed--big itinerary that Fr. Ben set up.


*INTERESTING OR UNINTERSTING FACT OR PASSING OBSERVATION OR MAYBE I'M SNIFFING GLUE*
If you are travelling and have the opportunity to stay with people native to the area, DO IT! There is not a better experience of immersing yourself in the Indian culture and their generosity. Fr. Ben is like most Indians in being an excellent host and providing a gigantic spread of food. Although, I will say that as a host, he goes even above Indian standards in making sure his guests are comfortable, entertained, and fed. To not eat is offensive and try to be polite as your hosts try to ply you with third and fourth helpings of food. I found myself repeatedly saying I'm stuffed as one of my many hosts would hover over with a spoonful of rice or curries. Food is very important and Indians take pride in their flavorful dishes. They absolutely LOVE foreigners that adore their food and will try to make you fat in cooking non-stop. Take note that an authentic breakfast, lunch and dinner are well balanced with a spread of rice, breads, vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries. Usually fruit is eaten after a meal and in between and don't forget tea time. In Southern India, the foods are complex and many curries will accompany your plate of rice and breads. Eating with your hands is an art and done deftly--it can actually be a lot harder than it looks! If you have the chance to stay with people from India, know that you will be eating, constantly.

1/22/2006 Day 4: Mangalore

I'm not sure if the hotel clerks thought it was funny that I brought them New York City t-shirts or grateful or insulted. It was a hard read. I don't think anyone has given them anything before (other than money which I left a tip for them before I left) so I think they were just surprised.

I had a deuce of a time packing this morning. I hope my large suitcase is intact when I get to Mangalore. I got a taxi this time to the airport after breakfast. Rs. 250, it cost so I gave him Rs. 300. A steal in my book, considering that it amounted to about $4.50.

At Delhi airport, it was slightly chaotic. Jet Airways is great. I mean, really great service. The check in part is the part that is chaotic. Then there is security for everyone. I loaded my stuff up on the conveyor belt and went to the women's curtained off area to get the detector swept over my body. It always makes me think of going to a gigantic niteclub in New York City. I get frisked there too, but it's by a guy and in front of everyone sans curtain.

Of course, my carry-on, the one that was difficult to close, set something off and I had to open it. Indian airport security is really serious and thorough. Anything and everything that sets off an alarm gets the rubber glove search through. I managed to pry my carry-on open and have a bunch of my stuff fly out. As I darted pell mell to gather them, the guard started the check. Iforgot I had disposable cameras in there. He'd asked me if I had any cameras before I opened it up. I said no. I opened up my soap box for him, watched as he studied my ipod charger and video camera charger. Then, it was on to the more serious stuff. He opened my makeup bag and riffled through. My eyelash curler came out and he gave them a squeeze. My box of O. B.'s were next. The box was opened and he extended a finger and probed the 18 tampons in the box. I was unfortunate enough to have my period start early this week or else it would have been 20 he could have fingered.

I don't mind the thorough security checks. Trust me, I like that they go in depth rather through bored routine.

I had a layover in Mumbai airport. the airport is very nice. I think I like the Mumbai vibe better than the Delhi vibe. It's a little more relaxed. Maybe it just seemed so because I was with friends of the family in Mumbai before but, I just wasn't really fond of Delhi.

I had to go through security AGAIN at Mumbai. The staff was more personable than Delhi airport. As I went through the female check, the girl wished me a nice day. It was also a girl who checked my sensor alerting carry-on. But, when she got to my makeup bag, she pulled out the eyelash curler, grinned, and said, "Eyelash curler." I laughed.

I put everything back in order and she came up and asked if my eyelashes were real. The person making sure that everybody had the security check stamp on their boading pass and bags was also female and said she wanted to know as well. I told them I was born with my lashes but, then proceeded to give a makeup demo to show them how I did my eyes. The girl checked me through as they both told me they loved my makeup and I headed to the gate after I held up a bunch of people with the demo.

At least on this leg of the flight there isn't any amazing annoying asshole that insists on using a cellphone. The first leg from Delhi, the guy in the seat ahead of me and to the right wouldn't turn it off when the doors closed. Then they turned it on again and started using it during the flight. After a third time, the flight attendant threatened it was the last warning and his cell phone would be taken away. The first annoying guy was just an oblivious ass. He also tried to plow through the aisle after we landed to get out the door first. We were in the middle of the plane. I was relieved to see he wasn't on this leg of the flight. The flight attendants had the patience of saints.



*INTERESTING OR UNINTERSTING FACT OR PASSING OBSERVATION OR MAYBE I'M SNIFFING GLUE*
A great way to get around India is by plane. The great thing about the domestic airlines is they have special packages where you pay one price and can fly to many places within two weeks or if you buy four legs, it is $400--coupon prices in bulk etc. They make it easy to fly and not hurt the wallet TOO much. Indians do not mess around with security so be prepared to answer some questions and get your stuffed opened. I got pulled to the 'backroom' for a curly hair hair drier at 17 years old. I was scared! Some of the domestics airlines are: Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Kingfisher (the last is he newest and I've heard has even more amazing service than Jet Airways)