It is day two of the Holi celebration. Yesterday was the holy day as in spiritual celebration, but the colours started coming out even the night before. But today they are out in earnest, and the young boys especially are coloured a solid mass of mixed green, yellow, pink, purple, red, and who knows what else. Some are carefully decorated on their faces, others just covered head to toe with the fine powder. We have been 'holied' voluntarily a few times now and my hair and face are a mess of colour. It's fun. You can see the delight on the faces as the colour comes flying past.
Early this morning I walked the grounds, or a small part of it. This hotel sits on a huge estate with a man made lake, a golf course, horses, a pool of course, and abundant trees, gardens, birds and other assorted wildlife. After chasing the peacocks, I watched the monkeys drink at the pool and snapped numerous photos of families along the road. On my way back from the lake I was chased down the hill by one friendly fellow. At least I think he was friendly and just looking for food, perhaps in payment for the pics. That would be pretty common here.
This afternoon we are off to a Bisnoi village by truck. The Bisnoi are an indigenous tribe, sort of. Technically they don't qualify for indigenous, but they have withdrawn from Hinduism in favour of a caste-less society. They are known for their environmental stewardship. We are advised that the jeep trip will be hot and dirty. I am already anticipating the shower when I get home.
We are hoping our driver will take us somewhere for dinner. The food is great everywhere, teeming with spices of many kinds, each hotel and chef offering its own secret masala, sometimes hot and sometimes not. As we have travelled away from Delhi the same dishes are more heavily seasoned making them very rich for our tummies. I'm managing by sticking to a pretty western breakfast of tea and an omelette, but those lunches and dinners are threatening. Three more days and we head south. Maybe a change will also mean a break for the digestive system; but french fries are starting to look pretty good!
Early this morning I walked the grounds, or a small part of it. This hotel sits on a huge estate with a man made lake, a golf course, horses, a pool of course, and abundant trees, gardens, birds and other assorted wildlife. After chasing the peacocks, I watched the monkeys drink at the pool and snapped numerous photos of families along the road. On my way back from the lake I was chased down the hill by one friendly fellow. At least I think he was friendly and just looking for food, perhaps in payment for the pics. That would be pretty common here.
This afternoon we are off to a Bisnoi village by truck. The Bisnoi are an indigenous tribe, sort of. Technically they don't qualify for indigenous, but they have withdrawn from Hinduism in favour of a caste-less society. They are known for their environmental stewardship. We are advised that the jeep trip will be hot and dirty. I am already anticipating the shower when I get home.
We are hoping our driver will take us somewhere for dinner. The food is great everywhere, teeming with spices of many kinds, each hotel and chef offering its own secret masala, sometimes hot and sometimes not. As we have travelled away from Delhi the same dishes are more heavily seasoned making them very rich for our tummies. I'm managing by sticking to a pretty western breakfast of tea and an omelette, but those lunches and dinners are threatening. Three more days and we head south. Maybe a change will also mean a break for the digestive system; but french fries are starting to look pretty good!
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