Another week done and I'm finally starting to feel comfortable.Have been poorly on and off this week mainly because of reactions to bites (i think) I have had migraines and sickness so lots of sleep and pretty much a wasted week but now the weekend is here I am feeling a lot better in myself. Without doing anything on my part I seem to have befriended the hotels maids family.. its funny how its always the underdogs that I end up being part of..just from simple hellos when passing I have found myself being welcomed into my first real Indian home and even though they have very little I was treated like royalty.. In a way I wish I knew how ro say no more because Priyanka's mum was continuously making food many that I had not tried before but I was so full it was definitely the most I have eaten since being here I could of easily been rolled back to my place I was so full. Even though I was grateful for their hospitality I did feel guilty because they have so little. Little did I know that little Priyanka has a older sister and brother both in their teens and a father who is currently earning money for the family as a chef in Thailand and Dubai and a lovely mother, who although does not speak a word of English, is really trying hard to get to know me through the language barrier. Priyanka and her family all live in one room no bigger than my tent house cottage, they have to share bathroom facilities with many others renting around this hotel complex and their kitchen it a small space at the side of their room which is basically 2 gas stoves (like we would expect when going camping) They have very little possessions and anything they do have they have to fit around it to sleep as there is no storage. It is fair to say that back in England we may moan but we live in a lap of luxury compared to here even on a poor wage we should think ourselves lucky!! Priyanka took me to a market fair and I spent 480 rupees £4.80 I got 2 beautiful Indian scarves, a watch for Priyanka (£1.50 we would have paid at least £20 in England) and two lichee juice drinks..It's clear that you can live off dilly squat here and have beautiful things.. In England getting 2 scarves, a watch and 2 drinks would definitely put a dent in your bank balance that's for sure!! Being welcomed into Priyanka's family has given me a sense of security I feel very comfortable to explore the area I am in with them which is nice.. I will eventually get my ass in gear and go and explore the bigger places around here like Jaipur and Agra and Mussoorie but it is nice to start to feel comfortable in my area now.
Today (Saturday) symbolises two things Krishna's birthday and teachers day when teachers are given gifts and have half days or the day off (we should have this in England) Priyanka gave me a rose(plastic) as a gift for teachers day I wasn't expecting anything so it was very sweet of her. Priyanka's mum invited me to the market (the real market) to see their temple. It was evening and it was dark so I was a little apprehensive but it was completely worth it..to see the buzz and the celebrations you needed to see it in the dark to really appreciate the decorations and the amount of colour and lights going through the market street (lets just say they were 10 times better than any Christmas lights in streets that I have ever seen in England) and going Christmas shopping in busy high streets or malls will never be a problem again... there is no such thing as person space in a real Indian market because in your personal space are people, cars, motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles and the odd bus.. you will definitely be trodden on and even driven over.. thankfully no wheels crossed my feet!! I don't think I will be going to that market on my own because every single person looked at me like a piece of meat I will use my new found friends in Priyanka's family and go with them hehe
For Krishna's birthday the hotel built up a shrine for people to worship.. around 100 people friends and family of the hotel owners turned up from 9pm till midnight Jayant (hotel owner), his dad and a few other people spent the whole night singing and a few children got up and did some dancing and at the end there was some ritual done for the shrine and everyone had a yellow Bindi on their heads and were given a plate of food... It is Sunday today and everyone is on a lull I didn't wake up until 1pm and I'm still tired probably a reaction to more bites and the allergy tablets my body really doesn't like them!!