I have had “Delhi belly” for perhaps 48 hours but I feel that I am recovering. I have no idea how it happened.
The symptoms are reminiscent of a mild flu with the accompanying aches, coupled with an upset stomach that has caused diarrhea and vomiting. I feel that I will be better tomorrow. I have hardly eaten since yesterday morning. My thirst is no longer overactive and after a noon Hindi class I returned to Sankatha Guest House with “electrol powder,” which is electrolyte.
And that is the only bad thing I can say about my trip so far.
I am so happy to be here. The people here are so friendly, the food is fantastic, the sights are otherworldly, my Hindi teacher is first-rate, and my comfort level is well above anything I could afford in America and certainly well above what I could afford in England.
Some highlights include the music everywhere, the colorful dress of the people, the openness and sincerity of strangers, the ease of finding new things to do, the simplicity of life here, and an increase in overall happy mood in my community. Everyone here seems to be in a good mood, except for the most clueless of tourists, and I have become adept at avoiding them already.
There are cows everywhere. Pigeon training is a popular pastime here. The trainer waves a rod and they fly in different formations in different directions. There is so much I could say.
I plan to leave Varanasi to go to Allahabad for Kumba Mela this weekend. It was a fortunate coincidence that I am able to go, as this was not planned.
My Hindi classes are progressing beyond my expectations. I anticipate a high level of confidence in speaking withing six weeks. I like my teachers, Abiji and Anuji, a lot.
I subscribed to an online photo gallery before I left England but I fear that I will be unable to post pictures for some time as I left my USB at Kieran and Chia’s place. I have no idea whether I will be able to find a replacement. There is certainly a lot about this place that is picturesque!
Back to yesterday – Faruk showed me beautifully brocaded duvee sets. Also he said he did business in Seattle with Catherine Cymbal at 65th and Roosevelt and the proprietor of Shiga’s Imports on the Ave. This was in ’96.
He told me that it would cost less than Rs 2000 to ship a bedcover to the US and that prices ranged from $50-350. The lower end ones had little quilting but were still top-end, and the best ones had metallic silver.
He showed me silk for suits after I had taken pictures of duvees to send home so that people could choose one. He told me that I should buy now, and that a gift should be a surprise, but he could not match my argument of my having no accounting for female predilection.
A three piece would take 6.5 m fabric x2 for outer and lining. The outer would be from “butter silk,” which was from baby cocoons. I was told again that cocoons come mostly from Bangalore – now I wonder why brocading tradition remains in Varanasi but not to the same degree there.
I chose a royal blue and it was textured and I do not think it would wrinkle. Faruk tugged wildly at the material to demonstrate that it would not tear. It is my opinion that had I done to mass market cotton fabrics what he did to his silk, I could have torn it. I chose sky-blue liner.
Of course, he wanted to call the tailor immediately. He said his tailor had books of designs and that I could pick one, and that I would need multiple fittings, up to three. I told Faruk that I did not want to act and that I wanted to seek advice before making a decision. I am glad that I held that petty sales job at Sears a few years ago because even masters like Faruk base their sales tactics on simple theories and I feel that I rebutted him, even though I did not have poise.
I left, again by scooter, and my head was so filled by thoughts of exporting for profit that they ride home did not terrify me.
Later I went to another silk shop with someone named Omesh. Omesh claimed to have been asking me for some time to go. I have the business card of Ajit, with whom I spoke. We went through the same spiel about suits but I did not let him pull out bedcovers. He wanted Rs 10500 ($225) which he said was a higher price than some in exchange for better silk, tailoring, design, etc.
My confidence was high after having met Faruk earlier and I noticed how imperialistic my attitude had become. I have not way to self-judge how politely I am able to negotiate with others but I would like to think that I behaved as a gentleman.
The realization that I with my $2000 to last six months makes me fabulously wealthy has probably changed my attitude. It is a strange feeling to ask about prices for the sake of giving payment rather than to contemplate affordability and plan future purchases.
That night at Hindi class Abiji told me that Krishna, friend of Faruk, came to him asking that he recommend Faruk to me. Abiji said he refused, and then after being pressed he agreed. He told me this, then he said he keeps his promise and that “I recommend him to you.”
After that he told me when I was ready he kenw a tailor who could make the best quality suit for Rs 2000, and sell me bedcovers also if I liked.
He also said that Krishna told him Faruk planned to get the price up to 250 euro somehow, which I think is $300.