Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tuesday, May 19, 2009. Happy Birthday, Keagan!

I'm working on Zamorin's computer so the keyboard is much easier and faster for me--no hunt-and-peck (also known as one finger at a time.) David has internet capacity in his room, but I don't.

Dr. Baji and Colonel Babu are both very intelligent. Last night they were discussing computers with David. Amelia has an Apple and showed all of us some of her pictures from here and from Northern Kerala. Their English is very good although accented. Colonel Babu comes over daily and talks about whatever. I feel comfortable asking him questions. Dr. Baji is VERY attractive. He's also willing to work with whatever is going on with the person in terms of physical illness/problem and using herbs and roots and treatments as the Ayurveda side. In other words, if a person comes who is on medication, he isn't going to tell them to stop taking it.
He's also very interesting in conversation. Both individuals are very outgoing and obviously enjoy people and what they are about. (There are 2 psychologists here currently. His daughter is studying psychology.)

Back to the palace. Palace is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly isn't Buckingham Palace in size or grandiosity. The floors appear to be made of granite or some other material that is easily washed and the blocks don't come up like linoleum. Much of the outside--like walks, etc. are of the same material. The beds have bedframes so you know they are up off the floor. However, no box springs. Wooden flooring underneath the four inch mattress--I think even more firm a mattress than you could get in the US. There are plenty of cupboards to put clothes in. My room is about 15 X 15 feet. David's is a little smaller. Both have air conditioning as well as ceiling fans that go probably 100 miles an hour. No adjustment. 100 miles an hour. But it is oftentimes cooler than outside. At night I start at airconditioning and fan, but by morning have the air conditioner turned off. Electric lights. An alarm on my window. Two deadbolts on the inside of the door--I'm hoping that was for the royal family. (At night, there is someone sleeping on the floor (as most Indians do) in the livingroom right in front of the front door.)
The bathroom has a sink, toilet, and shower. Reminiscent of the PI, the water is held in a tank on the roof. Supposedly you can have hot water, but that button doesn't work in my room. It actually feels good to have goose bumps once in a while. There are also two big buckets with pitchers. Indians take bucket baths. Only requests will be honored on the use of the 2nd bucket. The toilet is more like an Amish toilet but works very well. The rooms are cleaned daily. We have bottled water in our rooms. The water at meals is boiled. So far no use for Immodium. I will leave you here. Tune in tomorrow, hopefully, for another saga.

Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny