Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Tuesday, June 2, 2009--Day 20

I read David/s blog yesterday, and he did an excellent job of describing Ayurveda! So, if you haven't read it, I recommend that you do.

The palace has two patient rooms of which I was unaware. Both are on the bottom floor. We have a man named Gerhard coming on Friday and a famous female actress from India coming on Sunday so it will be a full house for a few days. Only one bedroom will remain unoccupied. Dr. Baji said that they had had 30+ people in the last 6-9 months. Some stay 2 weeks. Others stay as long as 2 months.

Before David left, the ladies gave me a bindi. The red dot you sometimes see on women of Indian origin in the States. Moslems do not wear them. Only Hindus. I consider it an honor for them to give me one to wear. All of the staff have said something about it, and the village people seem to appreciate it even on a white American. There is apparently no special significance to it. It's mostly decoration, but it also means that I have been accepted by the lady technicians.

Being basted like a turkey is supposed to be good for sciatica and whatever else may ail you. The oil is fresh every three days and is made especially for me. Everyone's oil is unique to that person. It's probably what was simmering in the three-foot diameter kettle in Dr. Baji's factory when we were there.

No field trips since David left.

Should any of you be thinking about trying Ayurveda, please do not go to one of the sites in the States. At $700/day, it is not cost effective because your insurance is not going to pay it. Also, it is illegal to export any of the fresh Ayurveda herbs or roots to other countries. So, if you go in the States, you basically get massages and little else of value. Besides, where could you possibly have the cultural experience that goes with this place?????????

Dr. Baji and the Colonel generally come for a couple of hours every day except Sunday. Among other topics, integrity was the one for last night. Also, I asked how they got together to pull this off, and it turns out they are cousins. I think the way it goes is that Colonel Babu's father is Dr. Baji's mother's brother. It also turns out that Dr. Baji's father is a quite famous author of short stories as well as information about Ayurveda toxicology. One of his books has been honored with a prestigious award--don't know which one though.

The people here in Kerala are considered black due to the darkness of their skin, but they don't have any of the other features of blacks. Many long years ago, this section of India broke off from Africa. So there are all different color levels with the whites being in the North. My doctor in Mishawaka has the last name of Singh, which means she is Sikh and very light skin (white.)

It has been so good to learn all of these things about India and her people. The other wealthy state is Punjab where there have been riots having to do with politics, I think.

If a man asks the daughter's father for a dowry, there is a very stiff legal consequence. As I told you, dowries are illegal, but still everyone subscribes to giving a dowry. Wow be unto men with lots of daughters because dowries are very expensive. The older of David's two technicians just had one of his daughters return to his house with three daughters of her own because her husband ran off. The man already has another 3 daughters to marry off. Now he is responsible for 6 more dowries.

I think I fell asleep in Yoga today.

Take care.

Love,

Mom/Peggy/Granny et al.