Arrival in India

I arrived in Cochin International Airport at about 3:15am local time Tuesday morning. Tired.
I LOVE arriving in Kerala. The humidity hits you the moment you step out of the pressurized cabin. Kerala has a "dewey" smell like wet grass and ponds. It is one of my favorite things on this earth. Subsequently, I get what I call Kerala-hair. My hair gets wavy and thick in the humidity...notice I did not say frizzy...which is a more appropriate adjective.

Cochin is ALWAYS busy. Where the hell do all these people come from? I got my bags efficiently off the baggage carousel. One of the courteous/flirtatious men from the flight saw me grab my bags and immediately put my luggage on the carrier for me. Very nice of him. My experience in India is one where I am usually waited on. This is unusual for me, at times hard for me. I am a pragmatic Midwestern American, it is hard to divorce that independent spirit we have. Men in general in India are very chivalrous to women, there are rules to how you treat women, open car doors, carrying objects, a politeness. That is my experience, but I am also a guest. I won't go hardcore into that...there is a complexity to that subject that a blog post cannot do justice to, for now I will just enjoy kindness.

I was immediately picked up by Appachan and Ajish. Ajish is my father in law's loyal driver. He has been really good to me in the past. Protective. However, truth be told he is a somewhat hectic driver. It took me a few visits/years to get used to his aggressive Indian driving. Now it doesn't even phase me.

I arrived home and immediately unpacked. separated the Yoga clothes and packed them away for December. I won't need them while in Thrissur. I have a closet full of enough clothes here in India to get by. I have shoes, sarees, kurtas, suits all in the wardrobe. I just bring a few pajama's and pairs of jeans.  Most of my packing was food/snacks, gifts, and sundry items. I am very picky about my hair and body products.


Had a great breakfast. Chapatis and curry waiting for me. Appachan is over the moon for my visit and I love his hospitality. He makes the BEST Madras coffee.

I  Had:
Kozhi Curry - Kerala style chicken curry
Parripu - a dal curry made with coconut and spices.
Mezhukku Puratti - which is eggplant and other vegitables cooked in spices, and a raw papaya and yogurt curry, very sour.
Ripe bananas, rice, chapati, papads (all the standard fixins).

I had some chicken - really to be polite, but I am trying to eat vegetarian for my stay.

Spent the afternoon resting, specifically sitting on the veranda and watching the people come in and out of the offices across the street. I have not visited Kerala in two years, and in that time this street has become very commercial with a new busy bus stop and a records office directly across the busy road. Lots of people watching, foot traffic, auto-rickshaws, ladies in colorful sarees. Once and a while I am spotted and waved at.

Had a great visit with Anju, Cherish, Johan and little Tanya-kutty. (Ajith's sister, brother-in-law, and niece and nephew). Tanya is now one and is so cute and squishy. It was a quick lunch and visit. I fell asleep on them. Jet lag sucks.  More visits in store in the days ahead.

Plan tomorrow: Rest more. Perhaps take the auto-rikshaw into town and get some dance kurtas/pants. Aparna has a practice saree for me. I may get some Dakshina items. Do this thing rite. Maybe I will get a vegetable puff or a paper dosa..always about the food. YUM!

I start my dance training Sunday. I pulled the padding out of my gungroos, re-sewed the backing. Made them more comfortable for me.  I will spend time reviewing in the next few days to make a great impression. I do my squats daily, yoga, breath, and meditate to prep my body. Did I mention I was scared? Yep, scared to do this. I'm old, out of shape, and this is a bit nutty. I'll be fine. Breathe!

Namaste,
Christy