Finally Moving

Today is Tuesday, and it's the second day in a row that I haven't had any feelings of depression or frustration. These two emotions are unlike me. On a good day, I'm easily able to brush these feelings off. Alas, I'm still off-balance at the moment and I'm trying to regain equilibrium. Here's what it took:

Kristina came into town and her presence basically grabbed me out of my funk. She set an example for me and had a lot of advice on survival tactics in this country. I've learned within the past couple days that I can get anywhere in this city safely with good communication and planning. I haggled with a rickshaw driver today to get us to the nearby shopping center, where I spent way too much money on beautiful Indian souvenirs and a wonderfully delicious meal of panir masala dosa and a sweet lassi at the House of Dosa in Egmore. Yeah, be jealous.

Yesterday we went to this beautiful Hindu temple in Mylapore district, where I also spent too much money on beautiful Indian souvenirs. Kapalasweerar Temple is 350 years old, it's painted brilliant colors and the architecture is ineffably intricate.

On the right is the puja store Giri, where I purchased a lot of handrolled
incense for dirt cheap and a Ganesh doorhanger for Angela.

There is so much symbolism in every single detail, down to the significance in every color.

Kristina described this style of Dravidian architecture like this: it's more about the devotion in the act of creating the structure. Not so much the ascetic pleasure from viewing it, very unlike the Taj Mahal.

So I decided on a whim that I should probably call in sick tomorrow and go with Kristina to drink tax-free French wine in Pondicherry. It may be the only time I learn how to fend for a seat on the public bus, and the last time I get to travel with Kristina in India. She's reignited my confidence and I think I'm back. It's almost midnight and I'm getting up quite early to catch a 3.5 hour bumpy busride to Pondy. Goodnight viewers.