Pondy, the hot spot

Thursday, May 15, 08
Taking a long walk down the main street of Pondi, Nehru Street, I have an orange juice at a corner stand, squeezed while you wait, talk to a policeman, watch an anti-government rally sponsored by an opposition party and talk to a man about US politics. "Who do you want to win the US election" has been asked of me on a regular basis throughout my sojourning. Asia is very aware of our politics and what this means to them.
Returning, I buy a So. India guide book and some 50 sun block.
Where Milan works, we talk of my needing an undershirt. The ladies in his shop decide on my shoulder width and this will be picked up later this afternoon - one to start with to make sure of size.
Then, the two of us are off to lunch - rice, chicken and fish curry.
Today isn't the heat of yesterday. Last evening a storm came close and even though it only sprinkled, it's cooler. I see the difference of heat here as compared with Cambodia. Cambodia has a higher humidity level, India higher degrees. It feels much different.
After sunset, I will climb the extra floor to the 4th and see what's to be seen from that level. These are relaxing days.
I have experienced traffic - lots of it. But, India is MORE. Crossing a street, look both directions, even one way streets. Here's how you drive the wrong way on any street since you need to get someplace in the middle of the block and don't want to go around. Keep your horn finger ready and activated. Drive slowly, or not. India has more noise than anywhere I've ever been - mostly horns, special horns attached for more volume. When a bus blew its horn beside me, I felt every organ jump. My liver still hasn't settled down! Loud and louder!
India has more color than most. A sari is not a splash of color, it is lots of it. The blues and purples are dramatic and brilliant. As the sari is traditional, men also wear lungi, cloth hung from the waist, which can be worn long or tied up in front. Women are the wearers of color. Men are mostly dressed in whites. I am fitting in with my new wardrobe. My clothing from the States may be ditched.