Old blog

I learned two interesting things today about my new environment. One, the Indian laborers that I see everywhere building the roads and construction projects, (the expresso bar down the road and the new 5 star hotel up the hill) Make 100$ rupees a day. That would be about one dollar and 10 cents. Yep. And the days are not short. Secondly Tibetan people do not introduce each other. They just don't. One of my fellow painters brought his girl friend to the studio today. Nothing was said. Not even to the master teacher. My go to guy Lobsang confirmed even if he brings someone home to stay at the house he doesn't introduce them to the other family members. If you want to know you have to ask. Certainly takes any pressure off of new meetings.

"When one looses the deep intimate relationship with nature then temples, mosques, and churches become important." Krishnamurti

Rajasthan, where I have been for the last two weeks, is the Western most state and is dry with areas of desert. It is also the arts and crafts capitol of the country and is home to many of the remaining indigenous tribes. Last week Kay and I ventured out in an auto rickshaw which can be rented (driver of coarse included) for 70 rupees (1.50$) per hour. After a hair raising ride across Jaipur we arrived at a shop where we decided to have some clothes made -You pick the style and fabric and they take your measurements and your money and guaranteed delivery in a matter of hours. When I got home I realized I had left my sunglasses somewhere. Not really expecting results I told the hotel desk clerk, he didn't know the store name so he called Max the rickshaw driver, Max of coarse remembered the store cause he was probably getting a kick back and he had to wait there for us for two hours--Max called the shop and under threat of loosing customers the shop keeper delivered the sungla...

I've been thinking it over.... What it is about India that is so mindblowing is its "otherness". Where we expect order, here there is chaos, instead of cleanliness the country just seems to be a very big mess (48% unemplyment and only 15% of the people pay taxes) Yet in the midst of the shit and the garbage there are beautiful women in the most glorious colored bejeweled sharis. No one seems to notice. On the morning train to Agra everyone is served bottled water, juice, coffee or tea and a breakfast by a gracious fellow in a turban and as you look out the window you see two fellows squatted down taking a crap next to each other while having a morning chat. The reality of all these extremes existing right next to each other turns ones assumptions upside down. There is a unashamed acceptance for humanity in all of its gradations. Something about that is very right even as it is looking very wrong.