Cows hurt

I have decided that everything is under control!

It is not usually as easy as this. Mainly due to the fact that I have 10-25 thousand bracelets to sort out usually. This trip is good for the mind and body, I am fairly relaxed and even able to tweak little bits and pieces that have taken a back seat for the last 6 months.

On Sunday I went for lunch with a supplier of silver. He comes from a very large family who seem to have their fingers in too many samosas. The family business started out over 50 years ago, selling beauty products. Now they have several jewellery shops and a rather large hotel.

Mutton was on the menu again. I arrived at the house / hotel, where 25 family members live, at 2 pm. Walking into the massive foyer I stumbled across a group of men sat down and eating, I was hastily asked to join them. “ No thanks, I’m here to eat with Abdullah”. “ Ah, ok, ok sit down take a pepsi out of the fridge meanwhile sit down and eat “. So I did, very nice too. Abdullah made an entrance as I was halfway through my 3rd Chapatti and special dahl ( apparently it took 12 hours to make) which was delicious. “ Dominic, come we eat nah?” So I ate some more whilst sitting at a table in the foyer with all types of guests and numerous relatives wafting in and out. It was all slightly surreal but thoroughly enjoyable at the same time.

I spent the next few hours walking slowly into town and taking photos. Locals here in Jaipur are only too happy to be part of a photo, you can have a real laugh with them posing for the photo and asking them to smile “ a bit more, no just a little bit more, and more, oh I think your friend has a bigger smile than you….”
Apart from taking photos I also got speared in the hip by a cow’s horn. That was painful. The cow went to quickly lick his right flank and took me out on the way there. Thank god I was side on !

It just started to rain. I am a little wet as I have been standing outside talking to a tour bus driver. I didn’t catch his name because he had drunk most of the 45% alcohol rum bottle he was holding. He promised me he wasn’t going to drive that evening. “Drink and drive Dumnik never never only sing and drive.” Put the music on, I said. And he did, then started to jig around his van like a mad man. Then another half drunk man came over and we were all brothers!I declined the numerous offers to sit in the “co pilot’s seat” with the excuse that I had been sat down all day. All very funny.

O.k. Im off to make a phone call.

Good night from India…
dominic