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Published: April 13th 2007
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Albin
This is why I am in India Well here it is Friday the 13th of May 2007 my lucky day
As I fly out to India for a six week photographic assignment with Nixy, and her baby Albin. His dad Paul however, has to work so he follows in June for Albins christening.
Sunday 15th May it is saint Thomas feast day and I will be on a pilgrimage walk up some mountain in 49c heat. DONE IT got to the top in the dark and drenched in sweat.
I hope to meet up with some GX friends www.globalexchange.org during my stay in India
Saturday May 14th A young boy called Deino took me for a swim in a 35 meter deep lake just across the road from the house I where I stay. It was great as the water is warm unlike the cold shower in the house.
Monday 16th May Sat on my glasses and broke them, found out my mobile had no charger and was dead, no AC power lead for my laptop. (who said Friday 13th was unlucky?) All my problems were solved in Cochin got the glasses repaired for free and bought a power lead for my laptop and a
Albin
This is why I am in India mobile charger
On my return from Cochin after a freezing cold shower I started writing my marriage expectations for some unknown Indian girl as is the custom here watch this space.
Tuesday 17th May Spent the morning with Maria age 10 who is going to be a doctor when she leaves school and I can believe her as I have rash on top of both feet and blisters on top of my right foot and she cleaned and dressed my blisters. The children in this village speak good English as most of the attend English medium school and while at school must use English all the time.
Wednesday 18th May Awoke to find the rash on my feet is slowly spreading so I went to see the doctor. Much to my annoyance because I am a white westerner I was queue jumped I was pissed off but then India has a different culture from the west and as I understand like to show respect to visitors.
The doctors surgery is totally different from the UK with children present people walking about during the consultation and dust every where, went to see the nurse to get my wound treated she did not wash or glove her hands, use sterilised instruments but at least she did not handle the sterile dressing with her hands but what an one expect for 75 rupees
After my doctors visit I seen Nixy who is in hospital with a fever. She was in the First class room with air conditioning, The room was nice with half tiled walls and with a bed for her mother, however, the room was dirty, the bed is of welded angle iron frame and solid plywood base bits of crumbs, dust trapped in the welds, every surface was dirty. As for the Air conditioner it was good modern silent however, the windows overlooking the main road were ill fitting allowing road dust into the room. I said to Nixy this room is filthy.
Thursday 19th May The dressing that was on my feet have came off. I went to a photo studio in got some of my photos printed that I had taken in Nixys village. Then went to see Nixy in hospital, I said to her I would pay to get her room cleaned she said she would tell them, later she told me her room was to be cleaned with no charge. She then went off for treatment. While she was out the room the cleaner arrived with a big badge on her uniform “Quality Care” she proceeded to sweep down the walls with out removing Nixys bedding. yes “Quality Care” I was told because of my comments about the sub standard cleanliness of Nixys room the hospital director wanted to see me, when I got to his office he was either sleeping or out. I did not see him.
On my return to the village I had a bath and shave in the lake, it is difficult to shave treading water.
Friday 20th April I was taken by children to visit yet more house and the hospitality was as usual superb. The children gave me a demonstration of cricket they seem to be good at cricket.
My feet are getting better I have to see the doctor tomorrow. I have found a good internet cafe, hope can figure out how to publish this blog tomorrow.
While in the cafe just after I posted my emails thunder and lighting started with in minutes the road was flooded. My guide Denio took me to shelter from the rain it just happened to be a ice cream shop, after which we sheltered in another shop selling somosa as the rain eased off we went to see Nixy in the hospital After returning from the town my personal guide and translator young Denio came to watch a DVD Lost World just after the film finished the power went off this is a common occurrence in India no one is surprised shops have their own portable generators but houses don’t have this opulence so no fan running to keep cool. But as we had a thunder and lightning the air is a bit cooler. I woke up at 4:00 am it is dark and hot so spent time writing this blog
Saturday 21st Arrangements are being made today to meet a potential wife I wish I had got my hair cut. The arranging has be postponed it is to happen tomorrow evening.
Sunday 22nd Had a nice swim nearly halfway up the lake my objective is to swim to the end of the lake about one mile I think. After lunch of to visit Denio mothers house. Tonight the night I was meet my potential wife however, this did not happen as her family had second thoughts.
This morning Stanislaus aged 11 gave me a great demonstration of reading English as he read my blog out load, these children are well educated and they study hard.
Monday 22nd To day started out bad I went for a swim and as I was the last person out of the house key took the house key with me. Just after I started my swim a aunt of Nixy arrived and I gave her the key. After my swim I returned the house found it open went in had a cup of tea and set out with a brother in law to visit his mums house. I locked the door with a padlock and just as it snapped shut I noticed too late there was no key. I was locked out and I was going for a overnight stay, my money, change of cloths was in the house and it was 10:30 and a bus to catch 11:45 and to make matters Nixys father and mother were also locked out so I went to fathers work place to break the news to him. He was remarkably cool said he had no spare key but never mind, and gave me a loan 1000 rupees.
So got the bus to Nixys aunt who lives in a nice house across the road from a date plantation.
Tuesday 23rd Got the bus back to Nixys town to see her in hospital. Great news she has been discharged. I did not have the address of the village where I was staying so I phoned Nixys house as luck would have it Nixys dad was coming to meet me.
More later
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