By the time that I got to the hotel the temperature was getting hot and the humidity was stifling. The plan on arrival into a new time zone it to try to keep to the local schedule, so that you can adapt. Right? I was so tired.
Some people that I have been on previous trade missions were also in town for the show. They were going to little India for lunch. It sounded like a good idea. Some vegetarian food would be good for me right?
Right away the taxi driver did not want to go to little India because there was a festival there today. It only took us less than 10 minutes to get there, but the streets were crowded because of this festival called Thaipusam. It was interesting. The Indian people called Tamils celebrate the birthday of this deity called Lord Murugan who is supposed to grant wishes. At this point I was wishing that it would snow. So the people who want their wishes granted do things like make offerings of stuff. These people had a procession that went a very long way where the devotees were carrying or dragging things that looked like torture devices. They had wires stuck into them and hooks. I cannot explain it, but when I saw this I no longer wanted a wish by this deity. I got a couple of pictures of these crazy people. Like I said I cannot explain this.
One of the guys was actually pulling a cart by 10 large and I mean large fishing hooks that were hooked into his back. CRAZY. There was a lot of music and singing.
I had a great vegetarian lunch and then the great adventure of returning to the hotel to cool off took place. No taxis wanted to stop except at a taxi stand. This something that was not easy to find when you are so hot you are turning into a puddle of sweat.
Anyway, it was better then the real India. Slightly cleaner and I could take a taxi and get away from it.
