Sunday Funday

Sunday is the one day a week that Indians don't work (although the amount if work they do during the week is debatable). Typically, the office at seva mandir is empty until 10:30am, then there is a 2 hour power outage everyday to conserve energy (usually starting at 11 or 12), and then chai breaks happen at 3, and then most are employees are done by 4:30-5. But alas, Sunday is the day of rest.

We decided to go to a royal cemetery this morning after enjoying our watermelon for breakfast. The "cemetery" is, according to Ram, the place where they took royalty after death. Indians don't bury their dead, they cremate them, so the location at which they were cremated, a structure was built in their honor (a cenotaph). They are almost all made out of marble and are beautiful. Upon entering, we were told there was no photography, unless of course we wanted to pay the guard ;). We chose to take our pictures secretly. We found one of the largest monuments and sat on the steps in the shade for a while and just hung out(or as Ram says, "just chatted with some white chicks").

We sought shade because the heat is slowly creeping in. When I first arrived, the days were similar to our spring, and the nights were chilly enough to require a heavy blanket to sleep. Now, only a week later, it's reaching ~97 degrees when the sun is up, and the mosquitoes are beginning to bite. Perhaps I should be a little more diligent with my malaria meds.

After the trip back to the dorm, I took a short (well, maybe I should say "adequate") nap to keep myself out of the sun and to enjoy a lazy Sunday. Then, I made my first adventure alone down to the Old City. I first went to Jagdish temple which is right in the center of the old city, and it appeared from all the color on everyone that they were already beginning Holi (again, I'll eventually get a post about the holiday). Inside the temple, people were playing instruments, singing, and dancing. I took a video and put it on Facebook.

After the temple, I roamed around the city looking for some gifts and souvenirs, and then made my way back to Fatehpura circle where I live.

A couple mistakes/typos/incorrect ipad autocorrects from previous posts:
5 rupees = 10 cents
Colander was supposed to be coriander