12/03/11 -- I have been traveling for 3 days (and still have "Vitality"). Yesterday I met up with Suman, Sujeet's brother at the Mumbai International Airport. He took me to the local airport in Mumbai. Suman is guarding our luggage so I may freshen up.
We left the next morning for New Dehli, then Bagdogra. Bagdogra is the only airport in the northern part of India for about 1,000 km.
Notice how wild West Bengal/ East Bihar is. Landing here feels like the "utter most parts of the earth". Suman and I had a lovely Indian lunch at the airport, while waiting for Rajeev (Sujeet's brother in law to come in).
Here are Suman (foreground) and Rajeev (background) in our taxi as we bump and bounce our way to Rajeev's home and then Sujeet's hotel (about a 3 hr journey). Notice the rounded shrubs -- those are tea bushes. This area is rich in tea fields (black, white, green, and darjeling) though the locals use "just plain tea" very tasty. Since there is no pasturized milk, I have them boil my milk for my tea. Add some sugar and you have a tummy soothing yummy hot drink.
We met Selah, Rejeev's mama, who has lived alone with her grandson ,about 5 years now that her husband has passed. She had a lovely meal prepared for us, and gave us a hasty tour of her home, courtyard, and backyard. The driver was eager to go as we were late and he had another commitment. But who could disappoint such a dear lady?
Rajeev tried to get Selah to smile, but as soon as the camera came out she was very serious. They tell me I am the first American/ fair skinned person of european descent to come to the area. The people like to just stand around and watch me. They are polite and easily smile back. The driver told me he was honored to be driving the first American to come to his village.
Also prevalent in the area are banana gardens (where every year a new banana tree must be planted to harvest bananas -- they are an annual here), and rice paddies. We have seen many people collecting the straw after the rice has been harvested and creating bundles and carrying them off or piling them up. There are also Indian cattle and little black goats everywhere, eating the straw. There are also lean orange colored wild dogs lounging about watching everything that goes on.
I am staying at Mona's Hotel -- named for Sujeet's mom. It is still under construction, but the guest rooms are ready. The building is cement with stucco walls and beautiful marble floors. Windows are open with bars across them and covered with wooden doors (like shutters), like in the carribean. We were expecting it to be cold, but so far the temperatures are in the 60's and 70's F.
Mona greeted me with a lovely "sole" (not sure actual spelling), which is a heavy woven cloth with embroidery work. It is to wrap oneself in to stay warm and fashionable.
(Sole is wrapped around my waste and legs)
Time to get some sleep...Good Night! and Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. This is a great adventure!
Banana Garden as seen from car on the way to Araria
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