cool joint surfing

finding an internet cafe in india..
and with the power on once you do..
is a bit more challenging
than walking down the coast to the next library!
the above is the name of one such cafe..
though now i am in iway in hubli.

the 14th dalai lama is in the neighboring village;
mundgod..a tibetan settlement full to the brim
with monasteries and universities..
the streets are once more flowing with monks
who are studying the dharma..
this is one way that the tibetans in exile can
keep their culture alive and flourishing..

i am staying in the bustling towne
of hubli
at hotel swathi..
the shower (hot water, yes!)
from a wood-fed boiler
comes out sideways in one strong jet
just this side of the toilet..
so i cuddle up to the bowl and
enjoy the luxury...

all the hotel boys have names like:
hannuman, nagaraj, shiva, shrikhan,
ashok, narayana..gods walking around
the halls with hot water, fresh towels..
mosquito mats and newspapers..
i do my best to recall their names
yet inevitably
krishna becomes jai raj.....

from bodhgaya,
we took the mahabodhi express..
the overnight train to delhi..
traveling by train is one of the
great adventures in india..
we had a two tier sleeper
with a/c..meaning a fan..
tea is served,
thali meals..
fresh linens..
though i know other trains and routes
which serve up cockroaches as
fellow passengers..
we were fortunate!

it is the porters who i hold
in the highest esteem..
these men dressed in a lunghi
and a red shirt gather around
to offer their services..
between lorraine and i,
we have two rather weighty
bags..(don't ask!..
i have no idea what is in my bag,
why it continues to expand and put on weight!)
our particular porter..
after wrapping a towel around his head..
picked up lorraine's bag and set it squarely
on his head..then with the help of a gent standing by..
lifted mine on top of hers..
o my o o my!
his posture was impeccable..
i was astounded by his grace and stature..
...and then!
he proceeded to accompany us to our platform..
which was 3 stairways up and down away..
up the stairs..o my..
down and up..o o my..
he found our car and seats..
off-loaded our bags ..
and took a mere 100 rupees
for this tremendous feat!

cool joint surfing...
in deed!