Argh! My alarm did not go off so I have 15 minutes before I have to get ready for yoga. However, I do have a funny little story to share. More to come later...
Last night was a treat! Sadly, Katie (from MN) is leaving us today as she signed up for a two-week volunteer program and will be heading to Goa for two weeks of yoga via a woman she met from London. We are sad to see her go; I am especially sad as she and I have lots in common. Luckily, she is one of those girls who loves "girls' trips" and lives in a place kind of close to where my boyfriend, Jon, visits family.
Since it was her last night, Stephen decided to move up our team send-off dinner so that she could enjoy it as well. We went to the Green Park Hotel in Chennai, which was amazing. Of course, my first thought was, "Check out all the space. I could go for another run!" We drove through the gates and got our security clearance, which includes placing the mirror under the car to make sure we don't have bombs under there, a search through the "trunk" of our van, walking through the metal detector, and a half-assed pat down. (On my way out of the hotel, I noticed that anyone Indian was not being patted down..hmm.)
We enter the monstrous hotel with beautiful white marble, a pond filled with fresh lotus flowers, employees in clean, sharp-looking black suits who greeted us with a slight bow of the head. We walked straight to the back of the lobby and saw the most amazing buffet. Our first reaction was, "Darn it! Had I known this, I would not have eaten for two days." (Our bellies feel extremely full because of all the water we drink, the rice we eat, and a lack of fiber in our meals. Note to self: Bring FiberOne on the next visit to India.) I asked the maitre'd if I could take a video as I would never remember the names of the foods. Hopefully, Jon and I can master some of these recipes.
As we began our meal, Katie pointed out that a band (consisting of a trumpet player and keyboardist) was about to play. Since it was 7:30 (Indians eat way later), we were just about the only ones there to enjoy this as well all the businessmen in the lobby. Initially, the band only played music via their instruments. As I began to peruse the dessert table behind me, I start to hear, "Are you Lonesome Tonight?" in perfect English with a country twang. I look up to smile at the band thinking how nice it is that they are playing American words to songs while playing their instruments. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the keyboardist was singing. Yes, he was singing! And no, he was not one who looks like he is from Tennessee either; instead, he looks like an Indian Pavarotti. Of course, I had to go find out more. I introduced myself and asked the singer where he is from. He is Raymond from Chennai...as in India. I told him he sang beautifully, with a perfect accent and that we appreciated his music. I smiled from ear to ear and resisted a chuckle at how awesome this was!
The rest of the evening consisted of more Elvis, Kenny Rogers, Journey, etc. They must have also had a computer system set up as I noticed them taking floppy discs from a bin just before each music set.
On our way home, which was a 30-minute drive, we counted hundreds of motorcycles and rickshaws. The "money" picture I am trying to get is one that has the most people in or on one. So far, we have counted 5 family members on a single motorcycle (mom, dad, three kids) where the mom's colorful sari is glamorously flying through the dust.
After about 15 minutes, we began to great difficulty breathing due to all the pollution from the vehicles. Just as we turned the corner to our guesthouse, one of the teammates asked the quote of the trip. "Which do you prefer - the smell of sewage or the pollution as we drive?" (One tends to smell only one or the other.) Ginny was the only one with a quick reply - "Sewage!"
I love this place!
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