The tip of the Indian sub-continent juts out into the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. We took a ten minute ferry ride out to the island that dribbles off the tip. It is considered a holy site because a wise man sat there for three days. I didn’t catch the significance of the feat but can always Google it later since I was wise enough to buy post-cards with the name of the place! We waited in line for two and a half hours, ten minute boat ride, and thirty minute walk around. Interesting sight and fun to be at that exact point but almost as bad as the favorite rides at the amusement park. The big difference of course is where we were and who we were with. The people in line with us were pushy and polite. Pushing when we allowed more than one person length between us and the next person in line (they are not a culture that understands the U.S. thirty inch bubble) and then polite and friendly when I would talk with them. I truly didn’t even notice how long we waited. Every time I looked at my watch I was surprised how much time had passed. It may have been the longest line in the world but it turned out to also be the most pleasant.
I almost forgot the fun eating experiences we’ve had the past couple days: eating off banana leaves with our fingers! Yes I have pictures—you knew I would—I even have a video. Messy? Why yes it was. Tasty? You bet! Spicy? A little—sometimes a lot. How much fun was it to sit at a table with other adults and spoon rice, curry, and whatever else was put before me into my mouth? A lot! Watching my tablemate chew on leaves and beetle nut? Priceless! –it does not taste so good and it doesn’t go down easy. Tonight we had some free time and went shopping. We ate out at a restaurant along the Mahatma Ghandi Road and watched the traffic zooming by. We were glad to be indoors and off the streets--there are some crazy scary drivers here!
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