December 29th

Today I felt better, but still drainage issues, especially at night. It always amazes me how much mucus colds can cause! Questions!!! Anyway, we readied and to breakfast. We were served Idli – which is steamed rice cakes with an orange coconut gravy; the bean dish – which is chickpeas in a savory sauce with parotta bread; the peas and coconut with a roti; and of course Deeja's masala tea. It was all good, just again too much! As we were finishing Deeja and Francis actually sat with us having some tea. We were able to converse some. I had noticed a flower bouquet in their china hutch, and asked if it was her's from their wedding – 20 years ago. It was! She brought it out and showed it was artificial flowers and lace. Upon replacing it she showed us an apron, in passing, with the label of 'MASALA TEA QUEEN'. I asked her to put it on and snapped a picture. Yeah!! What fun! (Francis okayed me using it on our website.) Jeff and I think she deserves the title! (Francis' dad is still in the hospital, but he's okay!)

We went on a walkabout. We are in search of a couple of T-shirts for me. Jeff had ordered some through Flipkart (India's version of Amazon – I can't remember if I mentioned them before.) But they were too small, so had to return them.  🙁  Their sizes are smaller than they say!!! (Out of the six shirts I ordered, only one is the right size.) Anyway, I found three, that should work (I can not try them on because of how sweaty I am). I am having trouble here due to the fact that women in India do not wear T-shirts. Young girls/teens do, but those are way too small! Many women still wear the traditional Saree/Sari.

Next, I also spied out some cheap flip-flops at a makeshift stall on the sidewalk. Yes, they are cheap ones, but they only cost $1.20. So our walkabout turned into a small successful shopping venture. Also stopped at couple of ATM's, should finally have enough to pay for our homestay and next lodging. We stopped for a lemonana, and split a peanut butter shake at our restaurant. It was crowded – at noon time! They seem busy at all times. Someone had left and their remaining food was picked off by a scavenger crow, which actually came back twice before all the food was picked up.  Our normal waiter guy helped us. At one point I looked at him when he was frantically rushing about and he did the “crazy” gesture. I laughed and he smiled. I told him we would pray for his mother, he said thank you (and something else I could not make out).  We went back to our homestay, for a cool off time/siesta!! We have found the locals are not really out and about during the heat of the day – “when in Rome…”

We went back out for sunset and dinner. We opted for a change, and went to Sea Shore Restaurant. We had been there once before, but only for drinks. Sunset went early but was still good while we waited for our food. We each had a pineapple lassi. I ordered Noodles (spaghetti type) with chicken and veggies of carrots, poblano peppers and a little bit of a milder chili pepper. It was so aromatic with anise and other spices. Jeff ordered the Veg Thali. This is an assortment of small, numerous “bits” (sauteed okra w/onion; brown bean in a sauce; pickled, mild chilies sauteed w/onion; potatoes w/onion; next maybe eggplant ??; green mango-ginger chutney; hotter chilies with something??; beetroot puree, and aromatic noodles) all arranged around rice served on a platter. There also was an accompaniment of a gravy/sauce and two pieces of papadum. Mine was good, interesting twist with the aromatics. Jeff's was super excellent so many different flavors, textures and colors. 

Back at our homestay and chilled out. Another Indian day, more questions.