Mongoose

M.C.M.F.
Merry Christmas, Mutha 'Uckas.
This post may be more informative rather than well written with hints of genius, as previous posts' have been. Much has occurred since I last feverishly typed my current events to you.

All the while I read like a fiend, night and day to improve my writing and my ability to move and awe people though a mastery of the English language. What is this blog about again? Oh yeah, Incredible India, not semi-mindless ramblings from a 25 year old cat with a philosophy B.A.

About 4 days ago, which seems like 4 weeks ago, Taylor and I were up at dawn, racing like mad fish addicts with scooters to the early morning fish market on the western tip of Diu Island. This fish market happens every morning from 6-9, before the sun can hit the pavement where it is and cause the thousands of fish to go bad. The stench of fish is very prominent especially for me at that hour. This is not your run-of-the-mill fish market. An area comparable to a medium sized parking lot filled with fish. Not on ice, not alive, not on carts, right there on the pavement, piled, semi-sorted. I saw a 6 foot shark with teeth sharper than razors, beat that Disney - Disney always has sharks with teeth as harp as razor blades.

The picture, below left, does not do justice to the real scene, there were thousands more fish and hundreds more people, but at least you've got an idea.

We had a plan to buy a fish, to bring it to the beach, to gut it, build a fire, and then cook and eat it. We picked up a nice big tuna and some fresh squid. We scooted to the beach. Taylor began gutting the fish while I got the fire started, then I cut up the 'soon to be calamari,' cleaning out their brains and ink pouches. We had one big knife and some silver paper, also known as aluminum foil. We bought a lime and two green onions in a sad but worthy attempt to spice them up. We roughed it as best we could. Plain and simple, fresh as it gets, delicious as it can come it was. That day was filled with booze, smokes, more fish and whatever else we could get our sandy hands on. Like I have said, Diu was amazing and I would visit it again in a heart beat but I just had to 'keep on keepin on like a bird that flew.' I guess it's the only thing I know how to do.

Two days ago I left Diu for Varaval. Varaval was more of a stop-over than a visit. I arrived via bus around 8 p.m. found a room and walked around waiting for my 10 a.m. train the next morning. The room cost me 90 Rs, was filthy but amazing. The people running the joint were great. I asked them in the morning about walking to the train station and they said "no no, ride brother," I assumed they meant a rickshaw and I would have to pay. "No pay, no pay, ride brother.' He walked me out of the hotel where his motor bike was. Sure, why not, although there was my 60 lbs bag, my guitar and a fresh bottle of water. "No problem brother." I've seen 4 Indians on these bike roaring through town, so I hopped on and away we went. We took the long way to the train station which in no way bothered me. Note here that the long way was not due to speed, he was goin' plenty fast. He wanted the big tall white foreign guy with the guitar to dig his bike. I dug it.

Let me take you back a second to the 3 hour state bus ride to Veraval from Diu. Diu is the only place you can drink alcohol in Gujarat. I've said this already. These five 24 year old kids from near Ahmadabad had come to celebrate a birthday and get hammered. They had to do it one last time before boarding the bus. Obviously I sit next to them, they love me. Three are passed out drunk, not well, and two sit talking to me the entire time. Teaching me the language, asking all sorts of questions and telling me all about their lives. I learned enough Gujrati to get respect when asking for rooms and prices the next few days thanks to these kids. I have their names and address, they tell me I can ring them whenever and they'll save my ass, not that it ever needs saving.
These days I feel as light as ever. I have to admit there was a moment when I boarded the bus knowing Taylor was staying behind that made me nervous. But now, only two days later. I'll never look back. It is all for the best, these adventures and times.

I got off the train in Ahmadabad and was immediately greeted by two Israeli girls who were looking for the booking office. I was headed there myself so I told them I would take them. I had been in Ahmadabad train station a week earlier, only briefly on my way to Diu but I knew where it was. We all booked tickets. They, boarding a train at 7 the next morning to Mumbia and me the night after that had nothing to. Why not find a room, some food and have a few drinks illegally. I knew of a hotel which turned out to be quite dirty, but I am getting used to it, I am beginning to enjoy it, really. We had been sweating like mongoose in the booking office and fighting with rickshaw drivers for a decent price to get us to the hotel.After a days work like that there ios nothing like a cold beer, but mine had been in my bad for two days and were pis warm, who cares, I sure didn't and neither did they. We got a room for three as this dodgy hotel, our room had two pretty lizard crawling around but they didn't want to bother us so we didn't bother them. We checked in and went to eat.
Israeli people are some of the best I've met. I have met about 10 of them and they are all happy as can be, out for kicks and drinks, smokes and tokes. We went back to the room where I had two more tall beers and a bottle of vodka hiding in my bad, it being illegal to drink in Gujarat we could not leave the room. It was cozy we all got pretty drunk played some yaniv (an Israeli card game) and feel asleep.
Today I visited Gandhi's ashram, Sabarmati ashram, which was more than peaceful. Gandhi had lived there for many years. Now, hunger is creeping up on me and the smell of spicy curry's is wafting through the room. For a dollar I can have an unlimited thali, which includes three veg dishes, rice, four chapati, a papad and a sweet, sweet!

Soon I will tell you about India as the ultimate community. They are all brothers and sisters, brought together through their religion and their sense of belonging. Their peaceful way of living and their warm kind souls. They all sit on trains and chat. I'd have no idea if the are friends, family or have never met. I've asked repeatedly on numerous accounts, they have never met but they seem like they've been friends for a lifetime. Playing with each others kids, laughing, sharing food. It is the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed. A perfect realization for Christmas time.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.