I got up early to make Annie her coffee before her 7am yoga class (it’s a 60-70 step walk up to the kitchen in our building). Then I walked the 30-minute trek to the gym. I keep taking slightly different paths there as I get to learn the area better (the first time I got really lost and walked for about 3 hrs never making it). After the workout I began my walk back when a rickshaw driver signaled me to get in. At first i tried to wave him on.., that I was happy to walk, when I realized he’s one of the local rickshaw drivers who gather around the yoga shala… the ones I do balloons for every day. So I jumped in as he assured me he’s on his way back to his “spot” and my ride was free. So I sat, decorating his rickshaw with balloons as we drove down the street, and played my ocarina, surprising everyone we passed.
After lunch Annie and I took another rickshaw to the spice & flower market. Again, we drove with one of these local rickshaw drivers. He passed a school and pulled over at one point, asking me to make a balloon for someone he recognized… how could I refuse? I made the balloon and started playing the ocarina again. They’re used to flute music here…. but don’t seem to be familiar with the little sweet potato I wear around my neck.
At the spice market Annie took photos and I shot video as one guy selling some stuff stuck to me like glue. No matter how I said “no” he continued. I got a kick out of his pleasant persistence and finally caved in and bought something (I never buy stuff.. that’s Annie’s department). Then he asked if I had any American coins for his two daughters who collect coins. I guess the mention of kids got me in auto-pilot. Out came the balloons. I promised myself I wasn’t going to do that at the spice market…. it’s too busy with too many people…. and I’m running low with my balloons. That was the end of my video camera…. I couldn’t stop until everyone could see my bag was empty.
During the Rickshaw drive back I played more ocarina music.
Tomorrow begins our next adventure – our afternoons will be taken up with a course in past life regressions for the next two weeks. Had anyone told me a month ago I’d be doing this, I’m not sure how I would have responded. But what’s the phrase…. ‘when in Rome…..” Time to leave the comfort zone again.