2 dollar clothes, cow in the street, a lizard in the kitchen and its day 2

Dear friends around the world,
It's only my 2nd day in India and it seems so much longer। Yesterday for my b-day in the afternoon
Anuradha drove us to a few markets in town. On that had very cheap clothes and other things like lichi (sp?) fruit on a branch. I got some long shirts for my travels to the ashram next week. I also bought myself a really beautiful orange patterned bed sheet. At that Market there were a bunch of folks but it sort of reminded me of Poland at the Russian market and in Israel. I think for someone who has not spent time in Eastern Europe or the Middle East it might of been much more challenging to handle but it was not that bad. I guess I don't stand out that much either because of my clothes I am wearing. Who new I had some many India clothes that would fit right into this culture.

As we parked the car, I did see my first really big cow on the street just hanging out, and on the way to the market a young girl came up to our car begging which was really intense because her hand was really bloody. There is so much going on that in a way it is hard to have it stick with you which is crazy right?

After that market we went to another one. I will get the names of the places soon. I'm bad at that part. But this market was more like artisans and crafters. I bargains for a great bag and a small print. I used the bathroom there which was clean.

Have I told you about the bathrooms? There is a hole in the ground and places to put your feet and you squat down to do your duty and then there is a little tap with a cup and you wash yourself (with your left hand). No paper. It actually was not that hard to get used to.

At this market we ate dinner (hot food don't worry) and I gave some water to a really hot cat that drank a bunch of it. As we were leaving the market I saw a dog (there are dogs all over the place) that looked like it was on its last few hrs of life. Really hard to see and just pass on. but what would I do? I tried to give it water but no response. I was really hot yesterday and today even hotter! I think today its about 98 degrees and very humid. But I am handling it. You wash up in the night before bed and in the am to stay cool.

Ok so i'm all over the place but I will tell you about my bedding. I sleep on a futon on the ground with just a sheet on top with fans going all night. It feels good and not to hot.

I woke up this am and it was hot outside and the sun shinning. I decided to cook breakfast and I opened the kitchen door to find a little lizard friend that joined me while I was cooking just hanging out on the wall.
I made us tea with milk power and I added sugar into mine. I chopped up potatoes and onions, cabbage, garlic and some herbs that anuradha added in. Oh we also added in tomatoes and cooked it a bunch until it was very hot! that is the deal much eat hot food.
Fingers crossed I have not gotten "delhi belly" yet and hope it will stay that way, we will see.
I've been drinking a bunch of bottled water as well. Lots of it!

What else to share about my adventures? I'm off to do some more exploring this morning/afternoon to an area that anuradha said feels very different. Its just around the corner from her place.

As for photos, I'm taking a bunch and still trying to figure out how to upload them onto a computer. we will see.

For now, everyone stay cool and know that I am doing well and loving it so far.

I'll write again soon,
much peace to alllaura
लौरा
ap.s. what happened when folks came to the states that street markets went a way and folks just hid a way in there little houses? I love that folks are out and about and that the inside and outside are almost like one. - much more in touch with nature.