Time

Time is an interesting concept that we don't think about often - who has the time. There is always so much to do and so little time to accomplish it. Here in India, time is different. For thos of us visiting, time is about deciding what to do today usually wrapped around where to have lunch, will we go to the chanting (as we did last night) take a bike ride, read or nap. While I recognize that this is totally artificial, it does cause one to reflect on how much of life is consumed by things that have little to do with one's own emotional well being.

I am also given a lesson though, that time can be about survival. A taxi driver will work to sheer exhaustion for what we would consider relatively small amounts of money. He (and they are always he) will wait for 2 hours for R150 which is equaly to about $3. These men work insane hours that would be outlawed in Canada.

On Indian standards, that I would have the time and money to come away from home for three months of quiet, contemplation, reading and writing is evidence that I am truly a rich man. One of the staff here marvelled at the computer and could  not imagine buying one. So many of us take them for granted. These comaprisons are not unique to India - look at many neighbourhoods back home.

Speaking of my daily drive for a good lunch, we found this amazing place where we had chai teas (best so far) olive salad and an omelet with cucumbers, peppers and tomates that was a gourmet delight - all for about $8 for the two of us. We are spoiled.

I discovered Indian bike single track yesterday as we took a small trip into town through the jungle. Great fun.