Joan's quote

Joan Bailey overheard the following in the MAC exercise room by someone just back from India and I think it's right on target: It's like falling into the hole in Alice in Wonderland and not knowing what is coming next. Today, while watching a barechested Brahmin priest perform a ceremony with ashes and chanting and clanging of bells, we heard his cell phone ringing away with a very modern tone. We waited in the large inner sanctum of the temple complex in a spot with about 6 Indians. There was a closed curtain and two boys told me they would open it in 5 min. We suspected the shiva lingam described in the guide book was in there (giant phallus symbol) and sure enough when they opened up there it was. The priests first poured water over it and then something that looked like milk so that it was trickling all down it. We later watched a woman go around to each of the 108 smaller linga depositing some grass and flowers on each one and chanting away. We can only assume she was desperate to have a baby. Tonight's dinner was in a place with no English, no silverware (well they finally dug up a couple of spoons for us), banana leaves for plates but delicious potato filled pancakes with good chutneys. Total bill was less than a dollar. Love to all--Dana