Colors and Spices

How to choose the colours for your curtains

21/3/08 Humpi – Mumbi – Delhi

Today is an extra special day as it marks the events of 5 different faiths and it’s a full noon too.
it’s Purim for us – in Judaism, Holi – in the Hindu tradition – the festival of colours, Good Friday for Christians and Id-e-Milad of Islam. It was very nice to read in today’s Daily Newspaper that they did not forget any one of the above.

Oded Alfasi an Israeli guy from Chulon, a guest at Itzik’s Home, looked every were to get the Bible as he wanted to read Megilat Ester. Even that he fasted on such a hot day, and he was out and about on the motorbike, in the evening with candle lights (there was an Electricity strike) he read the Megila. Each time Hamman was mentioned he asked us to tap on the table, so we were a few active listeners.

When ever I hear Megilat Ester I always question why Ester was given to Achashverosh as a wife? from the true Jewish point of view. What is definite that she was the most beautiful woman at that year, compare to the rest of the competitives. It’s most probably that she had some other qualities – the quality of a political leader, the quality of a woman that wanted to gain power trough her beauty, the quality of a woman that after being the wife of…, she used her power to get what she was asked to do for her people – by her uncle Mordechi.
My question is what was her real drive? To use her beauty to gain political power? or Was she so deeply politicaly conscious that she scarified her personal freedom for the nation?

I was lucky to be here in India in the Holi festival of colours.
Old, young & kids are trowing wonderful colour powders on each other and dance to loud music.
I learned that there is an old colour therapy. One uses colours to heal illnesses, some really have to see the colours, some can imagine them.

The love of people for a particular colour is not just per say, some say it’s a deep feeling and need. That colour can ease, can relax, can adjust ‘things’ in the body. As the colours in nature change according to the season, so WE need to feel the need for NEW colours – we should change the colours we wear too. Each one should listen to his inner need for the right colour. Even at home there is a need to change the colours of the paint in the walls to a new colour (from time to time) according to our needs.

Also, do not forget the curtains – they can be changed with new simple material, but with new colours! It will give you new start & relaxed feeling, just be particulare in choosing it with your inner feeling & voice.

and visiting new strange places

20/3/08, Hampi, India

One of the most interesting things in my journey is meeting strangers.
I must admit that since young it fascinated me – meeting with strangers.
It means that you are all by yourself in that confrontation. There is not an introduction or a meeting at some kind of social or family event.

One have to make it’s own steps to create the occasion of the meeting to occur. We people are quick in making the decision if it’s in our interest & if we want to talk to a stranger. Since young, we recall faces, view them and store them in a special part of our brain.Young children will remember very clearly an unpleasant meeting with a person, and the baby will start crying immediately in meeting that face again.

Even after many years I can recall a face I met in the past, not remembering his name. It’s probably build-in in human nature to make quick connection with our kind. Young kids will show that kind of natural skill to integrate with oters. On meeting other kids, even if they do not speak the same language, they will ‘measure’ the other quickly and after a short time they will start playing together.

Later, in our youth we get a lot of information how dangerous it’s meeting strangers, and rightly so. Eventually, as adults we feel safe in making our new relationships mainly in familiar social circles. We get ‘cold feet’ and discomfort in meeting new people out of our circles, and definitely with complete strangers.

Most probably in a journey to India we are freer in our mind to make new connections. No doubt it’s the need too, especially when traveling alone. It’s a quick way to get quick information, some times it’s taking precautions and some times it’s the simple need if social contact.

In my journey I meet a lot of young people. For myself I do not have any problem talking to young and even socialising with them, but strangely I will not approach just anybody. I do not have foundation of a research, just my simple reservation and feeling – that the young people I meet that tend to make quick contact with me (an older person), I think they have good & friendly relationship with their parents. They will be the one that the age gap between us will not make the deference, on the contrary they will be open and curious to meet an older person that’s travels alone. The barrier is there, and I can see it, when I resemble their parents, than it can be even a treat. If I do want to succeed in connection with them, I have to take a long time to gain their confidence, and to start with a very low profile. Not to resemble bu amy means their parents!

I do not waisting my time making the world friendlier, but am observing it.

There is a big connection between meeting a new place and meeting new people.
In New Zealand as I was not a backpacker the transformation of a new place was different & I had the time for the instant observation to see & feel the beauty of a new place. There was no disturbance of beggars and offerings of goods & services all ever.

On arriving to a new place it’s similar to meeting a new person, it’s exciting and immediately my blood pressure go’s up a bit.
One can fall in love with a place just like with a human being, or even feel a quick dislike.

For me a new place is always exciting. I am trying to move with the rheum of the place.
I am full of pride & curiosity looking at the new passel, the new views and it’s people.

Itzik’s Israeli Gust House, Hampi, India, 17/3/08

After a quiet night at the train, sleeping in the same compartment with 5 other Indians on sleeping benches, I arrived at 08.00 to Hospet.

Hospet, officially, Hosapete is a largest city and district headquarters of Vijayanagara district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located on the banks of Tungabhadra River, 12 km from Hampi. The present day Hampi is a World Heritage site containing the ruins of the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Wikipedia

The most difficult part on arriving to a new place is meeting lots of Indians that ‘jump’ on me immediately, offering any thing from Riksha Cars to Guest Houses, Post Cards etc.

In addition there will be buggers, looking at me with big strong eyes, like I am their only saver.
I am learning to be tough & refuse. There will be always the one stubborn that will go behind me every where, wan’t let go of me – “The Rich Lady with $$$$$” – that’s probably what the beggar sees. Even at the time when I do reservation at the train office, he does not leave the sight of me – The $$$ Lady. So I said to him: “Sorry, I will take the bus and not your Ricksha Car, but he did not let me go. In the end… his stubbornness won! and I took him to Hampi at the rate that I wanted to pay.

The view changed from a flat land to extremely huge brown stones, that were scattered all over.

Beautiful Temples stood up on top of the hills by the rocks and at the far distant background.

I got to the river, where I had to cross with a tiny boat. It takes just a few moment to cross and you are at the other side. The young master of the boat tells me: “There ain’t any boats after 18.00 O’clock.”

“It does not sounds pleasant,” I thought, “As maybe I would like to go back, leave the island, but I think…. there will be no chance to do it.”

Again, a huge laud discussion starts with some kids that offer me to curry my bags, asking extremely high price. These young kids are so professional in bargaining, that me, with all my experience I am melting easily to their forces and demand.

It’s early morning, the water of the river is dark green. Huge stones laid every where. There are some 15-20 people bathing in the river, than they put on their Jeans and go to work, some stayed to do their washing.

Happily I arrived to Itzik’s Home. There is an open restaurant in the middle, there I met a few Israelis that got up early to drink homely Ness-Cafe. It is so relaxing to be there after a long journey of 2 difficult days – it feels so much like home – Itzik’s Home!! In the menu: Israeli salad, Chumus, Shnitzel etc.

Every one spoke of the Monkey’s Temple. When I heard that I have to claim 450 steps, I said: “Thanks, but not today!”
In the afternoon I met in the restaurant a nice young Israeli, and she said that 3 women are going to see the sun set on one of the Temples. “You can join,” she offered. I went to walk around the village, to know my neighborhood. Then the Ricksha Car with the 3 women stooped and I got in. I did not ask where we are going. The rice fields were green and flat land all around. The road was snaky with tiny small houses on the side, little children were running up and down the road. The huge stones appear again, smooth, dark, looking at us with their secret story.
Where did they arrived from?
Did they appear from out of space?
Did they came from the center of the earth?
….They do not belong here… even that they are scattered all over the land.

Some say that Hampi is one of the most interesting historical place in the south of India, with the magical view of ancient dark rocks.
Vujayanagar (next to Hampi) was the main town of one of the most powerful empires in India. The town was build on 1336 and got bigger and bigger and more beautiful, until reaching the pick at the 16th century. At that time more than Half a million people lived there, trading in herbs, silk etc. That was the rout of the ‘silk way’ most probably.
On 1565, the town was robbed suddenly by the Sultans of Dekaan & destroyed.

Going up – 450 steps – to the Monkey’s Temple

The Ricksha Car stopped next to a narrow sandy road. From above giant, huge, enormous! rocks were watching us!
‘We arrived at the Monkey’s Temple! said Vered.
“Get ready girls! 450 steps are waiting!”
I wasn’t prepare for that, but ‘La Ger com la Ger’ so I started claiming. The sun, pretty hot, was watching me and us from above.

Even that the stairs were not even, they were comfortable to clime. It was build for the purpose of thousands of believers to come up to to the Holy Temple.
Every 50 steps or so after a zip of water I look around to see the View – and the land was expanding wonderfully beneath us. Near we saw the rice fields and in the distance other Temples looked astonishing.

We could see from above, the ruins of Hampi. that vast town. that was once a beautiful lively city.
It is such a sham that Wars destroy such wonderful cities, monuments.
and…. Where all the people go?

I stopped again to drink water. Thank You Vered! I said.
“The visit in the Monkey’s Temple – it’s the high light of my visit in India,” she said. I was here yesterday, but had to come again before leaving.

At the top of the mountain, there was a humble Temple. Monkeys were running everywhere.
The view & power of the vast rocks expanded.
“The God of the Monkeys is looking at us each day and at the Sunrise & the Sunset,” said the priest to us.

The view was open all round – 360 degree!

We sat on the rocks watching the Sunset. The peaceful view all around us was extremely beautiful & powerful. (*)

(*) The view was extremely beautiful & powerful, but not in the same way probably, when there were HALF a million people living in that town, below the Monkey’s Temple.