Life Recently

Apologies for my delayed and infrequent blog posts...and thanks for continuing to read them! Life has been super crazy busy lately...and time seems to be flying by me at warp-speed!! I can't believe I'm now in my third month of travel already!

But here's the brief on life recently:

1) My career in Bollywood was a smash hit! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit...but the whole 8 day experince was definitely something I'll remember for a very long time!! Basically our agent, Ramesh, gathered up five girl and five guy foreigners as background extras. We did learn one dance routine...but most of my camios were just walking by in the background or talking with another foreigner in the corner of the shot somewhere. Overall it was super easy work...and pretty entertaining, as all of us foreigners got pretty close by the end. There were foreigners from all over the world: America, Poland, Kenya, Rowanda, Latvia, Serbia, and Russia. I don't know the name of the film yet...they wouldn't tell anybody because they still have a year of shooting to finish...but as soon as I know, I'll pass it along!

2) Got the Delhi belly again while we were filming...the movie company paid for all of our meals (sweet!!! One less thing I had to pay for)...so breakfast and lunch were catered on the filming location while dinner was on our own (with 75 rupees to cover the cost). I'm thinking that one of those oh-so-pleasant-and-super-hygenic catered meals (did I mention that today is opposite day?) must have done me in. After a week of spnding waaaaay too much time on the toilet, I went to see a doc (a Western-style one..ok? Ok? No Dhonden with dirt pills this time) who loaded me up with some strong-ass meds. Thank Krishna I began to feel better quickly and am happy to report I'm diarrhea-free. :)

3) On Thursday night I took my first overnight bus ride from Ooty to Pondicherry. 15 hours on one bus!!!! Things in India are definitely farther than they look! I think I managed about four-five hours of sleep, which I must say, is pretty impressive for a bus ride in India: jerky, bumpy, speed up to slam on your breaks type of bus ride... Thank you melotonin! :) I was most worried about bathroom breaks and not being able to hold it (I think I'm tied with my sister and Ayla for the world's smallest bladder)...but I barely drank anything that day and during the actual ride...and though I was most definitely dehydrated, I completely succeeded at bladder control! I hink we must have stopped for the toilet five times out of the whole 15 hours...must say, it's a proud moment in my life! :)

4) Now I'm in Auroville...a social and environmentally conscious community just north of Pondicherry. Check out their website: auroville.org
Here I'm staying at an organic farm called Solitude Farm. It's run by a British-turned-Indian guy named "Krishna" who started thefarm after marrying his Indian wife, Deepa. They grow tons and tons and TONs of stuff on their six acres of land. In addition to the $7 a day that I pay to stay there, I also work in their garden. This deal lands me a play to stay (in a bambo hut dorm with the other volunteers over the cow's bed) and three meals a day.

5) Did I mention the open-roof shower at Solitude?!?!? Showering outside, with nature all around you, has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever done! I'm FOR SURE putting an outdoor shower in my backyard one day! While you're waiting for the conditioner to set in, you can gaze up at the birds flying by, see shapes in the passing clouds, or count the stars! This makes bathtime sooo much fun!!

6) I've discovered that I have a purse obession. Since I've been in India I have already bought myself three bags...uhhh, whoops! I just can't help it!!! They are all so unique, pretty, and CHEAP! But that's it: I'm cutting myself off...for a little while at least...

7) Great news!!! One of my best friends, Shannon, just booked a flight to India for the beginning of December!!! We're gonna travel together for about two and a half weeks! It's gonna be awesome to see a familiar face and to share this experIence with a good friend!

8) Speaking of early December...you guessed it: ITS ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY and HANUKKAH!!! I know everyone is wracking their brains to figure out what to get me...well, let me help you out with some suggestions: 1) money 2) money or 3) money! If you're in the giving mood this coming December 2nd, please feel free to send cash, check, or money order to me at my Mom's house. She's got access to my bank account, so your generous gift can go directly to my "I'm A Traveler" fund. If you need the address, here it is: Ilene Solomon 1300 NW 20th Street, OKC, OK 73106 Thank you in advance and I love you!!!!

9) Last night for dinner, the Italian chef at Solitude made sauted veggies, salad with papaya, and veggie sushi ALL out of ingredients from the garden!! I've never had such fresh food in my life! It was delicious, nutritious, and a much needed change from all of the dal, curries, and spice. In addition to my open-roof shower, I'm TOTALLY having a garden in my future home (wherever and whenever that will be....)

10) My solo-travel is continuing to go well. I made some really great friends (Fiana and Gloria) when I was at the beach in Varkala...and the three of us did the bollywood shooting together. I was actually really sad to part ways with them on Thursday night, but Fiana might meet up with Shannon and I at some point. It just goes to show that people are more alike than different...and meaningful connections can be made cross-country, cross-culture, and cross-age. Learning from others with different backgrounds, stories, religions, life experinces and perspectives continues to be one of my favorite things about traveling.