Garam Garam Garam (HOT HOT HOT)

Here's a link to the weather report for Nashik.  Did I already mention that the summer heat has arrived early all over India?? Yeah, I'm DEFINATELY feeling it; not to mention a mix up with the water and I'm down with a intestinal bacteria again.  http://www.mustseeindia.com/Nasik-weather

We have a full schedule of things to do before I leave - so there's no time to be hot!  I'm wearing a beautiful sari today (thanks to Kalpana).  Here's a funny story.

Two women were talking about one woman's search for her son's marriage match in which she attended a large gathering of eligible young men and women. She was talking in another language of course and she made a motion that I didn't understand:  Put your arms out like you're going to do the chicken dance at a wedding. - now move your forearms and fists in quick movements away from your body once or twice, keeping your elbows stationary.  Go ahead, do it.

Of course, I asked what that meant and was told nicely, that it meant the pool of girls there were, ahem, on the bigger side (uh, FAT???). I laughed and wondered what 'bigger' was for Indian girls since most of the young women I have seen are pretty darn skinny. Well, ok, move on.

The next day Kalpana takes me to the blouse store to have a blouse made for a sari that I bought in Columbus.  We're all having conversation (so to speak since I don't speak Hindi or Marati or Gujrati - whatever language they were speaking) about the sleeve and the little decoration at the bottom.  The tailor seems to not be agreeing with me about the style (he understands English of course), the decoration or something and as I am intently trying to gather visual clues from faces, pointing, stretching fabric, etc., HE MAKES THE MOTION LIKE THE CHICKEN DANCE!!!!!!  It's because I'm, ahem, 'on the bigger side'

I try not to make a horror face (OH MY GOD HE DID NOT JUST CALL ME FAT) and manage to not giggle even.  Later, Kalpana tries to play down the fact as I jokingly exaggerate how offended I am, "no, he was not calling you fat, just saying you are bigger than most Indians" - that might have been what Girish said, but the point was made and I'm definately REDUCING with fervor when I return home.  It's great incentive when a total stranger calls you fat.  I'm wearing a beautiful blue sari today, in the Gujrati style to maximize coverage.

Namaste