Tuesday, February 8th 2005, 11:58am

Ok, well, I opted for going to Hoshiarpur to visit friends, and in a couple of days I'll be heading for a 10 day vipassana course nearby.

I've been reading books like mad lately - novels and so forth. I've been going through them at a rate of one every two or three days. I guess they're a pretty effective escape, and I reckon I'm probably looking for some escape these days.

It's interesting, to me anyway... lately when I get offers to go and see a local Hindu temple, or a mosque, or go visit a secondary school, well... I'm just not interested. I feel like I've seen just about all the temples, sure it'll be literally different from the last one, but not that much different. I know what visiting a school will entail - sure it's a different one, but what difference will that make? Meeting friends of my friends is cool enough, but... we still can't communicate, and so the interactions are very repetitive - I can offer the same phrases, the same questions are asked, and when that's all over, well.. I just kick back and listen to then talk about whatever, and pick up the occasional word here or there. My attitude seems sorta lame to me, but maybe there's a gentler, valid view to it which would offer that I just need some down time from all of these things.

As for learning Panjabi... well, I am slowly learning more. Every once in a while I get some minor insight, and I've been doing fairly well at learning the different sounds of the Panjabi alphabet. I also know that I need to make, well, it would be helpful if I made, a more serious effort myself, you know with a daily regimen and everything. Anyway, I guess I'm not too worried about it. I'm here, I'm doing my thing, and whatever happens - at least I made it. Besides, I think I'll probably kick into a slightly higher gear here at some point. I need some flashcards. :)

Let's see, how about some miscellaneous thoughts that have been kicking around...

(As I write this the young woman working the counter at this internet cafe has been pacing around like a caged tiger for the last ... nearly hour now. Round and 'round she goes.)

The houses here in Punjab... some are large, some are small, some are very large, even by North American standards. None of them have indoor heating though, it just doesn't exist. If it's cold out - and it is - then it's cold in. I reckon evening and morning temperatures are in the 5 - 10 degree celsius range right now. People I've hung out with tend to all get on a big bed, cover themselves in one or two large blankets and watch TV or whatever. Sitting there in a chair, eating dinner, every breath visibly floating away. Even when the doors are shut, there's inevitably some unsealable ventilation built into the walls or ceiling, just as a matter of the architecture, which is kinda cool - like, you're always in touch with nature no matter what, but... There's a LOT of use of marble too - a very typical feature of houses around here. Marble floors, patios, whatever. Wall to wall. Anybody want to take a shower? Not me! Hot water, or even warm water is not a common occurrence. It's freakin cold!! And shower time is usually morning or evening right, and it's already freakin cold! I mean really, what is the deal?

Now, I can the see up side to this, that these folks are built tough, but I dunno, so far I'm still happy with the way of living I come from: soft, warm, easy.

What else.... oh, the moon: instead of the phases moving from left to right or right to left, or whatever it is in North America, they move vertically, so the moon winds up being a glowing bowl up in the sky - a curious difference. I'm still able to watch Orion, the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and the north star though. And during the day I'm always packin (and referring to) my compass.

I know I've had lots of little things on my mind to relate, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. I think I'll head off here after two and a half hours of internet.

As I mentioned before, I'll be out of touch until at least the 21st, so y'all take care.

dharma