Just want to let you know I've arrived in India! Here's a brief (or not) account of my trip thus far...

Singapore was a whirlwind of flavors. For lunch, I started with confections at a dessert only restaurant in Chinatown (much different than the C. town in NYC!) - egg and ginger pudding (dairy-free!) that tasted like a less sweet creme brulee. For lunch 

I ate the best Indian food I have ever encountered (now that I'm in India this could change). It was as if all of the flavors hit my tounge at once and my brain was left sorting them out.  The restaurant is run by volunteers. I didn't expect such a pleasant interior but it was lovely like the tasties. Lunch was a buffet and at the end you just paid what you wanted to! I asked if there was a suggested donation and the elderly man at the counter showed me a sign that read something to the effect of "we trust you, pay wat you think is fair." As for Singapore itself - wow, as usual, the colonists left no stone unturned. In terms of architecture, it's hard to tell weather one is in Singapore or the Bahamas. It all looks the same - brightly colored painted buildings with curved doors, beautiful windows and arched walkways. The city also sports sky rises and some communist looking architectural structures.

Right now I am sitting on the veranda at the place we are staying in Trivandrum (the capital of Kerala). It is like a B+B but we have our own bathroom. It is BEAUTIFUL and I can hear all kinds of birds, dogs (domestic) and the wind blowing through the palm trees.  Traces from a (presumably) wood fire stove made its way into our room this morning. We had breakfast with a Dutch couple here on a 3 week holiday. He's a physical therapist and she's a drama therapist who works with teens. 

Michaela picked me up from the airport last night. Her friend drove and her Malayali professor from University of Texas navigated. It was a comedic experience trying to find our B+B. The airport in Trivandrum is nice like Newark but more modern. Unfortunately there was a lotion/soap leak in my bag and I had some late night cleaning up to do which meant rinsing off all the bottles and setting them to dry in the bathroom. It looked like a  pharmacy in there when I was done. I thought I told Michaela that these were gifts for research participants. She must have doubted this b/c after her shower this morning she subtly investigated - worried that I had overpacked 40 bottles of lotion for myself.

Today we'll do some shopping. I need more conservative clothes and skirts. It's hot here but no hotter than Charlotte - just less air conditioning. Nevertheless, I remain an old Jewish woman stuck in a young woman's body (or is it the other way around?). I was cold even last night--even sans a/c--and had to employ my jacket to keep my upper extremities warm. As for my time in Singapore, I think I was the only person wearing a windbreaker at the equator!

Pix to follow. Sorry about the not-so-short check in!