3 sisters...and blogging etiquette

just back from late lunch at the 3 sisters in Lakshmipuram (the suburb where the old Shala is located). late, for a couple of reasons. first, we booked for 1330, we'd arranged to take off from the coconut stand in contour road at 1315...and I'd arranged for Manju to meet me there at 1315...Manju arrives at my place just after 1300. We head up to the coconut stand where Robbie, Elizabeth and Ben are coconutting, waiting to go. We do the numbers and Appu's going to provide the other rickshaw...it's getting towards 1320, so we decide to head off with Robbie and I in Manju's rickshaw, following Appu's rickshaw. Appu's the only one who knows how to get there. We're about 5 minutes on our way when I get a call from Natalie, saying they're back at the coconut stand...I tell Manju to turn around, head back to the coconut stand, so we've lost Appu, our lynchpin in the whole exercise

we head back to the main street in Gokulam where we catch up with Natalie and Lee on their scooter...then Hanuman and ...can't remember her name...call...they're also back at the cocount stand...Lee takes off, directs them back to where we are...then we're off on the long way round to Lakshmipuram where Manju does his best to get us there by using the usual Indian GPS method of looking for larger, then smaller landmarks.

it's a tiny, charming place (see the pic on this post). It's Robbie's (sitting next to me in the shot, head away from shot) last full day on this trip to Mysore. Like most people leaving, he's got a plan in his head of coming back soon.

The folks who came with Appu were well into their meal, which was fine for Robbie and I at least, we'd both been to Andrew and Jessica's for a great breakfast at their place on Contour Road. I was ill prepared and didn't take anything along, while Erin, Arnet and Robbie bought fruit salad, flowers, incense...i'll be on the ball next time

I might be having two new flat mates - Hanuman and...can't remember her name, they're studying at a school in Gokulam as well.

there was a bit of talk about how well Guruji's faring, apparently in intensive care at the moment. Joseph was there for lunch, along with Carol. Joseph said that they were hydrating Guruji as his kidneys were shutting down without enough fluid. Andrew had said that Guruji had been saying some death shlokam in preparation. Hanuman asked why Guruji wasn't going off into the Himalayas to meditate before he passes...that kind of caused a few awkward pauses in the conversation. Joseph said, which I like, that he's surrounded by family and people who love him and are taking care of him, that's a good way to go. Taking that further, I'm not sure whether ascetism is the right way to go at that point in your life...i don't know.

finally, Lee read my blog, and was a bit quieter today. I really hope he didn't take my blog too personally, I'm gonna go round there now and apologise, if need be :)