It’s been an eventful 2009 so far in the land that time forgot.
I made my first – and hopefully my last – visit to the local police station, in order to register as per my visa. Its an imposing building by local standards with several smartly dressed cops standing about outside in their military style kaki uniforms, but inside oh my god what a place. Phil Evans they need you! There were 5 desks – all empty apart from one 1940s typewriter but each with its own quota of pigeons – the common type that wander every city street back home. They were nesting among the heaps of yellowing paper, a pair was actually mating on the bookshelf and the inspector had pigeon poop on this head! I could not believe my eyes. There were sets of cast iron handcuffs hanging on the wall and the 2 cells leading off the office were piled high with yellowing papers. Not much crime obviously. My passport /visa was passed around and examined closely ‘Hmm Glasgow, we know the British very well, they were here for 300 years’ was about their only comment to me. To ‘sir ‘ there was lots of chat, and the outcome was that they had never had a foreign national before and did not have the relevant form. I would have to go to the superintendent’s office in Berhampur. A woman in a beautiful sari came in and said something and two minutes later she was out the back lighting a huge bonfire right outside the window. The smoke billowed back through the open window startling the pigeons but not phasing the 3 policemen who never even looked round. Then the one nearest the window started choking and at this point I got a fit of the giggles and the inspector said ‘Madam you are very happy?’ I had to agree! When we left I told ‘sir ‘ I was amazed, as the police back home are very smart and well organised and his only comment was ‘this is India’
And my other new experience was to escape!! The family were out, and I found an unlocked door so went for a walk. I discovered shops and stalls, people, a temple and all sorts so things I didn’t know were here. I am so excited! And I have made my first friend. He owns a rope shop, where he also sells coconuts, coconut matting and wooden bits for ploughs etc. He saw me walking past and came rushing out to welcome me and wish me a Happy New Year, invited me into his shop. He actually speaks alittle English and says he is now my brother and I am his sister and if ever I need anything he would be honoured to assist. When I returned all the women came out to say hello and wish me a Happy New Year which was lovely as the women don’t normally talk. This turned out to be the only thing they could say in English, apart from one who said ‘ please come to my home’. The family will have a fit when they find out I have been socialising as they don’t seem to associate with the neighbours. Their children go to the catholic school in Berhampur and not to the village school. They stay there 6 days a week, with one of the teachers, even though the little one is only 6, poor wee thing.