death defying acts

I’ve finally discovered my guts – in my throat for most part. I think that’s about where my stomach settled after our day at wonder la (“…the fun and frolic place that has filled the whole of Bangalore with absolute thrill and unbridled joy.”) I went on a frankly incredible number of rides, most of which involved terrifying free falls (how does your stomach keep going up when the rest of you is going down?) and then followed those up with a few hours in the water park where my brother D and I zipped down an impressive number of very steep slides at a speed approximating that of light. My family swears that they could hear me screaming for miles.

Who would’ve thunk it? 13 year old dutch guys can be a lot of fun. In the last ten days, D and I have spent hours together, locked in a car, traipsing across south India (who knew it was so incredibly massive or even so utterly, breathtakingly beautiful?) with my father and S in tow.

We’ve been to Elagiri, Hampi, Chennai, Pondicherry and Kabini (in that order; also note the plush accomadations) and not only have I not thrown up even once ( has obviously defeated motion sickness! hurrah! etc etc) but I spent most of the trip conscious, looking out the window and listening to music. Really, somebody ought to save me from myself and my old playlists.

We’ve also been eating our way across what felt like the entire continent and I am now back to being a more than respectable weight. Friendly tip: If you’re ever on the road between Chennai and Bangalore, make a point of stopping in Ambur for what is surely the most awesome kadai biryani in the world, also at Sri Krishna Sweets for their mysorpa (consider yourself warned: each piece has enough ghee to float a very small boat.)

In fact, D is the only one who’s exhibited any signs of restraint on this trip. Being a little wee one from distant Holland, he continues to be shocked and appalled by the chaos, muck and complete disregard for traffic regulations that are so familiar to the rest of us. He is prone to cowering in corners and shrieking “I DIE!” – with complete and endearing conviction – every five minutes.

Also (aren’t I full of news?) my father, Mr. S, has fallen in love ( I will not say again; this time, it is very possibly different) with a respectable and virtuous woman and I have the feeling that they will soon be married. sigh. it is somewhat heartening. My old man, he is very near doddering, having turned 50 something this year. fourth chances, we can haz?

S and I are now homeward bound, or would be if we were not stranded at bangalore’s fancy new airport. Hopefully, we will be home by the end of the day, but our flight is already five hours late, and I’m beginning to find that the longer the wait, the more impossibly appealing is the thought of my own bed.

Also, I now own another ipod. don’t ask.