red string and red fort

its a greeeeeeeaaaaat day.... wallah wallah. well thats what my great-grandfather used to say. it has been a good one. im back in delhi after a 3:30am wake up call, walk across the ganges at 4:00 and drive to the train station for a 6am send off. but yes, i came back yesterday. i heard news that my package with camera charger had finally arrived and i began a special ayurvedic treatment.
so the charger. it worked for 30 minutes. now its broken... i dont understand it, and i dont know why. it seems as though i am just not supposed to take pictures.
so the treatment: i eat some special fresh herb mixed with yogurt, after it received vedic vibration, and then i only eat plain rice. for 17 days. oh and i can drink water. and in 7 days add the water from the top of dahl. and 7 days later the water from the top of yogurt. mmmmm. rice.
today anna-lisa and i went shopping where i purchased my bali ticket - going on the 28th!!!!!! - and waaaay too many things at anokhi. jenny, i got the flower ring. i know. on the way back we had an interesting auto-rickshaw ride where our driver drove the scenic route, spoke english, and then dropped us off with some other driver in front of the red fort. hmmm. not on the way. but at least i got to see the fort (and india gate) as ive done absolutely zero sight seeing in delhi. but the second driver was a little sketchy, tried to bring his friend along which i guess is a big no no. the books say its an indication a "groping" might be forthcoming. we shoo'd him off though, and got home in time for rice :)
after rice i began to inquire where would be a good place to get a yagya. the 9 days of mother divine begin soon and i want one during it. well this very nice man, who is in medical school and training here, has not the best english. he decided he would make me his "sister" and took the red string from his yagya off his wrist and tied it to my own. well i dont know exactly how i feel about this... i mean the red string from a yagya for someone else? and now he keeps calling me sister and says he will protect me for the rest of his life. plus the strings really tight. it sorta constricts my wrist.
funnily enough i was with mary rose again for this event... who is the lady that was with me me when i had to search for the cremation ashes hanging in the tree last week. i think i wrote about that. if not, just know it was one of the more hilarious and embarrassing experiences of my life. and that is saying something.
soooo.... i will be leaving for varanasi with my rice cooker in a couple days. for some reason i dont want to go for too long, although im sure ill end up staying longer once i get there. i also really want to check out this textiles farm in Jaipur that sounds amazing. they're "green", use sustainable practices promote women's and workers' rights and stay true to the original craft... and the shit they make is rad and i want to buy it all :)
miss you.