Amazing the difference humidity makes
My shining, wet face probably looked less attractive to the friendly clerk at “Needs” that asked if I lived at Orange County and if I was single. On reflection, probably not a bad thing. I bought lemon juice and sugar (I had to ask where both were, but luckily the people who work there are very helpful) and a pitcher, though they did not have any measuring cups, and made myself some lemonade when I got home. I’m going through the ice cubes in my little built-in ice cube tray duo almost faster than I can refill it. All it takes to empty it, though, is turning a lever. None of that twisty-breaky action. Yay for lemonade!
I must have been in a generous mood today. I gave the bicycle rickshaw driver almost a buck for my foray down the street several blocks (an easy walk in pre-May temperatures) which I knew was probably too much. Proven by the fact that he actually waited until I was finished and took me back. At least I’m pretty sure it was the same dude. So he did pretty well before 10am. Then I gave money to some beggars, which I almost never do as a rule. I think it’s the ones at tourist places that are more likely to be doing it as business (forced or otherwise) and I think the old woman/young woman/baby trio here were actually just poor. Still only helping the symptom not the problem, though. There are a lot of barefoot children in this area that I am realizing must be children of the construction workers who live in the site’s shantytown.
The organizer of Delhi Road Trips has officially cancelled the Srinagar-Leh-Manali road trip due to lack of interest, turning it into a possible Leh-only week trip by plane. I have until tomorrow to decide what to do. Flight vs. Road trip using a different company (I have been talking to the organizer of one, actually.)