new year's day

hallo!

well, yesterday was pretty much a washout. i left this here computer center and went outside for a stroll and realized that there were THOUSANDS of indian tourists ehre for new years. way more that i first thought. but i am not kidding, there were THOUSANDS. this made it very difficult to have a pleasant stroll. too many vendors selling cheap crap made in china, old sweaters, silly trinkets....people crushing each other to walk along the alke, the traffic was INSANE on these tiny streets, noisy with honking and just plain old being rude. pedestrians do nto have the right of way here. i broke down at one point and gave the evil eye to some young pranksters on a motor bike. i felt bad but i was fed up.

so i went to my room and got under the covers and read. slept. i slept til 10:30pm. then went out and got an egg omelette sanwich which i love and some chai, watched the revelers dancing in the streets, and went back to bed. i tried to sleep but the disco music from the hotel nearby was so loud it prevented me from sleeping. of course at midnight the indian fireworks went off...they sound BIG like bombs, really, but the light show was a bit disappointing. they danced and partied til well after 2am. the muysic was good thouhg..i know if i was in another frame of mind and had some folks with me it would have been very fun to go dancing, but as it was, i wasn't allowed.

so i felt a little bit sorry for myself and also lonely.

this morning i got up and was determined to get the hell out of the shithole i stayed in last night. i mean, i had to ask them for clean sheets and pillow cases becasue mine were NASTY!!! they were embarrassed that i asked, but i do not care. they are just trying to make money and don't care how. my new hotel is very nie and i am happy. everything is very clean and the blankets look good and the bed is comfy. i sat on the balcony earlier in the sun and warmed up as my clothes dried on the railing. this very nice sikh man runs the place, he is very friendly. but i am paying out the ass for this, and cannot do so anymore, so i will leave nainital tomorrow. it just isn't as peaceful (shanti) as i was hoping, and i feel more comfortable in delhi if you can imagine that!

it has been lovely to see the mountains and all, and later today i will take a boat ride and go up on the chair lift thinger but then i will pretty much be done with nainital. indian tourist spots SUCK is all i have to say. i'd rather be in a hot-ass desert village where no one has ever seen a white person before.

so...off to eat some lunch and then take part as tourista.
happy new year!
jo