When I arrive at the airport there's already someone waiting for me. He is from the organization and he's job is to drive me to Puri which is about 100Km from Bubhaneswar. It is late evening and the road is dark. The way this guy drives is just impressive. Im sure for him is just normal and safe driving but what I see seems like Schumacher. Mutiple car overtakings, high speed cuting curves, impressive maneuvers. I think these people are so used to a chaotic traffic that they develop amazing abilities. I wouldn't survive even a second driving here. After an hour I arrive to my hotel in Puri. This is a touristic hotel. My room is big, comfortable and has a big bed.
Every morning I wake up with the sun entering in my room through the window and I love that. It urges me to get up. I really like the sun. I have seminars everyday from 9h30 to 17h30 and I don't have so much time to enjoy the good weather and the beach but I like the environment. There are lots of people discussing physics. I can't forget that Im here for work but it's difficult when you have sun and beach.
For me its summer. Im wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I think its about 25ºC. But for locals its winter. There's people wearing jackets, scarfs and even this thing for the ears. I find it really funny! Everybody is super nice. They are always smiling and shaking their heads. They call me "Sir" and I feel flattered. Unfortunately just some people understand english and sometimes is difficult to comunicate. I have to repeat so many times!
Food is very good! Lunch and dinner are expected with anxiety! (Im exagerating a bit here...) The basics are rice, naan (the flat thin bread), dal (some kind of sauce that we put over the rice), some cheese (its more soft than usual european one), some potatos mixed with vegetables, then you can have meat, fish or other veg component. Most of indian people eat with their hands. This is something I certainly can't do. Fingers full of oil and rice its not for me. Most europeans would find that bad manners but I think is as good as using a fork and a knife if you wash your hands before and after. I really don't care about that. I feel that Im getting fat everyday that passes :D.
After lunch I go for a walk on the beach. This time I skip some lectures that I find boring. The water is warm and the sun is not as strong as I thought, but its strong enough for me. There are many people on the beach. Its seems there is a religious festival going on. I forgot to say that Puri is a well known religious destination. There are many hindu temples here and lots of people come to pray. Of course, in India streets are always very agitated, market here and there, you can buy fruits, sweets, tea, clothes, souvenirs, etc.
People look at me with difference. They smile and I smile too. Some start talking with me asking me where I come from and what Im doing in Puri. There's one guy that wants me to take a photo with him and his sisters (I think they were his sisters). Im like a star here and everyone wants to take a photo with me. Its so funny. There are also camels on the beach. If you want you can pay and go for a ride.
On the beach there are these guys that call themselves lifeguards. They look very funny. They are carrying a Smurd kinf of hat where is written "Life guard" and also some lifebuoys. You have to pay 40 rupees (say 80 cents) for watching you. I take some pictures with them.
I haven't tell you but here cows are the queens. It was in Delhi too but here definitely there are more. They peacefully walk around eating here and there and they don't care about cars or anything. Nobody dares to disturb them. I walk through the streets and there are many cows. For me its strange and I feel some fear but quickly it dissipates. There are also many dogs and ,as cows, they don't care about you.
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