lazy saturday

somehow i did not feel like doing much today. after sleeping in did not really work because of the rising temperatures, i decided to go work out at the gym. but before that i had to check off an actually compulsory item from today's agenda: have my hair cut. yes, that does not require half a day in my case. then again, i cannot just stop by my favourite turkish barber's saloon here.

anita had told me about a place near the gym, where app. 20 middle-aged men were already awaiting me, the foreign customer. one accompanied me to my chair and seemed a little disappointed to learn that all my head needed was a hair clipper. three words about the saloon: packed, busy, steamy. the whole joint could just as well have existed in the 1920ies what probably does not appeal to today's average westerner. in a way, there was something vintage, cozy, and classy about this place (note to myself: go back and take a picture).

the hair cut was o.k., i have seen much worse. having reestablished my regular hair length, the barber asked if i wanted a head and body massage. i opted only for the first (i will leave the latter to someone more familiar). and boy, did he do a great job; i almost fell asleep (2nd note to myself: have that "someone more familiar" learn how to do head massages). the total for hair cut and massage amounted to 30 rupees...cannot say i overspent here.

unfortunately, i was to find out that the gym was closed (3rd note to myself: remember to not expect everything to be open on hindu new year's day). instead, i managed to find the bookstore my boss recommended: i am now equipped with the two allegedly most influential indian business magazines ("business&economy" / "business india") AND the english translation of an originally german book ("measuring the world" by d. kehlmann). i surely had to go to india to get my hands on the latter one. cannot wait to learn about what giulz' "boss" kept himself busy with when he was still around (read: in the 19th century).

then i had lunch at "kobe sizzlers" - the first meat in three weeks! - and facilitated the digestion of the same by administering a descent café latte at "café coffe day". nothing particularly indian about this saturday i have to admit. therefore, rajnikant and i will go take a tour of the "osho international" ashram in koregaon park, pune tomorrow. they do not seem to allow taking pictures there but i will give my very best.

finding of the day: besides getting gray, i am also slowly going bald. of course, the last four weeks here in india have neither induced nor spurred this development in any way. but we will see what i look like when i come home (which will be as soon as in only nine weeks!)...