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Coimbatore - Dec. 20 '70

Dear Lucy + Charles - Believe it or not, India has been a pleasant surprise - a victum of negative publicity. More prosperous than one [[strikethrough]] would [[/strikethrough]] would expect...people very hard workers - very friendly...although this may be the temperament of the south. Drive to temple on ocean - Mahabalipuram - landscape like the South Seas... temples rising up above rice paddy's and palm trees. Professional beggars everywhere - gruesome deformaties - but am calous now after Africa which was infinitely worse. One does not get an overwhelming sence of hoplessness here. There is the caste system which is dificult for me to understand...feel a bit as if I am on the other side of the plantation. Cookie has 17 servants - 5 living in the house....They are really treated as part of the family...and critisized [[strikethrough]] for [[/strikethrough]] by others who have servants. They truly believe lower casts are inferior...if anything - they suffer from malnutrition. A few anxiety attacks but more from the absolute claustraphobic hospitality of Cookies extended family. They have the tendency to overfeed you - never mind that you've had enough.

I've learned how to say "no" firmly, Food very very good - only one bad experience with a fish that must have been older than I, Since I am with families I do not need to worry about drinking water or the freshness of food - food in abundance... however I think the over abundance in certain classes of food and the over pushy feeding of guests occurs in countries where half the population is starving. Africa the same, fatness is a sign of wealth also.... sitting by ocean, two days ago - eating rice & yogurt [[servt]] by family with us on our trip to the temples. Dog came cowering over so I gave her food - she was obviously nursing puppies - large brown pleading eyes - I'm a sucker for animals - suddenly we were surrounded by about 50 crows - all staring at me and complaining loudly while looking at my rice bowl. Gave me a chill - like Hitchcock. They would advance and hop back... slowly they picked up each grain of rice the dog had not eaten. God lord - we were waiting for