I was glad to leave the hotel.

My room had two temperatures.  Meat locker and cannot breathe.  So I put a towel on top of my blanket and wrapped a scarf around my shoulders.  It was a special scarf from Sandy Sugden that she brought from Africa but could have been made in India or China.  My room had 2 windows.  One in the shower, blocked with cardboard and plastic, and the other, high above the closet, so I could not look out.  But I could tell il it was daylight.  I sneaked into the other room when it was unlocked, and looked out the window to the back yard.  I saw three women washing the sheets by hand and hanging them on the line to dry.  They were laughing and talking. 

I met Mony and Aarum in the dining room.  At the table there were some long donut looking things.  I had fabulous iced coffee made with sweetened condensed milk.  My food bill for 3 days, feeding Mony some times was $20.00.  Mony told me still not time to dress up (wrong), but I at least wore more make-up and some jewelry.  I also shouldn't have eaten breakfast, becasue we were offered porridge again! And top of that, we were almost late for the red string tying ceremony. 

This time silver outfits. Bright photo lights.the bride told me in perfect English not to cock my head to one side.  Those of you who know me know I always do that, oddly. 

The next ceremonoy was passing candles held by silver spoon things and wavinig the heat toward the bride and groom.  Everyone in circle.  There was a master of ceremony kind of guy that was like an M.C. and monk combined.  He explained everything under the hot lights.  He was wearaing a gold Nehru kind of suit.  He took apart one of the flower arrangemnts,  which surprised me.  He tore a large leaf in half and it revealed the seeds from a palm tree.  All of us in the circle took some of othe "fronds" and split them apart, dropping something like rice on the mats we were sitting on. Then we picked up the "rice" and threw it at the bride and groom.  I thought maybe fertility, but Mony said just new life and good luck.  Hmmmm.

This was also the big hint to give money.  Mony asked me how much was in my envelope.  He said it was not enough! But more than I would give in USA.  Hmmmmm.

We declined the porridge, and left. 

W had some time before the next event, so I suggested we go to sewing machine place.