Blog for Tuesday, 9th October 2006
The cloud cover we had on arrival has now cleared, the blue skies making the humidity much more bearable. All the same, the combination of ubiquitous air-conditioning and the humidity outdoors makes just sitting about thirsty work.
Today’s results were the reverse of yesterday’s with Spain winning just one of its four matches (Oscar being the one to tuck the victory under his belt, meaning that everyone has now won one and lost one).
I am here as an interpreter and most of the time it is a comfortable job. However, on occasions some of the organisers (Indian people) are very difficult to understand as a result of their strong accents and the speed with which they speak.
Time is already whizzing by. Outside the six hours of chess competition each day, we have so far been involved in meetings and presentations. Once the competition is over the team has been going to one of the outdoor pools for a dip before dinner. The hotel also puts on a number of events each day and this morning after a chess programme launch we went to a snake-handling demonstration given by a local who travels around the region raising awareness of snakes. We initially saw a slide show of snakes from all around the world. One, from India, has the head the shape and colour of a pointy leaf to help it hide in trees. Apparently many locals think that the snake wants to use its pointy nose to bury itself into one of your ears, eat your brain and come out of the other ear. The truth is that were the snake to try and do so, it would break its nose. After the slideshow was over we were taken outside to see some snake-handling. The first snake out of the bag was a small one which comfortably fitted on one’s hand. The sensation as the snake tensed and relaxed its muscles to move was quite peculiar. There then came a fast-moving, vicious biter which we were most definitely not allowed near. In fact, on a couple of occasions when it stretched out further from its handler it made us all jump back. I managed to get some video of this. The final snake out of the bag was a python which we were allowed to touch very gently whilst its handler held its head quite firmly! The skin, although on the point of being shed, was incredibly smooth.
Swimming in the sea is forbidden during the monsoon season (and we have come here at the end of it) due to the dangerous currents which the extra waters flowing out of rivers cause. A pity, but a stroll down to the beach will definitely be the order of the day before the week is out.
The cloud cover we had on arrival has now cleared, the blue skies making the humidity much more bearable. All the same, the combination of ubiquitous air-conditioning and the humidity outdoors makes just sitting about thirsty work.
Today’s results were the reverse of yesterday’s with Spain winning just one of its four matches (Oscar being the one to tuck the victory under his belt, meaning that everyone has now won one and lost one).
I am here as an interpreter and most of the time it is a comfortable job. However, on occasions some of the organisers (Indian people) are very difficult to understand as a result of their strong accents and the speed with which they speak.
Time is already whizzing by. Outside the six hours of chess competition each day, we have so far been involved in meetings and presentations. Once the competition is over the team has been going to one of the outdoor pools for a dip before dinner. The hotel also puts on a number of events each day and this morning after a chess programme launch we went to a snake-handling demonstration given by a local who travels around the region raising awareness of snakes. We initially saw a slide show of snakes from all around the world. One, from India, has the head the shape and colour of a pointy leaf to help it hide in trees. Apparently many locals think that the snake wants to use its pointy nose to bury itself into one of your ears, eat your brain and come out of the other ear. The truth is that were the snake to try and do so, it would break its nose. After the slideshow was over we were taken outside to see some snake-handling. The first snake out of the bag was a small one which comfortably fitted on one’s hand. The sensation as the snake tensed and relaxed its muscles to move was quite peculiar. There then came a fast-moving, vicious biter which we were most definitely not allowed near. In fact, on a couple of occasions when it stretched out further from its handler it made us all jump back. I managed to get some video of this. The final snake out of the bag was a python which we were allowed to touch very gently whilst its handler held its head quite firmly! The skin, although on the point of being shed, was incredibly smooth.
Swimming in the sea is forbidden during the monsoon season (and we have come here at the end of it) due to the dangerous currents which the extra waters flowing out of rivers cause. A pity, but a stroll down to the beach will definitely be the order of the day before the week is out.
posted by T. Fryer at 12:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home