The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 23
Another day, another city. Anadrasata's travels continue, and she finds another cultural difference.
This piece runs to 920 words, and I hope that you enjoy it.
Index Page.
Thuwnday, 4 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Jimool, 19 Lamtan, 2157 T.M.L.
Dear Journal,
I think we ascended and descended again several times in the night, but I heard no lightning. (Dear past me, did you expect to? Really?)
When I went to breakfast, everything was laid out and the tables set, but only Mr Taighaign, Mr Saighaitumais, Dr Idhaisailt, and I were present, aside from the stewards. When I remarked on this the steward to whom I made the remark (Ghaimus, a man my brother would describe as a 'splendid chap' if he employed him) told me that Jimool is the Kerajaan day of religious observance, and that most of the passengers were attending the prayer service in the second class lounge. I sat with the three gentlemen while we all breakfasted and made general conversation. Mr dh'Lhais joined us as I was finishing up, and almost embraced the teapot. I think I could hear the other first class passengers returning from their service as I returned to my cabin.
I added my new copy of the Book of Naish and "Meditations on the Healthy Virtues" to my overnight bag for going ashore with.
Once again, Mr Taighaign and I were the last first class passengers off the ship because this time we were once again the only ones going to the hostel. My identity card and my permission letter were checked, and, oddly the Chief Purser was asked to confirm that I was the same passenger who had left Tettamri aboard the Pearlish Queen. I noticed that this was happening with all the other female passengers and none of the men.
My room in the hostel here is almost identical to my room in Sengrangri - white plaster, dark wooden floors, also dark wooden furniture and blind. The decorative carvings on the bed are different, and so is the bed covering. Once again I had ten minutes to tidy myself up before I had to make my way to the dining hall for lunch.
The dining hall too was almost identical to the one in Sengrangri, and Mt Taighaign and I once more shared a table alone. One other table in the first class section was occupied - they were a family ravelling together, parents and six children aged from six to fourteen including, I think, a pair of twins. Mr Taighaign warned me that the lunchtime soup here is the same idea as the one in Sengrangri, but completely different. He was right. Here too, the plan is for the broth to heat and cook the vegetables and poultry/fish pieces, but the broth is yellowish green and opaque while the soup also contains noodles. A lot of noodles. It was also delicious.
After lunch there was an announcement that because it is the Kerajaan day of rest, the normally scheduled tours would not be running today. As the shops are closed, we were asked to limit ourselves to the hostel grounds and the six blocks that are the most direct route between the hostel and the nearest place of Kerajaan worship. I joined the people who went to the front desk to ask questions afterwards, and was able to ascertain that there were several areas of the hostel where I could sit in the shade, enjoy the fresh air, and read a book. I also ascertained that public bath houses do not open on Jimool.
I chose to sit in a gazebo in the garden and read the third sermon in "Meditations on the Healthy Virtues" which was on the thrift versus frugality, and the dangers of excess in either. The Reverend Doctor Ghaighul may have had someone in particular in mind when he wrote that sermon - somehow the examples seemed oddly specific. When I had finished the sermon I went back inside and found a parlor where they were serving tea on in the Kerajaan style and spent my time enjoying it.
There were no changes to the first class section at dinner tonight. It was another meal with an array of dishes served in individual bowls for each diner. There was rice, three types of fish, three types of vegetables, and a thick, brown, spicy sauce covering meat which turned out to be goat. (I had to ask because I couldn't identify it.) All the sauces were spicy, but different from each other, and there was a fruit pickle to go with it as well. The dessert was a red bean jelly and paste, which was interesting because I've never had red bean before and I don't think I would recognise it in a store.
Mr Taighaign has no business meetings tonight so we both repaired to the first class parlor after dinner to read. I would have played cards or one of the board games if he had wished, but I think he was tired from dealing with his business constantly for the last few days. The parents from the other table joined us after half an hour, gratefully taking tea from the stewardess. Mrs Vhestaitair introduced herself to me, and talked happily at length about their children. This is their second night here and their ship, the Akkaman Moonrise, will be leaving tomorrow. I was delighted to hear, although I said nothing, that the nanny watching over the children in their rooms has been with the family for years.
There is a storm bouncing around overhead already tonight, and I am glad to be inside with a sound roof over my head.
Anadrasata Nearabhigan