I have now scientifically proven that a cold is nothing more than the body detoxifying. All the ant spray, combined with the general air pollution in Kandy have all invaded my body, which has finally rebelled. I have been fighting one of the worst colds I have ever had. The only thing is to let it run its course, but I finally succumbed to taking some Ayurvedic remedies. One is called paspangu. I had some of this from 25 years ago when I got sick while receiving Ayurvedic treatment at a meditation centre I was running a training course at. It is a mixture of coriander seeds, thorns, tree bark and something that looks like grass of some kind. The whole thing looks like a bird's nest. You boil it up, inhale the steam through your nose and mouth as well as your ears. Then you drink it. Of course, it tastes like boiled elephant poop, but it seems to work. Even the 25 year old stuff still had power.
The other thing is a sort of cough medicine whose principal ingredient is the bark that is in paspangu as well. It is the thing that gives the paspangu its bitter flavour, so in the elixir, it is masked with sugar. It seems to work as well. So after a week, I am almost rid of all the poisons.
Meanwhile, regional elections are scheduled for September 20. There are rallies going on all around me. Because I am at the bottom of a deep river valley, the sound carries like crazy. I might just as well be at the rally myself. Today, the President has come to do some campaigning, so Kandy town will be full of the army as usual.
No going out for me. I am getting cabin fever, but there is too much rain, too many land slips, too many young guys with guns and too much traffic to go out just now. Maybe tomorrow. I need to get out before the election as my friend Jayanthi says that for 2 or 3 days after the elections, the losers will be beating up and maybe even killing the winners' supporters. Great to see "democracy" in action.
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