More fun with Lungis

Some longtime readers may recall an earlier post I wrote about man-skirts, er, I mean Lungis.

For those who didn't read that post (and who can't be bothered to go read it now), I have become a big fan of the Indian wrap-around cotton garment known as a Lungi.  I don't wear it out of the house, mind you... I just find it incredibly comfortable for sleeping and for puttering around the house on hot days.

While I was in India over the past two weeks, I availed myself of the excellent selection of Lungis and added to my small collection.

They come as a 2 (or 2.5) meter piece of colorful cotton fabric, and you have to take it to a roadside stand where a guy with a foot-treadle-operated sewing machine will stitch the ends together so you end up with a nice neat loop of fabric.

[Cute aside: One morning while I was in India, the hotel maid came to make up my room while I was still there. I answered the door wearing a Lungi and she nearly squealed with delight. She said she'd never seen a foreigner wearing a Lungi before, and that she never understood why everyone in the world didn't adopt this sensible mode of dress. I have a feeling that within seconds of her leaving my room, the entire staff had heard the story.]

When I got home on Friday, the first thing I did (after kissing my wife and kids, of course) was to get into one of my new Lungis.

Later that day, a close friend wandered over to drop off something he'd borrowed, and upon seeing my Lungi, asked "What is that?".  I explained the concept, origin and background.. and he was intrigued.  So much so, that he immediately asked why I hadn't brought him back one.

As you may know, I'm a giver.  So I gave him one of mine... and he immediately stripped down and put it on. 

When I asked him why he hadn't waited until he got home to try  it on, he gave an answer that warmed my heart:  He said, "because my daughter is waiting out in the car, and this is going to embarrass the hell out of her!".

There's a reason we're friends.  :-)