Bea goes to India 2006

A place to house periodic comments from Bea while she backpacks her way through India and Nepal.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Lordipanditchi village

Today was our first day on the project sight. after a long hot bike ride, we were greeted by the ENTIRE village, and perhaps some neighbors -- certainly the royal welcome... had school students lined up on the road saying in call & response "you are" and "welcome" -- they were curious and friendly. We were dotted, fed, given a string on the wrist, shown the local reservoir [one of the few villages with a stable water supply] -- then taken by camel and camel-cart into the village proper.
The elders met under a tent and prepared opium for us... it was offered and our polite response was to dip our right-hand ring finger into the palm and touch our forehead. The elders consumed the water and snacks with us, then some speeches, then a tour of the school.

and then a ride back in mid-day head uphill, with a headwind... I was truly wrecked, and ended up putting my bike in the jeep for 1/2 the trip home... 2 hours later and filthy, we were back at our guest house.

I think we will split the week and not bike every day. because it is so hot, we worry that we arrive unable to actually work. to that end, need to pop back to our evening work meeting.

power is often off in the afternoons here, so it may be difficult to continue -- perhaps the weekend.

:) b