The Audacity of Travel

Friday - After breakfast, we said goodbye to Sherrie. We then went to visit the textile factory on site, but the main person in charge, Basha wasnt there, so we went to the school. We got a quick tour around the school ranging from kindergarten (split into lower and upper) and up to grade 5. We met some of the teachers that we will be engaging with over the course of the placement. We then went into town in a jeep with Manil and Ronny and a driver, Shammy. Manil got me a simcard and we then went shopping at the local store. When we came back, we had a brief chat under a tree near one of the water tanks on site. A water tank is similar to a pond but used in a eco-friendly water storage capacity. Debbie and I then shot at some monkeys which have attacked and killed some of the dogs, as well as being a general nusience. Tonight was when i truly embraced the new lifestyle of cleanliness, not only bucket showering but using a more... traditional method of toilet sanitary. ...

Thursday - Today is the day we are shipped off to our placements, with Debbie and I engaging placement at SEDS, near Penukonda. Sherrie stayed the night, but will be heading to Timbaktu tomorrow for her placement. We're Off to See the Wizards, The Magical Wizards of SEDS It's Getting Closer I cemented the idea in my head off a quote "everybody is happy in a drought" as the notion that the government steps in during these times of need, ensuring organisations are getting funding, people are being fed and provided enough money to survive. Road Side Herders Greeted by an Oriental Garden Lizard Greetings - Stolen from the SEDS Facebook We arrived in the afternoon, and spent most of the afternoon taking care of beurucratic issues of our placement, We Managed to fit in a quick tour of SEDS, with Ronny as our guide. Once night arrived, we were able to engage in more interesting conversation and getting to know Manil, Rajen and Ronny - the people w...

Wednesday - We woke up early and set off to Bannerghatta National Park, where we went on a 'safari' of the national park. However, the safari was more of a driving through large open enclosures with animals. We saw Elephants, Lions, Tigers - orange and white, all manners of deers and sloth bears. We then went through the national park zoo, but unfortunately it was in a sadder state of affair than the national park. Our Friendly Buddha of the House Water Buffalo Nilgai's or Blue Bull's Friendly Crocodilian  Dumbo Where's Leo House Cat Sloth Bear - My Prediction of the New Favourite Spirit Animal for People from the West Mantle Piece Rex - As Shot You Can't See Me So Pretty Construction of the Zoo Dead or Alive - The Zoo Chronicles Planet of the Fauna Zoo Park We then returned home, and met Augustine and Dominic. Dominic, formerly Augustine's teacher was a very interesting man to talk to wi...

Tuesday - I made jackfruit pancakes with a little banana in the mix too. Although the batter  cooked through with a softer middle, it was still delicious. I think with some lime or honey/maple syrup it might be even more delicious. Jack-Cakes Mix The Start of a Long Road of Trying New Things Augustine arrived and we discussed India again, focusing on NGO's and more of India's past. Then Augustine and I went for a walk to the local fruit store to purchase some fruit, including jack fruit, guava and coconuts. While coconuts is nothing too out of the normal for Australia, when Augustine cracked open the coconut, he did with such might that it exploded everywhere, including all over him. It didn't make the coconut any less delicious though. Our Local Fruit Store Store Counter After lunch at Udupas, Debbie, Sherrie and I went for a walk and then caught a tuk tuk to Ulsoor Lake. Holy Cow Ulsoor Lake is a quite a big lake in the middle of Bangalore, quite ...