Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Some Photos While Traveling to Karaikal
The first photo is the school building, the next are the huts the children live in, then photos of the students performing and in classrooms, and the meditation chamber at Auroville.
Kochi and Back to Chennai
After we left the Chinnar Wildlife Reserve, we headed towards Munnar. We drove through the Western Ghats mountains on very curvy narrow lane roads. We reached about 7,000 feet. The mountains are exceptionally beautiful as we drove through tea farms. Tea grows on low shrubs. The very steep mountain slopes were completely covered with them. The women pick the tea with large baskets strapped on their backs, using both hands to pluck the leaves and put them in the basket. These women appear to be exploited as they are housed in very minimal facilities on the tea farms and probably not paid much. Kumaaran said this is an unfortunate part of the tea business.
We stopped briefly in Munnar to buy some tea, cashews and spices. The tea is sold differently here. It is largely in powdered or crystal form and is boiled in water. It tastes very good.
Early that evening we arrived in Ernakulum. We stayed at the Le Royal guest house owned by Jenny, Jose and their staff. They are the most welcoming, friendly people with the most amazing service and meals. Each dinner consisted of four courses: soup, vegetable and meat curries (Kerala style with coconut milk), a main course (usually seafood), and dessert. Barb felt like her stomach was going to split after each meal. Sure was good though. We will really miss staying here!!
We both spent the next day shopping. Larry got some shirts (for cheap so he is happy!). Barb got some Chirudars (tunic and pants that Indian woman wear with a scarf). It is interesting. You pick out the tunic, then go to the pants/scarf counter where they pull out lots of options to match the tunic. We also bought a few examples of local artwork. We walked for about 6 hours, wandering through streets of the city. We had some wonderful pastries and fruit juice drinks (we stopped twice for those). We had different kinds of mixed fruit (not really sure what was in them) and this yummy lime drink.
We met Liat this evening. She just arrived for her first day in India. She is travelling alone for 6 weeks. She is delightful . She is an actress, and her husband creates sets for opera all around the world. We went with her the next day to Fort Cochin to visit the 1500’s Portugese Palace, a synagogue, 2 churches, and the ancient Chinese fishing nets. We bought a few more spices here as well. We went back to Ernakulum and went to a Kathakali performance that evening. What an amazing art. No words are ever spoken. Very intricate face paint and costumes that weigh 60 pounds. They use facial movements, body muscle contractions, dancing, drumming and other music are used to tell stories that are based on everyday life not any religious belief. Each story is based on a particular moral it is trying to highlight. Normally these would start at 6-8 pm and continue until early the next morning at temples.
Today, November 4th, we flew back to Chennai on Kingfisher Airlines. Very nice. Even for a 1 hour 20 minute flight we got a sandwich and drinks. The flight attendant was very nice and asked us lots of questions about the US and Switzerland (which is her dream place to visit because of the snow and mountains.)
We have two more days. Right now, we are having some down time. Barb and Larry have been trading being sick the last few days. First Larry, now it is Barbara’s turn, so we are catching up on some needed sleep.
We stopped briefly in Munnar to buy some tea, cashews and spices. The tea is sold differently here. It is largely in powdered or crystal form and is boiled in water. It tastes very good.
Early that evening we arrived in Ernakulum. We stayed at the Le Royal guest house owned by Jenny, Jose and their staff. They are the most welcoming, friendly people with the most amazing service and meals. Each dinner consisted of four courses: soup, vegetable and meat curries (Kerala style with coconut milk), a main course (usually seafood), and dessert. Barb felt like her stomach was going to split after each meal. Sure was good though. We will really miss staying here!!
We both spent the next day shopping. Larry got some shirts (for cheap so he is happy!). Barb got some Chirudars (tunic and pants that Indian woman wear with a scarf). It is interesting. You pick out the tunic, then go to the pants/scarf counter where they pull out lots of options to match the tunic. We also bought a few examples of local artwork. We walked for about 6 hours, wandering through streets of the city. We had some wonderful pastries and fruit juice drinks (we stopped twice for those). We had different kinds of mixed fruit (not really sure what was in them) and this yummy lime drink.
We met Liat this evening. She just arrived for her first day in India. She is travelling alone for 6 weeks. She is delightful . She is an actress, and her husband creates sets for opera all around the world. We went with her the next day to Fort Cochin to visit the 1500’s Portugese Palace, a synagogue, 2 churches, and the ancient Chinese fishing nets. We bought a few more spices here as well. We went back to Ernakulum and went to a Kathakali performance that evening. What an amazing art. No words are ever spoken. Very intricate face paint and costumes that weigh 60 pounds. They use facial movements, body muscle contractions, dancing, drumming and other music are used to tell stories that are based on everyday life not any religious belief. Each story is based on a particular moral it is trying to highlight. Normally these would start at 6-8 pm and continue until early the next morning at temples.
Today, November 4th, we flew back to Chennai on Kingfisher Airlines. Very nice. Even for a 1 hour 20 minute flight we got a sandwich and drinks. The flight attendant was very nice and asked us lots of questions about the US and Switzerland (which is her dream place to visit because of the snow and mountains.)
We have two more days. Right now, we are having some down time. Barb and Larry have been trading being sick the last few days. First Larry, now it is Barbara’s turn, so we are catching up on some needed sleep.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Chinnar Reserve
No internet for a few days again so we are doing some catch-up at an internet cafe.
Well the photo on the top of our blog turned out to be true. We were very lucky on our overnight trek and saw a group of 10 elephants. 2 male tuskers, 3 small ones, and 5 females. Most likely two groups that came down to the river at the same time at dusk.
We hiked into a cabin with our two guides. They are native tribal people from the area. They spoke a little English and we all used sign language to the best of our ability. They were very kind and helpful. They had an amazing ability to spot animals even in the distance. Mohanan was constantly listening and looking for tracks and signs of animals. The first faint noise by the river and he said elephants and there they were.
He went to check it out first, and then came back to have us come too. We stayed on the other side of the river on a ledge higher up. The guides did not want us to get any closer -- they made a comment about getting legs crushed. We saw them sucking water up in their trunks, drinking it and spraying themselves. With one quick yank, tree branches were ripped off and eaten. At one point the guide moved closer and the elephants shifted to the side quickly surrounding the little ones.
That evening we could hear the elephants as they passed our hut. Sounded like larger trees snapping and brush being trampled with their foot steps. It is a booming sound that you certainly have respect for. Hiking in these forests takes on a whole new meaning when you share the trails with wild elephants.
The next morning we hiked out by the river and saw evidence from a few days earlier of a leopard eating a deer. We saw foot prints too, but not actual leopard sightings.
The monkeys there were very frisky (cheeky as the British and New Zealand travelers called them). One was starting to help himself to Larry's camera when he went to the bathroom but luckily other people grabbed it away.
We have not met another American yet on our travels. German, British, French, Australian, and New Zealand. But many, many times, we have been the only white people in sight. And of course, Larry looks a bit over sized much of the time, but not always. It was a problem finding shirts in some of the small shops for him -- they just don't carry larges and beyond.
Well the photo on the top of our blog turned out to be true. We were very lucky on our overnight trek and saw a group of 10 elephants. 2 male tuskers, 3 small ones, and 5 females. Most likely two groups that came down to the river at the same time at dusk.
We hiked into a cabin with our two guides. They are native tribal people from the area. They spoke a little English and we all used sign language to the best of our ability. They were very kind and helpful. They had an amazing ability to spot animals even in the distance. Mohanan was constantly listening and looking for tracks and signs of animals. The first faint noise by the river and he said elephants and there they were.
He went to check it out first, and then came back to have us come too. We stayed on the other side of the river on a ledge higher up. The guides did not want us to get any closer -- they made a comment about getting legs crushed. We saw them sucking water up in their trunks, drinking it and spraying themselves. With one quick yank, tree branches were ripped off and eaten. At one point the guide moved closer and the elephants shifted to the side quickly surrounding the little ones.
That evening we could hear the elephants as they passed our hut. Sounded like larger trees snapping and brush being trampled with their foot steps. It is a booming sound that you certainly have respect for. Hiking in these forests takes on a whole new meaning when you share the trails with wild elephants.
The next morning we hiked out by the river and saw evidence from a few days earlier of a leopard eating a deer. We saw foot prints too, but not actual leopard sightings.
The monkeys there were very frisky (cheeky as the British and New Zealand travelers called them). One was starting to help himself to Larry's camera when he went to the bathroom but luckily other people grabbed it away.
We have not met another American yet on our travels. German, British, French, Australian, and New Zealand. But many, many times, we have been the only white people in sight. And of course, Larry looks a bit over sized much of the time, but not always. It was a problem finding shirts in some of the small shops for him -- they just don't carry larges and beyond.
More Adventures
We drove to the Western Ghats. They are very beautiful mountains. So amszing with sheer walls of rock but then beautiful tropical vegetation all around -- some even clinging to the rock way up high. We went to Monkey Falls. It is a large waterfall that cascades down to an area where you can stand under smaller falls which flow into 2 smaller ponds where people swim.
Barb stood partly under one of the waterfalls (Larry said to write that he was a chicken and waded in the ponds). It is an experience being fully clothed in a long skirt soaking wet. The Indian women look so graceful. I felt like I could not move my legs at first, but then you get used to it.
We met a group of Masters Degree Engineering students who were very excited to meet us. They are all hoping for jobs in the US some day. They had lots of questions for us and wanted to pose for pictures with us. Photos will be coming later when we have internet for our laptop.
Barb stood partly under one of the waterfalls (Larry said to write that he was a chicken and waded in the ponds). It is an experience being fully clothed in a long skirt soaking wet. The Indian women look so graceful. I felt like I could not move my legs at first, but then you get used to it.
We met a group of Masters Degree Engineering students who were very excited to meet us. They are all hoping for jobs in the US some day. They had lots of questions for us and wanted to pose for pictures with us. Photos will be coming later when we have internet for our laptop.
Orphanage at Podanur
Families for Children is a non-profit run by three women from Canada. Sandra directs the housing, Susan the education and Sarah the health care. The orphanage is quite large and has about 150 high needs special children -- cerebral palsy, club feet never treated, and other serious physical ailments. There are also 300 other children that live there that go off to school each day. Everyone seems content, well taken care of, but the tri-management system means things are not always coordinated. They do have a computer lab that is much older and most of the machines do not work for a wide variety of reasons.
There is a lot of excitement among the teens for us visiting in February. We spent some time talking with them -- showing them on a map where we are from and they really liked practicing their English.
They have two people from Nebraska -- a brother and sister -- John and Katie that have been volunteering there for 2 years and are continuing to do so for another two years. They work with the older teens so they will be a good resource with the computer lab. Luckily, Kumaaran lives close by the orphanage and is very technologically savvy too.
We stayed in the guest house which will work perfect. There is a kitchen, 3 bedrooms with bathrooms and a very large living area. They also have a cnnteen that can cook meals for us. Very yummy food. A new type of omelet -- it is fried into a thin crepe like pancake.
We had a very lovely evening with AGK's sister/Kumaaran's niece, Kumaaran's sister, and their families. They have two girls age 8 and 12, The 12 year old was away at an overnight camp. The 8 year old is adorable and highly accomplished. She has won numerous first prizes for a wide range of things: sports, backwards walking, math, science, reading, and many more. The food was delicious and the hospitality amazing. She packed some chapati for our lunch the next day at the preserve. They also gave us a package of sweets. And Kumaaran's sister and the neices in-laws both gave us oil lamps used by Hindus for good fortune and prayer. They were extremelty kind and generous to Larry and I, We were very well taken care of!!
There is a lot of excitement among the teens for us visiting in February. We spent some time talking with them -- showing them on a map where we are from and they really liked practicing their English.
They have two people from Nebraska -- a brother and sister -- John and Katie that have been volunteering there for 2 years and are continuing to do so for another two years. They work with the older teens so they will be a good resource with the computer lab. Luckily, Kumaaran lives close by the orphanage and is very technologically savvy too.
We stayed in the guest house which will work perfect. There is a kitchen, 3 bedrooms with bathrooms and a very large living area. They also have a cnnteen that can cook meals for us. Very yummy food. A new type of omelet -- it is fried into a thin crepe like pancake.
We had a very lovely evening with AGK's sister/Kumaaran's niece, Kumaaran's sister, and their families. They have two girls age 8 and 12, The 12 year old was away at an overnight camp. The 8 year old is adorable and highly accomplished. She has won numerous first prizes for a wide range of things: sports, backwards walking, math, science, reading, and many more. The food was delicious and the hospitality amazing. She packed some chapati for our lunch the next day at the preserve. They also gave us a package of sweets. And Kumaaran's sister and the neices in-laws both gave us oil lamps used by Hindus for good fortune and prayer. They were extremelty kind and generous to Larry and I, We were very well taken care of!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Traveling to Karaikal
We have not had internet for four days, so are doing some catch-up today. The internet is very slow so pictures will come another day.
AGK’s uncle , Kumaran picked us up on Monday morning at 7 am. We had been up since 3 am since our bodies had not quite adjusted to India time. Kumaaran is very kind, generous, and patient. And lucky for us he is a very skilled driver.
The road from Chennai to Karaikal and then to Podanur is two lanes. The road is shared by trucks, buses, cars, auto rickshaws, motorcycles, ox drawn carts, pedestrians, and of course cows, goats and dogs (and occasionally chickens and pigs). The larger and faster the vehicle means all others yield to them and their warning honking. There is a lot of passing in the middle of the road along with constant honking to warn people that you are there and passing. It takes a lot of skill navigating through all this safely.
Muthu, the Director of the school in Karaikal joined us halfway through the day. We visited a government school and then went to Auroville. Auroville is a community that was formed in 1965. It has people living there from 43 countries. There are no nations and no religions. It is a community formed around hard work, helping others and peace. Yoga and meditation is an integral part of their life. They built a large circular dome to meditate in. There is no artificial light. There is a hole in the top which directs sunlight down to as crystal ball which then reflects off all the walls. They took what was a barren waste land and turned it into an oasis with a purpose. Instead of constant erosion, they have been able to contain monsoon floods and use the water in positive ways to help the entire region.
We also stopped at the Chidabaram temple complex of Nataraja which was erected around 1300. There are four main structures called gopurams honoring Shiva and depicting Hindu mythology. The temple complex is enormous with large areas for social gatherings so families and neighbors could sit and socialize after prayer. We walked down the main corridor to observe the fire ceremony where worshipers light goblets of fire while bells clang. There was another ritual where a statue was cleansed with young coconut milk which is clear liquid. The tops of coconuts are chopped off with a long curving knife in quick motions. It is a very holy place so everyone must enter with no shoes.
The next day, we visited the school in Karaikal. They just opened their new building. Before they were renting space at $2,400 per month. A rotary in West Virginia raised $40,000 for them to build the school on a piece of land next to the village where the children live. There are about 800 families living in the village. They live in huts with thatch roofs, dirt floors, no electricity, running water nor plumbing. A typical monthly salary is 3000 rupees which is about $65 US (48 rupees to $1 US dollar. Most of these families are rickshaw drivers, day laborers, fishermen. The work is very sporadic.
The staff at the school had to go door to door recruiting the children for the school even though it is free. The families did not see the value in going to school. After several visits to some families, staff simply showed up to escort the children to school.
Muthu was a lawyer who left his job to run the school. His wife, Uma, is an Ob-Gyn doctor at a government hospital. They contribute a lot of their income to keep the school running and send their own daughter there too. Uma’s dream to is set-up a health clinic next to the school so they can treat the families and children with good health care as well as education.
They had a big ceremony for us including singing, dancing, drumming, poetry and music. One of the dances the girls performed was done with a large, heavy brass pot on their head. What an amazing sense of balance. The older boys performed a dynamic dance while drumming with drums that are made of cattle hides. There is a string mechanism to adjust the tone of each drum. Other times they are glued and fired to get the proper tone. Each drummer uses drums that are in a range of tones.
The most noticeable thing about the school is how happy and excited the children are to be there and learn. You can feel all the energy and love they get at school.
The school uses the writings and beliefs of Thirukkural who wrote a treatise on Social Life which is considered the lighthouse guiding the ships of virtue, wealth and love. It is not based on any religion instead it uses a practical, analytical, scientific and worldly outlook to mould virtues of aesthetics, kindness, hospitality, sociability, service, etc centered on family life. They gave us a copy of the book translated to English with an inscription from Uma that says, “When love and skill work together, expect a miracle.” They are quite remarkable people.
Muthu and Uma graciously hosted us in their home for breakfast and lunch. Meals are served on plantain leaves and eaten with your hands. You use our fingers shaped in a scoop so it is similar to a spoon. What delicious food. Breakfast had rava upma (a soft rice mixture with nuts),idly ( rice that is steamed and baked in patties like little flying saucers), and dosas (similar to a crepe only crispier). All of these are dipped into coconut or cilantro chutney or sambar. On one edge was set a variety of fruits – grapes, plantains, pomegranate seeds (different, smaller yellow fruit with more translucent and sweeter seeds), and a fruit I forgot the name. Looks similar to a pear but is very different. Lunch was rice with seafood curries – fish and crab, chutneys and sambar. It was all so incredibly good.
That evening we went to the beach in Karaikal and walked around there. It is a very large beach where families gather, but swimming is not allowed. There are treacherous currents. Then we went to the temple that honors Saturn. It has a large tank outside which used to capture monsoon rains and worshippers would wash their legs before entering the temple. This temple was brightly colored. The temples are all remarkable in so many ways: architecture, artistry including intricate stone carvings, communal gathering spots, and sacred and holy places. The scope and size are massive especially considering when they were built over one thousand years ago. Sand and dirt ramps were built to reach the great heights and it took 25 years to complete one.
AGK’s uncle , Kumaran picked us up on Monday morning at 7 am. We had been up since 3 am since our bodies had not quite adjusted to India time. Kumaaran is very kind, generous, and patient. And lucky for us he is a very skilled driver.
The road from Chennai to Karaikal and then to Podanur is two lanes. The road is shared by trucks, buses, cars, auto rickshaws, motorcycles, ox drawn carts, pedestrians, and of course cows, goats and dogs (and occasionally chickens and pigs). The larger and faster the vehicle means all others yield to them and their warning honking. There is a lot of passing in the middle of the road along with constant honking to warn people that you are there and passing. It takes a lot of skill navigating through all this safely.
Muthu, the Director of the school in Karaikal joined us halfway through the day. We visited a government school and then went to Auroville. Auroville is a community that was formed in 1965. It has people living there from 43 countries. There are no nations and no religions. It is a community formed around hard work, helping others and peace. Yoga and meditation is an integral part of their life. They built a large circular dome to meditate in. There is no artificial light. There is a hole in the top which directs sunlight down to as crystal ball which then reflects off all the walls. They took what was a barren waste land and turned it into an oasis with a purpose. Instead of constant erosion, they have been able to contain monsoon floods and use the water in positive ways to help the entire region.
We also stopped at the Chidabaram temple complex of Nataraja which was erected around 1300. There are four main structures called gopurams honoring Shiva and depicting Hindu mythology. The temple complex is enormous with large areas for social gatherings so families and neighbors could sit and socialize after prayer. We walked down the main corridor to observe the fire ceremony where worshipers light goblets of fire while bells clang. There was another ritual where a statue was cleansed with young coconut milk which is clear liquid. The tops of coconuts are chopped off with a long curving knife in quick motions. It is a very holy place so everyone must enter with no shoes.
The next day, we visited the school in Karaikal. They just opened their new building. Before they were renting space at $2,400 per month. A rotary in West Virginia raised $40,000 for them to build the school on a piece of land next to the village where the children live. There are about 800 families living in the village. They live in huts with thatch roofs, dirt floors, no electricity, running water nor plumbing. A typical monthly salary is 3000 rupees which is about $65 US (48 rupees to $1 US dollar. Most of these families are rickshaw drivers, day laborers, fishermen. The work is very sporadic.
The staff at the school had to go door to door recruiting the children for the school even though it is free. The families did not see the value in going to school. After several visits to some families, staff simply showed up to escort the children to school.
Muthu was a lawyer who left his job to run the school. His wife, Uma, is an Ob-Gyn doctor at a government hospital. They contribute a lot of their income to keep the school running and send their own daughter there too. Uma’s dream to is set-up a health clinic next to the school so they can treat the families and children with good health care as well as education.
They had a big ceremony for us including singing, dancing, drumming, poetry and music. One of the dances the girls performed was done with a large, heavy brass pot on their head. What an amazing sense of balance. The older boys performed a dynamic dance while drumming with drums that are made of cattle hides. There is a string mechanism to adjust the tone of each drum. Other times they are glued and fired to get the proper tone. Each drummer uses drums that are in a range of tones.
The most noticeable thing about the school is how happy and excited the children are to be there and learn. You can feel all the energy and love they get at school.
The school uses the writings and beliefs of Thirukkural who wrote a treatise on Social Life which is considered the lighthouse guiding the ships of virtue, wealth and love. It is not based on any religion instead it uses a practical, analytical, scientific and worldly outlook to mould virtues of aesthetics, kindness, hospitality, sociability, service, etc centered on family life. They gave us a copy of the book translated to English with an inscription from Uma that says, “When love and skill work together, expect a miracle.” They are quite remarkable people.
Muthu and Uma graciously hosted us in their home for breakfast and lunch. Meals are served on plantain leaves and eaten with your hands. You use our fingers shaped in a scoop so it is similar to a spoon. What delicious food. Breakfast had rava upma (a soft rice mixture with nuts),idly ( rice that is steamed and baked in patties like little flying saucers), and dosas (similar to a crepe only crispier). All of these are dipped into coconut or cilantro chutney or sambar. On one edge was set a variety of fruits – grapes, plantains, pomegranate seeds (different, smaller yellow fruit with more translucent and sweeter seeds), and a fruit I forgot the name. Looks similar to a pear but is very different. Lunch was rice with seafood curries – fish and crab, chutneys and sambar. It was all so incredibly good.
That evening we went to the beach in Karaikal and walked around there. It is a very large beach where families gather, but swimming is not allowed. There are treacherous currents. Then we went to the temple that honors Saturn. It has a large tank outside which used to capture monsoon rains and worshippers would wash their legs before entering the temple. This temple was brightly colored. The temples are all remarkable in so many ways: architecture, artistry including intricate stone carvings, communal gathering spots, and sacred and holy places. The scope and size are massive especially considering when they were built over one thousand years ago. Sand and dirt ramps were built to reach the great heights and it took 25 years to complete one.
Traveling to Podanur
By the time we post this, we will have reached the orphanage in Podanur driving west from Karaikal. On our way, we stopped at the World Heritage Brihadishwara Temple which was built in 1010 where Krishna is the most depicted deity. This temple has a tall 13 story tower or vimana. There is also an enormous bull carved from a sacred stone. This temple complex is built of red sandstone so it has a warm earthly glow in the morning and afternoon light. It is remarkably beautiful and peaceful. This temple had an elephant guardian protecting it.
We spent the night in Trichy, then visited the Rock Fort Temple and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Both are incredible in their own way. The Rock Fort Temple is perched on a massive rocky outcrop that is 80 meters high and is visible from miles around. At the top there is a temple is dedicated to Ganesh (elephant God). There are 437 stone cut steps that you climb to reach the top. Ranganathaswamy Temple is a series of many temples that are 1,000 years old. There are 7 concentric walled sections and 21 gopurams. It is considered the largest temple complex in India. We climbed to a vantage point where you can see the gold domed sanctum and all the goparums.
Lastly we stopped at the Dam where the Cauvery river rejoins. It was built in 500 AD. There were many herons fishing here and fighting to keep their fishing territory to themselves. There is also a portion of the dam that is directed to a bathing tank. There were many families having fun playing in the tank. The kept motioning for us to join them. We did not go in, but we did take their pictures, showed them the photos, and shook many hands.
All of the people we have met have been very kind, patient and generous. We have truly enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories. Everyone, but particularly the children and college students want to talk to us in English and shake our hands. They have huge smiles on their faces. A college girl gave me a flower today and another offered me her ice cream.
The poverty is hard to see, and progress is needed in some areas. Karaikal still has sewers that drain into open trenches in front of every house. Kitchen sink and bath water helps flush it away. Trash is everywhere too. People told us that the government trash service is ineffective and people trying to get food and what their family needs each day make it is a low priority. Cows, goats, and pigs seem to eliminate the food waste by eating it.
This school and area is a very worthwhile of a TSC trip with so much potential to change children’s lives. I feel confident that it is a well run school with both AGK and Kumaraan’s help on a regular basis too.
We spent the night in Trichy, then visited the Rock Fort Temple and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Both are incredible in their own way. The Rock Fort Temple is perched on a massive rocky outcrop that is 80 meters high and is visible from miles around. At the top there is a temple is dedicated to Ganesh (elephant God). There are 437 stone cut steps that you climb to reach the top. Ranganathaswamy Temple is a series of many temples that are 1,000 years old. There are 7 concentric walled sections and 21 gopurams. It is considered the largest temple complex in India. We climbed to a vantage point where you can see the gold domed sanctum and all the goparums.
Lastly we stopped at the Dam where the Cauvery river rejoins. It was built in 500 AD. There were many herons fishing here and fighting to keep their fishing territory to themselves. There is also a portion of the dam that is directed to a bathing tank. There were many families having fun playing in the tank. The kept motioning for us to join them. We did not go in, but we did take their pictures, showed them the photos, and shook many hands.
All of the people we have met have been very kind, patient and generous. We have truly enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories. Everyone, but particularly the children and college students want to talk to us in English and shake our hands. They have huge smiles on their faces. A college girl gave me a flower today and another offered me her ice cream.
The poverty is hard to see, and progress is needed in some areas. Karaikal still has sewers that drain into open trenches in front of every house. Kitchen sink and bath water helps flush it away. Trash is everywhere too. People told us that the government trash service is ineffective and people trying to get food and what their family needs each day make it is a low priority. Cows, goats, and pigs seem to eliminate the food waste by eating it.
This school and area is a very worthwhile of a TSC trip with so much potential to change children’s lives. I feel confident that it is a well run school with both AGK and Kumaraan’s help on a regular basis too.
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