Yoyo,
after I've been facebooking/skyping/emailing with some of you I thought it might be time for some pictures from my India trip. During the last month I travelled from Visakhapatnam to Konark, Puri, Kolkatta, Darjeeling and Varanasi (where I'm at the moment). Here are just some impressions, too much is happening and everyday is full of stories and those moments that make travelling so worth while.
This is Anna. She was volunteering with Balamitra during the last year and is a cool girl. She managed to dress mostly in Indian clothes for the past year, something we did not achieve when we were here!
As I told some of you the school grew massively. Most of the children in this picture are new. It took them some time to get used to us, but after a while they were as active and open with us as the old children.
A couple of nights before we left we had a little function, the children singing songs, playing drums and dancing. It was one of those beautiful nights that take your heart. Coming back for 2 weeks made me feel like I never left Vizag...
O.k. and off we go on our journey. Fabian, Ina and me enjoying the 'sex-o-yogic' art of the sun temple in Konark. A quote from our guide is enough to describe the situation: 'This is an optimistic couple, one man, two wives".
The Gang on the bus to Puri where we spent a day at the beach before taking the train to Kolkatta.
Sudder St. Kolkatta. Taken in the heart of the tourist ghetto and still you have some of these pictures that are just wonderful, don't you think? Oh and what's special about it: I haven't seen much street art in India - and this piece actually looks quite good...
A drum-maker in Kolkatta. Even though it was after sunset it was still blazing hot, hence he works without a shirt on. I was sitting there for five minutes, watching his work, how concentrated he moved his knife and hammer to tighten the leather.
At the street barber in Kolkatta. Unfortunately I had just shaved so I could not take part in this session. But (!) I promise after writing these posts I will go to the barber next door which looks at least as good as these fellows.
Peter with hat in Darjeeling. Yes, it was cold. Bloody cold. I wore Jeans, raincoat, shawl and hat. And actually I miss it a bit ...
One of the few but stunning moments of fine weather in Darjeeling. Even though we could not see Mount Everest on the horizon (as one apparently can if one does not happen to be surrounded by rainclouds) we had great views sometimes.
Sunset in Varanasi, taken before going for dinner just now.
This is Anna. She was volunteering with Balamitra during the last year and is a cool girl. She managed to dress mostly in Indian clothes for the past year, something we did not achieve when we were here!
As I told some of you the school grew massively. Most of the children in this picture are new. It took them some time to get used to us, but after a while they were as active and open with us as the old children.
A couple of nights before we left we had a little function, the children singing songs, playing drums and dancing. It was one of those beautiful nights that take your heart. Coming back for 2 weeks made me feel like I never left Vizag...
O.k. and off we go on our journey. Fabian, Ina and me enjoying the 'sex-o-yogic' art of the sun temple in Konark. A quote from our guide is enough to describe the situation: 'This is an optimistic couple, one man, two wives".
The Gang on the bus to Puri where we spent a day at the beach before taking the train to Kolkatta.
Sudder St. Kolkatta. Taken in the heart of the tourist ghetto and still you have some of these pictures that are just wonderful, don't you think? Oh and what's special about it: I haven't seen much street art in India - and this piece actually looks quite good...
A drum-maker in Kolkatta. Even though it was after sunset it was still blazing hot, hence he works without a shirt on. I was sitting there for five minutes, watching his work, how concentrated he moved his knife and hammer to tighten the leather.
At the street barber in Kolkatta. Unfortunately I had just shaved so I could not take part in this session. But (!) I promise after writing these posts I will go to the barber next door which looks at least as good as these fellows.
und hier der Link dazu
Dieser Mann schiesst mit kleinen Steinen auf Voegel, die dann gekocht werden. Selbst wunderschoene Papageien landen im Topf. Ich hab sogar mal 'bird curry' probiert, der Vogel war aber so klein (und wurde zudem zwischen allen Kindern UND uns volunteers aufgeteilt) dass ich kaum etwas abbekommen habe und deshalb keine genaue Vorstellung vom Geschmack habe.
Gruen ist es in den Bergen, so gruen, dass koennt ihr euch nicht vorstellen. Hier ein paar Frauen bei der Reisernte. Alles wird per Hand gemacht.
Ein riesen Mangobaum, umgeben von Reisfeldern.
Jackfruit, die abgefahrenste Frucht die es gibt. Wird riesengross und schwer (die hier locker jeweils 5 kg, es gibt aber auch VIEL groessere!) hat kleine Stacheln aussen, die weich werden wenn die Frucht reif ist und schmeckt sehr suess, etwas nach Kaugummi...
Gruen, gruen, gruen. Reisfelder soweit das Auge reicht.
Ajrun aus der 2. Klasse ist erstmal diesen riesen 'Kirschbaum' (nicht ganz, die Fruechte sind etwas unfoermiger und mehliger als die Kirschen die ich kenne) hochgeklettert. Unglaublich diese Kinder!
Gute Nacht Kilaguda!
Kurz vor der Landung. Die meissten Inseln der Andamanen sind unbewohnt, wie auch diese hier.
Im Hafen von Port Blair, der Hauptstadt der Inselgruppe.
Havelock Island, also wenn hier kein Piratenschatz liegt weiss ich auch nicht mehr!
Unser Strand auf Havelock bei Ebbe. Etwa 30 Meter von der kleinen Bambushuette entfernt in der Fabian und ich residiert haben.
Der gute alte Fabian.
Ein 'monitor lizzard' haengt gemuetlich am Baum.
Little Andaman, wo wir eine Woche unter freiem Himmel (bzw. Plastikplane und Moskitonetz) gecampt haben.
Eine kleine Lagune auf Little Andaman. Das Wasser hatte gute Badetemperatur und war ziemlich ruhig, eine natuerliche Badewanne.
