JAIPUR

amber fort at sunrise ^-^

MANY RANDOM STORIES TO ADD BUT NO TIME RIGHT NOW DeerRRPyy

JAISALMER

I <3 THE DESERT

sleeping under the stars in the middle of nowhere (minus the story about the hotel owner who tried to make a move on me) was freaking amazing

more camping adventures forever!!

seriously, I can't remember the last time I was able to see out to the horizon in every direction... and not only that - to not hear a single car or motorcycle horn honking for the first time since I came to India... the stars were all so clear in the sky and the colours were like a rainbow in the sand... it was just magical :)

PLUS; thanks to the hotel owners who took me around to forts and deserted towns nearby and brought me whiskey bhang campfires and great chinwags :) Bless!!

AND AND AND my amazing albino indian camel driver Pattan <3 who took me to his village the next day after everyone else had abandoned - I had so much fun with his nephew and local children ^-^ "1 photo 1 photo"

I could write more but I am internet-cafe-wi-fi-hogging 8)

JODHPUR

hustley bustley city where all the children ask for pens (signpost that tourists were here!)

PUPPIES!!!!!!!

I spent today volunteering at Animal Aid in Udaipur... ONE MILLION INCOMING PHOTOS ALERT!!!!!!

Boys will be boys.

A series of photos of Dan when he could walk...... and then when he couldn't.

UDAIPUR

Udaipur is just... the best.

The people here actually just want to have a chinwag!

I can't go 5 metres in Lal Ghat without being invited to sit in some guys shop and be served chai.

The atmosphere is just fantastic.

I just have so much to say about this place and have so many stories that I don't know where to begin.

I want to live here forever.

Infinite bhang lassi ride on a cloud through my dreams.

BOMBAY

PUNE

zen o'clock! 

Farewell Jamkhed!

Today was so much fun, and also so incredibly sad. I have met some of the most fun spirited, big hearted, and self-determined people here. Everything has been really hectic these last few days, but now I'm finally settling into bed for my last night here after our farewell party on Shoba's rooftop. Dhanyawad CRHP <3 and onto A D V E N T U R E S !

Jamkhedian Days.

Random other things that my camera has seen over the past few days, as I don't have much time to write things that have been happening - impending assignment deadline at the compound! 8:)

AhmedaRAD!

Hangtimes were had, "I have never" was played, oreos and donuts were served as breakfast, and aspirin the morning after was necessary.

Rama Fruit!

We're back from a weekend away in Aurangabad! It was sooo much fun to have lots of fort-scaling, cave-exploring, rooftop-drinking, thali-eating adventure with everyone :)

Before I get onto dealing with the photos I accumulated, I TRIED SUGAR APPLES FOR THE FIRST TIME

Even though I'd heard lots about custard apples from a friend back in Melbourne town, I'd never gotten my hands on one to try. And... it was... bizarre...? Like eating cake.

I don't think I could eat a whole one but apparently it works great in smoothies and is full of calcium goodness!

FRUCTOSE OVERDRIVE WARNING: STAY AWAY SHARNI COYNE !!

From da w3bs: सीता फळ literally meaning "sita fruit" as the fruit has too many seeds and monkeys don't eat them – monkeys are believed to be friends of Rama, Sita's husband. There is another variety, which is sweeter and bigger than Sitaphal, Annona reticulata (Bullock's heart ) also known as Ramphal, or "rama fruit".

Now... just to find some seeds...

The lady at the store at the end of the road.

Reminds me of the McPoyle sister from Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Day Ten: Slum Glums.

Bless CRHP for the opportunities they give to some of these slum children! The world needs more of this :)

Day Nine: Project Villages and Witch Doctors

Day Eight: Pineapples, Cakes, and Karate.

Day Seven: MARKET DAY!!

SATUR-DAY-OFF!!

So off we went to Jamkhed cattle market. And anybody who knows me, knows how much I love animals... So please hold while I post ten million cow photos :3 :3 :3

Day Six: Reshma.

Today I had the opportunity to visit Reshma with two other students. Reshma is a young lady who suffered extreme burns, and has been at the CRHP hospital for over a year - as her skin is just not healing. I don't want to be a misery tourist, but the burns were absolutely brutal and still weeping after so much time. I will never forget how much visible pain she wore. I'm glad I had the opportunity to spend some time with her, as I didn't want her to be just 'some story' and she was often being referred to just as 'the burns lady'. I wanted to put a face to a name, not only out of respect, but in the hope that visiting might bring some joy to her day. In fact she is incredibly intelligent and has already learnt a lot of English - we were able to spend almost an hour talking and drawing with her, and showing her pictures from home. She wrote our names in Marathi for us too! She also has a great sense of humour :) and showed us a toy kangaroo somebody had given her, that she had named Toni, and got him to do a little dance for us and even put his hands together to greet us with a "Namaste".

I just wanted to mention this, as it really reminded me of the potential within each individual person.

But it was also a strong reminder of the inequality and injustice that still goes on in many parts of India, not merely in cases of brideburning, but pervasive through the entire lives of these women.

Day Five: Republic Day!

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY //// INDIA REPUBLIC DAY!!!!!!

#temporarytattsftw

What am I doing here?

The first week is already over! Well, even though Saturday is still a working day in India - it is the weekend for us Aussies!

But basically, I am in Jamkhed with a bunch of students from med, development and urban planning backgrounds for 3 weeks to learn about Primary Health Care and to witness first-hand how community projects from a grassroots level can effect change over time.

That should be enough info for now to help fill the gaps.
A recent article here.

Day Four: Non-Project Village Visit.

Shiur pre-school.

Day Three: Chikoo Cheering!

Day two

A gecko, a mouse and a mosquito walked into a bar...

And by 'bar'... I mean my current room in I N D I A ! ! ! - Yep, I'M HERE !