Zooming Lions

Something always eventful is presented to me during my weeks in India.

As Kings school is now closed for exams, some of the older boys at the hostel wanted get involved and paint a wall. So on Monday morning I helped them with ideas and they started the white base coat.

The hostel walls bloomed Monday afternoon. All of the boys came at once, which as usual here is generally bedlam. But the boys had it under control, there was nothing I could do but let them get on with it, I kept an eye out for the less confident painters, to make sure they always had something to do and paint. As the more confident boys can become abit pushy.

The 'Paint Station' was set up by a lovely helpful boy from the older group. When anyone came over. He shouted loudly at them... “What do you want?!!” He shouted it at me, then realised who I was and apologised. 

 

The 2 pictures grew and grew. New ideas and designs were appearing every minute. They mixed the paints to get the colours they wanted. It was brilliant. And they look brilliant. I think one more week and these 2 walls will be finished.

The boys also served me lunch, which was a mountain of rice and samba. They kept taking my plate away for more samba or chutney, whilst I was mid finger scooping, until an old lady told them to leave me alone.

Tuesday was another very good day. Yoga, lions, laughter, swimming and cinema.

The Lion King workshop with Class 6 at Arni. Mask making is always guaranteed to make any kid happy. The lions masks made us all happy. Some children got it straight away. To keep the mask still whilst glueing. Others would stick on an ear and hold it up “Raaar” the ear would fall off. Then they would attach part of the mane and again hold it up “Raaar” Oooo there goes the mane sliding down the face. But we did it. Everyone made a beautiful lion mask. And they proudly ran around the school scaring everybody and showing off, even the ones soaked wet in glue.

Next they found glitter glue in my bag whilst I was tying the elastic. Before I knew it the whole of class 6 had glitter moustaches. Working on my own here has it's challenges. But when stuff like this happens, I just laugh! How brilliant! No one is a real man here in India without a moustache! 

This is the abstract photos that get taken when i turn my back.

I enjoyed watching the lady on the bus back to Vellore, attempting to eat popcorn whilst falling asleep. She just kept on going. I could give you a great impression.

I went to the cinema to watch Tamil film, Kaatruveliyidal, I thought it was quite spectacular. And before as I was heading to the toilet, all the men shouted “NO maam.” It seemed I was about to enter the men's toilet. We all had to stand for the national anthem before the film started. I could follow the story and enjoy the beauty of the scenery and costume.

Crazy Wednesday! This was the day that woke up all my senses and scared the living daylights out of me.  Samantha decided to join me at my Arni workshop. So I caught the bus to Bagayam to wait for her and we would catch the next bus to Arni together. A strange atmosphere loomed over this part of town. As I waited for her, cattle was trying to escape from a truck, trampling men down, so close by my heart skipped a beat. Men on foot ran over to help deal with the situation. Sam joined me and she mentioned a strange atmosphere straight away. After a lot of chaos, we were on a bus.

Now, I thought about how to describe this to people. Everyone has seen the film 'Speed' Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock on a bus, a film that always seems to be shown on channel 5 or something. This is just what this bus journey was like. The driver was a complete madman. At times it felt like we were spinning round the corners on 2 wheels. I've been in India riding buses for long enough to know that this isn't normal. I thought I was going to die! We decided we needed to get off when possible, we had reached about 22km in about 10minutes. The bus conductors looked confused and I fell on top of a poor man sitting down, knocking himself and me around the head with my umbrella. The story is better with actions by the way! So we then were in the middle of nowhere on the side of the road, like startled deer in the headlights. We didn't make it to Arni that day. We needed to head back to Vellore, be somewhere safe, drinking sweet tea.

To help my recovery Wednesday afternoon, Seb's Team and I started making plans for summer art camp in the tribal villages. It's going to be fun! We'll be taking day trips as well as staying over night. Can't wait!

Eunice and I took balloons, paper and glue down to the learning disability school on Thursday. Paper mache! Yaah!

New on the Southern Indian summer menu, Coolu. (probably spelt completely differently) It was introduced to me as porridge. So I was surprised to taste rice and grains in curd with salt and lots of raw onion. It's cold, definitely a grower, and makes a change to dosas!

Saturday I ended up at The Golden Temple. A few miles out of Vellore. A hugely extravagant, beautifully ridiculous 1 ½ tons of gold on this Temple. Set in acres of glorious gardens. The security is high, no bags, cameras, phones, shoes are not allowed. So I can't even show you how unreal this place is. I flicked a ruppee into the water around the Temple and made a wish.

Sunday morning I felt the blues, so what better to cheer me up than a bunch of old men at the bus stand. I had arrived at the old bus stand in Vellore with plenty of time. I was meeting my friend for lunch. The midday sun blasted down, so I grabbed a sweet tea, then made my way across to the area full of people sitting on the raised ground. I choose my spot and let my legs dangle, very aware that all eyes suddenly were on me. I gave a smile and nod to the men whose territory I had just invaded. Then that was it for the next 20/30minutes. My broken Tamil and their broken English. I managed to ask them whether they sit there from morning to night. Only 7.30am-12.30pm, they told me. They wanted me to come every day and one man brought me tea. I had a great time, and will stop by if I come to this area again. To drink tea together.

People always seem shocked when I tell them of my encounters with people, they tell me to be careful. People have become full of fear and lack any kind of trust, but for me, this is the best part of travelling. I get a good sense of a person straight away, and these elders were alright. And as I said, really I was the one who approached them. Until next time... 

The Bat Tree of Bagayam