I’m a Viking!

My beard is getting long and Jenneli was kind enough to turn me into a Viking for the day!

Not all wells are the same.

Today (August 6, 2007) we focused on BSP. We were happy to see that the bore wells were dug and we quickly got to work putting the wells together. The first went smoothly and we finished it to start on the repair work. That went smoothly too until we discovered that even though the old pump and the new pump looked almost identical there were some features that the new pump had that the old hand pump lacked. One was the ability to easily remove the shaft from the pump. After an hour of trying different ideas and completely removed the old pump to have a better look at it we decided to just put in an entire replacement. Sadly we should have taken a moment to check the pipe lengths as we got it nearly assembled when we figured out our pipes were far too long to make it work. So after another hour we managed to free the old pump from the casing and but the new top on. Phew! The 2nd new pump was installed without a hitch and we scurried back to Ongole to pick up bottles for testing water quality tomorrow.

Friendship day

August 5 is friendship day and it was marked by both of us tossing our grand plans of productivity to enjoy our friends. Portraju took me out to his home town (village) and I had some incredible mutton curry. I believe it was cooked over a spit and the flavors were amazing. Also almost as amazing was our trip to the village, we had a small motor bike and with some effort we fit 4 people on it! I’ve gotten to ride on a motor bike a few times in India and though it’s a little scary it is marvelous to be able to see the country side and feel the air through my hair. It reminds me why I like my Miata so much!

Jenneli had a visit from Bindu and some girls from across the street. They spend a lot of time looking at pictures and exploring our home. We are messy as most of you know and they probably think that all Americans live so crazily. We are extra messy right now as we have stuff strewn about as we try to figure out what goes and what stays and how on earth we can fit everything into our backpacks. One of our tasks is to find a suitcase or at least something that will help get all our stuff home!

So What’s left?

It was sad to see Bryan, Ann Marie and Christian leave, though we were happy that they all had decided to see the Taj Mahal before they had to leave India for good. We think our pictures might have convinced them it was the thing to do. ;) As much as we tried to get it all done before they left we still have lots to do before we leave Ongole on the 14th, and as I discovered getting the tickets today, we need to leave a day earlier that we planned. The rain has also slowed down our work over the past couple weeks with a couple days lost to massive downpours. I should also add that the weather in Ongole cooled down dramatically after Jenneli and I arrived, which puts us in much better spirits as hellish heat isn’t conducive to getting anything done.

So what’s left to do?

JP – Check that the bases for the 2 pumps are completed, test the water quality and explain solar disinfection

BSP – Install 2 new hand pumps, Repair 1 hand pump, Create bases for the 2 new pumps, test the water quality and explain solar disinfection

SRPP – Fix the bio-sand filter, get bases made for the dalite wells

VP – Ensure 8 bore wells are dug, install 8 hand pumps, repair one old hand pump, test the water quality and explain solar disinfection


Here are some pictures of us all installing pumps:

DragonCon

As it turns out Ann Marie, Christian, Jenneli and I all got along marvelously. Christian had an easy time of it though because he brought all kinds of edible delights from the far west including Pasta, Macaroni and Cheese, Kool Aid, brownies, and tortilla chips. After that he could have been a monster and we still would have welcomed him with open arms. We spend the remaining week that we had together chatting, eating and finishing the wells in the remaining villages. As it turns out they have been to a sci-fi fantasy convention called DragonCon. Jenneli and I both would like to go sometime and as it’s in Atlanta where Ann Marie and Christian live as well as another friend I have we made future plans for maybe next year if Australia doesn’t work out.

The troublesome Bio Sand Filter

Bryan had made a great bio sand filter that would be used to show kids in SRP how a bio sand filter works and hopefully provide some clean water. Unfortunately in the move to it’s home in SRP it was broken. Ann Marie, Christian, Bryan and I went out to fix the small problem and install some hand pumps as well on the 31st of July. Basically the pipe needed to be reattached to the base of the tank. We had a plethora of glues and binding cement and Bryan set to work. After 15 minutes the Goo he used seemed to be basically set and we poored water in. Everything worked great except a leaked developed. We added more goo and bonding cement but to no avail. We made the decision to empty it out and glue it from both sides.

After emptying ir Bryan applied copious amounts of glue, and plummer’s cement. We waited another hour to let it dry. While it dried we started sorting through the sand to pull out the gravel. The bio sand filter has a layer of rocks at the bottom and when we poured it out they all got mixed together. After a few hours we had it all back together and started adding water. It hurt when we realized that too much sand had leaked to the bottom and clogged the hole. Sadly we would have to take it all apart again.

Jenneli and I tackled the troublesome biosand filter yesterday the 5th of August. This time the children were fully committed to help finish the job and we had to watch what we did as it would be multiplied by 20 little hands. It made quick work of the task but it still took 3 hours. We took the extra precaution of rinsing all the sand with water and creating another interim layer of gravel to help keep the sand out. We looked on with satisfaction at seeing it pouring water out the spigot without any drips at the bottom. Hopefully when we come back in a few more days the bio layer will have been created and it will be doing a decent job of cleaning water so it is fit to drink. The kids will have to pour a little water in the top each day to help develop the layer. Jenneli and I wanted to get more done that day but we left satisfied with what we had accomplished.

What’s up in Ongole?

We got back into town to find the front door locked and no amount of ringing the doorbell seemed to awaken Bryan who we knew should be in the apartment. Ann Marie had left the day before to pick up her boyfriend, Christian, who had flown in from Atlanta, in Hyderabad. Of course it was 6am so we figured he was still sleeping. Our yelling had woken up the neighbors and landlord but not Bryan. Finally I took a deep breath and yelled as loud as I could and luckily Bryan heard it that time. He came down, looking in not the best shape and explained that he was sick with what seemed to be Delhi belly. We were happen to be back inside to get some more sleep but sad that Bryan wasn’t feeling good.

Around 10am that morning, which would be Wednesday the 25th, we all got together for some quality catching up. We showed some of the 2000 pictures we had taken and Bryan filled us in on the projects! As it turns out the wash stations are on hold but 19 wells need to be implemented in 4 different communities. Bryan also built implemented a well pump and was hoping to finish implementation of a bio sand filter. Bryan would be leaving in a week on the 31st and Ann Marie and Christian would be leaving a few days later on the 4th. We would be working to get as much completed as possible and then Jenneli and I would take care of the rest and leave on the 15th.

Back to Byriani

After a few days in Aurungabad on Tuesday (July 24th) we took a night train and headed back to Ongole. We spent Wednesday day in Hyderabad visiting the Charminar as well as some sari shopping for Jenneli. That evening we got on another night train to Ongole. As the title suggests I had the south Indian, Adhera Predesh, byriani that I like so much, both on the train to, at and from Hyderabad.


It’s bitter sweet to be back in Ongole. We are looking forward to finding out our plans for the next month before we return to California or Australia but we are going to miss seeing and experiencing a new part of India every couple days. We’ve met some really wonderful people on our journey that have helped us figure out the trains and how to do what we’d like to do. I’m going to miss those wonderful conversations with people on the trains and in café’s. With luck Jenneli and I will be able to spend a couple more weeks and visit the north of India but it’ll depend on what we need to do to complete the EWB projects that are still left in Ongole.

Ellora and Ajunta

After Goa we took off on a night train to Aarungabad which would be our base camp for exploring the cave temples of Ellora and Ajunta. We initially were going to try to do it on the cheap via the bus but Ajunta ended up being closed on Mondays and for $30 we could get a car and driver to show us both with far less hassle.




Ellora ended up being the more interesting of the two though less scenic than Ajunta. The Ellora caves were more of an exploration as there were few of the boundaries present at Ajunta. Both caves filled us with wonder at the dedication the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrims that had carved out of solid rock the temples that 1700 years later we could still marvel at. Bats were also plentiful and I’ve rarely, if ever, gotten to see so many so close. I’ll admit I jumped a couple times when one would drop of it’s perch to find another, more suitable, location.













We also got to tour a fort outside of Aarungabad that a very paranoid ruler must have built. It had huge walls, moats, traps, stairs, tons of stairs, and cannons all running up the sides of mountain. The guidebook said it had only been breached once and that was went the guards were bribed! We also wanted to know how they managed to haul several many toned cannons to the top!

“You have to go to Goa” or “OH MY! A girl in a swimsuit!”

Since we arrived in India we’ve heard from just about everyone that, if you are going to vacation in India, one stop is probably going to be Goa. As it happens after Hampi we made our way to Goa. It is rumored to be much more western in its style of vacation offerings with western bars and even women in swimsuits at the beach! We ended up not being in the most popular part of Goa, we chose a location a little to the south that the guidebook mentioned might be more interesting. Though beautiful it didn’t offer that much.


Indian males that have never seen a woman in a swimsuit, much less one in a bikini tend to gawk to the point of annoyance at any females showing the slightest bit of skin. Jenneli and I opted not to go swimming as a result. This is unfortunate because both of us have lugged swimsuits everywhere. You may be wondering ‘well if women don’t swim in a swimsuit what do they swim in?’ The answer is they swim in a full sari or punjabs, that’s right, their regular clothes. As you can imagine not many women or girls tend to go swimming. At the stretch of beach we were at there were probably 100 people. 90 males in various states of undress, swimming or playing on the beach, 6 females walking or dipping their feet in the ocean and 4 foreigners, two girls that seemed to be from the UK and us. They had on swimsuits but had sarong wrapped around themselves. Even still almost every male on the beach took a moment out of what they were doing to walked past the two girls. A few asked if they could take a picture and a few would pause after walking past to turn and gawk a little more. It took a little fun out of Goa.

On the brighter side the restaurants catered to tourists and the menus were full with English breakfasts, pasta, french fries and a good selection of drinks. We knew we wouldn’t be able to eat ‘western’ food in the coming weeks so we full advantage. Jenneli indulged in her favorite breakfast of porridge!

We also took a guided nature walk and got to see a family of wild peacocks! I also found out that Jain’s would keep peacocks as pets. I mentioned to our guide that my uncle Sid and his wife Judy have a farm and used to (and may still) have peacocks. He quipped “they were probably Jain’s in a previous life”. The guide brought along his son and it was fun to have them both proudly show us all the wildlife that the small area around the town had to offer. My favorite by far was the touch-me-nots. I had never gotten to play with them before and was truly mesmerized at the ability of the plant to move so quickly. For those that haven’t had the delight they are a small fern that when you touch the small leaves they close up and droop down in moments before your eyes. It’s the fastest I’ve ever seen a plant move.

New Photos on Webshots

Well, now that we are back in Ongole with a stable internet connection I have begun posting some more of our photos. The latest albums are:

Ongole (June)
Chennai
Pondy
Kanyukumari
Trivandrum
Kumily/Perriyar
Munnar

The site is http://community.webshots.com/user/jennelim?vhost=community or click on the title of this post or the link on the right.

I am still working on getting more albums up as soon as possible.