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 The
bus was medium sized and (as I have come to understand is
commonplace) had too few seats for the number of passengers.
But never mind. We stooped for breakfast at a disused railway
station at Devanalli and sat watching people passing time
under a Banyon tree. The atmosphere of our party was light
and giddy and the excitement was building already.
We arrived at the national park and walked amongst the green
beauty and clean air that contrasted with life in the City.
The women laughed and ran and chattered with excitement. Stray
dogs and monkeys were everywhere. The monkeys created most
agitation as they menacingly eyed up bags and bottles which
they swoop down and steal when you least expect it! We came
upon a playground which the women rushed to enjoy. Swings,
roundabouts and slides became fully occupied and screaming
with glee was common place.
When all had run off some excess energy, team building games
began - all including the shiest were expected to play. We
started with charades - guessing what each other mimed. Someone
mimed a bicyclist, another a person pumping water, another
the dog who had featured in the shadow puppet play a few days
ago. It had got near to the end and Sandra, Sandie and I got
up to mime our offering - an impersonation of a bollywood
trio dancing - we need some practice but the women laughed
and enjoyed our attempt. Next we played tug of war - first
with 3 dhotis (the scarves worn with salwar chemise) tied
together and then hand to hand combat with teammates holding
on to your waist. I seemed to get the role of hand to hand
combat which despite the slight frame of many of the women,
resulted in me being lifted off the ground by the force of
both sides pulling, and a near arm ripping off as the other
side was not for giving in easily.
Finally we ended with another game which nicely mocked power.
Chitra playing the queen who demands that her people bring
her items and doesn't mind if they steal them from the other
side so long as they get them and give them to her through
their 'leader' - the only one she'll talk to. So after much
fun (and a few incidents with monkeys stealing hand bags straight
out of the hands of some of our women) we made our way to
the bull who grants wishes if you whisper in his ear and then
tie a stone to the tree in front of him. Uhm. I think I've
heard that one before!
We then made our way to the Hindu temple. With a long bus
ride back and our night train to catch we set off at 3 and
stopped for lunch and a thank you exercise and celebration.
The UK end of the party had made up a present for everyone
in the UK and these were 'won' by each worker and taken with
dignity and pleasure as a token of the thanks everyone wanted
to offer to those who work so hard at CUF.
So the end of our time in Bangalore for now. Off to see some
rural projects and see challenges which I understand are greater
due to poverty and disconnection. But before we get to the
next adventure there's the night train to enjoy so it’s
good night from me. Pictures will be sold at some stage! X
Day Seven
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