Another album, Hampi and Kerala...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3793717&l=cdc3856394&id=273100314
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Last weekend in Bangalore...
So the time has finally come to leave India, a prospect I have mixed feelings about. I'm so sad to end the amazing experience this has been and leave the children I have quickly grown to love at the orphanage, plus leave a country that has challenged me in so many ways. At the same time home means seeing family and friends who I have missed and who have supported me the whole time I've been here, plus Heather's wedding a week from today!!
Last weekend I had a day in Bangalore on Sat - seeing the Iskcon Temple - a massive modern Hare Krishna temple which was great to see and very intense, The Bull Temple - a small Hindu temple but very nice and Tipu's Summer Palace - a nice 'shell' of what was once a beautiful small palace with some nice gardens. I then went and did a little shopping, can't resist the bargains!!!
Sunday saw a trip to the Shivanasmudra Falls - amazing natural beauty, went to 2 sights, the second involving one hell of a hike down some uneven 'steps' down to the waters edge in the heat then a little boat ride to the falls. Really beautiful and nice to see something thats a contrast to architecture.
This week has been quite sad knowing its my last at the orphanage - the children are fantastic considering their enthusiasm and friendly nature despite some horrific backgrounds. Although teaching has been a challenge at times (the week and a half with no teachers leaving me and 1-2 other volunteers in complete control after only 2 days with them pushed me to my limit) I have enjoyed working, playing and being with them so much. I was actually quite emotional on friday when i left, especially when some were asking 'you coming tomorrow aunty? you come monday?' Unfortunately some bad ice left me unable to go thurs and fri morning (NEVER AGAIN!) so i missed my own leaving party and cake!! but i still got to say my goodbye. What makes me abit happier is knowing the children are all at some point adopted and go to new homes where they will get the childhood and love they deserve, 2 are expected to leave in the next month for their new homes which is very heartwarming.
This morning Adam and I went along to the local park to the flag hoisting ceremony for Independence Day. Not knowing what to expect I was really touched that the local residents welcomed us giving us little badges and sweets, chatting to us about where we were from, what we were doing, how we liked India and telling us about their lives whilst the crowd congregated watching incense be lit, and awaiting a member of parliament come to raise the flag and all to sing the national anthem. It was nice to be part of a small celebration and be welcomed so openly.
The rest of this weekend I plan to eat nice food (provided my stomach will allow it!!), go to Cubbon Park and maybe Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and have a meal with the other volunteers. Then its a taxi Sunday 6pm for my first flight at 9.30pm, ouch!
When I return I will post more photos, i'm currently upto 1800+ so just a few!!!
love xx
Last weekend I had a day in Bangalore on Sat - seeing the Iskcon Temple - a massive modern Hare Krishna temple which was great to see and very intense, The Bull Temple - a small Hindu temple but very nice and Tipu's Summer Palace - a nice 'shell' of what was once a beautiful small palace with some nice gardens. I then went and did a little shopping, can't resist the bargains!!!
Sunday saw a trip to the Shivanasmudra Falls - amazing natural beauty, went to 2 sights, the second involving one hell of a hike down some uneven 'steps' down to the waters edge in the heat then a little boat ride to the falls. Really beautiful and nice to see something thats a contrast to architecture.
This week has been quite sad knowing its my last at the orphanage - the children are fantastic considering their enthusiasm and friendly nature despite some horrific backgrounds. Although teaching has been a challenge at times (the week and a half with no teachers leaving me and 1-2 other volunteers in complete control after only 2 days with them pushed me to my limit) I have enjoyed working, playing and being with them so much. I was actually quite emotional on friday when i left, especially when some were asking 'you coming tomorrow aunty? you come monday?' Unfortunately some bad ice left me unable to go thurs and fri morning (NEVER AGAIN!) so i missed my own leaving party and cake!! but i still got to say my goodbye. What makes me abit happier is knowing the children are all at some point adopted and go to new homes where they will get the childhood and love they deserve, 2 are expected to leave in the next month for their new homes which is very heartwarming.
This morning Adam and I went along to the local park to the flag hoisting ceremony for Independence Day. Not knowing what to expect I was really touched that the local residents welcomed us giving us little badges and sweets, chatting to us about where we were from, what we were doing, how we liked India and telling us about their lives whilst the crowd congregated watching incense be lit, and awaiting a member of parliament come to raise the flag and all to sing the national anthem. It was nice to be part of a small celebration and be welcomed so openly.
The rest of this weekend I plan to eat nice food (provided my stomach will allow it!!), go to Cubbon Park and maybe Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and have a meal with the other volunteers. Then its a taxi Sunday 6pm for my first flight at 9.30pm, ouch!
When I return I will post more photos, i'm currently upto 1800+ so just a few!!!
love xx
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Update finally!
So upon arriving in Bangalore my life has just been crazy! Busy everyday and most nights even if its just all the volunteers meeting up and having a chat I think I'm going to need to sleep for a month when I return!!
I'm going to try do a quick summary of my times in Bangalore so far...
Week 1 - Arrived, met all the lovely volunteers and chilled out for a few days meeting up for lunch and going shopping - amazing for clothes, jewellery!!! Tuesday night i went to a cooking class with Taylor & Steph, so hopefully i can cook some good stuff when i return! out thurs eve to Beach :) Thurs and Fri started at the orphanage where I now volunteer 10am-4.30pm mon - fri, its exhausting but rewarding all the same. The kids and staff are brilliant. A special thanks to Eli who showed me around.
Weekend 1 - Sat - Went with one of the guys Trish to Mysore for the day - amazing!! finally getting there on the 'super fast' bus (hhm) we saw as much as we possibly could ; Srirangapatnam - temples, a mosque, death place of Tipu Sultan, the tomb of Tipu Sultan, Fort, Summer Palace, Gumbaz Mausoleum. Back to Mysore itself then for lunch and then onto St Philomena's church (beautiful gothic building) Chamundi Hill (my 1st visit in a temple and lots of monkeys!! also amazing views) then back to Mysore Palace. Which at 7pm was lit up - POSSIBLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER!! i fell in love with it and was gobsmacked!
Sun - met all the other newbies and we went to Bannaghatta National Park for the day - seeing Elephants, bears, tigers (inc white tigers) lions, deer - really nice. In the evening we went for a farewell to Trish/welcome to the new people drinks at Beach which was really nice.
Week 2 passed in a blur! Orientation, Lunch and shopping on monday followed by Harry Potter in the eve - ancient cinema but 100 rupees a ticket (just over a quid) you cant complain!! The orphanage was a CHALLENGE this week - no teacher as she was ill then the other teacher for the younger ones also went off sick - this meant with 2 days experience I and other volunteers (some mornings there was me and a 15 yr old girl) were looking after and trying to teach 16-20 crazy children!! Tiring, hard, challenging at times when you have to discipline, it certainly took volunteering to the extreme.
Weekend of this week was fantastic tho!! Fri saw 9 of us trek upto Hampi for the weekend - 5 of us (me, anna, kirsty, eilidh, jon) went on the overnight train - 3 tier non a/c - what an experience!! we were expecting harry potter style trains, it wasnt(!) but it got us there with some sleep and a western toilet!! Hampi was amazing - over 4000 sites of ruins - temples, palaces etc. A chilled out sat day then an afternoon evening walk up the biggest rocky hill (i swear it was a mountain!!!) to see the most breath taking views before sunset. getting down was another group bonding experience - barefoot often sitting down sliding down dodgy bits!! a nice meal (after waiting upto 2 hours for food) then another day of ruins and shopping on sunday closed a fantastic weekend - then the train back on sunday night!!
Week 3 - Another blur -monday especially as I had broken sleep on the train then straight to work after a quick shower and breakfast. No teacher again i nearly cried (actually i did on tuesday it was a tough day!!) Monday eve i got to see Jenny my coordinator from Goa who was visiting Bangalore - lovely to see here and catch up :) Tuesday was another cooking class - perfecting my aloo paratha, lime rice and learning channa masala (chickpea masala - so tasty!!) Wed the teacher came back to the orphanage so a big improvement there and after work i could pick up my outfit ive had made to measure!! A gorgeous maroon/turquoise/gold dress, turquoise pants, and a scarf with all the colours in :D Wed another visit to Beach for drinks chatting and dancing, all good fun!
Thurs was a day at the orphanage then a quick dash to the train station to catch the overnight train to Kochin in Kerala.
Weekend 3 - Kerala!! A lovely 3 day chillout - fri was spent wandering round Fort Cochin, Mantancherry and Jew Town (yes its really called that, a road called synagogue lane, and a synagogue called Pardesi - white jew.) (a shame the dutch palace and synagogue were closed but nice to see everything all the same. Saw the chinese fishing nets, remains of the old fort also and had a nicely timed seafood thali lunch whilst it poured down!! Fri was a lovely meal in a fancy hotel.
Sat saw 7 of the 10 of us go to the Backwaters for a cruise on a houseboat, tour of a village including a very loooooooooong time spent on coconuts and plants - all very interesting but the guide was abit forceful with his facts!! a gorgeous thali lunch then a cruise down the narrow backwater canals on a canoe - so relaxing esp after the stop for some chai! In the eve we went to a restaurant on the roof of a hotel - abit of a din from the traffic but lovely all the same.
Sun was a chill out day for me, after rudely being made to check out at 8am (they wanted 6am!!) we stayed in the area where we were staying - Ernakulam - went for b'fast, a walk, to an art gallery, and shopping before grabbing food before the coach journey home!!
(not alot nice to say about the coach journey having been at the back under the air con unit - cold and bumpy journey not much sleep and straight to work monday no time for a nap!!)
This week so far has seen me go to watch Love Aaj Kal (not sure on the spelling) - a bollywood film and out to a bar/restaurant called Zara's last night - lots of fun. Its cooking class tonight then an early night to bed- i'm exhausted!!
lots of love to all :) xx
I'm going to try do a quick summary of my times in Bangalore so far...
Week 1 - Arrived, met all the lovely volunteers and chilled out for a few days meeting up for lunch and going shopping - amazing for clothes, jewellery!!! Tuesday night i went to a cooking class with Taylor & Steph, so hopefully i can cook some good stuff when i return! out thurs eve to Beach :) Thurs and Fri started at the orphanage where I now volunteer 10am-4.30pm mon - fri, its exhausting but rewarding all the same. The kids and staff are brilliant. A special thanks to Eli who showed me around.
Weekend 1 - Sat - Went with one of the guys Trish to Mysore for the day - amazing!! finally getting there on the 'super fast' bus (hhm) we saw as much as we possibly could ; Srirangapatnam - temples, a mosque, death place of Tipu Sultan, the tomb of Tipu Sultan, Fort, Summer Palace, Gumbaz Mausoleum. Back to Mysore itself then for lunch and then onto St Philomena's church (beautiful gothic building) Chamundi Hill (my 1st visit in a temple and lots of monkeys!! also amazing views) then back to Mysore Palace. Which at 7pm was lit up - POSSIBLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER!! i fell in love with it and was gobsmacked!
Sun - met all the other newbies and we went to Bannaghatta National Park for the day - seeing Elephants, bears, tigers (inc white tigers) lions, deer - really nice. In the evening we went for a farewell to Trish/welcome to the new people drinks at Beach which was really nice.
Week 2 passed in a blur! Orientation, Lunch and shopping on monday followed by Harry Potter in the eve - ancient cinema but 100 rupees a ticket (just over a quid) you cant complain!! The orphanage was a CHALLENGE this week - no teacher as she was ill then the other teacher for the younger ones also went off sick - this meant with 2 days experience I and other volunteers (some mornings there was me and a 15 yr old girl) were looking after and trying to teach 16-20 crazy children!! Tiring, hard, challenging at times when you have to discipline, it certainly took volunteering to the extreme.
Weekend of this week was fantastic tho!! Fri saw 9 of us trek upto Hampi for the weekend - 5 of us (me, anna, kirsty, eilidh, jon) went on the overnight train - 3 tier non a/c - what an experience!! we were expecting harry potter style trains, it wasnt(!) but it got us there with some sleep and a western toilet!! Hampi was amazing - over 4000 sites of ruins - temples, palaces etc. A chilled out sat day then an afternoon evening walk up the biggest rocky hill (i swear it was a mountain!!!) to see the most breath taking views before sunset. getting down was another group bonding experience - barefoot often sitting down sliding down dodgy bits!! a nice meal (after waiting upto 2 hours for food) then another day of ruins and shopping on sunday closed a fantastic weekend - then the train back on sunday night!!
Week 3 - Another blur -monday especially as I had broken sleep on the train then straight to work after a quick shower and breakfast. No teacher again i nearly cried (actually i did on tuesday it was a tough day!!) Monday eve i got to see Jenny my coordinator from Goa who was visiting Bangalore - lovely to see here and catch up :) Tuesday was another cooking class - perfecting my aloo paratha, lime rice and learning channa masala (chickpea masala - so tasty!!) Wed the teacher came back to the orphanage so a big improvement there and after work i could pick up my outfit ive had made to measure!! A gorgeous maroon/turquoise/gold dress, turquoise pants, and a scarf with all the colours in :D Wed another visit to Beach for drinks chatting and dancing, all good fun!
Thurs was a day at the orphanage then a quick dash to the train station to catch the overnight train to Kochin in Kerala.
Weekend 3 - Kerala!! A lovely 3 day chillout - fri was spent wandering round Fort Cochin, Mantancherry and Jew Town (yes its really called that, a road called synagogue lane, and a synagogue called Pardesi - white jew.) (a shame the dutch palace and synagogue were closed but nice to see everything all the same. Saw the chinese fishing nets, remains of the old fort also and had a nicely timed seafood thali lunch whilst it poured down!! Fri was a lovely meal in a fancy hotel.
Sat saw 7 of the 10 of us go to the Backwaters for a cruise on a houseboat, tour of a village including a very loooooooooong time spent on coconuts and plants - all very interesting but the guide was abit forceful with his facts!! a gorgeous thali lunch then a cruise down the narrow backwater canals on a canoe - so relaxing esp after the stop for some chai! In the eve we went to a restaurant on the roof of a hotel - abit of a din from the traffic but lovely all the same.
Sun was a chill out day for me, after rudely being made to check out at 8am (they wanted 6am!!) we stayed in the area where we were staying - Ernakulam - went for b'fast, a walk, to an art gallery, and shopping before grabbing food before the coach journey home!!
(not alot nice to say about the coach journey having been at the back under the air con unit - cold and bumpy journey not much sleep and straight to work monday no time for a nap!!)
This week so far has seen me go to watch Love Aaj Kal (not sure on the spelling) - a bollywood film and out to a bar/restaurant called Zara's last night - lots of fun. Its cooking class tonight then an early night to bed- i'm exhausted!!
lots of love to all :) xx
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
New photos!
Just uploaded some final pictures of Goa in the previous album
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101946&id=273100314&l=136c4809be
Now trying my hardest to upload some pictures I've taken in Bangalore, Mysore and the National Park - theres hundreds so its just a selection!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104356&id=273100314&l=a572892eaa
:) x
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101946&id=273100314&l=136c4809be
Now trying my hardest to upload some pictures I've taken in Bangalore, Mysore and the National Park - theres hundreds so its just a selection!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104356&id=273100314&l=a572892eaa
:) x
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Arrived in Bangalore!!
Hey all,
just a quick post to let you know I arrived in Bangalore safely and just getting used to my new surroundings :) Its so busy here I'm abit shell-shocked I think, but the others are really nice and making sure they invite me to things!
Already been to a cooking class, bought some jewellery and ordered a couple of outfits, phew! (spending alot of money, ah!)
I will post later this week with full details, theres lots to tell.
Love fran xxx
just a quick post to let you know I arrived in Bangalore safely and just getting used to my new surroundings :) Its so busy here I'm abit shell-shocked I think, but the others are really nice and making sure they invite me to things!
Already been to a cooking class, bought some jewellery and ordered a couple of outfits, phew! (spending alot of money, ah!)
I will post later this week with full details, theres lots to tell.
Love fran xxx
Saturday, 11 July 2009
What a week and a half....
Its been a while since i blogged and I'm not really sure where to start!!
Last tuesday I started with pains in my stomach chest and back but thought i was just abit run down so stayed in Tues eve and all of Wednesday (including missing a night of shopping!!) By thursday i was still aching but not as much so thought it would pass and went off to my projects, school in the morning and the orphanage in the afternoon. With a full appetite I had loads to eat at tea, including 2 large helpings of Goan sausage -VERRRRRRRY SPICY!!! Friday i woke up to have the tight chest, aching stomach and then a bad back but went to school anyway. BIG MISTAKE!!
By the time school finished i couldnt breath properly and could barely walk - i got home just about (crying, yes how embarassing) and collapsed on my bed - i say collapsed i mean gently sat down and cried some more as any movement i made caused so much pain :( A trip to the doctor (who may i add poked and prodded me so hard i cried some more) a trip to hospital in Mapusa to have an ultrasound of my chest, stomach abdomen and uterus showed nothing so back to the doctor who gave me some anti-acid tablets and told me NO PAINKILLERS.
There started my worst weekend in Goa, thankfully the other girls and my homestay looked after me so well i was in bed all weekend barely moving or eating as any movement caused so much pain, i get pains remembering it now. By sunday night i just wanted to come home!!
Monday morning Debbie who lives in the house where I'm staying took me with Michelle one of the other girls to hospital in Candolim (the next town down) where i was admitted straight away, given some pain relief and put on an i/v drip for 3 days and told I wasnt allowed any food, though i had no appetite. (I say hospital, tho it was more like an old run down nursing place run by nuns, lol.) I had another ultrasound which this time showed inflamation and tension my large intestine so least they found something :)
In my room there was another bed so thankfully Michelle stayed with me Monday day, Tuesday day & night, and Jenny my coordinator from i-to-i stayed with me on monday night - i don't know what I'd have done without them :) I also need to thank my mum and dad for ringing me everyday multiple times a day to check on me and those who text me - i was so down and pretty lonely it really helped me :)
If anyone knows me they'll know my fear of needles and blood so you can imagine how sick i felt with all the injections going through my i/v and the drips i was on!! the room was basic but clean (apparently) - with another bed for guests. Too many flies for my liking and Michelle woke upto a COCKROACH on her on wed morning which neither of us were too happy about, esp when the nurses shrugged it off and wouldnt kill it!! The doctor believes a combination of a reaction to spicy food and my malaria tablets that caused the pain - so its bland food for me now and im off the tablets, so far so good :)
Thankfully i am much better now after having my last injections on thursday (i was released wed night to come home to sleep but went back in the morning - ive never been so glad to leave a hospital!!) and was able to visit both the school and the orphanage to say good bye yesterday which was quite emotional. I'm sad i missed out on this week and will miss all the children. I left lots of sweets at the school and the orphanage as i've already taken in paper and pencil crayons and didnt want anything the children could fight over or something that could be kept from them :)
I move onto Bangalore on monday so im just chilling out for my last weekend in Goa :) All the other volunteers have gone to Mumbai so im having a quiet one - will do some last minute shopping and visit the beach again. My first week in Bangalore is free thankfully so I'll just slowly explore and carry on recovering :) I'll miss the homestay family I have had the pleasure of living with whilst here, Debbie Richard Dorothy and their parents are all lovely and are always there to have a chat and a laugh.
I hope Bangalore brings more adventures but none to hospitals or medically related!!!
I'm off now to have a wander. Lots of love to everyone xxx
Last tuesday I started with pains in my stomach chest and back but thought i was just abit run down so stayed in Tues eve and all of Wednesday (including missing a night of shopping!!) By thursday i was still aching but not as much so thought it would pass and went off to my projects, school in the morning and the orphanage in the afternoon. With a full appetite I had loads to eat at tea, including 2 large helpings of Goan sausage -VERRRRRRRY SPICY!!! Friday i woke up to have the tight chest, aching stomach and then a bad back but went to school anyway. BIG MISTAKE!!
By the time school finished i couldnt breath properly and could barely walk - i got home just about (crying, yes how embarassing) and collapsed on my bed - i say collapsed i mean gently sat down and cried some more as any movement i made caused so much pain :( A trip to the doctor (who may i add poked and prodded me so hard i cried some more) a trip to hospital in Mapusa to have an ultrasound of my chest, stomach abdomen and uterus showed nothing so back to the doctor who gave me some anti-acid tablets and told me NO PAINKILLERS.
There started my worst weekend in Goa, thankfully the other girls and my homestay looked after me so well i was in bed all weekend barely moving or eating as any movement caused so much pain, i get pains remembering it now. By sunday night i just wanted to come home!!
Monday morning Debbie who lives in the house where I'm staying took me with Michelle one of the other girls to hospital in Candolim (the next town down) where i was admitted straight away, given some pain relief and put on an i/v drip for 3 days and told I wasnt allowed any food, though i had no appetite. (I say hospital, tho it was more like an old run down nursing place run by nuns, lol.) I had another ultrasound which this time showed inflamation and tension my large intestine so least they found something :)
In my room there was another bed so thankfully Michelle stayed with me Monday day, Tuesday day & night, and Jenny my coordinator from i-to-i stayed with me on monday night - i don't know what I'd have done without them :) I also need to thank my mum and dad for ringing me everyday multiple times a day to check on me and those who text me - i was so down and pretty lonely it really helped me :)
If anyone knows me they'll know my fear of needles and blood so you can imagine how sick i felt with all the injections going through my i/v and the drips i was on!! the room was basic but clean (apparently) - with another bed for guests. Too many flies for my liking and Michelle woke upto a COCKROACH on her on wed morning which neither of us were too happy about, esp when the nurses shrugged it off and wouldnt kill it!! The doctor believes a combination of a reaction to spicy food and my malaria tablets that caused the pain - so its bland food for me now and im off the tablets, so far so good :)
Thankfully i am much better now after having my last injections on thursday (i was released wed night to come home to sleep but went back in the morning - ive never been so glad to leave a hospital!!) and was able to visit both the school and the orphanage to say good bye yesterday which was quite emotional. I'm sad i missed out on this week and will miss all the children. I left lots of sweets at the school and the orphanage as i've already taken in paper and pencil crayons and didnt want anything the children could fight over or something that could be kept from them :)
I move onto Bangalore on monday so im just chilling out for my last weekend in Goa :) All the other volunteers have gone to Mumbai so im having a quiet one - will do some last minute shopping and visit the beach again. My first week in Bangalore is free thankfully so I'll just slowly explore and carry on recovering :) I'll miss the homestay family I have had the pleasure of living with whilst here, Debbie Richard Dorothy and their parents are all lovely and are always there to have a chat and a laugh.
I hope Bangalore brings more adventures but none to hospitals or medically related!!!
I'm off now to have a wander. Lots of love to everyone xxx
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Photos!!
So i've finally made it onto a computer that will let me upload some photos, about time! They on facebook in an open album as i cant seem to upload on here yet, will work out how soon tho :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101946&id=273100314&l=136c4809be
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101946&id=273100314&l=136c4809be
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