If I have one regret from the trip, it was missing the early-riser hike to the old Bhadrajun Fort in the mountains. Granted, I had accidentally left my tennis shoes at home/I'm super out of shape, so I may not have made it to the top. Although Kundan, who was leading the hike, made it to the top in flip flops. Locals, pssh. But seeing photos and hearing stories from the hike makes me cringe a little in guilt that I didn't allow myself to experience that. Oh well, there's always next time. And until then I will be content living vicariously through those brave souls who did reach the summit.
After a yummy breakfast and some morning yoga, we headed out to a local girl's school to see how they live and learn. We got to play the ancient game of sitolia with them. How fun!
After a victory for the girls, they took us on a quick tour of the school and their living quarters. It was very sparse and simple and the girls had very meager belongings, but they were so proud of what they had. They couldn't wait to point out their schoolwork on the walls and which bed belonged to which girl. It was a very humbling experience.
When we left the girls school, we came upon a wedding procession. So, being the super-tourists that we were, we pulled over the caravan to take pictures and meet the bride.
Continuing on, we got to visit a Bishnoi village. The Bishnois are very strict vegetarians and environmentalists. They live a self-sustaining life, and their villages look very similar to how they've looked for hundreds of years. Bishnois do not believe in cutting down and killing live trees. They only make use of trees that have died naturally. They have a list of twenty-nine principles to live by. A few highlights from that list are #18: "Not to fell green trees", #19: "To be compassionate towards all living beings," and #20: "Not to eat meat or non-vegetarian dishes." They are a very interesting and kind people, and we were very thankful for their hospitality.
As we arrived and said our hellos, we sat down for a brief lecture on the Bishnois and were offered water and...opium. Apparently, if you are offered things like opium from village elders, you are expected to accept the offer, even if you don't actually take the opium. Singhji claimed that the man was forcing him to offer us opium and that we shouldn't take it, as Veg Voyages and VegNews do not condone the use of narcotics. So, of course we didn't take it....right? It is meant to be sucked on, chewed, or just swallowed and it (supposedly) has an extremely bitter taste. The amount we were given was so small that it would have had no effect on us other than maybe settling our stomachs slightly.
Now that we were all doped up [jk!], we took a nice, relaxing tour through the village.
After our tour, we were served a delicious lunch, prepared by the Bishnoi women. Sitting on those woven cots in those surroundings made us feel like we were in an Indiana Jones movie. Very surreal. After we ate, we got to wander around the village on our own.
TO BE CONTINUED...
a view from the top [joel kraut]
the crew that made it to the top [michael lu]
joe being silly [michael lu]
feet found at the top [landin donner]
After a yummy breakfast and some morning yoga, we headed out to a local girl's school to see how they live and learn. We got to play the ancient game of sitolia with them. How fun!
the throw [jennifer turner]
and the scramble to stack the rocks [jennifer turner]
yum [blair stirek]
michael throwing [jennifer turner]
anticipating [jennifer turner]
some of the sitolia action [chelsea harvey]
celebrating [jennifer turner]
After a victory for the girls, they took us on a quick tour of the school and their living quarters. It was very sparse and simple and the girls had very meager belongings, but they were so proud of what they had. They couldn't wait to point out their schoolwork on the walls and which bed belonged to which girl. It was a very humbling experience.
drawings [chelsea harvey]
schedule [jennifer turner]
bunk beds [chelsea harvey]
school girls [jennifer turner]
heights [jennifer turner]
chartreuse [jennifer turner]
We went back outside and had the girls line up so we could distribute gifts to them. Each girl received a dictionary, a bar of soap and a jumprope. They were very thankful, especially the bashful teacher. It was also Johanne's birthday. One of the girls gave her their headband and they all sang both the Hindi and English versions of the Birthday song to her. I'm sure Johanne will remember this birthday for the rest of her life.
queueing up [chelsea harvey]
handing out gifts [chelsea harvey]
about to sing to johanne [jennifer turner]
singing the hindi happy birthday song to johanne [chelsea harvey]
singing the english happy birthday song to johanne [chelsea harvey]
Then we said our goodbyes to the girls. They were so great: very competetive sitolia players and very proud of the few belonging they had; both generous and gracious at the same time. I can't wait to go back and visit them.
her name was sundar which means "pretty" in hindi [jennifer turner]
girls on the steps [blair stirek]
beautiful [jennifer turner]
school girls [jennifer turner]
group photo [joe connelly]
i hated to say goodbye [chelsea harvey]
When we left the girls school, we came upon a wedding procession. So, being the super-tourists that we were, we pulled over the caravan to take pictures and meet the bride.
the bride in yellow [michael lu]
the bride's friends & family [jennifer turner]
more friends & family [michael lu]
Continuing on, we got to visit a Bishnoi village. The Bishnois are very strict vegetarians and environmentalists. They live a self-sustaining life, and their villages look very similar to how they've looked for hundreds of years. Bishnois do not believe in cutting down and killing live trees. They only make use of trees that have died naturally. They have a list of twenty-nine principles to live by. A few highlights from that list are #18: "Not to fell green trees", #19: "To be compassionate towards all living beings," and #20: "Not to eat meat or non-vegetarian dishes." They are a very interesting and kind people, and we were very thankful for their hospitality.
As we arrived and said our hellos, we sat down for a brief lecture on the Bishnois and were offered water and...opium. Apparently, if you are offered things like opium from village elders, you are expected to accept the offer, even if you don't actually take the opium. Singhji claimed that the man was forcing him to offer us opium and that we shouldn't take it, as Veg Voyages and VegNews do not condone the use of narcotics. So, of course we didn't take it....right? It is meant to be sucked on, chewed, or just swallowed and it (supposedly) has an extremely bitter taste. The amount we were given was so small that it would have had no effect on us other than maybe settling our stomachs slightly.
we gifted them a solar phone charger... [jennifer turner]
...to replace their old phone charger: a tractor battery.
they are required by the govt to have a phone in case their water supply gets too low [joel kraut]
they are required by the govt to have a phone in case their water supply gets too low [joel kraut]
singhji lecturing [jennifer turner]
opium [landin donner]
Now that we were all doped up [jk!], we took a nice, relaxing tour through the village.
a bishnoi dwelling [jennifer turner]
making chapatti [joel kraut]
the village leader/elder grinding millet; that green packet is his opium [jennifer turner]
bishnoi boy [chelsea harvey]
making chapatti [amandy strzempek]
bishnoi kids [blair stirek]
making rope [chelsea harvey]
drawing water [michael lu]
bishnoi boys [joel kraut]
bishnoi girl [joel kraut]
After our tour, we were served a delicious lunch, prepared by the Bishnoi women. Sitting on those woven cots in those surroundings made us feel like we were in an Indiana Jones movie. Very surreal. After we ate, we got to wander around the village on our own.
acchii sehat! [good health/cheers]; peggy, jonathan & jennifer [chelsea harvey]
kundan serving lunch [blair stirek]
robyn & josie with their yummy lunch [jennifer turner]
bishnoi boys studying our hindi flashcards [joel kraut]
bishnoi family [joel kraut]
landin went back for seconds [chelsea harvey]
look at those horns! [landin donner]
bishnoi boy in tree [joel kraut]
kundan taking johanne for a ride [michael lu]
water buffalo [joel kraut]
TO BE CONTINUED...
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