Day 2: Drive through South India

~ loading up: (l-r) Angie, Dorris, Shaker and Cathy ~

After breakfast Shaker and the taxi driver picked us up. We loaded our things and set off for a 7 hour drive through the south Indian countryside.

But first we had to navigate Bangalore's downtown traffic. Several things to note about driving in downtown Bangalore (I latter found, this style of driving isn't limited to Bangalore).

1. drivers do not obey road signs, stop signs particularly
2. drivers honk and/or flash headlights to alert other drivers that they are passing or entering an intersection
3. the white lines that divide lanes are for decoration only
4. there is no minimum or maximum speed
5. bicyclist share all lanes of the roads with horse or cow drawn carts (5 mph), motor rickshaws (15 mph average speed), buses (30 mph) and cars (45 mph)
6. traffic police simple let the biggest or most aggressive looking vehicles through intersections first, and
7. you will loose your arm if you stick it out the window

Atlanta's rush hour traffic will be nothing when I'm home.

The countryside is BEAUTIFUL. Lots of farmland. Here are some pictures that will describe it better than words can.

~ an enterance to a market ~

~ the plains ~

~ we passed lots of people walking their cows down the side of the road ~

~ check out the scafolding on the side of this building, this is what all scafolding is like ~

~ bananna leaf stand ~

~ types of housing: huts and tents in background~

~ shared the road with a variety of vehicles ~

~ my first meal on a bananna leaf with different types of cocconut based curries, bread, yogurt and buttermilk; I ate with my fingers ~

~ the outside of the place we ate lunch ~

~ the cows that provided our fresh buttermilk and yogurt ~

~ many people live in thatch huts made of palm leaves like this one ~

~ railroad track was elevated above the plains ~

~ we passed this truck carrying sticks ~

~ we made a quick stop by Mysore Palace ~

~ Flame of the Forest, it is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists ~

~ trees along the road ~

~ Indian Laburnum trees are the yellow ones ~

~ rice fields ~

~ cement is very cheep and the clay tile roof is made from the local soils ~

~ other that shared the road ~

~ we saw monkeys when we drove through the national forest ~

~ some vacationers at the national forest picnic area ~

~ Dorris taking pictures of the deer in the national forest ~

~ the national forest has an elephant breeding program ~

The sun set by the time we began to climb the Nilgirls (literally Blue Mountains) so I was not able to get pictures of the mountains. But if you google the Nilgirls you should be able to see some pictures. The books The Jungle Book (1894) and The Second Jungle Book (1895) by Rudyard Kipling include stories about Mowgli and in the jungles of these mountains.

Day 1: Arrival

Ginny and I left Atlanta late afternoon on 4/13/07. We had a 4 hour layover in Frankfurt and met up with the rest of the U.S. team. When we took off out of Frankfurt it finally hit me; this is it, I am really going to India.

We arrived in Bangalore at midnight on 4/14/07 (2:30 pm EST on 4/14/07).

~ outside the airport in Bangalore at midnight ~

The next morning I awoke to the sound of car horns from the roads below. I wish I had a tape recorded so you could hear it. Nonstop car horns and many don't even sound like normal horns.

We were picked up by Freedom Firm's driver, his name is Shaker. While Shaker was making arrangements to hire another taxi driver he left Ginny and me in the car on a dark side street. We were a little nervous. Then this man, who was walking by, stopped to pee off the sidewalk (away from the street) right next to our car. Then another man joined him. Ginny and I were a little shocked.

This was our welcome to India.

We spent the night in a nice hotel and had a simple breakfast of toast, poached eggs and Chai.

~ left to right: Ginny, Cathy, Angela, Dorris, and Angie at breakfast~

~ view outside our hotel window, this is in Bangalore ~

I can't beleive it!

I can't beleive I'm actually going to India! If I can get internet access there I'll try to post more things to this blog.

But for starters here is a picture of one of the sturdy mountain ponies that will be there.

My Coworkers!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to my coworkers who will be covering for me while I am out of the office for 2 weeks.

Getting Ready to Head Out

Friday (4/13) I head to Ootacamund (commonly known as Ooty), Tamil Nadu, India. It will be a 9 hour flight to Germany, country of my birth and then another 9 to Bangalore, India.

We’ll stay in Bangalore for a day, then head south on a 7 hour drive through the rural Indian countryside on bumpy roads, climaxing in a final 60 minute climb to 7000 feet around 36 hairpin switchbacks.

I’m pulling together last minute things and thinking through how I can teach the Indian children about horses when we don’t speak the same language. The pictures below are of the home where the children live.

Two mountain ponies should arrive this week. I’ll send pictures of them.
I am excited about this opportunity to meet these children. And I know my perspective of life will be impacted. If nothing else the bathing every day with one bucket of hot water should be interesting.

Thanks!

So far donations of equipment or funds have come in so I will be albe to take:

- 2 saddles w/ stirrups and girths
- 4 saddle pads
- 4 pairs of paddock boots
- 1 set of leather tack repair tools
- 1 set of grooming tools
- 1 pony bridle, and
- 1 set of stable wraps

Thank You!!!

What I Will Do

On April 13, 2007, I will travel to India with a team from around the U.S. Our purpose is to provide hands-on contribution to the beginning stages of the residential program at Freedom Firm and to directly touch the lives of a few girls and staff.

With the help of others, I will teach the girls and staff how

• care for horses


• safely work with horses


• build relationships with their horses, and


• ride.

I am excited to be able to use the knowledge I have gleaned from so many over the years; from my first riding instructor who fanned the flame for my love of horses to my current instructor who has taught me about riding in harmony with my horse. Those whom I have met through the United States Pony Club, along with my riding students, horses and of course my family have taught me about myself and what is important in life. I thank God for this community of people.