Early start: walk on Marine Drive. Early departure. Vikas came to the hotel to pick me up. It was a two hour train ride to Nallasopora. It was crowded but we did not get a "free body massage" as the local guys say. That can be very scary, as you move with the crowd!! Very poor areas all the way. We did the auto rickshaw ride again, and then walked to the second school of One International. Lots to see along the way as the pics show: This old dog just stands on the sidewalk. I feel sorry for it. Just stands immobile...just enough energy to stand.
The station was wall to wall people as far as I could see.
Mostly men
The guys walk onto the track: very dangerous!
They hang on, almost falling out!! When I get in I try to get in as far as possible, but then you have the crush!1
The train is cheap and usually fast.
In Nallasopara
Nallasopora
Fried food anyone?
Bread baking
Holy cows sitting in the garbage heap!
Ginger, cukes etc
As it's Diwali, it was a teacher's day. A few students were there too. Tania in the foreground.
Teachers
Vikas gave me a tour of the classrooms....he point to each step ( grade level)
Artwork
Math facts
Artwork
I taught two songs to 3 different groups of teachers, so that they could teach their students next week. It was hilarious, as there are two men teaching young children, and it was their first attempt at falsetto!! The songs were all upbeat, and I was pleased with how they all turned out. They liked the actions. Hard work singing, being energetic in the humidity.
Another classroom
Hindi.....looks challenging to me
They love pics....
These two are students that were there with the teachers.
Staff room.....food
The name of the school
Teachers
Tania posed for me...no chairs here, the floor is it!!
Music stand!!
Dave in Hindi
Vikas....he wrote it for me
Ravi presented me with his artwork. You see lots of peacock feather fans in the markets. Would have bought them but just no room in my bag
Vikas having lunch. No knives and forks. In Shiv Sagar, the veg restaurant I eat at nightly, people often eat with their hands. You get a warm bowl of water to wash your hands after.
No tables: the floor will do. Sitting cross legged is easy for everyone...lots of practice.
Teacher's lunch...it looked a good lunch. Made by parent volunteers I think
Gathering of teachers after. We were in 3 groups. Each person added something to the story. They said their bit in English and Hindi. It was fun.
This little person was interested in me!!
Little purple onions....a staple in Mumbai
No shortage of peanuts
Crackers: fireworks for Diwali....explosions go off all week!
Two charming ladies
More crackers for sale
Banana. The scooter reminded me of the guy in our pedestrian street...both hands on the controls, talking away with cell phone tucked between shoulder and head!!
Diwali is celebration of LAKSHMI....will tell you more later.
Ravi on the left, Kokila in red. She is the animated one of the group. She has dreadful burns from her lips down the front of her chest. I was introduced to all the teachers, and had to try and remember their names. Often they had to spell their names for me.
It was so so so hot, and humid, I had a beer. Complimentary peanuts, snacks, chick pea/tomato/onion/ herb snack in front.
This was divine....masala to dip your carrots and cucumbers in
Mr. Khan advises me on menu items nightly. Sameer is the barman. Below is the veggie dosa: comes with coconut chutney, and a red chutney....loved it.
The food looks excellent Dave! Hope you are managing to cool off from the extreme heat.....that beer ought to do the trick:)
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