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Published: October 20th 2006
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Children in Mandvi
I have seen several people here that appear to be of African extraction (even really tight curly hair)like the boy on the left. The boy with the lovely smile just kept on saying "Thankyou" for taking his photo 2006………6wks-4th CYCLING TRIP-Gujarat & Southern Rajasthan, INDIA...........
On the bus back to Bhuj there were 3 Policemen, one with a full-size, "I'll shoot you if you move"-type rifle, escorting 'two male persons' that were handcuffed together. Can you image Police hopping onto public transport in Adelaide with a prisoner? Beggars have not been the presence they were in the 70s. It would be interesting to see what it's like in Delhi or Agra for a comparison. You don't see the same level of poverty to the point of starvation or ill-health either. I've seen quite a few people that are either albino or have significant areas of white pigmentation, leaving them largely white with brown spots. I saw two blind men several days ago that were leading each other at the bus station (there's a saying about that isn't there?). One was Albino. I’ve' only been harassed by beggars twice really on this trip, both young boys. One was crippled but managed to grab my tyre when I had stopped in the middle of the road and wouldn't let go. I started off politely asking him to let go but had to get more & more insistent. The other boy &
Villagers at Mandvi
Absolutely thrilled to have their picture taken and see it on the camera his mate who were doing the bus and train station round were resourcefully holding a framed picture of Krishna for a bit of guilt motivation. He kept on his knees touching my feet with his hand and then to his forehead which I attempted to ignore for a while. BUT HE WOULDN'T STOP! It's a great technique as it's quite unsettling and annoying at the same time. I had made the mistake of giving something to his mate earlier.
The train from Bhuj to the island of Dui in southern Gujarat was quite pleasant. I had a window seat and had some nice social exchange with various people as you tend to do on Indian trains. One nice lad of 13yrs, but looking about 11yrs and acting like 18yrs, was cricket mad. Another little girl was quite sweet but highly manipulative of her mother & ate and demanded food the whole trip.
I planned to end my trip with somewhere I could actually feel like I’m on holiday. Being at the beach always does this for me. Travelling is tiring. The ‘Lonely Planet’ guide accurately describes Diu “as a revelation, an island with a unique atmosphere born of
Man from Mandvi
Many people have their hair & beards dyed this colour its whitewashed Portuguese architecture, icing sugar churches, huge fort, verandas, quiet beaches, scarce traffic and cheap beer. It’s an unassuming place- beaches are fine but unspectacular, and the town is straggling and quiet, but it has a laid-back charm that hypnotises many travellers into kicking back for a while.”
I ended up staying four days/ five nights in Dui now in a small cottage (one room and open veranda) in the somewhat run down 'Sea View Resort'. It is in a great location overlooking a nice beach which I can see from my bed. If I open the door in the morning I can also see sunrise. The water is a lovely temperature. I've spent a few evening meals at the St Thomas' Church which has accommodation and puts on a BBQ dinner over an open fire every 2nd day. It's a great opportunity to hook up with other travellers and have some wonderful food (Fish, Prawns, Salad, Curry, bread for $3). Each night was a meeting of nations with representatives from Australia, New Zealand, England, Israel, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Latvia etc. I went up to the top of the lit up church one evening to admire the view
over the island and see where some people were sleeping on the roof.
I organised from Diu to get the overnight bus to Ahmedabad and then the train to Mumbai for my last night before flying back to Oz. I arrived in Ahmedabad about 6.30am and cycled the empty streets with people sleeping and then set off to one of the historical mosques to spend some time before the 2.30pm train. I ended up cycling around for most of the morning after having a mid-morning lunch at a restaurant that has the Guinness Book of Records entry for the largest Paper Thin Dosa. The one I had was pretty big but a metre or so short of the record. It was a relief getting off the roads, out of the sun and the pollution and wait at the train station for my trip to Mumbai/Singapore/Adelaide
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Meredith
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pics
Great piccies........puts me off using henna though!! Love M