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Published: April 21st 2010
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Well folks I survived four days in the tribal region of the state of Orissa in Eastern India. Since my last update we hired a local guide and a cook to travel with us for five days. Four of those days we spent visiting several villages in the tribal region of Orissa. Orissa is one of 27 states in India and is located just south of Calcutta along the east coast.
The names of the villages are not on any map as they are very isolated and have little contact with the outside world. It was great to have a local guide along to inturpret (sp) for us and educate everyone about the differences between the tribes. It is amazing that two tribes can exist within 10 miles of one another yet neither speaks the same language and they both have different customs and traditions.
The survival part of this was the heat. For most of the days it was over 40 degrees and we were sleeping in tents the whole way. No showers but we did manage to find a large watering hole that we had a swim in. (may have to see the doctor when I get
Tuk Tuk ride
Typical street vender home after that) That swim cut the heat for a few hours but then it was back on the road.
The highlites of this sidetrip were most defenitly the children and the food. Amazing food was had by all (we had our own cook along) three course meals for lunch and dinner with a different local dish each night.
As for the kids, they were great. We gave away a soccer ball at each small village and four at the larger village were we sort of invaded the school. The teachers were ok and kids were just amazing. I have lots of great photos that I will try and attach as well.
I have also noticed a few themes emerging in my photos, the first is what I will call the Faces of Asia. I have some amazing shots of everday people. Next is the vehicles. I have shots of 1, 2, 3 and 4 people riding motorbikes. Looking for 5 but have not seen it yet. There is alos the Tuk Tuk's. How many people do you think you can fit in a small three wheeled vehicle? I have seen as many as 20 and they
My first hotel room
My camera was fogged up with the humiditiy but this was considered a double room. Hope you are good friends with whoever you are sharing. also carry every thing you can imagine from goats to bails of cotton stacked 15 feet high.
Another thing I have noticed is that each town does not have any large stores. They only have small closet sized stalls that sel almost anything you can need. The challenge is finding the stall that has the items you want. An example is simply trying to find beer. Me and one the group walked up and down the street three times until we finally asked someone and they pointed to a little hole in the wall place with iron grates. I approached and discovered you have to pass your money thru a little hole in the grate and a man hands you back a bottle of beer. That is also when we found out it is illegal to drink on the street. We cracked the beers and took a drink and within seconds someone hustled us into a room next door which we learned was the "lounge" area. It was just a room that the locals drank in standing up out of site from the street. Lots of tobaco juice on the walls and floor and a wodden block that was
used to dispatch chickens. The beer was cold though so that made up for the scenery.
By the way I am not really taking notes but rather telling things as I remember them.
The town I am in now is called Puri and it is on the coast. We are here for one more day then take an overnight train to Calcutta. I ordered a lobster for tonights dinner. You have to order a day in advance so they can go and try and catch one. It is going to cost me 750 rupees which is just under $20. Not much for a lobster but when you consider a normal dinner with 5-6 dishes and a few drinks only costs about 400 rupees, this better be a good lobster.
A few other observations so far include the statement on a hotels brochure. We strive to be the best two star hotel in all of India. I don't know what the qualifications for each star is but if they get two I will be amazed.
Another weird thing is there are volleyball nets everywhere. Every village and school has at least one. I never would have linked
Krishna
Krishna temple. Very peacefull. I saw the swami while there. India and volleyball. All the kids ask me when I give them a ball if it is a soccerball or volleyball. Strange.
As well I have tried the local " vodka" and let me say it would make really good paint thinner but only cost 160 rupee ($4) so you go with what you can.
For those of you interested in my fitness level, rest easy I did a short run (1.5 k) in the heat the other day and have been nominated as the tent chucker. This meand I toss 13 tents 15 feet in the air each morning (onto the top of the truck) Add in the heat and the almost complete vegetarion diet and I should be ok for weight loss. Still haven't been sick so that is a good thing.
That's about it for now, I will try and add some photos with this message and if it doesn't work then will surely be able to in Calcutta.
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catherine strangeway
non-member comment
journey so far!
Really pleased that you are having such a good adventure so far, i so colud not cope with the heat or the lack of showering!!!!! Think i'll stick to the uk, although we have not had any rain for nearly 3 weeks in penwortham!!! Hope this is the first sign of a good summer?! As for spotting more than 4 people on a motorbike, you need to get yourself to Italy, we regularly saw 7 people on a moped!!!!! Take care of yourself Catherinexx