Weekend away

Me and Fidra decided to pack our backpacks this weekend and get away to see some of the other volunteers at their projects. On Friday night we got an auto into Secunderabad and waited for our night bus to arrive. It was so beautiful! Four bunks to a little cabin with a free pillow and blanket as well as air conditioning.

I slept well for the first time in a long time- it was like being back in my bed at home! We arrived in Ongole at 5am, two hours earlier than we expected so the volunteers we were supposed to be meeting weren't awake or answering their phones so we ended up camping on the train station platform for two hours until we could go somewhere to get breakfast. Then we got a call from the girls in nearby Markupur saying we could get a two hour public bus to go and see their project rather than waiting in Ongole. Sounded great so we got going: I was so happy on the bus the family next to me were lovely and when the woman asked to share my ipod she even started humming along to the Arctic Monkeys which made me smile.

Rosie met us in Markupur and we took an auto to her Project Assist which works to give education to child laborers. The school was very different from Devnar, very open with bare huts for classrooms, the children didn't have beds or desks to work from but the children had so much energy; practically bombarding us when we entered the compound. I had children grabbing my arms and dragging me to see their rooms, 'Come white Miss! Come white Miss!'. It was very full on and I sadly don't have any pictures because I didn't want to risk my camera in the bedlam! The staff at the school were really welcoming, braiding our hair with fresh flowers and cooking us rice, chapatti and curry in their home.

We spent the afternoon looking around their town, which had some beautiful temples

Then we got a two hour bus for FOUR hours back to Ongole where we met Rosa, Clara and Lindsey at the guest house. It was so nice to see the other girls and we all celebrated Rosa's birthday by having a few drinks! First time in eight months! 

The next day we all dragged ourselves out of bed, to breakfast and to the beach! The minute we stepped onto the beach everyone was staring and we were immediately approached by a fisherman who offered to take us out for a ride on his boat for thirty rupee each.

Charlotte and Rosie!

Enjoying our terrifying boat journey!

Rosie trying to buy nuts from a local woman. 

Fidra looking very cool in her makeshift headscarf... 

The beach was littered with fish drying out in the sun- this was my favorite fish house. 

The girls all had great fun playing in the sea before we got the auto back to town to see the children at Rosa and Clara's project.

They work for a Church school in Ongole, their children are amazing, so full of energy, everyone was smiling and so happy to see us. Everyone wanted to hold my hand and to hear me talk in Telugu- they found it amazing! The children made us play hide and seek with them which was so much fun and then they prayed for me before I boarded the night bus back to Hyderabad which was so lovely. I felt so blessed that a group of children who'd known me for half an hour would go out of their way to protect me and to pray for me.