We did it!
05/03/2011 by Kate Keter.
We had a fantastic time in Karnal for the NID but we’ve either been too busy or, when we did have time, a terrible internet connection so no updates in the blog. Will write more once we’re home - and post some photos.
You can see the photos here - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105562&id=1554352293&l=658b99f030
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We’re going back to India
21/01/2011 by Kate Keter.
Well, we enjoyed it so much last year that we’re going back again. We’ll fly to Delhi on Thursday, 24 February (Ailie’s birthday!) to join others from RIBI in assisting with the Polio NID in Karnal on 27 Feb. After we spend an extra day in Delhi (Tuesday, 1 Mar) we’re heading to Mumbai for a couple of days to see the sights there before we come home on 5 Mar. Shorter trip than last year, but we’re looking forward to it just as much.
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Jaipur
11/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Early start today for our visit to the Amber (pronounced Amer) Fort, to which you are transported by elephant. We returned by jeep, which was a worse ride than the elephant. Then on to the City Palace and Jantar Mantar - a fascinating place. Our final visit of the day was to the Jaipur Limb Centre.
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On to Jaipur
10/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
At last a decent interent connection - so there are now a couple of photos on the earlier posts. Particularly me giving Polio drops.
Today we left our hotel in Agra at 8am. Our first visit was to the Fort which was very quiet that early so it was a great visit. Then we went on to Fatehpur Sikri - the ghost city - which again was very intereting. After the inevitable visit to a workshop and emporium we arrived at our hotel in time for dinner.
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Taj Mahal
10/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Yesterday we travelled from Delhi to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. It was a very long journey that should have lasted about four and a half hours and was nearer six and a half. However it meant that our visit to the Taj Mahal didn’t start until 5pm and finished as the sun started to set just after 6pm. It was beautiful! Well worth the lovely orange overshoes we had to wear to get inside.
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NID & mop up
08/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Yesterday we started the day with the Rotary Club of New Delhi and visited a few of the booths they were supporting. We got the chance to give the Polio drops to quite a few of the children that appeared, as well as mark their pinkies with the purple dye and give out our gifts. We also visited a number of booths to see how they check and supervise the operation. In Delhi there are around 7,900 booths which can immunize up to 3000 children each - and that’s just Delhi! Each booth is staffed by 2 or 3 volunteers, one of which is medically trained in some way so they can answer other questions if the come up. We probably managed to immunize about 50 children throughout the day.
Today we were with one of the teams going round the houses which was very interesting. We were with a lady whose daughter is studying in Stirling - coincodence, or what? Anyway, we toured round an area of Delhi - some bits of which were better than others looking for children without a purple pinkie, and found a few. We were invited into a house, well really just a room with enough space for a double bed, to immunize a month old baby and her older sister. We were made very welcome, offered tea and given blessings because we were helping with the polio drops. Once “our” round had finished we returned to their center to see the collation of numbers. Had great fun with the girls and some of us ended up with henna tattoos on our hands.
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Back to Delhi
06/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Still not able to upload photos properly. We’ll keep trying…
Flight from Varanasi was good - we even got some lunch “thrown” at us during the short 1 hour 15 minute flight. We landed about 15-20 minutes late so then had a dash into Delhi to meet up with our Rotary group. There was a meeting at the local Rotary office just to give us some background information and confirm (loosely) the arrangements for the NID on Sunday. Discovered the publicity planned for today (Saturday) had been cancelled so we’ve had a lazy day sorting out our suitcases, doing some washing and generally doing not very much. Just ventured out for a walk but turned the wrong way as we came out of the hotel and didn’t end up where we wanted to go. Maybe try again later. Tomorrow is the Immunisation Day, which we’re looking forward to. Come back in a couple of days for an update (and maybe some photos!!)
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Touring Varanasi
04/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Last night’s sunset trip was amazing. We walked through Varanasi’s side streets to get to the cremation ghats on the riverbank. About 10 of them happening while we were there. Then on to a boat to see the priests perform their sunset ritual from the middle of the Ganges.
We were up at 6:15 this morning to see the sunrise rituals. More priests and monks, cremations and people bathing in the river (Ugh - not something we would do!). After a break for breakfast we headed for Sarnath the birthplace of Buddhism. We then spent an hour with the Banaras silk merchant who did his very best to sell us a beautiful brocade silk bedspread. All very interesting but we enjoyed the afternoon sitting by the pool reading our books.
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Varanasi
03/02/2010 by Kate Keter.
Now we’re in Varanasi. We got here in a 5 hour drive by car through some very interesting countryside. All accomanied by the sound of car horns blaring almost continuously. We’ve just had lunch and will be preparing for a rickshaw ride to the sunset ceremonies on the Ganges tonight - before a 5:30am start tomorrow!
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