February 4, 2012: Team India’s Journal
Highlights from Dabolim in Goa state:
Sunset on the beach
First Indian breakfast and an introduction to dosa.
“Is that a membrane filter on that clean water drinking station?” Visiting primary schools in the slums.
Multiple family members living together.
Stuart learned the Hindi word for shell: shank.
Power outage and no one blinks.
Vasco de Gama
Portuguese architecture
How many cars, bikes, carts, trucks, pedestrians can fit on a single lane road?
Highlights from Margao in Goa state:
Shopping at FabIndia
Singing and dancing with our host families
Pilgrimage of Sound and Light at the Basilica de Bom Jesus
Starting to learn about the gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion Prayer bracelets from the Temple of Sai Baba
Fresh coconut water
Trying on our first sarees
Thali, a vegetarian sampler
Highlights from Karwar in Karnataka state:
Kali River flows into the Arabian Sea
270 degree panorama view of the sea
Ice cream on the streets
Our first welcome with the Arati ritual and flower leis from Inner Wheel Yakshakahna, epic dance of Karnataka, at the Rotary cultural program Mastering the “facilities”
Learning the technic of eating with fingers and only the right hand Move perpendicular to the windsock in the event of catastrophic failure Post meeting photos with every family
Rotary service projects in Ankola in Karnataka state:
Sewing machines for women
New bathroom for a neighborhood without facilities.
Desks for primary schools.
Highlights from Bhatkal in state of Karnataka:
Manufacturing depends on large labor force in cashew factory and tile company. First opportunity to learn about the Muslim community in India Angry monkey
Presentation outside under a full moon
Temple of Shiva at Murdeshaar at sunset
Anjuman College of Engineering
Rotary Club of Kumpta hosts us and we present two sewing machines.
Highlights from Sirci in the state of Karnataka:
Munjamuni Temple stop and lunch on the floor of the temple.
Tour of the Rotary funded hospital.
Everyone stayed with a host family named Hegde.
Picnic in the plantation.
At the plantation: Betel nut processing by hand. Throwing Clay pots. Blacksmith. Dancing with school children. U.S. quality manufacturing plant of transmission parts.
A visit with a Rotary Community Corp in Banavasi to visit the Madhukeshwara temple. Medical center
Bharathanatyam performed at cultural program
Every Rotary meeting ends with the national anthem of India
A day with the Rotary club of Mundgod and a visit to the Tibetan Colony: Weaving. Nunnery. Monastaries. Old Age Home.
Teak forest.
Western Ghat
Highlights from Dharwad in the state of Karnataka:
Our first three night stay
A “free day” is scheduled
State of the art dental college
Seed research at Ag campus
Natural colored fabrics from fibers
Picnic on the farm with chapatti baked over an open fire
Spa treatments for the women.
Roto Kids, a Rotary club for elementary students
Wifi at Ravi’s house
Mankara Sankranthi, harvest festival. Take sweet. Talk sweet. Be sweet.
Community blood bank, new hospital ward and dialysis machine funded by Rotary clubs. Coconut with candles lit on top used for Arati ritual.
Upma for breakfast, a cream of wheat texture with peas and vegetables Sadar, a very tall string instrument played like a guitar
Women only Rotary club
Lizards
Monkeys on the roof of the house
Highlights of Bagalkot in Karnataka state:
Travel on road with tractors and trucks decorated for the Harvest festival World heritage monument site visits: Badami, Pattadakallu, Ihole, Kudalsangam
Annual fair and market with all of the livestock and faire represented with huge crowds. “Monkeys are a menace”
A new Bagalkot created when land flooded for dam. For this reason there are many new homes and government buildings Morning brunch by one of the host families with beautiful send off cake.
Malkamb: name of the pole used for a gymnastics technic performed at presentation meeting. Pretty outdoor setting for Rotary meeting and dinner. Chilly so fire built. Chocolate candy bouquet
Highlights from Mudhol in state of Karnataka:
Mudhol hounds
Bill Hillyer School visit, a school established as memorial to peace corp member who died while assigned to Mudhol. Rotarians support the school Sugar harvesting and trucks, bicycles, individuals deliver to factories.
Highlights from Bijapur in the state of Karnataka:
The only site where we arrived early.
One of the largest free standing domes in the world.
Tomato omelet
Summer king’s palace
Mausoleum built prior to Taj Mahal
Rotary meeting and dinner in a rooftop setting
Shirt manufacturing
Sneeha Sadan, a community school and garden funded by Rotary Brunch hosted by one of team member families
A Taste of Bijapur hosted by Rotary as part of annual fair…huge crowds. Rico winery
40 bathrooms built for community with 200 planned by Rotary. College of Commerce lecture presented by GSE team
Site visit to architecture and engineering college.
Highlights from Athani in Karnataka state:
Toehold leather sandals with micro credit loans from Rotary
Flag presentation to Rotary club
Highlights from Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra state:
Physical therapy center, a silver jubilee project of Rotary and housed in Rotary building. Rotary provides School bus and supplies for school of the deaf Computers funded for community use by Rotary
Team visit to flower factory
Cotton processing plant site visit
Team sings the Star-Spangled Banner at request of club
Couples Rotary Club meets on Sunday morning where we presented Rotary funds mobile medical clinic
Outdoor BBQ veg style
Palace serves as College of Architecture
Brunch with New Generations group
Highlights of Jaysingpur in Maharahstra state:
Rotary club funds community park, playground and gardens and computers in school.
Highlights from Shirol in Maharashtra state:
Turbans
“Review of the students” welcome
Rotary funds community hearse
Tree plantings
Highlights from Kolhapur in Maharashtra state:
Rotary funded : Physical therapy center, school for the deaf, blood bank
Cocoon project: Neonatal ICU where 16 to 18 lives are saved each day with equipment funded by Rotary Wedding festivities including the grinding of turmeric and blessing of bangles Women’s Rotary club luncheon
Republic Day festivities on January 26 and art show
Sports Day at a public school funded by a Rotarian
Outdoor Rotary program in a garden and dinner following
Dancing and karaoke hosted by Rotary
King’s palace
Laughing yoga
School for mentally challenged and funding of bus from Rotary and leadership and fundraising for a new building Peacock siting
Grokul Milk
Henna for our hands
Cocktail ice cream dessert
Hill Station visit and sunset
Freedom Fighters
Highlights from Belgaum I’m Karnataka state:
Sports activity center with pool funded by Rotary
A night for women of GSE 5650 to be in sarees
Hindu and Jaine temples
Foundry site visit
Highlights from Panjim in the state of Goa
Rotary plans Beaches and Calamari with dancing a bonus for team Sunsets
School for children with mental challenges
Ferry boat ride across the river
Art, antiques and lunch with Rotary members
Meeting presentation and send-off from Rotary Club of Panjim Mid-Town Markets, souvenirs and packing
Delhi highlights:
New Delhi and Old Delhi Tours
Taj Mahal and Agra Fort tours
Marble inlay handicraft tours
6 hour drive back to Delhi from Agra with 10 wedding celebrations in process Train ride to Agra with “Meals on Rails.”
Afternoon at the Radisson Spa
Kashmir warehouse
Meeting with Mid-Town Rotary meeting and Italian dinner following 10 wedding processions observed between Agra and Delhi
Red Fort
Rickshaw ride
Wide boulevards
Much cooler weather
WWI Memorial and President’s House
Organized traffic
Elephant caring passenger down the street
Highlights from Omaha in the state of Nebraska:
Finding words to describe our amazing experience
Love to our understanding spouses and families
Thank you to our District 5650 and Robert Rapp
Greetings to DG Bob Perrin from District 3170 DG Avinash Potdar Gratitude to District 3170
A lifetime bond for GSE team
There’s no place like home.
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