And finally...!

We are all safely back in England now so it seems fitting to close this blog with what was probably the funniest moment of the whole trip.

On the way back from the elephant sanctuary we went to a beach a couple of miles from our hotel. As the breakers were coming in from the Arabian Sea they threw up lots of spray as they broke against the sea wall, so the girls started to stand behind the wall and dodge the spray as it came over. All very safe but slightly damp fun!

The sea wall with waves breaking

We're brave!

Getting slightly damp

But its fun!

You can't get me!

A fraction of a second after this last picture a massive wave came in that simply flattened the girls to the ground! If you've ever been ten pin bowling you'll get the picture. Their faces as they spluttered their way back to their feet was a picture!

Needless to say it was a very wet group that returned to the hotel!

Signing off from India 2014!

Our new best friends

There was one shop in particular that we got to know quite well in the few times we visited - it was run by a wonderful family of mum, dad and three lovely young kids. Of course, they were very pleased to see us (and our money) but they were genuinely decent, hard working people and we warmed to them as they tried to eke out a living there.

The shop's shrine - money received was always offered here first!

Harrie G in particular took to the young daughter who was so incredibly bright and funny. Harrie has started on a bit of master plan - to leave a lasting legacy from our visit - so you may be hearing some more about this in September.

The plan unfolds - asking questions for a school 'project'!

Can I fit her in my ruck sack?

And Ms Whitbread wants this one!

Visiting the school before we left!

On the Wednesday before we left we had the opportunity to visit our project school to meet the pupils and staff. This provided a real sense of closure on that part of our challenge - because of religious festivals we had not seen the school in action at all.

We were also able to present the Headmistress with funds left over from out project budget. It only  came to the equivalent of £130 but it was greatly appreciated and we got the feeling that it would go a long way within the school.

Excited young students - seemed really happy to see us.

No school uniform here - just lots of bright colours

Lessons outside quite common

Showing their work

With the headmistress after presenting her with some cash for her school

Lots of noise and excitement

Giving out our gifts to a junior class

Very pleased with their tennis balls

It's a stand off!

These guys were very boisterous

Here's a sobering thought on this last picture. These guys were really very excitable and loud. At one point a male teacher came into the room and they sat down silently in an instant. After he had left I asked them whether the teacher was strict. 'Yes'. 'Does he hit you?' I asked. 'Yes' came the reply! It really was a different world!

It's all about the money!

The girls greatly enjoyed the Indian shopping experience and with the exchange rate offering about one hundred rupees to the pound it was very easy for us to get an idea of prices in India.

Shopping for gifts

  

So many to choose from

Negotiating the best price

With one of our favourite stall holders

Here are some things to think about next time you are out shopping:

a) Petrol was under 70p per litre

b) The 7 hour coach transfer from the trek to the project cost us only £80 - that's just under £5 each

c) The tilers at the project were on a stagering £8 per day - and they worked very hard!

d) An average meal out would be around £1.50 - 2.00

e) Tuk Tuk rides were about £1 per journey

Tuk Tuks - everyday transport Indian style

This one needed an extra powerful engine!

Where's our driver?

This driver was so jolly and very safe too!

And finally here's one for the parents at CH - fees for private education at the local Indian school were around £360 per year!

The Day of the Elephants!

'This has probably been the best day of my life'. This quote from Poppy R really brought home what was a truly magical afternoon as the girls visited an elephant sanctuary and had the opportunity to ride on these magnificent animals.

At 2pm six Tuk Tuks turned up to take us on our new adventure. After a 30 minute journey, fairly quiet by Indian standards, we arrived at the sanctuary. I'm not going to write too much - the pictures will tell their own story. The sense of wonder and awe on the girl's faces was priceless.

Everyone rode and we had the opportunity to feed them bananas as reward for all their efforts.

This is the day the girls will be talking about forever and for all of us it was a really magical experience. 

The Project

After a 7 hour mini bus transfer from our last campsite we arrive at our project stage in Varkala. As we turned along the sea front to our hotel we were expecting someone to jump out and shout 'April Fool!' because it seemed we had just arrived in paradise...!

Happy campers as we arrive in paradise!

Sun sets on another hard day!

It's a tough life on World Challenge!

The girls are sharing in small beach chalets - all with real showers and the all important sit-on loo!

As we realised this was to be our home for the next few days we all started to switch into holiday mode and enjoy our surroundings. But we were here to work so the next day we took Tuk Tuks down to our school project.

Driving anywhere in India is quite mad but taking a Tuk Tuk ride is a whole new level of experience! It's a bit like Formula 1 but without the safety features.

Arriving at the school we were somewhat stunned by what we found. Because of festivals there were no pupils present but we found out the buildings housed a school of over 1000 pupils in classes of 40+ in what can only be described as very basic conditions. Coming from our own school we really were in a totally different world and the realisation of what we were seeing hit the girls and staff alike.

Tuk Tuk Races!

Buying Tiles, Cement and Paint

Time to unload the lorry

Our project was simply to make two classrooms more habitable and the girls set about painting some bright murals on the walls. On the second day we had some help from workmen as we laid into tiling one of the rooms and completing a veranda. At times it was a bit difficult to tell where the girls ended and the cement begun - everything was spread very liberally around!

Mixing the tile cement

Getting the consistency right is the hard bit

These guys work so fast!

The floor takes shape

After two very hard days we were all very proud of what we had accomplished for the school and hope that the students like there new classrooms upon their return.

We did it!

Tomorrow is a religious festival - although we are India we are in a very strongly Muslim area and everything is focused on Eid. So we are looking forward to a day without any planned activity at all and breakfast at 10am! The R&R phase is beginning!