September 9

Throughout the last few days we kept on working with Bashing, established contacts with Grady (a guy who’s bringing bicycles from the US) and previous volunteers. Yet, I felt like I’d left my soul in the fridge.

At Bashing kids were too distracted and preoccupied to learn, so we played cricket. I’ve never done it before, and surely never play this game again. It’s tedious to say the least, and for the most of time only two people engage into it. Snobbish piece of heritage from those times, I thought. Conversely, Basketball, is one of the coolest and least snobbish games ever. It’s as athletic as a sport can get. I wonder how’s Lithuania performed yesterday against Argentina.

On Thursday we had to visit drug de-addiction centre and Kayeli orphanage. We went to the central bus station which resembles a colorful masquerade and asked one of the drivers for Jhiri. As it turned out we were being taken to Ghiri which is 2 hours drive from Kullu. Sad. After being ridiculously late for the centre, we opted to come back to Kayeli on time.

A cute pickup stopped for us, there were 8 kids inside, and two funny smiling guys in front. They showed some zig zags when asked whether they went to Kullu. As gullible as we are, instead of going to Kullu, we went to the…skies. The pick-up was driving kids who live n a hug mountain back from school. We spent 1 hour elevating ourselves through serpentines. God, these panoramas are astonishing. And roads are narrow enough to sparkle frightful hallucinations about us rolling down the road. I’ll ask Anine for some pics, that we’ve taken that day.

I always wondered what brings people so high up the mountains. Here you have a powerful river and a patch of fertile land by your neighborhood, and yet, you ascend further. Some of those girls in the truck were astoundingly pretty, like gemstones on a crown of mountains.

So we went to Kayeli and met them kids. Compared to Bashing where anarchy is their bread, Kayelis were modest and well behaved. A married old couple is running this place, and believe it or not – they run it smooth. This Saturday we’ll start planning our skit for Save the girl child and for now we played some bonding games.

Guys liked it in general, yet the elder ones were slightly bored. I raised my voice a lot. And they would listen. I like it.

Once back in Kullu, we were ripped off. At the fruit stand, at restaurant, at staples shop. We felt sad. Last day we paid 35 Rs for two half plates of “lady fingers” and Dal, and now it inflated to 60Rs. Kindly asked, assistant gave us a discount to 55 Rs. Equality and patience, next time we’ll say “Sahi sahi ret lagama” – “Tell me the real price”! I can’t believe that Lithuania, although being at the back foot of Europe is still cheaper than India ;D

One week in Kullu, and life is turning mundane, except the daily activities with children.

Yesterday, I did the garbage the first time. Instructions go like this:

1. 1. Take the trash

2. 2. Go a few quartiles away

3. 3. Look out for cows.

4. 4. Feed the garbage to them. ;D