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0430am start, leave 5am for a 4hr bus journey to a small village called Chinchoti in Maharashtra, we were meant to take bus, boat, Tuk tuk and bull cart, but the weather was bad! So 4hrs in, we stopped at the roadside to watch the women wash their clothes in the river, very manual work! Some people had a go at cleaning the clothes, then back on the bus to a field about 20 mins away where we played a traditional Indian game called "Cupady" (said like cup-a-tea) which is a bit like British bulldog with a mix of rugby, played on a small field with the idea of 1 team attacking to try and touch a member of the other team and get back over the halfway line before being caught by the defending team. Sounds complicated, but very easy. So I played 2 games, but somehow purple team managed to win the whole game?!? So by this time I am a little sunburnt and hungry!
So back on the bus and stop off at a school, have a wonder about the rural school, and they have very meaningful quotes written above the doors of the classroom, we then saw them playing 'cupady' they were a lot better and very quick! Then we saw their prayer session. They are only at school for 4hrs a day, and it's a mixed school, and some children have to cycle 2-6km every day to get to school! Left there to go to the village, walked around and it was so beautiful and green, calm and relaxing, it almost felt like we had gone on a spa retreat! All the houses were beautifully brightly painted, the children are very well behaved, and most men were at work in Mumbai. So we went into one house and had some food, it was delicious and spicy food! We got to know some more about her family and rural living, we all sat on the floor to eat and chatted, very nice family, so we left and walked through the village to some large tuk tuks, passing free roaming chickens, cats and tiny kittens, the air is so clear and they also have their own little vegetable patch, aww! So got in the tuk tuk to a small lake where we are to have a Holi festival, walked around to the other side of the river the guys got their band set up. Then we all ran through two lines of people and they threw paint over us, haha! Surreal event! Only managed to get a couple of photos, we danced and then threw paint over more people! Got it everywhere, t-shirt, trousers, face! Then, within a few seconds they started throwing water over us! Got so wet! But I think it got some of the paint off, but got so wet I thought screw it, let's go for a swim! Took off the boots and got in! It was lovely, but strange warm parts of the lake, and some very cold parts! (worrying!) Swam around for a bit and enjoyed the moment. Got out and they had provided some changing facilities (tarpaulin) so had a spare change of t-shirt and leggings, but no underwear, so went bra-less! So wet, but no-one cares. Got back into the tuk tuk to get on the bus, had a pee in a bush and sat down for a long 4hr wet drive back to the hotel! I had sweets so I was happy! The bus however was set to a temp of 15 degrees, so it was soooo cold, had a cardigan, and waterproof on for the whole jourey back! Had some dinner, popped out to stock up on chocolate and bought an Indian Kinder egg for everyone at home, and then had a drink at the hotel bar for Bobby's birthday, one beer was so lovely, but a little bit more expensive at Rs200! Then phoned home to try and talk to Sarah, but she was swimming! Talked to mummy though, and can't wait to come home!
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