As part of my great East Indian journey where I saw my first snow-capped mountain in Darjeeling and learned more about colonial India in Kolkata two years ago while volunteering in India, I paid my VSO batchmate co-volunteer Sue a visit at her placement area in Puri, Odisha.
Continue reading FotoFolio: The Holy City of Jagannath Puri, Odisha, East India
Reblogged is a series of blog posts on my life in India coming from the weblogs I set-up. It’s an attempt to put the stories all in one place! The post Weekend in the Village (Part 1 – A Day in the Life…) was originally posted on May 9, 2013 via the Project365: Volunteers for Change weblog I set-up with my VSO volunteer batch. I spent a weekend with the family of my colleague and friend Charu at her mother’s hometown in Taloshi, Mahad, Maharashtra. This is a two-part story for the events and scenes from May 4-8.
Many volunteers here in India are based in rural areas, if not in State capitals that would seem laid back if compared to the fast-paced life in mega cities. I am among the few who are based in mega cities like Delhi and, in my case, Mumbai. Well, technically, I am based in Navi Mumbai, more or less 30 minutes outside Mumbai. In any case, what I am driving at is I live in the city where everything is available–running hot and cold water, air conditioner, cold filtered water, English-style T&B (a necessity for most volunteers), internet, cable TV, restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas, etc. In short, one may say that I have no right to complain about my placement in terms of location. Continue reading Reblogged: Weekend in the Village (Part 1 – A day in the Life)
It was back in August 2011 during my VSO Bahaginan preparatory training when I first set foot on Lake Island. About 1.5-2 hours from Cubao (due to daytime traffic), this secluded and serene place is perfect for the purpose that it was built — a seminar and conference / retreat center. The Lake Island compound, in Binangonan, Rizal, is surrounded by lush trees, manicured grounds, flowering plants and of course, the calm man-made lake. All of the sleeping quarters are made of native materials — wooden walls and floors, bamboo beds, furniture and pillars, and nipa leaves for the roofing. The food served is always a delight, in its simplicity and freshness. Some of my favorites, I’ve been here three times (this photo taken in February 2014, 3rd visit), are the fried tilapia (pinaputok style), ensaladang camote tops, and the minatamis na saging! So, if you’re a group of friends or family wanting a relaxed and quiet weekend or a company looking for your next team building venue, consider heading out to Lake Island. 🙂
The Diarist Wanders 