Still up North!

Lots on the agenda today before we return to Jodhpur.  Time for a quick walk around the garden before breakfast on the verandah. 

Mostly the Indian people like to have their photographs taken. In fact they ask, especially the young men.

I just peeped over the hedge and the neighbours were already in the garden and promptly stood and posed for me.

The Neighbour

We climbed into Khrishnapal’s open jeep and bumped our away along the dusty tracks towards the school which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. It was 8.30am and already very hot.

 There are about 150 children at this school.  As our visits are all planned by Kishal so we go to places where there are no other tourists.  

We could hear the children’s excited chatter as we drove in but they were soon lined up and sat down on the verandah. They respond to the teachers immediately! You could hear a pin drop, and we were invited to take photographs. Not very exciting as they were all in a crowd, but some lovely faces.

Back in the very basic classrooms we were left alone with them to get more photographs. They can’t help staring a lot and I seemed to be a source of amusement, don’t know whether it was because I’m  a white woman or whether it was my hat!

He was a really cheeky little fella!

He was happy to write his name!

Noticed the eyes on this one

Had a peek in the classroom before they went in-basic!

It's a wonder I got a photograph of these two, they were giggling so much. Sitting on the floor to work doesn't seem to bother them.

She wanted to wear my hat and glasses, she was very bossy and wanted her friends in the image.  Prescription glasses! Must say she looks better in the hat than I do.

These ladies appeared, don't know why. We were lucky to get this as when they were near the men they covered their faces.

The school saw us off with the national anthem which they sang with gusto. Kishal also but the staff didn't. Krishnapal got in the picture but I'm glad he did. He was a perfect host.

We found our Reika goat man, counting his sheep I think.

We managed to get some shots of him walking up and down and then as if by magic people started appearing from all over the place.  The young man on the motor bike couldn't be persuaded by Kishal and Krishnapal to go past....said he was going to turn right into the field but when we moved the herder he turned round and went back the way he came.  He just wanted his photograph taken. However, by this time the Reika had to go back to the fields so we retired to the house nearby for a cup of chai.

This is where the chai was being made. Mother is in blue. Her two children to her left.

The other woman and her family just turned up.  They were all very shy. I think they were a bit overawed by the fact they were hosting not only us but another religious man. I don't know quite what position he held but they (and us) were very honoured that he came along.

The little boy still looks very wary of the religious man!  We tried very much to get them to not look at us but it was very difficult.  The room was about 6'x8' with two seats in it so not easy to get images.

Jogi Village
We visited a group of Jogi nomads. Although they do roam the countryside they were at the same place when the group visited last year.  As you can see they are very poor but always smiling and very pleased to see us. Music was blaring out when we arrived and they came rushing from all directions.

This is where they live!

These are two of the older men in the village, we noticed that the young men and boys tend to wear western style clothes. They tried to push themselves in all of the photographs!

They asked for a group picture. They were very happy

This baby has the most amazing eyes.

We were treated to a dance before we left

I think they wanted to come with us!

One of my favourite girls

This young lady is 100 years old. After I took this she went and squatted against the wall.  I couldn't!

I think these must be all their worldly goods.

I did a bit of research on these people and apparently they are originally snake charmers. Had I known this I wouldn't have got out of the jeep.  We didn't see any thank goodness.

What a morning, we were all over the place. back in the jeep and on our way back to the farm for lunch, or so we thought, but Krishnapal thought it would be a good idea if we called in at his parents place to photograph one of the two women they employ to grind the millet.

They put the short pole in a hole in the stone wheel and keep it spinning while putting the millet in the hole in the centre.  Hard work!

 She had the most beautiful smile and seemed to know how to pose! After a glass of very welcome home made lemon water and meeting Krishnapal's Mother we were on our way back to Krishnapal's home for a lovely lunch and soon our great two days away was over and we were back in Jodhpur.