Busses, Auto's and Ujire

The last 2 days have been such an experience.

On Saturday lunchtime, I visited the SELCO Head office and saw their examples of the solar lighting systems which they install in areas all over Karnataka State. Some of the financing mechanisms which help people gain access to solar lighting was also explained to me.

On Sunday morning after a very good nights sleep, I took an auto-rickshaw to the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens before navigating my way through Cubbon Park and to the MG Road area. I have found Bangalore is very difficult to navigate through, but the backup is to jump on board one of the many auto's which hurtle up and down the cities streets.

I was conned by one of the rickshaw drivers who initially said he would show me to some of the tourist sights and then drive back to my hotel. After taking me to a few sites he insisted on taking me to a number of shops and once you've entered a shop it is expected that you buy something.

Bangalore's 'Majestic' bus stand was huge. It took some time to find the right platform as it was not signed. I travelled in a Rajahamsa Executive overnight bus (sounds more comfortable than it was.) Once again, I had no real idea where to get off but knew it would be about 5.45am when I should have arrived in Ujire.

This morning, I got off the bus in the dark and in the rain after I had seen the engineering college from the road. Kiran, another intern at SELCO picked me up on his moped taking me to the lodge.

I have now settled in to where I will be working for the next few months, and am trying to learn everything I can about Solar Drying from the previous interns I have a lot of reading to do over the next week.

Pre-Departure Course & 6 days to go.

The excitement is really building as I prepare for my placement. By this time next week, I will be on a plane flying to Bangalore.

The last week I have spent on the EWB-UK placement volunteers training course. We spent the first two days being made aware of (and scared by) all the things which could go wrong on our placements, including health problems and security threats. This included an activity involving spotting landmines - I'm hoping I won't come across any of them! The latter half of the course looked at participatory tools in development, and project management. The course ended with one of the best metaphores for learning about development, and one which I will remember for a long time to come.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped put on the course and I wish all the other placement volunteers a fantastic time on their placement.

I've got my visa, a had a whole host of immunisations, packed an assortment of pills (including anti-malarials) , made my arrival arrangements and tried to find as many resources as possible on solar food drying. There's so much more I have to sort before next week, but still cannot wait to start my placement.