Wet in mumbai

Hi guys,
First and foremost do apologies for the late update...for the time has passed so fast this trip down that I could not find time to make a run to the dhanu cybercafe to give you guys and update.
Anyway im back i mumbai after spending 11 days in Nareshwadi. I've got one night here before I fly of the next day and guess how the beautiful mumbai morning greets me on my last day, with loads of...RAIN
yup I shouldnt be surprised tho, it is the start on the monsoon...so a wet start it will be then, luckly I dont have much to do except get to Lee's place in Juhu to chill with Rory n gang whilst watching a game or two of football ;) and yes I did catch a game in Nareshwadi.  Thanks to Vivek, who was kind enough to active the ESPN channel in the guest house, Rory, Vesanti and me had a chance to catch Italy vs Paragua.
An ok match that ended in a 1 all draw, ahem ahem I do believe I am should have got a free breakfast from a certain individuals....Tho I guess the more interesting part of the game was seeing Rory & Vesanti get hooked on an old game called Thai Thee (Two of Spades).
So a bit about Nareshwadi and my visit this year,
1. The kids have grown!!! yup all the young kids have actually shoot up...Do believe this has much to do with upgrade of the diet program in Nareshwadi
2. There new young faces in the teaching crew, lots more house parents and teaches have joined the small litle Nareshwadi teaching community that hopefully will bring fresh idea and new teaching methodology to the school.
3. The farm has grown...Thanks to the endless efforts by the farm crew the mangoes this year have sold out!!! And what is great is that the kids have been give a free hand in picking/plucking as many mangoes as the like this year...and hopefully the few mangoes i got survive the trip back to kl ;)
To conclude, I have seen Nareshwadi change over the last three visits and this has really given me hope that individuals with determination CAN make changes to the most old way of things...You can teach and old dog new tricks I guess ;-)
catch you later guys
-dave-

Sunset on day 1 in Mumbai

hi guys,
I know its been sometime since I've updated this website.  Well its just because I've not traveled la ;)
For the non-Malaysian readers, the word "la" is a common replacement for the "." in Malaysia, do try it, say anything n just end it with "la" and walah..you talk like a Malaysian ;)
Well enough of 101 on being Malaysian...now 101 on being an Indian
first make sure you get conned at least once, the sooner the better, as for me it was the taxi guy that instead of charging me the standard 150 odd rupees, charged me 200 odd for a trip.(tick)
then grab yourself an "allo walla pranta with cha" at the local hotel aka restaurant (tick), another 101, restaurants r commonly referred to as hotels, bonus points if you can guess what hotels are commonly referred to as...
third go shopping!!! latest fashions n latest movie cds n books n everything nice (tick)
fourth get on the mumbai local train during off peak hrs n stand at the doors whilst the train travels thru mumbai...(tick)
fifth n final take a rick aka auto all by yourself and try to start a conversation in hindi with the driver (tick) ;)
now you can call yourself a local indian...well not really but you can pass for one la....
ok a bit about the picture above, its from the juru beach, that is close to Lee's place in Mumbai
alright gang, thats it for now, will catch you guys from Nareshwadi
till then
dave signing out...

saying goodbye

sometimes just saying it is not enough...its believing it...and believing it takes time, takes family, takes friends and most importantly takes yourself...

and finally i believe i can say goodbye

thanks...you know who you are and you know what you did for me

and for that i hope someday i can return the favour somehow, sometime, somewhere

-dave-

Cybering in good ol Dahanu cafe

hey all,

its Saturday, nearly a week since i landing in the heat of a coax called mumbai (read previous articles to learn more about that) since then, ive been based in Nareshwadi, surounded by 20 so eager students to enjoy a short break period they fondly call Summer Camp. What is Summer camp, i tried to define last night as i lay in my room apartment without (light) electricity coming in, just my cool music from the doors n 1 rupee candle burning the darkness away. Summer camp is a time of liberation, liberation from the monotones life or a boarding school to the daily 9 to 5 routine of work of others. Its a time when u get to express yourself and find the inner child coming out to play in the mad heat of the Summer. Its a time to learn new things about yourself and push yourself further when possible just to recall that you can do this and this is possible. Its a time to have fun...that is the summer camp in Nareshwadi. Tho this time around, im only here for 2 weeks, everyday is a new day and a new begining...tho something at the small corner of my head (close to my bold spot im sure ;)) keeps reminding me me that it is slowly coming to an end...and the door lyrics come along..."is this the end?"

a day in the life of charlie brown

Greetings from Nareshwadi gang,

yup there is internet connections in Nareshwadi, one of the guys is using the local mobile providers to surf the net and it works! Well its day 3 now in Nareshwadi and how it feels like i never left at all, even the grocery shop guy who i only must met just once during my stay here last year remembers me! Tho I lieing when i say nothing has changed much, in actuallity much has changed, a couple of new teachers here and there, a computer room with 40 odd computers, tho dont get me started on those pc, I mean uncle jeff if u r reading this, i may need to bring u along the next time i come and hopefully we can sort this computer mess out ;) There is also a new library abt 80% completed. The classrooms look well maintained and after my conversation with Patricia there is also a couple of new management procedures set in. So overall there are visible improvements to Nareshwadi in the last yr or so. The kids loved the watches Ravi and now happy wishing me good morning/afternoon/evening ;)

Ive also started a morning routine with them with the help of Rita (ah that poor thing, going true some sort of midlife crisis rite now) anyway...we start the morning as early as 7am (malaysian 9.30am) whereby i take the kids for a jog a couple of rounds round the field. then while the rest its morning story time nwhereby i read to them till abt 8am..then its maths for an hr and a half. the kids have a break at 9.30 till 10am. Then its art classes as such till abt 1pm whereby the have lunch and chill till at 5pm. Then there is quick class till 6pm whereby after that its hockey or football till 7pm. After dinner abt 8pm we will have a couple of activities before lights off at 9.30pm...n the day is done.

well ive not uploaded any pictures just yet, maybe later in the day i will comeby to upload some.

till then regards from a small town named Nareshwadi...

Dave Sir is back

hey morning man,
day one in mumbai n what the hell ride it was to get here!
i mean dont get me wrong, the flights were swell, the transits were good, the customs were kind but
darn i should have knew it something worse was on the corner...
well here i am finally arriving to mumbai, india with the loads of bags n such n being pretty impressed with myself for surviving the trip
THEN i enter the airport from HELL
yup the indian airport authrities decided on that evening by the looks of it to step up their procedures for the swine flu pendemic.
hence some great champ decided to just put up loads of barriers n abt 4 counters to interview every poor chap who gets down of the plane that day. so imagine this, my flight from singapore was a full load aka abt 150-200 pax getting down n being ushed to this massive cluster of people that look to be themselves shocked to be see the big cluster n everyone has no idea who what or where to go inc of elderly, pregnant, parents n such all carring their hand luggage thru this massive cluster of lines leading to good knows where, n the scary thing as u approach there 4 tables its just caox...anyway after like standing in line for an hr or so any most likely getting the swine flu in the process, i managed to divert out of this mass n make my way outside just to see the madness that is mumbai!
due to the mad lines inside the airport everyone waiting outside had doubles n so had their cars, rickshows, taxis, n whatever not they felt they had to park there n join in the fun....tho i did manage to find lee n marie quite easyly, the only 2 white ladies there ;)
n managed to get on a cab..who turned to had a couple to drink that nite n just survived the trip to lee's place.
had beer n called it a nite
now im up at 6 their time, 8ish my time sipping my kopitiam coffee n awaiting my driver to drive me n all this stuff to nareshwadi ;)
well joe will keep all of u guys posted on more stuff as n when they happen or when i have the joys of using the net.
till then stay tuned n God bless ;)
dave sir is back!
ps my local number is +919769236743 i will text u guys from this number hence forth

Current status

A bit more older, not sure abt the wiser bit ;)

Ok all here is the status of collections since my last entry

Cash donations

Jeremy Eu

Jas

Bob

Ravinder

Terf

Other donations

Loads of cloths for the girls from mum ;)

Kids toys and such from manju masi

Thanks all.

Sincerely

Dave

Bye-bye 31, it was nice knowing you…

(a little bit more older….desperately trying to be wiser)

Hi all,

Yes its that time of the year again, I’m turning 32 years of age this April 2^nd. Thus this year, I would like to request, that anyone and everyone wishing to buy a gift for me or even a card NOT TOO.

Instead donate in kind to my trip to Nareshwadi on May 2^nd. Yup, I’m off to Nareshwadi again this year, tho this time around due to work obligations I will only be spending 2 weeks there instead on 2 months alike the last time. And thanks to the good people over at Nareshwadi, we have already started the planning and preparation for the 2009 Summer Camp.

The activities lined up (all suggestions from the kids themselves so I’ve been informed ) is as follows. So if anyone has any suggestions or ideas on the activities listed below, I’m all ears…

1) Warli painting (local tribal painting)

2) Karate

3) Tailoring

4) Singing

5) Drama

6) Cooking - compilation of simple recipes

7) Landscaping

8) Carpentry

9) Model building depicting Warli tribal life

10) Trip to Usgaon and Usgaon children's visit to Nareshwadi

Isn't it done yet?

Standing infront of the hot flames of the BBQ yesterday, I got inspired to write this blog today (and also the numerous guilt trips by a certain individual...u know who u r)
Youth...yup its been on top of my bold head for a quite a bit lately,
is a lot like the making of a good BBQ.
From the very beginning of starting the fire, by finding the right kind of wood and the right kind of fire starters or in some cases the old way of finding twigs you have the making of a good BBQ. Well my younger days...aka not so many moons ago it was kind of with good dry wood (uncles who have seen it all and done it all) with some fire starters whereby I got admissions to quite a happening college at that time and I had a decent loads of friends around me.
Then all a sudden you realize you have big fire in the pit.
This is my defination of the glory days, where the fire of the youth is burning and you are right there in the centre of everything.
Tho alike any wise BBQ guy will inform you...you can never make anything in that fire but just enjoy the glow it creates aka enjoy the moments which would feel like an internity at that time and place...
Only after the fire dies down, do we spread the wood all over the pit and throw in some charcoal over the hot wood to have continues heat throughout the BBQ
And I believe this happens around now for me anyway...
its the time when we have enjoyed the flames and nows its just time to have a sustainable warm glow and maybe, just maybe help start a new fire for someone else ;)

Coming home

Hi gang,
I know its been sometime since I've refreshed my blog and yes I have received the two sens soundings from my fav critic.
Anyway got up this morning and felt it's a good day to do some blogging.


So where was I, yep I'm back home now.
Got a couple of things on my plate to sort out, nothing too big just the simple thing of planning the rest of my life...
And of having to answer every third question on how did it happen and then this always follows by what next. And then of cause is getting used to the pace of things happening...
Thus as you see I've got everything under control...

And then I got high, and then I got high...

Greetings from 2,050m above sea level.
Well it is now day 5 with the boys and other than sharing, beds, drinks, seats and loads of other things together this trip is turning out to be quite good. And yes I have stop shitting across india, though it looks like Govin has picked up the batten on this one.
Let see, how do I describe Amritsar,
Seeing the Golden temple reflect of the lake was calming and peaceful.
Standing in the land of my forefathers was enlightening.
And having a cup of cha in a dhaba in the middle of nowhere was just amazing...
McLeod Ganj was quite chilled, literally for as we just arrived it was pouring rain,
so me and Ravi did the only thing we could do then, proceed to the hotel bar to have a couple of shots. Once the rain stopped and we were errr a bit more chilled (ahem as the temperature dropped of course) we just walked around the streets and was taken aback with the breath taking scenary. Next morning we packed up and moved to Manali. Although we had to amend the plans from taking the toy train due to Govin's unhappy tummy, the van ride was great.
Todays plans are to just walk around and absorb the sights and sounds and chill ;)
On that note, I shall sigh out now...
~Peace to all~

Shitting all across India...

Oh yeah, as someone so adequately put it,
I'm going to Delhi with a Delhi tummy...
Tho I did enjoy the 17hrs or so train journey,
the view from the toilet in A2 class was excellent.
I know a certain person would be all smiles now
whilst shouting at the computer screen;
See, see I told you soo ;)
Anyways all is good, the purge has reduce from hourly to 4 hrsly to now about 8hrs...
And hopefully by the time I leave with the boys, it would be totally over and done with,
For it would only be fair that I get the Delhi tummy as I come here
and be done with it as I leave here
let the adventure begin...
-dave-

Good bye Nareshwadi, Good bye Mumbai

Hello Delhi...

Yup the volunteer program has ended...
Hmmm im trying desperately to articulate my feelings about leaving here
This uneasy feeling i have as i say good bye to this place ive called home for the pass 3 months
For its been a bitter sweet experience
From the first going through the mad heat wave of Nareshwadi
To seeing the first droplets of rain on a hungry ground
From observing in Mumbai the blanten poverty all around
To seeing the hope of a better tomorrow by NGO programmes.
To loosing my fav mobile phone...to realizing Nokia has got some decent phones after all ;)
Well Iwill have to just rearticulate a saying an Aussy gal told me
Mumbai mere jaan, It hurts so much that you must just love it...
On that note,
alvida mumbai mera jaan...may i paths cross again soon

A not so wise thing to do

Many a time after an incident has happen we cant help but wonder "what if"...
"what if!"...i truly think those words should be banned from the english language not individually tho but together!
God knows we always will need the word "what" and the word "if"...
i mean my most fond memories were bugging the life of mum n dad on
what is this and what is that and what is what...
and i always remember the famous answers of "becauselah" you know who you are and stop smiling!!
and how life would be without "if" for "if" i think was the mother of all innovations for i can imagine the great einstein sitting one day and going "if", not "what if" but "if" we put this e in front of mc then square it...and wallah!!!
ok by now you must be wondering dave has finally lost it...well in a sense you are right...yesterday i lost my phone and the whole day today this stupid "what if" has been bugging the life of me...well you must say...this was one hell of an opener ;)
Yup, I lost the one love i brought away from ....... the queensland
this mobile phone had been thru a lot with me and i guess like many things has gone away
but its all not that bad! ive got my eyes on this next beaut sony tho the nokias have come up with some nice alternative...choices......the death of the wise shopper
anyway till then ive got this new sony phone that reminds me a lot of the ol faith full t10s and it has excellent fm!!
well anyway enough of the "what ifs" i shall now send an email to the good people at oxford and see if there is any hope of banning those darn words, maybe if i get enough people with me...
hmmm something to work on in malaysia ;)

till then
-dave-

Many faces of Nareshwadi

The many stories behind the simple smiles...

Sunsets over Nareshwadi

These are just a few of the beautiful sunsets I've captured over Nareshwadi from just outside my room...








its a wonder how sometimes we forget to look up and look out...

A day at the beach

Hi all,
Its been sometime, well its been a long week and what a week it has been!
Last Monday we decided to take the kids to the beach before the summer ends and the monsoon comes. The beach was not too far away and the kids really wanted to go. So we all got on the bus and off we went!
As soon as we reach the beach the kids ran into the water to play...so me and the 2 other teachers took shifts on keeping an eye on the kids, and with the two other teachers being ladies, I had to be the one in the water with kids! Boy I wished I paid more attention during the day to my swimming classes ;)
Anyway I was in the water keeping an eye on the two naughty boys beside me with the rest of the boys slightly further away but within running reach if anything happened...
So all went well and the two kids beside me were so happy playing in the water, especially Kuldip, the only kid who is HIV positive in at the boarding school...
Then around 12.30pm as planned I called all the kids back for we had planned to take them for lunch in town. So they all came out and I started to dry myself and thank God everything was going good...and I spoke to soon!
It turned out one of the teachers took one of the girls into the water so she can play in the water a bit and next minute I know the other kids had also ran back into the water but because the teacher was there I continued to get dressed. The next minute I know one of the kids is running back and shouting that Rohit is in the deep end, initially I thought he was kidding, then i saw the other teacher shouting for help from the shoreline and I looked up to see this black dot in the waters!! How my heart sank...I sprinted to the beach and ran into the water, I swam with all my might and hoping Rohit to just stay a flout for a bit more longer while i battle the huge waves to reach him...lucky there were a couple of elder kids who were parallel to him and heard all the shouts n started to swim to him.
Time just stopped for me and how I prayed he would just stay a flout a bit more longer...and boy did he fight to stay up and the boys reached him in time...I brought him out and rested him on bench, he was moving in and out of consciousness but he was managing to speak and kept saying dave sir dave sir...
Anyway a long story short he spent a night at the hospital and now is back at the school, the doctor did tell that his lungs we nearly full of water and a few more minutes he would have gone in...nevertheless all is good in the world and Rohit n his mates were caught stealing mangoes and had to spend the day picking up garbage around the school compound ;) kids!
well cheers guys.
Dave signing out

One night in India

Rocking at a free concert I went for thanks to a couple of new found friends

Dave Sir

My new title ;)
No India is not getting to my head folks, thats just the name the kids over at Narashwadi had knighted me with. Well im finally in Mumbai after my 2 weeks + and this stupid comp...doesnt have a usb port so I cant load up all the pictures i took...ahhh...you just have to love India...well actually many things in India are like that....where the saying "Dont judge a book by its cover" really applies in India...you go to a porch restaurant and you will get an over priced and over spicy food compared to if you go to the basic shop at the end of the road and there you will find a mouth watering dish that just amazes you at quarter the price...hence you just got to love India and dont expect too much.
So anyway back to Narashwadi and Dave Sir
In the last two weeks I've gotten the kids to join me for a morning jog, followed by my lolli bribe and then some moral classes...yup after like God know how many years of that being brainwashed into our systems i thought it would be a good idea to teach the kids some basic morals, I can just see all the mums smiling now ;)
Anyway its coming close to lunch time now and my stomach is grouling, so im off to get some food, will definately try to upload pictures later today.
Till then take care gang.

Some pictures

Flying kites

Rita trying on the hat

Computer class

Watching Harry Potter at night

After a visit to the farm

Playing in the 'wadi' aka under a big tree ;)

Inka making her famous czech pancakes