This weekend brought all the 2 week special volunteers together for some exploring and bonding at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghat mountains. It also brought a big change in scenery with the rain and cold of the hills in stark comparison to the dryness and heat of Tamil Nadu!

On Saturday, we broke up into several groups to take in a boat ride on the lake in Periyar and then a trek through the reserve. After a well deserved rest at the hotel (our day started at 5:30 AM!) we had a special performance of kathakal, a traditional dance form from Kerala, in the early evening.

Here are some photos ……..

One group before their boat ride. They are ready to see some tigers!

Unfortunately we only saw some wild boars and a water buffalo

Considering the rain and leeches, I think our volunteer trekkers were “bold and brave”!

The ladies showing off their stylish anti-leech waders

Emma, Vicky and Sitara on our trek

The kathakal dancers and me. I asked if they wanted to have a dance-off but they declined. I think they were afraid of my dancing abilities.

Lisa administering some antibiotics to a sick cow

Today I was lucky enough to tag along with Kirsty and Lisa our two 2 week veterinary special volunteers at their morning placement with a village veterinarian on the outskirts of Sivakasi. The veterinarian was quite welcoming and I was able to watch Kirsty and Lisa as they helped with artificial insemination and administering medicine to sick cows and goats. Coming from New York city, it was really eye opening for me! These future veterinarians are literally getting some “hands on” experience and are really enjoying themselves.

The vet showing Kirsty and Lisa where to feel for the head of a calf in utero

The 2 week Medical special started today with a seminar by Rajendran, our Country Director, and a local doctor who spoke about medicine and medical practices in India.

After a delicious lunch, volunteers went on a tour of a local farm to get a taste of rural India. In the early evening volunteers based in Sivakasi for the first couple of days went to observe at local medical hospitals and clinics while the rest of the volunteers traveled to the Ayurvedic or Leprosy center.

Here are some photos!

Per all high school funtions there are girls on one side …..

…. and boys on the other for the seminar

Volunteers on a break from the seminar with a temple in the background

Now that is what 45 volunteers on a farm tour looks like!

We have finally made it to India after our 20 hour trip on planes and in airports! Hurray! The only downside is that we have two more forms of transportation (train and bus) and 11 more hours to go until we reach our final destination of Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. One silver lining though is that we picked up some more 2 week special volunteers who arrived the previous night and earlier in the morning than everyone else on the escorted flight.

Amrita and Courtney waiting for our train to Maddurai with the other volunteers

The diversity of India is readily apparent from this sign on our train. You can see the route laid out from left to right in Hindi, English and Tamil.

Amrita and Olivia on the train. Although we we were traveling 1st Class in the air conditioned car I don’t think the train was built to handle all of our luggage! But with some scrunched knees and basic geometry we got them all on!

Even after numerous flights and a 9 hour train journey everyone was in good spirits although very tired! Here everyone is for the last leg of our trip, a bus ride to Sivakasi.

On an aside, do you know who is the largest employer is in the world? If you do, please drop your answer in the comments. I will reveal the answer in one week.