Prepare for Invasion

So, here I am sitting in the apartment on the internet for the last time waiting to go home.

The days down in Kerala were very relaxing for the most part. We moved about by bus from Kochi to Allepay to Kumily and back to Kochi. The bus trips were hilarious - very bumpy and very quick up high mountain passes and through tea gardens - I have videos. We watched many a Kathakali perfonrmance, rented out a house boat through the backwaters of Kerala (sipping on the milk of coconuts) and nade friends with an elephant in a spice plantation amongst other things. Kerala is much more friendly and open than Delhi - even saw a couple holding hands the devils - and the hotels that were stayed in were fabulatastic. I will tell y'all more when I see you - as I am likely to see some of thou before you read this woow!

We made it back from Kerala on Saturday and then began the long and arduous process of present buying and saying goodbye...Kalkaji was strange to go back to - the slum I had painted in just two years ago. Not least, amy I add, because it was being partly bulldosed down in order to make way for wider roads - the shop owners had at least been informed even if ASHA had not. I saw a few of the children and met Gayatri and Jayabai, which was really nice. But it wasn't the smae without the team for only an hour or two. At least our painting was still there:) However, due to demolition, we had to leave early and avoid some falling debris to get safely out of the slum.

Mayapuri then was different again. Very few of the kids came until the afternoon so we spent the morning out in the slum watching tran go by extremely close to the houses with man and beast having to temporarily leave their business on the tracks. Sad thing is that not everyone leaves in time, especially the drunk ones. We then went to a local market and bangalised to our hearts content. By this time it was late, so I had only a short time with the kids who did come, giving them out presents and thanking them for coming to class. It was harder saying oodbye to the staff who really were very funny and very caring. They tried to fatten me up. And I am not joking.

The, today was Zakhira. It was defnitely harder here but it was still a very nice day - going out into the slum to find the boys and then being in with the girls classes in the afternoon. I do not think that he will have a problem, but I think Jon finds it weird to be teaching on his own. He stays on until the 25th April before heading on home. It is strange thinking of a time not knowing Jon, we have been with each other so much for what seems like a very long time. Anyway, the kids in Zakhira seemed to like their presents and I got some really lovely cards made by Shainee and a kurta from all the staff - which is going to stink as i am travelling in it.

There have been a lot of goodbyes and many a preents bought in the last few days so i am quite mentally and physically tired. But i think I shall not sleep on the plane, the adrenalin will soon kick in. Orlagh and I already had a laughing breakdown in an ATM last night, which gave us odd looks from the security guard...I hate leaving places, but I think that I am ready for home now, just for a bit of a rest. And then - who knows. I will blog again from Belfast with some more thoughts probably, my mind just doesn't want to work now. So talk soo, and see you even sooner...
strange
Peace
Duff