12/7 Tiny taxi and cock-a-doodle doo

12/7  Up around 6am.  Most of the passengers lay and sleep till 8 or 9am.  This is nice as it leaves more space to sit.  I am offered or told really to take a seat by the window and for about two hours have the luxury of hot tea, a paper, and beautiful views of the country (mustard fields, grass huts, palm trees, people carrying large loads on their heads, cows, goats, …).  I start to get a little excited but focus on everything that is going on around me.  A young boy moves through the train car sweeping the floor crouched down turns to me so I can take a picture.  He comes back through and collects money from all the passengers.  Turns out we are about two hours late. Why? Who knows.  My cabin manager helps me with my bags to the door of the train … well, there is no door really.  I am a little nervous that everything I own is going to topple out of the train at any moment, but try to be calm.  Safely off the train, he carries both my weighted bags to the platform.  The doctor comes out to say goodbye.  Such kind people.  Bhola picks me up and we drive through Jasidih.  ATM and lunch which I guess was quite comical as they served daal in a bucket.  Then into the little taxi bound for Dakshinayan.  Hindi music is blaring and the same song involving rooster noises seems to play over and over again, but I like it.  We pass through what seems like fifty little villages.  They are all incredibly beautiful, pristine in their own way, and almost completely sustainable.  Granted these are some of the poorest in India.  They lack education and medical care.  But there is something so intrinsically harmonious and balanced about these places.  The roads are deeply rutted, so three hours into the ride the drive into Delhi looked like a walk in the park.  I’m still in good spirits as we pull into a small dark alley. Bhola has me fill out a piece of paper for the local police.  It is dark by the time we pull up to a tiny structure.  I get out of the car half expecting to be interrogated.  Instead, a stately man walks up to me and Bhola, says a few words in Hindi, looks at the paper in the complete darkness, says something else in Hindi which meant “How are you in India?”, I say “Fine.  Just a little tired.  That’s it.  Good were off.  Strange experience.  In under an hour, we reach the gate of Dakshinayan.  I’m pretty worn out by this time.  I’m greeted by Bhuri the projects dog who just had four puppies.  Siddarth is there to meet me.  Tea is served. I don’t really have much to say … just tired and a little battered from the drive.  Dinner is served.  Lots of rice, a few vegetables (cauliflower, potatoes,…), and daal.  As previous volunteers have mentioned, the food is simple but very good.  After Dinner, it is time for bed.  It was hard to believe that I finally made it here after so many months.  Can’t wait to wake up to the project in the morning!