Monday 24 August

Another boring day in MiD-DAY the editor from week 1 quit, her replacement from weeks 2 and 3 aslo quit so now got no one. I sat bored in the office with nothing to do for 7 hours before leaving early.

That night the others got henna on their hands and feet and we went to see ganesh again.

Saturday 22nd August

Still feeling sick from the lunch the day before I slept in until 9.30am the longest I have been allowed stay in bed and the first time I have skipped katary breakfast since arriving. Later that day we went to commercial street where I picked up my dresses from the tailor and miraculously they fit this time. Then we went to a gem gift store where we spent at least two hours looking. I was given two full boxes of earings to look at and the guy changed each pair to suit the style I want. Eventually I got six pairs for under 20euro which for real silver with gems (pearl, onyx, topaz etc) was really good.

Before going in there Lydia had bought some stuff in a store across the way. After the gem store we were chased by the guy in the shopped who apologised after realising he had charged 100rupees too much and wanted to give it back. That certainly wouldn’t happen at home.

Lunch that day was noodles which were one of the best things I have eaten since getting here.

At dinner we went to high note where for the first time we were given the option of fish, chips, pasta and lots of other continental food we had all been craving.

After all settling into some chips and other variations we went home very happy before falling asleep watching sleepy hollow on hbo

Friday 21^st August.

Today we sneaked down for breakfast fearful of what Mrs Katary would say about our hampi disaster.

She completed ignored it and we ended up telling her. Surprisingly she didn’t get angry.

That day I spent the day with Daniel. We went to MG road to the book store where we bought some really cheap notebooks then to cavery gift shop but they didn’t have anything good. Then I convinced him to go to hard rock so I could get some pins. Arriving there I was surprised at the cost the pins cost more than at home and averaged at 1000rupees each way. They definitely were not Indian prices and I would be surprised if many Indian people could afford them.

After that we went for lunch at a place recommended by Mrs Katary. Unlike most buffets there was no vegetarian option so we both reluctantly ate the meat. A big mistake my stomach would later regret. Luckily I was around but Daniel flew home that night so he may not have been as fortunate.

That night we ate at chowka. It is about 2 min from our house and we decided to try it. It was quite a strange experience. You are given about 10 metal bowls with sauces and naan bread etc as soon as you finish a bowl they top it up. All you can eat for the equivalent of 1.50euro.

After we planned to go for  drink but it was dry day (no alcohol served because of election) so we had to stick to mocktails.

Thursday 20^th August.

Today I sat with nothing to do again all day. The newspaper world in India is clearly more relaxing with no one worrying about deadlines.

Eventually at 3.30 after sitting for 6 hours with no work I was given a story on nude yoga. Yes a great topic of conversation in India so great that everyone I rang hung up on me. Eventually I managed to get it done and rushed home to pack for hampi.

After dinner we left nice and early so to be at the train station on time. Arriving in the station we were shocked by the sight. People lying down all over the ground, people begging, kids starving it was definitely the poorest place we had visited so far.

There were no boards telling us train platforms so we queued up at general enquiries to ask. There was no such thing as a queue really but scream at the guy behind the counter and whoever is loudest gets the answer. He told us to go to platform 8 where we went and queued. We were there at about 20.20 and our train was not due till 10pm so we sat down on the ground and waited. It was not long before a rat scurried my way. YUCK!

Trains came and went and eventually the hampi train came. We looked and looked for s9 but no one could help us. The Indian people ignored us and others gave out for asking. We kept walking past a ginger guy whilst Indian guys stared out from their carriage. He came to the conclusion we were on the wrong platform. With less than ten minutes to go we ran and asked for help. This time we were told platform 10. We got there and waited and we assured it was the right train. Then a guy asked if I wanted some chai tea I replied no and he asked where we were going. After replying hampi he pointed to platform 9 and said that was our train. Rushing over to the then moving train we were shouted at to jump on whereas others told us no. We didn’t know what to do and were too scared to jump on a moving train so we just watched as it left.

With nothing else to do we left the station and decided to go home. Outside the station we stood by some sandbags deciding what to do. We were quickly ushered away after which we realised we were directly in front of the firing line of two guns!

We quickly hopped in an auto which demanded 250 to get back. Way overcharged we decided to just pay it and get home.
Arriving back he looked at the 250 and demanded an extra 100. Already ripped off we refused as he began muttering abuse. We ran up the street and went a long way home so he would not know where we lived.

Getting back no one could believe what had happened

So no hampi for the weekend but we still did have an adventure.

Today was yet another boring day at the office where I sat for 8 hours and was given no work to do. Thankfully i had my laptop with me so started on a story about deaf education in India versus Ireland.

It was easy enough to find sources and speaking to teachers at SKID I got plenty of quotes I just need to talk to Asha (our coordinator) next week about it as she is on the board of management so she will help me more.

We finally got our dresses from the tailors. Despite having ordered Saturday one of mine was ready the other not. The one that is ready wouldn’t fit over my shoulders so was way too small. The ones the others ordered are all too small also. Its not like we told them our measurements they did that themselves. Will definitely be bringing them back on Sunday.

That night we went to the beach again. It reminded me why it is so good that they have a smoking ban in Ireland. Also the annoucement ‘if you are drunk, drive home safely’ proved pretty scary.

Tuesday 18th August

Today I managed to work the phone in work for the first time. After trying and trying for the previous weeks it never ever worked it just talked to me. The other intern in his 4 weeks never figured it out either.

I had to contact DJ Rob acid for an interview. Contacting Rashita the person in charge of his Bangalore premiere I was told a phone interview would not be possible and an email interview was the only option. Sending her off the questions I avaited a reply but that was obiviously not going to happen so I had to search for information on the internet about him and write an article based on that. He is not that well known so this was challenging.

That night we faced the first of our rationed dinners at the katary house. For some reason she provided not nearly enough to feed 5 of us so we had to go hungry. Then we settled in for an early night at 8.30.

Apparently Mrs Katary was looking for us and did not believe we were asleep. The next day she wanted to know why we were asleep so early and what had made us so tired. Questions, questions, questions she is not happy if we go out, she is not happy if we stay in.