An introductory talk by Imo precedes our exploration of the village.

People are very friendly. Children gather around us, `What’s your name?’ they call. Three boys on bikes stop to talk. They are on their way home from school to their village of Pakengowda Pallia.

Women working in the field stop and wave a friendly greeting. They are winnowing Ragi, a type of millet, which is the main cereal crop of people in the area.

Other women sit in small groups chatting in doorways, or washing clothes. One elderly woman greets us with a Namaste. We see her sitting in this place, sometimes looking rather lost, as we pass the house each day.

The corner where the bus stops is a hive of life. Children mill around in groups and call to us `What’s your name?’

In front of the church a group of boys hit small sticks with longer sticks. It makes me think of the Yorkshire game of Knurr and Spell.

Later we walk with Kiran along paths that take us north of the village. We pass people walking and others on motorbikes going home. A small lorry passes us laden with propane gas bottles and one more heads towards us decorated with the elaborate patterns that are so unique to South Asia. Further on lush vegetables grow in small allotments and Indian cattle wait patiently in the field and rest.

Brickworks!

Night sounds

The lingering sound of a distant train rumbles across the flat fields. A chorus of cicadas hangs in the blackness of the night, their pulsing sound punctuated by the cry of a baby and the bark of village dogs.

See photographs of the walk in my Flickr gallery

Crane Moor at 5am Black ice shining in the orange glow of the street light as we set off for Manchester.

In Manchester it is raining.  Soggy greens and browns appear as we take off … quickly follwed by field patterns that tesselate black and white below.

Twenty minutes into our journey the River Thames comes into view and familiar London landmarks appear below.

Finally we arrive at Heathrow airport – Terminal 5 where flashing screens and pink butterflies distract us while we wait.

On the escalator we spot other members of our group.  “Hello”, says Carol,”fancy meeting you here”.

Tuesday 21^st October

I hear
trees blowing quietly in the wind
the racketing noise of the engine in the car
waves crashing into the crushed wet sand
a Kookaburra laughing
myself breathing

I wonder what you might see, hear, smell or feel on your way to school?

Saturday 18^th October 2008

From Australia-flight-day1

We settle into our long, long flight to Singapore. Peanuts arrive, followed by drinks. I choose orange juice. Our vegetarian dinners are excellent and arrive well ahead of those served to the rest of the cabin.

Night comes early as we fly east – much sooner than I expect. I watch an excellent film and settle down for the next ten hours of flying time.

My eyes feel heavy and sleepy. I try finding a comfortable position , which is not easy in the cramped space and I contort my body into what feels like a possible sleeping position. The flight goes on and on and on and on. I do not sleep.

Finally we arrive in Singapore where we need to change planes. We fly into Terminal Two and then catch the `Sky Train’ (a monorail) to Terminal Three. Singapore is a large modern city. The lights glint from tall buildings and a continuous stream of headlights illuminate the motorway below. We hurry to find the departure gate from which our Sydney flight will leave. Sunday has already arrived in Singapore and it is 6am in the morning Singapore time. Our flight for Sydney leaves at 7am. Once more several hundred passengers crowd into the departure lounge. Many of them, like us, feeling very, very sleepy . Meanwhile, back in England it is late Saturday evening – so no wonder we feel tired.

Our flight to Sydney is a daytime flight. I have not managed to choose the window seat this time and I sit next to a young Australian woman who is returning home from India. She has a rotten cold and I keep hoping that I do not catch it. It would be a horrible way to start a holiday.

This flight too is a long time (9 hours). I manage to sleep a little to start with, though it is more of a doze than a true sleep. I watch the onboard computer screen that shows the position of out flight and keep hoping that the plane will have travelled a bit closer to Sydney, our destination. Time goes slowly, very slowly.

The computer shows us crossing over the `Red Centre’ near Uluru, then on in a south westerly direction. We see Bourke appear on the map and know that we are not too far away from Sydney. Big relief!! It will be so good to get off this plane.

Finally we touch down at 5.25pm Sydney time (Sunday).

We collect our bags, go through passport control and then have to be checked to make sure that we are not importing any illegal foods into Australia. We have to throw away our one remaining apple and check that we do not have any other food products in out bags as we are not allowed to take any of them through customs.

 Finally we’re there!. My granddaughter is peeping through a gap and sees us coming down the ramp. She runs off to tell the others and then it is really big hugs for everyone. It’s so good to have finally got here.

From a geographical point of view these stories are designed to help children think about `places’ what they are like and what people can do there. Let me know if you’ve been able to use them. My next visit will probably be in October/ November so there should be further stories to follow. Perhaps for older children next time.

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