18NOV2010: A very fruitful and adventurous day near Yelamanchili village, Visakhapatnam District, AP. Heading to Srikakulam

19-NOV-2010: Visakhapatnam, INDIA

We had a very fruitful, contented and adventurous day (18NOV2010). We are heading to Srikakulam now (19NOV2010 2pm IST).


I have LOTS of information to share but I am busy and readers too don't seem to have enough time to read.
I will try to make it short.

Our International Team for this year for AP consists of 5 men from Italy, USA, Germany, Slovania, Netherlands and myself who are joined by local volunteers of our organization. Last year, we have 2 others from Japan and Croatia who are replaced by men from Slovania and Italy. This is their first experience of the Indian villages. Last year's team had also done Pada Yatras in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra (I did not join them to those states. Someone else did.).

For various reasons, for the first time, we travelled by local bus to Yelamanchili from Visakhapatnam. Naturally, we drew a lot of attention. Miraculously the bus was almost empty. We had lunch in a team member's tiny little home. It felt soooo good the experience the hospitality and the simple food.

We split into 2 groups and went to villages (1) Kothapalem, (2) Narayanarajupeta.
We walked all the streets, met about 600 people in Kothapalem and about 400 in Narayanarajupeta.

- We had an amazing satsang where we sang bhajans with the villagers in the local temples.
- The speech turned out to be very inspirational. We talked about the value of Indian cultures and customs, Yoga, Meditation, Organic Farming, cleanliness fo the villages and temples, Ayurveda, youth leaders, unity in diversity, gifts of India to the world, etc. A lot more topics in an interactive fashion.
- Attended a local wedding for a few minutes and met the newly weds.
- Met the President of the village.

Interesting points:
- In Narayanarajupeta: the power was out and it was dark. The villagers joined with flash light to lead the way for Pada Yatra. One guy from Germany shared that 2 kids held his fingers and either side and guided him in the dark. He is more than 6 feet tall. He was touched by the caring attitude of the kids in the villages.
- In Kothapalem: We asked if the villagers can get together to turn their village into a Model village and "all" hands went up.
- Kids and adults were eager to listen to us sing and speak.
- The guy from Slovania shared that in his country, people and now moving back to villages. They commute 2-3 days of the week to the city for work or work remotely.

I am running late and I will share more things when time permits.

We are heading to Srikakulam now.