Back from an Amazing Camp - Day 3

A trip to Beliakhali - this was what was special about Day 3. Beliakhali is a small village in North 24 Parganas, near the river Ichhamati. It is said to be one of the three most-Arsenic contaminated villages in Asia with an As-level of 8.7 (where the WB-declared safety level is at a mere 0.5). The 100-odd families living here hardly care! For they have other things to worry about. With no electricity and medical help a mile away, the village floods every monsoon. Last year, it saw an epidemic of Chikengunya, and most fear another outbreak this year.

By the way, we tasted some of the 'purified' water. On a personal note, it tasted much better than what the Corp. gives us(!!)

Dated : 30.10.2007

Back from an Amazing Camp - Day 1

Day 1 was the "warm-up day". With not much work, we (atleast I) felt like a tourist, visiting poultry farms and learning stuff about poultry and broiler farming, bird-flu, etc.
But morning doesn't really show the day! From the train-journey to the 'tossing' truck-ride, nothing had prepared us for the finale of the day : The Tribal Dance. As locals performed Dhum, Santhal and Jhumur dances, a few of us got the oppurtunity to match their steps, mostly in vain (lol). Here are a few pics:

Dated : 28.10.2007

Back from an AMAZING experience

Camping at Swanirvar was nothing short of an EXPERIENCE. The typical smell of village soil, mingled with trepidation due to the unknown... as a first timer, the small village of Andharmanik was as beautiful as its name. 'Andharmanik' - a gem in the darkness - in North 24 parganas - is probably the best thing that has happened to me in college.... So, THANKS to the adorable lot of people I met n made friends with....


Well, that wasn't the entire pic. Quite a few got omitted due to lack of space. But by the time I could concentrate on the right angle (thats Mohit hanging from above, by the way, and the pic isn't an edited one), I was soon enamoured by the romancing terrain...

Uff!!! Too many news in too short space. I should actually dedicate more time and space to these Camp days of mine. I'll take 'em SLOW-n-STEADY. If you get bored, .... don't complain.... cause I'd continue anyway :p