Day 5 - Police and Rain

Sahima and I returned to the police station for the third time today. The experience was sort of exasperating but almost sort of funny. We were kept waiting for about an hour before some came over to search our things and give us each a pat-down. Then we waited another hour or so. At one point there was a loud crack, and a bugle trumpeted, and the people in the station all stood up. I did too, just to be safe. It was because the chief, the SP, was coming in, and everyone saluted him. This was the guy we were supposedly here to meet – but he just walked right past, and again we were kept waiting. Finally we were ushered kind of hurriedly over to his chamber (guarded by two guys with big guns), asked to sit down before the SP’s desk while he spoke with two other men. After about a minute, the SP apologized for not meeting us yesterday, and dismissed us. And that was it, after all the waiting. There is still a bit of paperwork, but fortunately we don’t have to go back (until August, when I will have to check in again before leaving the country).

At work, I didn’t have much to do until Dr. Ram went out to check on the fields, and I came along. Since it began to rain, they’ve started to sow the soy and mung beans. They hire local women to come and do one of the farming, which helps support AVRDC’s policy of improving livelihoods…

It has begun to rain! I believe this could be the monsoon season kicking in? It’s nice on the one hand as it cools things down a bit (although the humidity remains high – to me, at least. I was assured that this is dry for Indian standards), but it also means that the mosquitoes are coming out in droves…

Also, I have a new favorite dessert: laddu, balls of chickpea flour, milk and sugar with some spices. I forgot to take a picture, but will try to get it again!

Beautiful sunset and...

DOUBLE RAINBOW!!