January 16, 2024

The Last Ones Standing

For most of our program, the first “solo” weekend trip in Mysore ended with a lot less pool time and sightseeing than planned. Felled by an unknown cause, perhaps the sticks of jaggery molded and cooled in the suspiciously old gray paint bucket filled with rural river water, only 6 “healthy” GCILers remained on Sunday night after we returned to Bangalore. To celebrate our wellbeing, we went out to eat dinner. Afterwards, we practiced our newfound skills of empathy and helped the rest of the group purchase some sick goods. That night we felt the true meaning of community; sick and healthy alike pitched in to gather the plainest, blandest, most non-stomach-upsetting crackers, noodles, and fruit. Our cashier had to call over reinforcements to help scan the mountains of gatorade and ginger ale we had loaded into the cart. A near concussion and short rickshaw later, we were handing out rations to our pale, tottering program mates and prayed for speedy recoveries.

Of course, the next day, two more fell from our ranks and our small group of 8 (we were joined by some slightly recovered members) headed out on the largely empty charter bus to go to Lalbagh Botanical. There we met Praveen who guided us through towering silk cotton trees and beautiful groves of banyan trees all while teaching us the history of colonial influences that influenced the development of this 240 acre space. We got to stand on a 3 billion year old rock and watch stray dogs sunbathe contentedly.

Afterwards we piled back into the bus and got out for a quick bite of South Indian breakfast and famous Bangalorian coffee. Our final stop with our wonderful guide was the Krishna Rajendra market. Mountains of flowers, bushels of fruit, and rolls of incense delighted our senses. We were each gifted bangles and flowers to adorn our hands and hair, partly in celebration of Makar Sankranti. A final gift of fresh cracked pomegranates and a rushed exit through the crowded market signaled goodbye and back to the dorms, another day of no illness and exciting events down in the book.

By Audrey

Lal Bagh Park

KR Market