Meeting the Children’s club at the end of the world

The children of Mokhmalla in the Gharwal live in one of the most isolated parts of the world. Due to bad roads, missing vehicles and money they live in the upper parts of a Himalayan mountain. They live at the end of a valley, there where the high Himalaya mountains start growing into heaven.  It…

Sisters, social work and floods in the Gharwal 

The way is long and exhausting, it takes more than 10 hours by car: small, broken roads, often deep abysses , endless bends, warning of landslides and rockfall. We, that’s a Priest and myself, are on the way to an isolated village in the Gharwal region. We will visit a social project with disabled children…

The Secret of a successful training for tribal women

Development means more than knowledge transfer At the learning center in the rural surroundings of Coimbatore the tribal women of the villages around join in large groups. Today there is a workshop on hygiene. I noticed it already some months ago. There is a huge interest in education.  The interest in getting to know, in…

An unforgettable ride in the Nilgiri Mountain Train

I’m not really tall, but when I step into the old fashioned coach and take seat in the famous Nilgiri mountain train that takes me from Ooty to Coonnoor my knees do not fit and hit against the seat ahead. Uuh, that’s straight! It’s winter, around 25 degrees Celsius and I am happy not to…

A surprising biking trip in Bangalore

Normally, when thinking of Indian cities with mostly millions and millions of habitants, an incredible traffic situation and a hot and humid climate it is not that easy to imagine a funny biking tour. But that’s obviously wrong. On the streets the trend to go by bike is growing, young people have discover the advantages of…

India and modern Arts – what comes to your mind?

Have you ever asked yourself who is a good modern Indian artist? I did and I had to admit that I did not know even one. I did not remember to have read about one nor seen any modern example. Well, I’m not an expert in arts, but I was really a little bit astonished…

7weeks in India – What’s your good name, M’am?

Wherever I have been in India during the last weeks – in huge cities, smaller towns or tribal areas – I found them everywhere: Curiosity and the Indian way of fun. “What’s your good name, Mam?” – A short smile, a kind eye-contact … and you can be sure that you are asked several times…

7weeks in India- Mandawa: Hawelis, kites and clever sales

Before leaving for Mumbai I spend one day in Mandawa, a small town in Rajasthan, ca 260 km away from Delhi and completely different from the South of India. The landscape is rigid, a lot of dust and sand. People look different here, other plants, other customs. There are a lot of children playing with…

7weeks in India – a guide, a priest, a function and Yogathon

It is Saturday. I have travelled to Delhi. As most of the visitors in the Indian capital I have booked a guide to see some of the most important monuments and places. I will stay here just one, two days … Like mostly in India, booking a tour means getting a guide, a driver and…