Hi everyone
We have now arrived at the clinic. What a relief! The train journey was a bit of a nightmare. 20 hours sharing a sleeper with a couple and two young children - not very relaxing! I got on board feeling well and over a few hours developed a temperature and some mild vomiting. It's now the following day but I have been very weak and have had continuing stomach problems. Not too serious but enough to stop me eating. Haven't had anything but water for 36 hours now.
I've looked over the clinic to see what must be done but must delay the installation a few days until I am feeling better
The clinic is in a rural location and the the exact opposite to the Mumbai and Delhi - peaceful clean and comfortable. A pleasant place to be sick!
There is so much that could be done here. Would love to do a permaculture design for the place but would need to be around for months to make sure it was implemented properly. Introduced them to the concept of mulch today. They find it hard to believe but we are getting newspaper and straw to show them how to halve their watering needs.
The solar panels purchased with your generous donations are here ready to be installed. Hopefully I will be well enough in a day or two to do the work.
Will give you a more detailed update soon!
Wednesday 29 November 2006
Monday 27 November 2006
Delhi
Hi everyone
We've spent the last two days in Dehli. The weather conditions here are much more pleasant as its not as hot and humid as Mumbai. Of course however there is still chaos and poverty everywhere. But as its the nations capital there are lots of beautiful buildings and momuments as well.
We stayed in a cheap hotel again but it was much cleaner than the last one. Additonally we learnt an interesting lesson about Indian wiring, don't touch the water heater while standing in bare feet on wet tiles! The water heater is unlikely to be Earthed! Dad got quite a zap - it's a great way to wake up in the morning.
As we did not have much time here we hired a taxi for the day, and got our own private tour of the city. The highlights were a stunning Bah'ai temple and a Sikh temple with gold plated domes.
We are catching a train to Bokaro this evening where we will be picked up by one of the German doctors and taken to the clinic. It will be a relief to unload these panels at last!
I hope to update you soon, as we assess the clinics need and commence the installation.
Anton
We've spent the last two days in Dehli. The weather conditions here are much more pleasant as its not as hot and humid as Mumbai. Of course however there is still chaos and poverty everywhere. But as its the nations capital there are lots of beautiful buildings and momuments as well.
We stayed in a cheap hotel again but it was much cleaner than the last one. Additonally we learnt an interesting lesson about Indian wiring, don't touch the water heater while standing in bare feet on wet tiles! The water heater is unlikely to be Earthed! Dad got quite a zap - it's a great way to wake up in the morning.
As we did not have much time here we hired a taxi for the day, and got our own private tour of the city. The highlights were a stunning Bah'ai temple and a Sikh temple with gold plated domes.
We are catching a train to Bokaro this evening where we will be picked up by one of the German doctors and taken to the clinic. It will be a relief to unload these panels at last!
I hope to update you soon, as we assess the clinics need and commence the installation.
Anton
Friday 24 November 2006
Mumbai
Hi everyone,
I'm in Mumbai. The poverty I saw yesterday as I walked 20 km through slums is extreme! It certainly makes one appreciate the luxuries of even the worst of Australia. In such places as the slums there is absolutely no running water, no electricity and as far as I could tell all refuse ends up in the side alleys or the ocean. For some children there is seemingly no schooling, they make their living by collecting bottles or begging. We have seen many sleeping on footpaths or doorways. It's a common sight. Although they do seem more content than the kids in Australia!
We leave Delhi by overnight train tomorrow and are due to arrive at the clinic in 4 days. Lugging 3 solar panels around plus our normal luggage has been a challenge. It will be nice to get them to their destination!
I hope to be in more relaxed circumstances at the clinic. The pollution and noise is very unpleasant here. I will write in more detail soon.
Thankyou again for your ongoing support.
Anton
I'm in Mumbai. The poverty I saw yesterday as I walked 20 km through slums is extreme! It certainly makes one appreciate the luxuries of even the worst of Australia. In such places as the slums there is absolutely no running water, no electricity and as far as I could tell all refuse ends up in the side alleys or the ocean. For some children there is seemingly no schooling, they make their living by collecting bottles or begging. We have seen many sleeping on footpaths or doorways. It's a common sight. Although they do seem more content than the kids in Australia!
We leave Delhi by overnight train tomorrow and are due to arrive at the clinic in 4 days. Lugging 3 solar panels around plus our normal luggage has been a challenge. It will be nice to get them to their destination!
I hope to be in more relaxed circumstances at the clinic. The pollution and noise is very unpleasant here. I will write in more detail soon.
Thankyou again for your ongoing support.
Anton
Saturday 18 November 2006
Newsletter 2
Hi Everyone,
Well the days are ticking away. I am due to leave for India with my dad in just four days now (Nov 22nd).
I have had the most amazing week. I completed my final exam for the Diploma of Renewable Energies yesterday. This is a milestone for me as by completing this, I am eligible for admission into QUT next year for the degree course in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The highlight of the week though, was a fundraising event kindly organised for me by Anita Hanicek at the office of Roger Loughnan Real Estate http://www.rogerloughnanrealestate.com.au/ in Montville. Anita used an exhibition of children's art titled "Light Up The World" with a theme of world peace as a drawcard and combined it with a fundraiser for my Indian project. I met some wonderful people and at the end of the evening found that I had been donated an incredible $1,430 - virtually doubling what I had received so far.
Anita had even arranged an interview for me with Channel 7 news which was broadcast on Thursday evening. My sincere thanks to Anita and Roger for the tremendous effort they made on my behalf. I would also like to thank Karen of Montville Coffee http://www.montvillecoffee.com.au/ for supplying the catering and giving a glowing description of me to Channel 7.
My thanks also to Maryl-Ann, a lady I met only a week ago who has worked very hard to raise $500 for me in a very short time.
The donations continue to trickle in and I now have around $3,700 which is an amazing result well beyond my expectations. I really would like to thank all of you for your tremendous support. We can now go to India secure in the knowledge that with these funds and the Solar Panels donated to us, we can make a tangible difference to the medical clinic and the many villagers that it serves.
I will do my best to report to you via this blog as our trip unfolds. If it proves too difficult to access the internet, please be patient as I will certainly report back to you early in the new year.
Best wishes,
Anton
Well the days are ticking away. I am due to leave for India with my dad in just four days now (Nov 22nd).
I have had the most amazing week. I completed my final exam for the Diploma of Renewable Energies yesterday. This is a milestone for me as by completing this, I am eligible for admission into QUT next year for the degree course in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The highlight of the week though, was a fundraising event kindly organised for me by Anita Hanicek at the office of Roger Loughnan Real Estate http://www.rogerloughnanrealestate.com.au/ in Montville. Anita used an exhibition of children's art titled "Light Up The World" with a theme of world peace as a drawcard and combined it with a fundraiser for my Indian project. I met some wonderful people and at the end of the evening found that I had been donated an incredible $1,430 - virtually doubling what I had received so far.
Anita had even arranged an interview for me with Channel 7 news which was broadcast on Thursday evening. My sincere thanks to Anita and Roger for the tremendous effort they made on my behalf. I would also like to thank Karen of Montville Coffee http://www.montvillecoffee.com.au/ for supplying the catering and giving a glowing description of me to Channel 7.
My thanks also to Maryl-Ann, a lady I met only a week ago who has worked very hard to raise $500 for me in a very short time.
The donations continue to trickle in and I now have around $3,700 which is an amazing result well beyond my expectations. I really would like to thank all of you for your tremendous support. We can now go to India secure in the knowledge that with these funds and the Solar Panels donated to us, we can make a tangible difference to the medical clinic and the many villagers that it serves.
I will do my best to report to you via this blog as our trip unfolds. If it proves too difficult to access the internet, please be patient as I will certainly report back to you early in the new year.
Best wishes,
Anton
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