Last Saturday I made my first solo farm visit, in order to conduct more extensive threshing measurements. This will be one of the final threshing tests of this season, and on arriving I found the farmers were still in their paddy fields cutting the harvest.
I joined in, carrying sudis (bundles of straw, tied together with string) along the edge of the field, across a stream and up to the farm courtyard. I'm fairly sure they tied smaller bundles especially for me!
I was given a special hat (bundle of cloth and a wooden ring) which sat on my head to help balance the weight of the sudis.
Following the field harvest, the rice was threshed both by hand and using the machine we had provided. This was a great opportunity to observe the threshing methods side by side. I took some videos and counted the threshing rates. We tested the threshing machine with both motor and pedalling power.
There is a time of year when it is traditional in Karnataka to bless your car and other mechanical appliances. Yashwin & I visited Mangalore at the time when this was going on.
Garlands for sale for the blessings
Yashwin's uncle blessing their extended families' cars with flowers, coconuts and rice.
Tricks following their blessings
That weekend Yashwin and I explored up the coast towards Goa, to a beach called Gokarna. We slept overnight in an empty building on the beach and hiked along the coast. The scenery was beautiful, although I was a bit too tired to fully enjoy myself.
Our beds for the night.
Interesting design of these small wooden fishing boats
...the larger fishing fleet
Omm bay
Exploring the quiet bays along the coast
Riding in my favourite seat on the train home
I took on Saturday off to travel on my own to the nearby Belur & Halebid temple sites. There are amazingly intricate soapstone carvings making up the temples.
Nice comfy bed in the school! Your adventures continue to look fantastic. What a beautiful area you are enjoying! Mum
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