Sunday Walk

It's Sunday, so it's time for our weekly walk through Vapi and environs. Today we walked on the west side of the railroad tracks up to the southern end of the Morai area and back. Most of the time we were out of "urban" Vapi and in the more rural areas just beyond. Even though the monsoon rains have not been good this year (about half of "normal"), everything is lush and green.

The only official way to cross the railroad tracks is on the flyover, but there are many pedestrian alternatives -- all unauthorized, and probably "illegal" since they go through gaps in the wall along the tracks. This one certainly has a sense of permanence about it with the well-constructed bridge over the drainage ditch and the concrete steps up to the tracks.

Many families' homes are tents in the fields. But note the satellite dish on the right side. I have no idea where the electricity comes from.

A closer look at the satellite dish.

Across the road, boys were swimming in the irrigation ditch. I can't imagine jumping into that water, but it's a common place to swim, bathe, and do laundry.

Hens and roosters are common -- even in town.

This is pretty typical village housing around Vapi. Each family gets a one-room living space, with cooking mostly outside, and a communal bath house. Water comes from the village pump.

A slightly larger village house.

This relatively new apartment block is on the edge of the village. A large textile mill is directly behind me.

A little bit farther down the road is the ultra-modern building for the Maa Foundation. The foundation's mission is to assist rural schools and teachers in the Valsad district of Gujarat. When finished, this will be a conference center. The building has many "green" features.

Most properties are walled off with a 6-ft high concrete wall. This property appears to be just a vacant lot. Glass shards are embedded in the top as an alternative to barbed wire or concertina wire.

A closer look at the glass on top of the wall.