A TING-A-MA-JIG, evening of February 19, 2012

Boarding our two buses (one for Tour A and the other for Tour B), we now headed for what was to be one heck of an adventure. Of into the countryside we traveled, over roads which had more potholes than pavement, so each of us felt every bump in the way. Due to the poor condition of these country roads, we were forced to drive at incredibly slow speeds, which delayed our arrival at our tent village, before sundown. It was very dark out, with only a "finger nail" moon, when we arrived at the village, Gurkha  Kheda closest to the location of the dam project. Actually, the area through which we were passing had some familiarities to the landscape, and I later learned we were passing close by the area she our team in 2009 had helped to construct the dam at Teench Wala.  Our drivers were barely able to navigate through the narrow streets and at some of the turns, we nearly scraped the sides of the buses along walls and light poles.  All the while, the villagers either walked by the bus, stood in awe of not one but two buses lumbering into town, because I am confident Gurkha Kheda is not on anyone's "bucket list" of must visit sites in the world! We finally reached our stopping point and the point of disembarkation when we squeezed into patch of dung-covered soil and turned off the motors.  Now, the fun was about to begin... The next sound we heard over the cries of joy coming from the children of the village was that of a "one-lunger" or single cycle engine coughing it's we through the streets, and making its way to our location.  Just about that moment, a make-shift carry-all rounded the corner and hacked to a stop. This, we were informed was a TING-A-MA-JIG and it was going to deliver us to the tent village. SERIOUSLY?  Another name for it could have been Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  It was hauling behind it a platform with a couple of sides and that portion was the cart in which we would stand for the time it would take "TING" to traverse the barren night desert. What a treat we had in store for us. Not sure of the time we departed on our journey across the desert to what would be our home for the next few nights, but it was cold and it was dark. About a dozen of us climbed into the "trailer" part of the "TING" and then, truth be told, the driver climbed down off his perch and grabbed a handle grip, which he hooked over the square fitting and began to crank and crank in order to get the "one lunger" to cough and sputter and catch. I am sure he was hopeful it might purr but that was not to be, except perhaps at the least inkling of an incline, where it settled down nicely while awaiting the heavy foot which caused it to rev to a high enough rpm level as to surge our jitney forward and then cost for a bit before the next incline.  During this inaugural trip, I heard many iterations that included references of Tommy the Train or the Little Engine That Could! "C'mon" they said. "we think you can, we think you can!" Way off in the distance, we could see the glow of lights and hoped that might be our tent encampment and, indeed, it was. Some must have been expecting pup tents and a trench shovel to dig a pit for a toilet. This as far from that. The image of Lawrence of Arabia, perhaps, might have been a bit more accurate. We jumped down (only choice) from the back end of the "TING" and proceeded through a sort of entry gate in a cloth clad wall that surrounded the encampment. To our immediate right was the dining tent - sized to the task of handling a wedding reception for at least two hundred guests. In front of us was the reception tent, where we would gather in the afternoons following work, or we we returned to camp for lunch. At the perimeter surrounding the courtyard, about twenty-eight Swiss-style tents were placed. Each tent as outfitted similarly with an entry "fly" under which were set two peacock shaped rattan chairs and a table. Unzipping the main zipper and then the screen zipper, one entered the bedroom, where two cots were covered with brightly colored quilts. On the opposite side, there was a table and a side chair as well as a bench for luggage. Step now, through the next flap into the throw, which boasted a stainless steel sink bowl, mirror on a stand, a eastern style toilet and then a shower platform with faucets and a hose with shower head.  The appointments did not lack for much.   We were called to the dining tent, where a wonderful hot meal awaited us. Each round was set for eight persons, complete with table cloth, placemats, cloth napkins, etc. , with the buffet line offering savory dishes, from soup to nuts. Following dinner, the staff brought out a birthday cake with one candle inscribed with HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELIAS, P.D.G. Somehow, I think that dear friend Kelly Wike had a good deal to do with this. In addition, the three gentlemen from PHD Rural Development Chamber of  Commerce, with whom our teams had helped to construct two dams in previous years, were there - Goverdahn and his two sons, Dinesh and Banwari.  They also had a surprise for me, having purchased a traditional Rajasthani kurta and pantaloons. Unfortunately, even though I have lost some weight in recent weeks, sizes in India were not meant to fit me.  However, the thought was most appreciated. The topper,  literally, was a turban of bright colors, that they had to rework twice, because it had fallen apart.  We were then treated to a righty celebration  which included several drummers and dancers from the local area. It was very cold when we retired to our tents, but even with the night chill, we had been warmly welcomed.  To bed and not so early to rise the next  morning and to begin our three days of labor.