The single road in Chandrapuri is crowded on a normal day. Add three bus loads of Japanese students, every school age child, banners, drums, trumpets, garlands,  and you have true chaos.

Soon the local children started to slip through a narrow lane between buildings. The parade began, up the steep path to the secondary school. The largest assembly ground in town was filled to overflowing. Speeches, songs, and the most wonderful welcome signs in the hands of the students.

Back down the hill, but the buses did not arrive, so our parade left town, still accompanied by drums and banners, along the stretch of washed out road where hundreds of houses had been. A perfect intro to why our guests are here. And finally everyone reached Hotel Monika where they could take some food and rest.

– Scotti