Scenes from Ahmedabad

Arrived safely in Ahmedabad last night.  The city is packed with military and police check points since there were 7 bombs that went off here 5 days ago.  I don't feel at unsafe here because this city's on high alert.  We're staying away from crowded areas and markets.  The attacks have not been tourist or American related, so I'm too worried.  

Today we went to a school that's on 25 acres of land!  It has amazing facilities, but I was disappointed to see the same sort of teaching we've seen all over.   After the school, we went to Guandi's ashram and home.  That was amazing!

Interactive Periodic Table at the school visit.

Each element square spins and shows different information

such as electron configuration, isotopes, oxidation numbers, etc.

I want one!!

Super cute kids at the preschool.  

I can't get enough of the Indian children!!!

They are sooooo cute!

Story time in a half outdoor/indoor classroom.

High school students meditating during their morning assembly.

I love Gaundi.

This has got to be my favorite picture of him.

Chillin' at Guandi's house.

His room is to the left of us and the kitchen is through that doorway.

The view we were looking at is of the river and Old Ahmedabad.

Guandi's room with his personal desk,

spinning wheel, and staff (in the corner).

It was so crazy and unreal to be standing in his room

where he was planning the Salt March and other protests against British rule.

On his desk is a figurine of 3 monkeys.

One monkey is covering his mouth, the other is covering his eyes,

and the last is covering his ears.  The guide said it was a gift from one

of Guandi's visitors from Japan.  The saying of the monkeys goes:

"Say no evil, see no evil, hear no evil."

I'm seeing these monkeys everywhere in India and now I know why they're so popular.

Just outside Guandi's room, there was a man demonstrating how to spin cotton as Guandi did/taught Indians in the 1920's/30's.  He started the movement against foreign cloth by empowering the common people to spin their own cotton and weave their own cloth.  I don't know much about Guandi's life so now I'm inspired to read his books.  

Only 30 rupees (60 cents) here in India!