Winding the rope. The rope will be crocheted into bags and mats and other small domestic objects and accessories. They have a great little shop in the village and the products are very popular with tourists. They are not gimmicky or tacky objects but have been designed by professional designers from various parts of India. This is not a traditional craft but growing bananas is definitely part of the areas traditional activities. Its great to see innovative ideas like this working well. Though i met a frenchwoman who volunteers in the shop and she said how difficult it was to work with the people. The Indian woman running the Kishkinder trust made the same comment, adding that being a woman boss of men was particularly challenging. I think its partly because the people who are employed and the village itself don't REALLY need the benefits of the NGOs and so aren't as appreciative as they could be. Certainly, they don't have the work ethic and know how of those who have worked in these fields all their lives.
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Winding the rope. The rope will be crocheted into bags and mats and other small domestic objects and accessories. They have a great little shop in the village and the products are very popular with tourists. They are not gimmicky or tacky objects but have been designed by professional designers from various parts of India. This is not a traditional craft but growing bananas is definitely part of the areas traditional activities. Its great to see innovative ideas like this working well. Though i met a frenchwoman who volunteers in the shop and she said how difficult it was to work with the people. The Indian woman running the Kishkinder trust made the same comment, adding that being a woman boss of men was particularly challenging. I think its partly because the people who are employed and the village itself don't REALLY need the benefits of the NGOs and so aren't as appreciative as they could be. Certainly, they don't have the work ethic and know how of those who have worked in these fields all their lives.
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Although this giant cart looks like an antique, I think it may used fairly regularly in local festivals. Many towns have them.
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Although this giant cart looks like an antique, I think it may used fairly regularly in local festivals. Many towns have them.
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My guide for the day. An IT student and the son of the cook in the local restaurant I frequented. He didn't ask me for money!
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My guide for the day. An IT student and the son of the cook in the local restaurant I frequented. He didn't ask me for money!
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My guide and his friends go to this old temple for parties.
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My guide and his friends go to this old temple for parties.
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Worth enlarging.
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Worth enlarging.
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So many stunning rock formations in the landscape of this area.
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So many stunning rock formations in the landscape of this area.
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I think is the temple of 64 pillars. I went over to see it and inside were a bunch of guys playing cards.
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I think is the temple of 64 pillars. I went over to see it and inside were a bunch of guys playing cards.
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But that's all right because the Gods aren't inside.
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But that's all right because the Gods aren't inside.
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Coracles in need of some repair.
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Coracles in need of some repair.
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Most of them in need of some repair but they still work. I put my bicycle in with these guys and we managed to get across the river without sinking.
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Most of them in need of some repair but they still work. I put my bicycle in with these guys and we managed to get across the river without sinking.
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On the other side of the river.
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On the other side of the river.
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Seven kilometres from Hampi is the lovely little village of Anegundi, with few signs of the backpacking hustle and bustle that characterise Hampi and Virrupappur Gaddi where most tourists stay. Anegundi has some up and coming development on the sustainable development model but is otherwise about as authentic as it gets. There is a wonderful guesthouse - The Kishkinder Trust , an NGO in fact which justifies itself as an architectural conservation project; an excellent little restaurant, - the cook lent me her son as a guide for the day; a craft factory - another NGO - where bags and other domestic goods are made from banana skin leaves, which are first made into rope, then crocheted into objects. There are heaps of ruins and pretty scenery to explore surrounding the village and if you're lucky, you can test your batting skills with some of the locals kids on the cricket field or take a dip in the river if you dare. I did.
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Comment
If art museums are the new churches, perhaps they should end the veneration of ambiguity and start serving our inner needs.
