Our day began at 3:15 in the morning. We started to the station at 4:30, luckily managed to get  the tickets easily (without having to wait for very long in the counter) to Borra Guhalu. Before  anything else what struck us most was the reality of the Indian railway stations. The train was  late by half an hour, we had to run with all our luggage to get a place to sit. But no one could get  in as people completely blocked the entrances. We just then noticed that most people started  reserving seats for themselves by placing something in the seats via the windows, you will be too  surprised to know that some even jumped inside through them. Thank god the Grassroutes conference files came handy here for us :P. We reached Borra at 10:30 where Vasanth and Dev Kumar were already waiting for us. We left our luggage in the MPTC’s cozy hut and headed right away into the caves. I was mesmerized by the natural formations and cravings on the walls of the caves, ranging right from all Indian Gods to all wild animals. Thanks to Mr.Ravi for arranging the best guide to take us through the caves.

Then comes the stark reality.

After finishing the photo sessions inside the caves ( Krushi was too reluctant to come out, thank God the digi cam’s charge died down :P) we come out to see that many guards, tourist guides and women sweepers were already waiting outside in the scorching sun to talk to us. We found a good place to sit and the people went on and on about their problems for nearly two hours just because they hoped that a bunch of young people carrying cameras and notepads would bring some change in their lives. The workers of the caves were never paid the wages they were agreed upon, they can’t take holidays for reasons whatsoever, they do not have any security of job or health. They are being looted in the name of employment. We had answers to none of their questions and I was embarrassed coz I could not give them any of the assurances they were expecting us to give them. We left the place knowing full well that there was nothing much we could do for them right away at this point of time (the red tape is too  messy and dealing with it requires a lot of time, if not a lifetime). It was already late in the  afternoon by then so we had our (grassroots)lunch at the road side but damn, it costed us hell  lot. We then took a jeep followed by an auto(btw 10 people were crumpled in a tiny auto, I  guess this is where our Indianness comes into picture :P) to the Araku valley. The sights of  coffee plantation and the adivasi-cultivated blocks of land look awesome from the hill top. I just  can’t stop envying the people who live so close to the nature and miles away from pollution. But  then I guess they too have their trade-offs.

After a long hectic and satisfying day, I retire to sound sleep in a series of blankets (nope it wasn’t cold, we had to save ourselves from those blood-sucking mosquitoes:P).