Benches..

As earlier mentioned, an Irish group visited Atali in November. Besides leaving an unforgettable impression they also left a donation for purchasing furniture for the local school in Sirasu, beacuse one of the class rooms in the school didn't have any furniture when the group visited the school during their stay. It turned out they's had enough tables but still needed benches.

And finally the benches were ready. Before leaving for my family trip, I came along to Rishikesh and collected the benches at the carpenter.

 The maker of the benches - and Atali's carpenter, Vikram, in the background.

The carpenter work shop.

Back at Atali, Vikram had carved the names Aquaterra Adventures and Fighting Blindness Ireland in all the benches. When my family had returned to the mountains, they got the chance for participating in handing over the bences in Sirasu.

First the benches were taken to Gullar next to the ferry crossing to Sirasu. My family were eager to help carrying.

 They weren't allowed that for long as some of the school kids from Sirasu showed up. They'd crossed with the ferry to our side of the river and came running, grabbing the benches while smiling and cheering. No doubts they were exited about the donation.

 Benches and school kids on board of the ferry. Jeetu og Pankaj both raft guides and from Sirasu took care of the ferry crossing.

 Safely over, the benches were grabbed again and carried the last bit up to Sirasu.

 Solil, who's in charge of horticulture at Atali, had donated note books for all the kids in the school. They also had to be carried.

 The benches are lined up outside the class rooms. The will be a pooja for the benches before they're being used.

 Fighting Blindness Ireland - the donor organisation.

I had the pleasure of handing over the note books.

 The girls at school had prepared a performance of local songs and dancing..

Nothing in this world is more picturesque than Indian school kids!