Bara ~ Bodh Gaya
26 km
Today’s course was the last one of the first section.
When I investigated on the map, today’s course was supposed to pass through traditional villages which gave me expectation. It was right! Today was the most fruitful day since I left Seoul.
I took a diagonal picture of the starting moment by sel-ca.
Right after the start, I met youths in the first village.
It was early in the morning. But diligent youths flocked.
After a while, I met youths playing in the ground.
Playing early is a good practice.
Children showed curiosity first.
Next, youths came to me.
I explained about pilgrimage after spreading the large map.
It looks like private tutoring institute.
Probably it was before the session starts. Students poured out to us.
I went up to the stairs and explained about the pilgrimage with Mr. Hara who was holding the map.
Somebody took the session with video camera.
The video was put on the homepage.
Now typical appearance of country landscape starts.
A hand motor is used for cutting rice straw, or threshing grain.
At a village, I took a picture with the children.
A pile of rice straw is at the shade under the tree.
It was dry season. The waterway was dry and changed to a road.
It was not side of waterway.
However, I could find such a straight road often because India was a large flat continent.
Mr. Hara is walking a quiet road.
Dung of cattle was used for fuel in the countryside. In addition, the dung was used for cleaning work. Therefore, it was very important to dry the dung well.
They were feeding water buffalo for commercial purpose.
This rice paddy supplies much food for the cranes, I guess.
Some people feed wild boar just like domestic animals.
This road is unpaved and clean. and reminds me of southern atmosphere.
Though it was a large river, it had little water because it was a dry season.
Mr. Hara took a nice picture of me walking on stepping-stone.
Naive children carry bricks.
When can we meet again?
I made friends with youths of a village.
At this village, they treated us as special guests.
The man standing by me is the school teacher.
He teaches Japanese, and he has been to Japan several time.
He became friend with Mr. Hara immediately.
He asked us, “Do you need some food to eat?”
Since it was lunch time, it sounded like a good news.
He looked like a leader of the village.
We enjoyed food and fruits and chai. After lunch, I explained pilgrimage in English.
Then he translated it into Hindu to the villagers.
Near Bodh Gaya, we arrived at a rice mill.
They told us to taste new rice. I tried it, and Mr. Hara took a picture of the moment.
We spent a fruitful day, and arrived at Bodh Gaya safely.
We will take a day of rest tomorrow.
We will go to the place of Buddha’s Enlightenment on the day after tomorrow.
Categories: Course and Dairy, India
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