During the trip, we have become accustomed to long days jam packed with activities, and today was partially more of the same.
We left the hostel at 5 a.m. to travel to the Akshaya Patra facility, which translates to "infinite vessel."
We were also scheduled to meet with a representative from Green Power Systems, but he had unfortunately been called away on business, so we missed out on the opportunity to speak with him.
GPS has developed a system using organic waste to produce biogas, which is used as an energy source for the food production system in place at Akshaya Patra.
After the early morning start, we were given a free afternoon, which took students in several directions. One group decided to shop on Commercial Street, while others used the rare free time to catch up on much needed sleep or work on their journals.
The group who decided to venture out to Commercial Street bought fashionable European brand name clothing at rock bottom prices or picked up gifts for their friends and loved ones.
Luckily it had rained shortly before we reached the area, which seemed to have deterred the insistent bongo drum salesmen who had been drawn to the American tourists like moths to a flame during our last shopping excursion. So I was able to focus on buying things I didn't need like a true, red blooded American.
After shopping, we had our second missed opportunity of the day when we realized after weeks of serious anticipation that our goal of experiencing an Indian iteration of Taco Bell was not to be due to traffic conditions and time constraints.
Later, the class boarded a night train headed to Raichur, where during the previous week, temperatures had reached 111 degrees two of the days.
Stay tuned for details...if our computers don't melt.
