India – A Day in the Life – Funky Adventurer

October 28, 2024

As the sun was rising I went on a walkabout on the Hotel property. It is massive and looks like a castle. I included an overhead shot from their website to give you a perspective of how massive it it. The hotel is magnificently poised near the forest of Ranthambhore, amidst the dense expanse of trees and abundant wildlife. This fascinating royal retreat is reminiscent of hunting lodges where royalty would come to hunt tigers.

After breakfast, we headed to the local village of Khawa for our A Day in the Life experience. Along the way we stopped at a local farm for the fresh ingredients for the pasta we planned on cooking for the village. The pasta is going to be a mystery box challenge since we are going with the ingredients that were available not what we had planned!!

Khawa is a small hamlet located on the fringes of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve with a population of about 300 people. This community is called a malis, or farming community. We were warmly greeted by the young women of the village. They are all one family living together in this community on land that was gifted to the family 150 years ago. The women who are wearing scarves are married and hence the need to cover their faces while the single ones are not required to wear scarves.

The cooking team headed to the kitchen to begin prepping our pasta. I cooked the pasta over the wood and cow dung patty fueled fire while the rest of our group chopped along side the village women. We all had fun working together. When it was time to serve the pasta the children lined up very anxious to taste what we had created. It was a hit with many of the kids coming back for 3rds!! Not one bite was left. SUCCESS!

Next we headed off for a tour of the village along to witness their daily life. The first activity was to show us how they made the cow patties that they then dry for 6 days and use as fuel in the outdoor kitchen. We were offered a chance to try making one…hard no for me.

We were welcomed into their homes to view which were simple but clean and the women were so proud!

We then regrouped into the center of the village and it was the women’s turn to ask us questions. The most insightful question was from a young girl who asked why Americans throw their children out of the home. We explained that we allowed them to pursue their lives. Because all generations of the family live and work together they can’t imagine wanting to be away from the family. After a lively discussion we headed inside for some dancing!

The people of the village created a traditional lunch for us and we shared the meal with they while continuing to talk and share.

Sadly all too soon it was time to head back to the hotel. I was joyful from the experience and feeling blessed that I continue to grow in understanding that we are all more alike than different. Life is about the connections we have with people and although this village has little compared to American standards they have a community working together for a better life.

We drove by the school where the village kids go to school and is sponsored by the Grand Circle Foundation. They make contributions to the school for each tourist they bring to the village.

Our last stop of the day was at a coop that teaches skills to women and men in the area enabling them to support their families. This effort was started to attempt to stem tiger poaching. By providing an alternative way to provide for the family they have almost eliminated tiger poaching. I have seen this so many times throughout the world giving someone a means to provide is so much cheaper than enforcement especially when you empower women.