Ramoji Film City (accent on 1st syllable)

One P-Day all the missionaries in Hyderabad went to Ramoji Film City, which I had previously thought was for making movies, but it seems to be a tourist attraction on the order of Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm except a much smaller and more amateurish scale even though they advertise being the largest in the world. The mission pays for two excursions a year to see something unique. We pass the entrance often when going to the villages but you have to go way back into the hills to get to the sights. It was a long hot day as we soon saw nearly everything we were interested in. Too late Sisiter Fullmer and I saw across the way some grass sculptures of animals (bottom pic I think but you can't see them) but there was no time left to walk over there. All kinds of people stopped and asked to have a pic taken with me whenever we were sitting somewhere. It was pretty funny. All we could figure is that the white hair combined with the white skin was an attraction because they didn't want anyone else's picture but mine. A couple of them put sun glasses on me and a tiger striped hat. I should have had them use my camera too. White hair seems to be unusual. If people get white hair, they dye it black. Their hair is beautiful though--very shiny and thick. I guess we'll get two more such trips before going home. A couples' conference is also planned for February in Sri Lanka we hear but we will have to pay all the costs.

We spent most of the day with the Fullmers or at least Sister Fullmer as he was more adventurous than the rest of us and rode on all the rides while we watched. I don't think I've posted any of the rides but they were tame except one which Elder Fullmer took where two hammer things swing opposite directions until they swing all the way to the top and go all the way around. They asked him if he had heart trouble before he got on. You know Dad doesn't do well and I outgrew or pooped out of rides a long time ago. Most were for kids in preschool range. I swear I've lost 20 pounds but you sure can't tell in pix. One Sunday a young married man came up to me and said, "How is your health, sister?" I told him it was fine and he said, "You are losing too much weight. You must take care of your health." They obviously have a different way of looking at things but it is noticeable in person if not otherwise.

I see women carrying things on their heads nearly every day and want a picture but can't get the camera out in time or there are too many people. Barely caught these women as they were entering some building at Ramoji. One of these days I'll get a good one.

Some Sights

An unusual looking building (left) in a Muslim section next to the fort. Also, a not great view of the city from Jubilee Hills, a richer section where you see separate homes.

Muslims settled Hyderabad in 1591 and Golcondo Fort is one of their most famous and significant historically. Some claim that the fort itself is 2000 years old. The city of Hyderabad expanded eastward from the fort because water was so scarce and so it seems a bit separated from Hyderabad at the present. The palm tree marks the entrance if you want to go in and see the detail. We just drove around it on our way back from a project site.

Took these pix because it was such a fancy-looking school out in the country. The students were older and dressed with ties and looked as if they had a little money.

Aloor Girls Camp

Some of the buildings where children have classes and/or sleep are quite grubby. We plan to give them a lift (read below).

A long way into the countryside, in the middle of nowhere is Aloor Girls Camp operated by MV Foundation (our water project partner) to put young village children into school and take them out of child labor. These girls go home to visit occasionally and their parents come there for visits so they are not totally separated from their families but they are protected from parents' desires to exploit their children for money.

This beautiful six-year-old (in blue above and below) followed us around the camp instead of going to her classes. Her mother was a Hindu and her father a Muslim whose differences over religion ended with the father throwing gasoline on his wife and setting her on fire. She grabbed onto him and set him afire as well. She died and the father lived a short time but couldn't care for his daughter and sold her to a truck driver for 500 Rs ($12.50). The driver sold her to someone else for 5000 Rs ($125) and that person was trying to sell her for 15,000 Rs when MV Foundation rescued her and put her in their camp. I suppose she is too young to understand the horror of her story but our hearts ached for her. Another girl, age 13, was being sold into marriage when found by MV. They care about the children and try to give them a foundation for a better life. In fact, they follow them all through school and help them find a job when old enough.

We will be submitting a project this coming week to help these 200 girls who range in age from about 6 to 15. We hope to be able to give them sleeping bedding (something soft like a sleeping bag--but no cover is needed) and pillow (they are currently on cement), sports items for activities (volleyball, badminton, etc.), books, and a supply of sanitary napkins. If approved, we will take branch members out there to whitewash their buildings, inside and out. MV has offered to feed us while there but our Branch President Joseph doesn't trust the sanitation conditions and wants us to bring our own food. Bill and I ate while we were there. It was good and we survived without even a stomach pain.