Sometimes I write my thoughts down.

Quite a frustrating day today. In the morning there was much discussion about the direction one of the projects should take, but it didn’t really involve me and I didn’t have much input. Nevertheless I was expected to be there, either paying attention or getting on with some other bits of work. I was itching to get outside and explore, but I had to remember that of course I am here to work! My colleague Inga is a research assistant and so was due to be shown around ‘in the field’ – i.e. meeting the townspeople participating in the study – and I was permitted to go along. Eventually, getting near 4pm, we set off. We drove down some back streets and right into the centre of the residential district, where we visited two families’ homes to discuss the study thus far (well, the others did anyway!). Both homes were small, but compact, practical and tidy. The only defined rooms were the entrance hall and the kitchen, with a smaller space between for prayer (the families were Hindu, so these spaces were liberally decorated with statues of gods and such like). The bedrooms were alcoves with curtains drawn across to separate them from the rest of the house. The floors were of stone or tiled; the walls were painted in single bright colours.
The other researchers then gave us a whirlwind tour of Vellore’s fort and temple, both many centuries old. Although very large and impressive, they are nothing particularly special for India – or in any case, not special enough for Vellore to be known for them. The imposing walls of the fort house various buildings including local government offices and a police training camp, as well as the temple. Annoyingly, our hosts were intent on driving us swiftly around the site, whereas I’d much rather have got out and strolled about – but then, again, I am at work, as are our hosts, and there are things to get done! But we did get to go into the temple, having removed our shoes and socks. Inside there was an outer courtyard surrounding an inner sanctum. The courtyard was brightly decorated, with various shrines to different Hindu gods on the way round. It was busy, too – it was the day of the harvest festival, and everyone was paying a visit. In the evening, for our last night, the whole team went round to the home of one of the senior scientists for a buffet meal.