Journal 9-11-2010

Journal 9-11-10

Today we woke up at 6 to get ready to leave for our third long trip out of the city in three days. This trip turned out to be altogether very pleasant. At the bus, we were greeted by two PhDs from the Madras Christian College. They were incredibly knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. This was great because we were finally able to get answers to our many complex scientific questions that had been misunderstood by other guides and teachers. We began our drive to Pulicat lake. I was somewhat unenthused to be back in a car on another extremely bumpy road with the morning rumbles caused by my frustrating case of diarrhea. But the day only got better. We made it to Pulicat and stopped at the MCC base camp area to let our hosts grab some breakfast and to load the motor onto the boat.

The boat was very long and made of heavy wood. It was and incredibly stable and well made wooden boat. We set off across the lake to see the opening that connects the lake to the Bay of Bengal.

The opening was a slit scraped out by man (because the original one keeps closing up) that was located on a gorgeous deserted beach. This was a beautiful beach!

            Then we got back in the boat and cruised back across the lake.

This is an incredible community. Each village has some fishing rights for the lake. But each village is restricted and to a certain type of boat, type of net, specific time and species of catch. These regulations have helped to protect the lake from over fishing for generations helps to protect the lake from over fishing. We learned from our guides that the fishery is also in danger from industries, pollution, and other human phenomenon.

            We ended our boat trip at the fishing village where we were greeted by thousands of dead by catch fish laying on the docking area.

These fish stank, as did the whole village, but apparently they are used for animal feed after they dry in the sun. Next we went to an export market where the prime prawns crabs and fish are exported to Japan, china and other eastern countries.

 Then we went to the local market where the more standard catch is sold to the public.

They sell fish auction style, by setting a lot of fish on the ground. Then a woman pushes them around, sorting them with her wooden stick. As she does this she quietly says a number of rupees that goes up by ten if someone in the circle speaks. It was really fun to watch.

We then stopped by some Dutch tombs

Then we headed back to MCC headquarters for lunch.

            We ate the best meal on the trip for lunch at the MCC station. It included fried fish steaks, prawns in some glazed onion and other vegetable sauce, rice, and curry. This was great timing because I haven’t had an appetite for several days. My brief stint of sickness left me with no desire for most Indian food, mainly the stuff they serve at ICSA. It was great to get a really filling and delicious meal. It was followed by some exceptional hot chai.

            Then we went out