My Samurai Connection

I got a chance to visit a Samurai village called Kitsuki or "Little Kyoto"on a recent visit to Japan. There were students from the Asia Pacific University who came along as guides, and walked us through the preserved Samurai houses. I rented a kimono (yes, men wear these too), to get into the part, and enjoyed roaming the streets of Kitsuki. Some pics-the first has my swords :)

Janapav Mela

A village fair (mela) at Janapav, a village around 30 kilometres away from the campus, is where we went yesterday, to look at some stalls put up by our students. They create games to measure whatever the sponsoring companies want them to measure. Participants get a small incentive for their  effort, companies get data from rural respondents, and students learn how to do market research in this setting. Fevicol, ITC and Pepsi were some of the companies that put up stalls through IIM Indore this year.

Interesting to see the fair (the occasion is Kartik Poornima) and a nearby temple on a hill-top. The evening setting was nice and breezy on the top, with a good view of the Agra-Bombay Road. We also treated ourselves to some local delicacies including poha, jalebi and mirchi bhajjis.

Legend has it that Parashuram was born in Janapav.

A good outing, overall.