Tuesday, September 27, 2011

From Delhi to Agra


Hare Krishna


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN71NGrdTbs


It's only 200 km from Delhi to Agra, city of the Taj Mahal, but it takes about 6 and a half hours each way.
So many images.  Here just a few snapshots from the window of the car.

Girls Walking

Saturday Market

If you're in a traffic jam, it's nice to have ice cream

The most common form of transportation:  the auto rickshaw or "tuk tuk"
Haggling over the fare is part of the ritual.  Both parties must feign disgust over  the offer.  80 rupees to go across town (about $1.50).  I  pretend to complain  about the price but any way you cut it, it's the best deal in town.

This would make a good game of "guess what this says."


This photo is for my niece in Port Orchard who loves snakes.  



I think the monkey in the dress has lipstick on.


A Little Roadside Store

Waiting for the light

Man vs Cow


The Taj Mahal really is spectacular and has a fascinating history.  It's actually
a mausoleum for the beloved third wife of  the Mughal Shah
in 1631 and took 22 years to complete.  It's all about love, man. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal



This website is not an official department website.  The views and information are the English Language Fellow's own and do not represent the English Language Fellow Program or the U.S. State Department.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Sunday Night at Marina Beach

It seems all the families in Chennai come to Marina Beach on Sunday evening.  To stroll.  To eat.  To sit.  Fly kites.  Play with their children.  I think I could do a "Where's Waldo" with these images, or an "I Spy."

Try to find:

      12 ears of corn
       2 green baskets
       a little girl in a purple dress
       5 mirrors made of shells
       2 AK-47s










Friday, September 16, 2011

Sri Ranaganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirapalli

Visited this temple during my stay in Tiruchirapalli (thankfully, for me, they shortened this one to Trichy).  It is dedicated to the Indian god Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. It is simply one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen.


Srirangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (the still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing temple). The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India[1] and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The temple is enclosed by 7 concentric walls (termed prakarams(outer courtyard) or mathil suvar) with a total length of 32,592 feet or over six miles.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Ranganathaswamy_Temple,_Srirangam



Just a few of the 21 temple structures (Gopuram) that make up the temple at Sri Ranganathawamy 



Temple details



Temple door



Rooftop Details



Entering the Temple



Images inside the temple.  I'm not sure which of the many Hindu gods these two photos depict.  




Inside the temple



An American tourist at the temple with her guide

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

On the Street Where You LIve

Here are some of the images I saw on my walk to Marina Beach this morning.


On the street where I live.


The Doctor is in.



Billboard by Marina Beach for the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.  The only Tamil I know so far is:  vanakom - hello;  nandri - thank you  

yeppidi irikreenga - how are you; 
and, suud - hot



The Shell Man


Sunrise on Marina Beach


Man taking his child to school near my house.  


Saturday, September 10, 2011

A walk to Marina Beach









Marina beach is a 15 minute walk from my place, but getting across the street can take a while and is truly life-threatening.  For some reason, Chennai doesn't believe in crosswalks for pedestrians.  So you just have to try and find a minute to run between the on-coming cars.  It's really crazy.

Monday, September 5, 2011

A Refuge from the Storm

Found this little place to live.  Or maybe I should say it found me.  I had been shown several places to live, all of which horrified me.  I decided that I wouldn't be able to stay here if I had to live in any of those places or anything like them.  I then found this little apartment near the Bay of Bengal.   It just felt right.



One of the two bedrooms

  The kitchen.  Yes, it's pink and purple.  The two daughters of the owners got to choose the colors.  I can't really explain it, but it works.

The temple that I see from the little porch in front of the apartment.  It's cool, but every morning at 6:00 they bang on a gong about 20 times.  Why haven't the neighbors complained is my question.  I'm tempted to ask them how they can advocate peace while waking everyone up at 6:00 am.


The living room.


Another view of the living room.  That's my refrigerator, in the living room.  It's not such a bad idea really.



A second bedroom with its own bathroom.


The little porch that has doors to the bedroom and kitchen.  Luckily there is wire enclosing the porch.  Otherwise the group of very angry crows that hangs out in the trees there would have me for lunch.  I try to talk to them, but it just pisses them off even more.



One of the two bathrooms.  When you go into the bathroom, you are essentially standing in the shower. The whole thing is the shower.

Despite it being a bit weird and wacky by American standards, I find it warm and comfy.  The owners are kind and helpful, and the neighbors invited me in for tea a few days ago.  Milk gets delivered to the door, and a washer woman offered to clean and do my wash yesterday.  I'm not sure I'll get used to living in such a different environment, but at least I can find some refuge here from the chaos outside.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Ganesh Celebration in Chennai

The Adventure Begins

The flights were smooth, but 25 hours was a bit much.  Had to run to make the connection between Delhi and Chennai.  Amazing clouds over northern India, looking toward the Himalayas.
Coming into Delhi on the plane.  Huge city. 


On the ride in from the airport to the hotel, there were many displays such as this one.  September 1 is the celebration of Ganesh, so the city was decorated with statues and lights.



Ganesha Chaturthi (Marathi: गणेश चतुर्थी, Hindi: गणेश चतुर्थी, Tamil: விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி Kannada: ಗಣೇಶ ಚತುರ್ಥೀ,Telgu: వినాయక చవితి), also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his elder son Ganesha as superior to all the gods. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel.
The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).
While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in western and southern India. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States,CanadaSingapore and Fiji.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi