SUNDAY BRIDGES; Branko's Bridge Revisited

Another view of Branko's Bridge, this time through a peephole on its stairs down to the river.

See other bridges on Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION---Upside down

The clock tower in Kalemegdan, upside down in a puddle!

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

And if you're here in my part of the world, don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonight....

SKYWATCH--silhouettes in purple

Taken a bit before I left for India.

See other skies, in all colors, on SKYWATCH.

Egads!

"Egads! Another McDonald's!", or so the art on the wall seems to say....

Cool idea....

How's this for a hidden bar?

La dame en bleu

Back in Belgrade....it's cold....

The sun sets....

The sun sets on yet another trip to India...I hope to return.  This is Delhi's Lotus Temple at sunset. It was completed in 1986 is a house of worship, and has become a prominent attraction, having won numerous architectural awards and featured in scores of newspaper and magazine articles. You can read more about it if you click right here.

Schoolboys

India can either be a photographer’s paradise or nightmare. People LOVE to have their photograph taken, to the point that if you have any sort of visible camera, you’ll be clicking away non-stop.  Couldn’t resist these young schoolboys, who were delighted just to see themselves on my camera’s monitor.  The one with the topknot is undoubtedly a Sikh. Sikhs do not cut their hair and as a form of respect cover it with an elegantly tied turban. To keep one's hair is a commitment to accept the body in the natural form in which it was born, and to get rid of vanity relating to outward appearance.

Leaving tomorrow, sniff, sniff....

With no disrespect....

No disrespect whatsoever to the lovely Audrey Hepburn, who was one of my favorite actresses, but this goat also deserves a magazine cover, I think.  Indians appear to take good care of the animals that bring them livelihood, and this nanny goat is no exception.  'twas a chilly morning when we met.

Do I really need to tell you....

....where this is?

This photo shows what most people think of when they hear "India".  The Taj Mahal was begun in 1630 by Emperor Shan Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife, who died giving birth to their 14^th child.  He described the construction thus: 

Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.

This is the classic view, but better ones are had from across the river from the other side.  

Hit the road

So far on all my trips to India I have traveled by air, van, tuk-tuk (shown), bus, a short camel ride, inter-city bus, and train. But not by elephant.  I do think it would be kind of fun, though.

Ladies of the Lake

Another photo from a bus. Not quite sure where I was...been napping.

P.S. Adding this note a bit later...I know now where this is....it is the  Jai Mahal or Palace on the Lake that you can read about by clicking on that link.

Enough blue, now pink

Jaipur, in contrast to Jodhpur, is called the Pink City.  There are various theories just why the city is called the Pink City, and if you care to read them (they're all quite interesting), have a look at this link. Thisman, whom I photographed while whizzing by on a tuk-tuk, is wearing a pink turban, quite appropriately. Notice the ad behind him with a woman's face.  Some Indians prefer light skin, and although I'm not sure what this photo is advertising, I have noticed quite a few skin-lightening creams in stores.

P.S Here's a cute post I've just uploaded for the 16th, since I didn't have Internet that day....

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Here I am below Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur....quite a walk up a winding road. The fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. The imprints of cannonball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate.

Jodhpur, the Blue City

Jodhpur is known both as the Sun City and the Blue City. I've been here once before when it was not sunny, but rainy, but it was still definitely blue.  Quite an impressive sight, especially from Mehrangarh Fort, which you'll see tomorrow.

In the train to Pushkar

Credit cards accepted

Almost makes you feel like using your credit card for cash even if you don't have to.

Room for everyone

Don't you just love this?  This isn't our guest house in Rishikesh, but cows are welcome everywhere.

Snoozing...or not quite...in the shade

Still practicing my hip shots here in India, though this Buddhist monk was nobody's fool, since I think he may have known.  He is a monk at the Gyato Monastery of Tantric Buddhism near Dharamsala.

Offerings to the Ganges at Hardiwar

My posts are a little out of order since I am never sure where I'll find an Internet cafe. I am no longer in Dharamsala, but in Rishikesh, were the Beatles once studied with their maharishi.  Last evening we went to Haridwar, one of India's most holy Hindu sites, and watched the 'puja' ceremony (offerings to the Ganges) and it was an experience not to be forgotten, and to think it goes on every evening.  Chanting, incense, colors, music....and the people. In the photo you see a leaf basket filled with flowers and a candle that someone has set afloat on the rapidly-flowing river. I cast in my marigold 'mala' that I had received bought at one of the temples we visited.

And Happy Birthday today to my friend Marianne!

Golden Temple in Amritsar

From Dharamsala our small group took a 5-hour bus ride (one way....) to Amritsar, holy city of the Sikhs.  Above is the Golden Temple, an absolutely splendid place as you can well imagine from the photograph.

India-Pakistran Border Ceremony

 From the title you might think that the India-Pakistan border might be a dangerous place, and perhaps sometimes it is.  However, every evening just before sunset, both countries' borders stage a super show when they close their borders.  Lots of strutting, horn blowing, cheering from the packed crowds, and overall just plain fun....why can't this happen in real life?    Here you see handsome two strutting Indian guards.

Last day in Dharamsala

A sneak shot....old woman seated with her mala, which are prayer beads.

Norbulingka Institute for the Preservation of Tibetan Culture

Just outside of Dharamsala is the Norbulingka Institute for the Preservation of Tibetan Culture, a haven for artists of all kinds. In 2011 I showed you this close-up of a Buddha's head.  Don't mind visiting this place again at all.

Tibetan momos

I love momos, which are made from a simple flour and water dough and are filled with a mixture of vegetables, meat, or local cheese, then steamed.  They're usually served with some kind of spicy sauce.  My friend is holding hers. I ate mine  before I took the photo....

Tibetan Monk in Dharamsala

I have to be respectful when photographing monks, who are almost always camera shy.  This monk was not so much a fast walker as I was a quick snapper, with a lower-than-should-have-been shutter speed.

Dharamsala

Here I am in Dharamsala, where I’ve visited on my last trip.  Dharamsala is a hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh, famed for its large Tibetan community and as the home of the Dalai Lama.  The town is divided into Lower and Upper parts, the latter of which is known more commonly as McLeod Ganj, named after David McLeod, the once the British Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab.  McLeon Gang has an altitude of around 1,750 meters.  We’ll be making some excursions from here, including a hike or two.

This photo shows the tent-like white crests of the Dalai Lama's palace and the many prayer flags you see all over.