We're all in Lucknow....

About to head home. Here's a photo of our little group in Lucknow at the Bara Imambara, a Muslim religious monument built in 1764.  Its central hall  is said to be the largest arched hall in the world. Its construction is unique because its arched ceiling blocks have been put together with an interlocking system of bricks, without the use of girders and beams, and no pillars to support it.

The Bara Imambara is also known for its incredible maze called Bhulbhulaiya, located in the upper floor. From the photo above, you see that we found our way out.  I'm the one in the black top and brown trousers.

Daily Haiku

  Up and down we wove

Through twisting, narrow hallways

As we do through life

Keep the corners clean

I spent some time in Delhi walking around Connaught Place, one of the city's largest financial, commercial, and business centers. The center has a circular colonnade walkway, and I couldn't help but notice that here and there some of the corners were quite dirty, whereas others, such as above, were spotless.

Someone had a good idea by strategically placing tiles with gods/goddesses there.  No one wants to soil them.....  In the photo are two Krishna tiles and one Hanuman.

Daily Haiku

He who can't recall

Cleanliness is godliness

Creates bad karma

 

Bodacious Bovine

This man had his cow all decked-out for Diwali, a festival of lights taking place this year in early November.

The cow seemed pleased with her appearance and posed for me; all she needed to do was smile.

Daily Haiku

It's fun to dress up

In finery and flowers

Even if you're a cow

Wings....

I did a double-take when I saw these winged shoes in a Delhi store window.....  I would love to know who  is going to buy them.

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 The Greek god Hermes

Wore sandals fitted with wings

Pretty snazzy chap

 

 

All iz Well

Sniff, sniff, on the way home, indirectly, with a stop in Delhi before we move on to our departure city, Lucknow.

We stayed at the All Iz Well hotel....love the name, and loved even more the tremendously successful (a few years back) Hindi film The Three Idiots, in which you can hear the song and watch the video clip All Izz Well that I'm pasting for you below. (Two z's in the song title....) Watch and listen!

Daily Haiku

Things don't always go

Quite the way we want them to

Obstacles are life

Lot of pots

Saw a fantastic dance performance in Udaipur.  I saw this same performance four years ago in Udaipur and was pleased to see that little had changed and it was as entertaining as before. Also, the woman in the top photo was still able to perform with these twelve pots on her head. She started out with two, and others were added in twos or threes.  After each addition, she continued her dance while doing something  a bit different.  For example,  once she balanced herself on the edge of a metal tray and tapped out the rhythm with her feet. 

As they always add on some commercials, "Do not attempt this at home".

Daily Haiku

Nothing's really hard

If you practice long enough

Discipline is hard

 

Faces of Udaipur

No particular comment for these. Just faces of the fantastic Indian people I met on my trip....and one shadow that reminds me of Gandhi.

Daily Haiku

We are not alone

Along the roads we travel 

Strangers become friends

Two from the Road

Two photos from the road, taken from my bus window.

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Glimpses of faces

That we'll never see again

Often stay with us 

The painter of miniatures....

Meet Rakesh, a painter of miniatures on silk, who lives and works in Udaipur.  A few years back, I'd bought a painting on silk from another painter, but I am certainly glad I popped into Rakesh's shop.  A delightful fellow.  He treated me to a miniature of my own on my thumb. Mine is (still there--will last a week or so, he says) an elephant, and the peacock on the thumb you see above belongs to our group's leader, Jelena, who passed by and wanted one, too.

And don't you just love the tufts of hair on Rakesh's ears?  And his thumb!  My grandmother could do that, too; said she was double-jointed.

Daily Haiku

Elephant for me

And a peacock for my friend

You painted your heart

 

Peeking again....and one who peeks at me...

Most Indian hotels have a rooftop terrace, where food and drinks are served, and before or after a meal, of just to relax, people retreat there to catch an evening or early morning breeze.

Of course I'm up to my Peeping Tom tricks again.  I observed the man in the little room across the way prepare his meal, then calmly eat it.

And just before the sun set, this little bird was watching me.

Daily Haiku

Eating mindfully

Savoring every small bite

Increases pleasure

  

Keep your eyes on the stars....

The first photo is how I started my day in Pushkar at the wonderful cafe, Honey and Spice, run by an Indian man who was in the catering business in Europe before, but then branched our to health food and returned to India to open this place.  Every single thing I had for breakfast here in Pushkar was delicious....  The second is a graffito scribbled on the roof of our guest house...how true it is....and good advice.

The last photo is Pushkar's Mount Abu, whose steps' lights appear as stars.

Daily Haiku

We often lose sight

Of what really counts in life

Don't fail to see the stars