Udaipur, India

A view from my hotel rooftop restaurant in Udaipur, India....

Norbulingka Institute. Dharamsala

Jumping around a bit in my trip. This beautiful face of Buddha is from a statue made by artisans at the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala, India. The institute is for the preservation of Tibetan culture.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM INDIA!

Greetings from Mandawa, India, where I was last night for a bang-up Rajasthani New Year's celebration at the hotel we stayed at. Lots of fun, good food, and dancing, followed by fireworks.

Still on holiday for several more days and will try to keep posting, but not so sure of Internet connections.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY--HAPPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my photoblogger friends. May the New Year bring you much health and happiness and opportunities to make more wonderful photos.

See more skies on SKYWATCH.

FLASH: Couple shot in Kalemegdan Park!!

If you remember this classic post of mine, you'll know that Belgrade is a fairly safe place, and the only shootings you're likely to run into are the kind you see above. I believe these 'lovers' were advertising leather...earlier the photographers were very interested in their shoes, and now it seems they're focusing on their jackets...I guess.

ABC Wednesday "X" is for 'barber shop'?

Okay, I know those scissors aren't an X, but they sort of look like one, and I don't have another X....

This building apparently used to house a barber shop, founded in 1885, and lasting until I do not know when, for now below is a fast-food restaurant. Kind of sad, since the restaurant doesn't go with the building.

See other X's or sorts of X's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

At the 'kafana'

A 'kafana' is a special type of restaurant that serves traditional home cooking along with wine, rakija (brandy) or beer, looks like grandma's place, and usually there's lots of smoke....this has been somewhat reduced thanks to the new no-smoking ordinance. We have here a somewhat stiff couple sitting at a window table. Judging from the cigarette between the lady's fingers, this appears to be the smoking section. They DO look a bit pale...from the smoke, the lack of sunshine in winter, or not enough wine or brandy?

No pink poodles, please

I love this sign that I photographed on the bakery shop at my local market. Usually the 'no dogs allowed' signs here show a generic dog, no features, all in black. So, who knows? Maybe this shop allows others, but no pink poodles.

Sunset on the water....

Just a nice, peaceful photo for the day after Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends who celebrate that holiday. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I am currently in India, far from snow. I don't know if there is snow in Belgrade, and I used this photo from last year. I like the touches of red on the man's jacket and on the street light against the white snow.

Snip, snip

Tomorrow is Christmas, but not here in Serbia. Serbian Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7th, but perhaps these fellows are getting ready for New Year's Eve and want to beat the crowd. It's quite common that there are lady barbers here.