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.

Arrival in Delhi!!

A mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture.  Some involve the whole body, but most of them are performed with hands and fingers.  These mudras welcome you at Delhi Airport!  India, here I come!

Off to India again....Round Three of....?

Today, along with my little travel companion Radovan (center) and a small group of other intrepid travelers, I leave for my third trip to India.  This time I'm traveling with Jungle Tribe and if you click on that link, you'll see where I'll be.  The link is in Serbian, but you can make out the cities.

India fascinates me and I wish I'd have gone sooner....making up for lost time. Perhaps I'll end up there like the retired people in the film Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  Seen this film?  If not, have a look at the trailer here:

Theme Day--Cafe Chairs

All stacked up and waiting to be placed at tables....as soon as the weather warms up just a bit!

See other cafe chairs at City Daily Photo's Theme Day page.

AND TOMORROW I'M LEAVING FOR INDIA...WARMER, FOR SURE!!  (Perhaps you noticed from the banner?) 

I will be rather sporadic in my comments until I return at the end of the month.

Boutique that bites

Got a little chuckle out of this while passing over Branko's Bridge a week or so ago.  It was on a Sunday, so I'll have to return to see just exactly what's inside. Looks like clothes...and??

But it'll be a while until I check it out....in two days' time I'm leaving for Round Three of India!!  Can't wait.  But hafta.

ABC WEDNESDAY--"G" is for "graffiti and a girl"

The title says it all.....

See other G's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday to my son today....  I remember exactly when this photo was taken by my good friend, Francois.  My son and I were on our way to buy his first pair of shoes.

Pigeons....

Pigeons on a rooftop with the steeple of Belgrade's main church in the background.

Sunday Bridges--deserted and cold.

Took this photo in Kalemegdan Park the other day when it was really cold. Not a soul around....  That's the steeple of Saint Petka's chapel that you see to the left.

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

WEEKEND REFLECTION--fishermen

This often happens to me. I'm out with one lens or the other and then see photos I could have taken or taken better with another lens. (I don't carry them all at once; just too heavy!)

This time I was out with my 70-200mm rather than my favorite walkabout lens, my 18-200mm.  Anyway, there was a wonderful line of fishermen below Branko's Bridge, but with the 70mm from where I was, it wasn't possible to get a good shot.

So I settled for a shot of two of them, reflected in an elevator that goes from the top of the bridge to the quay below.

See more reflections at James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--spring is in the air?

Last week I posted a tree that seemed to be yearning for spring. I know I am, and I still feel that way.

Not many signs yet, but I remain hopeful.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.