A world away in 5 weeks - India to Sri Lanka and back
Oct 24th, 2019, 07:50 AM
#101
Join Date: Mar 2003
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I'm 87 and my traveling days are over, but want to let you know how much I've enjoyed these pictures of remarkable India. My last international trip was to India, probably 7 or 8 years ago, with my daughter and son-in-law. We were on a tour and just did some of Northern India. Your pictures are fantastic and brings back so many wonderful memories. I hardly ever 'check in' to this web site, but I've spent probably more than an hour looking at your wonderful pictures and reading all the comments. Thanks so much for posting. Geri
Oct 24th, 2019, 08:22 AM
#102
Original Poster
Geri,
Thank you for your lovely comments! I'm pleased that you've enjoyed my photos and are "traveling" along with me. And I'm touched that it's brought back your own lovely memories.
You've inspired me to keep on going with this photo "report", even though it's been 8 months since we've been back (and we just returned from a trip to Italy!). We loved India and were also in Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi a few years earlier, and, if anything, that was an even more amazing trip.
If you're interested I do have a report on the board for the earlier trip, and I believe the links to the photos are still good, though it's been a while since I checked.
Thanks again for your thoughtful post.
More photos to come!
Paule
Thank you for your lovely comments! I'm pleased that you've enjoyed my photos and are "traveling" along with me. And I'm touched that it's brought back your own lovely memories.
You've inspired me to keep on going with this photo "report", even though it's been 8 months since we've been back (and we just returned from a trip to Italy!). We loved India and were also in Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi a few years earlier, and, if anything, that was an even more amazing trip.
If you're interested I do have a report on the board for the earlier trip, and I believe the links to the photos are still good, though it's been a while since I checked.
Thanks again for your thoughtful post.
More photos to come!
Paule
Oct 24th, 2019, 10:41 AM
#105
Original Poster
We climbed a hill with our driver, Vijay, to see a small but beautiful ancient temple. There were only a few others doing the same trek up the hill. Behind some barbed wire there was a cave with carvings outside - I’m not sure who or what they are but we were struck by them.
Oct 24th, 2019, 10:44 AM
#106
Original Poster
We climbed a hill with our driver, Vijay, to see a small but beautiful ancient temple. There were only a few others doing the same trek up the hill. Behind some barbed wire there was a cave with carvings outside - I’m not sure who or what they are but we were struck by them.
Our driver, Vijay
Our driver, Vijay
Last edited by progol; Oct 24th, 2019 at 10:53 AM. Reason: Several photos did not appear. I need to upload them. I also need to put space between the photos.
Oct 24th, 2019, 11:02 AM
#107
Original Poster
Finally, we got to Madurai, one of the most important cultural centers of Tamil Nadu. We visited the Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the large living temples, and there were no photos allowed anywhere! In fact, cameras and cell phones had to be stored away before entering.
Last edited by progol; Oct 24th, 2019 at 11:07 AM.
Oct 24th, 2019, 01:08 PM
#109
Interesting that you weren't able to take photos inside the temple in Madurai. There was no such restriction when I was there in 2010, but that was the pre-selfie era...
I haven't edited the photos from that trip, but if interested my Tamil Nadu photos are here: https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...11/Tamil-Nadu/
Madurai is photos 1 to 154.
I haven't edited the photos from that trip, but if interested my Tamil Nadu photos are here: https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...11/Tamil-Nadu/
Madurai is photos 1 to 154.
Oct 24th, 2019, 01:54 PM
#110
Original Poster
Madurai was the strictest of all the temples we visited in the South and the only one where we had to store our phones as well as cameras. Yes, the selfie era has changed everything! It was a bit of a relief, truthfully, as we had visited so many temples before Madurai, it gave me a chance to not have to be in “photo mode” all the time.
its fun seeing the place through your eyes - and it certainly doesn’t look any different in 9 years!
its fun seeing the place through your eyes - and it certainly doesn’t look any different in 9 years!
Dec 4th, 2019, 07:29 AM
#113
Original Poster
As the trip recedes further into the past, I though I'd try to get back to this trip (am also working on my more recent Italy trip!) and continue the journey...
In Madurai, Indian Panorama arranged for 2 tours - an evening food tour and a morning tour, exploring the city as it wakes. They were both really fun and I loved seeing the city waking up.
Evening tour
In Madurai, Indian Panorama arranged for 2 tours - an evening food tour and a morning tour, exploring the city as it wakes. They were both really fun and I loved seeing the city waking up.
Evening tour
Dec 5th, 2019, 04:16 AM
#116
Original Poster
The morning tour in Madurai. Fascinating to see the city waking up along the smaller streets. We had to get up before sunrise (!) and managed to see one man finishing up milking a cow and gathering the cans, and saw several women who were drawing kolam in front of their houses. These are drawings that were traditionally done in rice powder and thought to bring prosperity to the family. The rice powder is eaten by bugs and worn away by the end of the day, so women are up early each morning to create new ones. The designs vary from very simple to complex, and are commonly geometrical, though not always.
Kolam
To market
On the way to market!
Kolam
To market
On the way to market!
