Khajuraho Temples

The Western complex of temples is the first peaceful place I've found here in India. The temples here are amazing. Although the days are hot, the mornings are cool and sweet.

These temples face east so that the morning sun lies at the feet of the god. This means pictures of the front of the temples are in shadow and didn't turn out well.

Rural India

Khajuraho is a small rural town with a major world heritage site to one side. This makes it an unusual combination of hassles.

Unlike most small towns there are street hawkers and drivers aggressively competing for trade. There are more shops in 1 block then anywhere else I've been. There are also more agriculture and livestock, healthier livestock.

When I arrived the hotel was experiencing a blackout. Apparently, the guy who runs the electricity for the commercial end of town went on vacation. They've tried getting assistance from the guy who runs the residential electricity but he was rather drunk. The hotel has a generator they turn on after dark saving me from a pitch black shower. Still, the front desk say they are not subject to rolling blackouts, scheduled or not, so I'm not in the absolute boonies.

More Money Shots

I was given a Rs 5 note in change today. I didn't know they had 5's as notes - they have them in coins. I think this must be quite rare because someone immediately offered to buy it off me.

Not Always a Happy Holi Day

In addition to the normal spate of Holi related fatalities and the increase in the inappropriate behaviour towards Women, this Holi carried its own special twist.

In Mumbai, over 200 people were hospitalized due to suspected Holi colour poisoning. Your can read more in this Times of India article.

How to Confuse an Indian

Indians are very good at reading people for status and culture but I've found that I can cause a bit of confusion and respect to my benefit. Wear modest clothes and a scarf in an Indian fashion. People don't know what to think of this and if I wear sunglasses they're not sure if I'm white.

They love it once they figure it out. Its novel, respectful and Indian style. Surprisingly, even though they can't see my face, they can still tell when I smile.

Photos Not Taken

Woman in full purdah shooting video of the scenery from the train with a new iPhone 4S. I feel poor.

Faces and people - I can't bring myself to ask even they've asked to take my picture. Sorry CJ.

Advertisement for quick, low interest loans against your gold jewelry.

All the small temples and mosques that fly by the train.

"High value tourist" directions signs at the Taj.

Cellphone ringtones of Christmas carols. (Too hard to see).

The altercation between stewardess and the guy beside me when he shot video of the safety demonstration and refused to delete it or hand over his camera.

The list of VIP's that don't have to go through airport security (includes family of VIP's).

The women in Kolkata painting the street fencing with their hands.

Monkey trying to get into coke bottle. Turning and rolling and shaking the bottle and finally puncturing with teeth. Face sprayed with coke fizz.

Taxi driver continually yanking out his grey hairs at the street light.

The monkey trying to steal the bottle while I was drinking from.

Blocks of ice being carted up to Haji Ali mosque.

The Value Village tag on clothing sold on the street in Kolkata.

Grilled veg. sandwich making street vendor. While he's making your sandwich he is grilling and adding toppings to three other sandwiches.

All the guys carrying all kinds of things on their bicycles - 12 foot piping, dozens of live chickens strung up by their feet, 30 or more flats of eggs and on and on.

Holi

Today is a day of puja, worship.

In Jaipur, it is marked by the Elephant Festival.



Tomorrow is Holi, the festival of colours. This involves throwing coloured powder everywhere and on everyone.

I'm on a train to Delhi in the morning and then flying to Khajuraho but tonnes of people travel during the festivals and I'm sure the train will be a place of celebration. This actually might be a better way to go as I understand the crowds can be dangerously aggressive and the powder acidic. Platform activity is always fascinating and Holi should be no exception.

Movie

There are a variety of 2nd rate movies on TV here. This is a Spaghetti Western I loved as a kid. You can see the movie title in the top right corner. Brian, my brother, maybe will get this. Of course I knew it by a slightly different name. English translations and spellings are fun to puzzle out here.

Street Views

It is really hard to get street shots here because you can't stand in one place for long. I had a long tuk-tuk drive today and was able to get some pics in traffic. Jaipur is a very clean and tidy place compared to the rest of what I've seen. Bear in mind that I've been slumming it a bit. The suburbs in the places I've been are likely more modern than these pictures would indicate. That being said I think it's fair to show cattle grazing on garbage and drying patty shots.

Amber Fort

Just outside of Jaipur is the Amber Fort which was also home of a Raj. Unlike many of the sites in India, this is being well cared for and much of the frescos are in good shape.

Wind Palace Views

Most of Mughal architecture is very open and have water flowing through the courtyards. This allows for the breezes to cool the water and act like air conditioning. The Wind Palace is no exception.

Wind Palace Doors

Wind Palace

The wind palace is the most distinctive and well knob attraction in Jaipur. The building was built to allow the women of the Raj (wives and haram girls) who were never seen in public, to view the street activity. There is a courtyard, dinning area, balconies and rooms that provide a few of the street through lattice work and tiny windows.