Friday, July 16, 2010

Jewel of India part 2

Part 2......pictures continue


- Entrance to Taj


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First view....wow!



Closer...this is all marble !


Shoe covers I need to walk inside....no pictures can be taken inside.The tombs of the emperor and his wife are inside.



on each side is a large mosque ( they are identical ) only one was really a mosque , the other was built only to keep symmetry.


Glenda and
me ,this is the backside of the Taj Mahal



Kelly and me, in the background you can see some of the beautiful engraving



Don and me


And Arvind!.....my fearless leader


Couldn't resist...









It's hot!


Beggers outside Taj


Hawkers abound


Deformed child begging for food. These children are beaten to deformity as babies so they have to grow up begging for food


Back to the pool for a swim


One last pose


Namaste......

The Jewel of India



Well ,as promised I am now going to show you the last few days in India.An amazing end to an amazing trip filled with awe,inspiration,self awareness and a new appreciation for a culture that thrives on rituals and traditions,while dealing with poverty, profound class stratification,and chaos. I can only deduce that it is in fact this spirituality that allows the beautiful people of India to find the joy I saw on their faces and in their warm personalities daily.Well, let's take it back to the last night in Varanasi.....we were invited to a private concert of a world renowned musician who played a traditional Indian instrument, the Sitar. It was beautiful as the 3 generations of musicians invited us to their home and played the sounds of traditional India. Their home was in a tucked away neighborhood, where many other musicians live as well. It was quiet, with just a few cows meandering the alleyways of the neighborhood. By India standards it was a large house with 3 stories, but inside as simple as could be. The sink was in the middle of the sitting area, it struck me as odd, but it made it's location very practical to everyone in this family which included all 3 generations we met.
The next day yoga at 7am , as usual, then we made our way to the train station for our second overnight train ride to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal....often referred to as the jewel of India. I slept remarkably well in the train, we arrived around 7am, then checked into our hotel and off to the Taj Mahal. To describe the first glimpse of the Taj Mahal is more of a feeling, than something that can be put into words. I was in awe...it was surreal,magnificent,jaw dropping beautiful...a sight you could only imagine....but I was there looking at this wonder of the world and I actually got choked up. Most of us in the group were speechless and listened as Arvind told us the love story behind the Taj Mahal....how an emperor built this as a burial site for his wife who died in childbirth, taking 22 years and 20,000 workers 24 hours a day.We of course took several hours touring and enjoying the expansive grounds.I marveled at the detailed work that went into the marble work of the building...beautiful colors and designs including a transparent orange colored stone.It was a wonderful ending to a trip of a lifetime . I heard a saying that those who visit India never leave the same, and this I truly believe.
I experiences I will never forget. I will always remember the sights, sounds,smells and images of this unique and astounding country, with it's warm, hospitable and spiritually alive people.I envy their spirituality , their rituals and their family structures.I think the real jewel of India is it's people. I thank my new friends from Seattle and a very special thanks to Arvind, Kelly and Fran, who made this trip what it was.....Fabulous ! I already miss the sense of experiencing a new amazing adventure every day. Would I go back to the poverty stricken ,filthy,polluted country? .......In a heartbeat. Namaste....Karin
B




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Sitar maestro


3 generations


Glenda putting a flower necklace on a cow at train station


Cow eating flowers


Inside our birth on train


I got the top bunk


Now that what I call using your head


Hotel in Agra





Grounds of hotel


Yoga before the taj








To be continued......

Location:Agra

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Home ,but last blog coming

Dearest blog followers,

I have finally made it home after 33 hours of travel. Alas, my last 3 days had no Internet capability , but were some of the best days in India, including the jewel herself, The Taj Mahal.....So check back soon, after some catch up from jet lag your blog, with unreal pictures will be coming...thank you for all your support Namaste...Karin
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Location:Ormond beach ,Florida

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Pictures from yesterday


My blog last night was amiss pictures, but alas I have downloaded them on this Ipad I have been using for my blogging. I absolutely love this iPad. It is great for traveling.Anyway my day started at 4:30 am . But let me preface that by telling you I barely slept since there was a party going on in the 4 rooms across from me with about 40 kids running the halls, screaming and slamming doors.I called to complain 7 times without much success, actually the hotel clerk made exudes for the party, the first time in India as I was being treated differently because I wasn't Indian ( the party was) finally at 1am I went downstairs, scantily clad in a cross between my nighties and yoga pants....and I really got pissed off. They just kind of looked at me blank and kept saying I'm sorry , but it is a wedding party! In the guest part of a hotel? With 40 kids up at 1am with more energy the hanuma the monkey good! I told the father he was not being fair to me , but his children as well and basically called him a irresponsible parent. He got quite flustered that a woman would open her mouth to him and about 1/2 hour later party over...now of course this left me 2 big hours of sleep until I had to get up for a 5am boat ride on the Ganges river to watch ritual bathings,cremations and other rituals the local Hindu perform It was an unbelievable site to see bodies , draped in shrouds bribed cremated in the open by the river at the Ghat. we walks thru narrow alleyways to get to the river bank and stopped in shops to buy essential oils made locally and incense as well. The shopkeepers all gave us morning tea...it was quite an adventure. The Indian people are so hospitable . However, the hawker are really draining...they follow you and try to see you their goods non stop. They don't take no or even go away for an answer...they surround you in hoards....it's overwhelming and with the sounds of non stop beeoing cars, motor bikes, rickshaws .....it' major sensory overload and all you want to do is get back to the bus....

- yesterday


at


Sarnath.....Posted using BlogPress from my iPad. Glena and ma at Sarnath


Sarnath...birthplace of buddism


Getting on Rickshaws to get to the old city....what a ride!!!! Belongs in Disney!


This morning on boat... It's 5am... Don 't judge the picture so hard!




Putting my offering into the mother Ganges






Cremations ghats...Hindus want to be cremated in Varanasi since it is such a holy city .


Bathing ghat


Mom and daughter ritual bath in Ganges



Another bather getting his morning ritual in


Hawkers waiting for us....


Streets of Varanasi....this is really early in thee morning...nobody out yet!

quick update

Well another jam packed full day of new and exciting experiences in Varanasi today.Yoga was great this morning. We have been doing a lot of partner work which has been fun and challenging as well. We all spoke together after class and we all agreed that doing yoga in India feels different....It feels more grounded and just a part of every day life, like washing your face each morning....it leaves us refreshed and energized. Our schedule has been so packed, we need all the energy we can muster. we visited Sarnath today, the birthplace of buddism. Very interesting museum and archeology site.We then went on wild and crazy bicycle rickshaw rides into a huge outdoor bazaar with all kinds of back alleys and vendors with everything from spices, silks, bangles, saris....you name it, you could get it ( of course you have to find it first) the Bazaar was like something just out of Aladdin or Ali Baba and the forty thieves . Don't worry Jeff and Eric ..... I loaded up on curry and other Indian spices...I sent them DHL , should be there in a few days. Oh, and I bought a silk carpet for nala , shaina and cookie. it should last a few days . well tomorrow we have a 5am boat trip on the Ganges river( to see sunrise) then yoga on the banks of the Ganges. Should be great. Only a few pictures of yoga today....did not download today's yet. Miss you all, my trip is coming to a close...be home soon...Karin

Me in headstand


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Some partner work with Kelly









Fran assisting Glenda in handstand


Don in handstand


Don and Helena