We were the first (OK, the only...)ones in our group to volunteer forthe elephant ride up to the AmberPalace in Jaipur. Asian elephantsare a little smaller than theirAfrican cousins, but still strong!Our tour group for [...]
A typically stunning display of hand arranged flowers for Diwali. Celebrated in autumn each year, it was originally an agricultural festival, where people would finish up accounting for their annual crops and pray to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth for a successful year.Wow - we're [...]
Isn't she wicked looking with that one tooth?A common sight - her teeth are stained red fromchewing betel nuts, which are cheap, addictiveand cancer causing. Learning a lesson from a wise man. The moral ofthis story [...]
Ancient camel stables, extra tallto accomodate camel and rider.Marigolds, the new monkey snack!Waiting at the train platform in Jhansi, India. I thinkthis guy though I was taking his photo, but I wasactually trying to capture the [...]
Sunrise on the Ganges River. According to Hindutradition, Varanasi is the oldest city in the world.She is selling neem sticks, which are used as toothbrushes. The method is to nibble off the bark, then chew on the fibers until [...]
Garbage along the banks of the Ganga River.Despite the fact that it is a sacred river, withextraordinary religious importance for Hindus,and that it provides water for 40% of India,it is one of the most polluted [...]
This is the spot that Lord Buddhapreached his first sermon, somewherearound the 6th century.This woman was working pulling grass by hand.According to our guide, her payment is that sheis allowed to keep the grass to [...]
Gandhi was born to a middle class,merchant caste family. He studiedlaw in London and spent 21 years inSouth Africa representing indenturedHindu laborers, a formative period inwhich he developed his disgust ofthe Indian caste system, and [...]
A beautiful garden tomb, Emperor Humayan'swife commissioned this structure after he diedin 1556. The use of water flowing throughoutthe grounds was revolutionary. The architectureused here was influential on the Taj Mahal.Lotus Temple in New [...]
Modi is India's new Prime Minister.Elected by a large margin, he plansto build the "India of your dreams".That includes improving education,military strength, sanitation, andforeign investment.India has been independent from the British since1947. The period in [...]
India is estimated to have one third of the world'spoor, defined as earning less than $1.25 USD per day (by the Indian Planning Commission).India is crowded. There were about 60 peopleon this bus! India averages 954 people [...]
