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Public Zone 公開區 => Travelogues 遊記相薄 => Topic started by: chin on 08 February 2009, 13:19:13
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My first trip to India. And what a trip it was. India is a land of contrast, land of colors, land of history and past glory. Also a land of "People Mountain People Sea" in Cantonese expression.
One month after returning to Hong Kong, my memory is still vivid. Entrusted by my group members to produce a DVD for the trip, I had the opportunities (and obligations) to review the videos and photos repeatedly and in detail. In the process I got to reflect more on what I saw and experienced.
The purpose of this web site is to share some of the photos and stories. To record what I saw in a roughly chronological order.
We started the trip from Hong Kong on 21 Aug 2002, started trekking 24 Aug to 2 Sep. Then 6 of us stayed until 10 Sep 2000 to visit Agra & Jaipur. Back to Hong Kong on 911
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Arriving Dehli at about 11:30pm on 21 Aug 2002, we quickly got on the chartered bus for the 18-hour ride to Manali.
(22 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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On the way to Manali, we stopped in a couple of roadside rest stops so the driver could rest, and we got to "relief". We saw quite many old cars like this in India.
(21 Aug 2002, 35mm, 1 second S-mode)
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Urvij Acharya in Nalagarh Palace.
Acharya was our guide and host for the trekking, boss of the Ultimate Expeditions in Manali, father of two boys of 11 and 9 years old. Acharya has been in this business professionally for 10 years. His method to get us acclimatized worked well.
From him I learned that there are Aryan descendants, like himself, in India. Told us stories from Mahabharata which he thinks actually happened.
(22 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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In the morning of 22 Aug, we had breakfast in the heritage hotel Nalagarh Palace. Besides being the first meal in India, the palace also gave us the first taste of the Indian past glory.
(22 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Road scene in Manali. At the background is the black-on-yellow sign of BRO. Foreground is an army truck.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the government agency mandated to build and maintain roads, airfields in the border area, mainly to facilitate military movements such as the army truck here. More information about BRO here.
In and around Manali, we saw lots of BRO black-on-yellow anti-drink-driving signs. They must have gotten the slogans in a competition or something, almost each sign has different slogan and some of them are out right silly. In fact I think some slogans are too long to read and distractive to drivers.
(23 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Street scene in Manali.
(23 Aug 2002, 28mm, 1/2 Second S-mode)
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Acharya directing packing before the trekking.
(24 Aug 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Harsh (pronounced as hut-sh) is one of two instructors trekking with us.
To qualify to be an instructors, the candidate needs to take courses and score A in each of Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Mountaineering. Then move on to take Method of Instruction course to qualify as an instructor. These courses were offered at the mountaineering institute in Manali.
The institute was setup in 196x to train professional instructors and guides. How visionary the founders were, mountaineering and related sports are now a major contributor to the local economy.
There are about 100 active qualified instructors in the Manali area, we were told. They earn US$10-$20 per day on trek.
(24 Aug 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Apple is a major produce in the Manali area. Packing tents like this can be seen everywhere along the roads.
This morning we are starting the trekking, and was packing our stuff at the roadside next to this tent. Acharya's gear sitting on the right.
(24 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Small village settlement right after Prini. Houses are made of wood and mud. Roof made of sheet rocks.
(24 Aug 2002, 28-70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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For the body of a Buddhist monk near the village of Prini.
The man walking toward the stupa is also an instructor. While not leading trekking groups, instructors would tend to their apple orchard, herd, etc.
The trekking led up to this stupa was tough because the rain made deep mud out of the top soil. I slipped a couple of times and muddy all over. Good to have Gore-Tex pants.
(24 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Negi, one of the two instructors during our trekking, playing flute during a rest. Negi's short term goal is to save enough money to buy a CD player.
(24 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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One of the cook's assistants. He was in charge of getting water once settle down on camp site. Today he got water from the creek at the background.
(24 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The first herd we encountered on the first day trekking. This goat was curious about the camera.
At the time of our trekking, late summer in India, herds of sheep and goats were moving away from the high mountain. Thus we would see hundreds of sheep and goats everyday going the opposite direction of our trekking.
(24 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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One of the shepherds from the first herd we saw. He stopped a minute chatting with Acharya.
We later found out that Acharya not only chat with shepherds about the treks ahead, he sometimes distribute medicine to them if they are not well.
Shepherding is a hard life, and it shows on the face.
(24 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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After chatting to our guide, shepherd catching up with his herd.
Some shepherds would have a pack horse to bring tent, blankets, etc. Some would just haul everything on back.
(24 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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We brought live chickens to the trek. We had three chickens every dinner except the two days when we had goat for dinner.
After arrived at the camp site, the chickens would be let loose. In the morning, some of us, like Karl here, would help to catch the chickens.
(25 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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This young girl was already given the responsibility to take care of another child.
Spencer, our group leader from Hong Kong, brought lots of pencils, rulers, and other school supplies as give-away to children we met on the trek.
This girl would took the gifts, passed on to younger children, and ask us for more.
We later found out that the pencils might be useless to them, as they practice writing on tablets, instead of on paper. Perhaps even paper is hard to come by and too expensive.
(25 Aug 2002, 85mm)
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As we distribute school supplies, these nomad children gathers.
We were told that these children are direct descendants of Alexander the Greats army, and many of them don't go to school.
Without education, is their future limited to shepherding and such?
(25 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Today we passed many field of colorful flowers.
(25 Aug 2002)
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Waterfall near the 2nd day camp site.
We had a fairly easy walk today for only about 3 hours. Arrived camp site at noon, setup tents, and almost everyone got to wash up a bit in the nearby river. The water was icy cold.
We even had time to setup tripods and take pictures like this. Then Acharya decided that we had too easy a time walking, and in the name of acclimatization, we were told to walk up a hill about another 100 meters high and slopes of about 45-degree.
I slipped at one point and Grace refused to let go of the instructor.
(25 Aug 2002, 200mm, ~1/2 second, S-mode)
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Waterboy, Horseman & Negi are all looking at something. What are they looking at?!
Emmy or the instant noodle she's cooking?
Quite a few of us brought "comfort food" - food that offers familiar taste when you do not feel well, or when you want to take a break from local food. We had instant noodle, "Chu Yuk Zone", etc.
(25 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8, A-mode)
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Spencer getting ready for the daily exercise.
(25 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4, A-mode)
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Derek (a scout leader and production engineer) & Kay sharing a French Fry.
During this trip we saw two new romance started. And this was not one of them.
(25 Aug 2002? 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Karl, a software engineer, was the superman in our group. He always walking in the front, while hauling his heavy camera, GPS gear, walkie-talkie, water bottle, his own bag, Kay's bag, etc etc etc.
(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4, A-mode)
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Bringing extra shoes, Derek ready to cross rivers any time.
(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4, A-mode)
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One of the many shepherds we seen, this one definitely rank one of the most popular as our photo subject.
Among the 10 people in our group, we had 6 SLR 135 cameras, 2 digital cameras, one point'n shoot APS, and one DV camcorder. Almost everyone has a picture of this shepherd.
(26 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8, A-mode)
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On a very steep part of the trek, our horses needed pull'n push to get through. Quite a few horses slipped on the flat rocks.
We were told to stay far up on the rocks, to minimize the chance of scaring the horses.
(26 Aug 2002, 28-70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Danzin sitting at the entrance to his mother's teahouse shop, eating snack given to him by Emmy, while looking at us buying wool caps and wool socks.
The third day on the trek and south of Hamta Pass, we still see lush green everywhere, many herds everyday, and teahouse/shop almost every day. The scene would change dramatically after Hamta Pass and Chhatru.
(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Danzin's grandfather happily posing for the camera. He is also happy that we are buying hats & socks at 100-Rupee each. We later found out that the same merchandise was priced at 60-Rupee in shop on highway.
(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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We saw, in distance, patch of white/yellowish surface covering the normally dark gray maintain slope. Looked like a beach from far.
When Acharya told us that it was snow, we though he was bullshitting.
Well, he was not.
In the winter, snow would cover the mountain slopes and the valley that we were trekking. When the summer came, most of the snow would melt away but not all. Some would still cover the river, and the river would flow under the packed snow.
The next day, we got our chance to walk on package snows, which has a running river underneath. The crossing was uneventful.
(26 Aug 2002, probably 70mm, ~1/4 second in S-mode, handheld leaning on rocks.)
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After settle down at camp site, I was taking pictures of the nearby mountains. This shepherd saw me, and offered me to hold the baby lamb. I gestured that I would like to take picture of him instead.
After the picture, he write down his name Shri Ludia and his address so I can send him a picture.
At the end, he said he was cold and without a cap. He asked if I could give him my fleece cap.
I paid very little for the cap. It was purchased in Beijing for about RMB 20 (or US$3). Less than the hourly rate for the parking space in upscale malls in Hong Kong.
Unfortunately for Shri Ludia, I only had one cap at that moment. With another week hiking and 4000 feet in altitude to go up, I need all the warm gears. So I refused his request.
I did not feel great that day. But could not help. :-(
(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4, A-mode)
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Almost a daily event in the morning, our horsemen fixing horseshoe.
Our team of 3 horsemen are related by blood - father and son plus uncle, if I remember correctly.
Their experience and knowledge of the area proved to be invaluable, especially few days later when our expected water source dried up and we needed to find drinking water.
(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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Harsh, one of our instructors, performing another daily chore of burning garbage before we set off for the day's trekking.
At the background on the rock behind Harsh are certain wild mushrooms picked up by our crew. They would split the mushrooms in half and dry them on rocks. The mushroom can be eaten or sold.
(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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On the way to Hamta Pass.
(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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We arrived at Hamta Pass (about 4,200 meters or 13,000 feet) at about noon.
It was freezing cold at the Pass, mainly due to the wind chill. Yet people were excited, busy taking pictures (good!), making their marks (baaaaddd...), etc.
Spencer, of YMCA Hong Kong, was the organizer of our trip. He gets paid to have fun. His only worry is his teenage daughter who likes to watch basketball, instead of playing it.
(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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View of the valley from Hamta Pass.
After the Pass, gone are the lush green grasses and trees. Only rocks of all size - some bigger than the biggest truck.
(27 Aug 2002, 28-70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Iris and Derek working hard at camp site after Hamta Pass.
It was quite an easy downhill walk after Hamta Pass (except for Grace who had a hard time jumping from one big rock to another.) We arrived at the camp site at about 3 or 4pm. Plenty of time to take pictures and have tea.
And also this was the day our guide Acharya stopped asking us to exercise by climb small hills nearby. Perhaps he figured that we should be all acclimatized after the Pass.
(27 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Acharya dressed and jumped like Indiana Jones.
(28 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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Kay resting on small hill overlooking Chhatru.
(28 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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On 28 we arrived at a road at Chhatru, and camped at the back of a roadside dhaba (teahouse.) A pre-arranged truck brought us supplies for the next few days, and a shower tent for use on that day only.
That same night, we met Maria, from Germany but lived in New Zealand for the last 10 years. We invited her to dine with us, had campfire afterward while listen to her travel stories.
And what a story that is, about her own life.
A wanderer of the World since the age of 22, she's on a 1-year biking trip in India since Dec 2001. A traveler by choice AS MUCH AS by circumstance, she's planning this to be her last Asian trip. The reason? Because Asia is changing and she does not like it. She liked the days when things are free or cheap. When Tibet or India was not developed.
I asked her, why then, not go back to Germany earlier if she is not really enjoying. The answer was that she has no apartment there. Minor annoyance to her is that she does not like the united German.
In other words, she has no home to go to.
Why go back to Germany at all then, I asked. Because when you grow old, you want to live in a western country, she said.
The next day, we said farewell and took pictures with her and her bike named Emerald. However, fate had it that our paths crossed again in 5 days in Baralacha.
(29 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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According to the India Today magazine, one of the "55 Things That Make India Proud" is the Mark II Water Pump, similar to the one pictured here.
Pumps like this is a fixture in all the Indian cities we visited. The closest thing to running water from tap, and solution to a hard problem. Not easy to provide relatively clean water to a billion people.
This water pump is located at the Chandra Dhaba in the remote Batal.
(29 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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The only domestic engineer in our group, and mother of two children.
The original plan was to ride the bus from Chhatru along the Chandra River, pass Batal to a point about 3km from Chandra Taal. However halfway through after Batal, the road was partially collapsed that the bus cannot get through. On the long and winding uphill road built on loose gravels, we saw wreckage of trucks and other vehicles fell from the road to the river bed. So we knew the potential consequence of a mistake.
Time to stop, take pictures, then turn back to find alternative route.
(29 Aug 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Door bell at the entrance to the Hindu temple at Kumzun Top. Any one entering the temple would ring the bell once. This particular temple has no walls. Only brick markers on the ground to mark the boundary to the temple.
(29 Aug 2002, 70mm?, F2.8 A-mode)
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Iris, a policewoman from Hong Kong, under colorful prayer flags at the Hindu temple at Kumzun Top.
After bidding farewell to Maria, we took a bus ride from the roadside dhaba at Chhatru to Batal, then detoured to Kumzun Top to start trekking down to Chandra Taal lake.
Along the way we had a brief look at the famous mighty Bara Shigri glacier.
(29 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Beautiful morning at Chandra Taal lake.
The walk to the lake on the 29th was one of the toughest and scariest. A good part of our path was loose gravels a foot wide, and valley hundreds of feet deep on the side. At one place the trek ended on top of a big rock that we need to jump about 4 or 5 feet to yet-another-loose-gravel-on-the-edge.
When we arrived the lake in the evening, it was cold and windy. However, it was calm and nice in the morning.
(30 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode, Polarized)
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Snow cap peaks around Chandra Taal.
At the suggestion of our guide Acharya, we got up at 5am hoping to take good pictures of the lake and its environ.
The effort was paid off handsomely.
(30 Aug 2002, 28mm, F8 A-mode)
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Morning mist on mountains near Chandratal.
(30 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Derek and Cammy, both scout leaders, enjoying the quiet morning lights at Chandra Taal.
Some Hindus, such as our instructors Negi and Harsh, believe the lake is sacred. We were told not to throw stones or to make too much noises.
In morning lights like these, you don't need to be an Hindu to feel the peace and blessing.
(30 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Water front property.
(30 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Calm morning at the lake.
(30 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Chill out on a small hill next to Chandra Taal lake.
That day was a rest day which means no hiking. We ended up playing bridge, washing clothing, etc.
(30 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Sunny day of resting at Chandra Taal lake.
(30 Aug 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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As soon as we arrived at Chandra Taal the previous day, our crew managed to purchase a baby goat. The goat was slaughtered the next day. The head of the goat, pictured here, was the last part to be processed.
We had goat for dinner the next 3 or 4 meals.
(30 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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After performing the duty of cutting up the goat meat in smaller pieces, Emmy was rewarded a large piece of the goat.
(30 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Perhaps the toughest and most dangerous day of the whole trip.
In the previous days, I wore thin quick-dry undergarment inside, short-sleeve Gore Wind-Stopper middle layer, and Gore-Tex jacket outside. I also had fleece cap and gloves. So I repeated the same configuration today, without bringing the fleece jacket with me.
Big mistake. It was cold, windy and exhausting. At one point I felt really sleepy and had problem keeping my eyes open for long, all while I was walking and jumping between big rocks. I guess my body was trying to shut down due to the cold and exhaustion.
In addition, we were pushing hoping to cross a river at the end of the day's hiking. When we arrived at the river, not only the river was too high to cross, we also found that the drinking water source there dried out. The river water was not drinkable.
At the suggestion of the horsemen, we walked another 30 minutes to the closest water source.
Pictured here, the underground water source was gathered in a small (maybe one square meter) pool built by horsemen. On one end of the pool was installed with the top half of a plastic bottle for easy collection of water. All of us (10 group members + 3 guides + 3 horsemen + 3 cooks + 16 horses) fed from this tiny water hole.
This small pool saved our day.
(31 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Today we needed to cross a river in the morning when the river level was not too high. The current was strong and water ice cold. In the previous night, we can heard the rolling stones on the river bed being washed down by the current.
Harsh was the first to cross to setup the fix-rope. Negi was holding the safety rope that was Harsh's lifeline at that moment.
(1 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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One day away from Baralacha Pass, the landscape was really barren. Only small plants and occasionally the calling of Marmots.
(1 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Many, many glaciers can be seen in the last two days trekking. These two are near Baralacha Pass.
(2 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Happy to reach Baralacha Pass.
(2 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Finally arrived at Baralacha Pass - the highest point of our trek at about 15,600 feet above sea level.
All the guys had cameras ready to take pictures of all the girls.
(2 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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The last day was fairly easy. After came down from Baralacha Pass, we passed a "sea of stones" measured probably 2km in diameter. We were told that it was the result of a number of glaciers came down the valley in the winter, crushing down big rocks and bring them to where the "sea" is. In the summer, the ice would melt, and only the crushed-down rocks/stones left.
(2 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Finally the last camp site and the end of the trekking. We were pretty much looking forward to be back to civilization.
Tonight we camp next to these abandon government buildings. This site was built for a government surveying project, we were told. The project was subsequently dropped and the buildings were left to rot. The buildings internal structure were mainly made of metal and dangling. When the wind blows, the buildings would squeak.
(2 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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During the trekking we ate probably over 20 chickens. At the trekking near the end, there goes the last of the chickens.
(2 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Grace writing journal of the trip inside tent at Baralacha La - the end point of our trekking.
We arrived at the roadside camp site at about 2 or 3pm. Plenty of time to rest, write, take pictures.
(2 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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At about 6pm, Harsh spotted a familiar figure on the highway. It was Maria with her bike, Emerald, pictured here.
We invited her to have dinner with us, and provided the diner tent as her shelter for the night.
(2 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Maria's bike Emerald resting next to our water buckets. In the white bucket is water for drinking, in the pink bucket is water for washing.
(2 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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This morning we woke up to a white white world. It has been snowing all night. the first snow of the year.
Karl wasted no time to make a snow man.
(3 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Most of us preferred to eat breakfast standing outside of the kitchen instead of inside the dining tent, in order to avoid taking off the boots. The cooking ware all covered in snow after being left in the open overnight.
(3 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The younger ones did not miss the opportunity to have a little fight.
(3 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode
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Iris' hood booby trapped by Karl.
(3 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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First morning after back to "civilization" at the Hotel Mayflower in Manali.
(4 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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An all-too-common scene near the Manali area, where vehicle and herbs fighting for the right of ways.
This was the day after we came back to "civilization", when we chartered a jeep to Rohtang Pass to shoot pictures.
(4 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The long and winding road from Rotang Pass to Manali.
(4 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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We had about 3 hours free time in Delhi. We took a walk around the Connaught Place, and were not impressed.
At the end we took Tuk-Tuk to the Indian Gate, where we saw a man in business attire and a suitcase followed different groups of tourists for the whole time we were there. He never talked to anyone, just followed.
Yesterday we took an 14-hour jeep ride to Delhi. The jeeps were not air conditioned, and the road was dusty. When we arrive Delhi, my nose and ears were all blackened.
(6 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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At around lunch time our group split. 6 of us will stay 5 more days to visit Agra & Jaipur, travel in air-conditioned van and sleep in nice hotels.
Ram Singh was our driver and occasionally guide. He would twice took us to toilet stops that were tourist traps. Ended up paying for the use of toilet.
(6 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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An unusual honesty? Hardly any authority in the world would admit that they are bad.
Actually the sign should read "FARIDABAD POLICE" but the letter A in the middle fell off.
Cow is the most sacred animal in Hindu, thus they are allowed to roam on the road.
(6 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Besides the Mark II Water Pump, there are quite a few public water outlets in the cities.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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At the entrance to the still-constructing Jaigurudeo Temple on the Delhi-Agra Road, the sign reads like an advertisement.
The Temple is an inter-faith worship outfit.
We were told that the Temple took 20 years in planning, 3 years to construct, thousands of volunteer workers working 24x7, the rod on the main dome made of pure gold, etc.
Center to the Temple's teaching is that everyone has a third eye to see the power beyond. And only meditation with a Temple master can one open the third eye.
All donation boxes in the Temple declare that they do not accept money from people who eat meat, egg, fish, or drink alcohol.
Additional advice from a temple pamphlet says women in menstruation should refrain from bathing & cooking for 5 days, or otherwise "sickly babies will take birth".
Want to join? Visit their web site here.
For the next few days, I could not help thinking how can a temple with teaching like these can attract so much funding and donation. But then again lots of people making loads of money from late night TV preaching shows.
I am in the wrong business.
(6 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Grand entrance to the Jaigurudeo temple.
(6 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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At the Jaigurudeo Temple, a clergy claimed that all worker there were follower volunteers. He also claimed that all materials, such as the white marble, were donated to the temple.
(6 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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At the bottom of the main building is the top half of the "basement" At the rear section of the basement is a hall specially dedicated to two person. Perhaps the Jaigurudeo himself and his teacher??? This special hall was decorated with funky flashy color lights underneath the white marble. Like a disco.
I asked about the design of the buildings, and whether the design has special meanings. I was told the design was pure for beauty, such that people with any religion could be close to God here.
(6 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Internal stairwell of the Jaigurudeo temple. All made from white marble.
(6 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Doorway to the roof of the Jaigurudeo Temple.
On the roof, one can see the large open field on three sides of the temple, while one side next to the highway. The clergy claimed that all lands around the temple were purchased or donated to the temple for future expansion.
(6 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Students in the Sikandara.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode, cropped)
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Students visiting the Sikandara - tomb of Akbar who was the most powerful king of the Mughal dynasty.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Domes with beautiful deco at Sikandara.
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Emmy & Iris have pictures taken with local Indians at Sikandara.
Everywhere we went, there were tens of request to take pictures with us (well, mainly the female members of our group.)
We were surprised by the large number of request. We can only speculate the reason.
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Well you can guess who's in the middle.
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The Guardian, the watchdog.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The Guardians, the watchmen?
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The first courtyard inside the gate.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Working on an inner courtyard at the Agra Fort.
(7 Sep 2002, 70mm?, F2.8 A-mode)
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Built in the 16th century, the wall of this chamber has lots of small mirrors to reflect candle lights.
This chamber is normally closed to the public due to vandalism. However the guard offered us visit to the chamber, if we would contribute to his "retirement fund".
Once inside and clear of view from people outside, he lit up two candles, waved in circular motions to demonstrate the effect of the mirrors.
Grateful of his demonstration, we contributed 100 Rupees (HK$17 or US$2) to the "fund" on our way out.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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At an inner courtyard of Agra Fort.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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The Hall of Public Audience at the Agra Fort.
All the forts we visited has at least one hall of public audience. (Or was it public hall of audience?)
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Agra is supposed to be well known for stone and marble crafting, as knowledge for building and maintaining Agra Fort, Taj Mahal passed down for generations.
Pictured here is the process of stone inlay in marble. The marble would be first colored red so the craftsman can see chipping easier. He then will chisel out part of the marble according to design. Then inlay the color stones with secret glue to make the design. At the end the red color on the white marble would be washed away.
(7 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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Taj Mahal, resting place for the queens, dead or alive.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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The ultimate tourist trap of India. What a king could do if he loved the queen.
My friend Pindar told me a story. He was visiting the Taj Mahal few months before me. At a popular photo spot, a couple was arguing. The girl was mad because they ran out of film. She was complaining that she would not be able to take a picture at this Place of Love. Out of altruism, Pindar gave them his last roll of film.
I hope that film saved the couple's love, and that it would last like the Taj Mahal.
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Farmers at the Queen's tomb.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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On tower at the SW corner of Taj Mahal.
(7 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Mosque standing tall west of Taj Mahal.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Evening at mosque west of Taj Mahal.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode, handheld leaning on wall.)
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At mosque west of Taj Mahal.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode, handheld leaning on wall.)
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West side of Taj Mahal viewed from inside the mosque.
Left side of the building is undergoing a cleaning job.
(7 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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To enter the Taj Mahal, the Mosque on the west side, or the Guest House which mirrors the Mosque on the east side, visitors need to take off shoes. After the visit, many girls would wash their feet in this pool. From what I can see, this pool is the only major public water source in the Taj Mahal complex. All other pools were dry. Maybe the water was there because of the cleaning project carried out at the time.
(7 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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In one of the rooms in Fatehpur, a fort abandoned due to lack of water.
This column is said to be made from one single tree trunk, up to the point of the horizontal beams.
(8 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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In one of the guest rooms in Fatehpur in Agra.
(8 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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In transit to Amber Fort in Jaipur.
I imagine if he was born 500 years earlier, he might have been a great elephant warrior, instead of hauling tourists for 5 straight years.
At least he was grateful enough after accepting our tips of 40 Rupees (HK$6.5 or US$0.8). Our friends on the other elephant actually was asked by the "driver" for more tips.
(9 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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The waiting area outside of the Hindu temple at the entrance to Amber Fort.
(9 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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In this airy and bright room the Queen could had nice and clear view of the Jaipur valley.
(9 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Entrance to the 2nd courtyard at the Amber Fort.
(9 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Deco on the arch of entrance to the second courtyard at the Amber Fort.
(9 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Iris, a homocide detective, looked like more than her detective self, she's the SWAT team (Fay Fu Team) today.
(9 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Our guide at the courtyard where the King & Queens (yes, queens) dined.
Each of the queen's chamber has a balcony, like the one pictured here, overlooking the dining pavilion. And each queen's chamber has a narrow individual passage to the King's chamber.
(9 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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At one of the queen's balcony.
(9 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Paul the photographer working on the last minute details on Supermodel Emmy.
The guides in Agra and Jaipur was fascinated by the large number of people who wanted to have pictures taken with Emmy.
Since we told them Emmy was a model, both asked if we have magazines featuring her.
(9 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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Newly blessed at the temple at the entrance to the Amber Fort.
(9 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Almost enough tan to pass as locals.
(9 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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Outside the Amber Fort in Jaipur.
(9 Sep 2002, 70mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Outside the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Mainly selling offerings for worshippers of the Hindu Temple.
(9 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)
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Voyeurism is normally not my favorite subject, but on the other hand I wanted my pictures to record the real life. The people here clearly aware of my presence and camera. I felt that they did mind about being photographed. But after some struggling I took this picture, in the name of recording the reality.
The water puddle here was actually the Water Garden at the Amber Fort. At the time of visit, the Water Garden was almost completely dried up. This family just walk down to the bottom of the water garden and bathed.
Unless someone can tell me that this was in fact a religious practice, otherwise to me this clearly symbolized the in-your-face poverty in India, and the general lack of sanitation facilities.
While some people feel proud about the Mark II Water Pump, shouldn't someone also wonder why after 50+ years, the Pump is still needed, and worse yet there are people who don't even get to enjoy the use of a Pump?
(9 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode, crop from large picture.)
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Inside the City Palace in Jaipur is a guarded entrance to the residence of the current Maharaja (King). Parked next to the entrance is perhaps the Maharaja's vehicle. See the license plate and the covered flag pole in front right.
All the forts we visited were built by or for the Maharaja. Now the largest democracy in the world, India is no longer ruled by the Maharaja or the Rajas (lesser Kings). The Maharaja and Rajas still widely enjoy respect of the people, and many of them Member of the Parliament, we were told.
(9 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Whose feet fit which shoes?
(10 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Paul shopping for "Indian Prince Shoes".
(10 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Paul enters S&M shop?!
(10 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode)
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Lentils vendors in Jaipur. The shopkeepers would occasionally drop lentils at the back of the stall, thus attracted hundreds of pigeons hovering and walking around.
At the first sign of intrusion, hundreds of pigeons would fly up.
(10 Sep 2002, 28mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Picture taken from inside of our air-conditioned van. This is a very common scene on Indian highways. Again, not easy to provide for 1 billion people's need.
(10 Sep 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode.)
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Me. Not shaved for 3 weeks. Nice & comfort at home.
(12 Sep 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)
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I found some more picture of the trip in our organizer Spencer's web site.
These pictures were taken in the first part of the hiking. The altitude was between 3000m to probably 4000m where we still could see big trees and green grasses.
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The first pic was the first high pass before decending to near road side camp site to replenish our supplies.
The second pic was at the road site camp site where we would get resupplies and the first and once chance to take shower.
The third pic was at the highest point of this trip.
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Our hiking trip was in Aug, and we were among the few last groups to walk the trail before it closes for the winter. On the last day of the hiking, it actually snowed overnight. We woke up to the white world outside of the tent.
The second pic is crossing a river. We can only cross inthe morning, before the melting snow raise the water level too high and too dangerous to cross.
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More pictures can be found in Spencer's web site Catbus Adventures. He was working at the YMCA sports section, until 2004.
http://www.catbus-adventures.com.hk/pasttrip07.html
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my trip to India
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Only 4 pictures worth posting? Including one peeping tom pic... ;D