At the Taj

Monday, July 21

What more can I say.
This is a picture that I took at the Taj Mahal in the early evening.

We took turns taking pictures in front of the Taj Mahal.
Not a bad place to take a picture.

COLOR IN INDIA

Sunday, July 20
Today was the day for color in India
We started the day in the old part of Jaipur where every building is painted this beautiful "pink" color
And outlined with white.

Facade of the Palace of the Winds.
Royal ladies watched happenings in the city from behind screens.

We next went to the Amber Fort

Where we were greeted in the parking area by a snake charmer.

The cobra is following the motions of the musician.
Mrs. Herrick you would have loved being here.

The amber colored fort was built over Man Singh I in the late 16th Century.

Love the 20th century wires on the 16th century
Fort.

Bus trip to Jaipoor

Saturday, July 19
We boarded a wonderfully comfortable bus for the eight hour trip to Jaipoor.

Walking along the highway were streams of men carrying triangular water carriers.
It is the month Kawaaar when Shiva is honored.
The men were walking barfoot, going to Yamura River to collect water.
Retuning from the river, they will carry the water to Varanasi and pour over a statue of shiva.

After an hour on the road we pulled into McDonalds.
Yes, I did say McDonalds and they do have Happy Meals.
And the toy was a Ninja Turtle skate board.

Ron Sharma it was too early
 in the morning for a spicy 

After 7 hours on the bus we pulled into the beautiful city of Jaipur.
We took a rickshaw ride to the movie theater to eat popcorn, drink coke and see a Bollywood Film.

Old and Older

July 18, FIRST DAY ON G ADVENTURE TOUR

We started our bus adventure at Chandi Chowk in Old Delhi.

Jamaica Masjid, the oldest mosque in India.
Built by Shah Jahan in 1656

After visiting the mosque, we walked around the narrow streets of Chandra Chowk.

Vendors with carts full of fruit lined some of the walkways.

Lots of mango for sale and limes.

We visited Raj Ghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandi

tree in the  memorial gardens.

Lunch was a  a delicious Indian meal.
We went an older site, Qutb Minar, site of the tallest minar in India built in  1192 and the iron pillar.

Mughal Tomb and Fort

July 16
Other teachers who are going on the GEEO Trip have started to arrive.
They are from all over the United States.
This morning before it got too hot, Audra, Marissa, Chris and I went to see Humayun's Tomb.
He was the second Mughal ruler. The tomb was built by his son, Akbar.

First tomb built in the Mughal style of architecture. Predecessor to the Taj Mahal.
Made of red sandstone and marble.

Craft Museum and Lodi Gardens

July 15 and very, very warm here in Delhi.
I visited the National Crafts Museum and was greeted at the entrance by life-sized ceramic horses, elephants and various figures.

In another section of the museum was a lovely garden of purple plants.
I think we have this same purple plant in Alabama.

Dripping wet, we returned to the hotel for lunch and a diet coke. After cooling off  we took another auto to Lodi Gardens.

Pointed arch ways in Lohbir Sikander Lodi

Tomb from 1500 Sayyid and Lodhis

Christmas in July

Cannot believe I am thinking about our MA Holiday Tree in July.
Yesterday, July 14 at Dilli Haat I found a great ornament idea.

Peacock, boy and girl elephant wooden ornaments

These precious elephants and a peacock are cut out of wood

Painted bright colors

Decorated with fine, dots and lines

(The artist said the paint was a deep family secret

I think we can create the same lines using very fine paint pen.)

Tiny little mirrors, bells, and cords with tassels were added.