India 2012

Outside view of the moat around the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Inside the Red Fort, New Delhi.

Two Buddhist monks on vacation. The site is where Gandhi died. The footsteps mark his steps after he had been shot to the location of his death.

One of the ubiquitous produce markets that abound on every street.

We took a bicycle rickshaw ride through this shopping area in Delhi, call Chandni Chowk. This street had multiple shops decorated for Divali, and were selling supplies and decorations for weddings, as this time of the year is big for wedding ceremonies.

The Birla temple in New Delhi. Dedicated to Vishnu.

Side view of the Birla temple.

One of the cooks in the kitchen at the main Sikh temple in Delhi. The temple feeds 2500 or so people daily for free, using donated food, money and labor from the Sikh community.

Electrician's nightmare in the old section of Delhi.

Street shot in Delhi. This guy had more decorations in his truck than many people had in their homes.

Humayun's tomb in New Delhi, a Mughal emperor who died in 1556.

A room of the residential portion inside the Red Fort. There is a fountain in the center, and the channels were intended to be filled with flowing water.

Window detail inside Humayun's tomb, New Delhi.

The Hotel Raas in Jodhpur. A beautiful hotel located just below the Mehrangarh Fort. A very comfortable location, except for the Moslem mosque just next door, and the call to prayer over a loudspeaker at 5:45 AM. The hotel provided complimentary ear plugs.

The Hotel Raas in Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort in the background.

Having breakfast in Jodhpur. Pass the curry and chai please.

Westward view from the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, known as the blue city for it's fascination with painting their homes that color.

Beautiful staircase inside the Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.

The main market square in Jodhpur. Many outdoor shops had been erected for Divali, selling all manner of gifts and decorations for the holiday. Cows are not for sale.

Woman on the street in Jodhpur. Selling raw cotton to be used as wicks in the ghee lamps lit everywhere on the evening of the Divali festival.

Snake charmers on the street in Jodhpur. Yes, the snakes are real, I saw them move.

Two sisters in Udaipur on the evening of Divali. Their home was part of the building that housed a tailor's shop where Gloria was shopping.

An unplanned household visit on the evening of Divali, a national festival day. The house was next to a shop where Gloria was shopping for some clothing. We saw the sisters in their holiday saris and asked to take their picture. They then invited us into their home, and one of the sisters is putting a cloth bracelet on Gloria in honor of the festival. They spoke very little English, and we of course do not speak Hindi. We nevertheless had a long conversation and a very nice visit.