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South India knows how to rock your asthetic world! The Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu are often decorated to the max with
carved and vibrantly painted figures of Hindu dieties. This is one of many such striking temples in Chennai (Madras).
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All over India, almost everyone we talked to asked us if we had been to the Taj Mahal yet. "Very Ro-mantic!," all the
older ladies would swoon. Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, its perfect symmetry,
craftsmanship, and sheen are testaments to the depth of his love. The building was designed and built by Persian
architects and workers, and the intricate inlay was done by Florentine workers! This shot is of a detail from the outside
of the Taj, and is actually quiet large (maybe 4 feet high?). Wow!
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This detail is from the Qutb Minar in Delhi, an amazing 13th century set of Indo-Muslim buildings and monuments. The
carving on these massive buildings is so intricate and delicate. Most of the ancient structures in Delhi were built
and carved with red sandstone, so this beige tone was unusual. The park was pleasantly crowded with Indian tourists,
street dogs, and wild parrots. Even though it's a big city, there are a lot of beautiful, ancient sites to see in Delhi.
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This charming bike was outside Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. We particularly liked it because of the little child's seat
attached to the bike frame. The families in India really know how to pack on to bikes and mopeds... Often you'll see a man
pedaling with a kid sitting on the frame or handlebars and someone else on the seat. No wasted space anywhere! Also, this
warm, red stone is the building material for most of the ancient structures we visited in & around Delhi.
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We met this beautiful cow on the streets of Udaipur. The cows in India are so used to people that you can easily approach
them and pet them. I have a special place in my heart for golden cows with dark eyes, so this lovely bovine really caught
my eye.
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In Udaipur we made friends with a very wonderful family; Gopal, Galesh and their son Hemant. Hemant was totally enthralled
with our digital camera and took this accidental picture of their front door. It turned out to be one of our favorite
pictures... capturing the vivid colors of many homes. Hemant was equally enthralled with my boyfriend's guitar.
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India is full of street dogs, some in much better shape than others... This smiley fella had found a little water
well to sit in and was quite content. When I snapped this picture, an older woman was standing nearby staring at me in
disbelief - she looked like she couldn't belief this scene was worth a photograph!
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On our third or fourth day in Udaipur the streets filled with colorfully-dressed ladies from the nearby rural communities.
We asked about the sudden influx and were told that they were coming into town to stock up for the upcoming wedding season.
They were a beautiful sight... bright colors, bright eyes, and an occassional bright smile.
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These oil cans were neatly stacked in the market to mark the boundaries of a vendor's stall. I thought they looked beautiful together and
took the photo. Then the friendly vendor started teasing me because he had thought I was going to take his picture.
So, I did that as well and we shared a laugh.
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It's pretty hot in Udaipur during April, and this dog had found a way to cool off in a shady spot. It looks like the photo is going the wrong
way, but it's not.
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This picture is taken in Tamil Nadu, in South Eastern India. On our drive from Chennai (Madras) to Pondicherry, we passed
this lovely lotus pond and I had our driver stop so I could take the picture. In actuality, the surrounds of this pond
were full of plastic bags and other trash... but isn't that just like the lotus blossom? - rising from the muck into a
thing of grace and beauty.
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On our last afternoon in Tamil Nadu, we went to the beach in Chennai to take in some people-watching and ocean-watching.
This group of bathers was having a wonderful time enjoying the cool waters of the Indian Ocean. The modest women of India
bath in their full attire, while you can see the little boys go in their shorts. Also you can see the bright, fragrant flowers that
the women in Tamil Nadu all wore in their hair.
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India is full of beautiful, radiant little kiddos... a good number of them running around in their school uniforms.
It's quite a compelling sight. We met these cuties in Chennai and they were asking us for rupees, school pens, pencils, hair bands...
One gets so many requests like this...
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Taken in Pondicherry, this picture shows a vendor selling garlands, grass, coconuts, and other items meant as offerings to the Hindu diety, Ganesh.
The vendor was one of many on this small street, which was home to an elaborate temple devoted to Ganesh, who is depicted with the head of an elephant.
Outside the temple was a young elephant who would bless people with a little tap on the head, in exchange for a few rupees and some grass.
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One of the most beautiful places we visited in India was Mamallapuram. This tiny coastal town is loaded with absolutely
amazing carvings dating back to the 7th century. The carvings depict animals, dieties, and day-to-day activities. I was
really blown away by their clarity and solidity. This is a detail of a very lovely, life-size relief sculpture showing cow herders and a man milking a cow.
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Also taken in Mamallapuram, these amazing life-sized carvings are in the side
of a huge rock wall. If you look closely you'll see a yogi doing tree pose, a cat
stretching, a unicorn, yogis meditating and performing their sun rituals. Flying up
the crevass, you'll also see the great yoga philosopher Patanjali - depicted as half-man, half-cobra.
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Rishikesh is a rugged town in the foothills of the Himalayas. The cows here were smaller and quite charming. I spotted this
quiet cutie and snapped a picture. As I took the picture, he stuck out his tongue! That wasn't the dignified image that I
was hoping for, so I snapped another one. It wasn't until we got back home and saw the image on our computer that we noticed
that this little fellow was cleaning out his nose! Of course the 2nd picture is long-since forgotten.
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At the edge of the River Ganges, these cattle and water buffalo were being gathered. I didn't see if they were just there
for a drink, or for some other purpose, but I thought it was a lovely scene. You can see their cow herder in the bottom
left corner, and a little calf nursing on her mother in the bottom-center of the picture.
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