[torryquine]

Somerset, on Apr 8 2008, 05:49 PM, said:

What a wonderful trip you must have had. No excursions to the NE?

Not this time Somerset, but we're fairly sure next year will see us returning to that part of the country - Tawang, Manas and Kohima all beckon.  We also owe Kolkata a return visit - hope to see you Somnath!  And Orissa ....... mmmmm

Thanks, yes we did have a marvelous trip, India gets better for us on each return.

[dzibead]

Loved the pics of the Jain thanksgiving, and the Ajanta and Ellora shots.

[priya]

Somnath, on Mar 17 2008, 08:10 PM, said:

Where is your pix? Specially Aartati at Varanasi.

They're on page 10 of TQ's link, Somnath.  There are some really beautiful wildlife photos too, as well as wonderful architectural pics.  

You should see TQ giving lessons on how to ride a camel!!!!  

[torryquine]

dzibead, on Apr 8 2008, 08:23 PM, said:

Loved the pics of the Jain thanksgiving, and the Ajanta and Ellora shots.

Thanks, I'm always touched by how welcoming Indians are of total strangers wandering into their most intimate rituals.

Re. Ajanta and Ellora generally.  I'm always baffled by those posts you see on this and the other forum, along the lines of "which one should I visit and which one should I leave out" - insane!  If you've made the effort to get to Aurangabad to see one of them, for goodness sake see both as they are both completely extraordinary in very different ways.

Ajanta has a glorious location and has some wonderful sculpture along with the miraculously preserved paintings dating from the 5th century.  What is so remarkable about these is that they are of a quality that wasn't acheived in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter) until the mid-Renaissance, about a thousand years later.  What is inexplicable, is that this "Indian Renaissance" then declined and (you could argue) never re-emerged - debate this point with me if anyone disagrees.

Ellora is astonishing for it's sheer adacity and feat of organisation.  To maintain the vision and logistics required, over 150 years, to carve that great Kailasha temple out of the rock, is a thought wihich just blows me away.  The "mini Kailasha" Jain temple at the other end of the escarpment is more beautiful however.

Aurangabad is worth more than the two days you need to see these two places.  It has some caves of it's own which apparently are also impressive (we didn't have the time) and a Taj-like building worth a look.  Also nearby is the extraordinary Daulatabad fort.

[Somnath]

torryquine, on Apr 8 2008, 11:22 PM, said:

Not this time Somerset, but we're fairly sure next year will see us returning to that part of the country - Tawang, Manas and Kohima all beckon.  We also owe Kolkata a return visit - hope to see you Somnath!  And Orissa ....... mmmmm

Thanks, yes we did have a marvelous trip, India gets better for us on each return.

come soon .... come soon. And this time you are coming to visit my place   .

[Somnath]

Priya, you are the best   thank you.


http://www.flickr.co...N04/2343216815/ - ha ha…. This is funny !!!!

http://www.flickr.co...57604139222086/ - beautiful !!!!

And….. cheers to: http://www.flickr.co...57604139222086/

TQ, lovely pix. Ganga aarti of Varanasi is an awesome – isn’t it? And……

priya, on Apr 9 2008, 04:50 PM, said:

They're on page 10 of TQ's link, Somnath.  There are some really beautiful wildlife photos too, as well as wonderful architectural pics.  

You should see TQ giving lessons on how to ride a camel!!!!  

what about this camel ride?  

[torryquine]

India has a scent that is instantly recognisable and impossible to describe.

When we were in Ahmedabad, we found the most wonderful bookshop.  I could have spent the whole day and my life's savings in there, browsing Mr Patel's vast collection of new and antiquarian books on Indian art, textiles and architecture.  But after a welcome cup of tea I settled on just one - "Ajanta, Ellora and Aurangabad Caves" by Ramesh Shankar Gupte.  The pages have the satisfying amount of yellowing and the tell-tale tracks of a burrowing woodworm which are fitting for a book published in the year of my birth ... not telling.  

For a little over 100Rps he would ship it to me.  Today my book arrived and I nipped out to the post office at lunch time to collect it.  Back in the office, the string and paper packaging was carefully peeled off to reveal my treasure - and that smell.  I called over a friend who has also travelled in India and just held it to his nose.  He smiled instantly - "that takes me back".

I've sat here all evening, turning it's pages and enjoying the aroma.

The bookshop is here... http://www.artbookcenter.net/about.htm they have a long, long list of desirable items.  I highly recommend - and the scent comes for free.

[torryquine]

Somnath, on Apr 10 2008, 06:56 PM, said:

come soon .... come soon. And this time you are coming to visit my place   .

Many thanks Somnath, we will surely take you up on your invitation.  We enjoyed your recent pictures of Holi