Saturday, February 8, 2014

The sun never sets on the British Empire -- India

I've been away for awhile and have neglected my blog. John had a business trip to India and I tagged along -- something I haven't done in years.  I also hadn't been in India since 1981.  From what I remembered of India 33 years ago, much has change (economic development, technology) and surprisingly, much has stayed the same (wonderfully kind people, vibrant colors, beautiful land, rampant poverty, terrible pollution and poor sanitation)  We spent a week in Delhi and a week in Kerala, the most southwest province.  While this post has nothing to do with Oxford, it did encourage me to read a lot about the history of the British Empire. I spent an afternoon at the British High Council (Embassy) in Delhi and it was like stepping back 90 years to a time when England ruled supreme (I wasn't allowed to take photos there for security reasons).  Here are a few of the highlights and impressions of our trip


Having trouble with your internet connection? No wonder! This is what the electrical wires look like in Old Delhi.  Add monkeys that climb all over these wires and no wonder the electric supply is so unreliable. 


This was a food stall in Old Delhi.  I guess it is what we would call "Fast Food" India style


People get about the city in rickshaws called Tuk Tuks.  These special Tuk Tuks are for school children.  I saw as many as 12 kids in the back of one of these "school buses".


This is the lovely Lodi Gardens and Mohammed Shah's Tomb

We walked through the park on a Sunday afternoon and it was filled with families having a picnic and playing a game of cricket. 

 

Moving day 


Working hard


Humayun's Tomb in Delhi


Chinese fishing nets from the 14th Century in Chochin, Kerala


School girls in the old Jewish Quarter in Cochin.  I love the vibrant colors!


A young boy selling melons


Tea plantations in Munnar


                        Kerala has the highest mountain in India, south of the Himalayas

We spent a day at the Periyar Tiger Reserve.  We didn't see any tigers or elephants but we did see wild boar, bison, and antelopes as well and dozens of types of spectacular birds.  


We also saw lots of monkeys

More monkeys in Thekkady


Backwaters in Kerala is a network of 1500 km of canals both manmade and natural, 38 rivers and 5 big lakes extending from one end of Kerala to the other


This is a school boat on the backwaters


We spent 24 hours on a house boat and took a small canoe through some of the smaller waterways


Evening at at one of the villages in the backwater


Sunset on the backwater


Marari Beach, Kerala


Fishermen setting out for an evening of net fishing


Checking the nets


"If I were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow - in some parts a very paradise on earth - I should point to India."


MAX MUELLER, GERMAN


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