Koranic lessons on a blackboard at night
Baby on back
Bike sellers in Zaria
Two friends
Three friends
Just one
Peering over the fence
18 January 2009
Scenes from a Rural Nigerian Village
I recently returned last month from a repeat trip to northern Nigeria. Here are some scenes from a rural Muslim village.
Koranic lessons on a blackboard at night
Baby on back
Bike sellers in Zaria
Two friends
Three friends
Just one
Peering over the fence
Koranic lessons on a blackboard at night
Baby on back
Bike sellers in Zaria
Two friends
Three friends
Just one
Peering over the fence
17 November 2008
Cross Border Rivalry with Pakistan in Attari
So another major "tourist" attraction in Amritsar is to visit the India/Pakistan border for an elaborate closing ceremony at sunset.
There were definitely some great scenes from the 30 minute journey to there-
Crowded on the back of a scooter
On a bike rickshaw-
Peering out the back
Popcorn-wallahs
And at the border itself, both the India and Pakistan side had stadium seating filled to capacity eagerly anticipating the show to come...
India side-
Pakistan side (on the Pakistan side men and women sat on opposite ends)-
Close up of a guard-
The Attari border was almost like a sporting event. There were national chants and plenty of flag waving galore. It was a source of pride for kids to come out and parade the Indian flag in front of the frenzied crowds.
Flag waving AT the Pakistan side.
And of course, what would a party in India be like without some Bhangra???!!!!
There were definitely some great scenes from the 30 minute journey to there-
Crowded on the back of a scooter
On a bike rickshaw-
Peering out the back
Popcorn-wallahs
And at the border itself, both the India and Pakistan side had stadium seating filled to capacity eagerly anticipating the show to come...
India side-
Pakistan side (on the Pakistan side men and women sat on opposite ends)-
Close up of a guard-
The Attari border was almost like a sporting event. There were national chants and plenty of flag waving galore. It was a source of pride for kids to come out and parade the Indian flag in front of the frenzied crowds.
Flag waving AT the Pakistan side.
And of course, what would a party in India be like without some Bhangra???!!!!
02 November 2008
More Scenes from the Golden Temple
Religious prostrations at one of the entrances to the Golden Temple.
Pilgrims circling around on the Parkarma, the marble walkway surrounding the pool.
Bathing in the holy waters.
Definitely long lines to go inside the main temple, but taking advantage of the "tourist pass" (membership has it's privileges), we got to enter through the exit. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept inside under watch by priests chanting and singing. No cameras were allowed so no photos unfortunately.
The Golden Temple definitely has a very communal atmosphere as well. Water is made available to thirsty pilgrims, and plenty of people were willing to clean plates.
Without a doubt, a very special place.
Pilgrims circling around on the Parkarma, the marble walkway surrounding the pool.
Bathing in the holy waters.
Definitely long lines to go inside the main temple, but taking advantage of the "tourist pass" (membership has it's privileges), we got to enter through the exit. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept inside under watch by priests chanting and singing. No cameras were allowed so no photos unfortunately.
The Golden Temple definitely has a very communal atmosphere as well. Water is made available to thirsty pilgrims, and plenty of people were willing to clean plates.
Without a doubt, a very special place.
23 October 2008
The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is the holiest site for Sikhism and is one of my favorite places that I've been to in India. I know every tourist and their mother visits the Taj Mahal, but I personally like the Golden Temple much more! For one thing, it's an actual functional holy site that outsiders, both male and female alike, are more than welcome at. If you think about it, it's kinda morbid to go see a mausoleum too. Anyways...
Because it's a holy site, Sikh pilgrims are always visiting. One of the nice things about The Golden Temple is that everyone is fed. Check out the assembly line for washing dishes!
It's also one the cleanest place in India! Actual clean sinks to wash hands! If those two things in themselves don't make this place a "holy" site, I don't what would.
On approach, the Golden Temple is simply... stunning. People are in religious ecstasy.
The Golden Temple was completed in 1604. It's surrounded by a manmade lake called AmritSar (Lake of Holy Water or Immortal Nectar).
I liked how some of the local teenage boys liked to use it for their swimming pool. A guard would show up, chase them out, and the boys would walk to the other side and get back in. Cracked me up, although I couldn't blame them, it was hot!
Because it's a holy site, Sikh pilgrims are always visiting. One of the nice things about The Golden Temple is that everyone is fed. Check out the assembly line for washing dishes!
It's also one the cleanest place in India! Actual clean sinks to wash hands! If those two things in themselves don't make this place a "holy" site, I don't what would.
On approach, the Golden Temple is simply... stunning. People are in religious ecstasy.
The Golden Temple was completed in 1604. It's surrounded by a manmade lake called AmritSar (Lake of Holy Water or Immortal Nectar).
I liked how some of the local teenage boys liked to use it for their swimming pool. A guard would show up, chase them out, and the boys would walk to the other side and get back in. Cracked me up, although I couldn't blame them, it was hot!
30 September 2008
A Typical Day in New Delhi... (part 3)
6:30p Back in my neighborhood... avoid the cows at the round about.
Or if you're my roommate from Montana, try to start a cow street stampede to no avail. Indian cows are just chill, they know they can do whatever they want...
6:35p I'm long overdue for a haircut. The "expensive" hair stylist joints have left me looking like an escaped mental patient. After too many of these incidents, I've decided that I will no longer get my haircut at a place where I can also get pedicures and manicures. I figured this time, I'll give the 50 cent streetside barber a try!
6:40p I'm drawing a crowd, it's not everyday a foreigner gets a haircut from the same place as where the rickshaw wallahs do...
6:45p Ah yes, I'm freshly shorn, and it's hands down the best haircut I have had so far in India. But wait, there's more! Every haircut comes with a scalp/back massage for better circulation. What a steal!
6:50p With my spiffy new haircut, I'm all ready to go out on the town tonite. It's still early in the evening though, time to head back home and rest up for a bit, maybe I'll do some reading.
On the recommendation of a friend since procrastination is common among grad students, here's a book I brought along with me...
I'm pretty sure I actually dragged this book to India purely for looks because I didn't even come close to finish reading it. Imagine that, a book on procrastination and time management, and I never got around to finishing it... Honestly, why would anyone who procrastinates ever finish a book about time management? Am I the only one who this doesn't make any logical sense to? Hah!
To be continued...
Or if you're my roommate from Montana, try to start a cow street stampede to no avail. Indian cows are just chill, they know they can do whatever they want...
6:35p I'm long overdue for a haircut. The "expensive" hair stylist joints have left me looking like an escaped mental patient. After too many of these incidents, I've decided that I will no longer get my haircut at a place where I can also get pedicures and manicures. I figured this time, I'll give the 50 cent streetside barber a try!
6:40p I'm drawing a crowd, it's not everyday a foreigner gets a haircut from the same place as where the rickshaw wallahs do...
6:45p Ah yes, I'm freshly shorn, and it's hands down the best haircut I have had so far in India. But wait, there's more! Every haircut comes with a scalp/back massage for better circulation. What a steal!
6:50p With my spiffy new haircut, I'm all ready to go out on the town tonite. It's still early in the evening though, time to head back home and rest up for a bit, maybe I'll do some reading.
On the recommendation of a friend since procrastination is common among grad students, here's a book I brought along with me...
I'm pretty sure I actually dragged this book to India purely for looks because I didn't even come close to finish reading it. Imagine that, a book on procrastination and time management, and I never got around to finishing it... Honestly, why would anyone who procrastinates ever finish a book about time management? Am I the only one who this doesn't make any logical sense to? Hah!
To be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
