TalesAlongTheWay

Blog of the Year 2013 Star # 5 and # 6

Posted on January 2, 2014 by annetbell

Two of my dear Word Press friends, Dr. Rex at hrexach.wordpress.com and Don Charism at doncharisma.org made sure I got the 6 stars for Blog of the Year 2013. thought I am passing this one in 2014 .The Christmas/New Year celebrations have been filled with joyful family celebrations. As much as I love blogging, family I love more. So excuse my tardiness.I do hope the blogs I am nominating will accept and post even in 2014. If the award is closed, please post this on your awards’ page, proudly!

Please visit the Dr. Rex, and Don as they are entertaining, informative, gentle, kind, caring people. They will inspire you to new heights!

The instructions for this award are simple:

Select the blog(s) you think deserve the Blog of The Year 2013 Award.

Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there are no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ the blog(s) with their award.

Let the blog(s) that you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the instructions with them – (please don’t alter the instructions or the badges!)

Come over and say hello to the originator of the Blog Of The Year 2013 Award via this link:http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2-/blog-of-the-year-2013-award/

You can now also join the Blog Of The Year Award Facebook Page Click the link here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear

And as a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with this award – and proudly display the award on your blog – and start collecting stars!

Share your blog posts with an even wider audience.

Here are the blogs to whom I am awarding Blog of the Year 2013 :

1. shehannemoore.wordpress.com

2. purplerays.wordpress.com

3. busymindthinking.com

4. einfachtilda,wordpress.com

5, markbialczak.com

6. tylerpedersen02.wordpress.com

7. buffalotompeabodyblog.wordpress.com

8. pratikthe13.wordpress.com

9. insaneowl.com

10. rabirius.wordpress.com

11. angelartstar.wordpress.com

12. ohtheplaceswesee.com

13. bravonatalis.wordpress.com

14. meticulousmick.wordpress.com

15, atdoru.wordpress.com

16. shivaaydelights.wordpress.com

17. ididnthavemyglasseson.com

18. greeneyedchess.wordpress.com

19. asicansee.wordpress.com

20. ahlu-india.com

21. airportsmadesimple.com

Congratulations to all of you for the excellent and informative blogs from 2013!

Posted in awards, India, Uncategorized | Tagged appreciation, Blog of the Year Award 2013, blogging, excellence, recognition, thank you | 24 Comments

Fireworks from Dubai

Posted on January 2, 2014 by annetbell

These fireworks were declared most superlative in the world with 500,000 pyrotechnics being shot off around the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. This building was featured in Mission Impossible 3 with Tom Cruise. Dubai is all about the the biggest and best. They boast the world’s largest mall, Dubai Mall which had 52 million tourist visitors last year which is more than New York City! One of the biggest draws is the downhill skiing in the mall complete with cute live penguins! We were tempted to stop over for a few days on the way home from India. I was really wanting to ride camels in the desert and lunch in the tent, but on second thought we really are not interested in all the excesses money can buy.

Today, it is 2 degrees and snowing, but I am not going to whine about the weather. When we went out to the market to stock up on things, because we are to get 16 inches of snow, I saw people waiting for the bus, and we were in a warm car. We also have warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves. And we came home to a warm home with arms full of food. . . . . . . .But I must admit that I had fleeting thoughts of sandal weather in Phoenix and or Ahmedabad instead of fleece lined Ugg boots in upstate New York!

Blessed New Year to you all!

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged Dubai, fireworks, food, Happy New Year, snow, Upstate New York | 7 Comments

Slum People, not Dogs!

Posted on December 31, 2013 by annetbell

First, I need to apologize for using the pejorative of slum dogs for these dear people. That was the title of the Time article and I was not thinking. A few years ago when Slum Dog Millionaire was released, many Indian people protested the name, and I don’t think that a one of us would want to be called “dogs!”

I hope readers had time to look at the video on Dharavi which I posted yesterday as this is the sequel. There was a huge architectural firm that has a connection to my husband’s architecture school, and we went to visit. I had spent days and weeks with the students and really loved them. I knew they were bright or they would not be at Rensselaer. Sitting around the conference table with the Indian architects, the students asked very thoughtful questions, especially about the slum problem in India. Wherever we went, the poverty slapped us in the face! I was especially touched both by the sensitive questions and care for the people who live in the slums and the replies, again of sensitivity and concern for the people given by the practicing architects.

Here are some facts of Dharavi Slum in Mumbai. There are 600,000 people who live in 500 acres. The living spaces is approximately 100 square feet with up to a dozen people sharing the area. Most of the “work” done there involves recycling. They collect rubber from the soles of shoes, reconditioned metal drums, shredded plastic from soda bottles, cloth, stip computers, sorted and bundled paper, fixed machinery, flattened cardboard, and clean and crushed glass. The people get paid only pennies a pound for their work, hardly enough to live on . But businesses in Dharavi produce million of dollars in exports yearly. This complicates the development plans available. There is a huge superhighway being built to direct traffic out of the streets of Dharavi.

The architects told us that there are many people who would like to provide new housing for the people who currently live in Dharavi, but the slum dwellers are terrified for being forced to move away from their jobs, as they have no ability to pay for transportation. They also fear being separated from their families and extended families. Do people have a right to displace these people to force them into a better life? If new housing is built will former residents be able to afford to live there? In Katherine Boo’s book written after five years of research in the slums of Mumbai, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she found the same thing . It certainly seems strange to me to want to live there, but there is no welfare, public assistance, or food stamps in India, as far as I know. These dear souls have had to provide for themselves and their families.

The dream of Indian developers is to convert Mumbai ,India’s business and film center, into a world class financial center by 2015. I just hope it is done with gentleness and insight for the people who live in Dharavi and their lives are not disrupted and turned into more of a nightmare.

Happy New Year to all my friend around the world!

from nippo.worpress.com and Time Photos- Rebuilding Mumbai

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged architects, blogging, Bollywood, Dharavi Slum, housing, India, Mumbai, Recycling, Slum Dog Millionaire, travel | 18 Comments

The Real Sum Dogs of Mumbai

Posted on December 29, 2013 by annetbell

This is a video of Dharavi, the most talked about slum in the world. It is located on one square miles of the most desirable land in Mumbai in the densest population in the world. The land is worth ten billion dollars. You will meet the rag pickers who have triumphed over their surroundings to become a city of dreamers. . . . . Your heart will be stolen away.

On Monday , I will tell you about the stories we heard from a large architectural firm and their side of trying to house the poorest of the poor in India. If you have time, please look at the video first.

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged Dharavi Slum, dreamers, India, Mumbai, rag pickers, travel, videos | 11 Comments

“Awarding the people who live in the moment,
The noble who write and capture the best in life,
The bold who reminded us what really mattered…
Savoring the experience of quality time.”

Presented by Carolyn Malone, carolynmalone.wordpress.com

My most sincere appreciation goes out to Carolyn at carolynmalone.wordpress.com for this wonderful honor. It’s so nice to know that some of my life moments shared here on WordPress are touching others in a positive way. Carolyn is a wonderful writer, mother, and takes breathtaking photographs. She is a woman of the south as am I , but now lives in and loves Colorado, in spite of the cold weather. She is very sensitive and encouraging which makes me even more appreciative of this award. Many thanks my friend!

RULES:

Winners re-post this completely with their acceptance speech. This could be written or video recorded.
Winners have the privilege of awarding the next awardees! The re-post should include a NEW set of people/blogs worthy of the award; and winners notify them of the great news.

RESOURCES:

What makes a good acceptance speech?
- Gratitude – Thank the people who helped you along the way
- Humor – Keep us entertained and smiling
- Inspiration – Make your story touch our lives
Get an idea from the great acceptance speeches, compiled in MomentMatters.com/Speech
Display the award’s badge on your blog/website, downloadable in MomentMatters.com/Award

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH:

When I started this blog in February, it was to be a memory book of my time in India. I didn’t want a traditional travel journal that lists places I visited. I wanted to write on places, people and experiences that really touched me in some way.. . . . . .such as feral dogs, and monkeys! I was just hoping my children, grandchildren or great grandchildren might want to read this someday to learn more about who their Miss Anne was! And I thought it would just be writing during my time in India. My son, Christian, said don’t limit the blog to India with the title, because you might want to continue writing when you got back to New York. and he was right. I am so glad that he suggested that as I have loved continuing to share my thoughts and experiences from home as well. It helps to have something worthwhile to do do since I retired from teaching to go to India. I thank all my Word Press friends for reading , commenting and following talesalongtheway.com. It still amazes me that you do! Many thanks Carolyn for your continued friendship!

THE WINNERS OF THE BEST MOMENT AWARD ARE:

1. stockresearch52.wordpress.com

2. pena2patah.wordpress.com

3. refreshinglyrandom.wordpress.com

4. uniquesochic.com

5. suzjones.wordpress.com

6. tsmithknowles.net

7. pratikthe13.wordpress.com

8. allresourceupdates.wordpress.com

9. roxistclair.com

10. politicalbaaba.wordpress.com

Congratulations and best wishes to you all!

Posted on December 28, 2013 by annetbell | 20 Comments

Itinerary of North Trip

Posted on December 27, 2013 by annetbell

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Bathing in the Ganga as the sun rises on another day. . . . . .

People have asked where we visited., so here you can see the itinerary. We went to the north first, which was a mistake. When we went on the south trip it was extremely hot. If we go again, David will reverse the order of the trips.

The following is the itinerary for the north which began in late February. Our journey north was filled with sacred and secular architecture. I wasn’t able to post while we are travelling. DBell leaves very little downtime and internet was spotty along with electricity. Google the places and see some wonderful pictures, and I have included images of just a few of the major sites. Professor worked with a travel agent who made the reservations. We stayed in * * * hotels because the last group stayed in * * hotels and there were rats in some of the rooms. Our hostel is * * * and quite comfortable. Hotels provided guides which was very beneficial for getting around and overcoming the language differences mostly lack of English and our lack of Hindi or local languages.

We did not go to Allahabad, but there was a festival going on there for 55 days. It is when Hindus from across the world come to bathe in the Ganges. The festival is called Maha Kumbh Mela. The opening weekend, there was an estimated crowd of 30 million. This year the estimated attendance for the complete festival will be 110 million which is 1/3 of the population of the United States. It was the largest gathering of humanity in a single place in history. Already, 275,000 people have gotten lost from their family. I have no idea how they reconnect. I cannot get my head around these numbers.

AHMEDABAD

PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR FIELD TRIP FEBRUARY 23 – MARCH 10, 2013 FOR 13 PEOPLE (SELF, WIFE, 11 RENSSELAER STUDENTS)

REQUESTING 1 COACH, ROUND TRIP FLIGHT DELHI TO VARANASI (COACH IN VARANASI), TRAIN FRPM FOR 13 PEOPLE, TRAIN FROM DELHI TO AHMEDABAD

FEBRUARY 23

Depart at 6:00 am from Presidency Enclave, 7 Darshan Society, Samved Hospital Road (near Nidhi Hospital), Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009

2 nights in Udaipur (February 23 & 24)

Visit: Jag Niwas (Lake Palace), City Palace, Mor Chowk

This is the site of filming of Octopussy, a James Bond film. City Palace in Udiapur.

Depart for Jaipur on February 25 at 7:00am

Visit either Kumbhalgarh Fort or Chittogarh Fort on the way to Jaipur

2 nights in Jaipur (February 25 & 26)

Visit: Pink City, Jantar Mantar, Jami Masjid (mosque), City Palace Museum, Jawahr Kala Kendra (20th c., Charles Correa) The Amber Fort

Amber Fort and elephant rides on the outskirts of Jai Pur, the Pink City.

Depart for Agra on February 27 at 7:00am

Visit Chand Baori step well near Abhaneri on the way to Agra

2 nights in Agra (February 27 & 28)

Visit: Taj Mahal, Fatepur Sikri (Jami Masjid complex), Mathura

Depart for Delhi on March 1 at 7:00am

2 nights in Delhi (March 1 & 2)

Visit: Chandini Chowk, Jantar Mantar

Depart for Amritsar on March 3 at 7:00am

2 nights in Amritsar (March 3 & 4)

Visit Golden Temple, Guru ka Langar (free kitchen), Border closing ceremony

Sikh Golden Temple

Wagha Border Closing with Pakistan

Depart for Chandigarh on March 5 at 7:00am

1 night in Chandigarh (March 5)

Visit: Le Corbusier buildings

Depart for Delhi on March 6 at 1:00pm

India Gate in New Dehli

1 night in Delhi (March 6)

Depart by air for Varanasi on March 7 before noon, coach for 18 picks us up at Varanasi airport and we will have the coach available while we visit Varanasi

2 nights in Varanasi (March 7 & 8)

Visit: Ghats, Jantar Mantar, Vishnawath Temple, Dhamek Stupa

Depart on morning flight to Delhi on March 9, coach for 18 picks us up at Delhi airport

Leave Delhi on overnight train to Ahmedabad (March 9)

ARRIVE IN AHMEDABAD ON MORNING OF MARCH 10

Oh just looking at this images now, brings back such wonderful memories!

Google Images. . . . public domain

Posted in India, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Agra, Amritsar, Archhitecture, architecture, Asia, blogging, Border Closing, Dehli, Delhi, elephants, Golden Temple, India, India Gate, Jaipur, North of India, photography, Religions of the World, Shiks, Taj Mahal, travel, Udiapur, Varanasi, Wagah Border | 10 Comments

Poinsettia

Posted on December 26, 2013 by annetbell

Poinsettias were used by the Aztecs to produce purple dye and early cosmetics. The white milky sap was uses as medicines to treat fevers. Today we call that sap latex!

The first introduction of these beautiful flowers north of the Mexican border was by Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first ambassador to Mexico. He was fascinated by these plants with their green leaves that turned brilliant red a few days before Christmas just in time for the celebration. Later, it was discovered that the process had to do with light or the absence there of.

He noticed many symbols of Christ, the star shape, and the color of blood that perfectly fit into this holiday as foreshadowing of Easter. Samples were sent to greenhouses in South Carolina for research to see if they would grow in the United States.

That was the beginning of United States’ love affair with this most recognizable Christmas flower. This year over 34, 000,000 were bought to decorate our houses, churches, and work places.

Thanks Mexico for this wonderful flower!

Feliz Navidad!

images from google images. . . . . . . public domain

text from Wikipedia

Posted in Uncategorized, USA | Tagged Aztecs, Christmas flowers, Mexico, most popular Christmas flower, Poinsettia | 13 Comments

One Solitary Life

Posted on December 25, 2013 by annetbell

This photo was taken by my son, Chris last weekend when he an his family visited New York City for the Christmas festivities. As you can see, the shot was taken from seats in the auditorium of Radio City Music Hall. There are seats for 6015 people. The shows run from the end of November until the end of December. Some days there are four shows, others have five, and there are even six shows on the very busy days. We took our children when they were growing up and bought tickets in September . All the shows sell out. This is the home of the rockets the amazing dancers, there is ice skating during the show, secular music, and Santa taking off and flying across the stage. I will never forget the first time I went when at the end of the show, there was a living nativity complete with camels, sheep , and donkeys as well as the usual kings, shepherds, angels, and Holy Family with a real baby Jesus! Even today when there is so much political correctness and insistence on removing Christ from Christmas, this tradition continues at Radio City. No one demonstrates or condemns the declaration of “Christ the Reason for the Season.” As the pageant unfolds, a poem is read called One Solitary Life which I am including at the end.

No more words are necessary . . . . . . Have a blessed Christmas. . . .

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged angels, baby Jesus, blogging, camels, Christmas, donkeys, Living Nativity, Magi, New York City, One Solitary Life, Radio City Music Hall, sheep, shepherds, travel | 10 Comments

Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Basilica,Rome

Posted on December 24, 2013 by annetbell

This is St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy, the largest church in the world and the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church. which has 1.2 billion members across the world.( Interesting, that number is the estimated population of India. . . .) India, always incredible India!)

Christmas Eve is an important time in the church with the midnight mass ushering in the birthday of the Christ child. One Christmas, the Bells were all together in Rome. First we had an amazing Christmas Eve dinner of 24 kinds of fish dishes at a friend’s home. Fish has been the meat of Fridays for Catholic believers as Friday was the day of the Crucifixion of Christ, and in memory, for years, it became a fasting or no meat day. The twenty four is for the date of Christmas Eve. There is controversy about whether this is the date of His birth or chosen as an arbitrary date in connection with the solstice. But non the less , it is the date chosen and now set by years and years of tradition. At this amazing dinner, that was a tad uncomfortable for me because I eat very little if any fish, we were served various kinds of fish cook in 24 dishes for the date of December 24. Well, I was so looking forward to seeing midnight mass. We had been given tickets from a very devout friend, yes tickets to the coveted mass. No money is charged, the tickets are only for crowd control. We were running late from the dinner and had to almost run to St Peters. We actually got in but there were so many people it was impossible to get to the chairs near the alter. All the lights were illuminated and both organs were belting out in accompaniment for the huge crowd singing as they waited for the for the mass to begin. You might think it strange that I mentioned these details, but I had only remembered the lights on and the gold and marble shimmering with the organs playing and the congregation singing….all that at once, on one feast day with Pope John Paul II entering the church. It is an amazing interior any time, but totally breathtaking with the lights, organs, and singing.

I was very disappointed ( and acted rather in an angry, unchristian way) not to experience the mass, but I certainly felt as if I had a taste of the first Christmas with the crowds, and pushing , and excitement. This video is from the Piazza St. Peters showing the other people unable to be inside. If you want to see the interior and the mass, it is rebroadcast at midnight in the United States, and I expect at that time in other countries or there are other videos on YouTube.( Check your TV for exact time.) I can’t imagine the crowd at St. Peters tonight for Pope Francis’ first Christmas Eve Mass. I will be watching!

Merry Christmas, my dear friends!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY2oUBy8igc

Image from Google Images. . . .public domain

This Is Christmas Eve in Roma!

Posted in India, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, Christmas Eve, Italy, midnight mass, nativity, obelisk, Rome, St. Peter's Square, St. Peters, world's largest church | 17 Comments

Piazza Navona Christmas Market

Posted on December 23, 2013 by annetbell

Piazza Navona Christmas market in Rome is on the list of best European Christmas Markets. It is on the ancient site of the Circus of Domitian and has the shape of a stadium because of the games played there in ancient times. As the Christmas season nears, the vendors set up their toys, ornaments and delicious Italian sweets. One of my favorite items were the Christmas figures for the manger scene. It is very difficult and terribly expensive to get the hand-carved wooden figures, but I did see them for sale in the shops near the Vatican. The ones on sale at Navona were plastic but the gifted Italian artists worked their magic with plastic and the expressions and details of clothing etc. are wonderful and the price is much more reasonable.

The last time I went with my husband for a semester in Rome, the students were frantically finishing their design project spending lots of hours on “charette”. ( French word meaning working night and day to finish a project. ) This seems to be the model for architecture students in all countries .. . . . .finishing at the last minute. Well the students didn’t want to be doing this work and missing their last days in Roma. The professor went daily to Navona and bought sweets for a treat for them. He would sit and read in the studio to “encourage work and perseverance!” A posting and exhibition were planned for the last few days where students from other Roman studies’ programs would visit. Quality work was and is important to the professor! One day, Emily called out to David after his candy delivery, “David, are you babysitting?” Which was exactly what he was doing!

Here are some images of Piazza Nanona at Christmas time!

Pinocchio was started in Italy and is a popular children’s gift as well as other puppets.

Puppets are very popular in Italy. I remember traveling around and coming into a small town, going to the piazza in the centro and there would be a puppet show. The most popular are slap-stick stories of Punch and Judy. Men , women, and children would laugh, wildly, at the foolishness!

Stuffed animals galore. . . . . .

Here are some of the delicious sweets!

Decorations and some of the manger figures. . . . .

Beautiful, delicate tree ornaments. . . . . .

Yummy. . . . .

Kid heaven. . . . . . . . . . .

I loved the columns instead of the stable or cave. We bought some columns to use in our nativity. Not bad for plastic figures, right?

Lots of styles and sizes are available. . . . . . .

Buon Natale. . . . . . . .

UPDATE: August 20, 2015

I received a comment today from follower John Dupuny that the market closed permanently at the end of the 2014/2015 season. Be sure and check before going expecting it. I am sad as it was so festival and full of Italian joy!

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged blogging, Christmas in Rome, gifts, Italy, manager figures, ornaments, photography, Piazza Navona, sweets, travel | 31 Comments