Life Slips Away

This is for all of us who have have held a dying person’s hand or will in the future.

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Green Gujurat

Nameste!

Last week was the celebration of successful businesses and all things Gujarati with visitors from all over the world. The end of the week was a huge flower show down by the river.

narendramodi-poster-flowershow2015This Mr. Modi who started Vibrant Gujurat celebrations while he was the Chief Minister of the state. Now he is the Prime Minister of all of India and his native state is more than a little proud.

It took us awhile to get to the right place after a rickshaw ride where we drove over a  half finished highway until there was a huge barricade and the driver had to take us back over the bumpy, dusty road.  We went to see the work of a friend at Cept who is in the Masters of Landscape program. Here is two  of the flower sculptors Brianca designed and produced.

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Below is the new Chief Minister of Gujarat and  the  peacock flower sculpture, my favorite!

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Lovely sights and work, but we thought highly unlikely that these flowers would last a day in the ferocious Indian sun without continuous watering.

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As we walked to the exit to catch a rickshaw, this amazing man caught our eye.  I have no idea who or what he is nor his story but I wanted a picture. I  requested a picture, knowing quite well that  he would agree.  Here it is for you my blogger friends.  If any of you can figure out a story about this most interesting man. . . .please do tell! David called him “an Indian Santa Claus!”

Ta ta for now from Incredible India!

some images from  Google public domain

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Beautiful Dirty Faces

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These precious children are with us wherever  we go. See how thin the girl’s arm is and the attempt to brighten themselves with the beads  around  their necks ?  Imagine they where  washed and had new clothes. They are beautiful enough to be in cinema.  Remember the Indian beggar children who  lit the screen in “Slum Dog  Millionaire?”  But come to think of it, they are beautiful in their current  condition. . . .smiling and happy to be photographed.

Last time in India, I listened to the admonition not to give to the beggars but give to organizations who systematically help the poor.  But I was always feeling guilty that they asked, and I gave nothing.  As a Christian, I am told to give my coat , if someone asks for my shirt.  I did give food to some of the hungry last trip and particularly remember ordering and buying a cheese pizza for a little girl.  I gave her the box, she opened it , looked at me wide eyed, looked deep into my eyes,  than took off running .  I hope she and her family enjoyed that strange food!

I learned from the rickshaw driver who kept coins in his dashboard.  This time, I am carrying coins with me  to give to whomever asks.  I also gave two little tykes, not yet school age, begging , bananas.  The usual response was the outstretched hand for money , but as I looked back , they were peeling the bananas.  I know that most of the Hindu and Jain Temples serve one hot meal a day for the poor. People are trying to help them, but there are just so many in this country of 1.6 billion souls!

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So  this time, I brought chocolate kisses for the children and give rupee coins, as well.  Is it helping the children and the old women?  I don’t know, honestly. Probably this is only making me feel less guilty  with all that I have been blessed with.  But that is what I am doing this time in India.  And , oh yes, I am praying for the Lord’s mercy and provision both physical and spiritual for these “least among many” in India, who also were created in His image.

This Is Incredible India!

Images from public domain, Google

Your thoughts, please? 

 

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Visitor on the Roof!

Last evening, Mukhes, the cook, knocked on our door and said one word. . . . “Monkeys!”  I ran to the roof terrace which is not as elegant as it sounds and there was this very large visitor.  Mukhes was feeding it pieces of potato from his hand. One of the girls ran to get a banana. The monkey peeled it, then ate it, next he  ate the peel as well!  I guess he wanted to savor every bite of the sweet treat,  The pictures I took were too dark and blurry as I as so excited .  This morning the monkey family was back, male, 2 females, and 2 babies.  Muches said that since we gave them a banana they will keep coming so stay tuned for more monkey images!

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Mukhus is a great name for a cook, don’t you think?

Off to the flower and landscape festival on the banks of the river, today. One of the students at Cept, who came to Troy, invited us to see her work. She is working on a master’s degree in landscaping.

This Is Incredible India !  T I I I !

David detests monkeys but I think they are adorable!   What do you think?

 

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Ahmedavad. . . . Where Lies the Heart (Amdavad)

Thanks Judith K !

This Is Incredible India. . . . . . T I I I !

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Anne Meets Hati !

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Ah-ti ,the elephant, is an Amdavad resident who just happened to appear new the Fort where we were tourisiting yesterday. Nothing nicer than to see an Ah-ti  at the beginning of a busy day, and quite a friendly girl at that.

We were climbing around on the ancient fort  when Ah-ti was noticed and we hurried down. Actually, I think Selim , our guide rickshaw leader, called down for the elephant rider to wait for us.

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Ancient, elegant minimal architecture. . . .

The fort structure is under renovation but the scaffolding and things we needed to climb over or under didn’t stop us exploring.From there we went to a very ancient mosque where there were wonderful carvings.

This is a very large Jain Temple complex, called Hathseeing Temple  near the step well.

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The Jains are a very ancient sect that predates Hinduism.  There are a large number of Jains in Amdavad  because they come mostly from the business and education classes.

From there, we went to the Dada Harir Vav, stepwell. The student’s first with  many more to see  in our travels. These are place of both relaxation and specific purpose.  In this arid climate , water is as precious as gold. These elaborate underground wells were often dedicated to the deities. The people  acknowledged the hand of God in providing them  this life giving substance.  The cool steps down to the well were meant to be resting places for the women who would go to fetch the water for their families.

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The view from near to bottom up towards the top. This construction gave David a good  chance to review retaining walls and weight bearing columns in  this beautiful structure.

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Lastly, we went to I I M, Indian Institute of Management, which was designed by Louis Kahn and is a masterpiece of buildings and landscapes housing the most elite business school in India. We will return often to I I M but this was a two hour introduction, walk through and of course several  quick sketches.

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We were touring most of the day from 9 until 5ish, good practice for the upcoming North trip with “architecture all the day long. . . . . . days!”

 

The images from Hatheesing Temple are from Google Images, public domain.

I would love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

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Spectacular Sights in the US

29 Surreal Places In America You Need To Visit Before You Die

Mar 11, 2014

If you live in the U.S., you don’t need a passport to see what mother nature has to offer.

1. Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

AER Wilmington DE / Flickr: 25949441@N02 / Creative Commons
In Mendenhall Valley of Juneau stands this 12-mile glacier that is home to some incredibly surreal ice caves. If you follow the West Glacier trail, you can get a chance to see these whimsical ice clouds for yourself.

2. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Manamana / shutterstock.com
Located near Page, Ariz., this brilliant slot canyon is split into two different sections, commonly referred to as “The Crack” and “The Corkscrew.” The natural canvas of color and unique structure is an Instgrammer’s dream.

3. Oneonta Gorge, Oregon

Oneonta Gorge, Oregon

zschnepf / shutterstock.com
The Oneonta Gorge is in the Columbia River Gorge with a unique set of aquatic and woodland plants. The ferns and moss make the walls look like a fairy tale, and visitors can walk through the creek on a warm summer day.

4. Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington

RuthChoi / shutterstock.com
Located in Washington state, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the tulip fields between April 1–30 to see these gorgeous flowers in bloom. The festival is designed as a driving tour since there is no one designated “site.”

5. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado

Mavrick / shutterstock.com
This wilderness area is located in the Elk Mountains of central Colorado and has over 100 miles of trails. The closest city in reach is Aspen and the entire area spans over 181,000 acres.

6. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Varina and Jay Patel / shutterstock.com
This isolated island of bliss sits roughly 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by clear waters and an abundance of sea life. The area is only accessible by boat or seaplane, so leave your phone at home and enjoy a day off the grid.

7. Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah

fabernova / shutterstock.com
Located near Springdale, Utah, this incredible 146,000-acre park is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. A prominent feature is the Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and a half-mile deep. Other spots to visit while you’re here is “The Subway”(pictured on the left) and “The Narrows” (pictured on the right).

8. Watkins Glen State Park, New York

Watkins Glen State Park, New York

Flickr: dr_bullschmidt / Creative Commons
We all know Niagara Falls is a sight to see, but located south of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region lies a lesser-known fantasy-like area called Rainbow Bridge and Falls. It will make you feel like you’re in Lord of the Rings.

9. Yosemite Valley, California

Yosemite Valley, California

Flickr: robsettantasei / Creative Commons
This 8-mile glacial valley is covered in pine and surrounded by granite summits like Half Dome and El Capitan. The California beauty is a hot spot for tourists and photographers and it also offers scenic trails for hikers.

10. Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Flickr: projekction / Creative Commons
This natural pool of rainbow-like colors is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third largest in the world. It’s located in Yellowstone National Park, which also has other great sights to see such as Morning Glory PoolOld Faithful, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

11. Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii

Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii

Flickr: uosuaq / Creative Commons
This “Stairway to Heaven” is a steep hiking trail that is technically closed to the public, but many people continue to climb despite the “No Trespassing” signs. Sometimes breaking the law is worth it, right?

12. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Flickr: pumpkincanada / Creative Commons
In this National Park beneath the rocky land lies more than 119 known caves, formed from limestone and sulfuric acid. Visitors can take the natural entrance (pictured on the right) or ride down the elevator 750 feet below ground.

13. Whitaker Point, Arkansas

Whitaker Point, Arkansas

Flickr: texas_tongs / Creative Commons
In the heart of the Buffalo River country lies this incredible crag, a popular spot for proposals, scenic photographs, and pretty killer views. The best time to snap a pic is at 6:15 a.m. (as pictured above on the left).

14. Hamilton Pool, Texas

Hamilton Pool, Texas

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons
Located just outside of Austin, this natural pool is a popular spot for tourists and residents in the summer. Hamilton Pool was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago.

15. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Flickr: paxson_woelber / Creative Commons
Named after its horseshoe-like shape, this famous meander is located just outside Page, Ariz., and offers a wicked view of the Colorado River.

16. Northern Lights, Alaska

Northern Lights, Alaska

Flickr: gsfc / Creative Commons
The Northern Lights is one of the most beautiful wonders of the world, and a trip to Alaska will give you a front-row seat. The best places to see the lights are in Fairbanks and Anchorage from about September–April 20.

17. Bryce Canyon, Utah

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Luca Galuzzi / commons.wikimedia.org
This collection of large natural amphitheaters is famous for its hoodoos, geological structures formed by frost weather and stream erosion. The orange, red, and white rocks are a beautiful sight and only roughly 50 miles from Zion National Park.

18. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Topseller / shutterstock.com
Bordering California and Nevada, this freshwater lake is the largest alpine lake in North America. The clear waters and surrounding trees make it an ideal vacation spot.

19. Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee

Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee

Flickr: mikerhicks / Creative Commons
A subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, the Smokies are a mountain range along the North Carolina–Tennessee border. It’s the most visited national park in the U.S., with 9 million-plus visitors per year.

20. Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls, New York

Chawalit S / shutterstock.com
Located along the United States–Canada border is the famous Niagara Falls, a popular spot for tourists.

21. The Wave, Arizona

The Wave, Arizona

Flickr: thaths / Creative Commons
Located in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness near the Arizona-Utah border lies The Wave, a sandstone rock formation that looks look a painting. The sight is known for its vibrant colors and the trackless hike to reach it.

22. Sequoia National Park, California

Sequoia National Park, California

Sequoia National Park is known for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, one of the largest in the world. It stands at 275 feet tall and is believed to be roughly 2,500 years old.

23. Thor’s Well, Oregon

Thor's Well, Oregon

Flickr: by_photo / Creative Commons
Along Cape Perpetua lies Thor’s Well, a saltwater fountain driven by the power of the ocean tide. The best time to see it in action is an hour before high tide to an hour after high tide. While it’s a beautiful sight, it’s also highly dangerous and visitors should proceed with caution.

24. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Dapixstudio / shutterstock.com
The red and orange rocky mountains bring in nearly 1 million visitors per year to the Badlands National Park. Native Americans used this area for hunting grounds for roughly 11,000 years.

25. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Jeffrey T. Kreulen / shutterstock.com
The oldest city in the state of Georgia, Savannah has a charming personality and fairy tale-like array of Spanish moss trees.

26. Palouse Falls, Washington

Palouse Falls, Washington

Flickr: darekfarmer / Creative Commons
Located in Washington state, this enchanting scene almost came to an end in 1984 when the Franklin County Public Utility District proposed to build a dam to allow hydroelectric power generation. Ratepayers decided to preserve the falls.

27. Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park, Montana

Flickr: emilyrachelhildebrand / Creative Commons
Glacier National Park is located near Kalispell, Mont., and borders parts of Canada. The park encompasses more than 1,000,000 acres and attracts roughly 2 million people per year.

28. Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii

Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii

Sarah Fields Photography / shutterstock.com

The Na Pali Coast is inaccessible by car but can be seen over land by helicopter or hiking. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access, but there are also caves you can explore along the coast.

29. Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower, Wyoming

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Sounds of Amdavad

Sights and  sites yesterday and today sounds.  Before I start you should know that  I don’t like silence at home or pregnant pauses in conversations!   Even in India I want the TV on and there are all Hindu channels except CNBC Financial News so the viewing is limited !

The first morning, I awoke at 5 AM to the call to prayer for the followers of Islam.  I remember the soothing sound from early mornings in Cairo.  I like the sound, the idea of starting the day with prayer, and the thought that this has been done for thousands of years.   Here is a picture of the Friday Mosque in Old Town from my post yesterday. You can see originally there were minarets on the front that are absent today.  During the earth quake early in 2000s, the towers either fell or were damaged so  much that they had to be demolished.

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The animals rise with the sun so the myriad  of species are chattering away. The lovely green parakeets are flying , chattering, and perching in the trees in front of the hostel.

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And of course the crowds of monkeys everywhere are screeching and howling and begging for food.

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Later in the morning the school children arrive at the large elementary school at the end of the lane. Hearing them laughing and calling and shouting brings back wonderful memories of my students in the past. The uniforms are a tradition from the years  when India was a colony.

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Last but not least, there is a totally unpredictable sound with the elevator at the hostel.   If the outside door and the folding door are not closed completely after use, this  song (but not this rendition) below  plays, and plays, and plays until the doors are shut properly. Never in a million years would you guess the choice and  believe it or not, it plays all during the year and not just seasonally!

Of course these noises heard from the hostel, blend with dogs barking, and the continual honking of horns.  Ah India.. . . . .

Images from Google Public Domain

T I I I . . . . . This Is Incredible India!

I would love to hear your comments !

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Images of Amdavad

Today, I am going to show you some sights and sites from Amdavad taken  the last few days.  Professor and I have been here a week and one day and the students not yet a week!  Already we have seen and done things way ahead of last trip because we are at least familiar with places and policies.

The phones were promised to be delivered at the hostel at noon today  in working order.  That was a result of us all going to the shop at  5 PM yesterday when and where  they were promised last.  We were told the internet site was down yesterday when we arrived!   Only after a few days, that sounded plausible! Just a minor challenge of being in Incredible India!

Saturday morning , we went to Old City for the Heritage Walk.  The area is know as The Pols.  Here is the Teen Darwaza Gate  from the 400 year old history of Amdavad.

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Next see some of the old architectural details of the homes and businesses built along the narrow streets.  There is even a small piazza where the four houses that compile the square are from different styles and cultures. . . Persian, Hindu, Muslim, and  Jain.

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Here is an old man and his beast of burden.

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This is preparation for the International Kite Festival next week.  The strings are covered with  some gooey mixture containing  tiny pieces of glass.  Yes, this kite flying is serious business for  bragging rights!   The glass is to cut  the string of another competitive kite high in the sky !   Remember the scene in “The Kite Runner?”

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We ended the tour at the Jama Mosque also known as  the Friday Mosque which is the Mosque for a huge gather of the faithful for prayer.

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Here is an interior colonnade.  You can see the prayer rugs and even a person praying.

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This is a screen window which are in many of the palaces and Mosques. In many cases it was for the women to stand inside, be able to see through the screen, but not seen from the outside.

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For my taste in architecture, I love the simple elegance in design and details of the mosques.  Back on the street we headed to Vodafone to start the process of  getting phones.  RPI back in Troy insists that each student have at least a burner phone. It is important to stay in communications when they start exploring on their own.

This last picture is a young man who has the Indian entrepreneurial spirit!   He needed a job, saw a need in the community, and set up shop. . . no set up bike.  He rides around and sharpens knives for the community . The sharpener is powered by him peddling the bike.

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Stay tuned for more sights and sounds from amazing Amdavad!

Please let me know what you think !

 

 

 

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Freedom and/or Security?

amX9rqV_700b_v1This gives me pause. . .  as I have been pondering this  problem lately. The grand experiment which is the United States was built on personal rights for all written in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution. . . . . freedom of religion, speech, press, to assemble and to have personal privacy.

After 9/11 , the country was united in the desire of “Never Again” and there was not much questioning  as to how  that security  was accomplished. But as the years have past and news and experiences of NSA spying on the nation and the world, control of the internet, airport searches and indignities at the airports,  and prisoner enhanced interrogation; Americans, including me, are questioning our freedoms, security and the methods used to establish both.

This week in the world’s largest democracy where there is understandably obsessed with security has further fueled my thoughts. Information was circulated of a credible terrorist activity in India. Access to certain sites on the internet was stopped or limited to all of India.  I had trouble accessing Facebook, in the morning, evening, and at night. Hmm, all times when people were home using the internet. I have experienced in the US having some news and YouTube videos not available as they are in the rest of the world. I have learned that from other bloggers. Here in India,  we have been working  for days to get just the proper documentation for the students. . . photos. . . on different paper for different applications. .  phone, school, immigration.  They need copies of their passports, visas, stamped pages of their passports, forms to be filled , a letter from the hostel and the University. . .  all  this to study here for 4 months.  And all this to try to insure safety.

Some of you might  ask, “Why not just ignore it all?”  Well, one group a few years ago did just that due to ignorance of the policy.   When they got ready to leave, 7 students were allowed to leave even though they didn’t have the proper exit stamp.  Two students were detained.  They were Americans of various heritages.  Many people and countries find it hard to understand that American is  a “salad mixture” of people from all nationalities.   These detained  students had to stay in a hotel for a week while their departure was  discussed by many calls between India and the US!  Finally, this happened and all other groups from Rensselaer have meticulously  completed the process.  This time the forms seem even more complicated than in 2013. Could it be bureaucrats justifying their paycheck?

I want to be safe, unquestionably, but at the price of our freedoms? Fascist countries take these same actions and I don’t want to live in like that.  I am concerned, too, as to whom  is making these decisions.  In my lifetime, I have observed with taxes and government involvement, that once instigated or eliminated it is seemingly impossible to regain freedoms once they are gone.

Security or Freedom?

What say you?

 

 

 

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