Walking in India

New Video

2011-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

This is a short video I put together for Omie’s Home for Children and posted on You Tube a few days ago. Many of the photos used in the video you can see on this blog, others were sent to me by friends.
I had made a video a couple of years ago but there’s a lot more to this one and, though the software I used was very basic, the quality is much better. It’s main focus is the home but also shows work supported beyond the home.
Take a look and see if you would like to support the home in some way.

The Best of India

2010-08-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

For all the problems India has it’s a wonderful and fascinating place.
Enjoy this video I found on You Tube.
I'd love to do this.

Indian Dance

2010-03-09T13:31:00.001-08:00

Thought it was time to catch up and post something to this blog.
Here’s a couple of photos from the India Festival in Millville.
Endeavoring to capture some of the color and movement
you see in Indian dance.
I'm going to have to upload some music to complete the experience.

Life gets in the way

2009-12-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve entered anything in this blog. All I can say is that life gets in the way at times and blogging takes a back seat (moving three times in a year and a very sick son will do that).
Though I haven’t been to India (and I don’t see that happening any time soon) I did get to go to England to see my Mum and sisters and it was so good to see them….and England.
So, for now, I’ll post a couple of photos from England and give thought as to what to do with this blog!
The River is the Thames at Henley and the cottage is my sisters house near Cambridge.

Faces of India...in America

2008-11-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some more photos from the India Festival in Millville.
Once again, great music and fascinating dance.

India comes to Millville

2008-10-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

I don’t know when I’ll get back to India but a couple of weeks ago India came to us. There was a Festival of India at the Wheaton Arts Center in our town. I enjoyed every moment. There was a selection of arts and crafts and, of course, lots of food. But, for me, the best part was the Folk and Classical Music and Dance. I was surprised just how many performers there were.
More performers than I have photos but this gives you an idea.
Fascinating to watch the hand movements and facial expressions of the dancers. I’ll post a couple more later.

Charminar, Hyderabad

2008-09-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I know the blog police are after me. It's been a while since I posted.
The thing for me is that life gets in the way. I don't know how those daily and weekly bloggers keep it up!
So here we are. Some photos of Charminar, a mosque in Hyderabad.
I enjoyed this. Climbing the winding stone stairs in the tower reminded me of some of the castles I've visited in England.
You always get the feeling it would be easy to fall.
Once you get to the top there's a great view of the market and streets below.
Well worth the visit.

Traffic in Secunderabad, India

2008-07-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing quite like the noisy streets of India.
From large trucks to rickshaws and then
the pedestrians weaving their way through it all.

And there’s always a guy with a cart
slowly making his way through the traffic

And the giant billboards on roadsides and above shops.

Time out!!

2008-07-04T10:31:00.001-07:00

Lazy or preoccupied, I’m not sure what it is
but I’ve been slow to update this blog.
I need to look through my photos and we are moving house
this next month so do return, there will be more.
Can you guess who’s under the hat? And what film?

Sewer worker in India

2008-05-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

A good part of my day job is cleaning basements and homes
contaminated with mold.
The photo was taken in a fisherman’s house on the shore.

A pipe breaks in the empty house
and by the time it was discovered
the whole first floor and basement
were covered in mold.
My reason for sharing this is to show
the lengths we go to to protect ourselves
in the west compared to those in India who
work in hazardous conditions.
Take the time to look at this news video
from NDTV, an Indian news agency.
No one should have to work in these conditions.
It’s sad that they are in such a position
that they have to do this kind of work
to support their families.

India in ‘74

2008-05-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

This is the first time I was in India in ’74.
Freaky days.
The photo was taken in old Delhi by a street photographer.
I’m the short one on left. The guy in the middle was from Newcastle
and the tall guy on the right was from Texas.
My goodness, whatever happened, hey?

The ice cream lady.

2008-05-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

As I was taking photos on the beach this lady came up to me and insisted that I took her picture.
She grabbed my arm, took me over to her ice cream stand and got into position, the cell phone being an important prop for her.
Once that was done she grabbed me again and called over to a guy somewhat in the distance, maybe her husband.
She gave him instructions and the cell phone and another photo was taken. I’m not sure where it would’ve ended, as she waded into the surf, but the young guy in the yellow t-shirt, who thought it was time I took his photo, rescued me.
Our ice cream lady walked off highly amused by the whole episode.

Bay of Bengal faces

2008-05-06T18:24:00.001-07:00

As we watched the fishermen and took photos of them pushing
their boats into the surf others insisted on having their photo taken.
Interesting to look at the different expressions on the boys faces,
telling us something of their character.

2008-05-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

People liked to invite us to take photos of their young children.

Fishing in the Bay of Bengal

2008-04-06T13:06:00.001-07:00

Before returning to Secunderabad we took a short ride to the Bay of Bengal where we had the opportunity to see some fisherman at work.
It was quite something to see them push these boats out into the surf. The nets seemed enormous for the size of the boats.

A leper community

2008-03-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

The reason we went to Bapatla was to visit a leper community.
When we were there we were able to provide
a number of them with blankets and medical supplies.
We also provided a meal for them.
Though it was a short time,
for me it was very special to meet with them.
There are still thousands of lepers in India
and they are considered outcasts.

A woman’s complaint / lament.

2008-03-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

I enjoy listening to Indian music and this video is interesting for the scene of rural life.
It also shows something that seems to be typical in India and many other developing countries, the out of balance burden that many women have in the home. I’m always impressed by their strength of character and resolve when things need to be done.

Some faces of Bapatla

2008-03-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Grandmother with granddaughter.

2008-03-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

There were quite a few guys in black.
I believe they were Hindu students
from the temple you can see in the background.
If you have more information please leave a comment.

2008-03-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

A small shop with a machine for sifting grain

2008-03-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

A printing shop.

2008-03-09T10:01:00.001-07:00

On the spot sandal repair and cleaning.
India is surely a land of contrasts and extremes.

Bapatla from the top

2008-02-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

Our hotel was basic but there was a great view
of Bapatla from the rooftop.
The front the hotel overlooked this ancient Hindu temple.
I believe parts of the temple were over a 1000 years old.
The other views are from the back of the hotel.

Sleeper to Bapatla.

2008-02-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

I’ve always loved traveling by train so it was great have an
opportunity to take a night ride on the
South Central Railway from Secunderabad to Bapatla.

2008-02-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

The train now arriving at platform.......
Where have all the steam trains gone?

2008-02-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

A look at the compartment before the seats were put down
and we climbed into our individual sleepers.

2008-02-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

All tucked in and ready for some sleep, though I didn't get much,
watching the moonlit countryside go by.

Rice…always plenty of rice.

2008-02-01T17:49:00.001-08:00

Whatever the size of the gathering there’ll always plenty of rice. Just get a bigger pot (although I don’t think it’s called a pot).
I love the way they do things in India and I love the smell of the burning wood.

2008-02-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

Here’s the cook at Omie’s Home slicing up a pumpkin to make a sweet…and boy did it taste good. That knife was sharp too.

The Alpha and Omega School

2008-01-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos taken at the Alpha and Omega school.
The school was started by Rev. Mani Nadava and his wife Rani
in a slum area of Secunderabad.
From small beginnings the school now has over 300 children.

2008-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

The children, from Hindu, Muslim and Christian homes,
are keen to learn.

2008-01-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

2008-01-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

The school uniform is typical of schools in India.

2008-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

As usual the kids almost climb over each other to get in the photo.

The famous rickshaw

2008-01-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

After my post on Auto rickshaws (motorized rickshaws or tuk-tuks) I found this news piece on the BBC website. It seems they might be coming to a city near you!
But they always seem to have too many restrictions in the West.
For real freedom of the road you have to ride one in India.

Travel by Auto Rickshaw.

2008-01-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

When it’s too far to walk this is a great way to travel.
Inexpensive and a lot of fun.

2008-01-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

The Rickshaw usually seats three but they will squeeze in more if they can.

2008-01-14T14:25:00.001-08:00

This is the kind of traffic you can find yourself in.

2008-01-14T14:09:00.000-08:00

It’s a lot of fun but on a long ride the fumes can be a little over whelming.

Always full of color.

2008-01-07T13:58:00.002-08:00

This narrow street was a great place to walk, do a bit of shopping, and meet some of the people.

2008-01-07T13:58:00.001-08:00

There wasn't much room. As you had one eye on the stores the other had to look out for the bikes and scooters!

2008-01-07T13:57:00.003-08:00

Many of the women still wear traditional style clothing. Always colorful.

2008-01-07T13:57:00.001-08:00

2008-01-07T13:56:00.001-08:00

India....it's about the people.

2008-01-01T12:23:00.001-08:00

In Baptal this store owner invited us in to see his shop.
Here he is, the proud owner.
I believe the machine was for sifting grain.

2008-01-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

One of the ladies living at the Leper Village we visited in Baptal.

2008-01-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Some fisherman loading there nets.
Getting ready to do a nights fishing in the Bay of Bengal.

2008-01-01T10:41:00.001-08:00

These are some of the boys from Omie's Home for Children.
Always eager to be in the picture. These guys were a lot of fun.

2008-01-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Some of the people of Baptal just hanging around on the corner.
The good thing about digital cameras is that I was able to show them the photo in the camera. They were very amused.