Country Life

Carol has promised that she will be writing a piercing and incisive essay on rural life in West Bengal... just as soon as she comes back from shopping. In the meantime, I thought I would post some images from our two-day trip into the outlands. Most of these images were taken in or around some of the innumerable villages that dot the landscape. I am particularly fond of the picture of the children peering through the bars of the schoolhouse window. As you can see, children love me. I have also included a picture of a cow, simply because cows are everywhere. These cows are not like the big fat American cows but, rather, the size of very large goats. Speaking of goats, there are plenty of them as well. Tiny ones. In fact, there are cows, goats and dogs, everywhere. Ominously, there are no cats! I threw in a picture of a temple, as well. Lots of temples here. This one is made completely of terra cotta. Very high maintenance. There is an entire village dedicated to making replacement bricks for these temples as the old one deteriorate. They have been doing this for about 300 years.

Someone asked if it was really hot here. No doubt this question was prompted by blizzard-like weather that has passed through the Puget Sound recently. Well, the weather here is just about perfect: mid-eighties during the day, usually accompanied by a cool breeze, with slightly cooler nights. We haven't seen a cloud in the sky since we arrived. Come to think of it, we rarely see the sky due to the very high level of smog. Makes for nice sunsets.

Don't forget that you can click on the images above to see a larger version.

Dog Tired

We are back from our two-day journey into the hinterlands of West Bengal. And we're pooped! We will have a post and some pictures up in about 12 hours, after we have had a good night's sleep.

By the way, just because the area we visited is called 'rural', does not mean that there are any fewer people living in the countryside. They are everywhere! More later.

A Day in Kolkata

Kolkata is big, loud, dirty and aromatic. It is a city that seems to be falling apart from every seam, yet still manages to function. Its resident population of 15 million is supplemented during the day by an additional 6 million commuters, so it is constantly in motion. For all of this, the traffic flows better than Seattle.

The first thing that strikes you, indeed continues to keep your notice, is the poverty. It is everywhere. Yet, it is not that distressing to see. No one appears to be starving, or even particularly unhappy with their lot. It is a functional poverty. People are working; making enough to get by day to day. Walking down the narrow streets you pass by small storefronts that sell every conceivable item. One small stand sold nothing but ball bearings. Even the sidewalks host little enterprises, like barbers, tea sellers, and laundries. For a photographer, this makes for a target rich environment.

We spent our day viewing various temples, museums and monuments. Given the context of all the street life and the vitality that it offered, these tour stops seemed more like interruptions to the attraction of the city around us.

Tomorrow, we are off for a two day trek into the countryside where will will be visiting several villages that specialize in pottery and other crafts. Certainly more adventure awaits us there but, alas, no internet access until we return to the splendor of the Oberoi on Thursday.

Note: you can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

Mike offered the earlier text, now its my turn. I am so tired that I can only share some brief items with you. Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be more rested but we get up at 5:30am, so maybe not.

I took a shower in the dark today because the hotel had blown a fuse (twice), for breakfast I had a pretzel, some cheese and salame, a lotus fruit, some pistachios and a cup of tea and I ate a wonderful Indian 4 course dinner at a long white clothed table beside the swimming pool by moonlite tonight.

I have images from the Kali temple I visited last night at dusk-girls playing in the street outside with white pieces of broken marble that captured the evening light as they threw them across the dirt of the courtyard, winding down an alley filled with red cloth and incense and entering the inside perimeter of the temple, then walking past where a goat was sacrificed that day in honor of Kali the mother goddess of Kolkata. Taking our turn walking into the temple in our bare feet through the mud and over the wet marble to see the statue of the goddess. Some of us being annointed with red paste on our foreheads before returning to find our shoes. Coming back to the hotel room to find a very comfortable bed waiting for us. I know these images are out of order-maybe when I catch up on sleep they will make more sense.

carol

We Made It!

Thirty-one hours and three airplanes after leaving home, we have arrived at the first of several home-away-from-homes: The Oberoi Grand, in Calcutta (or Kolkata as it is now called). Of course the main thing we are focused on is lots of sleep at this point. So thought we would start with an appropriate photo. Our tour guide though is so excited to take us out that many of us are going out for a visit to the Kali temple. When we return we will share the sites with you.

Much Ado about Barack

This really has nothing to do with India, or our upcoming travels. I am curious, however, about the mechanism for posting photos to this site. After all, if I can't show the pictures that we plan to take, then this whole blog thing will lose a lot of its appeal for me.

I thought we might digress a bit into politics, if for no other reason that I have an excuse to post a photo. In this case, a picture of Illinois' junior Senator, Barack Obama, who came to Bellevue last week in support of our state's Democratic candidates. I was a volunteer at the event (escorting VIP's no less), so I ended up in a fairly good position to take pictures. There were nearly 3,000 people crammed into the gym at BCC and I am not sure that those stuck at the back could see much of anything.

So what did I think of the Senator? Well, for one, he is one hell of a speaker. He easily reminded me of both JFK and MLK in his ability to articulate a message and inspire a crowd. He has the charisma thing going for him, big time! It will be a very interesting election if he decides to enter the race.

Nothing to see here folks... move along

Carol and I begin our three week trip to East India just after Thanksgiving. Provided that we can find internet access along our journey, it is our plan to post a travelogue (that would be Carol), and photographs (Mike's job) of our adventure. Until the trip begins, however, there will not be much to look at here.

But, thanks for stopping by, just the same.