I first visited India in the fall of 1992. I went with on a study abroad program with 16 other students, in order to do volunteer work and gain some "experiential education." On this trip, I was able to see many rural areas and rural enhancement projects, including water quality and availability projects (including a trip into the innards of the Narmada Dam), many pre-schools in rural villages, Biogas experiments, and rural vegetation projects. This trip was difficult for me, being in a group, being 19 years old, and also discovering that I suffered from clinical depression...all at the same time. 13 years later, I was able to travel back to India on my own. It was a fabulous experience for me, because I learned for almost the 1st time in my life that I could be completely happy by myself. I was able to experience this enormous country in ways that I had previously not been able to. I met many Indians, had many meaningful chats with folks, saw lots of things I previously did not have the urge or nerve to go experience. I traveled to several different cities, I spent time at the beach relaxing, I ate alot of incredibly wonderful food, and drank gallons of chai. (The chai here in America is nowhere near as good as it is in India!) I returned to India in January 2007 for five weeks. Again I had a great trip. I was fortunate enough to give a lecture on Western Art Jewelry at the Jewellery Product Devlopment Center in Delhi. I met some great jewelry instructors who were really special people, including Hema Malani and Mr. Thomas Beil. I also met a friend whom i met on Myspace, and he was also a special person. I was fortunate to see some handicrafts being made in rural villages in an area called Kutch, near the border of Pakistan. |
the view of delhi from the rooftop restaraunt of anoop hotel |
India...my trip in january 2005 |
special thali...costs rs. 50 (about $1.15)....delicious!!! |
my friend rajah, the chai wallah, making chai and egg sandwiches |
handmaking steel trunks in delhi |
spice market in paharganj, old delhi |
veggie market in paharganj, old delhi |
on the banks of the river ganga....i saw no body parts. |
dhobi wallah (clothes washer) in ganga AKA Ganges |
BABU!!! |
typical alley in varanasi, city of mama ganga (i stayed right down this alley...that's where i met babu! |
young boy with bowl of cow dung on his head for fuel |
aaah, the lovely water buffalo!!! |
women selling textiles on janpath, delhi |
sikh selling used false teeth in jaipur |
traffic is crazy in india! |
oh, sweet elephant! i hugged his trunk too! |
traditional method of bulk dying... please note the stack of wood |
street band sitting out the rain with some chai |
pushkar, a very holy city....a desert oasis |
camels and camel guy in pushkar....camels are not friendly and they bite! |
this is just for tourists photographs and nothing else...the cobras have been de-fanged!!!! |
my lady friends...susan in the middle, karmala on the right |
bharta, my scooter driver/friend/waiter, all around nice guy |
goa at sunset, colva beach |
some tasty goats |
my favorite snacks..potato cakes & fried sandwiches (indians are generally very happy people as you can see here) |
narender, the man who ran my favorite restaraunt in old delhi |
the golden rose, my guesthouse in colva beach, goa |
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