Udaipur, Pt. 2

We even climbed a small mountain in the Aravalli range. Here's the view from the top. 

On the way back, these hard-working women gave us a quick photo.

And the day ended in style with Kingfishers on the roof. My friend Flo was visiting too. Udaipur's claim to fame in western pop culture is as the filming location for Octopussy. We attempted to view a rooftop screening, but the restaurant's TV had just broken yesterday (yesterday...mmm hmm, says Drew.) 

Udaipur, Pt. 1

What a fall its been. A late, rainy monsoon wrapped and I felt fully occupied from September onwards. I am co-chairing my department this year, and we are adapting 1:1 personal tablet devices, new standards, and a new model for teaching reading and writing. Luckily, for the first time in a while I am teaching the same classes for a second year. In October, a pesky mosquito infected me with dengue fever, sidelining me for a full week and attaching lethargy for two-three more. I assistant coached middle school soccer again, and led our service club after school. Oh yeah, took a grad school class. Anyway, I write only to excuse my lack of postings. Took only two long weekend trips this year, to Dharamshala (in the mountains, working on pictures) and Udaipur.
Udaipur is in southern Rajasthan, a desert state on India's western border. This beautiful city surrounds a lake. Here is the view from our hotel.

Also visible from our hotel is the city palace. Rajasthan (along with other states here in India) are full of architectural remnants from the era of princely states, or maharajas. Rather than unitary monarchy or republic, this region was a constellation of various small territories loyal to one leader. These leaders in turn swapped loyalty to greater empires, with seemingly constant shifting.

Maki and I took a walk through a local outlying village, and were able to observe a lot of local color. The seamstress.

The barber shop.

The brick makers.

bike ride in Delhi

Delhi in September, October and November is beautiful place to be. Temperature is just right, and the generous monsoon has left lush foliage everywhere. Here are a few pictures of Delhi on a lazy, leafy Sunday.

Biked over to Lodhi Gardens. Malis (gardeners) working on the roses.

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Langtang Trek

And now here's what you've been waiting for. Great thanks to Eric for sharing these amazing photographs. All the way up the valley, we were accompanied by a rushing river.

The lush forest eventually petered out into more open, rock strewn valley.

A group of Tibetans celebrating with a dance.

Glacier

We saw two avalanches from an opposing mountainside.

A view of the valley were we finished the trek, from the peak of a surrounding mountain.

So out of Kathmandu we headed. Our trekking destination was the Langtang Region, a remote valley a few miles south of the Nepal-Tibet border. The ride up through the foothills was full of color. Here, a truck was stuck in the middle of the road, blocking passage. About twenty men eventually pushed it through the troubled spot.

Our jeep hit a chicken hanging out on the road, and the entire village gathered to watch the negotiations for reimbursement.

After a long day in the car, we reached the trail head, and gladly said goodbye to motorized traffic. Into the woods we go...

Kathmandu

In June, Maki and I, along with our friends Eric, Liz and Don, went to Nepal for a weeklong trek in the Himalayas. We stopped in Kathmandu on the way there. It is a vibrant and easy city, located in a broad valley south of the mountains. Here is a view of the hazy valley from the surrounding hills.

Although Nepal is primarily Hindu today, it was the birthplace of the Buddha, and many temples and much Buddhist iconography can be found. We hiked up a steep hill to this magnificent Stupa.

Here's a river that meandered through the eastern part of the city, it was the most plastic choked waterway I've ever seen.

And here is a busy streetscape in Kathmandu - cycle rickshaws, advertisements, and the bustle of life.

in the monsoon

I arrived right at the onset of monsoon this year. The difference between now and when I left in May is astounding. When I left, everything was dry and burnt over. Now, it rains regularly. The landscape looks lush, and a think, earthy smell roams the streets. I love it.

These are pictures of an afternoon downpour from our front porch. I love the view and all the green I can see from the front.

Welcome back!

A few weekends ago, I joined a short morning trip to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President's home. When Britain moved the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, Edward Luytens was commissioned to design the building. Of course, after independence, it transferred to the new Indian government, and has housed the President (not to be confused with the Prime Minister, who is the head of government here) ever since.

Reach Out

School year is starting to feel close to finishing. Here are a few shots from the last Reach Out sessions we did this year. Across the street from our school is a small informal housing settlement with thousands of people living there. For Wednesdays from October to April, a group of our students invited 20 students from the settlement onto our campus for games, activities, and brief lessons. It was always tons of fun and great cultural interaction. We trick-or-treated, made Christmas rangolis (rice designs), played basketball, danced the Macarena, and many more fun activities. Here are some of our friends from across the street.

Parents visit, cont.

We had a typical ex-pat Sunday, spent at the softball game (go teacher team!) followed by post-game brunch. Here we are at the American club with the guys, and my friend's family who was also visiting from the States.

We moved on to visit Old Delhi. Here is the Red Fort.

Followed by a stroll through the bazaars. The markets were mostly closed up on Sunday, but we still got a feel for the bustle that usually takes place.

And my parents visited the Ghandi Museum, where they saw this inspiring quote.

Whats new in Delhi in 2012? First of all, meet Sneaker! Sneaker lived outside the gym at my school, and was kicked off campus for infiltrating the gym building and offices too frequently. Luckily I was there to scoop him up, and we have been two peas in a pod since. He is really friendly, and will Skype with you any tim

This is pretty much how we roll:

My parents came to India. We had lots of fun, and learned a lot too. We took a private yoga lesson from one of my co-worker's yoga teachers.

Then we headed off for lunch, followed by a stop at the Qutub Minr. It is a really old minaret, constructed in 1193. Here's my dad and I in front of it.

And here is us with our dutiful driver, Mr. Singh, after a long day of sight-seeing. More pictures to come.

Amritsar

Catching up! In November, my friend Kelly visited from the States. We traveled up to Amritsar, the capital of the Indian Punjab region. This is the holiest city for the Sikh people. The main site here is the Golden Temple. We had a free lunch inside (provided by the temple, where members of the faith provide service.

And here is the temple itself. Very cool.