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!