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27.4.05

photos from the holy festival in india 

here are a couple of pics of the group and i during holy festival, during which everyone covers each other in color of all sorts. no one can escape!







20.4.05

the infamous hills 

i have just returned from an incredible journey in the foothills of the himalayas, in the vecinity of darjeeling (north eastern india bordering nepal and tibet). this 6 day or so trek was a real test on the body but was really worth it, staying in little remote villages or trekker huts, away from electricity, road access, the lot. we (i and my trekker buddy extraordinaire) trekked from west bengal into sikkim, through all sorts of lanscapes (near tundra to lush tropical), and fields of peas, corn, potatoes and even cardamon (my personal fave)!
it is hard to recount such a trip so far... perhaps pictures would be better. i am mentally preparing for the 2-day trip back to delhi. what an inspiring trip this has been...

somewhere between sandakphu and phalut (along india/nepal border):



met trekking buddy:


6.4.05

varanasi 

i have been in the holy city of varanasi for two days. at sunrise, i took a boat ride on the gange and watched people taking their ritual baths before praying and a few bodies being cremated. the backdrop of the old city with the light of the sunrise was spectaculor. the boat is also peaceful as it is far away from the usual tourist annoyances... chai? lady come here. what is your country? etc... i'm not doing much here, walking around, sitting, having tea. slowly recovering from a few body illnesses... still got an eye patch - which makes me look like a freaky pirate - or 'green mumba'...
btw - the pictures below are from my stay in kachchh, from when the girls decided to dress me up in traditional dress... much fun.