‘Sunset Point’, India, Rajasthan, Mt. Abu, Sunset Point
The highland area of Mt. Abu is like a station in the sky. The highland area climbs high above the flat Rajasthani desert. The change in altitude fosters the growth of vegetation not found in most of Rajasthan. It’s a cool relief from the desert and a place where the wealthy escape the heat. This photo was taken at Sunset Point, Mt. Abu overlooking the Rajasthan landscape. Share → Tweet
‘Future Snake Charmer’, India, Rajasthan Jaisalmer
The kids in India are some of the most friendly people you’ll ever encounter. They’re curious about you: why you’re here, what stories you might have. And most really want to have their picture taken. When you come from impoverished backgrounds, you learn how to transact business quickly. Most of these kids are forced to support their parents, or make a living on their own at a very young age. I often wonder if it gives these kids a competitive advantage over kids from a wealthier upbringing. Yes, kids from more... Read The Rest →
‘Pilgrimage’, India, Rajasthan, Ajmer
I was reading about the town where Bin Laden had been hiding in Pakistan. Abbottabad is an affluent town of 81,000 people in a District variously described as having more than 500,000 people or 881,000 people. It’s crazy to think how many people are out there in the world. Every town I’d drive through in India was usually 1M+ people. I hadn’t even heard of 90% of the towns in Rajasthan (not far from Abbottabad Pakistan) and most of them are larger than the top 10 populated cities in America. The photo above... Read The Rest →
‘My Indian Friends’, India, Rajasthan, Mt. Abu
The people in India are exceptionally friendly. In fact, their approach to strangers in life is very different than that of western culture. Privacy is not very common throughout India. One reason is the sheer number of people occupying the urban areas of India; another is their way of life. People, whether they are complete strangers or not, are always welcome into one’s home in India. A cup of tea is in a stranger’s home is often a chance to escape the heat or simply converse over life. Holding hands with your... Read The Rest →
‘The Indian Violin’, India, Udaipur
This man is a Sikh. The Sikhs make up a large portion of India’s religious population. Most Sikhs come from the northern region of Punjab but like this man they can be found all over India. They’re particularly noted for their colorful turbans. Their colorful attire is often accompanied by a colorful personality. Not many approach you to talk but if you’re lucky enough to spark up a conversation with a Sikh, they are extremely warm and friendly. This man is a traditional Indian violinist. The Indian violin is an adaptation... Read The Rest →
‘Quite a View’, India, Mt. Abu, Sunset Point
Rajasthan is dry and hot. The one respite from the heat and desert is the only hill station in the area called Mt. Abu. After driving 6 hours from the desert of Jaisalmer, you soon come to what looks like a mirage on the horizon. The highland area of Mt. Abu is like a station in the sky. The elite and wealthy people of Rajasthan all call Mt. Abu their summer home. Cool and misty, this place is a gem in the sky. While there, I noticed many signs for... Read The Rest →
‘Hard Workers’, India, Jodhpur, Countryside
There’s no doubt Indians are hard working. Many people make a living from the crafts they create. On the left is a clay pot maker. I remember in art school making clay pots. My two week ordeal was messy and the final result was always ‘interesting’. The man here could make a beautiful clay pot in 5 minutes. I was amazed. The process in itself is a show I would pay money to see. Perfectly balancing a large circle shaped piece of wood, the potmaker would wind up the large piece of... Read The Rest →
‘Home before dark’, India, Jaisalmer
It amazes me how much of a social hierarchy exists in India. It’s a hierarchy that is not predicated on how much money is in your pocket or the amount of education you have gone through. Rather, it’s a social system that has existed for centuries in India and appears to me and countless others to be outdated and a hindrance to everyone here. The caste system is widely associated with Hinduism but is also found in the Muslim and even Christian populations here. The hierarchy has mostly broken down in the urban areas of... Read The Rest →
‘Cooling Down’, India, Jaisalmer, Desert
The desert temperature as the sun sets behind the horizon is just about perfect. I slept on a thick blanket that night with nothing but a fresh desert breeze between myself and the stars. I was worried about being too hot or too cold but my guides assured me it wouldn’t be a problem. That night, a Danish family, two French girls and I slept on the highest sand dune beneath the starlit sky listening to Isaac and Punjab sing the songs that their desert -roaming, gypsy families have sung for ages. It... Read The Rest →
‘Stopping for the Night’, India, Jaisalmer, Desert
Our caravan stopped for the night in between two high sand dune ridges. Lighting a fire in the desert wind can be tricky. Our guides knew exactly what they were doing so it wasn’t a problem. They cooked us a nice meal but it consisted of chapati bread as the main part of the meal. Chapati bread is flat, tasteless bread that comes with EVERY Indian meal in Rajasthan. I really enjoy Indian food and all the different spices they use but I don’t think i’ll eat Indian chapati for... Read The Rest →