Category Archives: India

DAILY PHOTO: Getting One’s Symbols Crossed

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Taken on July 7, 2014 in Kochi (Cochin.)

Taken on July 7, 2014 in Kochi (Cochin.)

Centuries before the Nazis hijacked the swastik “twisted cross” emblem, it was part of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist iconography. Throughout South Asia, the symbol generally expresses a wish for well-being (the word “swastik” literally means “well-being” in Sanskrit.) Of course, there are specific religious meanings that vary with the belief system that is utilizing the symbol.

One has to remember this when one is in a Jewish neighborhood in South Asia–such as this one in Kochi–because, otherwise, the prominent swastikas can be disconcerting given the Nazi’s inexplicable expropriation of this symbol.

DAILY PHOTO: Flamingo Flower and Lady’s Eardrops

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Taken on July 6, 2014 in Munnar.

Taken on July 6, 2014 in Munnar.

Taken on July 6, 2014 in Munnar.

Taken on July 6, 2014 in Munnar.

DAILY PHOTO: Down to the River

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Taken on July 12, 2014 in South Karnataka.

Taken on July 12, 2014 in South Karnataka.

IMG_1241This is a popular riverine hot-spot in South Karnataka.

 

DAILY PHOTO: Bharachukki Falls

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Taken July 12, 2014 in Chamarajanagara District of Karnataka State in India.

Taken July 12, 2014 in Chamarajanagara District of Karnataka State in India.

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The falls were thin, but flowing, in South Karnataka yesterday.  Here are a couple of photos of the Bharachukki Falls in Chamarajanagara District.

DAILY PHOTO: Undercrewed Snakeboat

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Taken on July 4, 2014 in Kerala.

Taken on July 4, 2014 in Kerala.

Snakeboats are long, wooden canoes commonly seen in the Keralan backwaters. They race with crews of around 100–two wide and scrunched into tight rows.

DAILY PHOTO: Ship Passing Chinese Fishing Nets

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Taken on July 7, 2014 in Kochi

Taken on July 7, 2014 in Kochi

At the harbor at Fort Kochi, where ships enter the Arabian Sea, there are old Chinese Fishing Nets lining the coast. The nets don’t yield many fish in this area, but exist more as a tourist attraction. The fixed, lever-lowered nets were actually introduced by the Portuguese–albeit Portuguese who had spent time in southern China (i.e. Macau.)

The port at Kochi (Cochin) is one of India’s major transportation hubs (11th largest by tonnage and 8th largest by number of containers.) In addition to modern products, the port still handles a lot of the spice that made Kochi an important center of trade since ancient times.

The channel has to be dredged to keep a clear path for the large number of ships transiting in and out of port.

DAILY PHOTO: Munnar Tea Plantation

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Taken July 6, 2014 near Munnar.

Taken July 6, 2014 near Munnar.

Munnar is a hill station in Kerala, not too far from its border with Tamil Nadu and an easy drive from Kochi (Cochin.) This is tea country. The land is mostly government owned but the tea plants–like most of India–are owned by the Tata Corporation.

DAILY PHOTO: Scene from the Keralan Backwaters

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Taken on July 4, 2014 in Kerala.

Taken on July 4, 2014 in Kerala.

My apologies for not posting in several days, I’ve been out getting some new photos from new places. Specifically, I’ve been in Kerala. Here is the first of several DAILY PHOTOs from Kerala. This one was taken from a houseboat on the Backwaters.

DAILY PHOTO: Sampige Road

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Taken on June 28, 2014 in Bangalore.

Taken on June 28, 2014 in Bangalore.

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A couple of photos taken on Sampige Road in the Malleswaram neighborhood of Bangalore.

DAILY PHOTO: Festive Truck

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Taken on June 28, 2014 at Matri Square in Malleswaram.

Taken on June 28, 2014 at Mantri Square in Malleswaram.

We happened upon a little parade today in Malleswaram. This was the main float. I’m not sure whether this was associated with Rath Yatra, the Festival of Chariots, which is actually tomorrow or if it was something completely secular.