Taken in March of 2014 at Bylakuppe.
The large photo is of Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the 11th head of the Palyul Nyingma Buddhist tradition. He passed away (achieving Parinirvana in the lingo of Buddhism) in March of 2009. At the end of July of 2014, the new Rinpoche will be enthroned.
Taken on March 30, 2014 in Coorg
These hills are in the Western Ghat range in Southern India. We trekked to one of the ridges near Madikeri while we were in Coorg.
Taken March 30, 2014 in Madikeri.
This 17th century fort was built by the Mudduraja, and subsequently controlled by Tipu Sultan, Doddavira Rajendra, the British, and the Wodeyars.
Taken March 29, 2014 at Namdroling Monastery.
Check out the mustache and dual goatee. This Snow Lion temple guardian is located on the steps of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara at Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe, India. Fun fact: Some believe that the milk of a snow lion can restore health to an ailing body… but not the body of the person trying to milk a snow lion.
Taken March of 2014 in Bangalore.
This is located behind V.B. Bakery on Food Street in Visveswarapuram, Bangalore.
Taken March 30, 2014 in Coorg.
I tried to look up what this plant was called, but had no luck–despite its distinctive shape. We saw it in the Coorgi rainforest. As you can see it looks like a blueberry attached to a five-petaled orange flower.
Taken one March 29, 2014 at Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe.
Taken on March 30, 2014 near Madikeri.
This tree near Madikeri in Coorg is believed to have sprouted in 1190. That means it was living when:
-Jerusalem was recaptured during the 3rd Crusade.
-Genghis Khan came to power.
-the Magna Carta was issued.
-the Aztecs built Tenochtitlan.
-the first Black Plague struck.
I could go on and on, but you get my drift.
[Please note: Correlation does not equal causation. I’m not implying that the afore-pictured tree had anything to do with any of the aforementioned events.]
Taken March 29, 2014 at Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe.
Doors stir the curiosity. One wonders what’s on the other side–particularly when the door is as pimped out as this one. This isn’t even the main door. It’s a side door, hidden by vegetation and easily missed.
Taken on March 29, 2014 near Madikeri
This was taken at the Golden Mist coffee and tea plantation near Madikeri in Coorg. There are two kinds of coffee, arabica and robusta. Arabica is the tastier variety, and the arabica tree requires more shade. Robusta is hardier, but is rarely consumed without being blended with arabica–unless one wants chest-hairs to grow on one’s chest hair. So wherein most agricultural pursuits eschew competing plants, coffee plantations need shade.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 