Taken October 13, 2013 in Agra, India.
My last Daily Photo for 10-days. I tried to make it a good one.
DAILY PHOTO: Taj Mahal
3
Tag Archives: travel
DAILY PHOTO: Jama Masjid
Taken October 14, 2013 in Old Delhi.
This is India’s largest mosque. It is capable of holding 25,000 worshipers–mostly in that open courtyard that can apparently be covered as needed.) It dates back to the rule of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan–who you may know of from his requisitioning of the Taj Mahal.
It’s located in Old Delhi and is usually matched with trips to the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk (a huge bazaar street), which are both nearby.
It’s mostly Red sandstone with white marble, as was common of Shah Jahan’s other monumental structures.
[I realize it’s a cheat that I’ve posted two “Daily Photos” in a couple of hours of one another, but it’s a new day in the States–and I’ve got a ton of photos from my recent trip.]
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Tower at Fort Agra
Taken October 12, 2013 in Agra.
I just returned from a week-long trip to Agra and Delhi. (Hence my lack of posts of late.) The Taj Mahal dominates Agra’s tourist scene–and for good reason–but Agra Fort is an impressive site in its own right. Agra Fort is considerably more impressive than Delhi’s Red Fort, which I toured on the same trip. The fort offers some unique shots of the Taj Mahal from across the Jamuna River, but also has both marble and red sandstone buildings that have been impressively and meticulously maintained and restored.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Another Bangalore Street Scene
Taken October 8, 2013
This will be my last daily post for a few days. I’ll be traveling to Delhi and Agra and will have lots of new pics in about a week. This pic was taken in the area near Commercial street.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Wistful Monkey in the Mist
Taken September 2013 at Nandi Hills, India
Sometimes, you just wonder what a monkey is thinking.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: The Fried Wontons of Green Onion
Taken October 9, 2013
I’m a hole-in-the-wall kind of guy. I like good food wherever I find it, but I find it particularly pleasurable at tucked away little places.
This week I ate at Citrus in Leela Palace. It’s one of the swankiest places in Bangalore. The food was excellent, but, of course, you know it’s going to be excellent. It’s expensive and has a French sommelier on staff. There’s great food, but no surprises.
Green Onion is a little first floor (second floor to Americans) Chinese place on a short side-street off of MG Road. I’ve been there twice, and it’s been almost full both times. It’s good food at a reasonable price. Today, I had the above fried wontons along with kung pao chicken (which I order as much because it’s fun to say as because it’s delectable.) As can be said of most any Chinese place in Bangalore, it’s Indo-Chinese. That is to say, dishes don’t taste like they would in Beijing. That doesn’t make them bad, just different.
I don’t know if it’s cultural bias or not, but I think good Chinese food in America mirrors Chinese food in China more closely than does good Chinese in India. (Of course, bad Chinese food abounds in the U.S. and probably outnumbers good Chinese restaurants.) It may be because American food doesn’t have the extensive and potent flavor palette Indian food does, or because the China and India have shared a border for long enough to have developed a third entity cuisine over time in the manner that Tex-Mex food is distinct from Mexican. All this being said, it’s still tasty, just not in the same way Chinese food in China is.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Cow Waiting for the Light to Turn
Taken October 8, 2013 in Bangalore.
I just missed the perfect picture of this cow using its hoof to push the button for the pedestrian crosswalk light. I’m kidding of course, Bangalore doesn’t have functioning buttons for the pedestrian crosswalks and the cows damn sure know it.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: M-3 Tank
Taken in September of 2013
This M-3 tank is on display at the base of the Madras Sappers. It’s one of the military units housed in Bangalore. Madras is also called Chennai, and is a town in south India on the east coast. It’s about due east of Bangalore. Sappers are military engineers who deal with mines.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Herbs & Spices
Taken in September 2013 in KR Market.
An overhead shot of a spice vendor’s goods at the City Market in Bangalore.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
DAILY PHOTO: Colorful Kolam
Taken on October 5, 2013 on 80 Feet Rd in Bangalore
Kolam are chalk or (traditionally) rice powder drawings that one finds in front of entryways throughout much of South India. The practice has even carried over to other countries in the South Asia displaying Indian influence such as Thailand and Malaysia. Their drawing is traditionally practiced by Hindu women each day to bring prosperity to the household. Although this one was in front of a business as is also common these days. Some are much smaller and less elaborate than this one. However, some are even more elaborate and perfectly formed. They only last a day, and are traditionally washed away at the end of one day so that a new one can be drawn to start the new day.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 