tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56242620350758638152024-03-13T08:03:59.936-07:00Traveling with ScissorsA professional seamstress out to see the world, but cant manage to leave her scissors behind. The urge to create, cut and sew even in the farthest corners of the earth, will lead to some interesting stories.catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-24783207075060241892010-10-17T04:00:00.000-07:002010-10-23T09:06:50.293-07:00FireboyI've been living in Paharganj New Delhi for over a month now. Its the center Of Delhi and the hub for tourists, plenty of Hotels, bars, restaurants and shops for the foreign traveler, its also where a lot of the disfigured beggars and street kids congregate to beg for money from the western tourist with a bleeding heart and a sense of humanity. These guys are pro's they know how to break the hearts and open the western wallet. That's how they get by from day to day. <br /><br />I met a few of these kids while sitting in a cafe, I had more than enough food on my plate and couldn't eat it all. So when I saw those hungry eyes I couldn't just shoo him away. I asked the waiter to make my meal take away, when the food was brought out the child sat down in the street and started eating so robustly I couldn't imagine when was the last time he had a full meal.<br /><br />Of course news spread fast and I had a few more who came up asking for chapati's, well most tourist's just give them 10 rupees and leave it at that. I knew these kids were hungry so I said wait, let me take you for a meal. The cafe I was in catered to western tourists, thus being more expensive. They needed a full meal that they could enjoy and would give them some nourishment. So for less than $1.00 each, I started feeding these kids. some days they would find me and some days they didn't. I refused any of the kids who were high or sniffing glue, and that has been my stance I will feed them but not if they are high.<br /><br />And then I met Suresh, they call him fireboy. The first time I saw him I was surrounded by a bunch of street kids and we were laughing about some joke when I looked up and there he was, filthy, and badly burned. He showed me his hand and his fingers looked like charcoal. I called my Doctor friend and told him about the boy, he told me what to buy at the pharmacy, and that he would be in Parahganj shortly, to wait for him.<br /><br />I bought some gauze and ointment for burns but I had no idea how bad fireboy was. When I noticed that the dirty rag around his head had fallen slightly back I saw more burns, I asked if I could see them. He removed the rag and I have to say not much shocks me but this was bad. The boy had no ear, it had been burned away. Only a hole left where the ear used to be and bad burns that were reeked of infection.<br /><br />When Doctor came he saw him and said we need to get you to hospital, the boy was scared and didn't want to go. It took me three more days before I got him into a burn clinic.The second day I bandaged him myself with many onlookers, even a young doctor, who turned away when he saw how bad his ear was. But I had to get this kids confidence, and I had to show him love and caring and that he was human no matter what. The story behind the burns remains vague, I have heard three different versions. But whatever the truth is, the boy needs help. <br /><br />He has an heroin addiction, along with whatever drugs he can find. He lives on the street and because he is an addict people take advantage of him. After I got him to a hospital we got him medicine I gave it all to him, big mistake. Within 3 hours it was all gone he said it was stolen , or maybe he sold it. But he was crying and when I asked the other boys what happened they said he was hit by a Sikh man. The next day I asked the boys to tell a friend of mine who is local to the hood who this Sikh was. It turns out he is a drunken cop. Wow so not only do I have drug addiction to deal with I have the cops.<br /><br /><br />But there is a lot of good that has come out of this, because of my compassion for these street kids the Doctor who has a NGO is going to open a center and a mobile clinic for them. He has given this to me as my project I have 8 social workers who report progress back to me. The center will take some time to get set up as will the mobile medical clinic but its a start. I got these social workers out there every day making contact and getting to know these kids. <br /><br />Posted below I have pictures of Suresh aka Fireboy. Be aware they are not for the faint at heart. But notice how he is smiling after his return from the hospital. He was told that if he went with us we would throw him in jail, was happy he was back and looked after. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDqEV5L7I/AAAAAAAAAzA/G0ckFDCoWuE/s1600/IMG_7976.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDqEV5L7I/AAAAAAAAAzA/G0ckFDCoWuE/s400/IMG_7976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531268788596060082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDp6bUVsI/AAAAAAAAAy4/GC0KjNjGAjg/s1600/IMG_7977.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDp6bUVsI/AAAAAAAAAy4/GC0KjNjGAjg/s400/IMG_7977.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531268785934456514" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpnGWf8I/AAAAAAAAAyw/GfU0AZu1I14/s1600/IMG_7981.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpnGWf8I/AAAAAAAAAyw/GfU0AZu1I14/s400/IMG_7981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531268780746244034" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpWR1HeI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Y_7T1Z7vuHI/s1600/IMG_7987.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpWR1HeI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Y_7T1Z7vuHI/s400/IMG_7987.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531268776230985186" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpOJC34I/AAAAAAAAAyg/e2qVUAldMVM/s1600/IMG_7989.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TMMDpOJC34I/AAAAAAAAAyg/e2qVUAldMVM/s400/IMG_7989.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531268774046654338" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-8768964929855192852010-10-03T23:15:00.000-07:002010-10-03T23:26:34.467-07:00On the road to LadakhA dear friend of mine Karten Wong sent me this video he made. Way 2 Ladakh. he's also a talented DJ so the music is his mix. Just looking at those mountains makes me miss Leh and Ladakh even more. So please sit back and enjoy!<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_96L4Q1I7k?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_96L4Q1I7k?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-64020771361355531512010-10-02T09:53:00.000-07:002010-10-02T11:29:23.200-07:00Saturday Cricket Streets of DelhiI know I have some posts that I have to do of my time at the Taj Majal and Varanasi but today was Mahatma Gandhi's 141st birthday, lol he's no longer alive but it's still a holiday in India. Thus making it a DRY day no alchohol to be sold.<br /><br />So after lunch I went back to my hotel only to find some friends playing cricket in the street. It reminded me of the movie Wayne's world they kept moving the wicket (which was a plastic chair) for the cars to pass by. I don't know a thing about cricket even though many an Indian and even Aussie have tried to explain the game to me. However just seeing grown men in the heart of Delhi playing cricket on a Saturday afternoon brought me to bring my camera out. Here are some of the pics nice street scenes I think!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5MbweRkI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Q0j1TiBggTw/s1600/IMG_7516.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5MbweRkI/AAAAAAAAAyU/Q0j1TiBggTw/s400/IMG_7516.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523516722509661762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5MLobj3I/AAAAAAAAAyM/EEaEmXQKeyo/s1600/IMG_7525.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 343px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5MLobj3I/AAAAAAAAAyM/EEaEmXQKeyo/s400/IMG_7525.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523516718180962162" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5L_PWknI/AAAAAAAAAyE/GGVihuLYhSw/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 367px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd5L_PWknI/AAAAAAAAAyE/GGVihuLYhSw/s400/IMG_7528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523516714854552178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3sOCA2rI/AAAAAAAAAx8/fh5gSzv6IIg/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3sOCA2rI/AAAAAAAAAx8/fh5gSzv6IIg/s400/IMG_7535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523515069557693106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3r4V-SnI/AAAAAAAAAx0/QeJp0GOraMA/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3r4V-SnI/AAAAAAAAAx0/QeJp0GOraMA/s400/IMG_7537.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523515063735831154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3r6FJBOI/AAAAAAAAAxs/C5z_1lTSxh8/s1600/IMG_7545.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3r6FJBOI/AAAAAAAAAxs/C5z_1lTSxh8/s400/IMG_7545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523515064202101986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3rvTb5FI/AAAAAAAAAxk/shEHBmcA48Q/s1600/IMG_7547.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd3rvTb5FI/AAAAAAAAAxk/shEHBmcA48Q/s400/IMG_7547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523515061309269074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd228COOqI/AAAAAAAAAxc/hAz2lMUFpZo/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd228COOqI/AAAAAAAAAxc/hAz2lMUFpZo/s400/IMG_7549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523514154193664674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd22vJHLoI/AAAAAAAAAxM/ha6Xy_VxMzI/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd22vJHLoI/AAAAAAAAAxM/ha6Xy_VxMzI/s400/IMG_7567.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523514150732902018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd22cNgPeI/AAAAAAAAAxE/xvVfMnlFkFU/s1600/IMG_7583.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd22cNgPeI/AAAAAAAAAxE/xvVfMnlFkFU/s400/IMG_7583.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523514145651047906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0fChuFNI/AAAAAAAAAw8/zSvK3SIf3CQ/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0fChuFNI/AAAAAAAAAw8/zSvK3SIf3CQ/s400/IMG_7570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523511544596272338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0fPUTehI/AAAAAAAAAw0/BAsb9i-Zvwc/s1600/IMG_7579.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0fPUTehI/AAAAAAAAAw0/BAsb9i-Zvwc/s400/IMG_7579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523511548029663762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0ezG9q_I/AAAAAAAAAws/F22UevUdOGk/s1600/IMG_7571.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKd0ezG9q_I/AAAAAAAAAws/F22UevUdOGk/s400/IMG_7571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523511540457516018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdzt1chmdI/AAAAAAAAAwk/IzOP_rCt__s/s1600/IMG_7582.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdzt1chmdI/AAAAAAAAAwk/IzOP_rCt__s/s400/IMG_7582.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523510699271231954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdztujLlqI/AAAAAAAAAwc/071lDfLZRBc/s1600/IMG_7601.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdztujLlqI/AAAAAAAAAwc/071lDfLZRBc/s400/IMG_7601.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523510697420101282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdy2VTCziI/AAAAAAAAAwE/gv9gyr3_MmU/s1600/IMG_7587.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdy2VTCziI/AAAAAAAAAwE/gv9gyr3_MmU/s400/IMG_7587.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523509745748725282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1uF_2iI/AAAAAAAAAv8/9thpmeh_j8U/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1uF_2iI/AAAAAAAAAv8/9thpmeh_j8U/s400/IMG_7618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500939132000802" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1sSfCdI/AAAAAAAAAv0/kvukVjEAbeQ/s1600/IMG_7605.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1sSfCdI/AAAAAAAAAv0/kvukVjEAbeQ/s400/IMG_7605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500938647505362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1Hhhe_I/AAAAAAAAAvs/6fKOoETPwbQ/s1600/IMG_7624.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq1Hhhe_I/AAAAAAAAAvs/6fKOoETPwbQ/s400/IMG_7624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500928778468338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq0lEpJqI/AAAAAAAAAvk/_gbB7OR25i8/s1600/IMG_7608.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq0lEpJqI/AAAAAAAAAvk/_gbB7OR25i8/s400/IMG_7608.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500919530530466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq0VJxNgI/AAAAAAAAAvc/Av4jII4I6z0/s1600/IMG_7626.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdq0VJxNgI/AAAAAAAAAvc/Av4jII4I6z0/s400/IMG_7626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500915257062914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnztTMwJI/AAAAAAAAAvU/Dg5X-DWpNL0/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnztTMwJI/AAAAAAAAAvU/Dg5X-DWpNL0/s400/IMG_7640.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497606024315026" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzSGBhhI/AAAAAAAAAvM/y9KMcB-LCx0/s1600/IMG_7646.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzSGBhhI/AAAAAAAAAvM/y9KMcB-LCx0/s400/IMG_7646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497598721295890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzD5hnBI/AAAAAAAAAvE/imwTgmCh3lI/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzD5hnBI/AAAAAAAAAvE/imwTgmCh3lI/s400/IMG_7658.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497594910776338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzCvufNI/AAAAAAAAAu8/xmZb4cFr2E8/s1600/IMG_7663.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdnzCvufNI/AAAAAAAAAu8/xmZb4cFr2E8/s400/IMG_7663.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497594601241810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdny2qiy8I/AAAAAAAAAu0/_E9zHtjwLBA/s1600/IMG_7673.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TKdny2qiy8I/AAAAAAAAAu0/_E9zHtjwLBA/s400/IMG_7673.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497591358278594" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-10228008011434792442010-09-14T05:03:00.000-07:002010-09-14T05:05:34.103-07:00DelhiI arrived a few days ago and got my mobile internet back, I need to get my camera lens fixed before I can start taking pics again but here is a Delhi update anyways.<br /><br />So last night I hooked up with some friends in South Delhi. It was an outdoor mall with bars and restaurants, not unlike something you would see in the west. But not exactly either. But what blew me away was everything closes at 12 am wow thats early, I managed to stay up partying till 3:00 In Leh which is a small village not the capital city. So Thursday we are going to a club those are open till 2 i think.<br /><br />Today i went across town to a shop I have been told can fix my camera but when I talked to him he said the Tamron lens I have has this particualr problem and the part can't be bought. So now I have to buy a new lens he has the same tamron or for a bit more I can buy the sigma or for more than double i can buy the canon 18-200is which is a better lens. I sent an email to an Indian photographer friend to see what he says about it and the prices so i will see, its an uexpected expense but I was thinking of getting a better one when I got back for xmas anyways.<br /><br />So after the disappointment at the camera store I wandered and i wandered, getting myself lost in old delhi bizarre. When I was sufficiently tired out and sweating, i tried to grab a rikshaw but there weren't many I asked a few and they all declined to take me where I was going. So I kept walking and finally came upon two riks sitting there next to a bicycle rikshaw I asked but they didnt want to go, so the bicycle rikshaw says he will take me. I'm thinking this guy is nuts or he doenst understand where it is I want to go. so I jump on and this poor guy pedals me around Delhi. I felt so guilty, and terrified, being in a auto rikshaw is one thing but this bike was exposed to all the traffic around you and there was plenty of it. Right in front of us a scooter a bicyle rikshaw and an ox pulling a cart collided and had to get unstuck from each other. Lol that was kinda funny.<br /><br />But the saddest thing i saw was a man lying in the middle of the street naked except a lungi (loin cloth) He was deathly thin you could see all his bones. And he was just wriggling there in the midde of the road. Thats not what you see when you look at the brochures or the Incredible India tourism commercials that you see on CNN. It left me gutted, as a matter of fact I'm still seeing him, I swear I thought he was dying. I wanted to stop but there was so much traffic we couldn't.<br /><br />I don't think honestly he was dying, I think its his way of begging, or have I become so... I don't know what the word is, but there are many emotions running through me.catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-26296601349622976642010-08-08T01:37:00.000-07:002010-08-09T01:45:37.446-07:00Cloud Burst and Flash Floods LehAugust 5 2010<br /><br />I don’t want to scare anybody who reads this especially my momo and dad, but I just experienced the most frightening thing in my life, as I sit back and write this I’m realizing how scary it actually was. For those of you have never been in a flash flood, caused by a cloud burst, as I haven’t been before you cant imagine the devastation I saw around me.<br /><br />Its been raining hard at night for the past 2 nights, and tonight the rain came hard early on then slowed down to a drizzle. I was out with a friend of mine and we decided to go home early. It was 11:30 pm I had just arrived at my guest house gate when a guy I sort of know pulled up and started to talk to me. We sat there chatting for a bit the rain had stopped completely at this point. When all of a sudden a terrified Australian/Indian shows up and asks for help. His flashlight had died and he said he had terrible night vision and also gotten a scare from the stray dogs that roam the streets. He asked this guy for a ride to his guest house, when they started to pull away I noticed that the driver was really to drunk to drive as he hit a curb. So I offered to drive the Aussie home. This was to be my first time driving on the left side of the road, but since its night and very little traffic and I wasn’t drunk I thought it would be ok. So I drive through Leh to the guesthouse and drop off the Aussie, at this point we are at the bottom of town and the guy asks me to drive to the gas station to get gas I look and he is on empty. I figure what the heck get some practice in on driving on the left.<br /><br />We arrive at the gas station and its closed but we both know that there is another one 8 km out of town, that should be open, so I go for it. As I start to drive its starts to rain a little again. By the time we get to the pump its pouring. The guy gets out to get the attendant who is huddled in his little station, he comes back and we wait. The rain comes down even more, and the attendant hasn’t come out. We figure he doesn’t want to get wet, after 15 minutes of waiting I decide to drive back to Leh to go home. By this time the road has turned into a river in parts but its still drivable in second gear.<br /><br />I'm slowly driving back to Leh, at this point I haven't seen any other cars. When all of a sudden we come to a part in the road that has been badly washed away and debris is all over it. I stop to look and see that what I’m looking at used to be mud brick walls and and houses in my path. On the other side of this new raging river are a bunch of cars trying to get through. I tell the guy to drive since I don’t want to damage his car, I figure he cant drive fast so its ok. Well we go through that river but come right into another one with debris everywhere. Its not passable and other cars are all sitting there, we asked a few people what it was like further up the road and they say its not passable. So this guy turns around and we go back over the debris and then we here the thump thump thump of the flat front tire.<br /><br />I think about my options sitting there in the pouring rain waiting for it to stop and then putting on the spare. But still not being able to pass or I leave the guy and try to find somebody on the other side of the flood that was going back to Leh. I figured I could walk the 3 kms that I had left, since cars couldn’t get over the debris I would be stuck out there all night. I leave this guy, who happens to be a jerk and start walking back. Its raining but not to hard. <br /><br />I've been walking a few minutes when it comes back full force I seek shelter with these people against a building they were on a bus that was going to Leh. I ask is it going to go after the rain stops nobody knows. When the rain lets up a bit I start walking again. I'm trudging through mud and water, being very careful with my steps, and then my cell phone battery dies and that was my only flashlight. I see a car full of people and ask if I can buy there flashlight. They give it to me and say they don’t want any money and wish me luck trying to get to Leh.<br /><br />I keep on going, the mud is high up to my calves in some parts and the water as well. I get to the roundabout at the bottom of town where the first gas station is and its like a different place from the hour and a half ago that I was there. Cars have collided into each other and cars and buses stuck in the mud, nothing is moving expect the water raging down the hill. And its starts to rain hard again. Three kashmiri muslim guys in a mini bus call to me to get in and say that I cant go up the hill cause its too dangerous. They are trying to get to the other side of Leh to save there family they tell me. so I ask them if they can drive me up but they seem to scared to go up the hill. I wait with them for awhile until the rain lets up once again.<br /><br />I see people outside and the other road up the hill doesn't look to bad now. So I get out to see if its passable. I come across four Ladakhi boys who are going to go for it and I jump in with them. Its pretty bad at parts but the people have started clearing the road of debris and we make it to the top of town. When we get to the old bizarre I cant believe my eyes, besides all the debris that has been washed into the street. There are two dogs in the street stuck together fucking. Now why would they do that? LOL! the Ladakhi boys drop me off at my guest and I am so glad that I am safe and that I didn’t have to sleep in a car full of people all night long. I knew if I hadn't attempted the walk I would still be out in the road cold and wet. But in hindsight it was a crazy thing to attempt. I looked at my watch when I got home it was 2:00 am.<br /><br />PRELUDE: August 6 2010<br /><br />The morning sky is bright but with some clouds, I take my time getting out of bed and slowly get dressed to go out for breakfast. Its not until I leave my guesthouse and go out into the street that I truly know how much devastation there was the night before.<br /><br />I notice the shops are all shuttered and I find that strange. I get to my local breakfast spot only to find them closed they tell me that they are shut for 2 days due to morning. I ask how bad it was last night and they tell me that many have died and that a mudslide has taken out homes and the bus station. I started looking around and I see people milling around nobody knowing where to go. The tourists looking for shops to buy something to eat or restaurants that may be open. The locals with a look of despair on their faces. At this point I knew it was bad.<br /><br />I find a friend who tells me about a restaurant that is open and I go there for some food not knowing if this will be my last meal for awhile. I try calling my friends here but the phone lines are down. <br /><br />After breakfast I walk down to the bus station, I don't go all the way down. There is a ridge that people have lined up to look down at the devastation. I can't believe my eyes. I have never in my life seen anything like this, only on the news. But to see it with your own eyes and to have lived through it puts it in another prospective. I couldn't hold back tears as many others around me couldn't either. How some people could takes pictures of it was beyond me. I have no pictures to show you all as I couldn't bring myself to take them.<br /><br />I decided that going down to help in the rescue effort would be to difficult for me and then I see my friends employees I ask about them and the restaurant they say that that everybody is ok but the restaurant got flooded and its full of mud. So I decide to go help clean up there instead. <br /><br />Evening comes and another menacing clouds lurks high above the beautiful town of Leh. Suddenly there is panic, somebody had screamed that the river was rising and that the water was coming. People start to run but don't know where to go. I run to my guesthouse which I believe is safe. Nothing happens but you can see in everybody's face they are scared. Some people even run to higher ground they run up to the hill where the palace sits. But that isn't even an option for me I have seen inside the palace and it doesn't need much for it to fall over so I decide to stay put at my guesthouse. I go to sleep fully dressed and with my bag ready in case of rapid escape. The night passes with only a little rain and I awake once again to another beautiful day in Leh.<br /><br />August 9th 2010<br /><br />There is still a lot of work to be done. A huge relief effort is on its way. I will be buying food, clothes and blankets for the needy. If anybody wants to help with a donation you can pay into my paypal account gabi@catfluff.com is the address.<br /><br />I'm also working with the locals to organize a concert for the flood victims. Today almost all is back to normal in the towns , but the statistics are heartbreaking. <br /><br />140 dead<br />500 still missing<br />1000 homes destroyed.<br /><br />Thankfully there are many western tourists here who are very organized and capable of helping.catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-30764175782181496622010-07-28T23:43:00.003-07:002010-07-29T03:17:40.696-07:00Diskit Nubra Valley Part 3I arrived in Diskit and since the driver didn't seem to be an official driver, I asked if he knew of a guesthouse we stopped at a few until I found a room. After taking a much needed shower I ventured out. Wow, talk about a one horse town! I walked around a bit and found the way to the monastery and the huge newly built 100 foot Buddha that the Dalai Lama was coming to inaugurate, the weather was changing and I didn't want to be caught up a mountain side in the rain so I found the only place in town that had food, as did every other foreigner.<br /><br />That evening I also found the only bar in town, it was an open garden, Sangam hotel bar and restaurant, connected to the Sangam restaurant in town that was the only one to have food earlier, and not good food by any means. The bar was filled with local men that almost fell over when I sat down and pulled out my computer. However all they had to drink was Godfather beer, yuck too strong and sweet, or rum with water. So I had the beer, the next night I would come prepared and bring my own coke for the rum. Indian rum isn't bad and when you can't find red wine its a good alternative.<br /><br />The following day I wanted to see the Monastery and Buddha and the sand dunes and take a look at the camels. I hired a driver to take me around, and we went to the monastery first and the giant Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFRe4cfvII/AAAAAAAAAtU/VCja6SkGrh4/s1600/IMG_5594.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFRe4cfvII/AAAAAAAAAtU/VCja6SkGrh4/s400/IMG_5594.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499266210985917570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFReR3dNWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/hPBgSkW4CIg/s1600/IMG_5596.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFReR3dNWI/AAAAAAAAAtM/hPBgSkW4CIg/s400/IMG_5596.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499266200630015330" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFRdhRrvFI/AAAAAAAAAtE/547Kubg2C5A/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFRdhRrvFI/AAAAAAAAAtE/547Kubg2C5A/s400/IMG_5603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499266187586681938" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ1UpbmlI/AAAAAAAAAs8/J0X0ZcVHbbs/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ1UpbmlI/AAAAAAAAAs8/J0X0ZcVHbbs/s400/IMG_5606.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499265497001859666" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ0v4LleI/AAAAAAAAAs0/djvr09Mt-Q8/s1600/IMG_5625.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ0v4LleI/AAAAAAAAAs0/djvr09Mt-Q8/s400/IMG_5625.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499265487131612642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ0KX1EsI/AAAAAAAAAss/MTDkQtmmNUo/s1600/IMG_5618.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFQ0KX1EsI/AAAAAAAAAss/MTDkQtmmNUo/s400/IMG_5618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499265477063807682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPLM_rOUI/AAAAAAAAAsc/MoAmnU8ftwE/s1600/IMG_5619.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPLM_rOUI/AAAAAAAAAsc/MoAmnU8ftwE/s400/IMG_5619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499263673881540930" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKoNWkaI/AAAAAAAAAsU/wE3O2UCyQhI/s1600/IMG_5624.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKoNWkaI/AAAAAAAAAsU/wE3O2UCyQhI/s400/IMG_5624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499263664006795682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKT0YVNI/AAAAAAAAAsM/8tHMtUDKNaw/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKT0YVNI/AAAAAAAAAsM/8tHMtUDKNaw/s400/IMG_5645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499263658533344466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKA7K3SI/AAAAAAAAAsE/X7kwuNTWIpE/s1600/IMG_5590.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPKA7K3SI/AAAAAAAAAsE/X7kwuNTWIpE/s400/IMG_5590.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499263653461548322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPJ4KB8nI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tu-BWGcWLdA/s1600/IMG_5659.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFPJ4KB8nI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tu-BWGcWLdA/s400/IMG_5659.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499263651107959410" /></a><br /><br />After we headed to Hunder where the sand dunes are, however the road was under-construction so we got stopped for an hour, after awhile we decided I would go on walking ahead and he would pick me later. I came across family in a truck the man said they were all his children, if its true he sure was busy the truck was packed full of them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSb2zBHsI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ywP2BaA5Et4/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSb2zBHsI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ywP2BaA5Et4/s400/IMG_5672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499267258515529410" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSbTO_7VI/AAAAAAAAAt0/jNYJvzP8a0U/s1600/IMG_5674.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSbTO_7VI/AAAAAAAAAt0/jNYJvzP8a0U/s400/IMG_5674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499267248969215314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSbPGEM6I/AAAAAAAAAts/2n0GiiSFXF8/s1600/IMG_5678.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSbPGEM6I/AAAAAAAAAts/2n0GiiSFXF8/s400/IMG_5678.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499267247858004898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSagpEMfI/AAAAAAAAAtk/sYwMyKOOkSs/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSagpEMfI/AAAAAAAAAtk/sYwMyKOOkSs/s400/IMG_5680.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499267235388338674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSad-HN0I/AAAAAAAAAtc/uA5groJkaP8/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFSad-HN0I/AAAAAAAAAtc/uA5groJkaP8/s400/IMG_5693.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499267234671310658" /></a><br /><br /><br />The driver finally picked me up and we headed for the bacterian camels, now I had told many people I would never ride a camel in my life again, they smell, have fleas and spit, I have spent too much time in North Africa too like camels. But these camels were different they are two humped instead of one and they looked clean weren't spitting at anybody and didn't smell to bad. I wanted to do a 15 minute ride which would have cost 150rs but the guy didn't have change so I opted for the half hour ride for 300rs, across the dunes. As soon as that camel stood up I regretted the half hour ride, OUCH! All I had between me and the camel was a blanket. I looked back at the Indian tourists also mounting their camels when one very aggressive male knocked the guy right off him. Shit, I'm holding on now! The boy who walked me and White Beauty (my camels name) told me these camels come from Mongolia and were used in the silk route, well I doubt White Beauty was but maybe her ancestors were.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTTpsmM9I/AAAAAAAAAuk/5F4-EnZ0cl0/s1600/IMG_5710.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTTpsmM9I/AAAAAAAAAuk/5F4-EnZ0cl0/s400/IMG_5710.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499268217071612882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTTV3zrJI/AAAAAAAAAuc/4B1UULoVT_Q/s1600/IMG_5722.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTTV3zrJI/AAAAAAAAAuc/4B1UULoVT_Q/s400/IMG_5722.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499268211749923986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTSqETiSI/AAAAAAAAAuM/XKALh92OPBA/s1600/IMG_5731.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTSqETiSI/AAAAAAAAAuM/XKALh92OPBA/s400/IMG_5731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499268199991183650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTSTx4vlI/AAAAAAAAAuE/KNb7uNhfoF4/s1600/IMG_5724.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFTSTx4vlI/AAAAAAAAAuE/KNb7uNhfoF4/s400/IMG_5724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499268194008350290" /></a><br /><br /><br />The following morning I took another shared taxi back to Leh, this time the music was to loud to dose off. We were driving for a few hours when we came across a truck on its roof and another truck parked in front of it, the men were eating their breakfast between the two trucks, notably shaken but alive and with no injuries, wow miracles do happen. But I must of dosed off afterwards for I woke up to find we had a punctured tire, well no biggie right? The driver has a spare? NO!!! So now what do we do? I was told not to worry that the driver knows many people and soon one will pass and lend us a spare. I fell back asleep in the jeep and woke up and hour and half later to everybody getting in, luckily I guess the driver had found a friend.<br /><br />The rest of the pass was a hairy ride as I mentioned before and with all the traffic coming over the pass to see the Dalai Lama it made for a breath holding ride. I don't want to scare my blog followers and especially not my momo and dad, but I don't get scared often or easily, however this pass was not for the faint of heart. Once I got over the Karhdungla pass and was on the side of Leh once more, I breathed a sigh of relief, I knew I was gong back to civilization , well sort of when the internet is working and the phone lines are on, LOL. But at least you can get a semi-cold Kingfisher beer or a bloody Mary. <br /><br />Peace <br /><br />Gabicatluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-10645448891706212852010-07-28T23:43:00.002-07:002010-07-29T02:47:31.258-07:00Sumar Nubra valley Part 2After seeing his Holiness the Dalai Lama arrive I headed to Mystic Meadows the guesthouse/camp of Babu's. I had no idea where it was just a general direction. 20 minutes later I found it, and it was tucked behind a mountain with a lush garden and some really nice looking tents. I found Babu and he asked if I had eaten lunch, since I hadn't even had breakfast I said no. He apologized that all they had was staff food but he would have it brought out to me. The camp site was tranquil and just what I needed to get a break from Leh. But the coolest thing was the attached toilet with the river rocks for a floor. That evening I had dinner there and as I sat there in the dining room I realized it was my first dinner in India with only foreigners around me except for staff, how weird.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI8uQs7yI/AAAAAAAAAps/75itUQSND4g/s1600/IMG_5334.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI8uQs7yI/AAAAAAAAAps/75itUQSND4g/s400/IMG_5334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499256828043521826" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI8Ee09XI/AAAAAAAAApk/Btyhji7pOyc/s1600/IMG_5361.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI8Ee09XI/AAAAAAAAApk/Btyhji7pOyc/s400/IMG_5361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499256816828478834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI7pG9hRI/AAAAAAAAApc/GKhIzD6V9EU/s1600/IMG_5335.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI7pG9hRI/AAAAAAAAApc/GKhIzD6V9EU/s400/IMG_5335.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499256809480619282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI7Lk83_I/AAAAAAAAApU/CmLnO1lqmjM/s1600/IMG_5332.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI7Lk83_I/AAAAAAAAApU/CmLnO1lqmjM/s400/IMG_5332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499256801553342450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI67FggZI/AAAAAAAAApM/rbmC71pTj3w/s1600/IMG_5333.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFI67FggZI/AAAAAAAAApM/rbmC71pTj3w/s400/IMG_5333.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499256797126492562" /></a><br /><br />I had a few Kingfishers (India's biggest brand of beer) and called it a night but not after I spent some time editing photos and enjoying the silence of the Nubra Valley.<br /><br />The following morning I got up and had breakfast, not as early as the others who had already left for the monastery where the D.L. was going to be teaching. I needed to catch up on my sleep, and this place was so quite that even the birds didn't wake me. I would have stayed on another night but Babu was overbooked as was the whole of Sumar. I asked for the bill and was pleasantly surprised to see my room came to only 300rs (6.50 USD) I guess it doesn't hurt to know people.<br /><br />I walked up to the monastery and found it packed with people, I went through a metal detector and a bag check but I found the security to be a bit lacks. Considering how much military is customary in the area. I needed a special permit to even be in Nubra Valley. I walked around until I found the foreigner section where his teachings were being translated into English. What amazed me was looking around the place the Westerners seemed more devotional than the locals. The monks were talking amongst each other yet the foreigners were catching onto to every single word. Which wasn't easy since he was speaking Tibetan and you could also hear the Local dialect of Ladakhi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFOCouzE4I/AAAAAAAAAr0/UrWxWXlewmQ/s1600/IMG_5371.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFOCouzE4I/AAAAAAAAAr0/UrWxWXlewmQ/s400/IMG_5371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499262427196494722" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXrTAJyI/AAAAAAAAArk/dTSDmpyQxN0/s1600/IMG_5415.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXrTAJyI/AAAAAAAAArk/dTSDmpyQxN0/s400/IMG_5415.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499260589639214882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXf5RMJI/AAAAAAAAArc/LhEUHPLr17w/s1600/IMG_5407.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXf5RMJI/AAAAAAAAArc/LhEUHPLr17w/s400/IMG_5407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499260586578489490" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXJSnHKI/AAAAAAAAArU/hSY8SvAwXkE/s1600/IMG_5414.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMXJSnHKI/AAAAAAAAArU/hSY8SvAwXkE/s400/IMG_5414.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499260580510768290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMWtW24AI/AAAAAAAAArM/-V_mk66Me44/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMWtW24AI/AAAAAAAAArM/-V_mk66Me44/s400/IMG_5428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499260573012385794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMWTAfzRI/AAAAAAAAArE/C7izeaIvteg/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFMWTAfzRI/AAAAAAAAArE/C7izeaIvteg/s400/IMG_5430.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499260565939277074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKMHlnbeI/AAAAAAAAAqU/7prIZ07PKkE/s1600/IMG_5470.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKMHlnbeI/AAAAAAAAAqU/7prIZ07PKkE/s400/IMG_5470.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499258192051793378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKLg2eKdI/AAAAAAAAAqM/kePVdewznDs/s1600/IMG_5458.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKLg2eKdI/AAAAAAAAAqM/kePVdewznDs/s400/IMG_5458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499258181653506514" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKLLnEDTI/AAAAAAAAAqE/PMwv_anRnlY/s1600/IMG_5463.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKLLnEDTI/AAAAAAAAAqE/PMwv_anRnlY/s400/IMG_5463.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499258175951736114" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKK0pzU3I/AAAAAAAAAp8/2j0IG86HHJA/s1600/IMG_5460.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKK0pzU3I/AAAAAAAAAp8/2j0IG86HHJA/s400/IMG_5460.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499258169789207410" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKKtYN5II/AAAAAAAAAp0/AkpzT5o3_h8/s1600/IMG_5459.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFKKtYN5II/AAAAAAAAAp0/AkpzT5o3_h8/s400/IMG_5459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499258167836402818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLckGrMnI/AAAAAAAAAq8/gfHynWS8AHM/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLckGrMnI/AAAAAAAAAq8/gfHynWS8AHM/s400/IMG_5430.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499259574096179826" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLcTQ6qsI/AAAAAAAAAq0/wMSdnKP-vu8/s1600/IMG_5433.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLcTQ6qsI/AAAAAAAAAq0/wMSdnKP-vu8/s400/IMG_5433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499259569575733954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLb-JxgKI/AAAAAAAAAqs/DNTZkHh-gcA/s1600/IMG_5438.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLb-JxgKI/AAAAAAAAAqs/DNTZkHh-gcA/s400/IMG_5438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499259563908628642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLbS1VyPI/AAAAAAAAAqk/AdtEKAIuZcI/s1600/IMG_5448.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLbS1VyPI/AAAAAAAAAqk/AdtEKAIuZcI/s400/IMG_5448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499259552280201458" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLa-WV4FI/AAAAAAAAAqc/YZXTCvFamQY/s1600/IMG_5453.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFLa-WV4FI/AAAAAAAAAqc/YZXTCvFamQY/s400/IMG_5453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499259546781474898" /></a><br /><br />After the teaching ended I needed to get my bag from the guesthouse and make a move onto Diskit another town which I was hoping wasn't going to be so packed. Plus it was the place where I could see a bacterian camel (double humped) and sand dunes in the Himalayas. <br /><br />I got to the taxi/bus stand to find out that nothing was going until 4:00 it was only 1:00, instead of waiting around I decided to hitch a ride. So I started walking out of town. The first truck that passed was military and I had been told to stay away from them so I didn't bother. Then a big stinky truck passed me by, yuck I will pass! A car drove by but he didn't stop at this point I was about a kilometer out of town and no traffic. I was starting to think that this wasnt a very good idea when a mini bus with two Locals in the front and two monks in the back stopped for me. I asked if they were going to Diskit they said they were.<br /><br />Shortly after the monks got out and the music got pumped up and the speed increased and I was happily bumping up and down a very bad road to Diskit.catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-40670781195410271222010-07-28T23:43:00.000-07:002010-07-29T02:21:49.668-07:00Nubra Valley Part 1 Waiting The Dalai LamaI was told that a shared taxi would come to my guest house in Leh around 6:00-6:30 in the morning, to take me to Nubra Valley to where his Holiness the Dalai Lama would be arriving. This being India I thought it would be more like 6:30-6:45. To my surprise a knock came at my door at 5:58. I hurried up my last minute packing for the trip and left the majority of the stuff behind for the room wallah to remove from the room later and store for me. When I got outside I realized the taxi was already full and I was to share the back seat with two guys, well at least I would get a window seat where my head could rest when it wasn't banging against it on the bumpy roads.<br /><br />Having only 3 hours of sleep I was in no mood for conversation, but in India its hard to avoid. So within minutes of leaving my guesthouse the first question came at me, "which country?". I really dislike that question because one its doesn't imply what the one asking really wants to know. And secondly I find it hard to answer. Having been born in the Czech Republic grown up in Chicago and then the last ten years I have been living in Europe, and now I don't have a home, How do you explain that to somebody who hasn't been much farther than Delhi?<br /><br />The guy asking the question was a Kashmiri Muslim with two mobile phones that kept ringing even while my own phone lost network as we started to climb up the pass. The other passenger in the back with us was a young Buddhist who would pray as we passed any gompas (Buddhist temples). And even at one point we saw two helicopters flying overhead and for some reason he believed it was the Dalai Lama and started praying and chanting to them. Due to the lack of sleep I did manage to dose off only to be awoken by the Muslim guy to tell me we had reached the top of the pass. I told him I had been to Karhdungla before, but he found it strange as I had also told him before that I hadn't been to Nubra Valley, the pass is the only way to get there. Remember I cycled down the pass a few weeks ago.<br /><br />I went back to sleep, I figured I could look at the scenery on the way back. And now that I'm back and have seen the other side of the pass and how treacherous the roads were I'm glad I had to experience it awake only once. Seeing just shells of cars and trucks that have fallen of the road and left to rot, makes one very worried, that yours will be the next victim of the pass.<br /><br />Since I had no idea of his Holiness's schedule I just went with the flow, when they said he was going to be in Sumar I figured the Buddhist knew better than I.<br /><br />We arrived in Sumar at 11:00 to streets lined with followers, locals dressed in their most impressive traditional costume. Headdresses, hats and jewelry were all brought out of the closet for the occasion. While I waited I met quite a few people I knew from Leh and I got some great pics of the waiting crowds. But as I started talking to other tourists I quickly found out that the accommodations were scarce. I had a letter of introduction from a friend in Leh (I was to find a guy named Babu) who would hopefully hook me up with a room for the night. While I was waiting I saw guy I have met in Leh and he appeared to be a local there so I went up to him and asked him about rooms he came back with the name of the same guesthouse my friend had given me, I pulled out my letter and asked him, "are you Babu?" Lol of course he was. He told me not to worry he would save me a tent. later others told me that those tents were going for 2500rs (54.00 USD) a night, I never asked him how much.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFHFOZO0CI/AAAAAAAAAo8/VvxKGT8xjwk/s1600/IMG_5312-1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFHFOZO0CI/AAAAAAAAAo8/VvxKGT8xjwk/s400/IMG_5312-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499254775084929058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFG0cndmYI/AAAAAAAAAo0/8emaH3t3Gdk/s1600/IMG_5203.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFG0cndmYI/AAAAAAAAAo0/8emaH3t3Gdk/s400/IMG_5203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499254486844938626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFG0BqBZDI/AAAAAAAAAos/ofUtufjhWjA/s1600/IMG_5213.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFF0Qls2wI/AAAAAAAAAn0/KzsRMO-gLks/s400/IMG_5241-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499253384104696578" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFF0JEyOPI/AAAAAAAAAns/ohR52pyhlJw/s1600/IMG_5247.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFF0JEyOPI/AAAAAAAAAns/ohR52pyhlJw/s400/IMG_5247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499253382087588082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFzjvyUwI/AAAAAAAAAnk/8sP_Xzqwlgo/s1600/IMG_5271.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFzjvyUwI/AAAAAAAAAnk/8sP_Xzqwlgo/s400/IMG_5271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499253372067402498" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFzTKdvSI/AAAAAAAAAnc/qbiINJx1Dug/s1600/IMG_5276.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFzTKdvSI/AAAAAAAAAnc/qbiINJx1Dug/s400/IMG_5276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499253367615896866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFA_Vt6CI/AAAAAAAAAnU/f8IaigGjdzk/s1600/IMG_5292.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFA_Vt6CI/AAAAAAAAAnU/f8IaigGjdzk/s400/IMG_5292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499252503300925474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFARyF1nI/AAAAAAAAAnM/GV7I8v0vq1U/s1600/IMG_5299.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFARyF1nI/AAAAAAAAAnM/GV7I8v0vq1U/s400/IMG_5299.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499252491071903346" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFANtuLsI/AAAAAAAAAnE/Y_aQ_1kotMs/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFFANtuLsI/AAAAAAAAAnE/Y_aQ_1kotMs/s400/IMG_5302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499252489979834050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFE_9xdcJI/AAAAAAAAAm8/X4T9eij72AU/s1600/IMG_5304.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFE_9xdcJI/AAAAAAAAAm8/X4T9eij72AU/s400/IMG_5304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499252485700546706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFEJ04Si9I/AAAAAAAAAms/uJO4igViyHU/s1600/IMG_5315.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFEJ04Si9I/AAAAAAAAAms/uJO4igViyHU/s400/IMG_5315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499251555600337874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFEJkD3LdI/AAAAAAAAAmk/Zy1iBLMsgFs/s1600/IMG_5318.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFEJkD3LdI/AAAAAAAAAmk/Zy1iBLMsgFs/s400/IMG_5318.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499251551085473234" /></a><br /><br />It was around 2:00 when his Holiness and his motorcade passed by, he did stop at the spot I was standing at but the glare through the windshield was so bad that all I saw was an outline. I have done my best to edit the photo and if you look real hard you can see him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFHFUcTKsI/AAAAAAAAApE/rP4iGptuVy0/s1600/IMG_5323.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TFFHFUcTKsI/AAAAAAAAApE/rP4iGptuVy0/s400/IMG_5323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499254776708410050" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-68476639000738498922010-07-05T01:18:00.001-07:002010-07-05T02:02:34.198-07:00The Highest Motorable PassYou arrive at the top of Khardungla pass by jeep and come down the 40km's back to Leh on a mountain bike. The pass at 18380 ft is said to be the highest motorable pass, I have heard there is one higher but it's off limits to civilians, as are most areas in the Himalayas.<br /><br />As we drive slowly up the mountain I'm looking at the potholed road and I start to think sheesh I'm nuts! I havent ridden a bike in years let alone on such bad terrain. And then I start to think why didnt I bring a jacket with me, did I think it was going to be warm at this altitude? <br /><br />We arrive at the top only to find a huge mass of Indian tourists who have been taxied up there so they can buy the t-shirt and play in the snow. After taking a few pics and shaking off the light headedness from the high altitude I see the bikes have been removed from the back-up truck and are all lined up ready to go. I look around me and my fellow riders 5 Israelis 2 Brits and A Dutch guy are all still playing in the snow. I thought for sure the Israelis would have been first to leave. So I mount the bike and off I wobble, LOL. Yep I nearly ran into a car with my first try. I keep thinking to myself well If I can't do it I can have the Back-up truck take me back down. <br /><br />So Instead of being embarrassed in front of everyone I go first. The first turn takes me to rocks and pebbles and the most amazing views. By the second turn I am feeling more at ease and actually letting off the brake. There will be no need to peddle this is all going to be downhill from here!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_yzpUfI/AAAAAAAAAmU/yLmNyi9ljec/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_yzpUfI/AAAAAAAAAmU/yLmNyi9ljec/s400/IMG_4680.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490344239548682738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_huxK7I/AAAAAAAAAmM/sqEDSUECCvg/s1600/IMG_4669.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_huxK7I/AAAAAAAAAmM/sqEDSUECCvg/s400/IMG_4669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490344234964822962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_M8IFrI/AAAAAAAAAmE/sPhwvCwIkXY/s1600/IMG_4663.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGe_M8IFrI/AAAAAAAAAmE/sPhwvCwIkXY/s400/IMG_4663.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490344229383706290" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGelLj6McI/AAAAAAAAAl8/ByiYMuvE2B4/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGelLj6McI/AAAAAAAAAl8/ByiYMuvE2B4/s400/IMG_4662.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490343782337098178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGekz3HQGI/AAAAAAAAAl0/jOHEdAquNnE/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGekz3HQGI/AAAAAAAAAl0/jOHEdAquNnE/s400/IMG_4674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490343775975194722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGekX2NKQI/AAAAAAAAAls/Tdf4BfXl0uo/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGekX2NKQI/AAAAAAAAAls/Tdf4BfXl0uo/s400/IMG_4675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490343768455194882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdyq1DFFI/AAAAAAAAAlk/7Wh8OLcQJZA/s1600/IMG_4682.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdyq1DFFI/AAAAAAAAAlk/7Wh8OLcQJZA/s400/IMG_4682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342914557154386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdyQP3BOI/AAAAAAAAAlc/tUzhYMRZT0Q/s1600/IMG_4684.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdyQP3BOI/AAAAAAAAAlc/tUzhYMRZT0Q/s400/IMG_4684.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342907421852898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdxxb3wII/AAAAAAAAAlU/oPIkbki57n4/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdxxb3wII/AAAAAAAAAlU/oPIkbki57n4/s400/IMG_4696.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342899150733442" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdXZA3zXI/AAAAAAAAAlM/D9f1w3DO4cc/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdXZA3zXI/AAAAAAAAAlM/D9f1w3DO4cc/s400/IMG_4699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342445918440818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdWx3Us8I/AAAAAAAAAlE/WupUdwH3wZ0/s1600/IMG_4703.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdWx3Us8I/AAAAAAAAAlE/WupUdwH3wZ0/s400/IMG_4703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342435409408962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdWQUL27I/AAAAAAAAAk8/W6fBAlgEF7k/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGdWQUL27I/AAAAAAAAAk8/W6fBAlgEF7k/s400/IMG_4722.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490342426403658674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgqBQgpI/AAAAAAAAAk0/RWT4sjeap3k/s1600/IMG_4726.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgqBQgpI/AAAAAAAAAk0/RWT4sjeap3k/s400/IMG_4726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490341505590657682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgcu65OI/AAAAAAAAAks/031KcGneL9U/s1600/IMG_4727.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgcu65OI/AAAAAAAAAks/031KcGneL9U/s400/IMG_4727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490341502024082658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgDbghPI/AAAAAAAAAkk/ngw57otSGDk/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGcgDbghPI/AAAAAAAAAkk/ngw57otSGDk/s400/IMG_4745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490341495231775986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbreaN4sI/AAAAAAAAAkc/UlF5gRjapVg/s1600/IMG_4749.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbreaN4sI/AAAAAAAAAkc/UlF5gRjapVg/s400/IMG_4749.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490340591941051074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbrNFo_WI/AAAAAAAAAkU/VvJUeiNmR0k/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbrNFo_WI/AAAAAAAAAkU/VvJUeiNmR0k/s400/IMG_4753.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490340587291344226" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbOxrtI1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/CsouOZopaY8/s1600/IMG_4779.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbOxrtI1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/CsouOZopaY8/s400/IMG_4779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490340098898469714" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbOWlqTjI/AAAAAAAAAkE/xeTtBIbYFVE/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGbOWlqTjI/AAAAAAAAAkE/xeTtBIbYFVE/s400/IMG_4785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490340091625360946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGZ3LnJSDI/AAAAAAAAAj8/TLGy4cqPvYI/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGZ3LnJSDI/AAAAAAAAAj8/TLGy4cqPvYI/s400/IMG_4788.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490338594030176306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGZuhMUodI/AAAAAAAAAj0/qx-kdjeIX9E/s1600/IMG_4791.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TDGZuhMUodI/AAAAAAAAAj0/qx-kdjeIX9E/s400/IMG_4791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490338445204431314" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-31542234626305291732010-06-24T23:31:00.001-07:002010-06-25T00:34:17.726-07:00Pangong LakePangong lake a day trip from Leh takes you over the third highest motor-able pass at elevation 17586 feet/5360 meters, I was definitely feeling light headed even after a week of being in Leh and the higher altitudes. The drive there and back is just as much of the trip as seeing the lake itself. Actually you spend more time going there and back (4 1/2 hours one way) then at the lake. As you drive out of Leh the road takes you through villages that are interspersed with many monastery's clinging to hill tops, There are quite a few I still need to go and explore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCROsdQ_k7I/AAAAAAAAAgM/1fwmQ0MZRVA/s1600/IMG_4150.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCROsdQ_k7I/AAAAAAAAAgM/1fwmQ0MZRVA/s400/IMG_4150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486596771721221042" /></a><br /><br />As the road started to slowly ascend the scenery was spectacular, unfortunately I couldn't keep telling the driver to stop for me. These next 3 shots are taking from the front seat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRPzBPF9fI/AAAAAAAAAhE/QFy0zziWOsY/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRPzBPF9fI/AAAAAAAAAhE/QFy0zziWOsY/s400/IMG_4154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486597983967770098" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRYDNfCbII/AAAAAAAAAi0/nVKzi-LzXoU/s1600/IMG_4156.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRYDNfCbII/AAAAAAAAAi0/nVKzi-LzXoU/s400/IMG_4156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486607058226801794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRPaOA4VAI/AAAAAAAAAg0/ArLc0LpjWdw/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRPaOA4VAI/AAAAAAAAAg0/ArLc0LpjWdw/s400/IMG_4155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486597557901087746" /></a><br /><br /><br />In order to travel to the lake you need to have a permit which the trekking company arranges for you a day in advance. Because as always in this area there is a large military presence, not only because of Pakistan but the lake itself borders China.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRTY1U0Z4I/AAAAAAAAAhk/F6mo1XEzK5U/s1600/IMG_4171.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRTY1U0Z4I/AAAAAAAAAhk/F6mo1XEzK5U/s400/IMG_4171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486601932140472194" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSvBnYArI/AAAAAAAAAhc/VTm2mHXrtMg/s1600/IMG_4186.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSvBnYArI/AAAAAAAAAhc/VTm2mHXrtMg/s400/IMG_4186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486601213885022898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSdy2rucI/AAAAAAAAAhU/pW74LOHUQoo/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSdy2rucI/AAAAAAAAAhU/pW74LOHUQoo/s400/IMG_4278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486600917864921538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSLD8hBAI/AAAAAAAAAhM/wLsMMrhqy4o/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRSLD8hBAI/AAAAAAAAAhM/wLsMMrhqy4o/s400/IMG_4280.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486600596035273730" /></a><br /><br />The cutest thing I saw on the way up to the lake was a rodent they call a marmet I called marmite. It waits along side the road for the Indian tourists to pass and stop and feed him cookies. I gave him some almonds I think he preferred the cookies looking at his belly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRUSuFn1VI/AAAAAAAAAhs/XBdM150ZHIQ/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRUSuFn1VI/AAAAAAAAAhs/XBdM150ZHIQ/s400/IMG_4176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486602926630098258" /></a><br /><br />We finally get to the lake along with all the other Indian tourists the way they are taking pictures you would think they have never seen water before. The views are precious and the water is clear but COLD.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRXU9sn9bI/AAAAAAAAAis/RBEs9Aj_OKY/s1600/IMG_4199.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRXU9sn9bI/AAAAAAAAAis/RBEs9Aj_OKY/s400/IMG_4199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486606263714837938" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRXEA-UmYI/AAAAAAAAAik/aaRnmTtN7Jo/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRXEA-UmYI/AAAAAAAAAik/aaRnmTtN7Jo/s400/IMG_4205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486605972536596866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRW6bJ6GGI/AAAAAAAAAic/kgRXKRf1esU/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRW6bJ6GGI/AAAAAAAAAic/kgRXKRf1esU/s400/IMG_4206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486605807765821538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRWnSdGLoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/wRpXAUyjdcw/s1600/IMG_4209.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRWnSdGLoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/wRpXAUyjdcw/s400/IMG_4209.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486605479012871810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRWZWE9juI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Vh64drR7Bcg/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRWZWE9juI/AAAAAAAAAiE/Vh64drR7Bcg/s400/IMG_4212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486605239467216610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRV_42gBzI/AAAAAAAAAh8/wxSs_30EIZo/s1600/IMG_4220.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRV_42gBzI/AAAAAAAAAh8/wxSs_30EIZo/s400/IMG_4220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486604802125203250" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRV2F8BDAI/AAAAAAAAAh0/iDEY1ySM4Eo/s1600/IMG_4226.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRV2F8BDAI/AAAAAAAAAh0/iDEY1ySM4Eo/s400/IMG_4226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486604633839307778" /></a><br /><br /><br />And of course you cant forget that China is on the other side of the lake so of course there is a military presence there as well. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRY_VWurNI/AAAAAAAAAi8/J2tNxJQJ4gY/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRY_VWurNI/AAAAAAAAAi8/J2tNxJQJ4gY/s400/IMG_4235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608091131587794" /></a><br /><br />On the drive back I had my first Yak siting, I did make the driver stop for this and I ran out there then I stopped and realized that these were wild yaks, so maybe staying back a bit and just using the telephoto was a better idea, since I have no idea if yaks are aggressive, although they did appear pretty passive.And of course we had to stop at the top of the pass for those stereotypical tourist photos. All and all it was a good day out. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRaCchcXgI/AAAAAAAAAjs/UOFqQLrBuE8/s1600/IMG_4258.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRaCchcXgI/AAAAAAAAAjs/UOFqQLrBuE8/s400/IMG_4258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486609244106808834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZ51GmwLI/AAAAAAAAAjk/4Zn2VITnYuo/s1600/IMG_4267.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZ51GmwLI/AAAAAAAAAjk/4Zn2VITnYuo/s400/IMG_4267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486609096086306994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZpfUtKWI/AAAAAAAAAjc/MgYrnhK9rf8/s1600/IMG_4270.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZpfUtKWI/AAAAAAAAAjc/MgYrnhK9rf8/s400/IMG_4270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608815361960290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZj4P6vFI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Z94YPJdUta8/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZj4P6vFI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Z94YPJdUta8/s400/IMG_4273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608718973549650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZeS7g6gI/AAAAAAAAAjM/3bH9XKnctTs/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZeS7g6gI/AAAAAAAAAjM/3bH9XKnctTs/s400/IMG_4281.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608623056513538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZWKYl8MI/AAAAAAAAAjE/cbTs_ne-tIQ/s1600/IMG_4282.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCRZWKYl8MI/AAAAAAAAAjE/cbTs_ne-tIQ/s400/IMG_4282.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608483323605186" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-89295339685304877502010-06-22T05:22:00.001-07:002010-06-23T00:42:55.442-07:0016 Hour Ride Up16 hours Srinagar to Leh in a shared taxi with 7 others bouncing up and down, multiple police checkpoints, and multiple tea stops when I finally arrived in Leh I wanted nothing else than to be horizontal on a bed. I really thought I was gonna die the last three hours of the drive. I had gotten really bad gas that later I found out was due to an upset stomach so needless to say I wasn't a happy camper. When we arrived in Leh it was 12:30 at night, fortunately I had shared the taxi with an American girl who had been to Leh before and had a guest house already lined up. <br /><br />The day started at 6:30am at the taxi stand in Srinagar, a lot of shouting was going on as there was a German guy who was insisting that he get the front seat in a newer taxi, I think the drivers were shouting about who was going to take him. The rest of us didn't really care we just wanted to get going. There were 7 in total not including the driver. I got the pleasure of sitting in the back seat with a Indian boy and another very tall German guy. It was a tight squeeze the Indian boy was sitting next to me and as the road was bumpy the first 5 hours we both tried real hard not to touch each other. After the first 5 and the road getting even worse we both decided that if our knees touched it wouldn't really be a big deal. So on it went, tossing around the back of this jeep like three beach balls.<br /><br />Then we get stopped by the military and are told that we have to wait for a convoy of trucks that are coming down the mountain. We sat there for 2 1/2 hours waiting on 20 trucks to go pass. But in the mean time we sat around talking with everybody else who had gotten stopped and the soldiers who job was to stop us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG48aqgIwI/AAAAAAAAAb0/WPQ7CylQHDA/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG48aqgIwI/AAAAAAAAAb0/WPQ7CylQHDA/s400/IMG_3863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485869169203225346" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4u2tNL1I/AAAAAAAAAbk/fzWX8z58ag8/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4u2tNL1I/AAAAAAAAAbk/fzWX8z58ag8/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485868936212590418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4oufcrvI/AAAAAAAAAbc/zd8ZDkcDnYY/s1600/IMG_3868.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4oufcrvI/AAAAAAAAAbc/zd8ZDkcDnYY/s400/IMG_3868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485868830928187122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4gbfHumI/AAAAAAAAAbU/6TXOC_5SOMI/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4gbfHumI/AAAAAAAAAbU/6TXOC_5SOMI/s400/IMG_3876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485868688387586658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4Z8j0U-I/AAAAAAAAAbM/4ro2cc-u1WU/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4Z8j0U-I/AAAAAAAAAbM/4ro2cc-u1WU/s400/IMG_3874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485868577006572514" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4Qve09WI/AAAAAAAAAbE/bFw3empQM60/s1600/IMG_3880.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG4Qve09WI/AAAAAAAAAbE/bFw3empQM60/s400/IMG_3880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485868418877158754" /></a><br /><br /><br />The military presence on the ride up is evident every few Kilometers with war memorials and check points. This is where India keeps its nukes being that its so close to the Pakistani and Chinese border, we had to show our passports a total of 6 times. A large military camp outside of a town called Drass where we had to stop and show our passports and register in.<br />Looked like something out of a James Bond movie, They didn't allow us to take photos so I snuck behind a building and took these snaps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6AWK7v9I/AAAAAAAAAcM/GGc__fduBgc/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6AWK7v9I/AAAAAAAAAcM/GGc__fduBgc/s400/IMG_3887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870336228179922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG56_ivCYI/AAAAAAAAAcE/Yf9pB_GP5PY/s1600/IMG_3886.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG56_ivCYI/AAAAAAAAAcE/Yf9pB_GP5PY/s400/IMG_3886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870244254648706" /></a><br /><br />We stopped in the Drass for lunch, the place was no five star restaurant, and I wonder if it wasn't the food there or the food I ate with Rafi in Srinagar that got me so sick? It did however have some interesting characters to watch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6rDDqGtI/AAAAAAAAAc0/drxV0dl9GCE/s1600/IMG_3904.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6rDDqGtI/AAAAAAAAAc0/drxV0dl9GCE/s400/IMG_3904.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485871069831764690" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6lQxgNCI/AAAAAAAAAcs/0djPGbNPl6g/s1600/IMG_3909.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6lQxgNCI/AAAAAAAAAcs/0djPGbNPl6g/s400/IMG_3909.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870970434499618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6dyb5hQI/AAAAAAAAAck/3dhWG7gLyqg/s1600/IMG_3911.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6dyb5hQI/AAAAAAAAAck/3dhWG7gLyqg/s400/IMG_3911.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870842031736066" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6X7zr58I/AAAAAAAAAcc/wwLo5XuNoMg/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6X7zr58I/AAAAAAAAAcc/wwLo5XuNoMg/s400/IMG_3898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870741468211138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6PgQURCI/AAAAAAAAAcU/H6pJK6sAq10/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG6PgQURCI/AAAAAAAAAcU/H6pJK6sAq10/s400/IMG_3897.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485870596633150498" /></a><br /><br /><br />As the day progressed we kept driving higher and higher into the mountains the views were stunning and at times the road well what road? Nora the American girl asked the driver for a pee stop he stopped in a village with a toilet that I wouldn't even let my cats enter. There is a statistic in India that 60% of the population do not have access to a functioning toilet, this was part of that 60% percent. We found a truck to pee behind and took turns guarding it.<br /><br />Although it was the longest drive I have done in a long time and it knackered the hell out of me waking up the following day and looking out of my guesthouse window to see the Himalayas in the distance PRICELESS!!!catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-71754444171127909332010-06-21T21:26:00.000-07:002010-06-23T01:10:42.370-07:00Ladakhi SundayThe weather has warmed up finally and the sun is shining bright, so bright that I'm sunburnt, lol my fault though, who comes to India without sunscreen ok I know I can buy some but I haven't gotten around to it yet. So the first beautiful Sunday here in Leh and just like the rest of the world Sunday's are for brunch and picnic's. I start my Sunday off at Bon Appetit, meeting my crazy friend Swaati, we are trying to figure out were to get bleach to dye her dreadlocked tips. We give up on that and instead order Bloody Mary's and salads.<br /> <br />My local watering hole, Bon Appetit is located behind the mainstreets of Leh, secluded from the hustle and bustle cars,cows, dogs and tourists. Not that easy to find but well worth it. With an organic farm in the back, views of the mountains, incredible food, cold beer, wifi that works sometimes and good company what else can a girl ask for? And for once I have photos of me!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-UkNOyKI/AAAAAAAAAeE/qKhJrLq3tpE/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-UkNOyKI/AAAAAAAAAeE/qKhJrLq3tpE/s400/IMG_4383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485875081639807138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-PhNBQ6I/AAAAAAAAAd8/Xx40g4aYYq8/s1600/IMG_4384.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-PhNBQ6I/AAAAAAAAAd8/Xx40g4aYYq8/s400/IMG_4384.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874994934268834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-KNu6ViI/AAAAAAAAAd0/ttljNw4OJPQ/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-KNu6ViI/AAAAAAAAAd0/ttljNw4OJPQ/s400/IMG_4395.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874903808366114" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-ETELGHI/AAAAAAAAAds/TjbD7aP0Pg4/s1600/IMG_4514.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG-ETELGHI/AAAAAAAAAds/TjbD7aP0Pg4/s400/IMG_4514.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874802160506994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9yW5o5RI/AAAAAAAAAdk/uNYwe63192E/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9yW5o5RI/AAAAAAAAAdk/uNYwe63192E/s400/IMG_4401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874493952419090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9hanXX2I/AAAAAAAAAdU/cjigRLBzm5M/s1600/IMG_4408.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9hanXX2I/AAAAAAAAAdU/cjigRLBzm5M/s400/IMG_4408.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874202891738978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9cMmgKAI/AAAAAAAAAdM/gOt8CHs7NA8/s1600/IMG_4413.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9cMmgKAI/AAAAAAAAAdM/gOt8CHs7NA8/s400/IMG_4413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485874113230678018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9SK6pFLI/AAAAAAAAAdE/Kd4EG1LyDqU/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9SK6pFLI/AAAAAAAAAdE/Kd4EG1LyDqU/s400/IMG_4424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485873940979586226" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9MtgOLDI/AAAAAAAAAc8/NOMyJYWqPj4/s1600/IMG_4416.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG9MtgOLDI/AAAAAAAAAc8/NOMyJYWqPj4/s400/IMG_4416.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485873847184796722" /></a><br /><br /><br />After brunch we venture out for a picnic along the river Indus. When we get there a few of us girls decide to go skinny dipping in the river, its bloody cold, after all its snow melt but it feels great and its the first bath I have had in India. Sorry no pics of the bath!!<br /><br />Just like when I was hanging out in the forest preserves in Chicago as a kid, picnics in Ladakh consist of beer, dope, music and friends. But the difference is that I'm surrounded by the Himalayas not highways. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHA1Y07SxI/AAAAAAAAAgE/T8ao8MXPjRE/s1600/IMG_4459.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHA1Y07SxI/AAAAAAAAAgE/T8ao8MXPjRE/s400/IMG_4459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877844544015122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAvJ6_o2I/AAAAAAAAAf8/C8A8glXN2Zs/s1600/IMG_4438.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAvJ6_o2I/AAAAAAAAAf8/C8A8glXN2Zs/s400/IMG_4438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877737463718754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAq6G1RxI/AAAAAAAAAf0/Jim17Y6C_Gw/s1600/IMG_4429.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAq6G1RxI/AAAAAAAAAf0/Jim17Y6C_Gw/s400/IMG_4429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877664498927378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAlOhmrJI/AAAAAAAAAfs/B3ydc8g-u5o/s1600/IMG_4445.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAlOhmrJI/AAAAAAAAAfs/B3ydc8g-u5o/s400/IMG_4445.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877566900710546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAY0Fy4VI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fsmP0PiKwAY/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAY0Fy4VI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fsmP0PiKwAY/s400/IMG_4440.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877353646317906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHASusCDSI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Rp6N58pqw58/s1600/IMG_4441.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHASusCDSI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Rp6N58pqw58/s400/IMG_4441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877249116867874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAMP1o19I/AAAAAAAAAfU/3kO3JI7eFPM/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAMP1o19I/AAAAAAAAAfU/3kO3JI7eFPM/s400/IMG_4448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877137756444626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAFyB6sAI/AAAAAAAAAfM/TSi0AKA_1XU/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCHAFyB6sAI/AAAAAAAAAfM/TSi0AKA_1XU/s400/IMG_4471.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485877026675666946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_6O6rP4I/AAAAAAAAAfE/zY2o779UYM0/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_6O6rP4I/AAAAAAAAAfE/zY2o779UYM0/s400/IMG_4474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876828271492994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_yQkvO6I/AAAAAAAAAe8/j-1Y7z-aSgE/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_yQkvO6I/AAAAAAAAAe8/j-1Y7z-aSgE/s400/IMG_4478.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876691277396898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_sIc4fhI/AAAAAAAAAe0/qIvb_UzbXUA/s1600/IMG_4487.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_sIc4fhI/AAAAAAAAAe0/qIvb_UzbXUA/s400/IMG_4487.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876586017750546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_lVmrPaI/AAAAAAAAAes/emFyXpGm9pY/s1600/IMG_4502.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_lVmrPaI/AAAAAAAAAes/emFyXpGm9pY/s400/IMG_4502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876469289401762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_fO0YDzI/AAAAAAAAAek/7mJHNzn_Y7A/s1600/IMG_4505.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_fO0YDzI/AAAAAAAAAek/7mJHNzn_Y7A/s400/IMG_4505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876364388601650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_VBE0UaI/AAAAAAAAAec/Ljww-3oJrSQ/s1600/IMG_4508.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_VBE0UaI/AAAAAAAAAec/Ljww-3oJrSQ/s400/IMG_4508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485876188900774306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_CE4NN3I/AAAAAAAAAeM/__Q8l_hl6AE/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TCG_CE4NN3I/AAAAAAAAAeM/__Q8l_hl6AE/s400/IMG_4506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485875863504107378" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-18047871151765427422010-06-15T23:54:00.000-07:002010-06-19T23:48:56.045-07:00Rice Fields and ShepardsAs I was walking around Srinagar one day looking for a Rickshaw driver,who one spoke good enough English and two wasn't going to be a complete pain in the ass, and possibly even be a good laugh. I stumbled upon Rafi and his rickshaw, I knew he was the one when I looked at the name of the rick and it wasn't something to do with Allah or a Kashmiri name, the rick was called Bob Marley, I knew I found my man. Rafi is a chubby red faced Kashmiri boy with a big smile. We hit it off immediately and instead of going sightseeing he took me to the Officers bar for a beer and some lunch. <br /><br />The following day we set off at 10:00 he promised to show me some lake and a Hindu temple, I just wanted to get out of town. As we left the city limits the scenery slowly changed to rice fields and women bent over hard at work pulling the rice up. I had Rafi stop so I could take some pictures. The women smiled at me and I asked them through Rafi translating if it was hard work. They told him I could join them, I was ready to take of my shoes and lend them a hand but Rafi stopped me saying the water would give my skin a rash. So instead I slowly marched out there on a very thin mud path faltering a few times nearly falling in and listening to Rafi screaming at me, "Slowly,Slowly".<br /><br />I do not envy these women one bit it looks like back breaking work but watching them I see the female camaraderie and community.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uTzjd3kI/AAAAAAAAAYs/Iu62dQLqBoo/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uTzjd3kI/AAAAAAAAAYs/Iu62dQLqBoo/s400/IMG_3599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484731576486846018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uMuAGFOI/AAAAAAAAAYk/zwqS2mifcUQ/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uMuAGFOI/AAAAAAAAAYk/zwqS2mifcUQ/s400/IMG_3600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484731454737224930" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uAhc_eBI/AAAAAAAAAYc/FG-JXVgJOfY/s1600/IMG_3727.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2uAhc_eBI/AAAAAAAAAYc/FG-JXVgJOfY/s400/IMG_3727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484731245210335250" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2t1SkUg7I/AAAAAAAAAYU/_DqarY2XXr0/s1600/IMG_3725.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2t1SkUg7I/AAAAAAAAAYU/_DqarY2XXr0/s400/IMG_3725.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484731052235981746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2trITrLOI/AAAAAAAAAYM/4-8pC0KgzR4/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2trITrLOI/AAAAAAAAAYM/4-8pC0KgzR4/s400/IMG_3730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484730877683117282" /></a><br /><br />Next stop was the Hindu temple. a sign says to take off your shoes and anything leather you may be wearing. We walked around there a Muslim and a Christian but the Hindu's were very warm and friendly and kept trying to feed me. The soldiers there also pointed to the trees and explained that the way the trees came together with the sky in the middle looked like the map of India I didn't see it myself but I agreed with them. As we were leaving the temple I saw another sign and I had another OOPS! moment before we arrived at the temple we had stopped for breakfast which consisted of mutton wrapped in pastry dough. Hey it was the Muslims fault, LOL!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2yCbOA-qI/AAAAAAAAAZE/dvF4zw6tG_E/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2yCbOA-qI/AAAAAAAAAZE/dvF4zw6tG_E/s400/IMG_3629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484735675943156386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2x6KbVE6I/AAAAAAAAAY8/WAQ8_BvJ-kA/s1600/IMG_3626.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2x6KbVE6I/AAAAAAAAAY8/WAQ8_BvJ-kA/s400/IMG_3626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484735533996643234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2xwti8v9I/AAAAAAAAAY0/51l9bTbwETc/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2xwti8v9I/AAAAAAAAAY0/51l9bTbwETc/s400/IMG_3621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484735371625152466" /></a><br /><br /><br />Afterward we did go to the lake and found a mountain with a Shepard and his flock of sheep and children. I don't know who was more curious about the meeting the children or me. This little girl looked to me like what the Virgin Mary would have looked like, ok that may be stretching it but she had a look. As did her two sisters, the chubby cheeked boy is Rafi holding a baby lamb. WHen we came down from the mountain we were greeted by the most amazing site a family of six on one motorcycle to see 4 on a bike is normal in Asia but I had never seen six, they must of known it was an oddity as well and stopped to allow me to take photos. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20aAR7mCI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/SXJSdOCwYio/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20aAR7mCI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/SXJSdOCwYio/s400/IMG_3703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484738280051939362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20PzGy8LI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/NFdHlOSPqPo/s1600/IMG_3679.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20PzGy8LI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/NFdHlOSPqPo/s400/IMG_3679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484738104716882098" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20DYxB-KI/AAAAAAAAAZs/ra49A_TIeAs/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB20DYxB-KI/AAAAAAAAAZs/ra49A_TIeAs/s400/IMG_3692.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484737891487840418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2z1YLE6kI/AAAAAAAAAZk/EEk-lGDUEUI/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2z1YLE6kI/AAAAAAAAAZk/EEk-lGDUEUI/s400/IMG_3696.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484737650810481218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zt1CTMHI/AAAAAAAAAZc/u6c6oBcpTFs/s1600/IMG_3694.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zt1CTMHI/AAAAAAAAAZc/u6c6oBcpTFs/s400/IMG_3694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484737521119342706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zjP8qeMI/AAAAAAAAAZU/JZNaVqwR-LI/s1600/IMG_3685.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zjP8qeMI/AAAAAAAAAZU/JZNaVqwR-LI/s400/IMG_3685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484737339364899010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zOiYTaXI/AAAAAAAAAZM/SbOdlpsg-RU/s1600/IMG_3670.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB2zOiYTaXI/AAAAAAAAAZM/SbOdlpsg-RU/s400/IMG_3670.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484736983535413618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB21hCNwPsI/AAAAAAAAAaE/_-krpvFm1NA/s1600/IMG_3709.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB21hCNwPsI/AAAAAAAAAaE/_-krpvFm1NA/s400/IMG_3709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484739500342001346" /></a><br /><br />As we were driving back to Srinagar I realized that my Rickshaw driver had no idea where he was going, lol thank God I have a great sense of direction. The country roads weren't very traffic laden so Rafi asked me if I wanted to drive the Rik, you should of seen the faces of the police officers as we drove past them. Next stop was a Muslim festival which was just ending but I got some great pics of the guys on top of the buses, I did wish that they were holding their Kalashnikov's in the air but alas I guess it was safer this way. The pics of the white Mosque were taken the previous day, when I had gone there only to get drenched!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB233fnJeDI/AAAAAAAAAak/fEYS7FELrcA/s1600/IMG_3738.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB233fnJeDI/AAAAAAAAAak/fEYS7FELrcA/s400/IMG_3738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484742085213517874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB23t3JscjI/AAAAAAAAAac/x8sOg3tP6UY/s1600/IMG_3748.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB23t3JscjI/AAAAAAAAAac/x8sOg3tP6UY/s400/IMG_3748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484741919733740082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB23l-H8DzI/AAAAAAAAAaU/CUxHq9ueYr0/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB23l-H8DzI/AAAAAAAAAaU/CUxHq9ueYr0/s400/IMG_3785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484741784166469426" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB24GsdnqGI/AAAAAAAAAas/BrOX182HwBU/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB24GsdnqGI/AAAAAAAAAas/BrOX182HwBU/s400/IMG_3552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484742346361251938" /></a><br /><br />Then we ended the day with a visit to a Church, it was closed up but they did open it to allow me to go inside, not very lavish like the churches in Europe but the warm sunlight coming in through the windows put such a spiritual glow on the occasion. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB25cHf5-DI/AAAAAAAAAa8/PXtFLOwoS-M/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB25cHf5-DI/AAAAAAAAAa8/PXtFLOwoS-M/s400/IMG_3807.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484743813907478578" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB25T_Z8pAI/AAAAAAAAAa0/t4py_kl0xTI/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TB25T_Z8pAI/AAAAAAAAAa0/t4py_kl0xTI/s400/IMG_3804.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484743674296050690" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-2673309900119553162010-06-14T05:35:00.000-07:002010-06-14T05:55:11.312-07:00Markets in SrinagarNot for the faint of heart or the animal lover but markets in mainly populated Muslim areas are halal. So you will see plenty of freshly killed chickens and mutton, and blood running down the street. Nothing goes to waste brains and intestines are consumed just as hardily as the nice chunk of meat. The markets don't smell as bad you would think because it is freshly killed that day. But what got me was the amount of men doing the shopping really only a few women to be found out and about.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYmCHZjFKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Uyy-nUedv4g/s1600/IMG_3522.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYmCHZjFKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Uyy-nUedv4g/s400/IMG_3522.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611414157956258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYl37eiENI/AAAAAAAAAX8/rmvo0ESJs-k/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYl37eiENI/AAAAAAAAAX8/rmvo0ESJs-k/s400/IMG_3523.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611239158943954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYk37VBWkI/AAAAAAAAAX0/tw7ypIgw2aQ/s1600/IMG_3526.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYk37VBWkI/AAAAAAAAAX0/tw7ypIgw2aQ/s400/IMG_3526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482610139607423554" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkj0KJv7I/AAAAAAAAAXs/Bzi_TpyLPV4/s1600/IMG_3568.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkj0KJv7I/AAAAAAAAAXs/Bzi_TpyLPV4/s400/IMG_3568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482609794085404594" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkbEy7BJI/AAAAAAAAAXk/2veEPhdI5EM/s1600/IMG_3569.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkbEy7BJI/AAAAAAAAAXk/2veEPhdI5EM/s400/IMG_3569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482609643932550290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkUsilwjI/AAAAAAAAAXc/nRUrGgmlpQY/s1600/IMG_3571.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYkUsilwjI/AAAAAAAAAXc/nRUrGgmlpQY/s400/IMG_3571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482609534342382130" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-3552666698505978852010-06-04T21:06:00.000-07:002010-06-14T04:51:34.273-07:001Thousand Indians, a Mountain and MeGulmarg ski resort and hill station is a day trip out of Srinagar. Popular in the winter for winter sports but in the summer months it still packs in the Indian tourists who come from sweltering Mumbai and Delhi to cool off and for the most part to touch snow for the first time in their lives.<br /><br />It took me 1 rickshaw and two service taxis to get there. I made the mistake of letting them sit me in the front for the trip there, a harrowing experience to watch the driver play chicken with the fully loaded truck barreling down the two lane road that the Kashmiri's some how turn into 3 or 4 lanes depending, throw in a few stray dogs, the ubiquitous cow, potholes the size of Texas and you have a gut wrenching trip right before your eyes. I made a note to myself, next time sit in the back so you cant see death before your eyes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAzPN-t7n5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/uT3xWLPaexg/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAzPN-t7n5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/uT3xWLPaexg/s400/IMG_3402.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479982685683949458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAzOcbDCFaI/AAAAAAAAAVc/aV2BFZjQ3Ko/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAzOcbDCFaI/AAAAAAAAAVc/aV2BFZjQ3Ko/s400/IMG_3400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479981834295186850" /></a><br /><br />The taxi wallah drops you off a kilometer or so from the entrance to the cable cars, Its a lovely walk in the country side with the fresh smell of mountain air and pony poop. I notice that most of the Indian tourists are wearing long coats and rubber boots, and furry hats, and then it dawned on me they had rented these, lol boy are tourists gullible or did they know something that I didn't know.I trudged along in my Doc Marten boots.<br /><br />A Family from Delhi<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAz_QnUnM5I/AAAAAAAAAV0/yQ7P9WL5UQ4/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAz_QnUnM5I/AAAAAAAAAV0/yQ7P9WL5UQ4/s400/IMG_3437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480035507501478802" /></a><br /><br />When I got to the ticket counter, I saw a few lines and what should have been a normal Que up. But this is India and soon I found myself sandwiched between twenty Indian men in long coats and furry hats pushing and shoving to be the first to get their tickets, so I had to do a little pushing and shoving as well. I finally got my hand through the little ticket window and handed the man my 300 rupees he asked me only 1 ticket? Yes I'm alone I replied, he looked puzzled but gave it to me anyway.<br /><br />I felt gleeful for accomplishing the feat of buying a ticket until I saw the line for the cable car itself, LOL that's where the 1 thousand Indians comes into play. I actually thought to myself do I need to go up a mountain? I have seen snow , for Christ sakes I grew up in Chicago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYQ4-mZJ4I/AAAAAAAAAWU/Cd7BOjS2hvs/s1600/IMG_3411.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYQ4-mZJ4I/AAAAAAAAAWU/Cd7BOjS2hvs/s400/IMG_3411.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482588167432906626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYQoyKGjCI/AAAAAAAAAWM/xzf7ZoYu_wk/s1600/IMG_3410.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYQoyKGjCI/AAAAAAAAAWM/xzf7ZoYu_wk/s400/IMG_3410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482587889215114274" /></a><br /><br />Well I did pay 300 rs to go up and what else do I have to do today right? The sun is shining... Well it was shining a few minutes ago! The clouds came over fast and the wind started to blow and at this point I looked at those long coats and stupid furry hats with envy.<br /><br />I stood in that line for nearly 2 hours before I saw the inside of a cable car. During this time I met some wonderful people and have been invited to stay with a family in Delhi if ever I pass that way. The cable car doesn't exactly stop it just sort of slows down kinda like an Indian Bus or train, you would think these people would be used to jumping onto moving objects, but I guess it was there first cable car. This would account for the long wait.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYVNgfmwzI/AAAAAAAAAWc/nbTr9FnXDvg/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYVNgfmwzI/AAAAAAAAAWc/nbTr9FnXDvg/s400/IMG_3455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482592918175138610" /></a><br /><br /><br />The ride up was fun with the oh so typical cable car stopping mid way and letting you hang suspended over a forest of pine trees while it gently sways in the breeze. the girl sitting next to me was clutching my hand tightly, I can't say I minded it much it was the 5th time that day I felt death staring at me. But then the generator starts up and we continue with the ascend.<br /><br />Once up the mountain we find that there is no snow at this point but if we want to see snow we have to pay 500rs more to take another cable car further up the mountain. I look up the mountain and I cant see it since there is one massive grey cloud hanging over it. I walked over to the ticket window to see what the score was only to find twenty more Indian men pushing and shoving I didn't get into the fray that time. But when I heard a man pleading with the ticket seller , who was saying no more tickets for the day that it was to late, my heart went out for them, how many of these Indian tourists save there rupees to come here to Kashmir and go up a mountain and promise their family they will see snow only to be turned away when they are so close. <br /><br />I took a few photos and was about to turn back when Allah smiled down upon us all and lifted the clouds and showed me the beautiful snowy peaks of Gulmarg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYW8EXyuFI/AAAAAAAAAXU/BqX06gjhDT8/s1600/IMG_3479.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYW8EXyuFI/AAAAAAAAAXU/BqX06gjhDT8/s400/IMG_3479.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482594817591654482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWx3iF9VI/AAAAAAAAAXM/rFYcZBLbjFM/s1600/IMG_3478.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWx3iF9VI/AAAAAAAAAXM/rFYcZBLbjFM/s400/IMG_3478.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482594642346505554" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWnFwsRnI/AAAAAAAAAXE/2FShLVJBKac/s1600/IMG_3503.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWnFwsRnI/AAAAAAAAAXE/2FShLVJBKac/s400/IMG_3503.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482594457187272306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWbgFMmlI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ls2KFZT_47Q/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWbgFMmlI/AAAAAAAAAW8/ls2KFZT_47Q/s400/IMG_3489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482594258094168658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWQLCh83I/AAAAAAAAAW0/4ZkxaipxaG0/s1600/IMG_3492.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWQLCh83I/AAAAAAAAAW0/4ZkxaipxaG0/s400/IMG_3492.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482594063467279218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWF7BZHQI/AAAAAAAAAWs/c9u-pOkzITc/s1600/IMG_3484.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYWF7BZHQI/AAAAAAAAAWs/c9u-pOkzITc/s400/IMG_3484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482593887368846594" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYVyP4JwDI/AAAAAAAAAWk/8zn4clJkpxo/s1600/IMG_3459.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TBYVyP4JwDI/AAAAAAAAAWk/8zn4clJkpxo/s400/IMG_3459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482593549369851954" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-30541304970009151222010-06-03T09:01:00.000-07:002010-06-04T08:24:17.244-07:00Dal LakeDal lake probably the main reason Srinagar is the summer capital of Kashmir. The houseboats on the lake make for a prime Indian Honeymoon spot. Staying on the house boats can be quite a romantic experience, some are pretty lush inside , however, nowhere near as posh as the 5 star prices they are asking. Since I'm alone except for my Scissors, I opted to stay in a hotel while in Srinagar. Besides its only a hassle getting to and from the boats as they are located on the lake you need to hire a Shikara, which means you have to haggle for the price every time you want to go somewhere on land.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjethUfaBI/AAAAAAAAATk/u8CJ25HMD3Y/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjethUfaBI/AAAAAAAAATk/u8CJ25HMD3Y/s400/IMG_3258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478873820316002322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjej5MCWkI/AAAAAAAAATc/BK9898G6e5o/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjej5MCWkI/AAAAAAAAATc/BK9898G6e5o/s400/IMG_3243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478873654924302914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjeZnPL-uI/AAAAAAAAATU/pM7kge_6ZCo/s1600/IMG_3254.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjeZnPL-uI/AAAAAAAAATU/pM7kge_6ZCo/s400/IMG_3254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478873478306986722" /></a><br /><br />Shikaras are the boats that ply all means of trade and leisure on the lake. I took a Shikara out for a trip around the lake, 250 rs for 3 hours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAfg4uuDwzI/AAAAAAAAAS8/BarbN9K32XA/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAfg4uuDwzI/AAAAAAAAAS8/BarbN9K32XA/s400/IMG_3166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478594736938009394" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjeFcMA6XI/AAAAAAAAATM/9aihC2pCpwY/s1600/IMG_3183.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjeFcMA6XI/AAAAAAAAATM/9aihC2pCpwY/s400/IMG_3183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478873131743504754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZ71mKdoI/AAAAAAAAAVE/kvEVLfF49D4/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZ71mKdoI/AAAAAAAAAVE/kvEVLfF49D4/s400/IMG_3343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478938937463043714" /></a><br /><br /> <br />It would have actually been a very enjoyable experience except for the fact I spent an Hour telling him I wasn't interested in any other tours, his guest house, Pashima shawls, or him!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjgoHJd4jI/AAAAAAAAATs/Ii52sJ2M17E/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAjgoHJd4jI/AAAAAAAAATs/Ii52sJ2M17E/s400/IMG_3349.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478875926414352946" /></a><br /><br /><br />So after we made that perfectly clear, I then had to ward off all the other Shikaras that came up to the boat to try to sell me their wares. Why would I want to dress up in Kashmiri dress and get my picture taken on a boat? WHY? I don't fall for the typical tourist crap and when the driver asked if I wanted to steer the boat I said , "No thanks, I'm paying you to do that." He asked me a few more times,lol. I finally asked him, "why are you tired and lazy" and he said, "Yes Yes." So we stopped amidst the Lilly ponds and took a half hour rest in the afternoon sun. That was the only time he shut up!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkX_l3U2AI/AAAAAAAAAUU/QAaCk5_2DGg/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkX_l3U2AI/AAAAAAAAAUU/QAaCk5_2DGg/s400/IMG_3154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478936802936281090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkX3NHsY_I/AAAAAAAAAUM/jgSqQ3fjvtw/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkX3NHsY_I/AAAAAAAAAUM/jgSqQ3fjvtw/s400/IMG_3321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478936658855093234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkXsexiL8I/AAAAAAAAAUE/JfiwAcTkEl8/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkXsexiL8I/AAAAAAAAAUE/JfiwAcTkEl8/s400/IMG_3310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478936474615427010" /></a><br /><br /><br />I asked about the sanitation on the house boats and where the waste goes, he flat out said into the lake, and then in the next sentence said but the lake is clean and you can swim in it UGGGH yeah right dude.<br /><br />I did see a new water sport ,one I haven't seen before, they call it water skating I will call it Door skiing. Basically a guy getting pulled by a boat standing on a door. And if he falls into the water well like the Shikara driver said its clean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkYno1lbZI/AAAAAAAAAUk/iOvJtrg5uFU/s1600/IMG_3278.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkYno1lbZI/AAAAAAAAAUk/iOvJtrg5uFU/s400/IMG_3278.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478937490929053074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkYiFtS9rI/AAAAAAAAAUc/nmRk3w8Xa-8/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkYiFtS9rI/AAAAAAAAAUc/nmRk3w8Xa-8/s400/IMG_3279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478937395599701682" /></a><br /><br />The lake itself is home to 14,000 people who live on houseboats or small islands. There are Pharmacy's, stores, mini marts, schools, you name it they got it of course except for the BAR!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZN0XcGkI/AAAAAAAAAU8/Rc4g9vQzvOM/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZN0XcGkI/AAAAAAAAAU8/Rc4g9vQzvOM/s400/IMG_3350.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478938146858867266" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZGaNJhAI/AAAAAAAAAU0/E46YW1evHqs/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkZGaNJhAI/AAAAAAAAAU0/E46YW1evHqs/s400/IMG_3344.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478938019577299970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkY_MdqZlI/AAAAAAAAAUs/ZFShlkGRSxg/s1600/IMG_3287.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkY_MdqZlI/AAAAAAAAAUs/ZFShlkGRSxg/s400/IMG_3287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478937895629383250" /></a><br /><br /><br />There are plenty of signs up reminding people to keep the lake clean , but there are plenty of signs of human garbage as well. Until people can respect the lake it will never be really clean.<br /><br />Lets just hope that these children treat their lake better than their parents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkaZMs9nuI/AAAAAAAAAVU/tS1Ve2GF43Q/s1600/IMG_3329.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkaZMs9nuI/AAAAAAAAAVU/tS1Ve2GF43Q/s400/IMG_3329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478939441881784034" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkaTIK9DGI/AAAAAAAAAVM/TeOoWhNAygI/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAkaTIK9DGI/AAAAAAAAAVM/TeOoWhNAygI/s400/IMG_3375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478939337586183266" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-71928360632723044832010-06-01T06:59:00.000-07:002010-06-01T08:14:20.927-07:00Faces of SrinagarWhen you arrive at the airport the sign says Welcome to Paradise on Earth, well I cant say I agree 100% but the weather is a whole lot cooler then hot and sweaty Mumbai. The military presence is quite strong there are checkpoints about every Kilometer. However the feeling in the air isn't tense or intimidating. <br /><br />My cell phone with my Mumbai sim card doesn't work here so I had to get a sim card on the black, its on loan while I stay in Srinagar. The Indian government doesn't want foreigners having cell phones here. Hmm... I wonder why?<br /><br />Today I walked around the town just to take it all in it sure is a different world from Mumbai from the architecture to the faces of the People. <br /><br />Today's post is just the faces of Srinagar Enjoy!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUiW9POKBI/AAAAAAAAASk/udZ2CcqLu5o/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUiW9POKBI/AAAAAAAAASk/udZ2CcqLu5o/s400/IMG_3197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477822299556947986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhgBZum1I/AAAAAAAAASU/-lraJl2X3nE/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhgBZum1I/AAAAAAAAASU/-lraJl2X3nE/s400/IMG_3233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477821355781954386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhZzNW-1I/AAAAAAAAASM/fFdUUOlpxZM/s1600/IMG_3232.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhZzNW-1I/AAAAAAAAASM/fFdUUOlpxZM/s400/IMG_3232.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477821248892762962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhNvvgn8I/AAAAAAAAASE/ipbxQpdexic/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhNvvgn8I/AAAAAAAAASE/ipbxQpdexic/s400/IMG_3216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477821041803829186" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhISJ6EzI/AAAAAAAAAR8/6zLjIbvasPA/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUhISJ6EzI/AAAAAAAAAR8/6zLjIbvasPA/s400/IMG_3212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477820947962139442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUg-A_3-sI/AAAAAAAAAR0/qBFMRgsMcHY/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUg-A_3-sI/AAAAAAAAAR0/qBFMRgsMcHY/s400/IMG_3211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477820771557964482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUg4LbFA_I/AAAAAAAAARs/PcAMsYBsl0E/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUg4LbFA_I/AAAAAAAAARs/PcAMsYBsl0E/s400/IMG_3170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477820671277204466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUgu_HG__I/AAAAAAAAARk/_HdSIReEceM/s1600/IMG_3169.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUgu_HG__I/AAAAAAAAARk/_HdSIReEceM/s400/IMG_3169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477820513353400306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUghrPjT6I/AAAAAAAAARc/VcVBMo-OtNs/s1600/IMG_3206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUghrPjT6I/AAAAAAAAARc/VcVBMo-OtNs/s400/IMG_3206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477820284681801634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUgPbWKD8I/AAAAAAAAARU/_xhoqmlmMMM/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/TAUgPbWKD8I/AAAAAAAAARU/_xhoqmlmMMM/s400/IMG_3121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477819971176894402" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-22054064022836804192010-05-28T05:53:00.001-07:002010-05-28T07:17:37.010-07:00Monkey FaceLady Gaga has got Poker Face well I got Monkey Face. The Other day I went back to Elephanta Island with my two American friends Andrew and Nick They have both Left Mumbai now, but we had a good time while they were here. There is no Denny's or Greek diners here for breakfast so we went to the local veg restaurant In Coloba. I love the orange chairs so retro without trying to be we. Andrew in one of his half trance half goof states.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__EoAsCf2I/AAAAAAAAANs/boDii4XqTKc/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__EoAsCf2I/AAAAAAAAANs/boDii4XqTKc/s400/IMG_2727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476311863564336994" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />Stopped by Crawford market Nick wanted to buy some spices, but after the prices they gave us he decided he could get it cheaper in NYC. Crawford market is full of Mangoes I think it the Mango transportation center of Mumbai. I freaked out when I saw puppies in cage until I realized that it was also the pet market, and they were not being sold DUH! Wrong Country Gabi! Not anything like Petco or Petsmart, sad conditions really. The kitty was panting!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__E3cZphUI/AAAAAAAAAN0/EdupcCnR1cw/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__E3cZphUI/AAAAAAAAAN0/EdupcCnR1cw/s400/IMG_2764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476312128701433154" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Hg62IEnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Re94bRN6M00/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Hg62IEnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Re94bRN6M00/s400/IMG_2763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476315040271831666" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Nicky and His pet goat, Yeah Holly he bought it and he's taking it home! LOL just kidding we had it for dinner actually.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__HTsjSFNI/AAAAAAAAAOM/EW8KuJ_N4lQ/s1600/IMG_2774.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__HTsjSFNI/AAAAAAAAAOM/EW8KuJ_N4lQ/s400/IMG_2774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476314813096400082" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />The only photo I have of me so far is in the reflection of the pet store window, I really need to get some pics of me to prove I was here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__FJjOFP-I/AAAAAAAAAN8/SxzUPsddkt0/s1600/IMG_2766.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__FJjOFP-I/AAAAAAAAAN8/SxzUPsddkt0/s400/IMG_2766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476312439769612258" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br />Tons of mangoes and fruit so beautifully laid out, the colors were stunning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__IzeqzTBI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WK_rfmrz3zQ/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__IzeqzTBI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WK_rfmrz3zQ/s400/IMG_2787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476316458637282322" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Jvx0vpmI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lh9q8ivgnzo/s1600/IMG_2777.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Jvx0vpmI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lh9q8ivgnzo/s400/IMG_2777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476317494571411042" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__J7NYE2RI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ldZ5Xs2i6H4/s1600/IMG_2790.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__J7NYE2RI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ldZ5Xs2i6H4/s400/IMG_2790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476317690945919250" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__LYDwJc4I/AAAAAAAAAPE/LGB6d047FGM/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__LYDwJc4I/AAAAAAAAAPE/LGB6d047FGM/s400/IMG_2779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476319286090363778" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__MXkBWigI/AAAAAAAAAPU/YrBGqnjk_6E/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__MXkBWigI/AAAAAAAAAPU/YrBGqnjk_6E/s400/IMG_2782.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476320377084217858" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__MiU32AkI/AAAAAAAAAPc/IaDXhbSVkF8/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__MiU32AkI/AAAAAAAAAPc/IaDXhbSVkF8/s400/IMG_2798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476320561996366402" /></a><br /><br /><br />On the boat to Elephanta and as always the people are so photogenic and if I smile at them they don't mind me making pictures, Its the Bollywood thing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__NN6RRNhI/AAAAAAAAAP0/4BGSj6PIxzU/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__NN6RRNhI/AAAAAAAAAP0/4BGSj6PIxzU/s400/IMG_2884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476321310769493522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__NFUwfQfI/AAAAAAAAAPs/czrtO8jpg_Y/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__NFUwfQfI/AAAAAAAAAPs/czrtO8jpg_Y/s400/IMG_2830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476321163260936690" /></a><br /><br />When we got to Elephanta we just strolled around kinda like the cows there, this guy I thought was going after me but he was just trying to get up a step and I happened to be in his way. This is his backend!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__N1wNAKsI/AAAAAAAAAP8/IsP11Tu9tDo/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__N1wNAKsI/AAAAAAAAAP8/IsP11Tu9tDo/s400/IMG_2835.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476321995262012098" /></a><br /><br />But the real star of this post is Monkey face!! I don't know what he has on his lips but he cracked me up and he was quite a photogenic monkey some monkeys aren't so photogenic so when I find one I go snap crazy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OxXW_icI/AAAAAAAAAQc/TjuqRXJsoHM/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OxXW_icI/AAAAAAAAAQc/TjuqRXJsoHM/s400/IMG_2858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476323019385178562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OrlDjcvI/AAAAAAAAAQU/jf7iuktIWlc/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OrlDjcvI/AAAAAAAAAQU/jf7iuktIWlc/s400/IMG_2859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322919982527218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Ok1nKGoI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Tqxiah_yHI4/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__Ok1nKGoI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Tqxiah_yHI4/s400/IMG_2860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322804167744130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OcQr-QcI/AAAAAAAAAQE/rUcRiWDU120/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S__OcQr-QcI/AAAAAAAAAQE/rUcRiWDU120/s400/IMG_2864.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322656816873922" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-76996527656273412852010-05-23T07:24:00.000-07:002010-05-23T08:19:01.286-07:00Malabar HillYesterday I went for a wander around a area of Mumbai I hadn't been to before Its called Malabar Hill, its full of pretty old colonial architecture and a few temples, skyscrapers with ocean views that have to look over the slums first. I got dropped of at The Jain temple, Jainism is an ancient religion of India that follows a path of non-violence towards all living beings.<br /><br />I don't know much about Jains but I wondered in and took of my shoes like the sign said, I should of read the rest of the sign before I entered as well OOPS! It was very pretty and open unfortunately to dark to get very many pictures and since it was a working temple and people were praying I am not one to shove my camera in their faces I restrained myself.<br /><br />In the entrance there was this gorgeously ornate silver plated carriage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k9PXfn7ZI/AAAAAAAAALs/tz3WyjBEsOY/s1600/IMG_2625.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k9PXfn7ZI/AAAAAAAAALs/tz3WyjBEsOY/s400/IMG_2625.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474474156259536274" /></a><br /><br />And Since Elephants are trendy right now I thought he was kinda cute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k9uY_P7tI/AAAAAAAAAL0/JFI3VIip0s8/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k9uY_P7tI/AAAAAAAAAL0/JFI3VIip0s8/s400/IMG_2629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474474689236561618" /></a><br /><br />As I was putting my shoes on I started to read the rest of the sign, and the one that really stood out was, WOMEN WHO HAVE THEIR MONTHLY PERIOD WILL NOT ENTER THE TEMPLE, Yikes I hope I didn't sully the place. And how would anybody know really??<br /><br />I walked around a bit really just getting lost in the neighborhood. I did go through this arch but I was told I wasn't allowed in there another OOPS!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k-qjhoeoI/AAAAAAAAAL8/IUEJaJ8FQCA/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k-qjhoeoI/AAAAAAAAAL8/IUEJaJ8FQCA/s400/IMG_2630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474475722857282178" /></a><br /><br />So I was desperately looking for a way to get to the sea front when I met this boy and his mother, I was trying to take a photo of the temple spire with the satellite dish sticking off of it when this little boy climbed a railing and got in my picture.<br /><br />His Mother and I got to talking and she inquired about my chin that was bandaged up, since my fall in the bathroom the other night. She asked me if my husband did it to me? Hmm is that a normal question.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lAGaxStaI/AAAAAAAAAMM/o3klFh9MZZI/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lAGaxStaI/AAAAAAAAAMM/o3klFh9MZZI/s400/IMG_2632.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474477301055010210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k_9gCAZSI/AAAAAAAAAME/N4XOCd9fhtw/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_k_9gCAZSI/AAAAAAAAAME/N4XOCd9fhtw/s400/IMG_2634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474477147848467746" /></a><br /><br />After wards I turned a corner and I found this incredible pool, gosh what I wouldn't have given to jump right in it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lAz-OcUOI/AAAAAAAAAMU/t2T5-Uy_OT4/s1600/IMG_2642.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lAz-OcUOI/AAAAAAAAAMU/t2T5-Uy_OT4/s400/IMG_2642.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474478083666628834" /></a><br /><br />Boys at play I was really envious that they got swim in the pool what a cool thing to have in you neighborhood, But as with ALL things in India nothing is clean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lB6o1P9oI/AAAAAAAAAMk/RAvLItG4rwc/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lB6o1P9oI/AAAAAAAAAMk/RAvLItG4rwc/s400/IMG_2654.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474479297694529154" /></a><br /><br />This neighborhood of new towering private entrance apartment blocks built alongside the slums makes me think of a forest with trees and after the rains a plethora of all kinds of fungi. I found the local laundromat the laundry hanging out to dry with the filth of the street just under it. As I walked around I encountered the mobile water tanker and all the women were lined up for fresh water with their buckets. Indians are unbelievably friendly and egocentric people they love to have there photos taken and its usually upon their suggestions before I start clicking away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lD9b_4KII/AAAAAAAAAMs/Q1l4qB_Y2qs/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lD9b_4KII/AAAAAAAAAMs/Q1l4qB_Y2qs/s400/IMG_2662.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474481544812308610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lEb7nKfJI/AAAAAAAAANE/Xw6bI3RiplQ/s1600/IMG_2669.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lEb7nKfJI/AAAAAAAAANE/Xw6bI3RiplQ/s400/IMG_2669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474482068694662290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lEIqyzP0I/AAAAAAAAAM0/ikjPTrpu9BA/s1600/IMG_2658.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lEIqyzP0I/AAAAAAAAAM0/ikjPTrpu9BA/s400/IMG_2658.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474481737762553666" /></a><br /><br />And then I encountered the barber shop I got this fist picture shot before I was noticed and then the Barber got very animated and well just in true form of Bollywood posed for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFOa6H4_I/AAAAAAAAANU/i5oKJ_jX2sE/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFOa6H4_I/AAAAAAAAANU/i5oKJ_jX2sE/s400/IMG_2677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474482936089142258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFI2C4--I/AAAAAAAAANM/yt5pX1BRLWM/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFI2C4--I/AAAAAAAAANM/yt5pX1BRLWM/s400/IMG_2681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474482840294456290" /></a><br /><br />My first sighting of a bird in captivity! I wonder what he thinks of the heat?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFk47CWYI/AAAAAAAAANc/eCpuq6xelzg/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lFk47CWYI/AAAAAAAAANc/eCpuq6xelzg/s400/IMG_2685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474483322103159170" /></a><br /><br />And after all this wondering around I found a little road side place where I ordered some samosas and a lassi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lGAUVPLvI/AAAAAAAAANk/uTnAZHhy7DY/s1600/IMG_2687.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_lGAUVPLvI/AAAAAAAAANk/uTnAZHhy7DY/s400/IMG_2687.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474483793317277426" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-84261770610171498252010-05-20T09:25:00.000-07:002010-05-21T09:45:22.712-07:00Horniman ParkHorniman Park Yep that's what its called and its pronounced that way too. A park located in south Mumbai in the Fort Neighborhood. It's close to the India stock exchange. What can I say when I found out there was a park called Horniman I had to go investigate. So first I had to pass by the exchange it was quite nice they dont allow cars in front of it. I couldn't figure out why I felt different until I realized no HORNS!!<br /><br />I entered the park and it was green and lush for Mumbai standards and guess what it was full of LOL!!!! Yep a lot of men. Not much of a park but I guess a place with a bit of shade to get away from the Mumbai scorching sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1KsIMRRI/AAAAAAAAAK4/J8h31EdMO9s/s1600/IMG_2539.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1KsIMRRI/AAAAAAAAAK4/J8h31EdMO9s/s400/IMG_2539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473761592364254482" /></a><br /><br />But it is called Horniman park in honor of this guy so it wasn't just a piss take on the name. He even got a plaque.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1ZAxMp_I/AAAAAAAAALA/SdwF2A_zSOQ/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1ZAxMp_I/AAAAAAAAALA/SdwF2A_zSOQ/s400/IMG_2540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473761838423123954" /></a><br /><br />And here is more men taken shade.... Hmm I don't see Dr. Bombay in there,( Dr. Bombay future posts)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1xNZv9fI/AAAAAAAAALI/5msluS0M6Vg/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a1xNZv9fI/AAAAAAAAALI/5msluS0M6Vg/s400/IMG_2541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473762254131295730" /></a><br /><br />So after that I wandered the lanes of Fort, and slowly made my way back to Colaba this is a view of the Famous rat infested Regal Theater and right across the street the next building you see is my hotel. Behind the tower you see is the Taj Tower part of the Taj Hotel which was attacked in 08.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a2u9-1hfI/AAAAAAAAALY/UZyV1SqCmTk/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a2u9-1hfI/AAAAAAAAALY/UZyV1SqCmTk/s400/IMG_2544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473763315143771634" /></a><br /><br />A close up shot of the Hotel Shabana my home in Mumbai, I put a G on my room so you can see where I am staying. Probably not a good idea for stalkers but I don't have any at the moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a3bMAWVqI/AAAAAAAAALg/HLjRItc2DwY/s1600/IMG_2409.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_a3bMAWVqI/AAAAAAAAALg/HLjRItc2DwY/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473764074822456994" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-45702076281100255792010-05-17T07:49:00.000-07:002010-05-19T07:44:02.749-07:00Chor BazaarThe Chor bazaar in Mumbai is packed full of little shops selling anything and everything, it translates to thieves market. It is called that because during Queen Victoria of England's visit to India, it is said that her violin was stolen off the ship and it was found in the bazaar, so hence the name Thieves market.<br /><br />I love to wander around there getting dusty looking at all the little odd and ends there. And then when I do find something of interest the haggling starts. You can find old ship parts ,vintage cameras, weird bits. I found a tigers tooth and hippo horn but I wont buy either one on principal. There is plenty of reproduction crap to buy as well you just have to know if its really vintage/antique. I found a really cool stone inlayed skull mug, it caught my eye, but when I smelled and looked at the inside I knew it wasn't old, even when the boy tried to persuade me that it was, I laughed and another guy said no its not old. I bought my<a href="http://travelingwithscissors.blogspot.com/2010/05/brass-whistle-that-made-me-turn-red.html"> Whistles</a> at Chor bazaar and also some of the <a href="http://travelingwithscissors.blogspot.com/2010/05/wooden-block-printing.html">vintage wood blocks</a><br /><br />However the most incredible find so far has been this beautiful old Plymouth with the most retro teal paint job. She isn't pristine, she looks like she has been around the block a bit, but I bet she would be fun to drive around India. Just as long as the cows stayed clear. I'm calling her Christine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PwApLmRUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/3-pZef9E8fY/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PwApLmRUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/3-pZef9E8fY/s400/IMG_2032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472981866030449986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PwQCE3ldI/AAAAAAAAAJw/PagVRqTiV9Y/s1600/IMG_2035.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PwQCE3ldI/AAAAAAAAAJw/PagVRqTiV9Y/s400/IMG_2035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472982130411148754" /></a><br /><br />I have seen lots of old musical instruments Tuba any one?? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PyFUSq3vI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5tQFJgEbJ94/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_PyFUSq3vI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5tQFJgEbJ94/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472984145345568498" /></a><br /><br />And the old Photography equipment is impressive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P01SBYYFI/AAAAAAAAAKA/oTK7OCK_k5I/s1600/IMG_2026.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P01SBYYFI/AAAAAAAAAKA/oTK7OCK_k5I/s400/IMG_2026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472987168393158738" /></a><br /><br />Really if its old its here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P2uQ4CgmI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/fEbdIXoV6pY/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P2uQ4CgmI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/fEbdIXoV6pY/s400/IMG_2044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472989246849712738" /></a><br /><br />And of course You have to have mangoes and guys with colorful beards.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P5EvQM0DI/AAAAAAAAAKo/AR0FQyON8g0/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S_P5EvQM0DI/AAAAAAAAAKo/AR0FQyON8g0/s400/IMG_2050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472991831984492594" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-49458847682450437042010-05-15T04:12:00.000-07:002010-05-15T04:54:52.423-07:00The Brass Whistle That Made Me Turn RedThey are pretty vintage a few are stamped 1960's, when I found them I instantly thought how cool since I am all about recycling history into my designs. So that in turn led me on the Leather cord chase remember my previous post. Well I never found the leather, but I went back to the bazaar the other day and found some vintage Afghan necklace's that I thought would look ideal with the brass whistle's.<br /><br />So I made them up and then I had to take pictures as you do before you can list a new product for sale. I was raking my brain as how to show that these could also be unisex. In the Hotel Shabana , there is a fellow American staying here. He is a nice young boy from PA. and I thought well heck I will ask him to model for me in the lobby, he didn't mind and I took the snaps.<br /><br />Later I also took some up close images, but I was up in the air with which image should be my first picture for my items.<br /><br />So I posted both a pic of the up close shot and a pic of the body shot. The girls on the Artfire forums got a giggle out of the sexy pics and usual banter started. Girls will be girls after all. But then when a dear friend of mine from Artfire Holly of <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/RoyalMetals">RoyalMetals</a> posted in the thread I dropped my jaw. this is what Holly posted.<br /><br />OMGGGGGGGGGGGG That boy is 19 years old, lives in Pa., is traveling around India and some other countries, his mother will be there in a week or so to visit him. I know because HE IS MY NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not believe this!!!!! <br /><br />So needless to say I was embarrassed for taking pictures of her nephew like that but the whole family got a kick out of it, and so did Nick. I hope to meet his mother when she arrives next week. Holly asked me to look out for him as well and is happy to know that, he isn't completely alone in Mumbai. <br /><br />What a small world it is, I am still shaking my head in disbelief. <br /><br />The close up shot<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6H-pb7NGI/AAAAAAAAAIg/OBRIQR7SX70/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6H-pb7NGI/AAAAAAAAAIg/OBRIQR7SX70/s400/IMG_2198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471460107646350434" /></a><br /><br />The shot that started the banter<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6IMCzMbBI/AAAAAAAAAIo/a1gcvTy0_Sw/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6IMCzMbBI/AAAAAAAAAIo/a1gcvTy0_Sw/s400/IMG_2149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471460337793133586" /></a><br /><br />And the shot that I posted to show them he was just a boy and the one that his Aunt Holly recognized him in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6I8rsU3YI/AAAAAAAAAIw/QKES4HswIcI/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6I8rsU3YI/AAAAAAAAAIw/QKES4HswIcI/s400/IMG_2141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471461173403901314" /></a><br /><br />And today I took a few more shots to show off the whistles as hipster and unisex. This is one of the room wallahs Rakesh. I really like the 70's look that's happening.<br /><br />And of course if you want to buy any of these very cool vintage brass whistles you can find them at my <a href="http://catfluff.artfire.com">Artfire studio</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6LY2kfigI/AAAAAAAAAJA/9_j5CRj11rY/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6LY2kfigI/AAAAAAAAAJA/9_j5CRj11rY/s400/IMG_2336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471463856383429122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6LTg0IV4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/oIoAf7HUfDM/s1600/IMG_2333.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6LTg0IV4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/oIoAf7HUfDM/s400/IMG_2333.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471463764644091778" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-80394067313938743172010-05-14T06:09:00.000-07:002010-05-15T05:52:22.655-07:00More beads and odds and endsOk like I said these pics are not the best they are taken while in a store so I try to get them good enough. But let me know what interests you at my <a href="http://catfluff.artfire.com">Artfire studio</a> I can get you prices and source what you want.<br /><br /><br />Bells<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TyBl-gvI/AAAAAAAAAJg/-MQ6ZFo8fps/s1600/IMG_2017.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TyBl-gvI/AAAAAAAAAJg/-MQ6ZFo8fps/s400/IMG_2017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471473084932195058" /></a><br />Vintqage Conducters badges<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TrajQpnI/AAAAAAAAAJY/iTmns_QDxUM/s1600/IMG_2014.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TrajQpnI/AAAAAAAAAJY/iTmns_QDxUM/s400/IMG_2014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471472971372602994" /></a><br />British RaJ Buttons<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TlB1TX3I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/aHEZwbOuPSI/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TlB1TX3I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/aHEZwbOuPSI/s400/IMG_2012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471472861658177394" /></a><br />silver beads<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TcqcKCkI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Hy-iaeypEK8/s1600/IMG_2011-1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-6TcqcKCkI/AAAAAAAAAJI/Hy-iaeypEK8/s400/IMG_2011-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471472717939739202" /></a><br />silver and stone mosaic beads<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55qSN4o-I/AAAAAAAAAIY/3L_HsCvrksA/s1600/IMG_2007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55qSN4o-I/AAAAAAAAAIY/3L_HsCvrksA/s400/IMG_2007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444364653274082" /></a><br />Tigers Tooth and Hippo horn<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55kZLvz3I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/vq5J8ku1yBU/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55kZLvz3I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/vq5J8ku1yBU/s400/IMG_2003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444263444139890" /></a><br />more old bells<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55cVUjyXI/AAAAAAAAAII/hNwkFBNQMMk/s1600/IMG_1997.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55cVUjyXI/AAAAAAAAAII/hNwkFBNQMMk/s400/IMG_1997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444124968405362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55VIUfq-I/AAAAAAAAAIA/DzPG8BSS_5E/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-55VIUfq-I/AAAAAAAAAIA/DzPG8BSS_5E/s400/IMG_1999.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444001219390434" /></a><br /><br />Ok like I said these pics are not the best they are taken while in a store so I try to get them good enough. But let me know what interests you at my <a href="http://catfluff.artfire.com">Artfire studio</a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-6091056433198054012010-05-14T04:48:00.000-07:002010-05-14T05:03:13.883-07:00The Monkey BeggarThere is this Beautiful beggar that prowls the streets of Colaba with her monkey on a leash running along side her. I gave her money the other day, but she said she didn't want money she wanted food, and she wanted me to go buy it for her. I said I don't know what to buy you, we will go together and she says she can't because she's got the monkey with her. I said tie the monkey up to a pole. So anyways I saw her again today and she rewarded me with a smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-06_ff39TI/AAAAAAAAAHo/waZJwREjytk/s1600/IMG_2123.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-06_ff39TI/AAAAAAAAAHo/waZJwREjytk/s400/IMG_2123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471093984786380082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-07OWsNxeI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uPrdPWLFE-k/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-07OWsNxeI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uPrdPWLFE-k/s400/IMG_2121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471094240120260066" /></a><br /><br /><br />The monkey however paid no attention to me, he was more occupied with what he found on the street.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-07a8ovBKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/oi7KjxOHV3U/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-07a8ovBKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/oi7KjxOHV3U/s400/IMG_2125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471094456464639138" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624262035075863815.post-89282547853887737412010-05-13T09:41:00.001-07:002010-05-13T09:54:28.762-07:00Tribal Beads from GujaratOk guys these arent the best pics but I want to give you an idea of what is out there for me to find for you. These here are Beads from the state of Gujarat. <br /><br />The beads are all between 3/4 - 1 long the hole is 4mm to 6mm with a metal inside like a pandora.<br /><br />They are made of clay and brass and glass and seed beads, i can get more stuff like this and I also found a tigers tooth today , but i wouldnt buy it on principal. But I did find what he called snake bone/ spine beads, I searched the net couldnt find anything like them .<br />I will post those as well I didnt buy any as they arent cheap either,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wtD_TLmWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/R9T9dSHRne4/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wtD_TLmWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/R9T9dSHRne4/s400/IMG_1534.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470797193903053154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-ws07D2hLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/BDisPGnJY84/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-ws07D2hLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/BDisPGnJY84/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470796935066977458" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wspa8dJAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xTFjd8738Bk/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wspa8dJAI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xTFjd8738Bk/s400/IMG_1523.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470796737467458562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wsd0Coh7I/AAAAAAAAAHA/gjvu48cphEg/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wsd0Coh7I/AAAAAAAAAHA/gjvu48cphEg/s400/IMG_1525.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470796538045826994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wudA_T1BI/AAAAAAAAAHg/nAKQ1Lan0Rw/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_inrW3Kjzf0c/S-wudA_T1BI/AAAAAAAAAHg/nAKQ1Lan0Rw/s400/IMG_1990.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470798723364934674" /></a>catluffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01362497061407147443noreply@blogger.com0