Today on Alberta at Noon I talked about a few recipes from my recent trip to Rajasthan, India. You can listen to that broadcast here. I’m on between the 28:10 to 34:10 marks in the show.
In my column today I talked about the colours of Rajasthan. I tried to convey in words on the radio a few of the images that have stuck in mind. I did not end up feeling that my brief words did this justice so I’ve put together a slide show so you can really begin to see why colour is such a phenomenon in this arid North Indian desert state.
In the pictures below you’ll see women walking with their saris flowing, men’s heads adorned with metres of cloth all wrapped in a colourful turban top, jewels, flowers and glorious food on plates and in corner bazaars and roadside food markets. People loved to wave a friendly hello as we passed or as our bus paused in traffic. The architecture is hundreds of years old but it retains every ounce of glory in its time-worn softness. Throughout our journey, the common thread was the kindness in the eyes and in the hearts of the Indian people we met. “Atithi devo bhavaa”, they would say. Our Guests are Gods. We felt that love and warmth.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my business partners at Indus Travels (especially tour guide extraordinnaire Luv Jawad) for the loving care they take of me and my guests each year. My wonderful life here in Canada will only allow me to take a small group once each year, but they have a tremendous team of brilliant guides available year round and most of their excursions are very small and personalized like my custom tour. I hope you’ll check out all that they have to offer. They really manifest that “Atithi devo bhavaa” credo and when you are travelling half way around the world there could be nothing better to set you up and help you savour it all.
Hint: Click on a photo and then browse through the slide show from that vantage point. You’ll be able to enjoy the full pictures. Namaste, Karen
Elderly woman, Udaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Street sweeping in saris, Udaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Bursts of colour – women walking in saris, Udaipur photo – Karen Anderson
On guard in Udaipur photo – Karen Anderson
a quiet spot for lunch photo – Karen Anderson
shade is good photo – Karen Anderson
famous Udaipur miniature paintings use the state’s plentiful raw materials for all their colours photo – Karen Anderson
Teacher – Udaipur Art College photo – Karen Anderson
Uncut unpolished gems, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Bus drivers on break – the unsung heroes of India’s tourism industry – thanks to Vikas and his assistant (far left) for getting us everywhere safely photo – Karen Anderson
there is so much to see from the bus window photo – Karen Anderson
musical talents are a way to earn a living photo – Karen Anderson
chef Jitendra Sahu of Rohet Garh photo – Karen Anderson
elaborate masala dhaba with garlic, chill and ginger pastes and oils in addition to the usual spices photo – Karen Anderson
close up on nutmeg and its outer coating mace photo – Karen Anderson
baigan or eggplant is indigenous to India and a most beloved vegetable photo – Karen Anderson
Suresh Jingar – proud to serve at Rohet Garh photo – Karen Anderson
after the most amazing marigold welcome at one hotel photo – Karen Anderson
earth and earthen pots photo – Karen Anderson
fashion imitates nature’s colours in Rajasthan photo – Karen Anderson
Rajput, Khimsar Fort photo – Karen Anderson
beauty lies everywhere waiting to be noticed photo – Karen Anderson
one small wall, Khimsar Palace photo – Karen Anderson
young cotton grower photo – Karen Anderson
making dinner photo – Karen Anderson
jeep driver photo – Karen Anderson
a grandfather photo – Karen Anderson
Camel boss photo – Karen Anderson
from the bus 2 photo – Karen Anderson
balance in life is everything photo – Karen Anderson
dancers in the desert night, near Khimsar photo – Karen Anderson
clay vessels photo – Karen Anderson
lunch at Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
Praduman Singh, owner, Chandeleo Garh photo – Karen Anderson
Chandeleo neighbours photo – Karen Anderson
elder, Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
seamstress with bangles, Norway Women’s Project, Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
seamstress, Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
making a living, seamstress, Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
quiet pride, seamstress, Chandeleo photo – Karen Anderson
beauty is often very simple photo – Karen Anderson
Goat herder’s Namaste photo – Karen Anderson
busy morning photo – Karen Anderson
herding photo – Karen Anderson
to the well photo – Karen Anderson
a little namaste photo – Karen Anderson
a joyful wave to our bus photo – Karen Anderson
tractor proud photo – Karen Anderson
soft light bright shawl photo – Karen Anderson
elder with fuchsia turban photo – Karen Anderson
multitasking photo – Karen Anderson
happy day photo – Karen Anderson
serious squatter photo – Karen Anderson
gorgeous rangoli (welcome) photo – Karen Anderson
Visiting a Shiva Temple
a new friend photo – Karen Anderson
longtime driver, DeoGarh photo – Karen Anderson
Indus Guide Luv Jawad with the raja-mother of DeoGarh at her lake fortress photo – Karen Anderson
care-filled photo – Karen Anderson
water chestnut farmer photo – Karen Anderson
rush hour market photo – Karen Anderson
vegetable seller, Deo Garh photo – Karen Anderson
strong Photo – Karen Anderson
weaver in Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
rug factory worker, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
rug spreaders, Jaipur Handicrafts photo – Karen Anderson
Indus Guides – Kush and Luv Jawad at Amir Fort, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
one of these things is not like the others Amir Fort, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
lean times photo – Karen Anderson
Singer, City Palace, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Time to visit, The Observatory, City Palace, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
crossing the street together photo – Karen Anderson
bustling city bursting with colour, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Lassiwalla, Jaipur photo – Karen Anderson
Exquisite Turban-wrapper photo – Karen Anderson
Thali for lunch photo – Karen Anderson
at Akbar’s Palace photo – Karen Anderson
Akbar’s meeting hall, Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
500 year old wall, Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
Time tested Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
Archway Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
Another ceiling at Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
Sunset at Fatehpur Sikri photo – Karen Anderson
Beautiful welcome to Agra photo – Karen Anderson
family outing to the Taj photo – Karen Anderson
The Taj Mahal photo – Karen Anderson
Gossiping with the laundry walla photo – Karen Anderson
Beautiful shots, amazing trip!
Thanks Liz. It was indeed very amazing. Hugs, K
Stellar – love the colour – can feel the heat. The warmth of the people comes through so many of your photos. Thank you!
Thanks Jackie, I thought we could use that warmth in the midst of our Alberta January. Cheers, K
Brings back lots of memories.
The colours in the photos are so vivid – everything looks amazing. When is the next tour?
Thanks Janet,
South India early November, 2014.
Namaste to you my friend,
K