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Delhi to Katmandu, Part 11

In 2010, I went on an amazing trip, from Delhi to Katmandu. I just want to use this Post to share with you some of the photographs I took on the way. Both were amazing countries and India was particularly vibrant and exciting. Some of the photos were taken through vehicle windows, so i apologise for the poor quality. I don’t propose to write very much, Although my third novel,  Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, is now with my publisher, Silverwood Books,  I have started on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures. The journey continues…

After spending time on the River Ganges and touring around the ghats of Varanasi, we headed for Nepal.

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One of my final views of Bandipur, October 2010

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We passed through a number of local villages. October 2010.

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Expecting a cold winter. October 2010.

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So many different faces, a photographers dream. October 2010

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My last shot of the Annapurnas. October 2010

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We arrive at Chitwan National Park. A traffic hold up. October 2010.

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Accommodation was excellent. October 2010.

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With guests inside. October 2010

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….and outside.

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Time for a trip. No Tuktuk, but an Ox & Cart. October 2010.

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Far from odourless, and yes he did. October 2010.

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Local farmers.

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They always appeared to be smiling.

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There home as well as their place of work.

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I’m the King of the Castle.

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The High Street.

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Day nearly over. Chitwan National Park was created in 1973 and made a World Heritage Site in 1984. October 2010.

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A quick visit to see the Elephants.

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….and the Rhino’s in the local river.

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Join me for a swim?

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The next day. Time for a trip on the Narayani-Rapti River system.

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Chitwan is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. October 2010.

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Very low in the water.

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Washing up 

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And the washing.

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50 metres away, a visitor. A ‘Mugger’ crocodile.

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And another. A ‘Gharial’, or fish eating crocodile.

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No, lunch here.

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Tomorrow we get to ride on an Elephant through the local area.

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Elephants on the move.

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The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 12 next week. More about Chitwan National Park

 Photographs and Blog copyrighted to Harvey Black.

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Delhi to Katmandu, Part 9

In 2010, I went on an amazing trip, from Delhi to Katmandu. I just want to use this Post to share with you some of the photographs I took on the way. Both were amazing countries and India was particularly vibrant and exciting. Some of the photos were taken through vehicle windows, so i apologise for the poor quality. I don’t propose to write very much, Although my third novel,  Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, is now with my publisher, Silverwood Books,  I have started on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures. The journey continues…

After spending time on the River Ganges and touring around the ghats of Varanasi, we headed for Nepal. After visiting the birthplace of Buddha, we headed off to visit a Tibetan Temple in Lumbini.

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Entrance to the gardens, October 2010

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Entrance to the Temple. October 2010.

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Tibetan Temple. October 2010.

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The gardens. October 2010.

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The Temple grounds. Prayer wheel in the centre of the structure. October 2010

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The Temple grounds. October 2010

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Thirsty work. October 2010.

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Thanka. October 2010.

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Thanka on the ceiling of the Temple. October 2010

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Thanka. Wheel of life, the endless life cycle of a human being. Shows the Buddhist teachings, the Four Truths and the symbolic 6 worlds.

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Wheel of life. The last world with the cold and hot hells. Places of torment for all those who have committed evil deeds. October 2010.

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Lotus flower. October 2010.

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Lotus flower.

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Time to leave Lumbini and head for Pokhara.

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High levels of security at the airport.

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Yes, we are flying on Buddha Air.

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Well, we’ll be flying once they put the fire out.

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Our Pilots. October 2010.

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As i said earlier, security was very tight.

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Yes, we are taking off from the runway.

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The Himalayas (Annapurnas).

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Mount Machapuchare from the air.

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Coming in to land. October 2010.

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Pokhara airport.

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Machapuchare from the ground.

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Machapuchare.

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Lunch here?

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No, lunch here.

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Machapuchare. Sun going down.

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Machapuchare.

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The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 10 next week. A visit to Pokhara, then we go higher up into the Nepalese mountains

 Photographs and Blog copyrighted to Harvey Black.

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Delhi to Katmandu, Part 8 

In 2010, I went on an amazing trip, from Delhi to Katmandu. I just want to use this Post to share with you some of the photographs I took on the way. Both were amazing countries and India was particularly vibrant and exciting. Some of the photos were taken through vehicle windows, so i apologise for the poor quality. I don’t propose to write very much, Although my third novel,  Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, is now with my publisher, Silverwood Books,  I have started on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures. The journey continues…

After spending time on the River Ganges and touring around the ghats of Varanasi, we headed for Nepal.

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As we left Varanasi by coach, there was still plenty to see, October 2010

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Living conditions are very different from what we are used to. October 2010.

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A street scene. October 2010.

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It’s been a long day. October 2010.

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Rickshaws were prevalent. October 2010

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 ….another street scene. October 2010

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Lots of fruit stalls, Varanasi. October 2010.

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TV, Microwave, cooker hood? October 2010.

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Canary, London, eat your heart out. October 2010

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Speaks for itself.

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Varanasi. Rubbish piles were a constant eyesore. October 2010.

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Now in the countryside.  Not sure what the monuments represented. October 2010.

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Farmers huts in the distance. October 2010.

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One of the small towns we passed through. Eat some freshly cooked lamb from one of the stalls.

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Farmers dwelling.

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…and another.

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Finally arrive at the border between India and Nepal. It was 14 hour journey.

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We arrived at the border in the early hours of the morning.

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Our first day was visiting a special place in Nepal. October 2010.

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Happy, smiley faces.

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We were heading for the birthplace of  Buddah in Lumbini.

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The Rickshaw taxi park.

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Pancha Sila. October 2010.

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Birthplace of Buddah.

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Remains of the original building.

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Built between 3rd century and 7th century AD.

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A World Heritage site.

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The white building, the new temple,  protects the most important sections of the site.

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Buddhist Prayer Flags in the sacred garden.

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Some make a pilgrimage to this sacred site.  They are next to the sacred tree.

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They didn’t mind you taking photographs, but you are meant to give them the money first.

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The traditional Buddhist Chant.

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I gave them some money in the end.

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A group chant next to the sacred tree, surrounded by prayer flags.

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Buddhist monk.

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The birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace and the light of Asia.

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Maya Devi Icon.

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Shrine at the site of Buddha’s birthplace.

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His actual place of birth.

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Security was very obvious.

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The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 9 next week. Heading deeper into Nepal…

 Photographs and Blog copyrighted to Harvey Black.

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Delhi to Katmandu, Part 7 

In 2010, I went on an amazing trip, from Delhi to Katmandu. I just want to use this Post to share with you some of the photographs I took on the way. Both were amazing countries and India was particularly vibrant and exciting. Some of the photos were taken through vehicle windows, so i apologise for the poor quality. I don’t propose to write very much, Although I have finished editing my third novel,  Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, I have started on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures. The journey continues…

After an evening on the River Ganges, we went back the next day to see the sunrise.

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As the Ganges is a sacred river, there were lots of Holy Men around, October 2010

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Holy Men on the steps down to the river. October 2010.

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Holy Man, River Ganges. October 2010.

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Holy Man. October 2010.

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….and another. October 2010

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 Time to go down to the river. October 2010

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Amazing, the banks of the River Ganges, Varanasi. October 2010.

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Floating shops. October 2010.

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The Ganges. October 2010

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Shoreline of the Ganges.

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Varanasi. Regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. October 2010.

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Such a vibrant city.  October 2010.

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There are 100 Ghats along the shoreline in Varanasi. October 2010.

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Most of the ghats are bathing ghats.

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It was a busy river.

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Sunrise upon us soon.

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Another bathing ghat.

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Bathing ghat. But the water was far from clean.

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A bathing ghat for the men. They often walked miles to bathe in the river, go to work, bathe again in the evening then walk home.

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One of the holy men passing on advice.

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Silk factory by the Ahilya ghat.

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Bathing ghat.

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A floating shop. October 2010.

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The local launderette.

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The sun makes an appearance.

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….a bit more.

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Amazing to watch.

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Stunning.

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Kedar ghat in Varanasi.

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There were a mixture of bathing and cremation ghats. 

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Early morning meditation.

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The public crematorium.

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A cremation ghat. After the cremation, the bones and ashes of the deceased are thrown into the Ganges. Don’t forget, it is where they bathe as well.

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View of the Ganges shoreline.

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Another cremation ghat.

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Back ashore. Yes, it’s a cow.

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A holy man.

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Amazing characters.

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Chicken stoo anyone?

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The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 8 next week. Heading for Nepal…

 Photographs and Blog copyrighted to Harvey Black.

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