Delhi to Katmandu, Part 6

by harveyblackauthor on 27/05/201227/05/2012

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 6 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…

Back in the coach, heading for the River Ganges.

Local Internet cafe for Goats, October 2010

We passed a school on route. October 2010.

Yes, more Goats.

…and pink is back in fashion. October 2010.

Brother and Sister. October 2010

October 2010

On our way, we stopped off at the Vamana Temple. Close by, this young girl was washing her hair at the communal water pump. October 2010.

Vamana Temple, Khajuraho, India. October 2010.

Vamana Temple. October 2010

Vamana Temple.

She happily posed for the photograph. October 2010.

Vamana Temple. Dedicated to Vamana, incarnation of Vishnu. October 2010.

Vamana is described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatar of Vishnu, and the first incarnation of the Second Age, or the Treta yoga. October 2010.

No idea what it was, but I was not picking it up. October 2010.

Prayer time.

Using rice and beans to keep track.

We continued our journey to the River Ganges, but stopped over at a local school on the way.

They were well behaved considering our interruption.

Small classroom.

The school.

Playground.

Classrooms were small and quite dark.

No desks.

He was the cheeky one. We took pencils, paper, books and chocolate. October 2010.

The power of the digital camera.

Arrived at our destination. The back of our Rickshaw driver.

….and they’re off.

He eventually overtook the Tuk-Tuk. You could hire them for a full day for 100 rupees (about £1).

We arrive at the Varanasi Ghat. October 2010.

Sat in boats, we watched one of the Varanasi festivals.

After the festival we headed down the Ganges to see one of the Ghats.

There were a mixture of bathing and cremation Ghats, this one obviously has a cremation in progress.

We go back to the Ganges the next day to see the sunrise. So, there will be some daylight photographs of the Ghats and the local area.

The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 6 next week. I take a boat ride down the Ganges and see an amazing sunrise..

Photographs and Blog copyrighted to Harvey Black.

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 4

by harveyblackauthor on 16/05/201227/05/2012

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 4

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, I am supposed to be editing my third novel, Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, and starting on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures.

The journey continues…

We started off from Agra’s railway station. Heading for Orchha, but stopping at Jhansi on the way. Just watching and being around the local population was fascinating and you were never bored. Even if you had a long wait, there was always something to catch your eye.

Saying goodbye to the Hotel at Jhansi, October 2010

Some of the Hotel staff, beautiful outfits. October 2010.

Our next trip took us to Orchha, where we got to explore the town and visit Orchha Palace.

This is an Emporium, an Indian Art Gallery…October 2010

Orchha, a town in the Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh State. October 2010

Orchha Palace. The town of Orchha was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501.

Orchha Palace. October 2010

He became the first King of Orchha, but died in an attempt to save a cow from a Lion.

Such gentle creatures. Orchha October 2010.

Once inside, it was easy to find a toilet. A sign outside the toilet indicated that foreigners didn’t have to pay. A couple of people stood in front of the sign, hiding it. Many went to the kiosk (well a table and two chairs outside) and paid. When i discovered this I went and go my money back. A good scam though.

Orchha Palace. October 2010.

Orchha Palace. The palace-fort consists of several connected buildings built at different times. October 2010.

More of the palace-fort.

Within the fort complex is the Raaj Mahal.

Religious murals in the Orchha palace-fort. October 2010.

I found the murals breathtaking, the photos don’t do them justice.

Palace-fort

One of our guides demonstrating the purpose of the doorway’s particular design. Used for prayer.

Palace-fort

A photographers dream.

An indication of its size.

More detail. Orchha Palace-fort. October 2010.

It was quite late by the time we finished the tour.

The next day our guide took us off piste to visit a local village.

Yes, they are cows.

They were friendly and pleased to see us.

They loved to look at the pictures on the camera afterwards and often asked for a second photo so they could pose.

Naan bread. beats anything you can get in the UK.

As poor as they were, they never seemed to stop smiling. They all appeared clean and smart.

One of the homes.

These small pots were used for a side order of olives or for wine.

Time to go, our journey taking us through the inner part of the village.

Back on the coach. On our way to the temples at Khajuraho and the famous kamasutra carvings.

Lots of small businesses.

Open all hours.

Lunch? Maybe not. Orchha, october 2010

Never have to worry about spare parts for your bike. October 2010

It was surprising how much rubbish was left lying around, animals often rummaged for food.

They seemed oblivious to it. – Orchha, October 2010.

This was a mini factory, shop and home. Orchha – October 2010

Roadworks.

Time to take the family shopping. Orchha – October 2010.

Tented areas like these (plastic sheeting) were a regular occurrence. Orchha 2010.

Yes, I am a mountain goat!!

Just a taster for the next Post. Varaha Temple October 2010.

The end

I hope you managed to stay awake, if so there will be a Part 5 next week. I visit the Varaha Temple in Khajaraho. The Post will just cover that visit, the pictures are astounding.

Photographs copyrighted to Harvey Black.

Barbarossa, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Part 2

by harveyblackauthor on 14/05/201215/07/2018

Barbarossa, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Part 2

I have just finished writing my third novel in the Devils with Wings series, Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun. The Fallschirmjager, after their successful battle taking Crete in only 10 days, are shipped to Poland to partake in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

They leave temperatures in excess of forty degrees to be used, not in an airborne operation, but as a fire brigade, plugging gaps in the line around Leningrad. They were Army Group North’s strategic reserve. They were quickly placed into the fray, fighting along the River Neva, where temperatures dropped to below -30 degrees, sometimes as low as -40. They were successful at plugging the gaps and preventing the Soviet Union from exploiting their bridgeheads over the River Neva, but at a price. Some units suffered up to 75% casualties. Many who had survived the assault on the Fortress Eben Emael, (Devils with Wings) and the fierce fighting on the Island of Crete (Devils with Wings: Silk Drop) met their fate in this bitter struggle with the atrocious weather and the never ending Soviet hordes.

The German Army, and the Fallschirmjager, were soon to experience the hostile Russian winters.

Opposite Army Group North were two Soviet armies. The Group’s objective was to cross the River’s Neman and Daugava, the two largest obstacles barring their advance towards Leningrad.

At his disposal, Ritter von Lieb, the commander of Army Group North, had three armies and one air fleet, Luftlotte 1. The three armies, 16th Army, 18th Army and the 4th Panzer Army fielded 29 divisions between them.

Some of the types of equipment used in this biggest ever invasion of a country are shown below. Most of the photographs were taken at the Bovington Tank Museum.

Panzer II. Used mainly as a reconnaissance tank. A top speed of 40 kph and a 20mm main gun.

Panzer II. This tank served with 10th Panzer Division in North Africa. It weighed 9.5 tons.

Panzer II. A crew of three with 33mm of armour for protection.

Panzer IV D/H with its 75mm main armament.

Panzer IV. A German medium tank, weighing 25 tons.

Panzer IV. Armour thickness 30mm – D, 80mm – H.

Panzer IV, top speed of 38kph.

Panzer IV. The spaced armour around the turret was to help reduce the effect of Russian anti-tank rifles.

Panzer IV had a crew of 5.

Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(f). A compact and effective tank destroyer with its 75mm gun

Hetzer Jagdpanzer 38(f). 15.75 tons, armour 60mm, crew 4, speed 42kph.

SU-76M, light mechanised gun. Zis-3, 76.2mm gun mounted on a T-70 chassis.

SU-76M.10.2 tons, crew of 4 and top speed of 45kph.

SU-76M. Armour 33mm. This one is a later model used by the Communist forces during the Korean War.

On the first day, Panzer Group 4’s 600 tanks crossed the River Neman and penetrated up to 80 kilometres. On reaching the area Raseiniai, the armoured units were counter attacked by 300 tanks of the 3rd and 12th Soviet Mechanised Corps. It took the German forces four days to encircle and destroy the Soviet armour. By the end of the first week, the Soviet Mechanised Corps had lost 90% of its strength.

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my photographs and information with you and help set the scene for my forthcoming novel.

Photographs are copyrighted to Harvey Black

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Devils with Wings: Silk drop ref=sib_dp_kd

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Delhi to Katmandu, Part 2

by harveyblackauthor on 08/05/201227/05/2012

In 2011, 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, I am supposed to be editing my third novel, Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun, and starting on my new ‘Cold War’ series. So please just enjoy the pictures.

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 2.

The journey continues…

It was difficult to imagine the sites getting any better after a fabulous visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, but the adventure continued to capture my imagination.

Cows were a regular feature – Agra, October 2010

Some photos were taken through a coach or train (or aeroplane) window, so I apologise for the quality in advance.

My first visit was to the Agra Marble Emporium. This long established art form of marble inlay was brought to India in the 17^th century by the Mughals.