Delhi to Katmandu, Part 9

by harveyblackauthor on 28/06/201229/06/2012

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.

Entrance to the gardens, October 2010

Entrance to the Temple. October 2010.

Tibetan Temple. October 2010.

The gardens. October 2010.

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

The Temple grounds. October 2010

Thirsty work. October 2010.

Thanka. October 2010.

Thanka on the ceiling of the Temple. October 2010

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

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.

Lotus flower. October 2010.

Lotus flower.

Time to leave Lumbini and head for Pokhara.

High levels of security at the airport.

Yes, we are flying on Buddha Air.

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

Our Pilots. October 2010.

As i said earlier, security was very tight.

Yes, we are taking off from the runway.

The Himalayas (Annapurnas).

Mount Machapuchare from the air.

Coming in to land. October 2010.

Pokhara airport.

Machapuchare from the ground.

Machapuchare.

Lunch here?

No, lunch here.

Machapuchare. Sun going down.

Machapuchare.

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.

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 8

by harveyblackauthor on 21/06/201225/06/2012

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 8

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

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

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

A street scene. October 2010.

It’s been a long day. October 2010.

Rickshaws were prevalent. October 2010

….another street scene. October 2010

Lots of fruit stalls, Varanasi. October 2010.

TV, Microwave, cooker hood? October 2010.

Canary, London, eat your heart out. October 2010

Speaks for itself.

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

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

Farmers huts in the distance. October 2010.

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

Farmers dwelling.

…and another.

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

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

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

Happy, smiley faces.

We were heading for the birthplace of Buddah in Lumbini.

The Rickshaw taxi park.

Pancha Sila. October 2010.

Birthplace of Buddah.

Remains of the original building.

Built between 3rd century and 7th century AD.

A World Heritage site.

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

Buddhist Prayer Flags in the sacred garden.

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

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

The traditional Buddhist Chant.

I gave them some money in the end.

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

Buddhist monk.

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

Maya Devi Icon.

Shrine at the site of Buddha’s birthplace.

His actual place of birth.

Security was very obvious.

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.

Delhi to Katmandu, Part 7

by harveyblackauthor on 07/06/201207/06/2012

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.

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

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

Holy Man, River Ganges. October 2010.

Holy Man. October 2010.

….and another. October 2010

Time to go down to the river. October 2010

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

Floating shops. October 2010.

The Ganges. October 2010

Shoreline of the Ganges.

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

Such a vibrant city. October 2010.

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

Most of the ghats are bathing ghats.

It was a busy river.

Sunrise upon us soon.

Another bathing ghat.

Bathing ghat. But the water was far from clean.

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.

One of the holy men passing on advice.

Silk factory by the Ahilya ghat.

Bathing ghat.

A floating shop. October 2010.

The local launderette.

The sun makes an appearance.

….a bit more.

Amazing to watch.

Stunning.

Kedar ghat in Varanasi.

There were a mixture of bathing and cremation ghats.

Early morning meditation.

The public crematorium.

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.

View of the Ganges shoreline.

Another cremation ghat.

Back ashore. Yes, it’s a cow.

A holy man.

Amazing characters.

Chicken stoo anyone?

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.

Barbarossa, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Part 5

by harveyblackauthor on 31/05/201215/07/2018

Barbarossa, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Part 5

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.

By mid-July, the German Army had come within a few kilometres of Kiev. 1st Panzer Army headed south as the 17th Army advanced east, trapping three Soviet armies near Uman. They eliminated the pocket and pushed across the Dnieper.

2nd Panzer Army crossed the River Desna, flanked by 2nd Army, trapping a further four Soviet armies.

4th Panzer Army was again heading for Leningrad. Reinforced by tanks from Army Group Centre. On the 8th August they broke through the Russian defences. By the end of August, 4th Panzer Army, supported by 16th Army and 18th Army, had got within 30 miles of Leningrad.

At this staff, Hitler ordered the final destruction of the City, and by the 19th September Army Group North got to within 7 miles of Leningrad, but casualties were mounting. Hitler lost patience and ordered the City to be starved rather than stormed.

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.

T-34/85.

Speed 33mph.

T-34/85. 26.5 tons.

85mm Zis gun.

Big Cat brought in to fight the Russian tanks.

Panther. Larger and much better quality than the T-34. But production was slow and there were never enough of them.

Crew of five protected by 80mm of armour.

44 tons. Speed of 28.5 mph. 75mm gun.

Panther.

Pz Kpfw VI Ausf B

88mm. King Tiger or Royal Tiger. SS Panzer battalion 101.

The Allies first met this in Normandy, soon after D-Day.

Royal Tiger.

68 tons. Armour 150mm thick. Speed 24mph.

Tiger I, mobile at the Bovington Tank Museum

T-34

Destroyed T-34

T-34’s in a Russian winter.

T-34 graveyard.

KV heavyweights.

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.