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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 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.

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Local Internet cafe for Goats, October 2010

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We passed a school on route. October 2010.

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Yes, more Goats.

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…and pink is back in fashion. October 2010.

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Brother and Sister. October 2010

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 October 2010

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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.

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Vamana Temple, Khajuraho, India. October 2010.

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Vamana Temple. October 2010

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Vamana Temple.

She happily posed for the photograph. October 2010.

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

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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.

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

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Prayer time.

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Using rice and beans to keep track.

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

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They were well behaved considering our interruption.

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Small classroom.

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The school.

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Playground.

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Classrooms were small and quite dark.

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No desks.

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

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The power of the digital camera.

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

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….and they’re off.

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

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We arrive at the Varanasi Ghat. October 2010.

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

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

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

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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.

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