superfantastick's Photobucket media

tapas.jpg

superfantastick — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:02:52 MST

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tapas.jpg

Drumming

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:47:24 MDT

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Drumming - 100_1541.flv

Kids having fun outside a mosque in Bangalore.

Watching the waves

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:39:48 MDT

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Watching the waves - 100_1600.flv

From the rocks, Varkala.

Indian coffee

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:35:01 MDT

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Indian coffee - 100_1633.flv

How it's done. Poured back and forth 1) to thoroughly mix coffee, sugar, and milk 2) to cool.

Elephant ride

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:33:09 MDT

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Elephant ride - 100_1696.flv

Sideways. Watch the "driver's" foot: he and the elephant have a speed and steering system worked out based on how he moves his feet against the elephant's ears.

Backwaters

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:25:53 MDT

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Backwaters - 100_1587.jpg

An average house in Alleppey.

What a view

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:25:16 MDT

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What a view - 100_1588.jpg

Looking out of the houseboat.

Backwaters

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:23:49 MDT

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Backwaters - 100_1589.jpg

Refreshing!!

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:22:35 MDT

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Refreshing!! - 100_1594.jpg

Our favorite brand of bottled water, in Varkala.

Incredible

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:22:14 MDT

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Incredible - 100_1599.jpg

The view of the cliffs from the rocks in Varkala.

Sitting in the sky

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:21:35 MDT

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Sitting in the sky - 100_1681.jpg

Our trekking guide, Mr. Anthony, was anxious to show of his photography skills and had Kelly pose for this one in the hills outside of Ooty.

The odd couple

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:21:13 MDT

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The odd couple - 100_1682.jpg

Evan and Mr. Anthony at the end of a LONG day's trek, in Ooty. On a clear day, Mr. Anthony tells us, you can see Mysore from here.

Village life

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:20:42 MDT

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Village life - 100_1684.jpg

Hills, houses, and tidy fields of potatoes, carrots, and onions outside of Ooty.

Trees

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:20:09 MDT

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Trees - 100_1685.jpg

Small village, outside of Ooty.

Indian sweets

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:19:30 MDT

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Indian sweets - 100_1688.jpg

Flour, sugar, ghee - the possibilities are endless. No need for refrigeration: it's cold enough as it is in Ooty.

Elephants ho!

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:19:06 MDT

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Elephants ho! - 100_1689.jpg

At Mudhumalai, Tamil Nadu. Though we had a much closer and more overwhelming encounter with this herd the night before (sans camera), we were lucky enough to see them again in the morning.

Elephant ride

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:18:39 MDT

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Elephant ride - 100_1693.jpg

The view from our elephant. You can see the basic rig.

Elephant ride

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:18:02 MDT

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Elephant ride - 100_1694.jpg

Peacock

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:17:40 MDT

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Peacock - 100_1697.jpg

As seen from our elephant.

The hills

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:17:07 MDT

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The hills - 100_1698.jpg

The Nilgiri, or Blue Hills, Mudhumalai.

The hills

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:16:36 MDT

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The hills - 100_1699.jpg

Notice the wild boar crossing the path.

Wild boars

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:16:07 MDT

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Wild boars - 100_1701.jpg

The whole family is out for a walk.

Guruji

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:15:26 MDT

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Guruji - 100_1705.jpg

That's him, seen through our window. We were lucky enough to get a room on the top floor of the house across the street from the shala. We'd often see him lounging on the deck, reading the paper during his foot rub.

Bangles

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:11:32 MDT

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Bangles - 100_1716.jpg

Rangoli

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:10:43 MDT

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Rangoli - 100_1717.jpg

Rangoli

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:09:42 MDT

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Rangoli - 100_1718.jpg

We were lucky enough to come upon this woman in the middle of creating her morning rangoli. She's using only rice flour and her hands. Notice how she's able to make double lines in one pass - skillz.

Rangoli

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:08:58 MDT

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Rangoli - 100_1719.jpg

It's almost done.

Que

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:08:11 MDT

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Que - 100_1720.jpg

East meets West: a very Indian experience waiting for the ATM

Mysore

superfantastick — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:07:48 MDT

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Mysore - 100_1721.jpg

A bustling street outside the market

Varkala VI

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:24:17 MDT

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Varkala VI - EandK006.jpg

Varkala V

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:22:23 MDT

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Varkala V - EandK007.jpg

Fisherman on the rocky Varkala beach

Varkala IV

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:20:59 MDT

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Varkala IV - EandK008.jpg

Cliff-side Varkala

Varkala III

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:20:07 MDT

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Varkala III - EandK010.jpg

Dinner in Varkala- with Mojitos.

Varkala

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:19:19 MDT

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Varkala - EandK011.jpg

Sunset in Varkala.

Varkala I

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:18:36 MDT

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Varkala I - EandK012.jpg

Believe it or not, this is the view up from just under our shower in Varkala. What a shower head!

On the Way Up VIII

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:17:43 MDT

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On the Way Up VIII - EandK013.jpg

Looking back as the train passes though the hills.

On the Way Up VII

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:16:55 MDT

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On the Way Up VII - EandK014.jpg

On the Way Up VI

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:16:29 MDT

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On the Way Up VI - EandK015.jpg

On the Way Up V

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:16:08 MDT

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On the Way Up V - EandK016.jpg

On the Way Up IV

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:15:33 MDT

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On the Way Up IV - EandK017.jpg

The engine of the Miniature Train.

On the Way Up III

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:14:17 MDT

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On the Way Up III - EandK018.jpg

On the Way Up II

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:13:43 MDT

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On the Way Up II - EandK019.jpg

On the Way Up I

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:12:37 MDT

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On the Way Up I - EandK020.jpg

View form the Miniature Train on the way up the hills to Ooty.

Botanical Gardens V

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:11:51 MDT

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Botanical Gardens V - EandK022.jpg

Botanical Gardens IV

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:11:11 MDT

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Botanical Gardens IV - EandK023.jpg

Evan checks out this map of India done all in succulents.

Botanical Gardens III

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:10:26 MDT

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Botanical Gardens III - EandK024.jpg

Monkeys close-up

EandK025.jpg

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:09:57 MDT

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EandK025.jpg

Botanical Gardens

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:09:10 MDT

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Botanical Gardens - EandK026.jpg

India- Where monkeys run the show.

Ooty Chill

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:08:11 MDT

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Ooty Chill - EandK028.jpg

Evan and Kelly embrace the cool weather in Ooty with some new duds.

Ooty Chill

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:07:29 MDT

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Ooty Chill - EandK029.jpg

EandK030.jpg

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:06:58 MDT

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EandK030.jpg

Flora

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:05:39 MDT

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Flora - EandK031.jpg

Trekking VII

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:04:14 MDT

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Trekking VII - EandK032.jpg

Kelly closely follows our guide though the tea fields.

Trekking VI

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:02:45 MDT

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Trekking VI - EandK033.jpg

Evan listens as our guide explains how tea is harvested.

Tea Plantation V

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:02:06 MDT

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Tea Plantation V - EandK034.jpg

Tea Plantation IV

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:01:03 MDT

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Tea Plantation IV - EandK035.jpg

Tea Plantation III

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:00:02 MDT

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Tea Plantation III - EandK036.jpg

Trekking V

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:59:14 MDT

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Trekking V - EandK037.jpg

Trekking IV

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:58:37 MDT

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Trekking IV - EandK038.jpg

Flora

Tea Plantations II

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:57:20 MDT

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Tea Plantations II - EandK039.jpg

Tea grows in the cool hill sides. The lush green you see near the ground is the tea trees.

Trekking III

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:56:25 MDT

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Trekking III - EandK040.jpg

Evan and Kelly knee deep in the tree plantations

EandK041.jpg

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:55:24 MDT

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EandK041.jpg

Mountain Village II

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:54:20 MDT

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Mountain Village II - EandK042.jpg

Mountain Village I

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:53:15 MDT

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Mountain Village I - EandK043.jpg

We ate lunch in a small village outside of Ooty.

Tea Plantation I

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:52:13 MDT

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Tea Plantation I - EandK044.jpg

On the way up

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:51:30 MDT

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On the way up - EandK045.jpg

A temple just outside of a small village, on the way up the mountain

Trekking I

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:50:36 MDT

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Trekking I - EandK046.jpg

A Toda Temple

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:49:51 MDT

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A Toda Temple - EandK047.jpg

The worship place of the Toda tribe people.

View From the Top II

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:48:30 MDT

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View From the Top II - EandK048.jpg

If the skies were clear, Evan would be looking at Mysore, nearly 100km away.

View From the Top 1

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:48:01 MDT

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View From the Top 1 - EandK049.jpg

Evan and Kelly look out over the edge after a long day of trekking.

Elephant Ride

superfantastick — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:47:03 MDT

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Elephant Ride - EandK065.jpg

The couple ahead of us unloads after the elephant ride.

Backwater home

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:05:21 MDT

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Backwater home - Picture021-2.jpg

An average house, w/ the "car" in the "garage."

Backwater commute

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:03:48 MDT

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Backwater commute - Picture020-2.jpg

Rice paddies in the distance.

Naptime

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:02:48 MDT

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Naptime - Picture019-2.jpg

Post-thali lunch.

Backwaters

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:01:28 MDT

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Backwaters - Picture018-2.jpg

Houseboats

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:00:36 MDT

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Houseboats - Picture017-2.jpg

As far as the eye can see.

Alleppey shack

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:59:37 MDT

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Alleppey shack - Picture016-2.jpg

We thought about staying here, but the rent was unbelievable...

Alleppey V

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:57:54 MDT

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Alleppey V - Picture015-2.jpg

Random tree

Alleppey IV

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:56:49 MDT

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Alleppey IV - Picture014-2.jpg

Random building and lighthouse.

Alleppey III

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:56:08 MDT

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Alleppey III - Picture013-2.jpg

It's so tropical, even the trees have plants growing on them.

Alleppey II

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:54:27 MDT

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Alleppey II - Picture012-2.jpg

Alleppey I

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:53:33 MDT

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Alleppey I - Picture011-2.jpg

A side street. Evidence of monsoon everywhere.

Goats and garbage

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:23:26 MDT

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Goats and garbage - Picture010-3.jpg

Livestock are the unofficial clean-up crew in India. This team is working in Alleppey.

Kochin

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:21:43 MDT

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Kochin - Picture009-2.jpg

Old-school Chinese-style fishing nets on the waterfront.

...

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:19:54 MDT

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... - Picture008-2.jpg

Sweating, eating spicy food, wearing a scarf, and drinking scalding hot chai. YES!!

Thali

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:18:45 MDT

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Thali - Picture007-2.jpg

Kelly surveys the wreckage. Also just called a "meal," thalis are exclusively lunch - rice with various piles of veggies and sauce. Mix and eat with the hands. We've found endless variations on this theme even in the little bit we've seen of India. The banana leaf for a plate is a nice touch.

Sirsasana

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:18:01 MDT

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Sirsasana - Picture006-3.jpg

This is how it's done on the road.

Go fish

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:17:27 MDT

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Go fish - Picture005-2.jpg

Passing time on the train. Very shortly, we were informed that cards are not allowed on the train, as some people "play for rupees."

Rangoli

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:16:15 MDT

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Rangoli - Picture004-1.jpg

Bangalore

Good morning

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:14:44 MDT

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Good morning - Picture003-2.jpg

Fresh figs and the morning paper. Mmmm.

View from above

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:13:20 MDT

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View from above - Picture002-2.jpg

A cool morning on the balcony, Bangalore.

Bangalore

superfantastick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:12:09 MDT

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Bangalore - Picture001-2.jpg

The City Market by night.

Bangalore

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:43:58 MDT

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Bangalore - Picture031-1.jpg

The Market at night.

Drumming

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:43:20 MDT

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Drumming - Picture030-1.jpg

Some kids making a lot of noise outside a mosque in Bangalore.

Bangalore train station

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:42:36 MDT

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Bangalore train station - Picture028-1.jpg

Sometimes it pays to qualify for the "Disabled, Elderly, and Foreign Tourist" window, as Evan demonstrates.

Where's Kelly?

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:41:53 MDT

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Where's Kelly? - Picture027-2.jpg

A great carving up high, with Kelly in the distance.

Ruins

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:41:00 MDT

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Ruins - Picture026-1.jpg

More carvings, taken from far away to give a sense of how random and jumbled the ruins are at this point.

Rock carvings III

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:39:49 MDT

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Rock carvings III - Picture025-1.jpg

Rock carvings II

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:38:36 MDT

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Rock carvings II - Picture024-1.jpg

Probably Siva and friends. In a little temple perched almost - but not quite - out reach of our nimble hands.

Rock carvings I

superfantastick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:37:24 MDT

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Rock carvings I - Picture023-1.jpg

In the side of a boulder, Hampi. This is maybe 7 or 8 feet across. One of the few symbols we recognized: a Hindu creation myth. Vishnu sleeps in the Cosmic Ocean. A lotus grows from his navel. It opens and there sits Brahma, the creator. As Brahma opens his eyes, the universe is born.