Tuesday 15th January,2013.

Hello,

Today is our second day in the Gir National Park.
Our flight from Mumbai to Diu was on time and
uneventful.
The drive to Gir was a thrill a minute.  The roads
were super crowded as it was Sunday and as we
also stopped to look at birds on the way it took
about 31/2 hrs.
The land here is fertile and crops abundant and
various.  There are, however, two introduced
plant species, Lantana and Mesquite, which are
now considered a problem.
Lantana is an ornamental - the same as at home -
and Mequite, introduced from New Mexico, to
counter a fuel wood problem in the dry parts of
western India but as it spread like wild fire it ate
up pristine grasslands to become a pest.
Our hotel here is an oasis.  It has large spacious
room, the gardens are green and at the very bottom
of the grounds there is a dam which has a habitat of
many species of birds.

Monday 14th January, 2013.

We had 3 safaries.  We were at the park gate in the
cold and dark by 7.00a.m.
Gir National Park is a dry deciduous forest and is
home to the rare Asiatic lion and leopards.  There
is much bird and wild life - very diverse.
We were very luck on our first safari as we saw three
lions, one was so close I could have patted him.  As it
became lighter the birds began to appear.
I have posted the photo. of the 2 mottled wood owls as
I spotted them.
We stopped for a cuppa and then our second safari.
By now the birds were very busy and many animal were
coming to graze and drink.  The Park is so very dry that
we and our clothes etc. are covered in dust.  The last two
monsoons have not been at all long or plentiful enough so
crops, wells, reservoirs and dams are all suffering.

Tuesday 14th January, 2013.

Today Thomas, my eldest grandchild is 11.

This morning was not nearly as cold as yesterday.  Once
again we saw Asiatic lions, spotted deer, indian grey mongoose
nalgai.  In the middle of the sanctuary there is a reservoir and here
there were crocodiles, and the bird life which included spoonbills,
pelicans, cranes and many more species.  By about 10.00a.m. we
had shed our woolies and put our sunhats on.
Bird spotting is great fun and if you look carefully at the tree trunk
of one of the following pictures you will see a spotted owl sticking
its head out.
This afternoon was very quite.  We did however revist one of
the lions who in the morning had eaten so much he was lying on
his back all four legs spread, snoring and his great tummy was
rising and falling very rhythmically.  I thought that he could have
been comatose.

 Setting out at the crack of dawn.

 Morning cuppa.

 Look closely and carefully.

A Star Tortise that we nearly ran over.

As we are moving to further remote parts I think that it will be harder to
get a connection.  Tonight it was a real drama.  The young people who
look after little old ladies like me are very kind.

Cheers!!!


Vivienne.

Saturday 12th January, 2013.

Today started with for us was a revisit for us to Elephanta Island.
We took a small motor launch for the 1 hr. journey.  The
smog, heat haze or whatever is quite bad here.

         Our bullet train which took us to the bottom of the steps for the steep climb to the caves.

A great amount of vandalism has occurred here.  The carvings are under repair
but it will take much time and effort.  Mahesh -Murti in the main cave.

After lunch we started a short city tour.  As it was Saturday the traffic was much
worse than usual.

There are some very outstanding buildings here and to take these photos. we
thought as we dodged through all the traffic we were getting as good as the
locals.

     This tiny child caught our attention at the traffic lights as she danced
     and performed for us.  She followed us and never stopped smiling.
     I made if worth her while.

.

 Here we have two photos. of the heritage listed Victoria Terminus.  Please take
a good look at the gargoyles.  This is only the midsection and the two arms are
just as ornate.  Tells of times gone by.

 A visit to the out-door laundry.  It is a vast highly organised operation.

One of the housekeeping staff showing his skills.

This photo. is taken from our bedroom window though the wire mesh.  It looks
down on the India Gate and shows a large area which has been set up for a
government sponsored folk concert.  There is a large screen, much huge
equipment which emits LOUD noises, i.e. all types of musical sounds at all
times of the day and night.  If you look you will see that there are front,
middle and back stalls.

Today we fly to Gir National Park.

I think that our high flying days are coming to an end.

I will be glad to get away from the honking horns and all the people trying
to make a living.  I had it pointed out to me just how hard the "beggars"
work here.  They just do not stand with a sign waiting for a coin to be
dropped in  -  they keep after you until yo give in and buy or donate.  The
children are set to work very early in their little lives.

Cheers!!!


Vivienne.

Thursday 10th January, 2013.

Hello,

It has been a long day but now we are settled back in Mumbai
Once again our flight was delayed by 1 hr.

Aurangabad  is one of the fastest growing cities in the world
pop.11/2 mil.  Migrant workers, i.e. seasonal workers, now
tend not to return home.  They live under plastic in the most
appalling conditions.  Downtown Aurangabad is like a war
zone. Houses are being demolished to enable the road to be
widened.  People, goats, cattle, dogs, scooters, cars and trucks
are all out there causing chaos.
Aurangabad was once a walled city (2nd c BC and had 52 gates.
25 of which are still be used.  We saw 11.

We set off in the most superb weather for the Ellora Caves with
just one stop at Daulatabad where the Deogiri Fort is  Set high
above the road, this imposing mogul structure which dates back
to the 12thcAD and has 5 magnificent gateways. The weather was
a bit hazy.

Our 30k journey to the Ellora caves was done in record time.  I am sure our
driver had been a Kamikaze pilot in another life.
The first impresssion of Ellora is of a smaller site that Ajana which has 63
caves to 34 at Ellora.  It is however very impressive.
These caves are also hewn out of rock and date back to the 5710thc BC.
Ellora also has a World Heritgae listing.  Much reconstruction is being done.
These caves encompass the 3 religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and
Jinism.  They are both temples and monasteries .

The most impressive of the 34 caves is the Kailasa temple.  The entire
structure was carved out of a monolith, took 100 years to complete and
200,000 tonnes of rock was removed.  It is a huge area.  The couryards
are edged with columns that are 3 storeys high.  The galleries are adorned
with enormous sculptures of the different deities and tell the tales of all
its myths and history.

 

The Jain faith is quite separate as they broke away from the teachings of Buddha.

   

           Indra -Sabha is a Jaina monument to the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

 This is a very quick look and potted history of this truly amazing site.
I do hope that you will spare a moment to look them up.

     Indra Sabha is also Jaina and a powerful dancing Shiva.

 

Here if you take a close look at the ceiling you can see

how it has been carved to resemble a wooden roof.

Our last stop on the way back to the hotel was the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara

monument.  As with the Taj Mahal a grieving widower has erected

a shrine to his wife whose untimely death left him devastaed.

This mini Taj is not the greatest - out of proportion not made of

marble, towers are taller that main building etc. but I say that it

is the thought that counts.  The gardens were well tended.

Friday 11th January, 2013.

We have spent this a.m. at the galleries and now we are regaining our composures

around the pool.

Cheers!!!

Vivienne.

   

                                        

Wednesday 9th January 2013.

Hello again,

A cool, crisp and sunny morning.  We had a 9.00a.m. start for our 2 hr.
drive to Ajanta Caves.
The countryside is fertile with crops of cotton, vegetables and sugar cane.
They are not flourishing, however, because this is the second year that the
monsoonal rains have not been sufficient.
Driving along dodging overladen scooters. goats, cows and very large
trucks makes for a thrill a minute.  The number of bodies from babes in
arms to the very elderly jammed on to a scooter, no helmets is quite
alarming.
The Ajanta Caves are astounding.  Ajanta is recognised by UNESCO as
the world's greatest historical monument.
There are 30 rock carved caves which were discovered in 1819 and
possess perfect examples of Indian mural paintings.  The caves have
been excavated in a semi-circular scarp overlooking a narrow gorge.
They were excavated between the second century BC and seventh
centuryAD.  They were used a shelters for Buddhist monks during
the monsoons.
My pictures do not do the justice at all and as they was no flash
photography allowed inside my photos. were a fail.  These caves
with their exquisite paintings and carvings are really worth the
time and trouble to google.
There were many steep steps to climb and we were luck that the
weather was so kind.

             I think that this is the first hotel in the world in all my years of
             travel that has ever provided talcum powder.

                   As you can see things were pretty basic en route.

The Ajanta caves are sensational.  The hand hewing and sculpting and paint work
is in incredible condition.

Cheers!!!


Vivienne.

Tuesday 8th January, 2013.

Hello to you all,

We are gradually getting into the way of things.

Apart for a 11/2hr. delay our 50 min. flight to Aurangabad was uneventful.

The drive to our hotel was not pleasant.  The poverty, dirty and bad roads,
 hovels and chaotic traffic were much in evidence.  When I send you
photos. you are at least spared the very unpleasant odours that make
them more real.
Anyway when we turned into our hotel it was as though we were
entering an oasis.  A large white attractive building and immaculate
grounds greeted us.  Inside and out all immaculate.  A walk around
to get our bearings revealed a croquet  lawn, putting green and swimming
pool.
There is a large number of staff here as at the Taj.  It gets a bit annoying
at times.  But it means employment even if their wages are low.
Here the call to pray is loud and clear and often.

      
       These chariots are very colourful, especially at night when they are brightly lit.

                   The BBQ area of the hotel.



My first purchase -  bargaining or haggling is a pain.  He is
smiling because even though I halved the asking price he
was still streets ahead.

Cheers!!!


Vivienne.

Sunday 7th January, 2013.

Greetings from Mumbai!!!

Our journey from home to the airport, as was our flight on the A380 to Singapore,
uneventful. If one must have a stop-over Singapore is just the place.  The
orchid displays are breathtaking.

We continued on across the Strait of Malacca, the Nicobar Islands and the Bay of Bengal
into Mumbai, slightly ahead of time in approximately 41/2 hrs.  We were through Immigration
and Customs in a flash and at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in an hour.  As it was Sunday
traffic was very light and the new bridge, which has cut 45 mins. off the journey time,
all helped.

The weather is perfect for sightseeing 23*c.  It is quite smoggy.

I must say that the improvements in the roads and highways, the lack of litter
and cleanliness is most noticeable and quite incredible.  The slum dwellings and
the poverty is still very evident and although there are improvements it is very
horrible to look at and walk through.

Our room is large and bright and overlooks the Gate of Mumbai and the Indian
Ocean.  It is a long time now since the British left.

At 5.00 p.m. we had an extensive and very enjoyable talk about and tour  around
the Hotel.  Our guide reminded me very much of the young man in "Marigold Hotel"
who was so enthusiastic about rejuvenating and make his hotel once again the place
to stay. I think he was hoping a talent scout would  notice him and whisk him off
for a film audition.

Renovations and repairs as a result of the fire have all been completed perfectly.
All the furniture and fittings, especially the floral arrangements, are superb.

As this is the wedding season the hotel was busy and the rooms set up for the
reception were exquisite.

Moira, one of Caleb's business associates has been moved here from Singapore
so as we were waiting for her to collect us I was greatly entertained and had
much to admire as I watched the wedding guests arrive.  The woman folk
were in their most colourful finery and dripping in gold and jewels.

The traffic here is horrendous and the horn tooting is never-ending.

The one complaint is the air-conditioning which is so cold I have to wear
my jumper.

                                         Singapore

                          This handsome fellow is the founder and once owner of this
                           grand and fabulous hotel.

                      Just one of the rooms set up for a reception.

                                                 Singapore

                  Please note one of the many exquisite floral arrangements at the
                  bottom of this magnificent staircase.

               This handsome fellow is everywhere and watching everything.

                       The domed ceiling and staircase which has been faithfully restored.

                   This scene is just outside our hotel and the beggars and poor, dirty
                    hungry and neglected people is not a good sight.

Everything about this hotel is "spot-on" and we will be sorry to leave.  It is just
so lovely to be in.


Cheers for now,


Vivienne.

 

Saturday 5th January, 2012.

Hello to you all,

We are leaving home at 10.00p.m. to catch a 1.00a.m.
flight to Mumbai.

We will be away for three weeks and I am hoping that
my BLOG will reach you.  Some days we will be in
very remote places as we are touring in wild western
India.

We hope to see the rare Asiatic lion in Gir National Park.
Blackbuck at Velavadar and Khur in the Little Rann of Kutch.
We will have a night safari in search of Striped Hyaena.

We will be bird-watching. Our tour leader Mark Brazil is
an absolute wiz at this and makes it so enjoyable.

Anyway I hope that I can take some good photos. and comments
so that you will feel that you are with me in spirit but
comfortable at home and saving all your money.

I can tell you that when I hit post in Mt. Eliza Village last
Thursday afternoon I was not impressed at all.    BANG.
I could drive home but the next day when I drove to the
repair shop I was told that it was not safe to drive and
they would have it towed to a BMW specialist.  It
would be nice if it were ready when I got home but I
think I am dreaming.

Cheers!!


Vivienne.