to find a Nightingale: Photos

PHOTOS!- Chronological Order (Kind of)

This is a photo of the meditation room in the albany airport. It was such a magical find! I loved the idea of a quite sacred space in the midst of a busy airport where you can go to find peace during your hectic travelling. As they would say in India, it marked an auspicious beginning!

Orientation

This is a photo I took of the beautiful pool at the hotel we stayed in for orientation in Thanjavore. Hidden behind the canopy of greenery there is a waterfall that feeds the pool! Right after taking this I was approached by an Indian man who kept repeating that I was very beautiful and he loved me and wanted pictures with me. This was my first experience of something like this- I have since learned the art of walking away!!

This was in the dressing room of our first trip to buy Indian clothes. I was so confused by the enormous waists on the pants. Note to any future travelers: the pants should have a drawstring in the waist band- sometimes they do not put it in until you have purchased them but do NOT leave the store with pants that will fall off your body...

Temple 1

He is hanging up garlands of mango leaves in order to make the space more sacred.

SITA students posing with Durga. She is a mother goddess who rides a lion (tiger?). She is ferocious and fierce and is the only Hindu goddess who was never married and who always defeats the male gods in battle. She stands for feminine power- she is our professor's favorite goddess, and all of our's as well.

Second Temple

This is the "Big Temple" in Thanjavore. I took this picture at dusk. The temple is dedicated to Shiva (one of the main 3 gods in Hinduism). Brahma is the creator God, Vishnu is the protector God and Shiva is the destroyer God. While this makes him sound scary and evil, he is actually often viewed as the greatest God. In Hinduism it is believed that human are subjected to a recurring cycle of life and death- the ultimate goal is to attain nirvana/ enlightenment/ divinity and escape from this cycle by becoming one with the God. Death is therefore seen as a merciful act from a God because it is helping you to continue moving forward in the cycle. Also, as Dr. V explained to us- in order to develop some things must invevitably be lost. In order for a chick to hatch, the shell must be broken. If it is too afraid to destroy the shell and leave the sanctuary, it will never discover the beauties of the earth. Poetic huh?

In the big temple complex there is a holy tree where the "folk religions" dictates that the tree spirits reside. Many women put tokens on the tree in exchange for requests of finding love in their marriage, having sons, etc. These people asked if they could be in my picture- of course!

More inside the big temple.

A Woman selling her wares inside the temple.

This is Nanri (the mount of Shiva). He is a bull to whom you can whisper your secret desires.

I love him.

Trip to Kerala!

This is an elephant teapot. I think I would have paid a million ruppees for it had it been for sale. Alas, a picture must suffice.

There are tons of old cars in South India, specificially in Kerala. Lily- you would find happiness here.

Indian Barbie!

These are the Chinese fishing nets used in Cochin in Kerala. Very cool.

One of the many fish vendors in the streets right in front of the fishing nets- literally as fresh as it gets.

The first christian church to have ever been built in India! It was constructed by Vasco de Gama. He was buried here for a bit until his brother came over to bring his corpse back to Portugal. Cheers to foreign invasions!

House Boat!

We did part of our travelling in Kerala on a house boat- basically the coolest thing ever. It was so relaxing and fun and beautiful!

View from the house boat./

We were given "tender coconuts" to drink upon boarding.

View from the houseboat.

Another view from the houseboat. Chances that that is sewage pouring from the pipes= 95%

ELEPHANT RIDES!

Heather and I on our elephant!

Continued.

Jungle Trek

We were told there would be leeches...

In order to enter the jungle, we had to cross a river. So adventurous!

View inside the jungle.

Jungle fox sizing up our pack against their pack for battle. Luckily it decided we were numerous and large.

Traditional martial art of Kerala= casually jumping through rings of fire.

Spice Garden Tour

My favorite part of the spice garden was this precious elephant! (My least favorite part was the alarming gigantic spiders- notably NOT pictured here).

Rubber tree!

Cool well.

Don't be fooled by the size, this little guy is one of the spiciest peppers in the world. (I tried a pixie tiny weeny baby nibble and my mouth was quite warm all morning).

In traditional Indian photographs, smiles are not present...

Sahil and Rachel shopping in Thekkady, Kerala.

Our hotel in Kerala!!! Let the rain come down!!

Sharing some love on the bus.

Being barefoot... I love India.

If you go to lunch and order a "meal" this is what you get. Often it will be on a banana leaf. They will come around and pile rice in the middle. If you do not stop them you will recieve a mountain of rice. It is considered very rude not to finish all of the food on your plate... or to share food for that matter. Once you stuff down everything and feel very accomplished be EXTRA careful to watch the waiters like a hawk so that they cannot sneak up and pile more rice on your plate, because if they do- you will have to eat that too. Its war.