artwork in a palace in Bangalore

Here's some beautiful artwork from a palace in Bangalore.  Only one guy will know where these pictures are hanging . . . . 

Dessert, coffee and a saree with friends

Anne and I invited friends over for dessert and coffee on Sunday evening.  As usual, we started with wine and fun conversation in the kitchen and then moved to the dining room for dessert and coffee once all the 9 kids had eaten their desserts.  Our friends were interested in my Rotary trip to Bangalore and asked many good questions. 

The tablecloth is a saree which Mini and Nils gave me in Bangalore.  Since Anne has no idea how to wear a saree, we decided to enjoy it this way with our friends. 

Geneshas to overcome obstacles

Here's my Genesha (elephant god) collection to help me overcome obstacles, some at home and some at my office.  I saw some Genesha collections while I visited various people in Bangalore. 

the "other" Taj Mahal

Here's the "other" Taj Mahal . . . . any guesses where it is?! Any guesses how BIG it is?

The newly released "Delhi 6" movie

I enjoyed seeing the newly released "Delhi 6" movie while I was in Bangalore.  It was fun to visit a couple of those movie scene locations when I was later in Delhi. 

Try some other food items . . .

Looks like some interesting stuff!  Too bad one can't just reach through the computer screen and my blog and give it all a taste, right?

Marble inlay tables in Agra

Agra seems to really be the place for inlay marble - either marble, muslim monuments or intricate, inlay marble top tables.  Or vases or plates or coasters, etc.   

Delhi's "Janpat Market"

If you're looking for a lively place to shop and haggle for fabrics, jewelry, books, carvings and many other items, then head over to the Janpat market in New Delhi. Besides great bargains, be ready for lots of hawkers aggressively selling their wares.

Bangalore fire station

GSE teammate Jae, an Eagan volunteer firefighter, wanted to visit the Bangalore main fire station so off we went.  The firefighting motorcycle can maneuver through the traffic in a hurry!  Some future fire fighters of Bangalore were happy to see us.  

Jae stood next to a less than enthusiastic firefighter.  Maybe I wouldn't be very happy either if I had to wear an orange jacket?

My "Indian" ladies

My "Indian" ladies enjoyed dressing up in Indian dresses with Indian jewelry and bindis!  Svea, Kajsa and Britta have two outfits and Anne has a blue, India blouse. 

 

How about some Indian treats & sweets?

Would you like some goodies from the sweet shop at Gandhi Market in Bangalore?

New Delhi's Jama Masjid mosque

Some more pictures from Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques located in New Delhi. 

 

Snake charmer!

Yes, indeed!  A real cobra! I didn't think I'd see a snake charmer but while I was sightseeing in New Delhi ....

Camel ride anyone?

How about a camel ride?  You can ride a camel at the Maharaja Palace in Mysore or ride in a cart behind a camel in New Delhi! 

The resting place of Mahatma Gandhi

In New Delhi, we visited the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi, a founding father of independent India.   It was a quiet, beautiful, peaceful place.  This is now another special memory of my trip to India.

Back in my office

It's Monday morning, March 23, and I'm back in my office. My big Genesha woodcarving is the newest adornment to my office decor.

Wow - I'm still in an India daze . . .

Layover in London

Well, my India adventure sadly came to an end. I flew out of Delhi's "Indira Gandhi International Airport" with British Airways at 7:10 am.
At the moment, I'm in jolly ol' England at the London Heathrow airport with 3.5 more hours until my flight to Chicago and then on to Minneapolis.

Stay tuned for more India blog pictures.....

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The Taj Mahal

I had fun photographing various people at the Taj Mahal. "Happy - happy - look happy!"

On Saturday, March 21, I made it to the Taj Mahal! Joanie, Adrienne and I met our tour guide at the entrance gate at 6:30 am. The temperature was cooler and the crowds were less.

This is truly a fabulous place - awesome!

Friday, March 20 - to Agra

On Friday, March 20, we left New Delhi and drove 4 hours to Agra. The first visit was a tour of the Agra Fort, a majestic citadel built in 1565 of red sandstone. Our guide is a "look alike" of a famous Bollywood actor in the recently released Indian movie, "Delhi 6" which I saw in Bangalore.

We did some shopping around Agra later in the afternoon. I found a little something at a store owned by a Rotarian from the Agra Taj Mahal Rotary club. He told me that I received a "Rotary discount" on my purchase, but .....



That evening, we went to the 6:30 show of "Mohabbat the Taj - the saga of Love." It was a dramatic and dazzling show about the story of the Muslim Emperor who built this 1st wonder of the world, a beautiful white marble mausoleum, after the death of this wife.

After the show, we finally met our Rotary host who put us up in his 2 bedroom guest apartment in Agra. His father is a Rotary past district governor.

Thursday, March 19 in New Delhi

A driver and guide from Cal India tours picked us up at the New Delhi International airport. They welcomed us with marigold garlands and Kingfisher beers in the car.


Our first stop was a visit to the "Qutub Minar," the world's tallest brick minaret completed in 1386. The ruins and pillars made for some great "snaps."






















Next we visited the Lotus Temple of the Bahai faith, a relatively new addition to New Delhi.

Our most noteworthy stop was at the "Jama Masjid" mosque, the largest mosque in India. Great photo shots abounded here with people, minarets, children, etc.

Our last stop for the day was a walk up to the "India Gate," built in 1921 to honor the fallen Indian soliders from WWI. Later in 1971, an eternal flame was lit in memory of unknown soliders who died in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.