Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Scenes in India

The Oberoi Udaivillas Hotel in Udaipur, India is stunning. This swimming pool snakes around the resort so that lots of the rooms are pool side. During the time we stayed at this hotel, they were using it as the location for photographing swim suit models for a catalog. Sorry, guys, no photos of that posted here. Elizabeth Hurley was one of the models, and she was at the next table to us at breakfast. No photos of that, either.
I love the serene expressions and beauty of the people of India. They are so photogenic. This woman was on the holy site of Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon, outside Varanasi. Varanasi is not only the birthplace of Buddhism, but the holiest site of Hinduism.
Having a camera at the ready even when on a bus can pay dividends. I shot this photo in the crowded streets of Varanasi while stuck in traffic on a bus.
This woman was on the grounds of the Jagdish Mandir Temple in Udaipur. She served tea to visitors and worshipers.
This is a photo of one of the windows in the Hawa Mahal, the "Palace of the Winds," a pink building built in 1799 so that women of the harem could look out onto the street below, but people could not see them behind the veiled screens. The building is 5 stories tall, but only one room deep.
This woman is cooking flat bread at the Sikh Temple in Delhi as part of the preparation of food that charitably feeds 20,000 people every day. Personal guides escort visitors like us on a fascinating tour of the temple.
Jagdish Mandir Temple in Udaipur has intricate stone carvings covering its exterior. This temple was built in the 1600's and is just outside he main gate of the enormous City Palace complex.
This man greets visitors entering the Jagdir Mandish Temple. We typically give a gratuity to people who pose for us, and certainly did so with him. It is regrettable that his lack of sight may make it more of a challenge for him to appreciate how magnificently handsome he is. I hope that his loved ones give him that assurance.

9 comments:

brattcat said...

Who needs photographs of E. Hurley when you can show us portraits like these?

Unknown said...

Your wonderful shots made feel nostalgic now...
By the way, I agree with Brattcat! :-)

Expats Again said...

Stunning photos. India is so visually rich. I hope to visit one day soon. Good friends are moving there, so it is the perfect excuse.

Kate said...

The portraits capture the heart and soul of the Indian people. One of my best trips was circumnavigating the subcontinent of India. You captured the daily activities but allowed the exotic to peek through.

Cezar and Léia said...

Wonderful work with your camera dear Julie, these pictures are magnificent!
purrs
Luna - We love Luna

glenda said...

Your people pictures as usual are terrific. You guys really have an eye for these photos. I especially like the woman sitting cooking the flat bread.

magiceye said...

lovely captures!!

Sharon Creech said...

Beautiful portraits!

Rob Siemann said...

Getting a bit homesick!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...