A JOURNEY TO INDIA II
Next stop, AGRA, home to the Taj Mahal...a magnificent sight made of white marble... that changes with the light of day and evening,
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But
for me, our subsequent stop on our very extensive itinerary, was so
much more interesting...KHAJURAHO... well known for its magnificent
temples built between 950 and 1050 A.D. The divine sculptures that make
up the exterior and interior walls of these temples are a tribute to
life itself...everything from the sublime to the spontaneous! The
carvings depict the life and times of the Chandela dynasty and
celebrate the erotic state of being... specific, detailed, x-rated...
but normal life, nevertheless... an illustrated Kama Sutra. The
sculptures are a "guide to virtuous and gracious living illustrating the
nature of love, family life and other aspects involving the
pleasure-oriented faculties of human life.*"
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Finally,
the reason I journeyed to India...we were off to see the tigers...or, I
should amend...TRY to see the tigers. It was no easy task spotting them
in the tall grasses, as they blended into their environment perfectly!
There's a tiger in there...honestly!!
Once
in a while, one would venture onto a path or a road or were in just the
right place for us to see clearly...those instances were definitely a
gift, as they are a sight to behold!!!
Very
large, stunning animals...they're a picture of strength and power! (I
was accustomed to seeing animals in the wild fairly easily in
Africa...little did I know that I'd be braving 120 degree heat with
little shade to see these magnificent cats!!) Since there are so many
myths involving tigers in India, the Indian people get especially
excited when they spot one.
We
had a few really clear, wonderful sightings...of course, there were
other animals of note as well in the Indian jungles: 3 kinds of deer,
Langur monkeys, macaque monkeys, wild boar and beautiful birds, large
and small...like wild peacock, wooly-necked cranes, owls and rollers to
name a few...
Truly
a memorable trip and, in addition to the fulfillment of a lifelong
dream to experience tigers in the wild, I've gained an education in so
many other areas. But as I travel to visit cultures different from my own, the same bottom line always reveals itself...people are the same all over the world...same hearts, same kindness...and a smile is always universal!
Namaste!
Thank you for stopping by...
Big Hugs,
abbyj
* This quote is from WIKIPEDIA
More beautiful photos! I can only guess at how exhilarating and exhausting this trip must have been.
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