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, 

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.*" 

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

ARTFUL READERS CLUB

March 28, 2014

"LABYRINTH" by Kate Mosse 

It's that time again...end of the month, Artful Readers Club review time. This month, it was a well-written tome of historical fiction. It had the power to transport me to a distant place and time from my own home here in central New York...an exciting virtual holiday!! The book: LABYRINTH by Kate Mosse.

It takes place in and near a town in the south of France...Carcassonne. It's well researched and rich in historical fact...combined with a touch of medieval magic! 

The novel tells two stories simultaneously, that of 17 year old Alais in 13th century, medieval France and that of a young woman, an academic, named Dr. Alice Tanner, in 2005. The narratives are tied together by unraveling the mysteries of the "true Grail..."  the key to which is written and bound in three books and the symbol of the labyrinth. 

What really makes this book unusual from other books of its genre is that all the main characters, both good and evil, are women...and it's about time!! Alais is the medieval heroine, plunged into a world of danger and mystery. She's tasked with the responsibility of protecting the secrets of the Grail held within the pages of these three strange books. She must do this as she watches her beloved city fall to the Crusaders and through the death of some of her loved ones. 

In the modern world, her counterpart, Dr. Alice Tanner, stumbles across a cave containing two skeletons and suddenly finds herself at the center of an ancient, murderous web. Mosse develops some very interesting characters along the way, as the past and present intertwine with the intensifying of the quest for the Grail...all in the shadow of the timeless Pyrenees Mountains. 

Sometimes, I had to suspend my disbelief and just go with the chillingly real scenes...those of the Cathars (the "heretics" beseiged and killed by the French Crusaders,) singing on the way to their death as well as the massacre at Beziers...all historical fact and real places. Real events and figures from the time of the Albigensian Crusade, waged against the Cathars, are blended seamlessly and believably... beautifully!

Even if you're not a medieval geek like me, I recommend this book. Although it didn't have me manically turning pages throughout the entire tome of almost 700 pages, it certainly had many moments when I could barely catch my breath!! 

Here's one more of my interpretations of "LABYRINTH" by Kate Mosse.

Looking forward to seeing you for my next regular posting... thank you for checking in!

xoxox,

abbyj

THINKING SPRING YET?

April 14, 2014

 

Despite another snow storm and piles of snow standing taller than me,

some are thinking about spring...wishin' and hopin' for it... like these robin redbreasts, waiting patiently.

This is for INSPIRATION AVENUE (green),
TAKE A WORD (green) 
and THE THREE MUSES (spring)

 

Over at Flicker's art group, DIGITALMANIA, the inspiration for the week is mixed media collage artist, CHRISTINE PELOQUIN. Here are some pieces I created in her style...



 Finally, because my dear husband and daughter took off for a week of scuba diving, when COLLAGE OBSESSION requested participants create a piece of art describing the word  "under," I immediately thought of under...water!

I look forward to seeing all their underwater photos when they return... they always get some extraordinary images of a world most of us only dream of!

 

That's it for this week...going to take a short break and catch up on other activities. Will see you in a few weeks...

 

Thanks for stopping in. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those with an Irish Heart!!

 

Big Green Hugs,

abbyj

NATURAL WONDERS

March 6, 2014

 

Greetings from sunny Central New York! There are still hills of snow all around us, but today, it looks like spring is right around the corner...after a few more snow storms of course [big smile]. I remember years when it has snowed on Mother's Day in early May!!!

It's Mother Nature's kind heart that keeps beautiful birds around us year round... ever changing, always singing.

No matter where you are, if there are wires strung on high poles, there are always birds sitting on them, visiting with one another or just resting. In this week's challenge blog, TAKE A WORD, "blackbirds" is their theme.

 



 Going from birds to monkeys... at COLLAGE OBSESSION, the theme is "monkey business." Now, I know that technically, chimpanzees are considered Apes, but both are from the biological Order Primates. The most obvious difference between monkeys and apes is that monkeys have long tails...apes have no tail. Too, apes are highly intelligent beings...monkeys, not so much! I've had one-on-one experience walking and playing with an 11 year old female chimp named ICARU. I met her in Uganda, on Ngamba Island,  a sanctuary for rescued chimps. We were together twice in as many years. This is one of the photos I took of Icaru with some of her friends... they're very playful, giggle when tickled, and spend a great deal of time grooming one another. Icaru didn't put the basket on her head, but would have, if given the basket!! :)

 

Finally, on INSPIRATION AVENUE, a theme that's not nature-oriented..."lanterns." Can you imagine a story about this piece?

 



That's all for this posting. Enjoy the days ahead as we inch ahead to our next season...for us, it's spring.

 

Hope to see you for my next...

 

Big Hugs,

abbyj