tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45549696864152239032024-03-13T20:42:52.239-07:00Travels in RetirementThis is my journey into retirement with my bus and other excitements, life is interesting!Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-67824921209552224572023-06-25T00:08:00.003-07:002023-06-25T14:03:14.485-07:00Life Changes Yet Again<p> So after 4 years at Driving Creek Pottery, two major things have happened,</p><p>1. An awesome lady has decided that she wants to be part of my life</p><p>2. I have left Driving Creek and we are back on the road.</p><p><br /></p><p>So today we managed to leave Coromandel Town behind, in the wind and rain…..I am certain that a certain Mr BB didn’t want me to leave….what with so many issues with vehicles, road closures etc…so we had to go the loooong way round and have ended up in Titirangi, Auckland house sitting for Ronald and Ofa. Via Waihi certainly adds to the journey. Slips have blocked the Thames Coast Road in two places and it looks like it may be closed for a couple of days. Very glad to be out.</p><p>So what is on the horizon….???</p><p>House sitting for two weeks</p><p>Back to Wellington for Matariki and ….Anneke’s birthday July 25th</p><p>A kiln firing in Te Horo first week in August</p><p>Back to Coromandel to sort out storage somewhere in there….</p><p>After that…who knows….</p><p>August 27th I get my gold card yippee……</p><p>Maybe another trip overseas….lots of trains to travel on.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway safe travels everyone,</p><p><br /></p>Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-89738851715652506362021-06-25T14:34:00.003-07:002021-06-25T14:34:30.115-07:00Long Time No Post<p> So Covid, and life....</p><p>I am currently at Driving Creek Railway and Pottery. I have been employed as Railways Manager and I co-manage the Pottery with an amazing guy Sam Ireland.</p><p>I have been here since just prior to Covid Lockdown V4. </p><p>So this is just a quick update, will get some more done soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPog6d65ZuA/YNZLrJrtitI/AAAAAAAAaso/8eub9h3twJ88t6KX4tDFFp0h-IYp82I7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201118_080016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPog6d65ZuA/YNZLrJrtitI/AAAAAAAAaso/8eub9h3twJ88t6KX4tDFFp0h-IYp82I7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/IMG_20201118_080016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIm3DgzyckA/YNZLi_FJcxI/AAAAAAAAask/HPE8CFH2ho4FL5wLwUs9adelT9-wNtHngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201107_170456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIm3DgzyckA/YNZLi_FJcxI/AAAAAAAAask/HPE8CFH2ho4FL5wLwUs9adelT9-wNtHngCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201107_170456.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52I7RxOsT7w/YNZLd8WGj3I/AAAAAAAAasg/1wVFKGFiz5oCTqfYGsa34LIeuUzQYPDxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCF3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52I7RxOsT7w/YNZLd8WGj3I/AAAAAAAAasg/1wVFKGFiz5oCTqfYGsa34LIeuUzQYPDxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSCF3283.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-13483828246804701922019-12-15T05:05:00.000-08:002019-12-15T05:05:03.796-08:0060,000 bricks @ 1000 deg C<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I finally got to get the tour of the local brick works!<br />
Tavleen, Balwinder, Prince, Ellen and myself headed off down the road. On the way we saw a small juvenile Northern Goshawk that had been probably hit by a car, <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Northern Goshawk (i think) </td></tr>
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it seemed perky enough so we left it to check on the way home. The Northern Goshawk is the state bird of Punjab. Was spotted up on the power lines on way home...<br />
So for all those fans of PBT Transport, we were at the home of PBT Bricks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KP Brick Manufacturers trading as PBT</td></tr>
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Now it was pretty obvious that the heavy rain that we had experienced on Friday (torrential rain and amazing thunderstorms) had made its presence felt at the brick works, <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain sodden brick paddy fields</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoilt bricks due to heavy rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green bricks destroyed by rain</td></tr>
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some of the green bricks had been lost but they had managed to cover a fair few.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic covered green bricks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saved green bricks</td></tr>
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So in the area surrounding the main kiln, there were acres of brick making space.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brick making paddy field</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More brick making paddy fields </td></tr>
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They just use the local dirt which has enough clay content to make it all stick together and then fire it all.<br />
So we rocked on up and got to meet the owner who gave us a guided tour of the area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellen, Tavleen and the owner</td></tr>
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So at one end of the kiln area they were unpacking after a firing, <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unpacking a fired area (note the height)</td></tr>
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then we moved up to the other end where they were firing.<br />
So there are three wickets (doorways) per firing area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wicket door after firing</td></tr>
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The green bricks are loaded into the area, stacked cleverly<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green bricks stacked for firing</td></tr>
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to allow for airflow and even firing<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing on top of the firing chamber from left Owner, Frederick, Ellen</td></tr>
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and then the roof is laid over the top, complete with stoking holes and observation holes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observation hole</td></tr>
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Stoking holes and containers of coal dust</td></tr>
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This is all then fired up to 1000 degrees centigrade. It is fired with coal dust and there is a team that stokes 24/7 for the 36 hours it takes to complete the firing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team of stokers with plastic barrels of coal dust</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of kiln with stoke holes</td></tr>
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There are 60,000 bricks per firing and there are 4 firing chambers that rotate, so one loading, <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qv02-pHlaco/XfYZ_83wgzI/AAAAAAAASiM/8EsN3lqXnXsoMDd4wDC80_1Va57y63ORQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409595156142-18.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacking green bricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
one firing, one unpacking <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oIZFCe0Lo0Y/XfYZ-H6SpHI/AAAAAAAASiI/40KTNcVReRoDy3fastDW_DDMg1wNG-bZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409583295337-19.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unpacking fired bricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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and the last a mix of loading and unpacking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FRrromhQCio/XfYZ7ICBedI/AAAAAAAASiE/KxXyPUkAO5kJWU4uJ2MlDaj4hoOjcMlcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409575819824-20.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unpacking (note hand carts and labour)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bT2-eeaREoI/XfYZ49W0lxI/AAAAAAAASiA/2txYZAydMLM_y9TL6J-ZS4cgezHan3XTACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409567040258-21.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of partially open wicket door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was an interesting experience climbing on top of a firing kiln to watch the stoking. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3IUpbv4_qF8/XfYZ2_27uxI/AAAAAAAASh0/z7sPJ_5N6vsr3yMITBPp4cEDFO4dsWlggCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409559301736-22.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladder up to top of kiln, stoking team watching us with interest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
The guys wander around in wooden slippers between the stoke holes with a metal hook and lift the metal lid, <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8Jyupjd2uI/XfYZ1BtiNAI/AAAAAAAAShw/CiHl5rUivSgJkPVhKsvs0FzGtYffb6N6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409551748966-23.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoking holes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
drop a small scoop of coal<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4rqaJBcNf6o/XfYZzB8JXnI/AAAAAAAAShs/ecvgs8-IiDoFeNMwS4jqYMR3JGULadsBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409545225890-24.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal stock pile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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down the hole <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CvWSjGckAvI/XfYZxVxEaqI/AAAAAAAASho/RMWazyWcxkQkqeNVKgTBFGm1bVBsVz40gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409536896592-25.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal dust for stoking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
and drop the lid back down. It was quite a musical sound with the lids dropping down. What was even more interesting was the lack of heat. Eventually I started to feel the heat through my shoes, but there was little ambient heat while we were on the top.<br />
There are 250 workers on site and most live on site as it is a 24/7 operation. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oblncx_KzG0/XfYZvWBOZtI/AAAAAAAAShk/7ENTAPBgzaA56vTXR288OsJ4h-G_pcTsACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409528917335-26.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House on site, close holes for winter, open for summer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
The kids were everywhere and were funny to watch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X0lXoVW_low/XfYZtd0QMfI/AAAAAAAAShg/yGwOmPxXOEw4wPJLwoA9wltmKFl_cuY1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409517762315-27.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where are the kids?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-29VlMthG8kQ/XfYZqsTlLfI/AAAAAAAAShc/BqfT5wOP75UYkSDFq0ffEkjlOhI6s2XnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1576409509672256-28.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were treated to chai and biscuits with the owner and I showed him a picture of a PBT truck and trailer unit from NZ and he roared with laughter and his PA grabbed it and WhatsAppd it to his phone. They thought is was wonderful.<br />
It was an amazing experience to see how bricks were made in northern India. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zwvWpepIo5o/XfYZofkxq5I/AAAAAAAAShY/9CAldP-7fl8QRP9Yy7Fr5PrnHWiHTHeQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576409501898399-29.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worker unloading fired bricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5HV6xq7J2t0/XfYZmXEfGBI/AAAAAAAAShU/UO0Wxj4tcrQuKJsScdgQ7EDUdy0IPlDGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576409493983709-30.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke stack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
Would not like to be around in the hot summer months.<br />
I am going to try to get back to see the actual making of the green bricks. We saw the PBT emboss stamps<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LHzqHinPROA/XfYousLf_JI/AAAAAAAASkU/gYWHK_WCHjYmv49f2-7UqwpEVO9njlj2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576413365929338-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PBT emboss stamps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MrmK4idK22I/XfYotDlxbuI/AAAAAAAASkQ/j8PZYG4O9SkJecRJEuYL-BqXcPqLseJUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1576413360300868-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PBT green bricks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</a>
</div>
but not the molds.<br />
<br />
So further to that I have been plodding along making and experimenting with slab work at the studio<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Y-RQH6h9SY/XfYq-Xxb5fI/AAAAAAAASk4/w2LR2E2-AA8pPS3qVuC7VTXtdt0cwTmhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576413940838274-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slab vase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O5K1lMIPInI/XfYq9Hl_hYI/AAAAAAAASk0/5Rg05B3GEdM1dt_0rq7Wa7oy1oUAtobogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1576413935848874-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teapot without spout (yet)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1u9CqypUl6U/XfYq7rCkDEI/AAAAAAAASkw/fe94hYtBlz4NZ5kiyovN2uRGubJtISs8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1576413930291306-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting vessel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xhqTphGYKxI/XfYq6HFrfcI/AAAAAAAASks/wOYWhRF4gck2KIbkYMkroyfep3ITrVMIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576413924439677-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geometric piece (Stairway to.....)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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and creating some pieces for Rachel and her business Real Food Gratitude.<br />
A wall hanging and some small appetizer plates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1oM_tbGiYwI/XfYq48mvSwI/AAAAAAAASko/xxC2JVmJicQxaaJxuAXTNvBK7FXCHJfdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1576413918666600-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phases of the moon wall hanging</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-egkHC7Hc2ws/XfYr-YAv8TI/AAAAAAAASlM/_h67UmCcFu4MDVLBm1W5RxCG4xa1XkC1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576414197068324-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon phase appetizer plates and dish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As you could possible guess Rachel loves the phases of the moon.<br />
<br />
So pretty much up to date here, our chef has been having fun with the ‘salad’ plates<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MnEsWPRwY-0/XfYtfSmbXOI/AAAAAAAASls/sr083fPz-04j0UdvVSEdrTC5K1QNSmg7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576414580865322-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber and flower petals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOi2X9awbs4/XfYtcyhy7TI/AAAAAAAASlo/tAc93kSW4wQVtk4zlF7osIVrxbL-RbfqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1576414575779817-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber and orange slices</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumber and tomato</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiwifruit and apple</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrot, tomato and cucumber</td></tr>
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I am starting to realize that my time here is getting close to being over. I leave here on the morning of Dec 28th to begin part 2 of my journey so not that long to go now.<br />
<br />
Dhanyavaad (thank you) for reading this<br />
Safe travels everyone.<br />
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-29644306408720896742019-12-09T05:23:00.000-08:002019-12-09T05:24:53.715-08:00Fires, heat and hospitality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So while we were all in Shimla, Prince and Tavleen did a bisque firing. In the morning we opened the kiln to see just how good things were. No blowups, a little cracking but nothing major and some awesome pieces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2ESKIxM3gGI/Xe4Z-MtfysI/AAAAAAAASe8/KwXSce3FiiMUToUxzDOiqTlEVMtHLRObgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575885299223673-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2ESKIxM3gGI/Xe4Z-MtfysI/AAAAAAAASe8/KwXSce3FiiMUToUxzDOiqTlEVMtHLRObgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575885299223673-1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bisque results</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-QplgWn50M/Xe4Z8TByITI/AAAAAAAASe0/uEQ1RDz5ZhU18Uawmc1OPrf7UbzzN0G7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575885247470368-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-QplgWn50M/Xe4Z8TByITI/AAAAAAAASe0/uEQ1RDz5ZhU18Uawmc1OPrf7UbzzN0G7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575885247470368-2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bisque results</td></tr>
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What followed was a long day getting things glazed ready for a glaze firing on Thursday. This was pretty fast turn around as Katrine was due to leave to head home to Singapore on Saturday and wanted her items to take with her.<br />
It was a pretty hectic day as we had to prep our pieces, clear them of dust, wax where necessary to prevent sticking to the shelves or themselves (lids etc).<br />
I will try and get some pics from the day as I didn’t have time to get some.<br />
All I have is my big pots that didn’t get fired.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zY2k89QqM3A/Xe5FocXT4II/AAAAAAAASf0/mBsMCF4iYJ0WDb7KQKbzMMy_KFT1v1pXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/090C321C-7891-46EC-9B9F-93B0CC878566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zY2k89QqM3A/Xe5FocXT4II/AAAAAAAASf0/mBsMCF4iYJ0WDb7KQKbzMMy_KFT1v1pXQCEwYBhgL/s400/090C321C-7891-46EC-9B9F-93B0CC878566.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From right, vase, teapot, sugar bowl and behind the leaf platter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPbyukv6kGA/Xe5FocaC8vI/AAAAAAAASf4/0ICXGM75EcIej4l60-ajwYvMrLnu9c06wCEwYBhgL/s1600/AAC498E6-BA02-4BF8-B9F2-DC237301C61E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPbyukv6kGA/Xe5FocaC8vI/AAAAAAAASf4/0ICXGM75EcIej4l60-ajwYvMrLnu9c06wCEwYBhgL/s400/AAC498E6-BA02-4BF8-B9F2-DC237301C61E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left, teapot, trinket box, glazed lid from the teapot and leaf platter behind</td></tr>
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It was a frantic day with trying to sort out colours and whether to dip or spray. But we got there in the end only about 45 mins later than expected.<br />
The following morning we kicked off the kiln at 9am<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rsTp2dNCibk/Xe4ZvTCFA3I/AAAAAAAASew/hlR4etncmoIdicT3JTJDjhXcLzYA2eGNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575885241865098-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rsTp2dNCibk/Xe4ZvTCFA3I/AAAAAAAASew/hlR4etncmoIdicT3JTJDjhXcLzYA2eGNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575885241865098-3.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candling the kiln to drive off any remaining moisture</td></tr>
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and let it candle for 1 1/2 hours then applied some heat to two burners.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hpvAt3I2m7s/Xe4ZuPt69bI/AAAAAAAASes/JUo1f9O3dEgNr29tu0BGjJ6VNOYMB1ULgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884926015501-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hpvAt3I2m7s/Xe4ZuPt69bI/AAAAAAAASes/JUo1f9O3dEgNr29tu0BGjJ6VNOYMB1ULgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575884926015501-4.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And off we go</td></tr>
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At 700 dec C we lit off the other 2 burners and apart from a change of gas bottle we got a very steady even rise in temperature to 1260 by 5pm and after holding for 15 mins at 1260 we then sealed up the kiln and turned the burners off.<br />
By 10:30am it was cool enough to open after cracking it at 8:30am and it certainly looked different.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uUwgg3h5BZQ/Xe4YewsJs3I/AAAAAAAASeg/kMsiGJnyoEcce5ZOMRw99R3oKcSQM7fKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884855421243-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uUwgg3h5BZQ/Xe4YewsJs3I/AAAAAAAASeg/kMsiGJnyoEcce5ZOMRw99R3oKcSQM7fKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884855421243-5.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anuja and Tavleen inspect the results</td></tr>
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We had a few cracks and splits but nothing majorly broken to disrupt the kiln.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hYn0qYGMOAw/Xe4YNfR1enI/AAAAAAAASeY/IpARoSH6aEMx_oX0b0LGer0EfzPZHWFggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884725274239-6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hYn0qYGMOAw/Xe4YNfR1enI/AAAAAAAASeY/IpARoSH6aEMx_oX0b0LGer0EfzPZHWFggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884725274239-6.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh dear, major cracking</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aXr3acwxMq8/Xe4XsgevNtI/AAAAAAAASeE/seCe6tjZsz0xFZrjCuoYfIAys_MtEBjDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884717706902-7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aXr3acwxMq8/Xe4XsgevNtI/AAAAAAAASeE/seCe6tjZsz0xFZrjCuoYfIAys_MtEBjDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884717706902-7.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Katrine’s work</td></tr>
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I was very happy with the few small bits of mine that went into the kiln<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9LqmfrkqJY/Xe4XrAWqx5I/AAAAAAAASeA/pplBjna7_9cz-AEabePsrSESmIor5j0KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884673213961-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9LqmfrkqJY/Xe4XrAWqx5I/AAAAAAAASeA/pplBjna7_9cz-AEabePsrSESmIor5j0KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884673213961-8.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my small pieces</td></tr>
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and am awaiting the next firing to get my bigger pots and bowls fired.<br />
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I am slowly finding my niche and it seems to be geometric shapes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RLwT7RRLlzg/Xe4Xfojk6bI/AAAAAAAASd8/JZ3oLGWeFZ8K3OcrzAK7CYk3uGPwpFLqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884666143736-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RLwT7RRLlzg/Xe4Xfojk6bI/AAAAAAAASd8/JZ3oLGWeFZ8K3OcrzAK7CYk3uGPwpFLqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1575884666143736-9.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geometric Progression - From Circle to Cube</td></tr>
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I have been having fun with a number of teapots<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0XMXfFnfYU/Xe4ashZbxJI/AAAAAAAASfk/Wts4MI7t3U0EDsPtuSwuCW2-zwhGD7rUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/7A4271C1-B5F9-41E3-89D6-435F582CFE02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0XMXfFnfYU/Xe4ashZbxJI/AAAAAAAASfk/Wts4MI7t3U0EDsPtuSwuCW2-zwhGD7rUQCEwYBhgL/s400/7A4271C1-B5F9-41E3-89D6-435F582CFE02.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teapot in the making, just need a handle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjbajH2HQ7g/Xe4Xd7QGCOI/AAAAAAAASd4/-G5-OH3x9KIT83H99GFsk-gaWea4XIQiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884596148703-10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjbajH2HQ7g/Xe4Xd7QGCOI/AAAAAAAASd4/-G5-OH3x9KIT83H99GFsk-gaWea4XIQiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575884596148703-10.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teapot, third try but still not completely happy</td></tr>
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and vases as well as geometric sculpture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TphsklA9Pvo/Xe5KuIqAmiI/AAAAAAAASgI/D6WIVto1t1QROVeK4Qs_Pg8pJhJdtvdCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575897775853973-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairway to .....</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, on one of my trips to the local village of Manakpur Sharif I had met up with two lovely young men who had shown us around the village. Now suddenly one of them<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hJ00YnNKNcw/Xe4XMEv1UQI/AAAAAAAASds/uiDC55iT2hUGJElNfNEqFEM2E_Ora7CPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884376820079-11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hJ00YnNKNcw/Xe4XMEv1UQI/AAAAAAAASds/uiDC55iT2hUGJElNfNEqFEM2E_Ora7CPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575884376820079-11.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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Bhapoor Singh found me on Facebook and said that he was heading to Aura on Friday and would like to catch up. Now Bhapoor had said that he had known Anuja’s (owner of Aura Pottery) late husband Atul. Atul had passed away in February this year from a heart attack. Bharpoor and Atul had been working together on a programme of planting many more trees around the village and alongside the road leading to the village.<br />
On Friday when he arrived I was unaware that he was actually at Aura for a meeting with Anuja around using the proceeds of Winter Day to buy and plant more trees around the area.<br />
So Bharpoor had a quick tour of the studio and some of our work and then was whisked off to his meeting.<br />
Latter both Rachel and I get an invitation to dinner at his home in the village, which we accept. So last night, Sunday, we wandered off to the village with a cake Rachel had baked and a jar of our spiced nuts and seeds for them.<br />
Bhapoor met us on the way and showed us the trees that they had planted along the roadside and explained that some of the farmers were not happy as it shaded their crops.<br />
We had another wander through the village, down street and alleys we hadn’t been before. So amazing to think that there are over 3,000 people living in this village.<br />
When we arrive at his home, he explains that most of his extended family live together but in separate houses and gather together often.<br />
Indian families have an interesting reaction when I take my shoes off at the door. I have to explain that it is a cultural thing in my country and I seldom wear shoes inside, and never as a guest in someone else’s home. Bharpoor finally accepted it when Rachel confirmed that I never wear shoes inside the house.<br />
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So first up we meet Grandmother who is 82 and quite sprightly. She was sitting on a charpaya (Indian woven bed) if you translate literally it is char: four and paya: footed. She was knitting very rapidly.<br />
Then came a stream of relatives, Father and Mother, Bharpoor’s wife, his Grandfather, Uncle and Aunt and later his brother and his wife and young son arrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-77wc6Hq6GRc/Xe4WVRtmGiI/AAAAAAAASdc/_vqLS0h3XeQtdPrg97rx4jKpTqEpMNPAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884363221324-12.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-77wc6Hq6GRc/Xe4WVRtmGiI/AAAAAAAASdc/_vqLS0h3XeQtdPrg97rx4jKpTqEpMNPAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884363221324-12.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhapoor’s brother, Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle & Aunt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--WY_BN1dGik/Xe4WRxyDsOI/AAAAAAAASdU/jgK8h2zBEI4RB9cYTM4AmEgxG9Q2ED6BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884323956968-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--WY_BN1dGik/Xe4WRxyDsOI/AAAAAAAASdU/jgK8h2zBEI4RB9cYTM4AmEgxG9Q2ED6BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575884323956968-13.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle, Aunt, Father and Bhapoor’s wife, Aman</td></tr>
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It was quite interesting as Grandfather, Bharpoor and his wife Aman were the only English speakers so conversation was fun.<br />
Grandfather had been to the United States in the 80’s and so there was a bit of interesting conversation between him and Rachel.<br />
We were offered the wonderful Indian version of coffee, milk heated, coffee and sugar added and then whisked frothy. Very delicious. This was followed by what I believe was pinni. It was explained to us that his father had made this. It takes around 4 hours to reduce 4 litres of milk down to 1 litre and that it is almost solid at this point. This is then mixed with gram flour, jaggery (unrefined cane sugar), ghee and nuts and seeds. There is a great deal more to the creation of this wonderful winter snack, and I will find the complete recipe when I go back for some lessons with Father on how to make it. It is amazingly healthy and is great for adding missing dietary needs over the winter months.<br />
We were then invited out to watch Mother cook roti for dinner in the outdoor kitchen or bhathi.<br />
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Watching Mother shape roti by hand, (no rolling pin) was amazing, beautifully round and even thickness and then cooked on the roti cooker (tawa). This is a two person job as Mother rolled and patted the roti while Aunty first cooked the roti on the top then carefully crisped them up inside the firebox against the side on a bed of coals.<br />
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Bhapoor had brought the idea home to apply ghee to the roti then place back in the fire to create super crispy roti and they were! So this was served with saag, a vegetable purée of mustard greens and other leafy greens. The bowl of saag was then laced with a large dollop of homemade butter (not ghee). The butter is made daily from the buffalo cows that Mother milks every day. At the end of the week and butter left over gets turned into ghee. I still cannot get over the fact that the butter and cream here are white, not pale yellow but pure white. I first came across this on my trip to Florida and thought it was just in America but no it is here too.<br />
So we all sat around the fire eating saag and roti, with a glass of warm water. It was a wonderful experience to have roti so hot that I had to wait for it to cool before I could eat it. Grandfather was hilarious about asking if we needed forks to eat with as his brother who was a professor at a major US university had brought a group of people home and they couldn’t/wouldn’t eat with fingers. A very funny story in the telling.<br />
We then went for a wander around the house, saw the new cow and calf, who had arrived that day but she got a bit upset when we came in and kicked her calf. Mother was trying to get the calf to feed from the cow, so we left them to it. We toured the garden where all the ingredients for saag were grown. After that we went upstairs to the roof where we enjoyed a very quiet time seeing the village at night from the rooftop, observing what few stars were visible and talking about sleeping on the roof tops over the summer. They have temperatures around 50 deg C in the summer months and 2 deg C in winter! Huge temperature differential over the year.<br />
After that we returned to the sitting room and talked about all sorts of interesting things and then instead of us walking home Bhapoor drove us home. On the way we paused to meet a group of young men that Bhapoor was part of who were huddled around a small fire on the street corner.<br />
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A group that comes together most nights to talk about non consequential stuff and just relax and enjoy the company. Apparently Bhapoor is the first of the group to get married, so he cannot attend as many get togethers as he used to.<br />
It was a wonderful evening and Bhapoor was adamant that the honour was theirs to be able to host us but it went both ways I felt very honoured to be invited into their home and to be welcomed so warmly and fed with such a meal that was prepared with so much tradition and love.<br />
An amazing experience!<br />
It also seems that I have unleashed the inner artist in our studio help Prince, he is starting to create some awesome work.<br />
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-30494074387562773822019-11-29T05:26:00.002-08:002019-11-29T05:39:45.052-08:00Toy Train to Shimla<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the midst of all the Winter Day excitement, Rachel</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anuja and Rachel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> had a birthday and we celebrated it with two (yes 2) cakes. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and 2 cakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and Anuja’s present and awesome shawl</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So a quick day on Monday to get all the pieces I wanted fired organized for a bisque firing on Tuesday, which unfortunately we will not be here for as we are all heading off for a day trip to Shimla. This was brought forward due to Katrine leaving Friday so we needed to get things done bisque and glazed before she left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday morning at 3:30am the alarm goes off and we all troop out to the front gate at 4pm to get into our Uber ride to Kalka to get on our train. One of the first drivers who actually sticks to the speed limit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know that in Chandigarh there are red flashing LED's on both sides of the motorway showing the edges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At around 5 we arrive at Kalka after driving through the pouring rain and head off to try and find our train. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Kalka Railway Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again have to scan our bags through security.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bag scan at Kalka Railway Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once on the platform we headed towards Platform 6, but went the wrong way and found the over bridge under construction, so headed all the way back </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platform 1 Kalka Railway Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalka (note time)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railway engine Kalka</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and found that we didn’t have to go far <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mtt97qlIKkk/Xd-nffmrUXI/AAAAAAAART4/TKIlkNRDev0KRrbDEQfiG4oS6Im1gtz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574938490047479-8.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalka Shimla Railway display</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pt 2 of Kalka Shimla Railway display</td></tr>
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as the train to Shimla<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ride up the hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalka Shimla Toy Train</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Class all the way!</td></tr>
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is a narrow gauge of 2ft 6” (NZ is 3ft 6”) and has a separate line.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indian Railways currently has four different gauges: the 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge, and two narrow gauges 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) and 2 ft (610 mm)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shimla or Queen of The Hills was established as the summer capital of the British Empire in 1863 but the issue was accessibility as the only way there was by bullock cart. So in 1903 the Kalka to Shimla railway was opened. The current Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon was on that first train.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The track has 20 picturesque stations, 103 tunnels, 912 curves, 969 bridges and 3% slope (1:33 gradient). The 1,143.61 m Bagot tunnel at Barog immediately before the Barog station is longest, a 60 ft (18.29m) bridge is the longest and the sharpest curve has a 123 ft (38 m) radius of curvature. The train has an average speed of 25–30 km/hr Which is why it takes 4 1/2 hours to traverse the 96km of track.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was dark as we left the station so didn’t get to see much apart from the occasional level crossing with trucks and cars waiting and rear of buildings. It wasn’t long before we started to climb out of the city </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9QeOy-v6eOk/Xd_I_kJXyjI/AAAAAAAARV4/UFuGCnQMuzgAacoG-jLh3-A1BNk8zhqNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947067211529-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and into the hills. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i0gd7ZmUDVc/Xd_I-ux9G5I/AAAAAAAARV0/JOZdxx8q9-0K17QN-Ki4oP22gXJgyAnaACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947062937889-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Town nestled into the curve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-nlEv9ZQSQ/Xd_I9fgntaI/AAAAAAAARVw/3yNcmFjnDgQ6lo9TFUKpKdxOLI1q8IA_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947057394934-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees in the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a lot of forrest on the hills and when the sun rose you could see just how high we were and how steep the hills are.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Q4qEh4otbw/Xd_I8Df4rjI/AAAAAAAARVs/reY4qI3pMMQcpnR1b1IC2M4THp6FQ04RACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947053312954-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down one of the many valleys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ihK6OU8b5xU/Xd_I7Lp7MLI/AAAAAAAARVo/8KlWYOwB-2cABl6ab-M0hE-Bf-ZzT55twCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947049454755-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precariously balanced</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A snack was served not far into the journey, a cup of tea with two round wine type biscuits. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--h0aeiha1a4/Xd_G68NiUVI/AAAAAAAARVI/wWaBOVti6UANPXIS9eoR4yttXYy1B1MHACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574946534608342-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning snack, excuse the blur</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the halfway station of Barog breakfast was loaded onto the train </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fsUldr1fL5o/Xd_G5Y3MoYI/AAAAAAAARVE/wNdfjl8tWXcNlqfqZhVC-eeCd8KeSI_wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574946528693801-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
and we had a chance to stretch our legs. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZHK9wdsoGQA/Xd_G375TEVI/AAAAAAAARVA/9OF8k7ZvQBE3HacXmqsZITCXyBw5b3lKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574946523240949-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katrine at the doorway</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f-EA9EhCDfY/Xd_G2dXIgyI/AAAAAAAARU8/z4spuR265ksnS9RALhJ38t1EK70XK-whwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574946517594994-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and Kyle on a walkabout at Barog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jgbX89MpKXA/Xd_G05GRhRI/AAAAAAAARU4/UCfuO28gPlYVmKmwLiY82844aMrhtZmZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574946510045898-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barog Station with the longest tunnel in background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jgbX89MpKXA/Xd_G05GRhRI/AAAAAAAARU4/UCfuO28gPlYVmKmwLiY82844aMrhtZmZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1574946510045898-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Underway again we continued to climb and twist our way up the hills. It was amazing to pass the same place sometimes three times, each time at a higher level as we zigzagged our way upwards.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_aHfUWeuMn4/Xd_I57zDzMI/AAAAAAAARVk/kqH2iWuWhIQ1qw-stEEOkZIJSBnFaO5UgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947044746052-5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perched on the side of the hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_aHfUWeuMn4/Xd_I57zDzMI/AAAAAAAARVk/kqH2iWuWhIQ1qw-stEEOkZIJSBnFaO5UgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1574947044746052-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fP5TJnrKcqA/Xd_I4kcqDUI/AAAAAAAARVg/2JE2yo08a0MnSKF4hMgs6SNjqdXmolyegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947038622973-6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same town different height</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z0hgHLOKyl0/Xd_I3FhBCdI/AAAAAAAARVc/qmX3ugJPHKUTf772dHt5tDQKUxDD8cFzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947032817484-7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was very difficult to catch the view as the auto focus on both my phone and camera was enough of a delay that by the time the picture was taken a tree was in the way! </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJPUhznKglY/Xd_KrrUxNfI/AAAAAAAARW4/RaN78Ty_IccOILAv_VUgKkjtPka_g2AOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947498450597-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees get in the way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Breakfast was served at some point on the trip.... two vege rolls (very tasty) with a nice sauce and two pieces of bread with butter and jam. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aIsH_6TNCyI/Xd_KqRvGiRI/AAAAAAAARW0/Tn2o4Yocbls85gbdLAAwjSvhdD0NxEZ8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947492922410-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At around 11am we arrived at Shimla Station </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e468miR1P8E/Xd_KozRJKTI/AAAAAAAARWw/fx-85tLW6w8Bxie2-Ah1ndJHZ7jKPwv-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947488137239-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimla Railway Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lttHBNn2Vps/Xd_Knm-ZjmI/AAAAAAAARWs/FY3M4NRc3OouKrCHnNUe1BTF8fpj6CJJACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947482605411-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimla Railway Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FDyaAdI6cfE/Xd_KmFTTl-I/AAAAAAAARWo/q_s1qjr90B4Zieat9Lq7azb9qK9oaaQDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947475340998-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimla Railway Station Points House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cFAB5S3Iva8/Xd_KkTjolSI/AAAAAAAARWk/3_OI3QwyOcQkM-S-ixlTzxaP3nHgd4XQACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947469544399-5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turntable for engines Shimla Railway Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j2pSsA4pqTE/Xd_Ki6llwrI/AAAAAAAARWg/WJNUEZXIUcUtznNunEv5Ql2EN8DmBvyqACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947464519860-6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Shimla Railway Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and what an amazing place it was. Clean and tidy to a fault.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y2I3L5qda1A/Xd_KhqY4lEI/AAAAAAAARWc/LY6u7leUUz0ihIZ4CZsOcT5j6-ttqdw9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1574947457689554-7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very clean and tidy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
On posting the pics to FaceBook, friends commented around “Are you sure you are in the right place”, “Not the India I remember” and similar. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then wended our way </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-43cdAUroxSs/Xd_Kf81ZBeI/AAAAAAAARWY/TGKzSqZmoz8xGC4eWbbOZMaQYH-D0vHHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1574947450751436-8.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="361" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up to The Mall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o46uvbpyul4/XeEDROynxXI/AAAAAAAARYc/QjHQdbu7nKwd-1d5ou9B5kx21TtvG55ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1575027515839091-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="362" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revers view from the above picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o46uvbpyul4/XeEDROynxXI/AAAAAAAARYc/QjHQdbu7nKwd-1d5ou9B5kx21TtvG55ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027515839091-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">towards The Mall, which is the main upmarket shopping street </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cAt8QKGCM-8/XeEDOla6UEI/AAAAAAAARYU/YqnIxgG4Lbgajfm-cqdHcvm95JcWNkhAACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027505734761-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Shimla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
and on the way came across numerous lookout points<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NPS8uTM9s5Q/XeEDMGjT9zI/AAAAAAAARYM/5V7fByDWZisP5Ip1fCTTDjxGN8E8JpnCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027499440539-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the northwest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p3UjsiKPaJo/XeEDKeznz0I/AAAAAAAARYI/aCdrZeillnY_kj3o_mqxdhbaBPokY4ZdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027490782681-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking northerly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
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</a>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r723uQQZx9Y/XeEDIWgpfbI/AAAAAAAARYE/RRiBnpwoAyYjkvuDJDFOTr87LlvI6QC6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027482804959-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the north</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
and it became pretty obvious that this was a university city, loads of university students, heads down on their phones. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RVy7f331YUM/XeEDGI5hJSI/AAAAAAAARYA/ZKDRtLeabrwcO5cyDzn7noRLkQzTBZcjACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027473616603-5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were heaps of monkeys on the roofs </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kIHR045WxrI/XeEDD5-aQFI/AAAAAAAARX4/ynv2SQ4mkpEHanHAQs_8LLaZ6Ht57pavQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027466378746-6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother and baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kIHR045WxrI/XeEDD5-aQFI/AAAAAAAARX4/ynv2SQ4mkpEHanHAQs_8LLaZ6Ht57pavQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027466378746-6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UK_WhTM_5iI/XeEDB2Riq1I/AAAAAAAARX0/v6v-y8i39bIbJYAjgWQ2Zn1fPg5rE_UcACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027457126635-7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Langur Monkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UK_WhTM_5iI/XeEDB2Riq1I/AAAAAAAARX0/v6v-y8i39bIbJYAjgWQ2Zn1fPg5rE_UcACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027457126635-7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>
</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and in the street, </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4ZGnVzy7pX8/XeEC_s9QY9I/AAAAAAAARXw/99MvXzwMPyAgpRZzYh73zgmLcKGtgirIACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027450497421-8.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhesus Macaque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4ZGnVzy7pX8/XeEC_s9QY9I/AAAAAAAARXw/99MvXzwMPyAgpRZzYh73zgmLcKGtgirIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027450497421-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>
</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
as we headed for the Mall.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Mall is essentially a road in Shimla with shops on one side </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ve1jmFdiHKI/XeEC9zbGQiI/AAAAAAAARXs/qKQzRFu20D0dPeooBDQ1edRe8hKstrEMACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027442543764-9.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards The Mall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ve1jmFdiHKI/XeEC9zbGQiI/AAAAAAAARXs/qKQzRFu20D0dPeooBDQ1edRe8hKstrEMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027442543764-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>
</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and walls on the other. I saw that there were sleeping dogs halfway up these walls with no apparent way up or down.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HIWN5gUzE4g/XeEC8Jt_SgI/AAAAAAAARXo/VqUcOaPT5JMNS31dXtmDrQZpVsJXrxadwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1575027433637975-10.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogs everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
These dogs were everywhere!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L2d__4mKjG0/XeEC5h2GtwI/AAAAAAAARXk/AFV6Q4pG4NUGFYM9VjjdsUB_6_9KGAjBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027424666533-11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let Sleeping Dogs Lie....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We paused at The Wake and Bake</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s0uFu-fZOHE/XeEC3VFR-aI/AAAAAAAARXg/9pJqSzjviBYcY-3Xug3bYgtW15ztIsCmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575027417085655-12.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wake & Bake view from the 3rd floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for coffee and a bite to eat. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SHPTMFb-Y94/XeEC1oHfC_I/AAAAAAAARXc/ecs3ZYF2u7E6t187UXS13dR6FNPL2h_dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027408137673-13.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Updating FaceBook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</a>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
I had a very good coffee and a vege omelette which tasted much better<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uSNUT3vFiRo/XeECzeIZsNI/AAAAAAAARXY/g3Uggj2Cv9EdUXoQGd4Cg3u3GeQUyJCNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027397796763-14.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetable Omelette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
than it looked. The eggs are very pale here and the butter and cream are white. Couldn’t get across the fact that NZ butter and cream are yellow and cream coloured. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On going to the washroom I was confronted by the open window overlooking the next door roof. Nice view while seated! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pu8n95q4Pp4/XeECwjwpbDI/AAAAAAAARXU/YovQKaW1fPQpIAkGvsGQDrKC1-IcZppTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575027389063140-15.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Room with a view 4th floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While we were paused there was a film crew setting up in the area below us. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jcBnycENrNk/XeEH6xmgRXI/AAAAAAAARZ4/Sfb6AbT9XIsNwi4ZIqes8G5AwaW12TeLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028711825698-0.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Film Crew in Shimla Square</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They were using a Red camera on a gymbal mount.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were some interesting statues on the Mall. This one Is labeled The Dancers but I cannot find out much about it. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8XflGmB8nA0/XeEH5uFrYVI/AAAAAAAARZ0/z4myyQBnZec17aYa4S8CtI7sdvhpNeE8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1575028707041354-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dancers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">interesting signs all around the city “No smoking”, “No spitting”, “No plastic bags”, “Keep Shimla Clean” and it all works. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tpF5VI5g_O0/XeEH4QGVc3I/AAAAAAAARZs/RIUlqbNF9usYUwcMcrhxPZK8r7yJ7SRtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028700624948-2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Smoking <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">₹</span></span>200 fine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QKVIkM2yhq4/XeEH25sD4UI/AAAAAAAARZo/3xBCQ1pqtaMcdzwo3ZPno3ugCPzEcyMewCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028694342733-3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Plastic Bags <span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">₹5,000 fine </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AMgTrvkVX8M/XeEH1Oh038I/AAAAAAAARZg/etUJfrmjPVQq-22n5wbot6SeoXi-f_aPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028687383303-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So clean and tidy, rubbish bins everywhere</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
The place is amazingly clean and tidy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So shopping with the girls was interesting and loads of scarves, shawls, and wraps purchased. Food was high on the priority list as well, with a great assortment of sweets tried and all were wonderful. Especially a hot Channa Puli.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbf2lHVz-Vg/Xd99Ba4aI6I/AAAAAAAARTc/Q-tZS7KUla4Zds8NWQURe9BSQ1zEDqhxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/919579A5-6370-4A9D-A240-D39975E10E37.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="393" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbf2lHVz-Vg/Xd99Ba4aI6I/AAAAAAAARTc/Q-tZS7KUla4Zds8NWQURe9BSQ1zEDqhxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/919579A5-6370-4A9D-A240-D39975E10E37.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Channa Puli</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A hot sweet in syrup that resembles an elongated donut hole.</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately by this stage it had started to rain which put a bit of a dampener on the day as it became very very cold. If it had been much colder i believe it would have been snow! </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5TmDytSR8NA/XeEHzWPVUBI/AAAAAAAARZc/r_MZ4wc8n7c16WXx5KA5XzbKsY68t-F2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028680999973-5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and the rain came.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had been trying to book seats on the bus back to Chandigarh all day but none of us had been successful and when I tried again our bus was full and wasn’t available any more so we decided to pull the plug and wander back to the train and get the next train home. The couple of things left on the list involved going to the giant statue of Hanuman Ji </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QyO-wTSduvg/XeEHx4Azf8I/AAAAAAAARZY/njS_le44KzUxpBfyG6oLfOlWY204cjgYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1575028674337860-6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="361" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanuman Ji statue at top of ridge, gondola to left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and a trip to The Ridge. Both involved the views which by this time were non-existent. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following Google Maps back to the railway station was an interesting time, we actually found a really cool part of town </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-STqbqR_DdpQ/XeEHwEtn54I/AAAAAAAARZU/esmVH_zCCSk-JA8L7-667k71KOvN-05aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028666805501-7.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool part of town with rain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-STqbqR_DdpQ/XeEHwEtn54I/AAAAAAAARZU/esmVH_zCCSk-JA8L7-667k71KOvN-05aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575028666805501-7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oEEPdMnCdEA/XeEHuIs-MLI/AAAAAAAARZQ/XSAl_91A1vMT9D-ce60sn8FpFqb9W3giwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028659565789-8.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More interestingness </td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">with some amazing shops and stalls, food, clothing, everything you can imagine and then some.Tiny shops racked and stacked cheek by jowl and all scrambling to protect their wares from the rain. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yAXgAlwDivE/XeEHsWVFiUI/AAAAAAAARZM/8sAkgDx3tvQ66C7GMgwHTK5xbnQNDY_GACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028653086658-9.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still more rain and interestingness</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We realized just how far we had travelled when Google Maps told us that we were 35 mins away from the railway station!! So it was a 35 min walk in what’s was now pretty heavy rain, dodging umbrellas, people running and growing puddles and rivers of water flowing off the roves and awnings.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2w5Lo-FdpSE/XeEHqsSB9zI/AAAAAAAARZI/JZxDUjmgBdkixoQZtr_Uh1fx9pF4ThnsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028646030408-10.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walkway overhanging the drop off...cantilevered</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2w5Lo-FdpSE/XeEHqsSB9zI/AAAAAAAARZI/JZxDUjmgBdkixoQZtr_Uh1fx9pF4ThnsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1575028646030408-10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On our arrival at the station we headed to the window and managed to get tickets eventually and the price was ₹200 so we all hauled out our </span></span>₹200s each but were told ‘Nayhee it is ₹200 for all 4 of us.’ Now on the way up the price was ₹2235.40 for 5 of us. Ellen had booked a return train earlier so it was just the four of us and it was ₹50 each for the return trip. Granted it was in general class, but it wasn’t that much worse than the first class trip up, apart from being bloody cold!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ImjERkvuiLA/XeEHo3yLFnI/AAAAAAAARZE/1LKFwinwMew9tkTpr9I63TnyRv4yEXAjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028638736868-11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting meal before heading homeward</td></tr>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
Also the train stopped at all 20 stations, <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z6mm-9qhgOM/XeEHnCPmzBI/AAAAAAAARZA/TS3BWQuJtFECeUtGuyZZCfZmGY2rHWBlACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028631334488-12.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Shimla at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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complete with hot food vendors, popcorn and snack vendors two of whom nearly came to grief as the train started moving and they were late getting on. The screams were luckily heard by everyone and the door was opened and they scrambled themselves into the train. One of them looked like he had possibly been injured but he shrugged it off. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Ilr0_XhI3U/XeEHlM9R5LI/AAAAAAAARY8/YoYar-7QY5gPnr3TjFARdVbzX-sSADkkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028623930612-13.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barog Stationmaster</td></tr>
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So we all dozed, read, listened to audio books for the nearly 6 hour trip back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YBJmQXDPdO0/XeEHjPGBFOI/AAAAAAAARY4/TtS9OgKFKF8lPCQjYWwmX2SeqHwmjWz5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1575028615231466-14.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reminds me of the NZ film The Navigator</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading homeward</td></tr>
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On arrival at Kalka it was persisting down and luckily our Uber driver was waiting for us and we all piled in for the return trip to Aura. Arrival was around 1:30am so a huge day.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have decided that I would like to return to Shimla and have a really good look around the other layers of shops and visit the statue riding in the gondola. Maybe later in Dec when there is snow up there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Signing off for now and will get the next post up asap! Am behind by at least 1!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">सुरक्षित</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">यात्रा</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">surakshit yaatra</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Safe travels</span></span></div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-36346305356907153972019-11-27T21:29:00.001-08:002019-11-27T21:29:05.425-08:00New cook, more tea pots and cleaning <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Namaskar,<br>
The last couple of days have been quiet for me but rather stressful for the team here as well as Rachel the US chef, as due to the disappearance of our two cooks, the burden of cooking has fallen on to her shoulders as well as the prep for Winter Day.<br>
So far the Aura Chocolate, Aura Muesli and Aura Chai Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> been made and bagged and the Aura Cookie dough has been made and the baking of them happens tomorrow. Then it is just the packing of the cookies, prepping the Sangria and putting the display together to be completed.<br>
It is looking like a busy day and the weather looks like it is playing its part.<br>
Today the pressure came off Rachel with the employing of a local cook. His roti are really light and the lentil curry for lunch was very delish.<br>
Pottery has been continuing as well as a bit of a clean up around the studio finding frogs (Indian Burrowing Frog with babies). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>We are prepping everything to look good for Winter Day.<br>
I have managed to create some new teapots and some rather interesting incense holders, both round and oblong, with a leaf as well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter Day!<br>
The dawn broke to a cloudless day and it was all hands to the pump to get the place set up for all the visiting artisans and guests.<br>
As one of the official photographers I was helping but also trying to take photos as well. Quite challenging with such bright light and deep shadows.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The day kicked off at 12 and went through to 4pm. Was a very successful day for everyone concerned. I met some wonderful people, both artisans and guests.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have shared a Facebook post from Aura Pottery for the first load of the pictures.<br>
Have a look at<br>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=1211411092383383">https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=1211411092383383</a><br>
For those who don’t have FaceBook I apologize and will get a link to the album another way.<br>
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Safe travels everyone.<br>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-65502415005635072222019-11-19T06:24:00.001-08:002019-11-19T06:24:53.947-08:00On The Bus (again)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday was another day in Chandigarh, we travelled by car into the city (we being Rachel, Katrine, Ellen and myself). We were lucky enough to have two vehicles traveling into town, Ada and her Nani, Lekha, who had been staying for the weekend. Nani lives around 50km on the other side of Chandigarh.<br />
The smog was pretty heavy ,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travelling into Chandigarh </td></tr>
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and again the sights on the way in are just so different. We passed the rubbish heap<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rubbish Tip</td></tr>
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. A HUGE garbage disposal area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rubbish Tip continues</td></tr>
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We headed to the shopping area of Sector 17 to get Katrine an Indian SIM card for her phone, Ellen a new camera and Frederick a new charger as the power fluctuations fried mine. Thank goodness for power banks.<br />
Around 2 hours later.... everyone had their items.<br />
We wandered along the street to see some street food stalls,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blurry pic of street food</td></tr>
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and NO I didn’t try any, tho was tempted by this one.<br />
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We ended up having lunch at The Backpackers Cafe. When we arrived the place was full but the doorman (every shop and establishment has one) took us 50m down the street to their second establishment and when we entered it was....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Backpackers Cafe</td></tr>
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....very English, complete with Wedgewood plates on the wall. The menu was enormous both is size and range of food available. Was mainly western food, so I compromised and had a Butter Chicken Burger<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter Chicken Burger</td></tr>
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which I must say was delish! No bland NZ Butter Chicken but a tangy spicy (not hot) Butter Chicken.<br />
There was also a Mushroom Vegetarian Burger, Pancake Stack and Vegetarian Pizza had. All very nice and huge portions.<br />
The signs outside were interesting..<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs</td></tr>
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We then auto’d across to Sector 9 and the Brands Bargain shop for the ladies to look at clothes. While they were doing that I wandered around the rest of the area, <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindu religious gentlemen</td></tr>
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Was blessed by these two Hindu religious gentlemen (possible fakes), after I found a wonderful little shop called The Jute Mill, where I had purchased a lovely jute mat for my bedroom floor <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome jute mat</td></tr>
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and for my meditating. The tiles on the floor are cold in the morning.<br />
There were also some amazing grocery stores and we bought some wonderful dried fruit mix that has no added sugar! They also had dried kiwifruit (kiwi) slices that looked wonderful (next time). We ended up purchasing enough ingredients for a wonderful trail mix including 70% dark chocolate, dried fruits, cashews, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. Rachel roasted the nuts (I shelled the pistachios) and then mixed it all together. The nuts were still warm and so the result was a slight coating of melted chocolate over everything. It is awesome!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel’s trail mix masterpiece</td></tr>
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So after our shopping Ellen decided that she wanted to head over to Elante Mall, but was happy to go by herself and Uber back to Aura, so the three remaining intrepid explorers headed off to Sector 17 Bus Stand to catch a bus home. We ask at the office and the lovely gentleman comes out and takes us to where our bus will leave from (#40) and shows us where to sit (No standing for us thank you very much!). It finally arrives around 5pm and we make sure it is the right one and get on. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and Frederick on #40 bus</td></tr>
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It gets progressively more crowded and by the time it leaves it is pretty full. The next few stops and more and more people squeeze on and eventually we have the very typical people hanging off the doorway. It was a huge squash but amazingly there was no body odor issues, I think mainly because most people are suffering from the cold weather (it is around 20 degrees Celsius and they are freezing!).<br />
I knew we were getting close so I started to stand to make my way to the front of the bus like other people had been and was told in no uncertain terms to sit back down. When the bus stopped then I was allowed to get up. Different rules for us white fellows!<br />
We eventually get to our stop at Boothgarh and everyone is helpful in allowing us to get off. I am very impressed with how helpful and friendly people are here.<br />
It was dark by this time so we made our way down the road lit by the bikes and cars heading both ways back to Aura.<br />
It had taken us nearly an hour to make our way home on the bus but was a wonderful experience.<br />
This morning I was a bit surprised when Prince delivered our breakfast instead of Rajan, and it turns out that our cooks Rajan and his mate had done a runner last night around 10pm, saying they were going off to meet a friend but never came back. The rumor is that they have returned to Nepal but no one knows for sure. So Rachel our American chef is currently cooking for us all til replacements are found.<br />
As I keep saying, Never a dull moment here!<br />
One of the amazing things about traveling around Chandigarh is the traffic. Very loud, very organic, very scary from time to time. We had an interesting journey alongside, behind and in front of a big white bus while traveling in an auto. I could not believe how close we came. There were time I could not have put my hand between us and the side of the bus as it passed us or we passed it.<br />
The roundabouts here are incredible with some having traffic light and some not. The traffic lights stop the traffic on the roundabout just prior to an entrance, so it is give way to your left. This also applies to non light controlled roundabouts. The good thing is that all the lights have a countdown so you can see exactly how long you have to wait.<br />
There seems to be little attention paid to road rules and people come out of side streets and the traffic flows around them quite organically and everything seems to meld, mix and merge beautifully. The spacial awareness of all the drivers is amazing. I must take a video one day.<br />
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-52595050528314710722019-11-16T05:20:00.001-08:002019-11-16T05:20:51.565-08:00Clay musings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Namaskar 🙏<br />
Probably time for an update on the blog, keep posting to Instagram and Facebook but need to keep this going.<br />
Last post was about the trip to the village and since then it has been pottery stuff happening.<br />
So I am giving the wheel a rest for a couple of days and heading down some interesting pathways with some slab work.<br />
Started with leaves as there are some amazing leaves here, the fig tree has some of the most enormous leaves for a tree that I have seen. Also some rather interesting figs, that are nearly ripe. Will be good to taste some ripe ones if the dogs don’t eat them first.<br />
So the first leaf exercise was the large slab platter,<br />
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followed by a couple of smaller bowls with leaf inserts.<br />
I then tried a cylindrical leaf folded around itself and cuffed at the base<br />
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. ....maybe.<br />
Followed by a leafy box <br />
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as asked for by a friend.<br />
Then I headed out into geometric country with an interesting vase for flower arranging.<br />
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This was an interesting piece and I am leaning about keeping things straight and clean is not as easy as it looks.<br />
Then I started work on a cubic tea pot that turned out rather well I think,<br />
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then spent today trying to sort out a suitable cup. I tried a pentagonal object <br />
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but a: too large and b: more bowl than cup suitable for tea. The I tried using the same design as the tea pot and surprise it worked, <br />
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but again too big to go with the pot, so have cut the sides out for a much smaller one to be put together tomorrow.<br />
On another front, the owner of Aura Pottery Anuja<br />
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is holding a “Winter Day” next weekend in celebration of her late husband Atul’s birthday. He passed away unexpectedly back in February this year. There is going to be a number of artists displaying and selling works in all sorts of media and there will be food stalls of all shapes and sizes. 15% of all takings gets donated to a local school that Atul had been sponsoring and supporting. I unfortunately happened to mention my past life as working in the films and television arena as well as my blogging and photos. So now I have been roped in to help with making a video and photographic record of the day. Going to be loads of fun. I will be working alongside a young man by the name of Sidak<br />
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who is the official company photographer. Wish I had lugged my good camera along now.<br />
It has been a very interesting time communicating with people here, Prince our studio assistant<br />
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speaks little English but knows a lot of pottery related words so we can communicate somewhat, it is getting better as I am starting to use Google Translate a bit more and learning some Hindi words and phrases.<br />
Til next post...<br />
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Sukhino Bhava<br />
(I wish you happiness)</div>
Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-22409934062835539282019-11-12T05:07:00.000-08:002019-11-12T05:07:36.971-08:00Birthday celebrations at the gurudawara sahib<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So yesterday on our village tour we were invited back to the village of Manakpur Sharif for the celebration of the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak. So Rachel and I headed back today to partake of the celebrations.<br>
We were welcomed into the gurudwara sahib by the same young man that guided us yesterday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>We went and sat inside listening to the young children reciting passages from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book which is the collective teachings and writings of Guru Nanak and other gurus.<br>
It was a very moving experience, the women on the left hand side created an amazing visual symphony of colour. The gentle murmur of quiet conversation added to the overall peaceful feeling. The men’s side was nowhere near as occupied but I believe that a lot were downstairs cooking for the hundreds of attendees. Was quite a sight watching three of them making rotis. A group were making something with milk and there was a curry as well. Huge pots and pans.<br>
I was lucky in that my guide was giving me a running commentary on what was happening. After about 30 mins he invited us on a village tour. On the way he met up with a friend of his who spoke a little better English and gave us an amazing history tour of the village.<br>
Way back when (around 1600), the Mughals settled this area, this can be observed in the old architecture and the size of the bricks used. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>This was to protect the inhabitants from the warring neighbours. From this time there was a large Muslim population that lived in the village and surrounds. They arrived here as they were looking for land to cultivate as most of them came from an area of high forestation and rather than cut this down they moved to somewhere better.<br>
On August 15th 1947 with the partition of British India into two independent states, India and Pakistan, the Muslims headed off to Pakistan and the Sikhs moved from Pakistan, essentially swooping villages. So although there are Muslim mosques in the village the majority of the villagers are Sikh.<br>
So we wandered around looking at the little shops, haberdasheries, snack shops and other assorted places of retail selling goodness knows what.<br>
We then arrived at the home of one of our guides and he showed us around. A typical Punjabi house complete with Neem tree outside. Useful for keeping insects away and the best toothbrush in the world. A small branch, chewed and used to brush the teeth. Best oral hygiene ever apparently. Been used for centuries and now after 60 years of toothpaste we are going back to the old natural ways.... go figure. As our tour guide said,’we all believed what the toothpaste companies said’.<br>
Our young man is a very talented manja weaver.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> This is the art of the woven bed. The one that we saw was a beautiful example that he had made.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> He learnt from his mother and grandmother and is very talented.<br>
From there we moved next door to ‘uncles’ place where we explored a very old building that gets used 3 times a year for movie sets. It still has the original paintings on the walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We also saw some old tools of the kitchen, including a grinding stone and a butter churn.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From there we headed up stairs to the rooftop, where we looked out over the Muslim mosque <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>and the rest of the town.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From there it was a wander around some more of the town and then an invitation back at any time and to feel free to enter into anyone’s home and we would be welcomed. It was so wonderful to have these two men taking time out of their day not only to show us around but to give us a very personal invite into their lives as well as the history surrounding the village. Just marvelous.<br>
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Earlier this morning the dogs were setting up a racket and hearing that it was the “we have something bailed up” bark I went to investigate. Sure enough they had something bailed up alright. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>On the roof of the changing rooms for the swimming pool was a rather large Rhesus Macaque (pronounced makak). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>He (definitely a he) was not a happy camper and was quite aggressive when I got closer to take his picture.<br>
Some time later the tree pruning brigade came and told me that he was in the tree outside my room,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> so more photos were taken as he left the property and headed into a bit of bush behind the farm.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> Difficult for him due to the barbed wire and glass on the top of the wall but he managed.<br>
Never a dull moment here at Aura Farm and Pottery. </div>
Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-45700303053839518272019-11-11T04:37:00.000-08:002019-11-11T04:37:01.906-08:00The Day After Yesterday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An interesting weekend was had, Saturday was a bit of a “what the heck am I doing here” day, but managed to sort that out after a nap and some meditation.<br>
Started to walk 5 times around the property, around 1km each morning, which is helping as well.<br>
Sunday was much better, achieved some interesting things, some that worked and some that didn’t.<br>
Managed to find another snake, this time it was about 3 inches long, but still a Russell’s Viper so we carefully persuaded it to head out into the garden. I thought I had taken a picture of it but it turned out very blurry so bad pic of this snake.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The gardeners are having a load of fun trimming trees, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>Heath and Safety is a long way from home here.....<br>
So I managed to create some leaves to make a vase, but it didn’t look right so I changed my plan and this is the work in progress.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I also managed to throw some interesting things, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>mainly concentrating on on centering, they were firm enough for me to turn some feet on them.<br>
Went for another walk to the village today after lunch with Rachel and Katherine, was very different today. Seemed like a totally different village with different things open and others shut.<br>
Found the mill, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QH3IwwZPLpk/XclVTPTI2DI/AAAAAAAAPrI/lv9lzS69ltcvSbRG-1k_3iwihrajwKjYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1573475623867339-5.png" width="400">
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</div>where everyone gets their grains, pulses, etc milled into flours, was offered tea, coffee or milk there.<br>
Found a lovely family with a goat.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Visited the Sikh temple again, and this time had a different parshard today and then after leaving we were offered coffee. It was very milky and very sweet but very nice. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>We also were invited back tomorrow <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>for the celebration of the birthday of the first guru, Guru Nanak.This is one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar.<br>
On our way out I finally had an answer to one of my questions around buffalo feeding inside courtyards. There was an open gate with a cart of what looked like corn plants, <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>with a cutting machine with a pile of cut up plant material. When I started taking photos the owner invited us in to look closer and take more pictures.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>Tea was offered as well.<br>
On the way back the smog was pretty severe but the sun setting over the brick kiln was a cool shot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So that’s it for today, getting a trip to the brick kiln organized in the next couple of days and also a trip to see some buffalo milking. The girls went to get some fruit and managed to visit the place where they make jaggery, so I will be going to have a look too.<br>
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-64368777168776946072019-11-08T05:35:00.000-08:002019-11-08T05:42:52.102-08:00Another day in Chandigarh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today started with a huge thunderstorm right above the farm it was flashbang!! At 5am followed by torrential rain for 15 mins. Very rude awakening.<br />
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So went down to the studio and wedged up 20 balls of clay before breakfast to throw today.<br />
Another lovely person has arrived for a stay here at Aura, she is Rachel from Tennessee. <br />
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She is a chef and is on a year long trip around Asia.<br />
She wanted to do a trip to town, and I needed some shopping so we hitched a ride into town again with Ada.<br />
We walked around the Sector 17 markets,<br />
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I purchased a nice blanket for the train as the weather is cooling down here. Managed to bargain the price down ok. There were some awesome tailors and men’s clothing shops.<br />
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I do like the one on the left, if only I had somewhere to wear it to!<br />
Some interesting signs.<br />
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And cute eateries.<br />
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And some banyan trees.<br />
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Which are the national tree of India.<br />
We wandered for quite a while <br />
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and eventually had enough so got an auto to the Elante Mall. The mall is the second largest in Northern India and the 4th overall, behind Lulu in Kochi, Select City New Delhi and Phoenix Market Mumbai.<br />
Managed to achieve my first Uber ride albeit after getting rejected on the first attempt and managed to find out why I couldn’t make the Uber thing work on my arrival. You need to pay by cash! Thanks to Rachel for her help in setting me up properly, and the man who helped us in the rain at the mall, trying to find our ride. Tejwant our driver actually came and found us and I was impressed. He was very good, and had a little English so we chatted about where we were from and he has a cousin in Toronto, spent time in Germany and he pointed out all the relevant sites. </div>
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So a short blog tonight but am ready to throw 20 pots in the morning!</div>
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Safe travels everyone.<br />
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-47760301704208360132019-11-07T08:16:00.000-08:002019-11-07T17:53:55.118-08:00Snake on a plane? Or on the driveway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning it rained!<br />
Well it started at some unearthly time this morning after a rather interesting occurrence. I was woken by a real cacophony of sound, probably birds in the trees outside my window. So I lay there listening to them and suddenly they stopped. Dead stop, no ease off or anything, just all together stop. 15 seconds later the heavens opened. Didn’t last long at that rate but it eased off to a gentle rain up until 8am, then showers until lunch and then sort of fine with sunshine during the afternoon.<br />
So off to the studio where I wedged 10 balls of clay and sat down and threw 10 cylinders, trying to get some sort of consistency.<br />
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I managed to get most of my wall thickness consistent.<br />
The pruning outside the accommodation is coming along well.<br />
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On our afternoon wander just outside the gates we came across Prince (pronounced Prance) and the property manager (must find out what his name is tomorrow) holding another snake skin!<br />
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Had a close look and the entire length was intact as a tube and the only head was split. Awesome.<br />
Down at the local shops on the highway I went to get some more coffee, this is sold by the sachet.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPusg_7-L0Q/XcTKo64ngQI/AAAAAAAAPkY/PLuU354npekfSHKDrbb_XvpEGW7fpYJIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4E98C025-78F1-4EFF-B4E0-62A3DA7EC121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPusg_7-L0Q/XcTKo64ngQI/AAAAAAAAPkY/PLuU354npekfSHKDrbb_XvpEGW7fpYJIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4E98C025-78F1-4EFF-B4E0-62A3DA7EC121.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
Last time I was here the young man wanted a selfie with me, so today I returned the favour and asked for a selfie back. <br />
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Loads of laughs and handshakes and fun.<br />
On the way back I noticed a stand of bamboo on the edge of the property, so I managed to borrow a machete from the gardeners and chopped a stem to make some throwing tools. Really thick bamboo and splits beautifully.<br />
To end the day, we now have another guest here, a young American woman who is a chief, Chris leaves for Delhi and the Tajh Mahal before flying home to England on Sunday, Anamika heads back to Delhi as well, so they are going to travel together.<br />
Just as I am finishing this off the heavens opened up again.<br />
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Safe travels everyone. </div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-480741224392236602019-11-06T07:37:00.001-08:002019-11-06T14:50:40.858-08:00The village of Manakpur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A slow start to the day this morning, managed to get Monday’s post sort of completed with adding pictures, still working on the Rock Garden album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were organized to go for a walk to the village this morning at 7am but a certain person who I shall not name didn’t wake til much later, and it wasn’t me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we headed off to the studio after breakfast and started work on a design for a series of lamps for around the gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chris was doing some blindfolded throwing which was videoed while Anamika and I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> created a template after much discussion and miscommunications but we got there in the end. I am hoping Anamika took some pics that she can send to me and I will add them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7UktM01TQM/XcLl_lBloaI/AAAAAAAAPSI/DRe4JiSpFdcJdzbzUh5BFcjdXYyfsgLvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/A2D2DFCE-BB15-47CF-A6C5-4B643EC4C036.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7UktM01TQM/XcLl_lBloaI/AAAAAAAAPSI/DRe4JiSpFdcJdzbzUh5BFcjdXYyfsgLvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A2D2DFCE-BB15-47CF-A6C5-4B643EC4C036.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Template for outdoor lamp</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After rolling a large slab of clay we cut the shape and started the drying process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After lunch we started to shape our lamp but soon realized that we had mistimed the drying and it split, but the good news was we had a look at what was happening and decided to do it in two pieces rather than one to make it easier. The double curves are going to be a bit of a pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So after that we revised our template and then headed out for a walk to the village of Manakpur around a kilometer up the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOJ6lMURENQ/XcLFRjtcV1I/AAAAAAAAPPs/OBwOOvGkZaA1o7NvkC1IkwGvVclfuJ6tACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FB375AF5-88C8-4969-88F6-9E236678F41E.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOJ6lMURENQ/XcLFRjtcV1I/AAAAAAAAPPs/OBwOOvGkZaA1o7NvkC1IkwGvVclfuJ6tACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FB375AF5-88C8-4969-88F6-9E236678F41E.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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The village has a population of around 3000. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We entered into the Dargh Sharif Muslim mosque after donning headscarves and removing footwear. Was a very old mosque and has been used as a backdrop for many Bollywood films.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yqIHEFbeWk/XcLBOdcTNaI/AAAAAAAAPPc/eoVjj7LaIf48pYZzeuzJjhxZo9lGAJ_BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ED24221C-F747-490A-BEE8-1B42B2FCE07B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1232" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yqIHEFbeWk/XcLBOdcTNaI/AAAAAAAAPPc/eoVjj7LaIf48pYZzeuzJjhxZo9lGAJ_BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ED24221C-F747-490A-BEE8-1B42B2FCE07B.jpeg" width="310" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Quite dark but rather awesome. A peaceful place for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We then wandered around the village heading for the Guru Dwara Sikh Temple and managed to find it after many twists and turns. There was some sort of celebration happening across the street with very loud prayers, songs and music.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umjCqExBbF0/XcLb0QNDAoI/AAAAAAAAPQ0/MMX593OFn7kqBX2XQbN6jPXCW-LM6Q1OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5D9395EB-DC72-4225-9DB5-026A3A44211E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umjCqExBbF0/XcLb0QNDAoI/AAAAAAAAPQ0/MMX593OFn7kqBX2XQbN6jPXCW-LM6Q1OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5D9395EB-DC72-4225-9DB5-026A3A44211E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering the streets</td></tr>
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We were guided inside after donning skull caps and removing footwear. The temple was very different being much more open and airy. Again the feeling of peace and tranquility was very present. As we went to leave we were offered <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Kara Parshad,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> a sweet</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> which is offered to all visitors </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">and is understood and experienced as a blessing from the Guru and should not be refused. it was very sweet and enjoyable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we left the temple <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yJsa0Y_TdA/XcLcZFbTKfI/AAAAAAAAPQ8/eB_-De7FXbAqJNEH99IjpIwwBBaqPlLbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/95CB5AF4-6CDF-43B8-BEB9-88E8D93198BE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yJsa0Y_TdA/XcLcZFbTKfI/AAAAAAAAPQ8/eB_-De7FXbAqJNEH99IjpIwwBBaqPlLbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/95CB5AF4-6CDF-43B8-BEB9-88E8D93198BE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Guru Dwara Sikh Temple</span></span></td></tr>
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there were a group of youngsters one of whom was asking me a question. Luckily Anamika was able to translate. The young lad wanted to know what country we were from so it was New Zealand and England. They went away smiling after I asked for his name, introduced myself and shook his hand and those of all the other young boys present.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was an interesting walk. Manakpur is an agricultural village with a lot of cows that are raised and fed in the courtyards of the homes </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKDi4qiHuzI/XcLdK0fNx9I/AAAAAAAAPRI/hyzHPA7_LX8Z2TPTCi7a-yfUM_4bqniagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4C4D1DEE-A9CE-4D13-ADFA-43302FA9F7C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKDi4qiHuzI/XcLdK0fNx9I/AAAAAAAAPRI/hyzHPA7_LX8Z2TPTCi7a-yfUM_4bqniagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4C4D1DEE-A9CE-4D13-ADFA-43302FA9F7C2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwdTc_mKYpQ/XcLeW_a_1EI/AAAAAAAAPRU/aA8f3J8fvX4dbqgb6yWZ7Nz-mTjKHGcGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9481B8D2-FBDD-4ADA-A470-1BD93CD844BA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwdTc_mKYpQ/XcLeW_a_1EI/AAAAAAAAPRU/aA8f3J8fvX4dbqgb6yWZ7Nz-mTjKHGcGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9481B8D2-FBDD-4ADA-A470-1BD93CD844BA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as many cannot afford to either buy or lease land for grazing as there is a huge demand for food production and so pretty much all available land is cropped, rice and sugar cane being very common in this area.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we got back to the outskirts of the village it was apparent that school was out for the day, Manakpur has a large school on the outskirts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s16YkE0HL3A/XcLfSXdtnBI/AAAAAAAAPRc/UisMbnmh-ZowJVStbsit3fTgQqvGIe9gACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/88E4AF08-6DD2-4A70-8BD7-704E1BD9A82E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s16YkE0HL3A/XcLfSXdtnBI/AAAAAAAAPRc/UisMbnmh-ZowJVStbsit3fTgQqvGIe9gACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/88E4AF08-6DD2-4A70-8BD7-704E1BD9A82E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bus arrived heralded by the ubiquitous horn honking and there were 2 autos there to take the children home to other villages. There was one for girls and one for boys and were they crammed full of children!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the way back we passed some interesting transportations.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymdf8bti064/XcLfyk3Ek8I/AAAAAAAAPRk/cfi55iDmfqcJJNl8bLnmGjO8uvjsjt6ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/C7159B68-EAA2-4184-B4AD-13C049DFDB9B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymdf8bti064/XcLfyk3Ek8I/AAAAAAAAPRk/cfi55iDmfqcJJNl8bLnmGjO8uvjsjt6ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C7159B68-EAA2-4184-B4AD-13C049DFDB9B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and got a wonderful wave and smile from a motorcyclist that I had waved to the day before.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was an interesting object on the side of the road so being me I went over to have a look and low and behold a shed snake skin. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDr7arEZ4-4/XcLggdXPsPI/AAAAAAAAPRw/cgCYB9-Zgjsay_c0Fs-iZvEAJRLbohgHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8BAB76A5-C34E-4719-BF28-99B466CCE320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDr7arEZ4-4/XcLggdXPsPI/AAAAAAAAPRw/cgCYB9-Zgjsay_c0Fs-iZvEAJRLbohgHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8BAB76A5-C34E-4719-BF28-99B466CCE320.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now whether it had been picked up earlier by someone and put in the bag, or had used the bag as assistance in shedding it’s skin, we couldn’t decide. We left it there anyway. It was the first time Anamika had seen a snake skin. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Further up the road a motorcyclist stopped beside us and asked if we had enjoyed our visit to the village. Very much, dhanyavaad (thank you) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So an interesting day and many more to come. I can see a number of days in the village in the weeks to come. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOjNLZoZdz8/XcLhpb_8_1I/AAAAAAAAPR8/YzxCh6w6xWs0Xf1h4HNJK-omleC0zqHBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1A9DF3FA-EF4C-4A3C-9A1E-536BF5B25D6F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOjNLZoZdz8/XcLhpb_8_1I/AAAAAAAAPR8/YzxCh6w6xWs0Xf1h4HNJK-omleC0zqHBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1A9DF3FA-EF4C-4A3C-9A1E-536BF5B25D6F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<div class="tw-ta-container tw-lfl" id="tw-target-text-container" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; position: relative;">
<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-large tw-ta" data-placeholder="Translation" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: -10px; margin-top: -10px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0.14em 10px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span lang="hi" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">आपका दिन शानदार गुजरे</span></span></pre>
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<div class="tw-ta-container tw-nfl" id="z6maec" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); position: relative;">
<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">aapaka din shaanadaar gujare</span></pre>
<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have a great day</span></pre>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-78440448533873597632019-11-05T06:07:00.000-08:002019-11-05T06:53:09.493-08:00Rock the casbah...or juice bar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today dawned beautifully and I spent most of the early morning trying to sort out an album for yesterdays pictures and get some posted at least but the internet was playing up again this morning.<br>
So we all headed off to the studio after breakfast and I completed 4 nice coiled feet on my large platter and flipped it and managed to get it looking nice and smooth without any breakages.<br>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvAArep2TkQ/XcF6osPLASI/AAAAAAAAPHM/vBVyLXGVsNQDlDMxGLP6C7AVeY9_XgCgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/45111491-EA44-433D-B3A3-60D09639FD30.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvAArep2TkQ/XcF6osPLASI/AAAAAAAAPHM/vBVyLXGVsNQDlDMxGLP6C7AVeY9_XgCgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/45111491-EA44-433D-B3A3-60D09639FD30.jpeg" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYY1NplKOAU/XcF6nbV7UDI/AAAAAAAAPHI/S0Dkl9qn4So7bMSut3ACGF522vsmHZfXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/F52F00F0-6588-4751-9452-B4C57CC7F044.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYY1NplKOAU/XcF6nbV7UDI/AAAAAAAAPHI/S0Dkl9qn4So7bMSut3ACGF522vsmHZfXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F52F00F0-6588-4751-9452-B4C57CC7F044.jpeg" width="320"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome 45cm platter</td></tr>
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In the middle of this the power went out (a very common occurrence here) and we were told around three hours. So we carried on apart from poor Chris who was trying to do a blindfold throwing exercise on an electric wheel. So she started another box as Anamika and I went hunting some more leaves for platters and bowls. There are a great selection of shapes and sizes here. </div>
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When we had reached a point we could pause, lunch arrived and then as the power was still off we decided to wander down to the local juice bar at the end of the road. Anamika was tasked with being our heath and safety officer. She gave the OK and we watched as the two gentlemen squeezed the fruit and created a rather nice thirst quenching drink. No ice!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cYM044UyC8/XcF-WJ0h8KI/AAAAAAAAPHc/alI5d_jBTvc9J9jfEgPyC8RU_JtrUkv6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/6FBC6C5F-542E-4FA5-9097-CC5F9B97F0CE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cYM044UyC8/XcF-WJ0h8KI/AAAAAAAAPHc/alI5d_jBTvc9J9jfEgPyC8RU_JtrUkv6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6FBC6C5F-542E-4FA5-9097-CC5F9B97F0CE.jpeg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh squeezed juices.</td></tr>
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The drink comprised of orange, pomegranate, pineapple and apple.<br>
I did see kiwifruit there and asked where they were from. Italy it seems.<br>
While we were sitting there a rather interesting vehicle came up the road....<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mJrEBZCzpQ/XcF5Hp98-UI/AAAAAAAAPG8/Ilt_qkIQ1H8GHnk6H-P5Rk4q6OUlO6hYgCEwYBhgL/s1600/D26B44A8-3EC3-41BE-9AE1-A6DC579A509A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mJrEBZCzpQ/XcF5Hp98-UI/AAAAAAAAPG8/Ilt_qkIQ1H8GHnk6H-P5Rk4q6OUlO6hYgCEwYBhgL/s320/D26B44A8-3EC3-41BE-9AE1-A6DC579A509A.jpeg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who need a truck...tractor does well enough!</td></tr>
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One for my mate Daniel. <div>
We wandered back and continued on pottering around doing some design work for a series of outdoor lamps for the studio. Trying to decide what was the best method, slab or throwing and During this time the power came back on so we did try to see how high we could throw and.....not very high currently! They need to be 12cm diameter and 35cm high. A bit of fun trying though and some interesting pots were created, will take some pics when we stop laughing.</div>
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So we decided that slab would be the way to go so made some quick and dirty examples using a piece of downpipe to check sizes etc and will continue on tomorrow. </div>
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So a rather productive day, had planned to get on the wheel this afternoon, but with the power off, that was a non starter, so tomorrow’s exercise will be back on the wheel with some pointers from Anamika.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 13.52400016784668px;">Safe travels everyone.</span></span><div class="tw-ta-container tw-lfl" id="tw-target-text-container" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 0px; position: relative;">
<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-large tw-ta" data-placeholder="Translation" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: -10px; margin-top: -10px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0.14em 10px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span lang="pa" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਯਾਤਰਾ</span></span></pre>
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<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Surakhi'ata yātarā</span></pre>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-18974378215714384242019-11-04T08:10:00.001-08:002019-11-05T19:51:32.980-08:00Monday in Chandigarh: A cautionary tale of lost and found.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a wordy blog today due to the internet being a bit flakey and so pics will come later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So w<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;">here do I begin</span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To tell the story of how great a day can be....</span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Started off with a lovely breakfast of omelets on toast, with poha, a rice with stir fried peanuts flavoured with cardamon. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arpeJGiuft8/XcGRtFJT3YI/AAAAAAAAPK4/Kd-JMw79DpkW6pNE7ntTWwGL1q7vxmhwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/06D1ACFD-536B-40CF-9B95-2347F6DAA609.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arpeJGiuft8/XcGRtFJT3YI/AAAAAAAAPK4/Kd-JMw79DpkW6pNE7ntTWwGL1q7vxmhwQCEwYBhgL/s320/06D1ACFD-536B-40CF-9B95-2347F6DAA609.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Followed by apple, grapefruit and pear slices.</span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The we (Chris, Anamika and I)headed off to the big city for some shopping and a bit of sightseeing with a somewhat vague plan. We were able to ride into town with Anya one of the daughters of the owner of Aura Pottery. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDsws0totO8/XcGWYnaDCgI/AAAAAAAAPME/z-eOtPbJJI8K3UHdUm3w3PhM6JDmgyYawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3A3B18A3-C180-4D4D-ABBB-2A6026B52F04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDsws0totO8/XcGWYnaDCgI/AAAAAAAAPME/z-eOtPbJJI8K3UHdUm3w3PhM6JDmgyYawCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3A3B18A3-C180-4D4D-ABBB-2A6026B52F04.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5R9zk0uXqUk/XcGWaEHvjDI/AAAAAAAAPMI/gscJvrAiZhIJ2Jj7zA61yZ9atUwOb3DQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3D6EEE54-4E5B-4E46-8F56-E832730C6CE3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5R9zk0uXqUk/XcGWaEHvjDI/AAAAAAAAPMI/gscJvrAiZhIJ2Jj7zA61yZ9atUwOb3DQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3D6EEE54-4E5B-4E46-8F56-E832730C6CE3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My lovely friend Amritpal had told me that I must see the Rock Garden in Chandigarh so that was on the list for today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;">We started off in the Rose Garden which was a bit of a disappointment as it is totally the wrong season as the bushes are just starting their growth, There were a number with a few blooms but mostly bare bushes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoJGhdicMws/XcGRm3mh8oI/AAAAAAAAPKw/cnZyN-kyxqQu4jrIEtLbd9BMveN0eRvfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/08CB682E-A8BE-40D5-BE3E-AAF6A490224B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoJGhdicMws/XcGRm3mh8oI/AAAAAAAAPKw/cnZyN-kyxqQu4jrIEtLbd9BMveN0eRvfQCEwYBhgL/s320/08CB682E-A8BE-40D5-BE3E-AAF6A490224B.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pncOGw9Mtdw/XcGRqaG25_I/AAAAAAAAPK0/DAFY2BV2jpYLo_f13UFE-EIuf3L9oEy_QCEwYBhgL/s1600/0A5C4860-3354-40F3-9096-FAA4E303B803.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pncOGw9Mtdw/XcGRqaG25_I/AAAAAAAAPK0/DAFY2BV2jpYLo_f13UFE-EIuf3L9oEy_QCEwYBhgL/s320/0A5C4860-3354-40F3-9096-FAA4E303B803.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8-IDjF7ytMU/XcGQ3-FBiLI/AAAAAAAAPKM/vMnuvMJJhZ8tW1nl1rICZg28LwrlQsy2QCEwYBhgL/s1600/03C41940-AFB6-433E-8027-54C7FEA3FC8F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8-IDjF7ytMU/XcGQ3-FBiLI/AAAAAAAAPKM/vMnuvMJJhZ8tW1nl1rICZg28LwrlQsy2QCEwYBhgL/s320/03C41940-AFB6-433E-8027-54C7FEA3FC8F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But a fascinating place as it is the largest rose garden in Asia covering 40.25 acres with 825 varieties but with over 32,500 plants.</span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saw some more of those lovely cute squirrels, boy are they fast.</span></span><br />
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were some lovely trees in bloom </span></span><br />
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8ReZzzZbEM/XcGXnKHAWPI/AAAAAAAAPMo/d_3TqYQ35iQekneT8fXzPK1REMDEKMPagCEwYBhgL/s1600/2D6984BC-1DB6-4B54-B47F-D560381F5A02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8ReZzzZbEM/XcGXnKHAWPI/AAAAAAAAPMo/d_3TqYQ35iQekneT8fXzPK1REMDEKMPagCEwYBhgL/s320/2D6984BC-1DB6-4B54-B47F-D560381F5A02.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqCRoKqmtks/XcGX-2wgG6I/AAAAAAAAPMw/GorDLD-yOiQFaJz41tZlOkuzvpaRLSNKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/877C96EB-491F-41FA-A1E5-8DFC69497CEB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqCRoKqmtks/XcGX-2wgG6I/AAAAAAAAPMw/GorDLD-yOiQFaJz41tZlOkuzvpaRLSNKgCEwYBhgL/s320/877C96EB-491F-41FA-A1E5-8DFC69497CEB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and an interesting fountain </span></span><br />
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYXzQUvrp1Y/XcGYpS6-wRI/AAAAAAAAPNM/z3aUPDsuN0AbIbmwlD1Sofe2fiv3S0M0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/E3E7898E-A3FE-4E38-AB46-2E8CC604CE85.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYXzQUvrp1Y/XcGYpS6-wRI/AAAAAAAAPNM/z3aUPDsuN0AbIbmwlD1Sofe2fiv3S0M0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E3E7898E-A3FE-4E38-AB46-2E8CC604CE85.jpeg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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and the rubbish bins were quite cute, though not used often.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3Yo_RyjMa8/XcGYB17hmmI/AAAAAAAAPNI/s5y90MAYeRgBmvTitQVEPHdzTN7tlMItwCEwYBhgL/s1600/8DA65586-C319-4310-8F6A-27AD15E7A14F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3Yo_RyjMa8/XcGYB17hmmI/AAAAAAAAPNI/s5y90MAYeRgBmvTitQVEPHdzTN7tlMItwCEwYBhgL/s320/8DA65586-C319-4310-8F6A-27AD15E7A14F.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then headed across the road to the ‘Adventure Park’ where I was accosted by a young lad aged about 8 or so who wanted to shine my shoes. I was wearing my canvas shoes and luckily Anamika was able to translate and tell him I didn’t have leather shoes but he wanted to clean the soles and edgings. We managed to dissuade him and moved on. The Leisure Park was a bit of a washout but t</span></span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;">here was an interesting replica of the Eiffel Tower off to one side</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgXXVXfU5V4/XcGZCyuEqsI/AAAAAAAAPNc/nJN0-9rff4MejWyq1s7NfGOkpEfkWCIewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/08283D17-4038-4D60-9EE6-9703EB6284FA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgXXVXfU5V4/XcGZCyuEqsI/AAAAAAAAPNc/nJN0-9rff4MejWyq1s7NfGOkpEfkWCIewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/08283D17-4038-4D60-9EE6-9703EB6284FA.jpeg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;"> and then we were distracted by a man riding a camel. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQvwQHVYlxw/XcGSlqvsI8I/AAAAAAAAPLs/uI9z7JsLxvc7l3Eyyt_-unsouE0Zr_VuACEwYBhgL/s1600/6DCBE5F6-1C8B-4FB3-848F-7AD9FFF3F0D3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQvwQHVYlxw/XcGSlqvsI8I/AAAAAAAAPLs/uI9z7JsLxvc7l3Eyyt_-unsouE0Zr_VuACEwYBhgL/s320/6DCBE5F6-1C8B-4FB3-848F-7AD9FFF3F0D3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzYjoto-xUI/XcGSoOc58uI/AAAAAAAAPLw/Hxut5_4TFeg8_rLJAekDDJj1YKZF8sY6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/6F087686-602B-4D13-AF6F-75C836C46F89.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzYjoto-xUI/XcGSoOc58uI/AAAAAAAAPLw/Hxut5_4TFeg8_rLJAekDDJj1YKZF8sY6ACEwYBhgL/s320/6F087686-602B-4D13-AF6F-75C836C46F89.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was obviously a tourist attraction. We wandered over the road to the Natural History Museum but it being Monday it was closed. While we were outside the gate the camel, handler and rider came over and paused by the low wall. The rider then stepped off the camel onto the wall and then stepped down off the wall. Very clever. Using the wall rather then have the camel kneel on the road. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reOUUDmdgwQ/XcGZbsSw2KI/AAAAAAAAPNo/WXg54rE98cIZMCSI6a4-F2v-MDPB-A4iACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/19A667AC-93E0-4B3C-A4B0-616FECAF2E33.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reOUUDmdgwQ/XcGZbsSw2KI/AAAAAAAAPNo/WXg54rE98cIZMCSI6a4-F2v-MDPB-A4iACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/19A667AC-93E0-4B3C-A4B0-616FECAF2E33.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H06SOWWLEdg/XcGZapadQCI/AAAAAAAAPNk/jq-ppkisG9w_53YKcey_4F7QPpcH0847QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BDD51632-259B-4EA3-8E20-4E08D63E5850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H06SOWWLEdg/XcGZapadQCI/AAAAAAAAPNk/jq-ppkisG9w_53YKcey_4F7QPpcH0847QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BDD51632-259B-4EA3-8E20-4E08D63E5850.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So then we decided to walk to the Rock Garden but realized it was a bit far so we caught an ‘auto’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Autos are essentially tuktuks the 3 wheeled transports often seen in Bali and Indonesia. They are everywhere here and a very common mode of transport. In Chandigarh the majority are green and yellow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EtcaYn81uA/XcJBRPPUoKI/AAAAAAAAPOU/_veOvkffTUUPGYqf8xrUI9dtB-YxJ8ihACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/915FB29C-51F1-4F26-BCE1-EBB1ACA4101D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EtcaYn81uA/XcJBRPPUoKI/AAAAAAAAPOU/_veOvkffTUUPGYqf8xrUI9dtB-YxJ8ihACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/915FB29C-51F1-4F26-BCE1-EBB1ACA4101D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we haggled our price and got in. We learned to stay in the background while Anamika discussed the price as when they saw us foreigners the price rose considerably. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now traveling by road is a very interesting experience especially in an auto.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrH7a7OGqM/XcGRdcr_IvI/AAAAAAAAPKw/qJVgluhLin4Pu5WT1nRUI6y503mCmAnLgCEwYBhgL/s1600/00F447CE-DEBD-4156-B72B-11FDFC83B079.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrH7a7OGqM/XcGRdcr_IvI/AAAAAAAAPKw/qJVgluhLin4Pu5WT1nRUI6y503mCmAnLgCEwYBhgL/s320/00F447CE-DEBD-4156-B72B-11FDFC83B079.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> road rules are fluid, give way when all other options have been tried, honk your horn to let people know you are here, travel in the opposite lane until you pass 15 vehicles or another vehicle comes head on towards you, head around the corner almost on two wheels and when pulling out into traffic just GO!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(60, 64, 67); color: #3c4043; font-family: inherit;">We managed to get to the Rock Garden in one piece, heaved a sigh of relief, paid our </span><span style="font-family: "google sans" , "roboto" , "helveticaneue" , "arial" , sans-serif;">₹</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">30 entry fee each and headed in through a small door in a wall. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">!!WELL!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What an amazing place. It was started in 1958 by a man who took rocks and waste ceramic materials home and started building a fantasy place where “Gods, Man and Beast could live together in harmony”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjtgdneAiN8/XcGSNROxapI/AAAAAAAAPLQ/j2AzaSUVZ9Ao8tVIkkMXnn6gKJF0PYpuQCEwYBhgL/s1600/5723612A-C13E-49F7-AFDB-0150281AF2D0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjtgdneAiN8/XcGSNROxapI/AAAAAAAAPLQ/j2AzaSUVZ9Ao8tVIkkMXnn6gKJF0PYpuQCEwYBhgL/s320/5723612A-C13E-49F7-AFDB-0150281AF2D0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The government found it in 1973 after he had built around 500 sculptures. They decided that instead of destroying it as it was illegally on government land, they gave him some workers and what an amazing place it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will post up an album later so you can see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 hours later I got a phone call while we were heading out. It was Tavleen wanting to talk to Anamika. It tuns out that she had left her cell phone in the auto and her mother had rung and some strange man had answered her phone. So after some mixed messages we ended up heading out in our next auto to the closest Airtel shop where she cancelled her phones SIM card and then purchased a new SIM and transferred her phone number to put in another phone she has. She thought that as she couldn’t call the phone due to flat battery the phone was lost. So after we sorted out the new SIM and then headed off into Sector 17 to find me some clothes. As it is heading to winter all we could find were winter clothes and they were far too hot for me, we then managed to get another auto and headed off to Elante Mall where we went clothes shopping in The Big Bizzare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWOVhrhjmWU/XcJB6vChH5I/AAAAAAAAPOg/FS60tuddsHY3uW_RR9wa02OYbxfGX50HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/7D1FDCB7-810C-4E3C-BD23-0B082CB92E26.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWOVhrhjmWU/XcJB6vChH5I/AAAAAAAAPOg/FS60tuddsHY3uW_RR9wa02OYbxfGX50HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/7D1FDCB7-810C-4E3C-BD23-0B082CB92E26.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Security here is very high and our bags had to be scanned and we were subject to wanding going into the mall. This is a metal and explosives check. Terrorism is still very much alive here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily between Anamika and a great sales guy, I managed to purchase 2 collared shits, 2 polo shirts and 4 pairs of trousers (2 track pants and 2 cotton trousers)</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for </span><span style="font-family: "google sans" , "roboto" , "helveticaneue" , "arial" , sans-serif;">₹5</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">000, this equates to $NZ110. Quite impressed as the quality was great.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So in the midst of trying on these clothes another phone call from Tavleen, telling me that Anamika’s phone had been found but we needed to get across town to pick it up before 4:30, so into another auto and off we went. It cost Anamika only </span><span style="font-family: "google sans" , "roboto" , "helveticaneue" , "arial" , sans-serif;">₹</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">250 to get it back which w<span style="font-family: inherit;">as a lot less</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> than she thought it would cost her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So by this time we decided that food would be a good thing so we headed back across town (each of these trips cost approx </span><span style="font-family: "google sans" , "roboto" , "helveticaneue" , "arial" , sans-serif;">₹</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">100 for the 4 of us ($NZ2.20). Now these trips were around 20 mins plus in duration. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: wh; font-family: inherit;">Chandigarh has a population of 1,130,000 people and covers around 114 square km around the same size as Hamilton. A lot of people in a small area.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CI9vpMWfGQ/XcJC8u4-T2I/AAAAAAAAPO0/RuhCImtHorU8o0VooIzJd45lD8iskdhgACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/A5D0617E-39A0-4AC5-BB32-1FAB503AC929.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_CI9vpMWfGQ/XcJC8u4-T2I/AAAAAAAAPO0/RuhCImtHorU8o0VooIzJd45lD8iskdhgACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A5D0617E-39A0-4AC5-BB32-1FAB503AC929.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Chandigarh</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So back to Elante Mall and food! We went into a South India restaurant for some food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had dosa with idli and sambar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKFbFoLiX9I/XcJC7BzsaOI/AAAAAAAAPOw/5Fj7JWiHke43tDpQW0a3cTFNJ_cyUEHcwCEwYBhgL/s1600/3B0585BF-B055-4F50-B7BF-CE85A36343F8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKFbFoLiX9I/XcJC7BzsaOI/AAAAAAAAPOw/5Fj7JWiHke43tDpQW0a3cTFNJ_cyUEHcwCEwYBhgL/s320/3B0585BF-B055-4F50-B7BF-CE85A36343F8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Was a lovely tasty meal. I must say I am getting the hang of eating one handed using the roti, dosa or whatever as a spoon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The back in the auto to meet up with Anya for our trip home at 6:30pm through the peak hour traffic in darkness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is dark around 5:30pm with twilight lasting around 30 mins. </span><br />
So a full on day and so I was quite exhausted so didn’t get this finished last night what with trying to upload pics and the like so up early this morning. Managed to get them into the cloud but with the internet playing up..... will get there eventually!<br />
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Safe travels everyone.<br />
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<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-large tw-ta" data-placeholder="Translation" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: -10px; margin-top: -10px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0.14em 10px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span lang="pa" tabindex="0">ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਯਾਤਰਾ</span></pre>
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<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;">Surakhi'ata yātarā</pre>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-61178374628399648562019-11-03T05:44:00.000-08:002019-11-03T05:44:35.078-08:00Sunday In Manakpur Sharif.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So today is Sunday and everything is as per every other day so far. Monday seems to be the day off around here.<br />
So started off with a brisk walk around the property accompanied by the dogs, three times around is about 15 mins so will increase each day.....maybe!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jUtfLoUXIU/Xb5LHE0or9I/AAAAAAAAO6s/jB8SO1744qIktg4fr3wUHsg7-PTwkTX1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/78ECA122-ED87-40A6-AC29-6C9DFB96368D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jUtfLoUXIU/Xb5LHE0or9I/AAAAAAAAO6s/jB8SO1744qIktg4fr3wUHsg7-PTwkTX1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/78ECA122-ED87-40A6-AC29-6C9DFB96368D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHXbpa1WOq0/Xb5LGETvV4I/AAAAAAAAO6k/PicxS0H6ztkpfr7accERig5NDEeJiGKHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5EB53035-D37E-4AEE-BBE8-50412C52052A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHXbpa1WOq0/Xb5LGETvV4I/AAAAAAAAO6k/PicxS0H6ztkpfr7accERig5NDEeJiGKHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5EB53035-D37E-4AEE-BBE8-50412C52052A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Saw some wonderful birds so will try to get some photos tomorrow morning.<br />
Noisy night with some animals, birds or other things making horrendous noises sounding like cats. Will ask what they were and let you know.<br />
Also some of the trees are starting to drop their fruit on the roof at odd times during the day and night. Small hard round fruit make quite a noise.<br />
We have a bunch of banana trees at the front door with a bunch starting to ripen.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJRSgbJbkoc/Xb5LGrH09KI/AAAAAAAAO60/mgPfpCUwsRE5Hw2qb99g0dScaoMA2Tw9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/1CD5B5DB-D66A-40F3-9D52-3722EF32BA1F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJRSgbJbkoc/Xb5LGrH09KI/AAAAAAAAO60/mgPfpCUwsRE5Hw2qb99g0dScaoMA2Tw9gCEwYBhgL/s320/1CD5B5DB-D66A-40F3-9D52-3722EF32BA1F.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Will be great when they ripen and they arrive for breakfast!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chef Rajan</td></tr>
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Rajan delivers our morning meal and our evening meal to the accommodation and brings our lunch to the studio. Rajan only speaks Hindi with no English. </div>
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It is good we have Anamika now to interpret for us.</div>
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Off to the studio for some more throwing after breakfast and on the way spotted a squirrel running up and down the tree trunk.</div>
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And a rather interesting day and managed to take some pictures, just as well my camera is waterproof. </div>
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So spent the morning throwing, and finally managed to work out why centering was difficult. Was not creating a good connection between my clay and the batt. They use acrylic batts here and you have to ensure a good stick.</div>
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Chris has managed to finish off her box. She did some lovely slip drop feet.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris from the UK and her box</td></tr>
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After lunch we moved over to slab work again for a bit of a change. </div>
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I managed to find an awesome leaf and have created a lovely slump bowl (forgot to take pics of the big one) will tomorrow. Anamika suggested an awesome idea for the foot, but will leave that surprise for later.</div>
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Then we moved onto smaller leaves and did some interesting things.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platters and leave thingies...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anamika and her large leaf.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frederick enjoying the day</td></tr>
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Tomorrow we are heading off to Chandigarh for some clothes shopping and a bit of fun.</div>
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
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<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-large tw-ta" data-placeholder="Translation" id="tw-target-text" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: -10px; margin-top: -10px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0.14em 10px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span lang="pa" tabindex="0">ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਰਾਤ ਚੰਗੀ ਬੀਤੇ</span></pre>
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<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuhāḍī rāta cagī</span></pre>
<pre class="tw-data-text tw-text-small tw-ta" data-placeholder="" id="tw-target-rmn" style="border: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.541176); font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 336px; word-wrap: break-word;">(Have a good night)</pre>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-25190494973794459822019-11-02T08:06:00.000-07:002019-11-03T20:47:48.131-08:00Saturday already....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well day 2 at the pottery retreat, today was a day of wheel work that was somewhat of a success and a bit of a failure. I was throwing just to get some feeling back and was having trouble centering, but when I managed to Centre was managing to throw some consistent thickness in the sides and started getting my bases a good thickness.<br>
But I managed to pass on my box techniques to Chris my fellow potter and she managed to produce a very fine box.<br>
These are my yesterday’s work. The spirals were an abject failure as I waited about an hour too long and they were too hard and even spraying them didn’t help.<br>
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Then we had a surprise that we have a new potter in residence arriving today for the next six months here. Her name is Anamika and she is a 26yr old from Delhi. She is a raku specialist and has produced some lovely work, will post as soon as we can sort our pic transfer protocol.<div>
Our pottery director is Tavleen and she was working on some tiles that she was going to carve.</div>
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<br>So a rather exhausting day throwing pots after pots and cutting them to see how I was doing.<br>
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The food here is traditional Punjabi food, and I am thoroughly enjoying trying all the different curries and vegetables. All vegetarian.<br>
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Lots of geckos in the rooms tonight for some reason, possibly as there is rain forecast on Thursday.<br>
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Short post tonight with few photos, hard to take when ones hands are covered in clay, but will get there.<br>
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Safe travels everyone.<br>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-5202784632440331502019-11-01T05:18:00.000-07:002019-11-01T05:18:10.850-07:00First day at the pottery retreat.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So awake this morning at around 5:30am and went for a wander around. The retreat is a bit of a work in progress in places but still nice and relaxed. There are 3 1/2 dogs on site, a Doberman, a Labrador, a cross between those two and a tiny Jack Russell pup barely 3 months old. Bit of fun, I have become the dog whisperer, they were all over me like a rash last night and today. Most of you know that I ‘tolerate’ dogs.<br />
The walk before breakfast this morning up the road to have a look at the local kiln and brick works.<br />
We wandered in and it looked cool the way they were making the clay on the bare earth in spaces. We didn’t get up to the kiln but I have been told that some of the staff will organize a tour for me.<br />
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You can just see the men to the right of the trees, on the flat where they were making the clay. So if those were men at around say even 1.5m measure the chimney which was around 100 m beyond where the men are standing!<br />
A couple of trucks came roaring up the road and I waved and got a huge smile and wave back from them both.<br />
A lovely breakfast of eggs on toast with vegetable roti was delicious but will have to adjust my internal clocks as breakfast served at 9:30am, lunch at 2:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm. I will adjust.<br />
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Anyway so today I just had a play with clay, they have a very smooth grey colored stoneware that bisque fires to a lovely soft pink but then glaze fires white.<br />
The clay needs some grog as it doesn’t work well for learner throwers as it softens quickly.<br />
They also have another earthenware clay which I am going to have a go with, they don’t like it but I will try and see if it works for me.<br />
I started a couple of boxes just to get the feel of the clay doing something I know just to start off and then started to make a 4 sided twisted vase, tall and slender similar to the pic below.<br />
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Will show the results tomorrow....forgot to take pics today.<div>
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After lunch we went for a wander down to the local village back on the main road where I was dropped off yesterday. </div>
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On the way.....</div>
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So yes all those YouTube videos are actually true, great smile and waves in return for my smile and wave. I think I am going to meet some wonderful people here. They mostly seem very friendly and react to head nods, smiles and waves. The truck drivers are the best so far though. They have wonderful horns and so when I turn around to let them know I heard, I wave and the huge smile and wave back are great.</div>
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Right! I have just realized that I need to catch you up on last nights excitement, sorry for my FaceBook friends as I posted it on FaceBook earlier, so here goes.</div>
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There is a lovely English lady here as well, she has been here for 2 weeks with another week to go, so we were chatting away last night and the dogs started to bark like crazy. We thought that it was just because we wouldn’t let them inside, but I head out to see what they were up to and they have a snake bailed up in the garden.</div>
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So of course I go over and take a couple of pics......</div>
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Turns out it is a Russell’s Viper, only the snake responsible for more snakebites and deaths than any other snake in this country..... mmmmm Frederick keep your distance!</div>
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So did well today, managed to keep going til 5 when I started to fade, so quite happy with the lack of jet lag. Now waiting for dinner to arrive then shower and bed. Another day beckons tomorrow.</div>
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
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Namaste.</div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-28949121777687958722019-10-31T21:08:00.000-07:002019-10-31T21:08:07.726-07:00Day 2 Flights #2 & #3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well Boeng sure know how to squeeze them in. The flight from Singapore to Delhi was cramped. Almost brand new aircraft Boeing 787-10 but were we racked and stacked! 3×3×3 and not much leg room even for me. Very tight fit. But even so managed around 4 hrs pretty decent sleep even missing out on supper. Was pretty shattered by the time we boarded so on with the eyeshades, headphones and as soon as the seatbelt light went out zzzzzzz.<br />
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So woke about 2 hrs out by a crying baby that had been going all flight apparently. So on arrival at Delhi at 5am on a misty hot sticky morning I was greeted by a man with my name on a card along with a couple of others.. I said to him quizzically "you have my name on your board?" "Oh yes please remember to pick up your luggage on carousel 14 for your next flight" What service. </div>
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So immigration was a giggle, there were a group of elderly travellers all in white mainly women with two old gentlemen and one younger. They were having problems queuing and going up one by one as they appeared to be multiple wives. A rather comical start to the day. Was quite a queue heading in and I watched everyone get fingerprinted so was ready for mine but he just took my photo, checked my passport and eVisa and waved me through. Felt discriminated against!!!! But really felt special! </div>
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Then off to gather up my bag which was there Yay! And went following the signs and did a huge circuit of the baggage hall just to arrive back where I started. And just walked out through customs, no check no nothing. Apparently they tag the bags that need checking.</div>
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So out and the first thing I see is an armed army person with an AK 47 or something like that. Sitting with a sign "Keep distance, no query" they are everywhere. </div>
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So have managed to pick up my sim card and installed it myself. Must say the young man was pretty rude, but that may be the difference with service here who knows, time will tell. Then I re read my instructions telling me to be forceful about what I want as it is not me but is a culture thing here. So installed and up and running eventually, about 2 hours earlier that told.</div>
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Can't get a long black here!! They call it an Americano. Go figure but must say the one I am sipping from Costa<br />
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is pretty good. Asked for a strong and got it! </div>
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So now a bit of a wait while the sim card activated and then can post this and will try and find a place to rest for a couple of hours. </div>
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Cannot believe the queues at the toilets. And forgot about the ones in Singapore, they have bidets and squats. </div>
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Still managed to do the morning ablutions and now just observing the traffic. Fascinating such a range of people! A bit wary of taking photos here.....too many guns!</div>
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So it is 15:30 kiwitime and 08:00 India time ....been a long time since bed, still only an hour's flight to go.</div>
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The airport main floor is a bit sparce but a couple of interesting displays, honoring the elephant, carrier of the gods and </div>
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The queue just to get into the airport are amazing.</div>
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and you can see the haze/pollution in the background. </div>
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I am learning a lot about huge queues here, the one for domestic security...just wow... They post times for getting through, currently 30 mins. So I should get into the queue with plenty of time. 🤗</div>
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As you can probably tell, I am doing a couple of circuits of the floor, writing a bit then off for another circuit. Wi be fit by the time I get on the next flight!</div>
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Well finally got through security... Domestic security here is worse than at LA International. Full search of everything and full body sweep with metal detector. Handled by the Army not just security.</div>
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The departure hall has 62 gates and guess which one I am now sitting at... Yup 62. But the will here was awesome.</div>
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Some interesting works of art too</div>
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A brilliant piece celebrating yoga.</div>
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The haze is fascinating</div>
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One can barely see the other side of the airport.</div>
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So all being equal my final flight for a while leaves soon and while.im in India my phone number is</div>
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+99871504163</div>
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Haven't got roaming on my Spark but Facebook, Messanger and WhatsAp will all work. </div>
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Safe travels everyone from a rather shattered and exhausted traveller. </div>
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Namaskar</div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-18448469714627434662019-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:002019-10-30T08:34:00.024-07:00Day 2 Flight #1So after an almost good nights sleep (til 3am when the brain goes “Wake up!!!) Dave ever so kindly drove me to the airport and came in to say goodbye. Thanks Dave, you are awesome!
So first up, go the the kiosk to check in but the scanner won’t read my eVisa for India, so into the queue, when I get there the lovely lady give me a few ooops moments as she gets things into place for me. Then asks me if I would like to move seats to upstairs, “Its quieter!” Awesome says I! So stage 1 successful! Have boarding passes right through to Chandigarh.
Have a wander around looking at the shops prior to heading through security. Then headed into security,through the ePassport lane no issues, then unload the bits, bobs and other stuff, didn't need to take belt off or shoes! Yay team. BUT saw the container get pushed off into the ‘to be checked’ lane....bugger, what did i miss. By the time it came to the front of the line as the lovely lady checked it on the screen she waved me though “phew”. So as I write this I am contemplating a “Best Ugly Bagel for lunch. Might have the King Salmon or the Boss Hog, one with smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, capers, dill and lemon juice, or bacon, rocket sauce, cheddar cheese and egg.... decisions, decisions.
So the smoked salmon won out! Was rather nice.<br />
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So headed up to the gate. Waaaay over there, luckily there were travelators.<br />
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So cool looking at all the planes waiting, being serviced, pushing back, arriving. Good fun. Busy afternoon. Passengers missing.</div>
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I do so love people watching at the airport, who’s on business, who’s on holiday, weddings, funerals, all sorts. Who like flying, who hates flying. Who is stressed to the max with frustrated kids etc. Great fun. It is also fun to look at the layout for the walkways etc through Duty Free and past all the shops.</div>
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No straight lines and geared up for ‘buy here, buy here’. Fun watching people!
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I do like the godwits that are hanging from the ceiling at various places.<br />
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Loading up the plane....</div>
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So away we went, gentle push back and quiet taxi<br />
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The off to the west and off towards Sydney.</div>
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You can just see the west coast beaches in the bottom pic.</div>
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The flight went over Sydney, diagonally across Australia and then on to Changi Airport. We were 2 mines early taking off and 8 mins early arriving, 10 hours later.</div>
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Changi Airport is amazing, the heat and humidity outside is like a solid wall. I went through the butterfly house but they were all asleep and it was too dark to take pics.</div>
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The concourse in Terminal 3 is huge and I walked from one end to the other and back.<br />
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So a bit of a wait for the next leg, so thought I would at least get this one done and dusted. Yay for free WiFi at Changi Airport!!!</div>
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Safe travels everyone.</div>
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-79407300491793688222019-10-28T18:31:00.000-07:002019-10-28T18:31:04.211-07:00Auckland Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13zMsKRpsCex8VnCL6tyA_SF44qvIJIb5/view?usp=drivesdk"><img title="Housing!" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13zMsKRpsCex8VnCL6tyA_SF44qvIJIb5/view?usp=drivesdk" alt="" data-json=""></a></div>
So many thanks to my friend Dave who has driven me into Auckland, putting me up for the night at his girlfriend’s place and is driving me to the airport tomorrow.
So to pass the time he has taken me on a trip out to Hobsonville and Whenuapai. <div> OH MY GOODNESS ME!</div><div>things have changed. What used to be fruit orchards and vineyards is now terrace housing
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<div>So things have changed a lot out west!</div><div>Some interesting use of the old aircraft hangers though....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>and then off to view the airforce....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>and back home to enjoy the sunshine....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div>Thanks for the tiki tour Dave and looking forward to the promised Thai for dinner later, yummy!</div></div>Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-21915124604187619082019-10-28T16:12:00.001-07:002019-10-28T16:12:44.810-07:00Day 1 of the big adventureSo it has begun. <div>After a damp start at the Papa Aroha Campground, Dave and I left around 8:30 heading south to Thames then right hand down and off to Auckland. Cannot believe how much has happened in building south of Bombay just amazing. </div><div>So now staying in Royal Heights, Massey for the night.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> then off in the morning to Auckland International Airport. </div><div>Safe travels everyone. </div>Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-2112384213574798532019-10-21T21:28:00.000-07:002019-10-21T21:28:33.503-07:00seven sleeps to goSo it is now into the final countdown. Seven sleeps til I leave the Coromandel on my journey to India.<div>I am currently residing at Papa Aroha Campground. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>The weather is interesting currently, rain occasionally sweeps in like a straw broom and then whisks away over the hills behind. Then the wind, then the sun shines through.</div><div>I am almost packed ready to go and it's good that my friend Dave is going to be using the bus over the summer. We will get parked up in its place by the end of the week and give him the run down on everything so he know what's what. </div><div>I have completed my rail journey and I am travelling 6208km by train at a cost of $NZ285. The longest leg is 1662km from Howrah (Kolkata) to Chennai on the Coromandel Express with a duration of 26 hours. Great way to start 2020. Leaving Howrah on 1/1/2020. Luckily not til 14:50! </div><div>I am chuffed at the number of people who want to know how to follow my trip, so hopefully this will increase my blog followers by three or four. </div><div>Hope to be able to do daily updates but will see what happens. Will be using airport wifi until I get to Delhi and get my Indian SIM card. </div><div>Have movies, books and music ready for the flights and stopovers. </div><div><br></div><div>So happy and safe travels everyone. </div>Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-8403216673228305242019-08-31T19:54:00.001-07:002019-08-31T19:57:05.076-07:00Closer and closer....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well after much excitement and changes of plans and updated routes, here is the current plan</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for India.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> 29 Oct travel to Auckland with my friend Dave. Stay overnight with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">30 Oct Fly out of Auckland leaving 3:15pm (good time to leave!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">31 Oct Arrive Chandigarh via Singapore and Delhi. around 32 hours after leaving Auckland. From there I take a tuktuk (they are pink in Chandigarh!) to the bus stop and then a bus to Aura Pottery where I am staying for 8 weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">28 Dec Leave Aura Pottery and make my way back to Chandigarh where I catch the first of my trains, the Paschim Express to Delhi. A 5 hour trip arriving in Delhi at 4:30 in the afternoon.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">29</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Dec Full day trip to Agra to see the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal. Around a 12 hour trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">30 Dec A day of exploring Delhi food stalls and excitements, especially <span style="background-color: white;">Jama Masjid and </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bazaar Matia Mahal</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> before </span>catching the next train at </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5:00pm for Kolkata 17 hours away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">31 Dec to 1 Jan Spending New Years in Kolkata. Hoping to get to the Terreti Morning Market for breakfast and the SIr Stuart Hogg Market, commonly know as the New Market also take a walk across</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the Howrah Bridge, which is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian bridges. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xeLXIO3oP8/XWsvycr9GzI/AAAAAAAAOiU/t3Mn7BfYGOc0NlJ7v37CqbpYMV5uCGUkQCLcBGAs/s1600/Hoogly-river-and-Howrah-Bridge-Kolkata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xeLXIO3oP8/XWsvycr9GzI/AAAAAAAAOiU/t3Mn7BfYGOc0NlJ7v37CqbpYMV5uCGUkQCLcBGAs/s200/Hoogly-river-and-Howrah-Bridge-Kolkata.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Howrah Bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 Jan 2020! Leave Kolkata 4:30pm</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for Chennai Beach on the Coromandel Express train for 24 hours and 25 mins.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5218b6GG2c/XWsuow6SfqI/AAAAAAAAOh8/UfVV3fe4efwJ9fxu1Xn1BTwFUN_yWF-ZACEwYBhgL/s1600/coromandel-expres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5218b6GG2c/XWsuow6SfqI/AAAAAAAAOh8/UfVV3fe4efwJ9fxu1Xn1BTwFUN_yWF-ZACEwYBhgL/s200/coromandel-expres.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coromandel Express</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pause here for a history/geography lesson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Coromandel Peninsula was named after HMS </span><i style="background-color: white;">Coromandel</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (originally named </span>HMS Malabar<span style="background-color: white;">), a ship of the British </span>Royal Navy<span style="background-color: white;"> that stopped at </span>Coromandel Harbour<span style="background-color: white;"> in 1820 to purchase kauri spars. The ship was named for </span>India<span style="background-color: white;">'s </span>Coromandel Coast<span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span><br />
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxsG0F4PABM/XWsUWVUs4WI/AAAAAAAAOgE/PL7S6bNKyhoQPf9vL4Nzw5aC7Ziwe-3UQCEwYBhgL/s1600/NZ-Coromandel_P.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="405" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxsG0F4PABM/XWsUWVUs4WI/AAAAAAAAOgE/PL7S6bNKyhoQPf9vL4Nzw5aC7Ziwe-3UQCEwYBhgL/s200/NZ-Coromandel_P.png" width="136" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The </span><b style="background-color: white;">Coromandel Coast</b><span style="background-color: white;"> is the southeastern coast region of the </span>Indian subcontinent<span style="background-color: white;">, bounded by the </span>Utkal Plains<span style="background-color: white;"> to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the </span>Kaveri<span style="background-color: white;"> delta to the south, and the </span>Eastern Ghats<span style="background-color: white;"> to the west, extending over an area of about 22,800 square kilometres.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Its definition can also include the northwestern coast of the island of </span>Sri Lanka.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvHTdMmqPB8/XWsUZMtXXiI/AAAAAAAAOgI/TiyO_dSj8S4IMbpKxkAE992g4jmbmUcVQCEwYBhgL/s200/280px-India_Coromandel_Coast_locator_map.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="177" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coromandel Coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvHTdMmqPB8/XWsUZMtXXiI/AAAAAAAAOgI/TiyO_dSj8S4IMbpKxkAE992g4jmbmUcVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/280px-India_Coromandel_Coast_locator_map.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back to the story....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Again foody stuff and sight seeing in Chennai Beach for two days, looking forward to the Sowcarpet Market! Specialising in North India cuisine. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ev-0Gq7Xj1o/XWsupXXkd-I/AAAAAAAAOiE/kgShNWhfngAyqXwhmQ0wyRVpJ_B7Zrm6wCEwYBhgL/s1600/sowcarpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ev-0Gq7Xj1o/XWsupXXkd-I/AAAAAAAAOiE/kgShNWhfngAyqXwhmQ0wyRVpJ_B7Zrm6wCEwYBhgL/s200/sowcarpet.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sowcarpet Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jan 4, depart Chennai for Mumbai on the Chennai Express for 25 hours 15 mins arriving Mumbai at 6am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meeting up with an ex student of mine from my teaching days at Natcoll while I am in Mumbai. As well as foody and sight seeing stuff. Will try to get to <span style="background-color: white;">Chowpatty Beach, which is </span><span style="background-color: white;">famous</span><span style="background-color: white;"> for its bazaars and fast food and snacks such as Bhel Puri, Paav Bhaj</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hP2hvqgoZaM/XWsuoC-z6zI/AAAAAAAAOiI/LwJtijZXi3cbR1G9YEbivO5SUzbaUkFVACEwYBhgL/s1600/chowpatty-beach-mumbai1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="467" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hP2hvqgoZaM/XWsuoC-z6zI/AAAAAAAAOiI/LwJtijZXi3cbR1G9YEbivO5SUzbaUkFVACEwYBhgL/s200/chowpatty-beach-mumbai1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chowpatty Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7 Jan depart Mumbai for Ahmedabad another 7 hours on the Vivik Express.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One night in Ahmedabad before heading to the Vipassana Centre for a 10 day silent meditation retreat. Will probably need it after all of the above!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKKol_Dt4Y/XWsunL_JMLI/AAAAAAAAOh8/q_mZ_MrmMfgU0K_6K68bDnk-qPZn5aZHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Vipassana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKKol_Dt4Y/XWsunL_JMLI/AAAAAAAAOh8/q_mZ_MrmMfgU0K_6K68bDnk-qPZn5aZHQCEwYBhgL/s200/Vipassana.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Dhamma Pitha </span>Vipassana Centre</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">20 Jan depart Ahmedabad for Bikaner, only 6 hrs on the train this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bikaner is famous for<span style="background-color: white;"> the Karni Mata Temple which is home to many rats considered sacred by Hindu devotees. It is also famous for its sweets and snacks. So more food!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDw6OmFCgRI/XWsuk8-owUI/AAAAAAAAOh0/Cq1lUJ7nXqcveR2X8HThBDIE4C4wB2auQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Karni%2BMata%2BMandir%2BBikaner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1200" height="132" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDw6OmFCgRI/XWsuk8-owUI/AAAAAAAAOh0/Cq1lUJ7nXqcveR2X8HThBDIE4C4wB2auQCEwYBhgL/s200/Karni%2BMata%2BMandir%2BBikaner.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karni Mata Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">23 Jan depart Bikaner for Bathinda after 6 hours on the train. I have arranged to meet the family of a friend (Amritpal) I met at Port Jackson, in Bathinda. He has promised me some awesome home cooking while I stay with them. As I mentioned in the previous blog post my time in Bathinda is timed to coincide with the V</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">asant Panchami festival. Amritpal is heading home for 4 weeks to be home for the festival so will catch up with him at his home. He hasn't been home in 2 years. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rHFJoiX7zw/XWsuoCspMLI/AAAAAAAAOh4/zlJg_1PgJ00Cvz-B-R8dS-k1g0o0X4ziwCEwYBhgL/s1600/bhatinda-city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="640" height="120" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rHFJoiX7zw/XWsuoCspMLI/AAAAAAAAOh4/zlJg_1PgJ00Cvz-B-R8dS-k1g0o0X4ziwCEwYBhgL/s320/bhatinda-city.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bathinda</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 Feb I get on a ......BUS! Heading back to Chandigarh to finish off my journey around India. A 4 hour trip in an airconditioned Mercedes bus.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm69N_KWPF8/XWsXEaXli3I/AAAAAAAAOgU/m9IGCMcyM-chqfW4zthQ5yjlrpeYqGk_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/indian-railway-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm69N_KWPF8/XWsXEaXli3I/AAAAAAAAOgU/m9IGCMcyM-chqfW4zthQ5yjlrpeYqGk_gCEwYBhgL/s320/indian-railway-map.jpg" width="280" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One night back in Chandigarh then fly to Singapore via Delhi. Short stop over in Delhi but 16 hours in Singapore so have decided to head out to ride some roller coasters at Universal Studios. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rp8o2h8t2rg/XWslPa1lrbI/AAAAAAAAOgo/Bmt3aFCLF8MOPDWcPWJblBPQVQpPUs7JgCLcBGAs/s1600/universal-singapore-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1110" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rp8o2h8t2rg/XWslPa1lrbI/AAAAAAAAOgo/Bmt3aFCLF8MOPDWcPWJblBPQVQpPUs7JgCLcBGAs/s200/universal-singapore-map.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IV6WLztx2U/XWsgr7nwgYI/AAAAAAAAOgc/4KOKcfpG_gQMmbVZ65hKZ7sV_UrWjky1wCLcBGAs/s1600/Train%2Bto%2Bpark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="861" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IV6WLztx2U/XWsgr7nwgYI/AAAAAAAAOgc/4KOKcfpG_gQMmbVZ65hKZ7sV_UrWjky1wCLcBGAs/s320/Train%2Bto%2Bpark.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Train trip again!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After that I should have time for some food exploration in Singapore.... flight doesn't leave til 10:25pm.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So then arriving back in Aotearoa on Feb 6th at 1:20pm all being equal!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Starting to load books, music and movies and TV series onto the iPad as well as maps and travel tips, copies of important documents and other stuff!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">It will be fascinating to compare my pictures with the ones I have shown here! Thanks to Mr Google.</span></span><br />
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554969686415223903.post-64515929784755769172019-08-11T21:43:00.002-07:002019-08-11T21:44:19.976-07:00India here i come...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Travel itinerary so far<br />
<br />
Tuesday October 29 travel to Auckland either by my good friend Dave or on the ferry from Coromandel.<br />
Wednesday October 30 at 15:15 I am flying out of Auckland on Singapore Airlines to Singapore.<br />
Flight time 10 hr 40 mins. There I have a 5 hour wait til I board leg 2 of my journey from Singapore to Delhi.<br />
Flight time 6 hours. After a 7 hour wait I board for the last leg from Delhi to Chandigarh.<br />
Flight time 1hr 10 mins.<br />
So leaving Auckland 15:15 October 30 arriving Chandigarh 31 hours and 5 mins later but is 14:50 Oct 31 local time.<br />
On arrival at Chandigarh I take the bus to town (another 30 mins) and then head out to Aura Pottery, another 20 mins west of the city.<br />
<br />
Chandigarh is in Punjab province, north western India.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUjomfZjA_s/XUoQIg7MNRI/AAAAAAAAOdg/8oXvLEUxO1IbLKg3Q3nDB8hrllGdT8sPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Map%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1262" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUjomfZjA_s/XUoQIg7MNRI/AAAAAAAAOdg/8oXvLEUxO1IbLKg3Q3nDB8hrllGdT8sPwCEwYBhgL/s400/Map%2B2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Northern India showing Aura Pottery and Chandigarh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWkFiiHH4C4/XUn1uU6kfHI/AAAAAAAAOdQ/NrJ26eNmgw8shoIFLXuHAKHlGG9OOPa5gCLcBGAs/s1600/Map%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="1208" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWkFiiHH4C4/XUn1uU6kfHI/AAAAAAAAOdQ/NrJ26eNmgw8shoIFLXuHAKHlGG9OOPa5gCLcBGAs/s400/Map%2B1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Aura Pottery on the outskirts of Chandigarh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am going to be staying at Aura Pottery for 8 weeks on a long stay pottery retreat.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OI14G5jdoxY/XUn1uKXIRHI/AAAAAAAAOdU/SfevN8au3_0TTyiUDkKQQSOvqdDvKmwYACEwYBhgL/s1600/Aura%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1349" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OI14G5jdoxY/XUn1uKXIRHI/AAAAAAAAOdU/SfevN8au3_0TTyiUDkKQQSOvqdDvKmwYACEwYBhgL/s400/Aura%2B1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Aura Pottery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am also organising at train trip around the country.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VUreULRg_Y/XVDsUHxKVaI/AAAAAAAAOe4/1J6qAzTT3dgS8L6J7mrEhSuqgqqjvrCDACLcBGAs/s1600/rail%2Bjourney%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VUreULRg_Y/XVDsUHxKVaI/AAAAAAAAOe4/1J6qAzTT3dgS8L6J7mrEhSuqgqqjvrCDACLcBGAs/s320/rail%2Bjourney%2B2.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Train trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">Travel day 1 - </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Chandigarh to Delhi.Distance 264 km - Time 4.5 hours - <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹745 NZ$16</span></span><br />
Travel day<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> 2 - Delhi to Kharagpur. Distance 1735 km - Time 35 hours - </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2580 NZ$56</span><br />
Travel day<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> 3 - Kharagpur to Chennai. Distance 1539 km - Time 26 hours - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2350 NZ$51</span><br />
Travel day<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> 4 - Chennai to Mumbai. Distance 1281 km - Time 24 hours - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹2100</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> NZ$46</span><br />
Travel day<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> 5 - Mumbai to Bathinda. Distance 1849 km - Time 32 hours - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹2725</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> NZ$59</span><br />
Travel day<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> 6 - Bathinda to Chandigarh. Distance 253km - Time 4.5 hours - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">₹1130</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> NZ$25</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Total travel distance 6921 km</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Total travel time 126 hours or 5 1/4 days</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Total cost NZ$253.....yes $253!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I will be stopping off at the cities for a look and so won't be doing this in a rush. There are numerous options t<span style="font-family: inherit;">o stop off at inter</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">mediate stops as well. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I just have to be in Bathinda Jan 24th or thereabouts for the V</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">asant Panchami festival.</span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRZWkZAJRZM/XVC7QOOPlbI/AAAAAAAAOes/_5YtdkqbHvg0gggHup2uB6O2o8EKatYJgCLcBGAs/s1600/ghwvfwf_1538032756e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="738" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRZWkZAJRZM/XVC7QOOPlbI/AAAAAAAAOes/_5YtdkqbHvg0gggHup2uB6O2o8EKatYJgCLcBGAs/s320/ghwvfwf_1538032756e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vasant Panchami is celebrated in different ways by the Hindus of the North and South India. While it is a kite festival in Punjab, it is a harvest festival in Bihar. While it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja in educational institutes in the North, it is mostly a temple festival in South India. But universally, yellow rules the colour of the day, as it heralds the arrival of spring and signifies the positive energy of life and nature. It is also the colour of mustard flowers that bloom during this season.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span>It has been an exciting time with list and things to do, like getting my passport renewed, booking tickets, applying for a visa, sorting out IT and comm</span>unications while away.<br />
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Meanwhile, I am assisting in Coromandel Town with some clearing and native tree planting on an amazing property. Also we are making slow progress at the Pohutukawa Chalets with benchtop replacements and new cupboard doors and drawer fronts.<br />
I have also been set building for the new play at the Coromandel Theatre, Last Legs. A Roger Hall comedy set in a retirement home.<br />
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So it is all go at the moment.<br />
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Til next post, safe travels everyone.<br />
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Fredericknzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13932648474958196573noreply@blogger.com0