Category: India
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Mani stones
Mani stones You find them near temples and monasteries, along paths and mountain passes, in the middle of nowhere. Piled up by pilgrims they form mounts or long walls that mark the landscape of the Tibetan cultural region. Texts are skillfully cut in relief on the stones. Often it’s the mantra « om mani padme…
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Little Tibet
Little Tibet The robust architecture is in harmony with the severe landscape. We imagine ourselves to be in Tibet but we are in Ladakh, the western corner of the Tibetan cultural region that became part of India in the 19th century. Neighbouring Tibet is now, much to its chagrin, part of China. A ‘Line of…
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Moonscape
Moonscape Hiking in the rarified atmosphere of the deserted mountain scenery of Ladakh, a sporadic cairn may remind you that you are not walking on the moon but on earth. Or else the mirage of a distant buddhist monastery can enlighten you. Photo of the week: Temisgam, seen from Meptak La, 3845m, Trek from Himis…
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Red mountain
Red mountain After last week’s blue lake, today a red mountain. Wonders of the high altitude desert of Trans Himalayan Ladakh. Photo of the week: Between Rongti La and Meptak La, Trek from Himis Shukpa to Ang, Ladakh, India 2019
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Blue lake
Blue lake Unlike Lake Pangong where bullets of the Indian and Chinese armies may whizz past your head, the other big lake of Ladakh, Tsomoriri, is all peace and quiet. At 4500 m. altitude only the thin air may cause some discomfort. Photo of the week: Tsomoriri Lake, Ladakh, India 2019
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The colour yellow
The colour yellow She picked up some yellow flowers and in a playful act of joy stuck them in her pierced earlobe. The little flowers shine brightly against her brown skin. She notices my surprised, appreciative look and smiles. Photo of the week: Orchha, M.P., India 2009
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Bed of flowers
Bed of flowers The person for whom the bed is made is not lying on it but under it. Maybe these were his favorite flowers, maybe he was green-fingered. He would certainly be pleased to see the yellow flowerbed above his head, a little island shining between dry red earth, pebbles and dead leaves. Photo…
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Double twosome
Double twosome After years of worship venerated objects can become pretty messy. The heads of the divine couple on the left have been smeared with coloured paste day after day till their faces got completely covered. The girls (goddesses?) on the torn and faded poster have also had their share, not on but above their…
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Alluring twosome
Alluring twosome Through their gestures these heavenly nymphs draw our attention straight away to their heavy rounded breasts. The sculptor may have exaggerated a bit in his striving to let them meet the ideal of feminine beauty, but nonetheless the nymphs seem to be content with the outcome of his work. Photo of the week:…
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Reading reeds
Reading reeds A pleasing crisscross of lines, open triangles and dense clusters: broken reed stems in sunlit water at the end of the day. A play of nature tending to abstraction. Photo of the week: Manipur, India 2014
καιρός remembered 