Mellow Yellow Monday #166 - On the Road to New Delhi - March 26, 2012

There was so much to see in the blur as our taxi driver flew down the road
between Patiala and New Delhi.  These women, in their colorful saris, caught
my attention.

The saris worn by women in different  parts of India are quite different 

from each other.  I have not purchased any.  Watching my "sister", Lorna,

wrap one has convinced me that I would come unraveled and be,

embarrassingly, on display.  The saris are are so beautiful, though, I

am always in awe.

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday, #166 - check out the site 

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Scenic Sunday - Mysore Palace, Mysore, Karnataka, India - March 25, 2012

I had hoped to be able to do a whole blog about my trip to Mysore but, since  my

Tata Photon is being so uncooperative about uploading photos, that will have to

wait until I return to San Francisco.  This is a small photo of my blog header.  The

palace is incredibly beautiful and the inside, where we were not allowed to take

photographs, is lovelier than I can say.  If you ever have a chance to visit south

India, you must go there!

I am participating in Scenic Sunday - check out the site

and add your contribution to join in the fun.

Bangalore and Beyond - Karnataka, India - March 20, 2012

Today marks 16 days left in India for me.  I am beyond sad.  How has time
passed so quickly?  I haven't seen nearly all I wanted and every minute has
been so special. Recently, I spent a wonderful week with a blogging friend
and his family in Bangalore and was also able to visit some of the beautiful
parts south.

Bangalore, also called Bengaluru is the capital of the state of Karnataka.  It
is India's information technology center and  is the third most populous city in
India.  It is also known as the garden city for its beautiful flowers and
landscaping.

One day, my friend and I drove south, to the Mysore area to see
a local temple, no longer in use for religious purposes but operated by India
as a museum.  It was a lovely and interesting drive, quite different from
northern India.

We set out at 5AM to avoid the morning rush hour.  There was still quite a
bit of early mist in the distant fields.  As we stopped for breakfast at a nice
little spot, we sat at outdoor tables, watching the sun make its debut.

Green and leafy Bangalore ( Bengaluru ) on our the

day before our trip south

Early morning mist and coconut palms on the drive south

Sunrise as we stop for breakfast

 

Masala dosa for breakfast 

A visit to the local cow after eating

Early morning rice farmers hard at work

Rice paddies

The early morning mist, coconut palms and rice fields on our way south.

Bicycle with sugar cane, women about their work

Dredging rice fields

Planting rice

Even weeds can look lovely

Cleaning millet on the road

A truckload of something but I'm not sure what!

Every mile of the way, there is something interesting to see.  I was really 

amazed at the ox carts...the beasts with long pointed horns that would have

been pretty awful to sit on if something plopped from the sky on top.  

I took dozens of pictures of those carts but none of them seemed to have

turned out.  Trying to upload pictures at slow speed with my Tata Photon is

a lesson in futility.  At any rate, I'm going to post these so you can get an

idea of how lovely this drive down to Mysore was.

Mellow Yellow Monday #165 - Rashtrapati Bhavan at Sunset - March 19, 2012

I had a very brief visit to New Delhi, much of it spent in the efforrs to bring

forensic nursing to this part of the world.  My friend and colleague, Virginia

Lynch, and I managed a whirlwind rickshaw ride about the city and arrived

at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace as the sun was beginning to set.

Rashtrapati Bhavan, is the largest residence of any head of state in the world.

If you wish to read further about it, visit:  

Bhavanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtrapati_Bhavan

I am participating in Mellow Yellow 165 - check out the site 

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A Desperate Prayer with 18 Days Left - March 18, 2012

18 days remain for me,
In the country of my heart
What am I going to miss the most,
Where does the list begin to start?

India, vast and mysterious,
Is forever enticing me,
I've barely seen a tiny bit,
Of all I want to see.

My palate's tasted every food,

And spicy daunts me not,

The breads are bits of heaven,

I could be fatter but I'm not.

I feel so full of love these months,

So welcome where I've gone,

From my Royal Caribbean friends,

To perfect strangers, I've been drawn.

I pray to the gods and goddesses,
To grant my safe return,
For until I touch this shore once more,
My heart will ever yearn. 

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2012 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved. 

Is All the World Irish? March 17,2012

Today, all the world is Irish,

At least that's what they say,
 India seems warm and dusty,

And far from Galway Bay.

Even here in Mumbai,

I guess that is the case,

But tell that to my rickshaw man,

As he runs his dodge 'em race.

I actually have Irish blood,

Coursing through my veins,

And, today, I'm wearing green,

So pinchers, please refrain

I rarely drink a frothy beer,

Newcastle eludes me every time,

And Guiness I have never found,

Someone hoards them as sublime.

So I'll toast the Saint of Ireland,

With a lesser spirit choice,

And, along with all the Irish folk,

And newly Irish, I'lll rejoice. 

India's great on celebrations,

There are holidays galore,

They embrace those of all nations,

And seem to relish even more.

I've been often to the UK,

But have never seen that special isle,

Let's hope I'll sip some Irish whiskey,

And linger, sometime, for awhile.

Hope everyone  has or had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day,

depending on where in the world you are.

I Am Woman - International Women's Day - Mar 8, 2012

I was born a girl child,

In the country of the free,

Yet, even living there,

At times, it's hard for me.

I see among my sisters,

The struggles that they face,

But to find it in the USA,

To me is a disgrace.

For many women of the world,

Gender bias is the norm,

A way of life for centuries,

It is hard to make reform.

Baby girls are murdered,

Their lives snuffed out at birth,

These precious little innocents,

Who are felt of little worth.

Some women struggle endlessly,

For food enough to eat,

For shelter for their families,

They will never admit defeat.

Others do such menial work,

For less pay than men will earn,

Returning home late at night,

Where no one shows concern.

To my sisters facing so much pain,

I am here, in heart and soul,

United and acknowledging,

We share a common goal.

Just know that you are not alone,

Change will come, albeit slow,

Your determination and spirit,

Reap more than you will ever know.

Be proud that you are woman,

Of all you accomplish along the way,

Stand, united, all sisters of the world,

As we celebrate our day.

Copyright (c) March 8, 2012

 by Carmen Henesy 
All rights reserved. 

Mellow Yellow Monday #163 - Beautiful Yellow Flowering Tree - March 5, 2012

I am still in Bangalore, Karnataka, India - my fifth day with a dear blogging
friend and his family who have made my stay in India's "Silicon Valley" such a
wonderful experience.  I have been delighted with the beautiful flowers in this
garden city of India, especially with one spectacular yellow flowering tree.
I still do not know its name - my slow internet has not allowed me to easily
access the excellent "Flowers of India" website so, perhaps, one of my
followers might be able to tell me what this tree is.

It is blooming in great profusion right now and I love the brilliant yellow
flowers.  These pictures were taken on the grounds of St. Philomena's
Church in Mysore.

=

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday, #163 -

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