Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost
Traveling, as I recently have, through much of northern India has been an eye opening, exhilarating experience. No five star hotels and air conditioned buses type of group tour for us. We were two guys, nearing all too quickly our seventh decade, out to experience things few Westerners even know about. We slept in tents, traveled by air, train, boat, rickshaw, and car. And we walked and walked. Taking the road less traveled made all the difference.
One of the highlights of the trip for me was the day we wandered back roads through several rural villages. They have changed little through the years.
Yet the villages were just a few kilometers from the site of Kumbh Mela, the largest gathering of Hindu worshipers ever. Other than a few groups of pilgrims returning home from the festival, one would have no way of knowing so many people were so close by.
People travel between nearby villages along rural roads, sometimes in small groups and often alone.
And sheep travel between pastures along rural roads.
Check out more on Travel Theme: Roads
tripodtrippin
3 Mar 2013Thank you, Ron. That was so interesting!
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you for your kind words.
My Life Afterglow
3 Mar 2013Great shots! 🙂
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you so much.
travelgardeneat
3 Mar 2013Amazing series of photos — capture the essence of a true traveler! ~ Kat
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you Kat. That is my hope.
Yen-Yen's_Passions :)
3 Mar 2013Wonderful.:)
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thanh you Yen-Yen.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
3 Mar 2013there are so many wonderful images! those colors all but shock the senses into waking up, if one’s eyes have become glazed! z
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013We do like color, you and I. 🙂
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
6 Mar 2013yes, and i agree with what you said about ecuador’s colors, but there is still an element in the images from india that are unique. maybe it’s the extreme poverty and starkness in the contrast between the rich colors and the background?
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013You are so right about the background. Everything seems to be coated with a dusting of ochre, but even the poorest women wear the most beautiful saris. The contrast is beautiful.
Anna Marie
3 Mar 2013Wonderful post – your images are great and your adventure inspiring.
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you. And your words too kind.
hemadamani
4 Mar 2013loved the pictures, as always!! 🙂
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you. India makes being a photographer easy.
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Erco Travels
4 Mar 2013Great pics 😀
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you.
Madhu
4 Mar 2013Great job Ron. Particularly love the first one!
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thanks Madhu. The first one is probably my favorite as well.
Tina Schell
4 Mar 2013Wonderful post Ron. You could have posted one each day and I’d still have loved them all!!
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you Tina, for your kind words.
patriciaddrury
4 Mar 2013Reblogged this on patriciaddrury and commented:
a trip to rural India…
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thank you so much.
adinparadise
6 Mar 2013These are really interesting pics, Ron. That horse and cart has quite a load on. 😀
fotograffer
6 Mar 2013Thanks Ad. I am sure the horse will be happy to get everyone home. 🙂
plainjanesplainspeaking
2 Jul 2013I absolutely love your India pictures! I’m travelling to Northern India later this year – it looks amazing! Great that you and your friend are travelling when as you say you are now in your seventies! Keep the photographs coming!
fotograffer
4 Jul 2013Jane, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. We intend to keep trudging as long as we can. 🙂