Mandawa, India
Shadow Play
We have all heard of the Golden Hour, aka the Magic Hour... that hour or so after sunrise and before sunset. During that time the sun is low in the…
To Market in an Indian Mercedes
In Abhaneri Village, in eastern Rajasthan, an unique, homemade vehicle known as a jugaad or chakdi, aka Indian Mercedes, plies the roadways. In Hindi, jugaad means an innovative fix or work around. An apt name for this low cost transport. They are usually made from an old diesel agricultural irrigation pump mounted to a equally old car or truck chassis. A hand crank starts the engine and someone jumping off with a block of wood is often the way to stop it. Simple, cheap and iconic in much of rural India.
Still Life with Bird Cages
India amazes. You learn to expect the unexpected. To wit, the cluster of empty bird cages hanging in an alcove in the opulent City Palace in Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. Construction of the gigantic palace, or more accurately, series of connected palaces, was started in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh and continued for over 300 years by his successor Maharanas. Apparently one of the royals fancied caged song birds.