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Jim & Cynthia | profile | all galleries >> Jim and Cynthia's Travel Photos >> Feb '04 - India tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Feb '04 - India

In February of 2004, we traveled to India to visit with the family of Kalpana Chawla, my very close friend (who was an astronaut and perished on February 1, 2003 in the space shuttle Columbia accident). This was a visit not only as a memorial (and we had a very precious ceremony up in the Himalaya), but because her family is as dear to us as she was. Like Kalpana, her two sisters Piky and Deepa are also serious birders, and so we traveled to the north of India to a safari camp for a wildlife visit. The other traveler in the photos is Carolynn Conley, also a friend of Kalpana's, from Houston.
--Cynthia
On the Heathrow express (a bit tired)
On the Heathrow express (a bit tired)		 In our overnight hotel in London
In our overnight hotel in London		 SNOW in London!!
SNOW in London!!		 Amazing (the last time we were here, it was BOILING hot)
Amazing (the last time we were here, it was BOILING hot)		 St. Paul's Cathedral (feed the birds)
St. Paul's Cathedral ("feed the birds")
Beautiful inside
Beautiful inside		 I've always wanted to see this church
I've always wanted to see this church		 Wow
Wow		 The view from the top!
The view from the top!		 Overlooking the Thames
Overlooking the Thames
Rasa W1, our favorite restaurant in London
Rasa W1, our favorite restaurant in London		 Indian food to start the trip!
Indian food to start the trip!		 Vodka, chocolate, and Scrabble just like last summer (same gate at Heathrow!)
Vodka, chocolate, and Scrabble just like last summer (same gate at Heathrow!)		 Kabul, Afganistan!!
Kabul, Afganistan!!		 Landing at Delhi airport
Landing at Delhi airport
A hello from Carolynn and Piky
A hello from Carolynn and Piky		 Piky, Kalpana's older sister ... dear friend
Piky, Kalpana's older sister ... dear friend		 Family in rickshaw, Delhi
Family in rickshaw, Delhi		 Storefronts in Delhi
Storefronts in Delhi		 Side of the street, Delhi
Side of the street, Delhi
Eclectic travelers sharing the road
Eclectic travelers sharing the road		 Vegetable vendors alongside
Vegetable vendors alongside		 Cherry and Mummy opening gifts
Cherry and Mummy opening gifts		 Anju and Mummy
Anju and Mummy		 With Anju, Mummy, and Cherry
With Anju, Mummy, and Cherry
Twinkle displays her new t shirt
Twinkle displays her new t shirt		 A home-cooked Indian meal!
A home-cooked Indian meal!		 Chocolate gifts for Anju
Chocolate gifts for Anju		 In our American diner (very realistic!)
In our "American diner" (very realistic!)		 Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Ruins from 12th century, Lodhi Gardens, Delhi
Ruins from 12th century, Lodhi Gardens, Delhi		 Really pretty structures
Really pretty structures		 The girls! at Lodhi Gardens on Feb. 1
The girls! at Lodhi Gardens on Feb. 1		 Another pretty structure
Another pretty structure		 Jim with Carolynn and Kalpana's sisters Deepa and Piky
Jim with Carolynn and Kalpana's sisters Deepa and Piky
The happy (and cold!) couple
The happy (and cold!) couple		 Really nice walls
Really nice walls		 nice Moorish arches
nice Moorish arches		 Carolynn exploring
Carolynn exploring		 and more exploring
and more exploring
and more interesting arches
and more interesting arches		 and columns
and columns		 Lunch in Delhi
Lunch in Delhi		 The small shrine for Kalpana
The small shrine for Kalpana		 Cynthia, Feb. 1 ...
Cynthia, Feb. 1 ...
The road workers living in Delhi
The road workers living in Delhi		 An autorickshaw
An autorickshaw		 And bicycle rickshaw
And bicycle rickshaw		 Side of the road
Side of the road		 Workers at the sewage treatment plant
Workers at the sewage treatment plant
Kids at that plant
Kids at that plant		 Playing around the plant (good birding there!)
Playing around the plant (good birding there!)		 Field workers
Field workers		 Stopped along the road outside of Delhi
Stopped along the road outside of Delhi		 To look for birds!
To look for birds!
Black Drongo and Long-tailed Shrike
Black Drongo and Long-tailed Shrike		 Deepa and Carolynn
Deepa and Carolynn		 Birding at Sultanpur
Birding at Sultanpur		 Two cultures with a similar passion
Two cultures with a similar passion		 The birding enthusiasts
The birding enthusiasts
Why is everyone looking a different direction?!?
Why is everyone looking a different direction?!?		 Well, we're having fun anyway
Well, we're having fun anyway		 White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher		 White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher		 Black-necked Storks
Black-necked Storks
Collared Scopes Owl
Collared Scopes Owl		 Indian Roller
Indian Roller		 Black-shouldered Kite
Black-shouldered Kite		 In Piky's apartment
In Piky's apartment		 Enjoying tea ... with Kalpana too ...
Enjoying tea ... with Kalpana too ...
Some of the DELICIOUS food we were served
Some of the DELICIOUS food we were served		 A wedding procession in Delhi
A wedding procession in Delhi		 Waiting for the early morning train
Waiting for the early morning train		 Deepa, Cynthia, Mummy, Piky, and Jim
Deepa, Cynthia, Mummy, Piky, and Jim		 On the comfortable train to Agra
On the comfortable train to Agra
Telling stories
Telling stories		 An overnight train later in the trip!
An overnight train later in the trip!		 We got a kick out of this
We got a kick out of this		 Our van in Agra
Our van in Agra		 Other forms of transportation
Other forms of transportation
Sights in Agra
Sights in Agra		 Mowing and fertilizing at once
Mowing and fertilizing at once		 Dogs in Agra
Dogs in Agra		 We saw a real snake charmer!!
We saw a real snake charmer!!		 Getting ready to go through the gates to the Taj ...
Getting ready to go through the gates to the Taj ...
Entrance to the Taj
Entrance to the Taj		 Soaring ceiling at the entrance
Soaring ceiling at the entrance		 Posing before going in ...
Posing before going in ...		 The Taj Mahal!!!!
The Taj Mahal!!!!		 I've ALWAYS wanted to see this
I've ALWAYS wanted to see this
Detail of the intricate inlay
Detail of the intricate inlay		 Gorgeous
Gorgeous		 The gang poses
The gang poses		 Jim with the Taj
Jim with the Taj		 The happy couple again
The happy couple again
Out behind the Taj, a happy group
Out behind the Taj, a happy group		 Overlooking the Yamuna River (with booties)
Overlooking the Yamuna River (with booties)		 A side building at the Taj
A side building at the Taj		 Pretty walkways
Pretty walkways		 View of Agra fort from the Taj
View of Agra fort from the Taj
The fort in the distance
The fort in the distance		 At the fort, looking back at the Taj Mahal
At the fort, looking back at the Taj Mahal		 Incredible screen made from marble
Incredible screen made from marble		 Gorgeous red sandstone at the fort
Gorgeous red sandstone at the fort		 Ready to tour!
Ready to tour!
Piky, Carolynn, and Jim walking into Agra fort
Piky, Carolynn, and Jim walking into Agra fort		 Simply gorgeous architecture
Simply gorgeous architecture		 Moorish designs
Moorish designs		 Beautiful, built in the 16th century
Beautiful, built in the 16th century		 Diwani-Aam, where the emperor held court
Diwani-Aam, where the emperor held court
peaceful grounds
peaceful grounds		 Typical tourists
Typical tourists		 Constantly posing
Constantly posing		 The emperor's seat
The emperor's seat		 A quiet moment
A quiet moment
The happy couple yet again!
The happy couple yet again!		 lovely columns
lovely columns		 And intricate design work
And intricate design work		 Mirrors too
Mirrors too		 Interesting juxtaposition
Interesting juxtaposition
Back in our van again
Back in our van again		 A quick nap for our bag lady Carolynn
A quick nap for our "bag lady" Carolynn		 Nice van ride
Nice van ride		 Learning how the marble inlay is made
Learning how the marble inlay is made		 Some of the really lovely marble pieces
Some of the really lovely marble pieces
Back at the crowded train station
Back at the crowded train station		 Tea at the Delhi station
Tea at the Delhi station		 Stopping for lunch in our drive to Corbett
Stopping for lunch in our drive to Corbett		 Sites along the way
Sites along the way		 Delicious looking fruit and vegies
Delicious looking fruit and vegies
Clothes drying along the road
Clothes drying along the road		 Changing a tire
Changing a tire		 A different form of transport
A different form of transport		 The men play cards ...
The men play cards ...		 While the woman organize the cow patties for cooking
While the woman organize the cow patties for cooking
And collect the sticks for firewood
And collect the sticks for firewood		 And collect the water
And collect the water		 Another interesting juxtaposition
Another interesting juxtaposition		 A very busy street
A very busy street		 Kids going to school!
Kids going to school!
Our luxurious accomodations at Tiger Camp
Our luxurious accomodations at Tiger Camp		 We have our own CABIN!
We have our own CABIN!		 Very nice inside
Very nice inside		 The central room for meals
The central room for meals		 But we always want to eat outside
But we always want to eat outside
Out on the balcony for the ritual tea
Out on the balcony for the ritual tea		 Map of Corbett National park
Map of Corbett National park		 Going on safari
Going on safari		 Out in the bush, looking for tigers
Out in the bush, looking for tigers		 We did see termite mounds
We did see termite mounds
And learned a LOT about birds
And learned a LOT about birds		 Very pretty national parkland
Very pretty national parkland		 A tiger SPOOR!
A tiger SPOOR!		 Too many complacent deer, for there to be a tiger around
Too many complacent deer, for there to be a tiger around		 Spotted Deer
Spotted Deer
More Spotted Deer
More Spotted Deer		 Black-faced Langur Monkey
Black-faced Langur Monkey		 Sambhar Deer
Sambhar Deer		 Tawny Fish Owl
Tawny Fish Owl		 He let us watch him for a long time
He let us watch him for a long time
A cliff with Wallcreeper flitting about
A cliff with Wallcreeper flitting about		 A sweet small village
A sweet small village		 More of the village
More of the village		 Some houses in the village
Some houses in the village		 Garjiya temple
Garjiya temple
Birdwatching from the bridge
Birdwatching from the bridge		 We saw a lot of birds from here
We saw a lot of birds from here		 With our birding guide Rattan Singh
With our birding guide Rattan Singh		 Deepa and Mummy
Deepa and Mummy		 Another mother and child
Another mother and child
Incredibly gorgeous water
Incredibly gorgeous water		 The local school
The local school		 Collecting sticks
Collecting sticks		 More collecting sticks
More collecting sticks		 Making thatch
Making thatch
Young girls with pretty colors
Young girls with pretty colors		 More tea on the balcony, and good company
More tea on the balcony, and good company		 Carolynn wanting a massage
Carolynn wanting a massage		 Enjoying an apperitif by the fire
Enjoying an apperitif by the fire		 The ubiquitous leg exercises each night
The ubiquitous leg exercises each night
Up at 4 am to see sunrise
Up at 4 am to see sunrise		 Moonset, first, however
Moonset, first, however		 The girls with the moon
The girls with the moon		 Waiting for sunrise
Waiting for sunrise		 Cynthia with purse of special items
Cynthia with purse of special items
A special moment with Deepa and Piky
A special moment with Deepa and Piky		 Cynthia's dear friend Deepa
Cynthia's dear friend Deepa		 Cynthia's dear friend Piky
Cynthia's dear friend Piky		 A memorial moment
A memorial moment		 Rocks and water
Rocks and water
wow .....
wow .....		 saying good bye
saying good bye		 The sun over the Himalayas, like molten silver
The sun over the Himalayas, like molten silver		 Best friends
Best friends		 forever
forever
Such love
Such love		 And sadness
And sadness		 At last, we can laugh again
At last, we can laugh again		 Jim's self portrait
Jim's self portrait		 Deepa!
Deepa!
Cynthia sans hat
Cynthia sans hat		 The photographer himself
The photographer himself		 The radio operator on top of the mountain
The radio operator on top of the mountain		 The nice fellows who made us tea
The nice fellows who made us tea		 Walking back down the mountain
Walking back down the mountain
Slate roofs!
Slate roofs!		 And stone walls
And stone walls		 The Himalayas (snow in the distance)
The Himalayas (snow in the distance)		 A little hill village
A little hill village		 Just a few buildings
Just a few buildings
The locals
The locals		 Such sweet children
Such sweet children		 Polite and nice
Polite and nice		 Rattan asking a fellow to make us tea
Rattan asking a fellow to make us tea		 Pouring the mixed tea through the filter
Pouring the "mixed tea" through the filter
Deepa birding
Deepa birding		 Collared Falconet!!! (helmet head)
Collared Falconet!!! ("helmet head")		 And TWO together! (it was a sign)
And TWO together! (it was a sign)		 Pig on the railway tracks
Pig on the railway tracks		 Shopping, back in Delhi
Shopping, back in Delhi
In front of our hotel, Habitat Center
In front of our hotel, Habitat Center		 Our taxi driver leaving trash
Our taxi driver leaving trash		 Birding at the Ohklabarrage Bird Sanctuary
Birding at the Ohklabarrage Bird Sanctuary		 so sad ...
so sad ...		 Shopping for gifts
Shopping for gifts
A scarf for Jessica
A scarf for Jessica		 Cynthia models the selvar camize
Cynthia models the selvar camize		 We even bought jewelry to match
We even bought jewelry to match		 A hug from Deepa
A hug from Deepa		 And, we bought some for Jim too
And, we bought some for Jim too
The happy couple AGAIN
The happy couple AGAIN		 SO happy ......
SO happy ......		 Having fun with our new clothes
Having fun with our new clothes		 A gift from Piky and Deepa ...
A gift from Piky and Deepa ...		 A vest!
A vest!
Adjustment from Deepa, the clothing expert
Adjustment from Deepa, the clothing expert		 It looks good!
It looks good!		 A chania cholli that Deepa made for Cynthia
A chania cholli that Deepa made for Cynthia		 And, the girls give her a sari
And, the girls give her a sari		 A little assistance is needed
A "little" assistance is needed
Wrapping it around
Wrapping it around		 and around
and around		 Sisters!
Sisters!		 Having such fun with my dearest friends
Having such fun with my dearest friends		 I love it!!
I love it!!
Looking Indian yet?
Looking Indian yet?		 How about now?
How about now?

comment | share
Balasubramaniam 16-Oct-2007 12:05
Hi,

I liked all your photos. I'm Malaysian and had visited India in Dec,2005. I started my journey from New Delhi up to Manali. India really a interesting country. I wish go to Himalayas in the next trip.
Prashant Mishra 12-Sep-2007 11:40
hiiiiiiiiiiiiii cynthia, thanx for visitin india and mat wid family of Kalpana chawala, we are proud on her.i hope u like to my country. again thanx dear.

Prashant mishra
vikas 19-Dec-2006 12:02
Dear Cynthia,

Namaste

i was searching something else on the internet & reached to ur site.
I saw ur pics, v nice & cool.
I m from north India,like traveling & photography.By profession i m a Software engineer.

Hope u liked India.

bye...

Vikas
ANUPAM 17-Sep-2004 17:39
This was a very touching gallery and I was very much moved to see the good time you guys had in India. I am from North India living in NY for the last 9 years now and it was very upsetting to hear about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and Ms Chawla. My thoughts and my prayers go out to her family and to all those who who were with Ms Chawla in Space Shuttle Columbia.
God bless 'em all .
AB
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