Video on new railway line to Tibet

The information below was sent to me by my chinese friend Ying Nien Yu:

A great documentary about a new railway line to Tibet - spoken in English.

This video is just over 51 minutes in length - sit back with a tea or coffee
and enjoy the ride!

Official English name: Japan Broadcasting Corporation

Gorgeous Construction and Splendid Scenery NHK documentary Film

Pls click: The QingHai - Tibet Railway
<http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI0NTY5ODQw.html> 

 

From Kathy and Marshall on their trip to India

January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!

As some of you know, Marshall and I took a 21 day trip to northern India and Nepal (Kathmandu) in October/November. It was a great trip although a little different than I expected. India is a country of contrasts. It is an incredible place with so much spirituality, history, culture and color. The people are friendly and welcoming; the children are adorable; the women are so bright and colorful in their saris; and the food is delicious. India also has incredible pollution (air, water, noise), trash and chaos. But somehow it works. I hope the pictures I share will convey the charm of India. It was a difficult trip in some ways, but India is oh so worth visiting.

In Chapter 1, pictures are taken in and around New Delhi then on the road to Jaipur. Picture 1 is a typical street scene. Pictures 2 through 4 are of the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Picture 5 is of the Red Fort (taken from the Jama Masjid) built in the 17^th century for Mughal emperors. Picture 6 overlooks a bazaar outside the mosque grounds. We took a rickshaw ride (felt like a riskshaw ride) through the chaotic streets (picture 7). We came to find out that this traffic is typical of everywhere we went and can actually get worse (picture 8). We were fortunate to be in India during the Diwali festival (aka festival of lights). Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals during the year. Marigolds are used extensively to decorate everything from buildings to trucks to cows (picture 9).

We also visited the Raj Ghat where Gandhi was cremated (picture 10) and India Gate (picture 11). As you can see in pictures 12 and 13, the Indians treat their security very seriously (picture 13 was taken at our hotel). Pictures 14 through 17 were taken at the Qutab Minar complex (circa 1193 and UNESCO World Heritage site). The minaret (picture 14) is 238 feet tall and is constructed out of red sandstone and marble. Pictures 15 through 20 were taken at the Bangla Shabi Sikh (Hindu) temple. Anyone can come here to eat and we saw their massive cooking operation. Picture 21 is where Gandi was assassinated. And picture 22 is of Lord Shiva (86 feet tall!). He stands close to the airport and actually renders 1,600 feet of a nearby runway unusable because planes have to clear him before landing (airport authorities are not happy). Pictures 23 through 28 are on the road to Jaipur. I love that they use camels to pull wagons. Pictures 29 through 39 were taken in a marketplace close to where we stopped for lunch. The people there were great. And yes, cows are everywhere you go – in the streets, on the highways, in the markets. Free to roam wherever they like (along with the pigs, the goats and the dogs).

Next up – Jaipur and Ranthambore.

Love, Kathy

You are invited to view photo album: India - Chapter 1 India - Chapter 1 View Album Play slideshow

January 8, 2012

Hi –

Here we are in Jaipur. The first picture is of the Palace of the Winds (aka the Hawa Mahal) circa 1799. It was built in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. It’s carved out of red and pink sandstone and is beautiful in the morning sunlight. Pictures 2 through 13 were taken at the Amber Fort (circa early 1600s). It is a magnificent place. Pictures 3 through 5 are snake charmers and their cobras. Picture 10 is of the Ganesh Pol or the Ganesh Gate (named after the Hindu god Lord Ganesh) and is the entry into the private palaces of the Maharajas. And the woman in picture 13 is sweeping the stairs. Picture 14 is the Floating Palace. Pictures 15 through 17 were taken at the Jantar Mantar (which literally means 'calculation instrument') astronomical and astrological observatory and was built between 1727 and 1734. Picture 16 is a sundial and Marshall is standing in front of the sundial for Aries in picture 17 (there was a sundial for each Zodiac sign).

At dinner one night we had a performance by Indian dancers. The girl danced with 7 (!) bowls on her head (picture 18). Pictures 19 through 21 are back on the road again headed to Ranthambore National Park. We stayed at a beautiful hotel outside the park that is reminiscent of a Maharaja’s palace (pictures 22 through 24). Then into the park we went (pictures 25 through 40). The buildings you see in pictures 29 and 30 are part of a fort that was built there in 944. Pictures 31 through 33 are of Black Faced Long Tailed Langur monkeys, and let me tell you, they are not shy. Ranthambore is also a tiger sanctuary and we did see a young one. Albeit fleetingly as it ran away in the brush (so sadly, no picture). But we did get proof in the form of young tiger tracks (picture 35) and big tiger tracks (picture 36).

Pictures 41 through 52 were taken in a village close to the park. We visited the primary school where they begin each day with a prayer (pictures 46 and 47). The children were delightful and eager to show and tell us about what they were learning. Picture 49 is a farmhouse and you may wonder what the woman is doing in picture 50. She is molding cow dung into patties so they can dry and be used for fuel. It is a very effective form of fuel that we’ve seen used in other countries we’ve been to. The two children are the farmer’s son and daughter.

In Chapter 3 we’re going to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. It is even more spectacular in person!

Take care

Kathy

You are invited to view photo album: India - Chapter 2 India - Chapter 2 View Album Play slideshow

January 13, 2012

Hi again –

Chapter 3 begins with some more street scenes (pictures 1 and 2) as we make our way to Aagman Camp where we stayed overnight in tents –very nice tents as it turns out (picture 4). Picture 3 is a southern India style Hindu temple. Temples in the south are much more colorful when compared with Hindu temples in the north. While at the tent camp, they dressed us in traditional head coverings which are odhanis (veils) for the women and turbans for the men. And then we road camels (pictures 5 through 8). What fun! Camels ride very smoothly. You sit in a saddle that goes over the hump with you actually sitting behind the hump. Who knew? The next morning, we learned how to play cricket which is as popular in India as baseball is here (pictures 9 and 10).

We left camp and headed to Agra and the Taj Mahal. On the way, we stopped at a most interesting place – the Chand Baoli step-well in Abhaneri (pictures 11 through 14). What is a step-well? It’s simply a well in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps. This is one of the deepest and largest step wells in India, was built in the 9th century, has 3,500 narrow steps, is 13 stories and 100 feet deep. Just imagine what it must have looked like when it was being used. If you look closely at the bottom of picture 11, you can see water.

Okay. Pictures 15 through 18 are the Taj Mahal (or just “the Taj” as it is affectionately known). It is indescribable. Words like “beautiful”,“magnificent”, or “stunning” just aren’t adequate. Construction began in 1632. Twenty years and 20,000 laborers later, it was finished. And the marble does change color depending on the light. Picture 19 is the main gate into the complex. Pictures 20 and 21 are of the mosque on the grounds. There is an identical building on the other side of the Taj Mahal but it was never used as a mosque. It was built merely to provide symmetry to the complex. Pictures 22 and 23 were taken from the Moonlight Garden across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal.

Picture 24 demonstrates how trusting the cows are. Pictures 25 through 29 were taken at Agra Fort. Portions are still used by the Indian military. Picture 30 is the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula's, a mausoleum like the Taj Mahal. In fact locally it is known as the “mini Taj”. Pictures 31 and 32 are on the grounds. Pictures 33 through 35 are an attempt to show you how chaotic and ridiculous the traffic in India is. It was like this in every city we visited. Now imagine that every driver is honking the horn incessantly and you may begin to have an idea of what traffic in India is like. Note the cows in picture 33. At least the Indians maintain a sense of humor - nothing seems to dim their friendliness (picture 34). And imagine the motorcycle in picture 35 going down a major (crowded) street in your city!

From Agra we took a train towards Khajuraho home of Chandela temples with their erotic carvings that would make a porn star blush! Well, maybe not. Anyway, I’ll share those pictures in Chapter 4. After the train ride, we drove for awhile on a horrible road (picture 36) and stopped to see how a farmer irrigated his fields (pictures 37 and 38). All you need are cows and they do all the work (talk about green). The buckets take the well water, pour it into a ditch that then feeds smaller trenches in the field. Pretty effective. The gentleman in picture 39 is a Brahmin priest.

Take care

Kathy

You are invited to view photo album: India - Chapter 3 India - Chapter 3 View Album Play slideshow

January 19, 2012

Hey there –

Lots to tell in this chapter.   We begin Chapter 4 at the Chandela temples in Khajuraho (pictures 1 through 7).  These temples were built between 950 and 1150 and are a popular tourist destination because some of the carvings on them explicitly depict sexual life during medieval time (they are in surprisingly good shape).  Only about 10 percent of the carvings are erotic.  The rest depict the everyday life of the common Indian at the time the carvings were made.  You may be wondering why these carvings were carved – I did.  One theory is that they were designed to appease malevolent spirits.  Another theory is that boys could learn about the world and prepare themselves to become husbands through examining these sculptures.  Given the depth and breadth of our audience, I decided to include only the PG-rated carvings in this chapter.  So without further ado, here are pictures 8 through 15.   If you would like me to send the R-rated carving pictures, just let me know – I’d be happy to.  Consider this my version of a brown paper wrapper!

From Khajuraho we flew to Varanasi (aka “the City of Light”) which is the most spiritual place I’ve ever been.  Located on the banks of the Ganges River, legend has it that the city was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country.  Buddhism was founded here and Varanasi is believed to be several thousand years old.  One evening we rode in rickshaws through the Old City (picture 16) to the banks of the Ganges.  There we boarded a small boat that took us to a cremation site (picture 17).  Day and night, hundreds of pyres are tended by the Dome, the caste which has handled cremation for centuries. In the Hindu faith, it is said that the Ganges River is the most auspicious place to die and have ones remains submersed in the river. 

Picture 18 is of an evening aarti performance at Dasaswamedh Ghat.  (A ghat is a broad flight of steps that is situated on an Indian riverbank providing access to the water especially for bathing.) The man holding the flaming urn is one of five young Hindu priests who perform the highly choreographed ritual.  It was amazing to watch along with the hundreds of people who attend each night (picture 19).  While many ghats perform this grand prayer ceremony, the one held here is one of the largest and best known.  Picture 20 is the Dasaswamedh Ghat area from our boat.

The next morning at day break we went back to the Dasaswamedh Ghat (pictures 21 and 22) where we again boarded a small boat.  Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges forgives sins (pictures 23 through 27).   And though people perform this ritual in public with hundreds of others around, I felt an intimacy with them that I find hard to explain.  Picture 28 shows the ghat area along the river; picture 29 shows laundry being done at the river’s edge; and picture 30 is a crematorium.  Picture 31 is at sunrise and the boat is taking people out to submerge their loved one’s ashes in the river.  However, Hindu’s don’t cremate children, they are buried.  Indeed we bore witness to this as a boat floated past us and the body of a child wrapped in white cloth was slipped into the river.  Picture 32 was taken in the Old City and picture 33 is a Brahmin priest.

Pictures 34 through 36 were taken at the Mulgandha Kuty Vihara Temple in Sarnath.  Sarnath is close to Varanasi and is the city where Buddha preached his first sermon.   Inside the temple were beautiful murals depicting the life of Buddha (pictures 37 through 40).   Picture 41 is the Dhamekh Stupa (circa 500) where monks were leading pilgrims in a prayer ritual.  It is thought that this stupa marks the spot where Buddha gave the first sermon to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment.  It is 143 feet high, 92 feet in diameter and is solid brick and stone.

Chapter 5 will be the final chapter and is dedicated to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Kathy

You are invited to view photo album: India - Chapter 4 India - Chapter 4 View Album Play slideshow

January 26, 2012

Hi!

Well, here we are closing in on the end of the trip as we flew from Varanasi to Kathmandu, Nepal.  We stayed at a beautiful hotel located in the foothills just above and outside of the city (picture 1).  It was forested, quiet and there were lots of monkeys running around.  The hotel provided a nice respite from the traffic and noise of Kathmandu (although it was not nearly at the level of India).

Pictures 2 through 5 were taken during a tour of the town.  Yes, those are the Himalayas in the background in picture 3.  Temples abound in Kathmandu (pictures 6 through 11) from small shrines hidden in side streets (picture 6) to huge temples taking up a full city block (picture 7).  Picture 13 is the Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple.  One evening we visited the Boudhanath Stupa (pictures 14 and 15) which is the holiest temple in Nepal and a pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.  This stupa could be as old as 464 A.D.  You may notice the eyes on the stupa.   On virtually every stupa in Nepal, there are giant pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower. These are Buddha Eyes (also known as Wisdom Eyes), and they look out in the four directions to symbolize the omniscience (all-seeing) of a Buddha.

The next day we drove out to Khokana village for a visit (pictures 16 and 17).  We parked at the top of the village and walked into town (pictures 18 through 26).  There was a celebration going on with numerous bands (pictures 27 and 28) and even the running of a bull (picture 29) that would later be sacrificed.  We then drove to Patan and explored its Durbar Square (Royal Palace Square) (pictures 30 through 34).

On our way to lunch in Nargot the next day, we walked through a mountain village with spectacular views of the Himalayas and the Kathmandu Valley (pictures 35 through 39).  The woman carrying that bundle in picture 39 walked with us up the mountain and continued up the road after we got back in our vehicle.  She’s awesome!  Picture 40 was taken from a deck at the restaurant where we had lunch.  From here we drove to Bhaktapur (aka City of Devotees) which is a World Heritage town and quite beautiful (pictures 41 through 51). 

Marshall had been tracking the weather for India and Nepal for at least a month before we left.  And it was supposed to rain continually  in Kathmandu up to the day we got there and then start again the day we left.  And no kidding, that’s what it did!  We were on the tarmac getting ready to board the plane; the skies were black with rain clouds with a bit of thunder and lightning going on.  Big fat raindrops began to fall as our plane taxied for takeoff.  And then we broke through the clouds and there were the peaks of the Himalayas floating there like islands (pictures 52 and 53).  What a breathtaking send off!

I sure hope you’ve enjoyed the trip.  I sure enjoyed sharing it with you!

Until next time…..

Love,

Kathy

You are invited to view photo album: Chapter 5 - Kathmandu, Nepal Chapter 5 - Kathmandu, Nepal View Album Play slideshow

Link to Marshall and Kathy's China Pictures

Click on the link below or copy it and paste on you web browser:

https://picasaweb.google.com/mzim100/China2011200Best?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuav8rE9uz_OQ&feat=email#

Linda's Kodak Pictures

I received Linda's email with her Kodak picture album and noticed she had not yet posted the link. You should be able to view Linda's pictures in the same manner as those posted by Tom in the post below this one. They are really beautiful. Enjoy....

Chuck

From Linda:

If you can't see the pictures in this email, click here to see it in a web browser:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=1808872230103%3A1464286314&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

+ 226
2011 China Favorites

We finally have some favorites to share. (This career stuff really gets in the way!) We've loved what you all have shared. Hope you've had good summers. Warmly Linda & Steve

View Slideshow
Do more with these photos

Beautiful full-screen slideshows

Comment on and Like your favorites

Download full-resolution copies

Tom's China Presentation Photos

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=3929476620103%3A1504535027

Okay, this is the VERY last set of pictures you are getting from me, ha!  What I did is pull together a presentation of the whole trip using selected area shots from Nancy and me, as well as a few great shots from Marshall and Kathy.  This gives a start to end flow of our trip -- sort of like Marshall did with his "top 200" pictures.  Enjoy.  Cheeers, Captain Tom .... and Nancy

Link to Tom's Kodak pictures

Hello Sticky Rice.  I have posted most of my pictures to my Kodak site and the below links will get you there should you want to view them.  You'll be able to see a slideshow as well as download full resolution copies of any of the pictures you might want.  I'll be adding the rest of the links in the next few day.  Cheers, Tom

Here is the link to my Kodak site pictures for Shanghai.

Here is the link to my Kodak site pictures for Beijing.

Here is the link to my Kodak site pictures for Xian

Link to Chengdu.

Link to Pandas.

Link to Tibet.

Link to Yangtze River

Link to Three Gorges Dam

Link to Hong Knog.

Link to Hong Knog People

Kathy & Marshall's 200 Best Photos

Here's a link to our 200 best photos from the trip. We took 2400 photos. Hopefully, you'll enjoy these "few select" ones.

CLICK HERE