Friday, February 9, 2018

Pictures from India

My January excursion to Paris came about because Andrew was headed there for a work trip, of course I had to tag along. His travels then took him on to India. I briefly considered joining him, but let's face it, India isn't a great place for a woman to explore on her own (Andrew was busy with meetings all day, everyday), so I stayed in Paris and my good friend Julie flew over to join me — how lucky am I? A few romantic Parisian days with my husband and then a few more days shopping, sightseeing and café-ing with an old friend.

I was not completely left out of the India experience however, as Andrew took several photos for me, including this first-day on the ground photo of the poor air quality. There's a little morning fog mixed in, but mostly that's smog, and a dirty car windshield.

This fabulous display was outside one of the factories he visited. Sad that the lower leaves are all trimmed, but thankfully the taller Cordylines (?) have escaped that fate.

I think this container display may have been at the hotel he stayed in.

Gas station plantings...

The Sago and pineappled Agaves somehow don't seem to mesh with the small Cypress (or whatever conifer those are).

Agave desmettiana? (you can see pups around the base of one above)

Another customer at the gas station.

This company is very consistent with their IKEA color scheme aren't they?

Just a little off-putting.

High speed Agave drive-by photography...

This! The plant (what is it?) the container...wow.

Like no Euphorbia (or cactus?) I'm aware of...

The container looks like one of those made from recycled tires.

I love this scene...

Agave angustifolia 'Marginata', I believe.

I appreciate the water retention area dug around this Furcraea, although the poor thing looks like it's had a rough life.

Now that's a mass planting.

Here's Andrew shopping from a gypsy tool seller. He said another seller nearby loudly berated him for not visiting her table as well.

Finally Andrew took a few videos as the moved around the country side, here's a colorful one...

This video is quite a bit longer, and a little hard to watch at times, as you clearly see the difficult living conditions the Indian citizens have to deal with. There is beauty too, plants, wandering cows...

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

28 comments:

  1. Wow! After looking at Andrew's photos and videos, I definitely think I'll stick to just watching Monty Don rave about the Taj Mahal on TV. Now that is a devoted husband, to think to take pictures of gas station plantings for you.

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    1. He was very sweet for taking these photos wasn't he?

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  2. You did have the best time in Paris. It sounded wonderful.
    I have known only a few people that have been to India. Your hubby is a sweetie for taking pictures for you. The videos show that India is a different world.

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    1. A very different world. I'm sure the contrast was especially strong for him, having just been in Paris.

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  3. The contrast between Paris and Delhi appears pretty extreme. Did you see any low income areas in Paris to see if they were similar to India in any way?

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    1. Our first morning in Paris we took a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Traffic was crazy and so I think the driver was taking alternate routes to try and get us off the stalled freeway. I did see quite a few run-down areas in the "suburbs". Housing that looked derelict but yet lived in. Trash everywhere, and homeless people camping under overpasses. Oh and graffiti, lots and lots of graffiti.

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  4. Andrew did a great job with the photos and videos! India is SO interesting but the extreme poverty and hygiene concerns do make visiting a concern. I was offered an opportunity to spend 6 weeks there once when the company I then worked for was setting up a call center there. I ultimately passed on it as a) the call center operated at night to satisfy our US customer needs, leaving minimal opportunities for daytime sight-seeing, and b) literally everyone we sent over came back sick despite the series of immunizations we required before they left.

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    1. Six weeks is a long time, especially when on an alternate schedule like night work. Andrew got hepatitis A and B shots before he went, and the guy managed to come back healthy! He was told to check every bottle of water before he drank from it, to make sure he was breaking the seal. Evidently refilled bottles (from questionable sources) are often sold...

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  5. Gaz instantly recognised the first photo, and pored through the rest of the photos. Great on Andrew for taking all those pics and the vids for us all to look at!

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    1. Glad you saw them. He took a bunch more videos and has been going through the frames in slo-mo and pulling out interesting photos. My favorite is one of a monkey crossing the street. You can't even see it in the video.

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  6. Sad to think of so many people living like this and I imagine this isn't the worst of it.

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  7. Seeing pictures from India, the air, the neighborhoods, the poverty, makes me feel extremely fortunate and grateful to live in Seattle.

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    1. You do live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! (in my opinion)

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  8. I'm curious to know what took Andrew to India, work or simple curiosity/wanderlust? David has been for work, and like you, I wasn't very tempted to join him because of the perceived danger for women on their own. My father has been also. It seems like an amazing place to see.

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  9. Interesting to see life in India. Reminded me of my trip to S America in the late 70s. Poverty looks the same around the world, I reckon. I didn't see all that many women in the videos, which is telling. Probably just as well you stayed behind in Paris. Thanks for sharing the shots, and to Andrew.

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    1. In another video he took there were a few woman, with children, walking along the street wearing something I would as consider traditional clothing. Then in another there were a few 20-something woman wearing very western outfits.

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  10. Fascinating glimpses of a place I've always wanted to visit.

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  11. I know you enjoyed those extra days in Paris but next time you must go to India. I'm glad Andrew brought back some photos. We had 2 weeks there traveling from Delhi to Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kerala Puna Mumbai and we had a fabulous time. Yes, there is poverty and that terrible class system but their buildings and history are wonderful. It's not just about the Taj Mahal. I saw that look on Monty Don's face as he saw the Taj for the first time. It was sheer awe and I know the feeling. The forts were something I didn't know about before I went. I'm sure the hotel would arrange for you to go with a tour group or a car and guide. We felt perfectly safe wherever we went.

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    1. If I do have the chance to return at a time when I can travel with Andrew I would definitely take the opportunity. Thank you for the encouragement.

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  12. What surprises me about these photos is the lack of people. I think you would be surprised at how safe it feels to walk around alone...even in Calcutta.

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    1. I should post a few other videos, where there were so many people they were mingling with the cars. Scary! So you've been then?

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  13. Thanks for sharing! My daughter was in India for a couple of months this past fall, and some interesting experiences. The people, cultures, plants, and climates varied quite a bit in various parts of India--she traveled extensively. She really liked the Dharmasala area (the Dalai Lama's stomping grounds) the best. She traveled with people part of the time and taught in a school. I was most worried during the times when she was traveling alone. I should have asked her to take pictures of the plants! Thanks to Andrew for doing so. Interesting gardening techniques.

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  14. It's neither the India of cinema or the mind-boggling botanical wonder of the Indian jungles and forests. There is beauty, but so much glaring hardship, as well. It really makes one consider how much they take for granted.

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  15. Alan spent more than six months in Bangalore. He can tell you some stories.

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