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This nest was about the width of the palm of my hand.  Granted I have big hands, but not abnormally so!  It must have fallen from it's original place, been found by a passerby and stuck on top of a water pipe.

 

Scandinavian Geography Lesson

I thought my knowledge of geography was pretty good...

My Favourite 'Cave Painting' at Solna Centrum Station

Anyone who paints an entire underground train station in dark green and red has got to have a sense of humour.

Sweden Travel Plan

At long last, my final day of work has been completed... for this round.  It’s been a long, tiring and sometimes frustrating three months, but I’m still good for coming back again.  And again.

I just need a break.

Some away-from-my-desk time. 

Sleep would be good.

Where am I going to go for my holiday?  It starts today and I haven’t really had a chance to think about it until… well… now.

The plan?  Explore a bit of Sweden.  Go to Central Station, pick a train… see where it takes me.

A Long Day at Work...

...and it ain't over yet.

Money for Nothing

So...  I'll just send it back as is and bill for half an hour, shall I?

Fabulously Fiery Flowers

Borough Market, London, England

Stockholm Summer Sky

Life may not always be beautiful, but it sure as hell has its moments.

A Trip to the Postal Packing Centre

When a package is to be sent from India to another country, the contents need to be sewn into white canvas by an approved Parcel Packer. Once the final seam has been completed, both send and return addresses need to be written on the cloth in thick, black marker.  

Tip:  Make sure the inner wrapping is plastic to keep the marker from seeping through to the contents!

Monkeys!

We walked up the hill to the Monkey Temple in Jaipur and yet I took no photos of the temple.  Just the monkeys for which is was named. I am fascinated with monkeys, especially when I can interact with them directly.

There was one tiny monkey who got tired of waiting for Tukesh to give him another peanut, so he leaped into the air, rebounded off of Tukesh's hip and made a grab for the bag as he arced away. I want to take that one home.

Click here to see the slideshow

These monkeys are more confident than any other group I've met.  Several of them tried to grab the bags of nuts from our hands.  Most of them would take a peanut from our hand and then pull our fingers out straight to check for more.  Even the littlest ones would fight the bigger ones over a peanut.

One of the larger males, who had been bullying the smaller ones, got annoyed with me for ignoring him. As I was walking toward a group of smaller monkeys, I felt the back of my long top being pulled backward. He'd grabbed it and was yanking me back to where he was. When I turned around he 'shouted' at me. I made a loud grunting noise and made an angry face, so he backed off. Ooh ooh ooh... I am the monkey queen!

Happy Holi 2010!

This year, we celebrated in Bikaner at the residence of the local Raj.  He didn't ride around on a camel whilst waving a sword and shrieking war cries, but he did put out a fairly decent spread.

Buzzing About in the Thar Desert

This tiny bee was no bigger than my thumbnail

Juxtaposition

Crumbling cenotaphs with towering wind turbines in the background.

Snake Tracks

I'd like to see a snake making its tracks in the sand... As long as it didn't know I was there.

Touts or Terrorists?

We went to see the sand dunes in a village not far from Jaisalmer. Along the highway, we didn't pass very many other vehicles going in either direction.

On arriving at the sand dunes, three men spotted us and came racing towards us from their roadside lean-to. One got to my window and started to lean in, but I knew what was coming, so my window was already on its way up. The other two ended up at Tukesh's window and they both leaned in and grabbed the door of the car.

All three were screaming offers of camel rides, safaris, tent camps. Tukesh made the mistake of trying to argue with them until I shouted "Just drive!".

This guy here wasn't going to let go of the window until it was nearly high enough to take his fingers off. We were already in motion and he'd been holding on, running alongside.

After we took off back where we came from, they all got on motorbikes and chased after us, shouting pleas through our (now re-opened) car windows. Ten kilometres later, the last one finally gave up.

I may have to go back there some day, so I can get it all on video.

Climbing Gear

Rocky hills, high wind and a sari.  Perfect.

Dancing for Joy

On the drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, we went a few hours out of our way to see an amazing temple in Osian. 

It was so un-amazing that I was ready to leave after taking just one photo. 

And then I heard the singing...

Napkins, Salt, Pepper, Sugar... Birds

We were sitting at a rooftop restaurant in Jaisalmer, when these little birds suddenly popped up over the edge of the wall and went straight for the sugar.

Muppet Murder

Somebody skinned a Muppet and put its pelt on this bed in Jaisalmer.

Shawl Shopping at Teen Darwaza Market, Ahmadabad

This shawl seller was honest and fair with us, remaining calm and good-humoured thorughout the bargaining process. He didn't shout, throw anything, grab my arm or tell me I didn't understand... not even once.

We gave him a lot of business over the next few days.

Poor Planning

This is what happens when you widen the roads without proper planning regarding electricity poles. There are now several of these hazards in North Goa, most of which have had reflective paper or white paint put on them by the locals (and a few of which have had shards of glass and bits of metal scattered around them by unaware drivers).

Mapusa Market Madness

Every Friday, whether it's the tourist high season or the midst of Monsoon, Mapusa Market is filled with spices, produce, household goods, fish, flowers, clothes, decorations, baubles...  and people.  Lots and lots of people.  Some of 'em driving through the narrow, crowded pathways on motorbikes.  Not cool.

Click here to see the slideshow

So She'll Never Play at Wimbledon

Me: How are your tennis lessons going? 

Sophie: Really good! 

Me: Are you leaning lots of new stuff? 

Sophie: Yep! 

Me: Are you getting any better at it? 

Sophie: Nope! 

Me: But you're still enjoying it. 

Sophie: OH YEAH!

Me: That's my girl!

One More Plus for Vegetarianism

A few feet away from my lunch table and in my direct line of sight

Yeah... We'll Fit

 This is India - anything is possible.

Priceless

On the road from Kochi to Chandamangalam.

Chinese Fishing Nets at Kochi Fort

Who's the God of Sanity? (I've got some unanswered prayers)

Me: I've just got a text message on my phone. Who is Krishna's brother? Vishnu?

Tukesh: Krishna, Vishnu... Same guy. 

Me: So... Who is Krishna's brother? 

Tukesh: Krishna, Vishnu, Ram... all the same. But different. 

Me: R-i-i-i-i-i-ght. So... Who is Krishna's brother? 

Tukesh: Krishna doesn't have a brother! 

Me: So... the answer is "This is a trick question because Krishna was an only child with multiple personalities?" 

Tukesh: No. Krishna doesn't have a brother. 

Me: Umm... Yeah... Okay... So... Krishna doesn't have a brother. 

Tukesh: Krishna has a brother - his name is Balaram.