India

Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar: "Gandhiji and the Princess"

Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar

State of Gujarat

India

March 8, 2007

 

Dear Family and Friends,

I am going to Gujarat. Gujarat? 

A few people asked me, "Where is Gujarat?"  I didn't know either until I looked at a map.

South of landlocked Rajasthan, Gujarat is on the west coast of India. It's a large state with mountains, desert, marshland and a 1600km (1000mi) coastline. The population is almost 51 million.

Lothal: "Dear Oscar, the Harappan!"

Lothal

State of Gujarat

India

 

March 9, 2007

Dr. Oscar White Muscarella

(Cc: Family and Friends)
Ancient Near East Department
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, New York

Dear Dr. Muscarella,

Oscar, my friend. One of us slipped up!

Was it you? Did you cut the Indus Valley Civilization from the curriculum of your Ancient History course at The City College?

Ranakpur, Dilwara, Palitana and the Dohli: "The Jains"

Palitana

Bhavnagar

Gujarat, India

March 10, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Kem cho,

The green and yellow aluminum beach chair is lashed to a bamboo platform. The platform is then lashed to two long bamboo poles. Here in Palitana this litter, this contraption, is called a dholi.

I sit. Charged camera is at my side, binoculars strung from my neck, cap atop my head, my day-bag loaded with water and sunscreen. I give the signal. In the late morning sun, one on each end of a pole, the four young dholi bearers deftly hoist yours truly aloft for the two hour, four kilometer (2.5 mi) scenic ascent of 3572 steps. Three thousand. Five hundred. Seventy two. Steps. Six hundred meters. Up.

Mumbai: "The Gateway of India"

Mumbai,

India
March 11, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary who visited their colony in 1911.

The Gateway stands tall in Mumbai (Bombay) on the shore of the Arabian Sea. This "bold basalt arch of colonial triumph" greeted the many thousands of soldiers who arrived during the later years of the British Raj.* It also was the last structure they saw when they departed in 1948 after Indian Independence was proclaimed.

Five Weeks of Superlatives

Bangkok, 

Thailand
March 15, 2007

Beginning in early February and continuing for almost five weeks, I traveled more than 3000 miles in central and western India. Over the road and in the air, there surely were a few challenging moments. But most days were exciting. And every day was special.

Seven events were outstanding. They were among "The Best."

Here are my four "best" meals, my two "best" beverages and my one "best" compliment.

1. The Best "Humble-Caring" Meal

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