Welcome to India! This is Matthew and he'll be your tour guide during this short duration. In India, t
he British presence dates back to the early part of the seventeenth century and most signs are written in English and Hindi. English is the language of the government. The statue is of the deity Shiva Nataraj's dance that represents both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth. His Dance of Bliss is for the welfare of the world.
This is one of the most popular Indian restaurants - Burhara. Below was a simple meal of paneer (fried cheese with spices), prawns ( four to six inches long), dal (beans) and butter nan (flat bread). Matt said it was fantastic!
The cardinal rule of dining is to always use the right hand when eating or receiving food and never the left. The left hand is considered unclean.(Normally the left hand is used for cleaning oneself.)
Entering an embassy taxi is more challenging than it seems. Every car has a deity (GOD) placed on the front dashboard. The cars are small and despite the lines for three lanes of traffic, they make six lanes themselves continuously honking horns and merging into oncoming traffic. Thus, why they pray to their deities so frequently.
A woman carrying goods wearing a traditional sari.
The small car is called a rickshaw. There are motorized and bicycle rickshaws, which are quite useful when traveling short distances. Many areas have local grocers who get their carts and sell their goods through the neighborhoods daily.
These are some of the shanties. Because of the environment, the buildings fall into disrepair. These are homes and businesses of people who are fortunate. Many families live under a tarp and move as needed. Because of the recent floodings, many people are displaced and living on side of busy highways.
These are local schoolgirls wearing academy uniforms. Being able to attend school is a luxury for most children. Matt thinks the store in the background sells doors. He said there were nothing but used doors all around the building.
The Mughals brought with them a love for gardens, fountains and water. The Humayun's Tomb is the first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb was built by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD. Constructed with red sandstone and ornamented marks the beginning of a new tradition of ornate style. It shows a marked shift from the Persian tradition of using coloured tiles for ornamentation. The dome stands 140 feet from the base of the terrace and is topped with a copper pinnacle. In addition to the remains of Humayun, the complex also houses the grave of many other distinguished members of the Mughal dynasty.
This was just a taste of India, there will be more coming in May 2011.
Field Trip! The Santa Lucia Conservancy was donated in the 1830s, when California’s Mexican governor granted the Preserve’s original parcels of about 20,000 acres. This is the bottom tip of the Coastal Redwoods trees being preserved; the top coastal tip advancing to Oregon.
This was our tour guide showing us that Redwoods live to be 2,000 years old. Most of the Redwoods in our area are under 1,000 years old. 
These redwoods are several hundred years old. When looking from below, the top of the tree seems never ending.
Then there are the mother trees that would take about 20 people holding hands to be able to encircle.
The unusual branch pattern has become a Village for Owls. It was fascinating to walk below the trees and view the pellets of the un-digested 'stuff' such as fur and bones that squish together to form a ball-like figure, otherwise called a cast.
