Lighting visit to the famous camel fair and holy city of Rajastan
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
My India, or the Convent of the Sacred Heart
This is the title of my planned narrative.
Nothing too complicated,
with the halo and suggestion of the hypergeographical and hagiographical references intact.
India is the heart, Gregory David Roberts
My artist friend from Savannah,
Stephanie Usery,
has shown me the actuality of the religious images of Catholic piety,
particulary the images of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
She was interest in the portrait of an Indian man, as the image of the Sacred Heart.
That image I saw all over Southern India, in Goa and Kerala.
It is the image of god as son and mother.
For me it is an essential image that Chirstianity has contributed to Indian civilisation.
In the oceanic proliferation of Hindu imagery many of the dreams of humanity are revealed.
But there is something so characteristic about the values and culture of the heart among the Indians and the currency of this Christian religious image in Indian Society that gives focus to the cords that bind the heart of India, making it indeed,
a Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Question. What did Gandi teach India about the heart?
Nothing too complicated,
with the halo and suggestion of the hypergeographical and hagiographical references intact.
India is the heart, Gregory David Roberts
My artist friend from Savannah,
Stephanie Usery,
has shown me the actuality of the religious images of Catholic piety,
particulary the images of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
She was interest in the portrait of an Indian man, as the image of the Sacred Heart.
That image I saw all over Southern India, in Goa and Kerala.
It is the image of god as son and mother.
For me it is an essential image that Chirstianity has contributed to Indian civilisation.
In the oceanic proliferation of Hindu imagery many of the dreams of humanity are revealed.
But there is something so characteristic about the values and culture of the heart among the Indians and the currency of this Christian religious image in Indian Society that gives focus to the cords that bind the heart of India, making it indeed,
a Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Question. What did Gandi teach India about the heart?
Savannah, Low Country
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Still rotating.
Got here Saturday after arriving from Delhi Thanksgiving Day.
Family gathering at Mary's and crash Friday.
Done here for dental work.
Went to the Breakfast Club at Tybee with Jooan.
Here the phto she used for evite for my 60th.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
New York, The Big Apple
Totally grooving on being back in town.
Got in Thursday at noon and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at mary's with family.
Crashing now, ma non troppo, because I've got to leave in two hours for a flight to Savannah.
Got in Thursday at noon and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at mary's with family.
Crashing now, ma non troppo, because I've got to leave in two hours for a flight to Savannah.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Exit Visa issued in Delhi
It was granted this morning.
So my departure on Thursday is all set.
Tomorrow I'm doing a day trip to the camel fair at Pushkar in Rajastan.
The wi fi connection at Barista cafe is already shot so I'm without my pictures to upload.
The weather has gotten cool in Delhi and I'm loving it. There is a sort of a fog.
I visited Brett from GAP Adventures after the police, He was on the beginning of the tour in Kerala and works in Delhi, Brett Lemish.
He sent me to Lodi Gardens where there is the blessiing of green and three mausolea of the Delhi Sultans.
Downtown I went to my travel agent and paid him for changing a flight.
He was determined to seduce me into more spending and his freind was also very enticing,
but a brief reality check of my Kashmiris lead me away froim the sweetened pot.
So now to relax and savour some of my adventures.
Written on the spot after dinner and added to the previous bit, my first cut and paste in a blog, as folloows:
Just hanging out at the Y tonight before tomoorrow's day tripper to Pushkar.
Will read a chapter from Shantamar, my epic I'm coddling for the p[lane ride home.
But tomorrow I'll be twlvw hoiurs in transit.
Got THE SECRET, big deal book here.
Read a chapter from Bartoli's Asia on the conversion of a princess in Goa. Well done and colorful. Maybe an assay at doing the ten pages in English.
So my departure on Thursday is all set.
Tomorrow I'm doing a day trip to the camel fair at Pushkar in Rajastan.
The wi fi connection at Barista cafe is already shot so I'm without my pictures to upload.
The weather has gotten cool in Delhi and I'm loving it. There is a sort of a fog.
I visited Brett from GAP Adventures after the police, He was on the beginning of the tour in Kerala and works in Delhi, Brett Lemish.
He sent me to Lodi Gardens where there is the blessiing of green and three mausolea of the Delhi Sultans.
Downtown I went to my travel agent and paid him for changing a flight.
He was determined to seduce me into more spending and his freind was also very enticing,
but a brief reality check of my Kashmiris lead me away froim the sweetened pot.
So now to relax and savour some of my adventures.
Written on the spot after dinner and added to the previous bit, my first cut and paste in a blog, as folloows:
Just hanging out at the Y tonight before tomoorrow's day tripper to Pushkar.
Will read a chapter from Shantamar, my epic I'm coddling for the p[lane ride home.
But tomorrow I'll be twlvw hoiurs in transit.
Got THE SECRET, big deal book here.
Read a chapter from Bartoli's Asia on the conversion of a princess in Goa. Well done and colorful. Maybe an assay at doing the ten pages in English.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Beach galore
Imagine swimming in the Arabian Sea!
It's warm, This was 15 kms north of Alleppey, Before returning to Fort Kochi yesterday
houseboat and beach
Wonderful vegetarian food.
Great weather.
So much to love.
Some more pix until tomorrow
Fort Kochi
Just back from the two week tour,
Incredible,
After the strenous mountain climbing and biking some easy kayaking on the backwaters of Kerala.
Yesterday the group spent on a houseboat and had dinner and breakfast.
Today we stopped at the most glorious beach.
Tonight the groupp has a farewll dinner.
The staff, especially Binu, the local guide have been super.
It's wonderful to have lots of money [relative to the economy here] to spread around.
I'm in the middle of this epic 900 page novel about Bombay in the 80s called SHANTARAM
truly unbeleivable espadades and so appreciative of the poetry and heartbreak of India, the land of the heart.
Hope the last batch of photos i emailed got through.
I'll post them tomorrw on this site when i have tiome before leaving for the airport for Delhi.
God this trip has been a blessing.
more soon.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Glorious Kerala
My Trip has been wonderful!
There are six of us, Paul from ireland and two German couples and moi.
Since I last wrote we've been to Kochi and biked around to visit exotic places like the spice markets and the synagogue.
Then we bike to a bird santuary and stayed in tents by a gorgeous river.
We did a birder walk and then went kayaking.
Before that we visited an elephant krall and washed the elephants.
Then went climbed a mountain!!!
from 1900 meters to 2700 meters.
I nearly killed me and i was gasping for air, but with the help of Binu, the trusty local guide, I got through the tough stuff.
Tea plantations all around Munnar.
That's where I last wqrote from.
Since then we've been in two tent camps and swimming in Lake Periyar.
Now I'm in Kumily, near a Tiger Preserve.
This morning we went to the preserve and saw elephants in the wild. Pretty awesome.
I do have pix.
going on a boat tour this afternnoon.
I'll insert a few pix and try again later.
There are six of us, Paul from ireland and two German couples and moi.
Since I last wrote we've been to Kochi and biked around to visit exotic places like the spice markets and the synagogue.
Then we bike to a bird santuary and stayed in tents by a gorgeous river.
We did a birder walk and then went kayaking.
Before that we visited an elephant krall and washed the elephants.
Then went climbed a mountain!!!
from 1900 meters to 2700 meters.
I nearly killed me and i was gasping for air, but with the help of Binu, the trusty local guide, I got through the tough stuff.
Tea plantations all around Munnar.
That's where I last wqrote from.
Since then we've been in two tent camps and swimming in Lake Periyar.
Now I'm in Kumily, near a Tiger Preserve.
This morning we went to the preserve and saw elephants in the wild. Pretty awesome.
I do have pix.
going on a boat tour this afternnoon.
I'll insert a few pix and try again later.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Kochi and Kerala
Got here last night. Small group on the bike tour, 5 Germans [including the tour leader], and Irishman and me.
We saw the Cochin Synagogue and some old Churches today. Then the Dutch Palace and the Spice market.
The people of Portugese descent here are called Anglo-Indians, go figure!
Tomorrow we leave Kochi and don't return until Nov. 16 on our way around Kerala, "God's own country".
Cheers
We saw the Cochin Synagogue and some old Churches today. Then the Dutch Palace and the Spice market.
The people of Portugese descent here are called Anglo-Indians, go figure!
Tomorrow we leave Kochi and don't return until Nov. 16 on our way around Kerala, "God's own country".
Cheers
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Going for Goa
Having a blast.
But unable to send pix. maybe tomorrow.
Yesterday I scooted 100kms to Rachol, an amazing Jesuit seminary built in 1610.
Unbelievalbe grand in the middle of the country.
Met Catherine's friend Krisitna di Nola, Finnish, once married to Fabrizio in Rome.
She has taken me to two great restaurahnts for fish and cheese spinach. Wonderful food.
We go out again tonight in Calingute. This place is hopping.
I leave for Kochi tomorrow.
Never a dull moment and I think I'm still in physical shape to do the two week bicycle tour that starts in Kochi monday. That has been my prayer.
Tomorrow i should have Wi Fi at the airport for a few hours and can send the awesome pix I have been taking.
Viva Sony Cybershot
But unable to send pix. maybe tomorrow.
Yesterday I scooted 100kms to Rachol, an amazing Jesuit seminary built in 1610.
Unbelievalbe grand in the middle of the country.
Met Catherine's friend Krisitna di Nola, Finnish, once married to Fabrizio in Rome.
She has taken me to two great restaurahnts for fish and cheese spinach. Wonderful food.
We go out again tonight in Calingute. This place is hopping.
I leave for Kochi tomorrow.
Never a dull moment and I think I'm still in physical shape to do the two week bicycle tour that starts in Kochi monday. That has been my prayer.
Tomorrow i should have Wi Fi at the airport for a few hours and can send the awesome pix I have been taking.
Viva Sony Cybershot
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Going for Goa
The Hotel Bougasinvilla {Grandpa's Place] is great.
I've been in the pool three times today.
Rented a scooter and drove to Calingute and down the coast.
Tomoorrow I plan a larger trip to South Goa to visit Rachol Seminary and see if I can find the grave of Blessed Ridolfo Acquaviva who was at the court of Akbar before returning to martyrdom in Goa in 1579.
Hope the 50 sunblock works. My blisters around the nose seem to be in remission.
Had a great day tooling around. Kool in both sesnes.
Cheers- Gregory of Goa
I've been in the pool three times today.
Rented a scooter and drove to Calingute and down the coast.
Tomoorrow I plan a larger trip to South Goa to visit Rachol Seminary and see if I can find the grave of Blessed Ridolfo Acquaviva who was at the court of Akbar before returning to martyrdom in Goa in 1579.
Hope the 50 sunblock works. My blisters around the nose seem to be in remission.
Had a great day tooling around. Kool in both sesnes.
Cheers- Gregory of Goa
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