Time to wash the Elephant

 Time to Wash the Elephant

 Southern Nepal

 1991

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Elephants need care to remain healthy.

It is also very expensive to replace a good elephant.

Elephant and Two Riders

India

Elephant and Two Riders

c. 1990s

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Elephants walking down major roads in large cities were not uncommon. For those used to Western domestic animals, an elephant sighting like this was always a joy.

Cincinncati Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo

Photographer takes picture of photographer taking picture of Peacock.

c2002

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Taj Mahal Agra,, India 1990s

Taj Mahal 

Agra, India

c 1990s 

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Below quote from;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

On many trips to India I try to find some time to visit what is described as........ "The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".^[6]

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.<sup>"
quote is from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

Adding the "unusual" to the typical Taj photo is of interest to me.</sup>

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal 1991

Boudhanath Stupa

Kathmandu, Nepal 

1991

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If I remember correctly this was on Buddha's Birthday; a day of great celebration.

One walks clockwise around the stupa reciting prayers, keeping track of the number of recitations with the prayer beads. The cylinders shown at about head level are spun by hand as people walk by...spinning them automates other prayers.

Camera; Nikon F2

Lens; Nikkor 24mm, f2

Buddha Thailland 1991

Buddha

Thailand

1991

Two White Swans

Two White Swans

c 1980s

Likely in Spring Grove Cemetery

Cincinnati, Ohio

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 Camera; Nikon F2

 Lens; 200mm Nikkor f 2.8

Jaipur, India

c 1990s

Lets revisit a previous and different shot of this scene
 https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7493770329091643941#editor/target=post;postID=6884003442627434606;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=29;src=postname

In this first version the elephant is caught feeding himself, trunk to mouth...which caught my attention while reviewing my photos.

In second version (on this page) the elephant's trunk is down...but the expressions on the children are a joy to see.

The older girl is pleased to be having her photo taken, a common occurrence in India when a camera is produced.

She is protecting her little ?sister? with her left arm so she does not get too close to the photographer (me) while two boys peek around with curiosity.

This one lower right quadrant of the photo would make a great photo in itself.
The elephant and all else in the photo showing the "environment" of the scene makes the full frame interesting...and timeless.

Denmark 1983

Denmark 1983

Boat in Canal

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Danish Urinals

Danish Sailing Boat in Canal

Elana Polin - Glassman

London England

Airport

c 1983

BOMB Warning at Airport.

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Contact phone 513 608 9476

 My dear wonderful "friend" exhibiting her natural "stage craft" at the airport. Since 1983 things have not become better at airports.

Mt Storm, Cincinnati

Mt Storm, Cincinnati

c late 70s to early 80s

Trees in Fog

Camera; Leica M4. Lens;35mm Summicron
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Koh Samui, Thailand

Beached Boat

Koh Samui, Thailand

c 1991

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Camera; Nikon F2 with 24mm f2.8 Nikkor lens

At the time we visited Koh Samui the island was fairly pristine. Such islands off mainland Thailand seem not to have any planning committee for the future. At the time, we learned that islands start pristine, become full in an unpleasant, unplanned manner and then another pristine island is designated as the "in" place to visit...and so it goes.

Food gathering off Koh Samui

Leica M6, 35mm f2 Summicron lens

My Office in Bali

My Office in Bali

Bali, Indonesia

2008

This is a personal reminder to myself of how I used to work before the economic crash (etc,... especially etc)

WiFi for my computer. Wholesale sources nearby and further.

Swimming pool surrounded with exotic flowers.

Large TV inside but who would want to be inside? Even the private shower was outdoors a few steps away, near a gigantic partially outdoor bathtub.

Balinese food is so very excellent...and inexpensive.

Or one can choose western side-dishes such as these;

Anyway, if one has to work...this was a great way to make money until the economy went south.

Obviously business travel fueled my passion for photography, or maybe it was the other way around :)

Soccer on Bali Beach

Soccer on Bali Beach

July 2008

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I love watching Balinese living, having fun, being joyous.

Soccer ball appears to be a UFO on far right horizon :)

The Red Vespa

The Red Vespa

Bali, Indonesia

2008

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B

Beautiful Italian Design in beautiful Bali, Indonesia

LOTUS FLOWERS

LOTUS FLOWERS

Bali, Indonesia July 2008

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Jaipur Assistant Chief of Police Home

Jaipur 

Home of the Assistant Chief of Police in Jaipur, India

c 2000

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There is one hotel I stay in when I am in Jaipur.
It is quiet, has expanses of grass lawn. Polo ponies quartered in the rear. Inexpensive, even has an antique wall clock (Elgin ?)  made in the USA, (Cincinnati Ohio).
The taxi driver who would wait for customers at this hotel, an old relic of the British Empire, was the son of the Assistant Chief of Police in Jaipur. He made money through his taxi and by helping hotel guests who were on business looking for merchandise. After some visits to India he invited me to eat dinner at his father's, the family home.

One girl is applying Henna to the hand of the other. Doing business overseas can be an enriching experience. One can experience a country unlike a tourist.
Another example of such;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niazb91MLyE

Dusk in the Himalayans

Dusk in the Himalaya

1991

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Leica M4     35mm Summicron Lens

Tulips Vibrating c. 1984

Tulips Vibrating

c. 1984

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Copenhagen, Denmark Door and Car Front

Copenhagen, Denmark

1983

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Beggars in India

Beggars in India

c  1990s

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A Boy.... in Time 2006-2007 (scanned in 2014)

 

v

Boy with Caterpillar 07 29 2007

Boy in Playground 09 21 2007

Boy with Snake 08 21 2007

Boy with Glider 11 25 2006
_________________________________________________________________________

A drawing this boy made at age 6.
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Childhood is one adventure after another.

Copenhagen 1983

Copenhagen 1983

At a Canal

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Camera; Leica M3, 50mm Summicron Lens

Shown is the rigging for a sailing ship. Access to the sea by this canal.

India Holi Festival

India

Holi Festival

c 2000

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http://www.holifestival.org/
From above link
" The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early March. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renew sweet relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi'."

This is a private PARTY on an estate outside of Delhi.
If someone in India asks you to go to their "farmhouse" as happened to us in Jaipur...don't refuse as we did in Jaipur.

In Delhi at least I knew the businessman well and if he wasnted me to see his farmhouse I was happy to go. He had two.
A "Farmhouse" in India is NOT like Americans think of them.
My business acquaintance owned two palatial estates that blew me away with the WEALTH and DESIGN of the estates.

The "Farmhouse" visits were on the festival of Holi, see link.
It gets crazy on that day.
The police, if they can, stay hidden in their police stations, it gets that crazy in large cities.

There was a group of musicians, catered food, everyone splashes everyone with colored water...well, I used my hobby of photography for begging off from being splashed; as the "party" needed to be recorded on film which water ruins.

Camel Jaipur India

Camel   

Jaipur India

c. 1996

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Bermuda 1986

Bermuda 1986

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A quick "snap' from a moving car.

Nepal various photos

Nepal

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Bird, Rainbow over Kathmandu

Taken with Leica M4 35mm f2 Summicron Lens

No photo manipulation.

Full frame photo as seen by eye at the time.

Northern Nepal

Goat Herd on the Move

Southern Nepal on a HOT day

Buddhist with Mala Kathmandu Nepal 1991

 Buddhist with Mala

Kathmandu Nepal 1991

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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_prayer_beads

"A Japa mala or mala (Sanskrit:माला; mālā, meaning garland^[1]) (Tib. threngwa^[2]) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads.
In Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally malas of 108 beads are used. Some practitioners use malas of 21 or 28 beads for doing prostrations. Doing one 108-bead mala counts as the 108 worldly sins in Buddhist doctrine.
Malas are mainly used to count mantras. These mantras can be recited for different purposes linked to working with mind. The material used to make the beads can vary according to the purpose of the mantras used. Some beads can be used for all purposes and all kinds of mantras. These beads can be made from the wood of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), or from 'Bodhi seeds', which come from the Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) and not the Bodhi tree. Another general-purpose mala is made from rattan seeds (Calamus Arecaceae), the beads themselves called 'Moon and Stars' by Tibetans, and variously called 'lotus root', 'lotus seed' and 'linden nut' by various retailers. The bead itself is very hard and dense, ivory coloured (which gradually turns a deep golden brown with long use), and has small holes (moons) and tiny black dots (stars) covering its surface."

In 1991 I bought a number of these in Nepalese antique shops. Each unique made to the taste of the Buddhist. To me they seem to exude a spirituality and I am not a believer in "stone properties" etc.

Delhi, India "Cow Drecting Traffic" 1991

Delhi, India "Cow Directing Traffic" 1991

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Cows are sacred in India.
They are left alone.
This section is in New Delhi .... BTW Delhi is a HUGE city.
There is a large amount of retail and restaurants in this particular old shopping district in New Delhi.
As I think back...cows like this provided what was not readily available a few hundred meters from this spot....where tourists were very thick. Where people shined shoes, cut hair and picked "stones" from the inner ears of the people....the latter likely being dirty wax build up in the ears. The shoe shiners made out splendidly. The tourist walking in the section having no cows at all would be approached by a shiner of shoes who very pointedly pointed out to said tourist that s/he "have cow sheet on (his/her) shoes."...and boldly begins to clean and then shine the shoes of the unsuspecting tourist who had no idea from where such fecal matter had attached itself to them. No one wants cow fecal matter on them so the tourist gladly gets fleeced by the man/boy who had placed the matter swiftly and discreetly on the shoes.

Full frame photo taken with Nikon F2 likely having the 24mm 2.8 Nikkor lens.

Cat on store counter India

Cat on store counter
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Ganeshpuri, India

Early 1990s

This store in the village is close to the Ashram featured in "Eat Pray Love"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0879870/
This Ashram also has another large beautiful branch in NY State, in the Catskills. 
The atmosphere in either is pretty much identical. Like in the movie.

http://lens-image.blogspot.com/2014/10/ganeshpuri-india-1993-gurumayi.html

Thailand on the Road, previously titled India on the road....go figure.

Thailand
on the road

c.1991

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They aren't kidding when they flash death warnings.
Finally received a translation.
It is Thai for
 toxic chemical
 flammable and dangerous chemical
The beauty of this "sign" is one does not have to be literate to understand the danger.

We did spend a month in Thailand on a four month round the world adventure. And then I revisited for inventory to supply my retail store.

The filmed images are stored in properly labeled film holders that I have been slowly scanning. When I find the folder there will be more info, which I did not always record on the digital scans of the images. Never a "diary" person...I was/am a photo "diarist"...if such a word exists....since before age 13.

Just found a photo of such, in my "scanned film" collection, a Thai taxi as partially seen in top photo, but from afar. Below.

 From the top photo I was initially confused as to the country of origin of the taxi for being inside that taxi.
This photo allows me to know it was not Indian as used to be seen in Delhi contributing heavily to the smog. One reason they were eventually outlawed. I had the thought of importing one of the Delhi taxis because of the USA Harley Davidson power plant, tank, manual HAND shift of the antique design. Eventually I may find a photo of that interesting design.