tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149853982024-03-05T21:35:37.427-08:00Dina's TravelsDinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-49395343587062860122020-03-25T19:17:00.000-07:002020-05-23T18:26:25.383-07:00On to Central Vietnam: Hoi An, Da Nang, and a taste of Hue<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saturday, after a 1.5 hour flight from Saigon to the <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Nang" target="_blank">Da Nang</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Nang" target="_blank"> </a> </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">airport in central Vietnam, we drove south about thirty minutes to the city of </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%99i_An" target="_blank">Hoi An</a></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. We drove by the coast of the South China Sea and learned how Da Nang has flourished, since the time of the Vietnam civil war, where this city was the center of U.S. military operations. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South China Sea coast</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The city has done so well because of the visionary city mayor with support from the national government. It has become a lovely resort area, and residents have benefited with more schools, more clinics, better roads, and more jobs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Hoi" means "meeting" and "An" means "peaceful." It refers to three rivers which meet here. 35,000 people reside in this city, and we stayed in a hotel very close to the historic district. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chinese and Japanese came to Hoi An in the early 17th century. Spanish, French and Dutch traders followed later in the 17th and 18th centuries. The town had a busy port. When the French attacked in 1858, they built a bigger port in Da Nang, and Hoi An was forgotten. With the open door policy started in Vietnam in 1992, back packers came and soon guest houses popped up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On arrival at the <b><a href="http://www.silkluxuryhotels.com/" target="_blank">Silk Luxury Hotel</a></b>, we were gifted with Bahn Mi sandwiches by our guide, Khanh on the left. As usually, a vegetarian option was available. We then dropped off laundry across the street and paid by the kilo.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a view from our hotel window:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When this area opened to foreigners in 1992, backpackers began to come so soon people began to rent out rooms and make small hostels.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At 3:30, our group walked from our hotel for less than ten minutes to the old city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before crossing the bridge, we passed this red ship, similar to those used for trade in the 1600s by the Japanese.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below was the entrance to the covered bridge. The bridge was built in the 17th century by the Japanese. The fee to cross it to the old area is $7. It helps maintain the old wooden houses in the town, Most of which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we walked down the road, we saw many colorful shops. The paper lanterns are a specialty of this region. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More beautiful cards sold on the street by a vendor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After walking down the road, Khanh led us into an ancient Chinese house. These two vendors were in front of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below a railing inside the house, up about eight feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There has been heavy flooding in this town every decade or so. I'm five feet tall (152 cm). I'm standing next to the post showing the height of flooding in certain years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBE2NVr44g5l6P_IOyjXFZvGkefvSw94A-mIyjoirTfonYXdcCPZUXJoiNHhkm5OdyPv7k4Q_QNVS_5blutCLD6nlr1Tg-Pj3eRCPWgk0sWxIvbR8bWWkXLGk6AiNxcPHVerX/s1600/IMG_5942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBE2NVr44g5l6P_IOyjXFZvGkefvSw94A-mIyjoirTfonYXdcCPZUXJoiNHhkm5OdyPv7k4Q_QNVS_5blutCLD6nlr1Tg-Pj3eRCPWgk0sWxIvbR8bWWkXLGk6AiNxcPHVerX/s640/IMG_5942.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a post card picture of boats used when the town has flooded: When streets flood, items on the first floor are moved up to the second floor for safekeeping. Last year, there was a flood that was four feet deep. It took the army three days to clean up and repaint that part of town. A friend of mine had been on an OAT trip to this area a few years ago and was stuck in their hotel in Da Nang because of the heavy flooding and could not get to Hoi An!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a new hydro electric plant in the area, so they hope it can manage and prevent floods in the town in the future. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT40i64wJfBjPbC0ibaxXLErn4wUVMl6ePio3AU9PAVoYZQJLrPGdpAwQa3BV1f-lJqpzISNXSQVS1Evtlws8JA0LlJAz89c_CIF6xpjBaGtPomPVLHkUZF03wfOwJG1g88cw/s1600/IMG_5953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1425" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT40i64wJfBjPbC0ibaxXLErn4wUVMl6ePio3AU9PAVoYZQJLrPGdpAwQa3BV1f-lJqpzISNXSQVS1Evtlws8JA0LlJAz89c_CIF6xpjBaGtPomPVLHkUZF03wfOwJG1g88cw/s640/IMG_5953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Near the back of the house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Afterwards, we visited a Vietnamese-Chinese Buddhist temple. We learned of four sacred animals: A Unicorn for strength/power is in front of the temple. Dragons represent the king. Turtles represent longevity, and the phoenix is a symbol of nobility.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tPvAfHVmeLjA0UOzyT_EWfBTJe4mlBAbljUS8nEoEgh6oxTqBN8etWasW6lZe9OLJzKTsnnp96JvnPZlGLKEzSPefZYdWur8bzf89A7jDKvmjX4c_NuH_kXT7Rwu2fUcZ9WH/s1600/IMG_5945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1204" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tPvAfHVmeLjA0UOzyT_EWfBTJe4mlBAbljUS8nEoEgh6oxTqBN8etWasW6lZe9OLJzKTsnnp96JvnPZlGLKEzSPefZYdWur8bzf89A7jDKvmjX4c_NuH_kXT7Rwu2fUcZ9WH/s640/IMG_5945.jpg" width="506" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below: a huge mural past the entrance to the temple depicting the hardships the Chinese endured to cross the sea to get to Hoi An.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YGM5Jrn15xaXPMbeYVTyQ3qfU10dbdmWEwqhODIOc7F4FfHfpMqUqo7_GgTA7Kt_wGMmeE0my-dTNu7Uq7YHHtyds09-chA-gAcRfHqC5r_KzkcvXwc3I44tQQKMWCWR9zqC/s1600/IMG_5946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YGM5Jrn15xaXPMbeYVTyQ3qfU10dbdmWEwqhODIOc7F4FfHfpMqUqo7_GgTA7Kt_wGMmeE0my-dTNu7Uq7YHHtyds09-chA-gAcRfHqC5r_KzkcvXwc3I44tQQKMWCWR9zqC/s640/IMG_5946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These large conical incense candles are for sale for $25 in the temple and burn two weeks.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAtE9usddZfZWmYhyC3B1h1ChxdVEi-usJ5lQROGgwKwbyn5fjnCL2q4EvomxQePsjcx7VxDp1BQjA0jpwvi-JZg0Le18lAMWsB997xA3SLDdOb_-NaBIJvSBua2QJUxRVGjz/s1600/DSC04914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1589" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAtE9usddZfZWmYhyC3B1h1ChxdVEi-usJ5lQROGgwKwbyn5fjnCL2q4EvomxQePsjcx7VxDp1BQjA0jpwvi-JZg0Le18lAMWsB997xA3SLDdOb_-NaBIJvSBua2QJUxRVGjz/s640/DSC04914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Incense burners hanging from the painted ceiling</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later we shopped and then walked along the water two blocks from the main street of the town and had dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw other visitors being pushed in chairs. We much preferred to walk after traveling by plane and bus half of the day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4zu4Y2nqpQbB9YVPLDDTiob5YWG02uWh9JQyuEoD42KKJv2Av_higSelfAREGpBVtBOxfaSKokhpUpBivu59CDvHgtPEBteP_b4TSxg1xna2ZUWKfLBJRHEayd42sNshfBMH/s1600/IMG_5955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1331" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4zu4Y2nqpQbB9YVPLDDTiob5YWG02uWh9JQyuEoD42KKJv2Av_higSelfAREGpBVtBOxfaSKokhpUpBivu59CDvHgtPEBteP_b4TSxg1xna2ZUWKfLBJRHEayd42sNshfBMH/s640/IMG_5955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHDgtIWphHV3FJlvtjaBbb99clN_vWLfYp4NBRxWXpVizmSDJmiN9e0gcekXRQD7rNgIg8jL4He9Tl7OF3YeODk0jy814eKedkkDw4ovBfExO0_Dvj_0zjq7vZvbO-TtOKAo/s1600/By+water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHDgtIWphHV3FJlvtjaBbb99clN_vWLfYp4NBRxWXpVizmSDJmiN9e0gcekXRQD7rNgIg8jL4He9Tl7OF3YeODk0jy814eKedkkDw4ovBfExO0_Dvj_0zjq7vZvbO-TtOKAo/s640/By+water.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These boats would later go out at night with their lanterns lit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This old town was peaceful and relaxing. We could have easily stayed another day and there were other places to go nearby that we had no time to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And in town:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then chose to pamper ourselves by getting a foot massage across from our hotel! Others from our group got the same and a body massage too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ2_Tlj9ioYLCI0kYkxRKRhzPlCqdkDM_qMYEyDN-0_pKgbJBJOxxxFa_51heKXpBmQC5k8i_d8sFmPe9jVTxNUd_uE-2hnf87267jyc_hf_X9961-zmihpMH8hqG2uocoxUH/s1600/IMG_5961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1437" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ2_Tlj9ioYLCI0kYkxRKRhzPlCqdkDM_qMYEyDN-0_pKgbJBJOxxxFa_51heKXpBmQC5k8i_d8sFmPe9jVTxNUd_uE-2hnf87267jyc_hf_X9961-zmihpMH8hqG2uocoxUH/s640/IMG_5961.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, a close up of our fishy slippers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, our group chose to skip the optional tour on a boat trip and to an organic vegetable village. Julie and I opted to walk in town and window shop a bit more.and also see where produce is sold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we took a cab to visit the <b><a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/central-vietnam/danang/activities/magnificent-linh-ung-pagoda-marble-mountain-hoi-an-tour-from-da-nang/a/pa-act/v-109316P39/357869" target="_blank">marble mountain Linh Ung pagoda</a>. </b>We paid a small amount to take a tiny elevator half way up. The view was lovely! We were among the few Caucasians there--a nice change.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt_mVYTDo1_gWeviOzE3mr5A7OcwFywmaonOLACa6jfP3DE1-S2tWWXCSgxHFyNGW77Y7Dnwe1o-waZzN_TZTC7vJAwxwArJGkoigbmvoUC-YVR2mrYHFGv1aupRvhiKI5jT0/s1600/DSC04923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt_mVYTDo1_gWeviOzE3mr5A7OcwFywmaonOLACa6jfP3DE1-S2tWWXCSgxHFyNGW77Y7Dnwe1o-waZzN_TZTC7vJAwxwArJGkoigbmvoUC-YVR2mrYHFGv1aupRvhiKI5jT0/s640/DSC04923.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An entrance to the pagoda below. The [pagoda was</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> built form 2004 to 2010. It's represents a work of Vietnamese Buddhism in the 21st century.and is considered"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a meeting place of heaven and earth’s sacred air and people’s heart." It ."is part of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Da Nang Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills" in that area</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdizgiY63vpP0f_m0NALByyZqTeOK_V8iuDAwq5SEVW9dSOhfFhkN2f8oGimhxEO7U__qr8merMbCh6UEaMGC_L5JYXZNCTtZTR1IAKVaHWY2QM99w9hU8db4VYBo9fstjp4uL/s1600/DSC04929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdizgiY63vpP0f_m0NALByyZqTeOK_V8iuDAwq5SEVW9dSOhfFhkN2f8oGimhxEO7U__qr8merMbCh6UEaMGC_L5JYXZNCTtZTR1IAKVaHWY2QM99w9hU8db4VYBo9fstjp4uL/s640/DSC04929.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The walls behind the temple were covered with beautiful carvings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And others were on the outside walls of the pagoda.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBTm7ljlOs4boi5atXaAYmUO_7D3T9s9A2RowuSnHKPPjXT-3RFvVQN8UA51GPLvNhT5tm3wIIJKuMHoqY69HJHtGe2rVq2F4WHlu6Oc1VhpXEJPm7ZC2oCrfUmwU5QRXBvgq/s1600/DSC04936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1074" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBTm7ljlOs4boi5atXaAYmUO_7D3T9s9A2RowuSnHKPPjXT-3RFvVQN8UA51GPLvNhT5tm3wIIJKuMHoqY69HJHtGe2rVq2F4WHlu6Oc1VhpXEJPm7ZC2oCrfUmwU5QRXBvgq/s640/DSC04936.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBylXyVusczzRbyUyvl_t6KWZfevkoBDneVcxZydEkNSJlYd064Jjvj4kMbR9bknLKj30GNGenxt_dStnZ0q5dGQnNgFdk0FlWTXsfsrsxf39TIo-EUv1BqdtW6Ci__O_nvGY2/s1600/DSC04935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1544" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBylXyVusczzRbyUyvl_t6KWZfevkoBDneVcxZydEkNSJlYd064Jjvj4kMbR9bknLKj30GNGenxt_dStnZ0q5dGQnNgFdk0FlWTXsfsrsxf39TIo-EUv1BqdtW6Ci__O_nvGY2/s640/DSC04935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked farther along and found the entrance to a cave. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg322R3Jl0VObpm0vGS0lFupzJRFJTZsHiRU9p6Ovo4MA85WhJxi2CmWsgLLIddVMIsROjW7m8NweLW6XqwvNnB8s1ZXTk93eJXubuHo5GPxbquGwr1VK-gl9_nRoMMe2qgYTgW/s1600/DSC04938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg322R3Jl0VObpm0vGS0lFupzJRFJTZsHiRU9p6Ovo4MA85WhJxi2CmWsgLLIddVMIsROjW7m8NweLW6XqwvNnB8s1ZXTk93eJXubuHo5GPxbquGwr1VK-gl9_nRoMMe2qgYTgW/s640/DSC04938.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY6kVzfV-v667DWtsf-bgtf1TOkefRc3zF-lg9uAworK9SZDm7CYIcG3R-qpoHg6VZ3oI-Yxiw8Ftca91oMhdIs2zewXwy4Meos0KM7TwMJ7i6ZxGPOoP6ICA7votVGh11tSA/s1600/DSC04937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1058" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuY6kVzfV-v667DWtsf-bgtf1TOkefRc3zF-lg9uAworK9SZDm7CYIcG3R-qpoHg6VZ3oI-Yxiw8Ftca91oMhdIs2zewXwy4Meos0KM7TwMJ7i6ZxGPOoP6ICA7votVGh11tSA/s640/DSC04937.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They definitely WERE slippery! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked up and in carefully, and saw this statue inside.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSt_BwnpHXOj_E50ZRvTfrU_mPffk15jscKK_OPRHLjTVjyXeIZ0MQ5Nwxsf5WHrLpXX0dh68ui01_a97IA8Vn_HUIAOcKxbmJDhRyGWZuWOh39-yD0vVtNX7VBhZzuzqgQEg/s1600/DSC04940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSt_BwnpHXOj_E50ZRvTfrU_mPffk15jscKK_OPRHLjTVjyXeIZ0MQ5Nwxsf5WHrLpXX0dh68ui01_a97IA8Vn_HUIAOcKxbmJDhRyGWZuWOh39-yD0vVtNX7VBhZzuzqgQEg/s640/DSC04940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKI7MzRFCbpJJMQOe-Wc1dH-wIBSRSwNa0dbjDBZvEHlmZgPIqCeZQfFHblzrMQ3COMMAfnQca2raegIUJaTpfrp4_JrkxzEdfcSKKHxM_3Z8L0Gv1MJ04Ub5GGXPhcPpBfeS/s1600/IMG_6021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKI7MzRFCbpJJMQOe-Wc1dH-wIBSRSwNa0dbjDBZvEHlmZgPIqCeZQfFHblzrMQ3COMMAfnQca2raegIUJaTpfrp4_JrkxzEdfcSKKHxM_3Z8L0Gv1MJ04Ub5GGXPhcPpBfeS/s640/IMG_6021.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As well as old tree roots:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw other stunning sculptures on our way down:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruYhXmhFBYT_OPogrcnmGwZ96Evo-aNiumW7aRPvK9195dz3q8mS4ckj-bwGImWye-Teqm05LImWfCNcxszG7eIc_6nYy8rDG6KZzbgtvP7IegGQsOIezjsg4nWFqR6Qhj95k/s1600/IMG_6031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruYhXmhFBYT_OPogrcnmGwZ96Evo-aNiumW7aRPvK9195dz3q8mS4ckj-bwGImWye-Teqm05LImWfCNcxszG7eIc_6nYy8rDG6KZzbgtvP7IegGQsOIezjsg4nWFqR6Qhj95k/s640/IMG_6031.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The Lady Buddha was guarded by these two stunning mosaic-covered animals.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is only part of this gigantic carving of demons and cherubs and humans..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other six in our group took a taxi to the <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Bridge_(Vietnam)" target="_blank">Golden Bridge</a></b> in Da Nang, a 150-meter long bridge (500 ') with two giant stone hands designed to look like they support the bridge. It opened to visitors, recently, in June, 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then they went up an extremely long and spacious cable car (built in 2013) to the top of the hill and <b><a href="https://banahills.sunworld.vn/" target="_blank">Sun World Ba Na Hills Resort</a></b>--which was somewhat like an adult Disney Epcot. .. It is 4800 feet above sea level and a lot cooler than Da Nang, at sea level below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sun World is quite a mix. It has a French village, a spiritual area with pagodas, a massive beer garden, and a Fantasy Park, among other things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After having another foot massage and picking up our laundry, we ate dinner together and felt refreshed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, Monday, November 25, we left our hotel at 7:30 and headed north to Da Nang..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Da Nang has a population of 1.5 million people. The area is very popular with Russians, with special hotels and restaurants catering to them. The visionary mayor has helped get support from the national government to make part of the coast in town for foreign tourists, and as a result the city has wider streets, more clinics, schools, and employment for the residents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The city sits in the middle of the S shape of Vietnam, so it was easy for the French to attack and capture in the 1800s and a strategic place for Americans to use as a base from 1964+.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There we stopped at a marble stone workshop. This was actually the display shop and not the workshop. The workshop had been moved out of this developing urban area because of noise and dust pollution.. The workers use big machines, masks, and protective helmets to cut the marble and make the statues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The place was huge and held a lot of beautiful marble sculptures with variety of colors in the marble.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three women modeling the dusty, hard work on marble</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The marble came from a mountain ridge on the border with Laos and Cambodia and northwest China. This ridgeb is over 3,000 meters (9800') above sea level. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful furniture but not too comfortable</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved the zebra status below.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMmpHA5wvgvcXVTXh0wSQyiDT1hTD3yL95C367xXfQ7TqaftHcqzmYKm82Gk_V1z0ZtKcjcbq7jZ_7vVi_3Xs4sXHeqlSJnTZOIW2s8if9hJ-V22PS-C_i6ezUduYOx9TQir9/s1600/IMG_6049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMmpHA5wvgvcXVTXh0wSQyiDT1hTD3yL95C367xXfQ7TqaftHcqzmYKm82Gk_V1z0ZtKcjcbq7jZ_7vVi_3Xs4sXHeqlSJnTZOIW2s8if9hJ-V22PS-C_i6ezUduYOx9TQir9/s640/IMG_6049.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pretty flowers adorned the yard among the statues.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQhakUz0BrCU_j15OLmy7Yk-N_L0YHY4MD6z68wl-v3nu343ydbHL7WYmebnIApp28AJI9vZKOpYtGVlONyzqi_dg3c64sfqmyj1VbVi1MRvfOak9N3-S2QMWD2Gpkke72zp/s1600/DSC04957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQhakUz0BrCU_j15OLmy7Yk-N_L0YHY4MD6z68wl-v3nu343ydbHL7WYmebnIApp28AJI9vZKOpYtGVlONyzqi_dg3c64sfqmyj1VbVi1MRvfOak9N3-S2QMWD2Gpkke72zp/s640/DSC04957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of these statues are bought by rich Chinese tourists, as well as others from Thailand and Russia. Vietnamese hotels also purchase them. ..</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkZSF5gbSMZ_xPPWtNaRf59775kx18UOPy4A2ZviYlGeef-2JP6fJA4yLeIWFxkUT0J_ZxhEGFOy1Ku5FQBHcBWEzc_3EAGbX_Dlrs7DfitK6FV0YMrRUUwio01RBa71icPfS/s1600/IMG_6059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkZSF5gbSMZ_xPPWtNaRf59775kx18UOPy4A2ZviYlGeef-2JP6fJA4yLeIWFxkUT0J_ZxhEGFOy1Ku5FQBHcBWEzc_3EAGbX_Dlrs7DfitK6FV0YMrRUUwio01RBa71icPfS/s640/IMG_6059.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the shawl is of marble!!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wCMOJmyicdrd5RL7NARNVDyMXloPau2ybGqzCQVEkTDAYSZqW72v0WAh39xt22B8RbpY0Ja1RUVZ6GVm_Be8Dl2-Ij0mNiyMFxREwbaPQQAwMI7j9S8HTHdHQWmMxEcyz5Y9/s1600/DSC04952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="1003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wCMOJmyicdrd5RL7NARNVDyMXloPau2ybGqzCQVEkTDAYSZqW72v0WAh39xt22B8RbpY0Ja1RUVZ6GVm_Be8Dl2-Ij0mNiyMFxREwbaPQQAwMI7j9S8HTHdHQWmMxEcyz5Y9/s640/DSC04952.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lily in the midst of all these spectacular statues</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cp3cZDSDLJ5jQdOjWCTRM3KSV7B4afuyf4hmFt_oeWO8NoQRWmz3CiWhr9_luxXgjaiQbhPcCPawxoOtSc6t5gMdF9_WQXl2q6v6NirDR0FWJ0LSzTaXDX6-Jr3o8JXVIDKD/s1600/DSC04957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cp3cZDSDLJ5jQdOjWCTRM3KSV7B4afuyf4hmFt_oeWO8NoQRWmz3CiWhr9_luxXgjaiQbhPcCPawxoOtSc6t5gMdF9_WQXl2q6v6NirDR0FWJ0LSzTaXDX6-Jr3o8JXVIDKD/s640/DSC04957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord Ganesh</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was on the beach along the China Sea in Da Nang. As we got off the bus, we saw a jack fruit vendor on his bike. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7dVKYqOq3H-femema9vW1X3MENDv8clsb2K_4fli37v6DyHBFCIH4qgE5u-hYyBowkOKB3poWfQo6xnQn1PycE9qXzj_wr1Jd6NPxTFHkFsEqY8MhEWSoEfewV0xZyEy-8Qf/s1600/IMG_6062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="999" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7dVKYqOq3H-femema9vW1X3MENDv8clsb2K_4fli37v6DyHBFCIH4qgE5u-hYyBowkOKB3poWfQo6xnQn1PycE9qXzj_wr1Jd6NPxTFHkFsEqY8MhEWSoEfewV0xZyEy-8Qf/s640/IMG_6062.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw the Lady Buddha on the hill in the far shore. This statue was erected 6 years ago to protect the people from storms. Just as we were about to leave, the rain began.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The white mark on the far shore is the Lady Buddha statue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is part of the <b><a href="http://www.vietnam-guide.com/da-nang/attractions/dragon-bridge.htm" target="_blank">Dragon Bridge</a></b> entering Da Nang, the longest bridge in Vietnam. Click on the words Dragon Bridge in the previous line to see how spectacular it is! On Saturday night, "flames" from the dragon mouth spout for ten minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A view as we drove out of Da Nang</span>:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots of sea food is exported from this region , but it is very expensive for locals, so Khanh only eatrs it about four times a year. Below you can see fishing nets raised earlier to empty the catch:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove North through a the almost 4-mile-long (6.3 km) </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BA%A3i_V%C3%A2n_Tunnel" target="_blank">Hai Van Tunnel</a></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to avoid driving the long way over a mountain pass to central Vietnam. It is the longest tunnel in SE Asia. It is 39 feet wide. Work began in 1998 and finished in 2005. It was a joint venture with a Japanese company and Vietnam.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tunnel reduces the distance between </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Nang" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" title="Da Nang">Da Nang</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%E1%BA%BF" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" title="Huế">Huế</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> by 20 km. (Speed limit is 30 mph). Motorbikes and larger trucks still have to go over the Hai Van mountain pass route .</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A new road and new tunnel is being built next to the first one to reduce congestion, so each separate tunnel will be one way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Approaching the long tunnel below--The road on the right is the new one under construction</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside the tunnel below with one lane in each direction and large shoulders:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">South of the tunnel, there are two seasons, hot and hotter. North of the tunnel on the other side of the mountains, there are four seasons, and the temperature was much more moderate.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped along a lake to eat lunch. Four of us had special reusable Lunch Skin bags with which we packed lunch each morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">By our rest stop, a bride and groom were taking pictures on a small raft by the shore.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A delicious nut etc. cracker that this young woman and her family make. I wish we had gotten more. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She was selling it from a basket on the steps.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A friend from our tour from Vancouver braving the waters to try out the swing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In mid-afternoon, we arrived in <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%E1%BA%BF" target="_blank">Hue</a>, </b>the capital of the Dang Trong Kingdom from 1738 to 1775 and of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802--1945. Hue was the home of the last royal family. It now has a population of almost a half million, and the city was built by the French. .The local people eat spicy food with chili and lemon grass according to Khanh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> From Wikipedia, "A major attract is its vast, 19th-century <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_City,_Hue" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;" title="Imperial City, Hue">citadel</a><span style="background-color: white;">, surrounded by a moat and thick stone walls. It encompasses the Imperial City, with palaces and shrines; the Forbidden Purple City, once the emperor's home; and a replica of the Royal Theater. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The city was also the battlegrou</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nd for the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hu%E1%BA%BF" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Battle of Huế">Battle of Huế</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked with Khanh through the Imperial City and the Forbidden purple city, great for our legs after sitting in the bus so long <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In Hue, Khanh explained that religion </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">enjoyed stronger support in Hue, with more monasteries than anywhere else in the country and also the home of the nation's most famous monks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Fortress for the king took 30 years to build and has ten gates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The new king in 1802 moved the capital to Hue from Hanoi as the latter was located too close to China. The French attacked in 1888. They wanted teak, elephants, gold, silver, bronze, and the rice fields. The last king escaped to France in the middle of the 20th century and died there in 1997 at age 84.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Noon Gate below was constructed in 1833 as the main gate to the Imperial City.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I watched a video about this huge city and the first picture below is a reconstruction of what it would have looked like after construction. Of the five gates, emperors could only enter the main central gate. Most others entered the two side gates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is what it looks like today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was impressed how well these historical sites are being preserved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cutest little girl also visiting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The emperor's royal areas, as reproduced in this movie:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The room where he would receive visitors and supplicants:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hue is not an exciting city, but our hotel rooms were unique:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you look carefully below, you will see that it isn't a dial phone like we grew up with a push button digital phone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of us went on the optional cycle (pedal rickshaw) tour through a street market</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusty air!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge mainly for motorcycles and us. We were next to the railing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and then we passed a multi-faceted gym before heading off to dinner! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went to a family run restaurant in the old quarter for an "Imperial style" multi-course meal. There was a beautiful garden and lily pad ponds outside the restaurant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We met our hostess and she told us a bit about the history of the home. We saw the prayer niche and also some lovely artwork in the entry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The shrine is in the niche to the right of the picture above. It is in its own room/alcove.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A beautiful, old vase with a credit card machine next to it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1UFOcTF9cwhBy7Ez_GBwbhuRtW6qmqvW1CI57Nc5ZTJ15Jln7yUYRmNhkH4vWVNWjje_Dfj00rKS1p5Rdz3fKAhyphenhyphen8BTWZtBPNPasso_eif1osC15B6pwPOOC_5RDVtG7KQbv/s1600/IMG_6194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1UFOcTF9cwhBy7Ez_GBwbhuRtW6qmqvW1CI57Nc5ZTJ15Jln7yUYRmNhkH4vWVNWjje_Dfj00rKS1p5Rdz3fKAhyphenhyphen8BTWZtBPNPasso_eif1osC15B6pwPOOC_5RDVtG7KQbv/s640/IMG_6194.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Picture similar to the ones we saw in the art workshop, possibly with egg shells in it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOimOKv-hdu82muR0FnTW_7zTeBZS0thHB6z5dACfm00BsJVtGSbQ-1UFh0tLHAJ4dQzmjnzv7MLExWZNLO2ygYRsKHNpHb-O6HzCoyr-h_m0ne7EQ0tHrjEpzORISOuldSn5E/s1600/IMG_6195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="567" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOimOKv-hdu82muR0FnTW_7zTeBZS0thHB6z5dACfm00BsJVtGSbQ-1UFh0tLHAJ4dQzmjnzv7MLExWZNLO2ygYRsKHNpHb-O6HzCoyr-h_m0ne7EQ0tHrjEpzORISOuldSn5E/s640/IMG_6195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Khanh explained the difference between the Vietnamese and Chinese calendars. He said that they were similar but cat is substituted for the rabbit in the Vietnamese calendar. Khanh showed us a lovely calendar with both Vietnamese and Western dates.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR1F8lvMDTITUFTam_MTGR9O0f_-S4VjOfWvIQ2maXeQ2K-GAaQBU3ItUIpEvfhWrH6BwFt0o9ZgCJl2IlNsWf7heemD-QIOExVFBnG6AamiXOocj3ytJlerjxVurS_4pXbEt/s1600/IMG_6196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="351" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR1F8lvMDTITUFTam_MTGR9O0f_-S4VjOfWvIQ2maXeQ2K-GAaQBU3ItUIpEvfhWrH6BwFt0o9ZgCJl2IlNsWf7heemD-QIOExVFBnG6AamiXOocj3ytJlerjxVurS_4pXbEt/s640/IMG_6196.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our seven-course meal menu with choices for vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten free, and no pork or beef or shellfish personalized options.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhtDmEClbb5a92VspyNa2VM8OqxtoO6w9taq7KAAknMPkHVNHUR8Dv702xMeLkbBYf587sDhTmSGSy53qRECP2a0Lgwrz9goj73tpa0_qqNO54zoQwgOysntTLMP7XPWL8kIo/s1600/IMG_6200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1035" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhtDmEClbb5a92VspyNa2VM8OqxtoO6w9taq7KAAknMPkHVNHUR8Dv702xMeLkbBYf587sDhTmSGSy53qRECP2a0Lgwrz9goj73tpa0_qqNO54zoQwgOysntTLMP7XPWL8kIo/s640/IMG_6200.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he presentation of the whole was fabulous!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This rooster was awesome! Spring rolls set in the pineapple base with carrot decorations almost too delicious to eat!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yummy sou with Vietnamese style crepe!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Non-vegetarian appetizer below:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tofu dish, I believe.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifeDYYOC4xQo_gyCLJYQkK1Dm13h6_LNtX1WXSuNU-CK301QtNLpufIIdpRhM3Ag5R9pWqu3BYgE1k5s3BSBdoVFIOq0lWTqg5FzJECmfpm1REPRBn6KbdjFkeFg5fBpXMoCc/s1600/DSC05049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifeDYYOC4xQo_gyCLJYQkK1Dm13h6_LNtX1WXSuNU-CK301QtNLpufIIdpRhM3Ag5R9pWqu3BYgE1k5s3BSBdoVFIOq0lWTqg5FzJECmfpm1REPRBn6KbdjFkeFg5fBpXMoCc/s640/DSC05049.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another dish almost too beautiful to eat!! Look at the feet and tail too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Time to stop for now as this blog is quite long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next (and also the last) blog will be a bit on Hue, and then on Hanoi, our last stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy these blogs. Please let me know what you think of them and if you too have traveled to these areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-65984868267956493142020-03-17T11:31:00.000-07:002020-03-18T14:54:12.978-07:00On to Vietnam! -- Our First Stop, Saigon<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We flew the night of November 20th to HCMC, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City" target="_blank">Ho Chi Minh City</a></b>, also still known by many as Saigon. It is a bustling city of about 8.5 million people with greater Saigon having over 13 million inhabitants. It is the financial center of Vietnam and our guide Khanh said that it is a fun, lively place to live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After going through very strict border control, we checked into our hotel. The next morning, our group slept in, and then seven of us walked to the Imperial Palace. (Others went on an optional tour of the <b><a href="https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/cu-chi-tunnels" target="_blank">Cu Chi tunnels</a></b>.) Along the way, we were astounded to see so many motorcycles. It was interesting to note that the motorcycles were ridden close to the curbs and the cars were to their left near the center of the street.. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JqWs8afaEs9rjzSsnxBtx82PKnQXPdIWG6rendzdSdU439usOvMq2NCKwik63FSHIBUjFgglyJIXdD0HCA9rZYps1xxZGSWc2Ylg-0UNwtjD9MbbwP5PI97A9j5lhyphenhyphenpWhFA0/s1600/IMG_5834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="640" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JqWs8afaEs9rjzSsnxBtx82PKnQXPdIWG6rendzdSdU439usOvMq2NCKwik63FSHIBUjFgglyJIXdD0HCA9rZYps1xxZGSWc2Ylg-0UNwtjD9MbbwP5PI97A9j5lhyphenhyphenpWhFA0/s640/IMG_5834.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ofra, Julie, Havazelet, Nava and Haia walking on the left.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We saw a motorcycle taxi with a helmet for the paying passenger. We also saw a few ridden on sidewalks and many parked there. Khanh told us when he parked his motorcycle on the sidewalk, the attendant kept the keys so he could move Khanh's motorcycle when needed, especially when Khanh was traveling for work.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many women rode motorcycles too, including the one below with a helmet over her sun hat. It was hazy, maybe a bit smoggy, so many wore masks, including me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Motorcycles are more efficient, and more people can be on the road in less space. Tuk tuks have not been used here for at least ten years, probably because of the safety issue.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street vendor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way a very friendly man gave us some advice on how to get to our destination and walked with us and then encouraged/gently pressuring us to get some coconut juice he was selling--but not all of us had Vietnamese dong (currency) yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had thought we were going to the museum below but after a bit of confusion, walked through the lovely 30-acre park to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Palace" target="_blank"><b>Presidential palace</b></a> below. (Yes, it was warm and humid!)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This site was first the home of the French Colonial Governors General, completed in 1871.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was renamed Independence Palace in 1954 when it became the residence of the first President (Diem) of the Sai Gon Republic following the 1954 Geneva Accords. It also is called Reunification Palace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a bomb attack in 1962, President Diem commissioned a new structure to be built on the site. It took four years to complete, including a 6-month suspension when the president was assassinated in 1963. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The palace has 95 rooms and is over 200,000 square feet in total area. It has modern touches but also ancient Vietnamese.architectural design.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The president who replaced him in 1967 lived in the palace until his abdication on April 21, 1975. Nine days later the liberation forces entered the building and the war officially ended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The building was declared a national site in 1976 and was opened to the public in 1990.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the heliport on the 2nd or third floor in the palace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to the furnished rooms used for many official purposes,many photos of historic moments hung on the walls. Below is one of a Vietnamese general receiving the future US president on April 15, 1967.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Thanks to Haia for some of these pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way back to our hotel, we passed a huge banyan tree. These pictures were panoramic views so you can only imagine how tall it actually was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The streets were clean and well-decorated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Entrepreneurs working on the street! Shoe repair I think.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window shopping</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After walking, Uma and I went to a small local food court next to our hotel and shared a special Vietnamese coffee. It was delicious. The base of the tables were made of old sewing machine stands and the old sewing machines were behind a case at the entrance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the week before Thanksgiving, and many stores advertised Black Friday sales. Outside one was a beautiful "Merry Christmas" art work of sorts too. Saigon is definitely a hopping, commercial city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped in a 7-11 (yep!), and perused the local snacks. I wish we had some of those choices here--all kinds of dried fruit, and veggies with seasonings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp6Ymf8405nI9STctQFCxY1gBoplAtDWVyz6E1xvi3SJzwo2KFnoR4Bvilzo6fipu1gG_9xHMCbzPKIAsbvwt9Z825jjjgSMlGBnz9n5Jzb43q_1irTz3-L99JqCfy6px_PfO/s1600/IMG_5867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1331" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp6Ymf8405nI9STctQFCxY1gBoplAtDWVyz6E1xvi3SJzwo2KFnoR4Bvilzo6fipu1gG_9xHMCbzPKIAsbvwt9Z825jjjgSMlGBnz9n5Jzb43q_1irTz3-L99JqCfy6px_PfO/s640/IMG_5867.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the afternoon, our group went on a city tour with our guide, Khanh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was the <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saigon_Central_Post_Office" target="_blank">Saigon central post office</a></b>, built from 1886 to 1891 during the French rule. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_Cathedral_Basilica_of_Saigon" target="_blank"><b>Cathedral of Notre Dame</b></a> was across the street, built by the French in 1877. The Chinese, French and Vietnamese each wanted the site for their own religion. They drew sticks and the shortest one won so the French built The cathedral , which was made of marble from Europe..</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cathedral</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the Post office:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL2CZvxOxaIhK0kZlFpQWC4HluTKwyo_mq2F6nO15sHR7QPao-S_drJ86YikO7t7m__mZ_7gWREwzn3tw5utWfVq89xj4mFo2YCO2puNkSXdPmEPfrcyDCrUidreBH1jE_3s3/s1600/DSC04875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1589" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL2CZvxOxaIhK0kZlFpQWC4HluTKwyo_mq2F6nO15sHR7QPao-S_drJ86YikO7t7m__mZ_7gWREwzn3tw5utWfVq89xj4mFo2YCO2puNkSXdPmEPfrcyDCrUidreBH1jE_3s3/s640/DSC04875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A beautiful ceiling with a picture of Ho Chi Minh on the far wall</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An old map of the region (Indochina) from 1936. There was also a map of Saigon on the opposite wall from !897.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We met an 89-year-old man who worked for the post office for many years. He continues as a volunteer, writing letters for family members overseas of locals residents. He never asks for money and is happy helping. Some people give him "gifts." After the Vietnamese civil war when schooling had been disrupted, many people could not read, or write in the new alphabet. Now 87% are literate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mail system works well but is a bit different from ours. When mail goes to villages, it goes to the town leader who then delivers it to the local citizens on motorbike. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was the Manh Phuong Lacquer Workshops. We saw amazing work with lacquer, mother of pearl, duck egg shells, and much more. I read just now on Trip Advisor that it is a tourist trap and to bargain at least 35% down. But that there is a free tour and it is definitely worth it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbDIFiRrVA0qAUXaewbxkak73OkSPDhBX1mNu37wJNbiyDDKS35iiua4Gem-72LnyKagdLZdkovuOmFx_czIqNA9njGOHduZjd96BRqwt5pwWPgaL9bXe_OhtuYginRk6OT0W/s1600/IMG_8252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="640" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbDIFiRrVA0qAUXaewbxkak73OkSPDhBX1mNu37wJNbiyDDKS35iiua4Gem-72LnyKagdLZdkovuOmFx_czIqNA9njGOHduZjd96BRqwt5pwWPgaL9bXe_OhtuYginRk6OT0W/s640/IMG_8252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These bowls were stunning. The picture does not do it justice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsPbn6cn_o7wDVL8xcP6QY5DO9ju_YVtVOK0N7VuLTx8bdi_t_EjD2BhVaVal_ruraODk1A_mBP288yPS4KNSLeMs2NcN1sL_pbJH5DRbjX6yuhyphenhyphenRZkJWEBENJ3ARNYJwh3xe/s1600/IMG_5887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsPbn6cn_o7wDVL8xcP6QY5DO9ju_YVtVOK0N7VuLTx8bdi_t_EjD2BhVaVal_ruraODk1A_mBP288yPS4KNSLeMs2NcN1sL_pbJH5DRbjX6yuhyphenhyphenRZkJWEBENJ3ARNYJwh3xe/s640/IMG_5887.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly awesome</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This took my breath away</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKlPACUv_-5s1Wv7kAx8_BSkjlSZf_2C0vIcRfb5cd0Qppmjdf74UT3KavmI1sJ0kdWIuxhPUXQKimbn5cy5sLlxTtRXBPVjsB5HJSe_c-j2lhlHfBstSs6lV1EqValXN-rRM/s1600/IMG_5893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKlPACUv_-5s1Wv7kAx8_BSkjlSZf_2C0vIcRfb5cd0Qppmjdf74UT3KavmI1sJ0kdWIuxhPUXQKimbn5cy5sLlxTtRXBPVjsB5HJSe_c-j2lhlHfBstSs6lV1EqValXN-rRM/s640/IMG_5893.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Furniture was super-expensive but gorgeous.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo3G1Jtmqx7qhfGSeZZCWv1ZNcIhF23vJOaZFKhLQy3IQGq2n00OotAzzH8JaxQ3ql8S-iefPQAtI1lfndO5RomSNX97wXj3BU1sZmBMAeIXs6Wkj0gC_VF44J-eLuTtBiYmZ/s1600/Haia+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo3G1Jtmqx7qhfGSeZZCWv1ZNcIhF23vJOaZFKhLQy3IQGq2n00OotAzzH8JaxQ3ql8S-iefPQAtI1lfndO5RomSNX97wXj3BU1sZmBMAeIXs6Wkj0gC_VF44J-eLuTtBiYmZ/s640/Haia+.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the stop, we went to the Ben Thanh Central Market. It was huge and fascinating.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-PW0xPLcQwHhHrqR2Kwbty8YETcGU6ZXN8b9g3laTD3sC3wXn1-nR_LNO2w0w0a5B7BL66RK__9AaGUf6WYVZkYok19jW867javpYrsoFEYFiWZBhFLBu3tO-8tiO6CxqUe/s1600/IMG_5895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-PW0xPLcQwHhHrqR2Kwbty8YETcGU6ZXN8b9g3laTD3sC3wXn1-nR_LNO2w0w0a5B7BL66RK__9AaGUf6WYVZkYok19jW867javpYrsoFEYFiWZBhFLBu3tO-8tiO6CxqUe/s640/IMG_5895.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of aisles like this</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfSiJ5k_HyyAEQqaXuSZLl6EWjfIpjWGS1Rf2h5-4AssezmpGgQmDKAe8ll5Y9xJFzmMK5-Es7KJ-BGrvFJ-aLdlOakpG4O5IrpmUSHkq9gQrqXg2YFF_xjcw0sYgmEBORMiw/s1600/IMG_5896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfSiJ5k_HyyAEQqaXuSZLl6EWjfIpjWGS1Rf2h5-4AssezmpGgQmDKAe8ll5Y9xJFzmMK5-Es7KJ-BGrvFJ-aLdlOakpG4O5IrpmUSHkq9gQrqXg2YFF_xjcw0sYgmEBORMiw/s640/IMG_5896.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uma looked all over for a special coffee maker and finally found one. She is wearing a new skirt from our travels.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> These pop up cards were gorgeous and some quite ornate. They were sold on the streets too for between $1-$2. I first saw them at the Amtrak station in Boston for $10 each!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ibcSRYLHLxt8KLPg2gsScN0ki0tnfGvfDF8M5qntwLv_FkxoAmewu55X4OwtFHY1pBzjxLj418QSLRQF0HiI0MWMf0b4E1Z6BIj5UguQA8urGznibnUarHR6IfCi6JnPoJOM/s1600/IMG_5897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="640" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ibcSRYLHLxt8KLPg2gsScN0ki0tnfGvfDF8M5qntwLv_FkxoAmewu55X4OwtFHY1pBzjxLj418QSLRQF0HiI0MWMf0b4E1Z6BIj5UguQA8urGznibnUarHR6IfCi6JnPoJOM/s640/IMG_5897.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At 6:30 we had a welcome meeting and learned unique things about our fellow travelers and more about the next eight days together. Then we went out to a group dinner with a fixed menu at Viet Village Restaurant. Most people on Trip Advisor rated it very clean with average food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later several of our group of 8 walked to see the night lights and then went back to the nearby mall and bought these cute hats!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObJKW4CmLzM6bPD4Ys7FNHc7WSFmCVJ5Z-1IRChfTfKMsB8oab4-iyv11cRQjRS4bZibgfYkNFzsaVWAXESh6sQNYJ7sqHU_GjAMfnvtEs2uZlYYxx9RPYevuV214E5kHSHXt/s1600/IMG_5899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObJKW4CmLzM6bPD4Ys7FNHc7WSFmCVJ5Z-1IRChfTfKMsB8oab4-iyv11cRQjRS4bZibgfYkNFzsaVWAXESh6sQNYJ7sqHU_GjAMfnvtEs2uZlYYxx9RPYevuV214E5kHSHXt/s640/IMG_5899.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie and Haia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ho Chi Minh statue</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the welcome meeting, we learned more about Khanh. He was born in 1985 and has a son age 8 and a daughter age 4. He studied for 5 years at a university for tourism (WOW) and has worked for Gate 1 for five years. Prior to that, he worked for a Dutch company and took trips for 27 days. He changed companies so that he could be home more. He lives in a village near the Hanoi airport, very close to his parents and in-laws. They help with the children, especially when he is away for work like now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We asked about schools. He told us education is compulsory in Vietnam from ages six to fifteen. 92% go to high school too though it is not compulsory. Primary is for ages 6-11 and is free. School starts at 7:30 a.m.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Secondary is for ages 12-15 and costs $40 per month to go to a government school with 45-50 in a class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The private international school is very expensive, at least $500 a month.At that school, English is taught from age 3 and all classes are in English.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">55% of children go to university. There are lots of universities, especially in Saigon. University is free for low income students. The village leader knows who is poor and helps them. Classes in universities for teacher training, doctors and the army are all free. What a novel idea!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children now have a much better life than when he was in school He started English in high school but just studied via the grammar/translation method. He improved his English when he had a Canadian teacher in university and also by working as a waiter and volunteering at a museum with lots of international visitors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich families often send their children overseas for an education. Now there are 75,000 in the U.S. but visas are hard to get for there. As a result, other study in Australia, Singapore, and Switzerland. The average income in big cities is $1,000 a month and in the countryside about $300 a month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed to bed as our morning wake up call would be at 6:30 for our flight to Da Nang in the center of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More to come eventually!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-12387764773974208582020-01-30T13:32:00.002-08:002020-01-31T08:24:52.701-08:00Cambodia, part 3: Ride through rural area on oxcart and ride to see villages on the river<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thursday morning, the 20th of November and our last day in Cambodia, we had a busy day! We drove out of town on a bumpy dirt road to go for an ox cart ride through a rural area and then go by covered motor boat to see <b><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/08/pictures-cambodia-floating-vill-201481065510710339.html" target="_blank">floating fishing villages</a></b> on the river.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop along the the way was to see a man standing in a canal next to the river, fishing with a net. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He was catching <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakehead_(fish)" target="_blank">snakehead fish</a></b> and other small fish that can survive a bit on land. The snakehead fish breathes air through its gills, so it can migrate short distances over land. They are invasive, and although they are native to Asia, especially China, some have made it to the southern US. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we headed out for an ox cart ride. Notice the baby buffalo by its mom in the cart behind us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our driver was definitely one of the older ones and very smiley...but probably just in his 40s.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_wU-gtWQREHOiexdPof1jCm0cgJ73lMrix5LyGTT_GLWRx2nB9aP5qEY4npITFDXy8ZJnbHi870_RDluF4aal7QII2IQK3LDc72cuYRhhCm8D4eBXC4SCBKlZgy4egx0okUn/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_wU-gtWQREHOiexdPof1jCm0cgJ73lMrix5LyGTT_GLWRx2nB9aP5qEY4npITFDXy8ZJnbHi870_RDluF4aal7QII2IQK3LDc72cuYRhhCm8D4eBXC4SCBKlZgy4egx0okUn/s640/IMG_2031.JPG" width="542" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by many rice fields, such as the one below where people were working in the fields.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of the houses were on stilts with the bottom area empty because of flooding during the rainy season. This was an average house along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A nicer home below with chickens too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGioBrOJinkLaBbstz1HKpZmVs-nV57HzIXfmfuuPAtExLW6UkpvT2qz7RRsRE3DvuhG3bjkJgyxJSONqoSQLwK9sgNQfq2y-bIfhMHamzDV4PFXelFmRuQj6LxPSpFtzTkb1_/s1600/IMG_5639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="640" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGioBrOJinkLaBbstz1HKpZmVs-nV57HzIXfmfuuPAtExLW6UkpvT2qz7RRsRE3DvuhG3bjkJgyxJSONqoSQLwK9sgNQfq2y-bIfhMHamzDV4PFXelFmRuQj6LxPSpFtzTkb1_/s640/IMG_5639.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed the secondary school and also the community health center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our driver smiling for his photo. His clothing was tattered and he definitely appreciated the tip we gave him.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUFNLGXtA0XJnA26LimHUWJj31tFOmOmgDf8LV0W4Tlttimydta662ex5DWF8eBwIwUHiIJYObRp_0VwUVWLiB7RtzqXloj2AUVHW5gpTVS8eo6pa7TLdNG-1Is6hsC5XTchd/s1600/IMG_5650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="490" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUFNLGXtA0XJnA26LimHUWJj31tFOmOmgDf8LV0W4Tlttimydta662ex5DWF8eBwIwUHiIJYObRp_0VwUVWLiB7RtzqXloj2AUVHW5gpTVS8eo6pa7TLdNG-1Is6hsC5XTchd/s640/IMG_5650.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way to the river, we made a bathroom stop where a family ran three "happy rooms." The kids had fun with us (before asking for dollars--the unofficial currency of Cambodia), and I got a great picture of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sign below was at a local restaurant we stopped at -- a regular toilet and not an outhouse/port-a-potty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99OjHpTHdEa2s6VQqrpv9YFL5f7HCrTy2jO9dGHUWvgMkJeVdUWdzmmrWgmDF-R5c6_5FFsMWQjlGrfKAxIIDn8v8uj34cQPdnj_RPV8XN9kKwK2ilmuR0JO07IcR7xKW7dqo/s1600/DSC04856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99OjHpTHdEa2s6VQqrpv9YFL5f7HCrTy2jO9dGHUWvgMkJeVdUWdzmmrWgmDF-R5c6_5FFsMWQjlGrfKAxIIDn8v8uj34cQPdnj_RPV8XN9kKwK2ilmuR0JO07IcR7xKW7dqo/s400/DSC04856.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we headed up the river in a large motor boat to see a small fishing village of about 200 people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way we stopped to see lots of lotus flowers in bloom. Thanks to Jimmy for some of the great close ups of the flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Niwat demonstrating how parts of the lotus can be used:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lotus leaves can be worn as protection from the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is the bus below that the 29 of us plus guides Niwat and Khan (from Vietnam) traveled on in Cambodia, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeFMPCC5E5ThbMuOBmNhmU_g2-YSflkMtIMW8wxDnt3JE6NQHUVUz0n2vZxgCtjuDKhyphenhyphen2d8nCZ1dCPtZMFiSbM8_T60z_dUbTdi07qod4FyMPWKwt998GXW1-I6V3MvQ-zsqG/s1600/IMG_5673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeFMPCC5E5ThbMuOBmNhmU_g2-YSflkMtIMW8wxDnt3JE6NQHUVUz0n2vZxgCtjuDKhyphenhyphen2d8nCZ1dCPtZMFiSbM8_T60z_dUbTdi07qod4FyMPWKwt998GXW1-I6V3MvQ-zsqG/s400/IMG_5673.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here is the motor boat we took down the river.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMn601cTuGOrVP46wpE7MKnNtirBv6HZOLB38o8orwadOAQlq9-vTbQYIBACmAG8_N05cfDCBCluMAktGhU0mNmYyoSt_Bbv1V3Nzoa7q_MucKWkCThYW6m6Xypadg_SrVoY/s1600/IMG_5672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMn601cTuGOrVP46wpE7MKnNtirBv6HZOLB38o8orwadOAQlq9-vTbQYIBACmAG8_N05cfDCBCluMAktGhU0mNmYyoSt_Bbv1V3Nzoa7q_MucKWkCThYW6m6Xypadg_SrVoY/s640/IMG_5672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the boat. It was a bit dusty at the beginning (so some wore masks) and noisy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPb7SASMum8sX1CXi8UaVG7ersgo1aLu0kW39vwtZBxtNtUF2vFKhRnKanmsJ6LcHYSqDWn-3CgTiU7RIYtEkAPBgDqdTxIpLA7h4cKmKFcWikEcSufeTHXwl8D97MDb4WRKt/s1600/IMG_1688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPb7SASMum8sX1CXi8UaVG7ersgo1aLu0kW39vwtZBxtNtUF2vFKhRnKanmsJ6LcHYSqDWn-3CgTiU7RIYtEkAPBgDqdTxIpLA7h4cKmKFcWikEcSufeTHXwl8D97MDb4WRKt/s640/IMG_1688.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over 3,000,000 of Cambodia's 16,000,000 people live in such villages and work catching fish. (Before the <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_genocide" target="_blank">Kymer genocide</a></b>, there were 8 million people in Cambodia. About two million died, others fled, and amazingly there are now sixteen million in the country.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we headed out from our dock, the river was very muddy as it was quite shallow. The dock used the previous week was no longer in use because the river is almost non-existent at that spot at this time of year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP76oesVr-yEEpGXos0M5vqh6V9CMcIu22ocuZdQC-R6_aiPc8jbMdpO65FOoVidHwY9vN-4cKMbPjcHe6BdHaqHWV-dPaWmT5d9nB_Vxv0-JmfRoK1TdFxQmnn_PpyY0j8Le/s1600/DSC04830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP76oesVr-yEEpGXos0M5vqh6V9CMcIu22ocuZdQC-R6_aiPc8jbMdpO65FOoVidHwY9vN-4cKMbPjcHe6BdHaqHWV-dPaWmT5d9nB_Vxv0-JmfRoK1TdFxQmnn_PpyY0j8Le/s640/DSC04830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plants below would soon be in dry land, but they can survive in both on dry land and in the river, often totally covered.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34D5BLDc7pxzqXSF99r5vNFDffNP_RqYoBfuXK_eF3GQGVIE52Z4suioGHddu_o73DCXWdxHM9g8h0JIBGkXZ4A-oIbUUyVfZyTzSTShmUW8VNqmGF_ftR2MfyJa-xOxfrSJa/s1600/DSC04831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34D5BLDc7pxzqXSF99r5vNFDffNP_RqYoBfuXK_eF3GQGVIE52Z4suioGHddu_o73DCXWdxHM9g8h0JIBGkXZ4A-oIbUUyVfZyTzSTShmUW8VNqmGF_ftR2MfyJa-xOxfrSJa/s640/DSC04831.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A shrine on the river, still in a somewhat muddy area.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G_eKenPWjsMu-LUhEVjEbco6YrNJD5iSDtHJhdCNRfyr70K9hqeSyCXoJOjrD7xR1L6OQ_MBQYikwps7DCN_YX1o8bpv_qUZJw9fE3ulrzqWfuYes5INpp9qwWUg9Lt-jy9f/s1600/DSC04835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G_eKenPWjsMu-LUhEVjEbco6YrNJD5iSDtHJhdCNRfyr70K9hqeSyCXoJOjrD7xR1L6OQ_MBQYikwps7DCN_YX1o8bpv_qUZJw9fE3ulrzqWfuYes5INpp9qwWUg9Lt-jy9f/s640/DSC04835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we got close to the village we were to visit, we found that in the past few days, most had taken the half-day journey two miles upriver.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMac6nOGD_WpsnA9KyE22Fy38cTeoIeZwIV1JZ2c-AlAVvzEMWPOs7lMu9TCcuNlRMbJCZxLac_XMyimHMAeiMaQfRfK6rkBdAN-6r5mUhyphenhyphenRSecwgXQqLG4ADDTdpV-Cb20xZ/s1600/DSC04837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMac6nOGD_WpsnA9KyE22Fy38cTeoIeZwIV1JZ2c-AlAVvzEMWPOs7lMu9TCcuNlRMbJCZxLac_XMyimHMAeiMaQfRfK6rkBdAN-6r5mUhyphenhyphenRSecwgXQqLG4ADDTdpV-Cb20xZ/s640/DSC04837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the rainy season about July, they move up river. And as the water recedes and gets dangerously low, making it hard to catch fish, they move down river where </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the water is deeper</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at the end of November. Since we were there on November, 20, it was just about the time for them to move.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look at how much wider the river became as we moved up river to the deeper part.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_kyUUEApfT31mwxvO0VL87iJdUnCPXT1kjWSiHNdspr8DaetX-eTwzfn_5UcnJNkkzggN_DJUATRncTtLgAdgzItkz8OVp8_yKGpI3qJtEiLc4UwUQx9wvNtab8FHC9lW1YA/s1600/DSC04838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_kyUUEApfT31mwxvO0VL87iJdUnCPXT1kjWSiHNdspr8DaetX-eTwzfn_5UcnJNkkzggN_DJUATRncTtLgAdgzItkz8OVp8_yKGpI3qJtEiLc4UwUQx9wvNtab8FHC9lW1YA/s640/DSC04838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting close to the new mooring site.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6RVAoa5-poZsobtTrNUDz4I3J6VgTeW8jL3EJ7aN8MafB1v81geeHJKFGuHflXegzZwVbxHReI2m8_msqA3DJ9nji3YH7YZTPKTCVE7js8mfA5dpasNPYm5kRNTzSEpLgmNC/s1600/DSC04850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6RVAoa5-poZsobtTrNUDz4I3J6VgTeW8jL3EJ7aN8MafB1v81geeHJKFGuHflXegzZwVbxHReI2m8_msqA3DJ9nji3YH7YZTPKTCVE7js8mfA5dpasNPYm5kRNTzSEpLgmNC/s640/DSC04850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The houses are on pontoons of styrofoam or of empty petrol cans and are anchored in such a way as to stay in place.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, a woman is selling cooked food from the front of her home to passersbys.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HZugVLtdya-TP1EH-ILWVXbe-xi7oI0gaPOP_2dvFI5CZYmIlCITFbo7pZ_af2fScid8PI2Vx_CYpaxlSYWe4LqYt38tlkNSMX03iw_gHwR5rql8GTXUJ1rwFECbm7NlCzZS/s1600/IMG_5726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HZugVLtdya-TP1EH-ILWVXbe-xi7oI0gaPOP_2dvFI5CZYmIlCITFbo7pZ_af2fScid8PI2Vx_CYpaxlSYWe4LqYt38tlkNSMX03iw_gHwR5rql8GTXUJ1rwFECbm7NlCzZS/s640/IMG_5726.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It takes a half day for a house to be pulled the two miles by a motor boat. The house sometimes has an attached garden which also needs to be pulled. The house below has a garden in the middle, and probably a few chickens in the structure on the left.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2Ee9kliPJ7r36N4b_0bOK-QAIlN8WUIHDTKj3PmOLoZaxubVdmQhtBwsgMFdHB16GM6LGZAisoink14oGrlWMDsOKXzJkWK1i5nA7ODBqSfFwlYk11Z6cFU1G5Stos_iArDd/s1600/DSC04854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2Ee9kliPJ7r36N4b_0bOK-QAIlN8WUIHDTKj3PmOLoZaxubVdmQhtBwsgMFdHB16GM6LGZAisoink14oGrlWMDsOKXzJkWK1i5nA7ODBqSfFwlYk11Z6cFU1G5Stos_iArDd/s640/DSC04854.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A nicer garden below</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Qnoh2tTRS8ABj-A5HukAIOZT-WDG8zNlgI2hNybXIrtSafBBhELZnT37ThicdlFdW5ZBvyvquMisfzXoShDMh1whfMBE2FO-cYhE3XfnZi7KvZSfAkGczxD6etYACMox4xTC/s1600/IMG_5696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Qnoh2tTRS8ABj-A5HukAIOZT-WDG8zNlgI2hNybXIrtSafBBhELZnT37ThicdlFdW5ZBvyvquMisfzXoShDMh1whfMBE2FO-cYhE3XfnZi7KvZSfAkGczxD6etYACMox4xTC/s640/IMG_5696.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plastic covered area is the "happy room." There are plants in the water that disinfect it from the wastes of humans and animals. Note the empty oil cans under the house to keep it afloat..</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLk0qr8scWlCOSY12q9OaoP4xqxD_fSarTQ-KS6VPWq7UNUnX6HYUCBx-GiSIaeTZNKtSwW_MnQrMIlUDJuITlTelioE4BQ2LdI1SxO3xtreIUwGX1khrLg22XyC3pFN-V2HF/s1600/IMG_5704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLk0qr8scWlCOSY12q9OaoP4xqxD_fSarTQ-KS6VPWq7UNUnX6HYUCBx-GiSIaeTZNKtSwW_MnQrMIlUDJuITlTelioE4BQ2LdI1SxO3xtreIUwGX1khrLg22XyC3pFN-V2HF/s640/IMG_5704.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children boat to and from their tiny local primary school for first through six grades. Sometimes they paddle themselves and other times family members take them in motor boats. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWhoCxKvE4skuKbN0wmfg-BZ53OjVXjeKQbab7l_ViBru7NFYo_cRkiu47EUKSaSt0j4xkeFOhp6eHpGSRplueraUNDZI8lBTMviqFTGffom8nRHIq3fxAfiy-uemAKl_pH2g/s1600/IMG_1730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="640" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWhoCxKvE4skuKbN0wmfg-BZ53OjVXjeKQbab7l_ViBru7NFYo_cRkiu47EUKSaSt0j4xkeFOhp6eHpGSRplueraUNDZI8lBTMviqFTGffom8nRHIq3fxAfiy-uemAKl_pH2g/s640/IMG_1730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuPbxU5Hi-fBI2XUrt2iaYPzQ2GbZDTGt9ZqbgzaunbulKpFyZRvdwZOAz1o4zdYbnn5tDg9M8HKfeNyqAcmwz9vZbzyH8uD9bFIoMzPNwn5d6lLqoCwhmSmSOBONNnGoQNcp/s1600/DSC04853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuPbxU5Hi-fBI2XUrt2iaYPzQ2GbZDTGt9ZqbgzaunbulKpFyZRvdwZOAz1o4zdYbnn5tDg9M8HKfeNyqAcmwz9vZbzyH8uD9bFIoMzPNwn5d6lLqoCwhmSmSOBONNnGoQNcp/s640/DSC04853.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Many do not study more as the next level school is far away and they would have to board. Even if they could afford the cost, most do not want their young children to be separated from them during the week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The children also have a floating covered basketball court in the neighborhood. Children boat over there to play and get exercise.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLePMIKI4stlrsJq9yKIj-YSGBdf9o3YeyDRmotYt6xPoVN86rB8ODZ6relRZ85Ibdpitxrk4xKB2mF4HVkmCfudVR2WVASwoU5BB9rBak9fGn_-ziDgfzjQ87d8arDCaQ14Y/s1600/DSC04843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1589" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLePMIKI4stlrsJq9yKIj-YSGBdf9o3YeyDRmotYt6xPoVN86rB8ODZ6relRZ85Ibdpitxrk4xKB2mF4HVkmCfudVR2WVASwoU5BB9rBak9fGn_-ziDgfzjQ87d8arDCaQ14Y/s640/DSC04843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of us crawled to and sat on the bow of the boat and had our pictures taken by Niwat. A few brave souls went up from there to the roof above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A woman going from home to home selling a variety of goods:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See the cell phone tower below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A storefront below</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Homes spread out in the new site below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch, we stopped briefly at the <a href="http://www.angkornationalmuseum.com/anm_galleries/7" target="_blank"><b>Ankhor National museum</b></a>. The highlight was to see the room with a thousand Buddhas. Unfortunately for us we could not take pictures of the statues to protect them. Many smaller ones were in cases. .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Angkor Wat, "The Heaven on Earth," is highlighted in Gallery D, one of eight galleries. It is the most significant example of the earthly paradise. Its unique architecture still astonishes engineering specialists today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We went into Gallery A, which highlighted the origin and development of the Khmer Civilization/Emperor.. Unfortunately because we were running late and had to catch a plane, we could not see more. Gallery B focused on Khmer's Religion and Beliefs, and Gallery C focused on the four Great Khmer Kings, the great inventors. Gallery G was a shame to miss--the Fascination of apsara and ancient costumes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did see a few other things and a bit of history of Cambodian religion.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor plan of the museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below, a beautiful piece of Kantha art depicting woman in leisure and in religious practice. </span></div>
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Below, a lion sculpted of sandstone in the late 12th to 13th century during the Angkorian period, Bayon style.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunset at the Siem Reap airport as we fly out to Saigon/HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-33986439812502450662020-01-28T18:13:00.001-08:002020-01-29T11:44:16.323-08:00On to Cambodia--Part 2: The Angkor Temples <div style="direction: rtl; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the morning of our first full day in Cambodia, we went to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Thom" target="_blank">Angkor Thom</a> Complex. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was in the NW part of the map of Cambodia below</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was built later than Angkor Wat, during the 37-year-reign of the god king <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VII" target="_blank">Jayavaram VII</a> from 1181--1218. He was a fervent Buddhist, which was unusual, as only one king before him was. It was the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer empire, and the center of the king's massive building program. When the king died, construction stopped. Angkor.means "city" and Thom means "big." It is 12 square kilometers in area,4.6 square miles</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After we got out of the bus, vendors abounded to sell us items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We crossed a bridge over the river to get to the main gate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On each side of the bridge were guardian statues, apsaras (angels) on the left</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> an</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d demons on the right (below), to create a good guardian balance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The previous style had been of birch, but here sandstone was used. During the long wars with Thailand, the bridge walks and statues were used for target practice. :There are bullet holes on the statues as well as arms and noses shot off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The big gate beyond the bridge and moat, with an introduction to the multi-faced heads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw and our guide Newat explained a machine the Khymer used to raise the heavy stones and put them in place. Newat was delightful, with a smooth baritone voice. He grew up and lives in Siem Reap and saw the changes to the area as the country came out of the deadly Khymer Rouge rule and saw this area opened and developed for tourism starting a bit over 20 years ago. Note the holes in the stone blocks. They were key in lifting the blocks into position.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoH53R4zINONAiGQv92fv6sMqsUwDdPjN9io6pCdYbwMiRNcKBaPrEHNHf6YffNATe8Ii6yQVf8ACRZimZom8tSuLOxqKUXy9qerLZL85xTC8MeQai0hpHelnFUTHq_Uy6cVr/s1600/IMG_5483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoH53R4zINONAiGQv92fv6sMqsUwDdPjN9io6pCdYbwMiRNcKBaPrEHNHf6YffNATe8Ii6yQVf8ACRZimZom8tSuLOxqKUXy9qerLZL85xTC8MeQai0hpHelnFUTHq_Uy6cVr/s640/IMG_5483.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Albert from Vancouver, BC</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More stones piled for future use--like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The reconstruction in this area, especially the Bayon area, is being done by Japanese, officially Japanese-Apsara Safeguarding Angkor.project. The Japanese after over 20 years working here may pull out in 2020.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYXubBh7JAAgs-5mBNelw0XZSGHebPDScdlD23hTtOyklg8nOhH_PBhHPlUF37dp40bBO6CKSOKG4LCeV1zNnz9endSBFxTqfTZl0n3ia5jLC6LkFAlCzRwhttzF9vzL7Zkq_/s1600/IMG_5482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="553" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYXubBh7JAAgs-5mBNelw0XZSGHebPDScdlD23hTtOyklg8nOhH_PBhHPlUF37dp40bBO6CKSOKG4LCeV1zNnz9endSBFxTqfTZl0n3ia5jLC6LkFAlCzRwhttzF9vzL7Zkq_/s640/IMG_5482.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there, we reboarded the bus and road closer to the Bayon, the center of which was Jayavaram's state temple. There we saw 49 magnificent stone towers, each with four huge faces and five more around the king's palace. I remembered how magnificent these were from my previous trip almost 6 years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This area and Angkor Wat were declared parts of a World Heritage site in 1992. Just since 1998, it has become a popular and safer place to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This king had cared greatly for his citizens and workers and built 200 rest houses and over 100 clinics here for the million people who lived here, maybe both inside the moat and walls and outside close by. This king was a moderate Hindu and included Buddha statues but his successor had all of them removed. We saw niches where some had been.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So much more work needs to be done, but with the Japanese pulling out, it is not sure who will step up to take their place..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots of uneven stair climbing--careful Havazelet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we got higher and higher, we could see the amazing details of these heads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many members of our group had their picture taken here at this window.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDq6QtLZaWSgA_H7Zeks5rvc0-s7c7xXQOgMTJz11HS89J4luS2ihfW0NgZT807ZaikCR63XGL3OMIxyfeiHzSVSB1MRyzvs2iEcqAlk2rhAJPaD1mFYqBzgsDEG8PFrN5WP2/s1600/IMG_5507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDq6QtLZaWSgA_H7Zeks5rvc0-s7c7xXQOgMTJz11HS89J4luS2ihfW0NgZT807ZaikCR63XGL3OMIxyfeiHzSVSB1MRyzvs2iEcqAlk2rhAJPaD1mFYqBzgsDEG8PFrN5WP2/s640/IMG_5507.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were lucky to get to the top level because in 2020 it will be closed for restoration and may not reopen to tourists in the future.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3lSwcP8rT0rjZ8q42kHS53jB52x_D93HZo1Rs96paCVt53CqbkH4CR-KrRhyphenhyphenw22IUtLLFBC1DE4WHKGCP30Q4SLatj3-snWtZl6JWRf-fK7RZ3ySJ-WmkAvNF8Ydtm_8wuWB/s1600/DSC04766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3lSwcP8rT0rjZ8q42kHS53jB52x_D93HZo1Rs96paCVt53CqbkH4CR-KrRhyphenhyphenw22IUtLLFBC1DE4WHKGCP30Q4SLatj3-snWtZl6JWRf-fK7RZ3ySJ-WmkAvNF8Ydtm_8wuWB/s640/DSC04766.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These were truly awesome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our guide Niwat took our pictures here, nose to nose. Sam's was the best that I saw!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVGGocNiaozXtGjW8ldRVOrRqxKV7cM-4u7xEftu047Qv5TteC1dArxPv2EQD230vuWHzADhbSbieeXA5c1uWWF71TxBCHZ8HdaUtren200fZFPQ1C3fF9BShD31D4Q8Qb55c/s1600/Sam+nose+to+nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="954" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVGGocNiaozXtGjW8ldRVOrRqxKV7cM-4u7xEftu047Qv5TteC1dArxPv2EQD230vuWHzADhbSbieeXA5c1uWWF71TxBCHZ8HdaUtren200fZFPQ1C3fF9BShD31D4Q8Qb55c/s640/Sam+nose+to+nose.jpg" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside of this area, we passed by several temples under construction and a huge wall called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_of_the_Elephants" target="_blank">Terrace of the Elephants</a> created centuries ago of discarded pieces of construction. It </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> is part of the walled city of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Thom" target="_blank">Angkor Thom</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, the last and most enduring capital of the Khimer empire.. The terrace was used by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Angkor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">'s king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">At the western entrance of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Angkor Wat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> stands a 5-meter-tall </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">statue of Lord Vishnu</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, known locally as Ta Reach. This standing stone </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">statue</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> has eight arms and the head of Buddha. When </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Angkor Wat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b> </b>became a Buddhist temple, the head of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu" target="_blank">Lord Vishnu</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"> was replaced with the head of Buddha. (Closeup photo and information courtesy of Sam .)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqiYzuTEUts7CNlYLkevER5gVY5H5if5WhCPyw0c95XUAmbGE6QDKKHFfxegzkxNNrGuNWohLiD6EbHW7_f9y9j9C6_9zvLeAj7GOLHEhlUVizXtNkYlI_tGG-PVYDSLnDkjO/s1600/Sam+Lord+Vishnu+Buddha+Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqiYzuTEUts7CNlYLkevER5gVY5H5if5WhCPyw0c95XUAmbGE6QDKKHFfxegzkxNNrGuNWohLiD6EbHW7_f9y9j9C6_9zvLeAj7GOLHEhlUVizXtNkYlI_tGG-PVYDSLnDkjO/s640/Sam+Lord+Vishnu+Buddha+Head.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HvFIYmtJhiFRaWlhG2x4QEjtXj9Z7i4U3CDPPFzyTSCdSvPoNMAkYAkIBfG0nWBjiDgWTH_Vvh-WYOtAwz3MggacpMCx_ivW9YQGf7wdqfkKhVizKbg7dwZ9q0zfWNoEg-P2/s1600/IMG_5537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="623" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HvFIYmtJhiFRaWlhG2x4QEjtXj9Z7i4U3CDPPFzyTSCdSvPoNMAkYAkIBfG0nWBjiDgWTH_Vvh-WYOtAwz3MggacpMCx_ivW9YQGf7wdqfkKhVizKbg7dwZ9q0zfWNoEg-P2/s640/IMG_5537.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While walking in toward the Bayon area, we saw some blind professional musicians, who lost their sight from landmines from the war in the country. They were quite good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkptil_2CXe7Vi8KUApD60GSKyDdqslOX4XBUSNg6VDML1LJ17fu3gmX3RV2754CRoFEfhustI3gSF45LAPtY0f9nSH0ny6DD3pfh9EBQHZQxF-mXCghbBegjFEgJQk4zHEGZ/s1600/Sam+musicians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkptil_2CXe7Vi8KUApD60GSKyDdqslOX4XBUSNg6VDML1LJ17fu3gmX3RV2754CRoFEfhustI3gSF45LAPtY0f9nSH0ny6DD3pfh9EBQHZQxF-mXCghbBegjFEgJQk4zHEGZ/s640/Sam+musicians.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Approaching the area of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon#Etymology_of_Bayon" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Bayon temple</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and overgrown trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we climbed up higher. Some of the stair cases had no railings. But the stairs in the picture directly below had been replaced by even, wooden steps.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ2O_Q7GyZzHfrXIka9wNNaH2Sbcu3NzGmGrTSmF0Ip463Y7uH8FKW8hwd5es-AeiI2WLJun-Vfcr4m8uO1UA-Yl1uoK1KjIVEq9s5m7yHv2ox9XaWKNvlgobqAQlFnSRUn4y/s1600/Sam+steps+no+rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ2O_Q7GyZzHfrXIka9wNNaH2Sbcu3NzGmGrTSmF0Ip463Y7uH8FKW8hwd5es-AeiI2WLJun-Vfcr4m8uO1UA-Yl1uoK1KjIVEq9s5m7yHv2ox9XaWKNvlgobqAQlFnSRUn4y/s640/Sam+steps+no+rail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The steps below were less even.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">View looking down from the mid level</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">View from higher up. Several of us had a hard time here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I eventually got dizzy, turned around and got a ride back with Deana. Along the way we saw monkeys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a statue of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%81ga" target="_blank">Naga</a> in front of our Ramada Hotel in Siem Reap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-27003721564361678102020-01-16T07:30:00.001-08:002020-01-31T09:11:17.654-08:00And on to Cambodia, November 19,2019--Part 1<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have arrived in Cambodia for our short but very busy visit!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Vocabulary: Hello in Cambodian--soos a day</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Thank you in Cambodian--Ar-koon</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Money: There are 4060 Cambodian riels to the US dollar but US dollars are also widely. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, Tuesday, after a 6 am wake up call and an early breakfast, we headed to the Bangkok airport for our 11:30 flight on Bangkok Air to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap" target="_blank">Siem Reap</a>, Cambodia. It was our first of four inner region flights and the first of the two international flights, so we needed to get there well in advance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since we got to the airport early, we had time to walk around. Sam took some amazing pictures of statues of a sacred story for Hindus, the <a href="http://www.ancientpages.com/2018/06/16/churning-of-the-ocean-great-hindu-story-of-creation-from-mahabharata-and-purana/" target="_blank">Samudra Mantha</a>, the churning of the Milk Ocean. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE15LZ34oIwQkCQGKZCYrbQOW_SEkihUs8AlcGv3wStozL1mT_UOnlpQO8nGv61qOdUEF78xhuJkn4gMR8QWo5FaRmHBQ0ECMvrltq4lh_WlxWjKG24UbLT6zlQnp8BJ_K11g/s1600/Sam+Ocean+churning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="651" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE15LZ34oIwQkCQGKZCYrbQOW_SEkihUs8AlcGv3wStozL1mT_UOnlpQO8nGv61qOdUEF78xhuJkn4gMR8QWo5FaRmHBQ0ECMvrltq4lh_WlxWjKG24UbLT6zlQnp8BJ_K11g/s640/Sam+Ocean+churning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churning of the milky ocean, part of creation story</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscmbWJfgoIUPm7wq87S1k8InNVYGf9d_QcJ_FwxysPgSpUkjJxGWXgY-al3fyJScpZZPR7qgE1YHGRZdp-SwXk49KUgudJWGiS0Zk_6Abl7U031hcUa_0nmrtIY-cSpvABUMH/s1600/Sam+Churning+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="651" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscmbWJfgoIUPm7wq87S1k8InNVYGf9d_QcJ_FwxysPgSpUkjJxGWXgY-al3fyJScpZZPR7qgE1YHGRZdp-SwXk49KUgudJWGiS0Zk_6Abl7U031hcUa_0nmrtIY-cSpvABUMH/s640/Sam+Churning+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap" target="_blank">Siem Reap</a> is in the NW corner of the country.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn5HMW82F39BhKUGPvTr5Pj7DWGnQkCngtjlotu7H-Q4slyxYluaQ2tIZOAxJWfyo1KJLqrLusaCbTL_QMscjzNVnhh6qP8icSaNJdzaoV8IOQI60LqfZ5BIL7mX2Nw_6wMuq/s1600/cambodia+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1024" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn5HMW82F39BhKUGPvTr5Pj7DWGnQkCngtjlotu7H-Q4slyxYluaQ2tIZOAxJWfyo1KJLqrLusaCbTL_QMscjzNVnhh6qP8icSaNJdzaoV8IOQI60LqfZ5BIL7mX2Nw_6wMuq/s640/cambodia+map.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The picture below was taken just before arriving at Siem Reap. There was a lot of farm land around the area.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPtNIc-SZYd0IHyMG3bPnJytoR-Gj5ICkhDfABrdF9opcBiiSHNvlwnGtu6KsTqJiQuHpoQlCH9ozFLLAs1JhsvarCDnsM-C7mP1_IacV2k6CCJqqGwBIFTLK1iKBfNteWBQg/s1600/IMG_5375+in+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPtNIc-SZYd0IHyMG3bPnJytoR-Gj5ICkhDfABrdF9opcBiiSHNvlwnGtu6KsTqJiQuHpoQlCH9ozFLLAs1JhsvarCDnsM-C7mP1_IacV2k6CCJqqGwBIFTLK1iKBfNteWBQg/s640/IMG_5375+in+plane.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3PbUtr_823sMrBY6y6MartR3JFt043tRRrZ4Q9tLa-UWny0ZLvE7yzYgwUpxzW_mJUiSyN0moA_VMlSU4Y_aWQoNokzEIqeeX-weBdyKkqku9TfwMQ6wREycP0TXS2Noc52S/s1600/IMG_5376+S+R+AIRport+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="640" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3PbUtr_823sMrBY6y6MartR3JFt043tRRrZ4Q9tLa-UWny0ZLvE7yzYgwUpxzW_mJUiSyN0moA_VMlSU4Y_aWQoNokzEIqeeX-weBdyKkqku9TfwMQ6wREycP0TXS2Noc52S/s640/IMG_5376+S+R+AIRport+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got our visa on arrival,paying a $30 fee (with no need for photos), and headed out for a Cambodian lunch. The meal was served in a lovely manner.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah_sA2aXoqg0TnokomcbDomvHCON4ZQyrqvNez4lQVOByUYAAYygh5gGVCqxDaCzjX57lUZeR98qbKCi7xCBw2KszanQLs5NTrmY0CM6BG453la5Gw-it6s0-blhyphenhyphenISE4iKcK/s1600/IMG_5377+Lunch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah_sA2aXoqg0TnokomcbDomvHCON4ZQyrqvNez4lQVOByUYAAYygh5gGVCqxDaCzjX57lUZeR98qbKCi7xCBw2KszanQLs5NTrmY0CM6BG453la5Gw-it6s0-blhyphenhyphenISE4iKcK/s640/IMG_5377+Lunch2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBYpiPWO5rouC8qlUDf137LvyjBTogniGvbYANbfJZ4LnRgsax-mcWCZduNhrkQLtupAFX-G-h2GBPO4SZUtguvAtEJND5eYi50hMd9siIDOGMtoiXPnKftaTe4GGXCKx8R75/s1600/IMG_5377+Lunch+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBYpiPWO5rouC8qlUDf137LvyjBTogniGvbYANbfJZ4LnRgsax-mcWCZduNhrkQLtupAFX-G-h2GBPO4SZUtguvAtEJND5eYi50hMd9siIDOGMtoiXPnKftaTe4GGXCKx8R75/s640/IMG_5377+Lunch+%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple complex in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. But our stop there and to Angkor Thom will be tomorrow.</span><br />
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From lunch we went to <a href="http://www.artisansdangkor.com/" target="_blank">Artisans Angkor</a>, a special workshop created to train and employ 15-25-year-olds in rural areas in ancient Cambodian arts, so they can be gainfully employed and to keep those skills/traditions alive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsfOd5lmQCsFwioXb-WQ_m8QPcbaxzjyqtnj5auZ2KrG7iAyTZb9yExkCP8S0Bpn13GFJusz-hgyBt_Gaz-Pko4tXjTvVMtbsRv9G9cIlg5FNixVHv6hB_J4RnsZZkXJkVi80/s1600/IMG_5382+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsfOd5lmQCsFwioXb-WQ_m8QPcbaxzjyqtnj5auZ2KrG7iAyTZb9yExkCP8S0Bpn13GFJusz-hgyBt_Gaz-Pko4tXjTvVMtbsRv9G9cIlg5FNixVHv6hB_J4RnsZZkXJkVi80/s640/IMG_5382+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After taking an entrance test and <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">passing, students picked a skill to learn In his/her one year training: Wood carving, sculpting with soap stone and sand stone, metal work,painting with acrylics on silk and lacquer on wood. Early on they also taught construction work</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> After 9 months, they are guaranteed a job if they wish to stay. Most of their products are sold in the country to hotels while internationally they are bought by private citizens, especially in Europe. We were extremely impressed. The program started in 1992 and now employs over 800 artisans in 48 workshops. They are guaranteed safe working conditions, fair compensation packages, and stay deeply attached to Cambodian culture.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUUNIAtwWnyaYZYAQCEt8FyYh8tdXoUXnnPJ3vfhwDvzQ3y2G1AihNqYUGq45JpDCRkZxyuh6I8Xyua2_h1SpjS9ThtPNbZC6C1I50PRUV-vB6qTh9k1h5VIKIXd_VqQ5etvY/s1600/IMG_5396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUUNIAtwWnyaYZYAQCEt8FyYh8tdXoUXnnPJ3vfhwDvzQ3y2G1AihNqYUGq45JpDCRkZxyuh6I8Xyua2_h1SpjS9ThtPNbZC6C1I50PRUV-vB6qTh9k1h5VIKIXd_VqQ5etvY/s640/IMG_5396.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiseling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood carving, from teak or rubber wood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cxDti5wunh2W7vE8ctXA3TIz-bf9PEn9Q09WfsUKghevBHOBRmaKYjMC8BWMUxR2iseo145oIGsbQexy632wMreVXf7FE5g_3JpX8a_LHmFTRI7OwlQB9vQfitu-VgE5Zebh/s1600/IMG_5397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cxDti5wunh2W7vE8ctXA3TIz-bf9PEn9Q09WfsUKghevBHOBRmaKYjMC8BWMUxR2iseo145oIGsbQexy632wMreVXf7FE5g_3JpX8a_LHmFTRI7OwlQB9vQfitu-VgE5Zebh/s640/IMG_5397.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanding</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They were commissioned to make replicas of some of the damaged structures at the Angkor temples.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWpZUBVInty3eszOFuwDrCcNmT7l4nT01MatqW0OaIxExdcfp4Tie09q2GL3bk-6GAGgKUFWiKQBScqog2Tlb-w7LxXFcOA3M84rEW5pzyZdBsCQs_tYrFGw5992vN972dES1/s1600/IMG_5408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="592" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWpZUBVInty3eszOFuwDrCcNmT7l4nT01MatqW0OaIxExdcfp4Tie09q2GL3bk-6GAGgKUFWiKQBScqog2Tlb-w7LxXFcOA3M84rEW5pzyZdBsCQs_tYrFGw5992vN972dES1/s640/IMG_5408.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI67VTfiAVYmcYzBTTZXwYLOlbrthObSgpbybwD1OV0FLyqxvt49qPDVRtotoKZJDttnbo2IryRXzhGV9CTpyqp4BECbkJaBeq_9t07-Vw_J_Jk74HMf7PxozoHdmqebwONMa/s1600/IMG_5412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI67VTfiAVYmcYzBTTZXwYLOlbrthObSgpbybwD1OV0FLyqxvt49qPDVRtotoKZJDttnbo2IryRXzhGV9CTpyqp4BECbkJaBeq_9t07-Vw_J_Jk74HMf7PxozoHdmqebwONMa/s640/IMG_5412.jpg" width="546" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal Work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbRoZgm_MmXENbJ4qs7ZxRl_zlja4z_cgrGVKhC8rS4epdfw6ky8_vi-BsGIR6WRv4UNCNjCLVhXR3CQfuJCxV45WbpxHFMEZ53szFw3UIkF-tmCZBhb4PyJW-j2oWhqN5ZF-/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbRoZgm_MmXENbJ4qs7ZxRl_zlja4z_cgrGVKhC8rS4epdfw6ky8_vi-BsGIR6WRv4UNCNjCLVhXR3CQfuJCxV45WbpxHFMEZ53szFw3UIkF-tmCZBhb4PyJW-j2oWhqN5ZF-/s640/IMG_1891.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man has already worked carving this would table for 3 months and has a lot more to do</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlYuhS11vQShjlkpkRVaSRBB5eQPBg7_KQF7GadhG41hMS3vBZIj1uiOM6pihEUJZ-xbArYV8gMaO9K1PqCMLmPn_KkUuqD8AOQ2llDBh75AXQDg8omEJKWiVtwc2XYPix48d/s1600/IMG_5419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlYuhS11vQShjlkpkRVaSRBB5eQPBg7_KQF7GadhG41hMS3vBZIj1uiOM6pihEUJZ-xbArYV8gMaO9K1PqCMLmPn_KkUuqD8AOQ2llDBh75AXQDg8omEJKWiVtwc2XYPix48d/s640/IMG_5419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7XZZ5XkJzpaqGoBnmv84FUfOxgjrmII1kza5gbzEIGv6YOCqR_HiS6bXnEQsjQgJ72X3ngLgQKXyTIV6Hum3COoR1LFPaV7OvjBXMMRCcLDlOCO7odsbwqKGsMHl85g_RcvL/s1600/IMG_5423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7XZZ5XkJzpaqGoBnmv84FUfOxgjrmII1kza5gbzEIGv6YOCqR_HiS6bXnEQsjQgJ72X3ngLgQKXyTIV6Hum3COoR1LFPaV7OvjBXMMRCcLDlOCO7odsbwqKGsMHl85g_RcvL/s640/IMG_5423.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acrylic on Wood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This lacquer on wood painting entitled <a href="http://www.artisansdangkor.com/shop/lacquer-panels/50-hands-of-apsara.html" target="_blank">Hands of Apsara</a> was magnificent. It is a stunning rendition of three of the hand movements in traditional Khmer dancing. I was tempted to buy it but it was too early on our trip to get something this size. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUi3mLZtseJRejeTbQwj4ahVlbuoP84EVKHHPxJOhSyv8I6AmnEIkjd3rzZ1_ZTxJzC7HwZ_e6mwpaPbS_NgeUqRlDcgUwsOkpwUF2POZJKqPdRUkqmnuSv7lZ04C2p-1vla8/s1600/IMG_5422+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUi3mLZtseJRejeTbQwj4ahVlbuoP84EVKHHPxJOhSyv8I6AmnEIkjd3rzZ1_ZTxJzC7HwZ_e6mwpaPbS_NgeUqRlDcgUwsOkpwUF2POZJKqPdRUkqmnuSv7lZ04C2p-1vla8/s640/IMG_5422+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After checking into our hotel in Siem Reap, we went to a restaurant for dinner</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX0TfIp_jhAkyuEPzIg6gAd1fQYHcYkGYksgjkCCloBNYrYnxKa0G0Lij9-FpO1tu2J3UZ3PdwmeL7K4mHpUJhoTA0zSuXRdmRNcgcb18AoeDA7Ldt-88CbwebjKC5bn-c3RH/s1600/IMG_5438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX0TfIp_jhAkyuEPzIg6gAd1fQYHcYkGYksgjkCCloBNYrYnxKa0G0Lij9-FpO1tu2J3UZ3PdwmeL7K4mHpUJhoTA0zSuXRdmRNcgcb18AoeDA7Ldt-88CbwebjKC5bn-c3RH/s640/IMG_5438.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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A beautiful stone carving of lilies in a pond hanging on the wall at the entrance of the restaurant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8KVeFsGZl-3GQvldnFVeBNnsWLqNBvE7aFmtijDQXGjARaaYChLWdT5VZ6Hlq4fxNuZmnDJgAZsxt-OJ-WizDFsx95ElmyjBqMtCmLD-eb6Fuq180i5OjlSZecO_R7DUKHZt/s1600/IMG_5440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8KVeFsGZl-3GQvldnFVeBNnsWLqNBvE7aFmtijDQXGjARaaYChLWdT5VZ6Hlq4fxNuZmnDJgAZsxt-OJ-WizDFsx95ElmyjBqMtCmLD-eb6Fuq180i5OjlSZecO_R7DUKHZt/s640/IMG_5440.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centerpiece on tables of folded lotus flowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVNIZa_wT3fnVX9D1AaehV89FuX8q1y5tIajr8wepdwyRm18MEJ5yKNQDQ3ypYo9E6QjtMXiTgica4vntPoh50zt2o7Gz6j4v3fqr37rlphtwH1C84hZU4KJgzl446BlAixf_/s1600/IMG_5441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVNIZa_wT3fnVX9D1AaehV89FuX8q1y5tIajr8wepdwyRm18MEJ5yKNQDQ3ypYo9E6QjtMXiTgica4vntPoh50zt2o7Gz6j4v3fqr37rlphtwH1C84hZU4KJgzl446BlAixf_/s640/IMG_5441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musician playing a traditional Cambodian bamboo xylophone, a Roneat Aek</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Set menu with options for vegetarians and those who do not eat pork, etc.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlS4Jon5u0ghtuTD8NH36TBeNyPLtYaFUVHmbd-F6p7aPIf6V8rpLvFjS8FFt35jMZuo_qSLdD7xJNoC-9uMFchvbTo2CMbnwTKDBrJ8GxreQaMcfMvZeALRLwU5hti6f4_Ik/s1600/IMG_5442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlS4Jon5u0ghtuTD8NH36TBeNyPLtYaFUVHmbd-F6p7aPIf6V8rpLvFjS8FFt35jMZuo_qSLdD7xJNoC-9uMFchvbTo2CMbnwTKDBrJ8GxreQaMcfMvZeALRLwU5hti6f4_Ik/s640/IMG_5442.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The food was tasty and presented in a beautiful manner.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAjfKEHyuVV9S_gBBatVxvZU_gPSTBTq-3sRmtC6OcdRpqhD6btAEf2pxUTliEoqe6N4oJ33ZDoC3PG4yADRh98IBQZe9RLg2ep-iPeiUaZuXQ5AEOEoO9abTH02gpMDgkon/s1600/IMG_5443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAjfKEHyuVV9S_gBBatVxvZU_gPSTBTq-3sRmtC6OcdRpqhD6btAEf2pxUTliEoqe6N4oJ33ZDoC3PG4yADRh98IBQZe9RLg2ep-iPeiUaZuXQ5AEOEoO9abTH02gpMDgkon/s640/IMG_5443.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and then watched a presentation of five traditional Cambodian dances. What a treat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first dance was with a lead dancer and a small group of young women. The dance is old from the Angkor period and was used to bless the king, country leaders, and official guests.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZA8w4WqhedYPCv8r19QoSGIWnTSU0CXAnUQQ8H3zLs9q6GgBztD5BHlWA4qKi5k-BhGkDz7C4mrh599ZjaSP8jPr9b8CUEUlQghw1HY6OC3two9UhsuyKz6vsnSIAoaRUPRa/s1600/IMG_5445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="435" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZA8w4WqhedYPCv8r19QoSGIWnTSU0CXAnUQQ8H3zLs9q6GgBztD5BHlWA4qKi5k-BhGkDz7C4mrh599ZjaSP8jPr9b8CUEUlQghw1HY6OC3two9UhsuyKz6vsnSIAoaRUPRa/s640/IMG_5445.jpg" width="434" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second dance was the coconut shell or praying mantis dance, created in SE Cambodia. It was performed at weddings and other happy occasions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The third dance, a woman and a man in a mask, was the Mekhala dance--a metaphor for good triumphing over evil and then working together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGkJeOWHD06O_fmgpOEeZ3DjziDeS-RHdEyny0iLgnmn-QDmdzYHq04zirEXy3wCk4ggDWDEYDHMkQiO49GpNY3AVljbYDFVDiWJ9sy6BxSPSMetVOvbj5Qf1noSskcJDpCm-/s1600/IMG_1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGkJeOWHD06O_fmgpOEeZ3DjziDeS-RHdEyny0iLgnmn-QDmdzYHq04zirEXy3wCk4ggDWDEYDHMkQiO49GpNY3AVljbYDFVDiWJ9sy6BxSPSMetVOvbj5Qf1noSskcJDpCm-/s640/IMG_1207.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks to Jimmy for some of the pictures of the dancers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-FoOapUCXNNqCiaLx7mb2Xm4q0rXFnwWG26iYIaNflVsoAip4qI2CnMpvrgmaMLfG8IBL2UsCx4qur4xX-mq5tK9wxuJxf5P6JQbGtjxxUnu4YmVSu3Lxpoj6afFIgfcoSSa/s1600/IMG_1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-FoOapUCXNNqCiaLx7mb2Xm4q0rXFnwWG26iYIaNflVsoAip4qI2CnMpvrgmaMLfG8IBL2UsCx4qur4xX-mq5tK9wxuJxf5P6JQbGtjxxUnu4YmVSu3Lxpoj6afFIgfcoSSa/s640/IMG_1216.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fourth dance was the peacock dance of the Kilat people who work polishing gems. The dance is related to Buddhism.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PF3lczpN1U-Ss384SriWElwoKFWoRs2XG9fL1idDYuwYRrRy_QLfadTJKgUyAy6NOhyphenhyphenZRMUKcTSe-jtXokZL794UUjQIecmJgXHTSXqpoJWX18kJ6gF54_3nz7q4Mc0RcDUm/s1600/IMG_1228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PF3lczpN1U-Ss384SriWElwoKFWoRs2XG9fL1idDYuwYRrRy_QLfadTJKgUyAy6NOhyphenhyphenZRMUKcTSe-jtXokZL794UUjQIecmJgXHTSXqpoJWX18kJ6gF54_3nz7q4Mc0RcDUm/s640/IMG_1228.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1DFg-81UdIQCc-GPWIVfi4Q97U3dItGSewL5HzCLlf-_OJZkhcTIHvM1w38MKVTYfM675DHN6wbpNX6_bVCPBZP6kNLd11099eIv_wxhx0qZ8AVNYg-aq0us_jG3Zs2iBWu0/s1600/IMG_5464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="640" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1DFg-81UdIQCc-GPWIVfi4Q97U3dItGSewL5HzCLlf-_OJZkhcTIHvM1w38MKVTYfM675DHN6wbpNX6_bVCPBZP6kNLd11099eIv_wxhx0qZ8AVNYg-aq0us_jG3Zs2iBWu0/s640/IMG_5464.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The final dance was the Apsara dance, named for the goddess of dance. Thousands of Apsara statues are in temple walks including at Angkor Wat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dancers were accompanied by drums, a wooden xylophone, and a singer. The costumes were spectacular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed to bed with memories of the dancer and musicians. The next morning we were off to see the Angkor temples.</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-42709747852993577222020-01-07T07:09:00.001-08:002020-01-09T07:46:40.907-08:00Sunday and Monday In Bangkok<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday we began our day early with a delicious buffet breakfast on the hotel restaurant patio next to the river. There was a huge variety of food to choose from as you can see from our different plates:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uma and Julie enjoying the view on the hotel restaurant patio.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An omelet, some western style and some Asian food</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine: sauted Asian veggies, vegetarian sushi, and tropical fruit </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of Israeli style and another plate totally Israeli </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The free Ramada hotel shuttle viewed from our patio breakfast site</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After breakfast, we got on our bus with our fellow travelers and met our guide Piangtip officially. Her name means "First daughter, a gift from heaven." We can call her Tip for short. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Modern Bangkok was founded by Rama I over 235 years ago, becoming the capital in 1782. We drove down the first main road in Bangkok, built 155 years ago by Rama V, then through Chinatown, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world and a great place to eat seafood. Historically, hundreds of years ago, many Chinese immigrated to this area when there was famine in the south of China.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped at the gate to the area of Chinatown and then at "My God of Mercy Buddhist Temple." </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside this Chinese Buddhist Temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mural on the Temple wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Haia, Julie, Ofra, Uma, Nava, and Havazelet.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left our hotel early so that we could get into the Chinatown area as the main street would be closed at 10:30 a.m. for a parade welcoming the Goddess of the Sea statue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This statue had just flown in from China, and it had its own seat on the airplane. It was at most three feet tall, and people were praying to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thailand imports a lot of products from China, including dried food, sharks fin, mush</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rooms, 22 carat gold, and much more, so there is a lot of interchange between the two countries. In 2010, China was Thailand's largest importer of its goods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked down the road to the huge <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pak_Khlong_Talat" target="_blank">Pak Khlong</a> flower market, a 24-hour wholesale and retail market selling flowers and produce. On the way, we passed street food vendors. In 2016 and 2017, CNN named Bangkok the best place for street food in the world, tasty and clean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We mostly saw women making designs with the flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flowers are big business. Many of the flowers are used for hotels, restaurants, offerings in homes and temples, Valentines' Day,etc. Tip said that Thai are happy people and love to celebrate everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Golden Triangle is the mountainous area bordering Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Until the 21st century, it was the biggest opium producer in the world. King Rama IX about 30 years ago g pushed to reduce or eradicate the opium fields and replace them with flowers or other crops that grew well in cooler, mountainous areas such as asparagus, carrots, lettuce, etc. It was a big success, and must of the opium production moved to Afghanistan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://learnthaistyle.com/the-lotus-flower-in-thailand/" target="_blank">Lotus flowers</a> are native to SE Asia and are regarded as a symbol of purity, faithfulness and spiritual awakening. According to legend, when Buddha first walked, lotus flowers appeared everywhere he walked. Colors include, white, pink, blue, red and purple.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white and pink are especially symbols of purity. The green flower above is white inside.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tip showed us how to peel open the flowers into a special shape.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ofra, Vaidhehi, Uma, Julie</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Off we went next to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho" target="_blank">Wat Pho</a>, the oldest and largest temple complex in Bangkok. It was rebuilt and expanded by Rama I on an earlier temple site, and some of his ashes are buried here. It covers 80,000 square meters or about 20 acres with over 1,000 Buddha images, the largest one being the Reclining Buddha. It has the largest collection of Buddhas in one place in the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When President Obama visited 8 years ago, he requested to be brought to this site. Our guide Tip talked a lot about his visit to this site.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our entrance ticket, $6.60 US, paid for by Gate 1</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The site contains a total of 99 similar pagodas. ( Nine is a lucky number.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In 1782, King Rama I moved the capital </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> across the river to Bangkok and built the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Palace" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Grand Palace">Grand Palace</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> adjacent to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho" target="_blank">Wat Pho</a>. In 1788, he ordered the construction and renovation at Wat Pho, which had by become dilapidated.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> The marshy, uneven site was drained and filled in. During its construction, Rama I also initiated a project to remove Buddha images from abandoned temples and at least 1,000 have been moved and kept at Wat Pho. We went into one darkened room with over 400 Buddhas of all sizes in it--it as overwhelming! Much of this area was built or rebuilt under Rama III. </span></span><br />
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Thailand traded a lot with China in those days too, and often brought back statues from China as ballast in the returning Thai ships.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such as this "guard" for the pagoda</td></tr>
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Examples of the Buddhas above sitting in a yoga position and below a huge standing one</div>
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Notice that they are draped in clothes, often changing for the season.<br />
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Monks chanting below the Buddha statues just before noon. They give blessings after receiving lunch offerings. Some monks are permanently there, including the very skinny one on the right. The second or third from the right immediately checked his cell phone when the chanting was finished.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bxYz9i4worMPSapjFk4wdeN18hCI9qlL0Cs0CMTCIYZyk4OYa7glxscxqKLAkcA3_yNAvFJmrGyz9UXtelP44U4cBAKLS52mp-b1cqBEJszAvyJsgY2VaDTtsAy-xCEKeiUW/s1600/bbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bxYz9i4worMPSapjFk4wdeN18hCI9qlL0Cs0CMTCIYZyk4OYa7glxscxqKLAkcA3_yNAvFJmrGyz9UXtelP44U4cBAKLS52mp-b1cqBEJszAvyJsgY2VaDTtsAy-xCEKeiUW/s640/bbbb.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding the Gate 1 sign for Tip when she went to run an errand for us.</td></tr>
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This magnificent, 8-meter tall, standing Buddha, the Buddha Lokanatha, was originally from Ayutthaya . It is gold plated with stucco beneath. We saw so many things that I may have gotten a few confused. Fellow travelers, please let me know if I've made some errors.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wat Pho was the first institute of higher education in Thailand and also the first school of <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323687.php#benefits-for-athletes" target="_blank">Thai Massage</a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;">Since it was intended to serve as a place of education for the general public, a pictorial encyclopedia was engraved on granite slabs covering eight subject areas: history, medicine, health, custom, literature, proverbs, lexicography, and the Buddhist religion. Some of t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">hese plaques, inscribed with texts and illustrations on medicine, Thai traditional massage, and other subjects, are placed around the temple</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thai massage is still taught at Wat Pho with 3,000 to 5,000 studying here each year, and it is popular internationally. Visitors can book massages in advance, for this unique type of massage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Chapel of the Reclining Buddha was built by Rama III in 1832. But the Buddha was built in the 16th century and reconstructed by Rama I. Like most large Buddha statues, it is made by brick, plaster, and covered in gold leaf.The statue represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana. It is huge, 15 meters high (50') and 46 (150') meters long, and is one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand. The path around was fairly narrow but moved at a steady pace. It was not as crowded as when I had been there in 2014, but it was impossible for me get a photo of the full length. However, Sam did and sent me pictures after I published! Thank you, Sam!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The soles of the feet of the Buddha are spectacular, 3 meters (10') high and 4.5 meters (15') long, and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Thanks to Sam againa for the photo below.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">Around the perimeter of the reclining Buddha, in front of several statues, people could deposit 20 baht coins (bought in advance) as a donation....I think to help pay for the upkeep. Thanks again to Sam for the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the afternoon, several of us walked through a small market near the hotel to the river to see a smaller reclining Buddha. It was fascinating to watch a woman touch up the gold on the face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Below you can see one of 80 contorting hermit statues in yoga positions at Wat Pho. They dated from over 183 years ago when King Rama III ordered the construction of 80 zinc-tin hermit statues to show healthy Thai massage techniques. Many had been stolen or damaged but since 2016, most have been rebuilt. You can see more photos of the yoga statues by clicking and then scrolling down </span><a href="https://hiwaymap.wordpress.com/2017/07/07/wat-pho-the-original-thai-traditional-massage/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think we all were getting a bit confused by the different King Ramas, so the following pages that Tip showed us helped to clarify things. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_I" target="_blank">Rama I</a> had been a military leader and took over and quelled a rebellion that had deposed the former king. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That evening our group took the shuttle IconSiam. Oops! I accidentally wrote about it in my first blog on Bangkok!! Others in our group went on an optional river cruise with music, dancing, and a dinner buffet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning we took the optional (but very worthwhile) tour to the Grand Palace, a huge, 61-acre complex. Until King Rama IX, it was the residence of the king, but King Rama IX chose to live in a more middle class home with a nice garden. BTW, Rama IX was born in Massachusetts where his father was studying to be a doctor. Since his coronation, The Grand Palace has only been used for royal ceremonies. Visiting dignitaries often stay in guest houses in the complex. The new king only sleeps on the grounds during his coronation ceremonies, which took place recently for Rama X. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The entrance fee was $16. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Buddha" target="_blank">Emerald Buddha</a> temple. The word "emerald" refers to the color and not the material from which it is made. This special Buddha is only 26" (66 cm) tall and 19" wide at the lap, and is made of a block of soft jade or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper" target="_blank">jaspar</a> form Myanmar. It is a figurine of a meditating Buddha sitting in a yoga position and sits very high up on a pedestal. It is considered the most important Buddha image in Thailand. This Buddha changes clothing three times a year, for the season. A few days before our visit, he "put on" his winter outfit. All three outfits are made of gold. The king attends the ceremony when the clothing is changed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This special statue was discovered in the north in 1434. It was covered with stucco, but a crack on the nose (maybe from a lightning strike) show</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed green underneath. It was in Chang Mai until 1552 when it was moved to Luang Prabang, then the capital of Laos, by King Chaichettha who was the king of both Thailand and Laos. It was</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> returned to Thailand in 1778 by the man who became the future Rama I. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We could not take pictures inside the room of the Emerald Buddha, but Tip has some photos she showed us on the bus that I photographed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOSNmXgNCF4nnFuEnFWXqKYNwJhiwk3q-BJMgLn1y0Rz_i7-hqofu_XBW3n5Manby80Jv1MCchj40h6YyOcpQXmJvTsAJuapKiJDCcyzU36DITeFir9p28lZYH8uOYR7HMnd9/s1600/DSC04655+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1117" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOSNmXgNCF4nnFuEnFWXqKYNwJhiwk3q-BJMgLn1y0Rz_i7-hqofu_XBW3n5Manby80Jv1MCchj40h6YyOcpQXmJvTsAJuapKiJDCcyzU36DITeFir9p28lZYH8uOYR7HMnd9/s400/DSC04655+%25282%2529.JPG" width="278" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTP19dM0Y_qdRgv9VFGyc0hyphenhyphenQVggQpyvqL85xl2wFJWiqsYJQQhXucYVSFnVbfJQXKv0CWcl-ZpfL3R0cxDCuMQwgpoCRIEn9B4RJJhnsc9jzit37XXGJ0TQcJvOwS7J2xMEi/s1600/DSC04658+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTP19dM0Y_qdRgv9VFGyc0hyphenhyphenQVggQpyvqL85xl2wFJWiqsYJQQhXucYVSFnVbfJQXKv0CWcl-ZpfL3R0cxDCuMQwgpoCRIEn9B4RJJhnsc9jzit37XXGJ0TQcJvOwS7J2xMEi/s640/DSC04658+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The different seasonal, gold clothing of the Emerald Buddha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Jimmy, with his new phone and special camera, managed to get a picture from outside the roomthrough the window. The statue itself is situated quite high off the ground.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW14yZTCDEpyjRwnBCxYSnI0SXOIwK43WO4-8jJK-13MYGOEGl8dtkvL-i_IqVnV7qtd2ljsDke7AqR4xcz1NRYoI6nA8JWxkEff1T3211uyRECpr1ef8IgJ2Yv_W7FWXX6fuL/s1600/IMG_7401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW14yZTCDEpyjRwnBCxYSnI0SXOIwK43WO4-8jJK-13MYGOEGl8dtkvL-i_IqVnV7qtd2ljsDke7AqR4xcz1NRYoI6nA8JWxkEff1T3211uyRECpr1ef8IgJ2Yv_W7FWXX6fuL/s640/IMG_7401.JPG" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On both sides of the Emerald Buddha are two standing crowned Buddha images about 3 meters (9+ feet) "in the attitude of the calming ocean" (according to the Grand Palace brochure). They were cast in bronze, covered with gold and precious gems, by the order of Rama III in 1841. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One unusual thing about this temple is that monks do not live here but do come to pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">The covered walkways near the Emerald </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Buddha are filled with 178 large murals depicting the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramakien" target="_blank">Ramakian<b>,</b></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Thailand</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">'s national epic, derived from the Hindu epic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whatson/exhibitions/ramayana/guide.html" target="_blank">Ramayana</a><b>. </b></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsMYZcf8eq1DBvcQRIYLOZBx_BYjGi0kwJvAC-GSaG4qrpHVUKhBBQq7G4UlZjGtg9SVWRPeFWHY6pKo3oCd1mBzpSUVorXuw6PUUb8jB_VZQqCH93ws7YFtgTZI5NRsbRFYk/s640/DSC04697.JPG" /></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJuVL-uFwO_mxxGrOkyx3pTvIG_1DNWv3PsadxsQ4fd4OF0ln6KD_V9q5G8490tm4eyKS87o80Tce7yh4l6wwh4xJuWOABQrkhj_dAIYIRo68Gjqhqxn_svXQa7kdX6XsnVJ3/s640/DSC04702.JPG" /></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UeYncwXAwsO_a8iGs42C-Qyhz9TrIOAHI-H9Yzl_8VvCjCVv2Khgk-vpda_CYoVuWdsNOW8X_7KjLmRjdPm14yUnRITsai0jq-Jqr_rHNaeg7jAZCWb2EGUec6XWYpElV2kR/s640/DSC04703.JPG" /></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu1jteI0Ywvbs8LklSCQuvgKmIo4klmYFWkImFzOHi2f_FH9cRIkCqbizzrIYGUs7d_qIZigSPSacpD_VdnzYrU6JmDHsHCJ04tDuzeuD9mt-hQ2beX3YBVkvPiI2CgJXp8Bf/s640/DSC04699.JPG" /></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQZXghf0F2Y9XSm70O9y-oy9n6c06OS-13GCV_uDRhWqwhrZVkesp_r5CKb6jOUZDPnDY-4MKs-ZWmDO4c9G2-DEaEoMOkSa3V2ARfnbuRUOCVopaCaOtiKP2EWB27EEbNewW/s640/DSC04715.JPG" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After seeing the Emerald Buddha complex, we got back on the bus, and stopped at another entrance. It was a long walk from the bus to the official new entry. The entrance I had used 6 years ago was no longer open to the public, possibly for safety and security.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a barge still used nowadays for ceremonial purposes along our walk, and also took a group picture.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIIbPKwu6Pj0Bp4vtiIsOiKNF6bFjko8_sTH9ss8caB7b0fsjY_zSpufE95oYzGO6Yg5FXZR_rhrX35TQ9Hze5eal87rLe5dTDi50dwsbnA5ZR0vIUCczJn-oCsNeos9u6UaY/s1600/IMG_5329+GP+Barge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="640" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIIbPKwu6Pj0Bp4vtiIsOiKNF6bFjko8_sTH9ss8caB7b0fsjY_zSpufE95oYzGO6Yg5FXZR_rhrX35TQ9Hze5eal87rLe5dTDi50dwsbnA5ZR0vIUCczJn-oCsNeos9u6UaY/s640/IMG_5329+GP+Barge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzvLRP2VTsJEFTMZUvTywRVRqXuDsrOLrqzJn20c8-AGmenFOZhRNMIZcMnTEaPXQwlmO2uUAO9WlqVx6AthzQPCTU9tdjrJXd9aawO3tOlv9ozwBIqNlTqb5mZgnVoLSfZT9/s1600/IMG_5300+GP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzvLRP2VTsJEFTMZUvTywRVRqXuDsrOLrqzJn20c8-AGmenFOZhRNMIZcMnTEaPXQwlmO2uUAO9WlqVx6AthzQPCTU9tdjrJXd9aawO3tOlv9ozwBIqNlTqb5mZgnVoLSfZT9/s640/IMG_5300+GP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by the stone hermit, known as Cheewok Komarahat, a patron of Thai medicine. He was a doctor of the Lord Buddha and is regarded as the father of Thai herbal medicine. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2_SUJrX84BHoxv_i4_myEuuQ1C942jUWV3gfJ3RxsV2wFyXhcxPIDdw02oiEl4XodTaai6RSIpnHaKEDNt6-SNVEf9pR-VhyN73tjvqyYM2bedUFNnPOQnf3XORVefuCHreP/s1600/IMG_5303+GP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2_SUJrX84BHoxv_i4_myEuuQ1C942jUWV3gfJ3RxsV2wFyXhcxPIDdw02oiEl4XodTaai6RSIpnHaKEDNt6-SNVEf9pR-VhyN73tjvqyYM2bedUFNnPOQnf3XORVefuCHreP/s640/IMG_5303+GP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Below is a close up of part of an ornate small pagoda.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3xTTozHjJ0o3UEMkBVuHDNv84JqV3AmcAuLPydmFIh1mjvb7jUPFok1aitezOdahq1k7KR12D5MdNlNNwRMyEzdZlk5zbZqKjWu-zC8yTBvDAPmOBdOyZRTe9jqYEoN1Xprd/s1600/IMG_5306+GP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3xTTozHjJ0o3UEMkBVuHDNv84JqV3AmcAuLPydmFIh1mjvb7jUPFok1aitezOdahq1k7KR12D5MdNlNNwRMyEzdZlk5zbZqKjWu-zC8yTBvDAPmOBdOyZRTe9jqYEoN1Xprd/s640/IMG_5306+GP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are six pairs of Demon Guardians standing at the gates of the gallery of the Rammakian story. Most face the chapel of the Emerald Buddha and are guarding it from all evil spirits. Each represents a character that has a major role in the Rammakian story.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguysow46y9-LqVl2EsE5ADJblDfVbR7HsTeWIrXp-3jahsGmTVO6YUss21To9yynKmGykJ2OunuyAdT_N0P1Xk_cKgd4I-NsIT3KqeuoeU7mStsL6GGdJEiRmW_AP1bfU9lBJ3/s1600/IMG_5310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguysow46y9-LqVl2EsE5ADJblDfVbR7HsTeWIrXp-3jahsGmTVO6YUss21To9yynKmGykJ2OunuyAdT_N0P1Xk_cKgd4I-NsIT3KqeuoeU7mStsL6GGdJEiRmW_AP1bfU9lBJ3/s640/IMG_5310.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, an example of the ornate work on the buildings</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFBDebU7ksTV5VMXqSbGvgKFodDMzVdpDlQQnw81YEnCDs7TuIG54yHg-Zy_j8AUzy4OYoA-UYwPCK_aQKnxObt2U39CLS7eZlugOmLSvbfeYTF9pgl7SuJIIrHylXG5FDm15/s1600/DSC04685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFBDebU7ksTV5VMXqSbGvgKFodDMzVdpDlQQnw81YEnCDs7TuIG54yHg-Zy_j8AUzy4OYoA-UYwPCK_aQKnxObt2U39CLS7eZlugOmLSvbfeYTF9pgl7SuJIIrHylXG5FDm15/s640/DSC04685.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A model of Angkor Wat, Cambodia at this site</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcbwgfiQU6ysZg7vHvico6d7Q3zBDDhd2e0OCeZD32zjg8n8TEW4Nq7fnqq3mnO9CoU3oXpYGiR9m5-X_oG-QLNWT02VeHhlwavxH31C7dPmTFwqcATete144t2_gN0fk4NyQ/s1600/DSC04691+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcbwgfiQU6ysZg7vHvico6d7Q3zBDDhd2e0OCeZD32zjg8n8TEW4Nq7fnqq3mnO9CoU3oXpYGiR9m5-X_oG-QLNWT02VeHhlwavxH31C7dPmTFwqcATete144t2_gN0fk4NyQ/s640/DSC04691+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And another picture below that Sam also took.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUAbCJi1X0r8IXwZFmktW407VlYsmeUoitmBaH4eiWdiNPOKdtI8hbN57cy9x9cXr5Z_HdgGo2vFCbqDF8H3NC5nn3EoGOydi2Qj_-8bX2xpOokGy741NmRPrj2rpW4J1712N/s1600/Sam+Angkor+Wat+model+Bangkok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUAbCJi1X0r8IXwZFmktW407VlYsmeUoitmBaH4eiWdiNPOKdtI8hbN57cy9x9cXr5Z_HdgGo2vFCbqDF8H3NC5nn3EoGOydi2Qj_-8bX2xpOokGy741NmRPrj2rpW4J1712N/s640/Sam+Angkor+Wat+model+Bangkok.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vaidhehi and Dina in front of a more modern building, combining European and Thai architecture</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtZkHncdHF9nB5zCfW_IzbVwUXRd0Zlgi_ohdumXl1_p9mxxTR305v3dDEa3rCaFdMo30de7VXRI3D575muwhdEhiLE5P6SXiyjfhvx5Ki_hLVczT9_Yl0mQJeaS2CQNivJTo/s1600/IMG_5317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="640" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtZkHncdHF9nB5zCfW_IzbVwUXRd0Zlgi_ohdumXl1_p9mxxTR305v3dDEa3rCaFdMo30de7VXRI3D575muwhdEhiLE5P6SXiyjfhvx5Ki_hLVczT9_Yl0mQJeaS2CQNivJTo/s640/IMG_5317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some flowers along the way</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittrRKkWX1I2kn1X9lfZcV969z1mRiHLuC0wQEkgZi4YxLo4oYvaQ_PlnQXC18LOBnPH4dS3S2oBb-PXxHPH2TN616_ei9Sejv9HiC5dGduCqH-gZnUghIwe3phXn2O6YJM9lP/s1600/IMG_5324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittrRKkWX1I2kn1X9lfZcV969z1mRiHLuC0wQEkgZi4YxLo4oYvaQ_PlnQXC18LOBnPH4dS3S2oBb-PXxHPH2TN616_ei9Sejv9HiC5dGduCqH-gZnUghIwe3phXn2O6YJM9lP/s640/IMG_5324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, a guest house and ceremonial building showing European influence:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfk9osAbFf5mJobYMtjYwTg3l6sd8i2g5PPaDLxEXCYl7Ycm1lhPdExxw3-WsUlLcBwd1so4et_V-sOA2R4f0LbtDw7Ia_6bwGD5dUsUCHecpdJleQL5iKxpBhO-nX9ffEdut/s1600/IMG_5326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfk9osAbFf5mJobYMtjYwTg3l6sd8i2g5PPaDLxEXCYl7Ycm1lhPdExxw3-WsUlLcBwd1so4et_V-sOA2R4f0LbtDw7Ia_6bwGD5dUsUCHecpdJleQL5iKxpBhO-nX9ffEdut/s640/IMG_5326.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We visited the </span><a href="http://www.qsmtthailand.org/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Queen Sirikit Textile Museum</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. (Click </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirikit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to learn more about the queen herself. She is still alive, popular but frail and 87.) Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside but the visit was definitely worthwhile. There are rotating exhibits. During one, we learned about the life of the queen, and all that she and her husband Rama IX did to help the people. They traveled around the country to see the needs of the people. She modernized and popularized Thai clothing and Thai crafts and textiles, helping the economy of the north of the country.</span></div>
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<img height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStCM0or-ZMZTAQSvy49bj2kR12VtqWxiUknL4ZCcdIYdMWvxaSwBmLJ79tkBu5s3HFnvbGZbce2riv0TeEGYgurnIkcEZKWR5bx8Z_xqNgbLC15Pj3GSO7PZiW2Hz2-1TKsRE/s640/DSCN6550.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was there on a a previous trip in 2014 and wrote the following in my blog:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I cannot find the background information online, but we heard/read that the government outlawed traditional clothing in 1945. We were not sure why, possibly to modernize the country? In any event, in 1959--1960, the king and queen were traveling to the US for a month and Europe for 5 months. The queen not only wanted to represent Thailand but also Thai women. She wanted to wear clothing that represented Thailand, so she had a number of experts gather photos from the past and help create clothing that would befit her. Eight different styles were created and the clothing she wore on the trip (as well as her husband)are (were in 2014)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> on display here as is the history on the creation of the clothing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The queen reinvented a new modern form of Thai traditional clothing that is considered "traditional" clothing today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Below are photos from an article in the Bangkok post</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsPtXxYGPyZ8yfqpPD79OU2Sksv_6MLx9D0dgEh7-gcmVQ1J1CLLP6yN00LrIi0qFL-dejkRxiGSHWYdoz8osO8FXpvGrIgMUCFXdow-BvpdsK4MCftzouHaPV3k_mM3dZ4hq/s640/382989.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That afternoon, our intrepid group with Jimmy's guidance took Ramada shuttle to the metro stop, then the metro (after taken the free hotel shuttle to the central stop) to a new shopping area with two malls. It was mostly for locals, and one was quite upscale. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNt9D4Nigiwmw49ZbgHidxke_M1R0giVsZ6iJVwzWqqOR4rln7cSPhajmDhTgKPRov61turzxy01kfaZaUTwZ0zU1NW9Hm9WYRdEIsz4gWbOKX2lNWNSvabATPgAKlimAovFp/s1600/IMG_5343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="640" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNt9D4Nigiwmw49ZbgHidxke_M1R0giVsZ6iJVwzWqqOR4rln7cSPhajmDhTgKPRov61turzxy01kfaZaUTwZ0zU1NW9Hm9WYRdEIsz4gWbOKX2lNWNSvabATPgAKlimAovFp/s640/IMG_5343.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Ramada boat shuttle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkVdaa9PQ-roErF8i1ow7qygVrMSnLJ-QwwrC9Fe9s5diJX-Z5TZ2rVL2rUxKjcb5YMcObXPagOwOyM4X0of5LxL6pGkrm-eVk7opfOkyG_1KfrA0QRaPQHgQKjhMxTBo5QYn/s1600/IMG_5347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="561" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkVdaa9PQ-roErF8i1ow7qygVrMSnLJ-QwwrC9Fe9s5diJX-Z5TZ2rVL2rUxKjcb5YMcObXPagOwOyM4X0of5LxL6pGkrm-eVk7opfOkyG_1KfrA0QRaPQHgQKjhMxTBo5QYn/s640/IMG_5347.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of metro map</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTVKwqITcrtY6Z0uS1mBFwG6jHjZmMVQb-9P5_pZ3NKzXUQqChcSbQCyUa9uAn5yhXoqiic2ioqcyTpHymHCLBv6yRldzfsTBt25y2dpYSrdJxCWLmU0MIQSx6axfza1gw7dT/s1600/IMG_5346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTVKwqITcrtY6Z0uS1mBFwG6jHjZmMVQb-9P5_pZ3NKzXUQqChcSbQCyUa9uAn5yhXoqiic2ioqcyTpHymHCLBv6yRldzfsTBt25y2dpYSrdJxCWLmU0MIQSx6axfza1gw7dT/s640/IMG_5346.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the metro</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The picture below was taken in the mall, looking up at the mirror above us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KsQn1P-Ngm1rzmQECd67etev4Q7l-5nh5JHcjILRS0mxwh62gTESqVJXHdoHoG69VeFrvB8qjvkD_1gK0uxPST5bT93KWTdArL9HNsst1IVnnaCN8VocJh5SBtw49YFruok2/s1600/Mirror+mall+store.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KsQn1P-Ngm1rzmQECd67etev4Q7l-5nh5JHcjILRS0mxwh62gTESqVJXHdoHoG69VeFrvB8qjvkD_1gK0uxPST5bT93KWTdArL9HNsst1IVnnaCN8VocJh5SBtw49YFruok2/s400/Mirror+mall+store.JPG" width="376" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All the time we rode around Bangkok, we saw a lot of photos and statues of Rama X (most were taken years ago) and his wife, a former stewardess. (I didn't take any pictures of them.) We were surprised to see one photo of the revered king Rama IX in his youth, who had died three years ago.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9B07JLlNjVbJrkRI5SbI1L3TIiYxrZtFjdNXHmIbOt-Wa6-uoDv87oNy79QiEjZl5dE65d4DUmCJp-3Yn8G7s2sVcC8P_jVEwlLG20Kz056Ub4_95VTS4wwaHmwvmYDIs4Id/s1600/IMG_5348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9B07JLlNjVbJrkRI5SbI1L3TIiYxrZtFjdNXHmIbOt-Wa6-uoDv87oNy79QiEjZl5dE65d4DUmCJp-3Yn8G7s2sVcC8P_jVEwlLG20Kz056Ub4_95VTS4wwaHmwvmYDIs4Id/s640/IMG_5348.jpg" width="480" /></a>b</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw statues of Buddhas along the modern highways.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QeAwSf1_xnszptgowwBHjx3QYTqu5nmKJusAflnNR4dNS_Z9-cEw3-48FZzJhrqTrhZ03YP8JfvcCV-EMCdqsPKklD0ovAW-yUuDLE6f-z3WNh3DKIIq95TnKhIkaQgU5qwV/s1600/IMG_5363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="475" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QeAwSf1_xnszptgowwBHjx3QYTqu5nmKJusAflnNR4dNS_Z9-cEw3-48FZzJhrqTrhZ03YP8JfvcCV-EMCdqsPKklD0ovAW-yUuDLE6f-z3WNh3DKIIq95TnKhIkaQgU5qwV/s640/IMG_5363.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rama X picture is now on all the money. A very few bills still have Rama IX photo. He is much more revered/respected than his son who is working with the military and limiting </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are 100 baht bills, worth about $3.35 US. (There are about 30 baht to the dollar.) The top picture is of Rama X and the bottom is of Rama IX. The bills of Rama IX are less and less in circulation now. Rama X is now 67 so the picture is of a more youthful man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">50 Baht below top is a picture of an older Rama IX and below is the same youthful picture of Rama X on a 20 baht note</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr8vqz3flkmO6Ecx9U47A4umkgx24cfmU3rVvtGbcTCrb1qWW55yBMN_CMGAl5QF8l4w-fHsSBsTuRDl6s62Y80hNYMgPymEvx_n7874L1-TI9qZJww5dAhJckKBhrElFsadw/s1600/IMG_5356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="610" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr8vqz3flkmO6Ecx9U47A4umkgx24cfmU3rVvtGbcTCrb1qWW55yBMN_CMGAl5QF8l4w-fHsSBsTuRDl6s62Y80hNYMgPymEvx_n7874L1-TI9qZJww5dAhJckKBhrElFsadw/s640/IMG_5356.jpg" width="609" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The backside of the same bills, I believe, with Rama IX, the student. This bill has a number of interesting smaller pictures including Rama IX and his young wife Sirikit.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMXy3s8dI_gOqleTsD-J5ZbqSYBn6ed9BluPROmSlw8bpvaUta9zMQ-tycH52ahCchVSMiPjqnIE1rzFTxFufW9bSsBJPuXbA6PL0b8LNkdEn8f20TgY8Up09KFjhtXMGx5iA/s1600/IMG_5357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMXy3s8dI_gOqleTsD-J5ZbqSYBn6ed9BluPROmSlw8bpvaUta9zMQ-tycH52ahCchVSMiPjqnIE1rzFTxFufW9bSsBJPuXbA6PL0b8LNkdEn8f20TgY8Up09KFjhtXMGx5iA/s640/IMG_5357.jpg" width="532" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uma and I love custard apples (chrimoya in Spanish, seethaphalamu in Telugu, and anona in Hebrew). We bought some twice and introduced this fruit to Nava.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48ZLtYmouemEhAgnJC5K0j_wlS7ffDHG8udb4F_KQ3TFcpL_j9BkWpigbdwMq-GVBtcDAeH_FuwTJy0fsFBySvI3g97B00tFMu5ydoMBK9t73LS-IZZDjDZ6oEG7zBmJmWCKI/s1600/IMG_5333+Custard+Apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48ZLtYmouemEhAgnJC5K0j_wlS7ffDHG8udb4F_KQ3TFcpL_j9BkWpigbdwMq-GVBtcDAeH_FuwTJy0fsFBySvI3g97B00tFMu5ydoMBK9t73LS-IZZDjDZ6oEG7zBmJmWCKI/s400/IMG_5333+Custard+Apple.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE0kmki9hBc5HQZX6E1ne3kgLimGgKcd5WWeUABgnl_3n5Y3k0lt_RwCFQJZiVeimT6T0Hwo9EKpGtpEVe8VIsjopkBqa6KAb3oDBJUbqLOYxM7_afyqKgL-Hu2JV7x5Wpif1/s1600/IMG_5336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE0kmki9hBc5HQZX6E1ne3kgLimGgKcd5WWeUABgnl_3n5Y3k0lt_RwCFQJZiVeimT6T0Hwo9EKpGtpEVe8VIsjopkBqa6KAb3oDBJUbqLOYxM7_afyqKgL-Hu2JV7x5Wpif1/s400/IMG_5336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Several of us had dinner at a very good local Thai restaurant near our hotel called Chef Jack that our guide Tip had recommended. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu6xfiqnUPeYGYOk5AEsJ1FtxVZrjBCZNeK3jq5oXl6CWqyQxeAgevBqfTP1fu6wSC59Oeeezce13_C-7uRL3Psw7vteeSXoyOQJtr4_4CdlJPTq0A6UmCtM39NO2-GvyJCZO/s1600/IMG_5349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu6xfiqnUPeYGYOk5AEsJ1FtxVZrjBCZNeK3jq5oXl6CWqyQxeAgevBqfTP1fu6wSC59Oeeezce13_C-7uRL3Psw7vteeSXoyOQJtr4_4CdlJPTq0A6UmCtM39NO2-GvyJCZO/s400/IMG_5349.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ramada Plaza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTRNnV7_4cv7jfwz_fsdqAuA4bV7XWifF-IFT2G4z-kV-lBKX6-_DfqYk811zhBjBCPml_pM0w-OcZASm_RNgy5kzs_rEYFW_tLEEHE17QNVbGZS6Ly5DrZkt8SmgLTtNulgx/s1600/IMG_5350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTRNnV7_4cv7jfwz_fsdqAuA4bV7XWifF-IFT2G4z-kV-lBKX6-_DfqYk811zhBjBCPml_pM0w-OcZASm_RNgy5kzs_rEYFW_tLEEHE17QNVbGZS6Ly5DrZkt8SmgLTtNulgx/s640/IMG_5350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy, Fresh Sea Bass Dish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN0sA8Vu9LV0RpCdUQlCx0jQG274BSm1R7OnYMovzxInHVW3RgeftBKcq4_Khg8gUnTkQIzeMc2CK-tkRjsIlFhdU02D8jqT11RIY1dKfuu9U2TzjpiQxRZpHnWV8_oIFiaJ3/s1600/IMG_5351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN0sA8Vu9LV0RpCdUQlCx0jQG274BSm1R7OnYMovzxInHVW3RgeftBKcq4_Khg8gUnTkQIzeMc2CK-tkRjsIlFhdU02D8jqT11RIY1dKfuu9U2TzjpiQxRZpHnWV8_oIFiaJ3/s640/IMG_5351.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Yum Chicken Soup</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A number of others in our group of 29 went on an optional boat ride with a buffet dinner and dancing that night. Here is a picture Sam took of some of that group.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufMK5GeInaBjROsEoN4r2EOdRhFhmJWzrTkp1ytS668Wy40k1fnzuAQNAlMyesNihT8lQixy0__SjObNvr8jKh17eyrpwuMbvx7zlMGGDFVm3YR7oMHOyWFMIquktmhKHEK_d/s1600/Sam+Buffet+dinner+Bangkok+optional.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1430" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufMK5GeInaBjROsEoN4r2EOdRhFhmJWzrTkp1ytS668Wy40k1fnzuAQNAlMyesNihT8lQixy0__SjObNvr8jKh17eyrpwuMbvx7zlMGGDFVm3YR7oMHOyWFMIquktmhKHEK_d/s320/Sam+Buffet+dinner+Bangkok+optional.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next morning and next blog--on to Angkor Wat, Cambodia</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-89260497794131504592019-12-22T18:02:00.000-08:002019-12-24T06:15:23.519-08:00Off to SE Asia--Savadee (hello) Bangkok!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Early on November 14, Julie, Nava, and I left on an Eva Air 13-hour flight to Taiwan to start our tour to Bangkok, Angkor Wat (Cambodia), and Vietnam. with Gate 1 travel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We enjoyed our time at the beautiful Taiwan airport with cultural displays, greenery, kiddie play areas and wonderful locally made music boxes on display for sale.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDHWJCXAKiRqozt3U7Gvd-vw1FIU8n_XcAla59hecpRbppgZgceBm_ngcOrUQFzj1Q3iHZn9DF2QIEH1Br3WsYrL_0EF-2GveCQaHgFuxT1aHNhQWVYG9D5ydsp9lmdo1vTvN/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDHWJCXAKiRqozt3U7Gvd-vw1FIU8n_XcAla59hecpRbppgZgceBm_ngcOrUQFzj1Q3iHZn9DF2QIEH1Br3WsYrL_0EF-2GveCQaHgFuxT1aHNhQWVYG9D5ydsp9lmdo1vTvN/s640/IMG_4958.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HW7dWsAa3vLsREe1QF5yjutJ_QztL9rsj7xQaM6d343Dmd_r6j7e0zm0TUCEo4BNsPb9oGvOV0i8-PW5KcNT8WREDHMDa7IXTzHFKpNFDrtoLDlVfhVnF-hXcVYjXanR0seI/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HW7dWsAa3vLsREe1QF5yjutJ_QztL9rsj7xQaM6d343Dmd_r6j7e0zm0TUCEo4BNsPb9oGvOV0i8-PW5KcNT8WREDHMDa7IXTzHFKpNFDrtoLDlVfhVnF-hXcVYjXanR0seI/s640/IMG_4957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk4Lws9REz5cHyC2h6eEuYMwlSi6iJ3v1ZhP4Lxz9HAgXpEAM1fshkExzWEA-XmEjqVhzUXgUSJ9VXKGqqBxHrA3BGfVH_EK-xt35tu6kyokz2M10Rid3lQTCh9RpwWcXOQIO/s1600/IMG_4952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk4Lws9REz5cHyC2h6eEuYMwlSi6iJ3v1ZhP4Lxz9HAgXpEAM1fshkExzWEA-XmEjqVhzUXgUSJ9VXKGqqBxHrA3BGfVH_EK-xt35tu6kyokz2M10Rid3lQTCh9RpwWcXOQIO/s640/IMG_4952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below: live plants growing on a wall garden</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHl6Pa41qAtxhtPZf7UfbjIvMtXRItBR2piGmItcDr74VnXT4iFEfvbhl1_2RXurzeR9ceQtqTu9-yTdgZsVKVhwAMrGCoEm2OzlK8Kea7GwY8kVlSxSro431-lU1u2Sf2GzN/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1280" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHl6Pa41qAtxhtPZf7UfbjIvMtXRItBR2piGmItcDr74VnXT4iFEfvbhl1_2RXurzeR9ceQtqTu9-yTdgZsVKVhwAMrGCoEm2OzlK8Kea7GwY8kVlSxSro431-lU1u2Sf2GzN/s640/IMG_4950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a three hour flight to Bangkok, we were taken to our hotel, the Ramada Plaza. We slept, and the next morning we checked in with our local guide Piangtip (Tip for short). She had us fill out several forms (and checked our Vietnamese visas with our passports to make sure everything was correct. As we sat down to fill out the forms, we laughed when we realized that the three of us were left-handed!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFrWUG1kXYfVEWrc4KTydsBbXt254pO3yHkwKPvwcsNWcfgTB_lK6q-C_u_0xJpvMfnm78cCcddVVsjjBk4GGRKC0TDpOIFvk_LcfmS8CR9wwYyZ0iXfLvkvaoqu7bVX55dl0/s1600/IMG_4970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFrWUG1kXYfVEWrc4KTydsBbXt254pO3yHkwKPvwcsNWcfgTB_lK6q-C_u_0xJpvMfnm78cCcddVVsjjBk4GGRKC0TDpOIFvk_LcfmS8CR9wwYyZ0iXfLvkvaoqu7bVX55dl0/s640/IMG_4970.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tip suggested that we walk to the Asiatique mall about 6 blocks away and mentioned traveling on the modern Sky Train, which costs about $3 each way. Since the average may for many is about ten dollars a day, it's too costly for most Thai. But since tourism is the main income in the country (as well as manufacturing by big international companies which offer livable salaries, the train is used a lot . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Savadee (hello) Bangkok: The three of us took a quick walk to that mall and also discovered a recommended massage place which Uma and Nava took advantage of later. Our hotel, the Ramada Plaza, was situated on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao_Phraya_River" target="_blank">Chao Praya River</a>, the main river through Bangkok, with lots of skyscrapers near the banks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlR7NJxZTNTAOZU7rlPl5AyvWSFXtCWMh2BRlIihzMMuTICKS-lxEYBkC3DxQLpwa-CQbOb9j_nNxm8pgaW7SMSJhAN8YdlM66RNIq5Y5VBeXiL7cTM9abSUanvvsWwgWwd13/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlR7NJxZTNTAOZU7rlPl5AyvWSFXtCWMh2BRlIihzMMuTICKS-lxEYBkC3DxQLpwa-CQbOb9j_nNxm8pgaW7SMSJhAN8YdlM66RNIq5Y5VBeXiL7cTM9abSUanvvsWwgWwd13/s640/IMG_4993.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late afternoon, we met up with our mini-group of 8 inside our larger group of 29, Haia, Jimmy (from Seattle), Uma (from Seattle but via a cousin's wedding in Thailand), and Havazelet and Ofra (from Modi'in, Israel).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The eight of us later walked back to the modern <a href="https://www.hotels.com/go/thailand/asiatique-bangkok" target="_blank">Asiatique</a> outdoor, riverfront mall with a combination of modern higher end items as well as more local items. We watched a young girl dancing with a sign asking for donations to help pay for her school tuition.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MKwOPZhtxBkckX6n6dcLeV8aylBgLoPKRm2uh-3LiYJH2w7C0s3jEGqmk3svLW2QPJhsntKJoI8y88nHMyJiKW-wEaBq1h04aSeaVjt09tKej3o7LxI5zHoGHz42kwjqSSrU/s1600/IMG_4977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MKwOPZhtxBkckX6n6dcLeV8aylBgLoPKRm2uh-3LiYJH2w7C0s3jEGqmk3svLW2QPJhsntKJoI8y88nHMyJiKW-wEaBq1h04aSeaVjt09tKej3o7LxI5zHoGHz42kwjqSSrU/s640/IMG_4977.JPG" width="462" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jimmy took the photo below of the 7 women!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxwJThWyaPk-UvA-gyXhoL3cpBN5oXn30RAFF2feH8ay7NYYzqvIebHuOFDCHDqgMGHZG9rQItNzlr-H_rm3FgTu_jjuQqcpc1R4wmfCT9KNBHj7z0Gs5M2VuyJMlD3XK0_O0/s1600/Asiatiquemall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxwJThWyaPk-UvA-gyXhoL3cpBN5oXn30RAFF2feH8ay7NYYzqvIebHuOFDCHDqgMGHZG9rQItNzlr-H_rm3FgTu_jjuQqcpc1R4wmfCT9KNBHj7z0Gs5M2VuyJMlD3XK0_O0/s640/Asiatiquemall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> After eating at an OK Thai restaurant that Tip recommended, we headed home to sleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jimmy set up with Tip a private trip for the eight of us to the Damnoen Saduak floating market about 90 minutes to the south for Saturday, our free day before meeting up with our group. For $37 each we got a private van with driver and our great guide Darah. She explained that there are 69 million people in the country, of which approximately 5 to 6 million are Muslim. There are different languages in the country. In the NE, the language is similar to Lao. In the South, it's similar to Cambodian. Darah speaks a language similar to Chinese. The Thai language is taught in schools and is mostly spoken in the central area of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way, we saw a lot of above-ground wires smushed together. They were for electricity, cable TV, and cell phones, since the water table in Bangkok was too high to put them underground.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-X2Z7cMfKHCrtRtQsIS7AvIcFgAvV40-UrTAE2nUJxe2BnLBUZoMVpE2TENWEVWqJBTTQ47hyphenhyphenH1pVM-e-CbVRJdQ4cWS0CurXAOtTM3DsZEQXwOfum8wjZexw88ejt3JBtx4/s1600/IMG_5127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-X2Z7cMfKHCrtRtQsIS7AvIcFgAvV40-UrTAE2nUJxe2BnLBUZoMVpE2TENWEVWqJBTTQ47hyphenhyphenH1pVM-e-CbVRJdQ4cWS0CurXAOtTM3DsZEQXwOfum8wjZexw88ejt3JBtx4/s400/IMG_5127.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed a number of rice fields on a busy highway. Thailand and Vietnam are the top rice exporters in the world. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8hnE2xg6_NLscxTHWbYRbgm5oaNH_3wOz5F-JJkYXc1qScqENgSIPGUc8_75ZVkXZWOr-zQ99WX4D3eXsxJRf4n3Yy5MA0-1HkQfccWLVhw6pMe6ihpmpPeM4ijwst0Lp15b/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1511" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8hnE2xg6_NLscxTHWbYRbgm5oaNH_3wOz5F-JJkYXc1qScqENgSIPGUc8_75ZVkXZWOr-zQ99WX4D3eXsxJRf4n3Yy5MA0-1HkQfccWLVhw6pMe6ihpmpPeM4ijwst0Lp15b/s640/IMG_4995.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon went through the town of Samot Sankorn (where the famous Siamese twins were from) with the local Train Market, so named because the market is on the tracks and the stands have to move quickly twice a day, one being at the height of the market time 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. when the trains pass through.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70AgBPuZb4InvEnoqo5vJCjEU0ctIxBfhNab81lXKNzd7yPyJHPM6MNNf81IKcEx5kl-3Df5qKorOZGkTia1tIg1rgmtiPL0ZdB7vq1enkaAFjRbZP_5vmY0fCeeBXnI3o01x/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1331" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70AgBPuZb4InvEnoqo5vJCjEU0ctIxBfhNab81lXKNzd7yPyJHPM6MNNf81IKcEx5kl-3Df5qKorOZGkTia1tIg1rgmtiPL0ZdB7vq1enkaAFjRbZP_5vmY0fCeeBXnI3o01x/s640/IMG_4996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close to the market, we stopped at a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut" target="_blank">coconut</a> farm, where a lot of products are made from the coconuts. Whole ones are sold on streets for people to drink the delicious milk from. <span style="text-align: center;">All parts of the coconut are useful: shells for bowls and ornaments, leaves for brooms, lotions, and the coconut syrup for sugar, for example.</span> Locals do not often eat the coconut meat fresh but dry it, grate it, or use it for other purposes. Coconut meat is high in protein and can produce for three generations!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darah offering us some of the meat to try. It was delicious.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The coconut flower is huge and the largest "seeds" are used for planting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaH-1OR-SDykL-SAks3fbCJNNnNI8axx2oBM_07N3tgx9iULxycO3FzLN-lZxIduqnOAWMQeQzNvRvGGwa8PU-KE6dCiLz6XwdIFFcIKzMb0PO5QnhIemPlogWNYcJrlzzMbH/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaH-1OR-SDykL-SAks3fbCJNNnNI8axx2oBM_07N3tgx9iULxycO3FzLN-lZxIduqnOAWMQeQzNvRvGGwa8PU-KE6dCiLz6XwdIFFcIKzMb0PO5QnhIemPlogWNYcJrlzzMbH/s640/IMG_4999.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darah holding a coconut flower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig72tY2veQeew7hA8JkNorLzh6LJjY1RPi60k7vpiiDxIpmgNYC47JVFEIRFTTECx-uv8vup_7qp3bqpDXOLP4LMCdH1auh-7PnjL1q8Ij-MpZHe1FI58HZZNrSxOt2SFq-oPe/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig72tY2veQeew7hA8JkNorLzh6LJjY1RPi60k7vpiiDxIpmgNYC47JVFEIRFTTECx-uv8vup_7qp3bqpDXOLP4LMCdH1auh-7PnjL1q8Ij-MpZHe1FI58HZZNrSxOt2SFq-oPe/s640/IMG_5002.JPG" width="614" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coconut sugar cubes. Some thing this is better for one that refined cane sugar.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The syrup is made from the nectar of the coconut palm flowers.When the tip of the flower is cut and then the flower squeezed, the nectar comes out. It is then boiled for 1.5 hours to make the syrup and then pure coconut sugar. It didn't look like something I would want to try. But since I do use coconut sugar at home, I wanted to see what this coconut sugar tasted like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thailand has had a number of royal dynasties. The Chakri dynasty, which began in 1782 is the current one. The kings in this dynasty are referred to as Rama.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was fascinating to learn that Thailand was never colonized. Rama IX, who died three years ago and ruled for 70 years, was revered by his people for all that he did to help them. He helped modernize Thailand while preserving the culture. His son Rama X was officially crowned about six months ago. He was the only son and had 3 sisters. He has yet to gain the respect of his people like his father had.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The two kings before Rama IX, were close to the British monarchs, so the first car to arrive in Thailand was imported in 1902 from England. As a result, the Thai drive on the left side of the road to this day. Rama V, King Chulalongkorn, was taught for five years by Anna Leonowens, the "star" in "The King and I."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The van took us to a man-made canal off of the Chayo Praya river, and from there we went in two covered motorboats along the canal, seeing homes and businesses in villages along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This river started south of the Chang Mai mountains in the north, about 500 miles (K?) away. This river was known as the river of the king. The movie "The Man with the Golden Gun"was filmed partly in this market and along the river. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-fvU3536uEwBEaeyUmcY9lbTQcHdMd0QaJbCo4licmxpCqNIlBqDPS10KxT8rUlmSHa4jpw45PYLRvV4Vp0gTBbvTIctsaMF9wc6YFgdBndqQa-YDOpGxQ0lMBTaRQqEuAZj/s1600/JimmyMotorBoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="718" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-fvU3536uEwBEaeyUmcY9lbTQcHdMd0QaJbCo4licmxpCqNIlBqDPS10KxT8rUlmSHa4jpw45PYLRvV4Vp0gTBbvTIctsaMF9wc6YFgdBndqQa-YDOpGxQ0lMBTaRQqEuAZj/s640/JimmyMotorBoat.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A motorboat similar to ours</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From 1866 to 1868, by order of King Rama IV, the 20-mile (32 K) long Damnoen Saduak Canal was constructed to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin Rivers. It was mainly dug by Chinese to connect the local Thai and to provide transportation to the main rivers. These laborers were given land in the are for their work. About 200 ancillary canals were built by Thai villagers to better connect them. First produce and necessities were delivered by boat along the canals, and then the market was started over 100 years ago. Many smaller floating markets developed. When a road was opened into the area in 1967, many of the markets disappeared. In 1971, a market was developed by the Tourism industry and then expanded into this market ten years later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Along the way, the other group saw this giant on the side of a canal. It's probably a Monitor lizard, sometimes called a Thai Komodo dragon, which is a close relative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shrines such as the one below are found in front of businesses and homes for respect and protection.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20l0jwjrM4xMQPtLXL2H9jtgbeRhdigHiLy5YKpwITZzKTfilynWZd_NtUQboCg53LNdH6a4fRjk6NfDSeMO30QBfu3NisJMOci4zteNdcSYqKDEwmKhlTCD2-HZR_2LXAxM0/s1600/IMG_5024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="831" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20l0jwjrM4xMQPtLXL2H9jtgbeRhdigHiLy5YKpwITZzKTfilynWZd_NtUQboCg53LNdH6a4fRjk6NfDSeMO30QBfu3NisJMOci4zteNdcSYqKDEwmKhlTCD2-HZR_2LXAxM0/s640/IMG_5024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnoen_Saduak_Floating_Market" target="_blank">Damnoen Saduak</a> floating market is probably the oldest, largest in the area, and the only one open 7 days a week. In the early morning, the vendors are at the market, and then the ones in boats go out to villages along the canal and river to homes to sell their fruit, vegetables, cooked meals, and housewares. We got there at about 11 so many of the boats were already gone.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCZYJ-Ps3vRuicUQwgRiJyKe81p6VzVfbN2rhz_PdYS2eayVaT4z2cU3vDoV98p1JUh0nsLtiA_EkUDYLur-bQx1mgrqHwzqnNSUjlwM_lGg9BOaJKKzfamoo7kgwOMabZ5f3/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="996" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCZYJ-Ps3vRuicUQwgRiJyKe81p6VzVfbN2rhz_PdYS2eayVaT4z2cU3vDoV98p1JUh0nsLtiA_EkUDYLur-bQx1mgrqHwzqnNSUjlwM_lGg9BOaJKKzfamoo7kgwOMabZ5f3/s640/IMG_1737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The older section is to the back and the newer section to the left and right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw6Rx-IZ-3pNqakDTxQfyACuZar2OGdy1XeFRMKftCHNArg2dBolJTwxcgefnvzsMzattafIq4Oe4B7Ca1GPPUHIJQmEBHIxofocnI1Ti5ukpKB6WbvvSnv4ArXGxxC52Uwos/s1600/IMG_5032+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1065" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw6Rx-IZ-3pNqakDTxQfyACuZar2OGdy1XeFRMKftCHNArg2dBolJTwxcgefnvzsMzattafIq4Oe4B7Ca1GPPUHIJQmEBHIxofocnI1Ti5ukpKB6WbvvSnv4ArXGxxC52Uwos/s640/IMG_5032+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fruit vendor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iBXcmMOcNBoOvGgRLXb-WUkkn2tVHrlYKfBLdzAwWFwsh0ewReddlTmanXN7ucL_Gw9E7yQlBMx7oxqx-wKLqjhuwJBXrZERWMx6oslh6U5yuuGABUdVd4Gkosd5MTQP-c4U/s1600/JimmyFoodBoats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="746" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iBXcmMOcNBoOvGgRLXb-WUkkn2tVHrlYKfBLdzAwWFwsh0ewReddlTmanXN7ucL_Gw9E7yQlBMx7oxqx-wKLqjhuwJBXrZERWMx6oslh6U5yuuGABUdVd4Gkosd5MTQP-c4U/s640/JimmyFoodBoats.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A floating restaurant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRHaiMeD2YLSmStffEcdQTonudRcG1SrhzF1kMzK65s3WDrrgl_PYZ43HAabBrP5-jbIj5hjSMfv_ikeLvJvVIniEYj7h1rC9Iy6c866CM6G5ENGZxMm_HVEm1-uVjXLFTNw9/s1600/IMG_5033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1323" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRHaiMeD2YLSmStffEcdQTonudRcG1SrhzF1kMzK65s3WDrrgl_PYZ43HAabBrP5-jbIj5hjSMfv_ikeLvJvVIniEYj7h1rC9Iy6c866CM6G5ENGZxMm_HVEm1-uVjXLFTNw9/s640/IMG_5033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cook selling meals and patrons behind her in the "restaurant" area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdjFPngH87Wu5FCtjBu6Pl_Dj1AxZtvj_RxOPS9JUPxNcRV43S1j9cBv_VJ1GL-eB3GbsgAE7nv9Axm9Y61rdhUSdqUFgXLJ5FyRmjgFBUnD2UXSiMLM-qLt08tO9QVlJFNGg/s1600/JimmyBridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdjFPngH87Wu5FCtjBu6Pl_Dj1AxZtvj_RxOPS9JUPxNcRV43S1j9cBv_VJ1GL-eB3GbsgAE7nv9Axm9Y61rdhUSdqUFgXLJ5FyRmjgFBUnD2UXSiMLM-qLt08tO9QVlJFNGg/s640/JimmyBridge.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken from the bridge. Earlier in the morning it would have been filled with boats. Permanent stalls were on both sides of the canal. Uma was the best bargainer of our group and gladly helped us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing Dishes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a web picture showing how busy the market is earlier in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uma and I were delighted to find custard apples (chirimoya, seethaphalamu in Telugu) in the market and bought a bunch. We also found yummy<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longan" target="_blank"> longan</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man and his son (playing on his phone) waiting for tourists to have their picture taken with one of these snakes. This definitely is a hub for tourists!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We traveled back to our hotel on the road, then met a few hours later to walk to go to the new <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconsiam" target="_blank">IconSiam </a>multipurpose development (hotels, residences, a museum, and a high-end and also main malls) across the river, with our focus being the mall, which opened in November, 2018. We took the free Ramada hotel river shuttle to a main stop, and then took the IconSiam river shuttle across the river to the mall, which is one of the largest in Asia. It also includes the two tallest buildings in Bangkok, 52 and 70-story tall residences. We arrived after dark, and the lighting was spectacular.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7lV2aTJj1CdN8UvcFYpMoBTCROLTyBYXbMQxOzjA84yI8aF8XRh55TwTcxMV6_BLWnGzd290oylllTfJ3AdFQ63bhnSPejbfLRU7QblXEidDWuE2uDsZn-FWJwUrX1a3kPCn/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7lV2aTJj1CdN8UvcFYpMoBTCROLTyBYXbMQxOzjA84yI8aF8XRh55TwTcxMV6_BLWnGzd290oylllTfJ3AdFQ63bhnSPejbfLRU7QblXEidDWuE2uDsZn-FWJwUrX1a3kPCn/s640/IMG_1747.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry to the Mall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside on the main floor were a number of restaurants around the sides, small open stalls to sell clothing, desserts, street food, and much much more. It was overwhelming. Julie got a blue batik blouse that she wore on the trip! The pictures below will give you a taste of this place---no pun intended.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried fish for sale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-CmBlfphPxw1p8AL0KL42i9S-jcHFCFl6fwZW-YrvOPijhYI501r_LnMHBU-G1c1ei7J5w1DhnlbTqRbxRCNrHQWceHNsdpT46ClJW2tv_IhWK0INoLhO8JETVHalU2M1Ujd/s1600/JimmyIconSiamFoodPrep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-CmBlfphPxw1p8AL0KL42i9S-jcHFCFl6fwZW-YrvOPijhYI501r_LnMHBU-G1c1ei7J5w1DhnlbTqRbxRCNrHQWceHNsdpT46ClJW2tv_IhWK0INoLhO8JETVHalU2M1Ujd/s640/JimmyIconSiamFoodPrep.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noodles plus for sale, pick your additions</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Julie found some vegetarian pastries; Uma tried the tasty, spicy noodles, and the picture below of chicken feet at a small restaurant fascinated me, as I loved them as a child in my bobae's fricassee, so I got the hot pot soup--about $3.30 US, and the restaurant manager brought it to the tiny table half way down the market with squatting level stools where I joined the others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked afterwards, and saw the more exclusive stores on the next two levels. Below is a picture looking up to the other floors. The museum is on the top floor.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the second floor, we saw this beautiful (laquered?) painting on the wall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we left the mall, we were greeted by a beautiful water, music and light show, a lovely way to end the day. I fell asleep with the lights of the water show playing over and over in my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day, November 17, we met the other 21 in our group and start our adventure with them. </span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-36925747638754985952019-06-05T09:49:00.000-07:002019-06-05T09:49:19.251-07:00Tanzania part 3: Off to Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater--WOW!!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Mid-day, Wednesday, February 6--still windy</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just before lunch, we arrived at the <a href="https://www.serengetinationalpark.com/entries/naabi-hill-gate" target="_blank">Naabi Holl</a></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.serengetinationalpark.com/entries/naabi-hill-gate" target="_blank"> Gate</a>, the main entrance to Serengeti National Park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First we saw a solitary hyena near the road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw another one in the distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then saw it was a pack of six!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_2138703819"></span><span id="goog_2138703820"></span>We next stopped at a beautiful rest area for a gourmet lunch and also went for a short hike up a hill to get a view of the area.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLYvXCshqY_VVo8uluaW9_UIiceXADOWP7jNNqmdlcv6LAcn3o7TbgVl4AKuv3a5a-qg9Vgs5Uf75oBxtQuSOekYZWWoDAblP8Ax7rBBUQtRlmky1scAAY2aPKx2gpiLbkhJP/s1600/DSC03522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="1600" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLYvXCshqY_VVo8uluaW9_UIiceXADOWP7jNNqmdlcv6LAcn3o7TbgVl4AKuv3a5a-qg9Vgs5Uf75oBxtQuSOekYZWWoDAblP8Ax7rBBUQtRlmky1scAAY2aPKx2gpiLbkhJP/s640/DSC03522.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roast chicken, veggie kabob, and more</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A lot of superb starlings waiting patiently for crumbs to drop</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This group of travelers were more interested in their phones (with WiFi reception available) than the beautiful birds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A small reptile greeted us at the top of our climb.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw more superb starlings before heading back out into the park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first big sighting was over 100 zebras spread out near the road, the largest group we had seen in one place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we started to see some big volcanic rocks....and many more. Some have caves under them where leopards hide their babies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fitiael told us to look at a distant tree, and with effort we spotted an elusive animal. See if you can spot it in the first picture. It's legs are hanging down from a branch. You may have a better chance in the second photo, and hopefully you will find it in the third! In the latter two, the photo is taken from the reverse direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leopards often take their kill up a tree to avoid another animal stealing it. They often eat gazelles and impalas. Leopard babies at 3 months can climb trees so leopard cubs are safe from lions and hyenas, who kill leopard cubs to reduce competition. The leopard mothers leave their cubs when they are a year to a year and half old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Then, a bit down the road, we saw four warthogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A bit later we saw 6 banded mongoose on termite hill, plus two babies. They eat termites and small reptiles. You can see the two babies in the lower left of the termite hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dark clouds but no rain in the area. It was supposed to begin in another two to three weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some baboons passed by.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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Cute tush?</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way to our lodging for the next two nights, the <a href="https://www.sopalodges.com/serengeti-sopa-lodge/the-lodge" target="_blank">Serengeti Sopa Lodge</a>, we saw several <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topi" target="_blank">Topi</a>. (Several of us missed the luxury tents and the special feeling from being in nature.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We enjoyed a visit to the cold pool followed by a hot shower, dinner, and bed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1JjYzmskkrUOElABADMiH5N85qVJ8Hwi1xcOd2MwelC9Qmg2zCMJXkyttY2s4y-va3JlHAfdPlvAGE0yShjNyNPOhVpKXittAGWkNzXY3zMEdThoshxbQCWdRhuqAPEWDLZy/s1600/IMG_9975+Seren+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1JjYzmskkrUOElABADMiH5N85qVJ8Hwi1xcOd2MwelC9Qmg2zCMJXkyttY2s4y-va3JlHAfdPlvAGE0yShjNyNPOhVpKXittAGWkNzXY3zMEdThoshxbQCWdRhuqAPEWDLZy/s640/IMG_9975+Seren+Pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PnP-X99J9tu3gUn8jBQK_NO3rrNk_qvxAodMZda__OS5AuaCG6GQC472dFECmPOfyoyWrmYgsdIyJm_YkjEnmJVerdAaEo8VKCJUhV4fCVezRtoXFa6jTBJY135OhyphenhyphenHMzd3f/s1600/IMG_9976+Seren+dinner+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1195" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PnP-X99J9tu3gUn8jBQK_NO3rrNk_qvxAodMZda__OS5AuaCG6GQC472dFECmPOfyoyWrmYgsdIyJm_YkjEnmJVerdAaEo8VKCJUhV4fCVezRtoXFa6jTBJY135OhyphenhyphenHMzd3f/s640/IMG_9976+Seren+dinner+menu.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4msUAauPvw-IbM7x_hk3mRadUIkgcqx-ChTCfcJzLQNsig1Fr6oGAREC977DjNfJgOoUotHiPskVo6oUB_Ch4WbSHhf0g9V47609TniCaqLEcEKlndeumLe2WPukG2dscFaWU/s1600/IMG_9979.+Seren+appetizer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4msUAauPvw-IbM7x_hk3mRadUIkgcqx-ChTCfcJzLQNsig1Fr6oGAREC977DjNfJgOoUotHiPskVo6oUB_Ch4WbSHhf0g9V47609TniCaqLEcEKlndeumLe2WPukG2dscFaWU/s640/IMG_9979.+Seren+appetizer.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goat cheese bruschetta</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLLtTwXUMaMeAy31J_yo1VfdE9QIYaPig7hFHQT74flxSWNVZWB1M7rUMLKuiIMAK2D3NdLFJHu5bGmXzz2WLaIXOQvmQqAqGqc2cQA44W29LlcZKdMKhKEgVRPcEgcJGhvcL/s1600/IMG_9980seren+foodjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLLtTwXUMaMeAy31J_yo1VfdE9QIYaPig7hFHQT74flxSWNVZWB1M7rUMLKuiIMAK2D3NdLFJHu5bGmXzz2WLaIXOQvmQqAqGqc2cQA44W29LlcZKdMKhKEgVRPcEgcJGhvcL/s640/IMG_9980seren+foodjpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Taste of Tanzania</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RdfT2f9yuanrwAvAXKOSVHW1HhEbaAb2XjBJhYCnfA5Y0wzzdMOzGXg-hLjsEOJtR_dBAUejnd2vnzIZdK1efI5LSjLFj-ZV0iLmCYks4N8Cx19Pk1PyYIriSSEpFZCVxh5k/s1600/IMG_9981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RdfT2f9yuanrwAvAXKOSVHW1HhEbaAb2XjBJhYCnfA5Y0wzzdMOzGXg-hLjsEOJtR_dBAUejnd2vnzIZdK1efI5LSjLFj-ZV0iLmCYks4N8Cx19Pk1PyYIriSSEpFZCVxh5k/s640/IMG_9981.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical fruit salad in a chocolate-flavored tulip basket</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Thursday, February 7:</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The flowers around the lodge were labeled, including this one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7RNolWA2-D0ZudosaJmj803zFpXy8-3AJVmJWHVPwXw0odp7EueXO2SwbwUt07PrIjAkLisYs_Hsjq3agjiPl0nXz5YgKbRtOTca8cc5EsHOFnHgWPoZ1W-Dh7PsD5aDgzAX/s1600/DSC03577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7RNolWA2-D0ZudosaJmj803zFpXy8-3AJVmJWHVPwXw0odp7EueXO2SwbwUt07PrIjAkLisYs_Hsjq3agjiPl0nXz5YgKbRtOTca8cc5EsHOFnHgWPoZ1W-Dh7PsD5aDgzAX/s640/DSC03577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And this beautiful tree was on the grounds too:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed into the Serengeti savanna and first saw an impressive group of male impalas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then saw a lion and lioness, almost hidden. They usually would be in a pride, but it is mating season, so they eat and then pair off to mate. They are alone for 3-4 days but they have just eaten and their tummies are full.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we saw more than ten water buffalo grazing. They are very aggressive, so our driver/ guide keeps his distance. When lions attack them, they can often defend themselves with their horns and severely injure the lions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next viewing was of<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk%27s_dik-dik" target="_blank"> Kirks' dik dik</a> with huge eyes, one of the smaller animals in the antelope family. The adult weighs an average of 5 kilos (12 lb.) His eyes look big because of the black around them and then the white to make them stand out more. They were</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so-o-o-o very cute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">followed by a small wire-tailed swallow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was the day to see hippos--our first sighting was of six or more in a very stinky river. The smell was from their urine, and it was overpowering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hippos cannot sweat so they stay in the river during the day to keep cool. The red mucus spots on their backs are protection from the sun. At night they venture out to eat grass, as they are vegetarian. They run fast, but they also are too big to have predators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we viewed this Great Crowned crane:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A juvenile martial eagle:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 more hippos wallowing in shallow water with </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey headed crane behind them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM6Ov08C58eKmVapdiR9cGtsYTxX3aL3gokulA_siynhc-c7xxojbkGgtBPkLvHVMZNYMyZ-42-gcouW_ynLkJ34XJ0rRhQqCCymAAct0RTo_PXeeyqNWiZ_t7zv6fMjMnpW7/s1600/DSC03604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1328" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM6Ov08C58eKmVapdiR9cGtsYTxX3aL3gokulA_siynhc-c7xxojbkGgtBPkLvHVMZNYMyZ-42-gcouW_ynLkJ34XJ0rRhQqCCymAAct0RTo_PXeeyqNWiZ_t7zv6fMjMnpW7/s640/DSC03604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Grey backed shrike nearby</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-KIU65BkfQPNLvvyyko8XXuJZVlY4g1rIYXE0JhzT1VZLpsyKR-CQDWsYBV8L85HVQWzrKu5psIYIjfbjbFJnt6GLvv2g9vfxJZbQ3ni3W1zDKnYT-r39lvrkEl2m1TpJ45u/s1600/DSC03605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1125" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-KIU65BkfQPNLvvyyko8XXuJZVlY4g1rIYXE0JhzT1VZLpsyKR-CQDWsYBV8L85HVQWzrKu5psIYIjfbjbFJnt6GLvv2g9vfxJZbQ3ni3W1zDKnYT-r39lvrkEl2m1TpJ45u/s640/DSC03605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And superb starlings at the top of a tall acacia tree. Notice how pointy the thorns are!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapUulndVK-oe8w3LaYSeKvz3zOlVJRFdQ6YLihmFfHgn_zk6CAUiEinPgewZzxr_aocySfK3fKpIPMlt6lCfiTHjUmzvNayRRjSCCwtXRgRjmpTkSmajg1BmSzLVVDoVlw5Bq/s1600/DSC03607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1100" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapUulndVK-oe8w3LaYSeKvz3zOlVJRFdQ6YLihmFfHgn_zk6CAUiEinPgewZzxr_aocySfK3fKpIPMlt6lCfiTHjUmzvNayRRjSCCwtXRgRjmpTkSmajg1BmSzLVVDoVlw5Bq/s640/DSC03607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw 7 zebras close nearby with their heads move up and down as they move. It looks awkward to us but is natural to them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hundreds of water buffalo in the distance. Some wallow in mud, so look slimy when the mud dries, Ticks and other insects on their skin suffocate after the mud dries.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ex3GnW6x3Huz5NNc8yhYNdGff8ihMaNYS66T_NGZT8xVOuZWFicdsDq__S0PFmygPg0q802iMCka9ZjKvJqfvxFSVHablzmQLlKZN_5_SXj_O2xN1d7LxKadk8HawLN7NEli/s1600/DSC03614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ex3GnW6x3Huz5NNc8yhYNdGff8ihMaNYS66T_NGZT8xVOuZWFicdsDq__S0PFmygPg0q802iMCka9ZjKvJqfvxFSVHablzmQLlKZN_5_SXj_O2xN1d7LxKadk8HawLN7NEli/s640/DSC03614.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Water buffalo carcass is pictured below. It probably was a solitary, weakened animal so a predator could catch it. Lions killed it and ate their fill and were resting nearby. Vultures also had eaten their fill and are on a nearby tree.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRreiA1qocUAojVIll_B39cYhY9M8CPV3MFH5psDfCM8pQEmJVGF2gf8w6LOlEkMMkhyphenhyphenuy1oHkoZ1beBXDQtHye8N9A49UxbSyc24Gsrm6wZEE27wcuKxBtRtcMvEtTdwwPuc/s1600/DSC03610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1049" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRreiA1qocUAojVIll_B39cYhY9M8CPV3MFH5psDfCM8pQEmJVGF2gf8w6LOlEkMMkhyphenhyphenuy1oHkoZ1beBXDQtHye8N9A49UxbSyc24Gsrm6wZEE27wcuKxBtRtcMvEtTdwwPuc/s640/DSC03610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LOTS of water buffalo babies were seen in the large group. They are born brown but between 3-5 months change to black. Two plus hours after birth, the babies can move with their mothers. They don't walk long distances in one day if they have enough to eat and drink. Water buffaloes need drink two to three times a day so have to stay near available water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They don't consider humans or Land Cruisers a danger to them, but if we were to have gotten out of the vehicles, they could have attacked.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1nJS1LCM-Gu7f4TgYYgXoqMqt11tu0ZOGdESAY7Tb4KXlpmlRbhbl1Cv-Nl6c17PU-oytAahd7lcLaD4XwG6PhNoQ7_lvYz_wUZeBNr7OdBMiq9wEtojBQDtu0mwIu8Kxez3/s1600/DSC03630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1330" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1nJS1LCM-Gu7f4TgYYgXoqMqt11tu0ZOGdESAY7Tb4KXlpmlRbhbl1Cv-Nl6c17PU-oytAahd7lcLaD4XwG6PhNoQ7_lvYz_wUZeBNr7OdBMiq9wEtojBQDtu0mwIu8Kxez3/s640/DSC03630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They push-stab with their horns and can kill lions who often kill water buffalo babies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle egrets and yellow billed or red peckers are on some of the water buffaloes. They help remove insects as they eat. </span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They eat soft green grains,and also are four- chamber rumen animals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon found a huge school of hippos, more than 100 in a pond. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black birds on the hippos eats parasites on these huge mammals.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpJOcWpfwti8mz_KIYtFpzXGU9d2XzjX8J92yduFd5S-G-VQt8O3zYcM5H5V8-zB8axU5zOPaqW9WsWu-WQtLJREHNeXm3SKsewO8bPR7TRAq8S3y6no8iFJCUV-pB0CH7B0x/s1600/DSC03641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1173" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpJOcWpfwti8mz_KIYtFpzXGU9d2XzjX8J92yduFd5S-G-VQt8O3zYcM5H5V8-zB8axU5zOPaqW9WsWu-WQtLJREHNeXm3SKsewO8bPR7TRAq8S3y6no8iFJCUV-pB0CH7B0x/s640/DSC03641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black birds on the hippos eats parasites on these huge mammals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped for lunch at a beautiful oasis-like area, the Serengetti Visitors/ Center, where we saw<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax" target="_blank"> hyraxes</a> and yellow spotted barbets. Hyraxes are small vegetarian mammals and are closely related to elephants and manatees. They are definitely not afraid of humans. We were advised not to feed them as they are wild animals and need to fend for their own food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The yellow-spotted barbets were underfoot but not as close as the hydrax! They were actually brighter than in this photo.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9MT0bLibo8xKM0T6Dk9pp1xUH4GwdD2n_5ClCN-NKIvcwguy9H8x-USt_Y1JB3Qq4vc4jsJ-Q6NMvdyB3cPe06hof8nDjrGdW8eUhYUuY6cR-BDHVzeWOCJ9ifM6Uo2-cIh8/s1600/DSC03645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1332" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9MT0bLibo8xKM0T6Dk9pp1xUH4GwdD2n_5ClCN-NKIvcwguy9H8x-USt_Y1JB3Qq4vc4jsJ-Q6NMvdyB3cPe06hof8nDjrGdW8eUhYUuY6cR-BDHVzeWOCJ9ifM6Uo2-cIh8/s640/DSC03645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then went with a walk with a guide-in-training named Noela who took us through the visual history of the area and of the animals who reside here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First we saw bones of different animals and tried to guess whose they were. I was most fascinated by the giraffe bones. I knew their legs were long, but to see the bone next to Noeli really helped me to understand how long they were....and how heavy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Part of a giraffe's spinal column:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are skulls of different kinds of antelope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then walked up their trail, with Noeli explaining parts. Each sign was in Kiswahili and English. The signs were interesting, but you are welcome to skip them and get on with more photos of animals. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Animals that migrate together, wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZep9SbSYvrR1khcWR3bchsmckhscYFud8lwAe1oUew-kDi-ifoWmoKDEBljwh9o0pLCUNG31Bc9mGu-wLF2ZhKqxXDiNsSYi_pLqG3VqwBRaCc24fV6whRHjA4Bcpi3wzJKu/s1600/DSC03689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZep9SbSYvrR1khcWR3bchsmckhscYFud8lwAe1oUew-kDi-ifoWmoKDEBljwh9o0pLCUNG31Bc9mGu-wLF2ZhKqxXDiNsSYi_pLqG3VqwBRaCc24fV6whRHjA4Bcpi3wzJKu/s640/DSC03689.JPG" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We human animals, climbed the stairs around the path. Notice the animal tracks embedded in the cement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also read about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nyerere" target="_blank">President Nyerere's</a> goal to protect Tazania's wildlife and his work with German <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Grzimek" target="_blank"> Bernhard Grzimek</a>, famous for his work on conservation of the Serengeti. Nyerere was a controversial figure internationally but beloved by his countrymen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left the center and headed back out in the Serengeti</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ccIO2DT8K6pIJsklS23l-f0FDaMNwZ0GBJFg8SZoI1jAXEQ_A12Yls8SAnqZwa4rMUwISucVhLC7Ivn_MgyDx4m1SpHP32n-EjVqBYfxjTm_zWzA05BCE9YNeaBl6trttpc3/s1600/DSC03709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ccIO2DT8K6pIJsklS23l-f0FDaMNwZ0GBJFg8SZoI1jAXEQ_A12Yls8SAnqZwa4rMUwISucVhLC7Ivn_MgyDx4m1SpHP32n-EjVqBYfxjTm_zWzA05BCE9YNeaBl6trttpc3/s640/DSC03709.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And saw our first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartebeest" target="_blank">Hartebees</a>t, which is larger than an Impala but smaller than an Eland, and abut the same size as a Topi. All are in the antelope family. But the picture below is a topi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO65TtyFbkcw6BWipA6qKEo6bEqNgR5YL-yjbn2oTXjBqNvNZzsW0EpE4MZPqvBau2ZVaxnfJ7mlbHxQc_KEswbXg4ancNWxN4Sttk9obh6om05CWIv_qsoW-NgUsktz8iT3zk/s1600/DSC03712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1147" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO65TtyFbkcw6BWipA6qKEo6bEqNgR5YL-yjbn2oTXjBqNvNZzsW0EpE4MZPqvBau2ZVaxnfJ7mlbHxQc_KEswbXg4ancNWxN4Sttk9obh6om05CWIv_qsoW-NgUsktz8iT3zk/s640/DSC03712.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notice the bands on the legs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMIPA03y95ff7XoLoIXCJi41T3c0CsEFdqeR6R2RSnHJadrxTYYO0wZhZ_hzVWZDd4LSkFIrIlQ4S-P2tacHOwj-TBINaTgNBgUdTjtvj3X4d9oke5UHtsE_yem4Drffj-EgM/s1600/DSC03713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1002" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMIPA03y95ff7XoLoIXCJi41T3c0CsEFdqeR6R2RSnHJadrxTYYO0wZhZ_hzVWZDd4LSkFIrIlQ4S-P2tacHOwj-TBINaTgNBgUdTjtvj3X4d9oke5UHtsE_yem4Drffj-EgM/s640/DSC03713.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw a cheetah almost hidden under a tree. Hunting goes by size, so cheetahs do not hunt Topi as they are too big.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first sighting was of a few giraffes close up with a small impala in the background</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Giraffes spent 70% of their lives eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDopo5lHYAxHAM92MGfYwA8hNQHCykbBgUzC7ZAbj7lqY-Hg5c8kb9xBYoW657pyow5oMeFPCHIaUFhVFlPjugFUNkSAQC-IF59-CSAm_BcUaMz8Hg2O4DRMmqMQ02DLZZZ11G/s1600/DSC03720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1380" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDopo5lHYAxHAM92MGfYwA8hNQHCykbBgUzC7ZAbj7lqY-Hg5c8kb9xBYoW657pyow5oMeFPCHIaUFhVFlPjugFUNkSAQC-IF59-CSAm_BcUaMz8Hg2O4DRMmqMQ02DLZZZ11G/s640/DSC03720.JPG" width="550" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon we passed a large group of male impalas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Females are in a harem system with one dominant male and up to 20 females.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s76nCeqv3zzmMUL-storsYFJ7qrKsBi8b-cufnxeUl5bRQ1I9R241GQjV9sJHdBNPYXYGGylcuacTk_hbmkzd_mjQIc8wY5NNO2auIR04J4zRb3sQlzJey-Cfe855OVNAfSi/s1600/DSC03723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s76nCeqv3zzmMUL-storsYFJ7qrKsBi8b-cufnxeUl5bRQ1I9R241GQjV9sJHdBNPYXYGGylcuacTk_hbmkzd_mjQIc8wY5NNO2auIR04J4zRb3sQlzJey-Cfe855OVNAfSi/s640/DSC03723.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A rare sighting for us: a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serval" target="_blank">Serval</a> (small spotted cat), which is rare to see during the day as it usually is active at night. It is the size of a mini-cheetah. It has huge ears that stick up and jumped like a kangaroo. It eats small reptiles, guinea fowls, mice, and newborn impalas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5d8XrwYJTJ7LSTGHa2Wt3PJ68UDgTB4n-ICSsxQzPzOIJ63DlPseBrC6LsLz9jmMMjSmKnVhxPJOtjb9gelzV0v6bakXDcJbTsialoankshXu1mWs0rrQUYFfVErSSnm9WD2/s1600/DSC03729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1069" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5d8XrwYJTJ7LSTGHa2Wt3PJ68UDgTB4n-ICSsxQzPzOIJ63DlPseBrC6LsLz9jmMMjSmKnVhxPJOtjb9gelzV0v6bakXDcJbTsialoankshXu1mWs0rrQUYFfVErSSnm9WD2/s640/DSC03729.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We came upon another example of big volcanic rock, with big cracks and trees growing in them. Big cats like lions and leopards like to give birth here and hide their cubs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBeilL5VToq3bmcvlmUCw1qJIav-bsZjAStFGfKWMVvsViEGB3MVbLL8LOvcy2qRDjeKhcDjc7h5qIJJ8i_I4wFEWzCiOIEqxTgHuavne4dbrd26c_UaS5wSaf1MhwGz-vMi1/s1600/DSC03732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBeilL5VToq3bmcvlmUCw1qJIav-bsZjAStFGfKWMVvsViEGB3MVbLL8LOvcy2qRDjeKhcDjc7h5qIJJ8i_I4wFEWzCiOIEqxTgHuavne4dbrd26c_UaS5wSaf1MhwGz-vMi1/s640/DSC03732.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_ingens" target="_blank">Candelabra trees</a>, which fascinate me, grown among the volcanic rocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjO4-CnaGVidHzMJ_oy5ZQAepI-OChCEiOvTDe_d0ob43j095oS99PibbEfI4tOgsUJXm1NOrI6NdRZFNIb4_-OL6zW9bX8atksMIZ9eILZMWARlgx1WyBmk4D9gTYWdYtzM/s1600/DSC03733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjO4-CnaGVidHzMJ_oy5ZQAepI-OChCEiOvTDe_d0ob43j095oS99PibbEfI4tOgsUJXm1NOrI6NdRZFNIb4_-OL6zW9bX8atksMIZ9eILZMWARlgx1WyBmk4D9gTYWdYtzM/s640/DSC03733.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a Ficus tree in the distance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EMWXoRcp_P9WRVitheIg9pivN11U__LaTTt20ML2G-jm19O4WYM-KSvy6xLGr8ose3xybWCVU3XUC-CS96ookyRcKoeQmGKPJt9NrDc4Ivy1CB1ztAmNlUDXHoDHRXqZVRXR/s1600/DSC03734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EMWXoRcp_P9WRVitheIg9pivN11U__LaTTt20ML2G-jm19O4WYM-KSvy6xLGr8ose3xybWCVU3XUC-CS96ookyRcKoeQmGKPJt9NrDc4Ivy1CB1ztAmNlUDXHoDHRXqZVRXR/s640/DSC03734.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We chanced upon an elephant family with several younger ones including a youngster which had no tusks so it might be just three years old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLurXOxIbxONmD5leacSyltJ6w52_5svM_6tyx35zic3_gTfoaY3EBL8jt5JdH4WQWbuCI7hISp4CKTJN5B18fIWtL_wzF14i7SGQ3AAD5rVzUaUvp7DNpqBPrQn9f6dohx2X/s1600/DSC03740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1600" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLurXOxIbxONmD5leacSyltJ6w52_5svM_6tyx35zic3_gTfoaY3EBL8jt5JdH4WQWbuCI7hISp4CKTJN5B18fIWtL_wzF14i7SGQ3AAD5rVzUaUvp7DNpqBPrQn9f6dohx2X/s640/DSC03740.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvVwFCMRBagyxobvP6r7mUf76FBVpRG9LsrMZ2gtdnko8H4ZRkCxjEn7STyE4UY3wpxWS05ZNzDWCSLEfFPVjCKVh0r4eE5jqG3ZHxdSkOXxo_tF9Sy-OcU8aK7_I-kEwq7CU/s1600/DSC03744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvVwFCMRBagyxobvP6r7mUf76FBVpRG9LsrMZ2gtdnko8H4ZRkCxjEn7STyE4UY3wpxWS05ZNzDWCSLEfFPVjCKVh0r4eE5jqG3ZHxdSkOXxo_tF9Sy-OcU8aK7_I-kEwq7CU/s640/DSC03744.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tushie photo!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjMmDpCbctxUjQKcwApsBEINBLhyphenhyphennUoy9L2Fas7T1FijMFtXBmSceICGehGZg-EHaWxJbnD4XafHgSK6PNShjd0wkfNhSNYZFBAtFJfjBdaAXEI-COKCQVlCE_MS1rtlbJtGr/s1600/DSC03748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1252" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjMmDpCbctxUjQKcwApsBEINBLhyphenhyphennUoy9L2Fas7T1FijMFtXBmSceICGehGZg-EHaWxJbnD4XafHgSK6PNShjd0wkfNhSNYZFBAtFJfjBdaAXEI-COKCQVlCE_MS1rtlbJtGr/s640/DSC03748.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below you can see a crowd of giraffes of 25 or more relatively close together, where they spread out to eat. It was the largest group of giraffes that we had seen. There were two younger ones on the the main road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6WzTQWj6NrsHJW-2990xA4b1gGbukbE1wA1nXNKZnR6ZuxVrWrMz0eHrFM_HjhDxyRDysANVDyGZhjFCB5BVu574mnwO0gHz-cS2WYtbX8vRmSusqNaKsfqA6gj1jwdhq2gm/s1600/DSC03751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6WzTQWj6NrsHJW-2990xA4b1gGbukbE1wA1nXNKZnR6ZuxVrWrMz0eHrFM_HjhDxyRDysANVDyGZhjFCB5BVu574mnwO0gHz-cS2WYtbX8vRmSusqNaKsfqA6gj1jwdhq2gm/s640/DSC03751.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82tTmT03oVcWUgRNLUBKRWVsRy2iAyvp5lv0Btr7buE8_fL58CYhnjvXetCZdEh1zF5T5bAHZPjAXcQ90kjxoCWxkQaxhcwssg3WYXLlhda8Cooxqnrosb75tC_CGRIfQyOIL/s1600/DSC03752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1079" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82tTmT03oVcWUgRNLUBKRWVsRy2iAyvp5lv0Btr7buE8_fL58CYhnjvXetCZdEh1zF5T5bAHZPjAXcQ90kjxoCWxkQaxhcwssg3WYXLlhda8Cooxqnrosb75tC_CGRIfQyOIL/s640/DSC03752.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmcrYSqYOa4v_vN3tERLPeoTh9giZqMU_lSSezfBzgOq5omcSdc0AIglxbLIMF0qH0Uxm3MwjVQKUKIyz77uHH3X0rkoAWKEj2cUF1PhP4ky0pNMwctn4mI-YL_GmT-AhQI50/s1600/DSC03754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="485" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmcrYSqYOa4v_vN3tERLPeoTh9giZqMU_lSSezfBzgOq5omcSdc0AIglxbLIMF0qH0Uxm3MwjVQKUKIyz77uHH3X0rkoAWKEj2cUF1PhP4ky0pNMwctn4mI-YL_GmT-AhQI50/s640/DSC03754.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spotted two lionesses on a huge rock, thanks to Fitiael's great eyesight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJs57A3dmRhpYwoAqF4GQRajwirffy4EsfDHQWUZmua1n_9QAMf31itupnNMz_W1PWEru7P6388uQQhZhtiYxaZPMRdO7N0QNuytfgZWsZcDveq_EmJkXgAy1FCjlVGNFhgN-/s1600/DSC03764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJs57A3dmRhpYwoAqF4GQRajwirffy4EsfDHQWUZmua1n_9QAMf31itupnNMz_W1PWEru7P6388uQQhZhtiYxaZPMRdO7N0QNuytfgZWsZcDveq_EmJkXgAy1FCjlVGNFhgN-/s640/DSC03764.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei-zSHNbNcUS8aGeoUg1YHR_Y8ZFyG07YPdKlo8OLdikzSg6ZcppSE21KY1KXTp8tfyfWFUYXDxwyJUfqkDefDtioMgZ29bSPqktU97n-Uw6A5-NG9Em84qaLMXUfZDkR4K4r/s1600/DSC03767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei-zSHNbNcUS8aGeoUg1YHR_Y8ZFyG07YPdKlo8OLdikzSg6ZcppSE21KY1KXTp8tfyfWFUYXDxwyJUfqkDefDtioMgZ29bSPqktU97n-Uw6A5-NG9Em84qaLMXUfZDkR4K4r/s640/DSC03767.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch and before we left </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Serengeti Park,</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fitiael spotted a cheetah under a tree. This photo was was taken with my zoom lens. Can you spot it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-W-rYKaxci6MO6LHIRZEwBUKmXRg-nXK0l1EH8Mt310PYhR1734P28uUKbutLfKldRenKyUgMCUrtPn1-v-AC14Mss3LFXm9iQjBStwHLK6eETRQK07vAm97hpHJqixwJPGh/s1600/DSC03774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1011" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-W-rYKaxci6MO6LHIRZEwBUKmXRg-nXK0l1EH8Mt310PYhR1734P28uUKbutLfKldRenKyUgMCUrtPn1-v-AC14Mss3LFXm9iQjBStwHLK6eETRQK07vAm97hpHJqixwJPGh/s640/DSC03774.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stop to see a tourist bus which is stuck as its steering fluid pipe had broken. They repaired the pipe but needed more fluid. We could not help but Fitiael said that he would notify people at the next place, over an hour away. Meanwhile, they were caught in the hot bus, hoping for help soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We traveled down the dirt road, which is the main route for public buses heading from Arusha to the south.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMKYVz_sk0gF2XKJcaRCbrk4bs9X79M3B6ZbWhTJ69kmzOlxPfCz7ZhmC5_StHQfXqYqzu-_shV5gO19CdKbWtnFYayLr9iaKC-S-pC6ZwTZJbQKe0Y2KYIiR_phmTdt1mmUL/s1600/DSC03769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMKYVz_sk0gF2XKJcaRCbrk4bs9X79M3B6ZbWhTJ69kmzOlxPfCz7ZhmC5_StHQfXqYqzu-_shV5gO19CdKbWtnFYayLr9iaKC-S-pC6ZwTZJbQKe0Y2KYIiR_phmTdt1mmUL/s640/DSC03769.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And arrived at El Arai, a Masai village with 120 residents. We paid $50 for the visit directly to the Masal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The men welcomed us with song and dance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm08Da75-aMyxJs5UT-SnfZvOtR6bRZQacgkSLz4FARDRWIimm3ARGO124wkJZkyhdQkLFraPsfRMMj6KJJzqDL1SteH5pyAC9vvbOoHl5hOc_aASZVE28KV3ublEvnH8uPnz_/s1600/DSC03778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm08Da75-aMyxJs5UT-SnfZvOtR6bRZQacgkSLz4FARDRWIimm3ARGO124wkJZkyhdQkLFraPsfRMMj6KJJzqDL1SteH5pyAC9vvbOoHl5hOc_aASZVE28KV3ublEvnH8uPnz_/s640/DSC03778.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The women enjoyed watching from the side. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ovl6XNVM_Lm5ODCbhx5nhtmjJ0obkx4GBV7i9a14qrkJeyyIEYd_ijVNnLPdIfoGG0cMGrnNLyuuxrxZlLiatECfK14W5o72LPi7Ta5beQM-hpKksxmjIESdzWOcH8jI7P_G/s1600/DSC03779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1517" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ovl6XNVM_Lm5ODCbhx5nhtmjJ0obkx4GBV7i9a14qrkJeyyIEYd_ijVNnLPdIfoGG0cMGrnNLyuuxrxZlLiatECfK14W5o72LPi7Ta5beQM-hpKksxmjIESdzWOcH8jI7P_G/s640/DSC03779.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykCZgFme3kIUJ4kYkFAvLrUbspXVIVZ1O5TvigTS033Poc7JaKRY_zujdMeIH64nijgE9etAe2ip8Y4AOeMixVKIQ8beNhaR_UzzeDbSKQ6mMATdToACVXEmpNSRKhflX62gj/s1600/DSC03782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykCZgFme3kIUJ4kYkFAvLrUbspXVIVZ1O5TvigTS033Poc7JaKRY_zujdMeIH64nijgE9etAe2ip8Y4AOeMixVKIQ8beNhaR_UzzeDbSKQ6mMATdToACVXEmpNSRKhflX62gj/s640/DSC03782.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notice the shoes they wear on their feet. Some are made from recycled tires but others are from cow hide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFoME4thh1iHdzHuRXQQNo2BWsLWqShpxTfx-LzCL1r6mbl4gVVAnzKHFKFR1FOLpTv_f1zomHwtyMiUjjLut6GjAYHCyc5BJEwqQ0d0DIRsE7ilFHDdojuEzco1YjzsLg1P5/s1600/DSC03781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFoME4thh1iHdzHuRXQQNo2BWsLWqShpxTfx-LzCL1r6mbl4gVVAnzKHFKFR1FOLpTv_f1zomHwtyMiUjjLut6GjAYHCyc5BJEwqQ0d0DIRsE7ilFHDdojuEzco1YjzsLg1P5/s640/DSC03781.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later we four women joined the women in a dance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They men showed us how they make fire from flint, special branches from the white acacia tree, and stems of the yellow acacia, and mixing the ash with dung to start a larger fire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxhUWg7zve1ZClhH-imOMUSJSyXWnhvF6pOG3SsuSmexr69OTrg7tmTKtBGUpgJPrCw1eAjHarU6kWZWpgCGLgw1Wa8uU9o8ltVHb86qWR_SX5EGrBi4nnUBEHnrQI4t1Omsw/s1600/DSC03784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxhUWg7zve1ZClhH-imOMUSJSyXWnhvF6pOG3SsuSmexr69OTrg7tmTKtBGUpgJPrCw1eAjHarU6kWZWpgCGLgw1Wa8uU9o8ltVHb86qWR_SX5EGrBi4nnUBEHnrQI4t1Omsw/s640/DSC03784.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can definitely see the tire tread on the shoe below on the right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xVo__COjgPAu66AEQP0_jFmvmtZJV8P4OX7aTByNydS86d8G4U4eevsICmHC5ahbZ4alw9hoKoS1C5qvh2OQnqhMQHrMqbnsDbwb5mdtf6FEXoxyb2gvNr-JzptQukLyKbKS/s1600/DSC03790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xVo__COjgPAu66AEQP0_jFmvmtZJV8P4OX7aTByNydS86d8G4U4eevsICmHC5ahbZ4alw9hoKoS1C5qvh2OQnqhMQHrMqbnsDbwb5mdtf6FEXoxyb2gvNr-JzptQukLyKbKS/s640/DSC03790.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa0PCn5waH6MqYgN8_70oIJFC7J6dP_DXkFt3Xa_To9Lys59ZcV4CbEKTvXuDfAyzaHln_3YRX8lQY5ePhD4pFD0rRa8rhKhRuemYsyOy3bCoBIGqT-NQCQAr0_eRvFFTlGVe/s1600/M+Fire2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa0PCn5waH6MqYgN8_70oIJFC7J6dP_DXkFt3Xa_To9Lys59ZcV4CbEKTvXuDfAyzaHln_3YRX8lQY5ePhD4pFD0rRa8rhKhRuemYsyOy3bCoBIGqT-NQCQAr0_eRvFFTlGVe/s640/M+Fire2.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their homes are made from bamboo poles, with the middle support from the Acacia tree. Mud and dung are used to cover the bamboo. Homes take three weeks to build and are built by the women though the men gather the wood. The homes last for ten years. Cow skins are used for sleeping. They share many things with each other.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFddW_I2mAtuAWt4d-iYnWgIFnW0-jl7nxdFAhuf9kjpPJ9TzX9yrqXqb3N2TrOf6ZP5z09oUn5AWgIxovnPJj540IUdXsfQ_h3lfj1CKOmbNu316VTU8xV0I8O1ATAYE-gzU-/s1600/DSC03793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1273" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFddW_I2mAtuAWt4d-iYnWgIFnW0-jl7nxdFAhuf9kjpPJ9TzX9yrqXqb3N2TrOf6ZP5z09oUn5AWgIxovnPJj540IUdXsfQ_h3lfj1CKOmbNu316VTU8xV0I8O1ATAYE-gzU-/s640/DSC03793.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fenced area for goats, etc. at night</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl9cqKG-Q3xz6rNFDQBudjVr7O-YL4J9Lx0-bwubANKiF9u73OtXL1hQGb3JqJcI8UAyZ07_Pg6IrOyTQQznEM_j7h_ImyEAEeRHH3Kh4Cov0fKGm94_0AdPfyzzshHknT5OJ/s1600/DSC03810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl9cqKG-Q3xz6rNFDQBudjVr7O-YL4J9Lx0-bwubANKiF9u73OtXL1hQGb3JqJcI8UAyZ07_Pg6IrOyTQQznEM_j7h_ImyEAEeRHH3Kh4Cov0fKGm94_0AdPfyzzshHknT5OJ/s640/DSC03810.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We divided into two groups, and Helen and I visit a one-family home wither five people slept one three beds. They mainly cook beef, goat or lamb. They drink a lot of cows milk and also milk from sheep and goats. Only the men drink a mix of cow's blood (which they bleed from living animals) and milk. They seem quite healthy and live long lives. The homes are low, so the residents have to bend down to get in and most cannot stand up straight inside as they are tall people. After ages 8 to 10, boys go to sleep in the boy's house and girls to the girls' house. They very much want to preserve their way of life as they also work and study in the outside world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdTdNQCXJtsgVE7Znb6VajtoyA3bkdIQwZBsOxBjA5kEgtVMjb0SFrWfIbFJWdIcmljcn2naL3W6h7ZT6keCDAr1OveIeZ77kwOzzmE84hite89V9zxo5l32SaB2gFukAoOjd/s1600/DSC03802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdTdNQCXJtsgVE7Znb6VajtoyA3bkdIQwZBsOxBjA5kEgtVMjb0SFrWfIbFJWdIcmljcn2naL3W6h7ZT6keCDAr1OveIeZ77kwOzzmE84hite89V9zxo5l32SaB2gFukAoOjd/s640/DSC03802.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are interesting faces of women. They wear lots of earrings (men wear some too) and necklaces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fZ1Vntypur5gVbeCYEltBKP1H5jphEYNSnopwvAbrPq7qjT1Otb_S6sbAaG3-kPBIA529d-6ZDz9y4TpRMiM-J64K_V3Eex7D5K3ex1QELXFvRLTwAGdhNDfNekgXns5LQWF/s1600/DSC03804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fZ1Vntypur5gVbeCYEltBKP1H5jphEYNSnopwvAbrPq7qjT1Otb_S6sbAaG3-kPBIA529d-6ZDz9y4TpRMiM-J64K_V3Eex7D5K3ex1QELXFvRLTwAGdhNDfNekgXns5LQWF/s640/DSC03804.JPG" width="456" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the earlobes can get distended</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROHv-XdjcoUy2R0jEXFiEV0_6vpLTbdkTykCbiZxz0QfvwDnw6o_91DSaZJUpyqYvFYAi_zc9pjOIXvOC0BmZA-fKa7FaXxEuuICfM2Wv1QoZmUVPe8TYS4nPpHTJij2FpAkF/s1600/M+earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROHv-XdjcoUy2R0jEXFiEV0_6vpLTbdkTykCbiZxz0QfvwDnw6o_91DSaZJUpyqYvFYAi_zc9pjOIXvOC0BmZA-fKa7FaXxEuuICfM2Wv1QoZmUVPe8TYS4nPpHTJij2FpAkF/s640/M+earrings.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After leaving their homes, the women had booths set up to sell their wares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFo_ibW-N1pgwJWa5xasd-BTp0aj8x73GO1Z3souZNuC0D0lGuySUFHQxK1UTS38PJGg9Sfp6l6pE_Xw7sPK_MnRM3F6g9kHbbJ3oMtBDnYoEgIkEBluT_8B_ZVcYAwEwR8cS/s1600/M+Sellers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFo_ibW-N1pgwJWa5xasd-BTp0aj8x73GO1Z3souZNuC0D0lGuySUFHQxK1UTS38PJGg9Sfp6l6pE_Xw7sPK_MnRM3F6g9kHbbJ3oMtBDnYoEgIkEBluT_8B_ZVcYAwEwR8cS/s640/M+Sellers.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> They had very nice bead work. I bought this lion from the woman below, who had made it and paid her directly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkp7A61irDyfv96xZWvNTceOKy8GsoiIGudV4BVwzEpY5D_-sZYwXcuNMJuSi3svv6xUuyzJ3qm7YdsfIof8AKC-RyaovoN_V6BIwkj_vBB-xLnfM82-kpHourWN1NnR0T4ou/s1600/DSC03805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1231" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkp7A61irDyfv96xZWvNTceOKy8GsoiIGudV4BVwzEpY5D_-sZYwXcuNMJuSi3svv6xUuyzJ3qm7YdsfIof8AKC-RyaovoN_V6BIwkj_vBB-xLnfM82-kpHourWN1NnR0T4ou/s640/DSC03805.JPG" width="492" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A very serious little girl:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFXilCL6K7M1PC_1kAmgDxlPYA7ZScreNau-P65C0h3uJgX0GnoMf-QRSTyOntymG73L7-WEvXT-YozIEQib4iymH-SkdSR9p3S6EEZ8phNElYTqdHI5GUYZLGINi5a6YT6jA/s1600/DSC03808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="885" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFXilCL6K7M1PC_1kAmgDxlPYA7ZScreNau-P65C0h3uJgX0GnoMf-QRSTyOntymG73L7-WEvXT-YozIEQib4iymH-SkdSR9p3S6EEZ8phNElYTqdHI5GUYZLGINi5a6YT6jA/s640/DSC03808.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were shown the separate structures used as bathrooms, bathing, and laundry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We next went to the classroom for young children through about age 12. Then they go to a high school in the Ngorogoro area. The teacher carried her baby as she taught. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSawehBZNjtTdC_8NovXuY30YfqhpjA6xkXjuTGZCh6hWYHiAUTVCZjghhRZ2jc-HpgU6FDCGtW6oTjnRQaU_wcTsel9gnPaRztUUdP85gdqmxDwNN7ABMbjmHigVvEr5WryL/s1600/M+Teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSawehBZNjtTdC_8NovXuY30YfqhpjA6xkXjuTGZCh6hWYHiAUTVCZjghhRZ2jc-HpgU6FDCGtW6oTjnRQaU_wcTsel9gnPaRztUUdP85gdqmxDwNN7ABMbjmHigVvEr5WryL/s640/M+Teacher.jpg" width="358" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> One boy on the left carried his younger sibling..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcf4aPa_lHhCOx7i6Tm2DLntq46-KUjeFa2-sOHNSmAflVlQgVr1tDWSuyksl8NXyXauaBFofmx77-0kTwUx7ekYHPidRinNkGpQw132S3qX5QRr4GlHht5DocDYyaZxrBHZy/s1600/M+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcf4aPa_lHhCOx7i6Tm2DLntq46-KUjeFa2-sOHNSmAflVlQgVr1tDWSuyksl8NXyXauaBFofmx77-0kTwUx7ekYHPidRinNkGpQw132S3qX5QRr4GlHht5DocDYyaZxrBHZy/s640/M+School.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> They learn very basic English and Kiswahili--the alphabet and numbers and a small girl led them in recitation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyfblo0zcibmGmKOOcQ2ZBIS8ff6BKxz33bLahO4_yRkcfH2QJnXiGpKi7mLRxHbuXxHMSY0EWLb8tLckahlaBgy20yfwdJpPFNdH2l86yJ9MwM3xpvROlRFMU1W0_x-PNGoB/s1600/DSC03813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1132" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyfblo0zcibmGmKOOcQ2ZBIS8ff6BKxz33bLahO4_yRkcfH2QJnXiGpKi7mLRxHbuXxHMSY0EWLb8tLckahlaBgy20yfwdJpPFNdH2l86yJ9MwM3xpvROlRFMU1W0_x-PNGoB/s640/DSC03813.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava tried to talk to the teacher in simple English but was unsuccessful in having a conversation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a very enjoyable hour long visit, we headed out to our lodging for the night, the Ngorogoro Sopa Lodge, at 7,800' above sea level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the path to our room. Unfortunately, we did not have a view of the crater. We were walked to our room after twilight as animals do approach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewlZlYkoWtCX4-E1TY6GQYyrOVlPbPdczOBWFivnPETxF5u4x8cTp51pS_itwaBiZTsrkCLMRVBjECC9Lwn7HNLScgNeszYfq8gYP7JolXUkgS0Q4ApPaU9Ib4cskQUBc3Jz2/s1600/DSC03844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewlZlYkoWtCX4-E1TY6GQYyrOVlPbPdczOBWFivnPETxF5u4x8cTp51pS_itwaBiZTsrkCLMRVBjECC9Lwn7HNLScgNeszYfq8gYP7JolXUkgS0Q4ApPaU9Ib4cskQUBc3Jz2/s640/DSC03844.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This was the view from our room's front door...the lush forest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZbCd6rPmwtYZbJlXEqcC_di_79fAIxG5s0ocu0oB2Lh9WjvHqTv302OL1rWapZ8_IsCe1ma8pqYiWr2WrewJZTrRZfxjGrZZco_xZixk_7D-0KblihaOqy_ktW4dGfB3QsR2/s1600/DSC03834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1314" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZbCd6rPmwtYZbJlXEqcC_di_79fAIxG5s0ocu0oB2Lh9WjvHqTv302OL1rWapZ8_IsCe1ma8pqYiWr2WrewJZTrRZfxjGrZZco_xZixk_7D-0KblihaOqy_ktW4dGfB3QsR2/s640/DSC03834.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lodge center and pool</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkTukbpLD0X41pRQ-zHmKV5BOXI8TDtVNmGxsKpl1Pok5DNZSHzPw0rhRrFFSpeLlWXlpGyeBCavcIB2klWj3qC1spJ71Khpc3TH408ETQ_5z5gOE1ij2Cji1KrsaQs80TRvT/s1600/N+lodge+and+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkTukbpLD0X41pRQ-zHmKV5BOXI8TDtVNmGxsKpl1Pok5DNZSHzPw0rhRrFFSpeLlWXlpGyeBCavcIB2klWj3qC1spJ71Khpc3TH408ETQ_5z5gOE1ij2Cji1KrsaQs80TRvT/s640/N+lodge+and+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5QXXo9Q1ShkWyb_UZBED-GSwn3wXb7gA6pqwBFAKRqjfhRQqTAuNKomnIx18bUfmZtRvt83m9O49R4opeqDjP0B3af91_GC5tBDUZZeP1LzcUJ2J63uEKoKc4IB5FP7rYtzv/s1600/N+hotel+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5QXXo9Q1ShkWyb_UZBED-GSwn3wXb7gA6pqwBFAKRqjfhRQqTAuNKomnIx18bUfmZtRvt83m9O49R4opeqDjP0B3af91_GC5tBDUZZeP1LzcUJ2J63uEKoKc4IB5FP7rYtzv/s640/N+hotel+sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monkey eating discarded apple on ledge near our room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOjDqSg2DUBQ9cdVV8wCfgzVIRctKlQVajE6oYegUkMzGFrPWzF4OmbUwVOoKVbqOLJ9nQx-w0ejRYy5vxgULAkieVpAbII8i02XYGYomK2i2Z8-g2qC7maV3x9C3qaI9pswC/s1600/N+monkey+eating+apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOjDqSg2DUBQ9cdVV8wCfgzVIRctKlQVajE6oYegUkMzGFrPWzF4OmbUwVOoKVbqOLJ9nQx-w0ejRYy5vxgULAkieVpAbII8i02XYGYomK2i2Z8-g2qC7maV3x9C3qaI9pswC/s640/N+monkey+eating+apple.jpg" width="454" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left for the crater at about 5 a.m. going down a steep hill to get into it. Giraffes cannot walk down as the path is too steep. We have been very lucky not to have any rain. We went down the west entry by Sopa lodge (where people can exit also) and exited via the east Arai (steep) road, for exiting only.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are three roads in the crater, and on the way down in the darkness, we saw water buffalo, zebras, and wildebeest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT-pmasrmVL8fSOySvONX5ObI_mSwAYCWpCGUlf5n9cm7z2A37roxfyJNB03i9sbkNKkapc1TpTTnScq5np_mDtEDlPc5O8e6VssQDZmR4dumGPtB_AmztUgBy7VB4CBJCi0a/s1600/N+Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT-pmasrmVL8fSOySvONX5ObI_mSwAYCWpCGUlf5n9cm7z2A37roxfyJNB03i9sbkNKkapc1TpTTnScq5np_mDtEDlPc5O8e6VssQDZmR4dumGPtB_AmztUgBy7VB4CBJCi0a/s640/N+Sunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb0Aq0UOJ_6XrBzCQBK3RY5sqhkRaTSym4lREGFW-AK4YWpHT7499BQDgu857OHDhEubbUzyHqH0ofPRjD8a76FtMm4FVdREV_nAhmQo-foRvjnBFNSNtjlWQbzDS2iBvr4yz/s1600/N+sunrise2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb0Aq0UOJ_6XrBzCQBK3RY5sqhkRaTSym4lREGFW-AK4YWpHT7499BQDgu857OHDhEubbUzyHqH0ofPRjD8a76FtMm4FVdREV_nAhmQo-foRvjnBFNSNtjlWQbzDS2iBvr4yz/s640/N+sunrise2.jpg" width="604" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">15 minutes later around a curve</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehKb4nWIj3srWDsNcBpTrL2sTnDtP9n1Cw7yuiwYD3YBWPQUJIrCw9IKyJgvIV8IDmVhcl-uOdWd8MJ0-hh_QUeS2WEnL5iawZSH-tuCiWsRW7mjE6B2eejefvp_dv-8yzb41/s1600/N+sunrise3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehKb4nWIj3srWDsNcBpTrL2sTnDtP9n1Cw7yuiwYD3YBWPQUJIrCw9IKyJgvIV8IDmVhcl-uOdWd8MJ0-hh_QUeS2WEnL5iawZSH-tuCiWsRW7mjE6B2eejefvp_dv-8yzb41/s640/N+sunrise3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw three young lions brothers (about 1.5 years old) with short manes, two about six feet (2 meters) from the road grooming and another a bit farther away. The group is called a coalition. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnEfby57_EKKKFstmjbCpg5lHEvw2NSWYIGHNMJ1FsmpilfjydQazSPfNdzE58-LzHXEIlsMtuxmtd1rEgM8MmyvdB1rnGXbFoBOQQ_cWuROjv6Nc0ktk4JeLPi0jr7nhSI9Q/s1600/N+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnEfby57_EKKKFstmjbCpg5lHEvw2NSWYIGHNMJ1FsmpilfjydQazSPfNdzE58-LzHXEIlsMtuxmtd1rEgM8MmyvdB1rnGXbFoBOQQ_cWuROjv6Nc0ktk4JeLPi0jr7nhSI9Q/s640/N+lions.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxKRLcrZAnMpbCBhyphenhyphen3DFzbeUdX6jrECAIMIqWTKm3zDzI0QonvHDCpY_Kl1mnY2LzidrtEudkxJ87Bte-Vp4JEYbfYZxf8royrLJoMIkKU87qam4OCVha6-Z33ehw91xIii4A/s1600/DSC03858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1233" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxKRLcrZAnMpbCBhyphenhyphen3DFzbeUdX6jrECAIMIqWTKm3zDzI0QonvHDCpY_Kl1mnY2LzidrtEudkxJ87Bte-Vp4JEYbfYZxf8royrLJoMIkKU87qam4OCVha6-Z33ehw91xIii4A/s640/DSC03858.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The solitary brother below</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkr9HRibDESvSxqo5JZyOHwJfEo2y3e_Va1g_tqr5i-yg-YB-VL3ktebZf-jzku6NKm4V7eu6G-Zm3oP4eDfhJ22NneMQLBj-E5pwJI99mEJOAl6wXeF9aXKcHj3aCtqvHh0h/s1600/DSC03856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1333" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkr9HRibDESvSxqo5JZyOHwJfEo2y3e_Va1g_tqr5i-yg-YB-VL3ktebZf-jzku6NKm4V7eu6G-Zm3oP4eDfhJ22NneMQLBj-E5pwJI99mEJOAl6wXeF9aXKcHj3aCtqvHh0h/s640/DSC03856.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw a huge group of Egyptian geese, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdim%27s_stork" target="_blank"> Abdim's storks</a>, and zebras. This protected crater was FILLED with animals!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kori_bustard" target="_blank">Kori Bustard</a>, the largest flying bird native to Africa, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBx0RApLHojYm07-yeOgPePkKIBueQ_AtBqJD_bCx_29YXBURDsvsh4N7PdzJlU56fOrDTLL1GeZsRthGJVYWNeztFDMV_plpBKf_CwhNh0ImG6nfO1bgUny6wCpEb9rAQdNV/s1600/DSC03859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="868" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBx0RApLHojYm07-yeOgPePkKIBueQ_AtBqJD_bCx_29YXBURDsvsh4N7PdzJlU56fOrDTLL1GeZsRthGJVYWNeztFDMV_plpBKf_CwhNh0ImG6nfO1bgUny6wCpEb9rAQdNV/s640/DSC03859.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartebeest" target="_blank">Heartbeests</a>, also known as kongoni, an African antelope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw a mother-and-child black rhino in the distance and then another at a much closer distance. Although it is called "black," it is either brown to grey. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhinoceros" target="_blank">Black rhinos</a> are solitary animals, not like the the white rhinos in South Africa. As a result, although poaching has almost been eliminated, the black rhinos are not growing in numbers while the white rhinos are. They are fast runners and can travel 35-40 MPH. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ6_Wtysvc1MC6vS4GGwO9-eWu5YkcmhkCHq6uGp57VKUJ59iKIZWaBzVuRDMdRGu6meOkl-vJgYP0ktvGaj3geisMSbcJigIFkTjw9rvCwdCSkkjfl33rhH5_uV3ugUurZti/s1600/DSC03872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1255" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ6_Wtysvc1MC6vS4GGwO9-eWu5YkcmhkCHq6uGp57VKUJ59iKIZWaBzVuRDMdRGu6meOkl-vJgYP0ktvGaj3geisMSbcJigIFkTjw9rvCwdCSkkjfl33rhH5_uV3ugUurZti/s640/DSC03872.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The baby is three or four years old, and in a year or two, the mother will leave the baby. This is the closest Fitiael has been to these creatures in months. We watched them quickly trop past zebras and Thomson gazelles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4PMAm1DTYBmcEi7NJdxW9o01Zjn4MT34Aj5ufTQjPBKj_5Uqdm0gsBlgLjxt59IfhPcAhjC0uEYqdVeXwAIT2Z9VKEOoupW7LV0ujH4J6SOAPwh4fueMsPOlzHkZyY7II0vy/s1600/DSC03877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1016" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4PMAm1DTYBmcEi7NJdxW9o01Zjn4MT34Aj5ufTQjPBKj_5Uqdm0gsBlgLjxt59IfhPcAhjC0uEYqdVeXwAIT2Z9VKEOoupW7LV0ujH4J6SOAPwh4fueMsPOlzHkZyY7II0vy/s640/DSC03877.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwNsWzFJBasIIoFM2bROyJe15xDaXLOhogxCmmGNLhmSpIwCk-W3Vwu6QaCN_oJ4Dbu6W3YEbLKhxLXW7WeVT0fp89vVTa-3SG3Y6d9kZ9R2opPpYdSqbeuJR6iCt0D_vP1ia/s1600/N+rhino+info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwNsWzFJBasIIoFM2bROyJe15xDaXLOhogxCmmGNLhmSpIwCk-W3Vwu6QaCN_oJ4Dbu6W3YEbLKhxLXW7WeVT0fp89vVTa-3SG3Y6d9kZ9R2opPpYdSqbeuJR6iCt0D_vP1ia/s640/N+rhino+info.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The black male can weigh up to a thousand kilos while the white male can weigh more than twice that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below the two rhinos withe a zebra and gazelle in between and flamingos in the lake in the background:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1l_jQaer9hgCcEBKu1-BQUJTrlKOsIqLKsF0dzHwhyLOyMRDoAH4Zio5Wt0RNNfhvPj-NK9K031oc7vmTgmwSQPDrwhZ4wgvgnYSm06ORR_URLWDGbLZgbxctNRAOnwhvF-w/s1600/DSC03885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1325" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1l_jQaer9hgCcEBKu1-BQUJTrlKOsIqLKsF0dzHwhyLOyMRDoAH4Zio5Wt0RNNfhvPj-NK9K031oc7vmTgmwSQPDrwhZ4wgvgnYSm06ORR_URLWDGbLZgbxctNRAOnwhvF-w/s640/DSC03885.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until five years ago, Masai grazed their cattle in the Ngorogoro crater, but a new rule forbids combining domestic and wild animals in the same area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two to three big swamp areas in this caldera, and in a very dry season, many wild animals from the upper area come into the caldera..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw a big, fat hyena lying down close to the road.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi40HUGk0hi33CuxDTBmhniwHX0Cfy3GGneDa1xLyvnZIbS_buosWtGzjOps7jS2bjWWMzHzME9VZnpX8xPRV1viuBuD9IzSrWQrQZf9SOxhOC8U78p1DBmERWqoixNQXzfhCX/s1600/DSC03888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi40HUGk0hi33CuxDTBmhniwHX0Cfy3GGneDa1xLyvnZIbS_buosWtGzjOps7jS2bjWWMzHzME9VZnpX8xPRV1viuBuD9IzSrWQrQZf9SOxhOC8U78p1DBmERWqoixNQXzfhCX/s640/DSC03888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a bit later with saw a jackal with her four cubs in the distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one below was crossing the road just beside us. It was very dusty. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnTFV9DAmAzuPOVF49Rsql39FwSZOGJ4hrI98YyYR_jmTquy-2GUYYLbL6Px4GGPAVZU3ypbWN5Pg7ProPl__Q8CxgH5-JR6X_pcAP_pkC6mbWjJcVijy5RLsvX3G4oxQBn4n/s1600/DSC03909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnTFV9DAmAzuPOVF49Rsql39FwSZOGJ4hrI98YyYR_jmTquy-2GUYYLbL6Px4GGPAVZU3ypbWN5Pg7ProPl__Q8CxgH5-JR6X_pcAP_pkC6mbWjJcVijy5RLsvX3G4oxQBn4n/s1600/DSC03909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="704" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnTFV9DAmAzuPOVF49Rsql39FwSZOGJ4hrI98YyYR_jmTquy-2GUYYLbL6Px4GGPAVZU3ypbWN5Pg7ProPl__Q8CxgH5-JR6X_pcAP_pkC6mbWjJcVijy5RLsvX3G4oxQBn4n/s640/DSC03909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBHGAEtD4X2CBmEAj8UVqgMDtihCgLG55bshq2HKZWxK-FfxUjWwrbWFgOZBG7ydC0b_0dYyi6ig89mCrQSQ4j3nj8YC-xBpwSZCimQ0V0aG-oEwDSjgfXFr_mIXXYFIVMf28/s1600/DSC03913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="971" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBHGAEtD4X2CBmEAj8UVqgMDtihCgLG55bshq2HKZWxK-FfxUjWwrbWFgOZBG7ydC0b_0dYyi6ig89mCrQSQ4j3nj8YC-xBpwSZCimQ0V0aG-oEwDSjgfXFr_mIXXYFIVMf28/s640/DSC03913.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVzdLmcAvAqFnLqsAocIEnoLbXvnXFZ70Szl_wzx7qBSVGosQu93Z7GzRpzcPCXU-ivywC_YcFE8PdrygbeIR6QovyfJthnN69WyCiT44t6rEgxz2TVohWDa6syTPBh821ON2/s1600/DSC03923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="610" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVzdLmcAvAqFnLqsAocIEnoLbXvnXFZ70Szl_wzx7qBSVGosQu93Z7GzRpzcPCXU-ivywC_YcFE8PdrygbeIR6QovyfJthnN69WyCiT44t6rEgxz2TVohWDa6syTPBh821ON2/s640/DSC03923.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Golden jackal with two cubs</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVjPkQg4qAzOLoJjw1pPxjypPyOZlbWM7y4uCDGhfG0fGbqRlnygQohxP_2Ngr5OwEitTTTYtW9uZY_IpAOCHUm3Y-NP3r0GZbWkNY_HqP2UiNm9TR-4biDFQ4-O7dn9dKKNH/s1600/DSC03925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="828" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVjPkQg4qAzOLoJjw1pPxjypPyOZlbWM7y4uCDGhfG0fGbqRlnygQohxP_2Ngr5OwEitTTTYtW9uZY_IpAOCHUm3Y-NP3r0GZbWkNY_HqP2UiNm9TR-4biDFQ4-O7dn9dKKNH/s640/DSC03925.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was calving seasons for both zebras and wildebeests but zebras give birth first so we saw a lot of baby zebras.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A jackal checking out the scene--looking for a vulnerable baby wildebeest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRrA41W6W7Sdk2YM6bxXRT8j8c3hZUlV_B9hBhoCg-NhLSbpFzHb4nbpLKKCplcd9AanWgPKEjQV_CXwm9EOPONrVA6DyiS75SM1bkskAWzpl-P-BaVlsINdEeptGSz2Qk7ft/s1600/DSC03918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1263" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRrA41W6W7Sdk2YM6bxXRT8j8c3hZUlV_B9hBhoCg-NhLSbpFzHb4nbpLKKCplcd9AanWgPKEjQV_CXwm9EOPONrVA6DyiS75SM1bkskAWzpl-P-BaVlsINdEeptGSz2Qk7ft/s640/DSC03918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The zebra below was quite young and still light brown.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RvYeDZoXPfrJPV6SgA0ZNcggHBvMC8DVrdKwgTp1yLC8MsLFYjQNwk7cqpcJ4RrPcjB0887Udf0LoHicB9UyqksKJt4M0cTLYktpz6mFG2EXdQhe6Za0ukq7YyKBEW2mYnQ-/s1600/DSC03896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1179" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RvYeDZoXPfrJPV6SgA0ZNcggHBvMC8DVrdKwgTp1yLC8MsLFYjQNwk7cqpcJ4RrPcjB0887Udf0LoHicB9UyqksKJt4M0cTLYktpz6mFG2EXdQhe6Za0ukq7YyKBEW2mYnQ-/s640/DSC03896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKrW7_M0YB4kOIn6wTowlN3frmX2C1blirqkXPMxxaKIAP23AnxfzRsGhPIL79R7SVfagDqZ6bxwc_S6TmMWGmKjQspGRNaMby-OjAOuQsO1rhcGo7CUNSP_kOFOqN1QP_xv4/s1600/DSC03897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKrW7_M0YB4kOIn6wTowlN3frmX2C1blirqkXPMxxaKIAP23AnxfzRsGhPIL79R7SVfagDqZ6bxwc_S6TmMWGmKjQspGRNaMby-OjAOuQsO1rhcGo7CUNSP_kOFOqN1QP_xv4/s640/DSC03897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one was so-o-o wide from behind that we thought that she might be very pregnant.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_lJ2OYByFjGyHZfmFXFvfroNg2kSoOLY_v17dvv8pl1QW3KC-rS7ZPGFmt-oKPtmWJ6_GlpMGaTcrH5T5O2CQ5dusnrQt2QuvCXYe5VG5AZJmE9vZML-VQ8zbXHC1K9GOqEM/s1600/DSC03948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_lJ2OYByFjGyHZfmFXFvfroNg2kSoOLY_v17dvv8pl1QW3KC-rS7ZPGFmt-oKPtmWJ6_GlpMGaTcrH5T5O2CQ5dusnrQt2QuvCXYe5VG5AZJmE9vZML-VQ8zbXHC1K9GOqEM/s640/DSC03948.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw two male zebras, kicking and biting each other.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTFNFfnTeOCSuAEUb90Yh3tyXzLXvwgGbwAc8okDUcNlkelR4zCTWOb5A8aOLEn1Xdh9J5neOCizbtdD2fqLkySxrnFykow0HkqIO-UKXKS3lGxwxh7l8lxMncmbxFws_y3SH/s1600/DSC03894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1060" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTFNFfnTeOCSuAEUb90Yh3tyXzLXvwgGbwAc8okDUcNlkelR4zCTWOb5A8aOLEn1Xdh9J5neOCizbtdD2fqLkySxrnFykow0HkqIO-UKXKS3lGxwxh7l8lxMncmbxFws_y3SH/s640/DSC03894.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A lone warthog passed by.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAMzjogAeP-fPIfRLnztK6tQJEeyQbr7oXWn8z4ILwMtgeSVCRLCK0Hg5vsN1WkRit3Y_1JsZsG2VSLJBHxbEMkNlFmDBz0EWsi9QeMcmDMeTOyAPfVWVlauCQtikfDJq5NlN/s1600/DSC03915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1208" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAMzjogAeP-fPIfRLnztK6tQJEeyQbr7oXWn8z4ILwMtgeSVCRLCK0Hg5vsN1WkRit3Y_1JsZsG2VSLJBHxbEMkNlFmDBz0EWsi9QeMcmDMeTOyAPfVWVlauCQtikfDJq5NlN/s640/DSC03915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and lots of baby wildebeests in this area.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx-BJPx0n4CMWK0vSoTHO6VRfmTfOeNKX8Xctjz2ckp8Y9w5sFcXieL3rwc6CcS34QWlFhyphenhyphenVOPFNk3886mixDRo1L-1wstqSgEfjI-CvVPvKGDrv-YoCL1PAViDBwXj7aZ8dD/s1600/DSC03921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="918" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx-BJPx0n4CMWK0vSoTHO6VRfmTfOeNKX8Xctjz2ckp8Y9w5sFcXieL3rwc6CcS34QWlFhyphenhyphenVOPFNk3886mixDRo1L-1wstqSgEfjI-CvVPvKGDrv-YoCL1PAViDBwXj7aZ8dD/s640/DSC03921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A really tiny one below:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkWr4BcKMrOuqRDCYvqadAzvdax2lRDGfyFX7h4WIC6ctEMGlRIXj8NUwhS4F5DhRcAFpeXGmxPmoqOkBlGmOQXFLoZL_86NIuo3e_pnHXn9zToAHndWZyemqXE4wivoEiUaF/s1600/DSC03922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="572" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkWr4BcKMrOuqRDCYvqadAzvdax2lRDGfyFX7h4WIC6ctEMGlRIXj8NUwhS4F5DhRcAFpeXGmxPmoqOkBlGmOQXFLoZL_86NIuo3e_pnHXn9zToAHndWZyemqXE4wivoEiUaF/s640/DSC03922.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaL8lokpFEUlCgEVuPaGUoIh2rUyzfZS81xlHsUyDxmpakacmV2cFUOduCXrR2_G3RNOOPUxGAOrbhjrSvvWYQqqpcybCa_0pXb0orL7H7cdc5tYYNkVCf2mL4TNg-WMpvVO/s1600/DSC03903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="871" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaL8lokpFEUlCgEVuPaGUoIh2rUyzfZS81xlHsUyDxmpakacmV2cFUOduCXrR2_G3RNOOPUxGAOrbhjrSvvWYQqqpcybCa_0pXb0orL7H7cdc5tYYNkVCf2mL4TNg-WMpvVO/s640/DSC03903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A very young lion checking out the scene below:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYGKitBGhvQnbNRAYFdN4DPMP8c97qY6VSNgAhIAs4pDjLmbaO3z9EfVcAWU28Pt3WV-ThWLtNQ5A7UYuG1tvZRlWA5YBEhrqUNJ-jH2a06IJ5gPtGaV1H4uoB9vDIDi2iVD-/s1600/DSC03938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1273" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYGKitBGhvQnbNRAYFdN4DPMP8c97qY6VSNgAhIAs4pDjLmbaO3z9EfVcAWU28Pt3WV-ThWLtNQ5A7UYuG1tvZRlWA5YBEhrqUNJ-jH2a06IJ5gPtGaV1H4uoB9vDIDi2iVD-/s640/DSC03938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-9Q1og8MLMyxyCJ8ndWgl5Y75L3jSVKkQLMRajXSfhpVHU8uPmymBv-g2dykkjZs44nA07TvctK2tsAipV4huGCtJujFh1IhQTwvtYutRzh1c4wt01uYWAwXim-Sgl4qmOKa/s1600/DSC03927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1371" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-9Q1og8MLMyxyCJ8ndWgl5Y75L3jSVKkQLMRajXSfhpVHU8uPmymBv-g2dykkjZs44nA07TvctK2tsAipV4huGCtJujFh1IhQTwvtYutRzh1c4wt01uYWAwXim-Sgl4qmOKa/s640/DSC03927.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And below, five babies with their moms together</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdXuIC0M8edaIT8sVY3QMtdIWb9mwKd4F6OpEWTvwC9l96OLqtz_7_RGFMJshOKdXtAtCYjK_YT58o9uBl1F14sa9zt0QCaWgJRbYm3Nk7eJ7PUML03-Rx3v3t7s4dqGogfSW/s1600/DSC03951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdXuIC0M8edaIT8sVY3QMtdIWb9mwKd4F6OpEWTvwC9l96OLqtz_7_RGFMJshOKdXtAtCYjK_YT58o9uBl1F14sa9zt0QCaWgJRbYm3Nk7eJ7PUML03-Rx3v3t7s4dqGogfSW/s640/DSC03951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped at our final rest area before heading back to Arusha. Several hippos were in the water, and we took a nice group picture under a tree. Several of us wandered down the road and were stopped as it was dangerous to wander away from the vans. Oops!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub1o8oJwnD_V0MxUMt-c_CbRmXylVd1Dw4W-L7OGYPPJi9WV5wFLAbfYDi_oHjiOj10YTCM6AiK38XDVww7m-2jt4hoWQTiNoj6GskP_P9ZPuuI0uKsN7L5HXY6RrqDY5chNs/s1600/DSC03943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="886" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub1o8oJwnD_V0MxUMt-c_CbRmXylVd1Dw4W-L7OGYPPJi9WV5wFLAbfYDi_oHjiOj10YTCM6AiK38XDVww7m-2jt4hoWQTiNoj6GskP_P9ZPuuI0uKsN7L5HXY6RrqDY5chNs/s640/DSC03943.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQw3zrIAMXDkKs4QiDJrncw9N_XbxoVx63A0CMaCQvbrsm6ctg_S7NAFs6z31Z4OCJ8QJaKmt3TlmYiMDdz84424KI9A-PCiOap-_Ga7BmWckXOqnvuW8zLkzMJrd6yrO_WUs/s1600/Under+Tree+Ngorongoro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1090" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQw3zrIAMXDkKs4QiDJrncw9N_XbxoVx63A0CMaCQvbrsm6ctg_S7NAFs6z31Z4OCJ8QJaKmt3TlmYiMDdz84424KI9A-PCiOap-_Ga7BmWckXOqnvuW8zLkzMJrd6yrO_WUs/s640/Under+Tree+Ngorongoro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey-crowned cranes</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cOztcbElkzLTPTJ1hdvIgLKU4nj3r5TJ1xB0anMCam-tZifQoCeyKI4BvcyVw6MCKg51zECswBQNC7vje-k7spL-R8Ntpmy8X4ai7QfOEaYo6S2p6SSLowX0s5hVTUQ2UHyI/s1600/DSC03961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1362" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cOztcbElkzLTPTJ1hdvIgLKU4nj3r5TJ1xB0anMCam-tZifQoCeyKI4BvcyVw6MCKg51zECswBQNC7vje-k7spL-R8Ntpmy8X4ai7QfOEaYo6S2p6SSLowX0s5hVTUQ2UHyI/s640/DSC03961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kori_bustard" target="_blank">Kori Bustard </a>below:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kepkcdHqT6haai1vo7nEUxNNezNYUn9s5GWfak0jJ3hM_qgOemrbXw-DNNAf53OAA9o-bpwwkoHu7DFgQwr6wUbYAfOZRtH0W_bWsF4-i_dDGLw90NZKhyTFrniqwvdBtHYa/s1600/DSC03955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1335" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kepkcdHqT6haai1vo7nEUxNNezNYUn9s5GWfak0jJ3hM_qgOemrbXw-DNNAf53OAA9o-bpwwkoHu7DFgQwr6wUbYAfOZRtH0W_bWsF4-i_dDGLw90NZKhyTFrniqwvdBtHYa/s640/DSC03955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just out of the crater, we saw Masai girls carrying wood to fix roofs:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjda34_7SsoDZ8bPGmAZqOfVkfifvr0i1tVK5iEmyG-xZLEskcZ671oFiaxjxIuxc7JOeBH_AS-4dP0XwlHp3-Z3cxbYtyle7zfCCUMrQfU0wAOmO_4V0AMrEfW7LYEMgZbdb0/s1600/U+Girl+carrying+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1280" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjda34_7SsoDZ8bPGmAZqOfVkfifvr0i1tVK5iEmyG-xZLEskcZ671oFiaxjxIuxc7JOeBH_AS-4dP0XwlHp3-Z3cxbYtyle7zfCCUMrQfU0wAOmO_4V0AMrEfW7LYEMgZbdb0/s640/U+Girl+carrying+wood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We said good bye to Helen (who was heading home) and took one last picture of the three before we headed to the airport and our flight to Zanzibar..</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAm5Z4qIR3sAXeZc2XRBjzeflyWMwTFZ8T-fSkAek_a3mZNpvN1CW8RuXKVne0aVm4-XYnlmoltNHfyuJROF54gp_JRRpFewrFeT6sjsi8neMM74d-eureZFiTtPWftI5vIrqh/s1600/U+Last+Photo+Arusha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAm5Z4qIR3sAXeZc2XRBjzeflyWMwTFZ8T-fSkAek_a3mZNpvN1CW8RuXKVne0aVm4-XYnlmoltNHfyuJROF54gp_JRRpFewrFeT6sjsi8neMM74d-eureZFiTtPWftI5vIrqh/s640/U+Last+Photo+Arusha.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our ten-day Safari was coming to an end--an unforgettable trip that will remain with us for many years.</span><br />
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-10835395705308907922019-04-25T13:58:00.001-07:002019-04-29T09:37:48.250-07:00Tanzania--part 2--Ndutu Conservation area and more<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left Tarangire National Park on February 3 and headed off to the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro region (not the crater), spotting lots of animals along our day trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This entry is long as we saw so many fascinating events in this area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">ENJOY THE PICTURES!! </span> </b>If you have time, read the comments and click on the purple words for more details on each.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wizx_NNxFtN_Ix1Ukn7RrRvSZvTth5hmLC7XtRitbNBlIIZFmyR3cX3rILSErEN8OoDR-7LzcPqlg7vtUTTYI950sUWidHYHDRw7pQlKMtO_csXm8M0QOtEyg2uyVgC3-5aB/s1600/DSC03073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1009" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wizx_NNxFtN_Ix1Ukn7RrRvSZvTth5hmLC7XtRitbNBlIIZFmyR3cX3rILSErEN8OoDR-7LzcPqlg7vtUTTYI950sUWidHYHDRw7pQlKMtO_csXm8M0QOtEyg2uyVgC3-5aB/s640/DSC03073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masai huts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKPIXpB7IzLmItyKoajs9MpIsWRzBJshLf9jZ_JpfcBLsDOu8oS-lUPtF79gSoXlxgK5K2JM8CYEI8nwDZGxttFnrEMm6xNHrGpnluQBj6WwYUEm90Jv6H30GmFp4r9v5rAPP/s1600/DSC03084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKPIXpB7IzLmItyKoajs9MpIsWRzBJshLf9jZ_JpfcBLsDOu8oS-lUPtF79gSoXlxgK5K2JM8CYEI8nwDZGxttFnrEMm6xNHrGpnluQBj6WwYUEm90Jv6H30GmFp4r9v5rAPP/s640/DSC03084.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masai boy herding goats</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove by many M<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maasai" target="_blank">asai</a> boys and men herding cattle and goats. They sell milk, and can earn $10 for a days' worth of two-liter cans, more than many workers can earn.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn3cAt4BKAQC2ST1tad1wXgtqNVS8qA1Lxx88naO7b4hOeFL3OkMePrYTmq3PedS4cZNMvrxePPDfyZ51l-Ce34aHMAQf1QIQb0W-jevIZHndJvyZKlJModtftZsWVdsQhLUc/s1600/DSC03081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1175" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn3cAt4BKAQC2ST1tad1wXgtqNVS8qA1Lxx88naO7b4hOeFL3OkMePrYTmq3PedS4cZNMvrxePPDfyZ51l-Ce34aHMAQf1QIQb0W-jevIZHndJvyZKlJModtftZsWVdsQhLUc/s640/DSC03081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masai women walking down the road</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way, we stopped at the wood carving shop where we bought some carvings, and then a <a href="https://geology.com/gemstones/tanzanite/" target="_blank">Tanzanite </a>store and museum to learn about this relatively new precious stone. The most common story is that in 1967 a Masai tribesman stumbled on a cluster of highly transparent, intense violet-to-blue crystals in an area of northern Tanzania. He told a local fortune hunter who quickly registered 4 claims, hoping that he had found a new source of sapphires. Tiffany and company made a deal to become the main distributor and in 1968 named the stone after the country, Tanzania. The stone is rare and has only been mined in a 20 square mile area. The mines are predicted to give out in another twenty years. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZaPcHnuArFHCOqvl9Nb3KgydVlSObbIcV2_DEDqd914h4mW1K_zLBSm8z7wS_u-yZjlbrAUFMd95X_aj2PvkA9OFxw1aALtYipN3cBjWCmqaAySWGcdoLaZ8MfETPdjQCyFu/s1600/DSC03105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZaPcHnuArFHCOqvl9Nb3KgydVlSObbIcV2_DEDqd914h4mW1K_zLBSm8z7wS_u-yZjlbrAUFMd95X_aj2PvkA9OFxw1aALtYipN3cBjWCmqaAySWGcdoLaZ8MfETPdjQCyFu/s640/DSC03105.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, a mock up of a mine with veins of tanzanite in green and orange.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17ZD3h4h-D4Pl3creyDR1l_IVImrEP8QExiZSVyRNkzrrzgPH1PEjLEhOJTIHwEnofHBfeJ0-Zf8FGmIkV9jfEJx6hpX2S21tCvRASyFNYclCYGvnuWlmR8iKj58FAXsNluFk/s1600/DSC03113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17ZD3h4h-D4Pl3creyDR1l_IVImrEP8QExiZSVyRNkzrrzgPH1PEjLEhOJTIHwEnofHBfeJ0-Zf8FGmIkV9jfEJx6hpX2S21tCvRASyFNYclCYGvnuWlmR8iKj58FAXsNluFk/s640/DSC03113.JPG" width="440" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A mother rock on the right</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFu0FVn47kfz02dXOk_Vm5_b3BW9yczLzvoNPKyYCYHm9QL36gJoi3LgqGDWBaLPZZ2lQHkrdUXBEthbxQjkR9QpQ9SGCAr3vQ5578VtKKmuVxnioopeWBJXsBN6dCoNksgDW/s1600/DSC03116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFu0FVn47kfz02dXOk_Vm5_b3BW9yczLzvoNPKyYCYHm9QL36gJoi3LgqGDWBaLPZZ2lQHkrdUXBEthbxQjkR9QpQ9SGCAr3vQ5578VtKKmuVxnioopeWBJXsBN6dCoNksgDW/s640/DSC03116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We continued down the main road. The speed limit on "highways" is 80 kph (or 48 mph) and 50 (30 mph) in towns and cities. Given the condition of the roads, it would not be wise to go faster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw signs for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dxq0ai03y8Fw7KtMLdc-y5tndIDaVfhviA_zbH-8F0Sp4UjrfubBMC-UBA5OlIN1earq73_3rq19tmTJ8mER5CmZp1-zqo37Zco8_0gr68IGtdZVQvivF-4BLW6mrNUcusoe/s1600/DSC03080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="834" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dxq0ai03y8Fw7KtMLdc-y5tndIDaVfhviA_zbH-8F0Sp4UjrfubBMC-UBA5OlIN1earq73_3rq19tmTJ8mER5CmZp1-zqo37Zco8_0gr68IGtdZVQvivF-4BLW6mrNUcusoe/s640/DSC03080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and our first sighting of zebras.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvVvaL5WmEUF5n6Gyb8YvjCfm446WBoTtlPnlb9AlE6qgkY7ariviU7RzyTyFs32mhLEn62KZDnWz_i9QkH1aZK9ZPtZSMATxL_hodBoXwUHKB6rR8F77bqH6r-wRlF9_OAgW/s1600/DSC03079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="918" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvVvaL5WmEUF5n6Gyb8YvjCfm446WBoTtlPnlb9AlE6qgkY7ariviU7RzyTyFs32mhLEn62KZDnWz_i9QkH1aZK9ZPtZSMATxL_hodBoXwUHKB6rR8F77bqH6r-wRlF9_OAgW/s640/DSC03079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped to shop a bit and for a lunch . We saw very impressive, large carvings outside the store. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam3w1QujGT4ntWYwey-qbeVmcXPIN8tTv3oMJhobCOAvKLzxepzaISdOc0xhYzE21HiJRkEDAY8lJOohD3HgSexOyiQbI35THzgJ6dV-eiV0wAnHqt7nu6bKL2v1g5Hcf-VUm/s1600/DSC03120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1459" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgam3w1QujGT4ntWYwey-qbeVmcXPIN8tTv3oMJhobCOAvKLzxepzaISdOc0xhYzE21HiJRkEDAY8lJOohD3HgSexOyiQbI35THzgJ6dV-eiV0wAnHqt7nu6bKL2v1g5Hcf-VUm/s640/DSC03120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mane of this lion was amazing art</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTA4pKatsDHwnH7gTk-i64-2kd3nlQpjZzOiMvku-SAXhPsWR_11yLk2DwZOJQGeEPspUNNSQtyqpZsCD13RWZ_oa1euxMMYuBz3HWgpDsq_aJsFkav_-vfUNE4zPfeTDmp1d/s1600/IMG_9630+Wildebeest+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTA4pKatsDHwnH7gTk-i64-2kd3nlQpjZzOiMvku-SAXhPsWR_11yLk2DwZOJQGeEPspUNNSQtyqpZsCD13RWZ_oa1euxMMYuBz3HWgpDsq_aJsFkav_-vfUNE4zPfeTDmp1d/s640/IMG_9630+Wildebeest+statue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wildebeest carving</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0NpJd1HKMJOlfPvJf5EAB6JA76fd9HyuaFRUHCqYMLZKDq3rG5Ehng6qbS9LHGIj0zT3BVeZV7yiuZH398gs3G0ckJ4GIB5Qs2G8qCQv5gh9N4lhn_s_Ri2hDd1a00NXPR1n/s1600/IMG_9631+carving+of+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="389" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0NpJd1HKMJOlfPvJf5EAB6JA76fd9HyuaFRUHCqYMLZKDq3rG5Ehng6qbS9LHGIj0zT3BVeZV7yiuZH398gs3G0ckJ4GIB5Qs2G8qCQv5gh9N4lhn_s_Ri2hDd1a00NXPR1n/s640/IMG_9631+carving+of+people.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing carving of dozens of people</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A carved giraffe priced at $14,000 --probably could sell for half that?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvc-q39sgetEMTHMpaYI2nQZL0Ch-q8KviNw8T0XsuN4xENJOZewFwshknw48RSfoWO7EwsAVXWkbNvAwiBQJVedBGDwUD4qO4lxW16CC_jmb9McBSXYqXJ-u8NrcbJ2V0DBp/s1600/IMG_9639+Masai+salesman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvc-q39sgetEMTHMpaYI2nQZL0Ch-q8KviNw8T0XsuN4xENJOZewFwshknw48RSfoWO7EwsAVXWkbNvAwiBQJVedBGDwUD4qO4lxW16CC_jmb9McBSXYqXJ-u8NrcbJ2V0DBp/s640/IMG_9639+Masai+salesman.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Masai warrior who sold me a few items. He earns money for his community</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3I_7_NgnbZxr0Uf3SxQ-QvcET-TJjzwwf2IZf9X0QJOO5YooshqGsNNIRZ5dD87kmIjnsmtQE1LANGWMlibY9b01oqWg-DrIiBziXgTf77x2DmyoiBU6rH73yt0_K8x4cugd/s1600/IMG_9660+Gorilla+and+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3I_7_NgnbZxr0Uf3SxQ-QvcET-TJjzwwf2IZf9X0QJOO5YooshqGsNNIRZ5dD87kmIjnsmtQE1LANGWMlibY9b01oqWg-DrIiBziXgTf77x2DmyoiBU6rH73yt0_K8x4cugd/s640/IMG_9660+Gorilla+and+cat.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oversized baboon with a feral cat under it. The cat had just gotten table scraps from people who ate their lunch nearby. We did not feed it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove by for an overview of the Ngorogoro Crater where a breeze was welcome at this 7,000 feet plus altitude. That was the last place we would have WiFi reception for the next three days. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb3Wq8hyphenhyphen2My9wOdXtl3z9Z17Js2DcygvsN_NxmwiKT2A3v-RXO037gp_a9tvxjlonsCcMOt2GWrDNr46Ay8EowTnbF3tF0KMbcf-V1aERjS4hMG8FDr3duSTSJtL-5XsHTsfC/s1600/IMG_9680Ngorogoro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb3Wq8hyphenhyphen2My9wOdXtl3z9Z17Js2DcygvsN_NxmwiKT2A3v-RXO037gp_a9tvxjlonsCcMOt2GWrDNr46Ay8EowTnbF3tF0KMbcf-V1aERjS4hMG8FDr3duSTSJtL-5XsHTsfC/s640/IMG_9680Ngorogoro.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlook of part of the Ngorogoro Crater</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We continued on, driving through a town, I think a Karatu village (the Wambulu tribe where they are sometimes called Iraq people as the women have soft hair like Arabs) and saw stores, produce for sale on the side of the road, and a father and son on a bike in front of a gas station.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzuiO3ebgXbZSC3ATAaHyYIIfo7XY97NqNepX1uw_ZZ12KYwjU1HmKJhY_yndJhELdpGOunKxVZkOxYzy44uwVpbteBajTTecLC_NyylRQ-nmjryL1xcNyfXnVkIHissADBTJ/s1600/DSC03096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1484" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzuiO3ebgXbZSC3ATAaHyYIIfo7XY97NqNepX1uw_ZZ12KYwjU1HmKJhY_yndJhELdpGOunKxVZkOxYzy44uwVpbteBajTTecLC_NyylRQ-nmjryL1xcNyfXnVkIHissADBTJ/s640/DSC03096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4De0cxqZN56anhVAcr0wKhLNykHUPLSAHCuy7-Vt7gmR86EAU_vNesGlWq3H_46uignAzWQmzJx7A7iqNjoVULOZBFnF36htYJ6SQsTa6489XilZ95AjOdzKgeoyHWFxDPJ79/s1600/DSC03099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4De0cxqZN56anhVAcr0wKhLNykHUPLSAHCuy7-Vt7gmR86EAU_vNesGlWq3H_46uignAzWQmzJx7A7iqNjoVULOZBFnF36htYJ6SQsTa6489XilZ95AjOdzKgeoyHWFxDPJ79/s640/DSC03099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masai Shoppers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd6feGbIbjBgRuGlQAZ3lRSbl0SVuZh06ngTgQzsBTNhcmNhFcSDNZG5GjD1UoXNAQge9kI-x4j7ZLzNt4gPcMsVPgZv-d5IcFo1Bqqgf4C2KES1nuu_f7kFaFErwcq-oNUIo/s1600/DSC03101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1450" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd6feGbIbjBgRuGlQAZ3lRSbl0SVuZh06ngTgQzsBTNhcmNhFcSDNZG5GjD1UoXNAQge9kI-x4j7ZLzNt4gPcMsVPgZv-d5IcFo1Bqqgf4C2KES1nuu_f7kFaFErwcq-oNUIo/s640/DSC03101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Older man in a store</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We drove on through the Ndutu area and saw more animals, including elephants, zebras, a cheetah eating, probably the leg of a gazelle, our first larger sighting of wildebeests,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtG4rE2wAEg-u1TTY6cJMO1XTFH5vYABEW2KVyRiQJbfdPB5oG0OfCxPhF0HAXo7AHGySaAhx2rKkW5ed3DVDHnlrct3SL-2LYBCtc5U8qhoyN0z7DXS6kHbB-b8VgosDVN0O/s1600/DSC03159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtG4rE2wAEg-u1TTY6cJMO1XTFH5vYABEW2KVyRiQJbfdPB5oG0OfCxPhF0HAXo7AHGySaAhx2rKkW5ed3DVDHnlrct3SL-2LYBCtc5U8qhoyN0z7DXS6kHbB-b8VgosDVN0O/s640/DSC03159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo7n2tpmq_c0sXogUpJ_G5IYss_9gTo5SMPOHztVyBK8RkPSQnlZEAOP63yvVKjfPG4whk7R5NDz_FpQramnSt6ZGQbo2GNvVfCdU0GSQ853Q-Hkkav1G2LpU17R8ABXg0z2U/s1600/DSC03169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="719" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo7n2tpmq_c0sXogUpJ_G5IYss_9gTo5SMPOHztVyBK8RkPSQnlZEAOP63yvVKjfPG4whk7R5NDz_FpQramnSt6ZGQbo2GNvVfCdU0GSQ853Q-Hkkav1G2LpU17R8ABXg0z2U/s640/DSC03169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk8b-lZptbdKewsKK_7uCMpn8pvoLQVIBp9VmMnkvDN2PjsPxQN93OEmRB-cLrAOhgBf6q2AvgzaJFia9XhO3FW2hKdUOgHC62j-qN8AZv0qIY9zWZn2Q-QsU_33MPa8n8lb8/s1600/IMG_9695Giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="396" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk8b-lZptbdKewsKK_7uCMpn8pvoLQVIBp9VmMnkvDN2PjsPxQN93OEmRB-cLrAOhgBf6q2AvgzaJFia9XhO3FW2hKdUOgHC62j-qN8AZv0qIY9zWZn2Q-QsU_33MPa8n8lb8/s640/IMG_9695Giraffe.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lone giraffe looking around</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAZ9quAVcv4Ptp_cZd-HSU_FcpUCNXHRRQFVrQfFIHZfsHE45pu8A0DK-9nMlW-IIVp01KuZg3byoDiRaL5B3JKFmtuu5i5ChRyhuRgnttjPct9IiLT8c0UIojT27ljDI7xMi/s1600/IMG_9698flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="640" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAZ9quAVcv4Ptp_cZd-HSU_FcpUCNXHRRQFVrQfFIHZfsHE45pu8A0DK-9nMlW-IIVp01KuZg3byoDiRaL5B3JKFmtuu5i5ChRyhuRgnttjPct9IiLT8c0UIojT27ljDI7xMi/s640/IMG_9698flamingos.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamingos in a lake--I love the clear reflections!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR68sjiOqjy-iGG8aZB1nkIIKHjDygmNhsk6ri7rzqm1bBf8QQyU_2PvU4YKOa8KM8P1iLyD0t3Jblj0CQGEfqtpU-oa1SsD6hp2THvmVyf9QE4TTdc1jIIHSnIGLjfLBurZxt/s1600/IMG_9701jackal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1032" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR68sjiOqjy-iGG8aZB1nkIIKHjDygmNhsk6ri7rzqm1bBf8QQyU_2PvU4YKOa8KM8P1iLyD0t3Jblj0CQGEfqtpU-oa1SsD6hp2THvmVyf9QE4TTdc1jIIHSnIGLjfLBurZxt/s640/IMG_9701jackal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hyena fairly close</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aKqqlbZbUPpkvYQhsML6hbRdC47lZMKD9SvhYmhUzHvkyogph6wxRYow0P4vxgOB5AgW5Wct63KKzQ2xeZ2ldsqEQQutrhZTFagJTMJzDCYrwHc1IbHVobF9TII2VF8xa3TL/s1600/IMG_9702jackal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1246" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aKqqlbZbUPpkvYQhsML6hbRdC47lZMKD9SvhYmhUzHvkyogph6wxRYow0P4vxgOB5AgW5Wct63KKzQ2xeZ2ldsqEQQutrhZTFagJTMJzDCYrwHc1IbHVobF9TII2VF8xa3TL/s640/IMG_9702jackal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The road was quite bumpy as we traveled along.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_EwGgy4JJ6GS4tZTgT3TsW4o9l1f7stniJf7nVL1SfewlRzcWea2lJAY_HdRe6flinLcOPGW1yPelRFCX-UtvIGRsHYbdzG6yC-yydx_sqiWKPMjCUTGaymaz08qL2sN3_U3/s1600/IMG_9703cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_EwGgy4JJ6GS4tZTgT3TsW4o9l1f7stniJf7nVL1SfewlRzcWea2lJAY_HdRe6flinLcOPGW1yPelRFCX-UtvIGRsHYbdzG6yC-yydx_sqiWKPMjCUTGaymaz08qL2sN3_U3/s640/IMG_9703cheetah.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw a large group of wildebeest with gazelles among them and zebras at the beginning and in the middle. It was getting late so we could not stop to take a picture but it was impressive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped to register at the NCA, the Ngorogoro Conservation Area.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU9GuqxRNGBjJ5kjzzkK5hj8VZFqBtXJIOit_AQowcxislTHGyi0IlWxvq61kHfriYMYZPd-WcrNFlQHgZGtz5Us6H4Oex33wk7k33PdqmEAzAtMoQJT7Bt8m7pSWMLaBPezx/s1600/DSC03129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU9GuqxRNGBjJ5kjzzkK5hj8VZFqBtXJIOit_AQowcxislTHGyi0IlWxvq61kHfriYMYZPd-WcrNFlQHgZGtz5Us6H4Oex33wk7k33PdqmEAzAtMoQJT7Bt8m7pSWMLaBPezx/s640/DSC03129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The entry had a good display of the region. Here are some examples.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBxq1HVApGh2bDj7UBYD-gfD3YVyLBTumnK2O4-6xIqEa0iUNVgxDHHy_-9JJS2LBP6qsdLsfBpUTobJyJJzBntz0_AxRji1gjJsVkzG60VlyZn58Uj_ssKFLHD_KXzWhan7v/s1600/DSC03130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="898" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBxq1HVApGh2bDj7UBYD-gfD3YVyLBTumnK2O4-6xIqEa0iUNVgxDHHy_-9JJS2LBP6qsdLsfBpUTobJyJJzBntz0_AxRji1gjJsVkzG60VlyZn58Uj_ssKFLHD_KXzWhan7v/s640/DSC03130.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4xwdWz0hiuefknMmvqYUn7nJiUDsp76xf9CNPh6G6dGcHbaAW9ZbfQ7B19IjjITZ6yJ0VGzIpWetDdqgm9ic2SF4rbKCKFaNG6e5hmfSSN4zDpBeRFZD9lp78YwyQl6Tx4na/s1600/DSC03133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1520" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4xwdWz0hiuefknMmvqYUn7nJiUDsp76xf9CNPh6G6dGcHbaAW9ZbfQ7B19IjjITZ6yJ0VGzIpWetDdqgm9ic2SF4rbKCKFaNG6e5hmfSSN4zDpBeRFZD9lp78YwyQl6Tx4na/s640/DSC03133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSH9UVD5GLSPDlEnTAAVS0dS0TYGvFQrT8pCDxzM0Ef4B1VF6uMTLh3llti4T4JqesIVRrPCKL6d4LP5D7xCGMoVIX9XLj19SI604Ey5eqzc_mbUILRE9hmmIpW-oAAwDTov-/s1600/DSC03132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSH9UVD5GLSPDlEnTAAVS0dS0TYGvFQrT8pCDxzM0Ef4B1VF6uMTLh3llti4T4JqesIVRrPCKL6d4LP5D7xCGMoVIX9XLj19SI604Ey5eqzc_mbUILRE9hmmIpW-oAAwDTov-/s640/DSC03132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ_GVHLa25nf6nRJVJQFt9A4QX-b-__RFL06UOmgfW970M4x8TdqSd9llgU7JUz_BrkbExJnTSku6hsQ9viqddxpgF8DrP6b-lrl-_2aUR4Fpuum16Fnq3wBaB6WIHaFCuxwC/s1600/DSC03137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ_GVHLa25nf6nRJVJQFt9A4QX-b-__RFL06UOmgfW970M4x8TdqSd9llgU7JUz_BrkbExJnTSku6hsQ9viqddxpgF8DrP6b-lrl-_2aUR4Fpuum16Fnq3wBaB6WIHaFCuxwC/s640/DSC03137.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXhQE65E-QduYaCnxIUodtxWUakq_Pr6jTpszJ70pKY0QXCrC6GRFCaFwYb6szSGZRx3fsT8G8wsQbcr7GzOZ0EXm2_TJwbb5AMort28jAHvO-BGgZ8EOn8mBYamJH0PUgQOt/s1600/DSC03136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1600" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXhQE65E-QduYaCnxIUodtxWUakq_Pr6jTpszJ70pKY0QXCrC6GRFCaFwYb6szSGZRx3fsT8G8wsQbcr7GzOZ0EXm2_TJwbb5AMort28jAHvO-BGgZ8EOn8mBYamJH0PUgQOt/s640/DSC03136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were delighted to see all kinds of animals, but many people on safari look forward to seeing all of the "Big Five." The phrase "big five game animals" was coined by hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot and not for their size and also because they are so dangerous. They include the lion, the African elephant, the cape buffalo, the leopard, and the rhinoceros. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived at the <a href="http://www.tingitanalodgesandcamps.com/ndutu-south-serengeti-african-safari-tanzania-accomodation-holidays-safari-park-tour-tingitana-lodges-and-camps.html" target="_blank">Tingitana tented camp</a> in the late afternoon, in time to settle into our tent, join a camp fire with snacks and then head to the central tent for dinner and to charge our phones/camera.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFoKRzYrwCMIVxNs0Qye7go1lwOdNhI-qz7dG2U8-lz2Tr3NM9XWUivVZw1ntINKtdsTTRRGBFiB_g5x1_yo6rrx1hOsxeuzTaxLkEtp41Jbfxf2YY-kY-rQ_IUZmbzFAPlX5/s1600/IMG_9706+Bonfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFoKRzYrwCMIVxNs0Qye7go1lwOdNhI-qz7dG2U8-lz2Tr3NM9XWUivVZw1ntINKtdsTTRRGBFiB_g5x1_yo6rrx1hOsxeuzTaxLkEtp41Jbfxf2YY-kY-rQ_IUZmbzFAPlX5/s640/IMG_9706+Bonfire.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are 11 tents at this camp with 15 men, three of whom are Masai, working there. Every such set up must have at least two Masai for protection from animals. The tents are portable and are moved as they follow the migration. They will stay in this site for another few weeks, then pack up and go to Arusha for repairs before heading out to the Serengeti for another three months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tents, based on wood planks, are huge and well maintained. They can sleep four to six people. Havazelet and I shared a tent and Nava and Helen shared another. The tents had two big rooms, the first with a queen bed and a chair and some tables, the next with two single beds or two sets of bunk beds, and then a shower, toilet, and sink area. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2Czi9Pj0dZvuLVsc7C5lGKWzMvHk4ncm05ZEBGw14Y2I_UbdLYZ0qWgb8uT90B6HK6HDNWKgXLRxNscvv1iZaQbj_k20IYivibBV7PW0McVsyzIHc-eSpQJ9VZxtMRdFrG6X/s1600/IMG_9716+Tent+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2Czi9Pj0dZvuLVsc7C5lGKWzMvHk4ncm05ZEBGw14Y2I_UbdLYZ0qWgb8uT90B6HK6HDNWKgXLRxNscvv1iZaQbj_k20IYivibBV7PW0McVsyzIHc-eSpQJ9VZxtMRdFrG6X/s640/IMG_9716+Tent+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen outside of a tent</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31mZIsjKF1GMbis-uU1ruzB3xhw4jHcvvHPFYIgHWjVi__qMeAT4cWsUOD1t1QDz5ieh8IC3_OgZ8l3Op31qiku4hp-QX9VnZFwhtvc078-nA11vTL1fCm8eCVELIP3d10_mT/s1600/IMG_9713+tent+middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31mZIsjKF1GMbis-uU1ruzB3xhw4jHcvvHPFYIgHWjVi__qMeAT4cWsUOD1t1QDz5ieh8IC3_OgZ8l3Op31qiku4hp-QX9VnZFwhtvc078-nA11vTL1fCm8eCVELIP3d10_mT/s640/IMG_9713+tent+middle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QEO3YH5nTw7923S4TfSWZdhFHLobiTIFCbAHjuA_Goxsd5ZQtKcwC7jS7Xs5sroS8Mi75J_YzrfJdX-iVYIUyCTpAypDb2R73kYZnA5RAXrVZ01DjVgnGJ0Mt1sPJi6BHNvS/s1600/IMG_9712+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QEO3YH5nTw7923S4TfSWZdhFHLobiTIFCbAHjuA_Goxsd5ZQtKcwC7jS7Xs5sroS8Mi75J_YzrfJdX-iVYIUyCTpAypDb2R73kYZnA5RAXrVZ01DjVgnGJ0Mt1sPJi6BHNvS/s640/IMG_9712+bathroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havazelet fixing her hair in the Bath Room area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Light bulbs in the tents were solar powered. Water was transported in and then solar heated for showers and sinks, and then "turned on" when we returned from our outings. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowE2HPNE8rixZk4bhX9pjhjjhP7sxDYfMo9gwD2IczrqbcUytprQ3z5WIGKbBbk80I10N9BnREUCkHGghnR9RCux8bNz14vcDAhICRN1agQMxK5s5w0RECtjVHUY8V3r-HflI/s1600/IMG_9786+Water+%2526+solar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowE2HPNE8rixZk4bhX9pjhjjhP7sxDYfMo9gwD2IczrqbcUytprQ3z5WIGKbBbk80I10N9BnREUCkHGghnR9RCux8bNz14vcDAhICRN1agQMxK5s5w0RECtjVHUY8V3r-HflI/s640/IMG_9786+Water+%2526+solar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meals were delicious and the chef catered to our special requests, such as asking for .vegetables with our egg for breakfast.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtG_RcDlPYvDHXDkGzsIAwn2ZEtRB6it_wvtAioarVlL0l5M6blssPir0pZ94_upRM1HYCYmuNLG7v6YBpBx-TRTjSGZUmNmDDTHRY_l6qm5CVcYe498wUDBnBveGDuaJjKJ_/s1600/DSC03180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtG_RcDlPYvDHXDkGzsIAwn2ZEtRB6it_wvtAioarVlL0l5M6blssPir0pZ94_upRM1HYCYmuNLG7v6YBpBx-TRTjSGZUmNmDDTHRY_l6qm5CVcYe498wUDBnBveGDuaJjKJ_/s640/DSC03180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The best thing is that there were no outdoor lights so we could see the beautiful night sky and hear the animals nearby. After dark, when we walked the short distance back to our tent, a Masai accompanied us and zipped our tents shut after we entered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We heard lots of noises at nights, especially guttural sounds of lions that were close but not too close (maybe 3-4 miles, i.e. 5-7 km, away). They seem to be telling us, "This is MY territory." At dinner and before going to bed, we also heard elephants. .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachellia_tortilis" target="_blank">acacia tortilis trees</a> close up and were impressed by the very sharp white thorns on them. Giraffes like the tender tips of acacia trees but have to be careful to avoid the thorns.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52IyHnGo-jDa7NdkVlcCiHmFOcsahOhSSU5prweA8hCGvqyniIpaiwNePuAUHblHTb0XYEMB7EdThMaFRAEI35RlgxjNGguo70h3mkzkafNwAqIA1J2fLj9vLFBdan9As4z3W/s1600/DSC03178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="963" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52IyHnGo-jDa7NdkVlcCiHmFOcsahOhSSU5prweA8hCGvqyniIpaiwNePuAUHblHTb0XYEMB7EdThMaFRAEI35RlgxjNGguo70h3mkzkafNwAqIA1J2fLj9vLFBdan9As4z3W/s640/DSC03178.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3pc8hqx6yTCKSkgDrQJ_7VOPnKnaKpEmDRclUHwfITdcdTbZL241PDDlHeLbzHMuEPWlkcAr-hBcA4F1s_lwKlyae9xfFIEdgmTIZzf74bM5v1-XprX_1_Fz7HxdcO39ex1X/s1600/IMG_9885+staff+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3pc8hqx6yTCKSkgDrQJ_7VOPnKnaKpEmDRclUHwfITdcdTbZL241PDDlHeLbzHMuEPWlkcAr-hBcA4F1s_lwKlyae9xfFIEdgmTIZzf74bM5v1-XprX_1_Fz7HxdcO39ex1X/s640/IMG_9885+staff+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of us with part of this special staff</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monday, February 4: This was a historic day for seeing LOTS of lions and other cats too. After April and May they leave this area and head to the Serengeti where the vehicles can not go off road like here to get close to these animals. The lions ignored us, knowing that we were not a threat to them and also not worth hunting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP946azbyI1EoicZ1CyyMQnEue1Y683PeepDQyllryMQCLvOg_H1H6rJUABGML4x3lV1_vIf6vGMLRUa2iT_YQNrbT4pVpOjRejUyG2SUXDITBJqAVG4HyZgUToPBIiAXkCV2/s1600/DSC03181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="613" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP946azbyI1EoicZ1CyyMQnEue1Y683PeepDQyllryMQCLvOg_H1H6rJUABGML4x3lV1_vIf6vGMLRUa2iT_YQNrbT4pVpOjRejUyG2SUXDITBJqAVG4HyZgUToPBIiAXkCV2/s640/DSC03181.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elementary guinea fowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVq1y5y0X8Fg7AxQ4BuvYBJOF7wOCMfOvE79L4HDaUN3TXQUTxguRTZPFUfqzEMfkvRJVnX-KkJ-BEdhZFIAL-ETwWc1HjBoi1Dd6wza-mHOXLMimmwakwB0cV7V4Sb4GzMBT/s1600/DSC03183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1287" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVq1y5y0X8Fg7AxQ4BuvYBJOF7wOCMfOvE79L4HDaUN3TXQUTxguRTZPFUfqzEMfkvRJVnX-KkJ-BEdhZFIAL-ETwWc1HjBoi1Dd6wza-mHOXLMimmwakwB0cV7V4Sb4GzMBT/s640/DSC03183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acacia trees, dead and alive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoNdxJxA_uUaJSigTfLoJ-PsXj5SyGQKDRaAn8WMYaz3NUxIRNMATYtxOdjO4YCOSuPv2YqzHHBW0f0JA2f4i6KfOQKWvKMQjdD7jfUfyCLkVsaLloRbXo3I6MBdE9AezVHYX/s1600/DSC03185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1320" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoNdxJxA_uUaJSigTfLoJ-PsXj5SyGQKDRaAn8WMYaz3NUxIRNMATYtxOdjO4YCOSuPv2YqzHHBW0f0JA2f4i6KfOQKWvKMQjdD7jfUfyCLkVsaLloRbXo3I6MBdE9AezVHYX/s640/DSC03185.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impalas--they usually like bush and treed areas more than open spaces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp6bdVHTwUqJmfsVUS6L3gJ8zYCUYDvX4tVeuBaGe3Vh6FO3exuQmwNoc959BOiNTPCRCeqs_zUWYoUCjJA7EA7hyphenhyphenFoeNLxk7V_B0OVsWEs_dCOlwFA2e7K7lflTwGfIyYOVv/s1600/DSC03187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp6bdVHTwUqJmfsVUS6L3gJ8zYCUYDvX4tVeuBaGe3Vh6FO3exuQmwNoc959BOiNTPCRCeqs_zUWYoUCjJA7EA7hyphenhyphenFoeNLxk7V_B0OVsWEs_dCOlwFA2e7K7lflTwGfIyYOVv/s640/DSC03187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, this Toyota Land Cruiser got stuck in a muddy area. Fitiael and other guides helped pull it out</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is our first view of a lion and lioness resting very close to the side of the road.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxMq2EYCiQrLYNCbuavAUsIL8bXpi6x8T2OiXGVacNyJZtXuLGrUoUnfwfzkXgYk9j0lW-23YrMPcEArQv-ael6nuLmMyQsI_7MAqeQXd_Rnj9YQDrgBgBemTvX5MDITcUqLr/s1600/DSC03186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1186" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxMq2EYCiQrLYNCbuavAUsIL8bXpi6x8T2OiXGVacNyJZtXuLGrUoUnfwfzkXgYk9j0lW-23YrMPcEArQv-ael6nuLmMyQsI_7MAqeQXd_Rnj9YQDrgBgBemTvX5MDITcUqLr/s640/DSC03186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other vehicles stopped too and soon the two lifted up their heads.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c77EyNka8boRFphjpu_O2p-gAo0zgEjIFGtAL7aQwD6LVW7kaPe2KX5ya2MLIbYapwykIdsIyKmYnzr2F6pR7qmGnjrU4-KnUUXcIv3Gp7aMg-KXahG0pz6-UnyT5f4hZ9I-/s1600/DSC03189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1004" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c77EyNka8boRFphjpu_O2p-gAo0zgEjIFGtAL7aQwD6LVW7kaPe2KX5ya2MLIbYapwykIdsIyKmYnzr2F6pR7qmGnjrU4-KnUUXcIv3Gp7aMg-KXahG0pz6-UnyT5f4hZ9I-/s640/DSC03189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They probably heard the wildebeest and zebras move and followed them into the bush. I wonder if they felt we were a disturbance?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtHC8Oqt6nwm-_o3JEhM9Tg7642X2qSsIVl5jO-5PALRovBznozhBLOiUxXoKuthSbl5j4qutgsKvOQOlchr4mVj1S_CHHsHwklUtorZ5Bgssntd-UXgebWkR36p8X4e0NPlo/s1600/DSC03190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1086" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtHC8Oqt6nwm-_o3JEhM9Tg7642X2qSsIVl5jO-5PALRovBznozhBLOiUxXoKuthSbl5j4qutgsKvOQOlchr4mVj1S_CHHsHwklUtorZ5Bgssntd-UXgebWkR36p8X4e0NPlo/s640/DSC03190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As they walked off, we discovered a third in their group! The lion and two lionesses had been resting in the grass.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_LsqYXNXTI-qtLm-0OhwF0X89xfBFPmBATGyS83yMQ8yt7vdrZLXtp9MVawh6j67r5RZB_z2DYhQNAk1rgDPiLm3g96dWOcULH7V3zJ12RUxZsmWrtQWnJCseh14i9V-h5ut/s1600/DSC03191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="991" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_LsqYXNXTI-qtLm-0OhwF0X89xfBFPmBATGyS83yMQ8yt7vdrZLXtp9MVawh6j67r5RZB_z2DYhQNAk1rgDPiLm3g96dWOcULH7V3zJ12RUxZsmWrtQWnJCseh14i9V-h5ut/s640/DSC03191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The group below totally ignored the vehicles watching them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR03lSJPevyD95YhwfLW2-7Oz4TjZcRKmR_CYhl4DYNh_WibsUV-EUDJQz4bmkobF_obrfCIDOI_gQB8UvOoB26bGwRhyfGhrhUo1IxHMkh6e_ATeQq7HSxcbzN9CW3k1rJ0E/s1600/DSC03193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1404" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR03lSJPevyD95YhwfLW2-7Oz4TjZcRKmR_CYhl4DYNh_WibsUV-EUDJQz4bmkobF_obrfCIDOI_gQB8UvOoB26bGwRhyfGhrhUo1IxHMkh6e_ATeQq7HSxcbzN9CW3k1rJ0E/s640/DSC03193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we saw another groups of 6 lions in a pride--two "brother" lions and four females, but only one of the males is the dominant (leader) one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJo2ZT_quBZ9ohVcZ9joCufXIfHPSB8LEZbJSofx-M7Aby1qiG0GiUfBX3JZGFLjrWlqp3vxf4S8fSmYy40JVh5p4c91QdQV00p9M2cxohzM0OF6DX51PnQdzRr8bxGOFvgAf/s1600/DSC03195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1140" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJo2ZT_quBZ9ohVcZ9joCufXIfHPSB8LEZbJSofx-M7Aby1qiG0GiUfBX3JZGFLjrWlqp3vxf4S8fSmYy40JVh5p4c91QdQV00p9M2cxohzM0OF6DX51PnQdzRr8bxGOFvgAf/s640/DSC03195.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8A62kW8hjw_iez4ryBeHw5GdXFO6jMJmrMtbrG9srZWFos1YNoYCPXkaRQ1st2xoJfDq1ZIaa693AqHRChod56hKojTJdayY9eJEmX4lffJQxpen_uqp1lArPBGe1fSxHow2/s1600/DSC03203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1063" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8A62kW8hjw_iez4ryBeHw5GdXFO6jMJmrMtbrG9srZWFos1YNoYCPXkaRQ1st2xoJfDq1ZIaa693AqHRChod56hKojTJdayY9eJEmX4lffJQxpen_uqp1lArPBGe1fSxHow2/s640/DSC03203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoY7Aa367MWLIrFSCcBLEJ0pJtbhyphenhyphenxg97NgDZDKwdZo48qWsMkF8YKquqobRdEBykQNzs___VERlhUzBdUOH718Hn4Gf3J_TJ211KwzlcwX-PeE-e5Nhw2fRmulAqfNxYCfgV/s1600/DSC03202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1161" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoY7Aa367MWLIrFSCcBLEJ0pJtbhyphenhyphenxg97NgDZDKwdZo48qWsMkF8YKquqobRdEBykQNzs___VERlhUzBdUOH718Hn4Gf3J_TJ211KwzlcwX-PeE-e5Nhw2fRmulAqfNxYCfgV/s640/DSC03202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb starlings on the ground near the Land Cruisers and the lions</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4a3GI90EomDCj1qH5RnpcwoL8kLlntnbxMJ8ccuGrk5y_wRqryxU8KMpJ8_JoCYVRQj1EJ3vtAcitNQ9ZNFATjeI5vEVfy44hQFc2f9E2f9LPsy2l0srRpbY06zPtzbSrZYW/s1600/DSC03205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="813" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4a3GI90EomDCj1qH5RnpcwoL8kLlntnbxMJ8ccuGrk5y_wRqryxU8KMpJ8_JoCYVRQj1EJ3vtAcitNQ9ZNFATjeI5vEVfy44hQFc2f9E2f9LPsy2l0srRpbY06zPtzbSrZYW/s640/DSC03205.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And others in the air, including vultures, flying over previous kill by lions, who had eaten their fill</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-84KZJXW6gV0whyhSBtHDnKT0vn04CoBSoDmXfclO4HCKg2gH0VyjZ_y_DMokabl2l4i-RJIXt85JkhAcUp-RtsPEA1OdZ_8GxO7Bg_FYd8OjpABXODXPozGTNjBamrZY3paV/s1600/DSC03208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1600" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-84KZJXW6gV0whyhSBtHDnKT0vn04CoBSoDmXfclO4HCKg2gH0VyjZ_y_DMokabl2l4i-RJIXt85JkhAcUp-RtsPEA1OdZ_8GxO7Bg_FYd8OjpABXODXPozGTNjBamrZY3paV/s640/DSC03208.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These males are young as they have shorter manes. Older lions have manes that are closer to black and longer. The pride has an area of 15--20 square kilometers (5-7 sq miles).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw2hmK7UvRnU_ebnrMdrCZGkq5YNHGJ4MMNxnqs_8dgGMSmvIoADDPzqrIs1nwKtxOaosGJn7qYjQ-uVL2NuPqU2uk-KpbD96wFh3ryb5ESnWoxT4q0wyKFiQEgd8OZ3ls6wt/s1600/DSC03210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="915" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw2hmK7UvRnU_ebnrMdrCZGkq5YNHGJ4MMNxnqs_8dgGMSmvIoADDPzqrIs1nwKtxOaosGJn7qYjQ-uVL2NuPqU2uk-KpbD96wFh3ryb5ESnWoxT4q0wyKFiQEgd8OZ3ls6wt/s640/DSC03210.JPG" width="466" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tufted tip of the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/things-you-didnt-know-about-lions/13/" target="_blank">lion's tail</a> is used to communicate with other lions.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7n_uWnRyZXn_9kTFhFHSjECLK2MyVoxd7ca4yTGqYD-VFEk-IxFsPzdmodcYEVU7aOLf4Z6pMiztUrKiMpjFZnkRhxNQ59VZTPPHl9X4bD_p3xjdCpZah1-mYV93sKpSi65I/s1600/DSC03211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1335" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7n_uWnRyZXn_9kTFhFHSjECLK2MyVoxd7ca4yTGqYD-VFEk-IxFsPzdmodcYEVU7aOLf4Z6pMiztUrKiMpjFZnkRhxNQ59VZTPPHl9X4bD_p3xjdCpZah1-mYV93sKpSi65I/s640/DSC03211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Male lions can eat 20 kilos (44 lb) of meat after a kill and then need 3-4 days to digest the food. They swallow pieces of meat and then digest them through their two stomachs. As a result, they only need to hunt every 3-4 days. Males weigh about 220 kilos (485 lb) and females 120 kilos or more (265 lb+). Since a gazelle or impala weighs only about 12 kilos (26 lb), lions prefer to kill something bigger such as a wildebeest or zebra so there is enough to share. Lions have 3-month pregnancies and only survive 15-16 years in the wild. Lionesses nurse for just 3 months so cubs 3+ months old follow their mothers as they hunt. Females are the best hunters and run faster than males. They catch their prey and start the kill, and males arrive to help finish it. After the lions have their fill, hyenas, jackals, and vultures do the "clean up."</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are white hooded (or red throat) vultures on the ground to eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lappet faced vulture is the largest with a wing span of three meters (10 feet). The white backed is the most common here. Griffon vultures are here too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsaOhAQnbAT2phPir3FGBvfnnruZgvIR5rZiSe5jrMPxerK7x4nQjkdfeFF3tH16ZkddvEeTsr2GGcZPVAZGnlA8_7YrKwCl9RMXxGXWxxjwKfSbdfi08LYFh9NiBW2cnMZzG/s1600/DSC03212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="844" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsaOhAQnbAT2phPir3FGBvfnnruZgvIR5rZiSe5jrMPxerK7x4nQjkdfeFF3tH16ZkddvEeTsr2GGcZPVAZGnlA8_7YrKwCl9RMXxGXWxxjwKfSbdfi08LYFh9NiBW2cnMZzG/s640/DSC03212.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were astounded to see a cheetah so close to our vehicle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZwhbRp4eU3_MHjpMTqVWu0t7yuI-6669OaisGru-KLRNVuOH2xzhXwAQD5Z6xvK1dsasygQfXrE7L7K7l65Uxm1jp1cRa2vB8sVttMfaPW73tRhVf6txHaKArjXW1fuG6F7x/s1600/DSC03218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="925" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZwhbRp4eU3_MHjpMTqVWu0t7yuI-6669OaisGru-KLRNVuOH2xzhXwAQD5Z6xvK1dsasygQfXrE7L7K7l65Uxm1jp1cRa2vB8sVttMfaPW73tRhVf6txHaKArjXW1fuG6F7x/s640/DSC03218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXaoDc6bSqYxkdLGYGk6YsOYWaZ3nHj3qpXX_apBQTcwxDkTKIDulpwgO0Z_Aofk-b51eKFWehdMi7WBehNhosW_4hg1r-n37dnzqguWTxBaC6vKHGFr-d_3yKHQk_C3RvbHG/s1600/DSC03220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXaoDc6bSqYxkdLGYGk6YsOYWaZ3nHj3qpXX_apBQTcwxDkTKIDulpwgO0Z_Aofk-b51eKFWehdMi7WBehNhosW_4hg1r-n37dnzqguWTxBaC6vKHGFr-d_3yKHQk_C3RvbHG/s640/DSC03220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheetahs are the fastest animals on earth. They hunt gazelles, impalas, and baby wildebeests. The females are solitary while the males form a coalition (group). The tip of the female's tail is blackish, and she can signal her cubs with it. When she hunts, she hides her cubs from hyenas. Lions kill baby cheetahs to reduce the competition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheetahs are awake during the day and have spots and black tear lines under their eyes to protect them from the sun. Leopards have multi colored circles and are nocturnal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon ran into a group of three land rovers with back tires stuck in the mud. Ten drivers got our to help, with ours having the rope needed to aid the other drivers in their efforts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqJsFVD3kgSACJQyIpMfubb9kam0nmKSvC-Q0ryuu-oW1AHyGo0FFoFbv6eFwN3msVTd9kvsUgjHt-c9HvtXBzCWpfBbG1xyqT2Y-6PG1POTvZvHM4zNlWvVAXWL90xyhhA_l/s1600/DSC03222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1229" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqJsFVD3kgSACJQyIpMfubb9kam0nmKSvC-Q0ryuu-oW1AHyGo0FFoFbv6eFwN3msVTd9kvsUgjHt-c9HvtXBzCWpfBbG1xyqT2Y-6PG1POTvZvHM4zNlWvVAXWL90xyhhA_l/s640/DSC03222.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed a group of about 8 zebras. Some are pregnant, but it can be hard to tell as they naturally look big through their middles. They roll in dust to remove parasites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Juvenile zebras have brown and yellowish stripes, which later turn white .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYFZXbsHQC-6aVX4BXzWnifzIAo6pktyV3HTg1faQW5Ke522RTvwemxpCDZN0Uz51gHWJer0w-uc1IuTh6tpWahRfHeLqWBiqQhK7rGUy1FCcBw7zxRTC3xRd_ndp6x0Ts-tY/s1600/IMG_9766baby+zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="640" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYFZXbsHQC-6aVX4BXzWnifzIAo6pktyV3HTg1faQW5Ke522RTvwemxpCDZN0Uz51gHWJer0w-uc1IuTh6tpWahRfHeLqWBiqQhK7rGUy1FCcBw7zxRTC3xRd_ndp6x0Ts-tY/s640/IMG_9766baby+zebra.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jmZDvrdh9A-3kWOrpGtPIaHhXIGkCkvb3FeeJ90mAyMt77sNl87kq4fdGOqQTpcJcxQdFQGzyjLNSxZiMzc79K63sUyYxHyPEWkCrymjiGIcZWcd4cUl4-RX1g7uhYMJnYpE/s1600/DSC03223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jmZDvrdh9A-3kWOrpGtPIaHhXIGkCkvb3FeeJ90mAyMt77sNl87kq4fdGOqQTpcJcxQdFQGzyjLNSxZiMzc79K63sUyYxHyPEWkCrymjiGIcZWcd4cUl4-RX1g7uhYMJnYpE/s640/DSC03223.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vultures waiting to feed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXzMmk9nvVBReVQp53LR8Xtqqjgs6oHQZhi_92R01OlCQXXLZCi7FPIgpmjIpWkVSX4RBvnv6QKgocLerEkM8rxKrP_BaF2nmCHrJRhpQr2i9l5nH5Gj54su1c99wxOvKpPko/s1600/DSC03229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1553" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXzMmk9nvVBReVQp53LR8Xtqqjgs6oHQZhi_92R01OlCQXXLZCi7FPIgpmjIpWkVSX4RBvnv6QKgocLerEkM8rxKrP_BaF2nmCHrJRhpQr2i9l5nH5Gj54su1c99wxOvKpPko/s640/DSC03229.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another lion and his kill below--probably a wildebeest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ9EQE82SZ544-i2ewApbBo6rbYUovR5xeSY8hEuCzCmN6HlwAf3Ur-TwAtaftIe9FqPnylXAJb-65Hy3VtRivkK0VXNVUusRBMIt7wey7nYPW3VtwVrkYT705jZ7Nc5jEyAX/s1600/DSC03237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ9EQE82SZ544-i2ewApbBo6rbYUovR5xeSY8hEuCzCmN6HlwAf3Ur-TwAtaftIe9FqPnylXAJb-65Hy3VtRivkK0VXNVUusRBMIt7wey7nYPW3VtwVrkYT705jZ7Nc5jEyAX/s640/DSC03237.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't spot a lot of flowers in this area, but here are a few small, low-lying ones we did see.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EG2EkbNrwPBbZwtkVVmtGBE85orJOGwq7HHaQth7oq0Sxfvs5vT69BWIibdo0PI8I_gmWFIp3LvKGgWXztVYHmF2MybgETUyXIjArfew7AfsU462rTZU5GsguAH_6EcSAAXU/s1600/IMG_9761flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EG2EkbNrwPBbZwtkVVmtGBE85orJOGwq7HHaQth7oq0Sxfvs5vT69BWIibdo0PI8I_gmWFIp3LvKGgWXztVYHmF2MybgETUyXIjArfew7AfsU462rTZU5GsguAH_6EcSAAXU/s400/IMG_9761flower.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizr-E34-YZrkU7cuifbR0sgdLRIN6AEdZebdMVFHXYWAqS1JLDDsq3bAwrAxTTgi4tdFONzlLsHzx0v9TNFLuGNDHM8fj03M438AP0xMpoZ-3oVLiTw3qtNXwGPbpfC5kOLIJ/s1600/IMG_9763flo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizr-E34-YZrkU7cuifbR0sgdLRIN6AEdZebdMVFHXYWAqS1JLDDsq3bAwrAxTTgi4tdFONzlLsHzx0v9TNFLuGNDHM8fj03M438AP0xMpoZ-3oVLiTw3qtNXwGPbpfC5kOLIJ/s400/IMG_9763flo2.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3G1oP0HwgLoNq_D1v-rCK4CSTLrVN8n3LzvsNkyZ3I2P4HQqyev3WawjYMP8XHrp92ZDK1q91_h1SInWnrZTnk8nLsjfYKVIalmaBbwnQpX4WMMBF1DUIkA5U4y8LLWC8Sdq/s1600/IMG_9764flow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3G1oP0HwgLoNq_D1v-rCK4CSTLrVN8n3LzvsNkyZ3I2P4HQqyev3WawjYMP8XHrp92ZDK1q91_h1SInWnrZTnk8nLsjfYKVIalmaBbwnQpX4WMMBF1DUIkA5U4y8LLWC8Sdq/s400/IMG_9764flow3.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqdnAONbS-VhYd2tWJpV1mOAi2GlmKGdAIJn-PEmvfKBxuIPsoVhMUhXmk8vYOD6N5Ulxnm4Xl3nKf7bR5fQEbRvQll8GJQpuRu3uMnxfQP6PA_1q1RIuwvQrkRa1cmbZ273p/s1600/IMG_9765flfow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqdnAONbS-VhYd2tWJpV1mOAi2GlmKGdAIJn-PEmvfKBxuIPsoVhMUhXmk8vYOD6N5Ulxnm4Xl3nKf7bR5fQEbRvQll8GJQpuRu3uMnxfQP6PA_1q1RIuwvQrkRa1cmbZ273p/s400/IMG_9765flfow4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About an hour later, we spotted another cheetah!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQFlCwaI99SdzLLCSi8JCyqNYWKZ9UTgxAyFW-riVA3T1gj-HXz8Vk8x_pi-ElYA-znBWV6UhR5EOq0UxM0mC9gthbESl3CFlcgg1kLxip9Y8ehxIegFvLDJHGveza1a2SD24/s1600/DSC03242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQFlCwaI99SdzLLCSi8JCyqNYWKZ9UTgxAyFW-riVA3T1gj-HXz8Vk8x_pi-ElYA-znBWV6UhR5EOq0UxM0mC9gthbESl3CFlcgg1kLxip9Y8ehxIegFvLDJHGveza1a2SD24/s640/DSC03242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before heading back to camp for lunch, we saw a group of wildebeests walking in the distance and also, a <a href="https://www.wideopenspaces.com/hunting-tiny-10-africa-pics/" target="_blank">steenbuck </a>(or steinbok), a pretty, delicate looking antelope.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWcqTPpzZFhyHlithP5BluNDz2hbJrMDriu_7J0gu0LqduqsZXruyFIrizwiTcOWzLnw25UY7E4Q6ty7bdadFSWqc0AvieqEOo49YOD4Xh_GTdoZS1_7QxzrZhSLfZv33da-0/s1600/DSC03245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1475" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWcqTPpzZFhyHlithP5BluNDz2hbJrMDriu_7J0gu0LqduqsZXruyFIrizwiTcOWzLnw25UY7E4Q6ty7bdadFSWqc0AvieqEOo49YOD4Xh_GTdoZS1_7QxzrZhSLfZv33da-0/s640/DSC03245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LD1q6RVYu5Cx64K3aI-LHLEI1ZhQYj0DzFlDnHQUjYfZ4FZGm6er_7B42YC0Av_062Af0GFu8S7X9kl7-5nztBeQ738nKsYoEhmZxChzUJxywvgqzYapiAyHprCfYGT4LMmy/s1600/DSC03247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="957" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LD1q6RVYu5Cx64K3aI-LHLEI1ZhQYj0DzFlDnHQUjYfZ4FZGm6er_7B42YC0Av_062Af0GFu8S7X9kl7-5nztBeQ738nKsYoEhmZxChzUJxywvgqzYapiAyHprCfYGT4LMmy/s640/DSC03247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We again headed out in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the late afternoon, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">following a delicious lunch .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw three Thomson gazelles (with black stripes on their sides) and 5 Grant gazelles, which are bigger with larger horns.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U8Zf72Tev5Q1NV9o6fybeHXO3MA_98la2t0JsbDYJ8BlUeDTZioaUKzGlwO_BQMm75oqlavu_uTlIVwky0eHi5hWPagO9jIa641_r-NUI0oIHeVLTrDlTSXcc7WdWlGQnx-j/s1600/DSC03251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="724" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U8Zf72Tev5Q1NV9o6fybeHXO3MA_98la2t0JsbDYJ8BlUeDTZioaUKzGlwO_BQMm75oqlavu_uTlIVwky0eHi5hWPagO9jIa641_r-NUI0oIHeVLTrDlTSXcc7WdWlGQnx-j/s640/DSC03251.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Thomson gazelle</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcgKYdfTBulHAhx9631LO3FqvpwMcJUVlQRg5I0RvqBWE9y8QX7tYxIXh-52M5IjrnbIJ_tlTJRUM1_ezBsEplx0m6UbkFgLVpug91nb74AnhQuo7JM4B6sDSnJBdyxTL3nf4/s1600/DSC03252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcgKYdfTBulHAhx9631LO3FqvpwMcJUVlQRg5I0RvqBWE9y8QX7tYxIXh-52M5IjrnbIJ_tlTJRUM1_ezBsEplx0m6UbkFgLVpug91nb74AnhQuo7JM4B6sDSnJBdyxTL3nf4/s640/DSC03252.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfVpRcvfVU9ZUkcVV7zl6Dk8l6qY2NvGHiMf4I9T2wV65Hj4uhU5A0mCPoNwzpY0pk5jFmp0MgOo1aeI4xNxZ1PXYNCHZzz0wHQ8GxikOLPBkAmV5QySe1MSphEzFgounSa11/s1600/DSC03253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1066" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfVpRcvfVU9ZUkcVV7zl6Dk8l6qY2NvGHiMf4I9T2wV65Hj4uhU5A0mCPoNwzpY0pk5jFmp0MgOo1aeI4xNxZ1PXYNCHZzz0wHQ8GxikOLPBkAmV5QySe1MSphEzFgounSa11/s640/DSC03253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Grant gazelle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A secretary bird</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0_kGmeh-6-DFxH2YMdz7lyf6jrVUgGpJjp1jo7dpS8kjb2Gve6G7U6ZfUWBTeiTAwSk_ZNWN7Ci-kVoHrVt5ZlLjV7hYoA67tsMX_znP4nhok7Yii1-RDTdzJo7YToBjvBLX/s1600/DSC03254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="545" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0_kGmeh-6-DFxH2YMdz7lyf6jrVUgGpJjp1jo7dpS8kjb2Gve6G7U6ZfUWBTeiTAwSk_ZNWN7Ci-kVoHrVt5ZlLjV7hYoA67tsMX_znP4nhok7Yii1-RDTdzJo7YToBjvBLX/s640/DSC03254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And soon we came upon a huge group of wildebeests with zebras, walking along the migration trail along the salt water lake--it has an inlet but no outlet and the volcanic rocks here are salty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Zebras can see very well and have good memories. They also can kick any attackers. Wildebeests have a good sense of smell (but cannot see well(, so they are good travel partners. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The black and white stripes of the zebra confuse predators because of the glare reflecting from them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though they look very different, the wildebeests are in the same family as the antelope. Note the nursing zebra baby in front of its mom in the center.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEo6D3ZnX2Se0DCKaoBjGbgya1wFgK8DLJWZLci9T2sr938NwUOr-jmDUglUxDaVxQ_r7kaILq7OLLWUmp4a0eg8IFklxNXPy4M1NfZFgIrHAcbu5rCzur9IgPB5hu489pbc6/s1600/DSC03255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEo6D3ZnX2Se0DCKaoBjGbgya1wFgK8DLJWZLci9T2sr938NwUOr-jmDUglUxDaVxQ_r7kaILq7OLLWUmp4a0eg8IFklxNXPy4M1NfZFgIrHAcbu5rCzur9IgPB5hu489pbc6/s640/DSC03255.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD3MSBq4gIuq4cBUc9H6Y4vyeHgTYEXA22cemF9Ouy9kaoCarP1YsxR9bpY91yV_cwYFS5FVBjUx9DElw9eXEUqOr4HVZCHdovSP4NLbxOWL21KJPKM1jb1L8RcYTJ7oAI_kp/s1600/DSC03257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD3MSBq4gIuq4cBUc9H6Y4vyeHgTYEXA22cemF9Ouy9kaoCarP1YsxR9bpY91yV_cwYFS5FVBjUx9DElw9eXEUqOr4HVZCHdovSP4NLbxOWL21KJPKM1jb1L8RcYTJ7oAI_kp/s640/DSC03257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wildebeests are the largest group of mammals in the park. (There are more than 1.8 million as part of the migration.) In Africa, most are concentrated in Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park. This was the calving season for the wildebeest (who live about 20 years) and we saw three in this huge group! After giving birth, the mothers drop the placentas so that hyenas will eat them and (hopefully) forget about the babies.The babies have to be ready to run in less than an hour after their birth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hyenas have very sharp teeth so can eat bones and clean the area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We watched them for more than 30 minutes and more kept coming--at least ONE THOUSAND! It was definitely the highlight of the afternoon!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O2UTIpfTB0FlGAUS8eR3FxttaVj_6iMdmT2FaO7c1gRRtPwzhXIo_VoqN-ijaPxw5OAjjlieiZrGZVS47OBJE6zZXP4oYoPcXNw0iaRCUpj-6IH1dM4X7ZwsJE0L8DDuMnTe/s1600/IMG_9791+%25281%2529.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O2UTIpfTB0FlGAUS8eR3FxttaVj_6iMdmT2FaO7c1gRRtPwzhXIo_VoqN-ijaPxw5OAjjlieiZrGZVS47OBJE6zZXP4oYoPcXNw0iaRCUpj-6IH1dM4X7ZwsJE0L8DDuMnTe/s320/IMG_9791+%25281%2529.MOV" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just saw the movie <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80045817" target="_blank">TREK on Netflix</a>. I strongly recommend it. You can see the birth of a wildebeest and its need to run for its life in less than 30 minutes after its birth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80045817">https://www.netflix.com/title/80045817</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove further along the lake and saw a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marabou_stork" target="_blank">Maribou stork</a> in front of the flamingos.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3muKkQy8DLt-bbXvpObBh5EwnQJpQjNk7KHkBo38l5mQnCb3_WFpX3KWvaXET8gDVWIwnE3qXhkWFb0zy_PAsYB9A4uwitPpFqIcPFIrbeYZ4U0-EKJBih1SWA8WDn5S-1xLM/s1600/DSC03266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1551" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3muKkQy8DLt-bbXvpObBh5EwnQJpQjNk7KHkBo38l5mQnCb3_WFpX3KWvaXET8gDVWIwnE3qXhkWFb0zy_PAsYB9A4uwitPpFqIcPFIrbeYZ4U0-EKJBih1SWA8WDn5S-1xLM/s640/DSC03266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think these are lesser flamingos, with pinker plumage and are vegetarians, eating green algae. The greater flamingos are less pink and eat insects.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9G2TV45TfRTRA68YjCU6wUvPKW65Sz9CfzcNygYQ2zHWZaSooogAF_rIiNSu3Phs4SWqy7tMTO5ItBZNBWMvO7gnJM-BLqRbLBqhIeBQEWTXGfG6n3tJYxda9CHYjfHsvf9K/s1600/DSC03271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1088" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9G2TV45TfRTRA68YjCU6wUvPKW65Sz9CfzcNygYQ2zHWZaSooogAF_rIiNSu3Phs4SWqy7tMTO5ItBZNBWMvO7gnJM-BLqRbLBqhIeBQEWTXGfG6n3tJYxda9CHYjfHsvf9K/s640/DSC03271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night the chef made us a delicious African dinner, which included sweet potato soup with coconut milk. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3aPQK0sg-U6grNbB23dT-TwKik_48fZUbYwdJt9N6sd6EgJZ0alrph0lDYXvNYP2Q7-H1Jr0t7N6DsUx5OSKpdT4MjwuDSH32QpJcWR1g0dJjTU7pnhBgLE8LS1cuZHKsKwW/s1600/IMG_9801+Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3aPQK0sg-U6grNbB23dT-TwKik_48fZUbYwdJt9N6sd6EgJZ0alrph0lDYXvNYP2Q7-H1Jr0t7N6DsUx5OSKpdT4MjwuDSH32QpJcWR1g0dJjTU7pnhBgLE8LS1cuZHKsKwW/s640/IMG_9801+Dinner.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuesday, February 5 was our last full day in this special area. Our morning highlights were seeing two different sets of birds fighting over food and also seeing baby giraffes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Havazelet rested outside our tent before we headed out for the day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3IJgSNVLzEf1CFRrogXnxQ-X7VDzeWJeXF3DyrNB9_5VWGm38swnQcPYM2zx0oB0jRS2OzQBwB4sQuaKuno-QKS1Wxz5OgR3tJklAUTSKJu80Xyq_4SsZDD-H9ONzHNESuJ/s1600/DSC03442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3IJgSNVLzEf1CFRrogXnxQ-X7VDzeWJeXF3DyrNB9_5VWGm38swnQcPYM2zx0oB0jRS2OzQBwB4sQuaKuno-QKS1Wxz5OgR3tJklAUTSKJu80Xyq_4SsZDD-H9ONzHNESuJ/s640/DSC03442.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We set out about 7:30 and saw lots of birds this morning including morning doves near our tents. We soon saw a lone giraffe eating acacia leaves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5fbkChFys0hqHvvKUKMUGmr_JyvSer9FgfgxlHBRveNIpgmDo-kuQCz1nhzRuJmr4_nemeI32HY4UHLBX6fBsyr0iQnTk2RFu9e4bhbN9-8ZJIPj7uWlYShLSgeiq5yUoH7T/s1600/IMG_9804+Giraffe+eatsjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5fbkChFys0hqHvvKUKMUGmr_JyvSer9FgfgxlHBRveNIpgmDo-kuQCz1nhzRuJmr4_nemeI32HY4UHLBX6fBsyr0iQnTk2RFu9e4bhbN9-8ZJIPj7uWlYShLSgeiq5yUoH7T/s640/IMG_9804+Giraffe+eatsjpg.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and another Maribou stork</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rfgBfnYHauDhSzhwwP7iA8wDGj2K4IkR7MQgawbmtjmZT2BxiyNT2CuFXXbfYSOS9lDcDhRVoBkeAnBoxdpXYS8YhXHw-2mi16dprwsr1HDcRx8k6DK7Gikl7dTDd3Y19qdb/s1600/DSC03440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1560" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rfgBfnYHauDhSzhwwP7iA8wDGj2K4IkR7MQgawbmtjmZT2BxiyNT2CuFXXbfYSOS9lDcDhRVoBkeAnBoxdpXYS8YhXHw-2mi16dprwsr1HDcRx8k6DK7Gikl7dTDd3Y19qdb/s640/DSC03440.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Superb starlings were along the road</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And another alone on a piece of wood.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQE2sLtKjL6YFQ1kyomrkC4-gJUDgp2v16Z6AGfIFY2us1zlw3YiQDGll0yB8YYgZu5jwxc7PFMd0jtO8QBf1ear4wT6_-VddYn1metsq1daXWxxp1FmQYhXaQ6xgAJObJIRy/s1600/DSC03443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1022" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQE2sLtKjL6YFQ1kyomrkC4-gJUDgp2v16Z6AGfIFY2us1zlw3YiQDGll0yB8YYgZu5jwxc7PFMd0jtO8QBf1ear4wT6_-VddYn1metsq1daXWxxp1FmQYhXaQ6xgAJObJIRy/s640/DSC03443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few more zebras of assorted ages</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlhfmDQC46DEa1oRqqRyBLRtaLOMjfhDcUxnsyeIXGZE3ZF6SDqjPDgxZ78ljXE_4bMunXbAsUAi5wTTl9BJUyd9ySn29LQ5QCKbhqeixFy2HK4hhn25d2Z8Rqsk7INP16IKz/s1600/DSC03286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1560" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlhfmDQC46DEa1oRqqRyBLRtaLOMjfhDcUxnsyeIXGZE3ZF6SDqjPDgxZ78ljXE_4bMunXbAsUAi5wTTl9BJUyd9ySn29LQ5QCKbhqeixFy2HK4hhn25d2Z8Rqsk7INP16IKz/s640/DSC03286.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjQNHoq1CgvQbd_xM9c1ReVb2V0cNqWH6x9mYY7iJDmCA2OAQjIqYONISuxoM4mEcbZ80mDmbBEI6GgEzKN2G1thDRKKvmjqjwZdmjEHh8pUwcQftTINjjzmhBtUsOhAAO51I/s1600/DSC03289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1589" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjQNHoq1CgvQbd_xM9c1ReVb2V0cNqWH6x9mYY7iJDmCA2OAQjIqYONISuxoM4mEcbZ80mDmbBEI6GgEzKN2G1thDRKKvmjqjwZdmjEHh8pUwcQftTINjjzmhBtUsOhAAO51I/s640/DSC03289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A solitary lion, enjoying the breeze on this hot day and staring off in the distance at a line of wildebeest</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHN5rm0PTKKXwE2qTiHpfFDUIYFdmeYT7RI-viJEnxPxrbH89wehZyJUV0h-hMXLS-QjtB1MzAT5CEfcvxq_CaXlw9Rl3dQjZCxK0tqiOWq2re8YB45153O8x3t1HdzZdA0pK/s1600/DSC03290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1262" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHN5rm0PTKKXwE2qTiHpfFDUIYFdmeYT7RI-viJEnxPxrbH89wehZyJUV0h-hMXLS-QjtB1MzAT5CEfcvxq_CaXlw9Rl3dQjZCxK0tqiOWq2re8YB45153O8x3t1HdzZdA0pK/s640/DSC03290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A young lioness is much closer to the wildebeest, and watching them. She is just to the left of the central tree. She has no chance of catching one by herself and by being so visible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc01lLXE7t1Bb4R3qGpH-zMDU-jttqakSCZLxToyhTx_EQutuY4aa2SK7HAyx4aeMZWtnINwM_jvCyudhaW5UZoqkTXtUOg960ZYme8PpTpG8PuQp05a4kLjnWK02SRQq46yl/s1600/DSC03292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc01lLXE7t1Bb4R3qGpH-zMDU-jttqakSCZLxToyhTx_EQutuY4aa2SK7HAyx4aeMZWtnINwM_jvCyudhaW5UZoqkTXtUOg960ZYme8PpTpG8PuQp05a4kLjnWK02SRQq46yl/s640/DSC03292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a close up of that same lioness.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpStEbjvSbFfyJKpAOtEXBOhYE9mcXfxLjySUyX9hbQ_10QJrVoebbVQMWED0y06peLght5kkY0fyl32PMpKN00APhgjMgQSeC_lTIgPbT3VFGLy0YYKg8mmRz7ZclI7LkQ9v/s1600/DSC03293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1553" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpStEbjvSbFfyJKpAOtEXBOhYE9mcXfxLjySUyX9hbQ_10QJrVoebbVQMWED0y06peLght5kkY0fyl32PMpKN00APhgjMgQSeC_lTIgPbT3VFGLy0YYKg8mmRz7ZclI7LkQ9v/s640/DSC03293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After several hours, we stopped at the local airport to use the bathrooms and to stop a bit to check for important messages on WIFI. The runway was compacted dirt and the "line" along part of it was bones from dead animals. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd98HLotYmLrPH_RHSo-c1gcr29taLVfXAVuOvF-2BPJnXd20bfh4ht4bwfFTwcas8XZ_bJPC43N2TOrE3Nb5Ppq7ZL_h92gWM0BFy3VP4kbFT7534Deb-u4-TENYYvhFczt6I/s1600/IMG_9810+airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd98HLotYmLrPH_RHSo-c1gcr29taLVfXAVuOvF-2BPJnXd20bfh4ht4bwfFTwcas8XZ_bJPC43N2TOrE3Nb5Ppq7ZL_h92gWM0BFy3VP4kbFT7534Deb-u4-TENYYvhFczt6I/s640/IMG_9810+airplane.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi5naEOFHZPl_CojHael-wStf9YmV8PdVHA0EVB4u9x0c-morjo6oPnefo_WEW2tAqHHQ7O86jicM6uLHUNj0RSXxLXnAPe3N5Q3FuV9fcTlXfk9c4ydGFNDvND02HYbGGF5Y/s1600/DSC03300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi5naEOFHZPl_CojHael-wStf9YmV8PdVHA0EVB4u9x0c-morjo6oPnefo_WEW2tAqHHQ7O86jicM6uLHUNj0RSXxLXnAPe3N5Q3FuV9fcTlXfk9c4ydGFNDvND02HYbGGF5Y/s640/DSC03300.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A double-banded courser is well camouflaged on the ground.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo6jCTRiIsCyF7jrwPjybAsu6ud8AMIEFl8Z3SS8YQmcNiURCDylN7m1RIK5Nke36a2x6CbklXLYU5-4wPGZrm2M7rQ4Ju8EpKq4WA46ymNguv-s2IBpxZvZKzrsM4KY-r4fU/s1600/DSC03297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="776" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo6jCTRiIsCyF7jrwPjybAsu6ud8AMIEFl8Z3SS8YQmcNiURCDylN7m1RIK5Nke36a2x6CbklXLYU5-4wPGZrm2M7rQ4Ju8EpKq4WA46ymNguv-s2IBpxZvZKzrsM4KY-r4fU/s640/DSC03297.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below in the dead tree are nests of vultures or secretary birds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWYdeoOisLaKwnz-v_xmKn0Gq_X3acOIKqcfhLiwTamRwCe39jdKSVk4kVX4GbG_UX0r3eLkO_EWyJO6Kbv2v5o_J34RWgi-hRYn6vOoIR4DxN-9ePEhdg_Gcn-ScEVBsH12b/s1600/DSC03296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWYdeoOisLaKwnz-v_xmKn0Gq_X3acOIKqcfhLiwTamRwCe39jdKSVk4kVX4GbG_UX0r3eLkO_EWyJO6Kbv2v5o_J34RWgi-hRYn6vOoIR4DxN-9ePEhdg_Gcn-ScEVBsH12b/s640/DSC03296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWNNWKsEKcpa6iq7WkgEuyYyYQGB0Peho3TzmeD90eq4_-37GtzAVMHVm9astxPD7ZFR-HdtMaHL5qaEjOokGkoyN69WqwS8y2AEb9b9-iGbTNlOArfkgL5AInSMU2uQS6Fo/s1600/DSC03299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="885" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWNNWKsEKcpa6iq7WkgEuyYyYQGB0Peho3TzmeD90eq4_-37GtzAVMHVm9astxPD7ZFR-HdtMaHL5qaEjOokGkoyN69WqwS8y2AEb9b9-iGbTNlOArfkgL5AInSMU2uQS6Fo/s640/DSC03299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Grey-headed heron</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is another bush/tree with lots of thorns--a protective survival mechanism.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-dFmCdJgpzpPJPWLTZG3ZrFxa0zrcGe4wbghYYauYhgF3V-SihyphenhyphenGpFgOstoNYIiT-HCVGl8d8e8xZIVfnH0tc5H9FP-nueFHEjEtNnA2yKYM1jPwEk93lwEYnNI3wRiQr9Rd/s1600/DSC03302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-dFmCdJgpzpPJPWLTZG3ZrFxa0zrcGe4wbghYYauYhgF3V-SihyphenhyphenGpFgOstoNYIiT-HCVGl8d8e8xZIVfnH0tc5H9FP-nueFHEjEtNnA2yKYM1jPwEk93lwEYnNI3wRiQr9Rd/s640/DSC03302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are zebras and wildebeests, with swallows nearby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEs3cElOttizZJEr8gDrrUHoM7s_7Sx86pTJOu-wt3IAKhUpM6R_b8EoTN31EQ0iP_7HnVE2xQ0Je_Cpwuc7hCBRdSSao97F3J9LSkaEkZ7WjAx0pzONxVKyCq7ahtpdzuige/s1600/DSC03306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1527" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEs3cElOttizZJEr8gDrrUHoM7s_7Sx86pTJOu-wt3IAKhUpM6R_b8EoTN31EQ0iP_7HnVE2xQ0Je_Cpwuc7hCBRdSSao97F3J9LSkaEkZ7WjAx0pzONxVKyCq7ahtpdzuige/s640/DSC03306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the first of two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_tortoise" target="_blank">leopard tortoise</a>s that we saw, usually by the side of the road. They live in the savanna regions of eastern and southern Africa.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eKkF_dmJ0nrStEiUyMYvnGnBZhjvVX2LtBDbYJs1RZlAfEENGQALVoK3C2f5wVspp5c_jcIq0PdE0-dWl20m0hSl2JOWOm8A__vG7lCULCBluuuLbs4YbhgORl3pGhqKxFeo/s1600/DSC03309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="835" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eKkF_dmJ0nrStEiUyMYvnGnBZhjvVX2LtBDbYJs1RZlAfEENGQALVoK3C2f5wVspp5c_jcIq0PdE0-dWl20m0hSl2JOWOm8A__vG7lCULCBluuuLbs4YbhgORl3pGhqKxFeo/s640/DSC03309.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we started to see l</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">arge scavenger birds, like these Marabou storks </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with cooler pouches under their heads.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsaccDBf8d0cjL3BLw5EEBDwD04shR_8c2tgPsEWnqI2f39Hfr4FW24xc2ec32tM66cz1keczLJqWKqDLbF1wCqwE9_gQv0r5j_bSeX1hsRa9E46Yp-RyyfiJ4aAzgA0PmqLq/s1600/DSC03311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1155" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsaccDBf8d0cjL3BLw5EEBDwD04shR_8c2tgPsEWnqI2f39Hfr4FW24xc2ec32tM66cz1keczLJqWKqDLbF1wCqwE9_gQv0r5j_bSeX1hsRa9E46Yp-RyyfiJ4aAzgA0PmqLq/s640/DSC03311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Below is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bateleur" target="_blank">Bateleur eagle</a> in the air. It has an average wingspan of about six feet (186 cm).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1uG6OI5VuhUavkkk4dUyXYhDC-cPrSOjiIUAbh47muprbMiUTGV-ghe7XlaLn1cbPkCE0NO_n4e1xRgXuOD3q1lUzWjfkG3nIZF8qKvTspj3ZLFooBdIwohack_F5BJR72Y9/s1600/DSC03335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1uG6OI5VuhUavkkk4dUyXYhDC-cPrSOjiIUAbh47muprbMiUTGV-ghe7XlaLn1cbPkCE0NO_n4e1xRgXuOD3q1lUzWjfkG3nIZF8qKvTspj3ZLFooBdIwohack_F5BJR72Y9/s640/DSC03335.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next then we watched an amazing scene--a bird fight over food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawny_eagle" target="_blank">tawny eagle</a> killed a rabbit and was eating it. Soon a Lappet-faced vulture took over the carcass. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuj9j37JKCL3TuaMcy8FmaUt08NUO-ulXSmBhKv7EDy2WIAixqfdpDV9ZwDU9lxkOC_qhe7cJP8om8D-zL2-cw3BPYD-9O9g174196JmqlzBKXPzSZoo0Iw6al-5yj7W5AyHU/s1600/DSC03320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="766" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuj9j37JKCL3TuaMcy8FmaUt08NUO-ulXSmBhKv7EDy2WIAixqfdpDV9ZwDU9lxkOC_qhe7cJP8om8D-zL2-cw3BPYD-9O9g174196JmqlzBKXPzSZoo0Iw6al-5yj7W5AyHU/s640/DSC03320.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w9-BQWEliCji8BEYrVnSOYHFwycqaNMbqkIijyfkdw7crALj_lFLPNda3b_sxM88fN90OtDNGntBL2qmhpOcfnKD4NgIWrOU3d6uWkULWfnDtAl4iGKTiqz_MyHn5kkk1gMu/s1600/DSC03324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1154" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w9-BQWEliCji8BEYrVnSOYHFwycqaNMbqkIijyfkdw7crALj_lFLPNda3b_sxM88fN90OtDNGntBL2qmhpOcfnKD4NgIWrOU3d6uWkULWfnDtAl4iGKTiqz_MyHn5kkk1gMu/s640/DSC03324.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZXnJ3LnQUZCe9-xyob4MzYLb7LWOD673-2sOskldbrhlmzhWb950-06VndhtR3iRysNRYtClIyz1hGMeOC6ZRA0AwCFXhw-wHpoyVojwuhN_JLTwbUtnZdrn3ZAiRy76AgOM/s1600/DSC03331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1264" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZXnJ3LnQUZCe9-xyob4MzYLb7LWOD673-2sOskldbrhlmzhWb950-06VndhtR3iRysNRYtClIyz1hGMeOC6ZRA0AwCFXhw-wHpoyVojwuhN_JLTwbUtnZdrn3ZAiRy76AgOM/s640/DSC03331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHY7MHPayXzzZlhZaePWF7nSEYhardu2HgB2pH2w5pJKPoPEB1HqJGFB7On3Vq0X8Eq8ZuwpcG4CMwDlyWy096tSyN6SgjqcgfEBFJux6q8ZWNdnbL4JPJOF_J0p_1Frj05DZ/s1600/DSC03332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1324" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHY7MHPayXzzZlhZaePWF7nSEYhardu2HgB2pH2w5pJKPoPEB1HqJGFB7On3Vq0X8Eq8ZuwpcG4CMwDlyWy096tSyN6SgjqcgfEBFJux6q8ZWNdnbL4JPJOF_J0p_1Frj05DZ/s640/DSC03332.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQauZvhX2WTRJegADWdbRbEshLafqWmiAsmc3x8iQk8xmYFge4b5QmZ_q_dCs52TrTCfhP0T2JsraVryYKQXzhLqP1uufbqwh-JJagBVV_JzET_Og_O2sAAj_8t1bycyAzCQNJ/s1600/DSC03333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQauZvhX2WTRJegADWdbRbEshLafqWmiAsmc3x8iQk8xmYFge4b5QmZ_q_dCs52TrTCfhP0T2JsraVryYKQXzhLqP1uufbqwh-JJagBVV_JzET_Og_O2sAAj_8t1bycyAzCQNJ/s640/DSC03333.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After that stunning performance, we saw a group of female gazelles. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCH0QhU1X367umD-ec03nq7ddBjQQITnwRobo8nNNEeJt3FlgBvTA7Vin_E6pgxAso2ow0uwqEyhcjx0Fz3TqWVX3zM2in-HQmchC1IfHGkY0zJZHaIkwsxhA0edf-1ZOTGn-/s1600/DSC03339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCH0QhU1X367umD-ec03nq7ddBjQQITnwRobo8nNNEeJt3FlgBvTA7Vin_E6pgxAso2ow0uwqEyhcjx0Fz3TqWVX3zM2in-HQmchC1IfHGkY0zJZHaIkwsxhA0edf-1ZOTGn-/s640/DSC03339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think we also saw a new type of antelope in the distance, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steenbok" target="_blank">steenbok</a> (also known as steinbock) but I don't have a photo of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below a picture from Fitiael's well used resource book.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfIpKbEc0lnQ62f3fwbjCfQjjNXjAOZ8r6tdnCgYl-iVXhOSzOTAOW4LmuQIVgE9uMLhMVVGYxNmo5qHPJixaB9ucDxUMo9lzsumwFOXpHFp8VV0T_6eObPd94Mz-j-siGnC3/s1600/DSC03340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfIpKbEc0lnQ62f3fwbjCfQjjNXjAOZ8r6tdnCgYl-iVXhOSzOTAOW4LmuQIVgE9uMLhMVVGYxNmo5qHPJixaB9ucDxUMo9lzsumwFOXpHFp8VV0T_6eObPd94Mz-j-siGnC3/s640/DSC03340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon chanced upon another very colorful bird, the beautiful lilac breasted roller.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto1AfGLp6W2In4-MxTM2txMu_W_97eabrpCDSYVZxVjqyZHWmmdQmd8REu9WdI-P17G3qYQ2y7mqNGwx0_rTWiLK0qhncqYX7ksVb5DX1PnaIn8QxY01A7y-JHXkUknde2ZdI/s1600/DSC03343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1357" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto1AfGLp6W2In4-MxTM2txMu_W_97eabrpCDSYVZxVjqyZHWmmdQmd8REu9WdI-P17G3qYQ2y7mqNGwx0_rTWiLK0qhncqYX7ksVb5DX1PnaIn8QxY01A7y-JHXkUknde2ZdI/s640/DSC03343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a zoom in of the picture above that I took.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNPut1NBWq7fQeYL9hiWs5FeqKFbeXCP9bCDPFtuDhW6xG9_KKIx1402pOCOhO2vkiZRSdOMaz5UxgyQ_fAz6qhyphenhyphenHoCKdixOaAjk6HuPL8OTyNQUF2IMtnh6GjsKQl3bmtZ2/s1600/IMG_9822+Roller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1105" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNPut1NBWq7fQeYL9hiWs5FeqKFbeXCP9bCDPFtuDhW6xG9_KKIx1402pOCOhO2vkiZRSdOMaz5UxgyQ_fAz6qhyphenhyphenHoCKdixOaAjk6HuPL8OTyNQUF2IMtnh6GjsKQl3bmtZ2/s400/IMG_9822+Roller.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Down the dirt road we saw more wildebeests and giraffes including a younger one. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQqLnN4eBXS-_cVb8OnkuXX63AvcVrBRO5Lv-ZmiF49MxCwxDhb8BdWg4OoC3uYmleLbBAzhoBEnUiDhKvfgq6PtmGqU84YTyxSgm9ZngBiIhuuo4DSMcBGhczfZJdmGLkpTf/s1600/DSC03346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1445" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQqLnN4eBXS-_cVb8OnkuXX63AvcVrBRO5Lv-ZmiF49MxCwxDhb8BdWg4OoC3uYmleLbBAzhoBEnUiDhKvfgq6PtmGqU84YTyxSgm9ZngBiIhuuo4DSMcBGhczfZJdmGLkpTf/s640/DSC03346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Six giraffes were in another group, each with its own tree to eat at. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Giraffes have vicious kicks. One kick is enough to kill a lion. However, if they are lying down, they are vulnerable to attack, so they usually sleep standing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLN1woUTaXmRpfUMTykhHEQiVI12pyFWJGP5G2cPKVqdmCXMgrvq6HwmLml4-dakc06dOmuJD2O5xCyTDTfOOOE-kf8fAFJzhkHW5EFj627w2ndUr1u1zFzJ9OyXrK4QrBmTh/s1600/IMG_9824giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLN1woUTaXmRpfUMTykhHEQiVI12pyFWJGP5G2cPKVqdmCXMgrvq6HwmLml4-dakc06dOmuJD2O5xCyTDTfOOOE-kf8fAFJzhkHW5EFj627w2ndUr1u1zFzJ9OyXrK4QrBmTh/s640/IMG_9824giraffe.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And lots more umbrella acacia trees.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S-L7ZaiYefRInPnJ285TBwqJD_prN1IeAX5UzzgylB3Q6FxMB4rK3ZFyaa6_hTZodjqmdOj1dpn4mHWSTlSC7xYhewTE-j9yDESwIJ5R_GUuVTRr5uPyIYzK3qmq_aTS05Xa/s1600/DSC03347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S-L7ZaiYefRInPnJ285TBwqJD_prN1IeAX5UzzgylB3Q6FxMB4rK3ZFyaa6_hTZodjqmdOj1dpn4mHWSTlSC7xYhewTE-j9yDESwIJ5R_GUuVTRr5uPyIYzK3qmq_aTS05Xa/s640/DSC03347.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After another delicious lunch back at the tents, we went out in the late afternoon and watched animals eating in nature.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw a gathering of flying scavengers: four to five Maribou storks, and at least 20 vultures including griffon and African white-backed vultures. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit64lG-XTMHxqKJEbwcBUJYmtYMZIbut7M6VfpTHHQCgtOR_00TevGnZ5CMvuxZI5FfELZ-J5GsxXcYM8Auozgq_VPs0ol9BoE0GbrObvQM9azRzKqijqJH88j1cLM56c3J-UL/s1600/DSC03350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1598" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit64lG-XTMHxqKJEbwcBUJYmtYMZIbut7M6VfpTHHQCgtOR_00TevGnZ5CMvuxZI5FfELZ-J5GsxXcYM8Auozgq_VPs0ol9BoE0GbrObvQM9azRzKqijqJH88j1cLM56c3J-UL/s640/DSC03350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large family</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two cheetahs under a tree resting after eating their fill of wildebeest on this very windy, dusty day</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6CKfkO7xUOllhLdYgklQWvINHvBxOT65n9I8oCe0CeKReBczIZSpXNNaZHUOkKcORZQqyBsatKN8hBHJftdPI0JkZLXRd7-RdT6IeWJrqBH_5aBgERT_B53KEQmB4aor1xhZ/s1600/DSC03358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1422" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6CKfkO7xUOllhLdYgklQWvINHvBxOT65n9I8oCe0CeKReBczIZSpXNNaZHUOkKcORZQqyBsatKN8hBHJftdPI0JkZLXRd7-RdT6IeWJrqBH_5aBgERT_B53KEQmB4aor1xhZ/s640/DSC03358.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLlleH8_kgaXw65ywNA0uHB2B4aFTUTyBnHYdRxOa-HAGazsSYbgf8LzMY_B1bK_Bdvbysa6tPdPKWCsZ9xDr3w_EpSQeIx9UR3oD-TOu54EIqoi6Cc4b8b7XWZCwedq4VsN2/s1600/DSC03356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLlleH8_kgaXw65ywNA0uHB2B4aFTUTyBnHYdRxOa-HAGazsSYbgf8LzMY_B1bK_Bdvbysa6tPdPKWCsZ9xDr3w_EpSQeIx9UR3oD-TOu54EIqoi6Cc4b8b7XWZCwedq4VsN2/s640/DSC03356.JPG" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scavengers are nearby, waiting for the cheetahs to let them eat the leftovers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zfrtTYNFKnuOEumVSoDhGVrmZaHv9ah2vyuvGwL0UnaG2EZ2LS04sB37xG9pA48MhkbnVXhlX-erhgyvEOoBd9oHJQ8oENXnctYA9VPCjpRzsOi_PSEBfvf2i-ZWqX9PT0Wq/s1600/DSC03363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1489" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zfrtTYNFKnuOEumVSoDhGVrmZaHv9ah2vyuvGwL0UnaG2EZ2LS04sB37xG9pA48MhkbnVXhlX-erhgyvEOoBd9oHJQ8oENXnctYA9VPCjpRzsOi_PSEBfvf2i-ZWqX9PT0Wq/s640/DSC03363.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE6qHn6hQsKjLb70UGauhHgv-fngoJRvXud8HZLgI3ge9705gk-asLMr2Ot3EjQIO7cCanPxchen0OtF1hlt-O_fOMIZ37NREvj9y9uUqjFF5W23w5QO8SnWzqjKYYVSRoI_m/s1600/DSC03361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1366" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE6qHn6hQsKjLb70UGauhHgv-fngoJRvXud8HZLgI3ge9705gk-asLMr2Ot3EjQIO7cCanPxchen0OtF1hlt-O_fOMIZ37NREvj9y9uUqjFF5W23w5QO8SnWzqjKYYVSRoI_m/s640/DSC03361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a lot of birds by a small lake, including African snipes, a rufus tailed weaver, a Black-headed heron, Egyptian geese, and ringed-necked doves. You can see some below. If anyone can help me label them, that would be great!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6O7bbiNd1UBIzmWtD-qjti7kp4CRNxkWSGsLaxlc2OiTXUBupUQOgh1nHRZj2cFuT7xdvv2P5sijF2uxoWzvHz2iSZzYG6wm7tiyNxY5ojZSZoZc_w648G0CErxlKEBySxV/s1600/DSC03367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="936" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6O7bbiNd1UBIzmWtD-qjti7kp4CRNxkWSGsLaxlc2OiTXUBupUQOgh1nHRZj2cFuT7xdvv2P5sijF2uxoWzvHz2iSZzYG6wm7tiyNxY5ojZSZoZc_w648G0CErxlKEBySxV/s640/DSC03367.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YahjO9_HxBBM_HnTl42C4IxzjRSMefswNpRRHbESK_JqGsGZoGIPDBVu0tYdNjqX2avF32eKiYydK0qzSuq5Xjm33cgWghcOhzXGTiR5zwPDEvFpfFGwofdzFx3BnuqSHIHz/s1600/DSC03368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1265" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YahjO9_HxBBM_HnTl42C4IxzjRSMefswNpRRHbESK_JqGsGZoGIPDBVu0tYdNjqX2avF32eKiYydK0qzSuq5Xjm33cgWghcOhzXGTiR5zwPDEvFpfFGwofdzFx3BnuqSHIHz/s640/DSC03368.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed heron</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9b88K4oPGXKBnecfmA6GBxvt1tFf_dcLIdPa7KHjTv9pkhf7Wdd_P82gENsD60ufLu4Mel5GTI3niTZP5K7ZK8iPtezF_cPmVxvKYUBJbTf5-O_b-NF3EC66Ex_DtmRKEzGM/s1600/DSC03370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="937" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9b88K4oPGXKBnecfmA6GBxvt1tFf_dcLIdPa7KHjTv9pkhf7Wdd_P82gENsD60ufLu4Mel5GTI3niTZP5K7ZK8iPtezF_cPmVxvKYUBJbTf5-O_b-NF3EC66Ex_DtmRKEzGM/s640/DSC03370.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZP2mbWNEHlJ4QldMb0SWYlmRE5USK7PvqdWLMYquvmOfVCbvyFTbIEi01bRCLh7x2Je83goCTeywGUwT0QEY8xNQ08UQ9iEcFuwfO6u3Qeike9WpcsyqDKQTURDK-dZ1ueOC/s1600/DSC03374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="835" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZP2mbWNEHlJ4QldMb0SWYlmRE5USK7PvqdWLMYquvmOfVCbvyFTbIEi01bRCLh7x2Je83goCTeywGUwT0QEY8xNQ08UQ9iEcFuwfO6u3Qeike9WpcsyqDKQTURDK-dZ1ueOC/s640/DSC03374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon we saw a semi-circle of Toyota land cruisers. Fitiael told us we were in for a big treat--two lionesses, one with four cubs, about two months old. The lionesses had killed a wildebeest and were taking turns eating it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxqqQuORMgs3En_cyt3DTPpSV8XvxWqbFsxsHVPOkx6FSnCczIfENFPxNrpgIKBwiMiJ19zIx5Ux_uMgbze7-fxFQFA9zx_JyR4JwtcqbIink6YMo8DFPm73j-MNRsL0fJzpb/s1600/DSC03383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="892" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxqqQuORMgs3En_cyt3DTPpSV8XvxWqbFsxsHVPOkx6FSnCczIfENFPxNrpgIKBwiMiJ19zIx5Ux_uMgbze7-fxFQFA9zx_JyR4JwtcqbIink6YMo8DFPm73j-MNRsL0fJzpb/s640/DSC03383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lioness and her cubs resting</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFmU69cJ7huiH4oJZccgpx6lUGQBe_BXGKwyh48bWDfAR-VHsSzPgMYX8VjtT5G8Gc_jubRSlkBfyOFDdJoFCjDYvMG5_iwEx9236BMET_gTxiDZES9ZMQ1P51CkukNvyEF2P/s1600/DSC03389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1121" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFmU69cJ7huiH4oJZccgpx6lUGQBe_BXGKwyh48bWDfAR-VHsSzPgMYX8VjtT5G8Gc_jubRSlkBfyOFDdJoFCjDYvMG5_iwEx9236BMET_gTxiDZES9ZMQ1P51CkukNvyEF2P/s640/DSC03389.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom is checking out the surroundings, cubs awakening</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMaG0alQMtLfsFpPIXjp1ror50isfCB82KcPNhw5EdzW3ia4SjqCoHp2Z0_nXrsFcDRbNnnto3ujbKVy9Msn2sLwNhegXHBXECVWXyKPkd8hmP4D6tElA00DLISdpc1h7smlr/s1600/DSC03391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1457" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMaG0alQMtLfsFpPIXjp1ror50isfCB82KcPNhw5EdzW3ia4SjqCoHp2Z0_nXrsFcDRbNnnto3ujbKVy9Msn2sLwNhegXHBXECVWXyKPkd8hmP4D6tElA00DLISdpc1h7smlr/s640/DSC03391.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom heading to check out dinner and cubs follow</td></tr>
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T<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wo lionesses eat while cubs watch. One is watching intently. He seems to be the cub leader. Notice how close the vehicles are. The lionesses pay no attention to them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq493wq6S6QTZOJJ81M5_tUY_hzXNL1Mt1k_8o_B8QA1xokDMQmB5DfyQ7MMixBHJZ2dvdf2lIV6KM-vSJYbx6RYsUUINa-a83FTe1Qa3ukipy8ND4JNMzzTYsUX1UOcj9SJD/s1600/DSC03395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1549" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq493wq6S6QTZOJJ81M5_tUY_hzXNL1Mt1k_8o_B8QA1xokDMQmB5DfyQ7MMixBHJZ2dvdf2lIV6KM-vSJYbx6RYsUUINa-a83FTe1Qa3ukipy8ND4JNMzzTYsUX1UOcj9SJD/s640/DSC03395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close up of cubs waiting as they are too young to eat meat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKo_v5yf-k4ZSn-tKgyHLq6THJRLRK6k3RZug200IFp4iw3I4U3QxMOMhU9ogAHAeLycYNaMqzwbovWIIEFThxC2n260lUtvUbyW2m1YrSG7iDhIUu4-2c1NNj6LRDibjzg2Q/s1600/DSC03397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1027" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKo_v5yf-k4ZSn-tKgyHLq6THJRLRK6k3RZug200IFp4iw3I4U3QxMOMhU9ogAHAeLycYNaMqzwbovWIIEFThxC2n260lUtvUbyW2m1YrSG7iDhIUu4-2c1NNj6LRDibjzg2Q/s640/DSC03397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mom watching the cubs keep their distance. Her sister snarled at the cubs earlier when they got too close.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydFyDWmW4fhc-mQaDONKhekPXrJyGW9NH-ZLt-wSfcsTTM6psfbjiVl8_aBhr5PLIQzMsT6o5XUNxmCXP3KPDDTVMevVtM2Tij6Wjd-T_-dJAQxPkH4gjof5evh5AYS43KNym/s1600/DSC03399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydFyDWmW4fhc-mQaDONKhekPXrJyGW9NH-ZLt-wSfcsTTM6psfbjiVl8_aBhr5PLIQzMsT6o5XUNxmCXP3KPDDTVMevVtM2Tij6Wjd-T_-dJAQxPkH4gjof5evh5AYS43KNym/s640/DSC03399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grooming the cubs after playing with them</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG6x1PY6CEw3UMXzsbpdMfU3SJ173Vt-RP9Hshh7JnMF6sAH9sGBnpefgHQTzgmBdBoKX5EIngDcfvCOMqhljXyODRUhpno3ceR3nw3qkDdO6EGYLle-ZTrpoqOPXKwJWhQpf/s1600/DSC03401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1559" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG6x1PY6CEw3UMXzsbpdMfU3SJ173Vt-RP9Hshh7JnMF6sAH9sGBnpefgHQTzgmBdBoKX5EIngDcfvCOMqhljXyODRUhpno3ceR3nw3qkDdO6EGYLle-ZTrpoqOPXKwJWhQpf/s640/DSC03401.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSJb4eaIvjK6VQkEvrNGshdk5XRBgwH2VQWuVEEaCu6G1wIO76cIrZrV_7noZwDXNBXuvHLLSVUpzAH26eRbYF9pjeCO1nY0YFebvosohiI8_rRMmwhO_cQn8mjOlDKLTarfc/s1600/DSC03403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="885" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSJb4eaIvjK6VQkEvrNGshdk5XRBgwH2VQWuVEEaCu6G1wIO76cIrZrV_7noZwDXNBXuvHLLSVUpzAH26eRbYF9pjeCO1nY0YFebvosohiI8_rRMmwhO_cQn8mjOlDKLTarfc/s640/DSC03403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cubs were adorable and the scene was fascinating so I took dozens of pictures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pictures below are not so "adorable," but reflect reality of nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note the wildebeest leg sticking out and its white beard</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_vlqWj_OxktFvq5l7LIiNgFK4lz0OY6NNz8aQlJ2w0WkXmc8_p5LqWVRlamVDQewOxbJ054XEHbufZgdG6871DiVkG2oz7JMBVORsdRuO_Ce33k5Zh-GOoZ2wy03ba4gYhpH/s1600/DSC03406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="932" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_vlqWj_OxktFvq5l7LIiNgFK4lz0OY6NNz8aQlJ2w0WkXmc8_p5LqWVRlamVDQewOxbJ054XEHbufZgdG6871DiVkG2oz7JMBVORsdRuO_Ce33k5Zh-GOoZ2wy03ba4gYhpH/s640/DSC03406.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scavengers sit on nearby trees, waiting for the lionesses to eat their fill so they can take a turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After watching for over 30 minutes, we headed out and saw another big herd of wildebeest and our 5th wildebeest baby!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday, February 6:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We said goodbye to the wonderful staff at the Tingitana Camp and headed out into the last day in the Ndutu area before arriving at the Serengeti Park. The camp itself would be packed up in several weeks, returned to Arusha for servicing and then repositioned in an area where the migration next headed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way out we saw more birds, including a maribou stork close up and superb starlings</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPQAO144RenPRw6IwtFZhnYQI0Wqyg3yFlIVAvpqv4BKa4WVElFmhuoJEHIlF5RqLtL79E1quUAaytIDzcQ8igZ_XBRCLVf4ARKyHJ6n2ZagFeRmSYzWyP8EVa9nwuNkrBMb/s1600/DSC03443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1022" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPQAO144RenPRw6IwtFZhnYQI0Wqyg3yFlIVAvpqv4BKa4WVElFmhuoJEHIlF5RqLtL79E1quUAaytIDzcQ8igZ_XBRCLVf4ARKyHJ6n2ZagFeRmSYzWyP8EVa9nwuNkrBMb/s640/DSC03443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon saw three Lappet-faced vultures (the largest vultures) eating a wildebeest. They can tear the skin off with their beaks so others can eat. Others attempt to join them. The stork below flew with its legs down. They have long beaks but it is hard for them to pull off the meat. African white-backed vultures are chased away by the Lappet-faced ones. It was quite a spectacle!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4gnRmSG6pIiqFtcSuyZf-WhxUPu9-wdXbnwG5Mssk2oSZARubJ_p8iyjvy2THoSoA_xTnj4FQAdT59CtmV1Zb_8t7IZKQXufUeFUnrpyFWvXAY4Xv7TrlGLgw5a0IgDrQe80/s1600/DSC03448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4gnRmSG6pIiqFtcSuyZf-WhxUPu9-wdXbnwG5Mssk2oSZARubJ_p8iyjvy2THoSoA_xTnj4FQAdT59CtmV1Zb_8t7IZKQXufUeFUnrpyFWvXAY4Xv7TrlGLgw5a0IgDrQe80/s640/DSC03448.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stork</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAPKWZpUTUSuGS6hu2wc0Wz7UTUQhurtYpYR0eih_2pZUAfA5u8NbhUjR_VRue7zCyJkNj-Ip6S9eCqmRkQ8uZt27nIammwjKEc8NXcWrul-Q1YmFzrHMx4qXFVoPALcbMRlI/s1600/DSC03451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1500" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAPKWZpUTUSuGS6hu2wc0Wz7UTUQhurtYpYR0eih_2pZUAfA5u8NbhUjR_VRue7zCyJkNj-Ip6S9eCqmRkQ8uZt27nIammwjKEc8NXcWrul-Q1YmFzrHMx4qXFVoPALcbMRlI/s640/DSC03451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTslqxpool_kKx1Jwo4j7FDHyVRfbhHHbkS3yjJQwg6MKgtra3i8rFPPiAj2T0yJLg36z1CMz803u8ozLB2NQ3-5cNlwvz-1HboMVYV_ZMUNmtYICt9G7gli6L7GhMZDfQTi-/s1600/DSC03453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="771" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTslqxpool_kKx1Jwo4j7FDHyVRfbhHHbkS3yjJQwg6MKgtra3i8rFPPiAj2T0yJLg36z1CMz803u8ozLB2NQ3-5cNlwvz-1HboMVYV_ZMUNmtYICt9G7gli6L7GhMZDfQTi-/s640/DSC03453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lappet-faced Vultures</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjNOxHtWP7jbWv_zAUeH5C0tqbeWBhhYAPVfDXBa_X5WBCz-27MIDFgZMMkOik_PV-RDxmhNDS68yJWzC7Nxlk23KMbM5IssbSrrVURQp5JI81XshFFvhfS6dIODsFy4O1ELJ/s1600/DSC03455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjNOxHtWP7jbWv_zAUeH5C0tqbeWBhhYAPVfDXBa_X5WBCz-27MIDFgZMMkOik_PV-RDxmhNDS68yJWzC7Nxlk23KMbM5IssbSrrVURQp5JI81XshFFvhfS6dIODsFy4O1ELJ/s640/DSC03455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lappet Faced activate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh-qCIJjtGrbrZZT51mgPxHKVMi5vF-RQpHhbel5eZk53t0NI9N6zNOAC9AzPvH5cv5VDBfEYocCyfA3cgrLsNT7FnLrIc9hvFXGRNzYczTpwDRZVeV0v7czt17xmbeszGlzD/s1600/DSC03456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh-qCIJjtGrbrZZT51mgPxHKVMi5vF-RQpHhbel5eZk53t0NI9N6zNOAC9AzPvH5cv5VDBfEYocCyfA3cgrLsNT7FnLrIc9hvFXGRNzYczTpwDRZVeV0v7czt17xmbeszGlzD/s640/DSC03456.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chase away African white-backed</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeSWGssmY3s1muGvWmoHrjqY4NIpy5WlqBmAWMEeRqYqWAZe6wB7t9HZ1d9_od3I3Ou23mBgd6T7Lvia5DD0JMGh9mxJd9wzmf-rs4DGpqrRj127KVBk5YXh6CZiNVgf1Wv74/s1600/DSC03460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeSWGssmY3s1muGvWmoHrjqY4NIpy5WlqBmAWMEeRqYqWAZe6wB7t9HZ1d9_od3I3Ou23mBgd6T7Lvia5DD0JMGh9mxJd9wzmf-rs4DGpqrRj127KVBk5YXh6CZiNVgf1Wv74/s640/DSC03460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sharing time!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrPQF6qV_u-ghANwKYTNDrwKzsXQl4N9rz_rKRAHIyCPi0MEgbbQLSfI6LlGDpvUtmw-8Mj0agNB1EfdKPyrCqXXyDKQyxswA-U2Uu84Azq3DYz_oPzr-_Jo-T8Jb04jAINYY/s1600/DSC03462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrPQF6qV_u-ghANwKYTNDrwKzsXQl4N9rz_rKRAHIyCPi0MEgbbQLSfI6LlGDpvUtmw-8Mj0agNB1EfdKPyrCqXXyDKQyxswA-U2Uu84Azq3DYz_oPzr-_Jo-T8Jb04jAINYY/s640/DSC03462.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More wildebeests on a hill in the distance</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKdkHtansiSaDGtZBY1lR-mNa-dUSgqQvPcbnj11ts73IS_seXgHUuo6Ps9u9CGEOojNipUa6R512qu_gYhbXDDKpsS1VcEdOTR0pwZm8J5ZSDMpoUEGiUZ6RO6bTlfTSTVvT/s1600/DSC03466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1520" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKdkHtansiSaDGtZBY1lR-mNa-dUSgqQvPcbnj11ts73IS_seXgHUuo6Ps9u9CGEOojNipUa6R512qu_gYhbXDDKpsS1VcEdOTR0pwZm8J5ZSDMpoUEGiUZ6RO6bTlfTSTVvT/s640/DSC03466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And lots more birds including a Eurasian roller below</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOug20FjsXUX6y8ufAA0TIexVtD0KocLTOphmLm18DIaiXnT2b2uPLDbbna1H80qIlUsN9udp9tQJ7kh6Y4oDCUnEyvtb5BuVROjinujiWvD2ULEQJQKXEgBn2Gy4u41ecniH0/s1600/DSC03469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="752" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOug20FjsXUX6y8ufAA0TIexVtD0KocLTOphmLm18DIaiXnT2b2uPLDbbna1H80qIlUsN9udp9tQJ7kh6Y4oDCUnEyvtb5BuVROjinujiWvD2ULEQJQKXEgBn2Gy4u41ecniH0/s640/DSC03469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaqua_sandgrouse" target="_blank">Sand grouse</a>--the female is spotted and the male has rings on its neck. It is rusty on its tummy or bottom of wings and hard to see at first because of its coloring.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ljIaM-n2Z2yhiaEoktX4gm_KyGPIj2kZxxtyFJXlHDigoQLQwAp2r5Gk_bmJnvB89QSHMjDDfFLv3bSz1P5DmQflVhTxL5PdK2dZ6-llAjTYwNrEZny6V78nv44qvBpJv9bC/s1600/DSC03471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1027" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ljIaM-n2Z2yhiaEoktX4gm_KyGPIj2kZxxtyFJXlHDigoQLQwAp2r5Gk_bmJnvB89QSHMjDDfFLv3bSz1P5DmQflVhTxL5PdK2dZ6-llAjTYwNrEZny6V78nv44qvBpJv9bC/s640/DSC03471.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee-eater" target="_blank">bee eater</a> (green)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpUBhFyGBSeMnq-XD8tlllNUMuWB9wEw0l7_wYRo1OYfwXr5aEZBcrmCMbTaYp57ky6jBcg2Hoq2PX21KvOzrrCSdBS5C9kOWNDU63j3Edy9bt5rCzjRmeeOpgj0LXcaSog61/s1600/DSC03476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="805" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpUBhFyGBSeMnq-XD8tlllNUMuWB9wEw0l7_wYRo1OYfwXr5aEZBcrmCMbTaYp57ky6jBcg2Hoq2PX21KvOzrrCSdBS5C9kOWNDU63j3Edy9bt5rCzjRmeeOpgj0LXcaSog61/s640/DSC03476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by three Impala males whose horns curve up. The females have no horns. They are darker with 2 stripes on tushes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ls8t0xFfOtW4qV-JTnaiCUAhLr8-r5VeIigkH_LjCd7XHtrVU7tX9i26pUp4RtrTXlu5trUd4gIFHCcgJr4rj3OesW8GuAF4CCFLYZ2fN7QnDFiFekHkhbBU0ywrz7EkHDEV/s1600/DSC03483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1132" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ls8t0xFfOtW4qV-JTnaiCUAhLr8-r5VeIigkH_LjCd7XHtrVU7tX9i26pUp4RtrTXlu5trUd4gIFHCcgJr4rj3OesW8GuAF4CCFLYZ2fN7QnDFiFekHkhbBU0ywrz7EkHDEV/s640/DSC03483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw a group of over twenty male Grant gazelles under a tree. Their horns curve down. The females have horns too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOETnUNCmkQ9eJi5_93U9sq3avGL-_KwYfXrkai6JtB3oDyOKpCRxdKVwfD3Qd8NDzSihXyNHzVcSiucQX6zW_9sr51GWN9U2S_6U6vaVVerhXb6PxnIwAM4iAERtTUcg5bLH/s1600/DSC03481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOETnUNCmkQ9eJi5_93U9sq3avGL-_KwYfXrkai6JtB3oDyOKpCRxdKVwfD3Qd8NDzSihXyNHzVcSiucQX6zW_9sr51GWN9U2S_6U6vaVVerhXb6PxnIwAM4iAERtTUcg5bLH/s640/DSC03481.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeuLsi2lAXZlf5o5YPasdoKXtHz6vWR4ztMVdGG1p-6u2IZrnBpdsimSwaouwcn8yvmYm8ENIx9CYdSmxRBC31XqBW99iFJilpGpc4-8Jv78Th97HxJd9PIB11nX_kOaPHZ9p/s1600/DSC03485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1190" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeuLsi2lAXZlf5o5YPasdoKXtHz6vWR4ztMVdGG1p-6u2IZrnBpdsimSwaouwcn8yvmYm8ENIx9CYdSmxRBC31XqBW99iFJilpGpc4-8Jv78Th97HxJd9PIB11nX_kOaPHZ9p/s640/DSC03485.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What an amazing tail on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin-tailed_whydah" target="_blank">Pin-Tailed Whydah</a> below !!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml1DB8yz2XS6UaqG0gSezMLwTUi2DEnmB-momcZjWegvpwpypshqWVHshI3aKFKpdSlQX7F6kLrxoITVo8f93s8pWy9T1XzC8qDx9WCQFn933Uj9Zdp68r8g2l8B_8LlDeTUX/s1600/DSC03489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1040" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml1DB8yz2XS6UaqG0gSezMLwTUi2DEnmB-momcZjWegvpwpypshqWVHshI3aKFKpdSlQX7F6kLrxoITVo8f93s8pWy9T1XzC8qDx9WCQFn933Uj9Zdp68r8g2l8B_8LlDeTUX/s640/DSC03489.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A small pond with many birds including storks, herons, sacred ibis, juvenile of the yellow billed stork in the grass resting</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC6kKb3NvBX2lCHXjNm0FXF4quuYNKfRXYWri09fEe6Hbbrzx4xuA1E_HL259j6-dI9IWe7GDtXT41Wgjem19I9L5syBxGzjvaUY15qoEXdyqiwU4Eo1Q7OHGRcFdjNfmKNAB/s1600/DSC03491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC6kKb3NvBX2lCHXjNm0FXF4quuYNKfRXYWri09fEe6Hbbrzx4xuA1E_HL259j6-dI9IWe7GDtXT41Wgjem19I9L5syBxGzjvaUY15qoEXdyqiwU4Eo1Q7OHGRcFdjNfmKNAB/s640/DSC03491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMUUMGzet7VhC1kZcLJ-B5Act8Uw3QA6d8ciQ0-adOFHKPp6Y_e5TNal6rSrGmWR4QwkWH__WAjapfEOaJt2wtzxXtEcKjyfdwlTZAAk80AtPeCtZul5DCNv6msG4U3n0au4l/s1600/DSC03492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMUUMGzet7VhC1kZcLJ-B5Act8Uw3QA6d8ciQ0-adOFHKPp6Y_e5TNal6rSrGmWR4QwkWH__WAjapfEOaJt2wtzxXtEcKjyfdwlTZAAk80AtPeCtZul5DCNv6msG4U3n0au4l/s640/DSC03492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We approached Lake Masek, which is much less alkaline than Lake Ndutu, so mammals drink here. We watched a huge group of wildebeest with zebra rushing to the lake to drink.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHsYFL4wYfs9s3f8dYY2uYqMkBb-OF5cPjRClpMXyS4lz2pM12MQKjoQDS-3HxgEfHkoOyUHV9xNeszMaEuePFJh_p052ClKxEOvTCPa5k6pjdEuLNzPyVLdDw82n_4VJXjk6/s1600/DSC03496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHsYFL4wYfs9s3f8dYY2uYqMkBb-OF5cPjRClpMXyS4lz2pM12MQKjoQDS-3HxgEfHkoOyUHV9xNeszMaEuePFJh_p052ClKxEOvTCPa5k6pjdEuLNzPyVLdDw82n_4VJXjk6/s640/DSC03496.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Griffin vultures at the edge of the water, eating part of a wildebeest. Many scavengers are around, waiting for a dead wildebeest to beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolMXE7Fnktf3P8KsSI8PlJPa4-BkZBvX80s2HAZyPxQrA7KvF-zKy_E7dVFKvwRj-H2cKn_npvlrrIfuRW0idHsfhxRR1DOcE0HbTZJ_fG6csMhW-6Nx4u9l6XCYK1hpt43Xt/s1600/DSC03510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1491" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolMXE7Fnktf3P8KsSI8PlJPa4-BkZBvX80s2HAZyPxQrA7KvF-zKy_E7dVFKvwRj-H2cKn_npvlrrIfuRW0idHsfhxRR1DOcE0HbTZJ_fG6csMhW-6Nx4u9l6XCYK1hpt43Xt/s640/DSC03510.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Notice that giraffe spots look like puzzle pieces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just before lunch, we reached the Naabi Hill Gate, the main entrance into the Serengeti Park. To be continued in part 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have any comments about the blog, please email me or write in the comment area below.</span></div>
Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-40307645367736458422019-03-22T20:46:00.001-07:002019-04-29T09:44:50.590-07:00Tanzania, Here We Come!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After almost five months of planning and countless emails back and fourth with Achmed of </span><a href="https://basecamptanzania.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Base Camp Tanzania</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, Havazelet, Nava, and I boarded our red-eye Ethiopian Airlines flight on January 31 for our flight from Tel Aviv to Kilmanjaro Airport, an hour drive from Arusha,Tanzania. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>If you want to skip the introduction and the wordiness, just scroll down to where pictures of animals begin and enjoy! (For more information on a topic, click on words in purple.)</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyy8XUk0n9qdbxkQNP9oaafs7Tzvo0iSRf8AJM1Qvs3hExuYnFzHfM5doO-zHiiakmmy0yfLRM71tYU_aYihs0peL1LafgkVodh46kqlGEopsq2Qr7ce8rdslaqxAhuQbrjFo/s1600/IMG_9304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1280" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyy8XUk0n9qdbxkQNP9oaafs7Tzvo0iSRf8AJM1Qvs3hExuYnFzHfM5doO-zHiiakmmy0yfLRM71tYU_aYihs0peL1LafgkVodh46kqlGEopsq2Qr7ce8rdslaqxAhuQbrjFo/s640/IMG_9304.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava and Havazelet in front of the Kilimanjaro International Airport</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our guide, Fitiael picked us up at the airport and drove us to our hotel in Arusha. On the way he told us a bit about the crops grown in the area, including corn, beans and sunflowers for oil.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nearby in a slightly less dry area, we saw coffee and bananas growing, and saw </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> several people herding animals along the highway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. We stopped at a local market and at first saw tables full of used clothing,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many fruits and vegetables were artfully displayed, mostly on cloths on the ground. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small red onions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjva40ACCCaZ1_5-zcfntXXLMghFFSdCPHxt7AjpHGffcoWEeedr5hfSMqNmeCRnH9KO4K81t9Iq7iRVkhK2KumeIklMuf8Wb9w66IzBJC9lNoA8zeSET1i8HZlXx4xN2KyuNT/s1600/IMG_9330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjva40ACCCaZ1_5-zcfntXXLMghFFSdCPHxt7AjpHGffcoWEeedr5hfSMqNmeCRnH9KO4K81t9Iq7iRVkhK2KumeIklMuf8Wb9w66IzBJC9lNoA8zeSET1i8HZlXx4xN2KyuNT/s640/IMG_9330.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All kinds of greens, including squash greens, for sale</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aij1P33c_MelUitUajbHwlHLZYQ7c8902OjYDFEbDl1Y_rXPlVDLKwwsvVB2X_ufWLhQ1vauzbSVMCx4FHvy3uLgNtL3QRkDQySfhhMIbOqt734h8Fj9YemaztdtRLP-pS8E/s1600/IMG_9331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1125" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aij1P33c_MelUitUajbHwlHLZYQ7c8902OjYDFEbDl1Y_rXPlVDLKwwsvVB2X_ufWLhQ1vauzbSVMCx4FHvy3uLgNtL3QRkDQySfhhMIbOqt734h8Fj9YemaztdtRLP-pS8E/s640/IMG_9331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yams (white)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dried corn and beans were plentiful as were small dried fish used to season food and for </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">protein.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUAz1O62xzEiw6z6SdrG9kyv0yC6-F4dSD9pK505SVP1vdC8bqhzHoGuAMadaedP-QJbnzZjYqRDRko8b1N7FBaYgDihPKLFa3ayWxr_IJBcJ_ByOcycyZKN8DDYZC-ONx7Ru/s1600/IMG_9320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUAz1O62xzEiw6z6SdrG9kyv0yC6-F4dSD9pK505SVP1vdC8bqhzHoGuAMadaedP-QJbnzZjYqRDRko8b1N7FBaYgDihPKLFa3ayWxr_IJBcJ_ByOcycyZKN8DDYZC-ONx7Ru/s640/IMG_9320.jpg" width="582" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9k3T9yKq3GCHVOUoJVpxkZzj-YGsTJhblahiTSSfhDtxNxDa7jZM7Z-hQomsEpXalvzfafYOakjqVEC5OiXC9LsJljnm66r25YAt93NqDn2FGCLz4UuyK4xnowek2ZbuD0u6/s1600/IMG_9327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9k3T9yKq3GCHVOUoJVpxkZzj-YGsTJhblahiTSSfhDtxNxDa7jZM7Z-hQomsEpXalvzfafYOakjqVEC5OiXC9LsJljnm66r25YAt93NqDn2FGCLz4UuyK4xnowek2ZbuD0u6/s640/IMG_9327.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We also saw a sorter and grinder for making corn flour.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJISMQZT-F4dQKXtZBPcWCDzOnPPwnDuqPvp39yE7Zd9GTrMGmiDR76gYbjDqiMqReEYhtw0Vuz3chhiiJnnojxJNwqBYlNEPXG6KE2LRsjcncPiA6bxslZX-Fl3liQJ5c4u2i/s1600/IMG_9336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1532" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJISMQZT-F4dQKXtZBPcWCDzOnPPwnDuqPvp39yE7Zd9GTrMGmiDR76gYbjDqiMqReEYhtw0Vuz3chhiiJnnojxJNwqBYlNEPXG6KE2LRsjcncPiA6bxslZX-Fl3liQJ5c4u2i/s640/IMG_9336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fitiael told us that Tanzania had 19 kinds of bananas, some for eating raw and others for cooking in stews or frying, as was done by one woman in the market.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRIkbqL0Qi26At50NyYDBqnM_RZRvZ-5tcbj0P8ftFKSOcf2Y8FmFjE0f9GAVjMD3pOYxN3SrBOk2t46YpE2vgIAxdTXE7GG15Ib8eULaDSXvTNiNuIT11dpt3Uqll0RJ6PVY/s1600/IMG_9332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="921" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRIkbqL0Qi26At50NyYDBqnM_RZRvZ-5tcbj0P8ftFKSOcf2Y8FmFjE0f9GAVjMD3pOYxN3SrBOk2t46YpE2vgIAxdTXE7GG15Ib8eULaDSXvTNiNuIT11dpt3Uqll0RJ6PVY/s640/IMG_9332.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a Zanzibar market, we saw the largest, called elephant tusk bananas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava said that the bananas tasted better than most in the U.S. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak7Ve8KRLGrVORaxDFzY_NASFAQan0Ls7jhDeuW9JBKzQxf0_eVDqVxo1h9dvwqGqwDX23Z3z74A1q-JtdfMlgEGGp3iGk3nyev4ozSrPBQcCDpQky6JQ3EZBdXSHzLHqGWHf/s1600/IMG_9337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1280" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak7Ve8KRLGrVORaxDFzY_NASFAQan0Ls7jhDeuW9JBKzQxf0_eVDqVxo1h9dvwqGqwDX23Z3z74A1q-JtdfMlgEGGp3iGk3nyev4ozSrPBQcCDpQky6JQ3EZBdXSHzLHqGWHf/s640/IMG_9337.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mostly banana stand right outside the market</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we got to our hotel, the <a href="https://www.planet-lodges.com/arusha_planet_lodge/" target="_blank">Arusha Planet Lodge</a>, Helen (a friend of mine from Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA) was waiting to greet us. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> She officially met Nava and Havazelet and our foursome was complete. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We talked with Fitiael about the next day and took our first picture together.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-cxetkC4xJZXLVHVGwBSu2iu2bikbyRCQWqlEtRm3atZ0P1bZFvRkk13hrEfJWnuWaOj4E_FPfhlFUpsvKj_LfI5tG03Ub5jf9DxCY_zWOkBZKID-4Nnz28fD28rJzmyj9B2/s1600/IMG_9358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1514" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-cxetkC4xJZXLVHVGwBSu2iu2bikbyRCQWqlEtRm3atZ0P1bZFvRkk13hrEfJWnuWaOj4E_FPfhlFUpsvKj_LfI5tG03Ub5jf9DxCY_zWOkBZKID-4Nnz28fD28rJzmyj9B2/s640/IMG_9358.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me (Dina), Fitiael, Havazelet, Nava, and Helen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcDVkkFQxqqoisu2oyhVrszhOyoskPMXyYGtfCJ13cxXCq-DEXcsjzKzxRzBOfV9IA2enqgXNsObi7qdUH2rTkJqCPmT3xgIbKJQ8LP7OGdKKDOzhyphenhyphenRKnVRLsw4ZkM2HC8mIu/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcDVkkFQxqqoisu2oyhVrszhOyoskPMXyYGtfCJ13cxXCq-DEXcsjzKzxRzBOfV9IA2enqgXNsObi7qdUH2rTkJqCPmT3xgIbKJQ8LP7OGdKKDOzhyphenhyphenRKnVRLsw4ZkM2HC8mIu/s640/download.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each cute hut had two rooms, similar to some Masai style of huts.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Achmed (originally Paul, from England), the owner of Base Camp Tanzania met us at the hotel to give us some background information on what we would be doing. We tasted Kilimanjaro beer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OLSrXR9ncKyf6YVQ9VSdZBIzoektKBx95-5b1A90dGQmJ2432PVnA4sOzGHMsfdp_nNpU6ehFQWGttNkPr4e-cnzHruGofma4qs8WrELFMEbiL19YUVVz_n2uMbbCL4of-wD/s1600/IMG_9350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1467" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OLSrXR9ncKyf6YVQ9VSdZBIzoektKBx95-5b1A90dGQmJ2432PVnA4sOzGHMsfdp_nNpU6ehFQWGttNkPr4e-cnzHruGofma4qs8WrELFMEbiL19YUVVz_n2uMbbCL4of-wD/s640/IMG_9350.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He told us that there were about 120 tribes in Tanzania, each with its own language. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language" target="_blank">Kiswahili</a> (also called Swahili) is the common language of the people and the official language of Tanzania as well as Kenya, Uganda,and the DRC. It is a Bantu language with a significant amount of Arabic as well as some Hindi, German, and Portuguese (from past people living here). It is a first or second language spoken by over 100,000,000 (yes, one hundred million!) people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tanzania is at most 40% Muslim and at least 45% Christian plus indigenous religious. Zanzibar (and coastal cities) is heavily Muslim but "light" Muslim. Tourism accounts for about 17% of the economy. Agriculture is a large part of the economy as is Tanzanite and mining--especially gold. About 58 million people live in Tanzania, and Arusha is the third largest city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked around the hotel gardens a bit and then had a lovely dinner in the hotel restaurant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were astounded at how tall the banana plants were, over two stories high in some places! Notice the purple flower hanging under the banana stalk.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Ins00FxZ93jkQskKR5vCe4T9D81f3tU9Xlf9X3wZnMJAQnaf9owcoiNfqiGmg5U-03HfPGDH4vAzEIU0xGpOeHlIr190apWhNseup5Q7MAO4TrX-A8BbVU6ThUh_zdwYsF3/s1600/IMG_9356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1002" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9Ins00FxZ93jkQskKR5vCe4T9D81f3tU9Xlf9X3wZnMJAQnaf9owcoiNfqiGmg5U-03HfPGDH4vAzEIU0xGpOeHlIr190apWhNseup5Q7MAO4TrX-A8BbVU6ThUh_zdwYsF3/s640/IMG_9356.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0gdGhprewdNmztvGifn0YHWrIrH8K-HaK9ekn8GXfpT-EmgBHrKU3GECJ2U_IxyaZ0U4Xby5602ZW-ab5lk8eUX-LC2B3AFzgrnNJX20Zk2QEIfMOUcTcOjflgUWIetvohER/s1600/IMG_9355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1512" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0gdGhprewdNmztvGifn0YHWrIrH8K-HaK9ekn8GXfpT-EmgBHrKU3GECJ2U_IxyaZ0U4Xby5602ZW-ab5lk8eUX-LC2B3AFzgrnNJX20Zk2QEIfMOUcTcOjflgUWIetvohER/s640/IMG_9355.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning flower in the garden</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, our first stop was at the Base Camp Tanzania office to make final payments.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EXk4gWFclb96mgjXV_5R3Ms0Cw45UDrlCVkw2mvG1j8_2r6PKQfW5oykXX8dp0zWqqqQ4opurYxoJPXv4OvRacjm9wIcxXMGcs9t2LrfIOpiZEQ2H3k46-esCEgHZ0vlgBuj/s1600/IMG_9368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EXk4gWFclb96mgjXV_5R3Ms0Cw45UDrlCVkw2mvG1j8_2r6PKQfW5oykXX8dp0zWqqqQ4opurYxoJPXv4OvRacjm9wIcxXMGcs9t2LrfIOpiZEQ2H3k46-esCEgHZ0vlgBuj/s640/IMG_9368.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Achmed had a very good map on his office wall. After leaving the office, we headed south on a paved (tarmac) road to the <a href="https://www.tarangiretanzania.com/" target="_blank">Tanganire </a>National Park, in the central lower part of the map.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEj3DVBC9YvzOjSmC_O4jO-3boE6I4HXYIo1flDzYuegVv45QvTzSMPDAsisi647XqTiwLhS83Dt16ZupJhTt7uladPVjIW4QUKzLcRp-JL6Q1tr80X1tiHeDrwSioJQCoEkt/s1600/IMG_9374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1375" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEj3DVBC9YvzOjSmC_O4jO-3boE6I4HXYIo1flDzYuegVv45QvTzSMPDAsisi647XqTiwLhS83Dt16ZupJhTt7uladPVjIW4QUKzLcRp-JL6Q1tr80X1tiHeDrwSioJQCoEkt/s640/IMG_9374.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way there, we saw a lot of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisal_production_in_Tanzania" target="_blank">extremely<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>tall sisal plants</a>, similar to century plants that I had seen in Arizona. In 1893, Sisal plants were smuggled into Tanganyika from Mexico in the belly of a stuffed crocodile, and until 1961, the country was the number one producer of sisal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrpfmX2F1x6PYqDr6RjorYRGrXCLI2Iet1kap6W8BWprAj8Zf77k3nApUOVTdmXT_z9THa_PUIZJEkCeedGC2kdbB2Dws7XXbmqqrDWcYmx2_ulfIZ86xisyU2c3_ix06hus8/s1600/DSC02727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1019" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrpfmX2F1x6PYqDr6RjorYRGrXCLI2Iet1kap6W8BWprAj8Zf77k3nApUOVTdmXT_z9THa_PUIZJEkCeedGC2kdbB2Dws7XXbmqqrDWcYmx2_ulfIZ86xisyU2c3_ix06hus8/s640/DSC02727.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went out in Tanganire park that afternoon for our first safari drive. The park was established as a national park in 1970 and is home of more than 550 bird species.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tanganire means place of ('tar') the wart hog ('Ngere') and Havazelet sited the first animals in the park, wart hogs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXrpdonqH2dI7pBPu6AC9BegyAQS9DpjM-TSEWHD-ZxQLPtrH1UMaOKw1LRkpVbeRJqzA60NgM3G91wgaOypqmEybJseX8h-y4oqrj77D4gUSzJqYOL6EJrAsnf7OoE0iZX1C/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="948" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXrpdonqH2dI7pBPu6AC9BegyAQS9DpjM-TSEWHD-ZxQLPtrH1UMaOKw1LRkpVbeRJqzA60NgM3G91wgaOypqmEybJseX8h-y4oqrj77D4gUSzJqYOL6EJrAsnf7OoE0iZX1C/s640/DSC02788.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://theconversation.com/baobab-trees-have-more-than-300-uses-but-theyre-dying-in-africa-98214" target="_blank">Baobab trees </a>are also plentiful in this park, most had filled out from the October-November rains and were bound to get fuller with the rains beginning in mid-February.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1PFe4p0FEc8Hm4VQnxEYHpO_JrOxo-ilTQf_NLWVrRIqUbN7mxZgiDdzpG_xniOeEPL_KReaUXzCTWskJIvGZvOUTMnkJQG8660Dt2jVY3BvMYjSSvM0ST0Vq6FMWqNr1cIW/s1600/DSC02808.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1PFe4p0FEc8Hm4VQnxEYHpO_JrOxo-ilTQf_NLWVrRIqUbN7mxZgiDdzpG_xniOeEPL_KReaUXzCTWskJIvGZvOUTMnkJQG8660Dt2jVY3BvMYjSSvM0ST0Vq6FMWqNr1cIW/s640/DSC02808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trunk of the tree is uneven. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw the <a href="https://www.betternutrition.com/checkout/baobab-health-benefits" target="_blank">baobab fruit</a> which are eaten when they are yellow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmuev_hp4HI66dfqWqDXQiN4i0RuyCX1YA-jJGtXIyWO6abLhsUjDWoFLWt52Z6NbR8dKNQoyC6y2nOB3R__59fGlCqmMrEXZSQU-_b5G11-wk1KyTxNXbbXBhXjEL3JE8w9t/s1600/DSC02784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1040" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmuev_hp4HI66dfqWqDXQiN4i0RuyCX1YA-jJGtXIyWO6abLhsUjDWoFLWt52Z6NbR8dKNQoyC6y2nOB3R__59fGlCqmMrEXZSQU-_b5G11-wk1KyTxNXbbXBhXjEL3JE8w9t/s640/DSC02784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These trees can live for over 1000 years, but they are not replenishing themselves as the new shoots are often eaten or trampled on by elephants. And older trees can be damaged by animals, especially elephants, taking off the bark and getting water from the spongy center during the dry season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were delighted to see that most bathroom stops were well taken care of and comfortable to use. At one such stop </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">before entering the park, we saw a group of men of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makonde_art" target="_blank">Makonde tribe carving</a> animals form ebony, mahogany, and rose wood. They started learning their tribal carving skills at age 10.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiEJDy_Sg2QT3ELzdDLhLqCAM9eN0sxg8zFp7zFM7RbNwsXGL-8WktB2xTywHPxBdMoMRFSAbI596ey5THPYkrW5D3Az8VTTsKW3jGMNSQ4kwY3BJ0yHEUrUuBeBlCjsUhGiP/s1600/DSC02750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1167" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiEJDy_Sg2QT3ELzdDLhLqCAM9eN0sxg8zFp7zFM7RbNwsXGL-8WktB2xTywHPxBdMoMRFSAbI596ey5THPYkrW5D3Az8VTTsKW3jGMNSQ4kwY3BJ0yHEUrUuBeBlCjsUhGiP/s640/DSC02750.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw an Abdim's stork, which is a rare sight in this park.It has a blue face and red markings on its legs. It's in Europe in the summers but here during European winters.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy0F-NhUcB7bLzW_LdhD4-YMC70zL3oXLy_uCgmgiPLbiFgCv-Qx0dmLagrNWNQmn2IYTIZRzj4CtMYFTNW_U4uOdtwAYvyo8vceqB8h1fc_gV6sjhy0xga3LqJUHZi45g07e/s1600/DSC02782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy0F-NhUcB7bLzW_LdhD4-YMC70zL3oXLy_uCgmgiPLbiFgCv-Qx0dmLagrNWNQmn2IYTIZRzj4CtMYFTNW_U4uOdtwAYvyo8vceqB8h1fc_gV6sjhy0xga3LqJUHZi45g07e/s640/DSC02782.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw many animals including two jackals racing by, elephants (the park is known for a large number of them), lionesses and a number of birds including red and yellow barbets, ashy starlings, superb starlings (soon to be my favorite small bird). We also saw Black headed herons, African spoon bills, Sacred ibises, and Egyptian geese.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6uBKBZIo4iuIGSpgEl5b84rJJC-hvdwnUzUZkP0HyvXXc1NrYxErooZ3erbajdQG0Q3XnPhCpK82ZdXdccWbu2QsG2vPrNKVkUyLR2CZuYGZ5HwGql8vqt_NXLnwMP_wGd5s/s1600/DSC02797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="787" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6uBKBZIo4iuIGSpgEl5b84rJJC-hvdwnUzUZkP0HyvXXc1NrYxErooZ3erbajdQG0Q3XnPhCpK82ZdXdccWbu2QsG2vPrNKVkUyLR2CZuYGZ5HwGql8vqt_NXLnwMP_wGd5s/s640/DSC02797.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIixF7TeSrj-MWz2U1B4ZVhOXcsb5E7OxdOU5De6izu8-SuUtnBe6hZkK8742pLeDNotR5A6UqdH3Sy8EVrsaaAo59ECeMYNYq-Nk0HYYI3ePq-i9Vnhg6maRPmCedI9s4tkw5/s1600/DSC02798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1285" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIixF7TeSrj-MWz2U1B4ZVhOXcsb5E7OxdOU5De6izu8-SuUtnBe6hZkK8742pLeDNotR5A6UqdH3Sy8EVrsaaAo59ECeMYNYq-Nk0HYYI3ePq-i9Vnhg6maRPmCedI9s4tkw5/s1600/DSC02798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Eurasian Collared Dove</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sunbirds, etc, and vervet/black-faced monkeys at the rest area.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAhLBjwfAf9lf_u_GxjyQfvCf0G8krKvL73bFl_NpzCpUYVXlqGdM3UW8zn24zoccLjnNRvhSkWKY_hADPx1oKiLVLeD-OYbz9Iw7v68fy38hGufxyceNl5ZWw8ZqvcozllFH/s1600/DSC02814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1451" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAhLBjwfAf9lf_u_GxjyQfvCf0G8krKvL73bFl_NpzCpUYVXlqGdM3UW8zn24zoccLjnNRvhSkWKY_hADPx1oKiLVLeD-OYbz9Iw7v68fy38hGufxyceNl5ZWw8ZqvcozllFH/s640/DSC02814.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb starling--isn't it stunning! Havazelet called it a super-superb starling<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWpx0x21RBZ2X-tT9P6JuPYr8wcyXFkdZk4rNYlRNKsj3xs4-sAfh5QbEYy3nDOwwetnUkGbnFIiJZZIGn9F_u26aKy5j_9sAg3sGDT1RCTpjNb7heGAUs2xymeRLItlblapy/s1600/DSC02811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1517" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWpx0x21RBZ2X-tT9P6JuPYr8wcyXFkdZk4rNYlRNKsj3xs4-sAfh5QbEYy3nDOwwetnUkGbnFIiJZZIGn9F_u26aKy5j_9sAg3sGDT1RCTpjNb7heGAUs2xymeRLItlblapy/s640/DSC02811.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw our first cat in the park, a lioness, from a distance--first just her head and then her back as she departed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtp8UrrIp8toOUm34Vu4sJ1y9z5FyOPefAM2px25EQVK2ZYDbMBulAm2iLaVAjpwpAnNnZxnC7En6omfRzBZYEXK1kReRj5UcR2YKnLiGVIi6IMPVoAmEeVt0B6X4QAEXnXSR/s1600/DSC02792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="766" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtp8UrrIp8toOUm34Vu4sJ1y9z5FyOPefAM2px25EQVK2ZYDbMBulAm2iLaVAjpwpAnNnZxnC7En6omfRzBZYEXK1kReRj5UcR2YKnLiGVIi6IMPVoAmEeVt0B6X4QAEXnXSR/s640/DSC02792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right next to a small lake we saw a collection of birds and then</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPVSOvoEOiT4qZAYoDOLp18p7IyyFRmwZu6o_1EeiNSZ9cFxtnZPoM-FfZXwbB-SITndL1_QZrJnUgcToWia1cTNztKZ-M6__FQxroKH9N2x6U03XmMwUz8XxhYCH-PmF1UzW/s1600/DSC02803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="668" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPVSOvoEOiT4qZAYoDOLp18p7IyyFRmwZu6o_1EeiNSZ9cFxtnZPoM-FfZXwbB-SITndL1_QZrJnUgcToWia1cTNztKZ-M6__FQxroKH9N2x6U03XmMwUz8XxhYCH-PmF1UzW/s640/DSC02803.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are our first sighting of elephants, cooling off and playing. These two were probably about 16. Males stay with their mothers until about age 13 or 14 and then form bachelor groups or join other already formed ones.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-x7UzeStCBwDFED2matVUtxGf2JKjPYoDKrS3gHbJjJh4R14G_IkuPjFZI8k1Vd0c8NejPmXGgZP1J_N-ykG6Q7FRxcjIUrwIzCEkSUVQ7WFIJ10Qk9sv3r_QzsCMhdKcBvD/s1600/DSC02809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1459" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-x7UzeStCBwDFED2matVUtxGf2JKjPYoDKrS3gHbJjJh4R14G_IkuPjFZI8k1Vd0c8NejPmXGgZP1J_N-ykG6Q7FRxcjIUrwIzCEkSUVQ7WFIJ10Qk9sv3r_QzsCMhdKcBvD/s640/DSC02809.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://africageographic.com/blog/termites-unsung-heroes-african-bush/" target="_blank">Termite mounds</a> were plentiful in the Tarangire area and quite big. The <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140731-termites-mounds-insects-entomology-science/" target="_blank">mounds </a>also extend to underground tunnels too. A queen can live up to 60 years but most live about 15. Termites eat grass here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6Mb5ZY7zxF2GJs77sOfCqQaif99j6vpk52b1ksTzEaNHC9-tYb1hSMiIPvVJuG90lNw3aGgRXifaCF8D9hcNaQiprIJrdmUBzuXSbbiA_a0R3xbZ3UdoN_9D35YtrpvpwcE/s1600/IMG_9393Termite+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6Mb5ZY7zxF2GJs77sOfCqQaif99j6vpk52b1ksTzEaNHC9-tYb1hSMiIPvVJuG90lNw3aGgRXifaCF8D9hcNaQiprIJrdmUBzuXSbbiA_a0R3xbZ3UdoN_9D35YtrpvpwcE/s640/IMG_9393Termite+Hill.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava, Helen and Havazelet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a grayer termite mound, probably abandoned as it has open holes on top. Termites in active mounds close the holes so rain does not get in.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The trees on the right are umbrella acacias, the most common trees in this area of Tanzania.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0yI0RdgdCmPHnjrQLdIvHkR5OaQ4NUM5gSs403YBkd0lVo8pZ5Ai5a_pS5gvqzYg4BTwWgE8e_Bddh1BqBNr9aZ9ZbAy6UHmaKY-BvF6WBnDIT_BBuYA4A60JlsO9uq2HkdB/s1600/DSC02825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1355" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0yI0RdgdCmPHnjrQLdIvHkR5OaQ4NUM5gSs403YBkd0lVo8pZ5Ai5a_pS5gvqzYg4BTwWgE8e_Bddh1BqBNr9aZ9ZbAy6UHmaKY-BvF6WBnDIT_BBuYA4A60JlsO9uq2HkdB/s640/DSC02825.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many superb starlings and other birds looked for snacks at our lunch stop.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFpCWVEGfI_JkE5fj-mCTbY87tprl7CUC5OLSwoRIYkFKd7Ime8VMm-UypkjVvXzZzaSZmvprmfkl1i8trIVNd4EWBanGOsJotK9n1JVvwYJEn0mOg_GijtWKWcajWKnYeanN/s1600/DSC02821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1256" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFpCWVEGfI_JkE5fj-mCTbY87tprl7CUC5OLSwoRIYkFKd7Ime8VMm-UypkjVvXzZzaSZmvprmfkl1i8trIVNd4EWBanGOsJotK9n1JVvwYJEn0mOg_GijtWKWcajWKnYeanN/s640/DSC02821.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb starling and red-billed Hornbill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch, we got our first glance of the many animals in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope" target="_blank">antelope </a>family--i.e. all members of the bovidae family NOT including cattle,sheep, and goats. There are 91 species of antelope, 72 of which are native to Africa. The most common species of both antelopes and gazelles in Tanzania’s ‘northern circuit’ include Grant's gazelles, Thomson's gazelles, impalas, wildebeests (also known as gnu), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartebeest" target="_blank">hartebeests</a> and topi. We saw all of them, plus dik diks too, the tiniest ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and then we had our first sightings of groups of baboons, including the mother in the middle of the picture below with a baby hanging on underneath her.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwPBXo309WsglkOfmNnNrU8yvC6rxe2hFGeckrkBBSE5-loTFaI76boDfUcxLeRzVmPj7RRQMBRaLcJfwUc9nh28lvbhbSC591G5M08mngHXuCbdDxcMyGFKM-mhc09DUMdp4/s1600/DSC02829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1460" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwPBXo309WsglkOfmNnNrU8yvC6rxe2hFGeckrkBBSE5-loTFaI76boDfUcxLeRzVmPj7RRQMBRaLcJfwUc9nh28lvbhbSC591G5M08mngHXuCbdDxcMyGFKM-mhc09DUMdp4/s640/DSC02829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another, a bit older riding on mom's back--it has great balance--and another waiting while Mom rests a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and several warthogs walked nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One young baboon sat on a termite mound. Baboons eat termites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way, we saw part of a skull, maybe a warthog? We saw almost no bones as one of the small scavengers (hyena, I believe) can crush and eat them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"> A few minutes later, under a baobab tree, we spotted our first giraffe. Adult giraffes have no natural predators as they can kick with their hind legs and seriously hurt a lion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A bit ahead, we spotted a bird watching a small herd of elephants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some resting in the shade of an acacia tree. Note the very young elephant in the middle, about 3 months old, protected by the adult females. Pregnancies for elephants last 22 months. When the baby is two to four years old, she can get pregnant again. The elephant's life span is about 70 years. There is no dominant male, but rather a female leader. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A youngster off to the side eating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elephants are herbivores and need 16 to 17 hours to eat enough and only digest 40-50% of what they eat</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> . They rest standing under trees 2-3 hours in the heat of the day.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> They are up and down eaters, eating leaves (up) and a lot of grass down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note their extremely long eyelashes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elephants have two tusks and four huge teeth, two on the lower jaw and two on the upper jaw. Every ten years they four teeth are replaced with new ones, getting six sets in a lifetime, but after age 60, they get no more. They use their tusks to peel bark off of trees, to dig, and as weapons. Their other weapon is their feet, which they can use to stomp other animals.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2m6sf_SmWwzexIOXX-BpSwR2G_Wg9P75_6sPfuZXwlL3SabD2UlBD_yrdmHNBmgIEb8P_bns6UVtQRkKDAKwinXGXKIVuscDCTobxiqw3T4TfL2T2X37WN0RfGNh_bCobqAP/s1600/DSC02859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1589" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2m6sf_SmWwzexIOXX-BpSwR2G_Wg9P75_6sPfuZXwlL3SabD2UlBD_yrdmHNBmgIEb8P_bns6UVtQRkKDAKwinXGXKIVuscDCTobxiqw3T4TfL2T2X37WN0RfGNh_bCobqAP/s640/DSC02859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below a solitary elephant drinks from the water of the Tanganire River, the largest river in the park. It never dries out, but it is spotty now as there was a short rain season in October and November after a long dry season. The longer rainy season from late February til May was due to start soon, and the river will then fill up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MsJwsgbT0mDEfrz8WkR4EN2FMt-LbOvda1SrbAoLVw7gzB6We6bU7oQN145dLceqxDfVFOYeu6rtI6rw3N6H17noizCqp1u3gfx1FEdECK7_RTHlrXsSrYUcIIcDXnvp6Ah1/s1600/DSC02865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1566" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MsJwsgbT0mDEfrz8WkR4EN2FMt-LbOvda1SrbAoLVw7gzB6We6bU7oQN145dLceqxDfVFOYeu6rtI6rw3N6H17noizCqp1u3gfx1FEdECK7_RTHlrXsSrYUcIIcDXnvp6Ah1/s640/DSC02865.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A group of warthogs followed including a younger one</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VrIkRkPTKH8HvhS9PclS6GUcsmAYdAwIdGRaJZlRiKL4zuv8_VG3nMYCeM1_6IWQFy6etvvXY1TkKUQTgBTx91GkmSzb6JMzYo-XdD7Oxeo0ryhIgygTAw62U15LE-8Bry5M/s1600/DSC02866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1437" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VrIkRkPTKH8HvhS9PclS6GUcsmAYdAwIdGRaJZlRiKL4zuv8_VG3nMYCeM1_6IWQFy6etvvXY1TkKUQTgBTx91GkmSzb6JMzYo-XdD7Oxeo0ryhIgygTAw62U15LE-8Bry5M/s640/DSC02866.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a few male impalas, closer to our vehicle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QgDJhwdu8LYVsiK-jc6IVMz3QbQ73CVFdQ_5TjEGGb9gA9gNAdpF7BJHNxi5L2HngZqlyPvQ7S8cr3YGknMmvmh9vuRZvCuHMsg7wNk4KHXabaEBKAha7TMXwZbpyrgwCdRh/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1445" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QgDJhwdu8LYVsiK-jc6IVMz3QbQ73CVFdQ_5TjEGGb9gA9gNAdpF7BJHNxi5L2HngZqlyPvQ7S8cr3YGknMmvmh9vuRZvCuHMsg7wNk4KHXabaEBKAha7TMXwZbpyrgwCdRh/s640/DSC02870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More elephants cooling off in the afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other elephants crossing the road in front of our vehicle. They have the right of way.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNppI2Iv0R0T3mw9PEdqogcZH_vOtIYIR-FLh1ZCjn-AuiE6Hq_ZbDHtRH1NJypxrmSsVrakkXlLPcmoaqO7VexnFcViyBenZHdsoRkypjBcD7iNscaCUVwYNMoziswBw0_nz/s1600/IMG_9452+Elef+cross+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="640" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNppI2Iv0R0T3mw9PEdqogcZH_vOtIYIR-FLh1ZCjn-AuiE6Hq_ZbDHtRH1NJypxrmSsVrakkXlLPcmoaqO7VexnFcViyBenZHdsoRkypjBcD7iNscaCUVwYNMoziswBw0_nz/s640/IMG_9452+Elef+cross+road.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night and the next we stayed in luxury tents next to the Tarangire Safari lodge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were just down the path a bit from the lodge and outdoor pool. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A huge boabab tree stood in front of some of the "tents."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Notice the two small <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dik-dik" target="_blank">dik diks</a> below in front of the tree! Dik diks are tiny antelope weighing between 6 and 13 pounds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRQAz0I-mCW0taijRk1YRvaUXWzvrxNdNh5B_UlV67M9xdjSrEtxZFT2GxhywhjnMU0NyegY2qGYVUlWvDl91DrnNjkEbPC0CKIidMUtGjTzfXbEhotJ4cjLY6ZrnlGkhvnaH/s1600/DSC02898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1519" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRQAz0I-mCW0taijRk1YRvaUXWzvrxNdNh5B_UlV67M9xdjSrEtxZFT2GxhywhjnMU0NyegY2qGYVUlWvDl91DrnNjkEbPC0CKIidMUtGjTzfXbEhotJ4cjLY6ZrnlGkhvnaH/s640/DSC02898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a monkey outside of our tent on the path, looking for something tasty to eat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9hNHc6_wy8rJdQJ9IgO3-QIYOuEQXPQkeRppdJp83L8ShmyOX_nwXjx3_eLCWOyqbBgHTjNZE29sHYwS6rSrz20_84pmEv1V9c_l-xdxV2PuWFxzxdBiMqUC9yIaCWmJXAs2/s1600/IMG_9468+monkey+snacking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9hNHc6_wy8rJdQJ9IgO3-QIYOuEQXPQkeRppdJp83L8ShmyOX_nwXjx3_eLCWOyqbBgHTjNZE29sHYwS6rSrz20_84pmEv1V9c_l-xdxV2PuWFxzxdBiMqUC9yIaCWmJXAs2/s400/IMG_9468+monkey+snacking.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of our tents.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9MJr5nUAd9K0wcp1r_Vw1T1msIClojusMZN4_fUBj3KmTkMQxupZGqBYxgwOtxD88v-QbK14ueuYRpwzkbZ39AcHdVzs_s8OCX2RxYbfsYFPgyvTtA9KFGe30xjQ-Gu5e-QR/s1600/DSC02900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9MJr5nUAd9K0wcp1r_Vw1T1msIClojusMZN4_fUBj3KmTkMQxupZGqBYxgwOtxD88v-QbK14ueuYRpwzkbZ39AcHdVzs_s8OCX2RxYbfsYFPgyvTtA9KFGe30xjQ-Gu5e-QR/s640/DSC02900.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Helen and Nava look out at the savanna below the patio of the hotel. That afternoon before we returned from our outing, hundreds of elephants crossed through that area. We were told it was quite a sight!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvzUtfkgxfG6ZbPN6yf8-1z_imbhcI8IsGe9tgcTmvILjVIjMTrpyYo_6FKHPNgOU_skiPvUOZFhb1OacIHX2mCKWRnz5ZPNbFqqwJdvIDDv9ZWaV-ogx75BBpphPPC-GkRK2/s1600/DSC02899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1532" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvzUtfkgxfG6ZbPN6yf8-1z_imbhcI8IsGe9tgcTmvILjVIjMTrpyYo_6FKHPNgOU_skiPvUOZFhb1OacIHX2mCKWRnz5ZPNbFqqwJdvIDDv9ZWaV-ogx75BBpphPPC-GkRK2/s640/DSC02899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGlD540avwb9huBa4LAWoko_jJOTbZfj0ETwUktfK5Ma068tmYFH8w5Jw6Iengrh5Fc_AE3zANn-w3CVUhFPefHxFbSwZyoZs1LG9OsP4gcu3J61o1JWoye08_fJyt6Y1461P/s1600/IMG_9459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGlD540avwb9huBa4LAWoko_jJOTbZfj0ETwUktfK5Ma068tmYFH8w5Jw6Iengrh5Fc_AE3zANn-w3CVUhFPefHxFbSwZyoZs1LG9OsP4gcu3J61o1JWoye08_fJyt6Y1461P/s640/IMG_9459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human animals sighted in the pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRCHXR4g_6Ke5pNVmoqGMwqcdvB9WC7X-KkZ_BhX6KKr-Vrtyxp1MdgxNcBaCR5WMr0WpAnwGrmKq2SA7wmn-Osx4IEonSJJ3NX1T-X7txuLMAWn9HHqtXv1mzhczHxxEepBl/s1600/IMG_9462bird+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRCHXR4g_6Ke5pNVmoqGMwqcdvB9WC7X-KkZ_BhX6KKr-Vrtyxp1MdgxNcBaCR5WMr0WpAnwGrmKq2SA7wmn-Osx4IEonSJJ3NX1T-X7txuLMAWn9HHqtXv1mzhczHxxEepBl/s640/IMG_9462bird+close.jpg" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another red-billed Hornbill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIBVt6kntAE3Z8n4th_iuutEC5sd86X43NTCBLoPwwAM4J1r0KNSE-6UWLjNLn7_0RnL53GoCc5N4tigefvlF2p_fyATvzszmZmqsk1RPLxIi0o8a0NS6UCcE3vGLkFD43uk2/s1600/IMG_9470+black+faced+sand+grouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIBVt6kntAE3Z8n4th_iuutEC5sd86X43NTCBLoPwwAM4J1r0KNSE-6UWLjNLn7_0RnL53GoCc5N4tigefvlF2p_fyATvzszmZmqsk1RPLxIi0o8a0NS6UCcE3vGLkFD43uk2/s640/IMG_9470+black+faced+sand+grouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Faced Sand Grouse by the road</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning we saw lots of birds by the side of the road. We were out from 7:30 to 12:30. We saw water bucks, a large herd of water buffalo in the horizon, elephants, impalas, monkeys, over 100 baboons, ostriches with lots of younger ones, one lioness by herself and then three lionesses and about 6 cubs, a rare site. We also saw lots of beautiful birds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B-6N8tuNVU6MCQTY7BxNMEUcD0esCqYRFURr04wtEWgE_ZVYhvV-2nYGHGyyu2r0bKaDtBDMtM6zTPXQgEymi4PdEPXdcbRcDl1vYLHyvLr8iqHR0YWOFsHIEvaX2PnJpC3H/s1600/DSC02933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1535" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B-6N8tuNVU6MCQTY7BxNMEUcD0esCqYRFURr04wtEWgE_ZVYhvV-2nYGHGyyu2r0bKaDtBDMtM6zTPXQgEymi4PdEPXdcbRcDl1vYLHyvLr8iqHR0YWOFsHIEvaX2PnJpC3H/s640/DSC02933.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female water bucks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfLhKCqkxRnmZkqn_UU0RrGrxlWqPoZqKC6qyOgDFhRJbTkhr5ZlSotEwWYHq6MUtqPeXdQlwqzu5M2e7CuRUP8IcsORbmOng1j4JNeP3jj_SYCfqGdVnf8rOBg3lnhG87Ws4/s1600/DSC02935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="908" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfLhKCqkxRnmZkqn_UU0RrGrxlWqPoZqKC6qyOgDFhRJbTkhr5ZlSotEwWYHq6MUtqPeXdQlwqzu5M2e7CuRUP8IcsORbmOng1j4JNeP3jj_SYCfqGdVnf8rOBg3lnhG87Ws4/s640/DSC02935.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male water buck with antlers off to the side resting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_96Pc-P4GYHg0mM9IlGpLY2AWakf6pjF6rr-yvarsFkYNcwU6BI8utZJwlS4wxM3ssOKEIH4Z-fY54I16b6aHM4DWlVNPFzVG8MlVskLSuh8PVauJShtBrkLTo5pSqT-uSR5/s1600/DSC02936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="947" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_96Pc-P4GYHg0mM9IlGpLY2AWakf6pjF6rr-yvarsFkYNcwU6BI8utZJwlS4wxM3ssOKEIH4Z-fY54I16b6aHM4DWlVNPFzVG8MlVskLSuh8PVauJShtBrkLTo5pSqT-uSR5/s640/DSC02936.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard tortoise</td></tr>
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We didn't see a lot of flowers, but this one, a pavonia, we saw several times.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58ilZU6R-C-1i3dUuvwMt9XbD6BQT9Z6PQy8wcA7E3yJL5GXVBZ5bVev7LeacyqjeHbYTTRhLneYswxzrXWAm5NxOw72EXWsRhZiqaVbp5XKQMXeNmAgIOUQpdfR1KdIVEJkj/s1600/IMG_9492+Pavonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="580" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58ilZU6R-C-1i3dUuvwMt9XbD6BQT9Z6PQy8wcA7E3yJL5GXVBZ5bVev7LeacyqjeHbYTTRhLneYswxzrXWAm5NxOw72EXWsRhZiqaVbp5XKQMXeNmAgIOUQpdfR1KdIVEJkj/s640/IMG_9492+Pavonia.jpg" width="580" /></a></div>
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Here are some of the many birds we saw that morning--up in trees or down on the ground.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi5sROV0_Oyjc69p41UqyACCGpx9JzIm4zNbot8cYqFzXCvrhkFZT1RlcAPwSBlt6-fRwcyIAPknvgAJX7lkvHsPY4Qvqq6W9rhhkRSDBs5xpYyMOoRW9Ps5e5gAz87TzRpKL/s1600/IMG_9540+Horn+bills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi5sROV0_Oyjc69p41UqyACCGpx9JzIm4zNbot8cYqFzXCvrhkFZT1RlcAPwSBlt6-fRwcyIAPknvgAJX7lkvHsPY4Qvqq6W9rhhkRSDBs5xpYyMOoRW9Ps5e5gAz87TzRpKL/s640/IMG_9540+Horn+bills.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacred ibises by a small lake</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZdjARi5lX87VnQV-cgCHjlC_PuZtxDvIcLgnmXPRn3h416WSuNOnmPqpdWbHFalwCfbAXXVUD1BWI7Ah4C1EB-hq-6lbZKPD9Y5LVNhlXUjN3bXDPKubbdBSpufotnbWRI6w/s1600/DSC02993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1230" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZdjARi5lX87VnQV-cgCHjlC_PuZtxDvIcLgnmXPRn3h416WSuNOnmPqpdWbHFalwCfbAXXVUD1BWI7Ah4C1EB-hq-6lbZKPD9Y5LVNhlXUjN3bXDPKubbdBSpufotnbWRI6w/s640/DSC02993.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBnEFOcpw_1u_CNc4gEAfELzzazKqCSY4PGdVrvdJvjXwrXlBdmEmmuMb1xmxWigYMJexHRVtSJZclctqAuele7DLddqm-xHh905aLC0dkaDeVkfNMNYfdkAuzagqGYvFF34L/s1600/DSC02913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="980" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBnEFOcpw_1u_CNc4gEAfELzzazKqCSY4PGdVrvdJvjXwrXlBdmEmmuMb1xmxWigYMJexHRVtSJZclctqAuele7DLddqm-xHh905aLC0dkaDeVkfNMNYfdkAuzagqGYvFF34L/s640/DSC02913.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWUw_Tw6a8degjNET94mIL9pzTqlV6eTp9XbyXK5CilukIWuA-Qv9m6eZWKQu5Ivc4lB4I-6KSuK0aXYmJ_oWdw25tbrogaLZ5rJKK723mHl_KkABl-RrCXr7RChLbSz67xO7/s1600/DSC02909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1560" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWUw_Tw6a8degjNET94mIL9pzTqlV6eTp9XbyXK5CilukIWuA-Qv9m6eZWKQu5Ivc4lB4I-6KSuK0aXYmJ_oWdw25tbrogaLZ5rJKK723mHl_KkABl-RrCXr7RChLbSz67xO7/s640/DSC02909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above, possibly a Tawny Eagle or an African white-backed vulture. We saw both at this time and also a black shoulder kite, elementary guinea fowls, and yellow necked spar fowls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a few baboons coming from the right and crossing the road, and then more and more came!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWMjDFeJTniZLL9Q78ABovcGz8ROW7BxuXoaG6P16dGDH65KtwOEMC_2V72Iqp1fu69SGlssZmrvJMblktXyiPYzOBssthK4EsCGPdr94vw9ItPM9ioPQrU5Mtl9jQ0ah6ure/s1600/DSC02971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1190" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWMjDFeJTniZLL9Q78ABovcGz8ROW7BxuXoaG6P16dGDH65KtwOEMC_2V72Iqp1fu69SGlssZmrvJMblktXyiPYzOBssthK4EsCGPdr94vw9ItPM9ioPQrU5Mtl9jQ0ah6ure/s640/DSC02971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horn bills</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw one baboon, and then many many more followed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtO59UFSOdJSTfjf9nbRX2nNIjmrI6nY8Ri6MFJptHax6SFrZkgwlSeOQcYONlqi0NPyHLuSohOPCm7AlmOi6xHqJlZ77PEuBEytBXJk35d36xY8WMft9t0xDs_MYRCMbvccm/s1600/DSC02939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtO59UFSOdJSTfjf9nbRX2nNIjmrI6nY8Ri6MFJptHax6SFrZkgwlSeOQcYONlqi0NPyHLuSohOPCm7AlmOi6xHqJlZ77PEuBEytBXJk35d36xY8WMft9t0xDs_MYRCMbvccm/s640/DSC02939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7tbdsLaQhjPHju7VSuvEC0rlR2Xcvfm6eCtaBxcP5CaTV1kZWhchZuX4mKf0RpMmXv57lKAJMysyonE2WYCyUf8bo3wSBwG2MbF142fFIRKnCaiq-AzVxb7qh-HeC7z3goPL/s1600/DSC02945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7tbdsLaQhjPHju7VSuvEC0rlR2Xcvfm6eCtaBxcP5CaTV1kZWhchZuX4mKf0RpMmXv57lKAJMysyonE2WYCyUf8bo3wSBwG2MbF142fFIRKnCaiq-AzVxb7qh-HeC7z3goPL/s640/DSC02945.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In all there must have been over a hundred.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_XS4gIXR1oA7V30zVn_oX43MCJg_tT3IrZW-R91IJveBhspa3eehYlcW53dtWgQPE9HVS2UyMAEyMiDckvi7bpE-rz3l9rkbKo40oeH4UNSnrxLQHluC6ROefTjpQshwIlLn/s1600/DSC02949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1199" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_XS4gIXR1oA7V30zVn_oX43MCJg_tT3IrZW-R91IJveBhspa3eehYlcW53dtWgQPE9HVS2UyMAEyMiDckvi7bpE-rz3l9rkbKo40oeH4UNSnrxLQHluC6ROefTjpQshwIlLn/s640/DSC02949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A bit further down the road we saw a few more, close to a group of elephants.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLKqff_SCqOUF8L4V5UvI2ZDd3R4KwOhbBbkCwHvOLeANWSbC032FX1gTRHv9_lohQ8XbDwNEfj0FXJ25KNMkDorCE2vpha7Y6vJOK-zaiOkJSMGjee-lC4WBOc0WbqSoY4tJ/s1600/DSC02952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1169" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLKqff_SCqOUF8L4V5UvI2ZDd3R4KwOhbBbkCwHvOLeANWSbC032FX1gTRHv9_lohQ8XbDwNEfj0FXJ25KNMkDorCE2vpha7Y6vJOK-zaiOkJSMGjee-lC4WBOc0WbqSoY4tJ/s640/DSC02952.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No hands and sitting on mom"s tush!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6aU8MQGpEJ38TTK7XxlS_nbV3d85F9fgGJVVW6upxlXfGwogH59lkGD7EcfRZ2r6qf2NCdqbUpHZQW6kSxeIIvDbiE_MSTFJs_Wzf4w3DTqEKd_6uLW60YYKEhR-gOy0xoGi/s1600/DSC02961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1396" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6aU8MQGpEJ38TTK7XxlS_nbV3d85F9fgGJVVW6upxlXfGwogH59lkGD7EcfRZ2r6qf2NCdqbUpHZQW6kSxeIIvDbiE_MSTFJs_Wzf4w3DTqEKd_6uLW60YYKEhR-gOy0xoGi/s640/DSC02961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are baby elephants who have not started to grow tusks yet. They usually begin to grow them at 2-3 years of age.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3pS1mIKqFCJ8q3-4X9vlp1mNb-8uYTfIbPmg7p-NnZ-soRakqkLT6hscFkm3aIYGdtNYM0dh9KJc1z1sS5pCHQvy2MYRu_M_AnP8AwHLlICCv_fI0TLs9puYh_udmtxgNd1P/s1600/DSC02966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1384" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3pS1mIKqFCJ8q3-4X9vlp1mNb-8uYTfIbPmg7p-NnZ-soRakqkLT6hscFkm3aIYGdtNYM0dh9KJc1z1sS5pCHQvy2MYRu_M_AnP8AwHLlICCv_fI0TLs9puYh_udmtxgNd1P/s640/DSC02966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Up-eaters, eating leaves...and cute baby elephant tushies</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOuy1Ep-oJt91U09JnPJjlsrDnxCF0Dw57sOEWD7OtVaS57TRuQmKOTcxNCz-E3pvdTS7914I9WCbGhWJ7OxQch3U25TjZe_KFOQ2364TSw2ZqK5klFuee8_zOldZ-pFi_LGn/s1600/DSC02969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOuy1Ep-oJt91U09JnPJjlsrDnxCF0Dw57sOEWD7OtVaS57TRuQmKOTcxNCz-E3pvdTS7914I9WCbGhWJ7OxQch3U25TjZe_KFOQ2364TSw2ZqK5klFuee8_zOldZ-pFi_LGn/s640/DSC02969.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a broken branch from an elephant rubbing against it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV0pyDg-R2AogRsjNf9E93wtjX_3CvCUUQZWo_669kybdTAwqwPgBVRmVVgMzVlsHh_wpXO0mDAF9ufpV_VNBq1GY7jWTsqDtsyoPLVM7HR5u8BktWj_OF0M8tcbaWMKmhHR8/s1600/IMG_9522broken+branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV0pyDg-R2AogRsjNf9E93wtjX_3CvCUUQZWo_669kybdTAwqwPgBVRmVVgMzVlsHh_wpXO0mDAF9ufpV_VNBq1GY7jWTsqDtsyoPLVM7HR5u8BktWj_OF0M8tcbaWMKmhHR8/s640/IMG_9522broken+branch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mongooses often reside on termite mounds, usually abandoned ones. Below is a pack of slender mongooses. They eat termites and other insects.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yUI7gCGaJj2kW2wEAKqzYZ6-J8ABe2LX3mFpuvBXueYvCHhIe3OvkbUbxVlpIosibDr0sbQzt_JXX88A5eUaNvEqADq9BGwNus2ByZN5pQhOPueXnfz2BME0ZI6u1kdaLql0/s1600/DSC02986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yUI7gCGaJj2kW2wEAKqzYZ6-J8ABe2LX3mFpuvBXueYvCHhIe3OvkbUbxVlpIosibDr0sbQzt_JXX88A5eUaNvEqADq9BGwNus2ByZN5pQhOPueXnfz2BME0ZI6u1kdaLql0/s640/DSC02986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was amazing to see a large group of ostriches. The first picture of part of the group was taken with a zoom lens.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iHc-kjJGGb9wB7wh-zxvFSift0JA-Y5Cavktp6Gz8qR1lxCe7994IYOs-NvG_MozxsGXI8XXKn7ppu-zjoZA_8QcRjxh0e2UCvYKVM_t8dWDorb2qbwQHv0wYxM63l2RXydD/s1600/DSC02919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="952" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iHc-kjJGGb9wB7wh-zxvFSift0JA-Y5Cavktp6Gz8qR1lxCe7994IYOs-NvG_MozxsGXI8XXKn7ppu-zjoZA_8QcRjxh0e2UCvYKVM_t8dWDorb2qbwQHv0wYxM63l2RXydD/s640/DSC02919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fitiael drove around on the road and got a closer sighting and we got the next two photos..</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTCWVymeEMx1rMaa9hawdYHIvjMrE9TVxQUS7dN4baRhU6FZ-VHSaFrTSg582bcFvA9Xhogl4h8d-U-Ziccoi_wyv65w0KpHsirm0Jx95d09bzaGuTQieDzh2lPq5k5m6mOQc/s1600/DSC03041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTCWVymeEMx1rMaa9hawdYHIvjMrE9TVxQUS7dN4baRhU6FZ-VHSaFrTSg582bcFvA9Xhogl4h8d-U-Ziccoi_wyv65w0KpHsirm0Jx95d09bzaGuTQieDzh2lPq5k5m6mOQc/s640/DSC03041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ostriches can run 65 kilometers per hour (over 40 mph)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDQcF6PEGA15-IYUOIPtZfVbjjQw1-lq7QNDrcALahdi0zE0uxjjlj2l0hYdU6qm1dPDC5ciQtoNMPgDIJVQ9xKh-auduE-lyBgwidZWTUy9wjTwqJSQtKWjLqfEjYOze1P9P/s1600/DSC02983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1147" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDQcF6PEGA15-IYUOIPtZfVbjjQw1-lq7QNDrcALahdi0zE0uxjjlj2l0hYdU6qm1dPDC5ciQtoNMPgDIJVQ9xKh-auduE-lyBgwidZWTUy9wjTwqJSQtKWjLqfEjYOze1P9P/s640/DSC02983.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Female ostriches share a nest after the dominant male digs one in the ground. A maximum of 9 eggs can be in the nest. The first to lay an egg sits on the eggs during the day and the male sits on them at night. When the ostriches are 4-5 months old, they are fully grown. The males have pink on their legs and neck at mating time. Cheetahs hunt them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A black-faced monkey at the rest stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She preferred to take refuge under a bench.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A group of impalas crossing the road</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by the Tanganire River several times, the main source of fresh (sweet) water in this park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw lions in the distance and then very close to the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were a bit too disturbing for them, so they walked away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the dead umbrella acacias were quite picturesque.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This young lion was RIGHT in front of us on the road but soon decided to move a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a herd of water buffalo not far away. They can be particularly vicious, so our driver kept a safe distance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a nice late afternoon outing, we headed back to our luxury tent for dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dinner in the Tanganire Lodge restaurant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Butterflies of Northern Tanzania</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Delightful 21-year-old woman, Susan, who served as our waitress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That morning we left Tanganire Park and headed to to the Ndutu area of Ngorongoro.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More will follow in the second Blog of our safari in Tanzania.</span><br />
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-67305541601950833022018-05-05T14:01:00.001-07:002018-05-06T17:23:45.136-07:00A Taste of Nepal, Part 2<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a photo of a girl holding a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal" target="_blank">Nepali flag</a> that I took the previous day, a nice cover picture for this blog! The center of the bottom triangle represents the sun and the center of the top one represents the moon. The flag is a combination of two pennants. The main color is red, representing the rhododendron, the national flower or the country, and the blue border stands for peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have not read my first blog on our trip to Nepal with Gate 1, click on this link :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://dinastravels.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-taste-of-nepal-part-1.html </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or copy it and post it in your prowser.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Wednesday, our last full day in Nepal, we started at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swayambhunath" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Swayambunath</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which is nicknamed the Monkey Temple Stupa. A stupa is a Buddhist shrine </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">usually built to commemorate certain events in Buddha’s life, to keep important sacred relics, and for burying the remains of monks and other saintly personalities related to Buddhism. The construction of stupas dates back to the 2nd or 3rd century when they were mainly mounds of earth used for burying the Buddha. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Stupas are highly symbolic. The five levels represent the four elements and eternal space. The square base symbolizes earth, the dome is water, the spire is fire and top space. The stupa as a whole can be seen to represent the Buddha, with the base being his seat and the dome his body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manjushri#In_Nepal" target="_blank">Swayambunath legend</a> is that it was self-created out of a lake. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This stupa is a very sacred site for the Newali people and the second most holy stupa for Tibetan followers of Buddhism, second only to the massive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudhanath" target="_blank">Boudhanath</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, less than seven miles away on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which we saw later in the day. In the 2015 Earthquake, Boudha was severely damage and the whole structure above the dome had to be removed for reconstruction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Monkey Temple stupa was built in the 1400 or 1500s and restored several times, the last renovation being in 2010. The main stupa was not damaged in 2015 but the Newari temples around it were damaged. It is nicknamed the Monkey temple because so many <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhesus_macaque" target="_blank">rhesus macaque</a> monkeys make the northwest parts of the temple area their home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> They are considered holy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Legend has it that when Manjushri, a wise man who could have reached Nirvana but did not do so in order to stay and help others, let his hair grow long and head lice were attracted to it. They cleaned his long hair and then transformed into monkeys, so monkeys have a home at this stupa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were told not to take water bottles with us from the bus as the monkeys like to grab them and can get a bit aggressive. They especially like Coca Cola. Below they are gathering around some spilled soda.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A monkey trying to open a Coke bottle. </span> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w9MFL4Vz0YvEKnfuxP4JT-j_ECXEsUm0gzKhwfNZoy8gGwxvAlnuqqFUpdteQKAX2SmgMRhwTth4LWFAFbw4whVJXN8mVTnOQen8cldc2L6r9M5cbkoXOGR4J_90TxXtI9qG/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w9MFL4Vz0YvEKnfuxP4JT-j_ECXEsUm0gzKhwfNZoy8gGwxvAlnuqqFUpdteQKAX2SmgMRhwTth4LWFAFbw4whVJXN8mVTnOQen8cldc2L6r9M5cbkoXOGR4J_90TxXtI9qG/s640/IMG_4412.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then carrying it off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a number of smaller stupas at this shrine leading up to the largest one, at an altitude of 5,200 feet above sea level.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpFsVOu9rzcLv5dtXViYQA_nsYvzEAn8stSq7lnxPbVGCbVRLXt48MwuymqpOivDtBQLEl-JFWXEOqQywz0E6zGCj9Rz3Zv1aPbtnKTl_KdK2N1j50fpIB1_N0_JhZk2LDF5r/s1600/DSC01996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpFsVOu9rzcLv5dtXViYQA_nsYvzEAn8stSq7lnxPbVGCbVRLXt48MwuymqpOivDtBQLEl-JFWXEOqQywz0E6zGCj9Rz3Zv1aPbtnKTl_KdK2N1j50fpIB1_N0_JhZk2LDF5r/s640/DSC01996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPNBPnvzwAdx7FCErCAjmB6g3fmU19cQ9awoEBk7XNEMlz69myZJjZBmC7asvEJQ9Ij5RCXJ_uJ09HtjD9L2qDQ1KHX1FZIxaAynyL6-LatVszGoKspthZISy2TytXUOEysGS/s1600/DSC02003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPNBPnvzwAdx7FCErCAjmB6g3fmU19cQ9awoEBk7XNEMlz69myZJjZBmC7asvEJQ9Ij5RCXJ_uJ09HtjD9L2qDQ1KHX1FZIxaAynyL6-LatVszGoKspthZISy2TytXUOEysGS/s640/DSC02003.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notice the small statues of Buddhas in areas in the lower part of the stupa.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMn84mUNQuTwE9UQFNh0vA1Idg7s7h8fnsXxjTh9QCbK4MIkLjdXfWZw-2w-2vAZLzMCQEc2WBSYzOz76ytRL3E9l75jQtYkbHkp8aBm17YwnFbC-Fexo6dq6MkaCCy8bt8nF/s1600/DSC02004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1098" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMn84mUNQuTwE9UQFNh0vA1Idg7s7h8fnsXxjTh9QCbK4MIkLjdXfWZw-2w-2vAZLzMCQEc2WBSYzOz76ytRL3E9l75jQtYkbHkp8aBm17YwnFbC-Fexo6dq6MkaCCy8bt8nF/s640/DSC02004.JPG" width="438" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were lots of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_flag" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">prayer flags </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hanging above. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQHCbWLnoQGpXEFMdWaGvfEony3HcQWhXIt5gLO_o5kNbEEODUvmE-s3ZNZ1MhKBw-6fFe7mtV0PU_Mw5Ftr1LixMaPPSejJvNguD20E32IDqT-sDMD2niofXDBHrfVLaD5HP/s1600/IMG_4377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQHCbWLnoQGpXEFMdWaGvfEony3HcQWhXIt5gLO_o5kNbEEODUvmE-s3ZNZ1MhKBw-6fFe7mtV0PU_Mw5Ftr1LixMaPPSejJvNguD20E32IDqT-sDMD2niofXDBHrfVLaD5HP/s640/IMG_4377.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMDxg3hQZiD4QQ-OmUswrtiDD5ulQw_ayX7qgFeIcRlvag0oZ6YOQu4I5XmRsdUq62fBBfT1HZ4bMhLiItKL9AvNpjOTP89peCjRg7WNf3F_N38BMDNpiMC6qaULJvjymrZGi/s1600/DSC02005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMDxg3hQZiD4QQ-OmUswrtiDD5ulQw_ayX7qgFeIcRlvag0oZ6YOQu4I5XmRsdUq62fBBfT1HZ4bMhLiItKL9AvNpjOTP89peCjRg7WNf3F_N38BMDNpiMC6qaULJvjymrZGi/s640/DSC02005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> They are rectangular cloth pieces in five colors with writing to bless the surrounding area. The colors represent basic elements of the world: Yellow for earth, green for water, blue for sky, white for air, and red for fire.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzPyPYE4A94d3pBzU7S7PvZI9gvC_sCST0QPLZ_geSLemhbH6cbsM045LcSXJ-OSslgaKbGNbo5vsyuLvAb_CVkwYQiz-OdRslddKhLFGDPfNjQQ_Xl-3rlysogNGKtzf3iw8/s1600/DSC02008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="862" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzPyPYE4A94d3pBzU7S7PvZI9gvC_sCST0QPLZ_geSLemhbH6cbsM045LcSXJ-OSslgaKbGNbo5vsyuLvAb_CVkwYQiz-OdRslddKhLFGDPfNjQQ_Xl-3rlysogNGKtzf3iw8/s640/DSC02008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are used traditionally to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Wikipedia, "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_people" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tibetan people">Tibetans</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> believe the prayers and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mantra">mantras</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prayer flags were sold in rolls at the top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.acethehimalaya.com/symbolism-different-parts-boudhanath-stupa/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">This site </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nicely explains the different parts of the stupa. Our guide mentioned that some people thought the nose on the stupa (that looks like a question mark to Westerners) represented questioning life or the world, but it actually is the Nepali language way of writing the number one and represents unity and one way of reaching Nirvana. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the top of each of the four sides of the stupa are the all-seeing eyes of Buddha. Some feel like the eyes are looking directly at the observer as s/he moves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dome at the top of the hill was stunning and took our breath away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On one path, people climb 365 steps to get to the biggest stupa. We went up the gentler way. Below is a picture of me at the top of the staircase that we did not climb! Actually, I think a number of us could have done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Workers pictured below are near the highest stupa, working on restorations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We were shocked to see this man carrying up such a heavy load of bricks to the top for the renovations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Views of Kathmandu from the top:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM3lHbxegN4gBDvUP6Q_MapF-kOFdcEJcGoN9nJHgEwsMf1kkSWy0yloZIxOlv0laj8EascMHQ1r8EsRm4yDwyhL680A_OA1SA6HQhyFXxPQV5n_XHUTiOPzfRdyKGUJrATXh/s1600/DSC02025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="958" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM3lHbxegN4gBDvUP6Q_MapF-kOFdcEJcGoN9nJHgEwsMf1kkSWy0yloZIxOlv0laj8EascMHQ1r8EsRm4yDwyhL680A_OA1SA6HQhyFXxPQV5n_XHUTiOPzfRdyKGUJrATXh/s640/DSC02025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In front of the stupas are Vajras or thunderbolts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Details under another Varja</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF47bgLdXphed-MULkYHpO2iimSxLQWlFfvv5MzHdzLEzP5luUI3GJA9IoYI1xyCKoqWt2FJLx_TH8O4FEAG3PMBgREGpJ7UGShZo0YquOwPCZXPABQzevNTgOc6EY_OQN6XX/s1600/DSC02016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1197" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF47bgLdXphed-MULkYHpO2iimSxLQWlFfvv5MzHdzLEzP5luUI3GJA9IoYI1xyCKoqWt2FJLx_TH8O4FEAG3PMBgREGpJ7UGShZo0YquOwPCZXPABQzevNTgOc6EY_OQN6XX/s640/DSC02016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close up pictures of metal work around the top stupa:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqgbAciU5ISDlZCX0mgxoO-Vvjciewu4qLUsjvr06k_YWtsWQTpxzu_PmV5aPH_0a3x2Vl8p-7ZFzbS498aCyMqpDeuDNkRY3s6oeUG4sdNAFzFsA83bGSCYNGqG0j4VuMpg3/s1600/DSC02019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqgbAciU5ISDlZCX0mgxoO-Vvjciewu4qLUsjvr06k_YWtsWQTpxzu_PmV5aPH_0a3x2Vl8p-7ZFzbS498aCyMqpDeuDNkRY3s6oeUG4sdNAFzFsA83bGSCYNGqG0j4VuMpg3/s640/DSC02019.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nhUBX6MaVnfB8VwRHX0dcvKHO07XOb3k5YhJTwiyP9rguGzfSE-EAdACmyoMsp1xSpQhBkFQH_eQpliiPgeRn7JY_kFGDaFEZVvXjhwgg_G0j_VT0wRbe5_FhxEy7wbPMubm/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nhUBX6MaVnfB8VwRHX0dcvKHO07XOb3k5YhJTwiyP9rguGzfSE-EAdACmyoMsp1xSpQhBkFQH_eQpliiPgeRn7JY_kFGDaFEZVvXjhwgg_G0j_VT0wRbe5_FhxEy7wbPMubm/s640/IMG_4395.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the top were also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel" target="_blank">prayer wheels</a>. People walked clockwise and spun the cylindrical wheels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prayer chants said while spinning the wheels include: "Please god, make me the Jewel (spiritually) on top of the lotus flower. Ignorance, angel and greed lead us to suffering." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the bottom of this shrine area, people threw coins into the pot in front of the Buddha structure. A world peace bell is also visible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01u6kVpdvUdAjvLtwzv-xFeWqHn70lD5QiClTFHHxAdiiKT-KMEmHMbUVg63zWRAxGAQJXMVQEKMI_zGmm-f8DgZ6gZVk4_dfwXs6L0d9WcnH3ibVnkVg_t2lLOQ2_BCQJ34Q/s1600/DSC02000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01u6kVpdvUdAjvLtwzv-xFeWqHn70lD5QiClTFHHxAdiiKT-KMEmHMbUVg63zWRAxGAQJXMVQEKMI_zGmm-f8DgZ6gZVk4_dfwXs6L0d9WcnH3ibVnkVg_t2lLOQ2_BCQJ34Q/s640/DSC02000.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a small museum </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with these two statues.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">near the highest stupa. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ30sOasVUqtVSeqRffwExGIebPnZjeBLlVGwrpV86Q1UqeciSkIOycdFL05HqwT8Zaooy7Z5XCXnTKKV6cQvBHaJCaqrusG2Faq410G0VlsA3EYEuwAsea91Q2WzUP6AsdN7/s1600/DSC02021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ30sOasVUqtVSeqRffwExGIebPnZjeBLlVGwrpV86Q1UqeciSkIOycdFL05HqwT8Zaooy7Z5XCXnTKKV6cQvBHaJCaqrusG2Faq410G0VlsA3EYEuwAsea91Q2WzUP6AsdN7/s640/DSC02021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there, we went on to the city cremation site on the banks of the Bagmati River. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked from the bus, we saw these along the way:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Natural colors used to paint elephants or maybe for the Hindu holiday Holi?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nepalese puppets</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d6CfsjwFVyjcYU1OZFE41Us3uSzQdFsKweUUp7p7k48P-km6iigZJt0LnxhHnvNHH7weD_JnXfCpncJ0tluac4pIlI3WAwU8hUYCNH2CYq_wHZ49C25ZuvRGjV_N7msUpNWS/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="965" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d6CfsjwFVyjcYU1OZFE41Us3uSzQdFsKweUUp7p7k48P-km6iigZJt0LnxhHnvNHH7weD_JnXfCpncJ0tluac4pIlI3WAwU8hUYCNH2CYq_wHZ49C25ZuvRGjV_N7msUpNWS/s640/IMG_4425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cremation site is part of the huge <a href="https://pashupatinathtemple.org/" target="_blank">Pashupatinath Temple</a> complex, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal and a World Heritage site. Only Hindus may enter the Temple itself. Although we were scheduled to see this amazing complex, I think because of the religious events going on, we only went to the cremation site. Cremation is a fascinating aspect of Nepali and Indian culture, but it was a bit difficult for some of us to watch for more than a few minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were not sure of what the man was doing in the second photo below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle also rested in the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are up to 20 cremations a day at this site. The ashes are mixed with earth and then thrown into the river, creating a mix of air, water and soil with the ashes. Most cremations are held during the day so more can attend. The site is open 24 hours a day with 500 kg of wood needed. A cremation takes two to three hours. Forty percent of Nepal is forest so there is no wood problem for cremations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we drove to our next stop, our guide told us more about the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soccer is the most popular sport in Nepal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because of the sunshine, solar water heaters are used in the cities. People in rural areas are given solar stoves, which are only usable during the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anita also told us about the custom of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhaupadi" target="_blank">Chhaupadi</a> or menstrual purity and isolation , which is still practiced, especially in the conservatively religious rural areas. Menstruating girls are isolated from family members and stay in a small hut for up to seven days. They cannot cook for others or go to religious events. Other women drop them off meals outside the hut. During cold weather, several girls tried to stay warm by making fires in the hut and died from smoke inhalation. This custom was outlawed by the the Nepalese government in 2005 but the custom dies hard in rural areas. Anita told us that even in cities, many girls do not cook and do not attend public events at this time, but they do live at home. Anita said that sometimes it was nice at a teen growing up when she was freed from the obligation of cooking for the family!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two kinds of monks in Nepal. Ones that are monks until the age of 18 and those from 18 on for life. The latter are celebate and wear maroon colored robes. In the past, people sent their second son or first daughter to be monks or nuns, but now families are smaller so this custom is less common though people are still very religious. Forty percent of children in monastaries now are orphans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudhanath" target="_blank">Boudhanath</a> or Boudha, the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. It is in an area known as "little Tibet" as many Tibetan refugees fled here in the 1950s and have remained. This stupa was badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake and was restored mostly by private funds and labor by Nawari people, with 500 to a thousand volunteering daily to complete the restoration. The work began 9 days after the earthquake on May 24, 2015 and finished on November 15, 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was hard to take a picture of the whole stupa as it dominated the entire enclosed site. It was also somewhat cloudy when we arrived and later in the afternoon with shadows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are different views of when this stupa was constructed, but for sure it was some time between 600 and 800 CE (AD). <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">The stupa is about 36 meters tall (about 120 feet), and near the top above the head, are a series of thirteen steps above which is an umbrella and the pinnacle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Statues of young men on elephants guarding the stupa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This stupa was on the ancient trade route from Tibet, so Tibetan merchants rested here along their journeys for many centuries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Smaller structures and stupas around the big stupa.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jM4HDgK1bykLRS_eyWNYFXP-NKShyk8rp00epdFUChgsbAQIW3WTS8ZOMu_qMn8E_0UTDfVoYi52zkIV__OPllOxNUlyJreOlks2h1KKddoCgZbqC0bMvtHarT4zSgP_0ATY/s1600/DSC02052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jM4HDgK1bykLRS_eyWNYFXP-NKShyk8rp00epdFUChgsbAQIW3WTS8ZOMu_qMn8E_0UTDfVoYi52zkIV__OPllOxNUlyJreOlks2h1KKddoCgZbqC0bMvtHarT4zSgP_0ATY/s640/DSC02052.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peace bell</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A monk collecting alms among the pigeons</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around the stupa were a number of stores. Our guide suggested that we go</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Buddhist</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thangka Art
School.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The store was downstairs and the school upstairs where we could hear presentation on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thangka" target="_blank">Thangka</a> art, which is a traditional Tibetan art that attained classic levels between the </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> 7<sup>th</sup>
and 12<sup>th</sup> centuries. (We could also use the rest room at the store--a very important point.) Thagka art is a teaching tool, depicting the life of Buddha, aspects of life in general, different deities' lives, and ways to nirvana, and can also be of mandalas. They also describe historical events in lives of important Lamas and retell stories of other deities. Most importantly religious art is used as a meditation tool, especially for mandalas. This school specializes in mandalas. Each one has its own unique design. We saw framed mandalas in the store window and on walls, but when serious customers were looking to buy, the mandalas they saw were stored in rolls.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">We watched mandalas being made. The artist below was a master teacher. It took him 5 years to get from a student to an intermediate student and a total of ten years to become a master teacher.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MjjGITDemWIXXuN9HAoJi9Euq5sEtw9Cu7xja75r_Spg-rv4UZVEAkpVhu4iOFYGRyIXDUwaRbjVaktYMz-odYGeQokNml5puo41v2Iy6KRubvIoBUG0pkT-4Q_XN4Sih1Hr/s1600/DSC02055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1516" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MjjGITDemWIXXuN9HAoJi9Euq5sEtw9Cu7xja75r_Spg-rv4UZVEAkpVhu4iOFYGRyIXDUwaRbjVaktYMz-odYGeQokNml5puo41v2Iy6KRubvIoBUG0pkT-4Q_XN4Sih1Hr/s640/DSC02055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">The mandalas were painted on cotton canvas. Then white clay is applied to the canvas and glue from yak skin is applied over it so that the canvas is non-porous once it dries in the sun. Then the canvas is tied to a frame.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">Detailed plans go into each picture. Precise measurements are taken and sketches are made. Mineral colors are mixed with yak glue for this delicate painting. The finishing of the most intricate mandalas are done in 24 carat gold and can only be done by master painters. The work is arduous and by a certain age, the master teachers no longer apply the 24 carat gold paint.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">Below a student is working on a simpler design.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnYi11826sVDYTg3r-4I4Kf4kE7lGotM3UW0Lqdc-DC1IyXqe62xLw_tXrWcdrsXqy0qjBn6YtinZ1rZZbpI8R-3-rdm7ua4PGW0YnCWWlJfHS-PzSAxZo_ak6MCFN97ZOr1H/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnYi11826sVDYTg3r-4I4Kf4kE7lGotM3UW0Lqdc-DC1IyXqe62xLw_tXrWcdrsXqy0qjBn6YtinZ1rZZbpI8R-3-rdm7ua4PGW0YnCWWlJfHS-PzSAxZo_ak6MCFN97ZOr1H/s640/IMG_4465.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A wall hanging worth reading--I may print a copy and put it up on my wall as a reminder!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk9z_1nN1vSS5ebK-uIPYiA6JCugq5CIA6pOu42DcBKlAlAaO-hq-noWlwBYuo6B15pFOFazQ7NigsQCUuUStzbhjXfeRK9WWKXjhVt3N-PFPAqt5sWl2PGtp9Ejo_94WDecO/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk9z_1nN1vSS5ebK-uIPYiA6JCugq5CIA6pOu42DcBKlAlAaO-hq-noWlwBYuo6B15pFOFazQ7NigsQCUuUStzbhjXfeRK9WWKXjhVt3N-PFPAqt5sWl2PGtp9Ejo_94WDecO/s640/IMG_4466.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A close up of a framed mandala that was passed around. We were asked not to take pictures of other mandalas as each design is special and they do not want it copied.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniAhbNX3PNg7P3yOZZPGL8-kdjh4f9pc0pyHCAqPzjdgf92pCgTxTz-Y6I51tYAWmUF6EmOcCUcMIOOO69Wg07fnjV40cH6DWfWclzta0INIVzWTESTsleNraiQ3CLnAQa7Ho/s1600/IMG_4468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniAhbNX3PNg7P3yOZZPGL8-kdjh4f9pc0pyHCAqPzjdgf92pCgTxTz-Y6I51tYAWmUF6EmOcCUcMIOOO69Wg07fnjV40cH6DWfWclzta0INIVzWTESTsleNraiQ3CLnAQa7Ho/s400/IMG_4468.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">The Dali Lama once visited this store and made a mandala with his students. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZozRjJIRvbcwNCM1ig64r-fKPeBjBvu4CbiolSJXxKduLTqrAZeAOF1nrWz_iif0DZdQBGGADOd4FdHAvWFfvRjXss2MvOodx3LhIeZRBbUFXAd7nwSRNCzwoBZdFl-VJ7mmc/s1600/DSC02062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1049" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZozRjJIRvbcwNCM1ig64r-fKPeBjBvu4CbiolSJXxKduLTqrAZeAOF1nrWz_iif0DZdQBGGADOd4FdHAvWFfvRjXss2MvOodx3LhIeZRBbUFXAd7nwSRNCzwoBZdFl-VJ7mmc/s640/DSC02062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a shrine in the school to commemorate the Dali Lama's visit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79k_wPD6HQSu1Bmx78tXMxCCQ4yXboFkNx7B2woYeo713Qgw-iFhHLJFO7-zhxGatzTDJDk3htz5vFjtr5oEGPFoaJfNaOV6hUZlKpBE3lJq2OMc03PClvP-Y1TBBYnF5XPZh/s1600/DSC02061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1553" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79k_wPD6HQSu1Bmx78tXMxCCQ4yXboFkNx7B2woYeo713Qgw-iFhHLJFO7-zhxGatzTDJDk3htz5vFjtr5oEGPFoaJfNaOV6hUZlKpBE3lJq2OMc03PClvP-Y1TBBYnF5XPZh/s640/DSC02061.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is the mandala the Dali Lama and his students made at the store. It is on a table under a glass cover. Amazingly, it was barely damaged during the 2015 earthquake. If you look carefully, you can see some of the damage in the blue and white circle, especially the bottom half.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjahkUCUH5sG6sW1aGjPVZKsu3-qpIio-Fz9UGcKRe_i9V7PrVy_P8MgvUqIYcF__OP2J3ft85ixVDrUimUWEoEuSg-REhoWZSX7R7HUEy44yGBazpxioMIQWAbvfIgzeC80O/s1600/DSC02060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjahkUCUH5sG6sW1aGjPVZKsu3-qpIio-Fz9UGcKRe_i9V7PrVy_P8MgvUqIYcF__OP2J3ft85ixVDrUimUWEoEuSg-REhoWZSX7R7HUEy44yGBazpxioMIQWAbvfIgzeC80O/s640/DSC02060.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"> Usually when Lamas make mandalas, they are then destroyed to show that nothing is permanent. But because this one was not made for religious purposes, it is still in the store as an inspiration and model to the students. This<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sister-joan-chittister-osb/mandala-why-destroy-it_b_970479.html" target="_blank"> Huffington post article</a> does an excellent job explaining the purpose of mandalas, how they are painstakingly made and why they are destroyed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">H<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ere are some framed mandala painting for sale in the window of a shop.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XNPf32jaECsuz7iWFJZj3-mflEThLbRbU1CRuk1JSl2wHG_IEanGPqfq9bicuSbLQxGlcfwqMNGsvi_xNtv1smyN1TtoYmDVnztWXBZiH83aC2Fw-lc34JnLSJThI_jzMjuc/s1600/IMG_E4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="798" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XNPf32jaECsuz7iWFJZj3-mflEThLbRbU1CRuk1JSl2wHG_IEanGPqfq9bicuSbLQxGlcfwqMNGsvi_xNtv1smyN1TtoYmDVnztWXBZiH83aC2Fw-lc34JnLSJThI_jzMjuc/s640/IMG_E4443.JPG" width="532" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some people pictures I took between the stores and the stupa.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwgCCa9lbIiDfprmbuC-nlP7rpPhGLceMOqs0Cxv8rgZY0Jk_TjhSGLbbdtpM89h1ePvhhu7UKKGetqo6LnG36eNItkKFKB66pNXd8YD3PHbpGBbDZQGWqmkmvozPhmxivkID/s1600/IMG_4453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwgCCa9lbIiDfprmbuC-nlP7rpPhGLceMOqs0Cxv8rgZY0Jk_TjhSGLbbdtpM89h1ePvhhu7UKKGetqo6LnG36eNItkKFKB66pNXd8YD3PHbpGBbDZQGWqmkmvozPhmxivkID/s640/IMG_4453.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is a woman in a typical Tibetan head covering</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3bMdgRko3kOVEI_BU9GlwcyK7kUgEJ7IZc__HjLjgTKQiUJ51fs0UFAywwXh-vXU4Ib3Ce5SrOLFQrbd4253TCVAjAYdRwwgpw8Lt3FsMIvhumf9tk5MW-pQu_JuuZ6j5PVK/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3bMdgRko3kOVEI_BU9GlwcyK7kUgEJ7IZc__HjLjgTKQiUJ51fs0UFAywwXh-vXU4Ib3Ce5SrOLFQrbd4253TCVAjAYdRwwgpw8Lt3FsMIvhumf9tk5MW-pQu_JuuZ6j5PVK/s640/IMG_4454.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and another in typical Tibetan dress under her coat checking out flowers for sale in front of a building.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJHt7JpDeTYLZB_7ijH6aT0a9r7xBn-MGEpqPGr4WIzObFYebDYv0Ht9WdOHGw1OBQi8lpYzt5KvuY1U2tNPMkvwC_3-VYWVl3k0K8kiISzDQ8-Fs3_NkZRGAP9y0kP9hfwjv/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="946" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJHt7JpDeTYLZB_7ijH6aT0a9r7xBn-MGEpqPGr4WIzObFYebDYv0Ht9WdOHGw1OBQi8lpYzt5KvuY1U2tNPMkvwC_3-VYWVl3k0K8kiISzDQ8-Fs3_NkZRGAP9y0kP9hfwjv/s640/IMG_4458.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monks as tourists?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xJynYO3XSY0Ubazn7N7O6VovxGEEDvCORkyizq6CI7liUcsuJHdDlkL2BtCHJgXNBwJso6muRS5P7rcOPFPKh2ypRyV9QsGcc4eflb_6S95yK1iTe6a4MEji1D9m0pI_mvvT/s1600/IMG_4200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="640" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xJynYO3XSY0Ubazn7N7O6VovxGEEDvCORkyizq6CI7liUcsuJHdDlkL2BtCHJgXNBwJso6muRS5P7rcOPFPKh2ypRyV9QsGcc4eflb_6S95yK1iTe6a4MEji1D9m0pI_mvvT/s640/IMG_4200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Birds waiting to be fed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtN-U5fXL83n5WCsHiJhsU5KWw0eyK_m6pzh3frsT69YNWMNINYqtbFZH2nDIcIu_deJ-mAHxclLWXr9TNdhl32DFbSw8KdoF8Aje7-DGqZ_CBIEv4c7MX574dVNSBxwbrh-S/s1600/DSC02046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtN-U5fXL83n5WCsHiJhsU5KWw0eyK_m6pzh3frsT69YNWMNINYqtbFZH2nDIcIu_deJ-mAHxclLWXr9TNdhl32DFbSw8KdoF8Aje7-DGqZ_CBIEv4c7MX574dVNSBxwbrh-S/s640/DSC02046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night we had a group dinner at a fancy restaurant and celebrated Nava and Ian's birthdays on February 14. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsTvwLhUqGtU6tN7gg233iG56t-16RJfGTDDi602FlrtQzFDaz27BmrfOUeeob6TQdE2V0pCzti7A22ViF3nHqQCkC7KV299fUbxMZlEoHbwWPq3lqrHFeoAjMequfRm2t5r1/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="869" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsTvwLhUqGtU6tN7gg233iG56t-16RJfGTDDi602FlrtQzFDaz27BmrfOUeeob6TQdE2V0pCzti7A22ViF3nHqQCkC7KV299fUbxMZlEoHbwWPq3lqrHFeoAjMequfRm2t5r1/s640/IMG_4478.JPG" width="598" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish main dish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoP7EPXVc1ToecaA-Wvhkksq_2XhidorbL3qaJWB-Jrr5C9vvIbthZGdNnG2KcRJOCrUDmYHVgfPrJG6LsDuj0cNzQrsBJx5PFznhoOX-1Loup5ZUk7tBb9mxjYwl7INXLPkS/s1600/IMG_4479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoP7EPXVc1ToecaA-Wvhkksq_2XhidorbL3qaJWB-Jrr5C9vvIbthZGdNnG2KcRJOCrUDmYHVgfPrJG6LsDuj0cNzQrsBJx5PFznhoOX-1Loup5ZUk7tBb9mxjYwl7INXLPkS/s640/IMG_4479.JPG" width="522" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beef steak main dish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTsfSnWTavSTB3_mug46MjjXhwbx5_uBFU0U82croaOQgB_vc9TbubhhdAakXZQ-dquS8B40XaVFmPwFLuVg0VNgZLhMCYjJHx0wlF4wWjUWWpNw1DDckN5UyMtg-yAZyhGI4/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1011" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTsfSnWTavSTB3_mug46MjjXhwbx5_uBFU0U82croaOQgB_vc9TbubhhdAakXZQ-dquS8B40XaVFmPwFLuVg0VNgZLhMCYjJHx0wlF4wWjUWWpNw1DDckN5UyMtg-yAZyhGI4/s640/IMG_4480.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dessert</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzAIEryPDSl5v3e8xAex7R4VrIWlp7yq_U7a5j_ZbnT8J6BsKbFLHPH8hrl85CamL6C4-9RlmfO6riOUqRI4g3dGbiPnpRO9dd2fzUn9_MHcUtt40r81or4TvueauucOJuX5m/s1600/IMG_4484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzAIEryPDSl5v3e8xAex7R4VrIWlp7yq_U7a5j_ZbnT8J6BsKbFLHPH8hrl85CamL6C4-9RlmfO6riOUqRI4g3dGbiPnpRO9dd2fzUn9_MHcUtt40r81or4TvueauucOJuX5m/s640/IMG_4484.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava in her new top enjoying her meal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbSdEGET-7iojutXcGXTfhmK0IN50Je72Zty_BwKJ3gNvm-387sQXcSCn6_epmxqUtHt4Ds1CUBpgWQirX16L85Sy8utGSz5943Hqhj_fU0QM_gndcxa-KkKmGHiETzgy90kR/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1600" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbSdEGET-7iojutXcGXTfhmK0IN50Je72Zty_BwKJ3gNvm-387sQXcSCn6_epmxqUtHt4Ds1CUBpgWQirX16L85Sy8utGSz5943Hqhj_fU0QM_gndcxa-KkKmGHiETzgy90kR/s640/IMG_4491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> On the way back to our bus, we saw this "huma" stop light directing traffic with green and red lights.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOIyiTl3z7RETtW65rCUieXah9jKSGCZs5eRnr5bJug3n_uxd4r2Bf8ZXTQKT1VyXtgfOvR7eH8i10fSe2i2floautACyBjKhRfQmnED4f30OHBNOebAp03QI_zC3Nts9zukx/s1600/IMG_4493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1494" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOIyiTl3z7RETtW65rCUieXah9jKSGCZs5eRnr5bJug3n_uxd4r2Bf8ZXTQKT1VyXtgfOvR7eH8i10fSe2i2floautACyBjKhRfQmnED4f30OHBNOebAp03QI_zC3Nts9zukx/s640/IMG_4493.JPG" width="596" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found out from Anita that two supermarkets were near our Kathmandu hotel, so I went to both to explore as I really enjoy doing so in countries I visit. Nava and I walked to the slightly smaller one, <a href="http://www.bbsm.com.np/" target="_blank">Bhat-Bhateni</a>, early that morning before going to the stupas..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It opened in 1984 as a tiny 120 square foot store and has become the leading supermarket and department store chain in Nepal, with more than 50,000 customers daily and 14 stores in central Kathmandu, Lalipur (the modern name for Patan), Pokhara, Chitwan, Dharam, and Butway. Since a lot of tourists visit the area, signs are also in English.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIwu7qQV9FMVTXcLPa3ZA2eWwh5On0Io_CWNXYxoutX2Iu_CU8aWhVPGKZRgoY3oGhPRfZ_GWMELtKXYTY40G4RL5PSe-QJXM5TvpW9DTZfPjSPID4Whs0yiR6m23D45_F400/s1600/IMG_4346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1433" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIwu7qQV9FMVTXcLPa3ZA2eWwh5On0Io_CWNXYxoutX2Iu_CU8aWhVPGKZRgoY3oGhPRfZ_GWMELtKXYTY40G4RL5PSe-QJXM5TvpW9DTZfPjSPID4Whs0yiR6m23D45_F400/s640/IMG_4346.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Men tossing boxes from a delivery truck to the store entrance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17mHEp-fRz5NP1jT9TOQulcRUjavF26b89NCzIujNb4T9wGwdrP4YLU8MmZfyPriwMI1DIpuexbBNAlZpINOp_te_cnWjx-zDQ-dibfe-yKpgjJzlOxRQt6iJo1e24BrmBheD/s1600/IMG_4347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1244" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17mHEp-fRz5NP1jT9TOQulcRUjavF26b89NCzIujNb4T9wGwdrP4YLU8MmZfyPriwMI1DIpuexbBNAlZpINOp_te_cnWjx-zDQ-dibfe-yKpgjJzlOxRQt6iJo1e24BrmBheD/s640/IMG_4347.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are shelves of spices</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyCQyYITAvBk2sRrFJ1CVd2M-0HXl_IijbSO14chXSLgNtwyjUM9_3afq7qKHHCqLelsaSlI4bkZlkJGIKcutChtmsoL-qrzneHSCajA8N1FdGG5IugL6u8sjtGu5Pog_9iLd/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyCQyYITAvBk2sRrFJ1CVd2M-0HXl_IijbSO14chXSLgNtwyjUM9_3afq7qKHHCqLelsaSlI4bkZlkJGIKcutChtmsoL-qrzneHSCajA8N1FdGG5IugL6u8sjtGu5Pog_9iLd/s640/IMG_4349.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And a fascinating line of tea, written in Nepali on one side and English on the other</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS4yXaMdA85c1drSWJvpewsAWiZpkIjz9HBsSTnPnK0jbEPEJF0rAEKWW5HvN6y-FN0jm-DGseyQdHgpGbPInOWpL2rrOjy5fyTjDZrjvW6wSfjF940FuViKbrx8GYwAj7f2y/s1600/IMG_4350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1352" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS4yXaMdA85c1drSWJvpewsAWiZpkIjz9HBsSTnPnK0jbEPEJF0rAEKWW5HvN6y-FN0jm-DGseyQdHgpGbPInOWpL2rrOjy5fyTjDZrjvW6wSfjF940FuViKbrx8GYwAj7f2y/s640/IMG_4350.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I noticed an array of gluten-free products including cookies and boxed soy milk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since it was February 14, they also had freshly baked Valentine's Day cakes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of dried fruit including dyed dried pomelo. I decided not to try it. it was 220 rupes for the package, or about US$2.20. I would assume it was mainly for tourists and other travelers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtbcNDuTR5RYmnpTZJnDBlDiztDH9HRMXd2N6SPRdQmL60LeQutihswbhlopQ7CWSMz277kDMuCHcLSqLox82WvZTu4wKIwrCZgusfEVn1n9pXms_aWJI1L7jVm2mv2L4bjiT/s1600/IMG_4355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtbcNDuTR5RYmnpTZJnDBlDiztDH9HRMXd2N6SPRdQmL60LeQutihswbhlopQ7CWSMz277kDMuCHcLSqLox82WvZTu4wKIwrCZgusfEVn1n9pXms_aWJI1L7jVm2mv2L4bjiT/s640/IMG_4355.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of fresh vegetables including this one, whose name I have since forgotten.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwijZBMqL65gJ8Vrpho67IZMrSNHBvvEwGtXF6ZSL29FdDibrvRPQ1_xz2uVRi7wx9rVqaPk2aRm2oQjyE4GhcL-pMzO1fp7XMugVhYupez0fy7HPdYwEz4yxS9kjEXtxIP88/s1600/IMG_4356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwijZBMqL65gJ8Vrpho67IZMrSNHBvvEwGtXF6ZSL29FdDibrvRPQ1_xz2uVRi7wx9rVqaPk2aRm2oQjyE4GhcL-pMzO1fp7XMugVhYupez0fy7HPdYwEz4yxS9kjEXtxIP88/s640/IMG_4356.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Dragon fruit below:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqDDFmXSQTJOA6JfuD-E3mqHLlh85hfJeYn5TwHZl2xzNyrxaUYEAUiNkRvTvoMq1iOfsnHYzD_rP4-iB0BXv01kIQ77QRRIM_AN-X0e4DNjR-DvxukuynLEGjk2ml11I_JDo/s1600/IMG_4357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqDDFmXSQTJOA6JfuD-E3mqHLlh85hfJeYn5TwHZl2xzNyrxaUYEAUiNkRvTvoMq1iOfsnHYzD_rP4-iB0BXv01kIQ77QRRIM_AN-X0e4DNjR-DvxukuynLEGjk2ml11I_JDo/s640/IMG_4357.JPG" width="622" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below I am in front of the delivery truck. Orders can also be made online!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4IOiwmdCfKQIKQl2RZrnrdUFT3uTBlhErywH-deCAF7DlB-lFN_3Q9m3ARw_SndC3xBzh1N2X99AoG-ZHLi5El8-VEBmFRlVVF_VyO-a2ts55JzLdpwYLFV237kqo9tZqtsU/s1600/IMG_4358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4IOiwmdCfKQIKQl2RZrnrdUFT3uTBlhErywH-deCAF7DlB-lFN_3Q9m3ARw_SndC3xBzh1N2X99AoG-ZHLi5El8-VEBmFRlVVF_VyO-a2ts55JzLdpwYLFV237kqo9tZqtsU/s640/IMG_4358.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside the store in the mini-shopping area we saw an advertisement for Tuborg beer, featuring the star of the Ballywood movie we watched. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPaeMxWGoIgFKwkQ-fFwHCrgKJIJBSZMPaEvojCozP4xw7NBNAoWxHqVrYN7AMbDUrh84zOu_u7i7KvRovPaxpa-L-Ay2Qf388daIcSrR31gtGVo19_5cLLN9M4KFQe5NLJVK/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1058" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPaeMxWGoIgFKwkQ-fFwHCrgKJIJBSZMPaEvojCozP4xw7NBNAoWxHqVrYN7AMbDUrh84zOu_u7i7KvRovPaxpa-L-Ay2Qf388daIcSrR31gtGVo19_5cLLN9M4KFQe5NLJVK/s640/IMG_4359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way back to our hotel, we saw a lot of men in line. We found out that they were probably waiting for their bank to open.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwmbek-A1PCb-EcezvqHxWwWXfWLeJjG4Hj_TaACAu3vh8tohanPvYkn2jBEejpTXo4V06lHtWk6jpXzE_Cx7yFsJaabia1NpY4UoOl9EFjb6LTbp4oLUJfpDE3c-tCqgMgk/s1600/IMG_4360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1028" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwmbek-A1PCb-EcezvqHxWwWXfWLeJjG4Hj_TaACAu3vh8tohanPvYkn2jBEejpTXo4V06lHtWk6jpXzE_Cx7yFsJaabia1NpY4UoOl9EFjb6LTbp4oLUJfpDE3c-tCqgMgk/s640/IMG_4360.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning while waiting for the travelers who took the optional flyover to the Himalayas, Arlene and I walked to the other supermarket that she had visited with Kusuma the day before. I didn't take a camera so have no pictures. It was in a more nondescript neighborhood close to the US Embassy and had similar products but not necessarily the same ones. It also had a huge non-food section. It was fun to compare the two!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That morning, about half the group went on the flight over the Himalayas. They got up early but had to wait and hour or two at the airport for the clouds to clear but then got spectacular views of the Himalayas. Karen shared this photo with us. I think that is Everest in the center background.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLbO_kuOMa4w3gUqMiglqcDryM9elVjHNnC4P01Ee2HXmdnNVnV13Gny4slS9ex6YVpSVHVdbX_Wvs0X74XVM7do79hJWP9qnNdz2531i41yg8qYnWoMY-ZK5I9gU8HQv7giS/s1600/KarenEverest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="640" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLbO_kuOMa4w3gUqMiglqcDryM9elVjHNnC4P01Ee2HXmdnNVnV13Gny4slS9ex6YVpSVHVdbX_Wvs0X74XVM7do79hJWP9qnNdz2531i41yg8qYnWoMY-ZK5I9gU8HQv7giS/s640/KarenEverest.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I forgot to mention in part 1 on Nepal that there are over 1,300 Himalayan mountain peaks which are more than 18,000 feet or 5,486 meters high!! Only 326 of them are open and have been explored. There are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-thousander" target="_blank">eight mountains in Nepal which are more than 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level</a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mt. Everest is totally commercialized. Its most common Tibetan name is Chomolunga which means "Goddess Mother of the World" or Goddess of the Valley." . The Sanskrit name is Sagarmatha meaning "Peak of Heaven." There is no skiing on the Himalayas because of altitude. The best time to climb Mt. Everest is the second week of April to the third week of May. It cost $25,000 for a group to climb. The price was reduced recently to $11,000 to encourage more to climb, but there is a concern about the increase in garbage. Since 1953, about 4,000 have registered and paid to to to the top. 250 people who paid this royalty fee have died during the climb. Many Sherpa also have climbed but they are not officially recorded as they do not pay the fee, and close to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_died_climbing_Mount_Everest" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">300 have died</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. 25 were killed in an avalanche in 2002 and 19 in the earthquake in 2015. In 2014, 16 were killed in an avalanche at base camp. In order to climb, people must arrive 3 months in advance to acclimate, be excellent at rock climbing, and spend time at base camp 1 and 2, adjusting well to the altitude. This year, a lot of climbers were expected. For more information on climbing Mt. Everest, check out this <a href="http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2017/12/17/everest-by-the-numbers-2018-edition/" target="_blank">blog</a>, called Everest by the Numbers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the group got back, we all headed out for a tour of Patan, the third city in the Kathmandu valley and the most traditional. It lies on the south side of the Bagmati River, which separates it from the city of Kathmandu. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Patan is the ancient name for the city, and it also goes by the name <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalitpur,_Nepal" target="_blank">Lalitpur</a>. It is the third largest city in Nepal in population after Kathmandu and Pokhara (120 miles west of Kathmandu) with about 230,000 people in 2011. It's known for its rich and traditional cultural heritage. It probably was founded in the third century BCE. It is less urbanized than Kathmandu but has a lot of people working in traditional handicrafts and cottage industries. And many live here but work elsewhere in the Kathmandu valley, including our guide Anita.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent most of our time in Patan's Durbar Square, part of the World Heritage Site of the Kathmandu Valley. It is a very artistic city and most of the art work is dedicated to the gods so it is also a very religious city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we got off the bus, we saw a lot of wires twisted together. Anita told us they were for cable connections to the internet, TV and also for phones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had to walk a bit from the bus down narrow streets to get to Durbar Square. Motorcycles and bikes were the best form of transportation down the narrow streets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Buffalo meat on display for sale on the street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seeing the motorcyclist go down the street makes really understand how narrow the streets are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A dog guarding her cute pup on a doorstep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At many intersections and along the way we saw shrines, like this one, where people could pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People left food for the gods at the entrance to their homes and also flowers and other decorations for the gods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">traditional, beautifully ornate wood work on doors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Entry to a small business with floral leis at the top frame of the door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are used bricks to repair buildings damaged in the 2015 earthquake. There was a lot of damage in Patan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A building being repaired</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Passing several produce vendors on the street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We first walked to the <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/patan/attractions/golden-temple-kwa-bahal/a/poi-sig/1172147/357120" target="_blank">Golden Temple</a>, a small temple which is actually a monastery. Anita said he building is the best example of Newali art. The <a href="http://www.elenturner.com/golden-temple-patan/" target="_blank">Golden Temple</a> is not Golden but got its name from the gilded metal plates on the frontage. The sign below was just past the entrance to the temple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main priest at the temple is a boy under eight who comes for one month. He gets a white outfit when he arrives and wears it the whole month. We saw his was rather dirty so he must have been there for close to a month. An assistant comes too who knows how to be a monk as the boy cannot learn these serious duties in time to do them for the mnth he is there. The child is usually from a well-to-do family, and the family donates a piece of art to the building after the child leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the boy's older "assistant." Behind him are prayer wheels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the child isn't fulfilling his official duties, he can play or do what he wants inside the temple grounds. Here it looks like he is playing a game on his mobile phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The temple is a great example of courtyard temple architecture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two elephant statues guard the doorway</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3b444f;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The four corners of the courtyard have statues of four Lokeshvaras (incarnations of Avalokiteshvara, an early manifestation of Buddha) and four monkeys, which hold out jackfruit as an offering. Anita said these monkeys were a reminder of the monkeys who were with Buddha and bought him fruit when he was meditating.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A woman lighting candles, a common tradition across religions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A small shrine inside the temple courtyard:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pigeons also being fed at this temple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A turtle pedestal holding up a statue of an elephant and his rider above it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, one of the crafts shops specializing in metal statues</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then entered the main part of Patan Durbar Square.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The temples were heavily damaged in the 1934 earthquake and many were damaged in this earthquake too. Anita said that the stone temple from the 16th century dedicated to Lord Krishna was not badly damaged but will not survive another earthquake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The palace was damaged in 1934 and restored with the help of the Austrian government. Now part of it is a museum and we walked through it. The art work was astounding, including metal, stone, and wood.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-SV0Cz2XRf27ng9Anj-5TDlPX-6oasRGa0jFVe5iIYshQ-0ZkKbv_XG_ja42E3Ca5iEKM_lGa55NYwcRnrF_F_qXFE3duk3w4PJgY7mKugZg7e5Bx1sM5Lw4RCk8hP0xI1yu/s1600/DSC02092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-SV0Cz2XRf27ng9Anj-5TDlPX-6oasRGa0jFVe5iIYshQ-0ZkKbv_XG_ja42E3Ca5iEKM_lGa55NYwcRnrF_F_qXFE3duk3w4PJgY7mKugZg7e5Bx1sM5Lw4RCk8hP0xI1yu/s640/DSC02092.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notice the animals that each statue below is standing/being transported on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This ritual bath which was used by the royal family is part of a exquisite courtyard.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWjX0L2q2LPerAnWGCOCu_wU3faaB4hY5hYELpaA6kCwRQsFZpEQw74NnBR-3FN8QH8G3Jzs_0FOqGkvIklagfZz66X-WiFj0osjJFPSHVHArCTP1IpmFYRyjfBkCMX9Dx40l/s1600/DSC02099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWjX0L2q2LPerAnWGCOCu_wU3faaB4hY5hYELpaA6kCwRQsFZpEQw74NnBR-3FN8QH8G3Jzs_0FOqGkvIklagfZz66X-WiFj0osjJFPSHVHArCTP1IpmFYRyjfBkCMX9Dx40l/s640/DSC02099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close up of the statues around the bath.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpLxJXNgie4JnuHY7hTn92q6KPuXmeJZ_iM12dMZ2u0_cRs2mBR1Rs9JkaQq_8r7Vw4_CWBzsQ_c5xswrY4rjuPE3lqgqUJEBm_5QNXLXGBE8pzG88pftfMiY2GZpGAdNiL9/s1600/DSC02100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1127" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpLxJXNgie4JnuHY7hTn92q6KPuXmeJZ_iM12dMZ2u0_cRs2mBR1Rs9JkaQq_8r7Vw4_CWBzsQ_c5xswrY4rjuPE3lqgqUJEBm_5QNXLXGBE8pzG88pftfMiY2GZpGAdNiL9/s640/DSC02100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woodword around doors. We noticed aging on the wood work. The special kind of wood is harder than teak, so very hard to carve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We noticed that most of us had to lower our head to go through doors. Entrances in Nawari homes are low, so that walkers much bend over with reverence.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD87Z3Y0In-SaINM6i00HZUdD7BDSyuaXo4ye1d7_2-S_t12o9lufpJaAJTMyg8jPkigwgppvpZ25A0N1YDiZ8hyphenhyphenXmG0W1h8b2KsyStYadextpC0crxh4xAGPLsUuOzGSs7uNR/s1600/DSC02103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD87Z3Y0In-SaINM6i00HZUdD7BDSyuaXo4ye1d7_2-S_t12o9lufpJaAJTMyg8jPkigwgppvpZ25A0N1YDiZ8hyphenhyphenXmG0W1h8b2KsyStYadextpC0crxh4xAGPLsUuOzGSs7uNR/s640/DSC02103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To one side of this museum/palace is a workshop for repairing all the wood damaged from the earthquake. Below you can see a pile of wood from the earthquake which will be used in the repair work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was surprised to see a European working among them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf05ntrDuptmsm6pkLEY8ZcTTFc90kp8MqUrOWDyaRMd_cxgZ9asVZujezjf0XmPtXKm0c35Gqc5eY6Tm2QBtSysKwsP4Pd6q-u19TstUYDE868ygG9AzqU8F332ipVvM_2Gv/s1600/IMG_4551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf05ntrDuptmsm6pkLEY8ZcTTFc90kp8MqUrOWDyaRMd_cxgZ9asVZujezjf0XmPtXKm0c35Gqc5eY6Tm2QBtSysKwsP4Pd6q-u19TstUYDE868ygG9AzqU8F332ipVvM_2Gv/s640/IMG_4551.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there we had some free time to look around and some of us headed to the Fair trade store selling Pashima (cashmere--goat hair) scarves, etc. There was another Fair Trade store in town that the director of Fair Trade Judaica has done business with and I had hoped to go there, but it was too far away to get to on our tight schedule.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O2zQWFFqskJcAQ6og7bzZlMfxZZ6zcyiyFmAfggtApofFCtxs-l5BETqwwZLZDnidfXMpli1qDjlE4DkTaf-aRb0aFRvNyiK_s9Irp9L-e5RItJr_X2Phz7x2jsp2yMWy_iF/s1600/IMG_4566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O2zQWFFqskJcAQ6og7bzZlMfxZZ6zcyiyFmAfggtApofFCtxs-l5BETqwwZLZDnidfXMpli1qDjlE4DkTaf-aRb0aFRvNyiK_s9Irp9L-e5RItJr_X2Phz7x2jsp2yMWy_iF/s640/IMG_4566.JPG" width="382" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The workers are from villages and the members of the store go to the villages and check the work of the villagers. If it is not up to their quality, they do not buy it. As a result, the store may not always have the same merchandise. Here are some pictures of the villagers at work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpa3HBZs3EQLozn7g8kNEUcUCENuqWB2qWgFMdfojeI4nK6QSdRKy1DCPFuypfezOmBbACELzj_uL9kboa1ANOAwVNep0a0WXbW1GbaY6LJR-1e1CSqxWVWL4sEclfnVePDJo5/s1600/IMG_4568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1021" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpa3HBZs3EQLozn7g8kNEUcUCENuqWB2qWgFMdfojeI4nK6QSdRKy1DCPFuypfezOmBbACELzj_uL9kboa1ANOAwVNep0a0WXbW1GbaY6LJR-1e1CSqxWVWL4sEclfnVePDJo5/s640/IMG_4568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava and I bought some pashmina scarves and some part-pashmina scarves and I also bought two lovely pair of non-pashmina gloves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arlene, Chris, Karen, Kusuma, and Blanca went to an interesting explanation of singing bowls and then at least one of them bought one. These bowls were definitely authentic healing bowls and should fit over the recipient's head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I had bought a cheap one in the outdoor market. I could get it to "sing" there but Nava could not. However, since coming back to the US, I have not been able to get it to sing, even by keeping my palm that held the bowl flat. Oh well....I will not give up yet! This store also sold the local stools used to sit on or as a small table. I really have been intrigued by them and wished I could take several home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had left the hotel with all of our luggage before setting out for Patan, so from this fascinating ancient city, we headed directly to the airport. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had stunning views of the Himalayas on the way to Delhi. Thanks so much to Karen for taking pictures with my phone from her seat with the perfect view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived at our hotel near the Delhi airport, checked into our rooms and headed to the dining room for the most opulent buffet we had seen on our entire trip. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffed lotus seed--a very healthy food according to Bhanu</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We ate quickly, said quick goodbyes, headed to our rooms to sleep for 4 or 5 hours before our wake up call at 1:30 to get ready for our flights home. It was a hurried and somewhat unsatisfying way to say goodbye to our fellow travelers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'm glad that I have been able to share these blogs and travel experiences with them and have been very touched by their responses. We had an amazing trip and our travel companions made the trip more rewarding and enjoyable! I had not had travel to Nepal or India in my immediate plans until a close friend suggested that we go to Southern India and Sri Lanka with Road Scholar. It sounded fascinating, in part because I had wanted to learn more about the Cochin Jews' history. When that trip fell apart and Nava's travel partner to India had to drop out, I was lucky to be able to join this special trip with Gate 1 and 26 other travelers. We had no idea what to expect from this company and a larger traveler group, but all exceeded our expectations. But mostly, I learned how little I knew about India and how much more I want to learn! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-28431925554691071242018-04-27T11:48:00.002-07:002018-05-06T07:14:26.255-07:00A Taste of Nepal, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This was the morning we were up super-early to fly to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal" target="_blank">Nepal</a>. We flew from Mumbai in a comfortable airplane. Below is our first view of the hills as we approached the Kathmandu Valley. In recent years, Nepal has pulled away from a devastating civil war with life returning to normal with the election of a stable government and tourists returning to the area in large numbers. It is a region of exceptional biodiversity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The city of Kathmandu is only about 4,400 feet above sea level. The main industry is tourism--trekking and many visitors--and also agriculture is important. A lot of money comes into the country from citizens who have overseas jobs and send money home. Many men went abroad during the civil war.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKF5ET5roVK7lKfmiYGYugmAQuQAC4VRa-xTaTMznuMcJhuupgMdzyC2AS9d7NeYnWA_y51gRoigFM26Huz0gIpLtCzkUTJglKsLrAmTLf5vn7BL-ZE3AncHUNyHVq8Nk7_LN/s1600/IMG_4123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKF5ET5roVK7lKfmiYGYugmAQuQAC4VRa-xTaTMznuMcJhuupgMdzyC2AS9d7NeYnWA_y51gRoigFM26Huz0gIpLtCzkUTJglKsLrAmTLf5vn7BL-ZE3AncHUNyHVq8Nk7_LN/s640/IMG_4123.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The local currency is the Nepalese rupee, but stores also take Indian rupees as well as dollars so one has to verify which currency is being quoted. There are approximately 100 Nepalese rupees to the U.S. dollar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw Nepalese bills from 5 rupees (worth about a nickel) up to 1,000 rupees worth about $10 . The front had pictures of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas" target="_blank">Himalayan mountains</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everest" target="_blank">Mount Everest</a>, known in Nepali as Sagarmatha and in Tibetan as Chomolugma, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level at 29,029 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The back had a picture of a local animal. The value in Arabic numerals is located in the top right (10 below) and in Nepali in the left (which looks like a 90 to us).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Below is the back of the 20 repee note.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW0DoaZNDFIiaeVARnoSlZKqp-dQZZzolof-FHTZrMoGJHuCU2HV0CsUGhdhpYiaxC5X1suJzXZm838RoBtWs_NQpzAiqAlWyw3y7oJDZ5WZ45hWppy049o8bJJrjSaGUjYWu/s1600/2018+Nepali+20+rupee+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="640" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW0DoaZNDFIiaeVARnoSlZKqp-dQZZzolof-FHTZrMoGJHuCU2HV0CsUGhdhpYiaxC5X1suJzXZm838RoBtWs_NQpzAiqAlWyw3y7oJDZ5WZ45hWppy049o8bJJrjSaGUjYWu/s640/2018+Nepali+20+rupee+back.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A mountain goat on the 50 rupee note.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl7vjPzGD3mJ1jmj7QqpFU4sStqBB9lCdsnDfxn9LZXZyeTIx9PwH_1DeiZFaq8aC9sf5t25DYmPy4LMzWe_qeTngTaT3FTETeOpOzB2kzE2NpsP2rrqtrYG93u25mrKul9lT/s1600/IMG_E4220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1361" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl7vjPzGD3mJ1jmj7QqpFU4sStqBB9lCdsnDfxn9LZXZyeTIx9PwH_1DeiZFaq8aC9sf5t25DYmPy4LMzWe_qeTngTaT3FTETeOpOzB2kzE2NpsP2rrqtrYG93u25mrKul9lT/s640/IMG_E4220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4zWj3QuyYrMx2bC8mhyphenhyphenRM0KcgbkeKVKm4BZfCvlZFTs9eSs9KtqkAGeYe4APwm_S5uKLk9I5AJlJd3GvAHFMvu0p9KU1YQBdMUSU2OP7C6PVspC3Ck8yUyomGBRl4bKKVjMp/s1600/IMG_4219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1065" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4zWj3QuyYrMx2bC8mhyphenhyphenRM0KcgbkeKVKm4BZfCvlZFTs9eSs9KtqkAGeYe4APwm_S5uKLk9I5AJlJd3GvAHFMvu0p9KU1YQBdMUSU2OP7C6PVspC3Ck8yUyomGBRl4bKKVjMp/s640/IMG_4219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiuUJcZNRO5dfT1pi7nQ_M_bMh8zGzPkxsBJnkwaEXR0BtsQMYOomv6CwSYgfBQXBeFYZUOg1WI7KJ4vv1iVsIjEyqdMdN45lkChm7jm9YpR_FJvWB6yzOTY1ilv0YGFn1rHu/s1600/IMG_4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1058" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiuUJcZNRO5dfT1pi7nQ_M_bMh8zGzPkxsBJnkwaEXR0BtsQMYOomv6CwSYgfBQXBeFYZUOg1WI7KJ4vv1iVsIjEyqdMdN45lkChm7jm9YpR_FJvWB6yzOTY1ilv0YGFn1rHu/s640/IMG_4218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May favorite was the yak on the five rupee note. It was smaller in size than the other rupee notes which are all the same size.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4bsO7wthk_E4PqLYii-EqPIFkPEcaF0-lGDuSEZbaiilFppxoem7J8Qzls5T89xsl4U29G-22luvCNFYerWO2QOzjeK1exyyprSvmva5j_y2zmYdzYNKjfSLAHAS88JNn08p/s1600/2018+Nepali+5+Rupee.+front+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="640" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4bsO7wthk_E4PqLYii-EqPIFkPEcaF0-lGDuSEZbaiilFppxoem7J8Qzls5T89xsl4U29G-22luvCNFYerWO2QOzjeK1exyyprSvmva5j_y2zmYdzYNKjfSLAHAS88JNn08p/s640/2018+Nepali+5+Rupee.+front+jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the only note I remember seeing with a stupa on the front in addition to the mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhancWhOw4v35Wnge1QDEDfSS_yAFV1H5BK2LfdopykH2oomQyB7aPFNRGodw_bl208Fh_HucxLQAs_fY_nLCXBPxoPT4nWO6mqzZigZ_iwPl5NGxc-Jbgs6MFPgbYD6Bew20nP/s1600/2018+Nepali+5+Rupee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="640" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhancWhOw4v35Wnge1QDEDfSS_yAFV1H5BK2LfdopykH2oomQyB7aPFNRGodw_bl208Fh_HucxLQAs_fY_nLCXBPxoPT4nWO6mqzZigZ_iwPl5NGxc-Jbgs6MFPgbYD6Bew20nP/s640/2018+Nepali+5+Rupee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a yak on the back</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I quickly learned that the word "danebad" is much more common for "thank you" than "shukria" here. Both were used in India. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu_Valley" target="_blank">Kathmandu</a> can refer to the city itself or the whole valley which also includes two other cities (Patan and Bhactapur). A total of about four million people live in this valley. It also has seven world Heritage sites. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A total of about 29,000,000 people live in Nepal, many in rural areas. 81% of the population is Hindu, 9% Buddhist, and 5% Muslim.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nepal was never colonized but its fighters were respected by the British in the war of 1814--16 so they recruited a group of Nepalese to their army called Gurkas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The country from West to East has two sets of mountain ranges. The center between has green hills and valleys. 27% of the land is fertile for agriculture and many people are farmers.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During rough times, especially after the murder of the king and his family in 2001, young Nepalis have gone to the Middle East to work, to such places as Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and also South Africa. The women were left to tend fields, a heavy burden on them in addition to all of their other responsibilities. But the men send back money to their families, which helps the economy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newar_people" target="_blank">Newar people</a> were the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas of Nepal. Now, they are half Hindu and half Buddhist but share deities and festivals. About 65% are from a subsistence agricultural background. 60% of marriages are arranged in the same caste. We were told that there are 103 ethnic groups in Kathmandu and that people had lived there since the 1100s. The wood carvings on the windows and doors are traditional.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We met our local guide, Anita, at the airport and were given scarves by her as we boarded our bus. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXbUvFAh9eUz7t7rk0CQJXBc3pKfnToTzQQ8Lk3StDxSImKPvb6BE7n5PbjwTV8CnTbr2QmE-1kOTxrwHzWbsikgojNxi59fgfflQal8VIbGZttZcxbZ4Ef43_vQ56RY2pYXC/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXbUvFAh9eUz7t7rk0CQJXBc3pKfnToTzQQ8Lk3StDxSImKPvb6BE7n5PbjwTV8CnTbr2QmE-1kOTxrwHzWbsikgojNxi59fgfflQal8VIbGZttZcxbZ4Ef43_vQ56RY2pYXC/s400/IMG_4129.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then went to our hotel, the Shambala, a cute boutique hotel in an older section of town.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKGxDdh-s3NLZyJXwScKT20xyAcDizS-mcYN6dcenN6nqjioAKAh28-X6C8FRJozosApeSZUxdOPJCNgtj5mSXWKB6nDCzZHHfd4XRXT9rWMIO5E7TfwyOdgJw6GcHAQvhrNE/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKGxDdh-s3NLZyJXwScKT20xyAcDizS-mcYN6dcenN6nqjioAKAh28-X6C8FRJozosApeSZUxdOPJCNgtj5mSXWKB6nDCzZHHfd4XRXT9rWMIO5E7TfwyOdgJw6GcHAQvhrNE/s640/IMG_4345.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Below was the view from our hallway window.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrHxIL156piPoDMNfgKEw-kKe5T-CsgKkMkDVQGhg2A2v5iyHkJS4RV0-NQJSN3_YcLUE5-p9e7Bv1qF_lhdQu-6Iu9mLOcQPr6hmCNBQwz7wWas0N-GygKz48yP4FOHLxBfE/s1600/IMG_4130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrHxIL156piPoDMNfgKEw-kKe5T-CsgKkMkDVQGhg2A2v5iyHkJS4RV0-NQJSN3_YcLUE5-p9e7Bv1qF_lhdQu-6Iu9mLOcQPr6hmCNBQwz7wWas0N-GygKz48yP4FOHLxBfE/s640/IMG_4130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And of sunset from the same window:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBwCbUh8TuMJzNFndJeUBg7XYb9cV1_T0aaBC4XFSpFRu02GIqcCmRpv0ZKDk4XqNLEpp9hnWfJfNQekpeX7bwngLcu78CChklfAV3HSqtO9KMGJgKRlabwNH3zhOhqS9kXYH/s1600/IMG_4132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBwCbUh8TuMJzNFndJeUBg7XYb9cV1_T0aaBC4XFSpFRu02GIqcCmRpv0ZKDk4XqNLEpp9hnWfJfNQekpeX7bwngLcu78CChklfAV3HSqtO9KMGJgKRlabwNH3zhOhqS9kXYH/s400/IMG_4132.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava and I both got a much needed massage. I got a half hour spinal massage and a half hour foot massage for $27 (including our Gate 1 discount) and my feet have not felt so good in years! They still feel pretty good almost two months later!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night we went to the Utsav, an authentic Nepalese restaurant, for an optional special Nepalese dinner and show (for tourists)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> that our whole group attended. It was definitely worthwhile.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMGWRu4CUneneVwsXPOGBZPclZTB_cqVJMrqH0TQ8gvxSeAqAZ8bm47_crZe7wRw76yVnrWb_kw8fjdvGzIIBxe3ya7KkFg7GQ5jEZexiJ1Cad5ecABaUnEXr3BOs9qeEPHvt/s1600/DSC01826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1586" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMGWRu4CUneneVwsXPOGBZPclZTB_cqVJMrqH0TQ8gvxSeAqAZ8bm47_crZe7wRw76yVnrWb_kw8fjdvGzIIBxe3ya7KkFg7GQ5jEZexiJ1Cad5ecABaUnEXr3BOs9qeEPHvt/s640/DSC01826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDxujBvZUq4WCk5ng4A8bqn2GM6Sf-Ms5cRZDadgVoLlSvYcY7Mqm2sDF0djFXvJqdK2bGEHYaKruViLqIeE2GvYFvFifvIMz0k7ocYS0wiu_QIq0JyEBv0uppLhMm2tWGpo2/s1600/IMG_4134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDxujBvZUq4WCk5ng4A8bqn2GM6Sf-Ms5cRZDadgVoLlSvYcY7Mqm2sDF0djFXvJqdK2bGEHYaKruViLqIeE2GvYFvFifvIMz0k7ocYS0wiu_QIq0JyEBv0uppLhMm2tWGpo2/s640/IMG_4134.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanca receiving the traditional greeting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHncWn-ETFsLSpiiJbRx3gYZ27lFKyvkbEHNDHc6MD6wEyOAFXiT4nXhvjMNFwTS6T28kfOqV5fdNuxMYZPqGB569Mn4m30D9LSntXgrHWju0mIGl7E8zKC8ErK6wMNxgB_2K3/s1600/QYVW7603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHncWn-ETFsLSpiiJbRx3gYZ27lFKyvkbEHNDHc6MD6wEyOAFXiT4nXhvjMNFwTS6T28kfOqV5fdNuxMYZPqGB569Mn4m30D9LSntXgrHWju0mIGl7E8zKC8ErK6wMNxgB_2K3/s640/QYVW7603.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me too. Wow! I feel tall in the picture!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The food and the service were excellent, and the show was very professional and captivating. It was much more entertaining that the shows we saw in India, especially the one at the optional dinner.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzkTylmARd7IWzr-yEqG5qCbsJ_lCEjDCrsuZ4fFGN3B4Sj_fD0I-gwFwU23N8BdJ_BhHn_zRIRvOCLILYxNsgbj2eOF5UL49jpr_0NmRhESUMSTjINqtFDKRo10Jzu5WOMV1/s1600/DSC01828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzkTylmARd7IWzr-yEqG5qCbsJ_lCEjDCrsuZ4fFGN3B4Sj_fD0I-gwFwU23N8BdJ_BhHn_zRIRvOCLILYxNsgbj2eOF5UL49jpr_0NmRhESUMSTjINqtFDKRo10Jzu5WOMV1/s640/DSC01828.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The announcer in a beautiful dress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGmdEyhCWbw3xzIrg1aZTIhzxOSQfMa4_2g0CpRNL-N242wYfM6FThorEVDJXLcCoQuSzMcB8HCCdbffL6XXxlnc2tJ7VQUOHzBK3a7aMAeVxy9ouEtP_jNDdh50OaJDKK3jF/s1600/DSC01834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGmdEyhCWbw3xzIrg1aZTIhzxOSQfMa4_2g0CpRNL-N242wYfM6FThorEVDJXLcCoQuSzMcB8HCCdbffL6XXxlnc2tJ7VQUOHzBK3a7aMAeVxy9ouEtP_jNDdh50OaJDKK3jF/s640/DSC01834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first performance--the costumes were lovely!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz4ourjHkiDbwOHquBwbkltSZ7RG7gr-150q69vHOi1i-tKoIhvr-F2ZVVgv8G9asXJe2-RXqjahJaCEMoGeBvU37Gvfq_7W2IDlV9TVsOe6yigAQBHlYCrXHpuJH0d6D6REX/s1600/DSC01835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz4ourjHkiDbwOHquBwbkltSZ7RG7gr-150q69vHOi1i-tKoIhvr-F2ZVVgv8G9asXJe2-RXqjahJaCEMoGeBvU37Gvfq_7W2IDlV9TVsOe6yigAQBHlYCrXHpuJH0d6D6REX/s640/DSC01835.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE8BoyZti-vnK42qD6iq05qYXLQapriO45_IUuE8KJrnKdts7zi9R_iR0W33CqKprPZwj5-WKoA4Vy2R-vMj08zqOflBX9ftobwPdgKMjuxT65f1h-5oG6lg3MKtPS59txj-8/s1600/IMG_4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE8BoyZti-vnK42qD6iq05qYXLQapriO45_IUuE8KJrnKdts7zi9R_iR0W33CqKprPZwj5-WKoA4Vy2R-vMj08zqOflBX9ftobwPdgKMjuxT65f1h-5oG6lg3MKtPS59txj-8/s640/IMG_4140.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris being served momos</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And below, the art of pouring tea:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6VL8d4SuJZkt6Tn2xDuyt78F1xB3EW-yD77G6U3q75KKEa1gbamKWKRWYdoBs4nxwhFl2eNrMg1E' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb4qNvMWwYsY8Cj5lncz5M3SckPSCoS5X9-uaJTKJwTM98m867lLNnh39FgJfYjTBYDDqp5gGvOmFIb_VOpNS_ZJhthr7saqkOe2ta7WGgcz4WHxgwmfd0Cn-COHh4kLq72ml/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="981" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb4qNvMWwYsY8Cj5lncz5M3SckPSCoS5X9-uaJTKJwTM98m867lLNnh39FgJfYjTBYDDqp5gGvOmFIb_VOpNS_ZJhthr7saqkOe2ta7WGgcz4WHxgwmfd0Cn-COHh4kLq72ml/s640/IMG_4142.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">This dancer was the highlight for me. His posture, composure and balance was amazing and he always had a slight smile.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This costume and the dancer's constant movement was fascinating</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrAJONxsSyYQR55vsV_jX43faOCia2PzXBjQpAYTnr0VUBxEADtl1DlqLZVWSObvK7CsznlAw3As4G654Tha1LGytXobFGT1bOauSlyfQ_rotoxLDOoGSjjt8DLPlUyEoZtTW/s1600/DSC01844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrAJONxsSyYQR55vsV_jX43faOCia2PzXBjQpAYTnr0VUBxEADtl1DlqLZVWSObvK7CsznlAw3As4G654Tha1LGytXobFGT1bOauSlyfQ_rotoxLDOoGSjjt8DLPlUyEoZtTW/s640/DSC01844.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">The food was quite good too, especially the spinach dish! And even with my sensitive stomach, I could eat about half the dishes. And it was plentiful. We were told Nepali food was less spicy than some of the Indian food we had, but there still was a kick to some of it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMHi3JlEUHLQiI3IXNlW9l7N5HKwNKrkJf15VIulQbxPCJ9sHv1gkP3w-qEe37mLJLWvAuWsJ0ppnohNUCe3kWnQwSxIPsncMCDsNau6ldBQheYOnqjjKiaek9uC-enMSKhAO/s1600/IMG_4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMHi3JlEUHLQiI3IXNlW9l7N5HKwNKrkJf15VIulQbxPCJ9sHv1gkP3w-qEe37mLJLWvAuWsJ0ppnohNUCe3kWnQwSxIPsncMCDsNau6ldBQheYOnqjjKiaek9uC-enMSKhAO/s640/IMG_4169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Arlene and several others joined the dancers too!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the biggest annual festivals of Hindus is to Shiva, Shivarachi, celebrated the next day in Kathmandu at the most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal dedicated to Shiva, so Anita said that she would need to adjust our program. The local Hindus fast as did one of our Buddhist travel partners, Kusuma. Hashish is also used by religious leaders at the festival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 1960s and 1970s, a lot of hippies came to Nepal, so the government outlawed hashish except for use by religious leaders at festivals to honor Lord Shiva, and fewer hippies have made their way to Nepal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning we worked out way out of the city slowly because of the traffic.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFKjzRpf2bn8U9sV7u9qbPqZnpncVSuu0avtjW_59NY1cEu_mtQPO8xkj9o-sV0XdwutBsyhBcCa8xmC6lPhbO_pguip-bXNtpq25RsGx18bh-5ObmpsdZIfMeZR76NaWr107/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1411" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFKjzRpf2bn8U9sV7u9qbPqZnpncVSuu0avtjW_59NY1cEu_mtQPO8xkj9o-sV0XdwutBsyhBcCa8xmC6lPhbO_pguip-bXNtpq25RsGx18bh-5ObmpsdZIfMeZR76NaWr107/s640/IMG_4175.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical building along the way</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxy6Mu3f7UkT2U_s_-Q1WdGAgCJRMc92HK2R_yZquA-Xm7y7EpwPhONFO0YafAA-1vJX_y_M3UQ0GvZewlh99-nUSlHFAO4FM2t6RI0ayvjmYQDZE-JuHwxPVSxOSwQjnDlMA/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxy6Mu3f7UkT2U_s_-Q1WdGAgCJRMc92HK2R_yZquA-Xm7y7EpwPhONFO0YafAA-1vJX_y_M3UQ0GvZewlh99-nUSlHFAO4FM2t6RI0ayvjmYQDZE-JuHwxPVSxOSwQjnDlMA/s640/IMG_4179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People waiting for a ride and vendors selling fruit and clothing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In Kathmandu last night, we saw fewer women in typical clothing but today on the outskirts of town we saw more. Drivers of motorcycles must wear helmets but passengers are not obligated to yet. Women are clamoring to have that rule changed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then headed to the hilly rural area to (hopefully) get a good view of the Himalayas. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TfYfJ-h5eG9A2gEQe54jJLjbH9Z4pXheN_csmN2hON-_ww7BdQfxyvOgrtun8xv_z2Ey_FUU2-xk8L2gA8DX9AndaSMMyAC6tDZwmFGw4Azg0VhMBXFjaEFfM72z7jtFWbRx/s1600/IMG_4187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1207" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TfYfJ-h5eG9A2gEQe54jJLjbH9Z4pXheN_csmN2hON-_ww7BdQfxyvOgrtun8xv_z2Ey_FUU2-xk8L2gA8DX9AndaSMMyAC6tDZwmFGw4Azg0VhMBXFjaEFfM72z7jtFWbRx/s640/IMG_4187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brick business</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way we saw this school (I believe) with a six-pointed star. I learned that it is an ancient Hindu symbol. "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatkona" target="_blank">Shatkona</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"> is a symbol used in Hindu yantra (diagram) that represents the union of both the male and feminine form. More specifically it is supposed to represent Purusha (the supreme </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"> being), and P</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;">rakriti (mother nature, or causal matter). Often this is represented as Shiva - Shakti."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw terraced fields and homes along the way.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt7mbY-8UQsOvjoBjB18noDRpAT7DLJzzftAi30cTDIY4lOfJBfWj30sg9MqIXH4T73_FbT9fsEJc8xOyX_0f5YXgvVndJDi2Pw0DL-eHIOfKZqQEyxEksf0e3yAvd-0OtZCs/s1600/IMG_4190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt7mbY-8UQsOvjoBjB18noDRpAT7DLJzzftAi30cTDIY4lOfJBfWj30sg9MqIXH4T73_FbT9fsEJc8xOyX_0f5YXgvVndJDi2Pw0DL-eHIOfKZqQEyxEksf0e3yAvd-0OtZCs/s640/IMG_4190.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terraced farming</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPKvxqZy_vCdDowAl-vTgfYoTcLiisDh6ofCtzg8bmOBXiUctEE-dVUXKKpQKtsUkj4MZaGAA0z3XGasLseORyDVkgtYcVHEymnRu5Qy0Wr0TCno3VTHoXfcu1qdVLwHmwg8u/s1600/DSC01863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPKvxqZy_vCdDowAl-vTgfYoTcLiisDh6ofCtzg8bmOBXiUctEE-dVUXKKpQKtsUkj4MZaGAA0z3XGasLseORyDVkgtYcVHEymnRu5Qy0Wr0TCno3VTHoXfcu1qdVLwHmwg8u/s640/DSC01863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClKYWWN6ynpOrJVEYi3vh8aJO1XFNPtw4C3OyubxADYLtJpBhw3aJcZCrSdjlKy3X8Q9OZCy_uaNuqeC9Q2aFKmP71SZ32e2YsnHgTBV827ekLyMS6rW1e1-hmlW5TADsTYhr/s1600/DSC01870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClKYWWN6ynpOrJVEYi3vh8aJO1XFNPtw4C3OyubxADYLtJpBhw3aJcZCrSdjlKy3X8Q9OZCy_uaNuqeC9Q2aFKmP71SZ32e2YsnHgTBV827ekLyMS6rW1e1-hmlW5TADsTYhr/s640/DSC01870.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of potatoes growing, and mounded up</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw a famous statue of Shiva on a tall hill by the road. It is called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailashnath_Mahadev_Statue" target="_blank">Kailashnath Mahadev Statue</a> and is the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d9JbrR8SMQ" target="_blank"> world's tallest Shiva statue</a> at 144 feet (44 meters) tall. It was finished in 2010. The statue's foundation is 100 feet deep to anchor it on the ridge. Wow! It is part of a complex that houses a six-room resort, spa, yoga, health club and meditation center. About 5,000 people visit it on weekdays and more on the weekends, helping to increase tourism in the region.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J6pQaDkUf4BzxjtZRpPDc55XthNov8fjoFXUilmVqzqrgjKWiETvx0XFXGVcktMK-zuiESXCkdkKdSe4GQH9cBbmtr6_fbTOFrU90UpZ1P81Xg8B9OoBtxE2N6I5VWH8yZ0a/s1600/IMG_4192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J6pQaDkUf4BzxjtZRpPDc55XthNov8fjoFXUilmVqzqrgjKWiETvx0XFXGVcktMK-zuiESXCkdkKdSe4GQH9cBbmtr6_fbTOFrU90UpZ1P81Xg8B9OoBtxE2N6I5VWH8yZ0a/s640/IMG_4192.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-family: "Linux Libertine", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 1.8em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; overflow: visible; padding: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbQCfueBPmbjfFSKCIERcqw-uIFVC8Hfv3J0EeOnJsi0bQ2OoRSJ_OVXVDu-Z0Aeuit-C1fPVWSGmKvYnwUoyjCERJ8cGppE8zyBn0T8_ED0blQuGD-KVRrzFIlidfcGcDkxX/s1600/DSC01872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbQCfueBPmbjfFSKCIERcqw-uIFVC8Hfv3J0EeOnJsi0bQ2OoRSJ_OVXVDu-Z0Aeuit-C1fPVWSGmKvYnwUoyjCERJ8cGppE8zyBn0T8_ED0blQuGD-KVRrzFIlidfcGcDkxX/s640/DSC01872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped near Dhulikhel, a Newari town, to look at the Himalayan mountains, but it was not to be on this cloudy morning.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoQ3X5VmTKek7-XNR0S3ppvYuWE8q2AaTReBzB-tL2jQloMu-pEvagBGOs_ZHxLX-LMfZUJXWJpnQ6if_CjhOgUmmbc-4wGzcVL5g7elslBkou-uFc9fZU5vli4JUw-zs26dC/s1600/DSC01882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoQ3X5VmTKek7-XNR0S3ppvYuWE8q2AaTReBzB-tL2jQloMu-pEvagBGOs_ZHxLX-LMfZUJXWJpnQ6if_CjhOgUmmbc-4wGzcVL5g7elslBkou-uFc9fZU5vli4JUw-zs26dC/s640/DSC01882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost like a painting but not a mountain view</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAGcfzJRubUlSbd5FlHmyuhSTnBXMmmPku_cqFibOWP9DoyLmYI1GKrL8JsaMUJhL0eYfzGeOeMOlpMt_OA264s-k79Bw0BnXLSnflqXK6ITpTv5Vp5O941ruVVABpA2WPho7/s1600/DSC01883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAGcfzJRubUlSbd5FlHmyuhSTnBXMmmPku_cqFibOWP9DoyLmYI1GKrL8JsaMUJhL0eYfzGeOeMOlpMt_OA264s-k79Bw0BnXLSnflqXK6ITpTv5Vp5O941ruVVABpA2WPho7/s640/DSC01883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnIjO7QT0iUiWFWJX_gyASqPZsLTOsob3dD7OySUKSnmcJV4Z2kUvmqwRml2krTF27T1o4nkjwqY37EoH7yMoCHY8vpbe5Yg9PbvmcQvQMX1_koxaHutFObdhXnY3u3uhVrCs/s1600/DSC01885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1479" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnIjO7QT0iUiWFWJX_gyASqPZsLTOsob3dD7OySUKSnmcJV4Z2kUvmqwRml2krTF27T1o4nkjwqY37EoH7yMoCHY8vpbe5Yg9PbvmcQvQMX1_koxaHutFObdhXnY3u3uhVrCs/s640/DSC01885.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But a nice place to take picture of friends.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEPuJO3yQfuXImzpz49LJNgR5XkiBpAGWd_IfYeJvU0jidg6w6l79ThF-n2GsEk0y_cNh_ayervM8gqnjls13eu582lcGbysKSg7VgVS_Izu_8ZijwkEzH-MAgTE4sHgIFVTN/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEPuJO3yQfuXImzpz49LJNgR5XkiBpAGWd_IfYeJvU0jidg6w6l79ThF-n2GsEk0y_cNh_ayervM8gqnjls13eu582lcGbysKSg7VgVS_Izu_8ZijwkEzH-MAgTE4sHgIFVTN/s640/IMG_4203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP7f4YxhjpGs5WyWwjSVgAdhKVRzHjGn_WEReBQLK4WN5ch8GpiuhkaSQUcyMBWFQvSAjEshaJy-VIToQDb4x3zvufiSXudCFolg7nmkvuaoTgSOYImAZrL-nRWhCEZCh2F70/s1600/DSC01886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1382" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP7f4YxhjpGs5WyWwjSVgAdhKVRzHjGn_WEReBQLK4WN5ch8GpiuhkaSQUcyMBWFQvSAjEshaJy-VIToQDb4x3zvufiSXudCFolg7nmkvuaoTgSOYImAZrL-nRWhCEZCh2F70/s640/DSC01886.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Planter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpUOdujLpMnESldLArkVoTnrCTDmlrd-xZ9hrRju8GiUY89W0puvrH16yY4J5CS_DJIgvh66LoCRJGRPvPFwB7m1buLUI11YmCU4UDCsCDW9STVw-H9WP5zUyxlO847vEruPM/s1600/DSC01891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpUOdujLpMnESldLArkVoTnrCTDmlrd-xZ9hrRju8GiUY89W0puvrH16yY4J5CS_DJIgvh66LoCRJGRPvPFwB7m1buLUI11YmCU4UDCsCDW9STVw-H9WP5zUyxlO847vEruPM/s640/DSC01891.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small shrine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It began to clear up as we were about to leave and we got a glimpse of the mountains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is what the view we would have seen on a sunny day. The mountain top peeking out to the right is Everest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL72SCLiLimp7nxJthQVB9b8-PsQ0XkZO7NhFs1ARZOhsC4YryYmsRU_rxHIxlbbucvSl4szUM-jvb7OKs8BtLwcYip3-2cfRg1WnFq78uFZnQ2Ag8WQ2DmX5h6S83EfkWrqI/s1600/DSC01887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="901" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL72SCLiLimp7nxJthQVB9b8-PsQ0XkZO7NhFs1ARZOhsC4YryYmsRU_rxHIxlbbucvSl4szUM-jvb7OKs8BtLwcYip3-2cfRg1WnFq78uFZnQ2Ag8WQ2DmX5h6S83EfkWrqI/s640/DSC01887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were in the place where her left hand was. Mt. Everest was by her right hand so it would have been hard to see from that vantage point.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMmC4LjX_f8Kj5szpfEGpOobHcO9_iDnAPPQXdRdd9L-tZtftX2ZgmmOmeWn9DqGTd2cZpaq9ruAEsGRxgone7GmtD2m2NKPZ0Ttb6cHCbSKm6abcjnz9ab9s79EGkCTfVQDf/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1411" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMmC4LjX_f8Kj5szpfEGpOobHcO9_iDnAPPQXdRdd9L-tZtftX2ZgmmOmeWn9DqGTd2cZpaq9ruAEsGRxgone7GmtD2m2NKPZ0Ttb6cHCbSKm6abcjnz9ab9s79EGkCTfVQDf/s640/IMG_4212.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We next drove to Bhaktapur, one of the three cities in the Kathmandu Valley and followed Anita and the Gate 1 sign as we walked around and using our whisperers again. The tents in the background are temporary housing for some of the people displaced by the earthquake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02KSftJAViPhP3LrvZ_OqCFQXhtywazeZhzk-Sh16J5AVPi19WYnBvWX28emR5gUJzeIxOnEogu6dvuqNRO48Y42vYPR3U4UOyGKPNfZz8LZ1aupBeLSErHaR2sXroAr6ZiCk/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1260" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02KSftJAViPhP3LrvZ_OqCFQXhtywazeZhzk-Sh16J5AVPi19WYnBvWX28emR5gUJzeIxOnEogu6dvuqNRO48Y42vYPR3U4UOyGKPNfZz8LZ1aupBeLSErHaR2sXroAr6ZiCk/s640/IMG_4232.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_5i11ubN4cHjm_zhxRMWPoK_d-M0fP9YXLPosx9AxmkIhK5V51oy8N6MlhWbJaMSMbA3dFV1-0L_asEJbDHgoknvNXC9Sg9S_NsTHlTKhPWOihY0cSqvIwD08I70Rduc_mZ6/s1600/IMG_4230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1427" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_5i11ubN4cHjm_zhxRMWPoK_d-M0fP9YXLPosx9AxmkIhK5V51oy8N6MlhWbJaMSMbA3dFV1-0L_asEJbDHgoknvNXC9Sg9S_NsTHlTKhPWOihY0cSqvIwD08I70Rduc_mZ6/s640/IMG_4230.JPG" width="570" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked to Durbar square, we saw a woman selling clothes on the street and two others sitting by the side of the street, waiting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8WYVBY6ObTmRSKnXzFJneoBaTv7l48feH-w-19DhQrGdRtsCCwqSVdPim6mQIx7F39uxogCTn0KO42J-zXu7nfWES3obGnc0IuBjVIunc2Yr4Xtx-j1_p1brT34fpAzPMAe4/s1600/IMG_4227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1435" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8WYVBY6ObTmRSKnXzFJneoBaTv7l48feH-w-19DhQrGdRtsCCwqSVdPim6mQIx7F39uxogCTn0KO42J-zXu7nfWES3obGnc0IuBjVIunc2Yr4Xtx-j1_p1brT34fpAzPMAe4/s640/IMG_4227.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Y8qIzATYa0t6TfDcpOU9oBkHImo82Vv2QGikm0PvhHDHMZJ3KujVYPoVnN3qsep5sRXIvb8Rs2mKU_tCB_wdzSW0hbKAf6k2RwFh-EXIqyqEvgKNvBzt2_Rr3havWcLgdgg/s1600/IMG_4229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1276" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Y8qIzATYa0t6TfDcpOU9oBkHImo82Vv2QGikm0PvhHDHMZJ3KujVYPoVnN3qsep5sRXIvb8Rs2mKU_tCB_wdzSW0hbKAf6k2RwFh-EXIqyqEvgKNvBzt2_Rr3havWcLgdgg/s640/IMG_4229.JPG" width="510" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we walked up the street below, we were advised to walk on the steps as the middle part was often used by motorcycles!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oGHLa59vCMhWLU95th2OxskUcp2HwSDGVhEy7P-niDRxt1HuMfkCR12lp8y31CJhtwzfiMg4lDxaUKx15i20M2vRaxZLx8lFZRSC2BsQf2NtgOET5UOrI5kx84umkewl6gi3/s1600/DSC01897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oGHLa59vCMhWLU95th2OxskUcp2HwSDGVhEy7P-niDRxt1HuMfkCR12lp8y31CJhtwzfiMg4lDxaUKx15i20M2vRaxZLx8lFZRSC2BsQf2NtgOET5UOrI5kx84umkewl6gi3/s640/DSC01897.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Below you can see bricks to be reused for restoration of buildings. 70% of the restoration must be from reused materials whenever possible. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx3OMoX9Y_YER7uLZNf4FsorkMIaeGG53ZSl4AvY5Ln4A4DXXLw5O0HGGpdhQzCRC1ltBqjWXWI-ykFcb894ZTVfRMWIIHATXXnV1a_k4fmH9_QPBAJXsBUPjSjavjEV1Ot65/s1600/DSC01899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1489" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx3OMoX9Y_YER7uLZNf4FsorkMIaeGG53ZSl4AvY5Ln4A4DXXLw5O0HGGpdhQzCRC1ltBqjWXWI-ykFcb894ZTVfRMWIIHATXXnV1a_k4fmH9_QPBAJXsBUPjSjavjEV1Ot65/s640/DSC01899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbb5X5LCKyj24-ULZlSCxzp7taaOGoNGtAyGAVZCLVXvSZLupqrDYH4BdwlVdb9gEeO9cEY-7Eixrg-mmxA9_pVRsrx2xsb52Xw47-W0UeicouEjim_ggu-wayOzcEr9QT7u8v/s1600/DSC01902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbb5X5LCKyj24-ULZlSCxzp7taaOGoNGtAyGAVZCLVXvSZLupqrDYH4BdwlVdb9gEeO9cEY-7Eixrg-mmxA9_pVRsrx2xsb52Xw47-W0UeicouEjim_ggu-wayOzcEr9QT7u8v/s640/DSC01902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buildings under remodeling/restoration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Often three generations of families live in a three-floor home. If they homes has been remodeled, the top floor is often stronger and collapsed onto the bottom two stories. As a result, many people died in the 2105 earthquake, including 850 in Bhaktapur.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I was impressed to see the recycling containers, but when I looked into them, they didn't seem to be used, at least that day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl21lcbi-iNyM_WgakjWIYTrYJVAJfkTQeqQVx9fqbKpNu3SjSk8nr_K8q7hrW0kMI7QFvFF-_EXdUl8Q5lPV2SxEcMYqtECuwBE8w_uQmOeswkqEfEBsS9ShTEfq5cYPmVG28/s1600/IMG_4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1187" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl21lcbi-iNyM_WgakjWIYTrYJVAJfkTQeqQVx9fqbKpNu3SjSk8nr_K8q7hrW0kMI7QFvFF-_EXdUl8Q5lPV2SxEcMYqtECuwBE8w_uQmOeswkqEfEBsS9ShTEfq5cYPmVG28/s640/IMG_4236.JPG" width="524" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5RPUz2jG2gekay0g9EDmXRu2CxpqzKMqlWcvPN7lXXMgDWwkKy2i_gecq299x794GuONaTLXO2isxwl_6GcrEt4GdVBVKEwYGcAk6V6YpZ-o-HKWWyDUtMQ_SVGZDLMt6-I0/s1600/DSC01906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1600" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5RPUz2jG2gekay0g9EDmXRu2CxpqzKMqlWcvPN7lXXMgDWwkKy2i_gecq299x794GuONaTLXO2isxwl_6GcrEt4GdVBVKEwYGcAk6V6YpZ-o-HKWWyDUtMQ_SVGZDLMt6-I0/s640/DSC01906.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQxk9ljXuCTAmGDMR6N1YF2CX_0mhYqrHiXWgJNJ5F9Y2uIno8l6uuI5inp12-VG-UyVDe8DOkLpFT8LxocIaQ4Jn0tGx2xdW_nMhrXYSKks6MUiQWKWbdlOqfs8zGO5nVl25/s1600/DSC01893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQxk9ljXuCTAmGDMR6N1YF2CX_0mhYqrHiXWgJNJ5F9Y2uIno8l6uuI5inp12-VG-UyVDe8DOkLpFT8LxocIaQ4Jn0tGx2xdW_nMhrXYSKks6MUiQWKWbdlOqfs8zGO5nVl25/s640/DSC01893.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men in typical Nepali hats (called<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhaka_topi" target="_blank"> Dhaka topi</a>) sitting and waiting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we entered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktapur_Durbar_Square" target="_blank">Bhaktapur's Durbar Square</a>, we saw examples of the damage done in the 2015 earthquake and repairs being made. The square was severely damaged in the 1934 earthquake, so it has more open spaces than the other Durbar squares in the Valley. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This square also has the tallest pagoda in Nepal, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyatapola" target="_blank">Nyatapola Temple</a>, which is five stories high and has been restored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlbg-oKDjldTwiEgiEjmonSpkh05Yr-1NWrg6YeJ1WoKOKS-EoDFRKfCnzU9kxA0svQ31tY2x6A5qcrT5wLH2XgcYlxhzZT9rX62IRO3hYrM2BFxiF-ZgeAkxfYQz8aQUGMWy/s1600/DSC01926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlbg-oKDjldTwiEgiEjmonSpkh05Yr-1NWrg6YeJ1WoKOKS-EoDFRKfCnzU9kxA0svQ31tY2x6A5qcrT5wLH2XgcYlxhzZT9rX62IRO3hYrM2BFxiF-ZgeAkxfYQz8aQUGMWy/s640/DSC01926.JPG" width="424" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Nyatapola temple is dedicated to Siddhi Laxmi. It was built in 1702 in less than seven months. It has five roofs with elephants in front. The king at that time originally laid some of the brick in the foundation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Square is the plaza in front of the royal palace with at least eight temples in the square.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYevj9YQku_Tf_XlvhoOiIcX-yffpSc8A23V_0yDIHFqu7lzX2O_VP6UsrW3K7lYCjXsUdRvrnR5-9UrNriVEpI9ZMMJTDCwoUZazkG-I_yGSf8WMwYNkKqcL4RfhV7L-tviy/s1600/DSC01914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYevj9YQku_Tf_XlvhoOiIcX-yffpSc8A23V_0yDIHFqu7lzX2O_VP6UsrW3K7lYCjXsUdRvrnR5-9UrNriVEpI9ZMMJTDCwoUZazkG-I_yGSf8WMwYNkKqcL4RfhV7L-tviy/s640/DSC01914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many wood artisans that can help with the restoration. There is intricate wood work on the doors, window frames and other parts of the building. Here is an example of one:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wS2TvgAJlR_mudg5WwKENTJEZ_amIvNdKeH5Dgif1jECYrj-moVm3kZ9IBgQYJXQ5slwNoXGHw8zV1t-hSVnClEsDtg9_1Hw1dyIH-JGp4TBFLbj7vyJlpCTWatBdPk0yFpQ/s1600/IMG_4238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1052" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wS2TvgAJlR_mudg5WwKENTJEZ_amIvNdKeH5Dgif1jECYrj-moVm3kZ9IBgQYJXQ5slwNoXGHw8zV1t-hSVnClEsDtg9_1Hw1dyIH-JGp4TBFLbj7vyJlpCTWatBdPk0yFpQ/s640/IMG_4238.JPG" width="502" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With amazing stone sculptures above</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvewi4OBIzojsC6kF4-eP0XtD-ZERbvlC956Ni9s0LMFcfjOFiEOF0nAPn3Vz40mBKgCN99TW2gFNGm5bI_slvy_4EjPRE4AVg1ekhR9e3ZlHQHmg0swQi-_esXZF-X_Jvoofh/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvewi4OBIzojsC6kF4-eP0XtD-ZERbvlC956Ni9s0LMFcfjOFiEOF0nAPn3Vz40mBKgCN99TW2gFNGm5bI_slvy_4EjPRE4AVg1ekhR9e3ZlHQHmg0swQi-_esXZF-X_Jvoofh/s640/IMG_4239.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1004605623"></span><span id="goog_1004605624"></span>Buildings, such as the National Art Museum below, are braced to prevent further damage.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fiCuQRWSf5r8WeagHp8RFOKV1kx3SneozmfI9WpCgJkZws5WEDaMEt2ERJmmNYqBHiKcxWYYLkC-CE1WElN11E27BmBFRGUkMgWLfbegUDRfxSIX4vIzXrhBftx9l1JnNDe3/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1228" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fiCuQRWSf5r8WeagHp8RFOKV1kx3SneozmfI9WpCgJkZws5WEDaMEt2ERJmmNYqBHiKcxWYYLkC-CE1WElN11E27BmBFRGUkMgWLfbegUDRfxSIX4vIzXrhBftx9l1JnNDe3/s640/IMG_4243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But few Nepalese today work in the difficult art of stone carving, so seniors have been called out of retirement to do the job. They are also teaching younger men to become stone carvers for there will always be a need for restoration work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj9eUbG9EKTlkw4ERVc-WGRAbUo7EoUlzXF57sGsMkFKlZDDQJQ1ySPcD5VFd6Uq0xh7-Y4NLIiZF2pSPmhLE58-mQ3iwZCGkjx2JPeuDTGh6vCZLNUTuU2kSdmfqdOl9o9FD/s1600/DSC01917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj9eUbG9EKTlkw4ERVc-WGRAbUo7EoUlzXF57sGsMkFKlZDDQJQ1ySPcD5VFd6Uq0xh7-Y4NLIiZF2pSPmhLE58-mQ3iwZCGkjx2JPeuDTGh6vCZLNUTuU2kSdmfqdOl9o9FD/s640/DSC01917.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mbp0Hudg1LG7kqkRqw60mewmX6P2Kdfkd_2leeRej7SIAl7dw3rPQ3Wj9AjTFaZTCPV533LStl15ZzColWo31S2_TwJEXTdI6f-32nOYBxGdjxZhan_tTDij1XUVAfrh1ajc/s1600/DSC01918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mbp0Hudg1LG7kqkRqw60mewmX6P2Kdfkd_2leeRej7SIAl7dw3rPQ3Wj9AjTFaZTCPV533LStl15ZzColWo31S2_TwJEXTdI6f-32nOYBxGdjxZhan_tTDij1XUVAfrh1ajc/s640/DSC01918.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a temple will look like after reconstruction</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBS2lNP-2q8vyamYKJwUg25L-GkIEwHQw2dsOPAOTgzU8ZlQc5AlJt-FYc3M8Q1AbYYUZnl1g-l7BuYQD4PfE4Chukx6K_dSeNYh9TvLBqikpwd87qY6fHBAm3XhUNPjyPs2p/s1600/DSC01916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1247" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBS2lNP-2q8vyamYKJwUg25L-GkIEwHQw2dsOPAOTgzU8ZlQc5AlJt-FYc3M8Q1AbYYUZnl1g-l7BuYQD4PfE4Chukx6K_dSeNYh9TvLBqikpwd87qY6fHBAm3XhUNPjyPs2p/s640/DSC01916.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhanu is an animal lover, especially dogs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another woman waiting by the street:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPMfES9oSlJ7Yk_Muo8yv-QPsf4jW-41Zf9utT4OteyaTTSouUX-EFI-hPOSKeA3RAjnH45TkPwgAwzaiJUbbe8sUcoC6od6ZoEvomCUUq72O3poMXQiyLt48BMW2fPCZ2yZ0/s1600/DSC01920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="435" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPMfES9oSlJ7Yk_Muo8yv-QPsf4jW-41Zf9utT4OteyaTTSouUX-EFI-hPOSKeA3RAjnH45TkPwgAwzaiJUbbe8sUcoC6od6ZoEvomCUUq72O3poMXQiyLt48BMW2fPCZ2yZ0/s640/DSC01920.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were told that Nepali girls "marry" three times: At ag 6 or 7, they marry a "wood apple," which is the incarnation of Lord Vishna. Just before puberty, they marry the Sun god. Then at legal age of 18 or later, they marry a human. In rural areas, girls still often gett married between 14 and 16. There are lots of restrictions to widows for rituals, but for Newari, if their human husband dies, they are still married to the wood apple or Sun god, so they can still participate in rituals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Several of us ate lunch at the narrow, three-story Cafe Nyatapola in the Square at Bhanu's suggestion. Bhanu and Anita also ate there:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0Fxw2gfMdiw6-SYJq_MP68BprDUOhvsENCVOSDIJ5aXkwlBSI6GuBwQzLgIQ2Jqg2S9Ci2aQ206U6qIQb8AkwOE-wuDZ6QfZbRFN3iBmYHxDRi4eUU8Y-NhVqxukby1djMS1/s1600/IMG_4263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0Fxw2gfMdiw6-SYJq_MP68BprDUOhvsENCVOSDIJ5aXkwlBSI6GuBwQzLgIQ2Jqg2S9Ci2aQ206U6qIQb8AkwOE-wuDZ6QfZbRFN3iBmYHxDRi4eUU8Y-NhVqxukby1djMS1/s640/IMG_4263.JPG" width="486" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nava and I had delicious, creamy buffalo yogurt. Buffalo is a staple meat in Nepali diets. Nava had had buffalo yogurt in Israel too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ugmv7hUANTTHDEkovQrvpbeg-twGjPZqVWixwAPtNe2pGoVyC0kvu1H-MV_sr76qVHPHmi0Etf9HD8F4-djlsFRJ6jNiJTB1M6BaDpiiOVij-GdpTEtiju0vAsbR3WP0TkcB/s1600/IMG_4256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1253" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ugmv7hUANTTHDEkovQrvpbeg-twGjPZqVWixwAPtNe2pGoVyC0kvu1H-MV_sr76qVHPHmi0Etf9HD8F4-djlsFRJ6jNiJTB1M6BaDpiiOVij-GdpTEtiju0vAsbR3WP0TkcB/s640/IMG_4256.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I also had a delicious Nepali chicken noodle soup (thukpa) at Bhanu's recommendation. YUM! I hope to try to make it. Recipes are available online.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The prices were very reasonable! Here is part of the menu. Remember, there are about 100 Nepalese rupees to the dollar so the delicious Chicken noodle soup is about $2.57 U.S.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId6aoMWcO8aRHvy9Yj-h_aGjGgsSWRe4Sj-14JZh-Ohnh5vl7Uz05KG7EGRzoDcdRaDMN6nOe6X8dxDNPsupBmvkq0TqfQfvkrytSPf0qUDWKuGlj3Yo4O5x5eUiFkve5XHl3/s1600/IMG_4258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="894" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId6aoMWcO8aRHvy9Yj-h_aGjGgsSWRe4Sj-14JZh-Ohnh5vl7Uz05KG7EGRzoDcdRaDMN6nOe6X8dxDNPsupBmvkq0TqfQfvkrytSPf0qUDWKuGlj3Yo4O5x5eUiFkve5XHl3/s640/IMG_4258.JPG" width="452" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu warned us that this square is a place with aggressive hawkers, so he advised us to ignore them, not to look at them and not to say anything and they take our speaking to them as a sign of interest, even if we way we are not interested.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During a bit of free time in the square, Nava and I went to a store selling wood crafts made by families in the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved the owls, some of which had little carved owls inside, and bought two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also stopped at several clothing stores. Nava got a pair of yoga pants and I got a pair for my granddaughter who likes shocking pink right now. The clerk told us she was happy as this was her first sale of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw youth promoting condom use, International Condom Day, and an educational musical!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To get there, we walked down an area referred to as "gold street," with an amazing amount of stores selling items, mostly from 24 carat gold. Someone on the web said to avoid the Thamel area and go to the side streets!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Durbar Square in Khatmandu is smaller than the one in Bhaktapur, but had more buildings of which 80% were damaged in 2015. In Nepal, Sunday is a work day. The earthquake took place on a Saturday which is a day off from work. Many people were in the square and as a result 1100 were killed by the museum area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari_(goddess)" target="_blank">Temple of the Living Goddess</a>. The idea of the living goddess dates from the 1750s. There is a fascinating story about it on <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/28/410074105/the-very-strange-life-of-nepals-child-goddess" target="_blank">NPR</a>, where a former living goddess is interviewed. Click on the previous NPR letters to read it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a number of Living Goddess temples in Nepal, but the one in Kathmandu's Durbar square is the most famous, and had little damage during the 2015 earthquake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumari is the tradition of worshiping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy ("devi"). Kumari come from Sanskrit and means "princess."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A young girl in Nepal between 3 and 5 is chosen from a high cast, usually Hindu but can be Buddhist, and is worshiped by both groups. She lived in a special temple and remains there until she reaches puberty when she goes back to her family and a more normal life. She only leaves the temple to go to public events. Her parents at this particular temple stay for several months to acclimate her and then return home. They can visit but she doesn't visit them at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The selection process is rigorous. I found a lot of this online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eligible girls are from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newar" style="background: none; color: #0b0080;" title="Newar">Newar</a> Shakya caste of silver and goldsmiths. She must be in excellent health, never have shed blood or been afflicted by any diseases, be without blemish and must not have yet lost any teeth. Girls who pass these basic eligibility requirements are examined for the <i>battis lakshanas</i>, or <i>thirty-two perfections</i> of a goddess. Some of these are listed below::</span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A neck like a conch shell</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A body like a banyan tree</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eyelashes like a cow</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thighs like a deer</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chest like a lion</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Voice soft and clear as a duck's</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to this, her hair and eyes should be very <i>black</i>, she should have dainty hands and feet, small and well-recessed sexual organs and a set of twenty teeth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The girl is also observed for signs of serenity and fearlessness and her horoscope is examined to ensure that it is complementary to the King's. It is important that there not be any conflicts as she must confirm the King's legitimacy each year of her divinity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The temple of the Living Gossess is a World Heritage site but is taken care of by the Neari people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the entrance to the Kathmandu Temple of the Living Goddess:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUDy-iT9Jv6PoWgrxaeW0DrkKKa-AJWNfXhXvS5CLMhEb7Avbz47IaXLL_fEKXIaxsZLR4rmg5jxZWfA9Dsv7mrq-sMkF2qQFJtAiC8TcTeThMl2OZVJbxi-_JTGULzAuJGrs/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUDy-iT9Jv6PoWgrxaeW0DrkKKa-AJWNfXhXvS5CLMhEb7Avbz47IaXLL_fEKXIaxsZLR4rmg5jxZWfA9Dsv7mrq-sMkF2qQFJtAiC8TcTeThMl2OZVJbxi-_JTGULzAuJGrs/s640/IMG_4294.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The detailed art work is amazing!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq2BETVswWD64Z8y0Ib9UYSK02EqtSZHWtj8qZzbO5KWS2lHOhO-9Uo3WH8d5Aq9bDVjWBEMA4GRdWZfFwETjfMOmBRakB2dl9zXCZSynCcvm4AehQRpOGQzp30KFrExQB1d4/s1600/IMG_4299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq2BETVswWD64Z8y0Ib9UYSK02EqtSZHWtj8qZzbO5KWS2lHOhO-9Uo3WH8d5Aq9bDVjWBEMA4GRdWZfFwETjfMOmBRakB2dl9zXCZSynCcvm4AehQRpOGQzp30KFrExQB1d4/s400/IMG_4299.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKMi9AtIqUYXNpHC9TIKMw0LF3Ee22tgdPgfcbQDh-8rsVvheYRBBHPzJCocPeoxzakFwye2os0DVK6VmyQTqEu4eHzIi5o88i4W8gNqvqoVSaQcJUponIQhOP202AZlyu1tn/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="821" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKMi9AtIqUYXNpHC9TIKMw0LF3Ee22tgdPgfcbQDh-8rsVvheYRBBHPzJCocPeoxzakFwye2os0DVK6VmyQTqEu4eHzIi5o88i4W8gNqvqoVSaQcJUponIQhOP202AZlyu1tn/s640/DSC01945.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can see better photos at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.google.com/search?q=temple+of+the+living+goddess,+kathmandu&rlz=1C1LENP_enUS507&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP-NO8xtjaAhXBZd8KHez2BlkQ_AUICigB&biw=1291&bih=635#imgrc=iZzTBHiBwDzjJM:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or just Google Temple of the Living Goddess Kathmandu images.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went to a side area of a smaller square to learn about the murder of the king and his family in 2001. I remember the shock of hearing of their murders. The king, queen, their three children and others relatives were murdered. Only one brother of the king survived. The crown price was first accused of the murders as he had fought with his mother that day at a family event and was drunk. He supposedly shot himself in the head, but he was left handed while the attack on him was carried out by a right handed person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The king was much beloved. It is probably that the attack was a conspiracy of the Maoists with the king's surviving brother. After the deaths, the king's brother became king and tried to set up an absolute monarchy. It led to much instability in the country, and many young people and other men went abroad to work, fearing that the Maoists would take aware the sons or threaten to kill their parents. 17,000 died at the time. Eventually all the political leaders including the Maoists made an alliance and after protesting against the king for 19 days, he stepped down. The compromise was that there would be no more king (not even ceremonial) and a more democratic government would prevail. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zbvUUv5Ur-3QSh8W5aZfll4E_wFBFt1CIeZ5bX_bRma9OwBgtULR_QAduCOv8OXWkitOMPgWz51vkCQ7G5_xP1bOgNM2GYy9oML3x4Bw4dGSpw0xqR63HaodrIgAu8O49Nm9/s1600/DSC01932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zbvUUv5Ur-3QSh8W5aZfll4E_wFBFt1CIeZ5bX_bRma9OwBgtULR_QAduCOv8OXWkitOMPgWz51vkCQ7G5_xP1bOgNM2GYy9oML3x4Bw4dGSpw0xqR63HaodrIgAu8O49Nm9/s640/DSC01932.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vendors by the square:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjMEQA5PZsHFt8zdrrObdyLKIETDGM8Qbcytn3djXcyTtTGWjXyu2x4hE_JRlsHYxMjOHkgWBwgOtp20nLBmN4lHu68dceNC88YYJS5mATadMm2xmo_LafKBXFHpj70Qt-jDJ/s1600/DSC01941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjMEQA5PZsHFt8zdrrObdyLKIETDGM8Qbcytn3djXcyTtTGWjXyu2x4hE_JRlsHYxMjOHkgWBwgOtp20nLBmN4lHu68dceNC88YYJS5mATadMm2xmo_LafKBXFHpj70Qt-jDJ/s640/DSC01941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw large signs of both China and the U.S. contributing to the restoration of temples in this square. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26EMNFOTL_NO9wi7o_cO262m67_o3UTC1wttXL8m2BpQRPHJdsvH6NDzmvWr5hceRiYw08YxgvieSfyYFFSRgcN66Ta2bo1pTCnf7qDCKWVFB3ZqpuaOn6RyAGL_B8Umv2tA/s1600/DSC01936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26EMNFOTL_NO9wi7o_cO262m67_o3UTC1wttXL8m2BpQRPHJdsvH6NDzmvWr5hceRiYw08YxgvieSfyYFFSRgcN66Ta2bo1pTCnf7qDCKWVFB3ZqpuaOn6RyAGL_B8Umv2tA/s640/DSC01936.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZaXFyJ_nhuctl9xtR8RZQ-_hTsONW8C6E10vaz9Jm2vCT_EPYdX_nEWc2nC4GBXKzd7dDJrAm4JzwbNU1wpU1vYrMRQH-4I_ceFzCl-UzcIWFlZ38DQCF9_k4znXx0Qe8kTh/s1600/DSC01943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZaXFyJ_nhuctl9xtR8RZQ-_hTsONW8C6E10vaz9Jm2vCT_EPYdX_nEWc2nC4GBXKzd7dDJrAm4JzwbNU1wpU1vYrMRQH-4I_ceFzCl-UzcIWFlZ38DQCF9_k4znXx0Qe8kTh/s640/DSC01943.JPG" width="572" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is another building in the square. Unfortunately, it has been over two months since we were there and I forgot the name of the building.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeEinU6LfuD4RjXQ7y54SER46O54aNF8SVoFBeDr5XXNTpV6o_CD2t9Pf9d3GDsT2XgbttIsMaxOFSRFWTpMaZvsX8hw_rI77tRwZa4byxBZ5FSgvNdThVpxsvmVErul19F1D/s1600/DSC01952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeEinU6LfuD4RjXQ7y54SER46O54aNF8SVoFBeDr5XXNTpV6o_CD2t9Pf9d3GDsT2XgbttIsMaxOFSRFWTpMaZvsX8hw_rI77tRwZa4byxBZ5FSgvNdThVpxsvmVErul19F1D/s640/DSC01952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the square, we saw people offering food (including banana pieces) and lighting candles to the monkey god. This god is always covered with the red cloak of celebacy. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1jUqCdRexBcoPGoivU1nU825Q57tiHIGfAYpPlTU4WcWvUNVlZ7yxdos3x6dSah_6Lpn_NUSPU2kPJRChwGh6t0BH5aKggu4HP1whAnTIM9GOQQw0tQSVp1MxB-Gke41v7Fu/s1600/DSC01992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1jUqCdRexBcoPGoivU1nU825Q57tiHIGfAYpPlTU4WcWvUNVlZ7yxdos3x6dSah_6Lpn_NUSPU2kPJRChwGh6t0BH5aKggu4HP1whAnTIM9GOQQw0tQSVp1MxB-Gke41v7Fu/s640/DSC01992.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9wnKpNPCPpoXdOGzuAhTj2X5knlH6gu6LJNEKegbtrclO5tUCEaIvJWSG62j_oaHhTAng2EXf_aR-D1G5nYgk9Bs4bUdzesk3DB2ausmd9ceoyeWe1MWTF7PxKakTFVtJF52/s1600/DSC01965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9wnKpNPCPpoXdOGzuAhTj2X5knlH6gu6LJNEKegbtrclO5tUCEaIvJWSG62j_oaHhTAng2EXf_aR-D1G5nYgk9Bs4bUdzesk3DB2ausmd9ceoyeWe1MWTF7PxKakTFVtJF52/s640/DSC01965.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lighting candles for the monkey god</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ez1JyFfZeRc2YQ9pVEQRK7bfZ0oAFsUiaQqCxFMa6WEt2S1BWD01Mk-IjbuZ-jR6U2Js-6NEgYUQK1hscfVp_NRVDo8wTUK-xt21ap4armWnGiUdy-nWDLKZSUuUBIdUmqiH/s1600/DSC01960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ez1JyFfZeRc2YQ9pVEQRK7bfZ0oAFsUiaQqCxFMa6WEt2S1BWD01Mk-IjbuZ-jR6U2Js-6NEgYUQK1hscfVp_NRVDo8wTUK-xt21ap4armWnGiUdy-nWDLKZSUuUBIdUmqiH/s640/DSC01960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More temples under repair:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyTNYIdFB_-j10gDuQrQUBiM5JvTODSH7anJJLn5rKo5uWtLPQCzOIugD4LShyvYc4OKFJYwwBp0Ss6D8TxbktEnkh3qZjsen_CafbdIUdFqL95T3oi4HFW5jSOJ3-evt_N0Q/s1600/DSC01966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyTNYIdFB_-j10gDuQrQUBiM5JvTODSH7anJJLn5rKo5uWtLPQCzOIugD4LShyvYc4OKFJYwwBp0Ss6D8TxbktEnkh3qZjsen_CafbdIUdFqL95T3oi4HFW5jSOJ3-evt_N0Q/s640/DSC01966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some people sitting on a carved stone that is on the ground.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I8_pp4DPA1yLe6Dl-P4ko1yQDe1wDzCMtQTr07a5LyJfZPrCqwUs1PvoaPIR3Z2yhecW_0-33_9oPrXfjK32d1naKf8m4L5WPjBwX0cflXk_pTwnx2xLu_3er-u4Cgfd7hjJ/s1600/DSC01961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I8_pp4DPA1yLe6Dl-P4ko1yQDe1wDzCMtQTr07a5LyJfZPrCqwUs1PvoaPIR3Z2yhecW_0-33_9oPrXfjK32d1naKf8m4L5WPjBwX0cflXk_pTwnx2xLu_3er-u4Cgfd7hjJ/s640/DSC01961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People sitting nearby</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRnXuMWjfVtyEGdUlkKkIoAbguBT7WctO9_uevwmkzxwksUYZYdiLy4IY6bUzX3rpcZlZu6PMqREWcaJJDMnVffrubY1G_snsW8lnZZua_cPo3O1YXpW2OvNisq3xyywMKL_X/s1600/IMG_4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRnXuMWjfVtyEGdUlkKkIoAbguBT7WctO9_uevwmkzxwksUYZYdiLy4IY6bUzX3rpcZlZu6PMqREWcaJJDMnVffrubY1G_snsW8lnZZua_cPo3O1YXpW2OvNisq3xyywMKL_X/s640/IMG_4305.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the colorful status of Paleva, the angry form of Shiva. If he is happy, he will swallow our trouble.s </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpijVA1W0fnnakSy8rX9kGdBFLaXQOpcxv2KkHuXtHGB0QX07adNkNqMzgSG23YP_tC-kVWu1rxk17emC-zjRGA6QnhbEZ7-YyD4N7QY7srC3o9p7sNttOQ0acnrbB6jDy4w-/s1600/IMG_4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpijVA1W0fnnakSy8rX9kGdBFLaXQOpcxv2KkHuXtHGB0QX07adNkNqMzgSG23YP_tC-kVWu1rxk17emC-zjRGA6QnhbEZ7-YyD4N7QY7srC3o9p7sNttOQ0acnrbB6jDy4w-/s640/IMG_4306.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Birds sitting on the roofs of nearby temples, waiting to be fed? Pigeon square is always filled with pigeons. They can damage the delicate wood carvings. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TGQISH_d-HqHc4JlUI3e7d5r-GkzqVGEeyfvSSnYKTZjezjncXOTinGem07S2bAh-E7eBUUy4xs9TJlsmIFfkhL-RRJujcDMy9aI4c0QpK4wQnIbeqIxYeQ1dzd8IdNNIYO2/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TGQISH_d-HqHc4JlUI3e7d5r-GkzqVGEeyfvSSnYKTZjezjncXOTinGem07S2bAh-E7eBUUy4xs9TJlsmIFfkhL-RRJujcDMy9aI4c0QpK4wQnIbeqIxYeQ1dzd8IdNNIYO2/s640/IMG_4304.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked through a covered open area with pictures of past kings and the ceremonial throne.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dnC59Pc_krIsfSLuEkkThBxQRMvzeNlpGegDs9WtEgRTUMpk5MJL4zUvVyn5ruiyOui02h8sQyJPh_X7nvSCcwslI25lDm8pkCzlbf_o6iGlXPmDBwKu86fexaToAs0nroTP/s1600/DSC01973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dnC59Pc_krIsfSLuEkkThBxQRMvzeNlpGegDs9WtEgRTUMpk5MJL4zUvVyn5ruiyOui02h8sQyJPh_X7nvSCcwslI25lDm8pkCzlbf_o6iGlXPmDBwKu86fexaToAs0nroTP/s640/DSC01973.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceremonial throne</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we walked by photos of the previous kings in a covered corridor, who ruled after the kingdom was united in the 1700s. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmLFsqX_02L9hwMgN5ENZ11A2x50N39cbOS4_-HLD0mGhKJZsfn7bqEP2mxtKn1Nehxm_JBrKF-mv01NhEa7fGBzIJR96r7TtvSkNCMXZUARX9IaN0dQodG6JlAIr2B9UNw4H/s1600/DSC01970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1139" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmLFsqX_02L9hwMgN5ENZ11A2x50N39cbOS4_-HLD0mGhKJZsfn7bqEP2mxtKn1Nehxm_JBrKF-mv01NhEa7fGBzIJR96r7TtvSkNCMXZUARX9IaN0dQodG6JlAIr2B9UNw4H/s640/DSC01970.JPG" width="454" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above: King Prithibi Narayan Shah, The Great King. He was born in 1723, became king in 1742 and died in 1775.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is King Girbanayuddha Bikram Shah, born in 1797, ascended to the throne two years later and died in 1815, at age 16, too young to grow a beard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Below is King Rajendra Bikram Shah, who was born in 1813, ascended to the throne around age 3, "sacrificed" the throne in 1847 when he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son and lived under house arrest most of the rest of his life until he died in 1881. There was a lot of intrigue during the years of his life and he was considered a weak king..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birendra_of_Nepal" target="_blank"> King Berendra Bir Bikram Shah</a>, who was murdered in 2001. He was born in 1945 and became king in 1971. He ruled for about 30 years before his death and was much beloved by his people and described as one of the few Nepalese monarchs who wanted the Nepalese people to experience true democracy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His oldest child <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipendra_of_Nepal" target="_blank">Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah</a> was also considered king for a few days until he died from his wounds and is listed on the wall. There is serious doubt that he murdered his immediate family</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-eROpKhHzW4oV-wdSxksj4g9803LTstLMSHK045hFgBppUWKGPIKjz8mCcCQ4rCPLxvd_GR-N8VZ_muCxBvfBMb-qBa-T3QPPnd3RLrX3XFPW2mLWWuQn6CamJo7cTfXkt8l/s1600/DSC01983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1169" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-eROpKhHzW4oV-wdSxksj4g9803LTstLMSHK045hFgBppUWKGPIKjz8mCcCQ4rCPLxvd_GR-N8VZ_muCxBvfBMb-qBa-T3QPPnd3RLrX3XFPW2mLWWuQn6CamJo7cTfXkt8l/s640/DSC01983.JPG" width="466" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last king of Nepal was King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, the uncle of the previous king. He was born in 1947 and was king from 1950 to 1951 and then 2001 to 2008 when he was forced out of power. He was very unpopular and tried to restore an absolute monarchy. He was the only family member not killed in the massacre and there are theories that he was involved in the planning of the killings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remodeling plan for a temple</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDkhtxEnyLw/WuNkHK1EyYI/AAAAAAAA3Cg/JMm3sEuudmIiAq4NU5N4FPhkIiYgtUfnwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1584" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDkhtxEnyLw/WuNkHK1EyYI/AAAAAAAA3Cg/JMm3sEuudmIiAq4NU5N4FPhkIiYgtUfnwCLcBGAs/s640/DSC01989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birendra_of_Nepal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"> King Berendra Bir Bikram Shah</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, traveled abroad as a student and later in life too. He chose to build a new presidential palace that combine elements of Nepal with elements of the 20th century Europe. . The wood trim below is completely Nepalese.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mXlGCKYhCu22sCWPlz2OFB7NIWoXP0kEdpH-vi_-PhccZATej-bCjOqAnbzqdHIPPSUTKB8ZJEzZUpxmW3k6fl74wTsXiYFjn4Hqgv-9QJKmyJRyVIZQehHlHll6admuvnip/s1600/DSC01967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mXlGCKYhCu22sCWPlz2OFB7NIWoXP0kEdpH-vi_-PhccZATej-bCjOqAnbzqdHIPPSUTKB8ZJEzZUpxmW3k6fl74wTsXiYFjn4Hqgv-9QJKmyJRyVIZQehHlHll6admuvnip/s640/DSC01967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmarM8BNYdWMhuKgsTH_qIHBCX9nnD8zRYG6WwvNRkr5P5xfnrgmsVdcyAlMnkpEHXbUz4jAl5T07cF_Y35jPbUpCxLW2OJdUwrUR6LmQr-aBfRglVay7oAVepdlTFV5q_aXW/s1600/DSC01990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmarM8BNYdWMhuKgsTH_qIHBCX9nnD8zRYG6WwvNRkr5P5xfnrgmsVdcyAlMnkpEHXbUz4jAl5T07cF_Y35jPbUpCxLW2OJdUwrUR6LmQr-aBfRglVay7oAVepdlTFV5q_aXW/s640/DSC01990.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below are some of the people we saw as we finished our day of touring.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoT4oP1DCja_a926CXXA4mB7XQJqg2cTvVo8WuO7nnD3lCaZca3LMDG0uvwsL3yAzWAA15Dp97KsJMVgtPMJ0hjgSEPRucIJo61863QGyCz0f7RFQlng7n__mlrvWMmS1AQHw/s1600/DSC01993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1557" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoT4oP1DCja_a926CXXA4mB7XQJqg2cTvVo8WuO7nnD3lCaZca3LMDG0uvwsL3yAzWAA15Dp97KsJMVgtPMJ0hjgSEPRucIJo61863QGyCz0f7RFQlng7n__mlrvWMmS1AQHw/s640/DSC01993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street sweepert, a common scene</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLr3UX-ju0mqUrC7O9bWZ2rfyMYEOkVNI7mIEgRJmyr0x3xS5G7KVQrGXYvAJfbsggMKsSdaKRo3sUqbvtJO0vun5Fw3nLJYAycNurInNkCLmfc5ctzcD87fFolojnLi6APDZk/s1600/IMG_4333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1041" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLr3UX-ju0mqUrC7O9bWZ2rfyMYEOkVNI7mIEgRJmyr0x3xS5G7KVQrGXYvAJfbsggMKsSdaKRo3sUqbvtJO0vun5Fw3nLJYAycNurInNkCLmfc5ctzcD87fFolojnLi6APDZk/s640/IMG_4333.JPG" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A seller wearing the typical men's hat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLZLVsbsMSsb15bOQOoh8YTCyATaMmV60MD9u2t6YvVDS7A_V9Vf3udq36IRvxentFwI8S8blX-seWHxLie7ntlO-JgVt-l23Whn3aNBcbUlEcJ9kwHsrhGgb85B-WE-kUiTJ/s1600/IMG_4336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="991" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLZLVsbsMSsb15bOQOoh8YTCyATaMmV60MD9u2t6YvVDS7A_V9Vf3udq36IRvxentFwI8S8blX-seWHxLie7ntlO-JgVt-l23Whn3aNBcbUlEcJ9kwHsrhGgb85B-WE-kUiTJ/s640/IMG_4336.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman selling peanuts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zs9HZieENZuhnZtc5YIUEafVq249jjqwkqEMSW9V6ScSWD7YAQZnpwQjCvf-dyud8CJ8-ArMUSeekg66cOjbvE2UYATyjrffirxapXtu4cCzkNiVK8mQWsv0oAjYkB5Q-LcN/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zs9HZieENZuhnZtc5YIUEafVq249jjqwkqEMSW9V6ScSWD7YAQZnpwQjCvf-dyud8CJ8-ArMUSeekg66cOjbvE2UYATyjrffirxapXtu4cCzkNiVK8mQWsv0oAjYkB5Q-LcN/s640/IMG_4338.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street vendor with small amounts of a large variety of vegetables</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmZwaI6qtYaJ6RGNmadI9HApfXDf9KJdvtKSzbSQv4cY5JiOBiG7Bq_qu5m0_cm6RB0fT3xclxeDFKJusu8HJcns7t-yj0dA-oaQ6Sj7aFH2l5_YwitrYsE3DLu_Bq0biZaKD/s1600/IMG_4339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="857" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmZwaI6qtYaJ6RGNmadI9HApfXDf9KJdvtKSzbSQv4cY5JiOBiG7Bq_qu5m0_cm6RB0fT3xclxeDFKJusu8HJcns7t-yj0dA-oaQ6Sj7aFH2l5_YwitrYsE3DLu_Bq0biZaKD/s640/IMG_4339.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman cooking on the street</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were on our own for dinner, so Nava and I walked to a restaurant suggested by our guide Anita. She had not been there but had heard it was good. It turned out to be a Thai restaurant and was almost empty. It was OK... I had the traditional Nepalese chicken soup again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's it for now! The final installment on this trip will be in the next blog. I hope you have enjoyed it!</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-49628422424764326402018-04-19T12:04:00.002-07:002018-04-19T12:04:24.180-07:00Jonah in Boston, part 2<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On to the rest of our full-day adventure on the Freedom Trail in Boston! I think I was getting tired as I took fewer pictures than earlier in the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our next stop was the Old State House. Built in 1713, this historic landmark was first the seat of the British colonial government government and then of the state government until 1830.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The building is now a museum of Boston history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Boston, the capital of the Province Massachusetts Bay, was a major shipping town. The economy of Boston depended on this complex web of trade, both trans-Atlantic and down the coast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the colonials asked for more rights, Britain responded with harsher treatment, and the desire for independence became stronger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Under the balcony is where the </span><a href="http://boston%20massacre/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Boston Massacre</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> took place on March 5, 1770. A sign across the street marks the spot where the massacre took place.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvCea9lK-VcAlpuflZjXY4XlrToqmM63hLwA644vBrmLBn8KAyLc_89xmefTtIDOpcWwSRj_w04KWGvcyZ12Xv5dAh6iWHx1kOem0zDU3MXfqSbhKdGCX0cgvlIHoa49zrQOK/s1600/DSC02227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvCea9lK-VcAlpuflZjXY4XlrToqmM63hLwA644vBrmLBn8KAyLc_89xmefTtIDOpcWwSRj_w04KWGvcyZ12Xv5dAh6iWHx1kOem0zDU3MXfqSbhKdGCX0cgvlIHoa49zrQOK/s640/DSC02227.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It began one evening when a young wig apprentice started taunting a British soldier. More people came and a crowd grew. Most were average workers. A boy poked the soldier and then the soldier hit him. It was getting quite unruly, so runners ran to the barracks and alerted an officer named Preston who went to the scene with a non-commissioned officer and 6 privates with loaded weapons to control the crowd. They formed a semi-circle. Preston told them not to fire unless he gave the order to do so, but he had no intention to give the order. Another soldier got hit, dropped his weapon, picked it up and fired into the crowd. Soon other soldiers fired too but not together. Three patriots died immediately including an African-American runaway slave, and 2 others died soon afterwards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The crowd was really upset, and soon the colonial governor came, quieted the crowd and promised a thorough investigation. The eight soldiers, Captain Preston, and 4 others were arrested the next day and in a few weeks were indicted for murder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paul Revere created the engraving below entitled the "Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in Kings Street in Boston" 3 weeks after the event. It was extremely popular and many copies were made, but a lot of historical discrepancies are in the picture. (Revere did it on purpose as a propaganda piece to push colonials toward independence.) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1JHrhfy04ECmF7ibEUeRgZkMO-U-RrysEnVA0a2Net8fdPNlHLzJfeNJd5BSEdxlLwwnfJx8SDP_jLKC0GbjbSpLPTygrBARtg23Q1YY7fDu41wcIUMq8SP0GrN1FEHZtC6h/s1600/DSC02234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1044" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1JHrhfy04ECmF7ibEUeRgZkMO-U-RrysEnVA0a2Net8fdPNlHLzJfeNJd5BSEdxlLwwnfJx8SDP_jLKC0GbjbSpLPTygrBARtg23Q1YY7fDu41wcIUMq8SP0GrN1FEHZtC6h/s640/DSC02234.JPG" width="566" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The soldiers were in a semi-circle, not in a row. There was no order to shoot and they did not shoot at the same time. The colonials here look like wealthy men, but in fact they were not. And the picture looks like the event happened in daylight and not at night when it was dark in the area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because it was dark, the interviews with observers were conflicting, and in the end, only two soldiers were convicted as there was overwhelming evidence that they shot into the crowd. They were only convicted of manslaughter as there was no evidence that the shooting was premeditated (planned in advance). They pleaded "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefit_of_clergy" target="_blank">benefit of the clergy</a>," and got reduced sentences--which mostly were being branded on their hands below their thumb. And they went back to serve in the army!! Half of this first floor of the museum tells this story, and we also heard a volunteer tell more details about the massacre.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12MoyepbRoMLtnwVLrAbG9o8kHGQ-28m59_lUUfxtLsOntdWHeUR30mmdCpNA1pPwxz9MY9lC0vadfauYU1j-dCZTvcHhuqzMOebrNJr65PDhEe0A6X7mT4mYREtzKo-10bao/s1600/DSC02233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1045" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12MoyepbRoMLtnwVLrAbG9o8kHGQ-28m59_lUUfxtLsOntdWHeUR30mmdCpNA1pPwxz9MY9lC0vadfauYU1j-dCZTvcHhuqzMOebrNJr65PDhEe0A6X7mT4mYREtzKo-10bao/s640/DSC02233.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">depicting the King of England pushing his horses (Pride and Obstinacy over a cliff)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Upstairs we saw where the early state legislature met and the history of fires in the building. The original building was of wood and finished in 1711. Two years later it burnt down and was rebuilt with brick. In 1747, the building was severely damaged from a hearth fire out on control in the building. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lion and unicorn signifying the power of the British were on the front of the building, removed and burned in a fire after Independence. In 1882, replicas of the lion and unicorn were placed on the front of the building where the originals had been. In 1830, the building became the city hall and the legislature moved elsewhere. But in 1841, city hall moved elsewhere and it became a commercial building until 1981 when it became a museum. Two more major fires took place in the building, with major renovations because of them and because of the changing use of the building. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our next stop was in front of the newer "old" City Hall which has been repurposed as a commercial building with Ruth Chris's Steak House being a major tenant. A statue of Ben Franklin remains in front of the building, overlooking the first site of the Latin School, the oldest public school in America, established by Puritans in 1635. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqdTWqcSjVY-9_vljScO4LHD_ejwEZDc7l3nC88O0O5Mx7_ZRRlQmGtl4vR8yEDJNVBT93O-kufhn3hLFZkpWEIRQ91iQ6q4M4LELC2u3AO_PsEIKSWbpkMfxTUJvH1a9HOE9/s1600/IMG_5228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="925" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqdTWqcSjVY-9_vljScO4LHD_ejwEZDc7l3nC88O0O5Mx7_ZRRlQmGtl4vR8yEDJNVBT93O-kufhn3hLFZkpWEIRQ91iQ6q4M4LELC2u3AO_PsEIKSWbpkMfxTUJvH1a9HOE9/s640/IMG_5228.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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Next we stopped at King's (Chapel and) Burying Ground. The church was a stronghold of Loyalist opposition and eventually became the nation's first Unitarian congregation. In the cemetery next to the church, is the grave of the colony's first governor, John Winthrop, and descendants of his. Many of the grave stones were simple, and hard to read because of weather over the years.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1R4qVd4ZDXrQ24pCBQU-mazOQaV5rKSOSJmUCZOA9NG63mrQ8-fm32br5oEvSDZKhw-Q8w_Vp-eyHNlT4gbVJk8EyHhxZutZzy7LUt56sR7scgoIxzrG30YTdtAaUPEhxLm1/s1600/DSC02239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1128" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1R4qVd4ZDXrQ24pCBQU-mazOQaV5rKSOSJmUCZOA9NG63mrQ8-fm32br5oEvSDZKhw-Q8w_Vp-eyHNlT4gbVJk8EyHhxZutZzy7LUt56sR7scgoIxzrG30YTdtAaUPEhxLm1/s640/DSC02239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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We then walked by the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/boaf/learn/historyculture/abiel-smith-school.htm" target="_blank">Abiel Smith School</a>, the first school in Boston for African-American children. It opened in 1835. it is now the center of the Museum of African American History. We only went in the gift shop as the museum was crowded with school children. I did get Jonah a workbook on African-American history in Boston.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydJUnmZ2K-c29iE_E8Gp3uQJVC7k1i9tiY4AO0GXm33G5lsq6qPLiblByG_OTazWF8SRp6J2mUqd2qr6GvfZbql49jGeBmBydXVmU04VTt4B5xXxsUpA0D1DdoIbAM8E1wedJ/s1600/DSC02240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydJUnmZ2K-c29iE_E8Gp3uQJVC7k1i9tiY4AO0GXm33G5lsq6qPLiblByG_OTazWF8SRp6J2mUqd2qr6GvfZbql49jGeBmBydXVmU04VTt4B5xXxsUpA0D1DdoIbAM8E1wedJ/s640/DSC02240.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
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We were both getting pretty tired by then, having walked close to five miles, so our last stop was to the<a href="https://vilnashul.org/about/our_history" target="_blank"> Vilna Shul</a>, the last remaining immigrant era synagogue in downtown Boston. In 1900, there were 40 synagogues in this area! After World War II, the city destroyed 2/3rd of the West End as part of an urban renewal project with the Vilna shul one of the few remaining synagogues in the area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7KwXkOv921RsDwHn9oqjGi7Rw5bugpvAxQatgiVfcz8bBiFWhtddAmxDXJnOmqjZN-Gdiq76SDNF1_UjbFlzDpE1gM4ME6lOo6gxD9VX4BWr3z6Q_6_dEIkjxdCAt3BxFFzs/s1600/IMG_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7KwXkOv921RsDwHn9oqjGi7Rw5bugpvAxQatgiVfcz8bBiFWhtddAmxDXJnOmqjZN-Gdiq76SDNF1_UjbFlzDpE1gM4ME6lOo6gxD9VX4BWr3z6Q_6_dEIkjxdCAt3BxFFzs/s640/IMG_3511.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The bottom floor, which I had seen before, has the history of Jews in the Boston area and includes the fact that it is one of the few places where Jews followed African Americans to an area to live. The second floor held the synagogue. The building closed in 1885 for lack of members. It was rescued in 1994 in pretty bad condition with broken windows and pigeon droppings inside. The building in again an active synagogue and the Boston Center for Jewish Culture. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKZDnBWQnqe0T5cZrMftHWZ4oGoeO7DNxmM0s8Nestmb5VPgHrLE02Qwxeh9VUFCjm1Hwev_TRZGBqx00bygGT94FH5baeGj7OtTyiBnQTBKZWyxI4a4CSODuhZgVnpG2tF4S/s1600/DSC02241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1151" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKZDnBWQnqe0T5cZrMftHWZ4oGoeO7DNxmM0s8Nestmb5VPgHrLE02Qwxeh9VUFCjm1Hwev_TRZGBqx00bygGT94FH5baeGj7OtTyiBnQTBKZWyxI4a4CSODuhZgVnpG2tF4S/s640/DSC02241.JPG" width="459" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonah in front of two stained glass windows</td></tr>
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The inside is pretty and some of the restorers have found that there are layers of paint and murals underneath the pale beige paint.</div>
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Below, mural of Rachel's tomb on the left and the Cave of Machpelah on the right in the back of the traditional women's section<br />
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Looking from the traditional women's section toward the bimah in the center. There is also a traditional style bimah to the right along the wall.<br />
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There are plans to restore the inside as they get more funds. </div>
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Jonah enjoyed reading the names of women on one list and men on an other who were members in the hey day of the shul. He found a Dina Leah (my Hebrew name) and several Ezekiels but no Jonahs.</div>
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Outside the synagogue are some remaining tenements from the early immigrant times.</div>
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We then walked three blocks to one of the few above ground T stations and took the red line to Davis Square where I treated us to frozen blackberry yogurt for Jonah and yummy chocolate soy frozen dessert for me.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On our walk back to Nadav and Leah's, Jonah climbed the rocks in Powder House park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While Jonah visited, I took some photos of him with his cousins:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeROmhKX3eRl6Usuf2-S1XLuUehTmNZlHSbvtTVgsY9AtNSWdR-gWW-q3r2X06ILwvtqvDB8766z4grmCewKJn25JU6VnAqHFVNC_fucz09ZBeSWEcCPpHkyJU6QF9YkcRjz9/s1600/IMG_5207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeROmhKX3eRl6Usuf2-S1XLuUehTmNZlHSbvtTVgsY9AtNSWdR-gWW-q3r2X06ILwvtqvDB8766z4grmCewKJn25JU6VnAqHFVNC_fucz09ZBeSWEcCPpHkyJU6QF9YkcRjz9/s640/IMG_5207.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Kai and looking at the personalized calendar I made</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtitjgS4qtrezPQqU8vmlV7V20hkpoHzmsDjqHqojrTPP365YISkY8oy13zwsFMUdNP2IM9vG48wiDq2VX6koqT6rZzsOT96ktY8FYJ-ril0Ql9WZvf1w23SceELt5-NyJba_/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="972" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtitjgS4qtrezPQqU8vmlV7V20hkpoHzmsDjqHqojrTPP365YISkY8oy13zwsFMUdNP2IM9vG48wiDq2VX6koqT6rZzsOT96ktY8FYJ-ril0Ql9WZvf1w23SceELt5-NyJba_/s640/IMG_5235.JPG" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Cousin Eli</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading to Kai before bedtime</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8NVkQ5-GDAjV5TqrgXL1yfiKcQictX7dGl9ZFtUlJB5l4IDRA0kFQ8kSyyjCsCTqH4qPgPhzVkYr4NP6qBw8FRaxB80YBUUFSPWW99nlgM29LzvWUd3fkQud-EJu2U-zp6tI/s1600/IMG_5240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1331" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8NVkQ5-GDAjV5TqrgXL1yfiKcQictX7dGl9ZFtUlJB5l4IDRA0kFQ8kSyyjCsCTqH4qPgPhzVkYr4NP6qBw8FRaxB80YBUUFSPWW99nlgM29LzvWUd3fkQud-EJu2U-zp6tI/s640/IMG_5240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling with Ziva</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiEWiv0o2kMrlq54ATHXWAoqDf25iuEaIFchIa9MOTbMR0fUfhMIjrVmEzXfind4XB7SMsAqJcb9GVyk7t_yj7uNRV3ryBg3GfYpTSbUGNTXvdUX7DJcv7DS_Nx8B-LPGGkcT/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1328" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiEWiv0o2kMrlq54ATHXWAoqDf25iuEaIFchIa9MOTbMR0fUfhMIjrVmEzXfind4XB7SMsAqJcb9GVyk7t_yj7uNRV3ryBg3GfYpTSbUGNTXvdUX7DJcv7DS_Nx8B-LPGGkcT/s640/IMG_5241.JPG" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And working on the African-American museum workbook</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning I drove us to the <a href="https://www.mos.org/" target="_blank">Museum of Science</a>. Although Jonah's school vacation in CT was this week, Boston's is next week, so the museum was not at all busy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our first stop was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum" target="_blank">pendulum</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then we stopped at the musical stairs, which fascinated Jonah. As he went up the stairs, a musical note was played on each stair that also went up the scale.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEgnUO_U97P8Z4YAJcQWYyaPn2GqAjBX0qEmmNEHXOZrXGRXqZNOzNISU0YiQ1L3OTJYUIXcmkZ6vDSqt-ZEIwGCTg1CPz0I6r9P0a62O5BOJArFlJGt4FvyEZP0dZTqGPGD_/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1361" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEgnUO_U97P8Z4YAJcQWYyaPn2GqAjBX0qEmmNEHXOZrXGRXqZNOzNISU0YiQ1L3OTJYUIXcmkZ6vDSqt-ZEIwGCTg1CPz0I6r9P0a62O5BOJArFlJGt4FvyEZP0dZTqGPGD_/s640/IMG_5243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jonah carried his backpack all morning to get extra exercise.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeUxZb4f5xteOojuU5biad76w_ZxBTP7TFcO_-glE8hMRAUICwSRiQCIumeNB1Pr6ZxEhr1c4aVIQMmesOpig52HuI1RpROj3xlV9HyLJNBjO6Xzfc7MNIEq_b0JhDRNJ7PzB/s1600/IMG_5245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="758" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeUxZb4f5xteOojuU5biad76w_ZxBTP7TFcO_-glE8hMRAUICwSRiQCIumeNB1Pr6ZxEhr1c4aVIQMmesOpig52HuI1RpROj3xlV9HyLJNBjO6Xzfc7MNIEq_b0JhDRNJ7PzB/s640/IMG_5245.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Jonah (and I) also exjoyed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt0Y6xCjhYw&t=8s" target="_blank">Archemedes excogitation</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since Jonah enjoys astronomy, we then went to the space section, which I had never been to before. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAR4rjykNLxo0OUqfMpNLE13mSPqNtCG_NgMRWaqB19G3e6adutWFc5OUVaHuY4LbEnIOrPrY-gAiRvMUXfmIHFa9Qmz7HR3Ry0RUWNicQyqTcRj2WI9Ww1VRDlWF_xA83lRH/s1600/IMG_5252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAR4rjykNLxo0OUqfMpNLE13mSPqNtCG_NgMRWaqB19G3e6adutWFc5OUVaHuY4LbEnIOrPrY-gAiRvMUXfmIHFa9Qmz7HR3Ry0RUWNicQyqTcRj2WI9Ww1VRDlWF_xA83lRH/s640/IMG_5252.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We wondered why it was titled Cosmic Light until we read that almost everything known about the universe has been learned by studying light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> There were stations about each planet giving pertinent facts about them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was growing up, I learned that Pluto was the last planet, but now Neptune is and Pluto is not considered a regular planet but a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33462184" target="_blank">dwarf planet</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztIks-BnMnQpSZ1HA-mCx3Nu6Ijl28TmFGK-zm1DzdhcDJbR0cSvrwmSEQ_t0g8QlGP9ztjssVVacRoOTTL6Csn6hw9D53_zmzCyrHTWLaTooObzA7Gg_eNnJtxvXvjwTGGWj/s1600/IMG_5256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1331" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztIks-BnMnQpSZ1HA-mCx3Nu6Ijl28TmFGK-zm1DzdhcDJbR0cSvrwmSEQ_t0g8QlGP9ztjssVVacRoOTTL6Csn6hw9D53_zmzCyrHTWLaTooObzA7Gg_eNnJtxvXvjwTGGWj/s640/IMG_5256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It takes Saturn 29 years to orbit the sun,and is tilted like Earth so it has seasons, and each season is more than seven years. I cannot imagine having 7 years of winter!!! Can you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After learning about the solar system, we read about the Milky Way, of which we are somewhat toward the edge.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAVis3laTHnZE5Kh5za9uj0homls3KMzmvKPy6IlDkBp8sPcnwl1uLKmRTV15_EdA94ZUgWB0ikVDZrriXfr1_hDVGVK3SnOpoVWoAIyKzVypuOGe0WKfIlsMXKkgIJ1xBFsW/s1600/IMG_5257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1499" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAVis3laTHnZE5Kh5za9uj0homls3KMzmvKPy6IlDkBp8sPcnwl1uLKmRTV15_EdA94ZUgWB0ikVDZrriXfr1_hDVGVK3SnOpoVWoAIyKzVypuOGe0WKfIlsMXKkgIJ1xBFsW/s640/IMG_5257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which stars are nearest us:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj0Fi2pRhZzCRJP1zvKI_7FTANNXxmIWlTW6csNQFUo8yr7NvS0unVWXgDthuHJ-zo1zkLqFrmgu0UvvtUFnGEg-b83ESdpyC67X-F4aH-BoF2P1L_QDxtNCSEpshWG5qL-o_/s1600/IMG_5259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1534" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj0Fi2pRhZzCRJP1zvKI_7FTANNXxmIWlTW6csNQFUo8yr7NvS0unVWXgDthuHJ-zo1zkLqFrmgu0UvvtUFnGEg-b83ESdpyC67X-F4aH-BoF2P1L_QDxtNCSEpshWG5qL-o_/s640/IMG_5259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and where we are in the universe:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxzZxdLpR_5Jt2NdrYujy3EULeWz3WdIfmdrDlVXYqqd7CZ1Ma09WoDIddQo7PpR00u0cCtSjEsaZEl8jEQMClvqxIW0Tu9_efLWsPCVvntjwoW9d5qfo5AdceiK6i-EOaEcC/s1600/IMG_5260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxzZxdLpR_5Jt2NdrYujy3EULeWz3WdIfmdrDlVXYqqd7CZ1Ma09WoDIddQo7PpR00u0cCtSjEsaZEl8jEQMClvqxIW0Tu9_efLWsPCVvntjwoW9d5qfo5AdceiK6i-EOaEcC/s640/IMG_5260.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also saw a model of the first successful rocket, by Robert Goddard, launched in 1926.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghmx5C6zn1F7-9Ay2L5iQfI6wMFBVLGXyo5N8HfHfTQocXk9cwCy5u_pcYKKASIdNqfxCMYRHtRbChHTF47qyuOCtFwv6eW0UIyi1sDE1pHcosW-Z9lT19hgYFS4Ktn0-JUzb/s1600/IMG_5267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="887" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghmx5C6zn1F7-9Ay2L5iQfI6wMFBVLGXyo5N8HfHfTQocXk9cwCy5u_pcYKKASIdNqfxCMYRHtRbChHTF47qyuOCtFwv6eW0UIyi1sDE1pHcosW-Z9lT19hgYFS4Ktn0-JUzb/s640/IMG_5267.JPG" width="506" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then saw a revolving model of planet Earth</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F8bcnoopbTis3tHMxnCf8-Om1n_uYXBVJG7_7Eil3VM0lmT5d3ZPxZ6q12UBERwS3JgkdqLFdwUpxoJs84pruAs3JI3FHZ_JHmG_-4NaUuz3ZusG_MkX1n2ZOqeTzUzVwK33/s1600/IMG_5269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F8bcnoopbTis3tHMxnCf8-Om1n_uYXBVJG7_7Eil3VM0lmT5d3ZPxZ6q12UBERwS3JgkdqLFdwUpxoJs84pruAs3JI3FHZ_JHmG_-4NaUuz3ZusG_MkX1n2ZOqeTzUzVwK33/s640/IMG_5269.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and dioramas of animals that live in NE US.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznsinkNLBIMkQDr0_djS0PT31WatKB50fN7Rl83l3zXh1G_d2hOwUj21llR-jk1Z4k9m8Sa1x9EfMHfZtXuTvmRvs0BbXivFhqqkDQLtXI9oXTnnA_SXQ3Pz6DKt6LXGb7m6w/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1210" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznsinkNLBIMkQDr0_djS0PT31WatKB50fN7Rl83l3zXh1G_d2hOwUj21llR-jk1Z4k9m8Sa1x9EfMHfZtXuTvmRvs0BbXivFhqqkDQLtXI9oXTnnA_SXQ3Pz6DKt6LXGb7m6w/s640/IMG_5270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were amazed to see that puffins inhabit <a href="https://visitmaine.com/things-to-do/wildlife-watching/puffins" target="_blank">coastal Maine</a>. Oooo, I'd love to see them!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfidZJzxZlXxfOUX1MhX3JYLytgkTs2jxdu0gR_8BcjWTOSSDZsNakhyk1dQiv5ZYCs3A74rjOxzmlcCecFNAwiDW2cPWGOrvEU6voAKYqhKcVz8GqYG1XrEC1P19rOSgbaiP/s1600/IMG_5271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="1105" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfidZJzxZlXxfOUX1MhX3JYLytgkTs2jxdu0gR_8BcjWTOSSDZsNakhyk1dQiv5ZYCs3A74rjOxzmlcCecFNAwiDW2cPWGOrvEU6voAKYqhKcVz8GqYG1XrEC1P19rOSgbaiP/s640/IMG_5271.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw tamarins, who are in the museum as part of a way to help them reproduce, as they are threatened.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyoPzLHTMZsZsb77UfU5-BHrHbWe-wdjgFbJZdUpz02lQNpLegaw8pZW2P7Ejzd2TUz9VlNyqUXQ55qKZzCNwzYXvh5CrvkB4iY2HzIUL6MZng27zxvTBW530tXYHSdja3h7D/s1600/IMG_5273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyoPzLHTMZsZsb77UfU5-BHrHbWe-wdjgFbJZdUpz02lQNpLegaw8pZW2P7Ejzd2TUz9VlNyqUXQ55qKZzCNwzYXvh5CrvkB4iY2HzIUL6MZng27zxvTBW530tXYHSdja3h7D/s640/IMG_5273.JPG" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next we made a quick stop at the health section, first looking at actual brains of a human, a monkey, a cat and a turkey.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni8eyICIIJDxaVtnHZf7LtX7SgoCmy6q5_frJxHLB4-Sfzrwo3AzKlaQpYpcyD6Pe7NqNmcHAKVqO7RMjrvLbpxkly0py1IwhKyUwwJfRlkcFGv95x_Q6Rs3jUIZm8CDCud0g/s1600/IMG_5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni8eyICIIJDxaVtnHZf7LtX7SgoCmy6q5_frJxHLB4-Sfzrwo3AzKlaQpYpcyD6Pe7NqNmcHAKVqO7RMjrvLbpxkly0py1IwhKyUwwJfRlkcFGv95x_Q6Rs3jUIZm8CDCud0g/s640/IMG_5275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwksxsHgPX-_LiPiHKFzCMuIIb1LaXW03ugseaQKxyOzoYr5Y1Cw1MNdTymMJnusLK0D-LW2jai1mv5vCN2LaOfxTyfO61ISOHBFFYdKLtMG1K8pLwWBfuqfq3EcP5j_zi5t7B/s1600/IMG_5277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwksxsHgPX-_LiPiHKFzCMuIIb1LaXW03ugseaQKxyOzoYr5Y1Cw1MNdTymMJnusLK0D-LW2jai1mv5vCN2LaOfxTyfO61ISOHBFFYdKLtMG1K8pLwWBfuqfq3EcP5j_zi5t7B/s640/IMG_5277.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Images of microbes in our body</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Average height for one's age:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also saw some newly hatched black baby chicks that had already dried off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our next stop was a temporary exhibit (until April 25) entitled Mirror Maze. It was incredible! Thank goodness I followed Jonah so that I didn't get lost!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJhthwHp5NInyr_IIPFf-I5V838YF49taRqz90yWuTSW6RFhG9ngLiITOQI-G6uBz9Sw_t99fqqMOhvbrtuULlI1gyBiBr35Jy-vQGltKkAeBT9njnPj5SebLE2h1xKneY0SM/s1600/IMG_5282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJhthwHp5NInyr_IIPFf-I5V838YF49taRqz90yWuTSW6RFhG9ngLiITOQI-G6uBz9Sw_t99fqqMOhvbrtuULlI1gyBiBr35Jy-vQGltKkAeBT9njnPj5SebLE2h1xKneY0SM/s640/IMG_5282.JPG" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right outside was a small but fascinating exhibit on patterns in architecture which are derived from nature.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJkCmFEH9OBFf9mO0n5a_BDUufLrwedq1PJFvtdPZyCE3ufnf2hejD949nKg6pqg2lBFhdoV7vwwKLwiGSqt-cjeoGRVW2YCBNeNQbMlktkKspgJuCYBfEXCVk13fct60atkZ/s1600/IMG_5288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1361" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJkCmFEH9OBFf9mO0n5a_BDUufLrwedq1PJFvtdPZyCE3ufnf2hejD949nKg6pqg2lBFhdoV7vwwKLwiGSqt-cjeoGRVW2YCBNeNQbMlktkKspgJuCYBfEXCVk13fct60atkZ/s640/IMG_5288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Below is the Voronoi design, which can be seen in nature, for example on a corn cob!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVbafMqCcB343a_LMU1Sgo374FOKmAgimXB9ik8G5ZhBBTwn34B-FBczjYJO7TktGB7FrBTNcU_D8lXEoxLseNAsDDht6oTcjLxqXTLhQfMGEgVrwiFaM2KFHOJlUbfO04XCc/s1600/IMG_5290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1188" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVbafMqCcB343a_LMU1Sgo374FOKmAgimXB9ik8G5ZhBBTwn34B-FBczjYJO7TktGB7FrBTNcU_D8lXEoxLseNAsDDht6oTcjLxqXTLhQfMGEgVrwiFaM2KFHOJlUbfO04XCc/s640/IMG_5290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then walked to another section of the second floor for an exhibit entitled </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoCIkYxJ7fNVOKFcs92Hsow_2Ml1rH2bTBqnQlrj7763vvqGbsXqRch-tkWR5-FvEQgKjtFc7wOK9aXoRg20V-ILU2EElBSQ_xB-JST_JWxwgq9t_QsZ2d6bqkevpZHimby34/s1600/IMG_5291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="922" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoCIkYxJ7fNVOKFcs92Hsow_2Ml1rH2bTBqnQlrj7763vvqGbsXqRch-tkWR5-FvEQgKjtFc7wOK9aXoRg20V-ILU2EElBSQ_xB-JST_JWxwgq9t_QsZ2d6bqkevpZHimby34/s400/IMG_5291.JPG" width="336" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_1416571840"></span><span id="goog_1416571841"></span>It was hard to take pictures of most of the exhibits so as to have you, the reader, understand them, but here are a few:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you see the wife of a young man or his mother-in-law or both in the picture below? Which did you see first? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8CQKRgsfDxHyZYbb-Sd_hovtMbR11XXX37ImiesEutaW8nVHt1wz8A5bEr23ZSeTdSx2XZ9G8y1112fki_Rw8PRhaplBCSiP-F7IjV4RDWHbufjd7cubMJKIoAMRJbTYDt5-/s1600/IMG_5292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1012" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8CQKRgsfDxHyZYbb-Sd_hovtMbR11XXX37ImiesEutaW8nVHt1wz8A5bEr23ZSeTdSx2XZ9G8y1112fki_Rw8PRhaplBCSiP-F7IjV4RDWHbufjd7cubMJKIoAMRJbTYDt5-/s640/IMG_5292.JPG" width="404" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spin the wheel and look at it for 30 seconds. Then look at the face of a friend. What did you notice, Jonah?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkPMY7GmSRLrusMUYUmY6ueP11x_CMwtlOOCRmeX7LXEpaghyz48lxhZaLpKiFhkBJtZj59mV9ljmYPPDiQ8ozBi2lgk1uabU5gwQZb8vqcWUKIID_RPtEWo4TCnAqvlLUOBz/s1600/IMG_5293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkPMY7GmSRLrusMUYUmY6ueP11x_CMwtlOOCRmeX7LXEpaghyz48lxhZaLpKiFhkBJtZj59mV9ljmYPPDiQ8ozBi2lgk1uabU5gwQZb8vqcWUKIID_RPtEWo4TCnAqvlLUOBz/s640/IMG_5293.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We walked to our second to the last destination: the butterfly exhibit, a small, warm room with butterflies flitting around. None landed on us to Jonah's relief. I was disappointed that none did.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGXhlmzHA4eU69cgCG8-N2IS7GLlIZTJna0N6DpoXSkioRucqBSpouXzykSIdEhOS2I61sCfEXPiPtq57jEKtP5Nozm0bnXFUnwMUeXHGIX3OJDmp4vV8A_l1ckpK9gEZsbE-/s1600/IMG_E5297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="893" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGXhlmzHA4eU69cgCG8-N2IS7GLlIZTJna0N6DpoXSkioRucqBSpouXzykSIdEhOS2I61sCfEXPiPtq57jEKtP5Nozm0bnXFUnwMUeXHGIX3OJDmp4vV8A_l1ckpK9gEZsbE-/s640/IMG_E5297.JPG" width="452" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is the one above a Heliconius erato?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTvRnS6P_b0C52466FFYTWGe3Rnzdu-upMGAjIXM0-_F893K0OYJA1At-X2XLzpwp68s8oFKnqf18pvqyFkshfvvuDobjl3wkBDkPniTAFSU2zfpuD1m64VhoF2zM2B7t7Cp4/s1600/IMG_5303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTvRnS6P_b0C52466FFYTWGe3Rnzdu-upMGAjIXM0-_F893K0OYJA1At-X2XLzpwp68s8oFKnqf18pvqyFkshfvvuDobjl3wkBDkPniTAFSU2zfpuD1m64VhoF2zM2B7t7Cp4/s320/IMG_5303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Is the one above a Heliconius erato?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxE7eub1Vu_Xel5yENGCHaQNy_FDMkGH_mmeSE6NykPJnryAvDfWG3QWb6tlx1tGZClmj7yB324Oi8ZUqJWWlCKNGlfoHD3H8p_nUr3k7RyTRpzt9uGA0BLkuetFlujTpo0ho/s1600/IMG_5296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxE7eub1Vu_Xel5yENGCHaQNy_FDMkGH_mmeSE6NykPJnryAvDfWG3QWb6tlx1tGZClmj7yB324Oi8ZUqJWWlCKNGlfoHD3H8p_nUr3k7RyTRpzt9uGA0BLkuetFlujTpo0ho/s640/IMG_5296.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUrHNl1-JrpS77XgPGu6wZ4Uxrmyxbzz_qF6N7NAq-fVkYoILsDbGss_gNEU4349PrdNdZ8XeNTSFZDxlLuYgs59JeW4sHsRxWAD6x7N_eIXCmmmovL5iadNEaZ6PXydupt-m/s1600/IMG_5294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUrHNl1-JrpS77XgPGu6wZ4Uxrmyxbzz_qF6N7NAq-fVkYoILsDbGss_gNEU4349PrdNdZ8XeNTSFZDxlLuYgs59JeW4sHsRxWAD6x7N_eIXCmmmovL5iadNEaZ6PXydupt-m/s640/IMG_5294.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When will the butterflies come out?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19jojcXW8Xh38zk60km4Sp1kghQcpU8J4COQN0P6bV3DNm1sZNiLkcn6lyS7NCQUIskyO8ybyzZ98wJLndrn6ch-uHNMuuF0oUEMQ0BdrP7KB6KuD7we9QeTQp9EifDFK22bA/s1600/IMG_5298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19jojcXW8Xh38zk60km4Sp1kghQcpU8J4COQN0P6bV3DNm1sZNiLkcn6lyS7NCQUIskyO8ybyzZ98wJLndrn6ch-uHNMuuF0oUEMQ0BdrP7KB6KuD7we9QeTQp9EifDFK22bA/s640/IMG_5298.JPG" width="608" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which is the real butterfly below??</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2QiA-9Gk0WqMdZpGzq2KtT2BQbEjJ8X5nM48mJ3Qv6ceX8ETO66BAuO7kPbSqAZIFAbyTnxQDpsW_ZUaFORtXHmU1AqpJ0wbdvasTVRXLrqSV6vSDSPgqg6yVERa03TI4jU9/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2QiA-9Gk0WqMdZpGzq2KtT2BQbEjJ8X5nM48mJ3Qv6ceX8ETO66BAuO7kPbSqAZIFAbyTnxQDpsW_ZUaFORtXHmU1AqpJ0wbdvasTVRXLrqSV6vSDSPgqg6yVERa03TI4jU9/s640/IMG_5302.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The morphos kept on flying so it was impossible to get a good photo of one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8gLXoWw7h_fPKPl84uMlNOvMp9NPvLGV4ArpdgdaL5os6mSyZ5gr3HQC8EYAiLSvF-ytl3cqb6_tc6jSREJsk3SSY_HUT0EdnnDKKE4FBdhwRcsAdpDCkZsuw4Ak8trhIxXk/s1600/IMG_5308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8gLXoWw7h_fPKPl84uMlNOvMp9NPvLGV4ArpdgdaL5os6mSyZ5gr3HQC8EYAiLSvF-ytl3cqb6_tc6jSREJsk3SSY_HUT0EdnnDKKE4FBdhwRcsAdpDCkZsuw4Ak8trhIxXk/s640/IMG_5308.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX93zSDxZaSl4uAdm_27_e85HSnRvWKByU7YuVC4ayKlg035jjx8VdioH3coLLyr9Vca_s3IiI2HuSvQivojm1MBwmyTrfSAl7XFl_Rf2Eg5LW2SEi6h0jeNtgMgEs49A8MfWf/s1600/IMG_5300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX93zSDxZaSl4uAdm_27_e85HSnRvWKByU7YuVC4ayKlg035jjx8VdioH3coLLyr9Vca_s3IiI2HuSvQivojm1MBwmyTrfSAl7XFl_Rf2Eg5LW2SEi6h0jeNtgMgEs49A8MfWf/s640/IMG_5300.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnivorous Tropical Pitcher plant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below a volunteer answering a question of Jonah's</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPnv2FYNexNxH151KW8LSgadKAqgnIXAnYo_tECT_aB97x7DI3_jlFeGWOK6jZhCZMHC60adea5lnDfXwh5OULsKCdH8TZyTM9zAQ2AArJl8bGvti41K-RFYv1Gqe8W3uYWuP/s1600/IMG_5310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPnv2FYNexNxH151KW8LSgadKAqgnIXAnYo_tECT_aB97x7DI3_jlFeGWOK6jZhCZMHC60adea5lnDfXwh5OULsKCdH8TZyTM9zAQ2AArJl8bGvti41K-RFYv1Gqe8W3uYWuP/s640/IMG_5310.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just outside the butterfly room was an exhibit on ants.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKs1Dd1GCCFJwkHnJlJcitgkNbc4ht_YwUz7U3qd51JRkk4kXaQMwAWGM2IYUWcu-WPkXlCeAe_pMRuboKWwLtBeCnz58wHtVx3Gq-LStZL2DCNKuyGxh7RhlYwoGbOc-l50E/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1086" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKs1Dd1GCCFJwkHnJlJcitgkNbc4ht_YwUz7U3qd51JRkk4kXaQMwAWGM2IYUWcu-WPkXlCeAe_pMRuboKWwLtBeCnz58wHtVx3Gq-LStZL2DCNKuyGxh7RhlYwoGbOc-l50E/s640/IMG_5319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our last stop was at the hands-on physics area where Jonah saw how a pulley could help to lift things.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMSC53xTZYNqtCSR7HDMdorRAPMgI7ZZLcWSO5BMajwjH-v7bePcXzGjvT-UGjuiZJI0Nn0T9o9RMIxdNgHi2zG8em_yO9qAZR9LBJ5Uo1WSHZdcF4UCfdS_mDBBilcjiu9qk/s1600/IMG_5323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1092" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMSC53xTZYNqtCSR7HDMdorRAPMgI7ZZLcWSO5BMajwjH-v7bePcXzGjvT-UGjuiZJI0Nn0T9o9RMIxdNgHi2zG8em_yO9qAZR9LBJ5Uo1WSHZdcF4UCfdS_mDBBilcjiu9qk/s640/IMG_5323.JPG" width="532" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO4ONQZVdC3F0MIrXI0z1QSQWXeNX3RpZvMwYXexlI-tD6ibYGhfvhLPPaIekzmq6ivr_9djgaS-sOvO-jlnPpCILE_0MBOIRJagkyL2n40nFgyAjeFZabht-95wxRvdwIYC9/s1600/IMG_5326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="878" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO4ONQZVdC3F0MIrXI0z1QSQWXeNX3RpZvMwYXexlI-tD6ibYGhfvhLPPaIekzmq6ivr_9djgaS-sOvO-jlnPpCILE_0MBOIRJagkyL2n40nFgyAjeFZabht-95wxRvdwIYC9/s640/IMG_5326.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We didn't make it to the bottom floor of the science center, but we were tired and it was time for lunch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We drove back to Davis Square to meet Uncle Nadav and Jonah's family who had driven in from their home in CT on the way to Cape Cod. We had a yummy lunch at Pokeworks. Jonah loves dried seaweed and really could use chopsticks well!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lStNwQuB2J0QHa7Kyg1LW0MLAq6dPEuP53x5fkMlEl3SC4GrYDvRcDsDP2a-nd20Q-klMMfWDU7s2k3NqMqiag5GyblaTQhn6OFPQ5OBxR8vQf7795U-0ksewoYfJ8MqeUht/s1600/IMG_5327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lStNwQuB2J0QHa7Kyg1LW0MLAq6dPEuP53x5fkMlEl3SC4GrYDvRcDsDP2a-nd20Q-klMMfWDU7s2k3NqMqiag5GyblaTQhn6OFPQ5OBxR8vQf7795U-0ksewoYfJ8MqeUht/s640/IMG_5327.JPG" width="472" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jonah, I had a great visit with. I hope you did too! There still is a lot more to do in historic Boston....but that is for another trip.</span><br />
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-48854815862319052462018-04-16T16:55:00.000-07:002018-04-17T12:17:46.683-07:00Jonah in Boston, Part 1<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Wednesday, April 11, my grandson Jonah and I took the mid-morning Amtrak train from near his home in Stamford, Connecticut to Boston to explore historic Boston and to have some fun time together and with his cousins and uncle Nadav. Auntie Leah was sad to miss him, but she was in Denver for a conference. Jonah </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">had spring vacation this week and had just returned from a four-day family trip to Washington, D.C.--his first visit there. We got a sandwich on the train so that we could get started touring and still get cousin Eli by 5:30.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6wqtWzTyOr57suE2XK4HZsPqZ1s8O08v52dhRQchzUlDvRyuEGOSlvDuJUh1n0nweXQb1I3TKfLkzwCCQtx8tOesRvDDwASigaOvQUI-KKkACZ7mtl33fnue4Bl3bFKFadRc/s1600/IMG_5157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1600" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6wqtWzTyOr57suE2XK4HZsPqZ1s8O08v52dhRQchzUlDvRyuEGOSlvDuJUh1n0nweXQb1I3TKfLkzwCCQtx8tOesRvDDwASigaOvQUI-KKkACZ7mtl33fnue4Bl3bFKFadRc/s400/IMG_5157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From South Station, we took the MBTA to North Station and then walked to the Charleston Navy Yards to see the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution" target="_blank">USS Constitution,</a> informally known as Old Ironsides. The ship is considered a national park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before we got there, we saw this in the distance:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGZvJAwdSalMLM_NqPPpLJVRb1S9cgDRJVD7sNac43MddPuoiKOkt02peIaqouFr7doqrbTgsDC-qLksEZZ8ijVpv2soWfCXFT4esNsSZIiOhg9rRgBK0OdG6HCfCSn7serkr/s1600/IMG_E5192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1323" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGZvJAwdSalMLM_NqPPpLJVRb1S9cgDRJVD7sNac43MddPuoiKOkt02peIaqouFr7doqrbTgsDC-qLksEZZ8ijVpv2soWfCXFT4esNsSZIiOhg9rRgBK0OdG6HCfCSn7serkr/s640/IMG_E5192.JPG" width="528" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nope, it did look like the Washington Monument that Jonah had seen a few days ago in Washington, D.C. But was actually the Bunker Hill Monument, which was built to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. This monument was the model for the Washington Monument. It has 294 steps and people can climb up it. We didn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The USS Constitution was built in the Charleston Shipyard from 1794-1797 and became famous in the War of 1812. All ships built then were made of wood and powered by wind on sails. The wood used for the hull of this ship was harder than any wood used before the first six ships (including this one) was build for the new navy the US.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzuFkJRbDLb1HEyoVKgYpWv3icGC-U1y3wm1feGRS1BBQY4wSIzuX2IyHuttpSm37ew_uBWvVnOZtTdEmwhp3owVcovCpyg1pgJHhU0bdlIwNZhfRWbedO7LUGYcSqcJsTvXT/s1600/IMG_5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1489" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzuFkJRbDLb1HEyoVKgYpWv3icGC-U1y3wm1feGRS1BBQY4wSIzuX2IyHuttpSm37ew_uBWvVnOZtTdEmwhp3owVcovCpyg1pgJHhU0bdlIwNZhfRWbedO7LUGYcSqcJsTvXT/s640/IMG_5160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once we got on the ship, a sailor explained the ammunition shot from the cannons. The one the sailor was touching could tear up sails. Navy sailors on the ship explain the history of the ship to the visitors that come from all over the world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdzeceEJUc1rWActNrh8cHYEqPtKRlOHzQWpfEzD5udiiIxaNDcFvEMOURQbPUgPSgOsE4GTHbWElh4dbCGLwIaM57saZZmhCWnO_Tk0KO5Li4YGViFjwXE3tr78qesh0y0WY/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1119" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdzeceEJUc1rWActNrh8cHYEqPtKRlOHzQWpfEzD5udiiIxaNDcFvEMOURQbPUgPSgOsE4GTHbWElh4dbCGLwIaM57saZZmhCWnO_Tk0KO5Li4YGViFjwXE3tr78qesh0y0WY/s640/IMG_5162.JPG" width="446" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did you notice that Jonah was wearing another hat? I got him a USS Constitution hat. 😀</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were usually a captain and four more officers on board the ship and up to 500 sailors who worked hard. The officers' quarters (rooms) were small but private. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA8WFuQp-Yg1c2IUUr2Ogk3h6gdijXjdeEtoXdvs7Exe-kt5nyrWw4l6TkhyNDgZG4dQJTb8_wqqSoKmBU7eyxMsT2aEvy4ymV5fQ5V3e8KWFiSmbBpQwEPbsf6WQkSABJqpw/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA8WFuQp-Yg1c2IUUr2Ogk3h6gdijXjdeEtoXdvs7Exe-kt5nyrWw4l6TkhyNDgZG4dQJTb8_wqqSoKmBU7eyxMsT2aEvy4ymV5fQ5V3e8KWFiSmbBpQwEPbsf6WQkSABJqpw/s640/IMG_5166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the officers' hammocks looked a lot more comfortable than the other sailors'. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoGon3dX4QTwjKllTAaewI10v40YCFuR4NbUrY2QLp0W1iTZzZt0rnm7K6arxXxU4WyxqpFFJA6bvu-6FuONi25ea2y8i55RxLe5-Wc78M1gfeqluDrVq1vpX6ccTRMkLX8HZ/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1421" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoGon3dX4QTwjKllTAaewI10v40YCFuR4NbUrY2QLp0W1iTZzZt0rnm7K6arxXxU4WyxqpFFJA6bvu-6FuONi25ea2y8i55RxLe5-Wc78M1gfeqluDrVq1vpX6ccTRMkLX8HZ/s640/IMG_5168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sailors' slept in one or two big rooms with the hammocks stacked with one or two on top of each other. The sailors got one hot meal a day around noon and then left overs for the other two meals. They usually got dried salted meat made into stew) and hardtack (a really hard, dried roll made edible when it was dunked into the stew). They either sat on the deck to eat or under the hammocks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhTVHGWA6CJQh3VYfkBXSwxcdjFMJ3uk10J4GXmledtnR7mEeplkt5xljgslneDQ40GETjJNzBdbB8bNGid9kC_vsR4BVxeoIU6B-reA2yNf1ZmbaLWjr4goQyBjSnSC80Sy2/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhTVHGWA6CJQh3VYfkBXSwxcdjFMJ3uk10J4GXmledtnR7mEeplkt5xljgslneDQ40GETjJNzBdbB8bNGid9kC_vsR4BVxeoIU6B-reA2yNf1ZmbaLWjr4goQyBjSnSC80Sy2/s640/IMG_5169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main cannons were on the two levels below the open deck. They weighed 6,500 pounds, and each had a name. This one was called "Prudence." Others named used included "Victory or Death" and "Brother Jonathan." The cannons were on rollers and were front loaders, so about eight sailors were need to move the cannon back to load it with gun powder and roll it back to shoot it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the top deck there were smaller cannons that weighed 4,500 pounds. They were better for shooting from close range.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7ePhUfrCnaFYQ7wEC2pKtyOFDjcoMns-EISfY-LB7qMuibb466gNjAonaSTtp_O9JYC1jWykitMpdLAANxvJoPIW0d1eq5Is_TVXe5N7LEsXOYH2keN9YrAgR4qFUXccY2eJ/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="923" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7ePhUfrCnaFYQ7wEC2pKtyOFDjcoMns-EISfY-LB7qMuibb466gNjAonaSTtp_O9JYC1jWykitMpdLAANxvJoPIW0d1eq5Is_TVXe5N7LEsXOYH2keN9YrAgR4qFUXccY2eJ/s640/IMG_5173.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We took turns at the wheel.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHthARgHsZbo3mkQEi_QKOdJxRfLoA2UMygRIq094JWlnFbJbRe4GsybCOQZWH8GfokttmCke_8p06ikTemiCynkCwKf1qzySxGumIcDr5S1BRqj6nxPwQ_qBd3_7vvoMwICS5/s1600/IMG_5175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="779" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHthARgHsZbo3mkQEi_QKOdJxRfLoA2UMygRIq094JWlnFbJbRe4GsybCOQZWH8GfokttmCke_8p06ikTemiCynkCwKf1qzySxGumIcDr5S1BRqj6nxPwQ_qBd3_7vvoMwICS5/s640/IMG_5175.JPG" width="532" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaekpgD2jvnY2nXf2GYsIziiP-uY-0WxpdsQOaR0nup9UgS8BRXg1NCisPzSem4mSCNYvE0lJOZm5Tjsm_Q8Mx3xJZTwNLgTo18k8NcoODZ_SwlMVgqOr6GV-tsCkWm1ppQn1N/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaekpgD2jvnY2nXf2GYsIziiP-uY-0WxpdsQOaR0nup9UgS8BRXg1NCisPzSem4mSCNYvE0lJOZm5Tjsm_Q8Mx3xJZTwNLgTo18k8NcoODZ_SwlMVgqOr6GV-tsCkWm1ppQn1N/s640/IMG_5177.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The mast was VERY high. It took 8 men to raise each 1,500 lb sail.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7bTyFY9KfK5BZbcaPbru1CTSnLiGm7ONHga5JcXW9zq0TxmksHMMVEqyw7U5VMMXFDpXHyEYfYJ2j78kptqVBNOB2y4y12oKu6J78BzRf6Wzi2kc2U-AV4YakKuk8lIdj9u9/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7bTyFY9KfK5BZbcaPbru1CTSnLiGm7ONHga5JcXW9zq0TxmksHMMVEqyw7U5VMMXFDpXHyEYfYJ2j78kptqVBNOB2y4y12oKu6J78BzRf6Wzi2kc2U-AV4YakKuk8lIdj9u9/s640/IMG_5179.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXSSwiX7T-DCO3aA44jaFdfPe_wfl3zoGzbYzhV7vKzYUy2BFtWxaxgZ-IfC5zhbujqjm8hHbF0jL0p7PC-ZVAog9DqB1pggNO8luGL_J8HMrUGdEYDJCAhtxlHDFL7CkZWgg/s1600/IMG_5180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXSSwiX7T-DCO3aA44jaFdfPe_wfl3zoGzbYzhV7vKzYUy2BFtWxaxgZ-IfC5zhbujqjm8hHbF0jL0p7PC-ZVAog9DqB1pggNO8luGL_J8HMrUGdEYDJCAhtxlHDFL7CkZWgg/s640/IMG_5180.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bow of the ship:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs4VXASK84KH1P-F_C7kKgU0o0lpQNNTGFQiQnyZ0X3u9GRZcw74XagYu8GUJXneQV8AOXy-1e_JJ2CGhzpTuzg-2PD5Xreb7-ClXXBLrc2hWQ4CQ0pQLc9B70cS8DqaosXtX/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs4VXASK84KH1P-F_C7kKgU0o0lpQNNTGFQiQnyZ0X3u9GRZcw74XagYu8GUJXneQV8AOXy-1e_JJ2CGhzpTuzg-2PD5Xreb7-ClXXBLrc2hWQ4CQ0pQLc9B70cS8DqaosXtX/s640/IMG_5181.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the ship, we then went to the ship museum to learn more about history.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IqSdtud6JeVGYDjZcQ6r9NzfzTNL4oXOhGpJGdomWMjGToN9Fumf6oTSAwhZTOt5bJPhxXvwxP43HEwgplhjE9GCMsAOnyEJtifsaSVYNd_lbezjhGMIr_iW1kYjWbObqOCx/s1600/IMG_E5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1361" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IqSdtud6JeVGYDjZcQ6r9NzfzTNL4oXOhGpJGdomWMjGToN9Fumf6oTSAwhZTOt5bJPhxXvwxP43HEwgplhjE9GCMsAOnyEJtifsaSVYNd_lbezjhGMIr_iW1kYjWbObqOCx/s640/IMG_E5186.JPG" width="592" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQHW2dZZroeMfC18JbUqMxUwbGnJJ-r0W4YuVk6YngUdbnlpabqGz272Gq7LnFqiGdn0QI4C7NzEvv9et_R2hNrkm2pjjOrQBaMg34B-3h7quLUjVA4NqhKDgDLbv1yqZeQ-R/s1600/IMG_5187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="991" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQHW2dZZroeMfC18JbUqMxUwbGnJJ-r0W4YuVk6YngUdbnlpabqGz272Gq7LnFqiGdn0QI4C7NzEvv9et_R2hNrkm2pjjOrQBaMg34B-3h7quLUjVA4NqhKDgDLbv1yqZeQ-R/s640/IMG_5187.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Through the middle of the 19th century, the commanders of the USS Constitution had significant jobs at sea.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XPFh29ZfM_kH3ZpGZnMfj-FneqMHmTzjaFN4ZXYAignbKW0rU9n05QENeq3ZhujsQDOv69lvzHhXei2i2yaDpo7Aalm0UqEUkWdoelU2Y0EFij2AmXyhuRe6m5BErfR8SAc/s1600/IMG_5163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="963" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XPFh29ZfM_kH3ZpGZnMfj-FneqMHmTzjaFN4ZXYAignbKW0rU9n05QENeq3ZhujsQDOv69lvzHhXei2i2yaDpo7Aalm0UqEUkWdoelU2Y0EFij2AmXyhuRe6m5BErfR8SAc/s640/IMG_5163.JPG" width="534" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since 1971, the captains' role is to take care of the ship as it is at the shipyard, but it does go out to sea a bit each year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NJ-2DSsRbPeEw5LlK7SmPuqNuXI66gd2SB7mZ2CtXX780NBL3340QenKQw5vXDDbp_iiDgBbwiWn8B0TOclZdPie4WR4jGDAcV6mMx-59ClWQS3hZm72O0nQF2OtdUBCeX2o/s1600/IMG_5167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1185" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NJ-2DSsRbPeEw5LlK7SmPuqNuXI66gd2SB7mZ2CtXX780NBL3340QenKQw5vXDDbp_iiDgBbwiWn8B0TOclZdPie4WR4jGDAcV6mMx-59ClWQS3hZm72O0nQF2OtdUBCeX2o/s640/IMG_5167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is the famous painting of Ironsides defeating HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7YH4AY18prUZd-6Sm8wcIha4woYvrbcA21ZBkUPsAY-RaVS-yS_tyeW2NUrAg_jbbs0Up6xbeFqBhKFxSsycJ5_sDmrzegaGMFC0N69X2U7K12Syca3orXfCxfs_Ku7nkbni/s1600/IMG_5184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7YH4AY18prUZd-6Sm8wcIha4woYvrbcA21ZBkUPsAY-RaVS-yS_tyeW2NUrAg_jbbs0Up6xbeFqBhKFxSsycJ5_sDmrzegaGMFC0N69X2U7K12Syca3orXfCxfs_Ku7nkbni/s640/IMG_5184.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFXej916iCAADckOp_sdIRAtlOzCi5Cb0pqOboI4Uihttlt9CkMl0dOw-ICds2KQr1TzY0nflSFcAqarwokTWeH6Z0DoZURgOhkpxpZ8Ti448tfCdXvgPGCr3jnCV8xCc4nmP/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1019" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFXej916iCAADckOp_sdIRAtlOzCi5Cb0pqOboI4Uihttlt9CkMl0dOw-ICds2KQr1TzY0nflSFcAqarwokTWeH6Z0DoZURgOhkpxpZ8Ti448tfCdXvgPGCr3jnCV8xCc4nmP/s640/IMG_5188.JPG" width="406" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailor Jonah</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcapjnJ8D626Y4On3Cy-GDB22tbVVIBPei2rIxdPVWRIhm3FSnYH1fGR-kb6REelWQ44kAaNfUR0_V_Qg4lZXgcfQoAx-dl-Chsbtxukf-FF5UqZSExS6fCffO9HvbKjoKSVX/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcapjnJ8D626Y4On3Cy-GDB22tbVVIBPei2rIxdPVWRIhm3FSnYH1fGR-kb6REelWQ44kAaNfUR0_V_Qg4lZXgcfQoAx-dl-Chsbtxukf-FF5UqZSExS6fCffO9HvbKjoKSVX/s640/IMG_5191.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisting twine to make it stronger</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_P8X3HLVjCWiTLjt0VI1jl1XU_8Hn68fnj-HlrRw9wFQmWE0H4YZwwFLDYS5_JTr12EEFWK2vRQbwcYXABx9Dt-UN_xzFWhAXOizJb8HKNYeOVWgnKlZ42w64eTbzMQed0sL/s1600/IMG_5194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_P8X3HLVjCWiTLjt0VI1jl1XU_8Hn68fnj-HlrRw9wFQmWE0H4YZwwFLDYS5_JTr12EEFWK2vRQbwcYXABx9Dt-UN_xzFWhAXOizJb8HKNYeOVWgnKlZ42w64eTbzMQed0sL/s640/IMG_5194.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A game teaching how to plan and execute a battle</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0yeYTNDzFiVgeoc46DMIeqAqY6GIiYT-_yXEXSdpR8q1gdHL_221ZonNASbcmSvEz5XZujlzB8q0lQPf2uABm8jt1o3L-aKjAScPsvItTSms12nWk5TRXB9ASSqOL0AFUz9e/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1210" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0yeYTNDzFiVgeoc46DMIeqAqY6GIiYT-_yXEXSdpR8q1gdHL_221ZonNASbcmSvEz5XZujlzB8q0lQPf2uABm8jt1o3L-aKjAScPsvItTSms12nWk5TRXB9ASSqOL0AFUz9e/s640/IMG_5196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg44kmQFrC0kZfZYq5r1XlS8pkBc58SgamdqiR4Kv9YIl_qMehwt9kWkygscRd7dfPVCMPfYhp7WPBKtP4RXb6RK3YOlThlVPwuiFdBHhGTrH7GTzW0PmUrqu7xZmrh6YV7yL/s1600/IMG_5197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg44kmQFrC0kZfZYq5r1XlS8pkBc58SgamdqiR4Kv9YIl_qMehwt9kWkygscRd7dfPVCMPfYhp7WPBKtP4RXb6RK3YOlThlVPwuiFdBHhGTrH7GTzW0PmUrqu7xZmrh6YV7yL/s640/IMG_5197.JPG" width="452" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The navy had African American sailors in 1812, free men of color from the north, who mixed with the white sailors and got equal pay.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S4Sz729fp8PhYnktGcwpSch9OoOkVAcIgJUDLf0_Wf-9oesq6WeJxMo9X3owESAVRanAy_I28bjh_0B4qbO_64YVPlZbcJBkn7kJT8uAiYq6C8ZPF3EOcvs_0BYxFqaePDol/s1600/IMG_5199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="814" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S4Sz729fp8PhYnktGcwpSch9OoOkVAcIgJUDLf0_Wf-9oesq6WeJxMo9X3owESAVRanAy_I28bjh_0B4qbO_64YVPlZbcJBkn7kJT8uAiYq6C8ZPF3EOcvs_0BYxFqaePDol/s640/IMG_5199.JPG" width="394" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It wasn't until 1948 that the US Army integrated and official ended racial discrimination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sailors often long hours every day. Their jobs included cleaning the deck with a holystone and cold sea salt water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgrB1rFoh8m57tD483ydEBA5Ns6wvmJR-_0xUOwijNhoMECYruYx4c_00WhXhLpob-QqsKtBFdhfd8oP5OtaBsmwbKU5JIncK_UwX47mQYz9ndgXnQMAi-INzKUFjpoA1GKE/s1600/IMG_5200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="889" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHgrB1rFoh8m57tD483ydEBA5Ns6wvmJR-_0xUOwijNhoMECYruYx4c_00WhXhLpob-QqsKtBFdhfd8oP5OtaBsmwbKU5JIncK_UwX47mQYz9ndgXnQMAi-INzKUFjpoA1GKE/s640/IMG_5200.JPG" width="533" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They also climbed up the masts, balancing on them to furl or unfurl the heavy canvas sails. Jonah could practice on a rope close to the ground!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsDOTmFZmR6Krr8CcNJmCmnmEn0bKPcJ-bNsAPuhIxM9BmzMIPF7M2aoGb84A1VB7MaF9Uy6JPCUiE1ospgSFcvHjjiRnkHBkm5ofTphJTSx0uz5fM8RWwPYaN5HdVKqo2Z2Q/s1600/IMG_5202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsDOTmFZmR6Krr8CcNJmCmnmEn0bKPcJ-bNsAPuhIxM9BmzMIPF7M2aoGb84A1VB7MaF9Uy6JPCUiE1ospgSFcvHjjiRnkHBkm5ofTphJTSx0uz5fM8RWwPYaN5HdVKqo2Z2Q/s640/IMG_5202.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jonah found this board book, "B Is for Boston" in the museum gift shop and look what was mentioned for "O!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEioPerisUT-x7hN9u6IYpK5zAGhXVCG8bDK19ccZ1nEhBxhpwQHeELqpKxHtWMnf9N0F7bwxwm8oOvmfxcg3UrAZ8S2k4eseZJeTB4t39qW6fpDpjW9-NzL5FtV_wSg3jWeeB/s1600/IMG_5203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1500" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEioPerisUT-x7hN9u6IYpK5zAGhXVCG8bDK19ccZ1nEhBxhpwQHeELqpKxHtWMnf9N0F7bwxwm8oOvmfxcg3UrAZ8S2k4eseZJeTB4t39qW6fpDpjW9-NzL5FtV_wSg3jWeeB/s640/IMG_5203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then walked back to North Station to take the T to Somerville and get cousin Eli from his after school program. Jonah followed the brick path of the Freedom Trail. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHhxwOdciUwE5L5-VhQ0yhqRu5HWsrLhsM8cvNe0h6PJVl7GvTrne2JxB9FQFEbLui9bGEg34OzqBJ3hjU6Qv2HG2m4NUNE6ZQxYgU2sH2kEj8r22tELbM-rfZjWj53XY-9fC/s1600/IMG_5204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHhxwOdciUwE5L5-VhQ0yhqRu5HWsrLhsM8cvNe0h6PJVl7GvTrne2JxB9FQFEbLui9bGEg34OzqBJ3hjU6Qv2HG2m4NUNE6ZQxYgU2sH2kEj8r22tELbM-rfZjWj53XY-9fC/s640/IMG_5204.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We passed the site of the old Boston Garden and the new TD Garden (the Boston Celtics home base).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning we took the T from Davis Square, and went to North Station again, and walked to the <a href="http://oldnorth.com/oldnorthhistory/" target="_blank">Old North Church</a>. Jonah really enjoyed learning the history of Boston as the Revolutionary War was about to begin and we were there for over an hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the outside of the church, we saw this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl54eno_91ibUw0K5D7fhrprKItfrJmUvqFWgWnq13AVcSCehWFXBN-OnSylRO7V4XZXu5KvEEppYX1Vtwe61Qiz6PoiMH8xOQGOhgCdvqjWNS6-II1Vmo-XlyGaHr37FkHmt/s1600/DSC02168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1015" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl54eno_91ibUw0K5D7fhrprKItfrJmUvqFWgWnq13AVcSCehWFXBN-OnSylRO7V4XZXu5KvEEppYX1Vtwe61Qiz6PoiMH8xOQGOhgCdvqjWNS6-II1Vmo-XlyGaHr37FkHmt/s640/DSC02168.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is how the church began:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdChHcLMuFnzJmhrFCvtpfA632ijkgp0XbYb9L7bBQhOBQeYxZx0gk7p0d81MLD6Z9vfiZVLm2enEuU0DMr9lqSplo6TGAFAYE-a-pyfpOu19tIisDb7gy-YnbJYBnuesBLxs/s1600/DSC02171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1600" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdChHcLMuFnzJmhrFCvtpfA632ijkgp0XbYb9L7bBQhOBQeYxZx0gk7p0d81MLD6Z9vfiZVLm2enEuU0DMr9lqSplo6TGAFAYE-a-pyfpOu19tIisDb7gy-YnbJYBnuesBLxs/s640/DSC02171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The members of the Episcopal church were well-to-do. A pew box cost about 25 British pounds a year to "own," which is almost a year's salary for a common laborer. So poorer people did not attend this church. The selling of these boxes ended in 1912. The balcony seating was less expensive, but still costly. There was one long row of such boxes on the left, one of the right, and a double row of them down the middle of the church. People brought their own furniture to put in the boxes. After 1912, pew seats were added.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTtvnvISoMUlEwGkwNqS-HwYIpgjhv0oNQHCN-Lix3N3RQtAGiXz6oESqcu7qpgCJha63ADoV-JWKD19W4r5-PKC87gSBYaKNyrtLbrms3hf5TQ7Y6ZP2E6xR5lx0bZezp1GQ/s1600/IMG_5212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTtvnvISoMUlEwGkwNqS-HwYIpgjhv0oNQHCN-Lix3N3RQtAGiXz6oESqcu7qpgCJha63ADoV-JWKD19W4r5-PKC87gSBYaKNyrtLbrms3hf5TQ7Y6ZP2E6xR5lx0bZezp1GQ/s640/IMG_5212.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of the "boxes" had signs called "</span><a href="http://oldnorth.com/historic-site/this-old-pew/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">This Old Pew</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">," which added details about the church, the participants, and the approaching war. Below is the story of Mary Gibbs, one of few women to own a pew. If you click on the underlined blue link above, you can read more about the people who owned these pews.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4M4231vZr3eEpiug77YReDgwm78ZcrfWNLD011k0zZdLvDvRTQm-jh7nP3OPCgSIouYpsBeHbEFqbq3lIOG1TKImX53V27bpjoagmEcQJgcCdFaCHy2Yb8blow4UsgIObVcu/s1600/IMG_5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4M4231vZr3eEpiug77YReDgwm78ZcrfWNLD011k0zZdLvDvRTQm-jh7nP3OPCgSIouYpsBeHbEFqbq3lIOG1TKImX53V27bpjoagmEcQJgcCdFaCHy2Yb8blow4UsgIObVcu/s640/IMG_5213.JPG" width="516" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1783, people in Massachusetts had slaves, and they wanted them to go to church, so some families bought seats for their slaves upstairs. </span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmxK4Nrv-eNr7B6VB6NXATrYurIluGLMnUw3gVJLsYe-Hsx5DKn5uVq7BOBrkqcGSgxgUaDNmT-qHLB9hcPqjtCvVM8JkqC19KidAWxYJZCa6bF9pFMa5tWp7j50W5UyjvJ7S/s1600/DSC02170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1327" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmxK4Nrv-eNr7B6VB6NXATrYurIluGLMnUw3gVJLsYe-Hsx5DKn5uVq7BOBrkqcGSgxgUaDNmT-qHLB9hcPqjtCvVM8JkqC19KidAWxYJZCa6bF9pFMa5tWp7j50W5UyjvJ7S/s640/DSC02170.JPG" width="530" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The walls were not a bland white originally as they are now. The colors below have been found under layers of paint.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDVU1EAkXxXrTTRmb1lhe4Z0xIy1EnbZ_Zf0SuBrciJpZg6VLw8yUWU7R1FWsddgygNKF9gShsfs10WbFaqk_CskxI_nOYC-N0JvOGjLpT_1kyT2yiwLrwj9yghUdMMADSLEW/s1600/DSC02201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDVU1EAkXxXrTTRmb1lhe4Z0xIy1EnbZ_Zf0SuBrciJpZg6VLw8yUWU7R1FWsddgygNKF9gShsfs10WbFaqk_CskxI_nOYC-N0JvOGjLpT_1kyT2yiwLrwj9yghUdMMADSLEW/s640/DSC02201.JPG" width="528" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1774, after the Boston Tea Party, where participants protested taxes on tea and other items, the British passed what the colonists called "the Intolerable Acts," to punish the colonists for the Tea Party. These laws closed the port of Boston, gave more power to the British-appointed governor, made the colonists house British officials, and protected British in trials. It also limited town meetings to once a year. The British thought that these acts would help maintain control of the colonies but they had the opposite effect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">General Gage, the British military governor, thought these acts would enrage the colonists, so he decided to have soldiers get the arms and other munitions stored around the colonies. On the first try, they got two cannons from Cambridge and other items from Charleston, which very much alarmed the settlers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The colonists had an "illegal" Congress, and they formed an alarm network, so when they British marched again to gather weapons, the colonists could notify each other to hide their weapons. Hancock and Sam Adams fled to Lexington because they were wanted by the British for leading the Congress. General Gage planned to send 700 troops to Concord to get the weapons. The colonists set up messengers to warn the colonists when the British started to march. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around 10 p.m. on April 18, 1775, Paul Revere set his lantern plan in motion. He "called upon a friend, and desired him to make the signals." But that friend remains a mystery as Revere never named him. The friend locked himself inside the church, climbed the stairs, snuck behind the organ to a door leading to the tower, and climbed seven more stories to the top of the steeple. He then lit the lanterns and held them from the highest window facing north for just one minute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1860, the poet Longfellow visited Old North Church and heard about Paul Revere's role in the revolution. He wrote the famous poem about Paul Revere, taking liberties with the truth, and thus immortalized Revere in history. He did it to make the poem work the best and also to help the country focus on the need to stay together. I memorized most of that poem in 5th grade and believed the story about Revere's important role until I visited the site three years ago.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq8t-jY_WoFXQuRQdVdsxIZ5h9SsWSg4Jn_ucD9MUNrdpF76jk6jKOn_rn_H1Gy6pqpwuDsCHVFdd7dHw5MpkyxaK1-dbtyJJ2M6yy6Xr6OGn5GLzMswNxkZAigjqsAZ_CFzl/s1600/DSC02172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq8t-jY_WoFXQuRQdVdsxIZ5h9SsWSg4Jn_ucD9MUNrdpF76jk6jKOn_rn_H1Gy6pqpwuDsCHVFdd7dHw5MpkyxaK1-dbtyJJ2M6yy6Xr6OGn5GLzMswNxkZAigjqsAZ_CFzl/s640/DSC02172.JPG" width="538" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn-581_URulns_XsOcQ33gwRx0LhOZHtR_8A9EJxYrJpnjENGdOWWWcHJBgfZrWgvM3_8QSmYe54rj04UnsYSM8krbLV3mxEqZtfQdjZOOI8vIVgUkC2XOT2HLv-lMxNu1WRv/s1600/DSC02173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn-581_URulns_XsOcQ33gwRx0LhOZHtR_8A9EJxYrJpnjENGdOWWWcHJBgfZrWgvM3_8QSmYe54rj04UnsYSM8krbLV3mxEqZtfQdjZOOI8vIVgUkC2XOT2HLv-lMxNu1WRv/s640/DSC02173.JPG" width="524" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Revere had kept a detailed diary of his experiences while there is no written record of Dawes' ride. That is another reason there is so little recorded information about others who participated.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhXnYut2CQwoqxt2saAgwngxrXuwLJwFfo564kq0seWsIUdOjA0quRb2FuHgealk6cVDExoQtm7l_IrEYw5WSearXeLcdkmaMwNqFrEvv8GJIZkCOLA7riFbUWavu0NEUe9m-/s1600/DSC02174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="1449" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhXnYut2CQwoqxt2saAgwngxrXuwLJwFfo564kq0seWsIUdOjA0quRb2FuHgealk6cVDExoQtm7l_IrEYw5WSearXeLcdkmaMwNqFrEvv8GJIZkCOLA7riFbUWavu0NEUe9m-/s640/DSC02174.JPG" width="588" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLLFhHAUgFHZLgxk_omYphtHS_3UnyEerqURie4DdMZ20GzbHfJ5gTDjXdnzF745JFp5t8I2lMDQe-UmPcy0ukfwqhRnmJegfv2nuPpd4x34zGLqwHXpszGWU6s1FCOnujKf/s1600/DSC02177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLLFhHAUgFHZLgxk_omYphtHS_3UnyEerqURie4DdMZ20GzbHfJ5gTDjXdnzF745JFp5t8I2lMDQe-UmPcy0ukfwqhRnmJegfv2nuPpd4x34zGLqwHXpszGWU6s1FCOnujKf/s640/DSC02177.JPG" width="588" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is an example of how owners of the pew boxes might have furnished their place.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BYFMGDXq0erbD2dceqpTZp0LimkWOhASObVlHdiqGxfyD4UMgvLQWI1fjNZWNOtH1wTar5AZxTJYSn4LeRhN34SMhAuLfGQKRENtaufUH-QzXsh1FicgoXT6dwiD0L8Hrz8y/s1600/DSC02178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BYFMGDXq0erbD2dceqpTZp0LimkWOhASObVlHdiqGxfyD4UMgvLQWI1fjNZWNOtH1wTar5AZxTJYSn4LeRhN34SMhAuLfGQKRENtaufUH-QzXsh1FicgoXT6dwiD0L8Hrz8y/s640/DSC02178.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below are some other things that Jonah "discovered."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plaque is incorrect in that since 1912, no pew boxes are "owned" any more.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU94kMFZAvKwZuR8VDcuCBxWLprwxMIs1StQSbBOSz4jRf8Lyq8QIeh_sj8QnrGOQRk79_l86lWMdLG2FxV3YuOL_hXdjBgDWduNR97T0u1WEtBnoZlD-S23bA8QK336Y5XwDc/s1600/DSC02179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU94kMFZAvKwZuR8VDcuCBxWLprwxMIs1StQSbBOSz4jRf8Lyq8QIeh_sj8QnrGOQRk79_l86lWMdLG2FxV3YuOL_hXdjBgDWduNR97T0u1WEtBnoZlD-S23bA8QK336Y5XwDc/s640/DSC02179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zSbW8G2b1fHPtzyyM64CnCWAv3HdHCxVeriGN5pmZ_zmr_t3hDegkrrhcr-icyDR12l81-Mltsq4M4osl16OCdz8dUqzvjtPGnygsvRCU0IBbjhYUTNj2UrRbGK9m4-RUujt/s1600/DSC02180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1319" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zSbW8G2b1fHPtzyyM64CnCWAv3HdHCxVeriGN5pmZ_zmr_t3hDegkrrhcr-icyDR12l81-Mltsq4M4osl16OCdz8dUqzvjtPGnygsvRCU0IBbjhYUTNj2UrRbGK9m4-RUujt/s640/DSC02180.JPG" width="526" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">When Lafayette visited the church and saw this bust of George Washington, he said that it was a more realistic portrayal of Washington than all the others that he had seen.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXYZkEo1lRqD2cd3TQ8rDsIFovJLfFISIBOcXcMsTlDBKvJ9El62BUTL1TS2iOGnd93vIW7JksBcVNCgWU5GGHNXRnKgGL_AlA1abU3HaV4Ern7N_FKFIjvWDVDaYXQodc_W5/s1600/DSC02186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXYZkEo1lRqD2cd3TQ8rDsIFovJLfFISIBOcXcMsTlDBKvJ9El62BUTL1TS2iOGnd93vIW7JksBcVNCgWU5GGHNXRnKgGL_AlA1abU3HaV4Ern7N_FKFIjvWDVDaYXQodc_W5/s640/DSC02186.JPG" width="490" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIsgT4AQ6_MKk5mnccB35qX91jOVdFH8kUA6BG9HVbXtIjS_TZI0nQPyZflgnhgrGxzFeqtyI26T_JMBmqm0EjOWTtpN6T-29F3YZsSJglZfOAttKIvNtYBwnQAHFvUoJ67ug/s1600/DSC02184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIsgT4AQ6_MKk5mnccB35qX91jOVdFH8kUA6BG9HVbXtIjS_TZI0nQPyZflgnhgrGxzFeqtyI26T_JMBmqm0EjOWTtpN6T-29F3YZsSJglZfOAttKIvNtYBwnQAHFvUoJ67ug/s640/DSC02184.JPG" width="526" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The organ is the original and dates to the middle of the 18th century. It is the first organ in North America made entirely in the colonies of local products. The flag to the left of the organ was the flat of the 13 colonies, with 13 stripes and the British flag. The flag on the right was the first flag of the US.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-e9r-EECVt3MkAlk6pMc5I8hudXLC8hoaIhaJVx83ShV__a2w1VzNJZZ3FvJlw6YFoqWWyar5rA945aGHrgG3xcXHkKcBBmkakdiUpY_slpn7KNyC6KAFbJDAT05e6KP1tky/s1600/DSC02187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-e9r-EECVt3MkAlk6pMc5I8hudXLC8hoaIhaJVx83ShV__a2w1VzNJZZ3FvJlw6YFoqWWyar5rA945aGHrgG3xcXHkKcBBmkakdiUpY_slpn7KNyC6KAFbJDAT05e6KP1tky/s640/DSC02187.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IGQLIcpntGcCpBhByH5-hWg19isicgAFbibMwJ3lyGz3SEY_oPmAZFXppk8EufOVqzOHzuN_9T8tWuXSuL3lIzNKnOXudBwI-WFvunuN-RMBi3lkmBxJapdZPRl-tILbWTN9/s1600/DSC02189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IGQLIcpntGcCpBhByH5-hWg19isicgAFbibMwJ3lyGz3SEY_oPmAZFXppk8EufOVqzOHzuN_9T8tWuXSuL3lIzNKnOXudBwI-WFvunuN-RMBi3lkmBxJapdZPRl-tILbWTN9/s640/DSC02189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Above, Jonah is looking at the note about Captain Maxwell, who donated the chandeliers (which he bought in England) to the church in 1724 to make it look fancier. They were first lit in Xmas of 1724. At that time, many Christians did not celebrate the holiday as Puritans had banned it in 1659, saying that it had too many pagan roots. The Royal Governor lifted the ban in 1681, but many continued with the old ways. Eventually younger generations of Puritans started celebrating the holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some more details about the building itself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8DyMU2VRMc77d820EaLX9zT-ezzOrq2ykgww1MdSip1_ixvDK2JqWAkSFx-Ix0RlM7cEIltYI1U-mBSb_ceOnv03zN3NUYfIzK4JOFKyD8VdY9KcvUc1eMIn2EgFCNoRNfyE/s1600/DSC02191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8DyMU2VRMc77d820EaLX9zT-ezzOrq2ykgww1MdSip1_ixvDK2JqWAkSFx-Ix0RlM7cEIltYI1U-mBSb_ceOnv03zN3NUYfIzK4JOFKyD8VdY9KcvUc1eMIn2EgFCNoRNfyE/s640/DSC02191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Boston used to be smaller than now as Back Bay was a real bay and Boston harbor was larger. Hills on islands off the Boston coast were cut down in the mid 1800s and later and used to fill in those areas. Here is a great map that a docent explained to us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vzVKYviAslfUgYBpe_2HUDOt611tBV1i7pYY9fmocz-Zg_POvg5FEr-so80n9vaoUa8knceEBSVx9xKXLB3sveZFcSn5NQIIOjbMn-WRhlHI6YWSgAEC6y95XrQB2oTLvRfJ/s1600/DSC02192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vzVKYviAslfUgYBpe_2HUDOt611tBV1i7pYY9fmocz-Zg_POvg5FEr-so80n9vaoUa8knceEBSVx9xKXLB3sveZFcSn5NQIIOjbMn-WRhlHI6YWSgAEC6y95XrQB2oTLvRfJ/s640/DSC02192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a long and interesting visit at the church, we heading out behind the church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First we saw a memorial to American soldiers. There were blank dog tags for the American soldiers who had died in Afghanistan.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcw3fTPydLARFSTEvUxDVjQb7FT2YSfCQAo3K9GtV5CNv7eVr9TzCPztRKdWj3ClUGD8fdT3GXm1eeM2sJHasqEnMM7StMBWHig69ZEj4f42SQ9yH4rtV3VqT7XPJYDfhr5I9/s1600/DSC02207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcw3fTPydLARFSTEvUxDVjQb7FT2YSfCQAo3K9GtV5CNv7eVr9TzCPztRKdWj3ClUGD8fdT3GXm1eeM2sJHasqEnMM7StMBWHig69ZEj4f42SQ9yH4rtV3VqT7XPJYDfhr5I9/s640/DSC02207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19lPXRM1ino8U2u_dMz-zpjVOxHZrsLmuai057FKIBhuDuauZbckp3pw3xxLj3-CJ68hE22VhGxTlCRe02YS1XA0DMnO18f19SR5sYLHkn98CVHK_cMQ3-FQbTOwL49KrgNvk/s1600/DSC02210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19lPXRM1ino8U2u_dMz-zpjVOxHZrsLmuai057FKIBhuDuauZbckp3pw3xxLj3-CJ68hE22VhGxTlCRe02YS1XA0DMnO18f19SR5sYLHkn98CVHK_cMQ3-FQbTOwL49KrgNvk/s640/DSC02210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our next stop was at Captain Jackson's Historic Chocolate Shop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While at the church, Jonah found this sign on the pew that Captain Jackson "owned."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb8QGgQNc25NjvvR370Gv3cl1eeJb1JGwzOe67UbpzCxjaUjdbbJ-HweaG7GSUbIMq8x9801aV2oK5SOP1yJDOUbWcU3PfxyhKgKhTfxFMSk2GUGWPWVAnnQGdxqXLjcnnjoj/s1600/DSC02203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1144" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb8QGgQNc25NjvvR370Gv3cl1eeJb1JGwzOe67UbpzCxjaUjdbbJ-HweaG7GSUbIMq8x9801aV2oK5SOP1yJDOUbWcU3PfxyhKgKhTfxFMSk2GUGWPWVAnnQGdxqXLjcnnjoj/s640/DSC02203.JPG" width="496" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We watched a man in clothing from the 18th century tell us about chocolate. He showed us spices that were put in drinking chocolate and we learned that sweet chocolate was not created until the 19th century. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jft1KBsBuOVzC4ryIC7DkfM8b4eavcVeoeCYaF89k2GVJ1dqc-YNt1I1UXknG6A5C2twx_qbuit7qUwwnEz1qenYcMheGRb_avAidJufEtrWSBg944O_k900AQElgwJe-JUM/s1600/DSC02213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jft1KBsBuOVzC4ryIC7DkfM8b4eavcVeoeCYaF89k2GVJ1dqc-YNt1I1UXknG6A5C2twx_qbuit7qUwwnEz1qenYcMheGRb_avAidJufEtrWSBg944O_k900AQElgwJe-JUM/s640/DSC02213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then we got tastes of this rich, yummy (and not sweet) warm chocolate drink! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was good and very strong.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1qVC48Qu8FNLEWZXsPk4oPj_8d-Btk34XP0SnZcI5quljm0lGAhEyhVuUvz9jbqk5ALYw7HItGwJeG3duYyW_1vCU_8XpgX3AbL07s3HRF6b4swzVlDMQfIDSl3sjL_nFNOf/s1600/IMG_5215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1qVC48Qu8FNLEWZXsPk4oPj_8d-Btk34XP0SnZcI5quljm0lGAhEyhVuUvz9jbqk5ALYw7HItGwJeG3duYyW_1vCU_8XpgX3AbL07s3HRF6b4swzVlDMQfIDSl3sjL_nFNOf/s640/IMG_5215.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jonah stood by a statue of Paul Revere and still wondered why he got so much attention. I said to blame it on Longfellow!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yx0Yfk8dkaJfPhyphenhyphen1yf3MthuEHboji0bMVSZW8lGGijrdeYNmWmgHds95_lWm3aJtF28gfA422K_Mi7MBipHrtFbtyiReXRs6_T4OG2gDlmbmNn5sacb_XwxCg6zwmNNair-G/s1600/IMG_5217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yx0Yfk8dkaJfPhyphenhyphen1yf3MthuEHboji0bMVSZW8lGGijrdeYNmWmgHds95_lWm3aJtF28gfA422K_Mi7MBipHrtFbtyiReXRs6_T4OG2gDlmbmNn5sacb_XwxCg6zwmNNair-G/s640/IMG_5217.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Between the church and Paul Revere statue, there were markers on the wall to remember people from the North End who helped create our country.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgOHQZqe5RRTy4SC77jes88MEHX6WbJXC1LNxFKx8G7tQHaiz3-bLsM2kfvJZjmsvr0aQ9ghMQv4szfslzeJ-by_qXokp7ky-RTTkzr14swGyXsgSNlQDJLzCQVb12h9G7eTB/s1600/DSC02215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1222" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgOHQZqe5RRTy4SC77jes88MEHX6WbJXC1LNxFKx8G7tQHaiz3-bLsM2kfvJZjmsvr0aQ9ghMQv4szfslzeJ-by_qXokp7ky-RTTkzr14swGyXsgSNlQDJLzCQVb12h9G7eTB/s640/DSC02215.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is an example of one of them--I had never heard of him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LOhzwEq4-UtuKXOZwsbTKpP4ejgH-j1WVkyw9WWYjdenfNYv_8-QVI7HX93hKZZ9KXtl0ld43qqgSzoZu6V_TVpojdZaTCitrZmVMW1LqIYFOwQrNmRTSDQJQxvJCltpZD5B/s1600/DSC02214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1161" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LOhzwEq4-UtuKXOZwsbTKpP4ejgH-j1WVkyw9WWYjdenfNYv_8-QVI7HX93hKZZ9KXtl0ld43qqgSzoZu6V_TVpojdZaTCitrZmVMW1LqIYFOwQrNmRTSDQJQxvJCltpZD5B/s640/DSC02214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since the North End has traditionally been the home of Italians, there are some good pizza places nearby. We stopped at one, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Galleria Umberto</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 30px;">, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> where Sicilian cheese pizza is sold For $1.85 a slice, cash only. I read online not to get there too late as they often run out of pizza! Jonah ate two pieces and said that the pizza was great. I had a spinach calzone, the only dairy free item on the menu.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPX_eEuvgpfwLDjV2GteH7SoHh8w5y77BBF4HMcodfzVF77XKwgX0JYN_kD3YOCNhHyf0TqO5lpTZXtM8oIDZquZ8OF7kkMpdgi9lw_8LAVFP6Qd-HUm61mbLxy6UvskaJXZ9/s1600/IMG_5218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPX_eEuvgpfwLDjV2GteH7SoHh8w5y77BBF4HMcodfzVF77XKwgX0JYN_kD3YOCNhHyf0TqO5lpTZXtM8oIDZquZ8OF7kkMpdgi9lw_8LAVFP6Qd-HUm61mbLxy6UvskaJXZ9/s640/IMG_5218.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then headed over to the Holocaust memorial, passing people setting up for the Haymarket open air market for the next day. On the way we passed a park and on the wall were plaques about the immigrants to the area.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoXOtRr2etg3tqmjPp2B0WNQsw2oFW_okepHALrQteXp0D5lHcEWCVvEgrHKguIiIcolN6t0Vw26aSPyJ0FU9BoB3oHiM60s_016A55NtqTcQmni0RDAJOMGjd7rHKfOp3Ak5/s1600/DSC02221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoXOtRr2etg3tqmjPp2B0WNQsw2oFW_okepHALrQteXp0D5lHcEWCVvEgrHKguIiIcolN6t0Vw26aSPyJ0FU9BoB3oHiM60s_016A55NtqTcQmni0RDAJOMGjd7rHKfOp3Ak5/s640/DSC02221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WbSM_VaZNZ4z9-_oL5wlPNOCgi-q2PFcOSeshMBZdm_q6AuyWk3Ckqg_wPI5ZAvprZZb3_L0yVLlXC_6UOSlfWf7TuRKx9Ao8-9IyI3nHP7Nx07G5uPzmngcw2ekquuW8eNc/s1600/DSC02217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WbSM_VaZNZ4z9-_oL5wlPNOCgi-q2PFcOSeshMBZdm_q6AuyWk3Ckqg_wPI5ZAvprZZb3_L0yVLlXC_6UOSlfWf7TuRKx9Ao8-9IyI3nHP7Nx07G5uPzmngcw2ekquuW8eNc/s640/DSC02217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjrdcGU8OlS4XewprmYuNE99d6RFkufBRI2nApLV20dHl-yLW9ThyphenhyphenDTt3j_ilfquxCMHeOMYyYiLiL0uRX3TlyghF0EmCI1An2RfzMIV3GkuJ97-NdXYxXvGIzDNxiqfdQ3ZZ/s1600/DSC02219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1600" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjrdcGU8OlS4XewprmYuNE99d6RFkufBRI2nApLV20dHl-yLW9ThyphenhyphenDTt3j_ilfquxCMHeOMYyYiLiL0uRX3TlyghF0EmCI1An2RfzMIV3GkuJ97-NdXYxXvGIzDNxiqfdQ3ZZ/s640/DSC02219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then we saw the Holocaust memorial from a distance. The names of all of those who were killed are written on the glass towers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eLMASDI7XPbdu2l-02YvnNBuqv4HKRk2YTJj5VGwlkNlYEaS25XPvY7bgO9OPWdPnQNnOfvntCSn3IOo-FO76x7fFmsPGn8_W1nobhTkGVmLSM2kx6s7-aEfo6XyFlhq_ByH/s1600/IMG_5219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eLMASDI7XPbdu2l-02YvnNBuqv4HKRk2YTJj5VGwlkNlYEaS25XPvY7bgO9OPWdPnQNnOfvntCSn3IOo-FO76x7fFmsPGn8_W1nobhTkGVmLSM2kx6s7-aEfo6XyFlhq_ByH/s640/IMG_5219.JPG" width="436" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shoah is the Hebrew word for the Holocaust.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG2QeK5eQW82t-uhpmn6QdwmmWdPo_X2CurDZofdeQtw6ybKjX72-cmVVbI3f2STKkQCvx7g2yMuhZq_8OJAKTlLii_03cuJx8awySXYzhGUW-1wu3xIirc1dvo43Zi0xkCT6/s1600/IMG_5221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1296" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG2QeK5eQW82t-uhpmn6QdwmmWdPo_X2CurDZofdeQtw6ybKjX72-cmVVbI3f2STKkQCvx7g2yMuhZq_8OJAKTlLii_03cuJx8awySXYzhGUW-1wu3xIirc1dvo43Zi0xkCT6/s640/IMG_5221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsJVMjimtHhQ1z7yfYEq-_brkUCOjOhStSfXKdRVJ2Woc8Lv1j3dCPFxKgoUD11Aatsyi3jOVWnHwjoSG-EqoJZd7yh5j-Y8XkOX2wxZeuqPyik8wk9tI4Tf5mQtaDTgk6IMp/s1600/DSC02224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1314" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsJVMjimtHhQ1z7yfYEq-_brkUCOjOhStSfXKdRVJ2Woc8Lv1j3dCPFxKgoUD11Aatsyi3jOVWnHwjoSG-EqoJZd7yh5j-Y8XkOX2wxZeuqPyik8wk9tI4Tf5mQtaDTgk6IMp/s640/DSC02224.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips3GmuRUsbD5ZVmdE59cyP0njLBGBJkF_7ISwJIUMKl71a_p9WzniJC_SpSvE1eRXvSuTn933W8-IfUf3EawynaCNTGDUVWrVcFKLpleOlgIrI_hk8KZAINHz3pdQoh0FRvlG/s1600/IMG_5225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips3GmuRUsbD5ZVmdE59cyP0njLBGBJkF_7ISwJIUMKl71a_p9WzniJC_SpSvE1eRXvSuTn933W8-IfUf3EawynaCNTGDUVWrVcFKLpleOlgIrI_hk8KZAINHz3pdQoh0FRvlG/s640/IMG_5225.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is a very important quote. We need to speak up for others that are being persecuted.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lAqg7Zn1lMyP0_KsojxKoDzJYXTk3L-wuODn-06iz8i6ryW56V2rvIeOLKuvqNsaMjCGW2mt9yMWlIw7AnIGndFx-dhoerD6E_dA2p0Tv-Rdw5CtPw6zTvGFMvnykefoUUOB/s1600/IMG_5220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lAqg7Zn1lMyP0_KsojxKoDzJYXTk3L-wuODn-06iz8i6ryW56V2rvIeOLKuvqNsaMjCGW2mt9yMWlIw7AnIGndFx-dhoerD6E_dA2p0Tv-Rdw5CtPw6zTvGFMvnykefoUUOB/s640/IMG_5220.JPG" width="618" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then continued to walk on the Freedom Trail, heading toward the State House.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0dvyI8hFTGRcsbwY4_TIC2g66TCk-Gwm_4YKbmFIneRhpgPNwJ_G1fyZdI8UKODxLJpUXtZ07FFKhn0ZjZTm5ZQfpSH226-51BydpRIj7Vedtd1edb5t_TgUOsHKm6tMzgNl/s1600/DSC02225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="821" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0dvyI8hFTGRcsbwY4_TIC2g66TCk-Gwm_4YKbmFIneRhpgPNwJ_G1fyZdI8UKODxLJpUXtZ07FFKhn0ZjZTm5ZQfpSH226-51BydpRIj7Vedtd1edb5t_TgUOsHKm6tMzgNl/s640/DSC02225.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We passed the statue of Samuel Adams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT4KYaOXBJsKkk5DWR0UWtN2U5Tmt-1y74a3yn4TIOr6clneOKn4BWvTDoYDBLflpbdx1-ml3l_4W0Z-vLDSerJ4IHUX63-HkZXPEMhHjoZ6H4G_1lkNzOCrXEX8xDLjWhRLo/s1600/DSC02226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT4KYaOXBJsKkk5DWR0UWtN2U5Tmt-1y74a3yn4TIOr6clneOKn4BWvTDoYDBLflpbdx1-ml3l_4W0Z-vLDSerJ4IHUX63-HkZXPEMhHjoZ6H4G_1lkNzOCrXEX8xDLjWhRLo/s640/DSC02226.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And continued on to the State House where we spent close to an hour also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog is getting so long that I think that I will call this part 1 and start part 2 tomorrow!</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-61153875319655954512018-04-02T12:55:00.005-07:002018-04-02T18:54:17.112-07:00Incredible India, Part 8: Jodphur, Udapur including a hospital stay, and Mumbai<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed out to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpur" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jodhpur</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, the </span><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-grier/discover-the-blue-city-of-jodhpur-india_b_9780974.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">blue-hued old city</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which lies at the foot of the massive Mehrangarh Fort that dominates the skyline. Jodhpur is the 2nd largest city in Rajasthan, with over a million people. Fennel, cumin and lentils are grown in this area. The fennel is tall and yellow near the top. There is no agreed on reason why many of the homes in the old part of town are blue. Some say it keeps away termites and others say it helps keep the buildings cooler. Bhanu said that the blue keeps away mosquitoes.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Web photo)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Jodphur is famous for its sweets, culture, and being a more conservative/traditional city with "high etiquette." It is also called sun city because it is sunny most of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way, we passed through the area with b<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stones_of_India" target="_blank">ig marble mines </a>including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makrana_marble" target="_blank">Makrana</a> and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNk-zjEu5XA" target="_blank">Kishangarh quarries.</a> The root "garh" means place. Arke Marble is a big brand. Some of the marble mining was banned ten years ago by the Supreme Court because of environmental issues. (There are 28 sitting judges, men and women, on the Supreme Court. Retirement is required at age 65.) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hill of marble in the background</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYyq3tYvL8GRptmECwPpVC5p-Bd-xwtCpxq1zuRd4scyV3NBypN90v6BiYzAFbS6HiH3Xgzx6eO0QEJ5W_apiHM3fCj0uak-F30zBeb5B4hjgKIJnZ87fmoL0jyid9kRC22Ck/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYyq3tYvL8GRptmECwPpVC5p-Bd-xwtCpxq1zuRd4scyV3NBypN90v6BiYzAFbS6HiH3Xgzx6eO0QEJ5W_apiHM3fCj0uak-F30zBeb5B4hjgKIJnZ87fmoL0jyid9kRC22Ck/s640/IMG_3834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A marble statue store</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were lots of trucks on the road to Jodhpur, many filled with marble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way, Bhanu told us amusing but powerful stories of <a href="http://www.nasruddin.org/" target="_blank">Mulla Naseraddim</a> from the 13th century, like the one of a disciple who was told to fill a basket with no bottom. He learned that it is like filling himself with unrealistic expectations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He also told us that Nehru was very scientifically oriented. India now has come full circle and launches rockets into space, staffs a British research center in India with 13-15 rockets sent up for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He also mentioned that Buddhism swept India from the 4th--8th centuries. Buddha was against idol worship, so it only began three to four hundred years after his death. From the 9th century on, the Buddhist revival grew when the central government grew weaker and the cow became "sacred." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu told us more about cremation, saying that 99% of Hindus are cremated. It is done to symbolically break the connection of soul with the body. He told the story of a tigress who gave birth to three cubs, but one grew up with sheep. One day a different tiger in the forest saw this big tiger in a group of sheep. The older tiger pulls him to a lake to see his image--the connection of self and body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A child under 7 is never cremated, nor are pregnant women, or very holy people. He said that every 7 years, the cells of the body get renewed so a young child still has many of her original cells. At 70, we have not had our original cells for a long time. The soul leaves the body on death so the body is not important. At the cremation, the oldest son puts the fire for cremation in his father's mouth, where the first breath is taken. Often women do not attend. The son may also break the skull. The next day, the family sweeps the ashes and picks out the biggest bone fragments called 'flowers" and takes them to the Ganges River. There agents sort the person by cast and family before the flowers are placed in the river. Records are meticulously kept and are a fantastic source for genetic research. During periods of mourning, men shave their heads and leave a slight pony tail in the middle back of the head. Our assistant to the bus driver had recently lost his uncle and had such a "tail."</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gas station along the way</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sights along the way. Notice the colorful head covering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Jute bags used as a base for the new highways, to hold moisture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sheep and shepherd blocking the road:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Our assistant to the bus driver running down the narrow road to keep vehicles (or goats) from coming from the other direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At a rest stop, we noticed the woman who is the spiritual leader of a special kind of meditation in Seattle and elsewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A woman baking millet chapatti using a clay pot and chuha, a traditional oven, using wood sticks for fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Raiput chief of the Rathore clan. It currently has a strong airforce and military. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop in the city was at the <a href="http://jatinchhabra.com/jaswant-thada-a-memorial-as-beautiful-as-taj-mahal/" target="_blank">Jaswant Thada</a>, a cenotaph, which is a memorial for important people. It is a place of remembrances for the Jodhpur rulers. Their bodies were cremated but this site commemorates them. The kings of Jodhpur have been highly respected. In the 19th century, there was a significant drought here, so the palace was built to put people to work. The collection of buildings here is often referred to as the Taj Mahal of Rajesthan because of its beautiful marble construction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was located in a beautiful setting</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A bit past the ticket booth, we saw this little girl arranging her grandfather's hair while he sat patiently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few meters past them, this musician was playing a traditional instrument, maybe a veena?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We approached the beautiful, white remembrance building</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1EtzxVeB02CJruVzIuw5PXSgWhbcJ2hCFCyTAJxMFBZViy_XiHpO3NKPAjf-xaXHywDiTSHNPbkaD1T_OIq1CYNAYaZ6SPSNHiAvy5u4VDRUruStp5r7r4GbzFizqDdhqv8X/s1600/DSC01604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1EtzxVeB02CJruVzIuw5PXSgWhbcJ2hCFCyTAJxMFBZViy_XiHpO3NKPAjf-xaXHywDiTSHNPbkaD1T_OIq1CYNAYaZ6SPSNHiAvy5u4VDRUruStp5r7r4GbzFizqDdhqv8X/s640/DSC01604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jKTPpp4zMu_TzH4aKF_6lXbQLV9lUmWPipllP9aDQypKDO7xZNhCX7tTVpzT2TbDZnDD5p4d5rU4IQ8tbMXt0b_0NoZw8J-unFZT9gmnp5sgbd__LgrHVV2zKUtkxmRt6CEe/s1600/DSC01609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jKTPpp4zMu_TzH4aKF_6lXbQLV9lUmWPipllP9aDQypKDO7xZNhCX7tTVpzT2TbDZnDD5p4d5rU4IQ8tbMXt0b_0NoZw8J-unFZT9gmnp5sgbd__LgrHVV2zKUtkxmRt6CEe/s640/DSC01609.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohkxhd6JRaj44JjqKXIll73m1e6aTivRlDvPOBhKDbOGbBgX7AJK484oDgN3YtyaHTX4tpc5FDsZNOFTEbU1oy75vURNWx8sQyT7KOHA41awrbdkAidqdCbncOUaRxo1wEqhh/s1600/DSC01607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohkxhd6JRaj44JjqKXIll73m1e6aTivRlDvPOBhKDbOGbBgX7AJK484oDgN3YtyaHTX4tpc5FDsZNOFTEbU1oy75vURNWx8sQyT7KOHA41awrbdkAidqdCbncOUaRxo1wEqhh/s640/DSC01607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the entry to this beautiful marble building, this man showed off his amazing mustache! Then we went inside to see pictures of the leaders of Jodphur through history, and all had big mustaches!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1iQ5HIADYYMjZeoUGZSb0EzREhI3t4vZZfbWgNtdINP9N1vfSUZdRLA6VlZXKfWYFJ27bN5r4alW5NZ5uFGQdBBK9RMxYk21ijXNt6AFCXKO7s2fMxNb_Vg8S4tMNFGPFKA_/s1600/DSC01611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1iQ5HIADYYMjZeoUGZSb0EzREhI3t4vZZfbWgNtdINP9N1vfSUZdRLA6VlZXKfWYFJ27bN5r4alW5NZ5uFGQdBBK9RMxYk21ijXNt6AFCXKO7s2fMxNb_Vg8S4tMNFGPFKA_/s640/DSC01611.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And his amazing head covering!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwwrKHStNc-u8PO4ZGij5rkV7Bxwd0ISh5GbI-rt3Bi2DIJKQ1F2a43g3bkGaYMR5elRdSqanCL_jNzQl7hrI2lCN5iAjc2hebEcqOFmC1c20za8BgaRqWvsezP57PAz4f0oX/s1600/IMG_3862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwwrKHStNc-u8PO4ZGij5rkV7Bxwd0ISh5GbI-rt3Bi2DIJKQ1F2a43g3bkGaYMR5elRdSqanCL_jNzQl7hrI2lCN5iAjc2hebEcqOFmC1c20za8BgaRqWvsezP57PAz4f0oX/s640/IMG_3862.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hb-GTpbgh9FVr_iU6xwSG-tW7vXNoQ2AA-s0DCCjWOmsVkMM1dqgtGZ5vUTiXJbmA3ZgheeKd9yiOpgkHhyphenhyphen2gU7wsFe1DoVc4YR-bBRBAtzIbvR_aPxIHlMs2oPBClnHvYrH/s1600/DSC01619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1554" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hb-GTpbgh9FVr_iU6xwSG-tW7vXNoQ2AA-s0DCCjWOmsVkMM1dqgtGZ5vUTiXJbmA3ZgheeKd9yiOpgkHhyphenhyphen2gU7wsFe1DoVc4YR-bBRBAtzIbvR_aPxIHlMs2oPBClnHvYrH/s640/DSC01619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The oldest painting....he has a modest mustache and prominent sideburns. "Rao" is a titular word like "duke," below the level of maharaja. .</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLLNxkswR_GNlywXl8TywhxHT3_1uPWGqHvhq7TQjoIqgTWZL_tOSvbsWjEQJ-Xb9E4r6frHkycfS6qvbUwoBhfFx9-8zL24h3ikChP_rxpPk3lybn_zNPYS2w42wZNW9QwM3/s1600/DSC01621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1590" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLLNxkswR_GNlywXl8TywhxHT3_1uPWGqHvhq7TQjoIqgTWZL_tOSvbsWjEQJ-Xb9E4r6frHkycfS6qvbUwoBhfFx9-8zL24h3ikChP_rxpPk3lybn_zNPYS2w42wZNW9QwM3/s640/DSC01621.JPG" width="634" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzR1D290ruGehqxG4CcvVZV71mZVxj1X8HWrNd4gb_Q3gEuy0_t-0vfNnvSEgzPgTz4jcIveLU-uCyKCIyuTBbsgroZHMSVb_0ViHFXPDLiWnirUZUS5c5sog3PVi6IT0GQjv/s1600/DSC01622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1600" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzR1D290ruGehqxG4CcvVZV71mZVxj1X8HWrNd4gb_Q3gEuy0_t-0vfNnvSEgzPgTz4jcIveLU-uCyKCIyuTBbsgroZHMSVb_0ViHFXPDLiWnirUZUS5c5sog3PVi6IT0GQjv/s640/DSC01622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I didn't get a picture of the founder of Jodhpur. He must have been right after the man above. I think after the founding of the city, the leaders were then called Maharaja.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_Shy4GA7UCx2RhdOI8n-CzS3hXFRaOmdm3-74YrASvP_aGFhc31-JQj1e31P3_iifHQDif1oLxZsyOm-7fbr2oT4nWfF7VjDA3_DlUIVEOjDabe5TlQtzDzDkUBXgHW6czjS/s1600/DSC01616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1312" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_Shy4GA7UCx2RhdOI8n-CzS3hXFRaOmdm3-74YrASvP_aGFhc31-JQj1e31P3_iifHQDif1oLxZsyOm-7fbr2oT4nWfF7VjDA3_DlUIVEOjDabe5TlQtzDzDkUBXgHW6czjS/s640/DSC01616.JPG" width="568" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMW8XtFaFmwZRD56u7pOWSwH93Uehl3oz6YHqwDaIOaY72V1AwGLsqVptxeVa0ABCpPvr2EgGC4Mojc8xWA4OsmI8mW2dP0Frm0mpcDPIk3TSLH_Eg6We7G3nAR6HU1lfKcJ8/s1600/DSC01615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1560" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMW8XtFaFmwZRD56u7pOWSwH93Uehl3oz6YHqwDaIOaY72V1AwGLsqVptxeVa0ABCpPvr2EgGC4Mojc8xWA4OsmI8mW2dP0Frm0mpcDPIk3TSLH_Eg6We7G3nAR6HU1lfKcJ8/s640/DSC01615.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quite modern looking with a small mustache. He still has the prominent nose.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjHuyM_XpxV5BSEwr9JhANWb02PGOR2FpxCp5qYqJQPjdTU-lWIzGPQwnWews05S6674m0imd6-JBSOoGEfzuXvGKG7Pb1aDqJPbRGGjekkWARu0XF9eF3xIE_q0fiIVfmNcS/s1600/DSC01618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjHuyM_XpxV5BSEwr9JhANWb02PGOR2FpxCp5qYqJQPjdTU-lWIzGPQwnWews05S6674m0imd6-JBSOoGEfzuXvGKG7Pb1aDqJPbRGGjekkWARu0XF9eF3xIE_q0fiIVfmNcS/s640/DSC01618.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The current maharaja, I believe.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV497BCicQq9npUi4lcUauHTOxNIudX38G7ybmfHFqLSrfYtKxBO-eFfuJabdQpF9eKph9vs_R3LoGXOJEJF4Ieh56SkOkZJmx8ZoHYVV1jwKqyDXiHp0hK4fv62xWFzQGjaGk/s1600/DSC01630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1090" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV497BCicQq9npUi4lcUauHTOxNIudX38G7ybmfHFqLSrfYtKxBO-eFfuJabdQpF9eKph9vs_R3LoGXOJEJF4Ieh56SkOkZJmx8ZoHYVV1jwKqyDXiHp0hK4fv62xWFzQGjaGk/s640/DSC01630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqh45xegB8WibG1outheteXMD8DgvPV8nfqqSy1CHEVlKsn4Z5m41XXpmEKouShpIDhhcVZsFrUJYJBRrUe9NZi12Y5J-IoavtyaGy7drIJ14T-SRo_KvBx2hNvAfwwqlLTHR/s1600/DSC01632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqh45xegB8WibG1outheteXMD8DgvPV8nfqqSy1CHEVlKsn4Z5m41XXpmEKouShpIDhhcVZsFrUJYJBRrUe9NZi12Y5J-IoavtyaGy7drIJ14T-SRo_KvBx2hNvAfwwqlLTHR/s640/DSC01632.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the blue city from this site</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKgFnEg9lROqa6MOqGGT8o_3a8oWfiV6tDyqHHud6AANqHQNyu6PCkQ7GtaSPjHT0IPHA0b1VSCz_o4_u9xrSB2ZCbSuIK2cYhtrEaODkJpowtVgdaVKIkJe22TYE2gVuGZCq/s1600/DSC01612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKgFnEg9lROqa6MOqGGT8o_3a8oWfiV6tDyqHHud6AANqHQNyu6PCkQ7GtaSPjHT0IPHA0b1VSCz_o4_u9xrSB2ZCbSuIK2cYhtrEaODkJpowtVgdaVKIkJe22TYE2gVuGZCq/s640/DSC01612.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And view of town from here</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpa0-EEJoduVsUWGVHvEyyFo8ZEBNHakGFr1tr3iruS9Ftk7E56MCFCLZrjz4ROCQr65cq-lhTRhncwBXPHmyvJa93aBKdDQHK58KiwlJxswMvhCYavxyTXrZUYXjUaJlcFJu/s1600/DSC01637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpa0-EEJoduVsUWGVHvEyyFo8ZEBNHakGFr1tr3iruS9Ftk7E56MCFCLZrjz4ROCQr65cq-lhTRhncwBXPHmyvJa93aBKdDQHK58KiwlJxswMvhCYavxyTXrZUYXjUaJlcFJu/s640/DSC01637.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue across from the entrance of the founder of Jodhpur<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was to the imposing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehrangarh" target="_blank">Mehrangarh Fort</a>, built in 1459 by the founder of Jodhpur, of burnished red sandstone and often called the "Citadel of the Sun." it is one of the most impressive in all of Rajasthan and one of the best preserved forts in all of India. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Mehrangarh Fort.jpg" height="481" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Mehrangarh_Fort.jpg/250px-Mehrangarh_Fort.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Web photo of the fort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The 39th ruler of Jodhpur is the current owner. Until 1949, his ancestors ruled from </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">here. In 1972, he turned it into the Mehrangari Museum Trust and opened it to visitors.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0g1uJ7OPmGtAp6eDko7Rh1hFWOE-uM_ms_j96VIP0DB4vKaMghA9ibZVvVdYdep_4t9znlri44OKkr3uQqSgVzUww4EGrH2kf21-zCyOG29E-05VwGOrNR9_Bh8AYf5H7RfZ/s1600/DSC01688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1086" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0g1uJ7OPmGtAp6eDko7Rh1hFWOE-uM_ms_j96VIP0DB4vKaMghA9ibZVvVdYdep_4t9znlri44OKkr3uQqSgVzUww4EGrH2kf21-zCyOG29E-05VwGOrNR9_Bh8AYf5H7RfZ/s640/DSC01688.JPG" width="434" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fort was never taken by force. There were several sharp right turns to enter the fort and then a door with lots of big daggers on it to prevent elephants from moving forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(elephants had a major role in medieval warfare.) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQXisS_gLFjytFYhKdv2IQKBDlIMggQKc932Yvhx4CoAfCrItUwFsaFcfXrOJh_4DfLNOh8OgHzbTIe7uSDS3kkeAycWZZpcPhQdbeCgK0VBddphlR8WomGWp4eKTSjO17UJg/s1600/DSC01658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQXisS_gLFjytFYhKdv2IQKBDlIMggQKc932Yvhx4CoAfCrItUwFsaFcfXrOJh_4DfLNOh8OgHzbTIe7uSDS3kkeAycWZZpcPhQdbeCgK0VBddphlR8WomGWp4eKTSjO17UJg/s400/DSC01658.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of us walked up the steep path to the entry. Along the way we saw the following:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKbUKIUZ16zg7ANiKAZCRHvz27OFYNDaMLF4uGuFGFgUhRk8x_GyVU2d6hH3yECGKTVYrBptgB-bR_A05av19NY-83iUBBqxET7LGJuXv-6-Ukog76AQG-DzbC-o7B7-9-LD4/s1600/DSC01645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKbUKIUZ16zg7ANiKAZCRHvz27OFYNDaMLF4uGuFGFgUhRk8x_GyVU2d6hH3yECGKTVYrBptgB-bR_A05av19NY-83iUBBqxET7LGJuXv-6-Ukog76AQG-DzbC-o7B7-9-LD4/s640/DSC01645.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TLkFTeO0jmBRq2HrsIxyA8nK6ZgvsYH-9iXyMB3xsanfHhH74iEUMGPQg6CneW4x35XXqYF0od5Q3t_pjtvEGArsEq3eJ5ghcfLBSC7rWhzIL-t4Kc9NqfeL-RYZ-KgBV489/s1600/DSC01650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TLkFTeO0jmBRq2HrsIxyA8nK6ZgvsYH-9iXyMB3xsanfHhH74iEUMGPQg6CneW4x35XXqYF0od5Q3t_pjtvEGArsEq3eJ5ghcfLBSC7rWhzIL-t4Kc9NqfeL-RYZ-KgBV489/s640/DSC01650.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxEYhTCU_uHMIYWmEgHp-l3t4nU6nRL1ikPvMk5HxwXq_nLebw0oOtkiypEnB57LjB4PemHw-jEkCoa5z2FLkU2gGVCM-9TwgDOArSkGgsfedp3pd19mIDrEMQGbZQ5z62vAl/s1600/DSC01655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1432" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxEYhTCU_uHMIYWmEgHp-l3t4nU6nRL1ikPvMk5HxwXq_nLebw0oOtkiypEnB57LjB4PemHw-jEkCoa5z2FLkU2gGVCM-9TwgDOArSkGgsfedp3pd19mIDrEMQGbZQ5z62vAl/s640/DSC01655.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wedding party the day after the ceremony, a tradition before consummating the marriage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeEGHtC193Gbb35rKsvx969AssJlVF82SWwr5cgljWFhoCT0pgWQ2nRYJ7QOxBWXAsIR1MaIAa5DzLfYABbXQ4rINdBvV7QvaLdxP2g_oorwHqwoMvx-21Eq1lN0Nvmw5dznx/s1600/DSC01659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1270" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeEGHtC193Gbb35rKsvx969AssJlVF82SWwr5cgljWFhoCT0pgWQ2nRYJ7QOxBWXAsIR1MaIAa5DzLfYABbXQ4rINdBvV7QvaLdxP2g_oorwHqwoMvx-21Eq1lN0Nvmw5dznx/s640/DSC01659.JPG" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handprints of widows of leaders in early years</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0JCD7g3eWrpBypfe-URBciFV24HEtVx4-2MevQNWumVbsIoZUaHwvXhs53CCqlvG4cCx3PG-rdEviQsHQoekATF_0Pv4Rrv-uLReV3ijHFhFq8MBYV17Ab2KeibUTEBC9QTk/s640/DSC01656.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A musician and his assistant?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A warm day, but not too hot--about 77 degrees(24.5 C) with low humidity</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQtB_Tl8Tdkdkg9UzwqiLGU9OZsr7AnkENfIl4EXpYaXyP_RUG-rcz-qJON8WrHKNk7ddHl6zsB5_tmXy-U3gNb-7pKDspIe7sNxrnTGrftcRZFNs8kayxcXbEo6ZNTcCRskD/s1600/IMG_3880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1118" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQtB_Tl8Tdkdkg9UzwqiLGU9OZsr7AnkENfIl4EXpYaXyP_RUG-rcz-qJON8WrHKNk7ddHl6zsB5_tmXy-U3gNb-7pKDspIe7sNxrnTGrftcRZFNs8kayxcXbEo6ZNTcCRskD/s640/IMG_3880.JPG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They asked to have their picture taken with me and I asked to get one of them too.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After Bhanu gave us some background information, we we given audio tours of the fort with 33 stops and a bit over an hour to complete our self-guided tour of this huge complex. In addition to the stops, we could also listen to additional information along the tour on the following topics: caste system, the Maharaja today, Mughal alliances with the Rajputs, opium in society, conservation, colors of Rajasthan, miniature painting, Rathore clan system, and Maharani and princess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was fascinated by a number of these seats. Lions were not native but a symbol of royalty and were put on some of these seats. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNs1jAz8bOA1vLuf0vCm5V9ITWDLbNWax1xFaoHqSptEmWI8BcQpwE-VbUKhdv8uYdgjtRh7IiSmpL9ECohcg2BdaA0M3bqxYpg8qlvK_ETXY2byHs6pUEQ276VZ4dkK5Lits/s1600/DSC01664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNs1jAz8bOA1vLuf0vCm5V9ITWDLbNWax1xFaoHqSptEmWI8BcQpwE-VbUKhdv8uYdgjtRh7IiSmpL9ECohcg2BdaA0M3bqxYpg8qlvK_ETXY2byHs6pUEQ276VZ4dkK5Lits/s640/DSC01664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The last palanquin was used to transport the king's mother to her Rolls Royce!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opium paraphernalia, used socially</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava observing opium paraphernalia while woman sweeps. We saw a number of sweepers at this site </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The room with paintings of varying sizes was fascinating. I wish we could have stayed there longer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Phool Mahal or Palace of Flowers (stop 22 on the audio tour) is a magnificent 18th century chamber built by Maharaja Abhay Singh (1724-49) as a Hall of Private Audience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ceiling is in gold filigree and mirror, and the walls, painted in the 19th century, depict the various moods of the Indian classical ragas, Royal portraits and the incarnations of Vishnu and Goddess Durga.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With its delicate colors, golden-sheen, ornate ceiling and stained glass windows and screens, the Phool Mahal is the grandest period room in Mehrangarh.</span><br />
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An ornate spiral staircase below:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning, large painting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRf4oTO5biKEb3f3cTcM-BQogKNwWkpZr5rfpIE4suxMP0_2LVxWnfVISBNqSXC4opnys-ToNODAU6XcnAZngzScEEbHKGTIkiBHVRX4gjDQJz7wMpvGcZZLaMn55aBfW9euA/s1600/DSC01726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRf4oTO5biKEb3f3cTcM-BQogKNwWkpZr5rfpIE4suxMP0_2LVxWnfVISBNqSXC4opnys-ToNODAU6XcnAZngzScEEbHKGTIkiBHVRX4gjDQJz7wMpvGcZZLaMn55aBfW9euA/s640/DSC01726.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a gorgeous ceiling in the same room that I almost missed </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHviYnBATCU3MVDiqxgxCpuG_0hH5plJADBp-ImrVZaYD07ggDGIVYLaaOHXdt7V4AL_bCS76D0mhOilGZGusfdyrzx2B7RNqyIBcn_lApw_lNvoDn-NJ4FtQhakrCJBcKvYp/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1436" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHviYnBATCU3MVDiqxgxCpuG_0hH5plJADBp-ImrVZaYD07ggDGIVYLaaOHXdt7V4AL_bCS76D0mhOilGZGusfdyrzx2B7RNqyIBcn_lApw_lNvoDn-NJ4FtQhakrCJBcKvYp/s640/IMG_3951.JPG" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A guard and a sweeper</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBrrOOoXK1ECtqMKM1vcCeIOxJdBZJvyyJ2k-e0xAWQ4ULodOiyD1TX1L_W9qFQJsTEVMNKx9rzS_eQrgDboIpZiV_LM17rbX9-h6Gg-mbgsMvw1t7B-lXgG8EFHvPM4vYdCf/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBrrOOoXK1ECtqMKM1vcCeIOxJdBZJvyyJ2k-e0xAWQ4ULodOiyD1TX1L_W9qFQJsTEVMNKx9rzS_eQrgDboIpZiV_LM17rbX9-h6Gg-mbgsMvw1t7B-lXgG8EFHvPM4vYdCf/s400/IMG_3952.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxGZWG0LNZS3-z8nzLaCSahs-woFikDV8JEOMZA9hNGHlAgU-ckJfQiTzg2H478etYlomQUeSgFGQiblTC2kPQuby8e6jvkhRPRvioOFesHnMMFp6xuMZEIaybQXDWo-9kciC/s1600/DSC01727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="665" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxGZWG0LNZS3-z8nzLaCSahs-woFikDV8JEOMZA9hNGHlAgU-ckJfQiTzg2H478etYlomQUeSgFGQiblTC2kPQuby8e6jvkhRPRvioOFesHnMMFp6xuMZEIaybQXDWo-9kciC/s640/DSC01727.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cutie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KWUMi2SlnvMq0M0QxfYH1kZBaJP5hqDLgis3i1IF4Kx_b1Ooxli3zfwxdZvnBJh4Lt_Fl5lOupcwZNPWs5ohE342hUqj27lwB-SACI4UN6kgxr8XMRUikGp9A5AVUeka7OmU/s1600/DSC01732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KWUMi2SlnvMq0M0QxfYH1kZBaJP5hqDLgis3i1IF4Kx_b1Ooxli3zfwxdZvnBJh4Lt_Fl5lOupcwZNPWs5ohE342hUqj27lwB-SACI4UN6kgxr8XMRUikGp9A5AVUeka7OmU/s640/DSC01732.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swifts! A bird paradise...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90tLdf4VLTMd7ajTfnb4tAWSZHs6vyjtK4ChDKazfijzK-iLbS4f_OgiFMdgOrZNhVlC57cZ7kACLAcIduuiEf-S0zyy7EZ8WUrYpPr0nwoYle9cUkx1jnpISIFF1xDsfW9jK/s1600/IMG_3956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90tLdf4VLTMd7ajTfnb4tAWSZHs6vyjtK4ChDKazfijzK-iLbS4f_OgiFMdgOrZNhVlC57cZ7kACLAcIduuiEf-S0zyy7EZ8WUrYpPr0nwoYle9cUkx1jnpISIFF1xDsfW9jK/s640/IMG_3956.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we were walking down the steep exit, we saw two of these critters</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think it was that night we had a special dinner....though I may be off by a few days.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWSTDlUlnTRQXQ9Yjxxwsvchw_ct_glKe7AGJ_flBfip0WEgdyy54uM4BUG11pFM1lz9rr0m-X52oIgEljCpxy7Mte6aVziyhdR0J-XXxh1hyR0o1Oppwsufs5e9qFMmyM9x5/s1600/IMG_3939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWSTDlUlnTRQXQ9Yjxxwsvchw_ct_glKe7AGJ_flBfip0WEgdyy54uM4BUG11pFM1lz9rr0m-X52oIgEljCpxy7Mte6aVziyhdR0J-XXxh1hyR0o1Oppwsufs5e9qFMmyM9x5/s640/IMG_3939.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, Friday, we left Jodhpur for Udaipur. W<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">e had an 11 hour bus ride planned to get from Jodhpur to Udaipur. I was sick (with chills, weakness, and nausea , and the only way I could tolerate it was to rest on the back row of seats and sleep a lot. The ride was very long thugho it was only 260 km (150 miles) as a new road was being constructed along the way. We often had to take detours. One of the men from our group very kindly got me a Coca Cola. Thanks to Gail and Nava for many of the photos that follow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first excitement was to see our leader feed cattle grass. The cattle recognized the bus and came running.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A short time later over 30 big monkeys came running to get bananas and cookies from our staff.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7BkeC4_Mu6brAL0qQgcHrvTBRw8c44FQ0AfCZR7Git52yuhifI_luivVvy_Fs1ojx7Gf_5PwSL3cdoo9anN3fD2dXdEkEUJ9YZJlPuVaRXXD7hl-1DvjvCbWPWxOU5Z8p0bB/s1600/2018+monkeys+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="960" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7BkeC4_Mu6brAL0qQgcHrvTBRw8c44FQ0AfCZR7Git52yuhifI_luivVvy_Fs1ojx7Gf_5PwSL3cdoo9anN3fD2dXdEkEUJ9YZJlPuVaRXXD7hl-1DvjvCbWPWxOU5Z8p0bB/s640/2018+monkeys+bus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">One detour was on such a narrow street that the driver had to take off the side mirror to get by. Nava thought a big bus had never been through this village before. The children watched in excitement and awe.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note the woman and child on top of the roof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When we arrived at the hotel in Udaipur, Bhanu got a wheel chair for me and a doctor. The doctor said since I could not keep water down, that it would be best for me to go to the local hospital 5 minutes away and get a diagnosis and an IV. But more on that later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way to Udaipur, we stopped at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranakpur_Jain_temple" target="_blank">Ranakpur Jain Temple</a>, one of the holiest Jain pilgrimage centers since the 14th century. It was crafted of pure white marble with more than a thousand columns. Construction began in about 1437 when a local businessperson had a vision. You can read more about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism" target="_blank">Jainism</a> at </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism. </span></div>
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T<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he group also stopped at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saheliyon-ki-Bari" target="_blank">Saheliyon-ki-Bari</a>, or Courtyard / <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saheliyon-ki-Bari" target="_blank">Garden of Maidens</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This garden was created for the 48 maidens who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her wedding dowry. For centuries, it was a popular resting place away from palace intrigues for the royal women and their attendants.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava with school girls in Ladies' Garden</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saturday the group also took a tour of part of Udaipur and went to the <a href="http://www.udaipur.org.uk/tourist-attractions/citypalace.html" target="_blank">City Palace</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was built on Lake Pichola over 400 years, starting in 1553, in a "flamboyant" style and is the largest of its kind in Rajesthan and the second largest in India. It has several palaces within it. This is a great link for pictures and details of the <a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/udaipur-city-palace-museum-1539587" target="_blank">City Palace Museum</a>: (Just click on the words to the left in purple as the photos are stunning and be sure to click on "read more" to see pictures like the one just below!!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Udaipur City Palace Hall of Mirrors" height="425" src="https://fthmb.tqn.com/L4yJnTRGVvBryJsM1eu1qF_Smf4=/960x0/filters:no_upscale()/GettyImages-520731466-591d33065f9b58f4c08eb9e4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Web photo of very ornate Kanch ki Burj</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full City Palace complex, web photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile back to my cultural hospital experience. Krishna, the local Gate 1 agent, drove me to the hospital and Bhanu and Nava also came along. Within a half hour of arriving, I was in the ER, had seen a doctor, and was on IVs with antibiotics and something to calm my stomach. I doubt if one would get such quick treatment in the US! The doctor thought that by the next morning, I would feel a lot better. There were four slots in the ER, and two were occupied. Each patient had family members with him. Bhanu and Nava went back to the hotel, and Krishna stayed until he was sure I was settled, saying he would be back in the morning.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fXlO05Us7Tgbb65jgwWMarCMTKLb-s10S15rMxpyYbNEIOsYoO3OoZkaLyKtweA8Pmc05krvf6rdr7hRlaqbq0CMopx69NxxpT1_C0nj9hAsl1zlmdmSJOOX1tEzKt5CrXGi/s1600/IMG_3984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fXlO05Us7Tgbb65jgwWMarCMTKLb-s10S15rMxpyYbNEIOsYoO3OoZkaLyKtweA8Pmc05krvf6rdr7hRlaqbq0CMopx69NxxpT1_C0nj9hAsl1zlmdmSJOOX1tEzKt5CrXGi/s400/IMG_3984.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was back before ten. I still felt pretty rotten, so they decided to keep me to the evening, and transfer me to a private room with a TV (which I didn't have the energy to watch) and a private bathroom! By noon, I was able to drink water and some very weak sugary tea. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUZ0SnpjECEdAN0MjZ2CYTh729xZvsPWuyUHlRIUyfHkHLlq7KpyfWkTlR9YWv1rqAeOedAMJxU7WizesU3iEA-M-1zWVt04FN2yVZKviR8qq8UyGvxxNbamhwqD9CLd473qW/s1600/IMG_3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUZ0SnpjECEdAN0MjZ2CYTh729xZvsPWuyUHlRIUyfHkHLlq7KpyfWkTlR9YWv1rqAeOedAMJxU7WizesU3iEA-M-1zWVt04FN2yVZKviR8qq8UyGvxxNbamhwqD9CLd473qW/s400/IMG_3977.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IV drip with Rabeprozole Sodium to help with stomach infection and Ceftrioxone, an antibiotic </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By 2 pm, I was feeling a lot better. Krishna returned, and was able to get me checked about 2 hours later. The staff was lovely. My room was cleaned two or three times while I was in it, and the nurses were sweet. Nurses wore pink,and support staff wore green. When I asked the nurse if I could take her picture, she giggled and smiled behind her mask. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkcaWL37e-zW2Lm4ZdQoeinAcWm6a5v01I1g2kqHfS9JkNjYx_PHCETALgoC9twFia8QoklZowG3p8HLJQo3atFyhTY-PGFLHzSEkPrywLmo9fGvEXvVJ_aLEMfEaXiJq5Syl/s1600/IMG_3980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkcaWL37e-zW2Lm4ZdQoeinAcWm6a5v01I1g2kqHfS9JkNjYx_PHCETALgoC9twFia8QoklZowG3p8HLJQo3atFyhTY-PGFLHzSEkPrywLmo9fGvEXvVJ_aLEMfEaXiJq5Syl/s640/IMG_3980.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIhNNWAt_j7CvKj26hihoZap4RTlHYv_1U4S4H7VGiGArkShQBKCSrbXTuFxrfoG5UUHRmgJv6lFXEpQFJVGiiP5IKkCxhuty1fivYZFUVGvIEO8-bSuJGd4C99tV-1WI7Jz3/s1600/IMG_3985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIhNNWAt_j7CvKj26hihoZap4RTlHYv_1U4S4H7VGiGArkShQBKCSrbXTuFxrfoG5UUHRmgJv6lFXEpQFJVGiiP5IKkCxhuty1fivYZFUVGvIEO8-bSuJGd4C99tV-1WI7Jz3/s640/IMG_3985.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nurse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvFCBkuGLnQzTtUWbgveanHNwIpQVo3GTBYhETB5yiKXhDL6pC2L4RuWnkdj0Epcnm6qMtXw7wzYjxjuZC8uupFMhkOhqLp3rpl1I89Cqcv6776LCTSkMBVEYld8W3X2KmQZ_/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvFCBkuGLnQzTtUWbgveanHNwIpQVo3GTBYhETB5yiKXhDL6pC2L4RuWnkdj0Epcnm6qMtXw7wzYjxjuZC8uupFMhkOhqLp3rpl1I89Cqcv6776LCTSkMBVEYld8W3X2KmQZ_/s640/IMG_3988.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my hospital room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENyknjheUkhSXaxwdbTHfg_skzXsOlCmJj3r11O3nABi5AoarWExUQFe7wxUDT2GXmn56jeKd5Twyn6Yzj2VuBckq1rPdGLDfBsNKzkLT4TfnDRke1E5NWyWfSXtVk3j956HR/s1600/IMG_3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENyknjheUkhSXaxwdbTHfg_skzXsOlCmJj3r11O3nABi5AoarWExUQFe7wxUDT2GXmn56jeKd5Twyn6Yzj2VuBckq1rPdGLDfBsNKzkLT4TfnDRke1E5NWyWfSXtVk3j956HR/s640/IMG_3991.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrine by exit of hospital. I actually had some color and smiled! Krishna insisted on taking the picture!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I paid for my hospital stay and will bill one of my insurances. I thought the bill came to $2,000 US but I was woozy and was off by a multiple of ten. It actually came to only US$200. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Krishna and Uma, a lovely staffer from the hotel, took me back.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgnVThyphenhyphen8om7Zf1wG8g7G16UvnEsWh6pZNUX2VGMJ4_aqIrz-jYmu9zFA5zXq5si-8KEGEzBJdR8UyFYf5ooNwBHEj2xcewiNRgMlSQgLUoAaxx8sbzltcWMj9C8gV5zcORfxB/s1600/DSC01749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgnVThyphenhyphen8om7Zf1wG8g7G16UvnEsWh6pZNUX2VGMJ4_aqIrz-jYmu9zFA5zXq5si-8KEGEzBJdR8UyFYf5ooNwBHEj2xcewiNRgMlSQgLUoAaxx8sbzltcWMj9C8gV5zcORfxB/s640/DSC01749.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Uma offered to take me to the lake in a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">electric</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hotel cart where the others were sailing and arranged for a ride for me. She was so very kind and sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The peacock is the national bird of India. This hotel has over 70 living on the site. Here are two, one very close to the main door!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDIQGVblP2Jz7p9fn57bCL7PcbOijPyQ8DCk5gpzRvqMuVhIE_K3Cv1iuvLu2JY2mtUueTuPuV95PypGw_2jNS6BeqEvY8QbuFz0g5jrWKCsv4kljTgEOVSOadhY8JkMSlcLH/s1600/DSC01745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDIQGVblP2Jz7p9fn57bCL7PcbOijPyQ8DCk5gpzRvqMuVhIE_K3Cv1iuvLu2JY2mtUueTuPuV95PypGw_2jNS6BeqEvY8QbuFz0g5jrWKCsv4kljTgEOVSOadhY8JkMSlcLH/s640/DSC01745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuBeytzmbQevunh3tK2unXWGLbW1HYDQopylvc4hOGu7WE0Z_OJLjRBWGoCgX6HgCGQRihPBsH2zenUHyNnGnmLTlqNfo4mpGg_2rhxXHoqR7Mad6XdUPjbqXqWPiaWgU0EJP/s1600/DSC01735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuBeytzmbQevunh3tK2unXWGLbW1HYDQopylvc4hOGu7WE0Z_OJLjRBWGoCgX6HgCGQRihPBsH2zenUHyNnGnmLTlqNfo4mpGg_2rhxXHoqR7Mad6XdUPjbqXqWPiaWgU0EJP/s640/DSC01735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way to the Banyan Park boat launch, we passed the ultra classy 5-star hotel which was part of the same complex as our hotel was.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCflIR4-pkZLof_6kFvcNGU6cLjcRQVCXBHFOBaGBZ5KlqEHOYTF0qt6ybt_GOJSQa9pHSMD5badaOxwY2n0NHoU3Gu6QlBQh1bKeC2qPhUWu_63wJopSqVcCLNn2k2ga9knyl/s1600/DSC01734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCflIR4-pkZLof_6kFvcNGU6cLjcRQVCXBHFOBaGBZ5KlqEHOYTF0qt6ybt_GOJSQa9pHSMD5badaOxwY2n0NHoU3Gu6QlBQh1bKeC2qPhUWu_63wJopSqVcCLNn2k2ga9knyl/s640/DSC01734.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVyFpHJzRPuSwNBQvMUQHcxbVmKNQoeya8cZFHwNVU14mlWWm-svpjVi4Hsn7MMUCA_C1VDfw5UnqGZ8sdzSrlwz9g7YGh8J5JJKf-c0N6X9ftwL3QqGNqD0zFPMwQeVOEwxc/s1600/DSC01741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVyFpHJzRPuSwNBQvMUQHcxbVmKNQoeya8cZFHwNVU14mlWWm-svpjVi4Hsn7MMUCA_C1VDfw5UnqGZ8sdzSrlwz9g7YGh8J5JJKf-c0N6X9ftwL3QqGNqD0zFPMwQeVOEwxc/s640/DSC01741.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A banyan tree in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXycHhZqnCQxpicNl4AnJXJpqhEMZSAUu_nWrdc203f-zw3PlduyMXckoYeP2By09qnswW5lHnSfTTF-PsDvAT-kIW_gRJARte4lyCkmhZiPNPDC7a-EXEFqwjl4cZCK-XboTL/s1600/DSC01736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXycHhZqnCQxpicNl4AnJXJpqhEMZSAUu_nWrdc203f-zw3PlduyMXckoYeP2By09qnswW5lHnSfTTF-PsDvAT-kIW_gRJARte4lyCkmhZiPNPDC7a-EXEFqwjl4cZCK-XboTL/s640/DSC01736.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The City Palace from the boat launch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJTGewRcs6TQtR0GD6yG7QuMz4RtVcAHWwVv6bM-WdXgeQdY7XyqY6ovYwj0f_RDQyZovi8d4BcVaHFhdZQVGOp1edy245oyYFNwqb6GT0AohnVPrTxt5YV4Gy_YwCHSrs7OG/s1600/DSC01737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJTGewRcs6TQtR0GD6yG7QuMz4RtVcAHWwVv6bM-WdXgeQdY7XyqY6ovYwj0f_RDQyZovi8d4BcVaHFhdZQVGOp1edy245oyYFNwqb6GT0AohnVPrTxt5YV4Gy_YwCHSrs7OG/s640/DSC01737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One group has left and the other awaits </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGFbLakj-RQreNymvrmw1x3R6sonvz672mG97lX8mgwllW52HP08_JJ-fDG64f8uzgTWcVvpv1JubIcUFo0nRLVycssfUYeubS1zUgNjvS0jMbPUe1WxArvAYCcT2peYBa5yY/s1600/DSC01738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGFbLakj-RQreNymvrmw1x3R6sonvz672mG97lX8mgwllW52HP08_JJ-fDG64f8uzgTWcVvpv1JubIcUFo0nRLVycssfUYeubS1zUgNjvS0jMbPUe1WxArvAYCcT2peYBa5yY/s640/DSC01738.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second group heading out to see sunset from the lake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu arranged for me to have very mild clear chicken soup with a bit of plain rice for dinner and then I headed to bed as we were getting up at 3:30 the next morning to fly to Mumbai/Bombay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Airport security in Udaipur seemed very tight. I was surprised to see a Subway restaurant in the airport. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_International_Airport" target="_blank">Mumbai airport</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> renamed </span><a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/mumbai-unveils-ambitiously-renovated-airport-1.1632979" target="_blank">Shiraji Majaraj Airport</a> for a 17th century ruler, was renovated and reopened in 2014. It is stunningly beautiful and modern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our morning guide in Mumbai, Shabel, spoke excellent English--although often too fast for me to catch all that he said! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way, we saw a number of shanty towns. Many of the people living there actually earn quite a good living. A tea seller by the road side may sell 5,000 cups of tea a day and make a lot of money. Of the 20 million people in the area, half live in squatter settlements. In 1964, only four million people lived here, but since then the population has exploded. Slum residents eventually qualify for subsidized or free housing from the government, so many are waiting for that to occur, and then they can rent out their slum space. The government arm for this is the SRA, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The municipality pipes in water to the shanty towns. We saw one slum area painted with bright colors by the port. It is an experiment by a paint company to brighten up the area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to this area about 500 years ago. The name of Bombay came from<span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;"> an Anglicization of the Portuguese name "Bombaim," which is believed to derive from the phrase "Bom Bahia," or "Good Bay."</span> In 1996 a group came to power politically and wanted to get rid of all the colonial names so renamed Bombay "Mumbai," officially <span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;">after the Hindu goddess </span><a data-linktype="External" href="http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/mumbadevi.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #660033; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mumbadevi</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;">, the city's patron deity. ( In the 3rd century, it became the center of Hindu and Buddhist culture and religion. ) Our local guide said that many people still refer to their home as Bombay, however, out of habit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;">People have inhabited the area of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mumbai" target="_blank">Mumbai</a> since the stone age. it is now the largest city in India and the financial capital of the country and the capital of the state of Maharashtra. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" target="_blank">Mumbai</a> was created from seven hilly islands which were home to Koli fishermen. In the 18th century, land was reclaimed from the sea to make the city more united. The hills were cut down to fill in the space between the islands. Mumbai is a natural harbor with three ports on the Arabian Sea. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-size: 16px;">The local language is Marathi, but there are a total of 16 languages spoken in the state and over 1000 dialects. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots of high rises have been built in the past twenty years where textile mills had been and also where fishing boats had been based. There now is a small village for them. Over 100 years ago, artificial washing places were made, including by textile mills, where people brought their clothes to be washed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stopped to see the last remaining outside stone washed laundry area. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are still some 5,000 workers in this profession, some doing the washing, others sorting and delivering. The water is piped in by the government but nowadays most people can afford washing machines, so there is much less demand for this service. Often new clothes are washed there before heading out to stores, including "stoned washed" jeans and linens,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look how close the tall modern buildings are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To many people, it looks like an eyesore and is no longer a priority for the government. Most of the workers are from the countryside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by the glittering gold statue dedicated to the <a href="http://mumbaidabbawala.in/" target="_blank">dabbawalas</a>, the people that deliver lunch box daily of food cooked in private homes About four or five thousand of them move the lunches from hand to hand, by bike, train, push carts, etc to get to the recipients in a timely manner. Over 200,000 lunches are delivered daily in the Mumbai area. This system is 127 years
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The installation is a tribute to Dabbawalas, the network of lunch-delivery men who ferry lunch boxes from homes to offices and back with precision and efficiency. (Photo: PTI)" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/images.deccanchronicle.com/dc-Cover-s4rt22j5875cia5bqh4aeuis87-20170401200607.Medi.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We passed by the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8063385/Indias-richest-man-Mukesh-Ambani-moves-into-630m-home.html" target="_blank">home of Mukesh Ambani</a>, the richest man in India, The home is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilia_(building)" target="_blank">Antilla</a>. A staff of 600 take care of this 27-story home for the family of five people. One floor has a snow machine for skiing, another pool, the roof has three helicopter pads, and it sounds really disgusting to me. I love the sentence at the end of the article about Ambani, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828;">Ambani does not appear to be influenced by calls by the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, for business leaders to be 'role models of moderation.'"</span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also passed a place where Trump wanted to buy an old building, demolish it, and build a hotel. But a tenant living in the building had, according to Indian law, the right to refuse his request, and he did. An Indian subsequently bought the site and made accommodations for the tenant.</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After seeing the Gandhi museum, which I wrote about in my second blog on India, we walked to the Hare Krishna temple. I have very negative memories of the Hare Krishna group chanting in airports and recruiting young Americans for their cult in the 1960s and 1970s </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found out that in 1965, a Buddhist monk when to the US to preach Hinduism, the monotheist worship of Krishna (the 8th incarnation of god Vishnu on earth). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p>We passed the vegetarian restaurant Govindas that they run, saw the inside of the temple, saw women making flower necklaces for the deities, and saw some of their publications including one in Hebrew. </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p> The head of the group current is a man originally from Chicago and originally Jewish named Richard Slavin. He has helped to make the group international with many devotees throughout the world. The book about Slaven is called The Journey Home, the Journey Within.</o:p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhanath_Swami">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhanath_Swami</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The temple building was originally an orphanage. The orphans were moved to a farm where they grow organic vegetables and live in a less polluted environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The monks were orange robes and take a vow of celibacy. Devotees chant a four-line mantra and repeat it 108 times. They also have a number of social service activities including counseling for people who are stressed out. I'm still not enamored with the group, in part because I do not like groups that are strongly into proselytizing.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Next we walked close to the huge, ornate Victoria Station, Mumbai's only World Heritage site. It was built by the British in 1887 for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Today a million people travel through this station each day.</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nearby is Town Hall, with the statue in front of one of the first mayor's of the city. He created the Bombay Act and was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" target="_blank">Zoroastrian</a>. There are only about 100,000 Zoroastrians in the world. They arrived form Persia about 1200 years ago. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi" target="_blank">Parsi</a> is the largest Zoroastrian community in India with about 57,000 Zoroastrians.</span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We were told that although the Indian national sport is field hockey, cricket is the most popular game. Until 1964, India was a world powerhouse in field hockey. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw groups of boys and men playing cricket in front of the "Little Ben" clock tower and the University of Bombay.</span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We drove past the Gateway to India, an arch constructed for the visit in 1911 of King George V. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We returned to the hotel and several of us ventured out to the C<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g304554-d6570937-Reviews-Colaba_Causeway_Market-Mumbai_Maharashtra.html" target="_blank">alaba Causeway</a>—a huge super crowded street of shopping. We got a ride but managed to walk back through the super busy streets, in part because of a big art event taking place that we managed not to find. I bought a simple scarf that I've worn a lot since coming back, Nava and I got some small, practical purses, and Blanca got some cute items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the whole, Nava and I didn't feel that it was worthwhile to fly all the way south to Mumbai and then leave the next morning north for Kathmandu. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stayed in a very modern hotel. Nava and I were amazed by the bathroom that had a see-through window to the main part of the room. It was only later that we (embarrassingly) found out from others in our group that there was a hidden set of blinds we could lower to obscure the view!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We set off to the airport so early that we saw sunrise on the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As we drove to the four-year-old (remodeled) ultra modern Mumbai airport, we crossed the magnificent<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandra%E2%80%93Worli_Sea_Link" target="_blank"> bridge in the Arabian Sea</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">It is 3.5 miles or 5.6 kilometers in total length. (To compare, the Evergreen floating bridge in Seattle is a bit over 1.4 miles long.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The architecture inside and outside the airport was outstanding. The following is a modern sculpture it is honoring a festival to Lord Krishna. .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got another Shawal Shameez at the Biba store at the airport--a bit big and the pants are in the modern bulky style but the colors are stunning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This ends the blogs about our trip to (mostly) Northern India. We saw so very much in a short period of time and were astounded by the diversity of it all. It gave us a taste and a craving for learning more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next, I'll work on our three days in Nepal. Below is my first picture of the hills of Nepal, taken from the airplane.</span><br />
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<br />Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-2531599588640753992018-03-18T18:50:00.005-07:002018-03-24T12:53:17.338-07:00Incredible India, part 7: On to Jaipur--The Pink City<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuesday morning we left our hotel near the Ranthambore park at 8:30 for our four-hour drive to Jaipur, a distance of only 100 miles (166 km) but much of the time on slow roads. We took pictures along the way including a celebration in a town to honor a special god </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lot of bright orange colors in the festivities</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And people we saw along the way:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women squatting in fields near the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOkN1YAlFOAbkt4ieNNhIOPxRyFI-36njI8ZffBKUnasDXtgBwYgfsFJSFwukzPyDPXyVlQn6cWCxt9DT1IUmDhSVCRHa8lf2EFpSV1Dmfp7YbK0WRk97p8fiPfP4u9p6XSIfWg/s1600/DSC01443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="790" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOkN1YAlFOAbkt4ieNNhIOPxRyFI-36njI8ZffBKUnasDXtgBwYgfsFJSFwukzPyDPXyVlQn6cWCxt9DT1IUmDhSVCRHa8lf2EFpSV1Dmfp7YbK0WRk97p8fiPfP4u9p6XSIfWg/s640/DSC01443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man pumping water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxK3eVvCU_zAqbtgU0xvcf-_691Llx3KG3i9kD58ut5Wz3QFbstrBaYi79aRWa_SXOxnSyh-sotKUq2Di87BtiqU5By43Og9Nuxgvx1SBO6mB_0V0lK5rPAH0FsNeuWM-byNgdA/s1600/IMG_3592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="964" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxK3eVvCU_zAqbtgU0xvcf-_691Llx3KG3i9kD58ut5Wz3QFbstrBaYi79aRWa_SXOxnSyh-sotKUq2Di87BtiqU5By43Og9Nuxgvx1SBO6mB_0V0lK5rPAH0FsNeuWM-byNgdA/s640/IMG_3592.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flower planter, just before a toll booth, made from painted recycled barrels, with watering pipes on top</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOfgeLtSrgmHnlF2z0Zgg84hEajdFyVtt6C0XaE4ePCdrNWoWwxb3t77NtJyQ_RImzxperof6JOjWHYrOmkaQGltWs5wl8zu2hOAPmJ6RMzhw42fiLg0aJxJv1WkBOZltGfDevw/s1600/DSC01444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOfgeLtSrgmHnlF2z0Zgg84hEajdFyVtt6C0XaE4ePCdrNWoWwxb3t77NtJyQ_RImzxperof6JOjWHYrOmkaQGltWs5wl8zu2hOAPmJ6RMzhw42fiLg0aJxJv1WkBOZltGfDevw/s640/DSC01444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A common sight: highway expansion sending our bus onto side roads</td></tr>
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and circles of cow poop on a roof, some drying to be used for cooking later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_v5iL-b2uAjrY0ZVQmuuSJzxxF1XVgKuqK0hgNsZ_d_F-RvVOdG1KqAoZbp2wOGxxKm8OpgdXntKtOsrOQJDaiAjfEeBJHXfE4THr6Kpc9kDtqeREoL6PGfy3-ysUlCbbJzS9w/s1600/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_v5iL-b2uAjrY0ZVQmuuSJzxxF1XVgKuqK0hgNsZ_d_F-RvVOdG1KqAoZbp2wOGxxKm8OpgdXntKtOsrOQJDaiAjfEeBJHXfE4THr6Kpc9kDtqeREoL6PGfy3-ysUlCbbJzS9w/s640/IMG_3608.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbMhTXfFysa4yU3nGCPaCjsNgnnrGaumCj_Z1jUFVSQwt1NxgYO7JpbmYXVaS1wOI5lNcIAb_55W60Y7VRBlV8jvUkFjhjcqM1AGamehXNmvGYm8Blv2S6UMtzooTuw9VFeEqYA/s1600/IMG_3603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1330" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbMhTXfFysa4yU3nGCPaCjsNgnnrGaumCj_Z1jUFVSQwt1NxgYO7JpbmYXVaS1wOI5lNcIAb_55W60Y7VRBlV8jvUkFjhjcqM1AGamehXNmvGYm8Blv2S6UMtzooTuw9VFeEqYA/s640/IMG_3603.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields along the way. We often saw these tall plants dried and tied up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71vrBBnY7iDIVeBUkPs3lGoEDZCRG7-YpfFVMMNK8zGtj4W3MALluVo24dG1cGEJ31P15YM7AZRsEW7zyTKyJ3IdSDTUB5_LCDnCCkZouQTS9Dvqvxeru5Jou-I3AufpyoBvZ7w/s1600/DSC01445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71vrBBnY7iDIVeBUkPs3lGoEDZCRG7-YpfFVMMNK8zGtj4W3MALluVo24dG1cGEJ31P15YM7AZRsEW7zyTKyJ3IdSDTUB5_LCDnCCkZouQTS9Dvqvxeru5Jou-I3AufpyoBvZ7w/s640/DSC01445.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A home along the way, and maybe a business too?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIS37EEGvZYuyI4O3lx4jNlOwtWNdLKNxXQDYTdrjmtEFyqOEwm1QYCuzMWpyBvg4AderfbyGa4wqYn8eqdhyphenhyphenGNtuDpHVSplpp1VZRFbbu7_KBefuBNNS58kFkSfh9kH5Z4E4SQ/s1600/DSC01448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIS37EEGvZYuyI4O3lx4jNlOwtWNdLKNxXQDYTdrjmtEFyqOEwm1QYCuzMWpyBvg4AderfbyGa4wqYn8eqdhyphenhyphenGNtuDpHVSplpp1VZRFbbu7_KBefuBNNS58kFkSfh9kH5Z4E4SQ/s640/DSC01448.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a new large building along an empty stretch of highway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoS2z9suCy5jOm6ft3egPyNE5Rl4-w9RhmmzG-yHGdqK1CA4FkVGPnNz8DWQYdsbJdNHg4DW-FjTfMiLSDvlx-DpvW_6qAvoM1AZhuf7ErvWReCwaaXUjAlDdYkmHjehJw00tDwQ/s1600/DSC01450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoS2z9suCy5jOm6ft3egPyNE5Rl4-w9RhmmzG-yHGdqK1CA4FkVGPnNz8DWQYdsbJdNHg4DW-FjTfMiLSDvlx-DpvW_6qAvoM1AZhuf7ErvWReCwaaXUjAlDdYkmHjehJw00tDwQ/s640/DSC01450.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting close to Jaipur</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the way, Bhanu told us a lot about India.. He said that Indians only began to drink tea in 1929. Before that they drank water with lime in a copper jar and told us of the benefits of drinking from a copper jar. He gave us a recipe for making masala for tea, which included a mix of pepper, cardamom, cloves, and ginger, I believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw some pigs in the street. He told us that they were not for eating but to keep the streets clean. 95% of Indians do not eat pig because they think the taste of pork is too strong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of young college graduates in Jaipur get their first jobs working in a call center. Now they can earn $1000 a month. If they live at home, that is an excellent salary. The salary in the US for the same job would be at least $30,000. However, now some of the call center jobs are being shifted to the Philippines as the wages there are lower than India. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People in Rajasthan have good medical care with all generic medicines, medical tests and dialysis free since 2009. Also people with psychological illnesses get free treatment. People enjoy keeping their vehicles clean and often decorate them too. We saw tuktuks and cabs lined up to be washed in different places.</span><br />
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The area of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur" target="_blank">Jaipur</a> has been populated for at least 5,000 years. The Indus Valley civilization is the oldest continuing civilization on earth. The Indus River is in Pakistan but flows down in part through this area. There were lots of small monarchies in around 2500 BCE until Alexander came to the bank of the Indus River where he camped for six months. While he was camped, Ashukar united many of the small monarchies including through political marriages. Ashukar was one of the greatest rulers of the world. He promoted peace. The Ashukar emblem of three lions is on the Indian Rupee. </div>
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Jaipur ruled Afghanistan for over 200 years. It is one of the few countries that ever did rule Afphanistan! </div>
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Islam made itself known early in India and by the 11th century, it was a strong force in the area, causing massive changes in culture. The Mongolian Islamic wave followed, from Central Asia from 1526 to the 1850s. Literacy was strong in India and only decreased under British rule.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jaipur (pronounced Jay-pur) is the capital and largest city in the state of Rajesthan. </span>Three and a half million people live in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur" target="_blank">Jaipur</a>, including Bhanu's family. Many are from a cultural business background. Manufacturing, gem stones, textiles (especially block print) and rug making are specialties of the area. Jaipur is the cultural capital of India and also considered the wedding capital. It was India's first planned city, created in 1727. Jaharaja Sawal Jai Singh II ruled this area from 1699 to 1743 and built Jaipur (named for him) as his new capital. He was fascinated by astronomy. Every home was laid out so that it would get proper sunlight. </div>
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We arrived around 1 p.m. at our hotel the Holiday Inn in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur" target="_blank">Jaipur</a> and braved crossing the street to go <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">to the modern upscale mall, which had international stores including Benneton and Nike. Two kids ran after us, trying to get money and a young boy hit me with a stick several times when I didn't look at him. (Our guide had told us that ignoring them was the best thing for us to do.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The elevator seemed like it was not working until we got close and the stairs started to move. They were activated by people approaching--what a great way to save energy!</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Three of us shared a delicious Indian lunch of vegetable Biriyani and a thali with three small dishes, naan and yogurt in the food court costing us about $3 each. Even though we asked for it to be mild, it has a kick. Others went to a different tiny mall next to the hotel to the MacDonalds. Of course they do not serve beef at MacDonalds in north India! We were told the food wasn't great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch, our group headed out to the famous Raj Mandir theater, one of the few remaining elegant cinemas in the country as people now prefer more modern movie complexes. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh19cnj82xNF-5sIaIMFyDFkqCWdJsTpivLcnU3HTf9r2wXcpbYEi0dRUBMlKnrM0u9YLEfOg7uXefEQCns4XvtoH47IA3GMQ1jtyxT9zqH7ESn6kIxl6uvuBpskdQAFeZQdsFTg/s1600/DSC01455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1600" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh19cnj82xNF-5sIaIMFyDFkqCWdJsTpivLcnU3HTf9r2wXcpbYEi0dRUBMlKnrM0u9YLEfOg7uXefEQCns4XvtoH47IA3GMQ1jtyxT9zqH7ESn6kIxl6uvuBpskdQAFeZQdsFTg/s640/DSC01455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner/founder of the theater</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6yznFOH8UPk6Ni45F0YIAsbN5ZdzxPF6gRakzBerXwCh7lhM9eZBfUKi-klEcFADXNJKdTZcTKmZdKwB1wFNK3hlXoyM9JDTh8XojdqyoKS71UiWwN6Xg0jlYxXQinXCUHSszA/s1600/DSC01462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6yznFOH8UPk6Ni45F0YIAsbN5ZdzxPF6gRakzBerXwCh7lhM9eZBfUKi-klEcFADXNJKdTZcTKmZdKwB1wFNK3hlXoyM9JDTh8XojdqyoKS71UiWwN6Xg0jlYxXQinXCUHSszA/s400/DSC01462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Educational ads before the movie!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKwfBGMd-R2FqwvsaXkplHK40C73AYOPrP_92ZXR44u235np_15tif3O1mu8Ldxj0eZxW3yFnP7c2MRxWaDqisKJtOyVhchvBygufqkC0vP15_LyfCHOoLl0ZmQCVWYjxeVtz8g/s1600/DSC01463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="880" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKwfBGMd-R2FqwvsaXkplHK40C73AYOPrP_92ZXR44u235np_15tif3O1mu8Ldxj0eZxW3yFnP7c2MRxWaDqisKJtOyVhchvBygufqkC0vP15_LyfCHOoLl0ZmQCVWYjxeVtz8g/s400/DSC01463.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY5p6m3bxGzBfSL1PaQXgKLOv5nsa7clKZKSZSlni6e4eNM16or0IEyVdFnVMZ1fq9OEOg_UNYg8qNvdAhx_Zg9pp_6AKILLr_b3HF6Ly5Msdvm5y3QVT9yBJZoEnk1SReM1KUw/s1600/DSC01464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY5p6m3bxGzBfSL1PaQXgKLOv5nsa7clKZKSZSlni6e4eNM16or0IEyVdFnVMZ1fq9OEOg_UNYg8qNvdAhx_Zg9pp_6AKILLr_b3HF6Ly5Msdvm5y3QVT9yBJZoEnk1SReM1KUw/s400/DSC01464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> To get a taste of Bollywood movies, we saw about a half hour of one that jumped from one suspense scene to another and included a love story, a US journalist killed, terrorist attack on a hospital and the kidnapping of Indian and Pakistani nurses, and re-recruiting a former super-agent to rescue them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yerWjZSlA-thd9LuzCBKVwsFSS_0W1dwnlDqDC5w233R_hPMpCdh4QSvNxcZhfQ3wTRreZsiIAcmEgdBIAl1O6o8M16hOVkxI6N8Wv34CVugb9tekf5r1sqb6EH0pD-HibAAg/s1600/DSC01466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1yerWjZSlA-thd9LuzCBKVwsFSS_0W1dwnlDqDC5w233R_hPMpCdh4QSvNxcZhfQ3wTRreZsiIAcmEgdBIAl1O6o8M16hOVkxI6N8Wv34CVugb9tekf5r1sqb6EH0pD-HibAAg/s400/DSC01466.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHdrKXYxsSEi8n0_PYzdp3nn61meHCtMvn8Hg8oiaCxbH5w6k6wkZTT6OXEm6nrDAsbso4lHrzJSGNWyYO__m9Eqep41_6lNrZFqQJdI5lXSCZjp238pJgBuFOS9ziRBO4yz-zg/s1600/DSC01467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHdrKXYxsSEi8n0_PYzdp3nn61meHCtMvn8Hg8oiaCxbH5w6k6wkZTT6OXEm6nrDAsbso4lHrzJSGNWyYO__m9Eqep41_6lNrZFqQJdI5lXSCZjp238pJgBuFOS9ziRBO4yz-zg/s400/DSC01467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there we went to the Bapu Bazaar </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> (Bapu is a name given by locals for Gandhi)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a large market with small stalls. We shopped some and felt overwhelmed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVMjFQEbMJpj1QDrxamr5UiqgdBf7kyg6S1UM2zoM7qEwc2e_m54_JOvrjrrSkhdN2YWLsIMYwNYvu7G6deZro0PLrFCC1wW5-1hYRbz2Elr9MN9Gauah2ZF90vKFEpuUPIQexA/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVMjFQEbMJpj1QDrxamr5UiqgdBf7kyg6S1UM2zoM7qEwc2e_m54_JOvrjrrSkhdN2YWLsIMYwNYvu7G6deZro0PLrFCC1wW5-1hYRbz2Elr9MN9Gauah2ZF90vKFEpuUPIQexA/s640/IMG_3621.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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I think Nava bought some scarves here....or pants?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yFU-NeBLNtPTcsGJcGUo8Gs7iDRyzKg7LLWUYPmo7LxWVm5kFMm-gzJ2Gqk4xHZb0UTQaY9xzvNBzZUYClzuzcLj02VEGOtC3K-8ijrB2C5dFbcln0qfaKH4RG-9W1eDGcslNw/s1600/DSC01472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yFU-NeBLNtPTcsGJcGUo8Gs7iDRyzKg7LLWUYPmo7LxWVm5kFMm-gzJ2Gqk4xHZb0UTQaY9xzvNBzZUYClzuzcLj02VEGOtC3K-8ijrB2C5dFbcln0qfaKH4RG-9W1eDGcslNw/s640/DSC01472.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdBZPQNjQ-QDqfel_v_E88nBjXYk07jD7fHzirjxXHktQZN09cDt_pN9ZN_hzEWqYrlvKK2dnsLuYYmpHlO-aDs1fsoR2Ryma7yXV5Cvw4jVG0YafmrakxMCHkfRdBkjodSv7Vg/s1600/DSC01473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdBZPQNjQ-QDqfel_v_E88nBjXYk07jD7fHzirjxXHktQZN09cDt_pN9ZN_hzEWqYrlvKK2dnsLuYYmpHlO-aDs1fsoR2Ryma7yXV5Cvw4jVG0YafmrakxMCHkfRdBkjodSv7Vg/s640/DSC01473.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikes pulling carts filled with packages, oh my!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we returned to hotel, wedding festivities were beginning with an elephant for show and power and a white horse for the groom to ride in on. Vegetable dye/powder was used to color the elephant's face. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw671X3LRvMjYiUW6lt2daGZHlcxpc88eogZXTzrmJWvwzKmFHLhMoqXiBDxB7oU-nbrgeUMg7NxoWNtMepP0C5y5n671ZwBuoILLv31_K6yXHpJdIPzkGLgMLgS23OIXoh8DCQ/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1349" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw671X3LRvMjYiUW6lt2daGZHlcxpc88eogZXTzrmJWvwzKmFHLhMoqXiBDxB7oU-nbrgeUMg7NxoWNtMepP0C5y5n671ZwBuoILLv31_K6yXHpJdIPzkGLgMLgS23OIXoh8DCQ/s640/IMG_3623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTOEf2jzH7Kv1aOM9J1G5EFhyphenhyphen5WX_J9zmM9DsipvU1pqMfx7YLPuKNDZBCLONw0nwN1KpYHU6nLKe8jN7cp9ju8H8Nel9QOj58QgDtqu34_sUA1asnbc9S84xl7D8OyXxIipn0g/s1600/DSC01475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTOEf2jzH7Kv1aOM9J1G5EFhyphenhyphen5WX_J9zmM9DsipvU1pqMfx7YLPuKNDZBCLONw0nwN1KpYHU6nLKe8jN7cp9ju8H8Nel9QOj58QgDtqu34_sUA1asnbc9S84xl7D8OyXxIipn0g/s640/DSC01475.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTXAErYhAqlyT7aeWZSCdDlB4WRPRGUlTguXlv2iyMr2r5Mx3pmPKpjRaYMOoY4XLA0mCAFlOb52J-WCe51qs4GXPOCR5Xe_CRDbQf0gf1TkH-ZIZejeu027Gus5sdqKeH3Pfsw/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTXAErYhAqlyT7aeWZSCdDlB4WRPRGUlTguXlv2iyMr2r5Mx3pmPKpjRaYMOoY4XLA0mCAFlOb52J-WCe51qs4GXPOCR5Xe_CRDbQf0gf1TkH-ZIZejeu027Gus5sdqKeH3Pfsw/s640/IMG_3629.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men wearing special celebratory head coverings</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nava and I again walked across the street for dinner and got a delicious mushroom and pea dish as well as a garbanzo and spinach dish, the latter a local dish. And they did make it mild!!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfmFlrjb5AI1KaYapcXPmR9iEKtry69D8418gIyWRO8XxA054DGQNLhLJ7UrGH7DvIp32BX67CgZKbWw4KU_hZB4Ql4tiSKD1wQF5K5NtLU8KDTCY2pjlhrdRS9wuB3bePmGRw/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="1030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfmFlrjb5AI1KaYapcXPmR9iEKtry69D8418gIyWRO8XxA054DGQNLhLJ7UrGH7DvIp32BX67CgZKbWw4KU_hZB4Ql4tiSKD1wQF5K5NtLU8KDTCY2pjlhrdRS9wuB3bePmGRw/s640/IMG_3630.JPG" width="490" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After dinner, we returned to the hotel and saw a small procession of women holding a large scarf over the bride as they walked down the lobby area.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4c5Nqp62kWo03YQOfp3y26vwIEFgDCRS8pEXD1k7mc75NGB0PP052mdwUmxt_TajlY0k_MxjB_sJCw3Sf2sBFaLHfrdWqu4bSPZ-wXucdss-BOs5chDL21Nn2xyfIUyNp-5fDA/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="1212" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4c5Nqp62kWo03YQOfp3y26vwIEFgDCRS8pEXD1k7mc75NGB0PP052mdwUmxt_TajlY0k_MxjB_sJCw3Sf2sBFaLHfrdWqu4bSPZ-wXucdss-BOs5chDL21Nn2xyfIUyNp-5fDA/s640/IMG_3634.JPG" width="572" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day Wednesday, marked a week since our arrival in India, and we have seen and experienced so much in this short period of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We departed from our hotel and drove through old Jaipur where many of the buildings are painted pink or a soft rust color. In 1876, the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria visited India on tour. Pink was considered the color of hospitality, so the maharajah of Jaipur had the city painted pink to welcome the royalty. Much of the city is built with pink stone and the old sector is still kept pink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Along the way we passed a building whose facade is called the Palace of Winds, with delicate latticework and honeycomb windows.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgqyzwNRw0cnrnrc429tA8PGZOWaL84bMR2LVOOftJHVPrtPRQsaNbKNPPMKiRIHfaR5ywI_2n7B4zjH5ThSeS-1TTEi63QrVjTOpLtsYeJP-3NcuDvFNBNw_6ylLpnxcUpaR6Q/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgqyzwNRw0cnrnrc429tA8PGZOWaL84bMR2LVOOftJHVPrtPRQsaNbKNPPMKiRIHfaR5ywI_2n7B4zjH5ThSeS-1TTEi63QrVjTOpLtsYeJP-3NcuDvFNBNw_6ylLpnxcUpaR6Q/s640/IMG_3635.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw from afar a palace in a lake</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> called the Jahl Mahel</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nx1rhqRvC6L5DnBmuLDo6LkQ99wh1GcKW9BgVFTqXuxUoqZWQHOnFPIz_qr54YMZ12gYRfAXH-RMAcT8DLx33c_ucd6l1jfb4WJIvxNkFYRaXvu2WHVfkTh8FRWAnrg1WihJ1Q/s1600/DSC01543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nx1rhqRvC6L5DnBmuLDo6LkQ99wh1GcKW9BgVFTqXuxUoqZWQHOnFPIz_qr54YMZ12gYRfAXH-RMAcT8DLx33c_ucd6l1jfb4WJIvxNkFYRaXvu2WHVfkTh8FRWAnrg1WihJ1Q/s640/DSC01543.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is a photo of most of the Red fort from afar and a picture of a camel by our side on the road.</div>
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We soon got to the Amer Red fort It was finished in about 1560, built o<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">f sandstone and marble. We traveled up the road to the top of the hill on elephants. </span>The hawkers around us were overwhelming. One even spoke to Nava in Hebrew. First we were surrounded by them as we waiting in line for our elephants. Then others chased us to get our pictures taken and then buy them at the end. Sadly, some of the photos were not great.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our elephant was called Bobbie and she was 38 years old. Her mahoot was Raj and he has been working with her for four years. We gave him the tip suggested by Bhanu. Raj was disappointed and pushed for more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The elephants only make three such trips a day. The paint on their faces is also made of natural vegetable powders so is not dangerous to them. The mahouts decorate the faces of elephants for special events like weddings.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPdOgs6L2A7ZnCrVUnCc5zZwdLAp44AfXz8GNoVyxTfAqqtrr8UPpumg8kKVktjZGejTFAPGswgRX2TpbwYiFCdNKQF7yW9Tsqo-sD1v5U9zKH7NGtfbpAeJ41RMVCyy55okHAQ/s1600/DSC01502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPdOgs6L2A7ZnCrVUnCc5zZwdLAp44AfXz8GNoVyxTfAqqtrr8UPpumg8kKVktjZGejTFAPGswgRX2TpbwYiFCdNKQF7yW9Tsqo-sD1v5U9zKH7NGtfbpAeJ41RMVCyy55okHAQ/s640/DSC01502.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the elephants from above</td></tr>
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The fort with palace inside was formidable—Nava got lost at one point as did someone else<br />
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With stunning art work on the walls and ceilings!<br />
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Look at the elephant heads at the top of the columns!</div>
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And the wonderful bathing area with a great view from the windows:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We especially were entranced by the palace of mirrors, added in the 18th century. The mirrors came from Belgium. Oil lamps reflected in the mirrors and provided more light when needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rulers and inhabitants of the palace were generals in the Mughal army so were often away for four to six years at a time. Security for the women and young children was in the hands of eunuchs. If the fort was attacked, they had stored rain water than could last for years. The general who built the palace had 12 wives, and an area for each one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pictures from the inner section with residences for the 12 wives:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfBET6EV3P23gQy01mPGQ6odDVjKv8iVRFekLV-HfhCP4d1pZLGGbFfuxg7zkM9XnOCS_D6dWauwdpNkrZSktGl8w_b4P1aFCiiVGy28ly9WZ8ya3yNzY9nJLRZO3UaQjlst47A/s1600/DSC01520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfBET6EV3P23gQy01mPGQ6odDVjKv8iVRFekLV-HfhCP4d1pZLGGbFfuxg7zkM9XnOCS_D6dWauwdpNkrZSktGl8w_b4P1aFCiiVGy28ly9WZ8ya3yNzY9nJLRZO3UaQjlst47A/s640/DSC01520.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a bride and groom getting wedding pictures taken there and they kindly allowed us to take a photo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4le2xeJABUahDn8ARIWACRJFfJVF6Y_QIZ0rtoUxKUb5f11HWnv0sqMnlaDKYHFHaKUiTwu6TBjTgGcGs9scNoaRjphCLlUjYBUcc4j3S_kTYmOwmbto7j1Q3fn5b6D6I78EsQ/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4le2xeJABUahDn8ARIWACRJFfJVF6Y_QIZ0rtoUxKUb5f11HWnv0sqMnlaDKYHFHaKUiTwu6TBjTgGcGs9scNoaRjphCLlUjYBUcc4j3S_kTYmOwmbto7j1Q3fn5b6D6I78EsQ/s640/IMG_3673.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oops! I almost forgot to show you the large goat lazing at the entry!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij873NgsOTV8UJrOwg9hA3LvLnJVP3QnTiE8dJn9PBu1KgXmZxcimoZtfYBCCLV2Z5Fc7uy7CDgke55l6nIUfv0-wFS_uhTVm4k0MU9AQIspC3h4mDiI7T8IclV8t0qeEuILAREQ/s1600/WACQ3826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij873NgsOTV8UJrOwg9hA3LvLnJVP3QnTiE8dJn9PBu1KgXmZxcimoZtfYBCCLV2Z5Fc7uy7CDgke55l6nIUfv0-wFS_uhTVm4k0MU9AQIspC3h4mDiI7T8IclV8t0qeEuILAREQ/s640/WACQ3826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were kept busy all day long!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was at Jaipur Handicrafts. The owners have 4,000 people who work for them, many in their homes. The store sells textiles, rugs, and handicrafts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">First we saw a demonstration of block printing, which is one of the specialties of Jaipur.. The worker had amazing hand eye coordination and very steady hands so as to be able to put several layers of the same vegetable dye print but of different colors on top of the original design. Usually the process takes three to four days to complete . They dyes used are all from vegetables. </span></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmwoKMHnNynxoDdAjMmqLRWOs_qp9yiRTmZ7tZwuBjnVWY2Od_CNbuH3bbuFK5G7IydbATboNFx8EJj1p4dedyfQfnsbkxpayujpsEmTmppMtAHv2FTXsj-iXbo0TJRFm25loQ/s1600/IMG_3726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="847" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmwoKMHnNynxoDdAjMmqLRWOs_qp9yiRTmZ7tZwuBjnVWY2Od_CNbuH3bbuFK5G7IydbATboNFx8EJj1p4dedyfQfnsbkxpayujpsEmTmppMtAHv2FTXsj-iXbo0TJRFm25loQ/s640/IMG_3726.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzMB3BX4Hj8it-kA_zVizEubPi6uimZMS9kVZrARmmktT5g45cynCbu0SrsalgfhmhVp39Vy1eLx_t2vVFb2IhtiSDZyTeFIaRb2iFhV7nZzdkxXQXflpePp90a8nq4pbiZTLSA/s1600/IMG_3727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1157" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzMB3BX4Hj8it-kA_zVizEubPi6uimZMS9kVZrARmmktT5g45cynCbu0SrsalgfhmhVp39Vy1eLx_t2vVFb2IhtiSDZyTeFIaRb2iFhV7nZzdkxXQXflpePp90a8nq4pbiZTLSA/s640/IMG_3727.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After being dipped in vinegar--the colors changed!!!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I was leaving, the young man who made the print offered it to us for whatever we would pay....so I gave him a dollar and will eventually frame it at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we watched a rug weaver at work. Tying knots as he wove was a huge, labor-intensive part of the work. Depending on the type of rug, there can be anything from a minimum of 250 to 900 knots per square inch!! Nine hundred families in a nearby village work with looms like this one. They start learning at age 18. It takes them three to four years to learn the process of knotting and weaving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the rug is woven, a woman then separates the knots and trims them. The women work for ten minutes and then rest as it is very hard on their hands to trim. It is done once before washing the rug and twice afterwards. A blow torch is then used on the bottom to rough up the bottom so that it does not slip on the floor. The rug is washed with baby shampoo. Each rug is unique. Amazingly, dust stays on top of the rug and can be wiped off. It does not sink into the rug. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we went to the show room, had a drink and some snacks, and saw some of the rugs of varying sizes for sale. They were stunning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw a 9x12 foot dark red camel hair rug with 400 knots per square inch. It took 1.5 years to make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A 9x12 foot rug that is 80% pure silk and 20% cotton would take 2.5 years to make and has 600 knots per square inch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rugs that are made of silk on silk take four years to make by three women, with 900 knots per square inch. Women's hands are smaller and more delicate and, therefore, are used to make these very fine rugs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Kashmir wood rug sells for $36 per square inch so a 4x6 foot rug would sell for $734.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Camel hair rugs sell for $40 per square inch. Silk with cotton sells for $110 per square inch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Silk on silk sells fore $250 per square inch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>(Is it per square inch or square foot???)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I've been looking for a small rug for a while and bought a Bukharan traditional design one (the bottom one in the picture above) that was 4 x 2.5 feet. I liked the blue one too but am very glad that I got the maroon one. It arrived a week ago and I LOVE it! It brightens up my small rental living room and my small dog Ziva loves to sunbathe on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The place also sold material and Nava and I bought two outfits. We picked out beautiful silk material (blended with a bit of cotton I believe) and by that night, the outfit would be read. I was a bit out of it and did not have it made long enough....but the material is gorgeous and they made the pants thinner (at our request) than the current full style. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rest of the day was a blur for me. I noticed that I had gotten a phone call from my cousin's daughter, which was very unusual...and I think an email asking her to contact her. In short, I found out that she had died suddenly. I was shocked and incredibly saddened--I got wonderful support from Nava, our guide, and the people I was traveling with. I took time to sit by myself while the others went to the beautifully preserved 18th century <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar,_Jaipur" target="_blank">Jantar Mantar Observatory</a> with "ingenious instruments" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and the opulent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Palace,_Jaipur" target="_blank">City Palace</a>, a former residence and now a textile museum. (I'm have no memory of the Palace but I did take pictures!) I think Nava and I mainly walked inside. <b> If any of my fellow travelers have pictures from inside, I'd love to see them. </b></span></div>
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Picture of the royal family:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava and I had signed up for an optional dinner and cultural show for that night at a local Jaipur restaurant. Most of our group came. Unfortunately, the dinner and show was quite similar to the one that was included in our tour a few days before. The entrance was lovely however.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The men in our group were given special head coverings by Bhanu and the women got twisted scarves.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WOW!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava wearing her new pants and I my new top and leggings</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning we headed out again--this time to Jodhpur, the older part of the city known as the blue city.</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-75066040524791433382018-03-14T18:27:00.003-07:002018-03-18T12:09:59.405-07:00Incredible India Part 6:Drive to and in Ranthambhore National Tiger Park, in Rajasthan<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="a0kv0" data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Today, we started the fourth day of traveling with our marvelous group. Each day, with our travel companion, we changed seats according to a plan our main guide posted as we got on the bus. That was so each of us had a chance to sit on a different side in a different part of the bus. The front two seats were reserved for people who wanted to sit in the front for 30 minutes at a time. </span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">We passed a number of fresh produce markets in towns along the road. Indian people prefer fresh local produce when possible. Here are some of the scenes along the road, including a street sweeper, produce vendors and cattle awaiting to be fed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKC8OXOX2CXGdGW0csO5DUZsXF0uLnVOWsDgdF10Jmq9dXvvl_mPqgqO0881Pln_eXbhg9SEVIZpOqbQ9bEQuEKHYlReb4zlSXstGzqlv82r9UE6-gGpMMNt7WIU78z-aWMLu-w/s1600/DSC01310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKC8OXOX2CXGdGW0csO5DUZsXF0uLnVOWsDgdF10Jmq9dXvvl_mPqgqO0881Pln_eXbhg9SEVIZpOqbQ9bEQuEKHYlReb4zlSXstGzqlv82r9UE6-gGpMMNt7WIU78z-aWMLu-w/s640/DSC01310.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goats walking along the road next to our bus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMlh2FLKhssxUwyKkWAHlyUd7y8JQHts_sTFi6bSm1alXk-pZmOz0aCKkJyIKyK3aw0A-3NlpKhXYwrDslpzT7yx0iUM0KTMdKjCFRRWcIu1YukHytepHiPhzYYRoNvvJaW4E9w/s1600/IMG_3362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1234" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMlh2FLKhssxUwyKkWAHlyUd7y8JQHts_sTFi6bSm1alXk-pZmOz0aCKkJyIKyK3aw0A-3NlpKhXYwrDslpzT7yx0iUM0KTMdKjCFRRWcIu1YukHytepHiPhzYYRoNvvJaW4E9w/s640/IMG_3362.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We often saw street sweepers near markets and at historic sites</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1-BarwBHS2eMxRSg09c3nLUll1hbgYmFdpscJ9NMW55ED7m2wW9Z3ZdBDTIaNKwyWFMEoexp6CfiJgmM0PJujmUJuaOIYGyhDI4N-irdR8lNku7aQGDfublA8Ll5cYVUgA7x4Q/s1600/IMG_3368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1-BarwBHS2eMxRSg09c3nLUll1hbgYmFdpscJ9NMW55ED7m2wW9Z3ZdBDTIaNKwyWFMEoexp6CfiJgmM0PJujmUJuaOIYGyhDI4N-irdR8lNku7aQGDfublA8Ll5cYVUgA7x4Q/s640/IMG_3368.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a wonderful smile we bus passengers got from this young man</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p5OW5i_8h2yYpeEpI3PVNqHTSDktmGH4QfxW5WizFgqNAVtvHjmrb3eLg0lhFJnjxCzr6wMvjBkoiZjKNjoUsUb4idzcSI2P9f0-YLJgM5HZz7Zyj4tbxKFjS0e8gHniVGg-7g/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p5OW5i_8h2yYpeEpI3PVNqHTSDktmGH4QfxW5WizFgqNAVtvHjmrb3eLg0lhFJnjxCzr6wMvjBkoiZjKNjoUsUb4idzcSI2P9f0-YLJgM5HZz7Zyj4tbxKFjS0e8gHniVGg-7g/s640/IMG_3370.JPG" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unpacking radishes at the vegetable market in a small town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZu5N75zEcHWqbnDWes5I6SfpMT33GaJA3Cp3xu9jNb-jmjupCPK5m8s44meoXB4I8au6_rWNBxpB-o6UmMVx9D3HjSWDkN-v_1GSAKpUpBlA0QbrsVjs8M68Gb_-caL82mmOdRA/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZu5N75zEcHWqbnDWes5I6SfpMT33GaJA3Cp3xu9jNb-jmjupCPK5m8s44meoXB4I8au6_rWNBxpB-o6UmMVx9D3HjSWDkN-v_1GSAKpUpBlA0QbrsVjs8M68Gb_-caL82mmOdRA/s640/IMG_3377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle waiting patiently for imperfect vegetables</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">We spent most of the day driving with rest stops every hour and a half. At each stop, we had opportunities to buy souvenirs.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I felt relaxed when looking at this carving for sale at one, so I took a picture of it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidSVn9dZq-nO-sexRkI7eQvD-xENLaaiCNfSAZUwb6hsgFT7d6rmOiaBharMR8ytl948ymAauBeoWKCkl0DoNNDctUhdkiMAmXaAiYZCuCDI1VgcxTZZTabeiACf-TxPGLLW8-A/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="948" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidSVn9dZq-nO-sexRkI7eQvD-xENLaaiCNfSAZUwb6hsgFT7d6rmOiaBharMR8ytl948ymAauBeoWKCkl0DoNNDctUhdkiMAmXaAiYZCuCDI1VgcxTZZTabeiACf-TxPGLLW8-A/s400/IMG_3384.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>
<span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="goog_1210237663"></span><span id="goog_1210237664"></span><br /></span><span data-offset-key="cv9m0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">We entered Rajasthan where the women dress in very colorful clothing. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: normal;">Here is a picture of women in Azizpur, Rajasthan in a special vehicle for transporting women. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu809KR75zsGBOUxEtNV8njlnYhkjQt2C_Zft-cS2sqtSEHNxv4NGDxpctbExIKNIRvxU8Kn9IP88EVeleAr0inKprNMwox8U_nzO-dhKZ8F0-14NXdTfpuArUBeHCoZMFEgH-A/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1543" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu809KR75zsGBOUxEtNV8njlnYhkjQt2C_Zft-cS2sqtSEHNxv4NGDxpctbExIKNIRvxU8Kn9IP88EVeleAr0inKprNMwox8U_nzO-dhKZ8F0-14NXdTfpuArUBeHCoZMFEgH-A/s640/IMG_3392.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: normal;">Women in villages in this region wear orange for purity and yellow and other bright colors to bring joy to their homes. Thanks to Blanca for the pictures below, especially the close up of this very joyous woman. Notice that the woman in front of her has her face covered. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFmiLQ4uYKs2eqwmWKjSKbDVKnaf6vgbsuBpzso2qELaURGP4P0lNlLum3sXG5POwv1uHcCM5Pc7R3_xywpE44N578urvCg_rdPDfYkO4yx_f2cYQu-p5MZWjuHupHuJlY0UR8A/s1600/IMG_E3414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="505" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFmiLQ4uYKs2eqwmWKjSKbDVKnaf6vgbsuBpzso2qELaURGP4P0lNlLum3sXG5POwv1uHcCM5Pc7R3_xywpE44N578urvCg_rdPDfYkO4yx_f2cYQu-p5MZWjuHupHuJlY0UR8A/s640/IMG_E3414.JPG" width="608" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Rajasthan is a a large state where people are more traditional. Many women cover their faces, a tradition that began centuries ago. The women favor bright clothing, especially orange for purity and yellow. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9qjB4mJjk3NxkunBwfajOUe8MOU2Rdh_NefacOS2-PxwV_dzYOGXgOPaayE9FmP8SNGelhBcw2olHWxL0oVEqMd_hd89K7oH0sWs8RByO6ua_wkF1_jCQmbdguKn83FWlQIUAw/s1600/IMG_3431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1349" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9qjB4mJjk3NxkunBwfajOUe8MOU2Rdh_NefacOS2-PxwV_dzYOGXgOPaayE9FmP8SNGelhBcw2olHWxL0oVEqMd_hd89K7oH0sWs8RByO6ua_wkF1_jCQmbdguKn83FWlQIUAw/s640/IMG_3431.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL1Db7cFiJK4Go0ZecLN6v1OKgfbWgOxcnLIwVCYMQlYSFxqUHt96pxO1YzXjUuZYsZlW4afqLiJErMotrYBXQ3D3LouiDdCNFZ1Gl6Av_Efow_WFO-egnFH2T1L8TeK3B2irtA/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL1Db7cFiJK4Go0ZecLN6v1OKgfbWgOxcnLIwVCYMQlYSFxqUHt96pxO1YzXjUuZYsZlW4afqLiJErMotrYBXQ3D3LouiDdCNFZ1Gl6Av_Efow_WFO-egnFH2T1L8TeK3B2irtA/s640/IMG_3593.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILs0_c7cOJ9ieViXi-XvS0zKN4r7alGv5YtaboecLPoT94gfq2O2OhRpCLdJc_74lMXv0n2Pz1ps4GAwzfLtywXWoYwxo4rtAU9kd3XaKxbpxqU1UN8I3mQwpheS2uX5gxcW3Yg/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILs0_c7cOJ9ieViXi-XvS0zKN4r7alGv5YtaboecLPoT94gfq2O2OhRpCLdJc_74lMXv0n2Pz1ps4GAwzfLtywXWoYwxo4rtAU9kd3XaKxbpxqU1UN8I3mQwpheS2uX5gxcW3Yg/s640/IMG_3435.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw a fair amount of green too</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> An interesting juxtaposition below--with the man in jeans and the woman with all but her eyes covered. White is much less common for women and is considered a sign of mourning. Red is usually worn by brides at weddings. Men wear white often to stay cool.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-cD2nONf99bWBQXRiuRjyNehzaW_zW7vIuXjuS_miIN1brKAo7f_1laaw7khrxPVPdCiLFJtv-1IxkzxJVq2FziMDPRgPmBKCWQj7W7jglAtS0SU_rVZrmsL6I-idFQC7_HUWg/s1600/IMG_E3390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1122" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-cD2nONf99bWBQXRiuRjyNehzaW_zW7vIuXjuS_miIN1brKAo7f_1laaw7khrxPVPdCiLFJtv-1IxkzxJVq2FziMDPRgPmBKCWQj7W7jglAtS0SU_rVZrmsL6I-idFQC7_HUWg/s640/IMG_E3390.JPG" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: normal;">Before lunch we stopped at an amazing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepwell" target="_blank">step well</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepwell" target="_blank"> </a>that was 1200 years old and an astounding work of construction. The well is 64’ deep (19.5 m). It was built to store water in this arid area and also has a s</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; white-space: normal;">mall local palace in it. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Baori" target="_blank">Chand Baori </a>is in the village of Abhaneri, Rajasthan. It was constructed in 800 CE. It has 3,500 narrow steps and the whole structure is 13 stories high. it is 5-6 degrees (centigrade?) cooler at the bottom. In hot weatherhistorically it was used as a gathering place to cool off. Step wells were common places throughout the area to get water but the practice has mostly fallen out of use though the constructions still exist. I was astounded that such an amazing piece of architecture was created so many years ago!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first two pictures below were from the web as I could not take as good a picture. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A number of damaged religious statues were collected on the sides of this step well. Before we arrived, Bhanu had told us the story of poison women, women that were given tiny amounts of poison since they were very young and then used as weapons against enemies as they matured as their body fluids were poisonous. (The only thing I could find on the web about them was The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visha_Kanya" target="_blank">Visha Kanya</a>.) Several of the damaged statues had carvings of these women.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6v-rpUyzB2Hxs5b6wZKQYQX1gA61k3pUhJLLk2Ff_1lNyrspaQFxdNgnRaCguzK1Olmd9f9w2UkMyf7zhcCP3zuEcxsXME5y_74jAHMAF3_AWbXfDkPgodc0oHUUy2P9tsp1bA/s1600/DSC01327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="979" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6v-rpUyzB2Hxs5b6wZKQYQX1gA61k3pUhJLLk2Ff_1lNyrspaQFxdNgnRaCguzK1Olmd9f9w2UkMyf7zhcCP3zuEcxsXME5y_74jAHMAF3_AWbXfDkPgodc0oHUUy2P9tsp1bA/s640/DSC01327.JPG" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhanu pointing out the carving of a poison woman<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: normal;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; white-space: normal;"><br />The step well is located opposite </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harsidhhi" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; white-space: normal;" title="Harsidhhi">Harshat Mata</a><span style="color: #222222; white-space: normal;"> Temple. There were beautiful carvings on this temple too.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihneQW4prEug5xSo7POSBwfICB6R6VUsLneukABb1cqQ9OL8A59jSswuTczM_6Gao_5H-arSF0EGe3mzfVg5XmZwL8-D-cFj7fB4MvVRtq-HtEdOSwc15Y3lrHra5Xu9Gl4EsrcA/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1379" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihneQW4prEug5xSo7POSBwfICB6R6VUsLneukABb1cqQ9OL8A59jSswuTczM_6Gao_5H-arSF0EGe3mzfVg5XmZwL8-D-cFj7fB4MvVRtq-HtEdOSwc15Y3lrHra5Xu9Gl4EsrcA/s640/IMG_3408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; white-space: normal;">Across the street from the step well and the temple was a small fruit and crafts market.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IN9KUA8rbBFMs-GrV4OlWMzJJPob1Du8XY2rMOM-QFUfjCMUlXGLrh3y_viATkYRmESILBqLu5-AncYavSyytj0DQfVP9Ktvc_bbrASyibDuoK4mbFewkUMwcHsDQnoD_J2tg/s1600/DSC01316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1361" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IN9KUA8rbBFMs-GrV4OlWMzJJPob1Du8XY2rMOM-QFUfjCMUlXGLrh3y_viATkYRmESILBqLu5-AncYavSyytj0DQfVP9Ktvc_bbrASyibDuoK4mbFewkUMwcHsDQnoD_J2tg/s640/DSC01316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was fascinated by this man who made colored decorations on bracelets and bought two, one just the right size for my granddaughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0">We had lunch at a lovely palace with an organic restaurant and walked by the gardens where vegetables used i the restaurant are grown. A drummer greeted us as we entered. </span> The buffet lunch had a greater variety than some of the buffets we had had--the food was delicious!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shrine near the entrance by the drummer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQX8Ao_3TYLVI3lGPfNbm59lblyl257LoNYE-cFHC1r_0v6zypWhkq1MwvcfbmqjWdN2E_3P3IYyHvdNg8zVJP0ApUdRtAfdlgMJIMhRTWnfU5a9XksNbWY6t0D8AAaY-5rC9_Yw/s1600/DSC01341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQX8Ao_3TYLVI3lGPfNbm59lblyl257LoNYE-cFHC1r_0v6zypWhkq1MwvcfbmqjWdN2E_3P3IYyHvdNg8zVJP0ApUdRtAfdlgMJIMhRTWnfU5a9XksNbWY6t0D8AAaY-5rC9_Yw/s640/DSC01341.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small shrine inside</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCMye4Al60K7JHmBpJhzqEuCHYD3IZFkvqliKVRf_vPpgwPAs_nWMsO8Ctmk3K6CkcRznSdQEz3rVUOhF8qD9cCoqskVi5uuMKZF6zeRrWg91nFAb4iQfBpNnoSynY6gUeFoE9g/s1600/IMG_3419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCMye4Al60K7JHmBpJhzqEuCHYD3IZFkvqliKVRf_vPpgwPAs_nWMsO8Ctmk3K6CkcRznSdQEz3rVUOhF8qD9cCoqskVi5uuMKZF6zeRrWg91nFAb4iQfBpNnoSynY6gUeFoE9g/s640/IMG_3419.JPG" width="504" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc6K_8NPNwmzwVDT4cufdRGgRxlntUStd37A9cs-YynwMXTm96hdeCjX7M7_GEMGBen0a8nmB8yZg1bUZkxcA9WHJfzHzDkudyM1tyYPEA8QYukZXjazdfMCj2PeH9nUyy3E-5A/s1600/DSC01349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc6K_8NPNwmzwVDT4cufdRGgRxlntUStd37A9cs-YynwMXTm96hdeCjX7M7_GEMGBen0a8nmB8yZg1bUZkxcA9WHJfzHzDkudyM1tyYPEA8QYukZXjazdfMCj2PeH9nUyy3E-5A/s640/DSC01349.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyeHI26engOPpQPLtCIuT6WuMB5WxG3TxB7dXB2Z2VLvgWRQEIaFp8ahFoTWZhvd72e3LUxjmIlKbkXhVQqOaxQI_3T4eE5jtlO9OHYXnpFc0gev-iStmy0Lq7aUWCXYdQgBnlQ/s1600/DSC01352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1490" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyeHI26engOPpQPLtCIuT6WuMB5WxG3TxB7dXB2Z2VLvgWRQEIaFp8ahFoTWZhvd72e3LUxjmIlKbkXhVQqOaxQI_3T4eE5jtlO9OHYXnpFc0gev-iStmy0Lq7aUWCXYdQgBnlQ/s640/DSC01352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse0Ur_8reV-NMoBJ4eAh4cG9bmMgaKL3R_zdLsoUl4_1dr6U2-Jp0nzTYumc3z3OQMZ12ZrPUdoZmJvGf5KUxy12_EgHXxTDthimrTVvpYGLymIVJBQY6syCwbONz8DecPvl8OQ/s1600/DSC01354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1561" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse0Ur_8reV-NMoBJ4eAh4cG9bmMgaKL3R_zdLsoUl4_1dr6U2-Jp0nzTYumc3z3OQMZ12ZrPUdoZmJvGf5KUxy12_EgHXxTDthimrTVvpYGLymIVJBQY6syCwbONz8DecPvl8OQ/s640/DSC01354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unripe gooseberries growing about 15 feet high up in a tree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We continued driving through rural areas.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFxUFjWkY4JewJEAWZZuL1q7pvxIJ_7RWriIgCNqqqMLKJQjmFMWyu20TmIssyjzwrUwrfEGml3XdHdm61Z0CuzkDv1GBwHE4ut7mcI9AO11MnOD8e65nAS23kYHf6LN2D2V_mg/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1154" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFxUFjWkY4JewJEAWZZuL1q7pvxIJ_7RWriIgCNqqqMLKJQjmFMWyu20TmIssyjzwrUwrfEGml3XdHdm61Z0CuzkDv1GBwHE4ut7mcI9AO11MnOD8e65nAS23kYHf6LN2D2V_mg/s640/IMG_3434.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry, arid area</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB93q6rzCeOCS4REd0r1fOXX-rDqwumAjxwHTlzQpVmviCMfrB-sHqNaLYt9NNfGuTY-q6hrvb_Hk3yIq11o0Sf3Ho1WExzEBKqFZ5EuoorvuC3ZItjiDzresMW-pram5DDhy6vg/s1600/IMG_3428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1163" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB93q6rzCeOCS4REd0r1fOXX-rDqwumAjxwHTlzQpVmviCMfrB-sHqNaLYt9NNfGuTY-q6hrvb_Hk3yIq11o0Sf3Ho1WExzEBKqFZ5EuoorvuC3ZItjiDzresMW-pram5DDhy6vg/s640/IMG_3428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys getting water from a well</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqV6TgHiogmYcsJUBY7EccUeWHVDdkwu2skCAsloThlRtKRjpIL4UrWDTUXz1kdw_G4dBjhvXjnMJs5z9e45I2Xq0mJlQ5T3IFsUxuSPn97f_gQ6EtR5L967HfuLRNtCge2heMw/s1600/IMG_3430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1485" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqV6TgHiogmYcsJUBY7EccUeWHVDdkwu2skCAsloThlRtKRjpIL4UrWDTUXz1kdw_G4dBjhvXjnMJs5z9e45I2Xq0mJlQ5T3IFsUxuSPn97f_gQ6EtR5L967HfuLRNtCge2heMw/s640/IMG_3430.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men gathering for a snack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_AUpt3KVaUNw7vOCoFARUu2V4Jfgvn103I-2_BBvUTX1rWAhSEntZVg7FmDLl96bH0KHoMTHuq4C9FEIuRHpN_mzDMZ4qCU_OojeAoIiJyU7PQmD01-UMp0d6uCSQEhr8cuHvQ/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1583" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_AUpt3KVaUNw7vOCoFARUu2V4Jfgvn103I-2_BBvUTX1rWAhSEntZVg7FmDLl96bH0KHoMTHuq4C9FEIuRHpN_mzDMZ4qCU_OojeAoIiJyU7PQmD01-UMp0d6uCSQEhr8cuHvQ/s640/IMG_3441.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman gathering wood</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In early evening we arrived at the Tigress Ranthampore Hotel, near the Ranthambore National Tiger Park. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC3jQwpbE1CATT8eroYsrANLQpa-8uIPKESyY7N98AgmhCHSiNBd-8_gzLkKcUTnaoyOJ-hj1yMPG17J-9JVySKTNEEMKC8ZeIWVnwwefywKMhHAUv3PH5EgjwQPtV2ag_zl-YQ/s1600/IMG_3500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC3jQwpbE1CATT8eroYsrANLQpa-8uIPKESyY7N98AgmhCHSiNBd-8_gzLkKcUTnaoyOJ-hj1yMPG17J-9JVySKTNEEMKC8ZeIWVnwwefywKMhHAUv3PH5EgjwQPtV2ag_zl-YQ/s400/IMG_3500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLrvHQqXnwC-1Tqd6u4c-0VlG90C7-BEin_zsBdqVyUNIExeuFYp2ZrwK1uR5F8P_yN48p4KbBByqt-76OPezSIJsLJgyJyCXwQBPvb0w0XJUjbV9pfr39YyYhnNxw8-jJyZmMg/s1600/IMG_3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1451" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLrvHQqXnwC-1Tqd6u4c-0VlG90C7-BEin_zsBdqVyUNIExeuFYp2ZrwK1uR5F8P_yN48p4KbBByqt-76OPezSIJsLJgyJyCXwQBPvb0w0XJUjbV9pfr39YyYhnNxw8-jJyZmMg/s640/IMG_3503.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hotel was gorgeous--a beautiful oasis in the arid area</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The park was the hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur until it became a national tiger park. It was painful to see photos of the past on a wall in the hotel and to see how big these magnificent creatures were. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdxUlxQJOigo0bZAiGm96XnpTBKfZ7bnJorY2l4P59n0LcFu8pImMwwF-SuaT_JTXvLiWF78D00kWzzbs4jsJ-Z9MhvgyPBiUF9ejY_uA4jXs5N_Tj6lGLHTcTmDfSjtA-S8uIg/s1600/IMG_3502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdxUlxQJOigo0bZAiGm96XnpTBKfZ7bnJorY2l4P59n0LcFu8pImMwwF-SuaT_JTXvLiWF78D00kWzzbs4jsJ-Z9MhvgyPBiUF9ejY_uA4jXs5N_Tj6lGLHTcTmDfSjtA-S8uIg/s400/IMG_3502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were greeted by a musician playing Yankee Doodle!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH5uvB2uWrXHkQSus6JOWH3ePx-P3KE5XwiZPflIzvLAcojKnIseYKcyBC-legOCLRvXuN1fDHlFkKU2hg5_UH8KdAYVGuasnYaUZpP51meFxRSr1_gmeVh4ufQLlK2L3dp12rA/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH5uvB2uWrXHkQSus6JOWH3ePx-P3KE5XwiZPflIzvLAcojKnIseYKcyBC-legOCLRvXuN1fDHlFkKU2hg5_UH8KdAYVGuasnYaUZpP51meFxRSr1_gmeVh4ufQLlK2L3dp12rA/s640/IMG_3442.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also were greeted with dots on our foreheads and marigolds leis.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii5N9VLrM5dcT1uxwiwVDxt8UJUp6xANX7c4SlnkjEgp_0DCdoIaEYepqYZlrStYf9z1TGeqm2MvCg7Rm0WIQO33kOZObPgtZgupuSFWnUTy7GHeUZqEUW-PZS2A5HZApplQ_yA/s1600/IMG_3443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii5N9VLrM5dcT1uxwiwVDxt8UJUp6xANX7c4SlnkjEgp_0DCdoIaEYepqYZlrStYf9z1TGeqm2MvCg7Rm0WIQO33kOZObPgtZgupuSFWnUTy7GHeUZqEUW-PZS2A5HZApplQ_yA/s640/IMG_3443.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
The lobby was beautifully appointed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICFRResd-MsW7YaofV5CraNBx2Au3FXdCYDxH1uzpQmoWUEQEjh_YxuTmY50akkvmkWuLBjgXyE-zIIFGJgqthR8pMDPEEQ7ODTauUur8cFyys2yDDnsZfPjgybVrebJxrVzHtw/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICFRResd-MsW7YaofV5CraNBx2Au3FXdCYDxH1uzpQmoWUEQEjh_YxuTmY50akkvmkWuLBjgXyE-zIIFGJgqthR8pMDPEEQ7ODTauUur8cFyys2yDDnsZfPjgybVrebJxrVzHtw/s640/IMG_3444.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The popular local beer of India--at least northern India:<br />
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A cake for dessert for our one-week anniversary of traveling (including plane trip):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzQ3OH34MLQu0XBPFg4f9jXFlRj8WMnIgE0jAnRaKPhlyNbKLhoe5SzR_A8r8nCiuUom0MKnY-jKk9lGmF-Odbs27xIKk1HYGu_fQeU-bHy_mSVgVlpyAZnbcnsHF9vItFlakQg/s1600/IMG_3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1413" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzQ3OH34MLQu0XBPFg4f9jXFlRj8WMnIgE0jAnRaKPhlyNbKLhoe5SzR_A8r8nCiuUom0MKnY-jKk9lGmF-Odbs27xIKk1HYGu_fQeU-bHy_mSVgVlpyAZnbcnsHF9vItFlakQg/s640/IMG_3457.JPG" width="610" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava, Blanca and I ordered silk kurtas made to order just before we had dinner.</span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning we were up at 5 and headed out at 6:15 on safari for 3.5 hours, looking for one of the tigers in the park. <a href="http://www.tigersincrisis.com/the_status.htm" target="_blank">Tigers are severely endangered</a>, Of the original nine subspecies, three are extinct and four of the remaining six are critically endangered, with less than 4,000 remaining in the world. Poaching and loss of environment has reduced their numbers from over 100,000 to the few remaining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our group headed out in two canters (open 14-passenger, all-terrain trucks) to the 1400 square kilometer Ranthambore National Park and tiger sanctuary. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSVIPKNs7vXxuDPLpQCTTLAeHrySpTzL_TOwM8zaIVGHMjKhMnZ-ZCqyYSbk9Nwd8l4-BWVIwDB3zhX6oWOZ46l1_6adrm7Wt5hPW1rEFLE7sh7BbQSqrX2NaFhhZDeps1PYZhQ/s1600/DSC01403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSVIPKNs7vXxuDPLpQCTTLAeHrySpTzL_TOwM8zaIVGHMjKhMnZ-ZCqyYSbk9Nwd8l4-BWVIwDB3zhX6oWOZ46l1_6adrm7Wt5hPW1rEFLE7sh7BbQSqrX2NaFhhZDeps1PYZhQ/s640/DSC01403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are ten zones in the park, and we went into zone 4 where a mother and cubs were sighted yesterday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7NAv6mswSlxXqGtqiQIxkgiwoeI6IQVxcfkLYRgWqdlt4nZRKKOcimSJiW2PI3Jg2m9mDXlBvGSl_hKZaHqI75HMsTt1CZ1x3pxVTDzI1tq3iPyIHbMMfWskSQdXfIMxoBSeog/s1600/DSC01376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7NAv6mswSlxXqGtqiQIxkgiwoeI6IQVxcfkLYRgWqdlt4nZRKKOcimSJiW2PI3Jg2m9mDXlBvGSl_hKZaHqI75HMsTt1CZ1x3pxVTDzI1tq3iPyIHbMMfWskSQdXfIMxoBSeog/s640/DSC01376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This reserve was created in 1970 and it became a national park in the 1980s. The national government banned tiger hunting in 1972. The local people are delighted to have jobs in the park to keep them, they work to see that no poaching occurs.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Male tigers are solitary. There are 71 tigers now in the park including cubs with a p</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">reponderance of males cubs. Some males will be moved to another preserve (possibly Siriska National Park near Jaipur which only has 23 tigers now and a larger area) as this one can only support 55 maximum before males start fighting to the death. The<a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/machli-bengal-tiger-india-queen-ranthambore/" target="_blank"> Machli Tigress </a>lived in the reserve for many years and died at age 19. You can see her on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lolT5nIQIY4" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Most live up to 15 years in the wild. When they start losing their canine teeth around 12 or do, their future is limited. Females are of mating age at 3 or so. In zone four there were two females, one with one almost grown cub close to age 2 (another died) and another with three seven month old cubs—another also died. Tiger cubs nurse for about two months, and then begin to eat meat. Their mothers start by catching small fawns as the meat is easier for the cubs to eat. By age 4 months, the cubs walk with their moms. A one-year-old cub is quite big so a leopard cannot kill it. At 14 months, the mother teaches the cuts to kill. By 20 months, she teaches to to turn their play fight into serious fight. A spotted dear is a good meal for a mom and her 12 month old cubs. A sombar deer is enough food for them for 5 to 7 days as it takes 2-3 days to digest this kind of deer. Currently if smaller tigers come into this reserve, the larger cats will kill them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Female tigers only need about 20 square kilometers but males need at least 40 square kilometers each. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">hunting is hard for tigers, and they only succeed about half of the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">As we drove out, we saw the sun rise. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen-5wT5mh4AkEOqMOnFi6MRgtfWKuCvQK3FugaIwHh_cPZnrqOwVzurfb2LmalsdTqgKCzPfuoY6jd6BRfJq4kNaRQRzc2zvtfL4jUPQmMmqR9YfJDFJST__hiJXCHGzXMFWpSA/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="998" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen-5wT5mh4AkEOqMOnFi6MRgtfWKuCvQK3FugaIwHh_cPZnrqOwVzurfb2LmalsdTqgKCzPfuoY6jd6BRfJq4kNaRQRzc2zvtfL4jUPQmMmqR9YfJDFJST__hiJXCHGzXMFWpSA/s640/IMG_3469.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The road was very bumpy, and it was colder than we had expected (thank goodness for the blankets that were provided) but the seats were comfortable.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDnxTMHUs8pzeCJXd9dDA-jzZGvdrhMzyVcjSR9hW-JxOkJcgnbgWTy4HC0XluckOa5nIvHfWI_Z5_xjURe4Hm4Lbju33Ei0a3M992QrXidrN7aKkTHrOOXpC9hbF_9h_LFd1rg/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDnxTMHUs8pzeCJXd9dDA-jzZGvdrhMzyVcjSR9hW-JxOkJcgnbgWTy4HC0XluckOa5nIvHfWI_Z5_xjURe4Hm4Lbju33Ei0a3M992QrXidrN7aKkTHrOOXpC9hbF_9h_LFd1rg/s640/IMG_3462.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Each canter had a naturalist provided by the park. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP-nwTvvAlfCwnyqDxSAeTVj_UERxnPvfdM4f5Z71wp123wYi7VGMDLMoN-LkZixCFz3YjTNgFZiNcp_IdiBjVSwhOX7U4aAK6UzMuwu-8bscxYVhYOK4B1E4RZVDHxexIgMpuQ/s1600/IMG_3464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP-nwTvvAlfCwnyqDxSAeTVj_UERxnPvfdM4f5Z71wp123wYi7VGMDLMoN-LkZixCFz3YjTNgFZiNcp_IdiBjVSwhOX7U4aAK6UzMuwu-8bscxYVhYOK4B1E4RZVDHxexIgMpuQ/s640/IMG_3464.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Entering the reserve:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuz-Xne967sNxJHdVOk7PWycRoCw7I15eyz2jaNQBv-uIqYgwiDHpbpQIFKUpNEPvmvp70k-73tKA01_QrpwgYzaVYz4jHfZqd9l3TlJLr8wVzHrTPjWoIUJHE0gDDBas7u8rVw/s1600/DSC01396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuz-Xne967sNxJHdVOk7PWycRoCw7I15eyz2jaNQBv-uIqYgwiDHpbpQIFKUpNEPvmvp70k-73tKA01_QrpwgYzaVYz4jHfZqd9l3TlJLr8wVzHrTPjWoIUJHE0gDDBas7u8rVw/s640/DSC01396.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our guide looked for tiger scat and listened to the sound of other animals. If tigers approached, the sounds of other animals changed dramatically as some were startled, like the animal who quickly turned around when he heard an unusual sound. A tiger was near but went away from the watering hole, in another direction.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG-5kfkYliErCiFVDGuXDfQ5cv6EBOKakModkr8-KD5kY1g0scPRxFQaj4eTsP3KdrxWZIe42bbwxGPWx6vaETmIa7-eKN-DiJZfHhVzOEXcQM9wragNqELtGq9-XYxGT1HNTgA/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1070" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG-5kfkYliErCiFVDGuXDfQ5cv6EBOKakModkr8-KD5kY1g0scPRxFQaj4eTsP3KdrxWZIe42bbwxGPWx6vaETmIa7-eKN-DiJZfHhVzOEXcQM9wragNqELtGq9-XYxGT1HNTgA/s640/IMG_3548.JPG" width="526" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. There were also cameras that took pictures of animals that passed by. That was another way the park employees could know the location of animals in the park.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCdkfHaA_fVd4k9Eb52wicb3bSCTCh9OocPAwELwNhJWY3KUhiEAmQojR7LCJN3OndCfyRcnuIl7Fq8xmTpanUZm-CFoy_cZ-EFYNqvQ7JC0fR40fTSEKFy-JA2I40hFnS9Yg8Q/s1600/DSC01374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="831" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCdkfHaA_fVd4k9Eb52wicb3bSCTCh9OocPAwELwNhJWY3KUhiEAmQojR7LCJN3OndCfyRcnuIl7Fq8xmTpanUZm-CFoy_cZ-EFYNqvQ7JC0fR40fTSEKFy-JA2I40hFnS9Yg8Q/s640/DSC01374.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had to be out of the park by ten a.m., and even though our guide worked diligently, the tigers eluded us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did see quite a few animals, especially deer:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLeSYokJe-nbriiTy65UjC1CiSSr1oC4sumMJ57a0T8n2FV42-PeNBuQoOfeyg6rrNuUAbTObMVoVt0Gi-PXAsysja5MO-I_nI0FSrlKrgUxDnqSTyrrtf0C1bfWts567z2S_iw/s1600/DSC01361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1231" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLeSYokJe-nbriiTy65UjC1CiSSr1oC4sumMJ57a0T8n2FV42-PeNBuQoOfeyg6rrNuUAbTObMVoVt0Gi-PXAsysja5MO-I_nI0FSrlKrgUxDnqSTyrrtf0C1bfWts567z2S_iw/s640/DSC01361.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbodv6Tz5DLDF5h08NflUAqigHvgyXE2dxy4Ei1Asfb-kr529PK00OjoEfXY4ymdL0Aa4WmjljoB-xb-Ae3PzNjUQ4X_IbmXT46z10pN9DOnW3ygXKKEkpixaI-4r6AYm5mOg3w/s1600/DSC01368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbodv6Tz5DLDF5h08NflUAqigHvgyXE2dxy4Ei1Asfb-kr529PK00OjoEfXY4ymdL0Aa4WmjljoB-xb-Ae3PzNjUQ4X_IbmXT46z10pN9DOnW3ygXKKEkpixaI-4r6AYm5mOg3w/s640/DSC01368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did see black faced lemur (?) monkeys,</span></span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a crocodile (lower center right below). Crocodiles can survive almost 100 yeras. They can slow down their breathing and live longer.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MqSEbf4W07CRiYj2mLBv0xukG0bTtt_fUIRGxe9uSKYRlXzzrgfUTddT3CxbaqBrQMKNO1WbeR82CGsl9tz_H3w7Q93sy6KEBsPE5Q8avnRkaBMleIV1AEUgKSLS85kwgJYkQg/s1600/DSC01397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1572" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MqSEbf4W07CRiYj2mLBv0xukG0bTtt_fUIRGxe9uSKYRlXzzrgfUTddT3CxbaqBrQMKNO1WbeR82CGsl9tz_H3w7Q93sy6KEBsPE5Q8avnRkaBMleIV1AEUgKSLS85kwgJYkQg/s640/DSC01397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">many different birds, When we stopped to use the bathroom, several of the birds checked out our vehicles.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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We saw solar panels by the bathrooms. The power made from them is used to pump water for the amimals. <br />
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There are pond herons in the park too. Usually the park has 1100 mm of rain annually but last year only 400 mm fell so they is a lot less water in the ponds. <br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">sambar and spotted deer,</span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> peacocks (the national bird of India), </span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> and insect (termite) hills with small tunnels underneath going from one hill to another. Bears and tigers eat the ants--it is great protein for them. The queen termite can survive up to twelve years and can be two to three inches big. </span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Sambar deer are the largest variety of deer in Asia. The deer lose their antlers annually and later eat them.</span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">They was less rain the past monsoon season than usual so the lake we passed by which was created privately before this became a national park about 40 years ago was not as high as usual. We also saw cacti.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76ucKU013bmJKBfS2Ac5YILyhHuqRc6Jl9yhaPRkaRcxJakLsX18zwBgD70h2xX4-l1SkBddWa850XLYIPQirmao45WV4ci1ItwmlmeXsILJ69h-e-2qMGa9d2-O-JzGGJPD5kA/s1600/DSC01375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76ucKU013bmJKBfS2Ac5YILyhHuqRc6Jl9yhaPRkaRcxJakLsX18zwBgD70h2xX4-l1SkBddWa850XLYIPQirmao45WV4ci1ItwmlmeXsILJ69h-e-2qMGa9d2-O-JzGGJPD5kA/s640/DSC01375.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spotted deer almost camouflaged by its surroundings</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava Gazitt and I had low expectations of seeing a tiger this afternoon when we returned to <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=110349575672524&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/ranthamborenationalparkindia/?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer;">Ranthambore National Park</a> but we were looking forward to being surprised. 16 of the 28 of our group that participated this morning braved the bumpy path to return. We went in zone 1, and the landscape was a bit different--drier and also with some rocky area and some banyan trees, the national trees of India. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">There was a pond where this sambar deer chose to rest.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We never did see a tiger, but we were rewarded by the sight of a much more elusive animal, a leopard! First he appeared in the road in front of us, but when he saw us, he turned around, and then rested, semi-hidden, off the path.</span><br />
<span data-offset-key="3uaeq-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our naturalist guide Bitu had not seen a leopard in over two weeks whereas he tends to see tigers at least 50% of the time that he takes people out, , so we were very lucky. </span><br />
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Bhanu , our guide, said, we hoped for silver (the tiger) and we got gold (the leopard)!!!<br />
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The bumpy ride in the trucks really confused the health app on my Iphone, which said that I had walked 16,000 steps and climbed 195 flights! I've done 16,000 steps on plenty of days but not on this one!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Local people appreciate the work in the park and the tourists that come in, stay at local hotels, and eat locally. It gives employment to many people in the area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others in our group stayed back for a massage, to rest, and/or to take a camel cart ride to the small town nearby. They had a lovely time interacting with the children of the village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I also watched a man paint, who worked by the clothing shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: normal;">That night we had dinner on the hotel roof (wearing our coats as it was chilly) and also saw a music, puppet and dancing show. Nava joined the group for some good exercise!! We also saw the special stove on which na'an was made and had a choice of garlic or plain.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious food with some new additions</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we left the next morning, the musician bade us farewell from the rooftop!</span><br />
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-80577776247230604042018-03-07T12:06:00.000-08:002018-03-14T17:46:27.809-07:00Incredible India #5: The Taj Mahal and Acra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, we were awoken at six so that we could leave for the Taj Mahal by 7:30 and beat the crowds. We again had a great buffet, including my now favorite breakfast bread paratha and a new fruit. At first I thought the yellow-ish item was an underripe cherry tomato, but a fellow traveler born in India told me they it was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus_emblica" target="_blank">gooseberry</a>. It was different from gooseberries I had growing in my back yard in Spokane (and removed), and much more delicious. Yum!! It was good we tried them here as we did not see ripe ones again on our trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this time the paratha was stuffed with a bit of potato and onion--aloo pyaz paratha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We headed out early to get to the <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/taj-mahal" target="_blank">Taj Mahal</a> before a lot of other visitors arrived, and it was definitely worth while!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way we saw men getting an inexpensive breakfast on the street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Years ago, cars could drive to the entrance of the Taj Mahal, but because of pollution and damage to the historic buildings from gas and diesel vehicles, cars and buses must park at a distance, and passengers must get on small open- air, electric vehicles to get to the entrance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tourists pay significantly more than Indians, $16 US vs under $1 per US, so it is easily accessible to locals and the higher price for visitors helps cover the maintenance costs. We did, however, get to go through a shorter line!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqSljSdMKOKnAYUk3RtyMtH-yL5ITH79w3Y6ee0AI-H34l68DCvPjidgpmmFeL2a2xUDHDaiKN7mz0fg7qI9R3veMatQ-G1ZEFYzK4JXdGCiI4zqH6rp-IkIND8hyRmuMek22PA/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1210" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqSljSdMKOKnAYUk3RtyMtH-yL5ITH79w3Y6ee0AI-H34l68DCvPjidgpmmFeL2a2xUDHDaiKN7mz0fg7qI9R3veMatQ-G1ZEFYzK4JXdGCiI4zqH6rp-IkIND8hyRmuMek22PA/s400/IMG_3237.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went through security here too of course.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuqZXYFkcSfIR1nbAKNZXSQCp3zK_McOpv_n1sWtMzW0GLyy49tFzFbE_3r__xrd1icvm9ncv9BK208Hb9Tda2xqGsg78Ss1DqnezZ5v0PgNJxMioPfAs0iMtSzPW9I-Lb4TrYw/s1600/IMG_3228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1171" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuqZXYFkcSfIR1nbAKNZXSQCp3zK_McOpv_n1sWtMzW0GLyy49tFzFbE_3r__xrd1icvm9ncv9BK208Hb9Tda2xqGsg78Ss1DqnezZ5v0PgNJxMioPfAs0iMtSzPW9I-Lb4TrYw/s640/IMG_3228.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhanu using the whisperer to communicate with us before we go through the main gateway of red sandstone.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Taj Mahal is considered the world's most balanced building. The symmetry is incredible, both within the main structure and all of the surrounding layout.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9cBD9YJ9HPF_tcCTrppsUx9XgdRpqWW1e-FRmmkewPIb1JMj3eL7dLiURz0WRosI41JYKi1y6LA7axiHWfWFYPSNelPQLXvhCVtwLinVAcfLr_rsQJ9fNr5NftQ0XWPt69nTQ/s1600/DSC01246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1270" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9cBD9YJ9HPF_tcCTrppsUx9XgdRpqWW1e-FRmmkewPIb1JMj3eL7dLiURz0WRosI41JYKi1y6LA7axiHWfWFYPSNelPQLXvhCVtwLinVAcfLr_rsQJ9fNr5NftQ0XWPt69nTQ/s640/DSC01246.JPG" width="556" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mosque on the left side of the south gate is balanced by a guest house on the right side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Taj Mahal is an ivory and white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughul emperor Shah Jahan as a burial place for his 3rd and favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who bled to death after giving birth to their 14th child. She had traveled with him to battlefields when he went to fight. The tomb was the centerpiece of a 42-acre complex. The mausoleum was completed by 1643 but worked continued on other buildings for another ten years. Shah Jahan never stopped mourning for his beloved wife.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over 20,000 craftsmen worked to construct these amazing buildings. Bhanu told us that there was a legend that the hands of many of the craftsmen were chopped off so they could not replicate their work, but he believes that it is just a myth--untrue.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46pMg4EkSHcx3iDlE5EJwdWWs4Q_dmklguZ2QJ6x7sfw7g8oPdt1cqXG2qRdwjqPQHwaJz9wYmMfEfbjrKnCDND4KqcSlnkdoPwhnXjnd9K47XNntzX6ZFnofPZZNC3r9mYIqeg/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1205" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46pMg4EkSHcx3iDlE5EJwdWWs4Q_dmklguZ2QJ6x7sfw7g8oPdt1cqXG2qRdwjqPQHwaJz9wYmMfEfbjrKnCDND4KqcSlnkdoPwhnXjnd9K47XNntzX6ZFnofPZZNC3r9mYIqeg/s640/IMG_3229.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-The Taj Mahal has a built-in shock absorber under it so that it most likely will not be damaged in a major earthquake. Eighty wells were dug out beneath where the building would be and then filled with stone and rubble. The building was then constructed on top of it, maintaining the elasticity of the building in an earthquake.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEk62Vay9xFLeTPZH1q3h90H7y0Hc3hfOQ3O3sK3kaMdn5nhg6HZ396RGRTZhqkEDUy0297HyQnNfLS1i25b-2UPRDNgVlsROHZtvvtgsH9L3ObF7EPJQFBTxR8ShUlZhbQs0gw/s1600/DSC01247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEk62Vay9xFLeTPZH1q3h90H7y0Hc3hfOQ3O3sK3kaMdn5nhg6HZ396RGRTZhqkEDUy0297HyQnNfLS1i25b-2UPRDNgVlsROHZtvvtgsH9L3ObF7EPJQFBTxR8ShUlZhbQs0gw/s640/DSC01247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first view of this magnificent structure</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The spectacular hollow marble dome makes the building look larger. It is 115 feet high and topped with a lotus design to accentuate its height.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The minarets are cleaner than the dome. Half of the Taj Mahal complex has been cleaned recently, including the minarets, in a special way required by the World Heritage organization, with no chemicals. It needs to be done once in every 15 or 20 years to keep the buildings sparkling.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcBq53BpQObrzyytTbfaW-aqOff5uw0y63H7A0yTJV4R-yOGuqs2b9dldaEnmBqGoUaIgnKDExiNIQ-dMcleIp0Jm9e4kO5_0vXA3d_WfmzYvCSqRMAOVNy3YOruLe05SgYqj9A/s1600/DSC01250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcBq53BpQObrzyytTbfaW-aqOff5uw0y63H7A0yTJV4R-yOGuqs2b9dldaEnmBqGoUaIgnKDExiNIQ-dMcleIp0Jm9e4kO5_0vXA3d_WfmzYvCSqRMAOVNy3YOruLe05SgYqj9A/s640/DSC01250.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Taj was designated a World Heritage site in 1983 and was designated a winner of the New seven Wonders of the World competition in 2007. It is considered by many as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. If you want to learn more about the design, click on the blue underlined links like this one to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal" target="_blank">Taj Mahal</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then continue to enjoy the photos. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3XC1kskc7C4MnfzAF5CXtHgib-wMWHYR_NgzadW28ClrQJyRaTrIPRgoaXNbGg4OWpv_sP9aL20L5nGfVXMdwehyphenhyphenbXJIQTIQ04uOcW1OrMLiLjO42_2x5TVRSSEq2CoCmmzq_w/s1600/DSC01252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1600" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3XC1kskc7C4MnfzAF5CXtHgib-wMWHYR_NgzadW28ClrQJyRaTrIPRgoaXNbGg4OWpv_sP9aL20L5nGfVXMdwehyphenhyphenbXJIQTIQ04uOcW1OrMLiLjO42_2x5TVRSSEq2CoCmmzq_w/s640/DSC01252.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJmYJ81Z3GePsV5j6JG1_pBBJXp3MB0ZbYsOOAuGaoAtCGUwKJPjIS1DHEaI6CXVWT7JxpQU8Nk8trDm_6J0xGxI4GovPARDkFK0JBnpzJRjN0nHfROWxRhK16JhVQ3_WKp4vfw/s1600/DSC01253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1234" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJmYJ81Z3GePsV5j6JG1_pBBJXp3MB0ZbYsOOAuGaoAtCGUwKJPjIS1DHEaI6CXVWT7JxpQU8Nk8trDm_6J0xGxI4GovPARDkFK0JBnpzJRjN0nHfROWxRhK16JhVQ3_WKp4vfw/s640/DSC01253.JPG" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the reflection in the pond below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPsumJ62DtsdNcOLmSpD7JvakIoxcgE1RWaZ4HJh0MNPXLQrnHUeJPkvnDLze3MWY7roaDOHq_P1rE_28B9Wlazucrb7nVKUymJNYLEpMVZNAQe7mjXXwTnoi17mtgfP9krdo-A/s1600/DSC01256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPsumJ62DtsdNcOLmSpD7JvakIoxcgE1RWaZ4HJh0MNPXLQrnHUeJPkvnDLze3MWY7roaDOHq_P1rE_28B9Wlazucrb7nVKUymJNYLEpMVZNAQe7mjXXwTnoi17mtgfP9krdo-A/s640/DSC01256.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the functioning minarets used to call Muslims to worship, 130 feet (40 m) tall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcKRJz3vsiFhE-FKHKpILQAbX-Ky5ZWd9zEDa9trqrlwjisCWOyF3YygotstHmtSJHUt7Lq7OpHbQwgcN0KvRsr-KhRbmGXdiFhRdiRzq_hd5jTaRB-cCsSHQZpNW6C9LMJmAoA/s1600/DSC01257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcKRJz3vsiFhE-FKHKpILQAbX-Ky5ZWd9zEDa9trqrlwjisCWOyF3YygotstHmtSJHUt7Lq7OpHbQwgcN0KvRsr-KhRbmGXdiFhRdiRzq_hd5jTaRB-cCsSHQZpNW6C9LMJmAoA/s640/DSC01257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVpRroFyQmHbkKbZbgDwKFhEv8-PJUaTDQ1l_jXlT-629Yp8zOa7yUFjtkwmD79NBYRnsWwBJmDKuliAoQiRH_EpumrYqSrlQE3pDYYPKcHYYh-I465jaKtmHvlX388gfLiFGWg/s1600/DSC01260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1445" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVpRroFyQmHbkKbZbgDwKFhEv8-PJUaTDQ1l_jXlT-629Yp8zOa7yUFjtkwmD79NBYRnsWwBJmDKuliAoQiRH_EpumrYqSrlQE3pDYYPKcHYYh-I465jaKtmHvlX388gfLiFGWg/s640/DSC01260.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLo9tIcW5seJrW3R6kPbZAob332BHhErHKEi2TEV-wz82-6TFjdBt5NOpfJGYCRvvDPiYkbI0JfNQJ1xkUFZNE5NDKVA9qwpMPk8Sr6ptvnwEefLH7Jlw8Bx-2rdfCz3CR1UL5g/s1600/DSC01261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLo9tIcW5seJrW3R6kPbZAob332BHhErHKEi2TEV-wz82-6TFjdBt5NOpfJGYCRvvDPiYkbI0JfNQJ1xkUFZNE5NDKVA9qwpMPk8Sr6ptvnwEefLH7Jlw8Bx-2rdfCz3CR1UL5g/s640/DSC01261.JPG" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://tajmahal.gov.in/calligraphy.html" target="_blank">Calligraphy </a>done in Arabic by a famous Persian calligrapher</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQu_hPgbGyOQ8Xv2Vrk1yNgvmAUTeEuBgea-F_8ZZz8JlHTp87kivBVuJreRQ0l8siam8aVX1M0kxBQKA8xWQgIb9UGXEBLwXExGAcEcX8DBRmVI5Z_MCGNkNKNvg5RRW5i0GcQ/s1600/DSC01264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="1003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQu_hPgbGyOQ8Xv2Vrk1yNgvmAUTeEuBgea-F_8ZZz8JlHTp87kivBVuJreRQ0l8siam8aVX1M0kxBQKA8xWQgIb9UGXEBLwXExGAcEcX8DBRmVI5Z_MCGNkNKNvg5RRW5i0GcQ/s640/DSC01264.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGOHuv4qoAwYTJA7PWpdSPw2t5J8yThx6Zr7SUMpyyR_tQTo_rpDQXLwoLETlITOJfC1KlFZ9qXHUF_enwigUGZVJEBy3Q_hiiyZ62OnGHODn7bEZAN_qgebDu3lnaY8eEcn9Yw/s1600/DSC01265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1112" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGOHuv4qoAwYTJA7PWpdSPw2t5J8yThx6Zr7SUMpyyR_tQTo_rpDQXLwoLETlITOJfC1KlFZ9qXHUF_enwigUGZVJEBy3Q_hiiyZ62OnGHODn7bEZAN_qgebDu3lnaY8eEcn9Yw/s640/DSC01265.JPG" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The empty looking designs at the top of the above photo were filled with draperies or other decorations</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfjFg66mOm5OAFv2CHhA4Ow3uVTD7CMXoUZFeSV2jl612BYrT-P1BSMO9G-N9ADtXdwWbY_HxyoSmU4qEJbn9QKDAbj4gAbn9c_NqJhBeeB7Pfb-8pIzdRJ_4mLlaLLQaml8zcg/s1600/DSC01266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfjFg66mOm5OAFv2CHhA4Ow3uVTD7CMXoUZFeSV2jl612BYrT-P1BSMO9G-N9ADtXdwWbY_HxyoSmU4qEJbn9QKDAbj4gAbn9c_NqJhBeeB7Pfb-8pIzdRJ_4mLlaLLQaml8zcg/s640/DSC01266.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing precious stone inlays</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzWiaxU8Atg7F8ZVb_zvsPPJhuNC2ExI-UZQ0SSH9li1Cjy2IYcFdG62mtgUqfb6BxBjgF5YNPnA6NcngauC_QvEktaAOobBViTNdsXMdcFf2nz5_C_-DwKO-YRiL7fAp3d5eEA/s1600/DSC01267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzWiaxU8Atg7F8ZVb_zvsPPJhuNC2ExI-UZQ0SSH9li1Cjy2IYcFdG62mtgUqfb6BxBjgF5YNPnA6NcngauC_QvEktaAOobBViTNdsXMdcFf2nz5_C_-DwKO-YRiL7fAp3d5eEA/s640/DSC01267.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't have time to go inside unfortunately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Taj Mahal was neglected over time and the British in the 19th century ordered a restoration.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6DKsLS9PhlREFP_tjFiqweFnK1XG93JO1Fijj2B3q496lB1UeDxRNVkGRf4xtNAtbhIjnc-Whenpb0S-nUMPteXK9pT2Doe4T1IazZSbq1AdBEtygQrDJrWXANj_OijBK5_IQg/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6DKsLS9PhlREFP_tjFiqweFnK1XG93JO1Fijj2B3q496lB1UeDxRNVkGRf4xtNAtbhIjnc-Whenpb0S-nUMPteXK9pT2Doe4T1IazZSbq1AdBEtygQrDJrWXANj_OijBK5_IQg/s640/IMG_3245.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Monkeys on the north side of the structures, next to the river, often chasing the little ones</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMArNeMHNjViEBVditwLHcTZQVHR2WBaUbkeqAKZtXIztnGx1lHmLd4yOolYHFSDsbDXgvheET7bOp7_R_YFAbUM7xoTQyTLGTo1CBp-3hP6Fvl-mdeDQwD80EJvk9GeAWyFkuIw/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMArNeMHNjViEBVditwLHcTZQVHR2WBaUbkeqAKZtXIztnGx1lHmLd4yOolYHFSDsbDXgvheET7bOp7_R_YFAbUM7xoTQyTLGTo1CBp-3hP6Fvl-mdeDQwD80EJvk9GeAWyFkuIw/s640/IMG_3253.JPG" width="594" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kites circling above looking for food below</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also saw wild parrots near the mosque flying between the trees and the buildings.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9cuFGt2tsdyJtePDlgRWEUd1dCLsV7d30AMjTpUbqoJY4WSER59WS9_aGVL8bg2WbiVxaFSMj0zW0W0-n-JS0uk-l_ZfDkQsByVQ0rmfl1JeH7i5ekoDSwLKjBKPGC-lqN6R-g/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9cuFGt2tsdyJtePDlgRWEUd1dCLsV7d30AMjTpUbqoJY4WSER59WS9_aGVL8bg2WbiVxaFSMj0zW0W0-n-JS0uk-l_ZfDkQsByVQ0rmfl1JeH7i5ekoDSwLKjBKPGC-lqN6R-g/s640/IMG_3258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle grazing on the other side of the fence above the river</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9b8ocFfkzkDTLLgGX-gFhVOlfIjKWdQu9MgOmS384MUJYUE4rdLBZQu0QzEHsZ_5inqMRn30IgbXFrN4LVWymXoESfN20o44dG83K3iY5A6GOjiY1ZXZugWfGcTdu007kEUKTA/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9b8ocFfkzkDTLLgGX-gFhVOlfIjKWdQu9MgOmS384MUJYUE4rdLBZQu0QzEHsZ_5inqMRn30IgbXFrN4LVWymXoESfN20o44dG83K3iY5A6GOjiY1ZXZugWfGcTdu007kEUKTA/s640/IMG_3238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After passing the mosque above, we continued walking and came to the <a href="https://www.wonders-of-the-world.net/Taj-Mahal/Museum-of-the-Taj-Mahal.php" target="_blank">Taj museum</a>, which came into existence in 1906.. It had some interesting exhibits including details on the different kinds of <a href="https://madhulikaliddle.com/2013/05/09/the-stones-that-make-the-taj/" target="_blank">precious stones and where they came from</a>. Unfortunately, we could not take pictures inside. Stones included coral from Iraq, summog (?) from Arabia, green jade from China, and 13 more. I found the picture below on the web. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't have enough time here, but after we exited, we were soon climbing on the bus to get to Kalakriti Marble store, an amazing company that makes fine items of marble and inlaid semi-precious stones. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcViRT_2doAYgizsAPrfAGf27hQcgjf0k9jQDj3en6pzXDUflkMN6HwDhD600X9A4FMmFYNkeGkbXNoavux9FM61nf0gHACuVyLkCoxShERxcF-ETWSi6NeY87g3c4QlKcPD49A/s1600/IMG_3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcViRT_2doAYgizsAPrfAGf27hQcgjf0k9jQDj3en6pzXDUflkMN6HwDhD600X9A4FMmFYNkeGkbXNoavux9FM61nf0gHACuVyLkCoxShERxcF-ETWSi6NeY87g3c4QlKcPD49A/s640/IMG_3380.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A modern bus with air conditioning and seat belts, but no bathroom, tho we made regular pit stops while traveling. Posing outside is our super assistant to the driver. He daily passed out water bottles with us and when we got back on the bus was outside to offer us a huge dollop of hand sanitizer. He also counted heads to see if we were all onboard, and Bhanu then counted after him!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked to the bus, we saw someone petting a local cow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc-32Cr1aWatv8n_J7CzwKeRfkNWcQHmVgyEgpPW08YvaRZ2xhtcmEKUBETXgR1uOKNbEpyWcEsKaQQfeViyFwZMvmymJk2iMhSRaCWkVsCemw13D9FLDBfSzGgKci1wQfU-KvQ/s1600/IMG_3268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc-32Cr1aWatv8n_J7CzwKeRfkNWcQHmVgyEgpPW08YvaRZ2xhtcmEKUBETXgR1uOKNbEpyWcEsKaQQfeViyFwZMvmymJk2iMhSRaCWkVsCemw13D9FLDBfSzGgKci1wQfU-KvQ/s640/IMG_3268.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Taj Mahal inspired the Kalakriti family to become the manufacturer of fine inlaid marble work, and they are known for their museum quality of their work. The company has 470 families working from home to do this highly skilled work. It is passed down from father to son. We saw a video of the Mines of Makrana and how the marble was harvested in the past and the process now. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YAelKnmXrrc1PC4-CuoRSNGeKjJvz0vW1ugxxZmn4bnzjzNXcCREC8A-taHmEpfKNvvcDtafBfqWD4begdPxCHzZAKIThMrGo1mHIA668nUiUmjQnjz_w3qGG__lQw5-kaICLQ/s1600/IMG_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YAelKnmXrrc1PC4-CuoRSNGeKjJvz0vW1ugxxZmn4bnzjzNXcCREC8A-taHmEpfKNvvcDtafBfqWD4begdPxCHzZAKIThMrGo1mHIA668nUiUmjQnjz_w3qGG__lQw5-kaICLQ/s640/IMG_3283.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEw3WE2nO-0kjLZxO54w-NcHCD4TQ2hkY7oZSvlU54Zdn5NhQ3mszstueHyeaZ4ynme1SopgEiL8L_BgojT9rHjDnbRuBTA69Eov4wyAqpU73Zi4ZKxa09DghE3x5-QJofvImKg/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEw3WE2nO-0kjLZxO54w-NcHCD4TQ2hkY7oZSvlU54Zdn5NhQ3mszstueHyeaZ4ynme1SopgEiL8L_BgojT9rHjDnbRuBTA69Eov4wyAqpU73Zi4ZKxa09DghE3x5-QJofvImKg/s640/IMG_3272.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">harvesting large chunks of marble</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TlM70UsX0AdwvAjxUm_g6w9bs2gEescSXfcELy0ZSjiJSSVbZKUU91TmwI3P3ldp0a3GG58HfGbScGIphaSPaxV2_rIXbgvJ8ZurD-dB7NSI13Ho-Sn36GR3zqxaZ7Uiq0kBsQ/s1600/IMG_3280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1304" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TlM70UsX0AdwvAjxUm_g6w9bs2gEescSXfcELy0ZSjiJSSVbZKUU91TmwI3P3ldp0a3GG58HfGbScGIphaSPaxV2_rIXbgvJ8ZurD-dB7NSI13Ho-Sn36GR3zqxaZ7Uiq0kBsQ/s640/IMG_3280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UbSgXRASVZVTjQi75STbhGzOpQzK3vW9B5OWvUgf9KDN_GZB736iXb4JuwZciFb-1zRYoK1Roi1TSr6jLS-0x4J5otxfz0RISsEauy6ucZc9d8nkPvX2BDHohZqM7SEpg2CdJg/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1430" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UbSgXRASVZVTjQi75STbhGzOpQzK3vW9B5OWvUgf9KDN_GZB736iXb4JuwZciFb-1zRYoK1Roi1TSr6jLS-0x4J5otxfz0RISsEauy6ucZc9d8nkPvX2BDHohZqM7SEpg2CdJg/s640/IMG_3277.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old way of transporting marble, with camels pulling carts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmFqjeXW8QsZnoVA1nICY99-F4LTQvUgWoLhlmX45fGx8bMQXQUGvSjLI3uixwujgeA3CdjxotHRsV5mBhhG8hWbmBPI_rFE3X8wJidEADKzC9IUt3Zt9uld572bLSSVGDwyADA/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1523" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmFqjeXW8QsZnoVA1nICY99-F4LTQvUgWoLhlmX45fGx8bMQXQUGvSjLI3uixwujgeA3CdjxotHRsV5mBhhG8hWbmBPI_rFE3X8wJidEADKzC9IUt3Zt9uld572bLSSVGDwyADA/s640/IMG_3271.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using modern machinery to hoist and move marble</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJvKzHEzB1tEeSPKStQh4LTacjBxnrvQ26OPk2rwAiQWXHglXtxvGAJZKcyA89LkHjcyKzNlED-ug1QJIzZKdl_JudDIQUz5W7_DR4Soy-U3sNv408cHI5-BNYPuYZ0XKz6Gmdw/s1600/IMG_3275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJvKzHEzB1tEeSPKStQh4LTacjBxnrvQ26OPk2rwAiQWXHglXtxvGAJZKcyA89LkHjcyKzNlED-ug1QJIzZKdl_JudDIQUz5W7_DR4Soy-U3sNv408cHI5-BNYPuYZ0XKz6Gmdw/s640/IMG_3275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXFDDnSoK5v4e2TURmH9EdBqGIn32qBGrlykXA4KTkixvMuALhOqEQRhnXyWBz0SE6ouLbYDi4-BfEvYo5Ox1gXzuZmv8-Y4xUukiAlz0RSmjQT68sDrKSOQzqA4FZCxudQiWtA/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1296" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXFDDnSoK5v4e2TURmH9EdBqGIn32qBGrlykXA4KTkixvMuALhOqEQRhnXyWBz0SE6ouLbYDi4-BfEvYo5Ox1gXzuZmv8-Y4xUukiAlz0RSmjQT68sDrKSOQzqA4FZCxudQiWtA/s640/IMG_3279.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using tractors to pull large chunks of marble</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlGdAidX6AACsnrcv6q6aQ27gR8tno1aqZWeZIxVwCqdS0zpb3-RexHZ9AflZUCuZCrplC_S0lbvb2WL4VOkuGvVpsYmJVeiQcmjDuOmxZnJ6ZW2C-vOJ_zZRxA6Sh01LgnJF6A/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlGdAidX6AACsnrcv6q6aQ27gR8tno1aqZWeZIxVwCqdS0zpb3-RexHZ9AflZUCuZCrplC_S0lbvb2WL4VOkuGvVpsYmJVeiQcmjDuOmxZnJ6ZW2C-vOJ_zZRxA6Sh01LgnJF6A/s640/IMG_3286.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIiOEGwEVRSARapZyYU8ihEebEc0lZraRBGYKr_SkgGZLPp89J7jEz3cMmBOkbsqrUa9VSKk1WREzyy98AEUylFDl4cuU3TmpOn8ewTqiytSkJzatHdg3LO_x7-MeztlcFKEVPQ/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIiOEGwEVRSARapZyYU8ihEebEc0lZraRBGYKr_SkgGZLPp89J7jEz3cMmBOkbsqrUa9VSKk1WREzyy98AEUylFDl4cuU3TmpOn8ewTqiytSkJzatHdg3LO_x7-MeztlcFKEVPQ/s640/IMG_3289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We saw six men who came from their homes to give us a demonstration on how they worked. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvL574pxV56NJFFQKXk1ORTh4nfuK-qysTWqvuUqa8M0pATOIh45hzPzzLlyONISJu92DXRfiSxVclUiZ3xeJkWwvTMTcg-EsESmuZtbQXQQQXTPNArlQe2v20Ut1XjOjQXX39Hg/s1600/DSC01285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvL574pxV56NJFFQKXk1ORTh4nfuK-qysTWqvuUqa8M0pATOIh45hzPzzLlyONISJu92DXRfiSxVclUiZ3xeJkWwvTMTcg-EsESmuZtbQXQQQXTPNArlQe2v20Ut1XjOjQXX39Hg/s640/DSC01285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> First they drew a design on a piece of marble and then chiseled it out. Then they cut out the semi-precious stones in such a way to fit into the marble. Then a glue made from an ancient formula using 17 different ingredients is used to put the stones in place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many pieces of stones are used to make one picture. They come from different places: lapis lasuli from Argentina, malachite from South Africa, Zaire and Zimbabwe, and most of the rest from India.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p_gcb9_yKPRxPHiefGDVt-vd20RrJ7DnYPY0e-nSTE9qW-aZ7uB84A93tgQBBIiEf1me24qXfDj7hZl4fUSSsSP9YnRPBNNS-rR7lIJzV3QiMLkjIpFNhOWun3CeD8rhb6Y-1g/s1600/DSC01289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1600" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p_gcb9_yKPRxPHiefGDVt-vd20RrJ7DnYPY0e-nSTE9qW-aZ7uB84A93tgQBBIiEf1me24qXfDj7hZl4fUSSsSP9YnRPBNNS-rR7lIJzV3QiMLkjIpFNhOWun3CeD8rhb6Y-1g/s640/DSC01289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW6Wwx6LhBEAAIksWyq83Y4OCi3MjQ52yqi3akCV3qx0TyPhoKXUeqss2R9Je9IEEC5nC58l4nEeTQcF2usgPCd15joJRQiDYJZ1cLox8_hBnFfn2AQUNBz9qAn2qKi6fozQN4Q/s1600/IMG_3291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW6Wwx6LhBEAAIksWyq83Y4OCi3MjQ52yqi3akCV3qx0TyPhoKXUeqss2R9Je9IEEC5nC58l4nEeTQcF2usgPCd15joJRQiDYJZ1cLox8_hBnFfn2AQUNBz9qAn2qKi6fozQN4Q/s640/IMG_3291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Emory powder and sap is used to make the stone wheel to polish the stones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Very special tools were used in the process and it is exacting work. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqquU_YgE5CRhR26NcZNA4FDqmqjAfAZspTXNHxdiaYBSyraF2nAdiWDG4B7v0E5iL3if7V77YtFhvXWQJhZFoRrler-DodZZ5l33hm9ap4hruL1_9mSh1bwYS8ECvoYtAis6i7w/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1111" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqquU_YgE5CRhR26NcZNA4FDqmqjAfAZspTXNHxdiaYBSyraF2nAdiWDG4B7v0E5iL3if7V77YtFhvXWQJhZFoRrler-DodZZ5l33hm9ap4hruL1_9mSh1bwYS8ECvoYtAis6i7w/s640/IMG_3300.JPG" width="444" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuy6a6n-b8PcMeKL1ilarzkFPHqpPOhLtcnMS4q9nCeEeFSPACOmtmdbVpYJ_Qd5CvrUxiiAvZ8a79zSDuz-ZTupZJqCGQms5haBo3-IozNB3cF1_HQ0BtcB8mntz5Ah9uqRNXg/s1600/IMG_3294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1270" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuy6a6n-b8PcMeKL1ilarzkFPHqpPOhLtcnMS4q9nCeEeFSPACOmtmdbVpYJ_Qd5CvrUxiiAvZ8a79zSDuz-ZTupZJqCGQms5haBo3-IozNB3cF1_HQ0BtcB8mntz5Ah9uqRNXg/s640/IMG_3294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0_pw91YO9nF3YSUviIsSPq1OhgUQJsAvx9F7IRdla389u3fO1Huw12RPUtxa16woFjyzSWG-BOYjo8n_sffc6MLYWMLEq3TvpnWLEhBBoMZpUBM0sT3PZ0-R1slPgjXKXR4F_A/s1600/IMG_3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1161" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0_pw91YO9nF3YSUviIsSPq1OhgUQJsAvx9F7IRdla389u3fO1Huw12RPUtxa16woFjyzSWG-BOYjo8n_sffc6MLYWMLEq3TvpnWLEhBBoMZpUBM0sT3PZ0-R1slPgjXKXR4F_A/s640/IMG_3298.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way, the "table" the man above used to set his work on was very versatile, often serving as a chair in many places that we visited but also used as a table.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3slCkWKJmtiF71xifcjonh_IlA66i29Ea43NM8uGDQlRcYBopP2lvpoGGU7K0pi1q2MCkhXUwlCjPOKYp6jdctBe7XEHi0yXHGrI3AmjRL0IEUwGzaB3yqo1s0G07z0sPfR_3w/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3slCkWKJmtiF71xifcjonh_IlA66i29Ea43NM8uGDQlRcYBopP2lvpoGGU7K0pi1q2MCkhXUwlCjPOKYp6jdctBe7XEHi0yXHGrI3AmjRL0IEUwGzaB3yqo1s0G07z0sPfR_3w/s640/IMG_3299.JPG" width="526" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs86bST94hBnnsnQjATjxkCPu79L7JEAu7UYMQ3Gz-Rjd4l4Q8AgUnKyt3zhm76WD4hMnaL8EwPfHLaCHQ4OjdhQPvDjDd1IEQSAReP7Yhw56RaAMuq0AFt6KazWTSPK34hOoBQ/s1600/IMG_3301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1600" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs86bST94hBnnsnQjATjxkCPu79L7JEAu7UYMQ3Gz-Rjd4l4Q8AgUnKyt3zhm76WD4hMnaL8EwPfHLaCHQ4OjdhQPvDjDd1IEQSAReP7Yhw56RaAMuq0AFt6KazWTSPK34hOoBQ/s640/IMG_3301.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture on the right above was stunning and took hundreds of hours of work to complete</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over time, the men have arthritis and vision issues so by 40, many no longer work on smaller inlays. Women sometimes work on very delicate items as they have smaller hands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The marble is very special: unlike Italian marble, it is not porous. After serving us drinks and some delicious appetizers, our host poured Coke on it, and the liquid stayed on top. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This special marble is very hard, strong, and does not break or scratch, so it does not need to be sealed. (Italian marble should be sealed every 3-4 months.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some in our group bought stunningly beautiful tables. I bought a $10 example to show others when I return home. Later I bought another one at a stop and the marble was no where near as nice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our third powerful experience of the day was to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort" target="_blank">Agra Red Fort</a>, yet another World Heritage Site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fort was the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638 when their capitol was moved from Agra to Delhi. In the 17th century, it belonged to the richest emperor in the world. Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal and the grandson of Akbar who had recaptured the area and partially restored the fort, was the Mughal leader who reconstructed the fort to the form we see today. When he continued to spent huge amounts on the Taj Mahal in memory of his dead wife, one of his sons (from a different wife) deposed and imprisoned Shah Jahan in the Agra Red Fort, until that shah died eight years later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moghuls introduced gun powder into India from China in 1526.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fort was impenetrable. It has two moats before the draw bridge, only one of which is still visible. It is one of the few forts on flat land. Twists and turns to enter the fort make it very hard to break in and conquer. If one could get past the two moats, a draw bridge, and three security gates, then boiling oil would be poured on the invaders, and a last resort would be to use gun powder.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOx6O8gtBQpHnro6qtDLLde6BtbYkvUjCuRmOS3vsztpselFaoSYzo-m3NRGbiHoL4In-8MXL5y2Ew9wuroFq-l8_XLxhBrF5109SMpc5fh-hjaxLM5kuJuMfw3XoTNYJD-JCKQ/s1600/IMG_3304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOx6O8gtBQpHnro6qtDLLde6BtbYkvUjCuRmOS3vsztpselFaoSYzo-m3NRGbiHoL4In-8MXL5y2Ew9wuroFq-l8_XLxhBrF5109SMpc5fh-hjaxLM5kuJuMfw3XoTNYJD-JCKQ/s640/IMG_3304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PE5VnC3ZopmE4dABUdtO6fv4sftITsay9lIMefYSHdkTJCNFCDTcbItV-2FeUpv6bf8lLd9N6k-xfcW6yY6iUemhqRYu5cDlK1h_NAiTv484QCWhGj4cR5E30MJMrFkR0tWfRg/s1600/DSC01291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PE5VnC3ZopmE4dABUdtO6fv4sftITsay9lIMefYSHdkTJCNFCDTcbItV-2FeUpv6bf8lLd9N6k-xfcW6yY6iUemhqRYu5cDlK1h_NAiTv484QCWhGj4cR5E30MJMrFkR0tWfRg/s640/DSC01291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EU6a7lE1OjsWQywEuv5DOVuY3vdvf4Ccm71lXNpl8r2xtceby9UAd7q7Jz24uOftfXovPcZu4m3rPua09F_Z9coTMGZMDTbZ3WVw214T_xVB7xZSwuGa-6U9vO0HyjBlRfTLaA/s1600/IMG_3305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EU6a7lE1OjsWQywEuv5DOVuY3vdvf4Ccm71lXNpl8r2xtceby9UAd7q7Jz24uOftfXovPcZu4m3rPua09F_Z9coTMGZMDTbZ3WVw214T_xVB7xZSwuGa-6U9vO0HyjBlRfTLaA/s400/IMG_3305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large cut out areas would have had ornate draperies or other coverings on them</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0VjZN6gB61r-MHQ2bS9Mc4b_xfq5mu13-QM4coJiRZ5yvdPspGxIUmEb5ft87EM293ul_W0T3ZHxkYDyhCLxDQQ5f5L2xDz_kj_w4u9MsWj6pyQiZ7y5p12xuxm6N3GbZj2f8A/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1205" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0VjZN6gB61r-MHQ2bS9Mc4b_xfq5mu13-QM4coJiRZ5yvdPspGxIUmEb5ft87EM293ul_W0T3ZHxkYDyhCLxDQQ5f5L2xDz_kj_w4u9MsWj6pyQiZ7y5p12xuxm6N3GbZj2f8A/s640/IMG_3337.JPG" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A monkey searching for food in a garbage can near the entrance to the Red Fort</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order for us to hear Bhanu, he used a special microphone that was connected to battery operated "whisperers" that we carried with us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKD5DwFwVXocvSQv0T91ynFz5z9qlzMQ7BSWUOIz_LwI20Bc957QsAwnB8bGcuyExKJYzNtbZ02I-mjF8Flrwx5U2KQ8FHSg4aaN-2KdngGPYTfirwaI_IICTr4Q92PV0sMZAeA/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKD5DwFwVXocvSQv0T91ynFz5z9qlzMQ7BSWUOIz_LwI20Bc957QsAwnB8bGcuyExKJYzNtbZ02I-mjF8Flrwx5U2KQ8FHSg4aaN-2KdngGPYTfirwaI_IICTr4Q92PV0sMZAeA/s640/IMG_3311.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMjIQFIkIDx4oouA4MXfRtJ6DqD4qFSlgAc9ZnFMA4ftfEBtntpCTGQdP3LdCrnkzV3eyY4mCjlzejs2VNS-107qVoEjR_BYDiCFgzCUH8IzjqfURspISQ8uamjroUNEIF6lafQ/s1600/IMG_3312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1089" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMjIQFIkIDx4oouA4MXfRtJ6DqD4qFSlgAc9ZnFMA4ftfEBtntpCTGQdP3LdCrnkzV3eyY4mCjlzejs2VNS-107qVoEjR_BYDiCFgzCUH8IzjqfURspISQ8uamjroUNEIF6lafQ/s640/IMG_3312.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava holding her whisperer.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBAoNLXlbaC7O8HBzM2AoIPtoOwu60mb2Af-SA_nkh9Ub3Ep7Rh9AzsaedcZanBM8xWFBmcb5zyWjNgNtp8wP2Ry79LJeiLydoxvLPuuzS792HXFWqkqpY0fe8Nf-mBIeIEqwQ/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBAoNLXlbaC7O8HBzM2AoIPtoOwu60mb2Af-SA_nkh9Ub3Ep7Rh9AzsaedcZanBM8xWFBmcb5zyWjNgNtp8wP2Ry79LJeiLydoxvLPuuzS792HXFWqkqpY0fe8Nf-mBIeIEqwQ/s640/IMG_3330.JPG" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The limestone Hall of Public Audiences had a specially designed outside area where the ruler held public audiences to hear grievances of the citizens. The columns were constructed in such a way that he could see the speakers but few of them could see him.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEa1OE_ps5Hs8ZQGVjPe0IDsDKWYcyviPs48DE4Zn8RIWv3bVeDWHJcOIp1AAFKcVjBBljx2hEWhm-KCWiWKKY992vBnKNFiR8d0Tq9fcBTRf2ZrvRX7hGUfkaK7sq6gEQT_dvQ/s1600/DSC01293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1137" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEa1OE_ps5Hs8ZQGVjPe0IDsDKWYcyviPs48DE4Zn8RIWv3bVeDWHJcOIp1AAFKcVjBBljx2hEWhm-KCWiWKKY992vBnKNFiR8d0Tq9fcBTRf2ZrvRX7hGUfkaK7sq6gEQT_dvQ/s640/DSC01293.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hall of Public Audiences</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdgYiz6xlrTwjbZJe6zhRfLHBsXcSJqcAezQL2P0F4Pp1BlQzaq-HeBbmnUT_t7JnF8zHV5IL3Cr5KJlxKg8LnMdqtgkDit3OO7tG2Xeh873kXGReLi_MM4SHdVFQ4rapr3XV0w/s1600/IMG_3307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdgYiz6xlrTwjbZJe6zhRfLHBsXcSJqcAezQL2P0F4Pp1BlQzaq-HeBbmnUT_t7JnF8zHV5IL3Cr5KJlxKg8LnMdqtgkDit3OO7tG2Xeh873kXGReLi_MM4SHdVFQ4rapr3XV0w/s640/IMG_3307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the double row of columns on the outer edges and the single rows inside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnmnAGLKdizQPksSMdDQBv67vugkJE7HRPy0-idaOAQgy0N0xId1R0SGb5MyHfC3ylBmJT-NCtLM6MhcPJtU_wzclQKK6jdXklz-vKBKi_8kvZDjS7-TdYNReCbMFa41mLUujwQ/s1600/DSC01296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="997" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnmnAGLKdizQPksSMdDQBv67vugkJE7HRPy0-idaOAQgy0N0xId1R0SGb5MyHfC3ylBmJT-NCtLM6MhcPJtU_wzclQKK6jdXklz-vKBKi_8kvZDjS7-TdYNReCbMFa41mLUujwQ/s640/DSC01296.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complex water works at the Fort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQdczHIPOXYIFy-6Bl3eLZP03F_5vVROSciSQflAEl3wgqfd2T39B72ZKVEhvSrUZdoTQR_vCsH3-S-V0jwGx14TJhxHdkrAdw-VP49cjPmAd4OMXhBg_U7HIdTJnrvS1nIHozg/s1600/DSC01307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="934" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQdczHIPOXYIFy-6Bl3eLZP03F_5vVROSciSQflAEl3wgqfd2T39B72ZKVEhvSrUZdoTQR_vCsH3-S-V0jwGx14TJhxHdkrAdw-VP49cjPmAd4OMXhBg_U7HIdTJnrvS1nIHozg/s640/DSC01307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woman weeding the lawn by hand, mostly taking out moss</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiln96DIa0YazaVzAq-RmYiOq4axYWJAZuev0LIQlnQnsnGG2KVs_L0k-w9KkqQIqLj3xt7wHPQQ-t_wY6CsNseWtqniJ2jlXi4KnUwit6aOrGt909-KB25gYj4gGyN2IVXhYjBkw/s1600/DSC01299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiln96DIa0YazaVzAq-RmYiOq4axYWJAZuev0LIQlnQnsnGG2KVs_L0k-w9KkqQIqLj3xt7wHPQQ-t_wY6CsNseWtqniJ2jlXi4KnUwit6aOrGt909-KB25gYj4gGyN2IVXhYjBkw/s640/DSC01299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A ceiling, I believe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJEz-f0Q9sDiFYDa6t-q9JUTsWI_yr54E_Cda09f7dddABH1k0nZ2DICFodITehAHXPF5-3qdGGBQuGCw-sadZVEpPSvhc0Ge29lqNW__F3nbGVZSi8h_mVC-Mwd2PB2RN6XqmQ/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJEz-f0Q9sDiFYDa6t-q9JUTsWI_yr54E_Cda09f7dddABH1k0nZ2DICFodITehAHXPF5-3qdGGBQuGCw-sadZVEpPSvhc0Ge29lqNW__F3nbGVZSi8h_mVC-Mwd2PB2RN6XqmQ/s640/IMG_3317.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More beautiful carving</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRga8N6jFoKW9yb2cGn_Ja9iXjIaCeZ_imV6REP9-bwzDrEBCj2dvwH0-LTvuLEA9FUgcOVCMayihKRoC70Z-m7AhigrvocxFw0eBdwNmWEORcBKzGcbl_UfNDFEDmEQYjXAlUxA/s1600/DSC01295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRga8N6jFoKW9yb2cGn_Ja9iXjIaCeZ_imV6REP9-bwzDrEBCj2dvwH0-LTvuLEA9FUgcOVCMayihKRoC70Z-m7AhigrvocxFw0eBdwNmWEORcBKzGcbl_UfNDFEDmEQYjXAlUxA/s640/DSC01295.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The far left corner where Shah Jehan was kept under house arrest until his death</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The building to the left is where the former Mughal leader was kept under house arrest for the rest of his life. You can see a close up of it below and part of the interior.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6x6n9O4yQKaFkGs5HvlgSSh8Y_E5XV7_ymZc62hdpt7l9WxUtDU4XC32H1W7_bY1zmmxEftbGV9otyhEdTO_KxhklUJGhe3k6H_zaVFqcXxxKnb_DcFLeMrfb54qClfvC_bF8A/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1129" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6x6n9O4yQKaFkGs5HvlgSSh8Y_E5XV7_ymZc62hdpt7l9WxUtDU4XC32H1W7_bY1zmmxEftbGV9otyhEdTO_KxhklUJGhe3k6H_zaVFqcXxxKnb_DcFLeMrfb54qClfvC_bF8A/s640/IMG_3322.JPG" width="584" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SFR3Tw599TCa49cfgmn2oPlpLHuowjdedwrVX7vpcbPgZ2bFO-5T8fGDsG-RtmpGUs9BnXF8Xvz9-XFjbdgU8XpkWWWCO02LUQB5PYovUGhwNxYYI2TgLWwC-lGUUg75sXh7Jw/s1600/DSC01303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="950" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SFR3Tw599TCa49cfgmn2oPlpLHuowjdedwrVX7vpcbPgZ2bFO-5T8fGDsG-RtmpGUs9BnXF8Xvz9-XFjbdgU8XpkWWWCO02LUQB5PYovUGhwNxYYI2TgLWwC-lGUUg75sXh7Jw/s640/DSC01303.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at Shah Jehan's prison</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsI3KVk5GzHJ3FZpi_KGvb_hb17PJzIRv3iS4Vt-B5Rwbcg4fTZO-0GLOK9Y8VKxBcRntV9bQGZvH6g67jVo0c0zs8ucG7CfI13YLSlOoVOsPOqPfkqmZcD2tkOozXfILP9QmTg/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1451" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsI3KVk5GzHJ3FZpi_KGvb_hb17PJzIRv3iS4Vt-B5Rwbcg4fTZO-0GLOK9Y8VKxBcRntV9bQGZvH6g67jVo0c0zs8ucG7CfI13YLSlOoVOsPOqPfkqmZcD2tkOozXfILP9QmTg/s640/IMG_3323.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And inside it....gorgeous inlaid semi-precious stones </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8JQlnYmy-wd0qbTORc38dUHwNrAbWD4upJccKbyefiBGEBTs1ybMBi9CdGQE2mRjtBOwRLhc9aSWDqhyphenhyphenERQG6QNpYw7OwS1xr_wuW0tkHSasGNOK1uZC_5gBJZXJ_t-3wk7yMw/s1600/DSC01306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8JQlnYmy-wd0qbTORc38dUHwNrAbWD4upJccKbyefiBGEBTs1ybMBi9CdGQE2mRjtBOwRLhc9aSWDqhyphenhyphenERQG6QNpYw7OwS1xr_wuW0tkHSasGNOK1uZC_5gBJZXJ_t-3wk7yMw/s640/DSC01306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO8gkArzxDPcYKE4MHpi1RH-nsZ8t8_iq4L1uCmcSvzzYKyxrUXiU92sewrmX0J6R6YhH218IoiuSbEUVdSIpxe_H6l57VkrPUf3fedNp-6bLaDMC2NKXkcPIQGMmuobUugHIlA/s1600/DSC01305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1315" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO8gkArzxDPcYKE4MHpi1RH-nsZ8t8_iq4L1uCmcSvzzYKyxrUXiU92sewrmX0J6R6YhH218IoiuSbEUVdSIpxe_H6l57VkrPUf3fedNp-6bLaDMC2NKXkcPIQGMmuobUugHIlA/s640/DSC01305.JPG" width="524" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In 1857 after a revolt, the East India Company left the area, and the fort became a British garrison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the palace there were about 250 rooms that housed staff and security personnel. Those rooms were the reason the palace was higher by the river in its heyday. The fort held thousands of soldiers</span>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkdLY8Z6XBoKLUfFhMhcMoT5r5gSsk5erTJ9_ClcVol1vhxh-2pttWGN0LFhHuD8C_VKFg13V7hZ0IZuqcq5lsk9bDTRY8IEa6OY821wdszQ3jSR0h8fcrhQsWTHsssvNVhnLdA/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkdLY8Z6XBoKLUfFhMhcMoT5r5gSsk5erTJ9_ClcVol1vhxh-2pttWGN0LFhHuD8C_VKFg13V7hZ0IZuqcq5lsk9bDTRY8IEa6OY821wdszQ3jSR0h8fcrhQsWTHsssvNVhnLdA/s640/IMG_3332.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Jahangir's huge bathtub, 5 feet high, 8 feet wide and 25 feet in circumference<br />
(1.6 m x 2.5 m, and 7.5 meters around), now residing in a courtyard of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort" target="_blank">Red Fort</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFvGRmO1yl0lif0m5-B1ct3uMiODfDkNU9kzwhP7er3aeJs-AG2uRU-Ws6dytyU7hW33FKX030AlyzB3dexF909vfCrD_YvaRbmn8homVF5g-4YcE8EU7TcWksGEbZunvt6cVMw/s1600/IMG_3331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="895" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFvGRmO1yl0lif0m5-B1ct3uMiODfDkNU9kzwhP7er3aeJs-AG2uRU-Ws6dytyU7hW33FKX030AlyzB3dexF909vfCrD_YvaRbmn8homVF5g-4YcE8EU7TcWksGEbZunvt6cVMw/s640/IMG_3331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way back to the hotel, we saw cattle walking down the road right next to our bus and amidst other traffic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After this full day, Nava and I treated ourselves to great massages! Thanks to Blanca for the suggestion!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we decided to head out to the Taj Mahal restaurant for dinner on Bhanu's recommendation. We had planned to walk the mile to the restaurant, but it was dark, the road was busy, and the sides of the road were bumpy so we decided to take a tuktuk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We first bargained with two tuktuk drivers after Bhanu had told us the cost. The first wanted more than double than what Bhanu had suggested and would not come down much. When he left, another driver approached us, settled with us on an agreeable price (140 rupees), and insisted on staying taking us back for the price. The dinner was delicious. We ordered bartha (an eggplant dish) and chicken biriyani (a rice dish with some chicken and veggies in it), and our total bill came to just 800 rupees, or about $12 (including water and tip/taxes). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYbIO9YPfM6W1_NaGHX-1wMX8imnmetPOimiS3LskSKix4_yVIgcXb25oHlVc4f0RxlIuzLE6yqvMYBetuPse84cA0n7xleX1t2kwzmbtZ6UNI4bdFX5D7OtiUCCiNBSebSGbmg/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYbIO9YPfM6W1_NaGHX-1wMX8imnmetPOimiS3LskSKix4_yVIgcXb25oHlVc4f0RxlIuzLE6yqvMYBetuPse84cA0n7xleX1t2kwzmbtZ6UNI4bdFX5D7OtiUCCiNBSebSGbmg/s640/IMG_3341.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spice seeds (anise was one), small pieces of sugar, and toothpicks for refreshing customer's breath and cleaning teeth<br />
after eating</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others in our group had told us about a puppet show and a magic show at the hotel, so we went to check out the former. The show was cute, and the puppeteer and his assistant then wanted to sell less ornate puppets for $25 a pair, I believe. (Bhanu had told us we could get them for no more than $3 a pair in markets, so we waited.)</span></div>
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Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-80799121801660263912018-03-05T07:09:00.000-08:002018-03-06T05:17:46.029-08:00Incredible India #4: The Akshardam on the edge of Delhi, and then on to Agra and the Baby Taj<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After checking out of our hotel, on Friday, we had one more stop in Delhi, to the Birl<a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/birla-mandir-delhi.html" target="_blank">a (or Laxminarayan) Temple</a>, built by the Birla family from 1933 to 1939. It was the first large Hindu temple built in Delhi. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver, and his consort the Goddess Lakshimi. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxminarayan_Temple" target="_blank">temple</a> area covers 7.5 acres and has guest houses where scholars can come and study. It was dedicated by Mahatma Gandhi, on the condition that it would not be restricted to Hindus and people of all castes could enter and pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later the same family built other Hindu temples throughout India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We just went into the main temple, I believe, but there are gardens and other structures throughout the complex. We and all who entered walked around clockwise in the direction that the earth rotates. Beautiful statues adorned the inside where people prayed individually.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu gave us a very brief introduction to Hinduism on our way to the site. He said that it is considered by many not really a religion bout a way of life. It revolves around three major heads that represent the one God: Brama, the Creator Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the god of death, as all life eventually ends. Each male figure is also paired with a female one. Shiva's is Parvathi. He mentioned there are many more minor gods and goddesses whose purpose is to teach about life, and followers choose the ones whose values have significance to their lives. I recognize that I need to read up more on Hinduism in the future and will try to tackle at least at bit of <i>The Complete Idiots Guide to Hinuism </i> by my bedside in MA that a friend gave me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were not allowed to take pictures inside so as not to disturb worshipers and left our cameras and cell phones on the bus for safekeeping. The pictures below were the photos that I took from the bus.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As in all temples, we had to take off our shoes to enter and the floors are kept very clean. </span></span>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon learned to wear socks if we didn't want to go barefoot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you notice the swastika above the sign? It is an ancient symbol in the Indian sub-continent and first appeared in archeological records about 3000 BCE in the Indus Valley. It is often pictured as follows:</span><br />
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/HinduSwastika.svg/110px-HinduSwastika.svg.png" /><br />
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According to Wikipedia, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The swastika is an important Hindu symbol.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-p.97_4-4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#cite_note-p.97-4" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-britswast_7-7" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#cite_note-britswast-7" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;">[7]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> The word is ancient, derived from three Sanskrit roots "su" (good), "asti" (exists, there is, to be) and "ka" (make) and has meant a "making of goodness" or "marker of goodness".</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sullivan2001p216_1-1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#cite_note-Sullivan2001p216-1" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;">[1]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> The icon connotes and reminds the viewer of something "conducive to well-being", "make good", prosperity and dharmic auspiciousness. The swastika symbol is commonly used before entrances or on doorways of homes or temples, to mark the starting page of financial statements, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mandala">mandala</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> constructed for rituals such as weddings or welcoming a new born."</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-britswast_7-8" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#cite_note-britswast-7" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;">[7]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lander2013p27_68-0" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#cite_note-Lander2013p27-68" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;">[68]</a> </sup><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So while it was strange for some of us to see, we realized too that it was an ancient symbol of India that has had a lovely meaning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was the <a href="http://akshardham.com/" target="_blank">Akshardam</a>, a huge compound and Hindu Temple on the way out of Delhi, on the banks of the Yarmuna River. This spiritual complex opened in 2005, on land donated by the government.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> beautifully ornate structure with over 20,000 statues, floral motifs and exquisitely carved pillars made of sandstone and marble, beautiful gardens and even a children’s playground. The idea was conceived in 1968, and was dedicated in November, 2005, after taking five years to construct.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Akshardam means "the divine abode of God," The two billion dollars to build the complex was funded by donation world wide by followers of BAPS, </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, a worldwide religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. 7,000 carvers/sculptors and 3000 other volunteers worked for five years to build the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshardham_(Delhi)" target="_blank">Akshardam</a>. More than 300 million volunteer hours went into the making of this complex. Over 6,000 tons of pink sandstone was brought in from Rajasthan. The initial stone carvings were done by machine and the details were done by hand. Worker toiled through the night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again we could not take pictures, so these photos are from books I bought there. (You can find more on the official <a href="http://akshardham.com/download/photo-galleries/" target="_blank">Swaminarayan Akshardham website.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava and I were especially captivated by the elephant mural, which was, ten feet high and 1070 feet long of pink sandstone comprising 148 elephants, 42 other animals and 125 humans. It truly was awesome and depicted elephants in nature, with humans and with the Divine. The elephants breathe values, wisdom and wonder in people.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-2X2WlWevBgQydbNGbdVko9WLSNKZjFNWG3Lg9yixg0ss77nVq23fkmSGdtzAJg0pEfxJc3yvUPIcYdldF6T9Wb2EehjEdPX9rmm2RmwNEI6Os8f1rLRp9P1ZC19FVlvQHau2A/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-2X2WlWevBgQydbNGbdVko9WLSNKZjFNWG3Lg9yixg0ss77nVq23fkmSGdtzAJg0pEfxJc3yvUPIcYdldF6T9Wb2EehjEdPX9rmm2RmwNEI6Os8f1rLRp9P1ZC19FVlvQHau2A/s640/IMG_3211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When parents are one, the family has fun!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were sayings and/or stories attached to many of the scenes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some included, "A mother's heart is her child's classroom."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being mighty, the elephants never worry about winning or losing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Lost in a dense jungle, a lonely goat, hungry and frightened, sat shivering beside a lion's footprint. To the wolf and all the wild animals who threatened to kill and eat her, she declared that this footprint was her protector. Unaware of what or who a lion was, the little goat's faith felt his power when all other animals fled at the sight of the footprint. Finally the lion arrived. Please by her faith in his footprint, he promised to protect her. He summoned an elephant and ordered him to seat the goat on his back and carry her home with great honor while she merrily marched on soft leaves and ferns. The message of this story is: " By taking refuge of the Great, even the meek and weak attain Greatness."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The moral of the story above: "Good people are not hurt nor hampered by things that people say or shout."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ghanshyam's uncle served in the local king's army, which had camped in a village nearby. To visit his uncle, he searched inside one of the tents. There he saw some soldiers killing innocent animals. Ghanshyam was deeply saddened and prayed for it to stop. Suddenly, the army's elephants and horses grew wild and began to run wild, causing chaos in the camp. One mad elephant chased the terrified king, who climbed a tree to save himself. The elephant almost floored the tree, but Ghanshyam calmed the animals by his divine grace. Rescued from certain death, the king thanked Ghanshyam and pledged never to kill animals. He taught the message of non-violence. The message is: "When we cannot give life, how can we ever take it?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> We only had a short time here but found the place beautiful and overwhelming! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wish we could have stayed longer to truly appreciate this awesome place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu told us that over 50,000 needy people are fed here. Adherents donate 5% of their earnings to the temple to pay for its upkeep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another thing Bhanu told us was the different views on eating of beef. Almost all Hindus do not eat beef. If a person is caught eating beef in Delhi, s/he can be sentenced to five years in prison. In the south and east, there are many Catholics, so beef is eaten there without punishment. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu also says that in hot weather, beef is known to be hard to digest and therefore, not healthy. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Strangely, India is the largest exporter of beef in the world--mainly sending it to Pakistan and China. The government just reduced the beef export tax from 30% to 8%, making it easier to export beef, though the Prime Minister, a nationalistic Hindu, says he is opposed to the export of beef as food. This is one of the paradoxes of life in India. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then headed out of the city SSE toward Agra, about a five hour drive on the expressway with stops. </span><br />
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<img alt="Map from Delhi, India to Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India" src="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=PwVlZRf7csi6iRmwvC3Wu5336lAN0FEQcNpMqKM0O5q0_jjzXISYwtaxLjHdMW6jgbLCQEqCTDWAgfU3zQ_ZOp4Yr8Yiq2o5_Q42oAHahVWkjs6QmUyGcvA9K3G0Rzbo2iFKawsHxt_PburWXcPy3mAVer-34GxDRXh1JCHXMwrCNFSdftz6deCN9sJWkn-Q-MIEHYVVQg4HCgssSp7j_nHQqN11_HTVCq-UvB81gptzDQZ9crdDg-w,vz-jaCMYbxt7KJlEqNyiA3SjZMc7-0eudpZBZHfyYzv2OfXjMIx7kCLp4Hz95n1D-MnDVsZIztuxynBgJPpaG79vXnOV2mswP5nuxS3GCJ8PjPXI2MHEW_Q6XtWn_Df0SdgsbgA7m7uHPrpGap1I6R-i1troDTbS6uhCrh2wL3f0FZNjrcECQbs2UaNZ4xVCLFkmDwyo8MxUhWAZ6AZPenAL3Arg7inW-HeSZVwHF73U-w7HhxG92RF5gKg5QEZz5tRDZxENF3jmohnSc_MgZR2FRajt033n6fb4KKrAeAffibKwx-eZ1wY1P4bMCv6vc_Ic8Ig-x2PgMa2GeyY?scale=1&h=200&w=632" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We stopped every hour and a half or so for a bathroom stop, and each stop had a variety of touristy items to buy. I bought a CD of yoga music and then realized that my new car does not have a slot for CDs! The bathroom had regular "western" toilets but also had local squat ones too. There were often hoses nearby to rinse out the toilets, and people outside passed out towels for wiping our hands after we washed them. We usually gave them a small tip. Most of us opted for the western style toilets!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove two hours to our lunch stop. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The way was flat and we saw lots of fields and brick factories. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brick making factory/kiln. Bricks are cheap and easy to produce.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A storage shed. We saw many of them along the roa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably housing for those working in the brick factory.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep grazing in fields with shepherd--taken through the bus window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storing straw bundles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A goatherd and part of his flock along the highway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle wandering through town</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_1zBzTv0OerfLwRZkwI612sV7mpuv4AfpQx4F-TK8l8WfCjawsfER5JbjoOq5qNqiJ5MF6Y7E0EYK6-uOXxYoRy4gKCQVe7wQ84lR8YaMqgngono7dOvYqVLyON03oIYizs7IQ/s1600/DSC01173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_1zBzTv0OerfLwRZkwI612sV7mpuv4AfpQx4F-TK8l8WfCjawsfER5JbjoOq5qNqiJ5MF6Y7E0EYK6-uOXxYoRy4gKCQVe7wQ84lR8YaMqgngono7dOvYqVLyON03oIYizs7IQ/s640/DSC01173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A town a bit away from the road</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For part of the way we were in a new elevated highway/ toll road, which opened in about 2013.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLxa-fhIZICDmV2Z7KCkHCaVIxZBABbQp5tmM2Xdzq6MdutiPilcvZ0_ZL_L08cFfTNSnGR4VdlO2-fo0H18H81MpsmR3xvPAKS0pTmrwBL1-sLZAdI1w5yKY-Z19ndtKWz9NBg/s1600/DSC01191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1404" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLxa-fhIZICDmV2Z7KCkHCaVIxZBABbQp5tmM2Xdzq6MdutiPilcvZ0_ZL_L08cFfTNSnGR4VdlO2-fo0H18H81MpsmR3xvPAKS0pTmrwBL1-sLZAdI1w5yKY-Z19ndtKWz9NBg/s640/DSC01191.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The car toll was about $2.50, for this stop, which seemed expensive to us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Along the way, Bhanu told us stories, including one of the Baal Shem Tov, whose moral was, "Whatever we do with a clean heart and are thankful, it works." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He also told us many stories of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasreddin" target="_blank">Mullah Nasruddin</a> during our bus rides and we asked for more as they were delightful, often humorous, and educational. <a href="http://www.nasruddin.org/index.html" target="_blank">His stories were popularized a bit in the US in the late 90s</a>. Nasruddin was a satirical Sufi, born in the 13th century in what is now Turkey. He appeared in thousands of stories. An international Nasruddin Hodja festival occurs annually in his home town between the 5th and 10th of July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu told us more about Shiva,the god of death, who has four arms and a snake around his neck. He is the most innocent of all gods. His wife Pavati controls him if he goes out of line. He mentioned that the sound "ohm" is not a letter or word, but just a sound in the silence in ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before we got to Agra, Bhanu told us it was in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is famous for 135 varieties of mango (wow! I want to try more!!), and two varieties of sugar cane. Local farmers also grow a lot of mustard, wheat, and potatoes, most of which are harvested in March and April. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He told us more about the national government and foreign relations. He said that India's President has a role a bit like that of Ireland's. The country has a constitution, upper and lower houses The Indian army is under the president, and India has the second largest standing army in the world after China. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">India has cordial relationships with all countries except sometimes China and Pakistan. At partition, each state could decide which county to join, Pakistan or India. the puppet (Hindu) head of Muslim Kashmir said that he wanted to stay independent. Since partition, there has been <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_disputed_territories_of_India" target="_blank">unresolved borders dispute between India and both China and Pakistan</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_I%27tim%C4%81d-ud-Daulah" target="_blank">Tomb of I'timad-ud'Daulah</a>, also known as Baby Taj. it is called the Baby Taj as it was the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble inlaid with contrasting stones. The golden age of Agra (then called Akbarabad) was during the Mughal rule.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SGt9DGtkK9zq7Y66cLAQ_SUvQjSbXI5ZKipD88gG6HR17rEE69jW6pVKwo2c-3rGEYdkA1483cKfadIN5UzyKLzwA7OUBv0O4uto0G13A5MpgT6PzIWP6tKnEmIKflbUW4oB9g/s1600/IMG_3184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1361" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SGt9DGtkK9zq7Y66cLAQ_SUvQjSbXI5ZKipD88gG6HR17rEE69jW6pVKwo2c-3rGEYdkA1483cKfadIN5UzyKLzwA7OUBv0O4uto0G13A5MpgT6PzIWP6tKnEmIKflbUW4oB9g/s640/IMG_3184.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Entry building</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is small, gentle and intimate but just as ornate as the Taj Mahal. it was built between 1622 and 1628. The building is symmetrical, with a center room surrounded by eight smaller rooms. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sMXPEsOIO1eqwDx_LzHr-upUKt4XgFnFA0FGc3KIO1PGsopFF07DlFWHqz9uVbUUrXHL6YokILLyLw4CclVPu2JkIwbZGMfEkN9vK25cfVSv4te8Lty7YfRvTXy1CjN3uDRl1A/s1600/DSC01228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1445" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sMXPEsOIO1eqwDx_LzHr-upUKt4XgFnFA0FGc3KIO1PGsopFF07DlFWHqz9uVbUUrXHL6YokILLyLw4CclVPu2JkIwbZGMfEkN9vK25cfVSv4te8Lty7YfRvTXy1CjN3uDRl1A/s640/DSC01228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before Muslims came to India in larger numbers in the 1100s, Indian architecture had simple columns and flat roofs. By the 12th century, one saw arches and domes. Gradual changes culminated in the Baby Taj and then the Taj Mahal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Agra is one of the only places in India whee inlaid work is done such what was seen first historically at this site. There are floral and geometric patterns, but no living creatures with the inlaid stones.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Incredible Decorations Inside the Baby Taj (HDR Photos)" src="https://18856-presscdn-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSC01775-28600x450-29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A web photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are more pictures of the outside Baby Taj and the incredible inlaid stones in marble.</span><br />
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Behind the Baby Taj, people taking care of goats by the river</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkE5EcxDoNM_gLHeMvIOiZK-3gp_RqWqoC4r-MbVs4vpVlEsQA-AfuG5IaTmdTL44R-1hmahnH__c4XV9JaRk5E0j3C12kGUNEc_gay1D9ftCVzHcB9QXl7Mue6JMdDPersX4GQ/s1600/DSC01231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1188" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkE5EcxDoNM_gLHeMvIOiZK-3gp_RqWqoC4r-MbVs4vpVlEsQA-AfuG5IaTmdTL44R-1hmahnH__c4XV9JaRk5E0j3C12kGUNEc_gay1D9ftCVzHcB9QXl7Mue6JMdDPersX4GQ/s640/DSC01231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two young children taking care of the animals while the mothers sat and watched. The girl happily waved. The boy jumped and encouraged us to take pictures and when someone did, he held out his hands, asking for money.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WncNj6rDSWaM6Wj04nHnDDo2pfC8KFBr0RqGcg3K-evetM8JNuub7va7LCI-lHY-fANka1cUuSCIFG4KWGeSM83Xph6KZLORFVDHza2guiUO4b1YxxNzqTgkd7nuEByRduRegg/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WncNj6rDSWaM6Wj04nHnDDo2pfC8KFBr0RqGcg3K-evetM8JNuub7va7LCI-lHY-fANka1cUuSCIFG4KWGeSM83Xph6KZLORFVDHza2guiUO4b1YxxNzqTgkd7nuEByRduRegg/s640/IMG_3197.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was surprised to see a pig wandering in the sand close to the other animals</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGUorwZvG5F0wHlGQlCHavEdO52wYjjvwcF8G2rOZNnhj9Z9tEDoFhG6DCYzQ4dQOM3H-N-l0JLeXY0-fIRxVmkkHR-ZuPNMcRGd0xcFMShKg0ycAZaYJexTmh_v1IslCn1rF5A/s1600/DSC01232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1191" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGUorwZvG5F0wHlGQlCHavEdO52wYjjvwcF8G2rOZNnhj9Z9tEDoFhG6DCYzQ4dQOM3H-N-l0JLeXY0-fIRxVmkkHR-ZuPNMcRGd0xcFMShKg0ycAZaYJexTmh_v1IslCn1rF5A/s400/DSC01232.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogs waiting in the manicured grass for handouts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I realized when others took pictures of these four women that the women were posing for photographs and then asked for money.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we drove from the baby Taj to our hotel in Agra, Bhanu told us more about the city.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Agra has a bit under two million people with about 3.8 million if you include the surrounding area. Monuments in Agra are from medieval times of the Mohguls, builders in India from 1426-1847. The Mohguls assimilated themselves in the population, which is one of the reasons they were so successful. They introduced the Persian style of arches and some "delicacy" of language. India had had business relations with Persia for many centuries before, so they were not total strangers. In the 16th century, Agra was called the City of Gardens and was the capital of India, but the capital was shifted to Delhi in the 17th century. By the 18th century, the Mughul empire was in decline as the East India company began to move in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both the Taj Mahal and the Agra fort (from 1575) that we would see the next day are UNESCO World Heritage sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our visits and travel took longer than expected, so we really didn't have free time. We arrived at our hotel, had dinner together, did some laundry as we would be at the hotel for two nights, and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">went to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At this hotel we did not have to go through security as we came in, but we did have a finely dressed greeter at the entrance!</span></div>
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<br />Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-55109001364420344222018-03-02T18:18:00.002-08:002018-03-14T17:48:50.773-07:00Incredible India, Part 3: Delhi and surroundings<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On February 1, we officially began our tour of India and Nepal and for the next two days we would visit Delhi and the surrounding area before we head out to Agra and the Taj Mahal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">met our group of 28 later in the day and found out that all were seasoned travelers. A sizable number had traveled with Gate 1 in the past while a few were first timers like us. Many were retired or heading that way. I was fascinated to find that three had been born in India, and one of those moved with his family to Kenya at eight and met his wife there. Her family was originally from India. All four had lived in the States for many years. There also was a group from the Vancouver, B.C. area with family in Singapore. A couple had roots in Cuba, another roots in Colombia, and two with Israel connections, so we really were a diverse group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu Mithra, our coordinator and guide for North India, is from Jaipur, and told us that in addition to the Gandhi sites that I already have written about, this day we would see a lot of Delhi, including the Red Fort, the market, Old Delhi, India Gate, government buildings and then after lunch the tallest stone minaret of the world, the <a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/qutub-minar.html" target="_blank">Qutb Minaret</a>, and an amazing, ancient steel tower there too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along the way, Bhanu gently introduced us to Indian history and India in general. He told us that there are many extremes in India, from the man in Mumbai who built a one billion dollar house and people in some rural areas that live on about dollar a day. One percent of the citizens have more wealth than 75% of the people. However, things are changing rapidly, and he asked that we not compare and see the country with open eyes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi" target="_blank">Delhi</a> is the national capital of India, and including surrounding areas, it has over 26 million people. The main city has close to 20,000,000 people with over one million traveling daily to work in the city. Delhi has been continually inhabited since the 6th century BCE and served as the capital of a number of empires and kingdoms. It is almost like a state of its own with its own high court, legislature, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After another delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel, we began our overview of the city. We drove by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Fort" target="_blank">Delhi Red Fort</a>, which was constructed in the mid-1600s by the Mughal emperor. India's Prime Minister declared the country's independence on August 15, 1947 at the <a href="https://thewire.in/167891/red-fort-history-independence-india/" target="_blank">Red Fort</a> and the official independence celebration takes place there each year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh756XIyK_SUlC1XlgUgCU0HeDlzDvKOse5PqmyF67igI2E3aUitbbA-o0DEFe6PxtsCurzbDAsJiQviU36spHPg7n3svRClrf6L_ZZqbIX-jKpaRFkglF4wvLDKnSXzr67j2bc5g/s1600/DSC01069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1536" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh756XIyK_SUlC1XlgUgCU0HeDlzDvKOse5PqmyF67igI2E3aUitbbA-o0DEFe6PxtsCurzbDAsJiQviU36spHPg7n3svRClrf6L_ZZqbIX-jKpaRFkglF4wvLDKnSXzr67j2bc5g/s640/DSC01069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of the Red Fort walls in the background on a hazy day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for delhi red fort" height="224" 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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A web photo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then got on bicycle-powered tuktuks and road in pairs through the narrow streets of Old Delhi.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd88encQmndP-18EZs8dZxl39gVrY0bzIcN7sLUCNUm-9voLmYRkAZuGSL9FSF-s1fePkQfnWRKxJY37YkyJJ5bD6ML6wrLYsH88KWVECMlel2EwGs_8kGj51NIKlUG9nB1o4ZQ/s1600/IMG_3075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="953" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd88encQmndP-18EZs8dZxl39gVrY0bzIcN7sLUCNUm-9voLmYRkAZuGSL9FSF-s1fePkQfnWRKxJY37YkyJJ5bD6ML6wrLYsH88KWVECMlel2EwGs_8kGj51NIKlUG9nB1o4ZQ/s640/IMG_3075.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Our "driver" was the fellow below. His English was quite good. He learned it by working with tourists. It seemed that most tuktuk drivers had one-speed bikes, and at times they got off and pushed instead of pedaling.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WPKV0BocbC_Kht6MOZvFRH2ErLVD0rINRVyMYi2Gedt-9XyO0HLTPS5TfUAblVREX4_oPQAs-5yhyphenhyphenpPFAVElE5b9WOFsnIz2xex_W9X1vyOwpxmlzwQoz0ENoFGq88SOBC_plg/s1600/IMG_3077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="1026" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WPKV0BocbC_Kht6MOZvFRH2ErLVD0rINRVyMYi2Gedt-9XyO0HLTPS5TfUAblVREX4_oPQAs-5yhyphenhyphenpPFAVElE5b9WOFsnIz2xex_W9X1vyOwpxmlzwQoz0ENoFGq88SOBC_plg/s640/IMG_3077.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW1iVArgYUeFnifsWl2K2fu1u0eRr7IOKKnTRmcKJX1eyQSOWukNWmerH1tmX04L-jHVetouUxF5nbIqTrlZHgWCp2UwHa0dRSpakK9fu5N9gFgIJ6VR-4aTe_RGfotn1FVPVHA/s1600/DSC01041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW1iVArgYUeFnifsWl2K2fu1u0eRr7IOKKnTRmcKJX1eyQSOWukNWmerH1tmX04L-jHVetouUxF5nbIqTrlZHgWCp2UwHa0dRSpakK9fu5N9gFgIJ6VR-4aTe_RGfotn1FVPVHA/s640/DSC01041.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fred and Candy in their tuktuk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGeXOrjR5Ei9wwGUpj4baF3lQkTL8JILtUyRh6N6In7g3zEvQ8wqK_XGe1Fpa-dytAYplzZcQkRkLpNc80NbOMc4I0w48KNbhCfUjgnivHXPicy2U_hMe4FpMr6vUOC-9dhjeQQ/s1600/DSC01043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="992" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGeXOrjR5Ei9wwGUpj4baF3lQkTL8JILtUyRh6N6In7g3zEvQ8wqK_XGe1Fpa-dytAYplzZcQkRkLpNc80NbOMc4I0w48KNbhCfUjgnivHXPicy2U_hMe4FpMr6vUOC-9dhjeQQ/s640/DSC01043.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old buildings along the street</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQosEL4Hf_s32PCswvaRKEkxwr1F9p_XTiYYRStVXDGIS5dElAl56ZOUmiFIXwqAgLHl7eUfievHpoZWscMDzQFhgf1inZjJiz923WOmdTiM2hkEOM2AywCc0GdFIDTgKjNKfFw/s1600/DSC01043a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1173" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQosEL4Hf_s32PCswvaRKEkxwr1F9p_XTiYYRStVXDGIS5dElAl56ZOUmiFIXwqAgLHl7eUfievHpoZWscMDzQFhgf1inZjJiz923WOmdTiM2hkEOM2AywCc0GdFIDTgKjNKfFw/s640/DSC01043a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the ornate designs on balconies and trim near the roof and doors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL4j0t-daJq1z2TIcWF0mNqkCJAJ6u419c0Ipy4YQFktyQO4khMHBazDkMKl_eJdPc09D0tdOvx86oWerIwlUB1PfzvsvqbeEQJD12bes0kYnbwSmXLhd9TdVwu5hbx6Z4eAXdw/s1600/DSC01050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL4j0t-daJq1z2TIcWF0mNqkCJAJ6u419c0Ipy4YQFktyQO4khMHBazDkMKl_eJdPc09D0tdOvx86oWerIwlUB1PfzvsvqbeEQJD12bes0kYnbwSmXLhd9TdVwu5hbx6Z4eAXdw/s640/DSC01050.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many friendly dogs populate the streets, around food vendors who feed them leftovers at the end of the day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was fascinating to see the sellers set up along this narrow road in Old Delhi.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4LMsnBXacCP5McvW4Lc-9Z6r6bIQjr2SxaK4NIs_k7AsK5bJBw9Auy4fBOai8L1fHHkiJEHdnU6G5h97kuagQUZeqOWvpnY6kykVJ-rqYT_9PHwLgGjNnulprweePgvdL_snww/s1600/DSC01058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4LMsnBXacCP5McvW4Lc-9Z6r6bIQjr2SxaK4NIs_k7AsK5bJBw9Auy4fBOai8L1fHHkiJEHdnU6G5h97kuagQUZeqOWvpnY6kykVJ-rqYT_9PHwLgGjNnulprweePgvdL_snww/s640/DSC01058.JPG" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Delhi narrow streets. You can see why we took a tuktuk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqIkOtwducSRotB_nNGwY1Sizw4s9mq_l1Dnwv4y3mGsMXumD816ccdFTsRyx2OGiueehHK6rUUnAG63L7WSWY0-WNuFk3von2c19sT1zvXDQ1J9XzB45gqtM-VRzDYOEoBaQfA/s1600/DSC01052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqIkOtwducSRotB_nNGwY1Sizw4s9mq_l1Dnwv4y3mGsMXumD816ccdFTsRyx2OGiueehHK6rUUnAG63L7WSWY0-WNuFk3von2c19sT1zvXDQ1J9XzB45gqtM-VRzDYOEoBaQfA/s640/DSC01052.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vendor setting up. Flower leis are used to decorate statues of important people and deities and also to welcome guests </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Even though the temperatures were comfortable for us--probably in the high 60s--they were lower than most of the year, so local people dressed warmly</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A vendor selling produce. Open market produce is usually fresher than in supermarkets and preferred by many.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy_ELec3cXKKi0FKS9w7mETcmZAxQ5rETABP_QdFyqYYJXJljC1fbgFWIlQW2r6T1ETRBb82mPs_FN7uI2cU3RQCJnuOXYVvh7kIOBciLEUuEjo-ppqYVApoEty-cn4TthgxyEw/s1600/DSC01060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy_ELec3cXKKi0FKS9w7mETcmZAxQ5rETABP_QdFyqYYJXJljC1fbgFWIlQW2r6T1ETRBb82mPs_FN7uI2cU3RQCJnuOXYVvh7kIOBciLEUuEjo-ppqYVApoEty-cn4TthgxyEw/s640/DSC01060.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many shops on the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjwjGLxuyUUFwGCccWKUWcWNmlhCRP_Pf3CGpB3wGpxbb8c2rQh6w_EfVKLf52LNJQpPmaPVGYrOSqj15f2-zKiDU60I5l9YRpG9JAySjWABxsWAVCGUmJOFWPaUq2Edx4EO6Dg/s1600/DSC01059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjwjGLxuyUUFwGCccWKUWcWNmlhCRP_Pf3CGpB3wGpxbb8c2rQh6w_EfVKLf52LNJQpPmaPVGYrOSqj15f2-zKiDU60I5l9YRpG9JAySjWABxsWAVCGUmJOFWPaUq2Edx4EO6Dg/s640/DSC01059.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricks for construction everywhere, here used to pile empty jute bags that will be repurposed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FYdQatpE5k4T-Rdn744_HjT0xd5vMPUwGPV6XuI708QRJpNY54VthVCDZiMdZR5pONO2MoffnTJ9a3RroUjzhEd9Jvqr4mz0JL3hfn3vyhWLNP1kYjkn4pe731F6v0CBf9PDNg/s1600/DSC01056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FYdQatpE5k4T-Rdn744_HjT0xd5vMPUwGPV6XuI708QRJpNY54VthVCDZiMdZR5pONO2MoffnTJ9a3RroUjzhEd9Jvqr4mz0JL3hfn3vyhWLNP1kYjkn4pe731F6v0CBf9PDNg/s640/DSC01056.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another store along the narrow road</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first view of the <a href="http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/india-gate.html" target="_blank">India Gate</a> was a bit hazy, and it was closed off because of some official visit. It was originally built by the British to honor the 82,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Every year on Jan 26, the Republic Day of India, the president of the country places a wreath at the eternal flame under the gate in honor of all those who gave their lives for India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got on the bus and drove to see other parts of older Delhi where the government is located. On the way we passed an arch with political faces on it and the Meena Bazaar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the bus we passed a number of government buildings. There is a height limit on buildings, especially around the government area, possibly for security, but there is also a cultural dislike for taller buildings. The maximum is 17.5 meters, or about 57 feet. While taller buildings use less land, they also use more resources, which can also be a problem where there is a water shortage. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A govt building on a hazy day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I don't remember the details of lunch, but we were on our own. Nava and I ate at Masala House and split a lotus curry and an okra dish, very different than anything we have had before. We asked that it not be spicy. (The only time I've ever liked okra was at an Indian restaurant.) Both dishes were very tasty!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the meny. Divide by about 60 to get the price in dollars.</td></tr>
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Our total bill for the two of us as this nicer restaurant came to about $17--15% service charge was included.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_213451889"></span><span id="goog_213451890"></span>After lunch we headed out to the <a href="https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/11/22/qutb-minar-the-tallest-brick-minaret-in-the-world/" target="_blank">Qutb Minta</a>r, the tallest brick minaret in the world and also one of the most famous landmarks in India. (A minaret is a tower used by Muslims to call followers to worship, so it has an inside spiral staircase of 379 steps to the top.) It is 73 meters (240 feet) tall and made of sandstone and marble. Work on it began in 1192, and it was completed in 1220. The style is basically Iranian, but has similarities to one in Afghanistan, and local artists added their own touches. We were speechless to see this gorgeous structure, which is part of the Qutab complex. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kutu was the first Muslim leader of Delhi. He had been a slave of Mohammed Guri and worked his way up. From the 12th to the 19th centuries was the Muslim period of India. Afghanistan was part of greater India, and Turks often came to India for a better life. Northern India especially became an area of many different races. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mosque here was built on top of the ruins of 27 Hindu temples, and from the debris much of the mosque was built, so if one looks carefully, one can see faces and bells from the Hindu debris.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD_Zqow-D_0Yd0Rj_3iIbiEwhNvRru8BK0qyDl243nyox1_jdITe8hyphenhyphenHyqfnCO44fei1YL6yEIS001LzJGmL8AuYL7TZ_GReV7j2f6RJDbEgrQ_3wZ9x9wl6nWUXcByKBl9lsrQ/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1405" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD_Zqow-D_0Yd0Rj_3iIbiEwhNvRru8BK0qyDl243nyox1_jdITe8hyphenhyphenHyqfnCO44fei1YL6yEIS001LzJGmL8AuYL7TZ_GReV7j2f6RJDbEgrQ_3wZ9x9wl6nWUXcByKBl9lsrQ/s640/IMG_3117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of some of the carving on the minaret</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The carvings on the buildings are exquisite. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below was the entrance with separate lines for men and women (as we went through security) and special lines for "high value" ticket holders--i.e. foreigners. Isn't the symmetry beautiful...and notice the bricks outlining the roof.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The complex includes a mosque, which is one of the earliest that survives on the Indian subcontinent, several grave </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sites,</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xPkLcAObregvsnnhzyhGSxMOmn7rC-aSCHAiQ4j1KDWQ8ShoHrpmyzM6jEAelr4VU06i1SpAR-1WUC7Fef3QffRpTZ4oxBchZYKmA5sj_yq4DracCbHPyxjmlSGKUgxAIdXwg/s1600/DSC01142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xPkLcAObregvsnnhzyhGSxMOmn7rC-aSCHAiQ4j1KDWQ8ShoHrpmyzM6jEAelr4VU06i1SpAR-1WUC7Fef3QffRpTZ4oxBchZYKmA5sj_yq4DracCbHPyxjmlSGKUgxAIdXwg/s640/DSC01142.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several open areas--several from our group on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1lc_kWCOZfimo1RyfdMXpPpjPJ2beAGo383nmyhqSFt3GFTsqZ99dIku0HWCiBFIY8dDQu2OTUTZy5vsFeKv384URwhc_8DNt6xPGJWQEYHP59CmOVThE8SAcBqZkGhHEzq2kA/s1600/DSC01146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1517" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1lc_kWCOZfimo1RyfdMXpPpjPJ2beAGo383nmyhqSFt3GFTsqZ99dIku0HWCiBFIY8dDQu2OTUTZy5vsFeKv384URwhc_8DNt6xPGJWQEYHP59CmOVThE8SAcBqZkGhHEzq2kA/s640/DSC01146.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the carvngs on the pillars are lovely</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_oN88zkd_t0W_k5InHs7Bds1XMwyy_kb0Rr1KDl9Vk0-ppYK82JLcT2hcwbQNl7SyJ-B7flOE8fCLu5QzbzdXI_Ruzilz5yvH94WdmqVQg8M3Z3sDI1LPD1C0FhhPMNdjuRSfw/s1600/DSC01143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="697" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_oN88zkd_t0W_k5InHs7Bds1XMwyy_kb0Rr1KDl9Vk0-ppYK82JLcT2hcwbQNl7SyJ-B7flOE8fCLu5QzbzdXI_Ruzilz5yvH94WdmqVQg8M3Z3sDI1LPD1C0FhhPMNdjuRSfw/s640/DSC01143.JPG" width="278" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvruEFv5Dfvik96zrUYK3uT9NQN4HUih-w-1BMEK3OMj6UXKidFkgfufhrKw8ghTYg0JpkQl0oqPEU8QL-s9lWW_Yl1o_aDa9smaXtAyOdgL74jhLfsJR8mJKiKhrV8oAIFbyLGw/s1600/DSC01149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1418" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvruEFv5Dfvik96zrUYK3uT9NQN4HUih-w-1BMEK3OMj6UXKidFkgfufhrKw8ghTYg0JpkQl0oqPEU8QL-s9lWW_Yl1o_aDa9smaXtAyOdgL74jhLfsJR8mJKiKhrV8oAIFbyLGw/s640/DSC01149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What amazing artisans made this ceiling over 800 years ago!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9WRwlQTJySfsq5rGygnEUQ06VHma_obxvobr_jYQGdeustIcTMUN5u4Z3-I5zDg_cHHlyu82mmGPmUNQpbONvdaR-MwAnR2rl6lHQgwldN0VtBUBaosxAFW7aveFWPKDIqG0Fg/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9WRwlQTJySfsq5rGygnEUQ06VHma_obxvobr_jYQGdeustIcTMUN5u4Z3-I5zDg_cHHlyu82mmGPmUNQpbONvdaR-MwAnR2rl6lHQgwldN0VtBUBaosxAFW7aveFWPKDIqG0Fg/s640/IMG_3118.JPG" width="564" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the work around the arch</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lZ67Ggacg8eeHnLR_IQmRAE9BRER71ncUggN-tdBBbwyq_lUUQIvQRGpDSex4lP0Z3vkt9KfI6sGhtxT72Bak99clLp_pDubRDUF9_tnOIgOSj6JvCGsg5X0kyWx68K5YZMjlg/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1170" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lZ67Ggacg8eeHnLR_IQmRAE9BRER71ncUggN-tdBBbwyq_lUUQIvQRGpDSex4lP0Z3vkt9KfI6sGhtxT72Bak99clLp_pDubRDUF9_tnOIgOSj6JvCGsg5X0kyWx68K5YZMjlg/s640/IMG_3121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PLJhbbXa8pZB8sj_P5th96Tm6RhTOml5hlDVcYQFHAYvgI_w8Mni_PW7qDw5wMy4NOc15KA4UGgEg1VmzSQDvwQud5I-CgJA7Qu3JBtn12oWcaQ3uMrEVjbrYGJxcg8V3PIVjQ/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="807" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PLJhbbXa8pZB8sj_P5th96Tm6RhTOml5hlDVcYQFHAYvgI_w8Mni_PW7qDw5wMy4NOc15KA4UGgEg1VmzSQDvwQud5I-CgJA7Qu3JBtn12oWcaQ3uMrEVjbrYGJxcg8V3PIVjQ/s640/IMG_3123.JPG" width="515" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tombs were added later, like the reference to this one</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vz9VWcE247on3TgBHuVpdNIvdz8RCFRLSgGbLzQQPyCawxFrWysis_GOjT5OoifRCNW12AtZw41luhMvr12sfcYGYZoJUzRLG5T3_1k_2Vpwud0JPTLf__f3AhPl5A2E93dhoA/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="932" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vz9VWcE247on3TgBHuVpdNIvdz8RCFRLSgGbLzQQPyCawxFrWysis_GOjT5OoifRCNW12AtZw41luhMvr12sfcYGYZoJUzRLG5T3_1k_2Vpwud0JPTLf__f3AhPl5A2E93dhoA/s640/IMG_3145.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside one of the tombs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and the</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_pillar_of_Delhi" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"> Iron Pillar of Delhi</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which is at least 1700 years old. It weighs 6,000 kilos. (Our guide said it was steel.) It has been called a "testimony to the high level of skill achieved by the ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron." The corrosion resistance came from an even layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate forming on the high-phosphorus-content iron, which protects it from the Delhi environment. People used to try to put their arms around it--it was considered good luck to do sol, but it also caused damage to the pillar, so the fence was erected around it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4R_1DarQpNtu_MPoxLBWGkFgRQxjnxM-fdoRG1GEU8lUHzahvpebvQ-0lQ7f788lVBYAKZR4Urpe44VEfKaITGYm9P1HbvnKpIl0IhcyYXHKbQDnYDjS-kmOOY__3rG66efEoQ/s1600/DSC01150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4R_1DarQpNtu_MPoxLBWGkFgRQxjnxM-fdoRG1GEU8lUHzahvpebvQ-0lQ7f788lVBYAKZR4Urpe44VEfKaITGYm9P1HbvnKpIl0IhcyYXHKbQDnYDjS-kmOOY__3rG66efEoQ/s640/DSC01150.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 7 m (23 ft) tall victory column is famous for its rust resistance composition.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were astounded by the detailed work on the structures of the complex so took lots of pictures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another leader wanted to build another minaret taller than the 5-story Qutb minaret. He began it, but then died so only the first part remains, which is 24.5 meters tall (almost 80'). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe5WYUiLna_x2milioKaAveYh2zpCcNdRr1a_x-iT2AIyPcff0i4fCxGGKQBkS804x4tOcvvISO400hrClMg0TsiGIWkQxQcJ_-S_TrOnbd910HTB8SQVEg_Nr-UcJky74m9hdQ/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe5WYUiLna_x2milioKaAveYh2zpCcNdRr1a_x-iT2AIyPcff0i4fCxGGKQBkS804x4tOcvvISO400hrClMg0TsiGIWkQxQcJ_-S_TrOnbd910HTB8SQVEg_Nr-UcJky74m9hdQ/s640/IMG_3148.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Begun in the early 1300s by Alauddin Kauldi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd0w1nh6Q3YF_fv3PwaQq6YBpgjpcxZiRbvUR50fTaEVdbPkoMpl4GKjJ3Kcaw4LImhswg0GUZMl3ydzmc2LFP84mWwHLwiFM66nXpJnUPFmjSiZzZ6Cr9cHkL2pDfJGpSaGpMg/s1600/IMG_3133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1586" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd0w1nh6Q3YF_fv3PwaQq6YBpgjpcxZiRbvUR50fTaEVdbPkoMpl4GKjJ3Kcaw4LImhswg0GUZMl3ydzmc2LFP84mWwHLwiFM66nXpJnUPFmjSiZzZ6Cr9cHkL2pDfJGpSaGpMg/s640/IMG_3133.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the second planned minaret above. it would have been an amazing structure for the time too.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m5CsmAaLd0DUFeAi8TJZH2guS4p6vWbzWjGFqbDvOMspyfEXzs26TX1ipkH8rGAVfr6GeRrzFWPjfkKqhPlMofRXWBVsO7x7oMxdrCSxnHuo3XDMgc_LsLj_bB8gRE59fjymNw/s1600/IMG_3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m5CsmAaLd0DUFeAi8TJZH2guS4p6vWbzWjGFqbDvOMspyfEXzs26TX1ipkH8rGAVfr6GeRrzFWPjfkKqhPlMofRXWBVsO7x7oMxdrCSxnHuo3XDMgc_LsLj_bB8gRE59fjymNw/s640/IMG_3134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During our trip, Indians often came up to us and asked us to have our picture taken with them. This was one of the first times, and I asked if I could take a photo too! The women especially looked Eastern Asian to me. When I asked our guide, he replied that they definitely were Indian, with strong Mulgar (Mongol) features.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-99VKC5I7jGWoZCeGj_7nBJnwExNxGEUK3yW6A0czuGw8bM0oSUJE5gR4YWQLX8L6Je9vtiWU9x6rRBk37IhqVobUZVCbDZLB_zQRlPKIqrcMiWHMXHnVe_aAfyZdR5P_qOhog/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="878" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-99VKC5I7jGWoZCeGj_7nBJnwExNxGEUK3yW6A0czuGw8bM0oSUJE5gR4YWQLX8L6Je9vtiWU9x6rRBk37IhqVobUZVCbDZLB_zQRlPKIqrcMiWHMXHnVe_aAfyZdR5P_qOhog/s640/IMG_3140.JPG" width="515" /></a></div>
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We had a full day (as we soon found out all would be!!) and the next we would leave Delhi and head toward Agra, the mini-Taj and the Taj Mahal.</div>
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Here are a few pictures from the garden in the back of our hotel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvoV4TLFt9Jh1hTfNkluicpeBHEiS2MRiGbqt487yor43kvrMbGjcE_FBQJsKwo0Ou1EmMbK8QjNh1tfvPx0uH9atm2l2p9FW5HeyJfjipnOO3Y0J3k10vZIWq6IKJwgLaUUkDg/s1600/DSC01163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvoV4TLFt9Jh1hTfNkluicpeBHEiS2MRiGbqt487yor43kvrMbGjcE_FBQJsKwo0Ou1EmMbK8QjNh1tfvPx0uH9atm2l2p9FW5HeyJfjipnOO3Y0J3k10vZIWq6IKJwgLaUUkDg/s640/DSC01163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbVXhXhHw1XYOc19CzBScJidXBD8niZA-NuU1h5w48MMcXWYVABk4sCnFbrvDhGWgmQHWmTjasMkkakqm9kntyqlkobP22upG_HHiJxgCNyJR_Er6G-c2jBSnNiiuTKLdNK7Usg/s1600/DSC01159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbVXhXhHw1XYOc19CzBScJidXBD8niZA-NuU1h5w48MMcXWYVABk4sCnFbrvDhGWgmQHWmTjasMkkakqm9kntyqlkobP22upG_HHiJxgCNyJR_Er6G-c2jBSnNiiuTKLdNK7Usg/s640/DSC01159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExq0fYgEkpxyrgK_qHq0kbt4PIfr8WZawfi29EDgxNy2YfSR_nO87kpk-uHYpoVsYU1LtpJN6wPNi_M5TxlvBcrAqX2RGkQCr4remnEerVrhxGtrgGtLSivHy8sS_uD9uAXSVcg/s1600/IMG_3153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExq0fYgEkpxyrgK_qHq0kbt4PIfr8WZawfi29EDgxNy2YfSR_nO87kpk-uHYpoVsYU1LtpJN6wPNi_M5TxlvBcrAqX2RGkQCr4remnEerVrhxGtrgGtLSivHy8sS_uD9uAXSVcg/s640/IMG_3153.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava resting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8wLqDPdMdxdm2i23-TDl6LelDEmaMEuieN_RrgiJgGonJ6xKACmk27L65ign4Zehg6bh-V257aMgmLYUUVnbJqYjVNK3Dp_wgrRDpp1HSZgS3Q6oy5zA2hRfi69CAkL4x5CGtg/s1600/DSC01165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8wLqDPdMdxdm2i23-TDl6LelDEmaMEuieN_RrgiJgGonJ6xKACmk27L65ign4Zehg6bh-V257aMgmLYUUVnbJqYjVNK3Dp_wgrRDpp1HSZgS3Q6oy5zA2hRfi69CAkL4x5CGtg/s640/DSC01165.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It shared the pool with the hotel behind it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfWeTz43k6p2HZTFQ0mx4Aw23QVug7AZ-mHIMty6QCu0mz3gye2AH6u0UEh6cuH0Llrd2pk1whNbizx9UVAO7t4MzXjIYEC3XOGW9ShWUrLR3gyXYOyrFtbV550wC-PUFqApBKA/s1600/DSC01166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfWeTz43k6p2HZTFQ0mx4Aw23QVug7AZ-mHIMty6QCu0mz3gye2AH6u0UEh6cuH0Llrd2pk1whNbizx9UVAO7t4MzXjIYEC3XOGW9ShWUrLR3gyXYOyrFtbV550wC-PUFqApBKA/s640/DSC01166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder what this pointy flower is</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKj7QiiFuuihPzUUyodLgNkpRb8kcIpXqmVm_CTCjLsTdc9jUuYXO-M3T82XIUboCHvKXTO9uJX2FqHcQunwJoVAVev8IK-97fUYHt_cmK_eCjEXr90EfrGeucHdy-SE0IjAUSQ/s1600/IMG_3152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKj7QiiFuuihPzUUyodLgNkpRb8kcIpXqmVm_CTCjLsTdc9jUuYXO-M3T82XIUboCHvKXTO9uJX2FqHcQunwJoVAVev8IK-97fUYHt_cmK_eCjEXr90EfrGeucHdy-SE0IjAUSQ/s640/IMG_3152.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Dahlia</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-62950238769752963302018-03-01T05:10:00.000-08:002018-03-01T05:10:00.611-08:00Mahātmā Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi" target="_blank">Gandhi</a> is one of the most revered people in modern history in India. All of the Indian rupee notes have his picture on them. (Click on the <u><span style="color: #351c75;">blue underlined words</span></u> for more information on each topic.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zBb1SWpca71lDNdPseQ7jfPfKwXXGIiluHFfEZ5VjsckThI8Pw25D5Sz6UO49iTcaHuFuaJiEp1SonCRxAsjkz0pPmU_jCgZRaqT_9lGGSR41aE-NcJ1Eka6_5_TK4AmrY4C_Q/s1600/DSC01038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="1203" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zBb1SWpca71lDNdPseQ7jfPfKwXXGIiluHFfEZ5VjsckThI8Pw25D5Sz6UO49iTcaHuFuaJiEp1SonCRxAsjkz0pPmU_jCgZRaqT_9lGGSR41aE-NcJ1Eka6_5_TK4AmrY4C_Q/s400/DSC01038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 500 rupee note, worth about US$8</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We visited the cremation site for Gandhi in Delhi, then the site where he lived in Delhi and was killed, and finally the <a href="http://gandhimuseum.org/site/" target="_blank">National Gandhi Museum</a> in Mumbai/Bombay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/mahatma-gandhi" target="_blank">Gandhi</a> was born in India in 1869 to a poor family, a time when the British had taken firm control of India. The British had originally come to India to trade and rule in the mid 1700s after the fall of the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_Empire" target="_blank"> Mughal (Mongol) Empire</a>. The Mughals had come from the north, married into royal families in India, and established a flourishing culture and economy. Their fall left a vacuum and starting with the British East India company, the British eventually took over rule, but did not integrate in the society, the result of which had a profound negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twelve years before his birth was the first<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Rebellion_of_1857" target="_blank"> Indian revolt against the British</a>. Indians are usually a docile, calm people so they needed to be pushed greatly to revolt. Heavy taxation and treatment were among the myriad of causes that led to this revolt, and a rumor soldiers (both Muslim and Hindi) were given cartridges wrapped in paper greased by beef or pork fat which had to be unwrapped by mouth brought the rebellion to a head. Gandhi grew up in this era of discontent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At 13 he entered an arranged marriage with 14-year-old <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasturba_Gandhi" target="_blank">Kasturba </a> which was to last for 62 years.</span><br />
<img alt="Image result for gandhi's wife" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c9/62/a3/c962a3dbe77108869b4fb7f82ff84f0f.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He graduated from high school, and at age 19 went to London to study law, promising his very religious mother that he would abstain from beef, alcohol and women. He got his law degree at 22 and return to India, but was unsuccessful as a barrister. A distant cousin offered Gandhi a job as a lawyer in South Africa, and he ended up staying there from 1893 to 1914, developing his political views and ethical values.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was to Gandhi's cremation site called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Ghat_and_associated_memorials" target="_blank">Raj Ghat</a>, on the banks of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna" target="_blank">Yamuna River</a>. This site was originally the cremation site of (non-Muslim) kings. Stones with quotes of Gandhi adorned the path leading in and helped set the mood for this emotional site. It set the mood for our next stop later in the day, where Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by a Hindu extremist. Our guide said that the motives were actually a misunderstanding.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfhYjze9KnNMtaCA7E1p1xstrDhF7DjHVAU2_jNsFFY1aV9oCsMDCSz6KU9ecnTpOSWbejLVKNq0vbIFpQeXrtqT96pQCGbPAXkoZz5ficeB5mj9YAOaP5QF83K4FIVLW0d9iQA/s1600/DSC01028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1149" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfhYjze9KnNMtaCA7E1p1xstrDhF7DjHVAU2_jNsFFY1aV9oCsMDCSz6KU9ecnTpOSWbejLVKNq0vbIFpQeXrtqT96pQCGbPAXkoZz5ficeB5mj9YAOaP5QF83K4FIVLW0d9iQA/s400/DSC01028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order to get close to the site, we had to remove our shoes. We had not learned yet to bring along socks to wear so as not to be totally barefoot.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quote by Gandhi next to the shoe storage area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nava chose to keep her shoes on and walled along the walls and read more quotes of Gandhi and could inhale the air of this peaceful area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An eternal light burns at one side of the memorial</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over 86% of non-Muslim Indians are cremated in India, often in public cremation ceremonies. We learned that children under seven are not cremated but buried as they are innocent and their original body cells have not been totally replaced. Also pregnant women are buried. The final group of people buried are holy men (and women?).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>I had thought that Gandhi was considered a holy man but was told by our guide that he was a very important <i>political</i> man, and so he was cremated like the vast majority of the people in India.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our second stop was to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Smriti" target="_blank">Gandhi Smiriti </a> or Birla House after the former owners. Gandhi was a frequent visitor to Birla house when he was in Delhi. His last visit there was from Sept 9, 1947 to Jan. 30, 1948 when he was assassinated there. People often asked why he stayed in such a luxurious home and he replied that he wanted Muslims too to be comfortable visiting him there and not in a poorer Hindu district of the city. He was wanted politicians to be comfortable to visit him. He stayed in a rather simple set of rooms where he slept and worked.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School children also heading to the site</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry to area Gandhi lived</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gandhi's worldly remains/possessions at death</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of Buddhist origin and in this memorial room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World Peace Gong</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School Children near the site</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our final stop at a Gandhi memorial was in Bombay/Mumbai, it was in the middle of the bustling city--a very different atmosphere than the first two sites, and in a way too much to absorb as the information was compact and it was a crowded noisy area.. We visited it on our last day in India before flying to Nepal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://gandhimuseum.org/site/gandian-institute/national/mani-bhavan/" target="_blank">Mani Bhavan, or the National Gandhi Museum</a>, is a modest two-story building that served at Gandhi's Bombay headquarters from 1917 to 1934. In 1955 it was dedicated as a memorial to Gandhi, his life and his activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were a number of pictures of young Gandhi that caught my attention:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ybw_GtC74HI8vVwqNUm5omGWAQKpIjl70ztPOJSHGrVzINii_VvAtJYxIrgMi2R3rd4_XaQmxZZ5ilDy85qbf0Q8VdkdGxzhpQ-11IKufVbtWUQGMJ7HuQUnp84G3lSkdMiaeA/s1600/DSC01803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ybw_GtC74HI8vVwqNUm5omGWAQKpIjl70ztPOJSHGrVzINii_VvAtJYxIrgMi2R3rd4_XaQmxZZ5ilDy85qbf0Q8VdkdGxzhpQ-11IKufVbtWUQGMJ7HuQUnp84G3lSkdMiaeA/s400/DSC01803.JPG" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Age 7</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgrzJCRVDPpqt7JOFZaDscC-XTzgPk1K8lO_FRy745esouAl-2eLCiB2Gj7K3vHzIt_6cAGbhJv7pUAed0N2MeEoCsLtoSOn-tOnr-b7k29bAx9xkEYAAoLBPCRsD5F9UrS4jFg/s1600/DSC01802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1062" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgrzJCRVDPpqt7JOFZaDscC-XTzgPk1K8lO_FRy745esouAl-2eLCiB2Gj7K3vHzIt_6cAGbhJv7pUAed0N2MeEoCsLtoSOn-tOnr-b7k29bAx9xkEYAAoLBPCRsD5F9UrS4jFg/s400/DSC01802.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At age 14</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ce9xUvpJw0JSEomk5QUtWitof5-Paxtgy6sGgYFdl86fHVw_y_izyi6QWxyQBxyWaCkSxCZ2Lp7AJCyZz5vk1sAKzDsFF2XBf2HpsUWXMDYDomS-zuZhhBhkI-xNAollw7z-2g/s1600/DSC01801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ce9xUvpJw0JSEomk5QUtWitof5-Paxtgy6sGgYFdl86fHVw_y_izyi6QWxyQBxyWaCkSxCZ2Lp7AJCyZz5vk1sAKzDsFF2XBf2HpsUWXMDYDomS-zuZhhBhkI-xNAollw7z-2g/s400/DSC01801.JPG" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With his brother Lasmidas in 1886</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwo2NvznzA7LfQbn0a-1bYj_IV0fsnVGW3SuouMaCCueF6gF7s5XLVnYjSLW5QEa0f-nLSTbWScPeKniHpUiFY6R91tUxmt6RkffBa-mSjpmfPLYE5fdsUx67Gjefd8P4tbIJfw/s1600/DSC01760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1147" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwo2NvznzA7LfQbn0a-1bYj_IV0fsnVGW3SuouMaCCueF6gF7s5XLVnYjSLW5QEa0f-nLSTbWScPeKniHpUiFY6R91tUxmt6RkffBa-mSjpmfPLYE5fdsUx67Gjefd8P4tbIJfw/s400/DSC01760.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a law student in London (between age 19 and 22)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaxYSNaZmIYKDkPArKOBmY0ZFUy7wj0-Os0lKNMttFonTPy2JSA98swMnmxe5GnEmJLJ0RJ-vzC7u_4UuYD07tpGxXj8G8tL3rvK9PrG-LvrUxkQtSufK-JdcDvVfMjN4UkIyjA/s1600/DSC01800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaxYSNaZmIYKDkPArKOBmY0ZFUy7wj0-Os0lKNMttFonTPy2JSA98swMnmxe5GnEmJLJ0RJ-vzC7u_4UuYD07tpGxXj8G8tL3rvK9PrG-LvrUxkQtSufK-JdcDvVfMjN4UkIyjA/s400/DSC01800.JPG" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a soldier in South Africa in the Indian corps, 1906</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFxCiwY2anTfdn94Rr-moSam-09_Y_-kikFZ9Mx7Kl28ca5pOQhsgscXuXjTJtF9U97zsQjcUc88fcQ_NXCmWuOyNK1ZfiISJRdFnTmChqAKo57A_U1J-V-Ov1lihWFuW1Yc7-w/s1600/DSC01759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFxCiwY2anTfdn94Rr-moSam-09_Y_-kikFZ9Mx7Kl28ca5pOQhsgscXuXjTJtF9U97zsQjcUc88fcQ_NXCmWuOyNK1ZfiISJRdFnTmChqAKo57A_U1J-V-Ov1lihWFuW1Yc7-w/s400/DSC01759.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a sculpture of Gandhi near the entrance where a few books are also sold</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the main displays was a set of dioramas depicting important stages of his life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC3XZNSmcOaLy0JheqaoZ9mVsrgmx_zvO275A04vmxxPDShGTgnjSTYs9OTcJqk8aOq9NkAu0D-mPu9kuZa_wrH0UffO-To3mStNdx_OKZBmBg83mq5mEZBONyrRypcKbNdeGkg/s1600/DSC01764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC3XZNSmcOaLy0JheqaoZ9mVsrgmx_zvO275A04vmxxPDShGTgnjSTYs9OTcJqk8aOq9NkAu0D-mPu9kuZa_wrH0UffO-To3mStNdx_OKZBmBg83mq5mEZBONyrRypcKbNdeGkg/s640/DSC01764.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House in which he was born in 1869</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IOhzczBskHjDHiuO3gRolIpsohkfDqkopqN8kXuREZTkdRdLQoc0S4ts2VYl1KmZLM8eAGRtW6WswQCdJTWdXFUJ1pg5ZGL1hvBXN9y2ZdvrscRv4I59My-q2FBVxpm_paENEg/s1600/IMG_4052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1501" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IOhzczBskHjDHiuO3gRolIpsohkfDqkopqN8kXuREZTkdRdLQoc0S4ts2VYl1KmZLM8eAGRtW6WswQCdJTWdXFUJ1pg5ZGL1hvBXN9y2ZdvrscRv4I59My-q2FBVxpm_paENEg/s640/IMG_4052.JPG" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gandhi <a href="http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/story_of_gandhi.htm" target="_blank">steals some gold from his brother's bracelet</a> to pay off a debt and confesses </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZb-Ds3gLXi_6LiIoY1DNxIbKnpgw6JE3uwukYwywrogqwjw8ywbQ0oGQcoauDgW2h5SVPd3cI0p7F9pmfjpw5lPgDvV74yOGAwod2FBv7jXEXtnGkWNLSqE0A6e61w5pbpiw_A/s1600/DSC01765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZb-Ds3gLXi_6LiIoY1DNxIbKnpgw6JE3uwukYwywrogqwjw8ywbQ0oGQcoauDgW2h5SVPd3cI0p7F9pmfjpw5lPgDvV74yOGAwod2FBv7jXEXtnGkWNLSqE0A6e61w5pbpiw_A/s640/DSC01765.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He helps nurse his father during a 5-year illness. Gandhi is 16 when his father dies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb999n6I3C6fE0TWOFQaRslnvJGLKml_SU8-FYsOQBmX9JYIROcE2-9-1KZ88OhInKWhxhueh3u5tK50aeT8rAWd8nkyMZnVZ2L7i-ajJtewHNYeB1pYrEwmnKi3k3BrH3jY6W5w/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1435" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb999n6I3C6fE0TWOFQaRslnvJGLKml_SU8-FYsOQBmX9JYIROcE2-9-1KZ88OhInKWhxhueh3u5tK50aeT8rAWd8nkyMZnVZ2L7i-ajJtewHNYeB1pYrEwmnKi3k3BrH3jY6W5w/s640/DSC01766.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When his oldest brother decided to send him to London to become a barrister, he made promises to his mother to not touch wine, women, or meat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyY9eb5m5Ae3k_-EgrKGNrW3r8hiZBzQoDDgXbBtA0LSgbceG59fKN0oibmiczs10USRcaMvzq5LSsPYxjLAcPNskPzsQEcD9YnEVHkkrAde3Unbz6oI9TnJt5TyRWPSE1yoOog/s1600/DSC01767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1348" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyY9eb5m5Ae3k_-EgrKGNrW3r8hiZBzQoDDgXbBtA0LSgbceG59fKN0oibmiczs10USRcaMvzq5LSsPYxjLAcPNskPzsQEcD9YnEVHkkrAde3Unbz6oI9TnJt5TyRWPSE1yoOog/s640/DSC01767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 1893 when thrown off a first class train compartment, the incident changed his life</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOJ08emCdG4LLiaflh-YXDGjLmevs2HEpn7f0Oc_B_qTZt0d0lIKzfWd7w2TS50iCB5RDEsWbmomNljTlKxRB6CiHcIOfbGmdm8qVFGSBtGgVtx5MYYGUuFsquhx_-Zw4g5ZLEQ/s1600/DSC01768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOJ08emCdG4LLiaflh-YXDGjLmevs2HEpn7f0Oc_B_qTZt0d0lIKzfWd7w2TS50iCB5RDEsWbmomNljTlKxRB6CiHcIOfbGmdm8qVFGSBtGgVtx5MYYGUuFsquhx_-Zw4g5ZLEQ/s640/DSC01768.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tax march protest in 1913</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHuYB4XB3rRouF1-_D9C7WGphDxZmMmA4srUQ0mLRu9eHFrM6jpf0OrJ9T3v_oFImVgNM5C9o_VWY2FnK7yR-yTgRqct22ruTXGITAGrOCu1HQCoNael5HeSnN6RyAd1-lcuUhw/s1600/DSC01769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1341" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHuYB4XB3rRouF1-_D9C7WGphDxZmMmA4srUQ0mLRu9eHFrM6jpf0OrJ9T3v_oFImVgNM5C9o_VWY2FnK7yR-yTgRqct22ruTXGITAGrOCu1HQCoNael5HeSnN6RyAd1-lcuUhw/s640/DSC01769.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Return to India in 1915--gaining the title Mahatma ("great soul")</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMldwAybIV-Ymdsa7z92h2wUfqS94mnoIv4094AFeZJ65-aTWnxFpU1JAx6EfDRV8HuJ8Zy0_MW6Ek-CIjKfE6CWjViChCPzKJAwBuALwFjY7CgxWCEc405vA-785nfVzj5GBHRQ/s1600/DSC01770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1408" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMldwAybIV-Ymdsa7z92h2wUfqS94mnoIv4094AFeZJ65-aTWnxFpU1JAx6EfDRV8HuJ8Zy0_MW6Ek-CIjKfE6CWjViChCPzKJAwBuALwFjY7CgxWCEc405vA-785nfVzj5GBHRQ/s640/DSC01770.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Launching of first civil disobedience movement in India</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlng6KDoaR78l9e0zpBgc0CRVDXRz8RHe1SM8KmYhEIf2Z0xnNA6DkntqG7EPwQ-fJa2eb_ApztvJ_tHJZm2k_bDBVny0O1sA8rWG2Vk5-x-8XopLb51Wtik7gISwAqlvGBua9Q/s1600/DSC01771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1428" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlng6KDoaR78l9e0zpBgc0CRVDXRz8RHe1SM8KmYhEIf2Z0xnNA6DkntqG7EPwQ-fJa2eb_ApztvJ_tHJZm2k_bDBVny0O1sA8rWG2Vk5-x-8XopLb51Wtik7gISwAqlvGBua9Q/s640/DSC01771.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1919 massacre of unarmed people at a peaceful gathering</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiZNkN0Sf39zzWRP6J3W4D-soxNYugrfUo3Bg0wG_Mu3HDAkNtBWSyLhikaA2X9TJjH4sBUlnDffJVasMwru1sXvMwXpZSK-fgmewpbAI2SFRYngfA6SwygZQGTuE_Jn-89Ycxg/s1600/DSC01772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiZNkN0Sf39zzWRP6J3W4D-soxNYugrfUo3Bg0wG_Mu3HDAkNtBWSyLhikaA2X9TJjH4sBUlnDffJVasMwru1sXvMwXpZSK-fgmewpbAI2SFRYngfA6SwygZQGTuE_Jn-89Ycxg/s640/DSC01772.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Death of Lokmanya Tilak, 1920, first leader of the Indian independence movement</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJk1FXHl_hRMH8OpHNBhJNChkJ6-3zLamyflvkBsL2f2QVfxzOpy_3kRs7hvskQB8t_JPrlSn60LCsv0poooH4EKSHog9sxjPw0zuE8KfJ1MhnYzC8nzOayzSbd7siueA6DW3hg/s1600/DSC01773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1439" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJk1FXHl_hRMH8OpHNBhJNChkJ6-3zLamyflvkBsL2f2QVfxzOpy_3kRs7hvskQB8t_JPrlSn60LCsv0poooH4EKSHog9sxjPw0zuE8KfJ1MhnYzC8nzOayzSbd7siueA6DW3hg/s640/DSC01773.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boycott of foreign cloth--bonfire, 1921</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1UUsP05qfZbDtrIi5pT4pvwjdXopqNOGusYq0Gq3bvbxpAftwTt_Rt8a69_ZeCLZ1HrwHEeiT2aTA4uZiq7LHm-Fd_40nsDRnCXNWVg5kQ6OHRUbDlot6EjKO3wBZQi840jNg/s1600/DSC01774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1UUsP05qfZbDtrIi5pT4pvwjdXopqNOGusYq0Gq3bvbxpAftwTt_Rt8a69_ZeCLZ1HrwHEeiT2aTA4uZiq7LHm-Fd_40nsDRnCXNWVg5kQ6OHRUbDlot6EjKO3wBZQi840jNg/s640/DSC01774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trial for sedition in 1922</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YjXz0hMrgq2wYATO0IFbZ0Mus3vIGI3_xCF4GlhpZoyxFRwKt2dfLr7hv_qYTzNjsApEC-wFjOLq24egWX2dy7mQ2QPij8xyty7h7ae0jyauBVtB67TVyoOvPJnfs4lYHR5jZw/s1600/DSC01776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YjXz0hMrgq2wYATO0IFbZ0Mus3vIGI3_xCF4GlhpZoyxFRwKt2dfLr7hv_qYTzNjsApEC-wFjOLq24egWX2dy7mQ2QPij8xyty7h7ae0jyauBVtB67TVyoOvPJnfs4lYHR5jZw/s640/DSC01776.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destruction of village industries, 1925</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJX3XcDpflHe-PG00UExtX8pM2nRF925ofiFDrm8hLB3OYbvR1MP0BLu8TtglRvIIKEnqULF7ONtZ3HMXHFh4P-GfCayEMyJfkZNp7W-c1bhNJ1rgr9-KXbfhoKSylUSu1D0Xs6w/s1600/DSC01778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1333" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJX3XcDpflHe-PG00UExtX8pM2nRF925ofiFDrm8hLB3OYbvR1MP0BLu8TtglRvIIKEnqULF7ONtZ3HMXHFh4P-GfCayEMyJfkZNp7W-c1bhNJ1rgr9-KXbfhoKSylUSu1D0Xs6w/s640/DSC01778.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March" target="_blank">Dandi or Salt march</a>, March, 1930, Civil Disobedience protesting the tax British put on local production on salt</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NvPrx1YvLn4jA1G_dST2tt4zrFT-mM2N-ylPZbm9vxHRE6aKbOT4g-zEMk1-0kNS3zxkVvPyQHoP_SxcfA4oBUap5c3eAfuELYIZeLdc1W0d30RrK3KdDRzqy_-pgxY9uhk0Sw/s1600/DSC01781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NvPrx1YvLn4jA1G_dST2tt4zrFT-mM2N-ylPZbm9vxHRE6aKbOT4g-zEMk1-0kNS3zxkVvPyQHoP_SxcfA4oBUap5c3eAfuELYIZeLdc1W0d30RrK3KdDRzqy_-pgxY9uhk0Sw/s640/DSC01781.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While serving a 6 year sentence for sedition, in 1927 he had an emergency appendectomy. This is a copy of a rare painting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4QEb5D3fKi4ymmLyJKqYwxvcPxkMtVFbk5Pr8RNrSSeZ1cjB5A9B1j3ij6f2rXG57UowLmj4ky0j17cNg3_ItmssF0xGF6ZmKkgWsazqRkZhxBwfJ336X1o4TPYtEQin8ZcZ_Q/s1600/DSC01783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1137" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4QEb5D3fKi4ymmLyJKqYwxvcPxkMtVFbk5Pr8RNrSSeZ1cjB5A9B1j3ij6f2rXG57UowLmj4ky0j17cNg3_ItmssF0xGF6ZmKkgWsazqRkZhxBwfJ336X1o4TPYtEQin8ZcZ_Q/s640/DSC01783.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting with the British King in 1931</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg1Y-fjjPxDHB62XtyZx_Hc9AdI3EYK1iAUjJJuNAfiM3lDZhXXC7iLCmlgyvagPd3y8uX6EYtPKcYzcYx1dlIYgqKkTpH-060tnqti48fDXWwVCuW9_vjfMSsm2fDFz_8UJTlA/s1600/DSC01784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg1Y-fjjPxDHB62XtyZx_Hc9AdI3EYK1iAUjJJuNAfiM3lDZhXXC7iLCmlgyvagPd3y8uX6EYtPKcYzcYx1dlIYgqKkTpH-060tnqti48fDXWwVCuW9_vjfMSsm2fDFz_8UJTlA/s640/DSC01784.JPG" width="516" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEQNUGtyx06ZYOiZE0r5N1VSrweRKfKu0zz0Y5zRIaN1wtJS3iuCw6GCSYQ4ex1OyTf9QBe39zIJjt6-nzwJkooGaOs1g9R1Kv999TOFTwUpohT8NqrLBjEHvrKltK-12MOkJsA/s1600/DSC01785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1233" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEQNUGtyx06ZYOiZE0r5N1VSrweRKfKu0zz0Y5zRIaN1wtJS3iuCw6GCSYQ4ex1OyTf9QBe39zIJjt6-nzwJkooGaOs1g9R1Kv999TOFTwUpohT8NqrLBjEHvrKltK-12MOkJsA/s640/DSC01785.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Met with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romain_Rolland" target="_blank">Romain Rolland,</a> 1931, French writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiqLKczcHy296HAYW2WQNT3XLEWOrMPYvz1TChHvWkWed8WKGdAaKz5T3qv5QyoEK-OdY3XHPFQea9vm3qva06x6yBlcnMWKhYbqJGQ76097OW0sSq55dzb7WFM2x7ltSMQnhjg/s1600/DSC01786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1261" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiqLKczcHy296HAYW2WQNT3XLEWOrMPYvz1TChHvWkWed8WKGdAaKz5T3qv5QyoEK-OdY3XHPFQea9vm3qva06x6yBlcnMWKhYbqJGQ76097OW0sSq55dzb7WFM2x7ltSMQnhjg/s640/DSC01786.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast for the end of Untouchability, 1932</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKeHK0QH-_dly4-9Qkt8YvdsjTxUnQWBjJs_hyRFPHHeT8Gbggq6SbkxoteKLfKGBPnSjU8fveTYk2pjJ9Qt0xINxewN0HVr7SfnUL2MUlrCSOxZi1zQRTWzAlSOiXuRYzTRFnQ/s1600/DSC01788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1382" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKeHK0QH-_dly4-9Qkt8YvdsjTxUnQWBjJs_hyRFPHHeT8Gbggq6SbkxoteKLfKGBPnSjU8fveTYk2pjJ9Qt0xINxewN0HVr7SfnUL2MUlrCSOxZi1zQRTWzAlSOiXuRYzTRFnQ/s640/DSC01788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore" target="_blank">Poet Tagore</a>,1940</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFb9-3wB34WBDyHrUXR1PWSZN5OlnHFLJN2RND3aJpoMZCxg9Je6dXMOIswsVsi-Ri-3Gm-FCOcotX1901xN0MzM5ZiLe_JZGf4bzK77qVhdFJYuBqU3FOvi1sXz5puw2Qf6hEA/s1600/DSC01789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFb9-3wB34WBDyHrUXR1PWSZN5OlnHFLJN2RND3aJpoMZCxg9Je6dXMOIswsVsi-Ri-3Gm-FCOcotX1901xN0MzM5ZiLe_JZGf4bzK77qVhdFJYuBqU3FOvi1sXz5puw2Qf6hEA/s640/DSC01789.JPG" width="438" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTYqdMPlNKSQGM8cr9Usm48TYV0SN-GAmy3FQmsx-9ox9g-Zjbw2A4rrf-kqJLdkPAkKSbDe1jSlxlBoSYSzFWdzknnKLiAM89R5oLm7mQLVIefek5S2fe_sXa1HnajJIbI3jig/s1600/DSC01790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1326" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTYqdMPlNKSQGM8cr9Usm48TYV0SN-GAmy3FQmsx-9ox9g-Zjbw2A4rrf-kqJLdkPAkKSbDe1jSlxlBoSYSzFWdzknnKLiAM89R5oLm7mQLVIefek5S2fe_sXa1HnajJIbI3jig/s640/DSC01790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Death of Gandhi's wife, Kasturba, 1944, after 62 years of marriage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIWlvyzL4WsZjZPu_i4sto4vbFYgFn_VYN_TC-8fPrwPPJHtBxfoJLBVB5_7ifbXRjWi5yWH-BA26jGCAHEympL_Wdi6_f5s_yObFxjqWQ21E3DGXhUz5GQB5CMOHV_E4v7Vtjw/s1600/DSC01791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1126" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIWlvyzL4WsZjZPu_i4sto4vbFYgFn_VYN_TC-8fPrwPPJHtBxfoJLBVB5_7ifbXRjWi5yWH-BA26jGCAHEympL_Wdi6_f5s_yObFxjqWQ21E3DGXhUz5GQB5CMOHV_E4v7Vtjw/s640/DSC01791.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilgrimage of Peace in Bengal, 1946-7</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsEZX0qFYnKDCYjh2W1FoCLJcNtjdQmZ576fxwrLzQSOlgAllNQNFoPyHTtfzyxFodTggdy68CS5vRmKAN8V0BttE6mls7GFwHMTWxzhLeYKKVMOhYcggXqqunadnfq2N1TaWEw/s1600/DSC01792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1388" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsEZX0qFYnKDCYjh2W1FoCLJcNtjdQmZ576fxwrLzQSOlgAllNQNFoPyHTtfzyxFodTggdy68CS5vRmKAN8V0BttE6mls7GFwHMTWxzhLeYKKVMOhYcggXqqunadnfq2N1TaWEw/s640/DSC01792.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghandi to Riot-wrecked Bihar, 1947</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL1cNJrwIcd2D6Tz7stzteThBMkNyhTetOArmM-OnRphlg4TMBSBdvO-82a-ovL6Haa9z8N_J-qA_doA53UeWACTE6db6lHd7MlwWqb81AIhBBHwBoRe3y5eYE-zwWcD0BorpMA/s1600/DSC01793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1268" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL1cNJrwIcd2D6Tz7stzteThBMkNyhTetOArmM-OnRphlg4TMBSBdvO-82a-ovL6Haa9z8N_J-qA_doA53UeWACTE6db6lHd7MlwWqb81AIhBBHwBoRe3y5eYE-zwWcD0BorpMA/s640/DSC01793.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gandhi and Khan bemoaning the division of the country</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmt8veXpIQi36m_It42KH4SK9UfFbJEE1AufLuB-V3QaDO9_MMUSdJ2ZBd0hw0F5zri77jJfdXPYC8LGyYGHQpb7QIsb9fMGWnfxbnOuY_g57jjoybfjaoJWodvWvX-LV85jlbQ/s1600/DSC01794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1434" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmt8veXpIQi36m_It42KH4SK9UfFbJEE1AufLuB-V3QaDO9_MMUSdJ2ZBd0hw0F5zri77jJfdXPYC8LGyYGHQpb7QIsb9fMGWnfxbnOuY_g57jjoybfjaoJWodvWvX-LV85jlbQ/s640/DSC01794.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast for communal harmony, Sept 1947</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEfQcTbH_2HWsct_a3YsRUO245BdMlQE_PpPkuyi7_J9r4afYUGIqhLbMBCdQ4lcgnQ1SncROfgBvL1M5mb5jEBlvmtyyypxCEinKJ38Vk0GkLl8aO8_XIkAli4QvrnoxiT18HQ/s1600/DSC01796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1505" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEfQcTbH_2HWsct_a3YsRUO245BdMlQE_PpPkuyi7_J9r4afYUGIqhLbMBCdQ4lcgnQ1SncROfgBvL1M5mb5jEBlvmtyyypxCEinKJ38Vk0GkLl8aO8_XIkAli4QvrnoxiT18HQ/s640/DSC01796.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assassination and then cremation of Gandhi, Jan. 31, 1948</td></tr>
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Two letters from Gandhi to world leaders were also on display, the first to FDR, the President of the US, in 1942, </div>
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and most surprisingly was Gandhi's letter to Hitler in 1929.<br />
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<br />Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-86976628981570322692018-02-27T07:47:00.000-08:002018-04-03T05:08:43.085-07:00Incredible India, Part 1<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late summer, my wonderful friend Nava invited me to join her on a trip to Northern India and Nepal with Gate 1, a travel agency that a friend had recommended to her. I signed up and I am delighted to have participated on such an amazing trip though I had known very little about India and it had not been on my top list of destinations. I met marvelous people, and learned so very much about the country and culture and plan to continue to learn more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I need to give you a brief introduction to the country before I begin our travelogue. Please do continue reading, or <b>if you wish, skip down to the pictures! </b> (Any word/phrase underlined and in blue is for clicking on to get more information on the subject.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">India is a land of astounding contrasts, within the country and in the world as a whole. It is the seventh largest country in the world in area, the second largest in population after China, and the largest <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India" target="_blank">democracy</a> in population in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is a federal union of 29 states and 7 union territories, and each state is divided in to districts and smaller administrative divisions. The states were officially created when India became independent of Great Britain in 1947. Some were former governors' provinces of British India, others princely states, etc. The <a href="https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.incredibleindiatour.net/images/state-map-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.incredibleindiatour.net/states/&h=818&w=765&tbnid=wRptb2oSrIRr4M:&tbnh=186&tbnw=173&usg=__EYgLTeOWiJlVV8sq98IlB2OCcXA%3D&vet=10ahUKEwjT0ZOOqMTZAhUShuAKHesmCbsQ_B0IhgIwGA..i&docid=IZqMM63NhR2EeM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT0ZOOqMTZAhUShuAKHesmCbsQ_B0IhgIwGA" target="_blank">states </a>were reorganized in 1956 based on linguistic lines. In essence, India is really an mix of 29 different countries as each of the states has at least one language of its own and specific cultures of its own, yet India functions as one democratic country.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nava and I had thought that English was a major language in India and that many people spoke it daily. We were wrong. On the street in the northern cities we visited, we heard Hindi. People working in tourism spoke English but not the average person on the street. English is taught in many schools but there are differences in public vs private and regions where it is taught. English is also used often as a semi-official language so as not to choose one regional language as superior to another.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">India has 22 official languages, which are, Bengali, Hindi, Maithili, Nepali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Urdu,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Assamesse, Dogri, Kannada, Gujarati, Bodo, Manipuri (or Meitei), Oriya, Marathi, Santali, Telugu, Punjabi, Sindi, Malayalam Konkani, and Kashmir. Hindi is the official language of the central government and is spoken by many people in Northern India, it is not common in Southern India. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the census of India ,the total number of mother tongues spoken is 1652 (with dialect variations). However, only around 150 languages have a sizable speaking population People we met often spoke 4 or 5.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Vindyha ranges of mountains from west to east divide northern and southern India. The southern area was more isolated in history and as a result has had fewer cultural influences from outside, whereas the northern region was invaded and populated by many different groups of people over time where groups intermingled and created an amazing cultural diversity, making northern India an incredible place to visit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nava had already bought her ticket through Emirates Airlines from Seattle west to Dubai (a 14 hour airplane trip) and then east to Delhi (another 3 hours). So I flew to Seattle from Boston on January 24 and we departed on January 29. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emirates was wonderful--plenty of leg room in the regular economy section, the seat bottoms moved as well as the back so we could rest very well, great food (yes, I am saying that about an airline!!), an empty seat between us, and great movies in many languages--we both watched "Victoria and Abdul" as well as a movie about surfers from Gaza. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dubai has developed into a large tourist destination and many people stay for several days on their way to another country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our layover in Dubai was a bit over two hours, but we were kept entertained by the art work and history as we walked around.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2kjSYPxVOqyhKuMfTSnh9Fo4bb9ixl9slYODFVs37EgYlu_You4NB60qi_Sf34LHFecmOoryWEU5WPhneS17VjrMrh2umQOE6U6PbDfnpCoxUibPTddhdEe_Zx33QRTzM5d7GQ/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="682" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2kjSYPxVOqyhKuMfTSnh9Fo4bb9ixl9slYODFVs37EgYlu_You4NB60qi_Sf34LHFecmOoryWEU5WPhneS17VjrMrh2umQOE6U6PbDfnpCoxUibPTddhdEe_Zx33QRTzM5d7GQ/s400/IMG_2987.JPG" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The airport sold cigarettes and alcohol--to people traveling out of the country.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja80rHjWAF__1dka-8s8-ySK-sJ94AhwABGsaRRm-1eRdgs_qre3fOIJM7kJCg_3vKB5yaS-kveB_45lknhNhNlbLVPNWWJPS75gFgSs2rC6X-r9U5_NTv6OxrzIJkNV6scbsDvg/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1126" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja80rHjWAF__1dka-8s8-ySK-sJ94AhwABGsaRRm-1eRdgs_qre3fOIJM7kJCg_3vKB5yaS-kveB_45lknhNhNlbLVPNWWJPS75gFgSs2rC6X-r9U5_NTv6OxrzIJkNV6scbsDvg/s400/IMG_2989.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an example of a mural</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7H8cmRx_RPjMhvcK5ohlDDJKVaoThyt08UT7mo9JpshqZMFMF-bjXHlFJeq7JUDhmU5d_M72Ue_NRoBj_p9BC-yvfDs5IYzR45JhsxYDobGzCnAg3WNKpgPxbUExq0aZ4izwNQ/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="949" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7H8cmRx_RPjMhvcK5ohlDDJKVaoThyt08UT7mo9JpshqZMFMF-bjXHlFJeq7JUDhmU5d_M72Ue_NRoBj_p9BC-yvfDs5IYzR45JhsxYDobGzCnAg3WNKpgPxbUExq0aZ4izwNQ/s400/IMG_2991.JPG" width="383" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Gm29SDLgT3ytB9m97SoI4Q1Ld0he_c0lzoyAfTI07FrwARzbsB5VIouAXTzxF-RUOZPO9kXohTafzFly2VByARB4Mr-sm-yhDiAy0o4DFqB_6uum51ww2REJChKwI8gl582PA/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1129" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Gm29SDLgT3ytB9m97SoI4Q1Ld0he_c0lzoyAfTI07FrwARzbsB5VIouAXTzxF-RUOZPO9kXohTafzFly2VByARB4Mr-sm-yhDiAy0o4DFqB_6uum51ww2REJChKwI8gl582PA/s400/IMG_2993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a huge cute caricature mural</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnK25XjmDkS6FHKROILVNkuZahVQrLz24ZIcwjjyykRkqWAkFELb1rTCx1mUWj0_k0moeuo6iwBnykiYuhnHam2VdcVxFw0b0D7JpkFPk5yfvSnu4XQwMdJ3Y0YSeqd65zIx9eQ/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1129" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnK25XjmDkS6FHKROILVNkuZahVQrLz24ZIcwjjyykRkqWAkFELb1rTCx1mUWj0_k0moeuo6iwBnykiYuhnHam2VdcVxFw0b0D7JpkFPk5yfvSnu4XQwMdJ3Y0YSeqd65zIx9eQ/s400/IMG_2998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About the creator of the mural</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dm6Ukt98B0jDtjJx2C1tQRP2DAJE_LtrtZDn9KoTy2if2yzw3XGMMNLkfQbXM8MvvoR3BCid1ymymjGbezcNt9m3-37PmAp4_UT6r_BFqETcptfNBRXVrW47n2-shOMMwp4PEg/s1600/IMG_2994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1195" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dm6Ukt98B0jDtjJx2C1tQRP2DAJE_LtrtZDn9KoTy2if2yzw3XGMMNLkfQbXM8MvvoR3BCid1ymymjGbezcNt9m3-37PmAp4_UT6r_BFqETcptfNBRXVrW47n2-shOMMwp4PEg/s400/IMG_2994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a bit of the history</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Security was tight leaving the airport and I managed to lose my fitbit on the second major security check where I had to take it off as well as my watch. I'm not sure if I need to get another one right away.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About 1:30 a.m. Jan. 31, we landed in India. (India is 13.5 hours ahead of Seattle, 10.5 hours ahead of Boston, and 3.5 hours ahead of Israel. All of India</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is in the same t</span><a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/time-zones-history.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ime zone</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were exhausted but excited to be in the country and amazed by the beautiful sculptures at the airport, including this section of a huge sculpture.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyoYqlSsw21vbheT8RyufZGjDvzkk5ERther7QKBEXHX07_sY56Mu8JsgJJCFxP44Im-MaZmfQHJrNHnHzZg_cFlu5hs_OO5IfQoX_ny3s-_HINkDTHMKXR1CF25D6ezMBfFdEw/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyoYqlSsw21vbheT8RyufZGjDvzkk5ERther7QKBEXHX07_sY56Mu8JsgJJCFxP44Im-MaZmfQHJrNHnHzZg_cFlu5hs_OO5IfQoX_ny3s-_HINkDTHMKXR1CF25D6ezMBfFdEw/s640/IMG_3004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with amazing hand signs of the Buddha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A representative of Gate 1 met us, took us to our hotel, the Eros, and got us settled. He told us that we were meet our trip guide, Bhanu Mithra, the next day at 6 p.m. We fell asleep at 4 and slept for 5 hours, getting up in time for our breakfast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The breakfast buffet included a selection of western and Indian food and we were delighted to try to new foods.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90JD6bS0SG-0g8NC4H222Azo411iGp5c3S5drhqd0_HNh_vSQoLuYEuCPemDJzFYlPFLE16xng9IVaN2N5rrlHEadQP8BrVt9IRbp5-K1cWcHWjc4zkLM_KUK4IXGuCBUxsh57g/s1600/IMG_3007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90JD6bS0SG-0g8NC4H222Azo411iGp5c3S5drhqd0_HNh_vSQoLuYEuCPemDJzFYlPFLE16xng9IVaN2N5rrlHEadQP8BrVt9IRbp5-K1cWcHWjc4zkLM_KUK4IXGuCBUxsh57g/s400/IMG_3007.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grilled tomatoes, sprounted fenugreek I think, paratha, mild tomato chutney, etc.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9okpy7dkfbHotP_8HkKzMx2dcJrSHOoUGs5C1Wt5HZhyphenhyphenxiuWH-iW2583mCUm86OEU_pQToN2l4DXfSJEVPeix0X-P-kx3To1Gy8DKgzWs7x63EDdenMdiT5t-paqBsLjJsAlzOw/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="969" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9okpy7dkfbHotP_8HkKzMx2dcJrSHOoUGs5C1Wt5HZhyphenhyphenxiuWH-iW2583mCUm86OEU_pQToN2l4DXfSJEVPeix0X-P-kx3To1Gy8DKgzWs7x63EDdenMdiT5t-paqBsLjJsAlzOw/s400/IMG_3008.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava's choices</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While we were eating breakfast, a nice looking man came over and introduced himself. It was Bhanu. He had been at the hotel since 7 a.m. We were delighted to meet him so soon and got a great feeling about him. We later found out that he has worked for Gate 1 for almost for 6 years and had been voted in the top 3 tour guide/manager in India for the country since he began. Also, he was just named the top tour manager in Asia for Gate 1 this past year. We found out why! He truly was a fantastic manager and a cultural ambassador for India. He also told us that the small company had been floundering about 35 years ago and it was sold to an employee, Dani Pipano, an Israeli who had worked for Egged. Pipano made it into the huge, successful company that it is today. When we met our group, most had traveled with Gate 1 before with positive experiences.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirOxmlf11jQWetrW6YiWhYR_dBk5tRKWN5a75gCZdTFHSkBrZ_HX2ozSGXsF8iVDIxFkXyfNUbpanRWrxZRlbVQC89DPkOukFIXAXDnXzEAS1qvvDxu1xygMMFPctm4ZQeAGRaA/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="847" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirOxmlf11jQWetrW6YiWhYR_dBk5tRKWN5a75gCZdTFHSkBrZ_HX2ozSGXsF8iVDIxFkXyfNUbpanRWrxZRlbVQC89DPkOukFIXAXDnXzEAS1qvvDxu1xygMMFPctm4ZQeAGRaA/s400/IMG_3012.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An amazing lily bouquet in the hotel lobby. Flowers were everywhere!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bhanu gave us some good suggestions of places to visit before sunset, so we soon headed out on our adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We pointed to our goal on a map to the driver of a tuktuk , negotiated a price, and headed out. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A tuktuk, an "auto rickshaw" that seats the driver and two more. It usually is powered by CNG, compressed natural gas, which is more efficient and causes a lot less pollution. The ones powered by CNG are yellow and green.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was the Lodi (Lodhi) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gardens, a public garden oasis in the middle of Delhi, containing the tombs of Lodi people who ruled the Delhi area in the 15th and 16th centuries.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a variety of birds in the park!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the park in the dry season, after a low amount of rain in the monsoon season</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More buildings and natural settings:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdskceTll4uzLccl96WRS-b_YCZfcKOKg9GyRJn0rTMNIjruwtlNSzhfNR6S_CbixFwifEn3CPqx5dM1mWCzIY4R-uMUkhF5qvb-7lfo5Lv05_ZM56YRbXOPjTT9WYx74-Hl6Gw/s1600/DSC00979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="950" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdskceTll4uzLccl96WRS-b_YCZfcKOKg9GyRJn0rTMNIjruwtlNSzhfNR6S_CbixFwifEn3CPqx5dM1mWCzIY4R-uMUkhF5qvb-7lfo5Lv05_ZM56YRbXOPjTT9WYx74-Hl6Gw/s400/DSC00979.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bara Gumbad and Mosque</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stream running through the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXnU0jaDEljLM0dxX1U1l5dinobu2H_m0aBu9Y82lAmgN6EjUHuQj6D-YUIy_kALGQub21FMOVtaE3knzdxSTexe_oajYAGup5mYYyUdrewMHfOD0Fdr-FJ-mgxbamyQGNNBvSg/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXnU0jaDEljLM0dxX1U1l5dinobu2H_m0aBu9Y82lAmgN6EjUHuQj6D-YUIy_kALGQub21FMOVtaE3knzdxSTexe_oajYAGup5mYYyUdrewMHfOD0Fdr-FJ-mgxbamyQGNNBvSg/s400/IMG_3045.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We then sat on one of the park benches and ate our lunch, packed from breakfast, and <br />
watched these tiny squirrels around us search for food</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then walked to what we thought was a market area (more for tourists) but it turned out to be a mini outdoor grouping of shops for locals. We checked out the stores and then traveled by tuk tuk back to our hotel Eros. Our driver did not understand English but followed the map.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Security is quite strong at the hotel. A gated fence surrounds the hotel area and a guard checks cars/buses that enter. At the one entrance to the hotel inside the fence, there is a place for bags to be checked electronically. Men are checked individually in place and women enter a small cubicle where a woman smiles and checks each of us individually. We asked our guide the next day about the security, and he did agree that it had picked up significantly since the attacks at five sites in September, 2008 with over 30 deaths.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were just starting out on our next adventure when we remembered we forgot something and had to go through the same security ritual even tho we had just gone through it 15 minutes before. We were later to find out on our trip that we had to go through similar security in Mumbai and Jaipur hotels, I believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Asian tropical fruit from a vendor here:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTipYa4VoHeVP3CtmNVu9jbTbnG8c4AcA0J6VpaGQrKIratRNADHhGPO3J9APShuZcVLscNNX71Ct1ANMq0x-P6nmtqggHXj3EYM7MQtNBmw139R0en-VMITsJPk7m_MEG7kv8Vw/s1600/DSC01009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="973" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTipYa4VoHeVP3CtmNVu9jbTbnG8c4AcA0J6VpaGQrKIratRNADHhGPO3J9APShuZcVLscNNX71Ct1ANMq0x-P6nmtqggHXj3EYM7MQtNBmw139R0en-VMITsJPk7m_MEG7kv8Vw/s400/DSC01009.JPG" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangosteen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rambutan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMquCR43dhyDcVebv01QVzOogcRjTdZ8GEQUP0OsWwnzltVOq1pBuWritgnPwHZXxeFAGTozVsP7iLbkeMarYh_TeBwjMuLTC9KAWOSBE_wNGPFSuBzIBUEnxx-W2KKu3qqV6OMg/s1600/DSC01012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1458" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMquCR43dhyDcVebv01QVzOogcRjTdZ8GEQUP0OsWwnzltVOq1pBuWritgnPwHZXxeFAGTozVsP7iLbkeMarYh_TeBwjMuLTC9KAWOSBE_wNGPFSuBzIBUEnxx-W2KKu3qqV6OMg/s400/DSC01012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tuktuk traffic jam</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a short break we headed out to walk a mile to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Temple" target="_blank">Bahai Lotus Temple,</a> which an Indian-Israel-American friend in Bellingham recommended we see, and we soon realized it was the unusual building we saw from our hotel window.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bahai Lotus temple</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Small street sellers shared the sidewalk with us along the way, many cooking hot snacks for passersby heading home. I was a bit too shy to take photos of them but I did take a picture of the small tent village across the street and of a beautiful but unknown flower to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Bahai Lotus Temple opened in December, 1986. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith" target="_blank">Bahai Faith</a> is a relatively new monotheistic religion, created in the mid-1800s. The temple is open to people of all faiths and is one of the most visited buildings in the world. It is created in the shape of a lotus flower with 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides. It was stunningly beautiful and very simple inside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order to go inside, we had to take off our shoes, and like all temples we entered in India, we easily found our shoes when we returned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t had been hazy most of the day, and we arrived closer to sunset, so it was hard to get good photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a busy day, with a lot of walking--thank you for the health monitor on our IPhones--we went to bed early, excited to start our official tour the next day.</span><br />
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<br />Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-52865032673941238632018-01-19T13:33:00.003-08:002018-01-21T07:30:49.055-08:00Helping to put cranes "to bed" in the Upper Galilee להשכוב את העגורים בגליל עליוןSaturday afternoon at 4 Inbar drove us down the Golan to the Galil Elyon (Upper Galilee) to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hula_Valley#Hula_Nature_Reserve" target="_blank">Hula Valley</a> area to meet up with her husband Danny.. The area for centuries has been a stopping point for migrating birds from Europe to Africa and Asia. At the main reserve, tourists can rent bikes or carts and go around the lake area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzWY3n4rXEsuaGznPhkeiiFRcpiv5paCVysU-QFoK4mjOpyZWahEGcMOeFPxPeLWr_jWYeksxbXJb__g7t-ChZ7OlWlzVcDLknpvcHL4dUuW_ceaDu2HZ4ZM1BNi6K55HnmHqng/s1600/DSC00926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzWY3n4rXEsuaGznPhkeiiFRcpiv5paCVysU-QFoK4mjOpyZWahEGcMOeFPxPeLWr_jWYeksxbXJb__g7t-ChZ7OlWlzVcDLknpvcHL4dUuW_ceaDu2HZ4ZM1BNi6K55HnmHqng/s640/DSC00926.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Early pioneers drained much of the swamp area for agriculture and to get rid of the mosquitoes carrying malaria, but it hasn't been the best area for farming. Since the 1960s much of the area has been returned to nature and more and more birds stop in this important place along the Syria- African Rift Valley. Amazingly, over 500 million birds fly over Israel on this route, many of them stopping here. The <a href="http://www.kkl-jnf.org/tourism-and-recreation/forests-and-parks/hula-lake-park.aspx" target="_blank">Hula Nature Reserve </a>was the first national park established by Israel in 1964.<br />
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One of Danny's favorite jobs is helping to "put to bed" the migrating cranes in the area close to sunset. We went with him in his jeep, off the normal tourist path, to watch him work.<br />
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Many of the birds stop over in the Hula reserve, but others rest just a bit north of there where there is swampland as well as farm land. If the cranes roost on the farmland, they often damage the crops. Also if they rest there, they can be attacked by local predators. So Danny and several others go out just before sunset and hunt in jeeps for the cranes that are resting in the farmlands that are being cultivated. When they see them, they use a special laser and point it at the birds, who then fly away toward a swamp or lake area.<br />
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First we saw small groups of cranes.<br />
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But they were not in a planted area.<br />
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Then we saw larger groups. But it still was a bit too early to encourage them to move with lasers as they might not go to the lake area but rather to another field. The cranes below are in a planted field with a portable irrigation sprinkler behind them.<br />
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Danny checked his watch and in a few minutes he began aiming his laser at the birds. The laser cost 9000 shekels, or a bit over $2600 US.<br />
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Below is a video of the birds flying. I hope you can see it as it was difficult to figure out how to load it. If you cannot, let me know and I will email it to you. It really is amazing!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwR89VBN8K8K39iY24RaFHID2U4J2I--sOeg1dfO54rr5ksXQ6xEq9r8NsyfH9iZLmLc1rgu3q7Y1c' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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When we drove back to the car, we saw birds roosting for the night on a tree branch in the lake.</div>
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And we saw several otters swimming across the pond.</div>
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Since many of the birds winter over at the Hula for 4-5 months, they need to be fed daily or they will eat the crops. They farmers are supposed to feed them corn daily in a special feeding area, but some skimp on the amounts. They are fed in the morning and then smaller amounts through the day at the same spot. As a result, 85% of the cranes stay away from the agricultural fields. </div>
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It truly was a wonderful experience to see these beautiful birds in flight.</div>
Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-85919968986791709992018-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:002018-01-20T06:27:45.930-08:00A morning traveling on the northern Golan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The next morning, our hostess Inbar took us to some less well-known spots on the northern Golan.<br />
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First we stopped just outside Merom Golan at a statue in memory of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Cohen" target="_blank">Eli Cohen</a>, probably Israel's most famous spy whose work in Syria was very helpful in the 1967 war. (Click on his name to read his story.) The statue is of his wife, Nadia Cohen and their three children, looking out toward Syria and waiting for her husband to return. (His body was never returned to Israel.) The statue was made in 2015, probably on the 50th anniversary of his death.<br />
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Our next stop was a short distance away at the overlook into Syria and the UN peacekeeping mission headquarters. I've been there at least four times in the past 15 years and have seen the site upgraded. The outlook has been recently named for Ronen Gilboa, a member of Kibbutz Ein Zivan who died in 2014 at age 52, a man who loved the Golan and was full of spirit.<br />
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In the left background, you can see the UN headquarters and in the foreground the new A<a href="http://shalomisraeltours.com/avital-volcanic-park/" target="_blank">vital Volcanic Park</a>, which opened in April, 2013. It was built on an abandoned basalt quarry and is the result of the efforts of a geologist who worked in the area. It now is funded by the Golan Regional Council, the Tourism Ministry, and a non profit volcanic quarry group.<br />
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Eruptions of Mt Avital, which has been dormant for over 100,000 years, are what caused the Golan Heights' formation and also what spewed basalt rock over the area. The park is a paleomagnetic site, which means that that the basalt rocks have changed the Earth's magnetic field over time. When compasses are near rocks, they seem to go crazy.<br />
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Below is a good photo explanation of what one can see from the view point.<br />
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There usually is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze_in_Israel" target="_blank">Druze</a> fruit vendor at this place, and today the gentleman also was helpful in explaining the sites in the distance to us.<br />
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We then walked around the volcanic park and saw the models of the region in early times and in modern times as well as models of how the volcano worked and the descriptions of the layers of rocks. Most of the explanations were in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.<br />
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Below you can see the site we walked through. In the middle of the picture, right center, is the observation point we were at previously, and behind that is what is left of Mt. Avital, now a military base.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_HxXgARJ2_FmV_3JnJR_FhzwVZncyKqBKPcNlnLuAf5UxhUYYrTrqI21u2ILEkvZF60wU8HCcipUTRCHwLrQtBeCr5eiB4y4xnNzr4kn-eUq9AeNsKLKUAae6_L4-mZ5Xyedog/s1600/DSC00887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_HxXgARJ2_FmV_3JnJR_FhzwVZncyKqBKPcNlnLuAf5UxhUYYrTrqI21u2ILEkvZF60wU8HCcipUTRCHwLrQtBeCr5eiB4y4xnNzr4kn-eUq9AeNsKLKUAae6_L4-mZ5Xyedog/s640/DSC00887.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the most recent eruptions on the right and after on the left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG5D37nwLq6b8tjyeNuhitxpG-Awo3_BXZT7eOszYi8ylqVEmHHWYdsYWVcOI83FrnKo-yXpeVxKivEVG88Y2XLZ43epb3eClfSDwqJGV5CnvqN8LTQKGlY2UeDkmaXP2I1ietg/s1600/DSC00889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1368" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG5D37nwLq6b8tjyeNuhitxpG-Awo3_BXZT7eOszYi8ylqVEmHHWYdsYWVcOI83FrnKo-yXpeVxKivEVG88Y2XLZ43epb3eClfSDwqJGV5CnvqN8LTQKGlY2UeDkmaXP2I1ietg/s640/DSC00889.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inbar pointing at Merom Golan, her home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vxYYg1moNBw3Us4mQPjL459HFCdHbMMYnohO3uXMSOJIVSse_UiSTm4sOlau8qyDcuGLxunWWzC5ET0QCUudoHttI9pqgPM_2zSFtpRZLbz4suxBDwupsJniIpsDwjPDDA1dWQ/s1600/DSC00893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1537" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vxYYg1moNBw3Us4mQPjL459HFCdHbMMYnohO3uXMSOJIVSse_UiSTm4sOlau8qyDcuGLxunWWzC5ET0QCUudoHttI9pqgPM_2zSFtpRZLbz4suxBDwupsJniIpsDwjPDDA1dWQ/s640/DSC00893.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A model of an eruption with a recording in Hebrew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWFDRKEPR3Ar8BTyg5GGJ7SCWbkziIxelU5RYfkvnijOOyenDuMWjAdn07VW2wVqE7GqVAHF_udriWNy4aWONPJwj54VE6Y5uSRKLlsO6k5iVj4D9G4_cE25yqBm0TiCXRyW1Wg/s1600/DSC00899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWFDRKEPR3Ar8BTyg5GGJ7SCWbkziIxelU5RYfkvnijOOyenDuMWjAdn07VW2wVqE7GqVAHF_udriWNy4aWONPJwj54VE6Y5uSRKLlsO6k5iVj4D9G4_cE25yqBm0TiCXRyW1Wg/s640/DSC00899.JPG" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eruption of "bombs"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6CsgCGjKCNi2M5fr_1vSBtdSNgfOCo5KndTtMkouSBXVNSyKlZtIxLW-hUwz0mk4uU1jOFZdGXq4qucUOoUoaVPE0Bqnm02oi-oevPrLdle9EmLadUH7LdHuHeqJOkb-db_K6A/s1600/DSC00898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="978" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6CsgCGjKCNi2M5fr_1vSBtdSNgfOCo5KndTtMkouSBXVNSyKlZtIxLW-hUwz0mk4uU1jOFZdGXq4qucUOoUoaVPE0Bqnm02oi-oevPrLdle9EmLadUH7LdHuHeqJOkb-db_K6A/s640/DSC00898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "bomb" inside a rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIt8mdzkQjKKKqHcu5bGNs1KHrdxEaW7Rk2kTQNFRusiFL6p1JgsKHyMues2vE-G2hqfGrmVc7DWZ5k1s9aDlH-sLL4TEra3-L-nz3-Lc-0r37KtNrvlg6rTA8_ejAdJIGa8CeQ/s1600/DSC00903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="807" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIt8mdzkQjKKKqHcu5bGNs1KHrdxEaW7Rk2kTQNFRusiFL6p1JgsKHyMues2vE-G2hqfGrmVc7DWZ5k1s9aDlH-sLL4TEra3-L-nz3-Lc-0r37KtNrvlg6rTA8_ejAdJIGa8CeQ/s640/DSC00903.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nava pointing to a drop in a wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy5oSOS7hgLNP21zaN5gXKUsObO6LEffsQGLR02kPBci_0J07RHmpKCPopZ5aEGeNEHz2eke5ZhBNPrKjA79IS8oAnSMbzTOd7vmsbNbjFdcHN9PVhhM-QuLkjz7RTL7CAA1rNg/s1600/DSC00900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1222" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy5oSOS7hgLNP21zaN5gXKUsObO6LEffsQGLR02kPBci_0J07RHmpKCPopZ5aEGeNEHz2eke5ZhBNPrKjA79IS8oAnSMbzTOd7vmsbNbjFdcHN9PVhhM-QuLkjz7RTL7CAA1rNg/s640/DSC00900.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different kinds of rocks found in the area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvrLh5nN0DHesyEKM7YzaeNg9btODSo75BSkJX3S2tuk3TGvm0jt7htrfr_7Kg8P0OigrUUkJZ4gbn3yBXGBWrmpOXYALiVuYMHkUygHX3lzWzpneiU2rKBKe2mY6fpGEVEI8RA/s1600/DSC00905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1174" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvrLh5nN0DHesyEKM7YzaeNg9btODSo75BSkJX3S2tuk3TGvm0jt7htrfr_7Kg8P0OigrUUkJZ4gbn3yBXGBWrmpOXYALiVuYMHkUygHX3lzWzpneiU2rKBKe2mY6fpGEVEI8RA/s640/DSC00905.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Examples oflocal rocks including tuff and bread toast on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Gdxn1Mp4WnXX4lnOGyNfIGoQiLZbbmC3WngdDvnV_tdh9qFJMrRrQApqmuo9Yqyu8NTdEFygPbPhaPN8678bbOJZEnAR-hFWIDNBEeiN4xipbfX0Vcukz1bsL0jniAHH4K8vQ/s1600/DSC00904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Gdxn1Mp4WnXX4lnOGyNfIGoQiLZbbmC3WngdDvnV_tdh9qFJMrRrQApqmuo9Yqyu8NTdEFygPbPhaPN8678bbOJZEnAR-hFWIDNBEeiN4xipbfX0Vcukz1bsL0jniAHH4K8vQ/s640/DSC00904.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many colors in the layers of rock</td></tr>
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There was also a walk toward Syria along a path of basalt rocks, but we didn't have time for it. Near the path there was an amphitheater but it has not been used since the war in Syria worsened.<br />
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We then visited three ancient springs turned into pools off the beaten track. Ayin or Ein in the construct state means "spring." And the first was <a href="http://www.attractions-in-israel.com/golan-heights/golan-miscellaneous/ein-mokesh-spring-in-the-golan-heights-landmine-spring-in-the-golan/" target="_blank">Ein Mokesh</a>. An article in Haaretz by Moshe Gilad on May 31, 2017 entitled "The Forgotten Syrian Secrets of the Golan Heights: <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">From old minefields to pools for Syrian officers, the vestiges of the former sovereigns of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights are everywhere, if you know where to look." Ein Mokesh was one of them, and it means "Mine spring" as it was surrounded by unexploded landmines.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">It was originally build by the Circassians who came to this region from in the 19th century, sent by the Turks who ruled the area, as a buffer with the Beduins. The Turks converted them from Christianity to Islam. During the 1967 Six-Day war, they fled to Syria and later most to Europe and the US. Some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians_in_Israel" target="_blank">Circassians live in Israe</a>l, mainly in Kfar Kanna and Rehaniya. They were excellent craftsmen and built this beautiful, deep circular pool.</span></span><br />
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Inbar has gone down the steps and says the water is very cold, but refreshing on a hot summer day. Her kids have told her that they often jumped in.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">The next spring we went to is called by the locals </span></span><span style="color: #2d2d2d;">עין (אין) איך לצאת, a play on works --either the spring of (no) way to leave or no way to leave. The water level is quite low right now.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d;">This spring was converted by Syrian officers into a pool. You can see that it isn't as well built as the one above. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">Some visitors have poured goldfish into the pool and many have thrived. The local nature authorities are not pleased as sit chances the natural form of the pool. The fish came to the surface to greet us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">Our next stop, it turned out, was a pool that had recently been capped because of the danger of collapse. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="background-color: white;">On our way to our next stop, we passed by a number of Wind Turbines. The Golan is very windy and these turbines produce a lot of electricity. The power grid wants to put up several on the hills by Merom Golan, but the community is objecting, in part because of the loud noises (which we heard as we approached the turbines below) and the light that is emitted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;">And our final stop was a Syrian officers pool that had been updated in memory of a young man while traveling on the Golan, a place he loved.</span></span><br />
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In Memory of Raizel Nagar who was killed on Jan. 7, 2005.<br />
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d;"><span style="background-color: white;">There were more places to visit, but we were out of time, so we headed back to Inbar's for lunch before heading out to the Hula valley in the upper Galil to join Inbar's husband has he helps put the visiting cranes to sleep!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span>Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14985398.post-60621189876668156042018-01-16T19:05:00.001-08:002018-01-23T11:50:41.855-08:00Nostalgic return to Kibbutz Merom Golan with a stop first at Beit Lehem HaGaliliFrom Thursday, Dec. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 31, Nava, Havazelet and I spent a delightful time returning to kibbutz <a href="https://english.meromgolantourism.co.il/kibbutz-merom-golan" target="_blank">Merom Golan</a> where I lived from 1972--1974. I rented a small cute Opel from Sixt Shlomo and we headed north. (Click on the underlined purple words for more detail on the subject.)<br />
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The roads are fantastic. We started on the toll road, Kvish (highway) 6 and then headed on some of the newer East-West roads, including road 77 which is already being widened!.<br />
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Our mid-trip stop was at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_of_Galilee" target="_blank">Beit Lechem HaGlilit (Bethlehem of the Galile</a>e). Click on the link to the left, and you can learn more about this moshav. To distinguish it from the Bethlehem near Jerusalem, it was originally called Bethlehem of Zebulun while the other was called Bethlehem of Judah. Due to its closeness to Nazareth, some historians believe this town was the Bethlehem of the New Testament. In ancient times it was a prosperous town and until the late 1800s the ruins of a synagogue could be found there. In the 19th century, it was inhabited by Muslims. In 1906, German Christian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templers_(religious_believers)" target="_blank">Templers</a> from Haifa established a colony in this town and many of their buildings still exist today. They were exiled from Palestine because of their Nazi sympathies.<br />
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The town now is a place where Israelis visit with their families and is quite active on weekends.<br />
We first had our picnic lunch outside. We asked directions from several very friendly residents.<br />
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One man tells the history of the Templers. We tried to join him but he told us quite brusquely that we needed to make a reservation in advance.<br />
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We did use his outdoor bathroom. :)<br />
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There are lots of activities for city families, including a tour of a dairy and learning how to milk cows by hand, a olive oil press business (Beit Bahd) and several places that sell olive oil, several art galleries, bike rentals, and much more including a fabulous and huge spice shop and the entrance to town. But the signs were mostly in Hebrew so I guess they don't get many international visitors.<br />
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We saw lots of pretty flowers along the main road.<br />
A rather rare rose:<br />
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Pretty but don't know the name:<br />
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One of my favorite winter flowers in Israel--it actually is a brighter orange.<br />
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Some kind of berries:<br />
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And bougainvillea--very common here in winter.</div>
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And we saw many original Templer buildings with their distinctive style:</div>
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The main center of town:<br />
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The town Beit Lechem in the Zevulun region is mentioned in the Bible in Joshua chapter 19 verse 16. When Israel became a modern country, in order to distinguish between in the area of Judah, this place also became known as Beit Lechem Zevulun. Archaeological finds from the second temple times have been discovered here. In 1906, young people from the Christian German Templer movement in Haifa established a settlement in this spot. (they were later expelled because of their Nazi connections.) On April 17, 1948, Israeli youth from the moshav movement settled here.<br />
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The water tower:<br />
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Cattle on a farm:<br />
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We stopped at Beit Bahd Galili, Galili Olive Oil and Eran (?) Galili showed us a short video on how he grows and produces olive oil. The first oil of the season usually comes out green. Eran has the only Olive pres/mill in town and only produces oil from his trees. There are five other olive growers in town though but they have their olives pressed elsewhere.<br />
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Eran said that the Olive harvest is usually in October and November. It is best to have the olives processed within six hours of haresting and that the olive paste have an acidity under .8. There are 30 types of olives in Israel and 300 kinds in the world, I believe.<br />
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He has 6500 olive trees. Each tree can produce about 35 kilos of olives, and from that six to seven bottles of olive oil are produced. Traditionally people take/shake the olives off of the trees. Three people can take a tone of olives off the tree (in a day). One mechanized shaker can take off nine tons of olives. Eran uses both human and machine power. He produced about 25,000 bottles of olive oil a year. He predicted that olive production around the Mediterrian will go down a lot from a lack of water.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive Mash</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First batch of olive oil is often green</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jovial owner of the Beit Bahd<br />
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Eran Galili grew up among his father's olive trees. As an adult, he moved away to work in the big city but after a while decided to return to his roots, plant a lot of olive trees and create his olive press. He product is now considered in the top 5% of Israeli produced olive oils.<br />
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We sampled three of his oils. It definitely tasted different than what we were used to. He said that olive oil should be fresh tasting and fruity. He said that the best way to tell if the cold pressed olive oil is of good quality is if it has the Californian olive oil sign on the bottle.<br />
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And finally the huge spice farm store:<br />
<a href="http://www.israeltripplanner.com/galilee/lower-galilee-attractions/the-spicy-way-herb-spice-farm" target="_blank">The Spice Way Herb and Spice Farm</a> has Been in business for over 50 years combining herbs and spices in distinctive ways and drying them in a special way to preserve their freshness. The Visitor's Center (and store) opened in 2003. They have lectures and workshops, and the areas and individual items are well labeled. It was so big that it was overwhelming! We stayed so long that we ended up arriving at Merom Golan well after dark. The store is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for Friday when it closes at 3. There was a section just of spices etc. to add to rice, others for health, teas, and many more.<br />
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Merom Golan was established in 1967, soon after the Golan was captured from Syria in the 1967 six day war. It was then the largest kibbutz on the Golan and still is today and is also the most successful. It has over 700 residents, the regional K-8 public school, the regional library, a very successful lodge with cabins of a variety of prices and a hotel in the plans, horse back riding, and a cafe on top of Har Ben-Tal with an amazing 360 degree view of the area. It also grows many crops including some of the best apples in Israel including pink lady, broccoli, kili, watermelon, cabbage, lichee, avocado, and a chicken run. They also still raise cattle and have the tuff quarry where my ex-husband once worked. There are also lots of small private businesses on the kibbutz. The couple that lead the kibbutz politically in many ways, Yehuda and Tzippy HarEl still live on the kibbutz as do four of their five children and many grandchildren.<br />
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Our hostess, Inbar, fed us a lovely dinner and also surprised me with an old acquaintance from 40+ years ago, Moshe Davidi. Inbar and her family have lived on the kibbutz for 12 years. The kibbutz began to offer plots of lands to "residents," a status different from members, around them, and many have become very active in the kibbutz activities. Inbar, for instance, was on the steering committee planning the 50th year celebration activities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moshe Davidi and I</td></tr>
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Then Inbar escorted us to the apartment where we would spend the next three nights, the extra apartment of Ziona and Moshe Yishurun. When the kibbutz went to semi-privatization, each family got an extra apartment and part of what had been a central gathering area in each building. Some people combined the two apartments into one larger one, but Ziona and Moshe decided to keep the upstairs one for visitors. When I walked into the apartment, I was sent back 40 years as it looked identical to the one that Paul and I had had when we were members of the kibbutz except they had added some wood paneling to one wall.<br />
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The next morning, after breakfast Inbar took us on the Path of the Fallen שביל הנופלים that members of the kibbutz created for the 50th anniversary of the kibbutz. It is 5 kilometers (3 miles) long, as a remembrance for the 8 kibbutz members who have fallen during military service. I knew six of them, so walking down the path and seeing the memorial to each was very emotional for me.<br />
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In the top row, I knew Micha, Cobi (#3)--whose son was in the same baby group of Timna, and Avremeleh (#4) who was Paul's boss. . , In the bottom row, Sharon, who was killed by friendly fire, was in a children's house for two year olds where I had worked. Smiling Menchi was so full of life. and I also knew the last man, Menachem.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional fruit packing house in the background with cow grazing in the foreground</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, there has been much needed rain here, but more is needed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon Tamir, age 21 when he was killed in an army exercise</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micha Fichman</td></tr>
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Micha saved my life and that of my unborn daughter Timna in November, 1972. I was in the general laundry area, working with clean laundry when Micha biked to our place and said to get to a shelter as the border was heating up. Five minutes after I left the place, it got a direct hit. For many years later, I had blue sheets that had shrapnel holes in them. Micha then biked over the the vehicle repair shop to tell others to get into the closest shelter. Then had to run a good 50 meters and waited for a cannon barrage to stop, thinking that all were shot at ones. Unfortunately, they were wrong and as they were running, one shell exploded about two meters above them, sending shrapnel in all directions. Micha was critically wounded and died in the arms of a friend as the ambulance was taking him to the hospital. His daughter was born 7 months later--and he had not known that his wife was pregnant.</div>
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Menchi is remembered above, overlooking the landscape he loved.</div>
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While walking, we met an unusual man named Eitan Rilov who was jogging on the path. He was 82 and in great shape. It turns out that he has had a company that traced terrorists through money.</div>
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Along our way, cows and their baby calves grazed in the fields.<br />
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After the walk through the past, we headed out to Masadeh, a Druze village on the Golan, to go to their weekly market and have lunch. The Druze, an ethnic, religous, linguistic, cultural and political minority, are neither Muslim, Jew, nor Christian. An 11th century offshoot of Ismailism, their secret beliefs are known only to select elders. About 26,000 <a href="https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-11-16/druze-golan-heights-have-long-been-fence-between-syria-and-israel-syrias-civil" target="_blank">Druze</a> live on the Golan concentrated in 4 villages, Majdal Shams, Masadeh, Buqata, and Ein Qiniyyeh, and over 100,000 total in Israel. It turned out that the market was not open as the villagers had just celebrated a major festival the night before. But we enjoyed a great lunch at Nidal's restaurant.<br />
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We had a bunch of delicious "salads" and also got amazing stuffed grape leaves...more leaves that stuffing, and very tasty falafel.<br />
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The labaneh and grape leaves were my favorite!<br />
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And after lunch, we stopped at the bakery down the block. The desserts were super-sweet, filled with honey.<br />
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And sampled several...The one below has shredded pistachios on it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE4DWxddSsOkZ0OOOgpI79rhfFIKTpqtFMZxurb4Hpd_mfz-bT0quDxCHXS5NXVJZXmsO2ZAIuwKHr8l7HkiBIHG0yM-abkPPLj280OWhCfavZd9yD518mWg8n1fqkQYWRpjMRw/s1600/IMG_2240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE4DWxddSsOkZ0OOOgpI79rhfFIKTpqtFMZxurb4Hpd_mfz-bT0quDxCHXS5NXVJZXmsO2ZAIuwKHr8l7HkiBIHG0yM-abkPPLj280OWhCfavZd9yD518mWg8n1fqkQYWRpjMRw/s400/IMG_2240.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite of Inbar's family</td></tr>
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That night, we went to the kibbutz dining room for Shabbat dinner. It opened in 1972 or 1973 and was going to be closed for remodeling the next week. At dinner a woman approached and remembered me from when I lived there 40+ years ago. I remembered the name of her husband, Elisha, but not her. She looked great!<br />
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Below the dining room is a kibbutz store for food as well as an art store, displaying and selling the work of many creative people living on the kibbutz.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNqvDw5JhzN5HQGnUQdcDJLaKa1KfGDhaRmv_iT2llGKZq1vsYLe9TEj06QShReH7FUBRdCBwaHdWf7VecOG7hyiy0BILJbpSpX-IunHvJoFw00iEofVQ9tN8l4f36FvwxNxMqA/s1600/DSC00839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNqvDw5JhzN5HQGnUQdcDJLaKa1KfGDhaRmv_iT2llGKZq1vsYLe9TEj06QShReH7FUBRdCBwaHdWf7VecOG7hyiy0BILJbpSpX-IunHvJoFw00iEofVQ9tN8l4f36FvwxNxMqA/s400/DSC00839.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh_fz26sQtca_h8OpbFjhAC6xLKe83i6LscFdFJaFqLtaiZyeo5wLlwnDix2uEFIudhr8W3WYGSkwfXeQbmW8JpwB0IgCx7Y9E8PmeYjLWcHXp5dgdJuekD_17eTYAGQjBvBfJA/s1600/DSC00838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh_fz26sQtca_h8OpbFjhAC6xLKe83i6LscFdFJaFqLtaiZyeo5wLlwnDix2uEFIudhr8W3WYGSkwfXeQbmW8JpwB0IgCx7Y9E8PmeYjLWcHXp5dgdJuekD_17eTYAGQjBvBfJA/s400/DSC00838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDvIg0-KO24Ts8PUWPtFLHhisGb4BarfD6LzzizZonGMVEZ5wXk_7KCEHBubhcn0s8xdWFhByzBD79egtLQkBDP6o3DVD58ek9HPuEPBjcERD7xmIXhw-8VJYtC4fosz_0ioTJQ/s1600/DSC00840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="764" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDvIg0-KO24Ts8PUWPtFLHhisGb4BarfD6LzzizZonGMVEZ5wXk_7KCEHBubhcn0s8xdWFhByzBD79egtLQkBDP6o3DVD58ek9HPuEPBjcERD7xmIXhw-8VJYtC4fosz_0ioTJQ/s400/DSC00840.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A creative plant holder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRZYfSakCEhr7rF6UyRPa41EsuidIsfj_yb1SDJ5a1_hk3zLPDx0zJeHGOyQOTrzHTPDtSAJzEs13RY0PIE8jozrOzdpsPO3qOKGU-lHD4narZhgIL4myVcSLlgxpjZGV2S1JFQ/s1600/DSC00841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1270" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRZYfSakCEhr7rF6UyRPa41EsuidIsfj_yb1SDJ5a1_hk3zLPDx0zJeHGOyQOTrzHTPDtSAJzEs13RY0PIE8jozrOzdpsPO3qOKGU-lHD4narZhgIL4myVcSLlgxpjZGV2S1JFQ/s400/DSC00841.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whimsical Hanukkiya</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjPiwqbg1JF1ugms6v4WFZcW8y3o-l03wMLI6dRdM80Z2EgqTrsgCMz0AL226ahT1qLc29_A4yvKM9LwlGSuhx4y8yMVCJc2LomggBRztSaRdcfSyb9Ome7WL4eRW4fdX-ZkZhQ/s1600/DSC00842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="730" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjPiwqbg1JF1ugms6v4WFZcW8y3o-l03wMLI6dRdM80Z2EgqTrsgCMz0AL226ahT1qLc29_A4yvKM9LwlGSuhx4y8yMVCJc2LomggBRztSaRdcfSyb9Ome7WL4eRW4fdX-ZkZhQ/s400/DSC00842.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleece for the cold weather in all sizes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KI2f0c0NFldBX7ro-LHMJhJ1Y1orXPpHd0RLHIZVcAAAeb8jYoqgDNxFr3FUAUwt34raakmzV9Ji0W5sGUBSZhTMAuWCiR1q1ml8J5iUsg8W99rQly0gFYWHTjHOPM_bITwihg/s1600/DSC00844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1094" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KI2f0c0NFldBX7ro-LHMJhJ1Y1orXPpHd0RLHIZVcAAAeb8jYoqgDNxFr3FUAUwt34raakmzV9Ji0W5sGUBSZhTMAuWCiR1q1ml8J5iUsg8W99rQly0gFYWHTjHOPM_bITwihg/s400/DSC00844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many metal artists did these. </td></tr>
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The most famous metal artist on the kibbutz, known internationally is <a href="http://www.talgallery.co.il/content2.php?actions=show&id=3853&r_id=3851" target="_blank">Joop de Jong</a>.<br />
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A lot is sprinkled around the kibbutz. .<br />
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Our last morning at the kibbutz I walked outside and spotted a group of pet peacocks, wandering around.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeJHBoDSmpuHr4wEnxzSebKDy6PY8sPA4yw-HtNSE16SljyeInn6iAEG2pYs4xHC3Rm5dErijBm2KrK61ld6JqZ-g2w3KHndgqqkc1urtBMRaCl4CfbFTm7WjSvIXDB-fwmYAtg/s1600/IMG_2329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeJHBoDSmpuHr4wEnxzSebKDy6PY8sPA4yw-HtNSE16SljyeInn6iAEG2pYs4xHC3Rm5dErijBm2KrK61ld6JqZ-g2w3KHndgqqkc1urtBMRaCl4CfbFTm7WjSvIXDB-fwmYAtg/s400/IMG_2329.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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Before leaving the Golan on Sunday, we stopped at <a href="http://www.israeltripplanner.com/golan-heights/golan-heights-restaurants/coffee-anan-restaurant" target="_blank">Coffee Anan</a>/Kofi Annan, a cafe and souvenir shop on Har Ben-Tal next to the kibbutz with a marvelous view of the surrounding area. We drove up a winding road to get to the top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij5r66qXNczpxYJ0tNh1anysfVFTpH0VTGpuszmH7y2Jrgbzav46c3rlm6gO0butVCqwisJUlXqtezTaGknG84PUZXgj8bW_ZWXSs2EtSk7eCnN9fPp1i5WoBow2YKgTQdIxtuA/s1600/IMG_2342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij5r66qXNczpxYJ0tNh1anysfVFTpH0VTGpuszmH7y2Jrgbzav46c3rlm6gO0butVCqwisJUlXqtezTaGknG84PUZXgj8bW_ZWXSs2EtSk7eCnN9fPp1i5WoBow2YKgTQdIxtuA/s400/IMG_2342.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of Joop's art is also here.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusYLdQHDosI37wQBnTjNmOK-Io6bFDc-0_Ds_0NCpQegl8wHbJfGZBQgdeYTzmCMFqOzjIaKLIa_js0lXfW9-usz4q0Wco88Rl4sj9JWZqC8zU9XfNju18f1rDlWfd-qYNuRcxg/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="429" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusYLdQHDosI37wQBnTjNmOK-Io6bFDc-0_Ds_0NCpQegl8wHbJfGZBQgdeYTzmCMFqOzjIaKLIa_js0lXfW9-usz4q0Wco88Rl4sj9JWZqC8zU9XfNju18f1rDlWfd-qYNuRcxg/s640/IMG_2337.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Favorite!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_gxlKyDmfiWCbS87oBti0K9NKB1_LoTktajbaBWJaY_oaY8NwNybzIIQv0faVzEsstjXeBlM24ZfCt1AsXo3UpLg9HILiEpvVaKb5qKCUHhSXeRN6aJeXtJXOGOZ5aFsPYRu2Q/s1600/IMG_2346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_gxlKyDmfiWCbS87oBti0K9NKB1_LoTktajbaBWJaY_oaY8NwNybzIIQv0faVzEsstjXeBlM24ZfCt1AsXo3UpLg9HILiEpvVaKb5qKCUHhSXeRN6aJeXtJXOGOZ5aFsPYRu2Q/s400/IMG_2346.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It was created when Kofi Annan was the head of the UN so it a play on words. Anan in Hebrew means "cloud" the place where you can have coffee in the clouds. It is also the highest restaurant in Israel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrhlYas4JTNf3wvD1tJAwnjsIdeFRIpHuK98CjZ2rNd7y2Ecy2gQkZSzoH4T8QoKhMybX13JcY7Kv_7W5pV5DpjwTqTEIRj8TW-THRhbNnEkY82IcEtuTeBITeHLlKuY_hawy1Q/s1600/IMG_2335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrhlYas4JTNf3wvD1tJAwnjsIdeFRIpHuK98CjZ2rNd7y2Ecy2gQkZSzoH4T8QoKhMybX13JcY7Kv_7W5pV5DpjwTqTEIRj8TW-THRhbNnEkY82IcEtuTeBITeHLlKuY_hawy1Q/s640/IMG_2335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLxVhLpFNNbTqpiv1SEZN756XO9VnHUYxyaPoKNHalpiWGDy0N1lsQtlkx4GS0Mp0beyrciz2TTJfWLWRWruUmsB4ar5vqJ1M-md-PsjJLaahxuOSFshtOfmvVACRVwQvvtAOAg/s1600/IMG_2338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="552" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLxVhLpFNNbTqpiv1SEZN756XO9VnHUYxyaPoKNHalpiWGDy0N1lsQtlkx4GS0Mp0beyrciz2TTJfWLWRWruUmsB4ar5vqJ1M-md-PsjJLaahxuOSFshtOfmvVACRVwQvvtAOAg/s400/IMG_2338.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3,822 feet above sea level</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_opHWUgfWG0bDu45R_pEj6LiFyQUobEgq_ShdXBfpBSJCjXPW9KrddPrkgGH2SHu4nz76clWYbto9O3Y_UDg3CAtJxF7OajEFUWveieITYWaonZow6YDqZfQje6ATU_g7v83IQ/s1600/IMG_2341+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_opHWUgfWG0bDu45R_pEj6LiFyQUobEgq_ShdXBfpBSJCjXPW9KrddPrkgGH2SHu4nz76clWYbto9O3Y_UDg3CAtJxF7OajEFUWveieITYWaonZow6YDqZfQje6ATU_g7v83IQ/s400/IMG_2341+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossroads to the world</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcH7jjWbN_Jr9Cd8TmJzWPoCARzoRw0_7C_OYBRZ0KKgJyEAjVBPNUL5bkrqVCpQG-SZwd_pUTkHN1YmRg8mpOsAhcd9h4gL7XFDUhf_uMiEpTZv8kXUCggJUpVl3w9pwcSVoTw/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcH7jjWbN_Jr9Cd8TmJzWPoCARzoRw0_7C_OYBRZ0KKgJyEAjVBPNUL5bkrqVCpQG-SZwd_pUTkHN1YmRg8mpOsAhcd9h4gL7XFDUhf_uMiEpTZv8kXUCggJUpVl3w9pwcSVoTw/s400/IMG_2345.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old style shelter built in the hill</td></tr>
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Near the entrance, A Druze from a nearby town was selling homemade delicacies: Carob syrup, fruit jams, and tehina with different fruits added. I bought the Carob syrup as I love fresh carob but it was too sweet for me. The tehina, however, was delicious! The man selling the items was a high school math teacher and several of his children have graduated from Israeli universities and work in the area. He was very proud of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl59IqT6u8iJAWCqa1apeeH5ihCoe0bheiUckDIZkJyTeSDDLPEN1FzCOY_6ivqRsUbCDp6lqGSiXLNYYq-JWbMA0u85LVdFTEOlAuBxe7U9yC-s3xwA_WuvPYbTxeGkSSkQh5A/s1600/IMG_2347+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl59IqT6u8iJAWCqa1apeeH5ihCoe0bheiUckDIZkJyTeSDDLPEN1FzCOY_6ivqRsUbCDp6lqGSiXLNYYq-JWbMA0u85LVdFTEOlAuBxe7U9yC-s3xwA_WuvPYbTxeGkSSkQh5A/s400/IMG_2347+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Dinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473782122294464290noreply@blogger.com0