RE: Postcard from God's Own Country (Kerala)!
Hi David
With regard to taking photos, my point is that the camera itself becomes a physical barrier between what's taking place and your own eyes. You then experience whatever's going on at one remove, as it were. Instead of remaining immersed in the scene, you (I) have to bring the intellect into play (framing the shot, clicking the shutter etc) and the surrender to the moment disappears. However, I'm really only talking about religious happenings here. I have no problem taking photos of people. In fact, when I had my 'old' camera I would always have the films printed immediately (it's so cheap here) and make two copies of everything so that I could give one to the people I'd photographed. either that or I was scrupulous about taking their address and mailing them one from home. For many people it was the first photo of themselves they ever had and they just love it. So it was something very tangible that I could do for them - and neither I nor they saw it as patronising.
Now I have a digital camera that's not so easy - and it's difficult to explain that I can't supply 'paper' prints. (Well I could but it would be more expensive I think.) However, I love to have all these photos on my computer, to be able to play around with them and to relive the moments they refer to. Also, because I come to the same places time after time, I can appreciate how people are changing and growing older, especially the children.
I think it's important though not to take too many photos - it sucks the energy out of the situation. Isn't it true that in many societies people won't have their photos taken as they believe the camera will steal their soul?
In the little temple here in Kovalam, I am amazed at the number of tourists who just click away without ever asking if it's OK to take photos. After all, photography is not allowed in Westminster Abbey or St Pauls Cathedral. In fact, the local people don't mind as long as they don't take photos directly of the inside of the shrines - where God lives. This is always very hard for me as the 'Little Kali' in the main shrine is decorated with sandalwood paste and then painted - given eyes and red lips - and adorned with jewels that her devotees have given. She is dressed in the most beautiful saris. (The young priest who does this has enormous artistic talent and she ends up looking like a real girl. She used to look like a six year old but she's growing older now and has reached late teens!) Also at the end of each festival puja she is bathed in a sea of flower petals until just her little face peeps out - and I swear there's always a twinkle in her eye at this point. Well, I just long to be able to take a photo to remember her by - and last year I finally plucked up courage to ask permission - when no one was around except the priest. He said OK and I took one shot - which in my nervousness was totally off centre. I don't feel so bad though because they had her photo taken by a studio photographer to put on the front of the festival programme so it can't be a total no no. And she is very beautiful!
Much love
sunanda xxx
(Now back from my lightning trip to my beloved Goddess Mookambika and enjoying a couple more days of beach and swimming pools before heading off again.)
Incidentally my journey to Mookambika took 18 hours each way - 15 by train and then a 3 hour taxi ride. In other days I would have gone 2nd class sleeper on the train to save money but this time my outward journey was paid for by a friend and she booked me AC so I treated myself to AC on the return journey and took a taxi from Mangalore to Kollur instead of the customary 4 hour bus ride. My Indian friends were horrified that I would 'waste' so much money on the taxi - they simply couldn't get the concept of 'treating oneself'. In their view, to spend money on comfort is a waste (to buy gold would be completely different!) and I would have been far better advised to suffer on the bus and save my rupees. They scornfully accused me of now being a 'rich lady' and just couldn't get my point that
RE: Postcard from God's Own Country (Kerala)!
Hi Sunanda,
I know everyone here enjoys these posts of yours, as you are not a quick visitor to India, yet also have the Western perspective. AND, in case anyone doesn't know it, you're a tour guide. So this all adds to the colour of your descriptions.
My delays and delays are ending. So far as Kerala is concerned, I will probably be there in March. But I have an "appointment" :Dto go to a cafe in Pune (Poona) in nine days from now, where on a notice board there'll be a message pinned from my friends to tell me where in Pune they are by then. All very sixties and 'Magic Bus'. Love it! :DSo I have 9 days to ensure I get to Pune.
Incidentally, Pune is the location of the book I mentioned, "Indian Summer". I'd try to track down the little school for orphans the book is all about, but I forget the name of the slum, and the book is now out of the library. [&:]
The friends I'm meeting want to spend five days once we meet up in a "Health Ashram" near Pune apparently partly set up by Gandhi. So I'll be along with them. Apparently you get half the therapies mentioned on Hp all day long "for free" included in the room rate. My friends are full of health so I don't know why they want to be there, but there you go ...
I hear it's wise to book a room in Bombay (Mumbai) if you are arriving there as I will. Rooms are precious as it's India's most expensive city. So I phoned from here and almost everything was full. I mention this in respect to your taxi ride of "luxury". I eventually found a place offering me a single for 350 rps (about £4?) but warned me it was like a little box. When I up-graded to a double, with a sea-view "window" (!) for 500 rps (£5.50) they seemed astonished. 😀
V xxx
RE: Postcard from God's Own Country (Kerala)!
Hi Sunanda, I've been meaning to say how much I too am enjoying your posts. Although I haven't actually said so earlier, I have been avidly reading and keeping up with your adventures.
Love
RE: Postcard from God's Own Country (Kerala)!
ORIGINAL: venetian
...
So I have 9 days to ensure I get to Pune.The friends I'm meeting want to spend five days once we meet up in a "Health Ashram" near Pune apparently partly set up by Gandhi. So I'll be along with them. ...V xxx
Hi venetian,
While in Pune, I hope you find time to visit:
Sinhagad
...also known as the Lion Fort and is situated around 25 kilometers southwest of Pune on top of a steep hill. This fort is now almost in a finished condition. It was in the year 1670, that Tanaji Malusre, a general of Shivaji climbed the steep hill in dark with his men and defeated the forces of Bijapur. This is also the place where Mahatma Gandhi met another stalwart of Indian freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1915 for the first time.
Raigad
... situated at a distance of around 126 kilometers from Pune. Shivaji was crowned at Raigad in 1648 and he also died here in 1680. This fort is located on an isolated hilltop, from where you can get a breathtaking view of the Western Ghats.
Osho Commune International
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
Best wishes.
Prashna
RE: Postcard from God's Own Country (Kerala)!
I'm reading and enjoying them too!:D