Faces of the Foothills -Shimla

Faces of the Foothills.....Shimla; a compilation of photographs.

This young boy caught my eye as we were driving through the center of the city. He was standing just outside of the temple gazing at something in the distance....

As I was walking down the walkway that led back to the lower level of the Shimla Mall, just beneath the shadow of Christ Church, I stopped in front of these two girls to take a picture of the Church....I could sense that they were watching me, so as I turned to continue walking......our eyes met.....I asked if I could take their picture.....look at the difference in the smiles!

On a slower area of The Mall, these two found a quiet place to chat.....are they brother and sister? are they friends? are they more? Public displays of affection, is not culturally acceptable; no hand holding,etc......notice their feet touching.....so subtle but yet so far apart.....

There are many things that I will never master while here in India.....one of them is walking while balancing items on my head.....this Chaat Walla stopped momentarily for me to snap a quick photograph.......nothing fell, thank goodness......I hope that he found the perfect spot on the Mall to set up shop and sell his items......

With outstretched arms and cupped hands, this man humbly accepts a token of charity from a passerby.......

The Himalaya's.....the view from Gun Hill!

Well it is obvious that I am still around 9 days after I took this memorable walk…….and no….i am not writing this from my hospital bed……I made it to the top and back down…….without any serious issues….but I do have a confession to make……I was glad I had my camera with me…….it gave me an excuse to stop and rest when I needed too……but as a result, I have some fantastic photographs of the wildflowers that are growing on the side of this wonderful little hill…….leave a comment if you want to see some photographs……truly beautiful.
However……..nothing quite as beautiful as what was waiting for us at the top of the hill!
My first views of the peaks were impressive……at the pinnacle of Gun Hill, the views were mesmerizing…………the sun was a bit higher in the sky now……and it was perfectly reflecting on the face of the highest mountain peaks I have seen till date.
I am not sure of the names of the peaks that we could see from this vantage point……..I need some additional help from someone much more knowledgeable than me……I have attempted to research it, but I still do not have the answer.
I will stop writing and let the photographs speak from themselves……..but one thing is for sure……The Himalaya’s can certainly be seen from Mussoorie……..Wouldn’t you agree?
But please, don’t take my word for it…….experience it for yourself
Post Script:
I am not sure how long it took me to ascend the 400 meters in height from the level of The Mall……I failed to look at my watch……I truly wish it was a statistic I knew and could share with you.
I will be making the walk again…..in the near future I hope…….in the early morning moments just before dawn…….I will find a comfortable spot and watch the wonders unfold before me

Mussoorie - My first view of the "Big Guy's"!

My first views of the Himalaya’s were at approximately 6:05 am on Saturday, September 19th, 2009.It is not very hard for me to describe my reaction to that first view of the peaks…….when the alarm sounded, I didn’t linger in the bed for very long…….I found myself stepping barefoot onto the balcony with my camera, there was still a crisp coolness in the air from the prior night………I remember gazing in the direction of the range……and wondering at first if what I was seeing were clouds on the horizon……I immediately started taking photographs because the scene was so beautiful and unlike the views I witnessed as the sun was retreating the day before…….The sun was glowing and the color of the sky was beautiful....it was then that I realized that I did not have my glasses on.
I retreated to my room, put my glasses on, and made my way hurriedly back to the balcony.....I am quite sure that I spoke out loud……something like……”wow” or “amazing” or “unbelievable”……or maybe even all three. I simply can’t remember. With my glasses now in place, I could clearly see that what the glow of the sun was not bouncing off clouds......but it was forming the perfect backdrop to outline the jagged peaks that were in the distance.Having lived in Colorado with my family for 4 years, I have witnessed some very spectacular views of the mountains….and of the range…..and the incredible peaks that exist……. 53 peaks that are above 14,000 feet in the Rocky Mountain Range…..the highest peak which is 14,401feet (4,400 meters)…….so I was not in awe because this was my first time seeing mountains………those reactions were in genuine respect to how unbelievably huge the peaks I was seeing are.
The Himalaya’s have over 220 peaks over 14,000ft and 10 of the highest peaks in the world……..Mount Everest is almost exactly twice the size of the highest peak in the Rocky mountains……these mountains are BIG GUYS!!!!!!!From my vantage point in Mussoorie, I am estimating that the peaks that I was able to see without the aid of my zoom lens are at a minimum 250 – 300 km away…….if there is a reader to my blog that could provide the exact distance I would be most appreciative.
Little did I know at the time, that the best was yet to come……..how is that for a teaser for my next blog entry??????In one of my previous blog entries, I mentioned that I received some misinformation regarding Mussoorie……..very bad information from my “expert source”……information that I would have chosen to take my family to another location juts based on this. I would have probably returned to Shimla with my family rather than Mussoorie for that glimpse of the Himalaya’s.
I recently shared my photographs with this very same person……a person who has been to Mussoorie on several occasions………..and they could not believe their eyes……as a matter of fact, my pictures have now changed their view of Mussoorie and was amazed at what has been missed for many years.
I had challenged some readers in a previous blog entry to take the time to truly discover what is in your own city……or at least close by…….to become a “tourist” and explore….find out what makes the place you live in “special”……….(see the archives from January….Republic Day Adventure and a personal challenge”)
I urge all of you to take the challenge….get to know your city……….and get to Mussoorie.
I hope you enjoy.

A "MALL"............is not a mall....

“MALL”
My recent visits to the Hill Stations of Mussoorie and Shimla and of course writing about my experiences, caused me to do some research into the etymology of the word………the reason for my curiosity is simple……given my American perspective and what is commonly being referred to as a “Mall” in New Delhi and any other major city in India……there is quite a disconnect.It dates back to 1644, a time at which there was a game, Pall Mall played……a ball made of boxwood was struck with a heavy mallet through an iron ring which was at the end of a playing alley……..it sounds very similar to croquet. It is a game with its origins in France…….a derivative of the Italian word “Pallamaglio” (palla – ball and maglio – mallet)……The game was introduced in England in the second half of the century and was played in a long alley near St. James, and at that time referred to as “Pell -Mell”. The pronunciation was corrected and there is now a street in the area now classically named Pall Mall in London.
The alley at St. James was described to have been constructed of hard sand sprinkled with powered cockle shells….and some 800 yards long.The British then began using the shortened version to refer to a “promenade”…a public area set aside for pedestrian walk usually with shade trees and the sort……
I have read that when the British began constructing the Hill Stations, to retreat from the heat of Delhi, they did their best to create these cities in the likeness of the cities they had left in England……so it is no wonder that they introduced the word “MALL” to India as well……it was the place they took strolls in the evening…..soon shopkeepers and the like lined each of the sides of the streets……and it became the place to “see” and “be seen”.
From what was described to me by my host who was showing me around, not much has changed in the way of life since Mussoorie was founded…….people strolled along the mall, or used a rickshaw…….the difference is that back then the rickshaws were pulled by two men…….only to be replaced by the tri-cycle rickshaw of today.
It is still a place of commerce, still the place where people stroll in the evening, window shopping, etc…..it is the main artery of the city…….it brings life to the city and provides those who have shops or those who temporarily set up an area to sell their wares or food an opportunity to make a decent living.
For me, the mall is a wonderful place to see the people who make these wonderful areas so special….and if given the chance, have a brief conversation and make a friend.
The photographs placed throughout this blog entry are of people I came into contact with while on “The MALL” in Mussoorie.
I hope you find the photographs as interesting and enjoyable as I do.

Reminded of a lesson learned......in Mussoorie!

I know that I am not alone…….
Have you ever……ever…..asked someone their opinion about something…….and then made a decision, based on their answer…….. modified your plans, changed your mind or not follow through on something?
It could been about a book……that you decided not to read…….a movie you decided not to see…….or a city that you chose not to visit…….or a food item you chose not to eat.
We have all done this…….please tell me that I am not alone!!!!!!
I am not saying that opinions or advice from others,….even the most credible of sources…….people we seek the information from that we consider “experts” on the subject at hand………or someone that we share many of the same “likes and dislikes”, is bad or that it shouldn’t be taken. There have been many times that I was happy to “heed” their advice or opinion………

However, have you ever….picked up that book at a later time……..seen that movie…….or tasted that food item……only to form a different opinion…….or discover something completely different by experiencing it for yourself?

We have all experienced this too……..haven’t we…….we have all felt at one time or another that we should not have listened to an opinion………should have done something sooner………had no idea what I have we have missed out on for some many years……and thought afterwards that we “learned our lesson” to not listen to such rubbish again or make the same mistake twice….so many missed opportunities…..so many…….countless……..I cannot even begin to fathom……
Mussoorie, India……..almost became a statistic on that long list of countless missed opportunities for me. I had formed an opinion about Mussoorie, based on an opinion that I received from someone I considered to be knowledgeable about the area….an “expert”…….someone who lives nearby, someone who has visited the area on many occasions……..the advice…….”you can see Mussoorie in a day…….not much to do there……”
Mussoorie, India……..not the most “popular” hill station destination in India……..or the most “famous”…..
Mussoorie, India…….you are nothing close to what was described to me……..much more than the picture that was painted in my mind based on the opinion of another.
After visiting once……spending only five hours, enjoying what you had to offer…….I quickly changed my opinion.
Mussoorie, India……..I hope to spend some very memorable times with you.

Think for yourself......experience everything you can.....and always make sure that you choose your words carefully and not try and discourage others from doing something that you may not have liked....

Right Time, Right Place; more Shimla

I had no doubt that Shimla was going to provide opportunities to capture some fantastic photography and memories of my visit.
I was not disappointed in the least……especially when stumbling upon the fact that there was a five-day Folk Dance Competition taking place…….
There is nothing like being in the “Right Place, at the Right Time”……considering that we only spent about a short amount of time, outside of accomplishing our main tasks.
The only regret I have is not being able to watch……we seem to have caught them while on a break of sorts.
The costumes were wonderful……the colors are vivid………...the faces are priceless.
Enjoy

Inspired by a Shimla Sky

I claim not to be a writer, a poet,nor a photographer.

When I am inspired by some humbling experience, this time by nature herself, I cannot help by try my hand at all three.

The poem below is written with no capitalization purposefully.

The photographs do not do justice to what I witnessed.....but they are all I have to share. They appear at the end of this entry; a slight change to how I have placed them in the past.

I hope you enjoy.....Shimla.

SHIMLA

i was amazed at the sight of the shimla sky
the billowing clouds forming the perfect canvas
for the sun to create a masterpiece
for my eye

surely i was not the only one to see
the beauty of collaboration of clouds and sun
the glow alone should have caused thousands of souls to
gaze in awe

but i was the stranger, the newcomer of sorts
perhaps what was so unique to me was commonplace
for those who live in this paradise of
peaks and valleys

this thought alone should make you yearn
for a chance to see what these two will create for you
for sometimes you are given but one chance to
say, “i saw”