Here
are some pictures of our trip to New York Finger Lakes
region and Niagara Falls in Canada. We went with
Paulette and Stanley Schofer. (2014)
Corning
NY Glass Museum
Watkins
Glenn and Letchworth State parks
Wine
Trail around Senaca Lake in New York's Finger Lake
District
Niagara
on the Lake; a very pretty town just north of Niagara
Lavender
Farm and Botanical Gardens, a Winery and nice lunch in
Niagara, Canada
Niagara
Caradian side, a bit of a carnival atmosphere. Even
had Fireworks!
Niagara
Falls and the boat ride to the falls. Wifi on board so
I SKYPED my mom and she took the tour with us via
SKYPE
Yes,
the ZIPPO/CASE museum. On our way back home we saw we
would drive right past the ZIPPO Lighter museum so we
had to stop!
Delhi These are some initial impressions of our first two days in Delhi.
Drive to Jaipur and first night
After a few days in Delhi we drove to Jaipur. These are just a few photos of our drive and first night there.
The Ganges at night
The Ganges is worshiped by Hindus who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates liberation from the cycle of life and death. Pilgrims travel long distances to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganges. We were there during Aarti, a Hindu religious ritual of worship, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered.
Chand Baori Step Well and the Harshat Mata Temple
This amazing step well is 1000 years old and 13 stories deep. It was built to make it easier for people to reach the ground water, and to maintain and manage the well. The builders dug deep trenches into the earth for dependable, year-round groundwater. They lined the walls of these trenches with blocks of stone, without mortar, and created stairs leading down to the water. Stepwells also served as a place for social gatherings and religious ceremonies. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilWbowNv5PI
Women's Cooperative
This women's cooperative uses local craft skill and materials to create products whose production and sale would generate employment and income, without destroying the traditional structures of village life, or preventing the producers from engaging in other agricultural and household duties. http://www.dastkar.org/ranthamborep.htm
Giant astronomical observatory, Jaipur.
This giant astronomical observatory in Jaipur is the largest and best preserved of several Jantar Mantar, literally 'calculation instrument', built in India in the 18th century and restored in 1901. The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars' location as the earth orbits around the sun, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides. It was used as a filming location for the 2006 film The Fall as a maze. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar_%28Jaipur%29
Kali Festival
We arrived in India during the Kali festival, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Kartik. All around the town we saw many processions of noisy celebrants dancing and singing and carrying homemade images of the goddess. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Puja
Tomb of Akbar the Great
The Tomb of Akbar the Great is an important Mughal architectural masterpiece, built 1605–1613. The buildings are constructed mainly from a deep red sandstone, enriched with features in white marble. Decorated inlaid panels of these materials and a black slate adorn the tomb and the main gatehouse. Panel designs are geometric, floral and calligraphic. Mughal architecture is the architectural style developed by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout the extent of their empire in the Indian subcontinent. It is an amalgam of Islamic, Persian, and Indian architecture. The Mughal emperors were Central Asian Turko-Mongols from Uzbekistan, who claimed direct descent from both Genghis Khan (through his son Chagatai Khan) and Timur (Tamerlane).
Khajuraho Temple Complex
Viewer Discretion is Advised
Between 950 and 1150, the Chandela monarchs built these temples when the Tantric tradition may have been accepted. In the days before the Mughal conquests, when boys lived in hermitages, following brahmacharya until they became men, they could learn about the world and prepare themselves to become householders through examining these sculptures and the worldly desires they depicted.
Eid Goat Sacrifice
Eid al-Adha ("festival of the sacrifice") is a major Muslim festival honoring the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his young first-born son Ishmael as an act of submission to God's command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before God intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead. Affluent Muslims who can afford it sacrifice their best halal domestic animals (a cow, camel, goat, sheep or ram depending on the region). The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. This is usually a private practice done in Muslim homes, but when we expressed interest, our guide arranged with a Muslim friend whose family invited us into their home to observe this ancient ritual.
The Ganges at night
The Ganges is worshiped by Hindus who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates liberation from the cycle of life and death. Pilgrims travel long distances to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganges. We were there during Aarti, a Hindu religious ritual of worship, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered.
Farmer's homemade waterwheel
Highway 70, between Mau Raniput and Niwari
We stopped along the way to meet a farmer's family and see his homemade ox-driven waterwheel.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is said that it took 20,000 craftsmen and laborers 20 year to complete it.
Nahargarh Ranthambhore
The Nahargarh is an amazing hotel built like a traditional Rajput hunting palace complete with a vast formal Mughal garden. We stayed here two nights.
Hot air balloon, Rajistan
Wake up call at 5am for the hot air balloon ride. It was wonderful.
Chowki Songhdwar Forest
Some animals and birds we saw in the Chowki Songhdwar forest preserve. Sadly, we did not see any tigers, as we had hoped.
Camel Riding
We spent one night in a tented camp, complete with camels to ride and local tribal dancing and music.
Rickshaw ride in Jaipur
Took a Rickshaw ride through a shopping area of Jaipur. You share the road with everyone, cows, trucks, buses, trucks, camels etc. exciting ride!
Amber Palace, Jaipur
The Amer (or Amber) Palace was built in 1492 and was the palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur. This area is so picturesque it has been captured on film many tines, for example in "The Jungle Book", "The Far Pavilions", "Octopussy" and "The Jewel in the Crown".
OAT-adopted village and school
In each country we visit, our travel company (OAT) adopts and supports a rural school and its village, building bathrooms, classrooms, digging wells, and supporting other improvements. Visiting the village and school is a feature of each trip.
Shahpura village
Just before we got to Jaipur we stopped off at a little town and had lunch at a former ruler's palace They since, turned it into a very nice B&B.
We didn't stay there. To get to the Top where the palace was, we had to get off the bus and hop into jeeps, bumpy ride. Scenes from the village below were very colorful.
Road to Ranthambhore
Some scenes along a rural road in the Rajasthan countryside.
Mother Theresa's Orphanage
On an impromptu visit, we visited Mother Teresa's orphanage in Agra. It was a wonderful side trip. We took up a donation and gave it to the nuns along with extra clothing in our luggage we chose to leave behind. We held the babies. Everything was sparse and simple but very clean. The babies there are abandoned by their parents. Oh soooo sweet. There are 40 such places in India.
Southern India , Riverboat Cruise, and Bombay
Africa
Walk with the Lions
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/WalkWithTheLions?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_uzuSYysWTLA&noredirect=1
Lufupa River Camp (Nov. 27-29)
Located in the central-western region of Zambia, the Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest of Zambia's national parks covering a massive 22500 Km Sq. The Kafue is one of the largest national parks in the whole of Africa and remains largely unexplored.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/LufupaRiverCampNov2729?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLGj5D-9vf6jQE&noredirect=1
Wilderness Tented Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Nov. 24-26
The Okavango Delta in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango delta is both a permanent and seasonal home to a wide variety of wildlife. Species include African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog and Chacma Baboon. Notably the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta,. The delta also includes over 400 species of birds, including African Fish Eagle, Crested Crane, Lilac-breasted Roller, Hammerkop, Ostrich, and Sacred Ibis.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/WildernessTentedCampOkavangoDeltaBotswanaNov2426?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOR-sO838njMw&noredirect=1
Soweto, South Africa
Site of the student revolts of 1976 that eventually led to the abolition of apartheid. Overseas Adventure Travel "Ultimate Africa Tour". Nov 18 - Dec 6, 2011.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/SowetoSouthAfrica?authkey=Gv1sRgCPSOy432ppHhFw&noredirect=1
Ngamo Village and School
We visited Ngamo Village and School, on the eastern edge of the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/NgamoVillageAndSchool?authkey=Gv1sRgCJniwsTY0vG1Xw
Victoria Falls
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/VictoriaFalls?authkey=Gv1sRgCO2hoYn6qavVKw
Linkwasha Camp, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, Nov 30 - Dec. 2
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/LinkwashaCampHwangeNationalParkZimbabweNov30Dec2?authkey=Gv1sRgCNCGzYb33fbPiAE
Lufupa River Camp (Nov. 27-29)
Located in the central-western region of Zambia, the Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest of Zambia's national parks covering a massive 22500 Km Sq. The Kafue is one of the largest national parks in the whole of Africa and remains largely unexplored.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/LufupaRiverCampNov2729?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLGj5D-9vf6jQE
Wilderness Tented Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Nov. 24-26
The Okavango Delta in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango delta is both a permanent and seasonal home to a wide variety of wildlife. Species include African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog and Chacma Baboon. Notably the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta,. The delta also includes over 400 species of birds, including African Fish Eagle, Crested Crane, Lilac-breasted Roller, Hammerkop, Ostrich, and Sacred Ibis.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tom.ohaver/WildernessTentedCampOkavangoDeltaBotswanaNov2426?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOR-sO838njMw
Tuesday June 10, 2014 Death Valley June 10, 2014
Our first day out. Drove from Las Vegas to Death Valley. Wow what an
eerie, beautiful, out of this world landscape. Very hot so there
was minimal hiking outside. Went up to 122 degrees in the
afternoon.
Wednesday June 11, 2014, Day
2 Death Valley
We left Death Valley and headed to Three Rivers. CA just outside
of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We drove from Death
Valley through Red Rock Canyon. Then we headed towards
Bakersfield, CA. Wow what a different landscape as we got closer
to the irrigated farms. We also rand across several wind farms.
One had over 5000 turbines.
We got to the hotel around 4 so we headed to the park to put in
a few hours before we had a full day in the park on
Thursday.
Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday June 12, 2014 Were spent in
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
Sequoia
and Kings Canyon National Parks The photos do not do
the giant trees justice. They are majestic. The winding roads
were wild. I was so happy Tom decided to drive. Hikes at high
altitudes are more difficult. At any rate, that is the excuse we
used to shorten our hikes.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Our first full day in Yosemite was a 12 hour tour with Ira, a
crusty, old, very knowledgeable guide. Yosemite
Tour with Ira There were 7 in our group in a van so
it made getting around easy . He even helped us plan our next
two days so we could see as much as possible.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Our second day took us to the Marisposa Grove in the southern
part or Yosemite. It is a large grove of Sequoias. They were
impressive but not as impressive as the ones in Sequoia National
Park. Mariposa
Grove in Yosemite
Sunday June 15, 2014
We took off to the Northern route (Tioga Pass) in Yosemite to
Mono Lake. Yosemite
Tiago Pass and Mono Lake We left the hotel around
6am and stopped off for Breakfast at the Ahwahnee Hotel
for breakfast. It was great. The hotel was very nice but at
about $500 a night it was a bit much. Besides, you want to spend
most of your time in the Park, not in your hotel. The northern
route that lets you out at the east entrance was one of the most
beautiful roads we have taken. Yosemite
Tiago Pass and Mono Lake We stopped off at a Mobile
gas station for gas and a wonderful lunch. It was a
recommendation from several people in Yosemite. Yelp gave it a
great review. Then on to Mono Lake.
Today Monday, June 16 was a really fun day. We didn't have
anything planned except for traveling to Las Vegas a few hundred
miles away. Wow what fun. We stumbled across this very cool
forest of Ancient Bristlecones pines. Bristlecone
Pines and Red Rock Canyon They have recently dates
one to be over 5700 years old. They grow between 9,200 and
11,000 feet. So when we got up to over 10,000 feet it was a
nippy, 50 degrees and I must admit hiking at that altitude was
more difficult. Then we arrived in crazy Las Vegas, checked into
our hotel and drove out to Red Rock Canyon just before sunset.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 Valley
of Fire State Park
Last full day in the parks turned out to be one of the best. We
went to Valley of Fire state park. If you come anywhere near
this place you need to come. It puts Red Rock Canyon to shame.
Wildflowers
in the parks. Wildflowers growing in Death Valley
National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National
Park, Yosemite National Park, Mono Basin Lake, the Ancient
Bristlecone Pine forest, Red Rock Canyon, and Valley of Fire
State Park, June, 2014. Despite the fact that there had been
three years of drought in the area, flowers were growing in many
places, especially at higher elevations. The traffic was so
light in most places that we could just stop the car in the
road, snap a few pictures, and move on.
New
Mexico, October 7-Oct. 15, 2015
Tom and Mary traveling with Paulette and Stanley
Schofer.
Balloon Festival
Museums in Sante Fe
Georgia O'Keefe Art at her museum
Marsden Hartly ARt at Georgia O'Keefe Museum
National Parks and Monuments
Acomo Pueblo Sky City Cultural Center
Bandelier National Monument and Los Alamos
Side trip
Last updated December, 2015. Questions should be directed
to Prof. Thomas
O'Haver, at toh@umd.edu.