OCT 31, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. SIDEWALK SCENE ..

YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY ..


HERE WE ARE.. OUT FRONT ON THE SIDEWALK.. BESIDE TAJ ROAD.. IN SADAR BAZAR.. IN AGRA CANTT.. IN INDIA.. AND THESE FINE LADS ARE.. WORKING TO CONSTRUCT SOME FITTINGS FOR A LOCAL SHOP.. SURE YOU TELL ME.. WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME AT OUR LOCAL STORES AND MALLS.. SURE YOU DO SPOOFERS.. 

here we go.. in unison.. tell us captain.. " what exactly is it that you LOVE so very much about this land of india "

OCT 31, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. THE MAIDAN ..

I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS THE VERY LAST OF THE CALCUTTA PHOTOS I HAVE ON MY CAMERA.. THESE LOVELY (I THINK THEY ARE HERONS) BIRDS ARE ON THE LAWNS OF THE VICTORIA MEMORIAL.. IN ..  THE MAIDAN .. IN CALCUTTA.. I SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE THE HEART TO DELETE THEM AND NOT SHARE THEM WITH YOU ALL..

THIS WILL LET ME LEAVE ALL OF YOU WITH A SUPER NICE MEMORY OF CALCUTTA.. I THINK THERE WAS A BROADWAY SHOW TITLED ..  ' OH CALCUTTA ' .. AND THAT SAYS IT ALL.. SHE IS QUITE THE LADY CITY.. over and out with love miss calcutta.. thank goodness i survived yet another encounter with you.. one blink and you have the capability and you have the skills to ' take you OUT ' in one .. short .. new york minute .. with not so much as a flicker of your hardened face and your false painted eyelashes .. how on this earth can you be so cold and hard yet have this completely different ' other ' face.. you can.. truly.. be beautiful .. over and out from .. one of your captains ..

OCT 31, 11 .. HONG KONG ..

FOND.. FOND MEMORIES OF HONG KONG.. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON SEPTEMBER THE 1st..  AS I WAS WALKING NEAR THE STAR FERRY TERMINAL BESIDE THE YMCA ON SALISBURY ROAD.. I CAME UPON THESE (there were actually three.. the third shot this photo..) YOUNG LADIES TAKING PHOTOS OF THEMSELVES AND I SAID .. ' WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TAKE A PHOTO OF ALL THREE OF YOU WITH YOUR CAMERAS ' .. AND ' OH YES ' THEY SQUEALED .. SO I DID.. WITH THREE DIFFERENT CAMERAS.. ONE FOR EACH GIRL..

AS I BEGAN TO WALK AWAY THESE TWO GRABBED ONTO ME AND SAID .. ' WE WANT A PHOTO WITH YOU ' .. now what can you possibly say to THAT request except.. yes.. sure.. AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.. TREMENDOUS ENERGY.. THIS ONE PHOTO.. OF ALL THE PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN ON THE TRIP.. IS PERHAPS MY FAVORITE.. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD BRING IT BACK AS A .. ' BLAST FROM THE DISTANT PAST IN HONG KONG ' ..
and you ask me .. "Cap.. what is it you LOVE about Hong Kong " ..

OCT 31, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. NIGHT ON THE STREET ..

IN HINDI.. THE WORD ' PUJA ' MEANS ' FESTIVAL '.. AND WHEN IN CALCUTTA I SAW THE FESTIVAL OF ALL FESTIVALS.. WHEN I ARRIVED INTO AGRA CANTT.. JEEVAN LAL TOLD ME .. ' SIR.. YOU ARE JUST IN TIME FOR OUR PUJA HERE IN AGRA CANTT AND I AM SO HAPPY YOU WILL GET TO SEE IT .. '  I really feel welcomed here by all..

YOU CAN SEE THAT AGRA CANTT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF CALCUTTA .. then again.. which city is.. VERY RELAXED AND FAR SAFER .. AND YES.. THEIR PUJA WAS ALSO FUN AND IT LASTED A WEEK ALSO.. BUT NO BANKS WERE CLOSED AND BUSINESS WENT ON AS USUAL.. THE PUJA WOULD GO UNTIL MIDNIGHT WITH CARNIVAL RIDES AND BOOTHS.. IT WAS FUN AND I AM HAPPY I GOT TO BE PART OF IT.. and you ask me.. ' cap.. why is it you love india so much .. '

OCT 31, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. MY ROOM ..

WELL I WISH I COULD.. BUT I CAN NOT.. GUARANTEE THAT THESE ARE THE VERY LAST OF THE CALCUTTA PHOTOS.. I THINK I HAVE SHOWN THEM ALL AND MORE CROP UP SAYING ..  ' DAD.. OH DAD.. PUT US UP ON THE BLOG DAD ! "

This is a photo of my room at the Hotel Circular in Calcutta.. here you see Mister India Bag being packed.. above him is Jerry's father Frank's bag.. a gift to me many years ago.. Jeevan Lal will be installing a new zipper on this large bag.. he is great for just throwing things into him.. I have to pack mister India Bag much more carefully.. and you can see how I hang my things in small.. nylon zipper storage bags in the window of my room.. I wrote to you all a lot of post cards at the small table in the foreground.. good memories of this nice room and frankly.. good memories of Calcutta in MANY respects and aspects..

IN THE TWO PHOTOS BELOW YOU SEE THE WINDOW IN MY BATHROOM IN CALCUTTA.. I COULD NOT CLOSE THE WINDOW.. IT IS DESIGNED TO NEVER BE CLOSED.. AND  TRUST ME.. I COULD NOT DEFEAT THE DESIGN.. THE DIRT AND THE FILTH THAT CAME IN THIS WINDOW WAS STAGGERING.. SO I CAME UP WITH MY SOLUTION..

FUN SUCH FUN.. I NEATLY COVERED THE WINDOW WITH A SERIES OF SHEETS OF NEWSPAPER.. WITH MASKING TAPE.. I HAD TO SCRUB AND SCRUB THE TILE WALL TO GET IT CLEAN OF GREASY GRIME BEFORE THE MAKING TAPE WOULD FINALLY STICK TO THE TILE WALL.. BUT SUCCEED I DID AND IT WORKED..


COVERING THE WINDOW ALSO HELPED TO KEEP MY ROOM COOLER.. TRULY IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS TO DO THIS.. you gotta wantta be here and love being here no matter what..

OCT 31, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. SACRED COWS ..

WE ARE TALKING FUN HERE.. YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL MORE PHOTOS OF THIS LARGE BULL AS YOU SCROLL DOWN THE PHOTOS .. AS I SEE HIM I PHOTOGRAPH HIM.. AND EACH SET OF PHOTOS SHOWS A DIFFERENT PHASE OF HIS DAY..

When I  walked past him.. this elderly gentleman was just grooming and caring for him.. and the big Bull was just ' lapping up ' the attention .. so when I shot this photo.. the elderly gentleman came around for another shot.. see below..

SUCH FUN.. OF COURSE WE DREW A SMALL CROWD AND ALL WANTED TO SEE THE PHOTOS..  PLEASE NOTICE HIS SWEATER.. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS DOWN INTO THE 70s .. MANY LOCAL PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO DRESS FOR THIS WINTER WEATHER ..

OCT 31, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. STREET SCENE ..

COME ON DOUBTERS.. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A DELIVERY TO YOUR LOCAL STORE THAT CAME PACKED IN STRAW AND WAS LAID OUT ON THE SIDEWALK ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE STORE AND THE HELP WENT AT IT..

CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN.. I KEEP FORGETTING.. please.. again.. TELL US WHAT EXACTLY IT IS YOU LOVE ABOUT INDIA.

Lord God of Abraham.. this is MY DOXOLOGY TO YOU .. I humbly THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOUR AND PLEASURE OF BEING HOME IN INDIA..

"IF the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is THANK YOU.. it will be enough"
                                                                    Meister Eckhart..  1260 - 1328

OCT 31, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. SPECIAL CHILD ..

OK.. SORRY.. I CAN'T HELP IT.. how could I NOT show to you all what an orphan in one of Mother Teresa's loving care missions looks like.. she has a name.. but I will protect her anonymity.. let me tell you.. SHE IS SHARP AS A TACK.. the world NEEDS THIS AND OTHER CHILDREN LIKE HER IN OUR MAINSTREAM..

Lord I get so ' teary ' at times..

"Cap.. tell us again.. just WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE ABOUT INDIA..'

OCT 31, 11 .. CALCUTTA ..

ONE LAST.. VERY VERY LOVING.. PHOTO OF CALCUTTA.. YEAH I KNOW.. I SURE AM HARD ON YOU MISS CALCUTTA.. BUT YOU SURE DO HAVE SOME FINE OUTFITS..

The Birla Planetarium is a world class facility and it is ON THE EDGE OF..  THE MAIDAN ..

Over and out for now Miss Calcutta.. and with lotsa love to you from .. the captain ..

OCT 31, 11 ..AGRA CANTT .. JEEVAN ..

MISTER JEEVAN LAL.. FRIEND FOR OVER TWENTY ONE YEARS ..

Jeevan standing in front of his shop on Taj Road.. in Agra Cantt.. India..

Jeevan created .. from scratch .. the Bobbsey we all know as .. MISTER INDIA BAG .. when I first meet Jeevan in December of 1990 .. on my first trip to Agra Cantt AND to India..

The below photo shows Jeevan walking up to his shop and IT ALSO SHOWS the street on which his shop is located.. you can see.. Agra Cantt is NOT quite as hectic as our Calcutta.. no way ..

OH MY MAN.. OH JEEVAN LAL.. THE MAN WITH THE ONE MILLION DOLLAR SMILE ..

talking on the telephone with PATTI in Anchorage.. 

OCT 31, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. SACRED COWS ..

WELL ! IT IS HALLOWEEN !


YOUR SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR QUESTION .. what does the 1,200 pound bull do.. where does the 1,200 pound bull walk .. AFTER HE GETS UP FROM THE SIDEWALK ..

YOUR ANSWER .. he does what HE WANTS TO DO.. he walks WHERE HE WANTS TO WALK..

"Cap.. what is it you like so much about India ? "

This young Lad decided HE wanted to join in the fun.. EVEN the animals love their photos taken.. 

AGAIN .. "Cap.. please tell us what exactly it is you LOVE about India ? "

OCT 30, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. SACRED COWS ..

AND THERE HIS MAJESTY WAS.. PLUNKED DOWN.. CALM AS COULD BE.. AND
RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK ON A SUNDAY EVENING..

AND HE COULD HAVE JUST CARED LESS.. and you ask me.. "Cap.. what is it you love about India ! 

OCT 30, 11 .. OH THE LOVE OF INDIA !!

WELL..  HERE WE HAVE YOUR .. VERY BASIC TRANSPORTATION FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR .. and all are very pleased to have THIS transportation.. 


 WHEW.. and some of you ask me.. "Cap.. what is it you LOVE about India"..

OCT 30, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. THE MAIDAN ..

WILDLIFE..  IN THE PARK IN CALCUTTA.  in ..  THE  MAIDAN ..

.
I have published.. in FWIW..  13..  close up photos of these horses.. these photos show them in perspective in the park with Calcutta Skyscrapers in the background.. in THE MAIDAN..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. MAIDAN ..

 ALL OF THESE PHOTOS ARE TAKEN IN THE AREA OF CALCUTTA KNOWN SIMPLY AS ..

THE MAIDAN .. or open area.. a wonderful enormous park.. the BEST OF CALCUTTA ..

Wonderful area.. look at the horses just grazing so close to the hustle and the bustle of downtown Calcutta..

 

Not even the horses get a ' free ride ' .. oh no.. they also WORK pullling carriages ..

Oh how nice is this.. to take a carriage ride out in the park on a Sunday afternoon.. OH CALCUTTA ..

OH yes.. OUT in the distance.. if you will look oh-so-closely.. you will see VICTORIA MONUMENT..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA & VICTORIA MONUMENT ..

AH YES.. CALCUTTA.. I OWE YOU THESE PHOTOS OF YOUR MAJESTIC AND OF YOUR WONDERFUL .. THE ONE AND THE ONLY.. WITH AWE .. VICTORIA MONUMENT .. 

 

so.. SO.. so you want some of the BEST OF CALCUTTA.. well there is a great.. enormous.. park and open space called .. THE MAIDAN.. and on the edge of .. THE MAIDAN.. is THE VICTORIA MONUMENT.. and you can see for yourselves the STUNNING SPLENDOR of the awesome edifice.. it truly is beyond the beyond and what more could I possibly add..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA & SPECIAL FRIENDS ..

I DON'T KNOW.. YOU TELL ME.. can one have ' best friends ' when one is staying in a hotel in Calcutta.. again.. you tell me..

OH YEAH I HEAR YOU SKEPTICS.. I DO HEAR YOU.. you are saying.. " Captain.. these guys are 'working' you for all they are worth " and I say.. " I KNOW and you are absolutely CORRECT.. BUT .. ..
in ' working me ' they GIVE TO ME acts and kindnesses that are WORTH A LOT TO ME.. got that.. YES.. they are working all of us BUT .. they DO GIVE TO US ..

AND HOT SHOTS.. what about the other 95% who are not working.. NOT working at their jobs NOR attempting to be friendly to we tourists .. 

The man on the left is Leslie.. he is age 44 ..his wife is.. Dolly .. and they are from Sikkim.. yes.. Sikkim where the bad earthquake was.. Leslie comes to Calcutta to work for up to six months at a time to 'gather together' twenty (20) days off.. during which he goes home to his wife and son.. Leslie has a native tongue.. he was proud to tell me that English is his ' mother ' language .. and his ' first ' language ..

Leslie was my one.. and Leslie was my ONLY waiter.. and BY GOD Leslie got me HUGE HELPINGS OF FOOD from the cook .. and my food was hot and my food was prompt and fast to me.. and Leslie and I talked a great deal together .. and I.. THE CAPTAIN.. WAS WORKING LESLIE .. so GET OFFA MY BACK SKEPTICS.. you'd better by GOD have friends on the street here who will watch out for you..

Mamud (MA MOOOD.. NOT  MUD)..is the man on the right above..  Mamud is a door man.. and Mamud JUMPED UP WHENEVER HE SAW ME COMING and had the door open.. and had the elevator waiting for me.. and when I would dash from dinner up to my room to get something.. Mamud would hold the elevator for me while I dashed down the hallway to get what I was missing.. a certain pen.. a pencil.. an address list.. I would do a LOT OF WRITING at my dining table.. so I TOOK CARE OF LESLIE who patiently let me spend hours at HIS table writing.

OH YEAH there were more than several others.. two men from Nepal who have known me for years.. and BY GOD I took care of them... and of the ladies at the front desk..

And when I go out of my room and out on the streets.. I KNOW my room is safe.. because MY GUYS HAVE MY BACK..

And I have Leslie in my cell phone number list.. and I have written him and I have thanked him for all of his help.. and I just now called him to say thanks again..

YOU TELL ME WHO IS WORKING WHO..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA .. SEALDAH STATION ..

ah yes.. AH YES.. here we are within Sealdah Railway Station in Calcutta.. and THIS MY FRIENDS is what you will face when you are told to go to (jail) .. only kidding .. I can't imagine a Calcutta jail .. this is what you face when you have to go to a local BOOKING COUNTER.. it is bad.. you wait and you wait.. and you just wait some more.. THIS AIN'T FOR THE FAINT O' HEART BELIEVE ME..

The backpackers LOOK DOWN UPON THE TOURISTS who will ' pay ' money to local ' touts ' to do "this waiting in line" for them.. I have.. so far .. NEVER EVER used a ' tout ' to do what I needed to do.. NOR do I ever plan to do so.. for one thing.. I WANT TO KNOW I GET WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I AM PAYING FOR.. only by doing this ones self do you KNOW..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA & GEESE ? ?

WELL HERE WE ARE .. WILDLIFE ON THE STREETS OF BUSY CALCUTTA ..

These three photos of these (I think geese but maybe ducks) were taken in Calcutta.. ON THE STREET .. and I am just fascinated by the wildlife living amidst we human beings in such a large city.

TOTALLY UNDISTURBED BY THE LIKES OF ME.. they just carried on with their carrying on and look at what they are drinking from and exploring.. oh my.. OH MY CALCUTTA..

OCT 29, 11 .. CALCUTTA

These are photos of the men's dormatory at the Sealdah Railway Station in Calcutta.. on a scale of zero to ten.. this dorm rates a solid fifty.. it is fantastic in all aspects and in all respects.. I was so fortunate to have it

to be able to rest and to relax in as I waited for my train to leave for Agra Cantt on October the 18th 2011

         My train was almost two (2) hours late leaving and having this dorm room to relax in.. to sleep in.. I took over an hour nap.. was such a blessing.. it was clean.. spotless.. the restroom the same as you can see in both the top and bottom photos.. the bottom photo shows the challenge it can be to use these restrooms that do NOT have a western style toilet to SIT UPON.. I can NOT SQUAT .. I can NOT do it.. they begin as children and have a life time of experience.. plus.. their leg and back muscles are prepared to squat..

OCT 29, 11 .. AGRA CANTT .. LOVE OF INDIA ..

This.. this.. NOW THIS IS TOO MUCH.. at this time.. the week of October 24th through October 29th I guess.. I use the words ' I guess ' BECAUSE these things go on and they go on and they GO ON.. there is a PUJA (the word PUJA means Festival here in India.. so to say a PUJA is going on.. is to say they are having a FESTIVAL) in progress and when this happens.. often.. things get really crazy..

OK.. I went to my local Internet Cafe to do some posts to For What It's Worth.. got it.. I walked into the Internet Cafe.. you know.. lots and lots of High Tech Computer Equipment is there.. and what do I see.. WHAT DO I SEE.. to celebrate the local PUJA.. on the floor .. in the back of the Internet Cafe.. the local dudes and girls have BUILT A FIRE and are roasting things in the fire on the floor inside of the Internet Cafe..

And it was smokey.. like SMOKEY inside.. not too good for the computer stuff I don't think.. 

 

GOTCHA.. here we go.. AND YOU ASK ME.. CAP.. WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE ABOUT INDIA..

Lookie See.. the fire and the flames roasting something inside the Internet Cafe..

HERE IS YOUR QUESTION .. ready.. do you think THEY were SMOKING something themselves.. heey pass me that roach so I can take a hit on that puppy ..

MUCH JOY.. BOBBA CAPS..