MAR 31, 13 .. EASTER SUNDAY .. KODAIKANAL .. SACRED HEART CHURCH ..

HE IS RISEN!  Matthew 28: 5-6

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!

Last Friday .. 'Good Friday' .. I took a long distance telephoto shot of a church 'in-the-distance-up-on-a-hill'. 

It was the best-I-could-do at that time.

Below is the shot from 'Good Friday'.

Actually the above photo is excellent from a 'view-of-the-church' standpoint.  When you get onto the grounds .. you can NOT get far enough away from the church to really show-it-off!

On 'Good Friday' I 'solemnly-promised-myself' that I would 'trek' up to the church and 'do-it-photographic-justice' on Easter Sunday!

And I did so this Easter Sunday morning.  

'Giggle'!  

First!  I had to find-my-way up to the church!

IF perchance one of you has traveled in India .. you understand this can be a real challenge.

At 7AM I was 'off'!

On the street .. in front of my hotel Raahat Inn .. I showed two young men my camera photo of the church and said .. "Left or Right?"  .. "Up the hill or Down the hill?"

They both unanimously agreed!  "Left and Down the hill Sir!"

Had they not been so positive .. I might have gone Right and Up the hill!  

I did so.  Then at the bottom of the hill it was another .. show someone my photo and ask .. which way?

And next thing I knew .. I was there!

In the photo below .. 

I REALLY WISH THAT somehow I could 'clean-up-the-trash' and 'sanitize' the entry gate BUT this is .. after all .. India with all of India's warts and pimples!

Two close-ups of the top of the gate.

OK we are through the gate and on-our-way up to the church.

A 'look back'.

Once you get up the hill to the church .. and walk back away from the church .. you get a grand view of part of Kodaikanal.  I decided to show you this view because you can clearly see the above entry gate down in the below left corner of the below photo.

Now we turn back around and face the church.

The small structure on the lower right of the below photo is the 'Bell Tower' for the church.

To enter the sanctuary .. you walk through the 'covered entryway' you see below.

Zowie!  The parishioners sit / squat on-the-floor!  

"Jesus died on the cross FOR YOU and you can't squat Captain!"

I just love 'the guilt' of my religion!

Tender and festive Easter decorations.

In the above photo .. go straight then turn right and go to that end of the church .. now turn around 180 degrees and .. "You can see the 'Handicapped Section' for you Captain!"

This above seating is what I used to call .. 'Guts Ball'.

The Altar.

Below I SEE a lot of LOVE!

A closer view of the right side of the church.

And a photo of the other side of the above.  Note the early morning fog!

Two beautiful statues.

HAPPY JOYOUS EASTER TO YOU .. HE IS RISEN!

Love .. Cap

Scroll down for Easter Sunday photos of Easter Lilies ..

MAR 31, 13 .. EASTER SUNDAY .. EASTER FLOWERS ..

HE IS RISEN!  Matthew   28: 5-6

HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY .. 31 MAR 2013

Some Easter Flowers ON Easter Sunday.

This morning I walked here to my Internet Cafe especially so that I could photograph some more Easter Flowers for you!

Patti told me that these are Calla Lilies ..

Isn't 'Google' just wonderful.  To spell the plural of Lily .. I went to 'Google' and entered Easter Lily .. and there it was .. the plural of the singular Lily is Lilies!

Here we go!

Then!  What's that?  Do I hear a tiny shy little voice?

"Dad!  Down here Dad!  Please take my picture Dad!  I'm a flower too Dad!"

I do not want to .. I am not interested in .. testing your theology.  HOWEVER .. let me just say this ..

How 'interesting' that on Easter Weekend I just 'happened-to-see' these Easter Flowers along the side of the road that I have been walking for several days now.  I first saw them yesterday.

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!

Love .. Cap  

MAR 30, 13 .. SOME EASTER FLOWERS ..

While walking home last night from my Internet Cafe here in Kodaikanal .. I spotted some Easter Flowers to post for you ..

As I approached them .. as I was walking along the roadside .. they did not 'look-like-much'.

Then I stooped down for a closer-look-see!

Then I got really close and WOW!

Talk about the beauty of God's Universe!

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!

Love ..  Cap 

What would Easter be without a little Chocolate!  So keep scrolling down to see some Kodaikanal Easter Chocolate!

MAR 30, 13 .. KODAIKANAL AND SOME EASTER CHOCOLATE !

I may .. and I may NOT .. comment on any of the below photos!

Truly .. they-speak-for-themselves!

I think I was correct!  What did I need to add to the above photographs!

No 'Zilla!  There are other Chocolate Stores in Kodaikanal that  I remember from 2012.  These just happened to all be in the same block on the street opposite the Main Bus Stand.

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL !

Love .. Cap 

MAR 29, 13 .. .. GOOD FRIDAY ..

Having just gotten here to Kodiakanal less that 48 hours ago .. the best that I could do for Good Friday was to shoot a long distance photo of a prominent church in the distance from where I am located.

If possible it is a good idea to avoid using a camera lens at its maximum or its minimum focal range.  Mid-focal length will be a cameras best point.

I had to go to the maximum telephoto setting on my small camera to shoot the below.  So it may not be quite as sharp as possible ..

He did his best and I thank my little camera for that!

Good Friday .. Much to Contemplate about!

IN HIS MOST HOLY NAME! .. Cap ..

Gullible .. we are just starting here .. so scroll down a notch or two or three!

MAR 29, 13 .. MY ' HOME ' IN KODAIKANAL .. THE RAAHAT INN ..

So many things in life boil-down to the people in your life.  In February of 2012 in Pondicherry I was fortunate to meet and to interact with Naresh .. the manager of the Parveen Travel Office there.

We two 'clicked'.  Naresh called ahead to Kodaikanal and arranged for a professional acquaintance here named Babu to assist me when I arrived into Kodaikanal.

You want service?

When I was on-the-bus coming to 'Kodai' (I think it was February 8th .. 2012) Babu called me while I was still riding on-the-bus to assure me he would be waiting for me when my bus arrived.

I believe that in my 22+ years of coming to India .. The Raahat Inn here in Kodaikanal is the finest hotel I have ever stayed at here in India.

Babu .. shown below .. is also one of the finest gentlemen that I have had the pleasure of being associated with here in India.

In India?  Anyplace in this world!

I have to chuckle!  In February of 2012 when the two photos were taken .. Babu was more-that-a-little impressed when I instantly wrote his name for him in Hindi!

Below a closer view of the main entrance.  You are only seeing the potted plants in the sun.  Many more are behind them.

Looking out from within the Lobby of the hotel you see how nice it is.  The Raahat Inn is one fine place!

Below are two photos looking out the bay windows of the lobby above.

The two below photos show my room in February 2012.

The first photo looks in from-the-door.  In 2012 I did not 'have a view'.  Well I had a view but it was 'not a view' to photograph!

In 2012 I was only able to stay in Kodaikanal for a few days.  I think I was here only three nights!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
OK let's step ahead a year to yesterday .. 28 March 2013.

I have a different room and I am on the 'view side' of the building this visit!

In the below photo .. the brilliant light from my window overshadows my room.  My poor little camera could not simultaneously deal with a 'dark' room and an 'overwhelmingly brilliant' window.  But I wanted you to see the window in the first photo below.

"Thank you Mister Window! BUT I am going to close your drapes!"

Ahhh MUCH better!  Now you can see my room much more clearly!

Looking now from within my room back towards the entry door.

Patti notice the two chairs against the wall.  I moved one of them over beside the window to sit in when we visit.

 Thank you Mister Window for being patient while I had your drapes closed.  Below you will see two photos looking out my 'un-draped' window!

Even these photos are a tad washed-out from the 'blindingly brilliant sunshine'!

 To repeat myself!

With absolutely positively NO DOUBT!  In 2012 and again in 2013 .. my rooms here at the Raahat Inn are the most phenomenal rooms that I have ever stayed in during my 22+ years of visiting India!

The cost?  800 Rs Indian per night (just under $16.00 US Dollars).  

In Kodaikanal 'THE Season' is from 15 April until 15 June. The rates DOUBLE during 'THE Season' all the way up-to 1,600 Rs Indian.

So?  Where in the United States do you get this room for $32.00 US Dollars?

Yo Gullible!  Please keep 'scrolling down' there is more-to-come!