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In the morning I hired a taxi (800 Rupees/ $17.00) for a day trip to Puri. It is said to be one of the four holiest places in India.
India 2002 - Part Two: Bhubaneswar, Puri & Konark
Dougburnett2003-11-24 11:56:59
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of scenes from Indian life, from sacred to erotic. The temple was also covered with scaffolding and workers were cleaning the sculpture. I made two circuits around the temple: one at ground level and one on the first level up. Then I headed for the shade of a huge Banyon tree - the sun was punishingly hot.
Under the tree I met two cute girls about 10 or 12 years old. One of them really wanted to talk to me, but she spoke no English. Undeterred she went and got her mother who spoke only enough to tell me they were from Calcutta. Next, she went and got a man who told me he was her uncle, but his English was very limited too.
All the time I was wondering if the object of this attempted conversation was that she wanted her picture taken. Indians frequently approached me asking to have their picture taken. What struck me as odd was that they didn't ask me to send them copies, they just seemed to want to be photographed. So I motioned that the girls should sit on a stone platform and took a couple of pictures. This seemed to make them happy.
This was my usual experience in India: I would set off to see some temple or tomb. Although these sights were always interesting, it was invariably the people I met along the way that made the trip memorable.
On the way back I asked Dusasun to stop in Pipli, a little village noted for it applique work. There in the midday heat I checked out the shops. As often as not, I found the shopkeeper asleep. Nothing at all captured my interest. Most of the work was gaudy and looked quickly made. I asked several vendors to show me their finest pieces, but still left empty handed.
Back at the hotel I had a late lunch and then went wandering in the market again. In the evening I had a beer on the deck in front of the hotel with a cool breeze blowing. I was really enjoying India.
Bhubaneswar, Tuesday, February
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See photographs from:
India Gallery
