Ajanta Caves - a World Heritage Site

There are 30 caves at Ajanta which line a steep gorge in a horseshoe bend in the Wanghore River.  The caves are beautifully decorated with both paintings and sculptures.  The colours were mostly created from local minerals, though the blue colour is made out of lapis lazuli from Iran.

The caves date from around 500 BC but were only discovered by the British army officer John Smith in 1819.  In typical "yob fashion" he graffitied over one of the beautiful paintings!

The caves were built by Buddhist monks and they contain many Buddhist statues include a reclining Buddha. 

Human Pyramids to celebrate Lord Krishna's birthday

Krishna Janmashtami - young men form human towers to try to reach the pot of buttermilk hanging high above the village square. The pot has a cash prize for the team who breaks it - some of these are worth up to $200,000 (but not this one in my village I'm sure!)   The first team start. There is a big base to the pyramid and then more men climb on top.  Now a third layer gets added - there is still a long way to go.  Someone climbs up with a small child on his shoulders - this boy will attempt to break the pot. Another older boy joins and lifts the small child up onto his shoulders.  Although the little boy stood on the shoulders of the rest, he couldn't quite reach the pot of buttermilk and win the prize.

India's 67th Independence Day

Today is August 15th - it's a national holiday in India (though there still seem to be many people working - the shopping malls are crowded) to commemorate independence from British rule in 1947.  The independence movement in India was characterized by nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.  And today, as a British citizen, I went to the garden in my apartment building to participate in the raising of the flag and singing the Indian national anthem.

I'm feeling a strong sense of karma - of being where I am supposed to be - of cause and effect and of reaping what I have sown.

The Revival of Bandstand Culture in Mumbai

On Saturday nights when the sun goes down we can be found at various bandstands around the city.  In April and May every year there is a Bandstand Revival, where the bandstands are opened up and local musicians play there.  This week it was a Dadar Chowpatty.  The venue is really a great place, right on the water, with a view of the Sealink to South Mumbai in the background. 

The first group to play were traditional Indian musicians - sitar and tabla.  The music was interesting.  Look over to the left of the photo and you will see Lex and me.  The idea of the Bandstand Revival is to promote the culture and traditions of Mumbai by recreating the environment from the 1800s by having free live band performances in the open air in the evenings.

The second group that played were a fusion group - some rock, some folk, some based on Indian ragas.  I loved it as the sun went down and it got cooler and darker.

Blue Frog Nights

Our "local" live music venue is the Blue Frog in Lower Parel.  I say "local" because in fact it's about a 40 minute drive away!  I've been to the Blue Frog to see a number of different things now, but recently went to watch the school band, Blues No Bar, performing a Jimi Hendrix Tribute.  This is the last gig the group will do as 2 of the band are leaving this year, moving to new schools.  It was a great evening.

Yesterday was International Jazz Day and I was back at the Blue Frog again.  What a great lineup - LOADS of jazz players who combined with each other in different configurations to each play and sing different types of jazz.  So glad that today is a school holiday for Labour Day!

Sundowners in Juhu

I've been to Juhu beach several times before but I always enjoy drinking sundowners and watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea.  I was determined to take Rachel there before she left for university again to have a really special evening.

Rachel paints the people (and the city) of Jodhpur

Rachel and I went into Bandra after school one day to pick up some watercolour paints for her.  We topped the evening off with cocktails at a rooftop bar.  I love it that I have a really talented artist as a daughter!