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20180423 - 20180424 - Amsterdam

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Karen and I were on our own as Lesley had to attend her conference.  After a leisurely breakfast, we started our walk around the Joordan district.  It was very relaxing and the window shopping amongst the Nine streets was also very enjoyable - tons of unique little shops selling everything from cow trinkets to jewelry, clothing to furniture, paintings to books, etc. After lunch, it was museum time again.  We visited the Stedelijk modern art museum to learn how modern art evolved over time, and the Van Gogh to admire the master's work over his short career span.  Of all the works at the museum, I like his self portrait (with the straw hat) and the Almond Blossoms best. Our last day in Amsterdam was a busy one.  We started our day with a visit to the Albert Cuyp Markt - a mix of flea market and farmer's market.  Unfortunately we're too full to snack!  On our way to the Gassan Diamond tour, we stopped at the Huis de Pinto to see the lovely painted ce...
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20171020 - 20171022 - Jain Temples in Ranakpur & Mount Abu

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Chaumukha Mandir in Ranakpur - pillars are densely carved with floral motifs and figures in niches.  No two pillars are identical in their ornamentation. I picked Ranakpur and Mount Abu mainly because of their Jain temples.  The Chaumukha Mandir (Four Faces)in Ranakpur, and the Vimali Vasahi and Luna Vasahi in Mount Abu are recognized as Jain masterpieces worldwide.  Jainism, founded in the 6th century BC, is based on a doctrine of nonviolence towards all living beings. Jains are strict vegetarians.  Jains believe in 24 tirthankaras or enlightened crossing-makers, who guide others in their journey from one life to the next. Jainism attracted many followers among the wealthy traders and merchants of Western India, who were also politically powerful as financiers.  As acts of devotion and penance, they financed the building of some of these elaborately carved temples. ceilings of concentric tiers symbolize the Jain view of the universe as a serie...
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20171018 -20171019 - Jodhpur

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Today is basically a travel day from the desert to Jodhpur.  We stopped at Osian to check out some temples.  As I was heading to what I thought were a group of temples, some suspicious looking guy yelled at me and told me to go the other way.  Since my driver asked me to follow him, I did; and so I just found myself a spot guide.  He turned out ok - took me to the temples, waited patiently while I took my pictures, told me what I can and cannot do, etc.  His facts might not be 100% correct, but he got me to the temples.  When we got back to the car, he took me to the group of temples that I was heading to originally ... they were just ruins! The Sachiya Mata Temple has 16 spectacular arches at the entrance way.  Unfortunately somebody decided to put a blue tarp on top to shield people from the sun and a railing in the middle ... and thus they were not spectacular anymore!  The Jain temples turned out to be better ... I was the only one ...
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