My little darling got punished yesterday. She messed up some settings on the computer, so was made to stand in the corner and face the wall for 5 minutes. Well, we started out with 5 minutes, but let her off the hook after 3.
Excuse the blurriness of the picture. I was in a hurry to click it before she suspected anything. I was expecting her to turn around any second. I didn’t think she’d actually face the corner for any length of time. Guess she was too scared to disobey!
Caught Thaïs staring at one of her story books yesterday. After about half a minute I asked her what she was doing.
“I’m reading. Don’t ‘sturv my ‘con-ser-pay-ten’ Tana. Don’t ‘sturv me, K?”
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Part of our daily routine, when I give Thaïs her calcium and cod liver oil. As she takes her pills:
Thaïs: “I’m not well. Feeling so sick. Have to go to ‘os-ti-pal’.”
Me: OK. But they’ll also give you ‘jections.
Thaïs: Why?
Me: Because you’re not well.
Thaïs: No. I’m taking my pills. You take the ‘jection.
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We’re getting ready to go out. I’ve dressed Thaïs and she’s standing at the door waiting for me to get my bag and keys. “Come on, Tana. Let’s go. Don’t waste my time!!”
The monsoons are here. It’s been raining almost non-stop for the past week. Thunderstorms and all. Thaïs got to try out her new umbrella and raincoat a couple of days ago. In the rain, this time. She used to open the umbrella and walk around the house and make me do the same. I did — until I got caught by the neighbor.
She put on her shorts all by herself for the first time today. There were two mistrials before she finally succeeded on the third try. The first time she got both legs through the same opening. Then she called out to me, “Ooh… ooh… Mummy look this… I’m ‘tuck. Please come here.”
On the second try she got the shorts on back to front, and realized it only when she wanted to stuff something down her front pockets. That got her quite upset, “Mummy, they gone… they gone.”
“What’s gone?”
“My pockets!”
“No, darling. You’ve got them on back to front. Let me help you.”
After I got her shorts back on she said, “Thank you, Tana. Now put on my shoes and let’s go out…”
OK. All done. That was easier than I’d expected. Not as easy as transferring all my Blogger posts, but it wasn’t too bad considering it was a manual transfer.
A popular summer retreat, Mussourie is perched above the Doon valley at a height of 1920m.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get too many photos since the visibility was very bad.
Everest House was about 7 km. from our hotel. It was the home of Sir George Everest, the Surveyor-General who mapped Mount Everest, and one of Mussourie’s earliest residents. We actually trekked all the way up there. UP, yes, uphill. To the peak of one of the higher mountains. Can you imagine a fat lump like myself doing that? Took us a couple of hours, but it was worth it. The view was amazing, as and when visible between drifting clouds. Standing on the edge of the peak was scary — absolutely loved it! A perfect end to a wonderful trip!! Photos below: i) Sir George Everest’s house, ii) and iii) his survey point.
Fatehpur Sikri or ‘City of Victory’ is situated 35 km. from Agra. Sikri, a small village, was known in the times of Akbar because of a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, who lived there. Akbar, without heirs at that stage, decided to consult him. He predicted the birth of three sons, and shortly afterwards, one of the emperor’s wives gave birth to the first son, called Salim (aka Jehangir), out of gratitude to the saint. Below, entrance to Fatehpur Sikri.
Akbar was so happy with the predictions of Salim Chishti, he declared Sikri to be a place of good omens, and decided to live there permanently. The new city was built in record time and became the capital of the kingdom for 17 years, during which time it was populated by 200,000 people. Below, the mausoleum of Salim Chishti.
Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. A deep moat, once filled with the water of the Yamuna, surrounds the fort.
Musamman Burj (in the fort)- This double storeyed octagonal tower has an unobstructed view of the Taj Mahal (on a clear day!). Unfortunately, when we were there, there was too much mist/fog. This was where Shah Jahan, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, spent the last eight years of his life. His body was taken by boat to the Taj Mahal and buried there.
Jami Masjid - This mosque was built by Shah Jahan’s favorite daughter, Jahanara, in 1648. The mosque’s sandstone and marble domes with their distinctive zigzag pattern dominate this section of the city. The eastern courtyard wing was demolished by the British in 1857.
Taj Mahal - One of the world’s most famous buildings, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, thought to have died from an infection after giving birth to her 14th child. The two photos below are i) the gateway to the Taj Mahal and ii) the Taj Mahal.
Mausoleum of Akbar - Located in Sikandra, about 5 km. from Agra. The emperor had commissioned his own tomb to be built while he was still alive. It was completed by his son Jehangir.
Junagarh is protected by a 986-m long sandstone wall with 37 bastions, a moat, and most effectively of all, the forbidding expanse of the Thar Desert.
Bikaner’s Junagarh is perhaps the best preserved and most ornately decorated of all the forts of Rajasthan. The fort has never been conquered, hence its excellent state of preservation.
Below, the Maharaja’s swing seat and bedroom.
The Maharani’s bedroom.
Lalgarh Palace - The imposing red sandstone palace, on the outskirts of the city was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, it is a fine blend of oriental facade and occidental interior. A part of the palace has now been converted into a luxury hotel, and another part houses a museum.
Devikund Sagar - The cremation ground of the Bikaner Royal Family.
The Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner breeds nearly half the camels found in India, including those for the Camel Regiment of the Indian Army.
The Horse Breeding Farm is next to the Camel Breeding Farm, but is not publicized as much. Wonder why… It was real fun visiting the place.
Photo below is ‘Tripolia Gate’, entrance to the Udaipur City Palace Museum. (’Tripolia’ meaning three arches.)
The next photo was taken just beyond Tripolia Gate, on the way to the entrance to the City Palace Museum.
This is the Durbar hall of the Fateh Prakash palace, part of the City Palace complex. It is now a luxury hotel. The largest chandelier weighs a tonne, and the other smaller ones 500 kgs. each. BTW, we had a cup of tea there!
Shambhu Nivas - part of the City Palace complex, it is now home to the maharana’s descendents, and is closed to the public. The rest of the complex has been converted into luxury hotels.
Udaipur Lake Palace, situated on Pichola lake was once a royal summer retreat. It is now a luxury hotel.
The James Bond movie ‘Octopussy’ was filmed here.
Took a boat ride around Lake Palace to Jag Mandir which is also situated on lake Pichola. This island palace provided refuge to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, whilst he rebelled against his father. It is believed to have inspired many of his ideas for the Taj Mahal.
Carved stone elephants standing guard at the entrance to Jag Mandir.
Entrance to the lobby of Jag Mandir, yet another luxury hotel.
Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s only hill station and is set atop the highest peak of the Aravalli range. The focal point of Mount Abu town is Nakki Lake, ringed by colonial mansions dating back to the 19th century, and the summer palaces of the Rajput rulers. It is said that the lake was dug out by the nails (nakh) of the gods, thus the name Nakki.
Toad’s rock, below, overlooking Nakki lake. We actually climbed all the way up there….
