Rajasthan |
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In front of a colorful
doorway
in Udaipur, “the white city”.
A well-decorated entrance is
traditionally believed to
bring good fortune to
the household. |
In front of a
“temple
shop” in
Pushkar, a pilgrimage
town famous for
its unique temple
dedicated to
Brahma, the Creator. |
Living close to
the earth!
A hang-out spot for local Jodhpur families. |
A friendly “uncle”
poses proudly by his Jodhpur-blue doorway. The color was originally
used to signify the Brahmin caste, but these days, it is used
more for its mosquito-repelling power. |
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| In Jaiselmere,
the romantic desert city, I chatted with two Rajasthani women |
In Mehrangarh Fort,
Jodhpur |
In the cool, marble
zenana
section of the Mehrangarh Fort,
where women of the royal family
were secluded. |
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Posing by my kitch
and colorful hotel
room in Jodhpur! |
Sitting pretty
in the shade. Essential to Rajasthani culture, the camel in
Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort
gets the royal treatment. |
Traditional
turban-clad
man peeks out of the magnificent jali
(lace-like work on stone)
window in Mehrangarh Fort. |
Arial view of Jodhpur,
the Blue City. |
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Japan |
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My ancestral Zendo
in
Noshiro-city, Japan.
The entrance to a Buddhist temple is guarded by a pair of demonic
looking deities called Nyoren. |
These deities,
called Niou, actually represent beneficial guardian forces who
inspire awe and courage in the heart of true seekers. This one
holds his right hand in abhaya mudra, the gesture of fearlessness. |
The row of 7 child-monks,
called jizo, the bodhisattvas
who help suffering children. |
In front of the
house where I spent my childhood. |
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| Entrance to another Buddhist
temple in my home town, Noshiro. |
Near my hometown, in Futatsui.
Cherry blossoms represent the transient beauty of life, and
is an important part of Japanese seasonal culture. |
The entrance to Shinto shrines
(called jinja) is marked by the red Torii, which
signifies the presence of a Nature deity. |
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