A bit of action at Secret Garden

Taking care of coconut trees is pretty important for the health of the trees, and especially important for the the poor heads of people walking under them.  As Secret Garden is nestled among the trees, Godwin takes managing his trees pretty seriously, and regularly gets a local fellow to climb up 40 feet or so, using only a rope on his feet and a machete, to clean out old branches and coconuts getting to their time.   Godwin also has stone cold-pressed coconut oils made from the fruit.
These are just a few pics of the trees being maintained the other day....and folks hanging around get some lovely fresh coconut water and the wonderful creamy goodness scooped from the inside.

Brenden, Godwin & Jenny's younger son, having some fresh coconut

Dawdling a bit in Delhi

We used Delhi as a stopover, catch-your-breath spot, on the way from D'sala to somewhere else.  We knew we were going someplace, but had to figure out just how long it would take to get that other place, as opposed to how long to some other place.  We did settle on a place eventually, and we got there.
These pics are from some hours out and about in Delhi near our fave hotel there, introducing our  good leach😀...I mean good friend, Doug. to the more street side of Delhi.
As usual, click on the pic to embiggen.

A view of a rocket-ship type temple nearby?

I think this is lovely.  If people can afford to, they will make statuary in the likeness of a deceased.

Some smiling guy

...and a couple of smiling guys

A not-so-frantic bit of traffic on the bridge from Pahar Ganj to the Metro station.  I liked this guys' Travolta-like pose.

Hanging out on the side of the bridge with a bunch of cow-dung starter tabs.

At the Delhi train station.....if you're tired waiting for a train, crash out!

A notice at the station.

Back down to Pahar Ganj.

Stuff for sale along the street

...and a couple of guys

A small street side temple

...and a street side parts supplier and repair guy

A fellow feeding some cows at the end of a road near the train station.

A Jump Ahead to Agonda

Though out of order for this travel blog, as we've been at the beach for a couple of weeks,
I had worked on a few pics from Agonda already and decided to post them here for Christmas!
Please click on the pic to embiggen.

Looking north towards the river 

A few of the beach cleaning ladies working around obstacles

The ever present kites

Some beach dogs finding a bit of shade in the afternoon.  The oiled longs are used to drag the boats up from the water.

...and one smart one finding a bit of cool in the river.

A small lifeguard station - these guys are out there all day, and well appreciated.  Of course that day someone used the sun shelter for a bit of their own advertising.

One of the fish sellers near the north end little bridge

A fisherman cleaning his nets

Climbing to get some toddy from a ripe coconut tree

 Of course, what's a stop in Agonda without some sunsets!

Some incense burning at Secret Garden

Dharamshala - Post 2

Here's another grab-bag of pics from Dharamshala.  We quite enjoyed our time there, but had to leave at some point, so headed for lower Dharamshala to travel to Delhi and bits south!

A view of D'sala from HHDL's temple and residence

I had a great time doing this little bit of volunteering at Tibet World.  Fun hour-long sessions with Tibetans trying to get their English conversational levels up.

Doug ( I suspect, even with the vacuous mild-mannered appearance, he may have a connection with
the infamous The Lone DeRanger!)  getting a sim card for his phone at this amazingly complete phone etc store.. 
Still, like most things in India, it took a bit of time.

Some of the many goodies I can no longer eat

Sad to see, but with the demise of Mr Nowrojee, a D'sala icon, his store is a shadow (at best) of  it's heyday.  The last time I was there he was still alive,
and his store was chock filled with gorgeous old 1920's to 40's old wooden & glass cases filled with fabulous period stuff.

Just getting some sun where he can

These little guys are used all over India to move stuff around

....and so are people

Koo Koo Ka choo

Back to His Holiness' temple and residence

A lady walking along on a kora, spinning prayer wheels

I think these monks were just learning how to build sand mandalas.  The full fledged one are amazing to watch being made.

Doing some studying, with a small break to be photo

A wonderful family (son, mom and grandma) visiting HHDL's temple, doing kora for grandma

One of the many little kids having a good time while parents do kora 

Wonderful lady, who spoke excellent English and was a great conversationalist

These three ladies were having a good laugh, asking why the heck I wanted to take their pics....but it's obvious why!

Doing some knitting while hanging out near the temple

A couple of friendly monks who put up with me bugging them for pics!

This 'edgy' monk might look a bit rough, but as soon as I took the pic he was all smiles and friendly

.... of course, maybe his dreds were bugging him!

Just a nice smile 

.....and another!