Views from Tingling Point

View from Tingling Point 

"Named after a Kenyan adventurer, Sardar 'Pinder' Singh Bhangra, who felt this tingling sensation as he came over the ridge to this breathtaking spot, which revealed such a spectacular view of the Bandarpunch Massif (6316 mtrs) and the Great Himalayan range. Inspite of having grown up in these hills, this awesome spot gave him a 'nervous reaction' unlike he had ever experienced in his life."

So reads the sign at this special spot atop the Nag Tibba ridge. "Tingling Point" is also called 'Morana' or 'Morana Top' by people who live nearby. In my youth, the top of the Nag Tibba ridge could only be reached after a strenuous hike on foot. Today, the ridge is crossed by the main motor route from the Uttarakhand state capital of Dehradun to Uttarkashi, a major centre on the banks of the Bhagirathi River.

I may not have tingled, but as I wasn't expecting it, the sudden spectacular view was literally breathtaking. The views were enhanced by the many blooming rhododendron trees in the area, and by the wonderful birdsong. I have embedded a slide show that shares some of the views from the ridge, as well as a variety of scenes along the road.

Below the slide show are two videos I shot at Morana Top. The first is a panorama, and the second shows the mules whose bells can be heard in the first video. For the record, the sacks on the mules' backs are full of potatoes.

Images of Kolkata - Calcutta

Our India adventure has been moving along at a great clip! Since our last post...

• We have visited Mumbai and Pune.
• In the part of Mumbai known as Thane, there was a wonderful extended visit with longtime friend Andi Eicher, and our first opportunity to meet his delightful family--Sheba, Asha and Enoch.
• While in Thane, we also made some very special new friends--Anshuman, Alankrita, and (newborn) Anindita Singh. It's a very small world because Anshuman hails from Adra.
• Another highlight in a different area of Mumbai was a visit to the classroom of former 3rd grade student Keya Banerjee. Keya is doing a fabulous job with her 44 fourth graders in one of the schools of the Bombay Municipal Corporation.
• In Pune, we were treated royally by Frene Irani. The hospitality in her lovely flat was second to none, and she made sure we saw why she loves her home town.
• Upon arrival back in Mussoorie, we have begun the process of moving into our third apartment. At last, we are in the place that we will call home every year when we come to India. It's a small flat, but it will make a lovely home indeed.
• We attended the wedding of GEMS kindergarten teacher Soni in Sainji village.
• In the process of trying to hang curtains in our new flat, Lynn fell and broke her left wrist. That resulted in surgery yesterday to install a titanium plate at Max Hospital in Dehradun... and that's where we are now. We've spent two nights in the hospital, where I am serving as Lynn's "attendant". We will be discharged and go home either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Apart from a likely future post about our new flat, and maybe one about Soni's wedding, there won't be time to blog about what we've listed above. We do have four more sets of images from our visit to Kolkata to share here. 

Thousands of people from poor rural areas of India continue to flood into Kolkata in an effort to better their lives. Many of these folk create homes and establish businesses on city sidewalks. So, the first slideshow is entitled Living and Working on the Streets of Kolkata. The second set shows some of the Beautiful Faces we saw on Kolkata Streets. The third captures a few of the myriad ways of Moving People and Goods on Kolkata Streets. The final slide show is just a potpourri of Kolkata - Calcutta images.

Adra, Raghunathpur and Joychandi Pahar: 50 Year Old Memories Come Alive

This is another post with immediate family firmly in mind. A few other blog followers have also spent time in Adra and Raghunathpur and may especially appreciate the images. There are three slide shows. All images were taken last Friday during our visit to Adra and Raghunathpur. All were taken either by Lynn, or at least with her camera, because Paul had left the memory card for his camera in his computer in Kolkata!

T'he first slide show is of a walkabout in Adra--on both sides of the tracks. First there's the railway colony, which is remains a lovely place to live, little changed over the years. Then there's a walk along the Adra bazaar side of the tracks.

The second set of pictures starts on the 7 km ride from Adra to Raghunathpur, via the Joychandi rail crossing, by cycle rickshaw. Most of the photos in this long set are of the Raghunathpur mission compound. There has been considerable development on the compound over the years with the addition of a girls' boarding and Bengali medium school. The bungalow our family moved into in January of 1958, however, has hardly changed at all! Indeed, I remember much of the furniture!!! Since no one is currently living in the bungalow, we had free reign and enjoyed wonderful hospitality there.

Photos in the third show share our afternoon walk up to the relatively new temple on Joychandi Pahar. This outing was extra special because we were escorted by Assim Gope, his wife, two of his children, as well as a niece and nephew. Assim is the same age as Paul's brothers, and was a playmate on the compound when we lived in Raghunathpur. Assim's father Mangal was for many years the compound handyman. The street just outside what used to be the back gate of the compound is where Mangal's children have all built homes.