Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
7 photos that make me laugh, think and dream
1. A photo that makes me dream
The photo above was taken from my hotel room across Lake Pichola, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India — one of the dreamiest places I have ever been. It’s all Maharajah Palaces and winding bazaars and rooftop restaurants. I want to live there. Maybe I will ….
2. A photo that tells a story
On a different trip to Rajasthan (I’ve been about five times!), I had my friend take this photo of me touching the sati hand prints at the entrance to Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. The wives of a Maharajah killed in battle made these hand prints on their way out of the fort to be immolated on his funeral pyre. This practise was called sati, and is illegal in India today. Thank goodness.
At Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
3. A photo that makes me laugh
In 2010 I went to the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, India. It’s the largest spiritual gathering on earth and attracts millions of pilgrims, pandits, sadhus and others. I spent one afternoon hangin’ within the Naga Sadhus — India’s famous naked holy men — where I snapped this.
Naga Sadhu, Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, India 2010
4. A photo I am proud of
I snapped this at the beginning of my walk along the entire length of Marine Drive in Mumbai, where I ended up at dusk at Chowpatty Beach. I’m just surprised this is so awesome, that’s all I can say. I wish I could figure out how I took it, so I can take more like it.
Marine Drive, Mumbai, India
5. A photo that takes my breath away
Truly, I don’t have the photographic skill for this category. You have to SEE the world’s third-highest mountain, Kanchendzonga, looming over Darjeeling, India to believe it. And it doesn’t happen often that you get a clear day like this. I was very lucky, the day I went up Tiger Hill to see this mountain at sunrise … luckier still because it was my birthday.
6. A photo that makes me think
When I first traveled in India, in 2005-06, I had just started blogging. My readers wanted me to write a post about what India’s “really like.” So one day I walked from my hotel room in Chennai directly east until I got to the beach and snapped whatever I saw. I made a photo essay of the result, and this was one of the photos I took.
On the street in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
7. A photo that is mouth-watering
I hope you don’t get the idea from this photo that I don’t like Indian food! Nothing could be further from the truth. I just don’t take a lot of food shots and this one turned out well, so…. It’s very recent, from last weekend, in Halifax. I went there to cover the Titanic centenary events, and each night ate a Titanic-themed dinner. This is Oysters a la Russe from the 5 Fishermen restaurant. I don’t eat meat, but I do love seafood.
Oysters a la Russe, 5 Fishermen, Halifax, Canada
Mariellen Ward is a freelance travel writer whose personal style is informed by a background in journalism, a dedication to yoga and a passion for sharing the beauty of India’s culture and wisdom with the world. She has traveled for about a year altogether in India and publishes an India travel blog, Breathedreamgo.com. Mariellen also writes for magazines and newspapers.
