Hanuman - Delhi - "Somewhere Saturday"

Today for "Somewhere Saturday" we'll take another look at my visit to Delhi in April. Delhi is such an overwhelming physical experience that sights like this incredible statue of the monkey god Hanuman seem almost normal. I'll just describe the temperature (about 35 degrees Celsius/95 degrees F.) and the sounds: Traffic in Delhi is very intimate. The personal space around your vehicle is measured in centimeters or inches, only a few of either. Since vehicles drive so close together they must communicate well and constantly and this is done with the vehicle horn. Many vehicles have signs painted on them inviting other motorists to "Horn Please" and everyone seems happy to oblige. It's like a mobile symphony of tooting. Then there are the smells - plenty of carbon monoxide (but less than a few years ago thanks to the introduction of natural gas powered buses) but also a happy mix of incense from little roadside temples and shrines and the spicy smells of street food venders' cooking. In such an ambience it is not too surprising when this enormous statue of Hanuman appears towering over the elevated Metro line. It's 108 feet (32 meters) tall and has a temple inside with the entrance between the God's feet. It has its own website that you can visit by clicking HERE.

Cuteness

Yesterday's duckling shares his little pond with this pair of Painted Turtles. Looking at yesterday's duckling and today's turtles raises the old question of the nature of beauty or, perhaps in this case, the nature of cuteness. Why is the duckling cute and the turtles are decidedly not cute? These are all just animals looking like they are supposed to look after all but why is the duckling so appealing in comparison with the turtles? It's not just age - baby turtles are only slightly cuter than adults. But I suspect that age has a lot to do with it in many cases. Who can resist a kitten? Or a puppy? But the question remains as to why a kitten or puppy is so attractive and a young centipede is not.

Duckling

A couple of small pools in the Abkhazi Garden are home to this little fellow and about eight brothers and sisters, all looking equally chipper. Mom and Dad Mallard were in attendance too as their brood took to the water.

Abkhazi Garden

Earlier this week we went for lunch to the Abkhazi Garden. The garden was formerly the home of a couple with a romantic history. He was a prince. There was a love affair in Paris. They were separated by war and imprisoned, but ultimately re-united. They settled in Victoria and devoted their final years to creating beauty in the garden around their house. That beauty is now wonderfully maintained by a corps of volunteers. After a stroll in the garden we enjoyed a superb lunch in the dining room of the house. The photo above was taken in the garden and is one of those mysterious photos that happens from time to time. There is something wrong with this photo but there is also something that is very satisfying for me.

Landen Shaw - Causeway Artist

I was happy to see the Inner Harbour's youngest busker returning again this spring. His name is Landen Shaw and he's 12. He's clearly been working on his playing during the winter because while he was good last year, he's definitely better this year. Below is a little video (not mine) that shows off his skills better than the short video I did last year. Maybe we'll do another this year when the weather warms up a bit.