Hooray for friends! Monday, 4/4/22

Travel broadens the mind, it's said.  True and, for many, travel nets us new friends.  Since retiring, Jimmy and I have taken a number of Road Scholar trips abroad -- one of which was to India for roughly three weeks in November 2017.  Hard to believe that was almost five years ago.  Denise was on that tour with us.  I'm not sure how this works, but I'm glad it does -- how you can just "click" with a person, someone who becomes a friend, a pal.  That's what happened with Denise and Jimmy and I.

Everybody knows COVID put the kibosh on traveling for at least one, more like two, years, so the last time we saw Denise was in 2018 when she visited NorCal.  She lives in Massachusetts, so we don't get to visit in person very often.  She's back in NorCal, and we were happy to spend the better part of today on the Buttermilk Bend trail in South Yuba River St Pk, followed by lunch at Tofanelli's in Grass Valley.  Fun times again!

Cool morning start, morphed into a warm and sunny afternoon.  Here we are to greet you.  We were on a wildflower quest, hoping enough spring color would be left before hot weather turned flowers into seeds.

We weren't disappointed, either.  The hike was more of a walk, with plenty of stops to admire a flower or take a picture, chatting as we went along.  Exactly what we wanted.  Lupines (above) continued to be a major eye-catcher. 

Holy cannoli -- another school of fish!  Bet one would taste good on my dinner plate, but this is a state park and no fishing allowed.  Probably the fish know that and feel safe at this spot.  I might be kidding about the fish knowing.

A few wildflowers were on the wane, but others popped up to take their place.  L-R, top:  Pretty Faces, Canyon Dudleya.  Bottom L-R:  Wally Basket, Common Hareleaf (with visitors).

The South Yuba River is still flowing fast, though the water level is down.  It must feel good to sit on the rocks with friends, catching some rays, soaking up that Vitamin D, and watching the river roll by.

Poppies and Lupines, the pair's a real winner!

Especially en masse.

By gum, another newbie for Jimmy and me at this park.  Standing on the bridge above French Corral Creek (a tributary), we spied a big Fire Newt in shallow water.  It's maybe six inches or so, good sized.

Last time we were on this trail, the group saw one or two Chinese Houses.  Today's treat was a whole city of Chinese Houses perched on a hillside!  We've never seen this wildflower outside of this park.  Wowzers!

If you're feeling ambitious and don't mind hopping across the boulders to get "there," take your gold pan with you and give it a try.  The water level is low and perhaps, just perhaps, you can find a nugget (or a flake) in your pan.  The fella to the right of the red checkmark is trying his luck.  Enlarge the pic.  Panning for gold is allowed in the state park, but no sluices or hydraulics, etc.  Hands and pans only.

We walked to the end of the trail and back, glad when we saw our cars in the parking lot (getting hungry).  Really nice place to walk/hike, always within earshot of the surging Yuba as it tumbles downstream, always so scenic and thronged with wildflowers.  I'm pretty sure Denise enjoyed it; I know we always do. 

Denise and I rode together to Tofanelli's, stopping first at Bitney Springs to refill water bottles with sweet spring water.  Oh my -- look at the food on those plates!  We did our lunches justice, and I'll tell you that Denise was the only one who asked for a "go" box.  Jimmy and I, well, we polished off those burgers (oink oink).

We had a lovely time.  Thanks for coming to see us, Denise.  Fingers crossed -- hope we get to travel together again.  Maybe we'll see you this summer!

Reflections and reunions, November 2018

As I sit here looking out my wide dining room window at my favorite Pacific Dogwood, its autumn leaves now fading to dull pink from flaming red, above, I'm thinking of the folks who've lost everything in the Camp Fire conflagration.  This horrific fire is burning about 50 miles northwest of our house in Nevada City, as the crow flies.  The latest stats are:

• Location: Butte County
• 135,000 acres burned
• 35 percent contained
• 51 fatalities confirmed, 3 firefighters injured
• 8,817 structures destroyed, 7,600 of them homes

With 7,600 homes destroyed, that's a lot of displaced people.  Like most everyone with TV and Internet, I've seen the videos and photos of harrowing escapes.  The burned-out devastation is heartbreaking to see.  So many fatalities.  And the tragedy goes on.  Many of us around the state (which has other hellish wildfires to fight at the same time) are pitching in to do what we can, rounding up supplies and gift cards to distribute to those in need.  Anyone in the world can give -- there are plenty of organizations that are collecting for people who suddenly have nothing but the clothes they were wearing as they fled the flames.

And then, I have to count my blessings.  November is America's Thanksgiving month.  Jimmy and I realize we have much to be thankful for in our lives.  We have a comfortable home, food to eat and clothes to warm us, families who love us, and friends who care.  We have our health, though we're not young by any stretch of the imagination, and we can travel.  We are grateful.

Randy and Sharon

Speaking of travel, most of our international trips have been with Road Scholar, a tour company that combines learning with adventure.  We've never been disappointed with/by them.  Aside from the obvious benefit of seeing new places and faces and cultures, one of the best perks of traveling is making new friends.  In that, we've also been blessed.  This fall, three separate Road Scholar trip friends have visited us.  Last May, Randy and Sharon (from Georgia) were in our awesome Macchu Pichu/Galapagos trip.  In September, they traveled to NorCal and asked to meet up and maybe go hiking.  With pleasure!

On Sept 29th, we met at the Sagehen trailhead.  Jimmy and me, Randy and Sharon, and their friend, Robert, from Montana, enjoyed a beautiful afternoon on the trail, followed by early dinner (or late lunch) at Moody's in Truckee.  It was a lovely day and we all had a great time.  Thanks for coming to California!

Fantastic tree color and wonderfully clear that day in the high country.

On October 18th, we got together with Garrett at Awful Annie's in Auburn for an early lunch.  We three were in the same amazing Australia/New Zealand trip back in Nov/Dec 2016.  Garrett lives in Washington and flew to NorCal to visit a relative.  We appreciated that he wanted to pay us a visit.  Nice playing catch-up, and thanks for lunch, Garrett!

Today, Denise who lives in Massachusetts, came to our place with her sister, Heidi (who lives locally).  We'd planned on going to Lefty's for lunch, but it was much too smoky to go out.  So, we made the best of a last minute lunch of sandwiches and chips and condiments, and mandarin oranges from Newcastle (yummy, thanks, Denise).  Plus, I'd made an apple crisp the night before and a lemon icebox pie this morning for Jimmy's birthday.  You can see we did all right!

A year ago, we "did" a three-week Road Scholar trip to India with Denise and formed a fast friendship.  She is a fun person to be around, with a neat sense of humor.  Who knows why we were laughing, above, but we had a happy day.  We'll stay in touch ....  Meeting Heidi was a plus.  As a group we sang Happy Birthday to Jimmy, then he blew out four candles placed in the meringue on the lemon icebox pie.  Four seemed like a nice round number, never mind how many should really be atop his dessert.  

As I said earlier, we are grateful.

Time to say Good-bye ... Sat/Sun, 11/18-19

It's time to wrap this up, my friends.  Today was our last full day in India, though technically we don't leave till the wee hours of tomorrow morning.  Jimmy and I were up very early, eased down to the hotel cafe for a cuppa coffee and then left via a back gate to go walking on the wide boardwalk bordering the water.  We knew we'd be sitting a lot in the upcoming days, and wanted to stretch our legs and see one more slice of India by ourselves.  I took a single picture on my phone (below).  He was in the same position on our return!

We worked up an appetite and were ready for another phenomenal buffet breakfast.  The Bubble Cafe (in the Gateway Hotel) did the trick.  After, the group boarded the bus for Kerala Folklore Museum -- a three-story, staggering museum "temple of art" chock full of so many pieces that our eyes went berserk.    

Introduction.

Top:  Wooden "Buffallow" and "Nandi Bull; Face Writing.

Bottom:  Hindu Angel, made of wood, Early 20th Century; Ananthasayanam; Garuda.

Glass Painting.

Walls and walls of Face Writing and Masks.

If you see Frankie in her blue shirt,

you can begin to realize how much is in this room alone.

String Puppets.

Jesus Christ.

Card reads:  "Christ handcuffed, Presented before Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate"

Early 19th Century, Teakwood

Life is imitating art!

 

* * * * *

I was admonished (again) by a guard about taking photos, this time inside the Dutch Palace ... just because signs are posted that say NO PHOTOS.  Easy to forget when I love what I'm seeing and want to save it via camera, since the brain isn't reliable!  Sorry, not trying to break the rules!   But seeing the intricate murals in the Dutch Palace and the flooring, so amazing.  You'll have to go to India yourself to see them in person!  The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1555.  The Dutch carried out extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called Dutch Palace.  Okay.

Jimmy and I had a light lunch, and then the bus returned to "Jewtown."  Some wanted to see the old Jewish Cemetery, others wanted to go into the exotic spice market, shelves lined with ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper, etc., and everybody wanted to walk through the narrow streets, maybe window shop.  The shopkeepers are aggressive (come in, come in!), and at the spice market I was thrown off by a girl "assigned" to help me, hovering inches away.  Jimmy waited outside.  I didn't buy anything, but had a good time milling around this area of Kochi.

After dinner, we had to pack (boo hiss) carefully; it would be a long night.  We tucked the (stinky) hot weather clothes away, and hauled out cool weather duds, 'cause the temps in Athens are dramatically chillier.  Luggage outside our hotel room door by 11pm, but we didn't leave for Kochi airport till 12:15 am, and then we waited till 4:30 am for our flight to Dubai.  More waiting, and then a flight to Athens ....

I circled where we visited.  The three at top are Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Are you curious, as I was, about two basic differences between India and the USA?

India's area is 1.2 million sq miles,
US is close to 3.8 million sq miles.  The US is three times larger (a surprise to me).
India's population is 1.341 Billion,
US has 323 Million.  India has more than four times more people.
Overpopulation is a big problem.  Illiteracy and unemployment, as well.  Major challenges!

The gang's all here, almost.  Charles missed the group photo at the Taj Mahal.  This trip -- The Best of India:  Treasures of the North and South -- fulfilled its mission by showing us many of India's finest treasures, her historic temples, magnificent palaces, and places like the Stepwells, and Road Scholar threw in attractions like the Dera retreat and houseboating on Kerala Backwaters.

Jimmy and I agree that we liked the south of India, and were disappointed in the "Golden Triangle" of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur ... because of the lung-searing smog, the crushing crowds and insane traffic.  The Taj Mahal, which Jimmy really wanted to see, was enveloped in air pollution -- in the pic above, it should stand out.

In the north, Road Scholar took the group to important landmarks and we did fun things like the bicycle rickshaw, and having dinner with local families.  We feel they did their best, despite conditions out of their control.  If I was them, however, I'd think twice about continuing a program that included taking people to cities like Delhi that beat out Beijing for the absolute worst air quality, anywhere, ever.  I'm being honest.  We were able to experience a part of the world we never thought we'd see and that makes us happy.  Except for hurting my back on the bus, and my comments above, overall, I liked the trip.  Jimmy agrees.

Next up?  Greece!

Kochi, Friday afternoon, 11/17/17

Kochi -- or Cochin -- the last port of call of Vasco de Gama (who knew?) will be our final stop on this amazing journey through India.  Situated on the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula in the oh-so-scenic state of Kerala and very close to the bottom of India, Kochi has been heralded as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea."  Kochi was an important spice trading center on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th Century on ... about the same time Christopher Columbus was sailing the Ocean Blue looking for a cut-thru to the East Indies looking for a chance to enter the spice trade by sailing westward from Spain.

We wouldn't see too much of the city, as we only had maybe 24 hours here, but the time was well spent, near the water, traipsing the area in Fort Kochi, and examining several houses of worship.

Again, party signs everywhere, like the election signs that clutter front yards in America.  But to Jimmy and me (and others), it's very surprising to see the hammer and sickle flag on every fence post.

Some are better than others, but it's a relief whatever their condition.

The bus ride from our houseboat in Thottapally to the City of Kochi was roughly three hours, so you can bet your bippy this was a welcome stop!

On our arrival, with the bus parked, we walked to the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1538, although Wikipedia states the date as 1567, and the slab below says 1344.  Paradesi Synagogue is an active synagogue, but the number of Jewish people in Kochi has dwindled to 5 elderly members.  (The literal meaning of the term Paradesi is "foreigners," applied to the synagogue because it was built by Sephardic or Spanish-speaking Jews.)  The synagogue is located in an area still known as Jewtown, not an especially politically correct term.  We were allowed inside, but no shoes or photos allowed.

The clock tower was added in 1770 and was restored between 1998-1999.  (Clock, above)

I added this photo only so you could see where the restaurant is located.

Our stomachs demanded food next.  Resurrected from the remains of a Victorian shipyard, Brunton Boatyard is a hotel modeled on the old colonial buildings of Cochin, and it was here that we stopped for lunch.  The restaurant, with its high arched windows overlooked the Vembanad Lake waters.

Left, from front:  Gene, Kathy and Bob (and then we can't see faces)

Right, from front:  Judy, Art, Loren, Jean,

Far table, back right:  Ibby, Bernice, Phil and Ann 

Today's lunch.

Enlarge it to read it better; use your back arrow to return to this post.

Left, from front:  Claire, George, Denise

Right, from front:  Jimmy, me, Alice and Charles

And ... Hi, Frankie, at the head of the table! 

The caramel custard made with coconut milk and jaggery*, served with grilled, thin-sliced pineapple with shredded coconut, was what I liked best about my meal!  *Google it 😊!

Indian Bird of Paradise.

Gorgeous flower colors in Southern India.

After lunch we walked to the waterside to see the huge cantilevered fishing nets, called Chinese Fishing Nets, brought to India by the some of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast.  Installed on land, a more formal name is "shore operated lift nets."  The nets are set up on teak and bamboo poles and now they've become a big tourist attraction.  Tides influence when the nets are lowered into the water, and they're not left in long, maybe a half hour, then raised.

Nearby were lots of fish-for-sale stalls.  Fish and et cetera ....

A few of our group volunteered to try the raising/lowering of the net.  Jimmy is in the purple shirt. He said it wasn't too difficult with several people working, but he wouldn't want to do it all day!  I didn't try it.

Who needs a lawn mower or yard maintenance,

when friendly goats will crop the greens for free!

The City of Kochi includes mainland, islands and peninsulas.  Ferry boats connect all.  Our group tramped around Fort Kochi, bordering on the Arabian Sea, toward Mattancherry Palace.  The streets were lined with a mix of old houses built in the colonial periods by the Portuguese, Dutch and British.  The trees that had been planted many years earlier had matured into wonderful shade-givers, almost forming a canopy over the roads. 

Road Scholars walking left,

"Red" marchers heading the other direction.

St Francis Church was built in 1503 by the Portuguese as a Catholic church.

Alice and Jimmy sit in pews admiring the inside.  Overhead are punkahs, a type of large swinging fan fixed to the ceiling used to cool in the tropical heat, and originally pulled by a "coolie or punkah wallah," but later operated by electricity.  These punkahs are probably no longer being used, with the advent of A/C.  I've never seen pews made of a woven rattan before, but in a hot climate, it makes sense.

Vasco de Gama died in 1524 during his third visit to Kochi, and was buried in this Church. After 14 years, his body was taken back to Portugal. However, his burial spot inside the church is clearly marked out and has drawn visitors ever since, including us.

"Buddha Belly" -- Bambusa Vulgaris Bamboo.

Very cool looking, isn't it?

Anurag in the front of the bus -- our guide in India.

(I caught him not wearing his customary smile.)

Road Scholar has a good leader with Anurag.

Bridges are another lifeline to keep us connected.

We're on our way to the hotel.

We finally checked into the Gateway Hotel in Ernakulam, greeted as we have been at every hotel by a lovely local woman in sari offering us a traditional greeting that included placing a "bindi" vermillion dot on our foreheads.  Following that, a tray circulated with a most welcome cool juice drink.  Luggage was taken care of and the Road Scholars repaired to their rooms.  Look at the terrific view from our room.  

This evening we shared our "farewell dinner," here at the hotel.  Course upon course was placed in front of each person (some of it too spicy for me, as usual) and some very tasty.  Toasts were made, and most of us stood to give enthusiastic expression of our trip in general, and Anurag in particular (for putting up with us!) ... for being a good friend to us in India.

Tomorrow we have one more morning in Kochi.  Somehow we'll have to rearrange our suitcases to hold everything, and keep out what we'll need for the long airport wait and the flight to Athens.  Most of these clothes we won't want to see again for a long time!  Hard to believe our India visit will be over tomorrow.  How do these trips zip by so fast?