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Saturday, January 31, 2015

{Part IV of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Solan, Himachal Pradesh}

From the visit to one of the Maharaja's residences in my previous post, see below, we now continue to Solan in Himachal Pradesh State.
Nature in March starts looking at its best, lots of fruit trees are blooming on the slopes of the hills.
Husband Pieter did climb atop of these beacons for having a better view of the valley.
Here is the car in which they traveled, with the driver to the left.
Another Dutch gentleman on the right, who also had opted for traveling to the rural areas instead of staying close to the University of Delhi's Research.
Just to give you an oversight, from the Patiala, Punjab capital they were now heading towards Solan where the red dot is, in the Himachal Pradesh State.
Center top shows you The Great Himalayan National Park
Transport...
Children on their way to school, carrying the typical Himachal Pradesh book bag, made from jute thread.
Mountains and a quite different Flora...
A look down below the valley where a river peacefully weaves its way.
A little bit more to the right and amazing to see cacti growing here!
What a view!
How they cultivated all those terrasses in the mountains!
Makes one feel like being on top of the world...
Clouds are coming in here.
Narrow walk ways through the fields...
Yes, and here people are living!
Homes...
Visiting the Department of Agriculture
Husband Pieter is the one wearing the batik shirt and the brown leather bag...
He is checking the compost, the substrate for mushroom growing.
In front of the Department of Agriculture with Dr. C.L. Jandaik, one of Pieter's former students.
Looking at their mushroom growing facility...
One of the girls working inside such a mushroom growing room.
Another girl watering the mushrooms...
Looking away at the snow capped Himalayas...
Snow capped Himalayas and huge deodar ceders with catle.
Marked in yellow: The Great Himalayan National Park...
Related links:
{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singhm, Patiala Punjab} | previous post by me
{Part II of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part I of Husband Pieter's Trip to India  - Arrival in New Delhi} | previous post by me
{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India} | previous post by me


34 comments:

  1. such incredible terrain - as you said, terrace farming is amazing! so sad the living conditions for so many at that time. i hope they have improved since.

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    1. Dearest Theresa,
      Oh, this trip did therefore make such a tremendous impression on husband Pieter! Doubt if they have improved much...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  2. Dearest Mariette,
    great pictures from Pieter's trip to India.....
    Thank you for sharing!
    Wishing you both a wonderful weekend,
    Love and hugs,
    Claudia

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    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Thank you, Pieter always has been an excellent photographer!
      Love to share such incredible journeys with all my readers as it is so different from the ordinary tourist trips.
      No, we certainly don't have a wonderful weekend with Mom's Solemn Requiem Mass starting in about 10-½ hours. Being more than 8,400 km away from that is not easy!
      Sending you blessings,
      Mariette

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  3. Beautiful surroundings. Must have been a great trip!

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    1. Dearest Ada,
      Thank you and yes, that was such an incredible experience, far different from any vacation or ordinary tourist experience.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  4. Liebe Mariette,

    von meinem Besuch bei dir,
    bleibt ein lieber Gruß hier.

    Elisabeth

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    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Danke vielmals, liebe Grüsse sind immer sehr wilkommen!
      Liebe Grüsse,
      Mariette

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  5. Hello Mariette, These are really magical photographs, especially those including the mountains, and the slight aging in the colors this time has enhanced the pictures with a mysterious quality that is very beautiful. We got a glimpse here of some mushroom beds; I hope that soon we will see some photos of the growing plants!
    --Jim

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    1. Dearest Jim,
      Thank you and yes they are mysteriously magical looking. I had to scan old slides and they have been across the Atlantic 3 times. But they certainly did not loose their stories.
      In regard to the mushroom growing, there will be some more insights in the end of this story but not in a way that you would expect!
      Sending you kindest regards across the ocean,
      Mariette

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  6. Dearest Mariette; Wow, another such impressive series of pictures from India. I never knew about the usage of the word 'terrass' sure it must take a lot of labor! The houses really surprised me and can never imagine but the faces of kids with their tradition bag are sweet world widely♡♡♡ I hope their mushroom is growing well helping their living condition better.

    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Dearest Miyako,
      Impressive for the beautiful mountain views yes, but if you see still children and people walking barefoot that kind of makes one cringe... Stark contrasts with the spoiled rotten western world and yet, the biggest part of the world's population is living in mediocre and even bad housing. It sure has been quite an eye opener!
      Terrasses we also had in Indonesia in the mountains and sure that caused lots of work for leveling them over the ages! Again, tough life in those parts of the world and back breaking too as no mechanical equipment can do the labor for the people.
      Sending you hugs and love,
      Mariette

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  7. Liebe Mariette,
    ich habe alles nachgelesen. Eindrucksvolle Fotos von einer Landschaft,
    die wirklich magische Züge hat. Danke fürs zeigen.

    Einen guten Start ins Wochenende wünscht dir
    Irmi

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    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Ja, sehr Eindrucksvoll von etwas sehr magisches. Wenn es nur keine Armut geben würde!
      Das Wochenende ist kein leichtes wenn morgen, eure Zeit 10:30 Uhr, die feierliche Requiem-Messe für meine Liebe Mutter sein wird auf 8,400 km Abstand...
      Ganz liebe Grüsse,
      Mariette

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  8. Liebe Mariette,
    durch die Reisen deines lieben Mannes, deine interessanten Berichte können auch wir
    eintauchen in eine fremde Welt - uns ergötzen an den wundervollen Fotos - ein Stück weit ein anderes Land und seine Menschen kennen lernen -
    danke dafür -

    liebe Grüße - Ruth

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    1. Liebe Ruth,
      Aber mit Freude teile ich mit euch alle diese Reisenberichte und Fotos meines lieben Mannes. Er hat soviel und auch so oft darüber erzählt weil es einen riesen Eindruck auf ihm gemacht hat.
      Besonders das andere Land mit seinem Menschen die öfters eine sehr harte Existenz haben. Was wir beide davon gelernt haben ist vor allem Zufriendenheit!
      Liebe Grüsse,
      Mariette

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  9. Dearest Mariette, so nice to india through your blog post :) solan is very close to dharamsala .. That is my mom's hometown . Himachal is very beautiful and I'm hoping to go back someday. Hope you are having a lovely weekend :)

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    1. Dearest Pallavi,
      Quite interesting for coming almost full circle for you on such a blog-journey! Himachal is indeed beautiful and I wish I could have seen it myself. But like you, I always enjoyed husband Pieter's photos and stories.
      No, my weekend is by no means lovely as within 8-½ hours the solemn Requiem Mass for my dear Mom will take place at over 8,400 km distance from me...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  10. Wow what great pictures. The view is amazing! I didn't know there were cacti growing there :-)

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    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Oh those slides that I scanned are quite an eye opener and yes, I too had to have a double take at those cacti! Quite a surprise to me as well but I also learned that in the foothills of the Himalayas they grow mango trees. We keep learning about our surprising planet earth.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  11. lieve Mariette ...
    Dat zijn weer mooie foto's van je man en zijn reis na India ...
    Een fijn weekend
    veel liefs

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    1. Lieve Nieneke,
      Jazeker, het zijn prachtige foto's die elk op hun manier een verhaalt vertellen zonder woorden zelfs. Een pracht reis met ontzettend veel indrukken.
      Ja meid, dit is een van de zwaarste weekends voor mij omdat morgen om 10:30u nederlandse tijd, de plechtige requiem mis voor mijn moeder plaats vindt...Zó ver weg.
      Liefs,
      Mariette

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  12. Replies
    1. Dearest Jo-Anne,
      They sure are amazing and tell us quite some stories.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  13. Dearest Mariette,
    On the trip Natare in March starts looking at it's best, lots of fruit rees are blooming on the sloperof the hill. Husband piter did climle atop of thesrs for having a better view of the valley!
    And Here is the car in which they traveld with the driver to the left .the university of delhis research.
    The depertments of Agiculture Pieter is the one wearing the batikshirt and the briwn leather bag.also cheching the compast the subrtrate for MUSHROOM GROWING. The Department of Ageiculture with
    The Dr Jan Daik one of Pieter fomer students.
    The Yellow the Grat Himalayan was beautiful national park. I has very much in my life thank you very much Dear Pieter & Mariette both of you!
    Hugs and kisses to you!
    Michiko

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    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Yes a lovely awakening nature in the month of March.
      The nature and also its people were such a great experience for husband Pieter and it is my pleasure to share it here with my many readers.
      Sending you hugs and blessings from both of us.
      Mariette

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  14. Leuk die oude foto's, ik vraag me af of er veel veranderd is in al die jaren. Ik heb geen idee of het een beetje verstedelijkt is.

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    1. Beste Marianne,
      We vrezen dat het nog voor het merendeel hetzelfde gebleven is. Maar mooie herinneringen voor Pieter aan een fantastische omgeving.
      Toen jij dit schreef was mijn Moeder's Requiem Mis bijna afgelopen. Van 10:30u tot 12:00u jullie tijd. Erg mooi, we zagen het later via professionele video.
      Liefs,
      Mariette
      Liefs,
      Mariette

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  15. Wonderful old photographs, Mariette!
    Very interesting to get an idea of that trip.
    I have seen similar cultivated terraces in Sri Lanka where they grow tea.
    Great post, I wish you are well :)
    Hugs from France!

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    1. Dearest Noushka,
      Those are valuable old photographs and despite the quality for that time, they still can tell us their story.
      Yes, we (I) are well, we got to view the solemn requiem mass from Mom, about half an hour after you wrote this comment...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  16. Dear Mariette,
    wonderful pictures from Pieter's trip to India!
    The view from the mountains is amazing!
    Thank you for sharing!Wishing you a lovely weekend!Hugs!
    Dimi...

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    1. Dearest Dimi,
      Thank you and you are more than welcome as we love to share this with all readers.
      The Himalayan mountains are just fabulous.
      We had a very peaceful Sunday after the Saturday of Mom's solemn requiem mass.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  17. That terraced farming is so ingenious! And more beautiful children!

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    1. Dearest Deborah,
      Indeed, both of us have lived and worked in areas with such terraced farming, also on the island of Java, Indonesia you see this. Those children are very beautiful and I've had mushroom harvesters while working in India, that could have won any beauty contest; IF they only had been given a chance...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...