{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singh, Patiala Punjab}

When husband Pieter was traveling to the north of India, for the Dutch Government, following the Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus in 1981, people wanted very much for him to meet with Maharaja Amarinder Singh from Patiala, Punjab. 

One of the most impressive letters my husband Pieter ever received, were these from Maharaja Amarinder Singh...

Look at the Royal Blue with Gold in the Crest!
Sent from Motibagh Palace, Patiala in the State of Punjab, India

Soon after Pieter's English version of Modern Mushroom Growing got published, the Maharaja who was a mushroom grower himself at the time, read about it in the English Mushroom Journal.
So he very much would like to have a copy himself...

Scanning the letter with its Royal Blue & Gold embossed seal, proved not to be easy.
 But, the in detail photos, made outside with the camera at least give you a fair idea about its beauty.

A precious, royal 'mushroom' editorial review...

Motibagh Palace...

One of Pieter's English books was sent to the Motibagh Palace in Patiala.
And now, Pieter was in India, himself and only 2-½ years after this royal correspondence.

Maharaja Amarinder Singh's Father, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, also happened to have great knowledge of agriculture and horticulture.
He also had been appointed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Unfortunatly he died at the Hague on June, 1974, at the age of 61...
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh the Father of Amarinder ←click it

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala ←click it
This was one of Maharaja Amarinder Singh's residences...
BUT, as fate would have it; the Maharaja himself was not available for a personal meeting.

They did however, show Pieter this residence and these are a few of the photos he was able to take...

This is not a good photo but since the occasion was so unique, I still want to show you how such a royal blue room looked like.

Even complete with a blue bathroom...

Maharani Preneet Kaur Wedding Picture ←click it ~ For a much better glimpse of Patiala - City of Kings, please see this video below:

Hoping you enjoyed this post, about something other than ordinary... Related links:
{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

{Pleurotus Ostreatus in Wood Garden Provided Meal}

A nice and welcome surprise... finding several meals in our Wood Garden because Pleurotus Ostreatus were growing on some decaying wood.

Look at this basket full of Pleurotus Ostreatus from our own Wood Garden!

As already mentioned earlier in a post, toadstools or mushrooms do digest e.g. lignin.

Here they are digesting some old trees and producing nice fruit bodies.

Some more on the outside of the cut down tree...

Within a couple of days they are ready for harvesting.

The total picture...

Several times that did yield us a nice harvest of fresh, home grown Pleurotus Ostreatus!

You can buy those also at some grocery stores.

Showing you their lamellae, on the underside where spores are being formed for next generations.

Perfect Pleurotus Ostreatus with their beautiful lamellae.

After washing and cleaning them, removing the hard stems and cutting them, they got sauteed in olive oil. 

With some garlic, onions and Beef-less Ground Beef from Trader Joe's they make a great and heart healthy lunch!

Related links:

{FRESH Made Pasta Sauce} | previous post by me showing you the Beef-less Ground Beef from Trader Joe's.

{Olympia's Greek Moussaka Vegan Style} | previous post by me showing you the Beef–less Ground Beef from Trader Joe's

{Part II of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh}

From Delhi, husband Pieter went to Lucknow in the Uttar Pradesh State.

What beautiful eyes!

You can see the Uttar Pradesh state with its capitol, right under Nepal...

Indo - Mongoloid origin can be found in this area.

The area is rather flat at only 123 m or 404 ft above sea level.

Pieter captured this photo from a crowded train!

Near a tannery he captured these WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE Gyps bengalensis...←click it.

Women doing hard labor and still manage to wear a gracious smile!

Life is NOT easy in that part of the world...

Young men looking for a job...

Coffee or Tea shop waiting for customers.

Fresh fruits and vegetables for sale.

Vintage sewing machines...

Some people are bare footed...

Woman gathering deadwood so she can cook her family meal...

Such a trip does make one very appreciative!

Related links:
{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