Following recent pix of recent friends…
a journey to laid back Mandalay
City of Buddhas
standing
seated
where couples visit temples
to show respect to men of the cloth
Abbots and their retinue
and younger ones devoted to their calling
I attended an International literary festival
Authors
and readers
many wearing war paint
some modestly
others with abandon
And fellow photographers
as well as little Buddhas
Simon and Melissa
Gareth
Ajit
David and Robin
Sunita with MaryAnna
Satish
Don
Sister
Pradeep
Martin
Sonam
Josef
Peter and Jangchub
It’s a laid back place
with an old world charm
Exemplified by the gracious generosity of my host and old friend Ajit Mehra, owner of the Ritz Hotel
over which Lord Krishna presides
Yes, people are laid back in Amritsar
Siesta is still a respected tradition
by all
Photography thrives at night
But food comes first
Everyone is served
and all take turns serving
chapatis
and dal
and water
Then comes the cleaning up
followed by digestion
the guards protect us
as evening prayers are said
and finally a little sweeping up