Yet another update, yet another Fort City

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

I’ve been busy, at work, for a change, hehehe. I still have no inspiration to blog. But I think I’m no different than a lot of other bloggers. It comes a time when inspiration and ideas just don’t …happen! especially when you let the serious things of life (like work) interfere with your daydreaming. So, to honour my resolve of having at least 2 updates per month (and November seems to be zooming by pretty fast), here’s the easy way out – more pictures, more fort cities…

On the work front, I've discovered the secret of generating work in Quality Assurance – string up a line of Audits! And so I have, 16 audits down, 16 more to go, and audit reports for all of that. On the average I take 1 bloody day to do 1 bloody report, so it’ll take me up to some time the end of December to finish off that lot. Oh, …and I forgot, my last minute assignment. Shit!


Jain Sculptures on the way up to Gwalior Fort. Jainism is a religion in India which appeared about the same time as Buddhism (I think... don't quote me). The holy men of Jainism frequently go around stark naked. No, I'm not kidding, and yes, I've seen it a couple of times before. Never seen any holy women though...


The Temple of Doom (...hahaha kidding), a hybrid South / North Indian Hindu temple atop Gwalior Fort


A Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) atop Fortress Gwalior


The Gurdwara comes equipped with a swimming pool...

For the record, this is the fastest post I've ever done - come on guys, leave a comment, show me that you people still care about yours truly here, hehehe...

A Hidden Place

The Tombs of Kings of Orchha, by the river Betwa
What a name huh? Orchha… like some infestation of Orcs…

This is a peaceful little place tucked in northern Madhya Pradesh in the middle of India. Its name is Orchha (meaning Hidden Place), and it used to be the capital of one of the many independent kingdoms in India in the past. I like this place. It's cool (it was winter, ok?). I got to eat some ‘kimchi’ fried rice, some creation the local restaurants adopted from the Korean tourists I suppose (nice for a change, especially when you’re eating some sort of ‘dal’ or ‘roti’ every meal). It is fairly small, not crowded, not touristy and not too dirty. The one thing that attracted me most however, is the immense and almost-deserted Chaturbhuj Temple – that feels like something right out of the Prince of Persia. Give the Purple Scroll (50 rupees) to the Dark Acolytes (unofficial guardian-boys) of the Temple and they shall let you into the dark, steep and narrow staircases that lead you up to the scary upper chambers of the temple, with low and narrow pathways that open up to thin air, staircases formed by pieces of stone sticking out of the wall (and half of that broken), dark dank chambers, vertical drops straight down to the ground 100 feet below… and amazing views of the surrounding at the roof. If only I could climb the spires… where the Skeleton King of Orchha was said to reside…


Temple of the Skeleton King (kidding - Chaturbhuj Temple at night)


Gearing up to face the terrors within…


Castle Orchha


Palace of Emperor Jahangir (Jahangir Mahal)


The Dark Elves (construction ladies) of Jahangir


The Palace of Glass (Sheesh Mahal)

Sex at the Temples

Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho

These are pictures from Khajuraho in the state of Madhya Pradesh, a huge state somewhere in the middle of India. Khajuraho is a peaceful and rustic little village with not too many irritating guides. That is why this is one of my favourite places in India. Its main attraction(s) are a group of huge ancient temples which will put Playboy and Penthouse to shame. Don’t believe me, come visit yourself.


What ancient sculptors think about when they're at work... (not much difference from nowadays huh?)


Lakshmana Temple




Anu and the Vishwanath Temple, Khajuraho


Entertainment to suit the masses –
Bottom tiers (for the children) – procession of animals & everyday life;
Middle tiers (for young adults) – err…‘a pictorial guide to the kama sutra’;
Upper tiers (for senior citizens) – gods & deities


The Vamana Temple and I


Cycling in Khajuraho