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tagged: south india

india » one hundred

i could post pictures of india endlessly - series upon series of market sellers, colonial hill stations and the narrow gauge railways leading up to them, school kids running around, food, food, food and more food; even just starting to construct a list brings on a paralysis of choice.

that all said, such concerns start to pale against the memory of visiting this lady, my wife’s one remaining relative in india. the match-maker for my mother-in-law’s parents, no less. such a testament to life in a country so full of life: a hundred years old, memories clear, mind sharp, still in touch with the family diaspora, and such a sense of humour. simply inspirational.

diary | 25 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india · photo

india » side-scrolling six

for such a painted-up country, there’s a surprising lack of graffiti… that was until kochi, which is positioning itself as an art destination and is now home to a load of absolute stand-out work, gradient-shards of neon floating around stencilled birds. vexta was the tag, and now home i discover thats not a kochi local but an australian brought in by the biennale. might not fit the touring narrative quite as nicely, but inspiring for all. turns out, there’s a really nice documentation film: https://vimeo.com/61270585

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » side-scrolling five

to drive a main route india is to see this block-font scrolling past ad infinitum. i would see it in my sleep, outlined in day-glo.

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » side-scrolling four

thats not a billboard, its a house. any surface next to a road gets painted up, advertising political parties or cement.

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india · photo

india » side-scrolling three

train doors open. so great. hours spent just watching india go by, field of view unencumbered, wind on your face. but something else here, one of the great contradictions of india for me: the women so sartorially attuned in a riot of saris and decoration, the men unthinking in ill-tailored western beige.

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » side-scrolling two

advertising cement is massive in india, and the tag-lines are great: ‘as strong as family bonds’.

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » side-scrolling one

2000 kilometers on road and rail around southern india: so much was seen side-scrolling, out of the window. entry number one needs to anchor us in india, so cue the ox-cart.

diary | 18 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » dravidian six

all in all, it can all feel a bit disney-like. but there was one temple, a little of the beaten track, that was as if the gods of graphic design injected all their worth before fleeing in the face of the gaudy onslaught.

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india · photo

india » dravidian five

but these photos have been misrepresentative: for the temples are full! of! life! – especially on an auspicious day to be wed

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » dravidian four

and most wonderfully, occasionally acid trumpet

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » dravidian three

these temples err towards being mini-cities themselves, complete with street signs.

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » dravidian two

cue crazy temple gateways, so over the top you don’t even notice the gaudy neon signs so often now part of them.

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india

india » dravidian one

to india for adventures. cue the temple elephant!

diary | 14 feb 2013 | tagged: adventures · south india · photo