The term bungalow, originated in India to describe the homes the British built. At the peak of the Raj period during Victoria's reign, there were many beautiful ones in the British developed sections of the major cities. Their architecture reflects the adaptation of traditonal British aesthectics to the impact of dust and heat and monsoons. Most of them are now privately owned by Indians and reflect the gentle absorption into that culture. Gone are the immaculate lawns and gardens and fences which created a little bit of England in a faraway land. In their place are wandering livestock, hanging laundry, outside living with all it's Indian flair. I was reminded of a tightly laced Victoria lady finally getting to take her corset off....

It is an odd feeling to see lush palm trees and parched grass, but at the height of winter, there isn't much rainfall and parks and plantings have a hanging on kind of look to them. There are lots of fountains around the cities, but not many running.

Indian architecture inherited from the Mohgul influence the concept of inner worlds and many of the houses conceal inner courtyards that provide a cool oasis.

Look closer and you will see a vermillion splash of color in the center of this. It's a sunbird. It acts like a hummingbird by using its long bill to suck nectar from flowers, but is not considered one because it's wings do not rotate and beat the way a true hummingbird does. I was surprised to see how many familiar birds I found in India from crows to house sparrows and cattle egrets.

There is a nonchalance about public places that we do not have in the Western world. Our public buildings and national parks are for the most part, carefully manicured and kept and behavor in them them monitored. In India that is not the case. I guess because cows get to go whereever they please, people do to. This was at the Taj Mahal in Agra. As you can see, the cows were not the only ones that decided to take a mid day rest...