I didn’t expect to find this woman, sitting as she was, sifting grain on a patio at the Monsoon Palace as if it were an everyday thing. The Indian palace is one of Udaipur’s tourist attractions; no one lives there. If anyone had been bunking on the site, it would be the trio of masons who were assigned to complete the restoration work on the lower level. Yet she looked as if it was her palace, as did the cat curled up on her sari, its white fur stark against the fiery orange fabric.
“May I take your photo?” I asked the woman, pointing to my camera. She nodded and moved to push the cat away. “Oh no, no, it’s very sweet, I would like it in the picture.” I rushed forward to stop her and she just smiled a little and left her companion in place.
More people came out onto the deck, and they walked straight past us and to the white railing. They’d ascended the steep, switchback road to Monsoon Palace for their prize of the view over the city and Lake Pichola, just as I had. Shimmering below a sky of periwinkle blue, it was spectacular, but static. I couldn’t look into the eyes of the view. I wish I’d told the woman how beautiful she was, at her palace.
What a gorgeous photo!
It is a breathtaking photo! Love the contrast of color and the deepness in her eyes. I agree with you, a site like this can be much deeper than a landscape!
GORGEOUS!!
That is a stunning photo, Laura -and you’re also captured one of the great truths about travel: the most memorable scenes are not what the tourist offices would have you see, but those things they never mention and sometimes even try to hide, especially where there are domineering governments in power. A brief day trip to Macau (from Hong Kong when still British) and Albania (from Corfu), I realised that by turning my head the opposite direction advised by the state guide, I could have a much more enlightening tour!
That could be a great book title: “Turning My Head in the Opposite Direction.”
Magnificent work! The cat comfortably curling up by her is my favorite part. 🙂
Thanks, Lynn. I just signed up on Utrip — LOVE the video. You work with mimes! Hurray! Anyway, it looks like a very cool concept, and I’m guessing that as it gets further through its beta, more destinations will be added. Great work on the interface, very intuitive and pleasing to the eye. The development team must have followed the “visual design-driven” model of Pinterest, etc. I like it!
Goosebumps. Sometimes the best pictures/moments aren’t in the grand scenic views but in the details. Amazing.
Nice .. Looks like the cat impressed you as much as the woman 🙂
Balaji, so glad you stopped by! Well, you know me and animals. I want to take them all home with me…
I loved the comparison you make between the view and the woman. Indeed the human landscape is richer than any natural landscape.
One of my favorite parts about traveling is taking people pictures!
Ditto! It’s tricky because I don’t want to offend them or make them feel awkward, but I see these people and they are just so gorgeous (or funny or heartbreaking or whatever, depending on the situation). Sometimes I ask and sometimes I sneak a shot.
Lovely picture and wonderful write-up.
Love it.
Hi Laura, you’ve an ability to capture what eyes can’t see, and I like the way you describe and write. I checked your comment on Jodi’s site and couldn’t stop myself from following your link, intrigued as I was, since I live in Udaipur.
Great post and great blog you’ve. 🙂
Hi Harleena, I feel like I know you already from seeing your name and comments on Jodi’s site! She’s great for bringing people together. Thank you for your kind words, and very cool to learn that you live in Udaipur. We spent six nights there and truly enjoyed it. It’s a fantastic city.
I spent some time with a family in Nepal on my last trip, and tourists were forever taking pictures of the mother with her children. ‘I don’t know why they do that,’ she said to me. ‘Because you’re beautiful,’ I told her. She still didn’t get it.
But what got me – was the number of people who took her picture without asking first. How would we feel if we were walking down the street and a total stranger leapt out with a camera.
Which makes your picture all the more wonderful – she has such a private look on her face, as if she has stories that she’s not going to tell you, but you can take her picture.
Yes! And traveling gets even better when you get to sit down with someone and hear some of those stories. Thanks, Jo.
You did tell her of her beauty by respectfully asking to take her picture, and kindly following through. Thank you for sharing, the immediate emotions are made wonderful by her little friend.
Mary, so nice to ‘see’ you! And I like the way you put that, thank you.
The colors in this lovely photo are so vivid. And the cat adds a twist:) Well done!
I love the cat! Thanks, Cindy. 🙂