Example poster for photo exhibition 2011

First example for Exhibition poster. A few details need to be changed, but it's taking shape, and I'm happy with the overall idea.

An exhibition where the 'past meets the present' seems for me at least an intersting project on my return.

What would John Burke think about it? I guess happy that someone wanted to share their experience of India with others.

Let's hope Souillac is interested in holding the exhibition.

Travel Guides and Forum. Essential planning.

Two essential Travel Guides, Lonely Planet, and Rough Guide. Both excellent, and a must have.
But don't just rely on the guide books though. Lonely Planet's 'Thorn Tree forum' is an excellent, and uptodate travel forum platform for like minded travellers. Ask any question, however stupid, and you'll guaranteed a reply. Have just spent a few hours reading traveller's queries, and noting down the important information, and tips. Here's a good example: 'I have been told by my hotel here in Kolkata that I can't buy my Toy Train tickets to Darjeeling in Kolkata'. Can anyone help me?

Response a few minutes later. 'Log on to irctc.co.in and book tickets. Train No 1D departs 9am from New Jalpaiguri and reaches Darjeeling 4.15pm. Costs approx' 247 INR. A very scenic journey, a UNESCO world heritage site. Breathtaking. Enjoy the journey!

Fantastic!!!! I will be using this forum a lot over the coming weeks for those extra 'first hand' experiences, and advice.

The past comes to life.

Isn't it strange how we tend to see the past in black and white, and sepia images. Oh for the wonders of modern technology. The colour truly brings the image to life. What life did he live?

Thanks Benjamin!!! Now I have a possible poster idea for the photo exhibition when I return. Now for the name...'Old India meets new', 'The colours of India', 'The misery and beauty of the Indian subcontinent'. The name will come.....any suggestions

.

Sound advice from an Indian - Amar

'Overall my advice to anyone with the slightest inkling of desire to visit India, is that they should do it. In many respects, India is one of the most exciting countries you could ever visit, simply because there is nowhere else in the world that you could compare it to. Don't go with rose tinted spectacles, or any preconceived ideas. For example if you are going there to find yourself, learn about removing attachment to material possessions and becoming more spiritual, you ought to know that Indians are amongst the most capitalistic, and money minded people on earth!'

'Expect the unexpected, go with the flow, travel off the beaten track ( the real one, not the one thousands of other western tourists are travelling down), engage with the ordinary people, and you may enjoy a once in a lifetime journey.'

Sound advice indeed!

Publisher comments

Omar Khan:

Jellalabad bizaar 1879, Michael Wilson collection.

Warriors against Hillside - J. Paul Getty museum.

'From Kashmir to Kabul is the first book to piece together the remarkable careers of Baker and Burke. No photographers of the Raj witnessed more wars, discoveries, news events and human diversity than did these two Irishmen. Few encountered the kinds of adverse conditions, hauling heavy equipment and glass plates over steep moutain ranges, and mixing chemicals at dangerously high altitudes than Baker and Burke.

Based on decades of research, this book chronicles their early days in Peshawar and their move to Muree, the Himalayan hill station on the border of Kashmir. It follows their documenting of the Afghan wars, some of the earliest war photography, and their return to the plains of Lahore, where they continued to photograph the region's people and landscape. Baker and Burke's story is also the story of photography itself, a medium that was evolving at a dizzying pace - as quickly as the world they sought to capture was changing.'

See above : Photographs from the Michael Wilson Collection include; Jellalabad, main street showing the covered bizaar 1879, and The Great Mosque of Aurangzebe and adjoining gates 1866 -1868.

Warriors against a Hillside 1878-1879. Collection The J. Paul Getty museum.

Burke and Baker photography 1860-1890.

Have now sent a mail to the author of 'From Kashmir to Kabul' Omar Khan. ISBN - 10:3791327860, ISBN -13:978-3701327860 (English versions). Du Cachemire a Kaboul les photographies de John Burke et William Baker ISBN 2-07-011735-9

Seek (Sikh) and find.

Old India.

Another part photo taken by Burke around 1889. Amar has put me in contact with his friend the Sikh historian and author Parmjit Singh, who is interested in these early pioneer photos. The Swates and Boners previously mentioned are most probably Pathans from Swat Valley.
What this engraved stone represents is unknown at present.
Next week I will speak to Amar about possibly using some of my photos in his friends next book, or exhibiting Burke's collection, and or, publishing a book. Many of these photos have never been published; so that will be interesting for me, and I hope for others.

A number of years ago (2001) The Brunei Gallery, The School of Oreintal and African studies held an exhibition of India, Pioneer Phographers 1850 -1890. The collection was loaned by Howard and Jane Ricketts. A book was later published about this exhibition by John Falconer (ISBN 0-7123-4746-1), and contains many fascinating black and white photographs for this period.

Warrior Saints - Three centuries of Sikh Military Tradition

Have more interest from my new Indian 'friend' Amar who has kindly sent me details of his friend's book bearing a cover photo taken by Burke. Will make contact, and arrange a meet for a possible book publication and, or a museum exhibition. Sounds interesting!

Rudyard Kipling

Thanks to the forum I have just been sent details relating to Charles 'Hindoo' Stuart, and the South Street cemetery. This his tomb.
For those interested in the history of the cemetery, please check out

http://hubpages.com/hub/krys

Have been advised to visit the Aremenian church at Burrabazaar, and to read the book 'Abdul's Taxi to Kalighat' by Joe Roberts before visiting Calcutta.

Major-General Charles 'Hindoo' Stuart 1757/8 - 1828

Oh, what colour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait.

I wonder if the forum can help with the following question. Can anyone provide me with further information on Charles 'Hindoo' Stuart. He is buried in South Street Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta). His tomb is in the shape of a Hindu temple. Is there a cemetery in South Street?

Stuart was a relative of my great-grandfather's second wife's family. If you are interested in the remarkable life of 'Hindoo' Stuart please look at The Dictionary of National Biography (Vol 53). Stuart left an impressive collection of art works to the British Museum, and is known as the Bridge collection. I will make a point of heading to Calcutta at the end of the year.

Indian Pioneering Photography 1890

So ten minutes ago I registered on Lonely Planet forum, and two minutes ago after posting a 'thread'. I have my first contact in India.

My question was. Can anyone provide me with information on the Boners and Swates?

I have now been approached from a friend of a famous Sikh historian who is interested in publishing some of the 19 Century photographs in my possession, by the Indian pioneer photographer John Burke.

http://kashihouse.com/wp/

So yes, the forum works, and hopefully I will meet up with this contact in the coming months. The (part) photo above is from the late 1880's, and was taken by, or from the studios of F.B.Stewart.

Time for another historical question for the forum.....................

Preconceptions.

Initial thoughts of India.

What are my initial impressions of India? I have never been to the Indian Subcontinent. So what will I expect? and what will the reality be? So as I start the 'planning stage' of this journey I feel I must make a list of both the positive and negative . For sure it is easier to draw up a list of negative preconceptions than positive ones. So let's think positive to start with.

Diversity of people, encounters, the differing landscapes, climate/monsoon, colour; smells, food, history, monuments, cheap, markets etc.....

On the negative side. Poverty, medical/hygiene concerns, water, overcrowded cities, slums, transport, distances, security, visa problems etc....

Have now purchased travel guides. The 'Rough Guide to India', and 'Lonely Planet India', and a large detailed map of India is well and truly pasted on the wall. Of course the internet will be a valuable source of information; as well as registering on the 'Lonley Planet forum' - Thorn Tree forum, where you can seek advice from fellow travellers.

In anycase, I don't believe for a minute that you can really prepare for what you will see and experience in India, but a certain amount of basic research will go along way, and basics have to be covered. Next week I start my course of vaccinations, Hepatitis A, Yellow fever, Tetnus, Polio etc...that should be fun!

Ok, leaving in May. Not the best time with the monsoon arriving in June/July, so will start in the North. Why not Delhi? and take it from there.

Map of States of India

Please click on www.iloveindia.com/maps. Click on State or town for detailed view.

There are many maps on the web showing India Railways.

One thought.......there are around 200 train accidents each year in India, and some 85,000 are killed on the roads each year.

Map of India

For the reader's benefit, and mine. Please click on www.mapsof.net/india Please use the sliding scale situated at the top left hand corner for 'a birds eye view'. Thanks.

Introduction:

So why? That's the question. and during this adventure I hope I will find the answer to many unanswered questions. Yes, it will be an adventure ; a journey in the true sense of discovering a country, discovering it's culture; it's people. Yes, I will be shocked by the poverty, amazed and enlightened by my travels and experiences in the coming months ahead. A real challenge in more ways than I can possibly imagine at present. This will be more than a journey, and in every sense whether you hate India, or love India one thing is certain; you will never be the same person. That appeals to me.

So yes, there is the challenge of discovering a new country, but that will only be half the story. For me the real journey will be the journey of self discovery, to learn about oneself ; to learn what makes me tick, and as this blog develops I will try and answer the 'Why' question through my entries. It won't be an easy task : though I feel that the mental journey will at times be possibly a greater challenge than the journey itself.

The question has to be. Why do people travel? What are they in search of?, and of course ; what are they escaping from ? and I am no different from anyone else, but only time will hopefully provide some answers.
The time is well overdue for me to 'kick start' the brain, to wake up, and try and put life into some form of perspective.To escape the materalistic culture that we live in today. Where people have lost the 'we' attitude, but are more interested in the 'me' attitude. Where the latest plasma television, or model of car holds more importance than building family relationships. It's a now or never adventure, and my time has arrived. So this 'double' voyage will start in Delhi at the beginning of May 2010, and the physical journey is planned to finish in April 2011. Yes, a rough plan of routes is under way, but plans often change, and flexibility will be the name of the game. This adventure is 'planned' for a year, and therefore will bear little resemblance to a Tourist Holiday. Yes, I will visit some Tourist hotspots, but the idea is to see the real India. To get off the beaten track ; to dress and live as an Indian...............to discover, and to communicate the best I can with people less fortunate than myself.

It has been difficult to jot down my initial thoughts for this journey, but hopefully those of you who read, and follow this adventure will now have a clearer understanding of my reasoning for the 'journeys' that await me ahead. On my return I will hold a photo exhibition of my travels to share at least some images of the misery and beauty of the Indian Subcontinent.

So will I find what I am searching for ? Do I really know what I am really searching for ? but real travelling is not a hurried affair. Yes, it's an escape, an opportunity to develope and learn, and to really think about a mulitude of thoughts, and to reflect. Am I searching for my Arcadia ? maybe a clearer vision......that's for sure.