Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A NYC Christmas - 2012

Christmas in New York City is such a beautiful time of year with iconic landmarks dressed up in lights each year.


NY Stock Exchange @ Wall Street

Radio City Music Hall - Home of the Rockettes 

 A view of Sak's annual visual display from amidst the angels at Rockefeller Center Mall

The brightly-lit Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center  

Bringing on good news for all!!!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Christmas Window Displays - NYC

Thanksgiving has yet to be celebrated but most New York City stores have already completed setting up their window displays for Christmas.

Bloomingdale's - Manhattan

Bloomingdale's - Manhattan

Macy's - Manhattan

A Wedding in Norwalk, Connecticut

How totally refreshing it was to receive a wedding invitation suggesting that the ladies refrain from wearing any spiky heels since the event was outdoors!! I suppose unless you want to help aerate the soil!  So wedges and boots favored over Jimmy Choos, for sure.  Certainly, a low-key way to share a joyous event with family and friends!





Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tassa Drummers - Trinidad


A Hindu Wedding - Trinidad

This past summer, I was a guest at a Hindu wedding in Trinidad, the last island in the Caribbean archipelago that is near the tip of Venezuela.  It was not a destination wedding, but one that celebrated the richness of a heritage.  Trinidad is a multicultural island and is home to a large population of East Indians whose ancestors came to the island as indentured servants after slavery ended.  Today, foods such as dhalpourie, doubles, curries, soca music, festivals like Divali, Holi or the observance of Ramadan are now firmly part of the Trinidadian culture and whether you are of East Indian ancestry, have a drop of Indian blood in your veins or none at all, all of these things become part of you.

Todd Street Mandir (Temple)

Wrought iron gate - simple yet secure

Interior of Mandir

 A happy bride

A lucky groom

 A serious moment

Bride adorned with bangles and beads

 A vegetarian meal of buss-up-shot (bread), curried chataigne (breadnut), chickpeas, potatoes, pumpkin and mango amchar served on a soharee leaf.

 Tassa drummers and dancers

Indian Wedding Singers

Hibiscus flowers, rice, water, banana plant, etc. are symbolic elements used during the wedding ceremony

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Ceramics Collection @ Rafael Larco Museum, Peru


Portrait vessel from the Moche Apogee period (1 AD - 800 AD) generally represented the ruling elites, priests, warriors and at times, distinguished artisans.




Double-spouted vessel from the Southern Huari Fusion Apogee period (800 AD - 1300 AD) included a bridge handle.

Double-chamber vessel from the Vicus Formative period (1250 BC - 1 AD) was developed in the north of Peru.  Large ear plugs indicate high rank.

 Moche Owl god (1 AD - 800 AD) was associated with the night, occult and death.


Double-spouted vessel

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Splendour in Metal @ Rafael Larco Museum, Peru



Cuy or Guinea Pig - a Peruvian Delicacy


 Baby guinea pigs

Cuy on a platter for special guests!

For sale outside of the Cusco Central Market

Peruvians love cuy or guinea pig!!  In cities such as Lima, it can cost as much as 60 nuevos soles each and for a number of Peruvians, roasted cuy is a treat!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Machu Pichu - Lost City of Inca

















Trekking up from the ticket booth entrance to the ruins at Machu Pichu and then to the Sun Gate on the hundredth year since its discovery by Hiram Bingham on July 24, 1911 was a thrilling experience. A hard core hiker doing the full Incan Trail over a few days to reach this destination may sniff at this feat.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Peruvian Hairless Dog




The Peruvian hairless dog may not be handsome; however, it has a high body temperature so it is most welcome as a bed warmer for the elderly and young children during winter where rural homes in the mountainous regions of Peru are not centrally heated.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Sacsahuaman Inca Ruins - Peru


"Saqsaywaman", phonetically sounds like "sexy woman" - A complex constructed of gigantic boulders interlocked in a jigsaw pattern, it was believed that this was a fortress inhabited by royalty.

Alpacas and vicunas grazing amidst ruins

A remaining doorway