Month: November 2015
Playtime
A Simple Act-carry it forward
It is not everyday that one comes across simple acts of kindness that changes lives.A Small Act is a documentary which tells the heartwarming story of Chris Mburu ,a human rights lawyer with United Nations.
Coming from a poor family in Kenya,his life changes when Hilda Back, a Swedish lady decides to sponsor his secondary school education .This cost her about 15 $.From high school Chris Mburu goes to University of Nairobi and Harvard Law School.Inspired by his own struggles and wanting to make a difference to the bright students of Mukubu primary school ,he sets up a charitable trust and names it Hilda Back Education Fund. He manages to trace his benefactor and they reconnect.
Google images
This 85 year old sprightly lady also has a past.She is a German jew and came to Sweden as a child.Her parents did not survive the holocaust.She was a teacher and does not speak much English.She comes down to Kenya and is treated like a star.Well , she is more than that-a survivor with dignity,humility and kindness.
Along with this we see the students preparing for the test which will qualify them for the scholarship.It is touching to see their daily struggles in the midst of poverty and ethnic clashes.These children know the importance of education and work hard to achive their dreams.
A simple story of ordinary people making a difference.It is not preachy and that is what I liked most .
Different hues and different shades,yet together.
Hampi-The Royal Enclosure
What greeted us at the entrance to the royal quarters was this massive stone doors. 
The guide informed us that elephants were used to open the doors .I could not help thinking how the marauding troops managed to bring it down.What I saw inside was even more distressing.A vast expanse of ruins but whatelse can you expect from the areas ravaged most.
There are still some impressive structures .Mahanavami dibba stands tall and imposing.This is a central platform from where the kings used to watch festivities,royal processions and military parades.
This is part of the 600 year old aqueducts and in 1985 the Archeological survey of India excavated a stepped tank.Impressive finding and remarkably well preserved.
Further ahead is the Queen’s bath.Looking rather drab it has a sunken bath with arched corridors and windows.
QUEEN’S BATH
Royal enclosure may have lost its grandeur but these are places where time stands still.
Hampi-a lost kingdom
Hampi is a UNESCO heritage site of hundreds of monuments,temples and pavilions situated 353 km from Bangalore.This was the capital of Vijayanagar empire that ruled most of South India between the 14th and 16th centuries.King Krishnadevaraya was the most popular ruler and he brought about a lot of reforms and was a patron of arts and literature.In 1565,it was invaded and looted by the Deccan Muslim Confederacy and what we see now are only the ruins of this great kingdom.
Our first stop was the Zanana enclosure.This was reserved for the royal ladies and has three huge watch towers.A characteristic feature of the structures is the distinct Indo Islamic style of architecture.
WATCH TOWER
This is the Lotus Mahal.Note the arches and the domes.We could only admire it from outside as entry is prohibited inside.Wonder how long it took to make such exquisite carvings.
Located near the Zanana enclosure is another impressive structure.This is the royal elephant stable.This is remarkably well preserved and has 11 domed chambers.Each one can accommodate two elephants and these are interconnected.
ELEPHANT STABLE
Guards Quarters is next to the elephant stable.This is another fine example of indo islamic architecture.Inside the archeology department has displayed the statues and artifacts recovered from the ruins.
GUARDS QUARTERS
