Author: Dave Albeck

Meenakshi temple, Madurai

Cameras are no longer allowed inside, so below you see one of several towers, as photographed from outside the gate.

This temple was visited by my grandfather in 1930 — I’ve included copies of his photos in a second gallery, below mine.

Here are the photos my grandfather took in 1930. One taken from the roof, looking over the stepwell, the other in the elephant yard. (There is still one elephant kept in that location.)

Kokkarebellur

We drove south from Bangalore to see the Barachukki waterfalls on the Cauvery (Kaveri) river. The falls were nearly dry, but Smaranda, who always reads those “ten things to do around Bangalore” websites, noticed an item about a pelican preserve.

The pelican preserve was simply a village in whose trees lots of pelicans and storks like to roost. So we had to walk through people’s back yards to get good close-ups. But our timing was good — the light was perfect!