Indian journey — Suna & Toast

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”

— Marcel Proust

So we are journeying to Rajasthan from Bangalore on route to the family's farm for the Diwali holidays and we stop at a coffee shop. This painting by Radha Krishna is hanging on the wall - Lord Krishna as baby. My first thought is: wow, that's amazing! So intricately painted, yet hanging amongst the other oh-so tacky pictures on the wall. The coffee doesn’t come, and the waiters are taking so long chatting in the back that we decide to give it a miss and continue with our journey. Flight from Bangalore to Delhi, taxi to my brother in-law’s, lunch, and then the travelling really commences at rip-roaring speed: Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan - we travel for 7 more hours. We reach the village farmhouse, taking in the view of the acres and acres of kinnow trees along the way. We are dusty and tired, but then the next phase of the journey begins - and the rest is captured in pictures.

Farmers with straw haystacks used for packing kinnows ready to export

Local village worker on the tractor with his grandchild

On the farm

Pilkhan tree (fig white) on the farm grounds

The old railway track crossing the farmlands

Wild plants just randomly pop up everywhere

Someone loves you ❤️️ graffiti drawn on the local village school wall

Sticks used to fire the clay tandoor to cook rotis for the family's lunch and dinner

A cook preparing the tandoor ready to make the evening rotis

Man pondering life under a pilkhan tree (fig white) on the farm grounds

A Rajasthani cowshed on the neighbouring farm grounds

A Rajasthani tile randomly placed on part of a farm wall

Decoration found on the courtyard floor painted 70 years ago

Distressed window grills with turquoise accents found on neighbouring farm

Distressed window grills with faded turquoise accents found on neighbouring farm

Dry weed amongst the dry eucalyptus leaves.

Wild flowers growing near mud bricks stacked up for drying

In the city, locals getting ready for Diwali celebrations

Sri Ganganagar Market preparing for the festive season of Diwali 💥💥

Modern lingerie displayed on mannequins, with a "peeping Tom" in the background...lol:)

Purchased firecrackers for the big night

Bollywood stars pictured on firecracker boxes

Back on the farm, the house is being lit with diyas everywhere ready for the huge fireworks

Diya light for the start of the Diwali fireworks:)