Typically, when I session, I love to photograph people - their expressions, their cultures, their love, etc. The pictures you're about to see, I randomly shot while around different cities. It's very different than what I normally shoot, but I think it is good to branch out from what you're comfortable with.

Going on this trip was way out of my comfort zone. The culture being completely different, I didn't know what was down or up. I couldn't speak the official language, I didn't know what any of the dishes were (except one or two), I didn't even know how to get around the city! It was a mess, but what a growth opportunity!!

I feel that in order for me to grow in any aspect, I have to push myself beyond my normal limits - beyond my normal comfort zones. Hopefully, you've seen different things that I've never produced before on my site in the past month or so.

There is much more to come after these pictures - two senior portraits and many more pictures from my trip explaining the culture that I experienced for the past three months. I hope that you've enjoyed these.

Hope you enjoy your weekend. :)

The staple here in this country is rice and a bread called, "Chapati". Theoretically it's easy to make, but a girl like me has some trouble. :) I'll one day refine my skills to become a great Chapati maker.

The dough consists of flour, water and salt. Once you knead it into the correct consistency, you make little balls, roll them out, slap them in your hands a few times and then throw them on the skillet. Once one side has spent some time cooking, flip it, and let it cook some more. Then at some point, you put it on the open flame (like she is doing in the picture above). Once it gets some brown on it, it's finished. :) 

Before and after shots of the Chapati!

It looks difficult, but it's not that difficult. And it's tasty with curries and other meals. Yum! :)

Off to go work on my chapati-making skills! ;)

As we walked into the building of the first shrine we had ever visited in our lives, we were amazed at the details of every tile and carving. The beauty of it was so enrapturing - you could never take it all in. It was simply too much.

Shrines like this one cover this city like churches do here in the Southern U.S. There are too many to visit, but all are so beautiful in their own way. We had the privilege to visit two of the many to see the culture and experience what people living here do day-to-day. It was said to us that 70% of the people in the city visit the shrine at least once each week.

The inside was just as detailed. The left picture is looking directly up at the ceiling. It went so high. It makes you wonder, since it is so old, how long it took to create this magnificent structure with all its detail. The right picture is of one of the graves. Men and women come here weekly to pray. They rub the cloth on their faces that lays over the tomb and throw flowers on the grave - the reason they do it is to not only show respect, but to also gain favor. They believe that these pirs, or saints, are the 'gateway' if you will to praying to God. Almost like an intercessor. 

These are pictures that were taken looking over the city. It seems that these shrines are in the center for all to go to them.

This was another shrine nearby the other one. It was just as beautiful in its' details.

Have a Great week!

In every city you can count on hearing a hazan, which is the call to prayer, five times a day. It is beautifully sung and loud - so loud you can hear it in your home most of the time. There are countless number of mosques everywhere. It would be very hard to miss this aspect of this country.

Some of the architecture is unreal and absolutely beautiful. I have never seen such beauty in architecture infront of me.

I just happened to be walking by this mosque as the sun was setting.

Hope that you enjoy your day today!

So one of the big differences between home and here, is definitely the food. Everything is eaten with a type of bread such as chapati or roti(which looks like a tortilla), naan, paratha or rice. If you eat rice you don't eat chapati, if you eat chapati you don't eat rice. You never mix the two.

Everything is cooked in a lot of oil. Foods are never dry here. Having a vegetable not in some kind of sauce would be weird. So like steamed vegetables don't exist - or at least I haven't had them here with any family or restaurant!!

Another crazy thing about the food is that it is crazily fresh. In the US I feel like I have pay so much for fresh foods and here that's all you get.

Here are a few pictures of typical food:

This is the Father of the home and he's actually making butter. I have never seen this in the US before!!!! Have you?! The crazy thing is that it tastes TOTALLY different than processed butter. If I had to choose between butter here or home, I think I'd choose here.

These dishes are all good. Wish I could remember the names of them! ha! :) Chapati is the bread in the upper right corner of this picture. 

This is Naan. Naan is much more puffier than chapati.

This food has been amazing to eat here, but I am ready to eat some Mexican food. :) I can guarantee you that will be the first meal I have when we get back! :) ha!

Have a good one!