They Paved Paradise

Haryana Dancers at the Park Visiting

So we have been working for hours picking, sorting, clipping and laying tiles for our mosaic project in the park. We layed out our designs for columns near the land fill of tiles especially because no one came through the area, and it was essentially in Nek Chand's front yard.

The locals wondering why we are assembling mosaic designs in tonight's parking lot -
of course no one says anything.

Our daily Chai tea with the locals (L-R)  Local worker, Sue, park supervisor, Ram Rod and yours truly.
Sue is holding the book about the garden which includes pics of Ram Rod,
who wouldn't let anyone see it if they weren't in it..

Our plan was to move our tiles Monday to the columns and begin cementing them on the structure.Of course, the universe and India has other plans. While at work today, they started erecting stanchions nearby, and we started to get concerned that something was up. We found out there is a wedding tonight at the garden, and that where we had our tiles all piled up is where they park cars. Of course they do! What were we thinking.

Sue's design

Adam, the professional mosaic artist's design

How we had to move our tiles/ designs.....

So, at lunch time, we packed up all our work and called it a day.  Three full days of work went bye bye. In addition, there is still no cement. We aren't sure if they are telling us the truth, or if they really don't want us messing around in the park. However, to their credit, no one else is cementing either on the figures or anywhere else in the park. 

So we decided that we are going to the Pakistan border this weekend to see the Golden Temple at Amritsar. It is a four hour drive by SUV, which we are splitting four ways, and then we can go to see the change of the   guards between Pakistan and India, which is supposed to be interesting. If it is like the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, I will stay in the car and take my afternoon nap!

Golden Temple at Amritsar

Our new friend and oil painter who is one of the first
young locals volunteering at the park

So, we all went to the Chandigarh Art School this afternoon, at the invitation of one of the students who we met last week. Very interesting, especially since there was alot of nudity in the work, which is unacceptable on the streets. The women only show their faces, hair and hands.

  

Student working with wood sander next
to resin cast of older woman

More when we return from Amritsar. May the cement god take pity on us and deliver a package by Monday!
j