Daily Archives: August 27, 2009

Aug27

Rare find in Ibiza

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Rare find in Ibiza

I read that there were three lead bars recovered from 39 meters under the sea off the north coast of Ibiza. These bars may originate from the third century before Christ. One of the bars has a character stamped on it that appears to be Iberian. The lead bars origins are from the mines of Sierra Morena in southern Spain.

I booked a room at one of the luxury Ibiza hotels just so I could do some scuba diving right where these bars were found. The location wasn’t disclosed, but with some research through some maritime charts, it think I know where the area is. I’m hoping to find more lead bars. The symbols on two of the bars are syllabary symbols from the script of Northeastern Iberian. The characters were probably added to the lead bars before they had set, or shortly after it had been cast. Which means, the characters are more likely to be related to production as opposed to commercial information. The exact meaning of the characters hasn’t been determined yet, but the dating of the bars to the third century B.C., the period of the Second Punic War, really raised some questions for me. Like the reason for the lead bars could be because there is very little evidence for the downsizing of silver works in the Sierra Morena region during this period. However, there is evidence that the mining area around Cartagena in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula that they knew the language of Cartagena. For this reason, I suspect the raw lead was processed and branded in this area, before it was placed on board the freighter that was shipwrecked off the north coast of Ibiza.

I do hope to find more bars, so I can do my own research and write up a paper which gives a better detail of how life on Ibiza was back in the day.

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Aug27

What I like about Udaipur India

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What I like about Udaipur India

A couple of weeks ago, an American friend of mine not only visiting me, but most of India, asked me what I liked most about India. I was sitting at a table in his room in one of the Udaipur five star hotels when he asked me this question. For me, when someone genuinely wants to know, and not just making idle conversations, I find that question hard to answer. I want to be able to give him an answer that is truthful, but not superficial or too general, like ‘oh, it’s the people, the people are so friendly’, or ‘wow, I can get health care for my dad and buy prescriptions at a fraction of the cost of the U.S.’, or ‘I don’t like having to do household chores’, things like that.  I’ve been here long enough, coming also from the U.S. myself, that I feel I should have a sensitive and well-thought out response for my friend who is earnestly wanting to know.

There are many things I could point to, like spirituality which is deeply felt and observed in this country, at least int the Northern parts of India, which is where I spend most of my time. The daily practices of the people around me reinforce this, like the tilak on the foreheads which are very distinguishing marks denoting which sect you belong, to rangoli that graces the entrances of homes and businesses, to moon and other fasting days observed by the devout, to all the silks and cotton threaded bracelets that show visits to a particular temple, I especially like the ritual where brothers and sisters tie a ribbon around each others wrists.

I could tell him that India is the world’s center for yoga, meditation and other healing arts like Ayurveda. All of these are so much a part of the daily scene of India. My friend is patiently waiting for an answer, and all I can say is ‘the people are so friendly’.

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Aug27

Delhi’s Curator Bhavna Kakar

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Delhi’s Curator Bhavna Kakar

We have some truly spectacular features at our Delhi 5-star hotels, offering a wide array of extras that will keep you delighted with your choice of accommodations.  We offer the features that one would expect from lodging that meets the highest standards in the industry, and we offer these with a splendid blend of both innovation and tradition.  You will have all the conveniences and luxuries of home, with superb connectivity and in-room entertainments for every member of the family.  We also specialize in old-world charm and hospitality, so that you will feel that you are the center of attention, and your needs will be met by our responsive and friendly staff.  A stay in our hotels means that you will experience a lovely sense of rejuvenation, and can enjoy the city.

Delhi is a fantastic place, with a long reputation for being one of the liveliest urban centers in the world.  There is a long history of human habitation here, and the sense of the past is very deep.  It is also extremely modern, with a diversity of languages and cultures, and an artistic scene that is truly on the cutting edge.  The art, like the city itself, is an extremely animated conversation, a dialogue that takes place between artist, audience, history, and the future.  Add to this list the curator, because the curator is becoming one of the primary positions in the contemporary art world.  And Delhi’s Bhavna Kakar is at the forefront of this trend.

Having earned her doctorate in 2004 from Baroda, Bhavna Kakar is one of the most visible curators in the city.  Extremely active in promoting new developments and upcoming artists in the local scene, and also writing about art and giving lectures, she is one of the key movers in the city.  Her latest venture, with Latitude 28, offers exciting and provocative exhibitions by some of the big names, along with emerging talents.  Her curating is very savvy, connecting the new developments in Delhi’s art world to the international scene, along with making important connections to the past, honoring the ones who came before.

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