Chandrakalaa: New Mexico

I usually end up making at least one trip somewhere in the summers. There was a lot of chaos going on at work and needed a break, this trip aligned very well with that. A friend suggested New Mexico and having lived there she gave a lot of pointers, even offered to accommodate at her mother's place there. We didn't end up doing that. The trips usually need to have some nature or culture in it. The beaches and the cities don't just fit in well.

We visited Santa Fe and Taos. Both places are very different than a typical city in the US. We flew to Albuquerque Airport. It is one hour drive from Santa Fe. I knew Albuquerque because of the Dr. Vasant Lad's Ayurvedic Institute there. We couldn't visit as the Institute was closed during the weekend. Even though the two cities are just 1 hour drive apart, they are very different in terms of the architecture and culture. I found Albuquerque to be a usual American city.

We spent the first day in Santa Fe. This is how all houses and buildings look in Santa Fe - Adobe buildings. I liked it so much as it makes them feel uniform and very earthy. The downtown is small and can provide historic glimpse. It's good for folks who like fine dining. We took a round and went to have dinner at a small place away from the downtown.

Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

Palace of Governors

We had dinner at a small but good Southwestern food place. Food was great and I think some of that I tried for the first time.

Next day we planned to visit Bandelier National Monument and then stay at Taos. Bandelier is where the Ancestors of the Ancestral Pueblo people lived before 15th century. They built homes carved from the volcanic tuff. Later they moved from this area to pueblos along the Rio Grande near Taos.

Domed Oven

Very popular photo spot

Those holes are houses

Song and Dance by the Native community folks.

We started for Taos from Bandelier. Taos is a town in northern New Mexico bounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It’s known for historic Adobe buildings, Art and Taos Pueblo, a multistory adobe complex inhabited by Native Americans. Both Taos and Santa Fe have a good number of museums and art galleries. Taos really felt like an Art town.

We stayed in this small inn that was also built with Adobe and run by a lady. Taos is a very small town and this place made me feel like being at home.

Blue and Black corn. Totally reminded me of Home.

Small sitting area in the Inn. We sat there in the night with our books.

Next day we visited the Taos Pueblo which is a world heritage site and around 150 Native American community people still live in it.

Main buildings

Adobe Oven

Usually each floor is set back from the floor below. The roof of each level serves as a terrace for the level above. Ladders are used to go from one level to another.

History

Houses don't have direct water supply and the river water is used.

Many people have left these homes and now use them as gift shops

After the Taos Pueblo visit, we went to see the steel bridge and the Rio Grande Gorge which was close-by.

Rio Grande Gorge

From there we wanted to go visit the Earthship Biotecture. An Earthship is a passive solar house that is made of both natural and recycled materials such as earth-packed tires. The Earthship architecture began in 1970s when the architect Michael Reynolds wanted to create a sustainable home with recycled materials.

Glass bottled used as material

Water Management inside the house

This was the most amazing part of the house. Lots of fruits and vegetables in such a small balcony

The next part of the trip wasn't planned. We met a white woman at the Earthship. During the casual chat, she asked where we are from in India. I usually say 'just above Delhi' as most people can locate that region in their head. She asked the name of the place. I thought, how would she know. When we mentioned hills she mentioned Nainital and I was a bit surprised. It seems she had been visiting the Neem Karoli Baba in Kainchi, Garampani. She mentioned that there is a Neem Karoli Baba temple in Taos. She also mentioned they serve good 'chai' in the evening :). What was there to think more. We went straight to that temple from the Earthship tour.

From there we started back for Santa Fe where we were supposed to stay that night. We mostly relaxed that night. Next day, we went to see some more art in the downtown before heading back to the Airport. The colorful ceramic art below looked great.