Marwarology

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Marwarology
Adventures in Jodhpur and beyond. Ben Soltoff is a recent college grad from America living in Jodhpur, India. He'll be there for a total of ten months working on rural development.
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  • What I'll Miss About India (and What I Won't) 10 years ago This is my last post on Marwarology. I returned to the U.S. a couple days ago, so the blog doesn’t have much purpose any more. Over the next few weeks, I’ll convert it into a informative site about Jodhpur and its surroundings. All of the posts will remain online, in case anyone wants to look...
  • Bovinophobia 10 years ago The streets of Jodhpur are like a something out of a nightmare. Vehicles rush frenetically in all directions, producing an unbearable din of horns and engines. They spew vile fumes of exhaust that mix with the dust to form an atmosphere so noxious many people travel with handkerchiefs over their...
  • Off the Top and Around the Ears 10 years ago Before living to India, I would probably have avoided that faded green door, the one leading to a hole-in-the-wall establishment labeled “Gents Parlour,” but now I go regularly, making sure to carry some small bills. Kohinoor Gents Parlour is where I get my hair cut in Jodhpur, and it may be...
  • Shocks and Tremors 10 years ago The room vibrated with a force both subtle and profound. I first noticed the sensation coming from my chair and turned to see if someone was shaking it. Nobody was there. Then I saw that the desk was shuddering as well, and so was the picture of Gandhi hanging on the wall, and so was […]
  • A Festive Mess 10 years ago I was red, I was blue, I was purple, and then I was hot pink. It’s impossible to go through Holi and maintain a single color the whole day, especially not your natural skin tone. If someone had taken time-lapse footage of me, I would have looked like a malfunctioning chameleon, flashing all sorts...

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Website Reviews » There are 9 reviews on Marwarology

Wsmith
18:35 PM October 11, 2012

This blogger provides such vivid descriptions you get a real sense of place. Or, rather, places, since he gets to so many interesting locations. The pictures are great, too.

Ellie Nelson
14:30 PM October 12, 2012

This blog shows such clarity and insight. I find myself being captivated by subjects I've never even considered. A case in point - the Indian perspective on the Olympics. I learned so much about the society from that one post. And I'm loving the photos, too.

Stephen Paul
02:22 AM October 18, 2012

The comments are very wide ranging about culture, institutions, and global issues that India faces. The personal perspectives add a great touch, and the photos add to it all. I appreciate the varied focus.

M. Grace
05:38 AM October 19, 2012

I really enjoy that this blog ventures off the beaten path. Rather than providing a review of Jodphur's tourist attractions, this blogger gives us a window into the fascinating social and political climate of the region, for which most Westerners have never spared a thought. Until I can make the trip myself, I'll be content reading Ben's blog!

David Fisher
05:21 AM October 23, 2012

Great Blog!!! I love the recent post about Jewish life and history in India! You have taught me something new and interesting. We jews pop up all over the place, and it is amazing how strong the tradition can be in such distinct places. I am glad you had the chance to connect with the Jewish community in India. Your most recent post is also just a great story about how travelling to meet others from a culture both similar and dissimilar to one's own is a powerful way to dismantle stereotypes about those people. As you know, this is a subject close to me own heart. Five stars, no question.

J Li
16:01 PM November 16, 2012

India is a country that everyone seemingly knows about and then yet doesn't. The author of this blog has a knack for picking up small details of his every day life in India that come together to paint a vivid picture of a country that is so vibrant and has had such a history. From the trips he takes throughout and outside of Rajasthan to daily wanderings throughout Jodphur to temple rats and bats, we start to get a sense of today's India, where it has come from, where it is going. As someone who has been to India for a short period of time, reading this blog brings back many fond memories and I feel like I am once again there in Rajasthan! Lastly, the photos are always a treat! Hope he will have a new camera soon?

Nina B
01:36 AM November 17, 2012

This blogger presents a point of view that is unique and intriguing. He does so with a clear passion for experiencing the culture of Jodhpur beyond a postcard or a tourist's top ten list. It is evident that he possesses the sense of fearlessness requisite for truly engaging with new, different peoples and places (and rats!), and he exercises that fearlessness with a charming honesty. He relays how surprising some of his experiences have been in a way that is intelligent, respectful, informative, and kind of funny sometimes. In this way his blog posts effectively relate what he sees to their historical and cultural context without being dry or boring, promoting cultural awareness and making the reader want to learn more about this part of India.

As100
18:29 PM December 01, 2012

Who knew the funniest part of a camel fair would be the penguin? Read the latest. Glad to see the pictures are back; some really good ones in the newest blog.

Karen Knorr
12:43 PM December 11, 2012

Genuinely adventurous and generous view on the joys and problems that one encounters in India. I loved the reflections on the contradictions and diversity of what makes Real India . Spot on!!

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