This is Faridabad.......or as we volunteers called it "Farida-Real-D@mn-Bad."
If you ever need to come to your senses, wake up to reality, face the truth and not take things for granted, then please visit this place.
It'll shake you.
Guaranteed.
FYI sidenote: There are 18 million street children living in India. Some run away, some are abandoned and others have parents that die of disease and are left to fend for themselves.
Both by reading and talking to people, I've learned that many of the orphans are found at railway stations: begging, haggling, prostituting. Some are not 8 yrs old yet.
It's out of control. I found myself getting aggravated at the begging of some because they will NOT stop. They open up your doors in the car, chase you until you give them something and then when you do, all their friends come running too.
There are more Girl orphans than Boy orphans.
I know I didn't finish my orphan project but I'm still so thankful I did it.
I went, I witnessed, I felt. As I edited the photos of the kids today, I stared at the computer screen and thought about how i missed seeing them. These are kids with stories and yet even having so little, they seem happy.
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THE TOWN OF FARIDABAD FROM THE CAR.
NEXT: ORPHAN HOME AND THE CHILDREN
This girl below-- in particular-- seemed lifeless to me. Sad. Not sure what was her story.
I think about them I'm not going to lie.
I hope their mother doesn't give them up.
I hope they grow up happy. I hope that the love they lack now isn't going to affect their future.
I hope they grow up to be strong, good men.
*One thing I know for sure: they'll have a tight big brother-little brother bond.
21 comments:
oh Ruby, the last image is precious, so sweet and carrying. I love the image of the little girl with the yellow fabric around her. Crazy the way the animals look.
Ruby, I cannot select a single favourite, they are ALL exceptional. I love the jarring contrast as I look at the sepia images then hit the colour ones. They are rich with expression and emotion. The pic with the girl with a yellow veil would look tremendous with an extreme close up. Wonderful, wonderful. Congratulations Ruby these are truly the level that we would expect to see in National Geographic and is of a high standard. Thanks for sharing them.
Ruby, Ruby, I can look at these pictures and see how much of a difference that you made in the lives of these kids. Just think, while you are tinking of them while you are at home in this great nation USA, those kids are remembering that a total stranger thought so much of them to take time, though so brief, still a moment in time, just for them.
You may never know how your moment with these people impacted their lives for the good. I see these moments and I can't help but refleck on my own child hood. My, how things have changed in such a short period of time. Seeing your adventure makes me stop and ponder!!!!!!! Wow, how blessed we are. Lord show me the little things. The fact that you were so blessed to even take a trip like this is a blessing to you, to all of those who reads and injoys your awesome pictures, and more so the people that you enriched their lives with your smile.
Be blessed girl;-) {A MOMENT IN TIME}
Oh Ruby, my heart breaks for these children. I am praying that the Lord will protect them and bless them with positive futures. Those 2 boys at the end...I feel so desperate to hold them when I look at these images. Such sweet and innocent babies. I can not even imagine what you must have felt being right there with these children. Bless you for going...and opening yourself and your heart to experience things most of us will never experience. I do believe you touched many lives in a positive way while you were amongst them and I am sure they will forever be changed by your presence.
Thank you for sharing your photos and stories of your journey. It is very humbling and wonderful to be able to see India through your eyes.
extraordinary images. the last image is haunting.
Ruby these pictures are beautiful! Truly! They bring back soo many of the emotions that I ( the group) felt like fright (farida-real damn bad...if only it was an exaggeration), sadness, hope, happiness, exhaustion, awe..,etc. Im so glad to have experienced all of this and happy you captured it!
P.S. Love the nun's hand picture
OMG Ruby....I am sitting here with the biggest LUMP in my throat and weeping. Those lil brothers....I want them! Oh God, Bless you for you work!! Thank you for sharing these.
Miss you!!
Ruby, these photos and even more so what you did.. It is just amazing.. You are a TRUE Inspration.. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.. Hugs, M
you are amazing and your images are equally amazing! the yellow wrap shot is awesome!!
Thanks for this post Ruby. It will make you think of how good we have it and there is people around the world that don't have it so good.An eye opener.
ruby, these images are so emotional! thanks so much for sharing with us! the little boys you saw that day.... wow..... soooo beautiful and I can't help but think of the older brother having all that responsibility when he himself is just a baby.
one image i love is the one of the girl in the yellow veil just a posing for you, while her brothers are laughing at the camera and not even looking at her! love it! just love it!
and again, you are so inspiring and thanks again for letting us into your life.
~love, steph
Beautiful Photos. See, I'm not the only one that mentions Nat. Geo.!!! You are so talented my friend! Love the girl with the yellow scarf. Tom just painted my office today the same yellow!
You are in my thoughts always. Love you, Natalie
First of all, my husband was laughing at the comment you left me and I was like "oh, I love Ruby!" :) Anyway, these photos are unreal. I can't even imagine the feelings you felt while there. Wow. The image of the girl with the yellow fabric around her is AMAZING! You need to submit that to different publications. It's just beautiful.
I really enjoy reading your blog Ruby.
Your photos really are DAZZLING!!!
LisC
Ruby, these are simply beautiful, I really can't pick a favorite. Looking at these makes me feel so grateful for the little things in life that we take for granted daily.. Thank You
Ruby, seeing the faces of those children just took me right back to our orphanage in Rajasthan. I think I have the same picture of the guy squatting. You caught some really beautiful moments. Those boys are really beautiful. What a heartbreaking experience for you.
hey you ... I've been so busy lately... finally getting caught up on my blog stalking...
I'm speechless on these images... they're so beautiful - some are jaw dropping in India reality. Can't you just wait to go back some day? //e
Ruby - these pics brought tears to my eyes as well as your words. All the images are very special in each way, as you know I love your work you are fantastic. Hope when you enter NGEO, you truly get rewarded for this fantastic art.
Beautiful work, Ruby.
Oh Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, I don't even know where to begin. I've finally had a chance to read about your amazing journey...and I've been moved to tears. Your pictures, the journal that you kept...what an amazing experience. It's obvious to me that you have touched the lives of so many people. Whether you choose to realize it or not. You've touched my life and helped me realize to slow down and learn to find appreciation in the simplest things in life. My heart aches for those children, what I would give to hold them and love them they way all children should be loved. Those little boys...the brothers...I pray that they continue to have a close bond and that the love that they have for each other will help mold and shape them into the strong men that they deserve to be someday. Ruby it takes a special person to do what you did and to allow others to experience it right along with you. Thank you for opening my eyes...I hope that one day I can make a difference in many lives...just as you did. You truly are an inspiration.
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