Yep, its definately my birthday: On the 12th of April, Cesca and I visited the largest sun dial in the world. The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur was built in 1771 and is an amazing ancient achivement. Massive 27 meter high stone instuments spell out the date, time and Zodiac sign with an incredible 2 seconds accuracy! The excursion through Jai Singh’s Jantar is a unique experience of walking through solid geometry and encountering a collective astronomical system designed to probe the heavens. This image is of the Jai Prakash (Mirror of the Heavens) that uses the sunlight to point out which constellation the sun is currently in. Its giant bowl shape, sunk into the ground, is itself a work of art. The science is profound. Notice the shadow on the marble? This is the marker. So, it is definitely now the 13th of April; my birthday. I have had such an exciting 31st year on our planet, what with travel, earthquakes, rain in the deserts, close encounters with tigers, crocodiles and even giant moths embedded in my ears, I can’t imagine what is to come next! So, from my bed in Jaipur, India I shout my “barbaric yawp” and to all those who share this day with me (Lex my friend for one), have a happy birthday. Its in the stars! Basho
