Cloudnumber10

My first anaglyph

2012-01-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

My first tryst with 3d images. It starts with my bedside and I am sure theres more to come.

Year end at KAUSANI

2011-12-31T07:35:00.000-08:00

I had plenty of time for nostalgia 2011 while leisurely sipping white tea at Kausani. A seemingly endless view of Himalayas from the terrace manifests my future (read 2012) playground.

Molten ego..

2011-11-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

The mind has become a pond of molten ego. Senses have to drench in it before they reach conscious. The soul dissolves in this liquid leaving merely skin and bones.

This ego distorts reality just like the twigs get reflected on a current.

Let the heat of love dry it up.

Let....

A photowalk at Deer park, Hauzkhas

2011-11-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

The park had sense of virginity in it. An unused, raw ambiance that distinctively differentiated it from other popular green belts of Delhi. Of course one of the welcome difference is a huge lake in the premises.

Keeping the trend.. there were couples scattered all around the park.... I secretly clicked few of them :-)

And then there were loners...

2011-11-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

An accidental friend

2011-11-05T03:42:00.000-07:00

I picked up my camera bag and started walking. The idea was to trek along the direction of the river and find a secluded river front all for my own. However, as I footslogged I realized I was not alone, a pet dog from the place where I was camping decided to walk along with me. He followed me throughout my undirected expedition. Once in a while he would overtake me and sprint along a path of his choice, and then as if realising his extent, he would turn back to see whether I was following.

We both equally appreciated each other’s instinct. Sometimes I choose a turn and he followed suit and at times he would lead me to a terrain of his choice and I gladly abided.

This mutually guided course finally led us to a large stoney riverfront as we descended a foothill. The flowing river had created a bed of white sparkling sand. Polished rocks, maybe brought along by the river, marked the boundary of the beach. I climbed a boulder that was closest to the river and settled myself. Realizing that I am in a mood to relax, the dog joyfully came hopping along and sat alongside me.

The rock provided a beautiful vantage point with an emphasis on nature. A perfect ambience for meditation, I was overwhelmed with thoughts contemplative. I closed my eyes and let loose those intriguing questions that have refused to leave me for a while, hoping this moment would magically bless me with the answers. I expected extraordinary out of each splash of air, I anticipated the sound of the river to tune my life. My past flashed on the canvas of my closed eyes. It was occasionally substituted by the spurts of my expectation from the future.

I only grew tense, definitely not what I expected.

I opened my eyes. the dog was still beside me, by now asleep with his body leaning towards my thigh. While I have been trying too hard all this while, he was just enjoying the moment. While I was trying to analyze, explain, find, explore and what not, he was… he was not doing anything at all. While I was busy with past and future, he was engulfed in the present.

And at this very magical moment, I got all my answers.

Passage to light

2011-09-10T09:49:00.001-07:00

Far away... I see that beam of light,

our virgin hope to end all the sorrow.

This flash is the vigour of our flight,

hermit inspiration for a bright tomorrow.

Pencil photoshop

2011-07-22T10:39:00.001-07:00

THE BUDDHA

GREEN GANESHA

The Symbol

2011-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Working on illustrations.. came up with above... Still unsure what message it conveys :-)

Rishikesh... Journey is my destination

2011-05-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

As I folded my jeans and planted my feet into the shallow cold waters of the Ganges, it sparked a rush of blood upwards into my body tantalizing the dogmas that I carry within.

A positive start, I was sure.

I was traveling once again to the holy town of Rishikesh, seeking much needed peace and solace from the hustle of my hurried life. I do that often, grabbing any slightest opportunity that I get to go there. Rishikesh has been one of the most calming and inspirational places I have ever visited. Vividly joyous yet deep rooted in its day-to-day life, that place teaches me something new every time I go there.

I had a booking for a weekend stay at one of the ashrams in the Ramjhula locality. Situated on the banks of Ganges and overlooking a giant Shiva statue, the view from the ashram was magical. Faint sounds of rippling river from one direction and rhythmic chants of the yogis from the other, kept me enchanted throughout my stay. Once we cross the river, there’s this half a mile walking stretch towards the ashram. Surrounded by few of the funkiest (menu wise) cafes and fine bookshops, a walk through this stretch any time of the day is a pleasant experience in itself.

However, this isn’t a travelogue. The words that will come ahead describe a snapshot from my trip. It’s a photograph, a still image out of my travel.

Little did I think that it would all narrow down to this one particular moment. The moment, right now, when with folded jeans and feet submerged in the river, I am experiencing one of the most cognizant and realizing instance of my life.

I was actually jealous of the river. The coursing water was gleaming in the sunset. The flow was full of pride and why not, for the awareness of source and destination was reflected in every drop of twinkling water. Did she not know that sooner her existence is about to perish into the vast sea? I reckon that she did, but the very joy of the present moment superseded the premonitions. And that’s what made me more envious of her. She seemed to be completely ignorant of the future and too engrossed in playing with fading sunlight and people over the shore.

I noticed a bunch of rapids at the far end of the stream. The river was perhaps laughing at my confusion.

A meager identity as compared to the mighty river, it was best for me to surrender myself in order to find those answers. I pleaded within myself, “Help me to be like you!”

The river kept flowing and didn’t respond or did it?

I melted further into the river determined not to leave without a answer. A gush of wind passed over that place. The wind, moving downstream, paced the flow of water for a moment, sort of emphasizing the flow. Quite elegantly, the river had actually communicated to me its secret, it was the FLOW.

And then the river talked…

“I originate from a source hidden deep within the valleys. Although in oblivion, that narrow dull glacier is the source of all my charm. Thumping into difficult terrain, crashing onto stones, I get the liberty of letting out myself only once I flow into plains. I rise if the road is narrow, I expand otherwise. All the while, religiously I keep flowing.

At your point of view, I flow towards the ocean. This is ignorance on your part. The truth is, I JUST FLOW.

At your point of view, my destination is the ocean. This is again ignorance. My friend! The truth is, JOURNEY IS MY DESTINATION.

Just like me, you have a source hidden deep within yourself. Your outer self, the body and the senses make the river and its branches. Connect with your source and let the river flow. Celebrate the numerous blessings that are bestowed upon you while you flow. And as you plunge into the vast sea of death, don’t be dejected, for the life cycle will repeat itself. The soul rises to the heavens simply to pour down again. The rain would liven up the river again.”

Sipping my evening tea at the Office, a café near the ashram, I could not avoid contemplating about this encounter with the Ganges that I had earlier. It was a deep insight that I gained that day. I sneaked into the balcony of the café to have the view of the river, and to thank her personally. I was gazing at the river, when its flow created a engaging illusion. It was as if the river was still and I, together with my bit of earth, is flowing at its pace.

I can be the river; I just need a change in point of view.

I am the Ocean... I am the wave

2011-04-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

I clicked following pics at a small holy town of Gokarna in north Karnataka. Blessed with bunch of peaceful and tranquil beaches, Gokarna is a wonderful medley of cultures composed of equal share of pious crowd and hedonistic holiday makers. Hippies and foreign tourists can always be found in Gokarna owing to its close proximity with Goa. Surprisingly, they gel very well with the religiously inclined local crowd.

I managed to witness the sunset at one of the beaches and tried to capture the golden hour through my lens. In the span of 20 mins, water reflected almost the entire rainbow of colors.

The town has some beautiful isolated beaches nestled nearby and few solitary moments here is guaranteed to detoxicate you good enough to properly take other half of your life.

The girl with the tattoo...

2011-04-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Wind flows for your touch

Hills rise for your sight

Oceans rain to hear you sing

The flowers you smell are all on a high

ये शोर का शहर है।

2011-02-22T10:17:00.000-08:00

ये शोर का शहर है।
कितनी तेज भाग रही है ज़िंदगी...
किसी तरफ तो ज़रूर जा रही होगी?
या शायद सिर्फ गोल घूमे जा रही है।

इस भागम भाग में पीछे छूट गया बेचारा सच।
अटल, अडिग और गहरा कहलाने वाला,
क्या अपने ही खूबियों का मारा है ये सच?
सच को ज्यादा ही भरोसा था खुद पे,
उसे भनक भी नहीं लगी और रंग बिरंगे
गुब्बारे नुमा झूठ ने उसे मात दे दी।
अब ये करे भी तो क्या बेचारा,
वो हवा भरे गुब्बारे फुर्र कर के उड़ गए...
ये टीका रहा, सिद्धांतों वाला जो ठहरा।

पर हम कैसे इन गुब्बारों से बहल गए?
माना ये रंगीन हैं, लेकिन अंदर से खोखले।
ये एक दिन सीकुड़ेंगे, हम रोते रह जाएंगे।
हमें थमना होगा, ज़रूरत पड़े तो पीछे मुड़ना होगा।
सच ने हमारा साथ खूब दिया।
अब उसे ज़रूरत है, तो हमें सहारा बनना होगा।

सच का साथ मत छोड़ ओ हमराही।
वो हमारा ही हिस्सा है, हम उसी के टुकड़े है।

The painted Stork

2011-02-21T05:17:00.000-08:00

"Hey Mister! I ain't no ordinary bird. I am painted Stork. Don't you know that? Springs on the corner and its breeding high time besides thousands of humans are flocking to see us. You should be grateful that I am posing for you. A shallow smile.. that's it."

"Thats enough dude! Sorry no more pics please. I have to rush back to my nest and feed my family. Yeah.. do mail me the pics. You got my email id naa ?"

"Hey!!! No photos of my family. Privacy invasion!!!! rings any bell?

Butterflies files..

2011-02-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.

And becoming a butterfly happens by accepting the caterpillar.

The two 'text' pictures above contain all the wisdom that one would need to lead a satisfying and happy life. At least that is what I believe :-)
What say?

शायद मुझे चलना चाहिए।

2011-02-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

प्यार वाला प्यारा सा दिन और मद्धम बिखरति बारिश।
फिज़ाओं ने सुन ली हो जैसे, किसी के दिल की खवाहिश।।

हैं अगर आज इतनी ही मेहरबानियाँ, तो ज़रा हमारी भी सुन ले।
कबसे है उम्मीद को लगाए बैठे, कोई हमें भी गले लगा ले।।

सरसराती हवा किसी की खुशबू लायी है, जब ढूंडा तो कोई नहीं।
घूम फिर के ये रात फिर आई है, पर मैं अकेला खड़ा वहीं।।

शायद मुझे चलना चाहिए, उम्मीद की गाड़ी पे भटकना चाहिए।
बहुत हो रखा इंतज़ार, अब इम्तेहान से गुजरना चाहिए।।

12 months.. 12 journeys..12 stories

2011-01-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

JANUARY

This world is all a mist,
a decorative veiling of the true.
Release the inhibitions from your fist,
a silent witness is waiting for you.

.....................................................................................................

FEBRUARY

for far away... I see that beam of light,
my virgin hope to end all the sorrow.

This flash is the vigor of my flight,
hermit inspiration for a bright tomorrow.

.......................................................................................................

MARCH

Every morning, it breaks through the window.
Spreads on the floor like a welcome mat.
Sets the air to the temperature of hope.
That light is the essence of life.

........................................................................................

APRIL

Awareness is the only end,

my license to be free.

Neither enemies nor friends,

I believe only what I see.

.............................................................................................................

MAY

As light fades away and fear gets the crowning,

and as you get engaged by thoughts gruesome and odd.

don't you forget...

with every sunset comes a promise of morning,

the light is the savior and language of God.

...................................................................

JUNE

Blood as the fuel…

and eyes as the glass;

With my heart on fire…

I am a lamp of my own class.

.................................................................................................................

JULY

journey as my destination ...

and universe as force,

that candle on the water ...

is my guiding source.

.....................................................................................................................

AUGUST

I absorb all hatred and blame,

willingly giving love and praise instead.

who am I ?

Nature is my name,

that drop of light is my bread.

................................................................................................................

SEPTEMBER

Dressed in darkness are doubt and fear,
but this time… I wont fall to their bait.

brightly lit and always near,
I have with me… a divine lamp called faith.

...............................................................................................................

OCTOBER

This pleasure is but a flicker.

Flickers distract, that’s all they do.

Close your eyes to see the light,

the light that is YOU.

...................................................................................................................

NOVEMBER

Ignorance, suffering and desire..
the devils that blur my goal.

Awareness is my new attire..
enlightenment shines my soul.

..........................................................................................................

DECEMBER

Beyond this gate are Air, Water,Sky and Earth...

such a beautiful view, certainly lots to admire.

The wind calls my name, to all its worth...

pledging me to crossover, and be the missing Fire.

Journey of Light

2011-01-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

No matter how FAST you travel, you cannot beat light.

and man knows it since long

No matter how FAR you travel, you cannot beat light.

A fabulous year comes to an end. So fabulous it has been that I can only wish for a repeat in 2011. I celebrate the happy ending by designing a concept table calendar for 2011. The calendar is called 'Journey of Light' and is based on the same theme.

In all my travels, I have often realized that light has been both my friend and guardian. 'To follow the light' is the secret of success both literally and metaphorically. Through this calendar, I have tried to record various dramatic journeys that light indulges in. The twelve months are portrayed through twelve themed photographs accompanied by short poems, all of which has been created by me.

Thumbnails for the twelve months

My first customer

I have got limited copies printed and intend to circulate them among friends who share similar interests.. all free of cost ;-)

So how do you grab a copy? A slight effort, that's all. All you got to do is follow these 3 steps -

My like for chocolates inspire these steps..... you dont buy this calendar, you earn it ;-p

1) Visit http://www.facebook.com/c10ud on facebook and like the page.

2) Share the page's photo album 'Journey of Light' onto your profile.

3) Leave it open to be liked by your friends. As soon as you reach the magical figure of 12 'Likes' you are eligible for the calendar. All you got to do is mail your name and postal address and leave the tension of posting on me.

Needless to say, I have a limited stock and the above preposition stays valid only till I have them or the budget for the mailing, whichever finishes early. So hurry guys :-).

Choice

2010-12-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

Doubt and fear all around; Only hatred is free.
People are all so selfish; Society is mean.
Oh so esteemed God! Only if you can hear me,
Don’t make love like yourself, oblivious and unseen.

Infant leaves are loosing color on that family tree.
Relations are but accounts in an empty bank.
Oh so esteemed God! Only if you can hear me,
Don’t make emotions like yourself, rigid and blank.

Passion is buried dead; Wishes are drowned in the sea.
Every single day of life, its the self that we detain.
Oh so esteemed God! Only if you can hear me,
Don't make ambition like yourself, logical and sane.

Oh so esteemed God! Only if you can hear me....

I have and I will..
but take my word, I wont do much except listening.
From time immemorial, I have blessed you to be free
Oh so beloved Human! Only if you can hear me.
I cannot make or break you, it is something that you choose to be.

Whats new in new year ??

2010-12-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

The new year will begin with lots of new vistas for cloudnumber10 and it all begins with the new icon figure.

Cloudnumber10 is smoothly floating towards its wider purpose. With every new milestone, its gaining more and more insight towards its ultimate reason of being. 2010 has thought a life changing lesson to it - to eliminate rather then accumulate. The fresh icon (and the future contents of this website) is the dedication to this immortal principle.
A lite and simple representation of the flights and fancies that cloudnumber10 wants to indulge in :-)

Off the beaten track.. Dhanaulti

2010-12-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

A sweet chirping sound woke me up. Glancing through the window, I saw a couple of birds hovering over a tree's branch. In the background, sky seemed to be a color tray of reds, blues and blacks. It must be early morning, I reckoned. I wanted to sleep, but the sound of the birds was equally irresistible to avoid. Back in Delhi, I was not accustomed to hear such sounds at least naturally (I have a chirping bird call bell though). Fascinated and impressed, I shoved off the quilt, walked to the balcony and greeted the day. The quietness of the morning was so good to experience. The nature was brilliantly articulate in expressing the onset of the morning. The light emerged lazily and in a tender manner as if a sapling breaking out of wet mud. Instead of noise, there were sounds, musical sounds of nature. This was my first morning in Dhanaulti.

Dhanaulti, a quite hill station around 25 km from more popular Musoorie makes a good excursion for travelers. We arrived here the day before from Musoorie, late afternoon. The spiral journey amidst the green valleys from Musoorie to Dhanaulti was a mesmerizing experience in itself. A jeep briskly drove us around the valley ascending roughly 2000 feets above Musoorie. We were determined to leave the last trail of society far behind and reach a place where nature is the dominant force. Whenever the jeep stopped, I proudly looked down the valley and mocked the 'electric' civilization that I left below.

The habited Dhanaulti is a half-kilometer straight stretch of hotels and residences, enclosed by two Eco parks on both ends. The Eco parks are the main attraction of the place. They are protected patch of small forest containing mostly Deodar trees. But the faint mimicry of forest like ambience was tempting enough for me who was used to live in Delhi. Every now or then a chunk of cloud would pass by us, blurring the entire area. We trekked into the forest until there was no trail left. The park had a crafty design. It had a couple of view points, bunch of meditation joints all facing towards the snow capped ranges of Himalaya visible at a distance. However, the sun was about to set and it was gripping cold. Not heavily clothed, we decided to head back to the warmth of our hotel room. I had little idea that my ‘TRAVEL ENLIGHTENMENT’ is waiting to happen inside the hotel room.

signs of the times...

Tired from the day’s trek, I leaped to my bed. I still felt cold. I swayed my eyes to check over the window’s latch and I witnessed the best sight I ever had in my life. The sun had just set, leaving behind a stretch of bright taillight. The clouds had receded to our height, but down the valley thick mist still existed. The setting sun left a pale orange light at the threshold of the clouds. The vast sea of mist spread limitless as far as our eyes could see. The grandness of nature was endearing to watch. And all that from the coziness of our hotel room, sipping a cup of black coffee. The moment was bliss.

The grandeur was so vast and limitless that it never appeared Earthly. As if it was a symbolic display of cosmic truth. The mist seem to be representing the world that we live in. We are the tiny drops that constitute that mist, so very attached and absorbed in that haze. But up there a blessed energy awaits us. Only if we have the courage and awareness to unbound from this ocean of mist and set our selves free.

These were thoughts too deep for me to answer and generally such thoughts lead me to a good nights sleep. So happened that night aswell.

Thankfully this morning was sunny. We wrapped up the other Eco park today, all along clicking some fabulous pictures. This park had an excellent view of the Himalayan ranges including Nanda devi among other peaks. In the afternoon we decided to get back to Musoorie and stroll along the Mall road till the evening when we drive back to Delhi.

chick chocolate....

Back at Musoorie, we roamed and strolled along the Mall road until tired. Boarding at much recommended ‘Chick Chocolate’, a fast food café joint and relishing over the hot chocolate fudge, we had a lot of sweet memories to contemplate.

Delhi photo walker's encyclopedia :-)

2010-11-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

A band of enthusiastic photographers, cool gentle Delhi autumn months and lots of zeal has ensured that I photo walk almost entire Delhi this season. Finally, when I managed to creep in a free weekend, I was soon engrossed in retrospect (is it that itchy traveler’s feet again?). I thought memories and experience should better be documented and shared (to keep me occupied).
What I share below is a comprehensive list of places and monuments that could be potential exploration sites for amateur photographers looking to tone up their photography skills. As such, the content here is specifically driven and dedicated for photography purposes. (Please don’t refer it in case you want to take your girlfriend out for a date, I am bad at that anyway).

Qutub Minar/ Garden of five senses. (Saket)

Minarets always provide cool clicks. A challenge to capture the grandeur and size of tallest minaret in India will surely excite you and keep you engrossed once you see the structure. However, since the composition will always lead towards the sky (courtesy the minaret) the place should better be avoided during noon. Late afternoon or early morning would be more apt timings. Inside the complex we have lots of area to roam about and discover a unique frame of our own.

A very short distance from Qutub Minar is a park called 'Garden of five senses'. The name is compelling enough for a first timer to visit this place. The garden is designed to stimulate our five senses with its beauty and attractions and give us a chance to touch, smell, hear and see our natural surroundings. It does not actually completely succeed in inducing these senses except during the blooming seasons.

The park is flocked by hundreds of love buds be it any time of the day. In a way it really challenges the photographers to find a descent composition inside the park ;-). Personally, I found this park not very appealing. Most of the reviews I read before going there, to my assessment, overrated the park.

Jama Masjid/Chandni Chowk -

If you are that kind of outdoor photographer who gets down from his car, takes a drag while evaluating the surroundings, pulls up the tripod, mounts the camera following up by two or three (draft) pictures to get you in the mood, then Chandni Chowk is definitely not the place for you. One of the most crowded place in delhi, people find difficult to mount themselves, let alone the tripod. However, its amidst this crowd and narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, that delhi reflects its true culture and historical character.

Amazingly cosmopolitan, we can find a famous landmark almost every 20 steps. If you love people (well, lots of! ) and following a theme of Indianness, Chandni Chowk is a must do. A short walk will take you to Jama Masjid. You should expect to find only serious photographers here, for the reason being that they charge you a fee (200 bucks) to take your camera inside. Inside, it makes a good photowalk with elegant mughal architecture spanning all across the central courtyard. One of the two minarets of the mosque is open for public (again with a fee though) and gives a grand view of entire walled city from the top. A huge bunch of pigeons in the center of the courtyard keeps hovering around and challenge you to take a shot at them.

Old fort/ zoo (Pragati Maidan)-

One of my friends once told me that she likes to go to zoo for photo clicking because her feeling is, that she relates more to animals then human. Although, she was speaking solely in the context of photography, I looked at her and kept wondering exactly which animal she is talking about and how is she related :-p. Jokes apart, Delhi zoo would be a good mock run for a wildlife photography enthusiast. Also, its the best place to take your children if you want them to encourage them about photography. A green quiet ambiance, you would get enough good choices among animals and fauna to shoot. The best part is animals don’t mind you shooting them (Camera shooting, I mean) as long as you are not inside their cages. Just on the other side of the road from zoo is the Old Fort. Aptly named, the fort is old enough to provide any good clicking options ad might turn out to be a disappointment if we except to much out of its trip.

Humanyun Tomb/ Nizammudin dargah (Nizammudin)–

A must do. A must do for the photographers. In my photography classes, I was told that no human face is symmetrical (yes sir, the right side of your face is not exactly like the left side) and best portraits are the ones, which conceal these details to the best. Lots of work for the photographers, duh!

Thankfully for architecture photographers, Humayun tomb would not pose a challenge In terms of symmetry.

Humayun tomb could well be termed as a synonym for symmetry.

Humayun tomb and its surrounding arcitechtures in the vicinity provide a complete package for architechtural and fine art photography. Red sandstone, blue sky, green gardens and white light give you a splendid platform to unleash your creativity and experiment with abstract compositions. More play with light awaits you at the Nizammudin dargah on the other side of the road.

Connaught place/ Bangla sahib

The happening place and commercial hub of Delhi, C.P. is not best suited for photographers. Most of the time it would be crowded to the brim with cars and bikes parked all over the place. Irritating traffic and honking creates a completely anti nature atmosphere. The crowd and rush continues till late night. Meaning, People who go to C.P. sleep late and if they sleep late what happens? Simple guys, they wake up late and this is where we photographers bite on them.

The usually crowded C.P. is completely sober and peaceful in the morning. Recently renovated, the white shines in the morning light. C.P. is the best place for early morning photo walk. Nearby places like bangla sahib and jantar mantar could prove to be good appetizers in the early morning photo breakfast.

Lotus temple (Nehru Place)

If you are actually photowalking the places in the order that I include them here in this article (only if you are reading this article, in the first place) you would prefer to just go and relax in the magical prayer hall of this temple. However, there’s lots of scope for photography as well. Again, an epitome of symmetry, the white structure creates compositions with strong emotions. It’s few of the places where you don’t take photographs but actually receive them.

No list can be comprehensive for a city 500 years old and made home by at least seven different civilizations and culture. The list above is a 'to be continued' one. I am sure there would be lot of places both heard and unheard that waits to be (photo)explored. I hope it will keep me occupied in the new year.

Happy Diwali

2010-11-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman)..... the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

The greatest light is the one which is within us, subdued by the mist of doubt and fear. This Diwali, lets rekindle that light. Let the fire of hope and compassion burn the wings of those pitty gnats.

The light reveals all. Inside each one of us, the truth is waiting for that ray of light. HAPPY DIWALI.

If at delhi.. dont forget to abode a photoshop at Humayun Tomb

2010-11-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

Sun and sandstone meet eachother and create an aura thats almost magical to watch.

Humayun's cenotaph at the main chamber.
I came to know that the architect of the building was also a poet. In building this monument he has used windows instead of words to express his artistic imaginations. The light rays extend to Humayun's cenotaph in the morning and slowly start receding in the course of the day. Its an eternal architectural arrangement to create an effect as if its not the light rays but Humayun's soul that's leaving the cenotaph.

What is a door for ? To come in or go out? or both? In everyday life, these questions would sound silly. But, while at a tomb, roofing several cenotafs, these questions do come to mind.
The Soul! It always wants to escape.

The monument looks more beautiful because of the framing of the dark gate. The composition, I believe represents hope :-)

A Search in Secret India – An enquiry into transcendental India.

2010-10-06T02:50:00.000-07:00

At last his lips open and he says gently:

“You say I. ‘I want to know.’ Tell me, who is that I?”

Puzzled, I point a finger towards myself and mention my name.

“And do you know him?”

“All my life!” I smile back to him.

“But that is only your body! Again I ask, ‘Who are you?’”

- Excerpt from Paul Bruntun’s conversation with Maharishi

For westerners, India has always been the most sought after destination for seeking the spiritual. The mystical essence of India and far advanced exploration of consciousness has attracted many well known philosophers and high thinkers from all parts of west. When Paul Bruntun landed at Alexandra dock, Bombay, in early 1930s, he had a similar quest. But his intent differed in the sense that he not only wanted to seek the spiritual, but probe it as well.

This book is a search in secret India, secret in the sense that it examines India that had been hidden from the outer world for thousand of years. What resulted was a tale of remarkable spiritual adventure which Paul so elegantly chronicled in this book. The content of the book details his journeys to various corners of India in search of individuals with genuine spiritual insight. Amongst many people he came across, Paul describes some of the outstanding meetings in details. The book includes his interactions with yogis from north and south India, proclaimed sages and spiritual heads of various religions.

The remarkable thing about this book is the way these interactions have been presented to the reader. Being a thoroughbred journalist, Paul effectively uses his skills to probe the self proclamation of these sages and events with critical impartiality. However, he so efficiently succeeds in never judging an event and leaves it to the readers to take the final call.

Best travel stories are the ones which completes a circle and end within us. Paul ultimately manages to get an end to his quest and find peace at Arunachala, with Sri Ramana Maharishi. The chapters which document his interactions with Maharishi are cult classics and cannot be justly praised in any reviews. This book holds the credit of enlightening the west about the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharishi. And its been widely known that the ideology highlighted in this book not only transformed Paul’s life forever, but have had similar influence on many others. Nearing the end of the book, Paul summarizes his experience from his journey, giving the book a superb metaphysical climax.

This book is a true travel classic and one of the greatest in the genre of spiritual travel.

Bye it, read it, absorb it and live it. This masterpiece by Paul explores infinite expenses of transcendental India that readers of any generation would find exciting to read.

Beachy Head - a walk to remember

2010-09-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

I was a bit scared.

It took me days to settle in the city life of England. A trip all alone to the countryside required a bit of self-convincing. Thankfully, I am good at self-convincing tricks. I set off from my home for the trip. My skepticism was further nourished as I boarded the double-decker bus. I was the first one to board the bus and even the driver greeted me with astonishment as to why I am so early. However, my grit soon overpowered my skeptics and I congratulated my self for being the first one on the bus and been able to grab the front most seat of the upper deck.

This bus by Brighton and Hove Coach Company is a special summer initiative for tourists, which will take them on a day’s trip to and fro between Brighton and Eastbourne, two coastal towns in south England. At 5 bucks all inclusive, it was a fabulous deal. The 2 hour ride is literally parallel to the sea front, cruising along the chalk heads of south England. I was immensely excited to see the first glimpses of English countryside, hoping a refreshing change from the hassle of London.

And then the bus finally started rolling over Brighton sea front towards the country side. The view throughout the journey was breathtaking. A narrow one lane road pierced through the British farms and grazing grounds taking us towards Peachhaven, Seaford and Seven Sisters Country Park, a series of chalk cliffs by the English Channel. Thereby, the road floated on top of cliffs, parallel to the English Channel. I finally boarded off at Beachy Head, the highest of the cliffs. It was here that I met the most beautiful person in my life, ME.

a photographer along the shore

As I stepped down the bus, I realized that the engine of the bus had to really do little labor to move the bus. The fierce wind blowing around the area was enough to ward of the bus, let alone a person. I somehow managed to stand still and roamed 360 to get a panoramic view of the area. The lush green grasses along the road kept swirling around with each stroke of heavy brisk air, perfectly imitating the nearby ocean. The blue sky would have been left out in the act had it not made friends with the clouds. The impartial wind gave the sky its share of animation in terms of ever moving clouds. It was bliss to watch.

While I was strolling along the cliffs, one after the other, the experience was out of this world. Walking against the wind, the sound of the thrashing wind against my body paralleled the sound of water hitting the cliff. There were numerous couples sitting along the edges, looking at the ocean, comparing its depth with that of their love. The air hardly smelt of romance. It was too fierce to induce romantic feelings, but then maybe true romance is fierce. I smiled and moved on.

Tired of the trekking, I sat for a while along the edges and formally introduced myself to the ocean. I received no reply. I didn’t complain however, looking at the infinite vastness and depth of the sea, it would take some time to absorb my message. At a distance, ocean’s blue merged with that of the sky, negating any visual difference. Visually, I was on top of sky. I wanted to stop here, at this very particular moment, forever. Make me a lighthouse rooted at this heaven on earth. I would peacefully radiate forever, attracting more and more travelers towards me.

1 idiot...3 colors :-)

2010-08-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

As an amateur photographer, I am restless these days searching for a theme to photograph. And then there was 15 august, India's independence day :-)

Random observations by a gonzo traveler – Kuwait

2010-07-31T06:52:00.000-07:00

Marina mall .... upside down

after a day's 'HOT' work.... revelling at the beach is a fundamental right for Kuwaitis :-)

Kuwait beachfront at the dawn

I ducked to my side as the taxi driver’s fist reached towards my face. But to my great relief he had no intention to hit me. He stopped almost near my face, opened his fists wide and shouted, “Five kaydee”. My friend murmured in my ears, “He means 5 dinars for the ride”. Out of the airport, first time into Kuwaiti heat, I was ready to give him my life earned fortune to get into his air-conditioned cab. We jumped in.

Kuwait is like an ideal girlfriend – hot and rich.

The above statement is a sweet metaphor. Let’s deform it! The metaphor above uses figurative meaning of ‘hot’. However Kuwait is ‘hot’ literally. It’s the hot that heats or the ‘hot’ that stains with sweat. Thankfully Kuwait is ‘rich’. Hence, the country has managed to almost completely air-condition itself and life in Kuwait is a series of transitions from one air-conditioned compartment to another. Walk outside and you would hear a constant drill sound around you, as if your neighbor is boring for oil inside his house. This sound is actually of those thousand A/Cs operating in and around you.

For backpacker kinda travelers, there’s not much to travel and visit in Kuwait except the shopping malls (of course air-conditioned) sprawled all across the Kuwait city. Men in traditional white Dishdasha and women in black cloaks when walk together in groups give a funny TV flicker feeling to an observer. However, unlike other Arabic countries you won’t find restrictions on personal expression to evident in Kuwait.

My best times in Kuwait were spent at the Hard Rock Café in Kuwait marina. Facing the sea, the pyramid like structure of the café is perhaps the best in their entire chain. I made some friends from Philippines there. Alcohol prohibited in the entire nation, alcohol free Budweiser was a cool experience at the café.

Not all travel tales end up inspiring. The heat just left me hollow and maybe sad. The white sun was contrasted with black oil only recently. Now the country uses the energy and power of the oil to cut through the heat of the sun just like an umbrella. Interestingly, the country has such a huge oil reserve that it has big names in the world as their customer resulting in huge influx of money into the country. This has lead to large-scale development of infrastructure and living amenities on a land, which was supposed to be an uninhabited wasteland. It depends now on the shrewdness and skill of mankind to determine how long we can deceive nature.

Rule of thirds..

2010-07-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

It’s so hot in Kuwait that usually we cannot go out. Thankfully, big windows, white sunshine and lots of ceramics give my camera and me enough engagement inside my apartment itself. As a new student of photography, I keep experimenting with the rules and guidelines that I am thought. I clicked this photo with the pot at the center. However the photo was not that appealing as compared to when I reshot the photo with the pot a bit towards the left. Rule of thirds confirmed.

Its time!

2010-07-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Its time to say goodbye to Convenience!
Metals are not cast to be kept idle. They are destined to move or they pick rust. I am made of metal. Every bit of me screams to let free the infinite energy I have, in to this cosmos and be one with it.
Let’s say yes to heat!

Its time to get rid of Ambition!
Ambition rewards you just like a mirage engages a thirsty traveler in a desert. Ambition is a God which can not take more than one follower at a time. And ironically, it’s that faithful follower that suffers the most. By the time he reaches the land of mirage, he finds nothing but void. Success is not something that I wish to achieve.
For me, every experience is a success!

Its time to stop being Incremental!
An increase will increase the desire for increase. There are two types of increments – one that goes on in vertical direction and the one that expands in three dimensions. The former is like a wall, the later resembles a house. The comparison is self explanatory. I prefer to expand rather than increase. There is always a balance involved, I do not defy gravity. Moreover, expansion will sooner or later involve others.
Its time to start being exponential!

Its time to judge no more!
In this quest for perfection all I have found is that perfection is the most imperfect word. Good and bad are the attributes of habits, not nature. Nature is one, nature is to love.
Its time to love!

Its just a beginning

2010-07-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

I was trying to use one of the showlamps in my drawing room as a soft light to do some table top photography when I noticed that the reflection of the lamp on the glass table itself will make a goody snap. Since the lamp had an open top, I had to place a metal bowl on top to get that fuzzy yellow light.

What goes around, comes around !!!

2010-06-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

Life is but a circle. We are all but the passengers traveling on the edge of it. We all have to jump off exactly where we started.

Of all the destinations in London, my camera lens seemed to be in special love with London Eye.

Ferris wheels like the London Eye is the perfect manifestation of circle of life. We are so joyous as we enter the egg shaped capsules at the start of the trip. We come along with our chosen partners and few strangers, just as we enter the realm of life, as if a new birth. As we hover around the corners of the capsule, we will be taken to the visual trip of the entire city of London. All the while we are occupied in the visual sensation, the machine will cleverly keep moving. Everyone will get a chance to reach on the top once. No stopping though. Be aware of that moment and take full enjoyment out of it.

A kid looking down thorough the London Eye.

I have learned that the sky is round. This earth is but a circle (egg shaped to be precise), revolving round the ‘round’ sun. The hefty sun is not idle itself. It in turns revolve round some another mightier object. As I descend through the London Eye, I get a feeling that the earth is nothing but one of those capsules in that ultimate universal Ferris wheel.

As we gradually descend and reach the end of our 30 min trip I notice people are sad and don’t want this trip to end. Meanwhile a mystifying thought grips my mind. As I finally complete my trip and asked to step out, I REALIZE that I finished EXACTLY WHERE I STARTED. How can it be the end? And if it is the end, did I really start?

To relate it to broader terms, everyone ends their journey exactly where they started. There is no difference between life and death except that they point to different directions. And the directions in itself are meaningless since the journey is a circle.

Rolling Eye

There are no destinations in life. Ultimately it’s a journey to nowhere. Enjoy the lift :-)

Ecstasy

2010-05-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Smoke rising above, dragging me down;

I got to catch my self and fight for the crown.

I rise above the smog and tap the blue sky;

Silence, silence and I hear the sound.

The garden is full of grass; but you are chasing a weed;

Mary Jane! If you want the fruits, please don’t crush the seed.

The beauty of a crystal is knitted by its joint;

Be aware! Or crack it open and loose the point.

You thought its audacious braving a storm in the ocean of acid;

Actually, you were in too much speed only to overlook the lake placid.

Let this smoke fade away, don’t be the one to drown;

Ones the dust of self is cleared, you will be the mightiest crown.

A bit(e) about food...

2010-05-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

I write this as I accomplish one more journey..... One that started with ANYTHING..... passed by NOTHING.... and finally arrived at EVERYTHING. I would say that I have a bad habit of saying YES very easily to most of the things. Thankfully this list includes my conscience as well and at occasions I benefit from this bad habit of mine by saying YES to my conscience.

I did a similar thing recently by saying YES to my conscience and saying NO to non vegetarian food. A hell like difficult decision for someone who eats ANYTHING eatable and cannot survive without meat, a couple of days.

It was just another ordinary day when I was browsing through the news paper and I came across this famous proverb... "What goes around, comes around." If this is so true, where does all the pain, that we inflict on animals killing them for food, goes?

This left me with no answer, absolutely NOTHING.

What we do to animals slaughtering them is no different from what Hitler did to innocent people. Unfortunately for these poor animals, this holocaust is never to end.

I have taken a bold decision to say no to meat and I know this is going to be difficult. But this sort of difficulties are charming. Whenever you really win over these difficulties, you feel good and that fulfilment is actually EVERYTHING.

AS LONG AS THERE ARE SLAUGHTERHOUSES,

THERE WILL BE BATTLEFIELDS.

- Leo Tolstoy

Manali .. God made chocolate dipped icecream

2010-03-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

A perfect pic depicting the purpose of my visit... dont take seriously the spelling of 'raid' though after all DIL HAI HINDUSTANI.

I would have loved to lie to you that the bungalow was my resort where I stayed. Although this isn't true, but good that I have a reason for next visit.

On way to Rohtang..... the road that goes to Leh. I kept walking and walking until the snow forced me to go no further.

Look at the tree closely and the mountains on the background. Shiva must have performed his cosmic dance here. This tree in the foreground has tried its best to imitate him.

LANDSCAPES OF MANALI.

The picture above is the most dear to me. Yellow draped in green perhaps tells us the power hidden in the nature. I call this the nature's angle.

This was much more huge and mightier then what I have been able to capture. Actually I was looking to capture the 'ego' carried by these rocks. The subtle nature of the pic shows that they have none :-)

There you go. What's amazing is the fact that this Buddha has open eyes..... difficult to find in most of his statues. as if "FINNALY I AM AWAKE"

Trinity - Creator, Destructor and the lovely Preserver

2010-03-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine looked at this photo and instantly reacted, “was this intentional?” I smiled and said “you bet.”

A picture says thousand words, and I intended to do exactly that. I wanted to combine two opposing forces, two entirely different faces of humanity in a pictorial representation.

The background has Lord Buddha, a patron of non-violence, the enlightened one. On the other hand, I am wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. Che Guevara, a Marxist revolutionary and a guerrilla leader.

This picture represents two iconic extremes. Two choices, I would say! Whom should we idolize? Is the pace of life today apt enough to follow the path of patience, non violence and truth patronized by Buddha? Buddha believed in inner awakening among individuals. Peace that comes from within and then spread along benefiting the society in turn.

What would have Che achieved if he followed Buddha’s ideology? He took a year off from studies to embark on a trip traversing South America by motorcycle with one of his friends. On this trip he was struck by the crushing poverty of the remote rural areas. The exploitation by rich landlords was ever present. The exposure to poverty, hunger and disease forced Guevara to believe that in order to "help these people", he needed to leave the realm of medicine, and consider the political arena of armed struggle.

Was he justified in choosing armed struggle as the means? Or was their any other way out?

I don’t have answers to these questions. But whom do I idolize? Afcourse I am wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt (symbolically a red one). Doesn’t that answer the question? If so, what am I doing in a monastery then?

Well, there’s a third face in the picture and it’s the one whom I idolize. It’s the one whom I believe, I love. He does not keep any percepts, he does not break any percepts. He is the one who believes that there is a Buddha inside each one of us and the quantum of awareness of this Buddha is the breeder of personalities. THAT FACE IS ME.

LADY.....bird

2010-03-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

this beetle can't sing. .so I made her dance for me

Who am I ?

2010-03-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

I am a traveler without destination.

No worries since I have no expectation.

I am a constellation yet to be named.

Bruised, battled, still ready for a game.

Go is my favourite word; colours, my best friend.

I take the lonely road, away from the worldly trend.

Other than the pole star, the only thing I follow is my heart.

Knowing that I can reach neither, but one wins only by taking part.

Journey is my destination

2010-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Setting forth on to land unknown,
aversions grazed and curiosity grown;
Acquiring this road as a welcome mat,
all I have is blue jeans and a round hat;
Climbing the mountains, diving into sea,
oh dear! Best things in the world are free;
What’s the purpose? What’s the aim?
I lose these questions as I loose my name;
I see people looking at me with a surprise look,
I tell them, I am living pages of a fairy book;
As the sun leaves me with the troupe of cloud,
I feel a pinch if nirvana, as if coming out of temple loud;

And the voice inside me saying –

Few things in life are beyond justification,
let me go beloved! Journey is my destination.

If the doors of perception were cleansed.......

2010-02-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

Every traveler has in his heart a dream destination that he has always aspired to visit. Its snow capped mountains for some, golden beaches for others or maybe a virgin island somewhere distant. My dream destination is a GRAVE.

Astonishing, but true! If I ever get a wish or lots of money to at least arrange the tickets, I would run away to this grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery in eastern Paris and witness one of the most eternal, imperishable souls ever - legendary Jim Morrison.

The doors have always been close to my heart. Jim Morrison is an idol whom you won’t want to emulate. How often one can categorize a person in such a league?

I don’t want to follow his lifestyle, but yes, from my hectic, chaotic schedule, I do want to take little pockets of time and reach the state of infinite and test the bounds of reality.
How elastic is reality? Will it survive the tortures I force on it, just like it does to me? I do not back off. I fight, survive. And with each torture, which life forces on me, I grow stronger, mightier. Why would it not be true if it’s done the other way around?
Jus few questions, whose answers I can only find if I am close to the legend’s soul and talk to him. :-)

You died, but not before challenging life. I will live and do that.

"If the doors of perception were cleansed / All things would appear as they are.. infinite" - William Blake.

we have got new occupants in our house

2010-02-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

PAPA, MOM AND ME..

I have recently bought few plants, one of daisy and other unknown flowers, for our house. These flowers were the reasons, good enough, to keep me occupied entire morning.

Both the flowers live in complete harmony with each other. No communal tension.

A happy little family.... Man, woman and their little child?

We have a newly wedded couple aswell.. surely a couple's retreat :-)

and the girl next door.......

And yes.. they pay their taxes as well.. ontime

I wonder how a green plants stuck in dull brown mud... creates such colour

2010-01-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

Rishikesh - My true calling

2010-01-10T06:08:00.000-08:00

1st of Jan is meant for party, after all it’s a new year. We dance, get drunk, shout, celebrate and virtually try almost every means to loose ourselves. And this is what I used to do ever since. But this New Year was different! Don’t know why, maybe finally I grew up and wanted more choice.
Well, I did choose. Instead of choosing to loose myself, I made a choice to find myself. This New Year, I went to Rishikesh.

VIEW OF GANGA AARTI AT PARMARTH NIKETAN, RAM ZHULA

It was not the first time I went to Rishikesh. My first visit was more spirituality oriented. And it was my first visit that made me realize that spirituality is best discovered in things you love. I love adventure and this was precisely the purpose of my second trip. The itinerary included waterfall trekking, river rafting, camping besides the Ganges, camp food and most attractively – uncertainty.

Moments before starting our drive from Delhi, all of us were of unanimous view that everything is planned and all is going to be well. But that assumption was thoroughly pounded when reaching the outskirts of Delhi and we realized that we (actually I..) have left our tour operator’s receipt and location map at home itself. No one was sure we would be allowed (or even able to reach) in the camp without the letters.
In a way it was good, after all what traveler you call yourself when you know what’s coming ahead. It’s the uncertainty, the surprise that a traveler accompanies as a companion, which differentiates him from a tourist.

“Anyway, it’s New Year boys, let’s go. We will do something new.”

There’s an amazing or should I say daring charm in leaving your home with all the assumptions behind and travel not for good experience, but just experience.
Do this once and you will realize a cosmic untold truth – Experience is always good. Good ones make you feel well and bad ones make you do well.

I was blessed right before my trip for the very reason that I was traveling with four of my best friends. One would be a very fortunate person if he identifies with someone in this world whose way of thinking, vibrations or frequency of thoughts synchronizes perfectly with each other. And if you find five of them all cluttered in a single Indica car, be sure that you have seen us.

THE CAMP VIEW

So finally we arrived at the camp, around 20 kms from Rishikesh and somewhere in Rajaji National Park. Everything went smooth, thanks to a phone call to the operator at right time. He made sure that message went through the camp, which did not had any phone network coverage. The travel operator was good and very cooperative and why not! After all he was from Rishikesh.

The serenity of the place was so profound that you could actually feel yourself. One could hear the sound of breath, coming in and fleeing out. At once, there was an amazing awareness. Awareness of self! As if everything including the mountains, forest, river is but a mirror, reflecting your image and guiding you to look inwards.

Arriving almost at the sunset, we were offered piping hot bowl of maggi each, our perfect magic maggi moment. That followed by couple of volleyball games. Tell you what, playing it after four years and first time since college, volleyball worked better than vodka.
Already on a high, nights booze started with a group bonfire alongside the Ganges beach. Fire and water, the extremes came together and displayed their aura in full glamour. The water made thundering noise every time it hit the stones on its flow, as if irritated by the fact that the fire is occupying and soothing every one with its heat. The Fire, clearly aware that it is the center of attraction for all, kept beaming with pride. After watching this drama of nature as a spectator and extracting full entertainment, I finally called the day off and went for sleep.
No dreams that day and logical enough since 20 hrs of dream life left nothing more to dream of.

THAT SUNRISE!

I woke early in the morning, mainly because of two reasons, one since the sleep was deep and relaxed and therefore short, and two that I wanted to see the sunrise amidst the mountains. Surprisingly, If you are in a isolated place like this, one thing that you will never need is a watch. As promised by our care taker, the sun came out from one of the mountains at exactly 8:30 a.m. as if it has finally conquered a long fought battle. I took my bed tea and went to the shore.

I was watching the river. It had a beautiful little stone at its base, stuck in mud. Flowing water had polished it to its brilliance, almost like a gem. All the force of mighty river was not able to perturb that round stone. And then there came a small little paper boat from the far end of river, twittering with the flow. As I watched it, it went past me and over.
Maybe it was the flow; I liked the paper boat better then the gem stone.

THE WATERFALL WHICH WE TREKKED

The day was reserved for mountain trekking and river rafting. Being a first timer in rafting, I was a shed nervous. And God! I had my heart in my hands when the instructor on the raft announced arrival of the first rapid. As our raft conquered the rapids, that feeling of victory, the sense of fulfillment was something virgin to my otherwise average thoughts. One by one we kept on clearing the rapids. There were total seven of them in our ride. Countdown was always on in my mind. A destination gives its full enjoyment only when you have strived in the journey. If you don’t confirm with this, let me know I will book a rafting trip for you.

Cold, wet, tiring, amazing, adventurous, beautiful day ended with a home made cheese mushroom pasta at the German café alongside Lakshman zhula. This was followed by one of the best authentic hot Chocolate I have ever had.

Time to go back to the clutter, chaos we call Delhi. Hey! What am I doing? I promised my self not to carry any assumptions with me. Its time to give a fresh outlook to everything. Go and find the beauty hidden by the traffic and noise in Delhi and live life peacefully.

Rishikesh, It was a strange positive force there, force that absorbs all aversions, judgment, leaving just me. My thoughts echoed in the mountains for a while but eventually got lost. The river talked to me, extremely patient in listening me as I downpour all the love and hate inside. But all the while it kept flowing, there by indicating to me "Abhinav, just the way I flow, you should also let go of all the thoughts, emotions and be one with yourself." And while I was leaving, a cool breeze came from towards the river and whispered in my ears HAPPY NEW YOU!

Photo of a photo

2009-11-27T01:38:00.000-08:00

Dont Imagine.. .sometimes you should click a photo aswell..

just like that

2009-11-07T00:38:00.000-08:00

Kerela : God's very own country

2009-10-31T23:52:00.000-07:00

RAINBOW BANANA

Onway to Trivandrum.... Kochi airport... yes an airport.. its not a multiplex screen

Durga..

2009-10-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

ohh.. you caught me..

2009-09-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is the most beautiful pic I have ever clicked in my life....

Shining India..

2009-09-20T08:54:00.001-07:00

Got a chance to capture "INDIA" in its two extremes.

Dharamsala...freedom

2009-09-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

time to get psychedelic............

We found a punjabi dhaba..

Triund with a beautiful view of the first peaks of the "real" Himalayas. Nature at its best.

View from our hotel room. Our hotel was named 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel. Each room was named after one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism and was decorated accordingly.

Prayer Wheels at Tsuglagkhang Temple, McLeod Ganj

Om Mani Padme Hum........

Probably I was sad..

2009-03-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

This tree attracted my attention.. maybea at that time I was relating to it... god knows.

shimla..

2009-03-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

MY FIRST STEP ON SNOW..

This is the reason of healthy India ;-)

Christ Church at the Ridge.. I was lucky enough to attend the Sunday mass.

snaps from the TOY train... on way to Shimla

2009-03-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

The other end of the tunnel can be seen... gleam of hope.. keep your eyes open to see it :-)

Window view

when about to enter one of the longest tunnels

2009-03-28T00:45:00.000-07:00

Love finds its way.

Rishikesh..

2009-03-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Evening Ganga aarti at rishikesh.

Young boys from Gurukul chanting vedic mantras on the banks of river Ganga with a lifesize idol of Lord Shiva at the epicenter and sun setting at the backdrop, saffron hue all over. It was an amazing blissful experience.

Peace and happiness knows no boundaries.

The ashram where we stayed for a weekend. Heaven should be very similar to this, if not better.