Choice

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 ??

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

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 :-)

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

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

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 :-)

Beachy Head - a walk to remember

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 :-)

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

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..

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!

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

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 !!!

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

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...

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

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"