Moments of Magic...

America 365 & some...(contd)

2010-08-12T19:14:00.012-04:00

(contd.)...its close to 500 days since I arrived in the land of opportunity... there have been opportunities galore to enjoy the sights & sounds of america & its myriad landscape...

...here are some of my favorite MOMs...

...trump tower, near columbus circle, SW corner of Central Park, NY

..pristine beauty...waterfall inside Central Park, NY

...a familiar sight in NY....the waterway tours...

...baby on board ;-)... billboard in a NY street...

...mexico in manhattan... enchiladas, burritos & tacos ;-)...a culinary fest awaits...

...another view of columbus circle, gateway to central park...

...fall colors in lake george, upstate NY....

...the falling leaf, is it the sign of things past... or a sign of hope for things to come...

America 365 & some...

2010-08-12T16:52:00.013-04:00

...its close to 500 days since I arrived in the land of opportunity... there have been opportunities galore to enjoy the sights & sounds of america & its myriad landscape...

...here are some of my favorite MOMs...

...the gateway arch, st louis Missouri...

...the little red lighthouse...under George Washington Bridge, NY

....Golden Gate, San Francisco, emerging from heaven...

...Capitol Hill, Washington DC...

..lady of liberty....

..one of the piers on the hudson....midtown, manhattan...

...macy's fireworks from 42nd street hudson riverfront...

...the tree of endurance...

2009-09-22T17:44:00.002-04:00

...the 17 mile drive along the pacific coast in monterey bay california is famous for the lone cypress tree... whose story is a inspirational for sustaining against all odds... i found this tree not so far from the lone cypress, with its branches reaching out to the pacific & its still untold story....

... i'm calling it the tree of endurance....

...life & a stack of pebbles...

2009-09-22T17:27:00.003-04:00

...found this stack of delicately balanced pebbles facing the mighty gusts from the pacific ocean... in a way, to me it reflects the delicate balance of life, and if we have stacked our priorities right, even the strongest gusts cannot impact what is matters most to us....

(pebble beach, monterey bay, california US)

...j'adore paris... (contd.)

2009-09-19T13:54:00.010-04:00

....more sights & scenes from paris...

...napolean's proclamation of triumph.... le arc-de-triomphe...

...friendship sculpted in marble... one of augustus rodin's lesser known masterpieces...

....the fashion capital & its flagship store... le galeries lafayette ...on boulevard haussmann

...the mesmerising & magnetic... moulin rouge....

...j'adore paris....

2009-09-19T13:37:00.005-04:00

...listening to some soulful music & was reminded of paris... the city of music & a cultural melange... with its cresent shaped boulevards, the ever dependent metro, the countless musuems... and most importantly an artistic & musical spirit that left its impression in my mind... j'adore paris

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2009-05-08T12:14:00.000-04:00

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....manhattan 201

2009-05-08T11:43:00.006-04:00

...Well, it has been a little over two years since I have posted... and life has taken me places in between.....was walking along the hudson this past weekend with my cousin & family... and taking in the sights and sounds of new york on one side & jersey city on the other.....this is the famed manhattan downtown night lights... not from the jersey side, but from one of the piers on the hudson river walk....

Moments of Magic.... 200th post...

2007-03-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

...here it is... moment no 200... when i started the 'moments of magic' i didn't think it'll reach this far... but thats life for you "life's like a box of chocolates. you never know what you'll find"...

...i guess what has kept things going is all those incredible moments that life has been giving... its easy to live life like there's no tomorrow, or work yourself out with what the future gonna b like.. but every once in a while if we just take time to look at today & see what you've had from life... and what you've made out of it, its simply amazing...

and the keyword is 'simple'... and moments of magic are the simple little things that life gives us that we, in our hurry most often oversee... yet they are those very things that make our life what it is... and what i've shared here is 200 of them that have made some part of my life... they're not just pictures, they are the 'moments' in the pictures...

2007-03-04T12:03:00.000-05:00

...was thinking what i should post... the sylvan backwaters of kerala have always captivated me... this one's a lesser known lake in trivandrum, a paradise for migratory birds...

2007-02-25T10:36:00.000-05:00

...the eye of beauty... reminds me of the impending rain.... brings to mind the smell of the first drops of rain hitting the earth... feather of the king of dancers among birds... it is quite a sight to see the canopy fully unfurled..

2007-02-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

...so surreal, that you can touch it n break the illusion, or watch it & enjoy the fuzziness... metaphor to life, if i may add... well, the good news is that i get to watch it everyday, having done a bit of interior design at my home...

2007-02-18T13:16:00.000-05:00

... in hindu mythology, it is said that every good thing starts with him... one of the most revered of the crore odd gods, known as 'he-of-the-elephant-head' and 'he-who-rides-on-a-mice'... coincidentally my second name too !! (found this on a colleague's desk & my camera couldn't resist capturing the charm)...

2007-02-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

....the sunset against the vast ocean never ceases to be an aweinspiring sight... anywhere across the world.... everytime i see it, i feel that nature is unfurling its beauty for us to admire... but there is something wonderful to learn from nature.... every sunset brings with it the promise of a new sunrise !!..... happy weekend...

2007-02-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

....show this to any foriegner & they would recognise it as india... supposedly the land where cows act as traffic policemen & elephants replace automobiles...

2007-02-15T13:48:00.000-05:00

...its as if nature reads minds... i was thinking of jalianwala bagh & the skies turned crimson as if they were echoing my emotions.....

2007-02-14T13:03:00.000-05:00

...the martyrs memorial always evokes a sense of respect... this one isn't exactly a memorial but nevertheless brought back memories of my trip to jalianwala bagh in amritsar... the whole atmosphere there evoked a deep sense of regard...

The return of the shutterbug....

2007-02-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

...all hail the return of the shutter bug... i've been away for long, and have been capturing the moments in my mind's eye more than my camera's... left you guys with the tip of a mountain, so it is apt to start back with the tip of the ocean...

2006-06-14T13:14:00.000-04:00

... this is a photographers delight.... the tip of the mountain peers through the dense mist & clouds to create a 'crowning glory' effect !!

2006-06-14T13:12:00.000-04:00

....the mist gives way... and allows us a glimpse of the rajamalai (king of mountains)....

2006-06-14T13:10:00.000-04:00

....and another angle of the endangered quadripeds.... is he (she) eyeing some one ??

2006-06-14T13:08:00.000-04:00

..... the 'endangered' nilgiri thar.... posing for the lens....

2006-06-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

....the mist covers on the mountain.... the best part of this photo is in the bottom left corner... there is a figure shrouded in mist & gazing into the horizon...

2006-06-14T13:04:00.000-04:00

...and the clouds start to form... the mist starts rolling... and the mountains start to fade into oblivion....

2006-06-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

.... one more out of the 'car ad' setting.... i liked this setting cos it looks as if the tea is merging into the mountains....

2006-06-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

....another angle of the green piece of heaven... we even visited a tea factory & got some gyan on the inverse relationship between flavour & strength of tea....

2006-06-12T13:13:00.000-04:00

....and how can we talk about munnar without mentioning the sprawling tea estates.... got to tresspass into one of it..... looks right out of a certain 'car' ad...

2006-06-12T13:11:00.000-04:00

.... this is near one of the most awesome view points in munnar... on a calm day, the reflection of the mountains can be vividly sen in the sylvan waters of the lake....

2006-06-12T13:10:00.000-04:00

....the lakes & the valleys & the mountains made the setting really amazing... to top it up, we stayed one step below the tallest resort in india.... our 'home' had a old english feel to it, and even had a fireplace....

2006-06-12T13:08:00.000-04:00

....made a trip to munnar last month with a couple of friends.... one of the first things we chaned upon was a century old church.... sat for a few minutes & took in the scene......

2006-05-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

....and when you mention about the backwaters, the resort & the beach... a spectacular sunset is always thrown into the combination... the photographer had to let go of his instrumenbt after a couple of clicks, the scene is too good to let slip away... so i gazed into the deep waters & the colours spreading across the horison... and wondered, is nature sending me a message....

2006-05-22T12:19:00.000-04:00

....my friend finds the confines of the hammock more interesting than shantaram, her nemesis (a book that has inspired her & many others?).... she would like to make you believe that she was taking a close look at the characters in the book, but me thinks that the lovely lunch followed by a swing in the hammock with the cool breeze on your face can make anyone take a siesta.... you decide...

2006-05-22T12:16:00.000-04:00

....and there comes the moment when you ask yourself...'am i dreaming'... well the person near you pinches you & wakes you up from the captivated look that fills your face.... estuary, the backwaters meet the beach & beyond it lies the arabian sea.....

2006-05-22T12:12:00.000-04:00

....destination poovar... an island where the backwaters meet the ocean & the scene takes your breath away.... thats where i took a break last month (returned this month & stayed overnight too!!).... this resort's one hour's drive from trivandrum, and then a twenty minute boat ride !! civilization is left behind as the kerosene guzzlers chug their way & take you nearer to the estuary....

2006-05-22T12:07:00.000-04:00

....the last one of the kochi trip.... befittngly if is one of the palace.... a picture of grandeur & simplicity... typical of the nature of our trip....

2006-05-22T12:05:00.000-04:00

....wonder what the kings & queens used this bell for... maybe to summon their servants.... easier than hollerin.... the palace is very ethnic & has a kerala feel to it, mural paintings et al...

2006-05-22T12:03:00.000-04:00

...am going to finish my tale of kochi... this is the famous bolgatty palace, its on an island and has a magnificient view of the harbour....

2006-05-08T14:01:00.000-04:00

....the other side of the art cafe entry.... the ethnicity seeps into you... Musafir (C) recommends this place for spending you afternoons with a good book & your choice of coffee....

2006-05-08T13:59:00.000-04:00

....the entry to the 'kasi art cafe'... adorned on either side by some works of modern art, that are for sale !!

2006-05-08T13:57:00.000-04:00

we went to this amazing grub joint called 'kasi cafe'... if u r in fort kochi, this is a must visit place.... u're sure to be taken by the ambience, if not the lemon cakes & chocolate brownies....

2006-05-05T13:21:00.000-04:00

....the famous jewish synagogue (mattanchery)... i found it very unassuming & sober....

2006-05-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

...well here are some of the antiques & junk that i was referring to.... remnants of a bygone era....

2006-05-05T13:16:00.000-04:00

we had been to kochi a couple of weeks back... spent some good time @ fort kochi, a small area that has a portugese feel to it.... the lane in the pic is known as jew street & has a lot of antiques, spices, junk jewellery & clothes (the author is not referring to the people in the picture)....

2006-04-19T13:11:00.000-04:00

.... and all that you long for is a hot cup 'o tea... well, its tea country & the factory was close by... we stopped to peer in & make our presence felt, bt all that greeted us was chirping of birds & rumble of the streams...

2006-04-19T13:09:00.000-04:00

....heaven-on-earth.... surveying the scene... time stops for a moment... '..and your heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils...'

2006-04-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

.... and here is where the path led us... the view was breathtaking.... almost felt like the clouds were being created & sent arnd the world from here....

2006-04-18T13:16:00.000-04:00

'....dont go where the path leads you... instead make your own way & leave a trail....' well, thats what you feel when you c something like this... mist obscuring the destination, but faith can take you home...

2006-04-17T13:14:00.000-04:00

.....here i am, back with a bang !!! inspiration was what i was searching for & a weekend at ponmudi (a hill station, 60km from trivandrum) was what the doctor ordered.... i think nature was taken by surprise, it rained cats & dogs in the middle of summer !!!

2006-04-12T13:02:00.000-04:00

....see you at the top !!... the scene is set, this place is known as the 'temple of learning'...

2006-04-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

....i've been silent for a while & my friends are asking me where is the next post ?? is work so captivating ??.... well here's my workplace, u decide for yourself....

2006-03-16T11:22:00.000-05:00

....the colours spread out & i wonder, is this being played out for my eys only... (the last of this series)

2006-03-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

.... the smiling lady takes a bow... going down, but sure to come up the next day, rain or shine...

2006-03-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

.... the sky outside my office... this & next two magic moments were caught on film by my friend jana... he has a better eye for beauty than me....

2006-03-12T03:53:00.000-05:00

....the last one in this series... the paddy fields attract many an insect... and this 'thumbi' - a.k.a dragon fly seems to have settled in to enjoy its siesta....

2006-03-12T03:51:00.000-05:00

...the temple itself is a blend of ancient & modern, the 'gopuram' or the area above the sanctum sanctorum is on view here...

2006-03-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

....the only means of public transport to the temple is by auto & that has been possible from this year ownwards..... i'm used to hearing stories of how my father walked 7km to reach the temple every year.... (coincidentally, thats him in the pic)...

2006-03-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

....behind the compund housing the temple, the paddy fields strech till the base of some small mountains... there's a cool breeze blowing....

2006-03-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

.... the temple was situated in the middle of paddy fields & had a old world feel to it...

2006-03-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

.....first stop was a small temple on the roadside, perched near the banks of a lake.... saw this tree reaching out to the skies there...

2006-03-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

.....while waiting at a railway crossing en route to the temple, i had the chance of capturing a moving train (only on camera)!!.... it was a interesting sight, tonnes of metal & smoke chugging along in the middle of lush green paddy fields....

2006-03-08T12:39:00.000-05:00

.....i had been to my family temple at nellai (tirunelveli - the rice bowl of tamil nadu)... it was a wonderful journey..... there was only green paddy fields as far as the eye could see... this pic was shot from the moving train...

2006-02-21T12:34:00.000-05:00

.....the last of the bekal series....i took this photo with my friend's camera.... this coconut palm was against the backdrop of the place where the backwaters met the ocean.... simply breathtaking views around...

2006-02-21T12:29:00.001-05:00

....the sights around were colourful too... people were making different coloured nets ??...

2006-02-21T12:29:00.000-05:00

.....make hay while the sun shines & while the boat moves... inland water transportation at its best....

2006-02-21T12:28:00.000-05:00

.....the colour version of the picture i posted yesterday.. the slow boat ride gave ample opportunities to capture the scenes around us...

2006-02-20T11:51:00.000-05:00

.....the land of the coconuts, a collection is being made.... maybe its an easier means of transporting them thru water than having to tug them along the road...

2006-02-20T11:43:00.000-05:00

....marriage on the waters.... as we were smoothly sailing through the backwaters of valiyaparamba, our glance fell on a marriage party on a boat... 'sadya' - the traditional malayali feast, was being prepared near the banks... this can happen only in kerala...

2006-02-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

....the coconut palms extend into the backwaters, as if they also want to feel n be part of it...

2006-02-17T13:34:00.000-05:00

....call it the first, second or third wave (toffler style), the backwaters rock !!! the earthen feel n the cool breeze make it all the more exotic.... we lazed n took the scene in as the boat careened through the placid waters....

2006-02-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

....the simlpe pleasures of life smile upon you when you live life the simple way..... this simple piece of wood carried us through the serene waters of valiyaparamba, one of the most beautiful streches of backwaters in the world....

2006-02-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

....the walls of the bekal fort have held enemies at bay for many a century.... i was walking atop it n couldn't stop wondering what it would have felt to own one of the forts, to be the king of your own castle !!!

2006-02-15T12:28:00.000-05:00

.....'postcard perfect', one would say.... the bastions offer a wonderful view of the beach & the vast expanse of the sea.... we sat there watching the red ball of glory go down into the sea....

2006-02-15T12:27:00.000-05:00

.....the flowers in bekal have a story to tell but much like the many paths that lead to locked gates, hold their secrets within them....

2006-02-15T12:21:00.000-05:00

.....one of the many watchtowers in the fort.... we had gone as a group of five friends (3Guys n 2Gals) & were so much reminded of 'dil chahta hai'....

2006-02-15T12:17:00.000-05:00

.....the fort at bekal.... it has a earthen feel to it, much different from the exotic forts of rajasthan..... bekal fort reminds you of the portugese forts at goa.... there is beauty in the flowing brown grass & the windows in the many bastions in the fort offer a view to remember......

2006-02-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

......and they paddled into the sunset.... this is no cowboy movie, but the setting's perfect for a mallu cowboy movie ending !!!

bekal was a revelation, and this canoe seems to convey a message, free youself & there are no boundaries.....

2006-01-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

..... the bridge across forever.... and a train on it !!! This is the train i was telling you about in the last post....

2006-01-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

The bend in the river...... chandragiri was an amazing place.... time stood still here as we climbed up the ramparts of the fort & staked claim to royalty... the view is breathtaking, the river bends & snakes its way to the sea.... interestingly there is a bridge just before the sea & we were lucky to see a train pass over it.... will try n post tht (yeah, u bet i caught tht on film)...

2006-01-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

The forts always have a tale to tell...one of the most enchanting ones I have visited is the Meherangarh fort in Jodhpur, its simply awe inspiring... the fort that you see here is chandragiri, and is one of the most peaceful ones i have been to, simply serene & overlooks the river by the same name..... malabar is beautiful....

2006-01-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

I had been to bekal with my family en route to Udupi, Mookambika etc & had nostalgic memories of the place.... but what i didn't know was that there was another hidden fort, chandragiri, which took our breath away with its calm & charm.....

2006-01-11T12:46:00.000-05:00

New year was a time to take time off & unwind... only to rewind :D :D... We headed off to the slow moving town of Bekal, in North Kerala... the first thing you notice is the red colour of the sand... here's a view from the balcony of our room....

Happy New Year....

2006-01-01T12:32:00.000-05:00

The new year brings in new thoughts, new dreams & a new style of posting on my blog !!!

The first day of the new year was spent on a boat that skimmed across one of the most scenic & sylvan strech of backwaters on this planet.....

2005-12-31T02:29:00.000-05:00

.... the last sunset of 2005..... the beginning of the end & the end of the beginning...

2005-12-23T13:21:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - time to say sayonara...

2005-12-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - a sea of colours....

2005-12-21T13:06:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - the sun shines through the darkness.....

2005-12-20T13:04:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - the darkness moves in....

2005-12-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - a sea of fire....

2005-12-18T13:02:00.000-05:00

one evening in my office - light & darkness...

2005-12-17T12:51:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - if heaven is near, the gods sure are lucky....

2005-12-16T12:49:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - the gods are watching....

2005-12-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - the skies are fiery....

2005-12-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - my friends enjoy the scene, need i say more....

2005-12-13T12:44:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - the lights go off ??...

2005-12-12T12:42:00.000-05:00

one evening at my office - god's own cooling tower !!!

2005-11-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

go green with envi - looks can be decieving....

2005-11-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

go green with envi - pupa on the branch....

2005-11-28T14:44:00.000-05:00

go green with envi - metamorphosis....

2005-11-27T14:43:00.000-05:00

go green with envi - the worldwide web??

2005-11-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

go green with envi - branching out....