Click!

Rose to the occasion ..

2011-04-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

Discover collages !

Skyline at Sunset

2010-11-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

We were driving along the Al Aweer Road , Dubai , U.A.E. last evening ( 06 Nov 10 ) when we witnessed a spectacular sunset with the silhouettes of the high rise building of Sh. Zayed Road showing in sharp contrast against the glow of the setting sun . At the extreme right corner you can see the Burj Al Khalifa , the current No.1 on the list of the World's Tallest Buildings.

Durga Pooja

2010-10-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

Durga Pooja is celebrated widely in the Indian states of West Bengal , Assam, Orissa, and Tripura.
It is an annual Hindu festival which venerates the Goddess Durga . The six days it is celebrated on are the Mahalaya, Sashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami , Maha Navmi and Bijoya Dashmi.
On the tenth day of Bijoya Dashmi , Durga the Mother , returns to Shiva, her husband. This is symbolised by the immersion of the idol in the waters .... the ritual being "Bishorjon".
Durga Pooja also includes the worship of Shiv, Lakshmi , Ganesha , Saraswati and Kartikeya .
Modern traditions have come to include elaborately decorated pandals and artistically decorated idols .
Ritual drummers called "Dhaakis" beat a leather strung "dhaak" and show off their skills during ritual dance worship called aarti.
The festival also celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil , symbolised by the slaying of the demon "Mahisasur" by Durga Maa.

Iridescence

2010-10-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

Raindrops glisten off the leaf of a rose .

A Spot of Rainbow

2010-09-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Who needs Photoshop when you have God on your side .....

Took these pictures this evening with the skies dark and threatening to rain yet again . Instead what we got was a spot of rainbow !!

Lusicous Petals

2010-07-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

Rain kissed Pink Tulip

2010-06-11T03:58:00.000-07:00

Daisy's heart

2010-06-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

Please do enlarge to get the best view .

Thanks :)

Memories

2010-05-26T02:18:00.000-07:00

Some large some small some bright some dull .. Events strung together make up memories......

Great ball of fire !!!

2010-03-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday evening the Sun had decided to go down with a blazing trail . The clouds only enhanced it all .

Do click on the images to ENLARGE for a better view.

Sur-Prize

2010-03-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

Please excuse me for not being Wordless ..but a couple of words as to the title of "Sur-Prize" .

This picture is of the reflection of the festoons and streamers and the lattice of the grill on the ceiling of the Dubai Mall ,in the windshield of the car which was to be the raffle prize . Hence "sur" which means on or over ... and of course "Sur - Prize" for "over /on the prize ! "

This is a shot of the headlights of the same car .. all the reflections in it of the store fronts (and me too !) I found rather interesting.

Do click on the pictures to enlarge for a better view .
Hope you enjoy them ..

A single bloom

2010-03-07T22:36:00.000-08:00

A view from the top

2010-03-04T20:59:00.000-08:00

I call this post "A view from the top " because in the first picture it feels like the blue SKY has two big eyebrows and eyes and is looking down at us !

Please do click on the pictures to ENLARGE for a better viewing.

Spring is in the air ....

2010-03-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

A red poppy heralds that Spring is in the air ...

Please do enlarge the pic :)

Thinking out of the box

2010-03-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

Blue For Sure

2010-02-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

The reflection in the glass fronted facade makes it doubly sure that it will be a blue clear day with wispy clouds !

Refelctions in the Wine glass

2010-02-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

Magnicficient Man and his Flying Machine

2010-02-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

Dreams to be airborne ...

P.S. please do click on the pic to get a clearer view of the magnificent machine .

Coffee Table

2010-02-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

Faces of Rural India..

2010-02-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Please do enlarge to see the bigger picture .... :)

All things small and beautiful ..........

2010-01-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

Today I found this little fellow sunning himself on the leaf of my hibiscus .

No more than a cm. in size he has the most amazing colors of a vivid blue and a sea green .

Do enlarge to see the spectrum of colors radiating from his wings that are oh so gossamer thin and delicately transparent...

Snake in the grass

2010-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

This created quite a storm in the early morning teacup !

Agreed it wasn't the snake itself but the skin it had shed , yet it was quite fascinating .

Do click on the pictures to take a good look .

You can even see the 'eyes' of the molting !

The picture showing the belly having a slight rip truly needs to be enlarged to see just how fragile and transparent the skin is .

TEAcock !

2009-03-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

An unexpected visitor joined me for my morning cuppa!!!
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India .

Karde_ A Fishing Village

2009-01-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

The morning sun glistens on the waves.

A Basket case !!

Tentacles !!!

New Year's eve.

The ones that didn't get away...

Feeling HOT HOT HOT .... red chillies drying out in the sun.

Hermit crabs make spiral patterns on the sands.

The Auction at the Fish Market.

A Fisherwoman in her distinctive garb.
A Cart ride on the beach.

The local beauties :)

We brought in 2009 on the beaches of Karde , a fishing village on the Konkan Coast of Western India. I have attempted to capture some of its very natural rustic beauty.
Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I loved taking them :)

HAPPY 2009 !!

Indian Wedding

2008-11-12T03:12:00.001-08:00

Unlike a wedding ring , Indian Hindu brides wear a necklace of black beads strung in gold with little gold cups . This one also has beads of coral and pearls which are symbols of fertility and prosperity and good health . Here the necklace is being sanctified and blessed before the groom gets the bride to wear it .

Rice , betel nuts and fragrant jasmine flowers are used in the prayers.

Skies un Dubai

2008-11-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

Evening Skies.

It is a series of pics I took while I watched the skies change from blue to pink to purple .
Absolutely breathtaking ! I hope you enjoy them too .
In the last one, do take a look at the "Burj Dubai" ,which is to become the tallest building in the world when completed.

For Skywatch Friday .

Sun bird

2008-07-22T19:56:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not being wordless ! :)

This little visitor is fairly common in my part of the country . They come in various colours . One of the most amazing things I find about these birds is the amount of noise they can make is so much louder than their size . With just about 2 inches of body length and another 1 inch for their long sharp beak curved at the end for the nectar , these are small birds , but can make themselves be heard loud and clear !!
Though I 'lie in wait ' in the morning to get an action shot of them hovering mid air like humming birds , it is as yet a mission unaccomplished !! :(

Happy Wordless Wednesday to all !!

P.S. Do enlarge for a better view of Pic 1 .

Washed out

2008-07-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rain
.........Drops
....................gently

Petals
...........Wither
.......................Quietly

BUT

Dreams
..............Glisten
............................Still

WW Friday Edition : 18 July 2008

Collage

2008-06-24T12:26:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not being Wordless .
But of the collage , the following :
Last row / Pic 2 : The daisy is from a bouquet I got for my birthday.
Last row/ Pic 3 : This I took on one of my walks .

The rest are from my garden over the last couple of weeks .

Now for the distressing part .
After I created the collage , I unthinkingly hit delete and deleted all the pictures from my folder !!! So I now only have this collage left as a reminder of my stupidity !!! :(

For Wordless Wednesday : 25 June 2008.

Geranium-O :)

2008-06-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge the pic.
Wordless Wednesday Tuesday Edition : 24 June 2008

Water.

2008-06-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Please do enlarge the picture to be able to get the true feel of the flow and the force of the river.

This is a picture taken in March 2007 , of a little grotto caused at that point , by the rapidly flowing river , over the years.

Photo Hunt / 21 June 2008 :Water.

Dahlia (macro)

2008-06-18T04:02:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge for a better view .
Wordless Wednesday Edition : 18 June 2008.

Elusive rain and rainbow !!

2008-06-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Last evening the dark clouds certainly forecast rain . But beyond the dark there seemed to be a rainbow peeping through an opening ! I took a series of pictures of the skies . Hope you enjoy them.

SkyWatch Friday & WW Edition : 06 June 2008

Apsotle Plant _Walking Iris

2008-06-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge for a better view.

WW Edition : 04 June 2008

Summery gold.

2008-05-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

WW Thursday Edition : 29 May 2008

A freshly watered Red Rose ..

2008-05-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ruby Tuesday Edition :27 May 2008.

WW Edition : 28 May 2008.

Jacobena.

2008-05-26T22:27:00.001-07:00

Do enlarge for a better view.

WW Tuesday Edition : 27 May 2008.

I saw a little bird ...

2008-05-24T22:13:00.001-07:00

Came across this little forager on my walk . Sorry I don't know the species . Can anyone help out with that ?

Camera Critters /WW Edition : 25 May 2008

Shoes Galore

2008-05-23T22:42:00.001-07:00

Photo Hunt Theme :Shoes
Photo Hunt and WW Sat Edition : 24 May 2008 .

Windmills of Mykonos_ Sky Watch Friday

2008-05-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Mykonos Islands , Greece

13 May 2007 .

SWF & WW Edition : 23 May 2008.

Traditional (Rustic) Arabic Jewelry

2008-05-20T21:34:00.001-07:00

WW Edition : 21 May 2008.

Carpets.

2008-05-19T22:05:00.001-07:00

Do enlarge for a better view .

WW Tuesday Edition : 20 May 2008

Candy

2008-05-17T00:48:00.001-07:00

Candy with Arabic flavors ! The white ones in the left corner bottom row are nougats, the local favorites , made from milk and pistachio nuts and flavored with rose water.
Do enlarge to see the "sheesha" (hubble bubble) in the right corner . It is used to smoke tobacco through a vapors of steam.

The all time favorites ..lollipops !!

These a made from fruit pulp ..like peaches , apricots plums.

Now these ..though technically not candy per se ..but they are a local sweet so I thought I would put it up . A little like profiteroles .. yeast is added to make a batter of which little balls are deep fried and then dunked in a light syrup of honey and saffron.

Taken at Dubai on 12 May 2008.

Photo Hunt Theme : Candy.

Around the house.

2008-05-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge to look at the picture in the frame .

WW Saturday Edition : 17 May 2008

Sunset .

2008-05-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

I took the two pictures with an interval of about 10 mins. while crossing the Dubai creek .
It is my second time around for the Skywatch Friday .

Skywatch and WW Edition : 16 May 2008.

As per Abraham Lincoln's comment that the two photos would be better viewed individually I shall post both of them .And 10 minutes later..

Dress of Gold ( 22 ct.) !!!

2008-05-14T22:04:00.001-07:00

Yes .... it is 22 ct. gold without doubt !!! Both the skirt and the top... with pearl embellishments.
Dubai Gold Souq .
14 May 2008

WW Thursday Edition :15 May 2008

Cycladic Man.....roughly 4500 years old!

2008-05-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

I apologise for the hazy quality of the picture , but due to the age of the artifact, this particular section of the museum has very dim lights and using of the flash is not allowed .

Do enlarge for a better look .

Taken at:
National Museum Athens./ 13 June 2007.

WW Edition :14 May 2008.

Bygone Era...His Master's Voice.

2008-05-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

WW Tuesday Edition : 13 May 2008.

Afghani Woman's Dress (embroidered by hand).

2008-05-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

P.S. Do enlarge for a better view.

WW Edition 12 May 2008.

Lady Bird !

2008-05-11T00:23:00.000-07:00

On one of my walks I came across this pigeon and was most fascinated by the symmetry in her tail !! It was so beautiful with an alternate feather in black and white .

What was amusing was as I tried to get as close as possible for a shot , the male flew up and sat in between us in a protective stance !!

Do enlarge for the best view of her tail .

For Camera Critters : Sunday 11 May 2008 .

Walkabout ...1/4

2008-05-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

The other day I decided to visit the Heritage Village in Dubai where they have a model Arabic Village .

To get there I took the 'waterbus' an air conditioned ferry . There are all the modern modes of transportation available like taxis, buses and of course your own private car!! But as of old the creek has been always used for commuting . This would be done by a boat called the
'abra' that took one to the other side . These abras or boats are still in use alongside the modern means.

When I got off the ferry I walked through a market called the "souq" meaning bazar , which has been specially given an old worldly look with shops selling curios . I particularly liked the celing .

I walked across to the Heritage Village which is a scaled down version of a traditional Arabic village as one would have found a few decades ago .

Photo Hunt : 10 May 2008 : Share a picture .

WW Sunday Edition

Walkabout ...2/4

2008-05-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

At the entrance of the Heritage Village , in the shade of a tree sits an old fashioned wooden trunk with brass embellishments called "sandook".

A Traditional fishing boat was on display.

It was almost dusk and a row of lanterns lit up the place . Though they are traditionally lit with wicks ,these ones had electric bulbs instead. But they looked pretty nevertheless.

The doors in the picture are of the kind one would find on the houses in the interior remote villages that still are fairly traditional in their architecture.

I walked on to a group of sheds that demonstrated traditional Arabic fare and decided to try out the savoury pancake called "khubooz (bread) ragag "

Photo Hunt : 10 May 2008 : Share a picture.
WW Sunday Edition

Walkabout ....3/4

2008-05-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

At the Heritage Village were stalls demonstrating some traditional Arabic cooking. I bought a savoury pancake .

The lady used a fermented batter of white flour , eggs, salt and yeast which she spread with her bare hands !!

She then broke and spread a raw egg followed by a cube of cream cheese spread. Then she spread a paste of dried and salted fish.

A little sprinkle of olive oil and Voila !! the crispy pancake is ready to be eaten!!

Photo Hunt : 10 May 2008 : Share a picture.

Walkabout ...4/4

2008-05-10T22:56:00.001-07:00

The Wind Towers are structures that are specially designed scientifically so that the wind ventilates every part of the house . This is a concept that has traveled down the ages. Though now of course all house are air conditioned due to the severe summer temperatures. The Wind Towers now are more for aesthetic value, where constructed.

A beautiful sunset lit the evening with an orange glow as I turned to go back home.

Walkabout 4/4

Photo Hunt :10 May 2008 : Share a picture.

Skywatch Friday

2008-05-08T21:43:00.001-07:00

Goa , India.

Sky Watch and WW Edition Friday : 09 May 08

Present..

2008-05-07T23:03:00.001-07:00

What is the present ...
But a beautifully wrapped today
To be savoured leisurely tomorrow .

WW Edition 08 May 2008

Fragile Dreams.

2008-05-07T00:29:00.001-07:00

In a myriad colors
Glass glints and gleams
In recurring circles
Never ending it seems
In a million desires and wishes
Delicate as FRAGILE DREAMS.

WW 07 May 2008.

The Original

2008-05-05T01:43:00.000-07:00

This is the original picture of flowers in a glass vase . The following two pictures are also the same picture with two different effects used on it.
I find it a great way to use my own pictures to send as greetings etc.

WW Monday Edition 05 May 2008 .

Focal Color / B & W

2008-05-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

A Framed picture .

2008-05-05T01:37:00.000-07:00

Lantana - Macro

2008-05-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

This is a macro shot of the bloom in Lantana 2/3

WW Sunday Edition 04 May 2008

Lantana 3/3

2008-05-03T22:27:00.000-07:00

Lantana 2/3

2008-05-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

Lantana 1/3

2008-05-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

To b(athe) or Not to b(athe)....

2008-04-29T11:36:00.001-07:00

Bird Bath 1/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008.

I have put up mine a little early as I may not be able to do so tomorrow. These are a series of 8 pictures . I apologise for the poor clarityof some ..but the bulbul was too much in a hurry and didn't give me time to switch the mode of the camera . I hope you will enjoy them anyway :)
Thanks.

Happy WW !!!

Taking the plunge....

2008-04-29T11:33:00.001-07:00

Bird Bath 2/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

April Showers

2008-04-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 3/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

Tail Showers

2008-04-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 4/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

Splash and splatter...

2008-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 5/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

Bottoms up...

2008-04-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 6/8
WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

Up and Away.....

2008-04-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 7/8

WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

I am next !!

2008-04-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Bird Bath 8/8

WW Wednesday Edition 30th April 2008

Tea Time

2008-04-28T09:55:00.001-07:00

Wish I could say it is GREEN tea !! :P

Project Green and WW Edition 28th April 2008

Sunday Church

2008-04-27T04:02:00.000-07:00

Church of St. Francis Xavier , Goa, India.

Its Sunday ..so I thought why not a Church !
Though there isn't too much of green visible ..it is growing out of a 'high'ly unlikely place !!
(You may have to enlarge to see it!)
So I thought of putting it up for Project Green too .

Project Green & WW Edition Sunday / 27 April 2008.

Please ...

2008-04-26T02:45:00.001-07:00

Please don't monkey with the environment any more ..... :)
Do leave it green for me ...

NB : The picture is rather large , do enlarge for a a better view.

Project Green . WW Saturday Edition / 26 April 2008

Coconut Palm.

2008-04-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Kingfisher in the Coconut Palm.

Kumarakom,Kerala ,India.

Project Green / WW Friday Edition 25/04/08

Spider Plant

2008-04-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE !!!

Project Green

Colors of Chinatown 1.

2008-04-22T21:01:00.001-07:00

Do enlarge to see the gorgeous colors .

WW 23 / 04 /08

Colors of Chinatown 2.

2008-04-22T20:59:00.001-07:00

Do enlarge to see the gorgeous colors .

WW 23 / 04 /08

Colors of Chinatown.3

2008-04-22T20:52:00.001-07:00

Do enlarge to see the gorgeous colors .

WW 23 / 04 /08

Printing Blocks

2008-04-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge for a clearer view.

A Rose .... 2

2008-04-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Do enlarge for a better view.
WW 21/04/08

A rose is a rose is a rose......

2008-04-20T21:47:00.001-07:00

WW 21/04/08

Nerium

2008-04-20T05:51:00.001-07:00

Nerium_closeup

2008-04-20T05:47:00.001-07:00

Purple Buttons_Collage

2008-04-19T20:32:00.001-07:00

Purple Button

2008-04-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Bouganvilea

2008-04-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

Turning a new leaf...Crotons

2008-04-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Fountain

2008-04-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

Spring sprang.
Hues spewed.
Water flowed
Life lived
Plethora of plants
And the still cranes
Stood bathing
In the moment
For an Eternity .

P.S.Please do click on the picture for a better view . Thank you !

CAMOUFLAGE.

2008-04-14T04:29:00.001-07:00

A quick dekko and you might miss the gecko !!! :)

Do enlarge for a better view !!

Twisted

2008-04-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Chandigarh, India.

I present twisted gnarled roots for the PhotoHunt Theme(12th April 2008) of "Twisted"

Glass Fruit

2008-04-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

I missed out on the PhotoHunt of this week with the theme of "Glass" ..thought I would put up my pic anyway :)

Flaming Orange Flamingoes

2008-04-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Singapore Zoo.

Flamingoes with their tell tale flaming orange plumage.
Did you notice the one in the centre sleeping on the job ?!

Yellow Hibiscus

2008-04-09T01:20:00.001-07:00

Hibiscus are hardy plants and lucky they are perennial ,so we are treated to their gorgeous colors right through the year .

Treetop.

2008-04-08T01:01:00.000-07:00

All trees in this Churchyard are unusually curved at the top that makes them seem to be leaning towards the House of the Lord !
Goa,India.

Let's break bread....

2008-04-05T04:19:00.001-07:00

Nothing like a freshly baked home made bread !!
This one is a nice golden brown crusty French loaf ... :)

Serene.

2008-04-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

A picture I took of a bench by the swan lake , Singapore Botanical Gardens.

Do read the poem it inspired me to write ! :)

http://la-muse07.blogspot.com/2008/02/park-bench.html

All good things come to an end ...

2008-04-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

Parties are fun times ..but all good things come to an end ! And old ( actually antique!) rocker stands in the midst of it all ..surveying the caps, the tooters ,the tea lights..thinking perhaps "Having a good time is ............just a piece of cake " !!!

Riding a Rainbow

2008-04-03T04:58:00.000-07:00

I took this from the deck of a cruise ship. From time to time it would spray fuel that would create a spectrum of vibgyor over the blue of the Aegean Sea.