Time to take a Short Break, Again!

It is the time to take a short break, again! Would be back by Monday. No going very far away but still to the hills.

Off Topic- Doctor at Health Center Refuses to Treat a Child of a Laborer

Got to know about this yesterday via Abi at Nanopolitan. Also got it confirmed with people still at IITK and I trust their judgment completely. Full account here.

On Sunday morning at about 4.15 am one of the canteen owners of one of the Halls was going back after work when he chanced upon a crowd of migrant workers at the security crossing near the Motor Transport/Air-Strip road. Apparently a boy, whose family had been employed in the construction site of the Environment Engineering building had been bitten by something poisonous (they were not sure whether it was a scorpion or a snake), in his sleep. ...

The canteen owner called the doctor [at the IITK health center], who when she realized that it involved the child of worker, was extremely annoyed and said that this facility was not available to them. When the canteen owner pleaded that the case was serious and may turn fatal she apparently shouted 'which language do you understand?' and slammed the phone down.

Oktatabyebye Freeze Frame Contest- Final Round

The final round is now on at Oktatabyebye. I made it to the final on the editor mention in portraits and landscape category! I was also wondering how do they ensure that I own the copyright of what I submit. I really do wonder how do online competitions manage the copyright issue in this era of millions of photographs online. Anyway, here is the mail from the Oktatabyebye team-

To ensure that only deserving and genuine entries get declared bonafide winners in the Oktatabyebye Freeze Frame Travel Photography Contest, all Category Finalists would have to submit raw files of their entries along with the proof of ownership, if they declared winners. A declaration stating that these pictures/videos are your own and you are the original copyright holder for these particular photo(s)/video(s) is also mandatory.

Now I do not shoot in RAW format (but I guess they are not asking for RAW files but just files to the pics?) and I don't think I am going to win anything but I can definitely vouch that the pictures are taken by me.

Moonlit Night

Moonlit Night

Another picture with my old Nikon 3200. I think it would be a full moon today but I doubt that I will take out my camera. But come weekend and I will be armed with two cameras for at least two days.

Images from Spiti

Painted Storks- Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Bharatpur Bird Santuary

Oktatatabyebye Freeze Frame Contest- Round 2

Two of my entires made it Round 2 in the Oktatabyebye Freeze frame Contest. If you are looking for ways to kill time and won't mind the torture of registering for the site, here is where you will find my pictures to vote for and give a rating. Sounds so simple, right :) If you simply want to look at the pictures that got shortlisted, they are the ones below.

Now I have to say, I like both of them a lot.

The lady in Veil

I clicked the picture above at Best Western resort in Manesar, near Gurgaon. I am not very fond of resorts and all, but sometimes they do give good opportunities for taking a good picture.

Dhankar Lake

This one is from my June 2007 trip to the magnificent Spiti region. The Dhankar lake is 1 hour walk (at our moderate pace) walk from village Dhankar and there was no one around apart from us when we went there. I know I have to write in detail about this trip, one of these days soon.

Taj Mahal Again

Taj Mahal, Agra

I came across a blog post by Sunil about his recent trip to Agra. He makes quite a few interesting observation-

Having driven from Delhi through the scorching sun , we reached Agra around noon. Hordes of guides and other self proclaimed local experts hounded the car park. With no energy or inclination to offer any resistance, we quickly hired a guide who promised us to take us into the premise within a very short time.

And I used to think maybe this happened more to people who traveled by public transport or wanted to hire a taxi etc.

And this one again is hilarious (when it is not happening to you)-

Ah! Here we were further delayed, because in spite of everyone vouching for me, the guards, suspecting my nationality insisted to see my Indian passport as proof which I did not have it on me at that time. I was suggested to pay 750 Indian rupees as a foreign national. After much deliberations and me speaking about half a dozen of Indian languages, one of the officials was finally convinced about my indianess and allowed me in.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Bug Me Not

I took this picture a long time back, with my first digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 3200). I still remember I was opening the car and about to go to the college when I noticed this insect. Of course, I took out the camera from the purse and clicked it. These days I somehow do not carry a camera in my purse (though I have an eye on any good 5 mega pixel camera phone, are the Sony ones good?) nd I have not touched the DSLR in the past 3 weeks. Another thing that I have noticed is that I used to take better close ups with this basic camera rather than with my Canon 350 D. Guess I need more practice with the DSLR.

Traveling to India with a Baby?

I have often seen questions being asked, whether it is safe to come with an infant to India. Of course, a lot depends on which other country we are talking about. Saw the same question being asked in Washington Post Travel Q&A. The answer given there is definitely impressive. But if you ask me where I have seen the best and most detailed advice on this topic, I would have to say on Indiamike by Steven_ber.

Michelle was looking tired and Maggie getting hungry, So I put Maggie into her harness, strapped her to my chest (facing out) and went for a walk down the train, eventually I found the Pantry car, there was about 15 men working in very hot, very slippery conditions, but they all looked very happy, I asked them to ‘make hot’ Maggie’s bottle (“heat up” doesn’t seem to be understood), they were happy to do so.

One thing I’ve learnt in India, is that people will do anything to please you, and will go out of their way to do the right thing, this isn’t always a good thing.

I watched as they emptied the contents of the bottle into a pan and boiled the milk, I was still trying to work out how to cool the milk down when I noticed the next helpful thing they done, they washed the bottle in tap water, I just smiled, give them Rs20 for their trouble and left, I will suggest to anyone not to try to get them to do this differently, they’re only doing what they think is best.

Should I Go?

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

There is a long weekend looming ahead at the end of August. I am wondering if I should go some place? When I look at the past pictures plus my unused camera, I am sorely tempted. When I look at the amount of unfinished work, sanity seems to prevail. Then, I have not even managed to finish writing about my Spiti account. Maybe, I will just procrastinate and try and settle this after a week. In case I just decide to go, any suggestion for weekend getaways nearby Delhi? I do not want to travel 15 hours plus that is required to reach the magical Himachal Pradesh this time.

Icredible India Videos on Youtube

Saw this both at Daily India and CNN-IBN. The tourism ministry has launched some of its videos on Youtube. I wish the papers had given the URL of the page or a video too. Here is what the Daily India story says-

The Ministry, known worldwide for its "Incredible India" campaign, have made promotional videos available to the YouTube, the eighth most trafficked website.

From the Himalayas to the sun kissed beaches of Goa, or the boat ride in the backwaters of Kerala are now just a click away.

From the Sunday Daryaganj Book Market

Daryaganj Sunday Book Market

One of the few pavements in Delhi where Maradona, Chambers Dictionary and Jigsaw Puzzle can be found on the same shelf. I still remember how annoyed my nephews were with me that I just brought this picture home rather than the Maradona book itself. And it was almost two years back that I went there! About time I headed that way once more.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Some More Images from The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal and some of the work on its walls.

I took this day trip to Taj Mahal a year back with my two nephews, and it was the first trip to the Taj for my elder one. I still remember his expression when he actually saw the monument. 18 year olds don't drop their jaws at most of the things these days. But that day his jaws almost dropped to his knees. And yet, the Agra city has earned such a reputation.

Mountain Goats

Mountain Goats- On the way to Dkankar

While walking from Lhalung to Dhankar, at this particular point, I was alone and everyone else was ahead of me. It was then I met this group of goats. Now I am dead scared of all kind of animals particularly if they try to come close. But this much even I have learned that mountain goats give you way if you just try walking through unconcerned. And true to their nature they did part way, when I started walking towards them after taking this picture.

Langza, the Most Beautiful Place after Dhankar that I Saw in Spiti

Lagnza- Beautiful Town Village in Spiti

I found Langza to be the most beautiful village in Spiti after Dhankar. If you look at one side, there was Cho Cho Khang Nilda. And on the other this beautiful landscape. There were numerous butterflies on the flowers. What more can one ask for?

From Kye (Ki) Monastery, Kaza, Spiti

Both the landscapes were clicked near the Kye Monastery area. There are a few times when I feel so happy with my wide angled lens. I think I got even more fabulous views at least twice on this route but I did not request the taxi people to stop. That is why I love walking so much. You can stop where ever you please.

Some Say this Post Office at Hikkim is the Highest Post Office in the World

Post Office at Hikkim, Is it the Highest in the World?

Some say the post office at Hikkim is the highest in the world. Vistet, what do you say? After all, when I tried writing about what I thought was the highest ATM it was you who corrected me.

PS. OK, Sesha took this photo.

PS1. These days, either I put pictures and write a few words or let this blog come to a stand still. I somehow feel till I find more time, I will let this blog become a photoblog :(

Lazy Sunday Photos- Flowers on the Street, Bangalore

The Highest Point on the Spiti Homestay Trek- Komik

And I guess if you just take one step after another, you reach somewhere in the end!

Yak, Yak, Yak ...

Yaks at Lunch Point- On the Way from Komik to Demul, Spiti

Flowers from Spiti

The semester has started and it already feels like I have been hit by a bus. Just worried that this blog will come to a stand still. So, to keep it going here are flowers from Spiti. And no, I do not know what they are called.