Heading Out Soon!

Self Reflection at Khrupatal

Would be heading out soon for a week in UK, mostly work. But will have a camera in hand too, actually make it two. Wish to buy a new lens but not sure if I will manage to. I need this break. Not the most ideal break but a break nonetheless.

Off Topic- Youtube and Old Hindi Movie Songs

I wonder how com I realized so late that any old Hindi movie song I desire to hear, it is there on Youtube. And some of the songs that I like a lot (rimjhim gire sawan for example, with the kind of rains NCR is getting :) I actually have never seen the videos before!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Taj Mahal from Agra Fort

Taj Mahal from Agra Fort

I wonder how my two nephews agreed to stand for this picture. Well, in those days I had no SLR and the my first digital camera, the Nikon Coolpix 3200 gave me this kind of a hazy zoom. Even with the SLR I have a wide angle lens. Hopefully, things will change this week. I plan to head to Chandni Chowk and buy a new lens for my SLR that will give me a better zoom.

Some of the Most Beautiful Lakes I have Seen in India

Two things prompted this post. One, a beautiful post on water bodies by Arun. Then we were discussing Lansdowne at Indiamike. We started discussing Bhulla Tal (Lake), a man made lake. Shashank and I were of the view that this Tal is not out of the ordinary. That is when I started thinking of the really beautiful lakes (all high altitude) I have seen in India.

Bhulla Tal, Lansdowne

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

Obviously one such lake is Prashar Lake and you have seen better pictures of it taken by Anil on my blog. Changu Lake with Yak in Sikkim

This is Changu Lake in Sikkim. I clicked this picture on the way to Nathu-La and while coming back the fog was so thick the lake was not at all visible.

Dhankar Lake, Spiti

I got lucky when I took this picture in Dhankar, Spiti. It was 9.30-10 in the morning and there were a lot of clouds in the sky. But for a moment the sun came out and I got this perfect reflection.

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

Pangong Lake is such a beauty. This is one place that is even more beautiful than this picture suggests and Ladakh remains one of my all time favorite destinations.

Dream Destinations!

These days I am hardly traveling, so have to make do with day dreaming. I think all of us have some places that we consider as dream destination. Remember Amitabh Bachchan and Doo lafzon ki hai ye kahani (this is a Hindi movie song filmed in Venice)? I was in school when this movie came and since then Venice had been my dream destination. Then in 2003 (there is a loooong gap between my schooling and 2003) I went to Modena, Italy to attend a conference and of course I stole a few hours in Venice. But unfortunately I managed to misplace all my pictures from Venice except for what I have scanned for an old blog post. Maybe, I will go there someday again.

I saw the Doo lafzon ki video again today after many many years and I was wondering what did I see there to fall in love with Venice? I mean they didn't even show the Rialto Bridge in it! And no at 100 Euro I found a Gondola ride way too expensive, so I didn't try it.

The destination I still dream about- Everest Base Camp. Have to head there in the next few years.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sugar Cane Stall, Near Abby Falls Coorg

Sugar Cane Stall, Near Abby Falls Coorg

Tentative Travel plans for this Summer

The first stop this summer seems to be Oxford in June for about a week, and no the visa god's judgment is yet to be pronounced. Visa gods willing, this time I will try punting, take a walking tour and go on top of the church in Radcliffe Square at Oxford. I will eat at the Noodle Bar again. Before going I will also revisit the Lonely Planet guide and look at Oxford again, it should make some sense this time.

Oxford City

There could be a one day trip to Leeds too. I know it would be damn hectic but this is for work and has to be done. I am not at all sure if I can try and look at anything new in Leeds.

Leeds City Center

But the best part is what I am planning in June. I thought hard where to go after all the suggestions I got on the previous post. But the problem is time. Then I hit upon this idea. I want to take the Shatabdi Express train to the most picturesque spot I can find and it would take just half a day to reach somewhere. Then venture a little further and stay there for a day or two, then take the Shatabdi back. I can think of Kalka Shatabdi and Dehradun Shatabdi but if I am missing on some toher better spot do let me know. What are good spots around Kalka and Dehradun?

Bomings in Jaipur

7 bombs are said to have gone off in Jaipur. So many dead, the Indian news channels going their usual way, all cacophony, here is the discussion on Indiamike.

I have spent quite some time near Jaipur and Jauhari Bazar (Jeweler's Market) is quite a familiar place for me where I used to shop. Certain things make no sense.

Near Abby Falls Coorg

Spotted this 'Danger Spot' board near Abby Falls in Coorg. I wonder what was the danger that this board was warning us about.

One completely unrelated danger that I can see is that if I am not careful, my travel plans for 2008 are in real danger. I mean it is May and I have gone out only once, to Lansdowne.

Oh My God!

I was browsing through my sitemeter and followed a link that led to a Hindi translation of my blog.
I mean the stuff is hilarious but only if you can read Hindi. Every other line is without context. Sample this-

In an ideal world this summer I would like to visit Ladakh again.
इस दुनिया में एक आदर्श मैं गर्मियों में लद्दाख फिर से यात्रा करना चाहते हैं .

Look at the picture at the left, can you blame me if I yearn to be there again?
चित्र में देख पर छोड़ दिया है , आप कर सकते हैं यदि मैं मेरे दोष इच्छा को वहाँ फिर से ?

Poor person, whoever s/he was and wanted to read the stuff in Hindi. I hardly ever try translating stuff on the web so this came as a surprise for me.

PS. Will follow up on the previous post soon. This post was done on the spur of the moment.

Make a Suggestion

(Picture Taken at Spitok, Ladakh)

In an ideal world this summer I would like to visit Ladakh again.

Look at the picture at the left, can you blame me if I yearn to be there again?

But when all I can manage is two to three days of leave, tell me where should I go?

I do not wish to take a flight, ideal journey would be by bus (but willing to take a train too) and I know I can't reach much further than Rishikesh or something like that, give my time frame.

So if you know of any places around that (I have already been to Rajaji National Park) region or anything else, do let me know.

I definitely need to travel and soon.

Or else my head will burst.

And 'death by grading' is over, finally.