Friday Flowers, Purple Flowers

Purple Flowers (Clicked in London, November 2007)

If you know the name please drop a line. If you know about a website that lists flower names accessibe to a lay leader plese let me know.

Sky Watch Friday- Sunset at Gurgaon

Sunset at Gurgaon, India

I actually wanted to zoom in to the sun and wait for some birds to fly across. I realized that the zoom is not that good and that birds were really not interested in flying across for my picture. Hence settled down for this shot instead.

Watch more pictures of the sky at Skywatch Friday.

Another Bird from Bundi

Bird in a Lotus Pond (Juvenile of the Bronzed Wing Jacana)

I am wondering if this also an Indian Pond Heron? I clicked this one at Bundi and didn't like it at all when I saw it immediately. I wonder why.

I got to know the name via Rocksea (through the comment he left) and Indiamike.

Another Bird from the Weekend

A Small Bird (Blackcap Female Indian Sliverbill fits the bill much better, thanks Arun) in the Backyard

Many thanks to Indiamike members who keep identifying bird after bird for me.

Soon!

Manchester United Stadium, Manchester

Heading that way soon, slightly further in fact. Let us see how does the winter treat me. I have misplaced the lens cover of th wide angle. I am wondering how to carry that one safely.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Tailor Bird

Tailor Bird in the Backyard

And I for sure want a better zoom.

Lazy Sunday Photo-It Has Been Raining Birds

A Bird in Flight (Pied Myna)

A Bee Eating Bird

Today I saw so many birds, some agreed to get photographed but most of them gave me a miss. I am already drooling for a more powerful zoom lens.

And While the Little Bird was Awake!

Took this a week back and this time it is just cereals and not chocolate.

One cup of Maggie (we don't eat it in front of her or she too will demand it and soon not eat anything else) and I will call it a day.

But I am scheduling this post for later in the day.

Friday Flowers- Daisies Gerberas

Daisies Gerberas at Trafford Center, Manchaster, UK

I got the correct name from Lakshmi.

And while we are talking about UK I got the visa today. A kind colleague of mine collected it too. UK VFS (New Delhi) at the moment allows a third party to collect your passport (see step 8) provided that you give them an authority letter and the documents that have to be handed over for visa collection.

So in all likelihood I may travel to UK sometime soon. It would be cold.

While the Other Little Bird was Asleep

Indian Robin in my Backyard

It was siesta time for Chhavi again today and I was with the camera. I was clicking this Indian Robin in a series of shots from the balcony and the robin was right in front of me. Suddenly I looked to my left and what a delight it was.

Purple Sunbird on a Perch

It was the same perch as yesterday (I clicked the Purple Sunbird for the first time on Saturday), only this perch is a little closer from the balcony. And there it was waiting to be clicked. This time (on Sunday) the purple sunbrid obliged me by letting me click at least 6 shots before it decided enough is enough.

I wonder if I would wait for it on the Monday afternoon will it let me click more shots? But then Monday is a working day!

Lazy Sunday Photo-Team Huddle!

Squirrels in a Team Huddle

Majestic Mountains

The Dhauladhar Range as seen from Triund, Himachal Pradesh

Looking at this scene you can never imagine that there were hundreds of school students also camping at the same site. Thankfully the site was so big that we were in a different corner and not much affected.

But when we were walking back a lot of children were coming down too. The path is narrow and we walked in close company for quite some distance. There was no way I could not here what they were chatting about. The boys invariably discussed cricket and the girls makeup and hairstyles. I somehow was disappointed.

Sky Watch Friday- Another Sunset at Ilaka, Near Triund

Sunset at Ilaka, above Triund, Himachal Pradesh, India

See more fabulous skies at Skywatch Friday

Friday Flowers- Bell Flowers

Bell Flowers

Clicked at the Botanical Garden, Leeds UK in 2008

Moral of the Story?

Looking at the picture it feels like a story and the kind that has a moral too!

Carved in Stone!

Elephants were a common theme at Bundi Palace, Rajasthan

Not a Good Fit!

Moon on the 14th Day (chaudhavi ka chaand sounds so much more better!)

I took this picture when Brat 3 and Brat 4 had gone out for a while. I had no time to try out various things and it was a struggle to find a good foreground for taking the picture. I tried taking the construction work into the frame but by the time I could have figured out more ways the brats were back.

PS. We took Chaavi out to Noida to my sister's place so this was her first trip out with us. I think for a while it has to be day trips or a visit to a family home only.

I am so glad I didn't explore Delhi before. Now it is the turn to do so with her.

Take Me for a Ride!

The Park Elephants at Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Feather Weight

A Myna taking a ride on the back of Barasingha at Kahna National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Prayers, Hopes and Wishes!

Prayers, Hopes and Wishes! St. Mary's Church, Oxford

Old and New

Old and New- High Street, Oxford, UK

Friday Flowers- Pink Flowers

Pink Blossoms

Clicked at Oxford in May 2009 but no idea what they are.

Skywatch Friday- Ye Asma Jhuk Raha Hai Jamin Pe

Ye Asma Jhuk Raha Hai Jamin Pe (The Sky is Coming Down to Meet the Earth) Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

More pictures of Sky at Sky Watch Friday

Striking a Deal!

Deal Making over Clay Pots at Bundi, Rajasthan

Beautiful Birds

Brahminy Myna at Orchha, Madhya Pradesh

I have to admit that my love affair with birds started after I acquired a macro lens (Bart 1 bought it for me) and was able to see them up close.

I have also been aided in this by my Which Bird is This thread at Indiamike.

Crossing the Line!

Literally Crossing the Line- Kalka Railway Station, Kalka

Lazy Sunday Photo- Orchha

Gateways and Smaller Palaces behind the Jahangir Mahal, Orchha

Himalayan Bulbul at Barog

A Himalayan Bulbul at Barog, Himachal Pradesh

The bread that you see in the picture was a deliberate attempt to attract birds. It was part of our breakfast but turned out to be quite stale. I threw it out and waited a little far away to see if a bird would come looking for it as food. Sure enough this Bulbul came and posed for me. Later a cat took the bread piece away.

Skywatch Friday- The Sky at Tala Kaveri near Coorg

Shades of Blue at Tala Kaveri Temple near Coorg, Karnataka

See more sky picture at Skywatch Friday.

Friday is for Flowers- Blue Flowers

Blue Flowers

I had taken this picture at Coorg in 2007. And as usual I do not know the name.

Staring at the Sea!

A Boat at the Surathkal Beach

Taksal- The Curious Name for a Railway Station

Taksal Station on the Kalka Shimla Route

I was wondering why the railway station got a name which means 'minting money.' Wikipedia has a partial answer about the name Taksal. I think this is the first station that we cross while traveling from Kalka to Shimla.

Essentials of a Wedding!

A Wedding Band at Bundi Market, Rajasthan

Here is a link for you if you wish to hear the sound the wedding bands make in India.

The Daily Chores

At the Sukh Sagar Lake, Bundi, Rajasthan

All in Red!

All Dressed up in Red

You Better Listen to Me!

A Meeting between Two Crows at Bundi, Rajasthan

Sticking Out the Neck!

Sticking Out the Neck- A Canada Greylag Goose at Oxford, UK

Correct name of the bird courtesy Stayendra.

Diwali Celebrations 2009

Chhavi had a Blast this Diwali, with Nana and Papa (Mom is the photographer)

I think I will let her festivals creep in on my blog from festival to festival or when we manage to take her on a trip. Qutb Minar is first on the agenda, maybe in less than a month.

Diwali Celebrations 2009

Here is to all of us for a wonderful Diwali.

Wish You A Very Happy Diwali

Wish you all a very happy Diwali.

May we light a lot more lamps and bust a few less crackers.

Skywatch Friday- The Clouds at Nainital

The Clouds at Nainital

This is a picture from my trip to Nainital in 2007 with Brat 2. The clouds were hanging so low that they had merged the sky and the lake!

See more pictures at Skywatch Friday.

Friday is for Flowers- Green Flowers

Green Flowers at the Trafford Center, Manchester UK (clicked in May 2009)

Asleep at Agra Fort, Agra

Asleep at Agra Fort, Agra

I went to Agra in March 2009 and it had already become quite hot. I saw this foreign tourist catching up on sleep at the edge of the Diwan-e-Aam. And yet it was only 11 am or so.

The World's largest Cannon on the Wheels- Jaivana Cannon?

Jaivana- The Worlds Largest Cannon on the Wheels? Jaipur, Rajasthan

When I visited Jaipur last year, I remember reading about the Jaivana cannon. It is also thought to be one of the largest one on the wheels in the world. I tried searching for it today and could not find an authentic source that says this is the largest cannon on the wheels.

All Dressed Up!

All Dressed Up to See the Taj Mahal, Agra

Attractions at Bundi- Sukh Mahal and the Kipling Connection

Sukh Mahal was referred to us by the guards at Chitrashala at Bundi. When we asked if it was far away, they convinced us that it was. It was anyway aournd 11 am and it was hot only as it gets in a desert. So, we decided to hire an auto. It was on the way to Sukh Mahal that I managed to click the milk motorcycle.

Brat 2 (who is 6 feet 4 inches tall) jumped and shirked when we reached there because he could see the water body around Sukh Mahal before I could over the perimeter of the walls. We ran to the observation posts quickly to get closer to the water. There are two ghats also, one for men and another for women. And of course the lake is full of lotuses.

Part of Sukh Mahal, Bundi, Rajasthan

When we reached near the main chamber, the caretaker told us, "This is the place where the jungle book man stayed."* So I told him, "Oh you are talking of Rudyard Kipling but the book he is supposed to gather material for here is Kim and not the Jungle Book." And he replied, "But it was the jungle book man." And that is where that conversation ended.

Sculptures Around Sukh Mahal, Bundi, Rajasthan

He showed us around the main room, which is otherwise locked and it is full of paintings. When we came out we tried to tip them. They took it only after we insisted many times. They also pointed out to the sculptures and said, "There is a sun dial here too, but we were not aware, a journalist came and he told us about it."

Lotuses Around the lake Near Sukh Mahal, Bundi, Rajasthan

And then of course there was this lake full of lotuses behind Sukh Mahal and that is a site that thrilled me to the core. Even the Auto guy remarked, "You really liked our lake, you have clicked so many pictures." I couldn't agree more!

*All the conversations recorded here were in Hindi and I have translated them from memory.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Red Wattled Lapwing at Nawal Sarag, Bundi

Red Wattled Lapwing at Nawal Sarag, Bundi

Lazy Sunday Photo- Tea Shop at Ilaka above Triund

Tea Shop at Ilaka above Triund, Himachal Pradesh

Beautiful Pink Lotus

Beautiful Pink Lotus

I have clicked so many pictures of the lotus at Bundi that I am forced to post one of them again, I enjoy flowers so much.

Skywatch Friday- View on the Oxford London Route

Sky View on the Oxford London Route, UK (November, 2007)

Watch more pictures of the skies from around the world at Skywatch.

Friday is for Flowers- Violet Colored Wild Flower, Spiti

Violet Colored Wild Flower, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

Friday is for Flowers- White and Pale Pink Flower from Spiti

White and Palne Pink Flower from Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

An Elaborate Rajasthani Painting at Bundi

Painting at the Outer Walls of the Royal Retreat Hotel, Bundi, Rajasthan

This hotel and its restaurant is the closest to the Bundi Palace. I have posted a picture of the restaurant before. The restaurant was a stable in the earlier times!

Monkey at Bundi, Rajasthan

Monkey on a Jeep, Bundi, Rajasthan

There are a lot of monkeys at Bundi and one place they snatched food stuff from the hands of a lady. Hotels also caution against leaving the room windows open. We gave up going up the fort on the day of our arrival because the monkeys choose it for their evening walk. And yet as our auto driver remarked, "They don't have place to live, so they clash with us."

Attractions at Bundi- 84 Pillar Cenotaph

84 Pillar Cenotaph, The Information Board Bundi

As we can see this structure was built in 1740 and it is a place of worship for Lord Shiva.

When we visited it local people were playing cards there.

84 Pillar Cenotaph is one of the Attractions at Bundi

I thought I can discuss one attraction at a time. There are comments by Abhilash and Being Bindas asking why I went to Bundi! The short answer is that it is recommended on Indiamike and it is a little off the beaten track.

The Majestic Taj Mahal at Sunset

The Beauty that is the Taj Mahal, at Sunset, Agra, India

I was looking at my old Agra pictures and could not help but post the Taj Mahal at sunset once again. The scale of the Taj Mahal is so majestic that in spite of the multitude of people that are always present there, it still towers above everything, quite aloof, quite perfect.

I mean look at the size of the human beings in the picture! The Taj Mahal in all its glory at the sunset, let us see when I visit it again!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Tower Bridge, London

Tower Bridge, London on a Cloudy Day (November, 2007)

Lazy Sunday Photo- Kirkgate Market, Leeds, UK

Kirkgate Market, Leeds UK

Another Picture of the Kirkgate Market, Leeds UK

Bundi City- Blue is the Word

The Blue City of Bundi, Rajasthan

Fabulous Paintings from Bundi, Rajasthan

Paintings on the Wall of Chitrashala at Bundi, Rajasthan

Friday is for Flowers- Butterfly on a Sunflower, Bundi, Rajasthan

Butterfly on a Sunflower Bud, Bundi, Rajasthan

Skywatch Friday- The Sky at Langza, Spiti

Sky Watch Friday- Langza, Spiti, Himachla Pradesh

Sky Watch Friday (you can keep looking at skies from there site from all over the globe) looks like fun.

I came to know of them via Celine.

The Bar at Wagon and Horses, Abingdon, UK

It was Stella Artois for me from the Bar of the Wagon and Horses at Abingdon at UK

Bundi- Reflections at the Nawal Sagar Lake, Rajasthan

The Bundi Palace (slightly up the Hill) and part of the Bundi City Reflected at the Nawal Sagar Lake

The Market at Bundi, Rajasthan

The Crowded Market of Bundi, Rajasthan

A Village Lady from Shringi in Himachal Pradesh

A Village Lady from Shringi in Himachal Pradesh

I clearly remember the group of ladies I met near Shringi Vatika in Himachal Pradesh. It was late in the day and they were three going back to their own village. In fact there is a picture of mine with the same lady and she gave me some of the twigs to hold. I also remember she asked why did not I use any lipstick! I had no answer to that!

Asleep at Bundi, Rajasthan

Asleep on a Thela, Bundi, Rajasthan

I can only imagine how tired he must have been.

And he was Sleeping Next to this Thriving Traffic in the Main Market, Bundi, Rajasthan

What a Load to Carry! Bundi, Rajasthan

A Lady with a Heavy Load at Bundi, Rajasthan

I wonder how much her basket weighed! I mean it is full of wood.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Rajasthani Turban

Man in a Rajasthani Turban, Bundi, Rajasthan

10th Photo, First Folder, Tagged by Sujata

Boy on a Slide, Bundi, Rajasthan

I was tagged by Sujata recently. I have to go to the first folder on my computer and then post the 10th picture here and tell you all the story.

I have so many folders all over the computer that it was a little difficult to think which is the first folder. So I decided to go with Picasa and took the 10th picture from what it thought was my first folder.

I clicked this young boy on the slide on the request on his grand dad. The grand dad told me, "it is good to see that you have a hobby."

Let me see who should I tag? I will tag Hobo, Global Madrasi, Babli and Being Bindas.

Friday is for Flowers- Lotus Flowers from Bundi, Rajasthan

Lotus at Bundi, Rajasthan

The one advantage of going to Bundi in September is that the lake is full of Lotus flowers then! I have never seen so many lotus in my life before and it is a sight that would remain with me for a long long time.

Lotus Flower with a Bird (Little Erget) at the Lake behind Sukh Mahal, Bundi, Rajasthan

One regret I have is that I clicked all my pictures in harsh afternoon light and did not manage to revisit this place around sunset.

PS. Thanks to Shankara for the name of the bird.

Back from Bundi, Rajasthan

A Bird An Indian Pond Heron Sitting on a Lotus Leaf near Sukh Mahal, Bundi, Rajashan

Brat 2 and I just came back from Bundi in Rajasthan. I picked up the wrong month to go, it was way too hot and yet when did that stop us from enjoying ourselves?

PS. I found the name via a comment left by Rocksea and then to make double sure through google image search. But the comment seems to have vanished.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Iffley Meadows, Thames Walk

A Horse at the Iffley Meadows, Thames Walk, Oxford, UK

Road Side Sale, London

Colorful Brooches on a Road Side Sale (London, May 2009)

I was drawn to the colors of these Brooches on a road side sale in London. At pound 15 price tag I was quite content to just look at them and other such stuff.

Excessively Thin Mannequins?

Excessively Thin Mannequins?

I took this picture at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, UK. Looking back I thought the mannequins look excessively thin, particularly the two on the each side. But there is no point in lamenting about the excessively thin figures promoted by the fashion industry. I mean who cares?

Telephones from the Past!

Telephones with a Dial, A Thing of Past (London, May 2009)

I was looking at this picture and it dawned upon me that I have used such phones when I was growing up! And now they end up in antique sale! The way time changes.

Colorful Jewellery at London Streets

From a Roadside Sale in London

I was rummaging through my pictures of the UK 2009 trip and hence this flood of images from UK. And even though I am traveling from Friday, I have scheduled posts, mostly images from UK only.

Road Side Sale, London

And for the stuff in the pictures above, I was quite content to look and take pictures.

Change of Guards- Buckingham Palace, London

Change of Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London (May 2009)

Come Friday, Will Travel

Another Shot of the Rainbow at Triund

No, I am not going to the hills, but the mere thought that I would travel over the weekend makes me think about rainbows and not trucks.

Monday Blues!

Blue Ceiling at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, UK

But to me this signifies Monday Blues somehow today. I hardly ever get the Monday blues but today is an exception!

Different Moods, Different Worlds?

A Women Picking up Neem Leaves

Cleaning Around her Home

Lazy Sunday Photo- Dove in the Backyard

Dove in the Backyard, Gurgaon

Will it Rain Today?

Will it Rain Today? Clouds at Gurgaon (the same construction site at Sunset)

Friday is for Flowers- A Basket of Lilies and Roses

Blue Roses and White Lilies (Clicked at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, UK)

Sunset Today- Gurgaon

Sunset at Gurgaon, Today

I was roaming out and chatting with my sis on the phone in the evening. She asked if I had taken any picture today and I said no, instead I was working in the garden. Then while walking I saw that the sun was still quite high and I might manage a picture after all. My sis was out of her house. She said there is very little charge in her phone, so she has to keep it down. So after saying bye to her, I picked up the camera and went out again.

I have not edited the image at all for the color, only cropped it on the left side a bit because of an awkward block. I am pleased with the result!

Lazy Sunday Photo- A River at Spiti

A River at Spiti

Stuck in a Tree!

A Kite Stuck in a Tree (Kati Patang)

I have been lazing around the house and yet itching to click some pictures. I walked out of the house thinking nothing much could catch my fancy but then I immediately saw this kite stuck in the tree. Waited for the sun to come down a little and then took a few shots.

I envy those who can fly kites. Whenever I tried I would cut my fingers! I wonder where this one came from because not too many kids fly kites here. Must have come from the colony behind ours.

There is a Hindi movie (with quite a few hummable songs) called Kati Patang.

I wonder how to translate the phrase kati patang in English. Anyone? All I can come up with is 'the broken kite' and 'stuck kite'! OK if I really think hard then 'the kite adrift.' Pathetic!

White Flowers and Green Berries from Spiti

Flowers from Spiti

When I trek, I try and click every flower that I see. I still remember that this twine was near the bridge that led to the village Lhalung. But no idea about the name of the flowers. I wonder if there is a good book on the names of Himalayan flowers?

Friday is for Flowers- Wisteria Vine with Purple Flowers

Wisteria Vine with Purple Flowers

Clicked this one in Oxford near the Christ Church College. Wish I had the zoom lens then, this has been taken with a wide angle lens and then cropped, cropped and then cropped some more!

View from Jahangir Mahal, Orchha

View of Orchha from Janghir Mahal

This post to remind myself that I need to write the entire Orchha story. Or else after a while the pictures start looking better and the memories become dim! So the task is assigned for this weekend.

Purple Berries

Purple Berries at Oxford, UK

I was looking at my 2007 pictures from the UK trip and found this one of the Purple Berries. By looking at the other pictures in the proximity this has to be from the Oxford Brookes University campus. And I don't even remember taking this and it has been just two years!

And this is another of those pictures which I thought was not good enough but with time I am liking it better.

I managed to click red and yellow berries on the same trip.

A Still from a Show at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, UK

Solo Act, Royal Armouries, Leeds, UK

He had a booming voice that could depict a thousand emotions.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Charing Cross Bridge, London

Charing Cross Bridge at Night, Central London

Elephant's Eye View

What do the Eyes See?

This elephant was waiting for food at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Coorg. On a whim I decided to focus on the eyes. Aren't they beautiful? I have uploaded a bigger picture of this elephant earlier. This trip was for a blogger's meet with the Club Mahindra.

Oxford at Night

Oxford at Night

I usually put my camera inside my shoulder bag at night. After looking at the picture above I think I should use it more. What do you say? Let it remain inside the bag?

River Betwa on a Cloudy Day, Orchha

Betwa River at Orchha on a Cloudy Day

Langza in Spiti

Buddhist Prayer Flags at Langza, Spiti

I was reminded of Langza after reading this puzzle in a post by Manish. And when I get very nostalgic about places like Langza and start asking existential questions about my life, I just have to remind myself of the cold cold winter the place gets!

Manchester United Stadium- My Experiences of the Guided Tour

I was reading about the loss and win of Manchester United in the EPL, and I decided it is about time I wrote about my experience of taking a guided tour of the Manchester United Stadium on May 13, 2009. I wish to record the date so that when I read this 10 years later I would know when was I there!

I was visiting my school friends in London and Manchester and I met them after 20 years. My friend in Manchester saw to it that we went to the stadium. She herself was not coming and my friend from London had seen it before. But she decided to see it with me again.

Outside the Manchester United Stadium

We were being lazy throughout the day and only around 3.45 pm we realized that if we do not moved we would miss the last guided tour of the stadium. The last guided tour of the Manchester United Stadium departs at 4.30 pm and we barely made it by reaching at 4.15 there. The person at the ticket counter was quite friendly and I think he gave us some discount or the other on the tickets. Then he hurried us along to the place from where the tour begins.

The name of our guide was Stewart Brown (I have a feeling that he spelled Stewart differently but I do not remember the correct spelling) and he had been at it for the last 14 years. When I asked him if he was a Manchester United fan, he said he would tell me by the end of the tour.

I also have to say that my interest in Football is because of Brat 2. He watches it like religion and many a times I just watch along. He is a Arsenal fan and he told me I should have gone to the Emirates Stadium. I said I had very little time in London and he was pacified. But both Brat 1 and Brat 2 watched my Man Utd pictures with great enthusiasm.

Access to Seats, Manchester United Stadium

The group taking the tour on May 13, 2009 (4.30 pm) was about 30-35 strong. And while we were walking, Stewart took a deliberate circular path and about 20 people followed him exactly like a sheep in the herd! We at the rear end took the more straight one and Stewart turned back and winked.

It was quite fascinating to be inside the stadium and see the notices put for the fans and the spectators. There was a tray for sticking chewing gum but my pictures of the same have not come out well.

Manchester United Stadium

When we reached inside the stadium Stewart asked our group to take a seat. He then asked how many of us were Manchester United fans and only a few hands went up. The rest of us were just curious. He also asked for our countries and the globe was quite fairly represented in our tour group.

Disabled Supporters Association, Manchester United Stadium

The thing that impressed me most was the arrangements for the people with disabilities at the Manchester United Stadium. Their is a ability suit for them at the stadium. I mean for us, it took a Stephen Hawking to get a ramp at the Taj Mahal.

Another View Manchester United Stadium, Red for the Red Devils

There was no way I could get a panoramic picture of the stadium, in that sense the tour felt hurried or maybe I was just too caught up in the then and there. If I ever visit it again, I would go high up in the stands and try to click a different picture.

The Player's Dressing Room, Manchester United Stadium, is Part of the Guided Tour

The tour includes a visit to the player's dressing room, something I didn't expect and found quite exciting. The shirt on the walls tell the tentative position players like to take when they are inside the room. Stewart didn't mention in which part the shoe flying incident between Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham took place and I didn't ask. Ronaldo's shirt must be gone from the room by now I guess. All of us got pictures taken and I have one sitting under Tevez's shirt.

Notices for the Players, Manchester United Stadium

I was quite amused with the notice to the players about not being allowed to wear their jewellery. I think I have seen Ronaldo using tape over his earrings even though this notice says it is not allowed. Bart 2 was also quite amused with this picture and said but the players still wear some jewellery.

The Munich Clock, Manchester United Stadium

I was not aware of the Munich tragedy that stuck Manchester United in 1958. A plane carrying their players and supporters along with others crashed after its third attempt to take off from Munich. There is a plaque and a clock to commemorate the event.

The Player's Tunnel, Manchester United Stadium

Soon it was our turn to come out of the player's tunnel and once again it was quite exciting. There was a teen aged lad who was grinning from ear to ear when we were in this area. And they can get ambulances right next to to this tunnel in case of any emergency.

Stewart Brown, Our Guide Acting as a Referee on the Guided Tour of the Manchester United Stadium

While we were standing before the tunnel Stewart played the referee and treated us as the players diving us into the home and the away teams. He went around shaking hands with the grimmest possible expression and it never changed however much we giggled. And I did giggle a lot, a thing I am not much prone to!

Manchester United Stadium, Player's Stand

We were finally led out to this area at the end of the tour. We went to the player's stand and got our pictures clicked. While we were coming out of the tunnel there are notices asking to keep away from the grass and not to pluck it. I can imagine that people may like to take it with them as a souvenir!

The Souvenir Shop, Manchester United Stadium, Last Stop of the Guided Tour

The tour leads us out to the gift shop of Manchester United and it is the strategic last stop. Thankfully I didn't had to buy anything because Brat 1 and Brat 2 are not Man Utd fans. My friend bought a few things for her kids. Brat 2 had given me strict instructions to buy something about West Ham United, a fascination he developed after watching the movie Hooligans. I could only get him a scarf though he was quite happy with it.

Notices a Plenty, Join the Waiting List for Season Ticket at the Manchester United Stadium

I found it quite funny (shows how little I know about the world of football) that the notice invited the fans to join the waiting list for season tickets! When I started reading it in the shopping area I thought it was about buying season tickets!

Manchester United Stadium, Manchester, UK

And when I was showing my UK 2009 pictures to Brat 1 and Brat 2 they refused to see anything more beyond the Manchester United ones! And till date they have not asked to see anything else.

I wonder what it would be like to be in the stadium when a match is being played! And I of course forgot to ask Stewart at the end of the tour if he was a Manchester United fan or not.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Ferrari Store, Regent Street, London

Ferrari Store, Regent Street, London

No I didn't go in, just took a peek from the door and clicked a few pictures.

Vulture Picture

Vulture at Orchha

I know the picture is tilted but I also had to twist and turn to get a closer look at the magnificent vulture who was perched right at the very top of one of the domes at the Jahangir Palace. I like this picture!

Which Bird is This?

Asian Pied Starling at Orchha (found the name via Indiamike)

Clicked at Orchha, No Clue What is the Name (when posted originally)

Uploaded the picture so that the good folks at Indiamike, who are having fun at my expanse as of now, could identify it. Somehow I have not been able to load it there.