Friday is for Flowers- A Bunch of Roses

Clicked this Bunch at IIM Lucknow

I also remember that there were a lot of security guards at the gate and I was wondering if they would ask me something about my picture takign spree, but thankfully they just let me be!

Chota Imambara, Lucknow

Chota Imambara, Lucknow

I am not feeling too lazy today, so here is another picture. I had been to Lucknow to attend a conference at Lucknow. A day trip of Lucknow was included in the conference schedule and I am so thankful for it. I have been going to Lucknow since childhood but never ventured out in the city.

To click this picture with the reflection I hopped over to the wooden bridge on the water even though it was chained. Chances of being yelled at by a caretaker is quite high but I still risked it. For me it is a little difficult to resist a good picture opportunity. And thankfully no one yelled at me for climbing the bridge and taking this picture.

My Lucknow Article at Gonomad

La Martiniere College, Lucknow

My Lucknow article is now up at Gonomad-

If my writing sounds rushed to you, so was my tour. The guide would literally run from one structure to another and so would some of us.

We tried to form a breakaway group walking at a more leisurely pace but then we gave up that strategy quickly inside the labyrinth; we did not wish to be left behind inside those dark alleys.

Main Hall of the Bara Imambara, Lucknow

Main Hall of the Bara Imambara, Lucknow

The most peculiar thing about the main hall of the Bara Imambara is that in spite of such a huge length there are no central pillars supporting the structure!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Lights and Shadows at the Labyrinth, Bara Imambara, Lucknow

Lights and Shadows at the Labyrinth, Bara Imambara, Lucknow

I have been visiting Lucknow since childhood and yet this was the first time I managed to explore the city. The conference organizers had booked a bus for us along with a guide. And what a flying Lucknowman he turned out to be. He would not let us pause for a moment anywhere! All the pictures I took was in auto mode on my camera. I would not place the entire lame on him though, some of us also had travel plans and wanted to cam as much as possible. But quite a few among us commented that it is a general tendency of Indian guides to make you run through a city! I have to go back to Lucknow again! But let us see when.

PS. Still no passport, if I don't get it by Tuesday in all probability my trip to Oxford in May is gone!

Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow

When I went to Lucknow this time, I was traveling on a badly upset stomach. So, when I boarded the Lucknow Shatabdi Express Train, I had already taken a medicine and knew I could not afford to eat anything on the way. And that is how it was. I had a book to read but then sleep was dominating me so much that I just dozed off and hardly woke up for the entire 6 hours journey!

Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow

I finally woke up at Kanpur and decided to write a message to one of the conference volunteers at IIM Lucknow. I was reaching around noon, and I wanted to inquire if it would be all right to head straight to the campus. They were kind enough to accommodate me a few hours ahead of time.

Another View of Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow

When I got out at the station, I was still so full of sleep, and really scared if I would keep well or not. So, when people started asking if I needed an auto rickshaw, I was not really pleased. As a rule the guys who hound you at the Railway Station, try to overcharge you too. But after a while I realized that all these auto guys had to go through prepaid and would charge a fixed price only, probably because there is a policeman at the exit and only prepaid autos are supposed to ply. Now I like that idea. Haggling with auto guys is the last thing you want after a tiring journey.

Gorkha Regiment Band Playing at IIM Lucknow

Gorkha Regiment Band Playing at IIM Lucknow

I had captured this video at night hence the poor quality. But the music is worth listening too.

Lucknow through my Lens

Lucknow in Pictures

I was at IIM Lucknow, attending a tourism conference. What I liked a lot was the idea of the conference organizers to give us a day to see around Lucknow. So, I of course have clicked a lot of pictures. The time of the day was from late morning to noon, so too much light to click good pictures, still I have tried.

PS. If you are a conference delegate and if you would like to download a few pictures (or if you would like to see still pictures in an album), please click here. If you need any assistance in this regard, do not hesitate to let me know.

One Live Update From IIM Lucknow

I am through with my paper presentation and that is always a relief. I did manage to generate a little bit of discussion where I said people on the messageboard report that Agra City is not attractive at all even though the Taj Mahal is fabulous. Well the quote that I was using was a little stronger but the message was the same. Created some offense to some people.

Have to be more careful how to phrase these findings. There was a debate on my methodology and in India it still feels that if you have not done a quantitative research you have not done research at all! I was a little surprised with that. In the evening I was checking with a senior academician about what should I do differently next time and he said, "You are doing fine." That was quite enouraging.

But the worst of all is I have a badly upset stomach and I can hardly eat anything. After writing this, I am wondering who will read this at home and get worried but then I am taking my chances. So, I am dead tired by now. See you all.

Will catch up with all the comments when I come back. Thanks for them a lot, they are a real morale booster.