Sky Watch Friday- The Sky was all Ablaze

Sunset at Gurgaon on Wednesday (11/11/2009)

This is the sky that greeted me when I walked out of the office on the Wednesday this week. The second picture has been taken after 10 minutes of the first one. Such sites reinforce my decision to carry a small point and shoot camera all the time in my purse.
Exactly the site that one needs at the end of a workday.

For more pictures visit the Skywatch page.

Today's Commute

Bus with a Colorful Load

These pictures are the haul for the day. On the dusty highway I suddenly spotted these colorful balloons tied to the back of the bus. I reached out for my camera. I mean it is a much better site that watching people sitting on the top of the bus. Fir a while there was a car in between our car and this bus and I was wondering if it would go away before I could photograph it.

Colorful Load

My hunch is that the owner of this load was sitting inside the bus but there was no place to keep his stuff. So he found a way and I found a photo opportunity.

Lotus Temple Seen from the VFS UK New Delhi Office Building

Lotus Temple, New Delhi

I took this picture after I came out of the VFS UK New Delhi Office in Nehru Place today. I have cropped it heavily as the zoom in the basic point and shoot is not much. I somehow like pillars that I have captured in the foreground by accident. Honest, I have no recollection of framing them consciously!

Coming to getting my own picture, the last two times I got my photograph clicked at the VFS office itself. This time the gentleman operating the booth was a few minutes late and then he told me, "the off season for UK has started that is why you see so little crowd today."

They took my form, so that means they are going to process the application. Let us see when do I get it.

Noticing Trucks

Blurred Picture

It was around 6.45 in the evening yesterday and I was almost at the end of my evening commute. There is a roundabout where I invariably get a traffic jam and this Friday was no different. I was really sitting in my car quite bored till I saw the truck ahead of me.

I immediately took out my camera and clicked but my windshield had a lot of dust on it and the result was the picture above and quite disappointing.

Truck Art

Then I opened the window, took my hand out and clicked. The result is so much more better. I have clicked a very similar picture of another truck before and yet there are a few differences. In this one there is a girl sitting quite pensively and the quote in Hindi that says Roya Karege Shanu Yaa Karke (Shanu would cry when she remembers me).

In my previous job my total commute was 16km and now it is 62. You can see how it has impacted my blogging and the pictures. And I am not cribbing about my commute, just mentioning that it has increased and I see a lot of trucks or maybe I notice them now much more.

Friday Flowers- Flowers like Astrix's Ears!

Yellow Flowers

I do not know the name of these flowers but the white petals remind me of Astrix's ears!

Global Product, Local Delive

Supply of Coke, Maggi and the like to the tea Shop at Ilaka near Triund, Himachal Pradesh

PS. Those of you who wonder why so little content on this blog these days, the reason is very cute.

The Morning Commute

The Morning Commute for Some at Gurgaon

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sorry We are Closed

Coffee Shop Yet to Open, Gurgaon

Clicked it in the morning when I was walking out after parking my car.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Talk to my Handst

Roadside Henna Stall in Noida

Friday Flowers- Iris from the Himalayas

Iris Flowers, clicked while trekking around Triund, Himachal Pradesh

Dog Tired?

Surrounded by Traffic and Yet Asleep

I am wondering if he was dog tired? The mat gives an impression that this was a planned nap?

I empathize with him today cause I feel dog tired myself.

You Get to See what I Get to See!

Truck quotes is what I see most of these days when I travel, so that is what I end up sharing.

Truck Art, Gurgaon, India

This truck caught my eye because of the quote in Hindi saying, "Dekh Thakur ke That." I can once again try and kill it in translation. Would it come off as, "See the Important Man and his excesses?" Sounds like perfect case of 'lost in translation.'

More Truck Art from Gurgaon, India

This one again features because of the quote in Hindi, "Dhan chaho tou dan karo." Would mean if you wish to get rich give away in charity first.

PS. We always get blow horn for sure.

PPS. Nilesh, do you still read my blog? :D

Flower Delivery!

Ready for the Morning Business Round- Flowers for Sale on a Motorcycle, Gurgaon, India

Saw this bike while I was coming out in the morning after parking my car. I was in my usual hesitant mode, should I click it should I not? Will someone take offense or what? Then I decided to just chuck these internal debates and click a picture anyway. And no one said anything. And I am glad I clicked it.

Quaint Signboards!

Quaint Signboards

I had clicked this one in a small corner of Cannought Place while waiting for a bus to Manali (our eventual destination was Spiti).

I wonder how many generations would have worked for the same business as the board says the shop was established in 1929.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Spiti

The Sound of Silence, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Friday is for Flowers- Pink Rose

Pink Rose

This rose reminded me of a story from my school days. There used to run a patch of roses along the length of my school. And in those days it used to feel like an enormous and endless expanse, though if I visit it again (I wonder if the roses would be still there) I am sure, the stretch would not seem all that big.

Anyway, I was very fond of walking along with that stretch with a friend (I remember her name too!) sometimes (when I was not busy playing one sport or the other) and look at the roses. And the one that I would like most, I would ask my friend, "Isko khaa jaayen" (Should we eat it up?) And she would invariably tell me that I have a devil's mind. In reality there was no scope for plucking a rose nor did we ever did that.

I actually thought the same when I saw this picture above, "is gulab ko tou khaa sakte hain." (I could eat this rose up!) And hence this stupid tale from my school days.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Asleep at Chandigarh Railway Station

When the Sleep Calls- Railway Station Chandigarh

Lazy Sunday Photo- Railway Station, Chandigarh

Chandigarh Railway Station

The sculptures at the entrance seem to be inspired by the famous Rock Garden of Chandigarh.

Diwali Decorations on the Roadside

Selling Diwali Decorations on the Roadside, Gurgaon

These decorations were the only bit of color on the grey, dust filled morning today (16/10/2009).

Friday is for Flowers- Tulips and Pansy

Tulips and Pansy at Oxford (Clicked in May 2009)

This one is for Doli who left the following comment on the previous post-

oh no! I saw it today My Friday wont be good :( please post another one! or send me some luck

And Yet More Truck Art

Colorful Truck Art

You can't blame me for posting these, I can only post what I see most! And you have to admit this one was quite colorful.

Of course this time we have 'blow horn' and not 'horn please.

A Video of the Bundi City from the Palace

A Video of the Bundi City from the Royal Palace

More Truck Art- Can We Ever Escape Horn Please?

Truck Art and Of Course Horn Please Once Again

Gorgeous Sunet Today at Gurgaon

The Sky at Gurgaon Today was Beautiful, Police Van Notwithstanding

It Made for a Beautiful Reflection even in Concrete and Glass Structures, Gurgaon

Gorgeous Sunset at Gurgaon Today, So What if there is a Mall in the Scene

And then people wonder why I carry a camera all the time. The only problem is that it attracts a lot of attention or I would have carried my SLR around with the big zoom lens. But I am convinced today that it is an excellent idea to carry my Nikon point and shoot most of the time.

And you have to believe me when I say there was a partial rainbow too a little earlier but my attempts to capture it are not worth showing off. What a beautiful day after all!

Friday is for Flowers-Beautiful White Flowers

White Flowers, Oxford, UK

Unfortunately I do not know the name of these beautiful white flowers.

The Milk Motorcycle, Bundi, Rajasthan

The Milk Motorcycle, Bundi, Rajasthan

I saw this arrangement for carrying milk from the train itself while traveling from Kota to Bundi and I was dying to take a picture. But when we walked in the city of Bundi, I found no such opportunity.

But when we were traveling in an auto to Sukh Mahal in Bundi, I saw one of them parked in the narrow lane. I requested the auto driver to break for a while so that I could click a picture. When he stopped the owner of the motorcycle also came along and posed for me. I asked the auto driver, "Ye naraz tou nahin honge ki photo kyon kinch rahe hun?" (I hope he will not be angry that I am clicking a picture). The auto guy was a little taken aback, and asid, "Nahin humko tou adat hai, itne tourist aate hain foreigners bhi, saab kinchte hain." (No we are used to it, so many tourist come and foreigners too, all of them click!).

While we started moving away, the man in the turban called, "Meri photo bhi li hai na?" (You have got me in the frame too?) I assured him that I had!

You have to Blame Brat 2 for this!

Captured! Bundi, Rajasthan

I was looking at the pictures from Bundi when I came back. I was quite surprised to see a few pictures like this one! I was not even aware when he clicked it.

Bundi and Nawal Sagar Lake at the Sunset, Rajasthan

Bundi, Rajasthan at the Sunset

Red Flower

Red Flower- Full of Dew (Clicked at London, May, 2009) Do you know the name?

Friday is for Flowers- A Bunch of Rose

Bunch of Roses (Clicked at London Victoria Rail Station, May 2009) What Color are they?

Friday is for Flowers- Yellow Bougainvillea

Yellow Bougainvillea- Clicked at IIM Lucknow, 2009

Sharing an Umbrella!

Sharing an Umbrella on a Rainy Day in Gurgaon

Once again taken outside a mall on a rainy day this week. I was inside my car and the windscreen had a lot of water on it.

Wet, Wet, Wet

Not an Effective Cover- Wet Rainy Days, Gurgaon

Thankfully (but I am missing the photo opportunity) it is Saturday and I am sitting with a hot cup of a tea.

An Unusual Start to the Day!

A Rainy Day at Gurgaon

For the second day the rains have continued at Gurgaon and at one level thank heavens for that! But at another level commuting becomes one complicated affair. Sesha decided to come with me today as he was not too keen to drive in the pouring rain. I dropped him to his office (which is a small detour for me) and then went to the mall where I park my car. From there I travel half of the way with a colleague.

While waiting, I saw these two men on the road with the 'raincoats' that become such a common site on a rainy day.

The Lift near the Roof, a Mall in Gurgaon

A while later I decided to park my car in the basement of a mall and wait inside it. By now the mall folks recognize me as I use their parking on every working day. And then I saw the lift going up. I liked what I saw and clicked it. This lift has a robotic announcing 'ground floor,' 'basement 1' etc at every stop.

Barista, Just Opening in the Morning

I was a little late today and my colleague was still some distance away because of various traffic jams. I was wondering what to do? I was quite glad to see that in spite of the chairs resting on the table, there was a person at the counter of the Barista Coffee Shop. I am usually not a big fan of these overpriced coffee shops but decided to have one today. He put the chairs down and cleaned the table and took my order.

And as I am not good at waiting idly I decided to open my laptop and do something. I quickly uploaded these pictures from my camera and added my signature, etc.

An unusual Cup of Coffee in the Morning

I hardly grab a cup of coffee in the morning that too in a shop at a mall! In that sense it was a most unusual day. And then I opened the word document named Orchha that was blank. I have done this so many times but I have realized for the first time that each article actually started from a blank page !

The Way it is Raining!

I started off for the office with a thudding heart. It was raining yesterday evening, it rained through the night and when I started in the morning it was still raining. That can only mean one thing, and that one thing is trouble.

Running from the Rain

I park my car midway and then travel with a colleague these days. While I was waiting I clicked some pictures. These two blurry figures were running towards the mall in the heavy downpour. I also saw people with all kind of raincoats but the pictures did not come out well.

Indian Roller Bird Kingfisher (or so I think)

In that rain, this bird came out and sat on the wire for a long time. I think it is the Kingfisher, looking at the long beak and the colors that were visible to the eye. This was taken with my point and shoot camera which has very ordinary zoom.

Water on the Road, But Where is the Road?

By today evening some of the roads are resembling a canal more than a road. And while I am writing this it is still raining outside. I wonder what will happen by tomorrow if it continues to rain through the night today. Friday is still a working day.

The Way it Rained! Plus Some More Truck Art

Rains at Gurgaon

I was coming back from work and it was around 6.10 pm, time when there is wide day light on a normal day. It had started raining when I left and it kept on getting dark. Soon it was so dark that all the vehicles started switching on the lights. And after a while it became plain night with pouring rain. Took me a long time to get back home.

More Cow and Calf on the Trucks

I am quite amazed with the number of cow and calf trucks that I get to see on the roads. I wonder if it is peculiar to Haryana/NCR or it is a wider trend? How can it not say horn please? But I found the 'friend' part a little different and of course there has to be something about god, so this one invokes 'Jai Balaji' (Lord Balaji be praised).

Meanwhile, Sidhu pointed out to me that the Pakistani Truck Art is quite elaborate and eye catching. Have a look, I have never seen anything like it before.

Mahindra or Tata? A Case of Confused Identity!

Mahindra is one big company that makes vehicles. Tata is another. This one has both written at the back. I suspect it was built by the Mahindra's but says 'Ok Tata' as a way greeting.

The Morning Commute

The Morning Commute, Gurgaon

A Dash of Color in a Grey City

A Dash of Color, Street Vendors, Gurgaon

When I start my morning commute the place feels so grey. And they way we all drive, the less said the better. Plus the fact that I am not a morning person, adds to my sense of grey.

In that grey drive, I have often seen this dash of color but before today I was never able to click a picture. I think they are waiting for a transport to carry their stuff. I have seen the vendors in the rickshaws and shared autos.

Obsessed with the Truck Art these Days!

More OK Tata on the Trucks, Gurgaon

More OK Tata just above the wheels in the middle of the truck!

Same cow and the calf theme!

Yet to find one that doesn't believe in 'horn please.'

This one has an additional line 'fir milenge' which is 'we will meet again'.

A Video from Orchha- from the Bridge over the Betwa River

View of Orchha from the Bridge over the Betwa River

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!

Dum Le Le Ghari Bhar ...

Catching Up on Sleep at Jhansi Railway Station

And it is very difficult to translate what I wrote in Hindi for the title of the post because I am also very sleepy at the moment. Anyone willing to try?

Friday is for Flowers- Bright Yellow Flowers

Bright Yellow Flowers, Clicked at Barog Railway Station

Not My Table

Flowers at the Desk of the Station Master at Barog

Lazy Sunday Photo- Paintings on St. Mary's Church, Oxford, UK

The Walls of the St Mary's Church, Oxford

Friday is for Flowers- Clustered Summer Gentian

Himalayan Flowers- Clustered Summer Gentian

I looked up the name at Flowers of Himalayas part of Flowers of India site.

Friday is for Flowers- Paper Daisy

Paper Daisy Flower

Water Mellon in the Backyard

Water Mellon

This picture was taken a few years back. As usual I threw some seeds in the backyard and soon enough this fruit came up. But after that how ever much seeds I threw I never have managed to get another one.

Hills Near Manmad

Hills Taken from the Moving Karnataka Express near Manmad

The Kalka Shimla Railcar at Barog

The Kalka Shimla Railcar at Barog

When we were returning from Barog, we had this entire railcar to us! It was going back empty and the Barog station master arranged for three tickets for us. When we were at Barog and saw the railcar for the first time and Brat 2 said, "How would it be if we had the entire thing for us!" So when it happened by chance on our way back I told him so. He immediately had another wish, "Now if we could only have the entire Shatabdi Express Coach to us."

Friday is for Flowers- Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose with Dew Drops

Remember my Grey and drizzling London day? While I was walking with my school friend (whom I had met after 20 years) to catch a train, I found this rose and I of course had to stop and take a picture. Flowers make for such a pretty picture.

Feeling Hungry!

Thai Rice and Vegatables at Chiang Mai, Oxford, UK

I wonder why do I have to look at food that I have enjoyed in the past when i am feling hungry!

Mustard Fields on the Oxford-London Highway

Mustard Fields on the Oxford London Highway

I took this picture of the mustard fields from a moving bus while going back to London from Oxford. And what the eyes saw was much better than what I could capture with the camera. I have also discovered that however much I try to stay awake and take in the scenes I sometimes fall asleep on the way, like on this bus ride. And then I wonder what did I miss!

Hummer Limousine at Oxford!

Hummer Limousine at the Oxford Streets, UK

I saw beautiful car pictures from Houston Art Car Parade by Steve. Then Max talked about Hummers and Yukons in his post, so I thought why not me.

I was walking down the Oxford streets in May 2009 when I saw this car. First time around, I could not take a picture, the car just vanished. But soon enough it came back again and stood at the red light. And I gladly clicked away, all the time worried that the light would turn green before I could get out the camera and click.

If you get a Hummer Limousine in Delhi, I think the only suitable place to drive it would be the runway of the IGI/Palam Airport.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Boats at Naini Lake, Nainital

Boats at Naini Lake, Nainital

Finding Shade at the Domestic Airport, New Delhi

Finding Shade at New Delhi Airport

I took this picture sitting inside the flight that was bound for Jabalpur. It was so hot at 11.30 am that this employee decided to take refugee inside the empty cart. I was wondering why was he sitting so still and why in this empty cart. I was wondering if he was in distress or what. But soon his other colleagues came and they all entered the Jet Airways plane you can see in the background. And I could see they were chatting and laughing a lot too. It must have been the heat that made him very still and quiet while he was waiting for others. When I came to Delhi a few days later, they announced in the flight that the outside temperature was 44.5 degree Celsius.

And the water in the taps has been hot on its own even at the night. Today there is a wind and some clouds outside. I wish it would rain!

Lazy Sunday Photo- An Ariel View of the Hindukush Mountains

An Ariel View of the Hindukush Mountains

I clicked this picture on 5 May 2009 from a window seat of the Flight VS 301 from New Delhi to London. See that is why I like taking window seats even in a flight. Many thought I would overgrow this habit and start looking for an aisle seat after a few years. I am glad to say that I still sulk when I get anything but the window seat.

Sound of the Lambs!

Lambs at the Triund Campsite, Himachal Pradesh

You can see the Triund campsite (at least part of it) in this video. The Dhaula Dhar Range in the Himalayas is also visible and what a noise the lambs are making. Those were the days!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sunset at Snowline above Triund, Himachal Pradesh

Sunset at Snowline (also known as Ilaka), above 9000 feet, near Triund, Himachal Pradesh

I am back at Gurgaon, at last and I think I would have liked to have a few more days of hills! This is our tent (Sesha is in picture too) at sunset against part of the Dhauladhar Ranges. I have walked so much on uneven terrian that it feels strange to walk on the even floor! My feet are protesting and missing the uneven turf!

Changing the Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London

The Video of the Guards Coming Out of the Buckingham Palace, Changing the Guards

After my official work in Oxford was over I was visiting and staying back with two school friends whom I was meeting after 20 years. It is really amazing that we found each-other via the internet. again And friends with whom you went to school from KG to 12th, it is amazing that you can exactly pick up from where you left! I went to my friend's place in London and then we left for Manchester the next day. Stayed there for one day before returning to London in the evening. So it was my last day in UK that was for roaming around in London with my friend. We had no set plans, and when I suggested my friend to look up for changing the guards at the Buckingham Palace she found that we could go and see it.

The Friendly Policeman on Duty

The website says the changing takes place at 11.30 am in May. They also advice you to take your place by 11.15 am. Both of us could not figure out why. We took the underground, got down at the Green Park Station and walked to the palace. And then we realized why they wanted us to come in a little early!

The Change of Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London

If you do not reach early enough, you will see the changing of the guards only in someones display screen! When we reached there all the places near the railings of the plaace had a thick crowd. So we decided to stand near the Victoria Memorial. You can change places easily around the circle and see the bands walking in. Once the bands enter the palace, the Victoria Memorial however is not the place where the action is. So both of us walked towards the palace and could see what was happening inside only in someone's LCD.

We then came near the ropes, there was less crowd. And the friendly policeman was chatting with the crowd. He told us that his horse was due to retire in a year. When someone asked where, he said, "Hopefully with me." Then she asked, "So will you retire too?" He said, "No, 7 more years to go, it has been 30 already!" He told us, "The first band to come out will walk to the right but don't move, the next will come this way." A lady in the crowd asked if she could take a picture with him after the bands were gone, he said, "Unfortunately I would have to go with the bands." But a while later he said, "Go ahead, you can take one now." He also remarked sometime, "This is not such a good job during the winters and the change happens even when there are no tourists." True enough the schedule mentions all kinds of weather exceptions.

We were second from the rope (on the other side from the railings of the palace), waiting for the guards to come out. The two girls in front of us got a call and decided to leave. My friend and I quickly took their places. Ad that is how I managed to make the video and saw the guards coming out. Oh and it was a typical London day, Grey, cold (to me) with a light drizzle. And I enjoyed it a lot.

Punting at Oxford

I finally managed to go punting at Oxford on my third trip! I had read about it a lot, I had seen people do it but I never dared to try it myself. You are supposed to do it on your own and I did not feel brave enough. When I went through websites this is what I would find-

'Chauffeur' punters are available on request, with a minimum 2 weeks notice.

Punt Boats at Cherwell Boat House, Oxford

So what do you do when you go punting? You take one of these boats and try to steer it with a very long pole. It is possible because the river bed is quite shallow and the pole hits the ground quite easily. There were six of us in the boat. I was the only woman. So while all the men went to fetch the equipment I was assigned to look for boat number 69. It was not too difficult to spot it.

Coming Back after a Punting Session

While we were on the river we could spot a lot of people having a good time. There were four girls who looked to be out there for the first time and they always managed to get stuck on the bank of the river and then were rowing themselves out! They also give you a paddle to row out if you get stuck on the side of the river

The Pro- You Never Know what your Professors are Good at!

We were in safe hands as the professor was a pro at punting. I asked him, "How long have you been doing this?" And he replied with a smile, "Far too long!" When one of our conference college tried to punt, he got us stuck on a bank within no time and then managed to turn the boat the other way round! The pro professor had told us at the beginning, "Oxford and Cambridge row from the opposite ends." So when the boat turned around, we were told by our friend, "Now I am doing the Cambridge style!" We also had to duck many times to avoid the branches as we drifted to a side when one of us was rowing.

The Pro, The Rookie and the Cambridge and Oxford Style Punter (sitting)

I was the last person to try my hand. And one of us refused to try. He was a young academician from Thailand. I was very scared that I would let the pole drop into the river! But I managed to do quite OK. Did not turn the boat around, or stuck it at the bank. But that was more because the professor actively helped me out. And you can see from the picture that I really had a lot of fun trying my hand at punting. I sat down to some clapping from my fellow friends, they must have been really scared when I insisted that I want to try out for sure!

And if I keep academics aside, that is one huge advantage of conference, you get on an organized tour of things that seem to be too difficult to carry out on our own. We did this trip on the Cherwell River which is far away from the center of the city. I was told that most of the tourists do it on the Magdalen River Boathouse.

In the beginning I was asking the professor, "So how do people learn punting?" And pat came the reply, "By falling down in the river!"

Looking at Pictures from the Past!

Oxford, UK, On a Cold and Grey Day in 2007

Lazy Sunday Photo- Agra Fort, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Agra Fort, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Wedding Tunes!- Aaj Mere Yaar ki Shaadi Hai

Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shadi Hai- Quintessential Song Played Tunelessly at Most North Indian Weddings

I shot this video from quite some distance at night, so had to swap the video images with a still image. The image in the video is of a small temple near Auli, Uttrakhand.

How Not to make a Video

Flowers at Jamia Millia Islamia University Campus- How Not to Make a Video!

I have done quite a few posts on the flowers that I saw at the Jamia Millia Islamia University Campus. On a whim I also made a video, uploaded it on Youtube, changed the voiceover of the video and forgot about it. I managed to see it again today and I know a little about how not to make a video.

I mean I know I used to do a lot of competitive middle distance running in a bygone era but there was no reason to run from flower to flower as if there was a prize for it! Then I was so monotonous, zooming in on every rose in the very same way as if there was another prize for consistency!

And whatever little you could have seen, Youtube managed to mess it up. On my realplayer, the quality is not that bad. I wonder why Youtube made it so grainy!

Not Today

Suffering from Bad Cold.

Dosa Sambar at a Canteen near Mangalore Railway Station

Canteen Near Mangalore Railway Station

Dosa Sambar at a Canteen near Mangalore Railway Station

The orange Sambar (a type of curry) you see is not what we ate, as it has fish pieces in it. For us vegetarians they had another less colorful curry to have with the doasa.

I was browsing through the old photos and these two caught my eye.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Sunny Spring Day

Park Bench on a Sunny Spring Day

I was interested in taking this picture because of the blue bird sitting in the right hand corner of the bench. Once again I am reminded of the fact that the zoom of my cameras is pretty poor. And I have yet to manage to buy a good zoom lens.

This picture was also taken at the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus.

A Dozen Roses

I could have posted all the 12 roses one by one but then it would have taken 12 days! So here I go, a dozen roses all from the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus in New Delhi.

Red Rose

Yellow Rose

White Rose with Colored Dots

Orange and Red Roses

Red Rose with a Shade of Yellow

Pink Rose

White and Pink Rose

Yellow Rose

Pink Rose

A Bunch of Roses

Red with a shade of yellow again

A Bunch of Red Roses

Jamia Millia Islamia University and the Surroundings in Pictures

Jamia Milla Islamia Campus

If you stand in front of the Vice Chancellors gate, this beautiful structure is visible from outside. But I have been so busy at the workshop that I can hardly find anytime to visit other parts of the campus.

Muslimshousing.com

I saw this interesting sign Muslimshousing.com near a Jamia bus stop. I have no political interest in the issue, I just found the signboard interesting, as I found BPOshaadi.com interesting.

Another part of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

I have to admit that the Jamia has beautiful gardens within its premises and outside the workshop sessions I have been found meticulously clicking images of roses and Dahalias among other flowers. Pictures would be posted soon.

Busy as a Bee!

Till Friday, it is going to be raining photos at Travel Tales from India. I really liked the results I got with the photo of the yellow rose with a bee. I have taken it with my Nikon point and shoot with absolutely zero expectations. And what a beautiful shot it turned out to be (at least in my eyes).

Yellow Rose with a Bee

Siesta Time

No, there was no siesta time for me and I am not on a holiday. I am managing to take these pictures during the course of my day spent at another university in Delhi.

It Started with Henna Leaves

I went to my backyard to pick henna leaves (I use them as a conditioner for my hair more than on my hands). The sun is getting hotter day by day and I was standing still for a while, soaking it in. Then I ran for my camera (the smaller one, as I thought it would be faster to operate).

Henna Shrub

I was running for the camera because there were a lot of black bees real big ones and I had to take a picture! Sounds simple, isn't it? They were sitting quite low till I didn't had the camera.

Flowering Beans

And when I got back with the camera, first the 'battery exhausted' sign came. So, had to run inside to change the batteries. In the meanwhile all the black bees decided to hang on the top of the branches and remain there till eternity.

Now both my cameras don't have good zoom. So there I was standing in the sun waiting patiently for the bees to climb down, so I could take a could picture. At first, I did this patiently.

Then I started to fret and fume. Then I decided to try the zoom anyway and I managed to click at least 10 pictures where the bee managed to vanish out of the frame just at the moment I decided to press the click button. One such picture is shown at the top of this section.

Beans from the Backyard

Then I decided that there were a lot of beans hanging low and I would pick them first. Then I decided that I will forget about a good picture and try to get a black bee in the frame anyway. They kept buzzing loudly all the while on the top branches out of the range of my camera's zoom.

Black Bea on Flowering Beans

So after half an hour I managed to get on black bee in the frame. Moral of the story is to buy a good zoom lens for my SLR and click those bees sitting on the top branches from distance by zooming in within five minutes. Or so I hope.

Them Doggies Again and a Few Cows as a Bonus

Cow with Big Horns

Today evening when I was coming home, I stopped on the way to pay my phone bill (I still don't pay it online but that is another story). It took me a while to pay it in person. Still, I decided to buy some Sweets (Jalebi, there goes my watching weight again) and Samosa to take home.

It is a typical corner street sweet shop with a lot of people standing there and eating stuff. Suddenly I heard a girl shrieking at the top of her voice. I turned around and saw a dog with collar around that girl, she was eating a rasmalai along with a young lad. Both of them came near where I was standing.

That got me a little worried. If the dog would have followed them, it would have been my turn to skriek as I am equally scared of them doggies. Luckly the dog decided to sit exactly at the same spot and I started to hurry along. Suddenly two stray dogs moved in our directions and the young girl started running ahead and shrieking at the top of her voice once again.

Then the unthinkable happened. The girl was so miserable (and the guy not to be seen around amid this chaos) that I held her hand and told her nothing would happen, and that she should clam down. I added, "I understand, I am equally afraid of the dogs." That caught her attention and she stood still. Then I asked, "where is your friend?" She was still incoherent. So, I asked her if I could drop her somewhere. That is when she regained her senses and said she was fine and smiled.

I moved on. And then nearby I saw the cow (see the picture above) with the big horns! I often meet such cows when I am driving. But today I was on foot and had the Nikon Coolpix in my handbag (it was too dark to take a decent picture with my mobile). So as a bonus, I clicked the cows and came back home quite happy. I mean it has never happened before that I consoled someone because she was scared of dogs!

Dahlias in Bloom

I was taking stroll on Sunday and took my camera specifically to click these Dahlias. The days are becoming warmer an flowers are already in bloom. Though the nights are still cold and I don't like it one bit! Looks like I may go down with cold due to this weather change.

So I will leave you just with the Dahlias today. Occasionally even I am speechless!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Vegetable and Fruit Stalls, Chamba

Oranges,and Lemons- On Vacation I click Pictures rather than Haggle for Price, where I Always Loose to the Vendor

Pictures from Coorg

Club Mahindra, Coorg

I am back to the 'death by grading' routine again. In the meanwhile, here are some of the pictures from Club Mahindra sponsored Coorg trip for bloggers.

Malls Malls Everywhere Not a Library to be Seen!

The Sahara Mall in Gurgaon

The Mall Culture is comparatively new in India. When I was in college there were no malls in most of the cities. Today, the big ones boast of one too many. On a 2 km stretch of a road in Gurgaon (quite close to New Delhi) you can count four malls. One of them, the Sahara Mall is pictured above. There is the Metropolitan Mall (with a multiplex movie theater called PVR), the City Center Mall (that has a multiplex called DT) right across the Metropolitan and a place called Arcus. The funny part is there is no passenger subway or over bridge between the Metropolitan and the City Center malls and pedestrians always have fight with the motorized vehicles to cross the road.

A Bangle Shop in a Mall, Gurgaon

Initially, these malls held some attraction for me. I used to enjoy the visits. They are colorful and a good distraction but now it seems that was at least a century ago!

Mangal Pandey: The Rising- Recently Released Movie

I still like going to the movie sometimes in these malls but on a weekend they get so horribly crowded that all the fun it taken away from the visit. On the weekdays, one has to always weigh the option having fun/sleeping late with feeling sleepy throughout the day in the office.

All Gloss, Gurgaon Malls

But otherwise, I have completely lost interest in these places. Why? I find the stuff sold there so overpriced and the hype generated around them huge (I realized this and much more through an excellent book called No Logo by Naomi Klein).

When I realized that more than half the product price inflation comes from advertising and not production costs (Kareena Kapoors and Shahruk Khans and Michael Jordans of the world get million bucks deal and you and I pay for it) I decided to move my shopping to less glamorous places. I also find the glossy images very boring after a while particularly in conjunction with the girt and grime of my daily life.

Still, malls are here to stay in India. In the same Gurgaon, you cannot find a decent playground or public library. But I guess it is a matter of demand and supply.

Manali (Himanchal Pradesh): Beautiful but Crowd and Litter Everywhere!

Manali

Manali is a picturesque small town in the Kullu Valley, in the Indian state of Himanchal Pradesh. It attracts a lot of Indian and foreign tourists, particularly in the summer months. I visited Manali in June 2005 because it is on the way to Ladakh. When rest of the India is buckling under heat wave, Manali is cool and pleasant and therein lays its charm.

There is a rail link from Delhi to a place called Jogindernagar and after that, one has to travel 92 km by bus to reach Manali. We tried this in the year 2002, while trying to reach Bhunter. The train runs on narrow gage. But in summer months, they are horribly crowded and move only by divine intervention. I remember we abandoned the train at Kangra and continued by bus.

By bus, Manali is 16 hours from Delhi. Both government and private operators offer bus services. Government buses are cheap but slightly uncomfortable. Private buses (2X2) are more costly and the seats recline but many of them are in bad shape. Only the Volvo Goldline AC buses look in proper shape but they cost twice the amount of the non AC 2X2 private buses.

The Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa, Manali

Manali is full of hotels of all size and shape. As soon as the bus stops at Manali, brokers of all kind descend upon the travelers. One can take their help to find a hotel or walk in any that strikes your fancy and ask for a room. The places that we stayed at are nothing to write home about.

There are many things to do at Manali but we have sampled only a few. Here are some of the attractions that we visited.

The Hidimba Temple: Hidimba is a character out of the famous epic Mahabharata and there is a temple devoted to her. One can take a taxi to the place but one can as easily walk up there. The way is through pine forest and as you come near the temple, you will find people trying to sell all kind of things. I remember an opportunity to get photographed with a Yak or wear a python around my neck! I declined both. The temple in itself is a curious wood building adorned with animal horns and is worth a visit. Remember you are required to remove your shoes to visit Hindu temples.

The Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa: Situated right in the middle of the city is this peaceful Buddhist architecture. It has the ‘wheels of life’ all around it and beautiful paintings and statue of Lord Buddha inside. One can voluntarily donate some money (even small amounts as Rupees 5 are welcome) that is used for maintaining the Gompa. I enjoyed this serene and beautiful place.

The Mall Road, Manali

The main market in Manali is situated along The Mall Road. It gets crowded in the evenings in the summer months. One can buy shawls, Kullu caps, shirts or other stuff in this area. I found that prices here are lower than Ladakh. There are many eating joints along this road and one can try these places. Many hotels are also on this road. The busiest part of the town where one can take a stroll but it will not be leisurely. It could be more enjoyable in the off-season months.

Paragliding, river rafting, trekking routes and many other things can be tried in Manali but I have no personal experience of it.

The Rohtang Pass

The Rohtang Pass (a little more than 50 km from Manali) lies on the way to Leh. When we had started for Leh at 2 am and when we reached there an hour later, the place was bewitching. As far as the eye could see, there was snow and silence. I passed through it again while coming back from Leh. This time it was 11.00 am in the morning and as far as the eye could see there were vehicles parked all over the place and temporary tents selling food have sprung up everywhere.

Apples in Field, Manali

What I do not like about Manali: The place is too crowded for words in the summer months and it makes it impossible to do anything leisurely.

The second thing that completely put me off Manali is the amount of litter strewn everywhere. For this I have to blame us only, the Indian tourists. We Indians take a lot of pride in keeping our houses spotlessly clean but when it comes to streets, we litter with glee. How many times you will see people sitting in a swank car eating potato chips. A little while later the empty packet of chips will be thrown in the beautiful surroundings without a thought. Imagine what will happen to a place that attracts throngs of people? It becomes dirty like anything and yet people will keep on throwing things without a thought. This was the biggest put off for me in Manali.

Those who are trying to go on trekking routes from Manali have to visit it. So, do the people who want to go to beautiful Leh or Lahul and Spiti. There is no avoiding Manali for them. And they will have to go in season only as the routes to other places are open only during those months.

Rajaji National Park: An Excellent Weekend Getaway from New Delhi

Hut Style Accomodation at Rajaji National park

Rajaji National Park is a wild life reserve in Uttaranchal, India. It falls in the lower Shivalik regions of the Himalayas. It is a peaceful and a quick getaway from the capital of India, New Delhi.

We traveled from Delhi to Haridwar in February this year . The name Haridwar will translate roughly as ‘the gate of gods’. We took a night train from Old Delhi Railway Station and reached early in the morning. From Haridwar, the Chilla gate of Rajaji National Park is just 9 km away. But at 5.30 in the morning we could find no buses to the park. The private taxi operators were asking for a lot of money. Then, there is a vehicle called ‘Tempo’ that is a four-wheeler, runs on diesel, makes a lot of noise and moves slowly. We decided to hire it. Later, we discovered that buses run from Haridwar to the park but start only after 9.00 in the morning.

It was an early February morning, and it was chilly on the way. We had to pay Rs. 70 as entrée fee for the vehicle to the park. The Tempo dropped us near a market place and from there we walked for 1 km on foot. The details of various fees to be paid can be tracked from the GMVN Website http://www.gmvnl.com/rajaji_nationalpark.html

We were under the impression that there were many options to choose for lodging at the park. But that is true of the Haridwar city only. At Rajaji National Park, there is only one tourist guesthouse run by a Government Agency, GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam). Though we traveled without any prior booking, during school or public holidays in India, it is better to book an accommodation beforehand. We inquired at the reception about availability of rooms. We were greeted nicely and asked to sit. Then the manager informed us that there are only ‘hut’ style rooms available and the rest are taken. We gladly took the offer. The manager offered us tea, saying we must be cold after traveling so early in the morning. I must say that was very thoughtful of him and contrary to how most of the government accommodations are run in India.

Ganga Canal flows through Rajaji National Park

The wild life sanctuary is spread in 820 sq Kms. It is open from 15th November to 15th June and is closed during the rainy season. After the tea, as we were walking toward our hut, we found the grounds of the guest house very well kept and full of seasonal flowers in bloom. A lot of birds were chirping in the tress and generally, there was an air of peace and quiet (disturbed occasionally by loud music systems in cars and people partying in the lawns of the property). In front of us at a little distance the Ganga Canal was flowing. After having breakfast, we decided to catch up on all the lost sleep due to traveling. We woke up in the afternoon and after lunch; we decided to go to the park.

A View from the Park

There are two options for traveling in the park, one, to take a jeep ride and second, to take an elephant ride. Of course, we were interested in the elephant ride. But the person handling the elephant was away for some errand to the city. So, we had to settle for a jeep ride. Again, fee is to be paid to enter the park. We got an uncovered jeep and both my husband and I were standing at the back hanging on to the rails so as to not to lose balance. Very close to the entrance itself, we saw two elephants. As our journey progressed, we witnessed many deer, peacocks and wild boars. In terms of large animals, we did not see much and our driver said February was not such a good month for animal spotting. According to him, summer is much better season.

A Deer Stops in the Tracks

But the two-hour drive through the forest itself was exhilarating. I remember on the ride initially, I was continuously trying to tie my hair as it was coming unstuck from my ponytail. But later, I just let it loose and my fondest memory is of the wind playing on it for hours as I was busy taking photographs (many of which did not turn out well) and not thinking about anything much but living only the moment.

Shopping in Leh, India

Trying out a Ladakhi Dress

When I visited Leh in June, 2005 the primary reason was to trek. It could not be as I developed a bad stomach after a few days. We suddenly found a lot of time to spend in the city, and it was not in our original plan.

The markets in Leh are colorful and I often found myself gawking at various display windows or roadside stalls. The problem was, we had made no plans for any significant shopping so we had no proper budget for it. The above photo is of my husband trying to go local!

Jwellery at the Roadside, Leh

The thing that fascinated me most was the display of jewelry at the roadside stalls. As a rule I hardly wear any, apart from earrings, but I found the designs and colors so beautiful that I ended up buying two pendants and a pair of earrings. I also had a chat will the ladies selling the jewelry. I feel the prices in Leh are a bit high if you earn in Indian rupees as, they decide it by the value of dollar. If a thing is priced at Rupees 500, it is actually less than $ 10, and this pricing makes sense as there are so many foreign tourist in Leh.

Moti Market, Leh

I guess the local Moti Market beats the Main Market Leh hollow in terms of colorfulness. The above photograph was taken there. My husband bought a second hand ‘down’ jacket from here, which we hope to use in our next trek.

The other thing I fell in love with is T-shirts. Without a prior budget allocation I managed to buy four. I am wearing one right now. It is green in color and has two Lamas saluting each-other, depicted on it. My nephews have one where two skeletons are dancing together. I got one for my brother-in-law Amrit that has a dragon on it. My husband has one with the slogan 'Yak Yak Yak Yak Ladakh' with lot of Yak faces on it. For my sis Alka I got a shawl. All this shopping was done in main market Leh. Prices vary from shop to shop, so do not rush into buying.

A Shop Display at the Fort Road, Leh

The above photograph is taken on the Fort Road, in Leh. The most beautiful and eye catching displays in Leh are the curious. The antique pieces look so fascinating and just waiting to be picked. However, on inquiring about their prices, I found them expensive.

On the Way to Rohtang Pass: Traffic Jam

A traffic jam near Rohtang Pass, Manali, India

I passed through the Rohtang pass (a little more than 50 km from Manali) on my way to Leh. We had started at 2 am from Manali and when we reached the Rohtang Pass, an hour or two later, the place was bewitching. As far as the eye could see, there was snow and silence. A narrow road passed through it and I thought I would like to visit it on its own.

I passed through it again while coming back from Leh. This time it was 11.00 am in the morning and I could not recognize the place. As far as the eye could see there were vehicles parked all over the place and temporary tents selling food have sprung up everywhere. The Pass was crowded and as we Indians litter like maniacs, the place was beyond recognition. The views in the distance were still as beautiful but I am not sure that I will enjoy it much.

P.S. I have a new member in my family, a little niece who came on this earth on July 30, 2005. I will be catching up with the internet world as soon as possible.

Save Tibet: A Banner in Leh

Save Tibet Banner at Tibetan Market, Leh

I have to confess I do not know much about the situation in Tibet. I know things are not right and many people, including his Holiness the Dalai Lama, are living in India. When I went to Ladakh this summer, I met people from Tibet, heard about them, interacted with them and bought a few souvenirs from them. I thought I will post this photograph of a banner outside a makeshift Tibetan market in Leh today.

The little that could gather from talking with people, it seems Ladakhi people are fine with Tibetans and they live in harmony. I had a long chat with one young girl, sitting on the steps of a Stupa in the main market, Leh. She felt that Tibet itself was to be blamed to a certain extent for the position it has landed in, because it followed a policy of isolation at one point of time and when it got occupied by China, nobody noticed. I have no clue how things have come to the present impasse. She told me that she was born in India and has never been to Tibet but if possible, she would like to go there one day. Her brother was doing graduation on scholarship in London.

Many of you would know much more about Tibet, maybe you can share it on this space too.

I also wanted to share with you all that a small mention of my blog was on the Guardian today, have a look.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1537030,00.html

Ladakhi Ladies and a Guest in the Main Market, Leh

In the Main Market, Leh, India

I was quite fascinated by this group of ladies selling vegetables in the main market. I wanted to photograph them but my husband kept protesting, lets go and eat first, take it later, they will say no and like that. I walked a short distance ahead and then turned back, not being able to resist it any more. I went close to them and asked in Hindi, 'Can I take your photograph?' The lady in the blue jacket (third from the right) was quite brusque and told me no. I was somewhat taken aback. I started walking back to where my husband was standing.

As I took a few steps she called me back and asked if I was interested in taking her photo alone or I would take of the entire group? I told her I was interesting in clicking the entire group. To my delight she said, then it was no problem. Now the Main Market, Leh is a tourist magnet. Some other people could sense an opportunity but being from other countries they did not had my Hindi advantage. A couple of them asked me if they too could take a photograph? I asked the ladies and they said it is OK. One of the guests quickly sat with them and all of us were merrily taking pictures.

At another occasion I met a very interesting group of old ladies at the steps of a Stupa, while a prayer service was going inside. I asked them if I could take their photograph and they said no, and the answer remained no till the end. Well, I guess I cannot win them all.

Useless Wali: Now What Was That?

Useless Wali- A Shop in the Main Market, Leh, India

Roaming in the main market in Leh, the capital of Ladakh we spotted this curious signboard on the shop selling souvenirs. We were quite amused and decided to take a photograph. I have not figured out till date what 'Useless Wali,' and that too Regd, means. The curious thing was, we saw the same sign 'Useless Wali' on another shop too. Maybe 'Wali' means 'road' in Ladakhi? I am not sure. Even if, 'Wali' means road, why Useless? I wonder if anyone who has been to Ladakh has a better clue.

I have a few other such photographs and will post them here later. I somehow feel such signs rather than being odd, added to the charm and mystique of the place.

Monks with a Cellpone!

Monks with a Cell Phone In Ladakh

Seesh! Never in my wildest dreams I imagined that my blog would get featured on the BBC. If you are as clueless as I was a little while ago, have a look at

This!

The two people who introduced me to blogs are my sis Alka and her husband, my dear brother-in-law, Amrit. My many thanks to them for introducing me to this wonderful world and being gentle with me when I wrote something, deleted it and again created a new website. They stood by it all.

Alka's Blog

Amrit's Blog

Now, let me go on with my travel tales. When I went to Ladakh I wanted to take photographs of people there. I often go to a very impressive website appropriately called 'GoNOMAD.'

GoNOMAD's Website

There I read an article about how to go about taking photographs of people in the regions we visit. It had a basic but a very good idea (I am sure it had much more, but this is what impressed me most) that one should ask for permission from people before taking their pictures. I followed this advice with all my heart and found that many people agreed to get photographed in Ladakh.

The first time I tried it and was given permission was the photo above. It may not be very clear but the gentleman at the rightmost corner is holding a cell phone. I was impressed. I met the group on my way on foot, to the Leh palace and the stupa, situated right in the heart of the city. We had an interesting conversation when I asked them if I could take their photograph. The monk with the cell phone said, "But why do you want to photograph us, boring people?" I pleaded, "Please let me, please." He then told me, "OK, whatever makes you happy. If that is what that makes you happy, you should go back to your place happy." I thanked them again and again.

The People of Ladakh: Toni and my Husband pose for me

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

What I enjoyed most in Ladakh was the conversations with the locals, when it happened. My husband was buying a second hand 'down' jacket. He asked the shopkeeper, "Mein kaise maan lun ki ye down hai?" (How do I believe you it is actually down). The shopkeeper's reply still rings in my ears. He said, "Mere paas kuch he aur din hai fir upar jana hai, mein aapko dokha kyon dunga?" (I have only a few days left here then I have to go from this world, why I will cheat you). Can't remember when I heard such a conversation in my daily life!

The name of our young driver on the trip from Leh to the Pangong Lake was a Toni (In the picture above, with goggles). He has a colorful personality and he drove the jeep like a rally driver. I wonder why nobody things of training these chaps for F1, no seriously. But behind the colorful personality is an extremely composed mind.

He was telling me he takes the jeep from Leh to Manali and they have to come back empty, because from there Himanchal Pradesh drivers come full (and they go back empty from Leh). So I asked him why doesn't he gets some passengers and take the money, on the way back (tourists know that JK number vehicles will take them for less if they are somehow approached). He said, "Jeep wala naa bhi dekhe tou kya, uparwala tou dekhta hai" (Even though the jeep owner may not know, but the One sitting above can see). I was completely taken aback.

Now that I am back to my usual grind, I thought I should write this down, before I forget.

The Road Less Traveled: Manali-Leh Highway

Manali Leh Highway

If you are traveling to Leh by road it may turn out to be much more than you bargained for. For me it led to philosophical ponderings about my existence or the continuation of it!

One can reach Ladakh (Ladakh is in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but not a troubled region) either by air or by road. We decided to travel by road. There are two ways to reach Ladakh by road. One is the Srinagar-Leh highway and the other Manali-Leh highway. We decided to go by the Manali-Leh highway, as Manali is closer to New Delhi.

Delhi to Manali
From New Delhi, Manali is a 16-hour bus journey, which left us really tired. The 2X2 luxury buss was not so luxurious and various lumps in a seat that would not recline properly haunted me. Then we stayed for two days in Manali.

Manali to Leh
From Manali to Leh is 450 km, which we covered by jeep in a single day. One can book an entire jeep but it is costly (Rupees 10,000 upwards, or one can buy a seat which works out much cheaper at Rupees 1100 but cramped).

I developed a new respect for the humble Tata Sumo jeep through this journey. They ply in highest numbers on this route. It is meant to take 3 people in the middle row, two in front and four in the back. The taxi operators take two to three in the front, four in the middle and four in the back. The journey begins at 2 am and ends at 8 pm, making it 18 hours in a row and this is what we did. It is extremely tiring and a very foolish way to travel from Manali to Leh. The journey was uncomfortable because we were seated four on a seat meant for three and both my husband and I have motion sickness. We take medicine for it and though it keeps nausea at bay, it leaves us very sleepy and gorgy. However, the scenery on the way is spectacular and not to be missed for anything. We arrived in Leh dead tried, found a hotel, dumped our luggage and started looking for a restaurant to eat.

Is there a better way?
There is a better way to travel by road and that is to break the journey into two days and take a night halt on the way. Government buses (which are much cheaper than the jeep, at Rupees 525 this season) ply on the route and this is what we did on our return journey. But we found that the buses move much more slowly and they take too much time to reach the night halt and the total time spent increases a lot. So, we concluded that if one has to reach Ladakh by road one has to pay the price in terms of being very tired, even turning philosophical. With hindsight, probably the best way to travel to Ladakh is to go by road only one way and take the flight the other way round, if possible.

But I have to say it was one road trip, which I will remember and brag about shamelessly. After all traveling from Manali to Leh by road is not for the fainthearted.

The Changla Pass, Ladakh, at 17, 800 feet.

Changla Pass, Ladakh- We could barely breathe at this altitude!

In order to visit The Pangong Lake, one has to cross the second highest motorable road in the world at 17, 800 feet. The experience is amazing, most of the time you are gasping for breath. Breathtaking views all around.

A View of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, India

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

The Pangong lake is 150 km away from Leh. One has to hire a taxi (preferably shared, as it reduces the cost) for this journey. One the way one crosses the mighty Changla pass, the second highest motor able road in the world at 17800 feet. The lake forms a border between India and China. One third of the lake is in India and the rest in China.

I can only wonder how the other lake in Ladakh , Tso Mo Ri Ri would be like? I could not visit it but I will go back someday.

Monks monks Everywhere: In the Middle of the Main Market, Leh, india

Monks Monks Everywhere, Leh, Ladakh

This was our last day in Ladakh. My husband had to buy something from the local market called Moti Market. I was too tried. I sat on the steps opposite this monastery with other Tibetan people. I was reading a book and inside a prayer meeting was going on. The place was vibrating with chants. A mess was set up and they were cooking something delicious inside. Soon, something was being served. I was asked if I would like to have some of the liquid. I said yes and started drinking the white looking stuff and it was like nothing I ever tasted before. Soon, a young girl asked if I would care for a refill? I agreed and she started chatting with me. She is a Tibetan and has studied Library Science at Pune. She would like to work in a school at Leh. I asked her what the drink was and she told me it was Tibetan tea, made of butter and special tea leaves. Enjoyable, is what I have to say.

Pang, Ladakh

Food Tents at Pang, Ladakh

Pang food tents, on the way from Manali to Ladakh. After 300 km of jeep ride, we definitely were hungry but there were 150 km to go after this spot to reach Ladakh finally.

Sunset: Ladakh

This is Ladakh!

GMVN Guesthouse at Rajaji National Park, Haridwar, India

Hut style GMVN accomodation at Rajaji National Park

Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh, India

Near Ganda-La, Ladakh (Photo uploaded in Augutst 2009)

I will be doing the Markha Valley trek in Ladakh (India) this June. I was searching google to see what others have to say about it. From the number of travel tour operaters offering the Markha Valley trek it seems half the world would be doing it. I hope it is not going to get crowded even there. But, maybe I am getting worried needlessly. Crowd in Delhi is one thing and it should mean something else altogether in Ladakh. At least that is what I hope for.

The idea of the trek, for us, is to escape the crowd which we find in plenty almost everywhere in India. I am a bit worried about high altitude sickness though. Still, the thought of sleeping in a tent again and living right in the middle of nature's splender for atleast fifteen days does manage to sooth my worry ridden mind. But the question is for how long after coming back from Markha and Ladakh? I hope for a long long time, till I find more peaceful employment. Boy! if you have stayed in a bad job you will probably understand what I mean.