I Wish I had the Point and Shoot with me Today

A Lion for you, Truck Art, Gurgaon, India

Wish I had the point and shoot with me today, the mobile pictures are quite hazy.

Ayurvedic Davakhana- A Very Common Roadside Site

Naya Jeevan Ayurvedic Davakhana- New Life Ayurvedic Medicine

I have often been quite curious about the road side medicine shops. I wonder what type of medicine they practice. And of course at another level it is quite sad that this could be a place to dispense medicine.

Jaipur Foot

A Man with the Jaipur Foot, New Delhi Railway Station

I saw his man walking with a Jaipur Foot in hand and with a water bottle inside it. I wondered if I should click a picture but then decided why not. His leg that is not visible in the picture was a Jaipur foot too.

I liked his spirit. For me it was quite strange to watch a foot being carried in a hand but for him it must be a useful and familiar extension of the body, so much so that he can keep a water bottle inside it!

I wish I could take better pictures with my cell phone but for know this has to do.

Dusshera Images

A Toy Stall outside a Dusshera Pandal

This Tempo (Auto) Full of Toys must be Heading to a Dusshera Pandal

Goddess Durga, Dusshera Celebrations

Open for Business!

Open for Business- Waiting for Customers and Catching up on Sleep, Gurgaon

Operation Cover Up!

Covered Faces to Fight Pollution, Gurgaon

Innovation in Seating Arrangements on a Tractor

A Seat Above the Wheel on a Tractor in Gurgaon!

Needless to say my jaws dropped in amazement.

Walking Away from Nariyal ke Laddu

Nariyal ke Laddu

I have a huge sweet tooth and I also care that I do not gain too much weight. With tabel Tennis gone out of the schedule, I am scared to eat too much sweetsh. So when at lunch I saw this white looking stuff, thinking it is the normal Rasgulla, I took just one out of the heap.

After a bite I realized it was a coconut (nariyal in Hindi) sweetdish, something that I relish a lot. It was very difficult to refrain from taking a second one (see calorie chart for a similar dish called Nariyal ki barfi, and this is an unusual link, I do not count calories generally) but I did. I knew I would be haunted by the thought of the second one, so I decided that I would take a picture instead! That helped.

Another One from the Road- Loaded Cycle

Bicycle Loaded with Foodstuff, Gurgaon

Clicked this one on my morning commute. Earlier I used to drive for 15-20 minutes to work, so never thought of it as a photo opportunity. Now I spend a lot of time on the road hence this flood of pictures!

Tata Truck Art

Will the Tata Sons object to use of the word tata on this truck too?

And the trucks always have 'horn please' on their back! I have to find one which doesn't believe in the honking philosophy.

It has been Raining Trucks and Truck Art

Both the trucks had very similar design. And both of them have honking as their theme. One says 'Blow Horn' and the other Horn Please.

Blow Horn!

On the first truck it says 'Hari Om' (a religious Hindu chanting) and then maa ka ashirvad (mother's blessings). Between the wheels there is a small plate says ladli (pet).

Use Dipper at Night!

This one says 'use dipper at night,' though I don't know why. Another peculiar Indian driving habit is to drive on full beam at night. The roads that are pitch dark I can understand the need of the full beam but then we hardly dip it even on well lit roads. The lower plate on this one says 'buri nazar wale tera muh kala!' A difficult phrase for me to translate. I had a look at google and it has been translated as 'Back off or smoke in your face.'

Now that I am forced to spend so much more time on the road what to do but to write about trucks. Let us see when I get bored out of it.

Even More Truck Art

Once Again- 'Horn Please' in Hindi

After looking at the pictures I keep clicking of the trucks I think I should start carrying my ancient Nikon 3200 in my purse once again. The resolution of the mobile phone is too low at 2 megapixels.

The number of the pictures on the road have gone up because for part of the way I have started traveling with a colleague.

And what else but to have a cow and a calf depicted at the back of the truck along with the ubiquitous 'horn please.'

Horse Power!

Horses in Front of my Car on the Gurgaon Roads

I mean I am used to cows on the road but while I was coming back today from work I had horses in front of my car! The horses were standing towards the other side initially of the narrow road and I thought I would pass. But they changed their mind, moved and squarely blocked my car. Now that I was stationary I thought I might as well use the cell phone to take a picture!

The vehicle behind me started honking and when I glanced in my rear view mirror the Toyota Qualis driver gestured that if I moved ahead the horses would move out. I was not willing to try that strategy. After pausing for a few more seconds the horses on their own decided to move. Now that they had been photographed they saw no point in blocking my way!

Heavily Loaded Tractor- Gurgaon

Lost in the Load- An Overloaded Tractor in Gurgaon

Rocksea left a comment on my previous post- seems you have a collection of pics on heavily loaded vehicles.

So, I thought why not whip out another one! This kind of tractors are quite a common site and they carry husk most of the time. I was quite mystified by the ladder at the back but then there is a person at the top too! So maybe he needed the ladder to climb up.

More Pictures from the Road

Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway

I was focusing on the aircraft (and I was not driving) on the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway and this Motorcyclist came in the frame too! Theoretically motorcycles are not allowed on this expressway!

More Truck Art, Gurgaon

Saw something similar before, but I think that was a different truck. Couldn't get close to this one and no once again I was not driving.

Overloaded Again, A Moped this Time, Noida

Another Person who Likes the Camera in the Family

Vasu (my niece) with the Camera

She clicked about 20 pictures from the carpet in the room to her portrait by turning the camera on her own! Maybe this one will become a pro!

What an Overload- Motorcycle in Gurgaon!

Overloaded Motorcycle in Gurgaon

The stuff that the motorcycle was carrying was quite colorful. I have seen them quite a few number of times, so maybe there will be a next time. I wish I could take a better picture but mobile phone upgrade is not due for many years! Anyone who is happy with their mobile phone camera?

Colorful Truck Art

Colorful Truck Art

This truck again asks us to 'horn please.' The art on this one is quite colorful and instantly caught my eye. The Hindi line says, "Think really hard what would you take away when you leave this world." What do you say to that?

I liked the colors on the back so much that I deliberately followed it up to the red light so that I could click a picture. I would have been very disappointed if the light was already green, because then the truck would not have stopped and I would have not been able to click the picture. I have to admit that it was one of the rare occasions when I decided to crawl behind a slow moving vehicle but then it was so colorful that I had to take a picture.

Gurgaon as seen though my Cell Phone!

Construction Workers Crossing the Road in a Group, Gurgaon

Truck Art- 'Ambulance' on the back of the Truck, A case of confused identity?

Going home, however they can!

VS and Sanfroid there is a little bit of Green in Gurgaon for the Goats

Lazy Sunday Photo- Gurgaon Roads

Overloaded Tractor

What are they Holding to?

Goats on the Road, Gurgaon

London Train Announcements

London Train Announcements

I unfortunately misplaced my 'mind the gap' file while I was moving it on my cell phone (Nokia 6275) so that I could copy it to the computer. Here is something that remains in another audio file but as I said, unfortunately, no mind the gap. Maybe if I go to London ever again I will make sure to get a good recording and save it safely.

As usual for visuals I am rotating some pictures.

What a Ride!

Cycle on a Road Roller, Gurgaon

This road roller was inching ahead of me on my morning commute to work today. While both of us were waiting to take a turn I clicked the picture with my mobile phone. And just a few days back I was thinking maybe I really did not need a camera in my mobile, I hardly click any pictures!

Tintin in Tibet

Tintin in Tibet Bags for Sale in Mcleod Ganj

Mcleod Ganj streets are full of souvenirs and colorful ones at that. What I drool most at are the earrings of all size and shapes (that is one piece of jewellery I use almost on a daily basis) but then I am content with just taking pictures.

What invariably happens is that I ask the price and they quote some high figure and then I run away. I am extremely bad at bargaining. Sometimes the ladies at stall call my retreating back, "What will you pay?" I still keep running away.

For this bag, I didn't even ask the price and anyway apart from a holiday where is the scope to use this in the daily routine? In fact this time after coming back from the trek I called brat 2 (my younger nephew) from McLeod ganj and asked if he wanted something? He immediately said, "get me a T-shirt," and I did. Otherwise as soon as I enter the house he still asks me, "What have you got for me?"

When I asked the shop owner how much for a T-shirt that I liked he said 175 rupees. I paid, then he returned 25 rupees and said, "We say 175 but we give for 150." I got that discount even without asking for it. I am that bad at barging and the shopkeeper was that kind. But it happens only in the mountains.

PS. Brat 1 (my elder nephew) is right now at Prashar Lake and he went alone!

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.

Another Kind of Twitter- The Birds Twittering

Birds Twittering at the Lodhi Garden.

I too twitter but the sound that the birds make is much more pleasing. We went to the Lodhi Gardens one evening quite unplanned (actually we stopped and decided to spend the surplus time waiting for a train there rather than at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station) and I was rewarded with this recording. The amount of noise these birds make! It sounds good in the evenings but sometimes when they go off like this early in the morning and wake me up, I feel anything but pleased.

Indian Railway Train Announcements

Train Announcements Recorded on a Trip from New Delhi to Agra, We Went to Agra to See the Taj Mahal (again) Of Course!

I had recorded 'mind the gap' on Delhi Metro a few weeks ago and I shared it on India Mike. steven_ber (resident Indian railway expert on Indiamike) suggested me to record the various train announcements on an Indian railway platform! So, here I am, sharing the recordings, wait till the end for 'asuvidha ke liye khed hai' (the inconvenience caused is deeply regretted). Enjoy.

Painting at Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, Agra

Painting on the Walls of Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, Agra

Came back from Agra yesterday night. At my sister's place today so can't load pictures from my SLR here. I am quite excited about the pictures, after all I managed to be around Taj Mahal at sunset twice.

I had read about Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb at Indiamike. This time we landed up there and it is a beautiful monument. I just can't wait to see the pictures from the bigger camera. We could not manage Fateh Pur Sikri though, next time maybe.

Happy Holi!

Wish You All a Very Happy Holi

Central Park, Connaught Place (CP), New Delhi

We wanted to visit Daryaganj Book Market last Sunday. Once there, we were told that the book market didn't happen because ex-President of Pakistan visited the place in the morning (this is pure hearsay I have no idea if it is true or not). Whatever may be the reason, the book sellers were not there for sure. So, we headed to Connaught Place instead. On a whim we decided to go inside the Central Park. The entrance is free. I was also carrying my SLR (inside my shoulder bag) and they did make a hue and cry that cameras are not allowed but then let me go anyway. I wonder why they do not wish to allow cameras (this is also not stated anywhere near the park) and unless they ban cell phones too what is the use of such a policy?

The Open Air Amphitheater at the Central Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi

It must have been a litlte past five in the evening and the park was reasonably crowded but not near the amphitheatre. We were quite intreguied with the happenings there. There was a small crowd and the lone gentleman on stage talking about random things (at least to me). Then another person requested to get onstage and talked about politics a bit. Then a bunch of students went up and tried their usual song stuff. By this time we decided to move on.

The LIC Building at Dusk from Central Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi

I liked the idea of the open air theatre and people spontaneously going on stage to do something. And the crowd was quite decent too, apart from one group of students who were, well behaving like students you see in Indian ads. But even they were within limits.

I was scared to take out my SLR because of the goofup at the entrance so many of the pictures are from my mobile. I wish I would get out within Delhi more. We plan to go to Daryaganj sometime later in the month.

Mind the Gap, Not London Underground but on Delhi Metro this Time

Mind the Gap, Delhi Metro

I first became aware of the phrase 'mind the gap' when I used the London Underground in 2007. Soon after, I realized that Delhi Metro also has its own version of mind the gap. But it was finally yesterday that I managed to record the Delhi Metro 'mind the gap.' So here is the mind the gap video for you. The lady says 'mind the gap' towards the end of the video and she has such a good voice. I wish my recording equipment was as good. So please mind the gap!

Mall Ratting!

We went to one of the numerous Gurgaon Malls to watch Slumdog Millionaire (quite a watchable movie), so what else can I share but Mall pictures! These are taken with my camera phones. This is one of the less crowded Gurgaon Malls on the weekdays hence I could easily click pictures without people in it!

Lines and Shpes, Gurgaon Mall

While I was growing up, malls were not at all a significant phenomenon in India. The first time I saw a mall of any significant size was in 1999 when I went to Singapore. And I have to admit I rarely go to a mall and do not really like visiting them. And in Gurgaon, some of them get jam packed on a weekend. We try to avoid them like anything.

Lines on the Ground- Gurgaon Mall

When my two young nephews started living with us I was a little worried if they would become mall rats, after all they were in their teens and that is where they might have decided to hang out. I am very happy to report that they spend more time on Football and Basketball fields rather than at any mall!

So why am I talking about it here? Well, what else do I talk about if all I can manage is a visit to the mall? I know there is another alternative but let some of you suggest it :D

Bye Bye Bangalore- Some More Images from the Vegetable Mart and Market

I would be leaving for Gurgaon today later in the evening. It was quite a pleasant stay at Bangalore and a fabulous trip to Surathkal Beach.

I am so glad I managed to meet Lakshmi and Nilesh. I have many more friends from college days in Bangalore and next time I will surely try to catch up with them too.

Red dried Chillies at the Corner Shop

Bottle Gourds, All Stacked at 'Smart' Departmental Store


Musk Mellon and Mellon at the Departmental Store

Chillies and Parwal at the Departmental Store

I am quite amazed at the pictures I have clicked at Bangalore. I see the same things at Gurgaon too but I am so caught up in my day to day life that they just do not seem to attract any attention!

I think I would be heading out in January itself again! Now that is another pleasant thought.

Surathkal Beach- The Last Day of 2008

I cribbed throughout the year in 2008 that I hardly got to travel. Well, at least 31 December 2008 was well spent at the Surathkal Beach near Mangalore. The last time I was near sea was in 2003. Never again I will let five years pass without visiting a beach.

Their Backyard- Children at Surathkal Beach

There are many house quite close to the beach and towards the evening these kids started running towards the sea. After a while their mothers dragged them away.

Boats at Surathkal Beach

I love walking on the beach. The advantage of Surathkal Beach is that there was hardly anyone around during the day. The locals start coming only towards the evening and it makes sense too, the sun was quite hot even in December. I walked for two hours before lunch and for two more hours after the lunch. Pure bliss and the best way to end a year.

Some Flowers, Some Shops, Gandhi Bazaar (Market)- Bangalore

Purple Flowers, Gandhi *Bazaar (Market)- Bangalore

As soon as I got down from the auto, I saw these flowers hanging from a shop. An old lady was sitting there and she just let me click the picture in peace. As I can load pictures from my mobile, that is what I used today.

Beetle Nut at a Shop in Gandhi Bazaar (Market), Bangalore

Had to make this picture soft focus because it has not come out really well. So I hope the soft focus is hiding some of the flaws!

Coconut Tree, Bangalore

I for the first time realized that if you look high up towards a coconut tree, you would find the tree having a round symmetrical center! Have you noticed that before?

A Small Corner Shop at Gandhi Bazaar (Market)

There was so much stuff inside the shop, much of it related to worship. Made for a colorful picture for sure.

And while you see these pictures, I am actually in Mangalore, I did this as an auto post.

Have a wonderful 2009, and travel more.

*Added Bazaar for Market after the anonymous comment pointed out that it is known as Gandhi Bazaar only.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Eggs and Egg Crates on a Bicycle

Eggs and Egg Crates on a Bicycle

I was doing some grocery shopping for my sister in Noida. So I bought aalo, tamater, seb, etc. (potatoes, tomatoes, apples) and was walking towards home. The shop is nearby and I deliberately did not take the car. The various vegetables and other stuff weighed around 7-8 kg and the walk is between 700 mts to 1km. The guard at the shop gate was quite sympathetic after looking at my load.

Why do I do this? As I say again and again I love to walk and if I can generate the feeling of a backpack too, then nothing like it! So, I had a bag slung over my left shoulder and another bag in my right hand. My cell phone was in the left pocket of my jeans. When I saw these people loading the eggs and egg crates on this bicycle, I took the cell phone out , switched the camera on and quickly took a picture all with one hand. Now that is why I like to have a camera in the cell phone.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Teddy Bear Hanging High to Dry

Teddy Bear, High and Dry!

My niece's teddy bear after a was caught my eye while it was hanging high in the balcony to dry. She is the typical kid who likes to pay with grown up stuff (read cell phones, handicams, laptops, computers and musical instruments) rather than toys!

Cows on the Road- Morning Commute

Cows on the Road, Gurgaon

I took this picture while driving to work today morning. I often meet cows on my morning commute. But earlier I could not take pictures as I had no camera in my phone. Would love to click a picture from the other direction. Then you can see what huge horns the cows have! And of course, they take their own sweet time to make up their minds which way they wish to go. Honk as you might, they are just not swayed. But as I wrote before, on Indian roads, give me cows any day.

As Seen on a Vehicle- BPO Shaadi (Marriage)

Saw this on a call center cab, how appropriate, BPO Shaadi!* And yes, I typed the website URL and it works! No I did not explore the website in any detail :D

* Shaadi means marriage in Hindi

Cement Mixer Growing Grass

The Cement Mixer has not been moved for such a long time that grass has started growing around it. There is so much construction in Gurgaon. They are constructing everything but the roads.

Sunset along the Railway Tracks- Gurgaon

Sunset along Railway Tracks, Gurgaon

Construction in Gurgaon

Construction in Gurgaon

I have putting my camera phone to use. This is a construction site in Gurgaon. In spite of the Hard Hat sign there were so many people down there without a hat of any kind.

A few days back we were having a discussion on Indiamike that has some relevance here. Haylo, an Indiamike member who works as a highway engineer made the following remark (emphasis mine) in context of cars being driven on the wrong side of the road-

"I have to say that as a highway engineer who is used to working to the constraints of Chapter 8*, the way that highway maintenance is handled in India, and the potential for resultant chaos and worse totally horrifies me. As for the things I've seen on construction sites, don't get me started, I've closed down sites for far less back home! *shudder*

*Chapter 8 of the UK Traffic Signs Manual, a HUGE set of regulations covering every aspect of safety at roadworks. Put it this way, insomnia is never a problem in my house..!"

Another Lazy Sunday Photo- Accessories for a Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Tea, TV Remote, Namkeen and Newspaper for a Lazy Sunday