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.

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

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.

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

The Morning Commute

The Morning Commute for Some at Gurgaon

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

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

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

Friday Flowers- Iris from the Himalayas

Iris Flowers, clicked while trekking around Triund, Himachal Pradesh

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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).

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

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.

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."

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!

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.

Friday is for Flowers-Beautiful White Flowers

White Flowers, Oxford, UK

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

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.

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!

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.

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

A Gift from Hobo

Overcrowded, Somewhere in India- A Gift from Hobo

I open my blog email one day and find this picture give to me as a gift by Hobo. What an apt picture for me. Many thanks Hobo, you are generous.

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.

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.

Pictures from Bundi, Rajasthan

Colors of the Window Pane, Royal Retreat Restaurant, Bundi, Rajasthan

More pictures from Bundi here. It was quite hot there in September but there was one bonus attached with it which I will reveal in the next post. It is good to be able to blog again!

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.

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

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)

Open for Business!

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

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)

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 !

Friday is for Flowers- A Basket of Lilies and Roses

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

The Morning Commute

The Morning Commute, Gurgaon