Bombay to Goa: The Mechanical Bird’s wing side window view

Last week, I had the opportunity of flying from Vadodara to Goa with a stopover in Mumbai.  I got aisle seat in the Vadodara to Mumbai sector, so I used only my eyes to look around.  But I was fortunate enough to have got a window seat during the Mumbai to Goa flight, so the shutterbug in me went berserk. 

The Sun from atop Rail Soudha

It’s been quite a while since I clicked the Sun, esp. the Sunset. Either I’d return home after dark or no one would remind me to carry my camera, which was, for long, an inseparable companion. On the last day of the financial year, I managed to carry it but was seriously doubtful about my ability to click pics given the day. But, the work was over after office hours BUT just in time the sunset. Hope you’ll like the pics…

The Spring Sun shines, rises & sets

Recently, I had the opportunity to find the spring sun shine, rise & set (on different days, of course!). On normal days, He rises before I am up & sets before I realise!

I shot some pics from a fast-moving train, so they aren’t all that good, but then, they help us feel the spring.

I also shot a nice video of the Sun rising from the distant hills, but that’s for another time, when I’ll make my Sun video.

Sunset at Unkal Lake, Hubli

We set out with an ambitious target of covering a lot of places with a three-to-three-hours-and-a-half timeline. We lost ourselves at the Chandramouleeswara temple (Forgotten Maginificence), not before we spotted some sunshine; we realised that we wouldn’t be able to reach Nripatungabetta before dark. I felt bad that my cousin would not get to see a breath taking sunset from the hillock (something I was blessed with, exactly three years ago…. Sunset in Nripatungabetta). Just as we reached Unkal with the intention of visiting the park, I spotted the red-orange Sun sinking rapidly beneath the horizon. We got off the car into dust, and froze some lovely frames………….

At the Chandramouleeswara Temple, Unkal, Hubli

At the Chandramouleeswara Temple, Unkal, Hubli

Of the Bright and Green Dandeli Forest and the “Blood Moon”

One afternoon, we ventured into the Dandeli Forest, about 75 km from Hubballi, and saw a lot of green. I tried to capture the brightness as well. All that we saw was a fleeting glimpse of the Malabar Squirrel. We reached the banks of the Kali river but in vain. As we turned back, disappointed, at not having sighted elephants, one of the tyres of the car got punctured. The driver carried a stepney, but a wonderful sunset went by without snaps! We asked a passerby en route if we had any chance of elephant- sighting. He told us that it would be possible only after 8 p.m. During the conversation, we realised that he was a retired employee of the Forest Department and that he was a bear- attack survivor (his face wore the marks of his bravery). On our way back, the defective tyre was got repaired in Haliyal, and that gave me an opportunity to click the “blood moon”.

A Breath-taking Sunset between Mundgod and Hubballi (somewhere in the forest.........)

We happened to visit Mundgod (Uttara Kannada district), about 60 km from Hubballi, on the PB (Poona- Bombay) Road. There is a Tibetan settlement over there, over four thousand aces. It is home to the beautiful Drepung Loseling Monastery, built in 2008. More about this only after I spend more time over there. On our way back, somewhere in the forest, I couldn’t move away without clicking a breath-taking sunset!

Welcome Clouds on the Hubli Revisit

I revisited Hubli after more than a year and a half; I was too fragile to think of visiting my favourite spot, the Nripatungabetta. But the lovely weather gave me something to click! You can even find clouds in shapes!

Doesn't the cloud look like a turtle?

The Sun & the Moon @ the Big Apple & Boston- Part II The Big Apple (concluded)

It was very cold, and chill winds blew hard. We wondered whether we’d see snow fall there, but we were not so lucky (or, may be, we actually were!). While we waited for the cruise to start, we learnt that the twilight cruises were the most popular, and therefore, hard to get on short notice. We had to be content with a 3.30 p.m. slot. My team mates decided not to face the chill winds, so they stayed on the lower deck, but I decided that I should enjoy it every bit, so went on to the upper deck. We had a bonus thanks to daylight saving. Our cruise effectively was a twilight cruise! I was excited. I was the only one to have answered some questions on American history! After the cruise, we went straight to Saravana Bhavan, had a sumptuous meal again, and headed for Times Square where couple of us broke into songs!!

Here are some pics…enjoy!

The Sun & the Moon @ the Big Apple & Boston- Part II - The Big Apple- Day 2

On the second day in NY, we passed by several important landmarks, like Central Park. We visited the 9/11 Memorial before arriving at the Hudson River cruise. It was very cold, and chill winds blew hard. We wondered whether we’d see snow fall there, but we were not so lucky (or, may be, we actually were!).

The Sun & the Moon @ the Big Apple & Boston- Part II- The Big Apple

          We realised that two days were not enough in New York. On the first day, we saw, among others, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. We did not know that, with the package deal tickets we had, we could go upto the pedestal or crown of Lady Liberty. We couldn’t purchase tickets on the Island either, since there were no counters. Each of us walked at one’s pace, listening to the audio tour. It was almost dark and we had to make it in time for the Empire State Building visit. We had a breath-taking view, after dark, of all the skyscrapers we saw by day! We had to walk miles (actually), after losing our way initially, to have a homely dinner at Saravana Bhavan. Most of us were strict vegetarians, so we were relieved that we did not have to ask detailed questions regarding the ingredients of the food, before ordering.

        Here are some pics…enjoy!