Saturday Smile: Balloon Sellers

Balloon Sellers
Ernakulam

Boat House

Find more photographs of
Water Wednesday here.

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Boat House, also called Kettuvellam

Alappuzha is a town in Kerala, India with picturesque scenery and includes canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons. It is sometimes described as Venice of the East.

India Travels - continued

Mumbai, Cochin, Mangalore
in the Monsoons:

My India Travels have been continuing the past few weeks. From Mumbai, it was travels to Cochin (Kochi) and, in particular, Ernakulum. While in Kerala, it was reminiscing time of the beauty of Allepey and Munnar in the monsoons. Finally a trip to Mangalore, followed by a return journey via Bangalore.

A few of my pictures to share:-

~~~
Part 3

Corns and Smiles:

Rajasthani balloon sellers in Ernakulum:

Mountains of Munnar:

From the houseboat (Kettuvellam) in Allepey:

Glittering Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple at Kudroli, Mangalore in celebration of Dussehra festival:

Setting sun peeps into Bangalore airport:

Before the sunrise on the flight back:

Sunrise in the Kuwaiti desert during landing:

Which is your favorite picture in this set? Mine is last but one..before the sunrise!

~~~

Previous Related Post:
Monsoon Travels: Parts 1 and 2.

Chital in the Wild

The Chital (of the genus Axis and species, axis) is also called Cheetal Deer or Spotted Deer. It has a reddish fawn coat marked with white spots. It is the most common species of deer found in the wooden regions of India and are known to have a lifespan of 20-30 years. They are found in small to large herds up to 100 individuals.

The Chitals primarily eat grass and vegetation, but they are known to eat their shed antlers for their rich nutrients. They shed their antlers annually. They are one of the favored prey of predators such as tigers and leopards.

Dec 2007

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Feb 2008
Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Dec 2008
Nagarahole National Park, Karnataka

Dec 2008

Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

I particularly remember watching mesmerized a herd in the forests of Bandipur National Park while on my way from Mysore to Ooty.

The above are my captures of the Chital in four different states of India. I can recall on each occasion I have enjoyed watching the herd of these cute creatures more than shooting pictures.

Images: December Travels

December 2008
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala
India

Cricket time during low tide, Uttan, Mumbai

St. Aloysius Chapel with frescoes within, Mangalore

On the way to Madikeri, Coorg

Buddhist Monastery, Kodagu

Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarahole, Karnataka


Kutta, Karnataka enroute Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

T. Shettigiri Tea Estates, South Coorg

Coffee Plantations, South Coorg

On the way to Virajpet, Karnataka

Madikeri Sunset

I've picked out some of my favorite images of this trip to post here. Which one/ones do you like best?

If my visa is issued in the next few days, I shall be leaving on another small trip for a few days. More in next post. As my travels mean an 'internet-less' time, in case I do not get a chance to do so later, let me take this opportunity, my dear friends, to wish you greetings of this lovely season.

To those who celebrate, a very Merry Christmas.

Cheers!

Tranquil Tuesday

Serene backwaters
Graceful coconut palms bow
Pleasing quietude

Tranquil Tuesday

Click on picture for a better view from the Boat House, Kerala


This moment is mine
Care not for destination
Enjoy the journey

Reminiscing on 2007 Travels - Part I

The Year 2007 has been a good year for me, particularly as far as my travels are concerned.

Since June 2007, I also started blogging about my travels within India.

So, in addition to my travels to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia, during the latter part of December 2006 that lasted till January 2007, that I did not blog about here (as I've restricted this space for my India travels only), I also travelled to the following places:

Mumbai (Feb, Sept)

Juhu Beach, Mumbai

Matheran (Feb)

Horses of Matheran

Jaipur (July)

City Palace, Jaipur

Manali (July)

A street scene, Manali

I must mention here what I call has been "the best road journey" that I've experienced, i.e., the journey from Manali to Leh, which deserved a full separate posting for its awesome scenic beauty of the majestic Himalayan mountains as I wrote in Incredible India Indeed. To think that I've lost my pictures of this impressive journey, including the sleepover in the tents of Sarchu, makes me all the more determined to undertake such a trip again as soon as possible, and I shall do that, preferably with two stop-overs next time, most likely in Keylong valley and Sarchu in the Himalayas.


Leh (July)

View of Leh from a mountain top

Ladakh (July) including:
- Chang La

On the way to Pangong Lake at the border of China

- Thiksey

Thiksey Monastery

- Nubra Valley including:
* Khardung Village
* Panamik
* Hundar
* Khardung Pass

The Karakoram range in the far distance as seen from Khardung-La,

supposedly the highest motorable road in the world

Delhi (July, Dec)

Partial view of the Parliament

Bangalore (Jan, Sept, Dec)

Jamia Masjid on Commercial Street

Kerala (Sept)

Aboard the houseboat (called Kettuvellam, in Malayalam), North Kerala

Goa (Dec)

Picturesque Goa

Mangalore and the places around it (Jan, July, Sept, Dec)

A shot from Mangalore shores

That's Part I of my travels of 2007. I shall post a few pictures covering my travels last month to part of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the post to follow as 2007 Travels - Part II.