Photos taken during visits to the buttermilk distribution centres in and around Sayla. Write-up adapted from a post on the Raj Saubhag humanitarian facebook site.

Raj Saubhag has been running a buttermilk distribution service, during the harsh summer months, since the last 37 years. Free buttermilk is distributed for approximately three months (depending on the climate and monsoon rains) to help provide relief for local people from the intense temperatures, regularly reaching a scorching 45 degrees.

Below is Pujya Bhaishree Nalinbai Kothari’s address at Siddhsar Buttermilk Distribution Centre:

"Indian tradition instils compassion in every human heart for the less fortunate. Even a small portion of food given in charity is highly valued. Every child is encouraged by his elders to imbibe the qualities of selfless giving and philanthropy, such that even a visit to a temple requires him to offer something to the deity. However, times are changing and values are declining. Inspite of this, towns and villages still have their places of worship either in the form of a Krishna or Mahavir temple. The faithful people with qualities like benevolence, generosity and goodwill towards fellowmen, often observe that the Lord favours them, even if they are not blessed with wealth and material superiority. Such human beings are blessed with peace of mind and contentment. Even if a person owns one rupee, he should posses a heart, kind enough to give away 2 paise (cents). The contentment that comes from a good deed is unparalleled.

In places where the elders observe receding values, every effort must be taken to encourage generosity in the young. Increased kindness and thoughtfulness towards one another will add to peace and goodwill in every village, town and city of India.

This year Raj Saubhag has been providing the buttermilk powder to 17 centres in 13 villages. The poor people living in these hot regions are grateful to receive free buttermilk. Very often volunteers willingly take the responsibility of adding water, arranging for the required vessels and distributing the prepared buttermilk to people in their villages in an organised way. Raj Saubhag acknowledges and applauds the efforts put in by all these volunteers and appeals for more volunteers in every village to come forward and offer this selfless service.

Those, who put the suffering of others before their own needs are always blessed."

Further details of Raj Saubhag's humanitarian activities can be found here.

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm and Tokina 19-35mm lenses.

Today was a day devoted to observing and appreciating the Dubai skyline - including not only the tallest building in the world, but more skyscrapers over 200m and 300m than anywhere else in the world. Most unusual for a city set in a desert but also for which there are no geographic restrictions (like peninsulas and islands). The first  two photos are taken at the marina in Jumeirah Lake Towers. The last three photos are taken from "At The Top", the viewing platform on the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building and man-made structure on earth. Just for comparison, at 828m (2717ft) high, it is almost 3x taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and almost twice as tall at the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur. In fact, the next highest skyscraper in the world would not even come up to 3/4 of the height of the Burj Khalifa!

Technical details: Sony a850 with Minolta 70-210mm (first photo only) and Tokina 19-35mm lenses.

The first photo was taken at Dubai museum – strongly recommended and very deceptive in size – perhaps 90% of the museum is underground (and air conditioned, like everything else in Dubai) below the facade of some artefacts, old trading boats etc on the ground level. Most astonishing is how quickly the city has developed; the skyscraper era started in the late 90s (with the notable exception on the Dubai World Trade Centre built in 1979. More on the skyline tomorrow, but the tallest skyscraper in the world, mentioned earlier, the Burj Khalifa is  the subject of the final photo, under which a stunning water display is held every half an hour. Details from Wikipedia: “The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system... Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 25 coloured projectors, it is 275m (902ft) long and shoots water up to 500ft (152m) into the air accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music. It was built at a cost of USD 218 million.” It truly is magical, grander than the Bellagio fountains in Vegas – another big is beautiful place.

Middle photos are taken at the aquarium set within the enormous Dubai Mall. Opening in 2008, the mall has several accolades to its name including the world’s largest shopping mall (1200+ shops and 5.9m sq ft) as well as attracting more visitors in 2012 that New York City had tourists!

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm and Tokina 19-35mm lenses.

Just a few photos taken at Mall of the Emirates, millions of square feet of luxury shopping, but also including an indoor “ski resort and snow park”, the first of its kind in the Middle East. Dubai doesn’t do things simply!

The last photo is taken from an apartment in Deira, with stunning views over the Creek. The feint tall tower in the distance is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world... more to follow on that very shortly.

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm lens.

Set within prime Dubai real estate, Zabeel Park is an oasis in the surrounding organised urban jungle. In typical Dubai fashion, the gardens (yes, gardens in the desert) are immaculately landscaped and it was nice to enjoy some fresh air.

The late night Abra ride to the textile souk (one of the few bargains we came across in Dubai, priced AED1 (about 20p)) was well worth it, a chance to sit with the locals and enjoy the creek breeze and views.

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens.

We spent our first afternoon in Dubai wondering around the old town on Dubai. A long-standing centre for trade for many centuries, the traditional spice shop was a feast for the senses. The Emirati also had an innovative old air conditioning system being used to help live comfortably in a city where the summer temperatures regularly exceed 50C, involving cool air to be channelled into the home through the wind towers shown below.

In the evening, we were lucky to have a dip in the infinity pool at Oceana (set on The Palm) and enjoy the stunning views of the “second” Dubai skyline (Jumeirah Lake towers and Southern Dubai).

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens.

A selection of nature photos taken in early May - the beauty of Spring can certainly be seen in the flowers and young chicks below!

Flowers
Location: In the Garden
Technical details: Sony a850 with Sigma 105mm lens.

Birds
Location: Springwell Lake, Rickmansworth
Technical Details: Sony a850 with Sigma 50-500mm (Bigma) lens.

Location: Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath
Technical Details: Sony a850 with Minolta 70-210mm f4 lens.