How apt that the final post from India ends at the southernmost tip of the country at Kanyakumari, where three great seas meet - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. From certain locations, you can see sunrise and sunset over the water from the same place! First three photos are of sunset taken at the southernmost tip (although I didn't venture out onto the rocky boulders with the vicious monsoon waves!) and also from the sunset tower. The last three photos taken from the balcony of the Sea View hotel. This was my third visit (while on the theme of 3s!) to the holy pilgrimage site, and Kanyakumari has not yet failed to produce a magnificent sunrise and sunset!
"According to Hindu legend, Kanya Devi, an avatar of Parvati, was to marry Siva, but as he failed to show up on his wedding day, the rice and other grains meant for the wedding feast remained uncooked and remain unused thereafter. As the legend goes, the uncooked grains turned into stones as time went by. Some believe that the small stones on the shore today, which look like rice, are indeed grains from the wedding that was never solemnised. Kanya Devi is now considered a virgin goddess who blesses pilgrims and tourists who flock the town" (Wikipedia). Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm and Tamron 28-75mm lenses.
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Photos taken during trips on the Keralan backwaters, off the Vembanadu lake near Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Kumarakom. Staying in a relatively luxurious houseboat was a unique experience - being spoilt by having our own and very hospitable staff on board, and able to observe the changing waterscapes from our comfortable lounge deck. However you can't beat the stealthiness and magical serenity of a punting / row boat gliding through the smaller channels without the noise of the engine! The first photo was taken in the early hours of the morning from the banks of Muhamma.
Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm and Minolta 70-210mm lenses. The first photo is taken during an elephant ride through the spice plantations for which the fertile land of Thekkady is famous for. A nature walk and bamboo rafting the following day gave us opportunity to see fresh footprints of a huge Bengal tiger (unfortunately we didn't see one in the flesh!) Visiting during the off-peak monsoon, our small group of 7 were the only people, along with our guides, on the river and it really felt as if we had the National Park to ourselves.
Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm lens. Jaigarh Fort, built by Jai Singh II in 1726 is famous for being the home of the collosal Jaivana Cannon. In 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels. The barrel alone is over 6m long and weighs 50 tonnes! It was only fired once (using 100kg of gunpowder) resulting in the igniter going deaf so a nearby pool was made specially for him to jump into after setting it alight. The 50kg cannon ball travelled 35km.
In the underground water tanks, it was thought that one of them held hidden gold and jewellery under the water. However, several searches often lasting months ordered by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s turned out to be fruitless. Photos 5-11 are taken in the nearby, larger Amer (or sometimes known as Amber) Fort is 11km from Jaipur. with various parts built in the 17th and 18th centuries, Amer Fort is known for its artistic style of Hindu elements. With its large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks the Maota Lake, at its forefront. It is also famous for being one of the settings of the Bollywood film Jodha Akbar. Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm lens. 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. (Apologies readers / viewers for the delay and backlog - many photos from Dubai and India yet to posted soon, internet connection permitting!)
A half-day of work on a Sunday allowed the opportunity for a "sight-seeing" walk through the Fitzrovia and West-End part of London. Starting off with the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Tavistock Gardens (not pictured), I made my way towards Russel Square and the British Museum. (The grand Hotel Russel shown below). Covent Garden had the expected amusing street performances, but the giant teddy bear (in a sorry state) outside St Paul's church was certainly unexpected. Cherry blossom gave a springy-feel to the entrance of the Parish Church of St Mary-le-Strand. Unfortunately I was a few days early to catch the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in Somerset house but I enjoyed taking photos myself in the central courtyard. The photos at the end were taken in the immaculately landscaped and florally-rich Victoria Embankment gardens. Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm and Minolta 70-210mm f4 lenses. The North Wessex Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is located in the counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Today's delightful post is composed by Dan:
With Niraj’s departure to India imminent, this would be the last of our epic odysseys for some time (except of course for the one Niraj was going on). It was doubly important therefore that this walk was befitting of the occasion. Not to their detriment, the North Wessex Downs have escaped the limelight of other, more popular walking destinations in the South – fading somewhat into obscurity behind the Cotswolds, Chilterns and the like. But in spite of this little injustice, one cannot help secretly wish they would stay that way. The quiet anonymity of these glorious hills and sleepy villages, add to their unique charm. Our walk began at the village of Kintbury, perched on the River Kennet. It is not hard to imagine why this little known tributary of the Thames was the inspiration behind Kenneth Grahame’s classic Wind in the Willows. Down the road from Kintbury Station and before the turning for the start of the trail, was the splendid Blue Ball pub – perhaps one of the few places in the country that can boast on its menu, wood fired pizza. A short way into the walk, crossing some fields we caught our first glimpse of the red kites common to the region – soaring under the mid-morning sun. These majestic birds glided effortlessly, barely flapping a wing. Beyond, emerging through a small pocket of woodland, we were greeted by the sight of newly born lambs. We paused for a while, taking in this simplest of nature’s spectacles. Further down we stopped for lunch at the Swan – an organic gastropub sourcing almost all of its produce locally from its own land and neighbouring farms. Back up the road we stopped over at Inkpen Church – I have long believed that no walk is complete without a village church stop, preferably one with a graveyard too. This church was among the nicest we have seen in all our walks. Around halfway point we began the short, steep climb up Inkpen Hill. The views from the hill were nothing short of spectacular, with a panorama over five counties (though one could not really tell which was which). We continued on to the gibbet, a 17th Century hanging mast sited on top of the hill. The route took us back, completing a circular trail through the hillsides, patches of woodland and back to Kintbury. Technical details: Sony a850 with Sigma 50-500mm (Bigma) lens. Just a few photos taken during a walk in the Aquadrome on a nice Spring weekend.
Technical details: Sony a850 with Sigma 50-500mm (Bigma) lens. Encompassing a PGA-standard golf course and set in 250 acres of landscaped grounds, these photos are taken in and around the 18th century Mansion House in Wokefield Park. An Asian wedding was taking place, although unfortunately had to be cancelled due to a fire in the kitchen shortly after these photos were taken! Also located on site is the UK BMW Training Academy – hence the car photos. And I could not resist the temptation to roam through nearby fields and farms trying to capture the elegant beauty and vibrance of the fantastic sunset the following evening!
Technical details: Sony a850 with Sigma 50-500mm (Bigma) and Tokina 19-35mm lenses. Strongly recommended by a triathlon-organiser that we had met the previous day, we braved the cold winds and headed out to Calleva, one of the oldest settlements in Britain.
The lost town of Calleva Atrebatum was an Iron Age and Roman town which can be found deep in the north Hampshire countryside, outside of Reading. “But where once there was a busy, populous centre, now there are only green fields. All that is now visible above ground, of a settlement that thrived for more than 500 years between the first century BC and the fifth or sixth century AD, are sections of the late Iron Age fortifications of rampart and ditch, the Roman amphitheatre and, most impressive of all, the entire circuit of the late Roman town walls. Why did a major settlement develop in this location; and why is there no successor medieval and modern town? There are no certain answers to either of these questions, but trying to resolve them is one of the eternal fascinations of Calleva” BBC History. The old church, located just outside of the city walls, was built in 313 AD when Christianity was no longer a proscribed religion. Click or hover over to read the captions. Technical details: Sony a850 with Tokina 19-35mm lens. |
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