Kole Kole is part of the Baobab Beach Resort, lying on the white sands of Diani Beach, south of Mombasa. The friendly chaps in the first few photos were more than happy to pose while doing their antics in our hotel room!

Technical details: Sony a33 with Sigma 105mm, Minolta 70-210mm and Sony 35mm lenses.

Technical details: Sony a33 with Samyang 8mm fisheye lens.

Like last year (click here), here is another round-up of some of the most memorable images taken over the past year. Click the photos to navigate to the associated full blog post. Happy viewing!

Please take a few minutes to vote for your favourite photos - click here.

Photos taken at Meera and Shiv's Engagement at Navnat Centre, Hayes. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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

Photos taken during the spiritual festivities and celebrations of Guru Purnima (AKA Guru Poonam) in the presence of Param Pujya Bhaishree.  "That holy day has finally dawned for which seekers around the world have waited with bated breath. Few are those fortunate souls who's hearts have experienced the magical love for an enlightened master, and only they can speak of its mesmerising, soul churning effect upon them. And what better day to express their gratitude for their Guru, that this full moon day of the month of Ashad, better known as 'Guru Purnima'. " (Extract from Live with Bhaishree).

Technical details: Sony a850 with Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 and Minolta 70-210mm f4 lenses.

Photos taken during the June grain distribution (anaaj vitran) by Raj Saubhag Ashram. Members of the Ashram have conducted a survey in 33 villages surrounding Sayla to identify the families struggling to make ends meet due to physical and social incapacity. The families listed in the survey receive monthly deliveries of 10-20kg of food grain (totalling almost 4 tonnes), the distribution of which is organised and supervised by Raj Saubhag volunteers in order to keep administrative costs at a minimum. Fruit, biscuits and clothing are delivered on ad hoc basis. (Adapted from the Raj Saubhag website).

Having personally witnessed and experienced the grain distribution several times over the past decade, it is truly impressive to see the dedication by which this activity has been running for many years. Volunteer OAPs aged 70+ travel from Mumbai, several hundreds of miles away, every month to devote 3-4 days of their time for the distribution in all seasons, including the 45 degree summers and the wet monsoons. Most of the recipients are met individually by the volunteers, who keep a register to ensure that benefit is received only by those most deserving. New referrals are interviewed, their homes visited and their financial position discussed with trusted persons in the local community before being awarded eligibility for the scheme. Those with little or no earning potential are favoured, and worthy persons with dependants are given larger quantities of grain. Grains are distributed at the beneficiaries homes or in a well-known location in the centre of the village (often neighbours / younger family members come to collect the grains in the latter case).

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