Toys !!!

I love surroundings of I’ngr, not only because this place is beautiful and finds its way to the core of quietness but also the way things turn out. Needless to mention some of the nicest roads of the city are here. It just happened to me today morning while I am returning back from the unusually long morning walk. I spotted something interesting on a foot path shop …

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"The child's toys and the old man's reasons are the fruits of the two seasons".

another one ... heheh.... words will not match with the age :)

I did surprise those lil kids, they were too curious too see their pics.

The weekend way !

This weekend being idle, we came up with a new idea which was not our usual plan of traveling but to acknowledge ourself that we are good fan of Indian Railways. There goes the plan, started early morning walk and then move towards the city railway station following that took one of the route for a short train trip for the photo session. I guess for us, it’s completely a different way of exploring this short journey. The whole idea was to capture anything and everything that that will come our way in the early morning … the railway tracks, the trains, the platforms and last but not the least the people. Then I relised "watching the clock is not the same as watching a sunrise".

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"Rays from the sunrise drew forth the buds and stretched them into long stalks, lifted up sap in noiseless streams, opened petals, and sucked out scents in invisible jets and breathings".

You don't need somebody to interpret for you what a beautiful sunrise it is.

I spotted this WDM 14028 Diesel loco, with HWH - YPR Express.

The parallel railway tracks can also be a source of inspiration – “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today”.

Konark Trip

My journey continued and I reached at the world famous heritage site at Konark. The famed Sun temple, this was my first ever visit to such a wonder land. The drive from Puri to Konark along side of Bay-of-Bengal was just amazing and another highlight of the trip. It was giving me an impression as if I was sailing through the sea, to add to that an awesome weather did the rest of the magic.

This place is a "Bhool Bhulaiyaan' for many. Beware you can easily lost with the beauty of the temple. Not to surprise, the place was as usual crowded but I did hardly bother about that !!!. Being a shutterbug, I wonder if I could spend a week and still able to satisfy myself. The short stay was not enough to capture all the moments as we have to drive back.

The temple looked more beautiful when the lights were on. And the other thing that most of the people around there/tourist doesn’t want to miss is the sunset. It looks so marvelous as if the sun tries to hide itself behind the temple ….

The front view, this 13th century temple structure is based upon a chariot, which is consisting of 24 wheels.

The wheel, otherwise is called as Ashok Chakra ...

Another view, my counting for 24 completed here ...

The Beach !!!

One more entry to my most memorable trip list, it had been quite few time that I have visited the famous beach of Puri. Well ! I discovered it in a completely different manner this time with an unforgettable eraly morning walk along the sea.

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness.

Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.

With each sunrise, we start anew.

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…

The East Coast Trip - Day I

It’s been a very long time since I visited these places but I could hardly forget those happy old days. This time it was all set and I started my journey towards the east cost precisely to the coastal part of Orissa. I did surprise myself by booking my train ticket on a weekday; the unstoppable crowd on the occasion of Deepavali holidays had left no other option. Anyways the journey on E.Co Railways never had been much better then this.

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Those moments were breath taking and filled me with loads of excitement, after all this trip came after a period of 19 months. There were lots of plans and nerveless new plans were also added up in the queue (more on it in my next posts). I tried the best to capture as many of the moments I can. But sometime it was a challenging task, taking pictures from a fast moving train was never so easy. Thanks to all those unknown friends who equally enjoyed helping me while taking the pictures throughout the journey.

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Now here goes my first set of photos on the Day I of the trip that almost covered the costal part of Andra Pradesh and the part of Orissa. I had a great time inside as well as exploring outside of the train and glad the witness the train journey which reached at my destination before the schedule time. You have to believe it, Indian Railways is becoming conscious about the timings and also they have started working towards passenger’s satisfaction.

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The train was approaching a tunnel ...

From the other side of the train ... see the the dark tunnel.

The perfect definition of a train, I could see the engine head seating on the other extreme end of it, at a sharp reverse L turn.

The train was approaching the bridge over Krishna River, near Vijaywada Railways Station.

An electric train engine.

A diesel train engine.

Godavari River bed.

My fav shoot, it raining ... n ... raining ...

Inside the coach, a good nite's sleep made the morning more active ...

The Bond, not that James Bond ...

Bye ... bye ...

NH 5, along side ...

Just before Vizag Railway Station, it was never before so beautiful surroundings...

The scenic view on the evening, a border district of Orissa.

*All Photographs Copyright Hello World - Alok, 2007

Happy Deepavali !!!

Deep hamesha jalte jagmagate rahein. Hum aapko aur aap humein yaad aate rahein. Jab tak jindagi hai, dua hai hamri … aap deep ke diye jaise jagmagate rahein …. Haapy deepavali.

A day before the next day ...

What to name it ?? may be a different day altogether and may be a different me and lost to so many things. I wonder, whether it could be some magic. One of those very productive day so far at work, and still counting. My countdown is already started for the trip and me so much so excited. Waiting to meet all of them, the loved ones and yes those lost buddies who are joining there with me with a similar excitement in them …

The place where the buildings, the shops, the roads, the trees, the people and everything look so different, may be an overwhelming feeling. Now time to move, more later …

Jog Falls Trip !!!

Another week passed by me as if a long pending day. A very productive week for me and more than that I had an amazing weekend trip to a world famous place . Yes, this place was in my favorite list and it’s none other than Jog Falls, is the highest waterfall in India. It's around 400 K.ms from Bangalore, situated in Shimoga district, north-west side of Karnataka. Absolutely a mind blowing place, there were those spectacular scenic views that I got a chance to see for the very first time.

The trip started with a very high spirit and less time for preparation. We finally decided upon to start Friday night instead of Saturday. And there goes the welcome rain in B’lr which forced us to start little early then our scheduled time. Finally we started around 10 P.M and it was really good that we were on time to reached at Sagar around 7.30 AM the next day, which was the first halt. We spent some time to get refreshed and fueled ourselves just before visiting the 14th century Shree Rameshwara Temple at Keladi.

The quiet road alongside, on the way to Jog.

As Resh said - the dam(n) dried me, I am river Saravathi.

The journey continues towards Jog, which is around 30 Kms from Sagar. On the way saw the Linganmakki Dam across river Sharavathi. We were only allowed to see it from a far away place. The guide said we required to have some special permission for entering the area due to naxalite activities observed around that place. Oh damn! we didn't have that with us.

A scenic view, river Saravathi find the way towards Arabian Sea.

The weather was not so pleasant, but that really did have any effect on the excitement of the trip. We finally reached at Jog around 11.30 A.M, the first view point of the waterfall. Infact there are two different view points which are situated opposite to each other. First, the British bungalow view point (the best, as far as I found it) and the second, near the Mayura Hotel view point (the main). I think you cannot afford to miss either of them.

From the British bungalow, you can have the view of the waterfall which splits into four different tracks; named Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani from left to right respectively.

Jog Falls view taken from British bungalow.

The view from top, the hieght is more than 830 ft.

It was then around 1.30 P.M we had our lunch at Hotel Mayura. It is situated very close to the main view point. I swear the food in this part of Karnatak is below expectation; the only challenging part in the trip. A small break and after that started the trek of 2.5 K.ms to climb down and reach the Saravathi river bed (foot of the waterfall). The adventurous part of the trip was yet to discover; the track was so narrow and it was full of stones (different sizes and shapes). I was wondering at that time about how I am able to climb up, again . But in the end, it was worth taking the pain; the splendid views had all the magical effects that would make you easily lose yourself in it.

The main view of Jog Falls ...

Don't loose your track, the destination is calling you.

These rocks are not obstacles but mare hurdles ...

JOG Falls view from the bottom; you can find all the four different falling tracks.

Here is the place where you will rediscover the nature all by yourself many times before you take a breather.

When we came back form there it was almost 5 P.M and started our journey back towards B’lr with a tiring smile on the face. We had in between break at Shimoga for our dinner around 8.30 P.M and again moving further heavy rain falls gave us the farewell.

Someone has rightly said, happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.

That was the story of a fun and excitement filled trip at an ideal time of the year. In the comming months there are quite a few trips already queued up and I am pretty much excited about all those trips including the one to Konark. I am assured with some spectacular pictures in the coming days.

*All Photographs Copyright Hello World - Alok, 2007

The eyes !

I remember the day, when I was taking this photo one of my friend interrupted me saying – what’s the big deal taking such photos. And now, I wonder …

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" The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think".

- Author Unknown

Ocracoke Island

Last weekend Bro’ had been to Ocracoke Island. As I heard back from him that it was an amazing place and he had a great time over there. Actually Bro’ is on for a long business trip to US. And today morning I received all those mind blowing pictures that he took on that weekend trip to Ocracoke. Thanks to Bro' for sharing all those wonderful pictures with me :)

I am so excited after seeing those pictures, well its impossible for me to resist to blog about it. In the whole day, today I have seen them around 10 or more times… Now it’s your turn :) …

early in the morning ...

from the boat ...

the dawn ...

the atlantic ocean .. (if I am not wrong) .