Photo challenge – Page 4 – Footloose Forever

Finding joy in mundane things: The broken window

August 3, 2015August 22, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged broken window, monday, mundane, Photo challenge, window23 Comments

window, broken window, old house, mundane, bleak

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.”

~ Herbert Hoover

The house right opposite my balcony is quite old. I am seeing it in the same condition ever since we moved in this neighborhood some 15 years earlier. Every morning before I leave for the office I see the window, almost broken, remains closed. I wonder how the habitats of the house can live in such a damp, decaying house which may collapse any day! Does light and fresh wind ever enter in their house? To my surprise, that day on a sunny afternoon, I found the window in half-open state… and I got a bit curious too! 😉

I publish this post as part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Jithin aka Trablogger.

Wish you a happy and happening week ahead! 🙂

Nature: The prime source of inspiration

August 1, 2015August 2, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged hill station, Inspiration, inspirational quote, mountains, Nature, Photo challenge, waterfalls30 Comments

“In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks.”

~ John Muir

What other than Nature can be the inspiration to live, laugh and create? Any moment spent amidst nature makes me happy, and the feeling of connectedness inspires me to get going. And I think this is true for many of us. Love nature, live more. Happy Weekend! 🙂

Published in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Inspiration.

Bhutan Tour: The Scenic Punakha and Dochula Pass

July 26, 2015August 24, 2025Posted in BhutanTagged Bhutan, bhutan travel, dochula pass, hill station, mountains, Photo challenge, Punakha, punakha monastery, valley69 Comments

It was a pleasant, warm morning we started our journey to Punakha from the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. Bright sunshine flooded the mountains and the valley, scenic beauty all around to behold we kept driving along the road running in parallel with the meandering river. The joy was unfathomable and that was one of the best days in my life. The photos of Punakha are so vivid that simply looking at them can make my day better… 🙂 So, I dedicate this post to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Today Was a Good Day.

We completed the local sightseeing in Thimphu on our first day in Bhutan. Next day was scheduled for Punakha Monastery (or Punakha Dzong) which is 3 to 4-hour drive from Thimphu. The drive was as usual beautiful through the Himalayan mountains. I tried to capture the scenic beauty on the way as much as possible.

Dochula Pass

We drove to Punakha via Dochula Pass, one of the highest points in Bhutan (10,000 ft). It’s about one hour drive from Thimphu towards Punakha and a favorite stopover for tourists. The uniqueness of Dochula Pass lies in the wonderful combination of natural and man-made architectures. The place offers 360 degree view of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Bonus is this beautiful architecture – the 108 chortens in circular construction – add to the charm of the place. Unfortunately, we missed the mountain views as it was all covered in cloud in the end of May. Our driver said you can get the best view in winter. 😦 Well, never mind…the view I got is no less lovely. What do you think?

Now take a look at the other side of Dochula Pass. The Druk Wangyal Lhakhang is a beautiful temple built in the memory of the king, Druk Gyalpo.

As the time passed more and more cars arrived at the spot and I could see spontaneous touristy activities all around.

I think there was a feel-good factor in the air which was quite infectious. I felt so happy and grateful to be alive under the sun and enjoy the view.

By the way, if you have time you can enjoy a leisurely break at the beautiful Druk Wangyel Cafe at Dochula Pass. But the place is a little expensive. Here a one-liter mineral water bottle of Rs 20 cost us Rs 36.

There was this curious visitor at the gate of the cafe. But no one seemed to welcome him. Poor doggie! 😦

Important info:

Carry enough drinking water during the long drive from Thimphu to Punakha. We didn’t see a proper shop or restaurant from where we could buy drinking water on the way.

Punakha

Situated on the meeting point of Bhutan’s two important rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, Punakha Dzong is a place of scenic and spiritual charm. The air, the water, the green plantation looked so clean and pure that you’ll instantly feel in harmony with the place. The monastery is built over a huge area including well-manicured gardens and ponds.

You enter the monastery through this beautiful gateway and cross a traditionally designed wooden bridge that takes you on the other side of Pho Chhu (“Chhu” means “river” in vernacular).

The traditional Tibetan style architecture of the monastery is a treat to the eye. And it perfectly blended with the beautiful surrounding.

Entering the monastery can be a bit difficult with these steep ladder like stair case. Remember, that you must not wear baring clothes, else you may be denied access into the main temple in the images below.

Well, the Punakha Monastery is not only a place for monks and pilgrims. There are other habitats too and they are rapidly growing in numbers. 🙂

It was wonderful to roam around in the monastery premises, full of beautiful orchards and the ponds which they use for pisciculture.

However, Punakha is not just the monastery. It’s much more than that. The clear blue sky, the wide open riverbeds, and the trees and flowers all around make this place divinely beautiful. Take a look at the following images and you’ll agree with me.

After spending some hours in the monastery we went to a riverside restaurant where we were served lunch. After lunch we were on the road again – the road to Wangdue. I’ll share that story soon.

I hope you like this tour of Punakha and Dochula Pass with me. 🙂

You can also take a look at the first part of my Bhutan Tour Photo Essay – Thimphu through my lenses for more photos and information on Bhutan travel.

Finding joy in mundane things: A thorny affair

July 20, 2015July 19, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged fern, Nature, Photo challenge, thorn, weed17 Comments

There is an old fern in the backyard of our house. It’s been there for over a decade. Dull, unattractive…unattended…uncared for. In winter it looks dry, covered with cobwebs and dust. But one day the thorns on its stem caught my eyes. Some were unusually colorful!

I publish this post as part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Jithin aka Trablogger.

Wish you a happy and happening week ahead! 🙂

Half and Half make one

July 19, 2015July 19, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged Fateh Sagar Lake, half and half, Photo challenge, Pushkar, Rajasthan, Udaipur, udaipur city palace19 Comments

fateh sagar lake, udaipur, lake, sky, blue

“Knowledge is only one half. Faith is the other.”

~ Novalis

Udaipur city and the palace. The wall divides the frame in two halves – one is the courtyard of Udaipur City Palace cast in the shadow of the palace in the afternoon and the other half is the city, shining bright in the golden light. It can also be interpreted differently – one half of the picture belongs to the imperial and the other half is for the commons. But together they formed a kingdom around five hundred years ago. Most importantly, one half denotes present and the other belongs to the past – a bygone era of valor, success and grandeur.

Pushkar in the twilight. The following picture is one of my favorites, because it exudes the essence of the place. It was a beautiful evening by the holy lake. The reflection of the temples and edifices in the stagnant water of the lake made the vista picture perfect.

It was a warm, sunny morning in Udaipur. We were boating the calm waters of Fateh Sagar Lake. The sky was blue and the sprawling water reflected the shade of the sky so beautifully that it was difficult to understand where the sky ended and the water began until I saw the range of hills in the horizon which split the blue frame in two halves.

Published in response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Half and Half.

The Magic Lamp on my window

July 13, 2015July 12, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged Aladin's magic lamp, magic lamp, monday, mundane, Photo challenge24 Comments

It was a beautiful dawn. I could hear the chirping of birds. The golden streaks of morning sun entered my window. I opened my eyes. Oh, it’s a Monday again! I looked out through the window. Something glittering caught my eyes. What is it? Wow…it’s the magic lamp of Aladdin. I couldn’t believe my eyes…no more boring Mondays, no more work… lots of money and only travelling! A Beautiful music was playing in my ear. But suddenly the music stopped. Someone pushed me and told me it’s already 7:30 in the morning. I sprang up on my bed. It was my sister calling me as I had to get ready for the office.

There was nothing on the window. Alas! It was a dream. 😦

Since then I was wondering, if one fine morning I wake up to find Aladdin’s magic lamp on my window…what would I do with it! Well…then I could definitely transform the mundane into something beautiful and exciting with its magical power. 🙂

This post is a part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Jithin who blogs at Trablogger.

Have a wonderful week ahead guys! 🙂

Finding joy in mundane things: Pebbles

June 30, 2015August 23, 2015Posted in Photo challengeTagged mundane, pebbles, Photo challenge, stones30 Comments

It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out, it’s the pebble in your shoe.

~ Muhammad Ali

There was a time when I spontaneously found beauty in mundane things. Those were my childhood days. I was often scolded by my mother for picking up pebbles from the roads and bringing them to home. Blue… grey… brown… round…oval…different colors…different shapes and size. I used to think someday I would create a bonsai and cover its base with those pebbles. But that never happened. Those pebbles found the roads again, courtesy my mother. 😀

So, when I saw these pebbles beneath the sparkling waters of the river I couldn’t but collect them…well, this time with my lens though 🙂 and I share them as part of the Mundane Monday Challenge given by my blogger friend Trablogger.