Travel Diary of A Wandering Mind
~ Horace Walpole
The view of Udaipur City through the broken walls of Chittorgarh Fort, one of the famous Hill Forts in Rajasthan and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Published in response to Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Broken.
Rishikonda Beach in Vizag is a place where you’ll see the two opposing forces of nature – the mighty ocean on one side and the rock solid earth on the other – are in constant fight with each other. During low tide the water recedes giving it a break. And in high tide the water again pounces on the rocks with renewed zeal and force. And years of corrosion have sharpened the boulders and created fissures through the rocky shore. Nature’s force has certainly created notable marks on the stones over the centuries.
Published in response to Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Forces of Nature.
I have seen small streams, rather springs while traveling to mountains in Sikkim and also in Darjeeling when I was very young but never saw a waterfall in my life. Whenever I see pictures of waterfalls I imagine myself as a diminutive figure standing in front of the roaring water awestruck by Nature’s uninterrupted motion. So, when I came to know about the waterfall in Nainital I was delighted that finally my dream would come true.
However, when we reached the site of the waterfall the sun was about to set. I was expecting a wide-open space in front of me with the sight and sound of mighty waters flowing down the rocks. Strangely the driver stopped the car on one side of the road from where I could see rock-cut steps which disappeared into the trees and bushes along the mountain slope.
“Is this the right place?” I asked skeptically.
The driver smiled and replied, “Yes, this is the place. You follow the steps and buy tickets from the counter over there.”
I did what he said. After crossing the counter I could see a canopied walking trail, brief enough to bring me to the waterfall in a minute. And much to my astonishment I saw a narrow stream of water flowing down the cascading rock bed.
Oh God! This is what they call a “waterfall”!
It was a mixed emotion of shock, disappointment and finally amusement. Never be prejudiced when you are going to see new things or places. I scolded myself. 🙂
I stood in silence for a few moments, and then slowly stepped into the water. The cool touch of rippling waters felt awesome. The rocks were slippery with lichens all over. The pebbles in the waters sharpened from years of erosion pricked at my bare feet. Yet it was most wonderful to feel the motion of the water below my feet.
Published in response to Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Motion.
Life is a tide; float on it. Go down with it and go up with it, but be detached.
Then it is not difficult. ~ Prem Rawat
When I saw the theme of this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge – Afloat the first thing came to my mind is ‘water’. I always wanted to learn swimming but somehow never got a chance. So, I envied anyone and anything that I saw floating effortlessly on water. 🙂 I wish I could do that someday. And now when I finally enrolled to a newly opened swimming club in our locality I know how amazing it feels to float on the water and let loose yourself and let the water take you along the flow.
These two pictures are from the album of my Nainital Tour. It was a nice pastime for me to watch the geese swim in their own pace and…
the boats afloat the turquoise water of Naini Lake with bewildered tourists aboard.
Happy Weekend! 🙂
The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play. ~ Arnold J. Toynbee
Last January we went on a weekend trip to Shantiniketan and visited the wildlife sanctuary there.
While walking under the canopy of trees I felt like experimenting with my camera and this is what I got.
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Blur.”
And my heart springs up anew, bright and confident and true. And the old love comes to meet me, in the dawning and the dew. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
What is more fresh than the flowers we offer in worship?
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. ~ Michael Jordan
And that’s what I tried to do with my camera. 🙂 I think I can share these wall photos in response to this week’s photo challenge – wall.
Painting of Lord Shiva on a wall at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi.
A wall in Varanasi depicting the story of the ancient epic Ramayana.
Walls where time has left its mark. Ruined walls inside Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan.
A wall that is meticulously carved to intricate details. The wall of a Haveli (palace) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
The wall that exudes grandeur and opulence of the medieval kingdom of Rajputana. The interior walls of Amer Fort Palace, Jaipur.
On the contrary, this wall speaks of tribal life in Bengal, something very simple and down to earth. Wall paintings at Srijani Shilpagram, Shantiniketan.
Santhal tribes in India decorate their cottage walls with colourful paintings.
Now here are the walls that display the creative genius of young artists in Visva Bharati Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan.
And finally, walls in my city Kolkata where you’ll find everything from sports to politics. 😛 🙂
So, what do you think about walls in Indian cities and villages? Aren’t they interesting?
Footloose Forever 