Footwa

Million dollar smile

05 Dec 2009 | 2 comments » Add a comment

My eyes gazed this man as I was having my tea. He was standing few feet away, deep in conversation with someone. At first I noticed the shape he was in, wondering if he was an underpaid worker, if he had a tough day today, poor guy perhaps still has to work at his old age… but suddenly he smiled, and all those thoughts vanished from my head. All I could think was, he is happy. It did not matter that he wore a torn banyan, or if he was poor. He was to me a beautiful person now.

“I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”

Crocodile basking in the sun

05 Dec 2009 | no comments » Add a comment

Ranthambore has many big lakes, and where there is a lake in a national forest there is bound to be crocodiles. This one was basking in the sun lazily not bothered by the noise our jeep made as it passed along the edges of the lake. I like this photograph especially since it has also caught the reflection verywell of the crocodile and the tall grass etc in the lake.

Rufous Treepie

05 Dec 2009 | no comments » Add a comment

As we entered Ranthambore nation park and just crossed the gates of the reserve, a bold bird perched on the jeep right in front of me, I was surprised. It showed no signs of any fear. “Rufous Treepie” belong to the crow family. “If you had biscuits in your hand and you stretch your arm they will feed on it.. they love biscuits!” the guide told us.

Reflection

05 Dec 2009 | 2 comments » Add a comment

Charles Horton Cooley has written a lot on Social Theory and once said

“As social beings we live with our eyes upon our reflection, but have no assurance of the tranquillity of the waters in which we see it.”

Lake at Ranthambore National Park in Zone 4.

Paradise on earth

04 Dec 2009 | 1 comment » Add a comment

“If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.”

Our guide halted here for few mins to listen to nature, so that it can guide him to the Tiger. This place was so calm and peaceful… so colorful..

The stare of a Tiger

02 Dec 2009 | 12 comments » Add a comment

No words, no photographs, .. nothing can describe the feeling I got when this 4 year old young tiger stared into my eyes at Ranthambore less then 5 feet away, during my safari trip. I never knew I would be able to see him so close, and although I knew they are big cats, his size

Don’t be a flower pot!

16 Nov 2009 | 4 comments » Add a comment

I finished reading Richard Branson’s autobiography “losing my virginity” a few days back. An overall brilliant read, although towards the end it does get a bit boring. In the end what captivates you is the risks he took. He did unconventional things (at least it looked unconventional to him), he bet most of his money

Count the lamp-posts on the highway

09 Nov 2009 | 2 comments » Add a comment

Yeah yeah.. I admit the title is copied from the line “Count the headlights on the highway” in Elton Johns song “Tiny Dancer“. I first heard the song in the movie “Almost Famous”. Not only was the movie outstanding, but the moment wherein this song was played, was captured beautifully. It has since been one of my favorite movies, and one of my favorite songs.

This image is related to the image on ”Autobiography of a lamp-post and the fart“, as both are from the same spot but opposite directions.

What I like about this snap (other then the clouds), is the way the numerous lamp-posts make a lovely silhouette. The bird, right on top, adds a nice flavor too.

Autobiography of a lamp-post and the fart

07 Nov 2009 | 4 comments » Add a comment

At school, we were once asked to write an autobiography of a lamppost for Hindi exam, I put on my thinking cap and started something like,

“I want to reach for the sky, but have to withhold my desires to give light to others”.

I thought it was a brilliant masterpiece, half expecting my Hindi professor to come to me and pat me on my back. Unfortunately nothing of that sort happened, what did happen was that I almost missed failing. I decided that my talent could not be discovered in this small school, and was still proud of my work, perhaps I thought

The monster I see every day.. every night..

01 Nov 2009 | 6 comments » Add a comment

Day 1:I got my new pair of shoes. After hours of searching for one that fit my large feet the salesperson finally found one. I go home, put them under my bed, and forget about them. Next day while getting ready for office, I find one missing. I know its the monsters work, the devil himself. I walk in the garden trying to locate it, and find it half stuck in soil. A quick glance makes me realise that I need new shoes. Amidst the soil, the drool, the signs of sharp teeth of the creature of terror are clearly visible, the shoe tongue was bitten off, perhaps so that it can never tell its story, the face smashed up. Why does he not torture the old bata chappals I gave him for his birthday?

Day 2: My friend got me liquor chocolates from abroad. Its a big bar,