Thiruneermalai

I traveled almost 15 days looking at this hill temple, enjoying the scenic beauty from far. When i came to know it is Thiruneermalai, i wished to visit the temple before i leave Chennai, this holiday. My wish got granted on my birthday, had a lovely darshan of the Lord. Loved everything about the temple. The location, the Moolavar and utsavar and other presiding deities. A small, simple abode of Vishnu. Since i visited late in the evening, i couldn't get any good snaps of the scenery. This one, was clicked from a highway, far from the temple

Evening @ Marina

Evening @ Marina, Many came to unwind their day, but for some it was the beginning!! 

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Gopura Darisanam

கோபுர தரிசனம், கோடி பாப விமோசனம்

Gopura Darisanam, Koti Papam Vimochanam! :)

God of all Beginnings

வெற்றிகளின் முதல் பொருளே, வேழ முக கருப்பொருளே

Vinayagar Sannidhi/Lord Ganesha at the entrance of Kabaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore.

Grilled Corn @ Marina Beach

D for Deepam (Light)

Deepam, means light. Light that banishes the dark, Light that gives hope, wisdom and courage. Some clicks taken when i decorated my house with these small, yet mighty deepam.

A collage from photographs taken during Light Festival 2015, Sharjah.

C in my Kitchen

I chose simple to post for C, some spices, seasonings that i use everyday in my kitchen, without which my meal wouldn't be flavorful and aromatic. 

Curry leaves, i add them while tempering and coriander leaves as garnish, both play vital role for that happy aroma that emanates from a Indian Kitchen. 

Cloves and cardamom, cannot imagine my evening tea without them!! Coriander seeds is what gives my curry that kick, that keep people taking about it!!

Thanks to Nature for the abundance and for the knowledge to accept and appreciate them!

Chillies, Chana Dal & Coriander getting ready for curry powder

Beginning in my balcony

Its been 2 years  now, since i started gardening. Not anything big, just a small green patch in my small balcony. Last year i had some tomatoes and capsicums along with flowering plants like hibiscus, rose and some spinach. 

This year i delayed planting tomatoes, now since summer has arrived, i might skip tomatoes this year. And with our annual vacation in june, i cannot see them dry out with little watering.

I have some flowering plants now and a small herb garden. 

I tried to capture their beginnings in my lens. 1000 mile journey begins with small steps, so here is to all new beginnings, including ours!!!

Rose bud, playing peek-a-boo

Purslane leaves, shooting up!! Reach for the Sky

Hibiscus, Budding up!!!

See you all on Sunday!

Art & Architecture

I started this blog to help me improve my photography skills and indulge myself in clicking something interesting apart from food too.  I still continue posting in FB page for this blog, but have long neglected this space. So, to nurture it again, i signed up for A-Z challenge for April 2016.

Starting from today i will be posting one picture everyday, with Sunday's off. Hoping to complete the challenge well. I dont have any particular theme for this challenge, it will be a random post that will be in alphabetical order.

Today i have some pics from our Tanjore/Thanjavur Visit.  Tanjore/Thanjavur is a city in the southern state of Tamilnadu, India. A city known for The Big Temple, The Chola love for architecture, world famous Tanjore Paintings and the list is endless.

Here today, i show you a glimpse of that timeless art & architecture that stands today, to tell us stories of our rich cultural heritage. 

The Entrance to The Big Temple

The Iconic Big Temple Tower , UNESCO certified Heritage Site,
The Tower is built in such way, that its shadow will fall on itself and not
on the ground, this was some 1000 years ago!!!! #Salute 

A watch tower behind Saraswathi Mahal,
 and also an arms storage.

Clock Tower near the Bus Stand

Painting inside the Central hall of Saraswathi Mahal,
made using natural colors, bright as new

Will meet you all with another picture-perfect post, ciao!!!

World Photography Day - Pykara Lake

The calm and the serenity of this place will overtake, your every sense and gives you a great feel!

Toy Train

A customary and a must-visit/travel places of Ooty,  is this Toy train ride, we too enjoyed this to the core!!!

African White Daisy

Loved these cute white daisies with purple center. Saw them everywhere in Ooty. They looked very pretty in that scenic atmosphere. 

Roots- Garden

Harvest from my garden. They call this red amarnath as 6-months keerai. They grow tall and its stem grows thick and they taste better when they are thick and luscious. The leaves and the stem are cooked separately as kootu or curry. Since i was leaving to India, i couldn't leave them unattended for such a long time, so, i harvested them last week.  For sure, home grown food tastes out of the world. 

Camera settings : Nikon D5100, 50mm lens, ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/1250.

A Show piece - Darbar(Mandap)

Its been long since i posted here. Recently had a chance to visit Sharjah Central Souk. Thanks to +Chef Mireille and her #TravelTuesdays, i got a chance to write about The Blue Souk. I have been in sharjah for 8 years but have never seen that place like this. 

So, in our recent trips, we came across an gift shop selling antiques and brass artefacts. The moment i entered the shop, this particular Darbar, got my eyes, i couldn't leave the shop without it.  Loved the very simple and elegant design of it. We have small collection of ganesha's with us, thought of using it there. 

Camera Settings : Nikon D5100, 50mm , f/4.0, ISO 200, 1/25s

Camera Settings : Nikon D5100, 50mm , f/4.0, ISO 200, 1/10s

Laughing Dove - Day 3 - Flora & Fauna

This cute laughing dove, had a small nest in a mint pot,  in our balcony. Last weekend morning, she patiently posed for my lens, while snacking on the bajra i left for her.

Camera Settings : Nikon d5100, 50mm lens, Manual Mode , ISO :100, f/3.2, 1/1000s

Here is another one, battling her eye-lid!! :)

Camera Settings : Nikon d5100, 50mm lens, Manual Mode , ISO :100, f/3.2, 1/800s

Day 2 : Saffron - Food

On day 2 of learning, I was busy clicking this saffron today morning.  After reading Sandhya's post on Clicking on White, i tried this, keeping what all i grasped from her post.

First i tried using a yellow board for the background, somehow didn't like the way pictures turned. Then changed to White board,

Shot using Nikon D5100, 50mm (f/1.8) ISO 100, Manual mode 1/40 s, f/3.5

Shot using Nikon D5100, 50mm (f/1.8) ISO 100, Manual mode 1/50 s, f/3.5

Day 1 : Nature : Flora/Fauna

A Photo blog has been in my mind, for a few months now. Though i m still learning my camera, i thought sharing and getting critics would improve my photography skills. 

Here is my first click. I have a Laughing Dove nest in my balcony. The father & mother take turns to guard the nest. This was taken today morning, when the mother bird came to relieve the father bird from duty. 

Shot using my Nikon D5100,  50mm lens, Manual mode, ISO 100, f/2.5