Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Birds of a feather....

During my recent trip to Hampi and Anegundi, i spotted quite a few birds.. Now i know i dont have the camera to take good pictures of these feathered friends of mine, but i did manage to get some shots.... hazy but what the heck!! :D 

Hampi is filled with water bodies, thick forests and mountains, which are perfect for birds to hide out in... We dint even have to go looking for them, the birds were there all around us.. Some looked like they were basking in the sun, while others were grazing in the paddy fields, and waiting for the odd fish to wash up in the currents in  the raging Tunga badra river.... 

 2 pied kingfishers on the wall

 1 more we saw near the water...[photoshoped by friend]


A cormoran sun bathing...

Weaver bird nests and a bird hovering about..


A shrike in the bush...

Another shrike on bush nearby, managed to get a better shot..


Another bird we spotted is a personal favorite.... and this time, we saw not one, but 7 of them that both Laakshmi and i were were wondering "whats happening"... :D 

Hoopoe....

We also managed to cross the river [in a coracle/parisal/round shaped boat] to explore Anegundi, a village known to be older than Hampi  and believed to be the mythical Kishkinda [monkey kingdom of Ramayana].. This i know cos Lakshmi was talking about it as we rode along.... 


bee eaters on a wire...How many do you spot??

Thursday, September 23, 2010

[Skywatch Friday] Raging river and shooting skies

Hampi is a land filled with heritage and history... Whilst we were there last weekend, the River Tungabadra was brimming and raging across the town.... 

I took these while we were out doing a bit of birding the morning we landed in Hampi...






For more beautiful skies, click on Skywatch Friday

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Monday, September 20, 2010

A dream comes true!

Visions of towering temples
Beautiful carvings on the rocks
Rows of pillars
Gushing waters
Fascinating Sloth bears

were images that flashed through my mind when i thought of Hampi.. A destination i had been wanting to visit for almost a year now!! Kept wondering if it will ever happen and when....... Had infact made a pact with my friend A that we will visit Hampi together..
The chariot in Vittala Temple

Out of the blue, the call from Lakshmi was all it took to regain my faith in "dreams coming true"... She called to ask if i wanted to come along to Hampi with her to try out the new Jungle Lodges property -Sloth Bear Resort and explore the place. I dint need more than a minute to make up my mind and excitement rushed through me....  
 The swing hanging from the tree high above and a doll on it.. at Mango tree, Hampi

I decided to visit the place, explore as much as possible in the 2days we were there and then go back for more.. [Detailed post and pictures once i reach Chennai]

Thursday, September 16, 2010

[Skywatch friday] Flags in the sky


It's Friday again... Time for some beautiful skies with Skywatch Friday



The Jagannath temple in ECR, Chennai is such a peaceful.. serene.. uncluttered.. not crowded place that one feels as if spending hours just sitting there! It has been built as an exact replica of the Puri Jagannath temple, and the priests hail from Orissa..

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

[Wordless Wednesday] Serene

This was shot at Hotel Harrisons, Chennai, near the entrance...Always captures my heart!!
It was taken on my  Blackberry!! :)

For more Wordless wednesday shots, click here

Friday, September 10, 2010

[Skywatch Friday] Blue judges!!

When you are stressed out
When you need a break
There is only one thing
That can bring a smile on your face...

Not just the camera
not just the travelers' shoes
But the beautiful skies
That fill our hearts with joy!!



The new lighthouse in mahabalipuram... 


The pillar with various Religious symbols from Dhyanalingam, near Coimbatore


Tower in Fort Aguada, Goa

Matri Mandir in Auroville, Pondicherry

For more beautiful skies, click here

Thursday, September 2, 2010

[Skywatch Friday] Sail along



Sit and stare
for hours together
watching 
those cute white fluffly bundles
sail along
the clear blue skies....


For more beautiful skies, go  to SkywatchFriday