Shots and spots

Just when i thought i should blog more, Blogadda has come up with a Travel Photos contest with Pringoo.Travel and photography are 2 things i adore, and cant get enough of. So, without wasting time i decided to sift through my computer, Picasa, and other albums, picking out the 5 best travel shots taken during my escapes!! 

 A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

The Vidhyashankar temple in Sringeri [one of the Mutts established by Sri Adishankara]. A temple that is an architecture marvel, and so beautiful that words fail to do justice. Every visit to Sringeri, i make it a point to spend some time in this beautiful temple. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural  styles. There are six entrances into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam [Raasi pillars] are arranged  in such a manner thathe sun's rays falls on each of them, in the same order as the solar months.

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"That is a lovely shot", Arun chimed as i showed him the picture right after clicking it. I took this picture, just outside the resort we stayed at in Bikode on a misty morning through the window of our Van. A lone tree that stood tall, facing the harsh winds and birds that came to make a home in it!! This was during the Hoysala trail last May, from Travelwise, led by Lakshmi and Arun.

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Hop skip jump, each step took us closer the clear waters, and gushing waves and beautiful open skies... Pathway to heaven, almost.. these steps took us straight to the beach.. The day we spent at Mahabalipuram, doing nothing, walking on the beach, laughing, playing cards, driving around is one day that i shall sure remember for a long time to come!! Though i've been to Mahabs many times earlier,this was the 1st time i stayed over- Good fun it was!

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The Bannerghatta Butterfly Park was truly a sight for sore eyes, and a dream come true for me! Watching the butterflies fly about, their colours filled my eyes. I kept moving the camera willing for them to sit still so i can take a shot, alas, they were restless creatures alright. So many varieties, so many colours, the Butterflies represent the true meaning of Freedom to me!! As we strolled inside the Bannerghatta Butterfly park conservatory, time flew, everything else was lost but me and the beautiful butterflies...

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Walking along the road towards my room, i spotted this beautiful couple, "Together even in the wild", i thought to myself!! Am sure someone had placed the tattered idol on the wall or someone had left it there... So many questions filled my head, but i was in AWE, which overtook everything else. In the cold Ooty, on a road that led to practically nowhere, this couple had managed to capture my heart!!

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There are more roads that i must walk on... more sights to see and more memories to collect!!For now, adios!!

Dreams do come true..

"Someday I will be a beauwtiful butterfly and then everything will be better." -Bugs life... 

My love for butterflies began...err.. actually, i have no clues when, but i just fell flat for these pretty evasive creatures.. The way they fly about, free, looking so beautiful  and mysterious....  The 1st sign of my love was getting a butterfly tattoo - yep, the day after my Bday i went right ahead and got myself one!! :) [now, dont ask me the cliched - did it hurt, yes, initial 5-010secs did hurt, but beyond that i just needed patience to sit still for a good hour! if its true that your tattoo does have an impact on your personality, then heck, am a living proof for that... my life changed, am so much more free now than i was earlier... ] ok, anyways, am digressing!!! 

Butterflies held me captivated wherever i spotted them and i had been wanting to visit the Bannerghatta Butterfly Park for nearly a year now, but everytime i visited Blore something or the other happened and i couldnt make this dream come true... Maybe the time hadnt come, and this time when i went to Blore on work, i told myself, i wouldnt think about the park and voila, the dream did come alive!! 

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

While talking to a friend of mine, we touched upon weekend plans and he said "So, do you wanna go to the Butterlfy Park saturday morning? " and thus began the journey that made me smile , actually grin. Saturday could not have dawned brighter, for i was up and ready armed with camera and heart beating faster at the prospect of being amidst a zillion butterflies.... 

The hour long drive to the Bannerghatta park went in a whiz, only pause was breakfast at Sri Krishna Bhavan across the road from IIM[B]. From there, it was straight to the park, and much to our surprise we saw the parking lot was near empty. My friend knew the Butterfly park was across from the zoo, and we kinda made out way towards the park. It was isolated and quite empty. The minute i saw the Butterfly Park board, i knew i was content~!!! The place looked pretty deserted, except for a few other souls like us with cameras and water bottles.

Actually we were surprised to see a few wanderers, again only those interested in Photography. In a way i was happy, cos crowds meant mess, and disruption of the natural habitat that the Butterflies enjoyed...

Opening the doors to The Conservatory felt like i was opening the doors to heaven... A gush of cool air welcomed us and then i saw nothing- only flutter of wings all over, here some, there some, everywhere some... wow,what a sight it was... Completely lost in the world, a sudden spray of water jolted me to reality. There was a guy who was watering the plants and  cleaning the place. Had my friend talk to him a bit, watched him place cotton dipped in honey on a fake plant kind of setting created in the center of the enclosure and watched the Butterfliy beauties flock towards it... The environment has a tropical setting — complete with the humid climate, an artificial waterfall on one end and plenty plants and shrubs that attract butterflies, 2 small bridges, and some fish floating beneath.

Spent over 2 hours wandering about, enjoying the beauty, watching the Pretty colorful butterflies flit about, some sat still as if waiting for us to click,while others ran from flower to flower thirsty for nectar..... An experience i shall cherish for years to come and i know now i will make repeat visits to this place!

As we walked out, back towards the car, the JLR[jungle lodges] restaurant caught our eye, and we made a beeline to grab a cup of Tea before driving back home~!! 

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.
Richard Buckminster Fuller 

A day like no other... Words and laughter was all i felt within me!! Perfect!! :-))

Hebbal - The lake beckons

As the day wore on, my cousin, Lakshmi suggested we go to Hebbal lake post the meeting.. Always game for a bit of exploring and photography, i umped at the suggestion, we packed our gear and as we were to leave home, the client called saying his daughter was unwell and he had to take her to the doctor... What this meant was more time to spend at the lake and we could leave earlier... :)

Knapsack- check

Cameras-my cybershot and her DSLR-check
Binoculars-check
Some cash-check
Our mobiles and housekey and we were off by 4.30... -checkcheck

Paid entrance fee and walked into the park, spotted a few birds on the ground -- the love birds..couples hidden behind bushes and a coracle left alone...

Our feet took us towards the water and there we spotted a few guys fishing.. one guy would reel the fish in dropping it onto the ground where another guy sat cleaning it up... A few yards away, we spotted 2-3 Brahminy kites, and in a few seconds they were in air, circling right above these guys and in a flash swooped down grabbed a fish and off it went into the sky.. Wow moment...!! 

Pulling out the binocs, we spotted a few Grey heron, Pond heron and a pretty looking Purple Swamphen. 

Why not go to the other side we thought and began exploring the park some more.. It was my 1st visit, and i found it calm n quiet .... Took shots of a few intersting flowers, the setting sun, the buildings beyond the lake and as we were beginning to settle in, a deep shrill whistle came floating in the air..It was time to leave..... 

As we rode back home in the auto, the sun was beginning to set, and we could see the lovely colours against the city scapes... Short yet sweet was what the visit was....!! :)

Could stare at them for hours as they went home... together!!! in sync.. what a sight...

Trivia from wiki: Hebbal Lake is located in the north of Bangalore at the mouth of National Highway 7, along the junction of Bellary Road and the Outer Ring Road (ORR). It was one of the three lakes created in 1537 by Kempe Gowda.