The Village

Quote: The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.
Author: African Proverb
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Some of my best summer vacations as a kid were spent in the country side - a welcome break from the city life - chirping of the birds to wake you up, neem stick for tooth brush, 3 hours of swimming in the huge village wells followed by "ice-biryani", to enjoy the cool breeze in the afternoon - enticing one to surrender to sleep under the shades of a Tamarind tree, to walk in the wet semi-solid rice-fields, to ride on bullock cart, to laze around in the river banks, fresh milk from cowshed.....

Despite the years rolling by, Periyappa (dad's brother), those moments which we shared together will always be evergreen.

This snap was taken last week, a few hours after I lighted his funeral pyre..........

Statistics

Thanks to all of you, we have for the month of May:

No of Unique Visitors: 2669
No of Page Loads: 4547
Total Unique Visitors since 5th March 2005: 6843

The Monk

Quote: He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
Author: Lao Tzu
Photographer: Shankar Somayajula

I am planning to cast my net today. I am keeping my fingers crossed. My dear visitors, can you pray for me? Lets see whether I can pull it off......

Meanwhile a lively snap by Shankar taken at Rumtek Monastery also called Dharma Chakra Centre (DCC) in Gangtok, Sikkim.

- Dheepak Ra

Potential

Quote: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
Author: Michelangelo
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This is from the snaps taken during the recent trip to Hyderabad. Its one among the several statues present in the Ramoji Film City (Asia's largest).

- Dheepak Ra

Anger

Quote: Anger: an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured
Author: Seneca
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Sorry for the delay - as mentioned earlier, I was out of town. Returned only a few hours back.

- Dheepak Ra

Decide

Quote: The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross & which to burn
Author: David Russell
Photographer: Krishan Kant

London bridge as captured by Krishnan.

I am breaking my routine and I am posting this a bit early (5.5 hours before midnight). Well I have no choice. I am leaving Bangalore for another day or two.....

- Dheepak Ra

Worry

Quote: Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Sorry for making you folks go on a diet for the past few days. No that is not the seat on which I was resting for the last few days.......

- Dheepak Ra

Pursue your dreams

Quote: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

May be this snap is too literal. But this reminds me of my school days :-( Wish I could turn the clock back - these are (or is it were) my neighbours in chennai, enjoying another round of cricket.

This post is dedicated to the gifted, literary blogger who is in software engineering instead of journalism/writing :-(

As you might be aware of the photographic expedition to Munnar came to an untimely end. To compensate, I will be out to Hyderabad for a few days. On Monday, I will try to post from the field (but no assurances) Wish you all a lovely weekend.

- Dheepak Ra

Pattern

Quote: Sir Herbert Read
Photographer: Debarshi Debnath

We must have come across such a scene pretty often. But have you ever stopped to gaze at it? Here we have Debarshi, capturing the scene for us. Thats a good one - trying to shoot day to day pictures.

- Dheepak Ra

The Veil

The veil that chides in
The mask that blends in
Fencing the borders
Saving thee but checkpointing thy
A simple smile after surreal mask of anger
Is it beyond thee?

- Dheepak Ra

Odds

Quote: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Photographer: Rajat Jaggi

Kashyap sent me this snap from Dharmasala shot by Rajat Jaggi. Thanks to both of you.

If you are wondering as to who the author of this quote is - he is an 18th century German playwright, poet, novelist and dramatist.

- Dheepak Ra

Art

Quote: Leonardo da vinci
Photographer: Dheepak Ra
Venue: Barista - Bangalore bloggers meet

Well its an art, isnt it? Though they reproduce this in every cup.

- Dheepak Ra

Shopping

Quote: Paul McCartney
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Its surprisingly difficult to resist the temptation of an unplanned purchase. Last such incident with me is the camera with which I shot this picture. Am I the only impulsive shopper out there?

- Dheepak Ra

Happiness

Quote: Sébastien-Roch Nicolas De Chamfort
Photographer: Arun Bettadapura Ramachandra

Remember the previous snap of Arun, this is another one from the same Oystermouth bay, South Wales.

- Dheepak Ra

Fate

Quote: French proverb
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

So let us take the bull by its horns......

This was captured during the Bangalore blogger's meet which I came to know at the last moment.

- Dheepak Ra

Statue

Quote: William Cullen Bryant
Photographer: Arun Narayanaswamy

Well this is the city of Mysore. With the palace as a backdrop, Arun had shot this snap. When I recieved this photo with the details, I was in for a surprise. Both of us were at the same place, at the same time, composing snaps with different themes. While he shot this picture, I was less than hundred metres away composing this picture. Of course we never knew each other at that time.

- Dheepak Ra

Happiness

Quote: Anonymous
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Remember yesterday is for historians
tommorow is for sci-fiction writers
today is for you and live it through.....
- Motto of Baejaar_Boyz

Wish you all a lovely day and beautiful week ahead.

- Dheepak Ra

Horse in the stable

Quote: French Proverb
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Isnt this too similar to the post on the boat in the dock? I am sure you wont mind for it raises a valid point.

This was shot in Mysore while we were recupperating after the accident.

- Dheepak Ra

Marital Bliss

Quote: Ann Landers
Photography: Amarjeet Kaur Virdi

For the last few days, I have noticed that some of my friends are a bit depressed or philosophical. To lighten up the spirits for all of you, I am posting this.

This post cannot help you in finishing off your exams in style, clearing up tumultuous relationships, making contracts and billing presentations interesting. It cant even help in getting through the job interviews but atleast I hope it plants a smile in your face.

This inviting cottage was framed by Amarjeet at Dalhousie. (I hope I got the spelling right) I have always wanted to goto Kashmir, Andaman by ship, Nepal/Tibet/Bhutan, Manali (not the one near chennai ;-) Till it materializes, I am travelling via these snaps. Thanks Amarjeet for contributing this one.

- Dheepak Ra

Apathy

Quote: Einstein
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Perhaps for the first time, I am posting a quote which I dont believe in. Or is there any subtle hint which I am missing out on?

This was shot near the entrance to Koshy's outlet in Brigade road - the best chat counter in Bangalore (atleat I like the taste). The compound wall was so tastefully constructed, that I am hurt by their indifference towards maintenance.

P.S: Sorry for the delayed post - yesterday some of the flickr servers were down. They provide excellent service, so exceptions can be tolerated.

- Dheepak Ra

Ambition

Quote: Helen Keller
Photographer: Shanmugapriya G

Pair of birds over a cruise liner near the Golden Gate Bridge, Sanfrancisco - preserved for posterity by Shanmugapriya. Thanks a lot for the wonderful photograph, its a pity that I had to reduce the resolution due to size constraints.

Even after several years, extracts from the autobiography of Helen Keller is still fresh in my mind. And I am sure it will be in yours too, atleast due to the movie "Black"

- Dheepak Ra

In Tandem

Quote: Henry Ford
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Two guys actively pursuing their hobby under the guise of a job. Watching them work beautifully as a team, I could instantly identify myself with them. I am also being paid for my hobby (programming) and I too repose a lot of faith in pair programming.

In the month of April, we have had 2248 unique visitors and 3224 hits. Thank you for your patronage.

- Dheepak Ra