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Scorpions

2006-03-26T04:29:00.000-08:00

Quote: Good drink... good meat... good God, let's eat!
Author: Dan Castellaneta
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

A surprising snap from a Vegan...............

I will leave it to you folks to guess as to what this is.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Disclaimer: No anthropod was harmed during this shoot.

Time and Love

2006-03-18T05:17:00.000-08:00

This snap is an exception. It doesnt fall under CC license since I am not able to trace the original source. If some one has ever seen this somewhere do let me know, so that I can give proper attribution for the same.

- Dheepak Ra

Miracle

2006-03-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

Quote: If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
Author: Buddha
Photographer: kaleidoscope

Kaldeidoscope (sorry didnt get the authorization to post her real name here) is my favorite photographer in the blogging community. I can't do justice, if I write something about how good her snaps are. You should check out the archives at her blog.

On the lighter side, if you can find the flower in that snap, it is indeed a miracle ;)

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Holi

2006-03-14T03:34:00.000-08:00

Quote: It isnt about colors; It is also about colors.
Author: Dheepak Ra
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

For you readers, this quote should be taken literally. Right now for me, its figurative. Sorry cant write anything now. But atleast let me wish you all a happy and colorful Holi.

- Dheepak Ra

Bridges

2006-03-12T03:40:00.000-08:00

Quote: People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Meera

A brige across the River Seine in France as captured by Meera. Thanks for sharing the same.

Its difficult to draw the inner circle. Its ever fluctuating like our current supply based on our moods and situations.

Literally speaking, a bridge can have a draw gate and a wall can have doors.......

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Cute

2006-03-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Quote:Cute enough to make u look twice,
Sweet enough but not always nice,
A little crazy but not too wild,
The kind of girl who'll make you smile
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra
Child Artist: Jiya

May be I should have posted this either on Women/Valentine/Children's day!!

I found this quote in my old collection. I dont know where I caught hold of this quote. I am sure I didnt pen it (my style is different - full of thees and thys :) ) Whoever he is, God bless him. I like these verses. I am sure everyone would have bumped into someone (should it be singular ;) ) for whom this verse will be meant for.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

P.S: Its ages since I have composed and posted a blog entry early in the morning (read 8am). And that to, I have come to office for the second consecutive day before 8am! No wonder Bangalore is realing with some good showers.

Ambition

2006-03-08T01:45:00.000-08:00

Quote: Women who seek to be equal with men, lack ambition
Author: Timothy Leary
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Another snap from the Barista which I am using due to lack of appropriate one for this quote. I am using this snap like an Upma. It was nicely explained by Mamooty (sorry about the spelling) in the wonderful movie "Azhagan".

Happy Women's Day folks........

- Dheepak Ra

Journey

2006-03-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

Quote: There is great meaning in life for those who are willing to journey.
Author: Jim England
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

GOD bless the kind souls who decided to host international conferences in Goa instead of the usual Bangalore :)

Monday's coffee might be cold but then cold coffee seems to be the rage these days. Dont worry I have got a better excuse. I was on vacation to attend my college mate's marriage in Chennai. I returned to Bangalore just today. So didnt have the time to hit the cafetteria.

Recovery, Smile, Pride, Purpose and now this one. When I started this blog, most of the posts used to reflect my mood and lately this has to changed for those around me. Some of them know that it was meant for them, whereas some dont (they dont even know that there is such a blog).

Instead of emailing, I share it via blog since I am sure I will be passing through the same phase some day or the other and I wanna place where I can return for solace and comfort.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Recovery

2006-03-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer: Shanmugapriya
Quote: Spread thy wings to reach the moon, Lift thy spirits to get well soon
Author: I have the honor of recieving the brickbats

Isn't it true that only when we are ill, we get some respite from the monotony and a chance to catch up with all the things we missed during our hectic life like watching those movies, the book which we purchased last month and some gardening. If nothing else, we can atleast take some extended nap.

This is another recycled snap of Shanmugapriya.

Regards,
Dheepak Ra

Smile

2006-02-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

Quote: Never frown, you never know who is falling in love with your smile
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I was browsing through my personal album when I stumbled across this. This was shot in my sister's house in Chandigarh. It was shot in the balcony with the light coming in from the north east quadrant.

It took me ages to make up my mind as to how to compose this post. The color version of this snap has lots of details and feels rich whereas B&W also has its own charm. Similarly I didnt know whether to use B&W fonts (like i finally did) or use yellow font (they make a nice contrast with grey scale pictures) Finally I decided to be selfish and restrict the color snap for my personal collection alone.

To be frank I had cropped out lot of stuff which is the reason it lacks clarity at this size. I had to zoom in to make sure that quote doenst overwhelm the picture. But I would love to view the same snap after zooming out. Thereby providing it with enough resolution.

Did you notice that the focus was on the hand instead of the face. If only I had been more careful.......

I have come across several variants of this quote before but couldnt locate the original source. I will place this quote among the top 5% of my collection.

I never got the Model Relase Form signed. I hope these kids wont sue me after a decade or two ;)

Last but not the least, sorry sis for having cropped you out of the snap. Official reason is to respect your privacy but to be honest I had to maintain the theme of the kid's innocent smile.

Pride

2006-02-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

Quote: It is better to lose our pride with someone we love rather than to lose that someone we love with our useless pride.
Photographer: Ramya Balaji

Thanks Ramya for the snap. If only couples realized this, marriage wouldnt feel like a journey over Bangalore roads. How often, have we seen couples fighting over petty issues just bcoz they dont want to be the first one to admit that they were wrong.

I bought my camera only after 10 days or so since I started this blog. So during the initial week or two, I used free images from the internet. And a peacock snap was my second post.

Though I sometimes wonder whether it is right to associate pride with Peacock. I havent read any paper on Animal Behavior. So I shouldnt be crucifying this poor bird. After all didnt Blake say "The pride of the peacock is the glory of God".

Wish you all a beautiful week ahead.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Purpose

2006-02-23T06:54:00.000-08:00

Quote: If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there
Author: Proverb
Photographer: Vikas Y. V.

Here is a snap of a village street in Switzerland by Vikas. I was guilty of having this snap with me for ages bcoz my blog went into hibernation. So finally I am resurrecting his beautiful photograph for the series.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Serenity

2006-02-21T02:44:00.000-08:00

Quote: Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Krishan Kant

Jeeva sent me this snap today. Krishan had taken this in Greece in a beautiful island called as Santorini. The photograph's filename had serenity in it. So I am using the same theme for the quote and thereby in the post too.

For those new to this series, Krishan had previously posted one snap here.

I was stuck in some consultancy work, so the post has to wait till the evening. But then its Krishan's birthday today and so better late than never.

Wish you a beautiful birthday Krishan from Jeeva, me and everyone else.

Regards
Dheepak RA

Experience

2006-02-19T07:02:00.000-08:00

Quote: The stars the moon and the sun...so old, so wise. Think of what they've seen
Author: E. Paluszak
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This was shot on the way to the Airport. I was to join my relatives for Pongal Celebrations in the middle of the Jan when I feasted on this. At first glance, it stumped most people as to how I shot this :)

Wish you a beautiful and bright week ahead.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Imagination

2006-02-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

Quote: The quality of the imagination is to flow and not to freeze
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photographer: Shripriya Raghunathan

The few days of break is partly bcoz of work load and mainly to maintain my posting rate of 3 per week (typically for mon, wed and fri morning)

And my sad posting elicited the most viewership I have ever had this year - 240 unique visitors on 14th Feb alone. Hey folks, do let me know whether you prefer to see such posts. I am pretty bad in understanding my visitor's tastes.

Cheers
Dheepak Ra

Love

2006-02-13T04:46:00.000-08:00

Quote: True Love burns the brightest, But the brightest flames leave the deepest scars
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

For the very first time, I have recycled an image which I had posted earlier. But then for a change, I started with a quote instead of picture.

I shouldnt have sounded so pesimistic on Valentine's day. But this is just one side of the coin. There is another beautiful face to it. After all Love is like a flame, it all depends on how we handle it. May be I will make up with a cheerful one soon.

Wish you all a lovely valentine's day.

Cheers
Dheepak Ra

Rang De Mehndi

2006-02-12T05:51:00.000-08:00

Photograph: Vijayalakshmi Rajendran

Thanks viji for the beautiful snap. I am guilty of slightly editing it to concentrate on the theme of the post but I am sure you will forgive me.

I am sure all of you know where this title was lifted from. I watched the movie without even knowing the meaning of "Rang De Basanti". Infact I was surprised when even my colleagues admitted that they weren't sure about the exact meaning. Only later on I figured it as "Paint it Yellow" where Basanti is the yello color due to the mustard's flower blooming in full swing.

Anyway here Mehndi is applied to a bride for marriage. Isn't it amazing as to how a properly designed mehndi, can enhance the grandeur and elegance of the bride? I know it is supposed to be feminine but as a kid, I used to say fight for equality - literally. Which meant that I sported mehndi once in a while. Though no one had the patience for such intricate patterns - it was more of few circles, blocks etc on my hand. One can compare it to the cave paintings :)

Now I am restricting to applying mehndi for others. Anyone with a scissor can cut an hair, yet everyone goes to saloons. Similarly any one can do this, but for best results come to me for Kolam and Mehndis (or "marudhani" as it is called in Tamil). Satisfaction guaranteed :)

And if you are sudasudacoffee reader, I will offer special discounts. Just quote "ssc-a12c" as offer code at the time of billing......

Flock

2006-02-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

Quote: Men are like sheep, of which a flock is more easily driven than a single one.
Author: Richard Whately
Photographer: Charlie Zhang

My colleague from Shanghai shared this snap for the series. Unfortunately I had to crop the clouds a bit since the ratio wasnt sufficient to squeeze in a horizontal quote.

How many of you believe this quote? I would have prefered to add "some" to the begining of the quote. But then left it after seeing the way our stock market is moving. Eventhough the fundamentals are reasonably strong (as long as you ignore the oil prices and the possibility of confrontation between US and a host of countries like Iraq, Iran, Palesting, N.Korea) still it doesnt warrant the way some of the stocks have appreciated recently. I think most of the stocks are over valued and they deserve a correction.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Fishing

2006-02-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

Quote: Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Photographer: Arun Ramachandra

I was just browsing through my hard disk when I noticed this nice snap sent by Arun last year. That reminded me that there are quite a few snaps contributed by visitors and colleagues which I havent posted yet. So let me start with this.

Thanks Arun for the snap.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Roses

2006-02-05T05:21:00.000-08:00

Quote: I'd rather have roses on this table than diamonds around my neck.
Author: Emma Goldman
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I used this slightly modified version of Emma's quote for this snap of a Goan evening.

What a wonderful place to sit and sip a cup of coffee.

I am waiting for my company to start a branch there......

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Bookshop

2006-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

Quote: Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
Author: Austin Phelps
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I first read this in a book mark which came along with the books I purchased in this shop. Everyone has their own favourite bookshops. During my academic days, it was the majestic Higginbothams in chennai. Immediately after I came to Bangalore, it was Prism book shop. Eventhough there is Strand booksore in my office campus itself, I usually goto either Landmark in Forum or Crossword in MGRoad. Particularly the latter has its own charm.

Also the CafeCoffeeDay in Crossword, has a nice ambience.

I was just recollecting the beautiful writings of George Orwell and on of his works was about a bookshop where he worked.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Party

2006-01-29T00:36:00.000-08:00

Quote: Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance
Photographer Dheepak Ra

Another snap taken during my school friends gettogether in chennai last year. Empty hall was due to my non-compliance of IST !!!

- Dheepak Ra

Wine

2006-01-24T21:12:00.000-08:00

Quote: Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence
Author: Robert Fripp
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

For teetotallers like me, music isnt a bad alternative...........

The swirling liquid is actually tea from Cafe Coffee Day (forgot the flavor). We had black tea being swirled into motion and then milk was gently added in a stream. That is why the different bands are in different colors. Thanks to Ashok and Geetha for that.

- Dheepak Ra

Change of Heart

2006-01-22T01:02:00.000-08:00

Quote: Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken.
Author: Albert Camus
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I am sure this quote might strike a chord with quite a lot of people. Though I am not ready to stake a stand on that issue.

Coming back to the snap, it was shot during the bangalore get together with Ashok. During our school days, I vividly remember him able to bend all his fingers till the very end. Myself, Geetha and Ashok were waiting in coffee shop for others to join us, when this was taken.

Look at the stains in the desk - may be I should have asked him to pose elsewhere. As some of you might have noticed, I hate flash. Partly bcoz my camera has a very poor flash lux and even more so bcoz I didnt have reflectors to avoid harsh lighting. Anyway at that time I was shooting anything and everything - so didnt have the time to concentrate on any one shot.

Wonder how many of you have the dexterity like this guy? Atleast my finger doesnt go back more than 45 degrees.

- Dheepak Ra

Stage

2006-01-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Quote: All the world's a stage
Author: William Shakespear
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I am sure 90% of the young crowd in Bangalore would have seen this place, atleast in passing. Its none other than the famed Kaveri Emporium (yeah I think there is a spelling mistake here) Its located in the junction of Brigade Road and MG Road making it an ideal landmark to meet others.

This was shot when my school mate - Ashok was down here for vacation.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Makar Sankranti

2006-01-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This is the time for thanking God for previous harvest and praying for another good year of farming. Eventhough the essence is the same, it is celebrated in different parts of India under a different name. In Tamilnadu it is Pongal, in Punjab it is Lohri and rest of India it is Makar Sankranti.

This snap was shot in my office right in front of Amphitheatre where they staged a wonderful program to celebrate the same.

- Dheepak Ra

Conference

2006-01-12T04:45:00.000-08:00

Quote: Our work is the presentation of our capabilities
Author: Edward Gibbon
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Continuing the same series - this was shot in HiPC 05 (High Performance Computing) conference held at Goa.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Get together

2006-01-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

Get together, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: Get together for much to remember
Author: Thats me
Photography: K. Aneez Ahmed

It is the Alpha school get together organized on 31st Dec 2005 at The Residency, Chennai. It was held after such a long time that I got to meet some of my school mates whom I had never met in the last seven years!!!!

My special thanks to the folks who made this happen and also to those who made it for the get together.

- Dheepak Ra

Relax please

2006-01-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

Relax please, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.
Author: Sydney J. Harris
Photography: Dheepak Ra

True indeed. This snap was shot during a conference in Goa. Its a private beach of a hotel where the conference was hosted. Unfortunately due to tight schedule, all I could do was capture snaps like these.

Anyway let me sign this off before I start cribbing too much......

Dheepak Ra

The Train to Goa

2006-01-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Train to Goa, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: The only way to be sure of catching a train is to miss the one before it.
Author: G.K.Chesterton
Photography: Dheepak Ra

This is the beautiful Konkan Railways stretch and to be specific the Goa station. I am sure you wont mind me calling it as beautiful after looking at yesterday's snap.

And this snap is dedicated to Shakeb who is going to catch a train to New Delhi today.

Cheers
Dheepak RA

Calm

2006-01-03T03:15:00.000-08:00

Calm, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote:
Sometimes God calms the storm,
sometimes He calms the sailor

Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This was shot from a moving train in northern karnataka. It lacks detail but still loved that misty feeling lingering in the air. Though it doesnt get depicted so well when I had to condense it to some 80kb size.

New Year

2005-12-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

Quote: Let the setting sun take your worries away; And the coming year herald bliss in your way
Author: Who else can write so badly - of course its me
Photographer: Dheepak Ra (shot in Goa)

Atlast its time to come out of my deep slumber. Four months!! I wonder whether I have beat the sloth bear in the record for hibernation period.

I cant recall having taken any new year resolution till now. However this time, I have decided to choose one - "No matter what, I will continue this photoblog till 31 Dec 2006!" They say that NY resolutions are meant to be broken. However I am ready to give it a shot.

Folks, dont let this sloth get back to sleep.....

Hey I still havent written the reason for this post - to wish you folks a lovely new year!!!

Blossom

2005-09-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

Blossom, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: As seedlings of God,
we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven.
Author: Russell M. Nelson
Photographer: Rajesh

- Dheepak Ra

Stardom

2005-08-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

Stardom, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."
Author: John Wooden
Photographer: Gokila

One of the memorable snaps straight from Pondichery.

- Dheepak Ra

Calories

2005-08-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Calories, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: The best way to lose weight is to eat all you want of everything you don't like
Author: Anonymous
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This was shot while I was waiting to catch up with my friends in front of Shakes & Creams in Chennai.

- Dheepak Ra

Patriotism

2005-08-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Patriotism, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism
Author: George Washington
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Shouldnt it be imposters rather than impostures? I guess you folks can enlighten me better.

Anyway I dont mind as long as the poor chap earns some money in the lead up to the independence day.

This was shot in Chennai - during my brief sojourn there.

I am sorry I didnt post on 26th. But then I am sure you will forgive me for not working during the night of my birthday.

- Dheepak RA

Palace

2005-08-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

Palace, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail
Author: John Donne
Photographer: Shripriya Raghunathan

One among the first few snaps taken by Shripriya after she bought her new cam.

- Dheepak Ra

Patterns

2005-08-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

Patterns, originally uploaded by baejaar.

Quote: To understand is to perceive patterns.
Author: Isaiah Berlin
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Dear Readers,

My apologies for the unscheduled downtime of this blog. After all I am an ordinary mortal and sometimes I too lose interest. Thanks to all for your encouraging emails, I think its time I pulled up my socks. So after 7 missed posts, here is a snap from the famous "Spencer Plaza" in Chennai.

- Dheepak Ra

Significance

2005-08-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Quote: What you do may seem insignificant, but its important that you do it.
Author: M.K.Gandhi
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This is from Ambala - the old city which seems to revolve only around an Airforce base and the DAV college. I think I was the only tourist in that town last month but then those mundane places have a charm of their own ;-)

- Dheepak Ra

Change

2005-08-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Quote: Some people change their ways when they see the light;
others when they feel the heat
Author: Caroline Schoeder
Photographer: Vijayalakshmi

Another snap from Vijayalakshmi and its one of the best snaps, I have ever seen in a long time. I liked this snaps so much that I have posted two snaps from Vijayalakshmi in succession which I have never done before.

- Dheepak Ra

Trust thy purpose

2005-08-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

Quote: God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.
Author: John H. Aughey
Suggested by: Deepika Gangiti
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Another snap from the recent trip to Pondichery.

This blog has never failed to surprise me - it has got me in touch with my junior in college, reunited my lecturer with classmate, met my cousin's classmate, my college mate via school mate. I am wondering as to what's next.........

- Dheepak Ra

Perspective

2005-08-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Quote: We now know a thousand ways not to build a light bulb
Author: Thomas Alva Edison
Photographer: Vijayalakshmi

Thankfully my manager too understands this. Those days of fiddling around with OGSA-DAI and DQP are pretty fresh in my mind and I am sure in my colleagues too ;-)

- Dheepak Ra

Sunset

2005-08-08T00:23:00.000-07:00

Quote: The setting sun, and music at the close,
As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last,
Writ in remembrance more than things long past.
Author: Shakespeare
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This was one of my favorite snaps of the recent Pondichery trip. After all I had to sacrifice sleep and wake up at 5am!!!

And no thats neither me nor my friend. It was some unfortunate guy whom I decided to capture - yeah without his knowledge.

- Dheepak Ra

Poetry

2005-08-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

Quote: Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted
Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Photographer: Friend of Charlie Zhang

My poetry is just the silence.

- Dheepak Ra

Release

2005-08-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Quote: Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.
Author: Harry Emerson Fosdick
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Some pleasures are sometimes unmatched ;-)

Anyway this was shot in Chandigarh in July.

Sorry about the delayed post. Just recuperating from illness, so cant keep up the timings.

Now let me rush, my friend has been calling me for a photo session for quite sometime. Need to complete it before we pack up for the day.

- Dheepak Ra

Elephant

2005-08-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

Quote: When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.
Author: African Proverb
Photographer: Ramya Balaji

This is from the Bannerghata National Park in Bangalore.

- Dheepak Ra

Dil Chahta Hai

2005-07-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Photographer: Adel

Another snap from Honnemardu meet which I am using to express the mood I was in.

During the weekend, I had been to Pondichery for yet another "blogger's meet". Let me wait for some one to pen it down instead of trying to poke around with words. I wish you folks had seen the day break in the beach, it was awesome.

Anyway its the begining of the week and let me start working.....

- Dheepak Ra

Farming

2005-07-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Quote: You can make a small fortune in farming - provided you start with a large one
Author: Anonymous
Photographer:Srinivas

This is just a joke and please treat it as one.

- Dheepak Ra

Reflection

2005-07-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

Quote: Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous
Author: Confucius
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I think this was the longest voluntary blogging vacation which I have ever taken. Anyway thanks for all your wishes. I had a wonderful time too.

Here is a serious quote to begin the day when I have to complete my serious pending works....

- Mau Bhaiya

Vacation

2005-07-20T01:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers

As usual I am travelling on yet another vacation - northern fringes (thats a slight exaggeration though) of India. I will be away till next thursday. Whenever I get net access, I will keep updating the blog. However my advance apologies, in case I am not able to.

Regards
Dheepak Ra

Harmony

2005-07-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Quote: Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left
Author: Aldo Leopold
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Join me in celebrating "Botanolgist Day".

And let me add this is another one from the same blogger's meet at Hoonemardu.

- Dheepak Ra

Fair Foul Fog !!!

2005-07-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Quote: Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Author: William Shakespeare
Photographer: Srinivas S

This is another one stolen from Srinivas's kodaikanal trip collection. Hush!! Lets keep this as a secret between us ;-)

- Dheepak Ra

Habits

2005-07-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Quote: A habit cannot be tossed out of the window;
it needs to be coaxed down the stairs, one step at a time.
Author: Mark Twain
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I wish the former is true. I have personally seen lot of people whose determination and will power isnt enough to get rid of some of the habits. As for my bad habits, they are also the ones which are considered as good by some.

- Dheepak Ra

Self Confidence

2005-07-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Quote: Nothing splendid has ever been achieved, except by
those who dared believe, something inside of them is
superior to circumstances.
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Shilpa Kulkarni

Shilpa Kulkarni's snap in Switzerland while travelling in golden-pass train. Thanks both for the snap as well as selecting the quote.

- Dheepak Ra

The Critic

2005-07-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Quote: A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.
Author: Jean Sibelius
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Another one from the Ramoji Film City - Hyderabad.

- Dheepak Ra

Faith

2005-07-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Quote: Pray to God, but continue to row toward shore.
Author: Russian Proverb
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Another photo which slipped through while I was uploading in the blogger's meet post

- Dheepak Ra

Hope

2005-07-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Quote: Hope is the pillar that holds up the world
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Krishan Kant

A post for my friend who had to recently take down the blog. Even when the pillars begin to fail and even when the world seems too heavy to bear, never give up hope. Strengthen the pillars, renew your hopes and I am sure the problem isnt as insurmountable as it seems.

Yeah I know - reply to yesterday's comments are still pending. Will do that as soon as I manage to squeeze in some half an hour of free time.

- Dheepak Ra

School

2005-07-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Quote: Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.
Author: Albert Einstein
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This snap is from the trip to Shimoga. This school was shot when the toy train stopped at one of the stations. While others had a nice time joking with the "conductor", I explored the village and found this school which is situated between Shimoga and Talagapa.

How many of you agree with this Einstein's quote? I will share my views at the end in the comments.

Update:
Let me rephrase the question. Is there value for money (in this case value for time) present? I mean we do get to learn things in the current education setup. But is it worth the time we have spent there? Are there any alternatives?

Meanwhile check out this blog Wannabrowse Thankfully it is being restarted and maintained by Kausalyadevi.

- Dheepak Ra

The road to hell

2005-07-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Quote: The safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts
Author: C.S.Lewis
Photographer: Shrinath Nagarajan

A beautiful photograph by Shrinath which some of you might have already recognized. I was just wondering about the quote - isnt it true? We never even realize it until its too late.

- Dheepak Ra

Birthday

2005-07-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

Quote: A true friend remembers your birthday but not your age
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Ira and Shakeb celebrating their birthdays.

Shakeb was the first model who freelanced for this blog.

Shakeb & Ira, dont worry. I have a really poor memory..........

Regards
Dheepak Ra

The Dance of.......

2005-07-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Quote: And she finally stopped playing their song, when she realized she was dancing alone.
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Another shot from the famous bloggers meet at Honnemardu

- Dheepak Ra

The fields

2005-07-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Quote: The ordinary is the writer's richest field.
Author: William Somerset Maugham
Photographer: Prabakar Venkataraman

Wondering which adjective is more apt - Interesting/beautiful/artistic?

While you can decide on that, let me dedicate this post to those of you who have left a deep impact in me with the measured use of words in your blogs. You know who you are and I dont have to reproduce it here.........

- Dheepak Ra

The Cart

2005-07-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Quote: Never put the cart before the cow.
Author: An Old Proverb
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Due to work related pressures, my blog hopping as taken a back seat. I will be checking your sites but it will be only once in a week and I might have to leave without commenting too. Till my work reduces, please bear with me.

- Dheepak Ra

The Night

2005-06-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Quote:
Night is the time to weep,
To wet with unseen tears
Those graves of memory where sleep
The joys of other years.
Author: John Florio
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

For those who have experienced this, no words are required.
And for those who havent experienced this, no words can explain it.

- Dheepak Ra

Statistics for June 05

2005-06-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

Unique visitors: 3858
Page Loads: 6899

No of Pictures: 22
No of Comments: 347

Total No of visitors since 05 March 05: 10701

Sweet

2005-06-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

Quote: The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet.
Author: Chanakya
Photographer: Srinivas

This quote was to be sent by sms to my friend but then I changed my mind and decided to share it with everyone.

- Dheepak Ra

The Train

2005-06-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Quote:
Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus."
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

This toy train between shimoga and talagappa, gives me an opportunity to post another of Emerson's quote.

This picture was shot on the way to a bloggers meet. This "train-bus" had stopped in one of the stations for a break. We not only took chai leisurely but we chit chatted with the train's guard. And we lazed around, cracking jokes and passing time - all along the train waited for us. When even ministers find it difficutlt to make a train wait for them, we achieved it. Its a special feeling isnt it?

- Dheepak Ra

Burden

2005-06-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Quote: Don't pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Kalesh Mahendrakar

A routine scene frozen by Kalesh is the base for today's post.

- Dheepak Ra

Break Free

2005-06-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Quote: Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding
Author: Kahlil Gibran
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Let me start this week, this snap to bring you out of your shell - to which you must have sneaked into during the weekend.

Dheepak Ra

Thanksgiving

2005-06-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today we have crossed two milestones:
10000 unique visitors and 16000 page loads.

Very few would have known the circumstances under which I started this blog. When I sit back and think about it, I have to agree that "Everything happens for our own good". If it werent for that, I wouldnt be here, sharing a cup of coffee everyday with you.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you all for having been with me through the ups and downs of this series. Starting from my first Model Shakeb to the last reader of this site, thanks a lot. I am sure you will accompany me in the long journey ahead.

My writings are bland at the best and ******** at the worst. So let me curtail this post here.....

- Dheepak Ra

Hard Work

2005-06-24T10:33:00.001-07:00

Quote: If you don't scale the mountain, you can't view the plain
Author: Chinese Proverb
Photographer: Damodaran Shanmugam

Its not often that I serve "coffee" in the night but then I have never worked so hard for the last two years........

- Dheepak Ra

No Smoking

2005-06-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Quote: Looks cool? Remember looks can kill..... Literally !!!
Author: Dheepak Ra
Photographer: Vildan Uysal, Turkey via www.sxc.hu

I just missed the no smoking day. So to make up for it, let me declare this week as no smoking week. To commemorate it, we have this "poster".

- Dheepak Ra

Optimism

2005-06-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Quote: The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.
Author: William Arthur Ward
Photographer: Hariprasath Manivannan

Looking at this island, I am tempted to remain as a pessimist ;-)

- Dheepak Ra

Censorship

2005-06-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Quote: Censorship, like charity, should begin at home, but unlike charity, it should end there.
Author: Clare Boothe Luce
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

I am sure you must be tired of my snaps from Hyderabad (atleast I am). So today's picture is a preview of some of the snaps to come - the result of my trip to Honnermadu (I hope I got the spelling right - it never sticks in my mind)

To add to this shot, this is in Talagappa - 16 kms from the venue of the blogger's meet. We were waiting for the bus and I couldnt resist a quick stroll to the near by fields.

Will update you all soon - right now I am stuck in some work.

- Dheepak Ra

Co-Exist

2005-06-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

Quote: Man is a complex being who makes deserts bloom and lakes die
Author: G.B. Stern
Photographer:Suma Jahagirdar

Let this snap from Keukenhof, flower show, Holland by Suma begin our week.

- Dheepak Ra

Abandoned

2005-06-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Quote:The road to positivity is strewn with the abandoned vehicles of the faint-hearted.
Author: Peter McWilliams
Photographer: Ashok Narayanan

This abandoned car was shot by Ashok near Budawang National Park in New South Wales, Australia. Its interesting to say the least.

Have you come across such vehicles before? Next time when you pass through a civilian court in India, keep your eyes open. Most of the confiscated (for small crimes) are left to rust while the case drags on........

As usual this weekend too, I will be out of Bangalore for vacation. Will catch you on Monday.

- Dheepak Ra

Echo

2005-06-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

Quote: If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Photographer: Anindito De

Doesnt Anindito's snap reveal the peace and calmness which is all prevailing in Munnar?

This snap also reminds me about my munnar trip. I need to complete that trip soon.....

- Dheepak Ra

Stand Tall

2005-06-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Quote: A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Thanks to all of you for the numerous snaps which are being sent for this series. Now I have enough photographs to last a month. In order to reduce the backlogs, I have started to cut down on my snaps (which you might have noticed). However once in a while, I will be intruding with snaps like these from Ramoji film city to remind you that I still exist.

- Dheepak Ra

Honor

2005-06-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Quote: Honor is like an island, rugged and without shores; once we have left it, we can never return
Author: Nicholas Boileau
Photographer: Dhanalakshmi

A photograph from the incredibly tempting Singapore brought to you by Dhanalakshmi. I took the liberty of merging it with the French critic's quote.

- Dheepak Ra

Ambition

2005-06-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Quote:Keep your feet on the ground and your thoughts at lofty heights.
Author:Peace Pilgrim quotes
Photographer: Shanmugapriya

Is it a coincidence that the previous snap by Shanmugapriya was also used by me for "ambition"? This one is from the Sastha Dam - looks pretty good.

BTW I had left the details about the previous snap as a comment itself.

- Dheepak Ra

The Flower

2005-06-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

Quote: Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature
Author: Gerard de Nerval
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

So here is the weekend challenge. Can you guess as to when or where this image was shot? Most of the answer is already available in my blog. However lets see as to who is the first person who can either find/guess it.

[Hint: Its in Hyderabad only.....]

Will announce the solution in my next post. Wish you all a nice week end while I start on another outstation trip this weekend.

- Dheepak Ra

Shy

2005-06-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Quote: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
Author: Thomas Gray
Photographer: Kalesh

Havent we seen this before?

"gilli-thanda" kids rivaling our cricketers in hand-eye co-ordination

Women "cat-walking" with pots of water in a dusty desert

Slogging in the fields, village "RJs" breaking into an impromptu song to forget their tiredness

.......

- Dheepak Ra

Until.......

2005-06-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Quote: A bell is not a bell until you ring it
A song is not a song until you sing it
Love isnt love until you give it away.

Author: Oscar Hammerstein II
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Just wondering, do we share our love or give away our love? Also do we have any expectation during love or friendship? Feel free to comment - experience no bar ;-)

- Dheepak Ra

Garden of Life

2005-06-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Quote: Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall.
Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.
Author: Unknown
Photographer: Amarjeet Kaur Virdi

Before I start with today's post, I wanted to point out yesterday's comments. It seems as if I have found a college mate of mine via blogging. Separated by two years during college and 1000s of miles now during PG, its incredible how we bump into each other. Waiting for a chance to rag this guy :-)

Thanks Amarjeet for this snap shot near Renukaji resorts (I hope I got the spelling right) Remember her previous snap? It was the one on Marital Bliss.

Folks, I have a scoop for you - an exclusive write up. The author is a familiar face to most of us, well known for her crisp, sharp writings. Churning out heart wrenching and emotional "stories" using the simplest of words, its a refreshing read. Guess who?

Yep its Meera. For the minority who still havent discovered her creations, head straight to Lapsus Linguae Her blog speaks for itself especially the archives. (atleast much better than all the superlatives which my mind can churn out at this unearthly hour)

Meera's Corner:
Now, here, when the world is slowly getting used to the indolence the weekend brings with it, I find myself making linear patterns, across the corridor of thoughts, the confluence of all rooms in the apartment. Ideas are born, in this small passage, in much the same way streaks of light pour in from the sly gaps in the curtained windows from the rooms opening into its length. It is a distance shaped by the sole purpose of connection and empty of everything besides the energy of my strides back and forth. My eyes gently take in sights around me, so languidly, that each becomes an entity of its own, one stretch of discrete consciousness where the underlying pattern of events take a backseat and the actors walk to the forefront, sometimes in glaring colors and noisy idiosyncrasies, sometimes in silent choreography in mute acceptance to the decrees of fate. In one moment stretched in time when beginning and end are forgotten, I watch life through the windows of the apartment.

The huge window in the bedroom opens into the play park, with its mazes and sliding boards providing routes of escape in the side. Swings made of worn tires, now repainted to look new, are surrounded by little children, some with pigtails in merry printed frocks and divided skirts, some with summer crew-cuts in shorts and sneakers, all with missing teeth, a sign of growth, of life in its ascent, of fierce energy, rising in defiance. I move on in my journey onward from the bedroom to the kitchen, where the window reveals the stone path around the play park. There are low benches surrounded by cool shrubs, where I see a bunch of teenagers talking. Suddenly they break into a song. Some more songs follow. They are probably indulging in a game of Antakshari. From where I stand, I can see the immediate gleam of washed stainless steel utensils fading into the background to give way to the careless children and the sound of their hum. I guess the lyrics from the tune. Any glaring mistake, any lack of uniformity is muted by the time the sound waves reach my ears.
I move on to the hall, the window of which faces the window of an apartment in the building opposite. A man, very old, probably in his eighties' walks slowly, his walking stick keeping him company with its dull thud, a pillar of support. He is searching for something. He looks unsure of himself. As he bends down, he holds his hips in gentle support and peers at the lower racks of the book shelves. He calls out to someone in the inner room. She walks in. She is older too. In her hand, she holds a tray with two cups of coffee. She walks slowly into the room, shrugs and finds the book her husband, presumably, had been looking for. They sit at the table near the window and sip the coffee. During the comfortable silence that ensues, there is communication beyond words, one that is possible only among fellow travelers through life, who have spoken enough to have graduated to this realm of companionable silence. I am captivated by the silence that encapsulates me. She looks out, in a continuous gaze, from her husband. Our eyes meet. A smile, a nod, a flash of recognition of parallel lives being led, suddenly meeting by a strange interplay of facial muscles, having its origin in some hidden corner of the mind, a snapshot of an instant, that does not stop but instead magnifies the cycle, the inevitability of movement, the path onward.

I continue my pace back and forth, across rooms, across seasons, across the kaleidoscope of sight and sound that dance in front of me, across people. Like Time, it leads me from fall to spring and back.

- Meera

-------------------------------
Compiled by Dheepak Ra
-------------------------------

Isnt this like the politicians cutting the ribbon after the engineers and labourers have toiled hard to build a beautiful structure? ;-)

Statue

2005-06-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Quote: I would much rather have men ask why I have no statue, than why I have one.
Author: Marcus Porcius Cato
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Yet another statue!!! I can see you folks grumbling down there but isn't (wasn't) India a land of statues, saints and snake charmers?

I have always wondered whether the statues have any significance except for acting as a circular median in a junction. Eventhough it may not have significance to those who pass by it everyday, for visitors/tourist its a great way showcasing our history - atleast pointers to them.

If only we took better care for our statues/monuments. Though please dont judge based on this photograph. This was shot while trying to utilise the few seconds which I was stuck in the middle of a road in Hyderabad (where else). I seem to have a great ability to devalue whatever I see through my cam. My colleague for whom I shot some "proposal" portraits, might readily attest this :-).

- Dheepak Ra

Phoenix

2005-06-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

Quote:
The stone unhewn and cold
Becomes a living mould,
The more the marble wastes
The more the statue grows.

Author: Michelangelo
Photographer: Dheepak Ra

Yet another photograph, yet another statue from the Ramoji Film City. These are some of the few consolation for braving the May heat in Hyderabad.

If you take a closer look, in the back ground there is even bigger statue on a pedestal. Unfortunately that entire area was cordoned off in anticipation of the scheduled wedding in the evening.

- Dheepak Ra

Uno

2005-06-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

Quote: A single flower can be my garden...a single friend, my world.
Author: Leo F. Buscaglia
Photographer: Srinivasa S

I took the freedom to replace "rose" with "flower" to suit this photograph by Srinivasa. He had a nice quote by John Ruskin for this snap. However I am not revealing the details. Check out his blog today.

And thanks to all those who emailed in regarding "casting my net". Unfortunately I cant reveal the details now. All I can say is that it was applied for on Tuesday itself. Still waiting for results - will keep you updated.

- Dheepak Ra

The Village

2005-05-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-25T05:51:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

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