Milwaukee Diaries : Benches in a Park

Milwaukee Diaries : Benches in a Park, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Knee Deep Snow and a sunny day, perfect for walking around and feeling the chill in the air !

My Life is a Glass wall !

My Life is a Glass wall !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

The people in it are the water drops on it...

Everyone has their own space in it,
Everyone stays and goes, some longer and some for short times,
Some evaporate and some trickle down,
While all of this happens life stays !

Every smile I see

Every smile I see, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

adds a few minutes to my life !

She was the elder daughter of our boatman in Vrindavan...

p.s. need B/W conversion tips, lessons. Please feel free to rubbish this photo if need be, however do tell me how you feel the presentation can be improved

Restful

Restful, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

I was just wondering !!!

I was just wondering !!!, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

If its ok to look at myself with just one open eye

Having Fun...

Having Fun..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

doing what I do is on the top of my list these days !!!

One Of Us...

One Of Us..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Its easier to be with people when you don't behave like an outsider !

K(not)

K(not), originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

At times a stronger rope is NOT what we need,
What we need is a stronger knot !

Chail Bihari

Chail Bihari, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

He manages a small space where people can park their vehicles near the Ghats in Vrindavan.. is dressed in Khakis with a whistle to help people park !

Another one of the happy souls that I met on my roadtrip !

p.s. I think the image is darker than I would like it to be, but any more light and the parts on his face would feel burnt... Help please !

KrishnaKant

KrishnaKant, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Happy in his own world, people like Krishnakant force one to think if the things they are running after day and night are really worth it or not... The more I meet people, the more satisfaction and happiness I see at various levels.

Had a strong urge to do the usual presentation here, but it would have taken the Chandan (Sandalwood) colors away from the picture, so decided not to !

Once upon a time..

Once upon a time.., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

The Arms which work hard to earn, were called arms !

And today?

Delicate Threads Strong Faith

Delicate Threads Strong Faith, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

This just proves how small things can keep our faith firm !

These are the threads that people tied around the Marble windows in Fatehpur Sikri at the Mazaar of Khwaja Saleem Chishti when they pray for something!

Customs like this are popular at various other places as well in India...

e.g. In Uttarakhand there are temples where people tie bells in the temple compound when they wish for something. In two temples in Uttarakhand (Golu Devta Temple in Bhowali, near Bhimtal and another one at Chitai) people even write letters and leave them in the temple compound !

There might not be a scientific explanation to all this, but when the mind really believes something will happen, small things like tying a thread or writing a letter can make it happen !!!

Hope everyone has a very positive Monday and a week/year/decade and so on :)

God Bless !!!

Some Metal and some Luck

Some Metal and some Luck, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

These are Horseshoe's nailed on the Wooden Door of Buland Darwaza... Horse shoes are said to bring Good luck in many cultures around the world, and they should not be brand new ones... they have to be used.

Mostly I have seen they are nailed in the shape of a U. Probably saying Good luck to "YOU" :) I don't know really...

p.s. I do not think this is a good picture in terms of composition. This completely fails in capturing the amount of horseshoes that were there on the doors, but still posting it as this is the only picture I took of them !

Perfection : Not a brick less not a stone more!

Perfection : Not a brick less not a stone more!, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

I think this was the motto of the craftsmen who worked at Fatehpur Sikri and 100s of similar other sites !

Seen above is the ceiling once you enter the Dargah of Salim Chishti through Buland Darwaza (Previous photograph)

Buland Darwaza @ Fatehpur Sikri

Buland Darwaza @ Fatehpur Sikri, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

The Buland Darwaza ( or the Great Gate), the world's largest gateway, is approx 54m high and 35m wide.

On The Other Side..

On The Other Side.., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

You've moved on to the other side friend, I cannot see you clearly enough... but I know you will be around somewhere !

Dedicated to one of my very dear friends, who passed away yesterday... I somehow don't believe it yet, and am still hoping someone is just playing a prank !!!

Saw some green felt some blues !

Saw some green felt some blues !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Not sure what he was thinking sitting there in Fatehpur Sikri when the world around him was busy moving !!! I guess he just took a time out to think !

Of Life Of Death

Of Life Of Death, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Some under the weight after death, some carrying it when they are still around !

Deewane Khas @ Fatehpur Sikri

Deewane Khas @ Fatehpur Sikri, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

This is where Emperor Akbar used to have the meetings with his important personal...

I wish I could see one meeting in progress, what grandness, what royalty !


p.s. This small size picture is not doing justice to the place at all !!!

Pillars @ The Fatehpur Sikri

Pillars @ The Fatehpur Sikri, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Pillars make an important part of the architecture at Fatehpur Sikri... What you see here is the place from where Mughal Emperor Akbar used to see the performances of his Musicians

A Reflection Man Made !

A Reflection Man Made !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

One of the many mirrored corners at Fateh Pur Sikri.

FatehPur Sikri

FatehPur Sikri, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Mountains...

Mountains..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

are the God's way of telling us "I AM" and taking pictures of them is our way of acknowledging :)

Dream !

Dream !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

seen from the NH 58 just after an hours drive from Rishikesh towards DevPrayag!

Simplicity

Simplicity, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

is a function of Character...

Shubh Deepawali

Shubh Deepawali, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

This Deepawali, hope you find a reason and a way to light up the dark corners all around !

God Bless !

Wishing a happy, and a well lit Deepawali and life to everyone !

Rough Lives...

Rough Lives..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Someone from the streets of Shri Badrinath. The rope that you see on his shoulder is used to tie the goods that he carries on his back, from one place to the other. Needless to say, this is one of the toughest things to do on hills. Every rupee that he earns is a result of very very hard work!

God Bless !

Listen

Listen, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

when no one is speaking !

Street Stylist

Street Stylist, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

One of the makeshift Barber shops in Shri Badrinath. A haircut here would cost just about half a dollar!

Triangles

Triangles, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

One of the flags at Shri Badrinath Temple.

Why are a lot of flags associated with religion triagular?

A Door A Bell

A Door A Bell, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Shri Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand, India

Shri Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand, India, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Santosh Kumar Negi - Shri Badrinath

Santosh Kumar Negi - Shri Badrinath, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

He runs a small make-shift shop there where you can buy religious offerings for the Shri Badrinath Temple.

Door to Spaces

Door to Spaces, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Known and unknown !

The entry of the Shri Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand India.

Pressure (potato) Cooker !

Pressure (potato) Cooker !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Potatoes getting boiled in a pressure cooker for Paranthas (Indian stuffed Bread)

Fire Power !

Fire Power !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Just one of the many ways to warm up a diesel engine before starting your car on an ultra chilly morning :)

Taken in Badrinath, and I am not going to try this EVER on my car :)

The Glow

The Glow, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

from the first Kiss !

St Paul Cathedral

St Paul Cathedral, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

The St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul Minneapolis Twin Cities

Couple !

Couple !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

p.s. I am going to be away from the Internet/Phone/Laptop etc for the next 4-5 days !

Take good care till then ! God Bless !

...

..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Still !

Still !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

p.s... this image is also a good example of "what not to do" while taking pictures !! the right top corner has something which was there on the lens and has messed up the picture !!! something to look out for, when you can take a second picture !!! i did not, and ended up with this as my final image !!!

Toad(aly) Wooden !

Toad(aly) Wooden !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

And yes, the colors are coming back slowly :) Thank you everyone for a very encouraging September with the B/Ws !!!

These toads are handcrafted somewhere in Thailand, and when a wooden stick is moved on the groves on the top, it makes a sound which is unbelievably similar to the croaking of a toad !!!

The Days are dark..

The Days are dark.., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

but the hope stays !!!

Delhi Diaries - Smiles from the streets

Delhi Diaries - Smiles from the streets, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

One of the many smiles that I managed to captured in the daily flower market in the Fatehpuri/Khari Bhaoli Area in Chandni Chawk.

Bit less sharp than how I would have liked it, but I still like it for the smile that I managed from a complete stranger !

Where do I go? Who do I ask?

Where do I go? Who do I ask?, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

When would you stop killing people who have done nothing bad to you?

Angry and Helpless on yet another bomb blast in Delhi!!!

He is there... in different sizes different forms !

He is there... in different sizes different forms !, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

Naughty

Naughty, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

and happy about it :)

Falling in Love...

Falling in Love..., originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

is easy when you don't have much on your mind !!!

Wish I could fall in love like a child again !

Let's enjoy ! Shall We?

Let's enjoy ! Shall We?, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

I bet once you are on the swing, you cannot think about anything else but just live the moment !!!

Shelter

Shelter, originally uploaded by ~OM~ ॐ छाया चित्रालय.

I wish no one in this world stays without one !!!

Amen !