Year: 2017

CFFC: View from the Side

This week Cee wants us to present views from the side for the Fun Foto Challenge. Won’t you join me?

Traffic
Outside a botanical garden near Darjeeling, West Bengal

Oops what have we here? One of the most picturesque traffic jams I have seen. My appreciation was probably enhanced by the fact that I was a tourist and on foot 😉

train
At a train station in Denmark

I thought we’d take the train but this one just whooshed us by. So…

Train
Toy train at Darjeeling, West Bengal

How about a ride on a steam locomotive from yesteryears? Come on, just hop on!

Bridge
Lucerne, Switzerland

Okay time to stretch our legs through a quaint wooden bridge

Castle
Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark

Check out some cool sculptures on the walls of a grand castle.

Koala
Darjeeling Zoo

Catch a glimpse of a hiding koala – or is it something else?

Bear
Darjeeling Zoo

A camera shy Himalayan bear to wrap up this fun tour 🙂 Which one did you like best?

For IPK fans and readers of SS here's Part I of A Chip off the Old Block

Thanks for visiting – hope you have a good day 🙂

APWC: Witch Craft

This week’s theme for A Photo a Week Challenge hosted by Nancy is something that has begun to interest me. The challenge is to share a series of the same photograph with different treatments. Amazing how a simple change in color can change the mood instantly. Have a look.

But do wait for the photos to download before scrolling down, slowly.

Humor me – please!

BWYikes!!!

VintageScary, interesting but not terrifying right?

ColorAdd a dash of color and she’s quite clownish don’t you think?

20170318_191743And just in case you have been wondering and were curious – that’s my original photo 😉 😀

Like Nancy says – It all depends on what you want.

Thanks for visiting – do share your reactions and preferences.

Have a great week.

Fall in Spring

It is technically the Spring season and Delhi is awash with colors as you may have seen here. Yet funnily enough, the streets and lawns are strewn with fallen leaves. I cannot but help thinking of it as symbolizing the simultaneous coexistence of the rich and poor, that if it is spring for some, it is fall for others. And if it is fall, can spring be far away?

Finally, I managed to find the perfect foil for spring.

BouganvilleaBougainvillea overgrows a lush green Gulmohar tree with the (almost) bare Peepal tree (I think) towering in the background. Hmm I wonder what color flowers this Gulmohar tree will turn into – red, orange, yellow, purple, pink…

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 279

Have a great week 🙂

WPC: Top of the World

The Weekly Photo Challenge hosted by the Daily Post has thrown up Atop. Taking the literal route, I bring some views from the top.

mtpilatusOn our way up to Mt Pilatus in Switzerland by the cable car, the obdurate spoilsport clouds insisted on obscuring the spectacular view – decided to begin by sharing my frustration 😉

FlowersA bunch of flowers sitting atop a pole as a peace offering 😀

FerrisA view of Vienna from atop the Ferris wheel

PragueA bird’s eye view of the picturesque city of Prague

birdAnd that brings us to the real ‘topper’ – don’t you agree?

Thanks for visiting 🙂

For IPKKND fans and readers of SS - there's a little something from DM's Desk. Do have a look if you are so inclined

COB: Trespassers will be Prosecuted?

Door tree
Photo (c) Punit Kaur

The door is clearly having a field day 😀 But I am really curious – what were they thinking? Any guesses? Wilder the better 😉

For Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge

Colors of Spring

It’s official – winter is over. It came back for one last thunderstorm, a shower of hailstones, forcing us to scramble for the packed up and tucked away woollies. A bummer. But may as well make hay while the sun doesn’t shine for once it does – it’s going to be hot, hotter and hottest. Stepping out, one is likely to get broiled, roasted and grilled in no time at all. Ah well, que sera sera. In the meanwhile, I look around me and marvel at Mother Nature’s way of celebrating the departure of the winter chill and the arrival of warm brighter days. Care to have a look?

BareBaring heart and soul, she squeezes out red blooms – check out the tips of her outspread branches.

20170310_074441She colors the world green

OrangeYellow and orange

Pink

And pink!

PinkThere’s even a dash of pink right outside my window 🙂

RedPeeping out from behind every building, every hoarding, every tree are these cotton tree (Bombax celba) flowers. If you are in Delhi, all you have to do is look up.

20170310_074130A splash of purple on the way to office.

In about a month’s time, taking cue from the summer sun she will wear the colors of the sun – watch this space for more :)

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful, colorful and joyous Holi – the Hindu festival of colors. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, departure of winter,  thanksgiving for a good harvest, a time to forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

Linked to Becca’s Sunday Trees – 278

WPC: I Wish

This week show us a wish – this is the daily post’s weekly photo challenge. What do I wish for? I have to confess I am a bit skeptical about wishes – Be careful of what you wish for, you may receive it” ~ W.W. Jacobs.

But a challenge is a challenge so as the sun rises on a new day, I will settle for a prayer:

WishMay I be so blessed that there is no need for me to wish for anything at all ~ D

If you had a wish, what would you wish for?

CB&W: Cees and Dees

Hello peepols howz life? Ready for some more black and white stuff? Cee’s challenge this week is C and D. Had a bit of a struggle this week, already took the airplane, the bus and the boat and walked it as well.

Hmm, now what?

CycleEco friendly stuff! What are you waiting for? Grab yours and off we go…

A cloudy dayA cloudy day but dont worry I wont let you get wet 😉

DesignerFirst a visit to a designer garden

CamelA double hump backed camel

CarrotsA carrot in each hand 😀

Castle

Ready to ditch the cycle and explore a castle? No? Yeah well me neither 😉

ChandelierWonder how chandeliers look when lit up?

Chandelier copyWell what do you think?

ChairsChairs in this stunning chapel look inviting don’t they?

CoconutHeeheehehawwhaaw

😉 😀

Thanks for joining in  – have a great weekend.

PS Do you think I put in too many photos?

SPF: Taking a Stand

04-dawnmiller-2-lingering-visions-5-march-2017
Photo (c) Dawn M. Miller

Taking a Stand

 Words 199

She woke with a jerk.

3.42 a.m.

Heart thudding, she slipped into the spare room to double check everything.

Done.

There was time to share one last cup of tea.

Her heart faltered as she looked around the kitchen.

Could she?

Should she?

What about him?

“What’s going on?”

“I am moving out.”

He laughed. “Who’d want a useless old hag?”

“I’ll manage.”

“How? You are too old for the brothel.” He sneered.

“Thank you for making it easier to leave.”

“Selfish to the core. What about the children?”

“They will understand. I hope.”

“After wrecking my life, you’re going to suck their blood?”

“I am going to live alone.”

“What about money? Going to beg?”

“I have a job.”

“Job! What can you do? Except spend money?”

“I am a chef for a home catering service.”

“A cook! Women of this house don’t to do menial jobs.”

“Outside the house you mean?”

“You’ll earn peanuts.”

“Enough for my needs.”

“What about your responsibilities, your vows?”

“Are they just mine?”

“What if I allow you to work?”

“Allow?”

“Let…”

“Let?”

“What could you possibly hope to gain? What don’t you have?”

“Respect.” She shut the door on his face.

***

Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair for hosting the challenge and Dawn for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.