One of the most active tourist spots of Bangkok, Thailand. It is also called the House of Reclining Buddha as it has this huge buddha statue in a reclining position. As is the grandeour with the buddhist temples spread all over Bangkok or that you would find anywhere in the world, the whole temple has intricate and stunningly beautiful yellowish architecture that makes it look as though the whole place is made of solid gold. Well, it actually closer to that because most of these are gold plated.
This temple houses Thailand's largest reclining Buddha and the maximum number of Buddha images (394 actually) in a Wat. For beginners, Wat = temple.
It was originally built during Kind Rama I and rebuilt during the reign of King Rama III. Well, about this King Rama and a lot of history about Thailand and conenction with India, I'll post another entry.
Thsi reclining buddha has 108 postures intricately carved in his feet. They are all made of Mother of Pearl. Its just not the Buddha statue thats of interest here, but there are a whole lot of other things around this place that is breathtaking. Take for example, the 4 stupas that were built to honor the great King Ramas I & II. Seems each Rama had built a big stupa with the King Rama III building the biggest one of them all. After that
he had ordered no more stupas by any future kings. (How mean!). There are also around 91 chedis/belltowers scattere around the entire surrounding.
This place also has a library and is known for the Thai Reflexology method of massage. (You can get one done there too). In fact, their knowledge of massage is displayed in the outside by a statues of sages in poses of self massage(pics follow). This whole place is spread around 20 acres of land and the architecture of the buildings are so awesome that you are ledt to gape in wonder !!!
Trivia:
This was one of the last stop during our sight seeing trip of Bangkok, the next last one being Wat Arun. Therefore, many of use were tired having strolled thru Grand Palace and the city of bangkok. Inside we got to eat some very nice fruits neatly packed in plastic bags and I got one of a pack of mangoes with all the chilli powder and salt in it much to the annoyance of others who couldnt eat things so hot. HEHEHE !!! Also, we bought some few bells, but I would suggest you wait and buy souveneirs in Chinatown unless you are like chikuado who buys them at the respective places. But you should know to bargain which she knows and I actually have no clue what it is.
Tkts Cost - 20 THB / person
Some interesting links
http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/attractions/watpho.php
http://bangkok.thailandtoday.com/sightseeing/08_0003_watpho.html
History buffs, click on the Detailed description HERE. Its very interesting.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
A new Series - a small primer !!!
Since I came back from Canada in september, I have taken a couple of breaks from work and went on Trekking in Nilgiris and a wonderful vacation to Thailand and Malaysia.
I have always wanted to write travelogues, however, I'm so crunched for time these days. I havent still got my Laptop and car to Blore and I dont hope to get it till next weekend when I go to chennai. And even after that I'm not sure how much of a travelogue I would write. Therefore, I have decided to update Bim-Bam with pictures and a detailed write up of each place and links on the Net so that you can read more about those places and be informed when you happen to visit them.
I'm starting with the Truly Asia Vacation and leaving the trekking details for later.
Obviusly, the whole of the write up will be done by reliving the moments with who else other than the Only One - "Chikuado"
Our route map was
Chennai - Bangkok - Pattaya - Bangkok - Penang - Langkawi - Penang - KualaLampur - Chennai
Time Oct 29 - Nov 6
Note:
I'm not going to maintain the chronology of the places we visited. The posts would be in no particular order.
I have always wanted to write travelogues, however, I'm so crunched for time these days. I havent still got my Laptop and car to Blore and I dont hope to get it till next weekend when I go to chennai. And even after that I'm not sure how much of a travelogue I would write. Therefore, I have decided to update Bim-Bam with pictures and a detailed write up of each place and links on the Net so that you can read more about those places and be informed when you happen to visit them.
I'm starting with the Truly Asia Vacation and leaving the trekking details for later.
Obviusly, the whole of the write up will be done by reliving the moments with who else other than the Only One - "Chikuado"
Our route map was
Chennai - Bangkok - Pattaya - Bangkok - Penang - Langkawi - Penang - KualaLampur - Chennai
Time Oct 29 - Nov 6
Note:
I'm not going to maintain the chronology of the places we visited. The posts would be in no particular order.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Uncompleted
I have never painted colors before, atleast tried once or twice with acrylic but with oil paints, never. I decided to try for the first time with oil, one reason it gives plenty of room for errors and can be broken at will and continued. (Am I not lazy *hehehe*)....This picture here is oil on canvas started, with no idea of when I would finish. Particularly, the amount of cleaning the brushes and the palette required has literally put me off and infact I cursed myself for deciding to continue later on this.....I did more cleaning than the time I spent on the painting....After all, I cant spend all my money on brushes....
No reference here from which I paint this....just a roadside view of a barren land with the trees offering shelter with the rocks as chairs.
Hope to complete it sometime in the coming weeks.
No reference here from which I paint this....just a roadside view of a barren land with the trees offering shelter with the rocks as chairs.
Hope to complete it sometime in the coming weeks.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Hand
Yay !!! Thats my hand, errrr, I mean the wax model of my hand !!! I did this in Niagara for 15$. Well, that was a sick sign. I actually wanted to make a "O" with my thumb showing a sign of approval. But just before dipping my hand into hot hot wax, I guess I moved my fingers....
This is how they did it....I dipped my hand in ice for 2 mins. When it was numb, the lady applied a lot of vaseline on my hand and then straight dip three times into hot wax and leave until it solidifies and then remove it and fill it with dry wax. Thank God, when I had wax on my hand, I thght while removing I wld be waxed of the hair on my hands...Forget how sick it would look, getting the hair on my hand removed - Gosh I can kill myself than being "Waxed" *hehehe*
This is how they did it....I dipped my hand in ice for 2 mins. When it was numb, the lady applied a lot of vaseline on my hand and then straight dip three times into hot wax and leave until it solidifies and then remove it and fill it with dry wax. Thank God, when I had wax on my hand, I thght while removing I wld be waxed of the hair on my hands...Forget how sick it would look, getting the hair on my hand removed - Gosh I can kill myself than being "Waxed" *hehehe*
Harry Potter
This pic is dedicated to Nat - a Harry Potter fan whom I had promised a gift on my Photo blog
:-). This is one of the statues that was very real.
:-). This is one of the statues that was very real.
Wax Museum
On the streets of Niagara, I stepped into the Wax Museum of stars. AH, there were so many pics that I took, but am not posting all of them.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Majestic Maiden
This is one of my favourites of the snaps that I took this time. Pristine pure, innocent beauty and overwhelmingly powerful - thats what this maiden is all about !!!
Tempest
The maid of the mist. This is one helluva ride....
For some reason, whenever I see this snap, I get reminded of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
For some reason, whenever I see this snap, I get reminded of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
SKylon - Candian View
The magnificient horse shoe falls from the skylon.
I like this snap better than any I ahve taken of Niagara.
I like this snap better than any I ahve taken of Niagara.
Skylon American View
Last time around, I did not visit the Skylon tower....
Here is the American falls view from the tower.
Here is the American falls view from the tower.
CanadianView
This is the magnificient Canadian Falls. This is the closest I could get and still get the horse shoe in my humble Sony P92 View finder.
The place was way too misty that day that I was so totally drenched and most of my pics werent that good, owing to the mist settled on my camera. Boy, I must have been crazy to even open it in that mist. I guess I was trying to give myself a reason to invest on a Nikon D70s. *wink*
The place was way too misty that day that I was so totally drenched and most of my pics werent that good, owing to the mist settled on my camera. Boy, I must have been crazy to even open it in that mist. I guess I was trying to give myself a reason to invest on a Nikon D70s. *wink*
American View
Following is going to be a series of pics of my recent visit to Niagara.
This is my second time to the falls. THe first time, I got to do only the Maid of the mist and Journey Behind the falls. However, this time around, I had time to go around the main street and have some fun.
Here you see the The US falls of the Niagara.
For more facts about the falls visit \,
this site.
This is my second time to the falls. THe first time, I got to do only the Maid of the mist and Journey Behind the falls. However, this time around, I had time to go around the main street and have some fun.
Here you see the The US falls of the Niagara.
For more facts about the falls visit \,
this site.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Interesting Contrast
I was amazed at the amount of contrast the sky produced.....one half was firey orangish yellow and the other plain clear blue sky...
Evening sky
We were at BelleVille Water Front festival, watching the Drums and Bugles...It was a bright day and the evening sun brought in some colourful display with a bunch of clouds trying to move in....
Nice lunch
Ah !!! Its been so long since I had this most implest and quickest form of lunch....Woke up late and was bored to cook ......made this south indian (tamilnadu) speciality ....Rice with lemon and grated carrots (again with lemon) ....Yeah, dont u know, I'm addicted to lemon !!!
Approaching storm
No means I consider this a sketch.....but WTH, I did it *wink* ....REcently I had driven down to drop a couple of guys(Am I a official chaffeur or what? ) at Wonderland and was supposed to pick them at 8:30 PM...I came there sharp and waited till 10:45 PM (yep, mean guys they were and patient guy wasnt I? During that wait I tried to see how a willow charcoal flows on paper...Believe me, though I like pencil sketches a lot, charcoal can be very messy to handle....one of the toughest medium.....
Monday, July 04, 2005
Squirrel
Last friday, I was alone and thought I'll try learning few basics in sketching. My reference was the squirrel picture my friend took a while ago. The exercise was to learn how to draw thin hairlines. I'm pretty much happy at the output on the right *smile*.
Materials I used are 2H and 6B pencils on a Acid Free Sketch book
Things I liked about this pic was the
1. eyes
2. hair lines of the tail and rear limbs
Things I think I need to improve are
1. proportion - look at the original, the head is not shaped like a traingle at all, as it should have been
2. the sketch must be a little brighter
3. Have more patience *nods myhead diligently*
Materials I used are 2H and 6B pencils on a Acid Free Sketch book
Things I liked about this pic was the
1. eyes
2. hair lines of the tail and rear limbs
Things I think I need to improve are
1. proportion - look at the original, the head is not shaped like a traingle at all, as it should have been
2. the sketch must be a little brighter
3. Have more patience *nods myhead diligently*
Friday, June 24, 2005
Haunted Resort
Ok, this is the Haunted Resort - I think the name is Pearl Valley Resort ( Muthayala Maduvu means Pearl Valley). One crazy place I have ever visited. Just wanted to click this snap so that in the event DV ever thinks of making a horror cinema, this would be the best place. A set of cottages that can give you goose bumps.
Another Sunset
This again during the MuthayalaMaduvu trip. This place says there is a waterfall...We finally found that. We had to climb down around 800 steps to reach it, only to find what else, plastics and broken beer bottles and the water tripping like a carefully set intravenous injection. When we climbed up it was dark and here you go - an amazing sunset.
Sunset
When my friends dropped in from Pune, chennai at different times, it was 3:00 by the time everyone came. So we decided to go to a near by place called MuthayalaMaduvu. Dont know where Romi came up with that place, we ran through rough course and amazingly no road to reach a resort. When we reached there, it was haunted - yep, thats exactly what I would say. We could see hints of habitation in the buildings - doors were open but no one around...It was an errie place. Lots of cottages but none but a hunger stricken dog hanging arnd ....With three beautiful girls....(ok, I was made to say this) along, it wasnt a place I would be happy to snoop around.
Awakening
Another Sunset I clicked when I stayed in my friend's apartment on Bannerghatta Road !!!*sigh* would i get that apartment back? Nah !! Its already been rented out !!!
Misty Morning Bangalore
Well, if you had been following my other blog ( For those who follow only my photo blog, yep, I have one where I write too), you would ahve mostly identified with environmental issues now and then and that I love nature. Now I'm starting a series of pics of sunrise and sunset here.
This picture was taken when I had invited a bunch of my friends - 3 dangerous girls and one poor guy (ofcourse other than me) to my apartment in Bangalore before I left for Canada. This was taken the morning after we finished our Hogenekkal trip - a relaxed lazy morning all of us waking to see the sun from Haritha's balcony after a tiring previous day.
This picture was taken when I had invited a bunch of my friends - 3 dangerous girls and one poor guy (ofcourse other than me) to my apartment in Bangalore before I left for Canada. This was taken the morning after we finished our Hogenekkal trip - a relaxed lazy morning all of us waking to see the sun from Haritha's balcony after a tiring previous day.
Fort House
One of my dreams is to become a builder. I have a variety of ideas to furnish a house and my usual style or liking to achieving that is to work on a theme. One thing for sure when I build my own house is that rooms would have themes and u cld well be surprised with completely contrasting yet colorful themes in the rooms.
This picture in the side is a house built aesthetically in chennai. If you wlak down the thiruvanmiyur beach, you will see this house. We took on that day when me, chikuado, DV and archana went for a earlymorning jog - me going for the jog after reaching chennai in the morning. I like the owners taste and the style and dream to build it.
This picture in the side is a house built aesthetically in chennai. If you wlak down the thiruvanmiyur beach, you will see this house. We took on that day when me, chikuado, DV and archana went for a earlymorning jog - me going for the jog after reaching chennai in the morning. I like the owners taste and the style and dream to build it.
Colourful Family
They say a good family is like a University ( Ok, tamizhans wld know the proverb).
This is a colourful family. They were standing outside - whereelse, Quebec downtown street - a shop. They were tall huge statues joining hands. Wonder if they would be safely standing if it had been any other place :-)
This is a colourful family. They were standing outside - whereelse, Quebec downtown street - a shop. They were tall huge statues joining hands. Wonder if they would be safely standing if it had been any other place :-)
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Tiranga
This is the flag I painted. Its a make-shift flag we used for the F1 Race. Well, we couldnt get a Indian flag after 2 hr searching on Saint Laurent street on saturday. So, while going to the metro to catch the train to F1 Circuit, we dropped at Walmart, bought the crayols and used one of the white towels to draw the Indian Flag - yeah sans the Chakra !! George wore this on him. We used one more to write down "Narain" too ! It was unfortuante he cldnt finish the race, nevertheless to be on the circuit is an achievement in itself. They did 305kms in 1.5 hours with an average of 200km/hour - Do i ahve to tell you about the curves??? And believe me they lose 2-3 kgs after every race - thanks to the gforce and the mental concentration that is needed.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Sunset
hmm....well, instead of posting F1 pics I'm actually posting our way back from Montreal - the reason, most of it is available as videos *grin*
I guess I was in creative mood...while coming back....Is there anything I need to do to make sunset look good - Nah!!!
But this sunset is interesting because, it was taken when the sun was still bright and I still was wearing my sunglasses - not to mention that we were travelling west and the side of my face was being burnt with the sun rays.
When i looked thru the glass and at the sun with my sun glasses, I was seeing distincitve pattern of clouds like sand which was not visible with naked eye. So, I used my sunglass as the filter for my camera lens and here you go !!!
I guess I was in creative mood...while coming back....Is there anything I need to do to make sunset look good - Nah!!!
But this sunset is interesting because, it was taken when the sun was still bright and I still was wearing my sunglasses - not to mention that we were travelling west and the side of my face was being burnt with the sun rays.
When i looked thru the glass and at the sun with my sun glasses, I was seeing distincitve pattern of clouds like sand which was not visible with naked eye. So, I used my sunglass as the filter for my camera lens and here you go !!!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Image
Well,
no prizes for guessing why this blurred picture is up on my blog. Thats the Chevy Suburban we were driving back from the F1 race at Montreal last evening. This huge truck passed by during a slow moving traffic when I, sitting in the navigator seat found our entire car in the wheel covers of the truck.
Here is it now !!!
no prizes for guessing why this blurred picture is up on my blog. Thats the Chevy Suburban we were driving back from the F1 race at Montreal last evening. This huge truck passed by during a slow moving traffic when I, sitting in the navigator seat found our entire car in the wheel covers of the truck.
Here is it now !!!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
VDay
It was on Victoria Day that we went to Quebec. We were visting the battlegrounds on that day when the whole of the city was either away for the long weekend or were enjoying their day off. However, there was a celebration by firing the canons with dummy shells and we witnessed it.
This picture was again taken by my roomie who after one or two futile efforts snaped the camera right at the time of shell being fired.
This picture was again taken by my roomie who after one or two futile efforts snaped the camera right at the time of shell being fired.
Painted Wall
If you had read my earlier post, I dont ahve to say much about this at all. Yet another one in Quebec downtown, where I also incidentally made my dream come true by buying a Hat for myself. Now, dont ask me what I would do with it when I come back - I know ppl wld think I'm crazy to ear one in India - but it wld be a possession *smile*!
This picture is amazing in the fact that so much of emotions have been captured through various characters. Name an emotion and you will find it there !!!
This picture is amazing in the fact that so much of emotions have been captured through various characters. Name an emotion and you will find it there !!!
Quebec street
I have an affinity towards anything that is French. French wine, french architecture, paintings and do I have to say about French women *grin*. So, there is little wonder I like Quebec - the heart of french settlement in Canada. It has the Eurpoean charm written all over the city especially in the Quebec downtown.
The picture that you see is one of the art forms that you would see a lot of people do in Quebec. I actually came across quite a few painters in Montreal(Old) and Quebec. The paintings were found on the walls of the building in those narrow streets. Look at how the painting has been infused with life.
The picture that you see is one of the art forms that you would see a lot of people do in Quebec. I actually came across quite a few painters in Montreal(Old) and Quebec. The paintings were found on the walls of the building in those narrow streets. Look at how the painting has been infused with life.
Mesh
This picture was taken at the Biosphere in Montreal. Its a place like Birla planetorium in chennai and its fun !!!
It ahs this huge sphere made of the mesh that you see here. It was interesting to look at the sky through those meshes and hence you see it now in the blog !
It ahs this huge sphere made of the mesh that you see here. It was interesting to look at the sky through those meshes and hence you see it now in the blog !
Squirrel
Well, this snap was NOT taken by me, neverthless, I'm posting it here bcos, it was taken in my Camera. It was pictured by Vikas - my roomie - during our trip to Mont Royal in Montreal. Sounds familiar, yep, Montreal derives its name from Mont Royal the highest place to get a peak of the town. No need to mention, this hill was scenic and we went there and waited for the other car to join us - which eventually they never did. While roaming around - we almost hiked the entire place and walked close to atleast 5 kms following a restaurant sign to come back to the same restaurant which we were standing next to and was closed :-p. We also happened to see French wedding which I seem to be lucky enough everytime. Oh well, while waiting, there was this squirrel that was having its share of food for the day. And it was quite bold - probably used to lot of vistiors around - letting us come so close near to it. It did allow, but always had a watch on how far we came - Look at the eyes.....The moment we crossed the boundary it kept for itself, it wld keep the hands(or is it legs) down as if to run and we wld back away. The closeness it allowed and the zoom in the camera produced this. Wonder what it wld be thinking about the human's curiosity or would it?? I'm sure that wld be an unsolved mystery for me !!!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Pencil Rose
Well, I finally started to teach myself some sketching.
Medium : Acid free paper
Time : 10 minutes
Pencil : HB 0.5mm and 6B
(Well, I didnt have any other pencils with me ...hehehe)
This exercise was to teach myself the lighting and shading. However, it was just my mind which obviously didnt consider the effects of light on the original source. The source was the rose on
Trouv's blog.
Hopefully, will produce few more sketches as part of self designed exercise program !!!
Medium : Acid free paper
Time : 10 minutes
Pencil : HB 0.5mm and 6B
(Well, I didnt have any other pencils with me ...hehehe)
This exercise was to teach myself the lighting and shading. However, it was just my mind which obviously didnt consider the effects of light on the original source. The source was the rose on
Trouv's blog.
Hopefully, will produce few more sketches as part of self designed exercise program !!!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
(E)Merged a Rainbow
I have vivid memories of rainbow - the colourful display of mother nature. This again was captured enroute Montreal two weeks back. I can just look at the rainbows forever and have been doing so since childhood. However, I have never ever seen a complete rainbow until then. A bane when you live in a city and that too a crowded one like Chennai/Blore I guess and never a one where all the seven colours were clearly visible. Here I was watching a full version of the rainbow - It started as half visible and as the roads curved, it danced to our left and right - a colourful dance - and it was like playing catch-me-if-you-can with us and was growing bigger and bigger that I realised it was no longer small enough to fit into my lens.....And as we neared it, I found a thin second rainbow on top of it.
-
oodal konda mukilanangalin kannir perukko?
athuve vanavil ennum nirathin sangamamo?
-
I had to play around with the two images to produce this one. This has actually kindled my interest in digital photography...and I'm working on making this merged image a perfect one. I use GIMP ( GNU Image Manipulation Program) and I'm new to imaged editing and working with layers. Anyone got any advice to remove the colour difference in the lines etc....I can send the two original images if you want to paly around.
Any suggestions on getting started with image manipulation and any pointers to any other softwar is welcome - Only freewares and sharewares pls....I do not have money to buy nor inclination to use pirated copies.
-
oodal konda mukilanangalin kannir perukko?
athuve vanavil ennum nirathin sangamamo?
-
I had to play around with the two images to produce this one. This has actually kindled my interest in digital photography...and I'm working on making this merged image a perfect one. I use GIMP ( GNU Image Manipulation Program) and I'm new to imaged editing and working with layers. Anyone got any advice to remove the colour difference in the lines etc....I can send the two original images if you want to paly around.
Any suggestions on getting started with image manipulation and any pointers to any other softwar is welcome - Only freewares and sharewares pls....I do not have money to buy nor inclination to use pirated copies.
Sunset I treasure
Well, this is one of my favourites and unarguably one of the best sunsets I have ever captured in that small lens of mine.
Well, there is nothing we need to do to capture good images of sunsets. It is always beautiful. But you should know the happeneings behind taking this pic to know why its my favourite.
We were driving to Montreal two weeks back. Vikas at the driver's seat and me as the navigator (well, straight to Montreal doesnt need any navigator though*wink*). We were travelling eastand that makes the Sunset on my left side. As you know, the drivers seat is on the left. So any pictures that I take of my left would involve the driver ( He is a towering 6.2 feet guy) and through the windows an has to be appropriately zoomed.
I was acting the DJ and was busy with catering to the requests of 5 back seaters in that big Dodge Murango that I did not notice the sunset on my left. The guys behind were busy replaying the full rainbow we saw and pictured earlier. There, you avhe a beautiful sunset and they were busy with self appreciation...Turning onto my left, I shouted at the guys to tkae a snap fast before we miss the scenic picutre...Fumbling they tried taking the pic but were not getting a clear view, either with the window obstruction or something. And here I was desperately wanting to take that snpa which arguably would last only for a minute...and I ahve this BIG guy on my next. the only way I can take is to zoom between his hands holding the steering and through the windows on his side and I shd get a nice view and without any shake on that curvy road while he is driving at 100 km/hr.(well, we kept to the speeding limit that day)....I leaped and grabbed my camera and positioned myself to zoom in between the driver's arms and waiting for a nice view on the lens.....For a minute, what I saw mesmerised me and I do not know when my fingers snapped, but the pic was taken exactly the way it was when I felt a mesmerising touch !!! - not a slight difference. I dont think any other moment to take the snap wld have done this justice to what is on my mind...Its like that moment is frozen forever - the beauty of still photography.
And thats exactly the reason why tihs pic has joined my personal favourites for a long time to come !!!!
BTW,what do you see in th pic? What I see is there in the comments !!!
Well, there is nothing we need to do to capture good images of sunsets. It is always beautiful. But you should know the happeneings behind taking this pic to know why its my favourite.
We were driving to Montreal two weeks back. Vikas at the driver's seat and me as the navigator (well, straight to Montreal doesnt need any navigator though*wink*). We were travelling eastand that makes the Sunset on my left side. As you know, the drivers seat is on the left. So any pictures that I take of my left would involve the driver ( He is a towering 6.2 feet guy) and through the windows an has to be appropriately zoomed.
I was acting the DJ and was busy with catering to the requests of 5 back seaters in that big Dodge Murango that I did not notice the sunset on my left. The guys behind were busy replaying the full rainbow we saw and pictured earlier. There, you avhe a beautiful sunset and they were busy with self appreciation...Turning onto my left, I shouted at the guys to tkae a snap fast before we miss the scenic picutre...Fumbling they tried taking the pic but were not getting a clear view, either with the window obstruction or something. And here I was desperately wanting to take that snpa which arguably would last only for a minute...and I ahve this BIG guy on my next. the only way I can take is to zoom between his hands holding the steering and through the windows on his side and I shd get a nice view and without any shake on that curvy road while he is driving at 100 km/hr.(well, we kept to the speeding limit that day)....I leaped and grabbed my camera and positioned myself to zoom in between the driver's arms and waiting for a nice view on the lens.....For a minute, what I saw mesmerised me and I do not know when my fingers snapped, but the pic was taken exactly the way it was when I felt a mesmerising touch !!! - not a slight difference. I dont think any other moment to take the snap wld have done this justice to what is on my mind...Its like that moment is frozen forever - the beauty of still photography.
And thats exactly the reason why tihs pic has joined my personal favourites for a long time to come !!!!
BTW,what do you see in th pic? What I see is there in the comments !!!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Cultural Performance
At Kandy, we also happened to see a cultural show organised for tourists showcasing the various dance and music forms. The picture here is traditionally that of the soldiers before going for a war. I should say the "Mayillatam" - yes the same we have back in south India was awesome. It is the dance form derived majorly from the fact that Lord Karthikeyan travels on a peacock. "Mayil" in tamil stands for peacock. The ladies displayed amazing flexibility and the gents breathtaking agility. Pictures are not enough to do justice here, human eyes need to see it to feel it.
P.S:
In my earlier snap, I missed out on a trivia. At a buddhist temple or monastery, you never show your back to the Lord. Dont know the reason exactly, probably some kinda respect.
And this post completed my plan of Sri Lankan pictures and am kind of finishing it off fast. Quebec-Montreal trip pictures are coming soon.
I do have a lot of pictures from Sri Lanka, yet I hope I gave a taste of what Sri Lanka has to offer with the choice of my pictures here.
P.S:
In my earlier snap, I missed out on a trivia. At a buddhist temple or monastery, you never show your back to the Lord. Dont know the reason exactly, probably some kinda respect.
And this post completed my plan of Sri Lankan pictures and am kind of finishing it off fast. Quebec-Montreal trip pictures are coming soon.
I do have a lot of pictures from Sri Lanka, yet I hope I gave a taste of what Sri Lanka has to offer with the choice of my pictures here.
Tooth Temple
The last part of our Sri Lankan trip was to Kandy - its a hill station and is quite a target of LTTE activists. This city houses the Tooth Temple. It is so called because Lord Budha's tooth is being held as a sacred relic.
Find more info here
They used to take it out for procession once a month but the recent bombings(including a part of the temple) has mandated to stop all that. Infact it is pretty ironic that the LTTE (Tamil Liberation tigers) do not see the fact that at Dambulla, the cave temple has not only buddhist artifacts, but also their own god Lord Karthikeyan in total harmony. It is only possible as Buddha was born a Prince in northern India and attained this state after enlightenment. Therefore, the origin of the race do not really differe much.
Find more info here
They used to take it out for procession once a month but the recent bombings(including a part of the temple) has mandated to stop all that. Infact it is pretty ironic that the LTTE (Tamil Liberation tigers) do not see the fact that at Dambulla, the cave temple has not only buddhist artifacts, but also their own god Lord Karthikeyan in total harmony. It is only possible as Buddha was born a Prince in northern India and attained this state after enlightenment. Therefore, the origin of the race do not really differe much.
dagoba_inside
Last in the series of Dambulla - a dagoba inside the cave temple. Absolutely no flash allowed here !!!
Statues
This one again captures the squares in the paintings on the roof and sides and the statues inside the cave !
Ther were a huge number of statues all throughtout the inside of the caves. Havent still found what their significance is all about for that many statues there !!!
Ther were a huge number of statues all throughtout the inside of the caves. Havent still found what their significance is all about for that many statues there !!!
Flowers
Another work of art !
Flower patterns all along the sides of the rocky cave inside !!! Look at the symmetry of the paintings on uneven surfaces and the painfully time consuming effort that wld ahve gone in painting them, unless of course they had easier ways of doing that we dont know yet.
*Me is thinking of hiring the artist to paint my den *!!! *wink*
Flower patterns all along the sides of the rocky cave inside !!! Look at the symmetry of the paintings on uneven surfaces and the painfully time consuming effort that wld ahve gone in painting them, unless of course they had easier ways of doing that we dont know yet.
*Me is thinking of hiring the artist to paint my den *!!! *wink*
The complete painting
Well, when I wrote abt sigiriya paintings, I had asked you to wait for Dambulla pictures. Here they are in their full grandeur. My camera was not enough to take a complete picture. I have few other ones but chose this picture to depict the intricacies of the same.
These paintings as to what we imagine are right on the roof above our head. I wonder how they would ahve painted it. have you ever tried painting a roof at your house. Your neck pains like hell after some time. But click on the picture and look close. You have a wonderful lining of intricate details painted all clearly. And add to the fact that it was painted on roof, it was painted on uneven surface as is visible. Nevertheless, the paintings did not ahve a shear or torn effect but the uneven surfaces were smoothly accounted for - as if someone drew it on a canvas and pasted it up like a well laid wall paper. Do any of you have any thoughts abt how they wld ahve done it? Another proof to my belief in
"The key to our future lies in our past" !!!
These paintings as to what we imagine are right on the roof above our head. I wonder how they would ahve painted it. have you ever tried painting a roof at your house. Your neck pains like hell after some time. But click on the picture and look close. You have a wonderful lining of intricate details painted all clearly. And add to the fact that it was painted on roof, it was painted on uneven surface as is visible. Nevertheless, the paintings did not ahve a shear or torn effect but the uneven surfaces were smoothly accounted for - as if someone drew it on a canvas and pasted it up like a well laid wall paper. Do any of you have any thoughts abt how they wld ahve done it? Another proof to my belief in
"The key to our future lies in our past" !!!
Painted Buddha !!!
Well, at Golden Temple, you got to climb upto to reach the cave temple on the top. The painted Buddha on the right is a picture inside the cave temples.
Again, I must say that there were a lot of guys who clicked with flashes. All they wanted was to take pride in the fact that they were there, take pics with them to be boasted abt to friends and relatives. But it was clearly warned that the pictures would be damaged by flash lights - its all natural pigments used to paint them.
Again, I must say that there were a lot of guys who clicked with flashes. All they wanted was to take pride in the fact that they were there, take pics with them to be boasted abt to friends and relatives. But it was clearly warned that the pictures would be damaged by flash lights - its all natural pigments used to paint them.
Golden Temple
From Poonurwala, we reached Dambulla !!! This place is known for its Golden Temple and cave temple. On the right you see the golden temple at Dambulla. I remember having heard that this statue is visible from the flight when you come to Sri Lanka. But I must admit that the statue was so gaudy and bright in its appearance as is seen on the photo - a grandeur is all I can say !!!
Sleeping Buddha
As promised to MoN, here is the sleeping version of the rock sculpted buddha from the excavations at Ponnurwala !
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
excavations
This is one of the sites that was excavated. Unfortunately, this is a whole stretch of place where the ruins are scatterred arnd kms. And as you guessed it, the tickets were outrageously priced. We skipped a lot initially but had made arrangements to reach the palce without any tickets and paying some money and even ended up in fight bargaining !
Well, that was something that was not ethical to do, but taking a vacation, travel all the way only to see everything is priced in dollars (God, we still earn in rupees whish is 50 times lesser than the Dollar), cldnt prevent it. A mistake consciously made !!!
Parakrima Prabhu
This is Parakrima Prabhu - a ruler well known for his kind hearted rule. He was pioneer in many things at his time including a vast library !!!!
ruins
A part of the ruins. The ruins of historic forts ahve always fascinated me....An era of bygone generations. Wonder how it would have been amidst all that grandeur !!!
Standing Buddha
Ok, I had earlier told my next posts would be about Dambulla....actualyl our detinsation was Dambulla from sigiriya, but on the way was ponnurwala - archeological place. This country has a wide influence of Buddhism ...you can see statues of Buddha all along everywhere - the roads etc...and this one was captured on our way - standing alone on a highway !! Wonder who built it !!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
