SILVER LININGS

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Inspiration.”

There are times when you are in a dilemma. You are confused. You rethink the next step you should take. You rethink which path to choose. You go back to steps and wonder if you are doing the right thing by making the next move. There are few things that inspire and push you to do the right thing in the end. That could be anything you don’t regret later in life. When everything seems blue in the darkest hour, you wonder if there is a silver lining. That is what I saw in this picture. A silver lining – literally. Something that makes you decide. Something that differentiates what you want from what you don’t. Something that you know will keep not just you happy but everyone around you happy. Shot at Thekkady, Kerala

OPEN CLOSE-UP

When we visited the Perindiniya Gardens in Sri Lanka, I took many many close up photographs. But this one stood out. It wasn’t like just any other flower. But it had something more to it. In a way it reminded me of crackle chocolates, in other ways it reminded me of corn that had been bitten into. In yet another way, it reminded me of a lovely, beautiful opening of many flowers but visible to the eye only in a close up.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Close Up.”

HALF AND HALF: EQUAL YET UNEQUAL

These two structures are equal in every way. Yet, distance makes one smaller than the other. It is simply how you we look at it. In life, it isn’t very different. Rich or poor, people are equal in skill and ability. Inner beauty doesn’t depend on money. It is how we perceive this (in)equality and respond to it is what matters. – Shot at Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner, Rajasthan

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Half and Half.”

SYMBOLS IN TEMPLES – FOREVER ENGAGING

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Symbol.”

This is the famous Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka. If you go to Sri Lanka, this Buddhist relic is a must visit. From the outside, the temple looks like this. Each inch of the temple has a story hidden in it and there is no dearth in terms of symbology. Whether it the engraved marbles with four animals or the paintings depicting the journey of the tooth, every nook and corner has a bigger picture connected with it. Take a look when you visit!

A long shot of the temple at night.

SIMPLE DOOR TIMES

This time this is as simple as it gets. A wooden door. In a beautiful resort at Thekkady, Kerala. It is just wonderful how much can be done just for an entrance. From carving it out differently to painting it yellow, there is so much experiment. The beauty of it all is, that is exactly what a door does. It opens up a number of possibilities, giving us the chance to explore and experiment.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Door.”

TONAL MUSES

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Muse.”

I return to this cause there is a sense of movement I perceive in the picture. And the black and white is stunner for old monuments. These pictures can just stop time and make you embrace the beauty that lies around you. Shot at the Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Convergence or is that an optical illusion? These windows and arches in almost perfect symmetry with an added bonues of two-dimensional perspective has been my favourite for more than two years now. I return to it for the perfect skill that it epitomises. Shot at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Here we call it VIBGYOR!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Roy G. Biv.”

Tea plantations in Thekkady. Lush green leaves with a strong fragrance of tea.

The Buddha. Orange robes. Serene. Calm. Beautiful. At Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.

Tiny doors decorated in Green, Orange and INDIGO. The handiwork is undoubtedly matchless. The paintings on the ceiling and the walls are also breathtaking. Will share them in some of my other posts soon. – Junargarh Fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Violet flowers from the Orchid section in the Perendinia Gardens at Sri Lanka. A must visit for everyone.

Yellow flowers seasoned with deep red spots. Those petals are aesthetically beautiful and symmetrical. No wonder nature is unparalleled in its beauty. Shot at the Perendinia Gardens in Sri Lanka.

Peacock blue. Up close and personal. Such stunning beauty. Unforeseen in nature. Shot at the gardens of the Laxmi Niwas Palace at Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Red. The walls of the Junargarh fort epitomise royalty and the skillful craftsmanship of nimble fingers have left their marks on them. Awestruck by intricacy, colour, contrast and hardwork, one can just keep staring at it and never get bored. – Junargarh Fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

VIVID HUES

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Vivid.”

In December last year, I visited Thekkady. This resort was so nicely decorated for Christmas that the reflections of the lights on the water of the swimming pool was breathtaking in itself. The colours were absolutely vivid and a myriad of them emerged when they touched the water. – Thekkady, Kerala.

ON THE WAY TREASURES

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “On the Way.”

On the way back from Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka I happened to see this statue of the Buddha. While we could not stop to get down and take a picture, I decided to take from through the window. That is the little black line you see on the left! The tinted glass window! On the way photographs are definitely a keeper! – Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

OF BROKEN ROYALTY, ISLAND COUNTRIES AND LOST HISTORY

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Broken.”

The ruins of a palace of a famous dynasty that ruled for several years in Sri Lanka.