Room with a view

If you think this is blue, step towards the ocean

Place: NUSA DUA

That's the view I had from my room at The Laguna, Bali.

This was during a very short visit - any visit to Bali feels short, but this truly was a quick four day thing. This is of course water at the pool.

To see the real stuff, one had to go to the hotel beach, where a spectacularly beautiful blue sea laps your feet. And stretches much beyond you can see - well Australia is on the other, and not that far! 

Bridging gaps

Place: BALLY

A view of the bridges at Bally, West Bengal as they cross the Hugli.

The Vivekananda Setu and Nivedita Setu over the Hugli in West Bengal

Built between 1926 and 1932, well before the Howrah Bridge, the older rounded top bridge was once the main bridge linking south Bengal to its west.  The famous Dakshineshwar Temple is very close by.

Today called the Vivekananda Setu, it was earlier called Willingdon Bridge. Today a companion bridge, Nivedita Setu has been built, and together they carry road and rail links.

This was taken from a cruise on a ferry along the Hugli. This is an evening pic, and the sun is already setting. The water was calm, and the breeze delightful.

Floral interpretation

Place: KOLKATA

At the lobby of ITC Sonar Bangla.

Alpanas with rice paste are a common tradition in West Bengal. Here a contemporary twist as it is done with flowers. The diyas just heighten the impact on  grey-black granite floor.

This shot is taken in the evening. 

Unity of mind

The Belur Math as seen from the river Hugli. 

Place: BELUR

A view of Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math. Founded by Swami Vivekananda, it is today a huge attraction for local people, who throng here daily in large numbers.

The Belur complex began in 1897, when Swami Vivekananda started work here. The main temple is The Ramakrishna temple, which resembles a temple, a mosque, a church if seen from different positions.

This photo is taken from a river cruise ship on the Hugli, just as the evening aarti is concluding. 

Nostagia

Place: KOLKATA

The palaces of old Kolkata are one of the sadder stories of our times. Once grand and opulent, many of them are a state of ruin as often there has been a decline in family fortunes and no one, including the state is bothered.

I feel there should a trust, with or without the support of the state, that can take care of these really magnificent buildings. Part of our recent heritage, any part of them lost is a slice of history that is gone forever.

These palaces are largely in north Kolkata, in the older part of the city, built largely during British times. There are still some families that have managed to maintain them, but most seem to be in terminal decline. For a state that is looking for funds, this could easily turn into a huge heritage complex if someone did take the initiative.

This pic is taken in the evening from a cruise ship on the Hugli. 

Whiteworld

Place: IN THE SKIES

White sand? foaming sea? apocalptic film? what could this be?

A shot of the clouds taken from a flight around midday. It was an unreal experience for me to pass over such a white field interspersed with with what seemed to whale humps. All clouds, as I was told.