St Andrews, Scotland is a beautiful place to visit especially during the summer months. It is one of the most lively and finest towns in Europe and is a place of historical importance, learning and culture. What else, it is the World's home of Golf and is a proud home to the West Sands Beach that served as the set for the opening scene in the movie Chariots of Fire.
The beach was also featured in the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and is adjacent to the famous St Andrews Links golf course.
Cars Parked in the Parking area near the West Sands Beach, St Andrews
To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
~ Buddha
Shot taken at St. Andrews Cathedral, Scotland. The cathedral was built in the year 1158 and was the centre
of the medieval catholic church in Scotland. The cathedral buildings are
surrounded by a graveyard, and encircled daunting monastic walls in Scotland.
Even as ruins the cathedral remains a prominent landmark and is highly visible
from the sea.
A morning shot taken in Bhopal, as the fisherman prepares his boat to go out into the water. Bhopal is also known as the city of lakes, with 14 main bodies of water resting within its perimeters. Some of the prominent lakes in Bhopal are Upper Lake (Bada Talaab), Lower Lake (Chotta Talaab), Motiya Lake, Shahpura Lake and Sarang Pani Lake.
This photograph was taken at "Bada Talaab" or the upper lake, which apart from the magnificent natural beauty is also known for it's water sports activities. Legend says that King Bhoj constructed this gigantic lake, which is believed to have cured his skin disease. One famous saying related to it goes "Taalon me Taal Bada Taal, Baki sab Talaiya".
I do not know the reason I decided to go with a black and white photograph, but I feel that it gives an all new depth and meaning to this image. For me it seems much more beautiful and serene to see this image without colors. Maybe life is not that hard too, you might not find the right colors to make you happy at that moment, yet sometimes happiness lies in stop searching for what you don't have and embrace what's there around you.
Photographed at The Kings College Chapel, Aberdeen, a Scottish Bagpiper playing bagpipe at a wedding ceremony. Also known as the Great Highland Bagpipe, it is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland and achieved widespread recognition through its usage in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world.
"... In a Scottish wedding there are several options for using a solo bagpiper, at the Church, or the marriage ceremony, piping the bride in at the beginning of the ceremony and bride and groom out at the completion of the service. Also playing as the bridal party leaves the ceremony is customary..."
A Scottish Bagpiper playing the traditional Scottish music during a wedding ceremony in Aberdeen [above]. Also noticeable in the photograph is the traditional Scottish dress known as "KILT" worn by the Bagpiper.
This time on my blog, I intend to
take you all along with me on an exciting road trip across the Scottish
highlands to Cairngorm mountain ski resort. Located on the beautiful peaks of Cairngorm
Mountain, the resort attracts tourists throughout the year.
It has 30km of ski runs and snow sports take place typically during the winter months, i.e. From December
to April.
If you do not know how to ski, do not worry, as there are peaks for beginners where you can put your ski skills to test.
Moreover,
if you wish to view the resort from the top, the mountain railway is there to fulfill your desire, at it takes you to the highest point of the resort 1097m above sea
level. From here, you can breathe in the breath-taking beauty of the snow-capped
mountains.
However, Cairngorm Mountain is
not a winter only destination. The area thrives under a foot of snow, but there
is plenty to keep you entertained during the rest of the year too. Therefore,
if you are planning to take a trip to the highlands, it should be an essential
on your map of Scotland.
A picture from the weather watching terrace at the Ski Resort. One can see the skiers preparing to ski downhill, a
definite boost to their adrenalin levels.
Other activities at Cairngorms involve -
... A guided Walk at the Top from the
top station to the summit and back
... A “Guided Northern Corries” Walk
any Wednesday between May and October
... “Bike Cairngorm” guided mountain bike descent
of nearly 3000ft from the Top Station
... Take the mountain railway to get a spectacular view of the mountain ranges
... Settle in at the Ptarmigan
Restaurant, the highest restaurant in the UK at 1,097m above sea level
... Get a view from the weather
watching terrace
... ‘Shop at the Top’ at the Top
Station and the Mountain Shop, located at car park level
... Visit the Cas Bar open throughout the year
featuring a real log fire burning
... Enjoy the exhibitions on display
from a range of local artists and photographers
Aberdeen city is known to have two main weathers - rain and
snow. For the majority of the year, either it is raining or it snows here in
the city. The summers are short, and they rather pass by unnoticed. When it
rains, it probably is the best time for me to be in the cosy little room of
mine enjoying a cup of tea and looking out at the sky.
Shot through my room
window with a digital camera on one such rainy day. The water droplets on the
window glass provided the perfect foreground for the granite city. Looks like
an artist’s painting, with water spilled on the canvas, washing out
the creation, and making the colours flow and blend in each other.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. Confucius
Photographed at Ken River Resort, Panna. I loved the way the pots were arranged symmetrically in a linear manner, over a wooden stand, giving them a natural and ethnic look.
Ken River Resort includes 6 Deluxe Huts and 10 Cottage Rooms which are spread out in 30 acres of mixed jungle in undulating terrain, giving a forest experience to the tourists.
The Lodge also boasts of a 1500 sq.ft. Machaan where the meals are served. The Machaan popularly know as the Tree House overlooks the Ken river.
The picture was taken last year in February at Bandhavgarh National Park which covers an area of approximately 446 sqkm. It was the very first day of our Jungle Safari and the picture was shot during the late evening hours when we were on our way back to the Tiger Den Resort after an exhausting adventure inside the forest area.
Bandhavgarh National Park is a home to more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group.
There are two main ways of getting about in the park- in a motor vehicle or on elephant back. Jeep safaris are best undertaken from dawn until about 10am and from about 4pm until dusk, as the animals are most active during these periods.
I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. - Robert Louis Stevenson
On my way to Loch Ness, Scotland, the road rested beautifully in front of me defining my path ahead. The Scottish highlands on one side and the Loch waters on the other, a perfect road for the travelers to travel.
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 37 km (23 mi) southwest of Inverness best known for alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie".
Felt lucky to find a family of cats at Kankali Devi Temple during my last visit an year before. Photographing them was easier than I anticipated as they posed for the camera without much trouble. Kankali Devi Temple is best to visit during the monsoon season, as well as during the Hindu festival of Navratri and is located approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Bhopal.
"Where words are restrained, the eyes often talk a great deal."
- Samuel Richardson
Real beauty is not what the eyes can behold but what the heart can hold. What we see through our eyes will disappear someday, but things that we store in our heart, are there to stay forever.
Photographed at Kankali Devi Temple, near Bhopal, this cat seems to have the most beautiful and mesmerizing eyes I ever looked into.
Still sometimes wonder what she was thinking ... :P
A traveler travels not because he wishes to leave his past
behind, but because he wants to embrace the future. A future which is uncertain in all aspects but yet he finds it adventurous. He does not leave what he
has, but opens the door to another world. A world, where his dreams turn into
reality and where he is free to see, to breathe, to laugh and to live.
Shot taken at Maru Gaon - Desert Village at Upper Lake,
Bhopal.
The exhibit entitled " Neem ki Dhani” features the
traditional form of dwelling brought from Neem Ki Dhani, Jaisalmer itself and
constructed by the members of the Rajput Community. In Rajasthan main
settlements (aabadi) and the Hamlets (Dhanis) are always located close to the agricultural
land. Maru Gaon - Desert Village is exhibited at upper Lake, Bhopal and is must
visit place for the tourists.
A Sadhu at Kankali Mata mandir, Raisen road, Bhopal. The
temple is situated at approximately 20 kilometres from the city of Bhopal and
is one of the oldest temple of Devi Kali Maa and is known as one of the Shaktipeeth
among Hindu pilgrims. One special fact related to this temple is that during
the Hindu festival of Navratri the head of Maa kali tilts slightly from its
original position. Located amidst the serene beauty of the countryside, it
offers a peaceful and relaxing environment to the visitors and is a must visit
place if you plan a trip to Bhopal.
The wooden bench near River Don in Aberdeen. A relaxing and beautiful spot to spend the evenings at. There are a couple of these benches [you can see the other one in the backdrop]. Carved out from wood, these chairs give an ethnic feel to the visitors. They also blend in beautifully with the surrounding buildings which are built in accordance with the Scottish architecture.
