I miss You

I remember us, walking side by side...
You holding my hand but thinking something else,
I was speaking nonsense and you singing Lady Gaga...

Somewhere I stopped and you walked out of the frame...
Before any realization we both were beyond the horizon of each other,
Now with gray hairs and newly aged heart, I really do miss you...

International Puri Beach Festival 2011

On the fifth evening of 17th International Puri Beach Festival, a fantastic Odishi performance by students of 'Utkal University of Culture, Odisha'.

'L' for Love

Now 'm behaving like a kid.... there is no limit of my happiness. Finally my LOVE is here, a L series lens from Canon. I remember the first day when I used one of my very good friend Addy's 70-200 L f4 non IS... And since then when ever I needed a tele-lens and even though canon 75-250mm was affordable as well as gives decent results, there was a wild and dominant thought in my mind always, a tele lens means a 'L' lens... no compromise on this. Almost after 3 years of trying my hands on Addy's 'Sattar-doosoo', my own glass 'The White Barrel' is in my hands now which I received just an hour before after numerous unsuccessful attempts in last 2 years. The one I acquired now is exactly same to the one I tried but the dream one is with a little different spec. I want THE 70-200 L f2.8 IS Mark II, one hell of a lens... Hopefully in next 2 years because it costs me a fortune ;)

What next!!! An extender, 1.4 or 1.6... anything will do :D

P.S. Ah... just noticed. this is the 99th post of the year 2011 :)

Creativity

On a cold & windy October day, I was roaming around UCL... Yes, 'University College of London'. After entering the main entry my eyes were stuck on this model. A naked century old statue has transformed to a urban dude with this trendy jeans and head band. Quite creative, after all a Londoner he is ;)

The making of 'GOD'

Is this devotion or should I call it 'Romance with Stone'!!!

Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Britain's biggest Island 'Isle of Wight' is famous as a very popular tourist destination since ages. Located on the South coast and in English Channel, this island was home to Queen Victoria. The place is famous for its 60 mile long stunning coast line and many award winning beaches. It also has many historic sites and a variety of tourist attractions for all ages.

The island is well connected with the mainland from various points by regular vehicle ferry and hi-speed passenger ferry service. Portsmouth to Fishbourne is around 8 miles on Sea, so you need to avail the ferry service for the same. There are regular vehicle ferries and hi-speed passenger ferries available from different operators (like Red Funnel, Weight Link etc.). 

Ferry distance from Southampton to Cowes is about 14 miles and it roughly takes 50 minutes.

The Eastern-most point of this island is Bembridge and the Western-most point is Alum Bay or The Needles. This distance is less than 25 miles, so according to me staying in the center of the island in a scenic country side should be fantastic as you can hit any edge of the island in 15-20 minutes.

Places not to be missed: 

1. Beaches (This island has many award winning beaches)

2. The Needles (Old Battery & New Battery)
3. Isle of Weight Zoo for Kids (to see Tiger)
4. Walzing Waters (a musical fountain of its kind)
5. A walk along the cliffs (it is a must but be extremely careful)

Lovely Sandown beach...




Ventnor beach...


The Needles, Alum Bay.


Alum Bay...


Vibrant and interesting cliffs of the island...

Personal Experience:

I personally was traveling from Slough, so choose Southampton to East Cowes just to spend time on ferry a bit longer. It takes 50 minutes+loading and unloading time on a vehicle ferry, if 'm not wrong, it takes some 20 minutes on a hi-speed passenger ferry. The advantage of traveling from Southampton in evening is the beautiful blinking shoreline on both sides for almost 2/3 of the whole route, I personally enjoyed it a lot sitting on the ferry deck with a hot glass of Coffee for the whole 14 miles on Sea. Let me tell you, it was highly windy at that time. Most of the time I was hiding behind the clear glass wind protectors as it was even difficult to walk properly. We choose Red Funnel and booked it online. There are vehicle ferries available in every hour and last ferry is at 12.00 o'clock, the first ferry is also from early morning. You need to check the ferry time online. Another important thing I forgot to add, you can reschedule the ferry timing 30 minutes prior to departure if booked online and the rescheduling charge is nominal (We paid 3 pounds once and we preponed one time for free).

On the way to Southampton ferry terminal...

Selecting the accommodation was quite challenging. This is not there are limited options but every part is so scenic, you would love to see such a site every morning. Much later we realized that, staying at the center of the island in a country side would be great and in 15 minutes one can reach any of the shore. We stayed in a country side almost in the center of the island, some 6-7 miles from Shanklin.

I think the best way to explore this island is by bike, I mean bicycle. To explore the island on bike 7 full days should be fun. And if you are driving then 3-4 days should be enough.

Drive Hard

Next few hundred miles should be Fun... Panache Automobile's  another creation is in my hands for trial for few days. A Gypsy, modified gypsy actually, with an ISUZU engine and modified suspension and also differed overall length..... Ah, a happy me :D

All thanks to my cousin Sujit again, you rock bro.

Adding life to Stones

A stone carver busy in adding life to a piece of stone somewhere in the outskirts of the City of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

P.S. Keep your eye on this place for a detailed story and loads of photographs.

Slough Bus Station

Slough, being a suburb to the City of London is well known as an industrial town. Though it has some good reputation for crime scenes and the same can be felt while walking on streets. Still it is a popular choice to stay over for people who love to call themselves 'Londoner' and can not afford to stay in the Capital town. 13 minutes flat on an express train and you are there, not at all a big deal... The reason, you literally save big digits on renting or buying a flat/house. I personally liked the place to some extent, as I spent some really quality time during my stay in Nottingham. The obvious reasons are my sister, brother-in-law and cute lil niece and their cozy flat just beside the city center. The mention of city center does not mean that I like city center a lot or anything like that, but I stayed inside as long as 7-10 days during last Christmas. Secondly, this place is neither over crowded like London or Birmingham nor sleepy like most of the small towns in the country and also is multicultural with the presence of different ethnic groups. Anyways. 

Recently, the 40+ year old and outdated bus station of the city has been replaced by a  fantastic state of art parametric structure. Designed by London based architectural firm Bblur Architecture, this iconic structure has a cantilevered canopy of 130 meters. With providing shelter to the bus bays and passenger shelter areas this aluminum cladded canopy also houses ticket office, administrative office, driver facilities, waiting rooms, a cafe, new agent and toilets.

Being just beside the City Center, the particular area is the major transport and business hub with the presence of Slough Train Station and a 24hr Tesco Express. There previous was a office complex on the site and the bus station was accommodated under the same, now the whole building has been demolished except a multilevel car park and according to the new master plan, 5 new office towers will be constructed surrounding the place.

The creative design ideas inserted in the project already has shortlisted it for some awards and recognitions. For me it definitely is a contemporary urban sculpture adding an identity to the 'City of Slough'.

West Cowes, Isle of Weight, UK

How does it feel when your backyard opens to sea with a proper blue shade and your private 'Yatch' or a boat or a water scooter is there to show you places!!! Should I mention the Sea Gulls adding some more beauty to the whole scenario?

This lovely scene was framed in 'West Cowes', Isle of Weight, Britain's biggest island and a very popular tourist destination in the European sub-continent for it's unmatchable beauty. Though the island is connected with the main-land at various places with proper vehicle and passenger ferry service, 'East Cowes' and 'West Cowes' are two major points when it comes to accessibility.

Cliquer Exhibition in Bhubaneswar

'Cliquers - A photo Club' is a newly formed group of enthusiastic photographers here in the city of Bhubaneswar. Recently they organized this photo exhibition in Lalit Kala Academy for 3 days, and let me tell you, I personally was quite impressed after seeing the level of work. Kudos guyz, hope I'll be a part of it and will join you on weekend photo walks...

Few photographs from the exhibition.

As the Sun goes down...

Few days back, I was in ranchi for some work with a spare evening. So a bit exploration of the capital of Jharkhand and very very very less photographs. All I can say about the city is, 'Still way to go!'. The factor which worried me the most was the level of pollution there, mostly because of the diesel auto-rickshaws running from every corner of the city.

This photograph was taken on the same evening when the lonely me wanted to chat with himself regarding some issues (read personal). Kanke Dam could have been a better place for the purrpose, but still I managed by watching this beautiful sight, while the Sun was trying to hide under Ranchi Lake for the next half of the day.

Beautiful Bhubaneswar

After half a decade, 'm seeing my home town properly... I mean, 'm seeing it with loads of leisure time without any time constraints. This is actually happening almost after a decade, when we (a bunch of guyz :D) left school and joined college.

Some glimpses of the Capital City of Odisha state, the Temple Town... Bhubaneswar.


Lingaraj Temple


Dhauli Giri, The Peace Pagoda

Calendar 2011, November

Download hi-resolution HERE.

Symmetry always makes architecture very very interesting. Three residential towers as seen on Edgware Road, London.