Faith

You were there. You did nothing. -About God and belief systems.

Losing Perspective

My world; as seen upside down.

"Imagine," Paul said to me once, "that the present is simply a reflection of the future. Imagine that we spend our whole lives staring into a mirror with the future at our backs, seeing it only in the reflection of what is here and now. Some of us would begin to believe that we could see tomorrow better by turning around to look at it directly. But those who did, without even realizing it, would've lost the key to the perspective they once had. For the one thing they would never be able to see in it was themselves. By turning their backs on the mirror, they would become the one element of the future their eyes could never find." - The Rule of Four (by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason)

Alone

A person gets used to being alone, But break it just for a day and you have to get used to it again, all over from the beginning. - Richard Bach

Hidden Magic

"The unknown is where all the magic is. Where the surprises will be. " - Dayanita Singh

Finding Neverland

Happier Alone

Pics from Vembanad Lake, Alleppey.

"I can hardly see anything." "Its an illusion. This proximity." "I guess this is going to be a long journey. Im glad you are here with me." "I'm an illusion too. This journey, is yours. Your's alone. Never forget that." - (from A Conversation That Never Was)

Futile. This waiting.

Silence of a Valley

Maruthan, an Irula tribe lives in the forests of Attapady (Silent Valley National Park, Kerala)

"Aren't you scared of going to the jungles alone at your age?" "Who will feed us if I sit idle at home?" "Hmmm. Do you see wild animals when you go there?" "Yes. Pythons, cobras, bears, wild boars, leopards." "Wow! Which is the most vicious animal you have ever encountered in the jungle?" "Man."

The Devil is also in the Details

To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.

- William Blake

Cold

For some inscrutable reason, he decided to have a snake for a pet. He was fearless and he loved the snake. It would coil and sleep on his bed every night. One day, he found that the snake was lying straight next to him. It wasn't eating anything either. Worried, he decided to consult the vet. "Do you think he is sick?" "For how long has this been happening?" "For the past two days." "Get rid of him right now. He is measuring you." -A real life incident as narrated to me by Cheryl Ann Couto

Ways of Living

Location : Baratang Island, Andamans

"What do you want most in life?" "Sunshine. Lots of sunshine. "

Life and Happiness

Location : Radhanagar beach, Havelock Island (Andamans)

"I seldom meet people who are truly happy..." - Far Out

Sea

Location : Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island (Andamans)

"Watch the silence of the sea. When the sea comes in, it will take away everything you've ever loved."

Do you think I can write a book?

Location : Casa Batlo, Barcelona

Prison

Location : Casapatas, Madrid

Half Asleep

"Hmmm.. I tell you a long winding story and you wish me good night. Am i that boring ??" "No. I'm just half asleep."

Location : A dainty hotel (who's name I can't remember) in Seville, Spain

Letting Go

"I forgot you had dreams..." Location : The Flamenco Museum, Seville (Spain)

Beyond

Location : Malaga, Spain

Secrets

"Come, take a seat. The night is still young."

- Espionage (Location : A Club in Hyderabad)

“You have to ask. And someone will tell you.”

The prospect of chance encounters and discoveries, I think, are the most exciting part of travel. I met Baichung at one such unexpected moment, while loitering around the premises of the Rumtek monastery. The journey to the Rumtek monastery from Gangtok town was a tedious one. The roads were long, winding and often filled with potholes. But then when you reach the little hill on which Rumtek rests, a sense of calm envelops you that you quickly forgive the rough ride you’ve just had. At its gates and in its premises are gunmen from the Indian army, guarding one of Tibet’s most controversial treasures. The Black Hat crown of the Kagyu sect. The Rumtek Monastery (aka Dharma Chakra Center) includes a beautifully structured main shrine temple and monastery with monks' quarters, where the Karmapa resides and where the most of the important relics are enshrined; a three-year retreat center; a monastic college, where the relics of the Sixteenth Karmapa are enshrined; a nunnery; stupas; a protector's shrine; institutions for the lay community; and other establishments. I had walked straight into the main temple hall after going through a rigorous check by the security guards at the entrance, looked around the courtyard and stepped out. I was standing there, lost in thought when I felt someone’s gaze on me. What I saw when I turned around was a beautiful picture. Of Baichung, the 17 year old Kagyu monk looking out of his window, with a steady gaze and a disarming smile. I walked straight upto him and asked if I could take a picture. He obliged. “Have you been to our Devi’s temple?” He asked me after a while. “What Devi?” “ Our Goddess, the White Tara. The Black Hat was created with hair strands from a thousand incarnation of our Goddess.” “But there was no special Devi temple in the main hall. And the Black hat was closely guarded and no visitors were allowed.” “The Devi and her manifestations are in one of the rooms in the monastery. Not in the main hall.” “Nobody told me.” “You have to ask. And someone will tell you,” he smiled ingratiatingly. “So can I see it now?” “It will be locked.” “Oh” “But I can take you there.” I was happy. Baichung took me through some narrow passages and dark corridors in the structure lining the courtyard to finally reach the Devi’s temple. It was a small room, heavily laden with sheets of silk, statues, books and an overwhelming sense of secrecy. Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the disputed head of Karmapas and (rumored to be) Dalai Lama’s favorite choice for the next heir to the Buddhist throne, was himself a refugee said to have crossed the Himalayas from Tibet at the age of 15 to escape the Chinese intervention. His picture too hung on the wall, like it did in the other worship areas of the monastery, smiling genially at his people. “You can take a picture if you like,” Baichung was talking in a soft voice perhaps owing to the sanctity of the sacred room we were in. “But isn’t photography prohibited in this temple?” “Yes. People fight over nothing. I trust you. You can take a picture if you like.” I wished there were more Baichungs in this world. Innocent, trusting and simple. I left the monastery after taking down his address so I could post him his picture. I left without a picture of his sacred temple.

Hard Work

Driver : You are so hardworking. Must be tough, no? Me : Why do you say that? Driver : My wife says it must be tough. You are a girl no, and you are going to different places alone with your camera. Me : So if I was a guy, you or you wife wouldn't consider me as hard working? Driver : No. September 2010. India.

In a Land (not so) Far Away

When the sky bleeds into the river

a sunset

Rain Rain, Please Don't Go Away...

And then there were none.

Location : Casa Maria, Mattanchery

The Visitor

"Death, you cannot kill one who is alone;

I died before you came."

- Ramana Maharshi (from The Reverse Arrow of Time )

About Once or More Than Twice

"Are you saying you don't remember me, or that you don't remember seeing me?"

- Orhan Pamuk (excerpt from Snow)

In pursuit of happiness...

Location : Fort Cochin

Sunshine

Location : The Old Harbour Hotel, Fort Cochin

It never stopped raining

And then, I met Muskaan..

Breakfast Anyone?

The Tea Party

Back to Chairs

So now im bored (yes. BORED) of my Leh pictures. Guess I ve been trying to kill it for a long time now and ended up spending too much time staring at it. But chairs, I never tire of. I like to imagine who might have sat there, what conversations people might have had and some times, I almost think that the chairs themselves are the characters of my fictitious world. But that's besides the point. Like someone told me the other day... This chair has been alone a long time... Location : La Maison, Coonur

Patience

"I wait for someone to come..." Location : Shey Palace, Leh-Ladakh

A Prayer

"All you need to do is say a prayer" Location : Thiksey Monastery/ Shey Palace, Leh-Ladakh

Away

"I have been to Bangalore once in my life. It was a long winding journey..."

Location : Thiksey Monastery, Leh-Ladakh

Heaven is Here

They say this is Heaven. I believe them. Location : Near the Village of Alchi, Leh-Ladakh

Wind

The wind, they say.. ..is the messenger.

Lost

"Whats so fascinating about the droplets?" "This is how memories work. Through associations. This is how I will remember this moment. This is how I will remember you." - Unknown.

The Enchanted Woods

The Man in the Mountains

"Listen carefully... the mountains are telling you something..."

Location : Near the Magnetic Hill, Leh