My pictures with their little stories

Ready to kiss the Earth The monsoon clouds have descended and are getting ready to kiss the earth.  They have come from far away. Their moment has arrived. Will they pour ? The hot dry earth will absorb everything they shower. Erupt in joy and fragrance. Wait each year for this moment.

Fortune Resort Bay Island, Port Blair I pulled out this picture after much searching as soon as I read the news that eminent architect Charles Correa is no more. While we have all seen some of his great creations such as the Gandhi Memorial at Sabarmati Ashram , Ahmedabad; we happened to stay at Fortune Resort Bay Island at Port Blair when we visited Andaman Islands . This hotel has been designed by Ar. Charles Correa.  There is a fond memory associated with this visit which is connected with Ar. Charles Correa which I must narrate. Our son Aalok who was 9 years then learn to swim in the little pool of this hotel. We kind of liked the place but Aalok had some suggestions to make. I told him that if he would write down his suggestions on a piece of paper, I would arrange to send them over to the architect who designed the hotel. Aalok did write down his suggestions with a pencil on a piece of paper he could lay his hands on. Thanks to Ar. Arun Ogale, I could get the

Coffee at Taktsang Cafetaria, Tiger's Nest, Paro This cafeteria which is around halfway mark of the not so easy climb to Taktsang Goempa near Paro offers a great view of the famous monastery high up in the mountain. Coffee break here  was absolutely necessary. Had  a great time here doing some sketching with hot coffee and thin cream cracker biscuits.

Everyone enjoys the beach in their own way Most people go the beach to have fun and enjoy. I am not much of a beach person so I prefer to observe what others do. It throws up such a diverse and interesting list. It will be a very long list if one was to write down what all people do on a beach.

Monsoon clouds over Pune skyline To see this out of the window first thing in the morning was enough to make me high. Fresh coffee was incidental. For a change, dark clouds brought hope and cheer and elevated the mood like nothing else can do.

Rhododendron in Pine Forest I did not find rhododendron flowers to be very attractive but surely their bright red clusters created a nice visual contrast to an otherwise green background of bushes, trees and forests - all in different shades of green. That is where they stood out.

Twilight at a beach in Kokan Apart from the usual good seasons to go, we have been driving into Kokan  region just before the monsoon arrives. The good thing this does is that you see lots of clouds pass by, great colours in the sky and surely some rains at least on the return trip. Experienced this fantastic play of colours at a beach near Guhagar . Within a span of just over an hour and a half, the creator or whoever gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of. Unleashed an array of colours, a riot almost but this one was supremely divine, soothing and introspective. I did not feel like getting into the water as this might have disturbed the beautiful series of paintings that were being flipped in front of us.