Arts...Travels...Writing

Travel Channel has recently shared one of my Grand Canal photos on their Instagram page: https://instagram.com/p/6oC4UiArqp/?taken-by=travelchannel I have a couple more from the same vantage point - the Accademia bridge: And this one from Arsenale: #TravelChannel #Venice #GrandCanal

For Flashback Friday, sharing here some snaps taken two summers ago in Paris. Sacre Coeur Urban sprawl - view from Sacre Coeur  the much talked about Seine River with a boatful of tourists! This side of Notre Dame - it celebrated its 800th year in 2013 when this was taken Somewhere in Saint Germain  My favourite bookstore. Kilometre 0 for Bibliophiles By chance, we stumbled into this interesting courtyard at Palais Royale One of those quiet gardens nearby The ticking of the clock at Musee D'Orsay Musee D'Orsay View from Musee D'Orsay Long queue at the Louvre...good thing I bought our tickets from the basement ticket vendor where there was no queue #Paris #Louvre #MuseeDorsay #NotreDame #SacreCoeur #ShakespeareAndCompany #Seine

This year's summer is a real scorcher for Europe, with temperatures hitting a high of 40 degrees Celsius in many European capitals, including Madrid. That has not stopped me though from going out and exploring the Spanish capital during a recent visit. In the mornings when the temperature was tolerable I would visit outdoor attractions, but when the mercury started rising, I would duck into the air-conditioned museums. After all, Madrid is known for its wonderful museums, with the three major ones Museo del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and Museo Thyssen representing the best in Spanish art and European collection, from pre-Renaissance to modern era. Museo del Prado hosts the classics while Reina Sofia houses modern collections including Spain's most famous export Guernica by Picasso. Thyssen is a private museum, with a vast and rich collection from across the ages. A bonus: it has a nice cafeteria, where I indulged on Spain's sinful coffee bombon, espr...

Last May, I went with a group of fellow photography enthusiasts to Bhutan in what proved to be a trip of a lifetime in more ways than one. The place is blessed with well-conserved natural resources, (lush mountains, clear streams, calm valleys),  its distinct culture which is greatly influenced by Buddhism, and the warmth of its people, who are generally ready to share a smile. Aside from these, what sets Bhutan apart from many Asian countries is its unique architecture. I'll be sharing more of my experience in future posts but for now, I'd like to share a few snaps, specifically a facet of Bhutanese architecture, its doors and windows. This window design typical of many houses and buildings in Bhutan Doors are as equally interesting...this one from a temple in Bhumtang Tashiccho Dzong in Thimpu Near Punakha Dzong In a temple complex in Bumthang...this is where the townsfolk light up candles Behind Tashiccho Dzong in Thimpu A prayer wh...

I've never really explored the entirety of Gardens by the Bay, but last week I was delighted to discover a lotus pond near the Marina Reservoir promenade. And it helps that it is in a quiet area too:-) Here are some of my snaps: Lotus is considered a rare gem for its ability to grow out of a mud. It is an important symbol in Buddhism (it can mean purity, fortune, faithfulness, the stages of a Buddhist' life - depending on context and colour)...and many books use the analogy of lotus and mud to explain the role of murk (suffering, etc.) in the bigger scheme of things, i.e., the lotus flower (beauty) needs the mud (suffering, etc) to bloom and grow...one such book is Thich Nhat Hanh's No Mud, No Lotus Bees season! There's a whole stretch of them at Gardens by the Bay The flowers apparently bloom in the morning or with sunrise, and the older ones shed off their petals in the afternoon This is what's left after the bloom...it lacks ...