Postcards from Amsterdam

Amsterdam was perhaps one of my favourite spots on this trip, I could walk around the beautiful city for days. I hope you enjoy these postcard like photos that make me miss those carefree days of exploring on foot and bicycles with friends, stopping for hot chocolates when it got too cold, the trams, the Christmas and flea markets, getting lost somewhere in Holland and people watching.

Photo diary: The streets of Senlis

A little town north of Paris, with a breathtaking Gothic cathedral, old Roman ruins, little cobblestone streets, magical tea shops, twinkly town square and bakeries with delicious aromas. I don't think I quite realized how spectacular it was but now that I am back, I miss walking down the streets and can't help but feel nostalgic.

Bonne Annee

Happy New Year world! Hope 2014 is kind to all of us. I've been enjoying my holidays in Europe; taking time off from everything except eating embarrassingly large portions of food, meeting up with friends I haven't seen in a while, cuddling wonderful pets, getting used to the cold and drinking more champagne than I've ever had in my entire life.

Rolling fields, forests, grands chateaux, beautiful cathedrals, wonderful town squares and warm people have been the highlight of my stay so far. Here are are a few pictures of the little village in France where we've been spending most of our time.

India Photo Diary Part Deux

Here are a few more pictures from my trip last year, the street dogs in India were the highlight of my stay, to have those many doggies to pet is so much fun. Fresh fruits at reasonable prices are another thing I really miss not to mention the ease of access to beautiful henna designs whenever one feels like and pretty temple art. Hope you like the photos. Happy Monday world!

Another day another Kolam

On my last trip home my sister's help used to come early in the morning, wash the entrance of the home and make a beautiful 'Kolam'; a geometrical drawing composed of loops drawn around a grid on the floor. I would wake up early to watch her work and one day asked her in my broken Tamil/ sign language if I could take photos of her working.

She would come, clean the previous day's kolam, put dots to make a grid with chalk powder and make a stunning design all in a span of five to ten minutes. While drawing she wouldn't stand up or take her hand off the task of creating the intricate design.

Everyday millions of Hindu women in the South of India make Kolams in front of their homes to bestow prosperity and ward off evil.

I just love the various designs these ladies came up with, its not like they've been to art school or anything. Its amazing when for festivals they make designs on the floor with flower petals and light candles around it.

I also love this lady's bright saree and the bright plastic bucket is so cheerful. Everyday she would come bright and early smelling of the fresh flowers in her hair, these pictures don't do justice to the women you see on the streets in India.

I hope you enjoy these photos and have had a wonderful week.

India: Mini Photo Diary

I've been under the weather lately and the cold doesn't help so been trawling website for holiday photos and was getting to a stage that I wanted to just fly out to somewhere warm. And then I remembered I never posted any photos from my trip to India last year, so here are a few. The first three photos were taking around Manali in the Himalayas, the road-side flower seller is in Chennai, in the South and the last few photos are of the Qutab Minar in Delhi. Hope you like. Photos make me want to pack my bags and take off...

Warning: Picture heavy post about to commence.

Last few weeks in pictures

Before the freezing temperatures and the sleet we had a few nice winter days, still cold but go-outable if you know what I mean...Weekends spent leisurely strolling markets, playing with cats, stumbling upon a temple and watching sunsets with one's best friend are one of the best kinds...Hope you have been having a peaceful time.