Random shots.....

Idaho Springs, Colorado

Taken during my last trip to Colorado- first week of October 2011.....

Romeo and Juliet

Central Park, New York. December 2010

An lazy afternoon with friends and family?

On an recent visit to the pacific coast I was enamored by these amazing, wonderful creatures. It was so much fun to watch them, they seemed almost drugged with sleep-only time they moved was to find just the right corner to snuggle in...

He was bigger than other in the group- almost an alpha male- - making his displeasure very evident for disturbing his sleep.

 

They look so angelic in their sleep, one can easily forget the tremendous strength and power they possess....

The perfect rock...

Startled

A semi-stray Kitten

This picture was taken in my uncle’s backyard. She must have been few months old at the time!

Please click on the picture for sharper/bigger image.

Resting

For a moment

Woodpeckers ? (hoopoe) in mom’s backyard

I was sipping on my herbal (tusli-Indian basil and Ginger) tea one morning (yum-yum - another story) when I spotted couple of woodpeckers in the yard.

They are such beautiful birds with beautiful stripes and amazing plume (?) on their head- which fans out. I presume when they are excited…I am not sure though, would have to research it a bit further.

The one in the first picture still had some fuzzy growth around his neck; I am guessing he was still young at the time.

Quintessential Sedona …

In picture: rock formations around the city

I was in Sedona most of last week for a business trip. These are some of the pictures/moments from the week…

The unusual red colors of the earth/rocks come from the Iron oxide in a post-glacial flooding that filled all of the Verde Valley.

My first evening started with a cool glass of ‘Sangria’ which is Red wine with La Pinta pomegranate tequila, hibiscus and triple sec! I must say it is worth a try…

In picture: Chile Relleno with a side of corn tortilla, and beans topped with salsa

Dinner was Chile Relleno with vegetable picadillo, goat cheese and queso Oaxaca. Vegetable picadillo was an interesting twist to the dish! I wonder that’s why chef called it picadillo!

Many homes have adobe style, which can also be seen through out south west. House on the botton of the hill reflects the style.

Wide open spaces....

Room with a view..

Play of light on the leaves caught my eye...outside Hilton

I saw use of red rocks in the design elements though out the city, which creates a very harmonious visual effect…almost one with nature.

In picture: statue at the entrance of Sedona Hilton

There is a very big influence of Native American heritage on art.

I fell in love with this vibrant-colorful/so-full-of-mischief sculpture by a local artist. It was also so-out-of-my price-range!

Tamed...The tall one is Saguaro- an cactus found only in Arizona. It can grow several stories tall.

Play of color and light on the rocks...

The two shots were taken within minutes of each other...

At the end of the trip, we did get a chance to visit Palatki and Honanki Ruins. They are both a World Heritage site.

In picture: Palatki ruins

The people responsible for creating the ruins are the Sinagua (literally means without water) people, who lived in central Arizona between 500 AD and 1425. There are no signs of them anywhere and historians are not certain but they surmise that warfare and drought were key factors in their departure or extinction.

Site of the Ruins- taken from a distance. The dwellings were almost 20-30ft above ground, just where the tree line ends.

Luminous sunset, hinting all things must come to an end…..

Neela asman so gaya....

Fitting end to a wonderful trip..

Another display-Pinky Saree Centre

Display outside a shop in inner city Jaipur

We were driving though the fort when this colorful display caught my eye.

South Street Seaport, Manhattan- a pleasant surprise!

In picture-Pier 17

The South Street Seaport in Manhattan, is considered a historical district, featuring some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city.

In picture: Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge views from Pier-17

Pier 17 offers amazing views of Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. I found out recently that the Brooklyn Bridge is in fact one of the oldest suspension bridges in US and upon completion in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world!!

For me it was more of actully visiting someplace I had heard referred to so many times, and I was not disappointed.

Flower pots on the road side in the farmer’s market- adding more of the rustic charm.





Fulton Stall Farmer’s market – in case you are wondering strwberries were $6 a pound!




Performers on the Pier- they were pretty talented!




The waterfront on the Pier has places to relax, eat, socialize; gorgeous views of the waterfront and the New York cityscape from the top floor.

Pier 17, New York

I would love to share some more pictures/memories from my last trip to New York in the next few posts.

To all my friends in the blog-sphere I terribly missed connecting with you all……

Foothills - Pushkar

Truly rang rangeela Rajasthan….

I wish I was there again, sitting on the lake shore, listening to folk music, indulging in my favorite pastime-people watching, sipping endless cups of tea with maybe …some somosas….yumm!

Well, I am in another desert as far away as possibly can be!

PHENOMENAL WOMAN- that's me.....

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when

I start to tell them

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.




Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

from-- And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.


Pictures of some phenomenal women from my last trip to India -September 2008.

Tranquil Florida – room with a view

View from our room in Clearwater beach, Florida. . I can easily say that it was really an breathtaking view to wake up to.

What more can a girl want? Company of loved ones, breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns and English muffins, with hot tea and to top it all -the view!!

Pool on the beach…seamless- where one ended the other began.

One can tell by the number on chairs on the deck, that it was quite a popular place to rest and relax.


Tranquil - beautiful day

Peek-a-boo…I can see you! Glimmer of the bay from back of the room!