Cityscapes

Hitherto, my attention was only towards landscapes. Here is an offbeat post on cityscapes for a change. Cityscapes never motivated me till date and this post purely for a change. Even though the interests on cityscapes are feeble, trying out new to variegate photography realms becomes necessity. In-fact, this policy can be generalized to any domains. Hope you enjoy the pictures :)

 

 

 

Weekend perceptions

17/18th Feb 2018,

As pointed out in earlier post, my DSLR is exhausting shutter cycles and ergo, I use mobile camera for most of the practices. However, it is hard to leave behind the mighty buddy. Few shots are composed from DSLR as well. The evenings of this weekend, I shot wide range of pictures during my casual walk along Rachenahalli lake. I still call myself as amateur and hence don't be surprised if the pictures does not meet your expectations :-). Hope the pictures enthralls your vision to some extent.

Linked to Skywatch Friday

The day after first rains

08 Feb 2018,

As predicted in previous post, the day after rains turned up pretty. The evening Sun shying between clouds presents majestic display of crepuscular rays shimmering the earth with dazzling orange light. I was at the right time in Rachenahalli lake to behold this beautiful artwork of nature. The mobile camera was suffice to capture the magnificent glory of nature splashing vivid hue over the water body. Hope you enjoy the pictures shot during that glorious day!

Linked to Skywatch Friday

Mahashivaratri Sunset

13th Feb 2018

In North India, looks like the celebration is on tomorrow. Here in Bangalore it is today. Considering the proximity, I would go for 13th Feb :-). Nevertheless, festivals are to rejoice with family, savor delicious dishes and internalize the morals of almighty. I don't mind the differences in celebration dates. They are hardly a day or two difference.

I eschew the normal path for my return journey nowadays primarily due to the breathtaking sunset at the Rachenahalli lake. Among all the lakes nearby my location, this lake triumphs. The Amruthalli lake lacks decent landscape. The authorities have not constructed esplanade throughout the periphery of lake in  Hebbal and Lumbini Gardens. Hebbal lake hosts beautiful landscape but lacks decent maintenance. The Rachenahalli lake on the other hand, hosts magnificent views of both sunrise and sunset all through the season. The renovated esplanade makes it even more comfortable for photographers and walkers. Even though sunrise and sunset spots are not the same, both the landmarks have beautiful landscape as backdrop. Despite the blemishes of cityscapes, this lake is my favorite spot for photo-shoot proximity to my area. Jakkur lake is another option but yet to explore it more.

The Shivaratri generally marks the outset of Spring season by carrying strong winds of change across the region. Hope you enjoy the pictures captured during the Shivaratri day on my way home. Let the god of simplicity, destroyer of evil, and energy bless us with peaceful, and colorful glowing life as Sun :-).

Here is a picture of Lord Shiva shot long time ago in Murudeshwara.

|| OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE RUDRAYA ||

 

OBEISANCE TO THE MIGHTY LORD

Passport renewal - Follow ups

I did not want to bloat the older post. This post is intended to track post submission of passport renewal application.

As mentioned in previous post, I was granted passport renewal without any police verification. What does it mean? For me it means to honor the the trust and maintain the dignity of nation wherever I travel.

Following are the SMSes received post submission of passport renew application

14th Feb

Passport renewal granted with no Police Verification.
Passport application is being submitted for print.

15th Feb

Passport printed is completed and a message will be sent once passport is dispatched via speed post.

16th Feb

Hurray! Passport has been dispatched via Speed Post consignment No.XXXXX :-).  Not yet updated in India post website :-(. "Consignment details not found" is the error.

17th Feb

Today I was able to track the consignment in India Post site during early morning. The latest update was the consignment reached Yelahanka facility. The server gets loaded in normal hours and its only by luck you can track at that time of day. After tremendous cycles of retyping captcha, the status was shown. I am hopeful of receiving the new passport at the earliest.

It's time to cheer!! Today at 2PM, I have my renewed passport at doorstep :-).  I was delighted that process concluded in mere 3 days! Thanks a lot for authorities for such quick action.

ITS TIME TO FLY :-)

Unfortunately delivery notifications from both Passport office and Post office hit the SMS inbox only on 19th Feb :-(. This is primarily because of India Post fault. The notification from Post office arrived late and perhaps, passport office delay ensued :-).

Overall, I was exhilarated by the hassle free renewal process!

Ramblings from first rain of year

07 Feb 2018

It has been almost 2 weeks since mercury levels slumped in Bangalore to as low as 12degree C. It is bizarre to witness chilly weather during fag end of winter season. I have heard numerous cases of health upsets including me. Additionally, the city is smeared with dust arising out of dug up roads intended for utility purpose. As always lethargic/corrupt authorities never revamp the roads unless there is human tragedy. Even I am having deep trouble gliding bike over jerky road. The unevenly spread ballast invite high possibility of toppling the bike. It's common to see many of city two-wheeler riders anxiously teetering over the haphazard roads.

Back on track! The chilly weather looming over the city swiftly turned cloudy yesterday.

The clouds which were isolated, amassed over the skies today :-). The heat index increased and weather abruptly turned hot with blistering sun roasting the skin. Around evening dark clouds gathered over troposphere and started showering the earth. This was the first rain of year and drenching in the first rain is something regarded as unhealthy. It was unseasonal rain too! The unseasonal rains carry a jinx of forecasting poor monsoon rains later in the year. Anyways the rains are welcome respite from dust and pollution of city at-least for three days. The rains intensified as I rode bike towards home. Consequently, I was fully drenched in rain. To aggravate, I did not carry jacket or umbrella for temporary relief. It was just 2 days since I recuperated from severe cold. Hopefully, the drenching won't recur the disease. Co-incidentally whenever BBMP revamps the dreaded roads, out of blue the rains turn up. The rains also reflect the quality of work done by authorities. Hopefully, the revamped roads stay healthy against this tiny downpour. The other problem is it is unable to measure the depth of potholes filled with rainwater. Not all the paths have seen recovery and unfortunately, I rode along those paths. Also too many puddles along the road, mirror the quality of recent works being carried out. The BBMP is constructing drainages at nook and cranny of the city for directing the storm-water towards lakes perhaps. This action item arouse from the torrential monsoon season that pummeled the city last year, resulting in all-time record rainfall. Despite the lessons from nature, the authorities seem to have no seriousness in diligent work and huge puddles on the road mimic them.

The day did not favor me either as I deliberately skipped jacket after gap of one month. That evening, unusual rains poured exactly during my return journey. The rains diminished as I reached home. Nature teaches a lot. Troubles can arise unexpectedly. We need to be prepared always. Nowhere I had strength to thwart rains but preparations were not difficult. In this situation, I was choice-less and it was better for me to ride with troubles!

Anyways, enjoy pictures from the rainy day. The last 3 shots were snapped near Rachenahalli lake. I deliberately chose this path to avoid traffic and to shoot rainy atmosphere. It is exhilarating to behold the rains nearby water bodies.  Hopefully we will conclude with dazzling sunset with hazy free atmosphere in few days and I am eagerly waiting for that moment :-)

Alongside Skywatch Friday enjoy the Rainwatch as well :-)