Waiting For The Green Light To Start 2009!

At the threshold of the ending of 2008 and beginning of 2009, I wish that all fast drivers like me never encounter a longgggggg red signal. :-)

May the year 2009 be better than all the previous years. Wishing all of the netizens a happy and prosperous New Year!

Reading Wall

This is a reading wall at the Ambiance Mall, Gurgaon. This colourful wall is a hit with the children who come to play or even lie down and read here. Happy winters and reading from a Fogged out Delhi :-)

DLF Tower, Gurgaon

Fog is here and how. This is a snap I clicked yesterday evening in Gurgaon, just a few kilometres away from Delhi. The building just below the orange sun is the DLF tower, a short imitation of the Al-Burj of Dubai.

Tackiness At Its Best

I spotted this car and the writing on its bumper recently. This is tackiness at its best. I wonder how many 'Ma'ams' actually graced this black car.

200th Post: Taj Mahal

Since I did not find many (or rather any takers) for a Delhi Picnic. Couple of colleagues and I decided to take a day break from Delhi and go off to Agra. This is our whole group in front of the Taj Mahal, a monument that Rabindranath Tagore described as 'a teardrop on the cheek of time'. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj promised to be everything one reads about it and then a lot more.

It is truly a masterpiece and being with friends was an added bonus.

Hope all of you had a great holiday as well.

History Modernised

This computer, installed in the Qutb Complex, gives a 15 minute of aerial tour of the monument and surrounding buildings, for a very reasonable fees. I found this very interesting and informative. Plus getting a complete guided tour and getting an aerial view from the minaret was more than one can get ordinarily since climbing the minaret has been banned by the government following incidents of stampede at the monument. I like this marriage of history and modernization.

Appliances Shop, Karol Bagh

Like a typical guest at a typical Indian wedding, my friend and I went shopping for a typical gift at the typical appliances store in Karol Bagh. We bought a sandwich maker for out friend about to be married in the coming week. Hope you have an exciting week ahead... However, if it turns out to be typical. No worries. Typical is not bad :-)

Artificial Falls, Talkatora Gardens

These are artificial falls at Talkatora Gardens that have not seen water for several years now. However, this part still is beautiful to me. The blue and the green with the beige of the old cement works as a combination in this one to make it beautiful.

Off To A Picnic

School children I spotted going for a picnic. I loved seeing these little kiddies in their uniforms, holding hands and singing rhymes all excited for the picnic. They were excited and were shouting their songs to decibel levels that could prove to be injurious. But I guess it was worth it. Reminded me of school picnics I used to enjoy in my days. Delhi weather is just right for a lovely picnic. Do lemme know if you want to join me for a picnic. We can arrange a big gathering on December 25.

Keventers

Delhi is famous for its historical importance, markets, people and most importantly for food. Food is something that characterises Delhi like nothing else can. You have summer specific foods/drinks, rainy season street delicacies and winter cuisines and beverages. The photograph is of Keventers. It is an outlet in Connaught Place. It sells chilled flavoured milk in bottles shaped like the ones in Tom and Jerry. The milk in delicious and filling. Though it is a summer specialty, having it during a foggy winter evening is a pleasure I cannot describe in words. :-)

Shoes

It is every girl's birth right to be obsessed with shoes. I am no different and this is the photograph I clicked during my yesterday's shoe shopping spree... :-)

Qutb Minar, Ruins

This is a what is left of the maze at the Qutb complex. Even after so many years of neglect, the gates still are awe-inspiring with their beauty and magnificence.

Shakarkandi, Sweet Potato

This is one of the most basic street food that you'll find in Delhi. This man roasts sweet potato and then mixes various salts and chili powders along with a generous helping of lemon juice, squeezed right in front of you. Its a filling snack for the winters.

Orange Sun

A beautiful morning that I enjoyed along with the pigeons, a bunch of which you can see flying near the pole with an orange sun rising in the backdrop.

Pudding

Chuck had mentioned a figgy pudding the other day on his blog. Inspired I thought I too will post the photograph of the pudding I had recently. This is what we had for dessert at a family friend's place. It looked good (as you can see) and tasted oh so yum.. hehehe...

My First Award

Old Lady Lincoln, Patty, gave me my first ever blogger award. :D I am so gleefully happy that you can see all my 32 teeth. :D

Now its my turn to choose 8 people for the award. So here I go:

1. Abe, he is the father of blogging according to many and whenever I visit his blog or when I see his comments on my posts I am always reminded of my Grandfather, who is unfortunately no more around.
2. Kris, he has a very sharp sense of wit and humour. He has 2 adorable kids and his viewpoint of the world more often than not gives me a lot of food for thought.
3. Magiceye, he truly posses an eye to capture things that I never noticed about Mumbai on my several trips to the city.
4.Eliane, she is one of the most lively people I have found on the blogosphere. She is my window to NYC.
5.Nitu, she is very friendly and a very genuinely nice person. Visiting her blog is always a pleasure and finding her comments on mine is even more fun. :-)
6. Chuck, You need to visit his blog to see Seattle like never before. He is most generous with his compliments to me.
7. Jazzy, she is one of the firsts to have encouraged me continue with my blog. I love her photos. she writes very little... but her photos speak a thousand words.
8. Rohit, he is my latest discovery from the world of blogs. I really liked reading his posts. No photos here but two thumbs-up for his fictional and exaggerated reality posts.

"Blogs that receive this award are 'exceeding charming,' says its author. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

The award made me smile on a day, when I was not too happy. Hopefully it spreads the smile to those I have chosen. And hopefully others would smile after seeing the awarded blogs.

Thanks Patty!!!

“Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.”

I prescribe to the quote with all my heart. This is a little peak into my home. This is the Ganesh Idol that sits pretty in one corner of my living room. Some flowers and a big greeting card that I had given my mother on her 50th birthday.

I must confess that I am posting a photo of my favourite corner in the house... because I have run out of my bank of Delhi photos and work at the moment is keeping me away from seeing my lovely city in daylight.

Would hope to appease my boss soon to remedy the situation at the earliest. Till then home you get to spend more time at home as compared to poor lil me. :-)

"You teach best what you most need to learn." -- Richard David Bach

Bob Dylan says, "The answer my friend is blowin in the wind" but I beg to differ. I think books, reading and opening the young minds to possibilities beyond terror and communalism is the only way the global menace of terrorism can end.

And like Kris said, Loads of hugs and kisses too would work their charm.

Theme Day: Circle/Sphere: Flower Ball

This is a ball (Circle/Sphere) of leaves and flowers at the Garden of Five Senses. Here you can also spot leaves and flowers arranged into the shapes of various animals. The garden is a treat for sure especially in a weather like this when a hot cup of coffee or tea yum food and flowers for company are just what the doctor prescribed.

Happy December people!!!

Peace and Harmony to all

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Shanti Path

This is the Shanti Path, (Shanti means Peace, Path means Road). This road is flanked on both sides by Embassies of the countries of the world. This I thought was an apt photograph for the day, when the Mumbai carnage finally ended and the gun shots have finally stopped... though only temporarily. Peace is what my generation and the ones coming after me want. But I am pretty sure that war is not the way we would attain peace... Any suggestions from you are welcome.

It still continues...

Friends and family in Mumbai continue to keep a brave face as the Maxim city continues to fight the most severe terror attack on Indian soil. A handful of terrorists hold the country to ransom.

A hundred killed and hundreds maimed for life in a dastardly act of terror. We remember the victims and martyrs who lost their lives during the ongoing operation.

Jai Hind

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Railway Station)in Mumbai where the terrorists opened fire claiming several innocent lives.


With a heavy heart... Delhi today prays for our countrymen and foreign nationals trapped in the worst terror attack ever that is still continuing in the financial capital of India, Mumbai. May the perpetrators be brought to justice as soon as possible and peace be on the bereaved.

Jai Hind

Haunting Tree

A very haunting tree that I spotted on the Tuglaq road a few days ago. As compared to other Indian cities, I find Delhi to be very green. Not only are the green zones green, the road sides are green too.

Tall Guy

Fly fly on the wall,
Whose the tallest of them all?

My brother, Akshat, boasting that he is taller than me and can easily touch the top of the Iron Pillar and soon would be able to touch the Qutb Minar.

T-Shirt... Painted By Your's Truly

My latest creation... a T-shirt I painted. It got rave reviews at office... so I thought I should fish for compliments from fellow bloggers as well. And if you are one of those, who would question the photo post on Delhi Blog... Then the answer is simple, It was made by a Delhi girl, the T-shirt was bought in Delhi and a handful of Delhiites thought it was a good effort. :-)

Fine Arts Class

An art class going in the open grounds of Qutab Minar complex. These are students of 12th standard, working on their final submissions for the fine arts subject. They were drawing and painting beautiful images of the Minaret and the other structures in the complex.

Sunrise, Talkatora Gardens

A bright and beautiful sunrise at the Talkatora Gardens, I clicked early morning today, after the rains stopped. Just after the rain, the weather was chilly... but with sun up in the sky now... it is just nice and pleasant enough to curl in bed with a steaming cup of coffee and a good book, with Frank Sinatra, Kishore Kumar or Manna Dey crooning away to glory.

Lane Driving, Safe Driving

a very self-explanatory photo here. Though driving in Delhi is not easy for someone who abides by rules. The traffic and the motorists in Delhi are very innovative and do not shy to display their skills of coming up with flawless (according to them) rules and then enforcing their fabrications on others as well. Lane Driving is Insane Driving, according to Delhi drivers. :-)

Swadeshi, Ansal Plaza

This is a shop in Ansal Plaza mall that is called Swadeshi and sells Swadeshi, or things made within the country. Swadeshi was a movement started by Mahtma Gandhi during the freedom struggle of India. Under the movement, Indians were urged to patronize Indian made fabrics, especially khadi and cotton, over foreign synthetics.

The Iron Pillar, Qutb Minar

This is the iron pillar, a remnant of an old Jain temple that historians guess the Mughal rulers failed to destroy. Considered to be a metallurgic mystery, the pillar still stands tall after almost 1,500 years. It is believed that if one stands with the back joined to the pillar and give the iron structure a reverse back hug successfully, their wishes come true. However, rusting in the past few decades forced the ASI to forbid visitors from touching the pillar. Today the mighty structure stands caged with a guard on constant vigil. The arch behind the pillar is the ruin left of the original Qutb complex.

Qutb Minar, Mehrauli

I started my day today with a 20 kilometre drive to Mehrauli to visit Qutb Minar, the minaret that symbolizes Delhi, just like Eiffel Tower is synonyms with Paris. The morning trip was fun as I returned to the monument after 20 odd years. I had first gone to the Qutb complex with the school trip when I was in class 1. It is as beautiful as I remember.

Below is a plaque that tells the visitors all about Qutb Minar.

Chashme Buddoor - Talkatora Gardens

This is the snack joint in Talkatora Gardens that was made famous by the film, Chashme Buddoor. This is the exact table where Farooq Sheikh took Deepti Naval for one of their dates. The snack joint has a very romantic setting and having the first cup of morning tea after a good walk at this spot is magical.

Meetha Paan (Sweet Beatle Leaf)

Eating a beetle leaf, filled with some yummy sweet ingredients, is one of my very close friends, Parul. Like most of us, she hates being clicked while trying to fit a HUGE paan into her mouth. But like i always say, what are friends for if not for embarrassing you on a global platform. :-)

A paan is eaten after a meal in India. It is supposed to help in digestion of heavy food that one might have had and is also a natural mouth freshener. Do try it out. But beware of a NICE, CONCERNED AND SENSITIVE friend like me... who might have a camera on him/her. :-)

Shop in Karol Bagh

I just could not resist clicking this one. The name of the shop captured my attention. This is one of the thousands of shops in Karol Bagh. The market is the place to go if you want to pick some up-market Indian wear.

Gujarati/Rajasthani Meal --- Rajdhani

Thali, literally a plate of dishes comprising of all the food groups. It is a complete meal that caters to all the tastes - sweet, sour, spicy and bland. It is a balanced diet that has vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, proteins and water. And the best part is that it is DELICIOUS. I went to a Gujarati/Rajasthani (from the Western Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan) specialty restaurant called Rajdhani for dinner yesterday. The restaurant offers just one thing at lunch and dinner --- Thali. If your are in Delhi, you must reserve one meal for this joint.

The unique thing about this place is they treat you with the traditional Indian hospitality and the waiters return to your table every few minutes recommending you to taste various dishes and refilling your bowls, plate and glasses. When the meal is over, they bring this amazing looking vessel (posted below). The surahi (pot with a spout) is used to pour warm water on your hands as you wash them into the bowl with the holes. Don't worry the water doesn't run down from the holes... it is infact stored below the sieve.

Paw

Doggy paw. This is unfortunately not my pup's paw... he is still too young to be able to leave such a big footprint. This is the paw that I clicked in a dog shop/salon/restaurant/hotel in Karol Bagh. The three storey building has anything and everything a dog might need or not need. I liked the paw motif that decorated the place. I bought a coat for my dog, named Ross after the character Ross in the American sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S. When we bought him home he refused to respond to Joey or Chandler... so we had to settle for Ross. :-)He is a black Labrador, now nine months old and is feeling a little chilly with the onset of winter.

Barista Umbrellas, Select City Walk

My obsession with coffee continues. This is the top view of one of the Barista outlets in Saket City Walk mall. The best part of having coffee here was the nice cool weather and the steamy cappuccino romancing each other under the bright red coloured umbrellas.

Vine Covered Caves, Talkatora Garden

A set of caves decorated with falling vines. This again is from the Talkatora Gardens. It is such a huge place with so many interesting spots to photograph and write about that I can keep the blog running on the Garden photographs for 2 weeks straight. But I choose to bring a variety to the blog by spacing the pics with other Delhi scenes.

These caves give the morning exercisers a place to lie down and do yoga or back stretch exercises, and through the day are a safe haven for the lovers that find refuge in the Garden to steal some private moments.

Shahrukh Khan (SRK)

I am 3 days late to post this photo. It was Shahrukh Khan's (SRK) birthday on November 2. If you are wondering that what a Hindi film superstar's photo is doing on a Delhi daily photo blog... Let me tell you my justifications.

Firstly, SRK was born and brought up in Delhi. By his own admission he is a true dilli-wala.

Also, almost all of the national dailies carry his photograph on one pre-text or the other every day.

Last but not the least, one of his biggest fans (read me :-)) resides in Delhi.

So I guess that explains it. You can read about the SRK mania that my family is diseased with here.

Safal, Mother Dairy

This is the 'Safal' shop of Mother Dairy. Safal is the brand that sells vegetables at a subsidized rates. In these times of high inflation, most Delhi-walas are resorting to buy vegetables and fruits from the Safal outlets rather than the local vendor or the super markets. I personally like Safal as it has a huge collection of pickles and jams and sharbats apart from vegetables and fruits.

My Neighbourhood Cow

This a cow that frequents my neighbourhood often. According to Hindu mythology, Cow is a sacred animal and is worshiped. Hindus refrain from eating cow meat. Since Hindu branch of medicine, the Ayurveda dictates that all that a cow produces, from its milk to its dung, has medicinal value, Cows are a revered specie. Women generally make an extra Roti (bread)to offer to the cow. And a portion of the food prepared during a puja (holy ritual) is also fed to the cow.

You can read more about cow protection and the reasons behind it here.

Circular Jogging Track - Talkatora Garden

Call me obsessed, but the onset of winter gets to me big time and I try and move about as much as I can before the chill freezes the spine. This is the circular inclined track that I clicked at the Talkatora Gardens. I saw a couple of people with their ears already covered with mufflers and some others wearing woolen vests. So it is finally coming here.

P.S: My axiom in life is "Exaggeration in an art of living". So going by view of the city, you might think that it is in the Everest (trust me I can describe the winter in minus degrees). But the fact is it is the best time of the yar to visit the Indian Capital.

Theme Day: Books: Oxford Bookstore

The best companion for a book, especially with winter announcing its arrival, is a hot steamy cup of tea/coffee. That is exactly what this huge wall painting at the Oxford Bookstore in Connaught Place offers. A Happy November to all. :-)

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Laxmi Narayan Mandir

This is the Laxmi Narayan Mandir (Temple), located on Mandir Marg (Road). The temple is popularly known as Birla mandir, since the business group Birla's had constructed the temple. It was decorated with lights for the five days of the festival of Deepawali. Hindus light Deeps or Diyas or earthen lamps to ensure that the Godess of Wealth Laxmi can find her way into their homes on the Amavasya or the new moon night that marks the onset of winter. Several other religious beliefs are also attached to the festival. You can read more about Diwali here.

Warli In McDonald's

Like almost all the foreign brands operating in India, McDonald's has also had an Indian makeover. From its menus, advertising campaigns to its roofs, everything is being given the desi flavour. This is a roof paiting I spotted in McD's, Janpath. The brown stick figures that you see in this painting are typical of the tribal art called Warli. I have a Warli painting in my home too.