106 - 31st - El Ángel

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 31st Mar'08

El Ángel is one of the major attractions of Mexico City. Standing in the heart of the city, it is a symbol of faith for many and witnesses most of the important events of the country like the president's speech on Independence day. According to an old custom of Mexico, all newly weds are supposed to come straight to the angel after pronouncing their marital vows.

This place is hardly at a 20 min walk from my hotel & often I come and sit here once its dark in the evening. Though it has a lot of traffic circling around it, it somehow gives you a sense of peace. The complete name of the place is El Ángel de la Independencia.

Here is the complete view of the place.

Click here to see the full sized image

105 - 30th - Shoe polish

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 30th Mar'08

There are two things I would like to mention about this photo. One is the peculiar style of shoe polish shops that I have seen in Mexico. They make you sit high on the trolley and then polish your shoes. It feels as if you are sitting on a throne :) You can see these shoe polish trolleys all over the city and you can see people sitting on them and reading newspapers while their shoes are getting polished.

Second point is about the man you can see in this picture. It was a Sunday and hence not many customers for him. I asked him for a photo and he posed nicely for one. Then I thanked him and shook hands with him. He was so humble that you could notice it in the first glance. He was very hesitant in giving his hand over to me, but at the same time had a genuine smile on his face, as if feeling that someone cared to say thanks and offer a hand. I was really touched that time, by his looks and by his behavior. I couldnt stop myself from thinking about him for the whole day.

Click here to see the full sized image

104 - 29th - The evening lamps

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 29th Mar'08

As the night prepared to take the city under its cover of darkness, these street lamps were ready to confront it. Glowing against a dim background, they announced their arrival after a day long nap.

As I have mentioned before, the capital city of Mexico is flooded with various expressions of art even in the simplest of objects. The design of these lamps is a standing evidence of the same.

Click here to see the full sized image

103 - 28th - The Apple basket

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 28th Mar'08

The other day when I went to my friend's apartment for lunch, I saw these bright, fresh fruits very precariously arranged on a wooden platter-cum-basket like thing. Among all the other decorative items arranged in the room, I found this Apple basket the best candidate to be captured by my lens.

The shine and the freshness which was just radiating out of the fruits, made them so tempting that you just feel like to grab one and take a big juicy bite.

Here is the same image clicked with a different angle.

Click here to see the full sized image

102 - 27th - Lost in buttons?

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 27th Mar'08

Though you cant see anything special in this image at the first glance but there are two things worth to be noted.
1. If you see the full sized view, you will actually see me lost inside the reflections coming over the buttons, standing with my camera.
2. If you noticed, there are pattern of dots etched out besides all the buttons. These patterns are nothing but the braille alphabets for the numbers. This is the first time I have seen a lift having these signs. Certainly, very wisely thought.

Click here to see the full sized image

101 - 26th - Gandhi, Standing tall

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 26th Mar'08

It was really a proud moment for me to see this memorial right in the heart of Mexico city. I had seen the name "Gandhi" at many places in the city before, like music stores and street signs, but an entire memorial dedicated to the great man was really a heart warming sight.

Far from his homeland, and the places where he was active, like South Africa & Britain, having a presence on the other side of the globe is truly a sign of true greatness.

Nonviolence has always reached among men and has become the announcer of peace to the world. Our struggle & purpose is harmony with the entire world - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(Translation of text engraved at the back)

Click here to see the full sized image

100 - 25th - Hundred

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 25th Mar'08

Today I am posting the 100th post of the blog. These hundred images wont have been possible without the most cherished of my possessions; my camera. I have basically used three different cameras for clicking images for the blog.

Images till post no 38 were clicked using my first camera Canon A630. I used the camera for over 6 months before exchanging it for another one.

Post no 38 onwards are clicked by the camera I am presently having, Sony DSC H2.

A couple of images, including the one posted today have been clicked using the camera of my cell phone - Nokia N95 8GB.

These babies have helped me live my passion. I value them more than any other of my material possessions. I dedicate this post to them.

Click here to see the full sized image

99 - 24th - Del.ic.io.us

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 24th Mar'08

I tasted some sweet donuts at a friend's place last weekend. That time I decided that during my shopping for the next week, I'm gonna buy some bakery items which will come handy for a light snack. The bakery section of the nearby supermarket "Superma" was really awesome. The look, the fragrance, the display, everything was completely fascinating. I bet you can't come back empty handed once you enter the section. Everything seems to be so fresh as if it has just arrived from the oven.

I bought many different kinds of donuts and pies & that was when I took this image.

Click here to see the full sized image

98 - 23rd - Urban Art

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 23rd Mar'08

Usually its the European countries which are famous for their urban art. If you think about art forms on road sides and road intersections, you think of France, Italy and Holland. I haven't seen other parts of Mexico, but being quite familiar with Mexico City, I can very well list it along with the European elites. You can find diverse expressions of art in every nook and corner of the city. The art forms vary from medieval impressions to some very versatile expressions of modern art. A lot of thought has been put even while designing the benches and seats on the side-walks.

If you go the old city, you will feel as if you are on a trip to the colonial past. The buildings, the architectural designs, subways, even the lamp posts have a typical Spanish art print on them.

Click here to see the full sized image

97 - 22nd - Bundles of Joy

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 22nd Mar'08

I was having a casual evening walk when I saw this cute little girl running here and there around the side-walk. She was actually running to & fro between her parents, waving her hands in the air & shrieking every now and then. I silently took the nod of her mother to capture her into my camera and then took a couple of shots. But just as I took the second one, she noticed me and became conscious.

Kids do really take my heart away.

Click here to see the full sized image

96 - 21st - Colorful

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 21st Mar'08

We were walking past a big flower exhibition set up in the city on the occasion of Good Friday when I clicked some photos of these beautiful colorful flowers. They were so eye catching and attractive that you couldn't just stop yourself from standing and admiring their beauty. I took many pictures, out of which this one was my favorite.

Here are some more shots
Photo -1
Photo -2

Click here to see the full sized image

95 - 20th - Pretty

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 20th Mar'08

This is the setting at the terrace of my hotel. While returning from the office, I just asked the bell boy that on which floor is the gym located. He said something in Spanish and told me to follow him. In another 2 minutes, we were standing on the terrace. The arrangement was beautiful and the setting sun was just what was needed to make it a picturesque view.

At that very moment I decided to spend one evening there, just sipping on some coffee and reading a book.

Click here to see the full sized image

94 - 19th - Torre Mayor

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 19th Mar'08

Torre Mayor - The highest building in Latin America & the home to my office in Mexico City. The magnificence of this architectural marvel can only be realized when you stand under it's shadow. It towers upon you so majestically that you start feeling negligibly miniature.

I took this photo from a bridge while walking back to my hotel. Click here to see one more shot taken with a different perspective.

Click here to see the full sized image

93 - 18th - Birds of a nest

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 18th Mar'08

I had just checked in my hotel room when I opened the curtains covering the big front window. It was not a pleasant scene in its entirety as there was nothing else than blank building walls to be seen. It was then, when I noticed these birds nestled in this heap of brown straw sitting cosily and enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. Most probably they are in the process of hatching their eggs with the male bird just giving company to his beloved.

I had to climb over my bed and take the photo to get a proper view. I see them daily, in the morning when I wake up, in the afternoon when I come for lunch and then again in the evening when I return from office. Never have I seen this nest with a lone bird. These two love birds seem to be always together.

P.S - I recommend you to see the full image to see the real thing

Click here to see the full sized image

92 - 17th - The colorful bloom

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 17th Mar'08

You can see them all over the place. In every second front-yard, at every third street corner, on the road sides & virtually everywhere you go. These trees laden with the colorful flowers both on and beneath them really create an atmosphere filled with joy. You heart just smiles when you see the bloom. The color and the sheer beauty is just for your eyes to admire.

This picture may not look that great, but the actual scene really was.

Click here to see the full sized image

91 - 16th - White paintings

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 16th Mar'08

My plane was passing over the Atlantic Ocean when i had a peep outside the window. I could see numerous tiny white flakes scattered all over the sea. Given their number, it was hard to imagine them as ships or boats sailing away in the waters. When i couldn't figure out what it really was, i stopped thinking and went back into my slumbers. Around half an hour later, I was woken up by some camera clicks from the seat right in front of me. I peeped out again and the scene was absolutely spectacular.

The whole sea was covered in white. Large sheets of snow could be seen everywhere. There were icy mountains (at least thats what they appeared to be), plains, rivers and a hundred other designs. I took around four different shots.

You can see some more here:-
Photo-1
Photo-2

Click here to see the full sized image

90 -15th - Neatly arranged

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 15th Mar'08

This is the Frankfurt airport. People who travel to US/Germany must be familiar with this image. Right at the center of Terminal B, they have this busy restaurant with the dining seats spread out in the open. The restaurant serves you some exquisite continental & European food along with a choice of drinks in it's small but a cute little bar.

I went up to the other floor to take this picture. From the same level, the seating was too high to get a nice view.

Click here to see the full sized image

89 - 14th - Gigantic tollywood

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 14th Mar'08

This is something about Cinema which I have observed only in South India, specially Chennai; large, gigantic hoardings, advertising the upcoming movies. In most of the places like Delhi and other parts of India where I have spent most of my life, the filmy advertising is there & that too in fanatic proportions, but I dont know whether it is the local civic rules or a completely different style, such BIG hoardings are nowhere to be seen. Cinema definitely is an essential part of life of most of the Indians.

Click here to see the full sized image

88 - 13th - Engraved

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 13th Mar'08

Man has found many different ways to symbolize his faith. God can be seen residing at all imaginable places, on the road side, in parks, deep in jungles & any other nook & corner you can think of. After all, God is supposed to be ubiquitous.

I took this photo at a beach in Mahabalipuram, where a small statue was engraved right in the heart of this huge rock. The golden rays of the rising sun were hitting the rock right on its face to give it a magnificent shine.

Click here to see the full sized image

87 - 12th - SALE

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 12th Mar'08

Its the season of "SALE" in Indian markets. Wherever you go, be it big shopping malls or your next door garment showrooms, you will find the big red sign of "SALE" hanging outside. Putting up a sale is really an innovative idea to fool the consumers and to sell things which, in the normal run, people won't even notice. The concept is simple, overprice a $10 commodity to $30 and then give 50% "SALE".

Click here to see the full sized image

86 - 11th - Local businessmen

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 11th Mar'08

India is famous for its art and artifacts. The art can be seen in hundred different forms; jewels, paintings, dresses, show-pieces etc. Tourists visiting the country find these things very peculiar and often carry loads of them back to their countries as souvenirs.

I took this photo when a local woman was trying to sell some beads to a tourist. The negotiating skills and the local version of English language of these women are really noteworthy. I actually sat there for around 20 minutes, just to see how she manages to sell a small chain of beads for around 200 INR.


Click here to see the full sized image

85 - 10th - On the rocks

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 10th Mar'08

Nothing much to say about this one. The beauty of the scenery says it all. The view of the rising Sun blended with foaming sea water and a spread of rocks in front is surely a pleasing sight.

Click here to see the full sized image

84 - 9th - The perfect dining

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 9th Mar'08

A sea side restaurant, endless stretch of sand and water extending in front of you, cool breeze hitting your face and the sweet aromas of a typical south Indian kitchen entering your nostrils; its really a perfect setting for a dreamy, romantic date. You just dissolve in the surroundings and totally surrender yourself to the magical combination of sweet music, dim lights and the
magnificence of mother nature.

This is a typical setting for most of the beach restaurants in & around Chennai. Night being their peak business time, they don't leave any stone unturned to lay a perfect bait and lure you to fall to your temptations.


Click here to see the full sized image

83 - 8th - The cobbler

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 8th Mar'08

Different people do different things to earn a living. Some sit in air conditioned offices and surf through their day while other not-so-fortunate ones struggle endlessly, day after day, under the blazing sun.

This man, finding his way through yet another tough day of his life, working under heavy heat & unbearable humidity; when asked for a photo, readily agreed for it with a humble smile on his face. I drew endless inspiration from him and was thankful to God for making me realize some important lessons of life.

Click here to see the full sized image

82 - 7th - Early morning Yoga

Originally clicked & uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 7th March'08

India has given an invaluable gift to the world in the form of "Yoga". Thousands of foreigners can be seen flocking the ashrams of many Indian god-men & also the innumerable Yoga centers spread all over the country. Yoga has undisputed become the modern age health mantra for many people round the world.

This couple meditation in front of the rising sun is a live example of the same.

Click here to see the full sized image

81 - 6th - The sunrise

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 6th Mar'08

Its was 6 in the morning & despite only 2 hours of sleep last night, I was waiting for the sun to rise at the nearby beach in Mahabalipuram. The considerable long wait, given my swollen eyes, finally paid off when that orange ball of fire emerged from the lap of the ocean. I took many shots at different stages of the sunrise, but this one was my favorite.

Click here to see the full sized image

80 - 5th - The sea-side temple

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 5th Mar'08

An ancient temple, standing on a tall bed of rocks, overlooking the vast stretch of blue sea, flooded with hundreds of tourists - a perfect combination for a picturesque landscape.

This is one of the popular tourist attractions in the small city of Mahabalipuram, some 60kms from Chennai. From a distance you can see this perfect scenery in one eye span. It looks like a page torn from a calendar of natural sceneries.

Click here to see the full sized image

79 - 4th - The brown grass

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 4th Mar'08

Sitting right in the middle of a busy sideway leading to the beach, trying to focus your camera on a what's-so-special-in-that type of brown wild grass, you take a risk of appearing weird and insane to the people passing by. In the end, the risk was worth being taken as I ended up getting this crisp and clear macro.

Click here to see the full sized image

78 - 3rd - Friendly shadows

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 3rd Mar'08

As the sun shone brightly at our backs, four of us stood near the beach staring at the high rising waves of the sea. Nothing else in this world can match the joy of spending a whole weekend with your friends at a far away empty beach resort.

Click here to see the full sized image

77 - 2nd - The "seafood" platter

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 2nd March'08

During my recent trip to Mahabalipuram we were dining at a sea-side restaurant when I saw this huge platter decorated right at the entrance of the place. It contained a long fish, which probably was an eel, a plate full of grilled lobsters & some two other varieties of fishes drenched in tasty South Indian masalas. Though I am a vegetarian & I detest the smell of sea-food I couldn't resist clicking this "unusually filled-up" platter of murdered sea creatures.

Click here to see the full sized image

76 - 1st - King of Good Times

Originally clicked and uploaded by - Pratosh Dwivedi - 1st March'08

Often I end up in interesting stretched arguments with my friends when I discuss the relevance and a sane logic behind people drinking alcohol. I, being a strict non-alcoholic, often find myself sidelined in such arguments. People with opposite opinion always outnumber me, though I never got a convincing reason from their side.

Though its one's personal choice in the end, I personally believe that drinking alcohol is like paying for your own slow-death.

Click here to see the full sized image