The Rediscovery of India
This is book cover of "The Rediscovery of India " by Meghnad Desai Pubished by Penguin books which is my photo
www.flickr.com/photos/araswami/541424920/
The books details are on this site
www.penguinbooksindia.com/Bookdetail.aspx?bookId=3760
I am very excited this is my first book cover.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 27 Nov 09, 1.26PM IST.
Shot of the buildings along the Singapore River .
Info from Wikipedia
The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre of trade, commerce and finance. To this day, area around the old Singapore River mouth, the Downtown Core, remains the most expensive and economically important piece of land in Singapore.
At one time, Singapore River was the very lifeblood of the colony, the trade artery, the center of commercial activity, the heart of entrepot trade, the vessel of importance, the capillaries of life and the place which was frequented by the secret societies, the swaylos (Cantonese for coolies who worked on a boat) and the coolies who worked for the philanthropist Tan Tock Seng at Ellenborough Market and the towkay (Hokkien for business owner) Tan Kim Seng who was busy filling his godown with the riches of the East.
Singapore River is where the colourful and romantic history of the river and the myths and legends can still conjure up memories of the lighters, bumboats, tongkangs with their painted eyes to see the danger ahead and sampans of yesteryear. This is where the Malayan princes once sailed and this is where the bullock carts plodded their way up and down each bank as the river found its way to the former rocky river mouth. This is also where an early civilisation was conquered by the Javanese Majapahit Empire, in the year 1376.
It was here too that the Chinese lived, on the south bank, the Malays in kampongs further upstream, and the Indians used to reside until the Chinese forced them out to Rochor, Kallang and Geylang.
Some of the temples, shrines and other places of worship still stand in the vicinity of the river. So too are the godowns, the bridges such as Anderson Bridge, Elgin Bridge and Cavenagh Bridge, the Merlion, the shophouses, and the large trees such as Banyan and Madras Thorn. Some parts of this area include quays such as Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, which generated trade and extensive demand for services with the boats that landed at the quays. Boat Quay itself was handling three quarters of the shipping service in the 1860s. Shophouses and warehouses flourished around the quays due to their proximity to trade during the colonial era, but presently house various bars, pubs and restaurants, as well as antique shops.
The river still borders places where seamen and others, for example, near Raffles Landing Place, made offerings and burned their joss sticks. Poles with streamers flying were once used to tie up the barges as the water lapped against the old stone steps and walls.
Sir Stamford Raffles lost no time after January 1819, when he landed on Singapore River among the orang laut and the human skulls, the victims of river pirates, in bargaining with the Temenggong, the Johor chief who then ruled the place, having settled in 1811. At the very moment of landing, Raffles must have realised the importance of the river for, in the same year of 1819, the north bank was drained for government buildings and, in 1822, the south bank was reclaimed and a retaining wall and steps were built.
With the expansion of trade came congestion and pollution. Through lack of knowledge or foresight, the bridges were constructed too low and the river was too shallow for the demands that were to be made on its use. This historic river, which Raffles had fashioned from salt marshes, sand bars and mangrove swamps, has witnessed the British rule and the Japanese occupation, and has supported years of economic activity by the Chinese, Malays, Indians and others.
Old maps of the river state that it actually originates from Bukit Larangan (currently Fort Canning Hill).
[edit] Pollution and cleanup
Starting in the 1880s, there was heavy traffic on the Singapore River due to rapid urbanization and expanding trade. At the same time, it brought in water pollution caused by the disposal of garbage, sewage and other by-products of industries located along the river's banks. The sources of water pollution into the Singapore River and Kallang Basin included pig wastes from pig and duck farms, unsewered premises, street hawkers and vegetable wholesaling. Riverine activities such as transport, boat building and repairs were also found along the Singapore River. Some 750 lighters plied along the Singapore River and Kallang Basin in 1977. Waste, oil spills and wastewater from these boats and lighters added to the pollution of the rivers.
In 1977, Lee Kuan Yew, then the Prime Minister put forth an ambitious goal for the government to clean up the Singapore River and Kallang Basin: and in ten years let us have fishing in the Singapore River and Kallang River. It can be done.
By October 1977, an action plan on "The Clean-up of the Singapore River and Kallang Basin" was submitted to the Prime Minister. By late 1977, the government was starting to take action to clean up the river. The plan involved the development of infrastructure such as housing, industrial workshops and sewage; massive resettlement of squatters, backyard trades and industries and farmers; re-siting of street hawkers to food centres; and phasing out of pollutive activities. Industries located by the river were removed and squatters were resettled into flats. Refuse was collected daily for incineration, while hawkers were issued licenses and provided specified areas with proper sewerage amenities. The dredging of the river bed and the removal of hundreds of tons of debris which had been piled up over the years helped marine life to return to the tidal river.
Ten years later in 1987, the clean-up of the Singapore River and Kallang Basin was completed. In September 1987, the Ministry of the Environment together with other government ministries and statutory boards celebrated the success of the clean-up with an event called the "Clean Rivers Commemoration". After the massive clean-up, people can now engage in activities such as wayang performances on a bumboat, variety shows staged on pontoons anchored in the river, and boat races. Today, speedboats, dragon boats, pedal-boats and sampans can be seen plying on the clean waterways of the Singapore River.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 22 Nov 09, 6.11PM IST.
The Singapore Flyer (Chinese: 新加坡摩天观景轮 Tamil:சிங்கப்பூர் ஃப்ளையர் Malay: Pelayang Singapura) is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Described by its operators as an observation wheel, it reaches 42 stories high, with a total height of 165 m (541 ft), and is 5 m (16 ft) taller than the Star of Nanchang and 30 m (98 ft) taller than the London Eye.
Located in Singapore, on the southeast tip of the Marina Centre reclaimed land, it comprises a 150 m (492 ft) diameter wheel, built over a three-story terminal building which houses shops, bars and restaurants, and offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about 45 km (28 mi), including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, as well as Johor, Malaysia.
The final capsule was installed on 2 October 2007, the wheel started rotating on February 11, 2008 and it officially opened to the public on March 1, 2008.[2] Tickets for rides on the first 3 nights were sold out for S$ 8,888 Singapore dollars (US$6,271)(£3,150.83GBP), an auspicious number in Chinese culture. The grand opening for the Flyer was held on 15 April 2008.
Each of the 28 air-conditioned capsules is capable of holding 28 passengers, and a complete rotation of the wheel takes approximately 37 minutes. Initially rotating in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from Marina Centre, its direction was changed on 4 August 2008 under the advice of Feng shui masters.
The Singapore Flyer was first conceived by Patrick MacMahon of Melchers Project Management (MPM), a subsidiary of German company Melchers, in the early 2000s. Formal planning commenced in 2002, MPM and Orient & Pacific Management (O&P) formed a new company, Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd (SFPL), as the developer with MPM holding a 75% stake and the rest by O&P. The project was formally announced and endorsed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 27 June 2003, formalising the understanding between the developer and STB with regard to the land-acquisition process. As stipulated in the MOU, the STB will purchase the plot of land in Marina Centre from the Singapore Land Authority, and lease it to Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd for 30 years with an option to extend the lease by another 15 years. In addition, the land will be rent-free during the construction phase of the project. In July 2003, Jones Lang LaSalle was appointed as the real estate advisor. Takenaka and Mitsubishi were selected as the main contractors, and Arup as the structural engineer.
Early designs showed a 169 m (554 ft) high wheel similar to the London Eye, drawing criticisms that it lacked originality. The developers pointed out that the design wasn't finalised and was merely for conceptualisation purposes though the final project changed little from the early designs. The project was to grind almost to a halt subsequently when the developers faced difficulties in sourcing for funds to build the wheel. Original plans to complete the wheel by the end of 2005 were thus postponed indefinitely, and there were reports (but denied by the STB) that the tourism board has set an ultimatum date on 31 March 2005 for the developer to iron out its financial issues and to keep the development going.
By September 2005, the project was revived when funds were successfully sourced from two German banks. Collin William Page, a subsidiary of ABN AMRO, will provide equity to a maximum of S$100 million, with a further S$140 million coming from Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank. With the injection of S$240 million, the largest single foreign investment in the Singaporean entertainment industry, the wheel was slated to begin construction by the end of the month.The stakeholders then were AAA Equity Holdings, MPM and O&P.
In August 2007, Mr. Florian Bollen, Chairman SFPL, raised his stake in the Singapore Flyer from 60% to 90% through acquisition of MPM’s 30% stake. The deal was done via AAA Equity Holdings, a private investment vehicle headed by Mr Bollen. O&P, which spearheaded the project development management, owns the remaining 10%.
The attraction was expected to draw about 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operation, giving investors a net yield of about 13.4%. About 50% of visitors were expected to be foreign tourists, helping to generate about S$94 million in tourism receipts in its opening year. The expected visitorship figure was deemed ambitious by some however, but the STB and the wheel's investors were upbeat over its long-term prospects.
Adval Brand Group, its master ticketing distributor, guaranteed a minimum of 8 million euros in ticket receipts per year for its investors, which was based on an annual visitorship of 600,000.
More on Wikipedia
Shot One of the oldest Bridges in BW over Singapore river in the Central Business District in Singapore called Anderson Bridge. One can see all the tourist buses parked on this bridge from here the tourist go and see Merlion, Esplanade etc.
Anderson Bridge is a vehicular bridge that spans across the Singapore River. It is located near the river's mouth in the Downtown Core Planning Area of Singapore's Central Area.
The Anderson bridge was completed in 1910[1], and was named after the Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904–1911), Sir John Anderson, who officially opened the bridge on 12 March 1910. It formed part of the Singapore Grand Prix's Marina Bay Street Circuit, which debuted on 28 September 2008.Anderson Bridge was built with the intention to replace the overloaded Cavenagh Bridge as the link between the government administrative area in the Civic District on the northern bank and the Commercial District (now Raffles Place) on the southern bank of the Singapore River. Due to the flourishing trade on the Singapore River by the 1880s, Cavenagh Bridge could not support the increasingly heavy traffic into town. Despite the building of Ord Bridge and Read Bridge, the traffic situation did not improve and in fact worsened following the widening of Battery Road. Its low draught was also insufficient for the passage of boats at high tide. However, when Anderson Bridge was completed in 1910, Cavenagh Bridge was spared from demolition and was converted to a pedestrian bridge, with heavier vehicles, horse and ox carts being diverted to Anderson Bridge.
Anderson Bridge was constructed between 1908 and 1910, as a joint venture between the colonial government and the Municipality after the reclamation of the south bank of the Singapore River. The abutments were built by the Westminster Construction Company Limited.
The elegant bridge displays an excellent combination of intricate plaster and metalwork unmatched by any other bridge locally. It comprises three steel arches with supporting steel ribs extending across them, two rusticated archways and a fluted pier at each end.
During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942-1945), the severed heads of criminals were hung on Anderson Bridge as a warning to discourage citizens from breaking the law.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 14 Nov 09, 7.31PM IST.
I could not help take a shot of these ladies in bright attires. The one behind looks like a she is wearing her bridal dress .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 14 Nov 09, 9.40AM IST.
More on http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/11/14/candid-shot-from-balcony/
Shot of the spices put typically in south indian foods.bengal gram,pepper , fenugreek , cloves , turmeric , mustard ,cinnamon,red chilli
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 25 Sep 09, 3.09PM IST.
Swami Stream
The Golu at home decorated by Ara.
During Navratri, it is customary in Tamil Nadu, Kerala to display a "Golu" (also Kolu, or Bommai Kolu). This is an exhibition of various dolls and figurines in odd (usually 7, 9, or 11) numbered tiers ("padis"). Generally, when people come to a person's house to see the Golu, they are given prasad (the offering given to God that day), kumkum and a small bag of gifts. These are only given to girls and married women. In the evenings, a "kuthuvilakku" (small lamp) is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"(Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional hymns and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared, are offered to the Goddesses.
Golu is adorned with dolls - predominantly with that of the Gods and Goddesses depicting mythology. It is a traditional practice to have at least some wooden dolls. There should also be a figurine of a boy and a girl together called 'Marapacchi' Bommai. On the 9th day (Saraswati Puja), special pujas are offered to Goddess Saraswati - the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. Also tools are placed in the pooja - as part of "Ayudha Pooja". Even vehicles are washed and decorated, and puja performed for them.
The 10th day, "Vijayadasami" - is the most auspicious day of all. It was the day on which evil was finally destroyed by good. It marks a new and prosperous beginning. New ventures started on this day are believed to flourish and bring prosperity. Kids often start tutoring on this day to have a head start in their education.
In the evening of "Vijayadasami", any one doll from the "Golu" is symbolically put to sleep and the Kalasam is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year's Navaratri Golu. Prayers are offered to thank God for the successful completion of that year's Golu and with a hope of a successful one the next year! Then the Golu is dismantled and packed up for the next year.
Details on Wikipedia
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 20 Sep 09, 10.13AM IST.
Shot of the new lamp we got which was decorated by Ara. We brought this lamp from MGF mall , it was plain when we got it
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 6 Sep 09, 10.25AM IST.
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/09/06/new-lamp-decor-at-home/
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/09/01/mesembryanthemum-criniflorum/
The shot of Livingstone Daisy at my home balcony. This flower has wilted away and now replaced with coriander now.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 31 Aug 09, 9.38PM IST.
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/31/gurgaon-in-twilight/
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/29/the-indian-danseuse/
Shot this from my balcony at twilight when the clouds where passing by. Since it was a long exposure shot you can see the movement of the clouds, i have a version without the motion too will post it soon
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 28 Aug 09, 6.20AM IST.
Http://www.swamistream.com
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/21/thai-green-curry/
Dinner that we had the day before. It was a yummy thai curry , lotus stems and Spinach balls .
Its so true nothing can be more appetising than a food presented well. Anyone want to dig in :)
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 21 Aug 09, 7.42AM IST.
Check this entry on my blog
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/19/rose-and-marble/
Shot of Zinnia at Orborne road Bangalore
Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae, originally from scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the American Southwest to South America, but primarily Mexico, and notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors.
Zinnia leaves are opposite and usually stalkless (sessile), with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and pale to middle green in color. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.
Zinnias are popular garden flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun. They will reseed themselves each year. Over 100 cultivars have been produced since selective breeding started in the 19th century.
Zinnia elegans, also known as Zinnia violacea, is the most familiar species, originally from Mexico and thus a warm-hot climate plant. Its leaves are lance-shaped and sandpapery in texture, and height ranges from 15 cm to 1 meter.
Zinnia linearis, also known as Z. angustifolia, is another Mexican species. It has a low bushy plant habit, linear foliage, and more delicate flowers than Z. elegans - usually single, and in shades of yellow, orange or white. It is also more resistant to powdery mildew than Z. elegans, and hybrids between the two species have been raised which impart this resistance on plants intermedate in appearance between the two. The Profusion series, with both single and double-flowered components, is bred by Sakata of Japan, and is among the most well-known of this hybrid group.
Zinnias seem especially favored by butterflies, and many gardeners add zinnias specifically to attract them.[1][2]
The name of the genus derives from the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinnia
http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/06/salesman-at-the-village/
Beautiful roses shot at my home . We had a bunch of them ordered for the puja at home.
Check out SwamiStream.com .
Skies in Gurgoan captured from MY balcony. I love these nature paintings .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 28 Jul 09, 7.28AM IST.
Beautiful skies shot from my balcony at Uniworld gardens. Nature can paint such a beautiful canvas every minute in our lives we sometimes just dont see it in our busy lives .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 26 Jul 09, 5.12PM IST.
The famous Signature Towers of Gurgaon shot from my car on NH8
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 25 Jul 09, 7.25PM IST.
Sepia shot of the kids in the village next to our complex playing .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 24 Jul 09, 9.30PM IST.
Shot this Ganesha in the light of the sun during eclipse . It was a strange kind of morning light to shoot this.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 24 Jul 09, 2.42PM IST.
red Phloxes at Garden of Five senses. Shot these sometime back
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 23 Jul 09, 9.58PM IST.
As promised posting a few more shots of the Solar Eclipse I shot yesterday .Shot the Partial Solar Eclipse from my balcony. Have various stages of the same .Will post them .The reason for such a hype is its a total SOlar Eclipse visible in India, though I could see only partial being on the penumbra rather than umbra of the solar eclipse . Its an experience and I am so glad i could see this once in lifetime event. This started at 5.54 India time and ended at 7.18 India time. This the longest Solar eclipse of the 21st Century and only visible in the eastern parts of the world like India, China, Bangladesh, Japan etc . Many parts of the country had monsoon clouds so not many people could see this event . I was just lucky .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 23 Jul 09, 6.11AM IST.
Shot the Partial Solar Eclipse from my balcony. Have various stages of the same .Will post them .The reason for such a hype is its a total SOlar Eclipse visible in India, though I could see only partial being on the penumbra rather than umbra of the solar eclipse . Its an experience and I am so glad i could see this once in lifetime event. This started at 5.54 India time and will end at 7.18 India time. This the longest Solar eclipse of the 21st Century and only visible in the eastern parts of the world like India, China, Bangladesh, Japan etc
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 22 Jul 09, 7.05AM IST.
Beautiful white flowers in Garden of Five Senses .
I am not sure of the id of the flower
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 21 Jul 09, 9.40PM IST.
You can see a lot of planes flying past this monument as the IGI Airport is very close
Qutub Minar (Urdu: قطب منار), a tower in Delhi, India, is the world's tallest brick minaret.[2] Construction commenced in 1193 under the orders of India's first Muslim ruler Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and the topmost storey of the minaret was completed in 1386 by Firuz Shah Tughluq. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub complex. The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.
Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and wishing to surpass it, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193, but could only complete its base. His successor, Iltutmish, added three more storeys and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last storey. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.
You can see a lot of planes flying past this monument as the IGI Airport is very close
Qutub Minar (Urdu: قطب منار), a tower in Delhi, India, is the world's tallest brick minaret.[2] Construction commenced in 1193 under the orders of India's first Muslim ruler Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and the topmost storey of the minaret was completed in 1386 by Firuz Shah Tughluq. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub complex. The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.
Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and wishing to surpass it, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193, but could only complete its base. His successor, Iltutmish, added three more storeys and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last storey. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.
Posting a BW shot of the Qutub .
Qutub Minar (Urdu: قطب منار), a tower in Delhi, India, is the world's tallest brick minaret.[2] Construction commenced in 1193 under the orders of India's first Muslim ruler Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and the topmost storey of the minaret was completed in 1386 by Firuz Shah Tughluq. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub complex. The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.
Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and wishing to surpass it, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193, but could only complete its base. His successor, Iltutmish, added three more storeys and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last storey. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.
Controversy also surrounds the origins for the name of the tower. Many historians believe that the Qutub Minar was named after the first Turkish sultan, Qutb-ud-din Aibak but others contend that it was named in honour of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint from Baghdad who came to live in India and was greatly venerated by Iltutmish.
Shot of Nahargarh fort from inside . You can see each door represent one quarter of one of the queens. This palace as 9 of them for each of the queens. This was also a set of a famous Indian "Hum Sath Sath hai" film whose song sequence was shot here
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 17 Jan 09, 8.26PM IST.
Hopefully with these skies I expect no rains I guess tonight its really getting hot
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 19 Jul 09, 8.33PM IST.
Sky shot from my balcony I played with the tones a bit
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 19 Jul 09, 3.39PM IST.
I went back to take these flowers the earlier lens did not let me take very good closeups and take these beauties. I have posted the closeup cropped as the next shot
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 24 Dec 07, 4.26PM IST.
The name Ranunculus is Late Latin for "little frog," from rana "frog" and a diminutive ending. This probably refers to many species being found near water, like frogs.
In the interior of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the buttercup is called "Coyote’s eyes"
Ranunculus (pronounced /ræˈnʌŋkjʊləs/)[1] is a large genus of about 400 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. It includes the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine (but not the greater celandine of the poppy family Papaveraceae).
They are mostly herbaceous perennials with bright yellow or white flowers (if white, still with a yellow centre); some are annuals or biennials. A few have orange or red flowers and occasionally, as in R. auricomus, petals may be absent. The petals are often highly lustrous, especially in yellow species. Buttercups usually flower in April or May but flowers may be found throughout the summer especially where the plants are growing as opportunistic colonisers, as in the case of garden weeds.
The Water crowfoots (Ranunculus subgenus Batrachium), which grow in still or running water, are sometimes treated in a separate genus Batrachium. They have two different leaf types, thread-like leaves underwater and broader floating leaves although for some species, such as R. aquatilis, a third, intermediate leaf form occurs.
Ranunculus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hebrew Character and Small Angle Shades. Some species are popular ornamental flowers in horticulture, with many cultivars selected for large and brightly coloured flowers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_lyallii
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 18 Jul 09, 6.48AM IST.
Lovely clouds from my balcony which I could not resist capturing it was calling me to shoo it
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 17 Jul 09, 9.00PM IST.
These retail in India as California Grapes , guess its one of the varieties grown in the valley. Shot these at home
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 13 Jul 09, 7.43AM IST.
Cherries shot at home, love the reds in these fruits .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 14 Jul 09, 7.20AM IST.
Shot these beauties at home before they ended in our tummies
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 12 Jul 09, 6.08PM IST.
Shot at Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya. Sometimes it amazed me to see the Indian influence on these sculptures . There is not a single nail used to put the while structure in one shape .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 11 Jul 09, 7.47AM IST.
this fellow was in the shade hidden from the world and more or less not to be seen from far.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 9 Jul 09, 7.33AM IST.
Angel captured from my balcony window in Uniworld Gardens in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 10 Jul 09, 7.11AM IST.
shot of the turtle planning to get into the water at Noon Nooch Tropical gardens in Pattaya, Thailand
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 7 Jul 09, 9.06PM IST
There is a mix of Buddhist , Chinese and hindu influence . IN this can see Chinese statues in a Hindu scenerio.
This is still under constructions and will take another 20 years . Its a wooden structure thats worth a visit.
The Sanctuary of truth was started in 1980 by a wealthy Thai businessman who has since passed and his children carry on with the work. Built completely of carved wood it really is an amazing sight and well worth the admission price of 500 baht.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic wooden construction which covers the area of more than two rais. The top point of the building is about 105 meters high. It was constructed to withstand the wind and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape, Tumbon Naklea, Amphur Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.The building was constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity and every square inch of the building is covered with wooden carve sculpture. The purposes of decoration with wooden carve sculptures are to use art and culture as the reflection of Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. With in this complex, visitors will understand Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic Thought, Cycle of living, Life Relationship with Universe and Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.More at hubpages.com/hub/Santuary_of_Truth
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 6 Jul 09, 9.17PM IST.
Shot of the Sanctuary of Truth from top before you can go down to the site.
This is still under constructions and will take another 20 years . Its a wooden structure thats worth a visit.
The Sanctuary of truth was started in 1980 by a wealthy Thai businessman who has since passed and his children carry on with the work. Built completely of carved wood it really is an amazing sight and well worth the admission price of 500 baht.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic wooden construction which covers the area of more than two rais. The top point of the building is about 105 meters high. It was constructed to withstand the wind and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape, Tumbon Naklea, Amphur Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.The building was constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity and every square inch of the building is covered with wooden carve sculpture. The purposes of decoration with wooden carve sculptures are to use art and culture as the reflection of Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. With in this complex, visitors will understand Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic Thought, Cycle of living, Life Relationship with Universe and Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.More at hubpages.com/hub/Santuary_of_Truth
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 5 Jul 09, 6.41PM IST.
Pink Flower at CoZy Beach
Pink Flowers shot near the pool of Cozy Beach Hotel in Pattaya.
Beautiful Orchids at Noong Nooch Tropical gardens , Pattaya , thailand
View On Black
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 4 Jul 09, 7.51AM IST.
Shot this beautiful at Nong Nooch Tropical gardens in Pattaya Thailand, last August
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 3 Jul 09, 10.02PM IST.
Shot this inside Sanctuary of Truth which is all made of wood is a must see for any visitor to Pattaya.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic wooden construction which
covers the area of more than two rais. The top point of the building
is about 105 meters high. It was constructed to withstand the wind
and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape, Tumbon Naklea,
Amphur Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.
The building was constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity
and every square inch of the building is covered with wooden carve
sculpture. The purposes of decoration with wooden carve sculptures
are to use art and culture as the reflection of Ancient Vision of Earth,
Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. With in this complex,
visitors will understand Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic
Thought, Cycle of living, Life Relationship with Universe and
Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.
More on www.sanctuaryoftruth.com/index.php?id=7
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 30 Jun 09, 8.58PM IST.
Shot of the beach next to Cozy Beach hotel in Pattaya. The sky and sea make a awesome view . IN the view is the Royal Cliff Hotel
Red Adenium shot in Osborne Road, Ulsoor , Bangalore .
Another one from my balcony garden in Bangalore. Really wish at the heat of packing I should not have left these flowers back there when we were moving. Never found this beautiful variety in Gurgaon .
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 29 Jun 09, 8.25PM IST.
