IM Swaminathan's Photos

Freshly Baked Cinnamon Cookies

2011-04-30T21:09:00.001-07:00

Freshly Baked Cinnamon Cookies, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Via Flickr:
Shot of freshly baked cookies with its key ingredients like Hazelnut, Cinnamon and Vanilla Pods.

Mesembryanthemum

2011-04-19T00:43:00.001-07:00

Mesembryanthemum, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Via Flickr:
Shot of livingstone daisy in our complex.

The Rediscovery of India

2009-11-27T04:25:00.001-08:00

The Rediscovery of India, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Buildings on Singapore River

2009-11-22T06:58:00.001-08:00

Buildings on Singapore River, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Singapore Flyer in Twilight

2009-11-14T22:46:00.001-08:00

Singapore Flyer in Twilight, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Connought Drive Bridge (Anderson Bridge)

2009-11-14T06:08:00.001-08:00

Connought Drive Bridge, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Candid Shot from Balcony

2009-11-14T05:23:00.001-08:00

Candid Shot from Balcony, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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/

South Indian Spices

2009-09-25T06:33:00.001-07:00

South Indian Spices, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Golu at Home

2009-09-20T05:31:00.001-07:00

Golu at Home, originally uploaded by 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.

New Lamp Decor at Home

2009-09-06T02:45:00.001-07:00

New Lamp Decor at Home, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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/

Mesembryanthemum Criniflorum

2009-09-01T00:26:00.001-07:00

Mesembryanthemum Criniflorum , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Gurgaon in Twilight

2009-08-31T04:23:00.001-07:00

Gurgaon in Twilight, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/31/gurgaon-in-twilight/

The Indian Danseuse

2009-08-28T22:11:00.001-07:00

The Indian Danseuse, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/29/the-indian-danseuse/

Passing clouds Twlilight, Gurgaon

2009-08-27T18:09:00.001-07:00

Passing clouds Twlilight, Gurgaon, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Use of Donkeys in Gurgaon

2009-08-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Use of Donkeys in Gurgaon a series I shot from my balcony

Thai Green Curry

2009-08-20T19:22:00.001-07:00

Thai Green Curry, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Rose and Marble

2009-08-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

Rose and Marble, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Check this entry on my blog

http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/19/rose-and-marble/

Pink zinnia

2009-08-12T18:11:00.001-07:00

Pink zinnia, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Qutub Minar

2009-08-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

Qutub Minar

Review of Love Aaj Kal

2009-08-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Review of Love Aaj Kal
This review is written by Aradhna

Salesman at the Village

2009-08-05T19:16:00.001-07:00

Salesman at the Village, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

http://swamistream.com/index.php/2009/08/06/salesman-at-the-village/

Roses Decor at Home

2009-08-03T09:07:00.001-07:00

Roses Decor at Home, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Beautiful roses shot at my home . We had a bunch of them ordered for the puja at home.

Check out SwamiStream.com .

Flower arrangement in Brass Plate

2009-08-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

Flower arrangement in Brass Plate

Posted this on my website www.swamistream.com

launch of Swamistream.com

2009-07-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

I used to post my blog here now I have started my own blog on my domain. Please log on to http://swamistream.com for my latest posts .

Threatning to rain

2009-07-28T03:44:00.001-07:00

Threatning to rain, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Skies in Gurgoan captured from MY balcony. I love these nature paintings .

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 28 Jul 09, 7.28AM IST.

Rain Clouds Over Gurgaon

2009-07-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

Rain Clouds Over Gurgaon, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Signature Towers Gurgaon

2009-07-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

Signature Towers Gurgaon, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The famous Signature Towers of Gurgaon shot from my car on NH8

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 25 Jul 09, 7.25PM IST.

What have you found

2009-07-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

What have you found, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Sepia shot of the kids in the village next to our complex playing .

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 24 Jul 09, 9.30PM IST.

Ganesha shot during Solar Eclipse of 22 july 09

2009-07-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

Ganesha, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

2009-07-23T09:39:00.001-07:00

Red Phloxes, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

red Phloxes at Garden of Five senses. Shot these sometime back

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 23 Jul 09, 9.58PM IST.

Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009

2009-07-22T18:24:00.001-07:00

Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Solar Eclipse of July 22 ,2009

2009-07-21T20:38:00.001-07:00

Solar Eclipse of July 22 ,2009, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

White flowers at garden of Five Senses

2009-07-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

White flowers at garden of Five Senses, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

BW shot of the First level of Qutub Minar

2009-07-20T19:40:00.001-07:00

BW shot of the First level of Qutub Minar, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Qutub Minar in Sepia

2009-07-20T19:27:00.001-07:00

Qutub Minar in Sepia, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

BW Qutub MInar

2009-07-19T22:15:00.001-07:00

BW Qutub MInar, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Inside Nahargarh Fort

2009-07-19T09:28:00.001-07:00

Inside Nahargarh Fort, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Gurgaon skies

2009-07-19T08:11:00.001-07:00

Gurgaon skies, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Skies from Balcony

2009-07-19T07:36:00.001-07:00

Skies from Balcony, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Sky shot from my balcony I played with the tones a bit

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 19 Jul 09, 3.39PM IST.

red Plumeria(Explore)

2009-07-18T19:36:00.001-07:00

red Plumeria(Explore), originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

White Ranunculus in Garden of Five Senses, New Delhi

2009-07-17T20:54:00.001-07:00

White Ranunculus in Garden of Five Senses, New Delhi, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Gurgaon blue Skies

2009-07-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

Gurgaon blue Skies, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Grapes Anyone

2009-07-14T03:13:00.001-07:00

Grapes Anyone, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

More Cherries

2009-07-14T03:10:00.001-07:00

More Cherries , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Cherries shot at home, love the reds in these fruits .

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 14 Jul 09, 7.20AM IST.

Cherries Anyone

2009-07-12T06:29:00.001-07:00

Cherries Anyone, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot these beauties at home before they ended in our tummies

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 12 Jul 09, 6.08PM IST.

wooden sculptures

2009-07-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

wooden sculptures, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

tortoise in shade

2009-07-09T19:39:00.001-07:00

tortoise in shade, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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 rays in Gurgaon

2009-07-09T19:38:00.001-07:00

angel rays in Gurgaon, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Angel captured from my balcony window in Uniworld Gardens in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 10 Jul 09, 7.11AM IST.

Turtle in water

2009-07-07T09:35:00.001-07:00

Turtle in water, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Statue at Sanctuary of Truth

2009-07-06T08:58:00.001-07:00

Statue at Sanctuary of Truth , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Sanctuary of Truth

2009-07-05T19:15:00.001-07:00

Sanctuary of Truth, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

2009-07-04T06:34:00.001-07:00

Pink Flower at CoZy Beach , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Pink Flower at CoZy Beach

Pink Flowers shot near the pool of Cozy Beach Hotel in Pattaya.

Orchids in Nong Nooch

2009-07-04T05:01:00.001-07:00

Orchids in Nong Nooch, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Beautiful Orchids at Noong Nooch Tropical gardens , Pattaya , thailand

View On Black

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 4 Jul 09, 7.51AM IST.

Red Flower Macro

2009-07-03T09:38:00.001-07:00

Red Flower Macro, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot this beautiful at Nong Nooch Tropical gardens in Pattaya Thailand, last August

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 3 Jul 09, 10.02PM IST.

Statue inside Sanctuary of Truth

2009-06-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

Statue inside Sanctuary of Truth, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Pattaya Beach

2009-06-29T21:55:00.001-07:00

Pattaya Beach, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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

Exotic Red Adenium

2009-06-29T08:26:00.001-07:00

Exotic Red Adenium, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

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.

Pink Dianthus

2009-06-28T07:53:00.001-07:00

Pink Dianthus, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

These beautiful Pink Dianthus were shot a while ago in my balcony garden at Osborne Road ,Ulsoor, Bangalore Had shot these when it had rained in Bangalore . I really miss the weather in Bangalore where its so pleasant.View On Black

Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species (D. repens) in arctic North America. Common names include carnation (D. caryophyllus), pink (D. plumarius and related species) and sweet william (D. barbatus). The name Dianthus is from the Greek words dios ("god") and anthos ("flower"), and was cited by the Greek botanist Theophrastus.
The species are mostly perennial herbs, a few are annual or biennial, and some are low subshrubs with woody basal stems. The leaves are opposite, simple, mostly linear and often strongly glaucous grey-green to blue-green. The flowers have five petals, typically with a frilled or pinked margin, and are (in almost all species) pale to dark pink. One species, D. knappii, has yellow flowers with a purple centre.
Dianthus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, Double-striped Pug, Large Yellow Underwing and The Lychnis. Also three species of Coleophora case-bearers feed exclusively on Dianthus; C. dianthi, C. dianthivora and C. musculella (which feeds exclusively on D. suberbus).
The colour pink may be named after the flower. The origin of the flower name 'pink' may come from the frilled edge of the flowers: the verb "pink" dates from the 14th century and means "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern" (maybe from German "pinken" = to peck). Source: Collins Dictionary. The verb sense is also used in the name of pinking shears. More at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 28 Jun 09, 8.17PM IST.

Pink flowers

2009-06-27T19:48:00.001-07:00

Pink flowers, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Pink flowers

Shot these beautiful flowers at the garden of Five senses.

Not sure if these are a variety of Cinerarias too .

Yellow Petunia

2009-06-27T04:43:00.001-07:00

Yellow Petunia, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot these beauties at Garden of Five senses in New Delhi

Scientific Name : Petunia X hybrida
Common Name : Petunia
Hardiness Degree" : 40°F (4.4°C)
Blooming Season : Summer, Late Summer, Spring, Late Spring
Plant Habit : Mounded, Spreading
Spacing : 12 - 15" (30 - 38cm)
Height : 10 - 14" (25 - 36cm)
Width : 36 - 42" (91 - 107cm)
Exposure : Sun
Grower Information :
A Fantastic Flowers™ selection in North America

Growers, retailers and gardeners alike will appreciate this new small-flowered seed petunia with small, soft yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms blanketing the vigorous and slightly upright spreading plants. Fast-growing Baby Duck Yellow fills in fast in landscapes and gardens, or in large solo or mixed containers.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 27 Jun 09, 12.32PM IST.

Red Dianthus

2009-06-26T23:44:00.001-07:00

Red Dianthus, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Although red perennial dianthus cultivars are a favorite because of their vibrant color, dianthus grows in many shades of red, ranging from white to purple. Dianthus is a large family of diminutive flowers, which bear names almost as striking as their blooms. Rosies, Purple Bouquet, Spotty, Fancy Knickers, Arctic Star, Spangles Star and Firewitch are just a few of the many varieties of dianthus that add whimsy and spice to the perennial flower garden.
The whimsical red perennial dianthus is a plant that is loaded with personality. A close relative of the carnation and cousin to Sweet William, in its natural state the red perennial dianthus blooms in bright red mounds or spreading carpets of single flowers over pointy, grass like foliage. Blossoms may be solid in color or decorated with stripes, flecks, or margins of a contrasting color. Petals are intricately fringed, toothed and in some cultivars appear to be bearded with tiny hairs.

www.gardening-guides.com/flowers/dianthus.php

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 25 Jun 09, 9.19PM IST.

Roses for Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T09:46:00.001-07:00

Roses for Michael Jackson, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

A tribute to King of POP with this own Lyrics from History .

"HIStory"

He got kicked in the back
He say that he needed that
He hot willed in the face
Keep daring to motivate
He say one day you will see
His place in world history
He dares to be recognized
The fires deep in his eyes

How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many struggles must there be
Before we choose to live the prophet's plan
Everybody sing...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty

Don't let no one get you down
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill
No force of nature can break
Your will to self motivate
She say this face that you see
Is destined for history

How many people have to cry
The song of pain and grief across the land
And how many children have to die
Before we stand to lend a healing hand
Everybody sing...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many children must we see
Before we learn to live as brothers
And leave one family oh...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

A soldier dies
A mother cries
The promised child shines in a baby's eyes
All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 26 Jun 09, 10.11PM IST.

Gazania in Garden of Five Senses

2009-06-22T05:39:00.001-07:00

Gazania, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Beautiful Gazania shot at garden of five senses sometime back. I did not realize I have left the entire bunch in storage on the external hard drive due to lack of space and forgot about them. Now that i have found it I will be posting them. Even though if you go to the garden now in scritching 43Degrees C you will not see any of these beauties but thats what photography does makes them immortal and timeless.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 22 Jun 09, 6.07PM IST.

Pink Gerbera

2009-06-21T07:47:00.001-07:00

Pink Gerbera, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Pink Gerbera shot at Garden of Five senses in New Delhi during spring.

Happy Father's Day

View On Black

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 21 Jun 09, 6.48PM IST.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Dedicated to my father . He has made a lot of effort to ensure his children get a good education so that they can stand on their feet and do well in life .

Pink Beauties

2009-06-19T21:58:00.001-07:00

Pink Beauties, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot at HiHT in Jolly grant near Dehradun when we had gone for her surgery for removing the prosthesis in her elbow.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 20 Jun 09, 10.19AM IST.

Cherries at Home

2009-06-19T09:06:00.001-07:00

Cherries, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot of cherries taken in the afternoon sun.View On Black

They were devoured after being shot :)

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 19 Jun 09, 9.04PM IST.

Gazania Bunch

2009-06-18T19:40:00.001-07:00

Gazania Bunch, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The Garden of five senses is a breadth taking and enamoring experience. It is not just a park - it is a celebration of aesthetic expression and appreciation, a seamless dialogue between the creations of man and nature that invites interaction and exploration. It is an ideal ground to realize the twin objectives of the need for a public leisure space as well as awakening of human sensitivity to the environment.

It is an intricate blend of natures bounty and subtle human creation. Amidst the concrete jungle and the hustle and bustle of the city, the garden of five senses comes across as a welcome breadth of fresh air and serene quietude. True to the imagery suggested by its name and with its beautiful, lush green landscapes, the garden of five senses stimulates all the five senses in an evocative bouquet that awakens the mind to the beauty of life and invokes a grateful prayer for the gift of touch, sight, sound, smell and taste .

Shot at Garden of FIve Senses:

Visitors are encouraged to touch the rocks and displays, the fragrance of flower for the nose, beds stimulates the olfactory senses, the landscaping appeals to the eyes - the sight, the ceramic bells and the water falls create a soothing sound -pleasing to the ear and the food courts serve a variety of cuisines - to please the tongue.

More about Garden of Five senses :http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/5senses/develop71a.htm

Gazania Twins

2009-06-17T11:14:00.001-07:00

Gazania Twins, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Red Beauties

2009-06-17T09:54:00.001-07:00

Red Beauties, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot these beautiful red flowers at Garden of Five sense in New Delhi

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 17 Jun 09, 7.09AM IST.

Yellow Calendula

2009-06-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

Yellow Calendula, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot these beautiful flowers at the Garden of Five senses in New Delhi. View On Black

Calendula (pronounced /kəˈlɛndjuːlə/ Ca-lén-du-la),[1] pot marigold, is a genus of about 12-20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. Calendula should not be confused with other plants that are also known as marigolds, such as plants of the genus Tagetes, corn marigolds or marsh marigolds.
The name Calendula stems from the Latin kalendae, meaning first day of the month, presumably because pot marigolds are in bloom at the start of most months of the year. The common name marigold probably refers to the Virgin Mary, or its old Saxon name 'ymbglidegold', which means 'it turns with the sun'. Marigolds typically bloom quickly (in under two months) in bright yellows, reds, and oranges throughout the summer and well into the fall.
Marigolds are considered by many gardening experts as one of the most versatile flowers to grow in a garden, especially since it is easy to grow. Seeds sown in the spring, in most soils, will germinate freely in sunny or half-sunny locations. They do best, however, if planted in sunny locations with rich, well-drained soil. The leaves are spirally arranged, 5-18 cm long, simple, and slightly hairy. The flower heads range from pastel yellow to deep orange, and are 3-7 cm across, with both ray florets and disc florets. They have a spicy aroma and are produced from spring to autumn in temperate climates. It is recommended to deadhead (removal of dying flower heads) the plants regularly to maintain even blossom production.
Marigolds are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, The Gothic, Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character.
Marigold petals are considered edible. They are often used to add color to salads, and marigold extract is commonly added to chicken feed to produce darker egg yolks. Their aroma, however, is not sweet, and resembles the smell of hops in beer. The oil from its seed contains calendic acid.
More on : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 16 Jun 09, 6.44AM IST.

The Village

2009-06-13T21:39:00.001-07:00

The Village, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

I shot this village next to Uniworld Garden in Gurgaon. There was a slight drizzle and the aroma was heavenly post that. I played only with RAW settings for this effect.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 14 Jun 09, 9.32AM IST.

Beautiful Blue Carpet

2009-06-13T09:17:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Blue Carpet, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot Blue Cinerarias at Garden of five senses , New Delhi sometime back.

Native to: The Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Today most plants are hybrids.The brightly colored, daisylike flowers that cover the cineraria make it a popular gift plant. The flowers can be white, pink, red, blue, or purple, often with a white ring surrounding a contrasting central disk. The leaves are medium green and roughly arrow-shaped.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 13 Jun 09, 8.04PM IST.

Pink Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)

2009-06-12T22:17:00.001-07:00

Pink Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The hollyhocks comprise about 60 species of flowering plants in the genus Alcea (Ál-ce-a) in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to southwest and central Asia. They are biennial or short-lived perennial plants growing to 3.5 m tall, with broad, rounded, palmately lobed leaves and numerous flowers, pink or yellow in the wild species, on the erect central stem.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 13 Jun 09, 10.36AM IST.

Cherries in a Green Bowl

2009-06-11T20:33:00.001-07:00

Cherries in a Green Bowl, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Cherries are a very tasty and nutritious fruit. They contain many vitamins, minerals and compounds which have many health benefits. Some studies have shown cherries are especially beneficial in fighting some cancers. They contain a number of anti-oxidants which help "mop up" free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules which cause damage to cells as the circulating molecule attacks other healthy cells. Damage to cells caused by free radicals have been shown to speed up the aging process.

The nutrients and compounds found in cherries give the following health benefits..
>Help fight cancer
>Aid in prevention of heart disease
>Relieve Pain of Arthritis, Gout, Headaches
>Ease the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
>Provide a healthy and safe way to produce melatonin (not sure on this)
>Improve physiological and mental functions

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 12 Jun 09, 8.51AM IST.

Cherries at Home

2009-06-11T04:08:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home 7, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The series of shot I have taken of cherries.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 10 Jun 09, 8.31AM IST.

Cherries at Home 3

2009-06-08T05:00:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home 3, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The deep colour of tart cherries is a clue to their health-promoting properties. They contain flavonoids called anthocyanins–naturally occurring pigment compounds that impart colour to fruit, vegetables, and plants. Flavonoids, which contain antioxidants, help to protect the plant from disease. Research has shown that these natural plant chemicals also help remove toxins from the body.

Antioxidants help neutralize the free-radical cellular damage that accumulates in the body through factors such as stress, pollution, and a poor diet. Free-radical damage can result in degenerative diseases such as cancer. Two of the most potent anticancer agents–the flavonoids isoquercitrin and queritrin–are found in tart red cherries.

Cherry juice is also thought to be effective in preventing heart disease. In addition to its antioxidants, tart red cherries are high in potassium, an important mineral for those with high blood pressure. The anthocyanins found in cherries may also protect artery walls from damage that leads to plaque buildup and heart disease. No wonder they are considered so healthy

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 8 Jun 09, 5.16PM IST.

Cherries at Home 5

2009-06-07T07:18:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home 5, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

One more Cherry Shot at home early morning.

Cherry trees fall into one of three groups the sweet, the sour and the duke. Sour cherry trees do well in almost any situation, while sweet cherry trees may be better suited for richer soil that has good drainage.

Cherry trees on the average live for 25 to 30 years. There are hundreds of varieties of cherry trees, which randomly bloom from late March to the middle of May, each blooming only for aproximately one week.

Sweet cherries do not stand up to cooking well, but are excellant for eating fresh. Sour cherries are best for cooking and are wonderfull for many recipes. The cherry tree is of the rose family of plants.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 7 Jun 09, 7.30PM IST.

Cherries at Home 3

2009-06-06T22:22:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home 3, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

These Cherries are from Himachal Pradesh

Cherry growers in Himachal Pradesh, often called the country’s fruit bowl, are hoping for a bumper crop.

‘We are expecting a bumper cherry crop because of the favourable climatic conditions in the flowering season (March-April). Field reports indicate a good production,’ said S.P. Bhardwaj, joint director at the Solan-based Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.

Himachal Pradesh produced 453 tonnes of cherry in 2008-09, though it was higher in 2007-08 - 698 tonnes.

The state horticulture department believes production will match that of two years ago. ‘This time, production is likely to cross the mark of 2007-08,’ horticulture research officer Daulat Ram said.

The fruit is also fast catching up as an alternative crop in apple-growing areas in the higher slopes of the Himalayas.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 7 Jun 09, 10.45AM IST.

Flowers at home

2009-06-06T09:25:00.001-07:00

Flowers at home, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

I did not really plan the shot this way but liked the way it has come out. I processed them in RAW and converted to JPEG . This is one of the oldest RAW processed images before I got addicted to it.

Cherries at Home 2

2009-06-06T07:47:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home 2, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Shot during sunrise, these cherries have some frost on them as I just removed them from the fridge to shoo them.

Recent studies confirm that tart cherries reduce inflammation and pain and offer protection against neurodegenerative diseases.

The benefits of tart cherries are found in fresh, frozen, canned or juice forms of cherries. High levels of anthocyanins are found in both tart and sweet cherries. In one study, women who ate two servings of Bing cherries daily experienced decreased markers of inflammation and reduced serum urate levels. However, tart cherries offer far more benefits than sweet cherries. Tart cherries are very rich sources of anthocyanins whereas sweet cherries have lower amounts.

Tart cherries include the Montmorency and Balaton varieties and are produced primarily in Michigan. In general, the darker the cherry color, the higher the anthocyanin content. The Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry dietary supplement is another rich source of tart cherry, containing 1200 mg/serving.

Read more: autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_benefits_o...

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 6 Jun 09, 8.12PM IST

Gurgaon Sunrise

2009-06-06T06:38:00.001-07:00

Gurgaon Sunrise , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

I woke up early one day and saw a beautiful sunrise on a cloudy morning . The sun did not show up but the sky was beautiful .

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 5 Jun 09, 9.53PM IST.

Cherries at Home

2009-06-06T06:36:00.001-07:00

Cherries at Home, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Did some Cherry shots yesterday early morning will post a few more I guess.

The word cherry refers to a fleshy fruit (drupe) that contains a single stony seed. The cherry belongs to the family Rosaceae, genus Prunus, along with almonds, peaches, plums, apricots and bird cherries. The subgenus, Cerasus, is distinguished by having the flowers in small corymbs of several together (not singly, nor in racemes), and by having a smooth fruit with only a weak groove or none along one side. The subgenus is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with two species in America, three in Europe, and the remainder in Asia.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 6 Jun 09, 9.54AM IST.

Pigeons

2009-06-03T20:37:00.001-07:00

Pigeons , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Was checking my sole old photographs I had shot in Bangalore and not uploaded . This is one of them reminds me of the good times in the lovely city.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 4 Jun 09, 8.31AM IST.

Flier with the Newspaper

2009-06-01T09:10:00.001-07:00

Flier with the Newspaper, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

This was the flier we received one day with our newspaper. The newspaper vendor makes a side business of shoving in some 5-10 fliers a day of various things like home delivery restaurants, medicine , classes, services etc . This one is very unique hence I am putting it up on flickr. This is of a god man who claims to solve all your problems , read the fantastic description of what he does and enjoy .

And in case anyone is interested the address and phone number is also captured :).

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Uploaded by Swami Stream on 1 Jun 09, 9.17PM IST.

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Ganesha -Destroyer of Obtacles

2009-05-31T06:32:00.001-07:00

Ganesha -Destroyer of Obtacles, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Ganesha has many other titles and epithets, including Ganapati and Vigneshvara. The Hindu title of respect Shri (Sanskrit: श्री; śrī, also spelled Sri or Shree) is often added before his name. One popular way Ganesha is worshipped is by chanting a Ganesha Sahasranama, a litany of "a thousand names of Ganesha". Each name in the sahasranama conveys a different meaning and symbolises a different aspect of Ganesha. At least two different versions of the Ganesha Sahasranama exist; one version is drawn from the Ganesha Purana, a Hindu scripture venerating Ganesha.[17]
The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana (Sanskrit: गण; gaṇa), meaning a group, multitude, or categorical system and isha (Sanskrit: ईश; īśa), meaning lord or master.[18] The word gaņa when associated with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the gaņas, a troop of semi-divine beings that form part of the retinue of Shiva (IAST: Śiva).[19] The term more generally means a category, class, community, association, or corporation.[20] Some commentators interpret the name "Lord of the Gaņas" to mean "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of created categories", such as the elements.[21] Ganapati (Sanskrit: गणपति; gaṇapati), a synonym for Ganesha, is a compound composed of gaṇa, meaning "group", and pati, meaning "ruler" or "lord".[20] The Amarakosha,[22] an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha : Vinayaka, Vighnarāja (equivalent to Vignesha), Dvaimātura (one who has two mothers),[23] Gaṇādhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganesha), Ekadanta (one who has one tusk), Heramba, Lambodara (one who has a pot belly, or, literally, one who has a hanging belly), and Gajanana (IAST: gajānana) ; having the face of an elephant).[24]
Vinayaka (Sanskrit: विनायक; vināyaka) is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the Purāṇas and in Buddhist Tantras.[25] This name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Maharashtra known as the Ashtavinayak (aṣṭavināyaka).[26] The names Vignesha (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश; vighneśa) and Vigneshvara (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश्वर; vighneśvara) (Lord of Obstacles)[11] refers to his primary function in Hindu mythology as the creator and remover of obstacles (vighna).[27]
A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pille or Pillaiyar (Little Child).[28] A. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pille means a "child" while pillaiyar means a "noble child". He adds that the words pallu, pella, and pell in the Dravidian family of languages signify "tooth or tusk of an elephant", but more generally "elephant".[29] Anita Raina Thapan notes that the root word pille in the name Pillaiyar might have originally meant "the young of the elephant", because the Pali word pillaka means "a young elephant"

Source: Wikipedia

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

Significance of the Ganesha Form
Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

How Ganesha Got His Head
The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.

Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 31 May 09, 6.51PM IST.

Adenium Macro Landscape

2009-05-30T17:39:00.001-07:00

Adenium Macro Landscape, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Close-up of a flower
It is an evergreen succulent shrub in tropical climates and semi-deciduous to deciduous in colder climates, is also dependent on the subspecies or cultivar. Growing to 1-3 m in height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, 5-15 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with the outer portion 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 31 May 09, 6.03AM IST.

Adenium Flower

2009-05-30T05:18:00.001-07:00

Adenium Flower , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

The flower @ home.

Adenium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, containing a single species, Adenium obesum, also known as Sabi Star, Kudu or Desert-rose. It is native to tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.

Close-up of a flower
It is an evergreen succulent shrub in tropical climates and semi-deciduous to deciduous in colder climates, is also dependent on the subspecies or cultivar. Growing to 1-3 m in height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, 5-15 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with the outer portion 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.

Source:Wikipedia
Uploaded by Swami Stream on 30 May 09, 5.34PM IST.

Orange Gerbera Macro

2009-05-28T09:29:00.001-07:00

Orange Gerbera Macro , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Gerbera macro shot at home , was playing with focus when I shot the series

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 28 May 09, 8.00PM IST.

Orange Gerbera Macro

2009-05-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

Orange Gerbera Macro, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, a friend of Carolus Linnaeus.
It has approximately 30 species in the wild, extending to South America, Africa and tropical Asia. The first scientific description of a Gerbera was made by J.D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described Gerbera jamesonii, a South African species also known as Transvaal daisy or Barberton Daisy.
Gerbera species bear a large capitulum with striking, two-lipped ray florets in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colors. The capitulum, which has the appearance of a single flower, is actually composed of hundreds of individual flowers. The morphology of the flowers varies depending on their position in the capitulum. The flowers can be as small as 7 cm (Gerbera mini 'Harley') in diameter or up to 12 cm (Gerbera ‘Golden Serena’).
Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The domesticated cultivars are mostly a result of a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species Gerbera viridifolia. The cross is known as Gerbera hybrida. Thousands of cultivars exist. They vary greatly in shape and size. Colors include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The center of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colors.
Gerbera is also important commercially. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip).[citation needed] It is also used as a model organism in studying flower formation. Gerbera contains naturally occurring coumarin derivatives. Gerbera is a tender perennial, and is therefore an annual in temperate climates.

Source:Wikipedia.com

Uploaded by Swaminathan on 26 May 09, 8.44PM IST.

Yellow Rose

2009-05-26T05:44:00.001-07:00

Yellow Rose , originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Yellow rose shot at home sometime back. I am not taking any new shots will have to start that .

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 24 May 09, 8.18PM IST.

Gerbera

2009-05-26T05:38:00.001-07:00

Gerbera, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Gerbera macro at Home

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 26 May 09, 9.07AM IST.

Orange Dahlia Bud

2009-05-23T09:02:00.001-07:00

Orange Dahlia Bud, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Dahlia is a certain genus of healthy, tuberous, perennial plants indigenous to southern Mexico, other Central America, and eastern Colombia. There at least thirty six different species of Dahlia. Dahlia hybrids generally are usually produced as decorative garden plants. The Aztecs gathered and worked on the dahlia for excellent food, ceremony, as good as enhancing purposes, and the slow woody stem of single variety was treated for low flexible pipes.

In 1872 a tiny box of Dahlia roots also were sent out from southern Mexico to the southern Netherlands. Only one healthy plant survived the long trip, but gave great red hot flowers with sharp petals. Nurserymen in eastern Europe bred from this beautiful plant, which was called Dahlia juarezii with other parents of Dahlias discovered first and these also are the actual progenitors of all new Dahlia hybrids. Ever since, physical plant breeders also have been keeping Dahlias to make thousands of cultivars, mostly chosen for their beautiful and brightly coloured flowers. Dahlia plants vary in height from as small as twelve inches to as high as six to eight feet. The beautiful flowers can often be as low as two inches or up to a foot in its diameter . The large cultural variety results from Dahlias being octoploids (they also have eight different sets of homologous chromosomes , whereas most other plants have no more than 2) .

The dahlia is called after Swedish 18th century botanist Anders Dahl. Until lately they once were also identified in southern Germany as "georgine" by the eminent botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow, after the famous naturalist Johann Gottlieb Georgi of greater St. Petersburg.

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 23 May 09, 6.56PM IST.

Mumbai's Eiffel Tower|Explore|

2009-05-22T22:32:00.001-07:00

Mumbai's Eiffel Tower|Explore|, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

This is the Doordarshan TV tower in Mumbai one landmark you can see from anywhere across mumbai if you go on high rise building . Gone are the days of Terrestiral channels but the tower still stands

My First shot on Flickr Explore

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 18 Jun 07, 7.25PM IST.

Red Powderpuff

2009-05-22T19:03:00.001-07:00

Red Powderpuff, originally uploaded by Swami Stream.

Beautiful bottle brush flower shot @ Uniworld garden , Gurgaon.

This flower is called Calliandra haematocephala...

Uploaded by Swami Stream on 21 May 09, 7.35PM IST.