TheWorldThroughMyTintedEyes

Here's Why You Should Subtitle Your Online Videos

2012-05-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here's why you should subtitle your online videos

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I've composed some music!

2012-03-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

I've composed some music to this video. Please do give me feedback. Thanks.

Inside the Maglev

2012-02-28T02:45:00.000-08:00

The Maglev, Shanghai

2012-02-28T00:10:00.004-08:00

Maglev - derived from magnetic levitation - is a system of transportation that uses magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles from magnets rather than using mechanical methods. Maglev transport is a means of flying a vehicle or object along a guideway by using magnets to create both lift and thrust, only a few inches above the guideway surface. High-speed maglev vehicles are lifted off their guideway and thus are claimed to move more smoothly and quietly – regardless of speed. This is German Engineering and Chinese will. What a joy ride it was. Video coming soon!

Parvathy Baul Live and Interviewed!

2012-02-16T04:07:00.001-08:00

Bauls are a group of mystics from Bengal. Baul is a musical tradition as well as a spiritual path. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Lalon Fakir is regarded as the most important poet-practioner of the Baul tradition. Baul music had a great influence on Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and on his music.

I met Parvaty Baul at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival this weekend. She studied at the Shantiniketan University, West Bengal. She met her Master (Guru) there and saw that Baul was a complete form of art and she chose to dedicate her life to it. She pursued studies in the Baul tradition rather than a formal education. She's has dedicated the last 19 years of her life to Baul.

Here's a Baul poem by Lalon Fakir translated.

How does the Unknown bird go,
into the cage and out again,
Could I but seize it,
I would put the fetters of my heart,
around its feet.
The cage has eight rooms and nine closed doors;
From time to time fire flares out;.
Above there is a main room,
The mirror-chamber
O my heart, you are set on the affaires
of the cage;
(Yet) the cage was made by you,
made with green bamboo;
The cage may fall apart any day.
Lalon says,
The bird may work its way out
and fly off somewhere.

— Lalon's song translated by Brother James

Tennis and the Taj

2012-01-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Mumbai! The MSLTA or the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association all floodlit and the dome of the Taj Mahal Hotel in the background.

People everywhere in Beijing

2012-01-25T03:18:00.000-08:00

People people everywhere! That's China for you. Beijing, in a market area.

Macau Macau

2012-01-13T05:25:00.000-08:00

Macau, now part of China. Shot this picture on a Motorola phone I owned then. Didn't have a camera at the time. Macau is a quick boat ride over from HongKong. Spent a whole day walking the streets, taking in the sights and the beer. Also spend some money in their many casinos. Good thing I only had limited cash back then to spend. This picture was shot from a higher floor of a library that over looks the central square of the city. The windows had small railings to hold these pretty flowers.

Manila - Intramuros

2012-01-11T23:12:00.000-08:00

This was in Manila, Philippines in the year 2007. This picture was taken in the old district of Intramuros. Intramuros is the oldest and a historic district in Manila. Also known as the the Walled City, Intramuros is a historic area of Manila. Its name in Latin, intramuros, literally means 'within the walls'. Districts beyond the walls of Manila were referred to as extramuros, literally 'outside the walls.'

Red Gold Pheasant

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Beauty at the most unlikely places. The Rani Baug/Byculla zoo, Mumbai. From a recent trip touring friends around the city.

High in Shanghai

2012-01-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

View of Shanghai from what once used to be Shanghai's tallest tower - Jin Mao Tower - 88 floors. This was taken in 2005. In under five years Nitrox charged China has built another tower besides in that is taller than this - the Shanghai World Financial Center at a 101 floors. Shanghai will soon beat themselves to it with the Shanghai Tower coming up right besides it at 124 floors.

Ram, Sita and Lakshman

2012-01-11T03:50:00.000-08:00

At Nasik, by the Godavari River. This is an iron art structure erected by the local government to promote tourism. This region is where Ram, Sita and Lakshman spent some time. Lakshman had chopped off Surpanaka's nose in a fit of anger and that is how Nasik got its name (Nashika - Nose in Sanskrit). Sita is also believed to be kidnapped by Ravan from here.

Paradise Island

2012-01-11T03:35:00.001-08:00

Paradise Island

My first solo trip - Thailand. The only destination I could afford at the time. And I didn't even have to pay for the flight tickets. Was traveling for work and just had to break journey at Bangkok. Took off to Phuket. Also spent some time in Bangkok city on my way back. This is a picture of Paradise Island from a speed boat snorkeling trip to Ko Phi Phi.