Travelogues

Wild Cactus at Anza Borrego State park

2008-05-28T04:41:00.001+05:30

Cedar Creek Falls San Diego, Trail from Ramona

2008-04-02T20:56:00.007+05:30

Hiked down to Cedar Creek falls. Instead of taking the trail from Julian, I took the lesser known trail from Ramona. The trail down from Julian has an 8 mile unpaved stretch. Taking the train from Ramona, I could avoid that. Since I live in San Diego, the drive down to the trail was a short one.

Here is the google map route for the trail and some photographs from my trek.

Carlsbad flower fields photos

2007-05-25T01:38:00.000+05:30

Photos from Carlsbad Flower Fields

Photos from Kite Festival at Zilker Park, Austin Texas

2007-03-06T21:55:00.000+05:30

HigginBothams Chennai, One of the oldest bookstores in Chennai

2007-02-06T21:01:00.000+05:30

Higginbothams Bookstore is one of the oldest bookstores located on Mount Road in Chennai. Driving directions

Tiger Dance or Hulivesha

2007-01-31T21:13:00.000+05:30

Tiger Dance is a unique form of folk dance in Dakshina kannada that fascinates the young and the old alike. Since tiger is considered as the favored carrier of Goddess Sharada (the deity in whose honor Dussera is celebrated), this dance is performed during the Dussera celebration. It is also performed during other festivals like Krishna Janmasthami.

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Palakkad, nelliyampathi or nelliyampathy

2007-01-31T21:07:00.000+05:30

Nelliyampathy is located close to Palakkad and has beautiful vistas from the top of the hill.

Fort Aguada at Goa

2007-01-31T00:54:00.000+05:30

Photo of Fort Agauda in Goa taken during one of my travels

Rocky Mountain national park: Estes park

2007-01-31T00:46:00.000+05:30

Photo taken at Rocky Mountain National park. We entered the park from Estes park entrance.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Statue at Point Loma, San Diego

2006-07-17T06:22:00.000+05:30

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to land on the west coast of America. Cabrillo National Monument was established to commemorate his accomplishments. The location of the statue gives a magnificent view of the San Dieogo city.

Rock climbing near Bangalore : Ramangaram

2006-07-12T01:37:00.000+05:30

Located 50Kms from Bangalore, Ramanagaram provides the best locale for rock climbing enthusiasts living or visting Bangalore. It is perfect for weekend rock-climbing or camping.It has some really good cliffs, which are ideal for rappeling.

Candolim Beach Goa

2006-07-05T23:23:00.000+05:30

Candolim is a beach is located in North Goa. Candolim beach is located between Fort Aguada and Chapora. There are some great restaurants on the beach for those who are interested in Goan Cuisines. The beach is full of shacks, which one can rent at rs.100 perday. The shacks have plenty of supplies of cold beers and one can go in for a massage if interested. Fort Aguada is pretty close from Candolim beach and one could rent out scooters/bikes to explore them

Lepakshi wall paintings

2006-07-04T06:16:00.000+05:30

Lepakshi, which is located close to Bangalore (Closest railroad is hindupur) presents some of the best example of wall paintings or motifs from the Vijayanagar Era. Posting some of the wall paintings from the temples of Lepakshi. The best way to get to Lepakshi is to drive down from Bangalore. Driving directions to Lepakshi from Bangalore.

Russian Submarine at San Diego Harbor

2006-06-30T00:09:00.000+05:30

One of a fleet of diesel electric submarines the Soviet Navy called “Project 641,” B-39 was commissioned in the early 1970s and served on active duty for more than 20 years.
300 feet in length and displacing more than 2000 tons, B-39 is among the largest conventionally powered submarines ever built. She was designed to track U.S. and NATO warships throughout the world’s oceans. B-39, assigned to the Soviet Pacific fleet, undoubtedly stalked many of the U.S. Navy’s ships home ported in San Diego. Now, less than 20 years after the collapse of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of the Cold War, she will be berthed on San Diego Bay amidst her former adversaries. Soviet Project 641 submarines, classified as “Foxtrot” by NATO, are essentially larger and more powerful versions of German World War II era U-boats. Low-tech but lethal, she carried 24 torpedoes while she was on patrol-some capable of delivering low-yield nuclear warheads. B-39 carried a crew of 78 and could dive to a depth of 985 feet before threatening the integrity of her nickel steel pressure hull. The Soviet and then Russian Federation’s navies deployed these submarines from the mid 1950s through the early 1990s. They played a part in many of the Cold War’s most tense moments including the Cuban Missile Crisis

Source : sdmaritime

Star of India, San Diego

2006-06-30T00:07:00.000+05:30

Photos of Star of IndiaThe Star of India is the world's oldest seafaring ship. Built in 1863 at Ramsey Shipyard in the Isle of Man, it was an experimental design utilizing iron instead of wood. Launched as Euterpe, a full-rigged ship named after the Greek goddess of music, the ship's initial voyages involved some rough sailing. Her first trip included a collision and mutiny. She came face to face with a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on her second journey. Her topmasts cut away, she barely made port. Following that, the first captain died on board and was buried at sea.

The waters finally quieted and it was smooth sailing during numerous uneventful voyages and several "change of owner" transactions. She served as a cargo ship to India, a passenger vessel hauling emigrants to New Zealand and a commercial salmon fishing and packing facility. Her name was changed to Star of India in 1906 and after 60 years of solid performance in 1923, she was towed to the San Diego bay. Saved from the ax or torch by concerned historians, she sat in port for over 50 years until funding helped renovate the tired old lady which was once a star. In 1976, the fully restored Star of India put to sea for the first time in fifty years, under the
command of Captain Carl Bowman. She sailed beautifully that day, to the applause of half a million fans, ashore and afloat. Since then, the Star of India has sailed on numerous special occasions.

Now part of a maritime museum tour, you can visit the Star of India. Admission is under $10. There is metered parking throughout the week, and the museum is open daily. This is not the official museum web site. Call first for hours and admission prices or visit their web site on line.

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HMS Surprise, San Diego

2006-06-30T00:04:00.000+05:30

Pictures of HMS Surprise. Photo of HMS Surprise.HMS. Surprise is a 179-foot full rigged ship. Her designers and builders made a painstaking effort to recreate a 24 gun frigate of Great Britan's Nelson era Royal Navy. The result is a replica vessel unmatched in its authenticity and attention to detail. Originally christened H.M.S. Rose when she was launched in 1970, she served as a sail training vessel operating out of several East coast ports for over 30 years. the ship underwent extensive modifications for the production of the film in 2002. The museum acquired the ship in October, 2004. Plans include restoring the ship to seaworthy condition, but she probably will not be ready to sail until 2006 at the earliest.

Technorati Tags: HMS Surprise, Photos of HMS Surprise

Canyon Lake, Arizona

2006-06-28T04:52:00.000+05:30

Located approximately 16 miles outside of Apache Junction on state route 88, Canyon Lake is Salt River reservoir lake. Canyon Lake offers beautiful mountainous scenery and various fish such as the walleye, largemouth bass, yellow bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish and crappie. It has a designated swimming site and a pair of boating ramps. The three recreation sites at the lake -- Acacia Picnic Site, the Palo Verde Recreation Site and the Boulder Creek Recreation Site -- are open year round and available at no charge.

Hazaara Ram temple

2006-06-28T02:09:00.000+05:30

The Hazara Rama Temple temple built within rectangular complex lies at the heart of the royal centre. Dating from the early 15th century, the hall of the Hazara Rama Temple has finely carved basalt pillars depicting the incarnations of Vishnu. Around the exterior walls of the hall are three rows of sculptures illustrating the main events from the Ramayana.

This temple now unused is situated in the royal enclosure of the city and was probably the king's private shrine. The enclosure walls of the temple are exceptional in that they are carved both on the outside and the inside.

The outer friezes depict horses, elephants, dancing girls and infantry in procession. The inner panels show scenes from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. On the walls of the god's sanctum are two rare depictions of Vishnu as the Buddha.

Though the temple is small in size, it is a fine example of the skills of Vijaynagara sculptors, who have very artistically coaxed filigree and lace out of Deccan stone.

Northeast of the Hazara Rama Temple is the Zenana enclosure, which may have been, used either by the king or his military commander. Recent excavations have unearthed remains of places to the west of the Hazara Rama Temple.

Virupaksha Temple at Hampi

2006-06-26T22:39:00.000+05:30

This temple bears the stamp of the Vijayanagar architecture and it stands as a shrine of worship in Hampi. Although of earlier origin, it received considerable patronage from Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire. It has a 160 foot high gopuram from the 16th century. This temple dedicated to Shiva has several mandapams and murals. Some of the shrines in this temple go back to the 12th century.

Grand Canyon : View from South Rim

2006-06-26T11:20:00.000+05:30

Grand Canyon, view from the south rim at sunset.

Elephants Stable at Hampi

2006-06-26T05:47:00.000+05:30

Elephants stable at Hampi. This was used to housing the elephants which the King of Hampi maintained.

Hampi : Shivlinga at Hampi

2006-06-26T05:44:00.000+05:30

Shivaling at Hampi, this shivlinga is next to the ugranarsimha statue. This is one of the few sculptures which escaped destruction by Islamic Invaders.

Leepakshi Stone Pillars

2006-06-23T04:46:00.000+05:30

Stone pillars at Leepakshi

Leepakshi

2006-06-23T04:44:00.000+05:30

Nandi at the entrance of leepakshi

Kanchi Kudil

2005-10-08T07:49:00.000+05:30

A traditional house in kanchipuram, it has architecture of times, spread out courtyards, a food court, traditional crafts to see and buy, soft string instruments in the backdrop…One of the most popular historical tourist places in Kanchipuram, Kanchi Kudil was born of a desire to turn ancestral property into a place of tourist interest. Once here, tourists may get a feel of the life as lived in a historic place as Kanchipuram. While temples and monuments index the cultural life of a city, the real soul of a place is to be found in its people and their homes. Revisit a world of old-fashioned hospitality.

The House
This is a 90-year-old house, authentic in old-style architecture and functionality. It affords a glimpse of the life of an agricultural family in a small town - the master's room, room for the women and children, room for the gods, open-to-sky courtyards, verandahs, the backyard with agricultural implements. Added features are descriptions on the history of Kanchipuram and its temples, traditional music as backdrop and a stock of exquisite handicrafts for the tourist to buy.

Kanchi Kudil charges a small entrance fee of Rs.20 (US$ 0.5) to the tourist. It is conveniently located on the road leading to the Kailasanather Temple.

Kanchi Kudil is located at: 53A, Sangeetha Vidwan Nainar Pillai Street(Old Putheri Street) Kanchipuram TamilnaduPhone: +91 4112 27680