The Suez Canal Bridge, also called the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge or Mubarak Peace Bridge, is a high-level road bridge at El Qantara. It has a 70-metre (230 ft) clearance over the canal and was built with assistance from the Japanese government. The bridge, which has a 70-metre (230 ft) clearance over the canal and is 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) long, consists of a 400-metre (1,300 ft) cable stayed main span and two 1.8-kilometre (1.1 mi) long approach spans. The height of the two main pylons supporting the main span is 154 metres (510 ft) each. The towers were designed in the shape of Pharaonic obelisks.
The clearance under the bridge is 70 meters, which defines, therefore, the admissible maximum height of 68 m[2]above the waterline (Suezmax) of ships that can pass through the Suez Canal. - Wikipedia
Falcon aboard !
Onboard, you get a lot of visitors in the form of Migratory birds including Albatross, Pigeons, Owl's & eagles. This falcon joined us in Mexico and waited till i got it on camera before flying away.
Mount Fujiyama
June 26, 2009
or Mount Fuji or Fujisan, is a symbol of Japan. It stands at 3,776 m high and is an active volcano. This picture was shot on a not so clear morning whilst approaching Tokyo Bay. Was thrilled at the sight of Mount Fuji that I almost missed taking a photo. I have been to Yokohama, Tokyo, and Chiba, all possible places to get a glimpse of this mountain but so far managed to see it just this once.
Suez Canal Sunset
June 24, 2009
Crossing the Suez Canal from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean or vice-versa is a journey through history. The Canal has been in operation from 1869 and was built by the French. The canal was later controlled by the British & is now run by the Suez Canal Authority. Many Pharaoh's have previously built canals to connect the Nile to the Red Sea in Egypt's glorious past. The canal is 192 km long. The maximum depth of the canal is 66 feet (20 m). It is a single-lane with 4 passing places[and contains no locks, unlike the Panama Canal. Read more on Suez Canal
Arctic Sea Smoke
June 23, 2009
Weather.com defines Arctic Sea Smoke as a type of advection fog that forms primarily over water when cold air passes across warmer waters. Shot at Canaport, Canada almost 10 years ago. I remember clearly, the temperature being - 20 C. If you notice the aft deck, it's covered in ice. I made sure i stayed indoors as the winter gear provided couldn't keep me warm. This photo was taken with a Canon Sure Shot PRIMA AF-7.
Fisherman's Cove !
June 22, 2009
Shot at Murudeshwar, this is the fishing zone next to the temple. Fishing boats are a menace at sea. In places like China & Japan, there are a million fishing boats, around which you have to zig zag your way through. Imagine Ranganathan Street, Chennai and get the picture.
Rockin' Rio
Shot from atop Corcovados. Gives you a spectacular view of the beauty that is Rio. Shipping sure did make me go and see places and I'm forever thankful. Seen here is the Sugarloaf mountain & the Botafogo. Paradise is here !
Sun's up & Shining !
June 21, 2009
Cape Town treats you to some fabulous views. This one was shot onboard the BW Lion. I had completed my midnight to 4 am bridge watch but chose to stay awake to take in the spectacular view the Cape has to offer and it didn't disappoint. This Sun Rise is one of the best I've captured to this day. The sun rising behind the mountains, burning away the fog and finally revealing itself was fun to watch.
Sun Light at the end of the Forest
June 20, 2009
I guess, I can go on and on about the Sharada Peeta at Sringeri and it's beauty. The surrounding forest encompasses the Peeta and extends toward the banks of the Tunga on one side. The other side of the Tunga, which is where the entrance is located hosts the other two famous temples, Sharadamba Temple & Vidyashankara Temple.
Maangalyam
June 19, 2009
Well, was a bit surprised to see a Maangalyam at the Dallas Museum of Art, of all places. This one belonged to a Royal Dynasty long long ago. Over the ages, the maangalyam has shrunk in size and also lost it's value. With modern women choosing not to wear it 24/7, what does the future hold for this important symbol of Hindu Weddings ?
4th of July Sunset
June 17, 2009
Shot at Manhattan Beach, LA. This is the biking path that Aishwarya & me went cycling on, she on a brand new cycle & me on a broken one without brakes. I was totally comfortable, given the way we drive back home ! Apart from the beautiful Sunset & the ever lovely wife in tow, there were these other curvaceous bikini bods who made it impossible to keep my eyes on the road. It was a party atmosphere all round given that it was July 4th. Our L.A trip was most fun and memorable.
Monkeys
June 16, 2009
One thing we saw on our trip to Valparai were lots & lots of monkeys. On our way back down 21 hair pin bends, one such hair pin bend played host to this cozy family.
North Atlantic Winter
is severe and December 2008 was no different. With Chilly winds and rough seas, The Danube was tossed all over the place with us spending sleepless nights
BW Danube
Part of the new series of Product Tankers brought out by my company. This photo was not shot by me but by a professional hired by my company. I was onboard this ship from Aug to Dec 2008.
More photos at http://bit.ly/YDuBE
More photos at http://bit.ly/YDuBE
Water Spout
Shot somewhere in the Atlantic, onboard the BW Lion. The water sprout isn't big enough to damage ships or to pick them up from the water.
Sunset in The Indian Ocean
Shot underway just after the Sun goes below. The amazing bunch of colours that can be seen here sure is a pretty sight.
Sunset
Sunset in the US gulf in all its Glory ! This was shot in peak summer ! Sunsets & Sunrises are quite important especially when we do long voyages ! Advancing or retarding of clocks onboard are determined by this daily phenomenon
Sunset in The Malacca Straits
Shot underway in the Malacca Straits. Not as spectacular as the one in Basrah or the Indian Ocean.
Sunset at Basrah
Everytime I've been to Basrah terminal in Iraq, I've been treated to wonderful Sunsets. With the ship at Anchor and awaiting berthing schedule, this is surely a way to relax and pass time. The haze caused by the sand blown into the sea adds to the beauty.
Lizard
Shot at Corcavado, Rio De Janeiro. Was waiting for Jesus Christ to come out of the clouds when i spotted these two lazing around nearby.
Sand Dune
This was shot at Sidi Kerir during Cargo Operations from inside the bridge. I was struck by the colours available - the blue & gray sky, the green ship, blue sea & the huge brown sand dune.
US Gulf
Sunset again in the US gulf. The metallic object in the horizon is a disused rig. There are plenty of these in the US gulf.
Angra Dos Reis, Brazil
Shot outside the GEBIG Oil Terminal at Angra Dos Reis. Angra Dos Reis means Kings Cove.
Angra Dos Reis, Brazil
I was way too excited to see this view from the bridge. The rays of the Sun trying to pierce its way through the clouds. I'm excited to see this photo now.
Sringeri
Sunset on the banks of the Tunga river at Sringeri. I highly recommend Sringeri to everyone. Whether you are the pious type or a nature lover, Sringeri offers you both. My late Grandfather never wasted an opportunity to talk about this place and now i know the reason. I wish I had visited Sringeri when he was alive !
Hibiscus
Shot at Sringeri, the hibiscus drenched in the monsoon rains against the thick grey monsoon sky.
Vidyasankara Temple
When Adi Shankaracharya was walking by the Tunga river, he saw a cobra with a raised hood, providing shelter from the hot sun, to a frog about to spawn. Impressed with the place where natural enemies had gone beyond their instincts, he selected the site as the place to stay and teach his disciples. The Vidyasankara temple architecture is an exhibition of the astronomical expertise of medieval south Indian temple builders. The main temple hall features 12 pillars designated for the 12 signs of the zodiac. Windows and doors along the temple walls are arranged such that equinoxes sunrise views reach the deity. The northern and southern gates enable the surise view from the hall during solstices.
Snake on the roof
Karnataka temple architecture or is it Kerala temple architecture? The temples that we visited were mostly square shaped with a pyramidal roof and with the exception of a single temple, had this snake perched at the 4 ends of the roof to probably protect the deity inside.
Two Stalwarts
Shot at Murudeshwara temple. There are 2 elephants protecting the entrance to the temple, one the exact replica of the other. As you approach the temple, you can only wonder in amazement at these 2 stunning life size idols and how beautifully they have been sculpted and painted. To capture this amazing sight, i had to include an amazing woman, my wife's grandmother. She accompanied us on the trip and visited each and every temple with gusto.
Rain Forest
This was the sort of view we were treated to on the Mangalore trip on days 2 & 3. Lush Green Rain Forests. Moist, cold,fresh, non-polluted air & a whole lot of greenery. Even man made stuff wasn't spared,everything turned Green.
Unknown Flower
This Flower was shot at the garden within the Sringeri temple. Again, I don't know the name of the flower. Just that it stood out and was both beautiful and captivating. The garden itself is a splendid sight and worth visiting sans the temple.
Can anyone tell me the name of the Flower pls ?
Can anyone tell me the name of the Flower pls ?
Thirukarugavur Temple Tank
June 15, 2009
Located off Papanasam village near Kumbakonam. The temple is very neat and well maintained. Same cannot be said of the Temple tank where the water is multi coloured and also features a oily sheen. Main idea here was of course to capture the sun's reflection in the water. :)
Sri Garbarakshambigai Temple is an ancient Siva temple dedicated to Sri Mullaivananathar and Sri Garbarakshambigai. It is a huge temple spread over a wide expanse with imposing Gopurams and a tank in front of it. It is believed that childless people who worship here with devotion and faith are blessed with pregnancy and pregnant women with safe deliveries. Unmarried women also pray here for their marriages.The Linga here is self-manifested and made of ant-hill mud.Therefore there is no water abhisekam.
Sri Garbarakshambigai Temple is an ancient Siva temple dedicated to Sri Mullaivananathar and Sri Garbarakshambigai. It is a huge temple spread over a wide expanse with imposing Gopurams and a tank in front of it. It is believed that childless people who worship here with devotion and faith are blessed with pregnancy and pregnant women with safe deliveries. Unmarried women also pray here for their marriages.The Linga here is self-manifested and made of ant-hill mud.Therefore there is no water abhisekam.
As the crows fly...
Shot from the beach front with the Murudeshwara Gopuram in the background. At 249 feet, it is the tallest Gopuram in Asia.
For Whom the Bells Toll
Southadka (Sowthadka) Maha Ganapathi Kshetra is located near Kokkada near Dharmasthala enroute to Kukke Subramanya. The idol of Lord Vinayaka is placed along with Lord Vishnu & Lord Veerabadra under a tree. There is no temple structure in place here. One other significant thing is the bells hung around the place by various devotees as an offering. There is a choultry located behind this temple that offers some amazing home cooked kannada food. This beat anything that we had tasted during the entire trip. The Rasam and Sambhar were out of this world. A must visit place for everyone visiting Dharmasthala.
Lord Shiva
This was the scene that welcomed us in the pouring rain at 11 PM at Murudeshwar. The lighting and the height of the idol makes it visible from afar. A beautiful sight indeed.
Siddhamirtham Tank @Vaitheeswaran Kovil
Vaitheeswaran Kovil is one of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu. The Siddhamirtham Tank is supposed to have medicinal value and a bath here will cure you of diseases. Until recently the tank was dirty and the steps leading to the water were slippery. A couple of months back, the fishes in the tank were removed, the water & the steps were also cleaned up. Now it's safer to wade in and take a dip. Same cannot be said of the Temple, there is a lot of room for improvement. The trustees need to wake up. If you visit the temple on a auspicious day, beware of the crowd.
Vaitheeswaran Kovil's link to Ramayana - This is where Lord Rama performed the last rites for Jatayu.
Vaitheeswaran Kovil's link to Ramayana - This is where Lord Rama performed the last rites for Jatayu.
Entire Trip on Google Maps
June 09, 2009
Direct link to Google Maps : http://bit.ly/UJkH4Apart from the places mentioned above, we also visited a lot more places en-route which brought the total tally to 16.
The 11 tourists/pilgrims
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
