Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Wat Pho- Temple of the reclining buddha

We had been to Bangkok last year sometime when Avaneesh was 1 year old. Compared to now it was quite easy to go any place which is not kid friendly or has nothing to do with kids. Now we have to think and research if there is anything for kids before we go anywhere. Although I must admit he loves to see beautiful places and things. 

Coming back to the topic we went to the beautiful Buddhist temple in Bangkok. Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok. It features the largest single Buddha - the famous reclining Buddha - measuring more than 160 feet in length. 



The image of the reclining Buddha is made of stuccoed bricks and gilded with gold leaves. It is 46 meters long, 15 meters high at the head end and 3 meters at the feet end. The The 3 m high and 4.5 m long feet of Buddha's sole (in the last pic below) are inlaid with mother of pearl. They are crafted with 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha in Thai- Chinese art style.


The gorgeous wall mural is made with gold and ink in the Hall of the Reclining Buddha in the temple. The great wall mural is composed of a coordinated series of paintings illustrating the life stories.

       The intricate mural are some 200 year old and are made all through the top on a 100 feet tall wall. The doors and ceiling look stunning with beautiful patterns made in combination of either black & gold or red & gold.




Some features I attracted to and saw everywhere in the Wat Pho were beautiful metal bells, stone statues,Chinese guards, Foo dogs,  ballasts from ancient trading ships from China, Miniature gardens to name a few.



The roof and entrances are heavily decorated with carved images with multiple tiers.  Ornamented multiple tiers style of roof is reserved for roofs on temples, palaces and important public buildings. Two or three tiers are often used, but some royal temples have four.  Dynamic visual rhythms is created by layers of roof - smallest at top , larger in the middle and the largest at the bottom.



In the inner large ground of the temple were images of 1000 Buddha  from different temples which were ruined.We ventured in other parts of Vihara-  Chedis of four kings, Thai Massage school, Ordination Hall, Pang Nak Prok and some more.  

It was hot and humid on that day. We were exhausted by the end of visit. We had kept one day of our trip to the city to view only temples. There are around 400 Wats in Bangkok. We saw only a few. This was one of them. 
 Wat Pho was on our ' must visit' for long time. 


Joining Travel Tuesday!!

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Tibetan treasure


Traveling to Tibet has been a long cherished dream for me. Mysterious land with abundant natural beauty, tradition and culture. I am fascinated by the local Tibetan lifestyle- their traditional clothing, wooden houses with beautiful intricate Buddhist carvings, hand painted furniture , unique clothing and costumes. 

Till the time I actually visit the place I am managing my urge to travel by collecting antics from Tibet. This is one of my beloved item from that region. I saw this neglected in a dusty dark corner hiding underneath a small carpet in an antics shop. I loved it instantly. I did a bit of check for authenticity and it was mine for only $20.




The shopkeeper didn't know much about it except that it is scripture storage box from Tibet. It was used a box for storage of the pages of a Tibetan Buddhist Sutra, or other complete text. Inside the box are beautiful Tibetan symbols- auspicious symbol of Lotus flower and tiger. The symbols are made in Buddhist line art.   


Some of these boxes are painted directly on the raw wood while few are covered with leather and some like the one I have is covered with cloth before being painted .Gesso was used to produce raised decorations. Brass corners and iron ring hinges on the sides and top were done as a decorative element. 


It sits happily on my old chess board as a centerpiece on the table. I create wooden vignettes since I have a toddler at home. Its quite practical as it wont break or hurt him if it is picked or fell down from his hands. 

Joining the party at BNOP, Inspire Me tues !!

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Beautiful summer in London


We recently came back from a beautiful month long holiday in London. The summer in London is glorious..clear blue skies, pleasant air, lovely people, parks, greenery and so many things to do with kids. So much better than the scorching unbearable heat in Dubai. 



This time we decided not to take any camera other than the ones in the mobile phones. The basic idea was to just chill, relax and enjoy the time with family instead of posing with superficial smiles and expressions for the camera apart from the fact that we have been there before. But for Avaneesh this was first time. We wanted to see London from his eyes. The idea was to make 'real' memories. We did take few pictures for my daily journal(my other secret mommy blog:))



I am so happy that we made that effort and succeeded..We would just go to Hyde park , Regent park, Greenwich park or any kid friendly place and just lay there watching the birds and squirrels and our son playing with pigeons. All places in London were educational and fun for him. Some I would recommend for a 2 year old would be ( within London) - the London zoo, London bridge, aquarium, Greenwich planetarium, transport museum , London eye, National museum and the big bookstores are some of the must-see. Once outdoors we talked about everything which was different from life in Dubai. The different plants, flowers, post boxes, telephone booths, shape of taxis and buses, statues, doors, carvings, rain and even puddles, how all these happen/ work and what they are made, which nursery rhythm/story is linked to it etc. Basically I want him to observe small details, learn and enjoy. I think it worked. 


That's my idea of perfect holiday- just me and my family. I love seeing the world from my 2 year-old s eyes. It makes me feel like being a kid one more time. 

Linking to TT!!


Friday, April 4, 2014

Style my room: Nature abundance


Hi friends!! Have you made any weekend plans? The weather is dull here. Its been pouring here all night. While looking for something to beat the weather blues , 
 I came across this picture. There is something so relaxing and calming in this picture. I instantly felt better. I wondered what if I could jump inside this picture, sit and relax. How wonderful it would be, isn't it? Since that's fanciful thinking,  I thought what I have to do to get this kind of look to my house.. Imagining of course, that I had all the resources:)( more day dreaming) Lets see how to get the look!!




What caught my eye in this picture:
Sunshine: One of the essential design factor is light- natural light is the best. Sunshine makes everything look so good and more the better. If there is blue water reflecting the sunshine that is pure bliss.

Flowers: Even a hint of natural flowers, nature, greenery makes it all worthwhile. That makes a place looks livable, happy and charming. I think the white flowers in the vase kind of softens the entire picture.

Wooden Furniture and flooring: The brown wood gives the entire look a perfect balance. It is creates an  warm and homely feeling. 

So what does the picture say to you?!!






Image courtesy: unknown via Pinerest 

Sunday, March 30, 2014

April travel destination- Japan

What comes to your mind when you hear the word spring. My mind drifts to a beautiful, peaceful, cool place with blue skies, green grass and cherry blossom trees. Find a perfect place under a blooming Cherry blossom tree, spread the blanket, enjoy wine with friends and family. When the wind blows the delicate petals will fall like snowflakes. Ahh ..almost sounds like a dream but no this is happening in Japan right now. A perfect place to enjoy the arrival of spring and celebrate is Japan.  Sakura or Cherry Blossom blooming time is considered as the start of Spring as well as rebirth in Japan. 




In springtime Japan is nothing less than magical. From end of March to mid April or even till early May is the season of the iconic Sakura / Cherry Blossom blooming period. The beautiful pink flowers blanket the country in soft, colorful splendor. The blooming time of the cheery blossom varies as per the geographical location and weather. You can check the blooming period timetable on Japan's travel sites like japan-guide. It gives you the forecast of the Sakura season. You can also get information about the favorite cherry blossom viewing spots. There are festivals held to celebrate this beautiful time. 



Friends and family gather for picnics, spreading blankets under the cherry trees. 
This tradition of ´hanami´ includes attending tea ceremonies and festivals, or just walking beneath the flurry of pink petals. The falling petals are known as 'sakura fubuki' which literally translates into cherry blossom snowfall. 






Signing off with this lovely video of Sakura in Japan!!!!!! This is where I would like to be right now!!!




Pictures from Japan guide. 

Friday, February 14, 2014

Love is in the air.. A bit more today!!


Saw this beautiful creation made of Oasis or florist foam as it is commonly known in a shop near my house. 


The shop is always brimming with stunning colorful flower arrangements. Whenever I pass by no matter how much hurry I am I wait and admire( read stare)  at the arrangements. 

Happy valentine 's day everyone!! 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Thai table decor

We just came back from a 5 day holiday in Bangkok, Thailand. I had heard about beautiful Thailand for long ..not only about the natural, historical, handicraft beauty but the beauty of its culture, decor and aesthetics. Well, Thailand turned out to be more beautiful in all ways many times better than I had imagined. 

Although we have moved and traveled around quite a bit around the globe with my 20 month old but this was the first time we traveled at night. As you could imagine we both spend the night sleepless and stressed. So when we reached our hotel we were so happy and instantly felt relaxed when we were greeted with a wrist garland of fresh heavenly smelling jasmine and orchids. 


Then we were whisked to our room with an escort..We stepped into a beautiful colonial style room with a view of the river. The room was decorated with lovely orchids of varied colors .. pink and white blooms in a big vase in the entrance, white orchid plant in the bathroom, yellow orchid flowers in the sitting room, purple in small vase in the bedroom. 


A big platter of fresh tropical fruits was on the center table which had the juiciest fruits of the season which we all relished every day.. I just loved the arrangement!!  I am so glad that my son never spoils the table arrangements.. 


The teak wood tray had  hand made ceramic plates ,gold (-plated!) cutlery, a bowl with a floating orchid , nicely rolled white napkins and a sweet little note..


Soon a waiter rushed in with a welcome drink .delicious blend of aromaticand refreshing   lemon grass, tea,sugar, mint ..wow..what a combination!!!!


I was very impressed by Thai hospitality and warmth. 



Thursday, September 12, 2013

Blog discovery: Mumbai magic

There are many days when I really dearly miss being home. Ganesh chaturthi is one such festival when I feel more nostalgic than ever. In Maharashtra , the celebrations are opulentcolorful ,elaborate and grand. Ganesh chaturthi  is a celebration for the elephant god who is most beloved of all Hindu gods.
During one such nostalgic moment I came across a wonderful fresh blog which is aptly known as Mumbai Magic. 


Kettle from pappu ki chai ki Tapari

If  the name 'Mumbai' reminds you of crowded trains, traffic jams and busy city, you defeintely need to visit this blog. It truly stands for its name. It shows you the magical side,the beauty of the city and the culture. From fancy restaurants to the road side vendors, from fancy bakeries to biscuit-wala who came at the door with his big aluminium box. 



Mouth watering isn't it..Amda pav on the streets of Mumbai..

The blog written by three generations- Deepa, her mom and daughter. It took me on a stroll down the memory lane. The blog shows us  small tucked away shops, spice streets,  fruit and flower markets, universities and temples ..the hidden gems in the city!!

A wholesale flower market in Mumbai

No wonder this beautiful blog is on Nat Geo's Mumbai Destination Guide!
Mumbai magic also conducts tours of the city- customized tours which gives you an experience of shopping, sightseeing, dining and the culture of Mumbai.

They also have similar tours for other cities as well. I would really love to take one of these tours especially the Mumbai one when lil A is a little older to show him the beauty of Mumbai.



All images are courtesy : Mumbai Magic. and subject to copyright!



Monday, August 19, 2013

Alpine village in Bavaria, Germany


A few years back when we lived in Switzerland, tired of going to the touristy destinations we decided to just drive wherever the road took us..Driving through beautiful scenic roads we drove into neighboring Germany.  We drove to the Bavarian region which is known for its splendid beauty, charming cafes and hotels, picturesque villages. It is aptly  known as a romantic road where there are many hidden beautiful places.. Through the country side twisting and turning roads took us to a extraordinary beautiful village hidden in thick green forest surrounded by mountains!!! The village was made of probably 3 lanes and 15-20 odd chalets out of which some where turned into hotels and restaurants.


The beauty of the this village were the 50-80 years old chalets which were adorned with stunning beautiful paintings which showed the life there..Names of the shops or the restaurants were painted like the one in the above picture..Most women we saw wore traditional Bavarian dress.. many men were dressed traditionally as well! 


This painting is not about just a imaginary feast or based on a age old theme.... The scene in this place in the evening is like this almost every evening!!

 We stayed there overnight.That day Germany had won in the Euro football match Semi Final ..so in the evening every one was celebrating ..So the people set up tables outside on the road sides..They sang songs, played music, laughed loudly.. of course there was typical Bavarian food along with free flowing booze.. The celebrations continued till the wee hours of the morning.



One such beautiful chalet..Notice the pretty window displays with flower boxes outside!!


I had a hard time choosing pictures for this post...Every nook and corner was adorned with some or other beautiful detail.. One such detail on one of the corner of the Chalet in the above picture.

Linking to ColorsDekor !!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

If table vignettes could talk..


Sharing with you some table vignettes I saw at a hotel in Dubai..I loved them and thought you would them as well.. So here I am sharing these with you all!!!

Here's what I love about the arrangement ...I love the mix of cultures..Arabic lantern, Christmas ornaments, Chinese orchids and Indian roses all popping out of a treasure box!!! Well honestly I feel that's what Dubai is ..a melting pot of different cultures!!! 


A centerpiece or a vignette or a table arrangement can express so much, isn't it? Tell you so much about the person who created it (or like in this case for whom it was created)..So much about the person's likes/dislikes, mindset, personality and priorities... I believe most people are honest when it comes to decorating their house even the ones who have barely decorated their pads..Tells if the person is lazy, artistic, style queen, over enthusiast decorator or a hypocrite; 

I have been to so many people's home and without even discussing about anything personal just by looking at the photos, book collection, vignettes I knew so much about that person.. Have you felt like that before when you visited someone? What do your table vignettes speak of ?!!


Images taken by me @Atlantis ,The Palm,Dubai and subject to copyright!!



Sunday, July 21, 2013

Home is where your heart is...



Home is where your heart is ... 
My home is where my family is ..where my heart is..and that is the only way I have been able to successfully survive all our moves and integrate in the different cultures /countries...the only way one can call a rented house/apartment 'our own' ...love it with all its flaws ..


Hope you are having a great weekend and wish you a lovely week ahead!!!



Image taken by me@home(in Zurich,CH) and subject to copyright.




Thursday, July 11, 2013

The art of Moroccan hand hammered trays

 Dear readers anyone who has read my current posts and seen my pins on my pinerest , can tell that my current fetish is everything Moroccan. So you can imagine how elated I was when I found this beautiful hand hammered tray in the local market.. This vintage Moroccan metal tray is hand-tooled and hand-hammered with ornate design!!!! Not just that it is beautiful and made in Morocco but what excites me is the process of the art of hand hammering metal..



The art of hand hammered metal is an ancient one which transforms metal sheets into unique pieces with fabulous texture.The leather covered metal hammer is used to hit the metal sheet mainly copper or aluminium making a rhythmic sound..It is said that thickness of  the metal shows the artistic skill of the craftsmen..


The process of making a hand hammered piece involves first getting the shape..then welding the parts together and then heating them in a furnace.. giving it a acid wash to remove the marks of welding and then in the end the items are hand hammered with small indentations..unique patterns are created as per designs or skill of the craftsman..Traditionally the entire process of shaping and beating of the metal was done by hand which took several days to weeks to finish one utensil.  Now a days  some initial processes are standardized and mechanized..



This art of fine hammering of copper is also seen in India.. The copper work by Indian copper smith is an amazing art which is dying slowly due to modernization.. 



Images: @ my home and subject to copyright!


Sunday, June 30, 2013

Taste of Morocco

Before you think that this post has anything  to do with the breathtakingly beautiful interiors of Morocco let me tell you, my friends , today's post is not written by my heart but my stomach.:)

After drooling, pininteresting, making imaginary plans to visit the place and dreaming  over the pictures of  Morocco..I could not resist to sample out the gourmet menu at the " Taste of Morocco" festival at Galeries Lafayette, Dubai. 

We were quite excited about the delicacies we were going to experience.. The menu had amazing variety of exotic and classic Moroccan dishes in the menu with varied spice combination..

I had Couscous Tfaya..A delectable dish with braised chicken, saffron, raisins,eggs and caramelized onions served with a sauce.




My husband had Tagine Makfoul..A classic Moroccan dish with savory stewed meat topped with caramelized onions and tomatoes. 



All were cooked and served in Moroccan styled platters- the tajine which made the experience even more exciting..

The dishes were amazingly light, fresh and delicious .. the beautiful blend of spices makes it aromatic and out of this world ..a mixture and blend of sugar and spices...savory..so different and exotic than anything we ever had eaten..


One more reason to plan that trip to Morocco some day:)

All Images: Purnima @ A creative project

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A dream entrance

So the other day I was walking with my baby near by. When I spotted this beautiful  entrance to a restaurant.. I simply loved it..



I love everything about it!!! It is a blend of Indian and middle eastern style..The row of Moroccan lanterns hanging on the sides..The bouganvilla peeping from the pillars..along with other plants which seem to be hardy and sturdy for extreme weather (and my brown thumb as well) I love the big elephant with a Ambari (elephant seat) statue. There were two on both sides..The tall vase on each side of the door..although I will go for a oval shaped vase..



 This is my dream entrance ... my inspiration in new house..I sorted out the easy part ,i.e, where to buy the bouganvilla and the tall earthen vase from. I am thinking of painting the vase myself..Still have to figure out where to buy these exact lanterns and the elephant from..

 Till then I will dream on...





Friday, February 15, 2013

Postcard from life



   I passed this beautiful shop selling Turkish lamps the other day.. How could I not stop and shop.. I wanted to buy more or rather all of these but oh God what a dilemma... I don't have a house yet you see:))  But that didn't stop me from shopping for smaller lamps and many lovely Turkish delights.. I told my DH with a sad face and my big eyes wide open but dear these are so small aren't they I can keep them in the serviced apartment and move them easily to our pad...How could he not agree .. He is so sweet!!!

Hope you all had a great valentine's day!!!

Have a great weekend!!


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Discovering Dubai

Hello friends.. How are you all doing? Its been quite a while since I posted here.. Its been some 10-12 odd days since we moved to Dubai from Hong Kong. I must say this change was initially very challenging for me. But now I am adjusting well.. Both baby and I fell sick since I had not anticipated that winter would be chilly here.. 

Now that we are both doing fine.. Baby and I go for long walks discovering Dubai..one step at a time..

I am in love with the beautiful lamps,lanterns and light fixtures here..

 I took lots of pictures in Souk in Dubai..Souk or Souq which is an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter in an Arabic..
Had a hard time just choosing a few.. 

Enjoy the pictures..













All images taken by me at the Dubai mall.





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