Andaman Islands!

                                                       One of the remote beaches in Andaman Island (India)
It may look like the surface of Mars, but this is one of the many spectacular beaches in Andaman Island (India). Dead and live corals have swept away from the sea because of the tide.

Ah.. it's lovely here, at this beach. The whole time I was there, I passed over all the happenings in my life. Feeling the wet sand, touching corals, colorful stones or live seashells, no wonder I was well enough in myself. I wondered if I could remotely work from here. But this is practically impractical. So with a positive force, I had to pulled myself back to the civilization, with as many pictures as I could take for my memory. 

 Some of my findings from the beach. There is strict rule that no one can take any of these. So I took the picture and left the seashells there.

Native people (Jarawa) are still living in those Islands without the sensitive skins of modern civilization. They are self-content, believe and depend on nature. This tribe is under government protection and also hard to find them.

                    The method of drying Coconut in Andaman Island (Village Folks use this method)

Even though there is no real boundary between the coconut field, but the village folks know which tree belongs to whom. No one touches, if a coconut is lying down on the ground, except the owner of that tree.

    Even-though they resemble stones (those three together), they are not. In fact they are the seeds of some     kind of tree I found on the beach (Port Blair, India).

The Fishing Boat

The boats are little bit different, as the balance is added to the boat by another wooden structure.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

My India!

                                                                 Sugar-Cane Juice seller

                                                                    Busy Traffic

                                                             Street Food on the fire
The truth is, even though there is noise pollution, in extreme, but there is a feeling of friendly vibe coexisting in the air. People are not missing a chance if there is any chance to talk, about their personal life or about anything. They are not rich and they are not even poor, in fact they had many things to offer me (among them a very well-coming smile and a feeling of me being one-of-them). There are slums and also high-rise buildings, pointing us every moment to think about the unfortunate people. If you walking down the street alone, but no need to feel lonely, is not it amazing?. There are temples all most every where reminding us about the omnipresence of God. This is India, the home of Vedic Culture.

                                                              A temple (Moon's north node)

On the other side, I heard a lot ( in fact a lot which was enough to irritate me)about classicism. But my simple question is where were those class people even four years ago?.
In my understanding Class is some thing which relates to Education (not one time degree but continue learning, reading), intellect, Human value, Moral value,Honesty... so on. I believe, Class is not a low hanging fruit. It will take generations to achieve. 
The worse matter is, There are many so called class people who has only one thing to talk, that is how much money they spend on their daughter's marriage or how many property they bought recently. I met with many self-praising personality and mothers who are still talking about grabbing money from their daughter-in-laws parents or giving mental tension to the Daughter-in-law in the sake of jealousy. I heard people are talking about black money openly.

The bubble economy created many false classes with false confident that is not good for the Indian society, When I am seating in front of Google search, I feel like I know everything. Ask me about the history of Scots, I can tell something in a minute. But then, what about the history professor who invested all his time researching about the Scottish history??

                                           Vedic Gurus ( physicist, professor and highly intellectuals )

India is well known for it's vedic culture. It's not about reading books but more about having a positive philosophy and morals which would support the youth/new generations to craft their own path.
People who have real confident, dare to dream and work, is quitting from achieving their goal, the reason is lack of social support. Unfortunately, India is undergoing through a rough time in the society front, I guess.

Pictures from Calcutta

                                                                      An Old Building in Calcutta

They are color fade, cracked and socked in rain water.  They are the old buildings in Calcutta. For the sake of serving the owner, they are creating a mixed habitat of human being and plants.


I was searching for those criss-cross tram lines with red bricks roads, in Calcutta. Unfortunately, I could not find one. They rebuild the road and remove the bricks.

                                     Live Chicken-in-the-basket

or

 They use this basket for the transportation propose of the live chicken, I guess.

Threads of thought

                                                          Bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia)

                                  

It all starts, while I was walking, with my occasional companion called thoughts. The mind was defused with threads of unrelated thoughts; like the future of India, current air crash or about the dinner tonight, so on. I tried to concentrate on a single thought but could not succeed. But then, visualization dominants over the thoughts as I perceived this Bird-of- paradise flower, through the corner of my eyes, on the sidewalk.

I could not stop myself taking the picture. The colors and beauty of the flower, entirely took over my mind. Now, miraculously, my thread of thoughts disappeared as it converted into a single thought, that is visualizing the flower in the computer monitor. They say, visualization helps in concentration, that is so true.

Dear readers, I am vising to India on sixth of next month and also I am going to have an opportunity to visit Andaman and Nicobar Island in the same trip. So, no wonder it would be a very exciting and full of activity trip. But I am going to bring many pictures and tales to talk about.

San Francisco-The most eco-friendly city(Part-2)

     

                               Palace of fine Art,  Build in 1915 and re-build in 1960 (San Francisco)

                                              Designed by Bernard Ralph  An brilliant architect

                                                                       A Slice (Palace of Fine Arts)

Time really travels quickly as the first quarter of the year has already passed. There is not much change within us,  may be little wiser as the days passes by. It's somewhat like we are seating in a train that is not moving, as the train of time's passes us leaving a feeling of our movement. This allows my mind to think about 'Theory of relativity'.

Well, I had visited to San Francisco once again today. Now, being tired in a good way, I am excited to share my discovery of spectacular arts and architectures in San Francisco, that I obsessed love about. The traffic was not bad and the weather was quite delightful.

At first I went to The Palace of fine Arts in Lion Street. It was build for the completion of Panama Canal; but for the city it was a opportunity to showcase the recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The city is blessed for its survival of any kind of disaster and achieves the respect of many scholars around the world. San Francisco is a brilliant example of a stage where past and present play in the same time.  

                                                                 Pillars of Palace of Fine Arts

                                                             St. Ignatius Church (Built in 1912)

Its seems like the above pillars are similar to those in Palace of fine Arts. In fact the colors are a exact match too. I guess around year 1900, the major parts of the architectural designs ware based on visible high pillars, contrary to the architectures of now-a -days based on geometrical shape.

                                                                A Sculpture on Market St

While returning back home I spent sometime contemplating the difference between old architecture and modern architecture. The first question arises in my mind was, is it just a matter of changing tastes and materials? or the human quest of creating something different (out of box)?

                                                                                A view from a hilly street

I perceived San Francisco city as an open art gallery, where all kinds of artists (architect, designer...) never feel tired of displaying their priceless creations. The people are always eager to admire those creations.

Take care until next time more of San Francisco.
San Francisco The Most-eco-friendly city- Part-1

My Humble Respect To All Mothers....

                     She is a beautiful self taught singer and she is blind.

                                           
and women who are wearing the ornament of good nature. I believe it's precious than diamonds.                           
                                                  Happy Mother's Day

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where's the warm smile is?

While traveling back every Friday from my workplace by bus about hundred miles and then by train another hundred, she used to appear in the Bus like a ray of sunshine caring the spring around her. She wears colorful hats that made out of flowers and feathers. And if she is not there my eyes stay busy searching for her. She knows the two bus drivers and their families very well. She asks, what is wrong if one driver in that route is off.  She always takes the right side first seat near to the driver and I usually take the seat behind the driver.

She talks about  how her mother died long ago by a hit and run driver, how she is saving money to visit her old father. How she  herself learn to sing. She also talks about election and craw fish. I quietly join with the conversation. She never complains of anything. She sings on the local farmers market around the route.

Ultimately, though some events live on only in memories. But then, couple of weeks ago my eyes captured her in our local farmer's market. I had heard her voice before in the bus and I heard her singing in the market. I always found her voice is comforting enough like my favorite desert made by my Mom or soft breeze slowly playing with my hair..

Here is the beautiful poetry that Blessed Mother Teresa had on the wall in her room in Calcutta.

-The  Final Analysis-  People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; ...Forgive them anyway!  If you are kind,people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; ...Be kind anyway! If you are successful,you will win some false friends and some true enemies; ...Succeed anyway! If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; ...Be honest and frank anyway! What you spend years building,someone could destroy overnight;  ...Build anyway! If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; ...Be happy anyway! The good you do today, people often forget tomorrow; ...Do good anyway!  Give the world the best you have, It may never be enough; ...Give the world the best you got anyway!  You see in the final analysis, it is between you and god; ...It was never between you and them anyway.

Jamestown!

                                         Jamestown, ca

Thinking about a trip to somewhere after a long gap, is surely exciting. I planned early on Saturday morning by making-sure  everything is ready; all basic needs for traveling. A friend of my husband also joined with our fun adventures. Oh, I did not mention yet where we are heading. It's the historic Jamestown (California) around  two hour east from San Francisco. This town was famous for it's gold mining  back in California gold-rush time 1849. As of today it's famous for being historic and  providing opportunity for visitors to time-travel back in the history and feel how it was back then. And of course try our luck in finding real gold.

                                 Main st. sidewalk (Jamestown)

                 The shop for buying equipments for gold prospectors.

I spent most of the time just enjoying the mood of the town and trying to merge myself into the soul of the whole place. I guess the city has become much quieter now as compared to the booming time back in 1849. The miners, their families, the dreams and the hopes, how it would have been when they are all together.  Booms come and go, just like tides in the oceans. But the cities stays to tells their never ending stories.

                                

 Gold prospectors are busy digging and experiencing outdoor exercise too.

I enjoyed the company of many new friends. Amazingly, I experienced a real 'no stranger' feeling. Also patience is very important when it comes to finding Gold or anything which is precious in life.

Nevertheless, it was a spectacular early morning with anticipation of finding gold as well as digging a little deeper into the history and a satisfying evening as I thoroughly enjoyed myself just pottering about.

Happy Earth Day to you all my dear readers.

Tulip Mania!

                                                                             Tulip (It's looks like flame)

                                                                      Hello World It's me- The Tulip

Red, Yellow, Yellow with red-lines;Tulips are in season now. They are gorgeous. This is my first attempt towards planting tulip. I planted them from bulbs. Every week, I was making sure whether the plants are coming or not. Finally I heard the whispering "Hello World". Happy me at last.

According to the record, Tulips were brought from Turkey in 1593 and introduced to Dutch. The flower became popular because of its beauty and rarity. People liked tulips so much, back in 1637 in dutch golden age, 12 acres land were offered for one Semper Augustus Tulip bulb. 
That period was called "Tulip mania" (Tulips price went extremely high and suddenly collapsed).

There was a book called "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" written by Charles Mackay, a British journalist in the year of 1841, where he mentioned about the Tulip mania and the behavior of the market in a whole.

Even there was a event described in the book, where one guy bought a Tulip bulb by trading all of his money. Unfortunately, his wife accidentally cooked the bulb. Oh Dear!

It's seems like recession is getting deeper here in the US. If I looked back the history, there are many brilliant companies started in the recessions. So possibly, our high spirit and creating new hopes to deal with the current recession, will help us.

Lastly a silly joke of the week:
 Two cows were talking.
Cow no.1: "Are you concerned about this mad cow disease?"
Cow no.2: "No! It doesn't worry me at all. But then, I'm actually a horse".

It's Spring

                                          Dandelion  seed head
I believe this Dandelion would already disappear in the air as I am writing now. I took the picture week ago.

                                 Many dandelion seed head

Possibly this is the last dandelion seed head picture for the season.  The dandelion flower head can change into white globular seed head overnight. The life-cycle  of this flower is amazing. It's a common believe that if you blow the dandelion seed head in air, your wish will full fill.  Lets pick a Dandelion..make a wish..blow the seeds in air.

Bright sun shine has taken over the cloudy sky. Last couple of weeks the weather has been wonderful. As I am writing this,  the days work of the sun has over. But it's not dark yet. I am glad that I have landed on this beautiful planet where the fresh air, now a days smells like smelling a scented flower up-close.

                     Cherry Blossom are every where

                 

 These are little late bloomer, but don't worry they are coming soon.

While taking the above picture I was thinking about myself, I born as a premature baby at seven and half month. I learned to walk and talk little late.

      Today, I found this fellow was quite serious about driving.

Happy Spring and have a lovely weekend.

A creative week!

                                            Paper Crane

After continuous downpour in California,  I believe, it's hard to say that this state had been experiencing drought over more than four years. The colors of the plains and  mountains have converted into pleasant green, the tall green grass and wild flowers have made their appearance everywhere and of course the fresh mud on sidewalks made me think like a child once again

Recently Corner Home was hijacked. I am not sure whether you have experienced the same with your blog or website? I was trying to add a blogger gadget in the blog called nature sound machine which I believe was the source of the problem. I tried to open my blog and after five seconds it redirected to other sites. It was frustrating. I removed the HTML code for that gadget from edit HTML option in the Layout page. The problem solved. I am glad to find the blog back.

As I have mentioned the week was creative, I managed myself towards recycling old news papers into paper bags. I made couple of bags. Also, I think origami is creative enough to do once in a while. I tried to make some paper cranes. I found by folding the papers and making something out of it is also relaxing.

                       Old News Paper Bags

       
The week has been proved itself a creative week. My hubby also made his effort to make his old computer server super quiet. The server was making lots of noise. Yes Lots. He used a plastic sheet and made a passage from the fans to the processor.
The fans are meant for cooling the server. Also he replaced the fans into more quieter fans. So, Now the server is super quite. So, I can say the noise pollution is gone.

                                      Server Air Duct

                                    Server with the air duct

Sometimes, we plan for something, but nothing works according to the plans. Rather something very different happened to our favor.

San Francisco-The most eco-friendly city

                         Sculpture of the lady, San Francisco

Last week I had a chance to visit to San Francisco city. Although the temperature was a bit low but still I had encountered a moderately sunny day. The city has always something new for me even sometimes the same old Albert S Samuels Clock build in 1915. This land mark on Market St. looks like a new discovery for me, even though I have been seeing that clock as a land mark, twenty times. I called it San Francisco vibe. This time I noticed a brand new landmark, A huge sculpture of a lady had been installed up at Linden. The art had been made using recycled iron rod, chain and wire. It was quite an experience, watching such a huge art work that was so perfectly made. My every visit brings me joy or something new to think about. The old houses with astonishing  colors, the Art and architecture.... amazing.

Being the most eco-friendly city in the world, no wonder its been the most green city, dominated by the nature. The city has abundant opportunity for artists, art lovers and someone like me, who appreciate everything, surprises at its every corner. Most of all every kind of Arts and architectures feels at home here. I too feel comfortable here, so it's a indication of me being artist at my heart. who knows some day I might would be a Sculpture artist, may be at my old age.

                                   Ocean Beach, San Francisco

After around four miles west in Geary blvd. there is a  beautiful beach called Ocean Beach. This particular beach attracts many surfers, because of its strong current. I had my lunch there while enjoying the sky and the sea without anything in between.

My eyes captured many historical as well as newly constructed  churches in the city. I found the architecture were amazing and so as the art and design ware eye catching. I am planning another new post about those churches in San Francisco.

                                              Trolley Bus

Spider wave like electrical wire, up above the head, used for Trolley buses in San Francisco. The city itself has largest no. of Trolley buses. These buses are entirely pollution free and quieter. I noticed many more two wheelers, as a comfortable medium for transportation.

San Francisco city people prefers to walk a lot, love to use alternate energy source and  serious about recycling/reuse . The city contains largest city-owned  solar insulation in entire US/Canada. All of the local peoples contribution and tourist understanding made it one of the most greenest and eco-friendly city in the US.

Library Book drop Boxes!

                                              Eagle library book drop box (Hayward, ca)

 

Elephant

                                                                                Zebra

You may not have given much thought to library book drop boxes, But I think these book drop boxes are lovely, and worth a posting. I noticed many electric grid supply boxes have been transformed into mural artwork.

I liked this idea and its implementation a lot. Back home, when I was in high school, always thought that it would be great  if the street walls in my hometown painted in vibrant colors and murals instead of some faded and some new advertisements. It took many years for my wishes to fulfill, as of now, I can proudly encounter the murals on the walls of my hometown, instead.

                                   A mural on a side walk back home: twin city Cuttack/Bhubaneswer(India)

Great works always leaves its signature in our mind. Those artists who volunteer for these lovely art for public display are admirable in all aspects.

                                 A nice Mural on power sub-panels

 I wish all the library book-drop boxes would look like some-kind of art.
Have a great week ahead.


P.S- I received couple of e-mails about posting some more pictures of Library book-drop boxes.  Here are they (All are from Hayward Public Library)

                                                Drive through book-drop