Smell of the monsoons.....

Peeping out of my window on a sultry afternoon  in the capital city....I

was just remembering the monsoon of Mumbai.

Spring Time ..

 Spring : Feels like new year to me .

Spring is the time when I renew my goals, 

refresh my home ,

unearth my garden .

I tend to come out of my hibernation as spring sets in .

There is a change in the surroundings and the season .

The earth  receives embraces from the sun god .

Spring has begun ...
The canvas of spring is set ,
ablaze by the colors of nature .

Milder weather ,blossoming flowers and fluttering butterflies .


Found this butterfly dancing in aplomb in this concrete jungle .(Quite shocking if you ask me .)


My abode full of these happy chrysanthemums...

Flowers scattered on the fringed  paths of  the gnarled trees...

My spring  break is over ....need to curl up and  finish reading it.

Happy spring days!!

Reminiscing the days gone by...

Loads of things happened in this year as I look back.

Seasons changed

Airconditioners,

splashes of rain on my window pane to warm quilts.

Festivals came and went by.

Lohri,holi,rakhi,dusshera and diwali.

Dinners with friends loud laughter,fun and frolic.

Nature walks to rains in Goa 

and

 finally Taj Mahal on a full moon night.

Aloo tikkis,tandoori rotis to chola bhaturas.

Pastas,brownies to chocolate mousse.

Bee-eaters,lapwings to barn swallows.

New friends,new workplace 

Loads of messaging,chatting and e-surfing.

 Happiness,sadness,tears and joy.

Gifting,partying and celebrating. 

As I am typing this post I am totally enjoying the chill

the sun filtering through my window 

uncountable cups of masala chai.

All ready to embrace the new year .

Hello !!! world .

It has been some time that I have dropped by ....
Today the sun god broke the heavy walls of fog
shafts of light just filtered through like spotlights .

Winter will be over soon .
 It will be time to welcome  spring and
 smell the sweet fragrance of flowers,
listen to birds ,when they return from winter migrations .

Change ....

Nature has its own ways of letting us know that it is changing its course.

Monsoons have retrieved ,rainy clouds have  bid us good bye . 

The sky is pristine blue and a gentle cool breeze begins to blow .

  Autumn brings with it loads of festivities . 

Air reverberates with chanting of mantras .

This is another pleasant season 

when we bid farewell to the rains and are all ready to welcome chill.

Celebrating the season and the festivities which have begun ....

Pops of color 

Flowers in yellow with some pinka cushions 

 Hues of yellow on the walls .

Marigold flowers ,

loads of sweets and cheer around .

Evening lamps lit after sunset .

Getting all prepped up for the festivities in the coming week .

Will be back soon with some more clicks ...

An ode to Monsoon .....

Finally ,it did rain .
Each weather has its own beauty .
And when it rains I kind off get shutter happy .

Drops suspended from a slender green branch ...
Will they fall ?
''They look like bright trembling pearls ,
just kept from falling .
Seem to just fall away .''

Random thoughts ....

Some random thoughts 

to some random clicks .

Just sitting ,lazing 

Some rain on the windowpane ...
Some bright sunshine ...
Wondering ,wandering and pondering

Soaked and drenched in my thoughts .
Yep, I am in that kind off a mood .
Will be back soon with some clicks of mine .

Nostalgia just hit me ....

I generally like to spend my my summer holidays in the hills .The aim is to seek something ....something that I can't find in the bustling cities .
 One morning took a pullover for the slight nip in the air and laced my walking shoes . The forest was quiet ,except for the rustling of leaves on which I stepped .Walked down the slope not realizing that I was getting deeper into the forest .Huffed and puffed through the tangled bushes and trees  .The silence of the forest was broken by the gurgling sound of water and came across a clearing .And there it was a small stream descending from the rocks .
I sat there for hours watching the drops of water falling from the rock and of course the birds would stop by quench their thirst and bid adieu .Soon, I had to return . But even now as i write I hear the sound of water falling drop by drop .....not from the rocks but from my window .

Craving to get back to hills ....smell of the wild flowers,  whistles of the thrush at the break of dawn and the gurgling sound of the stream .

The hills were alive and welcoming ,but we headed in a totally different direction .Forts ,palaces and architectural marvels.... the pink city  .As we drove past through narrow lanes spotted the craftsmen doing block printing ,children running around , ladies peeping from the jarokhas  .From far I could spot honey colored fort rambling all over the rugged landscape .

Amer fort 

Dilapidated house en route to the fort .

A city of victory ,

myths and legends 

 of hilltop forts and glorious palaces .

A city of  bright burning colors

 and 

bargain filled bazars .

Will catch you guys later with some more pictures of the pink city .

The sun is setting ......

 Far away I see  the horizon and the sun  getting swallowed .Gradually the light fades . The day and night cycle continues once again .

''Within the circle of our lives we dance the circle of the years ,
the circles of seasons within the circle of the years ....
And then we turn aside ,alone ,out of the sunlight gone into the darker circles of return .''

I was just gazing at the sun which was very reluctantly setting ....and then as it sank it glowed a luminous red .

Joys of December ....

''Year's end is neither an end 

nor a beginning

but about going on 

it's all about being grateful 

and counting your blessings .....''

Ok ...I am getting back after a longish break and lots have happened  around me .
Seasons have changed, festivals came and went by .
 And as I am typing this post tucked in a quilt
totally enjoying the chill and a warm cuppa of masala chai...

Festivity is still in the air ....
Smell of hot orange cake ...
 Chrysanthum's in full bloom ...

These are the sweet days of the year ....

Reminiscing the monsoons ....

The dark black moody clouds have flown past. Thought the weather is still taking turns and cloudy skies  are painting  in hues of grey .

 The gentle cool breeze and intoxicating smell of moist earth ....

 Reminiscing the monsoons gone past .....

'' The rain began again .It fell  heavily ,easily with no meaning or intention with fulfilment of it's own nature , which was to fall and fall .''

 A flower can't grow without rain , 

Too much rain it parts and drowns .

Places I would like to visit ....

Kedareshwar cave ...in which there is a big Shivlinga  ,which is totally surrounded by water  .It is quite difficult to reach the Shivlinga as the water is icecold and waist deep .There are four pillars built around the Shivlinga  . N o one really knows  the history about the pillars ,but it is said that the pillars depict the four 'Yugas' of life -Satya Yuga , Tretha Yuga ,Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga . When aYuga comes to an end one of the pillar apparently breaks down .Three pillars have broken down and a local legend holds that when the fourth pillar breaks ,the world will come to an end....

In the Wild Woods ....

Summer is synonymous with hill stations and Nainital generally appears in the itinerary of most Delhites. Away from the humdrum of city life and in the lap of nature ,
 winding roads, peach laden trees pine and oak forests on either side.....
we headed for a quaint village ahead of Ramgarh.
Sitting out in the verandah watching the sun go down and the mountains dressed with warm orange glow .

At the break of dawn we would head for long walks breathing fresh mountain air , plucking Kaafal (wild berries found on the foothills of  Himalayas )and pausing to smell the flowers....

Wild sage 

Lavender ...

Several thousands of feet above the plains is supposed to be ''Abode of the Gods ''

Mukteshwar Dham

 350years old   Shiva temple .

 Shiva temple with intricate wooden carving ....

Serene landscapes ...

Breakfast under the apricot tree ...

Loud calls of the black francolin ..

Home baked breads and muffins ....

In short and crisp ...my stay in Sonapani was awesome !!!!!

Serene and soulful....

This is corner of my home where I like to sit back and enjoy '' my time ''.Early morning gentle cool breeze ,the sun shine and a cup of tea. .

And when the sun goes down the shadows chase the light....

I just love the silhouette created by the branches in the shadows.... the light filtering through making everything around very serene ....

All images : Radhika bhargava

Please ask for permission if you want to use the images .

Gathered some happiness....

A morning walk ,

  cool gentle breeze caressing me 

intoxicating fragrance of frangipani flowers .

Gathered some happiness and got back .

Plucked a twig from the flower laden bougainvillea  cascading down walls .

I sat back with my big cuppa of morning chai....absolutely blissful!!!!

''Half the joy of life is in little things taken on the run ....

but let us keep our hearts young and our eyes open that 

nothing worth our while shall escape .''

Spring around my home ....

''Through the primrose tufts in the green bower ,

The periwinkle trail its wreath ;

And 'tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes .''

The birds around me hopped and played 

Their thoughts I cannot measure 

 But the least motion which they made  

It seemed a thrill of pleasure....

Welcoming the Spring in my home .....