Exotic & Offbeat Goa

The smallest state of India, home of beautiful beaches, Portuguese influenced culture, exotic foods, cashew, coconut, cold beer & my camera...what else needed for two nights & three days break!! Here are some moments for you to enjoy....

                                             The Museum of Christian Art

                                                         Flowers for GOD

                                                       Mangeshi Temple, Goa

                                                          Elephant ride

                         Josh is having fun with Elephant shower-see the splash

                         The Portuguese colonial quarter of Panjim - Fontainhas

                            The Portuguese colonial quarter of Panjim - Fontainhas

                                              More colors at Fontainhas

                   Long exposure one with 10-20mm lens-  10s, f11, 10mm, iso 250

                                               Josh is having activity fun

                                                             Solitary

     

                                                       Sunset at the beach


Let me know how do you find it...

বসন্ত এসেগেছে

ফাগুন হাওয়ায় হাওয়া....

ঘুরে এলাম লালপাহাড়ীর দেশে। হ্যা তার সঙ্গে শিমুল পলাশের দেশেও। শুনেছিলাম বসন্তের আঙ্গিনায়  ফুলের আগুন লাগে চারিদিকে। তাই দেখতে বেড়িয়ে পড়লাম দোলের ছুটিতে। গন্তব্য পুরুলিয়ার খয়রাবাড়ী। গাড়ী নিয়েবেড়িয়ে পড়লাম দ্বিতীয় হুগলী সেতু ধরে কোনা এক্সপ্রেস হাইওয়ে ধরে সোজা দুর্গাপুর তারপর পুরুলিয়া শহরেরউদ্দেশ্যে। রাস্তা খুবই ভাল বলতে হবে। ছুটির দিন বলে খুবই কম ট্র্যাফিকবর্ধমানের আগে একটু চা জলখাবার সেরে টানা ৫ ঘন্টায় পুরুলিয়াওখানের একটি শপিংমলে মধ্যহ্ন ভোজন সেরে আরো ৬৭ কিমি খয়রাবাড়ী, রাস্তাখুবই সুন্দর বিকেলের রোদে অয্যোধ্যা পাহাড়ের কোলে পলাশ, শিমুলের সারিতে চোখ ধাঁধিয়ে গেল।সত্যি মনেহল নীল দিগন্তে ফুলের আগুন লেগেছে।

বাঘমুন্ডি পেরিয়ে পৌঁছলাম রিসটে লেক ও পাহাড়ের মধ্যে কিছু বাড়ী ও কিছু তাবু বা টেন্ট। আধুনিক ব্যবস্থাও সব রকম সুবিধা আছে বন্ধুবান্ধব নিয়ে দুরাত দিব্বি কাটানো যায়। অনেকের কাছে শুনেছি এখানেঅনেকে চাঁদ দেখতে আসে, সত্যি পূর্নিমার চাঁদ যে এত অপূর্ব হয় জানা ছিল না পাহাড়ের কোল থেকে চন্দ্রদ্য়কখনো দেখিনি এবং এদৃশ্য দোলের দুদিন পরেও। এই মনোরম সন্ধ্যায় পাহাড়ের কোলে বাগানে বসে হাল্কাঠান্ডার আমেজে বসে সাঁওতাল ও পুরুলিয়ার বিখ্যাত ছৌঁউ নাচ অপূর্ব। এ উপলব্ধি কলকাতায় বসে হয় না। 

পরদিন গেলাম পাহাড়ের সরু পথ ধরে আরো প্রকৃতির সৌন্দর্য উপলব্ধি নেশায়। কি অপূর্ব সে দৃশ্য গাছের পাতা সব লাল। তার সঙ্গে অশোক, পলাশ, শিমুলের বাহার। রঙ যেন মোর মর্মে লাগে বা রঙে রঙে রঙিলআকাশ...সত্যি ফাগুন লেগেছে বনে 

বনে। রবিঠাকুরের ভাষাতেই এবর্ণনা শোভা পায়। 

পথে দুতিনটা সুন্দর গ্রামের ঘুরে এলাম যেখানে প্রত্যেকটি বাড়ী রঙ দিয়ে সাজানো।ছোট ছোট বাচ্চারাস্কুলেও যাচ্ছে আবার বন থেকে জ্বালানি কাঁঠও সংগ্রহ করে 

আনছে। অদ্ভুত একটা মুক্ত বাতাসে বুক ভরেগেল। সব কিছুই ক্যামেরা বন্দি করলাম যাতে সারা জীবন যেন উপলব্ধি করতে পারি ব্যস্ত জীবনের মাঝে। তাই সবার জন্য রইল কিছু মহুর্ত। 

Full moon against the Shimul tree

Tribal village Girl

More Palaash

Green Paddy field

                                                                         Shimul Phool

                                                                                            Palaash Trees

                               Ayodha Hills

Floating Market in Kolkata at night

Floating market in Kolkata!! Yes, after Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam it is in Kolkata. First time we have a floating market rich with different kind of vegetables, fruits, fish, meat etc. We have seen floating mainly fruit & vegetable market in Dal Lake in Srinagar before, but it is a fully functional what we call a bazaar.

I went during the evening to do my daily shopping as well as to take photos in the night. It is situated in Baisnabghata Patuli township, in the southern part of East Kolkata. It is also a World Bank funded project area which is developing quite rapidly in recent time with lots of real estate development, metros, 6 lanes roads, schools, hospitals etc. After crossing the overbrigde, the market is situated on the right hand side if you come from Ruby crossing. There is a ample space for car to park & do your shopping peacefully. There are two entry & exit gates. The waterbody is 600 meter long & 50 meter wide. The market is on the boats at the lake where the shopkeppers are selling fruits, vegetable, meat, flowers etc. Also interestingly, I found a barber shop waiting for his customers, a floating stall for tea, biscuits & various roadside delicious snacks, bedding stores etc.  The place is attracting many people now for the unique concept first time in Kolkata. This market is increasing the opportunity for the local people to develop their business. Another good thing I have noticed that the plastic bags are not allowed which will save the lake too. Hats off to KMC to come up with such a good idea. Hope to see more development in next few years.....

Here are some photos to enjoy. All of them are taken by my Nikkor 18-140mm lens in manual mode.

                                                                           Fishmonger

Vegetable seller

Shops

Fresh vegetables

Fruit seller

Thank you for your valuable time...

My Passion after Interiors

I am an amteur photographer who like to shoot everything around me. I have a Nikon dslr along with few prime lens & telephoto lenses. Most of my photography are in camera but few are in iphone too. Photography is a wide field with various ranges of expertise - from complete beginners to genius experts. As a beginner, I am accumulating knowledge from various professionals and trying to improve my skill.
That is one of the reason I have started a group in Facebook called "Madly Photography". It has 497 members & nearly 4.3K post engagement so far.

The below photographs have taken in last 6 months mostly in & from my balcony & other places. I will post more from time to time.