Cloud Gate

If you are ever in Chicago, do not miss visiting the Cloud Gate Sculpture in the Millennium Park. Affectionately called "The Bean" by Chicagoans, the sculpture was designed by Anish Kapoor. He is said to be inspired by liquid mercury. Its unique design summarizes the whole Chicago city in its concave dome, which is one of those mathematical challenges that is as beautiful as Fibonacci's sequence. Here is the picture of the day:

A View from Willis Tower

There is something very scary about standing on a glass window with a glass base, which is 103 floors above the ground! That's what Willis Tower feels like in Chicago, IL. It offers you with both romantic and adventurous experience at the same time and it is one of the must-see places in USA. Here's the picture:

Garden on Shelf

I love my latest project of maintaining a garden through this winter. I just feel great around this shelf garden:

Kids need to park too!

Saw this amazing kid's jeep in the parking lot. Very cute!

Fall Colors and Skyscrapers

No matter how many times you see the fall colors, you are amazed at the nature's beauty, especially if you come from a tropical region, where there is hardly any change in the temperature, give or take a few degrees. The glass skyscrapers reflecting the blue sky midst fall colors was truly breathtaking. I took this picture at lakefront:

Fall Colors on the Chicago River Shore

I never saw downtown so beautiful with the early fall colors setting into the trees on the river shore:

Subtle Magnificent Waves

As I was trailing through Starved Rock River Trail, I saw these beautiful waves behind these colorful leaves and I had to take a picture:

St. Louis gateway Arch

St. Louis Arch built in St. Louis, Missouri, is just five-hour drive from Chicago and it is one of those man-made wonders that one should not miss if you are ever near the place. It has an awe in its construction and the beauty of it all lies in the design by Eero Saarinen, and you feel the monument's beauty when you go to its 630 feet observatory which gives a unique point of view that no other structure affords you. You cannot miss the tram to the observation deck which feels like a time capsule with its shape and thickness. The 5-minute ride to the top in this capsule is exhilarating and the view is exquisite. Don't miss out the arch's real beauty at sunset....the Gateway arch looks its best at sunset and you will leave reluctantly wishing you could stay there for some more time.

Day 271 : Expand Your Wings

Day 270 : Anderson Japanese Garden Falls

Day 269 : Bridge the Borders

The Bridge from USA to Canada:

Day 268 : Red Wings

Day 267 : Clear as Day

Day 266 : A View from the Mirror

Day 265 : Melancholic Skies

Day 264 : Road to Relax

Day 263 : Under the Niagara Falls

Can anyone guess what this picture is?

Well....this is how a mat looks when placed underneath the mighty Niagara Falls. This mat was placed on the Hurricane Deck of Niagara Falls, which is as close as you can get to 1/100 th of the waterfall's power. This mat, I guess, was placed to protect people from slipping which can only stand the falls' power for so long. I could only stand underneath the falls for less than a minute. Do share your experiences with Niagara Falls here.

Day 262 : Reflection

Day 261 : Over the Edge

This is one of my favorite angles of Niagara Falls....Here is the picture of the day:

Day 260: Father and Son

Day 259: Observation Tower

I saw this beautiful observation tower transformed in the mist of Niagara Falls with the bokeh effect. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 258: Hidden

Hi to all my readers.....

I am really sorry that I could not continue my 365 day challenge for the past three months. The trip to India was unpredictable and it left me with no time. I am really sorry for this delay and I hope you will continue reading my blog.

For the long weekend, we went to the Anderson Japanese Garden, which was visual delight....but for all the people who want to visit the Gardens, plan your visit either in spring or fall. The landscaping was really awesome and I did get some lovely pictures for the blog. I love this gazebo hidden behind the trees. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 257: Edge of the World: The Niagara Experience

Standing over the ever-gushing falls, with their unimaginable power, Niagara felt like the edge of the world to me...as if I stood in a place where there were no human boundaries, just the boundary of land and water. I felt so humbled by it's power that all my worries and fears were dispelled away for a few moments - I just accepted that I was a small and integral part of something so large that I could not even comprehend. No one can capture Niagara Falls' beauty in a picture...you can only capture your memory of it. I tried my best to capture its beauty:

Day 256 : Pirate Talk!

Day 255 : The Eye

Oh no! I seem to be clicking pics that come in line with psychological thrillers! But this eye is of my little monster, Genie. Completely black with a white heart...that's what Genie is. Yes, he has white fur over where his heart is. Here is the picture of the day:

 

Day 254 : The Birds

I was going towards the Panjagutta circle of Hyderabad, when I saw hundreds of Pigeons sitting on electric wires as if straight out from Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds'! They look intimidating though they were sitting innocently on the wires. I have never seen birds in such large groups, but it was amazing to just feel the power of nature. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 253 : Fence and the Flower

There is something very philosophical about the flowers that grow over fences...as if these tender plants are trying to break barriers and nothing can stop someone from achieving what they want. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 252 : Mini Sand Dunes

With the construction of massive buildings in Hyderabad, one can see small sand cones on either side of the road. The rain and winds have created interesting structures of these mini sand dunes, as if mini grand canyons have formed for a small period of time. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 251 : Fresh Bananas

It is a joy to see fresh vegetables cut just out from farms and sold in the market. To see fresh vegetables on a rainy day is the favorite part of shopping for me. I saw these bananas tied to a cart, just ripe and ready for sale. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 250 : Drenched

Hi,

Please do not mind irregular posts of my blog, as Internet is giving me a hard time here in India. Sometimes, I am in a place, where I do not have access to internet or due to power outage, I have no access at all. I hope you will understand.

The weather in Hyderabad is very tricky. The other day, my Papa and I went out, and in one place, there was not even a drop of rain and in another place, he was drenched completely in one second. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 249 : Eggs Anyone?

Day 248 : Gathering Clouds

Day 247 : Chrysanthymums

Day 246 : Empty Street

As I took Genie, my pet dog, for a walk...I saw this empty street, beautifully lit with street lamps between some trees. The trees prevented the light to escape into the sky giving the street, a beautiful glow. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 245 : Banjaran Beauty

I have have been seeing this painting hanging in my grandparent's house since I was a kid. I used to sit for hours before this portrait as a kid and try to imagine the story behind her beautiful soft eyes. I wanted to share this picture of her with you all. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 244 : View from an Auto

Auto, a nickname we Indians gave to the Auto Rickshaw is one of the most essential parts of India, without which we cannot work. The only vehicle that can commute to any part of India's local roads is the Auto Rickshaw...No not a car, not even a bike can help you... I took this picture from a running Auto Rickshaw when I saw this poster where a traditional bride's hand tries to meet a techno-hand. Auto is the perfect example for this tradition meets technology. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 243 : Silhouette

As I searched around for my picture of the day, I saw this man standing on a distant building. The silhouette of this man I felt showed his soul. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 242 : Rain

Day 241 : Lonely

Sometimes, even though you are surrounded by family and friends, you feel lonely. This picture, I felt, symbolically represented loneliness. I saw this pigeon sitting alone between two thick dark walls of a building. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 240 : The Great Manchuria

I am a die hard fan of the Indo-Chinese dish, Vegetable Manchuria. I had always thought that this mouth-watering dish would be available world wide, but I was wrong. One hardly finds Vegetable Manchuria in USA. But after coming to India, I had eaten my heart full after nearly two years. The Srinagar Colony's Hotel Kens' Pebble's restaurant was unassuming, but served one of the most scrumptious meals I have tasted in years. The way they served the food was very good too. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 239 : Baby Coconuts

Seeing a baby coconut grow from a small flower into a huge coconut is nothing short of a miracle. You hardly find any water around and yet, the tree fills the coconut with sweet water. I have always felt happiness whenever I see a coconut tree. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 238 : Lunch in the Window

In a hot summer afternoon, nothing is more tempting than a cool building under construction and a lunchbox in the window....There is something romantic about this window, here is the picture of the day:

Day 237 : Diamond in the Rough

As I searched for my subject to take a picture today, I saw this beautiful woman working in a building under construction. I tried to take a picture and she shyly hid behind a wall. Someone pushed her playfully and she smiled for me...painfully shy. I got my picture of the day:

Day 236 : Best of Both Worlds

I could not believe my luck when I saw these two baskets of red chilies were held down to ground by a cricket bat, both of which are strong symbols of India! India is well known both for its spices and cricket and what a combination they are. This picture represents the best of both worlds in India:

Day 235 : Waiting

My little monster looked so cute when he was waiting for my sister to come back home. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 234 : Living on the Edge

As I strolled in the balcony of my second floor building, I saw these construction workers balancing on thin planks of a building under construction. I had to take a picture of this young worker on the edge of a plank in the third floor...Here is the picture of the day:

Day 233 : Guess Who!

Till now, I have been posting pictures for you to enjoy. So a small quiz for you...guess who this is!! Have fun! Here is the picture of the day:

Day 232 : Puppy Face

Day 231 : New Bride's Palm

I had to take a break of one week as my sister got married on June 12, 2011. The bride and groom looked as radiant as the full moon and as happy as any two people in love can be. I will carry forward the 365 days challenge again and hope my regular readers will forgive this week's no posting. My sister looked so happy and she smiled like never before. Mehendi is a traditional art made on palms and foot to make a bride look more beautiful. The leaves are churned soft and applied in different designs and left to dry. The skin turns orange where the leaves stand, giving a beautiful tinge of orange to the skin for a few days. The temporary tattoo is fun to adorn, be it a marriage or a regular day. My sister's mehendi looked fabulous and I had to take a picture for my blog. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 230 : Window and the Bird