Genesis - soumya.org

Make Way For The Ducklings

Returning back from torrential waters of the the Great Falls Park in Maryland, we chanced upon this tranquil scene of a brood of ducklings being shepherded across the road by proud parents.

Singapore - The Kiasu Merlion's Shiny City

A few days in Singapore is a good lesson in what forward planning, infrastructure and regulation can do for a nation... Reflecting the nation's Kiasu attitude (Kiasu - literally translated from Hokkien means Afraid To Lose), the city is a ever growing amalgamation of a million tall buildings, gazillion malls, thousands of taxis, a fantastic public transport system and many beautiful attractions for tourists and locals alike...all neat, shiny with a fresh coat of paint. Beneath the glossiness, conversations with locals and expats reveal some unhappiness with the 'system' which some aptly described as a very well run private limited company but as with all things, the search for balance between good and bad continues. We spent our days mostly focusing on the good and the results are some photographs (including a few panoramic ones) which may give you a flavor of the gloss of the beautiful Merlion city...

Singapore - Kampong Glam

We completed our tour of the ethnic enclaves of Singapore with a visit to the Malay Heritage area of Kampong Glam. Graced with imposing structures like the Sultan Mosque and the Istana (palace), the environment seemed much more conservative than the rest of Singapore with covered heads and caps being de rigeur among the resident Malay population. After a traditional Malay lunch chased by steaming teh tarik, we joined the hordes of school kids in learning about the rich heritage of the region (trivia: the black circles under the dome of the Mosque are soy sauce bottles given by poor villagers as their contribution to the mosque) and seeing historical artifacts in the museum housed in the Istana. The evening saw us explore the neighboring Victoria Street Wholesale Market with its wide variety of dried goods, finally ending up in the crowded area of Bugis and Waterloo streets where the sight of Chinese worshippers at the Krishnan temple and Indians at the Kuan Yin temple rounded off the multicultural experience of ethnic Singapore...

Singapore - Chinatown

A Chinatown in a predominantly Chinese city may sound like an anachronism, but the Chinatown in Singapore is an enclave with its own identity and spirit. Famous shrines like the multi storied Buddha's tooth relic temple and the Thian Hock Keng temple (a heritage structure with no nails in the main building) nestle next to Indian temples and Malay mosques while restored shop houses showcase restaurants, medicine halls and an increasing number of trendy boutiques and lounges. A walk up Ang Siang Hill and down the slopes at the back takes one to some little visited roads housing old Chinese association halls and mahjong clubs, where the faded photographs on the walls look benevolently on old ladies sitting around their tables indulging in their daily dose of gossip. Here are some sights from a leisurely afternoon stroll through the unique heritage of Singapore's Chinatown...

Singapore - Little India

As someone once said, "There are three ways of getting to India from Singapore; by boat, by air and by foot...to Little India!" A true multicultural mashup, the colorful shop houses, food stalls and temples of Little India defy the stereotype of a sterile, planned Singapore. We spent a day walking through the numerous streets and bylanes (some with delightful names like Hindoo Road and Lembu Street) on a subcontinental journey, which for an Indian offered a unique experience that was "same same but different..."

Teh Tarik - Pulling Your Chai

A recent trip to Singapore left me hopelessly addicted to Teh Tarik (literally translated as Pulled Tea), a heady concoction of tea with condensed milk. The "pull" comes from pouring the tea from container to container (usually with a bit of showmanship quite similar to the filter coffee vendors in south India), aerating the drink to add a nice frothy top. Many localities in Singapore claim to have the best Teh Tarik in town, but this nondescript shop in Kampong Glam identified with a small coke sign sees many aficionados flock for their daily fix of teh spiced with a quick bite...a unique combination of Malaysia and India in Singapore...

Signs Of Diaspora

Last weekend the entire family was in New York and we made a culinary pilgrimage to Jackson Heights, the mecca of all things Indian and Bangladeshi. While my mom was busy tracing back ancestral villages of people she met in the fish shops...and my brother tracking down the best dhaka biryani, I popped around taking photographs of the signboards and posters in the area. The neon  signs and colors brought warmth to the cold winter morning and seemed to recreate a land which was very familiar but had a slightly different twist...

Flying Cat

  Icarus, Pegasus take a back seat...Here is a glimpse of the mystical winged cat of yore.

The Many Faces Of Colombia

"What! You are going to Colombia for a vacation?" That was the reaction of most people when they learnt about our trip to Colombia to visit Cornelius, our good friend and former neighbor in Delhi. We got off the plane with some preconceptions but returned a week later amazed by a diverse and vibrant country desperately trying to escape its past. We had the good fortune to visit some amazing places but what we truly cherished was the friendliness and warmth of its people who to us represented, the many faces of Colombia...Mi Amor!

Zipaquira And Bogota

Our first days in Colombia were a study of contrasts. From the crazy traffic of Bogota and its bustling Candelaria, to the inspiring Catedral De Sal, a church deep inside an abandoned salt mine in Zipaquira, we got a taste of the unique culture that defines Colombia. The road also took us to Chiquinquira which houses one of the holiest churches in Colombia and Raquira a picture perfect village which is probably the most colorful place on earth. Here are some glimpses of these small towns and the big city...

Villa De Leyva

The colonial town of Villa De Leyva was founded in 1572 as a vacation spot for the Spanish conquerors of Colombia. The town today is pretty much unchanged apart from a smattering of artisan boutiques and hotels set in old mansions with magnificient courtyards. The journey there from Bogota is equally amazing with some breathtaking scenery and equally amazing food. Here are some photographs of the  journey to this sleepy paradise...

Cartagena

Cartagena! The traders and pirates of yore called it the Jewel Of The Carribean. The old city with its twisty curvy lanes, tiled roofs and old mansions is steeped in history. The myriad churches, battle scarred walls of the  balustrade and the cornucopic mix of its citizens bring to life the different cultures which  have created this fusion of the colors of the Carribean with the Latin American zest for life ...

Christmas In New York

Christmas week in New York was an exhilarating experience. We walked around, soaking in the festive moods, lights and sounds of the city...stopping ever so often to savor the food. It was fascinating to see the diversity of cultures, blended in some places and distinct in others like a giant collage of the world. Here are a some  photographs which capture those moments...