Beauty Queens and Kings

 Beauty could be over-rated at the expense of human qualities, but does make some impact at first appearance. On the second and subsequent interactions, other qualities usually come to the fore, and may result in longer relationships, both platonic and romantic.

If you just look around you among friends and acquaintances, you are very likely to find beautiful people- both for their looks and for their heart. I always think we are surrounded by them, if we care to look. I count qualities such as kindness, respect and integrity as beautiful things, along with great looks. So I routinely run into beautiful people.

And while we are at it, this applies to both genders. Greek Gods were men, I guess. Goddesses could be Indian, or foreign!

Beauty and the Beholder

 Why is it said that beauty lies in a beholder's eyes?

Mainly because beauty has multiple definitions. The skincare companies would like you to believe it's skin deep, but that's just one (visible) aspect. What about the beauty of the mind, which is creative, inventive, imaginative? 

A particular body shape may look attractive at first sight, but that too is subjective, depending on which part of the world you live in. Again, the fashion mags would have you believe that what they propagate as the shape (forget the clothes) is fashionable, as a body type.

Ask a person in love. It could be a gesture, or the way she/he carries herself, or almost anything that creates the beauty in their eyes.

Or ask a child. To him, his mother would be the most beautiful creature. Likewise, a mother would think the same about her kids.

Look for beauty beyond the obvious, and if possible, appreciate it too.

Beauty in Guwahati

They are not the blues, but amazing greens. At the campus of IIT Guwahati, I happened to click these pics around the guest house where I was put up- these guys live in a natural paradise. See for yourself-

The Western Ghats- Pictorial Journey

The Western Ghats are a treasure, with amazing scenic routes all over. One such that we traversed recently was between Goa and Belgaum via Chorla. The pics speak for themselves-

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

The second, Ulun Danu, is a temple on a lake (Beratan lake) dedicated to the Trimurti (Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh). The drive takes you through many villages, and a Luwak coffee centre is never too far away. The Coffee talk a little later, because the other two will take your breath away, just for their majestic locations. Sights that are hard to beat, anywhere in the world. Don’t believe me? See for yourself, and multiply the Beauty Quotient by ten times..

Wherever you go, the warm and smiling people are a constant, and some Hindu temple ceremonies are always in progress or being readied. The traditional sarong has to be worn in some temples, and we did that too, so as not to miss the tradition! The design of their temples is very different from what we see in India, and you will find an open plan with two arms rising heavenwards in most. The carving is also unique, and statues of Hindu deities abound everywhere but inside the temples. No main idol as in ours. Gods are everywhere..

Tanah Lot in the first pic, and Ulun Danu on the lake Beratan in the lower two.

Tanah Lot again, in its lovely sea-kissed location, again.

Tried competing with this laughing guy! Lol!

The Beauty of Udaipur

We went there a couple of times in the last five years. I am very impressed with Udaipur, more so than Jaipur, for some reason. So I am revisiting some places and quirky pics taken there. Enjoy!

Flower Show-Part 3

Empress Gardens Flower Show 2018

A riot of colours would be an understatement.

and some more..

Hotel Design- Cambodia

 Lounge at the reception.

 Entrance.

 Restaurant.

 Lamp shade.

 Above, pond with a shrine at the far end. Below, a view of the first floor.

This was a hotel called Tea House Urban Resort in Phnom Penh that I stayed in. The design is stunning, open plan, and pleasing to the senses. Why don't more hotels look like this?

Postcards from Bali- 3

In case you thought the beauty of Bali is limited to its natural areas, this set of postcards should dispel the notion. The Balinese women are petite, pretty, and when they dance, very artistic. The first pic shows ritual offerings they make at the temple. Usually, nicely woven bamboo baskets contain the offerings, and a lot of time goes into preparing them. The headgear in the second pic also looks very different.

By the way, a lot of people wear a (frangipani) flower perched on their ear, and it apparently means they have finished prayers- somewhat like our tilak or vibhuti.