My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
Yesterday was Buddha Poornima.. and the full moon looked wonderful! Some welcome clouds kept covering it, and the sight was really beautiful! Unfortunately, as I tried to take some photographs, my batteries gave way - not just one, but every single one..... and I wasn't even able to take one photograph!
However, here is another full moon for you ... this one at Binsar....... it was wonderful night, the stars clearly visible in the complete darkness, and I could just sit there for hours, looking out at the moon shining brightly against the utter blackness of the night....

For more skies around the world, go to Sky Watch Friday.
Gorgeous picture!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLovely picture Anu.
ReplyDeletewoondrful pic, Anu :)
ReplyDeleteNice pic :)
ReplyDeleteyu have pic for every occassion?!!
ReplyDeleteyu are really a class apart
i love the moon...and especially this photo of yours...with that teeny branch to the side...its beautiful..
and was it romantic?!!
Long ago, a haiku master, I think it was Basho, wondered: Is this the same old orange full moon, every where?
ReplyDeleteLove the branch etched onto that fabulous moon!
ReplyDeleteHello Anu, here we are across the world from one another and yet I took similar photos this early morning. ;)
ReplyDeleteReally pretty!
ReplyDeleteHood Photo Blog
thats lovely..I just had a FB post on the moon the other day and then Ive been reading posts and seeing pics of the moon..must be sthg "looney" in the air :)
ReplyDeleteLovely pic. Those leaves adds another dimension to it.
ReplyDeleteAnu
ReplyDeletejust came here to say hello to you. see you soon
That's a beautiful Moon shot Anu. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThe moon look so elegant
ReplyDeletePretty pretty moon. And its nicer becuase of the silhouette of those leaves on the bottom-right :)
ReplyDelete- Mindless Mumbai
Very nice pictures
ReplyDeleteCool capture of the full 'O'. It is difficult to get such perfection.
ReplyDelete@Aarti, Mridula, Lavanya, Shilpa: thanks so much, all of you!
ReplyDelete@ssstoryteller: thanks so much, sowmya! i was just too fascinated by the moon that day! as to romance, well, shankar was totally engrossed in IPL which is why i was roaming around taking pics outside!!!
@Michael: thats so true.... my son often asks me why does the moon follow us wherever we go?
@LadyFi: thanks so much! that was one of the things which made me click!
@Di: just saw your pic! and its so awesome! thanks..
@Hood Photo Blog: thanks
@Lakshmi: thanks so much! there surely must be!
@subu: thanks...
@Chitra: thanks..
@T&S: thanks.....i was wishing i had a camera like yours... have promised myself to get one by next year!
@travel tips: thanks...
@Kunal: thanks.....
@A: thanks,
@Indrani: thanks so much!