Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

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.
3 comments

Travelling with the WD Wireless Passport Pro

Happy New Year, friends!





2017 brought me lots of travel, to new destinations, as well as lots of inspiration. However, it also brought along a massive writer's block which I am still trying to overcome. So here I begin this New Year with my latest attempt to break the jinx, hoping this is the year I finally manage to bring the blog up to date with all my travels!

If you have followed me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you would know that I have just returned from two trips - one to the Konkan with my husband, and the other to Ahmedabad with my son, a friend, and her son. The two trips were very different, to different types of destinations, what different points of interest as well. However, as usual, they included a mix of nature and heritage, since these are my two main interests these days.

Common Kingfisher, Abloli, Konkan.



And yet another thing was common between the two trips. I carried along the WD Wireless Passport Pro, which I had received for a trial.



Ancient image of Vishnu from the Lakshmi Narayan temple, Shrivardhan. 



Now, before I begin, let me warn you not to expect a typical review about the device, its specifications, its performance, etc. That isn’t, and never has been, my forte. What I intend to tell you, is how I used it, and how useful it was, to me.



One of the biggest challenges I face during my travels is to share images captured on my camera. My trusted Nikon P510 is a wonderful camera, but doesn’t have the latest features like Wi-Fi which would allow me to connect it to my phone.  I usually have to wait until I get back home before I can download the images or videos from my camera and then share them. This usually means no videos, or no images of birds captured on my travels till I return home and have had time to download my images.

With the WD Wireless Passport Pro, this huge problem was solved easily. All I had to do was download the MyCloud app, and use it to select the images or videos I wanted, from the memory card. All the images shared in this post were shared by me on Instagram, from the road, thanks to this one gadget I carried along.

Sun Temple at Modhera, Gujarat




Short Eared Owl, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat


I found it remarkably easy to use, which is saying something, considering that I am not too handy with gadgets. Besides, it charged quite quickly, and I was able to also use it as a power bank, to charge my mobile.

Video of birds at Thol Bird Sanctuary, near Ahmedabad, Gujarat

If there is one negative, it is that it is quite heavy, certainly heavier than the power bank I usually carry. And it took some getting used to the MyCloud app before I was able to use it.

Wild Asses, at the Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat


Note. This is not a sponsored post, but my honest review. I received the WD Wireless Passport Pro for review, and returned it after the trial.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw
8 comments
Read more

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis
9 comments
Read more

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.
4 comments
Read more