Geez Jiminy

Jiminy cricket! Look at these pictures I took today in my balcony. I had just walked out to the balcony to grab some things and I noticed this little critter clinged to the Jade cactus plant. I sprinted back into the house, grabbed the Canon Digital Rebel, quickly swapped to the macro lens, and ran back out to the balcony to see if the little visitor had disappeared on me. Jiminy cricket! He was still there. Apparently, he was basking in the shade, so I got down on my back and got very close to the bugger and started shooting away. I was amazing at how close I was able to get to him without him flying away. Usually, these little creature can sense the slightest of motion and quickly elude away from the predators. Not Jiminy. He must have been an exhibitionist. He simply clung on as I clicked away. Some amazing close-up shots eh? Thank you Mr. Jiminy cricket!

Architecture

View of Manhattan (from Brooklyn Bridge), New York, USA

Streets of Hertoegenbosch, Netherlands

Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India

Taipei 101 tower, Taipei, Taiwan

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Streets of Munich, Germany

En-route to Cuzco, Peru

Beach house in La Jolla, California, USA

Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA


Architecture of all shapes and sizes surround us. Back in the neanderthal days, even the cavemen had skills to construct some pretty simple, yet functional homes that sustained them through the forces of nature. Today, we see all sorts of architecture and the imagination runs wild and endless.

Having traveled a fair bit, I noticed that the more Industrially advanced nations had some incredible yet "predictable" architectures. Not to insult their capabilities, but to me, they seemed "characterless". While the details on these monuments are exquisite, I failed to see the "simplicity" of it. On the other hand, architectures I saw in less developed nations, captivated me for its shear simplicity. When I looked at it, there was character written all over it. A sense of hard work and accomplishment surround such places. Maybe its my internal bias or the places I visited that has given me these skewed ideas ...

Or maybe it is the cynic in me that resists the complexity of anything. Simple is not bad. Lets go back to simple. Simple is good. Imagine a simple life?

March's 1st post

A fence for the dogs of PQ!

An intact dandelion.

A rare glimpse of the clouds in the perpetual ever-blue skies of San Diego, CA.

Amazing kelp!

Amazing architecture of Florence, IT

I can't believe that we are already into March. 25% of the year done is with! I have to be honest, of late, I have not been good about taking pictures. Just recently we went on a hike up Mt Woodson, Poway, CA. There were many lizards and butterflies ready to pose. All I could think was "Damn it! Why did I NOT bring my macro camera". Imagine the close-up shots I could have taken of wilderness at its best. Oh well. The climb was hard enough so thinking of taking an extra 5 lbs on my back just seemed a bit over the top. Well, that is nothing compared to Inca trail hike. If only someone else were carrying it for me. No excuses anymore. My camera will by my purse.

So here are some random pictures I have taken in the past. I meant to add a black-n-white but can't seem to find an appropriate picture that would do justice. Regardless. Enjoy!