Friday, September 21, 2007

Once a year - flower!


This flower blooms only once a year. When we just moved in Kathmandu some of the flower pots that I have inherited from the previous tenants of our new house had this one single flower. In my entire 2 years and a half in Kathmandu that was the only time I say these planst bloom. The rest of the time, there were only hints but didn't actually flower. I didn't get the name of this one! I tried searching on the internet but it just to much hardwork when you don't know much.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Nepal - candles

Prayer candles ready for pouring in the butter
photo taken in 2004
Swayambunath Temple



This little brass or bronze container would hold melted butter and devotees (Hindus and Buddhist alike) would buy this to offer in the temples. The containers then will be reused for the next patrons.

NEPAL - Pashupatinath

In the Grounds of the Holy Temple
Photo 2004

Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu Temple and one of the most important Shiva Temple around this region of Asia, many Indian Devotees come and visit here annually. It is located on the banks of Bagmati River. Shiva is the destroyer god of Hindu beliefs and comes in many form. One of his pleasant form is Pashupati the lord of the beast. Bagmati River is a holy river and this is where locals burn their dead in a Hindu ritual. The primate picture below is of one of the permanent resident around the area. Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the Pashupatinath temple.

Line of Shiva Temples

Free Range Monkey

Monday, September 3, 2007

Primate

Golden Lion Tamarin
(one of the adult)
Smithsonian Zoo, DC
Photo 2007



(One of the babies, not a good shot but I think this shows what they look like.)

This is one of my favorite display at the Smithsonian Zoo. These monkeys, during summer, are on free range exhibit. They put them back inside a warm area during winter. When they are inside enclosure you can view them closely (and gosh they are so cute) but when they are free range they are so happy that they are all over. Of course a few handlers are around keeping an eye on them in case the patrons misbehave or the animals itself. The zoo has quite a few of them but only a handful are on free range. I was hoping they have the pygmy marmoset on display but none yet, next time perhaps.

Both photos were enhance significantly, boosting the colors with Mac's iPhoto software. I don't have any other software, not yet anyway! Although am thinking of buying Photoshop sometime.

More info here

Behind the Glass

A Dragon
Nikon D70

I think this is the "Australian Inland Bearded Dragon" though I am only about 90% sure (LOL). One of the displays at Washington DC Zoo at Reptile Discovery Center. No alteration on the photo whatsoever. I kind of like it this way, almost just the eye in focus.