K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge: Metal

While on our trip to Brighton, my friend was explaining about the events that led to this West Pier which is nothing but a metal wireframe now. Looks like there were some efforts to restore it but nothing fruitful. I kind of liked it this way, a remnant of a memory. I haven’t been to the functioning pier except to have a look from outside. But this on the other side, a total contrast to the other one, looked more visually appealing to me.
Wanna join in? Here is how:

Create a post with ‘K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge’ in the title. This week, the prompt is : Metal. Post a photo to your blog, pingback to either Dale’s or K’lee’s post and don’t forget to add the tag #CosPhoChal to your post’s tags and you’re done!

Apsara

Apsara’s are a main attraction in the temples of Cambodia. But we, Hindu’s already know about them. Because these celestial beauties are part of our Mythology. They are depicted as such beautiful women that even Saints fall for their charms. They were irresistible. Vishwamitra, a well known saint, falls for the beauty of an apsara (Check out the wikipedia for his story… it’s quite interesting 🙂 )

These photographs were taken in one of the temples during our visit to Siem Reap. My friend and I even tried to imitate the first photograph to see if we could do that pose. It was funny and luckily, that portion of the temple in Ta Prohm was empty. So no one was seduced by our charms 😛

I love the delicate features etched around these apsaras like they were painted on a canvas and then framed.

“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life.” – Coco Chanel

PS: Posted for this week’s Julie’s Travel Photo prompt.

Belief

“This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when your hopes and dreams and goals are dashed, search among the wreckage, you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins”.”

― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

One of my very favorite photographs from Siem Reap, Cambodia. Taken in Bayon Temple. I could have centered it by moving little bit to the right, if I had been planning on it. Saw this at the last moment when we were about to get away from the place and took this very quickly before I regret not doing it. Nevertheless I am very happy about this photograph. Something about the idol sitting all proud and majestic (can you see the smile?) amongst the ruins (or whatever is being restored of that) is very endearing to me.

WPC: (Extra)Ordinary

“But in the end they were not called saints because of the way they died, or because of their visions or wondrous deeds, but because of their extraordinary capacity for the love and goodness, which reminded others of the love of God.”
― Robert Ellsberg

Headless Beauty

I just completed writing the second day of our Cambodia tour. While writing it, I noticed a photograph which I took in Preah Khan, which I particularly like a lot. It was raining and we were inside the temple. There was this idol with the head missing and for some reason seeing that in the rain wanted me to take this photograph and I felt that it had a beauty of its own even with the missing head. Sinister in a way but beautiful nonetheless.

“Some ruins of ancient times are much more beautiful than the best buildings of modern eras!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Posted for Julie’s this week’s travel photo event.