Saturday, October 25, 2008

Lannion/Paris Trip

"A picture is worth a thousand words; a photo blog is both."

It was a training program for Alcatel-Lucent UMTS NodeB project that I was asked to visit Alcatel-Lucent Lannion,France team to give them training on SLOAM.

On a rainy day,I visited Mumbai for the scheduled Visa Interview ...The interview office was in Nariman point near Marine Drive and how can I miss the Gateway of India and Haji Ali before taking the return flight :)

Walk alone in Marine Drive
Walk Alone in Marine Drive  Mumbai

On my way to Haji Ali
Everyone ignored her,but I can't   MumbaiPut your foot down  Mumbai

Bangalore International Airport.
Bangalore International Airport

The Air France flight was a bit delayed (the reason is the same flight flight which comes from Paris actually goes back),and I spent time in BIA doing net surfing ...Thanks to free wi-fi access in BIA ...If you think I didn't click at that time ,you are wrong ...

The Charle-de-gaulle airport in Paris was a huge one ...(though not as big as Frankfurt where I got lost last year) ...RER station


Mission Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower @ 10mm  Paris

Some candid moments under the Eiffel Tower ...the paradise of a photographer ..
Paris Candids

Getting lost in Paris.Priceless.
Getting Lost in Paris. Priceless.

Love under the Eiffel Tower
Love under the Eiffel Tower  Paris

Few Dancers were also there

Suddenly while performing ...

Lannion Pics :-

Shot @ outside Hotel IBIS,AppoCity Service Apartment,Lannion.
Hotel IBIS | Lannion

Shot @ Just outside IBIS,a roadside coffee bar ...enjoyed my coffee
IMG_5733

Shot @ outside where xCEM PQ2 Team's office ,Alcatel-Lucent campus,Lannion.
Alcatel - Lucent Campus | Lannion

Kids at play in street .... My team members in ALU
mosaic2247951

Street scenes from Lannion ...
IMG_5323IMG_5355


A small drive to Perros-Guirec ..the north most point of Europe ....Woah...what a place ....sunset ...ocean ...dramatic sky ...I was in heaven :))
After Office Drive to Perros-Guirec | Lannion

With Raymond(Cab Driver Uncle) of Allo Armor Taxis,Lannion.
IMG_5437

Hotel in Perros-Guirec | LannionCalmness of Perros-Guirec | Lannion

An old couple watching the sea
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The sea has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness.


Paris again while returning from Lannion ...Musée du Louvre
The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) | Paris
The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) | Paris

The newly wed couple came to get photographed in front of Louvre
Just Wed Couple | Paris

A cigarette is a pipe with a fire at one end and a fool at the other.
A cigarette is a pipe with a fire at one end and a fool at the other.

Love again ..
A moment before ...Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you.

Street life in Paris ...some student were playing this high jump game with roller on ..try it out ...
"Jump of his life" | Paris

Cycle away your worries .....Style is the mantra of Paris
Worry is a "cycle" of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.Style  | Paris

Shot @ IBIS Hotel - room 219,Paris CDG Airport Hotel,Paris...A long exposure shot of CDG Airport ....Woke up early to catch my morning flight to India ...
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Durga Puja,Kolkata'08

What is "Durga Puja" ??
The Wikipedia says: "The worship of Durga in the autumn month of Sharat is the major festival in Bengal. Puja means worship, and Durga's Puja is celebrated from the sixth to tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashvin, which is the sixth month in the Hindu Calendar. i>

Carrying the idol | Kumartuli,the potter's town in Kolkata
Carrying the idol on shoulder | Kumartoli,Kolkata
This neighborhood of clay-sculptors and artistes supply more than 12,000 Durga Idols every year to different Puja committees of Kolkata.

Durga Ma ...rushing away from Kumartuli
Durga Ma ...Rushing away ...

Saptami -On Saptami, the image of the goddess is infused with life through a process called Bodhon. Early in the morning, the pran of the Devi is put inside the image after it is brought from a nearby river through the medium of a banana plant, called the Kola Bou. The Kola Bou, bathed and draped in a new yellow saree, resembles a newly wed bride.
Kola Bou Snan | Early morning Saptami,Durga Puja,Kolkata
Woah ....lakhs of people(50+ photographers) at 6am in Judges Ghat ...
Durga Puja | Kolkata08.

Ashtami:-Ashtami is universally accepted as the culminating point of the four day celebrations. It was on this day that Durga had killed Mahishasura.

Anjali - The prayer to Devi | Selimpur Palli Puja
IMG_7620

The ritual of Sandhipuja marks Sandhikkhan, the juncture between Ashtami and Nabami. The main attraction of Nabami is the Maha-Arati held in the evening.


The Aarati being performed ...
Aarati | SaptamiCute Love | Maddox Square
The celebrity couple ...The "Just for Five Days" Puja Special Love story

The Magic of Maddox Square
Maddox Square | Saptami,Durga Puja08

Amidst the glitter and joy of that magical place known as Maddox Square.

Durga Bari - The traditional way
Durga Bari | Durga Puja,Kolkata08.>IMG_6819
Durga Puja | Kolkata 2008IMG_6779

Dashami :- After the visarjan, married women take part in the sindur khela, saluting the goddess with vermilion, betel leaf and sweets and then smearing each other with the same. It is (or used to be) a Bengali custom for married women to apply sindur on each other when one of them was leaving; the Devi is bid farewell the same way.

Bagbajar e Sindur Khela | Dashami,Kolkata08.

An hour @ Bagbajar Sarbojonin with 100+ photographers ..
Sindur Khela | Bagbajar,Dashami

"Asche Bochor Abar Hobe" means "Will wait for next year' ...

More pics will be added @ www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/sets/72157602643330971/