Monthly Archives: April 2014

Eye Can See

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DSC_8426It was once again rather hazy and a light dust haze enveloped the sky but that did not deter us from our regular evening walk at the Arad Walkway. However, it was a rather surreal feeling as we took our stroll as these pictures show.DSC_8399
I have earlier taken a lot of pictures here but never have they shown the area in such ‘splendour’ – the colour, the almost ‘ghostly’ look and feel and visitors going about their business.DSC_8478
As I have said earlier, there’s always something new that the camera captures – what the eye fails to see!
It’s happened before, it’s happened now and it’ll happen again!

The heat is on

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DSC_8236DSC_8240I saw these workers toiling in the sun at a construction site next to my house this afternoon. This after I had just stepped out from a comfortable 20 degrees C into more than 35 degrees C, and in what is the beginning of another Bahrain summer. It’s amazing how these men work tirelessly with a smile on their faces, always ready to do that much more to get work done on time.  I often also wonder what we would do without the skills, ability and perseverance of these mostly South Asian workers, who are thousands of miles away from their families, only to make sure folks back home can live a decent life and look forward to the monthly remittance. Hat’s of to these heroes!

 

A year on…….

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blogIt’s been a year today that I wrote my first blog.
On April 27 last year, I had no idea what blogging was; how I would do; what I would write and whether it would continue!
Three hundred and sixty-five days on, I have written or posted 395 blog posts, have raked up 12,765 hits and run up 2,262 followers. I have sure come a long way from my first post (http://singhcircle.com/2013/04/27/suq-reborn-2/).
To say the least, I have surprised even myself. I never thought I had it in me, even to continue for a few weeks. I did not imagine I would end up posting an average of more than a post a day, be it a picture, a quote, a narrative or even a picture caption!
But it has happened.
And I have to thank those sceptics who claimed I would not “go beyond a few posts” and those who said “blogging is just a fad you will soon outgrow” for my determination to go on!
While I initially though I would work to prove them wrong, over the weeks and months, I have begun to enjoy just being online and am now able to write, or blog about anything – from an incident I faced, to something I saw, from a childhood memory or what I think is a picture worth sharing. It’s all happened – and continue to happen.bl
As I embark on the Year Two journey, I have a special mention for all the followers of singhcircle.com, from photographers, gardeners, engineers, doctors, pet and animal lovers, travellers, students, musicians, chefs, men, women, teenagers.
A special Thank You to the handful who have made it a point to ‘like’ every blog post that I do, and even comment in appreciation of some; thanks also to the scores of bloggers I follow and read and who continue to inspire, particularly those who take beautiful and awesome pictures. Applause, too, for family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues who have often commented in person on what they liked or disliked about a particular narrative or picture!
All in all, it’s been a very encouraging year.
I hope I am able to improve, and write even more, not only for my ‘feel good’ factor but also for those who read me. I wish I could be as good, or even come close to, some of those I follow and those who follow me.
That’s no easy task. But there is hope.
As a wise man said once: Don’t strive to be perfect; because if you are so, you will never improve!

Let the lens explain!

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Let the lens explain!

I saw this very apt quote about photography. Cannot agree more with what’s been said. And, yes, ‘talking’ pictures are the best pictures and a true reflection of ones mind and imagination.

The colour is back

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The colour is back

Watermelons are on the streets of Bahrain again. A sure sign its summertime!
This is a well-known ‘yardstick’ that there’s now no looking back and any temporary return to pleasant weather that we hope could continue for longer!
That said, this was the first time this season we spotted watermelons being sold on the street – off a pick-up truck. And the opportunity was irresistible.
The fruit that we got was ‘value for money’ to say the least because it turned out extremely sweet and juicy!
For sure, there’s more to come. This is just the start of the season. And summer is pretty long and difficult in this part of the world.
Where I come from, Punjab in Northern India, as children we were given ice-cold watermelon first thing in the morning and it was always so refreshing. Later, as time passed, and we moved on, getting, cooling and finally eating a watermelon became an arduous task and soon we gave it up completely!
Until we landed in Bahrain, that is. The beginning of every summer brings with it a bumper crop and out come the pick-up trucks loaded with the bright red fruit. And since these are sold on the streets and seen everywhere, it’s difficult to give them a go by.
The bottom line is that we have come back to watermelons in a major way – and await the summer to indulge!