Middle class kitchens of rural India

These are photographs of middle-class kitchens in rural India. They are not sleek and nor are they modern kitchens, not by a long shot, but by village standards they are good. The kitchens may not be designer kitchens and the owners may not be rich, but they are well-off. Their houses have small rooms and are untidy, but their kitchens are neat and well stocked in terms of electronic and consumer goods, even if they are not well designed. The kitchens were the most impressive part of their rather small, dark houses, though design is not given importance. These houses were in very small villages by our Indian standards.

Stainless steel utensils, plastic jars, large aluminium boxes, a small refrigerator on the right and a gas stove. The kitchen counter is small. A large jar from an electric mixer can be seen on the shelf. In most Indian kitchens there is a place for a mandir or temple. The idols and photographs of deities can be seen to the right of picture.
Two pictures have been combined in the picture below.

Another kitchen, but without a kitchen counter. Kitchen is neat and well equipped and the gas stove and gas cylinder is on the floor.

A makeshift table in the kitchen which contains an electric plate for cooking. An electric mixer can be see on the windown sill. What is interesting is the wide array of belans or rolling pins which are used to roll different types of dough. A lot of snacks as well as different types of flat breads are a part of the Indian diet and a different types of rolling pins are frequently used. This kitchen seems particularly well equipped with the colourful and smart belans or rolling pins adorning the wall.

A kitchen corner showing the kitchen counter with a gas stove and utensils.

The inside of a fridge in the house of a typical rural woman's kitchen. Refrigerators usually contain milk and milk products mostly.

For pictures of Indian Rural life including its people check out the label "Rural India" or any of the other labels below this post.
Or check out Religious homes in India.
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Cactus close-ups

Photographs of two different types of cactuses. The first one is the green spiky variety and the scond is a dull green with red edges.

In this one the thorns are long and white, like spikes. Impossible to touch.

These green and rose-colored cactus leaves are thick, but there are no thorns or spikes.

This photo has been altered a little to give it a different texture but it is true to the original in the sense that colours are authentic. The original photo is with me. High resolution photographs of these are available.

Check out more pictures of Plants or of Flowers

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Bangalore city landscape

These are panoramic views of the city of Bangalore or Bangaluru as it is now known. These photographs are taken from the terrace of a hotel in the Ulsoor area. you can see some tall buildings on the horizon but most of the buildings in this photograph are of small bungalows which Bangalore is famous for.

A long shot of the same scene. The thick tree cover is visible in both photos.

A closer look at the buildings of Bangalore and the trees.

Related Images: Panoramic images of Halasuru or Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore

Or Check out posts filed under Urban Landscapes for urban landscapes from different parts of the world, or simply Nature or Scenery for scenes you can use for blog headers and backgrounds from other parts of the world as well as India.

You can check our Urban Thane - bird's eye view or Aerial view of Khopoli town in the western ghats of Maharashtra

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Statues and sculptures of women at the Sistine Chapel

There are quite a few statues of females inside the museum on the Sistine Chapel grounds in Rome (the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City in Rome), and the sculpted decorations and paintings are famous. Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio worked on the paintings, statues and sculptures and frescoes in the chapel.

This one is one of the most famous ones. It is of the Goddess of fertility. This appears to be symbolized by a multitude of breasts. Smaller sculptures of children surround her.

This statue is of a mother with her two children. One is a baby in her arms and the other is a toddler pulling at her robes. The woman is about to breast-feed her child.

This is one of a woman warrior. There are not many statues of women being portrayed in warring pose or ready to go into battle. This woman is carrying a spear and holding an armour.

A statue of a woman lying down with a serpent. She appears to be sleeping (or is she dead?) on a coffin. A fresco of children is carved into the coffin on which she lies.

Another woman in a warrior pose.

These women appear to be well-t-do ladies of that time. One of them is reading from a scroll, another is holding a small round object (a ball or a globe?) and the third one is sitting down on a chair holding what appears to be a household object.

Related Images: Sistine Chapel Ceiling designs or  Sistine Chapel Corridor Ceiling Paintings and Designs

Or  Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome Italy or Sistine Chapel floor designs
For more pictures from Italy and Rome:  City of Roma - Pictures or  Photographs of the Colosseum at Rome, Italy or Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) in Rome or the Rome castle or Castel Sant'Angelo - photographs and sketch or try any of the labels below this post.

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Rani of Jhansi Statue in Pune

The Rani of Jhansi, or Lakshmi Bai died at the age of 30, brutally murdered by the British on 18th of June 1858. She was the Maratha queen of the princely state of Jhansi, which was ruled by the Marathas. This state was situated in the north-central part of India. Although she was born to a Maharashtrian Brahmin family, she was adopted by the Peshwas. In her childhood she was trained in the defense arts.

She was a famous freedom fighter who took part in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She did not hide in the kitchen, but instead went out to fight. It is now a legendary story of how she fought with the sword with her small prince tied to her back. This statue in Pune's Deccan area commemorates her.  Unfortunately, the hideous hoarding of rabble-rousing modern politicians ruin the scene.

Rani ki Jhansi's statue is in a very busy area in Pune. This view is from the back.

Related Images: Vishram Bag Wada Pune - Photos
Or Balcony and railing designs of old Pune houses or wadas

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw statue in Pune. Or try any of the labels below this post for more photographs on this blog.

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Truck Drivers in India

Photographs of truck drivers in India. They lead hard lives. Drive with little sleep, often throughout the night. Usually they have a "cleaner" with them as a helper.

This truck driver is parked at a red light.

A truck driver in this photograph. Almost all truckers are young and stay away from home for days on end.

An illustration of two truck drivers parked for the night. They are sitting down and taking a break in the dark.

Not strictly a truck, but a large tempo or van. While all truck drivers have mobile phones, this one has a blue tooth.

A truck cleaner who travels with the truck driver. Not only does he clean the truck, but he also runs errands and helps in signalling and parking.

Check out more photographs of Truck Cleaners and Drivers.
You might also like to see photos of Cabbies or taxi drivers or Fire Station and Fire engine or Photos of trucks or Truck Art and Truck Painting
Or you might also like to see pictures of Truck Passengers!
Or Unsafe trucks or Accidents scenes - overturned and smashed vehicles photos  or check all the pictures filed under the label Transport.
Or check out photographs of people and workers doing skilled and unskilled jobs under "Occupations"

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A poor foreigner in Goa

These are photographs of a white man who looks like a destitute on a Goa beach. He is surrounded by stray dogs and what looks to be garbage and is wearing a dirty vest and cotton shorts. He is possibly a Russian (because Goa is full of Russians). It was an odd sight to see a white person who appears to be a tramp! He looks well-fed, but one wonders why he is rags and hanging out with stray dogs on a Goa beach.

A closer look at the man. It makes one wonder whether he is living on the beach.

Related Images: Abandoned ship in Goa or Goa beach shacks or check out all the pictures from Goa. Or Or try the label Beaches for all beach and sand photos.

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A strange flower

This one is an odd looking and weird flower! Despite looking on the internet I could not find a similar one so it's a flower without a name. Saw it in Thane. It looked a bit like an orchid, but I don't think it is one. It's got a green stem and the buds are round green balls. The petals are orange, pink and red and the centre you can see violent filaments with yellow tips. The petals look like giant tongues, all curled up, as if waiting to strike. The ovule is a light pink. A good example of a flower for students if they are trying to identify the different parts because all the parts are so in your face!

The flowers in their tree.

A close-up of the flower which actually looks ugly despite the multitude of colours. It appears to have teech and a tongue and a mouth! A predator of some sort? The top of the petal looks green and the inside looks red, giving the impression of a mouth.

Related Images: Unusual Hibiscus or for more images of flowers of different kinds and colours, try the label "Flowers"

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Frescoes and statues from the Aurangabad Caves

The Aurangabad caves are an example of ancient art because they are more than 14 centuries old! These  12 man-made rock-cut Buddhist cave shrines are to be found on top of a hill near Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The caves are a great representation of Indian Classical Art. There are statues and carvings of all kinds.

These are some statues and frescoes from the caves. This first one is quite eroded by the elements as it is a piece of stone art on a pillar in one of the caves. The small fresco is of a woman but one is not sure what she is doing or what the person at her feet is holding up.

An elaborate fresco of statue art of Buddha who appears to be a central figure.

A panel fresco of various figures of the Buddha and attendants at the entrance to one of the caves.

A regal statue of Buddha at the entrance to an ancient Buddhist cave.

A carving out of stone of Buddha sitting down and blessing his devotees at the Aurangabad caves.

Related Images: Check out all the images from the Aurangabad Caves
Or images from the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
Or try the label "Buddhism" for sculptures and shrines of Buddha from different parts of the world.

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Funny Signs from Thailand

This sign on a private taxi was hilarious. The images painted on the window inform you about the various activities which are forbidden inside the van which has dark tinted windows. These range from peeing to having sex in different positions! In India these type of signs would be banned for being obscene.

This sign at the Koh Sumai airport is funny. It warns you to be suspicious of foreigners who are thieves but they are not saying so in so many words!

This is another sign at the airport and instead of a set of simple instructions they have chosen to ask you questions!

There is nothing funny about this notice board except that it looks like an informal notice board of a school instead of any airport. Cute.

More humorous signboards: Funny English Signs (for wrong English) or Funny Road Signs in India or Interesting signs with funny instructions! Happy Birthday Political Posters or Thieves beware signs from the UK

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Monaco city landscape

Urban Scenes can look ugly, or pretty. Monaco, a sovereign city state on the French Riviera in Western Europe is certainly pretty. Bordered by France on three sides, with one side bordering the Mediterranean Sea, it is a tourist hub, and well, a tax haven as well.

In this photograph you can see the coastal road snaking around the hill-side. Most of the buildings appear to be orange and red in colour.

Buildings and skyscrapers of Monaco, France.

A close-up of a watch tower in Monaco.

More Urban Scenery from France: Birds Eye View of Paris from the Eiffel Tower or Grasse in France
Or try The streets of Paris in pictures or all the images from France.

Drinking in a beer bar or pub

A pub called Toits in Bangalore. This picture shows the row of alcohol bottles stacked on a shelf behind the bar. A customer is sitting on a bar chair.

A closeup of a bartender dispensing freshly brewed beer for a customer.

This is a photograph of a pub in Bangor, Wales, in the United Kingdom. Mostly crowded with youngsters the bar serves delicious eats too.

A bar serving alcohol in Goa, India. Two women customers are sitting at the bar.

Related Images: Beer in jugs, bottles, and glasses (cut-outs) or Beer shops in small towns in India or Alcohol and hard drinks photographs or Microbrewery in Pune and Bangalore