I'm still alive

"I'm still alive" is what this seemingly lifeless tree was expressing when it showed it's first sign of life still pushing from inside. The only leaf on so many branches was saying on behalf of the tree, "I'm still alive".



I believe, the photo above is for sure a booster for those who are feeling lifeless for any reason. I am expecting that people will search for "I'm still alive" on Google and will reach this page. And they are looking for a good reason to feel the words for real. I'm sure that the photo above will bring joy to their life again, and will make them realize that they are still alive. Forget the sorrow, and say, "I'm still alive"!

Painted Stork — Amazing Big Bird

Painted Stork! What a bird, really! If you have never seen painted storks in life, it is a must watch, especially if you have never been very close to them. An evening with these amazing birds into the wild was one of the best evenings of my life. I recommend it highly to see this great bird at least once in the lifetime. Probably, this post and the photographs will inspire you!



We had gone to a place named Bhigwan a few days back to see flamingos migrated there like every year. We missed the chance, but were rewarded with another amazing big bird — the Painted Stork.



We have done bird photography many a times in the past, but this was the most touching experience, seeing these big birds with their young ones. We actually walked their nesting sites and were thrilled by everything over there. There were innumerous flocks of painted storks everywhere the eyes could see. To top it, the number of their off-springs was more than that of the adults. Birds everywhere!



Painted storks are named perfectly. They are like GOD's canvases in a bird's shape. Although, the painting does not involve many colors and great detail, the birds are masterpieces literally. The thoughtfully brushed paints of pink, and the maze of black lines & patches are simple yet exceptionally eye-catching.



Painted storks can take anyone's heart away with its beauty and style. I think the photos of painted storks above and following, will pass on some of our painted stork birdwatching experience to you.

Funny marriage quotes worth reading

Note: I received the below lines on marriage in an email forward; these are not my creation. If you are one of the original authors of any of these lines, please let me know, and I will be more than happy to credit you.

Weekend Fun:

Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want then, when you see what the other person has, you wish you had ordered that.

Man: Is there any way for long life?
Dr: Get married.
Man: Will it help?
Dr: No, but the thought of long life will never come.

Q: Why do couples hold hands during their wedding?
A: It's a formality just like two boxers shaking hands before the fight begins!

Wife: Darling today is our anniversary, what should we do?
Husband: Let us stand in silence for 2 minutes.

It's funny when people discuss Love Marriage vs Arranged. It's like asking someone, if suicide is better or being murdered.

It is difficult to understand GOD. He makes such beautiful things as women and then he turns them into Wives.

If you are married please ignore this message, For everyone else: Happy Independence Day

Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you say. After marriage, he'll fall asleep before you finish.

There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage.

Girlfriends r like chocolates, Taste good anytime. Lovers r like PIZZAS, Hot n spicy, eaten frequently. Husbands are like Dal RICE, eaten when there's no choice.

Man receives telegram: Wife dead-should be buried or cremated?
Man: Don't take any chances. Burn the body and bury the ash.

Prospective husband: Do you have a book called 'Man, The Master of Women'?
Salesgirl: The fiction department is on the other side, sir.

Q: Why dogs don't marry?
A: Because they are already leading a dog's life!

There was this guy who told his woman that he loved her so much that he would go through hell for her. They got married and now he is going thru hell.

Fact of life: One woman brings you into this world crying & the other ensures you continue to do so for the rest of your life!

Q: Why doesn't law permit a man to marry a second woman?
A: Because as per law you cannot be punished twice for the same offense!

When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.

After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but still they stay together.

By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. - Socrates

Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them.

The great question... Which I have not been able to answer... Is, "What does a woman want? - George Clooney

I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me.

"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays."

"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."

"I've had bad luck with all my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn’t.” The third gave me more children! - Donald Trump

Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming
1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
- Shaquille O’Neal

The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once... - Kobe Bryant

You know what I did before I married? Anything wanted to. - David Hasselhoff

My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. - Alec Baldwin

A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.

Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy. - Tommy Lee

A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."

First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

“Honey, what happened to ‘ladies first’?” Husband replies, “That’s the reason why the world’s a mess today, because a lady went first!”

“First there’s the promise ring, then the engagement ring, then the wedding ring...soon after....comes Suffer...ing!

Gharial [Scientific Name: Gavialis Gangeticus, Hindi Name: घऱियाल] AKA Indian Gavial, Indian Crocodile, Indian Croc

It's an Indian version of crocodile, which is called Gharial. Its scientific name is Gavialis Gangeticus. In Hindi language, it's written as घऱियाल. This croc species has many other names like Indian Gavial, Indian Crocodile, Indian Croc.



There's a sad fact about this species — International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] has put this species in the list of Critically Endangered Species! Why not? India is developing; their natural habitat is vanishing. These amazing creatures are found in the holy river of Ganga, which is polluted by the excessive human population on the banks.



There are some interesting facts about the Gharial…
• Gharial got its name from a Hindi word Ghara/Ghada, which means pot. The croc has a pot like nose.
• The longest Gharial known in the history was 23 feet long. It was found in a river named Kosi in Bihar state. Their average length is 14 feet however.
• The heaviest Gharial recorded in the history was more than 1000 kilograms in weight. Well, the average Gharial weight is around 650 kgs. of fully grown males.
• Gharials got their long snout by catching small fish for the past uncountable years. Their long snout is a part of the evolution process.



I photographed this amazing creature in a zoo in Pune. 2-3 gharials are in captivity. The sign board below has some information about this species.



And the following one is my favorite shot of Gharial. Which one is your favorite?

What a life - Tension free!

It was a scene to be seen. We stepped out from Abhaneri to be surprised by these 2 men having the best time of their lives. I have been dreaming from childhood about leaving the life I have been leading and am still, and achieving "Nirvana" in a rainforest. That day will come, I am sure. For now, seeing these 2 old men enjoying their life, having relaxed time, doing what they love to do — literally waste the time :) is inspirational!

Please pray that my day comes soon when I will "waste" my time enjoying the joy of leading an agenda-less and meaningless life in a rainforest like that of Papua New Guinea or Amazon :) Wo! What fun!! Foolish, isn't me?

A beautiful road that makes a tree tunnel

We went to Raireshwar last Sunday. The whole road is highly scenic, if not as scenic as Raireshwar. As we had been misinformed on the internet that the road goes till the top of the fort, we could not win the battle. But the trip was not worthless at all. The scenic state highway gave beautiful photographs. I am presenting a couple of those here in this post. There was a beautiful road passing through lush greenery and rich foliage literally making a tunnel by joining of big trees. The fact is that there we many such spots on the way! One of those was this highly beautiful patch of a tree tunnel. I hope you like it!

2 buffaloes grazing near Kas plateau

2 years back, we went to Kas plateau [see Kas plateau photos also]. On the way back, there was this yet another pleasant site. The 2 buffaloes were lost in the enjoyment of having their lunch :) I did not disturb them, but did not even miss the chance to record them in my pixel memories. What say? I am sure you like these "nirvana achieved" 2 buffaloes grazing near Kas plateau.

Cute cotton face with cotton seeds as its eyes

It's looking like an old man with cuteness on face. I unknowingly photographed a face of cotton fibers when I was doing a photo shoot for a contest on the magic of cotton. This photo took my attention. Doesn't it look very cute? It looks like from fairy tales too I believe! Seems that the teeth are missing, eyes have lost focus and hair are aged yet fresh :)

I am very eager to see your expressions in comments :)