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Finland

365 days later – Finland in pictures

Last year, this time, I was in Finland chasing the Northern Lights. It was a two week adventure marking not just …

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Visual Stories

Sri Lankan sunsets.

#quarantinetravelstories - This was my first trip with a DSLR (I had picked up my first ever DSLR camera two months before this trip) and my second solo trip - so it was special in more ways than one. I didn't know how to operate a camera in manual mode. I was learning on the go, watching youtube videos and reading available material. I also didn't travel in a public bus in a foreign country for god awful hours by myself before. From Anuradhapura to Trincomalee (East coast) that was quite a journey to remember. . I remember coming to Trincomalee and marvelling at the stunning colours of the water. Clean and pristine. The beach was a 10 minute walk from the Airbnb I was staying in, and for the two days I was there, I would get to the beach in the morning, sit at the little shack restaurant with my camera and book, and just spend the entire day doing nothing. Watching the water and dreaming. Then picking up my camera and going to try my hand at taking some good shots with no idea of what a composition is and how to capture the beauty the way I see. . My Airbnb hosts were amazing and friendly. On my second evening there they asked if I wanted to try a different spot for the sunset. I could see it better from the marsh behind than the beach. In times like these, the answer is always - why not! So, we walked to the marsh - her doggo (who was harmless but I was insanely petrified of), her and I. We waited for a few minutes looking around and talking. Then the show began. I have so many pictures of that sunset. I didn't have to know how to make photographs. The sunset was stunning and it looked exactly like that from any angle, on every shot. . We were there for about an hour and then walked back to the house. That evening, I met the other guests who were staying the villa and listened to their stories. A French family that was traveling for over 3 months across Asia with two little children; an Australian couple that had just come from India and were exploring the subcontinent. Right across from them, was I - an Indian girl who was travelling alone who dreamed of telling her stories someday. #passionpassport #srilanka #solotravel

#quarantinetravelstories - Did you know there are over 200 pyramids in Sudan? . Did you know that some of the Egyptian Pharoahs came from Meroe and were called the Black Pharoahs? . Meroe was the capital of The Kingdom of Kush, and was a prosperous and bustling metropolis from the eighth century BC until the 4th Century AD. The Meroitic people were known for grand architecture and stunning work of art. They were excellent goldsmiths. It is said that the top of the Pyramids were of gold and when the pyramids were hit with sunlight, they could be seen from a long distance. . The tombs in the pyramids have been ransacked from all the looting over the years. However, the there are still inscriptions and drawings on the walls that tell us about the person whose tomb it is - similar to that of the tombs in Egypt. For a common observer, like me, it can be quite confusing to spot the difference in the art within the tomb from that of the ones in Egypt. For starters, the inscriptions are in Meroitic script. There are differences in hair and features of the people in the art in these tombs. The Kushties' burial rituals were influenced by ancient Egyptian and African religious practices. . The history of Meroe and the Kingdom of Kush is fascinating. Since this #lockdown is expected to go on for a while, I am writing about my travel stories in length that will delve deeper into the the history and culture of the place. These are going to be long reads. Link in bio for the blog. Sign up for updates. #meroe #sudan #pyramids #createathome

#quarantinetravelstories - History is filled with tales of valour. Across the world, civilizations upon civilizations have, through art and architecture, preserved the stories of the brave, the victorious, the virtuous, and the mighty. The ancient Egyptians were no different. . The ancient Egyptian history is roughly captured by three stable kingdoms - the Old Kingdom (2686 - 2181 BC) , the Middle Kingdom (2134 - 1690 BC) and the New Kingdom (1549 - 1069 BC). . The New Kingdom took Egypt towards unprecedented success and power. The 18th Dynasty or the Thutmosid Dynasty are considered the first dynasty of this New Kingdom. However, what is truly special about this dynasty is the their fifth Pharoah - Hatshepsut. . Hatshepsut was the second female Pharoah of ancient Egypt, and is considered one of the most successful Pharoahs. As is with women, she had to go through incredible lengths to come to power. She ruled jointly with her step-son Thutomose III; but soon became a Pharoah in her own might. . The Valley of the Kings is a burial site. Many Pharoahs and noblemen of the New Kingdom, and the kingdoms after, are buried here including the famous Tutankhamun; the youngest Pharoah, whose mummy was discovered with many riches and artefacts. The temple of Hatshepsut, also known as Deir El Bahri - was one of the first complexes to be built here. Consistent with the grandeur of her reign, Hatshepsut's temple was magnificent and many Pharoahs built their burial sites here to associate their complexes with hers. . The temple of Hatshepsut is spectacular. While her successor, Thutomose III destroyed many of her buildings including many structures in this temple, the Mortuary stands tall almost 1500 years later. The temple is undoubtedly one of ancient Egypt's wonders. . Note: This story is from Feb 2017. The Temple of Hatshepsut is located in the Valley of Kings, on the West Bank of Luxor. . #pptimetravel #createathome #throwbacktravel #queens #followmeto #egypt

#quarantinetravelstories - Today I am thinking of all the sunsets I've seen around the world. This lockdown has made me really appreciate the little things that I've taken for granted in my life. The walk on the promenades, marveling at sunsets, chatting with a friend, laughing over cups of chai, and just the ability to make a photograph and capture a memory forever. . Sunsets are my favourite. The burst of colour, that drama, and a strange melancholy combined with hope offering you a refuge from your thoughts to just stand still and witness nature's performance. I always try and shoot at least one sunset at the place I'm visiting. There's always time, and a little bit of planning surely helps out. I made this picture after a long day of temple hopping in Kom Ombo and Edfu. This was made from the upper deck of the boat I was in during the 4-day Nile River Cruise from Aswan to Luxor. . Those who know me, know that I'm an ardent follower of the 'i-want-to-stay-home' philosophy. Staying at home opportunity that this lockdown has offered has been a dream I've seen for a long time. But now I feel differently. Now I yearn and crave for all of those things I took for granted. Once this lockdown is over, I'm going to go to my favourite spots in this beautiful city and watch sunsets. Sunsets in Bombay are nothing if not magical. . Note: this picture is from Feb 2017. I am currently following the lockdown instructions by staying at home. Stay at home for yours and others safety. #pptimetravel #createathome #travelstories #followmeto #egypt #stayathome

#quarantinetravelstories - Since the time I was a little girl, stories of gods and goddess have been an integral part of my narrative. My mother was an avid reader and the stories we heard were colourful and imaginative; often emphasising on a moral and the importance of being ethical and righteous. . Growing up, reading mythology came naturally. These were stories that took me to a different place. A place where I, someone who was an outcast at school and home, could belong. No questions asked. . In my 20s, I started reading Devdutt Pattnaik's work that led me to a whole new understanding of mythology. I started reading more, and the more I read, the more I craved to travel to those lands with lost temples, beliefs, and deities that shaped so many civilizations. Egypt was always on top of that list. . As I sat on that boat, sailing down the Nile, the Philae temple made an appearance in the distance. An ancient temple complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae (Greek) means "the end" and was named such as the temple was one of the last outposts where the goddess was worshipped. . In my journey as a solo traveler in the past few years, I've begun to understand how much those stories I heard as a little child have shaped how I travel the world. Those temple ruins, pyramids, lost places of worship and palaces I heard stories of will always be the places I first seek. #pptimetravel #createathome Location: Philae Temple, Aswan, Egypt. Date: Feb 2017. Currently, I'm at home.

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