Ram Viswanathan's Picture Blog

Penguin Parade

2005-12-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Five of us drove five hours to see Penguin Parade in Phillip Island near Melbourne. Due to time constraint, we didn't see the Penguins but spent five minutes in the island before heading back.

Sky Box viewing..

Penguins tend roam around.. I guess

We couldn't stay till the staff opened the doors

The Crew

Beautiful beaches

With no dusk in sight, we left Phillip Island without viewing the Penguins..

Jeepney

2005-10-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

I was recently in Manila, Philippines and what caught my attention were the Jeepneys. These are a popular means of public transport like the autos of Chennai but are bigger and flamboyant.

King of the road

Jeepneys were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are well known for their crowded seating.

Even though they are a law unto themselves and hardly follow any rules, all Jeepneys have this customary 'How is my driving' statement

Jeepneys have their own stands but they stop anywhere and everywhere

There seems to be heightened security everywhere. Even hotels have check points and sniffer dogs.

Navrathri Golu 2005

2005-10-11T04:45:00.000-07:00

Golu 2005

We decided to put up Golu for the first time this Navrathri. As I am discovering, this is yet another occassion for the women folks to socialize. An important ingredient of this Golu visits seems to the unending gift exchanges. I don't understand many things about the Golu, but my family seems to relishing it.

Some pictures from our Golu of 2005

Golu steps are now available in the ready to assemble fashion and costs around INR 700 for 3 steps

Jurasic Park
Pillaiyar, Dasaavathrams & Chettiar Bommais are still the standard staple in Golus
My contribution "bells" from various cities I visit

Fly Over Atlanta - Fall 2000

2005-09-22T03:31:00.000-07:00

I am starting a picture blog to post some of the pictures I take / taken and come across

Here comes my maiden Post

In the fall of 2000, I was working in Atlanta in one of those eMarket place projects, which were very hot then. On rather cold day, my German colleague who has a pilot liecense offered to take me for a spin around Atlanta Down Town. Within the next 30 minutes, we were in a small airport close to down town. We rented a plane for an hour and took off. It was a memorable spin, I even took over the control, albeit for a split second.

I am not sure, if these kinds impromptu take offs are feasible anymore..

The plane we rented.. Procedure was rather simple and quick then..

Birds Eye View of Atlanta Down Town and the freeway maze

Pilots