Photo a Day Challenge: This is Really Good!
Since most participants in this FMS Photo a Day challenge are posting slurp-worthy food pictures, I decided to steer clear of the yummness on the Facebook page. Main reason is to look after my waistline, because I know if I post a delicious picture of a chocolate cake, I WILL start craving one!! Sigh, what all one has to do to be fit!
Anyway, so my love for antiques continue today as well. I love photo frames! My home has about 30 photo frames cosily sitting around, containing happy memories of family and friends. Out of all kinds of frames, my favourites are the wooden ones. They bring a sense of elegance and royalty combined with warmth to the living space.
So Day 3: These are really good photo frames that I found in Rajasthan, India in a tiny cobbled street of a village. Intricate designs, gorgeous artwork, they caught my fancy. Especially the window designs. Aren’t they to die for? I found myself picking up the top left corner one! Beauty on my wall. 🙂
Wooden Photo Frames!
Photo a Day Challenge: Morning Ritual
In the past few years, I have become extremely health conscious. I take care of the food I consume and ensure I get at least 4 days of workout a week. I definitely do not want to get back to my fat days! *shudders* And so the first step towards a healthy lifestyle is to have a hearty breakfast. That is probably half the battle won. You don’t get hungry at an insane hour of 11am and eat meals at their own time.
Day 2: My morning ritual is to cook myself a beautiful, delicious and fulfilling breakfast followed by a cup of milk (we need the calcium, don’t we?), sit by the window overlooking the trees and the lake and thank heavens for a wonderful life. This is the time of the day when I am at peace, I don’t have to worry about deadlines and job searches. I revel in this little ‘me’ time where I stop and admire the nature while I fill my tummy up with delicious goodies. Today, I made myself a traditional Indian Breakfast – Poha, a tangy-sweet dish made of flattened rice flakes, green peas and onions. Yumm!!
Morning Ritual of a hearty Breakfast!
Photo a Day Challenge: Bought This
I am very bad when it comes to posting daily on my Blog. I make big resolutions of being consistent and then it all falls flat on its face, taking me down with it. Of course it has to change. After Monika totally inspired me with her successfully completed AtoZ Blogging Challenge, I decided to take the plunge and this time for real.
May Photo a Day challenge has some very interesting prompts that I will love to complete. And I am pretty sure you, dear readers, can give a go too!
Here goes my entry for Day 1: I have spent the past few days doing serious research on Antique Markets in London. I plan to write a blog post on it… or.. if there is anyone out there who would like me to contribute it as a story to their blog, *big smile and fluttering eyelashes* do let me know! Would love to contribute to travel blogs/London blogs.. 🙂
Coming back to antique markets, I found a collection-worthy load of amazing items. Some of the things have been in families for decades, some with such interesting stories, some very eclectic… it has been an absolute delight walking through rows and rows of antique stall set-ups across London. I met some amazing folks who have been setting up stalls for over 20 years and have gripping stories to tell. So here is what I bought. This is an original Vinyl record of Bruce Springsteen’s Jailhouse Rock from the 1960s that this gentleman, very creatively converted in to a wall clock! I absolutely fell in love with it and till I get my very own Vinyl Record Player, this will be my prized possession.
Jailhouse Rock!
Vinyl Wall Clock!
Travelogue: A little getaway called Dorset
Aren’t impromptu plans the best? One minute you are lounging on your sofa on a fine Saturday morning trying to figure out what to cook for breakfast and the next minute you are rapidly getting dressed with a grin on your face, ready to dart out of the door for a day trip! Best.
This is one such trip that we decided to take on a rare sunny Saturday Morning. After pouring over the map and selecting/rejecting a ton of places (including Hyde Park, by the way.. yes it was superbly sunny!!), we selected Dorset. It is perfectly located about 2.5 hours south-west of London on the English Channel coastline. Dorset has a very rich lineage having the Vikings, Saxons, Romans part of its history which is pretty clear by its landscape and the Jurassic Coast, yielding collectible fossils .
Coming back to our trip, we jumped into the car and were off on M3. Now Dorset has many interesting places to visit; the castles, the walking trails, innumerable beaches and coves and we knew doing all that in a day is mostly impossible. So we chose to cover Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove in the 6 hours we had. Very important for travellers to not overdo a destination lest you end up running from cove to cove and pretty much miss the entire essence of the place.
Durdle Door is a prime attraction in Dorset with millions of tourists walking up to the dazzling coast to catch a glimpse and a photography opportunity of this natural limestone arch right off the jagged landscape. The path to the coastline and the stone beach is a long trail along grassy landscape filled with laughing voices and bouncing dogs. If you are more impulsive than a day-trip person, then I suggest you rent one of the trailer homes perfectly placed along the coastline. It is definitely worth it. Once you set your eyes on Durdle Door, everything else pretty much goes in to oblivion. Shining bright in the warm sunlight, the natural landform mesmerises you and literally pulls you to walk down to the beach and settle down for a long gaze.
We bounced down the trail and found ourselves a perfect place to settle in, soak up the sun, sip some white wine and just dream. Despite having a lot of folks visiting, thanks to a sunny day, it was never a crowded moment. There was a secluded serene spot for everyone. The water was the colour of Aquamarine with equal portions of green and sparkling blue, trying to match the clear blue skies. Along the beach, the coastline has natural cave formations and chalk cliffs that give you lots to see while you idly walk down the beach, sandals in your hand.
Walk to the Coast
Gorgeous coastline
The adjacent beach right behind Durdle Door
Durdle Door in all its glory!
Durdle Door from the beach
Limestone and Chalk Cliffs
Lulworth Cove is a bit more subtle to which you reach via a short walk along the little village lane lined with B&Bs and pubs. It is a perfect semi-circle cove and you almost wonder if it is man-made! But of course it is all natural. A perfect place to get into your zone and reach your zen moment.
Greens, Blue seas and Bluer skies
Path to Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove
This part of Dorset can be pretty much described Idle. Arm yourself with good walking shoes, park your vehicle and set off on the many trails this place has to offer. You won’t be disappointed because on every turn you will find something extraordinary…
Ramblings of a Feisty Spirit 