If you've ever been in a mustard field before you'll know that I took this picture despite an almost 100% chance of coming to greivous bodily harm... I'm talking about the honey bees, of course... ;)

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 100 ISO
2004, During a bike trip from Ahmedabad to Modhera, India

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The Jumma Masjid in Ahmedabad one balmy afternoon. These kids were playing cricket (believe it!) in the mosque, and quite enjoying themselves, until I took out my camera- then everyone wanted themselves photographed. No amount of cajoling could get them to resume their game and they just sat there posing to the camera, talking and laughing amongst themselves and I thought what the hell, here goes...

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 100 ISO
2004, Jumma Masjid, Ahmedabad, India

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Chai, or tea, is a socio-cultural phenomenon in India. 'Let's meet over a cuppa' has a whole different experience connected to it! Most villages, towns and even bustling megapolis' are dotted with roadside vendors selling a decidedly heady version of the brew involving, apart from the ubiquitous tea leves of course, milk and sugar and a host of spices- cardamom, cinnamon, cloves. More often than not these roadside stalls become popular socialising spots for college students and office goers alike.

The real estate scene being what it is, in India, business establishments vye for every available space, eventually taking what they get. But a chai shop around a fire hydrant is a first for me...!

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Pentax ME II Super, 50mm
Kodak 400 ISO
2004, Ahmedabad, India

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...imagine us years from today?
Sharing a park bench quietly,
How terribly strange to be seventy.

Old friends
Memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears...

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 100 ISO
2004, A roadside 'graveyard', Ahmedabad, India

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Some pictures don't need paragraphs written about them. Not because they're especially evocative or anything, but because they just are!

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 400 ISO
2004, Cafe Mint at Ahmedabad, India

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Ahmedabad is a funny town. Or rather, two funny towns. You see, a river runs through it, effectively dividing the city into two halves- the older, more conservative half mostly inhabited by families and businesses that have been there for the last 300 years or so; and the newer, more upmarket half comprising a cosmopolitan demographic of people who've chosen to migrate here in the last 15-20 years or so.

The newer half purports to be hipper and more with it, looking down at the people from the other side of the river as the lesser half. It's funny it should be seen this way because, in my experience, the lesser half is where all the action is; albeit if you go for that kind of action, of course.

While the new town goes to bed around 10pm or so, the little alleyways on the other side of the river are choc-a-bloc with streetside vendors and road-revellers till the wee hours. This streetside meat stall, for example, was shot at midnight and in the background you might just pick up a barber's shop doing brisk business even then!

Me? I'm from the deader half. Go figure...

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Nikon F75, 28-110mm
Fuji 400 ISO
2004, Teen Darwaza, Ahmedabad, India

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