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October 31, 2006
Foliage
This photo is of a path beside the Dosan Ahn family house in the USC
campus. Dosan Ahn was a Korean revolutionary who never even saw
the modern Korea. His wife lived in this house and it served as a community
gathering place of sorts.
I liked the effect of the foliage trying to eat up the path.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:23 PM | Comments (1)
October 30, 2006
Ernst and Young
When you send Rash to her office with a camera, often very interesting
pictures materialise. Ofcourse, we are talking about the off season :)
In this picture, she's framed the building in the center, with the fancy
steel structure at the mall below adorning the sides of the picture.
I haven't manipulated the shot in anyway, other than sharpen it a
tad bit.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:20 PM | Comments (2)
October 29, 2006
Farm Equipment
Or atleast I think it was some farm equipment. Whatever it was, it's definitely seen
better days. This resort did seem like a graveyard of old rusty cars and stuff. It's
not nearly as bad though.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2006
Racing Sled
There's a sled race every year, where these guys hook huskies onto sled's and
tear across the state. This particular sled was used by one of the winners
a few years ago. Apparently he's a legend in the sport. Also, I am told that
you get to use different sled's for different stages of the tournament.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2006
River Bend
This picture reminds me of a line I read in a blog written by an Iraqi lady.
"... I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend..."
She writes with conviction, and with a passion only an Iraqi can have when taking about Iraq. Meanwhile, this picture was taken right outside
Chena Hot Springs. It seems to feel like this area only recently found man.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2006
Dog Sled Crossing
Ok, so how many places can boast of this sign. The funny thing is that this is
right next to the runway, which I posted a few days ago. It's all rather surreal
there.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:21 PM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2006
Sunrise or Sunset
It's an interesting question. Fortunately, since I took the picture, I know it was
about 3 pm, so it's neither. but you are welcome to believe in what you think
is right.
Very postcard like...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2006
Dodge
This car is an original Dodge 1917 Touring Car. It's been sitting out there, weathered
by the elements for a long time now. It looks rather sad, and has definitely
seen happier times. The gauges in the car are still readable, and the gear
stick still moved. Also, the original rubber tyre, though disentegrating, is
very much there.
You can see what the car actually looked like here.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2006
How warm a Welcome
I've posted a few shots from Chena Hot Springs. But I was looking at my
pile of photos, and some of them begged to be displayed. So, here's a
set just for the outdoor shots at Chena Hot Springs.
This one was taken at 1pm in the afternoon. Looks like the gates of hell
though :)
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2006
Big Blue
The buses of the City of Santa Monica are called the Big Blue. This
one actually ply's right next to our house. I have never been in it
though. Never needed to yet...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2006
The 'Green' Bus
This is the bus service that ply's nearest to our house. It's mostly a north-south
operation, as far as I understand it, and that means it's almost useless for us
to take it to go anywhere - barring the airport.
But hey, it's 'Green' !
H.
Posted by hriday at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2006
Trojan Trams
USC has their own Trojan transportation. They are usually free buses that
go around campus, and it's neighbourhoods to drop and pick up students
and staff. It's a great service and prevents crime against the student
population. Only problem is that some Tram drivers have a really big
attitude problem.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2006
Air Hostess'es Ride
This is the vehicle that the pretty air hostesses ride in to and from the airport.
I took this picture outside the Wilshire Grand. Some days, when I wait for
Rash outside her office, I oogle at the airhostesses coming out of, or getting
into this mini bus. Some of them are bombshells. And ALL of them are better
than ANY Air India air hostess.
Incidently, pilots get a chauffeur driven car !
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2006
MTA
This is the real 'bus' that caters to LA. It's under the auspices of the MTA, which
run buses, trams, trains and the subway. There are tons of buses, but the
city is too big and too haphazard to have an effective backbone. I used to catch
them everyday for work etc, but ever since I bought a car, I have avoided it.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2006
Dash
The Dash wsa started by the then baseball coach of USC. He was a USC player when
he went to school, and then went on to play the major league, and came back to
USC to teach. He was a sort of a legend and died last year I think. Anyway the
dude made lots of money.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2006
The Sheriff's Ride
This is one bus you don't want to be in :) It's a popular bus on the road, and
this particular picture was snapped right in front of Rash's office. The clock
in the background has been featured in a previous theme.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2006
El Diablo
This picture was one of the hardwest I have ever taken. I couldn't use a flash
as it would have killed the red light behind the sculpture. So, I have to focus
really hard and steady myself. And trust me, it's hard when you are in a
meat freezer.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2006
Maiden of the Castle
The guide spun an elaborate tale of these soldiers that took an ice sculpting
class and made the maiden jest before they were shipped off to Iraq. She did
have decent breasts though ;). The stairwell is unfortunately not accessible.
Sure would have made a decent view.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:04 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2006
Martini
There's a bar in the Ice Palace that serves your drink in an ice glass. Yeah, it's all
yours after the drink. I am not much of a Martini guy, but that drink was really
good. And hell yeah, it warms you really good.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2006
A Cozy Night
The Ice Palace is also a hotel. They rent out the rooms they have inside to daring
tourists. Now, that means you sleep on beds made of ice in an ice freezer. Yeah,
it's intense :) It's not as eerie as the photos make it out to be though.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2006
Ice Goddess
This is the Ice Goddess of the palace. She's placed on a perch at one end of the
hall. It's rather high up, so of the several shots I took, only this gave a deep
effect I was trying to achieve.
The blue also give the place a very eerie effect.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2006
Igloo
A real one. And it's rather warm inside one. Now I am convinced that eskimos
live in them (or did at one point). Overall, inside the ice palace, the temperature
was about -15 to -20 degrees C. And all the photos were taken without a
tripod. Also, the lighting was not special there, as that would have introduced
heat issues. So, the fact that the pictures even came is a testament to the
superiority of the camera (and my talent ! - kidding).
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2006
Jousting
This theme consists of photos taken in Chena Hot Springs. It's the northernmost
point I have been to. It's REALLY the wilderness. They have an ice castle here,
and an international competition every year, where ice sculptors come and compete.
This particular one is of a jousting competition in progress. It was made with 8
blocks of ice.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2006
Amigo
This was painted on a side wall within Estrada Courts. Something about it made me
post this one instead of one of the other murals. It evokes a sense of Deja Vu, and
I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's one of the many lost cartoons of my childhood,
when characters ran around the screen shooting and and screaming 'Andele andele amigo'.
H.
Posted by hriday at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2006
Orale Raza
Painted by Frank Fierro in 1974, this mural literally means Raza, all right !
Again, I have no idea what it means. The dude appears three times, and there's
a boy in the picture too, and a rose with a petal falling off. Your guess is as
good as mine.
It's been badly damaged by vandals, which is rather sad.
H.
Posted by hriday at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2006
Home Boy
I have no idea who this dude is but it's been several years and people still remember him...
Apparently he was a victim of gang violence.
H.
Posted by hriday at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2006
The Headless Matador
I am inclined to believe that this mural never got completed. That's why the horseman
doesn't have a head and the tree has no leaves. Then again, maybe that's a message.
If any of you know, let me know about it. I'm stumped...
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2006
Dancing Queen
Lots of amigo's here. But the lady does captivate everyone. Maybe I'm imagining
things, but the dude next to her looks lot like a desi babu. :)
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2006
The Chiefs
This mural reminds me of Rubik's favourite saying - Too many chiefs and no Indians.
He refers to the situation at USC, which I tend to disagree with most of the time,
but anyway. Like Voltaire said - I disagree with you, but I will fight unto my death
for your right to say it.
These two chiefs seem to have a bone of contention.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:46 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2006
Tribute to the Farm workers
Rash and I were in East LA one day, when we chanced upon a series of murals
at Estrada courts. Apparently they are rather famous, and we got a few good
shots of them. This one is supposed to be a tribute to the farm workers,
and the United Farmworkers Union flag being raised over cultivated fields
by modern day agricultural workers, a Spanish soldier from the era of the
Conquest, and a pre-Columbian Native American.
Most of the pictures were taken by Rash.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2006
Fairbanks Airport
The only other airport that comes close to this is the old one in Coimbatore (1988).
This airport is as small, and gives is a very old feel to it. mm, now that I think
of it, it's pretty similar to the Long Beach airport too.
They have tried to make this one a little bit of a museum as well, which makes it
rather interesting.
By the way, this post is day 300.
H.
Posted by hriday at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)