Monday, April 21, 2008

View From The Carew Tower

Close up of the Fountain Square

Fountain Square from the top

Thats the university of Cincinnati, far in the distance.
And the Close Up
Can you spot the Cincinnati Museum Center in this pic.

Here it is :) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Museum_Center_at_Union_Terminal)

Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Carter_Beard_Bridge)

Another view, in the background is the Great American Ballpark, stadium of the Cincinnati Reds, the Baseball team of the city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_Ballpark). It is here that we, the volunteers of the Cincinnati chapter of AID (Association for India's Development) used to come often for raising funds (we still do :) )

Fifth Third Bank Headquarters

Cincinnati Southern Bridge (http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/southern.html)

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Built in 1866, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Roebling_Suspension_Bridge)

The middle bridge is the Newport Southbank Bridge more commonly known as the Purple People Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Southbank_Bridge). The right most bridge is the Taylor-Southgate Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor-Southgate_Bridge)
The two bridges in the background are the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and the C&O Railroad Bridge (http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/claywade.html)

Paul Brown Stadium, Stadium of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati based American Football team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Bengals#Paul_Brown_Stadium)
View of the Ohio River
Carew Tower is the tallest building in Cincinnati and was built in 1931 by the same designers who designed the Empire State Building. For all these years in Cincinnati, I never had a chance to be on the top of the building. So before leaving for Denmark, Swapnil took me to the top of the tallest building in Cincinnati. The pics in this entry were taken on that trip. The day was nice, not really pleasant but not cold as well.
By the way, Swapnil works for Kendel, whose office is housed in the Carew Tower. Since Kendel employees are allowed free access to the top deck, I skipped the otherwise $10 entry fees (It might be $5, I dont remember perfectly but there's some fee for sure).

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Trip To Lucknow

My sister’s marriage last year in December provided a chance to be in Lucknow for two short visits; one prior to the marriage for the Tilak ceremony and then after the marriage for the reception. Though the trips were quick, we still managed some time to do some local site seeing and taste the famous kababs of Lucknow. This blog entry has the combined pics from the two trips.
The details about the historical monuments in these pics can be found on the following sources
The pic says it all

Bada Imambara, entrance to the shrines and the three inner chambers

Entrance to the Imambara (Pic from inside)

Handicraft - The colourful jootis (Traditional shoes) on sale

The Asfi Mosque inside the Imambara

Another view of the Mosque

Rumi Darwaza or Turkish Gate, was modeled (1784) after the Sublime Porte (Bab-iHümayun) in Istanbul.

Rumi Darwaza (A view from the top)

View of the Asfi Masjid and The Rumi Gate from the top of the Imambara Dome

View of the entrance from the top

Mummy, Daddy and urs truly atop the Bada Imambara

The Lucknowi Taanga (Tonga)

Through the Rumi Darwaza in a Taanga

Chota Imambara (The Palace of Lights)

Mosque inside the Chota Imambara

Inside the Chota Imambara

Chota Imambara

The main building inside the Imambara
View of the entrance from inside
Another view of the mosque
Mama in an over-animated pose
and Shannu in an over-sober (Nice rhyme !!) pose
Shannu and myself with the Asfi Masjid in the background
The famous bhool bhoolaiya (Labyrinth) of the Bara Imambara

Another view of the Bhool Bhulaiya
Mama, Shannu and Myself on the roof of the Imambara

Our guide, Qayamat Ali ji
And finally, The famous kababs of The famous Tunday Kababi