Malvan in the Monsoon

This was an unplanned and unexpected trip and as such it gave us a unique experience.

It was monsoons and Malvan had no tourists. Most of the places were shut. We took an auto from the Chipi airport to Wairi and checked into a small hotel. The bed and the curtains were damp and it was rainy. There were huge amounts of mosquitoes in the eveing. But we love the local food. We stayed the night. Next day while we were breakfasting and the daughter was in the room with her ipad a huge Langur entered the room from the window. This scared the bejezes out of her. That and the damp bed made us look for another place. We found a resort which was a bit more expensive but had direct access to the beach. The room was really good. Dry and not at all musty. We were the only ones. :)

As soon as we had settled down we had hired a scooter. The best and most economical way to travel around is on a scooter. One day we visited Dhamapur Temple and lake. What a fantastically peaceful and beautiful place. One day we rode down to Bhogve and Nivti. A lot has changed since I visited these places on our second bike trip in 2009. So many commercial properties. On the Bhogve beach we saw many dozens of fishermen (or youngsters) with modern fishing poles.

We rode around Devbag, took walks on the Wairi/Tarkarli beach, ate fish thali at Atitithi Bamboo in Malvan.

A quiet, nice time with family.

The way this happened was quite amusing: I was travelling to Chattisgad and then Hyderabad and was supposed to return to Pune. But HYD-PNQ flights were very expensive. I was casually browsing and noticed that Fly91 had some great monsoon deals. The flight from HYD to Malvan and then from Malvan to Pune came to a fraction of the cost of the HYD-PNQ flight. So spontaniously I booked myself on the HYD-Malvan flight. Then booked Jo and the daughter on the PNQ-Malvan flight. We planned to stay for a few days and fly back to Pune. All our flights together cost only a 1000 bucks more than my single HYD-PNQ flight. :-)

Vasudev

I dont remember when or where I clicked this: either it was Matunga 20 years ago; or Kothrud 14 years go. But what I do remember was that he was singing very beautifully. With a strong voice which carried a long distance. He also looked soulful and tried to talk. But there is some fear around these people -- many of them are con artists (they say). They will talk of trouble in your 'bhavishya' or some such thing and try to con you. I dont know if it is true.

It must be a tough life. To just wander around singing and hoping that people will give something in return. I wonder why or how people end up like this. I was not brave enough nor considered myself a photographer enough to go talk to him and hear his story.

Sunday Flower

"Man is nothing else than his plan; he exists only to the extent that he fulfills himself."
— Jean-Paul Sartre

Portrait: The DevD

Devdatta. A dreamer. A dooer. An artist. An optimist. An enthusiast. Loves food. Loves stories. I tried to capture the thinly veiled aspirations behind his eyes.

Shot on the GRIV-Monochrome. The light was coming from the left. I am beginning to appreciate the 28mm field of view more and more.

Water of Life

“It's in responsibility that most people find the meaning that sustains them through life.”
— Viktor Frankl

Last of the Mahabaleshwar MTDC

There is a quiet serinity to the whole place. The ancient building (some from 1890s) and the ancient forests took you back in time.

March 2025. This was our last trip to the Mahabaleshwar MTDC. Now it is gone. Sold to some private contractor.

Over the years we have come here often. Starting from 2007. In the early days it used to be boys trips to the dormitories on week days or in the off-season. We used to have all the space to ourselves. We have had many a great time. One such epic trip from 2009 is documented here

We used to roam the points. Talk nonsense. Come back to the market to eat - chinese from Bahadur's cart, makkai pattice, strawberry and cream at Bagicha. Then head back to the MTDC for long sessions of daaru and jua and warewolf.

Then family trips. Me and Jo once randomly came and stayed here while returning to Pune from the Konkan -- we took the scenic route. We will miss you MTDC. Truly so.

The cottages nestled amongst the trees. This gave a vibe found nowhere else on the hill-station.

The ancient trees, all garnled and twisted

Politics and purposeful neglect. That is the story here.

The Market

After day long trips to the surrounding countryside to visit the points, the tired junta gravitate towards the famaliar hustle and bustle of the market. Here we find food and above all - shopping!

Strawberry seller

The ubiqutious Vada Pav

One of the food carts.

Buddhi ke baal

A local woman selling combs.

Kid's footware

Big lady-kid's footware

Shopping is the passtime. There was a time when places like these offered unique wares and local art. Now everything is made in China and available everywhere.

All photos shot on the Sony A7RIII with the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1 lens

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Me the Photographer

A few days back I decided that in the coming year I will focus on monochrome photography. I will study value and tone. And I will document my journey.

Recent events have resurfaced the question of what one means by a fulfilling life. What is that one really wants to do? Are we doing it? Time suddenly seems precious.

For long I have stood on the sidelines of photography. I started the journey when I was in primary school when my father handed me his Zenith-E with the 58/2 Helios-44. I have had a black and white darkroom for a while and I printed photos on Illford paper. I have clicked portfolios. I have shot for film promotion. And so on.

But I always hesitated to call myself a photographer.

Let me now embrace this aspect of my life. I am a photographer.

Portrait: The Jo

The Jo.
The Better Half. The supporter of life.

Single directional light. Iphone 17 Pro Max.

Sunday Flower

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
— Jack Canfield

The New View

After 13 years of 1202 we had to move out. It was the first shifting for the wife and the daughter both.

Moving is hard. We get attached to a place. It becomes our safe heaven. Breaking that safety leaves us open -- vulnarable. I tried to believe that the true roof is the sky on our heads and no one can take that away. But for the second time in my life I felt the pain of leaving home.

Luckily we managed to stay in familiar environs. The view, though, has changed. Now we look towards the south instead at the west.

An Angle

Life is full of angles, circles and lines. Or so it seems. An angel is an abrupt change in trajectory. An acute angle is an ouch. A right angle is often the sign that all is not right.

One wonders.

Tough Year

It's been a tough year.

That photo is from Sept last year. It feels like yesterday. Time is flying. Its been 9+ months since I have been slaving on Canon.

And then the health shocks. All the excesses of life finally caught up.

One has to pay the price for all foolishnesses.

Kumbhe Dam

A fast trip to this remote land in April. My mama and Unnu came down from Solapur. Mama had worked in this area about 15 years back. He wanted to revisit memories. This is the site of a earthen dam project which was abandoned.

The landscape is still pristine. Till the tunnel was made, this was inaccessable wilderness.

There is this desolate kind of settlement on top for the people displaced by the dam. Sort of a new village. Mama went looking for a person who had worked with him all those years back -- and found him! We explored the dam site a litte more but it was sweltering hot so we decided to head back. The road to Kumbhe forks near Nizampur on the Pune-Mangaon road. Food was to be found near Mangao so we headed in that direction. The journey back via Tamhini was beautiful as always. Every time I visit this landscape I am in awe. So magestic.

Goodbye 2025

This must be the earlierst goodbye from me. Its not even 3 hours since the year ended.

2025 has been a difficult year. The peace gave away to financial distress.

I believe 2026 will bring lasting change.

Portrait: Siddhu

We used to trek together, long back. He was always the quiet reliable happy mate. Always ready to help.

He fought back to life after a devastating motorbike accident.

Siddhu is a fighter.

Camera: Sony A7R III
Lens: Voigtländer Nokton 50mm F 1
Light: a tall Ikea paper lamp


Portraits of the Soul