Bottle Palms in IIT Bombay Campus

The road from Main Gate to Main Building in the campus of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay was originally lined with bottle palms on either side.  They looked nice, but did not provide much shade.

Over the years, they were almost crowded out by neem, mayflower, and rain trees.

There is a younger generation of bottle palms, but they are not prominent.

Many of the old ones are dead, and I noticed different types of shrubs/trees growing in them:

However, there are some which are left standing as stumps:

I hope these eyesores are removed soon.

Old Part of Mumbai - near Flora Fountain

Last Sunday (2019 11 17), I found myself doing nothing at Flora Fountain.  So, spent some time loitering around the place, and clicking photographs of old places where I spent quite some time during my childhood and student days.

St Thomas' Cathedral

I parked my car near St Thomas' Cathedral, the original 'zero point' of Mumbai.  Its gate (now no more in existence), west of Flora Fountain, led to the name 'Churchgate' for the railway station nearby.  

Here is a view of the cathedral proper:

St Thomas' Cathedral

Just outside the cathedral, there was an old knife-sharpener (dhaar-waalaa in local lingo).

Dhaar-waalaa

I then walked down to the Flora Fountain traffic island.
Said hello to Madame Flora:

Flora and her Fountain

She complained about the crows that perch on her for no reason.

Here is the Mahatma Gandhi Road (towards Dhobi Talao):

M G Road

And the Veer Nariman Road (towards Churchgate and Marine Drive):

V N Road

The CTO is no more the CTO and looks forlorn:

Finally, noticed the only remaining length of tram tacks in Mumbai (next to Flora Fountain):

Tram Tracks

In this photograph, notice the family being photographed, and the photographer.

I do not think they were aware of the history under their feet!

Dog-Blog

A blog by Chidanand Rajghatta in the Times of India:

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Great dogs, great blog!

Marieke and Zenn

Came across the following item on BBC:

Marieke Vervoort

What an athlete, and what a life!

I noticed this picture is the news item:

Zenn

Zenn was her assistance dog.  Please see the images of M and Z:

Marieke and Zenn

R.I.P. Marieke.

Zenn - I am sure someone will take very good care of you.
Your place in canine heaven is assured.

A Fishy Story

Something which I told my niece in a light-hearted way has been converted by her into a nice post.
Here is the link.  Enjoy!

A Fishy Story

My Photographs 12 - Trees at Salford Quays

This has two photographs - one into the Sun, the other away from the Sun.

2019 March 25, near Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester.

Shooting into the Sun is not a good idea.  However, here the results are not bad.
But, when you compare the two, you realise how important it is to have Mr Sun back you up!

My Photographs 11 - Sunset (almost)

2017 June 3, ~1959.

Somewhere on US64 in NC.  We were driving from Cape Hatteras Light House to Williamston.