The Balding Buddha

I write... Therefore I am...

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Workstation with a view...And a smattering of rain. ☔📝📆☕🎵👍 (at Leroy Collins Boulevard)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

All through my limited travels across continents and nations - small and big - I have always taken a lot of delight in snapping images of signages, and public information messages coneveyed in creative ways. It's very likely a biased list considering where my heart lies, but spending time going through them provides a lot of perspective on how societies and cultures would like to portray themseles to the outside world. . . One of my clear favorites is this one that I stumbled upon during one of my walking trips around Copenhagen. CPH takes a lot of pride in calling themselves one of the most bike-friendly cities of the world. Infact when bikes in the city outnumber its inhabitants, its about time we coined a new word to describe this state of being. What's more? Bikes have their own signal systems giving them a lead of couple seconds to accelerate. . . For perspective: nearly 60% of all commute in CPH happens with a bike. And then you see signs like these. No cars or motorcycles, just bikes please. If not for the biting cold, my tropical butt would be planted there for good. One day!! :) (at Copenhagen, Denmark)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

#TBT to the fun stopover at Antwerp in the summer of 2012. Being a train fanatic, my access into Belgium was through the ICE from Frankfurt with a change of train at Liege (more on Liege later). . . Antwerp is beautiful in that it's a small town full of character. Right from the Central Station which was voted the fourth most beautiful train station in the world to the Grote Markt and it's Guildhalls - the city has a lot to show you in it's small confines. Not to forget the Port, if you're into those. . . Belgium's close proximity to anything and everything makes you feel instantly connected to every city from here - something that's instantly likeable for a lot of travellers. (at Antwerpen Centraal, Belgica)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

#TBT to the wonderful times riding this piece of art. Going in and getting out of the numerous subway stations of one of the densest metro rail networks in the world. 16 lines, 303 stations, and just about 4.2 million users a day. I looked closely at the DC metro over my last 5-6 visits - though there is certainly a charm to it, it's relevance is almost insiginifcant when compared to the Métropolitain (I still love the DC metro and swear by it, trust me!). First timers, look out for the métro signage and the ghost stations that you shall pass by. Despite my biases, hands down, the best attraction in Paris. (at Métro Pigalle)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

One of the best things to enjoy when in CPH is to head over to Nyhavn - enjoy the views of the beautifully plastered houses (like house number 9), soak in a bit of history standing across the lightvessel Gedser Rev, have a 🍺 (or 🍺🍺), check out the whack food, and take a tour of the canals (if you can afford the trip haha). Copenhagen will open your mind towards a different way of life if you're open to change. It taught me the importance of giving it all for what I stand for in life despite extreme difficulties. To the danes (I am told), CPH gives a sense of pride in achieving things that they had set out to achieve. A city that oozes with character. I ❤ CPH! (at Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

This is a newt (Triton) that is found at the entrance to the Pena Palace just an hour outside of Lisbon in a sleepy little municipality called Sintra. For the unaware, triton is a mythological greek god, the messenger of the sea. They have the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish with shoulders ornamented by sea shells. The tritons are one of the most interesting piece of detail that I found in my visits to the Palace. That apart, Sintra is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the best things to do apart from Lisbon and its dozen beaches. (at Palacio De Peña, Sintra, Portugal)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

One of the many memorable moments of life in Europe come to my mind when I think of the Romer. It was our first day in the city, rain in the horizon and we spent a lot of time walking along the river Main until we got here. The square was being decked up to celebrate the success of the local club Einthract Frankfurt in getting promoted to the top league in Germany. Football is beautiful. Football fans and their parties celebrating their team's success - even more beautiful. So is Germany. :) #frankfurt #frankfurtammain #romer #hesse #mainriverside #frankfurter #deutschland #germany #europe #traveldiaries #travelgram #tbt #memories #secondhome #german #eintrachtfrankfurt #bundesliga #bundesliga2 #turismo (at Frankfurt Römer)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Going to sleep in pitch darkness and waking up to this... #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #airport #milehigh #broncos #broncosnation #jeppesen #rockymountains #rockymountainhigh #beautifulday #coloradolife #transit #traveldiaries #travelgram #delta #frontier

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Rain makes everything more beautiful - including these gorgeous looking bougainvilleas. #usf #rain #rainyday #springblooms #bougainvillea #flowersofinstagram #flora #floridaweather #stormyday #commute (at USF School of Geosciences)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

75 degrees and dense fog (that's most likely smog). Florida, baby. 😒 #tampabay #usf #commute #densefog #floridaweather #weirdweather #smog (at USF Marshall Student Center)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

We come across a lot of people in our lives. Very few of them can do what the first seasonal rains do to these foliage - leave an inprint of hope. One of optimism. And faith. And when (if) they leave...well they never completely leave us.. Do they? #rainyday #rain #tampabay #commute #life #instamusings #reflection #friends (at Nowatney, Florida)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Some of India's best export quality tea originates from here. And unsurprisingly, none of it gets into the Indian market. The road winds down into the summer residence of J Jayalalitha. Some say it's so huge that it has entrances through 9 different gates. Kodanad is a passing point for moat ooty regulars like me. #kodanadu #kotagiri #ooty #nilgiris #tamilnadu #india #traveldiaries #tea #teatour #estate #indiatrip #udhagamandalam #serene #teavana #incredibleindia #memories #teagram (at Kodanad Estate)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Oh, what I would give to be waking up to this view of the Rio Douro everyday! What made #Porto an absolute favorite was perhaps it's uncanny ability to keep up with the present while not digging up its beautiful past at the same time. #porto #oporto #gaia #portugal #traveldiaries #secondhome #memories #solotravel #portwine #douro #goodolddays #travelgram (at Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

A Carnivorous flower #sunset #dusk #settingsun #horizon #flower #reflection (at USF Marshall Student Center)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Not many better locations for work today. Beautiful weather, bathed in sunshine and some naughty squirrels for company. #usf #workweekend #bestplacestowork #tampa #gradschoolperks #nature #greenspace (at USF Department of Chemistry)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Mandatory D.C. memory. #washingtondc #capitolhill #traveldiaries (at The Capitol, Washington D.C.)

[nikhilmenon-blog]

Holidays are all about catching up with family. And reminiscing the year that passed by our eyes. Even for the birdies. #birds #birdwatching #duskgram #sunset #tampabay (at Radiant Church)