I purchased this exotic hand painted Nepali handicraft goddess mask at Nepali Bazaar in Estes Park, Colorado. This photo was taken when I was recently moving from my apartment to my new home using my Samsung Galaxy Note II phone and was edited in Gimp software on the MacBook Pro machine.

A woman on horse is seen riding on a horse at Garden of Gods in Colorado.

Portrait – Baby On A Cute Wooden Stroller, A Pella Tulip Festival Parade Photo

I showed this photo to a couple of friends and asked what this is, they instantly replied, it’s a radio (boom box). Well it’s a boom box shaped FM Radio trailer – see the wheels? I captured this a couple of years back in Pella Iowa. Apparently, it looks like it’s used by KRLS FM / KNIA AM radio station

Kids are seen sitting in these motor pulled wooden shoe trailers – the photo was captured in Pella, Iowa during Tulip Festival Parade

Blue Denim and Converse Shoes Over A Haystack – Taken during Iowa State Fair at the State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa

Clark Tower is a castle-like limestone tower located in Winterset City Park in Winterset, Iowa, USA. It was erected in 1926, on the eightieth anniversary of the founding of Madison County, in memory of Caleb Clark, a stonemason who was the first white settler of Madison County, and his wife Ruth Clanton Clark. The tower stands at a height of 25 feet.

Newly constructed gigantic flyovers from New Delhi India (2011 December Photo)

This gorgeous photo of an highly decorated Indian Bangle shop was taken in New Delhi India in December 2011.

I have been to the Sears Towers in Chicago quite a few times. Now, it’s called Willis Tower. Normally I get onto the top and gaze around other sky scrappers, but on this particular day it was cold and cloudy. So we just walked by this tower. If you visit this place, make sure to eat the Pizza at Giordino’s. Absolutely awesome pizzas they serve. It’s just around the corner there.

Back in Nepal, I used to see cops on horses at some place around the capital city Kathmandu. When I saw this Chicago officer on the horse around the Millennium Park, it just reminded me of my country Nepal. You can see that it was a winter time. I don’t know if the horses feel cold as much as we humans do.

Vermeer Windmill is a working Dutch Windmill located in Pella, Iowa. I took this shot in May 2011.

According to the Pella Tulip Time website, the parts of this windmill were built in Holland and then the skilled Dutch craftsmen assembled it in Pella, completing the construction in July 2002. This windmill is one hundred percent wind powered and is the tallest working windmill in USA (124 foot). This mill grinds wheat into flour.

This is an evening shot of a church in Pella, Iowa taken in May 2011. This is a postcard ready shot. Perfect to be printed and sent as a photograph to your friends and family.

Masked Human Figure At the Back Of a Car Photo # 1

Masked Human Figure At the Back Of a Car Photo # 2

Here are some information about this palace:

1. Basantapur Durbar Squar is also known as Kathmandu Durbar Square
2. This square is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
3. This place was a palace of Malla and Shaha Kings who ruled over the city in historical times
4. The square surrounding is currently known as Hanuman Dhoka
5. King Prithvi Narayn Shaha also used this palace
6. The palace is thought to be constructed sometimes between 1069-1083 AD
7. More information can be found in this wiki page.

Man from Pella Iowa marching as Gangster Hunters With Pistol, Hat and Dress During Tulip Festival 2011

Man from Pella Iowa marching as Gangster Hunters With Pistol, Hat and Dress During Tulip Festival 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone ! This tall Christmas Tree Decoration was done @ Buddha Manandhar’s Home in Iowa – A December 2012 Photo

About Riviera Hotel and Casino
[Text Source: Wikipedia/ Creative Commons]
The Riviera (colloquially, “the Riv”) is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The hotel has over 2,100 rooms, many located in a 23-story tower. The casino has 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2) of gaming space. The Riviera opened on April 20, 1955 as the first high-rise and the ninth resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The Riviera is one of the oldest and most famous casino resorts in Las Vegas. The Riviera also broke new ground in its design: previously, Strip resorts resembled roadside motor courts. The opening of the Riviera, along with The Dunes and the Royal Nevada casino resorts within a month were the subject of a famous issue of Life Magazine, on June 20, 1955 with a Moulin Rouge showgirl on its cover. The headline was Las Vegas—Is Boom Overextended? and a story about how Las Vegas had built too many hotel rooms to be profitable.The Riviera was built by a group of investors from Miami. The resort has gone through many ownership changes over the years, including a period of control by owners linked to the Mafia (as was the case for many Vegas resorts in the 1960s and 1970s). Harpo Marx and Gummo Marx held minority interests at the opening. The Marx brothers also owned slightly under ten percent of the Hotel. It is said that Gummo talked his brother into putting money into the Hotel, for it would be a great place for him to perform. Harpo was easily sold. Dean Martin once held a minority ownership stake while he was a headliner in the showroom. Gus Greenbaum was brought into manage the Riviera in 1955. He had successfully managed the Flamingo Hotel after the death of Bugsy Siegel. However, Greenbaum’s drug and gambling addictions led to his embezzling from the casino. In December 1958, Greenbaum and his wife were murdered in their Phoenix, Arizona home, reportedly on the orders of either Meyer Lansky or Tony Accardo. Meshulam Riklis bought the Riviera in 1973 for $56 million. The hotel/casino filed bankruptcy in 1984 and then again in 1991, at which time Riklis lost ownership. Ownership was then acquired by Riviera Holdings Corp. Liberace was the featured headliner at the resort’s opening, and for many years afterward.In 2006, Splash, a traditional Las Vegas revue, ended an extended run at the Riviera. In 2009, An Evening at La Cage, featuring female impersonators including Frank Marino and his impersonation of Joan Rivers, ended one of the longest runs in Strip history

I took these fall photos in Winterset Iowa last year (2011). Winterset is a small county in Iowa popular as a birthplace of Actor John Wayne.

An amateur model show the cultural Hmong Dress at the Asian Heritage Festival in Des Moines, Iowa. The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Camping Breakfast Ideas – Juice and Fruits (We tried apple juice and pineapples)

Camping Breakfast Ideas – Hot Cups of Tea or Coffee In The Early Morning

Camping Breakfast Ideas – Don’t forget the food net for left overs

Camping Breakfast Ideas – Try the Grilled Vegetables, if you have appetite. Healthy Food !!

Camping Breakfast Ideas – More Tea !! or More Coffee !!!

Campfire @ Ledges State Park, Madrid Iowa – Photo # 2

Campfire @ Ledges State Park, Madrid Iowa – Photo # 3

Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms – Grilled On Fire

Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms – Before Grilling On Fire

Mouth Watering Photos Of Bread And Jam From Camping Breakfast #2

Mouth Watering Photos Of Bread And Jam From Camping Breakfast #3

Mouth Watering Photos Of Bread And Jam From Camping Breakfast #4

This photo was taken on the Des Moines River bank near Ledges State park in Madrid Iowa.

Devghat Dham hosts a bunch of old age homes, there are people self isolated from the families or the ones that their family discarded because they were old and no longer beneficial (a big sigh !!). I heart cried when I saw these two elderly people, both carrying the stick, probably in their eighties, away from their families and homes of their life – staying in the isolation yet lost in themselves, befriending each other.

I traveled to Devghat, a religiously important place of Nepal, also popular for the old age homes at the end of year 2011. This elderly woman was on her morning walk and when he saw me, she just stopped and greeted me with this Namaste – something full of utmost respect to the guest in town. I salute to you ! At the time when the pure humanity is fading away, the selfless respect like this for total strangers are so rare and I am glad I got this shot taken.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the plaza in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom. It is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the current town of Bhaktapur, which lies 13 km east of Kathmandu. While the complex consists of at least four distinct square (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square), the whole are is informally known as the Bhakapur Durbar Square, and is a highly visited site in the Kathmandu Valley.The Durbar Square proper houses the 55-window Palace which was constructed by King Jitamitra Malla and was home to royalty until 1769. It is now a National Gallery. Close by is the Golden Gate which leads into Mulchok Court which is home to the Taleju Temple. This temple, like others in the main towns of the Kathmandu Valley, is dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani and includes shrines to both the Taleju Bhawani and Kumari. Entrance to the temple is restricted to Hindus and the living goddess strictly cannot be photographed. The Durbar square is surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries. The royal palace was originally situated at Dattaraya square and was only later moved to the Durbar square location. The Durbar square at Bhaktapur was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1934 and hence appears more spacious than the others, located at Kathmandu and Patan. Originally, there were 99 courtyards attached to this place, but now only 6 remain. Prior to the earthquake, there were 3 separate groups of temples. But currently, the square itself is surrounded just by buildings that survived the quake. [Text Source: Wikipedia / Creative Commons)

The prayer wheels

Two Nepali women churning the prayer wheels at Swayambhu Nepal

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Tibetan name for the site means ‘Sublime Trees’ (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning ‘self-sprung’. For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath. The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha’s eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose – but is the Nepali symbol of ‘unity’, in the main Nepali language dialect. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra. Much of Swayambhunath’s iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism. However, the complex is also an important site for Buddhists of many schools, and is also revered by Hindus. (Text Source: Wikipedia / Creative Commons)

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Tibetan name for the site means ‘Sublime Trees’ (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning ‘self-sprung’. For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath. The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha’s eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose – but is the Nepali symbol of ‘unity’, in the main Nepali language dialect. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra. Much of Swayambhunath’s iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism. However, the complex is also an important site for Buddhists of many schools, and is also revered by Hindus. (Text Source: Wikipedia / Creative Commons)

A printable poster photo of Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over Missouri River In Iowa Nebraska boder

Wooden Figurine of Nepali Man in Traditional Dura, Surwal and Coat Dress / Asian Heritage Festival 2012, Des Moines Iowa

Wooden Figurine of Nepali Woman in Traditional Newari Dress / Asian Heritage Festival 2012, Des Moines Iowa

Wooden Figurine of Nepali Woman in Cultural Newari Dress / Asian Heritage Festival 2012, Des Moines Iowa

Wooden Figurine of Nepali Woman in Cultural Dress / Asian Heritage Festival 2012, Des Moines Iowa

The balloon flies

Balloon Getting Ready

Giant hot air balloon lies on the ground as it being prepared by injecting the hot air

A pink bodied parrot captured at Garden of Sense in Omaha Zoo (2012 June Photo)

Info on Blue Bellied Roller Birds From Wikipedia (Creative Commons):
The Blue-bellied Roller, Coracias cyanogaster is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Zaire. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal movements, in mature moist savannah dominated by Isoberlinia trees. The Blue-bellied Roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a Jackdaw at 28-30 cm. It has a dark green back, white head, neck and breast, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 6cm tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. Blue-bellied Roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the dark back and white head, and the tail streamers trailing behind. This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the grasshoppers and other large insects on which they feed. The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. It nests in a hole in a tree cavity. The call of Blue-bellied Roller is a harsh clicking ga-ga-ga sound. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Blue-bellied Roller is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Info From Wikipedia (Creative Commons):
The spotted thick-knee, which can reach up to 18 inches in height, has long legs and a brown-and-white speckled coat. It ranges widely through sub-Saharan Africa, where it occupies dry grasslands and savannas. The spotted dikkop’s brown, spotted feathers provide camouflage, making it difficult to spot in the grasslands where it lives. The species hunts exclusively on the ground, feeding on insects, small mammals and lizards. It also nests on the ground, lining a scrape with grasses, feathers, pebbles and twigs. The female typically lays two eggs, and males and females rear offspring together, with both bringing food back to the nest. The birds will even fake injuries to lead predators away from the nest.

A man is seen carrying water on a yoke during Pella Tulip Festival 2011 in Iowa

Another man in traditional / cultural Dutch dress carrying the load on his back on a handcrafted carrying basket. Probably these people might have to walk uphill and downhill, so the demonstrator has used the walking stick.

Third photo of a woman in dutch dress carrying wooden stick.

The ramp and the stage comes up from the floor level, which was interesting. And if you look towards the roof, you will see lots of light settings and the glassed control romes. I have many photos taken from the event, visit my blog later, I will be posting the photos gradually.

Model in Blue Party Dress from the live runaway show @ The Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. Photo # 1

Model in Blue Party Dress from the live runaway show @ The Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. Photo # 2

Model in Blue Party Dress from the live runaway show @ The Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. Photo # 3

Violet Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Violet Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Violet Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Yellow Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Red Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Red Tulip Flower @ Pella Iowa – Photo Taken in May 2011

Three Photos of Flowers Taken by Canon 5d Mark II At Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Colorado (2011)

Information on the Iowa Capitol Building Including It’s History:
(Text Source: Wikipedia /Creative Commons License)

The Iowa State Capitol, seat of the Iowa General Assembly, is located in Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines, and houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. The building also includes a chamber for the Iowa Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Iowa Supreme Court building. The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886, and is the only five-domed capitol in the country.

Located at East 9th Street and Grand Avenue, the capitol is set atop a hill and offers a panoramic view of the city’s downtown and the West Capitol Terrace. Various monuments and memorials are to its sides and front, including the Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument and the Lincoln and Tad statue. Not long after achieving statehood, Iowa recognized that the Capitol should be moved farther west than Iowa City, and the 1st General Assembly, in 1846, authorized a commission to select a location. In 1854, the General Assembly decreed a location – within two miles of the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines River.The exact spot was chosen when Wilson Alexander Scott gave the state nine and one-half acres where the Capitol now stands. Final legislative approval for the construction of a permanent statehouse was given on April 8, 1870. A three-story brick building served as a temporary Capitol and was in use for 30 years, until destroyed by fires. But in the meantime, the permanent Capitol was being planned and built. In 1870, the General Assembly established a Capitol commission to employ an architect, choose a plan for a building (not to cost more than $1,500,000), and proceed with the work, but only by using funds available without increasing the tax rate. John C. Cochrane and Alfred H. Piquenard were designated as architects, and a cornerstone was laid on November 23, 1871. However, much of the original stone deteriorated through waterlogging and severe weather and had to be replaced. The cornerstone was relaid on September 29, 1873.

Although the building could not be constructed for $1,500,000 as planned, the Cochrane and Piquenard design was retained and modifications were undertaken. Cochrane resigned in 1872, but Piquenard continued until his death in 1876. He was succeeded by two of his assistants, Mifflin E. Bell and W.F. Hackney. The building commission made its final report on June 29, 1886, with a total cost of $2,873,294.59. The audit showed that only $3.77 was unaccounted for in the 15 years of construction.

The architectural design of the Capitol, rectangular in form, with great windows and high ceilings, follows the traditional pattern of 19th century planning for public buildings. A modified and refined Renaissance style gives the impression of strength and dignity combined with utility.The commanding feature is the central towering dome constructed of iron and brick and covered with 23 carat gold. The gold leafing was replaced in 1964-1965 at a cost of $79,938. The dome is surmounted by a lookout lantern that may be reached by long and winding stairs, and it terminates in a finial that is 275 feet above the ground floor. The rotunda beneath the dome is 67 feet in diameter. Four smaller domes of simple design rise from the four corners of the Capitol.

The exterior of the building is entirely of stone with elaborate columns and handsomely designed cornices and capitals. Iowa stone is the foundation for the many porticoes of the building. The building is brick with limestone from Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Illinois. The substructure is of dark Iowa stone topped by a heavy course of wari-colored granite cut from glacial boulders gathered from the Iowa prairie. The superstructure, or main part of the building, is of bluff colored sandstone from quarries along the Mississippi River in Missouri.Both front and back porticoes have pediments supported by six Corinthian columns each. The dome of the capitol is gilded with tissue-paper thin sheets of pure 23-karat gold, with a protective layer sealing the gold from the weather, and the top of its finial peak is 275 feet (84 m) above the ground. From its opening during 1884 until 1924, it was the tallest building in Des Moines, and likely the entire state.

The beauty, dignity, and arrangement of the interior become apparent as a visitor stands under the dome of the first floor. Broad, lofty corridors extend west, north, and south. Walls are highly decorated and the rooms and chambers of the capitol have a wide variety of Iowa wood as well as imported marble. Twenty-nine types of imported and domestic marble were used in the interior; and the wood used – walnut, cherry, catalpa, butternut, and oak was nearly all from Iowa forests.

The marble grand staircase between the second and third floors is to the east and is the focal point of the building. Suites opening from the south corridor are those of the Governor, Auditor of State, and Treasurer of State. The historical Supreme Court Chamber is to the north; the Secretary of State’s suite is to the west. The grand staircase ascends to a landing and divides north and south to bring visitors to the floor above, where the House of Representatives is on the north, the Senate is on the South, and the Law Library on the west. Around the rotunda on the frieze above the columns is the famous quotation from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: This nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Extending the full width of the east wall over the staircase is the great mural painting Westward, an idealized representation of the coming of the people who made Iowa. The painting was completed shortly after the turn of the century. Edwin H. Blashfield, the artist, wrote of it: The main idea of the picture is a symbolical presentation of the Pioneers led by the spirits of Civilization and Enlightenment to the conquest by cultivation of the Great West. The battle flags carried by the Iowa regiments in various wars are preserved in niches on the main floor: Civil War, 1; Spanish-American War, 13; World War I, 26. In the west hall is a plaque done by Nellie V. Walker in commemoration of the work of Iowa women in the fight for political equality and a memorial to those Iowans killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Also in the west hall is a model of the Battleship USS Iowa on loan from the U.S. Department of the Navy. The model is 18 feet 7 inches long and weighs about 1,350 pounds. It is a perfect scale model, 1/4 inch equaling 1 foot. The Iowa was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 29th state. It is also the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships, and was the only ship of her class to have served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. The Iowa is currently berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, near San Francisco, California. In the south hall across from the Governor’s office is a collection of porcelain dolls representing the 41 Iowa First Ladies in miniature replicas of their inaugural gowns. Where actual descriptions of the gowns could not be found, they are typical of the period. As future First Ladies take their place, they, too, will be represented.

In 1904, when fire swept through the areas that now house the Supreme Court and Iowa House of Representatives, major restoration was performed and documented, with the addition of electrical lighting, elevators, and a telephone system. Little information is available about who performed the actual restoration during these early years.
These earlier efforts to preserve the Capitol mostly dealt with maintaining and upgrading its interior. It was not until 1965, when the dome was regilded, that legislators made significant investments in preserving the building’s exterior. By the early 1980s, the exterior of the Capitol had noticeably deteriorated. Sandstone pieces had begun falling from the building, prompting the installation of steel canopies at all entrances of the building to protect pedestrians. Decorative stone, whose deterioration had first been documented as early as the turn of the century, had also eroded. Work on the exterior restoration began in the spring of 1983 and was completed in nine phases. Phase 9 work began in the spring of 1998, and the entire project was completed in the fall of 2001, at a cost of $41 million.

We tried this delicious cake on my wife’s birthday, they were extremely worth having. Got that from our local Sams Club in Windsor Height.

A couple of Alien Monkeys

This one is a normal monkey

Tried to make a monkey whose color would fit to play a role in Avatar Movie

• This artistic figure was created by Jaume Plensa
• It is located in Des Moines downtown Papajohn Sculpture Park in Iowa, USA
• It’s Weight is about 4 tons
• Nomade was unveiled in 2006 at the Musée Picasso on the French Riviera.
• The Pappajohns first saw it at a show in Miami and quickly decided to buy it for the park

Photo Of A Floating Brown Fake Ceramic Tortoise Seen At Farmers Market In Des Moines

I do not know the name of this flower, but if you do, please comment on this page, will be very helpful. I shot them in front of my apartment in West Des Moines, Iowa sometimes in 2011. I used my canon 5d Mark II DSRL to shoot these pictures. More photos below.

Looking for Mexican grocery around Des Moines? La Tapatia Tienda Mexicana is my favorite one. They are located at :1524 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. You can also find goat meat there. Goat meat is popular among South Indian countries.

Dabur’s Honitus Cough Syrup provides effective relief from cough, without side-effects. Dabur Honitus Cough Syrup is a Honey-based herbal syrup that is fortified with Tulsi, Mulethi & Banapsha. This herbal syrup attacks cough at its roots, and provides fast relief.

This pink doronicum has lost most of the petals. Reminds the life and death cycle.

Other know species of doronicum flower:

• Doronicum altaicum
• Doronicum atlanticum
• Doronicum austriacum Jacq
• Doronicum briquetii
• Doronicum cacaliifolium
• Doronicum carpaticum
• Doronicum carpetanum
• Doronicum cataractarum
• Doronicum cavillieri
• Doronicum clusii
• Doronicum cordatum
• Doronicum columnae Ten.
• Doronicum corsicum
• Doronicum dolichotrichum
• Doronicum falconeri
• Doronicum glaciale
• Doronicum grandiflorum Lam.
• Doronicum haussknechtii
• Doronicum hungaricum
• Doronicum kamaonense
• Doronicum macrophyllum
• Doronicum maximum
• Doronicum oblongifolium
• Doronicum orientale
• Doronicum pardalianches
• Doronicum plantagineum
• Doronicum reticulatum
• Doronicum stenoglossum

Did I free fall from the Sky? Well I did not, but it is a great example of low angle shot in photography. I jumped from that wood behind me and was like four or five feet high up in the sky. But the photo was taken with camera lying from the ground and aiming upwards giving an effect of me falling down from the sky.

Did the man fall from the Sky? Well he did not, but it is a great example of low angle shot in photography. The friend of mine jumped from that wood and was like four or five feet high. But I took this photo lying from the ground giving an effect of him falling down from the sky.

A Nice Photo Shot of White Sunflower on Sale at Farmers Market in Des Moines (2011)

Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

About Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market:
Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

About Anaheim Pepper (From Wikipedia):
An Anaheim pepper is a mild variety of chili pepper. The name “Anaheim” derives from a farmer named Emilio Ortega who brought the seeds to the Anaheim, California, area in the early 1900s. They are also called California chili or Magdalena, and dried as chile seco del norte. Since Anaheim peppers originated from New Mexico, they are also sometimes known as New Mexico peppers. Additionally, in New Mexico they are often referred to simply as “chiles” because they are so ubiquitous.[citation needed] Varieties of the pepper grown in New Mexico tend to be hotter than those grown in California.

The chile “heat” of Anaheims typically ranges from 500 to 2,500 on the Scoville scale however, many varieties grown in New Mexico can reach 4,500 to 5,000 Scoville units.

New Mexican cultivars were developed in the state by Dr. Fabian Garcia about 100 years ago.[3] These cultivars are “hotter” than others in order to suit the tastes of New Mexicans in their traditional foods.

This chile is used in many Mexican and New Mexican dishes.

About Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market:
Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

Des Moines Dontown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

Des Moines Dontown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

Des Moines Dontown Farmer’s Market event occurs from 7:00 AM to Noon at Historic Court District in Dowtown Des Moines, rain or shine, every Saturday, May 7 through October 29.

Here is a little history of the Des Moines Farmer’s market from their official website desmoinesfarmersmaket.com

The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers and operated July – September. Today, the Market has grown to more than 200 vendors and an average of 18,000 visitors each Saturday during May – October. Recent development of the Market has prompted an extension of the season by opening on the first Saturday of May and extending to the last Saturday in October, as well as expanding the indoor Downtown Farmers’ Market Winter Season held in November and December. Last year’s opening day on Court Avenue attracted a record crowd of more then 30,000 people.

I was walking along the beach at Grays lake in Des Moines Iowa one day and I saw this Beach Regulation board. The normal rules.

1. No alcohol
2. No lifeguard On Duty
3. No glass containers
4. No pets allowed on beach
5. No smoking on beach
6. No swimming after sunset

Learn them by heart

Grays lake area contains many opportunities for walking, biking, swimming etc and is one of the busiest area of Iowa and is located in Des Moines Metro area. There is a two-mile trail encircling the lake. The trail is well lit in the evening and has emergency phones.

This is a first try. Please note that I use layers overlay as post production image processing technique in almost all of my photos.

This is a second try with little darker tone. I have used layer overlay in this image as well

[The following information is taken from wikipedia under creative commons license]

The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park. Principal Park, formerly Sec Taylor Stadium, is a minor league baseball stadium located in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the home field of the Pacific Coast League’s Iowa Cubs. Principal Park is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River in downtown Des Moines. The stadium seats 11,500 fans and has 45 luxury suites, 12 of which are in a building in left field that also houses the Cub Club restaurant. The Iowa State Capitol building is visible from beyond the center field fence, while some seats also provide views of the Des Moines skyline.

The first ballpark at this site was built as Pioneer Memorial Stadium in 1947. It was renamed Sec Taylor Stadium in honor of the longtime Des Moines Register sports editor on September 2, 1959.[1] The park served as home of the Des Moines Bruins of the Class A Western League (1947-1958)[2] and the Des Moines Demons of the Class B Three-I League (1959-1961). It became the home of the Iowa Cubs (originally the Iowa Oaks of the American Association) in 1969. By the late 1980s the original stadium was becoming run down, and was starting to develop a seedy reputation as the wooden seats and bleachers were splintering and unpainted. After Des Moines voters approved a bond issue to rebuild Sec Taylor Stadium in August 1990, most of the original stadium was demolished after the 1991 season.[1] The present facility, complete with sky boxes, plastic seats, metal bleachers and a family picnic area, was dedicated on April 16, 1992.[4] During part of the 1993 season the stadium was submerged by the Great Flood of 1993, but the team still went on to win the American Association championship. The Triple-A All-Star Game was held here in 1997. In 2004, Chicago Cubs pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood — both former I-Cubs players — pitched rehabilitation starts in Des Moines and attracted sellout crowds in the process. Wood made two additional rehab starts at Principal Park in June 2005 and one start on May 12, 2006. Sec Taylor Field at Principal Park, during a May 28, 2006, game against the Nashville Sounds. The Iowa Capitol is visible beyond the center-field wall.

On August 5, 2004, Sec Taylor Stadium was renamed Principal Park after the Principal Financial Group purchased the naming rights to the facility. The playing field is still known as Sec Taylor Field. The $2.5 million deal covered part of a $6.8 million renovation project that took place during the 2005-2006 off-season. The project included the addition of over 1,000 new seats in the right field grandstand, replacement of all other seats, construction of new right field bleachers, installation of a new scoreboard and video board, replacement of the stadium field lighting system, and other structural changes.Principal Park hosted its first Iowa High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament in 2005 and is scheduled to host the tournament through 2008. Principal Park with downtown Des Moines in the background, during a June 28, 2007, game against the Oklahoma Redhawks.

Principal Park’s single-game attendance record was set on June 8, 2007, when 15,188 fans watched an I-Cubs game against the New Orleans Zephyrs. However, the highest attendance for any event at the stadium was set on September 25, 2009, when a Dave Matthews Band concert brought in a sellout crowd of 17,646.On June 14, 2008, the Iowa Cubs beat the Nashville Sounds 5-4. The paid attendance was 0 due to flooding concerns in the Downtown Des Moines area.

Call it co-existence of a beautiful nature…looks like the tomato leaf on the right is whispering life to the flash radish leaf on the left !! These plants were from my deck garden. I raised them both from seeds, so they are like babies to me.

A samosa is a stuffed pastry and a popular snack in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, the Horn of Africa, North Africa and South Africa. It generally consists of a fried or baked triangular, semi-lunar or tetrahedral pastry shell with a savory filling, which may include spiced potatoes, onions, peas, coriander, and lentils, or ground beef or chicken. The size and shape of a samosa as well as the consistency of the pastry used can vary considerably, although it is mostly triangular. Samosas are often served with chutney

Tandoori Chicken is a highly popular Indian and South Asian dish consisting of roasted chicken, yogurt, and spices. The chicken is marinated in curd and seasoned with tandoori masala. It is moderately hot, but the heat is reduced in most Western nations. Cayenne pepper, red chili powder or kashmiri red chilli powder is used to give it a fiery red hue. A higher amount of Turmeric produces an orange color. In some modern versions, both red and yellow food coloring are used. It is traditionally cooked at high temperatures in a tandoor (clay oven), but can also be prepared on a traditional barbecue grill.

The story of its origins lies with Kundan Lal Gujral, a Hindu Punjabi, who ran a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Peshawar in the 1920s. Following the partition in 1947, Gujral found himself one of many Hindu refugees fleeing to India to to escape the rioting and upheaval. He moved his restaurant to Delhi in a place called Daryaganj. Using new recipes to keep his patrons interested, Gujral tried cooking chicken in tandoors (clay ovens) which were until then only used to cook naan bread. Tandoors are bell-shaped ovens that are set into the earth and fired with wood or charcoal; they can reach temperatures of about 480 °C (900 °F).
Tandoori Chicken in Punjab, Pakistan

The Tandoori chicken at Moti Mahal so impressed the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, that he made it a regular at official banquets. Visiting dignitaries that enjoyed Tandoori Chicken included American Presidents Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, Soviet leaders Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev, the King of Nepal, and the Shah of Iran.

The fame of Tandoori Chicken led to many derivatives like Chicken Tikka (and eventually the Indian dish popularized in Britain Chicken Tikka Masala), commonly found in menus in Indian restaurants all over the world.It is popular outside of India, in other parts of South Asia where it is eaten as a starter before a meal.

(Source of Text: Wikipedia / Creative Commons. Photo By Kushal Paudyal)

A tortilla chip is a snack food made from corn tortillas, which are cut into wedges and then fried (alternatively they may be discs pressed out of corn masa then fried or baked). Corn tortillas are made of corn, vegetable oil, salt and water. Although first mass-produced in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, tortilla chips are considered to be a Mexican food, known as tostados. Though usually made of yellow corn (as pictured), they can also be made of white, blue, or red corn. Some manufacturers include many other ingredients including wheat and sugar and MSG.

The triangle shaped tortilla chip was popularized by Rebecca Webb Carranza as a way to make use of misshapen tortillas rejected from the automated tortilla manufacturing machine that she and her husband used at their Mexican delicatessen and tortilla factory in southwest Los Angeles. Carranza found that the discarded tortillas, cut into triangles and fried, were a popular snack, and she sold them for a dime a bag at the El Zarape Tortilla Factory. In 1994, Carranza received the Golden Tortilla award for her contribution to the Mexican food industry.

Tortilla chips are the quintessential and often complimentary appetizer in Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants in the U.S. and elsewhere. Their popularity outside of California saw a steady rise in the late 1970s when they began to compete with corn chips, the dipping chip of choice during the first three quarters of the 20th century. They are typically served with a dip, such as salsa, chili con queso, or guacamole. When not served with a dip, the chips are often seasoned with herbs and spices. Although they are now available worldwide, the United States is one of the main markets for tortilla chips. Commercial brand names for tortilla chips include Phileas Fogg snacks, Tostitos, Doritos, Pajeda’s, Fiesta Crunch, and Don Tacos (in Japan).

A more elaborate dish utilizing tortilla chips is nachos, which consists tortilla chips served with melted or shredded cheese, although often other toppings are added or substituted, such as meat, salsa (such as pico de gallo), refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, diced onions, olives, and pickled jalapeños. More elaborate nachos are often baked for a short period of time to warm the tortillas and melt shredded cheese. First created circa 1943 by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, nachos may represent the earliest known creation from tortilla chips.

A similar fried corn snack is the corn chip, which is not made from a tortilla, but from corn meal which has been processed into a particular shape, typically a small scoop. Fritos are an example of this. The principal difference between the corn in tortilla and corn chips is that the corn in a tortilla chip has undergone a process known as nixtamalization, which involves processing the raw corn with quicklime. Note that both tortilla and corn chips are referred to as “corn chips” in Australia and Oceania.[citation needed] The tortilla chips main market would fall within that of the potato chip or ‘crisps’.

(Source of Text: Wikipedia / Creative Commons. Photo by Kushal Paudyal)

This is a photo of my own birthday cake!! I turned 29 today. Life is great but cake is greater even without birthday candles. This cake was brought at a small local cake factory/bakery in West Des Moines called “Let them eat cake”. If you wanna try their cake, they are located at 405 Maple Street, West Des Moines. It was an awesome cake for a person like me who is not fond of too much of sugar and was called “Pink Champagne”. Sorry folks, they were asked specially not to add pink color !!!

Click on the following images in this set to view them in larger formats.