Sunrise
Sometimes getting up at 5AM to change a nappy leads you to see a beautiful sunrise.
16th October 2009
7th June 2009
Linux Again after 4 yrs
This time it is Ubuntu and looks like it is in for the long haul.
After making a new PC two months ago, I decided to try Linux again. Waited for jaunty to be released and started off with Wubi a day after jaunty became officially available.Two days later I got rid of Wubi and installed a new partition for Ubuntu. More than a month later I am happy to stay.
There were some problems with the 64bit thing but not enough to send me back for Windows. I still go back to windows for somethings, but that is on a virtual box. Some stuff I do regularly and how they work on ubuntu
- uname -a : Linux XXX 2.6.28-11-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 17 01:58:03 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux
- Web Surfing: Firefox works well for me. Flash sometime crashes but its ok. I hope it will stabilize soon.
- Office Applications: Google Docs for everything. I do need to open MS Office docs sent as attachment. Open Office works well for those.
- Finance Apps: I have been using MS Money for years. Used GNUCash for a while, and then moved to KMyMoney because the reporting and overall feel is better.
- Media: Vlc works as well as on windows.
- Passwords: KeePassX is a good replacement for KeePass and reads the same fine.
- Connecting to Work: vpnc is a good replacement for Cisco VPN and rdesktop connects me to work.
- IM: Pidgin works perfectly. Even on windows I am a pidgin user.
- Photo Editing: GIMP is good, but not as good a Photoshop. So while GIMP works well for quick editing, I do go to Photoshop often. And that’s where I use Virtual Box. No need to boot into a windows partition.
- Coding: Played around with eclipse. Though it is not as slick as windows, but ok. Given than I don’t have long coding sessions at home I can live with it. Perhaps it is just a matter of getting used to.
25th April 2009
More Nainital Photos: Ones tourists don’t see
For those who miss the town (small images for faster page load. Click on the image for large size).
Light of the setting Sun on the bare trees near the Bandstand
Nainital's public library. Named after my great grandfather and granduncle.
Looking at Tallital from one of the windows of the library. Whan I was in class 10, I loved sitting on this window and reading the newspaper, occasionally looking out. The windows sill is for the emphasis.
Looking at Tallital from one of the windows of the library. Twin towers of SEM are also visible.
Nayna Devi temple and Gurudwara as seen from the Mall. The picture is for the railing which enclosed the lake.
Grand Hotel and the new cast iron railing. Too dense for my liking. Grand Hotel was once the largest hotel in Nainital.
The mall in front of Narains. The benches in front used to be our favourite seating places. Narains was once a thriving book shop. Now it is largely converted to a gift item shop with a small section for books. Apparently there is a shortage of book lovers in the city.
Arya Samaj building behind the municipal clock tower. I am sure many residents remember being woken up early in the morning by the soothing prayer voice of Mr Counsel. Nainital being a valley, the voice carried high and far up the hills.
A small cave near the degree college. During rainy seasion we sometimes took shelter here. The entrance is now encroached upon by a temple.
A small overhang near the degree college. During rainy seasion we sometimes took shelter here.
Mallital as seen from the degree college.
A tree establishing foothold on the hill landslide. When did you last see the Nainital lake so green. The lake today is much cleaner, thanks to the aeration efforts going on. The ban on polythene bags also has helped. However these days I often see the ban being flouted by some shopkeepers.
The Mallital gate of the degree college. Many also know it as DSB (Dan Singh Bisht) College.
If you come on the government house road from Tallital, after St. Joseph's College the road splits. One goes to All Saint's, Sherwood and the other towards Degree College and then Mallital. On the right is a big wall. Long ago this wall wasn't there and you could see the small cemetry of St Mary's Convent. We often stood on the road looking down and wondered who was buried there and why the grave count never increased.
The small cemetry of St Mary's Convent. We often stood on the road looking down and wondered who was buried there and why the grave count never increased.
St. Francis Home at the Mallital gate of SEM
The middle gate of Sonn (St. Mary's Convent)
The helipad hill and the road to Bhowali. There is an electric pole here and a bell used to be tied to it. May rang the bell and bowed to the unseen temple in this direction. I think they were paying homage to the Ghorakhal temple which is in this direction.
The district court
The road that leads up from Tallital Bazaar. Take teh left and you go past St. Joseph's College, Government House, Degree COllege to Mallital. Take the one to right and you go down to Thandi Sarak.
The road up to the court from Tallital Bazaar
Bishop Shaw. Many have started their schooling here.
Idle parked boat
Boat House of the St. Joseph's College
Take the left road, and you get to a junction which'll take you to Degree College (right) or to the court (left). Take the right road and you'll land on Thandi Sarak
Thandi Sarak is now guarded by large iron gates. Still a place for a peaceful walk without climbing up the hill.
Pashan Devi temple
Thandi Sarak, as lonely as ever. Though it does get crowded in summer.
The Boat House Club
Mallital Rickshaw stand
Vallerio Building housing Modern Book Depot, Sackleys, Aligarh Dairy Farm and Allied Stores
Gate of Nayna Devi temple. Photography inside is prohibited.
Near the Tallital rickshaw stand, a small stand has been put up with bells. Passer by ring the bells to pay homage to the gods in Pashan Devi temple (seen below the 2nd bell from right) across the lake.
Tallital post office
Entrance to Tallital bazaar.
When fog blows in. My favourite scene in Nainital. Typically the fog comes in from Tallital. This one is looking at the fog from Tallital towards Mallital.
The band stand in Mallital. Long ago this was the scene of some lively music. I never understaood any of it. Still it was fun.
Masjid. Used to be a small structure. Now it has become huge.
The intersection near Masjid. Starting from left: road goes down to flats, government house road, End Cliff road which leads to Tiffin Top, motor road to High Court and further to Kaladungi, and the road to Mallital bazar (I am standing here). Underneath the intersection is the Pardadhara - the big gadhera (drain) that empties into the lake.
A sail boat on the lake. You don't see these often.
Mostly these are taken by a pocket camera walking around town of places I passed by.
