You gotta jump!!!!

Are you Crazy!!!!!
Don’t you love yourself!!!!
How can you give control over your life to someone else!!!
Are you sure you wanna do this!!!!!
WOW… that should be an experience!!!!!

No these weren’t the reactions when the news of my engagement was out… ;)

In fact, these were the reactions I got when I told that I have booked myself to jump off a plane from 12000ft…

A warm clear sunny day was what made be hurry into this decision. .. I desperately wanted to try this before leaving Montreal and its just 15 more days.. and with the weatherman not too optimistic about the sun in the coming days.. It was either now or never..

Result of some avid search on the Internet and two enthusiast frens.. three of us booked ourselves for our first tandem SKYDIVE>>

Oouch… it does hurt on the pockets with the total cost around CAD 430 (read approx INR 16K) but the experience is priceless…

The day before I was on the internet and in the build up to the dive, I would have watched close to 50 random skydive videos on You tube.

Man I was excited.. I was already experiencing the thrill in my dreams the previous night..

Finally the day arrived and the three musketeers set out to a place called Joliette in a rented car …. After getting lost on the roads a couple of times we finally made it on time..

A briefing on the ground and looking at parachutes popping up in the sky one after another .. my eyes followed each one of them floating in the sky until they landed on the ground.. the time was coming.. we were given the jump suits and belts tied on our backs..

The cameraman arrives and follows us to the plane..

All excited .. was getting goose bumps in my stomach.. the plane flies.. Richard, my instructor, starts the mid air briefing.. time to jump.. the door opens… a few ppl jump before I do.. then its time for me.. and there I go…

Post landing experience... phewww .. did i really did that.. man it was too good... (a glance at the sky) i was there too just a few moments back .... an experience to savor on all my life...

NOTE: VIDEO coming soon...

Spring.. Tulips and Ottawa....

(all shots in this post are candid.. just cropped some.. )

There is always light at the end of a tunnel...... co-relate this to a warm sunny spring day complimented by blossoming aromatic tulips and greens after a seemingly never ending COLD and COLOURLESS winter!!!!!!!!

Tulips around Ottawa city

my muse for the day ;)..

twins

still as fresh as the tulips

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The parliament building

my fren cracked a joke to the couple at the bench after I clicked.. after-effects..man I thank that the guy didn't know martial arts..

time to reflect the past

canadian akhand jyot.. my guess is that its the only repsite for homeless people in winters ;)


canada's most impressive building.. the parliament library..
(loved the colours..)

A message proudly passed over generations..
(click on the pic to read message)

that's what statuettes are for..

the canadian musem of civilisation..

a perfect place and view to end a warm sunny spring day..

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DUSK- by the river .. a Spring evening

Colours of Spring..

A beaver observes the sun go down.. (finally spotted one)

a long road haunted by a few cyclists and people with cameras in their hands..
(my experiments with black and white)

The only inhabitats on the bridge..

Formula one track.. absolutely deserted.. just imagining what it would be like during the race.. engines roaring louder than ppl.. but for now.. its just the virgin sounds of nature.

An impressive downtown skyline by the St Lawrence river

AND NOW THATS THE SUNSET ... observe the colours worn by the sky as the sun settles down in its kin.

It's like a fire in the sky and the smoke's forming clouds above

Finally the sun and fire have settled giving shades of pink to the sky

Pont (Bridge) Jacques Cartier basks in the glory of sunset..
(in the background is the olympic tower)

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AND NOW.. its time for the lights to come up.

(recommended- a click on the pic above to view it in full size)

Pit stop at Boston

Boston Sky line by River Charles

Harvard Square

News papers for free... (did u know.. India is the only democracy where none newpapers are for free!!!)

Harvard Campus.. feel like studying there??

The "fake" statue of Sir John Harvard overlooking the Harvard Campus
(worth zooming after reading below)

There are 3 errors in this statuette- 1. John Harward was not the founder.. 2. 1638 is the incorrect year, it's infact 1636.. 3. The face is not of Sir John Harvard!!!!!
Interesting fact: The toe is shining bronze unlike the other parts of the statue.. visitors over years have been rubbing the toe for good luck.. but a student warned me to better wash my hands after rubbing the toe... why??.. obviously students play a lot of pranks!!!

Sun shining bright over Harvard

NEW YORK!!!!!! the city of dreams

On my way to Times Square. But what I really like in this pic are the traffic signs.

First sight of the TIMES SQUARE!!!

Sweet Souvenirs!!

All lit up

Spread Love

Keeping and eye on you...

Coke assembly line at the Times Square... impressive billboard

Manhattan Bridge with the Empire State Building in the background.. Since 9/11 its the tallest structure in New York.

Brooklyn Bridge.. a walk worth it

Lower Manhattan from through the steel cables of the Brooklyn bridge

Speechless

Standing TALL