Essense of Bali...

...and the Bali love continues...

face of peace

Buddha..

tranquility..;

Divine tropical living..

don't miss the play of light and shadow in the pond

a bliss .

An exotic morning

with Balinese architectural style and elegance.

Pamper your senses with

the rich flavour,

aromas

and

colours

of this magical tropical island..!

[All pictures are photographed by me..please, don't reuse these in any form without my written consent.Thanks]



...and the WINNER is...!!

Hello blog land!
Today,I like to thank each and every participant of my fourth CSN giveaway, thank you all!...friends, you are the best!!...and finally the lucky winner is (using random.org)...

drum roll please...Xinex !

Congrats, Xinex! Please, fell free to contact me !:)

Sneak a peep...

After the lovely vacation it's cleanup time dear...cleanup!..cleanup!!..cleanup!!...and have to unpack the loot!...oh!:)

Meanwhile managed to play with something...errrrr....a sneak peep...

hmmm...will try to finish it ASAP!

Please, donot forget to sign in The CSN giveaway

as today is the last day for entry...best of luck friends..!:) 

Splendid Escape...Bali !

Travelling  play a very important role in educating the eye and in developing a rich design vocabulary...what do you say??
Well, after facing the Bali pics uploading problem now am able to fix it!!...(thanks to Edit HTML)...and a very BIG THANKS to all my bloggy pals who helped me...gave me info!...Thanks once again :)

Welcome to Bali, Indonesia.
This romantic Indonesian destination manages to juxtapose traditional culture with modern luxury. Rugged coastlines, pristine beaches and tropical greenery provides for a culture and people rich in spirituality and diversity.

This magical little island represents stone-carvings, water features and ponds...synonymous with luxury, romance and tropical bliss..!

the island itself consistently ranks high on travel lists..

for its world class sea beaches, cool and lush green mountains..

large number of cultural, historical, archaeological attractions and breathtaking views! 

                                    Happy Monday.

..and a struggle to survive...JAPAN

Millions of people faced a fourth night without water,food or heating in near freezing temperatures in devastated areas in North-East Japan. They are suppressing hunger with instant noodles or rice balls while dealing with the loss of loved ones and home.

"People are surviving on little food and water. Things are simply not coming," said Mr.Hajime Sato, a government official in Iwate prefecture,one of the three hardest-hit, along with Miyagi and Fukushima. Body bags and coffins were running so short the government may turn to foreign funeral homes for help, he said. Elderly people, many of whom are fragile and may be living on little food and water and without life-saving medicine.

The super chic Japanese capital Tokyo also faced confusion and uncertainty over the supply of food and power..!:(

Amidst all these grief-stricken news I have something (good news from the Nippon) to share with you from my very own, small private circle :

1. My Japanese neighbour in Singapore, [who is a good friend of mine..(the moms are friends ..so the kiddos :))]...is safe and secure in their homeland. She went there with her family for a vacation..! Am soooooo..happy for them :)

 

2. Some of our good old family friends (hubby's classmates)..who are settled in Tokyo for long..are more or less OK now...what a big relief for us :)

3. The International School in Singapore...where our children are studying, sent a long e-mail from their Tokyo branch stating that all their students are perfectly alright..though the school building damaged here and there! They are taking all necessary precautions for their children's safety,monitoring the local news diligently and taking heed of the Japanese government's advice and guidance...the spokesperson added.

For the elderly who live in the villages lining Japan's north-eastern coast, it is a return to a post privation that their children have never known. As in so much of the Japanese countryside,  young people have largely fled, looking for work in the big city. The elderly who remained are facing devastation and possible radiation contamination, a challenge equal only to the task this generation faced when its defeated, despairing nation had to rebuild from the rubble of the war.

All pics are taken by me from our very own Japanese Garden, Singapore.  Please, do not reuse them..

Smell of *Spring*...in my *Tropical Garden*...A Gardener's Note..!!:)

So, bees are buzzing,

the flowers are dipping in the breeze;

the colours,

the fragrance,

the beauty....!!

SPRING is here...

 forever here...:)

in this tiny tropical island...
beautiful *Singapore*...!!

where flower... grows like weeds..

and 'am fortunate to call it

*HOME*!!:)

A  few more touches of Spring...

from my tiny *Tropical Garden*...;

which is my labour of LOVE..:)

Here it goes,

on a Sunny Sunny day..

a typical Singapore snap :)..

The Colour..

I LOVE  to sit here

with a good book ;

and a quick cuppa..

well, if the eight years old

and the five years old

..our very cute distractions,

allow me to do so..!:)

The Beauty of Spring

and my *Indian Home*

in Singapore :)...

and it's here
after the sudden splash of

*tropical rain*...

                                                                                  

my all drenched garden..

green and purple..

   

                                                                  with a cute couple..!

            

                     and lots of pink too..!:)

                                                                           

can you smell

the fragrance...

don't miss the raindrops

on the petals..:)

and now,it's sunny again

the magic of tropic..!

sunshine and rain...

now and then..

a bliss :)

My Chrysanthemums
all bloomed...:)

                                                                                

                                        
                     a closer view...!

                                          

Yellow sunshine..on my balcony!...what else do I need on a beautiful tropical weekend ..??:)

 purple Orchids..

and yellow Chrysanthemums..

smell of Spring..:)

Signs of Spring..
another view..!

 from my living room

on a sunny Spring weekend

in Singapore :)

for more of my *Garden* related posts please click here and  here

Have a lovely week :)

Linking:

betweennapsontheporch

Giveaway..!..Giveaway..!!..Giveaway..!!!

Hello lovely Readers! Thanks so much to all of you for your kind participation on my past CSN giveaway(s) ! Welcome to my (Fourth) CSN giveaway !!  This time CSN has offered to giveaway an one-time-use $35 gift voucher to my fabulous readers. It can be used at any of their 200+ online stores/shops/websites. CSN is the largest online retailer of home furniture..they cary a wide range of housewares, great cookware to beautiful  swingsets.

Rules to Entry :   A maximum of  4 enties per person ;

                          1.  Follow  my  blog and leave me a comment. If you are already a follower, then just leave me a comment saying so .

                          2. Blog/Tweet/Facebook about this giveaway and post the link as a comment. If you don't have a blog/website just leave me your e-mail id.

                          3. Leave a comment with a link to what you would buy if you win this giveaway.

                          4. Leave me a comment telling me WHAT is that you'd like to see on my design blog !!

This giveaway is open to all people living to USA and Canada only.

The last date of entry of this giveaway is 30th March 2011..I'll announce the winner on 31st March 2011.

So, what are you waiting for?..Just sign in and join the fun !...as you may be the lucky winner this time !!

Good luck folks !!:)

                                                      

The Valentine Weekend...!!:)

I have been missing for quite a while now, I know.

Generally I do not prefer to talk about my personal life on this design blog, but this time, I think I should.

Last week my dad had a surgery..yes, it was an emergency.

We went through all sorts of emotional roller coasters for the last ten days so, blogging took a complete back seat.

At present I'm not able to visit most of your fabulous blogs. Sorry for that and please, don't feel bad about it. Hope you will bear with me for some time(s) now.

Anyway, we have managed to enjoy the last weekend. Yes, The Valentine weekend, though we (me and hubby) believe that a small gesture of love is more desirable than a box full of expensive  Swiss chocolates...it is the every day affection that counts, not the over hyped GUCCI products, a simple red Rose is enough if it comes from that 'special person'...then I don't need diamonds any more...but yes, at the end special days are special.

So, glimpses of my Valentine Weekend...here it goes...

An inviting atmosphere with a hue of Moroccan decor

plenty of candles placed around the home for a romantic glow.

 Rich fabrics and bold colours 
to creat the perfect Moroccan drama in home decor.

Red..colours of passion, warmth and joy.

Moroccan lamp can evoke the perfect 'Arabian Nights' look.

the season of loving and giving

 Red roses for a very special day..

Wine glasses, tea lights, red rose and silk.

What else do you need for a romantic evening ?

    Hope all of you had a fantastic weekend :)

All pictures are photographed by me. Please, do not reuse them in any form without my written permission. Thanks.

                                                 

                                         

Shubh Basant Panchami to you all...!!!

Devi Saraswati
Mother of Perfection
Goddess of
Knowledge
Art
and
Wisdom
River of
Compassion
and
Divinity

She is
Veenapani
Vagdevi
Satarupa...

"Saraswatwai Mahavage Vidye Kamalalochane

Vishorupe Vishalakshmi

Vidyang Dehi

Namahastute ..!!"

      A beautiful Markana Marbel Saraswati statue...:)

  

  South Indian style Hand Made Bronze Dancing Saraswati sculpture with two Deepa Lakshmis....

  an Antique

   An Ornate Saraswati playing Veena with Peacocks...ultimate of art !!

   Unique Solid Wood Hand Made Saraswati playing the Veena...;

  

   Bronze Hoysala Style Saraswati playing Veena with Swan...:)

    A  Marbel Saraswati statue...isn't it magnificent ?!

   A Handmade Bronze Dancing Saraswati with Peacocks from South India...!

 These

 Unparalleled

Intrinsically

Beautiful

Traditional

Indian

Artistic

Exquisite

Ethnic

Sculptures

and

Statues

will definitely add

CHARACTER

and

DIVINITY

to your

HEAVEN !!

Shubh Basant Panchami and Happy Saraswati Puja to all my readers, followers, bloggy pals, family and friends...!!:)

images: here