Photography by Steve Ayres » India

Destination India

Steve — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:45 +0000

In early January 2010, after a long journey, myself and my girlfriend landed back in Manchester, UK. We’d been for a great three week tour/holiday to Mumbai (Bombay) and Kerala in the South West of India. Take a look here for the full quick-gallery of the snaps.

We’d both been to India before (myself several times with work), but never to this area and never for a 100% holiday either! Having flown via Istanbul to Mumbai (by the way don’t bother flying this route with Turkish Airlines) we had a quick night stop over at Juhu Beach close to the airport. The next morning we took an internal flight down to Cochin in Kerala. After a stopover in the very nice Bounty Yatra, Bounty Yatra in Fort Cochin we headed out on a pre-planned tour of Kerala:

Day 01: Cochin – Munnar Pic
Day 02: Munnar Pic
Day 03: Munnar – Thekkady Pic
Day 04: Thekkady Pic
Day 05: Thekkady Pic
Day 06: Thekkady – Varkala Pic
Day 07: Varkala – Alleppey Pic
Day 08: Alleppey – Cochin Pic

To say our Keralan tour was great would be something of an understatement. There were so many fun parts and they feel all that much better as soon as you land back in the snow covered UK in the middle of Winder; the transition from 35 Celsius above to 5 below in the space of a few hours it pretty tough!). The only disappointment was whilst tracking elephants in the jungle in Periyar national park; despite hearing them close by and seeing plenty of the not so small evidence that fleeting glimpse evaded us.

After a final night in Ernakulam (close to the airport in Cochin) we boarded the return internal flight back to Mumbai. Once settled into our bargain (well not such a bargain) basement hotel, which was annoyingly situated right behind the rather more up market Taj Hotel we set about exploring Mumbai. In all we had 3 nights and 4 full days, which was just about right to see all the main sites. The city itself is such a crazy and busy place, which is great, but very tiring at the same time. Particular highlights for us were the general ‘buzz’ of the city along with just walking around and taking it all in. Chowpatty Beach was brilliant place to just sit down and watch the World go by.

So would we go back? Well of course we would. We don’t tend to go to the same place time and time again, but there certainly isn’t a shortage of things to do, see or photograph anywhere in India, it’s a first class photographic destination!

India New Year 2010

Steve — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:02 +0000

Here’s some sub continent holiday snaps for you! Over the 2009/2010 new year my girlfriend and I were lucky enough to take a holiday in the South West of India. The pictures are a combination of some taken in Mumbai (where we flew in/out of) and some taken in Kerala where we spent most of the trip. Some of the pictures will find themselves into the main galleries and posts, but many of them are just snaps.

Mumbai Roadside

Steve — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:27 +0000

Picture taken from a taxi of a man sitting and thinking pensively at the roadside in Mumbai. I’m not quite sure how you’d manage to think of anything other than the traffic in Mumbai, but he seemed to be doing a good job! See here for some more snaps from the same trip.

Odd One Out, Mumbai

Steve — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:12 +0000

Taken on Marine Drive in Mumbai (Bombay) on a recent your of Mumbai and Kerala (see here for the gallery). The three teenagers were sat on the sea wall looking out to sea with one on them looking just a little left out.

Gateway Of India Mumbai

Steve — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:51 +0000

A Holga effect shot of a child running across in front of ‘The Gateway Of India’, Mumbai. The Gateway of India is a monument in Mumbai, India. Located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 ft) high.

Varkala Kid

Steve — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:54 +0000

I saw this kid and his sister playing on the beach at Varkala in Kerala (India). Varkala is a great little beach resort on the Keralan coast. Taken during a tour of Mumbai and Kerala (gallery).

Varkala Kids

Steve — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:19 +0000

Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It’s one of the most chilled-out places I have ever visited and it was a real shame that we were only there for a single day on our tour. These kids were playing on the beach with their Mum.

Kumily Lad

Steve — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:44 +0000

Portrait of Lad Returning From School. Kumily, Kerala, South India.

Kumily I’m Alright Jack!

Steve — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:19 +0000

Kumily is a town in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District of Kerala State in South India.

Munnar Shack

Steve — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:28 +0000

Set at an altitude of 6000ft in Idukki district (Kerala, South India), Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days.