Haifa: Israeli city on the slopes of Mount Carmel

Haifa built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, a major sea port located on Mediterranean coast of Israel in the Bay of Haifa.

Mount Carmel, a most biblical place, sacred to many, the home of Elijah, the Hill of God and his Vineyard, extolled by Isaiah as the Mountain of the Lord to which 'all nations shall flow'.

A bit of history excerpt, interesting from Indian point of view, from Wikipedia reads as; 'Haifa was captured from the Ottomans in September 1918 by Indian horsemen as they attacked the Turkish positions on the flanks and overrun their artillery guns on Mount Carmel'.

Following are pictures of some buildings, shrine and monuments from Haifa down town and Mount Carmel as well, taken by the author in his visit.

Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Sail tower in Haifa

Sail tower and other Haifa buildings

Mount Carmel view from Ben Gurion street

Bab's shrine on Mount Carmel

Night view of Bab's shrine on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Night view of down town Haifa and port from Baha'i shrine

view of down town Haifa and port from Baha'i shrine

Panoramic view of down town Haifa and port from 19th terrace of Baha'i garden on Mount Carmel

Panoramic view of down town Haifa and port from Mount Carmel

Caesarea: Israeli city with first artificial harbor in the world

Caesarea (built 20-10 BCE), Herod the Great renamed it in honor of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus;

located on Israeli coast plain, historic land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa;

situated half way between two major cities Tel Aviv (45 kms) and Haifa (45 kms) is 5 kms northwest of Hadera.

Today the remains of this major Herodian Caesarea harbor , light houses, high-level Roman Aquaduct, extended artificial breakwaters (moles) - tells a glory of Roman-Jewish city.

It was having:
1. The first artificial harbor in the world, it was one of the largest harbor in the Roman world (measuring 200,000square meters), a monument to Herod the Great's ingenuity.
2. harbor consisted of 2 major artificial breakwaters (moles).
3. Most daring sophisticated enterprise of marine engineering undrtaken to that time.
It was the first man made port built on the open sea without favourable topographic features like Cape or Bay. (for more detail reference: http://cmjisrae.w16.wh-2.com/CMJ-Ministries/Shoresh-Tours/The-Historic-Port-of-Caesarea).

Following are pictures of Caesarea harbor, taken by the author in his visit.

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, extended breakwater and Mediterranean sea in the back drop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, extended breakwater and Mediterranean sea in the back drop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, extended breakwater and Mediterranean sea in the back drop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, Mediterranean sea in the backdrop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, Mediterranean sea in the backdrop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, Mediterranean sea in the backdrop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct, Mediterranean sea in the backdrop

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct

Remains of high-level Roman Aqueduct

Jaffa: Israeli city with most ancient port

Jaffa, also called Yafo, is the world's oldest port on Mediterranean sea.

Tel Aviv has grown from Jaffa in 1909 on it's outskirts.

Jaffa's association with biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon, Saint Peter, mythological stories of Andromeda & Perseus; makes it more historical.

Jaffa attracts with sites, sounds, alleyways where streets are lined up with artist galleries, studios, boutique, craft shops, restaurants having special eatables.

Following are pictures of Jaffa port, historical places in Old Jaffa city including scenic street view, taken by the author in his visit.

Territorial air view of Jaffa Tel Aviv

Port of Old Jaffa

Port of Old Jaffa

Sea beach Old Jaffa

Alleyway of Old Jaffa

Jaffa Port

Insignia for historical sites on road of Jaffa port city

Jaffa Coastal Cannon of Ottoman period

House of famous sculpture Eli Ilan

Art Gallery on Jaffa street

Jaffa streets are lined up with artist galleries, studios, craft shops and restaurants

Jaffa streets are lined up with artist galleries, studios, craft shops and restaurants

Down town Jaffa city

Down town Jaffa city

Down town Jaffa city

Down town Jaffa city

Down town Jaffa city

Down town Jaffa city

Jaffa city municipal insignia 

Glass painting on the door of a restaurant

A restaurant showing eatables in down town Jaffa city

A restaurant showing fruits and eatables in down town Jaffa city

Thematic expression: 'flowing emotions' through photographs of a marriage

While photographing an event like marriage in India; 
we encounter innumerable 'SHADES OF EMOTIONS', played fast, in quick succession, 
on faces and in body languages of the 'SUBJECTS', 
involved there in. 

That's pure magic, a challenge for any 'SHUTTERBUG' to capture them in flickering seconds of those deciding moments.

Happiness is the predominant mood in arranged Indian marriages too, except one occasion when bride finally says goodbye to her home, friends and relatives specially close family members.

This is called Vidai (विदाई),  a bit emotional part of the marriage.
Here are a few pictures of the same occasion..

Vidai (विदाई), a post wedding ceremony in arranged Hindu marriage in India, when bride finally leaves her home and family members to go to grooms home. A bit emotional part of the marriage !!

Father being consoled

Escorted by sister

Here in this picture, brother of the bride seen in off focus, standing beside the car of the sister where she is in, in a gloomy mood.