By: Madhu
Photo Stories

In Photos – Stolen Moments Of Solitude

I am teased endlessly for being a chatterbox. But for all my gregariousness I cherish solitude, enveloped as I am by the bustle of a big Indian city. Is it even possible to steal quiet reflective moments from the din of urban living? Yes it is. Solitude is in the mind. Learning to shut out the noise is key. And seeking (relatively) quieter times and islands of serenity.

Here is a gallery of images that evoke quiet solitude for FriFotos on Twitter. All but one, from some of the most crowded and chaotic cities on earth.

St Trophime, Arles
A tourist steals a quiet moment in the gorgeous cloister of St. Trophime, Arles

“Life for each man is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors”
Eugene O Neill

Isa Khna's tomb, Delhi
Companionable silence in Isa Khna’s tomb, Delhi

“In a soulmate we find not company but a completed solitude”
Robert Brault

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Silent meditation in the Wat Loha Prasat, Bangkok. Click on the image to read all about this remarkable temple.

“Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.”
Marcus Aurelius

Solo in Venice
Contemplating life on the grand canal in enviable solitude! – Venice, Italy. (Click on the image to read my post on Venice beyond San Marco)

“Finding solitude in the concrete jungle is powerful and peaceful.”
Mike Dolan

Revelling in the serene silence of those pink stones! – Humayun’s tomb, Delhi. (Click on the image to read more about this grand mausoleum)
Revelling in the serene silence of those pink stones! – Humayun’s tomb, Delhi. (Click on the image to read more about this grand mausoleum)

“I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.”
Henry David Thoreau

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Escaping the din in Lodi Gardens, Delhi

“What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.”
Elen Burstyn

Sunrise on the Ganges, Varanasi, India
The silence of dawn on the Ganges belies the chaos of Varanasi (Click on the image to read how we survived the intensity of this city.)

“Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.”
May Sarton

Thank you for reading. Have a great weekend!