Jack Fell into a Well

One of the three street dogs my brother taking care of fell into an apartment well in the backstreet this evening when two of the three went playing around. There was totally fived dogs gave birth by another street dog and my brother fed them all, where among two was killed in a street accident (a year back) and one was adopted by my cousin sister and other two by my brother. Now, as we moved close by a door next the three dogs continue to enjoy their company and were all fed almost together. Though it annoys sometime and has created lot troubles early, they all settled well around now and get used to the balconies and terrace above our home. Ours is a three storey residential building and we reside at the first floor and adjacent to us was my cousins so we let them take space at their own comfort except coming into the home. In day time they roam on streets and come home only for night sleeps and naps.

Coming to post, the dog Jack (in photo above) fell into the well when it went on top of a net covered well, at an old apartment complex in the backstreet. The apartment walls are very low and anyone can leap into the apartment and the two dogs (Jack and Black) went playing around there and the rusted well net couldn’t hold the Jack’s weight and it fell into the well. Glad there was two to three feet of water in the well and the Jack safely landed on the water and hold to the wall with its back legs pedalling and the Black continued to stay back barking at the well, signalled the people about the fall. Three little kids ran to our house informing us and my bro has been out then, so on information he rushed to the spot and my cousin and his friends brought a rope ladder on rent and Jack was rescued safely by my brother who climbed down a nearly 20 feet well.  Jack has climbed on his shoulder as soon he gets down, perhaps he must have scared enough.  Jack is a hefty dog and climbing the rope ladder along with him isn’t an easy task but my brother’s attachment with them made possible.

At this place I remember the nursery rhyme – Jack and Jill… to fetch a pail of water… from the well up the hill and Jack fell down… here the Jack fell inside the well rather down the hill! Jack is a calm dog and much responsible among the other dogs and never been rude or threatening but his bodily and furry look may create panic to by passers. Jack brought its features from her mother whom I guess was a cross of Himalayan Sheep Dog because Jack resembles the look of the breed. Glad he was rescued and I hope he won’t go there again.  

A2B Park at Mamallapuram

Early this month I took a ride on ECR (east coast road) just to pass some time and travel but later nearing Mamallapuram, my parents instantly planned to visit one of my uncles who wasn’t well there. To those unknown, Mamallapuram is my grandfather’s hometown and many our relatives lives there and it is a 7^th century sculptural town renowned for its stone carvings from many single rocks or monolithic. But I’m not here now to describe the town or its popularity or UNESCO status instead want to share some pictures of a small park at the entrance of the town belong to A2B, a popular restaurant chain.

We stopped at A2B to buy some sweets and snacks as we visit our uncle there, I liked their simple park with walk paths, green lawns and many palms to make it look so green and beautiful with bordering flowering shrubs. Dropping parents at uncle’s house we moved into the town for some glimpses and caught at traffic, since it was Sunday the places were all thronged by tourist. We quickly exit at the other end and turned back to uncle’s house.

Linking this post for  Good Fences by Gosia

Knock at the Door

A house sparrow discussing with its reflection about the loss of their habitation and livelihood thinking it was another bird! But the sparrow was actually knocking at the glass window constantly in a manner of fighting out the other. It sensed me that they are actually knocking at our doors to let them have their space but us insensitively denying their rights and given importance to our hum him. We can’t blame anybody to enjoy their comforts and benefits available at the globalization, but did we really gave importance to something travelled along with us or realized what we missed in excite, the thing that was overridden or overtaken to let it fade through the rear mirrors.  March 20 was World Sparrow Day! And House Sparrow is a species designed to mingle and sustain with people but the reality was we failed to live up to their simple needs rather concerned only our comfort, style and hi-speed telecoms. The Western Ghats, along the south west coast,  plays a pivotal role in preserving the tiny house sparrows whose company we enjoyed until 2k, where the transformation begin to descend the harmony of their voices from our lives esp. in cities. I always enjoy their presence whenever I visit Western Ghats as part of travel and the picture was shot on same. 

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Skywatch Friday

Other day I was watching at the sky, in a regular manner after moved to our house with balcony, I find a jet plane speeding across the sky up high and took these snaps instantly before it move out of my sky or contrail disappear like in the picture below. I really want to zoom on the jet but the iPhone doesn’t allow me to get clear near image, maybe someday I could with camera. 

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

Temple Consecration and Light Decors

Few days before to the consecration of a Ganesh Temple in the backstreet, they started to decorate the streets with colourful lights and lighting cut-outs of Ganesh and Murugan idols at the street corners and junctions as a led to the temple. It’s a small temple in size of 8x12 sq.ft and consecration is a custom take place at every temple once in 12 years and this’s the first time (I think so) after the temple was rebuilt with new Ganesh idol. The original idol/statue of the temple was brought by my grandfather and his friends after finding it from a village pond but that Ganesh idol was little damaged at the limb and was the talk of changing the idol as people believed that a damaged idol shouldn’t be worshipped. Since we moved out of the area in Dec 2005, I don’t remember when the idol was changed and I hadn’t got to take the backstreet often until we moved back to same in 2015.

Murugan decor opp. to our house

The backstreet and the Ganesh temple hold many memories related to my childhood and friends and whose play area were mostly around the temple and mud streets. Since my two best friends came from backstreet, we hit often the streets after back from school and on holidays and I have walked countless miles over there despite my difficulty in walk. There are some guys (from backstreet) take response to conduct festivals and Ganesh Chaturthi themselves by collecting money from the residence – whose amount mostly go to their pockets – to conduct special pujas and cart procession at night. Last year the Ganesh Chaturthi wasn’t celebrated due to the consecration ceremony, the collection of money this time was heavier or 2-3 fold higher than the Ganesh Chaturthi collections.

Coming to the post, the consecration took place on Sunday morning and there were enough crowds and the area was in festival mood with traditional instruments (my favourite Nadeswaram and Thavil, like in picture above) playing loud through the loudspeakers along the chanting of mantras by priests. They played devotional songs now and then but glad they weren’t disturbing kind and only lights were decorated our street to look colourful for few days. From the photos you could see the glittering lights and cut-outs placed on our street – right opp. to our house was Murugar decor and at the left corner was Ganesh on seated position – and couple of shots on the night cart procession. Usually they make loud crackers and I find it terrible to take photos on the procession when one blast close to us, but this time they did blast fewer crackers (perhaps because of Supreme Court order) and the cart procession went off peaceful with light instruments play. All the photos were shot from my balcony.

Breakfast Time

Other day I waked up early and got to watch the activities on our street, what I regularly miss since I wake up not less than 8 am. And just before the sun rises above the building on east, the neighbourhood crows had their early breakfast – some kind of snacks left on road – and what I really liked was the way they all gathered (neatly) like people sat around a round dining table.

Following the disperse of crows, comes out a glowing sun spreading its warm light glittering through the stainless steel rail of the balcony, and without putting flame glows the coconut palm through the climbing up of sun.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Summer Breeze (2.0)

Curtains took wings by the blowing wind 

    and if not for the hangers to hold eyelets
could escape through the summer breeze
    to enjoy a vacation that I made not in a year.

Shimmering sunlight has nothing to do
   while summer breeze continues to be cool
carried all over the living room, where
   I usually hangout with my lap and books.

The tender breeze holds some magic  
   to bewitch through its ethereal touch
caress like a lassie trying to seduce
   while I continue to windlass from wheels.

RGB Monday

Colors on move...

A street vendor, in push cart selling colourful items of house and beauty accessories - a shot from my balcony. 

Rock Paintings on Critters

During the wait at the toll gate on ECR (east coast road) in Chennai, I used to take photos sometime on the plants and rock paintings decorating the medians that separate the lanes for vehicles to pass through the collection booths. I here share couple of photos shot at the beautiful rock paintings on critters – different kind of butterflies and a turtle/tortoise and lizards – from two different stops at the toll gate. These paintings are there for more than a decade (without fading) and sometime I try to capture them depending on the vehicles movements and pace and my interest.  The butterflies above were shot with iPhone and the tortoise below was a camera shot.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Postcards from Twilightman

Receiving greeting card or postcards is a favourite thing from the past and those days we used to exchange greeting cards with cousins, during the festivals and New Year, and I used to collect those as a treasure and keep safe, just like the cousins do at the other end. But I lost many of them in the transfer to different houses and I only hold what I received in last 15 years, where I have sent more than received. After I learned Photoshop I started to create my own postcards using the photos I have taken and put words from my thoughts. Creating those postcards gives me a content feeling then, as I go through my personal thoughts and ideas rather picking up a greeting card from the stores.  But after the run-up in advanced communication through mobiles and internet, people started to show lack of interest and enthusiasm in sending and receiving cards and thus the exchange drops put down the practice.

In last 5 years I received some postcards from blogging friends across the world and Twilightman is someone special and different in approach. He sends me (and others) postcards during his trips he takeover to different countries and I loved receiving his postcards that greeted with hand written letters. A year or so back he sent a postcard from Penang and last month I received a postcard from his London trip – an aerial view across the Thames River – and yesterday it was a card from Taiwan. It was a real surprise for me to receive an postcard in short span from his latest trip and it makes feel happy and I truly enjoy his friendship, care and love and I couldn’t take these cards simple while traveling itself is not. At a time cousins, whom I expected lot taking indifferent routes (and of course I won’t blame them as life is a transformation indeed) received the cards from Twilightman is truly relevant and equally more. Thank you bro 

Taiwan postcard

Someone Dear Passed Away

One of our grandfathers (Dad’s uncle) passed away yesterday and I really wish I write about this gent who I expected to stay longer, despite his age – he turns 80 this year – he was healthy and fit as well with a clear and conscious mind-set is bit harder to find out these days. He was someone straightforward throughout his life and talks what’s in his mind whether the people listen likes or not and because of this some could feel disturbed or annoyed but he was mostly right on things and say what’s good for others which sometime would be hinting their mistakes and stroke pride to make feel bitter experience. Thinking back I too have felt disregarded sometime listening through his speech but when I could understand things the truth in his words made senses despite his difference in attitude.

He had a diploma in civil engineering and had worked and retried from Tamil Nadu Housing Board dept. and only with his earnings he built a house and grown his 4 children (where 3 were graduates) and married them all and 3 were married within relations.  After he was married with dad’s cousin sister he was fond of my dad and dad used to visit his home to do maths in his school days and all our constructions were executed under his instructions and planning and he’s someone never compromise on the quality and strength of a building. He had a special care for me and used to enquire about me wherever he meets mom (who was named by him, as Lilly) or dad and one time he took me to one of his neighbours (practicing touch healing) whom he believed could do something on my disability, after seeing someone being healed. But it was quite nonsense method and I don’t want to narrate the stupidity, and what I really saw there was a grandfather’s love and his intention to get me cured in any means.

He was a healthy person all his life and a never changed personality, adjustable to the situation and practice friendliness with everybody. He shares the age of my maternal grandfather, who passed in 2015. His fitness and active lifestyle is something would inspire anybody despite the ages, and even after a cardiac attack, less than a decade back, he become more conscious on his health and food habit to sustain deed. We never expected him to die very soon, despite being very stable for his age, and active till he experience urinary infection and backbone squeeze few months back. He was on medicine and cast to produce much trouble and pain but on one expected the problem he experienced was a sign of cancer at 4^th stage. Last time when I saw him (in September) he motivated me to do whatever I could rather stay idle. His last words still resound in my ears. Hope he rest at peace and sail through our memories.

Scenic Travel/Skywatch

A Gopro shot on one of my favourite routes – Dindugal to Kumli – and this is a part of the scenic road around Periyakulam which shot during my last year travel through Theni district. I could not keep away the camera whenever I travel on this road; the Western Ghats Mountains is a great companion stretches all along the route and sometimes the mist covering mountain tops are blissful to watch and even on sunny days it would  be a pleasant ride breathing the mountain breeze. And the sky as well is a pleasure to watch with different patterns creating a wondrous upon the blue sky and being a fertile soil throughout the district esp. the Cumbum valley is enriched with flouring farming and being a treasure trove of Tamil Nadu, where one would cherish when travelled through.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday