Invisible beauty

An invisible beauty
stands on the balcony
against the sea breeze
brushing off her face...
to never let comb hair
coming out of fresh showing.

Looking over the sea
from the beach house
she waits for her boyfriend
who went on voyage
to return to take her along
for a romantic sail across the sea.

Meanwhile at eventide
leaning over the pillar
she strokes her hair, gently
in fond memories of him
where they went hand-in-hand
before he went on-board.  

P.s. Inspired by the picture I shot at Covelong (Kovalam, Chennai recently, on a beach house balcony.

Linking this post for  Good Fences by Gosia 

Sunday Photos: Palavakkam Beach

I was at the Palavakkam beach in the neighbourhood today evening with my cousin and got to click some photos with mobile. The day was very hot and being Sunday and summer holidays to kids the beach was unusually crowded and I could see people come as groups of families with boys playing beach crickets around.  

I was also greeted by nice blue sky and simple sunset

RGB Monday

Here’s RGB Monday to keep away your Monday Blues and make feel colourful and yet cheerful! And this Link-in feature invites your colourful photos with the content of RGB – Red, Green, and Blue.

Pretty colorful Merry go around at Elliot's Beach, Chennai

p.s. Beaches are my favourite pastime perhaps since we live close to sea and Elliot’s beach has many memories to share, and in our earlier days we visit the beach to enjoy the playground equipment’s like siding, seesaw, swings… installed at the beach sand. Elliot’s hasn’t been crowded then and only a part of beach was used much then, and the manually operated equipment’s like merry go around, ferry wheels aren’t available and also any kind of shops exists except the popular eatery Cozee, which is opp. to police booth. My late uncle is a friend of the owner, who’s a Singh (and he has also acted as Rajini’s friend in Basha) and he would take us there and get ice creams from the shop. Every time I pass the Cozee, the moment spent with my uncle at one of the tables there blink at my mind for few seconds. 

Youth revolution turned people for Jallikattu

Before I go into the historical revolution and ever seen frame of protest by our youth of Tamil Nadu against the ban on our traditional sport Jallikattu, I want to condemn the police for executing batons on the youth gathered on the Marina beach, where the main protest was going through (peacefully) for 6 days (from Jan 17-22). The protest first began at Alanganallur, the town famous for the valiant sport, has inspired the youth of Tamil Nadu to form a protest arbitrarily to save the Jallikattu which directly supports the native breed bulls. The protest began with hundreds of people crossed millions at the end of the day, across the state. At Marina beach (the 2nd longest beach in world) alone more than 1.5 million had gathered for the protest, which had no head to lead but the small small groups gathered at the beach were all connected through social media.

The most amazing and ever seen about the protest was it was conducted in a very stocky and self-disciplined state, where no one affected in anyways… although there was some, which were adjust by the public because of the intention of the protest. Individuals perhaps have different opinions on conduction the sport, but the overall spirit of Tamil people was supposed to support the Jallikattu as it was a cultural identity of Tamils and when the youth of Tamil Nadu come to the street to protest there was none left to prevent but rather came forward (as families) to support the cause. Even though I haven’t participated in the protest physically, my mind was quite around and I intensely supported the revolution and kept sharing things related to protest and expressing my thoughts via Facebook while  continue watching the news channels for update.

The protest conducted on the footstep of Gandhi (Non-violence) went such peaceful with dignity, trust and courage.  And also his dream and belief of independence had come true though the protest where women and young girls staying overnight without any hesitation or fear about the opposite gender who protected them like their own sisters. It is one of the greatest strength of the protest where the world looks after with awe. The protest has projected the determination of Tamil people and will power of youth and moreover the exhibition of lifestyle and the behaviour pattern of the youth and the culture of Tamils make feel pride. It seems there isn’t a youth revolution happened like this in post-independence India (perhaps with Hindi protest), where an entire state comes together to standstill to protect their cultural identity and interest.

The protest for jallikattu had touched beyond the core cause of conducting the sport! The unison inspired by the protest has set hope that we have the will to face anything that’s against the people. It couldn’t be enough how many times we put salute to the youth who achieved what they want (by non-violence) putting pressure on the state government to take immediate steps, and thus CM met PM and an emergency law is implemented to conduct the sport against the ban of Supreme court and there’s a hope the law will make the sport constant. Though the sport is already regulated by the Supreme Court in year 2007, which brought down anything displeasure related with the sport, the newly implemented law is expect to add sternness. Until the Monday evening, when the former chief justice reveals the real facts about the law, there’s an uncertain condition prevailed everywhere whether to let down or not the protest.

It’s obvious that only strong and active bulls can breed native cows which means of healthiness or restoring health in many ways.  We do hope the protest emphasis the vital of bulls and make aware the importance of preserving them among the public. Did we saved the Jallikattu or not, we disclosed a behaviour that’s impossible to bring out unless it was inbuilt through the rich culture alike Tamil. Though we united as India, any part of the country hasn’t seen such a confrontation and comfort facing the supreme power and creating a protective environment for the women in protest. No one from the political or film industry is allowed into the protest; rather those come alone on their own interest, is indeed setback to those who believed that only they could manage certain things, people taught them that it is we they are depend.

I am certain the history will never forget this occasion, though the protest has been a grand victory and was supposed to end peacefully was disturbed by the wrong attitude of the police. I don’t want go deep into the issue that made me feel bad and sad. But what happened could never bring down what was created by the youth. I think I don’t need to say more but the video below will show you the real starts… the mobile torch protest by youth during the dusk makes feel heaven on earth, where the technology and traditional inherent overshined! Hats off! 

Temporary fence @ Elliot’s Beach

Few days back I was at Elliot’s Beach in the neighbourhood and found fences being erected along the sea front. 

The fence build with Casuarina woods is laid for the New Year eve to prevent people entering or swimming in water. During New Year eve, people throng the beach and keeping away all from the water is not possible and so was the fence and the fence seems to support till Pongal festival (Jan 14-16), with Kaanum Pongal as the last day, would pull crowd.  

The photos were shot two days after New Year and being a weekday there’s very less people around. 

Linking this post for Good Fences by Gosia's Looking for identity

RGB Monday

A cute and colorful Ferris Wheel @ Elliots Beach, Chennai

வானவில்லை உடைத்து செய்த ராட்டினமோ 

கண்கவர் வண்ணத்தில் 

குழந்தைகளை அமர்த்தி மகிழ்விக்க   

The Ferris wheel a broke-up of rainbow?

In fascinating colors 

Hired to entertain children

Taking this RGB Monday further, i have made a chain-link to the meme and like to invite entries who are interested on this theme. Thanks Devilish Angle for encouraging me to take up this meme into chain link… hope you all support me and share your link-in if interested. 

Sunday Photos: Beach Sight

Last evening I visited Palavakkam beach and spent some time quenching the thirst for some cool breeze and change of sight. During our stay in Thiruvanmiyur I frequent this beach in south Chennai, but now in Adyar its bit far checking out. It’s really good to see it pretty clean all these days and also becoming popular among locals to hang-out on weekends. I took some photos during the time of relaxing and here it goes: 

Since the evening was cloudy the sunset was pretty mild and boys where playing cricket in the foreground. 

Some pretty houses line the beach front across the sandy playground… which is also the part of the beach.

Soan papdi vendor and the push cart neat the water front  

Sundal  boy! Sundal is a kind of recipe made in white peas and sold as a popular snack in Chennai beaches.

Cotton candy man 

RGB Monday

A colourful Ice Gola cart @ Elliot beach, Chennai

Last week I check Elliot beach and find this cart/vendor selling ice creams in not only different colors, but also named it as Ice Gola instead of Ice cream. I really don’t know the meaning of Gola and the flavors the vendor listed doesn’t seem to be natural color or taste. I watched him arranging the color bottles taking out of the box beneath and I also noticed him smashing ices and filling the icebox beside the bottles.

I was looking forward to see how the vendor makes Ice Gola, but no one came buying it until I was there. Maybe I was too early there and left before many people turned to beach.  It was a weekday and expecting people is not possible. Meanwhile, I enjoyed kfc chicken popcorn while waiting for my dad to come back from his routine walk. 

RGB Monday

Merry go round @ Marina Beach, Chennai  

The colorful merry-go-round is a hand cranked or motor driven produces fun and amusement to both adults and kids.

Ride to Elliot’s Beach in Wheelchair

Last month I went to Elliot’s Beach couple of times in my new powered wheelchair right from the home. First time I was accompanied by my uncle and cousin and later with my uncle, it feels wonderful taking advantage of the powered wheelchair with more power than the older and riding all the way to the beach on my own. Though I was accompanied by my uncle, there’s so much difference in the way watching the beach (or visiting any other place) from the cabin of a car and wind boring open landscape.

It’s been long time I took on the promenade of Elliot’s Beach and moving on the pavement in tiles was caressing taking along the cool breeze from the Bay of Bengal. I went there in the evening between 4 and 6 to keep away from the road traffic and rather going on main roads I take some narrow streets to reach 4^th and 5^th avenues and move into the promenade near Urur Olcott Kuppam. Only from that side one could climb into the promenade where it slides to road surface. It’s really disappointing to see there’s no ramp facility to climb that one step that separates the road and pavement.

Other day we went earlier and the sun wasn’t settled down and sharply hitting the forehead, so we halted near the police booth where the sun was blocked by the KFC restaurant on the opposite side. There I find a silver fence or rail making a neat presence along the small space of green devote to the beautification of beach, but except the bougainvillea in red and white all are withered. But what really bothered or make me feel disgust was the stray dogs that were lying here and there (you could see one lying on the sand in the above image) and causing menace to the public visiting the beach. I won’t have minded if they were looking good but they were all lookalike expose to some severe skin disease and infectious.

I am not against stray dogs, and there are enough stray dogs in my neighborhood and not all are threatening, but the once with rashes and skins disease could cause trouble and also affect other healthy dogs. Wish the authorities take some step in controlling stray dogs or removing the ones in bad state to some rescue centers that could treat them and left free somewhere.

Karl Schmidt Memorial (the white monument, built in memory of a Dutch sailor who saved a drowning girl from the sea by giving away his life) is peeped through the fence

For those unaware about Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar, Chennai, it is the second most visited place in Chennai next to the world famous and second longest beach in world, Marina Beach. The Elliot’s beach is about 2 km from my home and this is the first time I making it through powered wheelchair. 

Linking this post for Good Fences by Run a Round Ranch

Hunt for life

Image courtesy: http://www.anshulgautam.in/

Sailed miles overseas
via scorching sunshine, and
thunderstorm menace

Reaching ashore, we
decided to stroll the beach
departing the boat

Tracked the foot imprints
in isolated island,
we hunted for life.

For A Week for Writing: Picture Prompt 

Kanniamman Temple, Kovalam

During one of my visits to Kovalam Beach, near Chennai, I got to capture this temple tower from the parking lot. The temple called as Kanniamman Kovil is built close to the shore, though the temple tower looks fading, I find it beautiful along the pretty blue sky. I was there on a Sunday evening and it was crowded and people where coming in and out making it look like an exhibition with few merry go around kind of things. For the people around this area, Kovalam beach is an entertainment place to spend their Sunday evenings. 

RGB Monday

A colorful wall/graffiti near Elliot Beach, Besant Nagar!  

Other day for a change my cousin took me to the other side of the Elliot beach (an alley between the Governor’s beach bungalow and Domino’s Pizza near skating ground) where I find this wall pretty colorful to shoot. The gap was very narrow and only enough for a hatchback to pass and it was open for the people to reach the kuppam (a fishermen village) and taking this path took me further closer to the sea from the usual parking lot.

Near the graffiti, I also find a small house temple, which perhaps the tutelary deity of the people of the kuppam, and it was too colorful to shoot. The house holds couple of small Ayyanar statues and other idols encompassed by 4 Sacred fig shrubs. 

Surprise Inlet

During last month’s outing on ECR, we were redirected through Kalpakkam Township perhaps due to some road work on ECR. But I was really glad for this diversion that takes me around the beautiful and peaceful environment of the Kalpakkam Township – which was created for the employees of Madras Atomic Power Station, and this is the second time I come across this place after 2012. And what I find wonderful this time was the exit of a backwater channel into the sea.

During my former visit (click here), the backwater lake come channel was disconnected from the sea by a sandbank and viewed pretty clam in absence of anyone, even being a noon then but the place looks like a mini beach now. Perhaps because of the diversion, many people pass the way stop sometime to enjoy some gentle moment around the bank. Few locals where fishing on the mouth of the channel, using a fibre boat and some throw bait from the bridge along the channel.

I was surprised by the sight of sea waves flowing into the channel and this is first time I was very close to an active inlet where sea merges with a river/channel. I also admire the beautiful curves created by the sea waves on either side of the shore and looks like this change was due of recent rain and flood that let more water into the channel to break away the sandbank and other barriers. The tree roots and barks on the shore make certain it was the cause of flood.

The mouth area also has a small park with benches to sit and relax by watching the seashore or emerged beach. This place had already impressed me and I wanted to go around the backwater area in my wheelchair (on the platforms laid around) and also the ambiance of the township with number of trees for shadow is a delight to pass. With the new park setting and the opening of channel into the sea want me to go there again and inspires my already existed wish. 

Sunday Photos – Uthandi Beach

Couple of weeks back while on ECR, I come across Uthandi beach and spent some time on its peaceful and pretty clean ambience.  Uthandi beach exists (take left) with a km ahead to ECR toll gate, when coming from Chennai, and the beach comes to view at the end of VGP Uthandi Layout. The road to the beach was well laid in concrete and has a police booth at the entrance of the road and also bears barriers across the road to prevent speeding. The layout has moderate number of houses and bungalows to look beautiful and could see many taking walks along their pet dogs – perhaps, because of the strange feeling and loneliness and calm being.

It was about 5.45pm and the place was turning darker as sun hides opposite leaving little light for capturing image. I find the beach to be neatest and pretty clean, perhaps because of fewer visitors and frequented by local residents alone. The new beach also has restrooms to my amazement, with ramp facility and dustbins indicates to keep away trashes. I didn’t take my wheelchair but could experience the serene from inside the car with a desire to be there again on my wheelchair to explore the pretty lanes and houses. I also saw some wonderful gates and fences there, which i like to capture sometime for good fence meme. Hehe... 

wow... we got to see little beach crabs there (one left on car bonnet to shoot)

oo

RGB Monday

Here's another multicolored image for the RGB Monday series... comprising red, green and blue.

The colorful balloon  shooting (or ready for shoot) at Marina Beach, Chennai

Lighthouse

A lighthouse flashes

ray of hope for anything

afloat in the sea. 

Row of Boats

Few weekends back I was at Kovalam beach on ECR and we stopped there for a while when coming back from Mamallapuram on a brief ride come outing. Kovalam being a huge fishing hamlet and being Sunday evening the boats were parked a lot along the shoreline. The day was hotter when we hit the road by noon but evening become slightly cool as clouds form around the sky when we reached Kovalam.

It was time between 4-5pm so there weren’t enough crowds at the beach but there was constant rise as we wait future and before move out of the area, to avoid getting jammed since this is a beach where lot of people from Chennai’s southern suburbs would visit for mild entertainment. Here are some photos on the fishing boats that parked nearly along the curvy shoreline and as I haven’t took my camera that day, the picture were captured from my sister’s (cousin) Smartphone.

RGB Monday

(Today's object is tractor)

Red tractor, but the color has been fated! The picture was captured from the moving car on Grand Southern Trunk Rd across Theni, during my travel to Cloud Mountain.

Green tractor on the Girivalam (coming around hill) road of Tiruvannamalai! It is the road (that comes around the Annamalai Hill) where abundant of people take walk on the full moon day and they believe doing it brings peace to mind and also enhance fitness.

Blue tractor on the Palavakkam beach and it is to use to pull boats that come to shore after fishing and they charge certain amount for the job. 

PS. Tractors always fascinate me for their ability to handle any kind of terrain and many a time I wish to go for a ride on tractor. I and my cousin used to discuss how wonderful it would be to modify a tractor into a passenger car, so that we could travel anywhere without a care about road. 

Overcast at Kasimedu Fishing Harbour and Cloud Iridescence

The weather for last few days has been pleasant in Chennai during the evening with rain clouds overcast the sky and seldom showering here and there to lighter downpour. The days are hotter than usual to become a natural geyser to produce hot water but as it enter the evening the weather dramatically turn into gloomy and cool.  The situation was similar when I cross Marina beach a day back (in evening) with a plan to drive up to Kasimedu fishing harbor for a chance as we mostly turn back with Marina.

The sun was shining bright when we moved out of home but on the way we saw gray clouds climbing up the sky from the west against the setting sun and for a moment on the beach road we come to cease across a colorful sky (cloud iridescence) showing up above the clouds. As we cross Parry's corner it becomes darker and windy and when we enter the fishing harbor it was about 6 pm and the concrete pier was empty unlike my previous visit on a Sunday last year. There was police standing at the entrance of the harbour but they didn’t pay attention to us as we drive inside.

 

We drive partially into the breakwater and stood there sometime almost watching the clouded sky and feeling the fresh breeze and whisper of silent waves of sea. The harbour wasn’t busy that time and some fishermen were working on their nets at a corner and being 6 in evening we didn’t take risk of driving all the way till the end of breakwater to be warned by someone. Later the cop come in jeep indicated us to move away and we left the harbor to wish to come back some other day in a day time.

(All the photos were captured using S4 mini smart phone - 8 megapixel)