Picnic at setting of ‘I’

During our vacation come travel to Kodaikanal last month, we took a drive up to Kavunji - a terrace farming village on the far western end of Kodaikanal on the Palani Range of Western Ghats. First time going beyond Mannavanur, exploring the country sides of Kodaikanal; we picnicked on a patch of green adjacent to the Kavunji government school, facing a scenic foreground. As soon we land, a rock like structure caught our attention, alongside a gateway and fencing in raw woods fascinated to know what they are.

But I was sure it was not a real rock and thought it should have created by the students as a school project. And when one of us went neat to touch and see in curious, the watchman of the school (that shut for vacation) shout from a distance, warning, not to go near the structure as it may fall down. Being a kind old being, he came near clearing our doubt on the structure reveling that it was a setting of Tamil film ‘I’ from the renowned director of grandeur, Shanker. The rock made of wood and cardboard causes a natural setting of rock at about 25ft in cone shape.

Actually it doesn’t wonder me but the background it beholds was picturesque and stunning. The days for us in Kodaikanal were so cold like ever and expose to sunlight seems a pleasure, brought us under the open sky for lunch on a patch of green. There was enough light and shadow in turning off brilliant blue sky to passing clouds, carries some warmth and chillness around the landscapes. I saw this lonely raw wood bench left aside the settings of ‘I’ as photogenic, I recommended our families to take photos by sitting on the bench as I hope it deserve beautiful photography - covering a part of step farming and Sholas.

The elder man also lean us water for washing the plates and instructed to use the dustbin to put waste things. At this far end remote village, someone truly care for environment simply impressed me and I hope he is much wise what even city dwellers don’t follow right? We spent more than an hour relaxing and taking group photos standing in front of the setting and simple fascinating countryside background. Among the many, I just love the photo I composed on the wise man before leaving, stood strong in my mind and posing so cool.

Raindrop boat house - Mudaliarkuppam

Few weekends back we drive to Raindrop boat house at Mudaliarkuppam on ECR (east coast road) about 90km from Chennai. Actually we planned for an outing on Sunday on ECR and drove up to Mudaliarkuppam perhaps taking a boat ride on the backwaters of Odiyur Lake. It was a sunny day way up to summer heat but it wasn’t hot that much that day perhaps backup by A/C and coastal ride, we had our lunch under some trees shadows off ECR. One of the best aspects of outing had always been having lunch at unusual circumstance; especially under shadow of trees is quite relish and refreshing.

We (along with uncle, aunt and cousins) were at the boat house in afternoon and I was anticipated to take a boat ride there while it was where my last boat ride took place four year back. But my bad chance the boats that we took for ride last time were abandoned, due to broke up and there were only boats with seating options which is unsuitable for me. Last time we took a boat with flat on-board (check the abandoned boat in 1st picture) which could accommodate my wheel chair besides sliding benches for a relax ride. But somehow I enjoyed the visit to the boat house and I got to check the activities held around from the dock.

The boat house is located on a picturesque location with one side of vast Odiyur Lake and other side a large backwater channel lasting for more than 3 km parallel to shore before met with sea. There are many type of ride available at the boat house to enjoy water sports like pedaling, rowing, motor and speed boating and water scooting and kayaking. Leaving me and dad at dock, others went on a boat ride and pedaling boat, I went up shooting with camera while sun warms beside I was content with the cool sights I caught up around.  

There were number of sea birds floating around and taking on and off the water. I also saw common kingfisher fishing from the dock and other unknown birds taking the abandoned boat engine as its home. A huge fiber boat was anchored near the boat house to attract visitors capture our attention in blue. Unlike then the boat house doesn’t look so graceful and a part of dock was broke down and also lost its already partial roof. But I still prefer this boat house the best and it doesn’t throng by people like the always crowded Muttukadu boat house near Chennai on ECR. The eco system of backwater is too good here and the boating also take us for long distance ride and  give sometime to spent on the island at the mouth of lake.

Raindrop boat house also operates a restaurant and also conduct pre-orders on parties and get-togethers. It is one of a number of best places to check on weekend outing or picnicking between Chennai and Pondicherry. 

Common Kingfisher

Splashing water scooter

My street

I think I can’t get out of my house or street for a week, even I have nothing to do outside I feel locked.  Building rainwater drainage (by Chennai corporation)had been taking place around my area for some time now had reached our dead end street has stopped the vehicle activity and only a plank is put for bikes and walkers to cross. I actually had a plan to check a film in my favorable theater here was spoiled by this sudden dug up which was supposed to happen at anytime? Since they have covered almost streets expect our dead end.  We really lost our (not so good) paved roads to these enclosed canals building process which damaged the already gone worst here and there road due to many flat constructions on our Rajaji Nagar main road in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.

It’s been long time I took to the streets around my home on the power wheel chair, accompanied by someone (mom or uncle or cousins) during the evening hours really make the day end impressive. I used to receive the sun-rays on my body and sight of glowing sun setting behind the buildings and checking some beautiful flowers bloomed from the neighborhood houses. It used to be a motivation path to me, taking somehow deep breath and fresh breeze and different sights and new faces on streets improving my awareness on neighborhood. I used to come across stray dogs and few bark at me riding on a different wagon and some remain quiet sleeping on streets just taking a note on me and I even encounter their chase on those ride on bikes and cars but they keep calm when I pass.

The streets that I used take then were passed through almost unconstructed plots open to wild vegetation and roads were smooth enough with few speed breakers which used to be fun ride over. Once the open lands were started to construct apartments, the roads shape changed irregular and sights turned indifferent and dust and debris represents the fresh breeze and wild vegetation  Even then I used to go around occasionally, everything come to cease when roads turned worst after rains and dug up clay of buildings occupied the road. Now the rainwater drainage (rose to a foot height platform) build aside and across the roads make it tough and I know the importance of these drainage systems saving us from the stagnant of rainwater that threaten in different ways during monsoons. I feel hard without going out.

I think instead of cutting the roads across and making a concrete canal, that take a week-long to built, they can use underground pipes wherever a road cut through to connect the canals. I always feel the Chennai Corporation never does a neat job (for eg. they always leave the sludge dug up from drainage besides the lid) and they lack ideas how to handle things or use alternate routes. I wish I get back the roads that I used to wander freely then in evenings and I know the scenes never going to be same and roads without constant of vehicles pass but I wish for a better and improved roads after overall drainage constructions are completed in our area. The open grounds which are now multistory apartments and villas amaze me, equally the worst roads! Waiting to catch up with an impressive evening and going around and seeking inspirations once again regularly. 

Weekend outing along ECR

Few weekends back we had a family outing on ECR (east coast road) and on a leisure drive we went till Chinna Cuddalore beach near the mouth of River Palar... about 80km from Chennai. The indefinite drive took us around the Kalpakkam Township which created for the employees working in the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and Power Station.

Calm backwater across the township

I come across the Kalpakkam Township after long back and I really like this place for its quiet clam environment and beautiful lanes and well maintained gardens and greenery and trees and Backwaters Lake. There are about 26,000 people reside there hailing from across the country and they are provided with all amenities like schools, hospital, shopping complex and sports ground. There are about 4,920 quarters and the township was established in 1979.

Beautiful lane across the township

The township was parted by two, which was cut cross by a backwater canal close to Bay of Bengal and the two sides are connected by two beautiful bridges, and the backwater is visited by many migratory birds. The platforms lay beside the backwater was inviting to take a walk leisurely in evening and checking the birds and the plenty of trees gives huge shelter on both sides of the lanes.

Chinna cuddalore beach

We carried our lunch along with us and had at one of a trees shelter along the ECR and went discovering the Chinna Cuddalore beach, coming across the country side with paddy fields and herd of goats. The way to the beach is an isolated lane with the company of green coconut groves and at the end of the beach a fishing research centers have being on construction in full fledge.

On our way back home we stopped at the Palar river bridge to take few shots on the river bed and leftover water. It’s been years water flowed through this river and the illegal sand mine is one of a reason to barren its flow... and I always wish for an off-road trail on the river bed which never happened and don’t believe to be happening though! sign

Veg Point

We often check the Veg Point less than a km from home, sometime, while return home or going to Thiruvanmiyur beach, we get something to eat here… I like parotta and dosai from this tine restaurant or fast food center or whatever we name is delicious. For my brother, veg pulave and panner fried rice are favorite dishes from this center and it’s really interesting to watch how they prepares the fried rice by adding the ingredient that are kept ready already.
Sometime in morning dad get idiyappam from here along with sugar milk or kuruma it taste something nice and eating one vada will fill the stomach so as will be its size… Sometime coming out in evening we have our coffee here and there’s another place I like visiting to get a good coffee is Visranthi in Besant Nagar. Parking opposite to the shop we get a drive-in feel of eating from the car and have the hot bonda in evening is nothing to say about… I just like it a lot.

I badly miss the Woodland’s drive-in restaurant in Chennai which is now the Semmozi garden has always remind in mind and tongue for its feel of being among woods and resonant of chipping birds and the odour of earth if it rains is awesome… the crispy dosa which is renowned here is always my favorite and the puffed puri with potatoes is another combination worked well for me.

Bird watch, Olive Island

The other day went out with a friend along with parents and it wasn’t a destination based but just a wander across ECR (east coast road) and to find a decent place for our lunch out, which is our second time to go outing together. We come across the backwater off Kovalam and glad to see a bunch of sea birds flying so close and catching fishes and flapping frequently around the area in search of.

I tried by best to capture the birds that were closely come to fly and landing on water and it is the first time I see seabirds, which I later come to known as Black Headed Gull. Since water stagnant was less, the salt pan has set path for storing salts and a little black cormorant stretched leisurely her wings to put dry in the air and it was a pretty scene to see it stretched for long.

After relaxing a while and chitchat for long after our lunch break in one of the casuarinas groves off ECR, we stop for a route to the olive Island which is in one of my wish list to check that always attract me every time I come across the Muttukadu. I had took various attempts to find route for this Island but at last get to check it with the help of the friend who encouraged me to try a private gateway that lead to a resort which is under construction.

I never know before until check the island that it has been in active sometime ago before a couple of constructions took place, including an underdeveloped Olive Island resort. There are evidence of a rundown fisheries farm in the island and remaining pans still alive with the growth of prawns and for collecting clams, which we aware through a bunch of guys loading there sacks of clams and few have already set to fire the clam curry on spot.

The island wasn’t much pretty as I expected to be seeing from away, with a row of coconut trees and lagoons in solitary attitude. I felt it was too late to land there after certain space of it was brought into a private resort and the road where narrow with a small shutter to exit in or out water due to high-low attitude.

With a confine sate we drive home after purchasing few rose plants from a nursery to replace the dead ones, which no more withstand more than 6 months and already one had gone in them and remaining ones are ready to bloom out of bud! The friend whom joined with us is none than Karthik’s Mom, who gave birth to a beautiful mind and brilliant brain and who’s our family friend for some time now and hopefully being a caring mother forever.

Riding visiting

Sun was shining on Sunday, but not me feeling it along the Coromandel Coast on a short long drive filled with chillness inside the wagon. Uncle brought a new car, so planned for a ride in ECR with our family and then it was visiting the traditional family deity temple few kilometers away from Kalpakkam. It was more than ten years back we went, this time grandma was with us, so made her to visit the temple what she was asking for long time. On the way we picked the cousin bro, who was still spending his holidays wandering after attending the Mamallapuram Magam. The place was clueless to find, when the time we visited last it was vacancy and nothing to do with rarely people visit. Now buildup with structure, the temple attracted more people and have priest to take care devotees. There was a known family in the same villages, we stop there who never knows them except dad, but the people are more human enquiring where even both of us were unfamiliar. I wonder at people behavior that I find only in villages enquiring people and share the moment as familiar.

Still I find the small children looking around the car and asking about what is it, how it works…. There was a little one with festival cooling glass making fun with others, I really impressed in there amuse and innocent smiles. On returning we parked the vehicle on roadside with paddy fields and small canal runs where we stopped for lunch. The wishes came along passing the dried Palar river bed and clean water stays some where the ditches to think playing in it. When ever I see a dried river with little waters, the mind craves for fun ride on like trekking style. For grandma she needs to meet some relatives in mamallapuram and I was eager to visit my dear sister there we get to spend with her in times waiting for grandma to finishing her attendant with relatives.

Bro was driving (in his style) the way, this time unusual for me traveling except from Maruti 800 and this vehicle with more spaces and to climb and down though not comforts me whom really have quite satisfied with my position at Maruti. One or two thing I disagree with my brother driving was too speed and unaware of overtaking places that made me to use the seat belt and then only I felt how safe is to use seat belts are in highways. Anyway it was cool and different ride, going to some place that was like memorable time had been revisits with my lost uncle shyam’s thought with whom we first get there.

மண் வாசனை(Earth smell)

பனை மரத்தடியில் பச்சை வயல்வெளிகள்
மெகம் பறந்து போகையில், காற்றில் மண் வாசனை
மாடு கன்று போகையில் இயந்திரம் கொண்டு உழுகிறோம்.

மண் வாசிக்கும் விவசாயம், சரியான விலையில்லை
இவர்கள் வசம், ஏர் விழுதல் நாற்று நடுதல்
நம் நாட்டின் நாடி தானே இவர்கள்.

வாழ்க்கையில் பல சுமை, இவர்கள் அளிப்பதோ சுவை
சேற்றில் வளரும் கரும்பு, இனிப்பு தரும்
பயிரில் வந்த நெல், பல்ஆயிரம் உயிர்களின் செல்வம்.

கடந்து சென்ற பாதையில், பல புதுமை காண்கையில்
கனத்த வாழ்க்கை சிறிதுத லேசானது போல்,
இனிய பொங்கலை நோக்கி இந்த நெல் பயிர்கள்.

translation

In the bottom of the palm trees, green field space
when clouds flying across, earth smell in the wind
when cow and calf going, we are bringing machine to plough.

Earth reading agriculture, no proper value
in there custody, plough setting transplantation
they are our countries pulse isn’t it.

Many load in the life, what they present is zest
sugarcane growing on the mire, gives sweet
crops come paddy is wealth of many thousand lives.

From the passed path, when seeing many novelty
weighted life was like little lighter, where
these paddy crops looking forward to the sweet Pongal.

Monkey safari

click here if Flash not works to see pictures.

It was some 30 km’s away from Chennai towards south where see for little people moving and wagons. The 15 foot road still from those olden days, getting down to mud from tar if to pass another vehicle that comes opposite is a never change that connect the Rajiv Gandhi Salai and Chengalpattu that hold much forest, hills and villages. If u where to travel on this road, u won’t get to miss the sight of monkeys sitting along the road. Every time we get chance to travel on this stretch to reach my grandpa’s native village, we stop for some time to see monkey and feed what we have. So long after some five-six years, I went on this road for a small outing like picnic.

It was excite to catch them for visible, first find two monkey sitting on the side of the road. I get ready to capture them in camera, when we slow down the vehicle they where running near us and soon there was many coming out from the forest and climbing down from trees, but we still moving slowly. It was poor to just watch and to leave without any thing done. Dropped the snacks to not fool them, whom where giving us some thrill and entertain on the way. They are nice some sitting and standing in different position, small monkeys sitting innocently and cute looking. Not dissonantly behaving quietly stands even then we stop for snaps.

There was a videos at below of a monkey in dressed, just comes down from the Nilagiri hills… hehehe… cool, it wasn’t a monkey actually, it’s my cousin bro Aravind only just swing in the banyan tree roots. He was just spending his winter holidays at my place with me right now; he was the sweet disturbance for me and also showing affectionate often. We playing caroms at nights, chatting for much times weekend beaches and sharing his hostel experiences at Kothagiri, he has some stories to tell about his surrounding and mates.

Up down

The banners and flags of ruling party in middle of the roads from near our home towards east cost road, it’s the pass by CM the road were cleared from garbage’s that left for a week now. It was said to be greeneries lost for development of education and work, it was on the way of newly named Rajiv Gandhi Road (OMR). The dust, polluted mist presents day and night on this road for 15 km, surprise the meters of worst roads are good looking and smooth. The weather was best feeling on the travel, thanks to the cloudiness in the continuation of the late night’s heavy thunders, flashes and rain. Those were the left of greens from people, on the road linking of High ways and Rajiv Gandhi Road, once a fearing road with two sides of forest and bad travel.

Somewhere inside those villages could find the preparations on the upcoming monsoon of digging the lakes, ponds into large. Its becoming familiar in villages outside the city to built a newly home with a Sumo’s and Quails standing on the gateways; it’s because of the boom of land rate. On the same way it was one of our relative who built a newly home in the village, where we went to attend the function. It was fine to see them lived from the poor huts to move on marble floors, they were one who build the home in the way many homes built in villages with two beams at entrance, designed doors and windows in decorating the look, I feel the most heaviest one would be the door, comparing to our light weight. Being a travel enthuse; this function I attend is also to travel out of city, away from just doing the same sitting here.

What was most sad thing that continuing is the destruction the marshland of Pallikaranai and Thoraipakkam. It was not over 3 months I crossed this way; its clearly visible of more garbage has been dumped in covering this huge lake, where its home for more species. Last time I found many birds on the electric posters and swimming in the water, I thought to find some more birds for these rainy days, but disturbed by the mountains of garbage dumps. The fresh water, plants and species are important than those glass stories and lined buses that r growing.

Some pics i come across

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Photo's at Flickr!