RGB Monday

Some colorful houses

"Methai Veedu" or "Maadi Veedu" is a Tamil term used in village sides of Tamil Nadu to call houses with terraces, and these are a few such houses I shot at Palamathi hills near Vellore. 

Palamathi is a small hilly area located to the southeast of Vellore city, and a beautiful winding road leads from there to a renowned temple known as Balamathi Murugan temple. 

Outcome of Rain

The day is quite Drizzy and breezy with cold 

Rains for the second consequent week 

Chills down to nerves, to seek warmth  

A cup of tea worked well at this point 

To pull out the numbness through its brew;  

The weather could not be the same for long 

Cheers before it is too warm or cold 

The rain washed away the hazards in the air 

Like a mountain breeze its refreshing to breathe 

Compensates the desire for travel to mountains;  

The street full of shed leaves from the raintree 

Resembles a glimpse of the fall season 

Like the tiny leaves, life spread with happiness 

And collecting it as a pile is a mounted joy.  

P.s I share below a short photo video of recent rain and flood captured from the balcony. 

Oussudu Lake between Pondicherry-Tamil Nadu

Oussudu Lake is about 8-9 km from the center of Puducherry city towards the west. I visited the Oussudu lake in February when driving to Puducherry after visiting the Veedur Dam near Villupuram. I should have checked out the Lake in 2015 when I attended a friend's marriage in Puducherry, but I lost track of the route at a junction and went on with the plan of visiting the National Fossil Wood Park in Thiruvakkarai.

We had a different experience with Oussudu Lake (also called Ousteri Lake) that has nothing to do with the lake. As we left home early in the morning, we only took our breakfast with the plan of having lunch at Puducherry had been delayed by the road conditions and diversions. Moreover, being Sunday and almost 2 pm, most of the restaurants on the way were either closed or had no food; we who intended to have Biriyani decided to go into the city, but our best, we found a delicious biriyani just a few km from the lake.

It was 3.30 when we end our lunch from the tree shades opposite Oussudu Lake. Being new to the place, we had to check many hotels along the way quite annoyed and came to a mindset of having whatever's available to eat. And only then my cousin called his friend, and he directed us to the restaurants' area.

My google maps showed a restaurant named Irfan, and what could I think further other than going directly over there when there is a restaurant in the name of the popular food Youtuber/vlogger Irfan. The biriyani, as well as the other non-veg items we bought, were delicious. And its taste was a testament to the fame of the name Irfan.

Oussudu Lake has a boathouse with a boating facility by the Puducherry tourism, and they maintain a small park along the lake bank. February was a time Covid cases were fewer in numbers, but being Sunday, there was a mild crowd around the jetty; and some were resting and taking naps at the benches under the tree shadows is no surprise as it was a breezy afternoon.

The lake covers an area of about 800 hectares, and it was equally divided by the states of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Oussudu is the largest lake in Puducherry and a migratory park for birds, and during winters, the overseas birds visit the lake and build nests on trees.

Due to the generous northeast monsoon, the lake was up to its brim and waveringly. People have happily drowned their legs in the water while sitting on the stairs, a bunch onboard returning from a ride on the lake. I couldn't spend much time at the lake despite the afternoon breeze and shadows were inviting; I left to explore a beach before head back home. 

Happy 3rd month

My nephew Jeswanth, born on 3rd May, complete his 3rd month. The charming little kid is making life happier! You perhaps know how significant he was to me to give me the tenderest feeling of love and precious moments of life.

The little boy identifies me and smiles as I talk to him, and he also tries to speak with me that sound only ooo and haa, and those are moments I would cherish forever. It was his cuteness that spellbound me as I take in his glimpses of smiles and innocently staring quiet eyes. 

In the expression of a sports person – perhaps a boxer, but who knows, he may become one as he is already kickboxing with his hands and legs. lol 

The boy is available at any time of the day, or whenever we brought him home, there isn't a place for worry. He's such a stressbuster, and I couldn't think what if he moved to his house in 2 months. Though I know he would be visiting us often as ours was his maternal home, I enjoy his presence as much as possible.

July Rain

Begin July it's raining almost every day in the evening and somewhat warm in day times with pretty blue sky. This pattern of rain is unusual for us during this month and season of sunshine. The month of July would bring good wind into our state of Tamil Nadu, and perhaps this time seems to be the best winding season to lead the rain, although the Upper Air Circulation has been the cause of rain.

The southwest monsoon is rocking the western part of the country, including the western ghats of Tamil Nadu, and in the Nilgiris, almost all dams are full to open the shutters. My dad complains daily that his evening walk is interrupted by the rain. The rain clouds suddenly cover the sky by the late afternoon or evening, and it was my duty to alert mom to collect the dry clothes from the balcony rail before the rains drench.

We're working on our bath and veranda floor, and this rain had caused some difficulties and every day we had to cover the area to prevent wetness from the rain. For about a week, I had difficulty using the restroom and was forced to use the restroom at my uncle's home next door despite some difficulty. But things settle for good now, and we are fine with the rain unless it was flood type.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

சுற்றுப்புற சொர்க்கம் / Ambient paradise

காற்றோடு கவி பாடும் குயில் 

மலரரோடு தேன்  சுவைக்கும்  வண்டு 

கிளையொடு கழைக்கூத்தாடும் அணில் 

கீச் கீச் என்று மாங் குத்தும் கிளி   

அழைக்கும் சைகையில் மயக்கும் மைனா 

மறைந்திருந்து சடசடக்கும் மீன்கொத்தி  

ஆரவாரத்துடன் வந்த தவிட்டு குருவிகள் 

எல்லாம் சேர்ந்து சொர்கத்திற்கு வித்திட்டன. 

translate in eng:

The cuckoo sang with the wind 

Honey-tasting beetle with flower 

A squirrel acrobat with branches 

Mango stabbing parrot shrieks

Myna enchants in the nodding gesture

Kingfisher rattle from somewhere hideaway

Yellow-billed babbler that came with cheers

Altogether,  they sowed to heaven.

Mango Season

The mango season had almost come to an end, and the mango tree in the house opposite us had stopped bearing mangoes. This year’s mango season was fantastic all over the state and witnessed a solid yield, unlike the previous year, where the tree opposite us had only a couple of mangoes.

This year the tree had a significant yield, but except few mangoes harvested by the owners, most of them were eaten by parakeets and bats. It was a kind of acrobatic show to see the parakeets relish the mangoes in whatever position they are comfortable with. The bats only come at night, so we could not see them except the rustling of leaves.

I have a series of photos of the parakeets piercing the mangoes hanging from the tree, but I haven't uploaded the images to the laptop, so perhaps I would do it later. As of now, I share some photos of hanging mangoes from 2019 and some from 2021.

Our relatives shared enough mangoes this time, apart from dad’s purchase from the shop; we had mangoes almost every day, but as a diabetic patient, I limit myself to a small slice. Mom and dad too take in limits, and we take it along with the lunch as its effect against diabetes seems less.

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Jeswanth, my newfound delight

The Covid seems took a back seat in our state (wishfully slip to a nil stage soon), and we switched into a night lockdown mood since almost all activities are allowed in the state up to 7 pm; we happily continue to downgrade in numbers. Among a lot of negative things crunching us for more than a year and a half, and though we have practiced living among them, there's always a longing for a positive effect. And one significant effect that caused a lot of cheer was my newborn nephew Jeswanth.

My sister (cousin) delivered a baby boy last month, and he instantly took all our attention towards him, and passing a day without seeing him was like something. He's cute, just like every other newborn baby, but he looks special to me in all ways. It's been a long time I felt a baby, and now he has given me that chance with soft touches and gentle strokes on him. I loved the way it feels though I don't know how to define it, it feels nostalgic, reminding me of the distinct essence of my cousins (as babies) who clung to my heart.

I was amused to think that his mother is one of the cousins who I remember carried in my hand, and now I bear another coming out of her. The little boy just started to look at us, and staring into his eyes is magical and mystical as we never know what goes into his mind or is he really staring at us. He's precious and mind-blowing to keep away anything that bothers us in his presence and enclosed by his tiny fingers for grasp feels awesome.

I'm just looking out for words to define his presence. I'm glad we live next door, so it was easy to watch him and bring him home to play. She's my father's brother's daughter, and being her first delivery, she was looked after by us according to the custom; she will be staying with us for about five months. It excites me as I could see him growing sometimes. The last time I came close with a kid was my other nephew, Barath, who doesn't even care to meet me later, but my love for him will remain the same. Then came my former neighbor's kid Achu, who visit us daily since we lived in the same compound before they went on transfer.

The little boy sleeping on dad's lap

Jeswanth is my newfound delight, though I don't believe he will be different from others; I decided not to think anything further rather enjoy his presence and gain cheerful memories to cherish forever.

Kodaikanal Lake and Travel

Kodaikanal has been one of my favorite places ever since I visited in 1999. I had no idea how the place would look like other than learning it was a hill station like Ooty, the only other place I have visited then - two years earlier before visiting Kodaikanal. Since 2012 I have been visiting the Princess of Hill station yearly except in 2014, and my last trip was in 2019 so, it's obvious I haven't been there in the last two years.

Kodaikanal lake on a cold evening.

I really miss the place. Thanks to covid 19. Either we go to other places or not, we don't miss going to Kodaikanal, especially after my uncle established his Woodhouse and cottages in the lower hills of Kodaikanal. And needless to say, Kodaikanal has become like a second home for us, since next to our home, the longer we stay outside was only at Kodaikanal. The weather there has become familiar or adapted to us to visit any time of the year except the monsoon time where we could not explore any places due to rain and cold. 

A beautiful private boathouse along the Kodaikanal Lake.

A couple enjoying their boat ride in the lake. Glad motorboats are not allowed in the lake to keep it clean.

I have driven to many parts of the Kodaikanal, but yet there are many places to explore, and some are road-less traveled. I'm so curious to visit Kodaikanal, and other places too, and some never traveled before, when the situation becomes favorable. But the thought of Kodaikanal and travel, in general, keeps haunting me and inspires me to write more about them.

The road that goes around the Kodaikanal Lake for about 6kms

Cycling is one of the favorite activities for anyone who visits the Kodai lake, and you see some guys enjoying their ride around the lake. This is a candid shot I captured from inside the car.

There wasn't a trip to Kodaikanal complete without coming around the Kodaikanal Lake - the most favorite place in Kodaikanal. Taking a drive around the lake is a favorite pastime for me whenever I visit   Kodaikanal, and I also love spending time on the lake sipping on hot tea. The star-shaped lake is one of a beautiful artificial lake converted from a natural marshland, and it still retains its original despite the lack of cleanliness. Hope you like the lake photos I posted here.

Lake in thick mist and rain during a monsoon day in July

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Hibiscus from Neighbor’s Garden

Life is so exhausted and disastrous what perhaps everyone knows what it was. I have been writing a lot these days related to covid and decided to change topics to what l like most. Nature is the best medicine for all, and let us take the nectar out of flowers to add some sweetness to the heart that filled the sour of tears. So was the post today.

The neighbor's garden opposite to us is not flourishing as before, and the neighbor hasn't spent much time gardening, but how can we anticipate a son, who lost his father less than 2 months ago, to do active gardening? But the weather wasn't that kind enough for plants to flourish or flowers to bloom.

The flowering pot plants have changed positions where I couldn't take photos of the few bloomed hibiscus despite the interrupt in wires and grown branches of trees. I see the red and yellow hibiscus bloomed more among the fewer blossoms of hibiscus, and all are replaced as facing the neighbor's house, perhaps because watching flowers can give some solace to the hearts and forget someone who lived for 94 years is not easy.

I didn't take any photos of the neighbor's garden in the last two months, or I need to check the camera to see if I have missed downloading any photos into the laptop; anyhow, I like to share some photos of the hibiscus I shot in March. So here it goes…

Btw. The lockdown and the situation with covid keep promising as cases of covid continue to reduce across the country, as well as in our state; the lockdown may last few more weeks with slight relaxation, but perhaps a week later. 

Summer, why one of my favorites?

Summer is always special in many ways like every other season has its own, and ours is a tropical country, where the temperature rose high during this time turns out to be a holiday season for kids in schools and colleges. And what more special the kids could have in life to refresh from the regular institutional life?

Being a 90s kid, I know how curiously we waited for this time to make some of the best childhood memories.

Though the days are hot enough, the summer breeze is always special, especially to me, and it blows me down with nostalgic memories of the past and a boost to look forward in life. When I think back, many of my poems or inspiration to write wake up during this time, and the silent afternoons are the best to connect with emotions and thoughts.

And also, living close to the sea, the cool breeze that rose from the sea would sway me and flatten the day's hotness!

Beaches are one of the best places to hangout often during the summer, which I guess is the mindset of all over the world, but those living close to one would truly enchant the opportunity. Beaches are my favorite places, perhaps because they're easily accessed here but never close to the water. Beaches provide small amusements watching through the activities of people, stalls, and hand carts and for me, the best time to visit beaches was on the full moon day to see the silvery moon rising over the sea. There was a time where I visited the beach constantly for few full moon days, but it's been a year since I have gone close to a beach.

Summer is also a season where we get to taste ice creams, and this is the time where parents could not deny buying us ice cream when we insist on the sign of summer. On the other hand, there are watermelon, muskmelon, and mangos, the only available fruits of the season to take down the summer heat. 

The vacations are another interesting thing we anticipate over the season and planning mostly for a cold region or hill stations to enjoy the pristine nature and weather. But things aren't the same now as we started to avoid this season esp. to keep away trouble in accommodation, booking rates, and the crowd.  Still, the thought of vacation haunts me whenever the temperature takes a toll or someone reminds me of the time spent together or the mind recollects the moments cherished.

I hope, you guys too have your favorite season that connects you in one or many ways.  If possible, share few interesting things in the comment. Thank you

Fields of Marigold, off Veedur

During my Veedur Dam visit in February, we come across a surprising sight of the marigold fields on the dam road, after the Veedur village; and it was a kind of loop road that goes around the backwaters of the dam and links back to the national highway.

It was a refreshing sight of yellow; though it wasn't a large landscape of yellow, I never got to see a marigold field of this much. And it was a great divertissement from the regular and boring sights of the highways and there's also a patch of mixed colors of an orange and yellow and yet un-bloomed bed of dark orange or red marigold. 

It seems it was the dam water that made flourish the marigold. Though the marigold bloomed on both sides of the road, the view towards the backwater (2nd pic above) is scenic, and the blue sky and the sunny day made it glowing. Aside from that, a kind of white wildflowers bloomed in the barren lands, but still, I doubt whether they are wildflowers or a kind of cultivated flowers.

Field of white wildflower

The field of flowers stretched only for a few km on the east bank of the reservoir, and it seems only the land around the dam is fertile, unlike its dry northern part where we drove along before drawing away to Puducherry. This reminds me of the rose fields I saw around Nagalapuram, at the border of Andhra and Tamil Nadu, had Pichatur Dam as its source.

The bed of red marigold ready to bloom

Linking this post for Floral  Friday Foto  

RGB Monday

A colorful lane on the white town in Puducherry and aka Pondicheery.

Yesterday I traveled to Puducherry, a 150+ km ride after a year, and my last travel to Amrithi Zoo near Vellore in Feb 2020. Visiting Puducherry is an extension ride following the intention of visiting Veedur Dam, near Tindivanam. More detail about the trip will follow in the next post.

Asus Vivobook X441ua

Begin the year with a new laptop as I said goodbye to my nine-year-old companion, the Dell Inspiron 15. It was a journey uninterrupted in any major ways, and it doesn't require service for the last 3 years perhaps it could be a reason for its sudden loss of response. I could have woken it up by changing the motherboard, but I decided to put it rest and went for a new one.  Asus Vivobook is cool and enough for the works I do. It was quite an upgrade for me from Intel i3 to i5 processor, 4Gb to 8Gb ram and 500Gb to 1TB HDD, and Windows 7 to win 10. 

Actually, I thought of creating a record as I believed my Dell laptop would last another year to complete a round of 10 years. But I could have made it if I could spend one-third of the amount spent on a new one. I know it would give me trouble even if I spend the amount as the touchpad lost its senses – I couldn’t be comforting all the time with a mouse and a broken bezel, and I needed an upgrade, so I decided to spend the money on a new laptop. Though I couldn't think of any other laptop other than the Dell, I also no need to say why as its sturdiness is world known, but a friend suggested me to go for an Intel i5 processor and Dell's laptops at this range are out of my budget, so I went for the Asus which came under my budget.

The only difficulty with the Asus Vivobook was its change in some key positions on the righthand side of the keyboard. But the typing is much easier than before, perhaps because of the soft-touch keys, and being a new laptop thing looks easier. I need to install MS-office and photoshop, the prime software’s I use on my computer, separately, and add backup files from the previous laptop hard drive. I’m overall content with the gadget and need to work more to use its various features.  

A Weather, Reminder of Mountains

The weather has been pleasant and cools these days (in Chennai) and it wasn’t raining either but still, the clouds, continue to seize the sky, kept low the temperature that lures me to dream of mountains. Though not exactly, I feel a mild cold in the air to embrace me and my mind cling to the memories of the same feel. It’s been more than a year I visited mountains or stayed overnight other than the home esp. this cool weather is impossible to restrain the thoughts of Smokey Haven or what I call a bird paradise – Thandikudi – nestled in the lower Palani hills of Kodaikanal. It was a place that wasn’t too cold as Kodai or hot as plains but comfortable weather to stay all day out exploring the locality of coffee and pepper plantations and listening to birds in woods.

 

Glad my uncle built his wood houses there, so it was always a hassle-free and home-like stay for us and it would be fun if two more families of my uncles join the stay. I too used to the comfort of the woodhouse or to say my uncle had built the house easily accessible by the wheelchair so that I could visit it anytime without difficulty. He knows how I enjoy staying into nature or travel to hills and the woodhouse was first executed for personal use before the idea of renting happen. The weather is one pleasing thing about this place and no matter what the season was, it never drops out of comfort and the weather in Chennai right away is something that makes the mind think about. Perhaps due to Aadi (the season with high wind blow, falls between July-August) is believed to bring a successful year of rain and these cloudy moments brings hope as the southwest monsoon had smashed this year.
 

I leave you with some nature and cool images for the glimpses of the locality from different times of the visit. I love being there any time of the season and it has something to please or offer with the arrival of differences in nature like the migration of birds, flowering environment and wind.  

Linking this post for  Good Fences by Gosia

Haiku Fence

 

Yellow flowers grin, 
the barrier in chain fence 
couldn’t stop its outgrowth.

Linking this post for  Good Fences by Gosia

Mehandi Circus

I watched this beautiful Tamil film last week, in Netflix, and I quite liked the movie.  Taking love in hand, Mehandi Circus did a soothing performance overall, caring us back to the melodious era of 70s and 80s, when the filmdom was under Ilayaraja’s regime; composer Sean Roldan using the maestro’s finest tunes recreated magic in the background along with his own beautiful composition of songs. The director (newcomer Saravanan Rajendran) has set up the tent/plot at a picturesque location that parallelly protect the pretty love story what move us like a cool mountain breeze along Ilayaraja’s rhyme notes.

Did I sound more musical and of course it was and the hero of the film has a music store and he falls in love with a girl from a circus troupe that visits his village. And what could we expect him to do to convey his love other than playing melodious songs to please the woman and what could do it at best other than Ilayaraja’s heartening songs? Set in time of early 90s, the story travels back (to that period) in the colourful memories of the hero (Jeeva) when he goes to meet his love (Mehandi), after many years of part as the caste and other kind of challenges interfered their cute love and break paths apart.

The debutants to Tamil, Madhampatty Rangaraj and Shweta Tripathi carried their lead rolls very decently and as Mehandi, Shweta Tripathi exhibits charming acting what anyone would like watching. And the location of the shoot is dramatically colourful and charming at its own, as it shot in one of my favourite places on earth – Kodaikanal, aka Princess of Hills, was captured in an ever so beautiful and colourful angles and views to feel close to heart. Thanks to the cinematography, by Selvakumar SK, for capturing all the wonderful moments of the film. Though the circus related scene were very less, the impalement arts comes as a real challenge to the hero to get hold the heroin, who lives with his love at heart despite married to someone forcefully, creates a silent revolution at the end!

P.s. It’s been long time or more than a year I wrote a review on movies and mostly I write review on films I watch in theatre but I haven’t went to the theatre in last 1 ½ year. But I like writing reviews on movies that moves me, just like Mehandi Circus, and I feel many good films goes out of sight as soon its release because having no star cast or big budget, I think of writing at least to show my circle there's a film like this.  Right now I’m content with the OTT or used to it but still watching movies in theatre is an experience that not our home theatres produce. The HD contents on online streamings are far better these days and some are available in 4k as well and along with a good sound system you can experience the best. 

Another Rainbow Evening and Altocumulus

Last Sunday happened to be another rainbow evening and second in the month of July. The former one is here, if u want to see. I was happy to see the favourite thing appear over the sky again, exactly close to the same location, direction and angle. Though it was mild this time, the blue sky and clouds on the backdrop steer the sky to look prettier. Following that we got a sort of pleasant weather for few days caused from mild to heavy rain, and some time the sky looks cloudy and altocumulus spread wings over the blue sky. The sky comes up in pretty pattern these days and the altocumulus show up in day times settle for mild showering or supposed to rain scenario. But not to forget, the menacing mosquitoes had doubled its troops and began attacking from evening through night. 

Altocumulus clouds from the morning of the same rainbow evening.

Above is the rain scene (snapped through the balcony) from two days back and it was a heavy showing for nearly an hour and it continued for few more hours pulling back slowly in pace to rest.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday