Nephew’s drive

My nephew Barath is so passionate about cars and he is also capable of identifying any kind of vehicles at the age of 2.4!   When he hears a siren, he gush ambulance and for him any sort of SUVs is Jeep.

Here he rides his Swift car; actually it’s a pullback car but he likes only sitting on it and moving front and back. He cheers me excessively whenever he visits home and I really look forward to spent time with him, admiring his infant speech and childish behavior. He’s almost ready to go to lower kindergarten and so was his knowledge now. His parents teaches him through e-learning at their free time and being interested in watching television, he picks up easily with things  he sees on screen.

Everyone conveys to put him in school as he learns things quickly; I really wish he joins the regular kindergarten like most others children instead going to a preschool. I wish he enjoyed his childhood as much he could before fall into the enforced education system. 

Madras is Beautiful – A short video

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is once again cherished though a slow motion video, that make feel one nostalgic about the city before it become modernized. An old gramophone spins merrily, pursued by fishermen carrying baskets of fresh catch… the camera moves then capturing the frothy waves crashing on the majestic rocks of Kovalam beach are the opening scenes of Madras is beautiful – a video by Madras Photo Factor.

The excellent in quality video is an absolute treat to not only Chennaities, but anyone who had come across Madras. Shot by Balaji Maheshwar, a 28-year-old documentary photographer, the video encompasses everything that is this city.  A beautiful tribute to the elegant beauty of Madras! The two and a half minute video was shot at the century-old dhobikhana, Marina Beach, Balaji Saravana Theatre, Kapaleeswarar Temple and Parry’s Corner.

The video also features filter coffee, an old Fiat car trundling by, boys playing beach cricket, a yellow cycle rickshaw and cultural elements like Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music. Through the background music sounds Bengali, it sooths despite unmatched to Madras essence. The video was shot in a month’s time and it was launched on Youtube on July 25 and at current ratio it marks 82,826 viewed and 991 likes. I loved the video :)

P.S. The team also reveal another video on the request of viewers, Madras is Calling, is a 4.33 minute-long footage shows more than enough in brief to make realize the love for city. It also has a Tamil background score which got it from A.R.Rahman’s composition for Swades.

மழைமேகம் / Rain-clouds

A purple cloudy sunset by Jeevan

கருமேகம் கண்டு குடை எடுக்க
பரந்த வானில் விரிக்க வழியின்றி,
படபடவென பன்னீர் தெளித்தவாறு
பறந்து போகுது மழைமேகம்.

வெறும் கானல் நீராய்
கண்முன்  காற்றில் கரைந்து போகுது,
மாலை தினமும் மங்கலாய்
வெறும் வறண்ட வானிலையே மீதம் .

At the sight of gray clouds, took the umbrella
on the stretched sky, there’s no way to spread
while it pitter-pattered like rose water spattered
the rain-clouds flew away.

Just like the mirage, clouds
melts away in air in front of the eyes
the daily eventide is dull
while the climate remains just dry. 

P.S. "Rose water spattering" is a kind of gesture to welcome guest at any South Indian festivals.

VIP

A short form of the Tamil Film Velaiyilla Pattathari, which means “unemployed graduate”, is a family-youth entertainer and also the 25^th film of the national awarded actor Dhanush. Apt to the title, the film quite based around an unemployed graduate who stays idle at home and not looking into jobs out of his interest or subject he studied and following the ethics as a civil engineer. But how he grows out without losing his faith on ethics is better half. As the elder son in the family of four, Dhanush portrayed the prime character along with the boy-next-door attitude, thought it isn’t new for him; he has done what he deserves at best. 

As a regular father who abuses his son all the time for not getting a job, unlike his brother Karthik, who works in an IT company with enough salary, Samuthirakani’s strict tone helps betterment the role. It seems mother means Saranya; such how her impression created among the Tamil filmdom and she proves every time there couldn't be a nice mother like her, obviously. Being a force behind his son’s new lease of life and dream come true as her lungs transplanted to a great builder’s daughter, after she lost life to cardiac arrest has emotional touch. Glad the film doesn't turn into another mother sentimental drama but energetically rise up on a newly built platform.

The film also conveys the public interest on building construct and at many places directly and indirectly reminds the recent collapses of building in Chennai and reveals the rival among the builders. Being a member of VIP group (via Facebook), Dhanush gathers all the unemployed graduates to help him on his initial project, as all workers and supervisors went favor for his rival company, turned into to kindle up youth. The film was comical, inspiring and produces great enthusiasm esp. to youngsters  (I hear whistle sounds from the gallery behind) though it sounds like the imitations of superstar Rajini Kanth, there’s anything that his son-in-law shouldn't follow his path! Lol

The music (by Kolaveri fame Anirudh) simply rocks among youth! The songs combine well with the story without redirected to distinct landscape unrelated to scenario. One can enjoy songs just like that for the local enthusiasm in beats and raw lyrics. I wish the directors, actors and musicians has to think alternate routes to inspire youth rather promoting alcohol as their inspiration, which I fear this trend would become a permanence source in Tamil cinema. It seems the climax fight is forced into the film to only exhibit Dhanush’s six-pack and thanks for giving life to the long lost moped bike, on which hero travel everywhere and also taking it for date with Amala Paul.

VIP - A youth festival, just for celebration alone! 

Leopard activity on the outskirts of Chennai! And my note on personal

Chengalpattu, a southwestern suburb of Chennai on the Grand Southern Trunk road is surrounded by reserve forests and hills, giving way to number of wildlife species living at peace. But it’s hard to believe big cats like leopard exists! I wasn’t surprised when the news spread about spotting leopards on the outskirts of Chennai, but I was quite amazed nearly a year ago when I come to know about the Karadi Malai Camp (KMC) bordering Vallam Reserve Forest on the Chengalpattu-Thiruporur Road, through an article featured in the Hindu Metro Plus.

the leopard that fall into the camera-trap (image by the Hindu Metro Plus)

Karadi Malai Camp is a kind of home-stay-come-camp, providing opportunity to those who love to stay close with wildlife and it is also home to the well known snake man Romulus Whitaker, the founder of the Madras Snake Park and Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.  The Camp was run by him and his wife Janaki Lenin, whom I used to regularly follow on the Hindu Metro Plus, where she share her exciting stories and experience on the column “My husband and other animals”. You may think what is the connection between leopard and KMC?  Because they are the first to come up with a camera-trap on leopard exist, setup on their camp several years ago. The “Karadi” is the name of their pet dog (German shepherd) which fall prey for the leopard and as a memory they dedicated the name of their pet to the camp.

It seems the leopard doesn’t stay at Vallam Reserve Forest alone; it has been traveling quite many places these days to fall into the sight of human beings to scare. For the last one year, more than 80 people had reported about the leopard activity around the division of Chengalpattu and Thiruporur where villages share boarders with reserve forests. But there’s no complaint of leopard attack on human! It is believed the behavior between the leopards living in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats (ranging from Orissa to Sirumalai in Dindigul, on parts) perhaps vary, through their favorite prey remained dogs, the habitation of leopards in Eastern Ghats aren’t remote like the Western.

I have come across Vallam Reserve Forest and the stretch between Chengalpattu and Thiruporur many a time when visiting my great aunt, who had then settled on the outskirt of Chengalpattu with Vallam Reserve Forest as their rear. When there wasn’t car, we used to take the GST road to reach their home by bus, but later years our usually route had been through Thiruporur. Not only was it short, but fabulous to pass on countryside, hills and forests.  Not to forget my maternal grandfather village is also on this route and it was my most favorite place then to spend our summer vacations.

Those days we had to change three buses to reach my grandfather village and sometime we take vans from Kelambakkam. From Thiruporur, it was quite forest then until my grandfather’s village junction and it used to be terrific when we travel in car during nights. Many a time we had returned in nights from the village, when we go on as a day visits. The road was also narrow then to allow only one vehicle to pass at a time and either of them has to do off-road to give way for the other and this stretch would go through pitch dark in nights, where the shining eyes of animals would scare.

my old picture on chengalpattu-thiruporur (forest) road

I used to wonder many times what all animals are there in this forest, but until now I have seen only bonnet monkeys, peacocks, mongooses and wild rabbits. Hence I know there are jackals, deer and number of snakes, birds and reptiles. During our visits to the village, our uncle there used to take us to the forest adjoin their agriculture fields to pick cashews nuts. It was the most exciting thing for us then and we used to look forward to this opportunity to take a stick and venture into the forest. He also warns us to not make noise to keep away the forest officers, punishing for entering the forest without permission. There used to be number of deer’s in these forests, but now all are hunted down for meat by the villagers and even there is a horn of blackbuck still lying at my grandfather’s house.

Even during my last drive across this route in April, I find few sign boards mentioning deer crossing area at Illalur Reserve Forest close to Thiruporur town! Back to leopard menace, it is believed the animal is the one that escaped from the Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur some years ago. But we can’t be sure, though the leopard hadn’t been trapped yet; the officials of the park still maintains a contraction message whether the animal escaped really or not. From wherever it may comes to exists, I am quite amazed how the leopard inhabiting very close to human habitation without disturbing each other all these years. It has also made clear, how wonderful our ecosystems should have been, still to make sustain a big cats like leopards in these small reserve forests, scattered among the villages and farmlands. I wish the government shows serious concern on protecting these forests and promote planting more saplings to maintain a much better forest environment to welcome back the lose species of this land.

Thanks to the Karadi Malai Camp proprietors who are already in line of promoting the environment of Vallam Reserve Forest and creating water pools inside the forest to help animals in dry season. It is believed the leopards don’t come out of the forest unless their food source becomes scarce. I don’t think this leopard is intend to attack human (since no man is injured by it), but we perhaps come across them while they migrate from one patch of forest to another in search of prey. No doubt that anyone would scare seeing a dangerous animal all of sudden interrupt their way.  I too wish alike anyone, before it become a man-animal conflict (since the leopard seems to wander into human habitation) forest official take some action that does not disrupt the freedom of man and animal. 

Fear

I think it is a kind of source control’s self and not only those done a mistake, fear prevents someone falling into the pit of unrighteous deeds. I was thinking about fear last night and a question rose within why should we fear sometime?  I think if we fear for each and everything, we can’t survive quiet in this world. Fear is a tremendous inability prevents us from progressive life and let run only within a circle of certain. Fear is a common sense exhibits in everyone but how far we take it matters and being aware of things, certainly reduces the fear to least exist or exit quite.

There are certain things we can’t avoid fearing and the most common cause was the condition of our health; which is the most fearful phase in my life. If I fall sick or feel something usually with health, the fear come stick quickly, even though I live with constant down progress with permanent disorder. I know anyone would fear falling sick all of sudden, but no one would react in the way I used to and connect with serious illnesses. If there isn’t fault with us, we no need to fear quite but sometimes situation goes against us though we are crystal clear water; anyone will use it or make dirty washing their hands.

Fear is a compulsion when we survive in unsafe zone. Though courage is something one needed to battle the evil surrounded environment rather sitting ideally in fear. Everyone has an inbuilt fear I guess and it perhaps changes depend on the circumstance and state of the mind, but that doesn’t mean we are timorous. Sometime anger is also an expression of fear when something goes wrong or loses of achieving something and anger is also used as a tool to hide fear.

Rose cheek

The cheek turns rose
in her delicious kiss;
a sweet imprint with lips. 

The love exhibits
in silent emblem of lips;
when emotions choked within.

Thousand flares blazed
when her tender lips kiss;
a sweetest transformation within.

While hands creep around
in attempt to smooch cheek;
eagerness embraces within.

Deep in thought!

Nephew Barath 

Sunset @ Mamallapuram

During my last visit to Mamallapuram while coming back from Alambara ford in April, we got to capture some photos on a magnificent sunset. The sun rose down wonderfully across various foregrounds and one remarkable sight among them was the palm trees… which produced stunning silhouettes beside the golden reddish sky.

All these photos are shot from the backyard of the Mamallapuram town and across the Buckingham canal. I have captured sunset many a time off ECR while returning from Mamallapuram in evening, the beauty of round reddish sun never cease to amaze me and the way it play hide-and-seek with palm trees were enchanting.

You perhaps remember this Airplane; I posted sometime long back here which I find parked at Mamallapuram. It was confirmed that the Airplane is yet to convert as a flight restaurant and a prime hotel management has impounded this Boeing 737-200 near Five Rathas of Mamallapuram and opposite to Chariot Beach Resort gateway.  

Airplane enhanced in dramatic sunset and reddish hues

Life has been quite tiresome all these days, some indigestion or food poison has caused me sick and I’m still trying to come out to feel normal. I was vomiting, felt feverish and unlike to eat anything disturbed me and continues to produce certain effects here and there along with the hot weather switched on and off its engine. From the midnight of Monday to Tuesday night, the vomiting session took place and along with feverish and unlike to eat symptoms carried on until contacted doctor. Right now experiencing looseness, which could be perhaps because of overheated or reflection of medicines? 

Unexpectedly the death toll has touched 61 in the last week’s 11 storey collapses on the suburb. About 25 workers were rescued alive from the debris which lasted for a week. The news channels had just relaxed now after the govt.’s announcement of the place as protected area since the other 11 storey built aside the collapsed one is also in danger. It is expected to be demolished by bombs very soon. It seems like a worst disaster ever in the decade in Chennai after 2004 tsunami, the govt. has waked now to inspect the newly and under construction buildings on its strength. I think everyone expects something to provoke only then to take action or workout on constructive.

I’m not interested on anything do to these days and feel so abnormal to even involve in regular activities but just watching TV to pass every day.  Opened the laptop only to check mails and liking to be outside more. Glad this being a corner house I get to watch road activities from the front and side gates and lesser traffic in evenings enhances the breathe exercise. I watching sky, birds flew as clusters and gray clouds emerges, hoisting light rainbow colors… squirrels, parakeets screeching against sweetest Asian koels sings at backyard. I think I am sick only to seek so many happenings outside the home which I miss most of the time spent in front of the screen.

Wish me all the best :) 

Heavy Rain

While feeling so happy and excited about heavy showering, along with thunderstorm last evening the collapses of 11 storey building on the western suburb has brought down the enthusiasm of Chennaities. It rained heavily for about an hour pulling down the temperature as much it could, but inside the house it was a blend of hot and cool, since it was hot until 4pm when the sky turned gray and later become dark with clouds. I wake up my mom, warning about the dark sky and thus she happen to collect the cloths put to dry at the backyard cord before got wet in rain.

(shot during rain at our front gate with 3-4"of  water )

The wind brought chillness through the open windows and the heavy rain created pools across our streets, sending water into our compound which reached up to our doorstep. It was fun watching the ripples created by passing vehicle making small waves rushing into our house but the water reduced as soon it stopped raining.  The rain emerged in huge drops making knocks with the plastic car shelter and poured like empting the clouds with no drops left for rest of the days. But I couldn’t go out and enjoy the water coming into our house fearing about the thunder lightening, which was the result of the collapses of the 11 storey building.

Eyewitness says that as soon the thunder hit on the under construction building, it came down like collapsed play cards. It seems there were about 100 workers on the building site while it collapses and being Saturday, the weekly wages disbursement day, the workers were gather on the first and second floors.  With current report 11 workers have confirmed death and more than 50 still trapped inside the collapsed building with 20 recovered as injured. It seems thunderstorm could be just one of the reasons for collapses guess the officials, who are yet to see others. The rescue operations are expected to last for 2 more days with number of fire service men at work. Wish there wasn’t rise in toll!  

Dainty Pink Hibiscus @ Home

The Dainty Pink Hibiscus is a tropical flower that has shown some grace over our flower pot. Elegant light to medium pink, the hibiscus flourishes throughout much of the year. Dainty Pink or La France Hibiscus, a vigorous upright grower with immense flower power is an old heirloom tropical hibiscus cultivar, which is believed to likely be the result of hybrid cross.

Dainty Pink hibiscus is also frequently confused with Anderson’s Crepe Pink, which is similar in color but has larger blooms, as well as a larger and more weeping growth habit. It is typically genetically unstable and will frequently suddenly develop an odd limb with a white or pink and white striped flower. Although it is a very beautiful and versatile plant for the tropical landscape, by the mid 1980s it had virtually disappeared from the commercial market, as it is not well suited to mass production, storage and transport.

Out of bed

image: pinterest 

Wrapped in his shirt
she comes out of bed,
with sore eyes
opened the door
to get some glimpse of light
after lovemaking delight.

Stretching the hands
she broke away the knots,
gripped through his arms
while cuddled on the cot,
the morning rays and fresh breeze
embrace her to unwind.

The let loosed hair
glisten to golden sunlight,
brushes away gently by wind,
embark on trails across her face
before she put back and smile
thinking about their interlock. 

Footnote:

A small imagination related to romance and lovemaking delight 

Trouble with transfer and hot weather

Perhaps you all know I am not a kind of A/C person, but these days I really went against this attitude since nature doesn’t show me favor on weather. Ever like before I am taking shelter into our AC room and coming out only in evening.  The weather is extraordinarily hot in Chennai and the sea breeze sets in very lately, make sure house exit in evening to breathe fresh air. The water is naturally boiled and hot water is used for entire purpose without electric charge or gas usage. What a natural phenomenal! Lol 

Last year the vacation for schools was extended by government due to hot weather, but I felt only hotter this year where schools opened as early as 2^nd June. Glad at least the 11^th standard students enjoyed holiday till Monday and there is a reason for me to be happy since one of my dear cousins is entering 11^th, I got enough time to spend with him.  He was a great company for me these days and aided me in getting small works done and we also enjoyed playing cards, dice and going out in evening and night and moreover had a vacation together in hill-stations.

We were going through some difficult phase these days, shifting me from either wheelchair to car or car to wheelchair.  Since we own SUV, my father couldn’t put me into the SUV unlike post fracture in my femur and the lack of ability to stand now make it troublesome; and only my brother could carry me in and out of the SUV. But we couldn’t always depend on him to travel, so we were looking for alternate ways to make shifting. We approached few mobility aids manufactures in Chennai to help with transferring devices, but each have different ideas which has nothing to do with our SUV.

Actually I don’t have a mind to give away my favorite car (Mahindra Scorpio) which takes me anywhere I want and I also couldn’t find a comfort seating like Scorpio in which I could take long drives without trouble. I was anticipated to fit with a Turny swivel seat for the transfer, but when enquired with a company in CBE, it seems to cost more than buying a car. Later I find the ‘person hoist’ which I though could be lesser in amount… but it is only available in foreign and there isn’t sure about the parts getting here if it went wrong.

To breathe little, one of the mobility aids manufacturer has assured to do something without exchanging my favorite car and he is already in progress with a wheelchair seat transfer into the car and he has asked to check with the device next week when it completes. In-between we test drive the Maruti Ertiga (a neighbor’s car) which I think could be the last solution if nothing works above. You may ask why Ertiga? Because it is the only MPV that resemble a car in every aspect and also no need climbing in and out of the car. It is a 7 seater which could reduce to 5 if wheelchair is placed on the boot. It has lot of features and option for a family car… a small seat turner could make seat into the car.

The thing compact is something always get me into it and no matter what, I like things that are compact and neat. The power wheelchair I use is very compact that nowhere in production now.  Just like that Ertiga is a compact MPV that attract me lot! Back to weather condition, the hot atmosphere has put me always tiresome which could be one of the reasons for the lesser post in my blog. It also prevent me from eating well and waking up early in morning (usually never less than 8.am), and having throat trouble due to over dryness at night. Wish there was showing! 

Manjapai

Referred to the yellow bag (Manjapai) is a family entertainment (Tamil) film based on grandfather-grandson relationship. Manjapai is a popular concept used in Tamil cinemas, where the hero or any other characters coming from village to city is often shown carrying a yellow bag. In this film the Manjapai is related to the grandfather character, who comes to the city for the first time to stay with his grandson who is suppose to pursuing career in US.

The film has many funny scenes and light-hearted moments to sit back and relax except for the emotional break up at last. The young actor Vimal had chose to play a software engineer in the film, dream to settle down in US and in a brief time he created the opportunity and working towards achieving his goal. Meanwhile he brings his only grandfather from the village to stay with him until he left to US and his grandfather, being so ignorant, pulled him into lot of trouble which even threatened his US dream.

The veteran Rajkiren has lived as grandfather, not only to Vimal but he reaches up to the audience watching the film! He had played father role in many Tamil films but first time he becomes full-fledged grandfather who rise up his orphaned grandchild single-handedly. He comes as a brisk old man and innocent being, brings out a perfect rustic in his perspective.  The film housed him in an apartment, finds intolerable as his approach seems so naïve and provoking due to the residents indifferent attitude, only make console later when they all miss him to search.

Lakshmi Menon has nothing much to do rather being Vimal’s love affair, enhanced the usual commercial aspects that a heroine deserves at love unrelated subject but she tried to bring some beautiful expressions. Their introduction at the same traffic signal quite bores… I have watched few films in latter year with same situation. What I liked in the film was the emphasis given to relationship and sharing tendency amid neighbors. In today’s apartment culture not many know who’s in next door and coming across a smile is a hard thing, but the grandfather role in the film celebrates their events.

The film shot in and around Chennai has good cinematography and made colorful songs using simple backgrounds. NR Raghunanthan’s music plays a wonderful part of the film, where the expressions were fine tuned in lyrics which are written in an unusually way of later watching the videos. There’s nothing to complain about director (N.Ragavan) who has stitched carefully the yellow bag to bear enough, but what if the bag slipped from the hand is what the ending. Appreciate the team for a decent picture!

P.S. After long time writing a film review, watching it in drive-in last week 

Early Sunlight

(click for enlarge)

Through the mountain pass
the sunlight falls,
speaking its own language
of light and warmth.

Between the canopies of trees
the sunlight unveils,
a pretty old iron bridge
that gives way to creek beneath.  

Amid the mountains n valleys
the emerging daylight,
gives afresh daub of yellowish green
to cold wrapped Blue Mountains.

Traveling quite through night
the morning sunlight,
restrained almost getting exhaust
regenerated the mind n body get console. 

Footnote:

The pictures shot while climbing the Blue Mountains (Nilgiris) at early morning hours... during my vacation to Ooty. 

Cloud (Blog) Nine

On the occasion of completing nine years in blogging, I am glad to announce that my blog was selected as one of the Directory of Best Indian Blogs 2013 - 2014. June 20 marks the birth anniversary of my blog, when I composed my first blog post in year 2005 and blogging became a track changing in my life that let me touched from every corners of this world.

I was nothing to do in this world, rather watching television and gaming in computer before started to blog; it was the habit of reading newspaper and magazine through which I was introduced to blogs. I had no idea about blogs initially, but I was looking forward to own a space on internet such as creating a website for myself and thus my (Jeevan’s) world exits. Today I have come across a long distance in blog and what it has taught me was lot and sharing is one significant reason that doesn't want me to leave this place.

Each passing year I am getting away from the wonder feeling of turning a year around and I don’t get into a mood of triumph something, for which I guess perhaps the way of looking at blogs has changed and sharing has become my main course which kept away my counting overall. Today many social networks has emerged but I still strongly believe in blogs and nothing gives me content like writing a blog and the worth of sharing it gives was not even the real life recognized.  Blog influenced a lot shaping my personality and changing my perspective and what I go through now is quite different from beginning.

Thank you all! J

Plums (ripe and unripe)

During my recent visit to Ooty I haven’t seen anyone selling plums or popularly called as Ooty apple, which is one of my favorite fruit of sweet and sometime sour. Later I heard this year the season failed to produce much plum, which has been demand on market. Last year when I vacationing in Kodaikanal at this time, I got to see plums tree in the cottage we stayed and the fruits were quite unripe to pluck and eat.  The only thing I could do was to make a picture out of it.

The unripe plums have tight, shiny skin and are green or very light in color, but as they ripen the skin becomes less taught, slightly thicker and the fruit becomes pliable when pressed. A Good plum feels heavy for its size and free of bruises and large dark spots.

Plums are an important temperate fruits which is used both as fresh and in preserved form. Among the two types of plum (European and Japanese) introduce in India during 1870 in Himachal Pradesh, only Japanese plum has been recommended for commercial cultivation. Apart the Himalayan ranges - the primary producers of plums, the Nilgiris of south India also grows plums on a limited basis. Though India is not a market for temperate fruit, the country grows approximately 12 varieties from the Prunus Salicina species.

The Plum season is ranged from late April through June.

Simply Love

image courtesy: google

Love is an essence
enhances the relationship
between any living species;
love emphasis
the importance of life
sometime a tool of destruction.

Love is an inherent
nurtured by a mother
shaping him/her to sharing;
using variety of notes
love composes an environment
enrich in peace and harmony.

A brief account on my vacation (to Ooty and Valparai)

I skipped last week’s intense summer heat by going on chill vacation to Ooty and nature’s paradise Valparai. I was in need of a break from the routine, as well for a change (since a year I traveled anywhere long) and as an alternate route to keep away the misery haunted lifelong; the hot weather wants me to drive somewhere to keep sometime cool enough. Ooty wasn’t so cold and surprisingly it had a best climate I ever experienced there and the sun was shining so bright over the Blue Mountains, enhances the spirit rather being laze inside the clouded atmosphere.

First time I took a night travel to Ooty from Chennai and it is also the first time for me to take an overnight travel to any other destination. I hesitated when my parents decided to take night ride to avoid traveling in day hot weather and to adjust room rent, but later convinced to take since it is first time for me, I decided to experience it. I doesn't find any difficult during the journey and we traveled at limited speed covering Vellor, Krishnagiri, Mettur and Mettupalayam and the dawn was really enchanting with warm sunlight embracing the cold morning.

Even though it was comfort during the night journey, I felt fainting and sleepiest the whole day getting down in Ooty. Glad we haven’t planned anything that day, and stayed at the cottage and had delicious Biriyani and watching TV and cherished the pleasant cold weather. I was disappointed with few things anticipated over there and one among them was the cottage we stayed in. I looked for cottages in Ooty at Olx.com and few other websites related to Ooty and found a home which would be suitable for 12 of us to stay and esp. a ground floor for my convenience.

Avalanche Lake (click pic for enlarge)

Being a peak season time, getting a suite is also not easy and prices a lot. So we had no other option rather booking the cottage and what I saw on the net weren't we stayed, but it was another one somewhat compact and enough for only 8 members and others were stayed at another place, which they used only for sleeping at night. The cottage was little away from the city center, so it was calm to stay at somehow peace and even it was a little home, looked pretty neat and painted in vibrant yellow and green. Each room had a TV, which is nothing but the free TV sets distributed by govt.

Another disappointment came in different form and for that I can’t blame anybody rather myself, because I put it into a casual mode since I heard or those conveyed me made certain that we need no permission to visit Parson Valley. ‘Just making a note at the forest check post before entering is enough.’  We were close to the Parson Valley Lake or about 1.5 km from the site, the forest officers stopped us denied permitting inside and also warned that coming such long itself need permission. The road to the valley is quite rough and we traveled in two cars, and our SUV has no issue with such roads, but uncle’s Hyundai Accent with bad tyres made a great attempt surviving the road… it feels sad taking such a path with nothing to hold back.

Making it as a more special vacation, I met my dearest friend Andrew who was also on a trip to Ooty while we were. Couple of day before leaving, I casually asked him seeing his photos taken in Ooty at Facebook and he told he’s boarding flight tomorrow to reach there and I also conveyed my visit and we both felt happy and made sure meeting each other. He was staying at his friend’s place that was very close to where we accommodate, and he made a leisure walk to our cottage the next morning, making it more refreshing and cheerful day.  He brought me warmth hug and sweet embrace making quite delight and I really enjoyed the moment even it was brief.

Valparai (click pic for enlarge)

We spent just two days in Ooty and moved to Valparai. Since my uncle and aunt hadn’t been with us during our last two trips to Valparai, we decided to give them a chance to visit. We haven’t really planned to visit Valparai and it was a decision taken only after reaching Ooty and it wasn't the best time of the year to visit Valparai (I always want to be there only at post monsoon when the entire landscape shimmers in green and full-fledged water bodies). Being a month of summer, Valparai was little busy unlike ever, perhaps because both our early visits were during winter.

I have covered almost places in Valparai in my previous visits and this time just revisited few places where people usually go as tourist reaching Valparai. I hear few tourists saying there’s nothing to see in Valparai, but I only thought that they need to develop their mind to grasp the beauty of nature dumped over everywhere there. Valparai isn’t quite a tourist oriented place, but there’s a lot to perceive and it is a place that geographically significant and everyone need to travel with consciousness preserving the   large biodiversity exhibits there.

Valparai is also an engineering marvel with number of water bodies interconnected through tunnels and contour canal, setting an example how rivers could be connected. We traveled to Sholayar Dam, Nirar and Balaji Temple, but I wasn't content with the sights this time except for the visible of wild elephants, Indian Gaurs, Lion-tailed macaque and barking deer. I was excited to encounter these wild animals and riding thought the winding Ghats of Valparai is quite another pleasure I enjoyed through the leisure drive this time.  I had a wonderful time with my family at both the destinations, make quite lovely despite passing various phases of frustrate and surprise. 

Elephant Feeding @ Top Slip

During my visit to Top Slip, a tourist spot inside the Aanamalai Tiger Reserve (a part of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park) I happened to take a wildlife safari which led me to an elephant camp inside the forest.  Called as Kozhikamuthi, the elephant camp is home to number of best trained elephants or kumkis which are used for taming elephants and to transport timber. The Top Slip derives its name from the process of wooden logs used to be slipped down from the top of the hills to the plains.

Kozhikamuthi elephant camp is a small hamlet or settlement of tribes exclusively converted for elephants to keep trained and housed under the Malisar tribes, who belong to the elephant handler’s caste and skilled to work with Asian elephants. It was evening when we made to this camp and it seems feeding elephants in front of the visitors is a regular activity there. There were very few elephants standing behind the wood barriers, amuse when mahout feeds them mouthful (kavalam) of vitamin balls, one of the vital ingredient on their daily intake.

Situated at the bank of a river, the elephant camp has natural surroundings of green and woods but been a dry season then, many elephants were sent to another camp deep inside the forest which is restricted for pubic.

Aanazhagu (song on man's beauty)

For a change I decide to share the one of my favorite song from the latest Tamil film, Thenaliraman, featured by popular comedy artist Vadivelu.  This is a beautiful song I love listening and also watching it for the lovely gestures of Meenashi Dixit (a popular ad film model) and what make quite allure rather being composed by D.Imamn, producing a feel of pleasure and enhance  touch by classic in the tune was Shreya Ghoshal’s vocal.  The song describes the beauty of man and his entice in Viveka’s lyrics, has Shreya’s hiccup at every stanza sounds unique and intoxicating! 

Pretty Little Temples @ Sirumugai

Couple of years back when I was heading to and from Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, I find couple of temples pretty neatly painted or newly built while on road across Sirumugai,  in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Since it was Chitirai - the beginning of Tamil month, many temples were at festival spirit across our path and it could be the reason these temples look refresh.

Both were shot at different day times, the one painted in sandal color was captured from the moving car and other was shot at halt when looking for direction, as we took detour missing the main road leading to Sathyamangalam.  I simply adore these temples for their pretty neat paint work on them and also   located on scenic even being roadside temples. 

Stone Paintings @ ECR Toll Gate

ECR, defining east coast road is a great blessing for Chennaities and a scenic gateway to the weekend getaway. It’s quite pleasure taking this coastal road all the way to Pondicherry and beyond, but the most amused ride quality was quite restrain till Pondicherry and under toll gate control, the road was maintained well and pretty neatly drawn lines and road studs enhances the ride quality and night driving was fun (once) expose to stunning reflectors. The emerging buildings and villas may change the scenery from time to time, but it seems to adapting everything and breathes fresh forever.

Rock painting on butterflies (click photos to enlarge)

The ECR toll gate is one stop; from where we get tickets to use the road has beautiful setting of garden alongside the booths and flowering plants and date palms adorn the toll gate beside picturesque painting stones. Erected vertically, these painting stones catch anyone's attentions while waiting to pass and during such times I used to try capturing images on them and here are few photos on the paintings shot at different moments.

 

The above one has paintings on animals and birds; and the below was on jungle and the detail was really impressed me when zoom enough on the painting. I find two lily ponds, snake emerging from its burrow and the lesser golden back peck along an own peek from the tree. What more interesting on this painting was, a saint smashing herbal medicine sitting under the tree?  

Yellow flowers bloomed at toll gate

Jallikattu and Judgment

The Supreme Court has revealed two significant verdicts today that influence a lot in Tamil Nadu. One was to allow raising the water level of Mullaperiyar dam to 142 feet which was refused by Kerala government so far. There had been difference between the two states over the safety of the dam, while Tamil Nadu contended the dam was safe and its water level had to be raised from 132 feet to 142 feet, Kerala maintained that the dam was weak and needed to be replaced. Kerala has repeatedly asserted its right to enact a law regulating the safety of dams in the state, insisting that the river rises and falls in Kerala which is why it is an intra-state issue. The SC had reserved its verdict, last year, on the legal battle between the two state governments over the dam and as per committee appointed by court has revealed that the dam was safe.

Another verdict the SC has delivered today was, prohibiting the practice of the traditional martial game of bull taming in Tamil Nadu, called Jallikattu. Following Madras High Court’s ban for the sport few years ago, the issue was taken to the Supreme Court where a batch of petition has comes to final disposal now, as the SC had already noted once that Jallikattu was nothing but a sport inflicting massive cruelty to animals, but allowed it under stringent condition on vehement request by the Tamil Nadu government. The animal welfare activists are up in arms against Jallkattu for past several years and wanted to ban the age-old sport has acquire great relief now and of course every animal lover and who hate inhumanity.  

I too support the verdict and anything against animal or nature need to be prohibited.  But my only thought and worry was, what will happen to those bulls, which are grown specifically for the sports if the game was prohibited. The bulls that are used in the Jallikattu are belonging to the Pulikulam breed of cattle, which are reared in huge herds numbering in hundreds with few cowherds tending to them.  In this world only things that are in use and useful survives and once the need for them has gone we slowly lose their ground. I guess the world famous Kangeyam bulls are in edge of endanger list and soon the work for the Jallikattu bulls is invisible, sure their name will be added to endanger list. What I think was, even they struggle at least they survive being so. If we stop all activates involved by cattle, they have no hope of survive, and they are practiced to work along with humans and if we can’t who can support them well. I wish the bulls strength is used in a remarkable way, without giving them trouble.

P.S. Above is a painting I done on Jallikattu (a scene of bull catching) haft a decade back and thought it would be apt to add with this post.

கோடை மழை / Summer rain

Pic by Jeevan (from archives)

வேர்க்க விறுவிறுத்த காலம்

கோடை மழையில் இன்று ஜிலு ஜிலுவேன.

உஷ்ணத்தின் உச்சகட்டம்

இன்று மேககூட்ட பக்கம்

பொலிவிழந்த பச்சையிலைகள்

புதிதாய் வண்ணம் தீட்டியது போல்

தாகத்தின் விளிம்பில்

வேகமாய் உறிந்து திர்த்தது பூமி

The season of vigorously perspire
become cool in the summer rain.

The pinnacle of warmth
got clouds side this day

The faded green leaves
as newly painting

At the edge of thirst
the earth sucked away quickly. 

Balsam bloomed @ home

First time I saw the balsam in Valparai, on the Western Ghats and it was bloomed in gorgeous red! Impressed in its beautiful and colorful flowers, my grandmother collected some seeds from there and sowed at our flower pots and in her backyard. The plant grows very fast and looked like small trees grown in pots, but they haven’t flowered and we also stopped watering the plant and later cleared the pots to plant other.

The balsam plant, which is native to the Himalayas has colorful blossoms and also sweet scented. Just look like an orchid growing in the wild, the balsam plant grows in hilly regions and does not require much watering. The plant grows in large numbers and sometimes the whole mountainous region where the plant is seen is covered with pink or red. The balsam plant has a unique way of propagation, which develops seed pods that burst and spreads the seeds far away.

The flap of a petal which looks like a helmet and this plant is also called the policeman’s helmet. The plant grows for two to three feet and flowers profusely, have leaves bright green in color growing in central arrangement and have wavy edges. The balsam blooms almost similar to rose flowers, look like roses from far and only the fact that they don’t have thorns.

The balsam grows and blooms during summers and beginning of rains, has shown blossom now at home and not from our pot, but the tenants who share our house in upstairs. They have kept their flower pots in front of our house, which we water daily since they haven’t occupied quite yet. 

Summer sprung

Shimmering in sunshine

Brilliant colors exhibit…

Enrich the already exists.

The golden sunlight

Glitter and gleam

Enhance the earth

With intense heat - light

Provoke favorable weather

Only to a part of it!

Footnote:

The picture was composed at home during morning time when sun was shimmering around! 

Vote to transparency

A day ahead to the 16^th Parliament election in India for the state of Tamil Nadu, I am looking forward to exercise my franchise as usual in the afternoon while there were fewer crowds in the polling booth. Situated less than a km from home, I have decided to go in my power wheelchair, since I have voted twice already in the last parliament and legislature assembly, I hope there won’t be any difficult this time as well! Already many began to ask me the usual question that rose during election time, was, for whom I’m going to vote. Actually when I come to know there was a youngster, age 26, was contesting in my constituency from Twinleaf, I was overwhelmed to vote him but later I dropped the idea since I couldn't find any individual conducive from his side, rather being a doctor he praise for only the party leader and no public service background out of the party. So I decided to support iLa Ganesan from National Flower, who is a senior leader and bachelor with wealth of just 0.3 million… a transparent being on his personal and public life, even I have difference of opinion on his or his party’s policy, I believe he deserve being a parliamentarian and the National Flower, a hopeful successor for next regime to drag away the corrupted and deceitful Hand!

I have decided long back not to vote for the Hand or Rising-Sun, so the decision was likely to make between Twinleaf and National Flower and while looking out for their candidates for my constituency (of South Chennai), I felt good with both of them. One being an active youngster and another senior man, both has different political backgrounds (one being a son of former speaker and the senior is a long time party worker and disciplinarian) and it was the first election for both of them. Being a youngster myself, I have dreams of central and state were ruled by younger people, but standing from their individuality or capacity to work individually on social field rather being a screwed doll. I don’t think the Twinleaf candidate is eligible for what I was expecting (even I know I deserve nothing to comment on others), I have the right to chose my candidate and I find iLa Ganesan is best and I like to vote for his transparent being and let National flower flourish.

I add here a link on iLa Ganesan's interview!

From the outskirts of Chennai

I had a small outing last Sunday with my family on the outskirts of Chennai, taking a detour among the countryside and few forest routes leading all the way to my grandfather’s village on the Chengalpet-Thiruporur road. Rather taking the usual routes of ECR and OMR, I went on the roads that are alternate but not far from the IT Corridor and about 15km of stretch that was explored by me for the first time. My uncle suggested me this route that has big lakes (without traces), some patches of reserve forest and villages alongside farm lands. It’s quite out of traffic and the smooth road helps enjoying a leisure ride, breathing fresh air that blend with the village scents and fields of green and harvested lands producing different scenes to sight.

We had our lunch at the tree shades, shattered on barren or waterless lake and felt hot only for minutes out of the car where we used to the afternoon breeze, which pleased later when temperature soar down. We also forget to switch on the A/C once back in car and began to move with the environment that has something to share or capture enough. We find number of nochi plants gown on the roadsides, which helps in driving away misquotes but we aren’t sure will it survive if uprooted and replant at home. So dropped the idea of picking it up and the plant produces a smell which was sweet odors.

We drive past into few villages along with my grandfather’s and had a look at his abandoned home that turned to be worst in condition seeing it after five year. While back we took the OMR and then turned towards Kovalam, as I liked to see some birds on the backwater… but I was chanced little with the sights of heron, few painted storks and cormorants at distance. We also stopped at the Thiruporur market to purchase some fresh vegetables and greens, which we usually do if whenever come across this town. Because the vegetables sold here are harvested by the local farmers from their fields and the greens is one we could find many here.

Following were pictures from my outing: 

Scenic harvested land

Field of sesame

A farmer plowing his land using ox 

Gushing water from a village pump-set

Thiruporur Murugan Temple... under renovation

Thiruporur market

Painted stork at the backwater

Indian pond heron

Bore wells battle

The bore wells those dug for water source had become not only life threatening but almost embrace to death, has rise in toll. In last ten days, three kids were fell into the bore wells across the state and only one was able to rescued alive. At the current state of drought and water scarcity, bore wells were the only hope of farmers in spite of lack of rain and groundwater levels dropping 100s in feet, farmers who inadequate with single bore well kept digging around seeking water as deep as possible has increased the number of bore wells across the state and country.

It’s quite carelessness and lack of awareness about concealing the bore wells that are not in use has took number of lives in past, but we still continue to bear with uncared attitude to feel only sorry after an incident take place. We can say it’s as accident and forget once the news flashed with another but what if it happens at series. The Supreme Court has already advised government how to regulate digging bore wells and maintaining it safely, but none were so far into functional and they just pretend to give priority only at that moment.  

Apart tightening the regulations for bore wells, we are also in need of advanced technologies into the rescue operation to save kids as quickly as possible or keep them alive inside. We need to appreciate our fire servicemen who regularly involve in rescuing children who fall into bore wells as alive or lifeless, is a tough job and sure some technology like the robotic that helped in saving a kid in Thirunelveli - developed by a Madurai based ITI educator - will bring hope and easy the rescue.