Monday, June 06, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Me and MRI
I never
thought or imagined an MRI (scan) could be such torture! I took an MRI for the whole spine yesterday
to study the course of my scoliosis and to clarify the discomfort I am going
through in the lower abdomen, for last few days. I have taken CT scans earlier
and I was thinking MRI would be similar to it, and could be taken in few
minutes, but the first dismay came when I learn that no wheelchair or stretcher
is allowed inside the scanner room. The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine
seems to have a gravity to pull metal things and so I have to leave the
wheelchair outside and my brother lifted me and lay on the scanner.
Unexpectedly a coin from his pocket was pulled into the machine and only then I
understand the magnetic attraction the machine holds.
Before
they put into the machine made sure that no metal is attached to the body and
also no polyester is worn. They cover the face with a mask like thing and the
head was tightly tapped to the sides to prevent moment. I could manage these things
and lying for 45 minutes and motionless isn’t that stressful but the sounds that
raises from the machine make me tensed.
The machine develops different constant beats that enough to create
headaches to feel terrific. I just want to shout to stop these and discontinue
the exam, but tried to be patient and bring peace of mind. I closed my eyes
almost the scanning period perhaps to keep away my scare and being tensed. Glad
there wasn’t anything difficult at breathe and mom sitting at a corner of the
room gives me little comfort, though any moment is banned inside the rooms
during the process.
Out of my
control, I was praying for the moment to come to an end. It was pretty cool inside the room and I was
trying not to shiver and it was great sigh of relief when I hear the door was
opened and pulling out of the machine my first question at the diagnostic
person was is it finished? The technology has developed a lot and I wonder why anyone
didn’t find a way to keep away the terrific resounding of this MRI. I felt like I would never go for an MRI again
but I should be glad that I unaware about this process until experienced myself
to keep away the pre-tense. Except few remarks on scoliosis and lordosis the
report has comes out almost normal! Looking forward to check with the doctor
tonight and I am feeling slightly pain in the abdomen lately, hope all is well
soon.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Fences around mountains pass and valley
During my recent travel to
Kodaikanal, I come around fences/barriers along the mountain pass that make
certain safe passing. The photos (below) were shot along the Palani-Kodaikanal road in
which I traveled for first time to reach Kodai. This
is a former road to Kodai before the prime route from Batalagundu was carved out
of mountains.
![]() |
Fence along the valley |
![]() |
Motion blur created by our moving car |
P.S. Sorry for not updating
frequently here and miss reading many of yours… The weather is terrific hot here
and I am almost feeling tired and unlike to eat anything… and also lack
concentration on things to keep me away from here and other activities. Hoping for
better situation to blog and continue reading.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
NOTA and other Parties
I see a
high number of NOTA (none of the above) this time in the Tamil Nadu state election... I need to say I don’t support it quite. I see
it's an option to choose only if we think/consider all the candidates in a
constituency are unfit. But before we head to poll a vote we should aware who are
contesting, and whose words are promising, reliable and yet realistic. I don't
know people think voting to nota as a fashion statement? But rejecting everyone
blindfold isn't a democracy. We are forced to survive among thorns and what we
should see is which one is less sharp… I support for a change, but in a largest
democratic country like us it will take time and people has to come out of their
comfort zone to choose their candidates and parties.
As
expected there had been a heavy competition between the two prime parties of
Tamil Nadu and both has come close in defeating each other in
minimum number of votes… thanks to the 3rd front and other parties to
go on individual rather making an alliance. Though they all witnessed defeat in
all constituencies (never like before), it only helped the prime parties gaining more
than enough seats to form a govt. and strong opponent. The ruling party (ADMK)
has come to power once again with majority of seats and ever in a history of an
opposite; DMK has scored an increasingly large number of seats to hopefully to see
a healthy debate. With any other parties having voice for people, the DMK has
more responsibility to preserve and restore people’s rights and need in assembly.
Apart many
complain of money distribution for voting (which is true) from both the parties,
the 3rd and 4th level parties losing the deposit only
proves their wrong calculation and blindfold confident. Overall they are
planned to praise themselves than making a strategic. Apart making freebies and
implementing complete prohibition there isn’t anything prudential in their
manifesto (including the prime parties) and making an alliance in a short
period and indifference attitudes put them down front. Though change is their main
goal but the way they chose to be wrong… a change could be happen only step by step,
just the way prohibition should be, because a sudden change will not be healthy
always and long-lasting is doubtful.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
A brief note on my travel to Kodai
I would like to say it was a
great escape from the scorching heat of Chennai (but the weather is pleasant now due to summer rain) for less than a week... but it
was quite terrific until reaching the foothills of Kodaikanal and way back to
home. Yes, I had a fabulous vacation come travel last week to the princess of
hills, Kodakanal. The destination isn’t new for me and I love being there and
times no matter, but this time it was really different, wonderful and exciting
only because of the things done, routes traveled and the place of stay. Every
time I visit Kodai I try to explore something new and make sure leisurely the
drive. As planned we headed to Kodaikanal first through the Palani Ghat section
which I really wanted to do for very long time. I have been more than 6 times
to Kodai and first time I got to explore this route and I really need to say it
is very natural and scenic than the prime route (via Batlagundu) to Kodaikanal.
Things were fine until reaching
Kodai, but we couldn’t stay over there due to some unsuitable lodging. We have
a friend there who used to book cottages for us every time and this time he
slightly went ahead with sloped terrain which supposed to be very difficult and the couple of cottages we checked hold
great views but where tilted either up or down. So with no other option and time to search (as
it was about 8pm) we decided to move to Thandikudi to stay at my uncle’s newly
built woodhouse come cottage. We actually planned to stay at woodhouse but I
wanted to explore an interior area, which could be easily accessible from Kodai
so I liked staying there for couple of days before move to Thandikudi. It was
10pm when we reached the woodhouse and past Kodai it started to shower heavily
and all the bags tied to the car top were drenched.
The next day turned out to be the
most exciting part of my vacation, an off-road ride in Jeep to a waterfall near
Thandikudi. It was indeed an unexpected ride and I didn’t believe I could seat
inside a Jeep but it all happened only because of my brother. It is a complete
off-road ride I ever had and we crossed a small river and had fun all together.
The other day I took a long drive on the mountains leading all the way to Kilavarai,
the last public accessible destination in Kodaikanal hills, where the famous Escape
Road (a trail road that connect Kodai-Munnar) begins. It was entirely a very
scenic pass, with rolling grasslands and terrace framing taking place on either
side, the cold breeze continue to caress from the tall pine and eucalyptus
trees. It took my entire day taking plenty of photos including birds and wild
flowers.
![]() |
Had a exciting jeep ride - inside me |
Uncle’s woodhouse (in Thandikudi)
is a very pleasant abode for nature lovers and it has a wonderful balcony to
bird watch at the backyard. Though the woodhouse is built close to the road, it
sense amazing to listen to birds chirping from all sides and felt serene almost
to name as Serene Woods. My recommend to Thandikudi would be mainly for bird
watching and the pristine natural environment exits among the coffee, pepper
and orange plantations aside canopy of tall trees of different species. Staying
there, I also visited Parappalaru Dam. About 45 km from there, the travel to the
dam was through vast coffee plantations, beautiful villages and forest region
with a pristine lake among the dense. By this travel I covered almost nooks of
the Kodaikanal Hills but still feel there’s more to experience and explore at
leisure. Hope to share more my experience in future/further post.
Labels:
beauty,
Environment,
favorite,
Fun,
Happiness,
Hill station,
Nature,
Pleasant,
Travel
Location:
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu 624101, India
Saturday, May 07, 2016
Bird Watching @ Thandikudi: Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher
I have
been to Thandikudi (on the lower Palani hills of Kodaikanal,) couple of time, and
with a plan to go ahead tomorrow, I like to share one of the lovely birds I captured
over there. Thandikudi is a wonderful place to enjoy bird watching and it is
open to cute little birds alike the Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.
Tickell's
Blue Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family and it is an
insectivorous species which breeds in tropical Asia, from the Indian
Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. Its range stretches across all the countries
from India to Indonesia and they are found in dense scrub to forest habitats.
Measured about
11-12 cm in long, the bird has blue upper parts and the throat and breast are orange
and the rest of the under parts are white. The bird sings in metallic tone includes
a series of clicks followed by five or six notes that end abruptly. It is a
wary bird and not always easily observed and it a forest-loving species which
is found in thick cover and shade, and particularly haunts the banks of wooded
streams.
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Signal Problem
After shifted to my current
location and close to my native house in Adyar, Chennai, I chose to go to our
family doctor for the check-ups in my wheelchair rather taking the car since
the clinic is about a km from home. But the only difficult I face during this
course was crossing the LB Road, the main road that connects Adyar and
Thiruvanmiyur signals. Though there was a zebra crossing and separate signal
for pedestrian to cross the road (near hotel Lakshmi Sagar), it wasn’t literally
difficult, but until only the signal works.
The signals flashing orange (which
means cross with caution) is a common one in the cities at night and it usually
take place only after 10pm when the traffic comes down, but when it happens as
early as 9 pm (which is also a peak hour in cities like Chennai) crossing the
road is a challenge. Some vehicles stop to give way when seeing me in
wheelchair to cross the road, but we can’t expect the same compassion from
public buses and bikes. They kept moving even the signal turned red really scare
me to cross and travel aside the road.
My cousin brother used to come along
with me and when the signal shut down he blocks the vehicles to let me cross
the road. For me it shows the irresponsible and laziness of the traffic police to
shut down the signal when there was still heavy traffic. Other day I was close
to the signal and before I cross it turned flashing orange and vehicles started
to cross from all directions turned to be difficult. I notice to amaze the
signal next to this was working and regulating the traffic and here we are in
trouble crossing the road. The traffic signals are automated and I don’t find
there could be any difficult for the traffic cop to regulate but still
switching off only sends frustration.
Labels:
Adyar,
Chennai,
neighborhood,
Public,
Society,
wheelchair
Monday, May 02, 2016
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Little Cormorants, Underwater Swimmers
Like never
before I saw number of Little Cormorants during my recent visit to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, about 80 km from here. These birds are very commonly found in
the water bodies around Chennai, but not in numbers that’s uncountable.
Vedanthangal invites lot of birds from across the globe but this time little
cormorants took large numbers into the account.
The Little Cormorants are a
member of the cormorant family of seabirds, slightly smaller than the Indian
cormorant; it lacks a peaked head and has a shorter beak. The bird sized
between 50 to 55 cm in length and weighing up to 530 grams is widely
distributed across the Indian Subcontinents and extends east to Java, where it
is sometimes called Javanese cormorant.
The bird looks entirely back in
the breeding season but the plumage is brownish and the throat has a small
whitish patch in the non-breeding season. It forages single or sometimes in
loose groups in lowland freshwater bodies, including small ponds, large lakes,
streams and sometimes coastal estuaries. Like other cormorants, it is often
found perched on the waterside with its wings spread out after coming out of
the water.
Little cormorants produce low
roaring, grunting and groaning sounds comprising low pitched ah-ah-ah and
kok-kok-kok’s. They swim underwater to capture fishes and propel themselves
using their webbed feet. But the captured fishes are often brought up to the
surface to swallow them and during that time others birds including their
fellow cormorants, painted storks and egrets may attempt to steal them.
Linking this post for Saturday Critters
Linking this post for Saturday Critters
Labels:
beauty,
bird,
critter,
Environment,
Nature,
Picture,
Pleasant,
Tamil Nadu
Thursday, April 28, 2016
It’s Summer
![]() |
Sunset @ Muttukadu backwaters |
Summer brings a sigh of relief
with schools enclosed for vacation
students chose to chase their passion
like gushing water in search of roots.
with schools enclosed for vacation
students chose to chase their passion
like gushing water in search of roots.
While summer curse to scorch
the compassion of sea breeze bless,
blissful moments to surpass
with flock of birds flag off to home.
the compassion of sea breeze bless,
blissful moments to surpass
with flock of birds flag off to home.
Summer brings up the memories
that neither forgotten nor went down
with multiple layers adding on latterly
the calm afternoon winds up the dust.
that neither forgotten nor went down
with multiple layers adding on latterly
the calm afternoon winds up the dust.
Summer breaks the age barrier
where everyone likes to have ice creams,
fruit juices and tender coconuts
cool down our entire system.
where everyone likes to have ice creams,
fruit juices and tender coconuts
cool down our entire system.
Like every season that has an essence
summer delivers radiant sunshine,
where shoot, unripe fruits and flowers
regenerate under the natural hood sun.
Though summer being a dry season
there isn't scarce for happiness,
and when the back itches for scratch
the urge for mountain's dew become firm.
summer delivers radiant sunshine,
where shoot, unripe fruits and flowers
regenerate under the natural hood sun.
Though summer being a dry season
there isn't scarce for happiness,
and when the back itches for scratch
the urge for mountain's dew become firm.
Monday, April 25, 2016
RGB Monday
Baby walker of my neighbor's one
and a half year old kid, Achu!
Other day, after his play, he
left his baby push walker outside the home and I used that opportunity to click
on the colorful walker to share on my RGB Monday. He has a habit of leaving
things outside wherever he play and later his mom collect them all. Achu’s
family is just two months old to our compound and he developed an attachment
towards my mom very soon and even our pet dog maintain silence when he enters
our home freely. He’s very quiet unless he joins with other kids and he hadn’t
started to talk yet except calling amma and appa (mom-dad) but he’s understandable and
point out on things he wanted and mentions what. The thing I appreciate in him
was he never takes away things from others, even though he doesn’t take food
easily from his mom, he refuse anything we give him to eat. I leave this post
with his photo below:

Saturday, April 23, 2016
Crow Assignment and Dog Behavior
I used to
stroll around the home in the evenings in kind of getting breeze and one day I causally
looked at the custard apple tree (pic above) in front of our house but outgrown from the neighbor's
compound, and found a male crow breaking the sprigs of the tree by going on the
withered or easily breakable. Early summer the leaves were all parted and now
it looks as if it started to shoot again and there’s already couple of little
custard apples hung around… the crow seemed patient in finding the right sprig
that’s easily achievable and it didn’t few away with the sprigs but dropped each
after the break up. Later it few away and I left wonder. I know birds collect
sprigs/sticks only if they are building nest and so I was sure the crow should
be nesting somewhere and all the break ups for that.
What I really wonder was does the
crow (or any bird species) built the nest at this time was because they know it
is the season where trees withered to produce more sticks or it’s a coincident
where nesting of birds and fall happens at same. I think in Tamil Nadu the fall
season was between February-March. During
a visit to Topslip in mid Feb, I saw abundant of leaves filled across the
forest and mountain pass and upon which I inquire to know it was the fall
season there. Before I stop wondering, I was amused at the sight which followed.
Where a female crow flew in collecting the sticks on the ground that was broke
down by the male crow. As I went near the gate I find numbers of sticks were parted
by him. I really loved the cooperation between them in building the nest and
producing their offspring’s in fall season!
I think the male crow was very concern
about building the nest and helping his partner, as I saw him other day on
another tree with the same assignment. The
crow in the flight (picture above) wasn’t shot at pointing at the bird, but
fell into image when taking some photos at Elliots beach.
Another interesting sight I got
to watch outside the gate on the following days was, a stray dog munching on
grasses! First I thought it was sniffing something but it was actually chewing on
a patch of grass on the roadside. I have heard dogs eat grass, but ever seen
one before. Our pet dog, Maya, used to eat raw vegetables like beans and carrot
and not grasses like the one seen above. Upon this, I browsed the net to know: that a
dog eating grass is actually quite common and this form of pica is considered
as normal dog behavior. And grass eating doesn’t usually lead to throwing up --
less than 25% of dogs that eat grass vomit regularly after grazing. Other suggested
reasons why dogs might be eating grass include improving digestion, treating
intestinal worms, or fulfilling some unmet nutritional need, including the need
for fiber.
Linking this post for SaturdayCritters
Labels:
bird,
critter,
Environment,
home,
Life,
Nature,
neighborhood
Friday, April 22, 2016
Songs that stole my heart
It’s been sometime I felt awesome
listening to a song, but this time I got to experience two at a time although both
has similar tones, its pleasure to listen either the Telugu or Tamil versions of Prema Parichayame,
which in Tamil as Naan Un Azhaginile from the upcoming Tamil movie 24. A.R.
Rahman has composed the songs and Chinmayi’s sweet rendering in Tamil and
Telugu was immersing along with Hriday Gattani (Telugu) and Arijit Singh
(Tamil) lending their male voices cause a soothing effect in Madan Karky’s
heartfelt lyrics.
Though listening the songs back
to back, I was impressed more by the feel caused by Prema Parichayame than the
Tamil lyric based song Naan Un. Beyond the language and understanding, the music and
rendering touched me deep to mummer the song without my knowledge. Apart the
above two, Punnagaye, another melody from the album is also commendable and so
beautiful. The song has couple of my favorite singers - Haricharan and Shashaa
Tirupati, who has been around sometime and whose songs are almost my favourite.
Punnagaye....
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Park Fence
Hope you remember the beautiful
sculpture of traditional women I posted here, and today’s image covers some of
the sculptures the way they erected across the park, in a line.
The fence in front of it separates the parking
lot and the small park of the restaurant where he had lunch during our trip to
Kumbakonam.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Mountain Pass of Kolli Hills and Arappaleeswarar Temple
Having our lunch at
Senthamangalam, a town on the foothills of Kolli Hills and about 12 km from
where the Ghat road with 70 hairpin bends begins! Among the mountain passes in
south India, Kolli Hills has the highest number of hairpin bends. Though it
perhaps sounds adventure and exciting and although it was, there’s nothing to
fear about alike it resound dangerous – infamously called as the mountains of
death, the travel for certain distance on this road is quite zigzag. An experienced
driver could give a pleasure ride… and the road is good enough and wasn’t
traffic alike other mountain passes could feel secure.
We climbed the mountains in the
afternoon and the landscapes on the way till the foothills, from the town, were
covered by farmlands, where paddy, sugarcane, palm coconut and areca are
cultivated in large scale. I am thinking for a separate post on this to look
more in detail. So, the almost ride on this mountain range were zigzag through
evergreen forest until the first village atop the hill, Cholakkadu, emerge with
a telescope house and farmers market. It was a beautiful ride with pristine
beauty at every curve and except few sharp hairpin bends, where heavy vehicles
are forced to take reverse as it is not possible to turn it one radius, it was
pleasant indeed.
![]() |
One of the sharp hairpin bends |
![]() |
An evergreen and pristine mountainscape |
As I know Kolli Hills is famous
for the herbal and medicinal plants with great potent, I kept breathe in deep the
fresh air winding across the Ghat and believed it heals my respiratory which
perhaps polluted to traffic environment in cities. Though I was disappointed
somehow expose to the transformation of the mountain tops into farmlands, the
calmness and leftover spaces of evergreen slopes keep me regain. We had booked
rooms in the Panchayath Union cottage at Semmedu, the headquarters of Kolli
Hils, but the rooms weren’t nice enough and that time we heard about the youth
hostel near Arappalleeswarar Temple, in Kovilur.
![]() |
Herbal forest at Kolli Hills |
The youth hostel is about 11 km from Semmedu and we decided to check the place to know will it suitable for us, informing them to come back if we aren’t content. The road to the hostel takes us through some lovely farmlands and a mini falls, though the accommodation wasn’t that greater there, but the environment where it was built wanted me to stay over there. And it was slightly drizzling when we reached there, which add more pleasant to the moment and silent ambiance. The hostel is on the road to the Arappalleeswarar Temple, with a backyard facing mountains and valley apart holding a beautiful garden landscape within.
![]() |
Arappalleeswarar Temple (click all pics for enlarge) |
Being nearest to Arappalleeswarar
Temple, it was our first spot to check out. No, I haven’t gone inside the
temple and not only it has steps but I wasn’t interested then. The temple was
the main attraction to the Kolli Hills only next to the Aagaya Gangai waterfalls,
which closely exists to the temple and only people who are healthy and ability
to climb down/up 1500 steps are permitted inside. Like I told in my previous post, the Arapalesswarar Temple was built by the mountaineer ruler and skilled
archer Valvil Ori in the 1st or 2nd century CE during his
regime. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it also houses his entire family
– Goddess Shakthi, Lord Vinayaa and Muruga.
Labels:
beauty,
Environment,
Hill station,
Nature,
Picture,
Pleasant,
Tamil Nadu,
temple,
Travel
Location:
Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Indian Pond Heron @ the edge of the Lake
At the end of
the neatly paved trail at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, which we visited last week,
I find an Indian Pond Heron stalk prey at the edge of the lake. The bird very
common in India, usually forage alone and can be missed easily just the way
stalk prey in the pictures below.
The Indian pond
heron or paddy bird is a small heron, widely distributed across India and its
bordering countries and in the Persian Gulf, it is found in Iran, Oman and UAE.
Appear
stocky with a short neck; the breeding plumage (which is in the images) has dark
brown patches on white unlike non-breeding birds that have white plumage streaked
in olive and brown.
Measuring 40 to
45 cm in length and weighing about 230 to 275 grams, and wingspan to 75 to 90
cm, the bird has a greenish bill with black tip and yellow eyes. The prominent feature
of the bird was it transforms its appearance when take off with flashing
bright white wings in contrast to their dull body colors. ![]() |
a non-breeding plumage is also present in the pic above |
Apt to their
name, they inhabit around ponds and pools mostly, apart marshes, rivers,
streams, paddy fields… the birds feeds on fishes, frogs, crustaceans, insects
and small reptiles, usually from the edge of the pond.
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Friday, April 15, 2016
Floral Bowl
The bowl maybe small – in brass
Filled with red rose petals
And a hub white
rose.
Like chef
garnish a dinner
Mom’s simple floral
order
Adorn our tea table.
Linking this post with Floral Friday Foto
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Shot from a road travel
My visit to Kolli Hills happened
to be from Palani rather directly from Chennai as we were on a course of
roundabout visiting the temple town following Thanjavur. We started from Palani
after having the breakfast and reached Kolli hills by late afternoon via
Dharapuram and Karur. The roads to the destination were partially a state and
national highways – the NH 7, and during that course I shot some photos that
made this post.
Above is a beautiful emblem I
noticed at an intersection before entering the Dharapuram town. The emblem
resembles a burning lamp to me and at other perspective I find fingers holding
a ring with fire inside. (click photos for enlargement)
Men traveling on a mini tempo or
locally known as china yanai (the Tata Ace) on
NH 7 (check the photo below to know where it was shot) and being morning
hours, I guess they were supposed to carried to their workplace.
Sign boards indicating the
distance of the destinations ahead and aside.
View of a hillock come hill temple
of lord Muruga captured from an over bridge on the same highways.
At last come’s trucks of two with
load of tractors and the number plate of the truck marks MH, which I guess is
transported to Maharashtra – an Indian state.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
A visit to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
I visited the Vedanthangal Bird
Sanctuary, about 80km from Chennai, on Friday. And this was the first outing
with my grandmother after grandfather passed away in December. I have been to
Vedanthangal more than couple of times but only this time I find (or went on
seeing) a huge arrival of birds, and most of them were Painted Stork and Little
Cormorants followed by moderate numbers of Grey pelican, Back-headed ibis, Little
and Great egrets and Spoonbill.
Vedanthangal is
the oldest lake bird sanctuary in the country and the steps to develop it into
a bird sanctuary has started as early as 1798 when the British government
realized the ornithological importance of the region. The small lakes dotted
this area acts as feeding grounds for the birds, so it was attracted by variety
of birds. Vedanthangal, meaning hamlet of the hunter, got its name from the act
of hunting of birds by the local landlord in the early 18th century.
Though the
Vedanthangal Lake was declared as bird sanctuary in 1972, it has a unique
history where the local populace provide protection to the sanctuary for
centuries. The locals realized that the birds dropping falling into the lake
create an effect (liquid guano), and when the water is used to irrigate crop
fields it yield greatly and saves the fertilizers cost. And due this the locals protect the sanctuary
and thus it attracts around 40,000 birds every season, with an area of only 30
ha.
Proving that,
the other side of the lake (pic above) was flourished in a golden/green meadow of paddy
field! While being fascinated by the birds that decorate the number of trees
stood inside the lake, the vast paddy fields on the opposite confront its scenic
beauty upon growing sunset was stunning. The paddy fields with little/great
egrets foraging is always a beautiful sight and one could not miss such views
during a visit to Vedanthangal.
We had been to
Vedanthangal in the evening unlike my previous visits in afternoon; I was
amazed at the number of birds. But when the evening started to immerse, as sun continue
to keep down its effect, many flock of birds resume to the lake after foraging
in surrounding lakes. When we arrived the noise of birds weren’t louder unlike
it gets darker and it seems it’s the nesting season for Painted Storks, as we
saw many juvenile birds of same standing all-over the nests.
Birds migrate
to Vedanthangal mostly in winter season (between October-March), but this time
due to the torrential rains in December there’s enough water in the lake for the
birds to extend their stay. Right now, it is estimated to be about 15,000 birds
at the sanctuary. Apart the plenty of painted storks, little cormorants and grey
pelicans, I tried to observe variety of birds but was amused to find spoonbills,
openbills, a grebes and night heron, only at home when checking the photos!
![]() |
The watch tower that used to have a telescope, but it seems to be miss this time. The neat pavement along the lake. |
Although we
brought a binocular, it was little painful to watch through the pair of lenses
but I loved the close view somehow. Vedanthangal has a pretty neat and flat
pavement along the lake bank allowed me covering the entire stretch in my
wheelchair. There are couple of watch towers and view points along the footpath
to observe birds and I find more interesting shooting birds this time. At the end of day, we were left with a magnificent
sunset with flock of birds flew in foreground.
I took number
of photos and it’s impossible to post all at a time… so decided to make many
posts out of it and more details on birds.
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS
Thursday, April 07, 2016
Cottage Gate and Pet
One of the cottages gates
in Kodaikanal, where we stayed during a visit.
The picture was shot on a morning
hour before we move out on sightseeing the pristine mountains, leisurely. Our pet dog Maya was also ready to accommodate
us and I was outside shooting some photos around, and Maya’s present on this
photo is unintended but I liked it later revealing. Anywhere I go, I chose to
be outside rather taking rest inside the room and not only because I believe life
begins outside the window, I was always attract to the environment more than the
structure we stay inside.
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