Sunday Photos: Beach Sight

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

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

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

Soan papdi vendor and the push cart neat the water front  

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

Cotton candy man 

Oct 17

Like how a wound may heal but not the scar. Three years had passed since I got fracture in leg but the scar continues to bother me invisibly and indirectly. No, I have no issues with the fractured leg but the loss of the ability to stand has affected me at various levels. I really don’t want to think about the ever painful days of my life and passing each day had been an eon then until the fracture healed and knee become flexible. My inability to stand affected my travel a lot and I am depended beyond my parents to put me into the car and having an SUV it’s quite difficult. Thought I’m looking forward for a remedy by exchanging our car, the inability to stand put me down on other sides too.

I believe it’s perhaps because of the loss of the standing position I experience scoliosis, due to sitting most of the day time unlike early where I used to stand for few ministers daily when transferred from once place to another. I know even if I continued to stand the scoliosis is unavoidable at later stage of muscular dystrophy, so I would say the fracture has brought steps forward reaching this position early. In last three years my travel has come down with limited distance travel and access and transferring becomes easy only with two people at aid. Many of my plans were shattered in few seconds of that slip between the bath stool and wheelchair, and the unexpected incident had made my life very difficult in many ways. I started to use traction belt for my pelvic pain and scoliosis, daily for an hour and I’m still looking for a lateral support for my curvature.

RGB Monday

A colourful Ice Gola cart @ Elliot beach, Chennai

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

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

Babysitting monkey

Our neighborhood in Adyar (Chennai) has canopy of trees and it provides shelter to many critter, including monkeys that intrude the same. Monkeys had been our company for last few years after we shifted back to our former resident area, Adyar. They come around our residence with no prior schedule, and if we were inattentive they are ready to carry away anything that’s possible, and mostly it’s the fruits that kept on the dining table. We couldn’t put dry anything, no matter what; they come and scatter away before we become alert.

The photos here were shot last year when one of monkey’s hangout with its babe on the compound wall next to ours. The baby monkeys (there were about four monkeys babysitting then) had grown now and joined the invading group to bang the neighborhood. In the picture above you could see   the tiny hand of the baby monkey holding his/her mom from before. Words fail to describe.  

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Church and Fence

Valparai, near Coimbatore, is a green carpet of Tamil Nadu due to its abundant tea plantation and rolling grasslands.  Each tea estate there has a small settlement that provides basic amenities to their employers including places of religious worship like temples and churches.

Each estate has a temple and church built in simple yet beautiful and colorful structure to capture our attention. But the church above stood opposite to our relative’s house in Valparai town at the residential area of the same. Named as St. Luke's R.C. Syrian Church, has a beautiful architecture that slightly lookalike crown and interesting steeple design beside the bell tower.

My first time visit to Valparai happened during Christmas time and this church was decorated by serial lights that continued to illuminate throughout the nights. They had also built a birth of Christ that was wonderful checking out… but accidentally all the photos taken that night was erased from camera and I even lost my DVD that hold my initial trip to Valparai in 2008. The above ones are shot in 2014 and I also liked the fence (with flowers) built upon the compound wall around the church. 

Linking this post for Good Fences by Run a Round Ranch

A brother of neighborhood

A long time neighbor
last breathed at his hometown
during a visit to same.

A fortuity that not many obtain;
for his fairness and mildness
what happened seems his favor.

It’s coincide, that we discussed abt. him
only the night before sleeping
and early to his demise.

Two generations old relationship
is no more, but his helping tend
and inclination will keep inspiring.

A relationship beyond religion/belief;
called as brother, rightfully by all
would describe his deed.

A politician with ever seen integrity
though a party speaker, the soft spoken
is approachable at any time to obtain aid.

Personally, perhaps, my first bike ride
is executed in company of him
at any state; he disagreed to greet us.

Being neighbors disjoined by walls
our closeness doesn’t need proof
and his privilege encloses everything. 

Fiction

Alike a cradle
rather strings attached, secures
the moon across sky

That’s calm and uncool
was haunted by bats, trying
to battle down moon.

In the twilight hour
waked up from asleep, the bats
influence fiction.

PS. Though titled fiction, the haiku was inspired by the evening sight outside my home. Pic courtesy: google

Village Fence

A village fence, which was built to guard their houses, also plays a role of hanger where they put cloths for dry.

Pictures were captured at Mannavanur, a mountain village near Kodaikanal that overlooks rolling grassland and another side with terrace farming. Due to great source of meadow wild bison (Indian guar) frequent this area and thus also called as bison valley.

The houses here mostly seemed to build using clay mud and bricks and roofs thatched in iron sheets, which I perhaps believe is to withstand the cold weather and mountain terrain. 

Linking  this post for Good Fences  by Run a Round Ranch

RGB Monday

A colorful temple tower

click for enlarge

The unknown and look alike newly painted temple was shot at the heart of the holy city, Kanchipuram, last month when attending a cousin’s marriage. The city has number of temples and this temple tower in showy appearance caught my attention easily when slowly moved in traffic. 

A flood trail

December 2015 won’t be easily forgettable for Chennaities, the historical rain and flood that hit our city and let almost floating. Many lives lost and properties washed away and submerged in the torrential rain/flood and overflown rivers. Though government took action in rescuing and protecting people, the volunteers, almost youth’s partake was praiseworthy and transformed their perception overall. But the post actions haven’t been same and satisfactory, no; I am not about youths, I know they continued to work on the flood effect even after things turn normal. The government side is completely dumb, and I could see no stone was unturned and what the situation was before the disaster rain continues to be same even after the terrible lesson.

(pool  of water in front of home)

Following December rain/flood there wasn’t moderate to heavy rains in Chennai until some heavy spells in summer (May) and few downpours in September, including the 80 mm of rain that created pool in front of our home, a day before yesterday. The water rose to the edge of our doorstep with few centimeters to enter home, thankfully the rain recedes and ceased later to repeat not a situation like December. Interestingly, this year becomes the wettest September in last 20 years and it seems few more downpours could have defeated 200 years record in Chennai. These days an uncertainty kept checking us every time it rains, perhaps because of the change in its pattern of showering. After the December torrential rain, I observed it wasn’t raining normally, slowly and steadily, but shower altogether or a total fall.

The northeast monsoon is yet to begin but what precaution steps were taken was nothing to point out.  We’re in a situation where nature has turned incredibly unpredictable and the weathermen’s warning to expect unexpected proves we are certainly living in an uncertain condition and without any precaution we are to suffer for sure in case of abundant rain. The vital part of the city, the storm water drains aren’t dredged properly, at least in part of the city we live. What kind of action has taken on the encroachments around the rivers and lake beds are apparently back to their places after water recedes. The water levels at the reservoirs around the city were almost gone down, but no sign of dredging or deepening to increase its capacity which could save water as well preserve people from flood.

Moreover the situation has sent us to constant turmoil whether to move out of this home or take risk by staying over here. We are in hunt for house already and were very conscious not to make a mistake again by choosing a house that prone to flood and rain. During the torrential rains in Nov and Dec, last year, we suffered a lot by moving up and down, and washing the home more than couple of times and arranging things once every flood recedes. We were almost close to the situation on the day before yesterday and if the rain hasn’t receded we would have forced to move out. Unlike early, the water doesn’t took time to recede, but still the storm water drains aren’t rectified to allow abundant water and the drains are almost went underground, thanks to the elevated concrete road, which is the main reason for the water to enter homes. One thing for sure, the fears of flood haven’t exit but still we go through bare hands. 

Light and Life

My sky turned darker
power goes off as common
but yet I delight.

Minutes some to sleep
like a led bulb, blinks the bum
to grab attention

Possibly its mate,
the firefly come by window
to ensure we sleep

Perhaps, none notice
the intimate that let glow
their instinct within.

In enclosed wood-house
it’s a behold sight through pane
let me detect life.

PS. After long time penned a poem, in haiku format with each stanza 

Brazilian Plume @ Thandikudi

During my stay at Serene Woods in Thandikudi, near Kodai, I come across this unique blossom of flowers, a large cluster of vivid pink flowers called Justicia Carnea bloomed at the house next to my uncle’s property. Widely known as Pink Jacobinia, Brazilian Plume and Flamingo Flower is an amazing perennial shrub that grow in sun or shade and blooms in the warmer parts of its range .

A bit taller to three to seven feet wide, many tubular with unusual pods holding flared flowers, curving outward from the center is bloomed throughout the summer in colors ranging from pink to purples and oranges. The leaves about 8” long are prominently veined, rich in green and pointed on the end. The branches of the plants are delicate as the other features of the same and are fragile to traffic or wind.

Native to tropical and subtropics of Brazil and South America, the Brazilian Plume flower is a member of the Acanthus family and prefers to grows well in partial to full shade. Belong to shade plant variety, about half a day of sun will witness the best display of flowers. It is cultivated as a decorative plant and is planted as a feature plant in warm temperate and subtropical climate.

Linking this post with Floral Friday Foto 

Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

While back from Kanchipuram, attending a cousin’s marriage last week, we stopped at the Varadharaja Perumal Temple in the suburb of the holy city or temple town Kanchipuram. Being interested in architecture, history and admiration for sculptures I couldn’t stop taking photos on temple towers, whatever the condition it may look, esp. the outstanding Rajagopurams (the main  gateway tower of big temples) alike.

The Vardharaja Perumal Temple tower is one of a marvelous building I started to shoot once entered the west Mada St., though I didn’t went inside the temple I enjoy taking photos on the Rajagopuram, a 130 feet tower in 7 tiers. Though there’s a belief that the temple was first built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II, was originally built by the Cholas in 1053 and expanded during their successive reigns.

The temple being one of the 108 Divya Desams (premium place/temple) of Vishnu and believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints (Azhvars), has the tallest walls I ever seen at any temple which could be measures more than 30 feet height. The temple tower is painted in white and bottom is left raw with couple of sculptures and simple detail of pillars and designs on walls. Usually the Rajagopuram in big temples are supposed to be the tallest one, but in Varadharaja Perumal Temple, the eastern gopuram (tower) is taller that the western one, one you see here.

I have been inside the Varadharaja Perumal temple as a kid and remember touching the gold and silver lizards etched on the celling, which is a part of the temple complex. Apart that I couldn’t recollect anything, but the temple is famous for its architectural pieces, the huge stone chain sculpted in a single stone. There’s also a 100 pillared hall and sculptures depicting Ramayana and Mahabharata, is a masterpiece of Vijayanagara architecture.

An ancient house @ Kanchipuram

Today we attended a cousin’s marriage at Kanchipuram and on way back, we passed the temple town (yes, Kanchipuram has number of temples to call alike) which is about 72 km from Chennai. Being an ancient town I find many old buildings and most of them are residential houses. But I couldn’t capture many of them as we kept moving, except this one taken at a brief halt.

I was fascinated by this house in colonial style of architecture where pillars supporting the veranda and balcony that has wonderfully designed rails that resemble wooden material. At ground floor the veranda is protected by vertical grilles framed in wood and the door also has a similar work with bottom covered by plank. Unlike many old houses I have seen with the year of build etched on the house facade, I am blank at the year this must be built. But I observed the house belongs to a teacher, perhaps due to the board I read (tuition center) outside the house.

Linking  this post for Good Fences run by Run a Round Ranch

Chocolate Soldier warms up!

The chocolate pansy or chocolate soldier warming up at the early hours of sunlight, at SereneWoods woodhouse, Thandikudi.

I had any photos on a butterfly before, because they never posed to be easily or I unable to chase them to shoot away. I remember capture a butterfly earlier but it was a lifeless one hit by a rotating fan. I was really glad capture this chocolate soldier butterfly when it came sitting, spotting the sunny area and basking the wings in the morning sunlight on the woodhouse ramp. This is my first butterfly shot with more detail, thanks to its tendency to exist close to the ground level and I’m surprised to learn the common butterfly is attracted to sunlight and is often bask in the sun.

The chocolate soldier is mainly found in degraded and disturbed habitats including palm plantation, small clearings and along roadsides and riverbanks at elevations between sea level and at least 1200 meters.  When the butterfly sits on the ground it might easily mistake for a small dry leaf! With a wingspan of about 5-6cm both sexes of this species is very similar in appearance, but the females have slightly broader and rounded wings. The butterfly is found commonly from Sri Lanka and India to China, through Malaysia to Bali and the lesser Sunda isles. 

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Cart Procession and Home Ganesh

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated yesterday and due to the festival there was a cart procession from our street temple last night and I took some photos when the cart comes close to our house. Actually there are two Ganesh temples in our neighborhood, but the only one on our street was took to the street first and until 11 pm there wasn’t a sign of procession from the other temple, so we went  asleep and I have no idea whether it was taken to the street or not.

 

 

Following is our home Ganesh, an idol made of clay and it’s supposed to dissolve into a tub of water tomorrow as per the ritual. Usually these clay idols are immersed into the sea or any other water body but we are into dissolving process at home for less than a decade. Hope u liked these photos - click for enlargement :)

A small update

For last two weeks am going through neck and shoulder pain, and couple of times I was forced to take Paracetamol when it becomes intense. I had no sprain what I thought initially and took medicine but I felt much better for few days after taking tablets. But I wasn’t fine like I thought about and I started to feel much pain and visited the doctor who prescribed me the same and a gel to apply on the painful area. Once again I felt much better till the dosage power exists, though the pain wasn’t sever alike before I keep away from things that strain my neck and shoulder. My physiotherapist says this is perhaps spasm due to incorrect positioning on bed or working on laptop. I usually work on the laptop by placing it on the wheelchair tray and reading also happens by the same which means I have to look only down mostly and that could have stiffen or weaken the muscles to feel  painful.

My therapist advised me not to use the laptop for long time and also reading by only placing the papers/book high where staring is straight rather bending down the neck. I have reduced the usage of whatever gives me strain and also with limited time spent on laptop. I have bought a wireless keyboard/mouse and started to use it by placing the laptop on a high setting to keep the position straight. Though I finding little difficult with this change, as I have been practiced with laptop for last five year, adapting to the old desktop setting isn’t easy but I hope to become familiar with this soon. In laptop my hands action is limited to easily operate/communicate but with this I really need some time to adjust. And I wasn’t concern on anything for some time now to keep me away from blogging and I really want to write more and I have plenty of photos to share… but I wasn’t comfort to do it right now and that not mean I recede, I hope to come back with a bang.

Chevrolet Enjoy, Test Drive

I have an eye on this Indian MPV for some time now, as I thought it could be convenient for me in both ways: as a passenger in front seat and taking away the wheelchair in the boot and another was to climb into the car along with the wheelchair by using a ramp. Currently we own an SUV and what’s the problem I hold with the car was except my brother, no one can put me into the seat and would be much difficult if try with others. We are using Mahindra Scorpio for nearly 8 years and before my fracture in femur (Oct 2013) things were fine and I was able to stand for a while for my father to lift me into the seat. But now I was depending on my brother every time to use the car and I have to drop plans many time because of his unavailability. Due to this we bought a hatchback (Suzuki swift) to movie around the city, but being a second hand car it gave us many trouble and we are force to sell it.

Because of this I have to miss many chances of going out and to keep this away I was looking for an alternate vehicle and found Enjoy will be suitable for me. Keeping my new wheelchair in mind and the reclining seat option; I thought Enjoy’s high roof and low chasses will allow me to access inside the car without getting down from the wheelchair. And Enjoy’s sedan like seating will allow my father/mother to transfer me from the wheelchair to car seat without looking after my bro and the huge boot space will accommodate the wheelchairs easily. But to confirm this I really wanted to check the vehicle personally and thus booked for a test drive. The car was in front of the home within 2 hours of booking and I eagerly went out to explore the vehicle, though it started to drizzle and before it turn showering dad transferred me into the front seat.

My brother took the steering and dad climbed into the 2^nd row of the rear seat and the company persons get into the 3^rd row and we went for a drive around the Besant Nagar. My first impression once got into the car was the wide windshield with great visibility all-round and the door windows are also big enough to get nice views, light and wind if unrolled.  The dashboard was very similar to a car than an MPV and has an impressive dual tone interior and reaching the dashboard and the controls on them where handy. The door armrest exactly comes under my elbow to support rather hitting the elbow like in Toyota Innova. The front seat has spacious leg room even after pulling the seat to maximum front. Though the seat is soft and virtually flat (like the familiar Scorpio seat) rather deep bucket, I find mild discomfort with the backrest which I think could be resolved.

The Enjoy they brought was a top end diesel (1.3 LTZ 8 seat) equipped with dual airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Driver Seat Adjustment, Alloy Wheels and Integrated (in-dash) Music System, along with many other security features and comforting things to move on. Being tall, my brother find little difficult at steering but the seat height adjustment and tilt option made comfort. The ride quality is really wonderful and cushioning and even on the potholes and speed breakers the vehicle maintains smoothness despite the small/midsize wheels (175/70R14) for a tall MPV. Though the diesel engine releases heavy noise outside, there’s enough calm inside once the doors are closed, which perhaps because of AC and the cooling coil come blower on roof makes the cabin chill in few minutes of running.

The Enjoy is almost the height of Toyota Innova but the seat height (from the ground) is lesser than Innova, so the headroom has more than enough space and anyone taller could accommodate the vehicle easily. Inside Enjoy no one could complain on views, because the seats of the second and third rows where higher than the front ones and has much spaces to stretch the legs. The sales manager who accompanied us revealed the MPV can touch 140 km/h steadily at reasonably 78bhp (petrol is 102bhp) and a mileage of about 18 kmpl (petrol 14 kmpl). Before returning the vehicle I want to check the inner height/width, so insist the company guy to open the boot and placed the wheelchair by folding the rear seat, which can be folded quite, but if removed the space could be abundant.

Though the inner height is about 4 feet, sitting on the wheelchair (ordinary kind), it’s impossible to access into the car, but I still believe it’s possible with my new reclining wheelchair where I could lean back to travel for short distances. But for long travel, I could only place the wheelchair and other accessories at the rear and only 5 people could travel on the car. Being a low chasses (low floor) loading things into the boot is very easy esp. the wheelchair and also the person lift I bought for transferring.  When I think again, overall the vehicle is adaptable for me, though many don’t like the look of the Enjoy (being boxy in shape) I feel it provides the comfort and space that not many stylish vehicles could give. We aren’t in hurry to buy the car, but were in serious consideration. 

Forest Gate

During a long drive on the countryside of Kodaikanal, we stopped for mild refreshment and find this two pole gate making way through eucalyptus trees in the forest area.

In the woods

A photo posted by Jeevan Kumar (@jeevan.grp) on May 10, 2016 at 10:13pm PDT

This is one of the many forest gates on way the to Mannavanur from Kodaikanal and these jeep tracks are open for only forest officials to patrol. Once crossed the Kodaikanal town, its woods and forest take away the scenario and this area is often sighted with bison (Indian gaur). 

Linking this post  for Good Fences by Run a Round Ranch

RGB Monday

Today’s post will have something more colorful, connecting two peace loving countries. Yes, I see the relationship between the Tibet and India exhibit through these photos and how well they coordinate to do their business.

Below is an image carrying colorful flags above a row of Tibetan shops on the Kodaikanal Lake road.

The shops that sells woolen clothes seems to have a fixed rate for their products, forming a Tibetan welfare association they work in a way of supporting  each other. You could see a name board placed above the shop, thanking India for supporting the Tibetan causes with the images of the fathers of both the nations.

Above is another set of shops from the same array, bearing the board of their association and being a hill station most of their products are woolen blankets and scarfs to keep the nights warm and comfort. 

Awesome Vacation @ Serene Woods

I had an awesome vacation last week (July 23^rd - 29^th) at my uncle’s woodhouse, aka Serene Woods, in Thandikudi, near Kodaikanal. It was my second vacation for the first time in less than 3 months times. Because only in the 2^nd week of May I visited the same and stayed for a week with my family including two cousins and grandma, but this time it was a kind of get-together with couple of my aunt/uncle families, it was a celebration sort of moment. Last time I haven’t spent enough time at the woodhouse but was at much leisure exploring some nook and corners of the Kodaikanal Hills by staying there. This time I went quite blank to enjoy what comes my way and we spent most of the days at the wood-house/cottage, eating, sleeping, taking photos and chatting except a day drive to Poombarai.

Last year my uncle organised a ceremony formally informing the built of the woodhouse and cottage but for some unspecific reason no one from our side (maternal aunt) could attend the event. And from then on, they are planning to bring us all there to compensate the event (even if they haven’t built woodhouse we would be somewhere together) or give treat to share their happiness. But before they could come up with a plan we landed there on our own and experienced the woodhouse and cottage that built amid the coffee, pepper and orange plantations. This was my 4^th time visit to Thandikudi and second time stay at the woodhouse. Our journey started too late this time and reaching out the suburb (Chennai) took more than 2 hours – due to some traffic jams and detours – it was almost dark when reached the Serene Woods.

Oranges grew in the vicinity of Serene Woods

The first day was spent quite at the woodhouse and cottage. It is a two story building with the ground and underground goes down the road and the woodhouse comes atop. But only woodhouse has ramp facility to allow me to stay there with much ease. The woodhouse contains a big hall and spacious two bedrooms with a king-size bed and a single cot on each room with attached bathrooms. And it has a wonderful wide balcony overlooking the woods and wild vegetation on the backyard. The cottage on the ground beneath has a similar partition with a veranda and open staircase come steps gallery to sit, chat and retreat along a bonfire pit in the courtyard.  The underground holds the kitchen and room for the caretaker and the cook. The cottage has a parking facility and space to park two big SUVs.

Interior of the wood-house (hall and bedroom)

We were 14 people in two cars (Innova and Scorpio) took charge the woodhouse/cottage for 6 nights and 5 days was blissful. Except day one we experienced rain daily. Though it rained almost every evening, the weather was wonderful throughout with bright sunshine in mornings and chirping of birds (in different notes) at the dawn and dusk become my favorite moments. It was cheerful being together with cousins, uncles and aunties and cooking ourselves what we like, despite have a cook, and it was indeed enjoyable sharing the moments at nature’s lap. Just for a day I was brought down to the ground floor cottage, as I haven’t been there, and we had a small bonfire celebration at night. It was refreshing to watch showing around the woods from the balconies of the wood-house kept enchanting.

The last day was spent at the premises of the Thandikudi Murugan Temple; since it was a special day at the temple, leaving our parents there we (cousins) went on and off the area and had the lunch at the temple itself. Being to Thandikudi for forth time, the landscape becomes familiar to me but still hold breath with the transformation happening through the mist wrapping the peaks and mountains. First time experienced mist outside the woodhouse and at night the effect seems fabulous in the presence of night lamps, illuminates the cottage around. Since it was the beginning of Orange season, I could see the orange trees in the vicinity thrives in green and yellow. The Serene Woods is facilitate with the facilities of a home, including free Wi-Fi, television and power generators to make feel comfort and connected! But overall I enjoyed the natural environment and being together with dear ones.

A group photo before leaving the  Serene Woods

P.s. If  you are in facebook do check the page i created (here) promoting the woodhouse/cottage

ECR – A Highway Ride

Last week I was on ECR (east coast road) to a temple festival in Mamallapuram with family and it was my travel on this road after some long time and the road wasn’t almost 4 lanes (highway) unlike now when I travel last, but was under extreme widening. The transformation from a pretty 2 lanes to advanced 4 lanes with high divider brought lot of changes on the look, locations and landscape. Though ECR is an accident prone road and due to increased traffic, such large scale development is needed but I always go for the former, the scenic double lane road which keeps me inspiring no matter how many times I ride.

ECR is one of my favourite routes, not that we stay close to the road and have been frequently hit, I feel pleasure every time I take a ride on this road bearing the cool sea breeze. ECR is packed with entertainment centres and amusement parks to keep one occupied and lately number of showrooms and cafés adds fun to the scenic highway. Except weekends, the ECR is mostly traffic free once crossed Muttukkadu, from where the ride is almost close to the coast of Bay of Bengal with Casuarina groves for company.  I usually hate riding on national highways mainly because of the bare scenarios that make feel bore… even getting a shadow is rarely evident.

Though ECR doesn’t bear many trees to provide shadow or to cut off, but still feel the widening has affected certain aspect of the scenic road. I find the new elevated bridge across the Muttukkadu backwaters got back the undisturbed, picturesque view across the estuary which was latterly hindered by a water pipe that transports the purified seawater to the city purpose. Coming to the road ways, undoubtedly we need smooth roads and protected lanes to travel from a place to another. And in today’s uncontrolled vehicle population (and pollution) road winding is the only option to let all vehicles and drive crash free. But what really happening is the four-lane encourages rash driving, where the need to care about opposite vehicle is almost absent. I wish the ECR comes under speed control, which is the only way to bring down the accidents.

The photos here were shot during the course… And I linking this post with Good Fences

RGB Monday

A colorful family

The picture shot at Kodaikanal Lake Road is a random image, where you could see a family representing the colors of red, green and blue which I find apt to add to the meme. Apart that you could see bicycles of different kind and colors in the image, which are rented cycles, that tourist enjoys riding around the lake. And to the left, you could see a foot cart selling bread omelette and bajjis, which has become one of the top pick by tourist visiting the hill station.  I find the number of foot carts making similar business along the lake road has been in rise so much lately. 

The lack of content

There’s a proverb called ‘old is gold’, which meant that old things are valuable as gold and what’s happening with things produced these days proves that quality is something we lost in the past and what’s in the production today couldn’t deliver the best and anything we take is out of content and quality. I’m not denying quite that all things made are useless but less in quality and quantity. The manufactures produce more than enough things these days and we aren’t in lack of getting things but do they all make feel content? Lately, I feel more the quality is something sacrificed on almost everything we purchase. Because I could obviously see the difference in quality on things bought back (at least in less than 10 years) and now. For example, my new wheelchair is just 7 months old and the front wheel tyre is torn out!

I am using power wheelchair for more than 9 years and until I get the new one lately I was constantly using a power wheelchair (which was my primary) purchased in 2007. The wheelchair is in good working condition and I use it sometime to keep in touch and sustain with its comfort, even though its tyres are worn out there isn’t a piece of damage to them and the joystick is still doing well for even the wheelchair manufacturers to amaze! Because, they themselves admit the joysticks provided these days couldn’t last more than 3 years. And I don’t want to say anything more on it. Even though the technology has advanced they couldn’t sustain the quality make feel worse.

Other days on my evening outing in wheelchair I spent some time at my uncle’s workshop and was amazed to see the plastic chair that was bought in 1990, when they started the Maruti workshop, still exists without damage. Only its legs have shortened due to long and excess use. I have seen the chair used for all sort of activities and many a time the chairs have supported the car engines during reassemble.  But with today’s chairs we are supposed to be beware sitting, because the chairs aren’t strong enough like before and a small drag will see its legs bending. So was the quality of plastic used these days. We had couple of chairs and a stool from 90s and until I got my fracture in 2013, I used the stool for bathing and even the color of the stool was faded and it came with a damaged leg, but continued to support without a mishap. We had searched for a similar stood but couldn’t get a strong one alike anywhere.

I know there are different kinds of mirrors in market to see our face, in colourful frames and design… but do u believe I still use an old car wing mirror to see my face daily. Yes, it was a side view mirror that broken from a car door, long back, at uncle’s workshop and we have dropped it down number of times but haven’t see a damage or fading mirror. I mentioning it mainly because the plastic and the mirror where such standard piece and I didn’t need a change as any mirror do the same. Another thing that makes me believe the quality has lost its foot was the Air con machine (split a/c); we bought at the same time I got my first wheelchair (2007).  

Our LG A/C is more than 9 years old and only last year we are forced to change the indoor unit due to gas leak but the outer unit (compressor) continues to work well supporting the second hand Samsung blower unit. I know few people have changed couple of ACs during this period. Ours was so far raised only minor issues and the AC was under annual maintenance contract (AMC), though it is one of the reasons for its long stability but that alone is not enough I believe, because if the unit wasn’t a  quality content it’s impossible to survive.  We bought another AC for my brother in 2013 and before completing a year it witnessed a major problem and the enter coil unite was changed in the outer unit. And about a year from then, the compressor goes off and made a huge sum for mending. It all makes clear what kind of standard we are living.

Could we replace the Nokia 1100’s stability? Though I know today’s mobiles are sophisticated but when it comes to calls I think the former is best. Even though we could manage with certain things that support life from outside, the food that lack quality is impossible to digest. I really want to say I fear to intake anything got from the tiffin café or hotels and eat with hesitation that nothing indigestion should happen. I have experienced trouble having food from the hotel, but I think its normal thing to happen sometime and another thing I like to put front is the taste and quantity of food served.

Almost restaurants have raised their price tag, perhaps, due to economic growth and increase price of grocery, but why do they reduce the quantity of food? When the price increases, at least the amount of food should have sustained, right? The couple of idly and vada got from the hotel couldn’t feel me content and taste different from one time to another. Though it was perhaps the intention of restaurant owners to reduce and increase certain things, the naturally gown Apple deceives me to feel bad. I eat an apple per day and I find the apples aren’t tastier and easily chewable these days.

We used to buy apple and other fruits a familiar woman who sells them from a roadside stall and being a well-known, she only gives us if the fruits were good enough. The apples don’t expose any damage or insect bite and sometime comes in delicate pink and dark in red, but until we cut-off we couldn’t guess the quality inside. Sometime it’s very hard to nibble and taste similar as pears and futile to eat. I know everything has a market in this world, and there could be some people projecting what kind of apple should be grow in what quality and quantity. I believe it’s the hybrid cultivation that keeps the nutrition away… the apple industry (and any kind of farming these days) seems to focus on only high yield and don’t care about the quiddity.  I feel the content of eating an apple is possible only if we eat more than two apples… but when I can’t eat a one, how could this possible.

The complaint about quality has been in trend for long but I feel it more lately compare with things available around. I feel very imbalance with this kind of trend where things become costlier but the quality and quantity couldn’t reach that height.  Thanks for taking time to read my frustration…

Appa, the Best Father (Movie Review)

There are very few films share our personal views and things we thought could be right if the outcome was this manner. Appa’s subject is very close to my heart and what I really thought how a parenting should be has been highlighted in this Tamil flick Appa. What a feel it was to watch a father son related movie along with your father? Actually I didn’t feel anything wonder (as i went with my father and bro to watch) but the scrip does enough and what it delivered is best.

Though it is a father son/daughter relationship subject, the objective has been parenting and the movie exhibits a model where the child was himself rather following the serious modes and being a replica of others. Directed and acted by Samuthirakani, the film deals with three different kind of parenting and the outcome of the children and parents reaction make it worth watching and also   entertaining.

Samuthirakani has played an ideal role model of a father, who wants to bring up his child with individuality and morality rather forcing him into certain kind of pressure the other children go through. Right opp. to him, his wife, being an arrogant and comparative person, wants her son to do what all other kids do instead of concerning his real needs and deeds. The parents were separated and the boy grows on his father’s guidance as a confidant, friendly and cheerful young man.

On the other hand, Thambi Ramaiya is as a strict father who dominates his son’s life and wants him always to be topper in academic. Being an anti-Samuthirakani he keeps his son away from them and later put him into a residential school against his wish. The third one doesn’t come into either category and with a son of retarded growth wasn’t encouraged or disregarded, but the short guy was the real show stealer.

After a gap of two years or so, Samuthirakani has took the Saattai (whip) in hand once again to drive away the force that implemented on children in name of education, supervision, suspicion and authoritarian. In Saattai(Samuthirakani’s previous movie), as a teacher, he took reform in education system and function of school and in Appa, he took a step further exhibiting certain kind of attitudes from the parents side to observe and put right  things.

I believe not everyone would get a father like the Samuthirakani’s character in the movie, because the way he handled his teenage son’s confused state of meeting with a girl and facilitates his discomfort feeling when he understand his unfamiliarity towards the opposite sex is absolutely wonderful and best ever expressed. I don’t think any father or mother would discuss the children about the things happen during the teen, like the film emphasis, because this is the phase decides ones behavior pattern and if it wasn’t designed properly the incidents against the women are impossible to avoid.   

Appa carries message on the shoulder which is apt to the current leading society and the movie is a testimony to the misconception happening in the education and children’s growth. Vignesh (the one played as elder brother in Kaaka Muttai) as son of Kani expressed smart and intelligence, although being an average student his character is quite impressive. Mailvagam (Nasath), the child with retarded growth, is one of the best aspects of the movie and his every move is noteworthy and amusing.  

Thambi Ramayai has continued his role from a teacher (in Saattai) to parent in Appa with same frustration, and has proved his ability in twisting his character in the rear end. The boy acted as his son expressed almost everything on his face and the two girls as their friends has given their best. The movie doesn’t have songs (though music by Ilaiyaraja) and also I couldn’t remember the one what lyrics, because Samuthirakani’s dialogues have saturated. It’s a movie for everyone to be must watched. 

RGB Monday

RGB Monday is a meme I stared to share photos that comprises and highlights the colors of Red, Green and Blue either in a photo or three different photos where the colors are connected in either ways. The series completes a year by July and it was received nicely by the fellow bloggers and this meme along with the other ones keeps me active in blogging. A bright color always capture our attention easily and I have many photos shot during my travels and I find these memes helps in sharing them. Thanks for the support. 

The above one was shot at Kodaikanal, during my vacation, where a woman vendor selling fruits from a temporary fruit stall on the observatory road and the fruits sold are grown from the small farms across the mountains. They sell plums, pears, peaches, butter fruit and other related fruits, including delicious carrots. 

Asian Koel and Summer calls

Asian Koels and summer seems to have some connection between them, because I observed their presence more these days unlike any other season. Proving that, couple of my friends has also uploaded Koel photos in Flickr shot at their neighbourhood from across the country. Though I don’t see this birds often unlike it used fall into my sight during my residence in apartment previously (the pics below were also shot there), their call from the trees around my home is frequently loud.

Sometimes I see both the male and female Koels when I come out in the evening and the house next to ours has different kind of trees along the space around their home… invites birds such as Rufous Treepie, Green Parrots and Yellow billed Babblers. And I used to try capturing these birds but the angles they perch don’t fall into my comfort of shoot.

Male and Female Asian Koel

Koels are renowned for their sweetest tone and despite being black and grey in colors the bird’s enriched calls are inspiration for many poets to pen down beautiful verses. Koels are hard to distinguish from crows (due to black in color) unless taking little notice at their eyes - crimson red in color, and the female is differentiated by the white and buff spot on its brown back which resemble the look of an hawk. 

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