Glowing Coconut Palms

Winter has its way out, like every season, slow extension of daylight sense the injection of sun and warning summer and at the end of the day it glows. Even after the sun disappeared behind the buildings, the trees top are set to glow by the fierce rays of sun, sneak peek through the gaps of buildings. The light exposed on the greenish orange coconut palms enhance the glowing light to golden treat and it was quite a simple pleasure I got to watch few time. Although these are some capture from last year or before winter, the image weren’t different now rather going strong with  glow where I could get even leafy shadows on trunks.

I wasn’t out anywhere lately and sky watching has become an activity and I take many photos mostly on sky these days. I saw a lone pelican last evening crossing my sky and sometime a bunch of white heron – which used to be common sights in past – but everyday about 6 pm, number of bats pass our sky, a regular journey of them from the trees of Theosophical Society to other bunches of trees along Buckingham Canal in Adyar. And they turn back to the Society in early morning which I ever woken up to see in the last 5 months, since shifted here. But my uncle confirms that. Glad I have this open sky in front of the house, surrounded by trees and a balcony to skywatch, keeps me going despite the haunting thought of traveling, which I haven’t done one close to a year now.

A crow perched atop a tank pipe while getting warm in evening sunlight

RGB Monday

My aunt's colorful Pongal Kolam drawn last month during the festival of Pongal, very next to mom's Pongal pot kolam.

Kolam is a custom followed by the households in south India and it’s a daily activity for many, including ours. And Pongal Kolam is popular during this time and many put great efforts to make it look wonderful and colourful including drawing something relevant to the festival. Kolam always been my favourite thing and I enjoy watching different patterns and for me, Kolam is apart any belief and its way of exhibiting art and beauty.

Melody of Birds

A  raw image, captured at Kodaikanal

Nature sings a song
taking notes from birds
and squirrels chirping on trees
plays a melody, through
the silent afternoon
when less others volumes.

The motion of palms
made pleasant moves
to the melody of birds in air
as they fly over, tweets
some sweet notes
to compose into a song.

Piles of dry leaves
invited birds to ground
to forage; via tiny crush of leaves
comes out string tones
to fine tune the song
birds sing from bare trees.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

தென்றல் / Breeze

தென்றல் வந்து தொடுகையில் 

புது இன்பம் வந்து தழுவியது;

அழுத்தத்தில் தத்தளித்த இதயம்

சற்றே சுவாசித்தது, வீசுகின்ற கற்று

தன் மூச்சை நிறுத்தும் முன்.

விரக்தியில் இருந்தேன் நான்

புது உத்வேகம் தந்தது காற்று;

வாசல் கடந்து இழுத்து வந்தது

ஒரு உணர்வு, விவரிக்க முடியாதது

தென்றல் தொடும் தடம்.

செல்வம் கோடி இருந்தாலும்

செல்லமாய் தீண்டும் தென்றல் போல்

தாலாட்டும் தன்மை கிடைக்காது;

முகமற்ற வாயால் ஊதும், அதனை

நாம் உணர மட்டுமே செய்வோம்.

---------------- -----------------

As breeze comes in touch
a pleasure came and embraced;
the heart swayed in stress
slightly breathed, the blowing wind
before stopping her breath. 

I was frustrated!
The wind gave me inspiration;
I was dragged across the door
a feeling, what’s unexplainable
the breeze touching track.

However billions is wealth
like the touch of sweet breeze
nothing tends to be lullaby;
blowing from faceless mouth
we’ll only do feel that.

Ps. Inspired by the cool breeze  blowing through  afternoon

Check Post - 2

Check post is a series I have started (click here for post 1) where I would like to share moments related to check posts that I have come across during my travel. There’s a check post everywhere and these check post are important in sustaining a control over unruly esp. when it comes nature environment, wild and national defence and interest. Let it be anything, crossing a check post need consideration because skipping any working check post will land in trouble. Though we hadn’t messed up anywhere but got warned by the check post guards sometime and threat a penalty.

Just like in the previous post, where we stopped by a forest dept. check post before entering Hogenakkal and this post too is similar to the evening but here it was afternoon when we try to cross Papanasam check post to visit Karaiyar Dam in Pothigai Hills. It was in 1999, during my first time trip to Kodaikanal and Tirunelveli; we visited Courtallam on the 4^th day of our travel and then went to Agathiyar Falls inPapanasam and Karaiyar Dam (which weren’t in our plan) and we had no idea about this terrain as well. It was our friend who hailed from Tirunelveli, took us around the places and guided us on the entire trip (which I think I need to write a separate post on it later) and after taking showering from the popular Coutrallam waterfalls there we pursuit to Karaiyar Dam, which is 10km uphill from Papanasam.

The forest check post at Papanasam blocked our Ambassador car, and I guess they request for a permission letter and if I remember we paid some amount per head of us for them to allow inside the Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, where the Karaiyar Dam is built across Thamirabarani River. The road was narrow and potholed at many places where our Ambassador car passed effortlessly and entirely the road was silent and far empty with couple of stops with EB quarters and some settlement. The road travels along the Thamirabarani River and we could see huge pipes taking water down to the PowerStation at the foothill. I felt a sense of quietness all over; except for the voices inside the car and it was there I spot the Nilgirilangur for first time. The water level at the dam was far down then and a row of boats were parked along the bank to take visitor (on their willingness) to the other side of the dam  to check Roja Falls – named after the popular film Roja where  it was shot.

The view that I got from the dam is etched still on my mind. I rarely had a photo on it where I really need to dig out from the old photos collection. I was so interested taking the boat ride there, despite the ankle sprain I got on Kodaikanal; we were in lack of time as we need to head east to visit Tiruchendor before the end of the day. The picture of Nilgiri langur (above) was shot from the wilderness of Nilgiris during my visit in 2017.  

Summer Breeze 2019

Summer breeze picked up

earlier to the season
transports me to past, where
some best moments exists.

Breath-taking it feels
every time the sea breeze
take off and land my field
to feels embrace wind.

Sun shone its fine
but still the winter chill
plays a role between
like a string in music.

And I enjoy this view
of palms and other trees
dancing to the tune of
imbalance wind breeze.

The trees lose leaves
like skin shed off layers
to prevailing dry weather
the wind blows to ground.

RGB Monday

My aunt's sparrow kolam for the New Year

Kolam is a custom followed by the households in south India and it’s a daily activity for many, including ours. Kolam always been my favourite thing and I enjoy watching different patterns and for me, Kolam is apart any belief and its way of exhibiting art and beauty.

Maya and Mysore pak

Our dog Maya loves anything that taste sweet (which I’m not sure all dogs come under this category) and whenever we have something she used to bark which means she needs some bit too. We rarely offer her some piece of sweet or cakes or cookies made of chocolate to satisfy her unending desire and to make her have medicine or tablet we used to hide it inside the sweet or chocolate because she never took easily orally a medicine. Sometime we voluntarily drop a tablet in front of her and pretend to pick it up where she swiftly act and take the tablet in mouth. Rarely she eats the sweet alone and split the tablets separately.

We don’t keep down things Maya is interested on when she was on loose and sometime she behaves senseless picking anything from the house dustbin. Two days back, relatives visited us and they brought a sweet box and some fruits which mom had left on the floor in thought Maya were tied and forget to shift things from there. When we saw later everything was fished off the sweet box. Maya had eat 1/4kg of the Mysore Pak and looked with a weighted tummy as if having offsprings and also found difficult to walk. We really thought/worried what going to happen to her as she already have wheezing and weaker heart and this heavy loaded Mysore Pak (made of generous amounts of ghee and sugar) could cause anything. But glad she’s doing well and turned normal next day after couple of toilet visits.

About Mysore Pak: It was originally called as Mysuru Paaka, in which Mysuru indicates the city of Mysore, in the Indian state of Karnataka and Paaka means sweet syrup, is a popular Indian sweet made of ghee, sugar, gram flour and cardamom.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

மகிழ்ச்சியான மாலை / Delightful Evening

மாலை பொழுதில், மகிழ்ச்சியில் 

கீச் கீச் என்று பறந்தன  பறவைகள்

தன் கூடு தேடி இதம் சேர்க்க,

இரவுக்குளிர் அதிகரிக்கும் முன்.

செக்கச்சிவந்த வானமாய் எனது

இளஞ்சிவப்பு நிறத்தில்

மெலிதாய் போர்த்திய பனி இடையே

உறைந்தது அன்றைய தினம்

இரவை நோக்கிய பயணத்தில்  

அழகு சித்திரமாய் மாலை 

இருள் ஒளியில் முழுதாய் 

மறையும் முன் மகிழ்வித்து சென்றது.

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In the evening, cheerfully
chirping birds fly away
searching their nest to feel pleasant
before the night cold elevates.

As alpenglow my sky
in pinkish color
between the thin layers of dew
frozen that day 

On a journey towards night
evening as beautiful canvas
delighted, before fully disappear
in the darkness of light.

Ps. Inspired by the evening outside the home

Checkpost - 1

Check post is a series I have started (at a blink of thought while reading Hot Tea) where I would like to share moments related to check posts that I have come across during my travel. I could remember some check posts that went smooth with the guards permitting, giving tips on the route and encouraging kind of guards and some are stubborn to stern to warn us to turn back and it’s not the check posts actually but the location and places we like to venture makes it possible or not. There are check posts on every border of states, districts, and restricted areas like forests and dams and the foothills to prevent illegal activities and preserve nature and environments. Check posts really plays significant roles in controlling smuggling, verifying vehicle documents for right registration and makes sure a secure travel.

I remember my first encounter with a check post was in 1997, a barrier belong to Tamil Nadu forest department held us for some time when we try to visit Hogenakkal Falls in Dharmapuri district. We just drove from Mysore, after our visits to Ooty and Mysore; it was almost night or around 8 when our car (Maruti 800) was stopped by the forest department denying permission to allow us into Hogenakkal which is located inside the forest. Unlike today, it wasn’t a greatly popular tourist place with plenty of lodging and restaurants then, so the movement of vehicles are less and no vehicle is allowed after 6 pm to visit the falls at the bank of Cauvery. It was pitched dark around us except a bulb light from the check post, and a silent noise of forest surrounds us while my dad and uncle was convincing the guards to permit us as we had no other option or idea to return. The guards came down after sometime and we were in chaos sitting inside the car and a mild fear of forest as we couldn’t see even what is near us. We drove past the Ghats section with a small terror after getting permission and we stopped at the Tamilnadu tourism hotel, for a night stay and visited the falls next day morning.

Actually there were 8 members in the hatchback and I was 12 then and my brother was 3 years younger to me and my cousin was 2 years. Sometimes I sit in the front seat adjusting with my maternal uncle and other two take the laps of our parents throughout our journey and the trip was entirely memorable and I could recollect the moments still.

Winter Sunlight

My window reflected 

a winter sunlight 

mild, yellow, warm light 

glare its presence 

before hideaway 

behind a building.

Pongal 2019

Mom's Pongal pot Kolam

I still going through the painful arm (read here if you missed) at night and the muscle spasm  have formed well on the upper arm and it’s taking time to heal. Being a muscular dystrophy, with weaker muscles, an extension in healing is no wonder. But I could feel better than earlier and still shifting positions kicks pain and I continue to ice and heat therapy. In between we had a far better Pongal and after 2010 we got to celebrate Pongal along with our uncle’s family who lives adjacent and the extended balcony (for my wheelchair movement) has gave enough space to lit firewood stove and Pongal was cooked in mud pot. Pongal is a harvesting festival of Tamil and thanksgiving to nature that nurture our lives and making Pongal in open space means dedicate to the prime natural source Sun and make thought the year become all success and happier.

Making of sweet Pongal by boiling rice, milk and jaggery

The weather is pretty cool all these days and the sun is bright enough to balance the heat and the Pongal was cooked despite the warm sunlight that kept producing heat. The night before Pongal, mom and aunt got their hands on beautifying our front yard or the space between the road and our house and both made two colourful Kolams aka Rangoli using colour powders. First time mom took effort to draw a big Kolam after her surgery in May, though it is a simple kolam for her but just put this effort for me as  I love kolams. Every year she used to draw Pongal Kolam and adds colors according to the design and this time along with the aunt they turned more colourful the way it used to be. Other than paying homage to nature esp. the sun, and making Pongal on the balcony the days were spent mostly on TV and i went around our streets in the evening to check neighbours Kolam but to my disappointment most of them had drawn small Kolam or design which I would sharing in another post. Hope you liked our celebration.

View on other two kolams by aunt, from balcony

Year began with pain

A new year had begun and already 10 days had passed into the year and everything went as usual fine and obviously nothing to anticipate or perhaps change at this least time but it was the Sunday turned thing worst for me. As you people know the state of me, with difficult progressing on day-to-day life since the discovery of Dad’s coronary artery disease that prevents him lifting me I was look after by my brother and cousin but to put things a little ease we looked out for a part time caretaker to put me on bath and thus came one on Sunday and on the very first day itself I got hurt my arm through an unexpected move from him although he was cautious, it happened unintentionally and I’m still going through the pain which raises at night to keep me unsleeping. Both my arms have limited access and putting a bit pressure above it will reflect pain or tear of muscles or rarely fractured alike the one I got in 2013 on the femur. Though I wasn’t content the way he handled me, I understand he was not intended to do that hurt me but his quick attitude could never work with me and we have put hold him already until I heal to decide to continue with him or not. Right now I couldn’t think more while spending painful night sleeps and I believe it wasn’t a fracture. From Sunday I have been applying ice gel over the painful shoulder and right arm and my physiotherapist started the ultrasound therapy to support healing and ease pain but it was paining more and i couldn’t work on laptop for last few days and I post this from iPhone which was easier to use now than laptop. Will check all your post later or when I feel good or less pain! Have great Year all

Happy New Year

The year has come to end and a New Year is beaming in front of us, flashing rays of hope that should be only taken as betterment to lead us into the future, to be a fruitful to anyone looking out for changes in life, in a prospect of sour security, skinny web of friends and family as enclosure to the lavishing lush and red pupil heart of love, turning the lives into meaningful, kindest and sweetest towards eternal. Let’s wish for a change or continue to sail as long it’s peaceful, successful, and useful to throw lives into organic, healthy and happy.   

Wish you all Happy New Year again!

Christmas Craftworks

Collage of my craftworks

Begin 2011, I decorate Christmas tree every year, except 2013 and 2015 a disaster year for me and my city (Dec flood), I put lights and star to feel and get involve myself with the festive while people celebrates around. Usually I purchase ornaments for Christmas tree either from the shop or online twice a year, as most of them are made of thermocol (polystyrene) it don’t last few years. But this year I decided to make some ornaments using Popsicle sticks to see how well I could treat myself with the activities and I got many ideas browsing the net and I decided to stick with simple craftwork like stars, wreath, tiny trees, house etc.  And I enjoyed painting them all.  Here are few photos on craftwork that I later hanged on the Christmas tree.

My gingerbread house that was turned into stone house by my sweet grandmother. The other two beside the house is santa hat haha

Birth of Christ

My christmas tree with the ornaments I made with popsicle sticks

RGB Monday

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

My simple Christmas decor with serial led and christmas tree and star put on the balcony.

X-mas star

Jingle bell

An expression of distress

Dad is doing well after the stenting and no breathing difficulties anymore but he’s continues to stay in rest for few more weeks to get back to his regular activities. Thought it feel everything is normal I couldn’t take it easy with my life. I don’t know how to describe or put it in words the pressure I go through internal and it has no business with dad’s health and he’s alright. Like all, I dislike certain things or want to maintain a distance from people whose activities I don’t like or not suit my lifestyle which including my parents. But now life forced me to walk through those which I don’t know is how to unveil. Sometime people are fair and kind, and at next moment breakdown everything to make feel disdain and bad and we can’t blame them for that if that could be their nature, I would stay away, but when it bothers were just going behind them in sake of life. It’s a struggle purely to answer the conscience when accepting assistance physically and mentally couldn’t go through the all. I never thought life would shrink all of sudden when I wasn’t ready or even read the book of my future tense. I know I need to handle this really and I was in the process of planning my future and executing in bits manner but this huge skip is unexpected. This is my second huge leap after the femur fracture in 2013 that put me years ahead into the future, what I have dreamt was only average.

As I have told in my earlier posts, I, mom and dad were like a cycle where any part of the wheel gets an affect the entire cycle will face the challenge. So far I haven’t been to expect somebody to aid me on everyday activities and nature calls, rather occasional; my parents continues to be my saver to drive me all this while and I’m certain they will do it until we’re alive, but I do know I’m in need to look after by someone when they can’t physically support me. Though I know well I need to adjust with life and accept the changes and I too believe this isn’t permanent and I need to find a way if things haven’t change for better. I’m someone who couldn’t stand with people who easily change their mind-set and belief from time to time and draw a rule that frequently turn on and off. It may sound weird but sometime need to believe such people do exists and dealing with them is not easier. It isn’t a problem when taking things physically challenged, but I’m not an insane to feel about anything or insensible to the atrocities happening around me. Perhaps if I was a normal being I could have easily skipped or try to turn down or better, but being a dependent I’m limited and was forced to take things at teeth bite. I don’t know could you understand what I say, but still no problem at least I able to express something here and let you know something disturbing me lot.

Sunday Photos: Sparkle Fun

During Deepavali I took some fun shots, where I asked my dad to move burning sparkle fireworks in random directions to get these shapes. Every year I used to take some snaps using the firework mode on camera, lighting the sparkles to move in different directors to catch some interesting fire traces. This year it was performed on our balcony, so the moves were restricted to get some simple yet interesting ones.

This give me a perspective of first Tamil letter அ (A)

And this looks as Tamil letter ஒ (O)

Skywatch Friday : Pretty Sky

The temperature was mild today, with some clouds covering up the sky and the evening too wasn’t any different until I came inside the home. The sky turned wonderful all of sudden as I looked out the window; it was reddish as I faced west and I just came out instantly clicking some snaps on the sky looking partially purple and pink. We are having a depression in ocean and are expected to receive rains for couple of days during the weekend and as indicate of rain the grey clouds turned up after the play of purple and pink.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

Operated on Stents

As you all know the status of my dad, who goes through clogs in coronary artery, was hospitalized yesterday for the stenting and the stents were planted on his heart successfully. We took nearly two weeks’ time to decide from either open heart or placing of stents for the blocks on coronary artery and it wasn’t an easier task as we consulted couple more doctors, open heart has been their first preference but only on our insist they suggest stent as second option and to be done from their referred doctors or hospitals. One of the doctors was strong that open heart is best, but his activities can’t be same and need to be hospitalized for 10 days and more recovery days at home. I know how painful it could be for him if he go through a major operation like open heart and we aren’t in a mind-set to see him suffer from great wounds and feeling sick. So we went back to where we begin, the doctor who guessed and took angiogram to reveal the blocks. He was clear and positive about having stents, and thankfully the major blocks isn’t on the main artery, so his opinion of having stents don’t create serious problems if dad was in controlled diet and continuation of medicine. 

Some report on net says stents aren’t recommended for diabetic patients and those survive on insulin injection. Though my dad was on diabetic for 15 years, which was taken into deep consideration, it was the doctor’s words gave hope and confidence to go for stents. Dad was at CCU from yesterday afternoon to this evening, before shifted to general ward and he’s doing well now and he called me twice after the surgery. Mom and brother were at hospital on exchange duty, where she would be with me at night and visit him on day and same was with brother. My grandmother was at home and my uncles and cousin helps me with day activities. Dad will be discharged tomorrow evening and would be at rest for a month before catch up with regular activities. And being a pensioner the partial amount for stenting will be covered under insurance.  I can’t even image him going through open heart and I’m glad the stents working on him and hope it continues to support him.  

RGB Monday

Colorful Murals

 

Two Sunday’s back, on a drive into the city I come across this colourful paintings or mural on the wall opposite to Nageshwara Rao Park in Mylapore. The painting look like was drawn in attracting kids with natural elements as sun, flowers and critters and further it has some festive scenes or market clips.

Linking this post with Monday Mural

Saturday's Critters

A crow preening from a recent showering! The northeast monsoon this year haven’t covered even half the amount it should have (at least in Chennai and adjacent districts) and we’re barely left by a week of hope for the rains as the season ends, and although winter has widespread all over the state, the hope for rain has decline. Though the meteorological dept. has predicted that there could be a formation of low (in Bay of Bengal) in the coming week, its hope of rain is uncertain or should be insufficient.

Due to low pixel mode, I had to sacrifice on the quality of pictures which I only realized after uploading to laptop and I have took many photos without checking it as I keep it always on high mode, something went out of my concern.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Heaven on Earth

One of my favorite place on earth - Veerapandi, in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. Hope you don't need a question why, if you watched the video. Music by Anirudh from Vankkam Chennai, a favorite song of mine.

RGB Monday

Has unfold some colors

(click pic for enlarge)

A roadside vendor selling small house and kitchen items, opposite to Madras High Court in Chennai. Last Sunday (Nov 25) I took a drive through the heart of the city, after long time, and took many photos sitting from the car and had a coffee at Hot Chips opp. to the court  where i took this shot while waiting for my cousin to get me a coffee. Being Sunday, the busy road was far empty with many shops closed and we easily parked beside the road. 

Quite an unexpected trail

I never thought life would turn this difficult, this sooner, with unexpected happening into our lives. I couldn’t remark how I have been disturbed by the discovery of my dad’s coronary artery disease, which is a cause of narrowing of the arteries that supply heart with blood. To make it short blocks in heart. He was normal all these day and many a test result (related to heart) were normal except the treadmill exam, which taken on his complaint of insufficiency of breathe after having food or going on walk and climbing stairs. Seeing the result, the doctors advised to go for an angiogram to get a clear picture of the condition before going on further treatment. And the Monday’s diagnosis revealed three blocks on the coronary artery with a percentage of 90, 80 and 60 and for that the doctors prefer was either open heart surgery or placement of stents. But still we unable to decide and was expected to consult one more doctor, like we already done with two before taking a firm decision.

Except diabetic, dad doesn’t had any serious health problems but I do aware diabetic is a cause could bring anything into a healthy body, alongside lifting me and recent stress relevant to house renovation should be the prime reasons for the clogs. After mom’s surgery in May, dad was the only person to lift me to change in positions, mostly from cot to wheelchair and wheelchair to commode stool, with occasional aid from brother; I too haven’t took long trips since March visit to Kodai. Now it’s time for him to retire from the lifting course and of course he’s age 66, a fair reason to prevent lifting me but he did until doctor advised after examine the test reports.  For last few days my brother was helping on shifting and we too had sought for a part time caregiver and meanwhile the portable hoist is used for lifting. Like told above, I have no words to express my distress and pain and my only concern right now is dad’s recovery from the disturbing fact, and it’s no matter how I lead without his support but his healthy presence is more important for me and I could understand his situation and I hope the advanced medical aids will improve his condition and put back to norm at any state.

Though I sound strong and clear, I have fear about the upcoming progress in our lives and my dad and mom are a part of me so I could not keep away anything affects them, like I for them. I should say I really lost my sleep or fell into nightmares lot thinking his condition and our futures ahead; I too started to experience pains related to my scoliosis on spine and difficult at breathe some time. Though it wasn’t anything instant serious, but certainly a cause to bother me in near future and I tell myself get ready for the war with soldiers within! Haha There is no way denying the fact and I keep thinking and doing various things to distract the thoughts about the future and current occurrences. I truly wish stents works for my dad, so that he doesn’t need to suffer lot and spent more time in hospital and time to recover. Let’s wish for the best

RGB Monday

Our colorful Karthigai Deepam 

Or an arrangement of Diyas! Karthikai Deepam is a South Indian festival observed by the Hindus on the full moon day of the Tamil calendar Karthikai, which happens between November and December. It is an occasion where rows of oil lamps are lit in every home and temple. Karthigai Deepam is essentially a festival of lamps and lighted lamps are considered auspicious symbols; believed to drive off evil forces and let in prosperity and joy.

Diyas light up the balcony and door front

Most of the oil lamps (Diyas) used here (at houses and temples) are made of clay, and except for adding or replacing a few, most of the lamps are reused from previous years after cleaning. Mom soaked the oil-stained Diyas in water two days before the festival, then dried them before the oil-lit Diyas illuminated the night against the much brighter full moon. Karthigai Deepam is a renowned festival for the Thiruvannamalai Deepam (a massive lamp lit up at the peak of Annamalai Hill, about 2669 feet high) dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Just a day ahead of the festival, I got the idea of coloring some of the Diyas. I got posture colors, and started to paint immediately, and continued into the festival day including coloring quite red, green, and blue Diyas. I did some simple designs on the side of Diyas, and Diyas being small in size comes in handy for me to paint with my limited arm access. It’s been a long time since I touched a brush since I find it difficult to draw things holding a pencil or brush, but I always want to do something and the Diyas ignites the thought and I plan to do some more esp. to try to create some Christmas decors using Popsicle sticks and paint colorfully.   

My colored Diyas making center of attraction hehe.. (all pics clicked with iPhone)

Skywatch Friday: Stormy Sky

Shot outside the home. Before it started to rain heavily! Nov 20-21 had been really good day for us, with continues rain, which was the need of the hour, turned the environment to feel cool and was refreshing throughout the showering. Thanks to the depression in Bay of Bengal, we received 100-150mm of rain and so far we received less than 300mm of rain where the normality is 850mm.  So we still need more rain to raise our ground table and the water level at reservoirs. Hope more on the way before the monsoon ends.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

Gaja and the cottage at Kodiyakarai

The cyclone Gaja has smashed the coastal districts up to 6, and took very unusual routes into the land without losing its strength has stroke couple of mountainous districts causing heavy downpour and windstorms resulting in number of tree fall and landslides. Kodaikanal – my most visited place for vacation, where my uncle owns wood houses and cottage – being the core part of the cyclone, before it enters the Kerala state and Arabian Sea shook the mountains to unlink most of the roads and many remote villages are inaccessible still and out of electric. Even at the vicinity of my uncle’s woodhouse and plantation, many banana trees had fell and there’s no water or electric.

At the other hand I was wonder what could happened to the beautiful cottage we stayed in Kodiyakarai (PointCalimere) during our visit to the wildlife and bird sanctuary there, which was the eye of cyclone Gaja! It’s nearly a century old tiled roof cottage; adjoin the sanctuary and coastal line, built by Thambusamy Pillai, a sea merchant. There’s two suites named as Pelican and Flamingo, which is popular migratory birds of the sanctuary. I really loved this place, despite the frequent power cuts and mosquito bites; I could see deer and peacocks turn pleasant the moments anytime by their presence. Kodiyakarai and Vedaranyam in Nagai district is worst affected and almost cut off from the rest of the places, as it located on the eastern edge of the state.

The places that are affected by Gaja continues to fight against the debris the cyclone left back, after pulled down many houses and destruction of livelihoods. And to make situation worse, these places continue to receive heavy rains due to another depression at the sea and a warning of 300 mm of rain still. However it was raining from the morning here, more rains is expected in coming days. Hope it rains well, never a kind of flooding, to uplift the ground water and filling of lakes to support our city’s water scarcity. The pictures here are on the cottage we stayed at Kodiyakarai.

Sunday Photos: Fireworks

Some golden aerial fireworks shots from the Diwali night, capture through iPhone from the balcony of our home. 

Following is a short slow motion video of ground chakkara

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise and Contrail

Gaja, a severe storm or cyclone that was threatening the coastline of Tamil Nadu for nearly a week, had landfall near Nagapattinam, creating havoc at the early hours of Friday (today). Above 250 km away from Chennai, the coastal districts is at severe damage of properties and lose of countless trees, but the precaution efforts taken by the state and district authorities really need to be appreciated and I believe it is because of their efforts the worst has been prevent. Actually, Chennai was predicted to be the destination of Gaja, but nature decided to be kind toward us giving away the trouble to other part of the state. As I have been to the places of Gaja, I could imagine what kind of destruction the areas face and Vedaranyam being the eye of Gaja is isolated from outside world and it is surrounded by natural saltpans and forests that should be faced heavier. I was really worried about the Kodiyakarai; the Point Calimere wildlife and bird sanctuary, which is home to number of blackbucks, wild horses and migratory birds, including flamingos. Hope the nature wasn’t disturbed heavily.

Coming to the post, I would like to share couple of skywatch shots from the other day morning, when I waked up earlier than usual. Though it wasn’t an actual sunrise but for me the sun just came above the trees and building to bestow its tender waves on me that sense a lot to me. You could presume form the images that it was shot from balcony using iPhone and few minutes later a jet crossed the sky and its quick enough to pass and I could only get the contrail as proof. It was a pleasant morning for me and waked up earlier left me more time for reading and other activities. I wish I follow this pattern, though I’m someone don’t wake up before 8 am this should be a trouble. lol

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

Curls

pic: google

Like upright ripples
curls, crawl downs her bosom as
infant hugs mother

Exists a beauty
even at a small gesture
of fingering curls