Fire summer

The ferocious summer heat is back here with never before fierce to make sure we suffer from its violent rays and struggle to beat it in various ways but still the construction of heat has been going strong unlike before. The Chitirai, the Tamil month that marks the begin of summer bears the period called Agni Natchathiram, which means ferocious summer heat that last for 21 days sharing the Tamil months Chitirai and Vaigasi on calendar.

(image: sunrise captured at kotagiri)

No one could say how intense it could be in coming days, but sure it going to be same or more unless a low pressure happens of either sea’s of Indian Ocean or the beginning of southwest monsoon which we all wish for. Whether we call it by any name, the world is become warmer day by day and a part of its reflection is what we experience in this summer season and the increase in using refrigerators and air conditioners can give a temporary state of comfort and cooling but they are preparing our earth to a intensify state of warm outside our home.

Chennai has been measured the highest degree in temperature across the state, which is 105 today and most of the cities in Tamil Nadu had scored more than a century. When the news flashes the beginning of rage summer heat in state, happily many part of it had witnessed storm rain and Kotagiri which we visited last week had high rainfall of 90mm. To our great disappointment, most of the places we came across last week with intense heat had gone cool over night due to sudden rainfalls had enthralled us.

The disappearance of clouds had given hand to the blue sky to flash direct sunlight on our poor people who were mostly scare about summer heat had began to frighten more than ever thinking about the skin disease had made distract more easily. The showers that where hot without heaters and the clothes get wither so easier in the heat waves could be grace, but the chart of cutoff current across the state esp. at the midday had been worst than anything. I myself being an open window delight couldn’t stop agree closing the doors to only open in evening for the sea breeze to take off which usually take place after noon had been delayed these day.

Hope and wish the intense heat expires soon…

Back from Blue Mountains

Last week I was in Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) for a week vacation and stayed in Kotagiri with parents and cousins. It was a wonderful journey traveled across the Blue Mountains carried by enormous mist, twittering sparrows and fun floating amid cousins and the space for breathing fresh breeze off valleys and mountains are fabulous. Couldn’t still come out of the sights and scenes that carried on mind and memories still inhale the fresh breeze of Blue Mountains, which are greener and sandstones taking place.

Wild bellis

Traveled on paths that have never been or even imagined and checking the innermost nature as it is through mind, sense and images are a greater opportunity I got through this travel. It was well comfort and pleasant stable at Kotagiri for 5 days and 4 nights in the Belair cottages surrounded by somewhat tea plants and green lawn are best at leisure.

The intend of this travel was to visit avalanche and to stay in the forest rest house for at least a night, but I couldn’t get the chance as it was booked for nearly 2 month, we just checked in and out getting permission from forest office in Ooty. It was an awesome ride into the dense forest of Avalanche and Upper Bhavani, and the whole ride was among road-less with either sides of shoals and grasslands.

Belair cottages kotagiri

I decided not to release any pictures that captured inside the prohibited area as it is worth to be protected from outside world knowing that it could attract anyone easily to be disturbed and I never know that I need to travel through this thick forest to check upper bhavani backwaters. Throughout the way it was astonishing climate and weather and was splendid beautiful. There was an excitement carried on within everyone as there was no man’s activity along the way and it was quite silent except for twitter birds and streams and falls noise.

Most of the travel happens between Coonoor-Kotagiri and Kotagiri-Ooty as the places we wanted to check were laid on northwest we touched either city to connect the roads and was suppose to be tire hold to the many curves. Partially it was a successful and dream come true travel, but still I hang for these places to be revisited and wanted to go beyond these place next time. Thanks to the Scorpio and its tubeless tires, and excellent driver come cousin and without them it’s hard to move into this off-road terrain in and around avalanche towards upper bhavani.

Countryside near ooty

Off to Blue Mountains

Hoping for less traveled western catchment areas and exploring more destinations of the endless nature and beauty of the Nilgiris. Here some pictures captured from my previous visit to Blue Mountains.

blue Mountains

lovely landscape

green valley

pretty pansies

blue delphinium

Tirumala Tirupathi Trip II

Getting darshan at Tirumala Tirupati temple had been tough for our family who went to stand in queue at night for free darshan could not get vision even after morning, whom were shut in rooms the whole night are released only in morning after devotees got furious to open the gate, the temple authority took a photo and gave everyone a timing card to bring back after couple of hours refreshing at room. The dad who was taking care of me at night was supposed to go for darshan after grandma, mom and cousins return, was anticipating the whole night for their arrival, but they came at last after our breakfast with an intense stress and sorrowful face of not getting vision.

(A free bus service in tirumala, operated for the benefit of pilgrims.)

I was expecting them to be soon so that I can visit other places nearby and on way back to home; it was disappointing the time took for them to receive the vision of lord and the cousin who spent the whole night in the rooms refused to go back thinking it might delay again. After lunch, gandma, mom and a cousin went again with their card to return in 2 hours only come out by 5 and the hotel we book in for a day was suppose to vacate by 3 pm so before they say we vacated the room and parked within their premises among the Woodside waiting for them.

In meantime we checked the Silathoranam, which is a Natural Arch located 1km from the Tirumala temple is a wonderful archeological site considering enormous value to the department’s point of view. Silathoranam, which means is a rock garland stung over a threshold, is an arch… measuring 8m in width and 3m in height is a natural formation dates back to a billion and a half years old.

This is a place elevated from the temple town towards left is surrounded by trees and rocks replacing a sight of forest, attract many visitors who come to tirumala and almost the Jeeps take control the need of bringing people to this natural arch. Following the arch, steps lead down to more rock formations and the view from this point is evergreen and gray rocks which are quite opposite to the temple town valley that rose in bricks and cements.

The arch is one of a few natural arches or bridges in Asia withstood to intensify weathering and erosion of steam action is found during the excavation that take place in this area in 1980s. The nature rock arch has two dissimilar set of rocks with a connecting thin link. We then drive toward another place called as sri padam, but we withdraw it rather after going somewhat through this forest road, which was quiet and visible of some anthill, thinking it might take much time, we get back to our parking area and waited till we receive a call from cousin.

It was dusk surrounded while we decide to climb down and it was quite dark half the way down hill, the tirupati city has began to twinkle away. It was wonderful seeing those colorful lights spread down and the multi hairpin bends and wild animal’s news of late are something bothers me as it was even dark. It was night as we drive home and nothing to observe like arriving, I missed the opportunity of visiting some places en route and it was dark everywhere giving company in the light of Lories and trucks that passes us. We had our dinner in Tiruvallur as a last customer to close the hotel since it was nearly 10pm and reached home at 11.

City of Tirupati

Post poll occupation

Avoiding the morning hour’s rush and crowd to stand in line, we decide to poll our right in the state election afternoon and it was my second time to vote after parliament election and it was lacking crowd when we reached the polling booth. There’s a rule that vehicles should not allowed within 200 meters of polling booth, but for me they give excuse to land near the entrance of the govt. school to then move in wheels into the allotted room for our area voters.

We moved five years ago from the area in Adyar to Thiruvanmiyur and our voting continue from our former native residential address and there no need a change since both areas come into one constituency and only the ward council is different. After completing the simple formalities of proving we are and let ink on finger, I enter the booth and pressed the blue button on EVM. It’s wonderful and content feel that I did my basic right and thus the chance provide by democracy and prior given to us as being special.

We moved out of the booth to know it’s an hour to go for evening and unwilling to go home we decide to roam around and went to our home in Adyar and to a café in Besant Nagar to have bonda and coffee. The cousin who is spending his vacation with me want to know to whom I voted and he keep on urge me with same question and not alone he many ask me at certain after return from polling but I managed by smiling saying myself why should I say even I don’t fear to say.

I don’t know what is there for them to do by knowing to whom did I vote and it’s none of their business and right to ask question, though they are open about their poll on vote there isn’t that I should be. I hate this questions and contempt people who haven’t vote saying that no one is correct and who would vote at. It feels stupidity to see when the vote percentage is at high unlike ever there are people still avoid voting and make their vote insignificant. In Chennai, the vote percentage is 60 and coming second, at least, made me wonder where gone the 40% avoiding those out of city on various reason.

I wonder what doing the election commission which has applied strict restrictions unlike ever when the media persons go and surround the polling booth when celebrates or a VIP is poll a vote. Is it the propriety? Don’t the media guys have a sense, how secure is ones vote should be and aren’t there act disturb and disclose their private decision. I also contemn the behavior of some actors, who wanted to poll directly without standing on the line and whoever could be them, everyone is equal while voting except they aren’t special person and elders who can’t stand long to get prior.

A cute candid shot that turn motion blur…

The talk on poll also continue as we visit the beach in evening, the grandparents joins us later got to chat more on election and being pubic holiday there was unusual crowd in beach which look unlike a weekday. I love taking my grandparents out since they always stay at home, the beach platform provide a better pathway for my grandpa to take leisure walk. It was lovable to see kids take over our sight in there pretty action and movement, one was striking a ball with plastic bat thrown by his father and another kid was very cute come after to take cool breeze in baby trolley was much smiling at me, may be attracted by my wheels. It was wonderful moment I would cheer every time to come and sit for such chitchat and relaxation that quite clam and bring please to mind.