Point Calimere – a note on lighthouse and sea sand

Among the many beautiful things that come across our travel to the Point Calimere last week, the British lighthouse in Kodiyakarai scrub forest is one awesome sight at the edge of southeast Tamil Nadu. I waited for long time to visit this swamp island surrounded by salt pans, bird and wildlife sanctuary is home to many species of birds, animals and shrubs is a best place to experience the wildlife inhabitant.

British Light House

Built in 1890 by the British in the Point Calimere is a 16 m round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery; the lighthouse is painted white and lantern dome in red, said to white flash every 10 seconds. As a replacement to the 1000 years old Chola lighthouse which remains as ruin with only the bottom left today latter shatter to tsunami and recent thane cycle has forced to footstep into the sea.

Chola Lighthouse ruin

The Chola lighthouse is erected 1000 years ago during the regime of Raja Raja Cholan and what remains now is the broken bricks and mortar on the ever so soft sand shore. The British lighthouse is old among the other lighthouses which flash could be seen up to 15 nautical miles.

Isolated at a pristine beach, Point Calimer

The entire trip to the Point Calimere was enjoyable and the route after Cuddalore was new for me to unexpected curves and bend of plenty but still enjoyed the winding road and come across cities and villages. The time we took to explore the places were unfavorable and its heavy sunshine during the day time and at same time very pleasant in evening and at dawn. The Point Calimere beach is isolated and the virgin beach sand is so soft and exotic to foot stand on… may be I feel it as I unmemorable when I last foot at sea sand. Wow

Action squirrel with new Cam

Here’s a series of action by squirrel captured with my newly bought Camera, Canon PowerShot SX220 HS! It’s a quite impressive camera with quick burst and 14x optical zoom, it captures the distance objects crisp and clear to put me at great surprise and rejoice. I am enjoying it indeed :)

I really missed a good deal that comes in hand while getting this camera and I don’t want to miss the chance by paying little more on it where this model is on near closing its business represented by the latest models in its series. I’m quite content with the quality of pictures from this 12 megapixel point and shoot camera with features almost double than my currently corrupted with lens, Canon PowerShot SD850 IS.

I really wished for a camera with more zooming and light weighted and while studying on this format I find canon sx220hs getting prior in many area and even though its zooming is less compared to its similar feature based on brands Nikon, Sony… Canon is much better at picture quality and high speed shutter which I lack during low light with previous one. Moreover the design and the way of handing the camera want me to go for it with least disappointment with weight adding few more grams and battery that runs out sooner than the previous one… glad both the cameras hold the same batter for me to use one as spare while traveling.

Back in action, the cute lil squirrel was very active running here and there on the compound wall feeding on the idly left over and it doesn’t stop a moment for me until few seconds of munching… the camera acted too smart and fast capturing the squirrel never ever so clear nearby me! I’m ahead to go out testing and experience the various shooting modes it holds along extending my road trip on ECR further to Point Calimere.

காதல் பார்வை / Love sight

காதல்...
கண்கள் பகிர்ந்துகொள்ளும் காட்சி
வசனம் எதுவும் தேவையில்லை.

Love...
Eyes sharing scene
no need any dialogue.

காதல்...
இதயங்கள் இணையும் சாட்சி
உருவம் எதுவும் தேவையில்லை.

Love...
Evidence of hearts meeting
no need any form.

Image courtesy: Google (the photo is the inspiration of this poem)

Kazhugu - 2012

Holding the title of late super hit Tamil movie stared by superstar RajiniKanth has nothing to do with this subject, which is very different to think anyone normally about the lives of those who dare to recover the bodies of whom committing suicide by jumping off the cliff into deep valleys. Renowned for such real in incidents and point, the movie grabs the plot in Kodaikanal and along the adjoining parts of Munnar.
A couple of films old hero Krishna has led the role of recovering bodies along with the help of his friends Thambi Ramaiah and Karunas has uplifted the script with their sensible humor preventing from leading it so serious. The tough job of recovery wasn’t stressful to impressive and it was just a part of the film which deals with lives on land above the cliff and mounds. Bindu Madhavi pursues Krishna in love following his good heart and bringing above the body of her sister who jumped off the cliff.

Not well known in front, Krishna is best suited for the role whose appearance replaces a real life hero involved in the recovery job. The Pasanga fame Jayaprakash does a mystery role whose activity was no were to guess but a thin line of villain expression on behalf. Bindu Madhavi has a matured face and height and while seeking for attention she expresses right at moments.

Almost the movie moves in darkness and night mode, it lacks clear picture at background. The cinematography wasn’t much better than expected but better at behalf ending the movie where the much bloodiness hides in darkness. The BGM wasn’t impressive except the songs, where the two melodies by Yuvan and Karthik Raja were humming sort even I find hard to cope with lyrics. The pre-release ‘Aambalaikum Pombalaikum…’ is a peppy number with catching tunes and somehow true lyrics!

Bottom line:
Kazgugu (Eagle) has gasped the best aspiration for a better cinema from the usual commercial aspects and represents the limelight with darkness.

Kodai section

Before you reach the cool paradise Kodaikanal, you can’t miss few wonderful sights that come across the Ghats section while drive through Batlagundu – a town very close to the foothills of this hill station. Climbing couple of miles on the winding road holds a lovely view of the Manjalar Dam to the valley on left, which is situated by three sides of hills around, leaves you stunning with its vista.

Another few miles on Ghats is the Dum Dum Rock; with wide space on road, this hairpin bend holds a viewpoint to check the Manjalar Dam and the Thalaiyar Falls. Also known as Rat Tail Falls is a long thin white strip of waterfall flows across the valley, facing us to a background of black rock cliff is a nature wonder whether it flows or not.

Concentrating on the shape of rat tail, the falls has a low concrete wall on either side on the very edge at the top of the fall and leading to it is inaccessible except people who dare to hike to this rewarding height. For a hiker reaching the bottom of the falls is possible in the dry season following the backwater stream of Manjalar Reservoir. The falls is the highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu and third in India with 975 ft (297 m) tall is 267th highest in the world.

Silver Cascade is another beautiful waterfall comes very close nearing Kodaikanal, is first stop among its destinations and the flow of water is impressive except for its lack of pristine these days. Lately it was flood amazing! The 180 ft waterfall is caused by the outflow of Kodaikanal Lake and small stream by around.

The Kodai section will continue...