Depression to depart

Man, men/women really needs some rest or rear seat ride sometime in progress of life, however serious we take our journey without some break life becomes tiresome and thinking overload sent to mental tragedy or disorder. This is not something new I am says, but the problem related to it shows many graphical sign boards these days and each hour becoming rush hours, there’s no time or least for relief and relaxation and whatever the occupation might be – IT, industrial or farmer, long working hours or days produces abundant stress.

Why I think about this because, one such prolongs hard work and mentally stress sent one of my mother’s aunt to oblivion and become so insane, which had led her to death yesterday. She is one of a kind hearted whose stretch is immeasurably in exposing love and affection towards others and a great hard worker and since being a farmer women, she always work into the fields and drive the cattle to graze every day. Not more than age of 60, she lost her consciousness almost lately exiting from the symptoms of childish and forgetfulness in recent past or less than 4 years – when I last saw her, they said that it’s all because of her contract brain, perhaps due to prolong working under the sunshine and greatly depressed.

I always love visiting her home in village near Thiruporur and you don’t need a reason because, village means a lot to me and I believe they are the unlimited source of living and there isn't a place like village, beautiful as well touch with lives. We occasionally visit their village during summer and mattu Pongal, in the company of my cousins; we enjoy spending the day partially at their fields, near the lake and pump-set – one of the fascinating things of village and fun indeed. I haven’t taken bath in their pump-set, but that used to be nostalgic observing things happening around and recollecting memories of childhood where I used to be active on the front.

What really bothers me was that we only visited her on a previous Sunday and this Sunday she’s no more. See how life become too shot and she wasn't physically ill to die, but lose her track to slip into a pond near her home at the early hours of morning when no one was wake up to see. I heard they searched for her everywhere and only by evening they found her lifeless body floating on the pond, it was really a tragedy and when we visited her on Sunday, she couldn't identify anybody and kept coming around their home. Mom was very glad that she could visit her before she expire, even she feel sorrow for her early death.  Mom used to be her favorite child to visit her often during childhood which she always cherishes, telling to me.

She survived by two daughters and sons, and both her daughters were married at age above 30 when she was nearly losing her conscious, and it seems that the main cause for her depression was postponing  of her elder girl’s marriage – who being a dark skin holder, many refused to marry her. But I should appreciate her courage, even though many eliminate her she stayed strong and their family was very supportive and there was a togetherness between the siblings which seldom seen anywhere. I hope her early departure is also good, so that she doesn't need to face discriminate and reckless treatment imposed by society and circumstance. Hope her past seize their dear ones memory forever.

Open Range

Open Range is one of the finest western films I watched yesterday, filled with fascinating sights and sounds; and the beauty of the western landscape was captured brilliantly thought the stunning cinematography. Ever so simplest story and screenplay, each characters proposes decently either and unlike any other cowboy films I watched, nothing were well-built like this and limited to significant action and gunfight.

Boss and Charley are the two main characters of the movie, taking avenge for killing their co-cattlemen and badly injured another; arrive at the nearby town waiting for the right moment to capture the marshal to put into the jailhouse and encounter his gunmen’s. There’s a mild and matured romance between the Charley and Sue – the sister of a doctor, who took care of the wounded cattlemen.

In the absence of special effects and graphics, the film engrosses and enhance through the raw and simple emotions; and the setting of the town is at base, but the conflict between the gunmen and town people were unlike bewildered. Glad the movie came up with 5.1 channels, emphasis the dynamic effects of theater and recreates a feel of live esp. the sound of battle, rain and thunder rocks! The film released in 2003 is based on the novel ‘The Open Range Men’ by Lauran Paine and was filmed around Alberta, Canada. 

The film was produced, directed and lead by Kevin Costern.

கட்டம் போட்ட சட்ட / Grid Shirt

image courtesy: Google

கட்டம் போட்ட  நிழல் சட்ட 

கடவை வழியே 

சூரியன் தீட்டிய பிம்பம்.

Grid shadow shirt,
through the gate
shaded sun image.

Kukkal – Lake and Village

It’s always exciting exploring a place, where the road less traveled and not many foots imprint the soil and cameras stole the scenery; an environment rich in flora and fauna as well pleasure where not many virtual developments take place. Remote from the tourist sight and protected by nature, Kukkal is not so far from the crowded Kodaikanal, the hill station that losing its spirit and pristine beauty unprotected from becoming a quite concrete jungle.

During my vacation at Kodaikanal, last summer, I explored this little paradise called Kukkal or Kookal on the Western Ghats Mountain range of Palani and about 32km from Kodaikanal; the place is so blissful with tranquilly lake and sleepy village atmosphere, comprising shoals and grasslands adjoining the terrace farming. Nestled near the northern ridge of Palani Hills, Kukkal is notable for the high biodiversity of the area and fascinated by frequent mist and rainfall, which account for large variations over short distance.  

Riding on the Poombarai road after certain distance, the mist began to block our way, delighted as well become obstacle going through its dense and even I have travelled on this road once, I’m only familiar with its route map in Google. :D We were traveling on two cars and since I only know where to turn, my uncle left our car to first go – even he was to Kodaikanal many a times, never know this place until I located.

The road to Kukkal is a narrow one, turning on the second left from the road to Poombarai village; the tar road seems relayed by rusted leaves and tall trees standing besides as festoon and green pastures enticing the sightseeing. The road winding down near the Kukkal Lake was very beautiful; alongside the view of the mist floating over the lake was awesome… The lake is the main stream source of the cultivation, even though it doesn’t look clean, but with overall sight of mist and mountains background it was astonishing!  Well I don’t need to say much of the lake, since my photo captured it all to you viewer’s amusement.

There was a Little Grebe swam across the lake leisurely, creating mild ripples tracks which I thought first to be caused by some insects, but only later zoom in on I realize it was a small water bird ‘Dabchick’. I spent only a brief moment on the power wheels (chair) moving on the Lake Bank or road, the mist turned abundantly gray began to rain nonstop leaving only few minutes gap before we leave the place. My cousins, who tented on the green patches opposite to lake, couldn’t withstand the density of rain and leakage in the pretty blue tent forced them to take their seats inside the car, whom enjoying the pitter patter of rain and warmth inside the tent.

Knowing there won’t be anything available to have for lunch, since it’s a remote village and except Kodaikanal there isn’t a decent eat out or affordability around the hills,  so we took ‘cooked rice and sambar’ in hand from our home stay and planned to buy chicken and make fry on spot visited. Though we enjoyed the hot spicy chicken pieces, the rain restricted us from experiencing a quite zeal and destroyed my plan of exploring the beauties around the place on my own wheels power and giving pose in front of those unlike my cousins! Lol

The lake located in a valley, has cultivation lands from its lowest to higher elevation; and except the monsoon, the terrace farming happens with the catchments of shoals around the lake, which is also a basin for Kudiraiyar River that flows through Kukkal. We rode few meters on road above the lake to check the Kukkal village; even while it was raining we tried to get a glimpse of the village that taking a nap under the mist blanket. Since being an afternoon, there was no one around to receive us but the stair cultivation and its texture were amazing, and I feel glad seeing them very close unlike the distance views of Poombarai and Mannavanur.

There’s a lot to share about this place and plenty of beautiful pictures hold to cherish this charming and fascinating location, filled with picturesque scenes; I don’t want to mess up this post writing them all in a single attempt and crowded with pictures. I captured few photos at 16.9 ratios, to get wide views on slopes and mountains and I recommend this place only for those seeks tranquilly and unwilling to spoil the pristine beauty in name of tourist. (My blog header is also belongs to Kukkal)

Thank you J

Observation

Light enters through a hollow
shadow ballet to motion of leaves;
observation might hold trouble
following the fall of sunlight.

A solo rays enters the room
illuminates hidden particles to aglow;
a radar might lose signal
tracing the light swallowed by shadow.

The winter sun brings home beam
however brighter it glows or glides;
the indirect ray radiates warmth
reflected through a mirror of Wagon R.