The Nest

I wake up and sleep to see

An intricate work of nature

An exhibition of stick science

Inherited by birds by nature.

I marvel at the engineering of birds

Building their nest at such intricate

To rightly balance wind and height

And to endure storms and rain.

Each bird kind builds unique nests;

Like ravens built with sticks,

That just outreach from my balcony

The only closer encounter with a nest.

The eggs hatched into chicks

The ravens kept watching their nest

Day or night, they work together

To ensure that nowhere it unravels.

Every glance at the nest is a marvel;

Indefinable feel embrace

At the interlace of the sticks

How indifferently they couldn't build. 

RGB Monday

Colorful street shots from the temple town Thirukazhukundram.

Either the shoes or bags are sold, I'm sure masks will do good business for them. Do you see the colorful masks hang out on stick before all? 

Florists selling colorful flowers under the umbrella. The images clicked from my last outing in February. 

Oussudu Lake between Pondicherry-Tamil Nadu

Oussudu Lake is about 8-9 km from the center of Puducherry city towards the west. I visited the Oussudu lake in February when driving to Puducherry after visiting the Veedur Dam near Villupuram. I should have checked out the Lake in 2015 when I attended a friend's marriage in Puducherry, but I lost track of the route at a junction and went on with the plan of visiting the National Fossil Wood Park in Thiruvakkarai.

We had a different experience with Oussudu Lake (also called Ousteri Lake) that has nothing to do with the lake. As we left home early in the morning, we only took our breakfast with the plan of having lunch at Puducherry had been delayed by the road conditions and diversions. Moreover, being Sunday and almost 2 pm, most of the restaurants on the way were either closed or had no food; we who intended to have Biriyani decided to go into the city, but our best, we found a delicious biriyani just a few km from the lake.

It was 3.30 when we end our lunch from the tree shades opposite Oussudu Lake. Being new to the place, we had to check many hotels along the way quite annoyed and came to a mindset of having whatever's available to eat. And only then my cousin called his friend, and he directed us to the restaurants' area.

My google maps showed a restaurant named Irfan, and what could I think further other than going directly over there when there is a restaurant in the name of the popular food Youtuber/vlogger Irfan. The biriyani, as well as the other non-veg items we bought, were delicious. And its taste was a testament to the fame of the name Irfan.

Oussudu Lake has a boathouse with a boating facility by the Puducherry tourism, and they maintain a small park along the lake bank. February was a time Covid cases were fewer in numbers, but being Sunday, there was a mild crowd around the jetty; and some were resting and taking naps at the benches under the tree shadows is no surprise as it was a breezy afternoon.

The lake covers an area of about 800 hectares, and it was equally divided by the states of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Oussudu is the largest lake in Puducherry and a migratory park for birds, and during winters, the overseas birds visit the lake and build nests on trees.

Due to the generous northeast monsoon, the lake was up to its brim and waveringly. People have happily drowned their legs in the water while sitting on the stairs, a bunch onboard returning from a ride on the lake. I couldn't spend much time at the lake despite the afternoon breeze and shadows were inviting; I left to explore a beach before head back home. 

RGB Monday

Colorful Xylophone 

I bought this on amazon to seek my little nephew's attention by making different sounds by hitting the bars on the wooden xylophone, but to my surprise, I started enjoying the instrument. The kid doesn't show interest or attention to the sound or the colors of the bars. Perhaps, he needs to grow more to snatch it from me, and until then, I can enjoy myself. 

I have started to practice playing songs in it by taking notes from the internet, and perhaps I could record a tune to play here sometime later. I'm now practicing rhymes and simple Tamil songs, and it really excites me when I get the real sound of the verses.

Happy 3rd month

My nephew Jeswanth, born on 3rd May, complete his 3rd month. The charming little kid is making life happier! You perhaps know how significant he was to me to give me the tenderest feeling of love and precious moments of life.

The little boy identifies me and smiles as I talk to him, and he also tries to speak with me that sound only ooo and haa, and those are moments I would cherish forever. It was his cuteness that spellbound me as I take in his glimpses of smiles and innocently staring quiet eyes. 

In the expression of a sports person – perhaps a boxer, but who knows, he may become one as he is already kickboxing with his hands and legs. lol 

The boy is available at any time of the day, or whenever we brought him home, there isn't a place for worry. He's such a stressbuster, and I couldn't think what if he moved to his house in 2 months. Though I know he would be visiting us often as ours was his maternal home, I enjoy his presence as much as possible.