இளவேனிற்காலம் / The Spring

இளவேனிற்காலம் தொடங்குகையில் மைனாக்களின் கொஞ்சல்  சத்தம்!
கத்தரித்த மரங்களில் துளிர்விட தொடங்கிய இலைகள்;
மெல்ல மெல்ல விலகும் பனி
சூரியனின் வெம்மை உருகியது இளவேனி!

மெருகூட்டப்படாத சூரிய ஒளியில்  
இதமான  கடல் காற்றோடு
கிளியும் குயிலும் பாடல் படிக்க
விடிந்தது வசந்த காலம்.  

மழையை கடத்தும் மேகமாய்
நினைவுகளை சுமந்து வரும் கடல் காற்று.
வருடம் தவறாமல், மனம் இளைப்பாற  
இளமைக்கால நினைவுகள்ளோடு இளவேனிற்காலம்.

the translate:

As spring arrives, the faint sound of mynas!
The leaves of pruned trees are beginning to bloom;
The dew is gradually melting.
The sun's rays thawed the springs!

In the unpolished sunlight
With a light breeze from the sea
Parrots and Koels read the song
Spring has arrived. 

Clouds that transmit rain
The sea breeze transports memories.
Year after year, the mind relaxes.

Spring with memories of youth. 

Trip to Yelagiri, Day 1 Arrival

Last week we visited Yelagiri—my first trip in the last three years—a small hill station in the Tirupattur district of Tamil Nadu. It was a three-day family trip with a two-night stay at a cottage in Yelagiri, which we booked in advance. It was planned as a short trip in a short time, and we weren't sure until we paid in advance for the cottage, as we had some health issues, but we are glad nothing popped up, and the trip went smoothly. 

Yelagiri is about 230 kilometers from Chennai, according to Google Maps. The travel duration on Google Maps is 5 hours; however, due to terrible roads, it took us nearly 7 hours, including breakfast and lunch stops. The construction of flyovers at several crossings caused frequent detours on the Chennai-Bangalore route up to Vellore.  

We haven’t driven on the highways much in the last two years, so we didn’t get stuck on the FASTag (an electronic toll collection system in India, administered by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). From Chennai to Vaniyambadi—where the road turns left to reach Yelagiri—there are three toll gates; we hadn't considered the FASTag until we were close to the first toll gate; those without a FASTag must pay double the fee. 

So right after crossing the first toll and paying double the amount, we got the FASTag from the same booth; it's open for recharging or instant installation of the FASTag. A FASTag sticker was paste to the top left corner of the car's windshield, and it functioned right away, so we didn't have to stop at the toll gates from then on, but rather slow down for the sensor to scan the tag.

FASTag is a system that works on recharge, similar to prepaid mobile phones, and if we fail to recharge or maintain a minimum balance amount, we had to pay twice the toll fee. So there is an additional charge for us to check the balance before picking up a trip on the highway. 

Highway with colorful shrubs 

Hills on highway nh48

The FASTag has a tie-up with Paytm to make recharging easier, and even if we fail to recharge but have a balance in Paytm, then the fee will be deducted from that.

We bought our lunch in Ambur, which is well-known for its biryani! So obviously, everyone's choice is the world-famous biryani, but I preferred vegetarian, to make sure the trip wasn't troublesome. While traveling, I try to avoid non-vegetarian dishes as much as possible, but on the way back, I like the same. 

Though I didn't eat biryani, I searched for the best biryani in Ambur, and Rahamaniya emerged as our top choice after reading positive reviews. I say the biryani was delicious and lived up to the promise (I admit that I took a few mouthfuls to get a taste), but the biryani that we ordered to take away was missing a piece of meat. For some, it was a significant letdown in addition to the flavor.

The restaurant should consider this to avoid negative feedback from customers who come in search of delicious biryani after reading positive reviews.

While looking for a nice place or shadow to have our lunch, we came close to the foothills of Yelagiri and decided to have our lunch outside Amma Park at the starting point of the ghat. We were a group of five adults traveling with my nephew Kavin, my brother's 4-month-old baby. It was also one of the factors that contributed to the delay. We arrived at our cottage at 4 p.m., and the journey from foothill to hilltop took only half an hour, even though the distance was 12 km. 

As if waiting for us, the staff of the cottage (Albatross Luxury Suite) welcomed us with a smile and helped unload the luggage. More of that later. 

Black Drongo

Following Kumizhi, we visited another lake about 10 km from there. On the way to the lake, we took a tea break, and while waiting for the tea at a teashop, I spotted a Black Drongo lepping here and there on a plant. 

Sadly, due to the limitations of my camera, I was unable to capture a clearer image.

My Canon Powershot suffers from blackness around the screen, leaving only a small viewer point-like zone to focus on the image. Taking this one-shot comes only after a lot of effort.

I need to service my camera, but I took it with me on my trip to Yelagiri last week, my first trip in three years. 

One intriguing fact I learned about this small Asian passerine bird belonging to the drongo family is that it is notorious for its aggressive behavior toward much larger birds, such as crows, and will dive-bomb any bird of prey that enters its territory. This behavior has earned it the nickname "king crow." 

Women participation in Local Politics

Young people entering politics is a good thing, and women's participation in politics is both respectable and necessary for women's growth. But, it is also crucial to know what kind of politics they're participating in.

In the recently concluded state local body elections, an unprecedented number of women ran for office. No, this time, more blocks are reserved for women! However, the majority of them have a political background. Their father, brother, or husband is a member of a political party.  

When women are given the required blocks, males are unable to compete, allowing their daughters or spouses to compete, win, and operate from a position of superiority. What else can these women do if they're going to be like this?  

Many graduate women have won the elections, yet it is safe to argue that they will be unable to act independently. They are nothing more than empty capsules that will not cure any condition. Women must have personal political interests, a desire to serve the people, problem-solving skills, the ability to utilize authority freely, and the concept of non-compliance. 

It's amusing how this press portrays young women, graduates, winning municipal elections as a major accomplishment. (There isn't much of a distinction between educated and illiterate people.) The one who perseveres is the one who acts with awareness. Education is mandatory, and I won't get into it right now, but educated people aren't the only ones born to rule. 

I wasn't referring to all of the women. There are many independents, non-partisans, and social activists who would have won. The reality is that they will never be able to surpass the existing parties, although a singular rise is impossible to erase. I applaud such achievements. In our neighborhood, a 90-year-old woman ran as an independent candidate. So it makes no difference how old you are or what grade you are in. It is the service mindset that is needed to help the public, not the commercial approach that earns money. 

Kumizhi - The ideal place for picnicking and camping near Chennai!

Last Sunday, I was able to go out for the first time in nearly 5 months. I chose to go to a place that hadn't been much explored by many. But when I got there and saw rows of cars parked in front of the lake, I realized I had guessed wrong. 

Among the row of cars, ours (a black Scorpio) is in the middle, and it was me sitting in the passenger seat.

I learned about Kumizhi from a vlog and knew I had to come as soon as possible, but it took me more than a year to visit. Kumizhi is a village about 50 km south of Chennai, on the Nellikuppam road between Kandigai and Othivakkam. Kumizhi features a beautiful lake and small hill forests at a distance of 700 meters in the western direction from the Kumizhi bus stop.

Being Sunday, I expected to see a lot of bikers in Kumizhi, as I had seen a lot of photos and videos of them on Instagram, but instead, I saw families and kids. The reason I noticed it was because the Kovalam Surf School had set up a camp there, and the students and their families had accompanied them and kept themselves occupied on the peaceful lake. 

Another surprise awaited me: the lake bank had been fenced off from vehicles entering, and a small gap was left for the public to enter. Though it kept me away from the water, as I thought of getting close by car (I haven't taken my wheelchair to get down there), it was a good decision to protect the lake and its environment from damage by vehicles since the bikers take their bikes deep into the woods beside the lake. 

We drove for a km and a half on the road alongside the lake and forest to enjoy the scenery, and the wind was cold since it was evening and the late winter season. It caressed. 

I have marked a couple of peacocks spotted in the forest. Because of the contrasting sunlight, we didn't get a clear picture. 

The forest seems to have many birds, and we observed some peacocks, one of which flew across the road, and I also noticed a mongoose on the road.  Although seeing a mongoose isn't surprising given the number of them in our neighborhood, I wish I could have spent more time there viewing additional birds and creatures. Avoid Sundays if you want to appreciate the peace of nature. 

In addition to swimming, the surf school (that was camped there) appeared to offer kayaking to students, and I also spotted a student balancing on a surfboard on the tranquil lake. During the rainy season, I saw images of the lake where the water level had risen to the road, but when I saw the water level had dropped, it seemed to be an advantage for practicing water sports.

My mom went close to the lake to capture these photos on my behalf. We left the place with a desire to come back, and I wish to come back in my wheelchair to explore the nature out there. I recommend this place as the best picnic spot for family and friends' gatherings and for those who want to spend time in peace and meditation. 

I'm guessing the lake is already a campsite, with small hikes and tent stays arranged in advance. The road is well tarred for less than a kilometer from the lake up to the Siva temple in the middle of the forest, and it continues to be a perfect off-road for riders alike. 

I went for a short ride on this road just for fun, and I believe that the road that is less traveled or offroad provides the best experience of nature, and I enjoyed it. And it wasn't difficult for us because we were in a high-ground SUV, but cars will suffer.