Out of stock

We had gone through water scarcity and Chennai was infamous for it once but I never remember we went through dryness of petrol bunks, where almost bunks in the city were out of stock for the last 6 days. The shortage of petrol and diesel had also spread to suburbs… where filling a bottle of petrol takes maximum an hour waiting on the queue… that too only after sought through lot of petrol bunks out of stock.

During the time of protest against the hike on petrol in India… the scarcity of petrol and diesel has brought into the light, the obvious truth that living without it has been tough even though the price of petrol has been on constant rise.  I wanna think the scarcity of petrol and diesel in Chennai is supposed to divert people from the hike on petrol by the petroleum companies or government. But till late night the situation was much favor to the petroleum companies since lack on gasoline, people had come down to buy no matter how much it cost!

I couldn’t stop thinking or thanking the petrol companies to come out of stock to make us realize the worth and important of gasoline… even though I agree and feel truly that running out of petrol causes lot of trouble. But it was interesting to read few columns on newspaper about how the petrol scarcity forced people to take few steps aback as saving petrol, for ex. those vroom on traffic signals have come down to switch off their engines or become patient till green signal falls!

See how much we could save in petrol and diesel, if we follow such methods through all our rides as much possible and rolling down the windows and switching off the A/Cs while free from pollution and heat could rejoice plenty of liters of petrol and diesel. A sustain on speed and driving at minimum speed control would save lot of petrol and also gives maximum comfort and guarantee to life… which  is precious and has a lot to achieve, love and sharing and celebrating many special occasions of this beautiful life.

Love you all!

Princess of hills

Portrait by Jeevan (click image for enlarge)

I just find her very pretty

wrapped around in scarf
and like a beautiful flower
she blooms a smile
as mysterious as mist;

Taking a step at back
and holding hands across,
she gave an impressive pose
with a little charm on face
which I still feel adorable;

The picturesque lake of kodai
in mist backdrop, enhanced…
leaving aside a small shrine
and least visible on water lilies
embrace a sense of spiritual.

The elegant outfit
and the worn around scarf
resembles a style of Kashmiri
unlike the crown of Himalayas
she’s the princess of hills.

Footnote: The one looks so favorable to shoot was none but my sweet (cousin) sister Dhana! She is always charming, and esp. during our vacation in Kodaikanal - which is called Princess of Hills, she was enchanting and I captured this one while she was standing casually on the lake pavement.  I thank her for giving me such a lovely pose seeing me shooting at her and I must say it is one of a beautiful and best portrait I have done.

Fairy falls, Mist and Fun evening

It was a lovely dawn for me on the hills of Kodaikanal during our second day on vacation and the sun beams flashes between the trees just made my day very refreshing and warm from the cold night. The frost window panes were melting slowly from moisture to droplets to cause beautiful texture reflecting to the woods green backyard of the Yorke House of CSI Retreat Center. The Yorke House, nested atop the center surrounded by tall trees of pine, eucalyptus and yellow mimosa quite retreat weather is wet or sunshine.

Whom i consider my world, Parents (click each image for enlarge)

After the breakfast in the restaurant of CSI Retreat, we spent some time taking photos to one of a picturesque background of green and mist passing and they all come out very beautiful as family photos. Thus we aren’t new to Kodaikanal and having no plan to go where, it’s my choice to choose the place I haven’t revealed and certainly there’s a place  not to miss this time and it’s the Fairy Fall.

Fairy Falls

The Fairy waterfall is 5km from Kodaikanal on the road leading to Observatory and there’s a small sign board indicating the falls isolated from the tourist attraction. A road slide down from the main road makes the ride narrow and the falls has been brought under the horticulture garden to close by gate but there was none to stop us, so we went opening the gate with no sign of falls and the only visible was bank of mist.

It was cool indeed and later the mist moved, we get to see the wet rock expose to lack of water and above the marsh beneath a round-turn platform is build to check the falls near. Even it was disappointing to see the falls without water, I could imagine the wonderful it was suppose to fill if there was enough water. Some websites claim the old famous Liril soap ad was shot here and it is also called as Liril falls, where the late pretty girl Karen Lunel clad in bikini play with soap and water. But I’m not sure it’s that Fairy fall or Pambar fall!

Mysterious mist... bliss

We still hold time for lunch and so went around and during the season time the road lead to Pillar Rock would be one way and we have to take diversion at upper lake view and it took us nearly two hours to come across the Pillar Rock as caught between heavy traffic jam! It was never like before crowded and vehicles were standing for few kms and it was completely mist blanked, cool and fun throughout the slow-motion. One of my dear cousins took the steering first time on hills and I was the guide of him on routes and encouraged him a lot to go ahead and him soon become familiar on Ghats.

My hummer, Scorpio car

In between the hide and seek of sun, clouds and rain we had great time playing after the noon lunch and we have nothing to do then than going on chatting and women playing  musical chairs, badminton and rings. I personally had fun identifying the silent deeds of movie names and I kept clicking with my camera while they keep on playing, laughing and smiling and it was a worriless moment indeed.

The Kodaikanal Lake was almost misted and crowded by tourist this time and we had a pleasant evening sit back to the bank of Lake Platform before heading to the CSI Retreat where the real fun and treat waits for us. It’s the camp fire which is very special to me and this is the first time I am experiencing it like ever fun indeed! My uncle arranged it for me and we were all around sat to chairs waiting for the service maid to light the fire woods and as soon it went to flame the gala time begins.

Fun around Fire

 The cold was almost drive away and a warm feeling began to embrace and the sense of dancing in others slowly caught fire to the songs played in our car. It was a wonderful experience for me enjoying the bonfire as well sharing the moment while others having fun dancing around. Our enthusiasm last over 10pm and even it rained amid we never mind of getting inside and used the chairs as umbrella holding about the head and kept moving creating a new dance style!

Camp Fire

It was a moment like never experienced before so enthusiastically and the night might always remind in mind as treasure and even the entire trip was remarkable and memorable to never hide away.

Summer tree

Footnote:

I replaced this post after little work with Photoshop to promote the poem and picture of leafless tree take in front of my house… which is on rejuvenating process after stripping its leaves wholly.

Art by Jeevan

I painted this drawing few years back and I couldn’t remember what’s the name of the king was… But I guess he must be one of a Mughal empire. It’s been longtime I painted or drawn something and it’s not that I’m not interested or motivated by something to draw... it’s the drawback in physical activity of hands and stress keeps me away from painting. Laziness is also a reason for the lack of attempt to draw with tough hands hold to pen or pencil.