Random travel modes

Ashok has nominated me to participate in a Travel Photography contest by Rhino Car Hire… The theme is to depict modes of travel captured during ours… so here are my pictures based on travel from my random trips.

This picture was shot at Pulicat Lake, also called as Pazaverkadu - the second largest salt backwater lake come lagoon in India.  Before a bridge was constructed in year 2009 across the lake to connect the island village near the estuary (where lake meet with Bay of Bengal), Boats were the only sources of transport alternate to buffalo carts that wade thought water during low tides. Fishing is the livelihood of Pulicat, where they fish both on lake and sea.

Captured in Periyakulam, Theni district of Tamil Nadu, the Horse Carts are still used as transportation there apart few other towns. The horse cart, also called as Tangas in India and its neighboring countries and it is a popular mode of transportation because they are fun to ride in, and are usually cheaper to hire than a taxi or rickshaw.

While driving to Karaikal Beach, we cross the Karaikal railway station which looked deserted and a Train was stationed stretching up to the ramp of platform. We slowdown the car across the track after passing the gate; I took this shot without hurry knowing hopefully no train arrives. Karaikal is a part of Union territory of India coming under the Pondicherry administration.

Shot this picture (using mobile) at the outskirt of Chennai, where a boy riding his Cycle on the village streets… following one is from the same road, where an old man pedaling cycle, perhaps make sitting his grandson at rear carrier. Cycles are a common and basic transportation mode which has health benefits as well as eco-friendly vehicles. For kids, riding bicycles are much favorite and no one could have escaped from having fun with cycle during their childhood days and getting warrior scars.

I have never fly across the sky in a flight and I have no pictures on airways… so here is a Flight model I shot at HAL museum in Bangalore. The HAL HPT-32 Deepak ("lamp" in Sanskrit) is an Indian prop-driven primary trainer manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The aircraft can accommodate one passenger and the student and the instructor can sit side-by-side.

At last here is my travel mode Mahindra Scorpio. We bought this car in 2011 and even before it we had a similar one, only because for my comfort we continue to choose this model. For me it’s an Indian Hummer… because it took me almost everywhere I love to travel. My cousin shot this while caught in a traffic jam at Kodaikanal.

The last four months

There was a mixed feeling being shifted to this house more than four months back. There were many ups and downs related to family and home environment, but the part of my life travels on similar path, more or less, nothing bothered me much and I don’t feel much change in my life, apart some mishap with father (who’s just back to normal after his bike fall) which led our life thought physically trouble and emotional stress. For nearly two months, mom had been the only caretaker of mine to take care of my needs indeed without the support of dad, which was the troublesome phase ever in my life.

our small backyard

Today everything seem to be nothing and the difficult times are no more, because, they are almost become a part of my practical life. Leaving those behind, life has been wonderful with pros and cons and the weather on other hand had been very pleasant these days unlike extremely hot when we shifted home back in April and followed by sultry May. The rain that make way through last two months had sent wakeup calls to mosquitoes (even though they aren’t new for us and they are almost everywhere around Chennai) we are forced to close all the windows and door before 6 pm to prevent them enough. Even we can’t sleep without fans on; glad we have an inverter to keep us asleep when the power goes off often when it rains.

 The house is well lit throughout the day without a need for lights (each room has two wide windows) only the wind couldn’t enter much unless there’s heavy blow outside. We aren’t daring to keep all windows open to make free entry for mosquitoes since we haven’t put nets for windows like how we done at our early house. Though it isn’t a matter anyway, but maintaining the house to keep clean wasn’t easy enough which was double the size of our early one and with trees around we can’t stop leaves thrown down.  But what I liked more was the small garden space of the backyard, which is enough to say than nothing, and who won’t dream of a house with garden space. I liked it much and want to see it bloom with flowers and grasses.

Before we come to this home, my bro wanted to make lawns with the open spaces around but once rain stared to pour the grasses began to grow on its own on the open space. I know they aren't the grasses use for lawns, but a kind of wild weeds growing fast to a foot now and looking for a cleanup. I suggest mom to direct a cow (those pass our house everyday and some time lie close to our compound for the shadow of the tree) to have the grasses as its breakfast, but she don’t like my idea saying that it will also eat our others plants.  

We had re-planted some of our pot plants there and there’s already a yellow flowering shrub and bougainvillea that need to grow enough to see blossom. There are jasmines, hibiscuses, anthimanthaarai (4 O'clocks flower) and button roses (check the collage above) growing close to ground. It’s so good to see them blooming like white bulbs every morning and 4 O'clock flowers in cheerful yellow, there’s also a white frangipani tree at our parking dropping fabulous flowers. Just four months old, the neighbors were still strange enough except for this only family that made touch with us, since facing our side front it was easy making friendship with them.

PowerShot Sunday - Dashboard Ganesh

Dashboard Ganesh is the name I given to this pretty little idol that embellished our car dashboard before it broke away a year ago. The idol was made of marble and about 2 inches in size!

Reflection

Picture by Jeevan

A bubble
breathes for a brief
like a fish out of water.

Reminds,
how colorful our world
being a transparent globe.

Like a projector
 reflects creative lights
using its thin layer of film. 

Smokey and the Bandit

I had fun on Sunday watching the film Smokey and the Bandit, a comedy action entertainment featuring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. The 1977 film, based on a series of high-speed pursuit has commendable comedy scenes comprising action and hilarious lines, settles on a simple track of transporting a truckload of beer across state lines of US.

Two truck-divers (Bandit and Snowman) accepts the challenge of picking up a truckload of beer from Texas to southern Georgia, which is illegal at that time to transport specific kind of beer across state lines, for the refreshment of two big-shots.  Soon enough both were at the highways; Bandit on his black Pontiac Trans Am (a speedy car) kept roping the police towards him (as a decoy) to keep away their attention from the illegal truckload driving by Snowman. Meanwhile Bandit picks up a runaway bride ‘Carrie’ on his car where he becomes the target of Texas Sheriff ‘Justice’, a senior law officer whose younger son was yet to be Carrie’s groom.

With specific time and distance in miles, the film runs at high speed chasing, skating, jumping and floating of cars was highly influenced by CB radios, through which they seek acquaintance from fellow truckers that help them to escape from police pursuits. The most interesting part of the film was music, which captivate the mood exactly while on pursuit and increases the speed thrill. The best of all was legendary Jackie Gleason’s character as law officer targeting the Bandit, whose serious intentions all make laugh as it become funny.

Apart Burt Reynolds and Sally Field - as lead make charm and become sweet companion on the pursuit - the ‘Pontiac Trans Am’ has been hero wades through different terrains. The film seems to be inspiration for many films unrolled on the series of pursuit and I could relate many Indian movies with similar stunt sequences which perhaps could be a replica of Smokey and the Bandit. The film director (Hal Needham) himself been a stuntman has left impression. It is the only movie I have experienced with constant chasing entertainment… may be there could be some need to check.

வட்ட நிலா / Round Moon

Picture by Jeevan

நீலவானில் வட்ட நிலா

இரவு வேளை கண் விழிக்கும்.

இமை எல்லாம் கருவிழியாய்

கவர்ந்திழுக்கும், வெள்ளை நிலா.

எட்டாத தொலைவில்

ஒரு வெள்ளை பனியாரம்.

மறைந்தும் மறையாமல்

என்றும் உருகாத வனில்லா (பனிப்பாகு).

ரசிக்காத கண்கள் இல்லை

வர்ணிக்காத கவிஞன் இல்லை

வட்ட வடிவில் பெண் நிலா

வசியம் செய்யும் வெண்ணிலா. 

Round moon on blue sky
wakes up during the night.
Everything as eyelids as iris
attractive white moon.

At far beyond
a while dish.
Hidden but never hideaway
ever melted vanilla (ice cream).

There’s no eyes fail to admire
 there’s no poet fail to describe
A female moon in round shape
the mesmerism.

Ayyanar statue on the outskirt of Chennai!

One Sunday afternoon we were at the outskirts of Chennai and not so far from the city border but almost inside a village surrounded by green fields and buffaloes emerging around. 5 km from Medavakkam on the road to Mambakkam that connects the Vandalur-Kelambakkam road, one could get a glimpse of a taller statue of Ayyanar (the guardian deity of villages), only if you looking for it really, because the trees or houses could hinder the view easily as it lies inside a small village.

 added warm tone to get a terrific look :)

A narrow concrete road leads to this statue, after few rights or lefts inside the village, an open space appear and there a two story height Ayyanar statue sits on an elevated platform. Looked like a newly erected one or recently painted stands solemn with a long size sword hold to his right hand, this is the biggest Ayyanar statue I have seen ever. The Ayyanar statues are spread all around Tamil Nadu and I have seen them many in numbers while travel through the south-western districts of Tamil Nadu.

village buffaloes

The time everyone was suppose to take a nap; the men of the village were playing cards sitting on the empty roads under the tree shadows, as a group here and there leave little space for our car to pass on. A mother feeding her kid from a small bowl in hand directed us to the temple.  Adjacent to the Ayyanar statue, sat his cousin Karupannasami - a black small statue similar to the larger one with wood fence around. On the other side was an Amman Temple built with enough space around, and I guess the statue was erected on behalf of the temple and there’s also a tank behind the statue.

green coconut palms near the temple

Apart these, one could also find vast landscape of green fields around this village and Siththalapaakam Lake is right opposite to this place with a patch of forest area… I find it quite pleasure and leisure taking this route (Medavakkam-Mambakkam Rd) few times. 

Auto rickshaws and fares

There are number of travel options in Chennai and of course overall India, Auto rickshaw is one of public transport easily available in cities and small towns - share autos has no boundary - but it has been a troublesome commutation forever and many a time a auto ride ends with quarrel related to fare. I have witnessed number of incidents on this line and sometime there will also be clashes between auto drivers and commuters settling on fare. It’s been very long time I traveled in an auto, but still I hear about the disputes continue to fall here and there on the line.

image courtesy: google

In Chennai, autos rarely drop their meters to calculate the fare fixed by authorities rather the amount is predestined by auto drives depending on the destination. But that doesn't mean a content commuting; the fare may rise above the spoken amount when we reached the destination. The auto divers will not hesitate on requesting excess fee above the amount showed on meters but we can’t blame them quite, as we all know the price of petrol has been on hike boundlessly and moreover almost auto drives come from poverty what can be their priority other than money.

I too know money is not all about and not all auto drivers are similar to mentioned above.  There are very few drops for less fee or fare free understating the hardship of others, just like the one who helped my mom for just approaching his auto without knowing customers inside. He came back after dropping them at their place to assist mom walking back home bearing home needs, for which he requested nothing but left it to her choice of anything.  For any emergence the auto comes first when others hesitate to help thinking not to get into any trouble.

Many autos bear words of ‘free for delivery’ (I don’t know they truly follows the lines), their sentiment towards women are high. The movies contribute to autos are much higher and many top actors had been auto drivers in films has showcased how much one could help with autos. The government’s revised auto fare announced on Sunday (after six years) have brought hope with both auto rickshaw divers and commuters; the autos that about to fit with GPS meters, electronic digital printers and panic buttons (on pressing, the police will immediately come to rescue the commuters in case of emergency), the auto ride sounds safe and comfortable.

New fare details:

Rs.25 for first 1.8 km and Rs. 12 for every additional km

50 % high on late night (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) rides

Rs. 3.50 for every five minutes of waiting and Rs.42 for an hour. 

Heritages from heart of Chennai

The Chennai has number of historical building built during British administration still standing as landmarks of Chennai - the then Madras. The Chennai celebrated its 374 birthday on August 22, which commemorates the founding of the modern city by establishing Fort St George on a small piece of land acquired from the last King of Chandragiri in 1639 by the British East India Company. Here are few important landmarks from the heart of Chennai:

The Chennai Central Railway Station, the main railway terminus in the city is a renowned landmark of Chennai and home to the Southern Railways - the most important rail hub in South India beside other major stations (Chennai Egmore and Tambaram). Trains from here connects almost major cities of India including the capital New Delhi, is also the main hub for the Chennai suburban railway system.

The railway station designed by Henry Irwin was built in 1873 at Parkown Chennai and it is a Gothic Revival style of building. The original station was designed by George Hardinge and consisted of just four platforms. The station was later modified with the addition of the central clock tower and other changes by Robert Fellowes Chisholm. The redesign was eventually completed in 1900 was further strengthened after the construction of the headquarters of the Madras and Southern Mahratta railways which is now known as the Southern railways of India adjacent to it in 1922.

The Ribbon Building is an all-white structure, stands tall proudly on the west of the Chennai Central Station is the house of office of Chennai Corporation. The building is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, a combination of Gothic, Lonic and Corinthian is one of the landmarks left by British. Built in the early 1900s has been aptly named after Lord Ribbon, who can be considered as the father of local self government.

The building took a massive renovation in 2012; to preserve the original grandeur of: the walls were constructed with stock bricks, plastered with lime mortar and roof supported with teak wood joists. One of the main attractions of the building is the Westminster Quarter chiming clock which was installed by Oakes and Co.  in 1913. The clock has a mechanical key system, which were cast by Gillet and Johnston  has four bells.

Victoria Public Hall or the Town Hall is another historical building in Chennai, named after Queen Victoria. The hall, an example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture was designed by Robert Fellowes Chisholm in the Romanesque style is built by Namperumal Chetty between 1888 and 1890. The hall located on the current EVR Periyar Salai, between the Central station and Ribbon building was opened to public by Lord Connemara in 1887.

The hall was built to accommodate 600 persons, while a wooden gallery in the eastern end has seating arrangement for more than 200 persons. The structure consists of arcaded verandas, a square tower that is three storeys high and a carved pyramidal roof. There is also an intricately carved terracotta cornice, which resembles Islamic calligraphy atop the tower.

An unknown heritage building on Mt. Road, Chennai

PS. Sorry for the quality of photos, because they were shot from the moving car amid the interruption of Metro Rail Project across the view. (Source of info: Wikipedia)

Tree houses @ Top Slip

While my visit to Top Slip at the Anamalai Tiger reserve near Pollachi, Coimbatore, I got to see tree houses where man could stay and enjoy the wildlife tourism. The tree houses are houses exactly built not on top of trees but comprise of wood and wood related materials and built at an elevation in support of pillars and tree trunks. Other than tree houses, there is a bamboo hut and number of tiled roof houses to accommodate tourist, and while coming around we saw two foreigners leisurely taking rest by sitting at their bamboo hut portico.

The tree houses were surrounded by woods of teak and eucalyptus and since it was autumn the leaves were crushing down to wind and being afternoon, the silence and cool breeze carrying us through woods. We stayed at the Bison Lodge, opposite to the tree houses across the road to Parambikulam after failed seeking accommodation at glass house (due to some renovation work), on a hill top with meadows all around. The bison lodge is a cement roof house, situated at a T junction and very close to meadows with better chance of watching animals that come to feed on grasses.

The Bison Lodge is built in 1959 at the elevation of 744 meters above MSL - which was carved on a stone on the wall of the house, is a series of 5 suites with 2 beds at each. It was an experience stayed at this place and going through strange silence at night and uncertain noise to tremor, and to add fear, we brought our pet dog along with us (we would be the only pet owners in the world to bringing it to wild) because dogs are favorite prey of leopards. Waking up to dawn we find bison dung left at front of the house; making it clear their present and perhaps it may be the reason why the house is named after Bison due to their frequent visit and being close to meadow.

Bison Lodge

My first meeting with tree houses was at Pondicherry, when we visited to Chunnambar boat house on the road to Cuddalore in year 2000. Those tree houses were climbed only through rope ladders and they were little ones just for kid’s adventure and fun. I really want to be at Top Slip some other time with advance booking on glass house to have more such adventure thrillers. The only problem I think with tree houses are, they have narrow and steep steps which is hardly possible for someone to support me to stay. 

வர்ணிப்பு / Describe

கேட்டவார்த்தைகளும் கவிதையாகும்

உன் குரலில் கேட்கும் போது;

துயரமும் துவண்டு போகும்

உன் கூந்தல் கோதும் போது.

கால்கள் நடனம் ஆடும்

உன் கை வளையல் ஓசைகேட்ப;

இதயதுடிப்புகள் மாறும்

உன் காது வளையம் அசைவுக்கேற்ப.

சத்தமில்லா சங்கீதம்

உன் கை அசைவில் அரங்கேறும்;

வரிகள் இல்லா பாடல்

உன் இமைகள் போடும் தாளம்

வர்ணிக்க வேண்டும்

உன் இதழ்கள் உச்சரிகும் அழகை;

தவம் நிறைவேறும்

உன் பார்வை படும் நேரம்.

Translation follows: i tried my best translating my Tamil poem into English.... even i am not that good in it. but i don't think i could convey the feeling exactly how it is in Tamil. Hope u understand J

Bad words become poem
when hearing from your voice;
Distress itself will get upset
when fingers through your hair.

Feet tap to dance
respond to your bangles din;
Heartbeats transition
respond to your ear loop motion.

Noiseless music
is debut in your hand moment.
Song without lyrics
bounces rhythm in your eyelids.

It begs to describe
the beauty in your pronouncing lips.
The penance fulfills
the time your vision fall on thee.

PowerShot Sunday - Fossil Tree

The fossil tree trunk displayed at the Ooty Botanical Garden, is from 20 million year old rocks. The trees carried by rivers and deposited in inland lakes were transformed with replacement of the woody matter by silica give rise to fossil tree trunks.  The fossil tree was presented by the Geological Survey of India, from the National Fossil Park in Tiruvakkarai, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Race against time - awareness on organ donate

It all began in year 2008, when a doctor-couple decided to donate their 15-year-old son’s all functioning organs, after doctors declared him brain dead following his motorbike accident at the outskirt of Chennai.  The organ donation took a new leash of life in the state. The incident turned as an eye-opener for many, has witness drastic increase in number of organ donations lately and moreover the films (Traffic and Chennaiyil Oru Naal) made on this real-life incident has taken a step further enhanced the level of awareness on it.

There are number of movie made for entertainment but only few film releases on social concern, like Traffic and CON that communicate the struggle of transplanting heart, not by surgery but transporting in time. Unlike any other organs, heart can’t keep for more than 30 minutes after it has been removed from the body. But in case of Hithendran - the only son of the doctor-couple, the donor and recipient being part of different hospitals within Chennai at 45 minutes driving distance (considering the number of volume in traffic at city) the heart reached the hospital in astonishing 11 minutes.

The challenge in transporting the heart has been commissioned by the city traffic police; diverted the other vehicles on the route and turned all the traffic signals green. As a result, the heart reaching on time and saved the life of a nine-year old girl, who was being treated in a private hospital in Chennai as recipient of heart. This is a system practiced by the Chennai City Traffic Police, called Green Corridor.  Apart its precious help in transporting heart, Chennai has a reason for patients seeking treatment for heart because of the condition that the government machinery is highly efficient here.

In fact the Tamil Nadu government has the most streamlined transplant programmers in the country, by making the organ donation process transparent and setting up stringent rules for private hospitals, has drastically brought down the instances of organ trafficking in the state. From October 2008 to April 2013, 55 hearts and 362 heart valves have been donated and transplanted in the state. 18 lungs, 310 livers and 623 kidneys have also been donated and subsequently transplanted, in addition of 526 corneas and a case of skin donation.

The heart transplantation is usually done on patients whose life expectancy is seven days to a few months in a priority recipient, who is below age of 60 to maintain a maximum survival benefit and improvement in quality of life. The donor and recipient should also match with blood group and size of heart and even after surgery, the patient have to be on medication life long, so that the body doesn’t reject the new organ. But with certain patients, the rejection comes down after two-three years of surgery to reduce medicines.

Heart is one of the precious organs on body and source of living; and to donate, one really needs a heart in itself. Being a doctor couple, the Hithendran parents understood the wealth of life and it is not an easy decision to take anyone but their sacrifice has inspired and impressed a lot alike. It’s so good to see the awareness of organ donate taking a deep root into our heart and lives. Thanks to those realized the worth of life and spread the message through media, which has greater responsibility where people watch it closely. It seems taking care of our health does not only help us sustain but by donating we live beyond death supporting someone to survive.

ஒற்றுமையில் இந்தியா / India in solidarity

இந்தியா விரிசல்கள் நிறைந்த நாடு

மாநிலங்களாக பிளந்து கிடக்குது.

மனதில் நிலைகொண்ட நடுக்கம்

இனவாரியாக பிரித்து வைத்திருக்கிறது.

உதட்டளவிலே இந்தியன் !

கொடி ஏற்றும்போது உள்ள ஒற்றுமை

தண்ணீர் என்றால் தள்ளி விடுகிறது.

மழை ஒன்றுதான் வழி என்ற நிலையில்.. 

India is a country full of cracks
had split into states.
The tremors in the state of mind
had separated by ethnic.

Only on lip level, Indian!

The unity when hoisting the flag
pulled down when it comes to water.
Rain the only state of route. 

Footnote:  

India celebrates its 66^th independence day tomorrow.  Thinking how united we are inspired to write something.

Some experiment with photography

Wonder what it is? A bamboo hollow! I tried to capture an image through the hollow (the bamboo used as handle in jute bags) but got this one J

I arranged the toothpicks in a manner within its cylindrical box, which impressed me to capture.  

Candle light shot on a powerless night, before inverter installed at home.

Here are some of my old toy cars, parked in a circle on the table for shoot. I used to play with cars long back and these are remaining from the collection of many then. Each of these cars was bought for Rs.10 and some cars which used to looks same often end up fight between us (me, bro and cousins) in guess of stealing each others cars. 

A Drive to Dolphin’s Nose

During out stay in Kothagiri, we drove to the Dolphin’s nose - a popular places of interest near Coonoor, on the Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu. It is an awesome viewpoint with a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Blue Mountains, but to our great disappointment, the entire view was concealed by blanket of mist by that time. Dolphin’s Nose (click here to see how it look exactly) is an enormous rock formation that is entirely unique and the protruding rock formation looks exactly like what it is named after, a dolphin’s nose.

Well over 1,000 meter above sea level, the spectacular spot is 10 km from Coonoor. But for me the best part of visit to this viewpoint was within the way in itself.  The narrow road to the dolphin’s nose was mysterious since surrounded by mist; the road expands to the lush green tea estates and encloses to thick vegetation and trees produces a sense of passing rain-forest. The most fascinating on this route was, the small streams or natural springs creating mini waterfalls and winding roads making each and every turn exciting.

Coonoor-Dolphin's Nose road passing through fog

As it was time of summer vacation, the vehicles were frequent on either side missing bumper kisses at narrow escapes. We couldn't stop anywhere on the road to take photos or spent time on views, except for few seconds on the mini falls (see below). Wading through mist and traffic, we end at the view point and waited sometime for unveil of beautiful view hidden by mist scarf. But the beauty beneath doesn't seem to respond a bit rather hold her blanket too tight and unwilling to wake up from sleep even it was suppose to be noon. J

The cousins, who accompany us, had been to this place few times and familiar with views, pointed on certain things but it was a clear picture of white to me. While on a clear day, one could see the awe inspiring Catherine Falls with its continuing stream several thousand meters below. There were row of shops near the viewpoint, offering variety of Teas, Homemade chocolates and fancy things… the ambiance of mist and tea plantation was inspiring to have our share of cheers via Tea. I ever tasted tea out of regular one and ginger tea, but like you expect I haven’t tried anything out of usual.

On our way back and again wading though the mist and traffic, we though to check the other two spots - Law’s Fall and Lamb’s Rock - taking the cross road, but someone instructed us that these places too experience similar mist, so it’s  not worth visiting at that time. We drove to Coonoor for lunch, before back to Kothagiri. 

Roadblock: Coonoor - Dolphin's Nose road missed in mist

Smile

Smiley ball from Jeevan

Smile is something everyone bears, which enhances our face more bright and beautiful. Smile is a foremost aspect, break the silence between strangers and a friendly conversation begins at the wake of smile.  Fake or real, no one could identify with smile so easily and if we began to research we will lose a precious aspect doubting each and every smile. But it’s obvious when someone smiles they embrace the environment. Smiles have a healing power, even on desperate I believe a smile could cheer up for a moment or while in longstanding distress.

Smile is a wonderful thing helps managing, when we doesn't have an answer to query or hide something that we don’t like showing off in face. I have been going though something close to the second one and smile is my only tool today, I try to sweep away the raw feeling of hurt and gushing emotions. Smile is something living without is difficult esp. to survive with utmost hardship, smile is a vital element.  I would like to see people smiling however despite life, because the bits and pieces of smile are hope for tomorrow. J

Mettur Dam at brim!

The largest water basin of TamilNadu, the Mettur Dam has crossed the full reservoir level of 120 feet on Sunday night has widespread smile across everyone face. Just like a newborn baby, the over inflow of water in Cauvery River creates a celebration mindset across the state esp. the districts of delta which were left to drought for the last two years. The dam was last seen touching its maximum level of 121 feet in 2005 has took 8 years to behold a certain look, thanks to the southwest monsoon and heavy rainfall in the catchment of Cauvery lifting the water level that had gone down up to 15 feet in June.

The dam crossed 100 ft last week after two years gap, following Krishnarajasagar and Kabini dams releasing surplus water of 90,000, the outflow had reached over 1,00,000 cusecs. Also with the increase in discharge, the power generation by the Mettur Hydro power station has reached the maximum of 250 MW. Meanwhile people were issued warning through beating of drums in interior villages and people living along the water catchment area to move to safer place. It is just the monsoon and heavy rainfall in Karnataka that made possible filling up the Mettur Dam rather receiving the share of water in Cauvery.

In its 79 years of history, this was the 38^th time the dam has touched the full reservoir level. The Mettur Dam is one of the largest and oldest dams in India and it is constructed in a gorge, where the Cauvery River enters the plains.

I have crossed the Mettur Dam less than half a dozen times and explored it once after its Platinum Jubilee celebrating in 2010. The first image was captured from a view point, on the hillock adjacent to the Mettur Dam which supports the dam at one end and the other one was shot from the opposite side, overlooking Ellis Park across the Mettur Dam and less amount of water released through upper shutters. The water level was about 75 feet then! I have number of photos on the Mettur Dam and things to share which I will do later soon.

Turned 28

July 31^st I turned 28! Yes, it was my birthday and I wasn't feeling at all and thought to think about that day.  Though it usually used to be another day in my life, rather sometime celebrate it plainly cutting off a cake once cousins gather at home. Nowadays I don’t find any reason to celebrate birthday rather it just mark my date of birth, this special day doesn't make anything special or become a turning point in my life, instead, keep in touch with others via birthday wishes. As you all know, for less than a month now after dad fell off his bike, life has been tough and troublesome (even it is a part of our everyday life) it turns worse in latter days. Like a lady worrier, mom battles everyday stretching her to the edge of exhaust to preserve our life not get worse.

Though it may bore hearing on it again and again but the toughness continues to battle on us and passing each day has been an experience of age. Mind continues to concern on things how to reduce or prevent even a particle adding to the turban of the lady worrier. J I couldn't come out thinking about my birthday and usually I don’t give much important to my birthday and don’t care people remind it or not (but I thank those remember this day to call me). I too know when my dear ones birthday falls, but I used to forget quite until someone reminds me on that day. I too wish for those well being always and I don’t mind forgetting to wish them on their birthday. Dad’s health is responding well after continues on medicine and injections, and once the wound is healed he will be ready for tie up on his ankle crack.

Mariyan - The Immortal

As usual the expectation leads to deceive, but not quite because I anticipated nothing much despite hype created by AR Rahman music. Mariyan is absolutely wonderful movie however it lacks energy or feel boredom, the essence of love uplift the story as deep as ocean and vast dry landscape of Africa produce an embrace of romance and adventure. The film opens to cheerful Sonapareeya (song), sails on the overseas of love, romance and struggle to reunion parted by a strange ordeal in Africa.

The film is based on a real-life incident of three immigrant oil workers from India being kidnapped in Sudan and how they managed to escape from being hostages. Dhanush played the lead character called Mariyan - which means ‘a man who never dies’; hails from a fishing village in  the southern tip of India goes to Sudan on contract basis to work in a construction site, to provide financial support to his ladylove. On his successful tenure and backpack to home, he is caught by the Sudanese terrorist, along with two of his co-worker were dragged through unknown terrain demanding money for their freedom.

Apart his great venture across terrible landscape of Africa and chased by merciless terrorist following brutal attacks… the film deals with caressing love and romance at initial half. Parvathi is paired with Danush; pursue him with love affair until he reveals back his hidden love, take us on a beautiful voyage of elegant love and natural expressions of Parvathi.  Dhanush has undergone a great ordeal from bottom of sea to drought prevailing desert or landscape of Africa, delivered a performance of absolutely tamed fishermen and strong ability beholding lean body.  

The film also has a scene of fishermen’s body washed ashore expose to Sri Lankan firing. Dialing a phone to his ladylove, from the custody of terrorist instead calling his company for their release is something showcased the depth of love but not so interesting! AR Rahman’s music has assist advancing the feature, which has been one of the prime aspect make watching pleasure… Neetru Aval is a beautiful song fascinated with love, but I disappointed with Kadal Raasa Naan… for which I expected it to be more savor and cheerful, but it fall into sorrow.

The film directed by Bharat Bala - who produced the acclaimed Vanda Matram video composed by AR Rahman - could have make it more interesting and serious the second half rather leaving it obvious to guess. Cinematography was handled by Marc Koninckx; captured the emotions more graceful and amazing underwater scenes.  Mariyan somehow lacks entertainment but good watching for the performance of Dhanush and elegant love scene. 

Evening delight

The setting of sun
leaves behind a brilliant trace
of hues and reflection
enough to delight our evening.

The flight of birds
following the last ray of light
on their way back home
engrosses the backyard sky.

The shades of nightfall
gracefully grease down the earth
before darkness swallows quite
the evening delight in twilight.

Footnote: 

The picture was shot at my great grandmother’s native village and this was a view, so fascinating  from our relative’s backyard. 

PowerShot Sunday - Fresh Carrots

Here are a couple of photos I shot at Kukkal, a terrace farming village on Kodaikanal hills. We find few farmers washing their unearthed carrots dumped near the Kukkal Lake and after finish washing using the lake water that exit though a small shutter. The carrots are loaded into jute sacks and left on the road side for loading in a truck. These photos are shot last year, when I visit Kukkal first time and even we visited this place in June there was similar showering. 

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Life continue to sail on single oar

Though you know life has been tough at my side since dad skid off bike, it continues to row with single oar called mom. The intense of struggle doesn't seem to lack anyway and only grown too much but sails on certain path with hope to see light at the end of land. Nearly fifteen days after the bike skid, we discovered a hairline fracture at dad’s ankle which an x-ray couldn't find initially and such fractures are visible only though the MRI scans. Dad also bears wound at the ankle, so we can’t go for any treatment or bandage for the fracture immediately and being a diabetic patient it perhaps take long time for healing. Both the wound and fracture needs equal attention, but now the concern is given quite to the quick recovery of wound… because a leg injury is the worst threaten for diabetic patients and leaving it carelessly will lose the foot.

He’s advised to take complete rest for more than a month or six weeks for the hairline to disappear but it seems to take some more weeks to relive fully even after he feel good. So until then life going to be tough and I couldn't guess anything right now but I know nothing is easy even beyond certain limit. Mom going through really difficult phase and hardship, a single woman handles almost everything with no help from any other. Everyone regret certainly about our situation and could understand somehow what a difficult it would be but no mind to lean help, and ones who have mind couldn't support because of their inability.  I was quite moved when my grandfather felt he couldn't help us in anyway who truly depend on grandma, because of his age related disorders. I could only hope even I lose it immense times. Thanks for all your best regards and wishes on my latter post!

Encounter with Emu

I ever seen an Emu in real until encounter it in Jamunamarathur, on the Javadu Hills, near Vellore. I visited this head village of Javadu Hills in January and spent a night at the BDO (block development office) guesthouse here while exploring the places around. I find the Emu being fenced between the BDO guesthouse and office, and there are two emus but only one came closer showing its majestic being the second largest bird in the world by height, it stands close to man shoulder.

As soon we arrive only the emu invites us, grabbing our attention toward the small gate that keeps away the bird entering the guesthouse. We don’t know what it would eat when thought to feed something; one of the jeep drivers told to give grasses that grown beneath our feet. Amazingly this was the first time I saw a bird munching grasses. Initially we scared to lean our hands across the gate but also the way it grabs the grasses was wild, it was calm when my cousin caress his head with a fear.

It also feeds on curd rice we dropped near the gate; but the Emu wasn't comfortable picking food from flat surface using its large beak. The bird survives on some grains from the blow which is nothing but an empty flower pot and the fencing wasn't large enough for the great bird to wander. I guess emus entered Tamil Nadu in 2006, for meat and reproduction purpose and many company were launched to promote this business in fancy names and immense advertisements dragging number of farm land owners to invest at their companies. But the business wasn't fair and before it flourish, raised down due to rose of defraud complain on many companies.

Footnote:

Emu is the largest bird native to Australia after its ratite relative, the Orstrich. The soft-feathered, brown flightless bird reaches up to 2 meters in height. The long necked and legged can travel great distances at a fast, economical trot and if necessary can sprint at 50 kmh. Emu are opportunistically nomadic and may travel long distances to find food; they feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to go for weeks without food. (Source wiki)

Beauty of night

Picture by Jeevan (street light while raining)

The beauty of light
illuminates at night
when the bright sun
let way for led bulbs.

The beauty of stars
illuminates the dream
irrespective of age
transport to infinite space.

The beauty of moon
illuminates night gloom
stared at solitude
console grief n sorrow.

The beauty of night
illuminates in darkness
causing fearsome n lust
in absence of light n illusion.

PowerShot Sunday - Lush Green Field

This picture was shot near Krishnagiri while riding on NH 4 - Chennai-Bangalore highways. It was about 5.30 pm, the sun that was supposed to settle down illuminates the already enrich in green paddy fields, background to palm trees and mountain. I edited this picture to wide angle to avoid the roadside barrier but I couldn't keep away the wires and I think it doesn't bother much.