First Summer Shower

Chennai had better/wonderful weather for last few days, thanks to the clouded sky, and surprisingly it downpour yesterday morning with just 3 inches left for the water to enter our home. I just woke up to a higher pitter-patter, which I thought was the guy (who used to wash our car regularly) is fetching water from the tap behind our bedroom window, but only realized when the sound extended.  I was surprised to reveal that it was rain. It’s been more that two month since we shifted to this house and this is the first rain I experience here and also being a summer showering I couldn't enjoy it quite unlike before because of the cause it created.

Being first on the row house and little lowly lay from the road, the rainwater easily run into our courtyard pools around the home and we couldn't ask  even just a little more as water rose close to our home level. Although we expected water to stay little while it rain, but the entry of street water and heavy downpour all the sudden and also lag in draining transformed the courtyard into little Venice for a while.  This really put off the excitement of rain, thinking what if monsoons arrive with constant downpour; there is an ample chance of water flooding the home like one of our neighbor warned from his past experience.

There are rainwater drainage's in our area, but they aren’t in good condition and need to be restored. Wish the authorities look after these before the northeast monsoon arrive in October.

v

View towards the front gate, while it raining water rose to road level

Through the backdoor, the space we used to put cloths to dry

Water close to our door/foot step

Got a beautiful reflection of fresh green leaves, when water reduced after the rain

Sunday Photo: Intimate

When I shot I focused it as a single flower but at home, later, checking the photos I find it (daises) to be conjoined and showed great intimacy towards each other. The photo was captured at Cloud Mountain and the guest house we stayed there had a long flowerbed with some colourful flowers bloomed to ornate the large courtyard. And daisy being one of my favourite flowers, which also grow in wild as well planted as ornamental flower, it was the first I went to capture among the flowers once I left out at the courtyard.

Being evening and shimmering to glorious sunset, there was a great natural exposure on the daisy to captivate.  But what I find more pretty here was the twist of the two white petals, which gives me a perspective of holding hands i.e. a thought of intimate.  

Vineyards @ Chinnamanur in Theni

On my way to Cloud Mountain lately, as a part of my vacation, I come across many vineyards while driving towards the foothill from Chinnamanur. Coming into the Cumbum Valley in Theni district, which produces about 90,000 tonnes of muscat grapes and 10,000 tonnes of Thomson seedless grapes yearly, Chinnamanur is one of the major towns in the valley that embrace the cultivation of grapes and coconuts the most.

Being the most fertile valley in south India, is almost red soil by nature that enriches the agriculture activities in this region. The Cumbum Valley enjoys an invigorating climate that’s ideal for grape cultivation and there are more than 4000 odd grape farmers in this region who are experts in grape farming.  I share here some photos shot on a couple of vineyards that neatly fenced for the grapevines to thrive and while on the uphill task these vineyards looked like patches of green among the red soil and foliage of coconut groves.

(click for enlarge)

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

A brief on my early vacation come travel to Thandikudi and Cloud Mountain!

Usually we go for vacation in midsummer to keep ourselves away from hot weather and chill sometime in pretty cool mountains/hill stations while visiting places in and around the destination. Although I have visited almost hill stations/mountains within the state of Tamil Nadu, I still believe there is a lot to be explored and experienced. Each time I plan to visit mountains or any other place, I look forward to go beyond tourism and take roads that less traveled and places explored at least.  This time too, though, went to the places that I have been already, I tried to explore things that missed last time and observing more the nature and environment and experience things leisurely.

After a gap of two years, I visited the mountains of Kodaikanal and stayed at Thandikudi followed by Cloud Mountain’s – which are a part of Western Ghats, from March 20-25. I was looking forward for a break/change from regular life since it’s been nearly a year I had vacation (in Ooty-Valparai) or traveled long, I decided to be earlier mainly to prevent the season’s crowd and easy accommodation at less fare/tariff. Being a month ahead to midsummer, it’s already terrific hot here and as we began the journey the sun was almost up in the sky shimmering bright, which is one of unusual with this travel as we always begin our journey early morning so that could easily get out of the city before it get congested and lesser heat.

One of the cottage we stayed at Thandikudi

Our drive from home till the foothill of Thandikudi/Kodaikanal was under scorching sun, which we felt heavily on the national highways in lack of trees and the A/C in the car also went frozen to block the blowers. The heat was able to make feel even driving upon the mountains and being unseasoned to rain there wasn't a piece of cloud to hold umbrella. The coldness on the mountains was also not so high and bearable with plain blankets at night and only in the morning the chillness is felt. We had booked rooms in the Panchayat Union’s Narumana Kudil (fragrant hut/cottage), which we early stayed and it is one of the very few accommodates available at Thandikudi apart couple of high fee resorts.

And it is a wonderful place to stay and watch birds alongside. But this time it wasn't fair enough to allow me to wander its premises, encompassed by coffee plantations and canopy of trees, because of lack of maintenance and unclean of fallen leaves gives a strange look across to move around. Moreover I didn't get the room I was looking for, which would ease my access through wheelchair so that I could come in and out of the room without much difficult. While booking in, itself we stressed for that particular room but those communicated hadn't conveyed it clearly to the management who had rented the room to some other. So I had to be transferred to a chair before getting in and out of the room to overcome a huge step and then back to wheelchair/car to move around.

The beauty of Kodaikanal Lake, illuminates in eventide sunlight

I expected to spent much time outside the room looking for birds i.e. it is a bird paradise in itself with many distinct bird species, even though I listen to their chirrups in various tones, I find only few birds with capable to shoot while others were tiny ones which treats me with sweet tweets.  We stayed there for three nights and two days, which was spent mostly on drive and discovering new places/routes that I wanted to do for some time – will write more about it in detail later. I hope my future visits/stay at Thandikudi would be fine due to my uncle’s (mom’s sister husband) construction of guesthouse there, beside the coffee and orange plantations he bought two years back.

During my stay, I visited Kodaikanal only for a brief moment and took a leisure ride around the lake while capturing some photos and having a cup of coffee, we head back to room by late evening after purchasing some homemade chocolates. We haven’t planned to visit Kodaikanal that day as we are intended to stay there later; it was our car that forced us to check the princess of hills as it refused to start suddenly we are either to go to Vathalagundu (at the foothill) or Kodaikanal to rectify, we chose Kodai so that we don’t need to get down the hills. While the day went like that and the other spent on exploring some Ghats sections, the real excitement of the entire vacation was the chance to visit Cloud Mountain aka Megamalai!

The place where we stayed in backdrop of Highwavys dam at Cloud Mountain

I have been to this part of Western Ghats Mountains in 2009, but I haven’t done a post or write a piece on the pristine mountains that guard the Cumbum Valley from the east. It is one of the few places where nature exists at its best/pristine stage and human intervention is at least. I avoided writing about this place and posting pictures then to do a bit on preserving and preventing exposure as I never want it to be seen as another spoiled hill station. I think it is a place not for tourist activities but to admire and experience nature. At about 1500 meter, the cloud mountain is dedicated to tea plantations and it comes under the High Wavy Township which is one among the three major tea estates who leased the land for 99 years.

Getting there is not an easy task and one really needs a high ground clearance vehicle to venture the road that almost an off-road journey. One can drive up to High Wavy (there is also bus service) somehow, but trying to go beyond is painful. We haven’t planned to visit Cloud Mountain but it came as an offer from my cousin brother, whom we sought for booking rooms in Kodaikanal, and upon our willingness he booked rooms for us in the High Ways IB (inspection bungalow). I was telling to my dad, very lately, that we should go to Cloud Mountain once again, a place I visited as a day travel in 2009, I couldn't say no when someone offered such an opportunity. I was quite delighted to spend two days stood between dense forest, tea gardens and dams/lake in front and rear.

More for later... 

A (Asian) toad in bucket

Last year during this time we received a surprise guest (toad) in the bucket that left outside the home, in our earlier resident opposite to Sishya School. Seeing a toad or frog is not a surprise thing but the condition of the weather could make I guess. Summer in Chennai usually pick up in March, although it sense earlier this year, it was approximately same last year when we found a toad lonely floating in a bucked with least water left at the bottom.

I was in wonder where the toad would have come from since the weather was very hot and wasn’t wet anywhere near and though I guess it must be a great survivor to come to quench the thirst and couldn’t leap out because of less water at bottom. The toad was floating in the water, leisurely stretching all the limbs and eyelids kept closed and open causes a sense of sleepiness. The toad spotted in black has beautiful texture/traces in brownish and yellowish and nice black curves around eyelids.

The toad commonly called as Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) and also known as black-spectacled, common Sunda and Javanese toad, is probably a complex of more than once toad species that is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia.  The amphibian is a lethargic timid animal that moves about with deliberate hops from place to another, comes out after sunset and frequents mostly the human habitations (where it gather under street lamps) to feed on photopilic insects.

(source of info: wiki)

Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe - A Novel Script

I usually write on movies only that I watched in theatre, but Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe (which means “come close, do not kiss”) is a 2014 road movie in Tamil that I watched last weekend in a Tamil channel. I was looking forward to watch this movie as downloaded, but glad I come to know the movie being relayed 2 hours early to watch and it was interesting and gives a new experience.

The actress-turned-director, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan - who's popular with her mother characters, has written the story (that based on a road journey and background as petrol/diesel crisis) and screenplay in a novel way i.e. each character has been depicted in brief, that encounters along the journey, makes it more interesting watch. The movie drove from three different paths/situations has intertwined so well, leading all the way towards ending, the ride has been kept at thrill with anticipation of what come next.

Chandru is a lorry driver, although he the son of a petrol bunk owner, he choose his life to be like that and who drive trucks and Lorries for thrill, decides to smuggle 2000 litre of diesel for the same amidst fuel crisis. On the other hand, a runaway couple joins him for life whose love has been opposed by the relatives for being different religion/caste and a girl from wealthy family, going through distress and misunderstanding with her mother for not telling who he father is. But once understand her father as an injustice to her mom, the girl tries to reach her and fall into accident.

At one phase and in unexpected situations, all boards the lorry to get down at their destination and how Chandru comes out of the crises for smuggling diesel that could sentence him at national level. The movie settles for a light-hearted entertainment and taking a serious issue in hand, where the price and demand for petrol/diesel has been at rise to protest, ‘Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe’ has utilised it well and also got closer but didn’t strike a chord!

The new comer Shabeer (Chandru) has a look needed for a lorry driver and also being adamant he quite understands later. But however upright, a driver could not drive straight forwardly. Lol! The pretty Piaa as Maya has been left with a face of confusion and anguish almost the movie, is enough describe her mindset and as her mother, Viji Chandrashekar, has recorded a bold statement that being odd is nothing wrong. As a young (runaway) couple in love they represent a familiar identity yet strongly

‘Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe’ is a phrase I myself have seen on a lorry back, is perhaps the inspiration for the director and being a woman, has set a theme/trend which is pretty new, creative and ideology to inspire other. There aren’t many songs and also haven’t taken separate scenes for songs, which go along the subject.  Although I am content with the technical background, I wish I was watching this film in theatre to appreciate quite overall. NVM is must watch if you want a change in watching pattern and novel way of storytelling! 

Divider in poles

The couple of photos here (from the archives) were shot years back into one early morning in Bangalore and road was MG road! I think it is a road comparative to Mt. Rd/Anna Salai in Chennai with many commercial, shopping and official buildings to keep it busy throughout the year. Couple of my friends from Bangalore expressed surprise looking at these photos said, they never seen MG road such empty.   

And I find the elastic pole dividers dividing the MG road were interesting to post/link with Good Fence at Run a Round Ranch.

Colorful Villea

Following the gates on Pvt. Beach lanes off ECR, I was captivated by the colorful blossoms of bougainvillea bloomed outside a bungalow, while leaving one of the by-lanes of ECR. I have seen bougainvilleas bloomed in eye-catching colors of white, yellow, red and purple among the by-lanes many time and I have also grown watching the bougainvillea in a house garden opposite to our native home sometime until we shifted or cut-off by the owner. I always have a nostalgic feel towards this flowering shrub! Hope you like the photos

Birthday to Maya – 7 years old

March 8 marks the birth anniversary of our pet dog, Maya, although she was 20 days old when she arrived home, we decided to count from the day she become a part of our lives. Against all our wishes my brother brought the cute little pup to home, which looked like a white cotton candy with three pretty black dots as eyes and nose! Not that we don’t like dogs (we have adopted few stray dogs in past), but our situation was not comfort then to support any other as we are already experience difficult with life and need of someone to assist, the pet dog only seems to be burden.

Now 7 years have passed and we don’t see her as a troublesome anymore as we adapted to her quite heartfelt and understood that it’s impossible to keep her away from us, all our future plans weren't without her. Our pet was so precious when showcasing love, protection and companionship and at same time annoys when she feels strange or found her enemies like cat, lizards, and any big insects and for last one year the monkeys. She’s always fond with certain people and like who are humble towards here but there are few, how many times she see/spent don’t mingle and make a point to stay away.  

My brother was mentioned about her birthday for last two days and came up with an idea of cutting cake on her behalf celebration. He used to remind us ever year about her birthday and it used to pass before we plan anything. This time he was serious doing something and ordered my favorite black forest (of course I am not the only one like this flavor) and it came along her nick name, that we dearly called, Maya Kutty – which refer to anything little in Tamil. No one was invited except my sister (cousin) who stays a street away and it was mom cut the cake and the first piece went to the birthday girl J

Here I share some photos from the little eve: 

Maya's yummy birthday cake

As she love cakes, was curious sitting around the table to get me capture both... 

Ready to blow

Enjoining her share from mom

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மலர்கள் / Flowers

மொட்டுக்களாய் முடி இருந்தன,

பனி போர்த்திய  போர்வைக்குள்! மலர்கள்

காலை வேளையில் சோம்பல் முறித்தன,

மிதமாய், இதமாய், மணமாய்.

Covered as buds
under the blanket of dew, flowers
break their laziness while it dawn
as moderate, soothing and fragrant. 

Gates on Pvt. Beach lanes off ECR

Last Sunday I went for a brief drive on ECR (east coast road), with one of my visiting cousin and the other who drive me always, and as a part of ride, I come across few by-lanes (between VGP and ECR Link Rd) that led to private beaches. I like visiting these lanes from very long back, and I enjoy the quietness and isolation provided by these lanes, all lead to deserted beaches.  Couple of times, during the days I used caliper shoe, I went there to practice some walk in the empty roads and have taken trails in my power wheelchair when it was newly bought.

It’s been long time I checked these lanes and beaches, so decided to do it in the afternoon of Sunday. As we turned into one of the lane, I was left in awe to see the road that were once pretty, was almost damaged (due to work on underground drainage) and looked uneven to drive. But I enjoyed doing off-road on the cut across road in our mini cooper (Suzuki Swift) and spent some time on the end of sandy beach. I find at least a couple of eatery, ice-cream vendor and a balloon shooting at the end of few lanes that open to beach.

While come back from one of the lanes, I suddenly got an idea why not capture some of the gates on the lane to use at the good fences meme. There are many farm houses and private guesthouses on these lanes, and each enclosed with a pretty/neat/variant gate for each of the entrance. I captured about 10 gates, but all from the slowly moving car as I hesitate to halt in front of each gate and to be not warned by the watchmen or captured by the CCTV! So only half the photos came out decently to share here: 

A planked gate gives a look of modern  

Gate in style of picket 

Gate to an open plot

A sliding gate... adorn by a beautiful kolam/rangoli

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Haiku Moon

Against the blue sky

though not yet fully flourished

outshines the night moon.

Pretty earlier

a faculty to arrest

before night warrant. 

Anegan - Survives on love

There are certain creations we don’t want to miss and in the field of filmmaking, as a director, K.V. Anand has created a place for himself for us to look forward to watch with interest. Anegan is one of an interesting Tamil movie (I watched last week) from the director, and as a wholesome entertainer, is based on memories of previous birth, not one, but multiple! Although it is only a part of the film, that traces and survives on love on each birth, the director has a different phrase to communicate the reason which perhaps due to hallucinations or use of drug to enhance dreams. But what highlight was how the illusion becomes clue to explore a mystery?

Dhanush and debutant Amyra Dastur as lead, appears in four difference characters, look, period/age. Dhanush seems to have not much works to do to in showcasing the difference in looks, which was slightly altered by pretty shaved and grown beard – resembles one of his earliest and in beard he reminds the dancer-actor-director Prabu Deva. One could see a usual Dhunush in the sequences relevant to current situation in the film, and I don’t find it quite impressive. But who steal the screen/show was, Amyra Dastur.

The beautiful actress does not only appear prettier, but her performance outshines the star cast and quite admirable. According to the period, her transformation has been done well and though not so highly differentiated, her expression and attitude conveys much to not to believe she’s debut. And another notable thing about Anegan was veteran actor Karthik’s re-entry, but as anti-hero, he acted pretty cool which suppose to be his usual/casual character in movies as well in reality.

I think the concept of this film (with two more situations happening at different periods and traced as previous birth memories) was pretty new for the Tamil audience, even though it was conveyed in a lighter way, I feel some people will find it hard to capture quite. Among the two different eras, the film that begins in Burma (today Myanmar) in 1960s is very beautiful and heightened the interest of watching. As a migrant worker Danush stunned with action and the love with Amyra is impressive than other two.

The music and songs of Anegan is chartbuster even before its release and Harish Jayaraj has touched the peak with both melody and local genre – but the most popular Danga Maari, doesn’t lived up to the expectation that created though music. Being a great cinematographer himself (though K.V. Anand is not the cameraman of the film), his perspective and locations selection always fascinated and in the songs of Roja Kadale and Aathadi the beauty of nature and Amyra stunned.

There’s also limited fight scenes to keep pace and sustained on tack with love genre, which is the centre pole of the film. Like his previous movies (Ayan, KO and Maattrraan) that open door to some daring issues, K.V Anand has focused this time on the rising depression among corporate workers, though the film deal with gaming company, it almost indicates the same and pulled the trigger to dread. Anegan is a must watch for many reasons and also way being different! 

A gap between the fences

During my visit to Kukkal, a village near Kodaikanal, I come across this interesting fence built using firewood’s or bunch of sticks accompanied by some shrubs lined along. The gap between the fences captures my attention to click photo.  

Although it is the not view (picture above) capture thought the gap, but it’s the same that behold behind the fence... the villages, along with terrace farming, was covered by mist while we visited. Being afternoon time, the village looked like taking nap under the blanket of mist J

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Sri Veera Anjaneyar Temple, Puthuppakkam

Last Thursday my father suddenly decided to visit the Thiruporur Murugan temple and by afternoon, along with my uncle’s family we head to the temple. And btw my uncle suggested checking the Anjaneyar temple on top of a small hill near Kelambakkam – about 35 km south of Chennai, which my parents and others wanted to do for a long time.

In front of the temple, from left: parents with uncle and aunt 

Sri Veera Anjaneyar Temple in the village of Puthuppakkam is 5 km from Kelambakkam, on the road towards Vandaloor, is the beautiful small temple situated atop a hill called Gajagiri hills. We know this temple from a very long time and those days it can be reached only by steps, that too in pathetic condition, never gave us a thought to  try  although we have passed this hillock many times.

A view from hilltop towards east... stretching across OMR and ECR and  far end with sea. 

My cousin who visited this temple few years back comes to discover a road has been built up to the hill top. And from that time onwards, I wanted to go to this temple to get some views around the area from the hill top, with SIPCOT IT Park as its backyard. So taking this as a wonderful opportunity, I also find it little exciting take the small road up the hill with couple of hairpin bends! It was cool and breezy, and awesome with views once atop.

The temple is told to have a strong connection with the Nithiyakalyana Perumal Temple in Thiruvadanthai, next to Kovalam in ECR. It seems, every year they set/said to follow a custom of carrying certain things as procession from the Anjaneyar Temple to Nithiyakalyana Perumal Temple in times of festival.  Thiruvadanthai being my grandmother’s native village, my mom used to indicate it always when coming across the temple.

As soon we reached the foothill, I was amazed, not just looking at the two big colorful statues of Hanuman and Karudazvar that stands upright on the either sides of the footsteps leading to the top. It was the place only recently I saw in a Tamil movie, where an action scene took place. There are 108 steps to reach the temple if one decides to take by foot, while enjoying the nature.

The temple believed to be 500-1000 years old, is also said to be that while carrying the Sanjeevi Hill to save Sri Lakshmana, Sri Anjaneyar stopped here for a while to perform Surya Namaskar. So he become so powerful at this place to named Veera Anjaneyar. The temple was quite calm and clean when we visited, but I couldn’t take more photos as I left my camera at home. Here are photos shot from my sister’s mobile. 

Temple torch on top of the hill, which is suppose to lit during special occasion

My new abode and stroll in wheels

As you all know I have shifted home to my pretty old area, where I born and brought up till I was 20. It was in 2005 we left our native house in Adyar for the convenience of mine, and to avoid the difficulty of being carried up and down (to the home in 1^st floor) each time while going out, we shifted to three different places in a decade except staying at our own apartment flat for 7 years, others were rented. I never thought I would come back to where I belonged and also haven’t wished as I know it’s not possible to go back unless there is great alteration to my native house.  

We don’t find any difficult with this house, except for few more works related to plumbing has been pending for the owner of the house to be done. We have settled for a comfort stay and the house was spacious than expected to accommodate all our things and well lit and airy throughout the day. The house with front and back entrance facing each other, accompany by two big windows, make feel not choked inside. I think mosquitoes are something impossible to avoid and it seems they are presented no matter where but to feel glad they are growing less day-by-day as summer emerging.

And to say about the street we live in is much quiet and clean, but right now an apartment being built on opposite to this house has been the only disturbance and I know once it completed the tranquil will return. I always wished our native house was in this street esp. for its quietness and neatly presented houses. Housed very close to my native one, I come to see many familiar faces once again more and also got to converse with few after long back and reconnecting with memories. My uncle’s family (father’s bro), who is living in our native house, frequent to support us in all possible ways and my sister (cousin) also visits  me after her college to spent some time in evening. It’s so good to have someone to give company although she’s busy with her mobile most time. lol

Other day I went out in my wheelchair, for the first time on the streets where I wandered, run and played a lot and pedaled the cycle plenty of times. There isn't much change happened in my area in the decade past although I find some new apartments and reconstructions has emerged and roads enhanced to concrete from the tear up to tar. My uncle accompanied me, also led to our native house to say hi to my cousin and aunt who come down in regard receiving me as I could not go to their upstairs home. Like I wished not many noticed me in the area that day, as most are shifted to various places and those being in touch know my condition well but not many would seen me in wheels, but I was glad to meet my childhood friend Karthi on my way.  He used to come and talk to me anywhere he sees me but it’s been long back met him as well.

As I remember he’s my first friend and only through him I know others in my neighborhood and my best part of childhood days were also with him and his brother. Until 1998 before temporarily shifted to my grandmother’s house, as we reconstructed our own, I used to visit him as well as he and I also had a close friendship with his brother – which I don’t know how it broke – and his father also used to be friendly with us. Even though we were back within a year to our newly built home, my difficulty with life has brought a big void between our relationships in reaching or following back. Initially I thought some sales man was standing at the corner of the street, when I saw him that day but moving closer he came with a smile greeting me and also put me in wonder with great transformation in his look that almost resemble his brother.

After shifted here I feel nostalgic at every move out of the home. I remember that it was in front of this house I once fishing in the rainwater drain after some heavy showering. And those days it was the street that often used to be stagnant to rainwater where we come to play in water and I have drenched few times by slipping while playing in water. Ours was a continuous resident area and my native house being situated on the main lane/road; our playgrounds were the backstreets where the house of our friends located. There isn't a nook or corner left where my footsteps patched and I have walked these streets until my legs aches. And it was so good to be back, at least on wheels, to rediscover the area that I hold lot of memories. 

Yennai Arindhaal

First time stepped out, after almost settled at the shifted house, to watch Yennai Arindhaal – an excellent Tamil action thriller film, from the director (Gautham Menon) who is popular with his cop subjects and this is supposed to be the conclusion of his cop trilogy. Ajith who wore the khaki shirt/cap this time, even though he’s seen almost in casuals, has recreated an image for himself and battled well parallel to Surya in Kaakha Kaakha and Kamal in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.

Yennai Arindhaal is portrayed around the protagonist named Sathyadev and apt to the name (Sathya, which means truth), the character has consciously tried the best in establishing the same. Ajith comes in four different look and style, according to the phases of his character, has exhibited smart and intelligent to admire and also a person with intense while combat and gentle like wind when patting his loved ones.

Next to Ajith the most impressive was Arun Vijay’s performance, as anti-hero. He has acted more than dozen films as hero, but he couldn’t address well in industry rather being son of veteran actor, Yennai Arindhaal will lead him where he wants to be. Although his character and hairstyle reminds Pandian of Kaakha Kaakha, Arun’s hard work is bright enough.

Trisha comes as bold and beautiful, and allured, although portrayed a character of pretty young mother, her romance with Ajith look matured and rejuvenating at same despite their relationship that sounds odd and many couldn’t get what. I think the best and most exciting part of the film was the 2^nd half from where I feel the real movie starts. The film kept moving at the rear was very interesting and engaged, even though the progress was predictable.

One of the blissful parts of the film was the music! Harris Jayaraj’s background score, as well the beautiful songs are caressing the heart as fascinating as cinematography, which hold some unique light presentation. Though the film was captured mostly under low light and many scenes composed in night, there’s something enrich in tone and light to cause thrill and admire.  Like they say, last but not least, Gautham Menon’s way of filmmaking is something worth watch whatever the subject. 

Monkeys on neighbour’s terrace

As you all know there are monkeys in my neighborhood, here is couple of photos on few monkeys perched on a terrace of neighbor's house. 

A little one climbing over the railing of an open balcony... I am also expected to see these monkeys in my yet to be shifted residence, since the canopy of trees (that spread behind this house) extends to the backyard of the row house that we planned to move this weekend. 

I link this post to Run a Round Ranch for the Good Fences

Another house shifting event ahead!

A month less than to utter a year, another move waits ahead in form of house shifting. Like the previous one, where we lived for the same period i.e. we are moving out of this house as moved in eleven months before. Though the reasons aren’t same this time, I think the move could be for the betterment of life, peace in environment and nostalgic with memories. Shifting to a place I was familiar and very close (120m) to my native home – where I grew up and lived till I age 20 and started blogging – and a street adjacent to the current one, brings me to feel closer and nostalgia.

We aren’t stressed searching house this time and the house that we suppose to move in next 2 days was the only one we checked and liked at the initial step itself.  It isn’t a great bungalow or spacious house, but the compact in size (I think) is more than enough for 4 members to stay comfort. The house positioned in ground floor is a kind of row house but built with enough space between each duplex house to park cars. What impressed me as usual was the environment. The house in a backstreet or street away from the main road is quite calm and very less expose to pollution, seems to have good ventilation and light.

Being the first house on the row of three, I hope to catch with things happening on street looking out through the windows. I could also come out and wader in the open space, as well go on street without fear. I hope I could write more about the place, the happy old days and the memories that I always cherish as best and many things to connect while transferred back to origin. Even while shifted to this house (the current one) we weren’t quite comfort or content, but to put an end to the house hunt which has been constant and unsettled for quite some time. When things were settled on its own, very lately, the owner of this house raised their voice for reconstruction.

Though we aren’t in force anyway and their announcement and request weren’t harsh anymore, but our intention (to shift home esp. due to water problem and expose to nuisance created by the school as we staying opposite to) has been fuelled by their pre-plan although a year still left according to their two years agreement. The broker who showed us this home never said or he too ignorant about the lease contact, but being committed we aren’t to go back immediately then. Gladly all doors open for us this time, there is no broker fee, anymore conditions on keeping pet or restriction in food, because most of the ads on houses for rent these days prefer only veg.

So we are happy to move to a different home and I am excited about the new environment and people, although it isn’t quite new but within 10 years don’t things change anymore? The landscape of Adyar has been turned to certain extent and exists alongside equally with old residence and buildings.  Not all people we are familiar with exist. And when I left this area I wasn’t wheelchair bound and not many would have confronted me after I become confine, but my memories behold many faces and moments fresh.

P.S. Since shifting house, I could not access to internet for less than a week or so... putting off to all online activities and blogging. Hope it doesn’t take a month to reconnect like it happened last time with shifting. I will blog until I am available with net or shifted quite. 

Sunday Photos: Volkswagen Beetle

There was a heritage car rally happening in Chennai this weekend, where the old cars are drove to and fro to Pondicherry. Being close to Elliots Beach in Besant Nagar, I couldn't visit the venue – where cars are parked in front of the promenade – although I was interested, I wasn't intended to go to be the truth. But I have been to one of the rally held in VGP (Golden Beach) parking lot, few years back on ECR and got chance to capture some of the vintage cars on park, as well as on move. Follows one of the cars I found in rally: a yellow color Volkswagen Beetle, a 1964 model!

The Volkswagen Beetle, also known as VW Type 1 or VW Bug, is a two door come four passenger car with rear engine manufactured and marketed by German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. The need of this car and its functional objectives were formulated by Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, who wished for a cheap, simple car to be mass-produced for the new road network of his country. He contracted Porsche in 1934 to design and build it to his exacting standards was one of the first rear-engine cars, which was on designing for four years.

The bug on move

With over 21 million manufactured in an air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration, the Beetle is the longest-running and most-manufactured car of a single design platform, worldwide. Although designed in the 1930s, the Beetle was only produced in significant numbers from 1945 was internally designated the Volkswagen Type 1 and marketed simply as the "Volkswagen". The model became widely known in its home country as the Käfer (beetle in German) and was later marketed as such in Germany, and as the Volkswagen Beetle in other countries.

(Source of info Wiki)

Wow! A tag after long back

DestinationInfinity trapped me in a tag, but to say the truth I took this into my favor as I was out of idea what to post in my blog today. Actually I don’t have a thought to write about me because my blog is a part of myself but still I like to make some notes. So here are 7 things about me. 

1.  Liked to be simple, I like things related to same and also like it to be compact and neat. And to put it simple I even received a certificate while in school for coming neat to school.
2. I am very easy/happy going guy and ever looked serious or can’t even act like that. I too forgive easily (esp. to avoid hurting others) and always try to give change to see if they could adjust or repeat it again.
3. An atheist! But I don’t exhibit it to others unless it needed and also don’t interrupt others belief and accept the dear ones come up with scared ash/saffron in affection and love. Though I know nothing going to change by letting those, at least I don’t hurt their feelings until they understand me quite.
4.  I am a Complan boy, but love coffee more than anything and lately addicted to butter biscuit and tea! :D  A non-vegetarian on limited intake with recipes/dishes but the favorite one is fish.
5. I always go for things and think which is only possible; because I don’t want my life to lead stressful and let others suffer for my intention and desire. I feel content with what I have.
6. I always want to go out exploring places and an adventure seeker, who likes to venture into the wild and take roads that less traveled. An off-road enthusiast who believes the true experience lies only out of comfort.
7. I have a passion for world cinema and for me the films are not just entertainment but there’s lot to understand/learn and admire. I don’t like watching films in pirated DVDs or downloading a film before it crosses 100 days. But these days the TV Channels don’t let me wait long and as soon or even before the film is out of theater they drop at our small screen.  Quality is very important for me when watching a film in theater/television, because I don’t watch films just for that although my list of films watched are very less.

I am not going to tag anybody and I think many followers have been tagged for the same by their friends. So those willing to share about you can do :) 

My current house gate

Ours is a corner house with a gate facing opposite to the gate of a school (sishya) and what I like about this gateway was its ladder arch.  I have seen many houses with such arches in my early days and this house, which is suppose to knock down soon, belong to the same old category.

The arch also let climb the eternal jasmine vine, beautifully adorning the gateway in pretty green and white little blossoms. After shifted to this house, plucking flowers from the jasmine vine has become an activity for my mom every evening. Planned to change the house in a week so, mom sure going to miss her one of the activities, but it isn’t a matter as the plant can grow anywhere planting its stems. The flowers also smell pleasant in fragrance.

I link this post to Run a Round Ranch for the Good Fences

Nerium Oleander @ Neighbour’s House

Nerium Oleander is an evergreen shrub thrives in the house next to ours and it has beautiful flowers in white with pale yellow centre. Native from the Mediterranean area to Southeast Asia, the shrub is one of the most poisonous shrubs known today which has toxic in all its parts. I captured the flowers (in couple of photos below) during the early summer season when the shrub was in its full blossoms.

Native to mild climates, the Nerium Oleander is a basic shrub for desert gardening and in coler climates they make an outstanding container plants. An untrimmed shrub can reach up to 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 feet and leaves grow to 10 inches. The easy to grow and drought resistant shrub, doesn’t have a particular soil conditions.