A little squirrel

Everyday I just hang like a monkey in our front gate and I have a reason to be like, because it was one simple exercise I do regularly by keeping my hands above holding the gate to maintain grip and movements by sitting on wheels. As I was hanging today morning, I find a little squirrel running here and there on the compound wall and I wished to keep watching its movement and so called dad to drop some grains on the wall. Then in minutes it returns and nibbled some grains by holding its tiny limbs closer, and I used this opportunity to click some snap and a video (check below). As early Maya was barking at finding the squirrel and thus driving it away, but glad it returns to give me this chance.

May be tomorrow there could be a power cut in our area from morning to evening according to newspaper. I am thinking about what to do this meantime when there was no electricity to operate computer, listening music, watching television… except interest on reading and cleaning something or do nothing to relax. Anyhow nothing can make cool this summer like the southeast wind that blows, without blowing hot waves. Have a nice weekend dears :)

Just happenings

The month of October haven’t begun comfort with me as I caught up with severe cold and cough, which make feel most irritating. I woke up with sore throat on Oct 1 and it indicated me the symptom of cold or flu which usually begins like that for me. I know flu is a common cause among human but the phase doesn’t seems to be nice and passing it was tough esp. with weak respiratory system. The resistance power seems to be very less with muscular dystrophy associates, so the influence of flu easily picks up and become obstinate to cool down. I couldn’t be systematic as I planned the week and wasn’t able to do things rather let anything happen on own. Glad the flu influenced while it was festival time here and I relaxed watching new movies one after another on television despite having trouble with…

Our pet dog Maya is also quite back to normal and her surgical wound was healed to let restore her enthusiasm.  It was really difficult to keep her away from licking or biting the wound, but glad despite denied applying medicine she recovered well. For more than a week she didn’t come out of her favorite hideout (beneath the bureau) and only made quick in and out for bathroom. After every haircut her movements used to be very active and become so hungry to finishing off anything quickly. She perhaps gone though very painful time due to surgery, for her to can’t even stand for a moment and it made us worry but she also makes smile with her every step in forward toward her healing. Now we are happy that we put her into a peaceful journey and trouble free health.  

My parents had bought a second hand Suzuki Swift car to make my travel easier, since I had trouble climbing into our SUV. The car came with low budget and good in condition don’t want me to miss it, and swift is one of my favorite cars and ride quality is so good and I had couple of travel on ECR before decided on purchase. We have upgraded the tires of the car to big size to add more comfort on any kind of road. I still have to modify the car with turnout seat, while looking for transferring hoist to import from abroad to make further easer and I am also suppose to change or alter my wheelchair to suit for the car and more comfort on sitting. Later I’m experiencing back pain due to long duration sitting on the wheelchair or improper sleeping position… looking forward to a change. 

My favorite Cat and the annoying Kitty

Collage on my favorite cat, when fed on carrots (click for enlarge)

Though black and white is the common color combo of the cats that frequent our home, the one with an extra color of orange is my favorite cat and it is quiet and quite opposite to the annoying kitty in B/W. This cat in trace of orange is a silent visitor and somehow dare to enter our home unlike the little scary BW, which make noise by coming across the compound wall and it only annoys our dog goes away if we shoo... but will be back with annoying meow.

Why the one in orange become my favorite is because of its quietness and always calm being, exhibits a friendliness that I sense in his/her presence, as she never seem to care about me and show very little  hesitation when I come across him/her at close distance. Things being like this, the BW have become my mom’s pet and she started to communicate with it and also try to convey the kitty that our pet dog is sleeping and thus to come back later.

My mom's pet (black and white) cat on the wall (pic by mom)

The orange layered cat is so daring and used to enter the house, in the usual manner of silence, even when I was sitting in the hall. I think the cat didn’t consider me as a person, or understood my nature (just like our pet dog Maya, who used to take my kindness into her advantage and sometime refuses to give way for my wheelchair knowing or in belief that I will never hurt her) and try to deceive me or refuse to move away for my little shoos unless I show severe in my manner.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Some Fence and Gate

Being Thursday, I was thinking about Good Fences and thought of sharing some pieces of fence and gate I shot during my evening strolls around the home. First one is an old damaged picket gate, belong to the neighbor and it is incline to their wall. The table fan aside the gate is a govt. freebie and it seems to be unable to mend to keep away… even the waste mart didn’t take away the fan during the clean-up explains its content.

The following one also belongs to the same neighbor and want lying on the wall is the leg parts of some wooden cot and the design wants me to shoot.

A long shot on our courtyard towards the gate and you could see our pet dog Maya is emerging out…   and dad’s former Scooty pep. He owns Honda Dio now.

A balcony rail of a nearby apartment, shot before it was rented. 

Upper and Lower Nirar

Day4: Dec 27, 2008. The last day in valparai, but not the least!

I felt very quiet and pleasant at moment spared at Upper Nirar Weir. It was just like gone to a picnic, to do anything under no restriction up to our courage, because the place was surrounded by dense forest. It was noon we reached the Upper Nirar after visiting Nallamudi Poonjolai. The road was rough for sometime though we took a short lane along tea valleys so there wasn’t much movement of vehicles and it breeze so fresh in shadiness of roadside raised trees. It’s a place I almost liked in valparai for its complete serenity, cool breeze and pebble streams that run across. It’s a place that said to be almost wet, as it was very close to the area that records the second highest amount of rainfall in India, but what we had to experience is less water that runs like a stream and sunny weather.

As soon we had our lunch, we went down near the water that passes into a tunnel. The canal was just two footstep of water then, my uncle and bro got down to enjoy the stream water. They took over the place for sometime and gone wild similar to the woodsman, caring a bough in hand in scare of animals and we go on tease them by warning. I too was feared and drew up fast as I felt some strange movement. Wherever we go, the elephants dung is left before us to wonder ‘here too’! What a miss opportunity it was to find no solo elephants until climbing down the hills. What the weir and dam is doing is a wonderful job in diverting water into certain passage as in heed of peoples need. It was a two eye tunnel, which carved more than 15km deep into hills to lead water into Kadamparai dam, but I am uncertain with the fact. And the dam water was open to lower Nirar dam.

From the dam we could see the Grass hills peak, an evergreen rainforest area and where it believed everyday rainfall without fail, and Upper Nirar is first in place receiving water from Chinnakallar River. The other side of the dam has some tribal settlement and could see a ruin bridge that ones used for there transport. It was a surprise shock for us for a moment, to have a sign of tiger standing at a distance to know later it was a plant and believed it had came in smell of maya – as she was barking sometime and no wonder if there was a real tiger, because it’s a place one could see wild animals at anytime. I just wished to be there some more time as the place was placid! The Grass hills was something I eagerly looked forward to visit, but the road lead to that place was not good then so I decide to not get troubled ourselves.

By evening we visited the Lower Nirar, which is on our way back from Nirar Weir. It was late to know an elephant passed our way minutes before our arrival, says an old lady who sales something near the Lower Nirar Dam. It was the Dam build along with Upper Nirar in 60’s, by the government of Kamaraj. It also has a tunnel as big as a way to run a lorry. This is one of the worth projects, truly for peoples need and what the earlier govt. done when mechanism and instruments are not good like today and with the only excess of human power. The tunnels that cut across the hills and rock are certainly awesome! Clearing many doubts of those age and clever strategic to achieve this, is not a simple thing to think. Just how much intelligent and hard work it needs to them, to be accurate with the digging process and link the either sides of the tunnel. The darkness really made me astonish, thinking about the fear and courage of those people involved in this process.

The Nirar Dam was a placid reservoir and one of a highest dam in valparai. The view from the dam was scenic and water flows milklike with mild resonate. It was closing time for public and so as some guys caught into trouble by driving inside the tunnel and blocked by elephants, we dropped our plan to visit the tunnel and head to the back of the tunnel some 15km away from the dam. It was an uncommon site where the tunnel ends. Mostly, people don’t come here as it was uneasy to disclose unless you’re more aware about valparai. It was just like a canal and foot path across; a small flow of water from an uncertain hole and the places was surrounded by little flowers. It’s over all gloomy and of course the sun was setting down behind the mountains was such a pleasure indeed. That was our last day in valparai and no other way to deny the accommodation at our relative’s place; hence the wonderful cottage we stayed was handed over to someone booked and we wish until last moment they arrive to leave it unoccupied. It was a night uneasily forgettable to me to the surprise of hornbill noise. I waked suddenly to hear the noise sweet as ever like a romantic guys whistle and I wasn’t expected even though I saw a sign board of Hornbills near there home.

Sorry it doesn’t end actually, there are some more to share promptly about valparai and traveling... Hope u don't have problem with pictures at large 500px × 375px? if anything, let me know. Because I see unequal pixel when checking pictures at Internet Explorer at minimum size of 400px × 300px indirect from flickr.

how many of u check blogs with Internet Explorer than FireFox?

A Surprise visit

There was a sweet surprise from this friend which is third time in this year am meeting her. A friend of her and who is also mine called this morning what my dad attend kept it secret until they call again to clear the route to home. What we converse online and meeting in past is very little more, but there is strong understanding in our friendship turns our relationship familiar. I know there could happen another meeting at this year end unknowing when and how happens today. Anyhow maya turns to be the core attraction of this meeting which last about an hour, nothing turn to be different but pleasant for all of us.

She gifted me with chocolates and a short cute IPod. Lovely presentation dear sweet friend! Thanks so much, its quite receiving you buddy. You get me surprise affection and peace, what I hardly experience in my life. Friendship till this moment is indifference in whatever format it exists, we continue to be wonderful dear friends. I wish you all the best in your life; happiness and peace at your new dawning relationship.

Down hill, Mudumalai and Mysore

It was the plan of visiting some interior places in Nilgiris, but unfortunately the cold drives us 2 days before the actual plan and we drove towards Mysore by 6pm, what I was looking for early climbing down before the darkness surrounds as the road take us to Mysore is through Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, so I can view wild animals, but almost it was already night then. I could tell it was ever I see the nature like that to view the clouds around like a cotton bedspread beside the valley from climbing down hill (last pic). Half our way hill was smooth road comforts for pleasure driving and on way glanced a black monkey (karung kurangu) crossing and climbing the tree such quick. Some distance away got the frog hill view, where we could find a hill similarly to a frog sitting (pic1). I never know it will take much time reaching Mudumalai, last time we were on the highly risk route through masinakudi reaching Mudumalai in short time, though I like traveling it was newly experience crossing a wildlife sanctuary at night.

I was keen to how come visible animals in dark, after a sip of coffee in a Gudalur we headed towards Mysore. In search of animals and few kilometers then sighted a group of 6 elephants with there calf’s very near to road in touchable distance, but our frighten members in vehicle want to move fast, so clipping missed. Then comes another dusky bulky elephant, no nice the night patrol interrupted getting slow, but somehow I manage to get a picture of a middle-size elephant on my side. It was our uncle in Mysore kept calling every half hour enquiring were we are, and it was his house we get to stay, and he was waited on a road junction to directly take us to home. He is staying in suburb area of Mysore near to Chamundy hill and to check the time it was near 11pm eating our dinner there. It was strange feel after long time, to stay at unfamiliar place and his children are never faced us then and don’t know whether there are some relation like us. Next dawn it all changes lighter and they began moving closer with us, thus reveals them to put off a day from schooling joining with us visiting places, along like a guide telling routs and to communicate in Kanada.

The kids before Nandi, middle 2 where those we met there

The three kids where lovely and so sweet in behaving, esp. the mid-one deepika was such adorable and soon she began fondling with our pet maya. The elder girl was very quite watching what’s happening and bears a beautiful smile always; the last boy was very smart, rarely talks, but tenacious until he gets something. Mysore is not new for me, I have been visiting here 11 years back and the same procedure continues this time too, following visiting ooty and Mysore. After breakfast, climbed the Chamundi hills and it was the elder kid shows us the right path after little confuse for herself. She talks fluently in Kanada and it was her help for me getting near to temple, speaking to the security persons to allow me. It’s indifferent everything to me, the ghat road, views from summit and the Nandhi except the parking facility. Next we headed to Mysore Palace; here I stayed in vehicle of inconvenience and my grandpa stayed with me for company as this place and palace is much familiar to him, thus he was a tourist diver then visiting Mysore often I get the opportunity to share his experience and information about the Palace! What I was looked forward soon the plan was to Mysore is... would continue in another post. Thanks you.

Ideal Birds

This week was more boring and disturbed because of lack of Internet. Our pup maya bitten the net wire and after service it was only working good now. This showcase dolls above in picture is my first models to be captured nicely in the new camera. Happy weekend buddies :)

PowerShot Sunday - Cat on the Wall!

This black cat is an excellent hunter and merciless killer! I had witness this cat prey on a little squirrel one evening while I was shooting at a cute squirrel. (You can read that sad story here…) Other day the cat was sitting on our apartment compound wall and stared at me with a killer rage. Glad the gate was closed! Lol

The black cat is the foremost enemy of our pet dog, Maya. She kept barking like unending whenever she found the cat on the wall.