Listen to noise of rock - Irachal Parai Falls, Valparai

Perfectly titled for a waterfall that makes noise of rock, called Irachal Parai (an adaptation of two Tamil words meant noise and rock) is one of natural paradise of Valparai, in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. 7km from Valparai town, Irachal Parai Falls lies very close to the popular Balaji Temple in Valparai on the base of Akkamalai (Grass Hills).

The water to the falls is originates from the springs in the Grass Hills (which is called the green carpet of Tamil Nadu) is source to perennial Nadumalai River, which flows through Valparai and also quench thirst the town people. The waterfall lies inside the Pachamalai Tea Estate and on the edge of dense forest, is allowed to visit on the permission of the tea estate management. The estate’s tea factory is where one could get permission, which is also on the left-hand side of the road that leads to falls.

Thanks to our relative who guided us there and also a resident of Valparai, had hesitated first in contacting the manager but glad he did it for us, if not we couldn’t have got a delightful opportunity getting our eyes treated in green and snow-white waterfall. Throughout the way was almost pretty shimmering in green and once crossed the check dam (that stores the water and sent it through the pipe for drinking purpose of town); the waterfall get into our sight amid lush green tea plantation and oak trees.

The road was narrow and partially tarred, took us windingly to a newly constructed bridge across the creek where we stopped the car and enjoyed the sights of waterfall. The place was quite silent except for the noise of rock, even the quantity of water was less makes a nice fall. It is not advice to visit this place alone because of its frequent visit by wild animals from the nearby Shola forest. An old man we met there said, even a week early to our visit, a herd of elephant had broke down the estate’s bus shelter there.

The climate was cool and water was pristine to make visible underwater creek, I enjoy the view from the bridge while others get down wetting their foot in cold creek. The most excited was our pet (Maya), who shows curious drinking water from creek. Generally, she holds affair for getting wet in water rather hate taking bath at home, was eager to enjoy in water but only we didn't allow her to do so. After sometime we find four boys come down the other side, showing their bare body was evident of their relish showered from fresh waterfalls.

Maya drinking water in creek and mom holding her from getting into water; grandfather watching them from behind.

It seems one really needs daring to take bath in this waterfall with sliding rocks around and during its full fledge its highly dangerous… this waterfall and river is prohibited from taking bath because of its drinking water purpose of the town. The water flow as stream here, make lovely pools near the check dam and mound of tea plantations around create scenic pictures. Down from the check-dam, the Karumalai Church got my attention.  The pretty white church stands between tea plantations, on the hill other side wasn't clearly visible for photos and to get there we really need to make way through steps (will post few picture of the church later).

Threatening moments

I wake up to mom calling ‘maya maya’ in unusual hurry tone, from which I aware that our pet dog is creating some trouble outside and she also calling my brother to come out immediately. I only thought then that our pet might run out of the gate and some stray dogs chasing her or she may run chasing them, which is the situation many a time with her in case of unchained when outside the home. But things were different this time and she was running within our house compound walls chasing a cobra that came into ours. We have no idea where the cobra came from, but the garbage collectors were said to see the snake entering our house from the roadside.

Encountering snakes aren’t new for us, as we have seen snakes in our early apartment area and the people resides here have also seen snakes many a time around. The open ground behind our house with number of trees and a broken workshop, could be nothing that a better hideout for snakes and only a 7 feet wall protects anything enter our compound. The heavy rain and wind lasted few days back, broke our water pipe from the over tank and only a day latter it was fixed by plumber, mom when to check if it was ok this morning, was followed by our pet who found the snake got chased. She was trying to bite the snake tail while pursing around, for which it protests by hissing and few strike attempts before tough climbing the wall  and crawled though a Neem tree to a safe high.

It was exciting and adventure for us this morning and the story still spreads from one another, Maya becomes heroin by her daring act against the snake. Lol!  There’s another terrific story to share with u here, was as never like before, a lightening stroke very close to our house on Wednesday evening results in killing our LED TV. There was heavy thunderstorm in our area that evening, but a lightening came very first without warning had a loud blast and threaten to cease heart beats… which was the situation lasted for half an hour. Our pet also exposed to frustration for the loud cracks and it was like thousand fluorescent lamp blink at a time, and along with it the transformer also celebrated a pre-Diwali producing sparkles.

We once again tuned to our free television set, provided by government, until the Led TV is back after its major transformation of motherboard. It was a situation similar to 2009, when our CRT TV shutdown, we went on watching programs on govt.’s free color television for a year before bought the LED… it was too exactly on the season of Navarathiri. Even we used set top box for cable television, the lightening took the life of our led TV and there were number of TV sets in our area lose to the lightening. We are always cautious and switch off television and unplug wires when there was thunderstorms, but it fall quite unexpectedly and it is our fault indeed.

         Not to forget, the cyclone Phailin is on its way ready to sweep the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in hours… let all hope and wishes there wasn’t much damage to our neighboring states. The cyclone is expected to be very strong storm, where experts guessing the wind could touch 240 km per hour when it landfall between Odisha and AP… the tides could rise up to 3.5 meters and rush 600 ms in land. 

Things happening around new house

After shifting home to the new place, life moves at slow pace but not the time that run fast. I run out of time everyday and I plan something (but nothing important) to do but I couldn't complete it quite and feel disappointed at the end of the day. I’m distracted by something’s I don’t want to reveal and go away from what I suppose to do, but I could come back touch with things anytime and there is nothing urging to complete something. I spent most of the time reading, blogging, listening to music (never on earphone) and flickring rather experiencing something new or look after other things that interest me. A month has yet to compete since shifted home, I haven’t took out any other plan I wanted to carry out with the house and I need to fix the nest box and bird-feeders somewhere and work on gardening the space left around the home.

Shot during mom purchased vegetable from vendor

But I’m no more urge to do things all of sudden and they can happen anytime later or after the end of summer. The days are very hot and tiresome since summer began and the temperature was soaring (even Chennai feels better than other districts and states of India) still it bears tremendous heat everyday and staying inside is better than doing things at exterior. I was also at urge of traveling. Summer memories are haunting me to think about vacation or go in search of nature but thinking about weather and holiday crowd I could only getaway at the end of opening schools (the first week of June).

Life travels on timetable, as usual everyday which keep away things and thoughts unnecessary, I fell prey sometime to distraction which goes on and off like power pulled in and out at the outskirts of Chennai and other cities. We faced troublesome situation once shifted home and the electric here had been low and the transformer near the house burst into lightening few times… but they are much better right now and after changing the electric board at home and looked after transformer by EB staffs, there is no electric problem for more than a week now. Unless the usual two hour power off.

In our previous house in apartment I couldn't watch the road activities well unlike this home, which has wide windows to not miss anything happening around. I see vegetable vendor come around pedaling his tricycle and Soan Papdi vendor pushing his cart and ringing bell all the way through the silent afternoon and corporation workers sweeping the road in morning and come whistling to collect garbage in mobile dustbin. There’s a road roller parked close to our house, standing as an identity to find out our house easily and it seems standing for a while under the shadow of tree. Still the neighbors exist as strangers and they just glance at us and look after their jobs.

Being shifted close to beach, I haven’t done a visit yet and even we settled well something kept rose to look after settlement.  I don’t find anything negative about this house except the summer heat (with no upper portion, the sunlight fall directly on the roof to insert heat but the cool sea breeze comfort well near windows) and there are one or two mosquitoes to bite in evening and they last only between 6-7 pm. The one who rejoice a lot was our pet dog Maya, she go around the house freely and was kept unchained unlike resisted within home while staying in flat. I think pets are not comfort growing in flats and they are only to wander freely in individual house. 

Out pet maya  (some requested to post our pet photo)

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.

Unusual play

Having heard and seen sometime the various in animals being friendly to each other like cat-dog, monkey-goat and even the enemy’s cat and mouse and no more difference from this kind, the pet dog of my sister had found a friend in kitty. She was telling me the other day about this friendship and I couldn’t stop wondering since our pet dog Maya is a serious chaser of other dogs and cats who are foremost in her category of dislike.

Few weekends before sister came home and I downloaded the videos of the play between the dog and kitty from her cam which was fun, interesting and amazing to watch. The kitty was very cute and the dog take care of it very kindly and fond even its behavior sometime looks rude, it doesn’t allow anyone to hold the kitty and they both feed on a same plate and sleeps nearby.

This cute kitty remind me out latter ones and we had three kitten whom were the active cats I have seen and they play like anything and rolling a marble on floor is enough to check with them for fun and there meow... is sweetest like anything and each one of them look so adorable in a way and color. I like sharing a video of kitty playing with the dog here (below):

Neighbor Angels

I would say that all the kids in our apartment are cute and angels, who carries away the isolation into the air every evening. The calm environment would be cleared as soon they arrive from the school and there isn’t certain for their causing noise and merry trouble. There are more than a dozen children in our apartment and keeping away the teens, everyone go around the apartment in there cycle and keep on gossiping until they leave by 6 or 6.30 to study at home.

The above three in the picture were the most active children and could be seen often playing and merrily go around in their cycle. Being similar in age group, they share there by-cycle easily and be cool always like no other responsibility, unlike their elder ones who spent less time to amusement and keep themselves distance with books and studies. Being a dog dweller, no kid will come near our home, but everyone’s excite about the dog and would call from far away, except the one who wish to come near and being younger to all, will convey me his wish by a hand movement and smile seeing me far or near.

He’s one of the darlings of the apartment and he walk pretty like a toddler walking and cute enough to capture our heart! Soundariya, Ammu and Varshini are the names of the kids in the picture and to say about them in a line: Soundariya is much talkative and kind enough to be humble in consoling her mates by giving anything to keep them from distress and cry. About ammu, she’s a cheering girl among the kids and always keeps a smile on her face and thus charming.

I see her from crawling and she’s one cute being hold a post in my blog then, and wonderfully never changed in attitude of being so enchant. I amaze looking at her brother, whom I mention as darling of the apartment resembles her in every aspect and movement. He has a mysterious name called putta, which I guess it to be a nick name as he’s very little! Coming to Varshini, she is cute, brisk and bold, but teardrop for everything being silly and nothing and blame that no one let her live happily.

She’s so funny that times and I have listened her singing while playing and being at bathroom… which is against our bedroom, a block apart. She has a sweet tone and adorable while she fondle kids and convey to our pet maya. I never been close to these kids but I just know very little about them though observing their activities and manner they share with others. Evenings are the only time these kids come out and I love being outside to just watch them and wish I were among the kids being so nice and happy.

Pets, need or not?

There is a talk show (Neeya Naana) in TV on every Sunday, which takes a topic weekly and discuss. It’s one of an interesting and best known show telecast in television, and last Sunday the debate was about those who want pets and those don’t want, argued with a reason.

What made the show special was the debate that’s very similar to what is happening in our very home and those opposed to have pets expressed what’s in my mind and recorded their voice in our means. Whoever followed the show would truly agree that whatever kept against having pets causes a lot of trouble which much isn’t cared by the pet owners and their only wish is to have pets! Being a pet home come person, I hit the very trouble everyday from her (Maya) and not alone I; even my parents and visitors get disturbed from the prime reason as barking at everything. In case there is cat or lizard on the wall, we can’t stop her from barking until they are driven away and most of all she never shut her mouth if a child is visiting home. And because of this, no child in the apartment comes near our home and just takes the backyard route to reach their homes, which is adjacent to our block.

Just like everyone, I love kids and there are many kids in our apartment, and since the scare of maya we miss the joy of children at our doorstep. When maya was pup, all the children would gather at our home in amaze and to play with her and much before, the children used to visit our home to play with our visiting uncles kids.

Except very few, no one could cross our home with no bark from her when she is tied to the gate and many of them pass in hesitation whether the dog is tied or not nor gate closed. I quite realize what we cause is a state of fear and interrupting their independence to move freely in their own apartment and creating noise. I feel so bad of the situation that I couldn’t do anything to stop this cause that create by our pet, except expressing my distress and oppose to have pet in such circumstance esp. in an apartment. The bro who brought the dog home and refused to give back and not realizing the situation, ignores the opponent and I would say the people in our apartment are very nice to not to complain about the dog and the immense noise.

Just being four of us, we can’t leave the pet anywhere and it never stayed without us, esp. she needs mom and for me there isn’t a travel without both my parents and we need to think a lot before going out anywhere and the bro who is lately ignoring in taking care of the dog, adds burden to mom’s work, but he don’t want to give the pet. Sometimes I get irritate and anger because of such irresponsible people like him, where I see many in the talk show, who don’t seems like giving much importance to mans feeling and just concern at their passion and love on dogs. There were many in the show blamed the people for being scare or not liking dogs attitude. I wonder how few people could be unmindful about others feeling and only showcase their desire for dogs.

Having pets might cause happiness and give satisfaction to mind and act as a close associate, but overall have a pet isn’t a easy thing and we need to sacrifice a lot in maintaining and taking care of their needs and being sure about others security . Having pets isn’t wrong and I’m never against it since having one in home, but we need a right situation to console everyone from causing crisis. For example ‘we are not in a situation to have a pet, as my parents are not capable of handling even myself, the dog has come as a burden to them and pets are something interesting, fun and loving only when we’re enough to handle the situation and relax to spend time and take care of them.

Not every wish get exist or completed! So wish to have pets quite depends on situation and its unfavorable for a family alike us, that’s not well enough to support a life physical and someone who’s truly depend on their parents who can’t sustain much. More than thinking about myself I always think about others and never what to give any trouble to anybody, but still I can’t bear it since I’m supported by someone, which might cause trouble to them. Again I like to say, having pets isn’t wrong and those love to have pets should think a lot and discuss with others such as house members, neighbors (if those in apartment should think serious about the crisis and almost try to avoid having pets) and close relations those visit often.

I think those go for dogs aboard or the fair ones are particularly just for show and those who are totally in love and passion for dogs could easily go on anything from country dogs. I wonder how many of them still have and go for the famous country breed Rajapalaiam! This is something shows people are more interested on fair breeds, and I don’t say it is wrong, but seeing dogs as a display dolls and just for amusement alone should change and if we treat and feed dogs rightly they are our best friends and if we train properly they are our lifesavers. The intention of having dogs should be love and reliable and not causing trouble!

In poor man’s ooty

On the hills of Servarayan lies the popularly known poor man’s ooty, Yercaud. The name which derives from the Tamil words ‘yeri and kaadu’, which mean ‘lake and forest’. It’s almost pleasant and cool throughout the year and it could be reached from any where through buses and its nearest city is Salem. Placed at an elevation above 1500 meter from msl, the yercaud is famous for its coffee plantations, which was introduced in state in late 18th century by British.

As we climb on the hill, the weather started to wrap with cool wind and dry leaves crushing over the lonely road. The route takes us via coffee and pepper estates, and it wasn’t a bus route so it was vast empty and narrow with little hairpin bends and curves. The kuppanoor is the footstep of this ghat road that comes in between Salem and harur.

As we reached yercaud, it started to drizzle slowly and even while enjoying the climate, the disappointment came from the resort that we booked for saying they don’t allow pets… and even after much explanation they refused to allow. It’s indeed our mistake of not informing the resort formerly that we bring a pet (maya) with us and thought they will adjust if we say, but no way had we to seek for another place to stay.

We then moved into the town searching for rooms while raining outside, we met an auto drive who guide us to a cottage belong to someone. It was a two story building and they gave three of us a room in ground floor and for others in second floor, it was somehow comfort with mosquito menacing in night. The next day we shift to second floor, with the aid of cousins caring me away it was better than before from the troublesome mosquitoes, which fly from the nearby sewage canal that we fail to notice in night.

The cottage was little beneath the dead end road and was surrounded by trees, plants and shrubs; and one of the plants were attractive with huge leaves similar to lotus ones. Morning I wake to see wet everywhere and flowers bloomed in red and blue and small species like frogs, toads, moth, millipedes existing everywhere. The Maya who was excite to see those species was keen to catch them away.

There was a restaurant called Karuppaiya Mess at the junction near the lake was very familiar in taste and too good to have. Throughout our stay we get foods from here, but there’s limited choice of food. The view from our balcony wasn’t great but the little house opposite to ours was simply nice, with a small portico and two tiny elephants guarding each end of the gateway in stone. I’m not a person always or never wish for greater in life, even a small and simple home is enough, and in this way I wish I live there sufficiently.

To add, the swing inside the terrace was attracting everyone to swing ones!

NHs and way to pollachi

We drive through national highways and I should say national highways lose the charm of traveling and bored due to emptiness. What I say as emptiness is because, it seems same everywhere u see and untouched towns and cities that lack interest and without trees it makes harder the travel on day time without switch on to A/C. I acknowledge the development of NH’s make easy and smooth driving for those travels often and who’re in time to reach, and accident free, but for me who loves traveling, NH carries nothing interesting for about sitting simple for hours. I also not forget to appreciate the NH’s authorities for bringing down heaven to earth by constructing these huge platforms for vehicles and wonder elsewhere looking at its building.

Waiting at the railway gate for minutes to pass the train with enthusiastic and in meantime tasting something from the window side vendors, who rushes in seeing our vehicles being stopped are one or few things that irritates then is out of sight, and we get nothing much in favor to see and know something from today’s NH. The roads are wider, clean and narrow; and the plants planted on the center corridors help reducing the head aches and dark eyesight due to the flashing against vehicles. Those are days we get to sense the changing atmosphere and nature while traveling, and within closed window and not much to observe, the traveling set to a mood of cool darkness. Compared to NHs, I go with SHs (State highways) even it was single lane and highly threaten and little more shadows; and these NH helps people who’re destination freak and who’re fates to live inside, thus every move has something different.

My favorite Black Scorpio, taken in pollachi guest house.

Even I chose to be unfavorable about the late NHs; I understand the need of best NHs and connecting cities and towns easily and welcome people for a pleasant ride I was traveling to pollachi last month and most of the roads that lead were NHs and the road from Chennai till Ulundurpet was very smooth and fine, and though we had to cutting Salem, we kept back the velocity and somewhere on this stretch I could see black smokes arriving through the ventilation towers of sugar factories on an active Monday morning.

There are toll gates that come as huge speed barkers at every certain km to collect money and many people blame these gates in impatience as if they’re bill gates having hat full of work. People told me to tie a political flag in front of the car; so that these gates will open freely, but I told clearly that I won’t climb the car if someone does like that. I have wondered like everyone, looking back the pristine roads and streets of foreign countries and when we experience something similar we have to be supportive and not make deceive. I feel it’s worth paying attention to these toll gates for a peace, pleasant, safe and fast journey in time and distance.

Karthik's home in Salem. There karthik's mom,my mom -holding maya, grandma and dad.

I think back there’s nothing much interesting to describe about traveling in NHs and the road lead to Salem was under construction and there are many ups and downs shifting back. There’re no memories about visiting this city more than a decade ago, the hills surrounded Salem is quite busy even at heavily strikes noon and we passed a street alike T.Nagar in Chennai. There’s much difference in food compared to Salem and Chennai and other places, as we pay more and get less in Chennai, thus we pay less and get much as food.

1008 Lingam temple, near Salem

There was a warm smile welcome us into their home in Salem against the sunshine and it was karthik’s mom whom waiting for us at her gateway and we spent sometime and left with a cup of cool drinks. It was again the NH’s and on the way came the 1008 lingam temple, where it’s under construction on a hillock near Kanjamalai and temple is belong to Vinayaka mission, a private education institute. The temple was wonderful to see from the road with hills at background. It was a coincident to face the sunset again this time passing through tirupur and it was another crimson sun.

It was turning down to sunshine and dimness emerges as we’re heading towards pollachi and it was stars like spread across the landscape, where the lights of windmills glow to silent movement. At last reach the pollachi gust house and hand felt asleep as soon spreading across the limbs after dinner.

Windmills of pollachi

Well we continue in another post.

Surprising soul

In-between the non-stop rain for the last one week, we had a small break for sometime on Sunday so I thought to go out to survey our city, but it turned as a surprising evening for me. Somehow it’s not the rain or the city! It’s a person belongs to charm.

We were yet to move out and just minutes to go, Andrew come against us to completely surprise! It sensed me like ‘not sure’ when he said he likely to visit Chennai in the first week and never informed then came before me as a quite surprise put me wordless! We really became close friends in the last couple of months and I know him for sometime through Flickr.

He is a person I never seen before being such young and enthusiastic in his age of 65! I astonish seeing his many interesting photographs and lately I become a fan of his huge zoom lens! I have talked to him couple of times and I really enjoy his gossip and he used to share stories with me about his earlier life in Chennai and busy life in pune. He’s a great example for life after retirement and more like a young man he works almost and manages a huge site project in Infosys Pune. In between he travels a lot and captures wonderful pictures.

The first thing that spots him was his coat he often wears. He hugs me before I come out of surprise and he introduce me to his friends as one of his best friend and it was dream come true for both of us. Andrew hoped to meet me, even in between heavy raining and it’s just minutes that save us together and seems it won’t be a matter even we left home, we would have returned to meet this young man and I’m so much interested to meet him.

(from left) Isaac, andrew, richard, me, dad and mom, maya is sitting below.

After sometime in home, knowing we’re going out he interested to join with us and we went to Marina beach. In between his busy scheduled taking sometime to spend with us is indeed special to me. We had a photo walk inside the service road along the lately developed nature’s pool (staying rainwater) opposite to Vivekananda house in marina beach.

He brought his huge lens Sigma 150-500 mm APO-OS especially to show me, because as I said before I like it very much. He gave it to me to click, but I can’t bear it as it weights 2kg! I wonder then, how he carries this much weight wherever he goes. Along with his friends Richard and Isaac, the evening goes off with great enthusiastic and fun and they’re like very young guys teasing each other.

Usually the marina beach would be crowded immense on Sundays, but being a rainy day and a ban on playing cricket inside the beach throws off less people. It was bikers who were like taking away the charge instead of cricketers racing here and there, splashing rainwater and gushes there joy blindfold.

There were children playing on the rainwater pool and dogs enjoying in the water, some families come across while few vehicles get water washed. First time being their after almost beautification works are done on marina, it doesn’t sense any different!

Andrew shoots some pictures with his huge lens, and one of his shot on an eagle that fly’s far away was simply awe... After conveying good bye to Andrew and his friends with huge hug, we spent sometime off the pool water with cousins and left home after an hour.

Maya’s new avatar

She got her hair cut last week and looks cute and different now. She didn’t allow cutting the hair on her face, so it turned her appearance and look into different style.

After the hair cut she got cotton candy like fur and I love caressing her these days and she also improved in her behavior, but still the mischievous and stubbornness bitch.

With a body like young goat and the left over beard now inspires me to call her again as aatu kutti (goat kid). Sometimes back dad passed my wheels on her tail and from then whoever pulls my wheels she used to hide somewhere and it’s one of her weakness now for us to take advantage while she behaves arrogance. But she never fears when I drive on wheels and she trusts me that I won’t strike her and always sleep beside my wheels in hope and safe.

Wee cup pup

Like a tiny doll in white fluff, just 3.2 inches tall, the Maltese pup reached just more than a height of teacup is among the world’s smallest sleeve dogs. Scooter, the six month-old pup, is also weights less than a block of butter at 400gm that too while wearing clothes – a regular purple sock jersey, so that she is seen easily around the home and to prevent inevitable injury that would result at a wrong step. The owner of Scooter 'Cheryl McKnight of New Zealand’ says the pup feeds from an egg three times a day and sleeps in a shoebox, does everything a normal dog does.

Another tiny pup vying for the status of being smallest in world is Tom Thumb. Even he is younger than Scooter, his owners convince he’ll still be shorter than the current record of smallest dogs by length when he’s an adult. At three weeks old, Tom Thumb measured less than 4 inches from nose tip to tail tip; and is believed to grow more than an inch or two. Beyond anything astonish, these diminutive dogs are absolutely cute and I know u too will agree.

The tiny scooter reminds me of maya, while she was alike when she was small with those pretty eyes and nose.

A pet tag

Dear Anya tagged me just for a play. She is someone very sweet to tag me into this game and she has a beautiful cat named Kareltje, and her blog is almost about her pet and none can beat her in receiving awards from friends. Anya had brought her pet Kareltje’s picture on her tag post, so I thought to break the rules so that similarly I can also post our pet maya’s picture.

Thought the rules are to open your photo folder and select the 6th folder, and then select the 6th photo in that folder and post that photo along with the story behind it on your blog and tag 5 people.

The picture above is maya. The time I shoot this picture was about 8pm on a rainy day and u may think what her position stands for?

One thing I haven’t said before was, maya was a superb hunter of ants. Now u may know for what she is waiting near the door. Sometime ants used to enter our home in-between the gap of door and she would wait for them to arrive to catch and eat. One day a leech entered through the gap and maya seen it and started to bark aloud and before she catch we drew her away. From then on, she used to keep her face down near the door, so that she could catch anything that comes. But something opposite to that happened to her recently and what it was a leech had been biting her leg for sometime when we were in kodai and we only saw it later bleeding. Even couple of our family members got sucked by the leeches when we visited a pine forest.

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 :)

A week with cousins

The days go by obvious is a change is need and learning process that never ends; even I get nothing to think serious and enjoying with cousins. These guys never give me chance to be usual and just want me to share there space and time. As I love this move, I keep everything next to them and I know everyone have there business to do and it’s a brief occupation that comes occasionally. Being away in time spent on computer and reading, I balance a pleasure between us depend on there moods which don’t stay with a thing for long and get bored soon, and I ask often what can we do next. They are more fascinated on dogs; and even a Google could get tired but not there searching ends. Sometime I even want to scold them for been irritating me talking about dogs and the younger one was scare about dogs, but he talks much and goes on tears often clashing with his brother and he keeps a distance from Maya and uses the chance to hold her chain to make everyone know he is not fear, but it becomes illusion at next minute Maya behaves mischievous.

One night we went to beach, wandered through chitchats after some long time, tasting something spice from a sea front shop. I was warned by dad, but goodness it does nothing to me. The southeast wind began to blow is an addition to the pleasure wanted me to spend the afternoon and nights outside home by playing cards, carom and extending our chat beyond the cool breeze. These guys often make fun by teasing each other, and i manage to make them calm, but yesterday it went beyond our control. It all begins the day game boy was brought and trouble starts by who plays it often. Both of them held each other and decide to apart, but none want to leave me, so either had went to granny’s place to come next day leaving me alone today. I do tell these guys made my days these days and helped in many way with my activities and exercise; and not alone for that I wish both of them return calm early. This short separation wants me to claim that, even I can’t understand some well known people and how far these teens and kids are. How often could I learn and examine the misery without experiencing it as positive? Sometimes I do feel the relationships haven’t come for me and not at interest, but I can’t deny there wasn’t love and care. For whatever the reason they wish to stay with me, I greet them always and came to a state in late that I won’t urge anyone to stay with me.

We watched Slumdog Millionaire, and I do wonder what makes this film into Oscar, but there was something I view it tells the world, that practical experience teaches someone more and to see illiterate doesn’t less to anyone. There was something we amaze upon the areal view of dharavi. The childhood parts are funnier and felt how well they captured the face of India esp. the rag picking scene which still exist around our cities. I really loved the beginning and end, and I wish these types of movies comes more and more than fantasy, we need movies that capture the truth. What can we expect and enjoy in quality of sound and vision when watching it in local DVD!

Beware of dogs

A high target was when tears of joy turn tears of cry. It was news about an 11 year-old boy became a victim in chase of a German shepherd dog. But it bothered me a lot somehow today. May it be an incident or accident, it sent me alarm. Not that we own a pet dog, and it is nothing wrong in having one. But the thing where we had is an apartment complex with tens of houses and neighbors closer enough. May be it wasn’t a frequent incident, but thinking advance is usual sustain and a thing it indicates is prevent further incidents. Like wise I think we were the ones too working on base of violation and how threatening we’re to neighbors with children more or less to the boy. It’s nothing to wonder about if negative thoughts peer into ours neighbors mind after reading this news and I am sure someone would compare us with owing a dog, when even I could.

Dog means fear is a common sense which is more in children and we know a dog chase means we have to stop running, but for children it’s the only thing they know to escape. The above incident is a proof which kept these days as a hidden injury. I could not just blindly deny everything and here is a proof today. Carelessness lost a life indeed. I showed this news to my parents to make them aware and warn about threaten we give to others in complex in name of Maya. We are suspicious about the situation and I am with everyone who agrees for an act on controlling the pets in apartments. Here just walls separate the homes in apartment; the reflection of noise is sustained and oversight is left to injury or loses of life, something happen to the 11-year-old Ashish. I am pity over the incident and regard to the news and violation of rules, I feel its better apart the pet until staying in apartment. Am someone could just voice my expression and agitation to call from beginning to oppose keeping a pet. But none could listen and I left to fate to still believe nothing goes wrong, even after suspect few incidents happened around my complex. There is nothing wrong in having pets at cautious space and more than anything, human life is precious than pets.

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?

Maya turn a year

It’s since a year Maya came home, arrived as a 20 days kid. A pup that could fit within our palms and sounds such short and sweet to fade slowly reaching ears. With pretty eyes and nose, she attracts everyone’s attention by her soft cotton candy mass and to sound that greets. The way she tickles in her tender gums to bite and to lick to disclose her care, affection and confirm her security by sniffing our existence was new then. She gradually began to understand to whom she belongs to and finding out familiar persons and very cautious about outsiders and those strange being. It was something she got not to attach with anyone so easily, even she had met those uncountable times. Today, even she have grown to an adult stage, she was indifferent in her behaviors and activities such as sleeping only under the closet, even though she struggle to enter the space; drinking almost milk and rarely curd rice if there was an egg; and to not spit anything she nab in her mouth – one of the toughest problem with her. Though absence of training, she catches up with her mind to live and tied to wayward.

Even it was so pleasure having her and love those innocent behaviors, she was at same time disturbing our peace and to move nowhere easily like back, as she hasn’t practiced to live alone or on someone’s care, and need my mom or bro so to be calm. At everyone’s surprise she was very kind towards me, and not allows those unfamiliar to her to get near me or touch, and it goes to my mom and bro too. Seeing me approaching her and understanding my comfort, she used to climb on the couch to allow me to caress and embrace her. Days have run fast against my opposition to having her with us, thinking about our future and circumstance to avoid stress and annoyance could create by her. A year was completed now; she was traveling along with us wherever we go and staying all nights together. Even today, my profound says we have taken a wrong decision allowing her inside our life, which almost struggles to survive in anxious and physical stress. If we are happy and comfort enough, we could allow anyone to share our lives to make it more pleasure, but we’re already in stubborn and who would love to add more burdens.

Actually she was a scared pup for anything variant. She barks like non-stop nonsense until her scare was cleared, and she dislikes being left alone to go and do our work at next room. Like a child she needs our attention often when unchained, to stop her from tearing something, and in frighten nothing important was left to her to easily grab around, but sometime being alone with me and mom she sits quietly near our foot. She likes fondly calling her by ‘maya kutty’ - young maya, and it was some words to melt down her and anyone calls her that name she goes behind them by moving her tail. We really no need an alarm to wake us early, because she does that work perfectly by whining every early morning by calling mom to take her to bathroom. This was something she does to get our appreciation and somehow she has begun to follow this rule now.

One thing strange about maya is ‘she doesn’t like kids’! Any kids come across our home she barks continuously and it was uncertain curious whether she wants to play with kids or rush them, but we are very cautious about leaving her to kids. Lately she faced the problem of more ‘losing hair’. So after weeks of arguments and disappointment, finally she got her hair cut last week. It must have done months before to avoid the annoyance, but none could get properly advice from doctors, that could had stopped early the hair lose. By cutting those twist hairs; the newly growing ones would stand strong without pieces of hairs. These days it was so funny looking at her appearance in skin and bone, like a shaved sheep without woolen. From calling her maya kutty, we started to call her Aattu Kutty (young goat), and it gives a feel of touching a young goat. With ears lifting tall and in thin body, she got much names like young deer, fox, rabbit… and more than before, in her new aspect she gets much attention.

Anyhow Maya is balanced between sweet and harsh, hate and like; fought and fond! So she remains with us in this journey of life, with distress and happiness.

Check here the poem i wrote last year about Maya

Sunday Beach

It was a lovely Sunday evening with my grandparents and uncle’s kids visited the nearest seashore. I want to take my grandparents out often, they never go anywhere and special for my grandpa, because of his health condition and getting weaker in earlier I thought it would be break for him from sitting all alone in home. The kid sachin who disliked coming to beach with us, after getting there he started to sing I love beach and I want more… everyone left near water expect me and grandpa, and we were discussing about my traveling. I like to share some pictures here:

Sachin

dad, maya, grandma, sachin and dharshine

Sachin want to stamp in water.

A small crab, Sun sets

In and around

Another travel lateral to OMR, it’s now ECR. Traveling on the east coast road is always fun and boost for smooth ride loving. This time with a purpose to ride our family to Mamallapuram, I get another traveling opportunity on my favorite lane with cousins and grandparent. It was merry go around with my bros and sisters. It was raining half our way and drizzling carried on breeze pleased. Our pet Maya was chilling in moving wind and so keeping her face outside window enjoying the weather. Even it was Bakrid, the mamallapuram doest fail to get attention by many visitors. After dropping our elders at great-mom’s place, I and cousins went around just like that or even to burn our times instead waiting for there conclusion and visit too two more relative place next to another.

I didn’t brought my wheels, so I can’t move specially anywhere than out looking. Many things have changed and improvements on progress. I wonder what really is not! In the beautification progress they have changed the genuine things around. Esp. the cheese ball has missed its amazing stance for and stories said behind this globe like structure standing on this slide, immovable for human and animals’ power. It was something back hard to climb on the sloppy rock to touch the cheese ball, but it was touched today easily in few steps. It has a slider narrow substance on the rock which we slide and play then and even now it receives same joy for little foot distance. It’s more than a decade back I climbed on this rock and many times we visit this rock yet it is near to our sis home.

Must say the tourism department is taking good steps to save the remaining structures and rock cut sculptures to maintain properly, even in cost of visitors. I really wish let that’s be a rumor what the entry fee is very different from country visitors to foreigners. Sure I must go around in my wheel soon before I lose insight memories of the places I visited back. It terms I am looking around from outside fencing. Even deriving the rain and cloudy weather staying before the cheese ball, we tasted ice-creams get by our sweet sister. It was fun looking Maya as we all having ice-crème and she was whining for and all along she was fellowship riding. Mamallapuram is home town to my sis and who was visiting our home in Chennai. After calling dad to know that it would take some more time to return, so we decide to go around the town, colonies and shore. Sure it was something I will continue at my next post.

To those unknown about Mamallapure, it is a very famous place for rock cut structures belong to 7th centuries, carved by Pallava Dynasty; which is just 45 km away from Chennai on ECR.