Annamalaiyar Temple and Viewpoint - Yercaud

Called as poor man’s Ooty (perhaps, because it’s a less expensive hill station), Yercaud has number of places to visit and among the many Annamalaiyar temple is quite away from tourist sight, even it was mentioned on the board of places of interest in Yercaud it doesn't drag anyone. No, the place isn't less attractive anyway and moreover it was my most favorite place in Yercaud. May be lack of directions could be a reason people could not visit the place and moreover road to this temple was narrow and steep.

The temple has nothing to do with this viewpoint but only adding an ingredient to its quiet, calm and scenic location with awesome views on the Shevaroys or Servarayan Hills. At the top of 1400 m, you get a panoramic view on the series of mountains from here and the wind was embracing to cool since it was drizzling during our visit. One of the prime attraction of this site apart enchanting weather and nature was, a temple (tower) like structure built on a slightly grass mound for lighting lamp capture our attention, just being brightly painted in red.

Named as Annamalaiyar Temple, for anyone it would remind Thiruvannamalai but it has no connection with the popular Siva temple out there which is renowned for the grand festival - Karthigai Deepam. Anyhow, perhaps, it seems to shares a custom of lighting lamp on the full moon day, similar to Thiruvannamalai Deepam that lit on the Annamalai Hill. Being a summer vacation, the children from the nearby villages were playing around the temple and some even take advantage of climbing the pyramid like lamp tower.

The temple is also a simple yet beautiful structure with one small and moderate towers decorated with idols and painted in various colors. There was also a pretty well on one corner of the viewpoint with great scenery at background; the courtyard of the temple has a nice lawn created by natural green. The way up to the temple or viewpoint (one of the best bviews in Yercaud), was enveloped by quite green coffee and cardamom estates and the road was also narrow to allow only a vehicle to pass at a time. But gladly, rarely vehicles take this road and we encounter with an auto. But don’t you know an auto could pass with even a cycle gap? Lol

Visitor info: Annamalaiyar Temple is about 8km from Yercaud Lake, in the village of Thalaisolai.  

மன வலி / Mental Pain

"செல்லாக்காசை பிச்சை  போட்டு என்ன பயன்?"

ஒரு வரி 

என்  ஆயிரம் கேள்விகளின்  பிரதிபளி 

வெளியே சொல்ல முடியாத வலி.

தெளிந்த நீரோடை
ஓர் கல் விழுந்து கலங்கியது போல் 

என் கனவுகள் 

ஒரு சொல்லில் கலைந்தது.

கண்கள்
கண்ணீர் சிந்தி சிவந்தது
காவிரியை போல் 

தண்ணிர் இன்றி வரண்டது.

மழை, வெயில்
மகிழ்ச்சியோடு தொடர்புடையது  

அதிகபடியான எதுவும் வேதனையே
வலி, மனவலிமை பொருத்தது. 

Non-Tamil readers, check the translation below… but I inquire myself does it convey quite.

“What benefits a beggar
by dropping invalid cash? “
A phase
reflects thousand questions
of my unspoken pain.

Like how a clear stream
shaken to a fall of stone
my dreams
shattered by a single word.

The Eyes
turned red to spill of tears
without water
it drought like Cauvery (river).

Rain or sunshine
associated with pleasure;
excess of anything is pain
plainly depends on mental vigor. 

PowerShot Sunday - Winding Ghat

This is a part of winding road that connects Kodaikanal (a popular hill station in India) and I shot this one while riding up the hills.  This is my second attempt on this particular part of winding ghat that last for long distance and short in curves. The beauty in these curves fascinates me quite and the environment of green and neat lane is another delight. 

At a (family) friend’s place

One mid-summer day in May we visited my dad’s best friend house in Red Hills (no, it isn't really a hill but a place on the outskirt of Chennai), and despite scorching afternoon heat, we had a cool ride in our a/c car along with cousins whose first day visit to our home due to vacation. We took the Chennai bypass road to reach red hills though Porur link road and it was first time for me to take this road after it built some years ago. My dad’s friend built a new home there few years back, but I only got to visit them now and he was very happy about my visit ahead his daughter’s marriage. We spent an hour and some at their home until dawn fall and it was fabulous sight to see sun rays falling beneath the clouds.

They stay very close and right opposite road to the red hill lake - which is one main drinking water resource of Chennai. During my early visit while they rented there, I checked the red hill lake and got amazing view on sunset. But this time due to heat and lack of time I couldn't repeat it, rather we had some other interesting to check with their house and surrounding. They installed a color changing ceiling lamp on their living room and it attracts every one with different hues while changing with remote. The collage above will explain the rest, how wonderful and delightful the exchange of colors.

The house opposite to theirs hold number of Turkeys and they were set freely to wander and climb on wherever they could.  One was standing on a bike and others on compound wall; it was cute to see chicks following the mother turkeys. Interestingly there were this two turkeys doing similar action side by side while feeding on ground, leave at surprise. I also brought home one of their feathers wonderfully formed in combo of black, white, grey and brown. I used to hear from my uncle early about this house, having number of dogs turning the entire area into horror, glad their desire turned towards turkeys which are quiet and colorful. I hope you all liked the photos here.

turkey chick

A turkey feather

Two square completed

A square has four sides and two squares? Yes, I completed eight years in blogging. I don’t feel too special about it but anyhow it is special and this journey had played a vital part in my life and track changing my chase. No doubt, I feel wonderful about blogging and I was never passionate about anything unlike blogging and it’s a real booster of my life. I’m also in other social networks like Facebook and Flickr but blogging deserves much attention and I feel quite sharing only here.

Blogging is nothing but a device to communicate in detail and bloggers are the wireless (but full of life) receivers and philosophers who teach us many lessons and by sharing we create a friendly and trust in words environment. I never doubt my bloggers because I am true to them and believe they are. I need to say blogging isn't much fun unlike before but I am improved a lot with serious interest and also longing for those cheerful days filled with laughter and teasing each other.

My blog isn't a planned one and actually I don’t know what blogging itself when began to write blog post eight year back. But I was looking for a website myself and accidentally caught into the weblog where many others were trapped and enjoying an overseas relationship with bloggers, and some turn into close friendship. I am still touch with some former bloggers who are friends now in Facebook and only few continue to blog occasionally, the enthusiasm doesn't get down even the way blogging leads disappoint, I feel more comfort writing now.

Thank you all for your constant support and inspiring posts. Hope you keep extend your support and if not sharing (through comments) blogging is nothing. 

Simple joys

Life is filled with many simple joys to enjoy. There are events and special occasions to celebrate once in a while.  But the simple joys we experience every day in life are a constant pleasure that keep us going. We no need to spend much. They are shattered all over our life, from wake up to asleep and even watching moon at midnight is simple joy.  Waking up early and watching the sunrise (even it was occasionally like me who check while only began to travel at early morning) there is something magic in the moisture air and bearing tender sunbeam at dawn causes great energy throughout the day.

enjoying a pleasant moment amid swinging nature

If sunrise enriches energy, the sunset is quite pleasure and simple joy watching the different hues on sky. Sunrise and sunset are everyday task simply never get bored even they are similar with familiar sky. There is something that never lost zeal how much time drink as beverage. Sipping coffee is an energy booster always and there is something eternal in its flavor that desire to drink often. I am not addict to coffee and it isn't a matter if I haven’t drink coffee for days but the desire will always rest inside and never want to miss a chance of sipping.

Expose to cool breeze is sometime caress the innermost and inspire a lot. I really want to say wind is my inspiration and it bears immense joy carrying numerous fragrance and sound of birds. It changes from time to time and landscape to mountains, but I enjoy the simple cool breeze however it blows. Bird watching is another simple joy and yet filled with surprise each time reveal to a new species of bird in neighborhood and travel to Western Ghats inspired me a lot looking for birds.

Memories are a wonderful thing cherish forever, sitting solely on couch or swinging, we experience a joy, a world that could only be alive at past. I love afternoon silence and there couldn't be a best time recalling our sweet memories and it is a moment I feel quite inspired. Visiting beach is true joy, watching the restless waves kissing soft sand and essence of peanut or bajji flow in air against pretty women diverting the attention. Music is a consoling fact and listening to melody or a good peppy number is simply joy.

Looking at beautiful flowers and flow of stream, fragrance of earth and droplets of rain, gazing through windows and inhaling fresh air and tasting ice cream and warmth in cold are simple joys overlap by dreams. Imagination is a boon especially for those immobile we live a normal life and become super heroes in our dreams. We achieve many things from our comfort seat and if not dreams and imagination we miss a great joy.

PowerShot Sunday - Crow Discussion

Could you guess what they discuss? Lol

I shot this in October while two crows perched together and looked alike discussing something… it was the time when crows adopted Koel chicks those hatched in their nest and was feeding them to grow. You can check for more details on it here.

Flamingos in Chennai

I guess this is the first time flamingos visiting Chennai’s water body or for me to get know first. But once I come to see the pictures of flamingos standing on Pallikaranai Marsh in Flickr (last month), I was quite surprised and couldn't wait checking the wetland other day to see them alive. I have seen a flamingo during my boat ride on Pulicat Lake but it was just a glance and it fly past quickly across the sky.

Flamingos migrate usual to Pulicat Lake on the border of Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh and PointCalimere in Nagapattinam District, that too only during winter seasons. But it was amazing to see flamingos brushing their nose in large numbers, amid extreme summer heat of Chennai! Thought man itself finding tough to complete the summer phase, I wonder how they manage the summer heat.

The pictures here are captured by my cousin who accompanied me during the Pallikaranai marsh visit and we drive past the Solinganallur-Pallavaram stretch checking a flock of flamingos standing amid the freshwater swamp. The birds where almost white in color with pale pink feathers on wings, to tall grasses and emerging buildings background. I really missed the opportunity to check them closer through binocular which I forget to bring along with me, but I got content images through my Canon Powershot and also view at closer.  

Glossy Ibis... i guess

Update and Rain

Rain falls among valley

The first rain is always special and the scent of soil stimulates a sense of joy. A rain amid summer (heat) is too special, whether it last for a minute or an hour the enthusiasm has nothing equal. I experienced the first rain of summer last week, and it was wonderful to see rain fall from all directions in this newly shifted house. The earth was at rapid sucking the water as quick possible to distribute to every species on earth. No doubt water is a source of energy to withstand on earth but sadly we aren't blessed with enough rain and the millimeters hardly touch the average.

Half a month past I posted here and I was indeed out of touch with blogging and the scorching summer heat put down every things inspiring to write and cousins visiting and vacation time and traveling kept me quite away from online activity. My first rain of this summer was actually when I was close to Western Ghats before climbing to our destination on Kodaikanal Hills. The rain was visible far away falling amid the valleys and while passing the ghats we find it wandering fabulously on plains like wide tornado. It was wonderful experiencing rain or monsoon on mountain sides and bearing cool breeze blow down the hills.

Kodaikanal Lake

It was a family vacation come exploring places and traveling on roads untraveled and staying in an environment so pleasant and surrounded by uniquely chirping birds and coffee estates and blanket of foliage and tall trees.  I don’t had a mind leaving the place but other plans waited ahead took me to Kodaikanal and unlike ever it was very cold and evenings are windy and raining because of the arrival of monsoon, we are forced to cancel our plan of extending. But once on plains, things are quite strange and sun baked us on fire. The obvious reason to be cold and hot is nothing, the weather always wonder with it’s distinguish feature.

Post vacation I experienced swelling feet and lately aching knee become soar and seem to intense only and also slightly unbalance at stood. We still find some inconvenient which I believe will become normal very soon with the new house and we also experience extreme summer heat here and the wind blows hot air even after the core summer season ends. Glad it rains sometime in evening as a relief for day’s fry pan!

Love flourish

Love blooms 

like a flower out of bud

for the male bee

to smooch with pollen.

Love is a nature

inbuilt in every species

like clouds for sky

and green foliage.

Love grasp

an invisible hope

attached to heart strings

playing vibration modes. 

P.S. I’m not active on internet for a while and so, perhaps this could continue for some time until next weekend. Since cousins visiting home, I am busy spending time with them and its quite fun being together. We have also planned for a vacation or travel on June first.

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)

Music on Maryan

Music is my favorite thing always, just like nature and I hate music in the presence of nature singing. It is always joy listening to music or a soothing song causing great relief in the presence of anything stress. The expectations used to be high when first time listening to a song or an anticipated album is released. But once bought a music album (always film songs) I can’t wait anymore or do anything until listening to it quite. From the day bought tape recorder, then, I used to buy audio cassettes (which transferred into CDs once they are introduced) occasionally on specific actors or music directors. I followed this practice until two years back and now all songs are only downloaded from internet but the curious of listening for first time doesn’t hide and it only enhances if the music was composed by A.R. Rahman.

I have found rejoice listening to his latest release Mariyaan (an upcoming Tamil film) and enormously touched by the melting tunes. With simple words, AR has quite engrossed with his sophisticated wisdom in music and recreated a sound of sea (Kadal). I would consider Mariyaan equal to Kadal - which I think one of AR’s best composition ever and my personal favorite on his top chart. ‘Innum Konjam’ is a wonderful song, quite fascinating and soothing the heart. Tabla has played a main stream or resource of this song rhyme by singer Vijay Prakash paired with Swetha Mohan.

‘Nenjae Ezhu’ has sung by AR himself, writing the lyrics along with Kutti Revathi expressed the depth of eternal love. The song sounds similar to AR’s One Love (a single commemorate the beauty of Taj Mahal) is an inspirational one enhanced in AR’s emphasis voice. ‘Naetru Aval’ is so caressing and embracing song in Chinmayees humming vocal and along with Vijay Prakash provoke a sense unexplainable! The mild instruments play a silent music supporting the longing mindset. ‘Enga Pona Raasaa’ is a solo song supporting the same longing mindset in mild music, but in Shakthisrees embraces voice.

The following songs are supposed to travel on high spirits and on fast track tunes: ‘Kadal Raasa Naan’ is quite based on lyrics comprising the struggle on sea and desert sand penned by actor Dhanush - who lead the film. In Yuvan’s voice the song was sharpened more! ‘Sonapareeya’ is very catchy and tuned as fast as speed boat, bearing the lyrics of Vali apart a rap portion written by Sofia Ashraf. The song is interesting to listen but only I don’t know what Sonapareeya means? The last one among the seven was, ‘I Love my Africa’. A song based on African tribal music and quite strange lyrics except Rahman singing on English notes, Blaaze had done great job with the support of Madras Youth Choir gave voice to Africa.

Quite a pleasant album, do check and enjoy!

Raindrop boat house - Mudaliarkuppam

Few weekends back we drive to Raindrop boat house at Mudaliarkuppam on ECR (east coast road) about 90km from Chennai. Actually we planned for an outing on Sunday on ECR and drove up to Mudaliarkuppam perhaps taking a boat ride on the backwaters of Odiyur Lake. It was a sunny day way up to summer heat but it wasn’t hot that much that day perhaps backup by A/C and coastal ride, we had our lunch under some trees shadows off ECR. One of the best aspects of outing had always been having lunch at unusual circumstance; especially under shadow of trees is quite relish and refreshing.

We (along with uncle, aunt and cousins) were at the boat house in afternoon and I was anticipated to take a boat ride there while it was where my last boat ride took place four year back. But my bad chance the boats that we took for ride last time were abandoned, due to broke up and there were only boats with seating options which is unsuitable for me. Last time we took a boat with flat on-board (check the abandoned boat in 1st picture) which could accommodate my wheel chair besides sliding benches for a relax ride. But somehow I enjoyed the visit to the boat house and I got to check the activities held around from the dock.

The boat house is located on a picturesque location with one side of vast Odiyur Lake and other side a large backwater channel lasting for more than 3 km parallel to shore before met with sea. There are many type of ride available at the boat house to enjoy water sports like pedaling, rowing, motor and speed boating and water scooting and kayaking. Leaving me and dad at dock, others went on a boat ride and pedaling boat, I went up shooting with camera while sun warms beside I was content with the cool sights I caught up around.  

There were number of sea birds floating around and taking on and off the water. I also saw common kingfisher fishing from the dock and other unknown birds taking the abandoned boat engine as its home. A huge fiber boat was anchored near the boat house to attract visitors capture our attention in blue. Unlike then the boat house doesn’t look so graceful and a part of dock was broke down and also lost its already partial roof. But I still prefer this boat house the best and it doesn’t throng by people like the always crowded Muttukadu boat house near Chennai on ECR. The eco system of backwater is too good here and the boating also take us for long distance ride and  give sometime to spent on the island at the mouth of lake.

Raindrop boat house also operates a restaurant and also conduct pre-orders on parties and get-togethers. It is one of a number of best places to check on weekend outing or picnicking between Chennai and Pondicherry. 

Common Kingfisher

Splashing water scooter

Ethir Neechal - Family Entertainment

It seems humor has become favorite genre of filmmakers in Tamil these days releasing number of films based on humor and Ethir Neechal (swimming against the tide) is a decent flick comprising comedy and sports at equal base. Recapturing the caption of late super hit classic, stared by comedy king Nagesh, doesn't have any relation with this film having TV star Sivakarthikeyan in lead has run a marathon race successfully bearing humorous torch.

The film begins with the flashback of how Kunjithapatham allies Harish got the name and his past life that put him on trouble and embarrassment due to his name - which shortened version, makes him an object of ridicule among others. Kunijthapatham (a name of his family deity in the film) loses his father and lives under his mother’s shadow, go through number of embarrassing moments due to his name resisting him emerging atop. Even his first love brakes revealing his name, he decided to change his name on the advice of his friend and also met a beautiful girl Geetha and fall in love for her.

He also impressed her following  comedy series and once she reveals his real name,  she blame him for not being genuine unlike her and after a brief convince between them Geetha ask him to achieve something in life to stabilize his name.  So he decides to run in the annual Chennai Marathon bringing back his running abilities which he can’t establish then due to his name. The film shifts to a serious flat form of pursue athletes and dream of a father who wants her daughter to become a sports champion in running.

Attakathi heroine Nandita plays the young coach, whose desire to become a sport personality was splashed by false result in gender test... which reminds the Indian runner Shanti, from Tamil Nadu, whose medals were snatch as she lost to prove her gender. Sivakarthikeyan has once again proved his natural sense of humor and his innocent look, well fit to the character and Priya Anand as his companion acted beautiful as a school teacher. Manobala plays a numerologist makes laugh riot!

The film was directed by newcomer R.S.Durai Senthikumar, a former assistant of Vetrimaran and produced by actor Dhanush - who also danced for a song in the film. Kolaveri fame Anirudh composed the music and among the six songs, 'Boomi Enna Suthudhea' and 'Velicha Poove' are beautiful songs set happy and romantic mood. The theme song was energetic  The last few minutes on the marathon race make an apex seat watching and I really appreciate the way it was shot and confess the strain.

Ethir Neechal: A decent pace on entertainment pool and pursuit on sports! Assure for laughter and smile J

PowerShot Sunday - Bubbles

Bubbles are fun elements blown through breathe, using a chemical liquid or soap and dipping a straw at one end and blow it through the other. I hope everyone would have enjoyed blowing bubbles in their childhood and even later at age, like I still used to rope up chances whenever to blow bubbles. We also used to look after other, who blows a big bubble and number of bubbles in a blow.

I blown bubbles lately during our vacation in Kodaikanal (a popular hill station) last year, buying bubbles containers from one of the vendors wandered around the Kodai Lake. Apart having fun blowing bubbles, I also did some photo shoot pointing on the bubbles blown by my cousin and the one posed here bear some edit focusing on the bubble.

Bubbles transport us to childhood, whether we blow or look at other were nostalgic. During my childhood days I have blown bubbles number of times and whenever visiting T. Nagar (shopping hub of Chennai) I used to get bubbles sold in front of the Kumaran Store or walk into Ranganathan Street.  I have also used hair shampoos to blow bubbles, but the number would be at least unlike bottle of bubbles brought from street vendors. 

Udhayam - NH4

Vetri Maran, who bears victory as his fore name has once again succeed creating a interesting plot with the filmmaking of Tamil film ‘Udhayam NH4’ - the highway between Chennai-Bangalore. His early films Pollathavan and Aadukalam did good business with box of hit and talked for the performance of actor Danush and the plot selection.  Udhyam (dawn), directed by his former associate (Mani Maran) on the script written and produced by him, is a romantic thriller runs on a fast track, tracing and chasing with interruption of flashbacks describing the development of love and pursuit.

The film takes a rear seat with usual love story of an average boy and rich politico’s daughter feel for each other and run away braking down her father’s imprisonment and being chased by an encounter specialist sent by her father to capture both. But what make the movie interesting were the treatment and the part of tracking down phases, which were fascinating and stunning with chasing sequences.

Boy’s fame Siddharth plays the hero and well patted the dawn, showcasing his love and guts in decent way. The new face Ashrita is pretty, strong and desirable lass behold through her each gesture and well portrayed a modern girl influenced by pub culture. The film also highlighted the fun and frolic of night pubs in Bangalore (this will suit for any metro cities shaded more on IT and engineering colleges) and the anger of some political parties against such practice where well exposed the reality.

Introduction of Kay Kay Menon in Tamil as encounter specialist, stern through his look, but setting a mood of anytime melt away captures the attention. And the frequent ringing phone from his unrevealed family at home enhances the excitement on will he show grace on the young ones. The cinematography well captured the night scenes and as well the feel of artificial light and darkness of night. Music by GV.Prakesh: other than the two songs (Yaaro Ivan and Ora Kannala), which was hit among youngsters and I too enjoyed listening, doesn't delight. But the BGM rocks!

Udhyam - midnight dawn!

My new residence

The drama of resettle with the new residence has quite over a week now with the reconnect of internet after nine days. The actual plan of shifting house during the last weekend of April or May 1 had advanced following the milk boiling custom and with the presence of cousins we decided to go ahead with their assist on loading and unloading things. I wasn't really prepared to be shifted on 25/5/2013 but I was glad I could make a note about shifting home here in my blog as I expected to be delayed on reconnecting internet. I haven’t packed my things then, thinking that we would come back and it could be done on my supervision but anyhow I didn't miss anything and content with shifting things. Since it was done by my cousins, they know how important some things are and mean to me.

The front part of the home

We had took a wrong decided to shift home at untimed and it seems summer is not a suitable season for shifting home. Apart shifting things under scorching sun, the house we chose have no upper potion exposes to more summer heat and we suffered a lot the first two days at night until A/C is fixed. During day times we don’t feel much hot and with large windows we get plenty of light and fresh air and no room needed a light until dusk surrounds. Each room has two windows and since I could never imagine living in a house without windows, I am glad this house also has enough windows alike the early one and hence this is a corner plot with one road lead to a dead end, there wasn't much vehicle traffic around the home.

We receive sunlight until 6.30 pm inside the house and the street light illuminates the night feels secure. I don’t feel missing the birds here, since arrived I’m hearing to the Kingfisher calls every day similar to the time I used to check the bird perch the flame tree in front of my then home. There are Mynas and Koels as well! I haven’t gone out exploring the neighborhood much and looking for birds but took a small trail on wheel chair other day. This area holds number of wonderful homes and bungalows - one of it called ***** Vilas, looks like a palace and highly secured by (CCTV cameras). Its architecture and door presentations were marvelous!

Coming to the new home, it is a 2 bhk individual house with more than enough space for four of my family to sustain freely. A life-size living room making others envies and the Neem tree in front of the house is a gift on fresh breeze and almost houses in the area have a neem tree in front of their homes. A yellow flowering shrub were also found at many home, and whatever reason may people hold to have the shrub at their front yard I find it so beautiful decorating the houses. We too have a one within our compound yet to rise.

The interior collage of our new home

The last weekend of April followed by home shifting was fun because of gathered cousin and aunt and their helping was a lot reduced the pain of my parents in shifting and arranging things. Apart shifting, we had fun get-together and sharing the happening and happiness of life from our own corners. Playing dice and tasting ice-cream (after very long time) make the moment very enjoyable and cheerful, as well cherish. The environment here was very nice except little hot, while it is summer, I guess almost everyone experience heat wherever they are. Since shifted, life goes at relax pace and I don’t find catching up things at hurry and hooked with book reading and listening music, as I had no internet connection I felt missing the online activity but I believe this brake is needed to look after others. My woke up time also become early after shifted here and I really having good sleep and feel positive and enrich in energy and attitude.

Hope this feeling sustain! It is also good to be back here and reconnected with friends and opening my window on overseas sharing. 

House shifting - close to dream home!

There are many toughest jobs in the world and house shifting is one of the hardest and beyond transporting things, there are certain things need to be addressed alongside the postal address on subscribers, ration card, LPG cylinder, telephone, net… to cause immense trouble. Unlike transporting the home appliances that takes one or two trips to load and unload, the change in address and connections are an unending annoy and tiresome take more than a week or sometime a month to settle. Those who are constantly transferred according to their job placement could well understand the toughness of reconnecting but for the only second time yet to be relocated doesn't matter much though leaving a familiar place and replacing things aren't easy.

image courtesy: google

Yes, we are shifting our house to an adjacent area from the current location in Thiruvanmiyur; Kottivakkam is a suburb included with the Chennai Corporation lately. It’s been more than seven years we shifted from our native home in Adyar to buy an apartment flat in Thiruvanmiyur, esp. for the comfort of mine who found difficult residing in a first floor, now moving to even more comfort  and spacious home. First time we are going to a rental, as well individual house excites me. I know it is not that easy to adjust to a new environment and strange neighborhood but I hope things won’t be different hence we get practice with things will only used to get better.

There wasn't much urge to shift our home, but we go on wanted for an individual home since we get to know there are few available in an area which I have passed many time going to Palavakkam beach. I too wished it would have been nice having a home there when passing that area sometime, how can I miss the chance that comes involuntarily sniffing my mind! Lol But there was also a need to change home for certain reasons that kept troubling from beginning, such as water and parking. Our apartment doesn't have a metro water connection and so far water is only bought through Lorries and filling up the sump once a week.  Because of this situation many house owners had left the apartment to rent somewhere leaving their house to rent.

The apartment has parking facility for only certain houses and when the no-parking residents also park their cars; there is heavy demand for parking space. Since we bought a SUV (Scorpio), we can’t park it inside the parking space allotted for us because the space is only favor for small cars to come in and out. We are forced to park our car only outside the apartment complex and its high annoyance when some other car parked there; we have to wait sometime for them to move away or park somewhere. In the individual house that we are suppose to move within a week troubleshoots both the problems and moreover it has number of favorable things to cheer up life.

It was somehow close to my dream home environment with enough space around the home, enclosed with compound walls and separate gate for covered car parking and a small portico to relax in evening and hustle and bustle free streets. The house is just 700 meters away from the Palavakkam beach and lil far behind the Kottivakkam KFC Restaurant on the eastern side of ECR (East Coast Road), is an easy landmark for anyone visiting us. If you are passing the KFC restaurant, don’t forget to stop by for a sip of coffee at my home :)

We have decided to shift things on weekend following a small milk boiling morning on Thursday, inviting the near ones alone. I especially like this individual house for the open space around the building that supposed to support my interest on gardening. There are already few trees around the house, including heat reducing Neem Tree and flowering shrubs on neighborhood compound, brings hope on inviting more birds and butterflies. I’m sure I’m going to miss my dear kingfisher who I receive every day here, but I still hope I would get more visitors like him there. There are number of tree around that area and I would gladly restart my evening outing in wheel chair without any fear, since the area is calm and free of pollution and vehicle traffic.

I didn't take photos on the house when I checked last week, but once shifted I will be able to post more pictures. Hence shifting I won’t be able to access internet for few days or a week until I reconnected at new house. I will write on things that I gonna badly miss because of shifting home in another post… since this post is extending. Take care and keep away from excess summer heat :)

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.

Pearl

Image courtesy: Flickr

A droplet 

saved inside the heart
of a shelled mollusk.

Hope deliver
like a droplet sparkle
resting on soft petals.

Fabulous
how soft tissues
give birth to strong pearl. 

I’m not interested watching cricket!

This is the statement many look with awe when I say, when they ask me for score for which my replay used to be, ‘I don’t know’! Born and brought up in a country where cricket is the most celebrated sports and holding innumerable cricket fans unlike nowhere in the world, I wonder why cricket doesn't fascinate me even at least. I have played cricket in my childhood days and I used to enjoy batting chances whenever I get, even I don’t withstood more than dozen balls in a match, I feel wonderful every time I gather strength to stroke a ball as much distance I can.  I think I may have lack of patient to go through the matches that run for whole day. Or thought of what I gain watching cricket. But I show interest playing cricket in android device though it last for only few minutes before I get bored.

I am zero when it comes to knowledge about cricket and I know only the names of renowned players and who the captain is. But being a son of ardent cricket fan, I stand far away from my father and used to argue a lot against cricket, and criticize simply for nothing serious. I know he truly enjoys watching cricket and his excitement towards the mishap in match would put anyone at amaze to turn back to check everything is right. Alike my father, my young martial uncle is also a cricket enthusiast and he used to skip anything to just watch cricket. And my grandfather also used to watch cricket, even he has difficult watching TV he hadn't lose interest. But I’m not the only one in my family who doesn't like watching cricket; my late elder uncle never shown interest on cricket and I think my brother as well not interested. 

I truly disappoint with the cricket that played today and I hate the IPL (Indian Premier League) especially. With the discovery of 20/20 cricket matches I think the sport spirit has come down and cricket has become just fun and frolic. I am not against people who love watching as well playing cricket and even I like cricket but not interested that much and crazy unlike make other. For me cricket is just a sport and I don’t like seeing it apart anything… and I think IPL is conducted with phase of money spinning and not encouraged talent in anyway.  There are number of sports to play and not many know Hockey is India’s national game and even known doesn't care about it unless Olympic arrive. The good thing I see about cricket is that unites the nation and there nothing wrong playing cricket. But being crazy is what I don’t like.

Cruising in Periyar Lake

It’s quite amazing cruising at Periyar Lake inside the Periyar National Park in Thekkady, in the Idukki district of Kerala. Cumbum is the nearest town rearing Tamil Nadu just like Kumily for Kerala. The weather was moisture and cool when we arrived at Thekkady one evening and got tickets to enter the park area and reached the Periyar Lake boat landing - a 5 minute drive from Kerala check post. It was the last cruise that supposes to leave landing, but seeing us they delayed the steering of cruise. There weren't ramps leading down to boat landing but with the help of my family I was bore into the cruise shifted to a chair.

It started to drizzle slightly once on board but gladly it hadn't rain until leaving down the hills and the drizzle was stable continue to sooth as well shiver in cold. The cruise passes through thick shoals and grasslands, were one can find gaurs, deer and elephants grazing along. During our cruise, we got to see few bison and deer at only far distance and a crocodile lying on a bank. The cruise lasted for about two hours (4-6 pm) and ours was the large cruise boat with rooftop seating and viewing facility. This cruise can’t get close to bank to watch animals nearby unlike the other medium boats, but it was the only cruise I could board.

There are number of teak trees barely stands in middle of lake allover and only talented drivers could steer boats amid them. One could also find eagle or vulture sometime perching those bare trees. It is also believed Thekkady is derived from the word ‘Thekku’ meaning ‘teak trees’ in the bilingual - Tamil and Malayalam. Located among the low-lying hilly area of Idukki district, Thekkady is one of an important tourist places amongst many flourished throughout Kerala.

Periyar Lake is actually a river called Mullaiperiyar (big mountain river) and the Dam build across this river had created this artificial lake, fabulous in shape amid wild flora and fauna. A tragedy took place in the lake in 2009, losing number of lives to cruise upset, had created great panic among many taking the rides and only after this incident, using of life-jackets spread across many water tourism in India. Besides all, it’s quite pleasure taking a cruise in Periyar lake and exciting to see anything dark and motion on bank. The weather prevail there is awesome since located about 1000 meter above sea level, the best time to visit was post monsoon, when water level is height.

Depressed yet impressed

Image courtesy: flickr

வலியை தாங்கிடு மனிதா 

வாழ்கையில் இதுவும் ஒரு படி புரிதா?

கல்லும் மண்ணும் காலுக்கு புதிதல்ல
பாதையை நடந்து கடத்திடு மனிதா.

ரத்தம் உறைய உறைய குளிரும் 

அட்டை வலியில்லாமல்  உறியும் 

அச்சம்  என்றும் நிறைந்த உள்ளம் 

மௌன புன்னகைக்குள் மறையும்.

Bear the pain man
understand this is also a step in life?
Stones and sands aren't new to foot
man, walk past the path.

Cold freeze freezing blood
leech sucks without pain,
fear filled mind always
hide inside silent smile.

P.S.

These phrases come to mind by 3 am, while I deeply distressed. But I don’t want to reveal what caused me so depressed at that mid night time. I had touched emotional core many a time during night, only the darkness could witness the silent war.