Friday, September 26, 2014

A pretty dry flower

Pretty dry flower

A button rose, that gone dry at the flower pot… result of having no mind the pluck the flower. Since it’s a rose plant bought from a nursery, it couldn't thrive after certain level and only the buds that were left while bough the plant bloomed. 
 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Ai (I) Audio

The hypes are something normal when it comes to big personalities in film and music industries. But many a time it doesn’t stand up to its faith. And anticipations are high normal when an enormous budget film is on news, comprising people renowned for their grandeur in filmdom. “Ai” has been in progress for a long time in filmmaking, under a budget which is ever so high in Tamil film industry. Don’t anyone will wonder, what would there be in a film to cost so much?  Yet, the film hadn’t released (but I hope it suppose to be terrific), the audio is out last week, witnessing the Hollywood and Kollywood superstars – Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rajini Kanth. 

The film has actors in best, Vikram, and Emy Jackson of Madrasapattinam; and directed by ace director Shanker and music by Oscar winner AR. Rahman. Shanker films always spoke for songs and his way of shooting is something unique and quite impressive. With ARR music they transport us to a difference world! Though the audio of Ai is released, I couldn’t go completely denying the album despite being disappointed with the songs composed which perhaps could go well on movie front or the film needed so, but I don’t feel content with the way it was loaded. It was an album blended with various genre of music. 

Let me go first with my favorite in the album, Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal. The song is penned very simple, yet rendered beautiful in the soothing voices of Haricharan and Shreya Ghoshal. The lyric by Karky has really done justice to the song by relating the title Ai so well. Simply love the song.

On the line of melody, following Pookkalae, Ennodu Nee Irundhaal is a song with romantic feels thought it sounds like singing on path of pain and craving to unite. Among the two versions of the same, the reprise sung by Chinmayi and Sid Sriram was very pleasant and moderate at flow rather the other version that feels lag between the rhyme and rhythm.

Ladio is very stylish song defines the beauty of a perfect lady, and according to Karky’s lyrics the number 32 22 32 seems to be perfect.  The song sounds like an intro to the gorgeous Emy in the film.  Initially it felt like listening to a pop number from a popular English album, but slowly feels familiar as I find it sound similar to Irumbile oru Idhaiyam from Enthiran. Nikita Gandhi has a sexy tone and she emits words like delicate tidbits.

Mersalayitten is a fast track and in company of Neeti Mohan, the soup boy Anirudh has given voice a man who seems mesmerized (what “Meral” sounds like) meeting a most beautiful woman (of course who other than Emy) and sings a song with words he was familiar. Kabilan has written lyrics (in fun mode) giving emphasis to the local madras Tamil, which sure to strike across chennaities. I find my bro have this song as his ringtone.

Aila Aila sounds like a sort of stage play and Natalie Di Luccio gives a rustic voice, which seems to provoke agitation, as well something unpredictable astonishment. This is something offbeat to Tamil audience.  But great attempt by ARR, which isn’t new for him. 

Ai (I) Trailor: 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

முத்தம் / Kiss

தித்திக்கும் ஓர்  தமிழ் வார்த்தை
சொல்லும்பொழுதே உதடுகள் ஒட்டிக்கொள்ளும்
இதைவிட உதாரணம் வேறென்ன வேண்டும்!

காதலுக்கு அழுத்தம் சேர்க்கும் சொல்
கரு முதல் கல்லறை வரை
முத்தம், அன்புக்குரிய முத்திரை! 

A yummy word in Tamil
spelling itself adhere the lips
what example could be higher than this.

A word that adds emphasis to love;
from the womb to the grave
kissing, a label of beloved. 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Sunday Photo: A shepherd

A shepherd

Shot from the  slow moving car on the way to Avalanche Dam, near Ooty

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Life along with Maya

Though she is seven years old, Maya remains to be a child for every one of us and even for those visitors. Maya, our pet dog, has undergone a hysterectomy surgery a day before yesterday as she suffered from serious infection in uterus, we decided to let her some relief and remedy to lead further ease. We had two options then: one was to let her deliver some pups or go for a surgical removal of uterus. Though we had space outside the living home to let her breed, taking care of things mattered much and been (she) ever stayed out of certain seemed practically impossible.  So we went for the other, and she is showing very positive note on recovery within a day of surgery and   hope to see her back in normal attitude at a week’s end.

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She never stayed away from us in the last seven years, and we had left her at home at only fewer occasions of traveling that too in charge of my brother. She spent two days and a night at the veterinary clinic and we heard that she was very quiet throughout the process and responded so well post surgery. We were so surprise towards her behavior, which perhaps because of fear and the new environment with other dogs (barking) around she couldn’t do anything rather accept whatever happens. Though it is not our intention to threaten her like this, certainly it gives a guilty feeling as we well know her attitude; it perhaps could have got her hell feeling. That’s what could be the reason for her to show dull feeling toward us and not responding quickly like before.

Maya is a very sensitive dog and allows no one to touch her unless she’s familiar with that person.  Being an untrained dog (and coming from a branch of wolf family), she is very aggressive toward strangers but once she smelt there fragrance she won’t do anything unless they take advantage and will also behave friendly if she likes them.  And if not, she maintain a distance and also ignore them rather inquire like other. Although she shows affection and love, she is very protective on family members, esp. she has a special care for me and allows no unfamiliar person to touch me or thing related to me in front of her.

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Lhasa Apso is the name of her breed, which originate to Tibet and so has the name of the capital city of Tibet, Lahasa, and Apso is a word meaning bearded or long-haired in their language. Maya too would have flourishing hair if we allowed her to grow, but due to maintenance and hair falling we make certain cutting her hair after a period of time. Actually it is a dog not belong to hot weather conditions like Chennai, since inherent an ability to withstand bitterly cold winter of the Himalayas they have trouble with summer heat. We had no idea of rearing a dog, but it’s my brother who brought her home against all our wishes and being adamant to give up, made her life into ours.

Rearing dogs are not a bad intention and I have no different thought on it, but not everyone could afford a pup. There are certain things that need to give hand and rearing dogs is a burden for people who are already exercising enough. For a person’s desire, is it right to leave a whole family to suffer? If someone loves to have a pet, they have to be certain about their adequate and should never ignore their responsibility just because they brought it to home and things will happen on its own. Apart sparing time to take care on their (dogs) needs, the most difficult thing about rearing pets was if anything goes wrong with them we can’t tolerate easily. I think just having a kind heart isn’t enough to accept a pet, but need a very brave heart to withstand vibrations that went wrong with them. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

A lighthearted moment with DI

Usually we go to a destination, but will you believe me if I say a destination came in search of me? J But you have to, because, it happened to me. Such incredible will happen only with people like us, who are challenged or differently abled. Hehehe… But one small correction in this term is, the destination is not a place but a person called Destination Infinity! Shortly referred as DI, is the identity of this blogger in blogosphere. 

Usually we invite someone into our house from being inside. But for a change, he invited me with a charming smile sitting inside our home, as I came little late while back on a ride on ECR. Though coming back from the same, with a different destination, he was on time at home. But well knowing about his visit, I decided to make a quick hop on and off on ECR. Glad I didn't miss the opportunity as I assured our meeting and it was a moment I could cherish for very long time.

I wasn’t certain will I meet him in person until that day. But I was quite amazed when I saw his mail that enquires the opportunity of meeting me at home that evening. I would have easily missed this chance if I haven’t login my Gmail on Sunday and went on my way leisure on ECR. I know Rajesh for a long time and came to visit his pages through fellow blogger Rakesh’s blog. Initially I showed interest on his posts on places of interest, but gradually stared to follow his every post as I find it simple yet interesting. Though it a personal blog, his way of writing sounds professional… perhaps because he also make blogging as his profession with another blog.

Apart scrolling back his personal diaries, he is a brilliant writer on short stories and reviewing books and movies. He also lately established himself as a published (self) novelist. The Archers Revenge (his book) is a very interesting crime fiction set in India. He is a wonderful event manager, as he covers many events happening in and around Chennai through his blog. We share a similar passion for blogging, which I think made us quite travel by blogosphere.

I was happy meeting him and it was a lighthearted moment, and I think he also felt the same. Our conversation was almost around blogging, places of interest and traveling. I too learn something about him and the meeting was a great transformation on the perception I got on him. To be frank, I thought he must be someone uncertain talking about, but I saw an amusement guy in him, who giggles and shows great conscious about things. More than happiness it was a feel pride moment meeting you DI! Thank you so much J

Saturday, September 13, 2014

A glance @ Kasimedu Fishing Harbor

A boat arrives @ Kasimedu Fishing harbor
A fishing boat arrives at harbor
Few Sundays back I had been to Kasimedu in north Chennai, but I couldn't make into the fishing harbor (one of the major fishing grounds for catching fishes in Chennai) which I have done twice long back. The Ennore High Road was pretty much busy even being Sunday, the containers kept moving in and out of the Chennai Port (which seems active 24/7), forced us to take U-turn at the entry level of the harbor since we don’t want to take risk of getting struck with those heavy duty trucks.

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A ship anchored at mid-sea, seen beyond the pretty  neat harbor pier
When I was back in 2004 (a month ahead to Tsunami attack, which sent great destruction towards the fishing harbor) the road had been so empty and we managed to drive till the end of Ennore High Rd that leads up to Thazankuppam, a fishing hamlet. The road travels almost close to sea, experience wonderful splashes of water as waves crash the rocks and concrete blocks that make seawall. It was great excitement then, when we were allowed driving into the concrete fishing pier that surrounds the harbor, and got the opportunity to see boats enter and exit as we come to halt at the mouth of the harbor.

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Boat building and mending yard
Boat Number
A boat number

The Kasimedu fishing harbor located north of Chennai Port (under the administrative of same) is also facilitate of building fishing boats, and the harbor has a capacity to handle about 575 fishing craft, is used by over 1300 boats. Renowned as a retail fish market, Kasimedu has 90 stalls located within the fishing harbor complex adjacent to the auction shed. On the day of our visit, and due to some work going within the harbor pier couldn't make us drive into and the police had also made some block preventing vehicles.  But somehow managed to get some pictures shot from the Ennore High Rd, which u see here.

Crane @ Chennai Port
This photo was shot from the Royapuram flyover, overlooking the Chennai Port (container terminal) and what you see there was one of the huge cranes that transfer containers. Actually it was on the move while shot this picture and it makes siren sound as it progress. 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Thandikudi – A place where I felt quite tranquil!

Nestle amid the mountains of Palani Hills, at a range of about 1500m on the Western Ghats; Thandikudi is a pretty small village encompassed by coffee plantations, dense forest and mountain peaks keep it always cool and comfort weather to stay forever. I was so glad exploring this place last summer in June (2013) and the most fascinating thing I find there was bird watching. Though, Thandikudi is famous for Murugan Temple, coffee plantations and archaeological significant site, where Pre-Iron age burials are found. The pleasant weather and quite calm environment (where melodies of birds resonate) was something I never used before and deserves peace at best.

Thandikudi
Panoramic view on the Thandikudi village
Thandikudi is about 45 km northeast of Vathalagundu in the lower Palani Hills in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The village is on half the mountains of Kodakanal, hence named as half Kodai, was reached partially driving on the Kodaikanal Ghat Rd and then take right near Ooothu and drive past Pannaikadu. Thandikudi is about 10 km from there. Though there are also alternate routes via Palani and Oddanchatram, apart Pattiveeranpatti which I preferred during my course of travel, since I sought for a change, this road comes as an isolate, fresh and traffic free unlike Kodaikanal Rd. It’s a pleasure on its own driving past dense forest and coffee plantations with few mountain villages making mild voices amid the chirping of birds.

Thandikudi,  a close-up at the village
Close-up on the village residence 
We reached Thandikudi in the evening, since began to climb the hill between 4-5pm driving all the way from Chennai. It started to drizzle slightly as soon we are on the narrow mountain road, and looking down the plains was then a sight of active rainstorms playing on the ground. Past Dindigul, the weather has been stormy making it only more exciting. We made a leisure drive across the winding ghats, just being cautious at the occasional opponents since the road is sufficient only for a vehicle to pass at a moment. The slightly wet condition then made pretty cool as the elevation rises slowly, we stop at the Mangalamkombu, a small village near Thandikudi, to pick a person who booked rooms for us at the Panchayat Kudils (concrete huts) for accommodation. 

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Mountains of Palani
Derived from the belief of people here that during the fight with monster Idumban, Lord Muruga jumped over the hill to reach Palani and thus obtained the name “Thandikudi”, which is a two, conjoined Tamil words meaning “cross-jump”. According to an archaeological survey, there’s one more reason to call it Thandikudi. The Kulasekhara Pandya inscription issued during the 12th regnal year (1280 AD) records this village as Tanrikudi. Where “Tanri” is a variety of tree (termenalia bellarica) famous for its medicinal value and found in abundance in this region and “Kudi” means a clan based settlement. The archaeological survey also suggests that the site lies in a perfect ecological background, which helped to occupy continuously for more than 3,500 years.

Green Coffee Beans
Coffee beans at Thandikudi
Thandikudi is a coffee hub, where the famous Leo Coffee brought their base there. The central government has also established a Regional Coffee Research Station (the sole kind across the state) there in aim of evolving suitable practices for the cultivation of coffee, since this areas come under the North-East monsoon influence with low rainfall and hence require set of package for cultivation. The Panchayat run cottages or huts (made of concrete) had also built their premises among the coffee plantations and canopy of trees provides quiet environment and enrich with birds sighting. Black pepper, orange and jack-fruits where also among the plantations thrive aside coffee in Thandikudi, the silver oaks too rooted strong base abundantly across the mountains.

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A screen of silver oaks
Thought Thandikudi is not a tourist destination, it too has places at receiving end. Except for the Balamurugan temple and certain view points (that come along roadsides) which we covered during our sightseeing, most of the places are pedestrian based or hiking. Although we managed to cover the area within a day, I still believe there’s much to experience and enjoy through personal exist. The Thandikudi chapter doesn't end here, but there will be more come into the blog through some other pretty posts. 

Sunday, September 07, 2014

Sunday Photos: Bowl of Flowers

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Being Onam today, I thought of sharing some photos on our flowers bowl… since Onam is a festival related with floral designs, called Pookalam, here is my mom’s arrangement of flowers on the bronze bowl filled with water.

Bowl of Flowers @ Home
These pictures where shot last year, while staying at our apartment house.  

Bronze Bowl of Flowers

Friday, September 05, 2014

Reflection of lights

image courtesy: google
A serial light-effect on my windshield;
expose to sodium lights
the droplets glitter and gleam in front of me.


The vibration of the vehicle, recreates
various designs as we cruise,
turn, overtake and drove on potholes.

There’s an artistic effect on every move;
 with constant drizzle all the way
a lightshow performed lively on my windshield. 

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Irumbu Kuthirai – Unfit to Run

It was another thunderstorm rain in Chennai last evening and night. I was almost out got ready to visit drive-in for a Tamil feature film Irumbu Kuthirai (Iron Horse) and looked at the sky and it was almost pretty dark with clouds glooming around. As expected it performed so well, and interrupted greatly on movie watching. Though it doesn't matter literally, the real disappointment was already waited for us abundantly being a damn blunt movie. The lightning was spectacular, as we watching the screen fluorescent cracks flashed across the sky were striking much than the flicker.

The AGS entertainment has produced number of quality films in past, but this is something out with great disappointment. I wonder how they decided to produce a film with nothing worthwhile to watch and quite boring rather being really racy apt to the title – iron horse – the film can’t even fit into a wood or paper horse. It lost to felt majestic! An effective camera work has gone nil due to lack of on-screen present and emotions. Having a super martial artist (Dong Lee alias Johnny Tri Nguyen) and reality bike racer (Alisha Abdhullah, India’s only female bike racer), the film couldn't live up to its action genre.

Atharvaa is a young bike racer, who stopped driving bikes after he lost his father in a bike accident but due to her mother’s (Devadarshini) force, he took job as a part-time pizza delivery boy so that she thought he regains inspiration for biking. Being a strictly follower of rules, he always makes free delivery as he couldn't be on time but things chance once he met his girlfriend (Priya Anand), who has been so passion about bikes put him back on track (I mean a jolly ride on ECR). Thus he encounters speed bikers who kick him out of bike and took away his girlfriend as hostage. Now standing at an intersection, how he reclaims his girlfriend and what their intention, remains. But there’s nothing to anticipate different!

Atharvaa looks handsome and perfect in physique attaining six-packs, doesn't have much chance to exhibit his ability, though being an action movie it was very limited.  Priya Anand is a lovely lady to romance; though Atharvaa come closer there is something miss fell. Lakshmi Rai acted as his friend. But a report says both the heroines were at conflict whose photo should appear on the ads, for a movie where there part wasn't interesting. The films greatest speed brakes are the songs, dragging along the surface. Wished the film was quite action, but it lags romance and superficial. The film could turn into a messenger if they let the hero die at the climax with a footnote: speed thrills but kills!  

Monday, September 01, 2014

A cute teaser

I frequently come across the teaser of the Tamil film Megha in television recently and I couldn’t avoid looking at it every time flashed on the screen. Though it seems like a romantic film, since the picture has a handsome hero and pretty cute heroine… the title (a female name) itself reveals the film perhaps centers a girl called Megha. But I couldn’t stop watching the ad, as it makes glimpses out of beautiful shots and romance between the pair esp. the girl’s presence admire watching. Not to forget the film’s music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraja enhances the beauty so well in the teaser.


From a small Google search I come to know the heroin’s name was Srushti Dange and she’s a model turned actress. I also realized that I have admired her already through an ad which I couldn’t recollect well now, but her cute dimple and sweet smile has something magic to captivate. Isn’t it?  She is someone so pretty and lovely, to become a dream girl ;)  

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Ganesha (clay) Idol @ Home

Ganesha is a celebrated idol in India and Vinayakar Chaturthi is one of the grand festivals celebrated here on the belief of Ganesha’s Birthday. Despite being an atheist, Ganesha Idols are my favorites from childhood and I had been an ardent of Ganesha when I wasn't conscious about my belief, but I still like the idols of Ganesha that comes out in various and unique shapes. I know a friend in Flickr who has been a passionate collector of Ganesha idols and every year he used to arrange Golu (display of dolls) from the huge collection of Ganesha idols he had been collecting for years. Take a look at his Golu set (here) to wonder how huge is collection of Ganesha idols.

Ganesha (clay) Idol @ Home
Above (and beneath) is the picture of a clay Ganesha idol we bought for the festival at home. Parents purchased the idol a day before to the festival and placed under the Puja cupboard. We made vada, sweet pongal and chickpeas along with usual meals, and I spent most of the day watching special movies on television.

Ganesha Clay Idol @ Home
Mom has decided to dissolve the clay idol into a bucket or tub water tomorrow, which we have been practicing for past half a decade, instead dropping the idol at sea or river. The dissolved clay water is later watered to the plants. It is also believed the idol must be immersed at the end of the day of worship or three days later from then. 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

My White Window

Window, how mesmerizing and breezy it used to be! I believe windows are an essential factor of a house. It’s a crucial player in bringing the ventilation inside our home, to make breathe easy and versatile sight to cheers. I couldn't think living in a house without windows and I strongly believe life begins only outside the windows. I think not many could understand the wealth of windows like the author of My White Window and me – who spent days almost inside the house. Window means a lot to me.

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A cottage window at Kodaikanal
The windows are not meant the only ones at our homes. Every building installed windows in various shapes and frame work but the view we get were almost enchanting. I realize the worth of windows and I really want to mention something that made me felt the pulse of windows. During my course of war over lungs infection in early 2010, I was supposed to visit a lung specialist frequently related to my treatment and his clinic was on the 2nd floor of a building that we reach by a lift. He was a mid-aged doctor and kind being towards not only patient but everyone; and he treats with due care and concern which I haven't seen with any other doctors. Though every doctor treats patients to be cured, I saw something special in his way of approach and patience but not a bit of laziness or wearisome.

The doctor room was well equipped including desktop computer and split A/C to check patients at his own comfort level; but he chose the nature way of ventilation though wide open windows. Being a lung specialist, no one could understand the importance of breathing and which is healthy inhaling unlike him who prefer to open air windows rather switched on to A/C.  Through the entire visits to his clinic I saw him leaving the windows open, perhaps being on 2nd floor he might doing so I thought, but he follows the same at his resident come clinic at ground level. He also advised me to stay where I could get good ventilation. And if not the windows what can provide us such relief; and I’m also a kind, unroll the glasses whenever possible or elsewhere no pollution or heat occupy the space while on travel in car.

I know cities aren't a safe zone to seek fresh air, but we aren't lost with oxygen is a consoling fact.

Through window I see a world right opposite to my life inside the home. I don't envy at birds flying in the sky and butterflies fluttering in stunning coated wings, but I enjoy bearing fresh breeze on my face, the fragrance of flowering and chirrup of birds and crunching leaves. Well I can't explain much how heartwarming and pleasure looking through windows, a zone not so comfort like being at home. But I still and ever want to go outside exploring the glimpses I catch via windows.

There are two windows that connect me outside home: other than the one which inspires me often through the sights, sound and sense of breeze that caught behind the window bars, the Microsoft windows of my PC helps communicate the message I got through motion scenes and emotional core. Both these windows lead me to a world of wisdom. I cherish and console me through various grief and emotions that I experience in everyday dilute of life.

Enlighten Window
Footnote:

Other day while chatting, the sweet Preeti asked me to write a guest post on her blog. But for some unknown reason she’s could post it, so I make it way through my blog. I know Preetilata for long time through blog and she writes from deep heart and sometime lighter moments as cheerful. She’s one of a sweetest girl I ever know on earth and her blog (My White Window), is a best outlook for any writer and inspiration to come up with a post on windows. As she began a happy married life, I wish her all the best.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Surprise Smile

image courtesy: google
She smiled from her heart
I guess, as it wasn't planned;
a cutest encounter
while she left the house
in the morning rush hours.

Though she closed the doors,
eyes behold at the doorstep
whether she turns back
with another surprise smile,
a flash that conveys quite comfort.

They says, but not only that
a photo speaks thou words
a quiet smile expresses like feeling;
though she smiled casually
it made my day ahead cheerful.

That’s one wide smile; despite
enhancing her beautiful aspect
furthered our relationship
which has been lately conveyed
as brother and sister. 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Sunday Photo: Austin Classic

Austin classic
Shot at a heritage rally on vintage cars, couple of years back held at the VGP Golden Beach parking lot on ECR.

Austin Classic

Friday, August 22, 2014

Happy Birthday Chennai

Our city celebrates 375th year of establishment today… here I share a couple of photos on one of the city’s oldest bridges, Napier Bridge.

Happy Birthday Chennai (Napier Bridge)
Also known as Iron Bridge was built in 1869 by Francis Napier, who was then Governor of Madras. The bridge was constructed over the Cooum River, connecting Fort St. George with the Marina Beach. Although the bridge was narrow before, it was soon converted to a concrete structure in 1943 by Arthur Hope.

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funny to see buffaloes across the bridge
Alongside the old bridge, a new one was built in 1999 with a 10.5 meter-wide carriageway on the western side. The bridge is 138 meter long with 6 spans (bowstrings) across the river near the mouth. As part of the Marina Beach beautification, special lights have been fixtures beneath and on the arches and surface of the bridge, provides visual effect during night times. This architectural marvel stands tall and proud, making it one of the most significant landmarks in the city.
 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Life along with monkeys

My place of residence in Adyar, Chennai, has lot of monkeys! Since my native is Adyar, we transferred to the neighborhood area (buying a ground floor flat, 8 years back) to prevent difficulty of climbing up and down to the first floor home there. Now shifted back to Adyar for the last 5 months, mainly because of the emotional attachment my father hold towards this area and having been grown myself for more than 20 years here, he is more than three decades ahead of me. Though we couldn’t go back to our native home - which remained to be first and second floors since my uncle runs a workshop at ground floor -  we had rented a house close to ours, therefore my dad don’t need to wander between the neighborhoods.

A monkey on our fence
a monkey on the fence (click any pics for enlarge)
I have seen monkeys (bonnet macaque) in my area even before shifted to neighborhood, though I had no idea about them until transferred back to Adyar. I not even thought that I would be back here like a bounced ball, but taking years to respond. For me where I reside becomes second, because I have come to believe that I don’t belong to one place. My intention was comfort and peace, and I am always open to experience new environment and ready to adapt anyplace with basic infrastructures. I dream of living in suburbs, where pollution and noise were at least. That too driven towards the southern districts rather closes to Chennai.

The monkeys here aren’t much troublesome, though they make their presence noticeable. At the rear of our house, canopy of trees (mostly large) sprawls for few hundred meters provides wonderful shelter to the monkeys from very young to aged. Also being very close to Adyar Theosophical Society and Besant Garden, which are very few patches of green across Chennai, adjacently, gives way to forest environment including number of rare flora and fauna. I’m really not sure these monkeys reside among the canopy of trees at the backyard, because they don’t make their way everyday across us. But few houses away from us used to make mild explosions sometime, which we come to know through our servant maid that they blast crackers to drive away the annoying monkeys.

Senior
a monkey perched on our staircase handrail
Mostly they come as a group or family, sitting here and there, climbing up and down and leaping through the branches of trees. But they don’t stay long into our sight, as they keep moving like nomads. There are even huge monkeys (perhaps obese) among them, which could scare anybody with their looks. Before I go ahead continue with monkey stories, I need to say my house has inbuilt something pre-cautiously to prevent monkeys entering or looting things leaving its hands through the windows grills. Or perhaps through their early experience with monkeys annoyance, the owners of the house has made additional frames of net to the existing windows, so that we could open the windows without fear of monkeys.

But the windows in the hall doesn’t have this facility, so monkeys have attempted few times entering our house and also succeeded, which we haven’t know until one night dad wake up to see a monkey sitting on my bro’s helmet left on the sofa. Once saw him it leaped through the windows but certainly scared my dad who didn’t expect a monkey sitting on our sofa, that too at mid-night. We were blaming the cats other day for coming into house and drink the milk left at the dining table. But through this attempt we confirmed it was the monkey, and not the cat. Few days back I read news in paper, that a monkey has been constantly attacking an apartment in the neighborhood and its main intention was drinking milk from the milk packets that dropped at every doorstep in early morning. Before the households collect the milk packets, the monkey empty those and also become so obese because of drinking only milk! Lol

A huge monkey
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall
A monkey here also tried to scare me once, when I was alone. I working on my laptop other day and suspect something leaps off the window before I saw it clearly. But our pet, which was sleeping near my wheelchair, alerted me by suddenly barking at the window. Initially I too thought it must be a cat, but following the incident above it sounds certainly to be a monkey. Our pet haven’t seen monkeys often, so she kept barking every time they come around and also become crazy to chase them. My mom was plucking flowers one evening (from daily jasmine vine), which has become her daily activity after shifted here, a monkey came waking on the compound wall threatened her thinking she’s having something eatable in her bowl, which she use for collecting flowers. Though it doesn't do anything, she left the bowl on the wall and moved away and it passed as well.

So far the monkeys hadn't been a trouble for us; but it is fun something watching their activities and also provides opportunity to conduct photo shoot on them. The huge ones make wonder through their appearance and they aren't active and fun making like the young and middle once. I leave the post with a small collage on the monkeys fun below, shot at various moments! Thank you 
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Sunday, August 17, 2014

Sunday Photo: Gate

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A wood planked gate of one of my neighbors… actually it is a gate of a construction office situated on our house lane, opposite to our side entrance. 

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