Travel Jottings

North East Crafts Fair

2011-11-29T22:31:00.000-08:00

Here are images from a fair at Thiruvananthapuram. The items on sale originate from the North-Eastern states of India (called Seven sisters).

Cruising by Houseboat on the Ashtamudi Lake

2011-08-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

A 22 hour cruise by houseboat is something like what the doctors don't order these days. No TV. Simply ruminate while looking around at water, breeze, greenery and permanent lake-residents. I would prescribe it freely to anyone who considers time as being ever more valuable than money. It was a two-room houseboat, with an open sitting area. For day trips the boat could easily accommodate and cater to a group of 20. Here are views of Ashtamudi Lake and views from the houseboat. I wish I could share hundreds more!

Being vegetarians, we were treated to an extra-sumptuous feast soon after boarding. As many as six different vegetable preparations accompanied the typical Kerala sadya-like lunch. Dinner was simple roti-vegetables, and breakfast was a favourite - idiappam and vegetable stew. Rather reluctantly we disembarked to enable the noses to get back to the respective grindstones. Off season rate for the 22-hour cruise is Rs 8500/ (includes a 2-hour long mini-boat cruise along narrow canals, where you get a chance to see the life thriving by the canal-sides).
Our son had a go at the helm- was he thrilled!
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Creepy Crawlies

2011-08-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, I saw this millipede variety for the first time ever. (I had only a key to show relative size)
This one is a more common neighbour.
I await expert's identification!

Updates from the Jackfruit Festival in Trivandrum

2011-08-06T04:08:00.000-07:00

Have a look at the variety of products that you can get from jackfruit.

Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Trivandrum

2011-07-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

Have a look at pictures from a recent visit to this temple in Kerala.
The temple is in the news for the riches being discovered within.

Have a look at plenty of beautiful worlds

Compulsions of urban livelihoods - Part 2

2011-06-03T18:23:00.001-07:00

A different city, different species of birds. Note the materials used by this urban resident. He has certainly made use of locally available stuff!
Where- the terrace of a residence in Hyderabad.
Is everything ready?
The nursery
Babies secure and cared for...

A spotted dove also chose the same house to make her home. She preferred the niche on top of the desert cooler placed outside the window. Her kids are secure too!

Watching Kathakali Live!

2011-05-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Between January and May, you can witness temple festivals galore in the state of Kerala. In the first week of May, we got to see the week-long festivities of the Nambikkal SreeKrishna Swamy temple in Cheruvukkal, North West Trivandrum, the capital city. Here are glimpses from the last day's cultural show of Kathakali one of the richest forms of traditional dances of India. Look up the entire Kathakali repertoire.

See how the make-up man carries out his task - one could watch for hours!

Look up different worlds here.

Dog-on-warmth

2011-02-21T00:49:00.000-08:00

Good ol' Brownie is making use of the available 'heat' on a cold February morning.

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Of human-animal bondage!

2010-11-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

Wherever we are posted, stray animals find their way home, so much so - that "dogs and cats are fond of him" better describes my life partner rather than "yes, he's fond of all non-humans."
In an earlier location, a cat adopted the house, and we were simply co-habitants that she happily put up with. (Please read Kittens in my cupboard and More kittens in more cupboards when you find the time).
Here in Delhi, Blacky strayed into our porch, and has stayed there since. And one day brought Browny along. I am not fond of pets as such, (though James Herriot and Gerald Durrell are a couple of my favourite writers) - but I can see who, and what makes husband and son happy!
Other campus residents complained, and we have had to call the MCD's (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) 'Aawaaraa kuthaa' squad. But well, that's a Government Department after all, so B&B are spared yet.
I feel guilty of calling them strays - they are lovable companions, now made cozy for winter in the garage (you see Blacky was ready to litter in more ways that one, probably courtesy Browny) and getting branded nutrition supplementary to homely vegetarian meals (Rice/bread well mixed with milk, fresh curd, ghee, cheese / combinations thereof, tasted, then passed for canine consumption. Perhaps most pet-owners do this, it's possible that I have witnessed only these stray-pet-caretakers!).
It's been about 4+ months now. Browny seems smarter than sedate Blacky. When he reaches the bottom of his bowl, he makes it stay using a paw, then licks the bowl clean. Blacky moves along with her bowl, unless one of us is around to hold it in place for her. Something else we thought unusual - Browny has 2 dew claws in his hind legs.
**********************************************************************************
Blacky has since delivered - she found a very safe place, rather ingenious we thought (she dug a comfortable hole under a huge discarded cable spool, about 50 feet from our lawn).
We could guess, because she didn't turn up that day, or the next.
What was new to me was Browny's self-styled sentry post. (we are still not sure that he's sired the litter). He stands, sits or sleeps guard very near the nursery - constantly.
We placed Blacky's feed very near her den for a couple of days. Since Thursday, she has been knocking (read clamouring like a pack of hungry kids) for her meal, taking precisely 90 seconds to leave the den, gobble up, and rush back before she's missed.
God's creatures, all of us....
The proud mother
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Compulsions of urban livelihoods

2010-08-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

City dwelling mynahs probably adapt themselves in myriad ways to their surroundings. After all, trees and shrubs are hard to come by in concrete jungles. Here is how two different families have settled in a bustling highway. Family One - our immediate neighbours - have a small dwelling, and the address line 1 reads - Telephone Post No 2, Road No 220 North.

Family One's distant cousins have a cozy apartment a few kilometres away, in an underpass below a railway line. You can see that they have plenty of neighbours, and there are plenty more apartments yet to be let out. If you were writing to them, use this address - Apt # B322, Bijwasan Underpass, Ring Road.

Plenty of bird baths placed by concerned members of a different species make their days that much easier.
As you can see, we had dropped by, and Ms Mynah wouldn't let us get a word in edgeways.
You may like to visit one of our other neighbours. We have since moved.
Now that you have visited them, take time off to visit other worlds
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Photo contest of North East India

2010-07-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

Beautiful tropical countryside - see entries for the contest.
Funny
Culture
Faces
Greenest

Welcome to the North East of India's unique states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland. That's just a peek into
Enjoy other glimpses here.

Okras, nice and extra-long lady's fingers

2010-06-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Local variety of okras from South India bigger than the varieties one finds in supermarkets. (This lot measure between 9 and 10 inches)

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Views from the Taj Mahal

2010-03-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

That marble mausoleum is likely one of the most photographed structures world over, and deservingly so. Here are views as seen from that world wonder... the River Yamuna, and a few souls that depend on the river

Some more unusual views -

Love your world, and appreciate plenty of other lovable worlds!

A temple for Sant Surdas

2010-03-01T03:49:00.000-08:00

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision"

(Helen Keller)

You would know absolute peace, were you to visit this temple for the sightless 15th century poet Sant Surdas. His life story makes humbling reading. Very aptly, a school for the blind is co-located with this monument for the saint.The poet-saint is said to have composed 100,000 songs on Lord Krishna. Listen to one of the 8,000 existing devotional lyrics -
Recently, after we came across the adaptations of the Braille script for other languages, we participated in making this school project (associated with a lesson on Helen Keller) - it shows a few letters of the Devanagari script as depicted in Braille. I closed my eyes to try to make out the letters - but failed. Pre-formed mental images were poor assistants to overcome the challenge. My salutations to Sant Surdas, Helen Keller and my grandmother.

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Resident Black Buck at Sikandra

2010-02-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Black buck in the lawns of Sikandra Fort (tomb of Emperor Akbar), Agra. The lawns are thankfully out of bounds for us humans.

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Drive out of the maddening city is definitely worth it,

2010-02-22T05:02:00.000-08:00

...won't you agree? - finding yourself by this lakeside,...,...with the right patch of green, ...... and with some very pleasant company, ......watching the tree-tops, sunlight filtering through the foliage, ...... and the crescent moon making an early appearance in the clearest of true blue skies, ...... yes, definitely worth it!
Where? - Keetham Lake within Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Agra, which also houses the restricted and protected Agra Bear Rescue Facility
Visit plenty of worthy worlds here

Glimpses from Surajkund Crafts Mela 2010 - 1

2010-02-08T04:12:00.001-08:00

Isn't that rich! Finest offerings of India's multilingual, multicultural, pluralistic richness from 29 states and 6 Union Territories are all on display and sale for a fortnight at the Surajkund Crafts Mela.
Hay, straw, jute, metal, textiles, clay, paper mache, paper, wood, porcelain, bamboo - that's the variety of material used by artistic hands to produce thousands of articles ranging from small keychains to solid furniture. Applique lampshade (Orissa)
Hay portrait (Kerala)
Pottery (Khurja, Uttar Pradesh)
Wooden Sculptures (Tamil Nadu)

Tanjore Paintings (Tamil Nadu)
There were stalls from a few neighbouring countries - Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Gross National Happiness! - Bhutan's stall
Tajikistan's ware
The carpet-seller from Afghanistan
Masks, Batik designs and coconut shell carvings from Sri Lanka
We wandered around taking in the sights, and came content away with pleasant memories and stuffed pixels.
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Iron Pillar and Qutub Minar

2010-02-01T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Qutub Minar and the Iron Pillar, with a Jain temple re-used pillar in the foreground
For a walk back in time, stroll at leisure anywhere within the Qutub complex in Delhi. The complex initially housed 27 Hindu and Jain temples; which were destroyed to give way to victorious armies' monuments. The Iron Pillar dates from the 5th cenury CE, or even earlier.
Intricate carvings
... and disfigured sculpturesThe tallest brick minaret in the world...
Practical history lessons!
My takeaway from our visit? The impression that this country has always granted all that every visitor demanded of her, even if the intentions were malafide - just like this tree at the entrance to the complex. A contented neem that lives and lets live umpteen other species under it - like Bharatvarsh (India) will ever continue to do...
Visit many more wonderful worlds...

Sanskriti Museum of Terracotta

2010-01-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

Sanskriti Foundation's Museum of Indian Terracotta is located on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, at Ayanagar, just outside Delhi. Terracotta artists and potters from all over India have created on location a variety of exuberant and sophisticated figurettes and panels; these pieces are housed in aesthetic mud-walled enclosures.

Entry is free, and the Foundation offers residency programs for artists and scholars to reflect and contemplate, interact and get inspired, and create.

Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art and Sanskriti Museum of Indian Textiles are co-located in the same campus. The former showcases plenty of metal objects from the last couple of centuries, and the latter displays rich textile traditions from all over India. Here is a piece of info that is put up at the textiles hall - at the time synthetic indigo was produced in Germany in 1897, India was exporting 8 million kg of the natural pigment....

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National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi

2010-01-17T20:41:00.000-08:00

It's always a pleasure to discover and rediscover treasures from the past. And we did just that all day Sunday on a visit to the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum in New Delhi. Relics from all over the country, belonging to bygone eras are on display accompanied by unobtrusive, thoughtful descriptions. At the Village Complex are hand drawn carts, region-specific huts, and period utensils from across the country. An artisans enclosure houses stalls where you can see artisans at work, and buy their fare.

A bronze figure of Lord Krishna

A chariot

Metal art from Chhattisgarh - (this is half of a gate at the entry to the village complex)

An irrigation system

A kashmiri artisan working on a shawl, that will be completed in about a year's time.

If you ever find yourself touring in Delhi, do visit this museum (entry Rs 10/ for adults, Re 1/ for kids).
A similar concept can bee seen in South India, at Dakshinachitra, 35 km from Chennai. We were fortunate to visit there too, just a few days ago.
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Airport Restaurant menu - Beware!

2009-08-24T04:56:00.001-07:00

In May this year, a friend's flight was delayed in Mumbai by nearly 8 hours (the airline revealed the delay(s) in gradual 2/1.5/2/1.5 hour slots). With a hungry kid in tow, they found the waiting time irksome. Assuming that the airline was likely to be considerate enough to provide some options for a snack to 'valued' passengers, they decided to find out.
Apparently the airline did, and the passengers - just the few who took the trouble to approach the staff - were told that they could visit a certain eat-out adjacent to the lounge and take away snack worth at the most Rs 800 (about US$16).
They were bemused -to say the least - when they tried to 'digest' the rates listed in the restaurant's menu card. One decent tummy-satisfying meal would have cost them no less than Rs 1200 (about US$25), which is Big Deal for the average non-business non-leisure Indian traveller. That's why many prefer to travel across India, in comfort by train for that princely amount.
For the delay that extended nearly over 2 meal sessions, the airline decided that the 'whining' passengers could make do with a light snack!

(Each item is priced at 8 times its average worth elsewhere)
This in a nation where hundreds of millions subsist on half a dollar a day.
That's one of the less bright sides of my developing world. Discover plenty of other worlds.

An old-world briefcase

2009-08-16T23:46:00.001-07:00

Grand-father-in-law was a very special person - if you were to hear his twin grandsons speak of their 'muthachan', you would agree readily too. Krishnan Kutty Menon was an agriculturist, who tended daily the small plot of land he had in Annanad, in central Kerala. He would escort the twins to school and back while patiently giving satisfactory answers and examples to (millions of questions)X2. One can easily attribute the twins' respect and regard for, and awe of, the land that feeds, nature that nourishes, trees that live and give - to this simple genuine villager who was untouched by material possessions.
Here are pictures of the single (singular!) item that dates to his lifetime, (most likely earlier), from the family home. It is a simple wooden briefcase (called kaipetti - a handy box of rosewood) that may be valueless, but is nevertheless priceless! The size is about 18X12X4 inches.

I wonder what those small nooks, crevasses, and other sections held. Whatever that was, it could never have been more precious than the old-world knowledge, wisdom and values that their owner passed on to the next generation. I missed meeting him by just three years, but his presence continues to be evident - in the trees that he planted, the home and village that he cared about, and his grandchildren's evergreen recollections.

And what would I wish everyone? - Hope you get to be a grandparent like him!
That was a glimpse into my world. Here are others who wish to share theirs.

Gotipua dance of Orissa

2009-08-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Have a good look at these pictures of a dance form from the state of Orissa, a coastal state in India.

The boys - yes, little boys! - have been trained in this dance form by Guru Birabar Sahoo (79), a national award winner. The word Gotipua means 'single boy'.
The dance repertoire consists of an invocation to deities, followed by several numbers that bring out the nuances of that particular dance form, invariably based on devotional themes and folklore.
We marvelled at those flexible figures displaying the art form with dedication and near-perfection.

(Gotipua dance performance on July 18, 2009 at CCRT auditorium, New Delhi by students of Birabar Sahoo)

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Raksha Bandhan - My world Tuesday

2009-08-03T05:22:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday is the festival of Raksha Bandhan that celebrates a sister's love and affection for her brother. Symbolically, the sister ties a 'Rakhi' on her brother's wrist. The Rakhi is "a sacred thread of protection embellished with the love and affection of a sister for her brother". In return, the brother avows lifelong protection for his beloved sister. The festival celebrates the glory of not only sibling affection, but also all kinds of platonic relationships, and the festival's social message is harmonious coexistence with one and all.
Feast your eyes on these glimpses of millions of wrist bands...

Of late the festival is 'used' to celebrate other relationships as well, and you can guess that the 'friendship' bands are very popular.

This one is a handmade band made by my son's playmate for him.

I showed you a glimpse of my wonderful India with its myriad festivals, where each day is a celebration, Visit other wonderful worlds.

Identify this organic item

2009-07-19T22:59:00.000-07:00

Born and bred in the city, and guilty of contributing to a city's woes, I always look forward to visiting rural areas and villages. In this year's summer sojourn to Kerala in South India, a walk through riverside overgrowth revealed some 'secrets'. Ha! (it's open knowledge for natives, but to me it was new).
I invite you to tickle your grey cells and identify what's pictured above. There's a hint (of sorts) in the picture below.

Answers on Thursday (23 July)

Proud of my world, just as others are

Update on 23 July
Most had identified right, at least by name. That intricately networked fibre is the xylem of the ridged gourd. (the sponge-like brush made from mesh-like fabric that comes with shower-gels is also called luffa / loofah though). Here is a picture showing half-dried gourds the soon-to-be organic luffas.
pic courtesy

This kid needed company!

2009-07-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

... and we were vacation strollers passing by, with ears perfectly tuned to nature-in-rustic-surrounds. So we easily heard him call out. He is no different from a pup or a playful kitten - no wonder he's a kid too! Mummy-goat was munching away in the vicinity, and it would be a while before they went home.

Place - Annanad, Chalakudy, Kerala, India
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Reflections, and a wash in the river

2009-07-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Place - At Chalakudy river in Annanad, Kerala, India
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Summer showers - the dance of the clothes-lines

2009-05-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry 'bout the rather amateur video clip.

See more visions from around the world in My World Tuesday

Yellow blossoms - Laburnum flowers

2009-05-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Delhi's roads are lined yellow this May with the eye-catching Indian laburnum (Amaltas/golder Shower/Cassia fistula) inflorescence.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Chug - chug - koo!

2009-04-02T02:51:00.001-07:00

The Rail Museum, New Delhi

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Naggar - a delightful hamlet

2009-03-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it was because we happened to visit the place on a Monday. One of the attractions, an art gallery, is closed Mondays. So it seemed to us that we had the whole hillside village to ourselves.
At 17 km from Manali, Naggar is just a short drive away, and the Himachal Pradesh tourism department includes it in its regular circuits.
The Naggar palace (castle), with a very interesting history from pre-colonial and colonial times. The palace is now a heritage hotel with a restaurant, an outlet for woollen things, a museum and the Jagatipatt (Shiva) temple within the palace.
(The courtyard was the venue of a popular number of the likeable Hindi film 'Jab We Met').

The Shiva temple within the palace. The wooden pieces that hang ornately make the most soothingly delightful sounds when there is a breeze around.
An ancient Vishnu temple adjacent to the palace.

An even older Gauri Sankar temple a short walk away.
(If you wish to see and buy purses, caps, shawls and coatees made of rabbit wool, just visit the second shop from the palace gates. We were very impressed with the presentable young owner, who was evidently proud of his produce).

See more visions from around the world in My World Tuesday
More posts on Manali
Seeing is believing - hot springs of Manali
Interesting local items
Yak's hair
Manali snow in February

Shelf-hopping, window-shopping

2009-03-05T02:50:00.000-08:00

Accompanied a neighbour to a function at our children's school, and we stopped on our way back for her to look for purposeful gift items. You'll be glad I had my camera by me, won't you?Lord Krishna in brass
A brass conch used during puja (worship) (You can guess how over-zealous my camera was!)
A low chair...
...that can easily be folded to stow away. (noted the hooks at the sides in the previous image?)
Typical musician set
Complete living room needs!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

When in Manali...

2009-02-23T02:20:00.001-08:00

When in Manali - get familiar with local stuff.
Angoora (rabbit wool) shawls. It's possible to see busy looms weaving away if you visit on week-days.
The finest of these shawls can easily pass through a finger-ring, and cost upwards of Rs 80,000.
One of the older factories at KulluThe shop at Naggar palace, where Subhash cheerfully shared secrets of the different varieties of shawls and cautioned "Take care to look for genuine local produce, not bulk items shipped up from factories in the nearest cities"
Another showroom on the way to Manikaran
The traditional headgear Manali native - of late, the sunglasses are part of the costume. Several ladies like Bimla carry a set of costumes including traditional jewellery for couples to try out. (Be wary - rates vary from Rs 10 in the late evenings to Rs 250 to the gullible non-native)We are dismal shoppers, but very happy to watch the items on offer, and gave in to some fascinating palate-ticklers at a cooperative outlet on the main street at Manali.Sun-dried apple - can be used along with other vegetable preparations, we were told.
Apple pickle - once I got over the taste of mustard oil that is a favourite in North India, I didn't mind the mildly sweet flavour.
Lingri pickle - Lingri is a fern variety and is a popular local vegetable. We initially saw only 1/2 kg bottles; at our third visit, the lad finally consented to part with smaller packs.
Handmade jute-and-wool footwear (Rs 60 a pair) Take a leisurely world tour here

Luxurious tresses!

2009-02-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

The yak's hair is of much use in Central Asian regions. See the source -

The duster-like Chauri used in Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) is a fan made of yak hair.

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Under a white blanket in February - Snow Point, Manali

2009-02-16T02:26:00.001-08:00

You still enjoying white winters? or warmer climes?
Here are pictures of my first-ever view of snow brand new!
Finally! Got to see snow in winter. Manali had had the season's heaviest snowfall (about 3 feet) early February, and the road to Solang Valley (14 km from Manali, on the route to spectacular Rohtang Pass), was blocked, nay, jammed. The highest we could reach was Snow Point (that was high enough, thanks!).
Looks as though cotton grows in apple trees in winter?
The snowfall was rather unexpected, and all kinds of vehicles were taken by surprise.

This is where work on a ropeway is underway.My son was keen on making a snowman - he did, too - can you make out the sprawled figure?
Take a world tour by visiting other My World Tuesday Number XVIII posts

Sunbathing in winter

2009-02-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

Manali, nestled in the Western Himalayas, 'enjoyed' season's heaviest snowfall early February, a day or two before we reached the town. That's when - just below the lowered snow line - we got to see a lot of winter sunbathers.

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The Chinar's shade and shades

2009-02-01T19:01:00.001-08:00

Weekend Snapshot -
Here are winter and summer shots of a Chinar tree located at a defense base in Srinagar, India

Mandu - Jahaz Mahal (Ship Palace)

2009-01-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

One of the most prominent medieval sites in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh is the Royal Encalve that dates to the 15th century. Jahaz Mahal (Number 11 in the map of Mandu fort) is a sprawling structure built on a narrow strip of land between two water bodies. Extensive reconstruction is under way, and the place now includes even a children's play area.
The palace is built between the Munj and Kapur water bodies, and its dimensions help in giving the viewer the impression of that of a ship in anchor, hence the name.

There is a modest archeaological museum (Taveli Mahal) which had me wondering why I had school lessons on Spanish Civil War and the American War of Independence instead of soaking up all this medieval glory.

Hindola Mahal (Swinging Palace) - noted for the sloping walls. (Number 9 in the map of Mandu fort)

My World Tuesday Issue XV - For glimpses of more worlds from around the globe, visit That's My World for a rich experience - a real virtual world tour!

Rupmati's abode in Mandu - lessons in history and romance

2009-01-19T05:10:00.000-08:00

Mandu is a hill-fort near Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The hill is a part of the main Deccan plateau, but is separated from the rest of Malwa region by a very deep ravine. This area boasts of not only architectural delights, but also for preserving pre-historic 'records' -dinosaur eggs that were found a few years ago
You'll need lots of time to cover the 48 monuments that are 'on display', dating from medieval times.
One set of structures are the Rewa Kund, Baz Bahadur's palace, and Rani Rupmati's pavilions. (numbers 34, 35, and 36 in the list below).Rewa Kund
Baz Bahadur reigned at Malwa during Akbar's times. Our guide recounted not only the history behind each structure, but also tales of the romance between a poet-prince and his beautiful poet-musician queen Rupmati. We happily only half-listened to the guide's monotone - one is easily mesmerised by the views from Rupmati's pavilions. It was from here that the queen sought daily darshan of the river Narmada in the distance (on clear days the river can be seen winding its way in the plains below).

Views from inside Rupmati's pavilions
DKV has described the spot so well. Read Rupmati Pavilion in Mandu: The most Romantic Spot in India?
My World Tuesday Issue XIV - For glimpses of more worlds from around the globe, visit That's My World for a rich experience - a real virtual world tour!

Frolicking in the sand, and a gibbon's sound bytes.

2009-01-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Care to join him?

Listen to this Hoolock gibbon

Vist the world of fellow creatires in camera critters

Wordless Wednesday - Guess this item!

2009-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday - Jan 13 edition.
Guess the item. Would love to see your inputs! Let your imagination run wild....
Visit Wordless for more entries

Will put up the answer Jan 14 at 4:30 pm GMT :)
PS - (updated as promised)
Here's the answer - bangle holder! Thanks for all those guesses.
Hope you had as much fun as I did :). One of Raji's guesses on the mark!

Mhow's shadow work, smocked gowns, and goat leather products

2009-01-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

Mhow, in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh (central India) offers a lot of goods for the eager shopper. You can pick up prettily embroidered suit material, sarees and little girls' dresses. The place is famous for smocked needlework - a thriving legacy from the colonial days - and 'shadow embroidery'. Even non-shoppers can have a fill just window-shopping!

These are artefacts made of goat leather - penstands, peg-table base, keyholder, toys

My World Tuesday Issue XIII - For glimpses of more worlds from around the globe, visit That's My World for a rich experience - a real virtual world tour!

Mortar mixing the eco-friendly, ancient way

2009-01-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Mortar consisting of powdered brick and lime being mixed, to be used in reconstruction of medieval monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
Picture taken at Jahaz Mahal, Mandu

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Camera-critters No 40
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Skywatching at Beirchaa Lake

2009-01-08T04:53:00.000-08:00

A series of sunset images caught at Beirchaa Lake, near MHOW, Madhya Pradesh (central India)

(Skywatch Friday No. 26)
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Paataal paani, near MHOW, Indore

2009-01-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

Here are views of Paataal Paani, a scenic spot near MHOW, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (central India).
The waterfall is little more than a trickle off-season, but the whole place turns green and vibrant in the monsoons.
Alongside is a metre-guage railway track, and the spot offers obvious opportunities to turn into a modern picnic spot with cable cars and walkways. But I prefer it 'raw'!

(Tried to make do with a few words!)
Visit more WW participants
These are pictures of the same place during the rainy seasons - July - September
The waterfall reaches a very deep gorge, which the locals have baptised as 'paataal' - meaning nether-world.

Thanks, Lt Col R, for sharing!

Preparing mortar without the mixer

2009-01-04T19:39:00.000-08:00

Mortar consisting of powdered brick and lime being mixed, to be used in reconstruction of medieval monuments at Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
Picture taken at Jahaz Mahal, Mandu

Lazing Hippos

2008-12-21T22:48:00.000-08:00

In summer I would not mind joining them, but this winter day, no way!
Hippos in Delhi's National Zoological Park

It's Diwali time

2008-10-26T18:52:00.001-07:00

Diwali decor on sale

weekend-snapshot

A Manali native

2008-10-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

The Himalayan Yak
Means of saving fuel! - at Rohtang Pass, Manali
Manali is a getaway in Himachal Pradesh, India

Visit Camera Critters meme to meet more fauna

The Sun at dusk and Full Moon at dawn - Skywatch Delhi

2008-10-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Location - Bahai Temple

More Skywatch images

I could gaze at these fans forever

2008-10-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

A simple 'happy' toy, that revolves in the slightest breeze.

A pair of green friends

2008-10-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

For more images

Doll display - 'Kolu' during Dussera

2008-10-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

Read about kolu in Raji's Dussera notes.

The good ol' 'pottalam'

2008-09-29T00:26:00.001-07:00

This was how provisions used to be packed by the friendly neighbourhood grocer. An environmentally sound practice which we urbanites have nearly forgotten. This kind of simple packaging (just a neat newspaper folded in the shape of a cone, then tied up with jute string) can still be found in rural groceries.
Perhaps we should go back to the past to give ourselves a better future?

Water chestnut - 'singada'

2008-09-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

Singada - water chestnut. Has a mild taste, I found, when I saw it for the first time in a busy Delhi market. Found it different from the made-in-China looking blemish less fruit varieties, that looked more like show pieces rather than health food!

The full moon at dawn

2008-09-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

If only the peace this horizon conveys pervades the world over...

Amar Jawan at twilight

2008-09-02T05:23:00.000-07:00

India Gate, New Delhi
(Click on image for a clearer view)

Thirsty bovines

2008-08-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

At a cousin's place in Thanjavur town in South India, a couple of bovine visitors know that they can quench their thirst anytime. The vessel at the gate is replenished with care by the family.

Temples for the Four Brothers

2008-08-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

In Kerala's Trissur District, you can visit the temples of Sri Rama and his brothers (Nalambalam Yatra) at Triprayar, Koodalmanikyam, Moozhikkulam and Payammel.
Whether you see it as a holy pilgrimage or an off-beat tour package, a visit to the temples with their (circular) sanctum sanctorums, temple tanks, architectural features and peaceful ambience will leave a lasting impression.
Another set of four temples for the brothers is located further south in the Kottayam district.

Chalakudy river, after monsoon showers

2008-08-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

Tom tom time

2008-08-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

Commercials on wheels, for a clothing store...

Jai Hind!

2008-08-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

One of several sightings of proud and unusual displays of the tricolour this Independence day.
Angamaly, Kerala

Travel posts also at..

2008-05-15T19:20:00.001-07:00

Dear reader, I also post travelogues at Feast for Thought.
Here are links to some of those destinations...
Rafting down the Brahmaputra
Ooty
Lakshadweep
Chalakudy
Mindless Exploitation
Annanad

Tsunami 2004 - Hit out of the Blue: Need for proactive dynamism

2007-09-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Driving south from Chennai the day after Boxing Day on a temple tour to celebrate family reunion is an experience our group of seven adults and a couple of kids is not likely to forget, ever. With only thoughts of a weeks’ holiday from the office routine, I found myself in Chennai on the morning after Christmas Day; little did we realize what the expression ‘making waves’ could mean, not even when the ground shook beneath us. And so it was with widening and brimming eyes that we watched news pouring in, throughout that Sunday, of exploding numbers.

Deciding to proceed with the planned tour, we left by road towards Pondicherry and adjacent towns after being directed to take an inland route since tragedy was unfolding along the otherwise scenic coastal road. That cloudy Monday, it seemed Nature was showing her gloomy façade, perhaps she was also mourning, as was the whole world. The beach at Pondicherry, hardly a few feet between Gandhiji’s statue to the waterline, was out of bounds, but crowds at the roadside watched with awe as the body of that life-giving fluid continued to heave and splash on to the sands.

We continued southward, coming across more news and first hand accounts of the havoc, of families of Air Force friends lost to the sea. At Chidambaram food meant for the thousands of ‘Arudra Darshan’ pilgrims instead traveled to the refugee camps eastward, at Sirkazhi, which is nearest Nagapattinam, the temple served one of its true purposes as a camp for the homeless and the deprived. My son asked my mother: “Patti, why are you crying?” as a lady came up to her requesting help - a sari, or money, whatever. Her offer of a hundred-rupee note would have set off a Pandora’s box, given the numbers of the needy.

Believe me, old clothes are not the solution – neither for their suffering nor to give us a complacent feeling. Given out of compassion or out of mistimed sense of cleaning up household garbage, the mounds of old clothing raining all over is enough to suffocate. What we need to do is go there and adopt children or groups, or villages, or render physical help, psychological support, construct toilets and teach hygiene, keep up the morale. After all, with the Gujarat quakes and Orissa cyclone not quite behind us, we should know how contributions to relief funds (do not) work. One is unlikely to forgive oneself for not pitching in during an hour of need; wisdom dawned late. God and temples could have waited. Family reunion thanksgiving it may have been for me, but have I not learnt ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’? Apparently not yet.

Kolar-A crore lingas, and places around

2007-08-22T19:37:00.002-07:00

The adventurous foursome that we are, we set off to discover a few places we found only in KSTDC pamphlets. With a load of hearsay and a couple of maps we hit the road in a small family car to 'Chikka Tirupati' via Whitefield. And continued to hit it every once in a while. But never once thought that opting for the rural route was a bad idea. (At the final turn out of Bangalore, a jobless group attempted to give us a hiccup by questioning our route and motive- it was the first day of Benny Hinn's prayers; across the road tyres were being burnt. A good deal of 'My good man,' diplomacy and a grudgingly permitted detour later, we could continue on our way).

Most travelogues and guides flood you with usable and sometimes dated info on popular tourist beeline ends, smoothly motorable 'beaten tracks' and cushy spots to eat and sleep. For a change we veered away from just such a repeat, and that's how we found our way to a Vaishnavite temple ('before Cholas' - said the priest) amidst a handful of hamlets. A homely but clean-on-the-inside mess provided us with staple idlis, puris and 'Avarekalu bath'; coffee to wash the fare down would have to wait a while!

Wending our way on routes frequented more by tractors than plush cars; we passed rose and marigold expanses, tomato ('Manasa' variety), chilli, potato, cabbage, cauliflower, Bengal gram, mulberry plantations and mango and eucalyptus groves. Roses and tomatoes beckoned: we stopped to admire, chat with the locals lovingly tending their wards, pitched in at farm work for a while, and familiarised with the onward route.

Kotilingeswara, we found, was one big park of Lingas, lining pathways in all sizes amidst Bilva and Amla trees, but all in one single colour and shape - tens of thousands, amounting to 35 lakhs at the last count. One can do 'prathishta' (consecration) to add to the target of one crore for a price starting at Rs 1300/. The temple houses shrines for several Hindu deities, Manjunatha, Panduranga, Srinivasa, Panch-mukha Ganesha, Pancha-mukha Hanuman, Rama-Sita-Lakshmana, Ayyappa, Annapoorneswari, Santhoshima, and Kanniga Parameswari, besides the Navagraha and Saint Raghavendra. The biggest Linga is some 108 ft tall, and matched by a huge figure of Nandi. The temple's history begins as recently as 1971. Between 12:30 and 2:00 pm, prasada-lunch of anna, saru and majjige is served to all visitors. One can browse at a spiritual art gallery located adjacent to the temple.

It was a short drive to Bangaru Tirupati, you can't miss the arch marking the entrance from the road to Mulbagal. The temple dates to Brigu Maharishi's days, and is built on rocks. The shrine is reached after a climb of several hundred steps; the deity is seen through a chequered window. At a different level is the shrine for the consort Padmavathy, which dates to mid 19th century.

Mulbagal lies just off the NH4. This taluk shows better signs of rural progress: roads are broader and even. The famous spot here is the temple for Hanuman, installed by Arjuna after the Mahabharata war. Sage Vasishta is said to have installed the idols of the main deity Srinivasa, as also Padmavathy and the Rama-Sita-Lakshmana trio.

Off the Srinivasapura road going north from Mulbagal, we reached Kurudumale. Two temples, within a hundred feet of each other are now protected monuments, as proclaimed by notices put up by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Someswara temple, where restoration work is under way was built and dedicated to the locals by King Raja Raja Chola. The priest very patiently led us (in Kannada though – this is my understanding of his narration, and any errors in facts, figures and names are all mine alone) through the Chola King's times depicted on some of the pillar-sculptures, worked on by the Raja's shilpi Jakanachari. After a plunder some centuries later, just about fifteen of the original 30 odd idols have been found and reinstated.

The Ganesha temple has a much more hoary history dating to the Krta Yuga. The idol is said to have grown from a 'salagrama' stone (originally from Gandak river of Nepal) through the four Yugas to attain its present size. The Hindu trinity together installed the idol - hence the name Koodadri colloquialised to Koodumale / Kurudumale in the name of the place. The idol stood by itself through the ages; the Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya built the temple around the idol at the request of the locals. (See ‘Soaking in legends at Kurudumale’, Deccan Herald, 23 September 2004 for more details).

A recently built Prasanna Venkataramaswamy temple is located along a 1.5 km detour on the road back to Mulbagal. Have time, can go. The place is called Doddaguruki / Vedagiri. (See Deccan Herald dated 20/01/2005).
Getting back to Mulbagal, it's a smooth turn into NH4 towards Bangalore. 5 km down the highway is a fairly huge Ayyappa Kshetram. As we drove back the 80-odd km home, the huge red ball of fire that had made its presence felt through the day was setting at the far horizon, keeping us company a good part of the way. Kamat group's Upachar, located after the Kolar bypass, is a decent refreshment halt, 20 km short of Hoskote, and is one standard stop for the KSTDC bus services.

That was a good twelve hours well spent. With an earlier start and a couple more hours in hand, it is possible to complete the day with a trip to Kaiwara, a Forest Department maintained resort via Chintamani traveling northwest from Mulbagal and get back on the highway near Hoskote.

Chikka Tirupati (35 km from Bangalore): Turn right at O farm Cross, Whitefield (10 km).

Kotilingeswara: On the right, 3 km short of Betamangala. Travel on Bangarpet-Betamangala- route (Waypoints: Malur, Tykal, Bangarpet)

Bangaru Tirupati: 8 km from Kotilingeswara on the road towards Mulbagal. Entry marked by a stone arch.

Kurudumale: 10 km northeast from Mulbagal, off the Srinivasapura Road.

Bylakuppe-Dubare: A weekend of Coorg Magic

2007-08-22T19:37:00.001-07:00

We left the city of Bangalore one Saturday morning in December by road, at 6 am on the dot. We carried with us breakfast and lunch, packed nicely, and lots of water. A reasonable drive and 6 hours later we reached our first halt: Bylakuppe where there are four Tibetan monasteries. It's really a wonder how a mini-Tibet exists,
monasteries, nunneries, red costumes, and ‘minimized’ noses all thrown in. It so
happens that Dalai Lama had inaugurated a 'Golden Temple' just a couple of
days earlier, so there was such a profusion of flowers all over the place,
there couldn't have been a timelier visit to this settlement. The locale is really picturesque, neat, and lots of sights to see if you have an eye for colourful paintings, Buddhist practices and temple construction details. We could visit the two main temples, then we were on our way to Abbi falls, which is a nice rocky region where the Cauvery falls from some 60 ft. We found it good enough for lunch halt. The rice, vegetables, Indian bread (rotis) and someone’s gifted pickles tasted wonderful, even my fussy son had a better than usual fill of all items.
We moved on to Talacauvery (origin of the River Cauvery: in India, all rivers are holy, and the origin is a pilgrimage site), which is at around 4000 ft above msl. A small shrine marks where the river spouts (you can actually see new water gushing out during a specific period in the month of October, we were told). 360 steps cut in the hill leads you to the top of Brahmagiri, which is a great vantage point to see hilltops to the North, Arabian Sea to the West and Nilgiris to the South. By the time we descended to Madikeri, which is the capital of Coorg district, it was well past sunset, so we missed visiting Raja's Seat and the fort, which used to be erstwhile kings' viewpoint for sunsets and sunrise. Madikeri is a small town, looks like Ooty, with all the roads sloping up and down, and the town becoming cluttered with over-crowding.
We found nice accommodation in a hotel, freshened up, and left to visit the Omkareshwara temple just a kilometre away - and then did a double take. This temple, at first looks, gives the appearance of a mosque, what with its white walls and minaret-like temple towers, and even a small structure at the centre of the temple pond. There again, we were lucky, for Providence seemed to make up to us for other
missed tourist spots - it happened to be the sixth day of the lunar fortnight, special in the Dec-Jan lunar month; the temple was all decked up with lights and flowers, the palanquin and a decorated carrier for the deity were ready to tour a small metallic idol of the main deity around the temple and in the pond, and there were cultural programs going on - We got to see and appreciate aesthetic Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) and a local orchestra which was being broadcast live on FM radio. Prasadam (offering to God) was rice and soup served on areca tree leaves.
Since we expected to start early the next day, we moved on to a place for dinner, and ended up having more bread and rice, but memorable ones, more because of the nice view we had from our table directly to the temple pond, where the festivities continued with a cracker show and the idol procession.
A restful night, hot water baths and a mini breakfast done, we checked out
and set off to Dubare Forest to visit an elephant camp. You have to cross
the river by boat to reach the Government Forest department-run camp which features an interactive session with the pachyderms: so intimate that your first task is
to give them a bath in the river! The mahouts and the tourists wait patiently when, like well-trained humans, the elephants empty their bowels at the river, and then sit down or lie in the water to submit to being bathed by Indian and foreign hands, adult and kids hands.
Most tourists have no problems moving into the water and scrubbing down a couple of elephants, some fussy ones may prefer to watch. My son would not get into the water where the elephants had just, well, relieved themselves. His dad kept clicking away, and I, well, after pulling up my jeans sufficiently and waiting for a baby elephant to be brought in, I too got into the act and scrubbed away. (Later on my son mellowed down enough to perch on his dad’s hands and then scrub an elephant) Oh aren't elephants lovable! At the next session the visitors are encouraged to feed the residents. At this time, the manager, a veteran vet specialized in pachyderms’ habits gives you the low-down of the history and geography of Indian and African elephants; with one docile 'demo' elephant helpfully following whispered instructions. By this time, huge ragi (Indian name for a nutritious cereal) balls are ready and the visitors take turns to pop one into the open mouths of the friendly giants. The session ends with a 15-minute ride on the back of the elephant, 4-5 people perched on a hoodah. When you get off the elephant’s back, you are bound to come away with renewed respect for all non-human creatures and Nature that always gives them their needs.
We went back to the mainland and moved to another exotically named Government-run resort called Cauvery Nisargadhama to watch more elephants, and visit some deer and rabbits in a park. The deer may have been bored with their usual menu; we watched them happily munch some peels that some local kids fed them through the fence. Then we were back on the road, looking for a place for lunch before starting homeward, with stops for tender coconut water, coffee and the famous wooden Channapatna toys on the way. My son slept thru most of the drive through both days. I get the impression he does not enjoy car rides and elephant rides as much as he does train journeys. At 8 pm it was home sweet home. What did we bring back apart from memorable moments and our garbage? - A healthy appetite to enjoy a hot dinner of soup, rice, salad and lentils.

Ozar to Ooty on my Vespa

2007-08-22T19:36:00.002-07:00

Three of us set off on two two-wheelers from Ozar (Nasik, Maharashtra) one October morn. The destination? - Ooty, just around 2000 km south. Ozar to Pune - Goa -Karwar - Hassan- Mysore- Ooty - Coimbatore. A good nine days, and I am ready to go, my Vespa sadly is not...

Rafting down the Brahmaputra

2007-08-22T19:36:00.001-07:00

"You are the first Indian woman to raft down the Brahmaputra!"..exclaimed a colleague. Not possible...arguable, I said. Who cared? There was the Brahmaputra, and there were the set of six rafts and a couple of canoes, and all around me were the team of 21 Americans and 5 Air Force colleagues. The mission? A 12-day Indo-US expedition on the Brahmaputra from Tuting to Pasighat. Team leader JB had a motley crowd of first and old timers to shepherd around, so did his Indian counterpart Sqn Ldr TS. Me? Oh a veteran with a vast experience of 4 days on the Indus at Leh a summer ago, and another 4 days on the Ganges at Shivpuri as a warm up for the expedition.
(All this was 12 years ago, I intend taking swimming lessons very soon)

The equipment (rafts, tents, cooking) was provided by AK's Mercury Himalayan explorations; his team had a Kashmiri cook G and two more raft guides.
The schedule: Set off early from Tuting on Day 1, traverse the Along till about 2 pm, the pull out at a convenient beach, camp the night and set off next morn, till on Day 12, we reach Pasighat around mid-morn.
Our low-budget red-coloured wet suits consisted of pants & jackets. (Every morning after the first spray from a good white water stretch, we got used to the wet feeling)

Chalakudy-Kodungallur

2007-08-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Chalakudy (30 km south of Trissur town) this time was full of travel, but it was also a real holiday as I see it – far from the responsibilities of home-making, school and work. Peak-season bookings (not done in time in our case) ensured that we reached home well after 5 hours past the usual 9 am, after travelling in two trains, two buses and two autos. Soon after lunch and banter to catch up with neighbourhood ‘gossip’, we went on a usual round chez friends and neighbours, a visit to the laughter club hour at the riverside and then to the village temple. Next morning was another visit to the temple, and thereafter lazing around having the occasional ‘karikku (ilanir - tender coconut water)’, munching on the tender sweet pulp and, well, doing nothing.
An impromptu decision to go direct west to the beach in Trissur district and we packed in the car bound for Kodungallur, famous for its Bhagavathy temple. (Actually legend has it that it was a temple for noble and pious Kannagi of ‘Silappathikaram’ fame. Later a saint invoked the Goddess Durga to come and reside in the temple). Perhaps because of the controversy or due to plain lack of care by the powers that be, the temple appears unkempt and run-down, populated by nomadic beggars. Regular pujas though, are obviously performed.
Having logged this temple for Kannagi, we wended our way through winding roads to the beach…to be met by the strong smell, nay stench (I beg pardon, dear fish-lovers: I love them too - when alive and water-kicking, so there) that is part of fishermen’s livelihood. Once we went beyond the heaped mounds, it was enjoyable and we splashed around in the water watching the sunset, an occasional boat coming in, and birds going to roost – and we even got round to munching a few tit-bits we had carried from home – and we carried back a few snapshots of the red glow and the waves and laughing faces (it being my nephew Arun’s first visit to the seaside, he didn’t take to it like a fish). All too soon it was time to go home, but another ‘first’ was in store: a different route took us across the backwaters on the Krishnankotta ferry, car and all (and saved nearly 10 km of travel).

Next morning we lazed at the river, my husband pretending to have a bath, me pretending to swim (Let me put it this way: I was actually trying to remember instructions I had read in a book ‘Learn swimming in 30 days’ bought 8 years ago in waterless Chennai), and our son feigning fear of getting in and wet. An hour and several efforts (by me at flapping woefully webless feet and by father at cajoling son) later, I reluctantly climbed back home to shower and lunch.

Post tea, we set off for Irinjalakuda and the famed centuries-old
Bharata temple. The Irinjalakuda road is narrow, but very, very smooth. As we turned in from the Trissur highway, we were in for a 20-minute wait at the railway crossing. Allepey express passed, and we continued on our way, fleeting past shops and houses. The ‘Koodal Manickya Kshetram’ (Om Namo Bhagavathe Sangameshaya!) is a vast and beautiful space. We ladies nearly missed entering the uniquely circular sanctum sanctorum, the watchman kindly directed us to the temple office, which lends dhotis to just such hapless lady visitors (Most temples in Kerala do not allow any kind of tailored clothing near the sannidhis).
The temple pond is revered so completely that it is totally off bounds for use except by the priests, that too after a cleansing bath elsewhere. One can feed 5-rupee worth ‘meen-ootta’ though – the fishes are said to be divine incarnations and a circuit of the pond is considered special. Adu for the first time in his life did a namaskaram (prostration) – a la stone symbols depicting prostrating human figures on the ground.
The only other Sannidi is that of Ganesha just ahead of the entrance. I later learnt that one usually makes a pilgrimage of 4 temples for the four brothers in Ramayana (Thriprayar, Irinjalakuda, Muzhikulam, and Payammal in that order, all within a half-hour drive of each other). Well I can look forward to that in a future visit. The drive back was memorable: it was well past sunset on a December evening. Colourfully lit houses, churches and shops were indeed a sight; it was Christmas Eve. At nearly every set of lights it was tempting to stop and admire a tree décor here, the star there, lights on trees spanning the road, and scenes from Bethlehem – we made do with fleeting glimpses and occasional bellows of ‘Merry X’mas’ to groups of choral singers (In Kerala, almost every house heralds Yuletide with a star hung at the porch, whatever faith the inmates follow). The ride was over all too soon, and we were back on the highway, after rummaging in a brass vessel shop for riff-raff.
Another morning at the river and then it was time for packing bags to board the train to Chennai. Now don't you agree that that’s a real holiday: no phone calls, no committed obligatory visits, no rules to eat and sleep, M-I-L cooking delicious fare...... !