BLUNT KNIFE

THICK FRIENDS IN RAIN

2010-11-22T19:21:00.001-08:00

The background image of this blog is a Rajasthani village mud wall. It is lot lighter in colour, the text is not readable, so i darkened the a bit

GOING FAR

2010-11-22T19:20:00.001-08:00

BHAKTAPUR NEPAL

2010-11-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

it was late in the evening and raining, pictures taken in very dull light. more pictures of Nepal coming.

DRAGON AND THE PRAYER WHEEL

2010-11-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

i don't know the connection. There's something in the dragon's mouth. This is Kathmandu

Prayer Wheel in a Monastery in Nepal

WHERE ?

2010-11-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

actually not interested. Don't know what it looks like. The end of the universe can't be in Nepal of all the places

SUN SET ON THE MOVE

2010-09-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

i was on my way to Rajasthan. Towards the evening i always open the door of the moving train and sit at the entrance holding the bar with one hand and the camera on the other. i love it even if i don't take any pictures. My friend Paul took this picture of mees. Sorry the sun is half cut, its ok you know what a sun looks like.

Then i took a picture of paul sitting at the same place

BEST VIEW

2010-09-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

We were following this bus and i wished i was with those people up there. This was my third visit to Nepal. In my last two visits i had to travel on top of the bus. i had a seat but my old style backpack which had an aluminum frame, had to be put on top. The bus driver suggested i better go sit on top as people sitting there may steal things from my backpack. It was fun for a while but when it started raining with heavy cold winds blowing, it was not fun anymore.

RUSH HOUR

2009-03-23T03:04:00.000-07:00

COLOURS ON SALE

2009-03-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY 2

2009-03-23T03:01:00.003-07:00

SUPERMAN

2009-03-23T03:01:00.001-07:00

YESTERDAY

2009-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

THE DOOR

2009-03-03T22:04:00.001-08:00

HEADING BACK

2009-03-03T20:18:00.001-08:00

MY STYLE

2009-03-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well, this is how i travel.

COLOURS

2009-03-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

FILMI STYLE

2009-02-02T21:34:00.000-08:00

na na na they are not singing any duet

Well, this is a place where movie song sequence is shot. Hero and his leading lady run around jump in to the water and sing duests changing colourful costumes every ten seconds. But this is not a film shooting. Looks like the chapee wearing pink shirt is actually proposing to his lady dressed in black burqua

ah ! its been a while

more than a year since i last posted

Sujith warned him that the place is slippery, i slipped and nearly fell there. This place is somewhere near Mysore, have to ask Sujith or Ramesh

Is he down on his knees ??

just like filmi Hero

we are so influenced by our movies

the girl perhaps says that she's got a head ache ?

why don't you come and meet my dad ??

Marry me or i splash water on you

i do not know the ending of the story

hope its a happy ending

EARLY MORN

2009-02-02T21:31:00.000-08:00

WILL I GET WORK ?

2007-12-29T02:00:00.000-08:00

Worried look on his face
No this is not Rajasthan, this is Kerala
The man wearing a turban is a Rajasthani, a migrant worker, traveling hundreds of miles looking for work. They are born artists, stone cutters, sculptors. Rajasthanis are the only people who can work on marble.
Utter poverty dirves them out of Rajasthan, they are willing to work for 10 rupees a day (25 cents) You should see their magical hands moving on marble. They are experts in their field. Marble is their life.
They have to fight the local lazy workers and labour unions.
The worst, the laziest labour force you will find anywhere in the world. They want to be paid for not working.

The man sitting behind him looks like a Bihari, another poverty stricken state. They are very good in construction work. If you want to build a house in Kerala, which i would not advise, you have to employ Rajasthani and Bihari labour. If you give the job to the local lazy workers you will never see your house completed., budget would shoot and it will take twice the time.

I don't know what the fish is doing there.

SPICE GIRL

2007-10-27T01:58:00.000-07:00

GAS

2007-09-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

You say gas station, filling station, we say Petrol bunk or petrol pump.
This is in Masinagudi town in South India, on the Ooty Mysore road.
why i took this picture ?
oh why i took this picture
scratching my head
i am thinking
my friends stopped there to fill.
thats not a good reason.
i think red is always attractive.
is that red ? crimson, scarlet
what ?

SUMMER

2007-07-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Summer never leaves us. There are many ways to beat the heat. Cool drink is one of them. Hundreds of them to suit every pocket. This happy lady is giving me coconut water

TAJ EXTERIOR IN DETAIL

2007-07-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

Still the pictures don't give an idea how huge it is.

Khuranic Verses carved in marble are supposed to converge at the top when viewed from the floor, they don't, they look uniform bottom to top. Unique craftsmanship.

PAINTED SKY

2007-06-12T23:46:00.000-07:00

i was busy enjoying the morning sky, this is Coorg, simply gazing, took only a few pictures and i did not even bother to turn around and look. i think i lost most of it.

First thing i did was get all the kids, they were excited,
there are two..... there are two.... can you see that ?
ooo ! uncle uncle the first one is getting deleted
What language !
i wondered what could be a better word, erased or disappearing ?
Half of it disappeared behind the trees
If we go to the fields we can get the full rainbow uncle, one boy said
by then the whole thing would be deleted, the other boy said.
they all wanted to see the image on the screen, i had shown them their pictures the day before
i said i'll show you later, don't miss watching the sky now. enjoy it.

i forgot all their names, any way i'll be going to Coorg again, they are all related to me, don't know how, they say i have taken pictures of their parents when they were young.
i don't remember anything.

OLD AND STILL BEAUTIFUL

2007-05-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

Saw this fallen tree in Kuruva island, a small island in Kabini river in Kerala. I removed my shoes in respect. Sat on it, and wondered about its past. It would have seen many like me giving shade to the tired and weary.
Now it is inviting me to sit and rest for a while, had a wash and refreshed myself with the cool kabini river waters.

IS SHE SMILING ?

2007-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

There was an eye contact for a fraction of a second, I clicked, smiled and I walked. This was in Hyderabad a week ago.

Daylight Again
Wildpic

PEACEFUL

2007-02-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

He has to wake up when the train stops to let people in or out, till then he is having a peaceful sleep. Its a long distance train. With no elbow room I have slept standing many times.

DAYLIGHT AGAIN
WILDPIC

TIGER

2007-01-16T21:56:00.000-08:00

No No, he is not wearing a black t-shirt with a design which looks like a tigers head from a distance, he is bare chested. The white clad villager has actually applied Chandanam (Sandlewood paste and kumkum, red power) on his chest and on his forehead as well. The drummer has applied it on his neck. I remember people applying chandanam when they have sore throat or some infection. Not sure if it is effective. Chandanam water is sprinkled on auspicious occasions like the chap wearing red kumkum in the post before last 'pilgrimage perhaps'

I was taking pictures of decorated cows and bulls on Mattu pongal (harvest festival of south India) I'll post the pictures in Daylight Again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

2006-12-31T17:31:00.000-08:00

PILGRIMAGE PERHAPS

2006-11-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

I am not sure what this is all about. Obviously this man has achieved something, found him in a railway station on the way to Jaisalmer Rajasthan. He was too eager and willing to pose. Perhaps he is going on a pilgrimage ?? friends have gathered to give him a grand send off. Have you seen a garland of money ? Its pretty common in North India.
Daylight Again
Wildpic

CORMORANTS

2006-10-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

Not very pretty looking birds, but the pattern on the feathers is really lovely. I am not comfortable taking their pictures. Some kind of fear grips me.

Their claws are made like oars, helps them in take off and they are pretty fast.

The first impact water drops are still in the air and the bird has traveled so far. Its a joy to watch their landing and take off

When I saw the picture I thought this bird has 2 heads, actually there is another bird in the background

They fly very fast just inches above the surface of water. I wouldn't request them to sing. They are not very good singers.

Not a good house keeper, their nests are pretty messy

KING FISHER

2006-09-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

I have never been lucky with king fisher, Its easy to spot though, You can never miss a bright blue tail almost flourescent.

Though it is very small, it is visible from a distance.

It flies so fast that I never had a chance to take a picture of its flight.

DAYLIGHT AGAIN
WILDPIC

PUNALUR-QUILON

2006-09-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

This is Punalur - Quilon section. These pictures were taken last year. Took a train from Sencottai 5.30 in the morning, goes through Tenmala and Punalur, I did not stop at Punalur, continued my journey till Quilon, now called Kollam. Ticket for this breath taking Journey is 19 rupees, less than 50 cents. Sencottai-Quilon.

Had a cup of coffee at Punalur Railway station.
I posted a few pictures some where which I can't locate. I did not post these pictures because they were too dark, had to brighten them, it was pouring non stop and there were rain drops on the lens in most of the pictures. Early in the morning, heavy rain, I was hanging out of the train taking pictures, not a good idea and not good for your camera. I was just overwhelmed by the lush green landscape of Punalur - Quilon section. Where ever you turn your eyes it looked like a painting.

The mountain section ended at Punalur and the train runs through the plains, it pickes up speed from here. It was cold windy and I was completely wet standing outside clicking pictures.

Here the biggest regret was I was missing the landscpe of the other side of the train. It was a tough choice.

RAILWAY STATIONS

2006-09-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the most romantic railway stations you'll find in between Sencottai and Punalur. I am posting the pictures of the breath taking journey in daylight Again.
Some Journey !!

Please believe me, this IS a railway station. There is no platform, good idea, not having a platform, the train stops here for one minute.

I do not know the names of all the railway stations, there aren't many, I was too busy enjoying the ride.

The ride is full of life, Quilon - Tirunelveli train is always crowded. You can avoid that and take a train which starts from Sencottai, which runs almost empty. But I was in this crowded train.

HELLO !
Next time I'll try to spend time at each station. These are all villages, there would be no place to stay.

There are places to stay here at Thenmala. I have written about my last visit a few months ago.

This is the Station master. He forgot to wave the green flag when he saw me taking a picture. Stood in attention, posing for me. Is it over Sir ? I said yes thank you. Railway staff could be a pain sometimes, they have the power to confiscate your camera.

It started to rain again, i was sitting by the door

This is where the journey began. Punalur Railway station. It rained here too.
Daylight Again
Wildpic

SHAPES & PATTERNS

2006-08-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

First three pictures are taken here in Chennai At Mala Chinna's terrace.

Rest of the pictures were taken at Pallurty Eda Kochi, My friend Sathyaraj has a lovely and well maintained garden.

DAYLIGHT AGAIN
WILDPIC

WEAVER BIRD

2006-08-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have posted weaver bird and its nest pictures in Daylight Again blog, Please click on the title or the link below
Thank you

Daylight Again
Wild Pic

These details are furnished by Suresh (Wild Pic)
The Weavers are small passerine birds (Sometimes known as perching birds) related to the finches.
These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which breed in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black.
These are gregarious birds which often breed colonially. They sometimes cause crop damage, notably the Red-billed Quelea, reputed to be the world's most numerous bird.
males build home, and the female rears the offspring. And while the female incubates the eggs, the male may try to attract another partner.
The male’s success in getting any female at all depends on his physical fitness and the quality of the nest he builds. Breeding takes place in the rainy season when there is plenty of new grass around for building and lots of insects for feeding the young. The male bird weaves the outer shell of a nest hanging from the tip of a branch, and whenever an unmated female visits the tree in search of a partner, he hangs from the nest by his feet, fluttering and showing off the bright colours under his wings.
If his display is adequate, and his nest is suitably fresh and green, the female may accept him. But she will refuse him, however good his display, if his nest is brown and dry. A nest turns brown in a week as the grass dries in the hot sun, so if a male does not attract a female while the nest is still green, he has to dismantle it and start again with fresh leaves. Only by insisting on a green nest can a female be certain it is newly built and strong enough to house her and her family.

To enter the nest itself, a weaverbird swoops down at speed to the tunnel entrance and then folds its wings, allowing its momentum to carry it upward through the tunnel without touching the sides

TEST FLIGHT

2006-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

just testing the page

CROC ON A ROCK

2006-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute, I am not close I am 20 feet away in a boat. this is 400mm lens. pretty safe distance. And I was not relaxed. I am not all that crazy to say Hi to him and ask for a portrait session. My mouth is shut and the camera in a silent mode.

He kept his mouth open, he looked like he is in meditation.
Sometimes I stand up in the boat. This time I was firmly sitting.
DON'T ROCK THE BOAT.

Boat man Lokesh and I were talking in sign language.
He said don't stand up.
so I no stand up Sir
not a good idea.

Waited there for ten minutes no action. I took out a packet of banana chips and biscuits.
what a dumb and ghastly idea.
Boatman lokesh quickly rowed away
What ignorance ! How little I know.

He said the smell will attract the croc. We moved away and had a party in the boat. Sweet chap he is. His attitude was so cool. He did not insult me for my ignorance.

Ah ! then I saw some movement. see how the croc is quietly slipping in to water.

He disappeared in less than a couple of seconds and we quickly rowed away. I kept looking but I am not trained to look for crocks in water.

This is a different chapee I think. slowly quietly creeping up the rock full of painted stork chicks.

I got excited, Ii was expecting some action

WHAT ? No action ? no one is even looking at him, all the birds are relaxed. One chapee is going on a stroll . Very strange. I thought they all would fly away. Perhaps they have learnt to live in harmony.
Harmony with a crocodile ?
Well! every thing is possible
why not ?

Well ! he managed to draw one bird's attention ! Tough looking chapee you are ! look at his skin ! WOW. I appreciate I really appreciate your skin buddy.
Can you fly ?
Daylight Again

ROAD TO SILENT VALLEY

2006-06-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is the way to Silent Valley. The picture above and the last two pictures were taken the previous evening. I am posting Silent Valley pictures in Daylight Again
Please click on the pictures for a full screen view

This is how you reach Silent Valley
Coimbatore - Palakkad - Mannarkad - Mukkali
There is another way
Coimbatore - Anakatti - Aghali - Mukkali
I took the second route on my way up

Both the roads are beautiful and are in good condition, but there are too many speed breakers and there is no mark or any warning. This may break your car if you are not careful.

I took an early morning train from Chennai, had lunch with Suresh, took a bus to Anakatti. Had to change as Anakatti is the Tamil Nadu border. Had to cross the border on foot to take a Kerala Bus. It was drizzling. Suddenly it started pouring in buckets, no umbrella, had to rush and take shelter.

It was a tin shed tiny shop run by a lady who asked me to come inside as the rain was still falling on me, saw a man sitting inside having tea, which happend to be the shop keeper lady's residence also, just a tin shed. I was shivering with cold. tried to dry my hair with a towel.

I asked the lady if I can have a cup of tea. the man said this is not a tea shop. The lady darted inside and popped her head out and asked, no milk black tea ok ? I said splendid. The man said I'd have to wait for a couple of hours for the bus. they lady brought a glass of hot steaming tea.
It was a life saver. Just as I took a couple of sips, saw the bus coming.
I panicked.

Can't afford to miss the bus, discard the life saving tea, insult and hurt the lady who gave me shelter treated me as her guest and refused to accept money for the tea, and board the bus. In kerala you are not even sure if the next bus would come, more over another couple of hours wait in the pouring rain. I decided to miss the bus and enjoy the hospitality, Sat down comfortably, dried my hair taking small sips and enjoyed black tea peacefully.

Same thing happened in Plachimada a couple of weeks ago, there in the tea shop I was just a coustomer, I discared the tea and decided to grab the bus, but here I was a guest. It turned out to be a good decision, next bus came after a very long wait of more than an hour, Folded my hands, offered nameste' to the lady, She grabbed my bag and helped me into the bus which was not very crowded.

By that time the rain stopped. got a window seat and the sky was just more than my eyes could take, it was at its full glory, sun popping out and the sun rays falling out of the clouds like a waterfall.

I was sitting right above the wheel and the bus was tossing me up, half the time I was suspended in air and I was clicking pictures of the sky through the bus window. But I did not take my eyes off the sky.

Next day it was very misty, took a ride with my friend Sherji to Silent valley. I knew that I chose a wong time, the whole area was covered with mist.

I was not disappointed that I could not see much of Silent Valley, but the road was just too romantic for me, perhaps I may not get this misty atmosphere again, decided to make the best of it.

Couple of more stories to come, a unique Church experience, I'll post them in a few days. Please see what ever Silent valley forest pictures I could get in the misty atmosphere in Daylight again.

Daylight Again

GOING AWAY

2006-06-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hi my dear friends
Going again, leaving in another couple of hours, silent Valley this time, I'll be back on 29th and reply to all the mail and comments. I think of you all the time
Love you all
Daylight Again

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

2006-06-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hi ! Pleased to make your acquaintance sir !
I am weird but not that weird to extend my hand of friendship. Please don't think I was this close. I was in a boat, sitting not standing like always and at a pretty safe distance.

I waited for some action. I am just a skeleton, it was not interested in me. I mean I waited for it to move, turn its head or something, waited for five minutes, no movement, not even a wink.

Just as we turned, I heard a splash, My eyes were fixed on my boatman Murugan, he did not panic so I did not panic. I couldn't see where it was going, had to turn 180 to see. It was moving away.

They swim very fast, they can float, stay on water motionless, strange for its bulk.
If any guru or a swamiji claims to walk on water he must be a crocodile's son.
these pictures were taken at two different times, on my next visit, my boatman was Lokesh, my friend. He said there's plenty of fish, they get good food and they don't bother any one. No cases of any attack on humans.

I was reading some book where the guy shoots a crocodile, no harm the bullet doesn't peneterate, don't know if its true don't know how thick the skin is.

This chap too was very lazy, hardly any movement. As I was clicking I heard the birds fight, posted in daylight again.

Daylight Again
Wake up Blog

A PORTRAIT SESSION. REGULAR

2006-06-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

This is a regular portrait session, everything is under control. I take my time, relax and they co-operate.

These are shot under artificial light, using a flash. controling the light is important, you have to make it like natural light, for me shadows are more important than the light. Shadows bring dimensions in a portrait.

Here comes a portrait session with a difference in the post below, nothing is in my control, I am at their mercy. There is nothing much to write here, but there's a lot to write in the post below.
Please scroll down.
Daylight Again
Wake up blog

A PORTRAIT SESSION, UNUSUAL

2006-06-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Please click on the pictures for full screen view

Hello there !
AAAAIYEEEE ! a guy with a camera ? looking like me ? Wowwee !!
Can I take some portraits please ?
Sure sure ! What do you want me to do tell me, I am ready Is this ok ?

Don't you think its kind of a regular pose ? Its ok, stay still please don't move, would you stop swinging your legs please ?
Sure, do I cross my legs and sit like a philosopher? You people have those rare kind, here we are all philosophers. Is this ok ?
No No, no philosopher pose, its ok but not enough light on your face.
then Shall I'll give you a regular monkey pose ?

You are indeed a philosopher my friend.
How about this ? Take a picture of my tail, you see ? Its very long and I am very very proud of my tail, look at this !

Yea its very long wow ! yea I took a picture of your tail, Happy ? Please please. you are not paying attention would you please look here, Hey common

Yea thats fine thank you, but still not enough light on your face, I can't see your eyes, I want to take your expressions.

Huh ? Expressions ?What expressions ? Take my profile, Hey ! take my profile, is it good ?

Sure sure very good

thats good thats good, stay there, keep still please.

not enough light on your face look up, would you please look up

Look up ! Hey are you listening ?, I said Look up
Wow thats better, Thank you, thats fine, thats very fine, good monkey you are

EEEEEEEEEEEE How about this ? would you like some action shots ?

no no no i can't be chasing you all over the forest,

How about a few jumps ??

No No, no jumps just expressions, Still I can't see your eyes

Yo Yo thats better

shall I show you some tricks ?

no tricks please just expressions

I am a monkey and I want to show some tricks

I said no tricks just expressions

Cool ! yes thats my boy, I can see your eyes now,

What ? no tricks ? I'm not good ? Am I not handsome ?

Wow what an expression ! Thank you , You ARE handsome my friend, Very very handsome

Ayeee Am I handsome ?

Sure you are !

Seriously ?

Yes Seriously,

Do I have a chance in the movies ? I can jump 30 feet y' know ! I can do a lot of stunts.

I am going to post your pictures on my blog, you may even have a fan club. Stay away from the movies, if you want to be happy, thank you so much my friend, I'll call you, You may have to sign some autographs, have a nice day

This is nothing different from the usual portraits I take, but I am not at their mercy. In the forest there is nothing in my control, I am at their mercy, they have to be kind to pose for me. I am an intruder there.

Daylight Again

PALAKKAD - POLLACHI - PALAKKAD

2006-06-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Train journeys are pretty chaotic but exciting here in India, this one was quite peaceful, with some unusual dose of excitement as this was a pleasant discovery for me. I was annoyed with myself too for ignoring this part or Kerala and Tamilnadu for so long.

This boy is enjoying with keen eyes, they all are very environmentally conscious children. I showed him the his picture on the camera screen, but he wasn't very impressed, he just gave a shrug. I thought he would be very excited.

Thanks to e2dee, I went to Plachimada, Palakkad dist. Kerala, as I was loafing around, I found railway tracks, got pretty excited, made enquiries at a local grocery shop, before I could finished my cup of tea, bus came and rushed to the nearest railway station which was Meenakshipuram on Tamil Nadu side.

Do trains run on this track ?
Not very convincing answer. People hardly take these trains they prefer bus which they said is faster. I found myself in a lovely rustic Mennakshipuram Railway station. To my luck I saw a train coming.
Where is this train going ?
The chap in the ticket office just gaped at me. Saw his jaw dropping.
Where is this train going ?
where do you want to go ?
Want to go where ever this train is going.
Now I could see that he had doubts about my sanity and my looks helping him to decide, as I came running all the way, panting for breath and I am no George Cloony, the train was approaching the station.
Tell me fast where do you want to go, he was muttering something, poor guy was the station master, ticket collector, signal man all in one,
one man show railway station.
Tell me I have other things to do, the train is coming, He was getting annoyed with me.
where is the train coming from ?
Now he had no time to answer my questions. He would have thrown any thing at me.
I was making him mad.
Which side is Pollachi ?
Where do you want to go ?
I took a shot, give me a ticket to Pollachi, I saod.
'six rupees' he said without looking, grabbing a red and green flag.
He gave me a ticket, and rushed out, I gave him 6 rupees outside as he was waving the green flag. I jumped into the train.

Later, the fellow travellers told me that the train is going to Palani, a pilgrimage place passing through pollachi.. What a place, I wanted to get off at every station spend my evening have a cup of chaya there, I couldn't take my eyes off the window, cursing myself that I could see only one side. I was missing the other side completely.

I was hungry, the usual fun, the lady here on her way to Palani temple, has made a cradle out of her sari and her baby in it and train is rocking her baby to sleep. this makeshift cradle, is called jholee in Urdu.

This chap was selling some food stuff, others had brought their lunch with them, Please don't be scared seeing the picture below, the train was not over crowded, it is the hawker who is moving to the next coach in a running train. Plenty of room inside.

The train passes through some lush green country side. Both sides are beautiful.

I reached Pollachi and had lunch, and took a train back to Palakkad, leaving at 3.30 in the afternoon. 13 rupees ticket. and the joy priceless. I have preserved the ticket.

This is a railway station.
The most stunning feature of this journey were the Railway stations. The natural way, hardly any platforms or a building, shady trees, very very romantic atmosphere, wished I could spend time in every station.

Train runs on good old meter gauge, which is fast getting converted to regular broad gauge, but the conversions are made only on the routes fetching good revenue.

I could take pictures of only 10% of what I saw, most of the time I could not even remember that I was carrying a camera. I was just lost looking out the window.

On my return journey i sat right behind the engine which was a stupid idea. The engine horn was so loud that i almost dropped my camera twice.

This guy here was a problem, that is where I was standing and taking pictures, every time he would come and push me to the side. That is when I decided lets forget the pictures and enjoy the scenery.

Daylight Again
Wake up blog.

ALLEPPY HOUSE BOATS

2006-06-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

These are house boats inAlleppy,Kerala, Kashmir style. There are hotels in Alleppy, these house boats are just for tourists, locals don't live in them like kashmir.

All of them are well furnished and clean, but very expensive, starting from 1500 to 5000 rupees or more per day. I can't even think of stepping into them. (30 to 100 dollars a day) I sleep on Railway platforms or in cheap hotels, no more than rupess 200 a day. That too I keep bargaining. You get rooms to suit all pockets in Kerala, except for some places like Kumarakom
where only rich can have a holiday.

Yes, they can move about. I'll try to dig out some old pictures of Kashmir house boats which are furnished like palaces, with expensive carpets. Most of them are in slides.
The one below is perhaps under maintainance, they are ususally well maintained.

Daylight Again
Wake up blog

CHIP NADU - PUTTU NADU - BANDH NADU

2006-06-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is something new to me, Ragi Puttu. Had this for breakfast at my friend Mathew's place near silent valley. He is an Ayurvedic doctor, I'll write about him and his research work in Ayurveda after seeking his permission, He'd be too glad but still have to seek permission.
I have not seen Ragi puttu anywhere else. Crush it with banana he said, but I preferred onion curry with it. It was really filling and very tasty. He told me how healthy ragi is and narrated its great virtues which I forgot the very instant. I'll get you details if you want.

Plenty of fruits this season in Kerala. Other new item I had was a jack fruit Applam and jack fruit payasam at my friend Ramesh's in law's place in Angadipuram. Terrific it was.

these are jack fruit chips, you get them everywhere, shops trains buses. I was munching very little actually. Can't have too much of it, have no money for doctors. I don't want to solve problems, I want to avoid problems. Can't take chances away from home, very tempting though.

I did not buy any halwa here, bought the yellow one, just before I boarded the train back home, just one kilo for my nephew niece and sisters, Tempted to buy the red and the black one too, but the bag was getting too heavy for me to carry. All have different taste. All cooked in coconut oil

See the arrow below? I love this stuff, don't know what its called, its sweet, you get these things in Railway stations too. I buy a packet when I have no time to have a regular meal and rushing to grab a window seat.

Now we come to banana chips. These are big banana chips. Other name for Kerala should be bandh nadu or chip nadu. Kerala is mostly Chips and Bandhs, Bandh is strike, Nothing works, Everything comes to a grinding halt, no activity, all roads deserted, and you'd be stranded with no place to stay and nothing to eat. Lighting strikes. They just fall on you. I was caught on such wrong days five times already. They put boulders on the roads. no traffic. Some bandhs or strikes are announced a couple of days ahead, but most of them hit you un awares.

This is a typical rural setting. This man says that chips fried in the cities or towns on gas stoves are no good. I believe him after tasting his chips, they were lot tastier than the ones I had before. Here he is frying the chips on a mud stove using firewood. He didn't take any money from me, unfortunately I couldn't buy the stuff from him as I had lot more places to cover, can't afford to carry the weight. The place is near Plachimada, its close to Tamil Nadu state border. the place was a great discovery for me. I took a beautiful train ride from there that I never knew about. Thanks e2dees for your tip.

After tasting the very orrriginal chips, time to have some chaaya. Old lady was making tea for me here in this rural chaaya kadai. Just had a few sips and saw the bus coming

You can afford to miss a bus in Tamil Nadu but not in Kerala. so had to abandon my tea, I was sitting next door here and enjoying my tea when the bus suddenly appeared.

I'll write about the romantic train ride in my next post.
Daylight Again
Wake up blog

RUDALI

2006-05-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well ! these are Rudalis
What are Rudalis ?
Don't know much, They are PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS
Professional mourners ? what kind of a profession is that ? Have you gone mad ?
How do you know ?
how do you know what ?
that I have gone mad ?

Seriously, these ladies are professional mourners, they always wear black.
When some one dies in the family in Rajasthan, these ladies are hired to mourn.
What is the nature of their job ?
They have to sit and cry, they make a scene, crying out loud, beating the ground beating themselves (they don't beat each other) screaming and crying, I mean real crying they are professional tear shedders. They get the details of the dead person, his or her near and dear ones.

'o god why why why ? you have left behind your children your grandchildren you left behind your husband why why ?' they cry beating themselves. Very dramatic.
they are so good I am told, that seeing them crying loud and real, others who come for the funeral start crying and people who have been happy over the death like sons in law start crying too.
this is not a joke, seriously.
Don't know anything else about them.

These are the first raindrops of last year in Wynad Kerala, I am leaving today chasing the rain, hoping to get myself soaked, have to attend a wedding in Gurvayur, Please see Daylight Again. After that I am free to chase the rain, No specific plans, I'll go where ever rain takes me I'll be back on 4th June.
love you all
Daylight Again.

RAJASTHAN - Jewellery and attire.

2006-05-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Been very lazy, I am sorry, too hot, I don't complain about heat, I end up ruining my day. Too many pictures to choose from, difficult, want to post all of them, Rajasthan itself is enough for one whole year of blogging, there's so much diversity. If you buy a book on India, half the pictures will be on Rajhasthan, rest will be on Kerala, very little will be on rest of India.
So its better to buy books on each state, each has its own charm.
Please click on the pictures, all are full screen size.

Its very hot here in Chennai, south of India, and it gets boiling hot in Rajasthan, fuming hot burning hot. Please avoid summer months. The climate decides the attire. In chennai people normally wear white, or very mild colours to beat the heat. Different style in Rajasthan, they go for saturated colours. Your camera gets invaded with vibrant colours, you just can't resist.
So please carry an extra card for Rajasthan alone. You need not worry too much about the card as there are studios in every street where you can transfer the pictures to a CD for 60 rupees (abt 1.5 dollars?) Every thing is cheap here.

These people are not dressed for any occasion or a festival. This is normal wear. All very very poor people, but still they love to decorate themselves with exotic colours and jewellery.

Young ladies cover their faces, this is called 'ghoonghat' or cover their heads, first to protect themselves from heat and dust, but the idea is to respect the elders, mostly married ladies cover their faces when appearing before the elderly male members of their in laws. Lot of muslims as well, Pakistan border is very close. Muslim women follow the same fashion.

Hi sweety, lovely smile through your ghoonghat, But her mother in law down here doesn't seem to like the idea of smiling for a maniac like me.

No gold and diamonds, plastic is fine, as long as the jewllery makes them cheerful. They have their own worries, they walk miles to get one pot of water fully decorated, and when their drunk husbands kick and beat them, they receive all the kicks and beatings fully decorated.

Next day they are happy, walk 2 miles and fetch one pot of water, cook, take care of the children, clean up, wash clothes, ready to get kicked by their husbands again. . If you interfere and try to save the wife, you'll end up getting kicked by her, the wife or the other ladies. Its a way of life. Next morning they are happy again.

this lady is selling bangles and arm rings, plastic glass or metal.

she is happy selling jwellery, she said buy some thing for your wife or daughter. i said i have no wife, she started pulling my legs, making fun of me some other ladies joined her in pulling my legs as well. I bought dresses for my niece from jodhpur and Jaipur. I am not good at this but you have to bargain a lot. When the shop keeper says 100 you have to offer 10, you go up a little he comes down a little, somewhere near 30 we meet. please don't feel shy to bargain. some times we feel we are offending the shop keeper by offering one tenth. they like it. They like it even more when they manage to cheat you. so please don't hesitate to bargain, offer the lowest. they never get angry. In south like Chennai the shop keeper gets very angry.

December January it gets pretty cold, and less people on the streets and you will not find vibrant colours.

Daylight Again
Wake up call blog

SMILE

2006-05-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

I was walking through the romantic streets of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, I saw this sweet girl, turned my camera towards her, her mom was sitting inside, started screaming, shut the door ... shut the door, because I look like a maniac, a terrorist, a kidnapper, and escaped convict all put together,
but before she closed the door she gave one sweet smile for the camera.

These are the streets of Jaisalmer. All pictures are full screen size, please click on the pictures for a full screen view.

Daylight Again

Shepherd and his flock of sheep

2006-05-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

State of Karnataka has two extremes, extreme high tech and extreme poverty. You find people deprived of basic rights.
No access to clean drinking water.
This picture was taken on the way to Hosur, which is on Tamilnadu border, Electronic city falls in Karnataka.
Had my lunch in the town.
I wanted to wash my hands. I had to cross a long corridor.
What ? I eat in Tamil nadu and you make me wash my hands in Karnataka ?
Daylight Again

HOPING FOR EARLY RAINS THIS YEAR

2006-04-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well ! my tickets are booked, Going kerala again by the end of May, booked a bit early because of the summer rush, Hoping to drench myself with the first drops of rain. Going to attend a wedding, two of my very dear friends are getting married in Gurvayoor. Nirmal and Sindu. If I tell them that I am hoping for rain they'll kill me. OK no rain on the wedding day Voggay ?? HAPPY ??
Actually my tickets are booked by the happy couple. EEEEEEEEEEE !!! I'll post the wedding pictures for you.

These pictures were taken last year. I was in Wynad when I closed my eyes, my face to the sky and had the pleasure of first drops of rain falling on me. I loved it. I have already posted Senkottai-Punalur pictures earlier. December I think. a breath taking journey.

I wanted to post these pictures immediately after that but forgot. This comes after punalur. This is Punalur-Quilon section. It was pouring in buckets that day.

I have done another post on Thenmala Railway Station, when was that ? lemme check, November it was. There's a story going along with it.. I forgot to post all the rain pictures of kerala but posted the rain pictures of Madras instead. I can tell you we Madrasis are the most environmentally conscious people in the world. We make roads that dissolve in water. Can you beat that ? A whole stretch of 2 KM road just got dissolved and disappeared somewhere in Tamil Nadu. And this happened in other parts as well. Until last month most of the roads in Kerala were in good condition. Tanil Nadu and Karnataka pretty bad.

Daylight Again

2 QUICK SHOTS

2006-04-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

Sheer elegance !
Please click on the picture for full screen view.

The first thing you would like to add to your body are wings. This is every one's fascination. Mine too, I always dream of flying, my reasons are different, I don't have a passport.
Leonardo daVinci tried but broke his wooden wings and himself in the process, Perhaps he didn't have a passport too. But where do we go for such streamlined aerodynamics and hollow bone structure ?
just flap your wings and off you go ZZZZOONK ! gone.

All pictures are full screen size
Daylight Again

ART IN NATURE

2006-04-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Daylight Again

DARTER - Snake Bird - an update

2006-03-31T19:46:00.000-08:00

This is an update of an old post with fresh pictures.

Snake bird because the neck looks like a snake. Darter because it flies very very fast and swims as fast, Can be called a water bird. Body is submerged but neck sticks out of water.

Zoom it goes. Fish eater. You see only the neck darting towards you, ploonk the head goes in, catches a fish and plink plink it flies off very fast. don't know anything else about it. Please add information and correct me if I am wrong. Please click to enlarge, you don't see much in a small picture.

Nancy has contributed the following details Water bird of genus Anhinga, related to the cormorant and pelican, forming the family Anhingidae, order Pelecaniformes. They swim in lakes, rivers, or seas with only the head on the long neck showing above water, moving sinuously, then darting forward to seize a fish, the neck vertebrae being specially adapted for flexibility. The snakebirds are widely distributed throughout Central and South America, South Asia, and Australia, and vary little in colour.

The following information is furnished by ezee123 thank you so much and thank you Nancy.

The most distracting behaviour of the Darter bird is the drop dead behaviour. you will normally see it on high perches and if it gets surprised by anything the automatic response is to drop straight down, even through branches of the tree, to the water as if dead. You would be puzzled by this and presume that the poor bird has met the Maker.

These two pictures were taken in Ranganathittu, and rest of the pictures were taken in Kumarakom, my friend Sallu was kind enough to take me there, actually he insisted that I visit Kumarakom, and the ride was really rewarding. Thanks you so much Sallu.

Look at that, sheer beauty and elegance
I updated the post with new pictures, the older post pictures were taken from a distance. Now with Panasonic Lumix, I could go closer with a 35-420mm Leica zoom, Hi Thanks Cherian, I have written about the camera in a previous post 'New Camera'
Daylight Again

For Sangita

2006-03-26T22:19:00.000-08:00

Sangita, I am sorry I took time, I had transfered the pictures to a CD and misplaced it. Goofs like always, and I don't have much information on them too, here are some more pictures of whistling birds or ducks
Daylight Again

Whistling Ducks

2006-03-26T21:54:00.000-08:00

Whistling ducks are not ducks, they are birds, you can call them whistling birds, yes they do make whistling sound, They are not birds because they don't perch on tree branches, they are ducks because they are always in water, marshy lands. They fly higher than ducks and their feet are streched in flight, where as ducks fly a short distance not too high but their feet remain where they are, I mean not streched in flight.

What what ?? confusing ? They are ducks but they are not ducks they are birds but they are not birds. Something must be seriously wrong with me. I don't know anything else. Please tell me if you know something more.

Daylight Again

NEW CAMERA

2006-03-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

Friends and their friends bring their cameras to me for repairs, I try to direct them to the camera service people. but no, they want me to take their cameras personally and get it repaired for them. The most common problem I had to deal with in the digital cameras is the CCD (charged coupled device, please correct me) Once its gone you have to either junk it or spend a fortune to get the CCD replaced, I always advise them to junk it as you can buy a new camera for the cost of the repair. Been thinking for a while. A Digital camera should be nothing more than a handycam, why is it so expensive ? All digital cameras offer a movie mode, easy to shoot which serious photographers rarely use. Why do they offer it? They offer this feature because a digital camera is primarily a handycam. I realised that the film camera makers who jumped into digital are taking us for a ride. They have a psychological advantage as we would trust only them, we have been using their brand of film cameras for ages. Digital SLRs use bigger and superior processors which can handle low light without grains, so do these handycams. You can buy two good laptops for the price of a Digital SLR body without lens. The additional lenses cost a mighty fortune. These digital SLRs are the biggest rip off. Believe me it is not wise to invest in the cameras which you cannot trust. Unlike the film cameras, anything can go wrong with a digital anytime without any reason. It will be a stab in your heart. Your pictures are not safe until you transfer them.

All these pictures were taken with Panasonic LUMIX DMC FZ30 with 3MP setting and lowest quality

CCD, the Processor and the autofocus technology. I thought I should check the people who have been in this business for donkey's years, SONY and PANASONIC, a serious photographer will have doubts about them as they did not make any film cameras.( Not to my Knowledge) One Model caught my fancy, Panasonic 8 MP, LUMIX DMC-FZ30, sounds very complicated, read the review, This camera has low light handling problem, still I decided to go for it as It was affordable. The most attractive feature which is not offered by any other similar 8MP digital was a 35- 420mm Leica zoom. I can't miss this, I told my friend Cherian to buy this camera for me.

Cherian, Reeni and their brilliant little son Sam are in Chicago. He is a software masala brain lots of bulbs glowing inside his head. Cherian is always too glad to contribute to my photography, wasted no time, bought the camera immediately from Butterfly Cameras, found a gentleman who was going to India, Within a few days the camera was in my hands. Cherian can pack Mount McKinley neatly in a box and send it to me. I had to go to Kottayam to collect it and in the process I met a very sweet family, Cherian's friend Sallu. Every thing was perfect, the camera was a joy. The padding material Cherian used for the safety of the camera was a beautiful shirt for me. Smart man he is. I had to test the camera, I wanted to go to Thekkady, but Sallu insisted on taking me to Kumarakom, close to Kottayam, It turned out to be a treat, the whole day was like a dream, meeting a sweet family getting a new wonderful camera and Kumarakom. I had to spend a lot of time to understand my earlier digital cameras. With Panasonic LUMIX all controls are so easy that I did not even touch the manual. All I had to do was to choose the quality of the image from the menu. I chose the lowest to accomodate more pictures in the card. Along with the joy of having 420mm Leica zoom, the other feature which works wonders is the image stabliser. These are some of the test pictures I shot in kumarakom.Thanks so much Cherian and Thank you Sallu for taking me there.

I was nearly 40 feet away in a boat which was rocking. Here the image stabliser helped me. I can't jump and take pictures, (Not in a boat) the stabliser has limitations.

Daylight Again

SPOONBILL STORK

2006-03-13T02:17:00.000-08:00

OOOWAA, spoonbill ? does the bill look like a spoon ? Looks like a spatula I think. Clak Clak !! Stays mostly close to shallow water Big fellow, may not be as big as painted or openbill stork. Don't know anything else. Please click to enlarge, see the texture on the bill.

Like painted and openbill storks they too are not very good architects. Pretty shabby their nests are. they lay 4 to 5 dull white eggs. Thats all I know.

Nancy has dug up some information.
They use their spooned beak by weaving or waving from side to side through the water. Sensitive nerve endings allow the bird to feel when the beak comes in contact with food and it shuts its strainer. They munch on small fish, shellfish, insects, and shrimp and other amphipods..

When flying in flocks, the birds generally form a diagonal line. The head and neck are always outstretched. The wing beat is slow and long. They have been known to feed in both salt and fresh water. Here they are predominantly white, in florida they are pinkish. The bill is highly textured and artistic.
Thank you Nancy.

What a cheap camera you got there !
This is what I can afford Sorry spoonbilly, I said
I am not very happy with your finance minister, I don't like the budget this year, and why George Cloony ? I look more handsome.
I know I know
Sorry again spoonbilly don't know much about finances. I'll ask the Oscar committee and tell you.
Can I have your profile please ?
Click click click ....

Thank you spoonbilly
Just thank you ? Throw me a fish you idiot.
EEEEEEEE ! can't take chances spoonbilly, just saw a crocodile, I don't want to end up as his breakfast.
Do you know how much these fashion models charge for a picture ? and you can't even get me one lousy fish ? How unfair !
I know you are more handsome and elegant than a fashion model spoonbilly, sorry got to go, byeee see you next year.
Daylight Again

THEYYAM - Night

2006-03-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

THEYYAM can be performed on any subject, social or religious, Here a page out of Ramayana is performed. On that day it was Hanuman. For some reason THEYYAM is performed only in and around Malabar Dist. It is quite different from Kathakali. The atmosphere is electric, draws large crowd from the neighbouring areas. Its a night long performancees of different characters.
Lot of fireplay is involved., it continues through the day, I don't have much information please contribute if you have any details on the subject. I have deleted a few posts and pictures as the page developed some problems, please view all the pictures in my album at Photobucket

Daylight Again

BREAKFAST

2006-03-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

My friend Benoi on the far right first informed me about the THEYYAM, Change of plans, I was in Coorg, Dashed in to a bus to Taliserry reached there pretty late in the night, We went stright to the temple.
It was my lucky day as I came to know one of the sweetest of families I have ever known in Kerala, Mr. Sahadevan his brother in law Mr. Sudhakaran and family. They made my stay so comfortable that I felt I was not far away from home. This is the house, Benoi and I stayed on the top floor, a traditional kerala style., they have a very beautiful garden, Thank you for making me feel at home. And thank you Benoi for giving me this memorable oppertunity. I am very sorry for the delay in posting the pictures.

We had puttu and kadalai for breakfast, The brown is wheat puttu and the white one is rice puttu. It is used to be steam cooked in bamboo, now you have puttu cookers. Extremely delicious. thank you thank you all.

The rest is what I had on the way, a typical rice meal, Hot boiled red rice, more kolumbu, sambaar poriyal, jaggery payasam applam and curd. In kerala you get warm jeeraga vallam every where, I ask for it always. jeeraga vallam is water boiled with zeera, or jeera, cumin seeds ? please correct me. It will be yellowish in colour, now you get a glass of jeeraga vallam in fancy pink.

This is Adai , a kerala delicacy, sweet, steam cooked or baked in banana leaves ? don know I know how to eat. Don't eat the banana leaf, coconut banana and some dhal inside its very very yummmy, you will not stop with one. No oil, perfect.

This is pzham pori, I keep eating this all the time, fried banana, some times when you are lucky you may find stuffed pazham pori with coconut jaggery. pretty oily but very very tempting. You can't resist.
Daylight Again

THEYYAM - Morning

2006-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

This too is from Ramayana, Sita and her two children, for pictures of Ravana and rest of the Theyyam pictures are in Photobucket

They are me, I am them

2006-03-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

This is roughly India for you, I am not trying to scare you off, We survive here and I love it. I am enjoying every bit of my life here, being one of them.

Please read my very first post
in Daylight Again

Monitor Settings.

2006-03-01T04:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever asked yourself why colours fade when exposed to light ? They should not, but they do. Not every thing is good about the nature. We need a roof, and we protect our body from extreme cold heat and bright light. We don't see very saturated colours in very bright sunlight. The colours are there always, but our eye does not see the saturation. The moment we wear dark glasses all the colours look saturated.
Why do we wear dark glasses ?
To reduce the light reaching and hurting our eyes.
Why does it hurt ?
The pupil contracts to the minimum and can't close any further.
The sky is uniformly blue all over, north to south pole. You see saturated blue sky when the sun is behind you. As you turn towards the sun it turns white. It is blue all over but our eyes can't see it and it is more saturated than what we see.

There are certain filters called polarisers, and neutral density which photographers and cinematographers use to cut the light. These filters come in different shades of grey like ND1 ND2 ND3 ND4. You are actually making the camera wear dark glasses to get the saturation. Polariser when rotated cuts the reflection on the non metallic objects and brings out the saturation. Flowers look more saturated under cloudy sky, and polorizers are not very effective under cloudy conditions, actually you don't need them.

It is the ultra violet radiation which causes all the damage and makes the plain photo grey glasses turn dark. Such neutral density screens are available for computer monitors as well to reduce the radiation reaching the body. Believe me it is harmful, the worst being loss of hair. The pupils in our eyes are continuously under strain, it is more harmful to the eyes when the room is dark. The surrounding area should be at least half as bright as the monitor. But you don't need the ND screen if you can reduce the brightness of the monitor to minimum until the edges of the monitor just turn black. Its pretty tricky as the present day normal monitors don't handle finer shades of grey like the digital cameras as against the film. Very expensive monitors and digital cameras handle light shade ratio well, they come very close to film. Its a big subject I'll deal with it later. You always enjoy watching a movie in a theatre. Most of the soap operas on TV are uniformly lit as the TV cannot handle very low light. You'd enjoy serials like x-files more on the theatre screen if shot on film.

The clock on this page was white, I changed it to black for easy calibration. If the dial is grey, your monitor is too bright, it is harmful for your eyes. and you lose the saturation of colours. The fonts I use on my post are grey. All for a reason. As white against black would hurt your eyes. At the top you can see the 8Pennylane picture, which will give you shades of grey.

Please close your eyes for a couple of minutes every half hour. Eyes relax when the pupil is fully dialated. In the nights please switch on the lights a couple of minutes before you boot the computer.
Daylight Again

RIVER TERN PICTURES

2006-02-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

More River Tern pictures and story in Daylight Again

Daylight Again

BEAUTY GRACE & STYLE

2006-02-25T19:13:00.000-08:00

If ever there's a beauty pageant for all species, humans don't really stand a chance (with all the make up)
What makes humans beautiful is the warmth they generate, not the intelligence.

Daylight Again

I am back home.

2006-02-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

Back home after 10 days of chaotic travel, some days of peace and quiet in the company of animals, birds mostly, one festival, some discoveries, and meeting some friends and relatives. Have to sleep for 2 days, very tired, though I did not feel it while traveling. There's lot to say, lots of pictures to post and reply to comments on my previous posts perhaps tomorrow. Lot of catching up to do, No newspapers or TV. Don't know what happened, but every thing sems OK, and I am fine, no loss, no bad experiences, just pleasant memories to carry me through. Making plans to go to Varanasi even before I reached home. Been there before twice, I love the chaotic life. I want some more of it.
Its good to be back home.
My love to all of you.

Daylight Again

From my window seat

2006-02-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

I love trains, I would spend my entire life in a train , there's so much charm and fun traveling through Indian country side, there is such a lot of activity, every one is busy doing something, playing cards or other games, boys and girls palying ANTAKSHARI (its a game of songs, sometimes it becomes a pain or noisy if it continues through the night) You have a steady flow of eats, hawkers selling almost everything, fruits vegetable (fresh from countryside) munches, books maps, toys, you can even get nail cutters safety pins, comfort is not my priority, but nothing like having a window seat. Now you have mobile phones, They suddenly remember their grand mothers and call them. Sometimes ten fifteen guys would be talking at a time, A railway coach is a mad house, in north its pretty chaotic., I have seen people cooking chappatis, though the railways are doing their best to put an end to it. In Gujrat people eat almost all the time, they bring large tin cans of food stuff. My journey back home was pretty comfortable. Here are some pictures taken from my window seat.

There is a steady stream of beggers, and you can do nothing about it, some times you see exceptional talent there, all sorts of tricks I have seen a blind man playing flute in Kovai Express from Jolarpet to Erode, I keep following him through all the coaches, leaving my things and camera bag on my seat, a stupid thing to do. I caught him once, we sat by the door our feet dangling outside the train and Kovai express going full speed and our friend playing the flute through the deafening noise of the tracks, bought him a coffee and gave him some money, At Erode he gets off the train, he doesn't ask if its Erode, he knows. Though I travelled through the same segment yeaterday but I did not find him. Amazing talent. Plays only film songs. Here the man is playing harmonium and the woman is singing, it was a pain. A real torture.

Daylight Again.

ORANGE DELIGHT

2006-02-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

Don't tell me this is not orange, I can identify only primary colours. On top of a thin stalk the flower keeps swaying in the breeze, I go back and forth and click at a point. Depth of field is very low, when I took this picture never knew there's going to be something called digital. I used a 35-70 short zoom with extension tubes, my good old battered Olympus. poor thing is getting rusty now. Being very lazy digital cameras suit me.
Enough of storks, going after more birds on Tuesday. Have only one way ticket. going to the place I was born. I was born in a forest, Its no longer a forest now.
Daylight again.

Painted Stork, Mycteria leucocephala

2006-02-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

These details are furnished by Suresh

The Painted Stork, Mycteria leucocephala. is a tropical species which breeds in Asia from India and Sri Lanka to southeast Asia. It is a resident breeder in lowland wetlands with trees. The large stick nest is built in a forest tree, and 2-5 eggs is a typical clutch.

The Painted Stork is a broad winged soaring bird. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched. The adult is a large bird, 95-100cm tall, mainly white with black flight feathers. The head is red, and the long downcurved bill is yellow. The tail and legs are pink, and there is dark barring on the breast. Juvenile birds are a duller version of the adult, generally browner and lacking the bright colours of the adult.

The Painted Stork walks slowly and steadily in shallow waters or adjacent wet grassland seeking its prey, which, like that of most of its relatives, includes fish, frogs and large insects. It sweeps its head from side to side with its bill half open in water as it hunts for fish.

Where did the whole business of the stork delivering babies come from? To avoid the details of conception and childbirth, Scandinavian mothers used to tell their children that the stork delivered babies. The stork was a natural choice for the Scandinavians. Many houses had storks' nests on them, which gave the story credibility in children's eyes. Further adding to the appeal of the stork, is the bird's fidelity. Not only do storks return year after year to the same nests, but they are monogamous too. Storks also take care of their elderly or sick parents, an added benefit for parents trying to develop similar traits in their children.

Please scroll down for more pictures in following posts, Flight displays, Nest building, Take off, Speed, landing. and in Daylight Again Design, Bolshoi theatre posts

Hello ! What you doin there, why are you depressed ?

Life sucks, really sucks

No, it doesn't, Its a beautiful day. Lets go impress the guy with the camera. Lets go pose for him.

What do we get out of that, Do we get an Oscar ?

Hey man! just for kicks. Some thrills thats all. We have nothing better to do anyway.

Yea I flew past him but he didn't take my picture.

Perhaps you were too fast for him. Do a slow jig.

We perform mid summer nights dream instead ?

good idea.

Daylight Again

For e2d

2006-02-08T04:07:00.000-08:00

I've been missing something, next time I'll take pictures of local food I eat. This is typical Kerala food, little elaborate here in the first picture, advised for health concious people. all koottoos 'more kolambu' jaggery payasam banana chips and other things.

This is normal food, served on banana leaves, sit on the floor and eat if you really want to enjoy the food. there is some charm in having hot rice served on banana leaves. the aroma itself serves as an apetiser. Here it is white rice, usually you find red boiled rice, thick grains. yumm yumms with sambar.
Thought about this after reading e2d's kickass sambar

This is an old temple (recently renovated) in Aranmula, Kerala

This is a typical Kerala traditional house. The old style is fast disappearing.
the roof tiles used here are hard to get, they are called Mangalore tiles, suit the local climate. Cool in Summer. Tiles manufacturers are disappearing too.
Daylight Again

KICKING MYSELF

2006-02-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

I don't practice what I preach. I always tell my friends to check their own backyards before going to the north pole to take pictures. I have been ignoring my own surroundings. Decided to go to Vedanthangal, Been there 25 years ago. Kicking myself for ignoring the place hardly 80 KM away all these years, There are pictures below in different posts and in Daylight Again as well

On my way back from Vedanthangal took a train from Chenglepet, slow train. The entire coach was empty, I was the lone occupant, I had all the window seats to myself, chose one, sat down feeling hungry and tired. After some time a vendor came selling sundaal(chana) bought a good quantity for just 2 rupees. Ate a few and then I started tossing chana in to my mouth. Too much masti. I was missing the target by miles. tossing one by one. they were going north south east and west but none going into my mouth, hitting my nose my beard and some went as far as my ears, both sides, and some hit my forehead, and some missed my face completely. I didn't care as none was watching my stupidity. I can't be that bad, and I was beginning to doubt Einstein. nothing to do with the theory actually as I was moving with the train as well. I was getting angry now. I was looking for the chana vendor to buy some more. It was getting more like gambling addiction. But I had quite a few left. The train stopped at a Katanglattur. One chap walked in to the coach. The entire coach was empty but still, this guy chose to occupy the seat right opposite mine. Is he blind ? I am not a gorgeous fashion model, I am the ugliest gorilla on the planet, infact gorillas are better looking. This guy was ruining the game I was playing. I suddenly realised that I am hungry and I am supposed to eat the chana I bought. I ate a few. Our friend took out his mobile from his pocket. He was punching numbers. Yea I know now, he is trying to impress me with his fancy mobile. I peeped, it was colourful looking good, He stared at me, I quickly turned my face to the window. He was trying to call some one I think. and none called him. He held his pone little away from his face 6 inches away from from my chest and was admiring what probably was his new baby. Some more people got in at Tambaram, a family, one stupid father was allowing his kids to stick their hands out of the window of the speeding train.

Our friend sitting cross legged kept his phone on his thigh, took out his handkerchief and rubbed it cleaned it, I was expecting a geenie to come out of it and say hello. He put it back on his thigh, probably wanted me to see it.
I saw it and pretended not to see it.
It had a colour picture on the screen. I kept eating the
chanas, one last chana left, a big one and heavier too, saved the best for last. I thought I should impress this guy with my skill. Tossed the last one into my mouth. OOOWAA ! BULL'S EYEEE ! It went straight into my mouth and hit my throat like a bullet as the train came to a grinding halt, no no, not my throat, it hit the ceiling of my mouth rebound and got stuck in my throat. Painful. This guy was staring at me, Wondering how a silly old bearded goat would do a stupid thing like that, the chana stuck in my throat was irritating me. He didn't seem impressed with my great performance, well I was not impressed with his mobile either, I have seen better ones mister. I didn't have a mobile to show him, can't afford one. I got off at Mambalam and coughed the chana out of my throat which was stuck there for nearly 10 kilometers.

Bought 2 packets of Boli for my niece nephew and sis. Boli is kind of sweet roti. Roti is never mind its a sweet thing to eat.

Daylight Again

PAINTED STORK

2006-02-04T21:13:00.000-08:00

Tall Chap goes 3 feet high, predominantly white, red head yellow orange beak, black white wings, they are huge for the size when open in flight. Long slender legs are pink too. Stylish chaps

You see pink on its tail, I don't know if its a tail. They are like pink brush strokes, hence the name painted stork.

They live in colonies. They don't mind living with other species on the same trees, They build nests close to water. Terrific body design. We copy them.

Owee Forgot, Our chap lives for 28 to 30 years, thats pretty good I think. Don't know anything more than this. If you have any more info please add.

Daylight Again

FLIGHT DISPLAYS

2006-02-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Males usually display their flying skills to impress the females, we do the same, You should see the headless college boys of my city Chennai, riding motor bikes in front of girl's colleges making a fool of themselves.

These birds can always go sit beside the female and talk to them sing a song and say I love you. or offer a diamond ring. No .. they HAVE to inpress them.

The female says I am not interested in the fish you brought for me, let me see your skill, show me what you can do. And the males go bonkers.

Instead of slowly landing on the branch of the tree, they make a circular low level flight at full throttle for no apparent reason like stupid college boys. ( This is my observation, I may be wrong) But its a treat to watch. Each time I found myself gasping a wow.

You can see the same style in skiing. Here the feet are streched straight when flying full speed. They bend down like a concord while landing.

Please don't forget to carry binoculars, but here at Vedanthangal you don't need binoculars to enjoy this flight displays. Spectacular it is, at a very close range.

NEST BUILDING & HATCHING

2006-02-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

I saw these two affectionately crossing their beaks, like a sword fight, no ..no fight OK ? very gently touching the beaks cris cross. Is this what 'Pecking' is ? Male attracts the female. The usual story of making a fool of themselves like we do. They have some rituals, like Ballet ?
I have seen some low flying displays. They fly full speed at low level.

You what ?? you could have hit a tree you idiot. You could've broken your beak trying to impress me.
I did that because I love you dear'
The female says your performance is no good, stop making a fool of yourself, go learn some better tricks. See Daylight Again for more Ballet.

Pink Pink Pink Painted stork starts breeding after the monsoon.
Don't just sit there brooding wasting your time, go get some sticks, the female tells her mate.

Where are you going ?
Just like that, to meet some friends, flight testing may be.
Enough of your flight testing., go get me some twigs and sticks.
After some nagging from the female the male takes off. Its usually the male which gathers sticks and twigs, and the female builds the nest.
Surprise surprise, males too take turns incubating the eggs.
Here they are collecting sticks to build a nest.

Daylight Again

TAKE OFF

2006-02-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Daylight Again

THE SPEED

2006-02-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

LANDING

2006-02-04T13:50:00.000-08:00

Daylight Again

WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

2006-02-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Please see the bird sitting in the background. You can hardly imagine how big the wing span is. Its really massive, you'd realise it only when they fly close to you.

Daylight Again

VEDANTHANGAL - The Sacntuary

2006-02-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

Thousands of birds of different species come here during January and Feb each year. Please avoid week ends and holidays if you want to spend some peaceful time here. Usually the wardens leave you alone, and no one bothers you.

Good place to sit and read if you are tired of taking pictures.

10 rupees was the ticket, and 25 for the camera, 100 for video camera. I don't have a video. If you are planning to spend the day please carry food and water as nothing much is available there. You can get tea coffee and buiscuits. Please don't trust the mineral water you get in the local shop.
Buy lots of water from the city.

Boating is not allowed as I did not see any boats there

Vedanthangal is around 80 KM from Chennai -You turn right after 5 KMs on the Chenglepet Trichy highway. 20 KMs from the highway you reach Vedanthangal, good road. You'll enjoy the drive. Or you take a bus from Chenglepet. There is a regular bus service.

Daylight Again

LONG LEGS

2006-02-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

A Bloke in Australia walks up to the bar with a big ostrich behind him, The barman comes over, regarding them some curiosity, and says, "What'll it be?"
The man says," I'll have a pint", and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?" "I'll have a pint as well" says the ostrich.!"
So the barman pulls two pints, and says "That'll be three pounds forty, please." The man reaches into his pocket, feels around, and, to the barman's surprise, pulls out exactly the three-forty in change.
The next day, the man, and the ostrich, "I'll have a pint.", says the man. "Same for me.", says the ostrich.
The bloke pays each time with the exact amount from his pocket. This becomes almost a regular routine until, late one evening, they enter again. "The same?" asks the barman. "Well", says the man, "it's close to last orders. I'll have a large scotch." He turns to the ostrich inquiringly. The bird says, "I'll have a large scotch as well." the barman rings up the drinks and turns, with a sly grin, "that'll be seven pounds twenty, please." To his amazement, the man pulls the exact seven and twenty out of his pocket.
As they are finishing their drinks, the barman can contain his curiosity no longer. "Excuse me, sir, but before you leave there's something I must know... how do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket... every time?"
"Well", says the man, "it's a long story. But basically, several years ago I took care of an old lady well into her nineties, and when she died, she left me her old house. Nothing special, but as I was cleaning out the attic, I found an old lamp, and when I rubbed it, this genie appeared and offered me two wishes."
"That's fantastic", says the barkeep, "What did you wish for?
"Well, if I ever need to pay for anything, I just put my hand in my pocket and the right money will always be there."
"That's brilliant" says the barman, "most people would wish for a million pounds or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live."
"That's right, whether its a quart of milk or even a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there. The best thing I ever did!"
As he turns to go, the barman calls him back and says, "One last thing, sir... err, your friend there... we don't get many ostriches drinkin' in 'ere...?"
The man looks glum. "Yes, I know. That's probably the worst thing I ever did, but I'm stuck with it. You see, for my second wish I asked for a chick with long legs.

Daylight Again

JUNK

2006-02-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

Please don't think that every time I clicked I got a good picture. the success ratio was 2 to 8
I mean out of 10 clicks I got something in 2 and the 8 were junk. I brought lots of junk pictures home.

I don't practice what I preach. What you need here is patience which has never entered my door. Suresh has loads and loads of patience. Here I have selected the best of the junk. Just imagine how the rest would be.
In the first picture I got only the tip of the bird's feet. I was too late.

The digital camera lag was adding to my woes. Sometimes the camera clicked after the bird reached Siberia. Felt like drowning the camera in the lake.

Here I am too early.

This is completely out of focus. I am not giving excuses. No patience here.

Daylight Again

VEDANTHANGAL - Stay

2006-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

This is Govt. guest house, just one kilometre before the bird sanctuary. Air-conditioned room is Rs. 400 and non A/C is Rs. 300. You have to book your accomodation from Wild life warden's office in Chennai. I did not check the rooms as I was feeling very hungry.
Daylight Again

THE VILLAGE

2006-02-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

Just before Vedanthangal there is a very neat village. Don't know the name of the place but its on the way, you can't miss it. Its very clean. Here a lady is drying paddy, smiling and singing a folk song

They may not be aware of it but they've been worshipping nature and natural forces for ages.

The white lines drawn in front of the hut are called kolam. Usually it is rice flour, to feed the ants and to keep them from coming inside the house.

Daylight Again

FANTASY

2006-01-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

Daylight Again

FOR PATTY

2006-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

This is a temple in the Himalayas, Place is called Grahan, used to be a 4 day trek in the late seventies early eighties. Very old slide which I copied with a digital macro. This place keeps appearing in my dreams even now.
Daylight Again

THATTEKKAD The place

2006-01-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

This is Thattekkad, Kerala. Alwaye-Perumbavoor-Kothamangalam. The road takes you to Munnar, but you take left from Kothamangalam, 12 kilometers you reach Thattekkad bird sanctuary and reserve forest. Lots and lots of birds. You don't need any music.

This was an accidental discovery, I did not plan it. Kicked myself for having a return ticket by the night train. Taking pictures was the last thing on my mind, just being there and trekking through the forest was a great feeling. Trekking without a forest guide would be a very stupid idea, Over confidence can kill you, I almost lost my life in the himalayas once. Here my guide was Ipe, strange name, not hype, terrific knowledge, I became his fan, he is my friend now.

Kerala this time was very hot for January, very unusual, I was completely drenched in sweat but did not feel tired, but worried that I may miss my train, had to go about 80 kilometers and this was a very remote place, though my friend Ipe kept assuring me that I will get a bus back to Kothamangalam. Spending just one day is a tragedy. You can spend half your life looking at the trees and birds. Any way got the bus, reached Alwaye in time to catch the train. Now I feel very tired.

View from the tree house
Daylight Again

THATTEKKAD Stay

2006-01-26T05:41:00.000-08:00

This is 300 rupees a day fun to stay, you have to be happy with the food cooked by the forest guards, great view, stayed there for some time, Pretty good during the rains I was told
This is something I can afford. going there again.

600 rupees a day, watch tower, neat place but takes away the forest feel, safe and comfortable
But I don't go looking for comfort, and I cannot afford this

THATTEKKAD pictures1

2006-01-26T05:26:00.000-08:00

Daylight Again

THATTEKKAD pictures

2006-01-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

Light

2006-01-03T01:47:00.000-08:00

Strictly speaking a picture is 2 dimensional. You can make it LOOK 3 dimensional if you allow shadows in the picture using a single source of light. Angular light like 9 in the morning or 4 in the afternoon brings out good depth in the picture. Avoid top light (around 12 noon) specially for portraits, it looks ghastly. I'll deal with portraits later. Strong direct sunlight gives harsh shadows which often are not very pleasing. You get pleasing soft shadows in a shade bright enough for a picture, under a tree or on a cloudy day. Please make sure that the back ground is not brighter than the light falling on the picture area. Please try shifting your position. Most digital cameras have built in flash which pops up automatically under low light condition. Flash kills the shadows and the depth. Under low light condition please disable the flash and hold the camers very still and shoot. You have to hold it very still because it goes at a very slow speed and you will end up getting fuzzy pictures. Please allow the camera to focus for a couple of seconds before clicking by gently depressing the click button half way through and hold it still a second longer after you click, usually there is a lag in digital cameras. I am not scaring you away from the built-in flash. It has its uses indoors or in the nights, like family pictures or birthday parties where good natural light is not available. When ever natural light is available please disable the built-in flash. you get good natural and 3 dimensional pleasing pictures. Please experiment with and without built-in flash and see the difference. Please remember shadows are as important as the light. Shadows bring depth in the picture. Believe me, the buit-in flash sometimes proves to be a monster.

Daylight again

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2005-12-31T03:20:00.000-08:00

Please click on the picture to enlarge, the text is very small here
Wish you all the joy, health (in abundance)
sunshine and clean water (in right measures)

Daylight again

How to shoot paintings

2005-12-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

This is not for professionals.

This framed picture is taken with my niece's 6600 camera phone.
8 am, direct sunlight. a bit too early as my niece had to leave for work, I was surprised with the result, its pretty good. Picture was taken in 1980 Darjeeling. I still remember her name, Rita sweet girl she was.
9 to 10 am would be perfect.

please place your paintings on the floor. I took the picture to the terrace. your position is opposite the sun, I mean you are facing the sun, even if you bend, your shadow will not fall on the painting. Your toes are a couple of inches away from the painting. Place the camera right above the painting. Please check the edges, and see that the frame is straight. In the above picture the frame is not straight. Now please move the camera back and forth till you fill your camera frame with the painting. If you move little above you'll get your toes in the frame, avoid the toes and click.
Direct straight flash kills the texture.
Morning sun brings out the texture well and so is evening sun.

This is for your own paintings and not for the paintings on the wall or the gallery.
Paintings or artifacts in the gallery have to be shot with the existing light without flash. Please take permission first. Your camera could be confiscated.
This picture is taken with a 4MP olympus.

Daylight Again

A journey in to yourself

2005-12-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Left Trivandrum with an idea of going to Kanyakumari, At Nagercoil without thinking I hopped into a bus going to Tirunelveli, It was like my mind and limbs had lost connection. A bus to Sencottai was inviting me, got in to the moving bus, landed Sencottai little after midnight, cold and hungry, nothing to eat. Went straight to the Railway station. Only hope of getting something to eat was next day afternoon at Punalur, as the Sencottai Railway station was completely deserted. Feeling tired after a long and rattling bus journey, sleepy, met the station master, I said I want to take the early morning train to Punalur. He gave me a cup of tea which he made
himself as he was alone. The most precious cup of tea of my life, judging by me haggered look he asked me if I had eaten anything, I lied, I said I ate. I did not want to give him any more trouble. I just needed a place to sleep. He gave me the key to the waiting room and told me to sleep there. Old British type of waiting room, high ceiling. Over whelmed with the station master's kindness, went to sleep, Deafening thunder and lightning did not disturb me, I slept like a log, there was no one to steal my things,
and I did not care... like always.
It was raining.

The station master woke me up at 5 with another cup of tea, by now there was some activity in the station. It was still dark and raining harder. I saw the train, bought the ticket, 19 rupees for pleasure so priceless. Got in to the train, put my things, I went back to the station master to thank him. I am a 58 year old child, I want a window seat always, no other passengers, I had the entire coach to myself, all the window seats were mine. I spread my legs, I was shivering, pretty cold it was. I knew what's ahead, it was not the first time. I was all prepared.

The train left on time. No goodbyes, This journey suddenly hit me, it wasn't planned. My last meal was previous day afternoon. I was not hungry, I had a different hunger. I am old and I cannot afford to take chances, It was cold, no warm clothes, I was shivering and it was raining and half my body was hanging outside the train, I was completely wet. I did not want to miss a
thing, still too dark to take pictures but the camera was in my hand. Its ok if it gats damaged. It started getting brighter and I started clicking.

the pictures are not very clear as I took them from a moving train and it was raining, the raindrops were on the lens and i was too busy to wipe them off and and one hand was engaged in holding the door. I made the pictures bright as they were very dark.
Wish I could post all the pictures but most of the
pictures are in my album senkottai-punalur

Daylight Again

scary generosity

2005-12-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

I was walking down Llyods road, saw a young fortune teller at a cart selling water melon pieces. He bargained and walked off, probably he couldn't afford it.
Got an idea, wanted to take his picture eating water melon. I visualised the colour, too colurful to resist. I called him, he was scared, I don't look like some one seeking to know his future.
It was 7 in the morning.

I bought him a piece, hesitant at first then surprised, couldn't believe his luck or getting suspicious of me, I look like a kidnapper. To put him at ease I told him that I want to take his picture. Now he was really getting suspecious perhaps wanted to run. The water melon seller encouraged him as he was getting business.

Before I could take the camera out and adjust the exposure the boy finished the piece. I bought him another one, this he accepted with glee. I told him to eat slowly. I was about to click, I found the roll was over, I rewound and loaded a fresh roll, he finished the second piece too. He started walking away, I called him, he started walking fast. The water melon seller ran and grabbed his arm and dragged him back to his cart, it was business for him. Gave him another piece, he refused, he pleaded and said his tummy is full.
I got angry.
Eat it I said.
Now he was visibly scared of me. I took a couple of pictures, but was not happy with his expression, and he was not happy with my forced generosity. He finished the third one too very fast this time. I told the seller to give him another one, the boy grabbed it and ran for his life.

This happened more than 20 years ago perhaps, I am not sure. He must be a big time fortune teller by now. No no I am wrong, they are street fortune tellers, they are always hand to mouth, poor guys, the real professional guys have airconditioned offices, you meet them only on appointment and believe me you have to wait.
Daylight Again

New arrivals

2005-12-01T04:33:00.000-08:00

I don't like the black fellow, bad attitude, refusing to pose, he was getting angry, hardly a few of weeks old, Mother was not objecting. she is gorgeous. She is sweet. I'll post her picture tomorrow. She'll be annoyed with me if I post her latest picture. ' Oh I look so old and fat' She'll complain.
She'll be happy if i post an older picture. I have to locate it.
The suspected father's picture is posted in Daylight Again for a reason.
You'll find him below in Digital cameras a few posts below. A big thug, rowdy kameena loafer he is.

THENMALA

2005-11-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

Thenmala 20 years ago

Senkottai - Punalur perhaps the most breath taking train journey of south India. Before the conversion to BG the only train to Trivandrum was from Madras Egmore, thru Madurai -
Tenkasi - Quilon. I was not aware and I was not prepared to face the beauty of Senkottai - Punalur section. It was simply breath taking. I was in a state of shock right through. I was very angry that no one told me about it. This was 35 years ago. It took me another ten
years to go there again.

I stopped at Thenmala. Spent three days there. No place to stay. Four estate workers were very kind to give me a place to sleep. I used to go for walks in the nearby forest, sit there and read, have lunch at a mess, I was the only paying customer there, rest were having monthly account, got friendly with the manager, chatted with him in the nights after dinner.He wanted to know If I see film stars every day. He was very disappointed with my answers. Enjoyed my meals like I do always in Kerala, Hot steaming red boiled rice, hot more kolambu OWWEEE !!! dark smokey place , and piping hot Jeeraga vallam yooops ! Me shivering with cold with hardly any warm clothes. No warm clothes at all..

After lunch I used to sit in the railway station and read. A paradise on earth.no one to bother you, always deserted, very few trains passing. The station master used to sit with me and chat. He told me that Thenmala Railway station received awards for the best maintained Railway
station of India for 7 years in a row. WOW !! I saw the framed awards hanging there on the wall.

Thenmala today

While having lunch I saw a man pointing towards me and talking to the manager. I was the only outsider there. He followed me to the railway station. No one there, I sat on a bench and opened the book, Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance reading perhaps fourth or fifth time. I knew he was standing behind me
He tapped my shoulder asked me in Malayalam who are you, then repeated in English.
Who are you is the most difficult question to answer sometimes.
I said I am from Madras.
What is your purpose ?
Purpose ? What purpose ? What do you mean ? what Burbus ? I mimicked him
not a good, idea rotten idea infact.
I am blinking He was getting angry, saw you taking pictures in the forest do you have any permission ?
I don't need any bermission from anybody its a free Gundtry.
I was mimicking him in every possible way.
Who are you ? I asked
He said he is the forest Range officer.
Oh shit ! no uniform
'I can confisgatee your cameray'
I was not carrying my camera thank goodness.I realised I am not handling this too well.
You'll never find a complete moron, complete nothing short
Well made, perfect moron I am. He was drunk barely able to stand. I was hoping the station master would come to my rescue, There was no one there.
Suddenly I had a bright idea felt the bulb glowing in my head though very dim 10 watts. It never glows brighter. I went closer to him and whispered in utter secrecy,
there was no one around , only birds.
I have come to hunt for location for song shooting for a film company.
Whichee combeni ? he asked
Now I stopped mimicking him.
I was cursing my lack of film knowledge
Right behind him was a film poster, weather beaten, half torn, faded soaked in rain. a lone poster hanging there just to rescue me, lovely eyes staring at me rest of her torn,
angel she was, I saw the name, don't remember now, just a shot in the dark, hoping it was a name of a company not the name of those lovely eyes, My mouth was dry.

The moment I uttered that name he fell to his knees, well almost. It was bull's eye.
Boy ! how powerful these films are !!
He grabbed my arm and said
saarey why are you staying in that rat hole, I'll take you to the forest bungalaaa, we have electricity there, I'll bring my jeep, I'll take you around, show you some nice locations saar
I said fine .
what time shall I bring my jeep to pick you up sir
I said come at 5
I left at 4
to Quilon.

Daylight again

Valparai

2005-11-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

Aliyar Dam

This is Attakatti, misty romantic place on the way to Valparai,
Coimbatore - Pollachi - Valparai one of the most beautiful roads of Tamil Nadu

Daylight again

Konkan

2005-11-20T04:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the net I found a weekly train Trivandrum Jodhpur. Boarded the train from Calicut.
It is a breathtaking journey. Planning to go there again in January. If you are planning to take the konkan railway please see that you cross the Mangalore - Bombay in day time. Sleeping thru any part of konkan is a crime. Please make sure your train has a pantry car, since all the stations are new and away from the towns, you get absolutely nothing there except for madgaon Goa
More pictures in Photobucket

Daylight again