tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91941064791854319692024-03-05T21:48:39.165+05:30Urban YayawarUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-73404086555776241102016-02-27T12:08:00.002+05:302016-02-27T12:08:44.082+05:30Aligarh - The Art of Being Human!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You must understand the whole of life,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
not just one little part of it.<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is why you must read,<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">that is why you must look at the skies,<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">that is why you must sing and dance,<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">and write poems<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">and suffer and understand,<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">for all that is life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">~ Jiddu Krishnamurti</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is
rare in Hindi movies to get to see a realistic portrayal of an actual event. I
am not sure why but a general preference is to over-dramatise the incidents
& deliver performances in the style of Sohrab Modi. Of course such movies
& such performances - on & off screen - are also appreciated too often
without a thought about the kind of substance or sometime even lack of it
behind; thus ringing the cash register or voting machines - as the case might be.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The real
life is not a drama though, and hence it was indeed heartening & refreshing to see two real
life incidents portrayed so humanely in two outstandingly crafted movies
back-to-back - within a week – first Neerja & then Aligarh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aligarh
is about the human conscience, love & empathy which must remain the
cornerstone of our value system & not the other way around where our value systems decides our response to love & empathy. The movie is
also as much about the morality-preaching, right to privacy & hell-hounding
media as about conscientious & sensitive journalism – perhaps a rare
breed today but was not so always – at least not in the times (& I intend
the pun) of till early 90s. Could it be the case that like the politicians, we also
deserve our journalists? But I am digressing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being a
movie about a poet perhaps made it easier, but Aligarh flows like a poetry –
and as Prof Siras tells in the movie – where the nuances were found not in the
words but in the pauses in between (Shabdon men nahin, Antaraal men). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hansal Mehta has imbibed this, and one finds well-crafted
scenes with such pauses aplenty – Prof Siras getting down to translating
his own poem amidst the cacophony in the court room, or his advocate (Ashish
Vidyarthi) after delivering a fine & case winning speech finding Prof Siras
snoring away are just a few instances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite
him chiding us for tagging the adjectives rather than understanding,
an absolutely inspired performances by Manoj Bajpai as Prof Siras - watch him
blushing when his is called a good looking man, his eyes when he talks of going
away to America, his fears when he hears a strange sound and the melancholy
while listening to Lata’s Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna Yahi Hai– and Rajkumar Rao
without any dialogue-baaji & melodrama is the kind of treat one does not
get served too often. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And if
not for these performances, Aligarh is worth watching because “being human” is not
to generally tag & criminalise & shun away – because of our collective
power - but to understand & be inclusive to even those who may have preferences or ideologies different
from us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hats off to Hansal Mehta & his team!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-75888491370413678632015-12-27T16:43:00.000+05:302015-12-27T16:43:06.832+05:30Star Wars & Bajirao Mastani: A Brief Review of Two Sequels<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A week where I had a tryst with two sequels:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>First: an intended one:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Star Wars - A New Awakening</b>. A crackle of a movie that manages to tick all the "must" boxes of the franchise; well paced & well photographed at some of the best landscaped locales - loved the way the desert has been captured; and with Harrison Ford, Carrie Fischer & Mark Hamil brings alive the nostalgia as well as becomes the perfect connector for the remaining two movies to follow. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">J J Abrams, the legacy of George Lucas seems to be in perfect hands. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May the Force be with you!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Second - an unintended one:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bajirao Mastani</b> where Mr. Bhansali still seems to be still reeling under the hangover of Devdas. Similar template with ticking of all the "must" boxes - ever moist eyed actors in love, music piece set to the dance steps of Birju Maharaj (<i>Mohe Rang Do Laal</i>, a lovely song though missed Madhuri Dixit's effervescent dance), one song-n-dance with both the heroines, lots of grandeur & pomp with amazing eye for detailing of inanimate objects. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite good performances by all the key performers, the movie unfortunately leaves one cold due to its uni-dimensional portrayal of the characters. For me the defining moment was when one of the bravest warrior of Maratha history starts dancing & singing "Vaat Lavli". </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kharach Vaat Laavli..</b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-44653363606137158682015-04-03T20:50:00.003+05:302015-04-04T07:41:05.406+05:30अग्नि पंख! अग्नि पंख! अग्नि पंख!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">वृक्ष हों भले
खड़े</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">हों घने</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">, </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">हों बड़े</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">एक पत्र छाँह भी</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">मांग मत! मांग
मत! मांग मत!</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">अग्निपथ!
अग्निपथ! अग्निपथ!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">These iconic verse by Dr Harivanshrai
Bachchan were made more so with Amitabh reciting these in his deep baritone for
his movie Agnipath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As an avid Flamingo watcher, looking at
them going about their business – stoically with a typical British upturned
nose - on shore or at ponds under the watch of a hot Sun is such a joy. As they
take walk or stand contemplating some philosophical thoughts of their kind on
those long lanky limbs (ah, again that Amitabh connection) – suitable for a
ramp walk - I find these verse of Dr Bachchan apt provided
I replace the last line with the word “</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">अग्नि पंख</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">” – a moniker coined for Flamingos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16822150120" title="25_05_20148618060131_mating_dance crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="25_05_20148618060131_mating_dance crop" height="663" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/16822150120_8ff8f82721_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Agni Pankh - “the
wings of fire” - suits them so perfectly; specially as they reach their
breeding period & don the deep hues of flamming orange-red plummage. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Perhaps these fiery wings
are the reason for them to be equated to the mythical Phoenix who after living
a long – a very long life of more than 500 years – would regenerate itself from
the pyre of flames in which it has immolated itself. No wonder, they are termed
scientifically <i>Phoenicopterus</i>, the only genus in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_%28biology%29" title="Family (biology)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">family</span></a> <i>Phoenicopteridae.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/17008244142" title="IMG_2015_03_22_011131flamingo sky crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_011131flamingo sky crop" height="625" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/17008244142_6fd72d7414_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">One of my earliest
memories of these magnificent fliers is from a documentary on flamingos &
their habitat in Kutch produced by Indian Films Division in mid 70s & for a
long time was one of the sub-features in most of the cinema halls. Little was I aware of their annual migration
to the shores of my city. It was only a few years ago when my eyes opened to the
whole new vista of huge flocks that grace this city every migratory season.
Since then nothing has been able to deter me from visiting those haunts every season with my
Canon 7D & lenses; sit at a distance with adequate nourishment (perhaps more than adequate, sometimes) and
try to capture their moods. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16821840488" title="IMG_2015_03_22_011163Flamingoe on the run crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_011163Flamingoe on the run crop" height="614" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/16821840488_a2a7f8f43b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Here are a few of these labour of my love – set as usual to
extracts from a couple of poems: one - "The Phoneix Bird" by none other than Hans Christian Anderson
& another - "The Stately Flamingoes" by R M Ingersley. I am sure if not the images, the poems shall be good reason for you, too, have a fiery passion for them - to match their wings of fire:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/17008145852" title="IMG_2015_03_22_011235Flamingoe Adult portrait crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_011235Flamingoe Adult portrait crop" height="606" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/17008145852_420eccdeeb_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div align="center">
The bird perished in the flames;<br />
but from the red egg in the nest
there fluttered aloft a new one<br />
the one solitary Phoenix bird.<br />
The fable tells that he dwells in Arabia,<br />
and that every hundred years,
he burns himself to death in his nest;</div>
<div align="center">
But each time a new Phoenix,<br />
the only one in the world,<br />
rises up from the red egg.<br />
The bird flutters round us,<br />
swift as light,<br />
beauteous in color,<br />
charming in song.</div>
- See more at: http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/phoenix2.html#sthash.VYNv99SO.dpuf</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">In the Garden of Paradise, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">beneath the Tree of Knowledge, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">bloomed a rose bush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Here, in the first rose, a bird was born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">His flight was like the flashing of light, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">his plumage was beauteous, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">and his song ravishing. </span><span style="font-family: 'Bernard MT Condensed', serif;">(Anderson)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/14231913899" title="01_06_20149616061120_flamingo_flight by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="01_06_20149616061120_flamingo_flight" height="683" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14231913899_6d93dc6ea3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">FLAMINGOES rare that haunt the shimmering strand,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">When slow, on stately wings, they wheel in flight,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Seem everchanging clouds of pink and white<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">And flashing scarlet, far above the land.</span><span style="font-family: 'Adobe Gothic Std B', sans-serif;"> (Ingersley</span><span style="font-family: 'Adobe Gothic Std B', sans-serif;">)<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16399400033" title="IMG_2015_03_22_010806Flamingoes crop 2 by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_010806Flamingoes crop 2" height="677" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7591/16399400033_8ed1972916_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">The bird flutters round us, swift as light, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">beauteous in color, charming in song. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">He flies through the chamber of content, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">and brings sunshine into it, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">and the violets on the humble table smell doubly sweet. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Bernard MT Condensed', serif;">(Anderson)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/17008189402" title="IMG_2015_03_22_010987flamingo portrait by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_010987flamingo portrait" height="683" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/17008189402_3a8369d2ba_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Anon, the flock lights on the dreary bank<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Of some great pestilential swamp, to feed,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Curving their necks amongst the tangled weed<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">They search, and not in vain, the herbage rank ;<o:p></o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Adobe Gothic Std B', sans-serif;">(Ingersley)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16389478163" title="IMG_2015_03_22_010853Flamingoes s by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_22_010853Flamingoes s" height="683" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/16389478163_8fd15f31f1_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">The Bird of Paradise- renewed each century<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">born in flame, ending in flame! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Thy picture, in a golden frame,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> hangs in the halls of the rich, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">but thou thyself often fliest around, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">lonely and disregarded, a myth- "The Phoenix of Arabia." <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Bernard MT Condensed', serif;">(Anderson)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/17018901222" title="IMG_2014_11_01_000038flight to the Sunflight to the Sun_1_crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2014_11_01_000038flight to the Sunflight to the Sun_1_crop" height="608" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7610/17018901222_1af475782f_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Now, when the feast is brought unto its end,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Or sentries warn with signals loud and harsh,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Echoing throughout the vastness of the marsh,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Gothic Std B","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">They mount in chainlike flight, and homeward wend,<o:p></o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Adobe Gothic Std B', sans-serif;">(Ingersley)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16823449149" title="IMG_2015_03_21_010299flamingoes crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_03_21_010299flamingoes crop" height="460" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/16823449149_bdebe37cd4_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">In Paradise, when thou wert born in the first rose, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">beneath the Tree of Knowledge, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">thou receivedst a kiss, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI;">and thy right name was given thee - thy name,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bernard MT Condensed', serif; font-size: 16pt;">Poetry! <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Bernard MT Condensed', serif;">(Anderson)</span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">P.S.: For more images of these stately flamingoes, please do visit my album Agni-Pankh at the following link:</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.817641498283276.1073741859.398359763544787&type=1&l=d70effea7f"><b><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.817641498283276.1073741859.398359763544787&type=1&l=d70effea7f</span></b></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-42526221901732059722015-03-08T15:25:00.000+05:302015-03-08T16:28:55.108+05:30Kyun Ki Chillar Nahin Hai Mere Paas!!<span style="font-size: large;">While watching one of
the lawyers talking about women as flower & fragrance etc in India's
Daughter, my thoughts went back to the Station Master character from
"Jab We Met". The tone & tenor was quite similar, with him
patronisingly telling Geet (Karina Kapoor) how a woman travelling on her
own is like an open treasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Well, obviously the ban on the movie indicates that this advocate in real life or the station master in reel life are n<span class="text_exposed_show">ot
the only ones with this kind of mindset. Over last couple of years,
there have been many more voicing similar thoughts - quite brazenly too -
including those who are leaders in their own right - be it political or
social. Javed Akhtar is right when in Rajya Sabha he mentioned that
such have been the thoughts of some of the members of the Upper House
also.</span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I think time has come
for those with liberal & modern mindset to not keep quiet, but
resort to what Geet did in the movie. Bemusingly, she asked the Station
Master if all his talk is free or going to cost her money: Kyun Ki
Chillar Nahin Hai mere Paas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> So next time any one comes across in public domain to give us similar kind of gyaan - be it about how a woman should behave or what we as a matured educated adult are entitled to watch or read or hear - let us tell the person <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/chillarnahinhai?source=feed_text"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">ChillarNahinHai</span></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Etg93AyqBxZ9N1WkG3B4ihiCkvObqczbNpNYUULTWjzg0xpqCyh_mYnyiTAN2KPJOdcSNCsG5L9UMj6SMO6JA7K5fOkQsVKlKnsrBlRtBU8eHm9-u3JZpt0wvoWNAoAV6THPnbBNaWjK/s1600/Kyun+Ki+Chillar+Nahin+Hai+Mere+paas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Etg93AyqBxZ9N1WkG3B4ihiCkvObqczbNpNYUULTWjzg0xpqCyh_mYnyiTAN2KPJOdcSNCsG5L9UMj6SMO6JA7K5fOkQsVKlKnsrBlRtBU8eHm9-u3JZpt0wvoWNAoAV6THPnbBNaWjK/s1600/Kyun+Ki+Chillar+Nahin+Hai+Mere+paas.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-73581338297931100082015-02-19T18:41:00.002+05:302015-02-21T15:46:40.598+05:30Yeh Zindagi ke Mele...<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">चर्च का गेट है </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">चर्च है लापता </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ई है बम्बई नगरिया</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">तू देख बबुआ</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember the line from AB's rocking number of original "Don"? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16390161678" title="WP_20150205_18_36_22_Pro_churchgate by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="637" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/16390161678_5ac716be0f_b.jpg" title="" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
Well, such is the case with another landmark area: Kala Ghoda, a
precinct where "Kala Ghoda" - the black stallion - is conspicuous more by its absence.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Those interested in trivia of our city, here is the history behind this name - Kala Ghoda:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
The place was so named because of presence of a black stone statue of King Edward
VII mounted on a horse that was commissioned somewhere in mid 19th
century by Jewish businessman and philanthropist Albert Abdullah David
Sassoon. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, as the city developed and got crowded, in order to get more space perhaps, the statue was in mid sixties shifted to Rani Baag - the zoo at
Byculla. However, the statue had existed here long enough for people to colloquially name the
precinct after it; and we continue to call it so even after it was removed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Last few years have brought the name again in lime light because of the annual art festival held here <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/kalaghodaartfestival?source=feed_text&story_id=10152986880366236"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">KalaGhodaArtFestival</span></a> (<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/kgaf?source=feed_text&story_id=10152986880366236"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">KGAF</span></a>)
- a must visit experience for everyone. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There exists a palpable energy,
an endless eclectic mix of varied sights & sounds and the attractive art-works & ideas that reflect the themes trending in the society currently - in other words, a Kaleidoscope of humans. More than that what it offers is a unique experience for those interested in street
photography. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16578353372" style="text-align: start;" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009781KGAF_crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="588" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8581/16578353372_cef96a58e0_b.jpg" title="" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of the captures from 2015 edition of this festival through my </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/canon7d?source=feed_text&story_id=10152986880366236" style="font-size: x-large;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">Canon7D</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As the setting Sun, behind the clouds turns the historic buildings of the precinct into a silhouette, let me unveil a few of them for you. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16545648116" title="IMG_2015_02_07_009642moon & skyline_crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="675" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/16545648116_5d75684cc0_b.jpg" title="" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The building in the far background is of-course </span><span style="font-size: large;">the signature of Mumbai University - </span><span style="font-size: large;">Rajabai Tower. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The building with an expansive decor is well- known Army Navy Building - currently used by Tata group. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16383964510" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009867KGAF crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="672" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/16383964510_ccb7248c93_b.jpg" title="" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">However, it is the non-descript building on its right whose current status belies its rich past. This is Esplanade Mansion - formerly known as Watson Hotel - the swankiest hotel in the city in late 19th century. Apart from it being India's oldest surviving Cast Iron building, more interesting information - specially for the movie-buffs, is this being the first building in India to screen Lumière Brothers' Cinematographic invention - in 1896.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16391830998" title="IMG_2015_02_07_009647KGAF crop by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="659" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8662/16391830998_07418b3ffe_b.jpg" title="" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming back to the festival itself, amidst the kaleidoscope of moving images, you find a lot many who seem to be looking for inspirations</span><span style="font-size: large;">, like this old man.. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16385354949" title="IMG_2015_02_07_009598imaages by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_07_009598imaages" height="683" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8658/16385354949_491dfc9ff6_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">.. there are many who are trigger-happy, just like me, except they also create captivating sights </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16383763868" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009887KGAF by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_13_009887KGAF" height="683" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8611/16383763868_8afbe3fb6f_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Surely, befitting the reputation of this city of dreams, it attracts those who are aspiring to be part of the Wall of Fame.. and find inspiration over here, just a cut above Khushwant Singh & Salvadore Dali, proving..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ख़ुशी हादसा है, ग़म हादसा है</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">हक़ीक़त भुला कर, हरेक भागता है</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16571451555" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009933KGAF by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_13_009933KGAF" height="683" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8671/16571451555_26b01ffc30_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Not everyone has the opportunity for this short cut though. Amidst the crowd of revellers, you can not but stop noticing someone like her - prettier also, surrounded by glittering ornaments. Since all that glitters is not Gold, her melancholic look makes the overall sight so poignant.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16385124489" title="IMG_2015_02_07_009638pottery making bw by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_07_009638pottery making bw" height="590" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/16385124489_4ea59ec24b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In another corner of the fair, the wheel of the pottery maker moves on, just like life. Every one tries their hand, yet few remember Kabir's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">माटी कहे कुम्हार से , तू क्या रौंदे मोहे </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">एक दिन ऐसा आएगा , मैं रौंदूंगी तोहे</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16385723847" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009760bubble colours by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_13_009760bubble colours" height="683" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/16385723847_93edc1df56_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Of the variety of sights on streets here, what I love to capture the most are the reflection of the city around in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">bubbles. The light, as it moves through these bubbles, add rainbow colours, turning even the dreariest images into enigmatic ones. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/16383770658" title="IMG_2015_02_13_009770hear eat share by Ashish Mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2015_02_13_009770hear eat share" height="683" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/16383770658_b03a48e589_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Surely, bubbles have very short life unless...</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> it is related to the building in the background - towering over Rhythm House & the city. Here life span of bubbles change with the rhythm of the nation. No wonder, the graffitti on the outer wall of Rhythm House act as a reminder to underscore the essential of growth - Think & Feel comes before you Make.. and only when you do not forget to Share.</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are many more captures, but rather than crowding the blog here, let me showcase it here: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.794962197217873.1073741857.398359763544787&type=1" style="font-size: x-large;">"Yeh Zindagi Ke Mele"</a><span style="font-size: large;"> & </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, when you visit, please do like the page for the regular updates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-22117998477600315082014-03-06T21:20:00.001+05:302014-12-23T18:30:23.821+05:30Once Upon A Time In Bharatpur...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
(Sarus Cranes & Night-jars - the two birds have been eluding me for a long time and hence were on top of my wishlist which I rattled off to our guide-cum-rickshaw driver at Bharatpur. Continuing with the tradition, they remained unseen, and yet the trip was far from being a disappointment. Perhaps, there was a touch of nature's magical wand. Here is an account of what I imagine could have happened, once upon a time in Bharatpur....)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Mom, Mom, he’s here, he’s here”, cawed the Crow!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Who?” enquired Mother Nature “What’s making you so pale?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“What? Pale? Let me look at myself in this pond. Nah, this is just some of the stuff that got stuck to me while I was rummaging through the field. Hmm.., come to think of it, a little more of this and wouldn’t
that make me resemble a treepie?” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“No, and I forbid you from trying it. As it is, I find it difficult
to distinguish you from your other brothers of the crow family. Anyway, what
has ruffled your feathers?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Oh, the ruffled feathers are just a part of my new look. You know, I got this idea while taking a dip in that stream, and..”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Crow, would you please get to the issue that has caused you
such consternation, than rambling on about your looks?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Mom, remember that guy last year who wished to see the
Sarus Crane pair, just about the time when those mammoth birds had flown off vacationing?!”
</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh yes! Troubled as
I was, I managed to ward this human off. It was, of course, a cruel trick to
play, getting him to quarrel with his lovely wife, and the way they went off in
a huff made me feel a little guilty. For a moment there, I was aghast, thinking
I perhaps went too far. Fortunately, I saw them at Tajmahal later, happy and back
to normal. Whatever that poet Sahir may say about Tajmahal, something is surely
romantic about that “Mohabbat ki Nishani”.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Oh good Lord, that’s cheesy. Et Tu? Anyhow, he is here again, and it was my good
fortune that I heard him talking to that guide, Raju Singh, saying he is
desirous of seeing the Sarus Crane pair and, believe me or not, the Night-jars. You should have seen the look on that Jungle Babbler's face - aghast & angry. Fortunately I had the sense and I came straight to you, flying as a crow flies”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12941412573/" title="13_01_20142169054995_jungle_babbler by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142169054995_jungle_babbler" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/12941412573_f67d04cc18_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Uh-oh! What an inopportune time! Had he been here
yesterday, he could have watched them for as long as he wished to. It is not
possible now, as with weekend rush already over, they just wandered off for a much needed respite. Well, there’s not much that can be done now,
other than maybe letting him see Nightjars, at least.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Not possible Mom! They have decided to stick to their
work-to-schedule plan, and will reveal themselves only in the night. They are of
the opinion that too much advantage is being taken of them, as bipeds capture
their images even during the day, despite their being known as night-jars.
Believe me, it is quite jarring – this whole attitude.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Pray, Raven, do not be racist. For that matter, even you
all are bipeds.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Well, at least we have feathers, and we flock together.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes, and remember, when you crows get together, it is
called a Murder!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I seriously wonder, why should Nightjars complain? The owlets
do not – they get spotted all the time, and yet have not asked themselves to be
named something other than Spotted Owlets."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12930754815/" title="14_01_20143522056239_spotted_owls_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="14_01_20143522056239_spotted_owls_crop" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/12930754815_430edde087_b.jpg" height="706" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Now, let me see, I have already
ordained a fog-heavy day for tomorrow, so I need to be concerned only about the
present, and partially, tomorrow afternoon. For some part of this time, my well-arranged landscapes can enrapture him. Now for the remaining part of his trip, I need to
marshal my resources. Go forth, go now, and tell all the birds and mammals to
put their shoulder to the wheel. It is showtime!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Even the elusive ones?”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Especially, the elusive ones, I am afraid; Otherwise, this
guy may not turn up here again. He was quite disappointed last year as well. Did
he ask for anyone else specifically?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12907934684/" title="02_03_20135947037372 C 2 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="02_03_20135947037372 C 2" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/12907934684_8d6f062555_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“No, but having watched him, and the way he eyes those calendars, he would love to sight some kingfishers." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12907635885/" title="13_01_20142151054977_commonkf_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142151054977_commonkf_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/12907635885_e55cddc2e0_b.jpg" height="689" width="1024" /></a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Fortunately, that
little pompous, pampered brat will be perched atop its favourite place– always
posing to get photographed! Let me tell you, this social networking has turned
him into a mini celebrity. You should see how he upturns his beak at most of
us.” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, it is a minor matter – and pray do not be like humans,
always grudging someone for his looks, brains or skills. You are a bird, so
behave like one, content with what you have. I am more worried about what else we
can unravel for him. Okay, here is an idea - speak to Black Bitterns and ensure
that at least one of them is visible to him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: large;"><u><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12941896144/" title="13_01_20142691055470_blackbittern by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142691055470_blackbittern" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/12941896144_3ec1e7e061_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Bitterns? They are so reticent & shy. I have half a
mind to ask them, ‘once bitterns why shy?” The crow cackled in laughter.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Your jokes have gone from bad to terrible. It is time
for those Bitterns to take up center stage. That would also make them understand what others have to put up with when these human beings are around.
By the way, where are those Ruby-throats. Have they arrived from Siberia?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12907566505/" title="rubythroat_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="rubythroat_crop" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/12907566505_5c4ef30c02_b.jpg" height="668" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Oh yes, met one of them today, while it was flitting around among bushes, trying to avoid those two photographers who have been camping
at her favourite tavern since yesterday, with their bazooka kind of lenses. I
really do not understand how high & mighty you allow these migrant birds to
behave!”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Whoa! Stop this talk of migrants & residents! Remember,
even though you are in too much of a proximity to those human beings, this behavior
is unbecoming even for a human. These smaller birds fly such a huge distance to
meet all of us here. So let us be warm to them, and share the bounty. There is
enough for everyone’s need, though not for everyone’s greed. Getting back to
the birds in bush, please inform at least one of them to be available for
sighting when this guy moves around. Of course, if it does not want to be sighted
by others, it is fine by me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Okay, you are the best judge!”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes. I hope those human beings also understand that I am
the best judge. Anyway, let me see who else is available. Perhaps a few of
those lapwings..”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12930734895/" title="14_01_20143472056192_grey_headed_lapwing_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="14_01_20143472056192_grey_headed_lapwing_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/12930734895_29700244ec_b.jpg" height="673" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Oh, those bossy birds?”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Why bossy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Well, I rarely see them doing anything themselves, and yet all they do is to keep asking …Did-you-do-it?”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Crow, do not waste time in these silly semantics! I know
patience is supposed to be my secret, but you are tiring me out. Go now &
inform everyone else also. Include some of the ducks too– specially the visiting ones, and geese.
They can do with some attention, as well.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Not all geese are present. Being a long weekend, those bar-headed ones have
headed off to the nearby watering-hole.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Ah, Chambal! Yes, I know, and fortunately for him, he could
sight them when he was there, too. But remember to tell the other flock. They must try to be visible, even if it is so cold." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12931187183/" title="14_01_20143016055749_grey_leg_geese_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="14_01_20143016055749_grey_leg_geese_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3828/12931187183_ecda282cdb_b.jpg" height="622" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"I know
another good surprise that I can throw to make him happy – ask those snakebirds
to slither around and show off their hunting skills. The more the drama they
can create, the more they will enchant him." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12907751573/" title="13_01_20142618055400_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142618055400_crop" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/12907751573_d3642a122e_b.jpg" height="722" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Also, those raptors! Ask them to
heed me with rapt attention and hover around. One never knows when they can be
of paramount importance.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12941327625/" title="13_01_20142324055122_raptors_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142324055122_raptors_crop" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/12941327625_c59b8da61c_b.jpg" height="689" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Don't forget any of the mammals too, though I know you are scared of them. Perhaps a dash or two of Fox too can divert his attention from his wishlist."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12941665794/" title="fox_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="fox_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12941665794_2bf8eb116f_b.jpg" height="681" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"And yes, to those branched off ones from the ancestors of human beings, remind them not to monkey around too much. They end up hogging all attentions, always!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12940358795/" title="12_01_20141541054436_monkey_with_nirvana by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141541054436_monkey_with_nirvana" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/12940358795_1d1d7b8f71_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Okay, okay! Understood. Pull out all stops, is what you want us to do. But tell me, why are you being so generous?”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, it is just another moment for me. However, for him? Well, like most of them who come here, he also treats me as
a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight. At the same time, somehow he is
stuck to the idea – acquired from one of his favourite authors, that when
you really want something to happen, the whole world conspires to help you
achieve it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“So? How does this help him?” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“It is time for him to learn that even when one may not find
what one is looking for, there is always a surprise in store for those who are
ready to spend time with me." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Wasn't it another of my admirer John Muir who had said, so rightfully - "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks"."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"He must learn </span><span style="font-size: large;">what another of his favorite authors Thoreau had said, 'If one
advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the
life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common
hour.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Caww – I mean Wow”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I know he is unable to get what he is seeking right
now, but once he experiences this magical land and the populace of these enchanting
winged creatures that I have here, he would like to return again, pursuing his
dream. It is important for him to have patience and learn that it is the
possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Dear readers, this is how I ended up getting to see and capture, through my lens, some of the most beautiful feathered friends, a few displayed here, and others on the link given below:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.631766620204099.1073741846.398359763544787&type=1">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrbanYayawar">Urban Yayawar Travel & Photography</a>.</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
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And yes, getting back to those birds that I started with, Sarus & Night-jars, I am sure, not too far in future, Nature willing, I will be able to get some lovely captures of those lovely birds too.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11903277/?claim=e6s9ze8hpaj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-29416331377757096912014-02-24T21:13:00.000+05:302014-12-23T18:30:42.893+05:30Yeh Kaun Chitrakaar Hai..<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Ah!
The travails of a travel-blogger!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Wondering,
why this sigh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Well,
it is not an easy task to capture & write uniquely about the essence of a
place that finds more than a lakh visitors thronging it each year – a number of
them better writers & photographer than Yours Truly. Add to this that fact
that in the days when digital imagery has captured a permanent space on
everybody’s mobile & Facebook, it is all the more difficult to create a
unique photo-journey of a place which attracts nature photography enthusiasts
from all over the world. I was facing this very dilemma that
evening, when I stepped out into verandah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It
was about 7 in the evening. After a long day’s walk through the woods &
wetlands, my fellow traveller had decided to take a short nap. The weather was
cold-rather, very cold-chilling to the bones even through the 5-6 layers of
warm clothes that I had donned. In spite of the cold, with nothing much to do
till dinner, I opened the door & got out. The sudden appearance of a biped
startled a few spotted deer wandering idly just outside the room. I looked
incredulously while they, stepping back to a bit of a safer distance, in their
perception, stared back at me – an intruder in their idyllic world -
inquisitively and perhaps insolently. That was the moment I realized I had
found my WALDEN.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12722656995/" title="13_01_20142485055272_Oh spotted a Deer by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142485055272_Oh spotted a Deer" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/12722656995_ab69cded29_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">WHEN</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="background: white;">I WROTE</span> <span style="background: white;">the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I
lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had
built myself…</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Thus
begins Walden, the book which narrates Henry David Thoreau’s a year & a
half long sojourn & tryst with nature in America of mid 19<sup>th</sup> century.
The experience afforded him an opportunity to discover and contemplate about
the various facets of human life, and the synergy these share with nature. The
book is also a kind of a treatise on transcendentalism – which links humanity
& nature through divinity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It
is almost a decade ago when I first came across Walden while rummaging through
old books in one of the cabinets of my office – which were part of my
father-in-law’s collection. This was that phase when I was just turning 40, had
already been in the midst and then, at the helm of corporate financial affairs,
and had by that time set-up my own CA practice. The book’s curious beginning
set me on to a journey which, over the years, brought me closer to nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12721945485/" title="13_01_20142077054922_Boat by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142077054922_Boat" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2867/12721945485_280fd1d821_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">I went
to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential
facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when
I came to die, discover that I had not lived.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">A good book eggs you on to experience the story. Thoreau’s
Walden had the same effect on me, and I longed to find my own Walden. It was
easier thought than done though, accustomed as I have been to the city of
comfort that existed within me. Unlike Thoreau, I did not find it as easily
possible to lose myself in wilderness for such a long period. Hence, I took an
easier path – wandering for brief communes with nature, with my wife or friends,
accompanied by my camera & literature at my fingertips, seeking illumination from nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12722570615/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;" title="02_03_20135791037248_sunrise_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="02_03_20135791037248_sunrise_crop" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/12722570615_485200de48_b.jpg" height="644" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">I
did manage to travel to places which I would not have thought of a decade ago.
These wanderings not only provided wider perspective about nature & its
interlinking paradigm, the path also took me to a whole new world of
romanticists, Sufis & naturalists. The Walden however, remained elusive –
for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">For
a long time; that is, till that evening in early January, this year – when I
found myself face-to-face with that herd of deer. This was the Keoladeo Ghana
National Park of Bharatpur, and to me, equivalent to Thoreau’s Walden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12722583835/" title="02_03_20136100037501_flickr by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="02_03_20136100037501_flickr" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/12722583835_83d0c49b7d_b.jpg" height="494" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Bharatpur
is a sanctuary different in its setting and ambiance. The park, spread across
29 sq km, brings you in proximity to the miracle of nature in a way which is
unmatchable. Here roam some of the bird species with such impudence around you
that it is difficult to imagine this place as a once-upon-a-time hunting
grounds for the royal gentry of Rajputana & their British friends. A huge
plaque placed near the heart of the park lists down the exploits of various
hunters during those years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12722356865/" title="13_01_20142780055554_list_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142780055554_list_crop" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/12722356865_668c808c4b_b.jpg" height="611" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It is the reputation of it being a heaven for bird-watchers that had brought me
to Bharatpur – my second visit in less than a year, and indeed, once again I
was not disappointed. However, as I meandered through its wilderness seeking
these winged species, I discovered another facet of Bharatpur. It is an
absolute delight for those interested in landscapes – as a photographer, a
painter or perhaps as a mere traveller. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12716926555/" title="14_01_20143513056232_landscape_with_grey_heron by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="14_01_20143513056232_landscape_with_grey_heron" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/12716926555_b9a08946cb_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Something would remain
amiss, if I left Lawrence Durrell, unquoted: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>It is there if you just close your eyes and
breathe softly through your nose; you will hear the whispered message, for all
landscapes ask the same question in the same whisper. 'I am watching you -- are
you watching yourself in me?'</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">As
the Sun traverses through it arc across this terrain, it unveils a view so
picturesque that human language is incapable of capturing it. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">A
generous mix of grasslands, woods & wetlands – with interlinked paths well
suited for living those glorious, albeit brief, moments, of uncertain nomadic
living; the ponds with carpet of moss of ethereal hues, the trees displaying
shades of various stages of their life, those shaded paths bisecting the thickets, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;">plumage</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> of flora & fauna adding up
to a riot of colours; even the rays of a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;">wintry</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> day’s Sun, mellow in its mood, could not help but glisten </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;">exuberantly the moment they touched the pond's surface</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12718452353/" title="02_03_20136036037443 C crop_silhouette by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="02_03_20136036037443 C crop_silhouette" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/12718452353_fbf415a7d0_b.jpg" height="684" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Indeed, it
is difficult not to wonder, like John Dyer: Ever charming, ever new, When
will the landscape tire the view? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12717483524/" title="14_01_20143635056341_reflections_bharatpur by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="14_01_20143635056341_reflections_bharatpur" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/12717483524_5cf7dcc9de_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">In fact, for most of us, used to appreciate the
man-made beauties in this concrete jungle, the architectural wonders, those
urban-scapes, skylines, well manicured gardens, and artificial natural views,
Bharatpur’s verdant and unadulterated lyrical vista is a necessity that raises the human spirit. The only thought that echoed in my mind came from a song penned by Bharat Vyas decades ago:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Apni to aankh ek hai us ki hazar hai </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Yeh kaun chitrakar hai <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Yeh kaun chitrakar hai<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12719938343/" title="13_01_20142824055589_spotted_deer by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142824055589_spotted_deer" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/12719938343_d98d220caf_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21.111112594604492px; text-align: justify;">And birds? Well, while I was busy with my musings enjoying the bewitching landscapes, unknown to me, something else was brewing between Mother Nature & its brood of birds. I will come to that in some time. Meanwhile, y</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">ou may enjoy more pictures from Bharatpur on the following link:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627733907274037.1073741845.398359763544787&type=1&l=077a020762">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627733907274037.1073741845.398359763544787&type=1&l=077a020762</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-75246013587615840472014-01-31T19:33:00.000+05:302014-12-23T18:31:02.788+05:30And Quietly Flows the Chambal..<div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beyond the edge of the world there’s a space where emptiness and substance neatly overlap, where past and future form a continuous, endless loop. And, hovering about, there are signs no one has ever read, chords no one has ever heard. </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ Haruki Murakami</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Emerson exhorted us to go where there is no path and leave a trail. This was the thought uppermost in my mind at the penultimate moments of planning our trip this season to experience wildlife - specially the birds, from close. The itinerary & destination was to be Bharatpur - when we realised that we have at least one extra day in hand. Not that, it could not have been well spent even at Bharatpur, but that streak to explore some unknown territory took over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">One of the thoughts was to capture night view of Taj Mahal in Agra - but that seemed a bit cliched. Besides, visiting & capturing Taj would not have been same without my wife.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(<i>Those, who find it cheesy, please give me a break. A man needs to score some brownie points too once in a while</i>)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">That is when destiny took over, and I came across a few images directing our attention towards Dholpur. A telephonic conversation with Shri Rajeev Tomar of Dholpur - who promised to guide us & did it so ably - tipped the scale. And, as I said at the beginning, Emerson's oft-quoted statement sealed the deal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, off we were, getting down from train at Mathura and travelling towards Dholpur - taking the famous Agra-Mumbai Road. The task at hand, in the beginning was ardous - to goad the driver into driving fast - so that we can reach well in time, before fog gets into action & carpets the whole world. Hilariously enough, this extra cautious driver </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Could he have been the inspiration for Imtiaz Ali’s taxi driver in Jab We Met?) </span></i><span style="font-size: x-large;">was equally hell-bent on getting his car scratched - even in situations where it could have been easily avoided. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Incidentally, travelling on any of the national
highways acquaint one with a number of small, indistinguishable towns – normally
lined on the either sides, while the highway cuts across through them. Such
dusty & unimpressive looking towns abound all over the country – seemingly cloned out of similar
populace. You have seen one, you have seen them all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12216166174/" title="Just Another Town by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Just Another Town" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/12216166174_c5a4edd5b8_b.jpg" height="649" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This is how I felt when we reached Dholpur - the last town of Rajasthan before NH3, the Agra-Mumbai Highway, enters into MP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">My first glimpse of Dholpur and I could not escape the usual feeling - been there, seen that - kind of. This time, I soon realized that
I had a reason to feel so. Yes, I had
been there earlier - years ago – in different circumstances, in different role.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>(If you allow me a bit of a reminiscence, this is the point where I go into a flashback. If not, by all means, you may skip next couple of paragraphs.) </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The year was 1996. The monsoon days of July end looked wettest & bleakest then, all the more because I was away from home, in conditions, describing which as inhospitable, would be a typical
British stiff-upper-lip kind of understatement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was on road, travelling from Morena, in a taxi which
was taking me towards Agra, whereon I was to travel to Delhi for catching a homebound flight. On those wet roads, with rain pouring constantly, I was cold and tired, and all alone, and the home was at least a thousand miles and perhaps more than a day away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is when my taxi was pulled over to side. Waking up from my weather-induced slumber, I stepped out in rain, to realise that the bridge ahead was now closed for traffic - because the river had just started flowing across, in fact a couple of inches above the bridge. The scape ahead did look ominous, with a furious river lashing along the banks. Fortunately, my ignorance about river's real depth and the desperation to reach home somehow added that extra edge in my desperate plea, which must have touched a chord and convinced the army
officer patrolling the bank to allow my taxi to cross the bridge. Mine was the last vehicle after which the bridge was shut to traffic for next few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite the chilling rain & ominously dark afternoon, I still remember the warm smile of that officer as my taxi
crossed the bridge & moved towards Agra – passing through another town that
looked equally desolate that wet evening. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The thought of returning to those
roads, seeing that river, visiting that desolate town ever again in my life ahead was something which never crossed my mind. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215780045/" title="12_01_20142005054867_NH3 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20142005054867_NH3" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/12215780045_1c8576f0b0_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">That was then. This was now. Here I
was – almost eighteen years later – on a barely warm January afternoon trying to outrace the Sun moving towards horizon and a chilling evening - to get some time during bright daylight and experience the wildlife at National Chambal Sanctuary, and around that desolate town, which - I now know – was Dholpur. The river was much more quieter, just murmuring along, in comparison to that monsoon evening of eighteen years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215748226/" title="Bridge_across_river_chambal_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Bridge_across_river_chambal_crop" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/12215748226_20bd4cdc00_b.jpg" height="464" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For a bird lover, this is one of
the very few locations in India to sight Indian Skimmer, a vulnerable bird, in
its natural habitat – and we were not
disappointed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12223940835/" title="12_01_20141787054666_skimmers_flight by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141787054666_skimmers_flight" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/12223940835_2f1f2c9dab_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">As we turned a small bend on one of the sandy beaches of Chambal,
a flock engaged in pre-mating rituals, went on to display their flying prowess
to us – almost in a manner as if they had been rehearsing for this very occasion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12216039244/" title="skimmers_flying_across_landscape_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="skimmers_flying_across_landscape_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/12216039244_b5fec05aa0_b.jpg" height="674" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Another interesting specie to sight is Gharial
– a handsome specie of crocodiles, and currently one of the critically endangered
species. A Gharial with its raised jaws, en-sheathing sharp & vicious teeth, looks like a smiling assassin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12235552645/" title="11_01_20140731053703_gharial_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="11_01_20140731053703_gharial_crop" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/12235552645_318b2673b3_b.jpg" height="458" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Of course, the crocodiles themselves were not too far from the reach of our lens. Fortunately, though the reverse was not the case</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12234644715/" title="11_01_20140770053739_crocodile_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="11_01_20140770053739_crocodile_Crop" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/12234644715_79af0640b2_b.jpg" height="433" width="1024" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Dholpur, however, is just not about the National Chambal Sanctuary. The nature, with its extreme temperatures, has created an eco-system, in sync with the river, that makes Dholpur a rich treasure-trove for all kind of birds - be it vultures & raptors, grass-birds & water-birds alike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215808316/" title="11_01_20140629053617_ruddy_shelduck_golden_water by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="11_01_20140629053617_ruddy_shelduck_golden_water" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/12215808316_4f2b5df229_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For the photographer in me, equally interesting
was the topography around the river – carved out by nature through well-toiled
efforts of centuries, in a manner that makes it inhospitable for one to live - and very easy for those who want to get lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12216061474/" title="12_01_20141828054705_river_bank by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141828054705_river_bank" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/12216061474_779f5432e6_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">English
language uses the word Hinterland for such a place lying so beyond anything. In
Hindi, however, the word to describe the region around the river near Dholpur was
‘ Beehad’, meaning ravines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215999564/" title="12_01_20141659054547_ravines by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141659054547_ravines" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/12215999564_19835b5b04_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">These were
not just ravines with a very interesting & distinct landscape. These were
part of the infamous ravines of Chambal – badlands of Northern India, infested
with dacoits whose exploits were not only the part of local folklore, but were
used also to drive the plots in Hindi movies –From Bandit Queen of early 90s to
the most recent one, Paan Singh Tomar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12234637075/" title="riverscape_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="riverscape_crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12234637075_bb4454aa12_b.jpg" height="571" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">One look at those unfathomable ravines, and it is easy to fathom the reason why these were the breeding grounds for the dacoits. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12224016684/" title="machkund_temples_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="machkund_temples_Crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/12224016684_1217eba0fb_b.jpg" height="616" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">To add to all this, the myriad colours that the terrain sports & the remnants of Dholpur's history is sufficiently enchanting for anyone to get hooked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215333595/" title="12_01_20141407054315_talab-e-shahi by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141407054315_talab-e-shahi" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/12215333595_0335381685_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The architecture providing a glimpse of its rich heritage, those enigmatic & scary dusty ravines, the red stone plateau, covered with dense forest, the lakes and smaller water-bodies - reflecting the sky & </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mustard cultivation brightening the otherwise dull day</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12215888726/" title="12_01_20140995053937_mustard_field by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20140995053937_mustard_field" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/12215888726_ca2cebb11c_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And the birds? Well, by the end of the trip, the count was almost 100, with a few lifers. Perhaps, we could have spent another couple of days in this rainbow, and I would have been as sad faced - but for another proverbial pot of nature's treasure at the other end, which was beckoning us from Bharatpur. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12224094103/" title="12_01_20141543054438_monkey_face by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_01_20141543054438_monkey_face" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/12224094103_122d984653_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">So, while, I take a breather before narrating my experience of Bharatpur, here is a link for you all to feast your eyes on more images - specially of the variety of birds - from Dholpur: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.616681178379310.1073741844.398359763544787&type=1&l=2932d0e41c">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.616681178379310.1073741844.398359763544787&type=1&l=2932d0e41c</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">And me, well, as far as I am concerned, I now know exactly what Douglas Adam meant when he said:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I</span> may not have gone where I intended to go, <br /> but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-17394693344378513262014-01-21T22:34:00.001+05:302014-12-23T18:49:15.048+05:30The Fog at Bharatpur<div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Unknown to us, during the night, it had descended, like a
cat & sat on its haunches silently, looking over the city - just
the way Carl Sandburg described it in his poem Fog. Seeing the vista
outside my bedroom window, today morning, my mind wandered back to my
recent yayawari which had taken us to the ravines and grasslands of
Rajasthan.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For three days, despite the weather forecast, we have had a good run
with winter. Sun had been more than kind enough - giving us much needed
warmth in the freezing cold as well as ensuring superb visibility for
us to capture wildlife images. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The evening on the third day sounded the first discordant
note, with fog moving in - slowly but steadily like the proverbial
tortoise, seeping through the leaves and grass-blades all around. The
morning after had obliterated the vibrancy - and left behind were Black,
White and Gray - making me understand what the Britishers meant with
the phrase - Pea-Soup Thick fog. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ambiance was ominous - perfect for a spine chilling
mystery - and yes, I am sure about it, because despite six layers of
warm clothes, the chill had managed to infiltrate right into my spine.
In the initial days of my hobby, a fog like this would have made me stay
put indoor, in a sulky mood, just like a child, eagerly awaiting the
Santa Clause, only to be told that Santa has decided to skip his house
this Christmas. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not any more! Now the fog was adding another interesting dimension
to our trip, enticing us to step out to seek and experience the
mysteries of nature. While everything looked & stood still, dew
glistening on the spiderwebs, everything was seeming to be appearing
& dissolving into the mist - creating an image from the magical
realm. To my mind came the very philosophical and popular ghazal by
Sahir Ludhianawi, a Bollywood classic from yore.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ghazal was an inspiration enough for me to use the
opportunity and make an effort to capture the beauty of a very-very gray
wilderness of Bharatpur, that morning.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/12071172895/" title="13_01_20142013054875_fog_2_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="13_01_20142013054875_fog_2_crop" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/12071172895_9b10bf70e6_b.jpg" height="637" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While above was one image from that foggy morning at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park of Bharatpur, a few more captures accompanying those famous verse of Sahir can be seen on the following link:<br />
</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://acumenimages.blogspot.in/2014/01/ek-dhundh-men-jaana-hai.html" target="_blank">http://acumenimages.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>in/2014/01/ek-dhundh-men-<wbr></wbr>jaana-hai.html</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-48655541218360640252013-09-09T20:35:00.001+05:302013-09-09T23:50:18.644+05:30Verse from a Picture Post-card Land!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">FROM a lofty Alpine summit look down upon this land, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It lies there like a volume all written by God’s hand; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The mountains are the letters, as leaves the fields
unroll, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saint Gothard is only an asterisk in this gigantic
scroll. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9704692395/" title="P1020224 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020224" height="693" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/9704692395_e7e36594a3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hear how her song magnificent thrills in the beating
heart, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="25"><i> </i></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Freedom! freedom! she sings so that all our pulses start: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="26"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">By heavens! with such a harmony never sang daughters of
earth, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="27"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
they who join in the chorus are surely of heavenly birth</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">~ <span style="background: white;">Count Anton Alexander von Auersperg</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9707929126/" title="P1020903 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020903" height="683" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7429/9707929126_5b49061a92_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever been on the receiving
end of picture post-cards – sometimes carrying a detailed message – sometime a
brief one? Possibly, could you be one of those who take time out to buy picture
post-cards at whichever place you visit, and promptly send to all the near
& dear ones (just to make it clear – to the ones not travelling with you;
you would agree it would be useless spending money for sending such post cards
to your fellow travellers!)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9706588957/" title="P1020848 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020848" height="660" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/9706588957_48d0ae2ac8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, either way, irrespective of the
length of the message scrolled at the back of the post card, a common way to
end these is with a simple “Wish you were here”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now imagine, you get to enter into
one such picture post-cards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Difficult to imagine? I am sure your
answer would be, No! After all imagination is something all of us human beings
are comfortably capable of.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Possible to enter such picture
post-cards? For a muggle, not a believer in the magic world of Harry Potter, if
you are a polite person, your answer would be an emphatic NO. For those
otherwise inclined, the counter-question to me would be, have you gone off in
your head?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9707927614/" title="P1020213 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020213" height="687" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/9707927614_a9fe2bf775_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, not really, because I have been
into a land which is nothing short of a picture post-card. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a result, when those nice people
at <a href="http://www.yatra.com/">www.yatra.com</a> decided to run this contest called "Creating Happy Travellers", I could think of
no other place but this one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Land-locked, situated at a height
amidst the mountainous region of Alps and its valleys, here exists a part of
this earth, which is nothing short of natural beauty personified, and further enhanced
by human efforts. This is a country, which Bollywood has made us Indians dream
of romancing in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, this is about Switzerland – A
country which inspired Thomas Campbell to go absolutely lyrical as he wrote<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was Sunset, ……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And lights were o’er the
Helvetian mountains flung, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="2"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That gave the glacier
tops their richest glow, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="3"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And tinged the lakes like
molten gold below. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9704693733/" title="At The foot of Mountains by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="At The foot of Mountains" height="722" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/9704693733_005a4c365e_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Earth’s features so
harmoniously were linked, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="16"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She seemed one great glad
form, with life instinct, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="17"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That felt Heaven’s ardent
breath, and smiled below <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="18"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000020; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Its flush of love, with
consentaneous glow. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9706989305/" title="P1020812 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020812" height="663" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/9706989305_8ed0aabcd3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </o:p></div>
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Switzerland
is where the nature can be seen in its resplendent glory – perhaps because the
human beings have respected it enough and have styled their life so as to
preserve its bounty. Be it snow-clad mountain peaks or the valleys – ever smiling
in the language of flowers or the huge lakes inviting those at the banks to
take a cruise to experience how free breeze feels like; Switzerland has it all,
like the garden of Eden, without a lurking snake though, for making an entire
family happy. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9707923248/" title="P1020454 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020454" height="683" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/9707923248_da11c409ed_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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The best way
to tour this lovely country is through its vast & very efficient rail network
– whose punctuality & cleaniliness could come as a shock to most of us
Indians. (Ain ji, trainen itni saaf bhi ho sakti hain?).</div>
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So, this is what we
would do first, to pick up a Swiss rail pass for the family, and then, off we go, to celebrate a vacation that has no parallel in the world.</div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9710839882/" title="P1020811 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020811" height="696" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/9710839882_ab77717174_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </o:p></div>
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<o:p>Running through the length & breadth as well as height & depth of this lovely country, the railways, literally, takes you to the places. In the process, they cross mountains, go through innumerable tunnels, run along the stream at a moment and suddenly taking you to the heights. </o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9706587241/" title="P1020975 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020975" height="644" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/9706587241_2ca0999fd3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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If you find time from the pampering that the train staff gives you, including providing a live music performance, the view outside could be as varied as from the view of lake & mountains overlooking the train to the train overlooking a street where houses resemble a Lego-land.</div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9704687969/" title="P1020524 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020524" height="714" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/9704687969_2d8465fe9a_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></o:p></div>
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<o:p>Of course, each journey needs to have a purpose or a destination. </o:p>An ideal destination to begin this happiness journey would be the Swiss Miniatur, a theme park located in Lugano,
which provides you, at one place, all the attractions of Switzerland – in miniature
form.</div>
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Lugano also provides one of the best vantage point for the breath-taking landscape of southern Switzerland with a lake straddled by the mountains on one side, and a bi-secting drive through that takes you further down into Italy. </div>
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The view, available from San Salvatore, can be accessed by reaching the top through a funicular - which while taking you to the top, also provides a lovely view of the Lugano town.</div>
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Situated amidst Alps, the country naturally provide a choice to those who are interested in experiencing being on top of the snow-clad mountains - without having mountaineering skills & the preferred destinations are Mount Titlis & Jungfrau. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9707926188/" title="P1020245 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020245" height="653" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9707926188_33ac28e282_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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Of course, for those, inclined for a bit more adventure, there are also opportunities to go for skiing destination around. The truth is, a few hours spent in those lovely mountains can create an impression that may last lifelong, and no one would be surprised by your reciting the poem by Johann Uhland:</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: #000020; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td>The mountain is my own domain:</td><td><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="11"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>It calls its storms from sea and plain;</td><td><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="12"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>From north to south they howl afar;</td><td><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="13"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>My voice is heard amid their war.</td><td><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9194106479185431969" name="14"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td> The mountain boy am I!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If the end of one of the most ardous rail journeys in the world through these mountains has left you tired, there is always a cruise through lake Lucern, to refresh the body and the mind.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9704690079/" title="P1020342 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020342" height="641" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9704690079_83e0400f56_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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Lucern lake and the city at its banks, is one one of the most romantic locations in Switzerland, inspiring someone like William Bowles to write:</div>
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<span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">S</span><span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HORES</span><span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of Lucerne! where many a winding bay <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shone beauteous to the
morn’s returning ray; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where rosy tints upon
the blue lake shone, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And touched the rock
with colors not their own; </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9704690913/" title="P1020315 Bridge at Lucern by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020315 Bridge at Lucern" height="649" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9704690913_19812771c3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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A perfect trip any day would end with a stroll around one of numerous small lakes, with setting sun, spraying its beams, making the shadows longer. Yet, in a land like this, melancholy would be far, far away</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/9707931050/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="P1020737 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1020737" height="656" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/9707931050_4fe40002d2_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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These scenes, these sounds,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
could many a joy impart, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With sadness mixed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The wandering youth, whose heart </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Was sick with many sorrows,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
resting here
At such an hour,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
forgot his starting tear; </div>
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<br /></div>
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This setting Sun, would be the cue for me to send a picture post-card from this land of beauty to all you at www.yatra.com and the only thing scrolled at the back of the card would be:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thank you for making me go down my memory lane for taking this journey. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Wish, you were here too!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-38479760908901672612013-06-09T21:30:00.000+05:302014-12-23T18:52:12.617+05:30Main Ek Baadal Awaara..<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><i>(This is second part of the two part blog wherein I have tried to capture, through words and images, my fascination & passion for the season of rains - specially in parts of Western Ghat. The full article has been published in Terrascape's June 2013 issue).</i><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
clouds gather over the sky – the storm matched the rains. Lightning and thunder
wouldn’t <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stop. I am writing in
candlelight with the window partially open. But within me there is great joy –
in the force of the storm, in the shadow of the clouds, in the sound of the
thunder, a deep wave rises in my heart. I feel like doing something – at least
think of an impossible imaginary event.</span></i></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This was Tagore, in one of his
letters, written obviously on one of the rainy days. As I woke up today
morning, the mood outside my window was similar, and hence an impossible
imaginary is what I would love to indulge in – becoming a yayawar raincloud
straight out of Wordsworth’s poem, wandering with the breeze, travelling to the
nooks and corners – nay, peaks & valleys of the mesmerizing Western Ghats. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For a traffic-harried Mumbaikar, looking for a quick recharge, around Mumbai itself, there are
numerous opportunities to enjoy the season; </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It could be taking a therapeutic and soul-cleansing shower under the numerous waterfalls that dot the landscape around Mumbai by mid-Monsoon season;</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8994732421/" title="P1250958 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1250958" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/8994732421_84f1da6a6b_b.jpg" height="768" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>O</i>r trekking to any of the innumerable peaks around where journeying through a green carpet
is as enjoyable as exhilarating it is to reach the top of the peak - making one really experience what the phrase <i>'joie-de-vivre'</i> really means.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8994863519/" title="05_08_20129436023668 C by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="05_08_20129436023668 C" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8134/8994863519_17104bd884_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course, the top of these treks, also provide a panoramic view of the natural beauty around - giving one the understanding of the magical transformation that raindrops - the harbinger of life, unravels on the earth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8994749775/" title="Sarasgadh Panorama 2_1 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Sarasgadh Panorama 2_1" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/8994749775_1016bd85d4_b.jpg" height="422" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My preferred destination, though, if I were really a cloud, and could travel at the speed of the thought, around Mumbai would be the undulating land-mass around Wada
& Vikramgadh and see the rain creating an outpour of streams
that gush through the field, dry & dusty just a few days ago, but now with
the balmy weather, creating a perfect place for lounging as nothingness all
around just envelops you. I have not heard the sound of raindrops falling as
distinctly anywhere else. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8995920384/" title="P1250905 Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1250905 Crop" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/8995920384_6b6d872414_b.jpg" height="678" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">With the wind
changing its direction, this cloud could drift towards Konkan, remembering Uran
which, before its demise, was a place with juxtapositions; a perfect setting
for the monsoon to showcase its charm: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
village resembling an extended family of a metropolis; being closer to JNPT
port leading to loads of heavy traffic, including goods trains. Yet, just crossing
the railway tracks could unravel the vast open tracts so serene that it
percolated deep down in you. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8996339318/" title="Uran on a _Rainy_Day by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Uran on a _Rainy_Day" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/8996339318_fd26acaa30_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rains would make this landscape absolutely right
for an artist to indulge in her art – painting, composing music, photography,
dancing, nothing would have looked out of place here. A few showers could bring
Uran alive every monsoon till a couple of years ago, man’s hunger for constant growth
& development slowly led to its life ebbing away - forever now.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8910327914/" title="Uran Final Days by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Uran Final Days" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/8910327914_9cff7fdd3a_b.jpg" height="731" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Monsoon is no time however
to be melancholic; rather it is the season to rejoice & engage in fun &
frolic, the way nature does. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This is the time when the paddy fields colour the earth in all
possible shades of green, the reddishness of the earth more pronounced, ponds reflect the clouded sky, while
the clouds reflect the Sun-rays through a rainbow, all adding to the reverie
that Monsoon engulfs you in. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8900617031/" title="Rainbow by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Rainbow" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/8900617031_cabd7d9495_b.jpg" height="478" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A perfect morning after a good overnight pouring of rains unveils a scape which is difficult for me to describe. So, let me paraphrase Dickens: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heaven
above was blue, speckled with cotton white clouds, and earth beneath was green;
the water in the lake glistened like a path of diamonds in the sun; the
black-winged stilts poured forth their chatter across the ponds; occasional
flocks of birds soared high above the reeds; their clamour filling the air. </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8996225748/" title="Early Morning post overnight rain by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Early Morning post overnight rain" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/8996225748_5f949faf8b_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While this imaginary cloud travels to southmost part of India, the continuing shower outside take me back
to Gibran’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Song of rain:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
Her fields and valleys. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
To embellish the gardens. </span></i></span></blockquote>
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8994740717/" title="Rain
waterfall Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Rain waterfall Crop" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/8994740717_055561c840_b.jpg" height="655" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heaven is where the rain drops
from, to the parched earth, and heavenly it is in God’s own country – Kerala. I
see no exaggeration in the tagline that promotes tourism in Kerala, and how can
I, one who loves rain so much. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kerala receives rain from the
advancing monsoon, from the retreating one too, and also in between. For that
matter, the rain clouds are the visitor almost all through the year. Now this is the kind of pouring that keeps
the state clean & temperature cooler than what it would have been – lying
so close to equator. It also feeds generously the eco-system comprising of
perennial waterfalls, rivers, backwaters and highlands of Western ghats, all sloping down towards
Arabian sea to its west, beckoning bewitchingly to the tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8900689097/" title="A Walk in the clouds in Kerala by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="A Walk in the clouds in Kerala" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8900689097_122a89bd9c_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is difficult to decide a
perfect pastime for a rainy day in Kerala, as the choices are many: Just driving through the clouds in the hills;<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> lounging the day away into a hammock
on a beach or</span></span></span></span> t<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">aking a safari through Periyar river, enjoying its wildlife;</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8995925464/" title="29_04_20123988018737_Elephant_at_Periyar by ashish_mantri, on
Flickr"><img alt="29_04_20123988018737_Elephant_at_Periyar" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/8995925464_d609cec010_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Seeking out Frog-mouths & Malabar Trogons in elephants infested
forest of Thattekkad; </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8996227142/" title="27_04_20123159017942_Malabar_Trogon by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="27_04_20123159017942_Malabar_Trogon" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/8996227142_f518bb7bab_b.jpg" height="655" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Waking up to the soothing singing sounds of Malabar Whistling
Thrush with clouds perched atop my balcony; </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8996231106/" title="04_05_20125648020250_Malabar_Whistling_Thrush by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="04_05_20125648020250_Malabar_Whistling_Thrush" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/8996231106_104d530782_b.jpg" height="683" width="1024" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Strolling with an umbrella and
plucking leaves for the next pot of tea from a tea-garden, or the lazybone that
I am, just retiring into the valleys to understand what Gulzar meant when he
wrote – <i>waadi men goonjti hui khamoshiyan sunen. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8996234068/" title="04_05_20125876020417_Far_in_the_river by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="04_05_20125876020417_Far_in_the_river" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/8996234068_0148ef27ca_b.jpg" height="547" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course, when it is the season of rain, I find plenty of choices of destinations - most of them yet to be explored by me. I do look forward to the journeys to those, hoping to experience another facet of the country in the monsoon. The desire is to
travel and wake up yet another morning in yet another place listening to the distant
thunders & raindrops falling on the roof, bringing alive once again the <i>Song
of Rain</i>:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
am the sigh of the sea; <br />
The laughter of the field; <br />
The tears of heaven. <br />
So with love - <br />
Sighs from the deep sea of affection; <br />
Laughter from the colorful field of the spirit; <br />
Tears from the endless heaven of memories.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-20051143258114005982013-06-02T12:21:00.001+05:302014-12-23T18:50:05.298+05:30Sun, Sun, Sun, Barsaat ki Dhun...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The year was…! To be truthful, there was
nothing much special to differentiate the year. It could have been any of the
years of 70s. The month was of June - the early days of June. This train was
chugging along, with a growing up boy sitting in the 3<sup>rd</sup> class hot
and humid compartment, peeping out of the window at the world going by the
tracks - a ritual he had got habituated to. The summer vacations would take him
to the towns in Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh, to his grandparents & to be
a part of a horde of cousins. Away from the school, those were the few weeks every
year which he looked forward to. Returning home now with the heavy heart, missing
his time with cousins, he was dreading the opening days of his school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As the train sped along, the changing landscape
outside improved his mood. The fields were greener with well-filled water
bodies. The horizon was getting darker, despite it being early part of the day,
the air was cooler and wet, pleasing petrichor whiffs arising out of raindrops
falling on dry earth refreshing his soul. Excitedly he called out – <i>Maa,
Baarish ho rahi hai....Bambai aa gaya</i>!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8900533575/" title="Vada_The_Monsoon_Effect by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Vada_The_Monsoon_Effect" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/8900533575_ee9274ef47_b.jpg" height="686" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">That child was me, and the rains were
what made Bombay special for me. This was much before Bombay became Mumbai, and
of course, much before I got acquainted with Gibran & his <i>Song of Rain</i>,
else I would have recited:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I emerge from the heart of the sea <br />
Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in <br />
Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and <br />
The trees in a million little ways. <br />
I touch gently at the windows with my <br />
Soft fingers, and my announcement is a <br />
Welcome song. All can hear, but only <br />
The sensitive can understand.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8900576419/" title="Rain Forest by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Rain Forest" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/8900576419_c5768d48b3_b.jpg" height="731" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Rain was a savior for me
because, during the vacation in Northern India, enjoying those juicy & delicious
summer fruits, devouring the spicy & sinful chaats and desserts, being
outplayed in every sport by those taller & better built cousins, for me, a
child living in that filmy city Mumbai, there was very little I could boast of
about the city. Except, Mumbai’s local trains, the film stars (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I see Amitabh outside his Bungalow everyday
– was one of oft-repeated boasts</i>) and the rains. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We get rains first, for longer period & more than what you can even
dream of </i>– was one of the constant refrain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8909555119/" title="Joy of monsoon by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Joy of monsoon" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/8909555119_6fae0c0ccb_b.jpg" height="711" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I was in love with the season of monsoon
– getting unexpected holidays due to water-logging that rain would bring, wading
through the water, sometimes knee-deep, enjoying those barbequed Corn cobs
& the pakodas, trying to catch the crabs & tadpoles, playing gully
cricket with rubber balls on the wet pacy tarred roads hoping to be ready to
face the pacers of Australia & West Indies someday, were just a few of the
indulgences. If these sounded like a typical urban monsoon life, reaching out
to the nature was not too far:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>getting
drenched under the seasonal waterfalls at Powai & Vihar Lake & trekking
through the green lungs of Mumbai –Aarey Colony & Sanjay Gandhi National
park, were the perennial favourites.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8900543961/" title="Freshly Showered by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Freshly Showered" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/8900543961_82b69db58c_b.jpg" height="695" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span>In love I am still with the season of
clouds and look forward to its onset, using any opportunity to get drenched in the rain though not </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">as persistent as </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Alexander Frater who
chased the Monsoon from the southernmost tip of India till Cherrapunzi. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8921005734/" title="2010_08_18_1987 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2010_08_18_1987" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8278/8921005734_2168051668_b.jpg" height="700" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">However,
my travels over last few years have made me realize that starting
from the southern end of Gujarat to Kerala, there exists a landscape, though
increasingly dotted with concrete jungle, that is beautiful always, and becoming
more so when it rains. Proverbially, over here, normally it does not rain,
rather it pours, creating a magic that is difficult to be contained in words
though I will give it a shot (albeit in next post on this blog) - and hope that like a parched earth looking towards the cloudless sky, awaiting the rain, you will be indulgent enough to look forward to my travelogue through the western ghats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-9051124949416600622013-03-04T06:53:00.000+05:302013-03-04T06:53:13.236+05:30Mohabbat to Ik Jaaveda Zindagi Hai..<div class="component_content">
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The day had begun well. Flight
had left Mumbai on schedule. Captain had already made his customary
announcement from flight deck. The air hostesses, an efficient bunch -
and pretty too, had completed the serving of breakfast. If this was not
enough, my customary cup of morning coffee had further added to
mellowing of the mood, when I peeped out of the aircraft window.
Cruising at an altitude of 30000 ft watching the Sun rays reflecting on
the clouds below was a sight to behold, and the jukebox on my laptop
chose that moment to play <em>Jaaveda Zindagi</em>, a beautiful song talking about love that is an eternal life itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Shama ko Pighalne ka Armaan kyun hai..<div style="text-align: justify;">
Patange ko Jalne ka Armaan kyun hai</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Isi shauq ka imtehaan zindagi hai</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With me way above the clouds, my mind wondered about the idea of
“love” itself. (I suspect, those pretty faces around may have contributed a bit to such musings!) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All religions talk about love and so does all cultures.
Yet there is an essential difference. The love which religions talk
about is existential, while the cultures – despite deriving themselves
out of religions, propagate the love which was limited in its approach.
Whatever be the reason for this, as rightly pointed out by Osho, this
led to the categorization of the love and in the bargain converted a
deep divine emotion into a single layered feeling. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Love, rather than being a verb, generally has been treated as a noun,
and hence an object. Love became what could be desired, what could be
attained and possessed. And here we, the human beings lost out on the
love which could be eternal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It would remain so till we decide to peel the layer, go beyond the
possessions and explore its other dimensions. This is the dimensions
that the sufis spoke about. But much before the Sufis, our own mythology
spoke about Radha & Krishna for whom love was not an object; rather
it was an act of immersing oneself for the beloved, without seeking
fulfillment or reciprocation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8526789142/" title="31_01_20133927035446 C by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="31_01_20133927035446 C" height="645" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8526789142_9fab21ce4a_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Such was the love which Gibran described so succinctly:</div>
<br />
<em>Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.<br /> But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:<br /> To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.<br /> To know the pain of too much tenderness.<br /> To be wounded by your own understanding of love;<br /> And to bleed willingly and joyfully.<br /> To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;<br /> To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;<br /> To return home at eventide with gratitude;<br /> And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8525664911/" title="31_01_20133920035439 C clouds sepia by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="31_01_20133920035439 C clouds sepia" height="681" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8525664911_e671520176_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I continued watching the resplendent play of sunlit sky on the
clouds, I thought of the true eternal love – that of the Sun & the
Earth. The love about which Hafiz wrote:</div>
<br />
Even after all this time,<br /> the sun never says to the earth,<br /> "You owe me."<br /> Look what happens with a love like that.<br /> It lights the whole sky.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So here is to the love that is an act of bringing humans close, an
act born not out of demand; but rather of remaining aflame so as to
provide light to the beloved.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
www.urbanyayawar.com </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-37674388069389060172013-02-26T20:18:00.000+05:302013-02-26T20:23:02.250+05:30Romancing the Birds of the city of stones<div class="component_content">
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kota;
a city famous for stones, known for its sari artisans and today a
proverbial gate to the heaven for those aspiring to be an IITian. Kota -
the city where I was born; where I practically spent all my holidays
during the growing up years; the city which I knew like back of my hand,
the city I had explored enough in my teen years itself - or so I
thought till it decided to surprise me this month.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had
planned a quick tour to Kota this month for attending to a few family
matters when a chance browse through internet alerted me to a
possibility of birding at Kota.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Though
birding and photography has been a recent passion, and there had not
been any occasion for me to travel to Kota since then. Yet the fact
also remains that I had never thought about exploring the nature around
Kota. I was totally blind to the possibilities that its being situated
at the bank of Chambal opened up - for hosting migrants of flying
variety. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To be honest, as I stood at Alania dam braving <i> gulabi thandi</i>
of February, the first glimpse did not evoke much excitement. The
landscape looked like just another one, lush green fields around a lake,
a couple of fishing boats, some waders at the bank and a few egrets
perched on the dam. A flock of Greater Flamingos at the other end of the
lake though looked promising enough.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8509393607/" title="12_02_20135598037060 C by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="12_02_20135598037060 C" height="683" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8509393607_6b87c02e1c_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Getting
down to the bank of the lake, things looked placid enough at the
waterfront too. The usual suspects were all around - an indian roller
being harried by crows, a few river terns, lesser ringed plovers,
sandpipers, wagtails. Yet something looked amiss. Though I got busy
capturing the images, my feelings were just like the flock of stone
plovers who stood watching as if waiting for something spectacular to
change the mood.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8509384905/" title="Pelicans at Alania by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Pelicans at Alania" height="544" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8509384905_6ccb93da50_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And
then, invisible so far, like a phantom, in the tall shoots of the crop,
they rose like phoenix from the fields, in numbers which I had not seen
anywhere till date – The Great White Pelicans, decided to give us a fly
past and crowded the sky. A short run before taking off to the sky and
then that smooth landing in the water - genuinely these elegant
creatures should really be called the magnificent flying machines. But
more about them in another post. Meanwhile, already busy flyway in the
sky, was increasingly used more as bar headed geese and spoonbills, not
so many in numbers though, decided not be left behind while a flock of
waders kept roaming at the eye level.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Amidst
all this activity remained stood two – one, that flock of greater
flamingos on the opposite bank – stationery but also a bit restless,
their indecisiveness like Hemlet - to fly or not to - mirrored in the
water of Alania Dam;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/8510496488/" title="Greater Flamingoes with reflection by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Greater Flamingoes with reflection" height="510" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8510496488_8ca7e3b832_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">&
the other – myself, busy romancing the birds in this city of stone, with
trigger happy fingers capturing the images that can be seen by clicking
on any of the images below:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://urbanyayawar.com/aaj-kal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>http://urbanyayawar.com/aaj-kal</b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-16938433982666237432012-08-14T15:48:00.000+05:302012-08-14T15:48:50.839+05:30Rise and Shine...O Sleepy Soul!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The day had started as usual for this grubby-looking nymph, pursuing its
prey in the water, when latent so far, but now active, a genetically timed impulse for
the metamorphosis hit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment it
had been moving towards unknowingly for so long was here. </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Long? Well, the
length of time is always a perception, measured by us human beings in our own
currency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that perspective, it was
almost four years ago when this nymph had hatched out of one of so many eggs
that its mother had dropped in the water. Since then this mass of water was its
universe. It was little aware of the world beyond. However, soon that was to be
the past, as its DNA, evolved through millions of years, was propelling it towards the purpose it was hatched for.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it had a fear about the change in the surroundings, I am
unaware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I am aware is that it was
living in the moment, accepting the impending change as a given, knowing well
that this metamorphosis from a nymph to a well-honed flying insect, is not only
taking it away from the safe harbours into unknown, but is also leading it to
the final few months of its life. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It looked for a suitable reed, found one and climbed through
the stem out of the water. Emerging out of the reed, and the water, it started
breathing as it came in contact with the air. Shedding its skin of the nymph
stage, it stepped out in the world. Its immediate act was to perch atop the
reed, swaying with the breeze, drying its wings in the warmth of the Sun,
reveling in the open vast new ambience, before it would take off in hunt for
its prey & its mate.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While taking a stroll, a sudden splash of an array of iridescent colours caught my attention. Getting closer to the reed cautiously I observed this creature with elongated body & gossamer wings and remembered what Louise Bogan, an Amercian Poet had written: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772211882/" title="Dragonfly With Those lenses by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Dragonfly With Those lenses" height="684" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7772211882_4e4c509997_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772204698/" title="Red Dragonfly Geo by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You are made of almost nothing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But of enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To be great eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And diaphanous double vans;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To be ceaseless movement,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link between water and air,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Earth repels you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Light touches you only to shift into iridescence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Upon your body and wings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, the nature is abundant with variety
when it comes to creatures great and small, each one having their distinctive presence.
Yet, like a Jamini Roy painting, it’s the eyes of the Dragon Flies, and their diaphanous wings reflecting colours in the Sun, that draws ones attention to
them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772206966/" title="Dragonfly by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Dragonfly" height="676" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7772206966_97589e2039_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They are one of the oldest,
fiercest and skillful predators on the planet. In fact, there hardly exist a
few creatures on the earth now that predate dinosaurs. Their agility during
flight, especially their ability to move in all six directions, while flying at
a speed of about 45 miles an hour, yet using only two of their wings at much lesser speed then a normal fly would do, is nothing less than a magic. Their illustrations in the
manuals of Leonardo Da Vinci while he conceptualized a Helicopter as early as
15th century, is well-known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lesser
known & now being well-researched fact emerging about them is, like birds,
their migrations across the oceans & continents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Having traveled
alongwith the evolution of earth & human beings, it is no wonder that
different cultures & civilisations have perceived them differently. Japanese,
with their country also known in history as <i>Akitsushima</i> (<i>the Islands
of Dragonfly</i>) have revered them, made them a part of their life, with the
Samurai using them as a symbol of power, agility and Victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chinese believe that they are a good luck
charm who bring with them prosperity & harmony. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amongst Native Americans, they are a sign of
happiness, speed and purity. Burmese utilised them for killing the Yellow-fever spreading mosquitoes.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772327540/" title="Dragonfly_Toothedness by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Dragonfly_Toothedness" height="711" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7772327540_e24ce075f5_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ferocious predators they may be
when it comes to insects, but they seem to do so smilingly. Sporting a toothy grin always, (which also gave the
entire group their biological name <i>Odonata</i> - toothed ones), make them look as if they have just been caught in a mischief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Yes, I like them, and not without a reason. It could be because of this image of a red dragon-fly which got me my first-ever prize in a photo-contest.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772204698/" title="Red Dragonfly Geo by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Red Dragonfly Geo" height="654" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7772204698_b6a1c62e73_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It could also be that I truly find fascinating their visual system that
dragonflies have been bestowed with. The nature's
remarkable & awe inspiring engineering is a complex
system comprising of about 30000 lens, each of the lens capturing the
sensory perception around it, which gets analysed by its brain to create
a 360
degree vision. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7772209094/" title="ANother_Look by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="ANother_Look" height="710" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/7772209094_f588cca794_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">But..more than any other reason,
what makes a dragon fly special for me is that it makes me realize the
incredible creative forces which are manifest behind the existence itself - be
it a dragon fly or us human beings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Putting the life of
us human beings on a parallel plane, a dragon fly makes me understand: the hidden latent
potential in our own soul that awaits the moment when we would rise out of the
mundane life; striving to fulfill the purpose for which each one of us exists
in this universe. Soaring on the wings of our own intelligence and efforts, we
would dazzle the world with a display of those amazing arrays of colours that
only we can. And it is not difficult. All that we need is the willingness to
leave the safe harbours when that moment comes, shed the shackles that keep us
in the stage of a grubby looking nymph, reflecting at life with a compounded all encompassing vision, and explore the depth & vastness of our selves, our
Universe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Then even if life is brief,
like a dragonfly’s, it will be meaningful.
This is what Ruth O'Neill means when she wrote <i>Lesson from A Dragonfly</i>: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">For the
dragonfly knows it lives a brief life this way <br />
So I learn from this creature to live wisely each day</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(For those interested in reading the full poem of Ruth O'Neill & a few more pictures, please visit the link given below:</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">http://acumenimages.blogspot.in/2012/08/a-creaturegreatthough-small.html )</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-48669846935886975432012-06-08T21:48:00.002+05:302012-06-09T13:20:41.345+05:30And the romance lingers on…<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
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The flight from Madrid was short & peaceful for all those aboard – except me. I glanced at my family – my wife and both the children – the happiness of having already been to Greece, Italy & Spain apparent on their face. Yes, the journey so far was good and very enjoyable. But here I was, like a winded up clock, though more with anticipation. </div>
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It was almost after seven years that I was about to see her. Seven long years! It was business that had brought me to Europe in August, seven years ago. I was on my way back from Venice to home at Mumbai, when I sighted her first during a stop over. Now, this could have been an after-effect of my having had an early morning lovely ride in the Adriatic Sea. Yet, despite having very little time at hand on that stop-over that I could spent with her, it was enough for me to remain hooked on to those lovely memories.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7166247451/" title="Painting at Dorsay 8 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Painting at Dorsay 8" height="1024" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7166247451_70547b5d25_b.jpg" width="783" /></a> </div>
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However, with the aircraft taking me closer to her, my emotions were all mixed up. I was tensed wondering if my romance at first sight just the fleeting moment of fancy? Will my decision to spend almost a week with her, alongwith my family, a bit too courageous? So many thoughts & questions were clouding my mind when the aircraft – descending from the clouded sky brought me down to the terra-firma. </div>
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The pulse was seriously beating rapidly now as we disembarked, the feet moving faster so that I can see her. And then that first look at her and all misgivings just disappeared. She still had the same alluring charm and intrigue around her which had mesmerized me seven years ago. In fact, if anything, the passing of time had done wonders to her. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351064614/" title="Woman in Black by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Woman in Black" height="719" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7351064614_be5802b31b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351064614/" title="Woman in Black by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><br /></a><br />
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<b>And at that moment I was ready to let the whole world know that I fell in love again - with the City of Romance – Paris!</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351061806/" title="Paris Overview by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Paris Overview" height="619" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7351061806_9f6b738f29_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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No one really knows why Paris alone is called the city of Romance. I am sure there are places as good if not better. Yet, it is Paris which has been bestowed this honour since ages. And justice it does to this honour. There is a palpable attraction in the city that weaves its own magic – like an enchantress from the old magic fables – and keeps one hooked on. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351064614/" title="Woman in Black by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7166293019/" title="Trocadore from Top of eiffel Tower ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Trocadore from Top of eiffel Tower ls" height="676" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7166293019_3d25c8ca31_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7334280668/" title="Lady in Pose Musee D Orsey ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"></a><br />
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Behind the enigma of Paris lies its being at the centre of some of the greatest events that have resulted in change of course for the entire European history. Having been established by the Gauls, attacked and invaded by Julias Caesar, civil wars, religious struggles between Protestant & Catholic movement, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, destruction in both the world wars, taken over by Nazis in 1940 and liberated again in 1944 - Paris has seen it all. It has been caught up amidst some of the most fiercely fought wars & political /monarchial skirmishes. Each time, Paris rose to a glory, there were setbacks, and like a proverbial Phoenix, it again rose from its ashes to even greater heights.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7165851959/" title="Sacre Couer by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Sacre Couer" height="675" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7165851959_05905f4184_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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To me, as we traveled through one of the most tourist friendly city, the charm of this city lies in its deep rooted love for art, culture and freedom. The Renaissance period in Europe and the French Revolution in late 18<sup>th</sup> century coupled with the ever modern outlook of the Parisians has created a mystical aura for the city. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7165848619/" title="Paris Arch De Troimph by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Paris Arch De Troimph" height="664" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7165848619_4c59628f03_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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A series of monarchies have undoubtedly left its impact on the city’s architecture and yet there is continuity. Despite being a modern Megapolis, the Notre-dame and the Louvre made during 12<sup>th</sup> to 14<sup>th</sup> century still look in sync with the the Arch-de-Triumph and Pantheon of 18<sup>th</sup> Century.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7165853869/" title="Fountain at Place De La Concorde Paris ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Fountain at Place De La Concorde Paris ls" height="666" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7165853869_23712373d8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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Even, La Madeleine – a Greek Temple in the middle of Paris built in 18<sup>th</sup> Century by Napoleon with Corinthian columns – and an Egyptian obelisk in the centre of Place De la Concorde, covered, with hieroglyphics depicting the great life of the pharaoh Ramses II, just makes the city that much more interesting. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7165853869/" title="Fountain at Place De La Concorde Paris ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351324722/" title="Eiffel clouds by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Eiffel clouds" height="1024" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7351324722_e38df8caf3_b.jpg" width="729" /></a></div>
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Towering above all these is the Eiffel Tower, reaching out to the clouds in the sky – a perfect vantage point to experience the city.</div>
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Paris has a superbly developed infrastructure – capable of taking you with ease from any one place to another. But essentially it must be experienced on foot.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351322778/" title="Orchestra in the Garden by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Orchestra in the Garden" height="703" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7351322778_624036dc3f_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Walking through the streets lined with open air cafes, browsing through varied re-prints of art and cityscape,visiting some of the most beautiful parks full of Parisians and the tourists enjoying the summer warmth, one can but not help breathing in the city’s vivacious energy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7166113527/" title="Carrousel Arch at Louvre by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Carrousel Arch at Louvre" height="710" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7166113527_5ab5d249eb_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Various statues & sculpture all around lend their own magic to the city and yet are unable to draw your attention away from the marvelous facades of the buildings around which mesmerize you in.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7166111983/" title="Louvre facade throiugh Pyramid by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Louvre facade throiugh Pyramid" height="671" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7166111983_5c9b25561d_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </div>
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And like statistics, what these building hide inside is even more interesting. A must visit on any itinerary are the Louvre, Musee-de-Orsay and a number of other museums – including the ones dedicated to art of eroticism and fake articles! </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351064258/" title="Inspiration from masters by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Inspiration from masters" height="685" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7351064258_b17a8c6021_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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Though it is Mona-Lisa which is one of the chief attractions for everyone visiting Paris, I found the city a real treasure trove for art lovers. Rodin’s sculptures, Salvador Dali’s abstract forms, Van Gogh’s poignant history through his painting and Da Vinci’s genius are only a tip of what lies inside these museums – an inspiration always to the current generation of artists.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351066102/" title="Artist's Inspirations by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Artist's Inspirations" height="706" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7351066102_c0ec08c40b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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As if the days spent in visiting all these are not exciting enough, the evenings of Paris make it further interesting. Sitting in the open air bus and passing through – by now – a well illuminated city – is another sight that cannot be experienced elsewhere in the world. Adding to this is a must visit to any of the well-known cabarets, including Moulin Rouge – the birth place of Can Can dance, to actually experience the meaning of word “Effervescence”. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7334280668/" title="Lady in Pose Musee D Orsey ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Lady in Pose Musee D Orsey ls" height="1024" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7334280668_2102297899_b.jpg" width="628" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7334280668/" title="Lady in Pose Musee D Orsey ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"></a><br />
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While, we, the adults, were going gaga over the city, and kids were getting treated to a history and culture lesson, the high point for the kids were the 2 days spent at the Disneyland Paris. In fact, though distinctly not Parisian in style, the Disneyland still manages to be an extension of the city. Roaming inside Disneyland with all kind of joy-rides available around you can bring a child out of an adult too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7334241908/" title="mini-P1020074 ls by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="mini-P1020074 ls" height="682" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7334241908_4f3691602b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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For me, despite having spent one full week in Paris, it was just not enough. But for the time being our itinerary was already chalked out and there was no option but to take off to our next destination. I was still hooked on, and yet trying to decipher why Paris is so romantic. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7351468024/" title="P1020200 Old_and_New_ways_to_reach_the_sky by ashish_mantri, on
Flickr"><img alt="P1020200
Old_and_New_ways_to_reach_the_sky" height="713" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7351468024_176b602c3d_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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I think the answer lies in the city’s attitude to life - everything
in life is a celebration – and a celebration at a grand scale but
without pompousness. Hemingway had written if you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7166194387/" title="Painting at Louvre 1 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Painting at Louvre 1" height="380" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7166194387_3d471d5733_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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Small wonder that another five years have passed since I last saw her and yet, I can still close my eyes and feel the vibrancy and the unmistakable sense of pulsating joy. I am eager to see her again, be with her, explore her nuances, understand the enigma, because for me, my romance with Paris still lingers on…</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-24232244642829589432012-04-18T14:40:00.002+05:302012-04-18T14:40:41.392+05:30Is Jam Ka Nasha Abhi Tak Hai....<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>(I know the title of this post does sound a bit cheesy but this alone could express my feeling of intoxication about this city whose tale I am going to narrate. I am sure you will get intoxicated too as you read along & browse through the pictures.) </i></div>
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This was not the first time that I was visiting this city, but was the first one as an <i>urban yayawar</i>!</div>
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Unlike a traveler for the purpose of commerce, this time, the perspective was different. Yet, as we reached the town, I was realizing the similarities this city shares with my hometown, Mumbai.</div>
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The winter afternoon being used by the people – children, teenagers & adults alike, in playing cricket, resembled any of the numerous gullies of Mumbai. In fact, rather than Mumbai, this city should have been the Mecca of Indian Cricket – what with 2 of the premier national level tournaments named after the great crickters of the country, who happened to be the rulers of this erstwhile</div>
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Princely State. But it is not!</div>
<br />
It is a lesser known fact, but after Mumbai, this is the only city in
India having all three wings of Defense, i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force.
However, it still does not get the prominence which Mumbai gets!<br />
<br />
As a coastal city, it also could have been the premier port town of the
country. No doubt, it is a busy harbour, and ideally located, but a
premier port? No, it is not!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070832311/" title="Jamanagar Ships by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Jamanagar Ships" height="587" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7070832311_2dd91541e4_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Of course, it is the Oil Town of the country, with world’s largest crude refinery located near the town. Yet, in the world of commerce, the city is not a frontrunner.</div>
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And yes, migrants do favour this city, but these are a different variety of migrants - the feathered ones who come flying from far away across the mountains & oceans.<br />
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Yes, in a way, this city is almost like Mumbai, but something differentiate it from Mumbai, and how! There is essentially a lazed & laidback kind of ambience that is all pervasive in the city of Jamnagar, an absolute anti-thesis to the urgency led hectic life of Mumbai. Perhaps, despite all the similarities, this alone has somehow ensured that it has not been able to achieve the status of the Mega-city. And that perhaps is the reason why this city is way ahead of Mumbai when it comes to nature-watching, specially birds.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6924378026/" title="Khijadiya_The_Morning_Shadows_bLOG by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Khijadiya_The_Morning_Shadows_bLOG" height="509" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/6924378026_0611b9bf74_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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It has been said that when you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes, aspirations and pride of everyone who built it. Well, as we approached Jamnagar, with almost 48 hours to spend, before boarding the train back to Mumbai we were looking at our aspirations as the birdwatchers; the hope was that Jamnagar stays true to its much prided reputation amongst birders.<br />
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There was a feeling of curiosity & excitement, coupled with the fear of unknown as we went exploring the city & the areas around it.
Stating that our aspirations were fulfilled would not be doing justice to the true charms of the city. Jamnagar’s bird population is largely centered around a couple of sanctuaries, away from the city & at the beaches near the mouth of its Ports – Bedi Port & Rozi Port.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6924385700/" title="At Lakhota Lake - Dalmatians and Cormorants by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="At Lakhota Lake - Dalmatians and Cormorants" height="683" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5118/6924385700_674960c2b4_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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But unlike other urban areas, the the surprise packages of Jamnagar’s birdlife are the pockets of birdlife within the city. Lakhota Lake, a man- made lake at the heart of the city, & the wasteland near Jamnagar Railway Station allow an eyeful feast of birds for eager watchers.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070424667/" title="Lesser_Flamingo_Near_Jamnagar_Railway_Station by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Lesser_Flamingo_Near_Jamnagar_Railway_Station" height="1024" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5275/7070424667_5066e2ff22_b.jpg" width="694" /></a></div>
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At both these places, one can get much closer, than any other place in India, to Pelicans, Flamingoes, Cormorants, terns, Ducks & waders – all busy in their own routines.
With proximity to the coastal area, as well as shallow fresh water lakes within & outside, the city did look promising. We, out to explore the birdlife, chose Khijadiya & Narara as the preferred destinations.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070401327/" title="Pathway_Khijadiya by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Pathway_Khijadiya" height="1024" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7070401327_c5375d0c1b_b.jpg" width="683" /></a></div>
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In a direction towards Rajkot located at a distance of about 12 km. from Jamnagar lies Khijadiya bird sanctuary. These are two fresh water lakes, which were formed by reclamation bunds. On one side of the bund fresh water lakes are formed by water which drains from Ruparel and Kalinri rivers.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070395661/" title="Khijadiya Panorama 2 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Khijadiya Panorama 2" height="306" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/7070395661_b45ea33a69_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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On the other side of the bund, large creeks flowing from the Gulf of Kutch are located. These creeks support mangroves and other marine vegetations on the Gulf side, thus creating a unique wetland eco-system, found nowhere else in India.</div>
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With this kind of diversity in the eco-system, the avifauna life was also of varied nature, where nothing could have looked out of place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7087319843/" title="Oriental_White_eye by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Oriental_White_eye" height="653" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/7087319843_eebd94df96_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Oriental white-eyes & Paradise Flycatchers were at home as much as the varieties of waders were.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7075716741/" title="Black_Necked_Stork by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Black_Necked_Stork" height="401" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7075716741_30efeafa41_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Black Necked Stork flying in a hurry surely was a familiar sight for a
mumbaikar, experiencing it everyday as thousands of us hurry through to
reach our work stations. <br />
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Amidst constant patrolling of sky by the Marsh Harriers, River Terns and Brown Headed Gulls,</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070412201/" title="Great_White by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Great_White" height="683" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7070412201_b0f19eb061_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Pelicans kept taking off & landing with precision like the huge aircrafts.<br />
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Great Crested Grebe, for whom this place is a breeding ground, alongwith cormorants, coots, pochards, teals & pintails using their diving skills for fishing & Indian coursers and larks tilling the field in search of their food at the same location are rare to find, but was a common sight here.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7071273867/" title="Neelgai_in_jamnagar crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Neelgai_in_jamnagar crop" height="616" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7071273867_e8642d5072_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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The wild boars, Neelgais & Jungle cats managed to complete the picture.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Marine National Park - Narara</span></b><br />
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The earlier winter morning we had headed to Narara Maine Sanctuary, the first ever of its kind in India. Narara is situated at the mouth of Gulf of Kutch, at a distance of 60 kms from Jamnagar. As the tidal water recedes, it leaves behind the mudfats & live corals stretching for almost two kilometers. Though wading through the sea water gets tiring &, with backpacks & a camera, a bit cumbersome, the pleasure of getting close to the marine life makes it really worthwhile.</div>
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Just beneath the surface lies the treasure of numerous creatures within
reach, including the live sponge, crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins and sea
slugs. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070374687/" title="Puffer Fish Normal by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Puffer Fish Normal" height="683" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/7070374687_cc19786be8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6924288040/" title="Puffed Up by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Puffed Up" height="683" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/6924288040_f98e5ec3a6_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </div>
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Of course, not to forget a variety of fishes - starfish, brittle starfish, puffer fish to
name a few, and </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6924277378/" title="Octopus by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Octopus" height="665" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/6924277378_b52282a2f8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div>
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the octopus that could be picked up easily but was difficult to hold onto. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7070384425/" title="Crab Plover by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Crab Plover" height="683" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5119/7070384425_bb490914b9_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Naturally, the place is also a hunting ground for a number of waders, storks & herons. The most prized catch though is of Crab-Plovers, a strikingly beautiful coastal bird that is a regular winter visitor to the coasts around Jamnagar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6936632982/" title="Western reef Egret by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Western reef Egret" height="683" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6936632982_9e9c16ba56_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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The salt panes around Narara also provide the sightings of birds, including Great White & Dalmatian Pelicans, Black tailed Godwits & Western Reef Egrets.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7075902651/" title="Narara by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Narara" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7075902651_94aa91a028_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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To all those interested in <i>All Creatures - Great & Small</i>, I would recommend a visit to Narara. Experiencing the marine life from close quarters is an obvious reason for such a visit. But more important, as one stands amidst water with only the shades of blues & whites all around, the soul reaches out in unison to other creatures around, making you feel getting closer to the God. On the second thought, this stands true for the city of Jamnagar itself.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/7075930339/" title="Train_and_flamingos by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Train_and_flamingos" height="379" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/7075930339_b6e375f59a_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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As the train departed for Mumbai at a leisurely pace, the last sight of Jamnagar was the large flock of lesser flamingoes, in their symphony of pink & white. That I was tempted to pull the chain & get down to be left behind among those glorious feathered creatures is stating the obvious. That I did not do it was as much out of fear of breaking the law as much because of the promise to self of visiting this place again..and again.. and again…!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-7323838361804332872012-03-09T10:38:00.000+05:302012-03-09T10:38:20.024+05:30Sweetest Songs are those..<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The hills are
alive with the sound of music <br />
With songs they have sung for a thousand year<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
was not in the hills but I could hear the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sound
of music</i> in the shaded groves at the bank of the Cauvery at Ranganathittu.
The thick canopy formed by a variety of trees had come alive with the constant
chirping of the birds when my ears, by now tuned to their sound, picked up a note
which was discordant & different. As a bird song goes, this one was not
really much to talk about, neither really sounding sweet nor musical in nature – just an extended chatter kind of. Yet, it
was different, and, unlike other sounds, this one sounded very close.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I went about trying to
locate the source and noticed him near the jetty at Ranganthittu. He was busy
collecting food, a juicy looking & possibly delicious caterpillar from the
grass, getting ready for soon to come breeding season, but noticing my presence,
he decided to disappear in the bamboos.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon his call sounded again–
this time much closer, and lo, there he was, just a few steps away from me, on
the pathway again looking for the grub. But now instinctively he was keeping an
eye on my movement, too, without ceasing to chatter. While I was fascinated
with his small and subtle, yet lustrous presence, he was probably very
irritated of my intrusiveness. Quite possibly, the initial chattering could
have been his way of admonishing me, for my unwittingly having walked into what
he thought was his territory.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From whatever this lovely
bird was feeling, one thing was clear—having accepted my presence as something
unchangeable, he had decided to move on with his life. For him, the moment was
important. While being cautious, there was no way he was going to let a mere
human being weans him away from his ardent task. Soon, he was hopping from one
bough to another, busy chirping & singing, happily & constantly, as he
kept looking for & finding juicy morsels.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Talking about the chirping
& singing of birds, it was one summer evening in June 1820, when just like
me, Percy Shelley, one of the most gifted poets among the English Romantic
poets, came across a skylark singing happily. Being the poet and a brilliant
wordsmith that Shelley was, this incident led to him penning one of his most
cherished poem “To The Skylark” – a poem that expressed his desire of learning
from the skylark the art of being happy. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(As
a trivia, the poem contains a well known line - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought</i>. More
than a century later, in 1953, lyricist Shailendra was inspired by this to pen
the mukhda of a Talat Mahmood-Dev Anand classic from Patita: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hain Sabse Madhur Woh geet Jinhe Hum Dard Ke
Sur Men Gaate Hain</i>).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While I cannot get you an
image of the skylark who inspired Shelly, let me take you back to that
beautiful bird who was my companion at Ranganthittu for some time. A brilliant combination of Blue, Orange &
White, he is called Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, named after the wife of Colonel
Samuel Richard Tickell, a British Army Officer of 19<sup>th</sup> century, and
himself a well known ornithologist. You can cherish the extracts from “to The
Skylark” by Percy Shelley while enjoying the beauty of this lovely bird on the
link given below:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://acumenimages.blogspot.in/2012/03/hain-sabse-madhur-woh-geet-jinhe.html">http://acumenimages.blogspot.in/2012/03/hain-sabse-madhur-woh-geet-jinhe.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy weekend</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cheers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashish</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-55858553909243964202012-02-29T17:43:00.001+05:302012-02-29T20:59:12.553+05:30Dimitri - The Greek Guide<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: medium;">This article is my entry for <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/topic.php?topic=51" target="_blank">Around the World with Expedia</a> contest hosted by <a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/" target="_blank">Indiblogger</a> and <a href="http://expedia.co.in/">Expedia.co.in</a><span id="goog_1685343173"></span><span id="goog_1685343174"></span></span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></i></div>
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Driver: (noun) somebody who operates a motor vehicle</div>
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Guide : (noun) somebody who supervises a tour.</div>
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(transitive verb) to steer a vehicle, as well as to help
somebody learn something.</div>
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Taxi: (noun) a car, usually with a
taximeter, whose driver is paid to transport passengers</div>
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What is one
word in Greek for all of the above?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #1f497d;">Have you turned into compiling a
dictionary on your blog or is it some kind of quiz contest? </span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was
expecting you to ask. No! I have not started compiling a dictionary here, nor is
it an effort to showcase my knowledge about the language. Actually, I am just trying to arrive at the
exact role that Dimitri played for us in Athens. </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #1f497d;">Dimitri who?</span></i><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></b></div>
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I am sorry, now
I have evidently managed to confuse you. Usually I always begin at the
beginning, a very good place to start. But today seems to be a day when you
find yourself stuck in the middle –perplexed whether to read ahead with a hope
that I may clear the confusion or just skip this blog, and find something more
interesting.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #1f497d;">(with a glare that could kill..) Do
you intend to get to the point or should I really find something better to do?</span></i></b></div>
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Ok, sorry. No more diversions. Actually the Expedia (<a href="http://www.expedia.co.in/">http://www.expedia.co.in</a>) has organized a
competition wherein travel bloggers are required to submit stories on
interesting people they have met while travelling in India or abroad. Given this
opportunity, it is just fitting that I’d write about Dimitri. </div>
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For this let
me go back to 2007. We were planning a trip to Europe in May that year & our
first halt was scheduled at Athens. <br />
<br />
Sir Richard Francis Burton had said - <i>Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands</i>. So, glad I was, but, the more I read about Athens, the more
I got to know about the infamous Greek taxi drivers and that started worrying
me. That is when I came across George the Taxi Driver’s website. </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #1f497d;">George? I thought you were talking
about Dimitri.</span></i></b></div>
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(<i>My turn to
glare with a look that could kill!</i>) Listen, I am getting to Dimitri, provided
you stop interrupting me. </div>
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George &
his organization comprising few Greek Taxi Drivers were recommended highly for
their skills in ferrying tourists around. After a few email exchanges we asked
George to provide us his services during our two days stay in Athens, which he
readily agreed to. </div>
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So here we
were climbing down the stairs of the Hotel at the appointed hour to meet George
when I received a call from him. With an impeccable command over English, he
apologized, expressing his inability to be our taxi driver personally. However,
he had made the necessary arrangements and someone from his team was waiting
outside the Hotel with the vehicle. We were a bit disappointed as well as
irritated, but there appeared a suave and handsome Greek (‘<i>he looks much
better than most of the bollywood heroes</i>’ was whispered aside between my
wife & my daughter).<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #1f497d;">Can I see his picture please? </span></i></b></div>
<br />
Sorry, I do not have a picture, but you will have to take my word (<i>rather my wife & daughter's word</i>) for it. However, if you continue reading, I will share some of the pictures that we took during that trip. Now, if I may get back to my blog.<br />
<br />
So, this was the beginning of our two days’ association
with Dimitri during which he was what a perfect guide should be: A good host,
looking after your comfort as a representative of his country, an enjoyable
companion, ready to provide you with insights of the land & people who are
strange to you; knowing when to keep his counsel & leave you in peace; providing
advice when sought, ready with delightful courtesies & surprises. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6794736718/" title="P1000446 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000446" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6794736718_2fe3821409_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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Dimitri was
all of these and much more. He chalked out an interesting itinerary for us over
two days, taking us to places like Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Mycenae,
Nafplio, Epidaurus, Sounion & the City of Athens itself. If his command
over the history, geography and the architecture was simply amazing, the effortlessness with which he could explain the difference between Doric, Ionic & Cornthian columns to us or speak to us about the history of Mycenae actually made me wonder why he was not a teacher.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6794735482/" title="P1000416 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000416" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6794735482_c97c712d41_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br />
His take
on the current Greek politics & economy, which sounded like a local crib to
me in 2007, proved to be so insightfully right as the events unfolded in the year
2011. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6794732072/" title="P1000359 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000359" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6794732072_0af583987a_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
It was not only his knowledge about his own country that was astonishing. Rather he seemed to be taking equal interest in India. It was he, who actually made me realize the deep rooted connection &
similarities that India & Greece – two ancient civilizations – share at the
fundamental level – a plethora of Gods for all occasions, the journey of Alexander
in his bid to conquer the world, and Democracy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6940841629/" title="P1000277 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000277" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6940841629_16061e2e7f_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> <br />
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There is one
memory, sharply etched in the depths of my mind, which increased our admiration
for Dimitri. He had driven us to the Attica Zoo, a large, delightful zoo.
Unaware of how large it would be, we had asked him to wait for us for half an
hour, after the course of which we would have returned.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6794755502/" title="P1000701 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000701" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6794755502_b245bec314_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> <br />
<br />
However, time galloped
along, and we ended up having taken about 3 hours! After we came out, we found
Dimitri patiently waiting for us, in spite of the sweltering heat. He brushed
aside our apologies and was eager to show us the rest of his beloved city.
Patience was just one, of his most admirable qualities!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/6794746350/" title="P1000807 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1000807" height="768" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7038/6794746350_169eee44d3_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
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While
dropping us at the Hotel on our final evening in Athens, he hesitantly brought
out a small packet – a gift for my daughter – about 10 years old at that time,
an amulet to ward off the evil eye. The gesture was so thoughtful and yet not
at all unexpected from Dimitri. As we hugged & parted company, I realized
that while he was the perfect host we hardly got to know much about him. It was
too late by then to find out. However, I promised myself that sooner or later
we will visit Greece again, this time to explore the kingdom of Alexander with
the help of Dimitri – my Greek word for a Taxi-driver-cum-guide.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-58272542595269693762011-06-19T09:31:00.003+05:302011-06-19T09:33:15.263+05:30A Southern Odyssey<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This was an idea which was not encouraged by many! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Vacation in South in summer? Bangalore to Ooty to Pondicherry?? By Road??? In MAY???? Had <i>Bertie</i> asked for one word for the entire idea,<i> Jeeves </i>would have obloged him with the term - Preposterous. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Those who love us, generously termed it an adventurous plan, raising an eyebrow like <i>Jeeves</i>….while other, thought of it as an asinine one, but out of politeness and finding me stubborn actually did not use the word.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To be honest, I had my doubts too. Travelling in May anywhere in India generally is quite an arduous task. Travelling in south India, largely Tamilnadu, in what is called the month of Agninakshatram, can be worse. That’s why I was quite content with going to Bangalore & Ooty. But, soon at the request (~ nay, command) of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Missus</i>, it first became Ooty - Pondicherry & then Ooty – Yercaud – Pondicherry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And that’s how it all began, when an early morning in May, we embarked from Bangalore on a road journey of about 1500 kms, which in next few days was to take us right upto Chennai, through a route on which we were to cross over dense reserved forests, pass through the ever-twisting roads of Nilgiri mountains – well matched by the tongue-twisting names of most of the places on the entire route, steep climbs of Sheveroy Hills and plains of Tamilnadu graced with the presence of Indian rollers before seeing the sun rising from beyond the Bay of Bengal at the eastern coast of India. But all that was yet to be experienced.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A journey through road always has an advantage – it allows the detours & stoppages as one would desire. Our journey too, while keeping to the originally planned destinations, had its own unplanned & sudden stoppages & detours, the first one being to admire the wooden toys that are churned out in numbers at Chennapatna – a town on Bangalore – Mysore highway, also called the toy-town of Karnataka. Originated as an industry in the times of Tipu Sultan, the wooden toys of this town are made from variety of woods. What makes these toys different is the superb colours, provided through vegetable dyes, and fine glossy finish brought to it with lacquer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843199451/" title="P1340705 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1340705" height="768" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/5843199451_4e633dcc55_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Another detour meanwhile was on our way. As we reached closer to Srirangapatnam, we noticed a small road turning towards Somnathpur, that houses a 13<sup>th</sup> century Hoysala temple dedicated to Kesava or Krishna. Having visited it a few years earlier, we had fallen in love with the Krishna idol inside the temple and this was just the perfect opportunity, which we would not have missed. The road to the temple, bumpy in patches, passes through the paddy fields & sugarcane fields, with more than occasional Gulmohurs in full bloom providing the shade as well as adding that perfect red hue. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5846953305/" title="How Green is My Field by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="How Green is My Field" height="660" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5846953305_febf9347ca_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The temple itself, despite being almost 750 years old, is still in quite a good condition. Another thing which immediately differentiates it – and may be most of the other heritage temple structures like Mahabalipuram – from more popular temples, is sprawling open areas and absence of religious fervour amongst the visitors. As a result, one can actually be in commune with the god unlike the more popular temples, one of which we visited later at Thiruvanaimalam - characterized by an ever present ongoing tussle between the devotees – each one of them wanting to spend more time with the deity and pujaris with their attitude bordering on arrogance ensuring the denial of this desire.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843201127/" title="P1340735 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1340735" height="768" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/5843201127_304cf8ab3b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Leaving Somnathpur behind, we were on our way to Ooty. The approach to Ooty, as one enters the forests of Bandipur followed by Mudu-malai, and start climbing the Nilgiris, fills up one with lots of expectations and all senses are at alert The freshness in the air, a drop in the temperature, dense green colour in variety of shades all around, Gulmohur trees in full bloom slowly giving way to the tall Eucalyptus trees as road climbs up, clouds, sun and the trees creating their own shadow-play, occasional sightings of mammals like elephants, gaurs and monkeys, all looked like good omen for our stay at Ooty – till we reached Ooty. One look at the landscape of concrete jungle and all pervading noise and we wanted to escape from the reign of this queen of hill stations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843565905/" title="P1350117_Ooty by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1350117_Ooty" height="664" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5193/5843565905_e642525cfb_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">We still managed to stay in Ooty for next 4 days was largely due to the excellent location of Derby Green Resort – which despite being in the heart of the city, due to its elevated location overlooking the sprawling racecourse, allows one to still find some solitude and breathe freely in this otherwise crowded city. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843209217/" title="Matchstick_Flower by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Matchstick_Flower" height="1024" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/5843209217_c8454f34e5_b.jpg" width="749" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Added to that were some sudden surprises as well as delightful moments –finding a not so visited trail around the lake towards the south-end, experiencing a variety of flowers in all kind of colours at surprisingly crowd-less Arboretum, checking out the tea factory on the way to Dodda Betta Peak, being explained the difference between Dosai & Roast at one of the restaurants, strolling amidst Botanical Garden peeping at unheard of and unseen flowers, watching a large flock of Oriental White-eyes near Lamb’s Rock at Coonoor, taking a drive into Wellington, experiencing, though apprehensively, our first ever moment of a train maneuvering itself in reverse gear as our heritage toy train reached Coonoor station. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5844097160/" title="railway tracks at Connoor by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="railway tracks at Connoor" height="667" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5071/5844097160_ac99d17be2_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The moments were many which kept us hooked on till, we were again on the road, this time travelling towards Yercaud via Mettupalayam & Salem.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5846992749/" title="P1350490_thousand_Linga_Temple by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1350490_thousand_Linga_Temple" height="674" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5846992749_ef1f091697_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Yercaud – meaning lake (yeri) and forest (kaadu), at Shevaroy hills near Salem is at a height of about 4500 ft. The road from Salem rises suddenly in last few kilometers to reach this height and hence has a number of hair-pin bends that makes the climb interesting as well as challenging. Yercaud itself – more of a sleepy town, as compared to the hustle-bustle at Ooty, was a welcome change. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843548285/" title="P1350829_Shevaroy_Hills by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1350829_Shevaroy_Hills" height="663" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/5843548285_ede7636af1_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">For a Mumbaikar, Yercaud is Panchghani, Mahabaleshwar & Matheran, all rolled into one – steep climbs, a lake centric town and a table-top that gets busy over the weekend. However, what make it different are the dense forests and the coffee and spice plantations all around that can be explored through treks for birding. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843756664/" title="P1350720 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1350720" height="768" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/5843756664_fff7284177_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Even our stay at Hotel Lake Forest, developed out of an old estate and situate amidst spice & coffee plantation, was truly soul-refreshing. Dense green all around, small bungalows like of structure for boarding, and lots of avifauna including robins, barbets, bulbuls, flycatchers, minivets, swallows and woodpeckers to keep you company. The only thing that could have made us move from there was our already planned itinerary and we again hit the road on our way to Pondicherry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5844077070/" title="Yercaud_Resort by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Yercaud_Resort" height="702" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/5844077070_1b299b1859_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This time, the road journey, was more interesting, as rather than catching up the national highway through Salem, we climbed down through the forests towards Uthangarai, where we had one of the best dosa/roast breakfasts, and then moved towards Pondi through a country-side that was full of Indian rollers & kingfisher. Finding rollers perched on wires and trees almost every few hundred metres was too much of a temptation and ultimately we got down to chasing one of them with our camera, till we captured one of the few good shots of the bird. We were not lucky enough though in Thiruvanamalai, a temple town with towering Gopurams, where our surreptitious attempts to take pictures of deities failed miserably.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843211027/" title="P1350876_Indian_Roller by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1350876_Indian_Roller" height="731" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/5843211027_0cf038e90c_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Another interesting sight on the way to Pondi, which we dared not visit due to scorching heat of the mid noon, was the forts of Gingee –one of the most impregnable citadels of south India. The forts has had an interesting history of rulers ranging from Cholas to Bijapur Sultan to Marathas under Shivaji followed by Moghuls, French, Hyder Ali & finally British. Since the forts would have required a good climb in the scorching Sun we decided to leave it for a winter trip and moved towards Pondi – our last boarding halt of the trip. Our wishlist included a visit to the Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, capturing the sunrise from the eastern coast of the country, and </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">experiencing the French flavour of the town</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> However, the French flavour is long evaporated . Except a very small area around the Aurobindo Ashram resembling a French town, India has reached almost to the Ashram gates leaving nothing that distinguishes the remaining part of the town from any other noisy and crowded towns of the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The experience at the Ashram and Auroville was however, serene & peaceful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843197921/" title="P1360207 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="P1360207" height="1024" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5843197921_0fd0e5a471_b.jpg" width="768" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The sunrise that we saw from the beach both the mornings were different and beautiful. The early morning mist over the Bay of Bengal, roaring waves of the high tide, the clouds playing a cameo, the fishing boats out in the sea like early birds, all provided a lovely character to the mornings. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And then came the finishing touches to the entire trip. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5847517286/" title="Mahabalipuram by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Mahabalipuram" height="658" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5847517286_4725f772d9_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">First, a last moment change of plan due to our yayawari attitude made us decide to take the Eastern Coast Road, one of the best highways that I have travelled on, so that we could visit Mahabalipuram shore temples - a heritage site with mind-blowing carvings of various deities that have survived the centuries of history and ravaging of weather, including even a tsunami. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5843205543/" title="Above the clouds_1 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Above the clouds_1" height="768" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/5843205543_14d66053ae_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And finally, as our flight took to the sky towards Mumbai and broke through the dense cloud cover with sun about to say goodbye to the evening, the colours that lit across were similar to our experience in this trip –dark and bland on the surface till we broke through the routine and found ourselves enjoying the unexplored colours of the country. And yes, travelling in the hot summer in south India actually turned out to be quite a good idea. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">As a Greek poet had written – </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">the road was long but full of adventure, the summer mornings were many that allowed us so much pleasure & joy to enter the ports seen for the first time.</span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-23349396058616260702011-04-22T23:48:00.001+05:302013-06-18T13:57:26.270+05:30In the stillness of mind..<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In this concrete jungle of Mumbai, there exists a land which is close to the oasis of nature. Powai. Situated at the outskirts of Aarey & SGNP - the lungs of the city, a lake with hills as the backdrop bordering it, the area is greener and serene than most of the city. I consider myself fortunate to be residing here, because I can just hop, skip & jump to the lake and amble along to brighten up my mood while the lake remains engrossed in its own moods – changing from hour to hour & season to season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From a happy welcoming kind of a lake in the winters, it starts becoming a bit harsh with the arrival of the summer and definitely becomes sullen as the summer progresses. The monsoon, however, rejuvenates it, as it receives the bounty of life from the sky, getting ready for the next lot of visitors. However, it is the mood swings that the lake undergoes daily that I find more interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Usually, I see the lake on my way back from the office – the chaotic traffic continuing in full blare at its bank, the lake resembling one of the urban dwellers, having had a stressful day at work, its surface looking affected, the waves exhibiting its higher stress level. As the evening progresses, one can see the harsh neon lights of the hotels around getting distorted in the darkish stressed waters of the lake, irritating the lake which is trying to rest after a hard day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But the day I am able to visit the lake early morning, I find it in an absolutely different mood. After having settled down in its own solitude in the night, the surface of the lake is quiet & calm, reflecting the world around with absolute clarity. It almost brings to mind the words of Henry David Thoreau, the lake resembling the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. </span></b>Though this mirror like mood starts changing with the unfolding day starts putting the water in turmoil, it is indeed a joy to see the reflections – especially of the winged characters in the water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is where I find the nature guiding us mortal beings<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">According to Democritus, truth lies at the bottom of a lake, the water of which serves as a mirror in which objects may be reflected. But a lake can be a mirror only when it lies unaffected, alone in its stillness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Similarly in life, in order to understand the perspectives, </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">we need to find the equilibrium where the mind is calm & the heart is at peace. A stressed mind and turbulent emotions only manage to present the distorted version of reality, which in turn does not allow us to see the truth and skew our decisions. What we need is Equanimity – a state of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unperturbed-</i>ness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rumi had said -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Let the waters settle, and you will see stars and the moon mirrored in your own being. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But much before Rumi, it was Lao Tzu, the mystic & philosopher from China, who had said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No thought, no action, no movement, total stillness: only thus can one manifest the true nature and law of things from within and unconsciously, and at last become one with heaven and earth.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Zhuangzi, another Chinese philosopher <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the Tao’ist thinker recognised this simile of water and human mind almost 2300 years ago. He wrote<i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water becomes clear and transparent when in a quiescent stage. How much the more wonderful will be the mind of a sage when poised in quiescence! It is the mirror of heaven and earth, reflecting the ten thousand things.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It is interesting to find the Chinese philosophy & Taoism so much in sync with Buddhism that early when the Buddhism had just started spreading. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps Zhuangzi had already heard of the metamorphosis of the prince from India, Siddharth, who retreated to the stillness and solitude within himself and emerged as Gautam Buddha, with a new philosophy for the mankind - relevant even now more than two thousand years later.. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like Siddharth, what we need is a state of equanimity which alone can be our friend when the whole world is in turmoil. Equanimity is the only word used by Antonius Pius, the Roman emperor of 2<sup>nd</sup> Century AD to sum up the philosophy of life and how right he was. Of course, equanimity also means not to get carried away when thing are going our way. The praise, the flattery is also like the waves on the water, again distorting the image & our perspectives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There has always been, and much more today, a need of infinite patience and calm reflections. The world is grooving more and more to the tune of instant karma, expecting instant cures, rewards & reactions. A phone in hand wherever we go almost makes it compelling to respond – irrespective of the situation. Little do we realize that there are very few situations in life that require an instant reaction – everything else can wait for a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>calm, patient and well considered response. Stephen Covey has written - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">William Osler summed it up quite well in his valedictory address to the medical students of University of Pennsylvania:</span></div>
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<span class="firstword"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be</span></i></span><span class="maintext"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> calm and strong and patient. Meet failure and disappointment with courage. Rise superior to the trials of life, and never give in to hopelessness or despair. In danger, in adversity, cling to your principles and ideals. Aequanimitas!</span></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting back to the mirror like surface of Powai Lake, I realize that it makes it easier for the birds out to find their morning meal – just like this egret returning to the land after a successful sojourn over the lake.</span></b><b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></b></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5642470664/" title="Mirror Image by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="Mirror Image" height="728" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5064/5642470664_23a5306b4c_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-20642666203537390442011-04-14T16:25:00.001+05:302015-06-19T16:10:48.970+05:30Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai...<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Life and the idea of Heaven…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We were enjoying some profound & inspiring sufi music at Sama-e-sukhan last weekend when the thoughts about the life and the heaven slowly crept in. The genesis was some fabulous fusion of John Lennon’s soulful Imagine & Sufi music which had just turned the entire evening into a sublime moment for the heart & head alike. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Imagine there's no Heaven, It's easy if you try</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>No hell below us, Above us only sky </i>..<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In 1971, after the breakup of Beatles, when John Lennon sang this song, the world was witnessing one of the most tumultuous age of modern history. Already continuing the cold war with Russia, the USA had just started retreating from Vietnam & Combodia, bowing to the pressure from its own citizens, but not before waging a long hard fought war. Despite all its talk about human freedom, USA had just seen the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. On the other hand, amidst all talks of social equality, the USSR’s autocratic regime was finding it difficult to accept the dissenting voices of people like Solzhenitsyn. The Middle East was engaged in its own conflict with Israel while the ethnic issues of East & West Pakistan had kept our own country engaged in a war. Amidst this, John Lennon’s song <i>Imagine</i>, alongwith another hit, <i>Give Peace A Chance</i>, became the voice of those looking for the peace in the strife torn world, and giving words to the human beings’ everlasting quest for the Heaven. But he was not the solitary voice, nor was the idea unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Over the centuries, the mankind has always been enamoured with the idea of Heaven, a utopian world, perfect in all pervasive sense. Since the life itself is never accepted as perfect by anyone, the Heaven has been thought to be a place which one visit afterlife. This has also resulted in religions across the world making heaven a kind of much cherished reward for living a life approved by religious scriptures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However, the rational minds across different ages in time and place had a different take as they tried to define the idea of Heaven, relating it to our daily life. Considering the everlasting power struggle amidst the human race and resultant negativity it has generated, it is no surprise that these thoughts were centered at finding heaven by adhering to humanitarian principles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gautam Buddha, perhaps was among the earliest of such thinkers & philosophers who worked extensively on making the life in this living world itself heavenly through humanity for the universe. The Sutta Nipata, one of the earliest Buddhist discourses in Pali language, extols these virtues so lucidly: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Let your love flow outward through the universe,<br />
To its height, its depth, its broad extent,<br />
A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.<br />
Then as you stand or walk,<br />
Sit or lie down,<br />
As long as you are awake,<br />
Strive for this with a one-pointed mind;<br />
Your life will bring heaven to earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For Rumi, the Persian Sufi Mystic of 13<sup>th</sup> century, the Heaven again meant absence of hostility and hatred:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I love this world, even as I hear </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the great wind of leaving it rising,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For there is a grainy taste </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I prefer to every idea of heaven:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Human friendship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kabir, the secularist that he was in the times strife with religious fervours & antagonism, went further and showed us the way to find the God & the Heaven within ourselves when he spoke:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein Na Ekant Niwas Mein</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein Na Kabe Kailas Mein</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein…</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho Mein To Hun Viswas Mein</span></i></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As our race continues to hurl itself frequently into various crises, there have been many more voices – known & unknown, echoing repeatedly the similar sentiments – finding the Heaven through living life with love for humanity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That evening, however, as I sat in a trance listening to the music that evening, I thought of the verse, a joint effort of Raj Kapoor’s favourite team – Shailendra & Hasrat Jaipuri, from one of the most profound Hindi movie songs, exemplifying through simple words the way to live life, and thus finding heaven, here & now:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kisi ki Muskarahton pe Ho Nisar, Kisi Ka Dard Mil Sake to Le Udhaar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kisi ke waste ho tere dil mein pyar, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jeena Isi Ka naam Hai..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is ironical that, despite the technological advancement, we are facing breakdowns in human communication. With faster speed, we are also getting distanced from each other faster. Add this to ever rising inequalities, in fast growing economies, and there is a perfect recipe for disasters. The challenges are many, but not impossible to overcome. All it requires is astrong resolve & honest action from us, the ones who are better offs, to do our own bit for the humanity & the lesser privileged ones of the society. We have to remember these oft repeated words from past</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I expect to pass through life but once. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If, therefore, there by any kindness I can show, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">let me do it now … </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As I shall not pass this way again.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If such will be the resolve, we will not have to worry about finding the Heaven for us in our afterlife. Rather we will be building our own much sought after heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sounds Utopian? May be, but as John Lennon went on to sing:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one <br />
I hope someday you'll join us <br />
And the world will live as one</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So here is my picture for this week, from Varca Beach, reminding me always - <i>I shall not pass this way again:</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://acumenimages.blogspot.com/2011/04/jeena-isi-ka-naam-hai.html">http://acumenimages.blogspot.com/2011/04/jeena-isi-ka-naam-hai.html</a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cheers</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ashish</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-89211345950514496442011-03-29T22:29:00.009+05:302011-03-30T12:24:08.867+05:30Where Streets Do Not Exist....<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I want to feel sunlight on my face </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I see the dust cloud disappear Without a trace </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I want to take shelter from the poison rain </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Where the streets have no name</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bono of U2 crooned in this 1987 Grammy award winner. To an urbanite the entire idea seems so strange – the notion of having streets with no name, in turn making most of us lose their apparent identity in a society which ascribes high credence to the streets or the localities where we choose to live or have our work-place. A utopian situation of global equality impossible to be found in civic society – in fact not even acceptable as to our orderly mind, this would be an anti-thesis - chaotic and anarchic. No wonder the same album of U2 had Bono singing – <b><i>I still haven’t found what I am looking for.</i></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This February I experienced something even stranger – a place where let alone the streets without names, streets just do not exist – not at least for the urbanites like us, nor exists the dwellings of any kind, and this is what this travelogue is all about. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had spent last 2 days roaming in the watery world of Nalsarovar & Thol. With water in plenty, crops abundant, the eyes & the soul had feasted on the greenery and the birds – resident as well as migratory of all sizes, hues & colours. <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><span style="line-height: 115%;">The image of large flocks of geese clouding the early morning sky swooping down on to the greener pastures was still afresh in the mind.</span></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5570480559/" title="2011_02_12_014822_Demoissele_Crane_Flock_over_the_Field_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_12_014822_Demoissele_Crane_Flock_over_the_Field_Crop" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5570480559_08ced4322a_z.jpg" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">All that had changed now – just about 100 KMs away from the bustling city of Ahmedabad, as our adventurous spirit had brought us previous afternoon to Patdi, a small town in Surendranagar district of Gujarat. The plethora of small waterbodies and green fields seen during the road journey had slowly decreased in numbers, though not really disappeared. It was yet early hours of the day in late winters, the breeze was cool, Sun had just started waking up the nature as its morning beams reflected on the streak of a jet in the sky. Our day also had begun early as we went exploring the Little Rann of Kutch (Rann), as a part of our annual pilgrimage to celebrate and commune with the nature. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5572332023/" title="2011_02_13_016027_Aircraft_Trail_At_Dawn_Crop_2 by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016027_Aircraft_Trail_At_Dawn_Crop_2" height="384" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5572332023_ca7b4b77a6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Rann is a vast area of almost 5000 Sq Km, believed to have been a navigable lake in the times of Alexander. The growing civilization of 2300 years, however, had changed its features - now comprising largely of arid grassland, saline desert & mudflats, thorny scrubs, marshes & seasonal shallow pools of water. It still is one of the most remarkable and unique link in nature’s ecology - one of its kind in the entire world. It is a vast desiccated, unbroken bare surface of dark silt, encrusted with salts which transforms into a spectacular wetland for a brief while after the monsoon. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well</i> – so says Antoine De Saint-Exupery, in his classic allegory “The Little Prince”. Here, we were the adventurers in this desert looking for our well of treasure. For us, that morning the treasure that lied hidden in the Little Rann were some of the species of the birds and the mammals, unseen yet by us, one of them being Asian Wild Ass (the <i>Khur</i>), for whom, despite dwindling numbers, the Rann is their last refuge in the world. Our wish list however was not restricted to the <i>Khurs</i> but also included the Sand Grouse, Merlin, Owls, Harriers, Larks and Houbara Bustard, among others. The evening before we had already spelt out the wishlist to Pratap, the local guide, who nonchalantly had promised to show us most of these, while leaving remaining ones to the luck. His confidence seemed inspiring and despite not so good food at the resort we were staying at, the large number of stars above us in the sky and the tranquility around, made us look forward to the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few moments in the desert, and I was not sure any more about the sightings. The entrance into the sanctuary itself seemed to be an anticlimax – no gates, no road, just a signboard and a dirt-road track leading us away from the semblance of civilization into the vast span of mudflats dotted sparsely with the oasis of greens, and a few pools of waters. These pools of waters were the remains of one or two months of monsoon rain, during which a large area get inundated with water and attract enough of the migratory birds on their annual sojourn to escape the colder climates.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566091295/" title="LRK_Panorama_Crop_rs by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="LRK_Panorama_Crop_rs" height="298" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5566091295_daa707183a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The disturbing fact, however, was the absence of any distinctive features in the landscape. <b><i>Jidhar dekhoon, teri tasveer nazar aati hai</i></b>..sung AB in <i>Mahan</i> to his object of affection. The uninteresting landscape all around us was making me think of these lines, though was not sure if our object of affection at the moment – the flat, arid, and monotonous, would have cared a bit. For us city-folks, used to travel in the concrete jungle through the myriads of street networks, leading to a variety of architectural efforts, this was disconcerting and a bit scary. It also made me wonder about the confidence that Pratap had shown the night before. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It seemed too late to worry, and since there was no turning back, it was time to look forward and enjoy the experience. I soon found out, that my lack of confidence was misplaced as sure enough, Pratap ably guided our driver in the vast monotonous expanse:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> - sometimes to the fringe of a waterbody, with vegetation nearby to point out a solitary Greater Spotted Eagle, getting ready for the day ahead, its eyes reflected the rising Sun – </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5571096034/" title="2011_02_13_016044_Indian_Spotted_Eagle_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016044_Indian_Spotted_Eagle_Crop" height="455" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5571096034_a646154b42.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> - egging us sometimes to lurk behind the shrubs and reach closer to the Lesser Flamingoes, busy looking for their morning grub in the shallow pools of waters, with mirror like reflections</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566674578/" title="2011_02_13_016065_Lesser_Flamingoes_Crop_Rs by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016065_Lesser_Flamingoes_Crop_Rs" height="440" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5566674578_6a8b6546c0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">- peering constantly like an oracle into distance & then guiding us to reveal a male Marsh Harrier almost blending with the landscape. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566681434/" title="2011_02_13_016368_Montagu_Herrier_Female_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016368_Montagu_Herrier_Female_Crop" height="449" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5566681434_3e917394d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the breakfast time approaching, this was soon turning out to be much more than just a birding trip. First the <i>Khurs </i>made their appearance. However, the mistrust of the generations with the human beings ensured that they stayed at a distance, protecting the younger ones and conferring about the way to tackle the growing menace of the intruders in their area. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5571109148/" title="2011_02_13_016869_Khurs_Crop_Rs by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016869_Khurs_Crop_Rs" height="447" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5571109148_792c33fe91_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Neelgais were quicker in their thoughts and actions and resorted to galloping away to the safety.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566685836/" title="2011_02_13_016270_Neelgai_Gallop_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016270_Neelgai_Gallop_Crop" height="429" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5566685836_65cee5e642_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps finding us affronted with the callous behaviour of the other mammals, the Rann decided to unfold its beauty. The month of our visit being February, the aftereffects of the monsoon had more or less disappeared, turning the land into the parched caked mudflats. These mudflats seemed to be running into the omnipresent pools of water in the distant horizon. The water, which seemed to be evaporating faster than the laws of physics could make it possible, as we reached closer, till I realized that I was experiencing the beguiling magic of a mirage firsthand. Like travelling to the mountains and coming face to face with those titans, I was finding ourselves very insignificant with endless mudflats all around and the nature guffawing as it played pranks on us.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566658218/" title="2011_02_13_016564_Mirage_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016564_Mirage_Crop" height="446" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5566658218_5081fcd476_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soon the Sun had risen higher in the sky. The hoardes of Neelgais, Khurs & Common Cranes had reduced their early morning activity, conserving their energy, and disinterestedly, but cautiously, maintaining their distance from us. The sudden breakdown of our vehicle due to a punctured tyre just seemed to make us conspicuously interesting for a moment as a Khur started walking towards us, before changing its mind and direction. Of course, amidst all these, the kestrels with their fluttering flights overhead, the crouching sandgrouse, the grey francolins, the larks, the white cheeked-bulbuls, the wagtails and the desert wheatears were constantly making their presence felt.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5570536949/" title="2011_02_13_016409_common_kestrel_flight_crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016409_common_kestrel_flight_crop" height="427" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5570536949_bab25389e7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rising heat and aridity, despite the cooler breeze, was making us thirsty. This was also making the birds seeking shelters under variety of shrubs, making birding look easier. All that our guide had to do now was to visit these shrubs and hey presto – there were those elusive birds for we city folks. Sounds easier in a city but we were in a land with no streets, similar looking landscape with the mirages confusing one further & the only GPS we had was embedded in the memory of our guide. Yet, it goes to the credit of our guide who unerringly made us sight birds like Merlin & Short Eared Owl.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566119487/" title="2011_02_13_016380_Merlin_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016380_Merlin_Crop" height="461" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5566119487_44998becef_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the noon hour approaching, we left the Rann, and after nourishing the body, spent some time in visiting a waterbody near Patdi. The Sun was scorching the earth yet the flocks of pintails, shovellers, geese, common teals, cormorants, grey & purple herons and a variety of waders were holding otheir court looking like choir singers engaged in the practice before the beginning of the show.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566084103/" title="2011_02_13_016803_Cormorants_Chorus_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016803_Cormorants_Chorus_Crop" height="385" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5566084103_dd45c71c66_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amidst this the occasional sorties by the raptors including a marsh harrier and a juvenile imperial eagle failed to make any impact on the siesta time of the water birds, refusing to budge from their chosen position in the court of nature.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5566689974/" title="2011_02_13_016706_Imperial_Eagle_Juvenile_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_13_016706_Imperial_Eagle_Juvenile_Crop" height="439" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5566689974_dc3cf2c39c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">With afternoon Sun reducing the heat, we returned to the Rann seeking the elusive Houbara Bustard in the wilderness. But the capricious Rann was sulking, refusing to reveal any more f its treasure – at least for this trip. As a result even though it was at an arms' length from us, the Houbara preferred to give us only a fleeting glimpse, before shying away in the shrubs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishmantri/5571069988/" title="2011_02_12_016008_Flight_in_the_red_Sky_Crop by ashish_mantri, on Flickr"><img alt="2011_02_12_016008_Flight_in_the_red_Sky_Crop" height="469" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5571069988_6272f085ee_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the evening hour approached, the setting Sun was giving long-shadowed kind of hints for us to go back . The expressions of the larks foraging on the ground also indicated that they have had enough of us. With even the ducks deciding to fly away in the sky ablaze with the colours of the setting sun, we also bid our goodbye, gazing at the parting Rann with a fervent hope that it would generously welcome us again and unravel some more of its marvels when we meet next. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-27526103616488511952011-03-16T18:34:00.011+05:302011-03-17T08:05:44.612+05:30Talking Harsh is Nothing to Crow About...<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Hey, isn’t the crow your friend?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">A statement, which I am not sure was spoken in jest or sarcasm, - started a thought-process. Why is it that normally Crows are not supposed to be among the adored birds? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Crows have been associated with human beings from time unknown; have been known to be sturdy, playful, intelligent and cunning. While we all know about the folk tale of Thirsty Crow, those with any doubts about their playfulness & cunning must see them dodging our society’s resident dog Caspian, always leaving him with stupefied expressions. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">In various ancient mythologies from across the world, including the Scandinavian, Celtic, Mayan and South East Asian, crows have been depicted as the symbols or messengers of God. Among the Scottish, <span style="color: black;">a complete body of lore has been built up from listening to the varied calls of the crows who have the ability to mimic many kinds of sounds as well as to communicate with its own kind. In the medieval times, the crows were said to have magical properties which included an ability to divine the future and to dismantle the past, as well as to teach human beings how to mix love, humor, and playfulness.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Closer home, in the Aryan culture, the crows have been associated with food & fertility while among Hindus, the Crow has been the emblem of God Varun as well as a messenger to our departed ones.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">And yet, when a poll was conducted recently to select the symbolic bird for Mumbai, the Crow was among one of the contenders but lost out to the petite and more colorful Coppersmith Barbet- despite crows adding their might regularly to clean up the garbage, that we generate a plentiful of, on a regular basis. <span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:HP" datetime="2011-03-16T10:31"></del></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Surely, there is something about crows that makes us dislike them….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Is it colour related racism on our part? But then koel (the male koel) is also black, so are the Drongo and a number of other birds and not yet ignored the way a crow is. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Could it be due to its being in too many in numbers all around us leading to the contempt that familiarity breeds? Not really conclusive when I notice the affection for sparrows, though they are declining now. Even common mynas or parakeets who command a large presence have never been treated so disdainfully.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Or could it be their continuing raucous calls, always harsh & discordant in nature, creating a cacophony, which puts one off? Yes, this seems to be the raison d’etre for this dislike. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">The mystical poet and one of the greatest saints of our country, Kabir had said:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aisee Vani Boliye, Man Ka Aapa Khoye</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Auran ko Sheetal Kare, Aaphu Sheetal hoye.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Kabir was always a keen observer of human behavior & profound in his analysis. In our personal interaction, our likes & dislikes of a person largely gets determined by how, when and what of his talks. The success & failures of high level negotiations, even among the countries as well as in the corporate world, have depended largely upon the demeanor & language of those who carried out the talks.<br />
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With the advent of the mobile technology, where more and more of us have become talkers then listeners & doers, to know how to talk is becoming critical even for the success of interpersonal relationships. Yet, we are talking more, getting aggressive, and letting our indignation and necessity to have the last word get better of our softer emotions.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Such being the importance of how we talk, it might be a good idea to actually understand the depth of the words that Lebanese poet & philosopher Kahlil Gibran used about the way we talk in his classic - The Prophet:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;<br />
And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.<br />
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.<br />
For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.<br />
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There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.<br />
The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.<br />
And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.<br />
And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.<br />
In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.<br />
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<b>When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.<br />
Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear;<br />
For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered<br />
When the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.</b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I hope I am on the right track here. But again, my entire idea of equating the way we talk with the crow may make me look like someone wet behind the ears, just like this crow whom I caught facing the hard thunderous rain with equanimity:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
http://acumenimages.blogspot.com/2011/03/talking-harsh-is-nothing-to-crow-about.html<br />
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Cheers<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194106479185431969.post-87702556521309199212011-03-04T14:47:00.000+05:302011-03-04T14:47:25.456+05:30The Goodluck Charm...the beginning<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On one of my recent postings about the Birds (O! Thou Heavenly Creatures…), a dear friend of mine commented..."<i>You really are in love with these winged creatures. Aren't you?</i>"</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That simple, and completely true statement made my mind wander back to about 5 years ago when in Coorg, I first chanced upon (from the hotel room's window) a strange bird - shying away in the shadows of trees. The curiosity to know more about it, slowly unrevealed a world of treasure for me, as that marked the beginning of my hobby of bird & nature photography.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For all passionate birdwatchers, the number of bird-species sighted (for the first time) has always been important, and it has not been any different for me. My recent trip to Gujarat made me cross a landmark of 300 different kinds of bird-sightings. Yet, in a country boasting of almost 1200 species, this is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The real treasure still lies hidden, waiting to be explored. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On the course of my journey to reach this number, I captured, through my lense, not only birds, but also the smallest of creatures, the most varied kind of landscapes, and other celebrations of life on my camera. It also made me realise how, with so much demand on natural resources to fulfill our needs, we are depleting this treasure. Little do we realize that in the process we are also straying away from nature & in turn from God. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Akbar Illahabadi, the well-known Urdu poet had penned a ghazal - <i>Hangama Hai Kyun Barpaa</i> in response to his critics objecting to his friendship with wine-drinking friends of other religions. This was made more popular by Ghulam Ali in his inimitable style. One of the couplets of this ghazal was about the omnipresence of God:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Har Zarra chamakta hai, Anwar-e-Illahi se,<br />
Har Saans yeh kahti hai, Hum hain to Khuda bhi hai..<br />
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Similar sentiments were echoed by William Blake, the English poet and painter of the late 18th century, in his all-time classic - Auguries of Innocence<br />
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To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a heaven in a Wild Flower,<br />
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand<br />
And Eternity in an hour<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">These are not solitary voices, as there are many more echoes, from different parts around the modern world. Our ancient Indian scriptures & philosophy was possibly the earliest known proponent of being close to nature. Rig Veda itself equated N<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">ature's beauty as an art of God and commands us to feel the touch of God's invisible hands in every beautiful thing.</span> Atharva Veda tells us God’s joy manifesting through splendour of his creations in the nature. “<i>Kan-Kan men Bhagwan”</i> has been one of the corner stone on which our mythologies are also based.<i> </i>And yet, we – the citizens of the modern, more educated India are repeatedly isolating ourselves from nature.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My own regret has been about losing out on a precious 40 years of my life, ignorant about nature’s calming & well-balancing effect on the workaholic’s soul. Yet, I am not the only one. There are scores of others, still unaware of our deep rooted affinity with nature and the joys of simplicity – even if only once in a while. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It may not be practical anymore to live a life like Henry David Thoreau, who decided to spend more than two years on the Walden Pond, away from civilization. Yet, there exists a fundamental truth in his writings: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;">Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind….. Our life is frittered away by detail….. We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without…Simplify! Simplify!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I believe that getting back to the roots on a regular basis, forsaking all luxuries and just to experience the simplicity, just like a lost child returning to its mother, and to learn what it has to teach, is something worth yearning for. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This, being the thought uppermost on my mind as I complete 5 years of efforts of getting closer to nature, I chose to convert my blog into a bi-weekly update through a picture, hopefully, inviting and tempting enough to let nature reach out to us- soon, and more often.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To begin this (hopefully life-long) project, nothing better but to bring to you alive the colours of that strange shy bird with whose sighting this journey had begin for me – the Greater Coucal. Incidentally, while on almost all my birding trips I have had a sighting of this bird, it took me more than 4 years to capture a good picture of this good-luck charm of the farmers (& mine!). I just hope it continues to inspire more & more human beings, the way it inspired me…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">http://acumenimages.blogspot.com/2011/03/goodluck-charmthe-beginning.html</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cheers</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ashish</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0