CUCKOO'S CALL

This short video I took of cuckoo's touching notes, from my balcony.

U is for uncrowned:

Cuckoo is the uncrowned queen of singing birds.

 I've been in the midst of Shivalik  hills for three weeks now. The summer heat in the plains was intense and unbearable. So we came  here.

Since our arrival here, I have experienced many pleasurable surprises. The most signifying one is, listening to the adoring cuckoo’s magical notes early in the morning. In fact, cuckoo’s melody comes as a blessing extraordinaire. It seems to convey, “Wake up, abandon lethargy and enjoy my song.” I do listen to her.

It is on a breezy cool day that she is unstoppable.  Her full-throated ease in crooning, goes on until the heat of the sun teases her. Thereafter, she disappears mysteriously for a siesta to reappear in the evening. Her morning rendezvous has distinct proximity to my dwelling unit. It is evident from the unpolluted clear notes stirring my resting sensibilities.

She is elusive like a celebrity, though. Perches patiently in the thick foliage hidden from the prying gaze. I have failed to capture her image so far. However, her magical musicality remains pronounced above the cacophony of all worldly noises. My words celebrate her sonorous notes.

This one i took from my archives.  In a pensive mood?

If nature has deprived her of good looks, it has amply compensated her. It has endowed her with amazing richness of voice and poignant pitch in rendering those lyrical notes.

She does not boast of a guru or gharana for her talent. Her mentors seem to be the aromatic cool breeze and cloudy skies. They send their invite to her through the wafts of wind. Then she comes flying high.

From my archives again.Waiting for the right place to enjoy the delicacy in her beak.

Her sweet singing is inspired and inspiring. It takes the corroding blues away in a moment. Sometimes I think, she is a lonely soul and these notes are a call to her wayward partner to consummate the passion she has nurtured for him. Or maybe the song is a release for her grief after facing desertion. Or it is a call to suffering humanity down under to unshackle the constraints and enjoy gifts of life. It keeps me guessing!

Friends welcome here as always! 

Linking to:

Our World 
image-in-ing
Seasons 
ABC Wednesday 
Natures Notes 

TRAVEL TALES AND TREATS

“Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.” – Irving Wallace

'BAHRI BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY'

              F is for  ' Future perfect'

Spotlessly clean and wide inner road overlooking the hills.

Traveling is  a treat. It feeds your wanderlust. It enables you to weave tales in your life experiences. It enriches your memory bank. It ennobles your consciousness to see the world as a pulsating entity. You amble about exploring new horizons, taking in surprising experiences. Your creative juices rejuvenate. Amazing ideas fuel your imagination. Excitement and childlike urge to enjoy takes over. Not only this, the natural beauty of the place, you choose to visit mesmerizes your senses. Your inner voice exclaims, “Oh, there is so much of grandeur and heavenly repose here. Is it of this world? Yes, it is here and now, but hidden from the world." Such experiences are the stuff of inspiring tales. For a few days, at least you forget the mundane monotony and rejoice in the bandwagon of delight and freedom.

 

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Many times, you plan a tour with some specific purpose. Other times you wish to move out of your comfort zone. You welcome a short period of continuous adaptability and challenges in new environs. Unexpected situations, you face in plenty. Sudden encounters replace the status quoits mindset.

Every travel experience carries a reservoir of new terrains. If you are capable of, you can share them with the world and spread joy through your narration.

.......

Another view of the stunning hills.

By the way, my outing this time had both elements. Some purpose and a desire to leave home for some days and come back with renewed energy. My destination after due recce on the net zeroedin on a place called ‘BAHRI BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY’ in TAMIL NADU. It is one of the large states of Southern India. The particular place stands about 95 KM from the temple town Madurai.

 

Here the purpose was to find a retirement community, where the weather is wholesome throughout the year. We desired  a  place of peace and tranquility, far from the maddening bustle of urban life. An escape, from the extreme weather conditions of our home state Punjab.

A landscaped area (the work is only in the initial stages yet.)

My boyfriend/ dearest hubby and I reached this beautiful place late one night. Next morning opened large vistas of beatitude all around us. It came out to be a retirement community with a difference. Marvelous as it is, it also happens to be the only one in India of its kind. Nestled in the foothills, with its vast open spaces, wide roads and breezy climate, it is a paradise of sorts. Panoramic view of the hills on three sides is breathtaking. Coconut and banana plantations charm in their stately presence. It is like a dreamland.

The boulevard like  magnificence of the entry point.

The sun rise looks like a magic so near. Photo capture from the front verandah of our unit.( not visible here.)

Another inner road with cute looking villas on both sides.

My photographs of this place express the splendor, no words can do. Pl. click on the pics to see the larger view.

Friends,welcome here as always!

To be continued:

Linking to:
Our World
image-in-ing
 Nature Notes 
Outdoor Wednesday 
ABC Wednesday  
 

 

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Part of my hill series:

Linking to:



Good Fences,  Sky Watch Friday

It is a hazy morning and sun light is subdued. Cool breeze is blowing  and that compensates amply  for the unfriendly atmosphere, though. At about 11am I ventured out to forage for the theme based images which i needed to post on two of my favorite memes. I'd decided that I'll only use new ones. Luckily I succeeded. Below is the proof of my efforts. Hope you like them. 

There is a light veil of haze and the sky looks almost white.However, I went ahead for this click of the skyline beyond the top of the mountain. The click is simple but freshly procured.

Location: From inside our community, at Kumarhatti, Solan.

Friends, welcome here as always!

CAMARADERIE BETWEEN NATURE AND SKY

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I noticed many times in the hills that on one side there was sunshine and far away you 'd spy dark clouds appearing suddenly. The pic(above)shows one such phenomenon!

During my stay in hills during last summer i got a blissful opportunity to watch infinite patterns of the sky blending profusely with the green cover of the hills. Some glimpses of the scenery get embedded in your mind's eye. Sharing these pictures bring back fond memories. Especially since I've developed love for photography.

Friends, welcome here and thanks for the support!

A CRADLE OF EDUCATION

LINKED TO ABC WEDNESDAY

'I' is for inspiring endeavors:

An overview of the area.

Here is an ordinary village on Shivalik hill slopes which had been chosen by enterprising welfare organizations for spreading educational facilities in this area of Himachal Pradesh, which direly needed such an initiative. It is a boon for locals and people of nearby places to send their children for acquiring requisite qualification for getting employment. It is situated on Kumarhatti-Sultanpur  Road on up slopes.  There is a Medical College, a multi- facility Hospital, College of Nursing, a separate University for imparting Engineering courses, a College for providing teacher training degree and many many more.

The poor of the area are having free consultations in the hospital and very marginal charges for hospitalizations and operations. The area which was deprived of all these amenities is looking up economically and in over all well being. Hostels, shops, paying guest accommodations are flourishing and providing employment to youth. A new chapter of growth and prosperity has been initiated and will go a long way in developing the area.

I'm in fact inspired by the genuine efforts of the well meaning individuals behind the success of these ventures. Such examples corroborate the profound truth that there is no dearth of caring people in this world. Let's try to imbibe and spread the spirit of selfless service around us.

 Friends,welcome here as always.
  

AN EXCITING JOURNEY BY A HILL TRAIN

TRAIN JOURNEY IN THE MOUNTAINS

'F' is for a fun experience.

Friends I must tell you here that I took two short videos to acquaint you about the natural beauty of the hill terrain which i witnessed during the journey , but failed to upload here due to some error.

Traveling in the hills by train and a historic one at that, which runs between Kalka and Shimla, is an  exercise worth taking, in its novelty at least. ‘The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a 2ft.6 in, narrow gauge railway in North-West India, passing along a mostly mountainous route.’ It is known for its fascinating view of the hills, surrounding villages and hamlets on far off slopes.’

In July 2008, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The train covers 96 Km. to reach Shimla. It is an enthralling journey from many angles. For one, it is considered  a technological marvel. It climbs from 2152 ft.above sea level at Kalka and terminates at an elevation of 6811ft. at Shimla. En route the train passes through more than hundred tunnels. 'The Barog Tunnel' (No. 33) being the longest tunnel on the line at 3,753 ft. in length between Dagshai and Solan and 890 ft. below the road.'

It negotiates 864 bridges and scores of sharp curves. “The Kalka–Shimla Railway was built to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the Indian rail system. Now, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and is popularly known as the ‘queen of hills’ and Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana. Spectacular scenery along the whole route, and the marvels of its construction, keeps the traveler on this line spell bound. On leaving Kalka, (2,152 ft.) , the railway enters the shivalik foothills and immediately commences its climb and touches Shimla at 6811 ft.

Above is the Summer Hill station our destination

 The railway station at Salogra.

A Shimla bound  train passing over this complex but artful bridge build by the British. Courtesy Wikipedia

 I had  repeatedly heard about the spectacle of abundant scenic beauty flanking the rail tracks of this famous rail route from Kalka to Shimla. I made up my mind right then to experience the nature’s  magic at the earliest opportunity. Last week the chance knocked at our door when we thought of visiting a friend and his family at Summer Hill, 3 kilometers short of Shimla after a gap of many years. Summer Hill has the charm of a better-developed hill station and houses the state University and an advanced research center.

Our train at one of the stations.

The decision to undertake the momentous journey was finalized. According to the plan, we boarded the small KALKA- SHIMLA EXPRESS TRAIN with seven bogies from Dharampur and got down at Summer Hill station. On the way we passed many important towns like Barog, Solan, Shogi, Kandaghat,Tara Devi and a few others.

The journey no doubt was  once in a lifetime experience. The train rushed passed  lush green forest cover which looked lustrous in the virgin morning light. Shallow valleys, deep gorges and sometimes  the heart stopping moments when the train moved on the edge of a gaping gorge keep your senses animated with wonder.These spell binding sensations keep you hooked throughout. At places, the brave hearts could even touch the rocks or the thick vegetation. Surrounding the railway track you could observe stately pines, rugged deodars, sprawling bushes, common cacti and sundry vegetation. A photographer’s delight no doubt!

The  negative points were all due to the inefficiency of the human element in the journey. The catering at stations was sub standard.The seating area and toilets needed better cleaning, even in the first class compartment. This as we all know is the bane of public services in the country.

The  whole experience is unforgettable though! I'm happy that I could do it. 

Friends,welcome here!

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

WHITE BEAUTIES

The picture is of hill flowers growing in rectangular beds in front of the flats in our community, where owners spend some  summer months to escape the sweltering heat of the plains. These get burnt in winters but as soon as the rainy season starts they get a new birth and soon show buds and after a few days the white  blooms APPEAR.

Friends, thanks for coming here.

GOING BACK HOME

This is my last week at Kumarhatti (H.P.), where I had spent almost three mesmerizing summer months in the lap of majestic Shiwalik hills. I have been a part of its existential reality: its colours, its moods, its parched barren mountain flanks and withered plant life, the dried up water courses in the narrow valley and then its sudden transformation after the belated monsoon rains during mid- July. I’ve watched splendid sheets of shining flora resurfacing like magic. There is a mysterious vitality in the mother earth here. The sun and the rain drops conspire to change the very face of the mountains within days. The makeover is so overwhelming and fast, that too soon you forget whether this pulsating rustle of plants was ever absent.

In my previous blogposts, I’ve penned down my observations of the beauty of this place in all its avatars. This post is a farewell message of gratefulness to the place for enriching me about its culture, natural wonders, regal pines and the lyricism of the rains along with its mystifying mists, its prancing clouds which try to befriend you while you sit in the balcony awed by the charismatic sight. The twitter of tiny birds- too nimble to be imprisoned in the phone lens- in bushes around completes the circle of co-existence of man with the natural phenomenon. All this and much more constitute the harmonized parts of the whole which represents the persona of this place.

My posts spanning these three months chronicle the natural paradigm of Kumarhatti.

 I’m bidding it adieu till we meet again in the summer of 2013. A few words of a song come to my mind:

‘Sayonara sayonara kal phir milenge sayonara.’ This is a song from LOVE IN TOKYO where Asha Parikh sings for Joy Mukerjee (?) the handsome romantic hero of yesteryears, who sadly is no more. 

(Images of flowers  blooming in the complex where we are putting up)