Chasing the Monsoon

  I was enchanted by the gentle puffs of cloud floating all around me. They were the fluffy grey monsoon clouds, threatening to erupt any time. We were on Kumaraparvatha, the second highest peak of Western Ghats. As the cold mountain winds propelled the clouds forward, I could feel myself engulfed in a moisture laden mist.. As the clouds moved away, my hazy vision gradually cleared, rendering me temporarily disillusioned..

 Looking down, I could see the lesser hills of Western ghats all around. Layer after layer of  blue green hills, obscured by rolling clouds and hazy mist. This must be what heaven feels like. I must say a truly mesmerizing view and a memorable monsoon trek.

Touch-me-not

Touch me not, lest I wither away in your harsh touch...

Touch me not, for I am ever so gentle and fragile...

Touch me not, for I am  quite oblivious to hard terrains of life

Wild Flowers

It rained on the hills of Wayanad. We were trekking towards the waterfall, when, out of blue, it started pouring. We took shelter under a huge moss covered boulder, enjoying the beauty of the waterfalls through the thick veil of thrashing rain.

 Later, as we started to trek back through the muddy path, the mist on the hills have moved off and the sun was shining through. The wild flowers on the wayside glimmered in the afterglow of the evening sun. We made our way towards the vendor selling hot bread omelet and tea. Food has not tasted so yum, since a long time...

Bits of my Childhood

 Monsoon changes Kerala's tropical landscape from simply-green to rain-drenched glossy green.. The rainy season sees moss and ferns cropping up everywhere, the lush green moss clinging on damp walls and creeks while tiny droplets of rain caught in between the moss shimmers in the sunlight..

 During those rainy days, when we kids were not allowed to play outside, simple pleasures like plucking spores out of the moss and using it as a sword to fight with friends, made up for our otherwise overcast inactive evenings. And the loser is the person whose spore-head gets cut off  while interlocking and tugging  the spores.. I spotted these moss on our compound wall, when I went home during Onam.. And it struck me suddenly that it's been a really long time since I even noticed them or had a real sword fight...

Riot of Colours

What are Indian festivals without it's riot of colours, ambrosial food and family gettogethers. Deeply entwined with mythology and religion, festivals are nothing but a  means to human bonding...This pic was taken at our home during Ugadi.

And on this Independence Day, I am proud to be a part of our country's rich and varied heritage

Party on the Papaya tree

The cacophony outside drew me to the windows. Behold! On the Papaya tree, a noisy party was going on. I saw the female spotted koel feasting on the golden papayas. Soon an Indian tree-pie flew in to join the noisy party. It kept a skeptic eye on me, as it relished on the fruity delight. I clicked a few pics and left them to a peaceful feast. Half an hour later, I came back to find a lone male koel perched precariously on the tree, finishing the last morsels of the fruit...

Papayas when they ripen, are party-time for birds. Our neighbouring house has many papaya trees in their backyard. And when the fruit ripens, I will pray fervently that the neighbours shouldn't notice the ripened fruit and pluck it away :-) Otherwise, I will miss my golden bird-watching opportunity.

Discovering Ice

"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." These are the opening lines of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's  famous book One Hundred Years of Solitude.

As for me, I vividly remember that Christmas eve when I discovered ice for the first time.  Living in a tropical place, lashed by torrential monsoons and dotted with evergreen forests, winter and snow were but sheer magical fantasies for me. Gentle snow flakes dancing in the air, the heavy blanket of ice covering rooftops, chimneys and pine trees  were still pictures out of a childhood story book. Then, when in the Himalayan valleys of Manali I experienced snow, it was breathtakingly beautiful despite the bone chilling cold. When I gathered snow into my gloved hands for a snow ball fight, it was every bit of what I imagined it to be.. The snow capped mountains  resembled an enormous yummy black forest cake, with rocky parts exposed in between the expanse of ice. The leafless apple orchards, the Buddhist prayer flags fluttering high in the wind and the pack of donkeys transporting the people uphill added to the magical aura of the Himalayan Valley...

After the Rain

 It was a refreshing long walk...The earth was still damp from the night's rain..Air was still crispy cool.. Tiny yellow blossoms from the tree blown out by a strong gust of wind had carpeted the earth below.. Few mushrooms had popped up around a decaying tree trunk..A  red millipede slowly slid out of a dark pod...Nature was bustling with activity.

PS: Spotted by me and clicked by my sweetheart M

Pink City

 This is Jaipur city as seen from atop Hawa Mahal. I love this pic...the bustling traffic..the cycle rikshas..the street vendors..the quintessential pink buildings from an age old era..political flag fluttering high in the wind..hazy vision of a distant hill..This is Pink City for you...

Go Green

Do you love green???
the green of those glistening leaves after the rain..
the green of the seaweed afloat on water..
the green of the mehndi adorning the bride..
the green of that grasshopper in your garden..
the green of the bee-eater bird on your guava tree..
the green of the curry-leaf garnishing your food
the green of those peas, fresh out of it's pod..
the patriotic green on our Indian tricolour..
Do you think green????
the green that is in your heart
the ever green memories in your heart...