home, garden and my slice of sky

specimens of zen doodling

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:10:00 +0000

microchimerism and motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:39:00 +0000

I often say it with absolute conviction that Mithi is in my blood and flesh now. That she is in me and I always feel it, can meditate sometimes and feel her breath on my face, can hold her hands and do everything I used to do with her.

I have never felt like dusting her photo frame everyday and celebrating her birth and death anniversaries in any particular manner. I never felt like doing any charity on her name though we do some work of that sort. Charity I don't believe in but that is another story.

I was talking about how I feel Mithi is a part of me and I feel it almost literally. I have always remembered how the concept of 'microchimera' works, I had just read about microchimera in our Genetics course and it had intrigued me a lot but it was yet a concept that was not researched enough to establish things further.

But now when I read this article about how microchimerism can express itself it is a sense of déjà vu. Especially when a study suggests how mammary glands can be manipulated by the resident pluripotent foetal cells.

I will tell you what my housemaid who used to help me with housekeeping chores and belonged to Munda tribe of Jharkhand, used to tell me. I trust tribal wisdom a lot as they live so close to nature and follow the rhythms of nature closely, like the back of their hands. She used to tell me how the breast milk starts secreting when the child is hungry or when you are thinking of the child. I don't know what conclusion to draw as I kept lactating for years and even now it happens in traces. I have talked about it with a few friends but now it seems to have a scientific explanation.

Some puzzles sometimes get a faint answer and we find comfort in it. The thought that she is with me comforts.

wishing my phone a little more smartness, some zen and some 'gingerly' sense

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 18:23:00 +0000

As I was coming to terms with a huge mistake I did and blamed my phone for the same, I got a mailer from Indiblogger announcing a contest that asks to Give your phone a super power and tell us how it would help you see what others can't see and do what others can't do!

I wish my phone could alert me if I missed an urgent sms just as easily it lets me know when to take my supplements by set alarm. I wish it could be a real Zenphone. Well, now I can get my wish fulfilled it seems. Just like wishing for pocket phones in my teenage made me see this wonderful device later that can be carried in the pocket and that enables talking anywhere in the world. Who had imagined it 30 years ago. Yes I am old.

I am one of those old people who don't check their phones every now and then. Well, to clarify better I must add that I do it only when I am out of home and feeling bored in the company I am ;-)

But at home the phone is an abandoned device that is to be found sometimes with the home land line phone put to the only purpose it serves. Finding the lost cellphone..errr.... the 'smart'phone who can't even tell where it is lying.

The most irritating it becomes when I miss some important call or sms sent to me. Some of them really need instant attention and I just miss seeing them on time. The smart phone is not smart enough to let me know what I missed.

The most horrifying thing happened last week when a friend sent sms around dinner time that was not seen on time as usual. Later, well after midnight when I was winding up work I just checked my phone and saw the message that sounded like a minor health issue and I replied instantly. What else I could think eating garlic could do? My phone should have known what distress garlic caused when it received the sms about garlic sickness.

Next day I kept planning to call her as she had not replied to my message but it slipped out of my mind as usual. My phone should have reminded me to call, telling me how urgent it was.

And then I get a notification in my mail box that a post on her blog is trending on Twitter. The universe decided to tell me what the 'stupid' phone couldn't.

I click and check, crash landing here, the same night had been horrendous for her. I kicked myself for not having called her as soon as I saw the message in the midnight and also not to have seen the message on time. I blame my phone to not have warned me how urgent it was. I blame the smart technology to not differentiate between messages on a personal phone and suggest appropriate actions while the digital technology keeps suggesting options when you Google search. My phone should have had a filter to screen all the messages and tell me which one to address immediately.

Imagine, if a search engine can spy your mail and facebook interactions and suggest you adverts accordingly, how can cloud computing not suggest and alarm phone owners about urgent messages like this? I was really angry with myself but was equally blaming my 'smart'phone as well. Almost like we blame others for our mistakes sometimes.

So if you insist, I would equip my 'stupid' phone with a superpower so it can come to me like a tail wagging puppy whenever I call it and whenever an urgent message comes. I will give it a cute name I promise.

Okay, I will name it Ginger as Garlic caused such a havoc. Garlic is bad however tasty it makes the food.

I would also give Ginger the superpower to sense the urgency and let me see the picture. Not the 3G type, real picture you see.

Ginger would know my schedule and set the alarm by itself, will come to me 'gingerly', wagging its tail to tell me what is the next thing on calender.

No I am not planning to become a vegetable human anytime soon, I am planning to get smarter with a phone that has a tail and walks 'gingerly' behind me ;-)

my tryst with trust and my learning journey with it...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Thu, 08 May 2014 09:34:00 +0000

TRUST, is a healing balm to my heart. TRUST people around you my friend, it helps find you happiness and peace even if you don't need healing.

I am saying this after having trust issues for a few years. Trust people around you so your soul guides you towards light. Trust people around you so you develop better instincts, better gut feelings and better insights into inspiring lives so abundant around us. ALL the time. Distrust is negative and counterproductive. Distrust and doubt guides you negatively and corrupts your gut feelings, your instincts. Life made me learn my own lessons, some of course we learn seeing others too.

I have had my share of trauma, my share of grief and the way SOME people behave when one is undergoing a traumatic phase in life, makes one a little afraid of ALL people in general. That made me angry in my own heart, I always found it more traumatic when I lost respect for people around me. Even the basic respect you have for all human beings around yourself, loosing that is painful for me, although the concerned person stays unaffected and keeps on doing the same to others, unaware that their acts of hurting people are gnawing at their own souls as well, sometimes they don't even know it.

Being the incorrigible optimist, I could bring myself to a place where I can see if a person repeatedly cheats on you, hurts you or stabs in the back, is a person who him/herself is not at peace. So I learnt to not get affected by other people's misgivings, their acts of cheating, hurting purposefully and belittling others around them. They were not actually cheating on me or hurting me, they were following their instinct, corrupted instinct, that had become their behavioral pattern.

It has been tough to accept it sometimes when I have trusted someone, have held them closer to my heart and have given them access to my life and those people have cheated, been hurtful and insulting. Some of them were my family members too. Being the believer that I am, and also because I could not believe one was cheating on me, I gave them second chances, gave them benefit of doubt and just let them be. I secretly hoped they would learn their lessons and realise what they were doing and to my delight SOME of them actually realised and rehabilitated themselves on a larger level. THOSE were the people who are capable to grow in life, evolve and become better human beings, learn their lessons before it gets too late.

But SOME OTHERS were not so lucky. They kept on doing what they knew best as a coping up mechanism of stress; the coping up mechanism in this case being hurting others, cheating everyone around and so on. And it was THIS KIND OF PEOPLE that made me believe that they actually don't break my trust but they are deeply insecure people in their own lives, and don't know how to deal with it. And they become violent in their acts and thought process. They stab you in your back, they badmouth you or they just try and belittle you in some way or the other.

No trust was broken in this case. It was my perception that someone broke my trust, cheated on me or such but they were just following their instinct* as a coping up mechanism (stress physiology has been part of my subject, stress psychology we learn as we grow).

Years and decades passed as I watched these people I am talking about and my belief got stronger. The ones who learnt their lessons evolved, those who didn't, are still in the deep pit.

*Our instinct guides us rightly only is we let it do it's work by accepting all the truths that come our way. Distrusting is like blocking a certain spectrum of nature's truths and depriving our own instinct to flow uninhibited. How can half truths guide our soul?

If you are afraid of being hurt you must know the small hurts are our lessons towards evolving, towards awakening and totally worth it. That's how I see it and I never distrust people even if I get hurt a few times. But I wont say that I don't stay away from people who feel negative to me. Bad vibes affect me and I try and stay away from those people or dissociate with them quickly, without a feeling of loss. And believe me, this capability of dissociating with people without a feeling of loss or staying away from all negative people, recognizing those people most of the times, comes from the TRUST that I have in people around me. I never doubt them in normal circumstances.

I am not saying it makes one perfect and I am not a perfect believer either, but it does help me improve myself, it does bring peace to my mind, it does make me believe in the patterns of nature while I learn more about life in general. Lesson are never absolute, never complete. I am a work in progress.

I have a few very very close people whom I trust, confide my innrrmost feelings and those are the ones I can't dissociate whatever happens on the trust scene. Nothing is an absolute truth you see.

For now I learnt that I need not stop trusting people. Trusting people around me makes my soul enriched, happy and contented. Distrusting people makes me deeply unhappy, grumpy and stops me from evolving into a better person. Distrust gnaws into the soul, the mind and eventually the body of the beholder as well.

Distrust stops me from finding good souls and connecting with them. What a looser I would be if I distrust a good soul? Trust me.

a memoir writing workshop by Cheryl Strayed, conducted by Literature Studio | is that a beginning for me?

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:58:00 +0000

The past always lights up our path I feel. Whatever way we decide the light to take us, but it's always the past experiences that mould our resilience, analytical capability as well as emotional quotient. The most powerful moments from the past always keep coming back and drowning you with an overwhelming intensity. I have not been talking about the past for some time now, even the mandatory new year post was given a miss this year. I just could not bring myself to write about how the new year makes me feel or how I try to cope with it. It was the last day of the year 2009 when Mithi, our daughter left us and each new year has been a challenge since then. No I don't get depressed, but it does make me go back to those times more than ever. I started writing this blog when she was with us, writing about the present situation, however sad or painful, is easier I now realise. Back then, I thought this is the bravest thing I am doing by sharing my struggle with the world. I even thought it would make the readers sad but then many people wrote to me saying they find strength by reading the posts here. Although they cried sometimes reading those everyday struggles of a child, and a mother as well. I understood what they meant.

And then life changed, I forced myself to get busy with so many other things that the past just stayed with me like a secret, to be shared with only few, if needed. Although I wanted to write about the experiences and my own journey through that, I couldn't deal with how forcefully it comes to me when I try to pen it down. I never understood why, because I have been writing about the wretched struggles in the past.

I got my answers, at least a few of them, when I attended a memoir writing workshop by Cheryl Strayed. My friends Vijay and Vibha (from Literature Studio) invited me for the same. I had little idea what I am headed for. But let me tell you about Cheryl Strayed first. I had come across this column by Dear Sugar in the past and had found her insightful advises really genuine. Now that I always felt these agony aunts always come up with superficial advice to funny people in our news paper and magazine columns, this one seemed like she had seen life in true sense. I could not point a finger how and why she sounded right but she was someone who had lived all shades of life, has related well to others, has connected with human soul and has observed those inevitable patterns of pain, suffering and healing in her life. I had no idea what sugar had experienced or where her perspective came from. Later I forgot about this column as there was too much to handle on my own plate. I never knew who this sugar was.

This workshop was a pleasant surprise when it started. An author whose work I had not read came across like a warm personality and started the workshop quite casually. It was when she mentioned she was the anonymous writer of sugar columns, I started getting a few glimpses of what all she wrote. And then she told she had written this book Wild which was about a solo trek she took after her mother had died. I could relate to what all she spoke and could very well understand why she took 20 years to write this book after the real experience. A memoir of a solo trek that she took after her mother's death. A powerful story of grieving, healing and bringing life in perspective.

And then she gave us all a few exercises. It was a class of 15 and everyone wrote a few lines, some of them shared what they wrote, some kept quite and I was quieter than the quite ones. She had told us to write about overwhelming moments, about talismans and about the people who touched us. It was only one thing that kept coming in my mind and that was so overwhelming to be shared with a straight face.

But I felt a clarity in my thoughts after hearing Cheryl sharing her experience. She also felt that the same trauma kept coming back into her writing for the initial years. And that it's okay if it happens like that.

Thanks to Literature Studio and Cheryl Strayed, I will be a bit more liberated from my cobwebs probably. Sharing will be easier and the craft of writing, weaving a story, creating a meaningful memoir will be better. Amen.

a cyclothon with team Evernote...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:39:00 +0000

Cell phones are getting swankier by the day and we feel inadequate sometimes. At least I do. Keeping pace with all the new apps that can do so many things by the touch of a screen, I think my fingers are most active part of my body these days. Yes they are.

I find myself adapting to new ways to store useful information, new ways to process pictures, making pictorial notes, logging my calender, verifying caller identities, keeping record of my walks and runs, personalised news tracking, tour/GPS tracking etc etc. I would not have imagined so many things done so efficiently through a pocket device a decade ago.

Imagine, all these kinds of applications are used by someone who believes in going back to older ways of living. Eco friendly living. We prefer walking to do our grocery or other daily chores, keeping the carbon footprint minimal. Being smarter for the phone should be an eco friendly activity.

I wouldn't argue about how eco friendly are cell phones :-/

I got introduced to Evernote last year and tried the basic free version. I am amazed with the way it can store a lot many information, just like my office files. Easily accessible information at the swipe of a screen, using my phone or I-pad, or even the desktop or laptop.

We both trek and bicycle a lot to faraway places, our own way to be with nature, watch birds and other flora and fauna. I have been wondering how much we can use an app like Evernote in recording bird species, flora with pictures in a certain geographical area. Like we did in Dehradun and Uttarkashi recently. Keeping log of the activities and tracking the routes will be so convenient. Evernote it is on our next trek or biking trail.

Recently we got to know more of such features of Evernote when we were invited to bike with 'Evernote Life cyclothon' with Cyclesutra. Mr. Troy Malone, GM, APAC, Evernote was touring India and being an avid biker himself, he decided to promote Evernote in a unique way. It echoed with our way of popularising cycling and walking on the roads more and more.

The idea was to cycle from Akshardham temple to Green park (Approx. 17 Km ) and to capture the public/historical places along the way through Evernote app. Imagine the joy we experienced during this cyclothon.

Here is the screen shot of the trail I recorded through my Runkeeper app. Can we do it using Evernote? I have to look for it, may be the paid version?

Did I tell you that this was our first bike ride in Delhi. The early winter fog of November second week was so pleasant. We witnessed sunrise a few minutes after we started cycling and then we could see flocks of birds in the sky too.

Cycling through the greenest parts of Delhi, past a few flyovers and morning traffic, it was a lovely start to the Sunday. I so wish I had the motivation to get up early every day and be on the roads. I so wish the traffic was better, the air cleaner in the winter mornings. The smog has started playing havoc in the mornings and evenings now after just 2 weeks of that cycle ride.

We had good company of Radhika Nandwani and Karan Bhujbal form 20:20msl.com team and Yogesh Khanna and Neeraj Jalan from Cyclesutra.

See how Yogesh kept taking pictures through Evernote app.

Few Delhi monuments were left behind. Some of them were clicked through the cellphone.

Here is the Peace pagoda.

National museum..

Cyclists on a winter morning chatting on the way.

Some elderly runners made us think why we don't get up early.

Empty roads in few places.

On the way to Hauz Khas Lake and Deer Park...

Near Hauz Khas Lake

The Barah khamba tomb.

It was such a fun ride that day. I will be doing such rides again very soon. May be with a group or may be alone sometime. If not Delhi it will definitely be one of those YHAI biking expeditions.

Here is Troy Melone and 20:20 msl team having fun after the cyclathon. We were all in jolly mood after the ride, the whole Sunday was there to rest and get energised for the beginning of a new week.

Thank you team 20:20 msl and Evernote for this bicycle rice through the heart of my own city. It will always be a good memory.

~ written by Arvind Khanna.

Go...hug a tree...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:16:00 +0000

Go...hug a tree

meditate

commune with nature

the chlorophyll force

bringing energies down

the earthy bundles of xylem

transporting the essences of Earth

to the sky

with open stoma

making them ONE

meditate and commune

with the elements

of the tree

and see how

it hugs you back

wrapping multiple arms around you.

Birds at IIP Dehradun Campus : Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, Green Bee-eaters and Lineated Barbet

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 17:07:00 +0000

Bringing you another post on the birds of IIP Dehradun. We spotted a few Bee-eaters on the Eucalyptus trees that line up the long road. We actually get a strong whiff of Eucalyptus oil when we reach this spot, a very pleasant start of a long walk I must add.

The Bee-eaters that made a racket on top of the tall trees, looked excited as Bee-eaters always feel like. We could see the beautifully spread out wings and their characteristic flight, excitedly taking a small flight taking a round and then coming back to the same spot. Often a coupe of them would perch on the same branch, do some talking and start flying in the characteristic manner. It's a pleasure to watch Bee-eaters when you have enough time..

This is the Green Bee-eater with that unmistakable elongated central tail feathers, as if a stick juts out from the tail.

You would see them almost all over India except very high altitude but to see them in wilderness is so much fun.

They keep showing up here and there, often knowing someone is keeping an eye on them.

And there are these Chestnut-headed bee-eaters found in foothills of Himalayas and forests of the southern India. These are marginally larger than the Green Bee-eaters.

Beautifully feathered, lovely eyes.

The most delightful sighting was the Blue-bearded Bee-eater. We saw them in large numbers but always too high up on the trees and it was only their silhouette that gave away their identity. These are larger birds than the other Bee-eaters and the blue beard shines beautifully again light. The beak is a bit longer too.

We were hoping to see a lot of Barbets there in Dehradun and I was particularly expecting the Great Barbet that we spotted once in Simla.

We did get to spot a Lineated Barbet which we don;t find in Delhi so it was quite an achievement. Actually one fellow lived on a smallish Banyan tree right in front of the guest house canteen so we could spot him many times.

And they were found to like these berries very much.

An avid birder friend recognised these berries as Turkey berries. I wish I had known these berries earlier. Would have plucked some and cooked for the record :-)

The Brown -headed Barbet comes to drink water from my rock garden and a Coppersmith-barbet is often seen on a wild fig tree near my house, these two are the only Barbets we see in Delhi. The great Barbet was seen in Simla and Blue-throated Barbet once in Palampur Iwish I could see other Barbets soon in different parts of India.

And yes, I was expecting the Blue-tailed Bee-eater as well in Dehradun but could not spot them. May be next time?

I am hoping I will be there every year for the bird count.
Amen.

Birds at IIP Dehradun Campus : White-browed Fantail and Warblers

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 13:43:00 +0000

We traveled to Uttarakhand last week. The motto was to go for The Great Himalaya Bird count assisted by Archhimalaya.org but we had booked the guest house at IIP Dehradun so we could stay there and enjoy birding ahead of the bird count. It turned out to be a good rest after a hectic week and a flu attack I was suffering. We actually were pondering over the possibility of cancelling the trip as I was not too confident of feeling well, but since we had 4 days at Dehradun to rest we decided to go ahead with our plan. It was a great decision as I got to rest properly with 2-3 hours of bird watch each morning and evening in the beautiful campus of IIP.

The straight road from one end of the campus to the other is the most beautiful road to walk and people have spotted leopards and other animals on this road. The tall trees look beautiful in the morning and you can see the tea gardens flanking both sides of this road.

It is a heaven for birds and birders both.

In fact the first morning was a sign of the times to come, I woke up with a sweet bird song, at about 4.30 AM unbelievably, and wondered which new bird I would see and whether I would be able to recognise this bird song with any of the bird I would see. The bird, in fact came to show me off her beautiful song and dance performance later in the day and I felt so blessed. It was a White-browed Fantail and the dance is synchronised with her song. It was wonderful to watch this bird several times.

The first time this bird was spotted by Arvind when he was walking alone around the other end of the guest house where some construction work was going on. I was not well so returned to our room for a short nap after a 2 hour morning walk. He came back and shown me these pictures. Seeing the bird I felt so jealous because I wanted to see this bird myself, I had seen a wonderfully shot video of Flycatchers some time ago and instantly recognised this beauty.

White-browed Fantail is a delightful bird to watch. But I had still not heard this bird so I could not associate the morning bird song yet with WBF flycatcher.

The background is not good for making the picture look good but the bird is really beautiful. Especially the way it fans the tail and turns quickly at 180 degree to fan the tail again.

Seeing these pictures I had no idea of the dance performance it does.

And then we decided to have another walk after lunch. We walked from the guest house on the beautiful road that spans from one end of the campus to the other, 4 Kms in total. Just as we crossed the turn to Director's bungalow, I could hear the song again on a tree. Looked up and here it was. Dancing and singing away in glee.

We enjoyed the song and dance performance twice more but clear pictures could not be taken. Partly it was too far and too fast moving and party because it's difficult to click pictures in thick foliage when one is standing right below the tree.

I will keep posting Birds of IIP Dehradun in a series this time. Sharing another bird in this post. We saw so many warblers and the identification of warblers is so difficult for amateur birder like me. The best I could identify this one is a Lemon-rumped Warbler.

See this series of pictures so different angles of the bird is visible. Let me know if you think it is Dusky warbler that I was contemplating regarding this one.

Lemon -warbler or Dusky warbler. Please confirm if you recognise them.

And stay tuned for more and more birds coming up. We spotted around 100 birds in this trip, some were common to make the count but some birds were spotted for the first time by us. Overall a really good good trip birding wise.

how to pack a toiletry bag for trekking or general traveling

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 10:35:00 +0000

I have been traveling a lot, it has been a week's travel almost every month this year. Most of the times we end up walking around the places a lot even if it is not a full fledged trek. Seeing the marketplaces, walking on the streets and interacting with small time shopkeepers and passersby is a great way to know local culture and lifestyle, as we have experienced. So we get a small backpack, water bottles, couple of fruits for the day and get walking all around the place when we are there.

Yes I tan a lot when I travel. My skin is prone to get burnt too but I haven't found any good solution to it as all sunscreens I have tried till now have been either too suffocating to apply or have had some really irritating perfume. So a cap is all I have for my defense mostly and a large framed pair of sunglasses. Walking around the places leaves me quite exhausted by the end of the day and a warm bath helps a lot. So I take care to carry everything that gives me the comfort of a nice warm bath after a days worth of roaming around. Not that I am too conscious of products but a few basics are good to pack. Mine is quite a frugal toiletry bag.

One thing to take care is not to put the toiletry bag in checked in baggage when flying as a leaked out sunscreen or shampoo will be a lot of mess to handle. Try and keep it in hand baggage or segregate the products before you sort out the stuff. My toiletry bag often carries a few random things like a knife, few safety pins and may be all my medicines too, which I take out and keep in drawers when staying in hotels or guest houses.

Shampoo: I prefer a tube pack but a small pack of whatever brand you are currently using will be great.
Bath gel : travel pack definitely. Sometimes I carry soap bar instead.
Face wash : tube pack or a bottle. It can be quite versatile if you are pressed for space or have a limited baggage restriction. *Read how I managed on our last trek.
A sunscreen or sunblock ( I carry a lactocalamine lotion as I find it quite useful for me)
A foot cream if you have the habit of applying, I pack a jar Boroline as it is quite a multipurpose cream. I use it as a hand cream too after the night bath. It is a good antiseptic cream for small nicks and cuts or bruises.
A bottle of hand sanitiser that I carry in my hand bag all the time. One is packed into the toiletry bag as well.
Detergent powder sachets : I find them useful to wash any accidental stains or if I need to wash any essentials during my stay.
Mosquito repellent cream: I am intolerant to any heavy feeling cream on my skin and even the perfume, but when there are mosquitos we have to be careful. I often apple the MR cream on the headboard of bed or any solid surface rather than my skin and it works for a while :-)Applying it on my nails also works. Yes I am creative :-)
A pain relief spray: This is required when we get minor sprains. It has not happened often but it's good to pack especially when you are expecting a difficult trek.
Savlon or antiseptic solution : this is more of a first aid kit essential but has to be packed.
Ear buds : I need them a lot and these are useful for many random purposes I see.
Lip balm : it goes into my handbag but I pack it in my toiletry bag as well.
Sanitary pads: I pack them in a foil bag and keep them in the toiletry bag (which is transparent) just so the pads are not visible if I have to take out the toiletry bag in public for some reason. Especially during treks. (it is not seen in the picture as the bottles and tubes are placed above the pack).
Tissue papers: I keep tissue paper in almost all bags I carry, just for the usefulness. This also goes in polythene bags or foil bags.
Disposable panties or panty liners : I found these really useful when I was on the Kullu to Leh mountain biking expedition. You are often not left with a choice to have a nice bath and change but the panty liner can be changed to feel fresh.
A toilet seat sanitiser : I found a product called Peesafe which is very useful during travels and treks as we use public toilets a lot. Just spray the product on a toilet seat, wait for a few minutes and do your business. I prefer spraying the door knobs and taps as well to prevent any potential contamination. A very useful product I must say. I got it from SafetyKart, you can also order it online if you wish.
Deodoriser spray or roll on: I personally don't use these as all chemical perfumes are a strict no for me. A good bath is good enough for me and this is not on my list. I mentioned as many of you might like it, but please take care to ask people if you want a generous spray and you are surrounded by a few people in a tent while trekking. Someone like me might be allergic to it.
Vicks or pain balm if you have a tendency to get colds or headaches. I keep my tablets in my toiletry bag too.
I always keep a knife (often wrapped in a handkerchief to avoid any cuts)and a few safety pins in my toiletry bag too. Used to have a needle and thread too but I required it so now I am careless about it.
A white cotton or polyester rope : I find it really useful in many ways so this is a constant in my toiletry bag, which you see is a multipurpose bag in my case :-)
A comb and a small mirror if you need. I mostly don;t pack the mirror and have sometimes lost my comb and have felt jut okay without them. But These are essentials it your travel is not of trekking type.

*We did a nice trek last week as well which was fairly tough and I had to chose the absolute essential toiletries from this list. The best decision I took was to carry a bottle of face wash that doubled up as a bath gel and a hand wash as well.

Do let me know if you pack some more. Knowing more is always better.

Yes I was on a 10 day long break and came back just 2 days ago. Will be sharing a lot about this birding oriented trip which turned out to be a surprise trek as well. Stay tuned.

new kid in the garden | lessons of life with Oriental White-eye

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 12:03:00 +0000

Change in weather always bring something new in the life. Season has been changing , giving space to new plants to grow, new flowers to blossom. After bountiful of rain, when water was available in plentiful quantity everywhere, this was the first time that the garden soil needed some artificial recharge. More when you wanted to grow a few new crops. While we were busy with cropping and watering the plants, a generous leakage in watering- hose was strategically placed to optimally utilize the water. Like humans and plants other inhabitants of the garden also need water. Hence a strategic placement of leakage to cater the need of plants and birds at the same time. Bird baths have been empty for a while now, Dengue outbreaks in Delhi have made us learn a few lessons and implement on them too.

Now the garden is not only one shade of green after the abnormally long monsoon season this year. Some younger shoots of lighter green, some sprouting roses with reddish hue and an occasional yellow cosmos. Birds are all there already.

You see any color different from green is also welcome in our Green space, be it red rose or a bird.

Yes, a young Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) or OWE, hopping in the garden under the watchful eyes of its parents. Having fun as a community. These little birds have been in the garden for years now, taking showers from the hose every now and then, photography opportunities were limited back then.

Group of three because the white-eyes are sociable, forming flocks which only separates on the approach of the breeding season. We don't necessarily have spot a OWE chick to know they are here, the flurried activities of the parents gives it away almost every time. The way they keep making very soft chik chik voices around one place and then bring some food in their tiny beak. You know there is some interesting story unfolding.

While the one parent is busy with feeding the kid the other one keeps a close eye on the surrounding. Those familiar with our garden can easily identify the place and the plants.

But the parenting is not only about feeding a kid, it also involves giving them few more lessons of life, connecting with them, playing with them, giving confidence to them so that they can handle the worldly situations by themselves.

When it comes about life lessons, it also involves drinking water and taking a bath into it. See the profusely leaky hose, positioned strategically.

See the water gushing out. But this lesson is not so easy. This parent has to lead by showing example and keeping a close watch on chicks' activities.

Showing position before dip .

Enjoying themselves in the process too.

And now its the little chick's turn to enjoy.

They fluttered wings, got wet, fluttered again to drain off all the water. And then they take the dip again. Quite playfully.

We have seen dozens of them having a shower under the hose many times when we water our plants, taking pictures was not always possible as one of us would be sleeping when it happened.

This time they decided to take a dip in the leaky hose and now we know how to attract them for good photo opportunities.

Hoping to come again with many more such bird stories.

Jacobine cuckoo in my garden this morning...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:40:00 +0000

Pied cuckoo or Jacobin cuckoo is a migratory bird that comes to India from South Africa by April and stays during monsoons. It returns after a breeding period . This bird is a brood parasite and the host in India is Jungle Babbler. Jacobin cuckoo generally lays it's eggs in the nests of a babbler, the eggs are turquoise blue, matching the colour of babbler eggs. Red vented bulbul is another common host and when this Jacobin cuckoo lays eggs in bulbul's nest the colour of the eggs is white. How clever nature has made these birds.

The call is a sweet piu piu song and I was fortunate to spot the bird only after hearing this call. I found a couple perched on the higher branches on my drumstick tree and it was a challenge to photograph them in dense foliage.

This was the first sighting of this bird for me, glad it was in my own garden. No decent pictures but I would still show off :-) So glad to see them here.

See the crest as visible from ground level...

And the head turns...

The white wing patch...

The leaves are helping play hide and seek...

May be the nests of babblers and red vented bulbuls in the garden are the reason these brooding parasites are here. It will be god to watch them here if they keep coming.

Keeping my fingers crossed. They will return if they have spotted a prospective nest around here.

sighting the black hooded oriole at NBRI botanical garden, Lucknow...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:06:00 +0000

We always head towards the lotus pond first whenever visiting the botanical garden in NBRI campus, Lucknow. It's more of a narrow lake that is surrounded by wild grass and we could never go closer to take pictures. This time I had a new 55-300 mm lens so I zoomed in to capture those lotus fruits and flowers in it's full glory.

They make such a serene picture together.

As we moved towards the ancient banyan tree in the garden, we were welcomed by a sweet bird song. I speculated it to be oriole as it sounded familiar. We had spotted a pair of Eurasian golden oriole in Goa this January but this was the first sighting of black hooded oriole for us.

Singing and hopping around gleefully...

There were two of them this time too. But both of them males. Couldn't see a female oriole in the vicinity. She was certainly somewhere around as the incessant singing was to lure her only.

The botanical garden is rich with flora and fauna both...

This is a Nirgundi plant, flowering beautifully. Vitex nigundo.

Here is a Bauhinia flower happily soaked in rain.. Bauhinia acuminata or dwarf white bauhinia, white orchid tree.

Here is one female of the Purple sunbird sucking nectar from Kaner (Nerium) flower.

Many more bird pictures to be shared here, hoping I will be able to post them one by one very soon.

Verditer Flycatcher : a miniature bird but hard to miss even in the most verdant backgrounds...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:55:00 +0000

We were in Simla for a short duration last week and it was a pleasant break from work pressure and scorching heat of Delhi. We had great company, great places to visit and a camera in hand as always. We trekked a lot, rested, had our food and trekked some more. I was in Simla after 3 decades and felt the same warmth in the hills though a few things have changed. Most tourist attractions change over the years catering to the demands of changing needs of tourists of the contemporary times I guess. The places untouched by tourists are the same as ever, much to my relief. More about those issues later, I am more excited about the birds we spotted there.

This is the view of Glen valley from out window around 7 AM. Can you see something amidst all the greenery?

That tiny spot of bright copper sulfate blue can you see?

Have a closer look...

This is how my 105 mm lens can capture when the bird is this far. But it shows alright how pretty this little bird is. A female of Verditer flycatcher I think.

Later in the day while trekking down to reach Chadwick falls, Arvind spotted this male which was closer as the canopy of the pine trees was at our level while climbing down.

Beautiful bird....

And then he turned a little bit ...

We had spotted this bird on McLeodgunj last year though it is found in Delhi as well.

Will be back with more birds we spotted in Simla. Trying to process the pictures slowly and post them one by one here. Hope you all like the birds as much as I did.

being blessed....

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Her poems are like blessing and it never fails to bring a smile on my face. Suranga Date is one lovely person who connects with people and nature so well, her poetry is transparent and imaginative, sometimes funny and sometimes just like a pure blessing. She wrote a few lines to me today, in a poetic way as always. She writes a wonderful poetry blog inspired by the beautiful pictures she comes across on the internet and social media almost everyday. But let me tell you a little more about the context.

Today is Mithi's birthday and the sun was not that harsh in the morning hours. I went out and worked in the garden for a while and plucked these fruits of labour, today's harvest. There are a few more things growing right now, there is some okra, cherry tomatoes and drumsticks but this kakdi (extreme left, Armenian cucumber) was a fist time harvest. The garden has been my heaven and you all know it by now if you have been on this blog a few times.

And see what Suranga wrote...

Mithi's older

and has amazing tastes.

Her love of greens,

makes them bloom

like a carpet

across your garden,

as she sometimes

grins at a zuchchini,

and tangles with a brinjal

cribbing about

having to share things

with a tomato.

Bok Choy

the latest

outdoor craze,

peppers and

dhaniya,

making way

for the lemongrass perfume,

as it wafts across your kitchen.

Tea for two
,
with Foccacia bread

studded with sundried stuff

and maybe olives

and a sliver of capsicum,

as her mother gets up

to source

her latest

homemade jam.

The birds,

the squirrels,

the parrots

all hot foot it

on to the verandah

to inhale the flavors

of love.

Mithi has come to spend Mother's Day

with her Mumma and Papa.

Isn't this unadulterated love?

I am blessed.

Sounds of silence in our summer garden...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:08:00 +0000

Yes, the colors of spring are slowly fading now, the chill is history. Welcome to the Delhi summer. Dry, hot and seemingly lifeless.

Summer is the time when even the leaves refuse to flutter in our garden. The absence of any unwanted noise or presence of a much revered silence. The absence of voices doesn't mean no living activity. Silence has its own energy and vibrations.

Silence in the summer noon is not lifeless though. Last weekend I decided to check by myself sitting in the garden. Not in the usual morning or evening when I water the plants but during the early afternoon when we usually remain indoors enjoying all around avian sounds . Yes it feels like we are in a jungle cottage when Barbets call each other from different trees and we hear them from inside. Blessed feeling.

It was early noon and there was unusual movement of two adult babblers. On close scrutiny two set of tiny eyes caught my attention. See by yourself..

They were sitting on the mango tree which is not in very good shape due to some extra active anti-environment 'human' neighbor, but able to give some homely atmosphere to the avian neighbors nevertheless.

These tiny chicks seem to be waiting for someone...

Ahh.. here the mother cames with mouthful of lunch...

Another one...

Yes both the parents at the same time with food, what enjoyment.

Imagine yourself in this situation, you would know the real feeling.

Near absolute silence, the voices are very low pitched and very calming ...

Very homely too, in a strange way...

They all huddle together, knowing my presence and still comfortable ...

The parents wait till the first serving of the food is swallowed. And then the next is offered to a fluttering baby..

Yes the babies keep fluttering the wings when they demand food...

They take small bites of the insect I notice...

Some conversation is also going on along with munching... dining table conversations you know...

But these conversations are all almost silent for human ears....

This is not the end of enjoyment. Another variation of silence is about to come. Another set of tiny eyes catch the attention of a camera lens.

Some little creatures...

Beautiful little eyes waiting for someone inside the lemon tree... Safe cocoon of a place.

What bliss...

No we are not grumpy... we are cute as bunnies..

I know you are watching, who cares?

My mom is watching too... Do you know that?

The watch guards are sitting very nearby...

Here she came with the food . Sorry for the poor picture quality but sometimes real eyes are better record keepers than the mechanical one..

After meal time may be we should do some stretching...

Walks are also a healthy option...

Meanwhile Mr. G who is all the time snacking on the Moringa flowers is also found lazing around .

Seems like he is also enjoying silence irrespective of neighbors.. like us...

zzz...

But it's so hot we need water too...

We have our own watering hole ....

But there is a tough competition at the watering hole..

Some visitors come angry...

Some are quite shy to take risk..

Some come for water quietly and do the job as if spying on someone...

Witnessing the constant watch on the watering hole, Mr. G decided to challenge me with his own style of sumo pose...

On the other side there was another story unfolding... A new beginning happening...

A couple searching for a place to build their new home and why not, who stops you from starting a new life this summer.

While one of them keeping a watchful eye on the rest of creatures around....

The other one is busy building a new home, home to her new summer life... deep inside the mehendi bush.

Many visits to the ground to pick up thin sticks and some silk cotton flying around... and returning to the same spot...

In the meantime the young babblers decided to take a walk in company of their parents. In safely camouflaged grounds...

The Bulbul chick also decided to show her antics... and anger...

Of course in presence of her parents...

The stern look... as if saving the smaller chick by hiding her behind...

And then telling her someone is watching, be careful...

Stretching wings to show I am no small kid...

Did you see that?

I am a grown up bird now...

This much in one single day, who says summer is lifeless and silent? They have their own sounds and communications, it's the human mind that is clouded by the maddening turbulence.

How is summer at your end?

PS : The post is jointly written by both of us, myself and Arvind, and the pictures are also taken by both of us. There are days when we don't want to miss whatever is happening outside in the garden and weekends are the best days to record such things. we took turns in sitting outside for a couple of hours that day and all this was recorded. All pictures are processed by Arvind.

Who steals my flowers?

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:27:00 +0000

The whole family likes flowers it seems...

Gnawing the flowers was never seen.. I had been wondering who plucks the flowers this way until we spotted this. Arvind brought the camera quickly and started clickety click...

These rodents seem to be the most clever as I watch them playing tricks all the time.

And they seem to like all beautiful things in life. Colorful flowers for example...

Reaching out for the nectar from all angles. No, for the whole flower actually.

And the nascent buds as well..

I am sure Giraffes evolved like long necked species just by practicing these stunts...

Yes the hind legs became more and more strong after reaching out the snout for the farthest fruits. Or flowers.

Feasting on one meal and eyeing the other already...

Keeping a watch if someone else is coming to have a share...

Tearing off half the flower, gnawing all this while...

Grabbing the flowers using both hands and the mouth all at the same time...

Greedy greedy greedy...

They can stand up, even if it is to get the best thing to gnaw on...

And this is what the scene was the very next morning..

Not that we are looking for a picture perfect garden, such activities or birds and rodents around keep us engaged in a funny way sometimes. And it makes us observe and think about the ecology of the micro-environments we create around us.

Squirrels and pigeons are urban menace I feel. People keep grains and throw edible garbage all around in the cities and Squirrels, Rock pigeons and Common Mynahs are more adapted to a concrete jungle type of living where they can survive on such foods. Small birds like House sparrows are ousted from all those areas where there are more rock pigeons and squirrels. I have observed that we shouldn't encourage these practices and do something to bring the sparrows back.

Keeping some coarsely broken rice, a water bath and a makeshift nesting device, some nesting material around and some lush greenery would help in bringing back the house sparrows to out homes. I so miss having a nesting sparrow around us.

Trying to do my bit to bring back the House sparrow...

look who can do monkey crawling...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Yes. The squirrels. They have their own ways to reach the bird feeders I put up on the most difficult places for them. I could catch this one in the act when he was monkey crawling to reach and then to return from the hanging bird feeder.

Don't ask me how I know it was a he squirrel. You would see that by yourself :-)

He descends down..there is an Asparagus extending it's creepers to the bird feeder and on the clothesline, the squirrel is not bothered...

Settles himself comfortably into the bowl of Sorghum grains and nibbles..

As I move a little closer to make him run back, he quickly climbs up and gets hold of the clothesline.

Balancing himself or exposing himself :-)

Getting hold of the wire from up...quickly...

Then in the act of changing gears...

Hanging upside down, monkey crawling...

Quickly moving ahead to reach the other end, where the clothesline is tied to the trunk of Jamun tree...

And jumps to the Jamun trunk in one quick leap...

Comes down and practices playing with wires and ropes with a dry twig of Amrita (Giloy) that has climbed on Jamun tree...

Watching the lady with camera all this while.

The squirrels have been a menace for birds as they hijack the bird feeders all the time. And then they look at me as if they did nothing..see how he is sitting on a comfortable little nook on the Bael tree...

As if asking me what I am doing there..

This is my territory...go away..

Faithfully your's | an exhibition of photos and art installations by some young artists...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:25:00 +0000

Some believe in magic and some in dreams. Most of us believe in prayers as well. Some of us would travel long distances to go to a temple or shrine and 'offer' our prayers and some of us would just sit under a tree, 'connect' with the universe and call it a prayer. It is the faith that takes us there, the belief in the magic that we perform in our head.

I was quite inquisitive when I got to know about the theme of a photo exhibition happening with Faith as a theme. Pictures of Banaras ghats and sadhus, devotees ate Golden temple Amritsar and langar experiences came into my imagination as I have always watched people connecting with their God in a certain predefined way. There was this curiosity how creative people will connect two dimensional visuals with faith. I had known about this exhibition since a couple of months. The wait is over as it is going on at the Arpana Caur art gallery in Delhi till the 17th of March.

A group of artists and photographers have participated in it and deciphered faith in their own unique ways. You would see the works of V. J. Sharma, Ambika Sethi, Augustus Mithal, Rajesh Ramnakrishnan, Rajan Sharma, Shilpi Chaudhury and Shivani Punia.

Some of the pictures are so powerful in it's impact that they can change the vibes of a place. You would want to sit close to the overpowering picture exuding faith and calmness. A pandit distributing prasad in a temple was one such photo that has been on my mind since I returned for the exhibition. I wish I had a large wall in my work space to bring that calmness inducing picture here. Clicked a picture of the framed photo with my cellphone.

Faith certainly plays a role in our wellness, though process and relationships. You feel it once you are touched by it.

See how the photographer sees glimpses of faith in this picture too..

I know V. J. Sharma of Photojourney and have been truly impressed with his work ever since I have known him. He is as impressive in this exhibition as well. Theother young artists who are displaying their work in the exhibition are brilliant as well. Go and check out if you like artwork that is realistic and yet calming for the tired nerves.

Imagine some images.. A cow standing in the middle of road and staring at you like she knows you. A young kid reading from a book by the stairs in a mosque or a serene temple where it seems only trees come to pray. I had a good time reading between the lines and getting lost between the shades of brilliant colors at the exhibition.

ye facebook pe aaya hua hai...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:39:00 +0000

We hire a certain 'cab driver' whenever we have to go out with late night return schedule. Unlike most cabbies this guy is a chatty fellow, very enthusiastic, wanting to grow on his own and probably seeking approval form our kind of people. Since we have been witness to many of his chatter we know that he is just a 26 year old kid who came form a village of Punjab to Delhi when his father died and the family was rendered without a place to live and any income to survive. He was 16 year old then and took the onus on himself to bring up two of his younger brothers and to take care of the mother. He cleaned cars in the morning and sold odd stuff on the streets to meet ends, learned driving later and started working as a cab driver. Now he owns a flat in west Delhi and 8 cars of all sizes and caters to a wide variety of dilliwalas. I find it immensely impressive and often complement him for making so big in life even after being in such huge adversity. He is a grounded person and drives all his cabs randomly to keep check on the condition of cars and probably to keep himself busy too. After all he knows nothing better.

Yesterday we were going out for a party and he looked very upbeat, started blabbering as soon as we settled down in the car. His brother had got a job in a big construction company, he had just passed out of an engineering college. Big news it was and the 'cabbie' was very happy. Two years ago his second brother who was also studying engineering had died in a tragic car accident and that had left the whole family into a second wave of grief. Now is the time when they were all feeling proud of their own karma once again as the youngest of the brothers had got a nice job, white collar and all.

The 'cabbie' said he feels proud to have his mother by his side, his brother now employed well and her 4 year old daughter studying in DPS (a good school he means). It is heartwarming to see such family bonding, the pride in his voice and the quiver in his throat was unmistakable. I complemented him and told him this is because he has decided to do hard work and earn money and because he has stayed away form crime and muck which attracts such youngsters in distress so easily. He looks and sounds really content.

But this is not all what I wanted to tell you today. The blabbermouth this 'cabbie' is, you can understand how he would turn to the general state of affairs in the country, the hullabaloo over the recent horrendous rape case in the city and then how the politicians live a protected life and see the countrymen as keede makode (worms crawling in muck).

Then he said something that left me stunned for one minute and then burst with laughter the next. He was talking about someone who used to wash utensils at someone's place and that's how she was given the highest office (a politician of course) just because of this unique service she did. As we both were laughing at this claim he went on to say Ye solah anne sachh hai ji aur ye toh facebook pe aya hua hai.. imagine this line with a typical punjabi accent and I can see yourself laughing out loud in your desk. (He said this is absolutely true and has been on facebook as well, giving facebook the credibility of reporting the truth).

It left me wondering how facebook affects people who don't even understand what it is and how much the facebook activism can affect such gullible people, in what way and by whom? Even the hate mongers could get credibility by just having a presence on facebook?

Facebook activism I have never been a believer of. The refined language of the 'enlightened' activists, the loud outrage of 'protected' individuals on an online medium would hardly reach where it is needed the most.

What do you think?

PS : this 'cabbie' wants me to make a facebook page for his 'travel agency' and help promote him :-)

another cycling expedition in the western ghats of India...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:44:00 +0000

This is my first post of the new year and a few of you would remember how I promised last year that 2013 will start with a new chapter. Well, chapters of life sometimes change abruptly and sometimes they just slip in quietly and deceptively, sometimes we have to make an effort to start a new chapter.

I told you my angel has done a miracle to me and the new chapters will all be full of that light. This new year already started with a refreshing note, on the 4th of January we started another biking (cycling) expedition into the western ghats in south Goa. Myself and the husband both together this time.

We cycled on the long beaches, jungles and villages of Goa seeing the real beauty of the place. The fisher women selling fish along the roads, the country variety of small bananas being sold, paddy fields being planted, rough roads with deep red dust and much much more. An enriching experience, quite challenging physically but absolutely worth it. We were breathless on the uphills, joyous on the slopes and generally exploding with happiness all this while. There was so much beauty to be absorbed, song of nature to be tuned into, every thing that makes my heart sing. Yes, there were plenty of birds too, there was never a dull moment.

This expedition was organised by YHAI Goa, a state division of the Yhai India (Delhi) who had organised the Kullu to khardung-la biking expedition back in 2011. This Goa biking expedition is organised every year in December and January and about 5-6 groups are flagged off to the cycling track decided by the Yhai Goa team.

Here is the Yhai Goa base camp with all the tents and open dining area in sight.

The bicycles were arranged under a tree and we had to clean them ourselves as the previous batch had returned on the same bicycles, the dusty rough route makes sure that every hinge of a bicycle looks tortured and neglected. Covered with a tick layer of muck.

We cleaned every bit of dirt and got our bottle clamps etc fixed on them. Got the breaks etc checked, seat height adjusted and then had a ride around the sports authority and neighboring areas.

Then after lunch we had a ride to Dauna paula beach and back to get a hang of the Goa traffic. We were a bunch of 11 cyclists, a really jovial group that bonded well during the expedition. Here we are after our ride to Dauna Paula, enjoying sea breeze..

Next day (5th Dec) we started the expedition. This is the route map of all places we passed through.

It is the area of western ghats so you get a taste of mountain biking as well with the uphills and slopes but yes, it is not comparable with Himachal or Jammu and Kashmir mountains.We cycle for about 50-60 km every day with our baggage for the whole expedition that means our clothing, toiletries, dry snacks and electrolytes etc tied on the cycle and stay in camps in the night. The camps are either tents or some local rest house with just the basic facilities. We used to get tea soon after arrival to each camp and then we used to take bath and wash our lunch boxes. The Yhai team had stationed cooks at every camp site for us who used to cook hot dinner for us and make sure we eat properly. After some chit chat and discussions we used to sleep on floor, blankets were provided which we had to fold neatly before leaving the camp. In the morning we used to get ready, have tea and breakfast and packed lunch and start again every day as early as possible.

Here is our group at the time of flag off from the base camp.

Pedaling towards Dauna Paula again to get a ferry to cross the stretch of sea to reach Mormugao port..

Our bicycles were loaded on the ferry and we proceeded towards Vasco..

We unloaded our bicycles at Mormugao port and carried them to the road, adjusted out bags and started towards Airport, via Baina to Mangor hill junction. Here is Arvind, all geared up to cycle ..

We passed through BITS Pilani campus and then took a turn towards Cansaulim beach. That was a wow moment for all of us seeing an endless stretch of beach to cycle upon, with frothy waves occasionally touching our tires.

The only traffic we encountered here were the thousands of crabs running to their holes when they saw an army of cyclists approaching. Star fish were also spotted but they were not moving, some were dead but I could not collect any as there was no safe storage space on the cycle.

We cycled 26 kilometers on the beaches of south Goa, taking a lunch break at Colva beach and starting again in glaring sun. It felt too hot and sunny but the sea and the crabs kept us entertained. Also the many foreign tourists who were either sunbathing, playing with their kids or surfing on the waves.

This guy was surfing endlessly and a dog had took fancy to his parachute The dog kept following him in the sea wherever he surfed on the waves. Can you see the dog braving the waves in this picture? It was a sight to watch.

Cycling along the beach was one of the best moments to cherish, and we just soaked into every moment.

Mobor beach was our last point along the sea, overlooking Arabian sea. From there we took the road to catch a ferry again to reach village Assolna. It was a 10 minute ride after the ferry, here is me reaching Assolna village.

The camp was in a football ground rest house. We were all tired after the first day's long ride and the boys just spread themselves on the football ground. The well kept grass was really inviting..

This is the group having morning tea the next day ..

And then we started again for our next camp, that was Netravalli.

Passing through Banda to Cuncolim market on NH 17 to reach Forest office Balli. There were terrace fields on the way and then a very rough road as we passed the stone quarries. It was quite dusty too.

The pictures are taken only in the cleaner areas as we could not stop and breathe in the dusty patches. Here we are resting at a turn. We normally used to catch up with each other on turns so we stay together during the whole ride.

Later we passed though the mining belt to reach Cavrem piria panchayat ghar and then we proceeded to a historical pond.

This was really interesting as this pond is known as the Bubble pond, actually a natural spring around which stone steps have been made. The water keeps coming from the joints in the steps and bubbles keep coming up when we rest our feet there. There are numerous small fish and they come to your feet to nibble onto the dead skin. Pedicure done by fish in natural environs. It was amazing, we rested here for about an hour before reaching to our camp that night.

The camp site was a spice farm known as Tanshikar farm. It's a nice place to holiday if you want to connect with nature. Here we are parking our bicycles near our mud houses.

These mud houses were cold and wet and we felt really cold during the night as the blankets provided seemed to be wet as well. But we got to eat some Goan food in this camp and I bought some Cocoa and Coffee from there. They grow and sell several spices as well.

We started early in the morning from the spice farm as the next day was to be quite challenging.

We traveled through Forest range office at Kurdi range and passed through Mahalaxmi temple and then the Villem bhatti temple. Again some mining areas and then dusty red roads. We used to stop at such places to have our lunch. These were the fun moments we loved so much.

Later we crossed Shigao junction, Collem railway station and reached a stream that we had to cross to start on the way to Doodhsagar falls.

Here is the entry to the National park where the doodhsagar fall is situated. No one is actually allowed to stay inside this gate after 5 AM, but Yhai has made a provision for a campsite for their hikers and cyclists. We felt privileged.

The way to doodhsagar camp was tough, dusty and uphill roads with steep turns. This one is a straight road where we could stop and click pictures. On difficult roads one never thought of clicking pictures.

Another stream to be crossed before reaching the campsite.

The Doodhsagar camp had no electricity and a stream was where we had our bath. The food was served in the light of solar lanterns and we slept early. We sighted a giant squirrel in the morning but could not take a picture as it was way into deep foliage and focusing was difficult.

We climbed up again the the morning to reach the actual fall. Sat there for about an hour absorbing the beauty abound. This waterfall is at 310 meters, tallest in Goa and 5th tallest in India. Mandovi river makes this waterfall in the western ghats.

This is tiered waterfall and the uphill part is the border of Karnataka state. Situated inside the Mahavir sanctuary, it is a peaceful place in the morning. Many tourists visit after about 9 AM, I was curious about why only foreign tourists were all we could see coming in huge SUV's while coming back from the waterfall. The sanctuary closes doors after 5 PM and all vehicles are required to come back by that time.

Here is the lower tier of the fall...

Returned on the same route after seeing Doodhsagar falls and then moved further to Mollem junction and then to Tamdi surla. There is a detour to left from Mollem road which goes towards a canyon called Devil's Canyon. The same river Mandovi makes this canyon after the waterfall when it flows in a serpentine manner between crevices of solid rocks.

This is situated in jungle and there is no road to reach this place, just a narrow pathway that is strewn with large stones and we cycled with great difficulty to this spot. But it was well worth it.

After this we rode again to reach Bondla forest office to have lunch there and then started again via Satpal Arboretum towards Sakorda village and then towards Bondla arch. From there it was a really difficult climb on a rocky pathway inside the jungle area. It was just a 6.6 km climb but we all got drained at the end of it. We sighted a few Bisons, monkeys and macaques on the way and many wild ants and spiders. many varieties of butterflies too. There are many other wild animals and reptiles also in this jungle but we didn't get to spot them.

Finally reached the Bondla dormitory which was our night camp that day.

The famous resort Wildernest is adjacent to the dormitory and we are planning to go there sometime soon. Staying into a cottage within a jungle will be enchanting for sure. We crossed the gate of this resort, climbed up again and finally reached the Bondla dormitory which was a pleasant change from living in tents. I also cooked in the kitchen of this camp but unfortunately no one thought on clicking a picture. Cooking rejuvenates me for sure even after an extremely tiring day.

We spotted a few spotted dears around this dormitory, a few peacocks and hens and giant squirrels too. It was too dark to take pictures of all these but we got a shot of spotted dear the next morning.

This was our last camp and were were excited for the last ride together. Had a group photo before leaving Bondla sanctuary.

On a slope coming out of the Bondla sanctuary.

The view was the best in this area as we were not climbing any difficult uphills. Roads were very good and the uphills were enjoyable. The only trouble was the harsh noon sun which seemed to drain all my energy. We crossed Gangem and Usgao villages and saw rice fields being planted.

Many birds were spotted in this stretch as we were little relaxed now, despite the harsh sun. Took a few more resting breaks than earlier so the birds were easier to spot and click. Will share the birds in mt next post I promise.

Later we crossed Khandepur, Betki and Marcela to reach Khamburja ferry. Crossed the river to reach Old Goa.

Old Goa has it's own charm. Old fashioned bungalows and smooth roads. The sun was not as harsh as the day time so we felt more relaxed and enjoyed the ride more.

Beautiful homes and small churches were seen..

And then came the road along the Mandovi river, a 13 km ride which felt like a quick breeze along the river. Pond herons, Kingfishers, and Egrets are spotted playing around.

Reached back to the Base camp in record time. The earlier cycling batches had all reached the base camp by 6 PM but we could make it around 4.30 PM.

Here is the group rejoicing in glory just after finishing the 5 day ride spanning about 300 km. ...

Everyone covered with dirt and sweat and yet so happy and energised. This is the beauty of doing something we don't do in our normal routine. Something that makes us test our capabilities both physically and mentally.

Isn't that a great start to a new year? And did I tell you I was the oldest in this group of 11 people who were part of this expedition? Yes these were all 22-26 year old kids and I was almost double the age of the youngest kid there. It feels really nice to finish such a challenging ride successfully. That too in the lap of nature, tuning in my soul with mother Earth.

Wishing you all a happy new year with a refreshed heart.

PS : Please take care to carry your own good quality bungee chords, biking gloves, water bottles, lunch boxes, electrolytes, sunblock, caps and dry snacks or chocolates etc if you are going to a Yhai biking expedition. You can carry a spare bottle clamp and a handle bag to be fixed onto your bike for convenience. It helps you keep your electrolytes, sunblock, a small camera, mobile phone and other essentials handy. Also, try and save all the empty packs of electrolytes into your own pocket rather than throwing them all on the roads and dump them into the dustbins or the pits at campsite.

Cycling shorts that are padded at the bottom are advisable for long distance cycling and so are shoes. But we chose to wear open sandals with socks as we knew we had to cross rivers and shoes will cause water logging for the feet. Yhai provided backpacks as well but it is advisable to carry your own sturdy backpacks with multiple pockets. Yhai also provides helmets but this time we decided to not wear them as we wanted to have a cap that protected from the harsh sun. I also used a cotton stole to protect me from dust that is so prevalent in mining areas.

# all pictures are taken by myself and Arvind.

making small discoveries while being a tea drinker...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:25:00 +0000

I seriously need a way to make a good cup of chai without boiling it on a gas stove.

Now you would say why not a gas stove. After all the whole world..ah okay..the whole of India... okay at least the whole of north India makes (read boils) chai on a gas stove. We like our chai boiled for a while with the ginger and masala in it and then we add some milk and boil again. Right?

I have tried making chai in microwave and in a kettle but these electronic equipment are good only for the green tea and the black tea. Brewing the tea if I say technically. Boiling the tea is still not something an electronic equipment would do. Not at all the milky masala tea. But wait, let me tell you why I am complaining. Wanting to have an alternate to this gas stove method at least. I have had a few too many accidents while boiling my masala tea on the gas stove. It's a pain to make tea when you want a cuppa while working. It's okay when you are already in the kitchen, working on something and the tea is made on the sly. But I rarely feel like having a tea when in the kitchen. It is most required when I am neck deep in work and want a breather. It's a pain when you want it the most and you are working full swing on your desk. Now do you get my point?

There is more to it. I often go and fill required amount of water in the pan, add tea leaves and ginger etc and place it on the burner to boil. And then I am tempted to reply to that one mail or finish that one para I was writing. Time flies in such times and I peel myself off from this stupid chair when I smell something burning, or feel some smoke in the house. No smoke alarms yet, but it's a scary feeling. Every time I curse myself for being so forgetful, but to no avail. It has already happened a few times and my maid knows it so well. She would smile and start rubbing the pan with a steel wool scrubber again. I have changed two saucepans in the last six months.

And I made a few discoveries with these accidents. Serendipity.

The saucepan gets all sooty and the carbon sticks to the base if you have added sugar to the boiling water and it just turns to gray ash if you haven't added any sugar to the boiling water. Easier to clean it later. Although it is common sense that sugar will caramelise and become a sticky residue, I never had imagined seeing a perfect ash forming in my saucepan.

So people, don't add sugar to the boiling water when making tea my way. Or just keep standing there to enjoy the bubbling tea over the gas stove. Inhale some and make yourself a better tea drinker.

Please don't forget to tell me a way to boil/make tea without standing by the gas stove if you know. And please don't ask me why I am having more tea than usual these days ...

my signs to stay positive, stay blessed ...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:10:00 +0000

Woke up early after a long time. Working like a maniac, not sleeping properly and seeing ungrateful, unethical people around had left me feeling like a buzzing head. Just a buzzing head, not with ideas but a numbing buzz.

The husband had to leave early today, and I decided to water the parched garden after days of neglect. Some insects have made the plants sick, yellowing, falling leaves were picked and thrown away. Some insects were buried into the soil alive. Yes, I was ruthless to them.

The three musketeers, the Bulbul chicks greeted me with a child like chirp. Hopping here and there, this time I didn't feel like going to grab the camera and click, they were happy playing, the camera makes them conscious. They huddle together like this when they see a prying eye, aided by a lens.

I know the picture is not good, was clicked 2 weeks ago late in the evening. The chicks have grown bigger now, more confident and have started teasing us like the adults do with their acrobatics. The wee birds haven't learned acrobatics yet but teasing they know how to go about.

Then I saw something unexpected. I was so lost in my own stupid world that could not smell these beautiful Parijaat (Prajakta or Shiuli flowers) quietly cascading down the shrubs in the garden, just behind the Lemon tree. Picked them up, came inside, dusted this earthen plate and placed it in the waiting tray of my morning cuppa. Before settling down lazily to have my Darjeeling, brewed for long 15 minutes.

It was then I decided to look for my phone, clicked a picture and thanks to a smart phone in my hands now, uploaded the picture on facebook. This Poetry was born within minutes, courtesy Suranga who writes Gappa and Strewn Ashes, apart from a few more blogs. I am overwhelmed at the positive signs thrown at me by the universe. Thank you Suranga , this poetry felt like someone ran her fingers through my hair and blessed me with a smile.

This was when last night I was thinking how easily I am able to detach from the people who have been mean to me. I get completely blank of emotions for a few such people however sensitive and empathetic I used to feel for them. Jut one thing I need to learn and practice. No one ever should be able to influence me with a mention of Mithi, I just tend to open my heart like a fool, not valuing my own real estate.

On a mission to fortify myself against a few parasites and pests now. The changing weather must help. The Paarijaat brings me a new message.

I know I will be taken care of by the nature, giving me my signs when I need them the most.
Waking up early and stepping bare feet into the garden will be my effort.

Zomato Restaurant Guide 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Who needs a restaurant guide for the city?

In a printed form that is. May be some tourists who are not connected to the internet all the time or someone who actually wants it offline. The internet is there otherwise.

Zomato has quite a good online presence and this print version could have been a nice way to explore some of the possibilities around restaurants and fine dining establishments offline. But this print version in my hands has failed to deliver to a person who wants a place to eat in a certain locality, if searching on the internet is not an option. This is how I feel this guide fails...

There is no index to guide you through the localities.
Many restaurants have been listed, all in alphabetic order. Who would know the names of restaurants without knowing the locality?
There is an index in the contents list which enlists the restaurant categories. There are only three cuisine categories listed , Asian and Oriental, Italian and European and North Indian and Mughlai, broadly covering the cuisines and not specifically enlisting.
All other categories go like Casual dining, Catching up, Legendary, Notables etc etc. A person new to the city wouldn't know how to find a place.

Okay there are a few categories which might make sense. Beer in a Bar, Best wine list, Business and Travel, Late nighters etc.could make sense for someone who really wants the information.

There should be a folding map of the city dotted with the eateries around so the tourists would be benefited. I have needed such a food guide always when visiting a new city and I was looking at it from that point of view. It disappointed.

The index in the back pages could have been better categorised too. I didn't see many places I already know listed in this restaurant guide. Every city has so many small restaurants serving local cuisine and that should find a mention too. I would prefer a separate section for local street food in such a guide. Only some Mughlai eateries are listed and that is not sufficient in my opinion.

This restaurant guide disappoints me absolutely. Hoping for a better compiled edition next year.

Zomato restaurant guide 2012 was reviewed for Blogadda under the sponsored book review program.

Bobby Abraham, an artist par excellence...

noreply@blogger.com (sangeeta) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Here is an artist who can connect with a pure soul instantly. And permeates that connection to you too when you see his portraits.

It was a painting and sculptures exhibition held at the Palm court, India habitat center. It was inaugurated yesterday (19th June) and will be up till 24th of June. Go take a look if you want a breather from the Delhi heat. Inauguration was done by the eminent artist Vijendra Sharma and the collection is curated by Radhe Shyam.

Invitation to this exhibition was a pleasure and I promptly landed up with my camera in tow. Summer heat of Delhi doesn't stop you from enjoying your love for art. Some soulful portraits, some sculptures and some mixed media by different artists was on display. You are going to read some more posts about a few of those art pieces in my next posts here. Those ones really touched me.

But the most intriguing pieces were the ones who just trapped your gaze as you entered the hall. As if those eyes were looking at you. The colors inviting you. The deep wrinkles about to tell a story and the knitted brows inquiring all about you.

These are the sadhus of Bobby Abraham. The honest wrinkles of time have made their faces like a mirror of life. Nothing to hide, nothing to camouflage. Pure simple human life dripping in each line. The soul crystal clear, the eyes deep. Those are not strokes of an artists brush, those are actually the strokes of life...

The hot colors would make you connect deeper with the sadhu's soul. Take my word.

Do you see those intriguing eyes? As if they have a direct connect with the other world and still know all about your world. Sneering at your 'trapped in mayajaal status'.... yet not calling you to theirs.

I felt like I met these souls and got enriched in my soul wisdom.

The gaze is still with me. Making me be in peace through my own ways. Energised me with with a new vision.

These are such larger than life paintings you would forget about he brush strokes and tonality. The depth and dimensions. The light or the shadows. Being all these perfect is what takes you to the soul.

If you are in Delhi, don't miss this opportunity to meet these sadhus of Bobby Abraham. They would welcome you and treat you well :-)