crazy kirukkal

விதவிதமாய் குரலெழுப்பி
ஏதேதோ பேசுகின்றாய்
யாரென எட்டிப்பார்தால்
மரத்தினிடை ஒளிகின்றாய்

வானளக்கப் பிறந்துள்ளாய்
கீழோன் எனை அஞ்சுவதேன்?
பார்க்கத்தானே விழைகின்றேன்
அதையும் கூடத் தடுப்பது ஏன்?

உன் உலகம் என் வியப்பு
அதைக்காண ஏன் மறுப்பு?
என் உலகும் குறைந்ததில்லை
நீ வந்திருக்கத் தடையும் இல்லை

நீ கூடு கட்டி வாழ்ந்திட
என் கூடத்தில் இடமுண்டு
நீ இரை தேடப்போகையிலே
உன் வீட்டிற்கென் காவலுண்டு

நான் பொங்கி வைக்கும் சோற்றினிலே
உனக்கென்று பங்கு வைத்து
நீ கொத்தித் தின்னும் அழகினை
ரசித்துப் பார்க்கும் எண்ணமுண்டு

எனைக் கண்டு அஞ்சுவதில்
பலன் என்ன கண்டுவிட்டாய்?
தீங்கிழைப்பேன் என நீயும்
எதைக்கண்டு எண்ணிவிட்டாய்?

உலகம் சுற்றும் சிறு சிட்டே
உன் மீது காதல் கொண்டேன்
நான் ஆசை தீர உனைப்பார்க்க
சற்று நெரம் வந்திடு நீ

Trip to Mudumalai

Who will not enjoy being in the lap of Mother Nature? We recently enjoyed the happiest weekend by being in Mudumalai. Chirping birds, green carpet and water bodies are part and parcel of their life, unlike we urbanities to whom these are luxuries.

We landed at Jungle Homes at Mudumalai. Horse riding and nature walk occupied first half of the day. As we were exploring a small water body, a sudden breaking noise attracted us and we were excited to see an elephant that was enjoying its feast. We were able to get a closer look.

Some abandoned birds (was told to us as ‘hornbills’) were given a new home there. It was strange to see small birds eating pooris and chapathis.

The next half of the day really disappointed us, as safari in Bandipur was cancelled due to heavy rain. It seems they no longer do jeep safaris. Only van safari was available and that too got cancelled due to continuously pouring skies.

The distance from Jungle home to Bandipur is almost 20 kms. Whenever we search the net for accommodation in bandipur, Jungle home comes first in the search result. Our enquiry did not enlighten us about the quantum of distance. So our choice of stay proved wrong. Personally, I feel the money paid to Jungle home was not worth. The rooms were not great and food was in ok to terrible range. (they charge Rs. 410 per person per day compulsorily for food). Jungle Home is lesser than a resort and greater than a lodge and thus fails to make a mark. But there is a point to mention. The proprietor is kind hearted and courteous enough which made these things tolerable.

The next day early in the morning we were in Mudumalai for safari. It was a pleasant experience. We sighted Bison, deers and peacock. The safari was enjoyable and made us to yearn more.

We also saw elephant feeding camp. This is for tamed elephants which work in Mudumalai forest. The session was wonderful as the mahuth gave a lot of information about elephants. They were fed a mix of kollu, ragi and rice. It seemed the huge animals were thoroughly enjoying their feed. Once the feeding was over, as if to end the meal with sweet, they were fed sugar cane. Apart from the normal food which they have in the forest, this feeding was to boost their strength.

What we missed was elephant safari. Sitting on an elephant and enjoying a ride in the forest would have been different and wonderful. But safari was already booked to full.

After this, we headed towards Gopalswamy Betta. There is no doubt that Karnataka is beautiful. Mother Nature had been too liberal with Karnataka that the whole state boasts of mountains, water and wild life. The scenic beauty of Gopalswamy betta was wonderful. Even wonderful is Lord Krishna in the temple atop.

I think Lord Krishna is in one of His happiest of homes, thoroughly pampered by nature.

After those blissful moments, we headed towards Mysore for a short trip to Brindavan Gardens. Musical fountain and other fountains were thoroughly enjoyable. The crowd was too heavy. No, it was toooooooooooooooo heavy. Eateries are flooding through out the campus. But adequate measures were taken to control the crowd. I wonder safety measures may require a revisit there.

So with Brindavan Gardens, our trip ended and unwillingly I am looking forward for a boring Monday at Bangalore.

Shimoga Trip

It is wild. Any human presence is generously allowed by nature. While the Shimoga city is like any other city, inside of shimoga presents a different picture offering sheer luxury to nature lovers.

In addition to her bounty like the mighty jog falls, copious other waterfalls, the animals, the temples, the view points and the sanctuaries, the green carpet and silvery water which liberally fills whole of the district itself is enough to make the city dwellers dumbstruck. There is a lot to explore and find at this place. A best bet for adventure tourism.

14 kms from shimoga city, river Tunga crosses the speed breaker. Gajanur dam is wonderful and one can take a closer look at her at full speed. At the time we visited, the dam was fully opened, allowing her to flow with all valors. A few kilometers from Gajanur, at Sakrebayalu, wild elephants are tamed. Early in the morning, these elephants have a lavish and lazy bath, with mahouts taking the pain of cleaning them thoroughly. Lined up after the bath, they are fed and left inside the forests.

Elephant Camp
Koodali, 16 kms from Shimoga city is a place where rivers Tunga and Badra confluence. Surrounded by various age-old temples and a temple established by Sankaracharya the beauty and serenity combination is so wonderful that place should not be missed in anyone’s must see list.

The bird sanctuary at Mandagadde disappointed us since there was no boating due to heavy rains. Unmindful, the birds seemed to have their good time there, enjoying our deprival. The sanctuary houses three varieties of beautiful migratory birds, Egrets being the majority. Lion and tiger safari at Tyarekoppa is not to be missed.



Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary

Sagar taluk at shimoga district houses the legendary jog falls. July to January being the correct season for the falls, river sharavathi was taking a spectacular leap, leaving us to gape at her. Sharavathi makes four different falls before hitting the ground. Raja, rocket, roarer and rani. One can also have closer look at Raja and Rani before they make a fall. Raja is wild and irrepressible and still generous enough to allow us to walk through his wildness. A close to death view allows us to appreciate the full height of the falls. A guide should accompany this viewing strictly. Different views of the falls can be caught at different points, each being as thrilling as the other.

Lot more in stock nearer to Sagar. Prearranged nature camp, Guduvi bird sanctuary, Honnemaradu Island with water games, Ikkeri and Keladi temples. The weather has to be conducive for nature camp and bird sanctuary. Sagar is the favorite place for rain God, and shrubs and greens manifesting the abundance of rainfall occupy even the rooftops of houses. An ill prepared trip may spoil the mood.

A closer look at Jog

Though the temples are magnificent and wonderful, it is sad that they are ill maintained and full of algae. Insides are extremely slippery and harder than a climb to a rocky mountain. A careless step could be pleased with a mighty fall, drenching our dress thoroughly with the liberally spread water on the floor.

The most enthralling and peaceful village Agumbe is located 30 kms from Thirthahalli Taluk of Shimoga District. It seems that there is one water fall for every 4 or 5 kms and no local cares to visit any. Abbey falls, Jogigundi falls and Barkana falls gives an excellent view. But the help of local guide is needed as these falls are inside the forest and paths to them takes several bends and turns and one should not feel unease with leeches. Only a daring spirit will have its reward proper.

Jogigundi falls
The sunset point at Agumbe is beautiful. Someshwara and Bandipur Sanctuary are nearer. 30 kms from Agumbe, one can have a hearty trek on Kundadri.

Though whole of shimoga district is connected properly through wide number of private buses, shimoga is so wild that some of its places are sparsely populated and a wait for a bus at wee hours of evening may leave one anxious to reach home safely. Hence the day has to be planned well in advance if one chooses to take the service of these local buses. But a journey in one’s own vehicle would be unquestionably luxurious and independent.

Shimoga is a treasure. Wildness presented as such. Interested and patient souls never go out of the district with disappointment. To enjoy the trip thoroughly, remember information is wealth. Armed with as many information as possible, the trip is bound to be a sure success.

Good food at reasonable rates can be enjoyed at Shimoga city. Also, decent accommodation is available at best price. Average cost per day for accommodation could be in the range of Rs. 400- Rs. 800. Hotel Jewel Rock gives good comfort and can be contacted at 08182-223051.

Will the bloggers ever grow?

As a blogger many a times I have committed the same mistake. Placing our own opinion highly and airing them freely as if the whole world is bothered and depends upon our single opinion or verdict.

Sometimes I feel that the blog world is full of spinsters and bachelors who are at the peak of their freedoms, showering their views and living their lives.

It is the world as viewed by an intolerant youth or an immature adult that is reflected here. At this point, I totally feel such a blogging is pointless and useless. If at all blogging will help in quality writing, will it serve some purpose. And now who cares to read this piece? :)

Unwelcome Guests

I was never enthused by the idea of taming a dog at my place. Still, this animal manages to peep into my life every now and then, giving some or other kind of trouble.

I have to accept that India is a country famous for street dogs. And beware, not every street dog is as orphaned as its lean, sunken-eyed brother in the corner of the street.

I also have to accept that my neighbors prove to be very kindhearted humans, at least as far as their hearts affairs concerned to those street dogs.

And these street dogs are faithful lots. They wag their tail to my good-hearted neighbor, eat the leftovers they throw and promptly empty their entrails at my doorsteps. And the neighbor has no complains and is happy about his newfound relationship with dog.

A dog is very active animal. He needs to be playful. But not all the time he can get his counterparts help in making himself active. When his friends are away, bound to the four walls, which they are supposedly guarding, the street dog at my place has to do something. He finds my clothes interesting. An occasional forgetfulness on my part to collect the clothes is rewarded properly in the morning. I am of course allowed to collect the torn pieces of clothes and cremate them with due respect.

You thought the silly dog does not read newspaper? You are thoroughly mistaken gentleman. The dog at my place does. The funny part is, he does not keep the paper intact after it is read. He prefers to chop it into tiny pieces, and leaves it just before my doorsteps. And my neighbor admires the naughtiness of the playful street dog.

And come December, the mating game starts. As you know every animal has its own right to search a mate. So is the street dog at our place. This attracts a few more unwelcome guests. Though our S.D. cleverly manages to have all the fightings outside the complex, it is do or die situation you see. Hence when situation warrants, he could not avoid a nasty fight inside our complex. We all watch it with terrified eyes, holding our children intact, witnessing atleast half a dozen dogs fighting fierce fully.

So, one fine morning I decided to put an end to all these naughtiness of this playful friend. I administered stick therapy. For every wrongdoing he committed that day, he was properly given a vigorous dose of a heavy blow from a specially chosen stick. He felt the pain badly, that he almost stopped short of coming to our complex, but for appointed hour to have dinner.

The idea behind the whole post is, those who feed these dogs, really do not care to claim ownership of these dogs when it damages other’s property. They do not have time or care to train these dogs. But it is easier for them to feel sympathetic and throw some leftovers. The dog is brainy enough not to disturb its sympathizer. Either the street dogs have to be done away with or the nasty neighbors.

Inspired Writing

I met a well-known Kannada writer and my burning desire to write good short stories got provoked to a great extent. But taming my mediocre brain to give complete entertaining stuff is a little difficult.

When the writer told me that she got the whole story in her mind with no effort on her part to think, including the character names, I was just amazed. Thought that this is a gifted talent and cannot be developed with our will and wish alone.

Still, I could to be content with my conclusion and tried writing short stories. I almost wrote two complete ones and realized they were not satisfactory.

She irritatedly complained about growing copycats in writers' world and blamed those who do inspired writing. While talking about inspired writing, I felt that there is a subtle difference between copying someone else's work and inspired by some theme and developing it in a different dimension to give a new stuff in entirety. While i did not brave to discuss my views with her, I am pouring it in the medium where I have all my liberty.

Whatever I write is inspired. Inspired by my own funny reactions to some situations and inspired by others behavior. Originality can be retained in how well the spark is developed and how interestingly it is put forth.

If our day-to-day happenings can inspire us, there is nothing wrong if we get inspired by someone's writing or a particular scene narrated in a long novel. Already I have noticed that there is a connection between our reading habits and writing skills. As we read books, the grip on our language becomes stronger.

Given a deep thought, i can conclude that one is not technically and morally wrong in doing it. Because, how many writers can claim that they generate the story in their mind? Most often, people think of their own, having a predetermined plot in their mind. It is really rare to find someone who generates story just as one prepares laddu in kitchen.

As long as the inspiration is not wide enough to completely encroach others idea, an author has the right to get inspired by someone else's work also.

Sky is my limit

Is there any ambit within which human’s view is restricted? I don’t think so. Distinguishing and comparing is human nature. There are certain basic criterions, which are to be fulfilled in any human being. Nothing is too holy that a slight comparison would make it lose its sanctity. By the way, my humble opinion (not really as humble as it seems to be :))is, nothing in this world carries any sanctity with it. It is only our distance, either mental or physical which makes us to revere something or someone.

Some politicians and writers were my childhood heroes and a slight foul talk about them was enough to make me show all my hidden talents of uproar and commotion. With time, many managed to go out of that hero list, though few still strongly retain that position.

Though I personally hate to hear anything bad about anyone in that hero list, I have not hesitated to air my views freely, irrespective of the sanctity of the subject being criticized.

I think I have given enough prelude.

It is more than exact that Infants are too innocuous, innocent, tender, charming and soothing that we can almost generously postpone all our immediately killing worries and duties to spend some time with them. Despite the fact that most of the infants forcefully object my presence, as if trying to safeguard them selves from some grave danger, I never gave up my attempt to tactfully soothe them and have some good time with them.

I have observed that each child is different. Leave the looks that some have and some do not. That is out of scope of this blog. The inquisitiveness in their eyes. Very few have them. The instant grasp. Very few posses it. The playful nature. Some really do not have it. The adaptability. Some unique children do possess this. These children really love seeing different people and crawling from lap to lap is an enjoyable play for these children.

Thus, just as we like some adults and do not create fondness towards others, it is equally possible that we like some children and do not feel attached to some, as long as the child is someone else’s :).

In TV shows, the way these children carry themselves differ widely. Some are really confident kings and queens and win over the comperer with their innocent and positive smile. Some with tears over their chubby cheeks, look at their parents standing behind the camera, giving a helpless look, while some get fixed to their seats, budging a little heeding to the slight command, opening the mouth hesitantly, to dislodge whatever was fed inside their tiny brains some moment before and hopelessly looking at their parents when they stumble.

It was always my point that just because a child is a child, a third person need not always get immensely attracted towards it. And whenever I shared this view with my friends, they saw me with grimaced face, as if viewing a villain. Do not really know how may of you may conclude that I am a villi. But when it comes to expressing opinions, sky is my limit. No bars held.