Shades of Twilight

നെല്ലറ

2011-02-13T04:31:00.003-06:00

ഇത് പാലക്കാട്‌ ആണ്..
ഞാന്‍ ജോലി ചെയ്യുന്ന, എന്റെ ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ നാട്..
പരന്നു പരന്ന് കിടക്കുന്ന നെല്‍പ്പാടങ്ങളും അവക്കിടയില്‍ തല ഉയര്‍ത്തി നില്‍ക്കുന്ന കരിമ്പനകളും...
ഒരു അവധി ദിവസം വെറുതെ കറങ്ങി നടന്നപ്പോള്‍ കണ്ടതാണ് ഇതൊക്കെ.
കനാലിന്റെ കരയില്‍ കളിച്ചു തിമര്‍ക്കുന്ന കുട്ടികളും (ക്യാമറ കണ്ടപ്പോള്‍ അനങ്ങാതെ നിന്നു കേട്ടോ) പാടത്തിനു നടുക്ക് കൂടി പോകുന്ന റോഡും പിന്നെ നിരനിരയായി നിന്നു നെല്ല് കൊയ്യുന്ന ചേച്ചിമാരും അവര്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ പറന്നു കളിക്കുന്ന കൊറ്റികളും...

നിശ്ശബ്ദതാഴ്വരയിലേക്ക് ഒരു യാത്ര.

2011-01-04T04:49:00.012-06:00

കുഞ്ഞുന്നാളിലെ ആഗ്രഹമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു, സൈലന്റ് വാലി കാണണം എന്ന്‌.

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഇപ്രാവശ്യത്തെ സ്റ്റാഫ്‌ പിക്നിക്‌ എവിടേക്ക് എന്ന്‌ രണ്ടാമതൊന്നു ചിന്തിക്കേണ്ടി വന്നില്ല...

കാടിനെ കണ്ടു, തൊട്ടറിഞ്ഞു.. മരുന്നു ചെടികളുടെ സുഗന്ധം കലര്‍ന്ന കാറ്റും, നട്ടുച്ചക്കും എയര്‍ കണ്ടീഷന്‍ പ്രതീതി തരുന്ന ഉള്‍ക്കാടിലെ തണുപ്പും ചോര നുണയാന്‍ കൂട്ടത്തോടെ പാഞ്ഞു വരുന്ന അട്ടകളും, തൊട്ടുമുന്നില്‍ ചൂടാറാത്ത ആനപ്പിണ്ടം കണ്ടപ്പോള്‍, മരണം അരികിലെവിടെയോ ഉണ്ടെന്നറിഞ്ഞ ഉള്‍ക്കിടിലവും ചിത്രങ്ങളില്‍ മാത്രം കണ്ടിട്ടുള്ള കുറെ ചെറു ജീവികളും, കൊച്ചരുവികള്‍ ചേര്‍ന്നു ജന്മമെടുക്കുന്ന കുന്തിപ്പുഴയുടെ മനോഹര ദൃശ്യവും......

മറക്കില്ലൊരിക്കലും, ഈ ദിവസം....!!

മയില്‍..!

2010-12-06T01:59:00.003-06:00

നാട്ടിന്‍പുറക്കാഴ്ചകള്‍ കണ്ടുകണ്ട് ഞാന്‍ എന്റെ ഫീല്‍ഡ് വിസിറ്റ് ആസ്വദിച്ചങ്ങനെ വരുമ്പോള്‍ പെട്ടെന്ന് ജീപ്പിന്റെ മുന്നില്‍ ചാടി ഒരു മയില്‍...

പെട്ടെന്ന് ബാഗ്‌ തപ്പി ക്യാമറ ഓണ്‍ ചെയ്തു വന്നപ്പോഴേക്കും അവന്‍ പേടിച്ചു വഴിയരികിലെ പൊന്തക്കാട്ടിലേക്ക്‌ ഓടി മറഞ്ഞു...

ഒന്ന് രണ്ടു തവണ ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്തു...

കാണാമോ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ അവനെ?

DAD....!

2010-11-18T07:20:00.005-06:00

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Beats dropped into my ear from the chilled prussian blue silence.

A heart graphed in silvery green lines.

A life glowing in flourescent numbers on the monitor.

My dad.

I sat there,

Unmindful of hours passing by.

Sinking into memories.

Memories colored of poppins candies.

Smelled of new storybooks.

Tasted of the first eat-out.

My Dad,

who is th tallest, biggest, most knowledgable and the strongest Dad in the world..

I write this for him.

More of My World...

2010-10-21T12:54:00.005-06:00

കൊയ്തു കഴിഞ്ഞു, അടുത്ത വിത്തിറക്കാന്‍ ഉഴുന്ന പാടങ്ങള്‍..
ഇളകി മറിയുന്ന വെള്ളത്തില്‍ മീനുകളെ തേടി നടക്കുന്ന കൊറ്റികള്‍.

ആശുപത്രിയിലെയ്ക്കുള്ള യാത്രക്കിടയില്‍
ഈയിടെ എന്നും കാണുന്ന ഒരു മനോഹര ദൃശ്യം.

Reaching Out....!!

2010-10-12T17:37:00.006-06:00

Extending services to the Grassroot level..
The essence of our health care delivery system.
I am happy to be a part of it, always...
Today it was an Outreach Immunisation session in my area.
We passed narrow roads among paddy fields, ladies drying hay in sun,

Village paths ruled by bullock carts and bicycles..
And reached the centre.
It was an Anganwady (Kindergarten).
Cute little kids watched us working, and a few talked with me....
Later we had tea from a village tea shop..
Long forgotten firewood stoves and walls blackened with soot...
But the tea tasted better than that I had from the cosiest restaurant in city.

A great day for me...!

Its My World.... From Now...!

2010-10-02T06:14:00.009-06:00

Shifting again...
From the headquarters to periphery.
From buzzing heavy traffic to serene village roads.
From suffocating concrete jungles to sunny countryside..

My new place of work.
Knew too little of the place and I was so confused when I drove to the area.
Me and my blue lady passed the city...
and as we turned a road, I was amazed at the first glimpse of the village..
Paddy fields unrolling their green carpets to welcome us..
And the breeze which greeted us smelled of fresh hay..

Then my hospital..
an old styled building with tall trees around,
and cement benches in the courtyard to rest..
Friendly staff, comfortable office
and innocent people who were so happy to meet their new Doc.

I just loved the place..
and I share my happiness with my friends....!

Rain... Rain....

2010-09-26T21:26:00.003-06:00

ഇന്നലെ പെയ്ത മഴയ്ക്ക്‌ മുഴുവന്‍ നിന്റെ ഓര്‍മ്മകളായിരുന്നു.
കൂടെ വന്ന കാറ്റിന്റെ കൈകള്‍ക്ക് നിന്റെ കുസൃതിയും
മഴ നനഞ്ഞു പറന്നുപോയ മിന്നാമിന്നി കുഞ്ഞിനു നിന്റെ ചിരിയും...

The Journey Never Ends

2010-09-21T14:13:00.002-06:00

എന്നോ ഒരിക്കല്‍ ഇതിലെ പോയിട്ടില്ലേ ഞാന്‍?
വണ്ടിച്ചക്രങ്ങള്‍ പാളങ്ങളോട് കലമ്പുന്ന ഒച്ച കാതോര്‍ത്തും
അതിനേക്കാള്‍ ഉച്ചത്തില്‍ മിടിക്കുന്ന ഹൃദയത്തെ
പാടുപെട്ടു നെഞ്ചകത്ത് തളച്ചും

സമയസൂചിക്കിന്നു വേഗം പോരാത്തതെന്തെന്നു
വേവലാതിപ്പെട്ടും

അവിടെയെന്നെ കാത്തുനിന്ന് ഉഴറുന്ന
കണ്ണുകളെ ഓര്‍ത്തു വെമ്പലാര്‍ന്നും
ഞാന്‍ പിന്നിട്ട പാത.

ഇന്നും ദൂരെനിന്നു കണ്ടു ഒരുനോക്ക്...
എവിടെയും എത്താതെ, എത്തിക്കാതെ
നീണ്ടു നീണ്ടു കിടക്കുന്നു.
നിസ്സംഗമായി.
നിര്‍വ്വികാരമായി.
ഒരിക്കലും ഒന്നിക്കാതെ സമാന്തരമായി.

Blossom

2010-09-17T04:45:00.001-06:00

ഇന്നലത്തെ മഴയില്‍ മുറ്റത്തു വിരിഞ്ഞൊരു പേരറിയാപ്പൂവ്.

End of an Aimless Drive

2010-09-12T06:56:00.004-06:00

എപ്പോഴും എന്നോടൊപ്പം ഉണ്ട് അവള്‍..
ഞാന്‍ ചിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ എന്റെ കൂടെ ചിരിക്കും
എന്റെ ഹൃദയം തുള്ളിച്ചാടുമ്പോള്‍ അവള്‍ക്കും വേഗം കൂടും...
എന്റെ മനസ്സ് വിങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ മങ്ങിയ ചില്ലിലൂടെ അവള്‍ സൂക്ഷിച്ചുനോക്കും..
എന്നിട്ട് സീറ്റ് ബെല്ട്ടുകൊണ്ട് എന്നെ കെട്ടിപ്പിടിക്കും.

ഇന്ന് ഈ വഴിയരികില്‍ ഞങ്ങള്‍ നിന്നു.
അറ്റം കാണാത്ത ഒഴിഞ്ഞ പാത നീണ്ടു നീണ്ടു കിടന്നു.
നെല്‍പ്പാടങ്ങള്‍ക്കും കരിമ്പനകള്‍ക്കും അപ്പുറത്ത് നിന്നു
തണുത്ത കാറ്റിന്റെ തോളിലേറി പറന്നു വന്നു ഒരു മഴ.

ഒത്തിരി ഒത്തിരി ഓര്‍മ്മകളുമായി
എന്റെ അടുത്തൊരിടം ഒഴിഞ്ഞുകിടന്നു.
ഒറ്റയ്ക്കിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ കാണാനായി സൂക്ഷിച്ചുവെച്ച അവന്റെ അക്ഷരങ്ങള്‍
കണ്ണീര്‍ പാടയില്‍ പെട്ട് കലങ്ങിച്ചിതറി.

എന്റെ കണ്ണ് നിറഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍
അവളുടെ കണ്ണിലും നീര്‍ പൊടിഞ്ഞു.
എന്തൊക്കെയോ എന്നോട് പറയാതെ പറഞ്ഞു,
പാവം എന്റെ നീലക്കുട്ടി.

At The Shore....

2010-08-24T19:45:00.011-06:00

Its been a long time...

She was rough,

I was alone,

and the shore was too crowded.

Yet I enjoyed.

Did not feel like coming back...

Wished, If I could turn into a Mermaid....!

CRADLED IN THE CLOUDS...

2010-08-12T11:32:00.007-06:00

Cloud 9.. I was there.. literally.
I touched the clouds, clouds engulfed me in their arms, caressed my tired body and soothed my stormy heart.
The tiny dewdrops condensed on my skin, giving me goose bumps..
Oh God.. a totally different world from the plains down there… Wished if I could stay there for the rest of my life…!!
- Moments I spent at Nelliyampathy, a high range area in Palakkad.

The Solitary Lass

2010-06-27T08:50:00.002-06:00

"Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!"

(The Solitary Reaper, W.Wordsworth)

The lines I learned by-heart years back, in school..
And it came again to my lips today
When I saw her in the field, working there all alone...

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL...

2010-05-24T11:25:00.005-06:00

Long time since I posted something. In fact I did not have the mood to. Life was too dull, I was getting more and more depressed. All of a sudden everything changed. I found my long – lost friend after 21 years... Thanks to Orkut...! Now life is Green. Cool. Shady. Like these places we visited together on the day we met...!

TRANSPLANTATION

2010-04-13T23:23:00.003-06:00

Not easy it was. Leaving my hometown to a place which I had the least idea of... Really missed everything about Trivandrum. Found it too tough to adjust with the extreme hot climate, dry dusty wind and hard water from bore wells.. But had no choice because it was part of my job. And slowly I started adjusting. And before I knew, I loved this place. So much of greeneries, vast paddy fields, tall Palmyra trees, and simple, down to earth people who helped me a lot in the initial days..

Here are some pictures of my travel to Palakkad...

THE LAST DAY AS A STUDENT

2010-04-11T16:41:00.004-06:00

The sun was set, when I visited the campus one last time. Walked the courtyard and pavements, corridors and staircases, class rooms and conference halls once more, before I bid adieu to the world that moulded me into today’s self, over a span of eight years.. Memories rushed in.. Bringing a smile on my lips and tears in my eyes at the same time.

NOSTALGIA

2010-04-11T08:10:00.005-06:00

Knew that I am going to a place where there is no seashore.. And that I am gonna miss those serene dusks at my favourite spots. Paid a last visit to the beach on the previous eve of the day I left home. My footprints on the wet sand... When will I get to walk there again...???

BACK..!!!!

2010-04-11T07:54:00.004-06:00

A complete transformation... and transplantation.. from the carefree colorful life of a student, to the responsibilities of job, home-making and motherhood.. From my home-town in south kerala to Palakkad, thats where i work now.. Don't know to what extend I can continue maintaining the pace and frequency of posting, but I will try my best.. because this is a place I love so much, a place where I can be myself..!

KANYAKUMARI

2008-11-01T12:05:00.006-06:00

Everything has changed a lot...

Golu

2008-10-06T19:14:00.008-06:00

Stacks of dolls... Rustling of silk sarees... Chatters and giggles... Fragrance of camphor and jasmine... Flavours of homemade sweets... Gifts I got by surprise...
Glimpses from a “Bommai-Kolu” I attended yesterday...
Heartiest Pooja Wishes to all my friends..!!!
For my friends who wish to know more about it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golu

Alone

2008-09-29T18:03:00.000-06:00

'C-5 Summit' *

2008-09-23T10:13:00.004-06:00

* Title Courtesy : Maddy http://maddy-occiput.blogspot.com/

Monsoon Clouds In The Making..!

2008-09-18T21:53:00.002-06:00

Clicked a few months back when monsoon was at its peak.. it was interesting to see what I had only read in primary school books.. vapours from the water bodies getting condensed and shaped up into the rain clouds...

Some Glimpses from the “Pookkalam” ( Flower arrangement) competition held at my college, in association with the Onam Celebrations. HAPPY ONAM..!!

2008-09-07T22:21:00.003-06:00

For my non-keralite friends who doesnt know what it is... see here -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam

The Sun Has Set

2008-08-31T03:18:00.000-06:00

Seeing Rain From the Train

2008-08-24T10:15:00.001-06:00

To the Field

2008-08-19T18:51:00.001-06:00

A village scene, captured from the train, somewhere in the mid- north India...

It's Been Raining...

2008-07-26T16:43:00.000-06:00

End of Another Day

2008-07-21T06:43:00.000-06:00

Life...

2008-07-16T09:25:00.000-06:00

For the last few days, this is all I see... Trains... Railway stations... Travelling a lot these days related to the work and I hardly get anything other than these, to focus my lens on...

The Fall

2008-07-06T07:54:00.001-06:00

A view of Athirappally waterfalls...

Cruise Ship and Cargo Ship

2008-06-25T18:52:00.001-06:00

Can I Be a Kid Again?

2008-06-18T08:16:00.002-06:00

Odd Man In..!

2008-06-04T03:42:00.000-06:00

At the Sea Bridge

2008-05-29T20:09:00.002-06:00

The near - rusted pillars of the sea bridge vibrated, and the roar of the wave reverberated under my feet, as I stood there enchanted by the magic spell of sea which I feel everytime I pay her a visit...!

Trapped..!

2008-05-26T20:32:00.002-06:00

Peacock

2008-05-16T09:44:00.000-06:00

Back Home, With the Catch...

2008-05-08T05:06:00.003-06:00

Captured these fishing boats returning to the shore, while a cruise recently....

Kids At Beach

2008-04-26T21:01:00.000-06:00

I saw them playing football, with a bottle..!

Purity

2008-04-23T03:00:00.000-06:00

The Couple

2008-04-17T06:31:00.000-06:00

Vishukkani

2008-04-14T09:25:00.001-06:00

Today was VISHU, and here is the vishukkani I saw..!
Happy Vishu to all my dear friends..!!

"Jab Deep Jale Aanaa.."

2008-04-06T09:43:00.000-06:00

SALT n PEPPER

2008-04-03T08:20:00.000-06:00

"Jab Udi Kaali Khata..."

2008-03-30T09:00:00.002-06:00

After the Shower..!

2008-03-27T20:07:00.000-06:00

SKYSCRAPER

2008-03-24T20:43:00.000-06:00

Sweet..!

2008-03-21T08:44:00.000-06:00

Like A Dream...

2008-03-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

Misty, still and serene... One dawn that greeted me when I opened eyes to outside, during a train journrey.... The sun was behind the clouds, he too looked so gentle and cool...

"Wish You Were Here...!"

2008-03-11T21:35:00.001-06:00

For the one whom I miss every moment..!

As We Part...

2008-03-07T10:18:00.005-06:00

There's no use in weeping,
Though we are condemned to part..
There's such a thing as keeping
A remembrance in one's heart

When we've left each friend and brother
When we're parted wide and far,
We will think of one another,
As even better than we are..

We can burst the bonds which chain us,
Which cold human hands have wrought,
And where none shall dare restrain us
We can meet again, in thought.

So there's no use in weeping,
Bear a cheerful spirit still;
Never doubt that Fate is keeping
Future good for present ill !
(Charlotte Bronte)

NAP

2008-03-01T19:25:00.003-06:00

What are they dreaming of now? Chasing the little Jerry? Diving into a pool of milk? Fighting over a fish? Playing in the garden with butterflies?

"Let Me Hold, Before You Fall...!"

2008-02-25T05:19:00.003-06:00

( Dedicated to my dearest MONSOON DREAMS. Don't know why, I just feel like doing so...!)

Another Shade Of Twilight

2008-02-22T19:22:00.002-06:00

"What's Cooking?"

2008-02-20T07:01:00.001-06:00

Until Death Do Us Part...

2008-02-18T06:14:00.004-06:00

Who said Valentine's day is celebrated only by Humans? I got to see this romantic scene, in one of the picnic spots, on Valentines day...!

;)

"Happy Vishu..!"

2008-02-14T19:48:00.002-06:00

Vishu came to me early this year, as I see the ‘Kanikkonna’ (Golden shower) tree near my window has bloomed... Now I wonder, what I will do on 14th April, when it is time to make the ‘Vishukkani’..! Hmmm... I will have to purchase the flowers from market..!!!
[ For My Friends who don’t know what vishu is, I add a brief description adopted fron Wikipedia:-
Vishu (Malayalam:വിഷു)- is a festival held in the state of Kerala around the first day in the Hindu month of Medam (April – May). This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations. Vishu is also considered as the Harvest festival of Kerala and the occasion marks the beginning of Malayalam New Year, thus the day is important to all Malayalees regardless of their religion or sect.
The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukkani. The offerings consist of a ritual arrangement in the puja room of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers konna (Cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first thing one sees.]

My Neighbour..!

2008-02-11T18:05:00.001-06:00

This Rooster is my neighbour... Strong, bold and extremely handsome, he proudly displays his masculine charm and roams around... Pays me a visit occasionally, and I treat him with some food, and spend time admiring the velvety finish of his shining attires...!

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining..!

2008-02-09T09:21:00.001-06:00

Vine at my Window

2008-02-07T10:39:00.001-06:00

To Home, With Mom...

2008-02-04T05:41:00.001-06:00

Unexpected...!

2008-01-30T20:07:00.000-06:00

As I was sitting in my room, wondering what to read at this last moment for tomorrow’s exam, all of a sudden I was touched by a cool breeze coming in through the window.. I looked out and saw clouds...! Dark clouds, after a long time...! I ran up to the terrace, to get a good view..! I expected a shower too, but... :-(

At Work

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-06:00

Gone home in the weekend... and while roaming around one afternoon, I saw him... this old man, watering his newly planted crops, unmindful of the blazing sun... he didn’t even bother to wipe away the sweat, and was so fully involved in his work, didn’t look up even once so he was totally unaware of my presence... I felt respect to him.

The KING on His Way...!

2008-01-24T18:52:00.000-06:00

Winter has melted away, and the days are slowly becoming hot... Lying ahead are the days of early daybreak and late nightfall... Disturbed sleep under the hot roof.. Exhausting afternoon lectures.. Tension and tears of exam days...

And... MANGOES..!

The “King of Fruits” as it is called, has announced his arrival already... Mango trees have started lighting firecrackers on the joyful occasion, and when I took a closer look, could see the infant fruits cradled beautifully inside each tiny flower...!

Bansuri ( Bamboo flute) seller at Beach

2008-01-22T20:52:00.000-06:00

Had gone to beach, and while waiting for the sun to set, I noticed him... sitting there in a detached mood, watching the people playing in the tides...

What would be the thoughts crossing his mind?

Is he wondering why people get so excited by the sea, which is part of his daily life..?

Or is he counting the number of bansuries he must sell that day, to meet his daily need..?

I captured the moment through the window glass, so as not to disturb the whole mileu...

And later that evening, I bought a bansuri from him.

I Dedicate this post to Abhijit Dharmadhikari, my friend, a very talented Photographer and Musician..

Acrophobia..(2)

2008-01-21T06:40:00.000-06:00

I clicked this with trembling hands, as i was really feeling giddy and uncomfortable standing there... i post this here for pts..!

Acrophobia..!

2008-01-21T01:58:00.000-06:00

Breakfast time..!

2008-01-17T06:57:00.000-06:00

Seen this sight when i visited the Zoo one day morning...

Primary Colours

2008-01-15T11:08:00.000-06:00

"Jyotirgamaya.."

2008-01-14T02:04:00.000-06:00

Today is “Makar Sankranti”,The day on which the sun begins it journey northwards. Makara Sankranti is one of the largest, most auspicious, but varied festival in the Indian continent. Makara Sankranti is also to honour, worship and to pay respect to the world mother, Saraswati Maa. At the start of this significant event, there is also worship for the departed ancestors. The period is also considered an ideal time for aspirants to satisfy "the goals of life".
Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness following a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow.

Majestic Tread

2008-01-01T07:23:00.000-06:00

Leopard (Panthera pardus) , a member of the felidae family. An agile and graceful predator, very strong despite its smaller size. Once plenty in number but now an endangered species.
Here he strolls restless in the zoo, but the charm and elegance of his looks and gait are not affected by the restrictions in his cage...

Mattancherry

2007-12-18T23:36:00.000-06:00

I chose Mattancherry this time. Have read and heard a lot about this place, but never got a chance to see it. Spent a whole day there with my friends, it was really worth a visit. So different and unique from the rest of my part of the world, I enjoyed each and everything I saw there. Adding a few snapshots here, along with a small description of the place adopted from wikipedia. The pictures are those of the Synagogue built in 16th century, the glimpses from the Jew Town, and the jewellery and antique shops on the way to Synagogue. Couldn’t take any pictures inside the Synagogue, since photography is prohibited there. But I add a picture of the beautiful interior of synagogue adopted from elsewhere..

Mattancherry is the western part of Kochi corporarion in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India. It is about 10 km from Ernakulam town. It is a tourist destination, surrounded by the backwaters of Arabian Sea. Mattancherry was the first trade hub of the present district. Mattancherry is populated by people from various walks of life and various parts of India & Abroad. Earlier Mattancherry was the trade link to Ernakulam. Main Trade was on spices such as pepper and turmeric. Tea is also traded. Mattancherry deteriorated mainly since the porters working at various firms had some unaccounted trouble with the Merchants. Slowly the traders moved to Ernakulam as Mattancherry proved to be costly. Mattancherry has a Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace Museum, Jain's Temple (known as MahajanWadi to localites) and Mosques. There is also Bazaar (Market) where we get to buy different spices and articles used for interior decorations.

DAM

2007-12-07T15:48:00.000-06:00

Another example of man’s intrusion into the free flow of nature... a Dam, constructed in a beautiful river amidst the hills... the long shot gives the view of the serene valley covered in misty, dreamy bluish green, clouds kissing the hill tops and the line of dam breaking the flow of the river...
And the next two shots are of either sides of the dam.

Striped

2007-11-21T06:05:00.000-06:00

loved the patterns on the leaf, painted by the shadows of the other leaves in the faint moonlight..

Nikki Rose

2007-11-19T18:10:00.000-06:00

Seen this beautiful tiny flower peeping out of stones at the roadside.. when shown this picture to a plant expert, she said it is called "Nikki Rose" and grown as an ornamental plant..

Din Dhal Jaaye...

2007-11-14T19:14:00.000-06:00

Wildlife in these days...!!!

2007-11-11T20:27:00.000-06:00

See, animals too have turned to fastfood culture..!

Parallel

2007-11-06T19:49:00.000-06:00

Can you see the aircraft moving in the sky, parallel to the boat in the sea?

Tiny Sunshines

2007-10-28T19:21:00.000-06:00

When the sky gets cleared after the heavy rains, I see these beautiful crystal beads on the leaves, each one enclosing a little sun within it...

The Loner

2007-10-23T21:08:00.001-06:00

Mirrors of Nature

2007-10-18T20:11:00.000-06:00

Another series captured while travelling... A sunny fresh day... As our train passed along the lake sides, could see the clear sky and the greenery reflecting beautifully in the still waters...

Innocence Imprisoned

2007-10-15T07:55:00.000-06:00

It's Raining..!

2007-10-11T02:51:00.000-06:00

Rain at the Lake

2007-10-10T01:53:00.000-06:00

Captured this while I was travelling, as the train crossed a lake... It was pouring heavily so I couldn’t get a well focussed picture... Loved the patterns on the water surface, made by the raindrops and the wind that swept over the lake...

After the rain...

2007-10-08T05:04:00.000-06:00

final flare

2007-10-03T11:10:00.000-06:00

"Busy Bee"

2007-10-01T01:39:00.000-06:00

2007-09-26T07:25:00.000-06:00

At the Cliff

2007-09-21T20:23:00.000-06:00

Varkala is a comparatively under-explored spot in the tourist map of kerala. a rare combination of long clean golden beach with slow tides, and a cliff that hangs into the sea which gives the misty feel of a hill station, varkala sweeps u away with its charm...

Cliff 2

2007-09-21T20:15:00.000-06:00

view down from the cliff, in another angle..

Cliff 3

2007-09-21T20:13:00.000-06:00

the deep blue sea seen from the cliff..

cliff 4

2007-09-21T20:10:00.000-06:00

far away the sky kisses the ocean...

2007-09-18T20:01:00.000-06:00

A Day at Fort Kochi

2007-09-16T08:56:00.000-06:00

A municipal town from 1866 to 1967, Fort Kochi now is one of the three main urban components that constitute the present day City of Kochi in the Indian State of Kerala , the other two being Mattancherry and Ernakulam . Once a fishing village of no significance in the Kingdom of Kochi in the pre-colonial Kerala, the territory that would be later known as Fort Kochi was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi , who also gave them permission to build a fort near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name Fort Kochi comes from this fort, Fort Emmanuel, which was later destroyed by the Dutch. Origin of the name „Kochi“ The most accepted theory is that the name derives from „kochazhi“ which, in Malayalam, denotes "small lagoon". Another view says that the name denotes, "CO-CHIN", meaning "LIKE-CHINA". yes, it looked like CHINA when the Chinese came here in 14th century and erected these beautiful Chinese nets. The chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.
Mythological explanation: An ancient legend says that the god Parasurama created Kerala by throwing his axe into the ocean. The ocean god retreated until the mark where the axe fell into the ocean.
Scientific theory: Some thousand years B.C. the region of today's Kerala had been covered by mangrove woods. When the sea level rose, turf/ and sand banks were created which formed the shape of the coastal area as we see it today.

Blue Hues

2007-09-12T08:32:00.000-06:00

Farm - fresh

2007-09-06T04:17:00.000-06:00

Zoooooomm...!

2007-09-02T10:36:00.000-06:00

Cliff

2007-08-20T13:28:00.000-06:00

Freedom Hurts?

2007-08-15T10:55:00.000-06:00

Independance Day is a holiday for them in calendar... But these tiny tots are awakened earlier than a usual working day, and made to do a final rehearsal of the numbers they must stage, and rushed to school.. at some moments during the long wait for the chief guests, they lose temper and break into tears of anger and frustration, like i witnessed here... Freedom...!