Clicked on 28 June 2005 | Garden

Surrounded by Nature’s brilliance with the wind flowing through my hair and across my face. The smell of wet earth as rain drops collide with the harsh ground… as time slows down. I close my eyes and feel the peaceful bliss cruising through my veins, pulsing with every beat of my heart… trying to dissolve into the surroundings to become a part of it.

Such was my craving / desire to be on a trek roughing it out. But where was I??

I was at my parent’s house in Basaveshwarnagar (India) having tea. I decided to go out into the garden with my camera hoping / wishing that somehow I could satisfy this hunger. I looked around for a while and didn’t find anything… frustrated I laid down on the grass cussing away at the sky.

Few minutes passed and I rolled over to watch the blades of grass dance to a non-existent breeze. I picked up my camera, put the viewfinder to my eyes and looked through it hoping to capture this imaginary breeze.

As I tried hard to focus on the blades of grass, the realization hit me and I stopped. The greeny haze I saw through the out of focus lens represented in essence what I was craving… and … I was at peace.
Why am I writing about it now?? I feel the same craving today and so I decided to relive this picture, hoping to placate my heart. And I have to say, its worked… I feel much better.

Clicked on monochrome film / March 2006

The present boy friend of the feline beauty that wanders the terrace top (at home). Uncle feeds these strays twice a day and they seem to be having a blissful time. This fellow had a wicked smile (I will post that pic another day) and would not even let me get a few feet from him. I had tried many times previously and failed but not on this occasion. I went prostrate and crawled on my belly holding my 300mm, moving inch by inch slowly until I got close enough. He had his paw around a metal rod that rested on the railing… it used to house an antenna and he appeared as though he was wielding it with intent

Considering my awkward position I tried my best not to get a camera shake and landed a few clicks.

Clicked on monochrome film / February 2006

Life is filled with everyday stuff that are common place, mundane and banal. In pursuit of the new, snazzy, the flashy and sensational we tend to forget the everyday things that are part of our life.

The belongings seen here are not mine but of someone I know. The Parle G biscuits has been a house hold name since I was a kid and these ones here are to feed the stray dogs that eagerly wait for him on his route as he makes his daily stroll. The Phillips radio transistor comes with a yanking handle wired to a built-in dynamo and can be made to play after making a few yanks and is a quintessential part of his everyday life. The torch comes in handy during his monthly visits to his village and also when unscheduled power cuts occur.

Clicked in Nov 2005 / Terrace top at home

I wandered onto the terrace with my camera, a mundane pastime I indulge every now and then. I strolled around envisioning scenes that my mind eagerly churned out, bickering to myself about the fact that dad got the floor of the terrace painted white (so it reflects off light and prolongs the building’s life) and the glare hurt my eyes. In my ponderous walk, tea in one hand and a camera dangling from my neck I stumbled upon this rocket (above) that lay on the floor… the charred edges told me that it had soared into the skies once with a fiery tail sputtering obscenities to those below. I took it in my hand and admired the brilliant colors it wore – red, golden yellow and black… glittering like a jewel.

I had previously loaded my camera with monochrome (b/w) film for another shoot and here I was with this beautiful and colorful remnant of a glorious flight in the skies. So much character oozed out of it or so it seemed… I figured that b/w would do justice to it too. I laid it gently on the ground like you would a martyr and exposed many a frames to try and capture its essence even in death.

I picked up my cup of tea and walked away into another ponderous stroll… this time my eyes fell on a crow that had made itself comfortable on the leaf of my neighbor’s coconut tree. I gulped what remained of the tea and slowly raised my lens trying my best not to spook the crow… I held my breath and released the shutter.

I exited the terrace and went back to my books… tea break was over

Clicked in October 2000 / Honnemaradu (*album)

On a fascinating morning in the month of October (after an overnight bus journey) I stood alone. It was around 0600 hrs, and I was in Talguppa. I had a scrumptious breakfast of idlis and helped myself to the unclean drinking water locally available. I was glad I decided to finally do the trip despite my friends dropping out.

I chatted with the locals, each one more fascinating than the next. I listened to their vivid stories which were not of the wild or the village, but of slick city boys and girls that passed by this place. I sipped on the tea ever so slowly, it was interesting. I took a long deep breath and my lungs were filled with the scent of the smoke that emanated from wood burning nearby. I longed for a hot bath and reminisced about village life and heating water for a bath by burning wood. I used to spend my summer holidays as a kid in a village called Kalgundi, near Arisikere where my uncle was the doc.

There were two possibilities from Talguppa, a 8km one and the other a 12 km one. The villagers suggested that I hire a vehicle.. they were whispering among themselves for I said that I wanted to walk. I saw a smirk smile form on their faces, probably thinking *yeah city boy is gonna walk* .. and I thought I had all the narrow mindedness and ego

The shorter route would require me to cross a canal and the water would be too high due to rains. The trail could be submerged for some distance and I might miss it. Well! That was the opinion of the villagers, and they suggested I take someone along if I headed that way. I tried and could not find any enthusiastic soul. Then I asked about the longer route which seemed easier to traverse alone. So, I boarded a bus to the check post/bus stand (can’t remember) 2 km away and started my hike to Honnemaradu from there (as suggested by the locals). And since I bumped into the bus that took me 2 km on this longer route, it became shorter.. hahaha

The great thing is that after the initial visit, I have been to this place three more times, and done the shorter and the longer routes many times with varied company and also alone.. hehe

It was around 0700 hrs and I figured that it would take me nearly 2 hrs to traverse this non-hilly terrain. With half a bottle of water I took off humming to myself, breathing in the fresh air and marching on wet ground. There was a lot of bamboo along the way.

And now, coming to the story I intended to tell, the mandible etc.

I walked in my well practiced rhythm, a warm glow inside. I was excited to be walking to a place where I would be meeting new people and get to learn water sports. I tried to guess what kind of group I might have to join in with, since I was coming alone. Lost in thought and excitement, I felt interrupted by a sense of darkness (and fear) looming over me. I looked around and saw nothing. Then I looked back and spotted the trouble… it was a bull. Not just any bull, but one with quaint attire.

There was a golden-orange bull with large horns and a garland of green leaves treading on the path behind me. I got spooked. I suddenly became conscious of every breath, my heartbeat, and every step I took. I walked quickly, but not too quickly and I kept looking back to see if I was putting enough distance between myself and the bull. This fearful charade continued for a while and soon I was exhausted.

Armed with only a flash, my desire to enjoy the scenery was now corrupted by a stupid fear. I stopped in my tracks, fuming with frustration at myself. The mind knows how to spook itself when alone. I looked back and thought to myself.. hmm.. well.. its a domesticated bull or at least been around humans. And then came the most simple answer. I cleared my throat, took a few steps towards the advancing bull and shouted HAAEEY HAAEY HAAAEY … and… and.. the poor dude scampered away like a scared child. Hahaha!

Damn! I felt happy and stupid at the same time. I walked on laughing to myself, and as I did my eyes fell on this bony mandible (above), probably of a buffalo and I took this snapshot in memory of the events just experienced.

PS: Go here for recent trip reports on Honnemaradu by Anita, Vaasu & Suman.

Clicked on 28 June 2005 / Garden

I took another walk in the garden trying to look at the same in different ways. And the above pic is one frame I clicked as I lost my thoughts to a wondrous ponder.

Clicked in May 2005

Colors and emotions squish the mind that (with increasing frequency) seems to be hopping about in a world of imagination and the color yellow describes this best!

Clicked in May 2005

On a hot and calm afternoon I hear whining up on the terrace… so I force myself to leave the bed to check on the noise, and what do I find?! The kitten that was moved from the balcony a few days ago by her mom had made it all the way to the terrace. She was sitting there whining, encouraging her mother to meaaaow in sync, just so that I would let them in to cool off from the sweltering heat outdoors. These cats can be really persistent when they want something from you.

I am already feeling guilty that I have gotten this kitten used to human touch and pampered her mom with daily feeds. Domestication itself could be the undoing for this kitten’s survival in the city. I hope I can find someone to adopt her.

Here is the story of her birth:Cat on terrace.. a stray that gets fed twice everyday.. large belly and full nipples indicating pregnancy.. births a litter 2 days ago.. in the back of the roofed and caged balcony.. I trace the whines to a cardboard box.

Attacked by a male at night.. timely intervention prevents damage.. cannot take it in and adopt.. bound and chained by the rules at home.. after more than 30 cats over 13 yrs.. it is hard and so it has been for five.

Left to nature.. I get back.. early morning another male, another fight.. three dead of the four.. one whining.. the cat won’t let me in.. the box now is highly protected.. it is not so familiar with me to allow access and assess damage.. I silently scream.. allows me to take a peek and that is it.. I wait.. I wait.. with patience to attend to wounds and the dead.

Such is the way of nature.. the very cats that came together.. bringing new life.. one protects it.. the other views it as emerging competition.. one feeds it.. the other kills.

[warning: sad ending]

The kitten was killed by a male cat while she was playing in the garden… she was 2 months old. Though I reacted as soon as I heard the scuffle, I was too late. The mom cat was present when it happened and she tried her best defending her baby… … I can’t write any more.

Clicked in April 2005 / Terrace at home

This is the kind of stuff my mind churns out when I don’t get to travel or click like crazy and I become happy… after such clicks

On a boring day (needless to say I was bored) I felt an urge to click emerging from the pent up frustrations and fatigue. So, I went onto my terrace imagining a splendid, spectacular, out of the world sunset or something of that sort, and was met with an already drowned sun, with an uninteresting sky and fading light.

I walked around edgy, armed with my camera, silent screams in my head (and *nothing* happens)

After a while, I get even more bored and start hovering on sleepy, becoming lazy. Then my eyes find a mango tree that is in front of the neighbor’s house and neither the light nor the zoom in my camera were enough to make a capture. So, slowly I shift my view to the street lamp standing tall next to the tree and stare at it for a minute or so *weeping* *begging* for something.

And my mind spits out a thought that becomes a word… blur and this frame happened. I just put the street lamp out of focus, the buildings in the background and the fading light behind and got myself this photograph.

Getting cheap flights can be quite cumbersome, specially if it is for flights to amsterdam or for flights to boston. The las vegas flights on the other hand offer regular economical deals.

Clicked in April 2005

She is such a beautiful girl… I am at a loss for words! Go here to get a glimpse of the tough life she leads as a stray/feral cat.