Cutting across Cauvery

April 3rd was the Mannargudi Garuda sevai, and I happen to join the rest of the family for the occasion only a day before. I traveled by road from Chennai to Mannargudi via Kumbakonam. The journey was comfortable and I indeed enjoyed the rural India as we cruised through rich green fields.
As we crossed Vadalore and proceeded towards south, we were a bit skeptical about the Anakarai bridge before Kumbakonam, that was under renovation. The bridge was being serviced, and traffic for the heavy vehicles been closed. But the cars were allowed by a small service lane in the bridge. As we reached the spot, we found even that was closed for traffic. As I sat wondering how to retrace the path , we were told, we can still proceed, by the mud road across the dried river. I was speech less for a moment. By then our driver have already started descending the slope to enter the mud road. Oh boy!!..what a scene it was. We literally drove through the belly of the mammoth river. I imagined it with full water, and absolutely cant visualize where we would be then. The summer is yet to start and the river was almost a bed of dried sand, but for a small pocket of fresh water here and there. I had a feeling of walking over a sleeping giant!!!.It was a thrill for me, crossing the 1km distance across the river.

He was anything between 17 to 22 . A rag picker or a beggar, I couldnt make out from his clothes as the light was very low. It was a Saturday night around 9pm. After dinner I was annoyed by a loud thumping noise from across the street and found this lad was the one who was making it. He was trying to break a wooden frame out of a tin sheet, which was looking quite sturdy, of size not less than 3ft by 6ft. It must have been some piece left by the canal digging people. I was intrigued how he manage to break the wood without any proper tool. So I started watching the process. He was having a big stone with which he was banging the frame at some precise point (now you understand the amount of noise that was made, tin and stone!!) to loosen it from the sheet. He was almost done, when a guy passing by in a Bike stopped and enquired what he was up to. The boy mumbled something and the next thing I saw was the Bike guy hitting the boy right and left, kicking him violently calling bad words and tried to chase him off. The boy taken by surprise submitted initially, but raised his hand against the hitter, and tried to defend himself. The people from adjacent apartment intervened and made the bike guy to leave the lad.
Now I was wondering who was the bike guy, and who gave him authority to hit a fellow human like that. The sheet was only a junk, and other than the noise he was making, the lad I think was committing no offense. May be he wanted it to fix it in his hut, or may be he wanted it to be a shelter for his platform corner where he was staying..could be anything. Eventually he broke off the frame and carried away the sheet on his back. The whole episode lasted only for a few minutes, but it did leave an impact, which I couldnt explain. Why did he get assaulted?? It looks a bit ridiculous/make no meaning, terms like human rights et al..Worst of all, I have no idea how to react in such a situation!!!..I was yet another silent spectator, like quite a few people watching like me from their safe and sheltered homes...

It is exactly 60 days since BIL passed away. The grief and pain of the loss is still very raw and fresh. I have no idea how long will it take to get used to his absence. I havent yet come in to terms with my Dads absence even after 8 years. My heart really bleeds for my SIL. I have so many questions but wonder if they have any answer at all. Certain things are beyond our hands no doubt, but why and what for is very intriguing. One thing is proved beyond doubt. That each day we live is precious and we must live it fully. Not just live but cherish every moment by doing things that make us happy. We dunno how much time is left for us.
RIP KK.

September Blog Carnival: Say it with flowers na

Anything conveyed with a bunch of flower becomes very special. It is a great idea to have a celebration with many flowers, contributed by various friends. I do have a habit of clicking flowers whenever I get a chance. Most of my flower shots are from my backyard ..I enjoy my models who willingly pose with a perpetual smile, for you needn't have to prompt a flower to say 'cheese'!!!..and they really make my day. Another hot September Wednesday here in Chennai. Had a long drive after brekky to a suburban temple. Sending this gorgeous 'Vrukshi' for the September blog carnival: "Say it with flowers".

Pleasure of living in the city called "Singara chennai"

Well the picture says it all. No no it is not any mining site, it is our own street that is dug out for the construction of storm drain, in order to cope with the oncoming season. That is not a bad idea. But why no such system so far & what were we doing all these begone seasons are rhetorical questions. Coming to the point, the residents are almost under house arrest kinda, for, on one half of the road is the deep trench and the other half is filled with the dug soil that is precariously gathered. Tho there is a sign 'road closed', at the entrance of the road, our great citizens plough thru the gap, splashing mud and dirt, and get stuck in the middle. Movement of four wheeler is totally impossible. Walking in the narrow strip of path is highly dangerous, for if you happen to trip, straight you will fall in the trench. Still our brave hearted ppl do commute up and down.
It is really painful to realize how the common man is taken for granted.This has been going on for several weeks and the officials are in no hurry still!!!!. The major problem is the mass of earth that is accumulated after digging. I have no clue why it should not be removed immediately. This project is done by the sub contract ppl, and the Chennai corporation deals with the mud and soil stuffs. So unless they remove it no further work done. Wow..what a vicious circle..in the mean time the loser is the silly residents of the street.

Ceder ridge preserve, Dallas

Last sunday (25th April) after lunch we planned an outing, somewhere near by ..and Ceder ridge came in handy. The google described it to be a sorta hillock of abt 780 ft high, and it was suppose to be a kinda natural preserve, of some wild flowers birds and native vegetation. The drive was very pleasant, thru the typical vast open lands of Texas, which is green at present. Another interesting point I noticed was the number of churches. There was a church for every half a mile.Tall compound walls hid spacious houses with large garden and garages.
The preserve was not anything the way it was described, but still had a lot to offer. The prairies were preserved with Lavender lacing, and daisies smiling in between. It was indeed great walking thru the fields. Only disappointment was, the butterfly park, where hardly any butterfly fluttered by...:(...
The uphill trail was not very steep, a gradual ascend thru thick woods. The trees and plants are of native vegetation. The feel of crisp clean air was very refreshing. The smell of raw vegetation filled the nostrils and it was a nice experience. We did spot some colorful birds, but couldnt click any for they were very swift and disappeared in the tall trees.On the whole, it was a good break from the tight weekly schedules.

April 4th..well I boarded the flight to Boston, against so many odds..at last!!..It was a BA flight for a change via London. Tho the seating was the same, uncomfortable with no leg room and an odd head rest which is exclusively designed to give one a neck sprain..the food served was palatable. But nothing was served in between the 10 and 1/2 hr flight. And the passengers literally starved and at the verge of dehydration for even water, leave alone any drinks, was not served. The reason, I came to know later, for the lack of hospitality, is that the crew was on strike and just returned for duty. What a way to travel!!. A sweet bun, Upma and a small Dosa was served for breakfast, for the flight took off early morning.Then 9 hrs later just before landing a very mini lunch was served.
I generally use the toilets in the flight very sparingly. I was pained by the way it was used/misused by our fellow country (Wo)men!!..The lady who used the loo just before me didnt bother to flush the toilet, and walked away coolly w/o any embarrassment.. I can understand why our ppl are looked down upon.The flight was 70% filled with Indians. Many aged couple, with small kids, may be grand kids traveled. I have nothing against children and their pranks, but while traveling long distance I dont dig their company, especially if they are cry babies!! And the toddlers sitting behind my seat had special strength in kicking the seat!!. I politely made a mention but in vain. The mother hardly responded. Such is the behaviour. They leave the virtue called courtesy back at home I guess, or perhaps they dont possess one.
The waiting at the Heathrow was long and the transit from terminal to terminal was a real pain. We were taken by a bus to terminal 5 for onward journey, and immigration chk was done there.
It was not a big deal, but then when the gates were announced, one more transport, by the tube was made, and then, again, a bus to a nowhere, where the flight was boarded by steep steps. I really dont understand why such things happen only to flights with more Indian passengers!!