A Fuss With The Furs

The discovery of this old blog (2010) turned out to be a discovery of the growth of love for dearest pets which started with some grumbling and eventually maturing into a lifetime affair.

 Part I tells my initial encounters with the "dogs" and Part II tells how "dogs" turned into "fur babies."

                                                          I

Disheveled sofa, reeking ambiance, T-Shirt, shirt, bed sheet, hand towels or anything that has a surface; all smothered with tiny fur……welcome to the home of Dog Lovers!!! Of course, the description will not be the highlight of the Dog Lover’s version. For him talking about dogs will be an ongoing legend of a creature who enters his life and becomes the centerpiece.

In the morning while you wait to share the exciting dream, you had last night or the latest headline of the newspaper over a hot cup of tea or coffee you will find him fiddling with his soft companion’s paws, mouth, nose, and tail. He is utterly oblivious of the people and world around, even sometimes cleaning up the residue with a big winning smile on the face and light in the eyes as he seems to get a chance of the lifetime to be in the service of that divine being.

 Ohh yes! The whole afternoon is one of the problematic periods where he has to make sure amidst busy schedule and calls about the appetite, sleep and other activities of the creature, and it's easy on you as you spend time in your world without furs (fuss?)

Evenings carry some hope that the whole day’s business might have made Him realize the existence of the outer world and people. You look forward to some anecdotes in the turn of which you will relate yours, but all the aspirations meet with their end when you find him preoccupied with the health and the looks of the little being after a day long.

He keeps looking at him just as a great painter will look at his creation, a jeweler to a diamond or doctor to a patient. A bone singling out in its body will make him upset, or he will suddenly exhilarate at the way his hero has fetched one of the members slipper between his teeth or broken a vase with a sudden rush. When you are found jumping, shouting aloud in the anticipation that after the slipper your toes might be the next target, you discover that you have already become the laughing stock. While you are trying to gain composure, in His eyes you can see the full appreciation of the undaunted act of  His champion!

He holds this fur member in his hand like a trophy and everyone who makes a mistake of visiting his home has to pay a big price by listening to his star’s accomplishment with a ball or a rope in the house. Soon the visitor finds oneself continually nodding, raising the eyebrows in surprise and faking the smile to the point that the jaws and the corner of the lips deny stretching further!

 If you dare to ask the divine being to step down from the sofa or prevent it from entering into your room or would like to enjoy every morcel of the food without someone else trying to reach your plate then be ready to be tagged as the most insensitive, rude and inhuman.  The guilt that will then follow will make you question your values throughout the day.

Hey! Please don't mistake me like a Dog hater. In fact, in all these years I have known one: chotu, who is so dear to me, but it's just that while I enjoy hugging him, I am not able to take my eyes off from the cushion fallen on the floor!
                                                                   

                                      The very vibrant and loving Chotu.We miss you!

                                                           II

But now, over the years, beyond all the fuss and with all the lovely furs on my sheet, clothes, bags, mind, and heart:  I have earned a position similar to "him" in the above recount.
 The beloved pets counteracted my critique with an innocent gaze,  nudging paws and a hug without a cause.

I would love to get up with a muzzle on my face and would not care much about the disoriented world in the morning over tea as long as that curled soft body is lying at peace teaching to be in bliss in the present.

Over the years life teaches us all that unconditional love is conducive for health than a cushion set on the sofa.

                                The new found love: "Dazzle". Thanks to our friends Akansha and Yethin for   sharing their love with us!

Wayanad : A journey awaits you

    “Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”- Paulo Coelho.

Best time to visit Wayanad, Kerala is from October to June. In a bid to make most of the December holidays we broke off to the place at the very first opportunity we had. Wayanad: set high on the Western Ghats is a rustic and a verdant district of Kerala. The area is a medley of swaying mountains sheathed in the green canopy, wild trees covering the vast landscape and with plenty of coffee and spice plantations.

                                       On our way....

Nature always defies my imagination, and I love every time it does so for it makes me more humble as it reinstate its magnanimity over our selfish means and ego.

We visited Lakkidi and Thirunelli in our two days road trip. The ghats took us through them with swag and occasionally stood the majestic mountains smiling at my bewilderment at their sight.
below is the snippet of our drive through woods:
                                 

Lakkidi:

It is the rainforest area serving as the gateway of the Wayanad district. It receives good rainfall and hence also termed as “Cherapunji of Kerala.”
Lakkadi was the secret route for local Adivasis of Wayanad. An English engineer learned the shortest path via ghats from a tribal chieftain and later killed him to take the credit for discovering the route.

Distance from Major Cities:
Kozhikode: 100 km. (also the nearest railway station)
Bangalore: approx. 290 km
Mysore: 238 km.
Mangalore: 342 km
Karur: 202 km.
Madurai: 248 km.

Major Attractions:
Lakkidi viewpoint: 5 km. From the famous town Vyathiri.

Pookot Lake: 3.2 km from Lakkidi viewpoint. Ideal for picnic and boating

Thusharagiri waterfalls: 5.8 km from Lakkidi viewpoint. “Thusharagiri” means snow-capped mountains. The snowy waterfall is formed out of the three rivers diverging into a fountain.

Heart Lake: 5 km from Lakkidi viewpoint. The heart-shaped lake attracts visitors and nature lovers. The place has the highest point of the Western Ghats called, ”Chembra Peak.” Visit this peak is organized by the South Wayanad Forest Development Agency.

Our cottage at Upavan Resort, Lakkidi gave us an enchanting view of the Brahmagiri hills and valleys. Moderate weather along with the display of green landscape made our holiday meaningful.
Our courage to keep aside our ego and mobile phones amidst nature would be rewarded with stillness and peace that flows generously off the mother Earth and something we profusely lack.

Thirunelli

After a fruitful day at Lakkidi, the other day we were swagging on the winding roads towards Thirunelli.

Koomankolli Resort: This resort needs a special mention. Located deep in the area the place brings you the feel of old time living  with nothing but nature to sustain on and with. The resort is right at the foothills of Brahmagiri and has retained its rustic charm after the renovation.
Apart from the resort, all that we could see was the tribes inhabiting around.
The tribes are kurchiyar, Paniya, Adiya, and Kuruma to name a few.

                                                    Resort lapped in Brahmagiri.

View from our balcony. The Brahmagiri hills stand grand and majestic like the king of the land overlooking the stretch.

                                                        View from our cottage!

The co-owner of the resort Rajesh and a gentleman Amit familiarised us with the geography of the surrounding.

Nilgiri Biosphere: Rajesh told us that Bandipur-Nagarhole and Wayanad wildlife sanctuary forms a part of Nilgiri biosphere. The Nilgiri subcluster is a part of Western Ghats which has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO IN 2012

Elephant Corridor:  Thirunelli-Kudrakote regions form the elephant corridor. The wild elephants have movement in the area, and it has been under jurisdiction to block it entirely for the animals.

Mock charge: The adorable elephants: the native of the land registers their annoyance of human intrusion with an impetuous rush towards the vehicles passing by their area. They are kind enough not to hurt but determined to remind us of our limits beyond which we should not disturb their establishment.

Nearby Attractions:

Thirunelli Temple:  4 km from Kollam Koli Resort. A 3000-year-old temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of One of the oldest pilgrimage site situated at Karnataka-Kerala border.
Irupu Falls: At a distance of around 10 km lies this frothy fall. The trail towards the fall is like a trek consisting of steep forest walk and few steps. It is a part of Karnataka state.

Nagarhole Tiger Reserve: The kollum Koli resort has a very strategic location. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is at 22km. One can make a visit for a day and come back to go around Thirunelli the other day.

      “Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”- Paulo Coelho.
While returning from the lush green Wayanad, we got to cross Nagarhole Tiger Reserve! It is the place we have been to last month, and the place which increased my appetite for nature. Going by the above quote of Coelho; the visit to forests have happened twice, and I am looking forward to a third one soon as the God’s own Country beckons.

P for pigeons and more...

While people are occupied in cribbing about dust, pollution, and corruption, I prefer to turn my head and look out in the balcony at the pigeon hopping from plants to plants. Yes, pigeon: because, no self-respecting mynah or bulbul will make its way into the tiny space of large apartments which look like uninteresting stacked matchboxes.

Pigeons are unfairly loathed birds considered to be dirty and "rats of the sky."

For me, these avians bobbing their heads with round curious eyes amidst the few greens and blooms that I have welcomed in my balcony help me create an illusion of a natural world right there: a step outside my living room.

There is a mysterious relation I share with the feathery creatures.

The previous home we lived in had many of them joining me for breakfast and lunch daily on time. I would eat watching them pegging in the balcony along or sometimes catching a fight with the other member of the clan or taking advantage of their size in shooing away the scurrying squirrel who looked to eager to join them for lunch.

In my new home too, the domestic birds do visit us, and two of them have found a comfortable space in the balcony where they come to spend their night since last three months. Perhaps they are the same old friends who visited us in the former home. Maybe a butterfly or a bee playing on my periwinkles and Almands's plump buds promising a beautiful bloom had given our address to these pigeons.

I know many people, in fact, most of the people I know see them as troublemakers. Their droppings are a nuisance but then don't we deal with many of such troubles with our kids? Or maybe we human beings aren't inclined to do something for the other creature unless it holds a promise of something useful in future: and pigeons like every other animal have present with them. They don't guarantee to be there in our old age but ensures to make the present interesting with cooing and playfulness in the barren structures.

If ever they bring troubles then it is more because of human follies than their evil intentions. One of my close acquaintances never fails to mention the incident when a pigeon intruded her kitchen and fell into a milk pot! Now, whenever I visit her, she makes sure to shoo me away like these miscreants when she realized that I rather felt sorry for the bird in the milk pot than joining her in cursing them.

As I wanted to learn more about my friends: I discover that pigeons are one of the smartest and intelligent birds around. The invention of landline phones followed by internet and mobiles cannot change the fact that it was these birds who in spite being a non-migratory lot would fly thousands of mile to hand over the message to the desired person at the desired place!

I cannot stop wondering at their understanding of the map and scale of the unending landscape!

These loyal, monogamous avians also can distinguish numbers and the 26 letters!! from one another and so does the human faces! Next time when you feed them you rest assured of trust and friendship of a lifetime.

As  I came back from a short vacation to Nagarhole to finish this ode, We were elated to discover that one of the pigeons who had made a home in our balcony have laid eggs in a planter!

Our journey started along with her, and we were eager to watch squabs hatching out soon!

Well, you can stop reading here if you feel your reading at the moment is over or you have enjoyed enough the pictures and the story.

My story then turns into lesson. Please carry on (may be after a break) to see how it happens!

19 Days Later :
It took me nineteen days (yes !) to come back to this composition as in between we enjoyed a short vacation and I posted a "Travel blog." I was waiting for a week before I post another one.

While I traveled and ate and wrote all this while I waited for the eggs to hatch and see the wonder of nature taking its course. I waited to tell you the story of a family taking place. I was like a child waiting to get his braces removed so that he can be back to friends with a new smile.

And nineteen days later ...one afternoon as I sneakingly checked the very vigilant mother I noticed a tiny piece of fur making some movements beneath her belly. It turned out to be a squab struggling hard to come out of mother's protection who had fluffed her body all the more to guard her kids against me standing nearby : there they were: two squabs squeaking softly.

These common domestic birds impressed me once again with their activities pre and post laying eggs.

On looking closely to the birds' activities I realised there lies a systematic approach to their whole process. The birds reminded of some important  ingredients  necessary to whip up a dish of meaningful life : something we have read a number of times and watch inadvertently when related videos show themselves up while browsing the social media pages.

I would love to mention the lessons once again that pigeons have taught only to remind myself:)

1. Planning : Plan your project first. As the famous saying goes: " if you fail to plan you plan to fail."
Now I can make sense of all the events backward starting from the hatching. Mr. and Mrs. pigeon had selected our place the very day they knew they are expecting the eggs! Their planning began from picking a nook where they both could stay and lay the eggs safely when the time comes. I have mentioned that they spent three months in the balcony before laying eggs; this provided them enough buffer time to gauge any potential danger or disturbance, and hence it turned out to be a well-thought decision which otherwise could have a risk had they chosen the place at the last minute prone to an unknown hazard.
Thus planning saves a lot of energy, time and resources and gives you a piece of mind and the initial confidence to kick-start your work.
Planning prepares you.

2.  Punctuality : Nature is the best teacher when it comes to being timely. Pigeons or any other creature are such children of nature who relentlessly and promptly perform their tasks: be it getting up and sleeping on time, gathering food, making a home, procreating and giving wings to their children.
We noticed these two avians at our place would come to sleep at 5:50 p.m. and leave the site for the day at 5:50 a.m. It is good to be spontaneous, it keeps us natural and creative, but one cannot let creativity takeover productivity and hence to be productive one needs to have a set routine and set apart a required time for each task with some exceptions.
Are you on an important project? Managing home? Running a big or a small scale business? Be punctual in your process and show up every day!
Punctuality Protects Planning

3. Perseverance : The pigeons displayed tenacity in their process. Once they chose their spot for sleeping at our balcony, they still had to find that one nook for eggs and incubation. After they settled in, I noticed for few days one of the birds was sitting on almost every planter, examining the space as she got broody  and I kept shooing her away with the fear of possible damage to plants. The otherwise timid avian displayed a great determination in not scaring away . She settled only after having found her corner.
The couple also persevered over the eggs confronting merciless rains, harsh sun and yes, our curiosity which would make us take her pictures and videos sending her to rage now and then.
Perseverance is the pillar that would hold planning and punctuality

4. Partnership: This means developing a team/ peer group/ community for yourself to share your concerns, seek and provide the support required to bring direction and  success to your project.
Amongst pigeons unique partnership shines through in their co-parenting. Both male and female share responsibility in rearing the chicks . This calls for smooth communication and skills. Both the genders produce milk which they regurgitate to the younger ones.
We are capable of many other tasks other than procreation. In our case, a partnership is not only to have someone to fall back on unless it is a joint venture or to harbor unnecessary expectations: it is to have like-minded people around to talk about your plans and seek feedback from time to time. A fruitful partnership also thrives on open communication and learning and sharing required skills like those of pigeons.

 5. Patience: It should be acquired not only as a virtue but a necessity. The pigeon did not keep checking on the eggs or cribbed about not able to move or fly freely; it just did what it could and endured whatever came on the way. Patience comes about with confidence in once plans and process and understanding that any intervention cannot destroy any hard work. Don't get into the myth of overnight success. Plan-persevere-and have patience!

6. Play : While you are busy to achieve all that you want: be it a new project, managing home, raising kids or follow a hobby: do take some breaks ,and go for some adventure even though all it requires is stepping outside into your balcony and turn your head to look at a pigeon hopping from plant to plant.

Do you know the role of pigeons in world war I and II?
Learn some more startling facts about pigeons in the following links:

www.pigeoncontrolrsourcecenter.com

www.mentalfloss.com 

Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

Bangalore is always hectic no matter what time of the year. If you are looking for a quick escapade, then nature in all its glory awaits you at the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.

Just at a distance of 258 kilometers from Bangalore; it will take you five hours by road to get absorbed in the stillness of the dense forest rearing the abundant wildlife of the land.

Where is it situated?

Nagarhole National Park is situated in the South-Western corner of the Karnataka located in the Kodugo district and Mysore district. It sprawls across the foothills of Western Ghats spreading down the Brahmagiri Hills. Kabini river separates the Nagarhole National Park from Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Meaning of "Nagarhole"

The name comprises of two Kannada words "Nagar" means snake and "Hole" means river. The name aptly represents the winding streams that fork through the forest.

Proximity with other cities
Bangalore: 258 km.
Mysore: 50 km (The nearest Railway station)
Mandya: 127 km.

Other attractions near Nagarhole National park
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: 12-15 km
Iruppu Falls: 23.8 km.
Nissargadhama: 60 km (Boat rides and a walk on the hanging bridge)
Dubare Elephant Camp: 70 km (Elephant grooming, elephant feeding, elephant ride, Coracle ride)
Barapole Coorg: 15 km (River rafting)
Thirunelli Temple: 30 km (Vishnu Temple and trekking)
Harangi Dam: 70 km (Picnic spot with guest house facility)
Bylakuppe (Tibetan Camp): 70 km

We left for the place on 17/11/18 (Saturday) not so early at 6:000 am. and with two breaks in between comfortably reached our resort "Machaan" at 11:50 a.m.

Favorite music in the car, tucking in pillow-soft idlis on the way and watching the colorful wayside display of soft toys and pieces of furniture on the clear roads of Mandya district had already set the tone and mood for the upcoming destination.

In a trip to a National park, the greenery is expected but as serendipity was awaiting us: we found on reaching that we had to cross a stretch of 25 km of the forest before checking into our resort!

The journey through the woods was the high point of the trip. We soon found ourselves driving on the quaint path through a thick and still forest laden with Rosewood, Kadam, Sandalwood, teak, silver oak, and others. I took a particular liking for the silver oak tree which stood straight like the sentinels of the land. The window shields were put down, and the earthy fresh air was penetrating the body rejuvenating every cell with the life which is never to be experienced in the cities.

Signboards about wild animals were placed at a various distance and were raising our hopes from time to time to get a glimpse of the native fauna  in the most natural state. Tiger: the king seemed to be resting deep inside the greens while elephants too might be busy grazing and playing around some water bodies and hence we could not get to see them at the edge.

We did watch the herds of deer throughout the drive grazing and lying around. Deers as contrary to my belief looked very unperplexed at the sight of the vehicles passing through. The big dark eyes gazing at us innocently is registered in my mind and leaves me longing to go back to catch the sight once again. Amongst other animals we spotted were the playful Langoors, Giant Malabar squirrels: scurrying along the trunk of the trees and a herd of Bisons. The bulky Bisons looked quite perturbed with our presence and attempted to run while crossing the road. It was fascinating to see how those tender, small deer stood fearlessly while the large Bisons looked scared.

We crossed the area within one hour as directed by the authorities and stopped at our resort "Machaan." The beautiful resort is situated at a distance of 1km from the primary forest and is surrounded by dense trees with coffee and pepper plantations in between.

Our cottages had an extraordinary view with sprawling silver oak trees and coffee plantations all around. We relaxed and pretended it to be our private garden!!

After lunch we intended to take the safari, but as we enjoyed the scrumptious freshly cooked balanced food at the resort we missed the last safari of 3:00 p.m.  However none of us regretted as we had not yet overcome the experience forest drive, and hence we headed to visit the Irupu waterfalls located at Brahmagiri range at the border of the Wayanad district of Kerala. It was a ten minutes drive.

The view of the place was splendid as we found ourselves standing at the foothills of Brahmagiri! There again was a thick and enchanting forest walk to the cascade. We walked almost 1 and a half km and climbed high steps to reach the cascade. The path was arduous but quite rewarding. The jungle is home to the most venomous snake in the world: King Cobra. Thankfully we were spared!

Next Safari was early at 6 in the morning which again we skipped and instead absorbed the abundant nature right at our doorstep and loosened up ourselves.

I was touched by nature and couldn't sleep. Got up at 4:30 in the morning and sat alone soaking in the smell of damp leaves and, listening to thick splutter of dew on the roof and orchestra of birds as the day broke in. It was for the first time in my life that I heard the call of "cook-do coo" coming from all directions.

The same day, i.e., on 18/11/18 (Sunday) we checked out, finished our breakfast and left for Shringapattam bird sanctuary which lies on the way to Bangalore. There are other beautiful sites at the vicinity of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve about which I have mentioned above.

Being an ardent Nature lover, I left with the promise to come back again!

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary @ Srirangpatna