When the light is right, dancing in Abu by moon light, makes one Light

Coming home on the 19^th of this month, I witnessed groups of tourists making merry on the streets of Abu. I wondered what the occasion was all about; on approaching the group they told me it was poonam and a day for celebration. Now poonam means the full moon, so I smiled and went on my way, and while driving home I recalled quite a few folklores associated with the rising Full moon.The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Poonam in this land of umpteen gods is a big occasion, each Full moon has some auspicious occasion associated with it .Even in the western world it is normally associated with the Werewolf   and Vampires, to us simple folks it a lovely bright night, a night for mooching and necking and gazing at the wonder of nature. I recall vividly the wise word of my mentor while in school when he would give us a lecture. “Boys do you know what a lunatic means”? He would continue to proceed and explain to us that it was Luna in the upper attic. The upper attic was apparently the human brain and Luna, light in the upper attic. This is what drove humans to becoming lunatics.( Luna in one’s upper attic)

I guess the effect of Luna  from the moon does have an effect on my upper attic as come every full moon night I’m out merrymaking or on some occasions clicking merrily away at the  appearance of this lovely celestial body that  presents itself in its full glory once a month . Here are a few snap shot of the moon and some others taken in this period

 What am I? The full moon on the 19th Jan2011.

 A grand effect

 A hole in the sky

 A near perfect shot 

 Any one for a drink

 Geese in Abu

What's that smell?

Greetings From The Abode "Happy Republic Day"

My country India today celebrates its Republic Day

I wish all my country citizens "A Happy Republic Day"

My observation and skepticism on my romp down Highway 59

Industrialization, or should I just call it the final axe that will lop off the medusas head of modern society. Today as we sped down the highway 59 in Gujarat the road going to Balasinor Palace in Kheda, I was appalled at the rape of huge Banyan and other trees along the highway. The roads are being widened and hence these trees 1000 and 1000 of them are being chopped, to find their way to the saw mills and other timber outlets for either fire wood or paper mash. What a crying shame to see such beloved tree like the old Banyan more than 100 years old being felled indiscriminately for the progress of Industrialization.

Lakhs of trees all along India’s highways have fallen to the saw, now these trees tell me  will they impact mother earth .I want go into statistics, that’s for our developers of our nation to take into consideration.   My Q to the people on the whole is what is being done to replace the loss of these precious tree? The companies that are broadening these roads are they in any way concerned about the damage they are doing to the environment. Are they planting the minimum of two trees for every one they fell to make up for the loss? I really wonder. Will the cutting of tree affect Global warming? Sure they retort, to a small extent, Nature can balance itself. Finally enough of ranting on this subject, but one last Q, do we need this kind of development that is pushing the world so much more closer to the edge of the world from where there is abs no return?

The Banyan Tree -By Tagore

Have a look at some pictures I took while whiling away my time on the day before I left for my abode.

 Blue Bull on the way to Thol

 Hamid and kids

Harkat (Full of mischief )

What a Darling

Nalini Balasinor Palace 

Vaqar 

Bhatyar Gali on the look out for a snatched meal

Rosy Starling

Relaxing 

Common sight in the city 

Searching

Wire-tailed Swallow 

Awe-inspiring Bird Sanctuary “THOL LAKE” Gujarat.

Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary Gujarat

The Thol Bird Sanctuary declared officially in 1988, is a shallow freshwater body encircled by marshes and sparse thorny shrubs and trees. The Sanctuary being compact with an area of less than 10 square kilometres is an ideal place to visit as one gets to see a visual treat of over 100 odd bird species, a memorable experience for the birders. One gets overawed by the different flocks of birds descending and taking off from this shallow water body.

I spent about three hours hoofing it around various parts of the lake to get as close to the birds as possible to get some decent snaps, being a Saturday this place was visited by quite a few rowdy teenagers who had come there to picnic. I believe this place is used by a large majority of the local populace as an outing avenue or for a weekend picnic. I saw very few birders on my visit there that day. Hope to go there soon to spend some more time with the enthralling and enchanting wild birds. Here are some of the photographs I took that day, Happy viewing.

 Awe-inspiring scene

 Breathtaking  

 Geese 

 Ducks 

Mixed Bag 

 Asian Open Bill

 Black Drongo 

 Black Ibis

 Black Ibis

 

Black Kite 

 Black Kite

 Black Kite

Black tailed godwit

Black tailed godwit 

Black-headed Ibis

Black-headed Ibis

Comb Duck

Common Coot

Cormorants

Eurasian Spoonbill

Gadwall

Gadwall

Grey Heron 

Grey Heron

Great Egret

Green Bee-eater

Indian  Roller

Painted Stork

Pond Heron  

Spot-billed Duck

Stonechat 

 Common Babbler

 Common Babbler

 Little Grebe

 Relaxing 

Wire-tailed Swallow