Wednesday, November 29, 2017

News Flash Mount Abu [ 29 Nov 2017 ]

Suicide in the Abode of Gods

Today I was informed by a colleague that a young woman in my neighbourhood had hung herself in the house. He was on that way to see me and he saw the cops and a crowd of people outside the house. On inquiring, he was told that a woman had committed suicide.

Murder and suicide are uncommon in the Abode of the Gods. So if it occurs once in a way, it makes big news. Tomorrow will fill you in on the details after they printed it in the news till then adios.

Surprised to see Small plane from New Zealand Surveying Mount Abu.

Light Aircraft (planes) Surveying Mount Abu Terrain.

I first observed this aircraft making sorties on 24 Nov 2017. I took a few snaps as I became curious as to its flying pattern. It appeared to be surveying the terrain of the Abode. I thought its probably some rich dude making sorties over our small town to impress the locals of Abu. Once in a way we do get one of these solo flights coming our way.

This incident would have become a hazy memory but for the fact it surprised me to see another tiny aircraft making quite a few sorties three days later, i.e the 27 Nov 2017. This time, on snapping the aircraft, it surprised me to see that this plane was not Indian in origin but had a distinct marking on it that it was a plane from New Zealand. Wow, what was this aircraft doing in our space surveying the terrain for Google Maps? It plagued me with a host of questions, so to find answers, I googled it.

Aircraft from a New Zealand company.

On googling, this is what I found.

The planes with high-tech sensors and photography equipment have been hired by Macfar aerial survey company to seek mineral reserves in the western districts of Rajasthan. The report will be submitted to the Geology Department of the Government of India.

An update

Seem the survey is still in full swing. Yesterday, i.e 10 Dec 2017, the plane was flying pretty low, making sorties over the Mount Abu sanctuary area.

The New Zealand team making sorties

Friday, November 24, 2017

Weather and temperature in Mount Abu.[24/11/201]

It's Gonna Be A Cold Winter in the Abode of the Gods this year.

This year winter set in early, and Abuites felt the chill from the beginning of October. The night temperature has been hovering around 6 to 9 degrees for the last fortnight. This morning at 6:15 am when I checked to see what the temperature was it showed 4 degrees.

Tourists travelling to Abu, remember to bring your warm clothing.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Mount Abu to Nainital

A Trip to Nainital: Running the Gauntlet

When my daughter Jennifer asked me to join her on a trip to Nainital for Junior’s Diwali break, I pondered. He had six days off from school, and bringing him home was out of the question—the journey was too long and exhausting. Though I knew I’d be pushing my limits after the accident, I agreed. I needed this break if only to test my resilience, and see if I could weather the challenges that lay ahead.

Booking our tickets was the first hurdle. We confirmed our outbound journey from Marwar to Kathgodam, but we were wait-listed (8th and 9th) in Second AC for the connecting train from Abu Road to Marwar. I booked them on October 13th, hoping they’d be confirmed by the 30th. As luck would have it, by October 29th, the tickets were still unconfirmed, and my attempt to secure Tadkal tickets failed as the class was fully booked. Just in the nick of time, I snagged three available berths. It was a close call.

We left Abu at 3 a.m. on October 30th to catch the 4:25 a.m. train. As we reached the station, I asked the taxi driver to stop at the far end so I wouldn’t have to climb the overhead bridge to reach platform No. 2. Hobbling my way along; I made it with the help of Jen and the driver. Their support meant the world to me.

Once inside the train compartment, I was stunned. It felt like we had walked into a general coach, not a reserved one. People were sprawled across the floor, some sleeping in makeshift positions, while others slouched in cramped spaces, fast asleep. To my dismay, two young men had taken over our berths. When we woke them, they tiptoed to the end of the already crowded compartment.

Here was the first challenge of the trip: we were allotted a middle and upper berth, and there was no way I could haul myself up. Resigning myself to sit at the edge of an occupied lower berth, I watched as Jen, with remarkable ease, climbed up to the top berth with all our bags. The young men, now displaced, returned, probably looking for a spot to sit. I jokingly told them, “Why don’t you just jump into my grave and make yourselves comfortable?” I could only imagine what they thought of this eccentric old man.

Fortunately, an hour into the journey, some passengers disembarked at a remote station, and I could stretch out on a lower berth. The relief was palpable, and I dozed off until we reached Marwar Junction.

From Marwar to Kathgodam, our journey took a turn for the better. We were booked in First AC, and the comfort made all the difference. At Ajmer Station, my brother Aubrey and his son Brian came to meet us. They didn’t come empty-handed—they brought a lunch packed by Dollar, Aubrey’s wife. The food was, without exaggeration, out of this world. I still marvel at how she puts together such a feast every time!

But enough of my ranting. Now, it’s time to share a glimpse of Nainital through my lens. Despite my unsteady legs, I captured a few of the region’s feathered wonders. Take a moment to appreciate my handiwork—each photo is a testament to the beauty of nature and, perhaps, to my stubborn determination to keep going.

"Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus, perched on the platform of the MArwar Junction."

Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus (Marwar Jn Station)

Eurasian Collared Dove (Taken Marwar Jn station)

Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii (Nainital)

Black-crested tit (Periparus ater melanolophus), also known as the spot-winged tit

Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus

Himalayan Woodpecker Dendrocopos himalayensis

Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos

Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys

Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes auriceps

Gray-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Great Barbet Psilopogon virens

Brown-fronted Woodpecker

Rufous Sibia

White-tailed Nuthatch

Bar-tailed Tree-creeper Certhia himalayana

Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus

Steppe Eagle

Large-billed Crow

Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus

ID Please

Black-throated Tit

Oriental White-eye

Great Barbet

Check out my birding site

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Nature a life of connections Mount Abu.

Nature: A Life of Connections in Mount Abu

“Nature Captured in My Photos,”

Photography redefines the way we view. It all began with a desire to capture the beauty of nature, like the vibrant colours of flowers, the graceful flight of butterflies, and the thriving animals in their natural habitats. What started as a hobby has turned into a journey of discovery, deepening my connection to the surrounding environment.

Have you ever noticed the magic that unfolds every single day? Nature offers us a silent, constant symphony. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the sight of sunlight filtering through trees—it all has the power to stir the soul. And when we take a moment to see and listen, our minds do a joyful double somersault in awe of the beauty we often take for granted.

My photographs aim to capture fleeting moments, like a butterfly on a flower, the intricate detail of a leaf, and the beauty of Mount Abu at sunset. My collection is still amateur, but each photo carries a story, a fragment of nature’s endless wonders.

I invite you to join me on this journey. Let these images serve as a reminder that beauty exists everywhere if we just open our eyes to it. Pause for a moment, inhale, and let the beauty of nature soothe your senses.