Nine inches to go Mt. Abu

‘Thursday’ I had to go to school to collect the results of the Mid-Term Examination and discuss the performance of my ward with the class teacher. Since there were quite a few parents hovering around the class teacher and going through the boys results I decided to snap the dam from the vantage point offered through the windows of these class rooms. While watching the dam below from class X A I observed a rather lanky brother discussing the pros and cons with some parents and their son about the advantage and disadvantage of using a gel pen to that of a ball pen. When they had left I walked over and introduced myself, and man I tell you it was a walk down memory lane.


I’m quite sure if any of you ex-Marians reading this blog will recall Brother Gale, well he’s now back in school, he was transfer back just recently I’m not sure but I think in June. Brother Gale, well, he reminded me of Brother Lynch ‘Poncho’ while we were in school, this was the first time I met him and I felt abs at home with him. We were like two old cronies who had quite a few things in common. Our discussions conjured up images of life back in our youth of bygone days. We discussed our life styles to those of the present day students and for us old fogies, this generation falls short of our expectations, now don’t get me wrong, it’s not the kids – it’s the modern parent who are to blame as they are so possessive of their dear ones that they would rather let them lead a sedated life to one of fun and frolic.

Shucks, there go I reminiscing about the past whereas I should be concentrating on the future as that is where my destiny lies. Ok mates now back to the topic on hand “Nine inches to go” Yea the dam has now less than 9 inches  to overflow. Have a look at the snaps taken on Thursday from class IXA.

Lower Khodra Dam almost full

Nine inches to go

Fag end of the monsoons Mt.Abu [ 10/09/2010 ]

Monsoons Mount Abu 2010.

The monsoons have not been too bad this year; we are now nearing the fag end of the monsoon season. There is still some bite left as it's only September 10, 2010. Abu monsoons normally end by the end of September, with an occasional shower in the first week of October. According to legend, the lake must overflow this year whenever a life is lost to the lake by drowning, suicide, or the sacrifice of a human being. The lake overflows. Abuites believe that since the lake claimed its victim a few days ago as suicide,  it will now have to puke its belly out as an overflow. I will keep you updated on whether the legend is true. Posting some photographs taken these last few days of scenes of Abu,

Sloth bear opposite Santsaravor a BEAUTY

Standing Pose

Canopy over Plummy

Lower Khodra dam is almost full

St.Mary’s School Mount Abu

The school

Sparrow Hawk

Hypnotizing

Posing

A lovely pair

Wire tunes Misty Morn

Mount Abu gets respite from heavy rains.

Yesterday and today we got to see the sunlight to the delight of the Abuites as houses needed the sunlight to get rid of the murky and mushy smell that inherently takes place during the monsoon season. Fungus and molds is a common feature more so when there is seepage in homes due to the heavy and constant rainfall. I mounted my iron steed and took advantage of the clear day to take some photographs that caught my fancy. Have a look at some after the rains shots.

Crocodile basking in the sun

New sign Beware of the crock

After the rains

The small lake at Alwar Palace

Any one for crab soup?

There are even bigger ones

Gosh the cable sure held.

Keep in touch will keep you updated on the monsoons.

Stamp collecting a revival of bygone collections Mt. Abu

A stamp collector's triumph in Mt. Abu: Rediscovering the Art of Philately.

A hidden jewel of love and commitment has revitalised the age-old art of stamp collecting in the small town of Mt. Abu, where time appears to stand still. On August 28, 2010, I received an offer from a former student, a senior in the community, to see a collection that promised to exceed all expectations.

As I entered Raman’s world as a seasoned philatelist, I couldn’t help but wonder at the treasure trove he had accumulated over the years. What I had rejected as a fad as a youngster was now a vibrant and intriguing activity. Raman’s stamp collection was a spectacular journey through time, culture, and the complex world of postal history.

Raman’s collection of stamps ranged from first-day covers to the interesting Bhutanese gramophone record stamps, a rarity that spoke volumes about his dedication to this one-of-a-kind pastime. Postcards adorned the space, narrating stories from all over the world and creating a captivating tale of human connection through mail.

Raman’s incredible collection of Indian stamps was the true showstopper. Each stamp seemed to tell its own tale, representing India’s rich fabric of history, culture, and variety. Raman's collection presents a pictorial narrative of the nation's journey, featuring the crafted complete stamps and the commemorative stamps that highlight major events. 

The invitation is accessible to individuals who are fascinated and ready to interact with Raman, the mastermind behind this unique assembly. Click “Contact Him” to enter the realm of stamps, where each piece is a minor masterpiece laden with history and personal connection.

I couldn’t help but think about the resurrection of the stamp collecting in our midst as I left Raman’s house that day. In Mt. Abu, a new advocate has emerged for what was previously viewed as a bygone activity. Raman’s collection showed that, even in today’s era, there is still a place for the tactile, ancient, and complicated world of philately.

The Polo Pavilion Mount Abu

Raman's collection of postcard

Picture of Radhi

Rajiv Gandhi

Sai Baba

Bhutan 

Jayadeva and

Guru Grant Sahib

1s day cover

The wandering Crocodile Mt. Abu

The Wandering Crock

This is my temporary domain

Santsarovar water body opp Palace Hotel

The crocodile you see above is probably from the heart of the sanctuary “Trevor’s Tank”. Every monsoon this wandering crocodile make his way to a small water body called ‘Santsarovar’ opposite the Place Hotel. This small water body is adjacent to the ‘Santsarovar’ temple, the priests and the students that live there are at home with this crock as he is a non- interfering creature. When the water level recedes during the summer months this nomadic creature makes its way back to the Trevor’s Tank overnight a distance of about 3 odd km