FULL MOON the Super Moon 3 Dec 2017 Mount Abu..

I saw the super moon from the Abode of the Gods.

The evening sky as seen from. the Abode of the Gods

The day before Full Moon 2 Dec 2017 

I observed the lovely supermoon from the blessed Abode of the Gods while embracing its magnificent beauty. In recent days, the internet has been buzzing with excitement about the full moon, the phenomenon of the super moon—a spectacular occurrence when a new or full moon aligns with its perigee, the closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.

When I go back to my school days, I recall a teacher’s amusing warning about the full moon’s tendency to cause a touch of craziness among us. With a smile, he explained the phenomenon as moonlight penetrating our “upper attic,” coining the phrase “Luna in your upper attic.”

Captivated by the cosmic splendour, I photographed it and shared a glimpse from the fabled Abode of the Gods. January this year promises not one, but two super moons. The first appeared in the sky on January 2, 2017, and the second, called the Blue Moon, will do so on January 31, 2018.

When delving into the folklore surrounding a "blue moon," a phrase frequently used to depict extraordinary events, we discover it denotes the second full moon in a month. As the expression goes, something happens “once in a blue moon,” and experiencing this cosmic rarity on January 31 adds a sense of magic to the experience.

So, before we go, let us take time to admire the moon, marvel at the wonders of the cosmos, and marvel at the absolute beauty of creation.

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  

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.

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 (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

  

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

Great Barbet Psilopogon virens

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

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

  

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

 

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

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