Party Mount Abu

Hi all you Abuites an update on Abu. Last night Leo threw a Christening party for his grandson 'Wyatt'. It was a lovely lively party with the usual Anglo-banter and some dancing. I managed to get this video at the fag end of the party.
Kittu is in his elements, Cliffy is at the guitar and Andrea the backup singer!!!

Birds of Mount Abu

It’s my endeavor to capture as many bird species that exist today in Mt.Abu. Over the years I have observed quite a few species that once thrived in Abu are now no more, for example the Egyptian eagle, the vulture and the black and white bird of paradise have virtually disappeared from this place. I have been taking photographs over the years of birds and other species. Hope you enjoy my amateur photography as much as I enjoyed taking them

Birds of Abu:click on the link:

Birds of Mount Abu 

Look at Mount Abu through my eyes

Over the years I have taken photographs of my home town Mount Abu. It is a paradise in reality and not like the mystical "Shangri-La". Welcome to the Amaturers corner of photography.

My eyes are my camera Appreciate Mount Abu

Even the Gods can’t get rid of these, “Congress grass and the Lantana tree”. Abu

Even the Gods can’t get rid of these

[“Congress grass and the Lantana tree”]

This year I missed the drive taken on by the local public and the school students to rid the Congress grass and Lantana overgrowing the sides of the road. I’m not sure whether the Lantana is an exotic plant or not but one thing I’m sure of is this plant has proved to be more of a menace that an asset to the ecosystem. I believe they introduced it for the benefit of the wildlife here in Abu. From what I have observed, they have upset the balance and usurped the space and nutrition that most useful plants need. The karvanda plant that is native to the hills of Abu, are now threatened with extinction. The Lantana is like the South American Piranha; it gobbles up whatever comes in its way. I truly believe this is the worst weed ever to be introduced to this land of the gods. In the summer months when this weed dries, it poses a huge threat to the spreading of forest fires.
Congress grass- how it found its way up the hill is any ones guess. Anyone knows how it got its name Congress grass? Surely the Congress did not import it to India, hence the name. This weed has been a pain in the neck for Abuites as it affects those suffering from asthma. I Believe it also has other allergic reactions on the human population and those on the animals which try to consume it.
These weeds are causing hazardous conditions for the native plants and are spreading like wildfire playing havoc with the terrain. Mount Abu is doomed to live with this menace, not a very sobering thought.
 

Lantanas over-running every available space

Congress grass spreading like wild fire.



Lower Khodra Dam Overflowing Mt.Abu

Lower Khodra Dam Mount Abu Overflowing

To the rest of the world the weather might look bleak, boring, dismal, dreary and gloomy but to an amateur photographer like myself, I make the best of a bad situation. The misty, damp and dreary surroundings don’t deter me from making a dash into it headlong, in fact, I enjoy the moisture whipping through my beard and scant hair. The drive down to school was really cool, on reaching Paddy’s bridge I saw two jeeps parked plum in the centre and the owners scrubbing them down from the water that was overflowing the bridge. I could not see the dam from the road as the mist was very heavy and that meant I would have to trudge all the way up to the dam to get some close-up shots. The trudge did my flagging spirit a world of good as it reflected how out of shape I have let myself get into. On reaching the overflow juncture I literally had to lean over and take the shots as the mist was heavy. I’m sure you would like to see the snaps so feast your eyes.

Washing jeeps on Paddy’s Bridge

Sill very foggy

Dam overflowing and fish trying to get back

Overflowing

A large group of spectators landed up to see the overflow

Dam water gushing towards Paddy’s Bridge

The mist cleared slightly just as I was about to leave

There were quite a few wagtails having a feast at the base of the dam

From here I headed for the lake, the lake is full, only 18 inches to go, here are a few snaps of the lake.

Nakki Lake 18 inches to go

The placid lake

Back to boating

“The Auction for the boating on the lake will be held on the 27th of this month anyone interested”?

Croak, croak anything but a toad