Saturday, April 21, 2012

A PARADISE WITHIN PARADISE MT.ABU

A Paradise Within Paradise: Mt. Abu

Yesterday, Mt. Abu experienced a stunning transformation with our first passing showers. It felt like the gods had turned on nature’s air conditioning. Clouds draped the sky, a cool breeze swept through the hills, and the weather turned refreshingly chilly by late evening.

Today, the magic continues. The entire atmosphere is heavenly, like a paradise within a paradise. I can only hope that this delightful spell holds for a few more days; it would be a real bonus for us locals, or as we call ourselves, ‘Abuites.’

I couldn't resist the urge to grab my dependable camera and capture the stunning beauty of Mt. Abu in this magical weather. Here are a few snapshots frozen in time. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus

Here is a short video I took on the way home.

Two Rock Snakes sharing mother natures blessings

Rocks Snakes Mating

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Leopards of Bera roam free

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Flash trip to Achalgarh Mount Abu

Birding in Mount Abu

A former friend and school mate dropped into Abu for the weekend, he's a keen photographer and loves trekking. After seeing my snaps of the birds and the photographs of Bera he made a beeline for this Abode so he could persue his love. He did get some lovely snaps of birds.Walter a class mate of his also accompanied us on the trip to Achalgarh. I aslo got some some great snaps have a Deekoo!

Eddie in action

Wild Ducks

In flight

These ducks will be taking off shortly

Black winged stilt

On the way

Is that really me

Black shouldered Kite

Buzzard

Taking off

In flight

White wagtail

Awesome look

Indian Roller

Crested bunting female

Anyone for reflreshing masala radishes be warned they are Rs5/- each

Nakki Swan

Friday, February 24, 2012

The Plastic Graveyard of Mount Abu

Uncovering Mount Abu’s Plastic Graveyard Accounts

Sealing the gateway to the official Abu Dump

The trip towards Gurushikar and Achalgarh has witnessed Mount Abu’s official dumping place for an eternity, giving it the frightening moniker of the Plastic Graveyard. Despite the hopeful expectation that dumping would stop after Udaipur's “Durga Impex” dumping business took over the rubbish collection contract, reality proved otherwise. Udaipur’s projected rubbish incinerator never happened, leaving this attractive region saddled with piling waste. Travelling through this once-disgusting stretch during the rainy season became a terrible experience for visitors en route to Gurushikar. Today, there is a silver lining: dumping at this location is prohibited. To emphasize this milestone, authorities have sealed off the gateway with a forbidding wall.

While this should be cause for celebration, the narrative takes a turn as garbage trucks, now barred from their customary dumping areas, have chosen alternate locations on the outskirts of town and even on privately owned properties. The fight against the plastic epidemic persists, and while Mount Abu’s Plastic Graveyard may have concluded one chapter, the narrative of waste management continues to unfold in surprising places.

Plastic Graveyard of Mount Abu

Plastic graveyard of Mount Abu another angle

On the 16th of February 2012, when I hiked towards Wordsworth's farm after my Bera trip, I was drawn in by the abundance of Jungle crows and a lone eagle sitting on the Hill, keeping a vigilant eye over the trash. Curiosity got the best of me when I saw this scenario and reached for my trusted camera. I set out along a bush track, ultimately finding myself behind the dump.

There, I came to a terrible sight: the horse I had previously described in my blog had been discarded only a day or two before. Fortunately, the area's wildlife, which included hyenas, jackals, and a leopard, had not yet spotted the carcass. This unanticipated encounter illustrated the vivid cycle of life and death in the wilderness.