Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with
The rains are here, but it still doesn't seem the same. It rains, but in a desultory way, as if it's heart isn't in it. More of concern is the fact that there has been very little rain in the catchment areas, which means that we are looking at a major water problem. It has already been announced that the water cut is being taken further, so we shall get water just once in two days from now on!
On a personal note, Samhith is upset that the snails haven't appeared yet. We spend our few minutes waiting for his bus looking for snails and earthworms, but haven't seen one yet.
Meanwhile, as we wait for the snails and the creatures of the rain, here are the birds and other members of our extended family whom we have been noticing from our window -
Red-Vented bulbuls - there are plenty of them around, and they regularly come to eat the food we put out for the crows (a tradition which symbolises providing food for our ancestors). But I have never been able to take a photograph. I am trying for a better shot, though, and shall put it up when I manage it!
I wonder if this one is a water-hen or some other bird???
The poor Kingfisher is looking for food.... wonder if it found any....
A lone insect struggles to hold on to the swaying branch..
We have been noticing these birds for years.... but never managed to get a pic.... they are too fast for my clumsy shutter.... but perseverance finally paid off... and here are two of my pics.... the better ones... I took quite a few, but these were the best....
this one is the female....
and here is the male....
I think those are purple rumped sunbirds, but am not sure. Can someone confirm this??
And finally, here is a pic of a group of guys making the most of the rain... and the slush too..... football!!!!
I clicked a Bulbul to recently! And there is some rain here too now. Thanks for sending it across. :D
ReplyDeleteClicking birds is a very tricky affair. You have got some good shots.
ReplyDeleteI was told the last two are Asian Warblers by a birding guide at Panghot in Uttarakhand. He was working with a description, not a photograph or sighting. So, I am not sure but they are definitely not hummingbirds. Did I tell you about watching one suck nectar from a flower of one of my potted plants?
ReplyDeleteno usha, they arent warblers.... those look similar... come home sometime,and lets look at the book together... yes, and they do suck nectar...
ReplyDeleteA wonderful set of photographs!
ReplyDeleteSlow and Beautiful — Snail
Hi Anu,
ReplyDeleteThe last two are Purple-rumped Sunbirds. The first is the female and the second the male.
You seem to have a very interesting garden with lots of photo ops.
Apana