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Kashi 3.0

Memory is unpredictable . One never really knows what we will remember and what we will forget. Which is why nostalgia arrives in unpredictable waves, highlighting something and skimming over others. Recently, I have found myself thinking of how memory works, as I was assailed by nostalgia over a trip to Varanasi, a city I prefer to think of, as Kashi. The nostalgia hit right as we landed at Varanasi airport. The last time I was here, it was 1988, I was 13 years old, the airport was brand new… regular flights hadn’t started yet (I think) … flights landed about once a week, and for the rest of the time, everything was open to those of us who lived in the airport quarters nearby. There were fields everywhere, vast expanses of green… I have vague memories of corn and sugarcane… and being overwhelmed by the vastness of the fields (this was the first time I was in such close proximity to them), and the warm hospitality of complete strangers who lived and worked amidst these fields. I h...
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Indian Roller

The Indian Roller is a bird which is quite common all over India, especially Southern India. It is the State bird of Karnataka, and we saw it quite often on our visit to Hampi, Aihole, and Badami.





However, I never managed to get a decent photograph. On my recent trip to interior Maharashtra, we were surprised to see the Indian Roller all over the place. So often, in fact, that Samhith now prides himself on being able to identify it from a distance!!!



We spent much of our time in the bus looking out for birds, even though we couldnt always identify them... and every time we saw a Roller, it was nice to see Samhith excitedly pointing it out. I wonder what the other passengers thought of us!!!



I did manage to photograph the bird finally, when we were travelling by auto. And each time, the auto driver appeared surprised that I was stopping to take photos of birds!!!! The last one said, "Mumbai might be a big city and life there might be wonderful, but I guess you don't see birds there, do you?" How right he is! 


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Comments

  1. MridulaNovember 24, 2012 at 1:38 PM

    A perceptive auto driver and lovely pictures of the bird!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 24, 2012 at 8:08 PM

      Thanks Mridula! and such perceptive chaps are really rare

      Delete
  2. Rebecca SawNovember 24, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    Hi hi! I have sent you an email Hope you received it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. DietmutNovember 24, 2012 at 9:56 PM

    Indias roller, this is a very nice bird. A beautiful day for you. Greetings Dietmut

    ReplyDelete
  4. Airport Limo ServiceNovember 25, 2012 at 7:10 PM

    It's rare to find at our place. Nice to see the pic of this beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing. ~ Tariq Mehmood

    ReplyDelete
  5. R Niranjan DasNovember 26, 2012 at 3:04 PM

    Lovely clicks!!

    http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
  6. SanandNovember 27, 2012 at 6:57 PM

    Superb clicks and useful info.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bindhu UnnyDecember 4, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    Nice shots! Didn't know it's the state bird of Karnataka. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Manu PonnappaDecember 4, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    Nice photos.. Thanks for sharing..:)

    manuponnappa.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
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