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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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Birds from my window - Oriental Magpie Robin

It has been a while since I posted photos of birds, so here is one I see the most these days - the Oriental Magpie Robin.




There are three of these birds in our garden, and I see them frequently flying around, and can hear their distinctive, melodious call even before I see them! Capturing them on camera, however, has been another matter entirely, and I managed these only because the birds were nice enough to sit on the window ledge near my house, and also pose for a while on the tree right opposite my window!



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  1. Shalu SharmaMarch 6, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    Nice little birds. Nice photos, well taken..

    ReplyDelete
  2. MridulaMarch 6, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    Such womderful captures, extra special as they are birds and that means a lot of patience :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 6, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      Thanks Mridula! for such reasonably big birds, they are hard to capture! am unsuccessfully trying now for the purple sunbird. its flitting around, but cant get an image!

      Delete
  3. Julia DuttaMarch 6, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    My God! I can't believe it! In Mumbai? What lovely luck, Anu :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 6, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      We are lucky to live in an area which is covered with greenery, Julia! tho it comes with its share of problems! and this one is a regular visitor...

      Delete
  4. IndraniMarch 6, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    Lucky you to get visitors like them. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 7, 2013 at 8:31 AM

      Yes, Indrani! we are indeed lucky to see such beauties!

      Delete
  5. MadhukarMarch 6, 2013 at 11:16 PM

    Beautiful bird.. I think ot is cached in Dandeli Jungle.
    Thank you for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 7, 2013 at 8:32 AM

      Thank you, Madhukar... this is quite a common bird, seen everywhere in India.

      Delete
  6. NeerajMarch 9, 2013 at 6:56 AM

    Nice... I miss the sounds of birds chirping (even crow)! You must be hearing that all the time, no?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 9, 2013 at 9:19 AM

      oh yes, Neeraj! birds chirp here all the time , as for crows, they are here all day long!

      Delete
  7. D.NambiarMarch 16, 2013 at 6:35 AM

    So pretty!!

    ReplyDelete

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