A Wandering Mind

The twin spires of the church towering over the trees and the houses grab my attention, and my auto driver tells me it is the St. Philomena’s Church. “You have been in Mysore for a week and haven’t seen it yet?” he exclaims, and proceeds to rectify my grave error in not paying a visit to this landmark of Mysore.

“Cranes” whispered Samhith, his voice filled with awe! “They are not cranes. They are Open Billed Storks ” replied our boatman-cum-guide. “When we go closer, you can see how their bills have a slight gap and seem to be open. That’s where they get their name from” he elaborated. Open Billed Stork (Asian Openbill)

The winding road led us deeper into the forest, and the pouring rain ensured that miles passed before we saw a living soul. It was clear that we were lost. A tiny hamlet was a sight for sore eyes, and its amused residents informed us that we were indeed lost. We had taken the wrong turn , and had no choice but to go back. We drove slower this time, intent on finding our way, and thankfully, we did. As we stepped out of the vehicle and walked down a narrow path, navigating the pools of water left by the heavy rain, I wondered if the temple I had come all this way to visit was worth the long drive, and especially, the detour. A slight curve brought the temple into view – the wet, black stone in stark contrast to the lush green mountains of the Western Ghats, and I knew that it was indeed worth it all!

The double decker buses of Mumbai have a long and glorious history. They were first tried out in 1937 to cope with the rising number of passengers, and they were soon a success. How could they not? They not only accommodated more people, but the thrill of riding on the upper deck, seeing the city from a different angle would have been a big incentive too! More than 75 years down the line, double decker buses are on their way out, thanks to the increased traffic on the roads and the fewer number of people using the buses. However, the charm of travelling by these buses remains the same. They still give you a different perspective of the city, especially when the bus is a roofless one!

For a long time, I thought she was Queen Victoria, and I often wondered why she had a torch in her hand. The only other lady I knew who held a torch was the Lady of Liberty, and her standing here didn’t make sense either. After all, this was Victoria Terminus. It should be Queen Victoria standing up there, right?

Having your work table by the window can be distracting.... especially when you have winged visitors clamoring for attention right outside! Of course, I don't mind, and actually, welcome the distraction, at times...like yesterday, when these rare visitors dropped by, and brightened up my day!

It's been a while since I have posted here, for various reasons, and what better way to break this silence than this beautiful scene from our trip to Shirdi last week?