The breathtaking beauty of Vedanthangal lake bird sanctuary.

A lake bird sanctuary, that has a breathtaking landscape of trees and hundreds of birds taking off from the trees, was a sight to behold. It is a huge lake with thousands of mangrove trees, some of them heavily laden with birds looking as if they were beautiful blossoms of that tree. On the other side of the pathway to walk around is a vast area of green fields and trees....that had a pathway that made me feel, Lo, here is a pathway to paradise. The walking space of the lake had on one side the trees full of birds and the other side a sight that soothed my eyes and soul.

Vedanthangal in the Tamil language means 'hamlet of the hunter'. It is a lake with mangrove trees and a place of great scenic beauty. There are two watch towers from where you get to see the birds and the panoramic view is very scenic from there. It is an amazing fact that it was given the status of a bird sanctuary due to a petition of local villagers who were aghast at seeing British soldiers shooting the birds, way back in 1796! I salute those early champions of environmental protection and their effort that it is today a flourishing lake bird sanctuary where migratory birds come during the winters. It also happens to be one of the most concentrated bird sanctuaries.

I was surprised to see so many birds at the same place, The sanctuary is a huge shallow lake with trees and mangroves dotting the landscape and a small pathway that runs along it for the visitors to see the birds.I couldn’t tell what varieties they were, but I was sure they were from many different species. There are watch towers and special platforms giving a great view of the breathtaking landscape of trees with hundreds of birds on each one of them.

Geetha Paniker

A morning walk over the edge.

An early morning walk at the edge of the beach where the waves playfully kissed the toes and the white sands tickled my  feet was a beautiful experience. The sea was grayish blue reflecting the patches of grey clouds and the blue sky. It looked as if the sky had been painted with  thick clouds that lightly danced to welcome the rising sun. I felt the seaside wet sand sticking to my feet and the water touching me tenderly, the white fluffs of the froth on top overlapping the waves as they reflected the sun's hues.

The sun slowly rose over the horizon, as the first orange hues of the sun-kissed the waves.Ebbing ever so gently, the sea looked  tranquil. The beach was so soft, it felt like I was walking on a blanket of candy floss. The shimmering sand swept around on the beach. Far out to sea, streams of pulsing light saturated the surface with a golden haze. The sun came out through the clouds, the waves looked liked liquid gold.  I gazed in awe at the breathtaking view.

Walking along the edge with bare feet is so rejuvenating and energizing. Inhaling the fresh air, the aroma of sea lingered in my nose. Suddenly, a flock of birds chirped their pleasant song, as to signal the new day. In the distance, the sun rose high over the horizon, giving off an angelic glow to the drifting clouds above. The sky shone a radiant bright orange and yellow, indicating a beautiful sunrise.

It relaxed my mind, removing all the clutter, filling my heart with joy and it healed my soul. What could have been more relaxing than a walk in the water, barefoot?  It was a treat to my senses.

Reflections of a heart.

On a drive by road, I noticed a lonesome tree, atop a hill, that just made me gaze at it, till it was out of my sight. A tree is a reminder of what you were once, slowly fading away to oblivion in the tsunamis of life. A thing that is of great beauty and a symbol of courageous strength. It is my sanctuary both physically and psychologically. I admire and adore the very existence of a tree, that may have many untold stories to tell.

A tree gives a rare insight into life. It stays rooted deep down and always grounded, but the tree also lets go of everything gracefully, knowing life has to go on with or without them. They live and breathe, but knows the transitional pain of changes and still dances with an inner rhythm of change without holding on to that which has to leave you. In my inner turmoils, I look up to a tree for inspiration, though it is difficult to emotionally imbibe those qualities.

On my morning walks,  I observe the trees that look barren without its leaves, but it is still a shelter to those that need a resting place. As the seasons change I see the green shoots on the branches, I derive a joy knowing that life has sprouted in them. It's patience to persevere and the strength to withstand,  regenerate and adapt to the changes, still standing with its head high with pride of having tide over everything is a great accomplishment. It goes into a dormant stage but rejuvenates and unfurls itself.

Many a time, I have wished I could be like a tree, free to grow and be unique by itself, learning to let go and rooted.

A tribute.

A tribute to Sree ONV Kurup by Arun M Sivakrishna.

http://youtu.be/zLr4DlDBcqs

Stargazing

Have you ever gazed at a starlit sky with all the twinkling stars,  a brightly lit crescent moon and felt the expanse of the universe? You feel all the space around you and above you to be never ending, filling you with wonder,  amazement and even a child-like curiosity. If you sit and stargaze, it really makes you curious. Have you ever thought of the fact that most of you never care to take a second look at the sky? When is it that you have been curious enough to gaze and wonder from where the stars came from? The sky is a beautiful place to look up for possibilities and perspectives. They say stargazing is an art. When is it that you last gazed at the sky?

For me it is a place I look up for inspiration to take my blues away....a place that never fails to soothe me and give all answers for all the questions of my rebelling mind. It is the silence of the skies and the silence within you that takes you to a world of your own.....to listen to the whispers of your own soul. I look out for a lot of things in the night sky that the departing sun ushers in dropping the curtain of twilight. Then slowly darkness sets in and the twinkling stars start winking with a naughty smile.

On certain nights, when the darkness sets in, the sky will be like a bare field bereft of anything in it....then I search with a yearning for a star knowing I may not see any..... but then I find one shining brightly, winking at me. It is a kind of visualizing and searching for something in the vast expanse of the skies. In the rat race of life, all tend to forget these simple beauties of life.

 It is a feeling of awe, I experience while stargazing. I feel a kind of rare emotion in my core. I gaze at the stars, looking out for formations in them. Exploring is something I just love and in silence as I stargaze it is very liberating. For me it is 'something greater' and helps me break free off all that bogs me down. As the eyes gaze, the mind looks inward and eases my heart and soul. I see the stars in the vast expanse of the sky.....they fascinate me, and remind me of my complete minuteness. It is believed that stargazing is a way of romancing... yes it is romancing with the vast expanse of the sky. It is the romance of stargazing. If you can connect to the nature around you....you can listen to them. There are nights I notice some stars brighter than the others and I used to think to myself, may be the dim one's inner light is gone...just like any one of us...you shine brightly daily, but there are days the inner light goes out....... I believe that if you sit in silence and stargaze you can listen to the whispers of silence.