Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanyakumari, 13 Jul 2011

Nambi Kovil, Tirunelveli. 08 May 2011

A quick exploration of Nambi Malai. Hope to visit again to reach the hill top to see Nambi Kovil.

Long way to go!

Kalikesam, Kanyakumari. 06 May 2011

Today could not stand the soaring summer heat in Kanyakumari, so thought of riding my bike. Did a quick search on Google Map and decided Kalikesam as the destination. One of the reason is it's about 4KM from Keeriparai, my last visit. Though its not thrilling to trek the same route twice, but gave it a ride.

What made the ride truly wonderful was the unsuspecting rain. Yes, as I neared thadikarankonam, I was welcomed by dark clouds and thunders. And soon it started raining like cats and dogs. In minutes the rough hilly road filled with puddles. Enjoyed it and couldn't stop myself from singing, yes from my heart. Soon I was all wet and it was a nice feeling to ride the bike on such a wonderful place on a summer day. As I reached Kalikesam came to know from the villagers that it's been raining for the past 5 days and there were water streams as you could see it on the pictures. You are welcomed by the Kaliamman (Kalimatha) temple and just behind it begins the hilly water streams and further the falls.

Took some dips in the chilling water and some pictures and prepared myself to turn back. Hope to visit again with family and friends for more fun.

Excerpts from Wikipedia 
Kalikesam, is a scenic picnic spot in the Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India which is famous for its thick forest and rubber plantations. The Kali temple situated here attracts many pilgrims. There is a rocky river with crystal clear water. It is a nice place for people who love peace and nature. More on Wikipedia

Velankkani Church, Nagapattinum. 07 Jun 2010

 

Givie John Varghese Weds Suparna, 27-11-2009, Mumbai

Givie is one of those friends who has been still in touch after leaving Siemens. A nice and cool guy to hang out. Givie (Malayali) and I met first in a medical check-up while joining Siemens, Worli and it was the same day when we met Amit Bhandarwar (Maharashtrian). So since day one in Siemens, we have been a closely knit guys from training to lunch breaks to rest rooms all together. Then joined Nagaraj (tamilan, Naag as Givie calls), senior to us by 3 days.

Anyways, someday I will gather time to write about working in Siemens in a post called may be ‘Days In Siemens’, even though I spent more time in evening shifts that day.

Coming back to this post, it is Givie’s wedding today (was previous day, its early morning as I write this) with Suparna (Bengali). Yes, its a Love marriage, I assume to be 3 years affair.
I and Amit called couple of friends and three of us including Neelesh Pednekar (yes, only three as many its been 4 years since we left Siemens, except Givie, whom I consider a corner stone n Siemens functioning) decided to meet. I and Amit planned to meet in Sion at 8.00PM and get a gift from an Antique & Art store (Tushar Gallery, at the Sion hospital end of Dharavi’s 90 Feet road). We met just as planned, but dropped the plan to get the gift from Dharavi, but to get it from Chembur were we had to reach. By the way, the marriage was arranged at Nataraj Avenues, near R.K. Studio.
As we reached Chembur to get the gift from an Archies, we got a call from Neelesh that No  need to carry a gift as mentioned in the invitation, so we headed towards Nataraj Avenues. There we met Neelesh just outside the venue. There we bought a Bouquet to present to the bride and went in. A beautiful arranged venue.
There we met Nitesh and Biju, both with their wives. By the way, Nitesh’s daughter is very cute. We also happend to meet Chetan Pawar, who had come all the way from Dahisar on his bike.
As usual, we saw a long queue of guests waiting for each turn to wish the couples and as usual turned to the Food. Bengali delicacies arranged across the place and yes, we started with the main course, then proceed to some chinese, then to some chaat (of course there was plenty of time to just  relax and mingle with the guests and we enjoyed the ambience).

By the time we had tasted most of the delicacies presented there, it was time to meet the Bride and Groom. And after wishing them a happy married life, we headed towards the Bengali deserts. The ‘Roshagulla’ as they say was delicious and we didn’t shy gooing for the send round aand overall we enjoyed it.

It is time for marriage procession, at around 12.00 midnight we met Givie in his Bengali attire, struggling to manage the dhoti and was holding one end of it all the time (you can see what I’m talking about on the picture), then a Bengali gentleman came forward and tied the dhoti well and Givie was relieved.

(Amit, Myself, Givie, Chetan, Neelesh)

Then we met Givie’s parents and some of his friends and spent some last moments with Givie  as a bachelor, before he went to pujari and started the mantras and what not.
It was around 1.00AM and time for four of us to leave the scene and we spent some time chit-chatting just outside the venue, before leaving. I accompanied Amit to Ghatkpopar to his room and we spent some time near the roadside and talked about the past in general. It was 1.30AM and I decided to head back home where Nisheed was still awake.
It feels to me that it was more than a marriage for us, it was a get together, that’s what one will feel after reading this post, and that's what social functions are for though.
Yes, my camera missed the gorgeous bride, Suparna. Givie could you send over some pics?
Once again, wishing Givie and Suparna Happy Married Life!

More Pictures

Givie and his Bengali Dhoti!

Amit sitting along me over a mid-night chat

Chetan Pawar smiling for the cam

Givie on his way to Married Life!

World of Many

A man’s world is small. His thoughts defines his world. His reach is the boundary. His actions are bounded. He sees no land and sea. He feels pushed. This is what his small world is about.

A man’s world is small. His voices unheard. His actions ignored. His vision unseen. His feelings neglected. His path never followed. His root never traced.

Men come and go. Dreams blossom and die. Yet, his thoughts are his world and lives by it. And lasts only his lifetime.

Great men see world’s of many. Their actions touches lives. Their thoughts run across lands and oceans. Their voices heard miles far. Their vision pierce mountains.

A world of no boundaries. A world of boundless thoughts and actions. A world that's remembered forever.

Live To Be Lived Forever

Pushpamma's 1st Death Anniversary

 

 

A SYMBOL OF FAITH

PUSHPA PACKIANATHAN (M.A. B.Ed.)

[11-APR-1977 – 25-SEP-2008]

A Wonderful Daughter

    A Wonderful Sister

     A Wonderful Wife

          A Wonderful Mother

               A Wonderful Teacher

                    Above all a Wonderful Person

 

Our world has become hollow, our past holds no meaning anymore. A past which represent struggle, little possessions, dedication, commitment, hard work, hope, honesty, sincerity, that made us what we are today. If we miss anything in this whole world its just you.

It’s been a year and our hearts doesn’t want to realize that you are not around. But we have hardened ourselves with utmost pain that you are always with us. Our heart cries living each moment without you.

Dusk In The Hope Of A New Day!

An Evening By The Side Of Pond

Janet Pushpa Spent the Evening Watching the Ducks

Are You Clicking My Picture?

Am I Not Cute?

Hey You! Don’t Swim Against the Stream!

Wish I could Swim

Close-up Please (I don’t brush my teeth much though!)

The Farsighted Girl! Isn’t?

This is how the evening ends here!

The Unwounded Soul - She Took Life with Zest

It was a hot summer day in my village Azhagapapuram in KanyaKumari district, and i was waiting for the bus along with few others, to visit the near by Town by the name Nagercoil. It's not a common scene for someone from Mumbai or abroad waiting in the bus stand, as most of them would zoom in bikes.

During my patient wait for the bus, i just saw a women of above 50 years of age crawling towards us. At first I found it difficult to understand a person dragging herself without both the legs, more of the spirit that she had despite loosing her limbs.

She approached nearby and settled down near the corner of the stand. As she too was waiting for the bus, I began to see this same world but with more of fighters. She was a human being with the might to live life ordinary (if not great), but was extraordinary for other.

Will be continued...