Showing posts with label Kanha National Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kanha National Park. Show all posts

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Do you experience this urge?

Very occasionally, I get an urge to do nothing constructive or destructive for a whole day. No walk, no going to the office, no handling telephone calls, no writing letters.

Today was one of those days.

When I woke up in the morning, I read the Kalvea, our local newspaper, and did the EASY Sudoku.

I have just started to play this as I saw Bina, my cousin Thambi's wife, in Mumbai, enjoying it. Thanks Bina!

I have not yet got the hang of it, but today, for the first time, I finished the EASY puzzle. I tried to move on to the next level, but as it was taxing my brains, I stopped.

Toast with cinnamon and honey, followed by a cup of cinnamon and honey tea. I am continuing following my friend's advice. Next Monday is my blood test, almost three months after disaster was called by the doctor in Chennai!

Then, after a short nap on the sofa, I noted it was almost 11 am. I settled in front of the TV to watch Roger Federer and Andy Murray battle the final of the Australian Open Tennis Championship. Federer won quite easily as Andy Murray just did not have the power, the tactics, or the experience of his opponent, the world's greatest tennis player. The service and shots all around the court were exquisite.

While watching this I learnt that Indian, Leander Paes, and his partner had won the mixed doubles title at the tournament. I wonder whether theywill make much of it in the Indian Media. If he was a Finn, there would be virtually non-stop coverage as such victories are used to motivate the youngsters in this country.

Then it was time for a stretch out on the sofa for a second nap. Exhilarating!

It soon approached 16.45 and it was time to watch TV again, the final of the African Nations Football Cup, where Ghana was playing against Egypt. The game was quite unlike the European or the Latin American styles, although most of the players play in clubs in Europe.

Egypt won. It was not a very convincing win, as the Ghanaians did not have the finishing power in their line up.

Both events were enjoyable as I was not supporting anyone. i could just sit back and enjoy the sport!

Annikki prepared our regular Sunday roast chicken, vegetables and potatoes dinner. I had time to check my email, and do this blog entry in time for my readers who will check in early Monday morning!

Should I do this more often? Probably, although I did feel guilty when I sat in front of my computer and found so many lovely emails from so many of you, including news of a wedding in March 2010 of my second cousin's daughter. Their wedding will be in Nagpur, the very centre of India.


1989 December: Annikki at the pillar marking the Centre Point of India.


This is a picture taken in 1989 when Annikki and I stopped in Nagpur on our way to and from Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Nagpur was the closest airport at that time. We rented a car with driver and enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Kanha where we saw two tigers during our stay, both on our very first day there.

Memories of our past plus a relaxing day. What more could I ask before I enter the fray again tomorrow!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Guess what? I am not the only one who has been skiving!

I took a look around a few of my regular blog bookmarks - after a long recess.

What did I find?

I am not the only one who has been skiving. The last entry by Susanna was on April 10th - a good 14 days ago!

But my most favourite blogger, someone I inspired into blogging, Abe Tharakan, has been going strong.

Today he has some absolutely superb photographs of wildlife by KO Isaac from the Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.

It revived fond memories of the trip Annikki and I made in 1989 to the Park where we had some glorious experiences.

On our very first day in the Park we had two experiences with the wild tiger. The first was unique as a huge specimen came wandering down the centre of the road towards our car. Our driver stopped the car and we waited till the tiger approached us, growled at the obstruction, walked around the car with its face not more that a metre from mine, passed us by, came back onto the road and strode off. As we got out after it had passed by and gone a safe distance (safe for us), it turned to look at us and then went on its way.

The second encounter was more forced as we took an elephant ride to a lair where a tiger and its cubs were quietly enjoying themselves.

I wish I could lay my hands on the superb photographs that Annikki took during that visit.

We also visited Jabalpur on that trip and discovered the marble canyon, something I had never heard of during my history or geography lessons in an Indian School. Truly marvelous.

I promise to bring you some of these photographs in my next spate of blogging.

After this period where I suffered writer's block, I have been greatly inspired by Abe to get back to blogging.

Thank you Abe.