Amedhikalu Trek

Trip Report (24-Sept and 25-Sept):

How to reach from Banglaore:
Bus to Dharmasthala from Majestic
Alight at Kokkada
Hitched a ride on a milk van (around 6:15Am) to Shisheela. (Alternately the first bus starts at 7:15Am)
Reached Gopu Gokhale's House. Gopu runs a home-stay at Shisheela for all trekkers.
(Contact Details: ??????)
Note: Shisheela proved to be quite a bird-watcher's delight. During the brief stay at Gopu's house, saw barbets, malabar hornbills, malabar parakeets, drongos, woodpecker, koels, sunbirds, wagtails (all on 1 tree!)
Essential Supplies to carry:
Tent
Water (there is a water source up top but will need to carry enough for the trip to the camp-site. Around 4 lts per head would do you good)
Food (One can request Gopu to pack food)
Torch
Leech Socks came quite handy (recommended)

Additional Expenditure:
Gopu: Rs. 250 /head
Guide: 500 / day

Madhumalai trip report

Elelphant Tusk
Pied Bushchat
Collared DovesSpot Billed Pelican



Shikhra


Scaly Breasted Munia

Small Bee Eater

Dhols & Sambhar face-off

Mongoose

Malabar Giant Squirrel

Garden Lizard (?)

Little Grebe

Large Cormorant

Tusker

Juvenile Elephant

Captive

Dhols

Darter-scape

Langur

Gold Backed Woodpecker Elephant

Copersmith Barbet

Bison

White Bellied Minivet

Shikhra

Darter crested searpent eagle

Trip Report:

Closest town: Masinagudi

Stayed At: Camped at Secret Ivory Resort. Cost Rs. 500 for setting up camp.

Rooms: Rs 1800

Review: Well kept, clean but a tad bit expensive. Ombalan is a nice chap, but perhaps has lost a bit of enthusiasm for wildlife.

Also stayed at: Masinagudi Forest House. Rs. 580

Places to eat:

Safari Hotel. Must go. Absolutely lovely hotel with charming waiters who will regale you with stories of their tiger hunter owner Nawab Shahat Ali Khan. Go there for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Contacts:

1. Araikyaswami (Forest Ranger) - ()

Can be coaxed into taking a jeep safari into the core area if you'd rather not take the 35 Rs bus safari. It will be a tad expensive though, A 2.5 hour jeep safari would put you back Rs. 2100. I did not take it this time, but it seems like a good bet for spottings, since you can take the routes less travelled

2. Maasi (Guide) - (9655562656)

Excellent Guide. In depth knowledge of the local birds as well. Would recommend that you contact him directly rather man going through the Resorts. Would perhaps work out quite a bit cheaper.

Bird Sightings:

Kukkere Belluru:

1. Indian Roller

2. Red Vented Bulbul

3. Black Drongo

4. Babbler

5. Greater Coucal

6. Parakeet

7. White brasted Kingfisher

8. Red Whiskered Bulbul

9. Pied Bushchat

10. White Ibis

11. Baya Weaver

12. Brahmini Kite
Bandipur & Madhumalai:

Small Bee Eater

Spot Billed Duck

Whistling Duck (Greater or lesser?)

Indian Robin
Magpie Robin

Purple Sunbird

Scaly Breasted Munia

Small Minivet

Scarlet Minivet

White Bellied Minivet

Great Cormorant

Little Cormorant

Brahmini Starling

Spotted Dove

Plum headed parakeet

Blue Tailed (Malabar) Parakeet

Peacock

White Browed Wagtail

Shikhra

Gold Backed Wookpecker

Coppersmit barbet

Creasted Searpent Eagle

Black Headed Oriole

Common Woodshrike

Bay Backed Shrike

Common Iora

House Sparrow

Mysore:

Darter

Painted Stork

Spot Billed Duck

Little Grebe

White Ibis

Scarlet Ibis

Common Coot

Open Billed Stork

Little Egret

Spot BIlled Pelican

Pied Kingfisher

Animal Sightings:

Leopard

Bison

Spotted Deer

Elephants

Mongoose

Wild Rabbit (Hare?)
Dhols

Sambhars

Langurs

Coordinates of spots for decent sightings:

Water Hole ()

What's the deal with Sonia "G"?

I have always found it intriguing that every time the topic of Sonia's alleged corruptions crops up, it is either muted, in hushed whispers or quickly swept under the carpet. How is it that in a country where women, especially amongst the senior citizens and in political circles, are treated like second class citizens, the most powerful person in the country is a woman. A woman of a foreign race at that! A woman who has not gone to the trouble of learning the national language and has to read out her Hindi speeches written in English (or Italian?)!

I also find it alarming that the Indian media which, only of late, has started pouncing on every scam under the sun with admirable fervour, never hurls a single accusation at “Sonia-ji”. Curiously, all the conspiracy theories against her and “her” government are largely floated from the state of Tamil Nadu, which is of course the epicenter of the largest scam ever. Yet, in the media when Dr. Subramanian Swamy’s accusations against Raja and the DMK have held water till date, his accusations against Sonia Gandhi are never mentioned. Is the holler created in the southern most region of the country too far to be heard in the capital state? Or is it that these sources lack the credibility to ruffle the feathers of the heavy-weights in Delhi. Read Swaminathan Gurumurthy’s very compelling article, almost a tirade, (http://expressbuzz.com/biography/zero-tolerance-secret-billions/236261.html) against her in a surprisingly meager forum such as the New Indian Express (or am I incorrect in my assumption). Even a fairly open minded person, such as myself, would find it difficult not to be taken in by the accusations and arguments put forward. It could well be that Ms Gandhi finds it beneath her to respond to such outrageous accusations, especially against writers who have political affiliations with the opposition, but her silence is certainly damning.

Surprisingly, the opposition, who have been presented with a golden opportunity to wrest back power in wake of the season of scams, have been woefully impotent in taking advantage of this situation. Rather than propagating the more than convincing accusations leveled by the Gurumurthy’s and the Swaminathan’s amongst the comman-man they repeatedly chant their demand for a Joint Parliamentary committee (JPC) over the existing Public Account Committee (PAC), which incidentally is led by a BJP man. It is beyond my understanding, their reasons for demanding a JPC probe and the congress’ reluctance in accepting it, given that neither committee have prosecutorial powers. If the congress are planning to pussy-foot the issue with a PAC they are equally capable of doing so with a JPC (Read: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/jpc-or-pac---the-argument-continues/articleshow/7156598.cms). The congress’ sole argument against the charges hurled by the BJP have been that the BJP are no virginal outfit themselves pointing at Yedyurappa’s nefarious land-and-attention-grabbing activities in Karnataka. Rather than looking at the bigger picture and to immediately suspend Yedyurappa, the BJP have only weakened their own stance by their own inaction. Why the BJP target only Dr. Manmohan Singh for his inaction rather than Sonia Gandhi, who EVERYONE knows calls the shots is as surprising as it is cowardly.

So what is it about Ms. Gandhi that makes everyone, in the congress and even in the opposition, croon over her. I find myself coming up with some pretty outrageous theories but theries that need to be floated out there nonetheless -
· Is she the kind of person who commands respect even among the most staunch of male chauvinists and is she indeed the brilliant political mind that she is purported to be?
· Does she have some kind of leverage over most of the congress leaders which force them to begrudgingly respect her in public
· Are the titillating conspiracies of her connection with the KGB and the Italian Mafia true, who have put her in such a unique position of power?
· Or is it the simple reason that in a country which has always been obsessed with fair skin, her presiding over the most powerful body in India has only to do with the colour of her skin?

The congress, credit to them, have brilliantly masterminded their damage control by instating Kapil Sibal as the Telecom Minister. Mr. Sibal’s mastery of side-stepping the 2G spectrum issue with such aplomb is nothing short of a case study in Public Relations. As if it wasn’t difficult enough to look at Barkha Dutt in a different light in wake of the Radia tapes, her rather feeble interview with Kapil Sibal, where she was reduced to a gushing school girl was neither the stinging interview it was supposed to be nor did it serve any purpose other than to showcase Mr. Sibal’s skills as a brilliant advocate. It also reeked of having been orchestrated, which is not a stretch given the recent revelations against Ms. Dutt.

This entire episode also clearly illustrates the CBI’s reluctance /inability / impotence / incompetence in dealing with issues related to the country’s top brass. After their extraordinary bungling of the Aarushi case, it is difficult to even imagine them handling an investigation the magnitude of the 1.76L Crore 2G spectrum scam or the much smaller 80,000 Crore CWG scam. The only thing that one can be sure of is that the guilty will go unpunished. The recent closure of the Bofors case only cements the realization that these cases will drag on till all traces of their memory and evidence has vanished. The Indian public should indeed by proud of their indifference to the cost of the exchequer, or for that matter, their indifference when it comes to any political issue, major or minor. Instead of being livid with with an unspeakable rage at such blatant acts of debauchery, we simply resign ourselves to the fact that "these things happen (only in India)". That, is why, we will always be on the cusp of being a developed nation, but never (ever) quite reaching there.

Basketball Diaries

I’ve been meaning to write something meaningful for some time now. The trouble is that I’ve never been able to find a topic that I’m well and truly passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not emotionally dead, but of late I’ve found it increasingly difficult to be moved into writing something.

If I had to write something it would probably have to do with literature and basketball – My two mistresses that I tend to dote over. I love to read and I love to play ball. Infact as I write this I’m reminded of a movie with just these 2 elements – Finding Forrester. The movie revolves around a young African American teenager who is as gifted with the pen as he is with the ball.

Sean Connery who plays the reclusive author Forrester, whose character, I have a suspicion, is inspired by the late J. D. Salinger, mentors the boy to realize his literary promise whilst he journeys on a path not often (if ever!) travelled by an African American baller from the Bronx.

There was one part in the movie that particularly caught my attention, which is what makes me write this drivel now. Forrester tells Jamaal, the protagonist baller slash literary apprentice, that the first thing to writing is….to write. That “sometimes the simple rhythm of typing gets us from page one to page two” and “when you begin to feel your own words, start typing them”. I suppose I’m putting that to test right now. I’ll have to wait and see if it actually works. It should at the very least, drive you to watch the movie anyway.

It is a pity that basketball has never really found a true ally in literature. The beauty of the game is often lost on the players who have to appear “gansta” to gain court “cred”, the below-than-average-IQ fan base, the sports writers who try to appear smarter (read Jason Whitlock) or funnier (read Bill Simmons) than they really are, or even the street players who play just for the heck of playing. There’s so much more that the game has to impart. There are so many subplots and subplots within subplots going on within even a simple game of 3-on-3 game going on in the remotest part of the world.

I remember reading an article written in Time magazine (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1861543_1865068_1865096,00.html ) by Barrack Obama’s brother-in-law, who happens to be the head coach for Oregon State University. I remember nodding with each line wishing that I had written a similar piece along these lines before he had. The main point (that I hope) he was trying to make, which I completely subscribe to, is how you can judge a person by watching him ball. I truly believe that no other sport in the history of the human race would help you deduce the kind of person a player is just by watching him play. It is my, perhaps ridiculous, belief that a person can be sized up just by watching him play for half an hour; the way he handles himself on court, his vision, his (un)selfishness, his leadership skills, his maturity, his mental toughness, his willingness to listen, his intellect, his sense of fashion, his societal standing, his sexual orientation and perhaps even his political ideologies (It is my experience that players who hate show boaters tend to lean towards the left). If a player is observed closely enough, he will most likely give you vital insights into his own character. It truly is a pity that all this is lost on most people, professionals and amateurs alike, who play ball. If it were upto me, Human Psychology 101, would probably start with a game of basketball.

The Empty Bench

The Empty Bench

Why does the bench in the park today lie empty?

What could be the reason for this unique soliloquy?

The place where associations have often been frayed,

Where the enactment of affections have been played.

Why does the bench in the park lie empty today?

The place where everlasting friendships have been made,

This seat which always hears, but never judges,

The vicious gossip, and surreptitious human grudges.

Why does the bench in the park today lie empty?

The place where bad news conveyed, while silently wept he,

A proud father’s first-born, a girl, announced with pomp,

The slum boy’s daily meal finished with one chomp

Why does the bench in the park lie empty today?

The unassuming couple’s guilty secret of love made,

This seat that knows all about flawed human nature,

Another teenage pregnancy, should it have preached her?

Why does the bench in the park today lie empty?

The place of silent meditation, mood swings aplenty,

That homeless man’s nightly palais-grande,

That stirred boy’s promise of ‘someday…’

No more do we have time to leisurely ‘sit and stare’.

To escape our mundane existence, strip our emotions bare.

To let loose ones frustrations, engage in trivial parley,

Why does the bench in the park lie empty today?

PS: The reference to W. H Davies is purely intentional. J

The saviour

I wrote the first 4 lines for a photograph published on a photography forum. Was inspired enough to complete the rest.

A nation in shatters, Armageddon in sight,

An entire people cowering in fright.

A prophesy which speaks of a saviour in crest,

That a young man shall rise far above the rest.

No ordinary man is he, evident from sight,

Not one for the herd, he stands quietly polite.

Could this be the second coming? Inquisition underway,

An insouciant wave of the hand, keeps the doubters at bay.

One man; Can one man take on the world’s evils?

Bitterly cynical that we are, doubt him gleefully we will.

A man nay a boy who is to realize his true calling,

In a morbidly repulsive world which is beyond appalling.

In his naiveté, in human compassion he trusts,

He appeals to the masses: good, evil and the rest.

Little does he realize that our sins have numbed us all,

People listen, some curse some admire, everyone awaits his fall.

Are we beyond aid? Obstinate as a mule he refutes,

Sets about brewing up a revolution, his plan simple yet astute.

“Tenderness, benevolence, show the other cheek,

Honesty, altruism, forgiveness is not a sign of the weak”

Alas, his belief overlooked a tiny little fact,

Us humans, we have none of those qualities intact.

Our foolish hero, try as he may, failed miserably

Dismissed as another raving lunatic,

not a scratch on the surface he made

Shattered, not beaten our champion trudges on,

Appeals to the young, the elderly forgone.

Ah, the youth of the nation, our lone shining star,

Little does he realize their minds have atrophied

To a land far far afar.

Beaten and disheartened, too much to take is the pain.

He tried, he failed, a fallen hero in vain

An inviting blade upon the table lies,

Spluttering and gurgling, in solitude he dies

Valentine's Day Poetry - 14th Feb 2009

Inspired by yesterday afternoon’s depressing conversation with Pankaj.

This valentine's Day, I do not plan to take her out,
I plan to take her home and all day make out.
I'll suck on her lips till all her nector is drained,
When I'm done and choose another will her expression be pained?

I, for one, do not believe in love only one,
The more you have it the more you have fun.
you may wonder "boy does this guy lack tact",
all I can say is "ah, the joy's of a 6-pack".