Tuesday, 22 July 2014

Andaman, in a nutshell


South east of India in a corner lies a tiny island bound by the oceans. A beautiful state of our country! Nay, it’s a union territory.

No chief minister or Assembly, the central government rules.

There are clean roads and beautiful beaches; You see hospitable people and helpful passers-by.
 
You find hundreds of islets as part of Andamans. Though not all are inhabited, some are wonderful tourist spots!

Ross island was used by the British to holiday with their family. Havelock island houses Asia’s No.1 beach as certified by Times magazine. Neil island has the world’s finest natural bridge. Bartang island has many limestone caves with stalagmites and stalactites!

Excite your life, with a plethora of water sports - Jet skiing, snorkelling, sea walking and scuba diving to name a few.

Hundreds of tribal communities still live in nature, distant from the hustle and bustle of the city. Government protects them as some are endangered.

Far away from the mainland, one has to actually wait for the first flight to arrive even to read the morning newspaper. But, of all the places in India that I’ve visited, I love Andaman the most! You wouldn’t be cheated by a taxi driver in a fleet nor would you find

a beggar on the street! Zero crime rate, can you believe? I love Andamans!
 

Corals of Andamans


Some are spherical,

but, some are long.

Assorted shapes they have.

Some are big as a pig

while some are small as a doll

Diverse sizes they are!

Are they only green or blue?

No, they are of every hue

of breath-taking colours!

If you touch, they slouch!

No, they aren’t plants.

But, they breathe… like you and I.

Nope, they don’t move,

but, they are bubbling with life.

They are the brilliant CORALS of Andamans!

Visit To The Andamans


Pristine Sands

Never ending waves

Blue-green waters

Colourful Corals

That’s ANDAMANS!


A letter to my niece


Dear Madhu,

28 March 2014

When you were born,

it was you

who gave birth to the mother in me!

 

When I fondled you as a baby,

it was but you

who presented me the joy of bliss.

 

When you cried and threw tantrums,

it was again you

who instilled in me, the magic of patience.

 

Now, you may be a young adult

but, to me,

you are still my little baby niece!

 

We may be miles apart now

but, you will always stay in my heart

...as close as ever!!

 

 

With love,

Shyamala Chithi.

 

Today is Holi


Holi is today,

an action-packed evening – we were gay!

Hindi children performed a street theatre

where none did falter.

The audience laughed their lungs out

when the child on stage made a pout!

It was full of music and dance

that put us in a trance.

Colour play was the one that followed

onto the playground, we all forayed.

Hues of red, blue, green, yellow

did not make any of us mellow.

Instantly, we went wild

blasting colours – dark and mild.

The play didn’t end here,

for water spray came next to jeer.

Dripping from tip to toe,

we sprayed water in a row!

The day ended with a delectable dinner

directly from our kitchen cinder!

HAPPY HOLI!

 

Colours [Holi]


Who said green signifies jealousy?

To me, green is life,

the very life of our planet!

 

Did they say red is anger?

Alas! red is refreshing,

I feel truly enthralled!

 

If you think blue is dreary,

you are wrong,

that’s the very hue of my beloved Krishna!

 

Yellow and Orange, the shades of the sun

with pink, peach and purple

blush at me!

 

Cyan and aquamarine, the colours of the ocean

solemn,

still, stealthily stealing my soul!

 

I’ve fallen in love with colours,

the colours of life,

they unleashed the joy in me!

 

Coconut Trees [Kerala Visit]


Some are tall and straight,

aiming for the sky.

Some are slanting,

as if bowing to Nature Queen.

Some are curved,

like a maiden’s hip.

Some are even horizontal,

jutting into the lake.

Some peep into the water,

like a mom looking for her kids.

Some have a wiggly bark,

like a snake slithering up.

Some look like a ladder,

with rungs all over.

Some have inexplicable shapes,

like a dancer’s poses.

Some make a fantastic silhouette,

against the dusk sky.

 

These mesmerising coconut trees

…. drive me nuts!

 

Alapuzha [Kerala Visit]


Buzzing with humongous house boats

Bordered by colossal coconut trees

Flooded by criss-crossing canals

Filled with whizzing water birds

ALAPUZHA – haven to a visiting soul.


 

The Cormorant [Kerala Visit]


What’s that on the water surface?

Is it a snake sticking its neck out?

No, it seems to even waddle on water

Oh! Now it takes off on a frantic flight.

 

Its ebony black like a crow

Nah, I ain’t a racist

CORMORANT – what a beautiful bird!

 

I envy you

You stay on this lake forever
But, I leave tomorrow!


 

The Padmanabhapuram Palace [Kerala Visit]


Cumbersome Corridors

Clandestine Courtyards

Camouflaged Chambers

Confined Cabins

 

Snaky Staircases

Substantial Suites

Artistic Antiques

Voluminous Vaults

 

Maketh the Padmanabhapuram Palace!


I got to know –

Kings had remained bachelors

His sister’s son used to be the next heir

- a matriarchal lineage.

 

But one thing beat me like a bolt.

When I visited the Royal Queen’s chamber – the King’s mother,

I felt nostalgic – a strong connection with the past.

 

Had I lived there once?

My friend sneered when I said it.

But, one can’t rule it out. CAN YOU?!

The Sunrise [Kerala Visit]


One can’t miss a sunrise,

even a blind man, they say!

 

I sat at the southernmost tip of the country –

the land of Kanyakumari,

to experience this spectacular phenomenon

before the rest of the nation could.

 

At the first peek of the rising orb,

my heart skipped a beat,

the beauty enchanted me,

enthralled, I stood!

 

Does it resemble a glowing globule?

Or… a ball of fire?

I can’t say.

 

SUNRISE is a marvel to experience!

Tiger at the Zoo [Kerala Visit]


The Tiger

Fast and furious

Ferocious in the jungle.

 

Unable to frisk his prey away

He frets and fumes today!

 

Is he fastened? No

I can feebly hear his roar.

 

His food is served on a plate

But, he feels it’s frivolous.

Mind you, he’s not being finicky.

 

Does he fumble on the moat

and have a great fall? May be!

Is it fair? Not at all!

 

A glance at him- froze my heart

I love my friend, the Tiger.