Bitten by the Hiking Bug

Mountains are alluring, I feel so. Maybe I am bitten by the hiking bug after the trip to Illickal Kallu a few years back as I wanted more of such trips. Last December we made a trip to the Eco Tourism Park at Thommankuthu. It is an EcoTourism project of the government, where you can see the beautiful Ezhynilakuthu waterfall cascading down with its stream meandering through a five-acre forest. After taking the ticket, about a km hike into the forest will take you to the waterfall. The rugged pathway makes the hiking a little difficult but exciting.Thommankuthu waterfall is before the entrance of the park and one can enter without any ticket. Pictures of Ezhynilakuthu waterfall and its surroundings.

Aruvikuzhi waterfall, half an hour drive away from my home is also a splendid location to visit. Though not as large Thommankuthu, it is equally scenic.Pictures of Aruvikuzhi waterfall and its surroundings.

For details of Thommankuthu https://keralaforestecotourism.com/thommankuthu ---- https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/aruvikuzhi-waterfalls/116

What's the Telegram!

The instant messaging service ‘Telegram’ is similar to ‘WhatsApp’- the social networking app which enables users to post updates and interact with each other. The current AI dependent generation count on it for instant messaging and chats. Back in 1830s and 40s a short messaging service named ‘Telegraph’ was developed by Samuel Morse and his team. The messages, known as ‘Telegram’ revolutionized long-distance communication. The present generation might be oblivious of the existence of such a means of messaging which helped us convey important incidents. Telegram costed a person about fifty rupees for fifty words. Gone are the days when the word telegram used to give jitters as it was used mostly to convey tragic news such as death, accidents and emergency situations. It was also availed to send congratulatory messages. For those who are have not seen a telegram, here is one for you:

Telegraph was launched in 1844 with the experimental telegram ‘What has God Wrought?’ sent by Morse. The Greek words ‘tele’ meaning ‘distant’ ‘graphein’ meaning ‘to write’ are the sources of the word telegraph. In India Telegraph was installed in 1854. The service which was in use for 163 years is no more there in our country. The last telegram was sent on 14th July 2013, in India by Ashwani Mishra to Rahul Gandhi. The AI based messaging systems and apps put to rest the original form, though the technology still seems to be existing in other forms.

O Christmas Tree!

Fidelity thy name is …..

The strays at the backyard of my house keep changing. The old ones are not seen any more, new entrants are there and the daily routine of throwing the bread continues. This write up is a tribute to a special one that has come in front of our house a few months back. A shabby dog with a torn tail and frightened eyes, who used to give us pleading looks. Paranoid about unfamiliar strays, we tried to shoo it away, but it refused to go and behaved as if someone told him to stick to our house. It seemed to be a well-trained one as many of its manners are not of a stray. It is potty trained too as it never dirties our place. Initially, it somehow sneaked into our compound and slept under the car at night. Slowly we started feeding it. The day the Municipality workers came to catch the strays, the dog was whining so sadly that our tenants requested them to give him back. They promised to vaccinate it and return and they did so.

Now he is our loyal guard dog who refuses to come inside the compound and sits in front of our gate and barks at every stranger and every biker who rides fast. People in our lane love it and they too do their bit of feeding. It is also friendly with two other strays who are fed by our neighbor. No other dog dares to come to our lane as long as he is there. His presence is also keeping idlers at bay. Fidelity thy name is this nameless dog.

Hyderabad wins ‘World Green City award’ at South Korea Hyderabad is the only Indian city that was selected and it is a matter of pride for Telangana and India that has won not only the category award but the overall ‘World Green City 2022' award, the best across all 6 categories, according to an official release.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/hyderabad-world-green-city-award-2022-8209711/

The hatchlings of bulbuls.

Unfortunately only one surivived. One was taken away by a bird of prey and one lost its life while trying to fly.

Three