DAY 3 - STROLLING THROUGH THE BEAUTY OF SOUTHERN TAMILNADU

On Sunday morning (12^th January) we took bath and went to perumal temple. In the bhajan we were involved with Jalra instrument. We enjoyed the songs played by our elders. We also repeated the lines after them. After the bhajan our village priest started to show dhewaranai to Lord Navaneetha perumal who was the main god of the temple. They gave puliyotharai as prasadam. It was yummy.

 

We had our breakfast in house and planned a trip to Tuticorin. When appa took the car, one of our relatives request us to take him to Valliyur. On the way we saw a black coloured bird near our village and took some photographs.  

On  screening the photograph and referring the book of Indian bird, I got its name : Black ibis. I was excited as it was one of the Ibis. Locally they are calling it as “Andril paravi” . My grandpa also told that the sight of this bird brings prosperity to the village.

We have seen many parrots in a dry tree when waiting for a train to cross in Valliyur railway gate. The scene was fantastic.

On the highway to Tuticorin, suddenly my grandpa started chanting ‘krishna, krishna’. The reason is nothing but the Brahminy kite. I got down and took some snaps of a tree near a canal, where lot of Brahminy Kites seen. Along with these Brahminy kites, we saw the black kite. Both were happily eating fish waste.

My appa stopped for rest. Suddenly I saw egrets on a dry tree which was like an umbrella. I capture it in my cameras.

In Tuticorin, we visited our relative house for condolence and left grandpa there. We return back to Tirunelveli to attend a marriage of my father’s student.

It was a different experience for me as it was a Muslim marriage. I was surprised to see marriage uncle in one hall and aunty in another. I took some portraits of uncle. We had a sumptuous lunch there. After sometime I got an opportunity to click both of them in the same stage. We said good bye to them and our car marched to Tirunelveli junction to buy Alwa and palgoa in Lakshmivillas.

In the evening we reached our family God Gowri Parvathy Amman near Seindhinganallur. 

We passed the time with a small kitten inside the temple by chasing it.  My cousin Raghesh was so excited on chasing the kitten

We were waiting for Babu mama’s family and the Gurukkal. . After sometime climate became so pleasant, many birds came and landed on the tree in the temple.

Our air walking cousin Sumukesh came and joined us.  After worshipping the God, Sumukesh started his athletic work of running inside the temple and temple was filled with our sound.

Finally return back to our native village. 

DAY 2 - STROLLING THROUGH THE BEAUTY OF SOUTHERN TAMILNADU

 On Saturday (11 January 2014) we woke up at 4'o' clock as it was Vaikunda Ekadasi. My Grandpa asked my appa to have a drive about Srirangam so that we can have Gopura darisanam of the Lord Renganatha Temple. I captured Srirangam Temple Gopuram both in dawn and day light. We had a blessed experience there. 

After that our journey started towards our native place near Tirunelveli. On the way first we were stopped on seeing a peacock on a tall building. I got down and took some snap. We stopped at many places and took snaps of my interest.

 We took a break for breakfast in Temple City Hotel, Melur. I took some snaps of flowers there.  When we came out from the hotel, a policeman asked us to wait as some VIP was on the way. Curiosity killed me and I went and asked for the name of VIP to  the sub inspector who was regulating the traffic. He told that it was our Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. I eagerly waited to see him. Suddenly the road was cleared in a minute. A vehicle came rushing on the Highway.  I asked my appa about the details. He explained that it was an escort vehicle for the Minister. Fleet of cars came rushing one by one. It came fast and furious. I saw the Minister in the third car. Once they were gone, we were allowed to go. I told good bye to the Sub Inspector.

We took a U turn towards Madurai. We were stopped in the Madurai toll, where toll charges are collected randomly. They asked for the toll money, but appa refused to pay because the road was not maintained properly.

I spotted some ducks on the way and took some snaps.

We saw sugarcane, but my braces in teeth did not allow me. At Virudhunagar, Amma called Rakesh Kumar uncle (Conservator of Forest) and asked whether he was there in Thirunelveli. He said that he was there and asked us to come to his house and join for tea. I was filled with joy. I slept for some while and when I woke up I felt refreshed. We had our lunch in Hotel Saravana Bhava in Palayamkottai. We had  fried rice, curd rice and panner 65 and a 3 in one ice cream. Just opposite to the hotel I saw amma’s school.

Then we went to Rakesh Kumar uncle’s house in Kanagam. To our surprise aunty and her parents and uncle's Swedish friends were there. On seeing uncle I felt happy. We had a discussion on Pongal festival and alanganallur jallikattu . We invited aunty and uncle for our Pongal celebration. 

On return I captured pictures of duck, peahen with chicks, cuckoo etc in the kanagam campus.

From there we went to Koothankulam bird’s sanctuary via Reddiyarpatti, Moolakarapatti getting instruction from uncle. 

We had a pleasant experience in watching birds and taking photography. The view points are well maintained. 

 I captured Bar Headed Goose in multiple numbers. The sight of flying is really an eye catching one.

I got some macros of insects and butterflies.

Snake temple was there. 

 We worshipped in nearby Krishnan temple and return back and joined the Nanguneri - Thisayanvillai road via Pothaidi village.

How to reach Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary

Take Nanguneri - Thisayanvillai road

After Yemankulam, there will be a sign board to Pothedi village. There take left and reach Koonthankulam via Pothedi.

On the way I captured superb landscape photography.

At Valliyur, had evening tiffin in Saraswathi Cafe and drive of 15kms started where we can reach our village Seelathikulam. On reaching there my big grandpa asked us to come and attend Perumal Temple Pooja.

We came to house, download photos and slept well.