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.