Kaup beach sunset - DSLR version

 These are DSLR captures from my last week visit to Kaup beach. The mobile version can be found here.

The fog breaks out :-)

26 December 2020

Whenever I lament, the nature has immediate plans. Yesterday, I was cribbing about summery feel and sweltering weather. Today morning, I had surprise in store. The fields were engulfed by fog and there was quite a lot drama in atmosphere. I was excited to see the band of fog dancing over the field. For a while, I  snapped the pictures with mobile camera and they turned out fabulous. Here are pictures from today morning short walk. There was not sufficient time to take pictures of sunrise since there were other plans.

The weather can be capricious here in tropical region.

The egrets are engaged in their daily picking of bugs as usual

Needless to mention, the humid weather was back at 9PM after a short chilly spell. Here is short video of fog with chirping of red-whiskered bulbul.

Long time no see - Kaup beach visit after a year

22 December 2020

Strange, is it not! The beach which is just 6kms west of my house could not be visited for more than a year. Thanks to the pandemic, lock-downs and prohibitions by authorities, I could never visit the beach for whopping one year. The other reason being avoiding crowds. Finally, the intensity of pandemic is reducing which is opening up the tourist spots gradually. We chose Tuesday to visit the beach hoping to have feeble visitors. That turned out to be negative unfortunately. Being holiday season, a relatively huge flock of visitors were seen in beach. We chose an isolated place to have privacy to enjoy our stay. Here are pictures from visit. The sunset was embellishing from past two days but was lacking taste today due to presence of unforeseen clouds. Some of the pictures turned out well to my satisfaction. Here are pictures!

The deluge day has collapsed stairs leading to lighthouse. Many of them were climbing the rock to reach the light-house. Also the lighthouse visit has been closed since lock-down was imposed. We had no interest to climb to the base of light-house due to other plans. Here is picture for you and panoramic view

The kids have many things to rejoice for. There are many new additions for kids like trampoline, detachable play areas comprising of long slide, water boating, jumping etc.. The new play areas comes with cost as well. The trampoline costs Rs.30/- per kid and rest of them cost Rs.50/- per play.

My sons have phobia of sea-tides. We spent most of the time reducing their phobia by taking them to sea shore and motivating them to play in kids arena. Eventually, there was minor success too! Its a long process.

A short clip

The visit never completes without shooting sunset pictures.

Summer feel in winter

25 December 2020

This year too, looks like we have mercurial weather in coastal Karnataka. This pattern of weather recurring every year. This serves as temporary relief from winter chill (which is not severe here). Contrastingly, disappointing for mango plantations. Last year we had low mango yield and such sweltering weather would burn the mango flowers. What can we do after moaning in blog post? Yes! We cannot do anything except watch the plays of nature.

Today morning I chose a different track for casual cycling routine which would be nearly 5kms. The path traverses entirely through rural region and occasionally tiny patches of forest. The weather was pleasant few days back but from couple of days, it has turned muggy. The cloud cover has transformed the weather from pleasant winter to humid summer. We are witnessing summer amidst winter season. The profuse sweating post cycling was testimony to the summery feel. All I could do is bear the new weather pattern and snap some appealing pictures. Of-course all these happenings not without ever capricious mood of street dogs. They are largely harmful but no assumptions. Better to be watchful and observe their movements. Never know if you are the prey today.

For now, enjoy the pictures from early morning cycling through majestic rural roads.

Finally, sunrise picture shot nearby childhood school

Unwinding at Gundamegere lake, a scenic overlook from Makalidurga summit

30 August 2020

We were feeling disgruntled locked inside home, in fact many would be feeling :-). There was a need to relax in nature and spend quality time. The place we chose was Makalidurga hill. Being father of toddlers,  it is arduous task to climb hills in near term and hence decided to visit the lake which is the scenic overlook from hill. Today being a fine monsoon Sunday, the time was perfect to rejoice in beauty of nature.

We wanted to start our journey as early as possible and the plan worked out. The noon 3PM the journey began and we wriggled out of city traffic quite early. Till Doddballapur, the vehicular was dense as expected. As we drove past the town, the landscape gradually changed.

The actual beauty unfolds past Doddaballapura when you begin drive from the rural road which forks from wider highway. The nature reserve widens and carbon footprint narrows. As the destination approaches, the mighty hills welcome you with captivating beauty. As we entered the interior road which leads to lake, the scene completely changed. It looked as if the concrete jungle morphed into spectacular verdant vegetation. The roads were smooth and well laid with minimal humps. The path was abuzz with corn fields and high density of trees. The feeble vehicular traffic was added advantage. As we drove deep into the bucolic world, the high mountains and dense forest greeted and monsoon rains showered. The mountains allure heavy clouds during monsoon and provides enticing views of distant rain shafts. The winding road 5kms preceding the destination had perfect views of relaxation :-). What a majestic scenes they were! The lake view was clear from mountain top roads and maps made journey seamless too! The clean roads were extra bonus which engaged me in nature gazing than dodging the road craters :-D. 2kms before the destination, a short deviation cuts through the village which gave closer glimpse of verdant hill.

Gundamegere is charming hamlet located in Doddaballapura taluk of Bangalore rural district. The village comprises of prolific nature elements bounded by mighty hills, verdant nature, expansive coconut plantations and why not the fresh water lake. The lake situated in village is known as Gundamegere lake. This lake is famous primarily because of overlook from Makalidurga hill. You might encounter plethora of pictures in internet connected to this lake from summit of Makalidurga hill.

We alighted at the location pinned by maps and started absorbing nature. What a fabulous landscape it was. The nature was gleaming with beautiful evening light. The clouds seemed  intimidating though threatening to thwart our maiden visit. We strolled along the muddy road adjoining to lake and enjoyed the scenes whole heartedly. The enticing part was the lush green mountains and forest surrounding the lake with thick cloud cover. The monsoon has enriched both lake and vegetation. Briefly after the outset of stroll, thick drops of rain started pouring. We ran for cover inside the car. By then, the density of rain increased and the thick drops hammered the village. I had additional expectation of rainbow, when Sun broke out alongside rains :-). That did not happen eventually :-D.

We set out towards one more view point which carries us near to lake. By then, the intensity of rains enormously increased and it was impossible to step out of car. The rains lasted for nearly 30 mins and did not show signs of relenting. Finally we bowed down to nature and took snaps inside the car. It was getting dark and we still had an hour to drive. Even though it rained, we were not annoyed. The rural rains are yet another gem to rejoice. The rendezvous of the  mountain, the greenery, the lake, the rains is something landscape admirer yearns for.

The travel plan was not bad decision at all. What a picturesque view it provides! The charm of rural India is embodied here. Those grazing cattle, moving goats, that mighty mountains and what not the thick monsoon clouds. It rained heavily for 30 mins and drizzle did not abate till our departure. Even though rains subsided, the steady drizzle did not permit us to step out. Eventually we had no choice than starting return journey. On the way back, we experienced yet another spell of torrential downpour for nearly 5kms. It was beautiful drive through these rains along with nature. Contrastingly, there were no trace of rains as we neared Doddaballapura town. This is clear indication as how nature attracts clouds and rains. 

We made sure not to have contact with any villagers and in fact with no one. Being feeble with human activity, it was easy to achieve such isolation. Situated in abode of nature, the human presence was sparse at this place. It was easy to maintain social distance which is vital in contemporary time.

There is no one to monitor your activity. Don't litter the pretty village and pretty nature. Kindly maintain discipline. I suggest you to visit during August month when the landscape is verdant and clouds would be bounty.

The journey never completes with short footage. Here is one from the visit. Enjoy the scenic views with monsoon rains pelting down

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