Weird Winter

This season winter has been weird in Bengaluru. The foggy weather turns warm during evening hours. The trend continued for couple of days before we experienced winter feel. But we rarely had real winter weather. It has been dry but moderately chill. Never remember a day we wore winter wear during 23-24 winter season.

This was one of the instance during December when the weather was foggy in morning but warm in evening. The chill was high and city horizon was completely invisible. It felt as if winter is at full might.

However, the evening scene at Kalkere lake posed a different story. So if you have promised someone that its cold in city, they would surely have trust issues. The warm clouds gathered over the city turning on humidity. The contradicting weather in single day is cause of many infectious diseases as well! Even though weird weather surprised us, the sunset over kalkere lake wetlands was worth the capture. The sun being in Southern tip during winter, I could not get a glimpse over the lake bed. 

Last days at Hosadu

My in-laws moved closer to my native and thus leaving their property at Hosadu. Hosadu is around 60kms from my place. My father-in-law had constructed the house bit far from native due to work needs. Now that he is retired, they are moving closer to native to ease the travelling ordeal. The new house is ready and now they are closer to my native. Consequently, my visit to Hosadu will be restricted or zero. When I say restricted until in-laws sell current house at Hosadu. I miss those sprawling paddy fields, beautiful Maravanthe beach, meandering backwaters, overall beauty of Kundapura :-(. I miss those scintillating sunrise reflecting off the gentle river. I had great moments here including the pelting monsoon rains. Here are pictures from my last visit just after the harvest. The paddy was just harvested and the hay was rolled and stacked up over harvested field

These beautiful lined up palms and pond beside is surely going to haunt me frequently!

Perhaps this will be my last gaze at verdant monsoon season paddy fields.

We returned to native that day itself. The sky was gearing up for intense thunderstorm. The weather was hot and humid on a winter December. That's how tropics are. There is no winter. The heavy cloud band slowly moved over our head but did not precipitate much. I was disappointed but pictures were beautiful to capture. However, it did rain after 2 days after our departure to Bengaluru. Here are the pictures.

ದೀಪಾವಳಿಯ ಎರಡು ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆಗಳು!

ಹಬ್ಬ ಜೋರಾಗೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಯಾರು ಏನು ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಕಿವಿ ಒಡೆಯುವಷ್ಟು ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳ ಚೀರಾಟ. ಇರಲಿ ಬಿಡಿ ಹಬ್ಬ ಜೋರಾಗೆ ನಡೆಯಲಿ. ಎಲ್ಲ ಪ್ರವಚನಗಳು ಒಂದೇ ಧರ್ಮದವರಿಗೆ ಯಾಕೆ ಅಂತಾ ಜನ ಕೂಡಾ ಬೊಂಬಾಟ್ ಆಗೇ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಿಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ದನ, ಕುರಿ, ಮೇಕೆ ತಿನ್ನುವವರು ಬೀದಿ ನಾಯಿಗಳ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬೀದಿ ನಾಯಿಗಳು ವರ್ಷಪೂರ್ತಿ ತೊಂದರೆ ಕೊಡುವುದು ಯಾರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬೆಳ್ಳಂಬೆಳ್ಳಗ್ಗೆ ಶಾಂತಿದೂತರಿಗಿಂತ ಮೊದಲೇ ಊಳಿಡಲು ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿ ನಿದ್ದೆಯನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಕೆಡಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ನಿದ್ದೆ ಬೇಡ ವಾಕಿಂಗ್ ಹೋಗೋಣವೆಂದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲೂ ಬೊಗಳಿ ಅಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬರುತ್ತವೆ. ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇವುಗಳ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು. ಅದನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರಾದ ಮನುಷ್ಯರು ಸಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಅನ್ನೋದು ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಗಳ ಕಿವಿಮಾತು. ಇರಲಿ ಬಿಡಿ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಹೊಡೆಯೋರು ಮಾತ್ರ ಹೆಚ್ಚಲಾಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದೆ ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಗಳ ಉಪದೇಶದಿಂದ.

ಇಂದು ಹಬ್ಬಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೂವು ತಗೊಳ್ಳಲೆಂದು ಮೈ ರೋಡ್ ಪೂರಾ ಒದ್ದಾಡಿದ್ದೆ ಒದ್ದಾಡಿದ್ದು. ಕೆಲವರು ಬಾಯಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ರೇಟ್ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಕಡೆಗೆ ಒಂದು ಗಾಡಿಯ ಬಳಿ ನಿಂತು ಹೂವಿನ ದರ ಕೇಳಿದೆವು. ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಹೆಂಗಸು ಒರಟಾಗಿ ಕಾಲು ಕೆ.ಜಿ ೮೦ ರೂಪಾಯಿ. ಹೂವು ಕೂಡಾ ಕಪ್ಪಾಗಿತ್ತು. "ಅಲ್ಲಕ್ಕ ಹೂವು ಕಪ್ಪಾಗಿದೆ ಅಲ್ವಾ  ಹಬ್ಬಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಉಪಯೋಗ ಮಾಡೋದು" ಅಂತಾ ಮಡದಿ ಕೇಳಿದಳು. ಕೆಲವರು ಬೇರೆ ಸ್ಟಾಕ್ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಇವಳ ಬಳಿಯೂ ಇರಬಹುದು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆವು. "ಸೇವಂತಿಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟಕ್ಕ" ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ, "ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಲ್ವಲ್ಲ ಹೋಗಿ..." ಎಂದು ಒರಟಾಗಿ ಹೇಳೋದೇ? ಅಬ್ಬಬ್ಬಾ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರ ಮಾಡುವ ಪರಿಯೇ. ಅದಿಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಳ ಗಾಡಿ ಕಾಲಿ ಹೊಡೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ವಾಹನದ ದಟ್ಟಣೆಯ ಧೂಳು ಮಾತ್ರ ಹೂವಿನ ಬಳಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. 

ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಎದುರುಗಡೆ ಇದ್ದ ಗಾಡಿ ಬಳಿ ತೆರಳಿದೆವು. ಹೂವು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡಾ ಕಪ್ಪಾಗಿತ್ತು. ನಗುನಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಹೂವು ಮಾರುವವಳು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾಗಿತಿಸಿ, "ಏನ್ ಕೊಡ್ಲಿ ಅಮ್ಮಾ" ಎಂದು ವಿನಯದಿಂದ ನುಡಿದಳು. "ಕಪ್ಪಾಗಿದೆ ಅಲ್ವಾಮ್ಮಾ ಅಂದಾಗ, ಮಳೆ ಕಣಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಸಂಜೆ ಆಯ್ತಲ್ವಾ ಅದಿಕ್ಕೆ ಕಪ್ಪಾಗಿದೆ" ಎಂದು ಮಾರುತ್ತರ ನೀಡಿದಳು. "ನೀವು ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಟೈಮ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬನ್ನಿ ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಫ್ರೆಶ್ ಹೂವಾ ಇರುತ್ತೆ" ಎಂದು ನಯವಾಗಿ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದಳು. ನಮಗೂ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೂವು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋದೆವು. 

ಈ ಎರಡು ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಹೀಗೆ ಎನ್ನಿಸಿತು? ವಿನಯವಂತಿಕೆ ಇರಬೇಕಲ್ಲವೇ? ಮೊದಲನವಳಿಗೆ ಸುಸ್ತಾಗಿದೆಯೋ ಅಥವಾ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರ ಬೇಕಾದಷ್ಟು ಆಗಿದೆಯೋ? ಅಥವಾ ಮತ್ತೇನೋ ತಿಳಿದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಬ್ಬದ ದಿನ ಒಂದೆರಡು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಮಾತನ್ನು ಆಡಿ್ದರೆ ಮುಂದಿನ ಹಬ್ಬದವರೆಗೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಾಗುತ್ತೆ ಅನ್ನುವ ನಂಬಿಕೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಾಗುತ್ತೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ತಿಳಿದಿಲ್ಲ ಆದರೆ ನಾವಂತೂ ಮತ್ತೆ ಅವಳ ಹೂವಿನ ಅಂಗಡಿ ಬಳಿ ಎಂದೂ ಸುಳಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ.

Resplendent reflection at Kalkere Lake

Few days of thunderstorm can faithfully cleanup city atmosphere. It is visible from clean horizon, non-hazy environment and colorful sunsets. There is green everywhere and waterbodies flaunt their might. It was raining healthily for few days in September which beautified the sky. 

After thunderstorm took a break, we visited Kalkere lake for evening refresher. The evening sky was surprise and most powerful. Never seen such expansive reflection. That's the advantage of having pristine waterbody not blemished by cityscape. The wind was calm which consequently mirrored the flamboyant sky over the lake.

There was hint of thunderstorm from skies due East. However, it didn't rain!

The colors due west were getting better and better.

The beauty & color accentuated as we neared the darkness. I frenziedly captured the actions in the sky. There was no limit or control. Chose some of my favorites for blog! 

Kalkere Lake visit from Kanaka sarovara end

Our first to Kalkere lake was far from house. We searched if we could visit from nearest gate and were successful via maps. This was hardly 4kms from house. Except the last 1km, the roads are also good! The final stretch to lake is bumpy and muddy though. Its dusty as well which makes commuting by two wheeler a disease-ful task. We visited by car fortunately. Since we found nearest route, hope to visit the lake frequently.

The thunderstorm season is slowly vanishing. The atmosphere was clear and wind was calm. Great reflection of clouds over the lake and azure sky was bonus. The lake is also fuelled by treated water. A huge water treatment plant is situated near lake. The lake is also host for many aquatic birds which I want to explore some day. Hope you enjoy pictures!

Unfortunately the beautiful landscape of lake is blemished by many nascent high-raise apartments :-(

The pipeline where treated water flows to lake

Colorful sunset to conclude the visit