Madras Thorn - கொடுக்காபுளி

When I saw this in Pallavaram market, I was a little more than excited...

கொடுக்காபுளி

But, the roadside peddler was at a ever busy junction and I'd to make a huge u turn just to buy this!

கொடுக்காபுளி, until this day I didn't know the English name, thanks to google for informing the botanical and common names - Pithecellobium dulce/Madras Thorn!

This is a seasonal fruit (well, how else can I call it?!), available for a very short time in the height of summer. Taste - bitter sweet to sweet, you can't judge the taste by the color of the skin...at times the green ones are sweet too and the pink ones are bitter.

More than eating this odd tasting fruit, the thrill is in peeling the first layer of the black seeds!

These seeds are inedible and has a double layer. The outer thick black one, followed by skinny brown layer. The minute you start peeing with nails, both layers come off. So peeling that tough layer without scratching the next layer used to be our challenge in those days. Even now, I couldn't get it off:(

Clouds, Moon, Smoke - Mesmerising

Let me go wordless for once!

Nature's Defect

Note: Republishing this post for the following reasons:

• Heard from a friend, who recently visited my blog that she had seen a tree that was full of leaves like this. In this case, am not sure, if these holes in the leaf are because of bugs or is it just one of nature's wonder? Sounds dumb? But, I have this doubt!
• Submitting this for:

Scenic Sunday

Shadow Shot Sunday

Straight out of the Camera Sunday

I came across this handsome piece of nature during my evening walk...

Bug eaten?...but very cute, isin't it?

Appam Balik - Malaysian Crêpe

Yesterday at pasar malam (evening market in Malay) my daughter and I wanted to buy appam balik (traditional Malay crêpe), but the lady was just starting to light her stove, so we had to wait.

Brass Tawa

I was not hoping to take any photos, so I didn't have my DSLR with me. But, the situation was very tempting to take pictures, I'd to satisfy myself with my puny hand phone camera (Samsung BT3410).

Getting ready with the flour

Spreading

The way she swirled the flour reminded me of spreading dosai on the tawa!

Toppings

When the appam was half-way done, she sprinkled liberally with coarse groundnut and added a dash of sweet corn. Look at the appam where I've labeled 'Ratilator', it is plain without any topping. The flour was not spread evenly, which would result in soggy appam, so the seller decided that it was unfit for sale. What a professionalism!

Crispy Crêpe

Once done, she placed the crispy appam balik in this special stand! Kecil is small, and yes, 3 for RM1. There is 'besar' or large version too, which is soft, like pancakes.

Appam Balik - Besar

This appam besar is too soft and overdosed with peanuts, margarine and sweet corn. So, our choice is always the kecil, crispy version, which is also healthier, mainly because they don't add margarine!

Malaysian appam baliks are made of chickpea flour. Where as back in India, appams are made of rice and dal flour. My mom makes salty and sweet appams, sure I will be tasting it when I go home next month:)

Reflection!

Like shadows, am captivated by reflections! Here are some of the reflections...

Wicker chair @ my balcony

Entrance of my house

At a friend's house

Chittukurivi - House Sparrow

It was raining rather heavily in the afternoon and I was busy in the kitchen. A familiar, yet long forgotten sound tempted me to open the wet area and confirm what I heard is true...

Poor little darlings, they were shivering in the wet and rather cold breeze. How long it has been since I've seen them!

When I was young, sparrows (chittukurivi or oorkuruvi) used to grace our terrace in the evenings and feed on the left over food that was kept for crows in the morning. Now, after seeing the beautiful household bird I tried to recall if I've seen any of them in my hometown during my visits in 2010, but I can't remember spotting them. Are sparrows getting endangered too?

Picturesque India - Aliyar Dam & Monkey Falls

In 2010, due to various reasons I had to travel a lot. Moreover, we had several opportunities to travel with family in India! I had missed out on blogging side because of these travels and other commitments. I realized this only when I started to archive and take a back up of the photos. To do away with the guilty feeling, am trying to come up with this eleventh hour post...

Path leading to Monkey falls around 65 km from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Superb weather and no crowd...we were very much tempted to take a dip, but unfortunately we had no change of clothes...so just satisfied ourselves with waddling in the stream...

Aliyar dam is just about a couple of km from Monkey falls and is surrounded by western ghats...

Though it was a hot day, it was windy and pleasant.

The park adjoining the dam was very inviting and we settled there for a picnic lunch...

Bettle nut tree...

Another view of the western ghats...

Typical bazar meant to attract the tourists...

On the way back, we saw someone casually throwing trash out of a moving car. This made to sigh and think, when would be change?

Scratching Woks!

Although, most of the stuff is in place at my new residence, am still trying to settle down. As am working from home, that too, on a leisurely pace, I have ample time at my hands. Therefore, I pick up each chore and do it with passion. Yesterday, I was trying to clean up a blackened wok that my hub was using when I was in London. Halfway through, suddenly, I remembered a standing family joke and immediately took this snap:)

When I took BA English Literature, one of my uncles teased that I had chosen this subject because I was destined to "scratch woks" (meaning get married and lead a lethargic life) and am going to college only for time-pass until I get married!

Now, my uncle is no more. I still wonder why he made such comments, probably, in those days my profession was unknown. Whatever, his comment has come true today!

Package of an MP...

A forwarded mail is the cause of this post, which claims Politics as a profession in India. After seeing the breakdown of their official income, am wondering who is the real cause of the economic slowdown? Here is an excerpt that shows where the tax payer's money goes:

Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Indian Parliament
Monthly Salary: Rs. 12,000/-
Expense for Constitution per month: Rs. 10,000/-
Office expenditure per month: Rs. 14,000/-
Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km): Rs. 48,000/-
(eg. For a visit from South India to Delhi & return: 6000 km)
Daily DA TA during parliament meets: Rs. 500/day
Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times
All over India ) 
Charge for Business Class in flights: Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.)
Rent for MP hostel at Delhi: Free
Electricity   costs at home: Free up to 50,000 units
Local phone call charge: Free up to 1, 70,000 calls
TOTAL expense for a MP [having no qualification] per year:  Rs.32,00,000/-

This is equal to RM 2,31,300 or GBP 43,500.)

To my knowledge, the allowances are true, but not sure about the salary. However, the package is too high for many of the undeserving candidates. In addition, there are no performance standards, against which they can be gauged. And, there is no retrenchment either!

I wish their package can be reduced to half, and that amount can be spent to bring some of the basic needs like proper sanitation and drinking water to thousands of Indian villages.

Memorable Courtallam

On the way back from Thiruchendur, we decided to go to Courtallam, a small town in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu famous for water falls. The peak season is between June to August, during this period people flock there to enjoy the pleasant breeze and shower in the seasonal water falls. Surprisingly, even in September, we heard that there was water in that town, so went there.

When we used to live in India, we used to frequent this place for every season, and do certain things diligently, like eat hot halwa (Indian sweet made of wheat flour) near Main Falls. So, this time around my first stop, was at the famous halwa shop and had halwa and at the same time had visual treat, which is shown below:


As we had to go back to Madurai before dark, we headed for Five Falls. This place is named after the falls that pour down from the same range! See the picturesque view:



Another specialty of this town is monkeys! In Five Falls, as there was not much crowd, monkeys were having a gala time.

True to their attitude, this monkey was ripping off the flowers laid on top of the Elephant statue, kind cute is isn't it?
Like humans, mom protectively taking the baby for a walk.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman - My all time favorite temples

When I was young, I used to gaze at the majestic Gopuras (temple tower) of Meenakshi Amman Temple, till I'd to squint because of the hot sun! Being one of the largest and high holy Hindu temples, it was listed for online voting as one of the seven wonders of the world!

This time, when I visited, the thatch covered gopuras were a bit disappointing, as I could not view them, especially the South, to my hearts content. Yea, maramathu or renovation was going on because of the kumbabeshekam and hence covered. Three main towers are filled with artistic statues and the fourth Motta (plain or devoid) gopura, without any statue adorned is a sight for a life time.

When I stand in front of the main deity Goddess Meenakshi, I can forget myself and gaze at her endlessely, despite the crowd and noise. In fact I dint shoot much photos here mainly bcos I feel at peace inside this temple and never thought of clicking until I finished my prayers.

Golden Lotus, based on which my granpaa used to enthrall us with endless mythological stories.

Nandhi, facing Swami sannadhi.

Navagragha, we Hindus believe that the nine planets are responsible for our destiny and hence they are a part of our temples.

Belief on child birth - There is a belief that if you apply oil on the lower abdomen of this deity and pray on behalf of the pregnant woman who is about to deliver, the delivery would be smooth and both the mother and child would be safe.

Amman Sannathi, famous shopping center inside temple premises, where you get typical Indian ladies and religious related stuff.

Colorful Madurai

Whenever I set foot in my home town Madurai, I feel at home and a sense of belonging rushes to me though I don't get all the creature comforts that now am used to! Day starts with typical scenes like cows tethered in the neighborhood or milking:

and Milk vendors carrying milk cans for home/shop delivery


Madurai is synonymous with good food that is available round the clock. Yea, I did enjoy the delicacies. But unfortunately, I dint snap I was busy tasting it;) Shot only a few like this roadside fruit salad vendor at night, bcos I dint eat it!

Karumbu chaaru (sugar cane juice) n yelani (tender coconut) are the must have...


Then, we cant run away from the rickshaws, which are similar to trishaws of Penang!


As there are lot of villages around Maduari, you can see villagers/daily wagers traveling like cattle, come to think of it, I might enjoy this ride as it might be a joy/thrill ride!

Still in some parts, there are no bridges on top of rail tracks, instead, railway level crossings are still in use.
Still bullock carts are driven on road,

I can keep rattling endlessly, but now am a bit sleepy, so will continue later

Terror on road!

Any sort of travel was a thrill ride be it Chennai or my home town Madurai. In Chennai I had the pleasure of taking the auto ride and I was reminded of a local saying "people drive auto in a cycle gap", no no now even a bus goes in a cycle gap! Look at the snap below, you can see traffic coming out from every possible direction:

We went to one of the Hindu holy places, Thiruchendur, which is a seaside Murugan temple. After very long time the sight of baby elephant, local food n snacks, seashore, and all looked attractive, & I was reminiscing about my childhood days and wondered if I can do a time travel!

Here are some of the best snaps that I caught!

Prayer items

Taking holy dip

The beach was not maintained hence, dared not to try, especially as the sea keeps receding often after tsunami!

Elephant food- Rice cooked with more than 10 types of herbs


Mahut feeding the baby elephant
Typical Indian ice cream, which is called as "iceprute"Sliced Mango seller