RSS FeedDesktop Calendar: February 2012
Jan 31, 2012 Calendar
Despite spending two winters in UK, the snow eluded me. When I landed in UK for the first time, it had cleared out a week before. And the second winter, it started within hours my flight took off from the Heathrow airport. When the time came to land in Aberdeen on the third winter, it was action reply of first visit – no sign of snow again and I had to wait for another winter. With numerous number of warnings/stories about the previous winter which went as low as 16 degrees below zero, I waited eagerly to face the sub zero days and the snow. But alas, snow eluded me again – except for just a day when it snowed in December. We were woken up to a white day, but only to melt off quickly in next two days.
Background image: A white winter morning at Aberdeen as seen from the living room window.
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In search of Nessie monster
Jan 29, 2012 Castle, Photo Essay, Scotland, UK
After two years I visited Loch Ness and Urquhart castle, I was there again. Unlike last time where we drove all the way to the castle, we decided to take the cruise on the dark waters of Loch Ness to reach Urquhart Castle. It was a windy day, but the clear sky and a bit of sunshine made it an enjoyable ride to the castle. Here are few photos taken while searching for the mysterious monster of Loch Ness. :)
Dark blue waters of Loch Ness
Hotel Loch Ness Clansman – starting point of cruise journey
Another view from the cruise
Urquhart Castle, as seen from the boat
Closer look of Urquhart Castle
I Was Here: Kavishaila
Jan 23, 2012 I Was Here
Kavishaila is a rock monument dedicated to Kuvempu, one of the greatest literary giants of Karnataka. More than a monument, its the place which inspired Kuvempu to give us the wonderful pieces of Kannada literature. It is on a small hillock right next to his childhood home Kuppalli. Kavishaila is also the place where Kuvempu and his son Poornachandra Tejaswi, a famous Kannada writer himself were laid to rest.
And in case if you are plannign a visit to Kuppalli, here are few near by places of interests – Kundadri, Mandagadde bird sanctuary, Agumbe, Sringeri.
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On a rainy day in Gudavi Bird Sanctuary
Jan 18, 2012 Birds, Karnataka, On the road, Road Trip, Shivamogga
Mid August and five days with us to spare for three of us. After countless number of lengthy discussions on places to visit and itinerary, we were still clueless on where to go. Finally, we decided to reach Goa, spend a day and come back. But with no any fixed plan on route, stop-overs, places to visit en route. That’s when we chanced upon to visit Gudavi, a small less known bird sanctuary in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
It was almost noon, by the time we reached there. But the overcast sky and drizzles made us feel it was still 8 in the morning. As we entered the sanctuary, we were welcomed by squawking of countless number of birds. The area was completely filled with hundreds of Black headed Ibises and a few Egrets which were complete minority among Ibises. The view from the watchtower was much more beautiful – white dots sprawled all over the green scape. But only sad part was we were not able to spend more time at the place due to intermittent rain and the birds too were not happy because of the weather.
Gudavi is 15 KMs from Soraba taluk of Shivamogga district. There are no facilities to stay at the bird santuary. Nearest places for a decent accomodation are Sagar or Shivamogga. Along with Gudavi, near by places of interests – Keladi, Banavasi, and of course the well known Jog falls.
