Sacorda - Bondla - Bison

The road from Darbandora to Sacorda is  a very nice stretch and one of the

best routes we have walked on. It runs right next to the Bondla Wildlife

Sanctuary. While walking, we saw he back gate of the wild life park and were

tempted to explore. We walked in and tried to look sharp in the hope of sighting

some wildlife. About two kilometres deep inside, we were very happy to meet a

herd of Gaur. But the moment one of them stood still and stared at us, we realised

that we were trespassing on their property, were on foot and vulnerable if they

decided to take us to task. Fortunately they watched us for a moment, turned

and kept to their track and we hastily retreated.

Posted some pictures of the walk ( apologies to friends Pramod Sawant and

Shankar Naik, who had expressed interest to join us. Could not inform them in time )

on www.dentaldiaries.blogspot.com    I am keeping a record of our activities

( for whatever it is worth) through my blog.

The video and pictures of Giant squirrel and Me are courtesy my friend Triambak. In

my excitement on seeing the animals, I forgot to click on the 'video on' button!

My friends Rajaneesh and Praveen are just two spots, way ahead, followed by Rajesh, Viren and Triambak. I am slogging slowly behind. 

 

Unguarded entry to the wild life park, welcoming us !

Path passing through the park 

A stream, dried up in summer. 

Triambak 

A green arch on the road, made by the branches.

Wild flowers on the road 

Indian Giant squirrel - A beautiful animal but just a blurred image here. 

I think we can call this a forest. 

The dark blotch in the centre is the Bison, Majestic in stature, looking at us. 

Sunrise In Loutolim and the Dogs.

I got these pictures while passing through

the village of Loutolim, on my way to Ponda

from the airport.

Loutolim is a beautiful place, with the river

Zuari on one side - next to which, the road

passes - and the slopes leading to Verna

plateau on the other. In between we have

backwaters, green fields and coconut groves.

I love the place and invariably stop at one or

two places whenever I drive through.

I would have lingered on a bit longer, walked

around and enjoyed the sunrise from few more

spots if the dogs of Loutolim were not very

keen on having me for breakfast.

The last line is with apologies to my friend Annie

Sengupta and his wife Anjali, whose heart is full

of love for street dogs. All dogs, rather. I

understand that these dogs do not mean any

harm, nor they harbour evil intentions when

they bark at you but that’s what it seems to

me! Something wrong with me, not the dogs.

I wish my blood had some of the constituents

which make up Annie’s blood but it doesn’t.

It is made up more like Bill Bryson’s.

Recently I read these lines in his book ‘Down Under’.  

He says this while writing about an unexpected

encounter with dogs in an urban wood.  

I quote, “Dogs don’t like me. It is a simple law

of universe, like gravity. I am not exaggerating

when I say that I have never passed a dog that

didn’t act as if I was about to help myself to its

Pedigree Chum. Dogs that have not moved

from the sofa in years will, at the sniff of me

passing outside, rise in fury and hurl themselves

at shut windows. I have seen tiny dogs, no bigger

than a fluffy slipper, jerk little old ladies off their

feet and drag them over open ground in a quest

to get at my blood and sinew. Every dog on the

 face of the earth wants me dead”.     

Anmod on a summer morning.

It is two months since the Anmod Ghat on the Hubli - Goa route is closed for
traffic. Some major road work is being done. To walk on the Anmod Ghat road
when the traffic is on is probably just short of suicidal. The trafficless Anmod
was a temptation. So we took the opportunity to go walking on the ghat road
this morning. Anmod will be a green paradise during rains. Summer is not the
time to see the place. It is mostly dry. But some of my friends decided to go
there for a walk/run today. The walk on the empty road in the early morning
was very pleasant. I walked half way up - 17 kms up and down.
(feet are still aching). Those who could, ran the full length of the ghat road. Since I had my phone with me, I took some pictures and posted it here.

It was still dark when we started 

Morning sun lights up the eastern slopes

The empty ghat road, which prompted the walk

The dry slopes of summer

Triambak, Rajesh, Self, Sandeep and Praveen - from left to right.

Triambak at Molem Check post, the point where we started.

Different hues of the summer greenery. 

Camping on Siddhanath Hill

Gentleman ‘A’, a citizen of UK, who thought that he was an outdoors man,

purchased a tent, hoping to enjoy the outdoors and camping. It was

lightweight, easy to set up and provided protection from mild drizzle,

snow and small creatures. The tent slept in the attic and ‘A’ in his bed

for the next four years.

During one spring cleaning, he saw the tent in the attic, wondered about
its presence and being an intelligent individual, soon recollected it and realised
that he is not going to use it. He brought it down and handed the tent over to a
friend ‘B’ who, he thought, was a better hiker and camper.

After enjoying the presence of the tent in his garage for an year, ‘B’ realised
that he is not going to use it either and decided to put it to better use.
He gifted the tent to his cousine ‘C’ in India, who he

knew, liked hiking and cycling.

‘C’ lugged the tent on his back on few of his hiking expeditions but never

erected and slept in it as there were better options everywhere. He did set

it up once but later slept in a nearby building as his companion was too

scared to sleep in a flimsy tent in a forest area.

I was keen to experience some camping but was not so keen as to go buy a tent.

When I heard about the availability of the tent, I offered ‘C’, who

happens to be my friend Triambak, company for camping.  We selected the top of

Siddhanath hill near Ponda as a suitable place and ended up there last

Tuesday by seven in the evening.  Rest of the camping trip, in pictures

and captions.

Care of the stomach comes first, followed by mosquito repellent and lights. It was a fullmoon day, but we had taken enough lighting with us to illuminate the whole hill ! 

My yoga mat, for use as bedding and a bag full of blankets and jackets. Nights are chilly these days and we expected it to be colder on top. It was, but the tent provided enough protection against cold.

It was already dark when we reached the top. But suprisingly there was a light bulb burning on top of the temple.  The moon was yet to rise and it was dark all around.  The lights seen at a distance are the city of Ponda. We sat on the bench in front of the temple waiting for the moon to rise. 

The moon rising behind the temple. It was nearly half past nine by then. We were eating the stuff that we had taken and decided to put up the tent after that. It was absolutely silent and suddenly there was a loud clang like aheavy vessel falling down from a height. It was from a room built next to the temple. We wondered if there were anyone living there. I wanted to suggest that we go and check but was scared to go investigating dark empty rooms on top of an isolated hill. Who knows ? it could be a leopard or a ghost !  We ignored the sound and continued to eat.  We heard the sound again after about an hour and quietly came down the steps and busied ourselves with the tent. 

Triambak unfolds the tent and tries to recollect what goes where. There was moonlight all around but we were in the shadow of trees. We hung a battery operated bulb from the side of the car for light. There is a flat surface where the road ends at the top of the hill and the temple is a climb of about fifty steps from there. We decided to camp on the flat surface. 

The tent is almost ready but there are some un used parts. Later we realised they were some hooks and rods meant to stabilise the tent in case of strong breeze or a storm. 

Got all the buttons in proper loops and all the rods in proper sleeves.  

A satisfied Triambak poses with the tent, sweating a bit inspite of the cold and patting himself on the back for a job well done. 

I tried to make the interior as comfortable as possible and did a reasonably good job. But could not sleep well because I have difficulty going to sleep in a new environment.  I could have sat outside and hoped to see some of the nocturnal creatures like porcupine, jackal, wild boar or even a leopard which I have heard are some of the residents of the hill, but was too scared to get out alone.  Triambak was sleeping sound. 

Siddhanath Temple (taken from the net)

Lord Siddhanath

Our tent photographed the next morning. 

Early morning view from the hill top 

Morning sunlight  seen on the upper half of the eastern part of another hill at a distance and in front of Siddhanath. We were on the western face of Siddhanth hill. 

After the sun rose, we dismantled the tent and decided to go back. Now that it was bright all around, we decided to investigate the source of the last night's noise. We peeped through the window into the room and found that it was full of cooking utensils, probabaly used for preparing food during the annual festival. There mst have been lot of rats running around the un inhabited room, disturbing and pushing down the utensils from the shelves. There were a number of large utensils lying on the floor. 
We solved the mystery and headed back home, promising ourselves that we would go camping again and I hope to sleep better next time. 

Dashavatarastuti - Vadiraja - Vamana 10

Dhyaana + arha - worth meditating up on, fit to be meditated upon,

Vaamana + tano - dwarf (Vamana) + Having body of , Natha = Lord,

Pahi = protect, Yajamana + asura + eesha = Leader, Presider (presiding

over the Yagna) + Demon + King, Vasudha = Earth, Adanaa + ya = take

back + to, Yaachanika = one who is begging, asking for, Leenaartha = hidden,

inner, sweeter meaning Vak + Vashita = Oratory + Under control, Naanaa = Many,  

Sadasya = members of assembly, Danuja = demons, Born out of Danu.

Meena + anka =  fish + sign (on flag) ie Manmatha, Nirmala =  Clean, clear, pure,

Nishaa + naatha = Night + King ie moon, Koti = Crores,  Lasamana = Radiance, Beauty,

Aatma + maounji + guNa = (on) Body + waist + Thread Kaupeena = Loincloth,

 Achcha + Sutra = Pure, Sacred + thread, Pad + yaana = Legs + Moving ie Walking,

Atapa + tra = Sun + protecting ie umbrella, Karakaa = kamandala, Vessel to carry

water,  Anamya = worth bowing before, Danda + Vara = Stick + Great,Supreme,

Bhrit = Possessing, Carrying.

In the guise of a seeker, taking back the earth by sweet talking the king of demons,

Bali and taking under control all members of his assembly by oratory, having the

body of dwarfish Vamana, worth meditating upon,

With the radiance and beauty surpassing crores of ‘Manmatha’ who has fish sign on

his flag, and lord of night ‘Chandra’, king of night, and having a thread around the

waist, wearing a loincloth and the sacred thread, moving on the feet, holding the

umbrella, the water vessel and carrying the supreme power stick - danda (which is )

worthy of prostrations, Lord, (you) protect (us).  - 10

Dashavatarastuti - Vaadiraajaswamy - Vaamana 9

Pinga + aksha =  Red + eye, meaning a Big cat, Lion. Vikrama = Brave, parakrami.  

(Brave like a lion) Turanga = Horse, Horse unit of the army, Adi = etc,  Sainya = Army,

Armed Forces, Chaturanga = Four branches of ancient armies - Men, Horse units,

Chariots and elephant unit. Avalipta =  being proud of, Carried away by the possession of,

Danu+ ja = Danu + Born, meaning a Danava. A + saanga + adhvara + stha + bali = un,

not,in,im + correct, proper, complete + yagna + doer, performer + Bali.  Meaning

Balimahaaraja who was performing a yagna which was improper, Improper because

the main ingredient essential for yagna, ie Vishnubhakti, was missing. Sa + anga + ava +

paata = Alongwith, including + body parts + pushing + down, Hrishita = Very happy, thrilled,

Amara = having no death, meaning gods, Ali = Group, Nuta = Praising, Worship through

singing, Te = To

Shringara =  Very nice, beautiful, enchanting Paada = foot, Nakha = nail,

Tunga + agra = high, top + tip, top end, Bhinna = crack, cut, pierce Kanaka = Gold,

Anga = Body parts, Anda = comprising all, (Kanakaangaanda is other name for

Brahmaanda) Paati = fell out, fallen, Tatini = That which has banks, borders,

meaning Ganga river.

Tunga = Top, high   Ati + mangala + Taranga = Very + Auspicious + waves  

Abhibhuta = destroy, washaway Bhajaka + anga + agha =  those who are

praising + Body + Sins Meaning external and internal impurities/sins of body  

Vamaana + namah = Vamana + Prostrations

You, who pushed into the lower recesses of ‘paataala’, the whole of Bali Chakravarti,

son of Danu, who was brave as a lion and was consumed by the fact that he had

under his control a large army comprising of all the four units including the horse unit,

and the group of gods were thrilled.

The tip of your beautiful toenail pierced the golden outer cover of the universe,

(Brahma performed ‘Abhishekha’ for the toenail) and the sacred Ganga flowed

down, her auspicious high waves washed away the external impurities and internal

sins of those who were singing your praise, Vamana, prostrations to you. -  9

Dashavatarastuti - Vadirajaswamy - 8 Narasimha

Dambholi = Lightening, Teekshna = Sharp, severe, excessive, Nakha = Nails,
Sambhedita = ripped apart, Indra + ripu = Enemy of Indra (in the present case Hiranyakashipu), Khumbhi + Indra = King of elephants, (Kumbhi is one who has a 'kumbha', ie an elephant) Pahi = Protect, Kripaya = Please, kindly, Sthambha = Pillar, Arbhaka = child, one who is born out of, Asahana = Intolerant (Narasimha doesn't tolerate enemies, arrogance etc) Dimbha + ya = Child +To (Namely, Prahlaada) Datta + vara = Giver/given + Boons, Gambhira = Deep, loud, grand, Naada = Sound, Nrihare - nr + hare = Nara + Hari = Man + Lion

Ambhodi + ja = Ocean + Born , Anusarana = Being followed, Following, Ambho + ja + Bhu = Water + Born + Born from (One who was born out of something born in water, meaning born from Lotus, ie Brahma) Pavana = Vaayudeva, Kumbhinanasa + Esha = Snake + King (shesha), Khagaraat = Garuda, Kumbh + indra = Elephaant + king, Kritti + Dhara = Skin + wearing, (shiva), Jambhu + Ari = Jambhasura + Enemy (Indra) , Shanmukha = Subrahmanya, Mukha + Ambhoruha = Mouth + Lotus = having lotuslike mouths/faces, (meaning Beautiful and not absorbing effects of 'Samsaara' - Devatas - just as lotus does not absorb water inspite of being in contact) Abhinuta = being prostrated/ worshipped, Mam = Me.

With sharpest nails, which are like a thunderbolt, slaying a king elephant like Hiranyakashipu, coming out of a pillar, intolerant of enemies and the evil and granting boons to the child Prahlaada and producing a deep majestic roar, (you) Narahari,

Being followed by Lakshmidevi, and worshipped by Brahma, Vayudeva, Seshadeva, Garuda, Shiva, Indra, Subrahmanaya and other gods, please protect me.