Just another Monsoon Waterfall....

These waterfalls come to life only during the Monsoons, when there is a abundant flow of water in the myriad streams that join together to fall from a height, in the forest....

Paddy Fields - All done and waiting for the harvest in Sept-Oct

A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Rice can also be grown in dry-fields, but from the twentieth century paddy field agriculture became the dominant form of growing rice. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice-growing countries of east, south and southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea,Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka,Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Paddy fields can be built adjacent to otherwise natural areas such as rivers or marshes. They can be constructed, often on steep hillsides with much labor and materials. The fields require large quantities of water for irrigation. Flooding provides water essential to the growth of the crop. Water also provides a favorable environment for the rice strains being grown as well as discouraging the growth of many species of weeds. More here... click

Wikio

VW Bus - Rust in Piece

The VW Bus, with only its Logo intact, no engine inside, no tyres, no seats, Rusts here...

A Boy in the Market

My friend's son - Abhiram in the Sunday Veggie Bazaar....

Crown of Clouds

Of Tadpoles and Frogs....

Two tadpoles, of the many in this small water body. They have developed their tiny feet, and are yet to lose their tails...

And the picture below is of the Mother Frog.... in the same water body....

Reading this News Article, a few days back : Croak Croak no more... KARWAR: The sudden disappearance of frogs from the coastal areas of Uttara Kannada district has left environmentalists and health department officials worried. Environmentalists are concerned about many varieties of frogs being on the verge of extinction, while the health department officials are fighting a lone battle against chikungunya, dengue and malaria. The spurt in cases of chikungunya and dengue in the coastal taluks has highlighted the importance of amphibians like frogs that played a major role in controlling the mosquitoes, which spread the aforesaid epidemics. Also at http://frogsaregreen.com/651/frogs-natures-bug-zappers/

During my Sunday travels I found the Reports may be be wee bit exaggerated, cos I found plenty of frogs at the Kadwad village, living, thriving and multiplying... Took some pictures, of which only these two are clear, as it was twilight. However, we ought to take care of the Frog species as the Frogs of neighbouring Goa are fast dwindling, as per this Report (Malabar Gliding Frogs) and this Report (Bull Frogs) which made the Goa Government start a Save the Frogs Campaign. The Goa Government hasurged the poeple of Goa to refrain from catching Frogs for making them a part of their palate.....(uuugggghh!!!) as per the Report here :-

Concerned over the drastic decline in population of frogs, Goa government has urged the public to refrain from catching them for commercial or other reasons during the monsoon, the mating season of many species of croakers.

The Indian government had banned catching, killing and export of frog legs under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, thus entitling violators, including those serving frog meat at eateries, for stringent punishment like fine and imprisonment. The indiscriminate killing of frogs for their meat have been the cause of decline in their population, also disturbing the food chain and the ecological balance of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

I am delighted to say that both the above Frog species - Bull Frog and the Malabar Tree Frog are living and thriving in my neighbourhood, even now...

For all about Frogs go to http://allaboutfrogs.org/

Landscape at Kadwad, Karwar

View of the Landscape from the Highest Point at Kadwad village. The water body is the Kali River, and its Backwaters that extend upto Kadwad. The Arabian Sea is also visible on the horizon, along with the Kurumgad Island. This was taken a day before yesterday (sunday), when the Rains had receded for the day...

SUNLIGHT UPON THE LANDSCAPE

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Light on the landscape -- one effulgent ray

Scatters the shadows of the night away,

Lights up the mountains, robed in living green,

Lights up the valleys, nestling close between,

Discloses pit-falls, deep and wild morass,

The dizzy precipice, and dangerous pass,

And warns the traveler, wending on his way,

To fly the peril while it yet is day.

Continued here (Source)

Monsoon lashes Karwar....

The 14 days of non-stop monsoon rains have lashed Karwar town, caused quite a bit of erosion, and water logging eveywere.... The Clouds had descended over Karwar to personally see to it that Karwar recieved its fair share of Monsoons... A hydro-powered dam about 200 kms from Karwar recorded 25 feet deep water in just 9 days !! And other dams near Karwar have gone from Empty to Near Full withinthis period.... And thats why I couldnt post pictures here on my Blog !! :-)

A Village House

Picture of a Village House with Clay Tile roofing, built with Stones, Lime mixed with Earth, and with a thatched roof shed attached to it, used as a Fireplace and storehouse. The Main house though appears to be small, is consisting of many rooms, like a maze, and is approximately 3000sq.ft. in area. The house stands in a Betel-nut Plantation Farm, far removed from the civilisation.

Look into my Eyes...

A cat perched on top of a bamboo basket, trying to Hypnotise you.....

An Empty Church

Well, I am again late for the July Theme - Empty on the City Daily Photo Portal. But the picture which I had selected for this month's Theme is this - St. Josephs Church at Sadashivgad, Karwar. This Church was built in 1912 with Laterite Stones, Lime and Mud (earth), and later on covered with a thin layer of cement plaster, and is annually whitewashed. The Roof is made of Burnt Clay Tiles supported by wooden rafters, that have stood the test of time. Long Steel Rods suspend the Ceiling Fans, and the Architecture seems to be influenced by the Portuguese Style. The Front Elevation of the Church was posted by me earlier here.

From Darkness to Light

This picture was taken at the Northern end of the Kali Bridge at Karwar, where a big hillock was cut in 1982 - 83 to make way for the National Highway no.17 over the Kali Bridge. The Hill is made up of Granite rock, and both faces of the sides of the Highway are the remains of the cut Grantie rock, which makes the entire area appear dark, during the most part of the day.

It gives an impression that we are passing from Darkness towards Light in this picture.....

Lead, Kindly Light

"Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th' encircling gloom,

Lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home,

Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me."

- Venerable John Henry Newman

Below is the Hindu Prayer with its English Translation.

Om asato ma sadgamaya,

tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,

mrityorma amritamgamaya

Om shantih shantih shantih

Meaning :-

Oh Almighty! Lead us from the unreal (falsity)

to the real (truth) from darkness to light!

From death to immortality!

Oh Almighty! May there be Peace! Peace! Peace!

- Brihdaranyaka Upanisada 1:3:27 - India