JP Nagar

Of the 47 teams that took part in the HSBC Bangalore Bird Race, I am only talking about Team Black Stork.... comprised (in alphabetical order) Gayathri, Mani, Saandip, Uma...and me.We certainly had a wonderful time that day, and we certainly never had any expectations, as bird-sightings are so much a matter of luck! Our list had 123 birds, and I never did photograph most of them. I'm hoping that the others will put up their bird-race photographs up soon! We started at my top favourite birding location, the Bannerghatta Zoo area. A bird that I enjoyed seeing was the handsomeLARGE CUCKOO-SHRIKE:The Zoo…

  When I go for my morning walk around the Mini Forest, it's often dark, and so it's easy to see the magic of the cobwebs that the spiders spin, to catch the insects that are drawn to the light....That's the way the web starts...on some lamps, the creation is quite impressive:In the dark, the filaments of the web seem to be made of light themselves....a light-trap, to catch the unwary, that the predators build of gossamer....just look at the strength of the web, that can trap so much debris and hold it up without breaking!  ⊕

  At our front door, my kolam greets you with good wishes: and when you enter, Surya Narayana is there to bless you with happiness, health, and prosperity:And if you are not too late, you will get "shakkarai pongal" and "ven pongal", to eat, as the puja prasad!Wish everyone a happy Pongal...or, if you are not celebrating it, a happy weekend!  ⊕

  At our front door, my kolam greets you with good wishes: and when you enter, Surya Narayana is there to bless you with happiness, health, and prosperity:And if you are not too late, you will get "shakkarai pongal" and "ven pongal", to eat, as the puja prasad!Wish everyone a happy Pongal...or, if you are not celebrating it, a happy weekend!  ⊕

  Magic Puddles, a learning centre for younger children in J P Nagar, had a 3-day stint of telling the children all about the Harvest Festival.  Nandini talked about how Sankranti is celebrated in Karnataka, and Geetu talked about how it is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.Here are some of the children, listening to the various fact and myths surrounding the festival!Shreya talked about Lohri, as it is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Many of the children (and adults!) came wearing colourful, festive clothes...and we all joined her in singing one of the Lohri songs!  Sweet Pongal, sugarcane, and…

  Magic Puddles, a learning centre for younger children in J P Nagar, had a 3-day stint of telling the children all about the Harvest Festival.  Nandini talked about how Sankranti is celebrated in Karnataka, and Geetu talked about how it is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.Here are some of the children, listening to the various fact and myths surrounding the festival!Shreya talked about Lohri, as it is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Many of the children (and adults!) came wearing colourful, festive clothes...and we all joined her in singing one of the Lohri songs!  Sweet Pongal, sugarcane, and…

 Found the year already inscribed on a rock: Let 2011 rock on! ⊕

 Found the year already inscribed on a rock: Let 2011 rock on! ⊕

Early morning, in the home of that elderly and typical Bangalore couple, Mr and Mrs.Rao....morning coffee, and the usual toast-and-butter, had just been eaten, and the newspaper read.Mrs. Rao went into the kitchen, and then peeped out and asked her husband, "So what would you like for lunch today?""Well, a little hot sambar in this cold weather would be great," he replied, smacking his lips."OK, then, I'll make some onion sambar and potato roast," Mrs Rao said, but was staggered to see her husband burst into the kitchen with a very alarmed expression on his face."Onion Sambar!" he exclaimed. "Did…

Early morning, in the home of that elderly and typical Bangalore couple, Mr and Mrs.Rao....morning coffee, and the usual toast-and-butter, had just been eaten, and the newspaper read.Mrs. Rao went into the kitchen, and then peeped out and asked her husband, "So what would you like for lunch today?""Well, a little hot sambar in this cold weather would be great," he replied, smacking his lips."OK, then, I'll make some onion sambar and potato roast," Mrs Rao said, but was staggered to see her husband burst into the kitchen with a very alarmed expression on his face."Onion Sambar!" he exclaimed. "Did…