3rd January 2010, 07:17
| #16 | |
| BHPian  Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
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 A colorful character I am Strong as a rock Jai Hanuman  To get to the promised land there is a bar A call to the forest ranger is made Paradise found  The chirping of birds The murmur of water The forest provides luxury  The spirits watch The body rests A silent sentry guards | |
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3rd January 2010, 07:28
| #17 |
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3rd January 2010, 07:35
| #18 |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
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|  An evening drive Tourists have gone home Gira falls is pristine  The water is tempting Fish food I dont want to be Moving shadows, imagination or reality?  A rubber tube finds new purpose Silvery nets flash Fisherman ekes out a living  Deep breaths Thundering waters Under the falls, there is fish  A new angle A different light A new perspective  I stand still I swiftly move I am water |
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3rd January 2010, 08:33
| #19 |
| Distinguished - BHPian   Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon
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3rd January 2010, 18:20
| #20 |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
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|  Night descends Rituals of yore Fire is sacred  Crackling logs Beating drums A story unfolds  Young faces Stories about nature There is hope  I listen in rapture I listen in awe The story captivates  Music fades Silence descends Glowing embers light up my dreams  Red fire Morning sun Smoke on the water  The road of life is tough As is the road to school Trust me  Curves beckon A silver streak takes flight New roads to explore |
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8th January 2010, 07:30
| #21 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 773
Thanked: 339 Times
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 A one track mind No end in sight It is time to explore  Under the open sky No temple, no pujari Hanuman blesses the journey  The queen of the dangs Carrying a heavy load Silent in Purdah  I was hacked I was cut to many pieces I am still at your service  A roof above the head A wall to protect The needs of life are simple  A splash of color In the midst of dreary brown Tribal paintings capture life  Flowering children Vivacious yet shy Capture me if you can  A welcome arch Fit for a king Mahal arrives | |
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9th January 2010, 12:11
| #22 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 773
Thanked: 339 Times
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 A flash of color from a threadbare shack Squealing tyres I know not why I stop  Hooded snake What does it protect The place is mysterious  Tribal priestess, dressed to kill She pulls my arm I meekly follow  Thatched hut Beautiful statues shimmer Shabari met Rama, right here  She speaks to God Or God speaks to her Fantasy or reality?  A hole in the ground Next to his lord Did Hanuman really emerge here?  A world apart But we connect I emerge from the twilight zone | |
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9th January 2010, 13:10
| #23 |
| BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: mumbai
Posts: 239
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9th January 2010, 13:19
| #24 |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay
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| A singular narrative, and intriguing as a result.  Any possibility of more mundane information ( log/distances/accommodation/food). Regards |
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11th January 2010, 07:55
| #25 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 773
Thanked: 339 Times
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Killad Camp Site. Vansda National Park. (3 km before Vaghai) Contact Forest Ranger Mr. Joshi on 9426855593 for reservations in advance. Reservations can be done on phone. 200 rs for tent with bedding(no kidding). Common facilities for self cleansing 500 rs for a hut with two beds and tiled private toilet. No electricity. Solar lights and torch. I used my sleeping bag (it got cold at night). No food but dhaba 3 km away in Waghai. Caretaker and man friday of the campsite is a guy called Mandu. (Tell him the sardarji with a bullet from Valsad sent you. That would be Mandeep (epicenter_rulez) and not me  )One can drive in park. You need a big car (innova, scorpio) for ground clearance. 4 Wheeler entry fee 200 rs. Guide comes along. Tip him what you like. My guy took me walking into the forest for a hour plus. There is also a giant mango orchard belonging to the old king. The caretaker is an ancient guy called Dasru. Tell him you want to just walk to the river and in the orchards. (Technically it is private land in the middle of the forest) Route: Mumbai - Valsad - Dharampur (turnoff is around 2km before Valsad, after Atul under the flyover) - Vansda, Waghai-Bhainskatri-Dharampada-Kalibel- Mahal- Ahwa-Saputara-Nashik- Mumbai. You could also come back via Valsad and not go to Saputara and Nashik. Road conditions are excellent. Mostly single laned after Waghai till Mahal (two cars can pass) roads thru forests. (The road to Bhainskatri is old road to Ahwa, near ST bus stand) and is quite desolate. (Most signboards are in Gujarati) Forest checkposts everywhere but they remain open for private cars Food: Small dhabas in small towns(Waghai, Ahwa). Chai shops in many places Good food. Just dont expect luxury. Other trivia: There is a campsite in Mahal also but the guy told me that it is usually full of students from schools who come for nature/environmental studies There is a century old forest rest house in Mahal (was being painted when I went there) which looked quite amazing. One has to make reservations through the forest department in Ahwa, so it may help to know some babu types for this one. For those coming to Vansda from Mumbai, there is a road from just before Vapi to Dharampur which is supposed to be a great drive (instead of taking the highway for the Vapi to Valsad stretch. For an endless supply of trivia about this place, contact Mandeep (epicenter_rulez) whose tips made this trip different | |
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12th January 2010, 23:27
| #26 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 773
Thanked: 339 Times
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Tea and snacks were great but trying to get past Shahapur on the Nashik- Mumbai road was a nightmare with drunk pilgrims from Shirdi in Sumos and taveras's causing gridlock which I learnt was a regular feature on Sunday evenings. I pulled over and chilled for over 2 hours (was the only person eating in the local bar, a fact which the two drunk guys at the next table found highly amusing ) before getting on the road again.Here is the last installment of haiku from the home stretch in Gujarat...  A stop on a bridge A mob descends A camera makes friends  Little men and women Poses are struck Blossoming models all  The river runs The road winds Their path I follow  Trees reach out and beckon Road promises an endless run But it is time to head home ---epilogue One last verse dedicated to Saputara, the saddest hillstation I have seen in a while Pot bellied businessmen in shiny flowery shirts Wives sporting jeans they never dare at home Bolo Tara Rara...Saputara... Hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed the journey -genesis Genesis - soumya.org -fin Last edited by genesis : 12th January 2010 at 23:30. | |
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26th August 2010, 13:07
| #27 |
| BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay
Posts: 956
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