tetea.blogspot.com

Clouds above Lungdar

2011-05-13T23:27:00.001+05:30

A few weeks ago I visited East Lungdar to spend a weekend there. The town had recently celebrated its centenary and is one of the well-known towns within Mizoram. A picturesque town, East Lungdar is about about six hours' drive from Aizawl, the capital of the state of Mizoram, India. The people are friendly and the scenic beauty of the adjoining hills are a treat for every visitor. Sunsets are especially beautiful. After the rains had stopped and the clouds begin to clear, the golden rays of the sun appear... truly a heavenly sight to behold.

Paradise in the Himalayas

2011-04-21T12:24:00.005+05:30

Hello again! Apologies for the fifteen month gap in updating the site. I was too occupied with work and college activities that maintaining a blog was something of a luxury I couldn't afford. But that's in the past so hopefully things will be different.

Anyway, thanks for dropping by. If this is your first time here then I'd appreciate your valuable comments and hope you visit again.

So coming to this post, this is about my most recent trip. This is the story of my stay in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

I left Chennai just as the sun was up. And before the heat and humidity could catch up I was on my way to Delhi. From Delhi, it was a short trip to Kathmandu.

I was told the cold months of winter had given way to a much warmer weather. But looking down from the airplane window I could see it was going to be very different from the hot tropical climate of southern India.

"Tribhuvan International Airport" the signboard read. I later learned that Tribhuvan was a king of Nepal whose rule saw the opening up of the Hindu kingdom to foreigners and ushered the process of modernisation.

My brother was waiting for me outside the with his son. I hadn't seen them for almost a year and a half. Him being a missionary, we rarely see each other. It was raining outside and very cold by Chennai's standard. We took a taxi and drove to my brother's place in Bagdol, a few minutes' drive from the airport.

Driving through the streets one could not miss the air of political instability that has gripped the once Hindu kingdom. Even as I write this, there is talk that the Prime Minister is going to step down.

We could see soldiers every now and then, especially on major traffic junctions. The traffic police though, were more concerned with checking driving licences and registration numbers than directing traffic which was a little less than chaotic. However, a remarkable thing I noticed was that women were often seen in uniform - a clear contrast from other nations of south Asia.

The kings of Nepal built majestic palaces for themselves. Although instances of influence from neighbouring kingdoms are present, the styles of architecture adopted are unique to the country, gracefully merging different techniques to create a truly Nepalese style of architecture.

Hinduism and Buddhism are the main religions in Nepal. As such, many temples and shrines can be seen throughout the capital. These attract thousands of devotees as well as tourists. However, with the opening up of the country, missionaries have now openly began preaching and a number of churches have sprung up in many parts of the country.

Tourism is a major earner of foreign exchange for the people of Nepal. Foreigners mainly come for the scenic beauty of the countryside as well as the mountains which are among the highest in the world. Selling souvenirs, like the puppets above, provide livelihood for many Nepalis.

Many of those who visit these religious sites are devout pilgrims. Though today a secular state, Hinduism and Buddhism still have their hold over the country.

The day I reached Kathmandu was the first day of 2062 in the Nepali calendar. The country is also 15 minutes ahead of the Indian Standard Time.

Being short of power supply the government made a somewhat novel arrangement. A timetable was made available to the people showing the hours when power was cut. My brother told me this made the power cuts a bit more bearable as they knew when and how long they were going to have electricity - which was often four to eight hours a day.

Shopping was another great experience. You could find a bargain for almost everything. And I couldn't resist the camera lenses! You won't believe the prices! I've already made a mental list of what to buy if I ever get to visit the country again.

One thing that cannot be missed is the 'khukri' - a knife made famous by the Gurkha regiments of India and Great Britain. They make a great souvenir.

I stayed for a week, visiting what any tourist to the city would see. But my sightseeing was limited to only Kathmandu. Maybe next time I'll go and see Nepal in all its glory. Already I've heard so much about western Nepal and its majestic snow capped mountains. But that will have to wait.

As I write this, still in my brother's house and only a few hours from my flight back to Kolkata, I am already missing this paradise tucked away in the Himalayas. I really hope to return soon.

Trees!

2010-01-06T19:43:00.010+05:30

Its been a while since the last post, so here's a couple of pictures I took the past week...

Tree near the Pastor's Quarters, Presbyterian Church, Mission Veng , Aizawl

A tree near my home. I had nothing to do that day and was just staring at the busy traffic in the cold winter air. I was about to get inside when I looked up and couldn't resist taking a shot so I ran into the house, took the camera and just managed to capture it before the sun went down. You can see the top of Tlangnuam and the viewing point there.

I like this tree because I used to play and hang out with my friends and cousins near the tree when I was a kid. Those were carefree days. Now I seldom visit the place. But every once in a while, when I look up towards the tree, whether its bare trunks in winter or its flowers in full blossom in spring, it takes me back to the years long past. And then... the memories come back to me.

Tree near the Aizawl Theological College, Aizawl

This one's a little different. There's no history that I can relate to save for the fact that my little niece's birthday was on the second of January. You see, I went to her birthday party that afternoon and the college was just up the road from their house as her father was a student there. So I took a walk just before sunset and saw this tree right in front of the gate. I thought it looked cool so I just clicked the camera.

St Thomas Mount

2009-11-20T19:08:00.010+05:30

For those of you who don't know what or where St Thomas Mount is, its a little hill near Chennai, India where St Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, was assassinated in, according to legend, AD 72.

At the top of the hill

Entrance gate

One of the many statues depicting Jesus before his crucifixion

Cross at the top of the hill

Graveyard on the way up

The last supper depicted on the wall of the church

Church at the top

The graveyard

Sunset

Panoramic view of Chennai from St Thomas Mount

A Village in Tamil Nadu

2009-09-30T18:46:00.008+05:30

Every year my college sends the students to villages in different parts of the state for a week long rural camp. It's called an outreach programme. A programme for the students to get first hand knowledge on what life is like in the villages, what their problems are and what we can learn from them.

This year our department along with two others went to Sendivakkam, a small village in the district of Kancheepuram in northern Tamil Nadu, India.

who says a little girl from a small village can't be happy?

No one was allowed to bring their mobile phones let alone use them! We slept on the floor, we had to be content with the drinking water that tasted like charcoal mixed with salt and we had to walk for hours just to get to the neighbouring villages. The point was to be like the locals - no modern gadgets and luxuries that we take for granted.

lunch break with the neighbouring village school

Our objective was to interact with the locals. And in situations like these when one goes to places he's never been before its human nature to have preconceived ideas on what the people will be like: their nature, the way they'd react to questions and how they would see you - a foreigner walking in their lands...

Thats right, this was how I thought they would see me: a strange foreigner speaking a funny language, with a camera around his shoulder, trying to speak to them using hand gestures and needed Tamil friends as interpreters for any serious conversation. I thought at best they'd be indifferent to the many questions I have for them.

day care - too young to attend school

But things aren't always how you'd imagine them to be. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the local catholic priest and some kids. A very warm welcome. And there was more to come.

Boy, was I wrong as ever!

one happy kid!

Our first friends at the place were the local school children. They were a lively bunch who incessantly asked us questions in the minutest detail.

the local church overlooks the entrance to the village

I later learnt from the priest the majority of the villagers were Christians - a fact that he proudly shared with us - a Catholic village. You could say it was a strange revelation because it was the last thing that would have come to my mind.

junior rodeo? hmmm...

While we were there, it never failed to amaze me that people could be so kind and generous to strangers. Try going to a stranger's apartment in the city. You won't find people offering you all the milk they have or go through the trouble of running to their garden and pick some fresh fruits just to make you feel comfortable.

getting prepped up for the long day ahead

In the end I had only one question in my mind: Why are we not like them - friendly, kind and generous?

my department taking a photo with the kids

Maybe its the city life thats to blame. Maybe its our friends. Or maybe its ourselves that we need to look into.

an old man turning for a pose

Goa!

2009-08-29T12:14:00.005+05:30

When you think about Goa, you think about sun, sand and surf. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who've been to Goa and testify that when it comes to sunny beaches, there's nowhere in India you can compare it to.

I agree.

There's everything for everyone: crowded beaches with lots of tourists enjoying the beach, seaside restaurants where you can have freshly caught fish with some beer while watching the sun set in the horizon, lots of shops where you can try out your bargaining skills and a whole lot more of other stuff you have to experience it for yourself.

But what many people don't know about Goa is its rich colonial history. Portuguese to be precise. Even today you can still find traces of Portuguese influence in many things like their buildings, culture and religion.

You can find forts and churches built by the Portuguese still standing today. You can visit Old Goa and walk the narrow streets and experience what it would have been like years ago.

One of the things I enjoyed the most in Goa was watching the sun set in the horizon. There would be a dozen fishing boats which I imagined would be returning from their last trip out into the sea, bringing their catch back to the shore where people would throng around to buy the freshly caught fish.

Panaje, the capital is also worth visiting. You can take boat cruises at around six in the evening where they play some live music and watch prefessional dancers performing their local dances.

If you're planning to go there, the tourist season starts from late September to mid March. Thats the best time to visit Goa, but be prepared for accommodation prices to go up.

You can even enjoy the scenic views on your way to Goa. But thats just a side attraction. Once you get there you'll forget everything else. Its one of the places in India you have to visit. Young or old you won't regret it.

I know I didn't.

Two Crocodiles in Love?

2009-07-01T03:57:00.012+05:30

...or just a mother and her offspring?

(Photo taken at the Crocodile Park, Madras)

Mahabalipuram Beach

2009-06-08T02:03:00.015+05:30

The restaurant by the sea. It wasn't the tourist season so the place was nice and quiet. We had dinner here while the waves glow in the moonlit night. The food was great and the ambience was just right.

There were some fishing boats on the beach and after dinner we climbed onto one. One of the guys had brought along a guitar and very soon we were singing our hearts out!

Time flew by and we were there till two in the morning. We returned to our rooms but none of us could sleep. So we went to the hotel swimming pool and just stayed there for another couple of hours. I have to say it was one of the best weekends i've had for a long time...

The Beach

2009-04-20T15:18:00.007+05:30

Summer is here again. And with temperatures reaching almost 40°C everyone seems to be attracted by the beach.

I still wonder what those rickshaws (tricycles) were for... complete with loudspeakers.

And the kids... living their carefree youth.

The ever vigilent cop. I can imagine her saying to some mischevious kids, "Hey, tambi! Po daa!"

Thousands flock to the sea...

But this is just the begining of summer.

Even the ice-cream man is feeling the heat. He looks out towards the sea, wishing he could forget everything and take a swim in the cool blue water...

And to think that this is just April.

Ropeway by the Lake

2009-03-22T02:43:00.009+05:30

Yesterday, me and my friends went to pick up my cousin from boarding school. She had just finished her board exams. So on the way home I thought it'd be great to visit an amusement park about half an hour from Chennai.

It was already 4:30 pm when we got to Queensland Amusement Park. I had been here a couple of years back so I knew it was famous for its water rides. But unfortunately all water activities were closed by 4:30 (except for the boat ride). So we had to make do with things like roller coasters and bumper cars.

The guides there advised us to first take the ropeway that went all the way from one end of the park to the other. We figured we just didn't have the time so we took the boat ride instead. As I said I've been there before, I know how different and great it was to see the whole amusement park from above. Too bad we didn't have the time. The guys would've liked it...

... from above, everyone underneath: like busy ants under the setting sun. Too bad they missed it.

Loyola College Church

2009-03-13T04:31:00.012+05:30

Christ the King Church (better known as the Loyola College Church) was designed by an Indian architect named S.A. Gnanaprakasam Pillai and construction was completed in 1933.

The church is located at the centre of the Loyola College campus in Chennai. Because of its Gothic style architecture - the pointed arches, the ribbed vaults, rose windows, three-aisle naves and the flying buttresses it stands out from the other churches in Chennai.

The spire of the building reaches to an incredible height of 157 feet from the ground. The church building occupies an area of 9,000 sq ft, with the length and breadth 150 ft & 60 ft respectively.

Fort St George

2009-01-19T19:50:00.028+05:30

Last Saturday I went to Fort St. George with a friend. I've been planning to visit the place for some time now and was anxious about it. It's the first fort built by the British in India and is to this day one of the most important historical places of the British era.

Today, the fort houses the Legislative Assembly of the Tamil Nadu state. It's not one of those desolate and crumbling fortresses but rather full of life. There were people everywhere - tourists, civilians, even the military. It is the seat of the state government.

Fort Entrance

We reached the place after travelling some 15 minutes on the local train. Before I saw the fort, I had imagined it to be an old British stronghold that attracted only tourists and historians. Looking back, I couldn't be more wrong.

Cupola

One can find exquisite buildings of the British period. My favourite was the cupola. Some said it used to house a statue of Lord Cornwallis. Now it's empty although I envision it to be much better with the late governor-general of British India.

St. Mary's Church

Another building that caught my attention was St. Mary's Church. It is said to be the oldest Anglican Church in India. It's a must see for anyone visiting Chennai.

St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's Church - Interior

Some Government Building

One can see the legacy of the British everywhere. The buildings that once housed the Raj are now occupied by the government. Those in power may change but their seat remains the same :-)

Secretariat Building

Fort Musuem

Then we came across the Fort Museum. It showcases some of the best examples of the period. If one is interested in British history, this is the place to be.

Fort Museum - Painting Gallery

Fort Museum - Pistols

Fort Museum - Mortars

Some Old Building

There were other buildings like the Clive House which I wanted to visit but was not open to the public. In the end we spent the better half of the day within the fort. If anyone who's reading this is planning to visit Chennai, then I recommend you spend an afternoon here.

View from Fort Train Station

Chennai at Night

2009-01-15T20:52:00.009+05:30

I'll admit, Chennai isn't the best of places to be. But to be honest, its not the worst either. It has its own charm and unique characteristics that you won't find anywhere else.

And the best time to be in Chennai is the period between late December and early January. The weather is cool and pleasant - just like Favang in Mizoram. And this is particularly true at night.

I brought my camera to work today. My plan initially was to take pictures of the sunset but I must have been working too hard :-) I never noticed the sun going down.

When I finally remembered, it was already too late. I rushed to the nearest window but sadly I could see no sun. All I saw were cars. And a couple of buildings that were decorated to celebrate Pongal.

Out of my stubbornness I still wanted to take some pictures even though it was already dark. I saw a plane above me that must have taken off only a few minutes before. I fumbled for my camera but when I looked up again it had already vanished into the night sky.

The 8th floor offered a great view of the city. Too bad I never thought about bringing my camera before.

I might have missed the sunset, but I'm still very content.

Train to Hyderabad

2008-09-15T02:55:00.013+05:30

Last Friday was like any other day in September - the weather was pleasant enough, since it had rained a few hours before, and the sun was already low when we boarded the train at Egmore Station.

We left Chennai at about 5:00 pm and were heading for Hyderabad. I was sitting in the train with my friend. There was nothing much to do apart from keeping up the conversation. After a while we got silent. I had forgotten to charge my ipod so the battery didn't last long. The only thing left was to enjoy the view of the countryside as the train passed by.

Maybe the last fishing trip for the day

I have to admit I was quite apprehensive about the journey. But it turned out to be better than I had ever imagined. The sun set slowly in the west as we passed by different places, different people who were doing their daily chores and livelyhoods. The reflection of the setting sun on the numerous lakes were simply magnificent.

Some industry we passed by

I began taking pictures when, just then, the unthinkable happened: the camera went black. I had forgotten to charge my camera... again. But nevertheless, I did manage to take some photos.

Standing tall and mighty

The morning after, we finally reached Hyderabad. I promised myself that next time I would be ready. Next time I'll have an extra pair of batteries.

Ex-Paulians Football Match

2008-08-26T18:27:00.013+05:30

Due to numerous requests the full video will be available for download shortly. I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, this is another trailer which I've created so you'll know what to expect in the video.

Anyways, I promise to hurry on with the upload. The problem here is the power supply. Things were way better in Chennai. I don't have an UPS (because you don't need one in Chennai) and with these numerous power cuts in the middle of uploading the video, which usually takes hours with my current broadband connection, I have to start all over from the beginning.

UPDATE: I quit trying to upload it to rapidshare.com. But I found an alternative: p2p file sharing. The full video is available for download at

http://thepiratebay.org/user/tetea123

Videos: Picnic

2008-08-24T10:50:00.007+05:30

I can't believe it's already been three months since we went for this picnic. There were sixteen of us that day - 'Choolaimedu Mizos' as we proudly called ourselves.

We certainly had fun and it was great. However, it rained a bit for about 10 minutes while we were in the pool and the rain was way colder than the water in the swimming pool. So we didn't mind staying there and continued playing water polo.

We had dinner late in the evening. Everything was great - the place, the weather (a bit cloudy so we weren't afraid to get sun burned), the food and the whole gang.

And that was back in May. Gosh! how time flies...

More pictures available here

Football

2008-07-30T14:24:00.004+05:30

The greatest football match ever... well maybe not. But it sounds good, right? :-)

Anyway, this is just a trailer. The full video should be out by next week. So all you football (soccer) fans out there, steal if you have to, this is one video you do not want to miss.

Coming Soon to a theater near you.

Chennai Romei

2008-07-24T21:56:00.006+05:30

Cover of the Choolaimedu Mizo Souviner. I can tell you that this is one of the most limited edition magazines ever to be printed.

Stories from Madras

2008-01-16T19:33:00.013+05:30

Lunch at Loyola...
A typical Sunday afternoon at Wesley Church...

Friends walking from Loyola College Church...

A good friend thinking hard...

Eat all you want here...

Group photos are always lively in Madras...

From Mizoram

2008-01-16T16:19:00.010+05:30

Some photos I took while on a trip back home in December '06.

Sunset in Winter
One fine day...

I like this one. You can see about five mountain ranges, one after the other...

...and another photo of the sun setting

School Days

2008-01-16T16:05:00.005+05:30

St. Paul's High School, Aizawl

Carefree days...

A group photo before a school play...

...and my kindergarten class (Mary Mount School '93)

Big Cats

2008-01-15T16:56:00.005+05:30

Some great feline photos...
(from 'Best of National Geographic Pictures of the Year')

Advance Christmas 07

2008-01-15T15:12:00.007+05:30

I wonder how people manage to regularly update their blogs. Anyway, these photos were taken at the Advance Christmas in Chennai last year...

Youth

2007-09-08T03:22:00.003+05:30

- Samuel Ullman

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a man of 20.Nobody grows old by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-destruct bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives massages of beauty from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grow old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.

I came across this poem on Youth by Samuel Ullman a few months ago and I thought I'd just share it with you...

Seasons

2007-09-06T22:03:00.007+05:30

I like fall… and ultimately winter. There is this aura about the two that I believe is very captivating. I can’t describe it. Fall: the most beautiful of all seasons. The color of trees, the drop in temperature and the sight of falling leaves have always left a feeling of enthrallment within me. People say winter represents death and fall its threshold. But to me winter represents life. It is the ultimate display of life’s perseverance to carry on in a world that does not care for it. Life goes on. And it is this that makes winter so special, for winter does not take life – it merely tests the strength of those that are around when it passes by.

The leaves fall. The grass die. Fall comes and winter sets in. The seasons come no matter what one does. Slowly, life withers and many a life fade away for ever. The leaves turn golden red. And slowly, one by one, they fall from the branches to cover the damp earth. Then winter sets in. Snow descends and covers the land in white. The bare trunks with white flakes bear witness to the passing of an unwanted season. Birds fly south while bears hibernate to hide from the cold winter. But life carries on.

The rivers and streams are frozen. The landscape transformed to a barren desert of white. The animals and birds are gone, gone to escape the chilling winds that now sweep the wasteland. The berries and grass are buried. The meadows have disappeared. There is no green to be seen anywhere. Only the pale color of snow remains.

But time passes by and winter slowly withers away. The icicles and sheets of ice begin to thaw. The rivers and creeks make their way through the valley that now sees the budding of plants and trees. The grass begins to grow back and cover the once white land; the grip of winter fades. The birds return and the animals come out from their burrows. A new music fills the air as the birds sing and animals play. A new life awaits them. Spring is in the air.

The days get longer with each passing day. Then comes summer: the season when life is at it’s fullest. Trees of all kind bear fruits while squirrels and other tree dwellers play on the branches. The animals big and small try to make the most of the little time they have. But one by one the days pass by. In time, the woodpeckers build their homes in the trees while the little ants prepare themselves to face the coming winter. Alas! A new season awaits them. The clouds come and with it, fall. A new cycle begins.

Freshers Day

2007-08-26T17:04:00.003+05:30

Its been quite a long time since I last posted anything here. A lot of things have happened lately. In fact, we had the Chennai Mizo Freshers' Day on the 19th. It was fun and we enjoyed ourselves. But I have to say it was quite humiliating: all the guys from Choolaimedu dressed ourselves as girls and walked on stage! Anyway, it was great. Even the guys from Madrass Christian College performed a dance while one of them sang! Dinner was served and afterwards, there was a house party at our appartment.

CA...

2007-08-09T22:36:00.002+05:30

Our first Continuous Assessment Test for this semester is here again... Arghh! The worst part is it'll be over only by Tuesday. And i have to go pick up my cousins from boarding school tomorrow. A good two hour ride from the city...

Church

2007-08-05T03:32:00.001+05:30

Tomorrow's Sunday (actually today. It's already 3.45 in the morning) and i hope i can get up early enough to attend the morning Service at Ashraya. Its a church we've been going to lately. The people there are very nice especially Mike, the pastor. The service is usually over by 1pm.

If I can't make it there I'll probably just head straight for Egmore at around 3 pm. There's a Mizo Church service there. Some 70-80 Mizos usually attend the meeting. Its not like a normal church which belongs to a particular denomination, but the members are Baptists, Catholics, Penticostal Church members, Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists... And its because of this that the pastors (who are mainly Presbyterians and Avdentists) can't administer (i don't know if administer is the right word) the Eucharist.

Age of Empires!

2007-08-04T12:58:00.002+05:30

Ever played this ancient game or at least seen someone play? For those of you who have you'll know its pretty much an old PC game - developed in 1999 if I'm not mistaken. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that this afternoon my friends and I will be battling against each other again over LAN. I gave it up a couple of years ago but since everyone knew how to play the game we decided to 'go to war'. I bet its one of the best RTS (Real Time Strategy) games ever developed. Though it is a bit outdated it is one of the best in terms of game-play. Its been going for a while here in Choolaimedu: playing AoE or Football over LAN. And we're hooked to it... Game on!

Class Tour

2007-08-03T15:10:00.004+05:30

The pictures you see here were taken last week. My classmates and I went for a trip to Mysore, Coorg and Bangalore. It was fun and we really enjoyed it. We returned this Monday.

Hello Everyone!

2007-08-03T15:04:00.000+05:30

This is my first blog and i hope you like it...

I tried blogging the previous years but realized i just didnt have the time to maintain it. Nothing's changed much since then, but i'll try my best.

Hope u keep visiting.

Tetea