For A Sweet tooth

Plain cake drizzled with Strawberry crush & Blueberry syrup,
decorated with roasted cashews

Idle mind is devil's workshop...is what I was taught right from childhood.  There were many instances I had felt it was true and would immediately involve myself in some or the other activity. During one such moment, I started blogging and boy, what a joy it has brought to me!! Through 'In my leisure' blog that I created, I now have a platform to post my thoughts, ideas, photos and experiences etc and share them with my friends and readers.

Today, I had all the time in the world at MY disposal but did not have the heart or mind to do anything else until I sunk my teeth into something sweet.  In the past few days, I had not made any sweet nor had I stocked anything in the snack dabba (which generally has some biscuits or chaklis etc for evening teatime). Initially I thought of doing some household chores just to keep myself occupied and wondered if that would take my mind away from helping myself to some sugar or jaggery.  Alas, that was not to be so. So I got ready within a few minutes and rushed to the nearest super-market.  Though I walked past the well-stacked racks there still did not want to pick up those Jamuns or Rosogulla dabbas which have a synthetic feel/taste. And of course I did not want to get the instant mix and prepare some myseflf.  This mind can get really weird at times!! So got hold of a plain cake round and mentally assessed if I had some varieties of crush and fruit syrup bottles back home. Yes, thanks to our regular Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) trips, there were some bottles still in the refrigerator. Picked up some groceries too and rushed back home.

Relaxing by the window-side, scoop out spoonfuls and
enjoy the fruity flavors.

Pushed all other work aside - ONLY important work could be to make the cake round appear as delicious & attractive as possible and make myself comfortable by the window-side, relax and just enjoy what I have created (of course nothing new but for a change it isn't the typical sweet I prepare at home regularly).  It is the Strawberry Crush & Blueberry syrup drizzled cake!! 

BORN to be FREE!

One last look at the enclosure!
Gopa (standing closer to the tree) and Jespah, near the stone.

22nd September, 2013 is a joyous day to many of us who are regular visitors and volunteers at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali. Well, why am I writing about the day being 'joyous' to me...more than anybody else it is a 'significant' and a 'jubilant' day to 2 of the cutest lion cubs of SGNP!

JESPAH, walking out of the enclosure alone.

It's the story of JESPAH & GOPA, the apples of the eyes of their mother 'Shobha', the proud lioness and father 'Badshah', the undisputed lion King (until recently)of SGNP. Badshah passed away a few months ago, after leading a healthy and full life. The cubs turned 2 years today and were officially regarded as 'adults', capable of embarking on a journey in the wild.  What better gifts could they have asked for or got even without having to ask for - FREEDOM.  The well nursed and healthy cubs were released into the protected area for the very first time, without their mother keeping a watchful eye on the two pranksters.

Within moments comes GOPA, out of the enclosure

Pretty 'Jespah' emerged out first, from the enclosure around 10.00 am, under the watchful eyes of the forest officials & staff.  Soon her brother, the handsome 'Gopa' walked out in a gait befitting a king! It was a moment which will be etched in our memory for ever. The safari van in which the whole team was witnessing this event was awestruck and the only sound heard inside was 'click click and more click'.

Jespah trying to cajole Gopa to enter into a mock fight.

The 2 cubs, unmindful of the presence of the safari van, inspected the immediate surroundings with the same curiosity with which the kittens explore the place when they take their first step away from their mother. Jespah seemed more ecstatic and was trying to involve the 'stiff-upper-lip' Gopa in a mock fight. But Gopa felt the need to know his territory well and more than anything else wanted to mark his territory immediately. He looked around and walked peacefully towards a log, inspected if there was anything interesting. 

Some manicure & pedicure?  
Gopa Sharpens his claws as Jespah waits for him to finish his activity.

Even as Jespah watched her brother sniffing and moving around cautiously, Gopa went straight to the nearby tree and immediately sharpened his claws and scratched the bark of the tree and growled. He seemed to be getting slowly used to the independence and the wild environment around him. In the next few minutes, even Jespah checked her paws, licked herself a bit and wondered if they would go deeper in to the jungle.

Within a short period Gopa was ready and looked in total control and seemed he was already taking the reigns of the forest in his hands. He continued to walk away from the enclosure into the woods...with his sister tailing him and occasionally playing with the creepers and small plants along the way. As they both wandered here and there, Gopa made sure he rubbed off his scent on the trees or sprayed generously the tree barks with his urine. 

GOPA - closeup

Gopa, establishing his territory by marking with his scent.  Jespah watches his brother's antics.

Playing with the creepers - Jespah.

Oh, I am going to grow my ROYAL  MANE - Gopa.

The team watching the kids, I mean the cubs...Oh no, no, no... NOW, the 'adult lion & lioness', had a lump in the throat as we drove out of the forest. 

I AM THE KING - Gopa.

Being Naughty & playing Hide n Seek, is top on my priority list - Jespah.

Three cheers to Gopa and Jespah and the forest office staff who were taking equal care if not more than the cubs' mother Shobha !! Happy Birthday, kiddos - May you rule the JUNGLE!

Atlas Moth  

Staying right next to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali, is bilss (that is to say the least, of course)! Fondly known as SGNP or the Borvali National Park, it is a green heaven amidst the chaotic concrete jungle in Mumbai. Hardly does it need any introduction to the Mumbaikars but I will make it a point to dedicate an entire post to this 'wonderland' and would love to update it with all the teeny-weeny details as and when I come across. 

But today's post, I consider it a very special one! Today, when I thought I should visit another magical land for watching the butterflies, caterpillars, etc - in their natural habitat at 'Ovalekarwadi', Thane, I had the least idea as to what was in store for me on my return.  Previous year almost during  the same period (September), I had this wonderful opportunity to observe an 'Atlas Moth' in it's full glory in our SGNP - thanks to Mr. Sunil Limaye (Chief Conservator of Forest, SGNP) and Mr. Jagadish Vakale (Naturalist).  And today, I had this bumper sighting...an Atlas Moth pair!! And what more...they were mating!! 

An Atlas Moth is supposed be the LARGEST MOTH in terms of wing span. I can bet, I haven't seen many moths, but what I saw today was really really HUGE! Take a look!! 

ATLAS MOTH mating - In the picture only the female can be seen prominently and a small part of the male moth's wing can be seen on the right hand side!

The female moth is said to be bigger than the male and the same can be seen from the picture below.  Also the abdomen or the (sack?) of the female moth is quite big...full of eggs?

ATLAS MOTH mating - On the right hand side is the female Atlas Moth and on the Left hand side is male. 

For closer view of the wingspan of the female Atlas moth!

ATLAS MOTH mating  - Female Atlas Moth wing span.

Footnote: Thanks to a girl, who is a BNHS member, who sighted this rare gem and informed Mr. Jagadish Vakale, a naturalist in SGNP who in turn brought it to the knowledge of the SGNP officials immediately to record the sighting and the mating event.

Up above the World so high!

My first blog and here I am, posting of being in the sky...floating on dense layers of milky-white cloud! 16 August 2013, I was in Mumbai airport, waiting for my flight to be announced.  The flight took off on time and there I was, on a partly cloudy and partly bright day cruising smoothly in the sky.  It was a special day.  I was on my way to Bangalore or should I be more specific - Bengaluru?

I was visiting my hometown to attend my 'School Re-union'. I was going to meet my friends of 28 years after 28 long years! I was on cloud9...literally!! The bright sky and the amazing views from the aircraft's window only added to my delight.

I Was there...Up, above the World! So high!

Landed in Bangalore and hopped out of the airport within no time!

A view from the window - shortly before landing!

Had a great re-union at my school. We laughed, remembered the good old days, made fun and also sat in our class - on the now-tiny benches and spent the morning reminiscing our school days.  My friends, teachers and a few other staff members left with happy memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.