Pink Twins

Pink Twins
Gangtok

Yellow Villa

Yellow Villa
Gangtok

Sparkling Rai Saag

Sparkling Rai Saag
Gangtok

Lovely Poppy Flowers

Lovely Poppy Flowers
Gangtok

A Different type of Seasonal Flower

A Different type of Seasonal Flower
Gangtok

Blue Flavour

Blue Flavour
Gangtok

Pink & White Combination

Pink & White Combination

Dark Pink Flavour

Dark Pink Flavour
Gangtok 6th March 16

Purple Charm

Purple Charm
CS Quarter Gangtok

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip
Conservatory Near Selep Tank

Charm of Red Tulips

Charm of Red Tulips
Conservatory near Selep Tank

Lord Buddha

Lord Buddha
1-D Terminal New Delhi

Attraction of Red Panda

Attraction of Red Panda
Saramsa Garden

Lord Ganesh made of oranges

Lord Ganesh made of oranges
Saramsa Garden

Charm of Seasonal Flower

Charm of Seasonal Flower
Gaurds Ground Gangtok

Unmatched beauty

Unmatched beauty
Sikkim Organic Festival

Green is always soothing

Green is always soothing
Sikkim Organic Festival 2016

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Somewhere in Gangtok

White Orchid

White Orchid
Manan Kendra

Purple Orchid

Purple Orchid
Manan Kendra, 31-10-2015

Gift of Nature

Gift of Nature
Near Cherry Building

Majestic View of Sea

Majestic View of Sea
Marina, Chennai, 19-10-15

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting
Hotel Nork Hill

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle
Nork Hill, 24-11-2015

Mirror Trick

Mirror Trick
Hotel Nork Hill, Gtok, 24-11-2015

Yes we have the power

Yes we have the power
Qtr at Devt Area, 25-11-2015

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA
Gangtok dt 20-11-2015

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK
NEW DELHI 22-10-15

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE
MRS MALI SMU 13-10-2015

SAROD RECITAL

SAROD RECITAL
SMU CONVOCATION 13-10-15

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE
ITM GANGTOK 14-10-15

RED BEAUTY

RED BEAUTY
GANGTOK

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
MAYFAIR GANGTOK

OM NAMAH SHIVAY

OM NAMAH SHIVAY
MAYFAIR GANGTOK 02-11-15

Smile and Joy

Smile and Joy
24th September Delhi

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed
Gangtok

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok on 7-10-15

Morning Glow

Morning Glow
Denzong Regency- Gangtok on 7-10-15

Pink Orchid

Pink Orchid
Pakyong Area

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
Bojeytar Pakyong 26 Feb 15

Tabla or Log Piece

Tabla or Log Piece
HMI Darjeeling Nov 2014

Hand can do anything

Hand can do anything
Birla Science Museum Kolkata

Legacy and Heritage

Legacy and Heritage
Indian Museum Kolkata

Queen Nephretus of Egypt

Queen Nephretus of Egypt
India Museum Kolkata 4th Mar 15

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece
Tashi Delek June 2014

Foot Print of Bason

Foot Print of Bason
Satpura Forest

Foot Print of Tiger

Foot Print of Tiger
Satpura Forest (MP) March 14

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Lovely Twins

Lovely Twins

Pink,Pink,Pink

Pink,Pink,Pink
Orchid,not only Spl ,It lasts longer Also

Clean Water has a Different Impact

Clean Water has a Different Impact
Rangeet at Jorethang ,24-11-14

What a Ravishing Beauty ?

What a Ravishing Beauty ?
Teesta near Kalijhora, 19-12-14

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty
K.JUNGA, 6:20 AM 18 -12-14

Another Dawn View -Different Angle

Another Dawn View -Different Angle
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

View at Dawn in Biting Cold

View at Dawn in Biting Cold
K.JUNGA 18-12

Dawn Scene-2

Dawn Scene-2
V Awas 18 -12-14

Dawn Scenario

Dawn Scenario
K.JUNGA

Morning Means End of Night

Morning Means End of Night
K. JUNGA,

View at Dawn

View at Dawn
K.JUNGA 2 ,18-12-14

Early Morning Freshness

Early Morning Freshness
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

What an eye opener early in the day?

What an eye opener early in the day?
View of 17-12-2014 from Terrace of V. Awas

Another view of full snow around Mt Kanchendzonga

Another view of full snow around  Mt Kanchendzonga
17-12-2014

Magnificent view after bone chilling night

Magnificent view after bone chilling night
17-12-2014

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night
Vidhayak Awas Gangtok

Amazing charm of Green Orchid

Amazing charm of Green Orchid
HMI Darjeeling

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
HMI DARJEELING (13-11-14)

Bell Flower in full bloom

Bell Flower in full bloom

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Dec 14 Circuit House

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires
Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom
November 14 Ganesh Tok Gangtok

What a view after getting up ?

What a view after getting up ?
B-1 Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga
11-11-2014 VIP COLONY

Red Rose

Red Rose
Gangtok

Cranes having Gala Time

Cranes having Gala Time
Tigaon, Faridabad (2nd Oct 14)

Yes I am from Faridabad

Yes I am from Faridabad
Tiny, Beautiful Bird at NTPC, Ballabgarh (29.9.14)

Water Vital for Life

Water Vital for Life
Awesome view of Teesta near Kalijhora

Yes I had a Bath

Yes I had a Bath
Gladiola at 6200 ft.

Soothing Morning View

Soothing Morning View
Mt. Khangchendzonga from C.House (April, 14)

Natural Yellow Fascinates

Natural Yellow Fascinates
Gangtok (April, 2014)

Flowery Bell ?

Flowery Bell ?
Circuit House (May 14)

Riot of Colour in Monsoon

Riot of Colour in Monsoon
Circuit House, Gangtok(May 14)

Blushing orange

Blushing orange
Circuit House Gangtok (May 14)

Magnificent Taj

Magnificent Taj
Sept 2013

I can lift Taj Mahal

I can lift Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal,Sept end 2013

Natural fan to beat the heat

Natural fan to beat the heat
India Gate (24.08.14)

Engineering Marvel

Engineering Marvel
Coronation Bridge (22.08.2014)

Cascading water, soothing to eyes

Cascading water, soothing to eyes
Scene near Teesta Baazar (22.8.14)

Teesta attracts at every bend

Teesta attracts at every bend
16.7.2014

Monkey jump

Monkey jump
Teesta River, Birik(22.8.14)

Onset of Night

Onset of Night
Qutub,Sept.13

Qutub,Dusk Scene

Qutub,Dusk Scene
Sept.13

Together we take a Plunge

Together we take a Plunge
Clean Calicut Beach, Feb-2013

Setting Sun, always soothing

Setting Sun, always soothing
Dusk at a Gaya village(15.5.13)

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle
Lake surrounding Purana Quila(20.10.13)

Monday, February 23, 2015

Rain, Hailstorm & Snow,all,Together


12th February 2015 was like any other day.Intensity of cold was gradually waning and relatively clear days were emerging.The day,per se,was becoming longer.In post-lunch period,clouds began hovering.By 3 pm,not only visibility was a casualty,numbers too began dwindling in otherwise sidelined offices.Market places and tourist spots, however,were buzzing with usual festive spirit.Traffic personnel and two & four wheel vehicle drivers were having tough time in the narrow stretches,irrespective of signs relating to later change in weather.

This was one day when I had almost wound up my work by 4.20 pm (something unusual,if not intended) and was in the process of checking if any item for home had to be taken/purchased from Lal Bazar/M.G.Marg.I also wished to attend to any pending or planned telephone calls before logging out.All of a sudden,there was a feeble knock and in comes a tall PWD officer with an important official letter concerning 'state' of roads in the State.It was none other than Karma Sampten,elder son of former head of the State Bureaucracy.I had seen him growing nicely as a thin and shy school-goer during 1989-94 and later was made aware that he had enrolled as an Engineering student in Kerala ,while his younger brother entered the now lucrative hospitality sector.Last,one had heard about his inroad into the Govt. service and subsequent marriage to a Royal family damsel.Today, he broke the news that not only he had produced two sons but his elder offspring was now enjoying his 14th Spring.

Before I could make him comfortable and begin seeing the urgent letter,electricity went for a duck.After offering him a cup of black tea, attempts were made to browse through the contents of letter with the help of whatever little light filtering through the windows. As very little could be made out,I began giving patient hearing to what he had to explain. I had no difficulty, whatsoever, in following owing to my prior familiarity with the subject. A ray of hope emerged and the discourse became meaningful when electricity was restored after seven to eight minutes. My new Peon, in the meanwhile, attempted to get a candle from some other room or the Guard's cabin, but of no avail .

When it was blackout for the second time, I asked the Peon to go to the nearby shop to fetch a candle. He went but returned empty handed. Next, I asked the Driver to try his luck, as he was, supposedly smarter of the two.Before he also returned with a negative answer around 4.45 pm ,we had almost summed up the discussion and were making desperate attempts to decipher the maps and plans of a new six kms road alignment for the 9th Mile under the 'torchlight' of Cell phone. Alas, light came back to disappear again for the third or fourth time.


We were so much engrossed that we did not have a slight idea of the drastic fall in temperature outside, resulting into complete darkness of the night kind. It had started raining cats and dogs and very few people or vehicles were visible on the road. Further inquiries revealed that apart from heavy downpour, the capital city had witnessed hailstorms also for  half an hour.As a result,most of the officers and staff had called it a day much prior to the official shutting hour of 4 pm. After looking here and there and sensing no more improvement in weather, I bid Good Bye to Karma and thanked him profusely to have taken the trouble of meeting me beyond office hours. He thanked me too in return for having approved purchase of his official vehicle ten months ago.
After all, how could a field officer be effective without being mobile, I thought. 

At last I could gather courage to get past somewhat receding rain to ultimately get to the vehicle under a Chinese umbrella. The very start was adventurous . Vehicle could have skidded but for the timely control exercised by the new driver. After we negotiated the first steep turn to the left, opposite Church, the whole place looked completely deserted . Dwindling hailstorm and medium intensity rain was still to be faced. The drive, therefore, had to be slow and cautious. It was wet and white scenario everywhere. One or two vehicles were seen coming from behind but none from the top or front. The view of New Secretariat looked scary. Not a single soul was seen using footpaths.


 Up towards the  Zero Point it was almost dull and drab scenario. Movement of tyres was leaving a deep impression on the vacant road. Near the tri-junction of DHH , Raj Bhavan and Zero Point, It was heartening to see two sincere traffic constables, still on duty under a 'white' canopy. I waved at them to show my appreciation for their service even in such an odd hour. I was not sure if they noticed my hand. While picking up  a bit of speed on our approach towards TNA and Mintokgang , the driver kept underling his version that it was snow and rain together and that hails had disappeared some time ago. I, on the contrary, based on my past experience, felt that when it snows, rain simply goes off. So whatever was seen now, could not be snow. Anyway, the normal journey of five minutes to my Quarter from TNA took almost ten minutes as we had to take adequate precaution in tough up hill situation.            

Near the gates of Hotel Siniolchu and VIP Colony, the driver's apprehensions or feelings were likely to be confirmed. Rain almost had subsided and the white layer began becoming prominent all over the SX 4 car  and surrounding areas. When we entered our abode after a tough and rather long drive, it was almost snow kind of situation. I was, therefore, tempted to get down twice to capture this awesome scene into my tiny cell camera. Still no  other vehicle was spotted. The fellow colony residents were,presumably either away or watching this congenial bounty of nature from an indoor setting. I could make out that it was going to be a very cold evening and night during which normal electric heater or blower would be rendered ineffective, rather Mahesh, if he had decided to return for the day, had to make arrangements for Pakoras followed by a bonfire.



Ultimately, when I was indoors, a friend waiting for his  key joined me. I did utilise the brilliant photo opportunity both in front yard  and rear portion of our Duplex flats. The fall from "top" had almost stopped by 5.15 pm. The issue still under inquisitive confabulation was whether we really  had a snow fall .Subsequent to a bite of Upma and hot cup of leaf tea, prepared swiftly by Jaya, I checked the snaps taken .Later,say within an hour, I walked down the ' white' and isolated drive-way, carefully and cautiously. The very touch and lifting of a handful of white matter confirmed my positive doubts. Same was compared with similar God given stuff collected from the backyard around 6.00 p.m. and the remnants of same at 8.00 a.m., next morning. It was nothing but snow, though the layer was thin on roads within the colony and the Circuit House area. Whosoever was undertaking morning walk with two of us, exchanged positive notes upon fresh photography and felt a different kind of elation and smile. Those playing Badminton indoors, too ventured to peep out and relish the scenario which was both attractive and inviting. Our locality had become a land of renewed beauty and excitement,for a change.

Shall I say, home is where, heart is?

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