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| Yoo hoo, you're coming right...? |
ODKF:
For the past two days the term ODKF, an abbreviation for the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, a small seasonal visitor in the Western Ghat mountain range of India was repeated more often and spoken of than i'd ever come across. Please do not take offence if i mistakenly call you ODK for the fever pitch of the two days meant the bird appeared even in my day dreams.
The flow of events in life is akin to the flow of a river. Diversions can either change course or be completely ignored depending on the current of the flow. Rumours of a trek i'd signed up getting cancelled meant i had to start planning for the weekend and a photo shoot in rural India wasn't something i'd scoff or turn up the nose at!
Five odd hours in a mini-van:
This wasn't one of my singleton ventures and i had ample company for the adventure. 13 keen souls from different places and backgrounds compacted into a mini-van for nearly five hours of road travel. It so did happen most people knew one another and i was more or less the stranger to the group. Never mind these nitty gritties when a cool level headed driver who had a thing against traffic cops.
The van twists and turns with the winding roads on mountain passes and at a sharp turn on the road, two cops try flag the vehicle asking the driver to park on the side. With utter nonchalance which could be developed only with years of practice, the driver didn't even bother to slow down. "They're wanting to make a quick buck. Maybe have some meat for lunch!" he responded in an even tone. As you say my friend...
This same incident was to happen again at a shady toll junction.
Strangers and small talk:
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| Do i know you?? |
The first foray for the ODKF:
A group of 14 individuals from different backgrounds is markedly different from an elite military posse. The hunt was not going to be easy. The plan of action was to sit up near two known nesting sites. The bird could then be captured while flying.
If you could picture a dense and dark forest and intermittent rain thrown in good measure all around you. The quarry in question is hardly 10 odd centimeters but with bright colours known to fly past like a speeding bullet. More often than not sighting the bird means seeing an orange bolt of greased lightning with a slightly squeaky call. To capture this bird on camera was the objective. Go figure how easy it was going to be :)
The waiting game and its desperation:
Hunting is a game of patience no matter what be the weapon. My "hide" was an exposed site where the bird could easily sight me, provided i move. After 10 minutes of waiting, the bird was sighted. According to its habit, it took perch on a branch and waited for a few seconds before flying to the nest. The group had divided itself into two and took positions on either side of the location.
Time and again the bird presented itself and my camera was simply unable to focus on it within that time frame to click something good. After three such misses, i abandoned my camera in favour of a lighter and what i thought to be a faster camera. This time the bird was on perch for nearly a minute and at a location my camera could have captured, and the camera i was shooting with could not capture the bird! I would've shot myself with a pistol then, if i was to have one!
What place is this? What's the name of this sanctuary? Where am i?
Strange sounds could be heard around me most of which i could not understand. This question was raging in the head. And then everything became crystal clear. I was dreaming! This happened because i fell asleep while traveling for a late night hunt in the forest. Lack of sleep was to haunt me again...
Stumbled upon a prize catch
Sunday dawned and Nandu (the owner of the property where we were) and i set out on a short walk to a nesting location we'd seen on the previous evening. A slight squeaking sound was distinctly ringing during periodic intervals. Opportunity knocks at your door or so they say but this time it was squeaking! And wonder of wonders, what would it be? The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher hidden in the foliage. It was a fledgling and was perched meekly blissfully unaware of two people keenly observing it. The rest of course is history...Cool water and "Doodhi Halwa"
As much as the three have nothing in common with one another (water and Dove do go along though!), they are but a part of a few things that at some point of time in life, make life lovable. The best things in life are the small joys and pleasures. Is there anything that'll make a day more than a cool water bath after a hot and sweaty day, and lunch accompanied by "Doodhi Halwa", a delicious dessert dish prepared from a cucumber like vegetable stewed in butter and sugar syrup :)
What next?
Well, i fell asleep on the seat next to the driver's, woke up to sleep someplace else, woke up again and slept again and some random conversations here and there!
Went back home with some fond memories, a rotund man whose shirt could not cover his midriff, a junkie and some other characters in a local Mumbai train.
FIN
