Visited after Forty years

 A little known outlet which serves delectable meals since almost four decades and being in existence even for now with all that nostalgic taste located at Charla. A small town just 45 km away from Bhadrachalam. My recent visit to the place on a personal work compelled me to see the hotel which I have visited almost forty years before to have had the meals. Then I was naturally an young lad and my senses recorded the quality of gastronomic offerings. First I was a bit doubtful of its existence whether it got survived against the odds of time. Yes, it was there in the same humble place with modest furniture. In fact, it's a house cum hotel sort as first two rooms were allotted for customers and remaining ones for the purpose of kitchen and domestic life of the owner's family.

It strictly serves only vegetable meals. No alteration made in these days also. A young man came to me and took lunch order courteously. Perhaps he should have been the offspring of the owner I  met him some forty years back. A wry smile flashed on my lips. I am sure that nobody can decipher its true meaning. Some best moments are to be cherished. Not to be revealed. He served steamy rice, broad beans curry, potato fry, mango chutney, appadam and sambar. The same nostalgic smell of a simple and delicious meal. Rasam is also brought forth along with a glass of curd. Adjoined a gulab jamoon as a finishing touch delight. What else should be needed..? , nothing and I devoured all the meals with a note of utmost satisfaction.

Customers were coming in with due interval and all they looked like repeated lot. There was no rush or unnecessary spree of token taking etc., a small board kept inside the first room reads Mohan Vilas so on. It made me chuckle that I have now recalled the hotel owner's name. In those days also, people called it as Mohan hotel but no board was seen outside like it does with others. His very name was enough in that small town for a mouth smacking meal. I wanted to unravel the best kept secret to this present hotel owner to test how he would respond over the amazing fact. On informing it when I was coming out, he flushed and blurted out something excitedly. There was a gaze transfixed at me, for a little while. I took leave of him as there were customers waiting for the lunch. How couldn't I resist taking some pics of the unforgettable moments..?

Teamed Up for A Noble Cause

 Today is the De day and perhaps to say, concluded a blend of exceptionally rich experiences regarding imparting the knowledge whatever we have in different areas. A month of coaching for constable aspirants has been ended today. A handful of teaching staff picked up delivered their best and on the last day, a send off sort meet held on the venue of coaching i.e., Reguballi Asram school,Laxminagaram.

Let me say a few words more about it. With the advent of Police department of Dummugudem mandal, for the first time, initiated a coaching centre for the local youth to brush up their skills to get succeeded in the upcoming constable written test. One month long coaching came to an end successfully and subjects like English, Maths, Physics, Social and Bio science covered judiciously. All teachers delivered their best to enlighten the aspirants.

N.Venkateswarlu garu , C.I. of the Police station, extended all his co-operation to make it a fruitful event in all respects. And he has spoken about his humble beginning and how he confronted it and cracked the job with the limited sources intact. Also he thanked Dr.Vineet garu ASP on the occasion who happened to be the brain behind this event. Teaching Staff and the aspirants have shared their experiences. Sumptuous meal was served to all the attendees. After that, all the teaching staff have been honored with shawls. A group photo was taken to freeze the memorable moments. 

--- Murthy Kvvs

Vizag seashore

 

A throwback memory. All I wish to have written a few lines about Visakhapatnam or Vizag. And along with a picture that was taken very long back but remained unpublished anywhere. It could have been changed a lot by now. Because this one is almost 7 years old. That beautiful Bay of Bengal, surrounding  picturesque location and high mountains from where I have had clicked it. Moments captured have surfaced here again.  

Sea is just like a monster, sometimes, it threatens like hell

Sea is just like a passion, sometimes, it soothes heart like an angel

New Life Unexpected

 

Here I wish to present two saplings. Both two have spouted up on their own. I have never sown the seeds. That's what the amazing part here. Sometimes ,we take extra care to feed the seeds to grow up into the form of plants. But, they mightn't have come up with our expectations. Due to many reasons , we can not see them grow as we thought of. Recently ,in one pot, I have planted Aloevera and which grew into very good size. But in the second pot, I left it without planting anything.

But surprisingly, with the onset of recent monsoon, two small plants came up. No idea of its kind indeed. Seeds might have somewhere in the pot and all of a sudden sprouted up in a sapling form. As days are going by, the two saplings got bigger and one of my friends spotted them with their  original names. All I want to say is without expectation and sowing, nature takes care to nurture nameless greenery. Every new life is a new entity. All they have their  own days and die calmly with leaving seeds somewhere just like humans.

Waiting

 

Both sides , a vertical lane of lush greenery comprising of  different trees and a road amidst. And two people with a kid were perhaps waiting for a bus or auto to reach their destination. This pic was taken before the village of Kannaigudem. The lens man in me woke up to capture the moment. With the onset of monsoon , entire area would come into green ambience, but before two months, there was a scene  with leaving its leaves unto the ground. A barren look all over. How season transforms everything with the movement of time is something wonderful, all it happens on its own.

With the outbreak of Covid pandemic , scanty rush of people and vehicles is evident. This road leads to Parnasala upwards and Bhadrachalam downwards. As it's in the hours of early morning, air felt afresh apart from the shining new leaves. Nature soothes every heart. No wonder it is a time for having a click to keep the moment in tact for ever. Ancient scriptures say all these are parts of Dandakaranya but now the forest turned other way notwithstanding the claims of those times.

Flame of the Forest during the off season

 

This is a picture of  "Modugu Chettu"(Butea), a small one considerably. Taken it while being on the wayside of nearby Turubaka village. With the on set of spring season, these trees burst with magnificent bright orange red flowers and that's why, keeping in view of it's dominant colorful presence, called as flame of the forest. This tree is commonly seen across many places of our area. Modugu chettu is the common Telugu name. Before the plastic plates introduced, these leaves were used as portable green plates to take any kind of small quantity of food whatever. Locals were using it for multiple purposes.

Nowadays, only the cattle are eating the leaves. Must be sumptuous for them since the leaves are soft, smooth and leathery. However, rainy season brought tender green shine to the leaves. We can't see any bright green leaves during the spring season. There were only orange red flowers all over. The tree resembles as if it's of only with red flowers sans the leaves. A dramatic change or transformation. Modugu leaves have had  age old references in Sukla Yajurveda to have used in the times of rituals, especially to pour ghee in fire related rituals.

These trees generally now used for timber, resin and medicinal value. We can also see the trees in the parts of tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian sub-continent and southeast Asia. Grow almost 49 ft tall. Leaves are pinnate, with 8-13 cm. Mostly cleared off for agricultural purpose. Very few are nowadays to be seen. Once, the trees were aplenty on both sides of road. The scenario has been changed with times, at least there were some of them to witness. 

Tippa Teega : A Medicinal Plant

 I am hereafter keep writing about the plants and trees we have in our area. We simply do neglect many green entities which are outside our compound. In reality, every plant has its own importance. Be it in Ayurveda or in herbal medicine , these are key players. And of course many other plants are there we know nothing about.  And all these are gifted by Almighty for us for  many purposes including environmental balance. 

                                                                    (TIPPA TEEGA)

Here, above I have given a picture that was taken in front of our residence. It's name in general is Tippa Teega in Telugu. A climbing sort plant. It takes walls, trees and any thing to creep ahead. Commonly Seen in almost everyplace. Not only in forests and thickets, It is seen around public habitations also. How it was existed here..? First, questioned myself. Around our place, there are several neem trees, bamboos and other trees. One must hear the chirping sounds of birds from the heights of all these branches. Perhaps, they could have brought the seeds of this Tippa Teega, from nearby forests. No body intentionally planted these climbing plant. I know it for sure.

Any Medicinal Uses: Tippa Teega is very much known for its traditional medicinal value. These leaves have been used in Ayurveda for centuries. Juice of the leaves prevents swine flu and improves the resistance power of the body. And it cures many other health problems.

Family: Menispermaceae,  Genus: Tinospora