Huka Falls

Feb2020

Huka Falls, NZ - 2 week trip to New Zealand and what else can you do on a weekend but to go outdoors. We took to Taupo for bungy jumping and on our way made a halt at Huka Falls. When we stopped at the car park it had started to drizzle so we waited for it to subside. After some 20mins as sky cleared we ran to the bridge and were awestruck with crystal clear waters.

We absorbed the beauty of the place with a walk upstream and down stream of the falls.

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Race for Survival

Mar2019

Kids vacation break and landed up at Kelshi beach. One evening stroll we got to know that the beach was also one of the sites for Olive Ridley turtles conservation. So next morning we landed up at the site to watch the turtles frail hatchlings dragging themselves out of their nests under careful protection of Sahyadri Mitra conservation warriors. These were then taken closer to the sea and left to make the last mile into waters. 

It was an awe-inspiring sight to the see the frail creatures racing to the waters making me wonder:

1. How do they know where to go?

2. How will they survive and how many will survive?

At the same time depressing to see that these needed protection to keep their species alive when we should have been sharing the earth together.

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Cauldron in the Sky

Lohagad - My last trip to Lohagad was about 7-8 years back and impression in my mind was that the trek from Malavli railway station was quite long, boring and on a tar road which was not scenic or interesting, hence visit here was never again in my list of things to do. However unexpected calling came from my friendly neighbor who wanted to a half day outing for their guests. Due to Lohagad's proximity, connectivity by vehicle and also not so strenuous climb, I suggested this place and they ok'ed it. We drove right up to the base of the fort and climbed up the fort.

It turned out to be a very beautiful October day.

The view is of a pond at top of the fort "Ashtakon Talav" with clouds rising from below the fort hill.

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Morning Walk

Periyar Lake - The early morning boat ride gave us this view of a group of Sambars. It was a very calm morning at the lake. The views just reminded of what we miss in our hectic life in the city and why we need to stay in harmony with nature.

Location - Same as previous one.

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock of Kodachrome Basin state park - I ditched my last day plan to visit Willis Creek and decided to spend the morning in the Kodachrome Basin State Park. This rock is at one corner of the park and to be reached on unpaved road. The note near the rock says that it has changed very less since 1949 (with its then picture on the post) when National Geographic photographed this basin.

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Fire and Ice

What all do these guys have to stand! They had been charred by fire from lightning and now have been subject to the chill of winters.

We had started to complete the loop of hwy 180 in Sequoia National Park, however at the visitor center were told that there was snow during the week and the road was closed. Grant Groove was the only place we could visit.

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Greetings!

It had been quite some time and was fed up with work - long working hrs and no time for self !
Finally got time to do a small hike today at Stough Canyon Nature center in Burbank. The three mile hike was quite refreshing. I had started at around 6:00pm and had to run down to make sure I am out of park before dusk. Managed to scrape through. The trail was not as picturesque as I was used to around Bellevue, WA. I guess I will have to spend time in processing to make the pics interesting!

Are you lonely?

Seems the lone tree is waiting for the spring and sunshine ... This was at St. Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park. Members of our group have a mixed feeling on the timing when we visited the park - some say it was not good as most of the time it was cloudy and drizzling. I consider it was a great time to visit the park to view the raw and natural ambiance it gave in the cloudy and rainy environment - an experience of being humbled and being helpless - the constant fear of making sure shelter is around ... The nature's beauty is just amazing ...

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The Bridge

This one is on the trail to Bridal Veil falls by the historic Columbia River Highway. It was a late fall visit to the Gorge and with feeble expectations to see some fall colors. Bridal Veil falls was on our visiting list ... could not get much fall colors - the area here seems to be evergreen.

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Peeking through the woods

Walking alone on a blurry pathway, through the woods, just pleasant temperature, freshness in the air, can hear the birds chirping, with some water splashing ... and at times the woods open up ...

River Trail

We had planned to go to Mt. Baker and had started early. En route, the main Hwy was blocked due to a cycling event. We had to park our vehicle and had to wait for about 1.5hrs. Fortunately this was close to the North Fork of Nooksack river and just ideal for a river trail to a horse-shoe bend. This picture is taken along the river trail.