The Morning Has Broken...

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing, fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness, of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness, where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation, of the new day

This classic composition penned by poet Eleanor Farjeon became popular when Pop singer Cat Stevens, presently known as Yousuf Islam (can we say he has re-Christened himself!) picked this from a hymn book, composed tune then sang and recorded in 80’s. This is widely sung in Churches all over.

Have you ever seen the weather? In this picture you will. The ‘morning mist’ on river Papanashini is perfectly photographed. Time sense plays an important roll in photography portraying both weather + nature together.
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Photo by Mervin D’Souza, Pithrodi, Udyavar.

Vegetables Simply Irresistible..

Hi friends, sorry for the long silence. It’s purely due to non-availability of time i.e. ವೆಳಾಚೊ ಅಭಾವ್, ಡ್ಯೂಟೆಚೊ ಧಬಾವ್ ಆನಿ ರಿಸೆಶ್ಶನಾಂಚೊ ಪ್ರಭಾವ್…. Will some of you voluntarily come forward to fill these gaps?
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Well, we being people brought up in costal region, always tend to think that our lunch or dinner is incomplete if there is no fish or meat in our menus. For that matter, some would even prefer a piece of dried fish (ಸುಕಿಮಾಸ್ಳಿ) or dried shrimps (ಗಾಂಲ್ಬೊ) in the absence of fish or meat item. Though living on 100% vegetarian diet may sound impossible for many, it is equally true that we can’t live without these nutritious and tasty vegetables.
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However ardent (die-hard) non-veg eater you are, you can’t resist these delicious vegetables available throughout the coastal belt. We Mangaloreans (Udyavarites in particular) proudly possess a distinct know how as what combination of vegetable goes well with particular fish or meat. For example: ಕುಬೆ ಆನಿ ವಾಳ್ಚಿ ಬಾಜ್ಜಿ, ಸುಂಗ್ಟಾಂ or ಕುರ್ಲ್ಯೊ ಆನಿ ಗೊಸಾಳಿಂ / ಬೊಬ್ಳಿಂ etc. etc.., you may have a better listing in your recipes.

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This picture may awaken your taste buds. Can you identify all these vegetables? Do you have any favourites?

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Picture source : www (photographer unknown)

Konkan Railway

Konkan Railway which boasts to offer an unforgettable trip down through the Konkan Region has :

· a route length of 760Kms (Roha to Mangalore)

· 1,798 total bridges (168 are major bridges including 2 running through Udyavar)

· Gigantic viaducts which are said to be construction marvels

· 88 tunnels, the longest being 6.5km.

· Connectivity to Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala states.
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There are 53 stations on the line; the more important ones in Karnataka are Karwar, Ankola, Gokarna Road, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Udupi and Mangalore.
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Interestingly Karnataka got its name from Karu Nadu, meaning 'lofty land'. It is called so since most of Karnataka is situated on the western edge of the Deccan plateau.
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If you are traveling by A/C coach it is fine. If not, you better cover your head to protect from thickening of hair due to dust and smoke. In addition, do ensure that you carry a pair of ear plugs against noise especially during night times while passing through the tunnels. Traveling by A/C coach is quite comfortable. Usual duration of the journey is 15 hours. If you are traveling during rainy seasons, be ready with your camera to click photographs of seasonal water falls here and there.
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Now, Have you ever travelled on Konkan Railway? If yes, why not share your interesting experiences on Konkan Railway? We are eager to hear from you!

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Photo by: Studio Shanthala, Udyavara.

A Birds Sanctuary Un-noticed

A proverb in Kannada goes like this "ದೂರದ ಬೆಟ್ಟ ನುಣ್ಣಗೆ". If literally translating, this means “a distant hill always appears softer”, so to say, the things in our own vicinity always seem to gain lesser attention than distant things. Please enlighten me if there is a better preconceived phrase to express this aesthetically.

Many of us must have never noticed the fact that, this part of Udyavar has offered a natural habitat for birds in these mini sanctuaries for years, whilst river Papanashini has been a treasury for numerous species of river fish (tasty indeed).

This classic photograph comes from Merwin D’Souza, Pithrodi, Udyavar (thanks to Clarence, his brother for sending this picture in).

If you think the view of serene waters of river Papanashini is breath taking, hold-on, there is roaring sea (Arabian Sea) on the other side, few steps away….

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Photo by : Merwin D'Souza, Pithrodi, Udyavar

Chembukall Rock

For the young students of "Hindu Primary School" and "St. Francis Xavier's School" this rock is nothing less than "Mount Everest". This rock has silently seen thousands of students playing in its vicinities since years. Many of us must have grown watching this rocky hill almost everyday during our school days.

"Chembukal Rock" (ಚೆಂಬುಕಲ್ or ಶಂಬುಕಲ್ as locally called) is an important landscape in Udyavar. There is a temple on the top of the rock and a "Nandi" idol (ನಂಧಿ ವಿಗ್ರಹ) aside. There is a pond on the rear side of this rock.

Elders sitting and relaxing, enjoying the evening breeze while children play in the playing area is a regular scene for the people who pass-by this rocky hill.

Picture by : Studio Shanthala, Udyavara

Toddy Tapping

While people from neighbouring villages refer Udyavar village as a beautiful place to visit for its rivers, landscapes and unexploited sea-shore, the river fish and sweet toddy available amply in Udyavar has its own importance. (Toddy is also known as palm wine in Western World and as "Sur" in Konkani. (ಸುರ್ - relative Kannad word 'ಸುರಪಾನ'). Toddy tapping has been a profitable profession and an important source of income for hundreds of villagers in Udyavar.

Photo by : Robert Fernandes, Udyavar