The last time `backyard' meant heaven, was in my ammumma's home at Chromepet Chennai. Yesterday, seven years after her home vanished to realtor monstrosity, I found a backyard heaven.
But for that, I had to do something I hadn't done before.
``Don't go into the woods,'' warned my husband before he left for a pre-hurricane errand, when I got ready with my camera to get some Fall pictures of trees near home. For long after a friend tipped me off on the woods behind our community, I wanted to venture out there. The trouble: we also get warned about not going out after dark, for fear of being mugged. And this, in our own community!
Somehow, the fear of being mugged or attacked is so pervasive. Irrespective of, whether such things happened near you that is. We do pay heed to warnings, because we do not know this community as much as people who lived here do.
I moved out anyways, steeling myself slowly to break that inner barrier, even if it meant I would get close to danger. What if the woods are really dense? What if I get lost?
First set of pictures were from outside my door, and I moved further to the edge of our community - the point where the last set of cars got parked, and the woods began. Wow! What a sight!
This was ditto the feeling from the trip to Bear Mountain! Never thought backyards could be so picturesque! So straight out of those picture postcards and magazine spreads! They did not even look as dense as I thought they would be! I noticed two young boys chatting up in the car park. Warning beats begin.
I continued with more pictures - of leaves, colours, barks that went up into sky...the two dispersed, and one of them walked into the woods. Really? In this cold? I thought.
My neighbour had spoken about a children's park existing on the other side of the woods.
``It takes five minutes inside the woods. Don't go when it's getting dark,'' she said. Five minutes is no big deal. But big when you've not set foot outside home in a while on your own, and when you've been warned so explicitly by fellow Indians. That was in the end of summer when my health was down, which was, a month back. The thought of these colours drew me in and won over.
I step out when it's warm afternoon sun anyways. And sun, has become a rarity at that, with daylight vanishing as quickly as it came.
I decided to get a few steps into the woods. And walk back if it was too eerie. A little further. And further. I saw another kid cycling in the woods. What? Was there really so much space? To cycle?
The next thing I realised - roads in the woods! I laughed inside. At myself. An adventure dead.
Nothing left to explore! A road ran parallel to the community edge or compound. Another connected the community to the park. The walk was a super self-treat.
Yellow and brown leaves strewn all over. Varying shades of leaves on their way to the earth, lovely different hues of green against the burnt sienna, grey-green and pale blue sky...
I could actually see the park from the apartment community end of the woods. And a family or two making their way to or from the park.
I went further. And click away to glory.
Midway into the woods, I find a carpet of leaves which were strewn everywhere including here, but not on the ground. They fell like feathers on a fresh water stream and floated on it. So deceptive you would step on the `carpet' and go down if not careful.
Look close below. Does it look like a stream? Or simply a layer of brown leaves?
It's two streams converging into one.
The park was another delight. A grill party was on at the children's play area. To my left on reaching there, was a basketball court, busied up by kids. Just the kind of place you want to throw away your footwear in, stretch out on the grass and let your hair loose. Or run your fingers between leaves and grass. Or simply play with dry leaves that crush under your shoes. Left to me, I would carry a book to the place and stretch out on a bench to be lost in words.
A few steps on to my right was a set of three tennis courts.
The real treat was the trees and their leaves. Flower bouquets in golden tints. Reds and yellows are for Autumn as pinks and whites are for Spring.
Here it is, another view of the park, nestled in calming green.
Want some romantic quiet? There's room for that too! I've always dreamt of a space to drown in a book, surrounded by trees and feeling safe. I've loved the idea of spending time with my partner or some friend for a chat in such environs too.
And what a pleasant feeling it is, to see that happen!
Such spots are common to any picnic-worthy area out here in the US. Wish we had them in India too!
Content with having spent an early Saturday evening in such superb company, I walked back home slowly, madly clicking the woods on my journey back. Watching and soaking in the colours at every step.
The real dream came true on my way back. Just what would you do, if you came face to face, with a creature you love, but find only in zoos?
I missed clicking pictures of it on earlier occasions - either I did not have the camera on hand, or it was too far for a click. So this time, my hands worked super speed. Sports Mode on Nikon. Whew!
Here it is! A genteel deer!
I may put up more pictures of this one, in Cerebral Toothbrush. Meanwhile, am bracing up for Sandy, the super Hurricane! And keeping fingers crossed on the power-cuts front. Pray. Pray. Pray that Mother Nature who is so loving, spares us all.
Pictures: Radhika M B
For permissions to use: radiscribe@gmail.com
All pics are signed with `radi'
If you want a blow up for your wall-paper, do write in.
But for that, I had to do something I hadn't done before.
``Don't go into the woods,'' warned my husband before he left for a pre-hurricane errand, when I got ready with my camera to get some Fall pictures of trees near home. For long after a friend tipped me off on the woods behind our community, I wanted to venture out there. The trouble: we also get warned about not going out after dark, for fear of being mugged. And this, in our own community!
Somehow, the fear of being mugged or attacked is so pervasive. Irrespective of, whether such things happened near you that is. We do pay heed to warnings, because we do not know this community as much as people who lived here do.
I moved out anyways, steeling myself slowly to break that inner barrier, even if it meant I would get close to danger. What if the woods are really dense? What if I get lost?
First set of pictures were from outside my door, and I moved further to the edge of our community - the point where the last set of cars got parked, and the woods began. Wow! What a sight!
I continued with more pictures - of leaves, colours, barks that went up into sky...the two dispersed, and one of them walked into the woods. Really? In this cold? I thought.
My neighbour had spoken about a children's park existing on the other side of the woods.
``It takes five minutes inside the woods. Don't go when it's getting dark,'' she said. Five minutes is no big deal. But big when you've not set foot outside home in a while on your own, and when you've been warned so explicitly by fellow Indians. That was in the end of summer when my health was down, which was, a month back. The thought of these colours drew me in and won over.
I step out when it's warm afternoon sun anyways. And sun, has become a rarity at that, with daylight vanishing as quickly as it came.
I decided to get a few steps into the woods. And walk back if it was too eerie. A little further. And further. I saw another kid cycling in the woods. What? Was there really so much space? To cycle?
The next thing I realised - roads in the woods! I laughed inside. At myself. An adventure dead.
Nothing left to explore! A road ran parallel to the community edge or compound. Another connected the community to the park. The walk was a super self-treat.
Yellow and brown leaves strewn all over. Varying shades of leaves on their way to the earth, lovely different hues of green against the burnt sienna, grey-green and pale blue sky...
I went further. And click away to glory.
Midway into the woods, I find a carpet of leaves which were strewn everywhere including here, but not on the ground. They fell like feathers on a fresh water stream and floated on it. So deceptive you would step on the `carpet' and go down if not careful.
Look close below. Does it look like a stream? Or simply a layer of brown leaves?
The park was another delight. A grill party was on at the children's play area. To my left on reaching there, was a basketball court, busied up by kids. Just the kind of place you want to throw away your footwear in, stretch out on the grass and let your hair loose. Or run your fingers between leaves and grass. Or simply play with dry leaves that crush under your shoes. Left to me, I would carry a book to the place and stretch out on a bench to be lost in words.
A few steps on to my right was a set of three tennis courts.
The real treat was the trees and their leaves. Flower bouquets in golden tints. Reds and yellows are for Autumn as pinks and whites are for Spring.
Here it is, another view of the park, nestled in calming green.
Want some romantic quiet? There's room for that too! I've always dreamt of a space to drown in a book, surrounded by trees and feeling safe. I've loved the idea of spending time with my partner or some friend for a chat in such environs too.
And what a pleasant feeling it is, to see that happen!
Such spots are common to any picnic-worthy area out here in the US. Wish we had them in India too!
Content with having spent an early Saturday evening in such superb company, I walked back home slowly, madly clicking the woods on my journey back. Watching and soaking in the colours at every step.
The real dream came true on my way back. Just what would you do, if you came face to face, with a creature you love, but find only in zoos?
I missed clicking pictures of it on earlier occasions - either I did not have the camera on hand, or it was too far for a click. So this time, my hands worked super speed. Sports Mode on Nikon. Whew!
Here it is! A genteel deer!
I may put up more pictures of this one, in Cerebral Toothbrush. Meanwhile, am bracing up for Sandy, the super Hurricane! And keeping fingers crossed on the power-cuts front. Pray. Pray. Pray that Mother Nature who is so loving, spares us all.
Pictures: Radhika M B
For permissions to use: radiscribe@gmail.com
All pics are signed with `radi'
If you want a blow up for your wall-paper, do write in.
2 comments:
Nice post and good pics! The fallen leaves did cover up the li'l stream very well, enough to cause an accident. Watch out for that.
Thank You Pearl! Wondering what happens to all those trees in the hurricane wind!
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