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Keep it Local: Shop, Buy and Think

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I always wanted to live in a small town, and if you call #panchgani a small town here I am. Sadly, although I have set up temporary home around the world, I always pack the wrong things. . So I landed here in Panchgani, on a humid, rainy, misty cold  day and commenced setting up 'home' . Before long, I realized how ill equipped I was. Clothes that would have sufficed in Mumbai are not much use out here. Its been four day and the washed clothes have not dried yet. I am roaming in wet socks and moist clothing. I quickly drew up a list of clothes, toiletries, groceries that I needed. Much like the city bloke I am, I sat down an entered my requirements on the various Apps that claim next day delivery at half the price. I came to Panchgani not only to enjoy the weather/water but also try and do something for the town that has given us so many memories. I then decided to walk down the one road town and purchase the items on the list locally rather than the online stuff. Surprisingly ...
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The only good cage is an empty one

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 In the solitude of the #hillsofpanchgani, sipping my cup of steaming hot coffee, I wondered whether i should venture out for my evening walk. I had not done my customary 8km stroll for a couple of days and imagined the waistline inflating with each passing hour.  The weather reflected the mood of an #englishman after the last #testmatch, dull and gloomy.    However, jumping on the roof, bouncing and swinging through the trees, a troop of #rehsus #monkeys paid me a visit. The seemed so free, eating the leaves of the trees without a care about the elements.  As i tried to obtain a photograph of them, i wondered if they were #caged in, or was i or is the only good #cage an empty one.                                                                       ...
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What does a Mongoose eat between their meals?

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 Strange I talk about #mongoose today. With intermittent rain, and #panchgani blanketed in clouds, they cats and #dogsofpanchgani seem to be curled up in a dry space if they can find one. Here is a #mongoose freely roaming the gardens of #mountview looking for something to eat.  That leads me to the questions. What does a #mongoose eat between meals - sneks (snakes).   
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Stop - resume - cease - restart

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The Past do bring regrets and the future is so uncertain, So rather than dwell on both these aspects, I enjoy the moment and share these beautiful #morning here in #panchgani. Crispy, quite and still morning with low clouds rolling like waves to the beach                                           #moutnview #panchganihotels
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Adversity - Remember the airplane takes off against the wind

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  It has been nearly 3 weeks since my last post. It should have been a free running blog with a post every few days, but a muscle spasm to my back laid be low for a week in Mid December. Due to this unfortunate turn of event, we had to cancel our sailing trip down the west coast of India, 24 hours prior to planned departure. A big disappointment? – Yes, but these are adversities of excess and sometimes an opportunity in disguise. The back spasm partly cured, and I hopped on to my car and drove to Pune to spend a most wonderful Xmas with Terence by brother. On the seat besides me on my trip to Pune, was a friend of ours, who is trying to build skyscrapers (and spoil) Bandra from the ruins of old ancestorial properties.   A week in Pune was followed by a trip back to Mumbai so that I could drive to Karjat to spend a New year with my dear childhood friends. In this every growing materialistic world of false secularism, messiahs, leaders   and social media that thinks for...
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Tiger Tiger burning bright

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  In the mid seventies Bandipur National Park was established as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. It adjoins Nagarhole National Park. I have been told it was once a private hunting reserve(sic)for the Maharaja of Mysore, now it now a Tiger Reserve. Bandipur is located south of Mysore and it is a 2 hour easy drive. The road at times looks infinite and appears to stretch all the way to Kanyakumari. The lodge that we stayed was clean and neat and the food wholesome. The guides told us to avoid safaris after monsoon as the bushes and shrubs are very dense. The during summer one could spot wildlife on the main road itself .   Road less travelled    Bandipur  The reserve is a short ride from the lodge. A guided safari is arranged and dusk and dawn. The forest was still very green due to the late departure of the SW monsoons and early arrival of the NE. We were told that forest turns shades of orange and brown in the summer, an...
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City of Palaces and spices - Mysore

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  My first trip was a drive from the Talegoan to Mysore, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Otty, Mysore and then back home.  Mysore famed for a host of things, but often overlooked in favour of Pondi, Bangalore or Kochi. Not that I have seen all of Mysore, but for me it is about the Chamundi hills that overlooks the Golf course and the city. The scent of Mysore is noticed much before you enter the city and we grabbed a   Masala dosa and filter coffee on our arrival. There was a heated debate on which is the best “Dosa” place in Mysore. All I can conclude is that they fed us horrible ‘rice pancakes” here in Mumbai. Fond memories of the smells of the spices, the Palaces, Zoo, Railway museum, clean roads, LIC circle, R K Narayan house and the  Gomathan lovely homemade food. Will always remain, till I visit the lovely city once again   Waiting for my Dosa   Searching for my house   Smells of Mys ore
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