Samudram Morning Walking

The mornings are a beautiful time to go walking on the Samudram as its cool and fresh and the perfect weather to enjoy time outdoors. If its early enough, goat and cow herders have not yet brought their livestock for the day's grazing on the short grass of the reserve land so the area is quite deserted .

Below are photos of my doggies enjoying their quiet time on the dry lake bed -- quiet time which I think they appreciate as much as any person. It certainly makes them calm and more peaceful for the rest of the day.

I have six dogs, 4 males and 2 females and five of them appear in the below photographs -- with the remaining girl Holly rummaging around in some nearby bushes.

The thorny trees around the Samudram, also prevalent throughout the Tiruvannamalai area, are known as Acacia Arabica (Nilotica) which is a hardy multi-purpose tree. To read more about the Nilotica, go to my Arunachala Land Blog at this link here.

Wally who prefers a solitary life

Winnie (with red collar) and Muffin

Boy triplets from left; Wally, Caspar, Oscar. Muffin right

The point of everyone's interest

Arunachala greener since recent rains

Hillock in foreground is site of a Murugan Shrine

Tiruvannamalai Artist

During my visit to the ARS (Annamalai Reforestation Society) Model Farm today, my escorts JJ (well known at Tiruvannamalai as a pundit, scholar, musician and also Librarian of Ramana Ashram Library), and Nawaz officer of the ARS since his retirement from the State Bank of India, Tiruvannamalai -- took me to view the studio of Gayatri, an artist from Spain.

She has converted an upstairs room at the Model Farm into a studio in which she can immerse herself in her paintings. To learn more about Gayatri and to view some of her work you can visit her website at this link here.

JJ with Gayatri in her studio

To view more photographs click on below link.

Whoops -- where's the water?

This year Tiruvannamalai has had very little rain. The monsoon season we were eagerly waiting for, never seemed to happen. And even though its rather nice to have continually azure blue skies, and a toasty sun -- it does mean that the farmers will have crop difficulties next year. 

Tiruvannamalai has several major reservoirs, that act as catchment areas for the water pouring down Arunachala during heavy rains. One of the major catchment areas, and a main source for water for the area is the Samudram Eri. 

The first photograph below shows a Samudram Eri in a previous year, with a good supply of water. 

In comparison the next sequence of photographs were taken recently and show, except for several ponds and large puddles, an almost dry Samudram Eri.

Where's the water gone?

Oscar having a bask in the sun

Some puddles at the back of Winnie

Holly checking out a little pond

Caspar tracking rabbits

A lovely but almost completely dry Samudram Eri