The Man Side of Flowers...

Well, the title says it all, but still, let’s breaks it down....

A copious amount of leisure time and a little pondering inquisitive mind led to this blog post of mine. So to state it in simple terms,”It ain’t anything important! Just a simple lateral thinking about flowers in the ‘What If?’ sense.”

It all began while I was whiling away my time rustling through my granddad’s small but elegant garden. The colourful flowers all around, the evening breeze, the dusky mood, all set in slowly and forced my mind to come across this stupidly funny thought – "Why do flowers relate to the glorious descendants of the Venus but not the simple souls from the Mars?"

Why?

Flowers are always identified with the feminine side of this world.... Not many know why and I have to admit I am one of those ignorant homo-sapiens (Except for the beautiful fact that both are really beautiful, in every aspect).

I’ll just let that question hang in there and move on. It’s an enigma to which the real solution might never surface. So here are my unusual and amusing findings about four of the regular garden blooms which relate to men rather than women.... Have fun reading!

Oops... But before you move ahead please go through these vital statements given below ;-)

Statutory Disclaimers:

1. What follows are just some facts and myths surrounding the flowers and     nothing else.
2. I am no photographer! So the photos which follow are just my own way of freezing the moment and may not be 'Classy'.(And photographing flowers...was totally different Ball game :-) )  
3. I don't own a DSLR! Of course, even if I had one, I won't promise I'd be good at it. So, yes, all the photos in the blog were snapped by my Lumia 720 via its humble 6.7 megapixels (not too high end & nothing fancy!!!) camera.
4. And lastly, to me, a photo is as good as the memory it transcends.... And so it shall be.

The Royal jasmine:

Scientific name: Jasminum Grandiforum

Tamil: Kaattu Malli/ Jaathi Malli

OK, we all know the Jasmine, right?

But did you know?

-          According to Hindu Mythology, the jasmine was brought to planet earth by Lord Krishna himself.

-          In some parts of China, men drink Jasmine flavoured tea which supposedly has many health benefits.

-          It is also referred to as the ‘King of Flowers’!

The Firecracker flower:

Scientific name: Crossandra infundibuliformis

Tamil: Kanagambaram

I believe almost all South Indians would have seen this flower at least once.

But did you know?

-          These flowers blossom all around the year and are thus sometimes compared to the stamina of a man.

-          The Goan deity Vodhlodev/ Kokodev (one of the residing deities of the  temple of Kanakeshwari, Bicholim, Goa) is the only god who is decorated with this flower every year during the festivals. He is considered to be the representative of 33 crores of gods and goddesses according to the myth.

The China rose:

Scientific name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Tamil: Chembaruthi

A flower which is widely known for its medicinal qualities.

But are you aware?

-          This is the flower which is often compared to the glory of the rising sun in many cultures around the world (Yeah, the Sun flower lost the title here!)

-          In Hindu mythology there are references of the Hibiscus’ petal colour being compared to the colour of the God Hanuman’s skin!

-          In China, it is the symbol for youth!

The Rose:

Scientific name: Rosa x-damascena

Tamil: Roja

 Here arrives the Queen of all beautiful flowers. The universal symbol of love.

But I bet you are not aware that...

-          In the ancient Indian and Persian cultures the rose always played a symbolic role in the creation of the world and of mankind.

-          According to one Muslim legend/ myth, the rose sprang from the beads of sweat of the Prophet Mohammad.

-          According to Greek Mythology - Cupid, the Greek God of Love, is said to be the creator of the Rose.

-          The same Greek Mythology also contradicts it by saying that Zephyrus, the Greek God of West Wind, turned himself into a rose to please his wife! (Now that’s one loving husband!!!)

Alas, who knew we men had such a strong relation to flowers in the historical myths! I never thought so until I did my little research ;-)

Some other bright little flowers which adorn my little garden... (Just boasting my Nokia's Powerful Camera and ability to capture great snaps here ;-) )

                                         Sunset Bells

                                       Mexican Oleander

                                           Periwinkle

All said, now I look upon these beautiful seed bearing part of the plant, consisting of reproductive organs like stamens & carpels that are usually decorated by coloured corolla and supported by a green calyx – i.e Flowers :-P in a new perspective and hope you too experience the same... 

-AJ

Goa - The other side

We have all been there, we have all seen that!!! Well if you have not... then it's never too late to visit the ethereal Goa - The paradise of the western ghats.

With all those beaches buzzing with nightlife, what a place it is to party and have fun like there is no tomorrow!

But is that all Goa is about? Beaches, party, drinks and music- No. Goa is scenic in every aspect. Mother nature has provided her mighty contribution to this little haven like nowhere else. And it also has a rich historical heritage. These are the things which we end up missing when we tour this amazing land.

So here is my own personal take on this amazing tourist spot - Listing out ten of my most treasured places/moments from my journey.

But wait a moment before you take a stroll through the rest this blog's content! I have some apologies to be made ...

-> I am no photographer! So the photos which follow are just my own way of freezing the moment and may not be 'Classy'.

-> I don't own a DSLR! Of course, even if I had one, I won't promise I'd be good at it. So, yes, the following photos were snapped by my Lumia 720 via its humble 6.7 megapixels (not too high end & nothing fancy!!!) camera.

-> And lastly, to me, a photo is as good as the memory it transcends.... And so it shall be.

The countdown begins:

10. The Western Ghats

Where: Somewhere before reaching Goa (In a train - via Konkan railways)
What's so special: The whole journey from Mangalore to Goa! All the while you will find a never ending stretch of sea on one side and a beautifully endowed mountain range on the other.

And the sunset ! It was a never before seen sight ....

9. The Basilica of Bom Jesus

Where: Banguinim, Goa

What's so special: Built in 15th century, this exotic divine piece of architecture is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gives you goosebumps once you know that it is more than 500 years old, because the beauty of it is still intact. 

And not to mention the already famous in-corrupt physical remains of St. Francis Xavier... somethings are just inexplicable - Miracle !

8. Shri Mangeshi Temple

Where: Mangeshi Village, Priol, Goa
What's so special: Built in late 17th century, this scintillating building stands tall amidst a scenic dense forest, as a tribute to Lord Shiva aka Mangeshkar. The Konkani style of architecture is imminent all throughout the temple.

The immense space, stunning work of architecture, a rejuvenating pond and the surrounding jungle -All of these make this place a must visit site !

7. The Dolphin Spotting:

Where: Arabian Sea, Candolim, Goa
What's so special: Well you might already know this - The Dolphin sight seeing. Goa is immensely famous for its lush coastal lines which thrive with many incredible life forms. And spotting our finned friends in their own environment is just perfect ! Sorry for not getting them on the roll... they were pretty quick ;-)

Not only this, but you also get to see some of the most beautiful islands along the coast which are clearly nature's craft work at its best ...

6. Fort Aguada

Where: Sinquerim beach, Goa
What's so special: Another 17th century Portugal marvel facing the majestic Arabian Sea. Once a buzzing tourist spot, it has started to lose its shine in recent years. Not many take the time or the effort to reach this fort which is worth both of those !

It was once used to supply fresh water to the Portugal ships which were en route on trade voyages . It has the capacity to store 2,376,000 gallons in its underground tank which was one among the largest ever built in those times !

5. The Goan Residence & the Coco Beach

Where: Coco beach, Goa
What's so special: Yes, yes, yes !... we all know this little Union Territory is all about beaches, but hold on. This beach is nothing like what you have ever imagined. It is just endowed with a never ending stretch of coconut trees... All along the coast !

The fishermen houses(pictured above) are equally beautiful. Here they live in simple and chic suites ... but in style !

4. The journey through Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary:

Where: Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary,50 km south of Madgaon, Goa
What's so special: 'Life is not about the destination, but the journey which we endure to reach it' - Well, you have heard someone say it. But, this is where you feel it ! Truly memorable and adrenaline pumping in every way. Amidst the bushes, on the slopes, splashing through the tributaries of river Mandovi... This is an epic journey by all means !

If you are lucky... You might spot a black panther or a tiger or a bison or some other exotic wild animal which ponder these lands !

3. The Devil's Canyon:

Where: Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary,3.5 km east of Dudhsagar falls, Goa
What's so special: A not much known place just off the path which leads to the milky white Dudhsagar falls. Tucked in the middle of the Mollem National Park, it is a long long stretch of zig-zag cliff like formation which gets its fresh water from the Mandovi river. It is a sight to behold and a creepy play of nature..

P.S - Take some popcorn/nuts with you, as the fish in here are ever hungry and ever growing ! feeding them is an unique experience.

2. The Milky Waters - Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Where: Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Goa
What's so special: A frothy bubbly stream of water falling from an astonishing height of 1017 feet to form a chilly clear fish filled natural swimming pool is an all time exciting prospect. And exactly that is what you get here. After an hour long journey in the jeep and a 20 minute oxygen depriving trek into the woods, you get to reach here. And it is worth all those efforts. Once you enter the pleasant waters and soak in the warmth of nature... all the pains magically vanish.

If you are good at swimming, take a leap of faith to the depths of the falls and you might see some train wreck (mighty solid couple of train compartments !) which fell into the falls from the railway track above, a few years ago.

Luckily, it was just a goods train !

1. Mollem National Park

Where: Mollem National park, Molem, Goa
What's so special: Who doesn't love a lush green forest with surplus fresh water streams wandering hither and thither. That is what this place offers you. Honestly, the air here is so pure that you could feel the trees around you breath !

Everything around you looks beautiful and kind of perfect in a truly distinctive way. Will blow your mind and heart for sure !

And with this I end my tell tale amazing experience of experiencing Goa - The undisputed beauty of the Western Ghats.