Saturday, June 6, 2015

Lonavala, again.

Three years ago, I visited this hidden vacation spot in a thicket of a 27-acre forest called 'The Machan' and put up several pictures here. Not to mention abnormally long articles. I was fortunate enough to return and find that the forest was not only still intact, but it had grown. AND HOW! The paths I walked three years ago were fuller now with prickly and thorny branches eating into my calves and arms, and it was wonderful. There's something oddly satisfying about bug bites, scratches and sore ankles combined with the continuous crunch of dry leaves and the calls of unspottable birds above.

About forty years ago, a couple bought 27 acres of barren land, save for a grandfather fig tree. They planted trees all over this land and lived in a tin shed, watching it grow. When it blossomed, they wanted to share the nature with others and built machans (or canopies). These were cantilever-style machans that didn't need a foundation or chopping down of trees. Today, these canopies stand proudly overlooking more greenery than our eyes are accustomed to and are lit entirely on solar and wind power. 



A little bird's nest interwoven into some branches.


Woody climbers.


Crunchy leaves.


When my trail companions kept stopping to pick up stones and feathers, I went on ahead and hung my camera from a tree and took a picture of myself. 
(This is why you shouldn't stop me from trekking when I want to.)


Sunset point.


My all-time favourite tree. The grandfather fig tree.


Stairs to an old, ramshackled tree house.


Late evening on the machan.




Male purple sunbird.


Brahminy skink


It rained on the last day. This is a Red-whiskered bulbul right after a drizzle.


Another purple sunbird.

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