modern research

Excerpt from the book The One Straw Revolution by Masanabu Fukuoka

Modern research divides nature into tiny pieces and conducts tests that conform neither with natural law nor with practical experiences. The results are arranged for the convenience of research, not according to the needs of the farmer. To think that these conclusions can be put to use with invariable success in the farmer's field is a big mistake. 


You study the function of the plant's metabolism and its ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, write a book, and get a doctorate in agricultural science. But do not ask if your theory of assimilation is going to be relevant to the yield. 

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Well, that is the reason Fukuoka says 'Before researchers become researchers, they should become philosophers'.

And it is also similar to the bunch of folks sitting in a concrete air-conditioned buildings making decisions on what a farmer should(n) do on the field!

Srik

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Fail. Bail. Repeat.

Excerpt from the book The View From Lazy Point by Carl Safina

When we keep what we like and discard what we don't, we're privatizing gain and socializing pain. We make others pay for our mistakes. Now corporations demand, "save my assets, buy my garbage." If they screw up - they still get paid. If you don't buy - you pay anyway. Here's what they learn (it's pretty different from what we learn): "If your failure and mismanagement are so colossal that your bankruptcy threatens the whole economy, we'll duck the fallout and you'll get the bailout." Fail. Bail. Repeat. We know what will happen as we create an expectation that destructive behavior gets rewarded. Don't we? 

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Hmmm. thought provoking!?

I completely agree. It is so much true that since the beginning of human evolution, we've always kept what we liked and discarded what we didn't want. And now the garbage has taken a whole new shape because of this.

Author rightly points out that we are all creating expectations for rewarding destructive behaviors.

There is more to think and responsibly act!

Srik

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bringing more to the world

Excerpt from the book The View From Lazy Point by Carl Safina

We each make our solo voyages to deep, expansive waters. Alone in our contest with the wider world, we test our mettle and seek our trophies, promotions, compliments, and accolades. We strive to be needed and to thereby know that there is a reason for us. We seek to be told we are good because we're too unsure of ourselves to know. Yet often we remain so focused on our neediness that we forget the creatures - human and otherwise - we're drawing into the vortex of our own passion play. All of us have compulsive loves we must forbear. We forget to see that we can engage the world without harming it. And although we fish for approval, the challenge is : to capture our prizes while bringing more to the world than we take. 

~~

I'm thinking about this phrase again and again - 'bringing more to the world than we take'. How can we engage the world without harming it?

I think so far we have been directly the cause for all the destruction around us. How much have I contributed to the world? is an interesting question to ask myself.

and what a beautiful writer Carl Safina is! I'm thoroughly enjoying reading this book. It is one of the best i've ever read so far.

Srik

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Monsooned in Amboli

Its kind of addiction that I've developed I guess. That a visit to Amboli must happen towards the beginning of monsoon every year. If you are travelling in early/mid June, all along the way, you will be anticipating clouds to take over the dry landscape. And it never disappoints you; very soon you will be absolutely thrilled to feel those light drizzles followed by heavy showers welcoming you into the majestic ghats. Here are some pictures to get a glimpse of the mystic place and its monsoon magic.

The thing that I love in Amboli most is the Mist

Mystic roads of Amboli in Monsoon

 

Mahadevgad 

Huge lush green valleys of Mahadevgad

Nangartas falls

Valleys of Kavlesad

Kavlesad landscape

Many random waterfalls at the Kavlesad

Inverted bowls of karvi plants

Light play at the Kavlesad point

The best thing one can do in Amboli is to walk around, feel the mist, get drenched in rain and see some breathtaking wide vistas of the huge valleys. Every step you walk would lead you to discover many wonders in nature. Biodiversity in and around Amboli is amazing. If you are careful in your observation, you always get to sight a frog or a snake or a wild flower. I'm sure I would miss to see such wonders if I do not walk around the place. 

Cobra lily

Curcuma sp

new leaf

Dew lit spiderweb

Beautiful dew lit Spider webs early in the morning

Green vine snake

Blue crab

Everyday we woke up to the bird calls followed by heavy downpour. Mornings were almost dipped in the clouds and we hardly were able to see the roads. That I love the mist, I was absolutely thrilled to be there and feel it. All around the place we were absorbed in the melody of the Malabar Whistling Thrush. Although we could not get a glimpse of her, we enjoyed her songs on all the three days. Along with the songs of these birds, the other song was the continuous downpour of rain. It used to play with us; sometimes heavy and all of a sudden completely off. We never could see the sun for three days and could not miss taking off eyes from the rain! 

Frogs and toads

Some beautiful orchids in bloom

Fantastic fungi 

Beautiful Ferns

Going by motor vehicles to see the tourist points is the most boring thing for a nature lover. Not just the boring thing, but also one would ignorantly drive over frogs or snakes while they are crossing the road. You will begin to think that roads are one of the worst discoveries on this planet after seeing those road kills. This time I saw too many road kills and felt very sorry for those poor spirits. Many species of frogs, crabs and snakes were killed.  Speed limits are a joke! on these roads. What is the fun in going with the speed of 20km per hour? Long live those tourists!? Responsibility matters, if they think they are responsible enough to save wildlife and protect the habitat, they will drive carefully. One can easily spot these creatures on those smaller black roads for their sheer display of colors. And how can one drive over them even after noticing them on roads? Only if they are careful and slow (just by following the speed limits), they can save a lot of wildlife. Drinking and driving in the night just for fun will also lead to a lot of road kills. And this happens almost all the time at such tourist destinations. There is absolutely no control over such acts. Unless people take responsibility on their own without waiting for any regulations to follow, this will continue to happen. 

But for these road kills, the place was a wonderland for me. We absolutely enjoyed our visit and were able to sight many wildlife as well. We were lucky to spot so many snakes, frogs, crabs, orchids, wild flowers, birds, Giant squirrels and a civet too (a quick glimpse). More than anything we all enjoyed walking in the rain and witnessing the nature in its pure monsoon wetness was magical. 

Srik

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