scenic stopovers

Bani Ray - Odissi - Mangalacharan

Gowtham — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:50:16 -0500

The occasion was the annual Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional and Community Advancement (APCA) National Awards Banquet and I would not have known about it except for timely information from dear friends Chris B & Atul M. As is tradition, the event/evening got off with a salutation to the higher powers. Ms. Bani Ray kept the audience glued to their seats during Mangalacharan [An invocational piece. After paying homage to Lord Jagganath a hymn in praise of some God or Goddess is sung, the meaning of which is brought out through dance. Mangalacharan also includes the bhumi pranam (begging forgiveness of mother earth for stamping on her) and the trikhandi pranam (threefold salutation - above the head to the Gods, in front of the face to the gurus and in front of the chest to the audience)] as well as subsequently performed Pallavi [a pure dance item in which a raga is elaborated through eye movements, body postures & intricate footwork].

Odissi is the classical dance form of Orissa in north-east India. The classic treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi. First century BCE bas-reliefs in the hills of Udaygiri (near Bhuvaneshwar) testify to its antiquity. It is distinguished from other classical Indian dance forms by the importance it places upon the tribhangi (literally: three parts break), the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis, and upon the basic square stance known as chauka.

An exponent of this traditional art form, Ms. Ray has been training under some highly respected teachers: Hari Krishna Behera, (1970-75), Shrinath Raut (1975-87) and Durga Charan Ranbir (1990-present) and currently serves as director, choreographer, instructor and performer at several institutes (Trinayan Collective in New York, NY; Nehru Institute of Odissi Research and Training in New Delhi, India; Lotus Music & Dance, New York, NY).

Fords, NJ.

Hemlock Falls

Gowtham — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:09:03 -0500

The South Mountain Reservation covers about 2000 in central Essex County - between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains. The reservation has changed only slightly through the years. Woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds. The west branch of the Rahway River flows through the valley. Not too far from one of the designated parking lots is this Hemlock Falls - a 25 feet drop of a stream that seems to be primarily rain-fed.

South Mountain Reservation, NJ.

Buttermilk Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:16:04 -0500

Shawnee on Delaware, PA.

Resica Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:22:13 -0500

Resica Falls Scout Reservation, PA.

Shohola Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:02:43 -0500

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Shohola, PA.

Dingmans Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:40:49 -0500

After several disappointing and failed attempts owing to Road Closed sign, it was finally my lucky day - as I not only got to see the Dingmans Falls (which just like the Douglas Houghton Falls in Upper Michigan, had become a final frontier during this Summer) and this Silver Thread Falls, but also got to interact with three very knowledgeable National Park Service Rangers in Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. Friendly and cordial, they helped me get to more waterfalls in the area than I had planned and helped categorize many a pictures from this area better.

Dingmans Creek, which feeds Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls and Deer Leap Falls in George Childs Recreational Site, takes another 100 feet plunge in two stages to make it very very impressive waterfalls - even with lower volumes of water. It can only look prettier in Spring (with snow melt) and amidst Fall colors.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA.

Silver Thread Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:31:33 -0500

After several disappointing and failed attempts owing to Road Closed sign, it was finally my lucky day - as I not only got to see the Dingmans Falls (which just like the Douglas Houghton Falls in Upper Michigan, had become a final frontier during this Summer) and this Silver Thread Falls, but also got to interact with three very knowledgeable National Park Service Rangers in Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. Friendly and cordial, they helped me get to more waterfalls in the area than I had planned and helped categorize many a pictures from this area better.

Located within few steps from the Visitor Center along a board walk, Silver Thread Creek plunges about 100 feet, in two stages, as a narrow stream and creates a silver thread-like appearance.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA.

Foggyville

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:08:43 -0500

Following weather predictions (sunny beyond 9am) and starting early (around 5:30am), I was in the Dingmans Ferry, PA, around 7:30am - only to be disappointed by the Road Closed greeting me at the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. While wandering along the fog covered backroads, this particular stretch was too mystical/magical to pass up.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area, PA.

Huskies Safety

Gowtham — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:44:59 -0500

Michigan Tech Huskies opened the 2008-09 GLIAC season with a home game against the Hillsdale Chargers (a team that had blanked Huskies in previous meeting). As exciting as it was to watch the Huskies offense pile on points - in pouring rain - to be leading 39-16 with under 8 minutes left in regulation, it was equally painful (and almost heart-breaking) to see the Chargers score 20 unanswered points. A botched up field goal attempt by the visitors with just over a minute left on the clock ensured a Husky win at the end of the day.

Just like the week before, I was again fortunate enough to be at the right places at the right time to witness (and capture) some things that had previously been very elusive. Few more TDs, acrobatic & gravity defying grabs and a sack in the end-zone for a safety - were just some of the highlights, not to mention the 39 (12 sincere; rest fake) push-up attempts I got to do along with our ROTC cadets.

Houghton, MI.

Chargers Grab

Gowtham — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:14:04 -0500