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Ladakh - Planning The Trip

Over 2000 Km by road, in around 10 days. Stunning landscapes, wonderful people. That sums up our Ladakh trip. But how did it actually work? How did we make it happen? Read on to find out!  Leh, the capital of Ladakh , is accessible by air and road. Flying into Leh is the easiest, and time-saving option, while the road is the time consuming one, but with the added advantage of driving past some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country. Each option has much to recommend it, and we chose the road for just one reason – altitude sickness. Altitude sickness was one of my biggest concerns, since I suffer from motion-sickness. Yes, I do travel a lot, but that is despite my condition, and, over the years, have learnt how to handle it. I struggled with it when we visited Nathu-La in Sikkim, and wondered if I would be able to manage a week at the even higher altitudes that we would encounter in Ladakh. This was the reason we stuck to a basic plan, of only 9 days in Ladakh, thoug...
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Sunbirds in the garden

Bombay has no winter to speak of. For us, it is winter when there is a slight chill in the air late and night, and early in the morning, and that too, thanks to living in an area full of open spaces and lots of trees. Which is why, I was surprised to notice that most of our regular winged visitors were missing for the past few months!

Finally, with the slight chill too having disappeared, some of the birds are back. A few days back, we noticed that the sunbirds have returned, and yesterday, one of them sat long enough on a branch for me to photograph it... So, here's a Purple rumped Sunbird, and hope more birds return soon.....



Purple Rumped Sunbird

Purple Rumped Sunbird


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Comments

  1. Bhavesh ChhatbarMarch 8, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    Amazing! We have exactly the same bird's pair as regular visitors to our home :)

    Thanks! :)

    Wednesday Wallpaper

    ReplyDelete
  2. chitraMarch 8, 2010 at 3:54 PM

    I think this bird can fly backwards little. Have you noticed?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bhavesh ChhatbarMarch 8, 2010 at 3:59 PM

    What a coincidence that you were commenting on my blog when I was commenting on yours!

    Well, about your question on my Common Rose Butterfly [Atrophaneura Aristolochiae, Pachliopta Aristolochiae, Swallowtail Butterfly] Feeding on Marigolds post, click here to see where Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located. It's not very worth visiting unless you have powerful binoculars, but yes, the efforts by the authorities are good. We saw small groups of deer far away from us. We saw a jackal also.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MridulaMarch 9, 2010 at 10:23 PM

    Beautiful Anu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. sandeepMarch 10, 2010 at 11:15 AM

    its a beautiful bird, isnt it. wish u more photo-ops soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Preeti DatarMarch 10, 2010 at 5:08 PM

    Anu, I've recently started following your blog. You have a nack for writing and observation :) Nice capture :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anuradha ShankarMarch 11, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    @Bhavesh : thanks a lot, for the comment as well as the info..

    @Chitra: it doesnt really fly backward, but hovers over the flower or bud it is sucking nectar from.... which makes it look like that..

    @Mridula : thanks... your new blog looks very interesting..

    @sandeep: yes, it is... i hope so too....

    @Preeti: thanks a lot.... i liked your blog too......

    ReplyDelete
  8. DaniApril 3, 2010 at 1:37 AM

    Hi Anu,
    came across your blog..great one!
    as for these gorgeous birds, never seen or heard about them! they just look so beautiful. :) and love the name, SUNbird :))
    hugs from Macedonia
    Dani

    ReplyDelete

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