Sometimes I think my life is measured in memories and I love it.
My son’s still on vacation and we have a lot of time to “chill” together. It is an easy routine with him and we enjoy talking about “old” times. He especially likes to listen to stories from my childhood. We were looking at photos of the foliage from the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and one particular pic triggered an old memory.
I grew up with my Grandmother and adored her. Ah, we’ve spent some wonderful times together. I was lucky to listen to a lot of stories, mostly village folklore, from her.
♥
So, those days, each time the crow cawed, my Grandmother said we should expect a visitor. It would always turn out true. Coincidence? Not sure. But we always had visitors. Some were house guests, some arrived in the morning and left after dinner and some, well, just flitted by.
Then years later, around the time I was ten and in the seventh grade, we lived in a different city in a house surrounded by trees. During summer, we loved walking around, crunching the dead leaves under our feet.
On one such day, as I aimlessly loitered around with a stick, prodding whatever I could, I sensed a movement in the leaves. I could have imagined it, but I was pretty sure I saw something move. Curiously, I prodded some more and this time, saw definite activity. Too late, I realized we had an unexpected visitor. A snake, no less.
Stunned, I ran to tell my Grandmother. Smiling, she decided to humor me and accompanied me to the back of the house where I claimed I saw the snake. Naturally it wasn’t there. Quite unlikely it would wait to see my Grandmother, right?
So anyway we gathered the other neighbors – I must have sounded quite convincing. The owner of the house lived on the premises and hearing all the commotion going on, her siesta disturbed, came out to investigate what the ruckus was all about. When we told her we saw a snake, (see how quickly it became “we”), she smiled enigmatically and went towards the gate.
Puzzled, we saw her open it and look to the left and to the right. Then she clapped her hands. Nothing happened. She clapped again. Wondering what she was up to, we joined her at the gate to see, in the far distance, under a large tree, a couple of people resting. And resting with them, were a couple of round baskets – the sort snakes are kept in.
She managed to attract their attention and beckoned them over. One of them came to the gate and she asked them if one of their snakes was missing. The man turned to his companion and said something. He too joined us. The landlady spoke to them sternly and they scurried to the back of the house. I wasn’t sure what she said, because I didn’t have a good grasp of the local language yet. Fifteen minutes later, they had caught the snake and apologizing, slunk away.
After they left, the landlady serenely informed us that while there was the possibility of snakes in the foliage, it was extremely rare. More often, it was a ploy of the snake charmers who would release their snake into a property and then pretend to be the saviors who caught the snake, so they could be rewarded in cash! Very clever, indeed!
Impressed, we all went back to what we were doing.
Whenever my Uncle visits, he still teases me about this!
Hmm. So here are some “memories” we created with photos from around our area. It is always the little things for me.
Happy Memories
These photos are from the Krishna temple near our house. It is a lovely temple with a serene atmosphere and we love going there.
I love the sight of the Hanuman perched on the wall.
There is a jackfruit tree on the premises.
Can’t miss these little guys on the way to the temple! Look at how they’ve found their niche!
Do you remember I posted a photo of this tree last year? Oh, it looks just as glorious this year! I just love to take that route whenever possible even if it means a longer walk. Gorgeously stunning! My folks automatically slow down when we reach it and wait patiently for me to click numerous photos of it!
This is kinda cute eh? So inviting!
I had a pleasant week and am looking forward to a good one!
What about you?
Linking up with the lovely Unknown Mami for Sundays in My City. I love her for this fabulous blog hop that makes me look forward to Sundays eagerly!
A delightful photos, wonderful temples, I love the design!
Memories…they are to be cherished like gems…because of course, they are:) Cheers! Kaarina
Yes after all Life is nothing but memories …and one day so are we !
Love your photos and am fascinated with Hanuman. Are those live bunnies??
Yes, Julie. There’s a whole bunch of them – white and black. We love to stand and watch them prance around every time we walk down that road. I had posted pics of them earlier 😀 And probably will, again!
Hanuman is one of my favorite characters! I’ll show you all over the place when you’re here!
Love, Vidya
This is such a lovely post, Vidya! What a wonderful write-up and some great pictures! My favorite one is the Lord Hanuman, just perfect 🙂 And that bench too. I think I want one like that, just like that with the green canopy 🙂
Now, where have I seen this Temple? Its very familiar! 🙂
Lovely pics and yea, my grandma used to say the same thing about crows and visitors!
And yes, the snake charmers’ antics seem quite familiar as well! They were a menace in my old neighborhood.’
Lovely post Vidya.. Your post made me smile! I can now go to bed with a smile on my face and wake up with one as well!!
Hema – it is the Sri Venugopalakrishnaswamy temple in Malleswaram 11th cross. 🙂 Glad to see you smile!
Absolutely loove the pics and the religious Mom is gushing on the pics…hehe you raised a storm as a child with ur uninvited guest..priceless memories:)
woa snake charmers do that!!
those are beautiful pictures.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful shots, memories…
Have a good week ahead!
there is literally peace emanating from this post Vids. luved it!
I think I would have freaked too if I had seen a snake! Delightful story and I loved to see your pictures of the temple. It is so colorful and ornate. Really beautiful! ♥
Stunning photos, Vidya!
Are those REAL rabbits?
What are the green things hanging on the bark of the tree?
LOVE you more than fluffy white rabbits. xx
PS. did you receive a package from me? If not, it was lost from here to India.
Hi Vidz
I’ve been far too busy lately not to be coming by regularly! I so enjoy reading your posts and looking at your photographs! Life measured by memories, yes. We need to remember that 🙂
Lori
Vidya,
This post made me think of my grandmother and how many memories I have of her. I feel so lucky that I had her until my 40’s. Thank you for triggering thoughts of her today.
xoS
I want to come and spend a Sunday in your City, so much magic
love
Suzie xx
Sometimes, like the snake charmers, ‘Good Samaritans’ can be cheats in disguise.
Beautiful pictures, particularly the Hanuman on the wall!
Great memories and sly of the snake people. Crafty devils but your grandmother knew! Love the pictures and the temple is beautiful. I love the statue on the wall and that amazing tree with the flowers-so serene and majestic. The fruit actually grow like that on the tree? It looks like they were placed on the tree and does that fruit taste good?
Loved this post particularly because I love snake stories. I could actually imagine all the excitement you must have generated in the neighborhood after seeing the snake 🙂
Beautiful pictures. I loved the rabbits sitting in the niches!
Hi Vidya,
Good photographs there,which capture vivid memories that can surely transport anyone to their childhood.talking of snakes ,i guess its a cliched fact that whenever you start a discussion about snakes(or ghosts) the thread never ends.It only becomes more and more engrossing.
Guess where those snake men in your story were off to after they caught their reptile on truant!
Thanks
Mona
Beautiful photos Vidya!
You’re quite an accomplished photographer…
b’ful post! i loved rabbits and jackfruit tree
I like reading your stories and this is a good one. I agree that our lives are meaningless if we don’t have memories and people to remember them with. I grew up in a boarding school and we can talk hours about our memories when old friends from there come together.