Deepavali at Rishi Valley once more

We were there in 2010, and we went back in 2012.

A Praying Mantis stoppped by to say hello...

...and enquire if there was room in the guest house for it....

The caretaker Gopal's wife gently told him his place was in the garden!

A wolf spider pops out to check on us

He chirped away, unmindful of us

And the three sisters were bathed in a lovely light

The baya weavers were obviously very industrious this season

..And what was this?

Christmas came early

The sun filtered through the wild grass, I heard a spotted dove in the distance, while the parakeets screeched noisily overhead

I miss the maramalli in my neighbour's front yard, here in Madras.  This one stood tall and proud.

And Cassias everywhere.