DilliMeriJaan

As we hurtled into middle age, most of us started doing very physical and adventurous things, in defiance. Some of my friends started biking over mountains and across continents, many started playing multiple instruments while others started running marathons. I am lazy so I took up birding! Oriental White-eye But birding is not a lazy person’s hobby. Immediately on taking it up, people do the following: 1.        Buy a DSLR .  Forearms are strengthened to be able to carry these heavy weights and most importantly, keep them focussed on one spot for hours (ok minutes) to capture a bird. 2.        Buy camouflage clothes . Browns and greens are bought, to merge with the birds’ habitat. 3.        Go on birding trips . Most rush to the hills (Sattal being a hot favourite) while many others to bird sanctuaries. Common Tailorbird But here is what I did. 1.   ...

“Where should we meet after work? I am carrying my walking shoes so it’s ok”, my screen blinks. Walking shoes are an important part of meetings with my friends. We don’t meet in cafes. Other than widening our waistlines and thinning our wallet lines, it does little else.  So we meet inside a forest/park. Sometimes, we catch a lovely sunset on top of a rock or a bird singing on a branch. Conversations flow easily and deeply in such places. Some of my favourite forest meeting points are- ·          Sanjay van - I must have been a deer or nilgai in this forest, in my last birth. The moment I enter, I feel I am home. You can enter from the Qutub institutional area side and walk straight. On your left there is a rock formation – an easy climb and a great spot to just sit and catch up with your friend. You will invariably see a variety of babblers, a kingfisher and loads of peacocks from your perch. You can then walk on and climb the...