Puffing and Panting

For those that have been on these paths and know the steepness of the khuds ... and know I am in my third visit in 3 years .. You may think that I am in great shape and am running up and down the paths with ease.  I still puff and pant as I climb.  I can make it from the Quad to the Gym now without stopping to catch my breath, but going up Zig Zag or Oakville paths I have to stop every could of zags along the way to settle my heart rate.  And oh .. how hard the going down is on the knees!  If I come again I am going to bring a hiking pole or get a good Mussoorie walking stick.

Langurs

There was a large group of langurs near the Media Centre on lower Zig-Zag path yesterday.  Of course by the time I got my camera out & could catch my breath to hold it steady, many had moved on.  One of them held a good pose for me:

Another was finding something to eat in the trees:

More Birds

This morning I walked up to the top of the hill and met M&S. Together we took a leisurely walk all around the chukker, stopped for tea and samosas at Rokeby, then had a nice lunch prepared by them at the Winterline apartment.

We saw several new birds for this trip .. and, along with other new ones I've encountered in the last few days, I *think* the list includes:

• Lammergeier
• Himalayan Griffon
• Parakeet ( Slaty-headed or Plum-headed?)
• Great Barbet
• Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker
• Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
• Black Drongo
• Scarlet Minivet
• Black Bulbul
• Rufous Sibia
• Verditer Flycatcher
• Gray-hooded Warbler
• Blue Whistling Thrush
• Black-throated Tit
• Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
• Yellow-breasted Greenfinch
• Rock Bunting

Music Recitals

I've attended two small student recitals put on by the music department.  It is good to see and hear the music tradition continue here at Woodstock. There were performances by a number of eager beginners and mid-level players.  Then there were some very talented advanced students - cello, piano, classical guitar - wow!

Woodstock School 1902

While working in the archives I found this wonderful picture of the main school building, ca. 1902.  This is a small print, so it got forgotten among some larger views of the school:

Eyebrow

A few days ago I walked part of the way to Oakville on the Eyebrow, this time with camera in hand (went last fall but took no pics).

The path is narrow and goes through some rather steep-sided spots.  Now there is a railing at least some of the way, which gives my older self more confidence in taking this route.

From the Eyebrow one can see a prosperous looking farm which is on Witches' Hill above Midlands Stream below Dobhi Ghat, but hidden by a fold of the hill when looking down from the school.

My favorite view is always the Tehri Hills to the east:

Breakfasts

The food at the school has improved dramatically over what it was when I was in school here. It even seems much better this time than when I visited last fall.

My favorites this visit have been the breakfasts.  There is always tea and coffee available (in the photo the urns hold tea, coffee, and hot milk):

Here are some recent breakfasts -

boiled eggs, fried potatoes, toast:

 parathas, dahi, suji halwa, scrambled eggs with onion and chilis:

cheese omelet, veg cutlets, toast:

puris, bhaji, omelet:

There is also usually some form of fruit - bananas, sliced papaya, oranges or fruit juice.