yet again ... getting lost ... then enjoying self-discovery ...

Compliment to an unbothered Over the second cup of tea on an affable summer morning, Scratching and pondering over notes – of the day before - I see the orange headed thrush, How stunning you look – I compliment her, Shut up she says, what do you know of us thrushes? How proud (and human) I thought – As she turned - the orange of her nape flashed, Burning shade, as if, of the setting sun, The fiery black lines emerging from near the eyes, Took me to the splendor and gusto of springs in monsoon, Her to and fro walk – under the huge banyan No less stately than the tree itself Glad I saw you, I say - By then, she was away from sight Thrushes, I now know, are bothered not by lowly humans. (image: Sumit Sen) Share links to wikipedia and another lovely image of the species. Many thanks to Sumit Sen. 

My ' recommendation ' in the Lonely Planet : Best Escapes – East and Northeast India published in April 2014. Many thanks to  Lonely Planet . Environment issues of Northeast forests and Wildlife Two factors make the forests of the northeastern India special: a majority of them are owned by local people and its varied wildlife is not restricted to the limits of national parks and sanctuaries. But these rich, gift-laden forests face issues on multiple fronts. Plantations: Mono-culture cropping is fast replacing the earlier biodiversity-rich natural vegetation and local cultivation. This results in loss of habitat for wildlife. Rubber and palm are currently the main culprits; Mizoram, unfortunately, is the latter’s poster-child. Mining : Rat-hole mining for coal and limestone is literally destroying the hills and the forests that carpet them. Meghalaya is infamous for these and boasts of uranium presence too! Dams: A series of dams are planned