Keeping a joint journal has been a way of introducing some of the

younger persons of our family to the art of diary -journal writing.

So I went through the birthday of Jim Corbett with my nephew

Mayank – (See blogs Stuart Jasola,Writing workshops with Mayank)

and told him how the birthday of his father shares his birthday

with the legendary Corbett- (July 25)

History walks

Went to Vasai region where there is a Portuguese fort

Portuguese mariners exploring the north Konkan Coast, discovered the Arab Sultanate

of Khambat or Cambay, building or renovating or expanding the fort in the early 1400s

and attacked it in a failed effort to seize it.

Later, after more systematic efforts, the Sultanate of Cambay ceded the fort to Portugal

by the Treaty of Saint Matthew signed on the Portuguese brig Sao Matteus anchored in the

Bhayander Creek or Vasai Harbor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassein_Fort

We once went for an interesting walk on the ramparts of the fort. Sunset from the western

wall is beautiful though one has to be careful-

1. There are lot of plants, some with thorns

2. When you get on the wall, there are stairs but if you keep walking towards the

creek region the wall has no steps to go down. And if it is getting dark and you

cannot retrace your path back to the staircase..you will have to jump down from

the wall. (I did that and later helped two others who could not jump down ..catching

them in mid-air..helping to break their fall..every journey has its surprises)

Exploring spiritual traditions of Western India

In college days, I was introduced to Father Agnel Ashram-Bandra by a

Gujarati Hindu. The work here  has a spiritual influence beyond the

confines of a particular religion or sect.

Building raw material for our joint journal, I took my sons to the Ashram

Sea Breeze

The monsoon breeze is unique in many ways. Saw two children carrying

cups to the seafront and collecting water from the waves.

I smiled at them.They waved back. Friends of nature.

Eating Gola