AnuragBhateja.com Blog

Photowalk 28th Dec 2008 — Cactus Garden Panchkula

Now this is called REAL HANGOUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER FRIENDS ON PHOTOWALK!! WHAT A DAY I HAD!!! Let me tell you people who are living in Chandigarh, a part of CPC and missed today… YOU PEOPLE REALLY MISSED SOMETHING AS YOU MIGHT HAVE ENJOYED HELL LOT!

First let me tell how this all started. Last week on Saturday I got a message from Noor Sandhu about the photowalk on ISBT 43 Chandigarh. I went there and spent some good time with Ashwini and Sandeep. I was like this should be continued and with confirmation with Noor, we decided next meet to be at Cactus Garden Panchkula. As per my knowledge, Noor, Ashwini, Sandeep, Nishkam and me were going for the walk.

Lets start from the very first minute when I reached Cactus Garden. I reached at around 11:10 AM there. After reaching I saw a girl in pink and black who was buying the ticket for the garden. (We need to spend a tiny amount of Rs.5 to see the awesome beauty of Cactus Garden). In front of garden this is tiniest possible amount I can imagine! Well, get back to girl in pink! I went there and when she turned I said “Noor?” and she said “Anurag?” (Really recognizing me is not too hard !! hehe people who know me have complete knowledge of some extra pounds on me lolz).

As by taking names of each other our conversation started. As there were only two of us till Sandeep arrived, I had sometime to chat with her and know her better. (Don’t get me wrong ok!). One thing more, as I knew she has beautiful eyes (which can be seen here), I was thinking of complementing for her eyes but hey! she was much more beautiful than I thought! So this line came out of my mouth “Noor, please take it as compliment… You are more beautiful than you look in photographs.” She said “Thanks, but due to fever in last few days I am not in my MOST BEAUTIFUL LOOKS.” I was like “Oh my God!” hehe this talking session moved forward with getting info about her job and when she said,”I am a journalist.” my lips were sealed and I gave the expressions of “I need to shut my mouth now.” (I am big time chatterbox. I can keep on throwing words till someone gets really tired of just hearing to me.)

After a while Sandeep called he reached and he is coming in in few seconds. I thought that’s good we are three again. He also confirmed about Ashwini’s expected arrival in few minutes. Meanwhile he was coming to us, Noor told me that Ashwini might have learnt a lesson that he should come on IST (Indian Stretch Time) as on last two meets he is the only person who arrived right on time and had to wait for others! (This is funny I know)

Now after arrival of both Sandeep and Ashwini we were delighted that four people made it! After few moments, Nipun also came followed by Nishkam (Regular reader must have read about him. My dear old late latif!! But I was delighted that he came.) We all had some hi-hello and then started clicking the cactus around us. Although theme was “shooting the shooter” but we got so fascinated by the beauty of cactus that we all forgot about it!

After sometime, one by one, we all realized the fact that we need to click each other also so you will find some shots of “Shooting the shooter”. Clicking all around was total fun. As soon as Sandeep spotted White Chest Kingfisher there, all six cameras moved toward him and that model “kingfisher” gave some excellent poses! After a while Anurag Yadav Ji also came for sometime. As he is a busy bee around, he was there only for 10-15 minutes. In those minutes we had some chat over cameras, on what you do etc. The most funny thing happened when Anurag Sir asked Noor about her job. As soon as she said “journalist” Anurag sir gave same expressions which I gave! hehe.

After he departs, we again started clicking some cactus and shooters. Noor spotted Nishkam doing multitasking (I know she must be having funny shot as he was talking on the phone and clicking some macro shot on the same time!) After a while Mr.Sushil who is working as care taker of the garden came to give us some brochures about the cactus garden. One of us casually ask something about cactus and he said “Lets go to green house.”

Entering green house was like entering a huge place where you can see all the colours of cactus plants. There were grafted, newly grown, with flowers and I don’t know how many kinds of cactus! At that time we all were admiring Sushil ji for taking care will so much interest and also Dr JS Sarkaria who is behind the existence of cactus garden. Sushil ji also pointed the fact that Dr JS Sarkaria has gifted almost 90% of the plants there otherwise the administration would have had to spend bunch of Crores at that time! Dr JS Sarkaria should be blessed for his deeds for sure.

After a while we all left the green house delighted! Then the time to seperate and go to our desired destinations was there. So we all say bye bye and decided to have next meet next year (Oh come on only three days left for the arrival of 2009.) The expected venue list is in CPC thread anyone can see and join.

From there me, Sandeep and Nishkam went to lake where we met Mr.Sodhi who is a well known bird photographer from Patiala. We went to the place behind the lake where migratory birds can be found. Sodhi ji gave some good tips clicking birds! A few moments later Nachiketa also joined us. Nachiketa was the only person who was known to Sodhi ji among us. After clicking some shots there, I found a small caterpillar and it was hard for me to avoid myself from clicking some shots of that beauty.

Later on me and Nishkam along with one of our old friend Ashwini went to the front side of lake.  (this is not tht Ashwini from photowalk. He went back home from cactu garden only. This is a common friend from the time when we were studying n Arena Multimedia Chandigarh.) I was like “What the hell!” actually going there in mornings is easy and its so calm in morning. But in evenings and moreover on Sunday evening it was like putting your feet in a place where every square cm is filled with people. (Saddest part is the way they were throwing litter here and there  despite the face every 20-25 meters there is a dustbin on the lake.)

There I had my firs chance to feed the duck with my hand. Man thats feel like the best time. Those cuties eat directly om your hand without hurting themselves or you! Anyway, good time it was. We left after having some carrots and I came back home feeling just like I am dead. It was a tiring but superb day! I must say missing photowalks, seminars and workshops in last one year must have thrown me far behind from others who attended them. But as said “Nevertheless”. I think this is the best time to make the contacts and go in field to enjoy with other photographers.

So all who are living in Chd, Pkl, Mohali, Zirakpur or Pinjore. If you have minute interest in photography you are heartly join CPC and 172 MM flickr groups and join us in photowalks. Its never too late and never too early for something like this!

Now its too much of writing and moral lessons. Signing off. Enjoy the pics

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