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Views from the Balcony

An overview of Life around us

The Cute Tiny Birds
Posted:Feb 20, 2024 8:17 am
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2024 4:55 am
2174 Views
In my childhood days, I spent a year and a half at my ancestral village home, where I was able to develop a strong connection with nature. During this time, I learned to swim in one of our ponds and the fishing technique of angling. One of our household helpers, who had a passion for nature and bird watching, was the one who taught me these valuable skills. He introduced to me, every tree, especially the fruit-bearing ones, that were grown in our wide garden.
He tried his best to familiarize me with the small birds that lived in nests built by them on the branches of the trees. He told me about three species of small birds which he liked most. The weaver bird was one of them. He showed me the nests of the weaver birds hanging on the branches of our tall palm trees. Those who are interested to learn more about weaver birds may read my blog titled, “A Bird Called Babui”.
The next one he familiarized me with was the smaller one called Tuntuni in Bangla language. Some of us call it “Dorji Phaki” (in English, it is known as Tailor Bird), the name it gets from the way it builds its nest by stitching leaves together. These tiny Tailor birds are a species of songbirds found in our part of the world. These birds are brightly coloured (green or grey upperparts and chestnut on the head), 10-14 centimetres long and weigh around 6- 10 grams. Insect eaters Tuntuni birds are mostly found in open spaces or gardens.
The third bird about which my childhood teacher told me was ‘Metethot Fuljhuri’ (Pale-billed Flowerpecker). Unfortunately, he could not familiarize me with this one physically during the days I stayed in our village home. Because, at that time, this particular bird was a rare visitor in our garden. He did however tell me that this bird is the smallest in our country. It is smaller than the Tuntuni and the sparrow found in open spaces. He also told me that I may find this bird in a forest or garden having tall trees with parasitic plants grown on them. Even then I may not see it because it is not only tiny (eight centimetres) but also prefers to stay high and move around constantly. I can’t tell if I had ever seen this tiny bird physically even when I visited many times Madhupur forest near the city of Dhaka where I live now. Even if I had seen it, I could not 't recognize it from the ground though I saw pictures of this bird and read about it in ’s books and newspapers in the past. The photo of this bird posted below has been collected by me from the Internet (Photo#4). The photo was taken by Ihtisam Kabir, who I believe is a bird watcher. Those who are interested in reading more about this fearless tiny bird may please Google the Daily Star/Flowerpecker.

Photo #1: Weaver Bird, Male
Photo #2: Weaver Bird, Female
Photo #3: Tuntuni (Tailor Bird)
Photo #4: Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. Screenshot. Original Photo: Ihtisham Kabir. Taken at Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary a protected forest and wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. It is a dry and evergreen forest located in Sylhet Division.




18 Comments
The Day of Romance and Love
Posted:Feb 14, 2024 2:49 am
Last Updated:Mar 5, 2024 12:41 am
2267 Views
Let us experience the true essence of love on this special day of romance. Let the gesture of offering a bouquet of red roses to the beloved speak volumes of our affection, regardless of whether today is the first day of spring or not.
13 Comments
A pristine landscape and a scenic travel paradise
Posted:Jan 28, 2024 10:14 am
Last Updated:Feb 25, 2024 8:04 am
3025 Views
How many of us can name a sea beach from where one can see the full view of sunrise and sunset standing in the same place on a cloudless day? There is only one such sea beach in the world which is located in the southern part of my home country, Bangladesh. Perhaps most of us know that the world’s longest natural sea beach (120 kilometres long) is also located in Cox’s Bazar of this country.

Kuakata is the name of the unique sea beach mentioned above. It is a sandy one but is not long like Cox’s Bazar sea beach. It is only about 30 kilometres long and six kilometres wide. A tourist can enjoy the sunrise early in the morning and see the attractive sunset in the evening the same day standing in the same location.

We also call the place in Bengali “Sagar Kannya”, meaning, “ of Sea”. Its natural scenic beauty is breathtaking. It is also one of the reservations of migratory winter birds in my country. Kuakata has something to offer every tourist.

Two photos of sunrise and sunset respectively are posted below for you to view. These photos were not shot by me. I am not sure about the photographers of these two photos.



18 Comments
The legendary fabric that no one knows how to make
Posted:Jan 15, 2024 5:36 am
Last Updated:Feb 6, 2024 4:58 pm
6921 Views
Dhaka Muslin, a fabric that was so fine that it could pass through a ring, was once one of the most valuable fabrics in the world. However, this fabric went extinct almost two centuries ago.

After six years of effort, researchers in Bangladesh succeeded in bringing the forgotten and enigmatic Dhaka Muslin fabric back to life. Some readers may ask what Dhaka Muslin is and why it went extinct.

Dhaka Muslin is a cotton fabric made using the plain weave technique, where a single weft thread alternates over and under a single warp thread.

This fabric was lost due to the systematic destruction of the Indian textile industry by the British in the late 18th century.
Historical accounts say that the British rulers did not hesitate to cut the thumbs of the Dhaka Muslin weavers to stop the production of this fabric.
The extent of the brutality was also described by William Bolts, an employee of the East India Company, in his book, “Considerations on India Affairs”, in 1772. These weavers lived in and around Dhaka City where I live now.

This article is a continuation of my blog titled “The Lost Fabric,” which was uploaded on this site’s blog page on 11/13/2016.
If readers want to know more about this legendary fabric and how it has been resurrected, they may search for the following article on the internet:

“The ancient fabric that no one knows how to make - BBC Future.”

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210316-the-legendary-fabric-that-no-one-knows-how-to-make

Meanwhile, readers may view the pictures of the resurrected and lost Dhaka Muslin fabrics below.



Photo Credits: Drik/Bengal Muslin

Photo # 6: Phuti Karpas cotton










20 Comments
Photo Friday- The Place I call home.
Posted:Jan 5, 2024 9:43 am
Last Updated:Jan 19, 2024 9:42 pm
10469 Views
"It's just a place we call paradise
Each of us has his own
It has no name, no, it has no price
It's just a place we call home"


An extract from the song, "Conquest of Paradise" - Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou






16 Comments
The fallen leaf
Posted:Dec 27, 2023 9:24 am
Last Updated:Mar 9, 2024 12:05 am
17033 Views
The last leaf has fallen
While falling, it said,
I shall not come again this year.
Wait for me in the spring,
Standing by the window.


12 Comments
Greetings to everyone
Posted:Dec 21, 2023 5:46 am
Last Updated:Jan 11, 2024 7:23 pm
23147 Views
I believe that you are all hearing bells ringing.
20 Comments
To the unseen dweller
Posted:Nov 29, 2023 6:35 am
Last Updated:Dec 21, 2023 10:13 am
34593 Views
Come home to me you who dwell in my heart
Reveal yourself into the crimson light
From the abode of my dream
To take your place in my tears and laughter.
Come out from your momentary shelter
To live with me forever.
Come home to me you who dwell in my heart
.





Translated from the Bengali song Esho Amar Ghare Esho by Tagore.

12 Comments
Best time to trekking Kanchenjunga from far away
Posted:Nov 13, 2023 10:02 am
Last Updated:Dec 9, 2023 3:36 am
38450 Views
We don't need to travel to Darjeeling, India, to catch a glimpse of the majestic Kanchenjunga, one of the three highest mountains in the world.
We can view it from our homeland, usually from mid-October to January.

Currently, it is visible from Panchagarh and Thakurgaon in Bangladesh.

In November, the view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga is breathtaking because the air in this region of Bangladesh is clearer than in other areas, and the weather is pleasant.

If you want to learn more about this beautiful mountain, you can search the internet and read about it.


Photo Credits: : Md Nowshad Alam Nowaj










18 Comments
The unspoken few words that were never revealed.
Posted:Nov 2, 2023 10:00 am
Last Updated:Mar 9, 2024 5:58 am
38425 Views

The song that I still love to listen to alone whenever such an opportunity presents itself.

The song posted below tells us about a time when one can reveal lifetime innermost thoughts and emotions to someone dear, meeting face to face in seclusion and solitude so that none other can hear the words.
The original song was written in Bengali by the first Asian Nobel laureate poet Rabindra Nath Tagore. Those who want to listen to the original Bengali version of the song may Google " Emono Dine Tare Bola Jay."

On such a day, can I tell someone
In such a dark and dense downpour.
On such a day, can I bare my soul
Amidst the rumbling roar of clouds,
This unceasing drizzle of rain,
This sun bereft deep duskiness

None other there be to hear those words
In seclusion and solitude
Face to face, the two of us
Heavy of heart in deep sorrow
Incessant tears streaking the skies
None other there be as if it were.

Worldly matters, pretense they are
Deception is the daily din
Gazing into each other eyes
Sipping sweet nectar from therein
One heart reaching out to another
All else fades into the dark

The offence is to anyone,
Unburden my heart, if I can
In this deluge, once if I can,
Sit down in a quiet little nook
Few words I say to the one
Does it matter to anyone?

The wind speeds in desperation,
Lightning flashes from time to time
Those words that have, in this lifetime
Remained within, in my mind
Those are the words that I may tell
Today, in this dark and dense downpour.


Emono Dine Tare Bola Jay. Translated by Rumela Sengupta
12 Comments

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