To watch the Total Solar Eclipse 2009, I travelled to Surat with our club
members. Surat was the best place for the eclipse.We got there one day before
total eclipse and attended the whole day workshop. The whole day was rainy and
we didn't expect to see the eclipse successfully.


On the next morning when I rose before dawn, I stepped out of my room to check
the weather. It was complete cloudy and still raining.I thought we wouldn't be
able to see the eclipse! At 5:30am at dawn on 22nd, some thousands of people
accumulated on the terrace of"Atmiya Vidhya Mandir" in Kamrej village where the
main event was organized. The sky was completely covered by dense clouds and
there was light rain.Then the Sun was about to rise and the first contact was
already in progress. At 6:19 everyone felt that the darknesswas gradually
increasing. Then after a minute there was complete darkness at 6:20am. Although
we did not see the eclipse as the Sun was hidden behind clouds but weenjoyed the
thorough event what nature offered!


Just before the totality, I saw a bird called "black painted strock" emerged
from the farm and wandered around. But as the time of totality approached and
the darkness spreaded, the bird quickly went back and hidden behind the farms.
That behaviour of bird I observed and enjoyed the moment instead of seeing the
Sun!!

Rahul Zota (Bhuj-India)
www.skygazersbhuj.blogspot.com
www.comethunting.blogspot.com
 




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