Short Take - GULF TODAY Dt. 28.08.2010 - Surprise gift

Short Take - GULF TODAY Dt. 28.08.2010 - A surprise gift

Surprise gift

The other day, I was having dinner with an Indonesian friend of mine. He seemed to be very happy during our meeting. Conversing with him, I realised, he had just finished scheduling a Haj visit for him and his parents the next month. They were aged, and so he will go to Indonesia and from there fly to Saudi Arabia for Umra.

His parents have had a very normal life all throughout and they took care that their children did have good school and life, even forgetting about their own hardships.

Now, the son, who is here and well employed, is comfortable and thankful to hand over a surprise gift of their life to them this year.

I could see his joy as well as theirs while he conveyed this happy move from his side.

It brought out memories for me of many such parents who work all their life for the benefit of their children.

It was not a one-off instance, but it did create an impact in all our minds about what such actions can bring out in the life of those who get to receive it.

Ramesh Menon

Campaign - Appeal to bring Metro @ Whitefield Stn (Kadugodi)

Campaign - Appeal to bring Metro @ Whitefield Stn (Kadugodi)

Background (Preamble):

Metro at Bangalore is the right step forward towards making this city truly international. This will not only reduce congestion on our overloaded road transport but will also be environment friendly. The need to cut trees for road widening or using own vehicle for commuting will be nullified to a great extent. Travel by Metro will be convenient, safe and affordable for all.

This petition is created for awareness and to bring all like minded people on single platform of having Metro at Whitefield station (Kadugodi). There are multiple reasons to do so and few have been highlighted below:

1) Whitefield station is the last railway outpost of Bangalore connecting southern lines with ample parking space for future Metro expansion.

2) Kadugodi bus stand (which is fully functional with Vajra, Vayu Vajra, Big 10 and other buses plying on this route) is the confluence where in people arriving from Hoskote and Kolar change their transport to catch appropriate city bus. It is also used by residents in and around Kadugodi/ Whitefield to commute.

3) Major existing residential/ commercial/ office projects and upcoming projects in the vicinity of Kadugodi area makes a fully functional Metro a must to avoid traffic, pollution and stress.
Petition:

We, the undersigned, appeal to bring Metro at Whitefield station, Kadugodi!!!

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38671.html

Kindly log on to the above link and sign your support to this move.

Thanks and regards,

Ramesh Menon

Photo Speaks - Golden Blossom Memories - A spider at work

Photo Speaks - Golden Blossom Memories - A spider at work

 

As I walked around my apartment compound clicking the beauty around, I found this interesting site. A spider at work. I watched it for a long time, as it slowly consumed it’s prey and moved around. Unlike the normal black spider, this one was beautiful too. Indeed, there was a beauty all around it. Isn’t true that God creates every creatures in the best and most beautiful possible way?

Mind Speaks - A visitor from the past

Mind Speaks - A visitor from the past

 

It was a very common seen during my childhood days to see the above scene. A man carrying a wheel adapted to sharpen knife, and also selling knives in various shapes and sizes. The advent of latest equipments and the change of technologies have made redundant these age old visitor who travels from village to village and was once a common visitor to all homes. We used to have a regular person in our village who was from some distant village in Tamilnadu. It has been a very long time I have seen him, or any one who took over from him in our village. However, I did not stop my search for him. It was during my recent visit I chanced upon one such person in a village in Bangalore. I did not miss the chance and did turn my car and came back all the way to include him in my collection. From a casual talk with him, even he is going to put a full stop to this trade as no very few people uses his services. Except, for some barber shops or butcheries, even they have electronic equipment to sharpen their tools or completely electronic equipments to be used and thrown away. I wished him good luck for future and continued.

Rain, rain and more rain at Banglaore and Kerala

Rain, rain and more rain at Banglaore and Kerala

A rainy day in Kerala

A rainy day at Bangalore

Anyone from UAE visiting India during July and August will love to enjoy the Monsoon rains. I cannot stop writing about the thrill of being around in the rain from the scorching heat of 50+ degrees which was the case when I boarded the plane. As expected I did get some good rain both in Kerala and surprisingly a heavy one in Bangalore too, not to dishearten me. Because, rain gods know, once back, I will have only these videos left till another monsoon I get to enjoy.

Precious moments, and who knows whether these weather conditions prevail in the coming season. Nothing is guaranteed these days.

Elephant enjoying the rain

Elephant enjoying the rain

I did write about him early. He is taking rest and enjoying the monsoon rain at this special premises near Oorakam Amma Thiruvadi Temple. From the olden days, temple elephants on heat used to be tied down at this compound just next to our ancestral home. It is a site to watch as these pachyderms will be there for months, at times, creating fear amongst all, but mostly a sense of compassion and love as most of us from thrissur, love elephants and know their moods and syndromes better than our fellow human beings. And on this day, he was enjoying the rain, and I felt like watching him forever and ever.

Automated Car Paking facility at Bangalore Mantri Square

Automated Car Paking facility at Bangalore

An interesting feature I witnessed during my recent visit to Bangalore's Mantri Square. An automated car parking facility to park small and medium sized cars. Although, it cannot accommodate large cars or 4x4S, it is a solution to parking problems in malls. The lower floors that occupied the parking area did have ventilation problem. However, overall, the mall created an impressive outlook and projected safety consciousness throughout by way of well displayed safety instructions and equipments in place and on it’s website. An interesting place to visit while at Bangalore.

Have a great Onam Sadhya and...

Have a great Onam Sadhya and...

Although, having pan regularly is inviting your chance to health hazards, today being Onam, if you have had a great luch, you can have one.

Continue the celebrations.

God bless.

Onam 2010 Wishes

Onam 2010 Wishes

2010 Annual Independence Day Horticultural, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Bangalore

2010 Annual Independence Day Horticultural, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Bangalore

The annual Independence Day Horticultural Show commenced at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Bangalore, display this year a minature version of India Gate. It has taken over two lakhs roses and several creative hands to create the replica of this monument which is the special feature of the Flower Show 2010.

The show featured around 260 varieties of plants, exotic orchids, anthoriums, several varieties of roses, daisies, corn flower, zinnia, petunia, cockscombs and phlox presented by 1200 participants. It was open till August 15 at the Glass House, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore.

I couldn't resist myself from visiting this flower festival.

Golden Blossom Memories - Flowers - Various 1

Golden Blossom Memories - Flowers - Various 1

Flowers at GOLDEN BLOSSOM... Good work by the Apartment Owners Association and workers to keep it beautiful all the time.

Getting ready for Onam 2010 - scene from Thrissur Market

Getting ready for Onam 2010 - scene from Thrissur Market

Taken a few days ago. Happy Onam to all my friends. (Click on the pictures to see larger version).

Golden Blossom Memories 2 - A beautiful flower

Golden Blossom Memories 2 - A beautiful flower

As the name GOLDEN BLOSSOM denotes, the compound is full of flowers. Presenting to you a beautiful one.

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 21.08.2010 - Elephant walk policy

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 21.08.2010 - Elephant walk policy

Elephants - Temple elephants are an integral part in the life of Keralites. Especially, if you are from the Trichur area. The attachment towards the animal are so emotional and sensitive that people even address them by names and from ancient times there are several stories propagating the love and affection between man and elephant. An elephant’s walk is a beauty to watch.

However, imagine a situation if it gets wild. You just have to do a search on YouTube, you will see several videos of attacks by wild elephants killing their mahout or others who come across.

Out of love and passion for the animal, I have developed an important management principle based on elephants, closely following its gentle and beautiful walking style which is a beauty to watch and its actions scaring all when it is wild. I have termed it as Elephant Walk Policy. It is somewhat related to some of the age-old philosophies and principles we normally follow.

The first part of this principle follows non-violence. Be mild - as mild as you can till you cannot tolerate any more when you may change over and follow the other part and be wild and aggressive - as aggressive as you can. Create a wild impact and then let this impact force the results.

Ramesh Menon

To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY Online.

Football Memories - Ground is Water

Football Memories - Ground is Water

It's almost 30 years since I left this campus. But the memories still remain. The monsoon rain and the urge to play football before the class and after it. Surprisingly, even after so many years the playground at Don Bosco High School Irinjalakuda remains the same. With thick grass and water pool near the goal post, it was mischievously delightful to play there. Blue trousers and white shirts obviously ended up colorful after each time. Even if it doesn’t get dirty, we made sure, a hit to the most clean uniformed classmate gets an imprint on his shirt. Thomson, Franson, Nandan, Pradeep, Biju, Nandakumar, Jayachandran….. List of names never end….. A casual visit to the school brought back your memories. It was lunch time and drizzling. So the students were having food from their lunch pack within the classroom. Hmm, the smell of packed food from home was in the air throughout the corridor. I remember also the PT Sir, of that time, who used to tell us the special title here. Miss you all.

Adding some more passing shots...

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Don Bosco Irinjalakuda

An easy and safe Park and go option - Impose heavy fines for parking violations

An easy and safe Park and go option - Impose heavy fines for parking violations


During my recent visit to Bangalore's Commercial Street on two ocassions, I witnessed a series of parking violations. Although there are traffic wardens, parking bays and payment options, I noticed drivers parking at will ignoring the inconvenience of the other commuters.

A casual talk with the roadside vendors revealed an interesting information. The fines are too low that drivers ignore instructions and ignoring an civic responsibilities and park wherever they want and go finish there work and come back.

Even if there cars are locked they have to pay only a nominal fine and the lock act as a safety for their vehicles with added police protection.

I think it is time the authorities impose heavier fines and initiate stricter measures to curb such traffic violations causing inconvenience to road users.

Ramesh Menon

Volvo nights for travellers to Bangalore - A Suresh Kallada concern

Volvo nights for travellers to Bangalore - A Suresh Kallada concern

Vow! Impressive array of latest VOLVO buses from various districts of Kerala to Bangalore and other destinations daily evening.

It is a beauty to watch these beautiful buses at night. Gone are the days of Ashok Leyland's who ruled the road. A few years ago, travel agencies like Madina, KPN etc lined up with latest Ashok Leyland buses for the benefit of travellers to Bangalore. Even now, they are there, but most travellers prefer now the luxurious Volvo buses. Whether the government repair the road or not, if you are in a Volvo, your journey is comfortable. And a smooth drive is ensured by these travels.

A Suresh Kallada Concern is one such operator who has several buses on this route and as the name denotes, the quality buses and it's drivers make sure every passenger has a smooth journey each time they choose.

One way journey costs in these buses cost around Rs. 900 from Ernakulam, whereas the Karnatak State buses charge around Rs. 600/- On week-ends and holidays, seats are very hard to find as they are pre-booked well in advance. Train fare on these route is half the amount but again, booking has to be done well before. During holidays and festivals the rate increase will be between 300 to 500 per ticket.

Photo Speaks - Rain Tourism

Photo Speaks - Rain Tourism



Excellent rain added with choice of Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia flights to Kerala has shown an increase in tourists from Middle East to Kerala this season. One favorite spot for all has been the Athirappally and Vazhachal waterfalls which is situated in the middle of a thick jungle. The adjacent dam has become almost full and excess water opened out make the natural waterfalls all the more fierry and beautiful.

In this picture, a couple from Middle East is seen enjoying the scenic beauty from down the falls and also a warden helping them click a precious moment of their visit.

Photo Speaks - Flowers - A Water Lilly on a Rainy Day

Photo Speaks - Flowers - A Water Lilly on a Rainy Day

Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover

Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover

Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at newly opened Kadugodi flyover

The new flyover at Kadugodi opposite to Brindavan ashram is proving a great help to all commuters in terms of saving time and travel comfort. However, a minor design flaw has already created a dangerous driving situation there. Drivers, especially of autos and bikes are wrongly entering the bridge without taking the u-turn designated for them causing accidents. This bridge has considerable amount of truck traffic and already several minor accidents have been witnessed by residents nearby.

Before a major accident involving loss of life happens, I request the authorities to install necessary signage about the availability of a designated u-turn a few distance away from the entrance of the bridge. Installation of an extended road divider will also make it impossible for such dare devil drivers to access the bridge easily breaking the traffic rules.

Ramesh Menon

Also posted in Praja.in:

Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover