Best Wishes for 2011

Best Wishes for 2011

Dear Friends,

2010 almost over and we are now looking forward to another new year in our life. 2011. Over the past one year and before we achieved several things. Individually and collectively. Let us consider everything as a team effort. The momentum generated should be capitalised to make the commuty we live in as a dream community and wish our expectations and requirements not to remain as a dream.

Let everyone come forward in his/her own way, including women and children and not to remain indoor and online. Let everyone share in his/her own way equal responsibilities for the benefit of making our society a harmonious place to live.

Let peace, prosperity, security and friendship prevail.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year and ahead.

Ramesh Menon & family

Readers Photos - XPRESS - 27 May - A Sanyasi at Rishikesh

Readers Photos - XPRESS - 27 May - Juhu Beach

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Clouds and changing weather - 2

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Clouds and changing weather - 2

Reason for my Safety initiatives - Mrs. Victoria D'Souza and family

Reason for my Safety initiatives - Mrs. Victoria D'Souza and family

I was not very much bothered about safety till a few years ago. It was in March 2007 that I started keeping a more serious look at road safety. On 26th March 2004, my mathematics teacher from school and her family members, six of them perished in a car accident here in Abu Dhabi. The new Corniche road, i.e. the Eastern Corniche road was being built and the road work was progressing swiftly during those days. Every day, the road directions and route changed, sometimes widening and some narrowing at various stretches. Mrs. D’Souza and family were on a visit to Abu Dhabi from Dubai and it was at one such stretch, a speeding driver drove past their vehicle hitting it. The vehicle was driven by her daughter in law. It was a brand new Land Rover car and they were all coming to Abu Dhabi to meet relatives after purchasing it. She lost control and hit the dividers on the side and the vehicle caught fire instantly. Incidentally, the tank was full and the doors got jammed and they were unable to come out or even rescued by those who approached after the collision.

It was a tragedy, which I can never forget. Mrs. Victoria D’souza was with us in Don Bosco High School and then she moved over here and was working as a Supervisor in one of the schools in Dubai. Her children were known to me from childhood and this was one incident very difficult to forget.

After this, I have always raised my concern over road safety and dangerous driving issues. It is a tribute to them. May their souls rest in peace.

Ramesh Menon
27.12.2010

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Christmas 2010

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Christmas 2010

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 25.12.2010 - Pleasant Journey

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 25.12.2010 - Pleasant Journey

Short Take: Pleasant journey
December 25, 2010

WE have reached almost the end of 2010. It was an eventful year considering the economic situation and progress made with limited resources. Those who held on to their hopes and dreams and progressed even an inch have to really congratulate themselves. It requires lot of determination and self-motivation. I salute all those who did it.

I was at a HSE campaign recently. We were segregating waste materials and each one had his own task to do. I was observing a little boy and his father. The boy was very particular in not mixing plastic with paper. He was saying, “Dad, if we mix it, it is not good for the environment. It has to be properly recycled. That’s what my teacher has told us in our class.” I was happy to hear him promoting HSE in his own small way.

Christmas and New Year have brought lot of visitors to the UAE this year. It is a promising sign to see the tourism industry and the business in this region flourishing. It brings hope to all that the economy will revive in 2011 and all those who suffered in some way or other due to the impact of recession will have reasons to smile in the new year and days ahead.

It has been an enjoyable journey for me with Short Take. Each week I had a set objective to look forward to, identify a small happening around and describe it in a friendly way for the benefit of those who love to read.

Ramesh Menon

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

My Letters - GULF NEWS Dt. 24.12.2010 - Baggage allowance

My Letters - GULF NEWS Dt. 24.12.2010 - Baggage allowance

Baggage allowance

Congratulations to Etihad Airways for being named the world’s leading airline for the second consecutive year at a travel industry event.

Etihad Airways now flies to many destinations from Abu Dhabi. Several new destinations, including those in South India, are being added in the near future.

A unified and standard 40 kilogram baggage allowance to all Indian destinations is a common wish-list among the passengers from Abu Dhabi. To travel by [Etihad] will then be a privilege for all to fly from Abu Dhabi, by the capital’s own airlines, from its state-of-the-art airport facilities.

I request Etihad Airways to kindly consider more baggage options on their flights to all Indian destinations alike.

It will also be a good idea for the airlines to partner with major electronic companies and shopping malls and provide special baggage vouchers on transportation of electronic appliances such as television.

This scheme will give a much required boost to revive the consumer sector.

From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

Mr Hareb Al Muhairi, VP Sales UAE, Etihad Airways, responds:

Many thanks for your congratulations on Etihad winning the “World’s Leading Airline” award for the second year in a row.

Etihad continually looks to add new and innovative features to enhance the travel experience for our customers.

These features currently include online check-in and self check-in at Abu Dhabi airport.
We also recently launched our “India Connect” scheme for members of our Etihad Guest programme travelling to and from India.

India Connect has a range of partners in India and around the world, who provide special offers for members of the scheme.

These partners include restaurants, hotels, retail chains, telecommunications services and financial service providers.

In terms of baggage allowances, this is a key commercial aspect of the airline industry and needs to be managed carefully. That said, the levels Etihad offers customers in all our cabins are among the highest in the industry.

Mr Menon responds:

I thank the management of Etihad for their response. I look forward to their extended effort to give more baggage allowance, than the existing 23 kilograms, to passengers [flying] to Indian destinations so that more families can opt for flying out from Abu Dhabi.
It is the major detrimental factor when travelling during holidays as a family or for that matter as a group with luggage for a long stay.

Gulf News’ intervention has highlighted this issue and I hope that the management of Etihad will consider this important factor in their scope for improvement for passenger comfort and convenience to attract more business to Etihad as well as Abu Dhabi airport.

To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Beautiful Weather and welcome clouds

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Beautiful Weather and welcome clouds

It is an extremely enjoyable weather these days. Holidays and tourists around for Christmas and New Year, evenings are busy at shopping malls. They are trying to do the year-end sales with interesting bargains for shoppers. Morning and evening clouds are also stepping in with their support.


Abu Dhabi weather

Readers Picture of the Day - GULF NEWS - Dt. 22.12.2010 - Time to Work

Readers Picture of the Day - GULF NEWS - Dt. 22.12.2010 - Time to Work

This is a picture I took and submitted to Gulf News recently. It was taken when I was driving from Kerala to Bangalore via Mangalore. This coastal area, Murudeswar, is a beautiful place and  were fisherman and at that time I saw the fisherman preparing to go to sea.


Photography gives me great relief to unwind, relax and then prepare myself for the routine/or unplanned task ahead in my daytoday life.

It is a way of looking things in the most beautiful way it can ever get projected.

Kia Soul - a value for money car

Kia Soul - a value for money car

Kia Soul looks like a little brother of Honda CR-V. It has some good safety, performance, reliability, warranty, fuel economy features, with comfortable seating, and aesthetic interior and exterior features with easily reachable audio and phone controls on the steering wheel.


Value for money if you are opting for an economical car to fit your pocket and parking space.

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Dt. 21.12.2010 - Community Service

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Dt. 21.12.2010 - Community Service

Community service
It is extremely encouraging to see women walking away with most of the prizes in the community report competition ("Making a difference in people's lives", Gulf News, December 15). I am sure the interest generated by this special page in Gulf News will make sure that this trend continues with more efficiency. It should be part of our daily commitment to support the administrative system by effectively notifying them about the discrepancies and shortfalls and providing solutions, without unwarranted criticism. Women and children have a bigger role to play in the improvement of things happening around and let this be inspiration for many more to step in without inhibition. All the four reporters and their reports were excellent and aptly intended to benefit the community they live in. I have to specially congratulate Ms Vamika Bajaj on her activities, promoting education amongst ordinary workers and highlighting it for the knowledge and participation of many like-minded individuals. I hope she did get the necessary support she was looking for by way of this report.

From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.

National High School Irinjalakuda celebrating Platinum Jubilee

National High School Irinjalakuda celebrating Platinum Jubilee

Are you an ex-student of National School, Irinjalakuda? Then please visit this site and register yourself.

http://nationalhss.com/contact.html

Kindly make it possible for your presence on 27th and 28th January, 2011 for the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, most likely to be inaugurated by the Governor.

There will be a special occasion for the old students to mingle together and share nostalgic memories!

Book your Plain/Train/Bus Ticket today itself without fail! Come and meet your old class-mates, some of the old Teachers as well!

Please forward this information to all the known students of NHS and send SMS if you do not have an email address!

Please forward to all you know from Irinjalakuda!

World’s massive home safety drive by UAE

World’s massive home safety drive by UAE


All of us give importance to safety and security issues. This campaign started in UAE yesterday, will be of use to all of us and is an excellent initiative by its authorities.

UAE rolls out world’s massive home safety drive, starting yesterday.
The first of its kind worldwide drive comes in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, the President of the State, and under the direct follow-up of his H.H Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime and Minister of Interior.

The campaign aims at spreading the preventive behavior amongst all members of the family through regular visits that carried out by Civil Defence teams to different houses, deliver its awareness message, and distribute campaign guidelines and publications to the family members.

The links below will give more information on the same. I have also added an attachment from the print edition of GULF NEWS, which I hope will be useful for all.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/civil-defence-gears-up-to-improve-domestic-fire-safety-across-uae-1.732647

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/December/theuae_December512.xml§ion=theuae&col=

Photo Speaks - On top of the world

Photo Speaks - On top of the world

This is one scary scene I always get to see. The cleaners at work on top of a tall building.

Bless them to be safe always.

Photo Speaks - End of an era - Rivoli Building Abu Dhabi

Photo Speaks - End of an era

The Rivoli building in Hamdan Street of Abu Dhabi. It has been marked for demolition. Almost reaching its 30s or may be more, it was one of the spacious and beautiful building in Abu Dhabi in the olden days. Now that the tenants have been evicted, very soon, it will be demolished and we will get to see another new structure coming up in place.

For me, it holds a very special memory. One of my friend, late Mr. Sai Krishnan, was living there. A few years ago, he fell into the hands of some fraudsters and trapped in a financial fraud and ended his life by jumping from his apartment in the top floors of this building. Every day when I drive by, I think of him and his pleasing smile and serving attitude. It was serving as a memorial structure for him and to my thoughts about him.

May his soul rest in peace.

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Abu Dhabi all set for Christmas 2010 - 3

Decorations at Shops and Hotels

Photo Speaks - Feast for eyes, mind and soul

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 18.12.2010 - Mobile Affinity

Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 18.12.2010 - Mobile Affinity

Mobile affinity

I was recently on a visit to Kerala. It was raining heavily. As I had to go to a forest area, I decided not to carry my regular mobile phone, which had all my telephone contacts. On my way back, I witnessed an accident and suddenly felt the need to contact someone to alert about the incident.

It was at that moment I realised that in my temporary phone I did not have any contacts synchronised. I hardly remembered any required number. Luckily, I was able to remember the number of a friend in Abu Dhabi and conveyed the message and he, in turn, sent an SMS with the required contact numbers. His xtimely assistance helped me take the necessary action I wanted to.

Back in Abu Dhabi, on the first day itself, I happened to assist a colleague who lost his office key while he went out. He had two mobiles and both the phones were on his table, when he went outside for a quick task. His plight was worse as he did not remember even his own office emergency contact number. Luckily, things were sorted out quickly and he was able to recover the phones.

After these two incidents, it made me think and realise strongly, the more mobile we become, the more immobile we end up with. Whatever programming or systematic organising we do, the old book and paper system of recording is at times necessary for important matters.

Ramesh Menon

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

Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Abu Dhabi all set for Christmas 2010 - 2

Karthika Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple - 21 November 2010

Photos provided by urakathammathiruvadiksethra upadeshakasamathi