Abu Dhabi getting ready for VOLVO Ocean Race

43rd UAE National Day Decorative lighting at Abu Dhabi

Public speaking - Short Take - Gulf Today - Dt. 29 November 2014

Public speaking

Public Speaking is an art. Some people are very talented at it. So much so, that we love to hear them speak for any number of hours.

It may be natural for some but for others it may be developed over a period of years. Both require indepth knowledge on the subject they speak and also huge amount of preparation before.

It is also the same case when it comes to answering questions spontaneously after the speech on the subject they talked as well as various others.

I was lucky to listen to two such speakers recently. One was a US scientist, who elaborated his mastery and presented it in the simplest manner that even a layman could understand.

The other one was one of my own seniors. With experience in the industry for about 40 years, it is a treat to watch and listen to him on any day. It comes so natural that the audience will never realise how much time and topic is covered until he leaves the podium.

It doesn’t end there as he has a natural way to answer post-speech questions. I haven’t seen him carrying a manuscript for his speech.

However, it was new experience for me and all others gathered who listened to him the other day at a huge gathering.

As he came in front of the podium, he took out a set of papers. Before reading out the key messages from it, he said to all. “Today, I am a virgin! It is the first time I am reading out from a pre-written note!”

It was really an icebreaker to capture the huge audience. Though he ventured out from the note at times, it blended perfectly.

Ramesh Menon

To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online

Abu Dhabi’s F1 Grand Prix was a great specactle - Letters to the editor - The National Dt 25 November 2014

Fans applaud the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. (Christopher Pike / The National)

Well done, Abu Dhabi, on a successful finale to the Formula One series (Hamilton takes Abu Dhabi GP, November 24).

The Etihad Formula One Grand Prix really was a treat to watch. The organisers did a great job from the issuing of tickets to the closing event.

Praise should be showered on the volunteers from Takatof who were well trained and well informed.

However, I have a wish list for next year’s event. It includes more television screens in the general stands, free earphones for following the commentary in English and Arabic, and a prominent display showing the lap number. Transport after the race is also an area for improvement.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

To read it in original, please visit The National online.

Cancer battle - Gulf Today - Short Take Dt. 22 November 2014

Cancer battle

On a visit to India last week, I was at the lounge of Abu Dhabi airport waiting to board a plane. The renovation work happening there meant that the space was crowded.

Among the passengers I found a well dressed lady walking back and forth restlessly answering to phone calls and making her own calls.

At some point of time, she came close to where I was standing and I found that she was calling doctors at a Cochin hospital and enquiring about the health condition of someone in the ICU. Feeling for her stressful situation, I started a conversation with her just to make her relax a bit.

Talking to her I found out that she is a medical professional from Washington DC on an emergency visit to Kerala as her father has been admitted at a prominent hospital in Cochin.

She told me that her father was normal a few months ago and had visited her in the US.

Recently, he was found diagnosed with cancer and added heart and other conditions made things worse and his kidney had stopped functioning now.

It happened that there was lack of medical support and things have now turned out to be really worse.

To aid speedy recovery and assist with right medical guidance she decided to take emergency leave and fly down.

We talked about the recent increase in cancer of various types, especially in the region. Our topics also covered lack of proper medical guidance to the patients and their support system.

At the Cochin airport, I assured her all support if ever she required and left for home.

Next day, I was visiting Cochin for a personal reason and was driving in front of the hospital where her dad was being treated.

To my surprise, I found her coming out of the gate and I told my driver to stop.

She too was surprised to see me again. Her face was totally down and she told me that her dad’s condition had worsened and they did not have any hope. They would try and keep him in a ventilator till her husband and children arrived from the US in the next two days.

I felt too sad and consoled her. Having undergone similar situations in my life twice in the recent years, I know how distressing it is. I said goodbye to her, offering prayers for the speedy recovery of her dad.

Although, it was an unhappy situation we met, I never expected her to meet again when I left her at Cochin airport but we met again and hope we will meet again as her love and willingness for her dad left everlasting impressions in me.

Ramesh Menon

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

TOTAL @ 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Get ready for 2014 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Get ready for 2014 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - 21, 22, 23 November 2014. Watch out for more action photos in the coming days.

Honey Bees and Flowers Blossom

Wherever flowers blossom, you are sure to see honey bees. Our apartment complex is not an exception. No wonder, it has the right name and rightly the consecutive winner for one of the best garden in the city. A bee hive getting bigger, better and beautiful each day in front of the balcony of my apartment at Bangalore. Hope, no one disturbs their community and their life. So far so good. It will be a disaster if they are disturbed or hurt. It is true communal harmony is very important for peaceful living.

Click on the photo and view in full. Share it with your children and show them how artistic they are!

On the edge of the world.

On the edge of the world.

Many times we hear this, but during this time I happened to meet and interact with two lovely human beings who are literally at that stage of their life. The story after, I do not know. So, leave with good thoughts and memories. Just like this beautiful tiny little creature, which inspired me to write about those chance meetings and my thoughts surrounding

Learning experience - Gulf Today - Short Take - Dt 15 November 2014

Learning experience

It was a hectic week with Adipec 2014 celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The prestigious oil and gas exhibition and conference has gained immense popularity over the years. It was proved by the continuous flow of visitors with their quest to know more about technology and expertise present in each of the stands.

The event offered an opportunity to meet with colleagues who arrived for the exhibition from different parts of the world and also make some new friends who were first timers.

Observing them and many others in our and various other stands was a learning experience by its own. Some people make it a show and some others contribute significantly to make the show run!

For me, it was a month of long working hours and I needed a break. Off to the airport straight from the exhibition, I realised my dress was completely out of form.

I approached an outlet where an Ethiopian salesgirl gave me the right choice of shorts, jackets, belt and other accessories. In no time, I was relaxed and comfortable in my new dress.

Good customer service is an inborn art and a person like her should be congratulated and promoted to be role models. Our travel becomes all the more interesting when we come across such pleasant salespersons.

Ramesh Menon

"The Man Committed"

“The Man Committed”

Its real - Gilles Richaud, posing in front of the TOTAL ad featuring him.

ADIPEC 2014 is into its third day and this prestigious conference and exhibition is turning out to be a record breaking one in terms of visitors, participation from major International Industry players, contractors and visitors. 

The stream of visitors never stopped and we at TOTAL Stand were busy attending them. Hundreds of visitors of all nationalities were moving in both directions in front of our stand. Suddenly a colleague pointed out to me to a man walking away to the main exit door. He continued to guide my view to the huge poster by TOTAL at the main entrance of the ADNEC atrium. I couldn’t believe my eyes!. It was the same man in the advertisement that TOTAL has released recently for one of their posters with the theme “Committed to Better Energy”.

Gilles Richaud - "the committed man"

As part of their dedicated efforts to promote TOTAL and its brand as a truly global company that blends with each of their regional ethos, a series of themes have been prepared and released world-wide through print, electronic and online media. One among them was based on the Total Abu Al Bhukhoosh Academy and its objectives to impart quality education to young emirati students. The academy provide students opportunity to learn techniques of oil and gas industry and come out as professionals who are directly inducted to major oil companies within Abu Dhabi.

The “Committed to Better Energy” campaign was launched in October and by now the advertisement has been seen by millions in print, television and through online portals and not to forget the huge hoardings. It took a while for me to believe that I am seeing the person who has actually posed for it!. I realized an opportunity to meet and talk to him.

A lady posing with "the committed man"

By then he was lost in the crowd. Somehow, I managed to find him and bring him to the huge hoarding displayed there and requested him to pose for me. Seeing me taking pictures of him, the crowd too realized the opportunistic occasion and rushed to pose with him and talk to him. Ladies and youth were prominent among them. They merrily clicked with him and showed thumbs-up sign of happiness and I heard one of them saying - this is real!. 

A star is born - Gilles Richaud, “The Man Committed” made our day a memorable one. 

Youth showing thumbs up sign of happiness in clicking with "the committed man"

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

from ADIPEC 2014

12th November 2014

Visit TOTAL at ADIPEC 2014

Total is showcasing its world class technology and innovations at ADIPEC 2014:

Please visit and get to know:

• 3-D CLOV Mega Project Hologram Pyramid
• E-Learning Simulation
• Total ABK Academy
• Presentations at Stand A232 Auditorium
• Touch Table for Total Publications
• F1 Simulator

Meet our experts at stand A232 and at Young ADIPEC to experience demonstrations.

Exhibition dates: 10-13 November 2014 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi.

ae.total.com

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

On Nov.3, we celebrated the UAE Flag Day. As part of the events of the flag campaign “Raise it high… Raise it proud” we were hoisting the flag in front of the mall where our office is situated. All management and staff were present representing a high multi-national blend joining together to show our solidarity to the country and its leaders’ vision.

The UAE national anthem was played at the end and we were just dispersing when I suddenly noticed our vice-president Sultan Al Hajji rushing to the middle of the pathway separating the main road from the mall.

I saw a group of school children running between the vehicles to a school bus which had stopped wrongly on the middle of the road for them to alight.

I was shocked and my reaction was also as impulsive as my vice president. I too rushed to the bus, stopped the children and went and requested the driver to move the bus to a safe place for children to get in. All these happened in a flash and we were able to control the children quickly.

We sent a request to the mall authorities and through them to the government departments to have appropriate fencing immediately so that this easy path that tempts drivers to stop midway ends.

We also came out with a plan to reroute the direction for larger groups, especially children to board the bus in safety. End of the day, it became a productive effort with excellent coordination from all concerned.

This spur of the moment action made our UAE Flag Day memorable. We felt happy that we value safety.

Safety aspects cannot be given rest. Safety is everybody’s business.

That is the culture we wish to bring on in everyone’s mind.

Ramesh Menon

To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today Online

For all my readers:

If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Also explore the many 'previous articles' listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. 

You may also read similar articles at: Safety First

I would love to read your comments.

Thank you and best regards - Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi - Clicksand Writes

School buses must be tamed - Letters to the Editor - The National Dt 04 November 2014

School buses must be tamed

I am relieved to know that road accident rates in Abu Dhabi have fallen (Deaths on roads decline by 17 per cent, November 2).

However, when I look at the way some drivers behave, I cannot believe that we have made any significant achievement in terms of road safety awareness.

For example, I regularly see school buses speeding through Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, Corniche Road and through the narrow lanes of Madinat Zayed. I see them being driven recklessly almost everywhere in the city.

Are these drivers not bothered about the safety of children, that of their own and other road users? Are they not even afraid of punishment?

More importantly, there is no way to alert the bus owners about such dangerous behaviour as none of them carries the “Am I driving safely?” sticker. This issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

To read it in original, please visit The National online

Celebrate UAE Flag Day on Monday 3rd November 2014

UAE Flag Day will be celebrated tomorrow Monday 3rd November 2014.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the Flag Day campaign, urging the public to express their patriotism. Patriots across the country will raise the United Arab Emirates flag high over homes, businesses and government buildings in honor of Flag Day.

The UAE flag will be raised at 12 :00 pm as a show of national unity. The Flag Day honors the anniversary of the accession of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed as the UAE President.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan further explains that all the events organized by the Ministry as part of the Flag campaign aims to emphasize the vision of the ministry, and its mission to promote the national identity and community cohesion with the need to focus on the participation of all segments of society in the campaign, and organizing appropriate activities for all segments of the society.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan further explains that all the events organized by the Ministry as part of the Flag campaign aims to emphasize the vision of the ministry, and its mission to promote the national identity and community cohesion with the need to focus on the participation of all segments of society in the campaign, and organizing appropriate activities for all segments of the society.

The Flag campaign kicks off on the third of November and continues over seven days in all emirates through the ministry's in all emirates through cultural centers affiliated to the ministry, schools and shopping centers, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, targeting and reaching all segments of the society..

The Ministry is keen this year on the participation of all citizens and residents of the country in the Flag campaign, through the various events, activities and programs the ministry offers.The events of the flag campaign includes workshops, lectures and cultural seminars addressing the value of the flag, its symbolism and history, in addition to events and carnivals for children including coloring, shows and competitions in various shopping centers, as well as radio contests throughout the campaign days.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development focuses to reach all citizens and residents of the state, either through media or direct communication with the public or through social networking websites, so as to achieve the greatest possible participation and interaction from different categories and age groups, symbolizing loyalty and belonging to this country and its wise leadership.

The Flag campaign under the slogan "Raise it High… Raise it Proud" is considered an opportunity for citizens and residents to express their feelings towards the UAE Flag, which is an embodiment of the meanings of greatness, pride and sense of belonging to the homeland, establishing the value of the flag and its symbolism as an essential component of the national identity. The UAE flag, moreover, symbolizes our Union, around which we all stand, as an evidence of the continuation of this generation and subsequent generations to follow the footsteps of the founding fathers of this nation who have unified all the seven Emirates..

The Flag campaign kicks off on the third of November and continues over seven days in all emirates through the ministry's in all emirates through cultural centers affiliated to the ministry, schools and shopping centers, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, targeting and reaching all segments of the society..

The Ministry is keen this year on the participation of all citizens and residents of the country in the Flag campaign, through the various events, activities and programs the ministry offers.The events of the flag campaign includes workshops, lectures and cultural seminars addressing the value of the flag, its symbolism and history, in addition to events and carnivals for children including coloring, shows and competitions in various shopping centers, as well as radio contests throughout the campaign days.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development focuses to reach all citizens and residents of the state, either through media or direct communication with the public or through social networking websites, so as to achieve the greatest possible participation and interaction from different categories and age groups, symbolizing loyalty and belonging to this country and its wise leadership.

The Flag campaign under the slogan "Raise it High… Raise it Proud" is considered an opportunity for citizens and residents to express their feelings towards the UAE Flag, which is an embodiment of the meanings of greatness, pride and sense of belonging to the homeland, establishing the value of the flag and its symbolism as an essential component of the national identity. The UAE flag, moreover, symbolizes our Union, around which we all stand, as an evidence of the continuation of this generation and subsequent generations to follow the footsteps of the founding fathers of this nation who have unified all the seven Emirates.

To know more, please visit my source for this post: http://www.uaeflag.ae/en/FlagStory.aspx

Noble cause - Short Take - Gulf Today - Dt 01 November 2014

Noble cause

Weekends are something one looks forward to. Come Sunday, and work keeps all busy. Occasional attendance to some public function may be the only diversion to this schedule. Come Thursday and things change. We look forward to meeting friends and a series of activities rejuvenate us.

One of the activities in my life is to assist a group of friends in serving the less fortunate and less educated within our society. Less fortunate is common to all. However, less educated is an interesting term I imbibed recently from an elderly person.

We were in the middle of a health awareness campaign and one among us casually checked his blood sugar level. He was well educated, a teetotaler, and had a disciplined life. However, he was found with a higher than normal blood sugar level.

That was a chance discovery, which in normal case would have gone unnoticed till it had aggravated. A casual persuasive talk by someone to have his parameters checked helped him avert a danger to his life.

This is an important lesson we learnt. This has given us more vigour to come all out and create awareness to the less educated and less fortunate about health and dangers of smoking. Added with a bit of awareness on road safety, our mission each week is full of bliss.

End of the weekend, we all say blessed when we are able to convince someone to stop smoking or drinking or even help diagnose an unknown medical condition and assist him to get appropriate treatment.

Ramesh Menon

Gulf Today - Short Take - Dt 1st November 2014

To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online

For all my readers:

If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Also explore the many 'previous articles' listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. 

You may also read similar articles at: Short Take

I would love to read your comments.

Thank you and best regards - Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi - Clicksand Writes