Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Reflections - a migratory bird at Eastern Corniche Abu Dhabi

Reflections - a migratory bird at Eastern Corniche Abu Dhabi

Shawarma for the soul

Shawarma for the soul



View from a Shawarma outlet in Tourist Club Area at Abu Dhabi

A date with Date Palm Trees - fruits

A date with Date Palm Trees - fruits



Date palms.
June 2010.

A date with Date Palm Trees - fruits

A date with Date Palm Trees - fruits



A date palm tree with dates.

29.06.2010

A beautiful - Chrysanthemum (Jamanthi) and a bee at work

A beautiful - Chrysanthemum (Jamanthi) and a bee at work

A date with Date Palm Trees - flowering

A date with Date Palm Trees - flowering



The moment, the date palm trees flower, it is a warning sign to all from nature that - the summer arrived. It is now the start of a new season, a new cycle, and very soon, the Eid Al Fitr will come (in between the regular summer holidays) and then followed by the Holy month of Ramadan and the Eid Al Adha. By then the now flowered dates will developed, grow, ripe and fall down, indicating the end of a season and end of another year. Let us follow the dates and follow the year ahead… Wish you a wonderful journey as they grow and as we grow.
07 March 2010

A date with Date Palm trees - flowering

A date with Date Palm trees - flowering



The moment, the date palm trees flower, it is a warning sign to all from nature that - the summer arrived. It is now the start of a new season, a new cycle, and very soon, the Eid Al Fitr will come (in between the regular summer holidays) and then followed by the Holy month of Ramadan and the Eid Al Adha. By then the now flowered dates will developed, grow, ripe and fall down, indicating the end of a season and end of another year. Let us follow the dates and follow the year ahead… Wish you a wonderful journey as they grow and as we grow.

07 March 2010

Sign boards - an opportunistic ad by Jumbo Electronics

Sign boards - an opportunistic ad by Jumbo Electronics



Reflections of life around.

An opportunistic ad by JUMBO Electronics at Bur Dubai

Signs and informations - At Corniche Park Abu Dhabi

Signs and informations - At Corniche Park Abu Dhabi



Notices at Parks in Abu Dhabi
Keep the environment clean.

Signs - Dubai Police safety awareness ad

Signs - Dubai Police safety awareness ad





Dubai Police Safety Awareness ad at one of the bus stops in Bur Dubai.

Safety First. Drive Safely - Have a good week-end.

Signs and informations - A sign board at Corniche park in Abu Dhabi

Signs and informations - A sign board at Corniche park in Abu Dhabi




Notices at Parks in Abu Dhabi
Keep the environment clean.

Reflections on a rainy day

Reflections on a rainy day

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Flowers - Rose

Flowers - Rose

Flowers and bees

Flowers and bees



Dear Friends,

It is with immense pleasure and gratitude, I am writing this note.

Tomorrow, 13th June 2010, will mark three years of my blogging. What started as a small email group named Team1Dubai to interact with and motivate a group of students of IGNOU Dubai, is now branched into different vistas of communications.

On 13th June 2007, as per a suggestion by a friend, Mr. Mohan Iyer from Australia, I started my first blog www.team1dubai.blogspot.com. The interest it generated and the reach encouraged me to branch out my interests and activities into the following blogs and interactive medias:

13-Jun-07 Team 1 Dubai http://www.team1dubai.blogspot.com/
25-Nov-08 Indian Bloggers Nest http://www.indianbloggersnest.blogspot.com/
14-Aug-08 Athaani http://athaani.blogspot.com/
06-Oct-08 Talent Share http://talentshare.blogspot.com/
03-Dec-08 Team 1 UAE http://www.team1uae.blogspot.com/
01-Apr-09 CBSE Plus http://www.cbseplus.blogspot.com/
30-Sep-09 Team 1 Passionate Photographers http://team1passionatephotographers.blogspot.com/

And then Team 1 Talent Share Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/Team1Talentshare
Passionate Photographers group : http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=108518287970

Each one has it’s own significance and purpose and I have always tried to mark its relevance whenever there is an opportunity or need.

The encouragement and support received from all of you are highly significant and I do not want to miss out on THANKING any one who took their time out to visit and read what I posted.

This has also resulted in focussing seriously on Community reporting benefiting on several progressive measures for the welfare of the community.

With a combined readers count approximately numbering 251,000 hits and with Face Book hits, it is continuing to grow slowly and steadily.

Photography, music, education, communication, HSE, Social Service. Interest and involvements are multitude in nature and each of them are kept active periodically as time and opportunity permits . However, in the recent times, I have kept my focus mainly on http://www.team1uae.blogspot.com/ and http://www.talentshare.blogspot.com/ and you are invited to continue your visits there and keep showing your interest as well as invite your friends who you feel will benefit a point or two from my postings.

God bless you all to have a great journey ahead.

Ramesh Menon
12.06.2010

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/2010/06/13-june-2010-3rd-year-of-team-1-blogs.html

Flowers - Ixora (Thechi)

Flowers - Ixora coccinea (Thechi)



Festival of Thechi poo (Scientific name :lxora coccinea )
A scene from the plants and flowers market at Mina area, Abu Dhabi

Expressions - Kapil Dev

Expressions - Kapil Dev











Kapil Dev at Sh Zayed Cricket Stadium during the UAE Exchange SAARC Cricket cup tournament

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Navarasas by Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan

Navarasas by Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan



To know more about his performance, please visit:

http://talentshare.blogspot.com/search/label/Kalanilayam%20Gopi

Navarasas by Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan

Navarasas by Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan





To know more about his performance, please visit:

http://talentshare.blogspot.com/search/label/Kalanilayam%20Gopi

Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.

Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.






Thayambaka

Keli by Kalamandalam Shivadas and troupe.

On chenda - Kalamandalam Shivadas, On Madhalam - Kalanilayam Prakashan, On Chengala - Kalanilayam Rajeev, On Elathalam Kalanilayam Babu




Inaugural function of Keraleeyam 2010

Photos of the performance by Potent Shinz (member Passionate Photographers group)




Photos of the performance by Saleem Abu Alyazia (member Passionate Photographers group)














Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.

KALA ABU DHABI organized “KERALEEYAM-2010” - as part of the inaugural function of newly elected Managing Committee for the year 2010-11 on 24th of June Thursday evening at India Social & Cultural Center, Abu Dhabi.

A delightful Kathakali performance by renowned Kathakali artist and guru Sree Kalanilayam Gopi Asan and his team was the attraction of the evening for the packed auditorium of ISCC main hall. A thayambaka, Keli and Mohiniyattam dance performances added to the list of memorable performances of that evening.

The Kathakali was based on the story “Lavanasura Vadham” , a section from Ramayana where where Rama is ruling after duly completing his 14 years in exile. A casual conversation of his two sub-ordinates, a washerman and his washerwoman, where it appeared as if there is a black mark on the purity of Sita who had spent a few months alone in Lanka under the custody of Ravana. The washerman tells the washerwoman that I will not take you back in my house if you spend a single night outside even though our King Rama took back his wife Sita. The word spread around of this conversation and although, this comparison is quite unjust, Rama, respecting popular opinion decided to send Sita into the forest. Sita was pregnant and also contemplating to visit some sages in the forest and take their blessings. Sri Rama requested Lakshmana to leave Sita in the forest and come back. The unsuspecting Sita was left in the forest but fortunately near the ashram of Valmiki. Valmiki took Sita into the ashram and consoled her. Soon Sita delivered twins. Sage Valmiki named them Kusha and Lava. He taught them all the sciences and arts of the time. And they grew up with the sage. At that time, in the nearby forest lived a demon called Lavanasura. He was terrorising the sages who lived there. They complained to Rama who sent his brother Shatrughna to deal with the demon. Shatrughna kills the demon. Then starts an Aswamedha yaga in which a decorated horse was sent out followed by a mighty army led by Shatrughna. The horse came near to Valmiki's ashram. Lava and Kusha tied up the horse, and fought with Shatrughna and defeated him. Rama also came for battle but went back without fighting.

Rama then asked Hanuman to bring the Horse. However Lava and Kusha tied up Hanuman (rather Hanuman allows himself to be tied up) and brought him to Sita. Sita was astonished and immensely happy to see Hanuman. She ordered him to be released from the knots. Hanuman enquired about the well being of Sita and also told her that Rama had made a statue of Sita for completing the yaga rites. This made Sita happy. Hanuman went back happily with the Horse.

Artists:

Hanuman – Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan
Seetha – Kalanilayam Vinod Kumar
Lava – Aishwarya Gopi
Kusha – Kavya Pushapangadhan
Chenda - Kalamandalam Shivadas
Madhalam - Kalanilayam Prakashan
Music & Chengala - Kalanilayam Rajeev
Elathalam - Kalanilayam Babu
Chutti – Janardhanan
Commentary, and presentation by : Kalanilayam Dr. Rajeev

It is the fourth time that KALA Abu Dhabi is bringing Kathakali performance to the art lovers of UAE. The enthusiasm and interest by organizers convey a message that this traditional art form of Kerala will have many more stages in future. Utilising this opportunity a demonstration and Kathakali Pada Kacheri was held by Thiranottam in Dubai on Friday and a similar programme was held at Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam. Both programmes were attended by large number of Kathakli enthusiasts and the narration by Kalanilayam Dr. Rajeev, an oncology specialist working with Regional Cancer Centre Trivandrum was a boon to many to understand the art form and create added interest to the novice.

Looking forward to many more performances by Guru Kalanilayam Gopi Ashan and troup in the region.

Those who wish to contact him and book for performances, may contact him on the following address:

Kalanilayam Gopi
Sreevalsam
Sangameswara Avenue
West Nada Irinjalakuda
Thrissur Dist
Kerala, India
Tel: 0944 76 733 82 / 0480 2828 382
E-mail: gopisreevalsam@rediffmail.com

Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.

Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.






Thayambaka

Keli by Kalamandalam Shivadas and troupe.

On chenda - Kalamandalam Shivadas, On Madhalam - Kalanilayam Prakashan, On Chengala - Kalanilayam Rajeev, On Elathalam Kalanilayam Babu




Inaugural function of Keraleeyam 2010

Photos of the performance by Potent Shinz (member Passionate Photographers group)




Photos of the performance by Saleem Abu Alyazia (member Passionate Photographers group)












Lavanasura Vadham Kathakali by Kalanilayam Gopi Ashaan - an evening of delightful performance on the occasion of Keraleeyam 2010 by KALA Abu Dhabi.

KALA ABU DHABI organized “KERALEEYAM-2010” - as part of the inaugural function of newly elected Managing Committee for the year 2010-11 on 24th of June Thursday evening at India Social & Cultural Center, Abu Dhabi.

A delightful Kathakali performance by renowned Kathakali artist and guru Sree Kalanilayam Gopi Asan and his team was the attraction of the evening for the packed auditorium of ISCC main hall. A thayambaka, Keli and Mohiniyattam dance performances added to the list of memorable performances of that evening.

The Kathakali was based on the story “Lavanasura Vadham” , a section from Ramayana where where Rama is ruling after duly completing his 14 years in exile. A casual conversation of his two sub-ordinates, a washerman and his washerwoman, where it appeared as if there is a black mark on the purity of Sita who had spent a few months alone in Lanka under the custody of Ravana. The washerman tells the washerwoman that I will not take you back in my house if you spend a single night outside even though our King Rama took back his wife Sita. The word spread around of this conversation and although, this comparison is quite unjust, Rama, respecting popular opinion decided to send Sita into the forest. Sita was pregnant and also contemplating to visit some sages in the forest and take their blessings. Sri Rama requested Lakshmana to leave Sita in the forest and come back. The unsuspecting Sita was left in the forest but fortunately near the ashram of Valmiki. Valmiki took Sita into the ashram and consoled her. Soon Sita delivered twins. Sage Valmiki named them Kusha and Lava. He taught them all the sciences and arts of the time. And they grew up with the sage. At that time, in the nearby forest lived a demon called Lavanasura. He was terrorising the sages who lived there. They complained to Rama who sent his brother Shatrughna to deal with the demon. Shatrughna kills the demon. Then starts an Aswamedha yaga in which a decorated horse was sent out followed by a mighty army led by Shatrughna. The horse came near to Valmiki's ashram. Lava and Kusha tied up the horse, and fought with Shatrughna and defeated him. Rama also came for battle but went back without fighting.

Rama then asked Hanuman to bring the Horse. However Lava and Kusha tied up Hanuman (rather Hanuman allows himself to be tied up) and brought him to Sita. Sita was astonished and immensely happy to see Hanuman. She ordered him to be released from the knots. Hanuman enquired about the well being of Sita and also told her that Rama had made a statue of Sita for completing the yaga rites. This made Sita happy. Hanuman went back happily with the Horse.

Artists:

Hanuman – Kalanilayam Gopi Aashan
Seetha – Kalanilayam Vinod Kumar
Lava – Aishwarya Gopi
Kusha – Kavya Pushapangadhan
Chenda - Kalamandalam Shivadas
Madhalam - Kalanilayam Prakashan
Music & Chengala - Kalanilayam Rajeev
Elathalam - Kalanilayam Babu
Chutti – Janardhanan
Commentary, and presentation by : Kalanilayam Dr. Rajeev

It is the fourth time that KALA Abu Dhabi is bringing Kathakali performance to the art lovers of UAE. The enthusiasm and interest by organizers convey a message that this traditional art form of Kerala will have many more stages in future. Utilising this opportunity a demonstration and Kathakali Pada Kacheri was held by Thiranottam in Dubai on Friday and a similar programme was held at Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam. Both programmes were attended by large number of Kathakli enthusiasts and the narration by Kalanilayam Dr. Rajeev, an oncology specialist working with Regional Cancer Centre Trivandrum was a boon to many to understand the art form and create added interest to the novice.

The action photos of this post were captured by Potent Shinz and Saleem Abu Alyazia admins of Abu Dhabi Photographers Club group on Face Book.

Looking forward to many more performances by Guru Kalanilayam Gopi Ashan and troup in the region.

You may also read an interview with him at:

http://athaani.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-post.html


Those who wish to contact him and book for performances, may contact him on the following address:

Kalanilayam Gopi
Sreevalsam
Sangameswara Avenue
West Nada Irinjalakuda
Thrissur Dist
Kerala, India
Tel: 0944 76 733 82 / 0480 2828 382
E-mail: gopisreevalsam@rediffmail.com

My Letters - GULF NEWS Dt. 27.06.2010 - Congratulations

My Letters - GULF NEWS Dt. 27.06.2010 - Congratulations