keralapages

A Lake that Killed 1,700 People and 3500 livestocks overnight, and the reason still unknown

2020-08-04T11:18:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy U S. Geological Survey

Lake Nyos is a crater lake in the northwest region of Cameroon, located about 315 km northwest of Yaounde, the capital. On 21 August night, 1986, one of the strangest and most mysterious natural disasters in history took place at Lake Nyos. The lake released thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide gas that spread out over the area choking to death around 1700 humans and 3500 livestocks within minutes. Many people were silently asphyxiated in their sleep. When few survivors woke up from suffocating, they found only dead bodies of their kith and kin.

Photo courtesy BBC UK

Scientists explain that probably a limnic eruption has occurred on that night in Lake Nyos. limnic eruption is a rare type of natural disaster in which carbon dioxide dissolved in the deep lake waters suddenly erupts and forms a gas cloud over the area suffocating people and animals.

Usually, tonnes of carbon dioxide are contained in the lake in its deepest waters. However, on that fatal night, something at around 9 pm activated the release of an enormous amount of CO2 and because CO2 is heavier than the surrounding air, it quickly sunk into the valleys below, blanketing everything in the sheet of toxic gas. It is one of the most tragic natural events recorded, and scientists still could not explicate what precipitated it. The trigger could have been an earthquake, a landslide, or a volcanic eruption.

To prevent these limnic eruptions in future, in 2001, pipes were installed in the lake so that CO2 emanating from the lake bed could be released into the air gradually.

Again in 2011, more pipes were installed after scientists warned of a probable gas burst that could be bigger than the earlier disaster.

Later researchers found that the natural wall surrounding Lake Nyos has started to weaken causing concern to people of another disaster. A dam has since been built around the wall of Lake Nyos to protect it. Despite these preventive measures, the lake is still considered by many experts as dangerous.

'Dead man's finger' found in the Europe and North America

2020-07-25T10:13:00.012-07:00

Xylaria polymorpha, popularly known as Dead man's fingers, is a saprobic mushroom fungus found in the forest and woodland areas of Europe especially in Britain and Ireland and North America. Usually, it has the appearance of crooked fingers with yellowish nails earning it the name, ‘Dead man’s fingers’. It is not edible.

These fungus grow from rotten tree stumps and woody debris. It’s ecological importance is that it breaks down decayed organic matter into nutrients that are easily absorbable for plants.

Dead man’s fingers growing on the trunk or roots is a hazard as it indicates that the fungus is breaking down the tree internally causing a condition known as soft rot. It can collapse and fall any time and need to be removed before it turn into an accident.

(Pic courtesy Technobyte website)

Interesting facts about New Zealand

2020-07-25T09:24:00.002-07:00

New Zealand is a beautiful island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island separated by the waters of the Cook Strait. South Island is the larger of the two islands. There are also about 600 smaller islands. The largest of these islands is Rakiura island, also referred to as Stewart Island.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, and Auckland is the most populous city. Both are located on the North Island.

In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion; it gained full statutory independence in 1947. However, the British monarch remained the head of state.

New Zealand is known for its stunning natural beauty, incredible Maori culture, magnificent hiking trails, and world-class skiing and surfing. Here are some of the interesting facts about New Zealand.

Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world. Also, Wellington is often referred as the "the coolest little capital in the world.

Auckland also has the largest number of boats per capita than any other city in the world. Auckland is known as the city of Sails.

The official languages are English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, with English being very dominant. The Maori name for New Zealand is ‘Aotearoa’ which means “the land of the long white cloud”.

New Zealand’s highest mountain is Mount Cook/ Aoraki which is in South Island. This mountain helped Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of Everest.

The traditional Maori war dance called Haka is performed at the start of every important event.

May be due to the remoteness of the country, New Zealand is one of the world’s least populated countries.

New Zealand has more sheep than humans. There are 9 sheep per person in New Zealand, making it the highest ratio in the world.

In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote.

Baron Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealander is the first person in the world to split the atom in 1919.

New Zealand is the very first country to see the sunrise. Due to the curvature of the Earth, the North Island city of Gisborne on the East Coast is the first to see the actual sunrise.

All Blacks is the country's national Rugby team. Their emblem is the silver fern, the national plant of New Zealand.

While the national sport of New Zealand is Rugby, golf is the most popular sport, with more golf courses in New Zealand per capita of population, than any other country in the world.

The Hector’s Dolphin, the world’s smallest marine dolphin, which grows to a maximum length of 1.5 metres, is found in New Zealand waters.

New Zealand is also home to the world’s only flightless parrot, the Kakapo.

There are no snakes in New Zealand.

There are also no nuclear power stations in New Zealand.

TAUMATAWHAKATANGI – HANGAKOAUAUOTAMATEA – POKAIWHENUAKITANATAHU a 300 metre high hill in the Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand is the longest place name in the world. There are 40 syllables in the place name. ‘Taumata’ is the shortened name of the place.

Mount Hikurangi, the tallest non-volcanic mountain on the North Island, is considered as the first place of land on the planet to be touched by the morning sun’s rays.

New Zealand is the 3rd closest country to Antarctica, only after Chile and Argentina.

No matter where you are in New Zealand, you’ll never be more than 128 km from the seaside.

The kiwi, a flightless bird, is one of New Zealand's national symbols.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force logo has the national animal, the kiwi – a flightless bird.

Though Doubtful Sound is the largest fjord in New Zealand, Milford Sound is the most famous fjord. Rudyard Kipling, the author of “The Jungle Book” and great traveller, regarded Milford Sound as the 8th wonder of the world.

World’s steepest street, the Baldwin Street, where the annual Jaffa race is held is in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Interesting Facts about Brazil

2020-07-20T00:10:00.004-07:00

ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്വകാര്യ വാർത്താചാനലുകൾക്ക് ഏർപ്പെടുത്തിയ പ്രക്ഷേപണവിലക്ക് ഭാഗികമായി പിൻവലിച്ചു.

2020-07-14T02:04:00.009-07:00

ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്വകാര്യ വാർത്താചാനലുകൾക്ക് ഏർപ്പെടുത്തിയ പ്രക്ഷേപണവിലക്ക് ഭാഗികമായി പിൻവലിച്ചു.

ദൂരദർശൻ ഒഴികെയുള്ള എല്ലാ ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്വകാര്യ വാർത്താചാനലുകൾക്കും നേപ്പാളിൽ ഏർപ്പെടുത്തിയ പ്രക്ഷേപണവിലക്ക് കേബിൾ ടീവി ഓപ്പറേറ്റർമാർ ഭാഗികമായി പിൻവലിച്ചു. എന്നാൽ ആക്ഷേപകരമായ ഉള്ളടക്കം സംപ്രേഷണം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഏതാനും വാർത്താചാനലുകൾ ഇപ്പോഴും രാജ്യത്ത് നിരോധിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു, എന്നും കേബിൾ ടീവി ഓപ്പറേറ്റർമാരുടെ അസോസിയേഷൻ വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് ദുർബ ശർമ മാധ്യമപ്രവർത്തകരോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

ദൂരദർശൻ ഒഴികെയുള്ള എല്ലാ ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്വകാര്യ വാർത്താ ചാനലുകളുടെയും പ്രക്ഷേപണം കേബിൾ ടീവി ഓപ്പറേറ്റർമാർ ജൂലൈ 9 മുതൽ നിർത്തിവച്ചിരുന്നു. നേപ്പാളിലെ ദേശീയ വികാരത്തെ വ്രണപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന റിപ്പോർട്ടുകൾ സംപ്രേഷണം ചെയ്തുന്നു എന്നുപറഞ്ഞായിരുന്നു ഈ വിലക്ക്.

ഇന്ത്യൻ വാർത്താചാനലുകൾക്കെതിരെ വിലക്ക് ഏർപ്പെടുത്തിയതിന് കേബിൾ ഓപ്പറേറ്റർമാർക്ക് നേപ്പാൾ കമ്മ്യൂണിക്കേഷൻ ആന്റ് ഇൻഫർമേഷൻ ടെക്നോളജി മന്ത്രാലയവും നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു.

വ്യാജവും അടിസ്ഥാനരഹിതവും വിവേകശൂന്യവും ആയ വാർത്തകളുടെ പ്രക്ഷേപണത്തിനെതിരെ നടപടിയെടുക്കണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ട് ജൂലൈ 9ന് നേപ്പാൾ ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക് ഒരു നയതന്ത്ര കുറിപ്പ് അയച്ചു. തങ്ങളുടെ രാജ്യത്തിനും അതിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിനുംഎതിരായി ഒരുവിഭാഗം ഇന്ത്യൻ മാധ്യമങ്ങൾ.“തെറ്റായതും,തെറ്റിദ്ധരിപ്പിക്കുന്നതും മായ വാർത്തകൾ നൽകുന്നത് സാമൂഹിക മര്യാദയോടെ ലംഘനമാണെന്ന്” നേപ്പാൾ മന്ത്രാലയം കുറിപ്പിൽ പറഞ്ഞു.

മെയ് 8ന് ഉത്തരാഖണ്ഡിലെ ലിപുലെഖ് ചുരം ധാർചുലയുമായി ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്ന 80 കിലോമീറ്റർ നീളമുള്ള തന്ത്രപ്രധാനമായ റോഡ് പ്രതിരോധ മന്ത്രി രാജ്‌നാഥ് സിംഗ് ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്തതോടെയാണ് ഇന്ത്യ-നേപ്പാൾ ഉഭയകക്ഷി ബന്ധത്തിൽ വിള്ളലുണ്ടായത്.

ഈ റോഡ് ഉദ്ഘാടനത്തോട് നേപ്പാൾ രൂക്ഷമായാണ് പ്രതികരിച്ചത്. ഇത് നേപ്പാൾ പ്രദേശത്തിലൂടെയാണ് കടന്നുപോകുന്നതെന്നാണ് അവർ അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നത്. എന്നാൽ ഈ വാദം ഇന്ത്യ തെളുവുകൾ നിരത്തി നിരസിച്ചു. ഇതിനു പുറകെ, തന്ത്രപ്രദാനമായ മൂന്ന് ഇന്ത്യൻ മേഖലകൾ ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തി ഭരണഘടനാ ഭേദഗതിയിലൂടെ നേപ്പാൾ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭൂപടം അപ്‌ഡേറ്റുചെയ്‌തു. മൂന്ന് ഇന്ത്യൻ പ്രദേശങ്ങളായ ലിപുലെഖ്, കലപാനി, ലിംപിയാദുര എന്നിവ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു പുതിയ രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭൂപടം പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചു.

"കൃത്രിമമായി ഇന്ത്യൻ ഭൂപ്രദേശങ്ങൾ ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തിയ ഭൂപടം അംഗീകരിക്കാനാവില്ല” എന്നാണ് ഭൂപടവിഷയത്തിൽ ഇന്ത്യ നയതന്ത്ര കുറിപ്പ് നേപ്പാളിന് കൈമാറിയതെന്ന് മാധ്യമങ്ങൾ റിപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്തു.

ഇന്ത്യ ചൈന ബന്ധം വഷളായതിന്റെ പിന്നാലെ ഇന്ത്യ-നേപ്പാൾ ഉഭയകക്ഷി ബന്ധം തകർന്നത് ചൈനയുടെ നേപ്പാളിന്റെ മേലുള്ള ആധിപത്യം വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നതായി രാഷ്ട്രീയനിരീക്ഷകർ വിലയിരുത്തുന്നു.

മുൻ പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി 'പ്രചന്ദ' ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള മുതിർന്ന എൻ‌സി‌പി നേതാക്കൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ആരോപണങ്ങളെ വിമർശിച്ചു. പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി ഒലിയുടെ രാജി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ട അദ്ദേഹം അടുത്തിടെ നടത്തിയ ഇന്ത്യൻ വിരുദ്ധ പരാമർശങ്ങൾ രാഷ്ട്രീയമായി ശരിയല്ലെന്നും നയതന്ത്രപരമായി ഉചിതമല്ലെന്നും പറഞ്ഞു.

Travancore royal dynasty will continue to keep control of world's richest temple - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

2020-07-13T08:06:00.021-07:00

World’s richest temple’s administration with the

Travancore royal family

Picture courtesy Arun Thottathil

The royal family of Travancore on 13th July 2020 won a nine-year legal battle in the Supreme Court for control of the world’s richest temple, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

India’s Apex court upheld the administrative rights of the erstwhile Travancore royal family over the temple, and asked the temporary administrative committee headed by a district judge to continue until a new governing panel with representatives of the state government and the royal family is constituted. The committee will have only Hindus as its members. It will decide on the question of unlocking Vault B, a large mysterious chamber in the temple which has remained untouched on account of lore that its opening will spell doom for whoever opens it. The bench did not accept the Kerala government’s plea to nominate a civil servant as the head of the committee.

Picture courtesy Resmi Varma

The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice U.U. Lalit and Justice Indu Malhotra, quashed the Kerala High Court order of January 31, 2011 which asked the Kerala government to take over and manage the temple. The Kerala High Court had ruled that since the death of the last ruling Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, in 1991, the royal family’s rights over the temple ceased. However, the Supreme Court observed that death of the last ruler would not affect the royal family’s rights over the temple.

Picture courtesy Resmi Varma

According to the apex court, though the temple will remain a public place of worship, the right of the royal family in its administration cannot be denied. “Death will not affect the rights of shebaitship of the family over the deity and they will survive as per custom,” the Supreme Court observed. A member of the royal family, Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court and obtained an interim stay of the High Court verdict in May 2011.

The Travancore kings had ruled the central and southern Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu before integration of the princely state with the Indian Union in 1947 and had built the architectural grandeur in the 18th century that still remains the iconic landmark of the capital city.

The Rhino that won an election over humans with a record breaking majority

2020-06-30T08:28:00.002-07:00

Picture courtesy Google images

In 1959 in Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, a rhinoceros won the most votes in a local council election and made history.

In Sao Paulo, corruption was rampant at that time. People were unhappy with the accumulating sewage, rising inflation, and shortage of basic food items such as meat and beans. As a protest to this, 200,000 ballots were printed and distributed under the name of Cacareco, a 5-year-old rhinoceros which was brought from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo to the recently inaugurated Sao Paulo Zoo, by a group of young men saying, " better to choose a rhinoceros than an Ass." Even though electoral officials refused to recognize the candidacy of Cacareco, she got more votes than any other candidate.

Cacareco, not only won but also set a record with more than 100,000 votes. In Brazil's history, to that date, it was the highest vote lead for a local Council candidate.

picture courtesy Google images

One of the unsuccessful candidate committed suicide on being defeated by an animal. The success of Cacareco has caused concern in Brazilian intellectual and political circles. It was interpreted that the country was on the verge of revolt. In the week following the election, the election officials revoked the ballot and a new election was conducted after that.

Cacareco, died in 1962. However,"Voto Cacareco," has since become synonymous with protest vote in Brazil.

Mercedes-Benz the largest manufacturers of premium cars and NVIDIA the global leader in accelerated computing to join hands to develop software for automated driving enabling next-generation fleet with software upgradeability, AI and autonomous Capabilities.

2020-06-25T22:38:00.012-07:00

Picture courtesy Mercedes-Benz website

Mercedes-Benz, one of the largest manufacturers of premium passenger cars, and NVIDIA, the global leader in accelerated computing, plan to enter into a cooperation to create a revolutionary in-vehicle computing system and AI computing infrastructure. Starting in 2024, this will be rolled out across the fleet of next-generation Mercedes-Benz vehicles, enabling them with upgradable automated driving functions.

Working together, the companies plan to develop the most sophisticated and advanced computing architecture ever deployed in an automobile.

The new software-defined architecture will be built on NVIDIA DRIVETM platform and will be standard in Mercedes-Benz’ next-generation fleet, enabling state-of-the-art automated driving functionalities. A primary feature will be the ability to automate driving of regular routes from address to address. In addition, there will be numerous future safety and convenience applications. Customers will be able to purchase and add capabilities, software applications and subscription services through over-the-air software updates during the life of the car.

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG said “We are delighted to be able to extend our cooperation with NVIDIA. Jensen and I know one another well and we have spent a great deal of time talking about the goals and potential of next generation vehicle computing architecture. This new platform will become an efficient, centralised and software-defined system in our future Mercedes-Benz vehicles. NVIDIA’s AI computing architecture will help us streamline our journey towards autonomous driving. These new capabilities and upgrades will be downloaded from the cloud, improving safety, increasing value and extending the joy of ownership for all Mercedes-Benz customers.”

Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said “We are excited to work with Mercedes-Benz. It’s the perfect partner for us given its long record of innovation and our strong technical relationship. It’s clear from our extensive discussions with Ola and his team, that we share a common vision of the automobile of the future. Together, we’re going to revolutionise the car ownership experience, making the vehicle software programmable and continuously upgradeable via over the air updates. Every future Mercedes-Benz with the NVIDIA DRIVE system will come with a team of expert AI and software engineers continuously developing, refining and enhancing the car over its lifetime.”

A new computing architecture

Automated driving functions in future Mercedes-Benz cars will be powered by NVIDIA’s next generation DRIVE platform. The computer system-on-chip (SoC), called Orin, is based on the recently announced NVIDIA Ampere supercomputing architecture. The NVIDIA DRIVE platform includes a full system software stack designed for automated driving AI applications. NVIDIA and Mercedes-Benz will jointly develop the AI and automated vehicle applications that include SAE Level 2 and 3 levels, as well as automated parking functions (up to Level 4).

The new system’s state-of-the-art capabilities will be harnessed with a total focus on safety. As the technology and regulatory framework develop, it will be possible for every car to be updated over-the-air to enable new automated driving functions. Convenience as well as other safety features will also be available.

To develop the new models, both companies will be utilising NVIDIA DRIVE Infrastructure solutions to enable data driven development and deep neural network development to handle the requirements of the regions and operational domains where the cars will be available.

തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ ചരിത്ര വിജയം നേടിയ കാണ്ടാമൃഗം

2020-06-21T11:02:00.013-07:00

തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ ചരിത്ര വിജയം നേടിയ കാണ്ടാമൃഗം

picture courtesy Google images

1959-ൽ ബ്രസീലിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ നഗരമായ സാവോ പോളോയിയിൽ നടന്ന തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിലാണ് കാക്കറെക്കോ എന്ന കാണ്ടാമൃഗത്തെ വോട്ടർമാർ മൃഗീയ ഭൂരിപക്ഷത്തോടെ വിജയിപ്പിച്ചത്. റിയോ ഡി ജനീറോയുടെ മൃഗശാലയിൽ നിന്ന് ആയിടയ്ക്ക് ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്ത സാവോ പോളോ മൃഗശാലയിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ട് വന്ന പ്രാദേശിക താരമായ കാക്കറെക്കോ എന്ന 5 വയസ്സുള്ള കാണ്ടാമൃഗമായിരുന്നു പ്രാദേശിക തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ വിജയിച്ചു ചരിത്രത്തിൽ ഇടം നേടിയത്.

സാവോ പോളോയിയിൽ അക്കാലത്ത്‌ അഴിമതി വ്യാപകമായിരുന്നു, മാലിന്യങ്ങൾ ശേഖരിക്കപ്പെടാതെ കുന്നുകൂടി, മലിനജലം കവിഞ്ഞൊഴുകി, പണപ്പെരുപ്പം വർദ്ധിച്ചു, അടിസ്ഥാന ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളായ മാംസം, ബീൻസ് എന്നിവയ്‌ക്ക്‌ ദൗർലഭ്യം നേരിട്ടു . ഇതിൽ നിരാശരായ പ്രദേശ വാസികൾ “കഴുതയേക്കാൾ കാണ്ടാമൃഗത്തെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നതാണ് നല്ലത്” എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു കാക്കറെക്കോയുടെ പേരിനൊപ്പം 200,000 ബാലറ്റുകൾ അച്ചടിച്ച് വിതരണം ചെയ്തു.

തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് ദിവസം, കാക്കറെക്കോ വിജയിച്ചെന്ന് മാത്രമല്ല, ഒരു ലക്ഷത്തിലധികം വോട്ടുകൾ നേടി റെക്കോഡ് ഇട്ടു. ബ്രസീലിന്റെ അത് വരെയുള്ള ചരിത്രത്തിൽ ഒരു പ്രാദേശിക സ്ഥാനാർത്ഥി നേടുന്ന ഏറ്റവും ഉയർന്ന വോട്ട് ലീഡ് ആയിരുന്നു അത്.

picture courtesy Google images

പരാജയപ്പെട്ട സ്ഥാനാർത്ഥികളിൽ ഒരാൾ, ഒരു മൃഗത്തോട് തോറ്റതിൽ അപമാനിതനായി ആത്മഹത്യ ചെയ്തു. കാക്കറെക്കോയുടെ വിജയം ബ്രസീലിലെ ബൗദ്ധിക-രാഷ്ട്രീയ വൃത്തങ്ങളിൽ കാര്യമായ ചലനങ്ങൾ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു. രാജ്യം കലാപത്തിന്റെ വക്കിലാണെന്ന് വ്യാഖ്യാനിക്കപെട്ടു. ഒടുവിൽ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർ ആ പെൺകാണ്ടാമൃഗത്തിന്റെ ബാലറ്റുകൾ അസാധുവാക്കി ആഴ്ചകൾക്കു ശേഷം പുതിയ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് നടത്തി.

1962-ൽ കാക്കറെക്കോ മരിച്ചു, "വോട്ടോ കാക്കറെക്കോ" എന്നത് പിന്നീട് പോർട്ടുഗീസ് ഭാഷയിൽ പ്രതിഷേധ വോട്ടിനെ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പദമായി മാറി.

കുൽധാര എന്ന നിഗുഢതകൾ നിറഞ്ഞ പ്രേതഗ്രാമം

2020-06-21T01:37:00.011-07:00

200 വർഷം മുന്പ് ആളുകൾ ഒറ്റരാത്രികൊണ്ട് ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച ഗ്രാമം.

രാജസ്ഥാൻ മരുഭൂമിയിലെ ജയ്‌സാൽമീറിന്റെ പടിഞ്ഞാറ് ഭാഗത്തായി സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്ന ഗ്രാമമാണ് കുൽധാര. 1,500 ൽ അധികം ആളുകളും 400 ഓളം വീടുകളും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഇവിടം ഇപ്പോൾ വിജനമായതും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുമായ ഒരു പ്രേതഗ്രാമമാണ്.

Picture courtesy Pinterest

ഏകദേശം 200 വർഷം മുന്പ് കുൽധാര പാലിവാൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണരുടെ ഗ്രാമമായിരിന്നു. അക്കാലത്ത് ജയ്‌സാൽമീറിന്റെ ദിവാൻ (മന്ത്രി) ആയിരുന്നു സലിംസിംഗ് ക്രൂരതയ്‍ക്കും അശാസ്ത്രീയമായ നികുതി പിരിവുകൾക്കും കുപ്രശസ്തനായിരുന്നു. കുൽധാര ഗ്രാമത്തലവന്റെ ഇളയമകളുടെ സൗന്ദര്യത്തിൽ ഭ്രമിച്ച ജയ്‌സാൽമീറിന്റെ ദിവാൻ, സലിം സിംഗ് പലരീതിയിലും അവളെ തന്റെ പാട്ടിലാക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചെങ്കിലും നടന്നില്ല. അവസാനം അവളെ വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു തരാൻ ഗ്രാമതലവനെ നിരന്തരമായി നിർബന്ധിച്ചു. വഴങ്ങുന്നില്ലാ എന്നുമനസിലാക്കിയ ദിവാൻ വിവാഹത്തിന് ഒരു സമയപരിധി നിചയിച്ചുനൽകി. ആ സമയപരിധി കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ താൻ നിർബന്ധിതമായി ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച് പെൺകുട്ടിയെ പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോകുമെന്നും, ബന്ധുക്കളോ ഗ്രാമീണരോ തന്റെ വഴിയിൽ തടസ്സമായി വന്നാൽ അവർക്ക് വലിയ നികുതി ചുമത്തുമെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തി. ദിവാന്റെ കോപത്തെ ഭയന്ന് കുൽധാര ഗ്രാമത്തിലെ മുഴുവൻ ആളുകളും ദിവാൻ നൽകിയസമയപരിധി തീരുന്ന രാത്രിയിൽ അഭിമാനം സ്മരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനായി കുൽധാര ഗ്രാമം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ഛ് ഓടിപ്പോയി, ഒരു രാത്രികൊണ്ട് വീടും അവർക്കുള്ളതെല്ലാം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു അവർ എവിടെപ്പോയി എന്ന് ആർക്കും അറിയില്ല. അവർ പോകുന്നത് ആരുംകണ്ടിട്ടുമില്ല. പാലിവാളുകൾ എവിടെയാണ് പുനരധിവസിച്ചതെന്ന് ഇതുവരെ ആർക്കും അറിയില്ല. കുൽധാരയിൽ വീണ്ടും താമസിക്കാൻ ആർക്കും കഴിയില്ലെന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ് അവർ ഗ്രാമത്തെ ശപിച്ചുവെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അതിനുശേഷം ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ ആരും ഒരിക്കലും താമസിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല.

ഇപ്പോൾ ആർക്കിയോളജിക്കൽ സർവേ ഓഫ് ഇന്ത്യ കുൽധാരയെ ഒരു പൈതൃക സ്ഥലമായി പരിപാലിക്കുന്നു.

എങ്ങനെ അവിടെ പോകാം:- ജയ്സാൽമീറിൽ നിന്ന് 18 കിലോമീറ്റർ അകലെയുള്ള കുൽധാരയിലേക്ക് റോഡ്മാർഗം പോകാം . ഏറ്റവും അടുത്ത വിമാനത്താവളമായ ജോധ്‌പൂർ (രാജസ്ഥാൻ) ജയ്സാൽമീറിൽ നിന്ന് 285 കിലോമീറ്റർ അകലെയാണ്.

Kuldhara-The Ghost Village

2020-06-18T11:00:00.006-07:00

A village which was abandoned overnight by its people 200 years ago.

Kuldhara is a village that lies to the west of the desert town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Once inhabited by more than 1,500 people and around 400 houses, it is now a deserted and abandoned ghost village.

Picture courtesy Pinterest

About 200 years ago, Kuldhara was home to the Paliwal Brahmins. At that time Salim Singh was the Diwan (Minister) of Jaisalmer. He was known for his debauchery and unscrupulous tax-collecting methods. His evil eyes fell on the young daughter of the village chief. Wanting to marry her, he forced the village chief to marry off his daughter. He gave him a deadline for the marriage after which he would forcefully enter the village and take the girl. Additionally, he threatened the villagers that if they came in his way he would levy huge taxes on them.

Picture courtesy Pinterest

Fearing the wrath of the Diwan, the people of the entire village fled one dark night, leaving behind their homes and everything within them. Nobody knows where they went. No one saw them leave or know where they went – they had simply vanished overnight.

Till now, no one knows where the Paliwals have resettled. It is believed that they cursed the village while leaving that no one would ever be able to settle down in Kuldhara again. The village was never inhabited after that. Kuldhara today is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India as a heritage site.

How to go there

Jodhpur is the nearest airport which is 285 km from Jaisalmer. Kuldhara is 18kms towards the west of Jaisalmer and can be accessed by a cab.

The Upside-down Tree!

2020-06-18T10:53:00.007-07:00

The Baobab Tree- Trees that can store around

1, 20,000 litres of water in its trunk

The Baobab is popularly known as upside-down tree because when the tree is bare of its leaves, the branches look like roots, giving it the appearance as if someone has uprooted the tree and re-planted it upside down.

National tree of Madagascar

There are nine different species of baobab trees. Two species are native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Six species are found in Madagascar and one native to Australia. The species found in Southern Africa is of the genus "Adansonia Digitata”. Baobab is the National tree of Madagascar.

The Tree of Life

The native people of Africa and Madagascar call Baobab tree the “tree of life” because it gives so much to humans-food, shelter, water and clothing. Baobabs' enormous trunks have been used as pubs, jails, chapels and post offices by native people.

These odd looking trees can store around 120,000 litres (32 000 gallons) of water in its swollen trunk. During drought when water is deficient, people living near this tree tap the bark to extract the water. Also, herds of elephants often overthrow the trees looking for water.

The fruits of the baobabs are called “monkey bread” or “cream of tartar” fruit. Cream of tartar, a potassium/salt powder used in the baking process, was once derived from the fruit of the Baobab tree by making a powder from the seeds. Today, however, cream of tartar is made as a by-product of the wine-making industry.

Fire Resistant Bark

Since the cork-like bark of the tree is soft and fibrous, it can be woven into cloth or fashioned into a strong rope. Further, the tree bark is fire resistant and so the clothing made from it also provides some protection from fire.

Long Lifespan

Baobab trees can live for over 3,000 years. However, the lifespan of the baobab is difficult to find without radiocarbon dating as they do not produce annual growth rings.

The Order of the Baobab is a South African civilian national honour, instituted in 2002. It is awarded annually by the president to citizens for distinguished service in the fields of business, and the economy, science, medicine, and technological innovation; or community service. It was named in recognition of the baobab's endurance, and its cultural and environmental importance.

Picture courtesy Department of sports arts and culture, SA website

The Bird of Paradise Flower

2020-06-17T23:52:00.009-07:00

The Bird of Paradise Flower

Picture courtesy Google image

The bird of paradise Flower (Strelitzia reginae) is a native of south Africa. They are called so, as their flowers resemble a bird. The long, stalked flowers are exceedingly beautiful. It comes out from the green boat shaped secondary leaf (Bracts) that is outlined with red colour. Numerous petals of the flour are brilliant orange in colour and are pointed upward. There is also an arrow shaped tongue of contrasting blue. The flour, wen fully bloomed, looks like a flying bird.

This plant is stemless, compact and 1 to 1.5 meters tall with stiff leathery banana- like bluish grey leaves. It grows in a humid atmosphere, wit well drained gritty soil and lot of shade. Propagation of the plant is by division and seed.

The bird of paradise Flower (Strelitzia reginae) is from the family of Strelitziaceae, which is the family of three genera of plants, Strelitzia, Ravenala and Phenakospermum. Strelitzia plants generally need to be 3-5 years old before they will flower, which happens mostly in late winter and spring, although they can be seen flowering at other times.

Picture courtesy Google image

This Plant Has a Close Relationship with Birds

Not only does this plant have a flower that poses a striking resemblance to a long-necked bird, but it also has a direct relationship with its feathered friends.

In order to pollinate, a bird must land upon the plant’s spathe. When this happens, the pressure applied by the bird’s weight opens the bract. This leads to a pollen release that coats the bird’s feet, which is then transported to the next flower the bird lands on.

Hot lips plant! -Yes, they are real.

2020-06-15T08:27:00.007-07:00

Flowers that Resemble Lips

Picture courtesy Google image

Psychortia Elata, popularly known as.”hot lips” or “hooker’s lips.” is a very unique type of plant with its flowers resembling a beautiful set of lips. Contrary to popular beliefs, the hooker’s lips aren’t actually flowers. The “red lips” are actually bracts which form prior to the appearance of the flower blossoms. The unique shape and color of the temporary bracts are a way of attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to pollinate the flowers.

These tropical trees rarely exceed 3 meters in height and are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, especially in areas like Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama. Unfortunately, the plant is severely endangered due to habitat destruction and globalization.

This plant is from the Psychotria genus in the family Rubiaceae, which contains about 1900 different species. It grows where the soil is rich and humid from leaf litter. Growing this in your garden requires you to recreate the natural environment for which it is suited.

Plant that look like a stone!

2020-06-15T06:59:00.008-07:00

Lithops – The Living Stone

Lithops are called ‘The Living Stones’ as they look just like stones. This camouflage of Lithops is a way of protecting themselves from grazing animals.

Picture Courtesy Google Images

They are native to South Africa. Lithops live most of their lives almost completely buried under soil, with only their truncated faces visible. They rarely grow more than 2.5 cm in height.

Picture Courtesy Google Images

The leaf has translucent surface and the leaf window is patterned in different shades of brown, grey, or cream, according to the species and local conditions. The Window between the leaves of Lithops allows light to travel to the center of the leaves and aids in photosynthesis.

Picture Courtesy Google Images

The flowers of Lithops are yellow, orange or white with a daisy like appearance. Flower in these plants comes out from the narrow slit between leaves. Individual Lithops plants have only one flower per leaf pair.

Picture Courtesy Google Images

Growing them in home is easy as they thrive with little water and low humidity. These succulent plants are sold in nurseries.

‘Merc from Home’. Benz developed its online sales platform

2020-06-14T05:32:00.009-07:00

Mercedes-Benz developed its online sales platform and announced a host of new customer initiatives under the campaign ‘Merc from Home’

Picture courtesy Google images

World famous luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz further developed its online sales platform in India and announced today a host of new customer initiatives under the campaign ‘Merc from Home’. This campaign aims for a holistic and transparent customer journey offering a hassle free and transparent process to buy a Mercedes from the comfort of their homes. The focus of ‘Merc from Home’ will be on the ease of purchasing a vehicle using digital tools to facilitate the entire process including online payment of products and services. The online interface will be backed by robust backend operations that includes preparation of cars to the documentation process, which will be done with utmost care and in the most transparent manner. All outlets of Mercedes-Benz across India will be connected to the e-commerce portal to support the customers through their online shopping experience.

Picture courtesy Mercedes-Benz India

Mr. Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Digital platforms have become an important channel to stay connected with our customers. Towards this we are launching our ‘Merc from Home’ campaign that aims at providing a holistic, hassle-free and highly personalised car buying experience on our online sales platform. ‘Merc from Home’ also features new initiatives like ‘Mercedes-Benz Consultation Studio’, a virtual consultation mode that is going to enhance the personalised experience for the customers. The customers now can not only explore, select and make online payment for our products and services from the comfort of their homes, but can also get their Three Pointed Star delivered right at their doorsteps, as per their convenience.”

“With ‘Merc from Home’ we keep the emotional experience of buying a car through high level of customised demonstrations while maintaining minimum physical interactions. With our increased efforts towards digitising our sales and service processes and offering online platforms, we are making the concept of home delivering a Mercedes, a reality. With these initiatives we are confident that an increasing part of our sales volumes will be made online by 2025.”

Key highlights of ‘Merc from Home’:

· Customers can now book and play their Mercedes-Benz online and get it delivered at their door steps from the comfort of their homes

·‘Live Mercedes-Benz Consultation Studio’ set-up for personalised product demonstration and consultation

·Broader car portfolio now available for Mercedes-Benz India’s e-commerce platform: www.shop.mercedes-benz.co.in.

· One stop solution for smart finance for booking of a Mercedes-Benz and other Value Added Services

· A touch-free sales experience for customers for the first time

Key customer benefits of ‘Merc from Home’:

· Complete 24x7 Digital experience at any place of customer’s comfort from exploring to home delivery

· Personalised interactive solution on product information and live demonstration

· One stop solution for smart finance and booking of car and other VAS services

· Protective measures during Test-drive and delivery of car

· Unique online concierge service from 10 am until midnight

· High transparency and trust - On road price of cars | Information on availability of cars --The easy concept of Click, Consult and Buy:

‘Merc from Home’ has made the entire process of buying a Mercedes-Benz online in three easy steps of Click, Consult and Buy.

Click and customise:

Customers and prospects can log in to www.shop.mercedes-benz.co.in and select any model and variant of their choice. The customers will have the option of configuring their cars as per their taste from a wide range of options for colour, accessories etc.

More information about ‘Merc from Home’ can be obtained from www.mercedes-benz.co.in.

Bird quiz Interesting facts about birds

2020-06-09T11:05:00.009-07:00

Bird quiz

Interesting facts about birds

1. The only bird that can fly backwards

2. The Fastest Bird in the World

3. The largest living bird in the world

4. The bird with the largest wingspan

5. The highest flying bird ever recorded?

6. Relative to the body size, Which bird has the biggest egg of any living species?

7. Which bird is considered as the “world’s most dangerous bird”?

8. The bird that kick its prey to death

9. Which is the only known bird to be poisonous?

10. Which is the only bird known to go into hibernation?

11. Which is the smallest known living bird in the world?

12. Which bird is considered as the most intelligent and smartest talking in the world?

For answers see the video

Why are flamingos pink?

2020-06-07T10:39:00.014-07:00

Why are flamingos pink?

Picture courtesy Resmi Varma

Actually, flamingos are born with grey feathers, which gradually turn pink. The pink colour of flamingo feathers is caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments found in the algae and crustaceans that make up the diet of a flamingo.

Picture courtesy Resmi Varma

For a long while, flamingos in zoos kept losing their delicate pink colour and fading to white.Then keepers realised the problem was due to their diet. Flamingos feed on a certain kind of algae and these algae contain certain chemicals called carotenoids that are responsible for the pink. If a flamingo does not get these algae, it does not get the carotenoids and its colour fades. The quantity of carotenoids that flamingos eat determines how pink the bird will be.

Mercedes-Benz India launches top-end variants of GLE LWB.

2020-06-04T22:24:00.026-07:00

Mercedes-Benz India launches top-end variants of GLE LWB (long wheelbase)

picture courtesy Google images

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on 02 June 2020 launched top-end petrol and diesel variants of its best-selling SUV. The new top-end variants of the GLE LWB (long wheelbase) - 450 4MATIC (petrol) and 400 d 4MATIC (diesel) are powered by BS-VI in-line six-cylinder engines. GLE 450 4MATIC LWB has a power of 367 hp and can accelerate from 0-100 km/hour in 5.7 seconds, while the new GLE 400 d 4MATIC LWB produces an output of 330 hp and can also accelerate from 0-100 km/hour in 5.7 seconds, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement.

picture courtesy Google images

The GLE 400 d 4MATIC LWB comes equipped with an OM 656 in-line six-cylinder diesel engine which generates 243 kW (330 hp) and 700 Nm of torque. The most powerful diesel engine in the history of Mercedes-Benz bundles together state-of-the-art technology components. As a result, the engine sets standards in terms of agility and consumption. More than an additional bonus: the six-cylinder in-line engine boasts an unsurpassed level of refinement.

“The new long wheelbase GLE has already created a benchmark in the luxury SUV segment and we are very satisfied with the customer response. Encouraged by this response we are now introducing a petrol and a diesel variant of the GLE LWB," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Martin Schewnk said.

The two new variants have several features, including auto park assist 360 degree surround view camera, smartphone integration, easy pack tail gate, memory package for front seats, electrically adjustable rear seats, electric sun blinds, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging front and blind spot assist, among others.

A Bird which is often mistaken as insect!

2020-06-01T10:36:00.015-07:00

The smallest known living birds in the world

Bee Hummingbirds are the smallest known living birds in the world.They are so small that it is often mistaken for a bee or an insect. These birds are mostly between 5 - 6cm in length-including beak and tail; and they weigh between 1.6-1.9g. Females are slightly larger than males. Their eggs are of the size of coffee beans.

Bee Humming birds are endemic to Cuba. Unlike other Hummingbirds, they do not migrate because the climate they live in has no seasonal extremes. However, they do move short distances in search of high quality nectar from flowers during different seasons of the year.

picture courtesy Google images

To fuel its high body temperature and energy consumption, it feeds almost ceaselessly by day. At night while it remains inactive, it uses a special adaptation called “Torpor”. This is a semi-hibernation like state that reduces its energy needs.

The Bee Hummingbird was earlier common and widespread, but has now become rare and localised due to habitat loss. Major part of Cuba's natural vegetation has been converted for agricultural uses, with only 15-20% of land remaining in its natural state. This form of human encroachment along with deforestation has negatively impacted the natural environment that sustains this bird. Additionally, they are preyed upon by birds of prey, frogs, fish and tropical spiders. As a result, its numbers have been declining in recent years and these birds are now classified as "Near Threatened" to extinction on the Red List for birds in regard to conservation.

picture courtesy Google images

Know the protective power of different types of mask

2020-05-30T12:52:00.005-07:00

Know the protective power of different types of masks

Common Poorwill, a bird with Uncommon habit of hibernation

2020-05-29T08:20:00.007-07:00

Common Poorwill, (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) -the only bird known to go into hibernation

picture courtesy Google images

Hibernation is a way animals conserve energy to survive adverse weather conditions or lack of food. Usually, birds don't hibernate! The common poorwill is the only bird known to go into hibernation, a state in which metabolism and body temperature are reduced for weeks or even months. For this Hopi Native Americans called the bird "the sleeping one".

While some hummingbirds experience daily, short-term torpor in order to conserve energy, the Common Poorwill is the only bird known to have long bouts of it. During the winter when its food becomes scarce instead of migrating to a warmer climate like most birds do, the Poor-wills will go into a state of inactivity so that it can survive several weeks or months without eating.

picture courtesy Google images

Common Poorwills are native to Canada, United States and Mexico.

Time Management

2020-05-24T09:29:00.005-07:00

picture courtesy Google images

You can improve the time management, study skills, and note-taking skills

No matter how you slice it, there are only 24 hours during a day. Time is a finite resource, and it’s up to you to make the most of it. If you lose money, you might get a chance to make it back, but wasted hours is irreplaceable.

picture courtesy Google images

The importance of time management comes down to how much it impacts your personal, educational and professional life. Time management is organising your day in order that you find out the maximum use for each moment. Time management acknowledges you to create a healthy balance in your work and personal life. The result of failed time management includes lost deadlines and living with excessive stress.

Even if you’ve failed to manage your time in the past, it’s never too late to change. Prepare deadlines, get organised, learn to prioritise and master to say ‘no’ where required, to get the most value from your time.

Major 12 ways to improve your time management skills and increase productivity.

Planning

Taking the time to research, and plan your work is crucial for good time management. Allow yourself the time to process new information and plan how you are getting to use it, as this will assist you to avoid having to re-read and repeat any research.One way of effectively planning before researching is to form an inventory of everything you would like to seek out, in order that you will make notes below each subheading as you go.

Prioritise Work

Before the start, make a list of work that needs your immediate attention. Insignificant work can take much of your precious time, and we tend to offer these too much of our energy because they are easier or less stressful.

Create a life schedule

Whether it’s a pin-up planner, a timetable or a calendar on your phone, find an organising tool that works well for you and add your list of priorities there to. There are so many time management apps that can help with this. Also, figure out when you are most alert, in order that you will plan your study periods around these times.Find time for socialising, but also make sure that you get enough sleep. Most people need between 7 to 8 hours sleep nightly to stay focused and alert during study periods.

Set a Deadlines

When you have work at hand, set a deadline and stick to it. Once you set a deadline, it may be helpful to write it on a sticky note and put it near your study space. This will give you a visual impact to keep you on work.

Avoid procrastination

Most students tend to procrastinate tasks till the last moment, which can impact the quality of their work and their overall grade. To make effective use of time, it is important to list out everything that you simply need to do. Include any deadlines also on the list, and make a note of what proportion of time each priority will take. Strictly adhere to the schedule prepared.

Be flexible but realistic

As a student, you must make a timetable for your studies, including the time you spend in seminars and lectures. It’s also important to recollect that things often take longer than expected. So, allow some extra time just in case you spend longer on a task than you thought you would not.

Avoid hesitation and obstruction

One way to avoid hesitation is to think about the different places and ways you got the most use of your time when studying – where were you the most studied? Is there anything you will do to make studying actually somewhat enjoyable?

Remember, what works for one person would not necessarily work for you. Some students, studying with friends can limit their output. But for some other students, studying in groups can help to extend output and motivation.

Analyse your schedule

Constantly analysing and reassessing whether your schedule has been effective can help more to recognise whether you need to make any changes in order to help you complete any academic tasks and also to spend time with friends and family.

Note-taking is an important skill

Effective note-taking is an important skill, a skill that can be applied in all aspects of life, socially, at work and during study. Note-taking may be a powerful aid to communication, how to summarise and retain the key points from what you’ve heard and understood.

Think about whether or not to some extent is noteworthy before you write it down; do not take notes for the sake of taking notes. Otherwise you’ll end up with lots of irrelevant points, which will distract you from the important things. You probably only actually need to form notes on things that are new to you.

Avoid Multitasking

Most students feel that multitasking is an efficient way of getting things done, but the truth is that we do better once we focus and consider one thing. Multitasking hampers capacity and should be avoided to improve time management skills.

Start Early

When you wake up early, you are more calm, creative, and clear-headed. As the day progresses, your energy levels start to drain, which affects your productivity, motivation, and focus.

Learn to Say No

Politely refuse to accept extra work, if you think that you’re already overloaded with work. Take a glance at your list before agreeing to an extra work.

funny quiz questions & answers. Part II

2020-05-23T12:36:00.004-07:00

funny quiz questions & answers. Part II

1. I am a fruit, a bird, a person. Who am I?

2. I have keys but no locks. I have space but no rooms. I have enter but no exit.

3. I hold most of the world’s fresh water. But I am a desert

4. I am a seed. I look like a lady bug. I can kill a human being.

5. I am a small settlement in a remote place. I have a renowned play in my name by Shakespeare. What am I?

6. I am a bird, I am a country

7. I am the Largest continent in terms of area

8. I am the only floating post office in the world

9. I am a body part. I am a baby elephant

10. I am the largest fruit in the World grown on a tree,

For Answers, See the video below

funny quiz questions & answers.Part I

2020-05-23T12:34:00.003-07:00

funny quiz questions & answers.Part I

Children learn faster through fun-based activities. Funny quiz question & answers without a doubt will motivate children to learn. If you a parent searching for an amusing method to combine fun and education for children, the best thing to do is, pick these random trivia, general knowledge (gk), trick and funny quiz questions & answers. This will help parents spend quality time with children.

1. I am a fruit. My color when ripe is my name. What am I?

2. I am a word with all the vowels. I am one of the basic rights of a child. What am I?

3. I have a bird name, but not a bird. I can lift tonnes of weight. What am I?

4. I have head and tail, but no body. What am I?

5. What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years?

6. What happens if you throw a Blue stone into Red Sea?

7. I go around the world, but always stays in a corner. What am I?

8. I am a Lake, but people call me sea. I am saltier than sea. What am I?

9. I am orange in color. But I have another color in my name. People search me after a plane crash. What am I?

10. When I was 2 years, my brother was half of my age. What is my brothers age when I am 100?

For the Answers, see the video below