WINTER DREAMS

India in a big note 62 Republic Day

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:00 +0000

India celebrates the 62nd anniversary of Republic Day, a day that marks the adoption of the Constitution of India and the country's transition from a British Dominion to a republic. Across the country, have been large-scale military parades and cultural events.

This procession is preceded by a solemn ceremony at Raj Pathom arrival of the president and prime minister, and the military parade of the garrison, during which demonstrates how modern weapons, and over Victory Square - Vijay Chowk-sweep aircraft squadrons of Indian Air Force.

Silence of the Fukushima

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Abandoned houses and deserted streets - this exclusion zone around dvadtsatikilometrovaya nuclear power plant Fukushima Daichi. The tsunami and earthquake in March 2011 damaged the reactor cooling system. This led to a major incident in the nuclear industry over the past 25 years.

An empty street at the entrance to Futaba. Above it is a sign that says "The power of the atom - the energy for a brighter future." January 15, 2012, the Exclusion Zone.

Nature is Colourfull

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:54:00 +0000

test

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0000

test

Creative Peoples

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:56:00 +0000

Megalithic structures

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:54:00 +0000

A megalithic structure is some thing big made of rock. It could be a statue, or just some rocks strewn around in a pattern.
The truly mysterious thing about the ancients is, how were they able to create such enormous things? They did not have the technology
needed to efficiently make them. Stonehenge is a good example.. A bigger one is the Great Pyramid in Giza, or the pyramids themselves.
Sometimes, even their purpose is unclear (Stonehenge) , while other times, the structures in question are mysterious and seemingly
supernatural (the pyramids). A megalith (I know, sounds like something from Di-Gata Defenders), a giant rock, is used most of the time,
especially in the case of Stonehenge and the Carnac stones. Still, there are a few megalithic structures that are not mysterious
(like Great Zimbabwe), but mostly it seems impossible that the ancients made these things themselves. Now, many would like
to think aliens helped them. Yet even scientists say queerer things. They suggest that there may have been a lost ancient civilization
that was extremely advanced, and they may have given later civilizations the knowledge to build such things. Yet there is no
substantial evidence of either.. Other examples: Easter Island Heads, Pyramid of the Sun (in Mesoamerica) ,
other pyramids in central and south America, Colossus of Rhodes.

Nazca Lines

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Etched into the earth on the Nazca Plains in Peru are giant symbols drawn perfectly straight. Some are hundreds of metres long.
They look as if they were drawn by some giant hand two thousand years ago. And the strange thing is, they can only be seen from the air.
So how did the ancient Nazcans draw them? Researchers say they could have created hot air balloon or kites to fly and view their work.
Indeed, an experiment was carried out and it proved that the Nazcans could have made a working balloon. The symbols themselves are of animals
and plants. Yet some are long strips of land without any direct meaning.. A writer named Erich Von Daniken believed that these were
landing strips for alien spacecraft, and that aliens could have drawn them. They may also be for contacting these aliens. Maria Reiche,
an astronomer, says that these lines may be used as a calendar, or to keep track of the stars and planets. There is a monkey drawing
that has a coiled tail that looks similar to the orbital lines of our solar system. There are even more obscure theories that suggest
that there were giant people 2,000 years ago. Yet, they are still a mystery.

2012

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:46:00 +0000

What makes this so special? The fact that the Olympics are taking place in London? No. The ancient Maya civilization,
from Central America, had a special calendar that was mind-blowingly accurate. And it predicted that the end of the human life
cycle was on December 21st, 2012, the winter solstice. The Mayans were also good at math and astrology(they accurately
predicted an eclipse that occurred hundred of years later). So people are guessing that they were right about the end of the world thing,
too. Something else that has gotten scientists curious is that there are some major astronomical things happening in 2012.
Apart from the occasional eclipse and comet, the entire solar system is supposed to pass through the center of our galaxy, s
omething that happens only once every 26,000 years. And, there’s a risk of our planet’s poles switching.
Sounds crazy, but scientists say this has already happened. Also, the Indian calendar, the Kali Yuga, ends at about the same time.
Coincidence? I think not

Panspermia

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:44:00 +0000

How did life on earth appear? Science suggests that life when the planet was favourable for habitation.
Yet did microscopic organisms just pop out of nowhere? One hypothesis is panspermia, which suggests that ‘seeds of life’ exist everywhere
around the universe, and that life on earth started when these ‘seeds’ came here, probably by a meteor. It also suggests that these
seeds are taken to other habitable places in the universe. Something similar to this is exo-genesis. It suggests that life was brought to
earth those billions of years ago, however it does not say that life is also taken to other habitable places. Some people
believe aliens brought life to our planet, as suggested by the theories of Erich Von Daniken. Although some are sceptical as to how
life could exist in space and get carried to other planets, there is substantial evidence that certain life forms, like spores and
certain types of bacteria can actually exist in space, perhaps in a dormant state.

Placebo Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:41:00 +0000

The placebo effect is when a person takes something they believe is medicine for an ailment they are suffering (which is not really a medicine),and they get better.

A placebo is an inert substance, and when taken (with the advice from others that it will cure them)the person get better, simply because they were expecting or believed that it would work. Something similar,called the nocebo effect, is when a person takes fake drugs and thinks they are experiencing problems that would have beencaused by the real drugs.

They have been known to reduce pain as well.. Why they occur is mysterious and they areonly one of the many complicated things related to the body-brain connection.

In fact, our own bodies hold many unsolved mysteries.

Japaneese Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Federer's wife gives birth to twins

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:03:00 +0000

Roger Federer's wife Mirka has given birth to twin girls, the world number one announced on his website.

The 15-times Grand Slam winner said Charlene Riva and Myla Rose had been born on Thursday in Switzerland.

"This is the greatest day of our lives," Federer said on the website. "Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well."

The last time a mother won a singles Grand Slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon.

Since then, only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood.

While four -- Pat Cash, Andres Gomez, Petr Korda and Albert Costa -- were one-slam wonders, multiple champions Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andre Agassi managed to add just one further slam to their haul after becoming parents.

Jimmy Connors was the only singles player to successfully combine family life with playing on the tour in that time, winning three of his eight Majors after the birth of his son Brett in August 1979.

For the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, the titles dried up as soon as they gingerly cradled the new additions to their families.

Tennis fathers have won only 10 of the last 115 Grand Slam titles.

"(Fatherhood) changes (your) life dramatically," explained Becker, who won the 1996 Australian Open after the birth of his first son Noah.

"It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife, and tennis becomes secondary. That's a fact."
Reuters

Are You Seeing the Car...

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:44:00 +0000

How did they get their Car there...?
A Series of Funny Houses.

Bikini Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:23:00 +0000

A bikini or two piece is a women's swimsuit with two parts, one covering the breasts (optionally in the case of the monokini), the other the groin (and optionally the buttocks), leaving an uncovered area between the two (optionally in the case of the Tankini). It is often worn in hot weather or while swimming. The shapes of both parts of a bikini resemble women's underwear, and the lower part can range from revealing thong or g-string to briefs and modest square-cut shorts. Merriam–Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition) describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit", "a man's brief swimsuit" and "a man's or woman's low-cut briefs".

The bikini, which shocked when it appeared on French beaches in 1947, dates back to antiquity, in Çatalhöyük^[1] and the Greco-Roman world.^[2] The modern bikini was invented by French engineer Louis Réard in 1946. He named it after Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, the site of the Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon test on July 1, 1946. The reasoning was that the burst of excitement created by it would be like a nuclear device. The monokini, a bikini variant, is a back formation from bikini, interpreting the first syllable as the Latin prefix bi- meaning "two" or "doubled", and substituting for it mono- meaning "one".^[3] Jacques Heim called his bikini precursor the Atome, named for its size, and Louis Réard claimed to have "split the Atome" to make it smaller.

From a 1949 Los Angeles Times report: "The bathing beauty queen—blond Bebe Shopp, 18, of Hopkins, Minn.—got an enthusiastic welcome in Paris, but she said she hasn't changed her mind about French swim suits. ... 'I don't approve of Bikini suits for American girls,' Bebe told her French interviewers. 'The French girls can wear them if they want to, but I still don't approve of them on American girls."^[4]

The bikini is perhaps the most popular female beachwear around the globe, according to French fashion historian Olivier Saillard due to "the power of women, and not the power of fashion". As he explains, "The emancipation of swimwear has always been linked to the emancipation of women."^[5] By the mid 2000s bikinis had become a US$811 million business annually, according to the NPD Group, a consumer and retail information company.^[6] The bikini has boosted spin-off services like bikini waxing and the sun tanning industries.

Street Bath

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Marshall Street Bath's heritage is notable; most impressive are its ancient baths. The first public baths were built on the site by the Vestry of St. James in 1850. The present building, then known as The Westminster Public Baths, was started in 1928 and completed in 1931. Public funds financed the construction for the health and well being of local people.

The main pool is lined with white Sicilian marble and this marble and Swedish green marble are used on the walls at either end. The bronze fountain in a niche at the shallow end, depicting a merchild with two dolphins, is by Walter Gilbert.

Behind the pool is a smaller pool, the 'second class bath' which measures 70ft x 30ft'. It has a barrel vaulted roof. Initially, the complex also included a child's welfare centre, a public laundry and public bathing facilities, among other things.

Marshall Street baths are owned by Westminster City Council and were closed by the Council in 1997. There are currently plans to refurbish the site and re-open the pool as part of a public leisure centre in early 2009.

Michael Joseph Jackson-Rare Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009), often dubbed the "King of Pop," was an American recording artist, widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived. With his trademark black fedora and single, sequinned glove, his unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a central part of popular culture around the world for four decades.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his achievements included multiple Guinness World Records—including the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles, and the sale of over 750 million records. He was also a notable philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to the 39 charities he supported, and raising more through his own Heal the World Foundation.

The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5, beginning a solo career in 1971. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with four others—Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995)—among the best selling. He popularized several physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, now iconic. He is widely credited with having transformed the music video from a promotional tool into an art form, with videos such as Thriller, "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" making him the first African American to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, and others, such as "Black or White" and "Scream", ensuring his popularity well into the 1990s.

Jackson's personal life generated significant controversy. His changing appearance was noticed from the early 1980s, his skin appearing paler and his facial features becoming almost androgynous. He was accused in 1993 of child sexual abuse, and though no charges were brought, his health suffered when he started using painkillers to cope with the stress. He married twice and fathered three children, one of them with a surrogate mother, actions that triggered more speculation about his life. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of different child molestation allegations, which provoked a further decline in his health. He died in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009, aged 50, after suffering a cardiac arrest. His memorial service was broadcast live around the world and attracted an audience of up to one billion people.^[3]

Munnar-Know India-Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:48:00 +0000

Munnar

Munnar (Malayalam: മൂന്നാര്‍, Tamil: மூணார்) is a town located in Kerala state in the southern Western Ghats in South India. Munnar was a summer resort of British government in South India. It is 1600 m (5400 ft) above sea level. It is pronounced “Moon-aar” meaning “Three rivers” in Tamil and Malayalam. There are in fact three rivers - Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar.

The neelakurinji, a blue flower which blooms only every twelve years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2695 m.

The tea plantations and holiday facilities make this a popular hill station in Kerala.

Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level. Temperature : Min. 0c - Max. 25c. Clothing : Warm Clothes and Rain Gear. Tourist Season : August to March

History

The entire area of Munnar, nearly about 556.44 square kilometer of land really belonged, and still belongs to the royal family of Poonjar and was given on lease for 99 years by the then poonjar King Kerala Varma in 1887.During the British rule of India, Munnar was developed to cultivate tea plants. At that time, most of the people around the area were employed as laborers for plantations throughout the area. In the early stages of development, only Tamilians and a small number of Malayalis inhabited Munnar. From the late 1890s till 1921, tea was transported down from Top Station by 24 inch railway and ropeway to Munnar for transhipment throughout the World.

Climate

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) to 1,800 meters (5,906 ft) above mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate. The weather ranges between −5 ℃ (23 ℉) and 10 ℃ (50 ℉) in winter and 15 ℃ (59 ℉) and 25 ℃ (77 ℉) in summer. The tourist season is from August to May. However, even the monsoons are lovely with many streams and rivulets in the area. See:map

Get in

Munnar is 140 km (about 4.5 hours) from Kochi. Remember to budget a good 6 hours if you are driving up or down, since the road is blind in some places and there are a lot of trucks and buses that seem to drive as if they own the road. Although, the road is smooth (NH 49), it is narrow, twisty and curvy. Make sure you have a lite meal before you drive to Munnar on these roads, otherwise the next thing you will see on your dash board will be your last meal! Kothamangalam is on the way and is 80 km away from Munnar. Between Kothamangalam and next town “Adimali”, you can experience a beautiful cool drive through a natural forest. Alongside, you can see many refreshing waterfalls.

Once you reach Adimali, Munnar is just 30 kilometers away - but, it will take almost an hour to reach. Around 22 kilometers from Adimali, you can start seeing the tea plantations on both sides of the road and a panoramic view of the western ghats. The view is extremely beautiful during the early mornings.

Munnar can also be reached from Kodai Road, Madurai, Udumalpet. The drive to Munnar involves about 3 hours on the ghat section. There are 17 hair pin bends and traversing them can make you feel nauseated. However if you eat light while travelling you can enjoy the scenery during the drive.

Munnar is about 150 km from Coimbatore. Coimbatore-Munnar route is a very scenic route and though a bit longer is generally considered worth the extra time spent.

See

Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park: 45 mins from Munnar. See Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view.
Anamudi Peak inside Eravikulam National Park: The highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Mattupetti Dam - 10km from Munnar, this popular picnic spot activities like boating and horse riding and is a great place to spend the day especially if visiting with children. You could take the speed boat ride which is fantastic. It costs 300 INR if you have to hire a boat for you alone. The ride is for 15 minutes. The maximum capacity is 5 persons and you could save some money if you are a group of 4 to 5.
Mattupetti Indo-Swiss Farm - Better known as Mattupetti (cattle village), Tamil migrant labourers had once upon a time reared cattle here. The cool climate and abundance of fodder made it the ideal location for the Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Established in 1961, the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) manages this highly specialised dairy farm. The dairy farm is a unique one of its kind with more than 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle being reared.
Echo Point - 15km from Munnar, on the way to top station from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the echoes of their friendship calls.
Top Station 37km from Munnar on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border, has great views of the Western Ghats. Top station is the “top”-tourist attraction. This place gives a real ‘above the clouds’ experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. A jeep costs Rs 400. The area is known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every twelve years. The flower is violet.
Kundala Lake - This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, don’t expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills.
Atukkad Waterfalls - A scenic waterfalls amidst hills and jungles. You can find a road leading to Atukkad Waterfalls on Kochi road (just about 5 km from Munnar). This road is very narrow and needs a lot of experience to drive on.

Salim Ali (Thattekkad) Bird Sanctuary, There are woodpeckers, Malabar gray hornbills, Ceylon frogmouths, parakeets, and rose-billed rollers. This sanctuary is located 20km from Kothamangalam on the road between Ernakulam and Munnar. There are basic and mid-range hotels in Kothamangalam and an Inspection Bungalow in Boothathankettu. You can take a boat cruise from Boothathankettu to Thattekkad. Admission Foreigners/Indian Rs 40/10.
Marayoor - Around 40km from Munnar. It is the only place in Kerala with natural growth of sandalwood trees, natural caves with murals, and relics from Later Stone Age civilisation. There is a sandalwood factory of the Forest Department of Kerala and a children’s park extending across one hectare of land under the canopy of a single Banyan tree, all of which attract tourists in large numbers.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate - At a height of about 7130 ft, this orthodox tea factory lays claim to being one of the highest in the world. The view of the Western Ghats is absolutely enchanting.
Blossom Garden - Houses many different varities of flowers. Tourist will definitely take away good memories from this place.
Water falls - Check out several natural waterfalls on the way to Munnar. These waterfall carry fresh rain water. They provide an excellent place for all tourists to have photo shootout.

Kovalam-Know India-Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Kovalam - Beach Town on the Arabian Sea

Kovalam is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. It is about 17 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of the southern state of Kerala in India. Kovalam is popular region comprising three beaches situated in the state of Kerala in the south of India. The southernmost, known as the Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular of the three. Many hotels, restaurants, lodges and shops are located here. It is frequented by outsiders who stay and enjoy Kovalam. The Northern most crescent is crowded on the weekends, is very popular with the locals, day-travelers, and passing-by tourist buses. Hawa Beach, is among one of the beaches in India where top-less sunbathing is tolerated and well appreciated by the locals, who come on the weekends to admire this view free of charge. The tourism department provides a vigilant life guard service on both Lighthouse and Hawa beach. Those expecting a replica of Goa will be pleasantly surprised by the more relaxed atmosphere,a bit more laid back,the food a touch softer and lighter.

Get in

Kovalam is about 16 km (20 minutes in a taxi) from Trivandrum. Taxis can charge around 400-500 rupees to get to Kovalam. When asked where you want to go, say Hawa Beach, Leela Beach/Main Beach or Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam.

In an auto-rickshaw 250-300 rupees is a fair price, avoid going above 300 rupees. If in doubt ask to use the meter, but in reality they really don’t work at all. Advice being if they are trying to rip you off go to leave for another rickshaw and they will often back down and offer you a fair price, if not, get in a different rickshaw. Even if India is a cheap country, the prices for gasoline are international standard, so don’t expect super cheap private transportation. If you go by public bus from Trivandrum-East Fort to Kovalam Beach you only pay 8 Rps. for the half hour trip.

Buses to Trivandrum can also be caught from Kovalum Junction as well as Amabassador taxis and Autos to pretty much anywhere. Be very careful walking around the junction, especially at night, as there are no traffic lights (what’s new?!) and the street lighting is very minimal. The intersection can be busy.

Get around

Tourist taxis are the most convenient way to travel around attractions, especially while travelling in a group. Most airports and railway stations have tourist taxi services that would take you anywhere you would want to go.

A more adventurous option is to get a bike on hire. The highway is a pleasure to drive on, with the cool breeze and coconut palms lined along the way. Once on the highway, drive north for the plains, drive south for the hills. Avoid driving through Thiruvananthapuram city, it’s congested. The old highway, also called MC road, is also good to drive on. The MC road can take you deep into the hills. Try out the throaty Enfield 350 CC bikes for a truly vintage experience, check your fuel levels before you leave.

Two wheelers do not have to pay the highway toll, simply ride through the side lane.

See

Varkala Drive north on the highway for about an hour (55 km). It has a superb beach and cliff front and the usual tourist amenities. The quiet sandy beaches and large lakes of Paravur (65 km from Kovalam) are also close to Varkala and are hidden away. Paravur is a shared secret among those seeking a more peaceful getaway.

Ponmudi - A nice semi-hill station located about 1 1/2 hours from Kovalam.

Neyyar Dam ca 1,5 hours by local bus. Only worth to visit if you do not know what else to do. It is a water reservoir. No other curiosities except some crocodiles kept in cages. Better spend the time on the beach.

Backwater Tours between Kovalam and Trivandrum there are backwater trips available that can be booked at Kovalam Beach itself. Small boats for 4-6 persons. A nice experience.

Do

Surfing - Some fine waves from time to time (0.5 - 2 meters). You can hire surf boards and body boards on the beach from $6USD a day. Body boarding can be enjoyed by anyone. Surfing takes a bit more skill. It is wise to follow the life-guards’ instructions as there are some strong currents that can suddenly whisk the unwary out to sea.

Kanyakumari-Know India-Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Kanyakumari - Tip of India

Kanyakumari (Tamil: கன்னியாகுமரி) is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is also know by its former name Cape Comorin. The closest major cities are Nagercoil, the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari district, (22 km) and Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala (85 km).A popular tourist place in India, the town and the district, Kanyakumari District, in which it is located, is a place of great natural beauty - from the blue seas of Kanyakumari town to the blue hills of the Western Ghats in the interior.

History

Kanyakumari takes its name from the Kumari Amman or Kanyakumari Temple, situated in the town, on the sea-shore, the very confluence of the three water-bodies - Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. In his work on ancient India, Ptolemy had identified Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) along with the Gulf of Mannar as a centre for pearl fishery. He also identifies Korkai, a place to the east of Kanyakumari as an emporium of pearl trade.

Get in

By air

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) of neighbouring state Kerala, is the nearest international airport, with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And is served by Air-India, among others. From there it takes about two hours by train or bus or taxi. The taxi charges are pretty cheap, about Rs 9-10 per km, and should be around Rs 1000 (US$22 Approx), for a trip to Kanyakumari from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Alternatively, if you cannot reach Thiruvananthapuram directly from your place, you can reach Chennai (Madras) the state capital and then take either train or bus to reach Kanyakumari. Note that travelling to Kanyakumari is a bit tiresome via road, especially for Westerners, as the travel time is about 14-15 hours and the climate is pretty hot (30-35 degrees during summer and 25-30 degrees during winter) through out the year. Insist on a II tier air-conditioned coach as this is pretty cheap, about Rs 1200 (US$27). A local flight travel to Thiruvananthapuram is also a viable option, but the ticket prices are slightly higher, ranging from Rs. 1500 and can go up to anywhere around Rs. 5000. In India, the faster you book/plan your travel, the more you save on tickets.

Alternatively reach Kochi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Bangalore, Bombay, New Delhi, Kolkata and then by train.

By train

Very well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India like Chennai, Trivandrum , Kochi, Bangalore, Bombay, New Delhi, Kolkata, Coimbatore etc. And from here starts second longest train route in the world, Kanyakumari to Jammu.

By busBuses are frequently available from Thiruvananthapuram,the closest major transport hub. Long distance buses are available from Chennai (Madras), Coimbatore, Madurai etc.

Get around

Most people travel around Kanniyakumari using a hired vehicle. Auto-rickshaws (tuk tuks) are available, along with busses.

See

As such there is nothing much to see. Its very congested and crowded, hot & humid, filled with various people and shops who sell all types of fake elctronic goods, poor quality toys, cheap trinkets and other knick knacks. Never buy any electronic items or cheap googles from here. The beaches are dirty. Various structures have been built by tourism department with aim of improving tourism here. There is something called sunset point, some kind of garden and other crudely made structures. Nothing is worth wasting your precious time. If you can escape from these crowd you can visit Vivekanandapuram (only peaceful area in Kanyakumari) maintained by Ramakrishna Mission. It has got its own lodging and boarding arrangements.If you like to see sunset or sunrise it is recommended to observe it from the beach at Vivekanandapuram. The another popular place are the Kanyakumari Devi temple, Vivekananda rock and the Thiruvalluvar Statue. It is not recomended to visit Kanyakumari in December-January, the crowds are at its peak during these months.

The temple of Goddess Kumari is rather small by South Indian standards, but comes with the usual ingredients of Pujaris (Hindu Priests), Poojas, Kumkums, and Prasads (sweet offerings made to Gods). All men are supposed to enter the temple with bare torsos as it deemed to be a mark of respect to the Devi. You should be careful about the touts in the temple.

Vivekananda Rock is about a hundred meters from the shore and a regular ferry service exists between the mainland jetty and the rock. The tickets is 20/- for a ride. The Rock has two Mandaps (halls); one belonging to Swami Vivekananda and the other belonging to a Holy Foot. The Holy Foot is a foot shaped carving found on the rock and is believed to be a foot print of Goddess Kumari who stood on this rock on one leg and performed the Tapasya (penance). The Rock memorial has a tall statue of Swami Vivekananda whose photographs are not allowed to be taken from inside the hall. Below the statue was mentioned the year of death of Swamiji and the “probable” dates when Swamiji attained Samadhi on the rock. Here you can see both sunrise and sunset and is one of the main tourist attraction here. Golden Hues of the Horizon are very impressive with the Rock Memorial silhouetted.

Vivekanandapuram is the headquarters of the Vivekananda Kendra and the centre spreads over an area of 100 acres. There is a well stocked library within the premises of Vivekanandapuram. It is well connected. Buses are also regularly available from Vivekanandapuram to Kanyakumari. One can enjoy absolutely breathtaking views of sunrise from the beaches of Vivekanandapuram. It has got its own boarding & lodging facilities, a post office & a bank in its own premises.

Thiruvalluvar Statue is dedicated to arguably the greatest Tamil poet, philosopher and saint – Thiruvalluvar. The rock supports a huge statue of the saint carved out of many rocks that were then joined together. It was inaugurated fairly recently. The statue is about 133 feet long which corresponds to 133 chapters in the greatest epic written by the saint – Thirukkural. Tourists can climb up to the feet of the statue. The view from this point is quite breathtaking! It is a very entertaining and enlightening piece of work and inspires one to lead a very principled and moral life. It is a must read for anyone who visits this place and it is advisable to spend at least half an hour specially dedicated for this exercise. Such is the beauty of Kanyakumari that lot of people find themselves attracted to it. Mahatma Gandhi too could not resist its charm and there is a place here dedicated to him called Gandhi Mandapam. This is the place, as told by locals, where one could witness the ‘Sangam’ (confluence) of the three oceans! Gandhiji arrived here and succumbed to the beauty of the place as described in his beautiful words inscribed below his portrait in the Mandapam. After he died, his ashes were brought to this place and kept before they were discharged into the sea. The Gandhi Mantapa is engineered in such a way that, at the place where the ashes were kept, stands a small stone which is said to receive the Sun’s rays only on the 2nd of October, Gandhiji’s birthdate, every year through a small hole on the roof.

Our Lady of Ransom Church - Located on the shoreline of Bay of Bengal the 100 year old Church of Our Lady of Ransom is dedicated to Mother Mary. The Church that is one of the most beautiful church of India, looks beautiful against the backdrop of the beautiful blue sky.

The Church of Our Lady of Ransom is built in the Gothic style of architecture with a strong Portuguese influence. The Church slightly off white in appearance has three massive towering spires and stained glass windowpanes contributing to the overall grandeur. Another attraction of the Church is the Central Tower. It is 153 feet high and is crowned with a Cross of pure gold.(Intersting to note that the dimesnsions of the Church structures are based on the count of beads in the rosary! There are few things about the Church that makes the visitors gasp with awe as they enter inside. The Church boasts of a beautiful statue of Mother Mary clad in a Saree. Surprisingly, as compared to the grand and ornate exteriors, the visitors are quite taken aback by the simplicity of its interiors. There is just a tiny Cross that adorns the Altar. There are no church benches and the masses are held inside the church in normal days and outside on the clean sands during carnivals and occassions. The prayers are held in Tamil considering the parish here mainly comprises the local fishing folks. However the English masses are conducted of late. Watch out for the 10 days carnival festival during the second week of December every year. It is vibrant and colurful with the fishing hamlets of other nearby places and other religion people celebrate together.

Padmanabhapuram Palace erstwhile palatial residence of the rulers of Travancore. Made entirely of wood. It lies an hours drive away from Kanyakumari city on the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala state. It is actually maintained by the Kerala government.

Kamarajar Mani Mantapa Monument was raised and dedicated to a freedom fighter and Former Chief minister of Tamil Nadu, President of Indian National Congress, Mr Kamarajar. He’s also popularly known as Black Gandhi among the masses. Like the Gandhi Mantapa, this place is where Kamarajar’s ashes were kept here for public to pay homage before immersion into the sea.

Baywatch is a water theme amusement park at the sunset point, and home to India’s first wax museum.

Tsunami Monument A momument recognizing the tragic events of the 2004 tsunami which claimed the lives of many Kanyakumari denizens exists near the south shore. The monument is made of uniquely colored items such as a wave, a flame, and human hands, together.

Do

Vivekananda Rock memorial has a special meditation room which is absolutely quiet. One could meditate there. People also wet their feet on the shores of the ocean before entering the temple as the waters considered sacred. Bathing is banned in many part of the beach(though you may find some people bathing) due to a number of tourists dying each year due to the powerful ocean waves. For bathing in the sea, consider Vattakotta (Meaning: Round fort) beach, situated about 6 km from Kanyakumari. Naked bathing or bathing with bikinis are a taboo not only in Kanyakumari but also in nearly all beaches in India. Beaches in Goa and Pondicherry, are a bit different, as a majority of people visiting there are foreigners.

Buy

Tourists can buy a lot of interesting items ranging from, straw hats, conches, sea shells, cheap electronics etc., There are some small shops where one can get a customized conch with name or quotes inscribed. These items can serve as a memorable item of your trip. Electronics available at Kanyakumari are dead cheap but, since all of them are imported from china, the quality of them are always sub-par. It’s always good to avoid the electronics shops and the associated hagglers. Hair bands and clips made of coconut shells are worth the money and you may have to ask one for to the shop keeper if one is not available at the display. Star fish shells (for decorating your indoors), sea shells of various sizes, kaleidoscopes, colourful sand packets(not artificially colored), collected from different parts of the beach, used specially for decorating your indoor showcases, are also available. The cost of majority of these commodities range from Rs 20 (0.5 US$) to Rs 50 (1.1 US$), and never cross a 100.

Kedarnath-Know India-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Kedarnath - Char Dham

Kedarnath (Hindi: केदारनाथ) is a Hindu holy town located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district. The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3584m above sea level near the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. Kedarnath hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples, the Kedarnath Temple, and is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims from all over the world, being one of the four major sites in India’s Char Dham pilgrimage.

Kedarnath is named after King Kedar who ruled in the Satya Yuga. He ruled the seven continents and was a very saintly king. He had a daughter named Vrinda who was a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She performed austerities for 60000 years. Because of her, the land is named Vrindavan.

Temple and significance

The actual temple is an impressive stone edifice of unknown date. According to the Puranas, the Pandava brothers did a major penance in Kedarnath to please Lord Shiva. As a matter of fact, as one enters the main temple, the first hall contains statues of the five Pandava brothers, Lord Krishna, Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva and Virabhadra, one of the greatest guards of Shiva. An unusual feature of the temple is the head of a man carved in the triangular stone fascia of the temple. Such a head is seen carved in another temple nearby, namely the temple constructed on the site of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. No specific family of pujaris supervises rituals at Kedarnath, which focus around veneration of the stone lingam that rests in the inner sanctum of the temple.

Get In

There are 2 ways to reach Kedarnath ,one is by-foot for a steep 14 km trek through a paved path (horses or palanquins are available for rent) from Gaurikund, which is connected by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other known hill stations of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand and the other way is through air travel. Recently government started the Pawan Hans Helicopter Service from Agastyamuni and Phata to Kedarnath. The fare is reasonable.

See

The temple itself is quite an exquisite example of stone work. Houses the lingam, a symbol of the Hindu God Shiva. The temple is located among astonishing mountain landscape surrounded by peaks that are over 6000 m in elevation. Close to the shrine lies Adi Shankaracharya’s samadhi, where he is believed to have taken rest after establishing the four dhams at an early age of 32 years. At a visible distance from the shrine also lies an ancient Bhairav Temple, beyond which one comes out to green glades and tiny streams, fed by the surrounding (and approachable) glaciers.

Treks leading out from Kedarnath are strenuous. If one arrives here early in the season, glaciers blocking these routes would be a common occurrence - and quite risky since one can never tell the thickness of the ice. Gandhi Sarovar (lake) -and the Chorabari Glacier that feeds the lake - lie the closest, at a distance of 3km, which makes for an hour of trek. Vasuki Tal - which is famous for its blue waters - is at 7km, and involves very difficult climb and crossing glaciers. It generally takes one 4-5 hours to reach there, so set out early.

Do

Puja and aarti at the temple if you are a Hindu. Treks to the adjacent valleys will take you through untouched forests and desolate paths. Some pilgrims even take a dip in the icy waters of Mandakini.

Sleep

Many ashrams and dharamshalas provide cheap accommodation. There are also many private hotels and restaurants although most have only basic facilities. Also beware that Kedarnath can be extremely crowded during peak pilgrim season. The state-run guest house is generally booked throughout, so arrive early if you want options.

Celebrity as Gods

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Extreme celebrity worship. Celebrities are worshipped as gods in some of the countries, and here's a funny depiction of what those fans might think of their favorite stars. It is Just a Art....Don't take it Personally.....!

On-Screen Keyboard in Windows

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:56:00 +0000

An On-Screen Keyboard in Windows.

In case your keyboard or some keys stop working, Microsoft provides you with an alternative way to type-in using the mouse.

To work this tool,

Go to: 'Start menu' Select: 'Run' Type in: 'OSK'

Press: 'OK'

A keyboard will be displayed on your monitor which you can use with your mouse.

JUST TRY IT YOURSELF

Foods that help you Fight Fat

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:55:00 +0000

These are easily available foods and fruits that provide necessary vitamins, fiber and calories to keep the body going and provide a full feeling in the stomach. They are not to be taken as an exclusive diet but should be added to the diet. They will help in the reduction of consumption of fatty foods and also help curb hunger pangs which lead to binging and fat gain.

First of all, it is suggested that food may be cooked in Olive oil. This oil has fat burning properties and is also seen to influence distribution of body fat. Substituting greasy oils and butter used for cooking with olive oil, will generally result in a healthy body and significant weight loss over time.

Try and include fish in your diet, twice a week. A medium sized fish is ideal for fat control as it contains a balanced amount of protein and fat. Fish also contains essential minerals, vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids which are needed by the body. A little fat in the fish is essential to keep the body fit and curb hunger and desire for more fatty foods. Deep fried fish is not suitable for fat control. Rather try grilled fish or fish cooked with a little olive oil.

Including Green leafy vegetables daily in one meal in the day will do wonders for fat loss and hunger control. Spinach, lettuce, cabbage, fenugreek leaves and radish leaves provide much needed vitamins and calcium and a lot of water and fiber. This helps fill the stomach much faster preventing hunger pangs and also provide much needed antioxidants. They may be taken lightly steamed or in a salad ( where possible) without salad dressings. Salads may be dressed with olive oil and lemon juice to make them more palatable.

Snacking between meals is one easy way to gain weight. One fruit that works very well as a snack is G****fruit. Snack on the whole fruit ( not juice) between meals. It provides vitamin C, fiber and absorbs water to provide a full feeling and curb hunger.

Cutting out red meat and deep fried foods from the diet is the way to fat loss. However these need to be substituted with healthy foods such as pulses and legumes. Foods such as beans, Bengal gram, red gram, horse gram, green gram, field bean, kidney beans, soybeans help provide protein with low fat content to the body. They are best taken sprouted, which help in easier digestion.

Breakfasts can be enjoyed with white of an egg omelets (without the yolk). A glass of milk also helps the body to stay fit and full for along period of time. However it is best to avoid shakes. A little cottage cheese also provides much need protein and calcium to the body and can be taken twice a week as a fat buster.

The secret to weight loss is a healthy diet. The diet should be balanced and cooked in healthy oils (preferably olive oil) and combined with light exercise. Daily light exercise, helps use up the calories and provides much needed activity to the body resulting in a fit body and mind.

In conclusion, there is no sure shot formula for weight loss. Some people are born with a high metabolism rate and can consume lots of food without weight gain while others have to fight a constant battle. This is how nature has created humans. Healthy foods combined with light exercise can help a person lead a fit life. That should be our objective.

Winamp 5.55 Build 2512.Pro

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:25:00 +0000

Nullsoft Winamp is a fast, flexible, high-fidelity media player for Windows. Winamp supports playback of many audio (MP3, OGG, AAC, WAV, MOD, XM, S3M, IT, MIDI, etc) and video types (AVI, ASF, MPEG, NSV), custom appearances called skins (supporting both classic Winamp 1.x/2.x skins and Winamp 3 freeform skins), audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins (including two industry dominating visualization plug-ins), an advanced media library, Internet radio and TV support, CD ripping, and CD burning.

• The Full version plays MP3s, AAC, WMA, and more; Compatible with Winamp 2 Plug-ins; Full Support for classic and modern skins; Plays Videos; has a Powerful Media Library; Browse Internet Radio & TV Stations; Integrated Internet Music Videos & Songs; Bundled Visualizations; and Burn & Rip CDs.
• The LITE version plays MP3s, AAC, WMA, and more. It is compatible with Winamp 2 Plug-ins and has full support for classic skins.

UPDATED

* New: Winamp Orgler plugin - Let's you track, chart & share your listening history
* Improved: [jnetlib] New SSL support for playback of https:// streams
* Improved: [ml_autotag] Fuzzy matches now unchecked by default & marked 'Unsure'
* Improved: [ml_local] New background scanner
* Improved: [ml_online] Various tweaks, fixes & enhancements
* Improved: [ml_pmp] Added support for drag+drop from Explorer to device playlists
* Fixed: iexplore process not ending when browser closed after opened via Winamp
* Fixed: Save EQ preset name duplication bug
* Fixed: [Bento skin] SHOUTcast homepage url's redirecting to Winamp search
* Fixed: [gen_jumpex] Up/down buttons reversed, 'stop after current' & other issues
* Fixed: [in_mod] Crash on some .s3m modules (w.i.p.)
* Fixed: [in_mod] Playback glitch during background transcoding
* Fixed: [in_wm] Decimal point issues in Alt+3 format info
* Fixed: [in_wm] Embedded IE browser for DRM license acquisition
* Fixed: [in_wm] Loading of URLs in WPL playlist files
* Fixed: [in_mp4/libmp4v2] Integer overflow bug with MP4 sample size
* Fixed: [libsndfile] VOC buffer overflow vulnerability
* Fixed: [ml_impex] Read "has video" field from iTunes XML (and write on export)
* Fixed: [tagz.w5s] Hang with $right function in ATF when specified field is empty
* Fixed: [vis_avs] msvcp71.dll dependency
* Misc: Added front.jpg/gif/etc to album art criteria
* Misc: More miscellaneous general tweaks, improvements, fixes and optimizations
* Misc: New omBrowser.w5s shared component for ml_nowplaying, wire & online
* Misc: Removed dashboard (ml_dash) from distribution
* Misc: ml_orb now only installed as part of separate Winamp Remote package
* Updated: [gen_jumpex] JTFE v1.0.5
* Updated: libsndfile 1.0.20!

Internet Download Manager 5.17 Build 5

noreply@blogger.com (Nair Lakshmi) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:22:00 +0000

Internet Download Manager (IDM) is a tool to increase download speeds by up to 5 times, resume and schedule downloads. Comprehensive error recovery and resume capability will restart broken or interrupted downloads due to lost connections, network problems, computer shutdowns, or unexpected power outages. Simple graphic user interface makes IDM user friendly and easy to use.Internet Download Manager has a smart download logic accelerator that features intelligent dynamic file segmentation and safe multipart downloading technology to accelerate your downloads. Unlike other download managers and accelerators Internet Download Manager segments downloaded files dynamically during download process and reuses available connections without additional connect and login stages to achieve best acceleration performance.

Internet Download Manager supports proxy servers, ftp and http protocols, firewalls, redirects, cookies, authorization, MP3 audio and MPEG video content processing. IDM integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, MSN Explorer, AOL, Opera, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firebird, Avant Browser, MyIE2, and all other popular browsers to automatically handle your downloads. You can also drag and drop files, or use Internet Download Manager from command line. Internet Download Manager can dial your modem at the set time, download the files you want, then hang up or even shut down your computer when it's done.

Other features include multilingual support, zip preview, download categories, scheduler pro, sounds on different events, HTTPS support, queue processor, html help and tutorial, enhanced virus protection on download completion, progressive downloading with quotas (useful for connections that use some kind of fair access policy or FAP like Direcway, Direct PC, Hughes, etc.), built-in download accelerator, and many others.

Version 5.17 adds IDM download panel for web-players that can be used to download flash videos from sites like YouTube, MySpaceTV, and Google Videos. It also features complete Vista support, YouTube grabber, redeveloped scheduler, and MMS protocol support. The new version also adds improved integration for IE and IE based browsers, redesigned and enhanced download engine, the unique advanced integration into all latest browsers, improved toolbar, and a wealth of other improvements and new features.

DOWNLOAD