Friday, December 15, 2017
On the third day, we went to the Sikkim Himalayan Zoo. It was day of little rain and much mist. The walk into the zoo was surreal because of the clouds that accompanied us. We could spot very few animals actually, but the walk around the little zoo was great. The red panda was undoubtedly the show stealer. However the whole place looked rather unkempt and uncared for. In any case it was a far cry from the conditions in our Vandalur zoo. The animals at least looked well fed and well rested.
After a quick lunch of some white rice and vegetables, we headed off to the Ranka Monastery, also known as the Lingdum Monastery. Even if it’s rather recent and there’s no historical significance to the place, the scale of its construction and architectural beauty floored us completely. It’s a treat to the eyes through and through. The entrance is flanked on either side with beautiful prayer wheels. The courtyard is huge and leads to the inner sanctum, where a large-sized Buddha sits right on top. The entire temple is covered with beautiful, traditional Thanka paintings of Sikkim. The monastery is surrounded by forests and that makes it most picturesque. No wonder it’s caught the fancy of Indian moviemakers. Pictures of actors who visited the monastery decorate the canteen walls in the monastery. Our Vikram and Samantha were there too; apparently they were shooting the movie 10 Endrathukulla.
The next day we left Sikkim early with lots of memories of this abode of the gods and left a bit of us in Sikkim. We’ll perhaps go there another time and visit the many places we couldn’t because of the monsoons. Until then, we shall meditate on the quintessential feature of Sikkim, Om Mani Padme Hum, which now adorns the entrance to our home. The trip had indeed brought us rain, rest, love, thrill, and deeper meaning.
The next day morning, all of us were up and ready by 8. At 8:30 the most awaited phone call came, declaring the happy news of the permit. The Innova was to transform into a Formula 1 racing car in under 10 minutes. We would be climbing to about 14000 ft and so he began telling us about the various things we might encounter on our ascent. Well, landslides had by then become a household term, and so he talked about clouds blocking our vision completely or torrential rain that could bring with it huge boulders or simply lack of oxygen that can cause instant coma. What did he just say? Lack of oxygen? We just laughed it off, but got ourselves some chocolates and popcorns, touted to be an antidote to oxygen deprivation. We were getting ready for the most adventurous part of the trip.
Soon we left the hustle bustle of Gangtok and were going up, up, and up. Slowly and steadily, we could experience the slow descent in temperature. At one point, our hands were turning numb and we were blowing warm air into our balled fists and rubbing them together to stay sane. The ride was scenic with beautiful views of the Himalayas with their cloud cover, lush greenery, and waterfalls bringing pristine, clear water from the glaciers high up in the mountains. Chandru stopped the car near a little waterfall for us to fill our bottles and play in it for sometime. After drinking our fill, we resumed our journey. We must have been at least 10,000 ft above the mean sea level. We entered the clouds. It was all white, cold, and eerie. It was just us in the Innova, surrounded by majestic mountains, clouds, and lakes. If you listened carefully, you would be able to hear silence. Deafening silence. No wonder, they named the pass, Na-thulla, which means the pass of the listening ears.
We were driving through mist and cloud and in zero visibility. “I can drive on the road with my eyes closed,” declared Chandru, trying to reassure us. With some effort, we could see some army camps and very fit looking defense personnel busy patrolling. Oh yes, we were heading towards the country’s border. No wonder, the roads were peppered with check points and military uniforms. A few kilometers on, tiny shacks selling Chinese jackets for throwaway prices came into view. We picked one each and off we went. As we drew closer, the air started to get palpably thinner. We’ve never been in such conditions ever before. A closest experience could have been a Doddabetta or a Nainital bus ride through a cloud cover. But, this was proving to be something else. Even as we were wondering about how people almost centuries ago were negotiating these tricky terrains without vehicles powered by petrol or diesel, simply out of nowhere emerged these hordes of yak with their shepherds covered from head to toe in their traditional Sikkimese clothes. We decided to do a yak ride for Kavin on our way back, since Nathulla was still some distance away.
As Nathulla drew closer, whatever little civilization there was thinned out. In fact, there was not a single soul as the trudge up the Nathulla began. You would spot an occasional army man doing his patrol amidst the thick clouds. But that was all. The cars had to be stopped at least 1 kilometer or 2 away. Chandru told us to be careful to not let Kavin walk on his own, and wishing us luck he drove away.
The entrance to Nathulla is framed with an arch, whose style is unmistakably a happy coming together of both Sikkimese and Chinese motifs, which for someone as untrained as me seemed rather similar with dragons in green and yellow. Few meters on, start the steps that will take one to the actual summit of the Nathulla pass. It didn’t quite look as threatening as it was made out to be. We got off the car and in another few minutes, it happened. For one dizzying moment, air literally drained out of our lungs. In no time, we were holding on to each other for air, literally. We looked at each other and smiled at this rather daring adventure we had undertaken. Kavin on the other hand seemed unfazed and began climbing the steps. We, on the other hand, were huffing and puffing to climb even 5 steps in one go. Mercifully, there was a café en route. Never in the past did the sight of a shack gladden my heart as much. After a short break, R offered to stay with Kavin, told me to go on, and stuffed some chocolates in my hands and asked me to be safe. I would be completely incommunicado, and we really didn’t know what awaited us up the hill. The experience was rather unsettling. We were on terra firma but not quite, actually. Anytime, we could be plunged into nothingness. I took climbed the steps slowly, but steadily. I could sense my lungs working overtime, and also came to the terrible realization of how unfit I was. But this was no time for regret; I had to survive this. I continued climbing when suddenly I was losing my sense of sound. I could no more hear, everything was beginning to turn white. With some effort, I pulled out the bar chocolate and bit a chunk of it. In no time, things began to get normal. Whoever thought chocolate was a lifesaver. Not me, certainly. Some more chocolate and I was at the summit, and there was just clouds and more clouds covering the buildings. A rope was tied to indicate the boundary between the countries. That’s it? No fanfare like the Wagah boundary? Slowly, the structure on the other side emerged through the clouds. I could make out a bright red star and some men working atop. I waved to them, and they waved back. And that was the high point of our entire trip. They army personnel also pointed the gate through which goods get exchanged between Indian and Chinese traders. They also told us how during the Manasarover Yatra the gates are opened for thoroughfare. I returned with the resolve to get fit and do that yatra; the whole place seemed to lead right into heaven.
On our way back to Gangtok, we stopped at the Tsomgo lake (pronounced Changu) and played with the yaks. Kavin rode on one of them and had some fun. The lake is supposed to be a very ancient one and quite holy to the local people and the Buddhists and the Hindus, alike. So holy that people don’t even fish in these waters. The water comes from the melting of snow in the surrounding mountains.
Then came the Baba Mandir, which is actually a shrine built in the memory of a army man who was killed during a war or crossfires. But his body was not found until he appeared in a colleague’s dream and told him where to look for his body. They find and cremate his body. And since then legend has it that Baba appears in the dreams of his colleagues and to this day warns them of any issues and averts wars or crossfires. So a couple of shrines have been built in his memory and prayers are recited every day. We visited only the new shrine built at a lower altitude and took the sugar candies given as the prashad. Around here, Chandru found some little plants and hungrily collected a bunch of them. He offered a small twig for us to taste. It was sharp and pungent, but the aftertaste lingered for a while. He said it was a local herb, very good for health, and rather rare in lower altitudes.
The ride back was more or less uneventful, except for the yummiest momos we got to taste en route. The shopkeeper sold only veg momos and she made them with just fresh cabbage, carrots, and some onions. We sat there in that little shack on wooden benches, savoured the momos, and looked out from a little window. The beautiful mountain waters were flowing downhill, as the rain hammered on the tin sheets that covered the shack. After what seemed like eternity, we began our journey back to Gangtok.
We entered Sikkim at about half past five and decided to make a pitstop for tea and biscuits like regular Chennaites. Chandru reminded us that we were in momo land, and so we quickly got ourselves a plate of veg momos, since the shop didn’t serve any meat. Soon, we had ordered one more and we would have done more had we had more time; it was so lip-smackingly good, and all that the little dumplings contained were the humble cabbage and some meek carrots, all grated, mixed, and steamed together with some seasoning! About 6-8 momos are arranged along the circumference of a plate with a circle of red, hot sauce in the center.
In another hour or so we reached the quiet homestay we had booked ourselves in. We trudged up at least two flights of steep stairs balancing our suitcases, bags, and little Kavin. The first sight that caught us even in the dark was the orchid that was hanging right in the entrance. Now to have orchid growing out of your porch is akin to luxury for a Chennaite! The homestay was on the second floor; it had about five compact double rooms with clean sheets and quilts. The toilet was spotless, and that’s always one of the most important aspects of any staying experience for us. After a quick dinner of some random dal fry and rice, all of us flopped on to the bed and were out like light bulbs.
The dawn was cold, wet, and cloudy. On the glass windows were condensed little droplets of rain. The monsoons were beautiful in the hills. This would be our first monsoon trip in the Himalaya. After a leisurely breakfast of hot aloo paratas, fresh curd, and nice, hot coffee we were off for the day. Chandru had arrived on time and was waiting to take us to the very famous Rumtek monastery. We were about 25 km from the monastery, which was actually at a height of almost 4900 ft from the mean sea level. Again, after some driving through the hills and some hide and seek with the river Teesta, we reached the Rumtek monastery. Cars had to be part at least a kilometer or two from the monastery. Perhaps the trudging up the hill is a sort of penance to have a glimpse of the historic monastery. The road up to the monastery is flanked by little shops selling art curios and souvenirs of Sikkim. Soon came the Kalachakras or the wheels of time, a characteristic feature of monasteries that practice Tibetan Buddhism. Time cycles basically represent the cyclic nature of nature itself; be it time, your breath, the planetary movement, seasons, and so and so forth. It forms a very significant and an important teaching in the Tibetan religion.
Bright, red dahlias, roses the size of sunflowers, and blue and beautiful hydrangeas ushered us into the monastery. It’s the largest monastery in Sikkim and it’s also known as Dharmachakra center. If I could attribute a human quality to the whole place, it would be modesty. Nothing in the exterior walls or interiors, which were filled with beautiful paintings, belied the Karmapa controversy being fought out in the Indian courts or the presence of the golden stupa or the monastery being the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism.
Little Buddhist monks dressed it cute maroon colored robes roamed and ran around the whole place, giving a playful, happy feel to the place, which would otherwise look somber, austere, and religious. A black hat was placed atop the Buddha inside the temple; apparently it was spun out of a few thousand strands of hair that were given to the first Karmapa by some magical fairies when he meditated. One of the little monks gave Kavin a nice, fat muffin and smiled. We took a little stroll around the monastery and learned of the traditional Lama dance performed on the last day of one of the two festivals observed in the Rumtek monastery. We decided to visit Rumtek next when the Lama dance would happen and found our way back to the car, but only after leaving a little bit of ourselves in Rumtek. Such was its unassuming magnetism.
The rest of the day was spent it in shopping and strolling through the rain-soaked streets of MG Marg. Lunch was mostly momos of various hues. Steamed momos, fried momos, chicken momas, pork momos, and the like. We weren’t too keen about the ropeway, but we had to humor our toddler and so, we went up and down the ropeway, which is probably a hangout for young lovers and newly weds looking for some amusement other than each other. Giggly, we got off the rope away and decided to have a nice cup of the much-famed Tibetan tea. A hot, soothing concoction made by churning loads of butter, tea, and salt. It was love at first sip, for me. The little shop was womanned by a nice Tibetan lady, who was only more than happy to explain to me how to make a nice cup of Tibetan tea or Po Cha, as she called it. The boys were only too happy with their regular tea and a cool drink.
Teesta flowed all around Sikkim in waterfalls and streams. Most of homes have some plant or the other, many of them had rose, some had dahlias, and some had the most beautiful petunias I had ever seen. However, one wild creeper, which looked more or less like our bottle gourd plant, was ubiquitous. I made a mental note to find the actual name of the plant and we walked back to our homestay.
Peggy, our host, called to inform us that our dinner was ready and served. There was hot rice, a bowl of light dal, some fish curry, and a bowl of green vegetable that looked suspiciously similar to the wild creeper that had caught my eye earlier. On enquiry, Peggy confirmed that it was indeed the leaves of the wild creeper, but it was hardly wild because it was actually the bottle gourd plant. Whoa! The things hills do to even these tame little vegetables. To say the creeper was the show stealer that night would be an understatement. It was a clear winner. Chandru told us to have an early night because the next day was Nathulla pass. Of course, that was subject to getting a permit.
It was the fag end of May in 2016; the place, Chennai. We, along with 4 million other Chennaites, were dragging ourselves out of the unforgiving, sweltering heat of the 2016 summer. Of course, there was some sporadic rainfall, but not the kind that will rescue us from the unforgiving summer heat. That was when we decided to take a trip somewhere far away from the searing heat. Some rain would restore sanity in our lives. And so, without even thinking much, I went ahead and booked our tickets to Sikkim, and that was really far, far away from Chennai and its heat. The trip was to coincide with our wedding anniversary. We wanted a nice, quiet getaway with adequate rain, rest, and much love. The trip added a couple more to this, and they were thrill and a deeper meaning to life.
We sensed trouble first when we started checking out the staying options. Everyone we talked to was double-checking; Sikkim? In July? Are you sure? How will you even get to Gangtok? Helicopters? The worst thing was from the lady in Sikkim House, New Delhi. I asked her, if there’s a possibility of landslides in July. “Yes, there will be landslides,” pat came the reply. That was indeed a gob smacking moment. But our flight tickets were already done, and since we had had monsoon wedding, we’d have to simply open our umbrellas and eat monsoon pie during the wedding anniversaries.
We scoured through the internet and found a nice homestay and a tour operator. Both of them were thorough professionals who told us the facts as they were. Going to North Sikkim, the most beautiful part of the state, would be impossible. However, if we are lucky, we can get see the Nathulla pass and the several lakes around. And, so with no further ado and any more research, we boarded the Spicejet flight all the way from Chennai to Bagdogra, from where, Tenzing, our travel agent, will have us picked up in an Innova.
After being airborne for almost 3 hours, with a break of 30 minutes in between, Bagdogra came into view. Our first sight of that tiny town was one of several puddles of water. Well, even huge lakes look like mere puddles when you are several feet high up in the air. Are we landing right in the heart of the notorious North East monsoon, famous for its landslides and, the most-dreaded word, cloudburst? We hoped not.
As we stepped out of the tiny airport, the humid air of Bagdogra had us sweating profusely in no time. Wheeling our luggage out, we scanned the junta outside the airport when Chandru, our driver, local guide, weather expert, and herbalist, all rolled into one, met us with a broad, happy smile. In another 20-30 minutes we were on our way to Sikkim, Gangtok on the National Highway 31A. We were approximately 125 km away from Gangtok, and the journey was supposed to take around 3-4 hours, if there were no landslides, roadblocks, or rain. Whoa! People seemed to talk of landslides like a calendar event! Soon, Chandru put on some music and started the drive up the hill. I kept pestering him to show us Teesta, the iconic Himalayan river that more or less defines Sikkim. Every rivulet or stream that we’d cross, I’d quip with “Is this Teesta?” Chandru will merely smirk or shrug. After another half hour of driving through a hill road covered on both sides with trees, we emerged into the bright sunshine reflected from a massive, gigantic Himalayan river flowing and in all its splendor and might. She was Teesta. And, she carried with her fertile soil and water that will nurture and nourish all life that lived downstream. Soon there was a roadblock; we walked up and down the road, clicked pictures of the Teesta, and ate some of the food sold locally; freshly sliced, juicy pineapples, mildly flavored with salted chilly powder was just what I needed to get lost in the beauty of Teesta. One rather strange hot favorite served cold were coconut slices. People loved to eat it like a snack, and not thicken their fish/meat gravies the way we Chennaites did.
In about 10-15 minutes we were on our way again and were met with this massive bridge called the Coronation Bridge, built in 1937 by John Anderson, the then governor general of West Bengal to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The Innova crossed the bridge like a bullet; Chandru refused to stop, saying we had to cross a landslide prone area before sundown, or… He left the sentence unfinished, sending jitters down the spine.
After another hour or two of really fast driving on the hill road, we came upon a badly damaged section of the road. Almost 80% of the 70-ft road was covered with slush and huge boulders arranged in a manner that brought memories of scenes preceding fights in black and white Tamil movies. The moment we crossed that section, Chandru relaxed visibly and told us, “We just crossed the landslide prone region,” and waited for a split second for it to sink. We smiled back, gratefully. For the rest of journey, Chandru kept talking about the general culture of Sikkim, how wonderful Sikkimese are, how they eat only organic food, and how it’s a state that flows not just with Teesta, but wine and beer. And, we couldn’t wait to set foot in Sikkim.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
|On our way to Billund|
It was still dark when I woke up to the warm, comforting smells of lemon-flavored rice and its accompaniment, potatoes roasted red in oil and chilly powder. Smiling at what lay ahead of the day, I woke up K and R and went into the kitchen. Sumi had already made everything ready for the day ahead. Packing all of the food into assorted plastic boxes and getting into fresh clothes, we made our way to the bus stop when a slight drizzle began. Each raindrop stung like a pinprick, but we continued our trudging up and down the roads around Aarhus to reach the bus stop. A 2-hour bus trip stood between us and the Billund airport, from where we would catch a flight to the papal land. The bus shelter resembled the lobby of a 3-star hotel in Chennai; it had clean, neat rows of furniture for people sit with their children, read books, or even look out the clean glass windows at the far off harbor, where ferries and ships played hide and seek.
|K enjoying the sights|
We made ourselves comfortable with a piping hot black coffee and went through their various brochures advertising the available bus journeys. As luck would have it our bus would take us to the airport almost in time for the flight. And that would leave us hardly anytime for food or even a relaxed check-in. But super smart family that we were managed everything—check-in of 3 large suitcases, a stroller, lunch with two toddlers, and a long-drawn security check complete with confiscation of my conditioner, face cream, and my child’s water bottle—under an hour. All 6 of us were running across the length and breadth of the airport, almost breathless and the last of us, R, just about managed to pole vault into the aircraft when they moved the passenger stairs away. The aircraft started on the runaway as we scrambled for our seats, dumped our hand luggage into whichever cabin was free, and finally sat and put on our belts. I let out a loud sigh of relief when K decided to throw a fit for there was no in-flight entertainment. I could have clawed out that expression, but what the heck we were on our way to Italy. I simply tickled him and told him enjoy the view and get some sleep.
|Off we go|
In less than 2 hours, we stepped into the land of Pizzas. Our jackets were off in no time; the weather was a balmy 20 degrees. The sun was shinning beautifully in the beautiful city of Pisa. Until then my only association with Pisa had been as a quick answer to name one of the ancient wonders in Italy. It was now time to actually see it for real, in brick and stone. G had decided that we’ll see Italy by car, and we got a nice, black SUV with just the right amount space for 4 adults and 2 kids. Chattering happily we started our journey across Pisa.
|Can you spot the tower?|
The next morning greeted us with light showers and clear skies. We were headed to Rome. The four-hour journey was punctuated with pitstops for food and gasping at the mountainscape framed with low-hanging dark, rain clouds. The architecture of the houses was similar to the ones in Pondichery with roof tiles and cemented exteriors. Soon, we entered our destination; Rome.
|And, that's Sistine Chapel|
|The Italian Parliament|
|St. Peter's Basilica|
Deciding to Romans in Rome, Sumi and I took off to a nearby supermarket and bought some veggies and rustled up some dinner for all us. We polished all the food in no time and slept like logs. The next day was a whirlwind of Vatican, Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Thanks to the traffic and the crowds we just about caught a glimpse of the architectural prowess of these Romans even millennia ago. Well, that meant we were to return to Rome very soon. Perhaps take a week-long break and stay right in Rome and catch everything around it. All around the city ran these ancient aqua-ducts, a tiered bridge like structure, that brought water to the city from distant sources. And, this much before electricity. They’d just tricked gravity to do all their bidding. What ingenuity is that. I began to wonder if ancient Rome wasn’t all that patriarchal, as in, did it have women builders and engineers who worked in so much practical and common sense into the everyday.
The evening saw us packed into a 4-hour train ride through the heart of Italy to Venice. We had a waterfront apartment. Since we had had a feel of our own Alapuzha, a floating town didn’t come as a big surprise. But, Venice has the unenviable distinction of being the only city where I experienced harassment in our entire trip across Europe. So, here I was guarding the bags when the rest of the family went to scout for a water taxi. It must have been late evening, and I was looking around and taking in the sights of the tourists, women, and children. Suddenly, out of nowhere came these bunch of leather jackets with cigarettes and looked me in the eye. Trained in India to rebuff any such unwanted attention, I simply looked away. In no time one of them had come fairly close and brushed against me. That was when I realized I was in danger land. But fear refused to make its appearance. Instead it was pure anger and annoyance. I must have let out a growl or something. The until-then spread out leather jackets huddled together and retreated. I decided to move all the bags myself, two a time, when a bunch of lovely Italian women offered to help me and helped move all the bags. They even stopped to hug and remarked how difficult it’s for women across the world. I couldn’t agree more.
|See you, Venice, soon!|
The next day, R and I took a nice stroll around the apartment and even shopped for some fish. The air around us tasty salty. The street was peppered with little eateries that looked like our very own tea kadais, only that they were booze kadais. Somebody would just walk by, ask for a drink, take a swig, and they'd be on their way. It was all very simple, easy, and very importantly, decent!
A night and day at Venice’s waterfront was just what all of us wanted to bring the Italian rendezvous to a happy closure. We had had tons of fun, laughter, dreams, and even made great plans for a much-longer, more funner European adventure.
The next day evening we bid GSG farewell and headed out to Paris, R’s dream destination.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
A sudden lightness in the lower part of my abdomen woke me in the wee hours of a bright Monday morning a good 5 years ago. I tried to turn to my side, but that was not to be. With some superhuman effort, I heaved my rather heavy frame from the bed and managed to sit upright. There was water everywhere. I rushed to the loo only to discover that my nighty was completely wet. How did that happen? I was unaware of the copious amount of water leaving me. Was it incontinence? In no time, the entire household was awake; my mom reassuring me that it’s all fine, my sister, running helter-skelter, getting me water and some food, putting some stuff into a hospital bag, and R driving at supersonic speed with athai (MIL) to reach home to me. All of us tumbled into our car, and that’s when it began. The first time it happened, I brushed it as some random twitching of some muscle. The second time it happened, the words that came to mind were, “gnawing pain.” In no time, I was fine.
R brought the car to a halt at the hospital from where the hospital staff took over. After some preliminary investigations, the doctor declared that I would hold my baby in my hands today, definitely. But I may have to wait since it was only the early stage of labor and the baby may finally decide to come out only after at least 10-12 hours of labor. What do I do until that time? Can I get a book or something? I swear I was quite serious when I said that. The nurses fixed me an incredulous stare that broke into a reluctant smile and went on with their early morning hospital duties. I decided to twiddle thumbs, literally.
Then, it happened; rather, it started to happen. The twiddling stopped for one shocking second. It was all normal the next second. I balanced myself on one arm and tried to look around if someone had actually smacked me or something. I fell back on the bed and put my arms behind my neck and tried to think of some nice-smelling biriyani, accompanied by some yum raitha. The next time it happened, I had screamed without even realizing it. I was in trouble. Labor was no joke. The pain that had come and gone like a little cramp on a particularly crabby chum time was now a full blown, gnawing, poking, wave of pain that began nowhere in particular and ended everywhere in general.
|And, he came|
The contractions were getting intense and came more often. I decided to grit my teeth and calculate the frequency. It was happening once every 5 minutes. All the pregnancy literature I had gorged on until then had clearly said that 5-minute contractions meant the delivery is quite close. I was now screaming my guts out, much to the doctor’s irritation. She got ready to tell me to stop my unnecessary screaming and go back to my twiddling. Instead, she checked me and declared that I was in active labor and had gone well past the epidural stage. WHAT THE HELL!
|Me holding him for this first time|
She said it in a matter-of-factly way and moved on. Then came many more waves of contractions and pain, and finally one gut-wrenching scream followed by the cry of a new born. The doctors deftly pulled him out as my tummy deflated in one swift movement, as they threw him on my solar plexus. The moment I saw him, all my screaming screeched to a halt at the throat. My eyes took over; they followed the little fellow everywhere. Someone checked his vitals, they weighed him to be 3.082 kg, and finally they brought his face close to mine. His little eyes finally met mine; he had by then stopped crying and had begun to scan the surroundings, and I’d like to think his eyes lingered on mine a little longer. “So, you are Kavin? Welcome darling,” I mouthed and smiled. Somebody freeze-frame this moment for me I thought to myself and let sleep and other recovery mechanisms of the body take over. The rest of the events are recorded in mind in a faint dreamy hue. Ma coming and giving a beautiful hug, and declaring that the infant resembled R to the tee; R wheeling me to the bed; MIL and sis happily chatting away; and me finally falling off into a deep, dreamless slumber. My life had changed forever; I had taken the one-way bridge to motherland.
The infant who could fit snugly in the crook of my arm just 5 years ago, now demands much more than my arm. He insists on his own bed, his pillow, his books, and even his own room. And, yes, it's no wonder he planned his own birthday party a few days ago, invited his friends, and brought the roof down.
Each December, I make this travel in my mind and re-live this little story of how Kavin entered our lives. And, I must say it rejuvenates me and gets me started for a beautiful new year.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
I was going over what was to be done with contents of the wallet. Actually, until I came to the point of recollecting every single item in the wallet, I wasn’t too rattled by the loss. What with the blocking options of the cards and other such comforts of the times, I had actually no reason worry about any major financial loss. However, the wallet contained something, which I will never be able to recover, not as long as am on this side of the grave. It contained two of my father’s hand-written letters to me. He had written them to me sometime in 2004 when I was in Delhi and when cell phones and emails hadn’t become so ubiquitous.
The letters did not contain important information, but they did contain my dear father’s own handwriting. He always wrote on one of his factory-issued scribbling pads. In one of the letters he had told me in bullet points the enclosures of the letter; my tax returns, some employment news cuttings, and my train ticket. His handwriting had an unmistakable, confident right slant that will ensure his words followed a straight path on an unlined sheet of paper. And that’s something I struggle with even today. In the other letter, he had listed all the housework he was doing, such as watering the plants, ironing clothes, and many other things, all this amidst a hectic work schedule. He had also strictly, that’s in all caps, told me not to get any clothes for them for Christmas from Delhi. On the very next line, in his unmistakable affectionate, daddyish tone he had asked me if I wanted a saree or salwar kameez for Christmas.
With waves gaining speed, Kavin was unstoppable. He jumped, tried swimming, rolled in the mud, and so much more that in an hour’s time when we took him to the nearby shower, he was unrecognizable as our child. Covered with mud and many other things from head to toe, he looked like a child brought up by Tom Hanks in Cast Away, and not by IT professionals living in a metropolis. It took us some effort to extricate the real Kavin from all the grim and sea sand that he was covered in. On R’s insistence, I washed my face. He seemed to believe in the mood alleviation property of washing one’s face. I merely humored him. However, I was instantly refreshed after splashing of cold, fresh water on my face. Male company ain’t all the bad, eh?
Refreshed, but crestfallen, I walked back to our car. My eyes scanned every nook and cranny for the letters, hoping for the thief to have dumped all the unnecessary contents of the wallet. As we drew closer to the car, tears had already begun to cloud my vision. I opened it to see the seats stare back empty, exactly as I remembered them.
I quietly settled in and secured the seat belts for K and got ready for a long, pensive drive through the ECR. It would be almost midnight by the time we’ll reach home. What’s usually a pleasant, chatty drive for HSK seemed to be a quiet and a sad drive. As one last attempt, I thrust my hand into the back pocket of the passenger seat. And, no prizes for guessing; sitting snug in the pocket was the wallet, holding in its safe confines my father’s words, telling me to be careful with my words, with my actions, and perhaps my stuff too. I let out a huge sigh of relief and smiled, no laughed, and got ready for a long, happy, chatty drive home.
On the third day, we went to the Sikkim Himalayan Zoo. It was day of little rain and much mist. The walk into the zoo was surreal because o...
I am really curious to know who are the producers of this really horrible program called neeya nana, which is hosted by some dim wit of a gu...
Starring : Shiva, Vaibhav Reddy, Premji Amaren, S. P. B. Charan, Vega Tamotia, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, Kajal Aggarwal, Sampath Raj, Nikita Th...


Are you and your future spouse looking for a honeymoon to take but aren’t sure where to go? Maybe you want to stay close to home in the United States. Maybe the two of you are looking into honeymoon destinations around the world instead. The perfect honeymoon awaits you both; so take some peeks into some exciting honeymoon destinations to choose from.
Maui is probably one of my favorite destinations I came across for newlyweds to take adventure on. Unlike any other place on the mainland, the island is filled with beauty, comfort and beautiful ocean views to take your breath away. Maui has two native languages that are spoken on the island, Hawaiian and English so honeymooners don’t have to worry for all things to be translated. A few terms to know are “Aloha” which means both hello and goodbye and also “mahalo” which is giving thanks. These two phrases will go a long way on the island and show respect to everyone.
As a tribute to the Gods and Goddesses locals will often pay tribute with a beautiful dance known as hula dancing. Visitors should know that this is also considered a prayer to their Gods, so be respectful. When in Maui, newlyweds can visit festivals such as the Maui Steel Guitar festival or the East Maui Taro Festival held in the spring. While in Maui, why not take a visit to Haleakala National Park which has the world’s largest dormant volcano occupying over 30,000 acres of land. Haleakala summit is over 10,000 ft above sea level, which provides a beautiful experience watching the sunrise.
The Old Lahaina Luau is the most popular thing to do in Maui. This is a great way to learn a bit about the Hawaiian culture. With dancing, music, hula and fire dancing, you’ll be in a treat. During this event you will also be able to dine on some Hawaiian specialties like kalua pua'a (pork roasted in an underground oven), fresh mahi-mahi and poi (mashed taro plant).
If you and your new spouse are looking for something to do in Maui outside of the beach, consider spending some time at the Maui Ocean Center. Get up close and personal with Maui’s ocean life at the center with a tunnel beneath 750,000-gallons of sea life. With this open ocean exhibit, you might see everything from stingrays to sea turtles. Wouldn’t this be lovely? Interested in more information on the Maui Ocean Center website? Check out their link by clicking here.
Another exotic honeymoon destination is Bali. Featuring landscapes with volcanoes, sandy shores, and the beautiful water this is sure to be a destination everyone will enjoy. Honeymooners can visit beautiful temples and active volcanoes in Kintamani. When in Bali you may notice that the dominant language is Indonesian, however some may speak Balinese. English is commonly spoken in many large cities and towns.
When in Bali there is plenty for honeymooners to do as well. One of the most exciting adventures a newlywed couple can take is to visit the Elephant Safari Park in Ubud. The park offers a trail for the elephants to give rides to guests and everything. While visiting have a wonderful meal at the restaurant all the while being pampered by an amazing staff. Choose from a variety of activities to partake in. Look more in the Bali Adventure Tours here at their website.
Are you newlyweds that are taking a family honeymoon? Then the Waterbom is a must visit! Even for those without kids who love the idea of a water park, this is for you. With rides like the Superbowl, Macaroni and the Boomerang, there is plenty to do. In downtown Kuta, visitors can go daily and enjoy some fun in the water and outside of the beaches. Check out Waterbom’s website for more information.
All honeymoon destinations offer a variety of different things to make a honeymoon great. So no matter where you wind up going, have a great time and be prepared!
While Istanbul looks serene it also offers a chaotic bustle. Discover the streets of the busy bazaar and browse shops with plenty of unique items. With a mix of architecture and the beauty of the Byzantine church, newlyweds can be impressed by the Bosphorus which cuts the city into two and also connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea in the north. During your visit, watch the sunset and take a look at the night life. Visitors can enjoy this fast paced city that offers a skyline of steeples, towers and beautiful blue waters.
When in Istanbul take a trip to the Grand Bazaar. It is one of the largest and oldest indoor shopping markets in the world. Visitors can view thousands of shops featuring many goods including carpets, clothing and even art. Despite all this honeymooners can almost guarantee to find a souvenir to bring home.
The Blue Mosque is also a popular destination to visit during your travels. While this site is still an active religious site, it is important to dress conservatively. Located in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, it is open on a normal business schedule ironically from 9-5. To visit the Mosque, there is no entrance fee but during prayer service, any visitors are restricted.


REPRESENTING THE AFRICAT FOUNDATION, NAMIBIA - IN THE UNITED KINGDOM:
UK Charity Commission Number 1120026
5 Brackendale Way
Reading, RG6 1DZ
David Farquharson, Chairman.
David lives in West London with his wife, Jo and three children. David and his wife first visited Okonjima in November 2010 and were massively impressed by the great work being carried out by the AfriCat Foundation and equally by the warmth of the African hospitality. His wife then volunteered his services! As a corporate lawyer with a media and entertainment firm, David has assisted with the running of AfriCat UK and various work with the Foundation's legal requirements and issues. Outside of law and AfriCat, David enjoys spending time with his family, undertaking a variety of sporting pursuits, travelling, theatre, and good food and wine.
Mark Reinecke, Trustee of AfriCat UK.
A lawyer by training, Mark is also a part-owner for the past 14 years of Farm Ombujongwe, which has been brought into the Okonjima Conservancy and now serves as an integral part of AfriCat's release programmes.
Carey Widdows, AfriCat UK MAIN CONTACT
Having first visited Okonjima and AfriCat in 1998 I was impressed with the conservation and education work being tackled by the team. Having made regular visits since, I have been able to keep up with developments. After retiring from work at a University and in HR I was keen to support AfriCat in the UK to continue its mission of enabling the big cats to run wild in what for me is one of the most stunning parts of the world.
James Tomlinson, Trustee of AfriCat UK.
James is Sales Director at West Berkshire Brewery and a Director of The Royal County of Berkshire Brewery. He lives in a village near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, with his wife and 2 children, Lucy and Freddie. In 2007 James and his wife visited AfriCat with Moulsford Prep School and then again in 2009. Since then he has always talked about the great work that AfriCat does and his desire to be more involved with such a charity. This dream came true during the summer of 2014 when James was invited to be a Trustee of AfriCat UK.


BHS Senior Kate Poltrack shares about her study abroad experience this summer in Chile. Kate was one of two BHS students who received a $2500 sponsorship from BCEF, thanks to the newly created Andy Koors Legacy Fund. This is just one way BCEF provides opportunities that go beyond the basics at BCSC.
“This summer I was very fortunate to have had the incredible opportunity to travel to Chile with IUHPFL (Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Language). Originally when I became interested in IUHPFL, I learned that for Spanish students, there were 3 options of countries to travel to: Spain, Mexico, and Chile. I made the choice to go to Chile because I think that I will someday have the opportunity to travel to and tour Spain and Mexico, and maybe even study there, but the opportunity to travel to Chile could be once in a lifetime. I also was interested in learning more about South America, because I feel as though it is almost forgotten by much of the world and I knew it would be very interesting and different to experience.
I decided that I wanted to participate in IUHPFL because, although I love Batesville, I want to explore the world, and I do not want to live my entire life in the same small town. I love teaching others and believe I am interested in education as a career. My dream is to join the Peace Corps after I graduate from college and travel to a Spanish speaking country to teach English as a second language. I thought that this program seemed like a great way to jumpstart my life abroad and help me prepare for my future career by allowing me to learn a lot of Spanish that I will someday use every day.
My trip to Chile made it clear for me that I would like to continue to study Spanish in college, and as of right now I plan on minoring in it. I would love to go back and visit Chile someday, as I love the culture, people, and honestly everything about the country. My host family was amazing, and living with them was my favorite part of the program. I am so thankful for the opportunity and I know I am very lucky to have been able to spend six weeks studying abroad before I even graduate from high school. I had this opportunity in large part due to the generous scholarship donated by BCEF through the Andy Koors Legacy Fund. I am so thankful for the scholarship that I received and cannot express enough gratitude to BCEF for making my trip possible.
While I was in Chile I had many amazing experiences. Not only did I learn a lot about the Spanish language and culture, but I learned a lot about myself. With the IUHPFL program, all of the students took an exam at the beginning and the end of the program so that we could gauge our improvement in the language. My exam score jumped tremendously from the first week to the sixth, and I went from basically not being able to understand anything my first few days, to understanding almost everything by the last few. While I enjoyed my experience thoroughly, I did experience a little bit of homesickness in the middle of the program, because I was only able to email my family and friends once a week and felt disconnected from life back home. This feeling allowed me to have a greater appreciation for life in Batesville and taught me to enjoy life while I have what I have. I now realize that as I start my senior year in just one week, I need to cherish all of the time that I have in Batesville with my family and the friends I have grown up with, because in just 1 short year we will all go our separate ways. High school seniors are always told to cherish their last year at home, but I feel as though I have a deeper understanding of this fact due to my IUHPFL experience.
I am very happy that I had the opportunity to travel to Chile with IUHPFL and I am so thankful that BCEF made my experience possible. I learned so much about the Spanish language, about myself and my future plans, and about the country of Chile. My experience was everything that I dreamed it would be and more.”


JUST ADDED: CTV, COMMUNITY TELEVISION OF SANTA CRUZ – on Comcast Channel 26 and Charter Cable Channel 72.
CTV joins a growing network of cable stations to carry the show throughout Northern California, that includes…
PACIFIC COAST TV: Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Pescadero, La Honda
PENINSULA TV: Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, Foster City, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo, South San Francisco
KMVT: Mountain View, Los Altos, Cupertino, Sunnyvale
CREATV: San Jose, Campbell
CMAP: Gilroy, Hollister, San Juan Batista
If you are interested in carrying the show, LET US KNOW!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Because of our broad-reaching TV audience, the show will be tailored to reflect the needs of various communities. Please CONTACT US if there is an organization with a particular need that we can communicate, or individuals worth celebrating.
We want to know what Bay Area organizations and non-profit organizations are looking for this year.
TELL US and we’ll either broadcast your message on the show, or spotlight your organization on the website, or both!


We love a warm welcome so will meet you at the front of the our Fairfield clinic for your first appointment and then at the end of your appointment we will show you the waiting room and how to access it for your follow up appointments.
Address - 68 Station Street, Fairfield, 3078
TRAIN - 140 metres from Fairfield Railway Station
BUS - Bus Stop at front door - Route 609
Plenty of 1 and 2 hour parking on Station Street and Railway Place


Number of foreign visitors to Japan up 15.6% in first half of 2018
Himeji Castle | GETTY IMAGES
Kyoto, Japan Photo: Patrick Allan
Hokkaido quake reveals Japan is woefully unprepared to help foreign tourists in times of disaster
2018 Tokyo Bucket List: 20 Top Things to Do – Japan Travel Guide -JW Web Magazine
Asakusa Temple in Tokyo - Japan on a Budget
1) Jet Lag Relief Pills – Don't let the long flight to Japan and time change weigh you down. Jet lag can put a serious dampener on your trip, so you should ...
Cherry Blossom Sakura Temple Pagoda Japan
Japan plans to lower age of adulthood to 18
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Top 10 Things to Do in Japan main image
A tour to Japan with Helen Wong's Tours will unlock this country's iconic beauty and subtle stateliness, leaving you in absolute awe.
With fast-track permanent residency rule, Japan looks to shed its closed image
Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe electioneering in support of candidates from the ruling Liberal Democratic
Cheap flights to Japan ...
From as early as the eighth century, elite imperial courtiers paused to appreciate the delicate
Pedestrians crossing a road struggle against the strong wind and rain in Tokyo, Japan,
An aerial view from a Jiji Press helicopter shows vehicles piled in a heap due to
A medical school in Japan didn't want too many women. So it lowered their grades.
Before you set foot in a Japanese onsen, there are a few things you should know. (Photo: Getty Images)
Why is it so Easy to be Thin in Japan?
Current Business Opportunities in Japan - Export to Japan
October is the great month to celebrate the coming of autumn in Japan. There are amazing spots to enjoy the beautiful nature such as hiking and autumn ...
Why did you Come to Japan - Japanese Tv Show
Ryoung Song at his Korean school. Song often faces discrimination for being a Korean migrant
Kyoto, Japan: Trip of a Lifetime
Working long hours is a way of life in Japan, but some companies are seeking to change that. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Sukimuland: take a trip back in time to Japan's olden days
One of the best things about Japan is that it is safe. Repeatedly shining on top ten lists of the world's safest countries, Japan is also a great place for ...
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An hour-by-hour travel guide to Tokyo and Kobe, the jewels of Japan
More visitors are finding their way to Japan than ever before.. here's why
Top 10 Things to Do in Japan in November
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COMPANY ESTABLISHMENT WIZARD
A map depicting the Japan Trench and its surrounding connections to other relevant trenches. The map was created using GeoMapApp.
Typhoon Jebi latest maps: 'LIFE THREATENING' typhoon to strike Japan
There are many things you can only experience during winter in Japan. From winter illuminations to bathing monkeys, here are best things to do and places to ...
Japan wants to make it easier to become a resident. Do you qualify?
Buddhist temple in the fall - one of the best places in Japan
Rethinking the notion that hot weather means increased consumption in wake of Japan's scorching summer
Moving to Japan Is Not as Hard as You Think
Exploring Ruins on Tranquil Tomogashima Island
How to Study Abroad in Japan on a Budget
Typhoon Jebi: Strongest storm to hit Japan in 25 years
F-22 technology offered to Japan for next-generation fighter
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View through bridge to Mt Fuji, Japan
The worst impacts would occur if Jebi makes landfall; however, even if it remains offshore east of Japan, the large tropical cyclone could lash coastal ...
Japan 7/31. Rough seas will also be stirred around the storm, creating dangers for boaters and anyone attempting to enter the water.
Passports for passengers between Mainland Japan and Okinawa during 1952-1972.jpg
Activist investors return to Japan -- and join the team
Great fares from Los Angeles to Osaka. Daily Service Available
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10 Cherry Blossom Varieties in Japan You'll Love to ...
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A new law in Japan that requires Airbnb hosts to register their listing and display a license number on their listing page has forced the company to cancel ...
What to Bring to Japan: The Ultimate Packing Checklist
The following is a guide on how to use trains and subways in Japan. Elsewhere on the site are more specific pages on shinkansen (bullet trains), ...
Japan struggles to overcome its groping problem
Trend of suicide deaths from 1960 to 2007 for the nations of Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States
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Why the F-35 Isn't Good Enough for Japan
The Newest U.S. Education Technology Venture Fund? Look to Japan
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More than 100 dead as heavy rain pounds Japan
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A mountain hamlet in northern Japan claims Jesus Christ was buried there
Sell Your Products Online in Japan With Our E-Commerce Partners - Export to Japan
THIS MAN FLEW TO JAPAN TO SING ABBA IN A BIG COLD RIVER
A man looks at a Ford compact car in Japan.Koi Sasahara / AP
A 10-day Japan itinerary – including things to do, accommodation, and vegetarian
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ab Donnerstag, 17. Juni
hast du interesse an gutem wein?
sign up for our monthly wine tasting in cooperation with our wine supplier bindella. during the two hours of the tasting you will dive deep into a specific region or topic lead by sommelier helena gall accompanied by delicious platters and snacks specifically created to go along with the wine you drink. During or after the tasting, you will have the chance to by the wine directly at the spatz for a discounted rate.


Follow us on Instagram
We've just launched our new corporate Instagram account, @greatvalleymoving and invite you to follow us, so you can see what we're up to. They'll be pictures from the road, images showing how we operate, explanations of our various services, and more.
We love to hear from our customers, so please comment, and let us know how things are going, or if there is anything we can do to help. As a moving and storage company based in West Chester, PA, we are conveniently located within a busy section of the Northeast, but we also move equipment, the contents of homes, and business assets all over the country. We're ready for your move!


Mobility for rural, low-populated areas in the region of northern Denmark, "Plustur"
Industry Partner: Nordjyllands Trafikselskab (Regional Transport Authority of Northern Denmark)
Mobility service offers have to be balanced with demands. As rural Denmark is seeing more people moving out and into the cities, the expenses of offering traditional public transportation in these areas have become too costly. Flexible, on-demand transportation services like "Plustur" is a way to accommodate mobility demands in rural, low-populated areas. It adresses the first/last mile problem by shuttling passengers to or from the nearest transport hub and in this way create connections to the main lines of public transportation. PhD student Maria Kjærup will be working together with Nordjyllands Trafikselskab to evaluate and improve the "Plustur" mobility service. It is a joint collaboration with other researchers from Aalborg University and within the DiCyPS project.


The History of Shaker Square
In the 1920s, brothers Mantis James and Oris Paxton Van Sweringen planned and developed Shaker Square and Shaker Heights and linked it, via the Rapid Transit, with downtown Cleveland only eight miles away. Shaker Square, with its Georgian architecture, was one of the first planned shopping centers in the United States and is home to Shaker Cinemas, a wide range of dining options and the North Union Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. A few short blocks away to the north are the Cleveland Skating Club and the Larchmere shopping district and to the east is the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. We invite you to become one of the owners of Shaker Courts.


Pacific cod constitute one of the biggest fisheries in the United States. In Alaska, they are managed in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands management units. Fisheries managers and fishermen alike are interested in fish movement – it provides information to manage fisheries sustainably. Genetic information is different from tagging; tagging can show where fish go, genetics can show which groups interbreed, and which do not. I was interested in whether Pacific cod in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands management unit were a single population, and was inspired by previous work. Here is the
result of my research, which describes evidence that more than one population of Pacific cod exists in this area.


Spring & Fall Yard Cleanups in Calvert County, MD
Spring & fall yard cleanups for residential homes. Lawn mowing and maintenance typically come to mind when people hire a lawn service company. However, there are proper cleanup routines that need to be done in both fall and spring to ensure your lawn and landscape thrives throughout the rest of the year.
In Southern Maryland and the Calvert County areas, we have warm summers and cold winters. Therefore which wreak havoc on your grass and plants. Give us a call today and we’ll make sure your lawn and landscape are ready for the growing season and the winter season.
Spring cleanup services
Prepare your lawn and landscape for the growing season and is also the time for shrub trimming
The best time to start your spring yard cleanup in Maryland is around April or May. Trimming and pruning your landscaping beds is a huge part of spring cleanups, however, there are additional services intended to prepare your lawn for the new year and get it out of its winter rut. Spring is the time to prepare your lawn and get it ready to grow properly after being subjected to the harsh winter season.
Our spring cleanup services include:
- Debris Removal – Getting rid of winter debris such as fallen branches and leaves.
- Trimming & Pruning – Optional – We’ll properly cut back and prune the necessary shrubs & plants.
- Mowing & Maintenance – Optional – This is the time to kick off regular maintenance such as mowing service.
Fall cleanup services
Prepare your lawn and landscape to go dormant for the winter and focus on leaf removal
Just like in spring, we’re ready to get your lawn into hibernation mode before the cold seasons blow in. Additionally, the best time for fall cleanup in Maryland is during October or November.
Fall yard cleanup focuses mostly on making sure that fallen leaves are raked and removed from your yard and landscaping. Allowing leaves to compile and stay on your lawn all winter long can create winter rot and kill your lawn. Likewise, without necessary fall cleanup, dead leaves will smother the lawn, block sunlight, and create mold/disease.
Our fall cleanup services include:
- Leaf Removal – The most important aspect of fall cleanups. We’ll remove all the leaves from your lawn and landscape beds.
- Weeding Landscape Beds – Optional – As the mulch in your beds starts to break down, some weeds may start to emerge. We’ll clear them out before winter hits.
Yard cleanups for homeowners!
Spring & fall yard cleanups for homeowners in Calvert County, MD means yard cleanups are in high-demand. Additionally, we recommend you to reach out to us after the first of the year to schedule both spring and fall cleanups to ensure we can fit you on our list.
Phone or Text (410) 777-5650
Leaf removal in Dunkirk, Leaf removal in Owings, Leaf removal in Chaneyville, Leaf removal in Chesapeake Beach, Leaf removal in Sunderland, Leaf removal in Sunderland, Leaf removal in Huntingtown, Leaf removal in Prince Frederick.


Rich in pride, tradition and heritage, the City of Norwood has long thrived as an independent community nestled in the heart of the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Occupying a land area of just over three square miles, Norwood has been blessed with a strategic central location, excellent transportation accessibility, a diverse economic base and a strong sense of community.
Since its founding in 1888, Norwood has grown into a center for commerce and industry proudly serving as a birthplace and home for over 800 office, manufacturing, service and retail businesses. Norwood’s distinction as an independent community in the center of a major metropolitan area continues to offer a unique blend of advantages for the residents and businesses that have found their home in the City of Norwood.
The Norwood Chamber of Commerce was established in 1957 and continues to promote Norwood businesses. It is a great place to live, work, shop, play and grow. We welcome everyone to visit the City of Norwood which is known as the Gem of the Highlands.


Bạn đang xem: Acreage là gì
Dưới đó là những chủng loại câu tất cả chứa từ bỏ "acreage", trong cỗ từ điển tự điển tiếng Anh. Bạn cũng có thể tham khảo các mẫu câu này để đặt câu trong tình huống cần để câu với từ acreage, hoặc tìm hiểu thêm ngữ cảnh áp dụng từ acreage trong bộ từ điển trường đoản cú điển giờ đồng hồ Anh
1. Awarded acreage:
2. Corn acreage pushed into first place.
3. Amount of Actual Seeded Acreage Advance ($) = = = = $ $ $ $ $
4. Eligible Advance on Intended Seeded Acreage = = = = $
5. Checking out acreage for my company.
6. The organization seeking that desert acreage?
7. More acreage in the United States is deliberately burned by government agencies than the acreage lost to lớn wildfires.
8. What is the acreage of the farm?
9. Total acreage in Bucks is about 37 Harvey said.
10. He has a very large acreage under the plough.
11. Optic và Cooper ảo diệu their spring barley acreage.
12. Vast acreage of rented tenements, yielded for a peppercorn.
13. Acreage in recent years stabilized at about 000 acres.
14. He has sown coffee on part of his acreage.
15. Total acreage of Konojedy land amounts lớn 513 ha.
16. First, the world"s arable acreage can be expanded greatly.
17. Acreage fees during the exploration phase và the exploitation stage.
18. About 70% of the cocoa acreage is treated with insecticide.
19. 19 Acreage in recent years stabilized at about 000 acres.
20. 13 Optic and Cooper cosplay their spring barley acreage.
21. 10) Total acreage in Bucks is about 37 Harvey said.
22. Therefore, less deck-acreage is required to lớn accomplish the same goals.
23. 16 About 70% of the cocoa acreage is treated with insecticide.
24. Now corn is second only khổng lồ wheat in world acreage planted.
25. Acreage available for manure application excludes land that does not require fertilisation, land where livestock manure cannot be applied under normal conditions and land designated as set-aside acreage.
26. Then I will market that acreage you blundered into the other day
27. Graph paper , parallel, và planimeter methods are current tools for acreage calculation.
28. This total management acreage 10848 mus, have forest area many mus 7000.
29. 23 About 70% of the cocoa acreage is treated with insecticide.
30. The grounds, the trees, the acreage, the towering eucalyptus thousands of roses.
31. There they bought acreage on which they raised livestock & farm produce.
32. <67> While overall acreage in the "fall states" has declined from 1992 to 2004 by approximately 9%, acreage in Washington has increased over the same period by about 21%.
33. Foreseeable changes in acreage under oilseed & protein crops post-Agenda 2000
34. Water For sustained production và mitigation of risk, all acreage requires irrigation.
35. About 56 percent of Germany’s forest acreage is said lớn be damaged.
36. I can get two for mine, and it"s half the acreage you"ve got.
37. Over the years, mechanisation has replaced hand labour for the larger acreage crops.
38. OMAI — Opportunistic Macroalgae-cover/acreage on soft sediment intertidal in coastal waters
39. Prices for cotton were so low last year that Madi cut his acreage.
40. These “plant breeders” were trying to lớn produce greater yields for the same acreage.
41. Running such a large acreage, it"s important lớn keep the lifting schedule simple.
42. This công nghệ can make efficient panicle of unit - acreage increased, empty - percent creased.
43. The acreage of parcels with crops with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season;
44. Would it have proleveehandbook.netded the same challenge that running a bigger acreage will do?
45. The plant và its surrounding acreage stretch as far as the eye can see.
46. The interlake municipalities of Fisher và Bifrost show strong organic acreage growth as well.
47. TOTAL ACREAGE CONTROLLED BY CLIENT(S) (owned, rented và leased) vì not include Crown Lease.
48. 9 Acreage allotments, price supports & crop set-asides reshaped the face of American agriculture.
49. As a result , production of super varieties was increasing though the acreage was falling .
Xem thêm: English: Chủ Đề Leisure Pursuit Là Gì, Một Số Từ Vựng Và Cụm Từ Trong Ielts Bạn Nên Biết
50. During these years , đầu ra increased out of all proportion to lớn the expansion of acreage .


is of the view that Nairs were a transitioned group of people
from among the Keralites itself. According to him no historical
evidences are seen about the existence of Nairs before 8th
century AD. Evidence of their migration to Kerala during or
around 8th century AD were also not available.
“Ayar” who resided in Lothal area (Gujrat, South
Rajasthan) were a strong group of people under the leadership
of Lord Krishna as mentioned in Rigveda. Kesari Balakrishna
Pillai quoting Max Muller says that Nagas inhabited in between
Lothal and Sind where the river sind joins the sea. The union
between the Nagas who excelled in agriculture and sailing
and Ayars, the experts in cattle farming and warfare resulted
in the formation of Nair, a group of Kerala people. (Nagar
+ Ayar = Nayar)
Dr.P.K.Gopalakrishnan express the view that the people of
Kerala belonging to different groups, in due course of time
might have turned as Nairs. The origin of Nair may be from
Ayar, Idayar, Velalar or Maravar. Though Nairs were spread
throughout Kerala, they are concentrated mainly in midlands.
This is one of the reasons to believe that groups like Ayar
and Idayar as a whole were turned as Nairs.
In the book entitled ‘Aryan settlement in India’
it is stated that Aryans migrated to the interior of South
India and their generation came to be known as Nairs.
Some argue that during the period of Brahmin supremacy they
selected groups of people from various communities and thus
formed the nair community. The rulers gave the title “Nair”
to their favorites.
Sri.Ilankulam Kunjan Pillai claims that Nairs were the descendents
of the suicide squad. Their origin was in the 11th century
Sri.K.P.Padmanabha Menon, renowned historian is of opinion
that Nairs who were the rulers of Kerala in olden times were
called as “Nayaka” (one who leads) and this “Nayakar”
later became Nair.
Sri.Pattom G.Ramachandran Nair is of the opinion that Nair
may be a term cut short from ‘Nayanar’. In South
India Buddhists and Jainists were commonly known as ‘Nayanars”.
Nayanar is the family title of some of the families in North
Malabar and Tamil Nadu. The famous Kallyasseri family of North
Malabar (family of former Chief Minister Sri.E.K.Nayanar)
got this imprint from Kolathiri Rajah. The famous shivates
of Dravidian country were later known as Nayanars. The word
Nayanar means Nayakan (one who leads).
Kosambi opined that the Nair community originated from the
tribal women of Kerala in the union with Brahmins.
The Encyclopedia published by the State Encyclopedic Department
says that there are evidences to prove that Nairs were the
protectors of Hinduism during the period of Shiva Bhakthi
movement in Kerala.
the time the Brahmins arrived in Kerala, about the first millennium,
the first known rules of Kerala, the Cheran, who were Nairs,
already had an established kingdom there. Logan in his ‘Malabar
Manual’ says that the Namboodiris respected Nairs as
kings. Fahien, the chineese traveller, who visited India in
AD 1409 noted that “Nairs rank with kings”. They
were owners and controllers of temples and enjoyed all the
privileges of high - caste Hindus.” (Religions and Communities
Kanippayoor Sankaran Namboodiirippad says that Nairs were
the bodyguards of North India Brahmins who came to Kerala
by sea from Sindh. (Nayanmarude Poorvaocharithram).
recent theory proposed by Dr. Thundy is that Nairs are the
descendants of the Newars of Nepal, who migrated to Kerala.
There are two major facts to support this view. The first
is the lighter complexion, and sharper features of Nairs.
The second is the distinct pagoda-like architectural style
of Nair Tharavaadus and Temples. Finally, there is the Marumakkathaayam
system of inheritance. This system is a matrilineal system,
which is also practiced by the Newars of Nepal. Southern Indian
warrior class names like Naik, Naidu etc are closely connected
to Kerala Nairs, even though the anthropological links are
not yet established. (Wickiepedia)
anthropologists are of the view that the Nair caste is an
amalgamation of various warrior classes during the post-Sangam
era, which is considered as the most politically unstable
period in Kerala history. All the Cheras were Nairs and Kerala
history is more or less connected to Nair caste. (Wickiepedia)


My home is in a frequently flooded city. You might know which city I'm speaking about. Repeatedly, out-of-towners interrogate me about why I live here if there are so many problems why do I refuse to move. It's pretty plain: I idolize this place. The restaurants, the people, the architecture, all of it is incredible. But the floods are nearly as ever-present as beads, beignets, and brass bands. And in such blazing heat, damp furniture can promptly become ruined furniture. A rapid response to floods is completely required.
I have one number in my cell phone for just these situations. It's a restoration company. They're fantastic at fixing water damage, eliminating mildew, and protecting houses from future floods. Everyone has possessions that aren't expensive, but has emotional value. Water Damage Cleanup Wellesley MA


Hi there! Welcome to our blog! We are 26 amazing Year 3,4,5 and 6 children from Yendarra School, which is located in Otara, Auckland, New Zealand. We love coming to school and working together to be the very best that we can be! Thanks for taking time to have a look at our learning, please leave a comment!


Once again I took an over night bus to save myself hostel fees, and once again I didn[t manage a wink of sleep (Well maybe a few, but nowhere near 40!). I arrived at the Red Hostel in Montevideo nice and early in the morning of Monday, a bit shattered, but eager to go out and explore the city on foot. The capital of Uruguay is a small, compact city of about 1.5m inhabitants, and nicely situated on the banks of the River Plate which brings in a refreshing breeze. I walked around the city all day trying to get my bearings, and to get a sense of the city. One thing became clear immediately. Uruguayans are incredibly friendly people, very peaceful and laid back. They like to stroll around the streets, sit in doorways, in parks or on public squares chatting away, and invariably drinking from a gourd of mate tea. I am familiar with the custom of drinking the herby concoction from my time in Buenos Aires- the custom is to sip the water from the metal straw, and then refill and pass the gourd to the next person. But Uruguayans take the practise to an almost ludicrous level. They literally walk around the streets, all day long with a thermos flask and gourd in hand, taking a constant fix. I am told the drink has a mild stimulant similar to but weaker than caffeine, called mateine. Perhaps the substance is more addictive than people seem to be aware of! My only concern is what they should do if they accidentally nudge a valuable vase from a shelf, or witness a hapless Mother dropping her baby with no free hands? I suppose they helplessly watch the event unfold before their eyes, shrug their shoulders and then go on sipping at their precious herb.
I walked along The Rambla by the river, and soaked in the pleasing rays of a beautiful pre-summer[s day. The thoroughfare is marked out for joggers, and apparently I walked three miles in each direction on top of the several more miles I must have covered walking up and down the main road in the city. I visited the park, saw the main historic plazas and just tried to enjoy the tranquility of solidarity. I was asked the time by a local despite clearly not wearing a wristwatch, and it turned out to be a mere pretence for conversation. My new friend, Dani, spoke passable English and told me his girlfriend was in the British navy. He also went on to inform me that marijuana was legal in Uruguay (which I have yet to confirm, but, find hard to believe) although he certainly wasn[t overtly trying to sell me any, and he invited me to watch the big game with him (apparently River Plate were in town for a Copa libertadores game, but I wasn[t up to facing a crowd of Argentine hooligans without any sleep, least of all on my own). He also invited me for a drink in the large bar at the end of the road which he claimed to be his Father[s. I have no idea if he was trying to hustle any thing out of me, but if was he was certainly the most erudite hustler I have ever met!
I ate dinner in a nice, cheap pizzeria where the pizza normally comes in the Italian style, without any cheese on the top. I ordered the peperoni and found it to be absolutely delicious. The secret[s in the tomato sauce I[d say! The pizza with a bottle of water cost me the princely sum of one English pound, although the waiter did his best to overcharge me by 50p. The elderly couple beside me, Uruguay dwelling, Argentine 7-day aventists and proficient English speakers, informed me that this was far from the norm in this country. They went on to echo the conviction that Uruguayan[s are generally some of the kindest most genuine people you will come across, and in my limited experience I would be inclined to agree. It[s the small details like not accelerating when you try to cross the road in front of them, and not hollering and pestering in the street that make the difference.
Today was more of the same as I explored the historic Old City and the international port on foot. The city has the familiar bread and butter Spanish architecture of Buenos Aires, or Barcelona, but without much of the beautiful originality of a Gaudi building or the neoclassical Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. The old city is supposed to come alive in the night but, writing on a tranquil Tuesday, I am noit sure if I will be around to apply the acid test myself. The pleasures of the day, in common with the previous one, were tepid and at best pleasant. I gave the Museum of Modern Art a try, but they were closed, ironically enough, for painting. One does, however, get a sense from the streets themselves that there is an inherent artistic streak to Montevideo, and a rampant liberalism. The virile political conscience, that capitalism ironed out long ago on our own shores, makes itself known on every corner. The only culture I have exposed myself to in my short tenure though is the personal one, the culture of the people. As the sun set on my last night in Montevideo, I watched a children[s football match on a seaside gravel pitch. It was nice way to draw the curtains on my second night, and there was even a flash of genius to behold in the smallest boy on the field. In a country that has won two world cups, and at the centre of a triumvirate of nations who have won nine, the same inate feathery ball control, deceptive swivels of the hips and audacious flair is as ingrained in the Uruguayan as much as the agricultural heritage, and penchant for mate.
Maybe it is the brashnes and immediacy of Uruguay[s neighbours that contribute to making the experience that much more exciting and edgy though. Uruguay is a great place to take a break and recharge your batteries. It would be a place conducive to reflection, and the formation of verse. It would be a wonderful place to raise a family. But exciting, it would seem, is one thing that Uruguay certainly is not. There is some thing about the place I have already come to love, and I am in the right place at the right time in terms of the weather and the current tendency towards contemplation. I am looking forward to strolling in the UNESCO protected cobbled streets of Colonia tomorrow. But Montevideos unruly older brother is calling my name from across the River Plate, and the lure of spending time with an old best friend, Buenos Aires if you hadn[t guessed, is too great.


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The Prison to be filmed in downtown Senoia
This is a discussion on The Prison to be filmed in downtown Senoia within the The Walking Dead Television Series forums, part of the The Walking Dead TV Series category. "If any of y'all were wondering how and where they were going to film "the prison" in Season 3, I ..."
Edit: Wood**** to be filmed in downtown Senoia?
If any of y'all were wondering how and where they were going to film "the prison" in Season 3, I found the answer. I ran across this on my local newspaper's website. I can't wait til they start shooting, I will have some awesome pics of the town for you guys!
You can read the whole article here: http://www.times-herald.com/local/20...lking-dead-MOS
But here is an excerpt:
'Walking Dead' filming in Senoia regularly in month of May
BY W. WINSTON SKINNER WINSTON@NEWNAN.COM
Zombies are coming back to Coweta County in May, but if you stay in Senoia, you’ll be safe.
At least that’s the plot of the next season of “The Walking Dead,” which will be filming in Senoia on a regular basis this year.
Mike Riley and Seth Zimmerman with AMC Television attended the Senoia City Council meeting on Monday — telling the council that the film series will be shooting in Senoia throughout 2012 and possibly in 2013, too.
“The Walking Dead” is in its third season and has filmed in Senoia and in other locations in Coweta County. Senoia has been a site for filmmakers including “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Pet Sematary 2” and television series including Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.”
“Senoia’s going to become a major set for us,” Riley, location manager for the series, said. He has met with merchants and with Senoia city officials about the filming process.
“I’ve gone door-to-door. I’ve met all but two or three personally,” Riley said of the merchants. He said he has talked with merchants about “what we’d like to accomplish.”
While there has been some “Walking Dead” filming in Senoia in the past, the town is becoming a regular setting this season. “Senoia will become a town that is a sanctuary from the zombie apocalypse,” Riley said.
In the series, the town will be a place cordoned off from the zombie infested world outside. “You’re in a safe environment, If you’re outside it, you’re not,” Riley said. He said the town will be governed by “a benevolent dictator.”
The television crew will “build a temporary, movable perimeter wall,” Riley explained. Portions of Travis and Main streets will be closed to traffic at times during scenes that show the wall.
“It will look like a gate” made from “various paraphernalia — old tires, doors,” Riley said. The wall will be made so that is can be stored between episodes.
The block from Travis Street to Seavy Street “right now is being considered as our main set,” Riley said. An area of Johnson Street may also be used.
Some episodes may be almost entirely filmed in Senoia, and it is possible one or more episode might not be filmed in the town at all.
Cast and crew will arrive in Senoia on May 31 to film “the episode that premiers the town,” Riley said, “Once the town is established, it becomes a recurring location for us.”
“Walking Dead” has its principal set at Raleigh-Riverwood studio in Senoia.
For the first episode, “we’ll be filming in Senoia, for eight days,” Riley said. “We may be doing some filming at night in that episode. We may be filming at night for some of the other episodes, as well.”
Most filming will be done on weekdays.
While there is a general outline for the upcoming season, there are no scripts yet. Riley said he will know more about how much filming will need to be done in Senoia for each episode as the scripts are completed.
“We will have to control the traffic. Through traffic on Main Street will be diverted around us,” Riley said, adding that he is looking at alternatives for parking in the area.
Keeping daily life and commerce moving will be a priority, Riley promised. “How are people going to access these businesses? A lot of these businesses have back doors. Some of them don’t,” he noted.
“There are deliveries that take pace to the restaurants. There are deliveries that take place at Hollberg’s Furniture,” Riley said. UPS and similar companies “have to keep working,” he acknowledged.
The executive producer for “Walking Dead” is scheduled to arrive in Senoia today — to spend a few days. “Hopefully he’ll have some answers for us abut what he envisions in more detail,” Riley told the council.
Riley said grass would need to be left uncut in certain areas at times and said signs would be placed to let local residents know why the grass was high. He also said “anything we do to the buildings — anything we do to Senoia” will be put back in “as good or better shape when we pull out at the end of the season.”
Riley said the “Walking Dead” season of shooting will be different from what the town has experienced with previous productions.
Last edited by Daniel Day; 04-07-2012 at 05:35 PM.
So awesome!!! Can't wait to hear more!!!
I smell road trip...
Originally Posted by Daniel Day
Wonder if we could arrange a meet for a bunch of us. That could be interesting.
Originally Posted by STRINGS
I think this is woodbury not the prison...
Indeed. The town is Woodbury and the prison will be constructed at Raleigh Studios.
Originally Posted by ShaneFan946
Y'all may be right. I had not any one mention Woodbury as a story line so I didn't even think about it as a possibility.
Oh well, still every cool either way!And any of you guys/gals that want to meet up, I think that could be really fun. And I would be happy to show y'all all the sites since I line just down the road. Just let me know! :grin:
Mod note: I'm very sorry, Daniel. I accidentally hit "edit" when I was trying to reply and may have changed your post. I believe I restored it all, but my apologies if anythings missing.
Last edited by Bassman; 04-04-2012 at 07:55 PM.
if the governors in the series.....then woodburys most likely going to be in the series as well....the two go hand and hand.
I mentioned it but it was the other thread where Shelley posted the same news article!!
Originally Posted by Daniel Day
Woodbury makes more sense because they actually showed the shot of the prison at the end of the finale. The way the article described what they were using for building materials didn't exactly rings as a legit prison.
Again, I have not read the comics and I am only going on what I have read on my own or have seen discussed here.
Tags for this Thread


From the most beautiful beaches to best food you need to try, here’s your essential guide to your next adventure in Mexico. Source by ktreeny
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December 20, 2011
SOLMAR HOTELS & RESORTS OFFER GUESTS A "WHALE" OF A DEAL THIS WINTER
Los Cabos, Mexico (December 20, 2011) – Perfectly situated along the beautiful white sand beaches at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, Solmar Hotels & Resorts is the ideal location for travelers seeking the ultimate whale-watching getaway this season.
November 28, 2011
SOLMAR HOTELS & RESORTS INVITES TRAVELERS TO ESCAPE THE SNOW AND SAVE THIS WINTER
Los Cabos, Mexico (November 28, 2011) – With the winter season quickly approaching, Cabo San Lucas-based hotel collection Solmar Hotels and Resorts, are offering travelers incredible savings at three of their award-winning properties, including Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa and Playa Grande Resort & Spa, which ranked among the Top 50 Resorts in Mexico by Conde Nast Traveler's 2011 Readers Choice Awards.
SOLMAR HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCE A $1.5 MILLION RENOVATION FOR HOTEL QUINTA DEL SOL
Los Cabos, Mexico – Located in the heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas, Hotel Quinta Del Sol by Solmar Hotels & Resorts recently announced plans for a property renovation valued at $1.5 million. Guests of the 72-suite property will enjoy a beautiful new lobby, remodeled event space, Jacuzzi area and on-site restaurant, Las Quintas.
ORIGINAL SOLMAR RESORT CONVERTS TO NEW SOLMAR ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT & BEACH CLUB
Los Cabos, Mexico – Solmar Hotels & Resorts recently announced the conversion of Solmar Resort, the inaugural property in the collection's five existing hotels, to Solmar All-Inclusive Resort & Beach Club. The new premium, all-inclusive concept will feature a la carte dining only, as opposed to the buffet-style dining commonly associated with all-inclusive properties, maintaining Solmar Hotels & Resorts' commitment to a high level of service for all guests. The conversion will become effective immediately.
SOLMAR SPA COLLECTION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE & ONLINE SPA CONCIERGE
Los Cabos, Mexico– Cabo San Lucas based hotel collection, Solmar Hotels & Resorts, recently announced the launch of a new website focused primarily on the group's impressive spa collection and treatments, offering guests an in-depth look at the spa services available and the ability to book treatments online before stepping foot in Los Cabos.
FAMILY FUN AT SOLMAR HOTELS & RESORTS
New Events, Promotions and Kid-Friendly Offerings Just in Time For Summer Vacation
Los Cabos, Mexico – Families are the focus of fun this summer at Solmar Hotels & Resorts, offering an array of kid-friendly activities among the collection's five properties located in downtown Cabo San Lucas. From the recently revamped Kids Camp and luxurious all-suite accommodations to new activities offered both on and off property, Solmar Hotels & Resorts provide families with the opportunity to create memories together that will last a lifetime.
GRAND SOLMAR LAND'S END RESORT & SPA OFFERS GUESTS A PERSONALIZED CULINARY EXPERIENCE
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Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas Officially Open for Business
Los Cabos, Mexico – Located at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula where the Sea of Cortes meets the Pacific Ocean, Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas celebrates its official grand opening on May 21, 2011. Currently accepting reservations, Grand Solmar holds the title of the only new resort opening in Los Cabos in 2011. The latest offering from Solmar Hotels & Resorts, Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa marks the fifth property owned and operated in Cabo San Lucas by the reputable hotel group.


Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they arrived in the New World and continues to greet millions of tourists from around the world each year. While the Statue of Liberty is as much as an enduring symbol of New York City as the Empire State Building, Broadway or Central Park, it's also one of America's primary symbols of freedom.
A Gift from the People of France
The Statue of Liberty was supposed to be a gift from the people of France to commemorate America's 100th birthday in 1876. The peoples of the United States and France had come to know each other when France sent aid for the American Revolution. The French would create and build the Statue of Liberty and the United States would fund and create the pedestal for the giant copper statue. However as with many public projects of this size, slow fundraising efforts quickly hampered Lady Liberty's construction.
354 Steps and 125 Tons of Steel
Visitors to the Statue of Liberty are strongly advised to wear comfortable shoes suitable for climbing small metal steps. Hard soled shoes might not grip onto metal steps, especially in winter. While she may be 100 years old, the Statue of Liberty is still 22-stories tall and that's a hike by anyone's standards. It's 354 steps on a spiral staircase to the top. Any visitors that aren't in good physical shape might want to skip the long lines and take an elevator ride to the pedestal and forego an attempt to hike to Lady Liberty's crown. Only 192 steps will take you to the pedestal to oversee the island and for some great photo opportunities of the Statue of Liberty looming overhead.
Lady Liberty Still an Impressive Structure
The Statue of Liberty, even in the days of skyscrapers, is still an impressive sight. From the ground to the tip of the flame, Liberty is 305 feet tall. Her index finger is eight feet long; her hands are almost 17-feet wide and the tablet she cradles in her left arm, with the inscription of "July 4, 1776" in Roman letters, is two-feet thick and 23-feet long. Not widely known, the seven rays of the Statue of Liberty's crown symbolically represent the seven continents and seven seas of the globe. Climbing to the flame in Liberty's right hand was discontinued many years ago. It's best to go to the Statue of Liberty as early in the day as possible. During the summer months, heat will build up making the wait in line for the statue that much more unpleasant. The climb up the statue might be stopped a few hours before the 5:45 p.m. closing time when it's busy.
The Sculptor and Engineer
France commissioned sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi to created the design for the Statue of Liberty with the idea of having the statue in place in America for the Centennial year of 1876. Realizing he would need the advice of an engineer, Bartholdi sought the help of Eiffel Tower designer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Bartholdi would create the Statue and Eiffel would build the iron framework to hold it up. The Statue of Liberty wouldn't enter New York Harbor until 1885. Once the Americans finished building the pedestal on Fort Wood, as the island was called back then, the Statue of Liberty was erected in only four months. President Grover Cleveland accepted the Statue in the name of the American people on Oct. 28, 1886, 10 years after the Centennial of the Revolution.
Statue of Liberty restored to Orginal Glory
In 1986, the Statue of Liberty was reopened after an $87 million campaign to refurbish her and add a new gold-covered flame. The original flame is inside the pedestal along with other historical exhibits about the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where millions of immigrants entered the United States, now comprise the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
Hours of Operation and Location
To visit the Statue of Liberty, arrive at Battery Park on Manhattan Island at Castle Clinton, an old fort from the early 1800s. There is no charge to visit the Statue of Liberty, but the ferry ride is $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $3 for children under 17 years old. The ferries start Liberty runs at 9:15 a.m. The park closes at 5:45 p.m. For ferry service information call 212-269-5755. Park ranger tours are offered each day and last about 45 minutes.


Pursuing a Masters in atmospheric sciences from Pune University (India) provided me an insight to look into this beautiful realm of weather and climate sciences. While doing my masters’ thesis at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune (India), I came across some really interesting and complex heavy precipitation events over western ghats in India and I tried to understand the large scale synoptic conditions, which in association with the local mesoscale activity might have induced such extreme precipitation events on such a short temporal scale. Furthermore, I tried to tune Betts-Miller-Janjic (BMJ), which is a cumulus parametrization scheme in WRF model, which in turn gave me a better hindcast of those events by improving the convection initiation in the model.
With this background, I joined Cloud Systems Research Group with Prof. Steve Nesbitt as a Ph.D. Student in January 2016. I developed an algorithm to identify and characterize the cold pools over tropical oceans using horizontal wind gradient tensor field, so as to represent them better in our global climate models. This work is primarily funded through NASA Ocean Vector Winds Science Team in collaboration with Dr. Timothy Lang (NASA MSFC), and focuses on improving our understanding of tropical mesoscale storm processes over oceans. I recently graduated from the Ph.D. program in June 2021.
After graduating from UIUC, I joined the Hydroclimatology lab at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia as a postdoctoral research associate and worked with Prof. Kathleen Schiro. My postdoctoral work focused on understanding the role of cold pools in the lifecycle of thunderstorms using a range of satellites, numerical models, and artificial intelligence techniques.
I started as a Postdoctoral Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL in January 2022. Here I am a part of Artificial Intelligence Emulator Assisted Data Assimilation (AIEADA) project within Climate and Earth System Science, Environmental Sciences (EVS) division of Computing, Environment and Life Sciences Directorate (CELS). I am working on improving the representation of convective and radiative processes in Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM).
Contact: email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.org
I with two of my colleagues were recently featured in a New York Times Magazine Article describing RELAMPAGO-CACTI field campaign project activities!!!


This hat is made from a soft and lofty acrylic yarn. The colors are inspired by the natural beauty of the American landscape: Bryce Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains and Grand Canyon. Includes a removable faux leather tag.
SIZING: M fits 20″- 23″ circumference
CARE: Machine Wash & Dry
I try to take as accurate photos as possible, but color will vary from screen to screen.
Thanks for visiting my shop!