By the Ganges 5

Continued from "By the Ganges, Haridwar/ Rishikesh "






Third day was a new day, as we geared to head back to Delhi, after a meaningful, soul stirring visit to the Ganges banks for a holy dip.






People were bathing in the early twilight. It was considered and believed a dip in the Ganges cleansed the humanly bodies from worldly sins. When I told this to my Mexican fren, she dipped her head in the water. Ultimately, it was NIRVANA time for all of us as we three all have a hearty laugh. It was quite funny and at the same time so sweet.






The cute part of the whole trip was she was visiting the interiors of Daksh Mahadev Temple for a prayer the first day we visited the place,remembering she kept on telling me she hardly visited churches (We were thrilled.)and She bought Bhajan songs for her Mexican friends back home in Mexico was quite amusing and sweet gesture too.




The trip was good for all of us with some shopping, picking stuffs just as souvenir.






On our way back,we have a look at the Patanjali, Ramdev Centre and the sugarcane field where we got some sugarcane and Jaggery (Gur)just for the fun sake.



The workers were asking us to click the live making of Jaggery and they have a dekko(look) of it too in the Digicam.






We did that to our and their heart's content,Willingness.





Haridwar was simply a Gateway to God:tranquil and majestic.

The Tiger Trail

It was in Ranthambore National Park that I saw a Tiger for the first time in the wild. Many held their veiws and said I was indeed lucky to see the Tiger. I have seen Tigers many times before, White Tigers and many other Tigers,all in the zoos. I saw the White Tiger for the first time at Vand Vihar in Bhopal, M.P.Its been so many years by now. Ranthambore National Park is abundant with wild life. We started our trail early in the morning to get the 100% Gaurantee of meeting the Tiger. When, I saw it face to face, it was very majestic. Really, reminds me of the poem "Tiger" by William Blake (Tiger Tiger. burning bright,In the forests of the night;What immortal hand or eye. Could frame thy fearful symmetry?.It was a long trail about an hour or two going from one place to another trying to trace its path. There were so many water holes where they frequently visit. The Tiger was not afraid or wary of the human crowd. It stare at us and made its way towards the hills upwards. Apart from Tigers, Rathambore abounds with Wildlife like Nilgai, Chinkara, Snakes, crocodiles, many monkeys. We halted for sometime during the trail as we happen to see some pugmarks. It turned out to be that of a Bear after much speculations. Everyplace was full of animals,the forests being decidous, nothing could do much to mar the view of the Wildlife. The Drive was both rough and tough, as it has rained some days back. So, the topography of the forests was fresh. There's a Fortress inside the park and many lakes where there were so many marsh crocodiles. We stopped at Jogi Mahal which also served as the Resting place after a hard day tracking the Tiger. Padam Lake also is full of Crocodlies and Peafowls can be seen everywhere near the famous ancient Banyan tree near Jogi Mahal. Indeed, it was good to make a trip to Ranthambore and it was worth it.

The International Polar Year Celebration.(March 2007-March 2009)

The International Polar Year focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic putting the importance of polar regions and its influence on our day to day lives.

The polar regions face significant challenges caused by social and environmental changes as direct impact of human activities. It is essential to assimilate the scientific finding & reduce anthropogenic pressures, create awareness on receding ice and impacts on people & culture.

WWF-India and National Council for Antarctica and Ocean Research (NCAOR) Goa celebrated it. A number of guest lectures and student’s activities were organised across the country round the year to generate awareness and stimulate a sense of urgency, discovery and our role to reduce the impacts of climate change and save the poles.
An exhibition of the models, posters, slogans, projects submitted by various schools across the country was displayed in in WWF- Delhi.

Streax..Savvy Cover Girl Contest

 Pictures from the recently held Savvy Cover Girl Contest at the Grand , vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Miss  Sanaya Tuli emerged as The Coveted Winner amongst much Fanfare and Glamour Packed Contest.     

Seashells and products.

This are some of the stalls which were selling Sea Shell

and its many Products in many different beaches in Goa.

WWF-Worldwide Fund For Nature

This is the WWF-office(Secretariat), Delhi. I work here. This picture depicts my office with the mosaic picture of the Tiger pasted on the office building, an effort to save the Indian Tiger from extinction.

website:www.wwfindia.org

A Book Release..5thNov.07

                                                                         
  

                                                                                                                                                                                     

A Book Release : Sustainability Reporting.

The Business Case 2007.

Mr . Arun Shourie, M.P Rajya Sabha was the Chief Guest at the Function.

Held on 5th Nov.2007. I attended it at Mantosh Sondhi Centre, CII Central Office, Lodi Road, New Delhi .

                                                                                                                                                                  

Dona Poula Beach

Goa, the name itself is very much synonymous with Beaches.There are so many beaches in Goa. I visited some of them.Just the day after I reached Goa,we headed to Dona Poula from Panjim (Panaji, Taxis/Cabs are easy to get from there and quite reasonable for tourists as well.Before, we head out for the beaches, we got a brief idea of the Panjim market and nearby places as we walk down the nearby places and take some pictures as well. We visited a lifestyle store, check out on places where we can get the very famous Goan Fenni, wines, Cashew etc. Dona Poula is the first beach we visited after we reached Goa, as it was nearby about 7 Km from Panjim. Dona Poula is distinctive by itself as it is not only the meeting point of two famous rivers of Goa in Arabian Sea but it had its mystical significance with the story and myths of Dona Poula where the place has been named so. The beach is famous as shooting locales for many Films (Ek duje keliye was picturised over here)and for its mysterious past. The story of Dona Poula attracts many tourists here with its romantic mysticism as it is believed that the spirit of Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India) haunts the beach It is said that she threw herself off the cliff when she was refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. Locals say that she is sometimes seen emerging from the waves on a moon lit night. One can as well try out many of the watersports such as diving, skiing, surfing, sailing, etc here at the Dona Paula beach.Floating, light swimming and sun bathing on the shores are also done by some people. We tried biking the water scooters. It was fun and everyone has a ball of a time doing that. Many small shacks , restuarants, small shops were there which sold shells, colourful dresses, hats (which was good). Of all, the sweet corns (Typical of Maharashtra) and Indian snacks and savouries (Bhel puri, Gol kapas)were total and full Thumbs Up.We have to break our promise of not eating as we did a heavy lunch. We were reminding,as where will we get such a right time to catch up eating all these stuffs, better to eat typical of the place was all we do. We ended up eating everything from cakes, wafers, Murukus, sweets and what not. Tea rounds were so good at that time just observing the scenic beauty from atop. By the time , one of our friend joined us,it was almost like the sun was about to set. So, sharing with her again a cup of tea,my cousin and I did the rounds of watching the people fishing there as they catch many small fishes while my sister was having a good time with the friend who has just arrived. Crabs can also be seen. No doubt, Dona Poula is a popular tourists spot with all the cool breeze, palm trees and everything that can enthrall any romantic and adventurous person.

My Holidays in Goa (September 2007)

My Goa trip was not an awaited holiday. But it was made so suddenly and Goa was the destined place for sure. It was perfectly the right time and so research began about the places, which will be worth visiting and seeing. Most significantly of all, the cuisines- pure and typical Goan was not to be miss out. So, was raving up and seeing forward to the trip. It was only 4hrs, or so by Go air and well halted for an hour at Mumbai where many people joined us for their home town, or a visit to the Sand and Sun Paradise. We were too happy. It was like when the plane starts moving towards Goa,leaving the Mumbai shores as can be seen from the plane's window, it began in itself with the Goan journey-jovial and full of Cheers.It was a land for everyone. So, When the plane hit Dambolim Airport, my younger sister sitting just next to me has already started describing about how splendid and beautiful Goa is and keep telling me to have a Bird's eye view and love it. She has been to Goa before. For me it was my maiden visit. Ultimately, and obviously loving all of the journey. I can see whole of waters everywhere and greenery. It reminded me of my native place, Manipur as it is full of greenery. It was a very pleasant sight. The airport was not a big one in Goa with loads of Taxis to hire. On our way to our Residency, we listened to Radio Mirchi. Marathi and Konkani were used, learned a word or two from the Programmes going on. It was Aamchi Mumbai Style but very different from the Dilliwallas. Goans smile a lot from the heart. We also did exactly that. My sister, a friend and I were all engrossed in the journey which passes through coconut lined roads, beautiful Architectural designed houses, churches, rivers and soaking in the warm sun and the cool waters of the Arabian Sea. Our lovely journey of fun has already started and proud to say we, all ladies made it to Goa Trip. But we were also awaiting for the arrival of a cousin from Pune. She arrived a day later and thus began our sojourn and Adventure.

EARTH on CANVAS.

It was wildlife week. (1st-7th Oct),On the occasion, WWF came together with many programmes which were so many and exciting. Art Exhibition was one of them
So, it was art with a cause, named Earth on canvas(Art Campaigns for conservation). It features the Environmental perceptions of 84 artists. (30th Sept.2007- 7th Oct.2007). It was Contemporary art– India and WWF,India‘s joint venture to spread the message of Conservation. Displayed at WWF India- Secretariat, New Delhi and Inaugurated by Smt Gursharan Kaur,wife of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh. The exhibition showcases an interpretation of life on our planet and environmental concerns facing contemporary civilization, using art as a medium though creations both visual and physical, the artists’ creativity manifests some of the concerns of our present day Lives, provoking and inspiring enough to conserve the World.