Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Mumbai Blasts Nov 26th, 2008
I have been following the CNN news channel since thwe story began, about 6 hrs ago, on wednesday, nov 26th, 2008.
I have just one comment for now. Why this sudden attention on Mumbai blasts, why only today? Till now, for the past 3-4 months, India has been racked with bomb blasts, in every imaginable and unimaginable place possible.
But only today, CNN has woken up to the fact, and covered it in depth.
Is it because there is a potential hint of injury/ harm to Westerners , tourists, businessmen, etc in India. Especially since the attacks focused on the two top 5-star hotels, where obviously, ninety percent of foreigners stay.
I remember last year, when presidential elections in India were barely covered by US media. We had a woman elected President, of the largest democracy in the world. No coverage. When it hits closer to home, the media wakes up: the state dept sets up a hotline for information about US citizens whereabouts, and major coverage is given.
However, on the positive side, the very nature of setting up a hotline in so little time itself should be applauded. The concern they have for citizens overseas is indeed worth appreciating. Also is the fact that the news anchors here, covering the story, tried to give as much factual information about the city of Mumbai ,as such, to their viewers here.
In India, the ATS chief was clearly shown having 2 others to help him wear his hard hat,and bullet proof vest. Unfortunately, he was himself killed in line of fire.
I hope the government is able to pinpoint the responsibility for this horrific incident on the right people/ group. We do not want more accusations flying back and forth between India and Pakistan, with no resolution in sight.
Please, enforce more security in all cities of India, make the people feel safe again. Use technology more usefully, in detecting such national threats in advance.
One last thing I want to say is: please stop airing ITDC ads for promoting tourism in India, on US news networks. It does sound and feel quite awkward, to be asking people to come visit "Incredible India", right after being told that there were 9 bomb blasts in one city, in one night,and there are Westerners being taken hostages. Without assurance to security of life, who would want to visit India for leisure? When Indians themselves are gettiing scared of stepping out of their homes, is it reasonable to expect tourists?
I have just one comment for now. Why this sudden attention on Mumbai blasts, why only today? Till now, for the past 3-4 months, India has been racked with bomb blasts, in every imaginable and unimaginable place possible.
But only today, CNN has woken up to the fact, and covered it in depth.
Is it because there is a potential hint of injury/ harm to Westerners , tourists, businessmen, etc in India. Especially since the attacks focused on the two top 5-star hotels, where obviously, ninety percent of foreigners stay.
I remember last year, when presidential elections in India were barely covered by US media. We had a woman elected President, of the largest democracy in the world. No coverage. When it hits closer to home, the media wakes up: the state dept sets up a hotline for information about US citizens whereabouts, and major coverage is given.
However, on the positive side, the very nature of setting up a hotline in so little time itself should be applauded. The concern they have for citizens overseas is indeed worth appreciating. Also is the fact that the news anchors here, covering the story, tried to give as much factual information about the city of Mumbai ,as such, to their viewers here.
In India, the ATS chief was clearly shown having 2 others to help him wear his hard hat,and bullet proof vest. Unfortunately, he was himself killed in line of fire.
I hope the government is able to pinpoint the responsibility for this horrific incident on the right people/ group. We do not want more accusations flying back and forth between India and Pakistan, with no resolution in sight.
Please, enforce more security in all cities of India, make the people feel safe again. Use technology more usefully, in detecting such national threats in advance.
One last thing I want to say is: please stop airing ITDC ads for promoting tourism in India, on US news networks. It does sound and feel quite awkward, to be asking people to come visit "Incredible India", right after being told that there were 9 bomb blasts in one city, in one night,and there are Westerners being taken hostages. Without assurance to security of life, who would want to visit India for leisure? When Indians themselves are gettiing scared of stepping out of their homes, is it reasonable to expect tourists?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Arizona's Natural Beauty
My husband and I were on a 3 day vacation this week, We had gone to see the Petrified forest and Painted Desert, located in the NE part of the state of Arizona.The trip told us that the Grand Canyon isn't the only beautiful, natural attraction in the state. Here, I am giving a detailed description of our trip. Photos will definitely follow, but as they number 400 cumulatively, it will take me some time,and loads of patience, to choose the best pics,and put captions.So bear with me.
The drive was approximately 3 hrs, but since we stopped at two-three places on the way, we reached our hotel only by 3:00 p.m. The town where we stayed is called Holbrook. we experienced the true life of small town America. Interesting facts about the town: began to develop in late 1800's- early 1900's. was just a transit point for miners, and other explorers who wanted to see the petrified forest.it was dubbed" too rough for women and churches." has a population of less than 6000 Newspapers come out only twice a week. Imagine my surprise, when on Thursday, 11/20.08, I found myself reading a paper dt 11/14/08, and being told that this was the day's newspaper!!!
Petrified Forest: Fans of Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets would already know the word petrified. It means- turned to stone. The Petrified 'Forest', isn't a forest like we understand it. there are no tall trees standing that have turned to stone.,Its a vast area of land, taht used to be a lush forest, millions of years ago. A place where floods used to come. Over the years, trees got washed down with the water, the sediments and the volcanic eruptions together formed layer upon layer on the trees.Such taht with time, the cellulose in the trees was displaced and they turned to stone. Today we find only pieces here and there, but whatever is left, after the mindless plundering was stopped in 1906,has been preserved beautifully. In fact, we were constantly warned not to pick up even a piece, because its considered a state and federal offence,and may land you in jail, with heavy fines. The beauty of this is, even though its a forest of many thousands of miles, they have smooth, paved roads leading to every place where visitors are allowed. there are clean restrooms, drinking water facilities, sheltered areas with seats/ benches to sit and eat, information center and museums. These are all wheelchair accessible areas. There are even emergency phone lines installed in place. There are no tour guides. Its a self guided tour, once you get maps from the information center. I am frankly amazed that Americans trust their citizens so much, that they let them explore such national parks on their own. The road that takes you into the park, also leads you out to join the Interstate highway , the way back to the nearest town, Holbrook..This is again a distance of 25 miles. . approx 50kms.
Painted desert: This was at the edge of the Petrified Foprest,and is another vast area of rocks, taht change colour as the sun moves across the skies. Early mornings and sunset times, the rocks glow red,and other times, green, blue, brown,and in the mid dday, usually brown and white.Unfortunately, mid day was the time when we went. However, we have pictures of other historic landmarks in the place, like the In taht was builtentirely of ahnd, handcrafter light fixxtures, woodden floors, roof, etc.
So i have told you about the two main paces we saw. On the way there and back, we saw Meteor Crater,caused by a meteorite falling to this part of Arizona. It took them till 1969 to prove the crater was actually caused by a meteor,and not ot some volcanic eruption. The guy who discovered it in the first place, actually died a penniless man, trying to prove it was indeed a meteor that caused it.
We stopped to see the HOMOLOVI ruins of the ancient Native Indians, called Hopis, The History buff in me didnt let me go through this without seeing it. So dragged Madhu along. The excavations of one part of the ruins are open for tourists. the others aren't. They in fact, stopped excavating any more, leaving it for future generations. In summer, you can also camp out there in the area.
Our journey took us on the Historic Route 66, one of the first freeways to be built in modern America. It goes across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles. For people with enough money, leisure and spirit of adventure, a road trip on route 66, isthe "thing to do" atleat once in their lifetime. So, I hope I have given you enough information, and a lesson in geology, geography, history, tourism that you can enjoy the pictures , armed with this knowledge.
The drive was approximately 3 hrs, but since we stopped at two-three places on the way, we reached our hotel only by 3:00 p.m. The town where we stayed is called Holbrook. we experienced the true life of small town America. Interesting facts about the town: began to develop in late 1800's- early 1900's. was just a transit point for miners, and other explorers who wanted to see the petrified forest.it was dubbed" too rough for women and churches." has a population of less than 6000 Newspapers come out only twice a week. Imagine my surprise, when on Thursday, 11/20.08, I found myself reading a paper dt 11/14/08, and being told that this was the day's newspaper!!!
Petrified Forest: Fans of Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets would already know the word petrified. It means- turned to stone. The Petrified 'Forest', isn't a forest like we understand it. there are no tall trees standing that have turned to stone.,Its a vast area of land, taht used to be a lush forest, millions of years ago. A place where floods used to come. Over the years, trees got washed down with the water, the sediments and the volcanic eruptions together formed layer upon layer on the trees.Such taht with time, the cellulose in the trees was displaced and they turned to stone. Today we find only pieces here and there, but whatever is left, after the mindless plundering was stopped in 1906,has been preserved beautifully. In fact, we were constantly warned not to pick up even a piece, because its considered a state and federal offence,and may land you in jail, with heavy fines. The beauty of this is, even though its a forest of many thousands of miles, they have smooth, paved roads leading to every place where visitors are allowed. there are clean restrooms, drinking water facilities, sheltered areas with seats/ benches to sit and eat, information center and museums. These are all wheelchair accessible areas. There are even emergency phone lines installed in place. There are no tour guides. Its a self guided tour, once you get maps from the information center. I am frankly amazed that Americans trust their citizens so much, that they let them explore such national parks on their own. The road that takes you into the park, also leads you out to join the Interstate highway , the way back to the nearest town, Holbrook..This is again a distance of 25 miles. . approx 50kms.
Painted desert: This was at the edge of the Petrified Foprest,and is another vast area of rocks, taht change colour as the sun moves across the skies. Early mornings and sunset times, the rocks glow red,and other times, green, blue, brown,and in the mid dday, usually brown and white.Unfortunately, mid day was the time when we went. However, we have pictures of other historic landmarks in the place, like the In taht was builtentirely of ahnd, handcrafter light fixxtures, woodden floors, roof, etc.
So i have told you about the two main paces we saw. On the way there and back, we saw Meteor Crater,caused by a meteorite falling to this part of Arizona. It took them till 1969 to prove the crater was actually caused by a meteor,and not ot some volcanic eruption. The guy who discovered it in the first place, actually died a penniless man, trying to prove it was indeed a meteor that caused it.
We stopped to see the HOMOLOVI ruins of the ancient Native Indians, called Hopis, The History buff in me didnt let me go through this without seeing it. So dragged Madhu along. The excavations of one part of the ruins are open for tourists. the others aren't. They in fact, stopped excavating any more, leaving it for future generations. In summer, you can also camp out there in the area.
Our journey took us on the Historic Route 66, one of the first freeways to be built in modern America. It goes across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles. For people with enough money, leisure and spirit of adventure, a road trip on route 66, isthe "thing to do" atleat once in their lifetime. So, I hope I have given you enough information, and a lesson in geology, geography, history, tourism that you can enjoy the pictures , armed with this knowledge.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
USA historic election win
Barack Obama's win has people rejoicing in all cities of USA, had many African Americans in tears, because of the huge symbolism of the moment for them, and in Japan, too. japan has a town named Obama, which in Japanese means, Little beach. So according to CNN, the town officials plan to cash in on the president-elect, by promoting tourism in their little town. Of course, what are the odds of having
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