environment

The Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand….In Pictures …

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The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November to promote tourism in Lopburi, well known as monkey city. This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit including sweetmeat and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city. The event is held annually to thank the monkeys for drawing tourists in the town.

Macaques tuck into a feast of fruit during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province, Thailand

Picture: EPA/NARONG SANGNAK 

The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November to promote tourism in Lopburi, well known as monkey city. This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit including sweetmeat and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city. The event is held annually to thank the monkeys for drawing tourists in the town.

This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit…

Picture: EPA/NARONG SANGNAK 

The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November to promote tourism in Lopburi, well known as monkey city. This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit including sweetmeat and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city. The event is held annually to thank the monkeys for drawing tourists in the town.

including sweets and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city

Picture: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj 

The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November to promote tourism in Lopburi, well known as monkey city. This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit including sweetmeat and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city. The event is held annually to thank the monkeys for drawing tourists in the town.
Picture: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj  
The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November to promote tourism in Lopburi, well known as monkey city. This year the city spent some 400,000 Thai baht (£7,800) on 2,500kg of fruit including sweetmeat and soft drinks which have been offered in a banquet to monkeys inhabiting the city. The event is held annually to thank the monkeys for drawing tourists in the town.
Long-tailed macaques enjoy food served to them during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival at the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi, north of BangkokPicture: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj 
SOURCE:::: http://www.the telegraph.co.uk
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Amazing Alps…. In Pictures !!!

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The Beauty of the Alps

Meet Karol Nienartowicz, a 29 year old Polish landscape photographer with a passion for the Alps like you’ve never seen before! Karol goes to the limits and beyond to capture his breathtaking images of the acclaimed European Alps. He’s even spent nights in a tent on a glacier, that stands over 4,000 meters or (13,123 feet) above sea level. Now, that’s what I call dedication! These 30 amazing images convinced me to explore the Alps!

Make sure to check out Karol’s Facebook Page for more amazing photos.

 

 

A Fiery Sunrise
30 Polish Photos

 

A Cold Sundown at Matterhorn
30 Polish Photos

 

Ice Castles on a Sunny Day
30 Polish Photos

 

Blankets of Snow All Around
30 Polish Photos

 

 

Frozen Chapel
30 Polish Photos

 

23) The Sun Making Its Presence Known
30 Polish Photos

 

Red Sunset in Karkonosze Mountains
30 Polish Photos
27) Ruby Red Clouds
30 Polish Photos

 

Heavenly Lights Shining Bright!
30 Polish Photos

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset Over the Julian Alps
30 Polish Photos
SOURCE:::::ba-bamail.com and boredpanda.com
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Joke of the Day…” Come Back and See Me …” !!!

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A couple was making their first doctors visit prior to the birth of their first child. After the exam, the doctor took a small stamp and stamped the wife’s stomach with indelible ink. The man and his wife were curious about what the stamp was for, so when they got home, the man took out his magnifying glass to try to see what is was. In very small letters, the stamp said, “When you can read this, come back and see me.”  

SOURCE:::: http://www.joke a day.com

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Save Your Spine While Texting …!!!

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 Saving Your Spine While Texting

It seems that we are growing more attached to our cell phones every day, but we never really stop to consider the amount of pressure our spines go through each time we bend our necks down. The poor posture is more commonly referred to as “text neck”, which can add anywhere between 30-60lbs (15-30kg) of pressure on the lumbar region from the awkwad spinal angles.

The force increases by approximately 27 pounds (12.2kg) at a 15-degree angle, 40 pounds (18kg) at a 30-degree angle, 49 pounds (22kg) at a 45-degree angle and 60 pounds (27kg) at a 60-degree angle. That would be like having a small child sitting on your neck while you type!

The Symptoms & Consequences of “Text Neck”
Texting with your neck in a downward position for extended periods of time can result in severe stretching of the spinal tissue, which could potentially lead to pinched nerves, herniated disks, and even spinal surgeries. Texting can also strain your eyesight, especially when  you have to squint down further to read the words or titles. Some of the symptoms of “text neck” can include; tightness across the shoulders, soreness of the neck (stiff neck), and chronic headaches.
Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, who is the chief of spine surgery at New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, wrote about how texting drastically affects the spine with bad posture, and published it in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The research suggested that keeping good posture is ideal to prevent spinal injuries from occurring.
Dr. Hansraj points out a safer alternative to “text neck”. He suggests that your ears should be aligned with the shoulders, while the shoulder blades are retracted. This position reduces the amount of stress on the spine region. Dr. Hansraj also suggests that you should look down at your cell phones and tablets, by moving your eyes down in favor of bending the neck.
Preventing “Text Neck”:
  • Make sure your neck isn’t tilted when you’re glancing down at the phone. Instead, try scrolling with your eyes only, while keeping your neck in a neutral position.
  • Keep your neck and spine comfortably rested on a few pillows if you’re going to text while in bed.
  • Keep your ears aligned with the shoulders, and the shoulder blades retracted. This is important posture for texting while sitting inside a moving vehicle or train.
  • Avoid eye strain by making the fonts on the phone or tablet larger when possible. You can enter the display settings and simply change the fonts to a larger size.
  • Hold a tablet straight in front of you at a 30 degree angle when typing to keep your neck and wrists protected.
  • Take a break every 15 minutes or so by looking up and bringing the neck back into the neutral position.

All it takes is a few slight adjustments to maintaining proper posture, and you can limit the potential for unwanted cervical spinal stress.

SOURCE::::www.ba-bamail.com

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” Nothing to Beat a Beetroot …” !!!

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The Health Benefits of Beetroots

Not only are they delicious, beets are also packed full of vitamins and nutrients. Their rich content turns them into a powerfully medicinal food, with various beneficial properties. As early as the Middle Ages, they were used for treatment of digestion and circulatory issues.
Beets
Source
They are rich in anti-oxidants, fungicidal and anti-inflammatory agents. Well known as treatment for the gall bladder and gout and even great for reducing cholesterol levels.

The 10 major medical conditions beetroots can help treat are:

Beets1. Arthritis – In moderation, beets help prevent arthritis by dissolving deposits that accumulate around the joints, thanks to the high alkaline contents.

2. Anemia – The high levels of phosphorous, zinc, iodine, copper, calcium and potassium, combined with fat, vitamins (B1, B2, B6, P and niacin) help keep hemoglobin levels high.

3. Inflammation – Thanks to a moderate amount of choline, beetroot helps maintain your muscles, memory, and cognitive functions, as well as help with insomnia. Choline also helps sustain the structure of the cellular membranes and assists in impulse transmissions. Combine it with its ability to absorb fat, beetroot becomes an effective anti-inflammatory.

4. Heart disease – Rich, in nitric acid, beetroot helps your blood vessels relax remain dilated, which prevents heart diseases caused by insufficient blood flow.

5. Dementia – A recent study performed in the Wake Forest University confirmed that raw beet juice helps oxygenation in the brain. This helps maintain the brain in a healthy capacity, preventing the onset of dementia.

6. High blood pressure – The nitrate in beetroot gets converted into nitric oxide – a key compound in relaxation and widening of blood vessels. This process is highly beneficial to blood flow and circulation.

7. Arteriosclerosis – Nitric oxide’s benefits also help prevent and reduce the risk of arterial diseases like Arteriosclerosis.

8. Diabetes – Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant that lowers glucose levels are abundant in beets. It’s effective in reducing stress-induced changes in diabetics.

Beets9. Anti-carcinogenic – The beetroot’s distinct color comes from phytonutrients. These nutrients combat and help with the prevention of cancer. Research have shown that in some cases, beetroot extract was effective in reducing multi-organ tumors. It is believed to be effective in treating breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

10. Low stamina – Raw beet juice helps the muscles to oxygenate, helping us improve exercise tolerance. A regular intake of raw beetroot will help those with metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular issues which cannot exert themselves to return to regular exercise in a short period.
2 Beet juice recipes that aid in weightloss

Beets

1. Powerful detoxing juice:

Ingredients

  • 1 beetroot – cubed
  • 5-6 celery stalks
  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 1 handful cilantro
  • 1 tsp salt

Preparation

  • Blend all the ingredients until they have a smooth consistency and add some lemon juice

Beets

2. System booster, rich in anti-oxidants and beta-carotene:

Ingredients

  • 1 beetroot – cubed
  • 2-3 large carrots – chopped
  • 1 celery stalk

Preparation

  • Blend all the ingredients until they have a smooth consistency and add a pinch of salt

SOURCE:::: http://www.ba-bamail.com

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Message For the Day…” Consider God as Your Companion and Friend … ” !!!

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To pray to God with excessive adulation and request a favour stems from a tone of despondency. Describing Him as One who is beyond praise by Brahma and other gods, and narrating glories beyond description of how He helped devotees and then asking, “Oh Lord! You have talked to them and given them so much! Why don’t You come to my help?” appears to stem from jealousy. It is only when God is regarded as a friend and a companion that He is pleased the most. When you address Him as, “O my dearest friend! My beloved One! The darling of my heart,” you are giving Him the greatest joy. We use words of praise towards an unfamiliar person to show respect and regard as he/she is a stranger. But we welcome an old friend with easy familiarity and intimacy. Hence approach God as your loving friend, He will come to your aid and fulfill your needs

Sathya Sai Baba

Image of the Day…Bar-Headed Geese in India…!!!

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Bar-headed geese in India

A beautiful shot of bar-headed geese – one of the world’s highest flying birds – over a wetlands in India in November 2014. Photo by Abhinav Singhai.

Photo Credit: Abhinav Singhai. Visit Abhinav Singhai's Flickr page

EarthSky Facebook friend Abhinav Singhai in India captured this evocative shot of bar-headed geese over Basai Wetlands, a well-known destination for birders near Delhi, India. He said there were hundreds of geese over the wetlands that day.

Thank you, Abhihav!

The bar-headed goose is a fascinating bird, by the way, and one of the world’s highest-flying birds. It’s been heard flying across Mount Makalu – the fifth highest mountain on Earth at 8,481 meters (27,825 ft). The British explorer George Lowe is said to have reported seeing bar-headed geese flying over Mount Everest – 8,848 meters (29,029 ft)! You’ll find mention of Lowe’s tale about the geese here.

According to Wikipedia, the bar-headed goose is:

… a goose that breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and winters in South Asia, as far south as peninsular India …

The bird is pale grey and is easily distinguished from any of the other grey geese of the genus Anser by the black bars on its head.

A Bar-headed Goose in St James's Park, London, England. Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia.

Bottom line: A beautiful shot of bar-headed geese flying over a wetlands in India in November 2014. Photo by Abhinav Singhai.

SOURCE::::www.earthsky.org

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” தொகை ரொம்ப பெரிசு …நீ எப்பிடி பண்ணுவே…” ?

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பகவானே தன் பக்தர்களோட நேர்லவந்து பேசின சம்பவம் எல்லாம் புராண காலத்துல நிறைய நடந்திருக்கு.
மகாபெரியவாளோட வாழ்க்கைலயும் அப்படி எத்தனையோ சம்பவங்கள் நடந்திருக்கு. அதுல ஒரு ஆச்சர்யமான சம்பவத்தையும், ஸ்ரீரங்கம் கோயிலைப் பத்தி பலருக்கும் தெரியாத ஒரு விஷயத்தையும் இப்போ சொல்றேன்.


1983ம் வருஷம் வாக்குல நடந்த சம்பவம் இது. அப்போ மகாராஷ்ட்ரா மாநிலத்துல இருக்கற சதாராவுக்கு விஜயம் பண்ணியிருந்த மகாபெரியவா, அங்கே மஹாகாவ் என்கிற கிராமத்துல தங்கியிருந்தார்.
ரொம்ப எளிமையான இடத்துல ஒரு சின்ன அறை பெரியவா நித்யபடி பூஜை. அனுஷ்டானங்களை செய்யறதுக்கு ஒதுக்கப்பட்டிருந்துது. அதுக்கு கதவுகூடக் கிடையாது. ஒரே ஒரு ஜன்னல் மாத்திரம் இருந்தது. மத்தபடி எல்லாருக்கும் தரிசனம் தரவும் மத்தவா தங்கிக்கவும் மாட்டுக் கொட்டகை ஒண்ணுதான் சுத்தப்படுத்தி ஒதுக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.
அங்கே ஒருநாள் மகாபெரியவா தினசரி அனுஷ்டான பூஜையை ஆரம்பிச்ச சமயத்துல எங்கே இருந்தோ ஒரு பெரிய கருநாகம் வேகவேகமா வந்து, பெரியவா தங்கியிருந்த அறை வாசலை மறைச்சமாதிரி படத்தை விரிச்சுகிட்டு நின்னு ஆட ஆரம்பிச்சது. எல்லாருக்கும் ஒரே அதிர்ச்சி! கூடவே பயம்!
உள்ளே பெரியவா மெய்மறந்து பூஜை பண்ணின்டு இருக்கார். கூப்பிட்டுச் சொல்லவும் முடியாது. பாம்பை விரட்டலாம்னா, அதோட உருவமே கிட்டே நெருங்க முடியாத அளவுக்கு பயங்கரமா இருந்துது. என்ன பண்றதுன்னு புரியாம எல்லாரும் தவிச்சுண்டு இருந்த சமயத்துல அந்த பாம்பு மெல்ல நகர்ந்து ஜன்னல்ல ஏறி உள்ளே நுழைங்சு பூஜை பண்ணின்டு இருந்த பெரியவா பக்கத்துல போய் கொஞ்ச நேரம் அப்படியே ஆடாம அசையாம நின்னுது. “புஸ்.. புஸ்’னு அது எழுப்பின் சத்தம் எதிரொலி மாதிரி கேட்டுது. சுத்தி நின்னவாளோட இதயம் லப்டப்னு அதுக்கு ஈக்வலா அதிர்ந்துது. இத்தனை ஆரவாரத்துலயும் பெரியவா முகத்துல துளி சலனம் இல்லை. கருமமே கண்ணா, பூஜை பண்ணிண்டு இருந்தார் அவர்.
எல்லாம் ஒரு சில நிமிடங்கள்தான். வந்த வேலை முடிஞ்சுதுங்கற மாதிரி அந்தப் பாம்பு சரசரன்னு வெளியில வந்து சட்டுன்னு எங்கேயோ போய் மறைஞ்சுடுத்து.
அதுக்கு அப்புறம் ரொம்பநேரம் கழிச்சு, பூஜையை முடிச்சுட்டு எழுந்தார் ஆச்சார்யா. எல்லாரும் பதட்டமும் பரபரப்புமா பாம்பு வந்துட்டு போன விஷயத்தை அவர்கிட்ட சொன்னாங்க. ஆனா, கொஞ்சம்கூட ஆச்சர்யமோ, அதிர்ச்சியோ இல்லாம எல்லாம் தெரியும்கிற மாதிரி அமைதியா கேட்டுண்டு ஒரு புன்னகை மட்டும் செஞ்சார் பெரியவா.
அவரோட அந்த தெய்வீகச் சிரிப்புக்கு என்ன காரணம்னு அடுத்த நாள் தெரியவந்துது. அன்னிக்கு மத்தியானம் பெரியவாளை தரிசிக்க வந்தவாள்ல இருந்த ரெண்டுபேர் ரொம்பவே பரபரப்பா இருந்தாங்க. அந்த ரெண்டுபேர்ல ஒருத்தர், ரொம்ப பிரபலமான இசையமைப்பாளர், இன்னொருத்தர் தெய்வீக ஓவியர். இசையமைப்பாளர், ஓவியர்கிட்டே பேசறச்சே, பரமாசார்யார்கிட்டே இருந்து ஏதோ உத்தரவு கிடைச்சிருக்கிறதாகவும், அதை நிறைவேத்தறதா வாக்குறுதி தரவே வந்திருக்கிறதாகவும் சொல்லிண்டு இருந்தார். யார் அவங்க, என்ன வாக்குறுதின்னு சொல்றதுக்கு முன்னால ஒரு முக்கியமான விஷயத்தை சொல்லிடறேன்.
ஸ்ரீரங்கத்துக்கு ராஜகோபுரத் திருப்பணி நடந்துண்டிருந்த காலகட்டம் அது. பதிமூணு நிலைகளோட கம்பீரமா அமைக்கத் திட்டமிட்டிருந்தாங்க. ஆனா, அதுக்கான செலவு ரொம்பவே அதிகமா இருந்துது. ஒவவொரு நிலையையும் கட்ட ஒவ்வொருத்தர் பொறுப்பு ஏற்றுக்கிட்டு இருந்தாங்க. அந்த சமயத்துல ஒர நிலைக்கான செலவை ஏத்துண்டிருந்தவர்கஙளால தவிர்க்க முடியாத காரணத்தால அதை செய்ய முடியாத சூழல் ஏற்பட்டுது. அதனால, அந்தப் பொறுப்பை வேறயாருக்காவது தரவேண்டிய கட்டாயம் வந்துது. இதையெல்லாம் விளக்கி அப்போ இருந்த ஜீயர் சுவாமிகள் மகாபெரியவாளுக்கு கடிதம் எழுதியிருந்தார். லெட்டர் வந்ததுமே, அந்தப் பொறுப்பை யார்கிட்டே ஒப்படைக்கிறதுன்னு யோசிச்சார் மகாபெரியவா. மடத்துல இருந்தவங்க ஆளுக்கு ஒரு பெரிய மனுஷா பெயரைச் சொன்னாங்க. ஆனா, பெரியவா சினிமாவுல இசைத்துறையில பிரபலமான ஒருத்தர் பேரைத்தான் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தார்.
சரி, ஆளை தேர்ந்தெடுத்தாச்சு, அவர்கிட்டே எப்படிச் சொல்றது? அவர் சம்மதிப்பாரா மாட்டாரா? இப்படி எதுவுமே தெரியாத நிலையில தான், எங்கேயோ ஒரு கிராமத்துல போக்குவரத்துக்கே கஷ்டமான பகுதியில தங்கியிருந்த பெரியவளை தரிசிக்க வந்திருந்தார் மகாபெரியவா தேர்ந்தெடுத்த அதே பிரபலமான இசையமைப்பாளர். வரிசையில் வந்த அவர், பெரியவாளை தரிசிச்சு, நமஸ்காரம் பண்ணினார். எதுவும் சொல்லாம அவரை ஆசிர்வதிச்ச ஆசார்யா, “ராத்திரி நேரமாகப் போறது, இன்னிக்கு இங்கேயே தங்கிட்டு நாளைக்குப் புறப்படுங்கோ!’ அப்படின்னு சொன்னார்.
அன்னிக்கு ராத்திரி வழக்கமான தரிசனமெல்லாம் முடிங்சப்புறம் பெரியவா அந்த ரெண்டு பேரோடயும் பேசிண்டு இருந்தார். அப்போ இசைத்துறை சம்பந்தமா, ஓவியம் சார்ந்ததா, வானத்துல இருக்கிற நட்சத்திரங்களை பத்தின்னு ஏராளமான விஷயங்களை அவாகூட பேசிண்டு இருந்தார் ஆசார்யா. ஆனா, கோபுரம் கட்டவேண்டிய விஷயத்தைப்பத்தி பெரியவா எதுவமே அப்போ சொல்லலை.
மறுநாள், நித்யகர்மா எல்லாம் முடிங்சுது. அந்த ரெண்டுபேரும் பெரியவாளை தரிசிக்க வந்தாங்க. “பெரியவா, என்னை நம்பி பெரிய பொறுப்பை ஒப்படைக்கப்போறதா ஒரு தகவல் கிடைச்சது. இது என்னோட பாரம் இல்லை. உங்க பாரம்! இதை எப்படி நடத்திக்கணுமோ, அப்படி நீங்களாவே நடத்திப்பீங்கன்னு தெரியும். உங்க கட்டளையை நான் ஏத்துக்கறேன்’ அப்படின்னார், இசையமைப்பாளர்.
“கிட்டத்தட்ட எட்டுலட்சம் ஆகும்கறா. தொகை ரொம்ப பெரிசு. நீ எப்படிப் பண்ணுவே?’ கேட்டரா ஆசார்யா.
“இதுக்குன்னே தனியா ரெண்டு இசை நிகழ்ச்சி நடத்தலாம்னு இருக்கேன். வர்றதை அப்படியே குடுத்துடறேன். நிச்சயமா முடியும்?’
சொன்ன இசையமைப்பாளருக்கு ஆசிர்வாதம் பண்ணி ஒரு மாம்பழத்தைப் பிரசாதமா குடுத்துனுப்பினார் ஆசார்யா.
ரொம்ப சந்தோஷமா புறப்பட்டாங்க அவங்க ரெண்டு பேரும். சொன்னபடியே செஞ்சு முடிச்சார். அந்த இசையமைப்பாளர். ஸ்ரீரங்கம் கோபுரத்தோட ஆறாவது நிலை, அவரோட கைங்கரியமா கட்டப்பட்டுது.
எல்லாம் முடிஞ்சு ஸ்ரீரங்கம் கோபுரம் கட்டி முடிச்சு கும்பாபிஷேகம் நடந்த சமயத்துல மடத்துக்கு பிரசாதம் வந்துது. அன்னிக்கும் ஒரு பாம்போட நடமாட்டம் கண்ணுல பட்டதா எல்லாரும் சொல்லிண்டாங்க. அப்போதான் புரிஞ்சுது, மஹாகாவ்ல பெரியவா பூஜை பண்ணின சமயத்துல பெரிய பாம்பு வந்தது. ஸ்ரீரங்கத்துல இருக்கற அரங்கநாதரே தன்னோட அணையாக இருந்த ஆதிசேஷனை அனுப்பி, தனக்கு வேண்டியதை தானே கேட்டு வாங்கிக்க பெரியவாகிட்டே பேசியிருக்கலாங்கறது.
எல்லாம் சரி, ஸ்ரீரங்கம் கோபுரத்துல ஒரு நிலையை மகாபெரியவா ஆணைப்படி கட்டித்தந்த அந்த இசையமைப்பாளர் யார்? அவர்கூட சேர்ந்து பெரியவாளை தரிசிக்க வந்த ஓவியர் யாருன்னு சொல்லவே இல்லையேன்னுதானே கேட்கறீங்க?
இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவும், தெய்வீக ஓவியர் சில்பியும்தான் அவங்க.

– பி. ராமகிருஷ்ணன் in Kumudam Bhakthi 

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Dubai to invest $32-billion to build world’s largest airport…

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File photo of Dubai Airport
APFile photo of Dubai Airport

To further secure its position as the world’s aviation hub, Dubai Airports is building a whopping USD 32—billion greenfield airport at the upcoming Dubai World Central, 30 km off the present international airport which already is the second busiest in the world.

The proposed new airport will become the world’s largest aviation facility on completion and will have five runways which all will be simultaneously operational, all A380-compatible with a length of 4.5 km each.

“We are planning a USD 32—billion brand new airport at the Dubai World Central at Al Maktoum, 30 km off the present Dubai facility. In the first phase, the new airport will be able to handle 120 million passengers, which will go up to 200 million by 2020, when the project is completed,” Dubai Airports Corporate Communications Head Julius Baumann told PTI.

“On completion, the new airport will be the world’s largest airport, with each concourse the size of seven football fields and have five runways which all will be simultaneously operational, all A380-compatible,” Mr. Baumann said.

The other features include 200 aircraft stands for wide bodied aircraft, four concourses connected via six airport trains to two terminals, which in turn will be linked to the city’s metro network. When complete, the mega-hub will have total annual capacity exceeding 200 million passengers and 12 million tonne of freight.

The existing Al Maktoum International opened its doors to passengers on October 27, 2013 and three airlines are operating from here. It has one A380 capable runway, 64 remote stands, one cargo terminal with annual capacity for 250,000 tonne and a fully operational passenger terminal building designed to accommodate 5 million passengers annually.

The Dubai International Airport is the world’s second busiest airport after the London Heathrow and is on course to become the global aviation hub, thanks to its geographical location and the availability of cheap fuel.

The first phase of the new airport includes a single A380 compatible runway, a passenger terminal with capacity of 5 million passengers which is expandable to 7 million; a cargo terminal with a capacity of 250,000 tonne per annum and expandable to 600,000 tonne and a 92-metre air traffic control tower.

The state-owned Dubai Airports already operates the Dubai International Airport in the heart of the Arabian megapolis and the Al Maktoum International Airport at the upcoming Dubai World Central (DWC).

The DWC is a 140 sq km new international city being built to de-congest the present city, Dubai Airports’ Marketing & Corporate Communications Manager Zaigham Ali said, adding the work on new airport will begin early next year.

Apart from the new airport plan, the Emirate is also expanding the Dubai International Airport with a USD 7.8 billion investment to take the capacity to 100 million by 2020. This project was started in 2011 and will be completed by 2016.

The expansion of the Dubai International include a new concourse (Concourse D), expansion of Terminal 2 to twice its current capacity, refurbishment of Terminal 1, and additional aircraft stands, taxiways and aprons among others.

Dubai International, Mr. Baumann said handled 66.43 million passengers in 2013, and has being growing 15.5 per cent per annum since its launch in 1960. In 2013, it was named the second busiest airport in the world after the London Heathrow.

Mr. Ali said India is the largest source market for the airport, with an airline network that connects Dubai with 18 cities in the country.

In 2013, the airport saw a 14.3 percent increase in passenger numbers from India at 8.5 million and in the first 9 months of this year, the number has already crossed 7 million.

Mr. Ali added the company is confident of crossing the last year’s mark this year.

Explaining the rationale for a gigantic new airport, Mr. Baumann said the airport’s forecast figures for unconstrained passenger traffic show 126 million passengers by 2020, and 300 million passengers by 2050.

Additionally, the Terminal 2 will double in capacity by 2015. Concourse D of the airport, slated to open by mid 2015, will provide for 100 more aircraft and taking the figure up to 80 million passengers.

In all, the expansion projects will take the airport’s passenger capacity to a little over 100 million passengers, Mr. Ali said.

With a built-up area of 1,972,474 sqm, the Dubai International Airport comprises three terminals and ranks among the world’s top two busiest airports for international passengers, serving over 125 airlines flying to over 260 destinations, as per the Airports Council International.

On the economic impact of the aviation sector in Baumann, quoting an Oxford Economics report said, aviation will contribute USD 53.1 billion to Dubai’s economy, which is 37.5 per cent to its GDP and will support over 750,000 jobs by the turn of 2020.

The aviation sector as a whole contributed USD 26.7 billion to the Dubai economy in 2013, which was almost 27 per cent of the national GDP and supported 416,500 jobs accounting for 21 per cent of the Emirates’ total employment.

Passenger traffic in September totalled 5,942,628 compared to 5,407,326 recorded in the same month last year, an increase of 9.9 per cent. January—September rose 6.2 per cent to 52,422,547, up from 49,379,165, while in 2013, the passenger traffic stood 66,431,533, up 15.2 per cent from 2012.

Keywords: Dubai airport, Dubai World Central

SOURCE:::: http://www.the hindu.com

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Airports Remain… No Flights … A Precarious Situation … What Next ?

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Representative Image (Photo: AP/File)

Representative Image (Photo: AP/File)

Eight non-metro airports modernised using public money have no scheduled flights operating there, leading them to incur a total loss of about Rs 82 crore in the last three years.

As government pushes for air connectivity in remote areas, official figures show that these eight airports have jointly incurred a total loss of over Rs 25 crore in 2011-12, over 27 crore in 2012-13 and almost Rs 30 crore in 2013-14, official sources said.

Reacting sharply to the “precarious” situation prevailing at these airports, aviation industry experts said only market conditions and operational viability and “not political compulsions” should determine developing airports or creating new ones.

The airports, which were modernised and upgraded by state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) but have no scheduled flights, are at Akola (Maharashtra), Bikaner and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Coochbehar (West Bengal), Cuddapah (Andhra Pradesh), Pathankot and Ludhiana (Punjab) and Puducherry.

Details regarding the cost of modernising these airports were not immediately available. Similarly, the figures on losses of Bhatinda and Jalgaon airports, also modernised by AAI with no scheduled flights operating from there, were also not available.

Asked why airlines were not flying to these places, official sources said it was up to the airline operators to provide air services to such places “depending on the traffic demand and commercial viability”, apart from the route dispersal guidelines.

However, industry experts disagreed saying airlines should be consulted first before investments are made for developing airports.

“It is a precarious situation. Airports should not be developed merely because of political compulsions, but only on the basis of operational feasibility and market conditions. Airports do not just mean plush terminal buildings like shopping malls. The apron and the runway are crucial for flight operations,” said Debashis Saha, senior executive of professional aviation body Aeronautical Society of India.

Therefore, detailed feasibility studies for short, medium and long term flight operations should be carried out, both for passenger and cargo operations, “before any decision is taken to upgrade an airport or create a new one,” he said.

Giving examples of other countries, he said airport operators like Changi in Singapore “attract airlines by offering special schemes including no or low charges and marketing budget”.

“Government should make available some funds to attract airlines to Tier-II and III cities at least for three years so as to enable airlines to achieve market capitalisation and help air traffic in these sectors grow,” Saha said.

Airlines should be consulted and asked to study the market potential of an airport in a remote or a non-metro city so that they can sustain day-to-day operations, Saha said, adding the airlines should also be asked to commit to launch operations if found viable.

Cost of day-to-day operations include those for maintenance of all technical equipment, the terminal, payment for staff, location of fire and security services.

Saha said the costs incurred in these areas have led to the eight airports to run into losses without having even a single scheduled flight. Though AAI was providing incentives like no landing or parking charges and priority of slots to flights between Tier -II and Tier-III cities, he said unless the airlines were consulted beforehand, these incentives would not work and “the AAI would continue to incur heavy losses”.

SOURCE:::: http://www.deccanchronicle.com

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