Australia

Incredible story behind Michelle Payne’s history making win….

November 4, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

IN 2013 when little known jockey Michelle Payne took a backbreaking tumble from her horse, she made a decision.

She knew she was seriously injured. When you’ve broken bones before it’s not something you want to feel again. The memory of that excruciating feeling stayed with her — and she had to seriously contemplate her future in racing.

“Basically I just want to have one or two more years of giving it my best shot, and then that’s it,” she told Fairfax racing writer Peter Hanlon at the time.

She decided she wanted to “have something really good in place” when she did retire.

Two years on and the 30-year-old couldn’t be in a better place. She’s made history as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, but she’s ditched the two-year plan, saying she’s “going to be in the game forever”.

While Michelle Payne has a brilliant future in racing, and at any guess as an influential Australian woman, she already comes with an extraordinary history.

A TOUGH UPBRINGING

One of 10 kids, Michelle grew up poor on a farm near Ballarat.

Her mother was tragically killed in a car accident when Michelle was just a baby. Her father Paddy, a country trainer and top jockey, was left to raise the large family, six-month-old Michelle the youngest.

Paddy never pushed racing onto his kids but they inherited his love for the sport.

What he did teach them was a strong work ethic, something that Michelle — the fourth of her sisters to take up the saddle — especially brought to riding.

Michelle Payne celebrated with her brothers and sisters: Andrew, Cathy, Michelle, Stephen, Margaret, Bernadette, Patrick and Therese. Picture: Yuri KouzminSource:News Corp Australia

“My dad was a jumps jockey and then a horse trainer, and we used to ride the horses when we were young. My older sisters — I’m the youngest of ten — we all grew up with horses,” she told ABC’s 7.30 program last night.

“And he never really pushed us into it. We had to work to earn our keep, but he didn’t, I don’t think, really want us to be jockeys. But if we wanted to, he gave us his full support.”

Michelle says from five years old she was desperate to ride the horses, waking up furious at her father if he had gone to the stables without her. She preferred going for a gallop than working on the dairy farm her father bought when she was about seven, but appreciates it now.

“The older I am now, I appreciate that he was just absolutely amazing,” she said.

“I appreciate it now because he really taught us to have a good work ethic and I think that’s really helped in my career. Because we did have to work from a young age and appreciate everything that we got. And he is just an amazing person. What he did bringing us up: we stuck together and yeah, just had to get out there and do the job.

“I’m just so grateful for my upbringing because I wouldn’t be here without that.”

Michelle has experienced some trying moments in her career, suffering a near-fatal fall in 2004 that caused her to fracture her skull and had bruising on the brain. Her father Paddy encouraged her to give up racing after that nasty fall, and he faced further heartache when he lost his eldest daughter, Brigid, in 2007 to a heart attack six months after a fall left her in an induced coma.

Michelle kept racing and in 2009 won her first Group One race at racing’s highest level.

Since then she’s taken some dangerous falls but always made it back on the horse to represent her racing family.

‘SUCH A CHAUVINISTIC SPORT’

While Michelle was expecting to be thrown from the odd horse when she started racing, she may not have been prepared for the knock-backs she would face for her gender.

When Michelle completed her history-making ride yesterday, dizzy with victory, one of the first things that came out of her mouth was a frank summary of the racing as she’d experience it.

“It’s such a chauvinistic sport,” she told the Flemington press pack.

“Some of the owners wanted to kick me off the horse, but I thought he had what it takes to run a race in the Melbourne Cup.

“I can’t say how grateful I am (to the people who helped me), and I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.”

Get stuffed’ … Michelle Payne has proven women in can win in racing. Picture: Colleen PetchSource:News Corp Australia

Michelle never planned on being a pin-up for women in racing, her main aim was to be better than her sisters. Yesterday she said she “didn’t really see the significance” of her win as a woman, but with all the attention the young jockey is getting, she’s probably starting to see the significance.

“I don’t really think of it … but I hope it helped female jockeys,” she said on 7.30.

“I feel sorry for all the girls out there that haven’t had the opportunity; that I’m the first one, because I think everyone deserves it. But I just really hope that it helps open up more opportunities and we get more of a go.”

THE UNSUNG HERO

Along with breaking the “grass ceiling” for female jockeys, Michelle is using her new-found prominence to spread an important message about people with intellectual disabilities.

Her brother Steven, who has Down syndrome, is the strapper for winning horse Prince of Penzance’s, and played a big role in his preparation for the race.

Stevie has been employed at trainer Darren Weir’s Ballarat stables for close to a decade where he’s kept busy with his various responsibilities working with the horses.

“He can follow the work sheet, he can saddle them up, he can swim them, hose them, and he’s got a great rapport with horses,” Weir said ahead of the race.

“He’s really enjoyable to have around, and I think it’s important for those sorts of kids to get a go at something, and if they get a go they reward you.”

Strapper Stephen Payne was instrumental to Michelle’s win. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Michelle says Stevie, who she shared a special bond with growing up as the youngest of their large family, was crucial to the win, picking the number one barrier and preparing the horse.

“I think it’s great for other people with Down syndrome — to see how capable they can be in normal life,” she said on Sunrise this morning.

“Stevie can pretty much do anything, and look after himself when he’s on his own.

“Just treat them as normal. I just hope that message gets out there.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MICHELLE?

Until about half way through yesterday’s race Michelle never realistically thought she would take home the Melbourne Cup, but she had said, half-jokingly, that if she ever did that would be the end of her career.

“I was always going to retire if I won the Melbourne Cup — it’d be a good way to go out,” she told Sunrise.

“But I kind of feel like it’d be a bit of a shame too but I feel like I’m just starting to get going now.”

Michelle Payne and trainer Darren Weir celebrate with the Cup. Picture: Yuri KouzminSource:News Corp Australia

As she did even after she broke her back and fractured her skull, Michelle is ready to get back in the saddle.

While her horse’s trainer and owners will likely be nursing sore heads after yesterday’s celebrations, Michelle will be racing this afternoon at a country race meet at Kyneton.

“It’s what I love. It’s my passion. It’s an amazing industry,” she said after proving herself on the track yesterday.

“You don’t need to have all the money in the world to win the greatest race in Australia and nearly the world.”

Source…..www.news.com.au

Natarajan

THE ORIGIN OF THE NAMES OF THE CONTINENTS….

November 3, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Today I found out the most likely origin of each of the continents’ names. (Using the seven continent model)

First on this list is Africa. There are many different theories as to the origin of Africa’s name. After the Romans defeated Carthage (which is in modern-day Tunisia in Northern Africa) in the third Punic War, they called their new province “Africa.” The most popular theory as to the origin of the name is that it was named for a native tribe there—the Afri, with “Africa” then being the feminine form of “Africus”, literally meaning “land of the Afri”.

An alternate theory, which has a hole in it due to when the name was first used, is that it comes from the Phoenician word “afar” which means “dust.” Put together with the Latin suffix –ica, sometimes used to denote “land”, the name could mean “a land of dust.” Given Africa’s hot, desert-like climate in the north, which is where the Romans claimed their province, the Phoenician root is considered by many to be a plausible alternative to the “Afri tribe” theory, for the origin of Africa’s name.

Whatever the case, as Europeans continued exploring and discovered the breadth of the continent, the name that the Romans had originally used for their small province stuck, and the entire continent became known as Africa.

Antarctica comes from the Greek word “antarktike,” which literally means “opposite to the north.” The continent is, of course, home to the southernmost point on Earth. John George Bartholomew, a Scottish cartographer, is believed to be the first person to use “Antartica” to refer to the continent. However, the name was used for a different place by the French before this. In the 1500s, they held a colony in Brazil below the equator which they named France Antartique.

Asia derives from the Ancient Greek “Ἀσία”, which was used as early as 440 B.C. by Herodotus in his Histories. However, it is likely that the name was in use long before then, though not referring to a whole continent, but rather originally just the name for the land on the east bank of the Aegean Sea, and then later the Anatolia (part of modern Turkey).

Romans referred to two provinces when talking about Asia: Asia Minor and Asia Major. A common theory is that the Greek name ultimately derived from the Phoenician word asu, which means “east”, and the Akkadian word asu which means “to go out, to rise.” In reference to the sun, Asia would then mean “the land of the sunrise.”

Terra Australis Incognita means “the unknown land in the south” in Latin, and rumours of the continent’s existence dated back to Ancient Roman times. Of course, Romans did not have the maritime technology to reach Australia and did not have any direct evidence that it existed, as far as we know. When Europeans finally discovered the continent, the name “Terra Australis” stuck. The continent was referred to the shortened “Australia” by a number of early explorers, but it was Matthew Flinders who pushed for its use from 1804. Though “Australia” was used unofficially for several years, Governor Lachlan Macquarie petitioned for its official adoption in 1817. It wasn’t until 1824 that the name was officially given to the continent.

Europe was likely named after Europa, one of Zeus’ many lovers in Greek mythology. Legend has it that he abducted her after taking on the form of a white bull and took her to Crete. It is difficult to determine the etymology of the name, but one theory is that it comes from the Akkadian word erebu which means “to go down, set” or the Phoenician ereb which means “evening, west.” The western directional meaning would mean it had similar origins to Asia. Alternatively, the name Eurpoa may have derived from the Greek “eurys”, meaning “wide”, and “ops”, meaning “face”, so “wide face”.

As in many of the other names of the continents, “Europe” originally didn’t refer to anything close to what we think of as Europe today. Rather, it was just a small region, like “Asia”, referring to a portion of present day Turkey, part of Thrace.

Like most, I’ve known that the Americas (North and South) were named after Amerigo Vespucci since my early education. However, the story behind why this is the case is somewhat more interesting and quite a bit less well known. Vespucci was a navigator that traveled to “the new world” in 1499 and 1502. Being a well educated man, he realized that this new world was not part of Asia, as some had initially thought. Vespucci chose to write about his travels and his books were published in 1502 and 1504. Being both entertaining and educational, his accounts of the new world were reprinted in almost every European language.

In 1507, a German cartographer, Martin Waldseemüller, chose to make a new map that included the new world. He and two scholarly partners were aware of Vespucci’s writings and were ignorant of Columbus’s expeditions. As such, they decided to name the new land after Vespucci, stating:

But now these parts (Europe, Asia and Africa, the three continents of the Ptolemaic geography) have been extensively explored and a fourth part has been discovered by Americus Vespuccius (the Latin form of Vespucci’s name), I do not see what right any one would have to object to calling this part after Americus, who discovered it and who is a man of intelligence, and so to name it Amerige, that is, the Land of Americus, or America: since both Europa and Asia got their names from women.

When the large new map, approximately 8 feet by 4 feet, was unveiled by Waldseemüller, it had the large title “AMERICA” across what is now present day Brazil. Waldseemüller used Vespucci’s travelogues as a reference for his drawing and so his map had South America as the only part of this new western hemisphere. When North America was later added, the mapmakers of the time retained the original name. In 1538, the famous geographer Gerard Mercator chose to name the entire north and south parts of America as one large “America” for the entire western hemisphere

Bonus Facts:

Part of Antartica has been named “Queen Elizabeth Land” in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The area is about twice the size of the United Kingdom.
Captain James Cook was sent to find Terra Australis Incognita in 1772. Returning with charts of the eastern coastline of Australia—large enough to be considered a continent—he was turned down by officials who believed that the real Terra Australis Incognita was located farther south. Cook set out again and was the first person to sail into the Antarctic Circle. However, he turned away to resupply his ship before seeing land. If he had succeeded in his voyage, it is likely that Antarctica would have been named Australia after Terra Australis instead. (The first person to see the Antarctic Continent was Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820).
Europa is also the name of one of Jupiter’s moons.
An alternate theory as to how America got its name, not backed up by a whole lot of documented evidence, you may sometimes hear is that a tribe of Native Americans named the Amerrique may have existed, and both Columbus and Vespucci may have visited them. The word is said to originate from the Mayan word for “exceptionally strong wind.”
Another “America” theory that you may sometimes here, again, not backed up by nearly the evidence as the above in the main article, is that it was named after a Bristol merchant named Richard Amerike. Amerike and other merchants had been trading items and fishing off the coast of Newfoundland for many years before Christopher Columbus and John Cabot made their voyages to America. The theory is that the fishermen who worked for him named the area in which they lived after their employer. It is also believed that Amerike sponsored John Cabot on his successful trip to America’s eastern shore, and that Cabot named the land after his sponsor.

[Map Image via Shutterstock

Source….www.today i foundout.com

Natarajan

These are the World’s Healthiest Countries….

October 31, 2015October 31, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Singapore is the world’s healthiest country, according to a ranking that uses data from the United Nations, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation.

To identify the healthiest countries in the world, BloombergRankings created health scores and health-risk scores for countries with populations of at least 1 million.

It determined the countries’ rank by subtracting the risk score from the health score.

The health score is based on mortality rates in each country, while the health risk score is based on different factors likely to limit health, such as the proportion of young people smoking and the number of immunisations.

Singapore receives an overall grade of 89.45%. Italy is in second place with 89.07%, while Australia comes third with 88.33%.

Asian and European countries dominate the ranking. Israel, in sixth place, is the only Middle Eastern country to make the top 10, while North and Latin American countries do not feature at all.

The data is a useful rule-of-thumb for policy-makers, who might look at the practices of higher-scoring countries to improve their own countries’ health scores.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that the definition of ‘healthy’ is open to interpretation. A ranking that defines a ‘healthy’ lifestyle by its reported quality – rather than its length (life expectancy) – might exclude lower-income countries that report high levels of happiness or life satisfaction.

source….

Sebastian Brixey-Williams, World Economic Forum in….www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

தமிழருக்குப் பெருமை: ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் உயரிய விருதை வென்ற தமிழர்….

October 26, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

தமிழகத்தைப் பூர்வீகமாகக் கொண்டு, ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் மருத்துவராகப் பணியாற்றி வரும் டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்தி ஜெயராஜ், ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் உயரிய ‘பிரைடு ஆஃப் ஆஸ்திரேலியா’ (Pride of Australia) என்ற விருதைப் பெற்று தமிழருக்குப் பெருமை சேர்த்துள்ளார்.

புற்றுநோய் ஆராய்ச்சிக்காகவும், மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள் மற்றும் செவிலியருக்கான கல்வித் தொண்டுக்காகவும், ஆஸ்திரேலிய பழங்குடியினர் பற்றி ஆராய்ச்சிக்காகவும், டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்திக்கு இந்த உயரிய விருது வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்தியாவில் வழங்கப்படும் பத்மஸ்ரீக்கு விருதுக்கு இணையானது இந்த பிரைடு ஆஃப் ஆஸ்திரேலியா விருது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

டார்வினில் உள்ள நாடாளுமன்ற அலுவலகத்தில் அக்டோபர் 7-ம் தேதி நடைபெற்ற விழாவில், மாகாண முதல்வர் ஆடம் கில்ஸ் அவர்கள் இந்த விருதை டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்திக்கு வழங்கினார்.

மாகாண முதல்வர் மற்றும் குடும்பத்தினருடன்

தமிழகத்தில், நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம் சேந்தமங்கலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்தி, சென்னை கால்நடை மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் இளநிலை மற்றும் முதுநிலைப் பட்டம் பெற்ற இவர், தற்போது ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் வடக்கு மாகாணத்தில் உள்ள சார்லஸ் டார்வின் பல்கலைக் கழகத்தில் மூத்த விரிவுரையாளராகவும் புற்றுநோய் ஆராய்ச்சியாளராகவும் பணியாற்றி வருகிறார்.

கடந்த ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகளாக, ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் வடக்கு மாகாணத்தில் வாழும் ஆஸ்திரேலிய பழங்குடியினர் குறித்து ஆராய்ச்சிகளை டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்தி மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறார்.

ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் பெருமை மிகு இவ் விருதைப் பெற்ற முதல் தமிழர் என்ற பெருமைக்குச் சொந்தக்காரராகத் திகழ்கிறார் டாக்டர் ராமமூர்த்தி. கடந்த 13 ஆண்டுகளாக ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் வசித்து வரும் இவர், 2009 முதல் 2013-ம் ஆண்டு வரை வடக்கு மாகாண தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்தின் துணைத் தலைவராகப் பொறுப்பு வகித்துள்ளார். அத்துடன், ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் உள்ள தமிழ்ச் சங்கங்களுடன் நெருங்கிய தொடர்பும் வைத்துள்ளார்.

Source….www.dinamani.com

Natarajan

“Best Countries to Visit ” according to Tourists…

October 23, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) just released the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and for the fifth year in a row, Italy is the No. 1 destination that travellers want to visit.

The awards are based on the ratings and feedback of more than 128,000 readers — the highest level of participation in the magazine’s history.

Other Readers’ Choice Awards include the world’s best cruise lines, hotels, spas, airlines, and much more, all of which you can check out here.

ITALY: Who can resist the call of pasta and beautiful people? Not many, according to the CNT readers who’ve voted for Italy as the world’s best country to travel for five straight years. Italy is all about leisure — sip wine for hours in Venice’s Piazza San Marco, make friends with a hammock on a villa in Tuscany, or find a spot on the cliffs of Riomaggiore with a good book.

iStock / Lukasz Janyst

Riomaggiore, one of the colourful villages of Cinque Terre.

FRANCE: The country that gave us cabaret, Champagne, and hundreds of cheese varietals is one of the most romantic places on earth. In the springtime — an excellent season for a trip to France — the editors of CNT tout Morzine for some of the most beautiful hiking you can imagine. Under two hours by car from Morzine, Lake Annecy is an enchanting detour.

Mny-Jhee / Shutterstock.com

The beauty of Lake Annecy in the French Alps.

AMERICA: CNT readers are highly drawn to America’s glittering metropolises, family-friendly theme parks, and beautiful nature. New York’s Catskill Mountains, Georgia’s Golden Isles, and an investment banker’s hotel passion project in Montana, The Ranch at Rock Creek, are a few of the destinations that the magazine’s editors recommend.

Shutterstock

Autumn in the Adirondacks.

SPAIN: Since Ferran Adria’s ell bulli restaurant rose in Catalonia, Spain has been the world’s undisputed epicentre of cutting edge cuisine. Planning an entire vacation around the fine dining restaurants you want to splurge at and the most famed tapas spots is a good idea. A Fodor’s forum suggests visiting Spain in April for the best weather. You can also catch Barcelona’s food-filled April Fair.

Paella sizzles at Barcelona’s annual April Fair.

GREECE: CNT named Athens, Greece, one of its cities to watch in 2015. In the midst of a financial disaster, a spate of new museums, hip hotels and shops, and pop-ups are spurring a cultural renaissance in the capital city. For travellers, the turquoise waters and salt air of Mykonos will always be a draw.

Shutterstock

A restaurant in Mykonos’ Little Venice neighbourhood.

NEW ZEALAND: This is destination for adventurers. You can rough it in a cabin with no electricity on the beautiful Great Barrier Island, submerge yourself in the healing waters of Maruia Springs, hike through volcanic terrains in Tongariro National Park, or enjoy world-class fly fishing in Queenstown, where you can also get what many say is the best burger on the planet at Fergberger.

Sheep on the mountains of the north island of New Zealand. Shutterstock

THAILAND: Whether you choose to eat your way through Bangkok, island hop around Phuket, or board the glamorous Eastern & Oriental Express, Thailand will seduce you with its vibrant culture, exotic cuisine, and Utopian resorts. Recently there’s been a rise in holistic health and wellness resorts, where you can detox and refuel with yoga and Ayurvedic spa treatments.

Floating food purveyors tend to their stock………Shutterstock

TURKEY: Go to Turkey to see the gorgeous mosques, majestic castles, and natural wonders such as Pamukkale (aka ‘Cotton Castle’), a plethora of glittering white travertines filled with mineral-rich water. Also go for the newly built Soho House in Istanbul’s romantic Beyoğlu district.

Pamukkale, natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey.

Shutterstock

INDIA: From the sandy beaches of Goa to the ancient Buddhist caves of Ajanta, the sites to see in the second most populous country in the world are endless. Far from the crowds of Mumbai, the northern Kashmir is often described as India’s Switzerland, where the pace is slower the skiing is quite good.

The peaceful ebb of Dal Lake in Kashmir Shutterstock

SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town ranked No. 6 on CNT’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the world’s best cities. With the glorious Table Mountain and one of South African hotelier Sol Kerzner’s luxurious One&Only resorts, it’s certainly a draw, but the vineyards of Franschhoek and the safari lodges of Kruger National Park also beckon.

Table mountain, one of the seven new world wonders of nature, in Cape Town.

Shutterstock

VIETNAM: Wandering chef Anthony Bourdain says going to Vietnam changed his life. ‘It just seemed like another planet; a delicious one that sort of sucked me in and never let go,’ he told CNT. We’d be happy just to sip Vietnamese coffee and eat pho all day, but the adventurous can descend into the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong, in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Rice fields in Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam. Shutterstock

SRI LANKA: If you’re lost, this is where you can find yourself. Fill a backpack and take the island’s ‘charmingly decrepit’ railway to wherever. Buy fritters and curry dishes from train hawkers, look out onto seemingly endless fields of tea, and hop off to see sites like the Golden Temple of Dambulla and the famous markets of Pettah.

A train from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy travels through the highlands of Sri Lank

Shutterstock

NETHERLANDS: Forget why twenty-somethings flock here. Go to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other crannies of this gorgeous country for the incredible museums, unparalleled coffee, and stunning countrysides. We suggest splurging on a stay at the newly built Waldorf Astoria — a collection of six townhouses with a Guerlain Spa — on Amsterdam’s oldest and most storied canal.

Dusk in Amsterdam. Shutterstock

MEXICO: Look out Spain and Italy, Mexico’s culinary scene has entered the ring. The country logged three restaurants — Pujol, Quintonil, and Biko — on the 2015 World’s 50 Best Restaurants List. All three are in Mexico City.

Mariachi on the streets of Campeche. Shutterstock

PORTUGAL: Small but mighty, the Spain neighbour has a distinct culture, cuisine, and language. In the summer, head to the western village of Comporta, Portugal’s answer to Ibiza. And no trip to the country is complete without a glass of port wine from the Douro Valley.

Wooden footbridge to Camilo beach. Shutterstock

IRELAND: From castle hotels to boisterous pubs and the greenest countrysides your eyes will ever behold, Ireland is a feast for the senses. CNT recommends renting a car and taking the world’s longest road trip on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Nightlife at Dublin’s Temple Bar quarter. Shutterstock Patricia Hofmeester

JAPAN: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are a few of the hot spots to explore in Japan. Home to more than 2,000 breathtaking Buddhist temples and shrines, Kyoto was voted the No. 1 city in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine this year.

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Three geishas walk on a street of Gion in Kyoto.

CANADA: From wilderness camping on Vancouver Island to a stay at North America’s oldest Ritz-Carlton in Montreal, Canada nets travellers of all types. A ride down the toboggan lanes in Quebec City is a must in the wintertime.

Quebec City in winter. Shutterstock

MOROCCO: The home of Casablanca is a treasure trove of spice markets, surrealist landscapes, jaw-dropping mosques, and world-class surfing. The cuisine is like none other, with a mix of Arab, African, Persian, and French flavours.

Camel caravan going through the sand dunes in the Sahara Desert.

Shutterstock

Source…..APRIL WALLOGA http://www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

Are these the Most Magical Settlements in the World … ?

October 22, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Nestled in some of the most beautiful corners of the world, are tiny settlements of people who have adapted to live around nature.

From villages under boulders in Portugal, to floating villages in Peru, these dwellings are hidden away from the rest of the world.

The secluded settlements are often cut off from the surrounding areas, but are each set in their own natural paradises.

Bravest village ever? The settlement of Aogashima in the Philippine Sea, has 200 inhabitants who live in the middle of a volcanic crater

Aogashima, Philippine Sea

Perhaps the last place you would expect to find a living community would be inside a tropical volcanic island in the Philippine Sea.

The last time the Class-C volcano erupted was in the 1780s, and it proved fatal for half of the people living on the island.

Over fifty years later, the inhabitants who had escaped the island returned, and now there are 200 brave villagers living there.

Hidden behind a rock! This tiny settlement is concealed from the Greek coastline behind a giant rock on the island

Monemvasia, Greece

Monemvasia is a little settlement concealed behind a huge rock face in Laconia in Greece.

The island was separated from the mainland in 375 AD by an earthquake, although a small walkway has been created since for easy access to the mainland.

Inhabitants are hidden away from the rest of the world, with spectacular views of the Palaia Monemvasia bay.

Giant honeycomb! The Phugtal Monastery in India is hidden on a cliff on the entrance to a cave in the Zanskar region

Phugtal Monastery, India

The hidden cliff face village of Phuktal or Phugtal Monastery is one of the most isolated monasteries in northern India.

Constructed from mud and timber, it is located at the entrance to a cave on a cliff face in the south-eastern Zanskar region in Ladakh district.

Looking like a giant honeycomb it was founded in the early 12th century, but remained a hidden treasure until the 1800s when Alexander Cosmo de Koros visited the place, and stayed there for a year.

The remote east Greenland village of Isortoq includes a supermarket, the large red building (pictured front)

Isortoq, Greenland

On 64 people reside on Greenland’s Isortoq village, which is set in the middle of miles of snow and ice.

The Inuit inhabitants used to be forced to survive on only meat, as the harsh landscape didn’t allow for plants to be grown.

They do have a red supermarket nowadays, which offers a variety of other produce.

There is even ketchup and mayonnaise available for eating with seal.

Long way to the corner shop! Only 16 people live in this tiny village nestled high on the cliffs near the coast of the Faroe Islands

Gásadalur Village, Denmark

The isolated village of Gásadalur situated on the west side of Vágar in the Faroe Islands.

Only 16 residents live in the peaceful settlement, with stunning views of tumbling cliffs overlooking the North Atlantic’s Gulf Stream.

A tunnel was built through the mountains in 2004, but before that, a walk to the next village would have meant a strenuous hike or horseback ride over the 400m high mountain.

Nestled in one of the driest locations on earth, is Huacachina; a town complete with trees, hotels, shops and even an oasis library – tranquil!

Huacachina, Peru

In the midst of one of the driest climates in the world is an oasis town with lush palm trees, flourishing foliage, and a tranquil lagoon which is said to have curative properties.

The magical town is called Huacachina, and it can be found not only on adventurers’ bucket lists, but also in a barren desert in Peru.

Visitors can visit the surreal settlement and the 96 residents who thrive on running small businesses on their greatest resource; sand.

The incredible Cliff of Bandiagara in Mali is an impressive series of clay structures, which are home to the Dogon people

The Cliff of Bandiagara, Mali

It looks like a model village created by clay, but it is actually a real village in West-Africa, home to the Dogon people.

The Cliff of Bandiagara is zone of tablelands, gorges and plains which has been constructed out of red-coloured clay.

The series of fascinating clay chambers consists of houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and, or communal meeting-places, which look perfect for exploring.

Fairytale village! Undredal is hidden in a narrow valleyin the Aurlandsfjord in Norway, and looks like something out of Disney movie

Undredal, Norway

The small village of Undredal is home to approximately 100 people and 500 goats, and is a popular tourist destination along the Aurlandsfjorden.

Undredal is famous for the brown goat cheese, and even produces goat sausages.

Before 1988, Undredal was only accessible by boat, but now a road connection has been made by constructing two tunnels as part of the European route E16.

A village in a Fjord! Furore in Italy is a brightly coloured settlement tucked away in the mouth of the fjord

Furore, Italy

Tucked away in a Fjord is a quaint Italian village, completed with brightly coloured houses decorated with murals.

Furore can be discovered in the Campania region of south-western Italy, although it used to be practically hidden from travellers.

Following Furore being dubbed ‘the village that doesn’t exist,’ the mayor decided it was time for action, and sought to put the minuscule commune on the map.

He ordered that the tiny buildings should be painted in vibrant colours so the picturesque village could be viewed from the coastal road.

Green haven! Sapa is one of the most beautiful places in earth, and is home to villagers who farm the rice fields and sell trinkets to visitors

Sapa, Vietnam

Cascading vibrant green rice fields line the hills in the Sapa region of North Vietnam.

Hill-tribe people fill the mountains with colour, and open their homes to tourists who flock to take in the incredible views across the region.

Visitors can trek through the hills and buy colourful trinkets from the tribes people, who accompany them on the walk to help.

Giant mole hills? An entire population of over a thousand residents live underground in dugouts at Coober Pedy in northern South Australia

There is even an underground chapel and houses that come with lounges, kitchens and dining rooms

Coober Pedy, Australia

From first glance you would think that Coober Pedy in northern South Australia, is a series of giant mole hills.

It is, in fact, a town concealed underground in dugouts which were built to withstand the blazing daytime heat.

According to the 2011 census, its population was 1,695 (953 males, 742 females), who live in the area to mine the precious opals that lie there.

Gorge-ous views! Tiny hilltop village, Rougon, boasts panoramic views of the surrounding Verdon Gorge in the south of France

Rougon, France

After winding your way through the picturesque mountain views in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in France, you will stumble on a preserved, peaceful village called Rougon.

Sitting under a large rocky outcrop, the hidden village is perfectly situated for panoramic views of the Verdon gorge.

Visitors can explore the Saint Christophe chapel, the Huguenote church, the remains of its feudal castle and enjoy the local fair occurring in the last Sunday in June.

If you are feeling adventurous, guests can camp at the village all year round.

The Havasupai tribe are the smallest Indian nation in America, with just over 600 village inhabitants. It is so remote that mail is delivered by mule

Supai, Arizona

Millions travel to witness the spectacular Grand Canyon every year, but few know that this Arizona landscape is home to a secret tribe, hidden away in its depths.

More than 600 people are part of the Havasupai tribe, which is the smallest Indian nation in America.

Visitors can reach the mysterious tribe on foot or by helicopter or mule, and experience life in the village of Supai, which has a cafe, general stores, a lodge, post office, school, LDS chapel, and a small Christian church.

The most remote location in the world: Tristan da Cunha is situated over a thousand miles from the nearest land and has 300 residents

Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena

Taking the prize for the most remote village is Tristan da Cunha, which is only accessible by a six-day boat journey from South Africa or as part of epic month-long cruises through the South Atlantic Ocean.

The inhabited archipelago stands 1,243 miles from Saint Helena, 1,491 miles from South Africa and 2,088 miles from South America in the middle of ocean.

It’s just seven miles long and 37.8 square miles in area, and has but one settlement at the foot of the 6,765-foot Queen Mary’s Peak, with 300 residents all of whom farm for a living.

Floating village! The Uros live on islands made by interwoven reeds which sit in Lake Titicaca Puno. The tribe have been living on the lake for hundreds of years, since Incas expanded onto their land forcing them out

Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca Puno, Peru and Bolivia

Secluded from the world are the Uros Islands in Lake Titicaca Puno which sits on the border of Peru and Bolivia.

The pre-Incan Uru tribe live on forty-two floating islands that are made out of totora reeds.

Reeds must be constantly added to the islands, as the bottom rots away in the water.

The Uros also use these reeds for a big part of their diets, and consume the white bottom of the reeds as they are pulled from the bottom of the islands.

The village under a rock! Monsanto in Portugal has built its homes around the 200-tonne rocks in the area. Some of its 828 brave residents even sleep under gigantic boulders

Monsanto, Portugal

Residing under a roof that weighs more than the average cruise ship may make some people anxious.

Residents in the Portuguese village of Monsanto, have adapted their homes around the gigantic granite boulders.

In the mountaintop village, homes are sandwiched between, under and even in the 200-tonne rocks.

BECKY PEMBERTON FOR MAILONLINE

Source….www.dailymail.co.uk

Natarajan

Image of the Day… Earth Art From Australia as seen from International Space Station

October 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

On Oct. 12-13, 2015, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took a series of seventeen photographs from the International Space Station during a single flyover of Australia. This first photo of the series was posted with the caption, “#EarthArt in one pass over the #Australian continent. Picture 1 of 17. #YearInSpace”.

Image Credit: NASA

Source…..www.nasa.gov

Singapore Airlines joins Qantas with launch of a 19-hour flight: Non-stop route to New York set to open in 2018 ….

October 15, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

In-flight entertainment systems will need to be top quality in the future as ultra-long non-stop routes are becoming all the rage.

Qantas announced a non-stop 19-hour flight between Australia and the UK within two years – and now Singapore Airlines is set to launch a non-stop journey that’s the same, gruelling length.

In a statement this week Singapore Airlines announced that it would resume offering 19-hour flights from Singapore to New York in 2018.

The carrier previously operated the long haul route until 2013.

Singapore Airlines says that due to demand the service will resume with the help of a brand new aircraft.

The plane in question will be Airbus’ new ‘ultra-long range’ version of its A350-900, of which Singapore Airlines will be the launch customer.

The high-tech newly converted planes will have the capability of flying up to 19 hours using the increased fuel capacity of its system from 141,000 litres to 165,000 litres.

Our customers have been asking us to re-start non-stop Singapore-US flights and we are pleased that Airbus was able to offer the right aircraft to do so in a commercially viable manner,’ said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong.

The airline has placed an order for 67 of the Airbus A350s, and as more of the efficient planes are added to the fleet, the plan is to resume the 19-hour Singapore-LA route in the near future as well.

At the moment, fliers wishing to make the 8,700-nautical-mile journey to the Big Apple from Singapore have to face the delights of a 22-hour journey, with at least one connection.

LA-bound passengers have a slightly shorter ordeal, with the trip currently taking around 17 hours or more, also with a stop.

Battle is on: Qantas also plans to offer 19-hour flights – from Perth to London

The news comes after Qantas revealed plans to offer a non-stop 19-hour flight between Australia and the UK within two years.

If it does launch before Singapore Airlines’ 19-hour route it will briefly give Qantas the crown of operating the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight.

The airline’s chief executive Alan Joyce said they aim to fly between Perth and London using its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner by 2017.

‘This opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time,’ he said.

The potential flight path would need two pairs of pilots, extra cabin crew and a proper rest area for airline staff.

Top Ten First Class Aeroplane Cabins in the World…

October 14, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

For those lucky enough to ride in a first class cabin, a 20-hour flight is actually something to look forward to.

AirlineRatings.com, which rates airlines on the level of comfort and safety they provide to passengers, recently ranked the top 10 airlines with the best first class cabins.

From multi-room suites to double beds covered in plush linens, here’s a look inside the cushiest first class cabins in the world.

Emirates

Emirates

Business class cabins on Emirates have privacy doors, personal mini bars, and ambient lighting for maximum relaxation. Each seat converts to a fully flat mattress.

On longer flights, take advantage of the onboard shower spa stocked with Bvlgari toiletries, or stretch your legs and grab a drink in the first and business class lounge.

Etihad Airways

Etihad

On Etihad Airways, cabins feature Poltrona Frau leather seats, ambient lighting, personal wardrobes, and a chilled drinks cabinet. Guests looking for the ultimate experience in luxury can stay in The Residence — an upper deck cabin on the A380 airbus that has a living room, separate double bedroom, ensuite shower room, personal butler, and chef.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Each wood grain and leather cabin on Japan Airlines‘ 777 is designed with custom airweave bedding, a retractable privacy partition, and a 23-inch personal TV screen. Meals are prepared by chefs like Seiji Yamamoto, known for his three-Michelin star restaurant, Ryugin, in Tokyo.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa

Lufthansa’s first class suites include ergonomically shaped seats, lie-flat beds with a mattress topper, pillow, and duvet, and in-flight entertainment in up to eight languages. The wine list is curated by sommelier Markus Del Monego and caviar is served.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines

The seats on Singapore Airlines are 35 inches wide, with a bed length of 82 inches and curved side panels for privacy. Passengers are treated to pajamas and bedroom slippers as they relax in the ambient mood lighting. Each seat has a vanity corner with a mirror so you can freshen up before you disembark.

Qantas

International first class suites on Australia’s
Qantas airline are designed with lie-flat beds measuring 6.5 feet long. The mattress is made of plush sheepskin and the seat and leg rest are adjustable. There’s even an ottoman so you can have a guest in your cabin.

Dining options include an eight-course tasting menu or an à la carte menu designed by Chef Neil Perry, with selections from Quantas’ award-winning wine list.

SWISS

SWISS

Swiss International Air Lines’ first class armchairs are available on long-haul flights and can be turned into a lounge armchair, a table for two, or a 6.5 foot bed with a mattress and privacy walls.

Passengers are given pajamas by Zimmerli of Switzerland and toiletry bags that contain socks, eye masks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, earplugs, and skincare products by La Prairie.

Korean Air

Korean Air

Korean Air’s first class cabins offer a variety of seating options. The Kosmo Suite 2.0 includes a sliding door that’s see-through on the inside, a 9.4-inch partition, and a 79-inch seat. Kosmo Suite seats are 26.5 inches wide and have adjustable back support, a footrest, and one-touch controls to change positions.

There’s also a Kosmo Sleeper with a 78-inch lie-flat bed and a Sleeper Ottoman with a
180-degree lie-flat bed on B777-300, A330-300, and A330-200 aircrafts.

Seats come with personal LCD screens, individual reading lamps, and free noise-cancelling headphones.

All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways

ANA (All Nippon Airways) offers first class passengers a cabin with comfortable seating, a large adjustable dining table, and an adjustable cocktail table. What sets this cabin apart is its storage. There’s a mini closet for your jacket and shoes, a space underneath the ottoman for baggage, and multiple compartments for smaller items.

Seats have two LED personal lights, international telephones with personal satellites to make calls in privacy, a ‘do not disturb’ light, USB port, and 23-inch LCD wide-screen monitor.

Thai Airways

Guests flying Royal First Class on Thai Airways are greeted with chilled Champagne and caviar. The Airbus A380s and newly remodeled Boeing 747s feature semi-private suites that are almost eight feet long. Seats are either 23 or 27 inches wide on the 747 and Airbus A380, respectively.

Chairs convert to 180-degree lie-flat beds, in-flight entertainment systems boast 23-inch flat screes with over 300 programs, and passengers can relax with a full-body massage at the Royal First Lounge of Bankgkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport before their flight.

Source….www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

Indian Bus Conductor Abasaheb Gaikwad Wins 3 Gold Medals at Australian Master Games….

October 12, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Abasaheb Gaikwad won three gold medals at the Australian Master Games in discus throw, hammer throw and shot put events. Here’s how he reached this stage of success.

35-year-old Abasaheb Gaikwad, a bus conductor from Shetjale village in Sangli, Maharashtra, has made India proud by winning three gold medals at the Australian Master Games, which were held in Adelaide.

Abasaheb broke his own records from the past, and bagged three gold medals in different games – discus throw, hammer throw and shot put.

Source: Facebook

He had participated in the 30-35 age group category, and won by beating players from at least seven countries.

But success for Abasaheb did not come in one day. He prepared for the the games while working full time, and training himself without any coach. He has been able to reach this stage because of a lot of hard work, dedication, and the help of many people associated with him.

As the cost of the tour is very high, his employers at Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation (MSRTC), friends, family members and well-wishers, pitched in and helped him in gathering funds. Back home, when he was preparing for the games, his senior officials from MSRTC shifted him to internal duty and used to send him to trips only when they were close to the depot, so he could make time for practice. Because of the lack of sports facilities in Sangli, his friends also helped him during practice sessions.

“Before embarking on the trip Down Under, I had to go through a qualifying round in Mumbai, where I performed outstandingly and got chosen for the tour…My friends and colleagues helped me a lot, both in terms of gathering funds and preparing for the tournament. The cost of the tour is huge. Everyone collected a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh” he told The Pune Mirror.

Australian Masters Games is a biennial, multi-sport event. It covers more than 50 sports, and sportsmen aged over 30 years are allowed to participate from across the world. The 15th Australian Masters Games took place from October 3-10, 2015.

After participating in many district, state and national level championships, this self-taught athlete had also won two gold medals in javelin and discus throw at the Torino International Masters Games, held in Turin, Italy, in 2013.

Source….Tanaya Singh….www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

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