cheerful attitude – Page 21 – Take off with Natarajan

These 5 Indians over 88 Will Prove that Age is Just a Number…!

January 10, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

A 93 year old woman whose graceful dance moves will leave you mesmerised, a 104 year old marathon runner — these five such elderly people will leave you deeply inspired and motivate you to pursue your dreams.

“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams,” said John Barrymore. There are some inspiring people in their twilight years who make sure that they live their dream each day. For them, their dreams really do become reality.

Here are five such people, who are still rocking it in their 80s and 90s:

1. Sunderlal Bahuguna, 88

Photo: alchetron.com

This environmentalist from Uttarakhand is the man behind the Chipko movement. Since several decades, he has been fighting to preserve Himalayan forests and is still very active when it comes to environmental conservation. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 1981, but he turned it down. He later got the Padma Vibhushan in 2009. He has been actively working to defend India’s rivers and has backed many anti-dam protests.

2. Fauja Singh, 104

Photo: weinterrupt.com

Born in Punjab, this 104-year-old superman is the oldest marathon runner in the world. He ran the London Marathon when he was 101-years-old and completed it in 7 hours and 49 minutes. Now he runs for fun! In 2011 (the year which also marked his 100th birthday), he attempted and accomplished eight world age-group records in one day at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, held at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

3. V. Nanammal, 95

She is 95 but does extremely difficult yoga poses with ease. With her talent, she has proved that age is just a number. She started practicing yoga when she was just 14 and has continued to pursue the ancient art till date. This Coimbatore-based super grandmother says she teaches yoga to over 100 kids and hasn’t faced any health problems till date — all thanks to yoga.

4. K.T. Antony, 91

Photo: mattersindia.com

While many people of his age prefer reading as they grow older, Antony chose to follow a different path. He is currently busy writing his next romantic novel, which is based on biblical characters. He has completed two sets of short plays and three novels. Not just this, he is also a graphic designer, actor, and director. Now that’s what we call living the life to its fullest!

5. Bhanu Rao, 92

This extremely talented lady might be over 90 but still has amazing talent. Her graceful Bharatnatyam moves are enough to give a complex to any young dancer. Watch her perform on her 92nd birthday and fall in love with her.

source….Shreya Pareek in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

9 of the Most Remote Inhabited Islands in the World…!!!

January 10, 2016Natarajan1 Comment

I can’t get my head around how far away the inhabitants of these islands live from civilization! They are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles from the nearest continental land mass – it’s truly astonishing to think they’re even inhabited at all. Would you dare to visit somewhere so remote? These are 9 of the world’s most remote inhabited islands:

Saint Helena

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

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Distance from Civilization: 1,200 miles from Angolan coast

Saint Helena is widely believed to have been discovered by the Portuguese at the turn of the 15th Century. Various European powers staked different claims to the island during the 17th Century. It’s probably most well-known as the place that Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to, following his defeat by the British. It is home to 4,255 people.

Ascension Island

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

Distance from Civilization: 1,000 miles from African coast

Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, Ascension Island is home to approximately 880 people. It is not thought to have had an indigenous population, and it was first settled in 1815. Prior to that, it was sporadically used as an open prison. Its principle settlement and capital city is Georgetown.

Easter Island

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

Distance from Civilization: 2,000 miles from Chilean coast

Easter Island is instantly recognizable due to the Moai, or giant statues, which dot the island. They were carved by the native Rapa Nui people between the 13th and 16th Centuries. In the present day, the island is populated by a little over 6,000 people. It’s said to overwhelm first-time visitors with the sheer sense of isolation they feel upon arrival.

Tristan da Cunha

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

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Distance from Civilization: 1,750 miles from South African coast

Lying all alone in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, Tristan da Cunha was first inhabited in 1816. Its main settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, is widely considered to be the most remote permanent settlement on earth.

Pitcairn Island

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

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Distance from Civilization: 1,800 miles from New Zealand

Most of the 56 people that currently live on Pitcairn Island descended from the Bounty mutineers and the Tahitians that accompanied them. The island is the least populous natural jurisdiction in the world.

South Keeling/Cocos Islands

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

Distance from Civilization: 620 miles from Java, Indonesia

This island chain consists of two atolls and 27 coral islands. Just two of the latter are inhabited. West Island is home to approximately 120 people, while Home Island is home to about 500 people. The islands are a territory of Australia.

Floreana

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

Distance from Civilization: 620 miles from Ecuador

Taking its name from the first president of Ecuador, Floreana is part of the Galapagos Islands. While it’s true that there are some 26,000 people living throughout this archipelago in the present day, Floreana is the most remote island within it. It’s home to just 100 people.

Niue

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Distance from Civilization: 1,500 miles from New Zealand

Although Niue is an independent island country, it is in free association with New Zealand, which conducts diplomatic affairs on its behalf. It was the first nation in the world to provide free WiFi to all of its 1,600 citizens.

St. George’s Island

The Most Remoted Inhabited Islands in the World

Distance from Civilization: Approx. 500 miles from Alaska

Located in the frigid Bering Sea between Russia to the west and Alaska to the east, St. George’s Island features one settlement that encompasses the entire 35 square miles of the island. Just 100 people live on the island.

Written by: Jake Schembri

Source……www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

The Wedding Cake Rock, Australia…

January 10, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The Wedding Cake Rock is an unusual geological formation located just north of Marley Beach near Bundeena within the Royal National Park, in New South Wales. The dazzling white sandstone rock has a perfect 90° corner and a flat top, as if it has been curved by a knife. Some say, it resembles a sliced wedding cake. Others see a block of tofu or cheese.

The Wedding Cake Rock is one of many limestone formations along the Royal Coastal Walk track —a 26km long track along the cliffs of the Royal National Park from Bundeena to Otford. The landscape consist of steep valleys, ridges and rocky outcrops with panoramic views of the ocean stretching for miles around. Along the way you’ll encounter streams, waterfalls and pools. Wedding Cake Rock is situated 5.1 kilometers from the start of the trail at Bundeena.

Photo credit: photographyhotspots.com.au

In early 2015, Wedding Cake Rock saw a sharp increase in popularity. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service reported that the number of visitors per month on the Royal National Park Coast Track rose from the average of 2,000 per month to over 10,000. This turned out not to be good thing. These visitors had come after they saw pictures of the rock on the social media site Instagram. They sat on the rock or dangled from it, and took selfies while performing dangerous stunts. And worse — some vandals wrote over the perfectly white formation with chalk.

Park officials became concerned, not only for the safety of the visitors, but for the safety of the rock itself. They feared that the weight of 30 or 40 people standing on the rock might damage it or tip the rock to one side. The site was eventually closed off in May 2015. A subsequent evaluation of the rock revealed, to the Park’s surprise, that the formation was not only unstable, but was certain to collapse at anytime within the next ten years. The study found that the entire structure was precariously balancing on the edge of the cliff, and severely undercut. The rock is now permanently cordoned off to the public.

Photo credit: Danijel James/Flickr

Photo credit: CNN

Photo credit: Philip Terry Graham/Flickr

Sources: Wikipedia / Weekend Notes

Source….www.amusingplanet.com

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Beautiful Words About Love ……….

January 10, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

When it comes to love, it’s hard to express true feelings with words. One can only try and mimic the wonderful, aching emotions of love and devotion. Nevertheless, words sometimes lead us to understanding love a little better. I hope these words fill your day up with some sweetness.

Source………www.ba-bamail.com

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Quotes for the Day…Happiness !

January 8, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Source……www.ba-bamail.com

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Space Station Fly over of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains…

January 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

ESA astronaut Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) took this photograph over the west coast of Canada from the International Space Station on Dec. 31, 2015, and shared it with his Twitter followers on Jan. 5, writing, “I was lucky enough to fly a helicopter in these Rocky Mountains once – I’m a bit higher this time! #Principia”

The photograph shows Canada’s Coast Range of mountains, with King Island and Burke Channel in the center. The Pacific Ocean is visible at the bottom and north is to the left.

Image Credit: ESA/NASA

Source……www.nasa.gov.in

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Message for the Day…”Among Sacrifices [yajnas], I am the Repetition of Name(nama-yajnas)”…Lord Krishna in Gita…

January 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Lord Krishna declared in the Gita, “Among sacrifices(yajnas), I am the repetition of the name (nama-yajna).” For curing grief and earning joy, temples where the name of God can be remembered are very essential. Remembering the name (smarana) grants bliss; there is nothing more fruitful, charming or blissful than this activity! Sage Vyasa wondered, “Having the great yet simple name, on the ever available tongue, and the temple where His enchanting image is installed so that people can sing His glory in an exalted voice… why should people hasten toward the gates of hell?” So too, Saint Tulsidas, who lived constantly in the temple and sang of the joy he tasted, lamented, “Alas! When people give up the name and the temple, and seek peace and joy in other places, I am reminded of the foolishness of those who forsake the rich and tasty fare on their plates and beg with outstretched hands for the remains from other’s plates!”

The Unique Flower Auction at Aalsmeer…….

January 7, 2016January 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The Aalsmeer Flower Auction or Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer in Dutch, takes place in the town of Aalsmeer in North Holland near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and is by far the busiest and largest floral market in the world. Everyday 20 million flowers arrive here from all over the world. Whilst a large majority of the flowers sold here are from the Netherlands, many come from far off places like Ecuador, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The warehouse itself, where the trading takes place, is the largest building by footprint in the world, covering 518,000 square meters or 243 acres.

Flowers arrive the night before the auction, at around 10 PM, and are cooled and sorted during the night. The auction starts early morning. Carts of flowers are presented to the buyers, one at a time, while they bid on them. The flowers get bought and distributed almost immediately. By late afternoon, all the flowers will have moved out and the warehouse prepared for the next round.

Crates of flowers waiting to be auctioned off at Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Photo credit: CGP Grey

Flowers in Aalsmeer are sold using the infamous Dutch auction system. The price is set high and a clock starts ticking down from 100. As time falls, so does the price of the cart. The first person to make a bid gets the cart. Anyone buying too fast risks overpay, but those waiting too long for the price to drop may go home empty handed. This unique system was invented in the 17th century for selling Dutch tulip bulbs, and is based on a pricing system devised by Nobel prize winning economist William Vickrey. The ingenuity of the Dutch auction ensures that flowers are sold off quickly while extracting the highest price out of the dealer who wants the lot the most.

The bidding process can be seen on the large screens inside the auction room. Visitors are allowed but neither them nor buyers can get close to the flowers. The most interesting aspect of the Aalsmeer flower market is seeing the logistics in action, rather than admiring flowers up close. The closest one can get to the flowers are from two elevated walkways high above the busy warehouse. The actual trading can be observed through soundproof windows high above two auction rooms.

Photo credit: faungg’s photos/Flickr

The auction room. Photo credit: faungg’s photos/Flickr

Photo credit: faungg’s photos/Flickr

An auction in progress. Photo credit: bert knottenbeld/Flickr

Photo credit: faungg’s photos/Flickr

Photo credit: bert knottenbeld/Flickr

Sources: European Traveller / Flower Experts / Investor Words

Source….www.amusingplanet.com

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Asia’s Largest Man-Made Waterfall Opens in China…

January 6, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The largest man-made waterfall in Asia has opened to the public in Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province. The waterfalls is 12.5 meters high and 400 meters wide, and was created as part of a project designed to divert water from the Niulan River into Dianchi Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in Yunnan. The diversion will not only help reduce flooding in the Niulan River but will also function as a water supply for emergencies. The project took two years to finish at a cost of 1.1 billion yuan (roughly 170 million US dollars). A park was created around the waterfalls for public viewing free of charge.