learnings – Page 107 – Take off with Natarajan

Refugees Who Live on the Sea….

May 2, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The Bajau people of Malaysia live almost entirely at sea, living in wooden huts on stilts and fishing throughout the day.Source: Picture Media

SAILING over crystal clear waters, the Bajau people of Malaysia live their lives almost entirely at sea.

Children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats off the eastern coast of Sabah, Malaysia.

Along with their families, they live in wooden huts on stilts and trade their seafood for necessities with islanders in the nearby town of Semporna.

Photographer Ng Choo Kia joined the Bajau people on their pirogues, which are long narrow canoes made from single tree trunks, and documented their daily life in a series of pictures.

The 43-year-old, of Penang, Malaysia, says: “The Bajau people are refugees from the Philippines, who now choose to live at sea for their whole life.

Along with their families, they live in wooden huts on stilts and trade their seafood for necessities with islanders in the nearby town of Semporna. Source: Picture Media

Children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats off the eastern coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Source: Picture Media

They visit the land only briefly in order to trade fish for rice, water and other staples.

“The Bajau children are all ferocious in catching fish and octopus, as fishing is their main source of income.

“Every day the children get on their handmade pirogue, and equipped with a net and lance, they go off on the search for food.

“The children have no opportunity to go to school, so there are no future prospects for them.”

As refugees, the Bajau people are not allowed to live on land, and so have built wooden huts out at sea.

During the day, they fish and sail around the coast, looking to sell food, before returning to their huts as soon as the sun goes down.

Choo Kia says: “When most people see these photographs they are attracted by the unique scene and the lifestyle these people are living.

“However, in my opinion this is a situation that should be controlled.

“The children should be educated on topics like the environment and hygiene, and I personally do not encourage people to grow up there.”

Despite their tough lives, the Bajau children of Malaysia still find time to play. Source: Picture Media

They sleep in wooden huts on stilts over water. Source: Picture Media

The Bajau children are no strangers to working, with these two young boys catching an octopus with their hands.Source: Picture Media

It’s an unusual and controversial existence. Source: Picture Media

Children are born on the water and are destined to live a life completely at sea. Source: Picture Media

They navigate the waters on pirogues, which are long narrow canoes made from single tree trunks. Source: Picture Media

Source……www.news.com.au

Natarajan

This is One Airport You Won’t Like to Fly Into….

May 2, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

You’re most likely to have your luggage stolen at Venezuela’s main airport in Caracas.

You’re most likely to have your luggage stolen at Venezuela’s main airport in Caracas. Source: Getty Images

THIS is one airport you won’t want to fly into.

There are reports that Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela is a hub of criminal activity.

In the first four months of this year, 42 workers were arrested for stealing from tourists’ luggage according to a report published by the Maiquetia International Airport Institute (ICMI). And another 24 criminal gangs have been “dismantled” who were involved with theft of passenger luggage as well as stealing from cars in the parking lot.

To date a total of 144 arrests have been made for theft, fraud and drug trafficking.

The United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security says criminal activity at the airport is significant saying travellers are commonly victims of personal property thefts and muggings.

It warns travellers to be wary of all strangers including those who claim to be airport officials with reports of criminals posing in official uniforms.

It advises travellers not to pack valuable items or documents in checked bags and says there are reports of airport officials attempting to extort money from travellers as part of the check-in or boarding process. As well as airport shuttles operated by major local hotels being robbed by armed individuals.

Australia’s Smart Traveller website also warns travellers about travel to and from the airport.

“The Maiquetia Simon Bolivar Airport area and the road between the airport and Caracas is particularly dangerous due to violent crime. There have been reports of muggins and kidnappings by criminals posing as taxi drivers.”

A statement on the Simón Bolívar International Airport says it has taken steps to curb crime adding another 129 airport security officers as well as a permanent prosecutor’s office at the airport.

“The Airport Terminal is the only airport in the country with a public prosecutor’s office inside its buildings, which allows the authorities to take penal actions in a more effective manner to continue to strengthen the overall security of the airport’s customers and goods.

“The airport administrator’s office recommends that customers make a formal complaint to the security forces inside the terminal whenever they are witness to any illicit act that might interfere with the normal functioning of the airport, in the interest of strengthening the fight against crime.’

For now, this might be one airport you may like to avoid.

Source……www.news.com.au

Natarajan

Message For the Day….” Through Prayers You can Overcome any difficulties…”

May 2, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

You may undertake any number of spiritual practices, but never forget God’s name even for a moment. Then you will be protected. Never do anything that will take you away from God. You can achieve anything through prayer. You need not pray loudly; it is sufficient if you pray mentally. Some people misunderstand that God will not rescue them if they do not pray loudly. God resides in your heart. He listens to your prayers all the time. If you aspire to attain His grace, you must contemplate on Him incessantly. Worldly difficulties come and go. Do not attach much importance to them. Through prayer you can overcome any difficulties. Only God’s grace is true and everlasting. God protected the lives of many devotees and alleviated their suffering in response to their prayers. So, make every effort to earn the grace of God.

Sathya Sai Baba

Image of the Day….Last Image from MESSENGER Spacecaft…!!!

May 1, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

MESSENGER’s final image from Mercury

A last image from the MESSENGER spacecraft before crashing onto Mercury’s surface on Thursday. So long, MESSENGER, and thank you.

Here is the final image acquired and transmitted back to Earth by the MESSENGER spacecraft on April 30, 2015, shortly before it struck the planet. MESSENGER spent over four years orbiting Mercury. The image is located within the floor of the 93-kilometer-diameter crater Jokai. The spacecraft struck the planet just north of Shakespeare basin.

The MESSENGER mission was planned originally for a one-year orbit around Mercury. NASA said:

As the first spacecraft ever to orbit Mercury, MESSENGER revolutionized our understanding of the solar system’s innermost planet, as well as accomplished technological firsts that made the mission possible.

Source….www.earthsky.org

Natarajan

“சுமை இவரின் வாழ்வை பாதுகாக்கும் இமை …” ….

May 1, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

source…..www.dinamalar.com

Natarajan

Message For the Day….” Life is like a Balance Sheet…”

May 1, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

A merchant calculates the debit and credit at the end of a week or month or year, and draws up the balance sheet to arrive at one figure — their earnings. So too, in the business of life, the end may result in some earnings, after the receipts and disbursements are tallied. At the point of death, if one yearns to cater to the tongue, it is proof that throughout their life, the tongue has been the master. Thus, of the inborn desires(samskaras) in life, some are stronger than the rest and stand out to the last. Life is like that; this lesson must be learnt and digested well. The net result of all this living and toiling is whatever comes to memory at the last moment of life. Therefore, direct the current of life towards the acquisition of the mental tendency (samskara) that you want to have during the last moment. Fix your attention upon it, day and night.

Sathya Sai Baba

Incredible India….

April 29, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The Incredible Sights of India

India is a huge country with vast and beautiful landscapes. Everyone has heard of the exquisite Taj Mahal but have you heard about the colorful Meenaksi Amman Temple or the Blue City of Jodhpur? India has scores of hidden treasures. I was amazed to learn about some of these eye-popping temples and monuments. I can’t wait to visit…

Meenakshi Amman Temple

India

If you travel to the city of Madurai, you can lay your eyes on the colorful Meenaksi Amman Temple. This towered temple is a vast complex of ten gateway towers, guarding the Hindu temple to the Goddess Parvati, and Shiva, her husband consort.

Jantar Mantar

India

This colorful complex is an astronomical observatory in New Deli, built by orders of the Mahajara Jai Singh II in the 18^th century.

Root Bridges of Meghalaya

India

Surprisingly India is home to one of the wettest places on earth. The Meghalayan jungle is a mountainous subtropical forest with steady rain. The rivers are dangerous to cross so the locals creatively used nature to form a root bridge.

Karni Mata Temple

India

Also known as the Temple of Rats, this beautiful Hindu temple in Deshnoke is home to 20,000 black rats. The rat infestation is encouraged by the locals as their presence is in memory of the Karni Mata, a Hindu sage.

The Ajanta Caves

India

These cave monuments were hewn over 22 centuries ago. Historians speculate that about a millennium ago the caves fell into disuse and a jungle sprung up around it. The monuments were undisturbed until 1819 when a British officer stumbled upon the caves while hunting tigers.

Haunted City of Bhangarh

India

This deserted city is said to be the most haunted place in India and, for this reason, the gates are closed to visitors after twilight. No-one knows why the city was abandoned, but it features many exquisite temples dedicated to Hindu gods.

Leh Palace

India

This abandoned palace rests atop the Himalayan city of Leh, and has been empty since its inhabitants were exiled in the 19th century. This nine-story palace is modeled after the Tibetan Polata Palace. The upper levels used to be home to the Namgyal royal family and their courtiers while the lower floors were kept for storage and army horses.

Kumbhalgarh: The Great Wall of India

Few people outside India know it is home to the second largest continuous wall in the world. Some people refer to the 36 kilometer (22.3 mi.) long wall as the Great Wall of India, but it is called after the fort it surrounds, Kumbhalgarh.

Blue City of Jodhpur

This fortress city in the Thar Desert is a popular tourist destination with many forts, palaces and temples to explore along with its majestic blue painted houses

Source……www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Image of the day…” Save Me From Light …”

April 29, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Save me from light

An astrophotographer’s lament, from the Muriwai hilltops in New Zealand.

Amit Kamble submitted this photo – which is beautiful, but sad, too – and which he captured in Muriwai, Auckland, New Zealand. He calls it Save Me From Light. He wrote:

Ever since Edison, Tesla and Hewitt set onto the journey of lighting up the world, we have lost darkness of the night sky with every bulb that was lit.

At first, it was the best thing that happened to mankind. You could now work at night and not have to depend on the sun.

But, with the technological boom and widespread of cities, we have overpowered darkness, and today we hardly have any place on Earth, were we are totally away from lights. This is light pollution and it is taking away our starlit nights. In near future we would not have any left and our children have to read about them in books or hear about how beautiful they from us.

We have to save the night sky, so coming generations can enjoy what we take for granted today.

Start using your lights efficiently. It saves dark sky, resources and your money.

This is an example of light pollution killing the beautiful night sky and taking away the beautiful sight of the Milky Way. This is a shot taken from Muriwai, hilltops. There are four street lights that are unshielded and are kept switched on all night. There are hardly anyone going around at that place, so would be a good idea to install timers or at least shield those lights.

Ideas to prevent light pollution, here.

Bottom line: Photo by Amit Kamble of a light-polluted area in the Muriwai hilltops in New Zealand.

SOURCE…………www.earthsky.org

Natarajan

Message For the Day…” When you Develop Faith in Divinity, You will ensure Unity…”

April 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Chant the name of God day in and day out. That alone will protect you at all times. Just as air is all pervasive, God is present in you, with you, around you, below you, above you. Hence, be in constant communion with Divinity. When you develop faith in Divinity, you will naturally have unity. Consequently, there will be no scope for enmity. You need not perform any rituals in order to win the grace of God. It is enough if you donamasmarana (chant the Divine Name) from the depth of your heart.Hari Bhajana bina sukha shanti nahi… (You cannot attain peace and happiness without singing the glory of God). If you incessantly chant the divine name ‘Rama’, no harm can ever befall you. Do not fritter away this opportunity but put it to the best use. Remember that God is always with you wherever you are.

Sathya Sai Baba

Image of the Day….Progress 59 Launch on 28 April 2015…

April 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

An unpiloted ISS Progress 59 cargo craft launched at 3:09 a.m. EDT (7:09 UTC, 1:09 p.m. local time in Baikonur) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. At the time of launch, the International Space Station? was flying about 257 miles over northeast Kazakhstan near the Russian border, having flown over the launch site two and a half minutes before lift off.

Less than 10 minutes after launch, the resupply ship reached preliminary orbit and deployed its solar arrays and navigational antennas as planned.

Russian flight controllers notified the crew members that Progress will make a two-day, 34-orbit rendezvous to the station instead of the planned four-orbit, six-hour journey after telemetry could not confirm the Kurs automated rendezvous antennas deployed.

The Russian cargo craft now is scheduled to arrive at the space station Thursday morning at approximately 5:03 a.m. EDT/9:03 UTC.

Image and launch details via NASA on G+

Bottom line: An unpiloted ISS Progress 59 cargo craft launched at 3:09 a.m. EDT (7:09 UTC, 1:09 p.m. local time in Baikonur) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying food and supplies for the International Space Station.

Source……www.earthsky.org

Natarajan