What it’s Like to Fly on the Most Lavish Suite Class !!! ….Fabulous !!!

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Singapore Airlines’ luxurious suite class

IT’S an experience that most of us can only dream of — an airline suite that’s even better than first class. But Singapore-based entrepreneur and frequent flyer Derek Low was lucky enough to score the ultimate plane seat. This is his story.

In 2008, Singapore Airlines introduced Suites Class, the most luxurious class of flying that is commercially available. The Suites are exclusive to their flagship Airbus A380 planes, and they go beyond flat beds by offering enclosed private cabins with sliding doors that cocoon you in your own little lap of luxury.

It also became the first and only commercial airline with a double bed in the sky.

Carlene said the extra room increased their chances of winning “tenfold”.

The bed is incredible. Picture: Derek Low Source: Channel 9

However, the experience comes with a hefty price tag. With round-trip tickets from Singapore to the US costing up to $20,600, it’s completely unattainable for most people.

But then I remembered that most of my personal net worth exists in frequent flyer miles rather than cash. So last month, after splurging an colossal amount of miles, I booked a Suites Class flight to New York City!

This is what I experienced:

Darren was particularly vocal about the situation.

The experience begins at the airport. Picture: Derek Low Source: Channel 9

I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport and proceeded to the Singapore Airlines counters for check-in. As I joined the line, I was promptly greeted by staff: “Good evening sir, how may I help you?”

A sudden realisation hit me and I went “OH NOPE SORRY” and briskly walked away, leaving the lady puzzled. I had almost forgotten that Changi had a luxurious check-in lounge specially for First Class and Suites passengers.

Flying in the Suites also includes an invitation to The Private Room, which is “higher than first class”.

A ticket to luxury. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I followed a flight attendant past what seemed to be 50—60 people in the Business Class lounge. She walked noticeably fast, seemingly afraid that I would be disgusted by the presence of the working class. Here I was transferred to another attendant who walked me through the First Class lounge, and then through a set of automatic sliding double doors before being transferred to yet another attendant.

Finally, after what seemed like 16 kilometres of secret passageways and being escorted by 3000 people, I arrived at The Private Room, where staff greeted me by name.

Inside the private room. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I wasn’t hungry but I’ve heard rave reviews about the dining room. So I ordered a glass of champagne and had the Chicken and Mutton Satay plate … and the Baked Boston Lobster with Gruyere, Emmenthal and Cheddar.

And also the Prime Beef Burger with Foie Gras, Rocket Leaf and Fried Quail Egg. Oh, and a Mango Smoothie too.

A snack before take off. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Completely stuffed at this point, I realised it was time for boarding. There was a dedicated jet bridge solely for Suites passengers. Standing at the end of the bridge was a flight attendant ready to greet me: “Good evening Mr Low!”

I realised that they would address me by whatever title I chose in my Singapore Airlines profile and regretted not going with President Low or Princess Derek.

I was escorted to my Suite:

Better than first class. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I picked the middle one which can be merged with the adjacent suite to form a double bed.

My home for the next few hours. Bliss … Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

“Would you like a glass of Dom Pérignon, sir?” And I replied the only acceptable response to such a question: “Yes”.

The drinks are flowing. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

“Sir, would you like a copy of every newspaper we have on-board today?” Sure, why not.

At this point, the crew members came out to personally introduce themselves. Among them was Zaf, the chief steward. As it turns out, he’s the guy in the airline’s safety video.

Hi Zaf. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Zaf told me that there were only three passengers in the 12 Suites, and joked that I could have a bedroom, dining room and living room if I wanted. And so I picked my dining room.

Dom Pérignon and Iced Milo in hand, it was time to take off.

Not a bad spot to eat. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I took this time to check out what was provided on-board the flight. Headphones from Bose, for example.

Not your average airline headphones. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

A Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit, which included a full-sized bottle of cologne.

The amenity kit. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Everything else was Givenchy: blankets, pillows, slippers and pyjamas.

Give us the Givenchy. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

As soon as the plane reached cruising altitude, I was offered another drink. Seeing that it was almost 1 AM and I was just beginning to indulge in the whole suite experience, I decided to order coffee to stay up.

I don’t know much about coffee, but I do know the Jamaican Blue Mountain costs a lot, so I ordered it. Apparently it’s “by far the most outstanding” option.

Special coffee. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I unglamorously gulped down the entire cup at once, while pretending to appreciate the finely-balanced traits of the Blue Mountain. I asked Zaf to recommend me a tea, and he quickly brought out a cup of TWG’s Paris-Singapore tea.

He knelt down next to me as I sampled it, telling me about the high quality tea leaves and the hand-sewn cotton tea bags. He told me about the fragrant cherry blossoms and red fruits infused into the tea.

He says that he has been with the airline for 19 years. Within the past three years, he has served Leonardo DiCaprio and Morgan Freeman, in Suites Class. He recommended a movie for me — The Grand BUDAPEST HOTEL, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Off the top of his head, he named the actors and talked about how brilliant their performances were.

Chilling out. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

As I settled in, supper service began. Having stuffed myself with three entrees back in the lounge, I wasn’t particularly hungry so I settled for a five-course supper. For the appetiser I had the Malossol Caviar with Lobster-Fennel Salad. And after clearing the plate in three bites, I asked for a second plate.

More please. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

On to my third appetiser, I had the Duck Foie Gras with Shaved Fennel-Orange Salad, Beetroot and Mizuna.

Yum. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I picked the Fish Noodle Soup for main course.

There’s nothing fishy about the service. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

And Vanilla Bavarois with Raspberry Coulis for dessert.

Sweet. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

After supper, I decided to burn off the kilojoules by walking around the plane. I asked the crew if they could give me a guided tour of the A380 and they willingly obliged.

Stairway to haven. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

When I got back to the suites, the lights were already turned down indicating it was time to sleep.

Sleep time. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

In the suites, you don’t just lie on a seat that has gone flat. Instead, you step aside while the Singapore Airlines flight attendants transform your suite into a bedroom, with a mattress on top of a full-sized bed. When the adjacent suite is empty, the dividing partition can be brought down to create a double bed.

Zaf and a stewardess went about making the bed. I don’t even know how to express this process in words.

Now that’s service. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

It’s folded down. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

I jumped into bed squealing like a little girl and spent the next hour lounging in all possible positions.

So. Much. Room. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Bliss. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Some people might say this seems to be the loneliest flight ever. And to that, I say this:

Jealous yet? Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

And while you’re doing stupid things like that in the suite, you can use the “Do Not Disturb” button for privacy. Through the entire flight, the attendants check on you almost every three minutes without being intrusive or annoying. They just briskly walk past you with quick glance.

I paid a visit to the rest room to change into the pyjamas provided. It’s a rest room, what were you expecting? Ah-hem:

Now this is extravagant. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

There’s a seat that folds down that’s actually more comfortable than most economy class seats.

Miles better than economy. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

And then I slept. Well, not on the toilet of course. When I woke up, I saw the clock and my heart sank. A little over three hours to Frankfurt Airport. I’d slept for six hours, thousands of dollars worth of the flight. So to cheer myself up, I asked for a chocolate and was handsomely rewarded with two.

Mmm … chocolate. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

We landed at Frankfurt for a two hour layover, and the three of us in Suites Class were escorted to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge which has a spa and hot shower. Getting back on the plane, a new crew was on-board for the final leg of the flight to New York.

It was 8am and I decided to begin the day with a Singapore Sling.

Sling away. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

For breakfast, I used Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook service. You can pre-order a specific meal before the flight, which is then specially put on-board the flight for you. I had the Lobster Thermidor with Buttered Asparagus, Slow-roasted Vine-ripened Tomato, and Saffron rice. And dessert.

Time for another meal. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

When it was time to nap, I didn’t want to trouble the crew for a full double bed, so I opted for a single bed instead. The partition between the two middle suites slides up to form a wall.

Time for another snooze. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Besides, the single bed is plenty spacious on its own.

There’s room to move. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

Waking up, I was immediately presented with the second meal I had pre-ordered.

Could there BE more food? Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

It was the Grilled Prime Beef Fillet designed by celebrity chef Alfred Portale.

Cannot. Eat. Anymore. Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

As we finally landed at New York, a huge problem presented itself — I didn’t want to leave the plane. After being served Dom Pérignon in a double-suite bedroom at 36,000 feet, I’m not sure flying experiences get any better than this.

But eventually I got off the plane, because New York’s not too bad.

New York, New York! Picture: Derek Low Source: Supplied

SOURCE:::: Derek Low in news.com.au

NATARAJAN

Airbus Beluga …. World”s Weirdest Looking Plane !!!

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Airbus’ Beluga celebrates 20 years in the air

IT’S the world’s weirdest looking aircraft. The aptly named Airbus Beluga, also known as the A300-600ST Super Transporter, is the whale of the skies and provides a unique way of transporting oversized cargo.

Developed to carry sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to their finally assembly line in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, it is also used to transport special delivery items.

The fleet of five Beluga aircraft perform more than 60 flights each week and each plane can carry a load of 47 tonnes over a range of 1667 kilometres.

This is how you transport your oversized luggage. Source: AP

Its special cargo has included a famous painting from the Musee du Louvres in Paris to Tokyo, helicopters to Australia and a 17.6 metre long chemical tank weighing 39 tonnes.

Space hardware manufacturers also use the Beluga for transporting its space station modules, launch vehicle hardware and delicate satellites as the aircraft can provide temperature controlled conditions for its sensitive cargo.

The Beluga is operated by a three-member crew including two pilots and a loadmaster and has one of the biggest cargo holds of any civil or military aircraft flying today.

Transporting the tail piece of a China Southern plane. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

The specially designed plane is used to transport military equipment. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

Just a little top heavy. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

It is specially used for transporting spacecraft. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

Inside the Beluga sits an aircraft tail piece. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

Aircraft pieces arriving at Toulouse, France. Picture: Airbus. Source: Supplied

A plane inside a plane. Source: AFP

SOURCE::: news.com.au

Natarajan

Management Lessons From India’s MANGALYAAN …

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Management lessons from Isro’s Mangalyaan

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, carrying the Mars orbiter, takes off from Sriharikota. Photo: Reuters/Isro

The resounding success of India’s Mars mission holds many lessons. Experts discuss the learning from the way the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) put its craft in the Mars orbit. Make a quality product R.D. Chandak, managing director and chief executive officer, KEC International The successful Mars Orbiter Mission, or the Mangalyaan, by Isro has many lessons for Indian manufacturers, says Chandak. The mission has shown that Indian companies can make a quality product at a competitive price, he says. To make India a manufacturing hub, Indian companies will have to make quality products on time, manage the logistics and produce at a very competitive cost, adds Chandak. Building the right team to deliver such projects is important. “Selecting the right team just doesn’t mean selecting the most qualified people; it also means selecting highly committed people,” he says. Teams also need to be empowered so that they can take critical decisions and ensure timely delivery of the project, he adds. Innovation is another major learning from the Mars mission. “Innovations need not be big advances in technology, but many small ones such as those that help reduce costs are important for corporates,” says Chandak. Every project has a certain amount of risk involved, and identifying the risks and managing them is important, he says. Time management, which is of paramount importance when executing such a project, is another lesson. “India wanted to send the Mars orbiter before China could. Having achieved the mission in a very strict time frame, it is a big example for Indian corporates in project management,” adds Chandak. It is also important for companies to learn not only from their own mistakes, but also from the mistakes of others, he says. Encourage team work Vinamra Shastri, partner, Grant Thornton India The scope of what a firm’s management can learn from the Mangalyaan project is very vast, says Shastri. However, there are a few takeaways that stand out. The mission became successful due to the collective effort and intelligence of stakeholders, not their individual genius, he says. Similarly, companies should consider encouraging teamwork and collaboration rather than pursuing individuals. “Every organization has people with different aptitude and skills. It is the responsibility of the senior leadership to ensure that they identify competencies and encourage teamwork,” says Shastri, adding the management should focus not only on the high performers, as different perspectives will only lead to more informed decision-making, resulting in better chances of success. Having a higher purpose for being in business is yet another key element, differentiating companies. Organizational goals should have a “higher purpose”—something which is unique and relevant, with which every stakeholder can relate to and have an emotional connect. A great example, he says, is the Tata group that has achieved more than its business goals. It stands for trust and responsibility. Similarly, the Mangalyaan project was launched not just to put India ahead of others in space research. Again, while Indian culture is appreciated on a personal or family level, the culture followed by Indian firms is often criticized by many. Mangalyaan could not be managed so efficiently within the specified time frame if the Indian Space Research Organisation did not have the right work culture, says Shastri. “(Management guru) Peter Drucker has said culture eats strategy for breakfast. Strategies formulated can only be executed when the work culture is conducive,” he adds. Plan for success, not failure K.G. Vishwanath, independent consultant The first lesson for Indian companies from the Mangalyaan Mars orbiter is to plan for success, not failure, says K.G. Vishwanath, an independent consultant and former Jet Airways (India) Ltd vice-president (investor relations). Vishwanath was part of the Jet Airways team that struck a deal to sell a 24% stake in the airline to Etihad Airways PJSC for $379 million. “Secondly, Isro had planned its production units across the country meticulously and tapped the best talent accompanied by the best planning tools,” he says. “They were not ready for taking any chances. They were planning not to fail. This is an inspiring lesson for any company and their boards.” Vishwanath says the third key lesson was about teamwork while handling egos. “Isro put all the team into one with a single objective. When a company stands together as one to achieve an objective, nothing can stop them and Mangalyaan proves that,” he says. He observes that choosing a team was purely based on merits irrespective of gender differences. “They just stood as one to accomplish the objectives,” he adds. “The last lesson is about passion. If you are doing anything, do it with passion. There are several examples of companies that have succeeded in the toughest MARKET conditions by showing inimitable passion,” he says. “Not to forget, Mangalyaan was accomplished with the lowest cost. It proves that while focusing on cheap cost, quality can still be maintained. Indigenous manufacturing means superior quality. That’s what we need now at a time when the nation is building a manufacturing base competing with China,” Vishwanath adds.

Source:::: Livemint.com

NATARAJAN

” What a Brilliant Way to Communicate an Important Message ” !!!

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Kudos Volkswagen. What a brilliant way to communicate how risky it is to use mobile phones while driving.

Everyone needs to see this one – WORTH SHOWING TO THE WHOLE FAMILY

This is pretty awesome, and it only takes a second!

A Hong Kong movie theater asked its patrons to leave their cellphones ON as they entered the movie house.

Then they ran an eye opening ad produced by Volkswagen.

Source :::: You Tube

Natarajan

Image of the Day…. Images of MARS sent by India”s MOM …

September 30, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Mars and its atmosphere, seen by MOM spacecraft

Two early images from India’s MOM spacecraft. One shows an edge of Mars, with the planet’s tenuous atmosphere above. The other shows the whole planet. Beautiful!

India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) captured this image of the

The world applauded India last week as its maiden interplanetary spacecraft – the Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM – achieved orbit around the Red Planet. Here are some of the first images transmitted from MOM. At top, a gorgeous shot of the limb, or edge, of Mars with the tenuous Martian atmosphere silhouetted against the blackness of space. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India’s space agency, released this image on September 25, 2014, about a day after MOM arrived.

ISRO announced that MOM successfully entered into an orbit around planet Mars on September 24, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. India Standard Time (02:00 UTC; 20:00 EDT in the U.S. on September 23). MOM carries five instrument suite whose mission is to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars with a particular emphasis on measuring the methane in the Martian atmosphere: a key indicator of microbial life.

Image via Mars Orbiter Mission

Above is another beauty from MOM, acquired on September 28, 2014.

The Schiaparelli Basin (460 kilometers / 286 miles wide) is visible just below right, of dead center. To the left is the Meridiani Terra with Meridiani Planum where NASA’s Opportunity rover is still operating almost flawlessly after 10 years on Mars.

Oxia Palus is clearly visible as is Chryse Planitia where the Viking 1 lander touched down in July 1976 and also the Ares Vallis, where the Mars Pathfinder successfully landed in July 1997.

Syrtis Major is visible towards the right limb.

Bottom line: Here are some early images from India’s MOM spacecraft. One shows the limb of Mars, with its tenuous atmosphere above. The other shows the whole planet, with a dust storm visible in the planet’s northern hemisphere. Beautiful!

SOURCE:::: earth sky news

Natarajan

Nauru”s Downfall From Rich Nation to Sick Economy ….

September 29, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

The island of Nauru. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

IT’S a deeply troubled nation that has been plunged into a nightmare scenario, struggling with a failed economy, health crisis and the destruction of its natural beauty. But life wasn’t always like this in Nauru.

At just 21 square kilometres, it’s the smallest island nation in the world and has a population of just over 10,000. Yet this former British colony, which lies approximately 4000km from Sydney in the Pacific Ocean, was once so prosperous that it was the envy of the entire world.

And it was all thanks to bird poo.

We’re not kidding. The discovery of huge deposits of fossilised bird poo that had accumulated for over 1000 years changed this nation forever. It made for an excellent fertiliser and sparked a huge mining effort, first by foreign companies, then by the islanders themselves in 1968 when they achieved independence from Britain.

By 1980 Nauru had become the wealthiest nation on the planet, per capita. A monumental achievement for such a tiny, remote island.

Secondary mining of phosphate in Nauru, 2007. Picture: Lorrie Graham Source: Flickr

Rolling in riches, the locals abandoned their traditional lifestyles and turned to unhealthy food, alcohol and cigarettes.

It wasn’t long before a health crisis hit, and hard.

Life expectancy plunged to just 50, while rates of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses skyrocketed along with their waistlines. In 2007, 94.5 per cent of its residents were identified by the World Health Organisation as overweight, and 71.7 per cent obese — the highest rate in the world. It was overtaken in the obesity stakes by Mexico in 2013.

These days, Nauru has the highest prevalence of type-two diabetes in the world, affecting 31 per cent of adults.

The downfall of the world’s richest country

Locals walk to fight obesity. Picture: DFAT Source: Flickr

That was just the start of their problems. The phosphates ran out in the early 1980s, along with the nation’s primary income source.

With so much of the island mined, all that was left was an environmental wasteland riddled with decay. The damage is so severe that 75 per cent of the country is uninhabitable.

While Nauru was formerly known as “Pleasant Island” due to its lavish tropical vegetation, it’s a harsh reality that it no longer lives up to this name.

A message in Nauru. Picture: Lorrie Graham Source: Flickr

‘The effects of mining are very distinctive, because the phosphate develops within coral pinnacles, so you have to scoop the phosphate out from within the pinnacles themselves,” Professor John Connell, head of the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney told the ABC. “So those scooped areas descend about three metres … So it produces an extraordinary landscape which is visually quite dramatic and is totally useless for anything else.”

The coral pinnacles of Nauru. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

Locals were devastated at the loss of their once-stunning scenery.

“I wish we’d never discovered that phosphate,” Rev. James Aingimea, 84, the minister of the Nauru Congregational Church told the New York Times at the time. “I wish Nauru could be like it was before. When I was a boy, it was so beautiful. There were trees. It was green everywhere, and we could eat the fresh coconuts and breadfruit. Now I see what has happened here, and I want to cry.”

Health warnings in Nauru. Picture: DFAT Source: Flickr

Many residents had quit their jobs and went on huge spending sprees including expensive holiday and shopping trips, and importing sports cars – even a Lamborghini. So there was little cash left.

“Hardly anyone thought of investing the money. Dollar notes were even used as toilet paper,” a local told the BBC. “It was like every day was party day.”

In the years that followed, the island went virtually bankrupt. The government, who had made a series of bad investment choices, froze wages and started borrowing heavily from trusts.

The island. Picture: ARM, Wikipedia Source: Supplied

“A lot of money was invested in things which never actually turned out to work,” Professor John Connell, head of the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney told the ABC. ‘For example, buildings in overseas countries, like Nauru House in Melbourne, hotels in some countries, phosphate factories, curiously, in countries like India and the Philippines, most of which never really survived.”

Now, many homes are run down, and those sports cars are rusted wrecks.

Locals enjoy a game of volleyball. Picture: DFAT Source: Flickr

With little financial options, in 2001 Nauru entered into an agreement with Australia to house a detention centre in return for foreign aid, of which they became reliant. As of this year, that amount Australia provides is $27.1 million.

Detention centre being constructed. Picture: Deidenang Clint Source: Supplied

These days, for many Australians, the first thing we think of when Nauru is mentioned is the plight of asylum seekers there. But all that could soon change; the more than 1000 asylum seekers in Nauru could soon be moved to Cambodia under a new deal.

Source::::KATE SCHNEIDER, Travel Editor in news.com.au

Natarajan

” அன்று வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசலில் ….இன்று வெள்ளை மாளிகை விருந்தினர்” …!!!

September 27, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசலில் படம் எடுக்க நின்ற மோடிக்கு 20

ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு சிவப்பு கம்பள வரவேற்பு !!!

கடந்த 1994-ம் ஆண்டு வெள்ளைமாளிகை முன்பு (இடமிருந்து) தற்போதைய பாஜக தெலங்கானா மாநில தலைவர் ஜி.கிஷண் ரெட்டி, நரேந்திர மோடி, தற்போதைய தமிழக காங். பொதுச்செயலாளர் பாலசுப்பிரமணியன். படம்: பிடிஐ

சுமார் இருபது வருடங்களுக்கு முன் அமெரிக்க அதிபர் மாளிகை யின் வாசலில் நின்று புகைப்படம் எடுத்துக் கொண்ட நரேந்திர மோடி, இப்போது சிவப்பு கம்பள வரவேற்புடன் வெள்ளை மாளிகையில் காலடி எடுத்து வைக்க உள்ளார்.

அமெரிக்க அரசு சார்பில் ‘அமெரிக்கன் கவுன்சில் பார் யூத் பொலிடிக்கல் லீடர்ஸ் (ஏ.சி.ஒய்.பி.எல்)’ எனும் பெயரில் ஓர் அமைப்பு நடத்தப்படுகிறது. இதன் சார்பில் அமெரிக்காவை புரிந்து கொள்ளும் வகையில் ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் உலக நாடுகளின் முக்கிய அரசியல் கட்சிகளை அழைத்து சிறப்புக் கூட்டம் நடத்தப்படுகிறது.

இந்த கூட்டத்துக்கு இந்தியாவில் இருந்து காங்கிரஸ், பாஜக உள்ளிட்ட கட்சிகளுக்கு அழைப்பு அனுப்பப்படுகிறது. இதை ஏற்று இரு கட்சிகளும் மாநில கட்சித் தலைவர்களை அமெரிக்காவுக்கு அனுப்புவதை வழக்கமாகக் கொண்டுள்ளன.

கடந்த 1994-ல் நடந்த கூட்டத்துக்கு பாஜக சார்பில் குஜராத் மாநில பாஜக அமைப்புச் செயலாளராக இருந்த மோடி, ஆந்திர மாநில இளைஞர் அணித் தலைவராக இருந்த ஜி.கிஷண் ரெட்டி, கர்நாடகா மாநில இளைஞர் அணித் தலைவராக இருந்த அனந்தகுமார் ஆகியோர் அமெரிக்காவுக்கு சென்றனர்.

அந்த சமயத்தில் மூவரும் அமெரிக்க அதிபரின் வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசல் முன்பு நின்று எடுத்த புகைப்படம் வெளியாகி பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.

இது குறித்து தி இந்துவிடம் மோடியுடன் படத்தில் இருக்கும் ஜி.கிஷண் ரெட்டி கூறியதாவது:

‘அந்தப் படம் எடுக்கும்போது எங்களுடன் இருந்த மோடி நம் நாட்டின் பிரதமராவார் எனவும் அதே மாளிகையின் சிறப்பு விருந்தினராக செல்வார் என நினைத்துக்கூட பார்த்தது இல்லை. எனினும் அப்போதே அந்த நாட்டை நம் நாட்டுடன் ஒப்பிட்டு பார்ப்பதில் மோடி அதிக ஆர்வம் காட்டினார். அங்கிருந்த லிபர்டி சிலை உட்பட பல விஷயங்களை பார்த்து அது நம் நாட்டில் செய்யப்படாதது ஏன் எனக் கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.

அமெரிக்க அதிகாரிகளிடம் அந்நாட்டு அரசின் நிர்வாகங்கள் பற்றி பல்வேறு கேள்விகளை மோடி எழுப்பினார்.

அரசு கூட்டங்களைவிட அங்கிருந்த குஜராத் மக்கள் நடத்திய கூட்டங்களில் அதிகமாக கலந்து கொள்ள வேண்டி இருந்தது. எங்களையும் அழைத்து சென்று அந்த கூட்டங்களில் மோடி பேசியதை நினைத்தால் இப்போது எனக்கு ஆச்சரியமாக உள்ளது.

தற்போது தெலங்கானா மாநில பாஜகவின் தலைவராக இருக்கும் கிஷண் ரெட்டி, அந்த மாநில அம்பர்பேட் தொகுதி சட்டசபை உறுப்பினராகவும் இருக்கிறார்.

சிறியவகை பழைய கேமராவில் எடுத்த இருபது படங்கள் அவரிடம் இருந்துள்ளன. இப்போது மோடி அமெரிக்காவுக்கு செல்வதை ஒட்டி அதை எடுத்து பார்த்தபோது படங்கள் ஒன்றுடன் ஒன்றாக ஒட்டிக் கொண்டிருந்ததாம். அதில் இரண்டை மட்டும் பத்திரமாக எடுத்து பத்திரிகைகளில் வெளியிட்டுள்ளார் ரெட்டி.

Keywords: வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசல், அதிபர் மாளிகை, நரேந்திர மோடி, சிவப்பு கம்பள வரவேற்பு

Image of the Day… ” Young Moon Is Back in the Sky ….” !!!

September 26, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Young moon returns to the evening sky

Moon was rising and setting with the sun in the past few days. Now it’s far enough from the sun’s glare to be visible in the evening sky, shortly after sunset.

Young moon - a waxing crescent in the west after sunset - captured by Spencer Mann in Davis, California on September 25, 2014.

The young moon is back in the evening sky. We received several photos of it from last night (September 25), and expect to see more photos as the sun sets across the world today. So far the only North American photo we’ve seen came from Spencer Mann in Davis, California. From his location on the western edge of the continent, he managed to catch last night’syoung moon. He wrote:

My aunt Kathy Friebertshauser and I camped out on a country road, waiting to see the waxing crescent. We weren’t disappointed – it was very faint, but clearly visible among the dark clouds, rose-tinged sky, and coastal mountains. It was definitely a scene worth waiting for!

Denis Crute in Parkes Australia had a better view of the moon than we do in North America. At this time of year (spring in the Southern Hemisphere), it’s possible to catch objects in the western twilight above the sunset, not to one side of the sunset as we now see it during our northern autumn. Here’s Denis’ photo, taken a few hours after Spencer caught his, as night fell in Australia on September 26.

Denis Crute had a better view of the moon from Parkes, Australia. Here it is on the Australian evening of September 26. Thank you, Denis!

Will you see the moon near Mercury on the evening of September 26? Maybe.

This little moon will be waxing in the evening sky over the next couple of weeks. It’s waxing toward a full moon eclipse, visible in North America, on the night of October 7-8.

SOURCE::::Earth sky news

Natarajan

The Most Entertaining Airports In The World …

September 26, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Here are seven international airports that go beyond free Wi-Fi and luggage carts to offer truly entertaining amenities.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Flickr/ajay_suresh

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport highlights: “Holland Boulevard,” a library, Dutch Kitchen restaurant, a museum, and Holland CASINO.

Changi International Airport, Changi, Singapore

Flickr/wongjunhao

Changi International Airport highlights: Nature trails, gardens, a four-story slide, a rooftop pool, and a movie theater (free admission).

Munich Airport, Munich, Germany

Munich Airport

Munich Airport highlights: Airbrau brewery and restaurant, free surfing lessons in the outdoor wave pool (summer only), volleyball tournaments, and a Christmas MARKET.

Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea

Flickr/zionorbi

Incheon International Airport highlights: “Spa on Air” sauna, Thai massage, the Ice Forest skating rink, a movie theater, gardens, and traditional musical performances.

Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong

Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport highlights: A nine-hole golf course, the Aviation Discovery Center, the Dream Come True Education Park, and an IMAX theater.

Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia

Flickr/alanchan

Vancouver International Airport highlights: A 114,000-liter aquarium and a jellyfish exhibit.

Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland

Flickr/patrick_nouhailler

Zurich Airport highlights: Observation decks and a miniature airport for children.

This article originally appeared at SmarterTravel.

SOURCE::: Business insider.com

Natarajan

Image of the Day…Pic. That Spoke 1000 Words !!!

September 25, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

India’s Mars mission: Picture that spoke 1,000 words

Indian staff from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrate after the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft (MoM) successfully entered the Mars orbit

When the crowded command control room of India’s Mars mission exploded into applause after it successfully put a satellite into orbit around the Red Planet, photographer Manjunath Kiran of the AFP news agency clicked this remarkable image of scientists congratulating each other.

Wednesday’s picture arrived with a rather anodyne caption saying “staff from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) celebrate after the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft (Mom) successfully entered the Mars orbit”.

But in reality, the picture was about much more than that – a bunch of smiling Indian women resplendent in gorgeous saris greeting each other as their male colleagues look on admiringly at mission control in Bangalore.

“The women were leading the applause when the good news arrived. They were celebrating more than men. Who said men are from Mars and women are from Venus?” says senior science journalist Pallava Bagla, who was present in the control room.

The picture – which brightened up my manic morning writing up the Mars mission story – went viral and became the event’s image of the day.

People in their thousands tweeted that they loved it. One said “when was the last time you saw women scientists celebrate a space mission?”; another that the women showed “we don’t need to wear labcoats”. Others said the scientists in saris had “redefined mission control” and called them “true role models”.

The chatter even veered into the contentious Indian debate about tradition and modernity.

Look at our rocket scientists, said one tweet, when women working in call centres think that wearing jeans “makes them modern and scientific”. Somebody wondered why “no matter how much women succeed/achieve, the focus ultimately is on what they are wearing?” That, another respondent tweeted, is “because we have newspapers telling us that smart career women don’t wear saris only western business suits!”.

Although we do not know for sure whether all the women in this picture are engineers or scientists, they all probably work with India’s space agency. Some 20% of Isro’s 14,246 employees are women and their numbers are growing.

Nandini Harinath, 44, a physicist and a mother of two, was the deputy operations director of the Mars mission – in other words, she was the person “operating” the spacecraft between Earth and Mars. “It’s easier to bring up children than to control the Mars orbiter,” she told the NDTV news channel. Minal Sampath and her team built three instruments for the spacecraft and she wants to become “the first woman director of a space centre”.

A woman leads one of the agency’s main strategic programmes. Another female engineer was in charge of wheeling out the 15-storey-high 320,000kg (320 tonne) Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) from the vehicle assembly building to the launch pad. Tessy Thomas, a scientist from India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is thought to be one of the very few women working on strategic nuclear ballistic missiles in the world. Three women led a team which launched a communication satellite three years ago.

What next? Will a woman head India’s space agency one day? (All seven chairmen of Isro so far have been men.) And, as Pallava Bagla writes, Isro reckons that the first astronaut from India “could well be a woman”. When that happens, Indian women will be over the moon.

SOURCE:::: Soutik BiswasDelhi correspondent IN BBC.COM

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” அன்று வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசலில் ….இன்று வெள்ளை மாளிகை விருந்தினர்” …!!!

வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசலில் படம் எடுக்க நின்ற மோடிக்கு 20

ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு சிவப்பு கம்பள வரவேற்பு !!!

Image of the Day… ” Young Moon Is Back in the Sky ….” !!!

Young moon returns to the evening sky

The Most Entertaining Airports In The World …

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands

Changi International Airport, Changi, Singapore

Munich Airport, Munich, Germany

Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea

Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong

Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia

Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland

Image of the Day…Pic. That Spoke 1000 Words !!!

India’s Mars mission: Picture that spoke 1,000 words

Singapore Airlines’ luxurious suite class

Airbus’ Beluga celebrates 20 years in the air

Mars and its atmosphere, seen by MOM spacecraft

வெள்ளை மாளிகை வாசலில் படம் எடுக்க நின்ற மோடிக்கு 20

ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு சிவப்பு கம்பள வரவேற்பு !!!

Young moon returns to the evening sky

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands

Changi International Airport, Changi, Singapore

Munich Airport, Munich, Germany

Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea

Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong

Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia

Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland

India’s Mars mission: Picture that spoke 1,000 words

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