Uday Bhaskar's Book Release

When a book authored by your buddy is released, you feel excited. Ghumakkad was fortunate to attend a book release in Vizag yesterday.

The book 'India's Strategic and Security Concerns' authored by Commodore (Retd) Uday Bhaskar was released by Admiral Arun Prakash.
It was a chance encounter on social media when  Uday and I discovered that both of us are in Vizag. Uday always quick to respond, sent me the event invite. As I was to board a train same evening, I could squeeze to attend part of the event. After all what are buddies of 46 years meant for?

Uday was his usual self. Humble, polite and smiling. Ocean of knowledge, always calm! Uday, we are proud of you.

Here are few pictures of the Book Release.

I am not writing about the book. I will leave it to more learned readers and reviewers. Suffice it to say that the book will be of use to Policy Makers, Think Tanks, Practitioners, Researchers and Academicians alike.

We end with a quote by Fredrick Douglas who said that "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free".

Uday: Keep writing. More power to your pen or the keyboard, as the case may be!

Thanks for browsing
   
     -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 3rd Feb 2020 

#books #cub #udaybhaskar #navy #india #strategy #security #nationalsecurity #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Bougainvillea Which Changes Colours

Ever seen a Bougainvillea flower which changes colours?
I had also not seen one till this morning. While walking around the Dolphin Hill in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, I noticed a Bougainvillea shrub with different coloured flowers.
One shrub. One branch but flowers having different colours? Incredible!
Closer look revealed Nature's palette. See the pictures.

Apparently, in some varieties of Bougainvillea, the white petals turn pink over few days of flowering. Pictures below demonstrate this behaviour.

In the picture below, all the flowers have almost turned pink!

We end with a PQ- picturesque quote inspired by the falling branches of a Bougainvillea shrub shown in the picture.

So, in life we need to climb. Else, we will remain where we are and ultimately decay.

Some of the previous posts with PQs on flowers are listed below. You may click to browse.

Symmetry in Nature
Life is like a Wildflower
Where flowers bloom so does hope
Saying it with Flowers

Thanks for browsing

     - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Vizag/ 1st Feb 2020

#flowers #nature #bougainvillea #PQ #picturesquequotes #Powerofobservation #naturespalette #colours #change #dolphinhill #vizag #ghumakkadHB #ghumakkadharsh

Train Journey Always Fun

After threatening to pull the chain, water tanks for the wash rooms in a 2nd class coach were filled up at Vizag railway station. Neat and clean otherwise, people avoid 2nd class rail travel because of smelly wash rooms on-board. Ghumakkad travelled by the 'royal' class from Vizag to Araku valley recently. It was part of a two-day package by AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). Though APTDC gave a choice of AC/non-AC rooms at their resort in Araku, there was no choice for AC Chair car. All tourists were made to travel by 2nd class reserved compartment. Though after a while, local passengers also boarded the coach.

Despite the crowd and the rattling noise of rail tracks, it was an enjoyble journey. Monsoon clouds and green valleys added to the 'open air' feel and charm of a 2nd class coach. Pictures for you.

Araku is a nice getaway from Vizag. One-day tiring travel or two-days leisurely outing-- take your call. Neeta and I took the two-day plan with APTDC. Rs 5500/- for both of us for AC Deluxe room and all meals included- Vizag to Vizag. Value for money!

We travelled by overnight train from Hyderabad to Vizag. As the day dawned, we entered the coastal city of Vizag.

Indian Navy had organised International Fleet Review in Feb-2016 in Vizag. Not only the Naval base but the entire city of Vizag got a facelift. Vizag railway station below.

Another Naval motivational display is being erected at RK beach. It is a 'live' Tu-142M aircraft which saw service in the Navy for many years.

Here is a short 40-second video clip shot in the moving train showing the valley.

Vizag-Araku train is not a narrow gauge train as most hill railways are. Read on.

 Get a feel of the tunnel ride in this 50-second video shot by Ghumakkad.

 Ghumakkad had posted two recent stories on tourist spots near Araku. Just in case you missed browsing it, here are the links:
Beauty of Darkness- Borra Caves
Chaparai Water Cascade

Where to stay, what more to see in Araku and more importantly what to eat-- coming up next.

Thanks for browsing.

    -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/21st Sep 2017

#Araku #Vizag #TrainTunnels #GhumakkadHarsh #GhumakkadHB #Wanderlust #NatGeoIndia #LonelyPlanetIndia #Wandertrails #APTDC #BorraCaves #ChaparaiWaterFlow #Chaparai #VizagGetaways #HyderabadGetaways

Beauty of Darkness

Who lives in a cave?
Childhood memories tell us-- it is the king of the jungle.
Or, sadhus and hermits doing penance up in the Himalayas.
Or, mountaineers and trekkers seeking shelter from rain or snow.
Or, the Taliban terrorists hiding in Afghanistan!

So, caves mean different things to different people. There are many caves in India. But Borra Caves in Eastern Ghats are one of the deepest. Located 90 kms north of Vizag, it is a big tourist attraction.
See the map and official sign board below.

The caves are situated 2300 ft above mean sea level. The caves go down 260 feet deep into the mountain. Visitors get a chance to walk upto 700 feet inside the cave. With limited natural light, the caves have been illumniated with soft LED lights. With changing colours, it creates a surreal effect on surrounding rocks and ceiling.

A separate ticket for camera is required. Flash photography is not permitted as in Ajanta-Ellora caves near Aurangabad. Therefore, it is a tough call to keep the camera steady for long exposure. Ghumakkad did some experimentation with his monopod. Tripod would come in the way of teeming tourists, hence ruled out.

Pictures of Borra caves for you.

Am reminded of what Mahatma Gandhi said about darkness. Here is a picturesque quote- PQ- for you.

While negotiating a dark pathway around a tall stalagmite pillar, I took this picture. Here it is as a PQ with Hellen Keller's quote on darkness.

At the end of the cave, the lighting cast its shadow on the walls. Take a look with Adrienne Rich's famous line.

The next story will take you to Chaparai Waterflow near Araku to get a thrill of cascading and gushing river water.

Other caves in India are:
Elephanta caves near Mumbai
Borivli caves in Borivli National Park, Mumbai
Bellum Caves in AP
Narsing Cave Temple near Bidar
Caves near Sahasradhara, Dehradun
Ajanta-Ellora near Aurangabad
Bali cave near Chintamani temple, Hampi

Do share your pictures and experiences of visiting a cave.

Thanks for browsing

     - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 27th Aug 2017


Postscript:
"Somehow despite the dramatic effects in some corners of the cave, where rock formations are particularly unique, in my opinion the bright colors of  the LED lights all through the cave length make the natural wonder appear a bit artificial, like stage lighting, I think.  Makes you wonder what the natural rock formation really is like/ or the true colors of rocks in nature are like."-- Am with you on this observation Trixie.
"Stalactites and stalagmites are considered natural heritage objects and are protected by law in most countries, and their collection, mining, and selling is prohibited." (both observations by Trixie Asirvatham, 30th Aug 2017).
Thanks much Trixie. Although there were no warning boards as such, but the fact that visitors are not allowed to carry any handbags, cellphones etc, is an indicator of similar restrictions in India.

#Darkness, #Araku, #Borra Caves, #Stalactite, #Stalagmite, #Wanderlust, #Ghumakkad, #LonelyPlanetIndia, #IndiaTourism, #WanderTrails, #EasternGhats, #PicturesqueQuotes,