Scuba Diving-An Experience of a Lifetime

During our recent trip to Andaman, I was most looking forward to my first scuba diving experience.  Having never gone scuba diving before, we wondered if we would get nervous or claustrophobic 40-50 feet under water; but we wouldn’t know until we tried it.

On the day of the dive, we woke up early in the morning and headed over to the Havelock Island byn a Private Ferry from Port Blair. There were several people sitting out front chatting with each other & waiting for the Ferry to depart.The Ferry took 1.5 Hrs to reach havelock.After reaching We were greeted with a big smile and from Sam,A PADI Certified Instructor.He welcomed us into his scuba shop and gave us the run-down of what to expect for our first time scuba diving.  He partnered us up with two experienced divers to learn the basics & safety maneuvers in the shallow water before heading out to the nearby reef.

He Then accompanied us to Beach No. 2 which is approximately 10 min by boat from our dive centre At the dive site the  instructor allowed us to get comfortable while breathing with Scuba and then taught basic exercises in shallow water which will be used during our dive.

I Loved the Calmness of being Submerged,the Hypnotic Sound of my Breath and the Quiet Clicks of Fish Eating Coral.

TRIP TO ANDAMAN

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are unique. It is unlike any other place in India. The Islands are shrouded in the mystery for centuries because of their inaccessability. A paragon of beauty, these islands present a landscape of scenic and picturesque extravaganza, shimmering like emeralds in the Bay of Bengal
Long fabled among travellers for its legendary beaches, world-class diving and far-flung location in the middle of nowhere, the Andaman Islands are still the ideal place to get away from it all.lovely opaque emerald waters are surrounded by primeval jungle and mangrove forest, and snow-white beaches that melt under flame-and-purple sunsets.The best season to visit these beautiful islands is from November to March.

Cellular Jail

Also known as Kaala Paani (black waters), the cellular jail is perhaps one of the most infamous remnants of India’s struggle for independence.The building comprised of 7 wings which were designed in a criss-cross pattern with its center being a tower used by the guards to keep a close watch on the prisoners.Andaman had been the location, where the convicts charged against the British regime were kept behind the bars. Therefore, Cellular Jail enfolds a great past under its realms. As a result, tourists, as well as enthusiasts, come to the Cellular Jail to witness the suffering that the freedom fighters had gone through.

The most famous prisoner to be held at the Cellular Jail was "Veer Savarkar". The Cellular jail was known for its infamous cruelty meted out to prisoners, made to toil under the extreme vagaries of nature without food and water alike, death for the prisoners was an easier option rather than a release or escape.
Torture was meted out to the Prisoners both physically and mentally, by making them to work for long hours on a hand driven oil extractor made of iron to extract coconut and mustard oil and mentally by meeting the prisoners with lashings and left in the open grounds of the prison and forcing the prisoners to watch the executions of their fellow mates.

CHIDIYATAPU

Chidiya Tapu, also known as "Sunset Point" and "Bird Island," is one of the best places to see the sunset in Port Blair, the main hub of the Andaman Islands.Chidiyatapu is a tiny fishing village situated at the southern most tip of South Andaman Island. It is about 25 km from Port Blair in Andaman District. The place is also famous for its 46 varieties of endemic birds, white spotted deer and seasonal orchids. This village has earned the name, Bird Island.

Chidiya Tapu has a trek of 2.5kms which leads to Munda Pathar. The view point is to die for. You have to climb the mountain and the view that opens up is surreal. It is also called "Suicide Point". There is a stand alone huge boulder which is joined by a very thin bridge from the mountain. Needless to say, it is barricaded and nobody should get into the act of a "Stuntman". The repercussions will be very serious - meeting with the Almighty !

The only beach near by the city, corbyn's cove gets its name due to its unique shape, being one of its kind in the country and is named after Corbyn Chaplain of Port Blair. The beach is flanked at the edges by Japanese Bunkers to remind visitors of the days of Japanese occupation of the island. The pristine sands and water make it an experience to remember for any visitor.

At a distance or 30 Kms form Port Blair is Wandoor & Mahatma Gandhi National Park, the sanctuary of restricted Islands. The region is controlled by the Forest Department to protect the Marine Flora and Fauna from frequent human interference.A few of the Islands are open for visitors and entry for the same is regulated and requires prior permission from the forest department.

THE TRANSFORMATION -"FAT TO FIGHTING FIT"

Tata Global Beverages’ iconic global Tea brand Tetley which is sold over 40 countries internationally has launched a new web series “ The Transformation”. Tetley Green Tea Transformation follows 19 contestants on a lifechanging journey

 

Tetley Green tea has 100% natural ingredients and is a great tasting product that has five times more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. It is healthy, tasty and has many exciting flavors to choose from - Cinnamon and Honey is soothing and relaxing Citrus and spice is tangy and delightful. Aloe Vera is infused with the natural goodness of the Aloe vera plant. It already has flavors such as Assam tea in Black tea category, Ginger, Mint, Lemon and Honey & Lemon in green tea category and Masala, Lemon, Ginger, Elaichi, Tulsi & Lemon, Earl Grey in its flavored tea portfolio.Available in six unique flavors.‘Tetley Green tea’ urges wellness and fitness seeking consumers.

 

Tetley Green Tea in association with Jossbox.com announces The Transformation, a one of a kind reality web series that will follow 19 contestants from varied backgrounds as they go from fat to fighting fit, achieving their fitness goals and transforming their lives from the inside out.

 

Sponsored by Tetley Green Tea and produced by Jossbox.com, the show will feature 12 episodes and takes place over 12 weeks at Bangalore’s state of the art Fitness Fight Club and Circuit Force, a martial arts gym and a functional fitness training centre owned by third generation Singaporean, ex-boxer and soldier, Austin Prakesh.In "The Transformation" Series , the trainers will take Contestants through their fitness journey 

You can visit on www.thetransformation.in or YouTube  to watch the latest episodes and keep up with your favourite contestants.

 

The Contestants from Various Fields are:

 

Alisha 'Lishes' Furniturewalla: The Bride to Be

Adarsh 'Moosa' Darira: The Graduate

Mansi 'Xena' Shah: The Globetrotter

Nikita 'Koi' D'Souza: The HR Manager

Sonali 'Tora' Mudarth: The Artist

Lester 'Thalaiva' D'Couto: The Radio Jockey

Siddharth 'Hunter' Nair: The Foodie

Aashil 'Kai' Nair: The Family Man

Nivedith 'Kung Fu Panda' G: The Social Media Marketer

Sheridan 'Cupcake' Brass: The Entertainer

Leah 'Khaleesi' Anna Joseph: The Aspiring Actress

Shekhar 'Sunshine' Vijayan: The Stand Up Comedian      

Mihika 'Storm' Nadia Crasta: The Student

Sabrina 'Bella' Suhail: The Makeup Artist

Baashobe ‘Musashi’ Majumdar: The Startup Entrepreneur

Varsha 'Angel Wings' Singh: The Biker Chick

Genevieve 'Anastasia' Luiz: The Corporate Queen

 

In the first season of The Transformation, viewers will have ringside seats as they watch a total of 19 contestants embark on a 12-week journey that will transform their lives. In addition to grueling workouts at Fitness Fight Club and Circuit Force where they will be trained under martial arts experts from around the world in the schools of boxing, kickboxing and jiu jitsu, all under the watchful eyes of Austin Prakesh, contestants will also learn how to eat right and incorporate holistic changes into their lifestyles that will result in achieving their long term fitness goals.

 

Contestants will be eliminated through exciting group and individual challenges, which will culminate in one male and one female winner in the series finale.

 

The series is already live from October 14th and features a host of contestants, including restaurant critics, makeup artists, radio jockeys and musicians, all competing with one goal in mind: to achieve athlete level fitness, change their lives and, ultimately, to win a Rs. 1 lakh cash prize.

 

Do follow the series on:

· Website: www.thetransformation.in

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TetleyGreenTea

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCs6FUtRkGi61LNC-7i5NjOe0EQj7Fxt8

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/tetleygreentea

 

Best Places of Korea

Gyeongju is one of the most Popular Coastal City Situated in South Eastern Part of Korea.

The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a number of Sites and Monuments  of Exceptional Significance in the Development of Buddhist and Secular Architecture in Korea.

Anapji Pond in Gyeongju

King Munmu built Anapji Pond in 674 A.D. as a pleasure garden. He designed the pond so that one cannot view the entire pond at once. Only a small portion of the original palace remains. In 1975 when the pond was drained for repairs, workers found a wealth of treasures that had been underwater. The relics have been restored and many are on display at the National Museum, a short walk away. 

Bulguksa Temple near Gyeongju

Originally built in 528, Bulguksa Temple provides an excellent example of architecture from the Shilla Dynasty. Literally meaning Buddha Land, Bulguk-sa is set among the foothills of Toham Mountain, offering gorgeous views of fertile plains and the mythical mountain Namsan. The elevated compound is reached by climbing thirty-three stone stairs adorned with elaborate railings. Placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, the temple compound houses a number of national treasures. It also contains a gift shop with many books in English and Japanese. Hours are: 7:00-18:30.

Bunhwang Temple in Gyeongju

This 3-story stone pagoda was built in 634 during the reign of Queen Seondok. Considering the total number of brick-shaped stones that have been recovered, scholars believe this pagoda must have originally been a seven or nine-story pagoda. Stone lions guard the pagoda which contained various beads, scissors, gold, silver needles, and a silver bowl with a lid.

Golgul Temple in Gyeongju

Golgul-sa (Rock Cave Temple) is a Buddhist compound built around the 6th century. The compound has twelve caves and remains Korea's only cave temple. A large Buddha and a series of narrow paths and tunnels are carved into the mountain, connecting the various caves and grottos. Although the paths have railings, people who suffer from vertigo or fear heights should not attempt to go to some areas.

In addition to the monks who live here, a large colony of chipmunks have also taken up residence. The temple is also famous for training in Sonmudo, a Zen martial art.

Gyeongju National Museum

Gyeongju National Museum is a short walk from Anapji Pond and houses over 80,000 relics from the Shilla Dynasty period. At any time 2,500 of them are on display. Spaced around the museum grounds are various relics recovered from excavations around the country. Pieces of statues, temple ornaments, bridges, stupas, and other monuments line the walkways. The trees along the walkways burst with cherry blossoms in the Spring and drop multicoloured leaves in the Fall.

Tumuli Park in Gyeongju

This park (known as Daeneungwon in Korean) has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period. The tombs are presumed to be those of kings and court officials. The dimensions of the tombs range in heights from less than 1 meter to 23 meters. Most of them are grass-covered earthen mounds, creating a spectacular scene which resembles a small mountain range. In spring and summer, the grass is vibrant green, and then turns golden in the fall and winter.

One notable tomb within Tumili Park is Cheonmachong tomb meaning "Heavenly Horse Tomb". Contrary to the impression the name gives, the tomb did not contain a horse. The name comes from a painting of a heavenly horse that was found during the tomb's excavation. This burial mound is 12.7 meters high and 47 meters in diameter. It is the only tomb which you can enter and appreciate the painting on the wall. Some of the artefacts found during the excavation are displayed here, although most are replicas of the original pieces that are on display at the Gyeongju National Museum

Underwater Tomb of King Munmu in Gyeongju

The Tomb of King Munmu (661-681 A.D.) is located off Bonggil Beach on a tiny rocky islet in East Sea. The king gave specific instructions to be buried in the sea after his death so that he would become a dragon and protect the Shilla Kingdom. The rocky island, about 200 meters in circumference, is divided by a cross-shaped waterway, forming a pool at the centre. At the bottom of the pool is a granite rock under which the cremated remains of King Munmu are supposedly buried. Historians still debate whether the ashes of the King Munmu were scattered or stored in an urn and placed under the granite. The beauty of the landscape of the underwater tomb reaches its peak in the autumn. The bus from Gyeongju city takes about 50 minutes. It is one of the only free attractions of Gyeongju and is open all year, 24 hours

This Blog has been Written for Korea Tourism Organisation.

THE WORLD REMADE

Barbara Walters once said It would be nice to feel that we are a better world, a world of more compassion and a world of more humanity, and to believe in the basic goodness of man.
Is it Possible to make a world that we all believe in?

This world is full of wonderful things. But there are also a bunch of irritating, useless and idiotic things that make you want to wish you could make them disappear

I would not just sit in the background. I would play an active role in my creation, building great things, and constantly influencing the world to make it more and more obvious that I existed to my people while also creating false gods, prophets and the like to encourage rival factions. I'd build this world with the intention of creating a number of groups who would eventually go to war. At this time I would appear on my simulated planet and begin granting super powers to all sides of the conflict.

I would make sure my creations knew that Right doesn't come from me. While I would have power over them, I would not want them to accept my authority, as only they are in a position to determine what is right by them.I will establish a set of rules that man should live by though don't necessarily have to. If they don't live by it, there will be no personal relationship with me. If they do, they will spend an eternity with me, giving me new ideas for situations and creations.

Some nations provoke youths to become terrorists in the name of religion. But it is important to understand that no religion encourages killing of the innocent people.
I’d change the human evolutionary past to make them better able to understand the impact of their actions on others. In broad terms, humans have evolved to look after a small group of people that they feel loyalty to (your family, your nationality, or your religious group. We all simply don’t think of this because our brains haven’t evolved to cope with it – I’d love to change that.

I would get rid of disease, and ensure that there were enough resources for everyone to live happily with no suffering. I would also probably limit our reproductive rate so the earth doesn’t become overpopulated. 


I am participating in the #TheWorldRemade activity at BlogAdda in association with India Today #Conclave15 

TECHNOLOGY:A BOON OR BANE TO CRICKET??

It is rightly said that to err is to human and therefore, it is stated that the human eye cannot make correct judgments all the time

Everything has its own pros and cons. This applies to technology also.The growing use of technology in cricket has made it a wholesome experience for the TV viewers ,All these technologies are  gifted by science to the game of cricket but there is also debate going on over use of technology to aid umpiring decisions has much to do with the need for cricket to “grow up” and flow with the times.

The stats from the most recent World Cup, in 2011, showed that around 28% of referrals resulted in the on-field umpire's decision being overturned, yet it seems counter-intuitive to attempt to increase the standard of umpiring by diminishing their responsibility.

Cricket is like a tradition now in many countries and all the traditions have certain things, which should not be touched upon or altered. Cricket has always had umpires who take the final decision. Good Umpires make correct decisions based entirely upon intuition, past observations of pitch and players, and experience of playing and watching the game.Just changing it simply doesn't solve the purpose. Even if a decision is wrong, it should be respected and also accepted like how it has been happening over the years.

With the umpires coming under closer scrutiny than ever before with the Hawk-eye, slowmos and super slowmotions, and what have you, virtually every decision of theirs comes under the hammer. 

Strangely, few care to appreciate that the umpires have to make do without the benefit of replays, and as such, there is always the element human error that is omnipresent, especially with regard to leg-before decisions. 

The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS or DRS) has been one of the most widely debated topics in the cricketing world because of the controversies generated in recent times over accuracy of the technology. 

Even the inventors of hawk-eye have been honest to admit that there is some fuzziness to the ball trajectory that the simulation depicts.

The point is that technology will certainly benefit cricket so long as the teams do not misuse the provisions in the name of gamesmanship or to slow down the game. Of course, it would be a pity that cricket might stand to lose its “human touch” with the umpires taking recourse to replays rather than deliver a decision that might be questioned. 

So much time is wasted by officials, players, administrators and fans discussing tweaks to DRS that a radical overhaul of the system is needed. It should be stripped of all technology – not just HotSpot, Hawk-Eye and Snicko, but enhanced volume, slow-motion, high-definition zooms and even replays – which all add complications and are unnecessary for spotting the howler. Let's also take control of the system away from the field of play. Rather than giving the players reviews, the third umpire should be able to interject at his own discretion when he is certain an error has been made.

Perfection can be rather boring, and cricket’s charm lies as much in feats of batting and bowling as umpiring decisions, right or wrong. I have nothing against technology in sport so long as the sport is not reduced to being its slave as we are increasingly becoming in our everyday life. But then, is this wishful thinking, I wonder. 

From the ongoing World Cup, what I have noticed is that many times this technology is unnecessarily used. Even if the batsman is clearly out, still the review is called for thereby wasting a lot of time. Even if there is no need for the review, the team still calls for it. I think this has made a mockery of the complete system.

Human errors cannot be completely eradicated out of the game but the fact that the technology used in the UDRS is also fallible is sometimes, quite conveniently ignored.All these technologies like UDRS  needs to be shored up and made consistent.

Lastly, let cricket retain its human element as it adds to the game's beauty. Let us wait for better substitutes to come and then let the powers decide. Long live the game!

This Blog has been Written for #BloggerDreamTeam in association  with Blogmint.