Language of our education; contribution of education and school to our lives. September 27, 2006
Posted by Ken in opinion.1 comment so far
I started a topic on my school community for people to tell about their views related to vernacular education. I studied in vernacular medium, Gujarati to be precise. For some reason I personally do not like the word vernacular as it’s origin has meaning related to slaves. I am not sure, I was told this by a teacher. Anyway, that is not important at this point.
Most people had opinion that it was really great having education in Gujarati, from here on I will not use the word vernacular. I am okay with regional language. 
People felt that it was good to have education in regional language, as they have their foundation very strong in science, maths and other subjects.
I do not fully agree with it. Because most of us know student of English school who did not had home or parents with English education. Hence, these students were struggling with both the languages. Like those ABCDs and migrants in US; who are not able to be with culture of their own and do not have enough courage and maturity to move to western life. My point here is simple, if they had parents who have had their education in English life for them could have been very simple. (more…)
troublesome technology!! September 26, 2006
Posted by Ken in opinion.2 comments
Technolgy can be really troblesome. I am not talking about the evils of nuclear bombs.. But simple technology which works in Hotel for room locks. In India mostly I saw the normal locks and keys, traditional and simple. But here in developed world, I always see the swipe cards. They are very sophisticated, easy to use and really smart.
In the hotel where I stay, you need to use them in aliveators, rooms, doors in the lobby for moving in and out. Never had any trouble till today. Today was my last day, so they had disabled my card before I can check out. So when I complained they asked me to pay for extra night. I paid, and the guy at reception enabled my card. But something went wrong and card was not enabled.
I went up to room three times, and came back to tell that it is not working. Finally he came up with master key (or card :0 ). Even that did not work, I was really fed up. I really hated this non-sense. Anyway.. I am too bored, and you must have already felt that in this post, absolutely boring post… sorry if you read it.
I will try my best to keep my post sane…
Photo Blog – Animal Planet – Nat Geo September 25, 2006
Posted by Ken in photo blog.3 comments
Here is my first attempt to create the photo blog. Last weekend I paid visit to Toranga Zoo in Sydney, I am note sure if it is very famous across the world. But Australia and the people are very famous as nature lovers.
I like nature, animals, and all that, but I do not find zoo or museum very interesting places to visit, unless you have intellactual company, 
which is rare these days.
But the experience on Saturday was very good. I had never shot animals with such close distance and with so much patients. Heeii.. I am talking about shooting with camera. I was not there for hunting. I will give link to the album and put some pictures here. I just loved the experience of capturing them on camera. With some birds and animals I was lucky to get those perfect pose from them, and in some cases animals were too moody and busy to pose for me. I had little time, so couldn’t wait for long.
I request you all to visit the link to the album, as I am not able to put the full sized images here. Link – Toranga Zoo.
Can you imagine this; you are ready to shoot bird, focus, and before you are ready to click, the bird opens wings for you? I mean just try to get the perfect shot of a baby with smile.
Most probably this is wolf couple, from dog family. But I am not sure, as I don’t think they can be so cute.
To me this looks like brother of owl, I don’t know the name of this guy. Just when I reached the place, he stood up. In hurry I took the snap, with the thought that he may not give me next pose. But to fool me, he was in this pose for another five minutes. You can actually complete the documentary on him/her.
This is some kind of duck searching for food, but I don’t weather he is angry over me or queer about me. Check out the color of beak, eyes and black & white feathers.
I had heard about Koala bear that they are most innocent and cute animals found on earth, but when I had close encounter, I was like Ummnnn … Let me tell you this is not soft toy.
In Kutch, I had seen plenty of peacocks, so this bird did not surprised me with it’s beauty. But then this first time I was able to picture it. The next one was really breathtaking.
It was in nice pose, I went to capture and it ran away. I was so disappointed on missing a chance to shoot peacock. But to my surprise he stood right in front of me with all the feathers raised high, and was telling me to take one of the best shot. A cameraman can never feel more luckier. It was gift of god.
I had only heard of turtles having a size of baby elephant, and lately thanks to Nat Geo had seen on TV. But now I believe that they exist, and live for 100 odd years. Such a boring life man. But very interesting for photographer in me.
There are many more, which you can see in the album linked. Toranga Zoo
Note:People who take care of Rani Jijamata Udyan Zoo (Pranibaug) should must see this zoo for several reasons. First to understand how to take care of Animals, and secondly how to make visit to zoo interesting, interactive, educational and entertaining. And the people who have visited zoo in Mumbai, must come here, to learn on how to behave them self in zoo. Both must remember that animals are living beings.
Steve Irwin – Crikey – Bapu of reptiles and other animals!! September 20, 2006
Posted by Ken in life.2 comments
Just now show got over, it was to pay tribute to Steven Irwin, console his family and celebrate his great life. Australia thanked him to change the world. His friends, father and other celebrities paid tribute to the great man.
He lived most of his life for crocodiles, snakes, other reptiles and animals. He cared a lot about them, not only he took lot of personal interest to understand them, but he worked on lots and lots documentaries for Discovery, Animal Planet and Nat Geo to explain the same to the world. He made sure that those documentaries are not dull and boring, they were very interactive, thought provoking and really interesting. (more…)
vande mataram !! bande mein tha dum !! vande mataram !! September 19, 2006
Posted by Ken in after thoughts on articles, opinion.4 comments
Making way for new Ghandhi march .. .. .. .. - Dilip Raote (If you are not able to read the article let me know.)
Check the link, very ineresting article to read. It is not daily that I get chance to read such sensible and creative things.
I am going to write my after thoughts. Till then you can read the article and throw your opinion.
Here I go…
It is not that I come across such creative and out-of-the-box-thinking type articles daily in newspaper or magazines. When I say creative, I do not really mean decorate with ribbons and tapes, but author has touched India’s current affairs from many dimensions while keeping the Ghandhian thoughts as ruler. It is not easy, at least for me, to write on the same subject from two different tangents at the same time. (more…)
It is really easy … !!! September 19, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, opinion, travel log.1 comment so far
After those nightmares in early days of my stay in Sydney; life is getting better now. The weekend was fulfilling for the mind and soul. I visited Darling Harbour on Friday and Opera House plus Botanical Garden on Saturday. I spent Sunday with the friends of my cousin. The connection is strange but, they were really warm and I was really welcomed.
Friday, after office I rushed home to get in my jeans and T, and took a camera then left to Darling Harbour. It is really wonderful place to be with friends and even better with soul mate. It reminded me of Eat Street in Hyderabad near Hussainsagar Lake, Bandra Band Stand in Mumbai and Navy Pier in Chicago. Plenty of couples young and old were strolling on the pedestrian strips along side harbour. Water taxis were parked and some were ready to take off. The beauty of Sydney and Chicago is that cove is very large and it forms harbour. So u have city landscape spread around water unlike Mumbai where water is spread across island. (more…)
being alone ! ! ! September 14, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, opinion, travel log.5 comments
While walking on the streets of Sydney I told you that I would tell why it is really easy being alone and why it is really hard.
Yesterday I went in search of Indian food. My cousin in India gave me a reference of his friend in Sydney. He suggested me to go to Cleveland Street to have Indian food. I thought that is really great, I will survive for next weeks. But I was fool to go too late, I left at 8:30 in the evening; I was told that place is on 10-15 mins walk. I walked for more then 25 mins and reached Cleveland St, it was very quite then, I was scared now. I knew that in Australia you should be careful after dark. (more…)
walking on the streets of Sydney . . . . . .!!! September 13, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, opinion, travel log.6 comments
scribbled on September 12, 2006 19:28 Hrs.
At 6:00 pm I left office today, was walking on the Bathurst St, where foundation for this post was laid. Writing blog was never so easy, actually I am alone here, and no other option but to write to kill time and talk to self. What better way then writing blog?
The streets of Sydney are like any roads in Chicago except that Chicago is stacked with too many multi story buildings. Traffic is nicely organized; people follow the traffic light, hundreds of models and variations, and bla bla bla. But I was all alone in the midst of this jungle. It is really not easy being alone, or it is not really tough being alone. I will explain why and how part of it later.
Heineken tastes very different from Foster and Kingfisher. This is first time in life I bought 6 packs. I actually wanted to have red wine, but could not find so compromised with beer. It is chilled like hell here, and I know I will have extra inches on my tummy when I reach India. But am I left with any other option? (more…)
wait till the end of the world . . . . . . . . ! ! ! September 13, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.add a comment
penned on September 10, 2006 20:30 Hrs.
Other day I wrote about long wait, today I will talk about the wait which never comes to end. While writing last post I was waiting for my business VISA for Australia. Probably 15 minutes after I published the post, my wait came to end. I already told you god is very nice to me, I got my VISA. I am writing this from waiting foyer at Sahar International Airport (Mumbai), Gate 5 for Qantas Airlines Flight # 0124 to Sydney, Australia. I will not be able to post this right now.
My parents dropped me at the terminal 2A, they came till the gate to see me off in just two minutes. Yes, literally two minutes. They also came last time when I was going to Chicago, it was first time I was leaving mother-land India. My dad was smart to say that this time he will not come till terminal 2 to just say byeeee. But he was here, thanks to my mom. She just can not live without those last glances and few droplets of love. Even I would have felt bad if there was nobody to see me off, when I am traveling to different continent, in different time zone, and different hemisphere. (more…)
The long wait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 8, 2006
Posted by Ken in life.2 comments
Has it happen to you? You are waiting for some one to come; waiting for mail/courier to arrive; holding your nerves to get news. It happens to me almost for all important things in life. Nothing actually arrives faster then I expect or at least as fast I had expected. Hell .. . . . ..
I have no complains as most has happened or arrived sooner or later. I was blabbering about waiting. You must have been in situation hundreds of time when you eagerly ogle around for someone to arrive at bus stop, cinema hall, or may be party. You hate the person; or post man for not delivering the mail on time; or news channel to break the news so late. I am getting irritated due to my company’s leagal exec looking in to VISAs. Each and everybody in my office know that I am traveling to Australia this week end, but only I know that we are still to hear something about VISA and my passport. From office boy to secretary of our center head called to ask “Did your VISA arrived?” (more…)
Teacher’s Day!! – September 5 September 6, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, opinion.4 comments
Yesterday was teacher’s day; I did not even remember it. We used to remember it till we were in school, as it was either a holiday or you were suppose to get a gift for your teacher. We do not value thing which have with us. We either crave for something we do not have or repent for things we lost. This day was very regular except first few minutes of day in school. You may have some speeches about teaching and teachers. Students will give gifts to their class teacher, and then rest was like any other day in school. I came to know about it only at 7 in the evening when I picked up special Teacher’s Day edition of The Economics Times.
I feel poignant today for loosing my teachers. I am not in any school now, but I am student, student of life. Unfortunately I do not have the teacher now. I need to learn things through only self study. I never valued my teachers then as much as I value them now. I really miss them today when I have questions about certain things, when I am at loss of knowledge and not sure how to get the answers. (more…)
Mother India, Anand to Munnabhi … September 5, 2006
Posted by Ken in life, movie reviews.add a comment
Last week Hrishikesh Mukherji passed away, he came in to Hindi Cinema and went away. Thus, should we say that he passed away by/from Hindi Cinema? A newspaper article read “There will not be Anands, Satyakams and Chupke Chupkes anymore. There are very few films, let alone Hindi cinema, in the world; which have ability to leave the mark on the minds and hearts of the viewer. Anand was one of them.
In recent time Munnabhi MBBS or Chandani Bar had capacity to hit you hard. After I came out watching Chandani Bar, I had hated myself; for living in the society, and being part of it where there are Chandani Bars. I still remember that I could not sleep that night with serenity. Munnabhi was one more such flick. When I say hit hard, it does not necessarily mean to make you feel guilty or culpable. Like in case of Munnabhi, it is one movie which does not talk about any negativity of life. According to Murali life has all the positive things, only problem dwell in people because they see it from wrong side. The imprints left by these movies are so strong that you carry them like your own experience of life. (more…)
