Odysseys of George

Come 24th November, I together with another 11 divers will be going to this remote paradise, a divers haven. It is regarded as the mother of all dive sites and is situated at the furthest point of the Indonesian archipelago. So why paradise — because it is the richest marine biodiversity in the world!

To give an idea of where and how remote this place is this is a map showing the location:

Raja Ampat* means “the four ‘kings’”, a name dating back to the 15th century, when the Sultanate of Tidore - one of the muslim sultanates in the original Maluku west of Halmahera - appointed four local “rajas” in Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

Even earlier, Seramese traders from small islands off the eastern tip of Seram had established trade settlements, sosolot, throughout the region, exchanging cloth, beads, and other products from western Indonesia for trepang, plumes, forest products and slaves from Papua. There where also a strong ties to the island of Biak east of the Bird’s Head Peninsula.

Rock paintings found in caves in Misool and in on the west coast of the Birds Head, as well as bronze artifacts, show that trade with other parts of Asia was already established 2 - 3 000 years ago.

Going further back, it should be noted that just 10 000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, most of what is currently sea in this area was still land, roughly corresponding to the lighter blue parts in the Raja Ampat Map. This means that most of the early coastal settlements in this area are now submerged, and will require underwater archeology to be found and explored.( Ref: http://travels.patrik.com/ra/)

Biodiversity Features in Raja Ampat
and the greater Bird’s Head Seascape

1,356 species of reef fish in the Bird’s Head Seascape
1,223 species of reef fish in Raja Ampat
25 species of endemic reef fish found only in the Birds Head Seascape
600 species of hard coral recorded in the Bird’s Head Seascape
75% of all known coral species in the world
10 times the number of hard coral species found in the entire Caribbean
57 species of Mantis Shrimp in the Birds Head Seascape
13 species of Marine Mammals in the Bird’s Head Seascape
5 species of endangered sea turtles in the Bird’s Head Seascape

The dive sites:

Go here to know more about the dive sites

*An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that is formed tectonically.

This is a latest by Scubazoo, a promo video for the book Adrift, Tales of Ocean Fragility. The book Adrift is looking to educate the general public about conservation through new methods.

What do you think of this video?

A young and thin paraplegic lady was brought into ED for severe abdominal colics and constipation for more than 3 weeks duration. The unsuspecting medical officer decided to do an abdominal Xray.

From Radiology Quiz

This is an easy guess.

Her family was surprised with the finding which she finally admitted to know about. She was given some medications and was send home. Never make assumptions!

I was watching Meet Joe Black, and God only knows how many times I have watched this movie. Why do I like it so much - well I like the idea and the theme of the movie and above all, these sentence below:

(of what a relationship should not be)

There’s not an ounce of excitement,
not a… whisper of a thrill.
And this relationship has
all the passion of a pair of titmice.

( what a relationship should feel like)

I want you to get
swept away out there.
I want you to levitate.
I want you to…
sing with rapture
and dance like a dervish
Yeah. Be deliriously happy,
or at least
leave yourself open to be.

(And what is love and life)

But love is passion,
obsession,
someone you can’t live without.

I say, fall head over heels.
Find someone you can love like crazy
and who will love you the same way back.

How do you find him? Well, you forget
your head, and you listen to your heart.

‘Cause the truth is, honey, there’s
no sense living your life without this.
To make the journey
and not fall deeply in love,
well, you haven’t lived
a life at all.

But you have to try, ’cause
if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived.

Well said but I wonder how many would agree or disagree?

It has already been 13 days since the Muslims have started their month of fasting. It is Ramadhan and fasting is observed and practiced by not just the Muslims in Malaysia but also the non- Muslims. The reward of fasting is the ability to break fast as a family or with friends in fostering the relationship between each other.

The month of Ramadhan is believed to be the month of which the Qur’an was revealed to Angel Gabriel, to deliver it to Prophet Muhammad. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year. The coming of the Shawwal is a very much anticipated celebration, better known as Aidilfitri.

The surgical department was at it again. They planned and executed the plan so well that I would say it was a success. The breaking fast was especially exciting as a few of the non- Muslims tried fasting too. The venue was at Maya Hotel and the food was excellent.

Enjoy

Happy Onam!

For those who don’t know, this is the biggest celebration among the Malayalees, akin New Calender Year. Onam 2008 is on September 12, Friday

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.

Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

The most impressive part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

Pulikali: In this performers take the guise of tigers. They paint their bodies yellow with patterns of black and red. Scenes of tiger hunting goats and tigers being hunted by humans are beautifully depicted through this folk art. Beat for the performance is provided by udukku and thakil.

Valamkali ( Boat race): The event is held just a few days before Thiru Onam. Though the event takes place at several places in the city, the most important of them all is the one organised at Alappuzha. A large number of big and decorated boats called chundan vallams participate with hundreds of boatmen. Rowing of boats on the rhythm provided by the songs and music of the drum makes it a captivating event.

Thiruvathirakali and girls in the traditional Malayali saree: elegant clap dance performed on the occasion of Onam. In this women sing songs praising the legendary King Mahabali and dance around the pookalam. At the centre of this is placed a lit bronze lamp called nilavilakku. It is a captivating sight to watch troupe of female dancers performing in their traditional Kerala attire consisting of gold bordered off-white mundu-neriyathu and decked with a fragrant gajra in their hair.

Thrikkakara Appan: On the day of Thiruvonam conical figures in various forms are prepared from sticky clay and are painted red. These are decorated with a paste made of rice-flour and water and are placed in the front court yard and other important places in the house. Some of these clay figures are in the shape of cone and others represent figures of Gods. Those in the shape of a cone are called, ‘Trikkakara Appan’.

Local Keralite ladies wearing the simple traditional saree on the Onam swing

Please check out Onam Festivals for more pictures and information and also features some special recipes.
(Taken from http://www.onamfestival.org/what-is-onam.html)