2014 – 47: 26/11

This week’s topic is quite somber, marking the 6^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Known as 26/11 (using the day / month format), it’s the Indian equivalent of 9/11 to Americans.

Events began during the evening of November 26, 2008 when 10 terrorists arrived on the shores of Mumbai in speed boats. Loaded with weapons and bombs, they attacked a dozen locations in the city, killing 164 people; wounding 300+ more.

The event lasted three days, concluding at the Taj Hotel on November 29th.  Nine of the attackers were killed; the 10^th was captured, tried and executed in 2012.

Here’s a photo I took in the Taj Hotel lobby in July 2012, less than four years after the event. All the damage has been repaired, and I could see no evidence of the attack. Business continues, but with much tighter security.

Moving onto happier news, November 27 is Thanksgiving, America’s second biggest holiday (after Christmas). Lynda prepared an amazing dinner, complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, and a home-made apple pie. We dined via candle light. This was our first Thanksgiving in 18 years without Kayla.

Kayla celebrated with family in Pennsylvania (USA) and introduced her college roommate (from China) to this classic American tradition. Enjoy your week. ts

2014 – 46: Rhinos!

 

Last weekend, we visited Kaziranga National Park in search of the great one-horned Rhinoceros.

The fog was thick in the early morning hours. We first spotted elephants grazing in the mist…

… and deer…

… and unique birds.

This eagle was quite confident from his perch…

… while this kingfisher flitted about without a care.

Ah ha. Evidence. We’re on the right path.

There. Take a look. Do you see that gray speck in the middle of the photo?

It was our first rhino spotting. He continued to graze as we watched.

As we continued deeper into the forest, we noticed many huge termite mounds.

We later spotted tiger tracks (but alas, never saw the tiger behind these paw prints).

Here at the opposite side of this lake, at first glance, this appeared to be a rock in the mud – until we saw it’s ears moving. This was our second rhino encounter.

Continuing on our journey, we noted the excellent vantage point of this stork…

… and this pelican.

We took the cue. After climbing an observation tower, we spotted mother / child rhinos in the distance. This is how it appeared to the naked eye.

Thanks to binoculars and a telephoto lens, we were able to get a closer look.

Rhinoceroses live about 45 years (after 18 months gestation).

Rhinos get their name from the Greek words rhis – nose and keros – horn. These mammals are total loaners. The young stay with their mothers for about 5 years and then go solo.

We watched a wild boar scamper through the water without a care…

…and elephants frolicking in the distance.

These turtles clearly enjoyed the sun.

It was a great day observing nature.

The next morning, we were out the door at 5:00 am for an elephant safari. The fog was especially thick prior to sunrise.  Note: this and all remaining photos were taken from atop an elephant.

“Little” babies tagged along for the journey.

Within minutes, we encountered our first rhino.

She was quietly enjoying breakfast and didn’t mind the company.

After trekking though grass that was taller than the elephants, we spotted our next rhino. What you see here is a 2 ½ ton vegetarian.

These massive and powerful creatures could not be more gentle and docile.

Rhinos have thick skin, up to 5 cm (nearly 2 inches).  Don’t be fooled by their size. Rhinos can be quite quick on their feet with the ability to sprint up to 50 km / hr. (31 miles / hr.).

Our safari pushed on…

… as the sun began to rise…

… we continued through the tall grass…

… and made eye contact with another rhino.  Without any fanfare, we watched him and he watched us.

These are Indian rhinos with a single horn. The African species have two.

As a poacher’s target, rhinos are endangered. Some cultures believe their horns (ground into a powder) contain medicinal benefits.

It was like looking at a live dinosaur.

This journey to visit the rhinos was an incredible experience and one of our highlights of India. Enjoy your week. ts

2014 – 45: Toilet Museum

 

This week features the third and final installment on Facilities timed to coincide with World Toilet Day, November 19, as recognized by the UN. It’s a day dedicated each year to the goal of mixing humor with facts to bring attention to global sanitation needs.

In the category of “Did you know…” one billion people worldwide still practice open defecation, which causes disease and stunted growth.

Sadly, it’s a common occurrence.

In Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day speech to the nation, he challenged each MP (Member of Parliament) to adopt a village and develop proper sanitation. He also pledged toilets in girls’ schools as a top priority. His goal is a toilet in every home within four years.

It was about a year ago that Greg and I toured Delhi’s Toilet Museum. This is the world’s second Toilet Museum (the first was in Munich, but that was an art exhibit).

Make no mistake about it, this museum is focused on education with a mission in mind.

Every aspect of bodily excrement is covered…

… and I mean every aspect.

A museum like this couldn’t survive without humor…

… and some poetry.

Celebrities were featured in caricature…

… and in real life.

After an overview on the history of toilets, we moved outside for the practical part of the tour…

… which started from the squatting pan…

… and moved to the pits. The dual pit system is recommended. It should take three years to fill the first pit; then it’s covered and waste is diverted to the second pit.

With enough passage of time, the solid waste is converted into fertilizer, thus empting the pit for the next cycle.

Privacy stalls vary; this one is super-deluxe.  We learned how easy and cost-efficiently toilets can be installed in villages.

This functioning, city toilet complex shows how waste can be further utilized.

Note the greenness of this garden.  [Fans of Erma Bombeck will remember the title of her famous book from 1976: The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank.]

The content of this tank…

… is converted into electricity…

… and cooking fuel for dinner.

Greg had the honor of meeting the museum’s creator and champion for wiping out open defecation.

As we’ve seen, the solutions are available; all we need is a concerted push to provide this basic essential for a billion people worldwide. Be sure to recognize World Toilet Day this Wednesday, November 19.  ts

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 – 44: Toilets of the World

 

Here comes part 2 of a 3-part series on “Facilities” which takes a global view.

The Singapore airport facilities are very child friendly.

Other stalls come with a caution…

… appealing to various cultures.

Singapore is very customer service oriented with an electronic touch-screen survey upon exit. I was ready to rate them excellent until I read the note at the bottom.

In Germany, this is close enough that non-German speakers can decipher the meaning.

In this case, English is added.

Also in Germany, WC is commonly used, which is short for Water Closet (flush toilet). Old-time Americans will recall how Jack Paar walked off the Tonight Show in 1962 when NBC censored his WC joke (imagine that, censorship for putting the letters WC together). His resignation paved the way for Johnny Carson who held the job for 30 years, who was later succeeded by Jay Leno (now retired).

In Nepal, here is the symbol for men’s room…

… and for women. Note the red dot.

In Beijing, labeling is quite clear in both Chinese and English, along with the international symbols.

This shopping mall in China had a “bring your own paper” policy, with a trash can for disposal.

And as a step up, this Chinese airport offered a centralized dispenser for paper.

Bangkok offers an endless variety of creative themes, in this case, the London Underground. Note “Mind the Gap” message.

Try this simple quiz. Is this:

   A: The entrance to a high-fashion clothing store

   B: The entrance to the toilet

The answer is B, toilet entrance (and to think, I wanted to buy that shirt).

For women, the graphic adds beneficial value and helps clarify what you’ll find behind the mannequin.

This, just outside of Bangkok, is my all-time favorite. The message is crystal clear.

This symbol in Austria is also quite clear (and graphic).

Nearby is a handy dispenser with the message, “Clean it up yourself.”

This concludes part 2 in this facilities series. Part 3 next week takes a deeper dive. Enjoy your week. ts

 

 

 

 

 

2014 – 43: Facilities

Hang onto your “seats!” By popular demand, what follows is the first of a 3-part series on “Facilities,” with photos spanning the past 2 ½ years. Only in India would you see a symbol like this.

The common nomenclature used here is “Washroom…”

… but other signage is more direct.

Proper British English is used for women…

…and men.

Facility identification can be very simple and direct…

…or very regional…

… this from Jaipur.

Facility labeling can be quite elaborate…

…with engraved marble.

However, sometimes the clues are too artistic and subtle. Be careful here.

While I was taking these photos, I saw two different men “going the wrong way.”

This restaurant used a similar “photographic-only” concept…

… while another added directness.

Some restaurants opt for a hip and fashionable style…

…some are fun and funky…

…others use common sense.

This rudimentary function…

… is taken back to biblical origins here.

That wraps up part 1 in this series. Be sure to see next week’s blog for a global perspective. Below are two bonus stories tied to October 31.

The American idea of Halloween continues to infiltrate India. We had many times more costumed kids ringing the door bell with the message, “Happy Halloween.” We taught them to say “Trick or Treat,” the proper greeting when seeking candy.

Friday marked the somber 30^th anniversary of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. This was the headline three decades ago.

She was shot down near her Delhi residence by two Sikh security guards seeking vengeance for authorizing Operation Blue Star, a military attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar nearly five months earlier.

She must have had a premonition. The day prior, she told a public rally that “If I die today, every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation.”

Sectarian riots erupted following her murder, as Hindus took revenge on Sikhs, killing some 3000 and burning Sikh businesses and neighborhoods. This article from Friday’s newspaper covers the legacy of this event. ts