My Daily Ramdan Thoughts - 10/2009

My Daily Ramdan Thoughts - 10/2009

A blessed and graceful welcome to all my readers to the 10th day of holy month of Ramadan. I have deliberately missed to post the thoughts for the past few days. It was due to the turbulence created in my mind due to the untimely demise of a friend and also due to some personal happenings which were not conducive to writing these divine thoughts. Chirayinkeezhu Ansar – a good friend to all who know him and interacted with is no more with us. May his soul rest in peace. Very seldom we get to see human beings like him who go out of the way and help those in need. When I told about his untimely demise to a friend, I was told about his experience of interactions with late Sri. Ansar. Once at the Indian Embassy for a complicated work, he was running around from one counter to another to get things sorted out. It was at this time that late Sri Ansar passed by and seeing his tension, he enquired and intervened to assist him to clear the matter. Very rarely we get to see such act of kindness from those with responsibilities in public and corporate field. In all his areas of interactions with public and the community around he set examples to follow.

May god bless each one of us to develop good thoughts and deeds to the benefit of the society around us.

Ramesh Menon
31082009

Kadugodi Kobra Cup - A Cricket tournament to nurture unity and friendship

Kadugodi Kobra Cup - A Cricket tournament to nurture unity and friendship


During my recent visit to Bangalore, I was lucky enough to see the finals of a club Cricket tournament. Kadugodi Kobra Cup - named after the small village which occupies Whitefield and surrounding areas of Bangalore. The initial stages of the tournament had matches played between various local teams and on the day I was there, it was the Finals. The composition of the two teams attracted me very much. One team was filled with members of the building community of Golden Blossom who owned properties there and the opposition team formed workers and management staff of Golden Gate Properties. A thrilling final, typical with moments of heated arguments, run chases, run outs and of course the winning moments. To relive the Lagaan experience, the Workers/Management team won the cup. It gave me another opportunity to share the harmony and joy of winning and losing.

Good wishes to all the participants and team members. For individual photos, please email me at team1dubai@gmail.com

Ramesh Menon

Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon - Archiving

Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon - Archiving

Dear Passionate Photographers,

A warm welcome to all the new members of Passionate Photographers group on Face Book. As the name denotes, you all have joined this group out of your interest for Photography. For any form of creativity there should be no boundaries or restrictions. Because, what I feel creative may not be the same for someone amongst you. But, it doesn’t mean that what I have done is not creative. So, with the above statement, I relax a mandatory condition kept for photo submission to this group. You can post photographs on any subject you feel interested and comfortable – except children and pornography. This is to keep our forum from any controversies or issues. However, if you are able to find time to post photos pertaining to the selected topics (Best Moments of your Summer holidays, Animals and Birds, Flowers, Smile) provided as Theme for Summer 2009, well and good. The theme is selected keeping in view of a competition planned for children to be conducted by Talent Share blog very soon. Also, please try to post limited numbers of photos each time selecting the best from your collection. This will make reviewing and editing work easy for our expert team.

Please also welcome Mr. J. H. Gaspar and Mr. Sujin Balakumaran to the expert team to guide us through a world of knowledge sharing and team building in the coming days. Mr. Gaspar has immense photography knowledge and a guru who nurtured photography talent to many. Mr. Sujin is a talented photographer, a team person and moreover, a friend for all who love to share knowledge and skills. I am sure we all will gain from both of them and their immense photography experiences.

In my previous communication, I touched the point of Discipline. This time, let me take you to Archiving. As a person who is passionate about photography and who likes to click photos without inhibition, I end up taking many pictures each day. Normally, What I do, is to do a transfer of pictures taken each day at the end of the day to a month-wise folder, systematically designed in my computer. This is done, when I keep my batteries for daily charging, so that main set of batteries and the spare are always fully charged each morning. I always take pictures in high resolution and when the transfer process is done and as I get time, I distribute copies of them to numerous folders, again systematically designed – say birds, animals, city scenes, autos, places, events, faces etc. This makes it easier for me to retrieve photos easily whenever I need a specific photo for a write-up or for presenting to a competition or for press. Normally, before posting on to my blogs or for that matter on any public portal, I resize the picture size to make it convenient for viewers to see them from any type or speed of access point they use, including PDA phones. This way it makes easy for normal readers to view and any time anyone interested in a high resolution of it could revert to me for viewing or any other commercial purpose. In addition, as I keep on clicking, I always keep a stock photo of a particular interesting situation for later use so that it never become a duplicate of what I submitted in the sites. The archiving system I developed is by trial and error and by experience. Currently with the help of bigger storage facilities like 500 GB hard disks and so on, keeping multiple version of our precious photography moments safe have become an easy task. However, for new viruses, there is always an easy access and I try to avoid using USBs and other connectors on common computers.

Wish to hear your comments and see your photography knowledge shared. Please invite any keen photographer who may be interested to share his knowledge and skills for our benefit and let us progress ahead each time we visit Passionate Photographers group.

Always keep your eyes open for a precious moment and have a great journey ahead.

God Bless.

Ramesh Menon
29082009

A journey from one festival to another

An elephant with its mahout on its way from one festival place to another.

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 06/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 06/2009

A municipality worker from Abu Dhabi Municipality harvesting the dates

Welcome to read my Daily Ramadan Thoughts on the 6th day of this holy month of Ramadan. Many times we conduct ourselves in different situations under the influence of various thoughts and moods. It may be deliberate or not but we get do these things as if we are under the influence of a magician. However, the almighty god always wish us to think only good and do the same, keeping aside even slightest of evil thought in all our deeds.

The other day, I was returning home from work nearer to the Iftar time. Taking my car out from the parking, I noticed another car blocking my way. Not seeing anyone inside, I honked the horn a few times. I noticed a well dressed person coming out from the nearby shop and then returning back again. I waited for about 10 minutes and seeing no response, I went in to the shop and enquired whether the owner was inside. Immediately the response came - from the shopper - who tried to convince me saying that it might have been by someone who went upstairs of that building. Seeing his quick response and seeing the embarassed face of the shopkeeper who was familiar to me, I realised who the real owner of the car was. I do not know from where I got the patience, I went back to my car and then reversed about 1 km to find an alternate route outside of that parking and proceeded.

A motorcycle specially made for Abu Dhabi Police on display at one of the malls.

Its important to keep away from doing or saying wrong things while observing the holy rituals. I wish all my friends all whom they love the goodness of this holy month of Ramadan.

Ramesh Menon
27082009

My Letters - Khaleej Times - Look Before You Cross

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My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 5/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 5/2009

Moon during the month of Ramadan moon as it is seen here in Abu Dhabi

Today is the 5th day of the holy month of Ramadan. Many organisations are arranging Iftar evenings. It is an opportunity to break the fast together with everone, without any type of discremination. It is also an opportunit to feel the oneness and enjoy the blessings of a full days of deovtion to god. Please do not miss an opportunity to participate in an Iftar evening.

Difficulties or sadnes comes in different forms of types to all of us. How we overcome it and how we work our way out of it shows what type of person in life we are and to what level our success factor is. During my recent holidays I met a family of four. A father, mothe and two children. The family has already spent about 18 lakhs for various treatment for a terminal illness which the mother is suffering from. However, we found the family with full of happiness, living the day as it evolves out in front of them and do not worried about what is in store for them for the coming tomorrow. I also happened to meet another family. A young couple. When we went, the father was busy watching the share market analysis on the TV and mother was at work. Their only child - an year old girl - was lying in the bed watching the share market charts moving and the analysis happening with curiosity. When the mother comes back from work, the father will move on for his night shift. I was wondering about the child. Changing faces and changing times for the new generation. When are they going to get a few hours together - may be it also depends on the financial and recessional markets fate.

A mosque illuminated during the holy month of Ramadan.

Praying all good to happen to all the harmonious communities and social groups and gatherings during this holy month of Ramadan, I wish you all a wonderful Ramadan evening.

Ramesh Menon
26082009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 04/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 04/2009



Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi decorated to greet the customers during the holy month or Ramadan

Into the 4th day of the holy month of Ramadan, my thoughts revolve around the same topics which I covered yesterday. Sometimes it is like this, some or other things remain for a longer time. It is the thought about the have's and have not's. It is about an interaction with a friend of mine who lost his job here due to recession recently. Well settled, he used to enjoy life in the fullest of possible ways. Leaving nothing for him every month, after his regular payoffs to his family, he enjoyed it to the best. Back home, with nothing much in hand as balance, thinking that whatever he transferred, he had a different approach from his relatives waiting for him. Just the same way it has happened for many others from here. Not easy to get a good job, and not used to this situation, he is in distress these days. On a casual meeting, I asked him, what do you do these days? And his answer to me was " Our state is very big and we have several long distance services during the day and night? I sit inside one of them and there goes by days or nights problems."

Let this holy month of Ramadan be an opportunity for all of us to think about those in need and help them in whatever we could.

Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi decorated to greet the customers during the holy month or Ramadan


Wishing another blessed day of Ramadan to all my friends.

Ramesh Menon

25082009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 03/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 03/2009

Abu Dhabi mall decorated to greet customers during the holy month of Ramadan

Within no time we are into the 3rd day of this years holy month of Ramadan. First two days of fasting and prayers have groomed our body and mind to a pious and divine environment. When I thought of writing today’s two points of importance came to me and presenting to you all as it is. Both are somehow connected with Iftar.

As part of Ramadan, we all donate generously to the poor. Sumptuous and pompous Iftar celebrations are also part of the daily fasting. While planning ahead with a detailed Iftar, take a minute and think about the numerous poor who cannot even afford to have a light refreshment to break their fast. Arrange only what is necessary and if you come out with excess fund, try to organise an Iftar for the poor and needy at their place. It may be a labour camp which you know of, or it may be offering to an association who does it on behalf of you. This is one of the most benevolent way of caring the poor and in turn following the path of devotion as guided in our holy books.

Second thought which came into my mind is of the road rage which happens regularly on our highways and streets before the Iftar timings. Many accidents happen and many arguments follow unnecessarily for several unwarranted reasons. Mainly just to reach home to break the fast with friends and relatives. Keep your calmness and observe the traffic rules and regulations. This will benefit you and your fellow road users to reach home safely and observe this days and the coming days religious observance with its fervour and blessings.

Abu Dhabi streets decorated to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan

Wishing another blessed day of Ramadan to all my friends.

Ramesh Menon
24082009

Dancing temple elephant of Kukke Subramanya

Dancing temple elephant of Kukke Subramanya


The most interesting part of my summer journey. The forest road towards the temple was extremely scenic and quite and it was raining while we drove towards the temple. Reaching there, and doing our routine prayers, we found that it was time for arathi and special pooja. So, with all the devotees we waited patiently and did not give much attention to the little temple elephant stationed inside. As soon as the temple bell rang, I noticed some changes in the elephant and then it became more prominent as the intensity of the ringing increased. As it was dancing, it held on to the bell tied on its neck and was ringing it to the tune of the music played by the musicians.

The temple is specially famous for removing sarpa dosha. Sachin Tendulkar visited this temple and performed special poojas one or two years ago when he was doing badly in cricket. Many others too visit for progeny.

I don't want to miss sharing a wonderful experience with you all. The temple is very famous and often visited by celebrities.

To read more about the temple, visit: Kukke Subramanya temple Kukke subramanya can be reached by road from Mangalore and Bangalore .KSRTC operates buses on a daily basis from these two places. The nearest airport is the the Bajpe Airport, the Mangalore International Airport, at a distance of 115 kms. The nearest railway station is Subramanya Road (SBHR) railway station on Mangalore-Bangalore railway route, which is 7 km from Kukke Subramanya. There is a daily passenger train service from Mangalore (Train No. 061/0652). The train leaves Mangalore at 10:30 a.m. and reaches Subrahmanya Road Railway Station by 1:00 p.m. One can catch a local transport from the station for a journey of 15 minutes to the temple (approx Rs. 20 per head).

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Catching up through letters

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My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 02/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 02/2009

A supply tent by Abu Dhabi co-operative society to distribute free Iftar packets during Ramadan

We are into the 2nd day of this years holy month of Ramadan. Mankind celebrate religion and the rituals and festivities associated with it in various different ways. There is a saying in Malayalam which corresponds to the meaning Different people Different ways. Everything corresponds to it. While reading my thoughts, some of you might be wondering why all these?

Different religion, various gurus, several hundred thousand types of rituals have all fascinated me from my childhood. Similarly my effort to continue education in various fields. This constant effort has developed a continuous approach in me to find good in all whom I meet and all religions they follow and to provide me with a strong belief in god to do a devoted life for family and mankind. During my school and college days and all throughout the 22 years of expatriate life here, I have had the chance of having plenty of muslim friends. Knowing them well and caring about them and their families provided me opportunities to learn about their religion and culture more and more each time. This has strengthened my respect for them as well as the religion. I strongly believe, if one is good at science, there is no rule which says that he should not learn maths or arts? Offering good wishes to all good things associated with this holy month of Ramadan, may I continue to my thoughts on this 2nd day of Ramadan.

Having completed the 1st day of Ramadan and the Iftar, I am sure a certain group might find it exciting to follow. They are none other than our children. As we all know, many times, they observe quietly what we say, and do and carry with them an urge to carry out and follow their peers. The rituals associated with Ramadan is also one among them. As they see their parents, relatives and friends fasting throughout the day during the holy month of Ramadan, and in the evening, after sunset, pray together and the break the fast by taking Iftar together as a group. It creates a dedication within themselves to follow suite on their own for the first time and they do it with utmost devotion. A challenge to make sure that they are at par with their peers make them more dedicated to follow these holy rituals with ease. No wonder, the seeds of unity, dedication and oneness automatically gets planted in their mind from a very young age.

Let me take this opportunity to narrate an interesting interaction I witnessed during my travel back from summer holidays via Goa recently. A young goan guy and his son studying in Gr 2 was sitting next to me. They kept on talking about all topics under the son and the interaction was really interesting. As the airhostess came around serving soft and hot drinks, the father asked for two beers. Pointing towards his sons seat, he requested the airhostess to keep two more if permitted. She did it with a smile and turned. Immediately, the boy opened out, Dad, you are cheating. You know that I don’t drink. You should not have ordered on my behalf.! Myself, the airhostess and of course our dad, were surprised by the momentary reaction by that small child. Children they are innocent and their mind is simple and pure.

The holy month of Ramadan and the short working hours associated with it is a blessing in disguise for many to spend maximum time with children. Utilise it to the maximum and you will find god in everything. Through various bits and pieces of Talent Share activities I will be also here around and if you find it interesting, please do spare a few minutes to make sure your child participate in them.

Wishing another blessed day of Ramadan to all my friends.

Ramesh Menon
23082009

My Daily Ramadan thoughts - 01/2009

My Daily Ramadan Thoughts - 01/2009


Mosque near Madinat Zayed Shopping complex Abu Dhabi

Today is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. It is the 9th month according to the Muslim calendar and very special to all muslims. From the time, I came to gulf, I enjoy following the fast and festivities associated with Ramadan. May be it is due to the religious upbringing I followed from my childhood which gave prominence to all religion and taught me to consider every one with importance irrespective of their caste or creed. May be this enthusiasm and belief is the force behind me to do the second edition of the Ramadan thoughts this year too. The first edition done last year was in Malayalam and many of my friends were unable to read it and I am following their request this year to do a version in English.

This is the month of August and days are longer than other months. That means fasting during the entire period of the day is a tough proposition to all, especially who do not fast regularly. It gives an added importance and virtue to this religious ritual and give a person a test to his commitment and belief.

During the month of Ramadan, muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It is therefore important that muslims and non-muslims do not eat, drink or smoke in public places during this period. All these are considered as an offence to the belief. Please also do not express any type of anger or swearing in public during this period.

Muslims pray five times during Ramadan. When the call for prayer is announced, it is required to keep silence and reduce the sound of any loud music or public announcements happening around.

Display of affection between men and women in public places should also be controlled during the holy month of Ramadan. Provocative clothing should also be avoided during Ramadan period.

Fasting muslims eat two meals a day during Ramadan, namely Suhour and Iftar. Suhour is a pre-dawn meal, taken to give enough strength to fast. Iftar marks the end of the fast just after the sunset and mainly water, fresh juice and dates are taken. The main course of food is taken later during the evening after performing the Maghrib prayers.


Iftar tents situated near the mosque at Madinat Zayed shopping complex Abu Dhabi

I will try to add daily a few pictures of how the society celebrates the holy month of Ramadan in this part of the world.

I wish all my friends blessings of this holy month.

Ramesh Menon
22082009

Daily Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon - 30 July 2009

Daily Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon - 30 July 2009

Welcome all, to the world of Passionate Photographers.

I hope you enjoyed the slow and steady start we had. I know it takes time to gain momentum before we get truly passionate contributors to this wonderful group. It is therefore our common need to set a discipline before we gain that magical momentum. Let that be the topic for today.

You might have noticed the comment by Mr. R Vijayan on my new photo album – Temptations on the Move – Delhi Gaya Haridwar Rishikesh. Every one carries a camera these days and clicks several precious moments. But seldom take additional few minutes to keep them organised for viewing or any other use later on. Partially this is due to the lack of storage facilities or know-how related to the instrument one uses.

Discipline, personal and professional is very essential and I contribute a lot of my success in both the field due to my interest in photography. According to me a person who is passionate about photography is like a soldier. Like a soldier, who keeps his fitness at its peak and maintain his equipments war ready every time, a passionate photographer will keep his camera and his photographic intuitive mind ever ready for a golden moment. To this he has to:

• preserve his camera and accessories in its perfect environment condition

• keeps the batteries charged, carry additional spare batteries for emergency prolonged use

• keeps all the necessary data transfer cables and additional storage cards handy

• keep on reading and enhancing his knowledge about different types of photography techniques.

• Keeps on clicking without inhibitions pictures of objects that suite his interest. As he knows better that practise makes one perfect when a real opportunity arrives.

• Keep on exploring various features of his photography equipments under various conditions so that he is familiar with the instruments and well aware of what is the quickest way to capture a golden moment with the instrument he has at that particular time and place.

I consider all the above factors equally important. However, to the last one I give more importance because it gives an overall positive outlook to an individual. Like you develop an interest to get to know more about your photography instrument, by constant practise, you get to know also the finer aspects of your family, friends and colleagues with whom you interact frequently. A totally different outlook will evolve in your interactions within no time if you enjoy encouraging photography with passion. It becomes a duty and devotion to contribute towards the benefit of the society in many possible ways.

I am thankful to those members who joined Passionate Photographers group on Face Book. For all your information, as a matter of discipline I had to remove one member yesterday who joined and uploaded photos. Nothing wrong in it, but there was no connection to the themes given, there was no trace to interact with his Face Book ID either by comments or messages. As a person who encourages and promote interactive communications it is against our common perceived benefit of sharing knowledge. I hope the member comes back with his communicative ID and share his valuable expertise with all of us.

Please start contributing passionately at your own pace. Invite and encourage your friends and fellow photography enthusiasts to join Passionate Photographers. Let us collectively further the growth of this group to a knowledge enhancement forum for passionate photographers on this e-world.

I will be travelling to India tonight for about 20 days and will try and keep in touch with you through this wonderful interactive forum whenever I can.

God Bless and Have a great journey ahead.

Ramesh Menon
30 07 2009

Daily thoughts created for Passionate Photographers group on Face Book

Today in History - 30 July

1946 1st rocket attains 100 mi (167 km) altitude, White Sands, New Mexico

1935 1st Penguin book is published, starting the paperback revolution

1836 1st English newspaper published in Hawaii

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Encouraging insults

To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Today in History - 29 July

1952 1st nonstop transpacific flight by a jet

1927 1st iron lung installed, Bellevue hospital, New York

1920 1st transcontinental airmail flight from New York to SF

1914 1st transcontinental phone link made between New York City and SF

1899 1st motorcycle race, Manhattan Beach, New York

1858 U.S. citizens allowed to live anywhere in Japan

1786 1st newspaper published west of Alleghanies, Pitts Gazette

1655 Biggest townhall in the world opens in Amsterdam

Daily Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon - 29 July 2009

Daily Passionate Photography Thoughts by Ramesh Menon


Good morning all. A passionate response indeed to this new initiative of mine to bring together all those who are passionate about photography. As you might have noticed already, each member of this group holds equally responsible role for a steady growth and sustained knowledge share process. This is a thread started to share my experience as a passionate photographer. Let me take this opportunity to briefly introduce the volunteers:

Mr. Ahmed Kutty is a well known Press Photographer working with Gulf News in UAE. Photo journalism is not an easy task and those who read newspapers with interest will straightaway notice his photos even if there is no name mentioned below it. We are now blessed to share his creative collection through Face Book.

Mr. K K Moidu is film critic, an active blogger and established journalist working for Gulf Today. His reviews are popular amongst the film industry and the fans.

Mr. R Vijayan is an ardent supporter of creativity. More than that he has a great heart to say always a few words of encouragement or constructive criticism whenever he observes a creativity happening. Upcoming singer Rashmi Vijayan is his daughter.

Adur Pradeep is a well known journalist working for Khaleej Times. Famous for his sports reviews and write ups, he carries a no nonsense approach and his own bold style of constructive criticism. A comment or observation to be passed with a few words of encouragement will never miss from his side.

Sujit Sukumaran is an established Toast Master in UAE. Add a very good writer, a professional Resume Maker, a promoter of vegetarianism and Indian culture along with a ‘no physical or personal difficulties can hold me from moving on in my life attitude’; you will get a picture of Sujit.

Dr. Rajah Balakrishna is well known amongst Photography enthusiast in the Middle East. A living encyclopaedia of the subject, his experience that will be shared here in this group will be a bounty for all those passionate photographers to share with.

Rajashree Menon – my loving wife. Very creative in mind and dedicated to her profession as a Software Quality Assurance and Project Manager, finds time to check the quality points of my numerous creative pursuits. A spelling here, or grammar there or a stroke missed at another place will never be missed.

Last but not the least – Ramesh Menon – this humble me. Take a few minutes, visit my profile and also visit Photo Speaks, Letters to the Editor, Mind Speaks, No News, Achievements sections of my blogs and you will get to know me.

Welcome all the above volunteers and equally welcome yourself to this wonderful group we have.

My passion for photography started many years ago, when my father returned from Bombay to start his pharmaceutical business in Kerala. In his collection were some excellent books on photography published by Kodak with whom he was working then. I read them as many times as I could during my school days but a dream of getting hold of a camera of my own came many years after that. Imagine how lucky the present generation children are. The points noted from those readings remained strongly and will share that book with you all when I return from my holidays in India. This is the result of an important aspect of collecting and preserving valuables which I have maintained from my childhood.

Well, I hope you enjoyed today’s passionate photographic thoughts. Now, its time to move on from passion to profession. See you tomorrow and I humbly request you to start uploading your collection of photos as suggested in the theme for this summer. Please also upload links to your photo albums at the links section.

Develop the photographer in you, slowly groom yourself to click without inhibition and come out with a photo that speaks life around you.

God Bless and have a passionate photography day ahead.

Ramesh Menon

Today in History - 28 July

1959 Great Britain starts using postal codes

1940 Radio Orange, London begins

1933 1st singing telegram delivered (to Rudy Vallee), New York City

1851 Total solar eclipse captured on a daguerreotype photograph

Today in History - 27 July

1953 1st insulin isolated by F Banting and C Best in Toronto

1949 1st jet-propelled airline, De Havilland Comet, flies

1945 U.S. Communist Party forms

1944 1st British jet fighter used in combat, Gloster Meteor

1920 Radio compass used for 1st time for aircraft navigation