Although, on most occasions, a standard room is acceptable, sometimes the luxury of a suite is too tempting to resist. There’s nothing that could complement the extra space and comforts, and above all, that feel of home away from home. I wouldn’t mind splurging on rooms that have a private balcony with breathtaking ocean views.

Luxuries have their own price tags. However, there are some aspects that couldn’t be measured in terms of money. Take for instance, the Chateau de Bagnols in Bagnols, France. High rollers wouldn’t hesitate to spend $680 for a night in this restored medieval castle. It’s not everyday that you have the chance to stay at a vineyard chateau hotel every day.

Others such as the Korakia Pensione, in Palm Springs start at a decent $165. You’ll find fine linen sheets, canopied four-poster beds, ceiling fans, slate and wooden floors, Mexican chairs, French glassware and other accessories and accents.

Consider the Pelican in Miami Beach, Florida. The hotel is a crazy, yet refreshing detour from the kitsch design logic of ordinary hotels. At Pelican, the sky is the limit when it comes to interior design and imagination.

In Tupper Lake, New York, Wawbeek is one of the best places to stay. Besides the cozy log cabins with fireplaces, they offered dramatic views of the Adirondacks. The money spent is worthwhile when you think about those gorgeous sights! Another scenic delight is the Hix Island House in Vieques, near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The breathtaking views of the Caribbean are priceless. Travel is one of the most rewarding of all human experiences and hotels account for a large part of the adventure. When a hotel offers services that rise above mediocrity, it adds to the experience of the trip. Who doesn’t want to have an invigorating and rewarding travel experience?

Eye Catching Napkin Rings for Your Dining Table

I have been seeing disposable napkin rings in wedding functions, large family gatherings and other large scale functions. But recently, I went over to my cousins’ for a stay where I saw beautiful silver and beaded napkin rings, neatly binding the napkins, placed on their dining table all the time. They were the smallest accessory on the dining table, but brought unmatched elegance to it.

About Napkin Rings: By dictionary definition, napkin rings are rings or bands of metal, wood, plastic, etc., through which a folded napkin is inserted, often as part of a place setting. The basic purpose of a napkin ring is to bind a clean napkin, generally cloth, and keep it in place at each dinner place setting. These rings can be made from anything – paper, plastic, metal, wood, glass, ceramics, anything. Though the most popular ones, till date, are silver napkin rings. Napkin rings are often matched with the other table accessories. For example, they may be embellished to coordinate with place mats, napkins, and tablecloth. Of the many napkin rings available in the market, your choice can vary amongst the following on the basis of the materials used to manufacture them:

Brass Napkin Ring, Aluminum Napkin Ring, Beaded Napkin Ring, Iron Napkin Ring, Glass / Crystal Napkin Ring, Wooden Napkin Ring, Silver Napkin Ring, Pewter Napkin Ring, Copper Napkin Ring, Ceramic Napkin Ring, Bone Napkin Ring

When I asked my cousin about them, she briefed me not just about where to buy the, but also about what king of napkin rings to look for. Out of those lets go through some of them.

Beaded napkin rings are a beautiful addition to any dining table. Beading can be done on any kind of napkin rings, like brass, copper, aluminum, silver and gold. Available in exotic colors they bring charm to any dining setting.

Ceramic napkin rings come with artistic and aesthetic features usually used only domestically. Ceramic & porcelain napkin rings are actually artistically designed pottery works manufactured according to the customer’s specifications.

Crystal/Glass napkin rings, created out of small glass pieces, are extremely beautiful and delicate. Available in pleasing colors, they add gloss to the entire setting.

Silver napkin rings add a touch of sophistication and royalty to any table setting. Functional yet decorative; Silver napkins can be customized to suit other table wares.

I need help locating the aluminum hockey puck looking hardware pieces a glass table top is fastened to?

To be more specific, this is not the ’standoff’ that would be drilled thru the glass as if it were vertical. This is for a dining table (laid horizontal) and won’t have any portion of the hardware protruding through the top surface of the glass.

Totaly

Home Styles Outdoor Cast Aluminum 42″ Round Dining Table in Rust Brown Metal $279.99

Home Styles Outdoor Cast Aluminum 42″ Round Dining Table Black Metal 88-5554-30 $279.99

Home Styles Outdoor Cast Aluminum 48″ Round Dining Table Black Metal 88-5554-32 $324.99

Home Styles Outdoor Cast 48″ Aluminum Round Dining Table Rust Brown Metal $324.99

OUTDOOR DINING 7 PC SET ALUMINUM SLATTED TABLE CHAIRS CUSHIONS BRONZE ST CLOUD $1,759.00

Palazetto Cast Aluminum 52″ Round Dining Table ALH408 $437.99

Hospitality Rattan Outdoor Slatted Aluminum 48″ Round Dining Table Dark Bronze $525.90

Patio Furniture Chairs Table Set Weather Resistant Duty Aluminum Round 4 Dining $599.95

7 Piece Outdoor Dining Set Patio CAST ALUMINUM Table 6 Chairs INCLUDES CUSHIONS $1,199.95

OUTDOOR DINING 7 PC SET ALUMINUM SLATTED TABLE CHAIRS CUSHIONS BRONZE ST CLOUD $1,955.00

OUTDOOR DINING SET 5 PIECE ALUMINUM CHAIRS CUSHIONS TABLE DARK BRONZE NEW $1,556.00

St. Thomas Cast Aluminum Round Dining Table $149.99

Outdoor Slatted Aluminum 42″x72″ Rectangular Dining Table Dark Bronze $780.05

Hospitality Rattan Outdoor Slatted Aluminum 60″ Square Dining Table Dark Bronze $936.45

Strathwood St. Thomas Cast Aluminum Round Dining Table NEW $279.99

7 PC OVAL DINING TABLE SET 72″ Aluminum w/6 Chairs New $1,499.87

Pottery Barn Portsmouth Outdoor Iron Dining Aluminum Table 72×38 $1000 value $599.99

Strathwood St. Thomas Cast Aluminum Round Dining Table $282.28

Hospitality Rattan Outdoor Slatted Aluminum 36″ Bistro Dining Table $369.50

Hospitality Rattan Outdoor Slatted Aluminum 36″ Bistro Dining Table $369.50

STRATHWOOD ST. THOMAS CAST ALUMINUM ROUND DINING TABLE $174.99

Outdoor Patio Cast Aluminum 48″ Dining Table A. Bronze $539.99

Swivel Chairs Dining Table Set Aluminum Patio Furniture $3,999.00

Cast Aluminum Patio Furnitures 7 Peice Dining Table Set $1,699.00

NEW – Malaga Cast Aluminum Dining Table and Chairs $1,499.00

LOVELY OUTDOOR WICKER PATIO SOFA SET,DBL CHAISE(2),DINING SET, SUNBED,MED DOGBED $5,340.00

Outdoor Patio Wicker Furniture New Pluto 60″ Dining Set 6 Chairs Tropical Blue $1,229.00

Outdoor Patio Wicker Furniture Cozy Pluto 60″ Dining Set 6 Chairs Tropical Blue $1,229.00

PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET DOUBLE CHAISE SMALL DOG BED $4,890.00

PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET DOUBLE CHAISE LARGE DOG BED $5,083.00

NEW OUTDOOR WICKER SOFA FURNITURE, PATIO DINING SET 1-CHAISE, DOG BED-LRG-HVJDL $4,633.00

PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET DOUBLE CHAISE MEDIUM DOG BED $4,987.00

NEW PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES SMALL DOG BED $5,684.00

NEW PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES MEDIUM DOG BED $5,781.00

NEW PATIO SOFA OUTDOOR WICKER SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES LARGE DOG BED $5,877.00

NEW OUTDOOR WICKER PATIO FURNITURE DINING SET & 2 CHAISES & SML DOG BED-HVJJDS $5,234.00

WICKER OUTDOOR PATIO SOFA SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES SUNBED SML-DOG BED $6,743.00

OUTDOOR PATIO FURNITURE SOFA WICKER & DINING SET & CHAISE & SML DOGBED & SUN BED $5,179.00

LUXURY OUTDOOR WICKER PATIO SOFA SET 7PC DINING SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES & SUN BED $6,575.00

OUTDOOR WICKER FURNITURE SOFA, PATIO 7PC DINING SET, MONTEGO CHAISE, DOG BED-MED $4,137.00

OUTDOOR WICKER FURNITURE SOFA, PATIO 7PC DINING SET, MONTEGO CHAISE, DOG BED-LRG $4,233.00

SOFA OUTDOOR PATIO WICKER SET DINING FURNITURE 7PC NEW COZY CHAISE & SUN BED $5,381.00

WICKER OUTDOOR PATIO SOFA SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES SUNBED MED-DOG BED $6,840.00

OUTDOOR WICKER FURNITURE SOFA, PATIO 7PC DINING SET, MONTEGO CHAISE, DOG BED-SML $4,040.00

WICKER OUTDOOR PATIO SOFA SET DINING 7PC SET 2 DOUBLE CHAISES SUNBED LRG-DOG BED $6,936.00

Goal Setting using Visualization

I have a blue convertible Beatle photo on my desk. On it, I edited my own photo and carefully placed it in the driver seat. I had shown it to John and he was amazed that it looks real as if I’m driving it. As such, when I’m in office, I can see the picture and see myself driving the Beatle.

Thus, visualization is a very important step in goal setting.

On Saturday, after Novena, we went to Serangoon for lunch. While driving out, we saw a private property open house. As such, we stopped and went in to take a look.

It’s 4 stories semi-detach. When entering the main gate, it’s a car pouch, which can take in 1 car. (Hmm. . . if I want to have 2 cars, then, I need to park one outside. Then walk up a flight of steps to enter the main door, which is the main hall: about the size of our current master room. There is another flight of steps that divided the dining hall and the living room, and the kitchen is an open concept and look bright. Through the kitchen’s window, we can see the neighbors, which is behind the house clearly.

We went upstairs, which have 1 master bedroom with toilet and 2 bedrooms with common toilet. The master bedroom is pretty huge. Then we went up further to another level which have another room and a rooftop garden. Lastly, we went all the way down to basement, which have 2 rooms and a indoor pond. I like the pond very much. The sound of the waterfall is perfect for me to be my working area. CW, my wife, was saying, maybe we can convert it to mini pool or Jacuzzi.

I estimated the price to be around 1.5M. While walking out of the place, Marina was so excited and she wanted to buy this house and move in. We asked the sales person the price and found out that it’s 1.3M. The 2 corner units are 1.5m and 1.6M. How3ver, both were taken.

Actually, we pretty like the concept and I like the waterfront and CW like the “open concept” which is has many full-size glass windows. However, one down point is . . . We dislike the many flight of steps. To be honest, just a short tour walking up and down 4 levels, my legs are cramped. I’m thinking if I am getting a landed property, I will want to live there for live. As such, if I’m old, I will have difficulties walking up and down. On top, mum will have problem also walking up and down.

After the show house, I have a clearer view of what kind of house I’m looking at. It should at most have 2 level or maybe with a basement. In the 1st level, it must have room and toilet.

I shared with CW that old estate such as AMK behind St Nicolas’ Girl School, could get it at about $600,000+. As Shears got it at about $600,000+ and he rebuild it for another $300,000+, which come to near $1,000,000. However, for a start, we may want to do some simple renovation, which should come around $700,000. Our current properties (HDB + Hougang Green) are both $300,000+. So if we sell both, we should be able to afford both. However, we just refinance Hougang Green, which have a lock in period of 3 years, so looking down the road, we should only change our house in 3 years time. I will drive CW to see those St Nicolas areas in near future.

Coincidentally, we saw on newspaper, yesterday, about another launch near Yishun, which combined facilities and landed property. The min unit is only $780,000 onwards. I quickly called Vincent about our Hougang Green and found out the interest is about 3.5% (I need this number for calculation). I did a quick calculation of loan 80%, which means for 30 years loan, our repayment per month is about $3,500+, which is near to $4,000.

That prompted me a important question: HOW TO BE ABLE TO AFFORT AND ACHIEVE IT. One way is looking at Shears, he is doing hosting and have about 500+ client which I did a quick calculation, if I got 500+ client, each charged $10.00 per month, then, I will have $5,000/month passive. Currently, I have about only 10 clients. So I must find ways to boost up my hosting service.

3 years! I am going to own a landed property. Other factors I’m looking at is:

1. Near MRT,
2. Near marketplace,
3. Near church.
4. Less flight of steps
5. Of course looking back, I miss an important question, how long is the lease? 99 years? 999 years? Or freehold?

I came across this financial verity show on Channel U, and actually, there is this freehold old house is only $1,100,000+. So, for now, we should still shop around and look around. It’s Visualization time!

Visualization . . .what if it does not work? Well, what can I lose? Nothing! BUT . . .what if it work? I will have what I visualized! So, no harm! Just visual!

visit to Peoples Republic of China

MY  maiden visit to China

Prof. Gulam Mohyuddin Wani     foundation for advance ment of science and technology,4 bismillay colony,srinagar,kashmir 190005

fastwani@yahoo.com

fastwani@in.com

PRESENTLY  AT ,19E Noor Nagar Extension, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-25

 

Islam has a famous “sayingâ€, sonnet from our beloved prophet to travel to China for sake of knowledge.  No religion stresses on education & knowledge as does the portraits of Quran, the book of God.  My intension here is not to deliver a religious sermon or discusses theology but agriculture, ethnology and anthropology which were the purpose of my visit to people Republic of China.  The great Chinese wall, culture, Chinese medicine & above all its success in agriculture and equiv. distribution of wealth, work culture & social facilities was my interest from last many decades.  During my visit to Mongolia via USSAR in 1989 under Indo-Mongolian work plan ,I wished to travel via Hong Kong and to great China to Mongolian on the USSAR side, but to the difficulty of ticket changes & visa procedures it did not mature.  Individuals on separate tickets could have changed their travel plans, but as our tickets were booked by Govt. of India under Indo-Mongolian work Plan, the change needed much bureaucratic procedural maneuvering for which we had but little time.

                               Anyway it was with the courtesy of one of the renowned scientists of extension education in India. DR  C.P.S. Pradesh and another famous Anthropologist of Bangladesh, who subsequently assumed the vice-chancellorship of the Raishina University that my name was proposed as chairperson and a lead speaker with travel grants back in 2008.  It was an honor and a first time laurel for an animal Technologist-reproductive biologist turned Agricultural extensionist and social and anthropological scholar.  My paper on “Traditional indigenous technologies of Kashmir†was readily accepted & it fetched me the honors as stated above, purely on merit otherwise, I was  no voice among the world society of Anthropologists, who after checking my bio data and paper invited me to the land which I wished to visit under the prophetic sunnet  “go to learn and seek knowledge anywhere, even as for as Chinaâ€.  So it was an allurement for me too. 

                      In this narration, I do not wish to discuss the science or the scientific talk I delivered in the 16th world congress of Anthropology and ecological resource management.â€Â  The chairman’s report and panel extracts and proceedings of the 16th congress under ICAES 2009 are available on web by pressing my name as Ghulam Mohyuddin Wani.  My report as chairman can also be reed on www.articlebase.com .  Here I shall be presenting a cultural & social view of development of a nation called China, who virtually settled down to reconstruct their country, plagued with war, disease, opium and other cultural transformation two years later than our independence in 1949.  Our history of Republic of India is two years older than its younger sister born in 1949.  One choose freedom of speech and liberalism, the other choose socialism, equality and equal resource distribution.  I as a visitor wish to compare the two great countries in their quest to feed and raise the standards of their people which roughly makes half the world population in 2025. 

 

System of  16th world congress management

1. I have attended dozens of international conference in USA TO Europe, Russia & in my beloved country too, but the festive mood and sincere efforts made by Yunnan University volunteers eroded all barriers & left a deep respect for the people of China and thence to Republic of China.

From the invitation, arrangements of travel & the schedule of events including chair persons was known to us on web a few week before the due date of 27th of July, 2009, while we all were at home.  The meticulous one-time room nos. where the sessions were hold is like having no parallels in world.  I have seen even more advanced nations holding these conferences in hotels where well trained hotel managers are available but fail to arrange and the system often fails at the end.  Here all information’s on sessions including time schedule was circulated on web.  To my surprise each and every step was followed strictly under minute to minute ternary, giving a sense of belonging to a nation marching ahead with dedication, sincerity and discipline.

The visa section too was informed in advance and we had no difficulty in having Visa and travel to Kunming, where the event was held.  We noticed a change in system from Bangkok airport itself.  An excellent arrangement which includes “Muslim prayer room†in Bangkok airport reminds me of our airport at Srinagar, where people often  pray in galilees or in open air ground blocking traffic.  A simple room (Mosque) with Wash room (WAZOO KANNA) separate for women & men gives an impression of neat & clean mosque, which even one hardly finds in Delhi or Islamabad, the neighboring nations with world’s maximal Muslim population.  On reaching Kunming, you felt a miss not because of any lack of courtesy or humility, but of language.  Very few people speak English fluently. Even without conversation, the trip through emigration & customs was so smooth and speechless.  The swine flu health check too was talkless unlike the near jolting frisking at our own airports, humiliating to the extent of becoming daily newspaper headline.  Occasionally, the mam or the Herr (Mr.) sitting on the custom or immigration check bench may point some thingh towards  passport he is checking, a translator is handy to get answers required from the passenger, the whole mechanism of security immigration.,and customs was a nice hospitable and humble which is not seen in our democracies big or small,precisely such systems are lacking in Jeddah,newyork,frunkfort and delhi airports.

Arrival at Kunming airport

On reaching Kunming, you felt a miss not because of any lack of courtesy or humility, but of language.  Very few people speak English fluently. Even without conversation, the trip through emigration & customs was so smooth and speechless.  The swine flu health check too was smooth and whole plane was checked without fuss or jolting, frisking as is seen at our own airports, humiliating to the extent of becoming daily newspaper headline.  Occasionally, the maim or the Herr (Mr.) sitting on the custom or immigration check may point something toward passport he is checking, a translator is handy to get answers required from the passenger.  The whole mechanism of security immigration & swine fever check was so smooth, well directed and monitored that none of the passenger were disturbed or even dislocated.  Quarantine health officials visited every seat while we were in the plane itself and checked the formalities.  The same procedures followed at Delhi airport after de boarding from the plane are boring and all fuss and frustration.

On arrival after completion of formalities at airport, I was worried how to confirm my hotel & transport.  I was told volunteers will be on airport.  I looked for them.  They had located themselves at the only exit at airport & I could locate them easily.  On enquiry, they phoned Saagul hotel, where I was to stay.  I had just booked my arrival & not paid in advance.  I was old yes your name is on hotel computer & a single room with a king-size bed is awaiting you.  It was raining cats & dogs.  We tried to negotiate for a cab to hotel.  By this time another Mr. Adikari or someone from Maharashtra too joined me.  He too was booked in Saagul Hotel, so we decided to share the taxi charges.  In the meantime I changed 100 dollar & got 675 Yuan, Chinese money in exchange.

 

Volunteer a girl student of internationality Yunnan University advised me to wait.  Arranged an umbrella & took us to a long queue for haring the taxi.  The whole place was covered nicely.  She left in at the queue and grew a small slip dotting name of hotel in Chinese.  The driver we knew by now cannot understand us & we saw a cab just like an automat.  It stopped, the driver came out & opened dickey, perhaps only for people like me with white hair.  He urgently rested in his seat, which is well guarded & separated by a fence inside the cab like a pilot’s cabin.

It is right hand driving & small Suzuki ( Maruti 1000 type cabs) all with  meter facing the passenger.  Mr.  Adikarie bag was put on the front seat & we set out for our sojourn to hotel.  It took few rounds & we reached the hotel.  All hotels where booking of guest to 16th congress were made was clearly visible with large red cloth banner (painted with white  letters) Emblem of the 16th Anthropology congress.  The meter showed 33 Yuan. My friend from Maharashtra said, his money is locked, please pay.  I paid a 50 Yuan note.   The driver exchanged the rest & left us in the hotel.  It was the same problem of language in the hotel.  We were asked to pay whole amount in advance.  We gave dollar (US200) two hundred which made around 14000 Yuan., 1200 Yuan were room rent & breakfast @ Yuan  200 per day i.e. 6 days we paid 1200 plus an addition 100 for key.  It took us few minutes or half an hour in an ordeal with the hotel management.  We could not understand them & the translator was called to explain that 100 extra is need for caution money for the key. All locks  are computerizes.  A police gentleman came to help me and  took my luggage.  Perhaps due to my long name & height they confused me as European or my age stimulated him to respect the white haired gentleman, he took my  luggage only leaving mahratrain gentleman to grumble and pick up his.  I thought I am booked in ground floor, but no all ground floors are conference room & for management ,2nd floors are dining hall & care takers rooms. Our floor was 4th & my room was 406.  The hotel has around 8-9 flours.  We were comfortable, a good room, with hot water, TV & all necessary facilities,  it faced an open hotel compound which bore an old dead tree.  The hotel has two building, new & old.  We were lodged in new building.  Here  too we in the hotel reception we were greeted by the ever smiling volunteers who had computers & well equipped information.  They asked for my registration receipt.  Once I handed it to them, they immediately handed over the bag, proceedings, an identity card, well computerized, meal coupons and  all necessary accessories we needed.  They advised us to have the identify  card around our neck all the time and visible to avoid any identity problem. Later we knew it importance. It was more valued than our passport as it carried all information’s about us and we were free to use bus and local hospitability on appearance of the card till we were in  China.  One night I got up at night for prayer & heard a big tug.  I was puzzled what it was ?soon I heard much noise & walking  gaits of the police siren etc.  Early morning, when we started for the congress venue we found the big, old tree has succumbed to the cyclone type heavy winds in the ensuring night & hard stuck to the old building at 4th floor, just opposite to my room.  I thanked God, it could  have titled on either side.  God forbid had it crumbed on the otherwise, it would have struck our room too.  On the opposite was the management room.  The building is so strong & permanent that except few glass pieces no one was injured or damaged.  Early in the night & next morning, whole areas were condemned by the police and red taps were plotted around the trees ,and all inmate asked to move accordingly.  By the evening all the tree was cut and removed without any fuss.  The whole eventuality took only few minutes for the police to tackle.  Had it been in my country it would have consumed hours and perhaps days to clear the street.

1. All open the campus in different directions. All might be joining together but during my few days stay it was always easy for me to go to the old step up gate to locate the way to my hotel. Some of my friends from Hyderabad prof Assadi were uncomfortable with the gate and satire and step up steeps. Being from hills I ENJOYED IT.

We wished to go to the conference venue.  I was having my identity provided by the 16th world congress organizers, it was 4654.  All our (delegate information) was contained in a small chip fixed in the holding of the card.  We were advised to wear this card, where ever we go.  I was wearing it, but my Maharastrian young man somehow forgot it in his room, so far his safety we had to abandon the visit to the conference venue at night.  He was not allowed entry in the campus, in spite of his requests.  Again the translation and language interlockers could not help as rule is rule.  The policeman on duty cannot allow you without a card to enter the campus.  This is where one wonders the mechanism was foul proof.  On all streets on our way back to hotel we saw alert young police boys and girls drilling in the evening hours.  Luckily our hotel Saagul and university Yunnan is about 1-1/ ½ kms apart.  The whole road banks the green water lake of Yunnan province.  It has Children Park cum boating facilities.  Its water alone gave and impression of sever pollution.   Even if we call dal lake is polluted but its waters are transparent and clear.  The green lake waters are a concoction of water & its pollutants.  Here the thick layer of green gives an impression of a muddy algae layer.  I did not dare to touch the water.  All around the green lake banks, you find tall & small plants well maintained with bus stops (one-way of course) and hotels, banks and shops.

1. Some one  told us Dinner at conference is available, but due to my friends I card we could not approach than, so we reached back, had a card & breed dinner & slept.
2. How he managed such an excellent description of fruits, vegetables etc which reminds us of China even today.

Here may I add, before 1947, free trade route commonly called silk route was famous.  It had travelers from china, magnolia, Afghanistan, USSAR & all south western Muslim countries.  I had heard of Ksahgar, Iskardu, Gilgit, Saingchin, Tibet & many names of Chinese, business centers coming to Kashmir which is good olden days used to be written as “Cashmere†perhaps meaning a “money paradise†or an exalted business canter.  It used to be a meeting ground for Russian, Afganistan, Chinese, Asian & European travelers.  The price structure and maneuvering price is thus a common feature of all these cultures.  The only difference I find is the well organization of the shop on European style unknown in Indian culture till date.  All shops are energy saving, sell refrigerated & nicely maintained.  The only difference is price auscultations.

Next morning at breakfast hall I was told these is vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes.  The breakfast consisted of boiled corm stuck, bread, milk, soup, Chinese’s sold & vanities of rice puddings and fruits.  We have a heavy breakfast.  My Maharaastrain friend used to hide himself now, lest I may ask the money he owes me back.  He had a known acquaintance & asked him illegally to share his room.  This guilt refrained him to hide from dissect conversation.  I thought he is avoiding because he owes me some Youn.  However, two days later I was able to recover my money debated to him less by 8%.

Because of drinking habits of most of our Indian colleagues, it was difficult to have dinners in company.  2nd day dinner too was on bread & milk, but on 3rd day on Iranian women scientist informed me that even dinners are arranged for us.  First day is shared a vegetarian meal at conference, with some American friends.  Later I met Dr. Zulfikar sb form Bangladesh, who informed me that arrangements of a Muslim meal are available.  It was a Bengali Professor couple who guided me to the Muslim meal just one storey upstairs of the vegetarian meal.  The Muslim meal was all cultured green.

Those who greeted us at doors & those who served inside all were clewed in scoffs just like any Muslim country.  I wonder why people in Europe or so called democracies forbid use of scruff or veil.  It is a custom or cultural practice more than a religion dress.  I remember having my BVSC & AH in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and a Hindu populated state.  Never in our social work under mobile clinics could we see the face of nay women who brought their animals for treatment they were clayed in “Chuddy†a sari wrapped up on the head.  If a properly sari clad women of Rajasthan is compared with a veil covered Muslim wo0men in salvar-Kamez.  (Women Punjabi or Indian suite for women), the one with full dressed sari is more veiled than the other.

I was pleased to see that a cultural touch was effectuated in China.  We were delegates of 16th world congress on Anthropology ethnic conflicts & ecological resource management.  Therefore, the conservation of every culture, system of dressing & ecosystem becomes necessary.  I salute the judgment of the organizers for this type of positive and global attitude.  Western world & culture was respected because they honored your culture, ethnicity and tradition.  They posed to be human rather than ration alit.  The recent bans on Turban or chasing of turban clad in USA or ban on burqua in some western countries speak of their cultural, ethical and moral erosion.   We preach of global village economic & marketing system.  We talk of global peace and human respect.  How can we thrust a mono-culture, which has now shaped itself a cover-less-naked exhibition of human bodies?  Even today’s headliners (I am writing this epilogue on 2nd of Aug, 09) in Hindustan times carried a half naked first American lady, as was described.  Among 30,000 webs opinion givers most of them did not like it.  If we in the global world cannot beat to see a half paint gladded American 1st lady, how do we object tousle of burqua or turban by other global cultural traditions?  I do not wish to enter into this conservation or discussion her, but wish to remind my readers, the way cultural ethnicity & food culture was projected in Chinese conference, suited well to their transformation.  Is it a step forward to number one global leader in becoming whatever, the change in cultural temperament and religious tolerance is just befitting human dignity and liberty?  A scornful scream of German in their Bhanhoffs (Railway stations) on seeing a foreigner especially from Asia of Africa reminds me of mind set of the westerners.  Even if we surpass them in knowledge and awareness your ethnicity is mocked at although in private or in gestures.  Such type of hyper superiority is not see n in a nation of billions, who has strived all alone, with dedication & sincerity to be the future global poser.  They attained & adopted a system of their own, free and humble.  I shall give elaborate accounts of their agricultural management, rainwater conservation & preservation of ethnic minority in Yunnan province.  In our future narration we shall discuss:

-         Visit to Negus- Muslim village

-         A walk through green hours

-         A walk or enrooted to a mosque in Yuan.

 

 Next morning we went to the Yunnan university venue of the 16th world congress. All walls and streets had the red labeled banners. Even though we needed to ask for the venue specified for our sessions.  An area of 1-2 kms radius encompassed sessions, the details of which were in the main building designated for the congress.  We were together at Room No.  306.  I was to present the paper lead paper as 4th speaker on F/N of 28th of July AM, as the sessions were to start at 8 AM.  All arrangements were in Vogue, but none was there at 7.45.  All rushed to Room No 306 exactly around 8 AM.  This showed a dedication & discipline of highest order.

The laptop of Lenovo type & a fixed LCD on roof was switched on.  I handed over my pen drive to the volunteer.  She got it on the computer & rehearsed the slides, as I was worried, whether the systems shall operate smoothly.  It did never before, have I seen such an accurate and timely managed symposium.  Every session had a penal chairman and a session chairman panel chairman was responsible for introducing the chairpersons in each session.  Every session had a co-coordinator assisting the panel chairman and every session chairman was assisted by a co-chairman and secretary.  All the secretaries were Chinese.  They were meticulous in checking down all discussions calmly.

1. Watered bottles were served in plenty in the hall itself.

The method of presentations discussions were meticulously monitored and timely presentation discussions & refreshments were the unique feature of this congress.  One wonders at the arrangements made of tours, travels grants & even certificate distribution.  All arrangements were made through student volunteers who learn English.

My presentation made me many friends from India, USA, Taiwan, Philippines, and Honkong & China.  Most of the delegates appreciated my lecture & I felt short of my visiting cards.  I distributed same typed computer graphics.  Since my presentation, wherever I went I was respected & honored.  The coupon asked at door was just another good thing of the congress. Your tag no identity card was enough for you to go through all the halls, meals etc after I conducted the session 4 on 28th of July, 09, many students & friends become handy & helped.  The next day evening was scheduled for tour.  My Indian friends told me that there is visit arranged for a Muslim village called “NAGU’.   This was an allurement for me, as we had heard many tales, about China.  I could not get a ticket as all the seats were booked.  I felt a bit sorry why I have not booked the tour in advance.  In the evening, when we were at dinner table, a professor from Mysore has been to the NAGU village.  He was all praise for it, and allured me to visit the village too.  When I told him about the non-availability of the ticket, he got one form me, as same Indian had booked or attained more than one ticked.  This had perhaps resulted in the death of seats.  Al arrangements were free but prearranged.  I got the tickets at night.  Early in the morning I contacted the volunteers and asked then for a change.  Every ticket bore a tag & IDNU, as my id No was different than Prof Assad form whom I had the ticket. I got it changed.  It took some 5-10 minutes for the organizers to make the change & boarded the bus meant for NAGU village.  Each bus carried passengers adequately.   All were seated comfortably.  At the onset the volunteer was continuously insisting to use toilets, as 90 km run, the bus wait stop.  Repeatedly all went to ease themselves and the bus travel to Negus begins with an excellent Chinese speech by a volunteer which was translated by one Muslim Ayub-too a Chinese Student.  He spoke excellent English & has a beautiful art of narration as a guide.  When he introduced himself as a student of international of Hunan University, which trains & teaches in English, I was amazed.  He was inhabitant of the area.  There were 4-5 bus bound to NAGU village & each bus has 30-40 passengers.  All passengers in the bus were grouped in 10-20’s and assigned to each volunteer, who was to show as around & take as to a family.

At the start we were given an excellent book containing details of NAGU village.  I am enclosing its extracts as annexure I to my episode, so that I do not miss any details.  When we left Yunnan university campus, we averse accompanied by a police car and all traffic lights were as so that an traffic neither got disturbed, not we had to wait for traffic clearance within the city, I have noted down the villages & stops which fell on our way.  (Annexure II)

1. The whole locality is concentrated a small township, multi storied residences, so that all amenities are provided easily & the land remains free for cultivation.

All the farms were excellent & free from muzzle buzzle on the highways as we see in India.  It reminded me of a European travel l through country side from Stuttgart to Hannover in 1994.  Just like Germany all in well managed & arranged.

Unfortunately, in the middle of our Journey, the driver stopped, he had developed some snag in the bus.  Police accompanying the cannon immediately come into action & all buses enrooted to NAGU surrounded us on the open road.  We were shifted to the other buses without any fuss or lots of time.  Later the bus after repairs joined us at “NAGUâ€.  During the entire Journey the student guided us through villages little townships all neat & clean.  We noticed following few things which differ from our.

1. My friends comment still reminds me a positive factor in Chinese progress.

He says where the huge population of the world’s most populous country is.  No jumbling on roads or no animal human traffic on the road.  One wonders even in Delhi, we come across various farms of transport.  I recommended to sari, my guide & teacher.

1. How has China managed it?  Is this the way of resource management, why cannot we plan such a system.

Coming to NAGU village was a festive occasion.  All villages, its chief elected representative, town hall officials & civilian were waiting to greet us school boy & girls were greed up as volunteers to guide us & had arranged the show.  Amusingly, all girls of the village wore scurf on their head.  Believe me or not the dress was more Islamic than the schools & colleges of Pakistan, India or any other Muslim country.  It gave an impresion as if we  were  in Makka- Medina, the green wrappers arranging the show.  The town hall function started with an ethnological thesis abstract by a scholar, followed by narration & description of Nagus village, its population, income, industry.  We were allowed to questions & got convincing answers.  My Bengal adashy fellow’s Muslim professor, was all along suspicious & believed whole village was a created story, till we visited the mosque.  A separate well decorated mosque flanking the main mosque of Nagus was for women.  I dare to say no such arrangement I have seen in any place except in Makka where all pray together (Men & Women) & in Madina where separate bounders for men & women in the same mosque are there.  I quote Nagus mosque experience is the best in the world.  We went to the individual Muslim families.  We were forbidden from smoking or drinking alcohol in the family house. We were told none  of the Muslim families of NAGU smoke as smoking & drinking is prohibited in Islam.  I have seen people smoking in Makka- madina.  Here is a true preserved Muslim culture in NAGU.  Amusingly, the only vice I found in rest to the Chinese, whether in streets or garden is smoking.  It seems, every one smokes, but I could not find  a single incidence of smoking in NAGU village.

 

 

 

To be continued                 

How’s this for justice, I think it stinks!?

Judge lets paedophile go free and says: buy a bike to cheer up victim
Dominic Kennedy

This is outrageous. There’s no justice here and the judge is allowing the pedophile to continue to endanger the society so he should lose his job.