Manjakkili

That's the Malayalam name for the Eurasian Golden Oriole. Spotted it on the acacia tree outside my balcony. That's the most brightly colored bird I have seen yet :)

Apparently has a beautiful call, but this one was not in the most talkative mood when I saw it. Here's a good close up shot.

Let's do our bit

Today is October 15th ... and it wouldn't be a particularly memorable day if it wasn't Blog Action Day. Although this could serve as an awesome PR tool for the guy who came up with the idea of this day, I'll let him have it because of the potential this has to make a change. What's happening here is that thousands of people are blogging today about one issue ... the environment. It's a way of letting people know that we care; a way of spreading the message out to more people; and a way to make a change.

Here's my list of simple ideas for people who'd like to join in the struggle ...

1. Realize that we have a problem - Those who don't can probably log off right now, because no amount of my ranting is enough to convince anyone that there is a problem. I'm convinced because I see the problems right in my face. There's the increasing temperatures each year, the erratic weather patterns, the missing stars at night, the heaviness in the air when I'm breathing, the missing birds. Those who aren't convinced by this should stop to notice these simple things, and then check out the massive amounts of literature doing the rounds (the counterarguments included).
2. Tell people about it - There's tons of people out there who just refuse to believe that there is a problem, or believe the problem is not as grave, or that there is no alternative. The fact is that there are things each of us can do to help ... simple things which could snowball into huge changes. Talking about it is one way. Once you are convinced yourself, make the effort to tell a few others about it. Every new person convinced adds to the network.
3. Take the bus - Every once in a while, leave your car at home. Take the bus to work, or better still, cycle. I know it's difficult in a hot country like India, but I believe the problem is grave enough for each of us to take action even in the face of a little personal discomfort. And do get your cars serviced to make sure they are not polluting any more than they should.
   
4. Change to energy saving CFLs - Though slightly more expensive, they repay through saved energy costs. And energy is only going to cost more in future! Check out a cost benefit analysis.
   
5. Switch off the power - When not required, switch off your appliances. Just leaving your phone charger plugged after usage can increase your power consumption by 5%.
6. Avoid flying - When you have the time, choose rail instead of air. I've always found that trains are a lot more comfortable and enjoyable than aircrafts (I was even inspired to poetry the last time I was traveling by train :) Check it out!).
7. Plant a tree - This page gives an indication of how much a single tree can do. The data is US centric, but it's enough to get the idea across.
   

This is a very minimal list. Think up your own easy ways to save energy, post it in the comments, put it in your own blog, tell others about it. Let's all do our bit ...

The following links should make good starting points for further reading.

• http://www.ipcc.ch/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change

Children of the earth

Children of the Earth

She runs through the fields, with careless abandon
A dog in tow, her friend and companion
Skipping stones in the pond, watching them jump in joy
A dip in the river, or is it soaking in life?

There's something she knows, something I ought to know too
I hid it from myself, for oh so long too!
Her eyes spoke to me, as she smiled from afar
Children of the earth, that's what we are.

I was traveling Delhi to Indore, and wrote this in a moment of inspiration as I saw a girl in a field.

I've made an earlier attempt at poetry (I wrote one for a girl once :-)), but the only fathomable reason she could have liked it is because she was overcome with emotion!!! I really forced myself to write it after deciding to ... and it showed in the result. Thankfully, I do not remember any of it, so cannot go through the agony of repeating it!

This, on the other hand, came from the heart. I just had to put the words together. I love it myself ... it's honest.

Forgot to carry my bird book!

On my Bombay Delhi train journey, about 4 hours was daytime travel as I approached Delhi passing through Rajasthan, Haryana, and UP. And the amount of bird life on display was mind blowing. My only regret is that I forgot to carry my bird book!

Even without the book, I managed to recognize some birds. The most beautiful sight was a couple of Sarus cranes. These are the tallest flying birds in the world, and I could see that these ones were taller than humans in the nearby fields! Hoping for a good winter birding season ...

P.S.: My wishlist ...

1. A good set of binoculars
2. Canon EOS 400D / Nikon D70

Why I'd like to travel the Garib Rath again.

The Garib Rath (poor man's chariot) is Laloo Prasad Yadav's gift to the poor of India. It's a chance for them to travel in air conditioned luxury (and travel fast). The fares on this train are almost half as compared to the fares on other trains, and they take the same time as a Rajdhani traveling on the same route. A very well intentioned gift, considering the utility to the public, and the votes that he stands to gain.

I recently traveled Bombay to Delhi in the chair car on the Garib Rath. And although current circumstances make me technically garib, I am by no means so. Not surprisingly, none of my co-passengers fell in the garib bracket either. In a country where per capita income is Rs.23222 (2006 figures) and over 25% of the people live below the poverty line (the poverty line is an income of approximately Rs.500 a month, which is the cost of the ticket i bought!), this train cannot qualify to be called the Garib Rath.

Not faulting the fact that this is an excellent service that could be used by people in the relatively lower income bracket, there is no way anyone really garib can use it!!!

The train itself is basic. The chair car I took is horribly cramped for shoulder space, leg space, and space of any kind. The seats do not recline, and the only way you can get any real sleep is to get a dose of valium. The upshot is a lively trip with everyone awake, and joking about the train and the facilities.

The low fares made sure that I got entertaining and eclectic travel companions. My companions included a retired wrestler, a middle aged civil engineer, couple of doctors, couple of small-town-small-business owners, and more. And the conversation included discussions on the medicine man's profession, Mayawati's political strategy, the Ram Setu controversy, and the Kashmir problem. A complete revelation for me was the fact that most people are knowledgeable about a lot of stuff, and there are radicals and liberals alike in the general populace! In short, an uncomfortable but entertaining journey to get me to Delhi in double quick time. Isiliye ...


Jab tak rahega samose mein alu, Tak tak rahega railways mein Lalu!