General
Fine ambulance chasers!
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
I was travelling towards Dubai from Abu Dhabi on Shaikh Zayed Road, almost near the World Trade Centre when I noticed an ambulance trying to make way through the heavy traffic. Its driver was finally able to get to the emergency lane and was trying to gain speed to reach its destination. I was alarmed to notice that two bikers, one a delivery guy and another a normal rider were trying to follow it bumper to bumper.
This is an extremely dangerous driving habit and those found using emergency lanes and following speeding ambulances should be reprimanded and heavily fined. They are not thinking of the danger when or if the ambulance driver has to suddenly apply the brakes!
Let us think about road safety at all times. It is our responsibility to remain safe.
From Mr Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Dt 28 January 2017
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online
Obituary – Jasmine Godfrey
An ever inspiring personality
I always believe that our life and day-to-day happenings are similar to a journey in a passenger train. We begin from one station with people starting with us at the same time. In between new passengers come into the train from a station on the way. Some of them remain silent without interacting with us. But some get very close to us and remain forever as a good friend, whom we think we had known for a longer time before and look forward to interact from then on.
I am talking about a little girl, who was born in Abu Dhabi on March 9, 1972 to great parents, who were actively involved in community service in the 70s and instrumental in the formation of several prestigious associations for men and women from the Indian Community.
Taking cue from the parents and with inborn talents, she grew up and blossomed, excelling in arts, sports and culture and spread her wings as she got married to a young man.
A mother of two inspiring boys, equally talented in many fields, she was an active member of her college alumni and also the India Social and Cultural Centre Women’s Wing. In addition, she actively participated in the activities of Critical-illness Care Cell known as the CCC in Abu Dhabi, counselling patients who are in their serious nature of illness at a time when they need solace and support.
She was elected winner of the prestigious “Cancer Warrior of the Year” Award given by the ISC Women’s Forum in 2014. A hard-fought cancer fighter, Jasmine Godfrey was an inspiring personality for all friends and family.
She left this world on the night of, Thursday, 26th January 2017. With deep regret I inform the demise of Jasmine this morning at her residence in Trivandrum.
She was a great human being with lot of courage and confidence and fought this battle with smile on her face all the time. Even when I met her on December 28th at Trivandrum, she was full of enthusiasm. The song posted here was recorded by Godfrey and Jasmine on the eve of her departure from Abu Dhabi, which turned out to be her final. A friend and leader to many, a great artist, with commitment and devotion, a great mother, great colleague… several roles she played at the same time with ease.
May god bless her soul to rest in peace. May her family get the courage to move on. She will always be there in our heart, as you all will be too. We are always with you.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
27th January 2017
Presenting here below some of her songs.
Abu Dhabi’s Volcano Fountain: a fire that never went out
Jasmine Godfrey, who was born in Abu Dhabi 41 years ago, remembers many “joyous” times with her family and young friends at the landmark. “We used to spend most of our time there,” she says. “Wherever you are, you come over there to meet us.”
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/abu-dhabis-volcano-fountain-a-fire-that-never-went-out
WhatsApp: Use with care -Letter to the editor Gulf News Dt 09 Jan 2017
You will find at least 20 to 25 unread messages out of which, you will get a minimum 15 pictures or video forwards! What do you do if you are travelling or if you have a huge contact base in your phone? The odd members who don’t think about the inconvenience that can be caused to the receiver when he forwards pictures and videos. It spoils the significance and benefits of using the platform.
If a person is so fond of disseminating information through WhatsApp, my suggestion is to first upload the voluminous files to either a blog or YouTube channel and then share the link. The receiver can, at his convenience, look at them and it remains there permanently for later referrals. Whereas, if you end up sending too many photos or videos, imagine the situation of someone who is traveling and has limited connectivity and storage capacity? The inconvenience caused will prompt the receiver to exit from such groups or block the sender.
For me personally, WhatsApp is an efficient communication medium, but people are not using it diligently. So much so that recently I had to prepare a warning poster and share it as my keynote on phone and social media to inform my contacts to be considerate on their WhatsApp messages. I also had to exit from four important groups due to the excessive volume of non-relevant pictures and videos being shared to members by some individual members.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online
Don’t blame the fog for mishaps – Letters to the editor The National Dt 5 January 2017
An increase in accidents is common on foggy days (Accidents around UAE with visibility down to 10 metres, January 3). But then, I would say that more than the weather, it’s drivers’ carelessness and impatience that cause these accidents. It’s a matter of common sense that one will need to slow down and be extra careful in such weather.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read this in original, visit The National oline.
Share what you know – Letters to the editor Gulf News Dt 05th January 2017
I am just an ordinary expatriate who came to the UAE with lots of hopes and dreams in 1987. Life has evolved and revolved over the years of my stay in the UAE. I am happy to say that I lived most of my life here. The journey has not been easy for me all these years. I am worried about the number of people, close family members who have been affected by cancer. Some have already left this world and some are fighting it out. I want to support all those who are affected by cancer in some way or another.
Also, it’s important to me to promote talent and knowledge through my own initiative for sharing talent or knowledge from within us to others. What is the point of having a skill within you, if you are not willing to share it and pass it on to someone who is willing to propagate it? It is a challenge and many people who are talented hold on to it without passing on the skills to a second or third person. We have to share our skills, talents or knowledge to those around.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
To read it in original, visit Gulf News online
Hopes and Dreams for 2017
I am just an ordinary expatriate who came to the UAE with lots of hopes and dreams in 1987!. Life has evolved and revolved over the years of my stay in the UAE. I am happy to say that I lived most of my life in the UAE. The journey has not been easy for me all these years. I am worried about the number of people, close family members who have been affected by cancer. Some has already left this world and some fighting it out. I want to support all those who are affected by cancer, some way or other. Also, important is my orientation to promote talent and knowledge through my own initiative called “Talent Share” with a motto – a talent or knowledge within you is to be shared. True, what is the point of having a skill within you, if you are not willing to share it and pass it on to someone who is willing to propagate it!. It is a challenge, as many people who are talented hold on to it without passing on the skills to a second or third person. If we have to live an immortal life, we have to share our skills or talent or knowledge to those around. Remember Talent Share – with the motto “A talent or knowledge within you is to be shared”. Visit www.team1talentshare.blogspot.com and support it.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
1st January 2017
Water is precious
A tour through the mountain areas and once upon a time perennial river links of Kerala during my holidays showed me alarming signs of a danger that is almost here. Lack of rain, and careless usage of water. The coming months are going to be tough in terms of water availability in many parts of Kerala.
Water is Precious. Use it carefully and cautiously to avoid scarcity in the coming months.
Passing the baton
On holiday in Kerala and it was very special to meet the barber who used to cut my hair when I was a 5 year old. Time has changed. From 5 to 50, he has moved on from the one chair one mirror village barber shop to 3 chair full length mirrored air conditioned hair style centre with his son along with him. Regards to Babu.
Best wishes for 2017
2017 is here and I thought I post a special wish. Normally, my videos carry a title and end slides and narrations. This video is an exception to it. It is because, this video is common to all of us and not exclusive to me and my life. There is everyone of you in it.
Our life is like that of a passenger in a train journey. We get in at some point and interact with our co-passengers during our journey. Live happily and let others live happily too. Always remember to be safe, especially if you are driving and on the road. Remember #startearlydrivecarefullyreachsafely
Also remember to share your talent or knowledge. #Talentshare – a talent or knowledge within you is to be shared.
Wish you all a Happy, Prosperous, Peaceful. Healthier, Tolerant and Safe 2017.
Sabarimala pilgrims – better avoid poorly maintained Achan Kovil to Punalur road
We start with a photo. No, I have not landed in the moon or mars during my holidays!. I am just travelling by road from Achan Kovil Sri Dharma Sastha temple to Punalur after a long overdue visit to the temple. In fact it was my father’s wish to visit the temple since almost 50 years and it happened only yesterday. We travelled from Trivandrum, taking the traditional Sabarima pilgrims route Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and then to Achan Kovil. After darshan, we enquired about the route to Punalur and was guided by the Kerala State transport drivers as well as locals to take the road from Achan Kovil to Punalur. Off we set, at around 7:30 pm after darshan. Within a few kilometers we realized we are in store for many road surprises.
In fact, it was more than expected for all the members with us. 45 kilometers of road stretch with absolutely pure road conditions. There was absolutely no road at all, with one pothole leading to another and at several places, even stones that could even cause puncture or damage to the car, if not driven carefully. There was no traffic flow and the odd bikers – counted only 4 of them who came in between 20-30 minute gap and a car and jeep and one transport bus at the end of the stretch. We had to stop all of them to seek guidance as to whether we missed the route or not and they all agreed with us that this is one of the worst road you can find in Kerala.
With makaravilakku season starting tomorrow, I can imagine the increased traffic flow starting tomorrow with several buses and cars on way to the famous three sastha temples, ie. Achan Kovil, Aryankavu and Kulathupuzha and there difficulties.
Better to avoid the stretch Achan Kovil to Punalur, as far as possible and take the road as it is too difficult to drive and there is poor or no connectivity for mobile phones, in case you are involved in an emergency situation.
It took us almost 2 hours to cover this 45 kilometer stretch even though we were driving a bigger car with good ground clearance. So we imagined the huge number of pilgrims taking this route during the Makaravilakku season which starts tomorrow!
Desperate and worried about the way ahead, and totally frustrated with the conditions, we asked those few motorists who is the elected representative of this area. It was another surprise – Sri K B Ganesh Kumar! A person who loves cars and driving and who is said to even look into minute matters. How on earth Ganesh Kumar ji, missed about the conditions of this particular and important road stretch!. It is a year challenge you can take it – at least to take a drive through this road driving it yourself. I know you love driving, so do it at late night hours and you will definitely enjoy it.
Equally important is the total negligence of Kerala PWD Minister and Travancore Devaswom board for assuring basic and safe road infrastructure before the start of the Sabarimala season. The revenue the Kerala government and Devaswom board earns is significant!.
By this blog post, I humbly request the Honorable Pathanapuram MLA Sri K B Ganesh Kumar, Honorable Kerala PWD Minister G Sudhakaran, Honorable Dewaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Honorable Kerala Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan to consider repair of the road sector from Achank Kovil to Punalur or a war foot basis as well as installation of basic road signage all along this road stretch.
A drive along this route in any one of these days will make you realize the huge difficulty and danger factors involved for road users.
Sincere thanks in advance,
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
ClicksandWrites 
You must be logged in to post a comment.