Letters to the editor
Tall and short – Short Take – Gulf Today Dt. 14.05.2011
Short Take – Tall and short – Gulf Today Dt. 14.05.2011
We come across several people on the road and business and pass through several interactions. Many of them pass away from our mind quickly. But, a few of them remain within us. It is one such chance listening to an interesting conversation that lead to the creation of this news item.
It was Ramadan time with short working hours and as usual all the bank counters were busy with customers.
I was standing in the line at one such counter and in front of me was a tall person. He was about 6ft 4” or more. And at the other side of the counter was a Philippino Teller, comparatively short with a height of approximately 5 ft.
Due to some reason, he was slow and added to it the computer system was responding slow too. May be, in order to ease the restlessness of the customer in front due to all the delay, the Teller opened up a casual conversation with the tall customer telling him that he envied his height and always wanted to be a tall person.
Answering him with a smile, the tall man replied: “It is the other way for me. I wanted to be shorter than what I am and really helpless about it each time.”
His answer once again created a spark of thoughts for me to work on a new subject. Walking tall and short in life!
What do we really assume by saying a person is tall or short? How many times we stand tall and short in our life?
Ramesh Menon
Koodalmanikyam Manikyan – My Creatives – Malayala Manorama Dt. 26.04.2010
My Creatives – Koodalmanikyam Manikyan – Malayala Manorama Dt. 26.04.2010
Moments of life – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 07.05.2011
Moments of life – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 07.05.2011
It is very interesting to interact with different people as we get to observe and learn many new things from them.
The journey towards my office consists of a long time in a lift and it is a good opportunity to say “hello” and exchange short words between regular faces from different floors.
The other day, I was in a lift with a colleague of mine, who had returned from holiday.
A good athlete, he took a short course in Para Jumping. The coaching and trial went well and the day came for real time performance to jump from an aircraft towards a picturesque valley.
The instructor explained to him all the basics to be followed and also rechecked the equipment and he was signaled to jump. He was telling me the moment after was one of the most memorable ones ever in his life so far.
The beauty of the valley was unimaginable as he looked and enjoyed while he lowered. However, suddenly he realised, his equipment was not opening up and then the joy turned out to be a panic situation. For moments, he said, he recapped his whole life, all the while trying to correct the equipment, and felt absolute helplessness towards the wind, the nature and the situation he was in. He thought, it was going to be the end.
Somehow, at the right time, before any danger could happen, the equipment opened and he managed to do a heavy landing, with minor bruises.
All the while he was narrating this, there was another passenger in the lift, who was blaring a music through his ipod and completely out of this world. People around were looking at him as the noise level was unbearable in that small and packed area. All kept quiet and left him on his own as he destroyed his own ear drum with that blistering volume.
Yes, life is full of controllable and uncontrollable situations and it is all how we act and react to it.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Suggestion for Abu Dhabi buses – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt 06.05.2011
Suggestion for Abu Dhabi buses – THE NATIONAL Dt 06.05.2011
The Abu Dhabi bus system is becoming more popular among commuters each day and each route that is added. This can be seen and experienced by the heavy rush for buses during morning and evening hours. Commuters find the buses extremely useful and economical.
However, in the city buses, when there is a large crowd, the front to middle half is full of lady passengers. Thus, it makes entry for male passengers inconvenient as they have to get inside through the main door, drop the coin in the box next to the driver and then get down and get inside through the door at the middle.
Could the Abu Dhabi bus authorities come out with a convenient system for passengers to drop their coins at a suitable place near the middle door?
It would make the Abu Dhabi buses more passenger friendly.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Charity event in Abu Dhabi – some queries – My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 05.05.2011
Charity event in Abu Dhabi – some queries – My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 05.05.2011
In reference to “Charity event in Abu Dhabi for tsunami victims”. While I congratulate the team effort and humanitarian gesture involved, I feel, it is extremely alarming to see Yoga being commercialised, even if it is for the purpose of fund raising for a natural calamity. Yoga, as it says itself is never done for beating records or numbers. Doing 108 times of Surya Namaskars at one stretch will be a dangerous physical act. As experts say generally, 12 Surya Namaskaras are performed at one practice. If starting that practice for the first time, it is generally started with fewer (3 to 6) Namaskaras per day, and then gradually increased to 12 Namaskaras in a week’s time. So, is it a whole day event starting from 6:00 am with breaks after the Shavasana and then another set is repeated till they reach 108 times. An importanct concern thus about the participants yoga expertise and years of practise attained to display a 108 time of Surya Namaskar. Kindly address this concern before the events kick off for the safety of the participant.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read the original community report and my comment online, please visit GULF NEWS online.
Taste It – Sweet and Soft Coconut Vada
Taste It – Sweet and Soft Coconut Vada
My first content publish in Yahoo as a content contributor.
Enjoy reading it at Yahoo online and pleaes post your comments.
A dangerous game of cricket – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 03.05.2011
A dangerous game of cricket – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 03.05.2011
Personal Touch – Short Take – GULF TODAY Dt. 30.04.2011
Personal Touch – Short Take – GULF TODAY Dt. 30.04.2011
Personal touch
I have a Parrot named Mittu, which whistles back whatever we prompt. I also have a good collection of plants in my balcony. These two have become an integral part in my life since some time. It all started as an attempt by us to return home every night whenever we venture outside. Having the thought of these members who cannot speak remaining un-attended have definitely worked in favour and achieved our goal towards it.
There are times when we cannot remain pledged to this commitment and recently it happened that we all had to go on emergency for an unplanned period.
As usual, I had to rely on my caretaker, who came diligently and fed the bird and watered my plant every day.
On my return, I found that our pet was looking thin with most of its feathers gone and the plants also looking lifeless. I knew immediately what the reason was. Within two or three days, they were both looking fine and healthy as before.
The secret was the personal attention, care and a few minutes of special time spent for each one of them. With the parrot, in addition to his regular food of sun flower seed, we used to give it bits and pieces of whatever vegetarian food, biscuits, bread etc we were having.
Constantly, we were keeping it active by talking or rather whistling to it and it was this personal touch that was missing for it. For the plants, each time when I watered, I made sure, if ever there is any weed or dried leaf on them and made it look neat and clean. This personal touch was missing for both of them.
No wonder the old saying in our epics “a personal touch in our deeds is the best rejuvenating medicine for all living beings” remains true forever.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
A welcome change – Promising actions by Abu Dhabi authorities
A welcome change – Promising actions by Abu Dhabi authorities
It is always a relief to see when the authorities carries pro-active measures towards suggestion for a better living environment. Here is one such example of a speedier action by Abu Dhabi authorities. Further to my Community Report in Gulf News dated 23rd April, I am happy to blog that both the dangerous spots have been marked clearly giving sufficient warning for pedestrians. What is left is a garbage bin issue, and I believe it will be also handled efficiently soon.
My sincere thanks to GULF NEWS and Abu Dhabi authorities.
Ramesh Menon
29.04.2011
To read my community report of 23.04.2011, please click here or visit GULF NEWS online.
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