Meet my unleashed neighbor

It is really very disheartening to disclose this very fact that I have been unable to follow one of the most important commandments of Christianity. This would be that of “Love thy neighbor” because of many reasons. I promise you this is not baseless and I am sure you all will agree with me, if you hear me out, the cause for not able to nurture a virtue like that. At times I feel is it me who has developed this problem of hating my neighbor or is it the person who has pushed me to that corner for such reciprocation. I wonder but if you are interested to know more here is the reason for all this.

Make a style statement with the new Palazzo Pants

Yes ladies Palazzo Pants are back in racks! Now for those who do not know what a Palazzo Pant is, they can browse the net to catch a glimpse of how they look. These created a phenomenal success in the 60’s and 70’s with actresses

The two most important people of my life whom I admire

The two most important people in my life who have made a difference in my life are my mother and my husband. That is correct one parent and the other one is my life more than a partner. These two have always been there whenever I have needed them the most. They have influenced my life in an optimistic way as their presence makes me feel comfortable and the positive vibes help me keep focused.

PIRACY IN SOMALIA

What is piracy and armed robbery in ocean waters? The answer to this question is rather not simple and yet not very complicated . Piracy is a term used to describe acts of armed robbery and other malicious acts against ships in international waters.They are carried out with the intent of stealing valuables on borad the ship/and or extorting money from shipowners or other third party interests by holding the ship or the crew for ransom . The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) defines piracy as the act of boarding a vessel with an intent to commit theft or any other crime, and with an intent or capacity to use forces in furtherence of the act. Since this defination reflects the popular understanding of the word piracy and furthermore piracy in Somalia and Gulf of Aden, so we will see some statistics down below to have a fair knowledge about this subject .

Armed attacks on merchant vessels transiting from Gulf of Aden, and other waters near Horn of Africa have increased considerably in the past few years. Such acts have usually been conducted with the use of threat of violence. This can be particularly traumatic for those directly involved in this actual scenario as well as the family members of these seafarers sitting miles away and praying for their loved ones.

A study has been  released  by a political and economic intelligence consultancy firm for the delegates ahead  of an International Piracy Conference that began in Dubai in mid of 2011 is one of the first efforts to chart the economics behind piracy. The figures revealed focus on the extent of the problems with the piracy attacks and hint at record level attacks and huge monetary compensations set to swell the rank of pirates by 2015. The efforts by vigilante Somali fishermen in the mid 1990s to protect the coastal waters around Somalia mainly by fishing have rapidly advanced to piracy and now outspreads to some 2.5 million square nautical miles off Somalia’s coastline. Somali piracy is valued at $238 million until 2010 and is now set to rise to $400 million by 2015. The cost of piracy prevention could essentially double in the same period from $8.3 billion in 2010 to about $15 billion in 2015. The sustained growth of piracy powered by organized and armed gangs using “motherships” to enable them to attack further afield, could see the number of pirates rising considerably around this region. The study predicts  that these piracy incidents will expand substantially beyond Somali waters  since they are a part of a complicated piracy value chain ranging from financial backers to accountants and arms dealers. A UN source concurred that research of this nature is vital and a comprehensive study is required so as to have a united approach to eradicate this issue  by the joint  patrolling authorities based on shared intelligence .

Special Note: Specially contributed by Mr. Souvik Chatterjee. The author is a Naval Officer in Merchant Navy who is serving this line of trade for the last 15 years.

Monsoon in Gokarna

Gokarna is a legendary town located in the district of Uttara Kannada in the state of Karnataka. It is popular destination for both tourists as well as for Hindu pilgrims. There are no doubts about the experience of Monsoon in Gokarna will kindle a different feeling in you once you are there.

History of Gokarna

Gokarna is a temple town that is located in the backwaters of Karnataka. The beauty of the place lies in its simplicity and serenity. The place derives its name from the Sanskrit phrase that when literally translated into English means “from the cow’s ear.” According to a legend Lord Shiva appeared from the ears of a cow on this very place and since then it was forenamed as Gokarna. In fact there are many more stories that you can lend an ear to once you are around the town.

Destination Gokarna

Gokarna is an ideal place for people planning a quiet trip. Now if you are planning a vacation to this tranquil town then you can be taking a bus, train, or a plane as well. The bus stand is the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the whole town is situated around this stand. There are many trains that pass through this town and the nearest airport would be that of Goa. You are free to make a choice of your own in this case.

The right time

Well to be honest you can always make a stopover a beach. However monsoons can be described as the best time to visit the place. That is correct monsoon in Gokharna can give you quite a delight in its own ways. There are a few reasons why this could be a good time to holiday at Gokarna. The first would be that is considered to be an off season in this part of the world. This gives you a chance to win discounted accommodation which already sounds appealing to you. Secondly the string of beaches that Gokarna is surrounded with look their best during this time. The freshly washed leaves of the coconut trees look greener and woods smell like heaven. This gives you a fair idea as to what a monsoon in Gokharna may actually be like!

The beaches and temples

Gokarna is full of exotic beaches that make your stay worth. You can take a walk along the beaches that have interesting nomenclatures like Half-Moon Beach, Om Beach, Kudlee Beach which is the largest beach, and Paradise Beach. As far as the temples are concerned you can pay your respects to Lord Shiva mainly and his shrine at Mahabaleshwara Temple. Apart from this the Uma Maheshwari Temple, the Bhadrakali Temple and the Maha Ganapathy Temple are few more that can be visited in a day.

The cool winds whispering into ears and caressing your face is a feeling that you need to undergo. Monsoon in Gokharna can give you the pleasure of a lifetime, if you really want to make it affair to remember!