We all have been reading and seeing about climate change and the recent Australian bushfires on Earth. Following is a video would like to share with you in this regard.
Source
This is a non-commercial attempt from http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/sanctuaryasi…, to highlight the fact that world leaders, irresponsible corporates and mindless ‘consumers’ are combining to destroy life on earth. It is dedicated to all who died fighting for the planet and those whose lives are on the line today. The cut was put together by Vivek Chauhan, a young filmmaker, together with naturalists working with the Sanctuary Asia network (http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/).
Content credit: The principal source for the footage was Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s incredible film HOME http://www.homethemovie.org/. The music was by Armand Amar. Thank you too Greenpeace and http://timescapes.org/
H2O is the chemical formula for water. It describes water broken down into its elements.
For me, the waterfall symbolises unleashed creativity in a constant fluid shape that is ever-changing and renewing. It symbolises openness, flexibility, power, form and spirituality which is a primordial symbol association with water in its countless expressions.
In literature, water is associated with a symbol of change and is present at turning points. In most cultures, it is a sign of life.Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, was motivated to contemplate on the waterfall as the continuous evolution of beings. The drops of water which come together to form a waterfall are renewed each second.
Kodaikanal waterfalls
The waterfall symbolises unharnessed elemental motion. The force field that one needs to master and control one’s spirituality or spiritual being.The waterfall is symbolic of lastingness of form despite the change of content.Waterfall symbolises immense release of emotion, rejuvenation and renewal of spirit.The four elements of life on our planet of which water is the crucial element and the waterfall, in particular, is continuous creation and renewal.
*/This post was inspired by Weekly Photo Challenge: Symbol earlier and now H2O. For this week’s challenge, share a photo that features H2O; the element of water. Water comes in many different states and guises./*
*/ Please do not use photos without permission. */
These hideaways are the sacred saviors from the city rush. You not only need tranquil swish of the wind and the silence of the forest but also a calm and undisturbed retreat to spend your days in absolute disconnect from the world. You want the luxury of nature on a silent mode at a zero gadget buzz zone. Here’s a tour list of hotels inIndiagiving you the much sought after getaway from the world.
1. Elephant Valley Eco Farm,Kodaikanal
If you’re moving away from the civilization then it better be for the best. 20 km’s away fromKodaikanal, these eco farms attract eco-tourist year round. This old elephant migration route is a biodiversity hotspot and gives you more reasons to move away from the crowd and spend your days in one of the twenty eco-friendly bungalows in the wilderness equipped with solar light and firewood.
Amidst the greens of the Western Ghats, The Tamara Coorg brings you a unique experience of blissful solitude in the luxury cottages overlooking the vast Kabbinakad Estate. With the freshness of the Arabica and cardamom plantation, this retreat in the lap of nature gives you immense opportunities to be one with nature. The Rudraksha trail, bird watching, and the rejuvenating studio spa would leave you with nothing more to ask for.
On the bank of River Rangneet, amidst the Kanchenjunga mountain range, this beautiful hillock is owned by The Prakashes, The Chaiwalla Family. This tea estate experience can be your ultimate blissful disconnect from the world. With a thousand acres of private forest and two rivers running across the marvelous property, there is nothing more you need to spoil yourself and spend lazy afternoons on a sunny balcony.
These three candy-colored tents were the ancestral retreat for the Sequeira Family of Mapuca. This colonial hideout offers a double four-poster bed inside brightly draped tents. 100 meters from a serene beach, the tents face a silent creek running parallel to the sea. Closed during the monsoon season, Otter Creek tents are a perfect hideaway for summertime birdwatchers. The road ends 30 meters from the creek, making it a pocket of complete disconnect.
The heritage of the Sequeira Family has left us more scenic wonders and tranquil retreats than we can imagine. The house is named after the aviation pioneer of the previous century, Capt Cyril William Sequeira, who would fly over this vacation house in his tiger moth and leave the locals enrapt. This summer-house sleeps six and is probably your next summer escape resort.
An hour drive from Dindigul, Pallam Palace of Rajakkad in the hill country of South India is a silent getaway amidst the coffee estate. With private terraces facing lush gardens, Rajakkad estate is home to more than two hundred migratory birds. This seven bedroom garden hotel can also be a base for a short excursion to Kodaikanal or the temple town of Madurai. A leisure walk through the estate and the coffee drying yards would give you the ideal break from the city humdrum.
The silent haven of Dindigul is home to yet another traveler utopia. Cardamom house is a family home to British physician Dr. Chris Lucas. Outside the small village of Athoor, these cottages with rooftop terrace overlook a beautiful monsoon dependent Kamarajar Lake. This remote retreat in the foothills of Western Ghats offers immense photographic opportunities with the flowers in bloom, butterflies in the pool garden and wonderful dawn at the adjoining lake.
This is the dream hidden amidst the 21 acres jungles of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The treehouse balconies overlook the exquisite Bandhavgarh National Park with the highest count of tigers in the country. A traditional jungle living experience that has been on your bucket list awaits you here.
From one treehouse to another, there is no reason to step down yet. Sultan’s Battery, watch tower constructed by Tipu Sultan 4km fromMangalore. The quaint tree houses at Tranquil Plantation Hideaway amidst coffee and vanilla plantation are an ideal escape into the wild.
Located at the Kanam Estate on a small hilltop, at Serenity, you are enrapt in the scents of tropical spices. This private villa hotel prides itself for its vintage architecture and heritage ambiance. If you wish to spend more time with elephants than with people, this is the choicest destination giving an exquisite Malabar escape.
The snow-capped peaks of Garhwal are a loner’s paradise throughout the year. These tourist bungalows on the heavenly white slopes are the Himalayan Elysium. If you wish to hide away, make sure that it’s a wondrous hideaway and the bungalows on the snow blankets at Auli give you a bite full of nature you can savor for life.
Once in 12 years, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh , India explodes in the colour SAFFRON as it is home to the “SIMHASTHA KUMBH”.
The Gulmohar Trees ( Hindi), Flamboyant ( English) , Delonix regia ( Scientific name) join the celebration of Faith in the Month of May and explode in the colour of the season, Saffron.
Seen through flowers
The Kshipra River In Ujjain seen through the Flamboyant Saffron flowers of the Gulmohar Tree.
The Trident or “Trishul”is the Symbol of the Ruling Deityof Ujjain , “Mahakaal” or Lord Shiva .
The Trishul rises over the flamboyantly flowering Gulmohar Trees and the Saffron Bridge across the Kshipra River during the Maha Kumbh Festival.
Saffron bridge across the Shipra river
The Ghats of the River Kshipra turn Saffron too as the River is worshiped in celebration of the Life-giving Powers of Water.
Millions will bathe in the River during the Month long festival ” Simhastha Mahakumbh” held once in 12 years during a time determined by the Planets and Stars. The Sun enters Aries and Jupiter the constellation of Leo symbolizing the timing of this explosion of Faith and the colour saffron.
Saffron along the ghats
The “Dumroo” or Drum , held by the Saffron Sadhu ,is another symbol of Lord Shiva.
The reverberating and enchanting sound of the “Dumroo” symbolizes the healing Power of Sound.
Sadhus in their own world
Be Enchanted by the saffron colours in Ujjain as I take you through the Heart of India during a Festival of Faith.
A recent update of this site
Six die as storm hits Kumbh Mela. Lightning and thunderstorms hit the site of the ongoing Simhastha-Kumbh Mela in Ujjain. Four devotees and one sadhu died when a pandal collapsed due to strong winds. A woman pilgrim died after being struck by a bolt of lightning. Squall, coupled with rain, suddenly hit the area, uprooting several camps of sadhus.
Source: Mukul from Enchanted Forests and news sources.
A beautiful, coloured bird with striking yellow and jet black plumage and fully black wings was perched on the tree outside my window sill. It had camouflaged so effectively amongst the leaves that it is hard to spot. It has this song that alerts everyone around and can be heard over considerable distances.
The female of the species has dull-looking slightly greener colour. They have dark red eyes and a fairly thick, pink beak that is curved downwards at the end. It is a migratory bird and is mainly found throughout Europe and Western Asia. It is scientifically known as Oriolus kundoo and commonly known as Golden Oriole.
ARJNH6 Oriolus oriolus Golden oriole male sitting on a twig Alamy (Image source)
The Golden Oriole, as most oriole watchers who study the bird, will surely agree, is the most frustrating, intelligent, beautiful, characterful, acrobatic, brave, diverse, successful and exciting arboreal passerine there is.
A poem on Gold Oriole
A traditional children’s poem from Holland has been translated by Rob Bijlsma:
Going up the country,
Looking for the oriole–
Summer has arrived again,
When calling starts this songster.
Dudeljo resounds his song
Dudeljo resounds his song
Dudeljo and nothing more.
He lives in oakwood dense–
Clad in golden dress.
Sparks our hearts with happiness,
When yodeling his shawm.
Dudeljo resounds his song
Dudeljo and nothing more.
Golden Oriole’s diet and prey
It eats the most diverse range of invertebrates, from minuscule beetles to large bush crickets, locusts, large hairy caterpillars and worms. They also pluck fruits of the branches.
A number of the prey items on which orioles feed have pest status, making the oriole a welcome bird in many situations.
Indian Golden Oriole
Golden Oriole’s distribution and habitat
Golden Oriole is found across the Palearctic region, from Western Europe to Siberia, in much of Africa, and in Asia from India through Southwest Asia to China and Japan. They are scattered throughout the Philippines, Indonesia and into the Northern Australia and down the east coast. The main four species in addition to Eurasian Golden Oriole are Indian Golden Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Slender-billed Oriole and Black-naped Oriole.
The Golden Oriole (Poyser Monographs)by Mason, Paul Allsop, Jake has amazing illustrations and photos of Golden Oriole. The cover photo is also good. The book is an interesting read about the Golden Oriole. There are specific chapters dedicated to their habitat in Britain, Europe and North Africa, habitats in other parts of the breeding range, the special case of Kazakhstan.
The authors are the Secretary and Chairman of the Golden Oriole group. They are at the forefront of the successful battle to save the orioles’ last breeding area, Lakenheath in Suffolk, from deforestation. Chapter 2 is specifically dedicated to this, The story of Lakenheath and the Golden Oriole Group.
In the later chapters, there is a great detail of the biology of this beautiful species, their breeding biology, feeding ecology, evolution, migration and conservation.
The Golden Oriole is an absolute must for a bird watcher as the author’s expertise provides you with all the information you could want.
Responsible tourism is making better places for people to live in and better places to visit. Based on common sense and responsible use of environmental resources and cultural assets of each destination.
It is interchangeably referred to as Ecotourism or Sustainable Tourism.
As a tourist, you have responsibilities of environmental, social and economical in the following ways
Protect the environment, its flora, fauna and landscapes
Respect local cultures, traditions, religions and built heritage
Benefit local communities, both economically and socially
To conserve natural resources from source to destination
To minimise pollution – through the noise, waste disposal and congestion.
Dispose of your trash at the nearest dustbin. Do not litter because your litter can kill marine life.
Help to reduce plastic waste by reusing your empty water bottles.
Learn about your destination, health and safety
Purchase local goods and services
Respect Human rights
Travel in a way that minimises negative impact on the environment
Image source -Royal India Holidays Pvt. Ltd.
Around the world, initiatives are being taken for Responsible Tourism. Following are a few
Costa Rica, a pioneer in Green Challenge is on its way to becoming the first carbon neutral country by 2021. ‘Pura Vida’ is the motto of Costa Rica which means ‘pure life. It reminds us of its beauty.
Costa Rica (pixabay.com)
“Rural community tourism consists of planned touristic experiences which are integrated sustainably with the rural environment and developed by local citizen organizations for the benefit of the community.” – Costa Rican Tourism Board, UNDP and the Alliance for Rural Community Tourism, 2005.
Deer Park’s campus Waste Management System– Deer Park Institute located in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India, believes that to have a positive change in the community, it needs to begin with its own internal approach and practices. For environmentally sustainable living, following steps have been undertaken:
Recycle bins at Deer Park zero Waste campus
Segregating all waste in the campus eco-zones. Recyclables are given to local scrap dealers.
Organic matter is fed to local cows.
Deer Park’s healthy vegetarian meals are cooked primarily with foods grown in their garden or bought from local farmers.
Using solar hot water systems to conserve electricity.
The Institute raises awareness of local and global environmental issues among students and visitors through displays and information sheets posted around the campus, film screenings and workshops.
The institute has also created an eco-friendly livelihood. Under this initiative, a group of local villagers have learned to make handicrafts from recycled materials, including greetings cards made from scrap paper, and bags, wallets and other products made from cloth scraps. These products are now being successfully sold in Deer Park’s gift shop, with the profits going to the local team members. Besides the initial training, Deer Park has provided the handicraft team with a permanent workshop on their campus and support in developing new products. Two of the young women from the handicraft team are also being trained on their campus in IT, office work and other vocational skills.
Apani Dhani, Rajasthan, India– offers eco-friendly accommodation, excursions and activities with locals such as cooking lessons, initiation to traditional arts and crafts. It is also a winner of Responsible Tourism Award in the year 2013. Besides an environmental concern and a local development policy, Apani Dhani supports projects dedicated to three themes: education, environment and architectural heritage protection.
Apani Dhani Ecolodge (apanidhani.in)
Battlesteads Hotels, UK– Net zero carbon neutral three-star Hotel. From the big stuff, like the carbon-neutral heating and hot water system, the extensive gardens with two polytunnels which provide fresh fruit and vegetables for the kitchen throughout the year, to the small stuff, like locally sourced organic toiletries, the use of empty toilet roll inners for potting seedlings and the wormeries munching through kilos of food waste turning it into compost. (Source)
ITC Sonar, Kolkata, India– 5-star hotel leading light in renewable energy and resource efficiency. Situated close to the airport and just ten minutes from the Salt Lake silicon hub of Kolkata and the city’s shopping, entertainment, cultural and business districts, ITC Sonar offers an elegant oasis of luxury and warmth in an ambience that brings you closer to nature. The first hotel in the world to be registered by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for Carbon Emission Reductions, ITC Sonar delivers graciously on ITC Hotels’ promise of Responsible Luxury.
Heritage Kandalama, Sri Lanka– An architectural masterpiece by Geoffrey Bawa. Recognised as excellence in waste, water and energy management and sustainable architectural design. It has won the Best hotel Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award in the year 2010.
Heritance Kandalama- Sri Lanka’sMost AwardedHotel. An Icon of Modern Hotel Design
To conclude, as a responsible tourist you need to remember this, TRUST Principle model which is easy to adapt –
T– Travel to eco-friendly destinations largely.
R– Recreation with responsibility
U– Use only reusable items
S– Support the effort through possible means
T– Try and reach Responsible Tourism
So, let us all join hands and pledge to become a responsible tourist.
*/ This post is inspired by WPC- Eye Spy This week, take “eye” as your inspiration. This is a great opportunity to photograph people or pets, but remember — eye has lots of other potential meanings, too. /*
