A Spiritual Travel Trip to Uttar Pradesh

On 16^th Jan we decided we had to visit the Kumbh Mela, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. Dad joined me on the trip from Mumbai and I from Dubai. Here is post on my experience.  

I tried to book flights from Dubai to  Ayodhya but seemed all commercial flights had a halt in Mumbai, Bangalore or Delhi. We fixed our itinerary from 21^st Jan to 24^th Jan.

On 21^st Jan the most optimum route for me seemed flying Indigo, Sharjah 01:55 to Lucknow 06:55 and taking a bus transport at 12 pm to spend some short time in city and travel to Ayodhya. Spend a day or two in Ayodhya head to Prayagraj visit the Kumbh Mela and head to Varanasi.

 

21^st Jan

Arrived in Lucknow airport at 06:55 but it was too early for the city that couldn’t find a local breakfast. Dad Spicejet flight to Ayodhya from Mumbai had been delayed to land at Ayodhya at 11.

I forfeit my bus at 12 pm and took a cab from Polytechnic Chauraha (Reaching here was easy a metro costing 60 Rs from Lucknow airport to here). I booked a sharing cab which took me straight to Ayodhya costing me 450 Rs. I had mid morning butter aloo paratha and headed to sleep.

Our hotels were such that we were 400 mtrs from Ram Mandir. Dad took a cab from airport to hotel which is 30 min away. However due strict security measures the Ayodhya police doesn’t allow out of Ram Mandir registration town cabs to drop off at the hotel. A local rickshaw brings him to hotel. We made sure to travel light.

After lunch at Udupi express we walk around the city a bit and headed to siesta nap.

At 4 pm we decided to pay Ram Lalla a vist. Due to our odd timing we didn’t need a VIP ticket which needed to be booked 15 days in advance. We had a smooth Darshan and in 45 min we were out of the temple complex. The main temple is built with a similar stone used in Abu Dhabi temple (red marble) but surrounding areas are still under construction.

We head to Hanuman Garh and Bharat Kund which are in walking vicinity. Our energies are high now thanks to Bhakti (a Hindi word for spiritual motivation)

After a quick dinner we decide to forfeit our next day hotel stay avoiding staying one more day as we have covered the main events.

22^nd Jan

Our Honda Amaze cab Ayodhya -> Prayagraj -> Varanasi (costing us 9000 Rs) was ready at 06:30 again from outskirts of Ram Mandir complex which in 4 hours would take us to Prayagraj. It seems expensive but hotel stays in Prayagraj prompted us to use this route.

Its foggy in the morning, so a little tense but the drivers all use parking indicator lights to notify the trailing cars.

We reach Bada Baghada Parking at 10:30 and start walking towards Sangam Dwar ( a place where you can take holy dips). We made a mistake of walking which was a 6km journey(also the entrance we chose the police had barricaded the EV scooters path) but on the bright side we get to see a plenty of sadhus resting, the ISCKON distribution center. After a tiring walk we reach the Sangam Dwar at 13:30; another 500 mtrs and we reach the river bed. We take a holy dip blessing at the Triveni Sangam bank(A confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) river and after quick steamed corn snack we decide to start our back journey. By this time we are very tired. Luckily we head to main road from here at 200Rs a person the rickshaw drops us right to our transport car. We now start our onward journey to Varanasi which is 3 hours drive.

Our hotel was 400 mtrs from Assi Ghat in Varanasi. We were amazed by narrow lanes of Varanasi but it is called the golden bird city (सोने की चिड़िया) of Uttar Pradesh. There were a plenty famous brands showroom which you generally see only in Tier 1 city. After a light dinner. We book a tour guide at the hotel reception for the next day.

23^rd Jan

We wake up at 7am and head to Kashi Vishwanath temple. We book a priest and quick entry darshan (costing 500 Rs plus dakshinas). Again in 45 min we were lucky to finish the darshan. The Shivling in the temple is situated down so if you plan to visit look down when your turn comes. The temple campus has been expanded by buying land from the local priests. In the campus is the Gyan Vyapi mosque which is in dispute in courts. The back structure of the Gyan Vyapi mosque has same marble tower and patterns as the Kashi temple. We have a quick delicious breakfast of special Puri (made of wheat, fenugreek, and fennel crushed seeds) and Chokha.

 

We visit Kaal Bhairav Mandir and Durga Kund. We were late for Sankat Mochan temple so we headed back to the hotel at 13:30. A relaxed veg (our entire trip is pure veg) lunch at Nathu’s a 1939 built establishment. The highlight was sweets for lunch was a delicious tiny jaggery balls laddu which breaks in to tiny round pieces. We definitely don’t miss out on local Banarasi Sweet Paan.

 

At 16:00 we finish Sankat Mochan temple buy our ladies the famous Banarasi silk sarees and head to Assi Ghat and book a one and half hour river cruise over the Ganga ji river Ghats. Roasted peanuts with shell is our staple on the cruise.  At 18:30 the boat halts in the river we witness the famous evening Ganga aarti.

(It is advisable to book a local tour guide in Varanasi (available at all hotel receptions) as they negotiate with rickshaws for you and reduce your travel time within the city. All the temples are not at walking distance from each other)

At the banks of Assi Ghat we do our pooja and order the famous tomato chaat. The Ganga Aarti lasts for 1.5 hours.

For dinner the highlight was a Paneer and Sattu stuffed litti with chokha. For dessert we order the famous malai (a light milk foam) and head back to hotel at 20:30 which is at walking distance.

24^th Jan

We visit the Jangamwadi Math (envisioned and funded by the Wadiyar dynasty of Kodagu) at 07:00 and 108 Shivling Mandir called Mani mandir in vicinity. After idli and dosas for breakfast we have a thandai. We got to also see bhang crushing process which we avoided consuming in our thandai.

One more commendable thing of Uttar Pradesh is they avoid using any form of paper cups. All tea is served in kulhads ( an earthen glass). We use EasemyTrip.com a public listed entity for our flights, hotel booking for which I am a shareholder. It is priced correctly now after the recent dip. 

At 12:00 we head to the airport for our flight Varanasi to Mumbai. Nirulas the famous Delhi eatery spots had an ice cream counter at the airport. We shared a tutti fruit ice cream after lunch and waited for our Akasa Air a Boeing 737 max flight which was delayed by 2 hours.

Back to Mumbai at 19:50 and I take a flight back to Dubai after 3 days.

Thank you and Jai Shri Ram!

How to save on Print costs

Saving on print costs can be a significant consideration for both individuals and businesses, especially as printing expenses can quickly add up over time. Here are some practical tips to help reduce print costs without sacrificing quality or efficiency:

1. Print in Draft Mode: Many printers offer a draft mode option, which uses less ink or toner to produce lighter prints suitable for internal use or rough drafts. Reserve high-quality printing for final documents or presentations.

2. Use Black and White Printing: Unless color is absolutely necessary, opt for black and white printing for everyday documents. Black ink or toner is typically less expensive than color, and grayscale printing consumes less ink overall.

3. Utilize Duplex (Double-Sided) Printing: Take advantage of duplex printing capabilities to print on both sides of the paper. This not only reduces paper usage but also cuts down on printing costs in the long run.

4. Adjust Print Settings: Before printing, review and adjust print settings to optimize ink or toner usage. Consider reducing the print resolution for documents that do not require high-quality output, as higher resolutions consume more ink or toner.

5. Print Only What You Need: Be selective about what you print. Avoid unnecessary printing of emails, web pages, or large graphics. Instead, save documents digitally or use electronic formats whenever possible.

6. Preview Before Printing: Always preview documents before printing to avoid errors or unnecessary pages. This simple step can help prevent wasted paper and ink from printing unintended content.

7. Invest in High-Yield Cartridges: When replacing ink or toner cartridges, consider purchasing high-yield or XL cartridges. While they may have a higher upfront cost, they offer a lower cost per page, resulting in long-term savings.

8. Consider Third-Party Cartridges: Explore compatible or remanufactured ink and toner cartridges as alternatives to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridges. These options often provide comparable quality at a lower price point.

9. Maintain Your Printer: Regularly clean and maintain your printer to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. Follow manufacturer guidelines for cleaning printheads, removing debris, and replacing worn parts to prevent costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your printer.

10. Go Paperless When Possible: Embrace digital alternatives such as electronic document management, online collaboration platforms, and digital signatures to reduce reliance on printed materials altogether.

By implementing these strategies, individuals and businesses can effectively reduce print costs without sacrificing productivity or quality. Combining cost-saving measures with conscious printing habits can lead to significant savings over time while promoting environmental sustainability.

How to make Demonetization a Boon for India

Demonetization will be boon for balancing the wealth between rich and poor for sometime. We might see further devaluation of Indian currency but we as a global and local Indians must focus on balancing our trades.

Pay your advance taxes so the government and budget will be cash rich at beginning of the fiscal year. Study Dubai to do this.

Focus on increasing software exports from Indian companies so deficit will be less.

Focus on promoting India Inc and its products. We have best chillies, pepper, one of largest producers of cocoa, rice and wheat.

Don't look for buying things cheap in India.  Pay the premium.

Advise every household to declare their gold and see effects of currency strengthening.

If a government official be it any party focuses on improving quality yield then support them vociferously.

Remit goods sums of your international income regularly to India. Don't look towards procuring international citizenship but educate the rich men abroad of advantages of getting an Indian passport.

Go Cashless. Jai Hind. 

LETTERS FROM THE CORPUS AMYGDALOIDEUM 2

“What am I, and Who do I want to become?” is the question burdening me these days. I am someone who wants to be a messenger of peace by taking away everything from the world like my father did. He marginalized the smaller problems and focused on the bigger ones on a day to day basis. I want to make smart calculated decisions to keep myself in the state so that I control things in my den and also make life luxuries more accessible to common man. I know a hostile bid exists but we are strong emotionally, energetically, and analytically to keep going on for aeon. It is not easy when you intend to do new things from using the things your parents make. I have seen my father work towards building his life in tandem with the smarter men by foregoing his personal interests. He worked hard to make whatever achieved. The only way is to recreate it in a smarter way for everyone. Companies who do this very efficiently are the likes of HTC, Apple, LG, Samsung and some more. They focus on the basic needs of people and try to make technology and information more accessible to mankind. It wouldn’t be any surprise if nano-technology will be introduced to the masses by one of these companies. But the question is human race ready for this nano-technology and cool works of smarter men and women; yes we are.  We want to make Mumbai not like Dubai or Singapore, but a balance of green lands of Malaysia and business hub of Omaha. It is the next destination where all the monies (legal tender transaction) will happen!

Gift Certificates for 26th Birthday

1. Mac Book Air

2. Tissot Watch

3. Swanky Indian Car - Maruti SX4

4. A Grey Raymond Suit

5. An I-Phone

6. Scooba 230 - Robotic Floor Cleaner

7. Dreammate Sleep Inducer

Well if you thought this list was outrageous, extravagant, braggers parade and any of those extreme words you would know; I present herewith below what I truly need for my birthday from YOU as a birthday gift -

Being an Indian, born and brought up in a metropolitan city like Mumbai I was always spoilt compared to a major proportion of kids in India and had all the comforts of life in the 1990 – 2000 (my childhood) who wouldn’t experience due to social circumstances, lack of resource, infrastructure and buying power. I was given the best education possible and am thankful to my parents for that. I had to work for the luxuries but was paid handsomely with lovely educational gifts from parents for it.

But after 25 years I am at the point where the list above I still want to buy and would love you unconditionally ;) for gifting it to me. However the ideal birthday gift I expect from you is - Make a small donation of time and effort towards child welfare so that more children can get a better education and better upbringing like you and me. If I haven’t been very convincing with this post I would still urge you to see the following link-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyBr_25CLFA&NR=1

See beyond the class and gender; see beyond whether the child is a Brahmin or Shudra, whether a male or female. Just make sure that you don’t see him at the nearest tea stall cleaning tables or see her on the road carrying a child begging for money.

And if you are like one of me who can’t do that because you are over-burdened with work, please skip that next couple of movies you intend to watch and make that small monetary donation of towards an organization which tends to dire and basic needs of getting children on the right path. It could be anyone you like.

Just in case you are not aware where to donate here is link -

http://www.cry.org/apps/donation.aspx

Donations start at a paltry INR 1800.00 to send a kid to school. And its entitles you to Tax exemptions too.

Incase this post has encouraged you to make a donation to any organization of your/my choice, please do wish me as “I donated, Sainath! Happy Birthday to you.”

Again I ask, what do you like on your street and neighborhood -

OR

And don’t forget to wish me a Happy Birthday on the 14^th of May!

LETTERS FROM THE CORPUS AMYGDALOIDEUM

I was at a clock shop one evening wanting to buy a clock for my parents. I zeroed down to this large dialled, big numbers Sinix watch which was perfect but had this learning – “Time and Tide Wait for no Man.” The truth is - Every man change with time and tide. Only the clever ones have the leisure to cherish the past. Every man is born a caveman. Maturity and sophistication only comes to him by putting himself in circumstances undesired by him. This letter is to jot the past down in this miniature blog, wrap it and throw it. It’s a letter of anxiety, frustration, and will to change how worldly matters function and make time wait for me. Judging a man from what you see, read or hear is the worst mistake one can make. Things are simple if you want it to be. Men are of two types – ones who squander away and complain; the second being the ones who acquire and smile. Being a grabber does no harm. It does the masses well. Also, the second type of men is the one who spends miserly and wisely. They hide information from the masses only to use it again for the betterment of the society when in trouble. Of course they want to profit from the result. They spend most of their time not by running the rat race; rather running with the rat racers, analysing their need and providing people with that need. You have two simple choices – Listen to people who will try to make your current bitter based on their judgement of your persona, alternatively Ignore people, live in the current and move forward as you dreamt things would be. Fight against those who wish to pull you down and want you to be realistic for the tiny moment they are with you. Kick them, bury them in their own sand castle, fulfil their wishes; but move forward. Remember, time and tide waits for only those men who know how to play with time and tide.

Lastly would like to add a magic formula verse of a poem –
And each man kills the thing he loves,
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword.

Untapped Energy in Quantum of 275 Thousand TeraWatts-Hour

It sure does sound like a big a number. Yes, neither am I in a crazy mood nor Edison to reveal these numbers for the first time to be mocked at. This is the amount of renewable energy which can be generated from the concentrating solar rays. And guess what how much does earth need today. A mere fraction of this! 16 TERAWATT-HOURS!

Now, let’s go through some information which has been elusive.

Solar energy is not the cheapest way to generate electricity. The initial setup costs run into thousands of dollars per sq. m. A concentrating solar plant setup contains parabolic mirrors (as hard that you could possibly play drums on it) arranged in long rows and in millions. Black ceramic pipes with oil run all through these mirror rows kept at focal point distance from these mirrors. As the first sun rays hit the pipes(insulated by air) the oil in these pipes get heated. Oil temperatures are raised upto 400 degrees centigrade. This heat energy is used to convert water into steam which runs turbines. The process of turbines is pretty familiar and needs no explanation.

One problem is what to do at night?

Use the energy to store heat in molten salt. And, in the evening use the same heat for water into steam, turbine process.

Germany and Spain are the smarter countries where there is abundant sun light and they have used resource wisely. The plant in southern Spain, known as Andasol 1, began operating last November and now provides 50 megawatts of power, enough electricity to supply 50,000 to 60,000 homes year-round. Andasol 2 will come online later this summer, with Andasol 3 already under construction. When the entire Andasol complex is completed in 2011, it is expected to generate enough electricity to power 150,000 households — about 600,000 people. This information sure should come in Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Researchers at the German Aerospace Center have estimated that 16,000 square kilometers of solar thermal power plants in North Africa — paired with a new infrastructure of high-voltage, direct-current transmission lines — could provide enough electricity for all of Europe.

Countries like Spain and Germany have utilized their expertise, money and resources to create greener environments. We won’t find many high rises in these countries rather boring old houses with brilliant green technology use. Oil price was increased in Iran in 1979 and America responded with millions of cars parked outside gas stations, songs like Bomb Iran by Vince Vance being sung. Today with a new president Barack Obama and new perspective the Democrats have promised to increase the use of Renewable energy by 25%. Currently 11% of America is run on renewable energy which are Concentrating Solar, PhotoVoltaic cells, Wind Energy, Geothermal, Hydro and Biomass fuel.

If you are home owner this is the minimum you can do. Throw away those fancy electricity guzzling water heaters. Install solar panels on rooftops and harness energy for free heated water.