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|Simon MacCorkindale
MacCorkindale in 2008 at the opening of a Headway Clinic in Swindon
|Simon Charles Pendered MacCorkindale
12 February 1952
Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
|14 October 2010 (aged 58)
London, United Kingdom
Cause of death
|Colorectal cancer
|Actor, director, producer, writer
|Years active
|Fiona Fullerton
(1976–82; divorced)
Susan George
(1984–2010; his death)
|Peter MacCorkindale (deceased)
Gilliver (née Pendered)
|Simon MacCorkindale
MacCorkindale in 2008 at the opening of a Headway Clinic in Swindon
|Simon Charles Pendered MacCorkindale
12 February 1952
Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
|14 October 2010 (aged 58)
London, United Kingdom
Cause of death
|Colorectal cancer
|Actor, director, producer, writer
|Years active
|Fiona Fullerton
(1976–82; divorced)
Susan George
(1984–2010; his death)
|Peter MacCorkindale (deceased)
Gilliver (née Pendered)
Simon Charles Pendered MacCorkindale[1] (12 February 1952 – 14 October 2010) was a British actor, film director, writer and producer. MacCorkindale spent much of his childhood moving around due to his father's commission with the Royal Air Force. Poor eyesight prevented him following a similar career in the RAF, so he instead planned to become a theatre director. Training at the Theatre of Arts in London, MacCorkindale started work as an actor, making his West End debut in 1974. He went on to appear in numerous roles in television, including the series I, Claudius and Jesus of Nazareth, before starring as Simon Doyle in the film Death on the Nile (1978). This proved to be a breakthrough role and allowed MacCorkindale to move to the United States, where he appeared in a variety of films and TV series including Quatermass (1979), The Riddle of the Sands (1979), The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) and Jaws 3-D (1983).
In 1983, MacCorkindale starred in the short-lived series Manimal as the lead character, Dr Jonathan Chase, before taking up the longer-running role of lawyer Greg Reardon in Falcon Crest. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s he directed and produced many stage, TV and film productions through his company Amy International Artists, such as the film Stealing Heaven (1988). Moving to Canada, MacCorkindale starred as Peter Sinclair in the series Counterstrike for three years. He returned to the UK in 2002 and joined the cast of the BBC medical drama Casualty, appearing in the role of Harry Harper for six years until 2008. He married actress Susan George in 1984 and died of colorectal cancer in 2010.
MacCorkindale was born on 12 February 1952 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England,[1][2] to Scottish parents Gilliver Mary (née Pendered) and Peter Bernard MacCorkindale OBE,[3][4][5][1] who died in September 2007.[5] He had a brother, Duncan,[6] while his father was an RAF Group Captain station commander. MacCorkindale spent some of his childhood in Edinburgh, where his father was stationed for a period,[7] although Peter MacCorkindale's changing postings necessitated 17 moves to places across Europe.[1] As a result, he became an "independent" child.[4] MacCorkindale attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College in Hertfordshire from 1965 to 1970, where he was Head Boy and a member of the Air Training Corps. Originally intending to enlist in the RAF, he abandoned this plan at the age of 13 when his eyesight began to deteriorate. MacCorkindale considered joining the diplomatic corps to become an ambassador, but instead opted to become a stage director after developing an interest in theatre.[2][8]
MacCorkindale had been a fan of theatre since writing a play at the age of eight, joking that it was "unproduceable" because "it required an enormous cast and a considerable amount of rum drinking."[4] Making his acting debut at the same age, he went on to appear on stage and work behind the scenes of numerous school and theatre group productions throughout his childhood.[9] Persuading his parents that he would find a "sensible job" if a career as a director was not sustaining him financially by the age of 25, MacCorkindale decided not to study at university and instead attended the Studio 68 drama school at the Theatre of Arts in London.[1][8] In his time at drama school, he took acting classes so that he "could better understand actors and, hopefully, be a more competent director." MacCorkindale opted to continue acting after graduating from the Theatre of Arts; he decided to amass more experience in the role to have better confidence as a director.[8]
"I had an enormous amount of fun. I was very lucky. I got to work in a lot of popular shows, got to know a lot of well-known people and as a result I got into that whole A-list circle. I went to some extraordinary parties, made a name for myself and managed to make it last for 30 years. I'm a lucky bunny and long may it last."
MacCorkindale started his acting career in theatre, touring the UK with a repertory theatre group. His first professional stage performance was in a 1973 run of A Bequest to the Nation at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. He made his West End theatre debut in a production of Pygmalion in 1974, appearing alongside Alec McCowen and Diana Rigg in the role of "Sarcastic Bystander".[2][6][8] In 1973, the series Hawkeye, The Pathfinder had given MacCorkindale his first TV credit.[10] He went on to appear in a number of other TV series, including Within These Walls, Sutherland's Law,[2] I, Claudius (as Lucius Caesar) and Jesus of Nazareth.[7]
MacCorkindale's film debut came in 1974 with Juggernaut.[2] He was cast as Simon Doyle in the 1978 film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile at the age of 25. He became a friend of co-star Bette Davis, reflecting, "There was a feeling of being in awe of these people but I had a certain amount of pioneer courage, so I didn't let it get to me. But there were days when I thought, 'I'm about to do a scene with this cinema legend, am I up to it?' But people were very gracious. I was never the whipping boy because I was less experienced."[7] The role boosted MacCorkindale public profile and he considered it to be his career break.[7] He won the London Evening Standard Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer for this part.[2] MacCorkindale went on to star as sailor Arthur Davies in The Riddle of the Sands (1979).[10][11]
MacCorkindale played astronomer Joe Kapp in the fourth episode of Nigel Kneale's Quatermass TV serial (1979), starring alongside John Mills. He had previously starred in an episode of Kneale's series Beasts and enjoyed appearing in the role of Kapp, finding it a change from the typecast romantic roles that he had become accustomed to playing,[12] while noting that it was "challenging" conveying the character's strong Jewish faith.[8] Kneale later expressed disappointment with MacCorkindale's performance, commenting, "We had him in Beasts playing an idiot and he was very good at that".[13]
Following the success of Death on the Nile, MacCorkindale moved to the United States in 1980. Although warned that it would limit his chance of finding work, MacCorkindale refused to adopt an American accent when auditioning, believing that his British diction would help fill a "niche".[2][7] However, for two years he failed at the audition stage for all major parts on account of his nationality. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) told MacCorkindale that he was not an "eight o'clock actor", which he took to mean that "at that time of night they didn't want viewers watching someone who sounded intellectual or who had an accent that was alien to their ears and, therefore, hard work when it came to listening."[8] During this time he appeared in single-episode roles in series such as Dynasty, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Matt Houston and The Dukes of Hazzard,[2][8][10] as well as playing David Clement, an aristocrat, in the mini-series Manions of America.[2][8]
He was eventually cast in the adventure series Manimal for NBC in 1983, in which he played the lead character Professor Jonathan Chase, an Englishman who assists police in the fight against crime with his ability to transform into animals. The role impressed MacCorkindale, who considered Chase to be a "very cerebral individual".[8] He also "found himself in the first wave of UK stars to make it big in America," along with Joan Collins in Dynasty, which led to a further influx of British actors finding work in the US.[2][7] Filming on Manimal would often run for as much as 14 to 16 hours per day, and MacCorkindale would sometimes be required to work at weekends to be made up with the prosthetics necessary for Manimal 's transformation sequences. The low ratings that resulted in the cancellation of Manimal after one season and eight episodes was in part due to NBC broadcasting the series at the same time as Dallas on CBS, Manimal losing out to the more popular "soap". Budget cuts also contributed to the series' cancellation as it was the network's most expensive series. Manimal has since acquired a global cult following.[8][14]
In 1984, he was cast as Angela Channing's (Jane Wyman) lawyer Greg Reardon in the soap opera Falcon Crest, without requiring an audition. MacCorkindale asked for the character, originally an American named Brad, to be rewritten as English, and also directed one episode.[2] He rejected a contract extension after appearing in 59 episodes[10] and left the series in 1986 because he "felt that the work I was doing was fun and lucrative but not as stretching as I felt I wanted or needed. I also was finding fault with much of the work, not only Falcon Crest, but everything. I was actually ready to quit acting and try producing so I could put myself on the line."[2]
MacCorkindale appeared in the films Caboblanco (1980) and The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982, as Prince Mikah),[15] and starred as Philip FitzRoyce in the third part of the Jaws film series, Jaws 3-D (1983).[16] In the mid-1980s, MacCorkindale was considered for the role of James Bond as a possible successor to actors Sean Connery and Roger Moore, but was not cast.[1] Jaws 3-D proved to be his last major film role.[10]
In the 1990s, MacCorkindale returned to acting after a hiatus in which he had focused on production work. He appeared in a number of projects in Canada, which he felt "could be at the crossroads of international production."[14] From 1990 to 1993, MacCorkindale played former Scotland Yard inspector Peter Sinclair in the Toronto-filmed USA Network series Counterstrike, alongside Christopher Plummer.[2][14] He was offered the part by producer Robert Lantos, who wanted to work with MacCorkindale while for his part the actor wished to return to acting after three years running Amy International. With production complete on several episodes, feeling that the show was "too plot-driven rather than character-driven", MacCorkindale thereafter became a writer for the series. He was appointed an executive production consultant that ensured that he "could make quicker [on-set] judgments on behalf of the production."[17]
Following Counterstrike, MacCorkindale appeared in the final episode of the TV drama E.N.G., whereafter his "media tycoon" character was planned to be the star of a spin-off alongside actress Sara Botsford, but the project was abandoned.[14] He starred in numerous TV films throughout the 1990s, including a part as the villain in The Girl Next Door. MacCorkindale was glad to "gradually [switch] to villains" as "that's more fun than [playing] the straitlaced hero."[14] MacCorkindale also reprised the role of Dr Chase from Manimal in an episode of Night Man in 1998, which incorporated computer-generated imagery for the transformations as opposed to prosthetic makeup, and also directed an episode of the series.[8] Other appearances included the TV series Earth: Final Conflict and the 2000 TV film The Dinosaur Hunter.[14][18]
Having rejected an offer to play Captain Jonathan Archer in the American science-fiction TV series Star Trek: Enterprise,[19] MacCorkindale returned to the UK in 2002 and joined the cast of the BBC One medical drama Casualty, in the role of clinical lead consultant Harry Harper.[20] Following his casting, he said in an interview with the Daily Record that he was a long-time fan of the series, commenting that it was "great to be joining an established show with a great bunch of people."[21] In contrast, Neil Bonner of the Liverpool Daily Post quoted him as stating that he had never seen an episode of the show in its then-16-year history. MacCorkindale was surprised to be offered the role of Harper given the many years that he had spent working in North America, but having settled in Exmoor found Bristol to be an accessible production base.[22][23] MacCorkindale was "never too comfortable as a young actor" and "always felt that [his] best time in the business would be around [the age of 50]." MacCorkindale commented that he "loved [his] time on Casualty," and spent time researching all the medical terminology that his character used to ensure that he understood it.[24] He also appeared as Harper in the Casualty spin-off series Holby City and Casualty@Holby City.[2] Many reviewers were disparaging of MacCorkindale's performances in Casualty: Rupert Smith of The Guardian deemed MacCorkindale "fantastically wooden",[25] while fellow Guardian journalists Sarah Dempster and Jim Shelley commented on MacCorkindale's "loud" delivery of his lines. Shelley described the character of Harper as a "human Foghorn Leghorn",[26] while according to Dempster, Casualty was "above all [...] about Simon MacCorkindale, shouting. Then panting, alarmingly, as he peers through some blinds. And then shouting again."[27]
In January 2007, MacCorkindale was given a five-month sabbatical from Casualty because a plotline required that his character be temporarily removed from the series. He took the opportunity to tour the UK in a revival of the Agatha Christie murder mystery play The Unexpected Guest. He then returned to Casualty, but having re-discovered his taste for theatre, left the series permanently in 2008 to appear as Andrew Wyke in a UK tour Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth.[24] By the time that MacCorkindale quit Casualty, he had appeared in 229 episodes of the series.[28]
In August 2008, he replaced Simon Burke as Captain Georg Ludwig von Trapp in the London Palladium production of The Sound of Music, remaining with the show until its closure in February 2009.[29][30] After small parts in the films 13 Hrs and A Closed Book,[31][32] he returned to TV as Sir David Bryant in the 2010 series of New Tricks, in what proved to be his final TV appearance.[1][28][33]
MacCorkindale produced, directed and wrote a number of film, television and theatre productions throughout his career. In the 1980s, he directed three performances of the play Sleuth, starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Howard Keel and James Whitmore,[7] and a Los Angeles production of The Merchant of Venice, and starred in the one-man show The Importance of Being Oscar at the Globe Playhouse in 1981.[2]
After his departure from Falcon Crest, MacCorkindale returned to the UK in 1986 to form a production company. The following year, he established Amy International Artists, based at Shepperton Studios, with his wife Susan George, and also Apollo Films International.[10] He subsequently directed, wrote and produced a number of projects for Amy International,[8][24] including the 1988 film Stealing Heaven (concerning the medieval French philosopher Abelard and his passion for Heloise),[2] and the 1989 film Djavolji Raj (That Summer of White Roses), which stars George and features romantic theme music composed by MacCorkindale.[10] MacCorkindale and George purchased the rights to each project because they wished to "make the pictures that we just totally and literally believe in", regardless of their commercial success.[34]
Working in partnership with Chris Bryant, MacCorkindale wrote and directed the TV film The House That Mary Bought in 1995,[2] and with Paul Stephens co-produced the 1998 film Such a Long Journey, for which he was nominated for the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture.[14] MacCorkindale then wrote the screenplay for a biographical film of the missing peer Lord Lucan, which he also planned to produce and act in, although financial problems resulted in the cancellation of the project in 1996.[1] He served as co-executive producer for the 2000 syndicated TV series Queen of Swords, and as co-producer for the 2002 series Adventure Inc..[10] MacCorkindale also co-produced the third season of Relic Hunter in 2002.[35][36]
MacCorkindale was married twice. His first wife was actress Fiona Fullerton; the couple married in 1976 and divorced in 1982.[37] Following his divorce from Fullerton, MacCorkindale began a relationship with actress Susan George, whom he had first met in 1977; they married secretly in Fiji on 5 October 1984,[30][38] and later held a second ceremony with family and friends in Berkshire, England.[39] They had no children.[39] With George, MacCorkindale lived on and managed an Arabian stud farm based in Exmoor.[1][30]
MacCorkindale was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2006, and underwent an operation to remove a section of his bowel during a two-week break from filming Casualty. Although the cancer was excised and MacCorkindale went into remission following the surgery, one year later doctors discovered that the cancer had metastasised to his lungs. MacCorkindale continued to act during his treatment, returning to film his final series of Casualty in late 2007; he did not disclose his illness to his colleagues, and found it surreal when scripts required his character to inform patients that they had cancer or another incurable disease.[30] MacCorkindale spent much of his fortune on private cancer treatment in the United States, with limited success.[40] In November 2009, he publicly revealed that the disease was terminal,[20][30] and he died on 14 October 2010 at a clinic in London.[33]
|No. 1 Helmsman
|Death on the Nile
|Simon Doyle
|Riddle of the Sands, TheThe Riddle of the Sands
|Arthur Davies
|Quatermass Conclusion, TheThe Quatermass Conclusion
|Joe Kapp
|Lewis Clarkson
|Outpost of Progress, AnAn Outpost of Progress
|Sword and the Sorcerer, TheThe Sword and the Sorcerer
|Prince Mikah
|Jaws 3-D
|Philip FitzRoyce
|Shades of Love: Sincerely, Violet
|Mark Jamieson
|Direct-to-video release
|Stealing Heaven
|Summer of White Roses, ThatThat Summer of White Roses
|Producer, composer and writer
|Such A Long Journey
|Wing Commander
|Flight Boss
|Closed Book, AA Closed Book
|Andrew Boles
|Duncan Moore
|Hawkeye, the Pathfinder
|Lieutenant Carter
|Appeared in three episodes
|Play of the Month
|Episode 9.8: "The Skin Game"
|Sutherland's Law
|Ian Sutherland
|Episode 4.5: "No Second Chance"
|Romeo and Juliet
|TV film
|Hunter's Walk
|Episode 3.1: "Intent"
|I, Claudius
|Episode 1.2: "Waiting in the Wings"
|Peter Gilkes
|Episode 1.4: "Baby"
|Within These Walls
|Dr. Dady
|Appeared in three episodes
|Paul Verdayne
|Episode 1.2: "Three Weeks"
|Jesus of Nazareth
|TV miniseries
|Just William
|Episode 1.12: "William and the Sleeping Major"
|Doombolt Chase, TheThe Doombolt Chase
|Lt. Cmdr. Madock
|Episode 1.1: "Court of Shame"
|Will Shakespeare
|Sir Thomas Walsingham
|Episode 1.1: "Dead Shepherd"
|Joe Kapp
|TV serial; appeared in all four episodes
|Dukes of Hazzard, TheThe Dukes of Hazzard
|Gaylord Duke
|2.13: "Duke of Duke"
|Hammer Film Productions
|Harry Wells
|Episode 1.11: "Visitor from the Grave"
|Manions of America
|David Clement
|TV mini-series
|Fantasy Island
|Gaston du Brielle
|Episode 5.3: "Cyrano/The Magician"
|Hart to Hart
|Arthur Roman
|Episode 4.3: "Million Dollar Harts"
|Billy Dawson
|Episode 3.4: "The Will"
|Falcon's Gold
|Hank Richards
|TV film
|Dr. Jonathan Chase
|Appeared in all eight episodes
|Obsessive Love
|Glenn Stevens
|TV film
|Matt Houston
|Robert Tyler
|Episode 3.3: "Eyewitness"
|Falcon Crest
|Greg Reardon
|Appeared in 59 episodes
|TV film
|Peter Sinclair
|Appeared in 65 episodes
|Maxwell Harding
|Episode 5.14: "Cutting Edge"
|The Way to Dusty Death
|Johnny Harlow
|TV film
|At the Midnight Hour
|Richard Keaton
|TV film
|Family of Cops
|Adam Novacek
|TV film
|House That Mary Bought, TheThe House That Mary Bought
|Director and writer
|No Greater Love
|Patrick Kelly
|TV film
|While My Pretty One Sleeps
|Jack Campbell
|TV film
|La Femme Nikita
|Alec Chandler
|Episode 1.4: "Charity"
|La guerre de l'eau
|Peter Gregory
|TV film
|Running Wild
|Walton Baden Smythe
|TV film
|Night Man
|Professor Jonathan Chase
|Episode 2.6: "Manimal"
|Girl Next Door, TheThe Girl Next Door
|Steve Vandermeer
|TV film
|Poltergeist: The Legacy
|Reed Horton
|Appeared in five episodes
|Oscar Wilde
|Episode 1.6: "Wilde Card"
|Earth: Final Conflict
|Dennis Robillard
|Episode 3.14: "Scorched Earth"
|Dinosaur Hunter, TheThe Dinosaur Hunter
|TV film
|Dark Realm
|Brad Collins
|Appeared in two episodes
|Queen of Swords
|Captain Charles Wentworth
|Episode 1.15: "Runaways"; also series co-executive producer
|Relic Hunter
|Fabrice De Viega
|Appeared in three episodes and co-executive producer in the third series.
|Adventure Inc.
|Dr. Harry Harper
|Appeared in 229 episodes
|Holby City
|Dr. Harry Harper
|Appeared in two episodes
|Casualty@Holby City
|Dr. Harry Harper
|Appeared in three specials
|New Tricks
|Sir David Bryant
|Episode 9.5: "Good Morning Lemmings"


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Travel and more...
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Travel and more...: Lost & Found: An exciting trip to Mani Mahesh
Travel and more...: Lost & Found: An exciting trip to Mani Mahesh: I picked up an Outlook Lounge magazine during one of my flight journey and read about a beautiful place in Himachal Pradesh called Mani Ma...
Monday, August 25, 2014
Lost & Found: An exciting trip to Mani Mahesh
I picked up an Outlook Lounge magazine during one of my flight journey and read about a beautiful place in Himachal Pradesh called Mani Mahesh. I have extensively travelled in Himachal but somehow missed visiting this place. Mani Mahesh is at an altitude of 4080m or 13,390ft and there is no permanent settlement out there. It becomes accessible during the period starting from Janmashtami to Radha Asthami, when the Mani Mahesh Yatra takes place and therefore, temporary tents and bhandaras are set up for the convenience of the travelers. The name Manimahesh stands for a jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva's (Mahesh's) crown.
The pilgrimage to Mani Mahesh is considered sacred and its significance is considered next to that of Mansarovar in Tibet. According to one of the legends, it is believed that Lord Shiva created Mani Mahesh after he married Goddess Parvati. It is said to be the heaven (Kaliasa) of Lord Shiva. Mani Mahesh is also considered as the abode of the three Lords of the universe namely, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
|Nandi @ Chaurasi Temple
Day 1: We boarded the Dhauladhar Express from Delhi on August 15th and reached Pathankot at 9am the next day. The railway station and the bus stand are quite thereby. We took a cycle-rickshaw from the railway station and after having breakfast on the way, we reached the Bus Stand. It started raining heavily, however, we did manage to get bus tickets to go to Bharmour.
Bus route: Pathankot – Chamba (912m / 118kms / 4-5 hours) – Bharmour (2150m / 68kms / 3 hours)
We boarded the bus at 11.30am but took a longer time to reach Bharmour (reached at 10pm) as there was a Punjabi family in the bus who halted the bus every now and then for a Patiala peg (alcohol) break and the Himachali bus driver quietly obliged. We have been to Chamba before but this time, I guess because of the monsoon season, the route from Pathankot to Bharmour looked beautiful.
The bus dropped all the passengers 2kms before Bharmour as there was lot of traffic within the city due to the yatra. We walked with our luggage and along the way, enquired about availability of hotel room but all were booked. We reached "Chaurasi (84) Temple" complex and asked a shopkeeper to help us with accommodation (almost all houses get converted into a homestay during the yatra). He guided us to a house whose entrance was so narrow and steep that we were wondering where we were heading towards but at the end, the house was very nice and the lady of the house took good care of us. There were two more lady fellow bus travelers who were without accommodation, so we asked them to join us. (Home stay charges: INR 500 for 12 hours). We were glad that we found an accommodation by 11.30pm.
Day 2: We paid extra for a bucket of hot water to bathe and morning tea and were ready to move on. First, we visited the ancient Chaurasi Temple, a Shiva temple and then, we went to the main market area and boarded a cab to go to Bharmani Mata Mandir at a distance of 4 kms. The temple is located on a steep uphill climb and on the way, apple trees are a common yet delightful sight. Since there was lot of rush in the temple, we took about 2 hours to do the darshan and have prasad at the bhandara. Lot of people have a snan/bath at the temple but we did not.
|Mani Mahesh trek
According to the legend, the journey to the sacred Mani Mahesh peak is incomplete unless one visits Bharmani Devi temple first.
|Mani Mahesh trek
We took another cab from the main market to go to Hadsar (14 kms away). The cab dropped us midway as there was a traffic jam. We were forced to walk uphill 6-7kms with luggage. Had I known that I was supposed to walk so many kilometers with luggage, I probably would not have been able to but I guess all of us at some point of time have heard locals say in a hilly region that "it's just there". After a two-hour long walk along with weight lifting session, we reached the entrance of the Mahi Mahesh trek. It was really hot and sunny, so we had gol-gappas and ice-cream at one of the bhandaras. Just before the trek, there are cloak rooms where you can leave your luggage. We left behind our stroller in the cloak room and decided to leave the umbrella as well as rain-coats as I was tired of my weight-lifting session.
|Trek route
Hadsar is the starting point for the trek. I wanted to walk and my mother could not walk so much, so she opted for the horse ride. Horses were available at the entrance. We decided that we will meet at the first bhandara at Dhancho. I started my trek at 2pm. My aim was to reach Dhancho before sunset. The trek route is extremely narrow (if you have been to Amarnath, then the last 3 km of narrow stretch is what, is the norm in Mani Mahesh). The route is picturesque with greenery and Mani Mahesh river flowing along with the trek. It so happened that the sacred day of Janmashtami had started from August 17th noon time and there was a lot of rush. Travelers descending down the track were not giving enough space and climbing up the mountain from the rocky edge was not easy, considering that there was abyss on the other end. I had to look hard for a place to rest as most of the time, it was occupied by men. But whenever I halted, I enjoyed the scenic beauty of the place. I just concentrated on looking at the footwork as looking on the side meant visualizing how bad the last fall of life can possibly be and looking up meant seeing the endless uphill climb. During the entire trek, there is not a single downhill climb or a levelled climb. There were lots of bhandaras on the way. I just choose to have water all along the way and at 4pm I had a tikki and the sevaks at the bhandara insisted that I try a chatpata (spicy) kale chane (black gram) which I did and it turned out to be very good.
After crossing numerous mountains, I came across a trek where the glacier water was flowing with a strong enough force to wet ones shoes (which can making climbing very difficult and the possibility of falling ill). Thanks to my fellow travelers at Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand, who taught me how to cross waterfalls and small/shallow river without wetting one's shoes, I managed this patch without any slip-up.
After a 4 hour long trek from Hadsar, I reached Dhancho at 6pm. I looked for my mom at the first bhandara but could not find her. I heard them (bhandara) make an announcement regarding availability of medicines if case any traveler is ill. This made me realize that I could use this announcement system to contact my mother. I tried and then waited for half an hour but there was no response. I was very hungry and it was becoming quite cold. I pulled out a jacket from my bag and thought there might have been some communication gap between me and my mother. I found out that Dhancho was spread out between two mountains and there were number of bhandaras out there. I figured out that it's going to be another long day, so I had an early dinner to be able to withstand the challenge. I went to each and every bhandara and enquired about my mother but nobody had any clue. I was exhausted and it was getting dark. On further enquiring, I came to know that the Police Information cum announcement centre is just after crossing Dhancho. It just seemed too far for me to climb again but I thought it's my last resort to find my mother. I crossed the river and a very uneven rocky uphill climb to reach to the Police camp. They made announcement to trace my mother but there was no response. In the meantime, lot of people came to make announcement for their missing family members. The terrain is so tough and there were so many travelers, that family members who were walking together got separated on the way. Initially, I had a flurry of negative thoughts but then suddenly I knew that in the land of Lord Shiva nothing can go wrong. I waited patiently and then, there came a wireless message from the Kangra bhandara asking for me and said that my mother is with them. I was relieved to hear that she has been located but I went to all the bhandaras in Dhancho but I did not come across the Kangra bhandara. The Police asked them to send someone to come to the Police Info Centre and take me along. Two sevaks came from the bhandara after a waiting time of half an hour and after their verification, the Police allowed me to go along with them. I was really thankful to the Police and they were pleased that I have found my mother. It was post 8pm and all three of us had a light conversation which made the return journey of climbing two mountains seem a lot easier. Had they not come to fetch me, walking such a long distance under torch light would have been a nightmare (Kangra bhandara was before Dhancho). I and my mother were delighted to be re-united. All this while, you have heard my version of the story but in brief, my mother's version is as follows: She did not find a horse till 5pm and reached Kangra bhandara by 8pm. My mother came across a person (who happened to be the organizer) to whom she narrated her story. He had wireless communication with which he communicated with the Police. So for the 2 hours I was searching for my mother, she had not even reached the destination.
|The white patch in the pic represents glaciers and one has to cross them to reach Mani Mahesh
Day 3: The sevaks at Kangra bhandara had told me that my mother had lost interest in completing the yatra. This was the first time in all our trips that she gave up (and our trips haven't been all that easy). Well, I decided to give her company for round two of the horse ride. Again, it was an uphill climb all along and there was a patch of glacier that had to be crossed on foot. I thought this might be tough but thankfully, this was a cakewalk (Even though it looked tough from a distance. The glacier at Mansarovar and Amarnath are tougher to cross). We left at 6.30am and reached Gauri Kund by 9.30am. Ladies bathe at Gauri Kund but we did not find the kund particularly clean, so we skipped the bath and headed towards Mani Mahesh (13,501 ft or 4115 metres). We reached at 11.00am. Coincidentally, it was Janmashtami and that too on a Monday. The place had a certain kind of aura around it, so I decided that we should do a night halt out here. It was freezing cold but it was a different kind of experience. I did see the 'mani' shine along with other travelers but I feel the mountain shines/reflects light when the rays of the sun or the stars/moon comes in contact. Even the loudness of Punjabis (most of the travelers were from Punjab) could not dampen the serenity of the place. I did the parikarma of the Mani Mahesh Lake in the night and gazed the star studded skyline for a very long time. I have been at 18,000ft but the stay at Mani Mahesh was the coldest night I have so far encountered. Even with 6 blankets, one could still feel the chill (considering I was also wearing a sweater and a jacket).
Post mid night, I fell ill and went to the doctor who gave me three pills. It was freezing cold and I did not even bother to ask what these three medicines were for. I realized that the glacier water used for drinking (which tastes so good) did not suit me. I could hardly sleep in the night. I have to say that the sevaks at the bhandaras were always willing to help.
|Gauri Kund
Day 4: We started the downhill trek to Gauri Kund at 6.30am and reached the helipad by 7.15am. I bought the chopper tickets to go to Bharmour (INR 3275 each) and immediately, the helicopter arrived (The decision to take a chopper arouse from the fact that downhill climb on a horse back is not safe and I had also injured my right knee during the search operation, so walking was also not an option and to top it all, was not feeling well) . An advantage of being fit is that you get to sit next to the pilot and get a fabulous aerial view. Within minutes, we were in Bharmour. From there we went to Hadsar to pick our luggage (that's when we realized how much we had walked to reach Hadsar). Agaain, we went to Bharmour to catch a bus to Chamba. We reached Chamba by 1.30pm and then booked tickets to a bus which was heading towards Delhi at 3pm. After two days, I realized the pain in my right arm due to the weight lifting which I had to undertake for 6-7kms to reach Hadsar.
Travel and more...: An extended weekend getaway: Srisailam & Hyderabad...
Travel and more...: An extended weekend getaway: Srisailam & Hyderabad...: One of the Jyotirlinga as well as a Shakti Peeth is located in Srisailam which is situated in the scenic Nallamala Hills of the Kurnool ...
An extended weekend getaway: Srisailam & Hyderabad
One of the Jyotirlinga as well as a Shakti Peeth is located in Srisailam which is situated in the scenic Nallamala Hills of the Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Distance between Hyderabad and Srisailam is 213 kms and takes about 3-4 hours.
|On the way to Srisailam
In Hyderabad
We decided to go to Ramoji Film Studio. This place holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest film studio in the world that is spread across 1,666 acres.
|Ramoji Film Studio
The moment we entered Ramoji, I realized that so many times I felt that a certain movie has been shot abroad (be it series of colourful houses, graffiti painted walls, European statues and so forth) but in reality it was right here in Hyderabad. One of their sessions also demonstrated how movie making is actually done.
A guided bus ride took us around the Film Studio. We were shown how a single independent bungalow can be showcased as hero's, heroine as well as villian's house. They have constructed airport, railway station, prisons, houses, palaces, temples, mosques and historical monuments where shooting can take place. There are numerous well-maintained themed parks which gives a flavour of the nationality they represent.
I particularly liked the Bird Park. There is also a small Amusement Park. We might have spent some more time at Ramoji but in the evening, it started raining heavily and we decided to go back to our hotel.
|Bird Park @ Ramoji
Next day, went to Hussainsagar Lake and Charminar.
A four-day trip during Eid seemed short for travelling across Srisailam and Hyderabad. Would come back again to Hyderabad to explore the city.
Below are some pictorial glimpses of the places we visited in Hyderabad.
|Hussainsagar Lake
|Mecca Masjid, near Charminar
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Think of Tehzeeb and sumptuous food, then, Lucknow is the place to be
The long weekend of Good Friday was well utilized as we managed to make timely arrangements to visit Lucknow, (Capital of Uttar Pradesh, India). Considering that April 17th was a working day, we opted for a train (Garib Nawaj Express) that halted in Gurgaon (at 6.40pm). It reached Lucknow at 7am (two hours late from the scheduled arrival time). From the Lucknow station, we took a pre-paid auto to go to Aliganj, where we had made our stay arrangements.
|White Peacock at the Zoo
Day 1: We went to Madhu Milan (an old eating joint which uses desi ghee in all its preparations) in Aminabagh to have breakfast. The poori-subzi and jalebi was very tasty. The lassi (buttermilk), though, was quite sweet and heavy. From there, we headed to Sibtainabad ka Imambara in Hazratganj. Nawab Amzad Ali Shah, who established Hazratganj, was buried here. If the maintenance of the place was better, the experience would be superior. The locals suggested us to visit the Lucknow Zoo as it was nearby. After a very long time, we were going to a zoo but to our surprise we thoroughly liked it. The zoo has a cute open-air train called 'Bal Train' which takes the visitors around the zoo. Thereafter, we walked inside the zoo to have a closer view of the birds as well as the animals. I saw a white peacock for the very first time, a playful baby bear entertained us with his acts, the lost-in-thoughts giraffe, munching zebras and the lion who realized late that so many people were waiting to catch a glimpse of his majestic face were the key highlights.
|Sibtainabad Ka Imambara
Then, we walked to reach Hazratganj market. I really liked the old-world charm of the place. In fact, I would rate it as the best market that I have seen in India in terms of ambience. Apart from branded stores, there are lots of shops that sell the famed Lucknavi chickan (embroidery). My cousin had suggested that I should visit Sugandhico- a shop that sells genuine itar and other related products. The shop owner is knowledgeable and spoke with the distinct Lucknavi tehzeeb (Lucknavi accent that reflects respect) that comes naturally to the residents. He applied a few itars on my hand and by the end of it I was confused. He recommended that we spend more time in the market and then come back as the fragrance of itar takes some time to emerge (so unlike the Delhi experience where the shopkeeper will usually sell you things- whether you want them or not). Some locals in the market told us to have lunch at Durgama. After having lunch, I would rate it as average. While having lunch, I realized which itar I liked the most. So, we went to Sugandhico and placed the order. While I was making the payment, a customer walked in and said, "Give me any perfume." The shop assistant mixed up my order with his and after he left the shop, we realized that he took away the last bottle of perfume which I had liked. Well, then I thought to myself that if its mine it will come to me or else I should forget about it. The next day, we happened to visit the market once again, and I finally got 'mera wala' itar.
|Bada Imambara
|Bhool Bhulaiya
Day 2: We went to see the famous monuments of Lucknow. You would find Bada Imambara, Shahi Bawli and Bhool Bhulaiya in one complex. Bada Imambara has an imposing structure. We hired a Guide to find our way through the Bhool Bhulaiya. Undoubtedly, it's an architectural marvel. The building has natural air-conditioning (remains cool even in peak summers) and whoever conceptualized the building seems to be a genius in solving puzzles. I really liked Shahi Bawli. One can watch anyone entering through the main gate of the Bawli by looking at the water in the well. It is simply outstanding that one sees colored image (reflection) in the water. The image is so clear that it is as good as looking in the mirror. Asifi Masjid is located at some distance but is visible from the complex. It is a beautiful building.
|Shahi Bawli
Then, we hired a rickshaw to see Rumi Darwaja, Clock Tower, Hussainbad Picture Gallery, Satkhanda (it resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa) and finally Chhota Imambara. It was lunch time and we headed to Aminabad to taste the famous Tundey Kebab. The fragrance of biryani and kebab hits you, the moment you enter the restaurant. The the melt-in-your-mouth kebabs truly live up to their fame. There was a paan wala outside Tundey Kebab and his metha paan was also excellent.
The vegetarians in the group had lunch at Royal Café in Hazrat Ganj. It is a decent restaurant. Across the road is a movie hall and balcony tickets for "2 States", the latest Bollywood flick, were available, so we decided to experience it. The entry to the balcony is separate and the seating for balcony viewers is on a different floor. The theatre has a '60s feel to it but has all the modern amenities.
|Bada Imambara Complex- entrance
Day 3: We had chaat at Royal Café in Hazrat Ganj and then went to Moti Mahal to have some delicious kulfi. As an afterthought, Moti Mahal had better chaat and sweet dishes. Then, it was time to catch the Shatabdi. The food of Shatabdi was surprisingly good and the train was clean, don't know whether it had anything to do with the fact that we were in the first class boogie or it was sheer good luck but it was a befitting end to a nice short trip.
|Rumi Darwaja
Additional info:
a) Public transport system is quite efficient in Lucknow
b) Most markets open at 12 noon
c) Sometimes the auto as well as rickshaw pullers can misguide tourists
d) You may skip visiting the Hussainbad Picture Gallery
|Asifi Masjid as visible from Bada Imambara
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The Happy Nation: Bhutan
We planned a trip to Bhutan partly because of its scenic beauty and partly as Indians don't need a visa. Bhutan enjoys the highest Gross National Happiness in Asia and is also the eight happiest in the world and we were inquisitive to know what makes it a happy nation.
|Buddha Point, Thimpu
We met our travel buddies at Alipur Dwar (West Bengal, India) at 10am and from there travelled to Phunentsholing. We filled up a form and attached a passport size photograph along with a photocopy of ID proof. The authorities at Bhutan also took a snap of ours and we were asked to wait for more than an hour before we get our permit. Phunentsholing has a Sarojini Nagar/Fashion Street kind of a market which we explored while we were waiting. In the meanwhile, our documents got processed and we got into the mini bus to go to our first destination- Thimpu (capital of Bhutan). Thimpu is approximately 150 kms from Phunentsholing and we reached by 8.30pm.
On the way, Indian Border Forces has set up a nice cafeteria where we snacked. The travel route is scenic and there is lots of greenery.
We checked-in at Hotel Bhutan Centennial. The hotel is very good and the staff is friendly and helpful.
On the next day, I went on a morning walk and realized that there is hardly any vehicular traffic. I
saw SUVs but one car would pass by at a time. It made me think if Delhi- NCR's
traffic scene becomes like this, then life would become so much better and
surely India will also go a few notches up in the Global Happiness Index.
Also, the locals (both men & women) wear their traditional attire. In that sense, there is equality amongst both the genders. Their school uniform is also their traditional dress, so they get groomed to wear it since the beginning.
All buildings have been constructed in a traditional manner. This has also given uniformity to the place.
We left the hotel at 9.30 am and went to see Memorial Chorten (stupa) and Nunnery, Buddha Point. The sun was very strong and we took a break in the afternoon. First, we checked into a new hotel in the center of the city (Hotel Bhutan Centennial was booked only for 1 night stay as it was totally booked for the rest of the days) called Hotel Taksan. We had lunch at the hotel and then went to the Changokha Lhakhang temple and Takin Zoo. The national animal of Bhutan is Takin which is a strange looking animal and seems to be a hybrid of dog, cow and goat. Then we visited the Handicraft Emporium. The Emporium had a good collection of their traditional attire and dress material but it was expensive. The next stop was the beautiful Fort. The Fort is manned by numerous security officers and as I entered a garden of roses captured my attention. Small and clean river flows along the Fort and the home of the King is also in the vicinity. Inside the Fort there is a monastery and few other interesting buildings. The guards don't let you peek into the complex where the King resides but by the sheer size of the place I can say that it represents modest living.
Since it was a Sunday, the Museum was closed. So we went around the market which was close to our hotel and tried to explore it.
|Memorial Chorten
On the third day, we got our permits processed for Punakha and Paro. We went to Dochula Pass (3,080m) that gives a good view of Bhutan. However, when we reached it was cloudy, so we could not see the Valley. Then, we drove to Punakha and on the spur of the moment, all of us decided to stop our bus and play in the clean river that was flowing. All of us felt like kids once again.
|Fort, Punakha
The main attraction of Punakha is the fort (Punakha Dzong). The fort is simply beautiful and has been built in the middle of two converging rivers (Pho Chu & Mo Chu rivers, one is a male river and another is a female one) in 1963. Since the fort was so beautiful we landed up spending a lot of time seeing it. From there we drove all the way to Paro and reached in the evening around 8pm.
We stayed at Hotel Galinka and had dinner there. In the morning, we visited Drukgyel Dzong, the ruined fortress from where the Bhutanese repelled several invasions by Tibetan armies. It was a short trek but I will skip this place, if I visit Paro again.
|Fort, Paro
Then, we went to Tiger's Nest. This was not a part of the itinerary but I realized later that it is the best place within Paro. Tiger's Nest is a monastery perched on a hill top and makes for an excellent trek. I trekked continuously for one and an half hours and had only reached mid-way. If time had permitted, I would have completed the trek.
We had lunch in a restaurant in the main city. The food was tasty and in the end had home-made lassi (I was surprised to read Lassi on the menu and it was good).
Thereafter, we visited Ta Dzong (National Museum) and Rinpung Dzong. We stayed the night over at Paro and left for Phunentsholing the next day in the morning and reached by 4pm. We halted there and from there hired a cab to go to Sikkim.
In Paro, there was a restaurant near our hotel and we saw that he had poori-subzi on his menu. We ordered for it but he was taking too much time to cook, so the ladies of the group decided to help him and the food turned out to be good. So, we asked him to make aloo parathas for breakfast. We told us that he did not know how to cook it but if we teach him he was willing to serve it. So next day, he was taught to make parathas. He asked us how much he should charge us and we told him what his pricing should be. It was good fun and felt nice that next time an Indian traveler is in Paro, then he/she will not miss Indian food.
|Punakha Fort
|Punakha Fort
More info:
a) There is a direct Druk Air flight from Delhi to Paro
b) Druk Air is the only airlines in Bhutan
c) If the flight gets cancelled due to some reason, then your travel fare is not returned
d) New Alipur Dwar has a fabulous food joint called Pagla Baba Dhaba
e) You can book a cab from Jaigaon and travel within Bhutan
f) Indian currency works in Bhutan (only Re 100 notes; 500 & 1000 notes don't work here)
g) Locals understand and speak Hindi and English
h) Bhutan is ahead of Indian Standard Time by 30 minutes
i) Dzong means fortress / monastery
j) Museums are closed on Sundays and close by 5pm on other days
k) While visiting a fort, do not wear round neck (half sleeves) T-shirts as they are not allowed. Instead wear a collared T-shirt or shirt.
|Paro City
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Sikkim: The Hidden Paradise
My family visited North-East (India) a decade ago and since then I have been hearing stories from them that it is uniquely beautiful. And just recently, I got an opportunity to explore Sikkim.
|Rumtek Monastery
We boarded the flight from Delhi to Bagdogra and reached by afternoon. A pre-paid cab from the airport took us to Gangtok (124 kms away). It had started raining by the time we reached (at 8.30pm). Our cab stopped in front of Namdul Residency Hotel and we decided to stay there.
Day 2: It had been pouring since night and after waking up, we were questioning our decision of coming to Sikkim. We all knew that if it kept raining the way it had been, then we would not be able to venture out. Thankfully, the Sun God appeared by 9am and we were all so relieved.
We went to the MG Road (which I have to say is very well-maintained as well as nice and has a Victorian feel to it) and spotted the Sikkim Tourist Information Centre. We went in and enquired about the various places we should visit. The staff was very helpful and guided us on how to proceed.
|M.G Road, Gangtok
We had hired a cab from the hotel (INR 1700) for local sightseeing and visited the following:
a) Flower Show Complex- Sikkim is home to various exotic varieties of flowers including orchids, tulips, amongst others (refer to my previous blog for pics) and this place was blossoming with flowers.
b) Enchey Monastery- Built in 1910 on the site of the hermitage of the great tantric saint, Lama Drutob Karpo.
c) Ganesh Tok- It is a small and well-maintained Ganesh temple situated at an altitude of 6,500 ft.
d) Lhasa Waterfalls
e) Tashi View Point- is about 8 kms from Gangtok and the cab driver claimed that on a clear day one can see Mount Kanchanjunga. It was cloudy so we did not stand a chance to catch a glimpse of the world's third highest peak.
f) Gonjang Monastery
g) Directorate of Handloom and Handicrafts is also good as you can purchase items and also see the artisans at work (Sunday is off for the artisans).
h) Bakthang Falls- We did rappelling for the first time out here. It was good fun.
i) Do Drul Chorten- It is a stupa built to commemorate the victory of good over evil.
j) Namgyal Institute of Tibetology- Built in 1958, the Institute has one of the world's largest collections of rare books and manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism. It has interesting artifacts. I recollect seeing items made out of human skull.
k) Rumtek Monastery- It is a definite must visit. Located 24 kms away from Gangtok, the monastery is beautiful. They also have a small yet nice café that serves excellent tea. They have other items on their menu like noodles, etc but we were not hungry so we did not try it.
If you are short of time, then my picks of must visit will include Flower Show Complex, Directorate of Handloom, Tibetology and Rumtek Monastery.
During the day, we ate at Oven in the Mountain which is a good bakery. And at MG Road, Aggarwal Sweets and Marwari Bhojnalaya are also good options.
|On the way to Gurudongmar Lake
Day 3: On the basis of the information provided by Sikkim Tourism, we contacted a travel operator on MG Road to book a shared cab so that we could go to North Sikkim for a 3 Days 2 Nights tour to cover Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang. To visit these places, you require a permit which the travel operator will obtain for you once you provide two photocopies of any ID proof that has your address along with it. You need to give three passport sized photographs (and these have to be given at least a day before undertaking the journey).
|On the way to Gurudongmar Lake
We were asked to come to the operator's MG Road office at 9 am and from there we went to the taxi stand. We were scheduled to depart at 10 am, however we were able to leave only by 12 noon. This is because the other co-passengers were arguing with their travel operator regarding the seats that had been allocated to them. Basically, there is no public transport available to travel to these places, so you have to hire a cab. Since you are a tourist you would not know any taxi driver (taxis to travel within Gangtok are separate from the ones that take you to other parts of Sikkim. In fact, they are not allowed inside the city and you can find them on designated taxi stands which are away from the main town- MG Road area and its periphery) and would have to use the services of a travel agent to get permit and book a cab. And the travel operators are usually not fair and transparent. In our trip, whenever we hired a cab through the travel agent, we saw the day beginning with the co-passengers arguing with the agents and finally the co-travelers made adjustments. It would be nice if the Sikkim Government introduced pre-paid cabs for such sight-seeing, so that unnecessary intermediaries can be avoided.
For this trip, we were charged INR 2800 per person (includes cab fare, hotel as well as meals for 3 D 2 N). We booked a shared cab for the very reason that if there are more people then psychologically you have a better bargaining power with the cab driver in case you are short-charged.
We reached Namok at 3 pm for lunch and on our way further up saw the Seven Sisters Waterfall and Naga Falls. We reached Lachen at 7.40 pm and did a night halt. The rooms were basic but were clean. I can't even classify them as hotels, even though they may have fancy names. The food was hygienic but lacked taste (you don't get rotis during the entire trip, rice-dal and vegetable is the only menu, though you have the option of having a non-veg dish).
Also, you will find some travel agent who will tell you that there is a standard, budget and premium packages but I feel that there is no difference between the standard and budget as the so-called hotels are almost the same and they do not tell you the names of the hotels where you will be staying and even if they tell, I am sure that they don't even have a website. Also, I had met a traveler who had returned from North Sikkim and he had told that the accommodation is basic but is clean and by the time you reach the hotel, you are so tired that it does not matter where you are. In the days to come, I couldn't agree more with him.
|Gurudongmar Lake
Day 4: Gurudongmar Lake is 51 kms away from Lachen and we had to leave at 3 am in the morning. During the course of the journey, we had breakfast and reached the lake at 7.30 am (distance and time taken to travel is an important aspect to be taken into consideration while planning a trip to Sikkim).
|Gurudongmar Lake
Gurudongmar Lake is simply spectacular. It is considered as a sacred lake and its waters are believed to possess miraculous powers. The lake freezes during winter except at one spot that is believed to be blessed by Guru Rinpoche in 8th century AD. Since it is at an altitude of 17,100 feet, kids and elderly usually don't get permits to travel here as the oxygen level is less. We faced no oxygen issue as we have been to higher altitudes in the past. We spent an hour at the lake and drank the sweet water of the lake as well. I didn't feel like leaving the place but had to move on.
On the way, the Army personnel treated us with fruit juices, biscuits and chocolates. We had a conversation with them and were touched by their hospitality.
|Zero Point
We reached Lachen at 11.25 am and then had our lunch. At 1 pm we left Lachen and reached Lachung at 4 pm for a night halt. There was no electricity in the night, so had a candle-light dinner.
Day 5: Left at 5 am to go to Yumthang (11,800 ft) - also known as the Valley of Flowers as the rhododendron groves covers the landscape. Thereafter, we went to Zero Point and experienced snow fall. We came back to Lachung by 11.25 am and reached Gangtok by 6pm.
Day 6: Before leaving for Gurudongmar Lake, we had given ID proof and photograph to the travel agent to obtain permit for Nathu-La. We left at 8.30am and we charged INR 750 per head. Just before Tsomgo Lake (commonly called Changu Lake), the steering of the jeep developed some problem but soon other cab drivers came to help. It was really good to see that in Sikkim, the cab drivers share good camaraderie and always help each other.
We first went to Nathu-La (56 kms from Gangtok) at an altitude of 14,200 ft bordering between India and China. There was snow all around but it was too crowded with tourists. Then, we visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple that has been built in the memory of Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy in the 23rd regiment. Baba Harbhajan was born on 30 August 1946 at Sadrana village (presently in Pakistan). He joined the Army in 1966 as a Sepoy. He expired on 4 October, 1968 while escorting a mule column from Tuku La to Dongchui La. The death occurred when he slipped and fell into a nullah. Legend has it that Sepoy Harbhajan appeared in the dreams of a colleague (post his death) and requested for a Samadhi to be constructed in his memory.
It is interesting to see that the Samadhi has Baba's office and his bedroom. Over the years, he has risen from the ranks of being a Sepoy to become a Captain. His train ticket is booked when he goes to his home-town. Those in the Army who get a posting in this area, first come to the Samadhi to pay their homage. It is interesting that some people continue to live on……even after they have left. No wonder India is considered mystical.
|Tsogmo Lake
We halted for a while at Tsomgo Lake (3780 meters) which means the 'source of the lake' in Bhutia language. It is considered as a sacred lake and fishing is prohibited. It derives its waters from the melting snow of the surrounding mountains. It had started raining heavily and we left the place and reached Gangtok by 6 pm.
Day 7 & 8: We left for Bhutan (via Siliguri- New Jalpaiguri- Alipur dwar Road- Jaigaon) and stayed there for a couple of days (my next blog post is about Bhutan trip).
Day 9: After the Bhutan trip, we reached Pelling, West Sikkim from Jaigaon and had hired a cab (INR 4800) to reach as soon as possible. On the way, we saw Coronation Bridge which looks nice.
You can directly come from Gangtok to Pelling and ideally we should have taken this route (you save precious time and money) but we had to meet our travel buddies in Bhutan.
|Mountain ranges at Pelling
The specialty Of Pelling is that it offers a good view of the Khangchendzonga (Mount Kanchanjunga – the third highest peak in the world) and its surrounding ranges. We reached Pelling by 12 noon and then I went around looking for a hotel to stay. Most hotels were booked and I finally found a place in Hotel Green Valley. In general, hotels in Gangtok are more clean and well-maintained than in Pelling. We had lunch at a restaurant and then walked to reach Pemayangste monastery which is 2 kms away from Pelling. It is a nice and one of the oldest monasteries in the State. Inside the monastery, there is a wooden structure depicting the Maha Guru's heavenly palace which is considered a masterpiece created by Late Dungzin Rimpoche. It started raining and we reached our hotel and retired for the day.
|Khecheodpalri Lake
Day 10: We went for a day long local sightseeing (INR 300 per person). They covered some eight tourist points. The good ones among them were double-pronged Kanchenjungha Falls, Khecheodpalri Lake and the archaic quaint Singshore Bridge (second highest bridge in Asia).
|Singshore Bridge
Khecheodpalri means mountains of blissful heavens. According to the legend, this place was once a grazing ground abounds with stinging nettles. One day, a Lepcha couple saw a pair of conch shells coming from the sky and entering onto the ground. After that the ground underneath shook violently and a huge lake was formed. This lake is also known as the wish fulfilling lake and it is believed that those who visit the lake are blessed with health and happiness.
Day 11: We booked tickets for the first bus (7am) going to Jorthang and from there hired a cab to go to Namchi, South Sikkim. We hired a cab (INR 900) to see Rabongla, Sai Dham and Char Dham (Siddesvara Dham). We had lunch and then hired a cab to go to Siliguri.
Day 12: From Silguri we went to Bagdogra and took the morning flight.
Considering that this was a very last minute trip and after reaching Gangtok is when we decided where next we should head, it went off well. Though it rained almost every day, yet it did not interfere with our travel schedule. Given a chance, I would like to re-visit Sikkim.
Previous blog post on Sikkim:
More info:
More info:
a) Carry woolens and umbrella while travelling
b) Carry photo-copies of ID proof and photographs for obtaining permits
c) Nathu-la is open for Indian Nationals on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Entry is allowed only till 1 pm
d) There are lots of trekking routes in Sikkim. Explore then if you have the time
e) Traffic rules are strictly followed in Sikkim and as a community they like to keep the city clean
f) Gangtok (East Sikkim), Gurudongmar Lake (North Sikkim), Pelling (West Sikkim) and Namchi (South Sikkim)
g) From Gangtok- Bagdogra in North Bengal (123 kms) is the nearest airport; closest railway stations are Siliguri (114 kms) and New Jalpaiguri (125 kms).
|Rabongla in Namchi
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Investment Corp. of Dubai took over leadership of Kerzner International Holdings, the hotel operator that built Atlantis resorts in the Gulf emirate and the Bahamas.
ICD, which holds stakes in United Arab Emirates government businesses from transportation to heavy industry, purchased a "significant" stake in Kerzner, it said in a statement today without disclosing the size or cost. Mohammed Al Shaibani, ICD's chief executive officer, will become chairman of Kerzner.
Founder Sol Kerzner has seen the company shed assets in sales and refinancing deals over the last several years as it struggled to repay debt. The operator of the Atlantis and One&Only resort brands handed ownership of the Bahamas Atlantis to creditor Brookfield Asset Management (BAM:US) Inc. in a 2012 debt agreement and sold 50 percent of the Dubai hotel to Istithmar World, a unit of Dubai World, for $250 million. ICD acquired the Dubai Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah artificial island earlier this year, it said.
ICD purchased the stake from the founding Kerzner family and other institutional investors, according to the statement. Istithmar, affiliates of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS:US) and Colony Capital will continue to have significant holdings in Kerzner, it said.
"This is a significant milestone in my life after a long and happy career in the tourism industry and I wish the company well," Kerzner, who founded the company in 1994, said in the statement. "I am confident that with ICD's guidance, the company will fulfill on its upcoming expansions towards further growth and global reach."
To contact the reporter on this story: Ross Larsen in London at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrew Blackman at firstname.lastname@example.com Jeffrey St.Onge, Shaji Mathew


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The lineup is set for next month's UFC on FOX 14 card in Sweden, including a four-fight main card on FOX.Filed under: MMA Rumors, News, UFC read news >>
The UFC will stage its largest ever European event – and the first in a stadium – by pitting top-ranked duo Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson against each other in Sweden. read news >>
UFC fighter Gegard Mousasi can't seem to catch a break when it comes to hanging on to his belongings.Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
Vote now in the Bloody Elbow Baddest Tournament to determine the Greatest MMA Striker of All Time. Today's match-up: #4 Carlos Condit vs. #5 Gegard Mousasi. Vote now! In the battle of crazy reach vs. crazy power, it was the long arm of the champ that took the day. #3 seed Jon Jones defeated #6 seed and kickboxing veteran Melvin Manhoef. Sorry Melvin - but we still love you. And fear you. That too. Today, it's #4 vs. #5 in what could be a fascinating, close match up. #4 seed Carlos Condit steps i read news >>
The Gustafsson vs. Johnson bout on January 24 will see an equally intriguing co-main event, as Dan Henderson moves back to the middleweight division to face off with Gegard Mousasi... read news >>
The UFC has booked a fight between top middleweight Gegard Mousasi and former Pride champion Dan Henderson. And so, Dan Henderson goes on to fight another day. The UFC has booked their main card stalwart for a co-main event fight at UFC on Fox 14. The card will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 24th, 2015. The event is set to be headlined by Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson. The UFC released the announcement on Wednesday, via Twitter: Here's the co-main for #UFCStockholm on Jan read news >>
The January 24 UFC on Fox 14 card has its co-main event, and it's a killer matchup in the middleweight division. Former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson will drop to 185 pounds to take on No. 8-ranked Gegard Mousasi. The news was announced Wednesday afternoon via the UFC's UK Twitter account. UFC on Fox 14, or UFC Stockholm, also features Swedish superstar Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson in the main event—and Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine further down the card—so read news >>
Dan Henderson will return to the middleweight division to face Gegard Mousasi at UFC on Fox 14. read news >>
It didn't take long for the UFC's return to Sweden to get some fire power. On Wednesday UFC president Dana White announced that light heavyweight contenders Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson would fight on Jan. 24, 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden, for UFC on FOX 14. Now the UFC has added a co-main event clash between longtime veterans Dan Henderson and Gegard Mousasi. The fight will signal Henderson's return to middleweight. Both Henderson and Mousasi are former Strikeforce light heavyweight ch read news >>
The UFC is going big for its first European stadium show, adding Dan Henderson vs. Gegard Mousasi as the UFC on FOX 14 co-main event. read news >>
He's back! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has booked Dan Henderson for his middleweight return against fellow well-traveled veteran Gegard Mousasi in the UFC on FOX 14 co-main event inside the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Jan. 24, 2015. From the official release: The matchup, which will take place at the Tele2 Arena, was verbally agreed to on Wednesday. The event will be broadcast live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with Prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1. One read news >>
Dan Henderson is returning to the middleweight division and will co-headline UFC on FOX 14 in January.Filed under: MMA Rumors, News, UFC read news >>
Watch the rematch between Jacare Souza vs. Gegard Mousasi from a different point of view from the original UFC telecast. Earlier this month, Ronaldo Souza took on Gegard Mousasi in a rematch of their encounter in Japan 6 years ago. The top middleweight contenders headlined the card, and Jacare was able to exact his revenge, winning both on the feet and on the ground as he eventually finished Mousasi with a third round guillotine. The impressive victory shot Jacare up to #2 in the UFC rankings, a read news >>
Ronaldo Souza dominated Gegard Mousasi to win his fourth bout inside the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 50 in Connecticut, and he wasn't expecting to finish Mousasi. "I was waiting for a five-round fight," Souza told MMAFighting.com. "I was ready for a tougher fight. I was training for a tougher fight. I wanted to submit him, of course, but I wasn't expecting to submit him. I was expecting a tougher fight. He has a huge name, a great record, and he was coming off a big win over Mark Munoz, so I resp read news >>


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CFIUS Back On The Radar With IBM, Zoltek Deals
NEW YORK (The Deal) -- After a lull in high-profile deals that raise national security concerns, the Committee for Foreign Investment in U.S. appears to be back in the spotlight as China's Lenovo Group on Thursday agreed to buy the low-power server business of International Business Machines (IBM) for $2.3 billion.
Lawyers who represent clients before CFIUS, the Treasury Department-led panel that reviews acquisitions of U.S. assets by foreign buyers for national security threats, said the transaction would almost certainly get a lengthy examination from CFIUS that would extend beyond the initial 30-day review phase and into a subsequent 45-day formal investigation.
CFIUS has not undertaken a high-profile investigation since September, when it cleared Shuanghui International Holdings' $7.1 billion takeover of Smithfield Foods.
Kaye Scholer partner Farhad Jalinous, who represents clients before CFIUS, said an increasing share of takeovers here by foreign buyers undergo the full 75-day CFIUS regime but that this one is particularly likely to because of the widespread use of IBM's x86 services in the U.S. government."The technology seems to be considered fairly low-level in the industry now, there is an ample number of competitors, but what [is] unknown is the extent these IBM servers are used in government infrastructure and the extent they are used in way that may create vulnerabilities for national security," he said. IBM is being represented before CFIUS by O'Melveny & Myers partner Ted Kassinger. Lenovo is well-known to CFIUS because of the company's 2005 purchase of IBM's personal computer business. CFIUS approved that deal with conditions over the objections of some U.S. lawmakers. Lenovo did not reveal the obligations it was put under, but company officials said they did not have to compromise over the location of Lenovo facilities in sensitive research areas as some had predicted, nor were limits put on Lenovo's ability to sell PCs to U.S. agencies. Regarding Lenovo's latest deal, Jalinous said that from the outside it is hard to assess the extent to which national security vulnerabilities might require mitigation measures to be imposed by the government. He said Lenovo is likely to gain some benefit from being a known quantity to CFIUS.
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What were they thinking?
1:22, third quarter. The Bruins were third-and-goal from the 10-yard line, up just 16-14. The play call was a run, on which Kahlil Bell gained five yards, and the Bruins settled for yet another field goal. Said offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda: ''Well, element of surprise. They're playing soft. You feel like if you can get one-on-one with the safety there, maybe you've got a chance.''
Bit of luck
5:43, second quarter. On a second-and-9 play Justin Hickman came off the end to hit Isaiah Stanback as he was getting ready to throw. Hickman knocked the ball loose and, ruled a fumble, it was recovered by Nikola Dragovic. The ruling withstood a replay challenge.
Looking ahead
Opponent: Stanford, Sept. 30, Rose Bowl
Area of concern: The Bruins have a lot to fix, particularly on offense and in the red zone.
The buzz: The Bruins have not pitched a shutout since the eighth week of the 2004 season. Their opponent that day was the Cardinal and given its troubles of late, it would not be out of the question that UCLA could to get its second shutout in Coach Karl Dorrell's three-plus seasons. Stanford is 0-4 and has scored 10 points or fewer in three games.
SEATTLE - The game should not have been close, and UCLA knew that. But opportunities were wasted, one after another after yet another.
Put simply, UCLA set itself up for an embarrassing failure with somequestionable and conservative play calls and a lack of execution in the red zone.
The Bruins blew a double-digit lead built on field goals and absorbed a 29-19 loss to Washington in their Pac-10 opener, ending a five-game winning streak against the Huskies.
All they could do afterward was shake their heads.
"It's frustrating. We've left so many points on the field," split end Junior Taylor said, referring not only to the loss on Saturday but their opening victories over Utah and Rice. "We didn't finish our drives."
On Saturday, the Bruins were inside the Huskies' 20-yard line five times and ended up with only one touchdown, three field goals and lost possession on an interception of a tipped pass. This season, they have had 15 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line and have scored a touchdown only six times.
That might not have been the case against the Huskies, given some different play selection. But they often were stuck in long yardage situations on second and third down, failing to gain much running the football on first down.
On their opening series, on first and goal from the 8-yard line, Chris Markey was nailed for a loss of 3 yards when hit behind the line by Daniel Te'o-Nesheim.
On their third series, on first and goal from the 9-yard line, Kahlil Bell could gain only 2 yards.
Each time the Bruins ended up settling for a field goal, first from 28 yards and then from 23 yards.
"We have to be able to score in the red zone. If we come away with sevens there, the game is over, their hearts are out of it," fullback Michael Pitre said.
On their second series of the second half, after Washington had cut a 16-0 deficit to 16-14, Bell gained one yard on first down from the Huskies' 10. He then lost 3 yards on second down. The next play, quarterback Ben Olson was intercepted by free safety Mesphin Forrester.
The final failed foray into the red zone might have been the most frustrating.
Freshman Terrence Austin gave the Bruins' great field position, returning a punt 79 yards to the Washington 9-yard line. The Bruins, leading 16-14, had a chance to push their lead to nine points going into the fourth quarter. But on first down, Markey gained 1 yard. On second down, a pass to Markey in the flat went for a loss of that yard.
And on third-and-10 from the 10-yard line, the Bruins tried to run the ball. Bell gained 5 yards, but was well short of the end zone.
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Get 12 issues / year of BeerAdvocate magazine for only $9.99!
The wait is over! Download the BeerAdvocate app on iTunes or Google Play now.
Barrel Aged February
Monday - February 11, 2013 @ 05:00PM / Ends: Monday - February 11, 2013 @ Midnight
Beer Tasting / Release
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Brett Behr [email protected] (859) 309-0911
Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout,
Founders KBS,
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout,
Green Flash Silva Stout,
Bells Black Note,
Against The Grain Bo & Luke,
North Coast Old Rasputin XV,
Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 2011,
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West Sixth Bourbon Barrel Aged Snake Eyes Imperial Stout,
Country Boy Rum Barrel Aged Double Brown Ale,
Stone Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Russian Stout,
KY Ale Bourbon Barrel Stout and...
Anderson Valley Heefus Hooper!
The beers will rotate, so keep track of the developments on our Facebook page and on Twitter! Sorry, no growler fills.
More: http://thebeertrappe.com/
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Going (5):
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Maude JonesPublished 12:24pm Friday, November 23, 2012
Mrs. Maude Jones, 77, resident of Selma, passed away November 22, 2012 at Vaughan Regional Hospital. Services will be announced at a later date by Miller Funeral Service of Selma.
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October Newsletter SBD Update
To see a copy of our October Newsletter please click on the following link:- Newsletter October 2014 SBD Update
October 1, 2014
December 2011
NEOS Protect Ltd received the significant award to complete the installation of Communal Entrances to SbD Standards on a Borough wide programme for a major London Authority Housing Company. The works are part of a "housing alliance" agreement between the Authority, Main Contractors and Specialist Sub Contractors working together to bring maximum value for money and enhanced performance levels to the End Client.
NEOS Protect Ltd were confirmed as part of this Alliance in September


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Sport | Horse Racing
UAE's support to Purebred Arabian horses highlighted
Move will reflect in bilateral ties, ambassador to Germany says
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Mohammad Al Mahmoud (fourth from left), Abdullah Al Qubaisi (holding the trophy), Lara Sawaya, Talal Al Hashmi, Stephen Bowey, Adnan Sultan, winning jockey Philippe Sogorb who rode Saher, and other officials who participated in the prize distribution in Frankfurt on Sunday.
Frankfurt: The UAE Ambassador to Germany, Mohammad Al Mahmoud, said the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival's Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race held in Frankfurt on Sunday was a reflection of the UAE's support to the Purebred Arabian breed of horses.
"The late Shaikh Zayed laid the foundation and now Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is taking it to a new level," the envoy said.
"This is a great initiative by Shaikh Mansour and will reflect in the bilateral ties between the UAE and Germany," the UAE ambassador said.
"Germany has a strong tradition in Purebred Arabian horses and with such a large gathering here only goes to show that this initiative is in the right direction and it must be continued. Today's success is a signal that it must be done again and again," Al Mahmoud added.
Prize distribution
The UAE ambassador along with Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of Communications, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Lara Sawaya, Director of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Talal Al Hashmi of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Stephen Bowey of Invest AD, Adnan Sultan of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Mattar Al Shamsi of Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010, participated in the prize distribution of Sunday's Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed)race.
Organised by (ADACH) in co-ordination with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Wathba Stud Farm, the race series is supported by Invest Abu Dhabi, Bonyan International Investment Group (Holding) LLC and Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010.
"Despite the pouring rain just before the start of today's meeting a large crowd turned up and it was a great event. It was nice to see families along with their children enjoy the meeting and watch some top Purebred Arabian horses in action," said Al Qubaisi in a press release.
Lara Sawaya said, "This year's race here in Frankfurt was elevated to a Listed race status and the presence of quality runners has enhanced this event."
More from Horse Racing
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ACT Weeds Strategy
The ACT Weeds Strategy 2009-2019 has been developed to reflect contemporary best practice in keeping with community expectations. The Strategy aims to reduce the impact of weeds on the environment, the economy, human health and amenity. It recognises that weed management is an integral component of sustainable management of natural resources and the environment, and that weed management requires an integrated, whole of community and government approach.
The ACT Government is committed to improving the accessibility of web content. To provide feedback or request an accessible version of a document please contact us or phone 13 22 81.


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FORT WORTH, Texas (AP/WVLT) -- Greg Biffle regained the lead when he charged under Jimmie Johnson with 30 laps left Saturday night, then pulled away to end his 49-race winless streak while giving owner Jack Roush another NASCAR Sprint Cup victory in Texas.
Johnson led 156 of the 334 laps while going for owner Rick Hendrick's 200th career victory. But he never recovered, even scraping hard into the wall trying to catch up after Biffle drove under him in Turn 3 and completed the pass before the start-finish line.
Biffle, the season points leader, went on to win the fastest Cup race at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked Texas track. His average speed of 160.575 mph put him 3.2 seconds ahead of Johnson.
It was Roush's ninth win in 23 Cup races at Texas.
Knoxville racer Trevor Bayne finished 28th.
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Leading Edge Technology
We deliver well-designed systems with highly reliable components. And provide the expertise of people trained in installing and servicing these systems鴿 a passion for designing the most effective solutions possible. We堿 ready to help you discover a level of security you probably didn͊ know existed. And deliver a brand of service you젮ever forget.


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Dvořák Stabat Mater
7:45pm Sunday 27 July 2014
Worcester Cathedral, WR1 2LA
- Festival Chorus
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Geraint Bowen conductor
- Eleanor Dennis soprano
- Catherine Wyn-Rogers mezzo-soprano
- Paul Nilon tenor
- Matthew Rose bass-baritone
Conducted by the composer himself at Three Choirs Festival Worcester in 1884, Dvořák's Stabat Mater is a testament to his extraordinary musical talent. Completed after the tragic deaths of his three children, the piece embodies the composer's journey from grief to hope in an intensely emotional setting of the 13th-century poem.
Kindly supported by Worcester City Council
- Event information
Antonín Dvořák Stabat Mater
Dvorak began to write this work in 1875 following the death of his newborn daughter Josefa within days of her birth. Set to Jacopone da Todi's 13th century poem Stabat Mater which expressed Mary's grief at the death of her son Jesus, this was the perfect portrait of parental love and pain. In 1877 Dvorak completed the work following the unbelievably tragic deaths of his two surviving children; his second daughter Ruzena, a toddler, who drank from a bottle of phosphorous in August of that year followed only weeks later by his first-born son Otakar who died of smallpox. The finished piece stands as one of the towering monuments of choral music.
Divided into 10 movements, Dvorak's personal investment in this intensely emotional religious poem is evident as he wrings every ounce of expression out of the text. Performed for the first time in London in 1883, the clamour from the British public to hear this work again was so intense, that Dvorak himself was brought to England the following March to conduct an orchestra of 150 and a choir of 900 (!) in its performance in the Albert Hall. He returned in September 1884 to conduct the work in Worcester Cathedral as part of the celebrations to mark the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Cathedral.
- Tickets
Tickets for the festival will be available from Thursday the 17th of April 2014


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Police are looking for the person who tied up a Queens man and stabbed him to death.
A first-floor neighbor called police on Tuesday morning. Police found the man with head injuries and multiple stab wounds in a basement apartment on 131st Street in South Ozone Park.
Police are trying to find a heavy-set man in a black jacket who was seen running from the home.
According to sources, the victim's hands were tied up with duct tape. There were no signs of forced entry.
The man's name has not been released, but police say he is believed to be in his 30s.
Neighbors were shocked and worried about their own safety.
"I am in this corner a lot, and I am kinda really surprised. It takes me to shock when I saw that crime scene van down there," said neighbor David Singh.
"So I know I must be careful when I'm leaving here in the dark because I leave here every morning something to five, you know? So I know I'll have to be careful leaving here," said Herbert Luke, another neighbor.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
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DescriptionThe team behind LA Shorts Fest, NY Shorts Fest, and now Toronto Shorts Fest is seeking hardworking and dedicated volunteers who can start now! LA Shorts Fest is the premiere short film festival in the world. In past years, 41 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, with 13 taking home the Oscar. The festival attracts 7,000 moviegoers, filmmakers, trend setters, and entertainment professionals looking for the hottest new talent.
If you are hardworking, dedicated and enjoy working in a team environment, email us your area of interest and availability. Volunteer areas of interest include: Marketing & Social Media, Research, Database Input, Event Organization, etc. Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Renowned fine artist and celebrated graphic designer Rex Ray lends his signature designs to four new Blik wall decals. Get inspired by our take on his hand-crafted collages and channel your inner creativity.
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Was driver drumming or masturbating?Comment on this story
Last week, we reported on an American man who was allegedly caught pleasuring himself behind the wheel of his Jeep, with a toy gun pointed up his anus.
This seems to have started a trend, at least as far as the whistleblowers are concerned.
According to Jalopnik, a drummer from Florida in the USA (not Roodepoort) was reported to the police by a woman for masturbating behind the wheel of his Chevrolet panel van.
She followed him until the cops were able to catch up with them and pull him over but when they did confront the man, he told them he'd been thumping a pair of drumsticks on the steering wheel. He was even able to show these utensils to his potential apprehenders.
Despite this claim of innocence, the lady that reported him insists that what she really saw was his reproductive stick and she is still pressing charges. By the way, the drumsticks were reportedly a similar colour to the man's skin.
Question is, can the accuser see the wood for the sticks?
And even if his side of the story is true, drumming behind the wheel is not exactly a safe thing to do now is it?
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Most Popular
.- Fifty young adults are walking 1,300 miles to declare the pro-life message that human life is sacred and must be protected from conception to natural death. Three groups of young people, from the United States, Canada and Mexico, are participating in the Crusade for Life and left on their respective walks May 30.
The first group left from San Diego and will head to Sacramento. The second group headed from Minneapolis to Erie, PA. The third group started in Augusta, ME to Washington, DC.
"The 50 young adults who are participating are so passionate about the pro-life ministry and the Eucharist, as well as about the denial of Holy Communion, out of love, for those who do not fully embrace the Church's teachings," said Emily Bissonnette, media director for Crusade for Life.
It is commitment like this, which reminds us that this is not a political endeavor or a ploy to campaign for certain candidates," she added.
EWTN's Life on the Rock will feature five-minute segments on the young "Crusaders" throughout the summer.
For more information, go to: www.crusadeforlife2005.com
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