Temple in Taiwan

This is continuation of my last one, from Taiwan. I visited some temples too. Taiwan has people with Taoism, Christianity and few other faiths. The temple I visited belonged to Taoism. I am given to understand that like Hindu faith, Taoism too has many gods, demigods and rituals. I tried to capture some. Again, even with so many people around, no garbage, no rubbish. They even burst the crackers during a temple ritual, but no litter, believe me.  I show you how they do it.

Entrance of a temple

Similar to Hindu temple and practices.

Beautiful Agarbatti stand. 

A enclosed dabba to burst the crackers. No littering. 

Beautiful carving.

Quite a colorful and decoration

Charioteer 

Embellished Agarbatti stand 

Jaya - Vijaya

Taichung - in Taiwan

I was in Taiwan on business trip last week. I had a weekend to spend. I was with my colleagues from India and Malaysia. We went around in local market, one two local temples, cable car and a huge flower show. 

The city we visited was Taichung. Two hours from Taipei. 

The city is  a neat, clean, disciplined traffic. Number of vehicles are no less. No one jumped the traffic. No visible police on the street. No vehicle stopped on pedestrian mark. No vehicle crossed over the road divider the yellow line. I really wondered. City is not known to be well developed city. I changed my opinion though. 

Look at the way we are in Delhi or most of our cities. Ok agreed - we have more vehicles on the road and just not vehicles - the buffalo, the rikshaw, bicycle, cats and dogs and men, women and children. 

                                     

But i feel quite strongly that if we simply follow the traffic rules we can be better, a lot better. 

We went to a local market, traditional local, a narrow lane, small shops, eating places on the side. Kind of chandni chowk or palika bazar of Delhi. But the place was neat clean, no rubbish on the street. Except cigarette butts. A disciplined responsible citizens make it all happen. One more thing - it was Election time there. There were bill boards in many places but not out of sync of the cities aesthetics nor looked ugly. 

City is known for glass industry. A local craftsman blowing the glass in a traditional way to make beautiful articles. 

People like to eat outside and lot of seafood and meat. Take a glance at the Octopus here.

Swachh Bharat - when ?

Things have improved.........Driving License

Things are getting changed rather improved. I had a pleasant surprise today  at local RTO at Gurgaon.

What I now narrate is not today's experience. Today's story will come later at the end. This is my experience of last (and lost) attempt to get my licence. It was nevertheless changed already, hence the previous story starts first. Bear with me. 

My Driving licence was getting expired. I had obtained it while I was in Punjab few years ago. 

I was concerned - imagining the hurdles rather "process"  i need to go through  to get my new license. Why new license - you might wonder. Renewing the licence is all the more trouble some. You have to break your head at two places. One at the place you had taken the license another at the place where you want to renew. To get NOC from previous place and apply at new place. 

Better to break head at one place - I decided.

I wanted to do kejriwal. I said come what may, I would do kejriwal and no "furjy" license.

So the process started, i started inquiring about the RTO office route, location,application form. Curiosity took over - I also inquired if furjy license is possible - no not really to get it that way. I would do kejriwal. But just curiosity. Then came the answer to my surprise - furjy is not possible ( or extremely difficult) in Gurgaon.  

I became more curious and wanted to pursue my commitment to go kejeriwal way. I had to skip two working days, since RTO does not work on Saturday and Sunday. 

So my journey started, went to RTO in the morning. I saw counters and people all over. It took some time in fact two separate days, for me to figure out the counters and new procedures. 

I filled the forms, pasted my photographs, pasted all the ID proof, lease agreement etc etc. By then I had my Aadhaar too. I was told to submit the form in one counter after paying Rs.150/- fee. He entered some thing in the computer and gave back the form and said get the medical test. I said oh god - i now have to find a govt. doctor. 

A bystander showed me next cabin and said - doctor comes here any time now. WOW, A lady doctor appeared on the scene. Many were in the room waiting for doctor. Doctor looked at the files, one by one, called up one by one. She asked us to read through a color blind check chart. I passed it at ease. She signed the form and gave back in few minutes. I again asked someone "what is the next procedure ?" I was told there is an online test center where you have to pass a test. That place was 10 km away. I again felt dejected. Next day I went to the said place. There was a formal - one and half hour video class on road safety and driving rules and info on road signage. There was on line 30 minutes test. Vola ! I passed the test. With that pass certificate I came back to first office and submitted the form. I was given a slip and sent back saying, "through post aa jayega." 

Promptly I received my learner license through post !. It is not over yet. Now I had to give practical driving test with in 180 days.

This is where i slipped. I kept on postponing the driving test till the last minute. Finally last day I went for a test and I passed the test!. Next day was holiday. I went to RTO office after the holiday and proudly presented my file. The guy at the counter took it and looked at his computer and looked down at me. He said, date bar ho gaya. 180 din ke under submit karna hota hi. 180 days tak appne kya karte rahe ? I was drained. He did not listen to my different kinds of requests and refused to accept my file. I had to come back with empty handed. I cursed myslef for my mistake of ignoring my license. I was fed up and actually  tried to push it through back door. No way, it could not be done. I some how had a good feeling that i did not fail to become a good citizen. 

I now have to undergo entire process all over again. 

I motivated myself, gathered courage to restart all over again. I collected the form once again including the medical form, enclosed all the documents, pasted photographs, went to the same counter again today. I paid the fee, got the medical test done. Counter guy took my photograph and asked me to complete the on line test. I was thinking to go that 10 KM away test center. I had a pleasant surprise. The on line test center was in the same building, same floor. I passed it in minutes. I submitted the form again in the counter. The counter guy gave me my learner license (temporary) and told, you will receive it by post. It took less than two hours to get my learners license today. Now I will get my paper by post and have to give my driving test. This time I will not miss and lose time.

What a change towards better. I wrote bit too long, but it is all about a good change, very much needed. I had decided and i follow - that I do not violate traffic rules. I wait at red light even if the road is empty. 

It has been wonderful last many months. Really wonderful. I with my better half went to holy mount kailash prakrama  and Manassarovar  visit. 12 - 13 days. 

 Holy Mt.Kailash North Face

 Manasa sarovara

 Manasa sarovara

 Holy Mt.Kailash south face

  Holy Mt.Kailash south face on the parikrama route

 Holy Mt.Kailash south face on the parikrama route

Holy mount kailash - golden rays in the morning.

Wonder ful life time experience. Tiresome but fulfilling, satisfying. 

May be I will write more later. 

But as if this was not enough to be wonderful the time that has been - I went to my native place - annual home visit. Planned visit for a worship at our village temple. It went off very peaceful, good feeling. I met my family members, friends, village friends from my beloved Beleyur. Lot of positive vibes, positive mood. 

INTERVIEW

In my profession I had to interview many candidates - students aspiring to  be Trainees, or some Engineers or Technicians seeking job in our company.

Interviewing is fun. Many different personalities to meet and gauge. Interviewer is at liberty to ask any damn question - he does not have to know the answer ! Poor candidates must know the answer.
Be careful, some candidates are smart - at the end of the interview they request you back to enlighten them by sharing the answer !

One of my fellow interviewer was once boasting of the number of projects he commissioned so on and so forth during the interview. A "smart" candidate (actually he was a dumb candidate .....) asked immediately " how many projects sir"   He genuinely wanted to know. My colleague stumbled and mumbled. He had actually commissioned one such project only  and was just bragging. Interview ended abruptly. 

There was one candidate whom I was querying. He was a technician with some experience. I started asking him few questions about an automatic level controls system of  a boiler. I asked him - " how does alarm control work " (i had expected him to explain the level switch etc etc...) . He paused for a minute - and he started revolving his right index finger and loudly said " Toiii, Toyyyyyeeeeee , Toyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... " Hilarious. The candidate was selected and proved to be a good technician. 

I later related this incident to 3 Idoits film, one of them answers as to how induction motor starts. 

Another candidate -  a fitter again with some experience - he came in side the room, sat on the chair leaning back, one leg up and looked very confident. He was stout with a thick moustache.
I asked him - "what does he do now, what was his job responsibility". He said in Hindi - My ek fitter hu, sab ko fit karke rakta hu" 

The interview ended abruptly almost. 

Tiny wonders of Nature

I took to photography some time ago. Invested in a camera and few sets of lenses.

Not that I am a pro, but certainly keen. I am a nature lover, capturing it through camera gives kind of happiness. 

Learning a new skill gives another dimension to the life, little away from routine. I just do it for my own sake, my own joy. 

I try to grab few tiny creatures of god, who created we human beings also. When you look at them through the lens  it takes you through a different world altogether. They are wonderful, different, rich in colours (may be rich in many other aspects than we humans probably .....) 

This one is a two tailed spider (hersilia ) spotted in my native place. Camouflaged nicely. Less than an inch, flat, resting probably.

This is a designer caterpillar (kind of Kambli hulu in Kannada) . Tiny - an inch or so, munching on "Huli soppu" (some kind of leave) . body full of hair, moustache, red white spots. I am sure it will be a wonderful butterfly in its next avataar. 

Malaysian nature walk

I visited Malaysia this year June for a week. Again a business trip. I had week end to spend. 

It is a very humid and tropical country. Full of lush green belt, gardens, trees galore. I like lush green forest. 

Good roads, no dust, disciplined traffic - felt good and bad at the same time. 

Why my country can not be clean, dust free, disciplined lot more ? 

Bird park, Butterfly park, orchid park........lake garden..................wow ! enjoyed.

Malay Eagle owl, looking ferocious

Stork ?

Ibis - many of them playing merrily in the pond. 

Black Naped Oriole

Some beautiful Orchid

Look at the Dragon fly - with thick wings

Many wonderful butterflies

Chill out in Februvary - with ardhaangi

In Feb this year, we (me and my wife) decided to chill out.

After weighing a lot of options, we chose Dharmashala. We managed to get a room booked through some friendly contact.

Landed at the hotel in the morning. The weather was cold, but good. Plan was to spend time in leisure, do some small trek, walk around and enjoy the time together. 

My wife is very choosy when it comes to walk. I like nature walk.

This time, she said - " I will also walk". Hurray - we set out on our small trek. We had enquired the route etc with the hotel manager. 

In the morning, we were to start - wife encountered the manager and demanded " where is the guide". Manager looked up & down and side ways. He was to just guide us about the route and not to arrange a guide. 

My wife some how forgave him for none his fault !

It was a good 6 to 8 km one way through hilly terrain. To my surprise my wife conquered the trek with out any fuss. She enjoyed too.

There were plenty of good places around. Snow capped mountain, cool weather, tea garden, cricket stadium. Believe me I had gone to Switzer land two weeks before, and i had not uploaded any picture, but uploaded pictures from Dharmashala. 

If we manage to some how, manage the waste (in pubic places, road or at least in tourist places) and become self sufficient in power & infrastructure, follow basic discipline -   India is no less to any developed country.

Expression love and affection.

This is a small international airport in Kharkiv in Ukraine. I was to fly to Kiev from here. As usual I started roaming around to kill the time and watch people. 

We Indians do not show our love and affection to our family members or friend in public. In private - what happens god only knows.

Europeans in sharp contrast they express their love and affection thoroughly in public. Hugging, kissing, cuddling their loved one, kid, wife, husband, boy friend, girl friend, mom, dad......... 

I was standing out side the arrival gate (since it was a small airport both arrival and departure gate were in same place) watching people. As the planes arrived, people started coming out from the gate. 

The kid you see in the picture with her mom waiting for the dad I presumed. Moment she saw her dad, she spontaneously rushed, hugged him and he took her in his arms, and the wife joined them. It was such a touching feel. All the people waiting outside did almost same with their loved ones as they arrived. 

In north India younger ones, touch the feet of the elders (pai lagoo....) and occasional hug. Some ladies do hug but it is visibly a drama. 

 In south we grin at each other at most. Or a hand shake. 

I am not saying west is right. It is just my observation.  My son does not like we hug him. My wife ....?!

We live in Gurgaon - elite so called elite urban area. Lot of malls and young crowd. West is here, no doubt. Things are changing in India though.  

When I with my wife go for shopping, some times we need to walk up the escalator, initially wife hesitated to hop in and needed my hand holding. I thoroughly enjoyed it since it is the only time i could hold my wife's hand in public, other than in marriage ceremony 22 years back. 

Now she got used to the escalators, alas.... no more hand holding.............

Morning in Ukraine

This is a sequel to my previous post on Ukraine.

I stayed in the company guest house. Could not get a weekend. But i decided to move around some how.

I normally run or walk once a day. Most of the days in the week. 

The weather was very good. The day was long from 4 in the morning to 8 in the evening.  I found a nearby park. I like to spend time with nature, particularly lush green, natural forest. I try to capture the moments in my camera.

 I also moved around a bit where we stayed in Kiev before I flew back home. 

Look at few wonders of nature, so smooth, so soothing, wonderful..

Beautiful cute looking tiny white wonder.

Pink one from a thorny bush.

 There were many fruit trees in the area, probably grow naturally. Peach, Pear, plum, cherry.... oh many.......look at the lonely red.

 This is place where we stayed in kiev though this is not a natural one, but looked good, attractive.

 This cat was so friendly, readily came up on my lap, no hesitation. Cute one. 

This one from plane while landing in Vienna. Looked like grand linen patch.

Ukraine visit - flight mess

I visited Ukraine before last week (5th July to 12th July 2014 to be precise.) It was a business visit. 

It was quite delayed visit due to the politically unsafe situation. Finally after many clearances, the visit was through.

If the visit is week long, i usually try to get one week end during which i move around with my camera.  

Kharikiv was the place of my visit. The place has small international airport. 

I try to do some research about the country or place normally. The local currency and its exchange rate - to USD and / or Indian currency - most important. 

The local currency name is "hryvnia" striking resemblance to sanskrit word Hiranya means gold. I felt connected. Sanskrit somehow energises me in what ever form even in its remotest link. 

Flight timing is some times confusing. I had asked for ticket on 5th (evening i meant).Ticketing is done by our travel desk. They promptly booked me on 5th early morning means 4th mid night ! I fortunately noticed it on 4th afternoon the Friday evening in the office. Rescheduling was ruled out. I rushed back home to pack. 

Flight time was 0035 hrs. I reached and settled down in business lounge holding a book actually watching people around, pausing in between. 

Watching people candidly is a good passtime. Many different people, many different behaviour, actions. These days hardly any one is with out tabs and PDA, smart phones - people really get engrossed so much. 

I in between tried to view foot ball match. I do not follow foot ball regularly though. Just it was world cup time and hence curiosity. My son is a serious follower and plays well too.
I do not follow any game that way. I am good at playing almost any game !

I Watch the game if I find it exciting and enjoy the moment.

Time to hit the boarding gate - moved to gate number 10 ( i think..). Already a large group was waiting to board. Just then there was an announcement  that the flight was delayed by two and half hours. Oh ho..... I looked around, found a reclining chair, put on alarm on my smart phone for two and half hour and slept. Announcement again - delayed further, this announcement went on three four times up to 0630 in the morning. 

The duty officer and two girls on duty sheepishly announced that the flight is cancelled.  Flight cancellation after you have taken the boarding card and reached the boarding gate is big mess. It is a real mess. All the "guests" became normal passengers all of a sudden. Mob gathered around the poor duty officer and the two girls on duty who had no energy in them. 

People simultaneously started arguing with them. The reason was " the brake failure". So safety clearance was not given to fly the plane.  It was a flight to Vienna and hence it was sure a connecting flight to a different destination for different people. For me too. I was safe, since i did not have anything to do next day. It was by mistake I was flying a day before. But for many it was a problem. A group of 18 were on a marriage trip. They were busy discussing their next plan. Three "Sardaars" lost their temper and started shouting at in chaste Punjabi. There were many foreign passengers.  They had no clue whatsoever in the me-lee.  A lady in her thirties was shouting, she was to catch a flight to Madrid and then to Barcelona to make a presentation. She vociferously asked the duty officer that who was now going to do the presentation !

Duty officer had no energy to face the mob, two girls had already vanished from the scene. He some how managed to get his boss ( I thought so...) to face the mob. By the time it dawned on to the mob that the flight has been really cancelled. So.......... what next ? 

People were also tired by now, wanted to hear what next. The new duty officer announced that there will be a bus that will take the passengers to a hotel and rebooking of next available flight will be informed accordingly.  Those who do not want to go to hotel can go back home and will be informed about the booking for next available flight. A foreigner said loudly " Yes I want to go home, Stockholm"  He said. 

I was greedy and asked why not bus for us those who want to go back home. Exasperated he showed me the board showing " Pre paid taxi Booth". I was not serious in asking for the bus, but wanted to test his patience. 

But the baggage ??? Oh it was another exercise. Reaching arrival area from departure is not easy. It involves many security measure (they took care of it...). I collected the baggage, took a cab and came back home. Wife gave a me rude look. Explained to her over the morning breakfast, which she had not planned. ( i was not to be there for the breakfast you see...) 

I flew back next day same flight same time. 

Wonderful nature

I love to spend time with nature. Look at these beautiful wonders of the nature.