Short Story 7 – The dark secret of the grasslands!

“Is this the same country which people routinely trash when discussing about tourism?” Sam seemed awestruck by the beauty all around.

“Yeah that’s the question running through my head as well.” Ginny had heard the same from her friends back in Auckland.

“From the greenery to the valley, from the wildlife safaris to the unspoilt beaches, this place is paradise rediscovered.”

“Yes it truly feels like. God! They scared us to death while departing. Thankfully we kept our foot down.” Over the last few days, they had realized that this place was nothing like what had been described by their friends.

“Who knows; maybe they assumed that we were going to a concentration camp rather than an adventure trip.” Both of them had a hearty laugh.

Sam and Ginny were not your regular couple who meet in a college and fall in love. They actually never worked in an office at all. Whether it was rock climbing, rappelling, bungee jumping, paragliding or any other adventure sport – both of them were always game for challenges. And it was during one of these adventures that they happened to meet.

Guest Post: Time to WAKE UP – The authorities!!

There have been instances where we hear an industrialist gifting an aircraft to his wife on her birthday, some others gifting themselves a yacht when they feel like. These luxuries which the so called creme-da-la-creme call “high society” trademarks or “high society necessities” are good to look at from a global point of view. This can foresee that India is now a developing country with people who can, in theory, reach for the highest star or the deepest ocean. But is that all what you need to call India a developing country?

Doesn’t development mean that the politicians also take into view the development of the massive “middle class” which forms almost 80% of the population? Every year a new budget comes up from the economists and the finance ministry. But who do you think is really affected by that? It is by far only the “middle class” as they are the ones who suffer the burn of the hour. With the amount of money earned becoming equal to the amount of money spent to earn a livelihood by the “middle class” ; I am not sure how the survival of the fittest would take place in here.

If it’s not Osama its Al – Zawahri – Terror lives on with a new name!!

So Obama has proclaimed to the world that Osama has been killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan. And the news channels across the planet are following suit and racing to be the first in reporting such an important piece of news. Then there is the news of Sohaib Athar, an IT consultant who claims to have live blogged the event. Then there are claims that he has already been buried in the sea and his 2 wives and some children have been captured alive. BBC and CNN seem to have broken the barometer set by our news channels of making any news BREAKING!

Cuisine you cannot afford to miss in the Arab world!

Continuing with my foodie posts is the latest one on Arabic food. Irony or not, despite living in this part of the world for years on end, I hadn’t had any introduction with Arabic food before this trip. But this trip has been different.

Can Egypt repeat itself in India?

Tahrir square has been the battleground for the last 18 days for the Egyptians who fought tooth and nail to overthrow the autocratic Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of virtual dictatorship. The fact that they succeeded despite non – violent protests though over 300 died in clashes with pro – Mubarak supporters and the police, shows the pressure building up across the entire Arab World where rulers occupy the seat of power to never leave it again. From Yemen to Algeria to Sudan to Syria, these regimes have flourished because their leaders and their supporters have occupied the seats of power as if it were covered with Fevicol. From corruption to price rises to poor wages to lack of democracy, the problems are in plenty.