Turtle Walks

"My Experience in conservation, and environmental activism includes turtle walks"

"What?"

This was the reaction, I most often received when I told professors and employers about my experiences in environmental stewardship. My school would organize nights walk, for which we would, walk about 10 miles along the coast in Madras (Chennai), during the Olive Ridley nesting season. This was usually during November to January. Why would we do this? The Olive Ridleys were attacked on the beaches when they would come up to nest. The nesting process (digging the hole, laying the eggs, covering it up, could take a while). Each nest could hold up to 200 eggs. Sometimes, stray dogs, poachers would come and hurt the turtle, or destroy the eggs. Our job would be to protect the turtle, and relocate the nest after the mother made it back to see. This relocation process was done very precisely (distance from shore, depth of hole, width of hole, etc). In the 90's in India the Olive Ridley was considered an endangered species. Now when I google "Olive Ridley", the facts seem to have changed; according to NOAA they are plentiful. What I knew then no longer stands? Research? I am not sure, however perhaps our efforts then are reflected on their now "plentiful" status.

There is nothing more lovely than walking on a beach all night trying to save turtles. Breeze, the moon, the ocean, changing of tides, and creatures of the sea that only come out at night. Stories would come to mind; how the ocean requires a human sacrifice of one human a day. I wondered who it would be that night, maybe a poacher.

These were the days when some of the major organization in conservation of wildlife seemed so great and good, but as we grow, we do get jaded by the truths. However the truths about the turtle walks and other efforts to help save our planet, hasn't be tarnished. I mean honest efforts, the ones where people don't go seeking money by overpriced cards, or something of the sort. I'm glad the Olive Ridley is still around, now let's help the tigers, although dangerous, the Florida Panther, the bald eagles (their numbers are on the rise)... It is wishful thinking, that even with all the problems in the world right now, someone (me) is still worried about animals, but they do, eventually, play a large role in our circle, although we might never see it until we feel it.

My friend Adhith Swaminathan took the following pictures. This is some information from him:

"I work as a research assistant on a leatherback project in the andaman and nicobar islands. We basically stay in an island called little andaman and camp for like 5 months recording data with regard to turtle nesting etc..track them using satellite trackers to get an idea where they go after nesting..post nesting migratory route.
anyway...
all the sea turtles including olive ridley are still endangered. Only reason you see so much in one place is cause they practice a phenomenon called arribada..i.e mass nesting / synchronized nesting. SO this basically happens only in 3 places in Orissa, India and i was fortunate enough to work in one of the beaches "

The turtles come ashore during mass nesting, called arribada

she travels a long way to dig a hole

Just keep digging

she doesn't posses opposable thumbs so she gets a little covered in sand!

she lays the eggs, they fall a foot or so, but they don't crack!

here are the eggs!

Adith and a turtle while she's laying!

she covers up the hole and heads back to sea

Back to her element

The babies hatch and are guided back to the ocean where they will have to fend for themselves.

grow into a big turtle, travel the seas to find a mate, and make her own babies!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Ridley
http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/olive-ridley-sea-turtle.htm

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/marine_turtles/olive_ridley_turtle/

http://world-turtle-trust.org/project07.html
http://sstcn.org/

Not Lost in Translation

After much reflection, I am finally ready to write about the wonderful country of Japan.

The realization of me going to Japan, the country I longed to go to, the country I studied about in geography, martial arts, anime, people/friends, singing class etc... had not sunk in. I did not believe it, would not believe it until I set foot in Tokyo.

My dad, boss, and travel partner asked me why I was not excited, as it was both of our first times going there. I acted nonchalant and tired, but inside I was excited. Inwardly, I was collecting and priming all the information I knew about this country - geography, language, cultural nuances...etc. I should have been born Japanese; I have dabbled and obsessed of all cultures around the world: I love people, places, language, culture... of all types. It is fascinating.

On the plane, it was the old type of 747, with TV only on the top of the cabin. We flew to the west coast from where we followed the west coast up to Canadian west coast, Alaska, and the Kamchatka peninsula down over to the Japanese Archipelago. There it was Shikoku, Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido, the four main islands of Japan. There was Narita International Airport; we landed. We were here. It was still an hour to Tokyo and I was exhausted, however our Japanese colleague was meeting us there. I was unsure as we suddenly didn't have working cell phones, did not know the language, disoriented, did not know the place... I was a foreigner in a foreign land! He was there though, sure enough, waiting, with a very welcoming smile. I was so pleased to see him. It was familiarity, a friend, in an unknown land. I welcomed it and embraced it.

When we reached the hotel, I was eager to rest, shower, however now we were on official business, so 5 minutes in the room, then we go for dinner. Lucky for me drinking sake was a custom in Japanese business. We had great food, which was highly exotic, however I do not recollect through the haze of jetlag and lots of sake! I rested well on an extra firm bed, and a very special pillow which had some rice/beans/beads in it. I have never slept that well in my life! I want that bed, and pillow back.

The toilet was exceptional - it was so interactive - there was a bidet - spray for the front and the back. There was a dryer, there was a toilet seat warmer, there was a constant flushing noise, there was different spray levels, I forget what else there was. However it was the best experience ever, and I wish we, in oh so developed USA would have that too. If only.

In Tokyo, everyone stands on the right in the escalators letting the people in a hurry pass on the left. People keep the city, public places, everywhere clean just out of common - civic sense. The people never show negative emotions in public, perhaps very rarely if so. This might seem oppressive, but it is just the way they are. It's the discipline they follow. It is just their culture.

Sometimes I really missed rocking out to rock music, and just dancing, but when do I ever do that here? I was on constant business mode, and having to "behave", this is hard for me to do, so I was on edge at times. On the edge of just bursting into song, or going loco in public... I imagine I was an oddity in general, as I usually am anyway. However I did enjoy the tranquility that came with this culture, discipline etc. When we went to visit a temple in Tokyo, and a little garden that accompanied it; it was just beautiful, and peaceful. I never felt or saw anything like it.

The food, and our hosts were exceptional, and the business went better than planned by everyone. In the end nothing was lost in translation, it was at times difficult, but with a smile, gestures and basic Japanese words one can get by. I learned that knowing the words for "bathroom" "food" and "water" are the most important. In fact enacting "bathroom" is so difficult to a person who has no idea what - loo, restroom, toilets, washroom, bathroom, shower means... After quite a bit of gesturing she understood, (I enacted washing my face, brushing my teeth, and then I was gesturing sitting down to potty, and then she got it!).

 The people in restaurants are so happy, even early in the mornings... I was so curious about this "happiness" all the time phenomena, however it was explained to me that "would you want to go to a restaurant and receive bad service?" The answer is, obviously not, but all over the world it happens. However in Japan it doesn't as far as I experienced. Also despite the awesome and pleasant service, no one tips. Coming back to USA, it is so hard to tip, when service is usually sub par. I wish I could express here how I was greeted, and how huge the smiles of everyone was, but some of the pictures would hopefully depict that.

Everything is seen to perfection. Everything is perfect as seen in the food served below. Its not only delicious but looks good, tastes good, and served in pleasant atmosphere. So this is what zen eating is.

It was in all an awesome experience. I would go back any day!If you can, GO THERE!

Sashimi

Sashimi almost every night

Yummy fish!

Me in Tokyo!

Friends!

My new friends and Japanese photo booth!

Hiro and I!

Subha-Shaam

Longing for change
Longing for India


Longing for where the Earth is true
The sky is pure
Where the trees can talk
and the grass sings

Hoping for a place
Where we can be still
and quiet
where possessing is naught

Let's run barefoot
Through the jungle
Meeting all species of bird, beast, and flower
From dawn to dusk

Tango with the Tiger
Shimmy with the Saap
Leaping with the Cheetal
and gliding with the Garudas
Subha se shaam...

My Response to "Climate Change" Skeptics and Opposers

Sure people maybe skeptics about climate change... but there are those without voices who FEEL the climate change change. I'm sure if you had no voice and had "NO RIGHTS" things would be different in your mind and your perspective. 

However you are not in that unfortunate position. So you will write to "whoever" the pope or the president and make an issue of how the "climate change" is something we in the here and now shouldn't focus on. 

We don't live in the Poles, or in coral reefs, so delicate and sensitive to the slightest temperature changes. 

Most of us don't live in an area which is affected... extreme heat and drought in the tropics, or melting glaciers.

It's not just about climate. It's more than just climate, its OUR world. 
When we start deciding which species lives or dies based on OUR actions, then we should worry that in the future there is a possibility when humans decide which humans live or die. 

Or are we already there? 

It's more than science. Its understanding, empathy and compassion. 

Perhaps many in our country don't have it - empathy, understanding, compassion...

Many in our country don't know how much worse it can get - yes a warm winter is wonderful and welcomed, but to experience drought, or the loss of land due to floods...


We have it good so far.


Do we care about 10 years from now? 20 years from now? 50 years from now? 100 years? No. We live in the NOW and plan only for OUR futures.

Breathe!

The airs will get polluted, and there won't be fresh air to breath. We can pay for air like we pay for gas now.

Wrote this in 2009 10th Dec... Posting it now!
:-P

Climbing! Climb On!

Climbing is something which comes natural to humans as is breathing, walking, running, swimming and sleeping.
When I was a child I did not know how to swim, or so I thought. I remember I never liked going to my swim lessons at the age of 3 or 4 because my swimming teacher was fat, and she had a weird coffee stain on her swimsuit. I always thought that it was so strange. Anyway she would make me put my face in the water, and it was always very scary because her stained swimming suit was in it too. Years later when I was 11 I learnt how to swim. The swim teacher  to jump into the deep end of the pool and if I didn't I saw what he would do. He would say ok go back to the line, however when you turned around, he would grab you and throw you in. Miraculously you already know how to swim! You'll automatically surface and get to the side of the pool. I think 1 in 15 kids didn't swim and they quit and sank to the bottom, in that case the teacher would cuss, and jump in after the kid. The kid would be fine. I jumped in and swam, my sister was thrown in.
Climbing came naturally to my sister and I. She started it however, she would climb doors, walls, anything that went upward. Her problem was coming down. She would begin to cry, and usually jump into my father's arms. I enjoyed climbing trees and interesting shaped buildings. However one day our teacher told us that it wasn't ladylike to climb. The whole fun of climbing trees was the fruit of the labor - tamarinds, palm, mangoes, coconuts, dates... so much yummy fun!

Years later, I have no more upper body strength, and developed fear of heights. I doubt that I can climb anything whatsoever. I wish and wish I could climb the rock wall in the University of Akron rec center, but I never have the guts to or find a buddy to go with.
Recently though I got the opportunity to at Kendall Cliffs, in Summit County. I have been climbing with my friends Renee and Mark. It has been quite the learning experience. In its entirety it is an exhilarating experience. You get a full body work out with the adrenalin rush, team spirit, trust building, strength building and mentally, physically and sometimes intellectually challenging.
The first few times I learnt the "codes" we are supposed to say such as "climbing" "climb on" "belay?" "belay on", how to tie the No. 8 knot. and to secure the harness. Then how to start the climb and use my arms and legs, following the color.
Recently however Renee/ Mark and Jeff stepped it up a notch, and taught be how to use my belay instrument, tie a few more knots, the secret to trying knots, also new techniques in movements, and holds. It sure made it more interesting and challenging. Realization to how much more I need to work on my core muscles, and arms. Also how we must use our arms and legs together. Usually Renee forgets to use her arms, and I forget to use my legs. So we learn from each other. I realized I trust Renee and Mark for belaying and everyone has different belay techniques. It all takes practice.
I started a new wall, and it was a puzzle and challenging. I would climb up four feet and then slip and fall to be caught by the belay person. Swinging like Tarzan (by mistake) from the rope is actually kinda "whoa". This wall had a very slight overhang and it had different kinds of holds... and now my thumbs hurt. Relearning how to climb again, and its fun and you use parts of your brain that we forget to use. We use muscles we didn't know we have!

Exciting! Intriguing! Believing! Achieving!

The Men Who Stare at Goats

"A reporter, trying to lose himself in the romance of war after his marriage fails, gets more than he bargains for when he meets a special forces agent who reveals the existence of a secret, psychic military unit whose goal is to end war as we know it. The founder of the unit has gone missing and the trail leads to another psychic soldier who has distorted the mission to serve his own ends." - Rob Harris

This movie was bizarre yet intriguing. It made me think about how ridiculous this Hippie Cult in the army was. How could something so ridiculous be funded by the government? However in the end of the movie I realized to begin with the whole idea of any war is ridiculous. People like fighting, its primal instinct to fight and survive. However humans are conscientiousness beings, that separates us from the animals. Since we have the ability to rise above the "fighting to live attitude"... and we have such great intelligence then why can we not create a peace, rather than create guns and bombs? So although this movie was hilariously absurd in all aspects, it had a deeper message. I didn't get the whole movie until Hrishi pointed out there is a profound meaning in the movie. It's something to think about (for those who wish to ponder) even though it is a laughable comedy.

Under The Stars

Man creates his own world; dazzling and glamorous. Cities bustling, filled with pop-culture, entertainment, foods, music, cars, technology... its full of life. In the process we, mankind, miss out on the entire universe. When I mean the Universe, I mean the serenity of silence, the vastness of it all, what are we in the big picture. The Universe is glamorous, larger than life, too great to behold... but the little bubbles we create for ourselves, we never step out from it, we forget to look up and understand our place in it all. We are out own universes, we our own gods. We live a lie.

We went to the Allegheny Mountains and camped in the Allegheny National Forest. It was my first time. We camped Minister's Creek trail to a camp site. There we set up camp, and made our own fire pit. It was very nice. We collected fire wood, and it is something which came very naturally to me. I was born to do this.

At night, the embers glowed dimly in the dark, and the other campers around were quiet and settling down around their fires, or their tents for the night. I stepped out of mine to look up and be caught by the magnificence of the sky. I stood stunned by the glory of it... the stars.

Have you ever seen the milky way? The entire milky way... in the silence of the night?

I froze and did not account to how much time passed, I think I said "OMG it's amazing!" Many times. It was as though someone had shut out all the light in the world by draping a thick black cloth over it. However someone had made holes in it... and through that the light shined - bright. Like jewels on black leather it was beautiful, anyone could have cried. That's how the sky should look, but many of us do not know it can look that beautiful from earth itself. Standing there I imagined, if it looks so beautiful from here, Imagine the other wonders out there.

There are so many beautiful things to see in the Universe... and even on our planet. And truly they surpass human beauty, and material things... waterfall such as the Niagra Falls, wonders such as the Grand Canyon ... just to name a few. They are there for a reason, and we miss the message.

That night I realized looking out my window with city lights shinning up, it wont ever be the same. Another time when I had seen that kind of beauty was when I went to Sedona and saw the rock formations there. It was unbelievable.

The National Parks program is on PBS this week, and it should remind us all that there is the beauty of America and the World which we have to live for. There's so much to see, it truly is a beautiful world a beautiful life... once we see the bigger picture.

by popular demand

So some of you have been reading my blogs regularly, which is surprising and nice!

I was walking through the zoo today and Christina (my co-worker) and I always make it a point to walk past the primate and cat building every afternoon. It's good exercise plus we take advantage of the fact that we work in the zoo. Yes, we see the huge tortoises, the cheetahs, the kangaroos, wallabies, and then walk up a fairly graded hill, which we all call "the hill" up to the primate and cat building. There we pass the snow leopard, the mandabay monkeys, the red panda. Then comes the Gorillas, my favorite!

The tortoises are fairly active, and they actually lift their heavy shelled bodies off the ground and crawl about, curious about the visitors. They have these brown wise eyes, I do not know how old they are, but they look very old in their wrinkly skin. They are quiet and calm!

The cheetahs pace forever, but on very HOT days (very hot is relative in Cleveland), the cheetahs lounge about staring into the distance. Their eyes have a look of longing for open open Savannah which they could run their max speed, stretching their legs one last time.

Down in the valley, after walking down the boardwalk, we come to the zoo's version of the land down under! The Kangaroos are always lounging about, one can imagine them leaping across Australia with all the force of their strong legs, and heavy tail. They are cute, yet powerful in their own way - large bunnies with pouches. I once read in a fact section of the Young World in "The Hindu" newspaper, that when the British made port in Australia, they saw these large animals jumping around. They asked the Aborigines. " what are those?" and the Aborigines not understanding them said "ganga- roo, ganga-roo" which apparently meant "I don't understand you"!!!! Down Under they have a lot of cool terms and phrases much liek slang here in US and other parts of the world. However the Aussie slang is waaay cooler than anything i ever heard (all respects to Steve Irwin, and the term "Crickey Mate"!!!).

Moving on to the snow leopard, he always hides behind a rock, however today he was laying ontop of the rock so we could see him! The monkeys are always active, and there are many more monkeys inside the building, but it is usually crowded and noisey so we stay out of there! Then some the Red-Pandas. They are small and red ofcourse, and UTTERLY adoreable like stuffed animals! THEY LOOK LIKE TOYS!!! Recently they gave birth and the youngen are in a safe place, out of human sight.

Finally are Mokolo and Bebac. The Gorillas. I love these guys, they are huge, stealthy in the jungles of africa, yet powerful and deadly. One swipe of their hand could knock a grown man out cold. Their Palms vs. our measly hands, its amazing! Yet we are a like and eerily so, though their eyes are filled with sorrow, longing and boredom. I feel they need female company, for both are male. I feel for them so much, and I have grown to love these beastly men. The children always go to the cage and make fun of how ugly they are, or yell "hoo-hoo-hoo!" at them while mimicking ape gestures. I feel resentful toward the children - if it were them inside there, it would not be too funny then. I'm sure if Mokolo or Bebac could talk they would say you ugly filthy kids, didn't your w*@#$% mother's teach you any @!#@%$ manners!??! If mankind hadn't sought to take control (and whether it is natural order or not, HUMANS ARE GREEDY B@$%@#!$), the Gorilla's would be happily abound and not in cages, there wouldn't be such severe issues of endangered and extinct species.
Whatever, I never thought I would be a Gorilla Lover (as Polloy put it!) but you can't help but realize how much like us they are, but more emotion, they are just spewing it all over. At least I feel it.

Whether you share the views or not, I just want you to know, Animals are beautiful people too. Look deeper, and you'll see it. They are not different from Human babies, except they do not grow up and speak and work. However their hearts seem to be in the right place, except labradors which suffer from constant gluttony! (just kidding!)

(I think this needs editing, too much raw passion. Seems amateurish. What do you think?)

Image courtesy of National Geographic - Picture of the Day - Michael Nichols

Loves Life Laughs

We live, we love, we laugh... I think these are the most important things we do.

I have lived but 26 years, and so far I loved so many people, animals, places, things... I love so much that sometimes it feels like that my heart may burst. However there are times when I stop out of sheer fatigue and its like the doldrums when there is just me loneliness, and all I feel is "Comfortably Numb". However this short piece is on Loving and that feeling. I love my family. but as Richard Bach said in Illusions- The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof." and "Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."

I keep that with me in my heart, because "friends are a gift you give yourself", so i love my friends dearly is what I am trying to say. I can only hope they love me as I love them.

I realised I loved him when I met him after years, by then it was too late. I had had my opportunity to do something about it, but nay I had lingered, doubted and let it pass. So now I must wait, for a different lifetime perhaps. Perhaps it was never meant to be? Was it meant to only be a friendship? I guess I will find out in the end, but is there an end at all?

Another One. We loved each other, or so we thought. We were young and said our "I love you"s, all for naught; less than 9 months and he was gone. Gone just as the waves splash upon the beach and leaves it high and dry as it recedes into the low tide. Years later I have a strange "knowing" of him. The familiarity feels good, and there seems to be a connection, but i am not sure what. I did question him regarding this, but I can't figure it out. Thus those memories, those moments, or just him whether he has changed or not... friendship lasts forever, even though time moved on leaving "us" in the dust.

Bonds can be unbreakable; perhaps even so unshakable than "marriage". Thus it goes to show that even man can't make up and "institution" of marriage and MAKE it last forever till death do us part. Real bonds show test of time and change, (did i miss something?). I can vouch for that.

My best get-together was with the boy I loved in high school. I always truly thought I loved him despite all his faults, despite his lack of care towards me, the way he thought I was nothing compared to him. I resented him at times, but then I always knew I cared for him after ALL we had been through. YEARS later we stood on a beach holding each other, and he just said "You are one of the sweetest person I ever met". I think that's when I knew my patience, and care had paid off. I can't even begin to remember the number of times I had told him I loved him no matter what. He would always laugh about it, and say he just didn't feel the same way. I guess I shall always love that fool, through thick and thin. And I'll never regret it. We're friends deep down. Although who knows, he might deny his side of it.

Strangely some of my good friends so far I am yet to meet. I have been there friends through the internet so long, it feels like I know them, but then I think back, and wow I have never met them in person. Lately I met one such person in real life, and we have much more appreciation for each other now! It felt great, and although it was just a few hours, it makes up for ALL that time we missed out on. He was lovely. I plan to meet my other 2-3 friends soon!!!!

Love Love Love ... All you need is LOVE!!!

Image Courtesy National Geographic- Picture of the day. Mick Tsikas. International Photo Contest. 2008.