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bu1410 · 1 year ago

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Good morning TUMBLR - March 7th - 2024

''Mr. Plant has owed me a shoe since July 5, 1971."

Ch. VIII - 1985- 1989 - Bahrain - Part 5

Me & Andrea - Mauritius Island - Dec, 1988

Me & Andrea - Bali, March 1989.

TRANSFER TO MANAMA After almost two years of living in Awali, COMERINT decided that we would all move to Manama. For this purpose, a newly built apartment building right behind the Korean embassy was rented in its entirety. The building was equipped with all comforts, including a small swimming pool on the terrace, gym in the basement and large, spacious apartments. One big flaw, which we would soon realize: the location about 150 meters from the Great Mosque! Which was equipped with very powerful speakers, so at the end of the two years I would have learned the Muslim prayer. And in any case we lived better in the city, life in Awali was quite boring. Here you could see people circulating, and all the services were close at hand.

BIRTH of my SON I was in Cipriani's apartment during the usual Friday card game with colleagues that I received a call from Italy (maybe my sister?) announcing my son Andrea's premature birth!! Great celebrations, pats on the back, immediately a bottle of sparkling wine was opened to celebrate the event! The next day the Company's travel office booked a flight for me, and in the evening I was already on my way to Italy to meet my firstborn. I saw Andrea for the first time at the Niguarda hospital, inside an incubator: what a thrill!! 1 Kg and 175 grams of tenderness!! He was born prematurely, but was quite well, at least in comparison to his other companions in misfortune - one in particular struck me, a sort of ''chicken'' hanging in a ''crucifixed'' position. They told me that he weighed 750 grams. My wife was quite well too, even if she had a ''changed'' appearance. The long suffering and her injections had somewhat ''inflated'' her face – fortunately all side effects disappeared after a short time. I had to leave back to Bahrain again without seeing Andrea at home, and in any case we promised ourselves that as soon as possible they would come to Bahrain for a long period. In reality they only reached me the following year, given that Andrea had to be constantly monitored for at least a year.

WIFE & SON in BAHRAIN And then one day they finally arrived! Wife and Andrea took little time to integrate, both by making friends in the condo - with Mrs. Battaglia - and than also in the surrounding area. Facilitated by frequenting an adjacent playground, they had met Indian, French and Korean ladies, also with children more or less of Andrea's age. Which was truly a pest when we had to feed himself.

CHRISTMAS 1988 The end of year holidays were approaching, and we decided to take a holiday in Mauritius before returning to Italy. Thanks to my wife's friendship with an Indian lady, Saritha, who worked at an travel agency, the holiday was soon organized. We would have flown to Mauritius for a week's stay, and then from the Indian Ocean island a direct flight would have taken us first to London and than to Milan. The holiday was really nice: we had a bungalow directly on the beautiful beach of the Pirogue hotel. The treatment was first class. There was the opportunity to celebrate Andrea's second birthday, with a beautiful cake prepared by the hotel chef. That evening Andrea was wild, and managed to escape our control. With the help of the hotel staff we eventually found him on the dance floor where the evening shows were held. He had managed - probably with a stone - to break one of the colored lights that illuminated the small stage! I gave a tip to the attendants so that they carefully cleaned the glass from the surface of the dance floor, where later the dancers of the local troupe would perform barefoot. We rented a car and visited the wonderful island: Le Morne Brabant, the colored earths, the botanical gardens, the covered market of Port Louis and the beautiful Ile au Cherf. At the reception of the Tuessrock hotel I saw a blow-up of Prince Andrew and Princess Ferguson. I asked the girl at the counter why that photo was there and she replied:

They spent part of their honeymoon here!

Really???!!! I replied.

Yes……

Eeee……they paid the bill regularly…I mean…….

The girl gave me a reprehensible look and then said: of course not…….

Ah… well…. The Ile au Cherf lagoon is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen

Ile au Cherf - Mauritus

Terre Coloree

La Morne - Mauritius.

HEATROW AIRPORT - LONDON The departure from Mauritus was characterized by a small ''accident''. At the airport during the passport control procedures a immigration policeman told us:

Ok… Sir your first son is here… but where is the second ?

Still planning – I replied thinking he was joking.

I'm not joking Sir… here on the landing documents it says that you arrived with two children, so where is the second child?

Look, officer… there's a mistake… just check our passports… how could we travel with two children if one is marked on our passports?

Ahh…yeah…it's true…. So was there an error by one of our officials when you arrived?

It seems obvious to me… In any case, the incident had put me in a bad mood. A mix-up like this can always cause problems and delays and even cause the plane to be missed. The British Airways flight stopped in Mahé, Seychelles, where the pilot landed so violently that all oxygen masks came off and several pieces of luggage fell from the overhead bins. For the rest everything was fine, in the sense that more than 13 hours of flight with a 2 year old child is not the best.

We landed in London in the late afternoon, and during the transfer from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 the bus suddenly stopped. The driver turned up the volume on the radio and we learned that Pan Am Flight 103 had crashed over Scotland and there were probably no survivors. For long minutes all airport activity stopped and a thunderous silence descended where a moment before there had been nothing but deafening noises. Than everything re-started working again, but something strange and intangible remained in the air. The looks of the airport workers betrayed anxiety and concern, while increasingly chilling details arrived via the TV screens hanging in the waiting areas. We arrived at Linate around 9.00 pm and took a taxi back home.

FIRE AT METHANOL PLANT About 3 months after commissioning, the methanol plant suffered a first serious accident. Early morning the pre-warning sirens sounded, and all non-essential personnel were evacuated from the plant. The temperatures of the methanol furnace were rising, and the situation seemed to have gotten out of control of the operation's technicians. We took refuge in the Main Control Room, a building designed to protect plant workers even in the event of serious accidents, such as fires or ammonia leaks. The fight to prevent the furnace from catching fire lasted about 6 hours, with the operators trying to lower temperatures and flows inside the methanol plant. Mr. Mangialardi, at that time in charge of the plant, had to change the khaki-colored suit he was wearing several times (also due to the smell it gave off…) In the end the battle was lost, in the sense that the fire broke out between the bellows that connected the oven with the combustion chamber, but the prompt intervention of the firefighters coordinated by Mr. Palmizio - who had had plenty of time to position themselves to the west of the plant , limited the damage of the fire. However, I had the opportunity to see how scary a fire can be when methanol is involved - which, being very volatile, causes that type of flame that is not continuous, but rather ignites and burns in different locations at the same time. And this is why it is very difficult to fight it, given that the foam and hydrants must be continually repositioned. After the fire was put out, the damage was assessed and all in all it was limited. In two weeks of intense 24/7 work we completed the repairs, and the plant restarted.

RANGE ROVER For some time I had noticed a brown Range Rover in the car park of the plant, but I didn't know who it belonged to. One day I finally saw the owner, a young Bahrenite, an employee of the spare parts warehouse. I approached him, and after complimenting him on the car, I asked him if by any chance he was willing to sell the car. At first - like a good Arab - he prevaricated, but than, at my insistence, he showed himself open to a possibility. Within a few days we reached an agreement on the price - around 1.9 million lire (Barely 1,200 USD) I paid him a deposit, promising that we would close the deal the next time I returned from Italy. Was it so, even if we could have missed the last-minute surprise? Certainly not! The Range did not belong to the warehouse worker, he only had it for use, the real owner was a cousin of Emir Issa Bin Khalifa! So on the day of the appointment at the DMV for the transfer of ownership, the 'cousin' was present for the final signature. Great satisfaction on my part, I had an exceptional off-road vehicle at my disposal, even if Bahrain was certainly not a place to make long journeys, but there was certainly no shortage of off-road routes in the desert, such as the one that led to the so-called 'Tree of Life' ' – a gigantic tree in the middle of the desert in the center-South of the island, where there is no other plant or shrub for kilometers.

FINE FOR SPEEDING It was the end of the month, and evidently the Bahrain Police Command had received orders to raise some money to pay salaries. The fact is that many of us left the plant that evening, and on the 4-lane road to Manama we were stopped for over speeding. Those who were stopped for speeding just under 100 km per hour were given the opportunity to pay a fine immediately. Those like me who had exceeded 100 km per hour had their local licenses withdrawn, and were given an appointment the next morning at the Court in Manama. The next day there were around sixty ''guests'' in the Courtroom. After an exhausting wait, the judge finally appeared: an elderly guy, small and dry, with that ''don't bother me'' look common to many Bahrainis. He began the hearing by speaking in Arabic, while the interpreter translated:

You are here because you have broken the highway code of the State of Bahrain, and therefore you will be judged according to the current law… blah blah blah…'' After this long introduction, they moved on to examine case by case, right there in front of us all. The first ''defendant'' Mr. Rossi Aristide, COMERINT HR Manager, was called. Now the Judge spoke English:

Why yesterday at 6.27 pm were you driving your Toyota car with registration number etc etc at 124 km per hour?

Rossi: but you see, Your Honor

Ok…50 Dinars

Rossi: But Your Honor

Ok…60 dinars…. -Rossi: But he really sees….

Ok…70 dinars….

Rossi: …………. Next one.

The scene was repeated 4 times, before it was my turn - and all four times, at a nod from the accused, the Judge increased the fine by 10 dinars. Then came my turn: - So you're here because yesterday at 6.45 pm you were driving a Toyota car etc etc ……

Me: Sorry I don't speak English…….

Judge: 50 dihrams

I…. So I paid 50 dinars (130 USD at the time…) and my license was given back to me.

FRIDAY'S AT EMIR'S BEACH On Fridays in Bahrain, at least from September to April-May (in the summer it was too hot to go to the sea, whose water became boiling hot) we used to go as guests at Emir Sheik Issa bin Khalifa seaside residence, or rather at the beach of his villa. To be admitted onto the Emir's property, the essential conditions were NOT to be Arab. (Or Muslim). The reason given was that it was a security measure, following an attack that the Emir had suffered years earlier by a Bahrenite of Shiite religion. In truth, Shaik Issa didn't want inconvenient witnesses to see him when he wandered around deckchairs and umbrellas (especially on weekdays) to decide which women to invite to have a tea inside his villa. He usually invited two or more Western women, to whom he used to present a watch as a souvenir of the meeting. Once we arrived at the checkpoint at the entrance to the villa and with us there was also Mr. Perez, a Utilities operator, originally from Pozzallo, Sicily. He was looking really like a Palestinian so the Yemeni military guard, who was supposed to be given custody of any camera (I don't know how they do it now with cell phones) asks Mr. Perez:

Arab?

Perez: no Italian

Yemeny: Show your passport

Perez: Ok here it is….

Yemeny: Umm…. ok passport Italian, but you have Arab origin, you cannot enter.

Perez: WTF…. I always enter….

Yemeny: Maybe …but it was a mistake…… There was no way to convince the Yemeni guy, that Friday we all returned home.

Emir's Villa and beach - Bahrain

EMIR'S YATCH The island of Bahrain, like those that surround it, is of coral formation, the seabed around it is extremely shallow - the so-called shallow waters - and makes navigation in the Persian Gulf difficult and dangerous. The Emir Sheik Issa (which in Arabic means Jesus) had commissioned a large yacht from the Italian Azimut-Benetti shipyards, or rather after seeing it I would say a ship. The problem was that it couldn't get close to the Emir's villa, because the seabed didn't allow it. Help was asked from Italian Contractor SAIPEM, which provided a dredger and its operator, a former diver who no longer wanted to know about working underwater. He worked hard and in 3 months dug a canal deep enough for the Royal yacht to approach the villa. In the meantime, the Emir's emissaries had convinced the head of mission Nuovo Pignone, who worked at our plants, to move to the Sheikh's employ as head of mechanical maintenance of the yacht. Mugnaini, the name of the Tuscan former Pignone, told us of a life so boring that he almost regretted his previous job. One day the former diver Italian invited us to dinner in his apartment: he was a small and stocky guy, with a chest disproportionate for his height. Ettore and I joined him at his house, and when we entered the apartment his Thai wife was taking off his shoes - then she gave him a foot bath with hot water and a short feet massage. We sat down in the small living room, and the Lady - always smiling - brought us an aperitif. From the small window between the kitchen and the living/dining room, the Thai woman cooked and made sure that her husband and guests did not lack anything. Than dinner was served: delicious spring rolls, vegetable soup, and fried fish - the Lady first served her husband, then the guests and then went back to the kitchen, always looking at us through the little window, and asking if everything was okay! Certainly a big difference for that Italian, who told us that he had been left by his first wife - from Piacenza like him - after the lady had emptied their bank account. The guy dreamed of retiring to Thailand in a few years with his new partner, making the journey by sea with the pilot boat he had bought in Bahrain.

MASERATI FOUR DOORS After the happy conclusion of the plant start up, SNAMPROGETTI, which cared about the Bahraini and Gulf markets, thought of giving a present to the Emir - a significant gift, which had to underline the Made in Italy - so what could better represent everything that is, a splendid Maserati Quattroporte, special version? The car arrived at the plant shrouded in an aura of secrecy – Eng. Catalano whispered the name as if it were a state secret:

The M a s e r a ti…shhhh……. Accompanying the pronunciation of the syllables with the index finger on the nose……. The problem was that the Maserati wouldn't start! The electronics it was equipped with, perhaps during the long journey in the container from Italy, had completely failed! The arrival of 4 technicians directly from Modena was organised, to whom it was necessary to give ''all the necessary assistance'. It was decided to have an entire new electronic system delivered from Italy – only after its installation and testing of the car along the roads of Bahrain was the delivery date of the Maserati to the Emir finally set.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR Mr. FORATTINI Upon the arrival of the new Italian Ambassador Amedeo Forattini, brother of the famous cartoonist, our Company held a special party in his honor at Diplomat Hotel. The Ambassdor that had recently settled in the headquarters of the Italian Embassy in Kuwait city. All expatriate employees were invited, including the British. The Diplomat's ballroom was decorated for the special occasions: a long U shape buffet table, with every delicacy available to the guests. In a corner a well-stocked bar served fresh Italian sparkling prosecco, and all sorts of wines, cocktails and spirits. The reception proceeded well, the COMERINT management group introduced the guests to the Ambassador, who amiably shook everyone's hand with brief nods of the head. Meanwhile the Britisher's did honor to the buffet, especially its alcoholic part.

On a l specially prepared stage, the Ambassador said a brief toast and then approached the buffet table. At that moment Mr. Russel, a supervisor of the ammonia plant who since his arrival at the reception had not skimped on ''testing'' all the spirits available, rushed towards the Ambassador with his hand outstretched, in an attempt to congratulate him. It took just sec's: Forattini did something like a quick pirouette on himself, and then Russel sensationally missed him, ending up between the trays of smoked salmon and those of Russian and capricciosa salads! In an extreme attempt not to fall, Russel, holding on to the tablecloth, dragged a good portion of the scones, cured meats, olives, spring onions and pickled cucumbers to the ground!! The Ambassador behaved in an impeccable manner, as if nothing had happened, he continued to converse amiably with the guests, while the hotel staff first took care of the British guy and then within a few minutes put everything back in order. Later Russel managed to convince his friends that he had fully recovered, and returned home driving his car. A police patrol noticed his reckless driving and stopped him for investigations: he had not respected the right of way at a stop sign, so the British guy was taken to the police station. The alcohol test showed that Russel had largely exceeded the permitted limit, and therefore after two days spent in jail (the incident had happened on Thursday and the court was closed until Sunday) he was sentenced to pay the equivalent of 1,600 USD plus a suspended sentence of 15 days in prison.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR DELIVER MASERATI TO EMIR OF BAHRAIN. The delivery of the Maserati to the Emir took place at his residence by the sea. It was a sober ceremony, the SAMPROGETTI top management supported by Ambassador Forattini illustrated the advantages of the car to Sheik Issa, and the Emir appeared satisfied. A brief refreshment of strictly non-alcoholic drinks was served by the numerous Indian waiters in the gardens of the villa. The cream-coloured Maserati was there in plain sight, a colleague of mine and I approached to look inside the car - we noticed the facing rear seats in ivory-coloured leather, the retractable bar, the satellite telephone - and of course the armored bodywork . Intent on appreciating the lines of the car, we didn't notice that Sheik Issa had approached, and after greeting us he asked us point blank:

What do you think of this car? Is it a good car?

Of course, Your Highness, a very prestigious car! - we replied in unison (even if calling an individual just over 1.55m ''height'' seemed a bit ironic)

And then – I added – there are only 2 examples of this car in the world!

Oh yes?! Said the Emir – and who owns the other specimen? -Well… it is in use by the President of the Italian Republic, but only you own it - he, the President, after 7 years, must leave it to his successor.

Good, good – continued Sheik Issa – and in any case I don't think I will make extensive use of the car, here in Bahrain the longest journey I can make is 40 km…

Yes, but now you can go as far as Saudi Arabia if you wish, Your Majesty.

Yes yes…well we'll see and… Shoukran …concluded Sheik Issa.

DOCT. BUSONERO & ME ON SAILING BOAT Before being ignominiously chased away by the President of GPIC Doct. Tawfiq, Doct. Busonero from Grosseto had convinced me a Friday to accompany him to the Zellaq beach - located in the western part of the island. This was a beach popular with expats who went surfing, paragliding and sailing. There was a little bar and a shed, where surfboards and lasers were rented. We took one of the latter, and before getting on I asked Busonero the question for the last time:

But do you know how to sail?

Of course? I attended school in Argentario…….

No because I - I said - if it involves climbing a mountain I have no problems, but for the sea…

Well it was a disaster… a nightmare… everything went normally as long as we were near the coast, but once offshore, the wind suddenly seemed to pick up. And off you go and capsize!! And luckily, one way or another - don't ask how - we managed not to capsize the boat. The calls to the now distant shore came to nothing. I was increasingly exhausted, and I asked Busonero to lower the sail, and we would try to row back. And so it was: we paddled laboriously for those 400 or 500 meters that separated us from the coast, and then we returned the laser still intact to the guy who rented it. From Zellaq to Awali it was just over 20 minutes by car, in your opinion how many insults can be uttered in this space of time? The first thing he said to Busonero was:

Ok you attended the Argentario school, but you didn't tell me it was a COOKING SCHOOL!!!

FAREWELL TO BAHRAIN – trip to Bangkok and Bali Four years were literally flown away!! So we were preparing to return to Italy. I had managed to send the Range Rover by sea with Merzario Shipping, so we decided - before to return to Italy - to take advantage of the fact that Bahrain is practically halfway between Italy and the Far East for a trip to Thailand and Bali. It was a very nice experience, the first time for us in Bangkok. We visited the city and the nearby Rose Garden, with elephant shows and Thai boxing matches. Then we flew to Jakarta, where there was a stop-over before reaching Bali. We arrived in Bali in the middle of the night, and during the check the policeman noticed that the expiry date of my wife's passport was less than the six months required by immigration law. The policeman asked us to follow him to his office, where he told us that yes I could stay, but my wife and son (he was on her passport) could not enter Bali, and had to leave the country on the first available plane.

Ridiculous, I told him how can you propose somthing like that!

Well said the policeman, the law is clear, they cannot be admitted to Indonesia. At the end of further discussions, I noticed a more ''condescending'' attitude on the part of the policeman who finally said in a low voice:

Do you have American dollars?

No I replied, I just arrived from Thailand and it's night, where can I find American dollars?

Well – he continued – it could be done like this: which hotel did you book in? I could visit you tomorrow afternoon and then we could sort this out.

I'm at Windham, I told him, indicating a hotel on the East coast. that we had considered.

Good – said the policeman putting the entry stamp on my wife passport – then I'll see you tomorrow! Obviously we had booked an hotel in the other side of the island, at about 80 km from Windham hote.

I never saw him again.

We had a lovely holiday, and we had a lot of fun: Andrea was a lot of fun, even though he suffered from frequent diarrhoea, and - to our great embarrassment - he stood out for a few episodes in the resort's restaurant and in the swimming pool! One day we rented a car with a driver for a tour of the island. The nature of Bali was incredible, we visited the famous Ulun Danu, the temple on Batan Lake, and then the Nungnung Waterfall, perhaps the most beautiful in Bali. During the climb to the waterfalls, a nauseating smoke began to come out of the dashboard of the car. I said to the driver:

Stop, the car is on fire!!

And he: yes? Then he calmly stopped the car, opened the hood and we discovered the smoke was coming from the air conditioner.

The driver didn't know what to do, so I told him to disconnect the air conditioner from the engine, so the problem would be temporarily solved. So we could continue the trip. We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant, following the driver's recommendation. There was a staircase to access the restaurant, surrounded by avocado plants. I said to the driver:

Of course you have nice mangoes here in Bali.

Mangoes? Yessss… too much mango here, he told me, pointing to the avocado plants.

After a delicious lunch, we took a walk in the surrounding area: the famous Balinese rice terraces stretched out as far as the eye could see in front of us. We passed a sort of raised gazebo where a group of men were playing dominoes and others were sleeping lying down. I asked the driver if it was a local custom and he said: ''Yes, these men wait, they kill time waiting for the women you see down there in the rice field to finish their work.'' Helping out in the fields, right??? Unfortunately the day of departure came, and it was a long journey from Bali to Jakarta to Bahrain where we stayed for another two days before returning to Italy with a flight via Rome. A long period had ended happily, and the future was yet to be deciphered.

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llewelynpritch · 2 years ago

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https://unitedforclimate.blogspot.com/ https://labradorleadstheworld.blogspot.com/ https://landprotectorshumanrightsmovement.blogspot.com / https://muskratfallscivilrightsmovement.blogspot.com/ amplification Fighting Climate Change Means Fighting Corruption Llewelyn Pritchard MA and AI Open Source GPT 7 March 2023

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #CA #UK #Canada #climatechange #climatecrisis #climatejustice #corruption #education #GPTChat #humanrights #OpenSource #regenerativeculture #rightsofnature #unitedkingdom

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highsocietymag · 4 years ago

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At One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives, the blue sky turns to an orange sky as night falls. May it be so with you this week, full of changes. Follow us Instagram @highsocietymagazine.official #luxury #private #travel #resorts #hotels #lifestyle #borabora #summer #traveler #luxurylife #live #frenchpolynesia #millionairs #mauritius #philippines #island #vacations #privateisland #wonderful #bahamas #tour #photograph #maldives #bangalore #exquisite #luxurytravel #traveling #passion #paradise #beautifulday https://www.instagram.com/p/CL2QFQZFvFK/?igshid=2ss69z8ag8vc

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melyzard · 5 years ago

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The World Is Amazing, Actually Pt5

I know there are a lot of protests and political movements around the world that desperately need coverage/support/understanding/real change on a national level. And it’s important to pay attention to those, and be involved where you can. But it seems like so many people (myself sometimes included) get online, rage post “fuck this whole world and everything in it” and then we are just too tired and burnt out to do anything else.

I am certainly not judging anyone for these feelings. But I do know that repeating a thing over and over again makes it true in our head, and it’s a dangerous and painful road to lead yourself down. So don’t let your anger die, if you need it to push on. But maybe take a pause and consider that not everything and everyone on this planet is awful and should die. For example:

Today’s Wild Place (the Earth is an alien planet):

youtube

The Underwater Waterfall (Mauritius). [Source: theculturetrip.com] It’s not a real waterfall, but rather an enormous optical illusion where the shelf plunges down and the sand floating in the currents makes it appear like the water is “falling” into a fathomless depth.

Today’s Incredible Architecture (look! at what! we made!):

The Opus (Dubai) [Source: the architect’s website]

[Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/zaha-hadid-hotel-dubai]

Today’s Living Creature (the rare, the weird, the ridiculous):

Strawberry Squid [Source: NOAA.gov], the ocean’s fruitiest bedazzled drama queen.

[Source: http://wwww.tolweb.org/Histioteuthis_heteropsis/19809]

[Source: https://www.whoi.edu/multimedia/a-pop-of-red-in-the-twilight-zone/]

(Note, they are a species of “cock-eyed squid,” meaning they always have one big yellow eye and one small blue eye. It’s a squid with an outfit that screams personality)

Today’s Amazing People (humans can be so cool):

youtube

[Video Source: youtube.com]

The China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe and the highly precise Dance of A Thousand Hands. [Source: Rueters]. The dancers are all completely deaf and cannot hear the music. The band members playing the music are completely or significantly visually impaired, and cannot see the dancers. They nail it every time.

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#planet earth #people are okay #mauritius underwater waterfall #the opus #strawberry squid #disable people's performing arts #dance #dance of a thousand hands #allow yourself to like the world for a few minutes #it's worth it

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tenduw · 5 years ago

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A brief history of Seychelles - Research day #1

Although visited by Phoenicians, Malays and Arabs, and used in the 16th century by the Portuguese as a stopover point, the Seychelles remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century.

Pirates and privateers set up bases on the islands and in 1741 the Governor of Mauritius (then called Île de France) sent Lazare Picault to explore them. The French claimed possession of the islands in 1756 and French settlers from Mauritius, with their African slaves, began to arrive from 1770.

British attempts to take possession in the late 18th century were confounded by the pacifying tactics of Governor Queau de Quinssy, who several times surrendered to British aggressors, then after their departure, raised the French flag again. After the Napoleonic Wars, by the Treaty of Paris (1814), the Seychelles was ceded to Britain, together with Mauritius. From then until 1903, it was administered from Mauritius.

The Seychelles had long provided a transit point for slaves from Africa. Britain abolished trade in slaves at the beginning of the 19th century (abolishing slavery itself in 1834) and British vessels were active in attacking Spanish, Arab and other slaving vessels. About 3,000 Africans rescued from Arab slave traders on the East African coast between 1861 and 1874 were removed to Seychelles, to become labourers on the plantations. The British also exiled some West African chiefs, who were continuing to resist British control, to Seychelles. There was also some Chinese and Indian settlement in the 19th century, most commonly by traders.

Poverty was widespread by 1918, due partly to a fall in vanilla prices (an artificial substitute having been discovered). New cash crops such as cinnamon and copra were then introduced. In the 1940s, the Association of Seychelles Taxpayers protested against the UK’s management of the islands. In 1964 the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP), led by James Mancham, and the Seychelles People’s United Party (SPUP), led by France Albert René, were founded. The SDP favoured retaining close ties with the UK; the SPUP campaigned for autonomy.

Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1967, for elections of members of the legislative council. The council became a 15-member legislative assembly in 1970 (later National Assembly) and general elections were held in which the SDP won six seats and the SPUP five. Mancham became chief minister. At the next elections in 1974, the SDP won 52% of the votes, the SPUP 47%; Seychelles achieved internal self-government in the following year.

Parliament then voted for independence, a new constitution was finalised in 1976, and Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth. Mancham became president and René prime minister.

At independence Mancham and the SDP’s policies favoured development based on tourism and offshore financial services and alignment with the West, whereas René and the SPUP wanted a non-aligned policy and the development of a selfreliant economy centred on nationalised industry. The SPUP staged an armed coup in June 1977, while Mancham was in the UK attending a Commonwealth summit and Seychelles became a socialist state, with René as its president and the SPUP, renamed the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF), the sole political party. There was extensive nationalisation of enterprises, including hotels and industries.

There were a number of threatened coup plots against the René government, the most serious in 1981, when about 50 mercenaries, recruited in South Africa, attempted a landing in Mahé. When their weapons were discovered at the airport, the mercenaries escaped by hijacking an Air India jet, leaving five of their number behind.

However, opposition from exiled political supporters of the SDP and Mancham continued throughout the 1980s, and was reinforced by the turning of the international tide against centralised economic control and one-party rule towards the end of the decade. By 1990, opposition within the country also became vocal, and the government began to consider the need for change.

In December 1991, the government passed legislation to provide for multiparty democracy. Eight parties were registered by July 1992, and a constitutional commission elected to prepare a new constitution which paved the way for presidential and legislative elections in July 1993. René took 59% of votes in the presidential election and Sir James Mancham 36%; and the SPPF gained a large majority – 27 of the 33 seats – in the National Assembly.

In the March 1998 elections, President René (with 67% of the votes) was returned and his SPPF won 24 of the 25 Assembly seats (30 of 34 when seats allocated on a proportional basis were included). Mancham (14%) was overtaken by Wavel Ramkalawan of the United Opposition party (19%) as opposition leader.

Thank you for reading ^^

#aphcountryoftheweek #aph cotw #hws seychelles #hetalia #hetalia axis powers #axis powers hetalia #axis powers ヘタリア #seychelles #history #histoire #history facts

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bollywood143114 · 2 years ago

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Akshay's luxurious bungalows are located in many cities from Canada to India. The photos will amaze you

Akshay Kumar Bunglow List and Photos: Akshay Kumar, popularly known as Khiladi ka Khiladi in the Bollywood industry, is the highest taxpaying actor in B-Town, but nonetheless, it is very difficult to estimate Akshay Kumar's earnings. Akshay Kumar is the only hero in the industry who appears in 4-5 films a year. According to Forbes magazine's 2022 report, Akshay Kumar's name is also included in the list of the highest paid actors in the world. Under these circumstances, let us present a list of Bollywood industry player Kumar's total net worth and luxurious bungalows built in many cities from Mauritius, Canada to India. Akshay Kumar has many luxurious bungalows. Bollywood Khiladi Akshay Kumar is one of the highest-paid actors in the Bollywood industry. Apart from acting, Akshay has also been associated with the business industry. Akshay invests his industry-earned money in a variety of businesses, earning $10 million annually. Akshay Kumar has invested the most money in real estate. This is why he has luxurious bungalows in many other countries besides India. What's special about this luxurious bungalow at Akshay Kumar is that it's nothing short of a 5-star hotel. There is a very luxurious bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai. Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have a very beautiful and luxurious house in Juhu, Mumbai. According to Vogue magazine, the house is a replica facing the sea. With a living room, home theater, dining room and walk-in closet, the beauty of this home is unmatched. There are many antique paintings in this Akshay and Twinkle's house, many antique items that they have specially brought from abroad. Andheri has 4-4 apartments. Apart from this, according to a 2017 Mumbai Mirror report, Akshay Kumar owns four houses in Andheri, Mumbai. Their homes are built on 2200 square feet each. These homes are all located on the 21st floor of the Transcom Triumph building on Link Road, Andheri West. All these houses cost around Rs4.5 crore. Luxurious bungalow by the sea in Goa. Apart from this, Akshay Kumar has a home in Goa where he often goes to spend quality time with his family. This house in Akshay Kumar is priced close to 5 crores. This house is built in Portuguese style. The house also has a huge swimming pool. What is unusual is that this house is built very close to the sea. Canada has a fortune of crores. Akshay Kumar also has a very beautiful home in Canada. It is known to everyone that Akshay also has Canadian citizenship and he is about to leave and fully adopt Indian citizenship. In that situation, say that Akshay Kumar also has real estate worth 100 billion in Canada. Akshay Kumar also bought a hill in Toronto, Canada. This information was shared in DNA's report. Apart from this, Akshay has an apartment and a luxurious bungalow called Maple Leaf Capital in Canada. There are bungalows worth crores in Mauritius. Akshay Kumar has very luxurious bungalows in Mauritius as well as India and Canada, reports were shared on private channels. The same Akshay Kumar also shared a photo of this house on his Instagram account. According to media reports, Akshay often visits the house by private jet. Akshay also takes a break from his career from time to time and spends this time with his family. ALSO READ-Kiara-Siddharth spent money like water in their marriage. You will be shocked to see your expense account Divya Bharti changed her religion to marry Sajid. This is what happened to her actress right before she died! DISCLAIMER We’ve taken all measures to insure that the information handed in this composition and on our social media platform is believable, vindicated and sourced from other Big media Houses. For any feedback or complaint, reach out to us at [email protected] Read the full article

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book365days · 2 months ago

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Best Trip Planners in India – Discover Seamless Travel with Book365days

Planning a trip can be overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it transforms into a smooth and exciting journey. If you’re looking for the best trip planners in India, look no further than Book365days. With years of experience, competitive pricing, and personalized travel solutions, we ensure every journey is hassle-free and unforgettable.

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Travel planning is more than just booking flights and hotels. It requires intricate details, customized itineraries, and seamless execution. Here’s why opting for the best trip planners in India can enhance your travel experience:

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Every traveler has unique needs. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, honeymoon, adventure trip, or corporate retreat, Book365days curates tailor-made itineraries that suit your preferences and budget.

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Our certified travel specialists have extensive knowledge of various destinations, ensuring you get the best experiences. With our local insights, we help you explore hidden gems, cultural hotspots, and must-visit attractions.

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As one of the best trip planners in India, we offer competitive pricing on all travel packages. From luxury resorts to budget stays, our collaborations with top hotels and airlines ensure you get the best deals with minimal booking fees.

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At Book365days, we offer a range of services, including:

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Being recognized among the best trip planners in India, Book365days covers a wide range of domestic and international destinations. Some of the most sought-after locations include:

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Whether you’re a backpacker looking for budget-friendly stays or an HNI traveler seeking luxury resorts, Book365days caters to all travel needs.

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Our 500+ regular travelers trust us for our reliable services, attention to detail, and personalized assistance. We take care of everything, so you can focus on making memories.

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Consult Our Experts – Call us at +91-9711 433 495 / 818181 1071 to discuss your travel needs.

Customize Your Itinerary – Our specialists will design an itinerary based on your preferences.

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When it comes to choosing the best trip planners in India, Book365days stands out for its commitment to quality, affordability, and personalized service. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or a long vacation, our expert travel planners ensure a smooth, hassle-free experience. Let us turn your travel dreams into reality!

For inquiries and bookings, contact us at [email protected] or call +91-9711 433 495 / 818181 1071. Your next unforgettable journey awaits!

#Best Trip Planners #Top-Rated Trip Planners #Expert Trip Planners

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nst01 · 3 years ago

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OUTRIGGER MAURITIUS BEACH RESORT 4 Nights Package Starting From Just USD 455*Per Person

Inclusion • Airport – Hotel – Airport Transfers • Full Day Ile Aux Cerf Tour with Speed Boat Transfers • Full Day North Tour • Full Day South Tour • All above Services are on SIC. Terms & Conditions Travel Period :: Till 23RD Dec 2022 | Costing based on 2 Pax travelling together | Rates are not valid during peak Period & Surcharge Dates | Rates are Subject to change without prior Notice. For more such packages please feel free to email at [email protected] Or Contact at + 91 9971752255 (Honey Anand)

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travelpointholidays · 3 years ago

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Relais & Châteaux 20 Degres Sud, Grand Baie, Mauritius From £1495.00 pp This idyllic 5 star retreat near Grand Baie dazzles with its dreamy beach front setting 7 nights in Charm Room Breakfast included Dinner included Flights from LHR Departs Various Dates in May 2023 The elegant suites and rooms all come with a terrace and views of the sea or garden as well as en suite bathrooms with a bath. The suites also feature a private plunge pool or a spa bath. The hotel’s spa offers 3 massage rooms, a Turkish bath and a spa bath. The restaurants serve a range of fresh seafood and meat dishes, and homemade cake with tea or coffee is available daily in the afternoon. Hôtel 20 Degrés SUD is just 0.6 miles from Pointe aux Canonniers. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens are a 20-minute drive away and SSR International Airport is 1 hour and 20 minutes’ drive away. Island idylls: Set on the northern tip of Mauritius, close to Pointe aux Canonniers, the adults-only 20 Degrés Sud boutique is a short hop from Grand Baie, an idyllic spot flaunting a pristine coastline contoured by sheltered coves and sugary beaches. It's garnered a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and has been recommended by The Telegraph. Sensational dining: With glittering sea views, restaurant L'Explorateur is set against an idyllic backdrop for meals, if you can drag your attention away from the delicious food that is – think seasonal seafood and catch of the day. For a change of scene you can charter the M/S Lady Lisbeth, a vintage motorboat, to dine in its elegant cabin out on the water. Soothing spa bliss: Tucked away in a tranquil garden, 20 Degrés Secret Spa is an escape-it-all spot with a hammam, relaxation area and outdoor pool, plus treatment rooms for massages, facials and body therapies. Sip herbal tea at the Infusion Bar before a relaxing hot stone massage. Be sure to take advantage of the fitness suite too. Amenities - Spa with sauna and hammam - Fitness suite - Treatment rooms - Three restaurants - Outdoor pool - Bar - Parking - Library - Wi-Fi (at Birmingham, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkO2nuWsHGZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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llewelynpritch · 2 years ago

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A human-centric, holistic, rights-based, advocating regenerative culture, educational approach about the root causes of our climate crisis on Planet Earth.

Llewelyn Pritchard MA XR Humanity's Emergency Services Climate Justice February 23, 2023

‘The phrase “human-centric, holistic, rights-based, advocating regenerative culture, educational approach about the root causes of our climate crisis on planet earth" describes a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to understanding and addressing the causes of the current climate crisis.

"Human-centric" means that this approach puts people at the center of the analysis, recognizing that human activity is the main driver of the climate crisis. This approach recognizes that people are both the cause of the problem and the solution to it.

"Holistic" means that this approach takes a broad and interconnected view of the issues involved in the climate crisis. It recognizes that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue, but also a social, economic, and political issue. This approach recognizes that the root causes of the climate crisis are deeply intertwined with social and economic systems, and that addressing the problem requires systemic changes.

"Rights-based" means that this approach recognizes the importance of human rights in addressing the climate crisis. It acknowledges that people have a right to a healthy environment, and that environmental degradation disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, particularly those in low-income and marginalized populations. This approach advocates for the protection of human rights and the recognition of the rights of nature.

"Advocating regenerative culture" means that this approach promotes the adoption of a regenerative culture, which is based on the principles of regeneration and restoration rather than exploitation and depletion. This approach recognizes that ecosystems have the ability to regenerate and restore themselves, and that people can learn from and work with these natural systems to create sustainable solutions.

"Educational approach about the root causes of our climate crisis" means that this approach prioritizes education and awareness-raising as a key component of addressing the climate crisis. This approach recognizes the importance of educating people about the root causes of the problem, including the role of industrialization, consumerism, and unsustainable production and consumption patterns. It also recognizes the importance of building knowledge and capacity to support systemic changes and sustainable practices.

Taken together, this approach represents a comprehensive and integrated response to the climate crisis, addressing the root causes of the problem and promoting a regenerative and sustainable future for people and the planet.”’

https://chat.openai.com/ AI OPen Source Chat GPT Llewelyn Pritchard MA 19 February 2023

LINKS

https://lnkd.in/eXExDHkG https://lnkd.in/eSXkWpMP

https://muskratfallscivilrightsmovement.blogspot.com/amplification

A human-centric, holistic, rights-based, advocating regenerative culture, educational approach about the root causes of our climate crisis on planet earth. Llewelyn Pritchard MA https://chat.openai.com/ 19 February 2023

https://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/climatejustice Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice

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wintasian · 3 years ago

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Teletext holidays lanzarote

Teletext holidays lanzarote full#

Protection Promise: Refund guarantee - Free cancellations with a full refund if you change your mind up to 28 days before departure. Holidays subject to availability and Booking Conditions apply. Prices apply to a 7 nights stay departing between August 2022 and October 2022 from various UK departure airports with easyJet. September, October & November holidays - 7 nights from £259pp - From prices are based on thousands of selected holidays for 2 adults sharing. Offer may be changed/withdrawn without notice. Offer applies to bookings made from Tuesday 2/8/22, travel from applicable UK airports between August and October 2022 (inclusive). The savings are shown against each package and our prices include the saving where applicable. Feel free to pay for your holiday with your debit or credit card, which stops fraudsters in their tracks with industry leading tools created to protect shoppers from data theft and fraud.Thousands of discounted holidays – Many of our hotel partners are offering easyJet holidays customers discounts from the standard hotel contract rates and we have added to some of these discounts with additional savings. Please provide your booking reference number, receipts, photos and any documentation which supports your claim.Īll online transactions are secured by Sage Pay. They will investigate the matter and provide a response within 28 days. If you have had any difficulties while on holiday, do let Teletext know within 28 days and you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt in 48 hours. If you have only forwarded a deposit, you will receive your documents and vouchers once full payment has been effected. If you have paid in full, you will receive your travel documents and vouchers in a confirmation e-mail. This small delay takes place because they need to ensure that all your requirements can be fulfilled by the suppliers. Within 48 hours, you will receive another email confirming your booking. Once you make your booking, they will send you an e-mail informing you that your reservation is being processed. Teletext is open for customer support from 8am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday and bank holidays. Teletext Holidays cover worldwide destinations, including Popular Destinations (like Egypt, Spain or Italy), the Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura etc.), Cities (Barcelona, Las Vegas, New York, etc.), Popular Resorts (Marbella, Santorini, Florida), and Exotic Getaways (to Paradisiacal destinations like the Maldives, Cape Verde, Cuba, Mexico, Mauritius and Thailand). On the website, the different types of holiday that are covered include Exclusive Offers (indicating the deals of the weak) and Far & Away (escapes for less to destinations like Dubai, Cancun, Thailand, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Orlando, etc.). The Customer Service team is ready to help you out with any queries you may have, and to ensure your holiday is as personalised as you need. In addition to bringing you great holidays, they provide handy information in the form of destination guides, travel tips and more. This means that you will never lose money or be stranded if the ATOL provider cannot fulfil their obligations after booking. Clients can feel confident when booking their holiday with Teletext Holidays all the hotels and flight deals are ATOL-protected and your money secured by the Travel Trust Association. Once you have found your preferred deal, give the friendly customer service assistants a call they can tweak the package of your choice so that your holiday is more personalised. Just go online, use the easy search options and discover the range of available options. In addition to last minute specials and discount fares, they have regular voucher codes available, so it is always possible to take a break and recharge your batteries. Whether you are after a beach holiday, cruise, city break or UK getaway, they take the hard work off your hands, finding the best possible prices on the market. Teletext Holidays has been dedicated to livening up Brits' holidays for over 20 years, with a range of affordable package holidays to dream destinations across the globe.

#Teletext holidays lanzarote

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hannahrobey · 6 years ago

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I hope this kills you.

Earlier, I read this post by a man who shared his life story. God bless. And I hope this kills you.

"I was married, had been with my wife for 15 years. Then I left her 2 months short of our 10 year wedding anniversary.

We were parents to two beautiful children, who are in their late teens now, but were only seven and nine years old when I walked out.

I travelled for work, stayed in a different hotel at least three nights a week. That’s how I met Eve*.

We got to know each other over time. We became Facebook friends. We sent messages to each other all day and night. She was also married, also had two kids. We had so much in common, we soon fell in love. I felt like she 'got' me.

This was all during a very trying time in my marriage. I wasn’t happy, I didn’t look forward to going home. My wife had put on weight, we hardly ever spoke, she always looked so miserable.

Little did I realise that I was the reason she was so down and depressed. I didn’t pay her any attention. I took her for granted. I was too busy wishing my life was more exciting, being romanced online, spending all of my free time thinking how I could get out.

I believed she didn’t love me. I convinced myself she never cared about me or my needs and wants and wishes, that all I was was a paycheck.

She spent her free time taking care of us -- our kids, making our suppers, doing out washing, making lunches, doing homework, projects, shuttling kids to sport, taking care of the pets they loved so much, their friends, and had a job of her own on top of it all.

Every time she spoke to me, all I heard was nagging and whining. But she was actually begging for my attention: a weekend away, a date night, a movie -- everything I ended up doing with Eve behind her back and after I left my family.

We argued and fought because we felt unheard by the other. And yet that was all we actually had to do – LISTEN – to each other!

I moved to another province with Eve. My now ex-wife got custody of our kids. I saw them every second weekend, the usual 'Dad' set up.

New beginnings

Life was sweet!

Eve and I had an amazing sex life. A connection I believed I never had with my ex. We had a large circle of friends. My family loved her. My kids liked her.

But my ex could never bring herself to meet Eve – she felt betrayed. I hated her even more! She was childish. She was mean. She never cared about me or my happiness. I didn’t care about my ex’s feelings when I posted photos of us on Facebook… I had Eve and a whole new life and it was fantastic!

We were together for about six or seven years but never married – we believed marriage was not our thing.

I believed that after 15 years with my ex, we’d given it all we could and our time together was up, there was nothing we could do to salvage our relationship or marriage. Eve was my future, Eve was who I should have been with all along.

Eventually, no matter how well we got along in the beginning; no matter how well I thought she “got” me; no matter how good the sex was; the “honeymoon” came to an end.

Eve and I started snapping at each other. Little fights here and there. I had a moment of pure realisation one night, at about 2am.

I realised that I missed the woman who created my first home and family. I realised that if I'd treated my ex-wife the way I’d treated Eve, used the hours I spend woo-ing Eve on my ex, she’d have bloomed.

If I’d stopped being negative about her and our relationship to my family and friends they wouldn’t have been so negative to her and she wouldn’t have pulled into herself and shied away.

She became someone I convinced myself I no longer knew or got along with because I never gave her the time and affection and attention she craved and deserved.

I thought I had, but when I got down and really thought about it I never really did. I never really let her in. I had ended my marriage years before with the simple decision that she was no longer who or what I wanted. And I’d convinced my family and friends the same – that she was no good for me!

Regret sets in

But I was wrong. I missed the best years of my kids lives. Missed being a family with them. I let their mother battle with raising them alone. Yes I helped financially, but a man living outside his family has no real idea what the costs are on the single mother. While Eve and I ate steaks on the weekends, my ex-wife was living on egg and toast.

And do you know that she never complained? She never demanded more money out of me. She never stopped me from seeing the kids. Never said no if I changed plans on her at the last minute. She gave up her weekends so that my mother could spend time with her grandchildren. She left me to get on with my life with Eve, even though it must have killed her.

Like any relationship, it had started out good – great in fact – but when it go bad I decided to leave… I walked out and divorced a woman who – and I can only see this now – would have done anything for me. But I’d told myself she wouldn’t or couldn’t.

My ex-wife stayed single for 8 years. She dated but never got involved. Her being single was also a kind of affirmation for me – that no one wanted her – that everything I’d decided she lacked, so did other men… She actually stayed single to focus on our children.

Too late

And then came the day she met Craig. I never thought it would bug me in any way if she got a boyfriend. I thought it would be great! But I was very wrong. I felt hurt. I felt jealous. I even felt angry and maybe betrayed.

She moved in with Craig, along with my kids. She set up a new home. A new family, with my kids… it was a very bitter pill to swallow.

I finally understood how she’d felt all these years. And it felt rotten.

I watched via Facebook and through conversations with our old mutual friends how Craig spoiled her and the kids. Their weekends were spent on the beach – he surfed with my son. They went hiking in the Burg. They went to Mauritius where he proposed on a kayak and she said yes -- they got married.

My daughter was a bridesmaid. My son was a groomsman. Craig’s parents and brother welcomed my ex-wife and children into their family. They told everyone how blessed they were to be gaining them as family.

She glowed with happiness. She radiated love and none of it was for me! My heart felt like it had been ripped out.

It should have been me.

Don’t be me. You think you will never be happy when you are in a rut. It is when you are there at your darkest that you need to grip down and try your hardest.

Today I live alone and still only see my kids occasionally. They are big now and harbour anger towards me for leaving them and their mother. Who can blame them?

Of all the things Eve was, she was never the mother of my children – my original true love."

"HOPE this helps a few marriages, Love and appreciate a Good woman".

#Allos_of_Mr_Lakusu"

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digimarksposts · 3 years ago

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“The Boy Who Reached Mauritius!” – A Success Story From CFTI

Centre for Transforming India (CFTI) is a registered NGO in Mumbai under the Indian Trusts Acts, 1882. It was established in 2009 with the objective to empower and uplift rural India through education, health care, well-being, and economic activities. Through its various programmes, the NGO not only supports the poor, but also strives to make them self-sufficient. So, when donors donate to the poor through CFTI, they actually facilitate in empowering the poor. CFTI’s efforts get reflected in the success stories of children, youth, and adults of rural and remote areas of Maharashtra region. So, before getting into more details about this NGO, meet the boy from Bhonang Village in Alibag.

The boy who reached Mauritius!

Gifted with a melodious voice, Harshal Manohar Patil was known for his talent at his college. He had represented his college in various events and had won many prizes too. His joy knew bounds when he earned the opportunity to perform in front of the Prime Minister of Mauritius. But the biggest question was, “How to go to Mauritius?”.

Harshal hails from Bhonang, a small village in Alibag, Maharashtra. His father is a farm labourer and mother is a homemaker. To support the family, Harshal works in a small Ganapati idol making unit, alongside continuing his college studies. The monthly income of the family can hardly earn them two meals a day. In a situation like this, going to Mauritius seemed completely impossible.

Harshal approached the grassroot level volunteers of CFTI for help. The CFTI Team carried out a quick due diligence as per their mandatory process and within 48 hours this NGO in Mumbai provided support to Harshal in every manner to make his journey to Mauritius a possibility. Harshal could not only fulfil his dream of performing in front of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, but he won the 1st prize too! Today, Harshal is a graduate and is currently working as a karaoke singer in one of the hotels in Alibag.

Thematic areas and programmes of CFTI

The benefit of choosing to donate to the poor through CFTI is that, this organisation utilises these funds to provide immediate support to people like Harshal as well as to create a sustainable change. CFTI steers its efforts to make an impact across seven thematic areas namely, education, women empowerment, skills, water management, disaster relief, health, and sports. The four core programmes that are in alignment with achieving the objectives of each of the thematic areas are Bicycle Pledge, Smiles for Birthdays, Tailoring, and Digital Literacy.

Your choice to donate to the poor through CFTI allows the NGO to bring tangible change in the grassroot level, a mention of a few activities is as below:

· Education: Heeding to the several factors that hinder accessibility to education for rural children, CFTI strives to bridge the gap in various ways such as providing scholarships, school kits, and infrastructural support like construction of schools, and equipping with desks, benches, and computers. In addition to this, bicycles are distributed to girl students to support and encourage their education.

· Women empowerment: Skill Development Workshops are conducted to train rural women in various skills such as tailoring, jewellery making, cooking, and candle-making and more. The objective of these workshops is to make rural women self-sufficient and financially independent. Alongside health and hygiene awareness programmes are also conducted.

· Disaster relief: The team of CFTI promptly responds to provide aid in disaster-hit areas. Be it natural calamities or the recent COVID-19 pandemic, this NGO has provided timely support the disaster victims as well as has also provided infrastructural support to rebuild affected villages in rural Maharashtra.

· Health: From making healthcare facilities available in remote areas to providing support during emergency medical care, CFTI has undertaken several initiatives to make healthcare accessible for the rural underprivileged people.

The role of volunteers and donors in CFTI’s efforts

This NGO in Mumbai is cognisant of the vital role played by the volunteers and the donors in its journey to impacting lives of 7,50,000 beneficiaries across 21 locations. So, it always acknowledges their support, both for working at the grassroot level as well as for the generosity to donate to the poor. CFTI further invites support from each one in the society to get involved in rural transformation. Step in to do your bit to empower your rural counterparts. Take action now!

Author Profile:

Centre For Transforming India (CFTI) was established in 2009. It is a registered NGO under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882 and founded by passionate young individuals to bring in change by elevating the rural communities. With a team of over 700 volunteers, CFTI works for education, women empowerment, disaster relief, healthcare, etc. for the underprivileged. All contributions of ₹500 and above towards CFTI are applicable for exemption from income tax as per section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

#ngo in delhi #ngo in mumbai #ngo articles #ngo blogs #ngo in rural development #ngo in alibaug

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chasingadventuress · 6 years ago

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My Solo trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania

Jambo (a Swahili greeting when translated to English means) Hello!

It’s been well over a couple of days since I arrived home from my trip in Zanzibar. I’ve finally managed to pen down my experience and I hope it gets to help many of you, who have been asking me about it, carefully plan yours as well.

I embarked on my journey to Zanzibar on Christmas day, many would ask why but having lived in Malaysia, a Muslim country for the past four years, Christmas had become just another day that I had gotten accustomed to not celebrating. However Christmas greetings and hugs with my family were shared before I had to board my plane at 06h45.

Thank you South African Airways and Precision Air my connecting flights to and from Windhoek to Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and vice versa which were nothing short of amazing. Although I had concerns about Precision Air with regards to flight delays and loss of luggage due to a few bad reviews that I had read on TripAdvisor prior to my trip.

So if you ever are flying from Dar es Salaam, or from any other domestic places within Tanzania such as Arusha perhaps you can try and source for another airline such as ZanAir or Coastal Aviation but I would still advise you read up various reviews on those airlines as well just to be sure.

Why Zanzibar you may ask?

Well, from pictures, videos and a great conversation between a Tanzanian friend and I whom I had met during university I just knew that it was one of those places on my bucket list that I wanted to tick off.

To be honest when I kick started of planning my trip over a year ago, I had initially planned to go to London but then I remembered how horrible the weather was in December the last time I was there, so I opted to go somewhere warmer because you don’t get to explore much when it’s cold.

Mauritius was another island I had considered but taking into consideration all the admin work that needed to be done and recalling the not so great one night stay experience I had in the country two years ago, I decided that I was not going to put myself through that kind of stress again.

So Zanzibar it was, plus being a Namibian citizen meant that I did not need a visa to enter Tanzania as Namibian’s are exempted for about 90days.Tanzania and Zanzibar make use of the same visa so you don’t have to worry about being stopped by immigration at both Julius Nyerere International Airport and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.

For any of you who do not hold a passport that offers visa exemption to Tanzania do make sure with your individual country visa requirements as to what procedures you should follow to obtain one.

So what and where is Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is a city located east of Africa and is found about 70 kilometres from the mainland of Tanzania. It is split into parts where one can find Stone Town which is UNESCO World Heritage. This part of Zanzibar is also where one would mostly find a lot of people conducting various businesses either through selling hand made goods, excursions or even operating hotels, stores etc.

Then there’s the island side of Zanzibar which I believe we have all seen through the media. There are a number of islands with two main big ones namely Unguja and Pemba Island. Do make sure too visit and stay in Stone Town for a few days before heading down to any island of your choice.

NB take note of:

Currency used in Zanzibar is US Dollars or Tanzanian Shillings, they accept both but also note that they do not accept any USD made before the year 2007.

Departure tax, sometimes if this is not paid for in your flight ticket you will have to pay USD 50 when leaving Zanzibar airport.

Zanzibar has a large population of Muslims, remember to dress decently as it is very important to respect other people’s way of life, when in Stone Town try and cover up as much as you can. However on the islands being in your swimsuits and trunks is not frowned upon.

Get a Yellow Fever injection from your doctor one month before you embark on your journey.

Your passport should have a six months validity.

Zanzibar has fairly humid weather, pack wisely.

Don’t forget to pack yourself mosquito repellent as you will need it.

Main languages spoken in Zanzibar are Swahili, Arabic and English

How I planned?

Whenever I travel I always draft up an itinerary as this helps me a lot with calculations and anything that I might miss if not written down.

Savings - I made it a goal in the beginning of last year (2018) that each month I would save about N$ 3500 (USD 244) for my trip. These savings were to make sure I could purchase my flight ticket, buy a few items, pay for accommodation, food, activities and still have extra money just in case of any emergencies because with traveling one can never be too sure.

Flight – I had an agent from Blueberry Travel Namibia book my ticket for me. Other agents I had also considered were Trip Travel, Rennies Travel and Welwitschia Travel, but I opted to go with Blueberry because they were efficient and also gave me two flight options varying in price difference of about N$ 1800 (USD 125).

In addition depending on which agent you choose to go for please do make sure you request that your agent also provides you with travel insurance because this can save you a lot. I paid about N$ 350 (USD 26) for mine.

Accommodation – I made use of booking.com which is a worldwide site that helps one find accommodation depending on the price you want. The good thing about booking.com is that it comes with reviews, information on services that the place of accommodation offers, pictures of what it looks like, nearby tourist attractions as well as options that allow one to reserve a room and only pay on arrival. So if you change your mind on where you want to stay you won’t lose out on anything and you can easily cancel your reservation.

As I am not big on staying in 5 star hotels because I am more of an experience life on the edge kind of person in most cases I’d either stay at a guest house or a female dormitory backpacker’s hostel while taking safety and cleanliness into consideration. These types of accommodations are great if you’re looking to interact with people, I sometimes feel that it should be a goal as a solo traveller to want to meet and talk to people and this is a great way to do it.

While in Stone Town I stayed at Ten to Ten Hostel for three days. I had paid N$ 750 (USD 54) with city tax included. In Jambiani which is the island I went to for another three days,I stayed at Vanilla House run by a Polish and Maasai couple. I paid N$ 630 (USD 45) city tax included as well and had slept in a mixed dorm room.

Do make sure that when booking your accommodation through any website that city tax has been included into the price to prevent any surprises of having to pay more than you had budgeted for when you arrive.

Food – I had a budget of about N$ 270 (USD 20). This was only for lunch, dinner and snacking food items in between as my breakfast was included in both my accommodation packages. Food is relatively affordable in Zanzibar, one would normally spend about USD 10 per meal. And there is an array of food choices.

Transport on the ground – Stone town is very small you can go anywhere within the area by foot as everything is close by. However you will have to pay for transport if you plan on going to any of the Zanzibar islands as they are quite far depending on where you go.

My accommodation provided shared transport to various islands. The total cost of the transfers are usually around USD 40 if you go by yourself but if you choose the sharing van option depending on the number of people in the van you might end up paying a quarter of the full price. I only paid USD 10 as opposed to USD 40 for the shared transfer I was in. Spesho the driver of the van was a ball of fun to drive with I highly recommend him you can WhatsApp him on +255715297037.

There is also another mode of transport called Dala dala, the cheapest mode of transport for about USD 3 you can take one towards the island of your choice but note that it takes much longer to reach ones destination.

Activities – I did not spend much on this because exploring is basically free unless you opt to go for city tours. There a many local people who will approach you for tours but politely decline if you do not want one.

The only activity I paid for was a village tour as I am very into interacting with communities. This tour was offered by @colorsofzanzibar on Instagram for about USD 50 which included a tour to a sea weed village, local school, a woman who taught me how to make rope out of coconut fibre, a local traditional meal of choice, a visit to the local hospital and a tour around the village and its local homes which are called Kibandas.

My Trip

Starting off from Stone Town

If I could describe Zanzibar to someone it would be that it is not like what I have seen on TV or in magazines, it was is so much more than I expected it to be. Every little detail in Stone Town was beautiful. The name Stone Town says it all, it gets its name from the ornate houses built with local stone by Arab traders and slavers during the 19th Century.

When I travel I always look to see if a place is able to make me feel at home and that’s exactly how I felt when I arrived. From the moment I landed people were very welcoming, everyone smiles and greets you with a jolly Karibu which means welcome and I knew then and there that I was going to have a great time.

The airport is rather very small so don’t be surprised, just adapt. There are also various airport transfers that can take you to your destination. I made use of Bennito who came highly recommended on all the research sites when I was planning my trip. Noting that I had arrived in the evening I wanted to make use of a reliable and safe transfer so Bennito it was, you can find him on Instagram @zanzibardestination or WhatsApp him on +255 743 072 597 and he charges USD 12 to Stone Town which is a 40 minute drive from the airport.

Just a heads up, there are no traffic lights or stops in Zanzibar so people drive like maniacs however don’t worry too much about the driving because they know their roads so trust that you will be okay.

When I arrived at my hostel, I noticed how filled the streets of Stone Town were with many tourists from all corners of the world as well as its residents walking around and socialising. As I mentioned earlier I stayed at Ten to Ten hostel which was very welcoming. Since it is somewhat of a newly built accommodation everything was really clean which I liked and it was centred basically in an area that was safe, surrounded by a number of places to eat and attractions.

My Highlights of Stone town.

I explored Stone Town by myself and whenever I got lost people were always willing to direct me the right way. I visited the Secret Garden at Emerson spice tea house where I had lunch and I was taken on a free tour of the hotel itself. It’s always good to ask if this can been done because you never know what you can score for free.

I also took a walk to Forodhani Garden which was a minute away from my accommodation. Basically this is a food market near a waterfront and every day just before sunset young teenage boys gather at the water front and jump off into the water to cool themselves.

I then also went to Darajani Market and the local fish market which was a free activity as welll. Along the way I stumbled upon Jaws corner, which is a corner where men usually meet every day to drink a cup of spice tea while discussing various life topics.

In addition I also went to a traditional spa called Mrembo Spa, where I chose a head, neck and back massage. This spa also helps Swahili females who are in the process of getting married prepare their bodies by clearing their skin to make it smoother before the big day. It also offers workshops where one can learn how to make incense sticks among other things. Mrembo spa can be found on Instagram @mrembospa or visit their website at www.mrembospa.com for their contact details.

Another discovery I came across was the House of Spices, which is a restaurant that till this day maintains its Arabic atmosphere and touring around the space was free.

All these places that I had gone too were located really near my hostel. It would take me about 7 minutes to get to each which was very convenient. And then off I was to the island of Jambiani.

Ending off in Jambiani

About sixty kilometres, southwest of Stone Town was where my island of choice Jambiani was situated. Why Jambiani, well I wanted to truly experience and live the Tanzania local life that is away from all the touristy stuff.

Jambiani is a very big village, it’s so big that it has been split into two parts and has two local chiefs that run each side of the village. The village is home to Muslims, Christians and Buddhists

Since it is a seaweed village local fisher men are usually seen in the early hours of the morning pushing out their boats for fishing as most of the residents from the village survive on sea food. They also make their income from this. In addition local women from the village assisted by their children also make a living from seaweed farming which is very common.

Arriving at my accommodation, Vanilla House I was welcomed with smiles and a fresh glass of mango juice before they had taken me to where I would sleep. On the very same day I found myself amidst a small intimate beach wedding that my place of accommodation was hosting where a polish couple eloped. This was amazing because it was my first time experiencing a beach wedding and now I am definitely left wanting to someday have a beach wedding of my own.

On the very same day which was a Friday, I also got the chance to attend another wedding but this one was much bigger. It was a local Muslim wedding and I had been informed Muslims usually celebrate their weddings on Fridays. Most of the people from the community gathered around in a circle and had a joyous dance off. Jambiani was truly just amazing.

During my time there I also awoke to the most beautiful sunrise I had ever seen while overlooking the soothing sound of the oceans waves.

Throughout the three days I spent on Jambiani I explored the beach this too was a free activity. I also took a bike ride that was offered by my accommodation for US 5 along the beach.

I as well had the opportunity to get on the local boats of Zanzibar called Dhow boats with a young man called Harry and is father. Although language was somewhat of a barrier Harry and I communicated pretty well as he knew a little bit of English.

All the meals I had throughout my stay were freshly prepared depending on whatever I wanted to eat and many restaurant on the beach were affordable as well.

There is so much I can say about both Stone Town and Jambiani but I would want you to experience it for yourself to see exactly what I mean by it is nothing short of amazing. I hope that this write up will help you plan your trip or any other trip in general that you might want to take.

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