Politics and(in) Media!

Hi! Back with my post on Indian media.
I am terribly disturbed by the way Indian media covers the News nowadays.Both Television and Print media.I have followed the same pattern which media adopts in calling leaders with short names like RaGa,Namo etc in naming some of the famous?!!! media persons :-).So readers can scratch the brain to do the guess work.
Last week two anchors were targeted in twitter for different reasons.One was ArGo and another was RaSa.Twitter was buzzing with tweets about these anchors.Some tweets were about their bias.Some were personal.I never like personal attack on celibrities in social media.But these anchors also tweeted in unsavory manner against the twitterati  by using terms like 'pieces of excrements','cyber goons' for comparing revolting twitterati. Irony is the same media fights for freedom of expression in other cases.But when it comes to them they readily take the cane in their hand to punish whoever cross the limits and enter their territory.Those who make a living in commenting and criticizing on others should learn to face criticisms.
Let me stick to the bias and partiality issue.There are many anchors who are so biased that their debates and news reflect their unashamed political affiliations.BhaDu,RaKa,SaGho,PaGho,SreJa are also happy members in this chamcha brigade ;-) :-) Print media persons,when they appear as panelists in debates are also open about their political affiliations.This is a very dangerous trend which may mislead the public and ruin our country.
Media is expected to be non partisan and are required to play impartial role in delivering News.
This doesn't happen with our channels.They play with the sentiments of people.Many times they fuel the divide among different communities at the behest of their political bosses.Their yardstick for different parties vary according to their proximity with their indirect bosses.
For eg., They played Volley ball with AAP.The strategy used by media was a jump serve, in which AAP was tossed very high in the air after election results and slowly they made a timed approach to hit AAP with great vigour that AAP is hitting the ground with fast pace.Forget that AAP is writing its own requiem with the media's help.Really feeling sad for AAP.It was a promising political alternative but media is busy writing its epitaph by following each and every move of AAP which they never did with their favourite parties.
As for as SP is concerned,media gave a partial insight into muzaffarnagar riots.Riots happened around september and october but media was busy in opinion polls and elections at that time so gave a frozen look towards the victims.But once the election results were out and drubbing took place,they suddenly rushed to the aid of the victims showering all help on them,not to help the helpless victims but to enhance the electoral prospects of their hapless bosses.Do the media and politicians play with communalism? Do they want to en cash the plight of victims into votebanks? Why Minorities are always considered as Vote Bank? Are they not humans?Are they mere robots who are designed to march to ballot boxes and cast their votes.
Media was so rough with the SP  that they didn't even spare the straying bovines of a politician ;-) Bovines were also clever enough to enjoy the limelight  and posed for the shutterbugs like models doing catwalk ;-) :-) and they became famous like Victoria :-):-) I heard that after this episode, many bovines are planning for a short escape to grab the media attention. :-) When Bovines are not spared ,what about the politicians in junket? They were also followed sincerely even to loo ;-) :-)
BSP also never gets its proper due in Indian media.Reason? God only knows.
Other regional parties never grab media attention unless and until there is a big scam involving them.:-) So all the regional parties have their own channels to tom-tom their achievements and bash the opponents.;-) :-)They are not bothered about Hindi/English media.

BJP was never a blue eyed boy of media and never will be in the future also.
Party spokespersons volunteer themselves as panelists ,get severe Namo bashing and return with the same vigor for the next big bash.:-)Even if it comes to power in future its each and move will be scrutinized.Knowing this secret,bovines owned by those party members are already gearing up for their catwalk event.:-) ;-)

If you admit that you are practising Hindu in Indian media,You become a communal person.:-) :-)
This is a real pathetic joke because,I have many friends belonging to different religions and whenever I told them that I am a Hindu,they never felt me as a communal person.When we share our common problems ,question of secularism and communalism have never raised.Because friendships and relations are beyond religions and castes.I may not be secular in the eyes of media but I am proud to say that  I am happy with the way I am than belonging to media's brand of secularism because secularism in India has been given a different tone and meaning in Indian media to suit their bosses.My friends and I are very well aware of this fact.Whatever media paints about us,We will live together in peace and harmony in our beautiful country.The only consoling point is still there are few sincere media persons who do a good job.cu in next post. 

Amazing Andaman - Travelogue 1

Hi! I am back with the travelogue.
First let me tell you that I am deeply saddened by the recent boat accident in Port Blair.RIP innocent souls.
Now back to Travelogue.Andaman is blessed with beautiful landscape,Turquoise blue waters,natural wealth is abundant and it has lovely unspoilt  pristine beaches.This may sound like usual customary words written in all travelogues.But what impressed me more is the nature of people.They are wonderful and very helpful.This is a unique place in India where birth of girl child is celebrated.True hospitality is found in every nook and corner of Andaman.People belonging to different religions and who speak different languages like Bengali,Telugu and Tamil live here in complete harmony.Sometimes I feel that the positive vibrations of its good people echoes all over Andaman to make it a more beautiful land.
This time we had booked our Trip with Owee tours.Mr.Sarang Gosavi of owee tours accompanied us.They had booked Hotel Rhishabh for our stay in Port Blair.After landing in Veer Savarkar Airport,Port Blair,We reached Hotel Rhishabh by cabs arranged by our local tour operator Mukund.Roads were clean.We checked in the rooms promptly, inspected  the cleanliness of toilet first.Cleanliness was good but the ventilator was opening into the room.So the stinky fragrance ;-) inside the room was quite different.I was really surprised by this unique ? ;-) design.In Positive side,rooms were spacious.AC was working properly.Room service was very good.Food in their restaurant was also nice.Staff were very courteous and friendly.One more negative point was,there was no open balcony to dry clothes.So after coming back from beach,it is difficult to dry clothes.

I would like to remind you that, being a typical Indian tourist,even if I go to moon, I will search for a good place for drying clothes.:-) and tie a rope between 2 poles ,dry the clothes and clip them;-) :-).This was Andaman trip(very much in India), so I had packed 10 mtrs nylon rope and a dozen clips for this purpose in spite of Rajendra giving me an annoyed look ;-) :-).Let me not digress from our main topic.Hotel Rhishabh.Overall a good budget hotel for middle class.

Hotel Rhishabh,Port Blair,Andaman.

It is located in a slightly raised Marine Hill near the city.
We had our lunch in Annapurna hotel which is located in the main city of Port blair.South Indian food,vegetarian thalis(South Indian and Bombay),Punjabi,chinese are available.Food quality is good.
In the evening we went to cellular jail to see the light and sound show.Struggle of our freedom fighters kindled  the latent patriotic feelings in us.

Cellular jail complex,port blair,Andaman

Narration of the show is centered around the peepal tree shown in this photo.We chose last rows to have a better  glimpse of the show.

Next morning we reached Rajiv gandhi sports complex at 8.45 am.Our operators had already purchased the tickets for boat ride.It was utter chaos in the jetty area.Four boats for different destination combos were parked one after another.Our combination was North Bay + Ross Island day trip and ours was the fourth boat, so we had to cross three boats to reach our boat Nandini.Boat operators were friendly in helping us jump across the boats.Since all four boats leave the jetty around same time lots of confusion prevails.Authorities can manage in a better way.
We reached North Bay Island.Sea is fringed with pebbles,rocks.Beach is not sandy.Water is clear.Due to rich corals ,this place is also good for adventure sports like Scuba,Snorkeling and Sea walk.

North Bay,Andaman

Divers and guides are available for these activities.Bargain well before fixing them.We bargained and fixed the rate for scuba as 2300/- per person.I did not do Scuba diving  :-(  but  Rajen,Adi,Ravin and MIL dived into the sea and had a good time watching corals and fishes.Divers are helpful and teach signs before they take you underwater.Must do activity in Andaman.Next time I will. :-)

Scuba Diving,North Bay,Andaman.

There are lots of shops and small eateries in North Bay.Our operator arranged Veg Biryani from one of the Eatery for lunch.Quality was OK.
Next was Ross Island.Erstwhile Capital of Andaman during British rule.

Ross Island ,Andaman

Ross Island is maintained very well.It is a ruined city and many parts of land in this Island were swallowed by sea during Tsunami.Guide Anuradha was an excellent and entertaining narrator.She was a true Animal lover.She explained on each and every ruined remnants of Ross.Environment vigilance is strict and fines are levied on defaulters.So entire island is clean.

Inside Ross Island,Andaman

We returned back to our hotel in Port Blair at 6 pm.Sun sets early in Andaman.
Some repacking was done for our next 2 days stay in Havelock Islands.We had taken some small bags apart from our monstrous suitcases for this short trip.Back packs are best for one day trips.It is advisable to carry caps(preferably hats),water bottles,medicines and sunscreen lotions.
Next morning we reached phoenix bay jetty in port blair to board Makkruz luxury boat.After ID cards check,we boarded the cruise.It was a speed boat and sea was quite rough.So it was a very turbulent journey.I started sweating profusely.Staff in the boat were quite helpful in offering required assistance.Many passengers were running amok due to nausea and other typical sea sickness problems.Reached Havelock Island in 2 hours.Our operators had booked Hotel Holiday Inn for us.Holiday inn  is located in the Vijay nagar beach.Scores full marks for the location.From the resort you can have a lovely view of the turquoise blue sea.

View from the Holiday inn resort,Havelock Island,Andaman

Rooms are quite small.Toilet is also small.AC was working properly.In some of our rooms commode seats were loosely fitted.Cleanliness is good.Staff are very helpful.Food in the resort is superb.The main attraction was Sea.So after checking into our rooms we rushed to the sea.Vijay nagar beach is rocky.So cannot venture into sea for swimming.While playing in water we have to keep an eye on rocks.

Vijaynagar Beach ,Havelock Island,Andaman

This photo was taken during low tide when water had ebbed.So the rocks are visible.During high tide water covers all these rocks and if you try to swim without knowing this,you may emerge out of Sea with lots of bruises ;-) :-)
We played cricket , and tried javelin throw with a long stick which we found in the beach and as usual my sporting talent?  failed me ;-) :-) Anyway,we had a lovely time.After  lunch we went to Radha nagar beach,pitched our beach cabana and ventured into sea. Radha nagar beach is shallow,good for playing and swimming in water.But have to be careful by not venturing too far into the sea due to deceptive under currents.
The vast expanse of the white sand beach attracts lots of tourists.

Radhanagar Beach,Havelock Island,Andaman

Since Radha nagar beach is located in the western coast of havelock,we visited it post noon and waited till sunset.Hues in the evening sky were stunning and magical.Sea also concerted in tune with the sky by reflecting all the tones and shades to make the scene more spectacular.                     After enjoying sunset we returned to our resort,took rest for sometime,had dinner and went to the beach which was now dark.We could see the white surfing borders of the black roaring waves.We sat on the wooden benches which were placed to have the beach view.It was a beautiful experience,which words cannot express.We counted the twinkling stars which were chatting with the lonely crescent moon in the dark sky.Breeze was cool.We spent more than an hour in that enchanting environment and returned to our rooms.Still living in those lovely memories. Now I am winding up this first part and will continue our experiences in my second part.Cu soon.

Sunset at Radha nagar Beach,Havelock Island,Andaman