Exploring new boundaries at 38…

 

Not sure if I should say I burst into excitement or broke down in excitement, but for sure I was numb and didn’t know how to react and whom to share with when I touched 20mins on August 9. It may sound simple, ridiculous and even frivolous to many, but to me, who’ve not been able to run for more than 10mins in the past 36 years, this milestone a month before my 38th birthday is an icing on the cake.

Two years ago, same time, I was struggling with palpitations and my entire family was helplessly watching my every move. And now with no one around to watch or/and cheer, I felt like a glutton feeding on my own success and celebrating it. Three months after the surgery, I was back at the gym and 7mins on the elliptical was a challenge and I had to constantly watch my heart beat and not take it beyond the permissible limit. Last August, I cycled some difficult terrains at Maine and there were moments I had to get off the cycle to catch a breath, but I successfully managed to complete the entire cycling expedition despite rain and cold breeze on the last day. And when I took the fitness challenge test upon to return to India, I passed it by covering a mile in 10 mins but at the end of the test I was tired to even brag about it.

When I moved to Paris, I was determined not to skip gym, something that I have committed to for over 13 years. To be honest, I spent more time looking for a gym than for a home. I looked at the equipments, the distance from home and work, evaluated the crowd to draw my inspiration to perspire. I know you will smirk at me for all this due diligence, given that I was hardly achieved the one mile challenge in 10 mins a year ago.

How did I come around to achieve 20mins at a constant speed of 12.5kmp on the treadmill without panting and puffing? What happened in the last 12 months? Did I use any performance enhancing drugs? Did I train specially to improve my lung capacity? Infact, I had taken a 45 days break from the gym before I achieved this milestone. 

Before I shared the news with my close friends, I ensured this was not fluke and I repeated the experiment multiple times on multiple machines. I even repeated this on the elliptical for 20 mins and held my heart beat at 170 beats per minute for over 15 minutes and achieved more than what I did on the treadmill from calorie, distance and heart beat perspective. I tried out Elliptical and treadmill combo for 30 mins. 

At 6 am on August 9, I felt like a blind man who got his eyesight, a deaf who got back his hearing, and the dashboard in front of me immediately sent serotonin levels to my Sahasrara chakra and dumped endorphins into my blood stream leaving me in a state of shock and excitement. And since then I have been at the gym everyday repeating this feat and ensuring this is not a stroke of luck.

And when I finally shared it with a few close friends, they were really supportive, but all of them sounded cautiously optimistic given my heart condition. A doctor friend of mine and a marathoner and living in the UK, suggested that I get off the treadmill and start running outdoors. Another marathoner from Chennai suggested the same and advised that I reduce my speed and sustain myself for longer. He even spoke about a few heart patients running marathons and guided me to go on a few websites from where I can learn beginner tips for marathons. They know and I know I have no Ethiopian gene running in my family to think or attempt a marathon, but their words came as a big motivation.

While resting at the locker room, I recalled the scene from the day after my heart surgery, my lungs were struggling to expand, while the woman next to me, twice my age practiced lung exercise on the hour with dedication and discipline. My age helped me to walk out of the ICU ahead of her, but I made it a point to stop by her bedside and let her know that she had silently taught me a lesson for life. And two years later I read about the achievement of another septuagenarian who earned her PhD researching on the musical aspects in Thirumangai Azhwar compositions. I realised that moment that life doesn’t begin at 38…it begins at any age as long as you have a sense of yearning, direction and discipline.

There is still one variable that I am yet to test i.e. external factors: change of place/equipments, high levels of motivation/inspiration from fellow buddies, and cooler temperatures. While most of us all claim fatherhood to all our achievements and gobble up all the credits, but I will only take credits for my commitment to continue gym and yoga post surgery. I never imagined or even set out to achieve 600 calories 30 mins or achieve 2.5 miles in 20 mins.

In the journey of life we will all cross such milestones (this is insignificant to many) that expand our boundaries, break our mental barriers, physical challenges and leave us with a momentary  high but and confidence to go beyond. And with these thoughts, I get ready to celebrate my 38th birthday with another challenge....a hiking trip in the Austrian side of Alps (Salzkammergut) for 5 days covering 70 kms. So wish me well on the next challenge and come back soon for more pictures and stories.

Movie review: Elysium

 

I watched Elysium today at UGC Montparnasse. Unlike India, mobiles don't ring, people observe silence and there is no intermission that kills the pace of the movie. Btw, there is an option at UGC cinemas to get a 1-year membership for unlimited movie watching and I did. 

Elysium: The storyline seemed like a mishmash of the story of Dhruva who wished to have a place in the sky, Parikshit who was cursed to lived for just 7 days and did all the good he can, and Nachiketas who tricked the god of death and lived forever. 

From another angle, the movie resembled the struggle between the capitalist who want only heaven for the rich and give no damn about the poor and live off their blood like parasites, While the socialist want heaven and equality for everyone. 

Nevertheless, Matt Damon holds the story together again! Btw, Hollywood must avoid cliches: Patel the president of Elysium and Koreans the data/semiconductor specialist on Elysium. On a serious note, when will Hollywood stop thinking beyond paranormal, alien invasion and apocalyptic plots?

In India the movie opens on Aug 23.

Language: A Reason, season or treason?

Language is like friction, a necessary evil. It can bring out important dimensions of a culture that may be otherwise hidden and it can also take humans to the flash point quickly. Here are my two experiences with French language…diametrically opposite in the same week.

So, what did the English do to French and what did French do to the English? Or should I be asking what did the English and French do to the hot and sweaty Indian? That night under the cool breeze of the English fan, I asked myself : are they languages born out of reason, season or treason?

 

The language of reason: I am not French literate, and I have no idea about the language, usage and how words moved into English or was adapted (may be stolen, hijacked or even pawned by the French?) by English Language. Btw, statistics says 28% of English words are from French, but nobody will give you the percentage of words whose English adaption is very appalling, discriminatory and not inclusive. A week after I arrived, I sat down to fill the necessary paperwork to get my resident card and when I had to choose my status, which made me ask  what did the English do to French?

 

Celibataire – in French simply refers to a single and doesn’t say anything about vow or abstinence

Celebate – in English refers to an individual who has taken a vow (often religious) to practice abstinence and stay single

Concubinage – simply refers to co-habitation without legally married in French and is a legally accepted status in a French Government application

Concubine – refers to an illegal wife or mistress in English – puts women in dark light or treats her like a social outcast and an object or toy of pleasure and ridicule

But, why do adaption of French words into English language target status, physically intimacy and portray them in a bad light? Is English language really judgmental, narrow-minded and less tolerant to various engagements an individual prefers to hold? Aren’t simple words given complex societal interpretation across the English Channel? Is this the sea of change between French and English? To me, the French language seemed more accommodative and inclusive, less discriminative, and socially more liberal and accepting.

The language of season: Fans are a standard fitting in our homes in India now rapidly replaced with

air-conditioners and when I found neither of them in Paris, I was pleasantly (not really) surprised. May be the architects, residents and even the weathermen swear that the city never gets that hot and hence finds no place in a house? And my arrival was just in time to test the Parisian weather and reality of no fans and air-conditioners. After experiencing a long, humid and harrowing summer in India, I arrived in Paris just in time for the summer. Call it a double whammy or an extra dose of Vitamin D, I don’t care.

 

Especially this year, people have been complaining about long winters and a direct jump into summer with no spring. And when it hit 35 deg C yesterday, the locals started to complain and went one step ahead to create a supply demand situation at the home stores.

And I made a trip to the store and asked the salesman for a fan and received no response from him.  I felt it was my strong accent and gave it another try, and this time I was slow and gentle. He still had a puzzled look on his face. I didn’t know what to understand from his silence and I decided to help myself. Unable to find one, I exited the store and proceeded to another one. I was met with similar silence and a cold response when I asked for a fan. 

Even a small child will know what a fan is, but Parisians had no clue. What would be a breeze in any English literate nation, really turned out to be Greek in France. More than the heat, the inability to explain frustrated me more.

And this time I was persistent to get an answer. I made gestures with my hand, I showed him the ceiling, and finally asked the sales guy for piece of paper. And when I drew a picture of a fan, he yelled “ventilateur ”. But I was looking for a fan not a ventilateur, a breathing device used in hospitals. And I felt like I was on a ventilateur trying to describe the simplest flywheel that uses electricity to make breeze. But then I had no clue if he was referring to a fan or a de-humidifier or an air-conditioner. With more confusion swirling my hot temper, I left the store.

To add to my frustration, that store was also out of it. Now that I knew the terminology “ventilateur” I hunted the neighborhood stores for one. To add to the heat of weather and complex words in French, most stores had an announcement at the entrance publicizing the non-availability of ventilatuers and asking customers to check back in a few days.

 

That evening after my grueling experience with a French word, I found an "English Fan" in the store below my flat. I rejoiced! And what rejoicing that was when I found the manual of instructions in English and, I mean, in English only!

 

Rue de Paris or Rude Paris!

This is my 12th move in 15 years and that averages a move every 18 months. And my kith & kin, near & dear must be tired of updating their phone books with my new number and keeping track of my moves, I don’t blame them. But I have always had interesting stories for them. It has been 5 days since I landed and I am already finding my roots here. Here are some interesting experiences.

 

Rue de Paris or Rude Paris?

Paris can be tough if you don’t speak French and I felt the pain many North Indians experience when they land in Chennai. Houria, my dear colleague was around to help me get over the language barrier. She helped me get a mobile connection, cable and internet at home, ofcourse the most important a bank account! God bless Houria!

Before I moved into the house, a surveyor (a Public servant) inventoried the contents and condition with a dictaphone and camera. He even examined the condition of the mattress, counted the number of spoons, knives, glasses and plates. To me this looked like an Income tax raid back home. And the real estate agent, like many others, was greedy and was asking me to recommend him to others at my work place. You need to look at the picture album below to find out what I inherited from the earlier tenant.

Rue de convenience
I am going to recommend to the Municipality of Paris to rename the street where I stay to “rue de convenience”. Below my apartment is a supermarket, a laundromat, a grocery store, a pharmacy. 500m from home is Oberkampf metro station, and LCL bank. Across from my home is a bakery, and Pierre Sang’s restaurant (a Korean a master chef who serves a 6 course French meal with Korean touch and people queue up from 6 pm for dinner that opens at 7pm).

 

Making a boiling start
A Tamil proverb goes “Amma katti kodutha sorum and solli kodutha varathaiyum yetthanai nalaikku?” which means how long will mother’s words of wisdom and food from her kitchen last? I remembered this proverb when I started to set up the new kitchen. Don’t we all need to cook our own food and develop our own wisdom to lead our life?

Keeping up with the South Indian tradition, I boiled milk. Since it was late in the evening, I couldn’t invite anyone for a little get together and serve milk and fruits. But still gave a traditional start to my life in Paris. And this news would make my grandmother feel proud and happy. I imagined grandmother next me as I boiled the milk for the 12th time in 15 years.

 

Finding roots and making it home

Like animals humans are also territorial and we find our space by leaving our pug marks and scent. And when I finally unpacked the 4 boxes not only did I find a home for my belonging, but also created my own space that I can come back to at the end of every day. Another way of feeling at home is to discover a portion of your country in the new place. It could be a small temple, music from back home, or a store that sells our spices. A trip to La Chapelle makes you happy, nostalgic and takes your back to your root. Apart from Saravana Bhavan and Sangeetha, I found drumstick (Bhagyaraj remedy or comedy or malady?), jasmine flowers, bitter gourd, dosa & idli batter and mangoes from Pakistan that rarely comes to India. At the Cash & Carry store, I picked up Toor dal for Sambar, Rice, broken wheat for upma, chilli powder, some raisins and cashews to make payasam. I am yet to make a trip to the Ganesha temple at rue de Pajol, but I saw a poster at the grocery story about the car festival for Ganesha on September 1.

My maternal grandmother takes so much comfort in cooking and feeding, visiting temples and when I call her this week I will I will have stories to make her feel elated. She may even want to visit me in Paris, who knows?

Fear of the unknown
The first night at the apartment, I was a little scared and felt unsettled (like many girls and boys). Yes, it was the fear of the unknown! I didn’t know who lived there and if the vibes of the place was good. If I consumed alcohol, then a few shots would have calmed me down. But instead I tired myself throughout the day from unpacking, shopping, and doing other chores and soothing music from back home helped me land instantly in slumberland. And next morning when I woke up I felt rested and rejuvenated and it was beginning to feel like home. 

Every day begins with filter coffee
For a South Indian, that too a Tamil Brahmin (Tam Brahm) a day doesn’t begin without piping hot South Indian Filter coffee. Paris may be famous for expresso, but can it match up to our filter coffee? I played old Tamil film songs from 60s, 70s, 80s (mostly MSV, Illayaraja) and started to cook. And I kept the French windows open to let the waft of our spices and music invigorate Rue Oberkampf in Paris (arrond. 11). Want to know what I cooked on day 1? Aha!

A story is born from our interpretation of a place and life, so flip through the album for a short glimpse of my Paris - https://picasaweb.google.com/108289564546757100555/ParisParis#

 

Don’t be scared to visit me in Paris and be rest assured that I will make you feel at home. Merci Beacoup!

A 11 hour movie marathon

How does one self-entertain when you are immobilized and restricted to a chair, your mobile phone forced to be in a vegetative state and you are fed at frequent intervals at 40,000 feet?

 

One could kill time by Reading, sleeping, listening to music, watching movies, and working on your laptop. The choices may be limited and may contain you in your seat, but still it can be introspective, enriching, funny, thoughtful and restful. I have done other things too...but that is not for a public consumption.

 

I was in an electric chair, sorry, I meant to say an entertainment chair during the 11 hour journey from Paris to Chennai. Here is a list of movies that I managed to watch.

 

1. Side effects - It is a movie about a psychiatrist (Jude Law), his patient and the drug he prescribes. The linear story telling gets interesting when the psychiatrist discovers other stories his patient concocts. As the movie progresses, a cocktail of twists and emotions leaves you and the psychiatrist bewildered like the psychiatric medication. Catherine Zeta Jones, a (bi)polar patient in real life, plays the role of a psychiatrist in the movie. Click here to watch the preview.

 

2. The Darjeeling Limited - Every life is a journey, some seek happiness, some seek relationship, some seek solace, bonding and closure. The movie is about a family traveling to India with a hope of getting their relationships back on rails (literally and figuratively) The movie at times employs cliches about India, namely, snakes and gurus (sadhus) but still the struggle to connect, heal and move on makes it a delightful watch. Click here to watch the trailer.

 

3. Nina- An Italian movie (not about violence, corruption, or pizza glistening with olive oil) that shares a short time period in the life of an artist, Nina. Stunning camera angles, soul stirring music, simple story line and elegant cast and costumes leaves with a lasting impression of Italy. It is a must watch for all art, music and photography enthusiasts. Click here to watch the trailer.

 

4. Quartet - Is there an escape from old age and our baggage from the past? Can love and life happen in a retirement home? The movie plot is around a retirement community of musicians and connoisseurs and their life and love. A new entrant, Maggie Smith, on the wait-list for a hip replacement, arrives just before a big performance at the retirement community. Did her arrival turn the performance into a symphony or a cacophony? Did it alter the mood in the Beecham house? Click here to watch the trailer.

 

5. Office Space: It is a movie about personal and professional unhappiness, boredom, insecurity, and our reaction to management decisions at work place. Majority of us will relate to this movie. Click here to watch the trailer.  

Jannal - redraws the new boundaries of the next society!

 

K Balachander is a master story teller and he needs no introduction and hasn’t stopped surprising us with his themes, stories and characters on the big and small screens. I have watched his productions Kai Alavu Manasu, Rayil Sneham, Premi, Kadhal Pagadai, but missed out on his tele-serials Chitthi, Anni, and Jannal. A friend of mine suggested that I watch the Jannal serial.

 

Jannal is a family story where the director shines light on the greed, money, love, and insecurity and highlights patience and family values. The characters come with hoard of expectations from each other. When they see each other’s real sidethey lose their patience, often reach their flash point, and vigorously defend their decisions driven by their ego, desire and love.

As a result of their decisions, they go through experiences, while some learn their lessons and mend their ways, but often use society as a reason to purport their decisions. It is a drama of youth vs. old; love vs.greed; tradition vs. modernity, and my way vs. highway.

Be it in his movies or serials, KB definitely gives a message to the society and his unexpected climaxes expand your horizon of thinking, understanding and acceptance. It is not an over statement to say he often redraws the boundaries of the next society.

A peek into the main characters:

Kalyani amma - very kind and giving, extrovert, wants to earn her meal, and takes the moral high ground. She is often disappointed by how society and people looks at her relationship with GK. She weaves the social fabric, but is often disappointed when the fabric catches fire because of her widowhood.

GK - child like, lively, funny, patience, doesn't seem to bother much about society or his health!

Mahesh - leaves his parents to keep his wife happy, but is disappointed when she doesn't measure up to his expectations.

Priya - expects Mahesh to be his friend and a photo copy of her father. When he doesn't let her have her way it sets the relationship on fire.

Ramya - selfish, individualistic, and is very money minded even when it comes to her father.

Balu - is away making money and is absent for most episodes, but finally delivers the punch that pushes his mother out of his house.

The youth have their definition of life, and the elderly have their definition. And conflicts arise when the try and define how each other should live their lives.

Aptly titled, Jannal provides your view of the world, but it is often a small pixel of life. Jannal is a show window. It shows how the youth are driven by money and how success and money defines their relationships. The older ones seem to over ambitious parents, who worry too much about success, future and comfort of their children and ensure that they measure up to their expectations and expectations of the society. In reality, we often we use Jannal to make ourselves look picture perfect to society watching us from the outside.

The First 15 episodes can wear your patience with clichés, and the title song, but nevertheless it lends you a leaf or more to learn. Last 15 episodes brings people together, resolves issues and redraws the new boundaries of the next society. The You Tube has all 39 Episodes and I have posted the first episode on top for reference.

The Youth of India are watching

There was time when I used to come back from school and share all the highlights and happenings with mom and she would patiently listen and respond as I finish up my late afternoon snack. 35 years later, the setting is the same, we sit across from each other, but our roles have reversed. I come back from work and mom hands over the evening snack and she shares her highlights and happenings from her day.

With my nephew arriving from Delhi for his summer vacation, I get a lot less updates from mom. She is busy feeding, engaging him and growing the special bond with her grandson. I watch their interaction from a distance, and it is a big entertainment when I get back home.

Earlier this week when I got back from work and I looked around for my nephew. The swing was filled with his story books and toys, but he was missing. When I followed the waft emanating from the kitchen, I saw him seated on the kitchen counter, and mom was making fresh dosas and he was intently listening to mom and getting his dose moral education through stories.

And yesterday when I stepped into the house, my nephew was not at home. He had gone to play with kids in our apartment. When I called for my nephew my mother walked towards me carrying pride in her chest. I immediately understood that she had something good and interesting to share. Before I let her share, I asked her for a cup of coffee and went to clean my hands and feet. And as I entered the kitchen to pick up the hot cup of filter coffee, I found mom gloating in pride and words queuing behind her lips.

Come on let’s hear her.

So now what?

Earlier in the day, an elderly resident in our apartment got stuck in the elevator. The alarm in the elevator had failed and she had to use her vocal cord to get attention. Since it was early noon, people had retired for a short snooze in the swooning heat and none other than my nephew heard her call.  He rushed towards the main door in the house, unlatched it and tried to find the source of the SOS call. And when he identified where it came from, he quickly went back into the house and got my mother.

My mother immediately established verbal contact with the resident trapped in the elevator and asked her try out a few things to get the elevator to the nearest floor. None of the tricks worked and manual intervention was the only way out. It would take a minimum of five minutes to get the key and move it to the nearest floor. While my mother went downstairs to fetch the key and carry out the next set of procedures, my nephew stayed in contact with the woman in the elevator.

During the next 10 minutes, my nephew tried to console and assured her of immediate help and diverted her attention by narrating the Cinderella story. Very soon mom got the elevator moving to the floor above and the woman was set free.

A hero by the afternoon

Drenched in sweat, the woman stepped out of the elevator. She was moved when she saw the 6 year old kid who kept her fear and anxiety at bay by giving her periodic assurances and diverting her attention by narrating the Cinderella story.  She took him up in her arms, showered him with a volley of kisses, and blessed him for his presence of mind and assuaging words. Very soon the tale spread across the apartment like a wild fire and that afternoon all the other womenfolk came over to our house to see and bless my nephew.

At the age of 6, my nephew was already swarmed by women and was showered with their appreciation, admiration and kisses (something we all need to be afraid of). He had no idea what he had done, but enjoyed till it all lasted and soon disappeared into his world of cars, cartoons and bi-cycle.

And that night, I interviewed my nephew like a journalist. I wanted to know who had asked him to keep speaking to the woman in the elevator and how did he get the idea of engaging her by narrating a story. He said, “Grandma always shares a story when I am sad or upset and so I decided to do the same to this woman who was sad and upset.” And then I went on to ask why he chose the Cinderella story. He said Cinderella is a girl and thought the woman would enjoy girly stories. His answers to my two questions were simple, plain, honest, instantaneous and unpretentious.

Every time he comes over for a vacation, my nephew doesn’t fail to amazes us with a new trick or talent. Two years ago, one evening, he effortlessly rendered a few krithis of Muthuswami Dikshithar and Shyama Sastri krithis in difficult ragas and made our heads turn and jaws drop. He was not formally taught those songs, but picked it up while he accompanied my sister to her music class.

While genetic science traces back a lot of qualities we exhibit to genetic material, psychological science attributes a lot of our qualities to the ambience we live and grow-up in. “Avar nallavar aavathum, theeyavar aavathum annai valarpiniley…” goes an old Tamil film song.

Kids are like sponge, they may not have the capacity to distinguish what is right and wrong and they tend absorb all that is around them. So, beware how you behave in front of your children and what you teach, share and show them. If you haven’t watched Behave yourself India, The youth of India are watching campaign by The Hindu Newspaper, watch it now and remember the future of this nation are growing up watching you.

 

Marine Mammals – Part 3

The killer whales belong to the oceanic dolphin family and are highly social. May be like our Mamis? Read on and then you can’t stop admiring them, I mean the killer whales! 

The MB showed the photograph of 137 and pointed at the killer whale. The picture had a curved dorsal also had a distinct fluke. She explained to us the distinct color patches: black back, white chest and sides, and a white patch above and behind the eye and how they can be recognized from their dorsal fin and tail fin.

They are indeed a chatter box
The killer whales like to communicate and depend heavily on underwater sound for orientation, feeding, and navigation. They produce three categories of sounds: clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls. Clicks are believed to be used primarily for navigation and discriminating prey and other objects in the surrounding environment, but are also commonly heard during social interactions.

Males are momma’s boy for life
Killer whales are notable for their complex societies. Only elephants and higher primates, such as humans, live in comparably complex social structures. Males live with their mothers for their entire lives. These societies are based on matrilines consisting of the matriarch and her descendants who form part of the line, as do their descendants. The average size of a matrilineal is 5.5 animals. The killer whales are also found to adopt orphaned calves and care for them throughout their life. Because females can reach age 90, as many as four generations travel together.

No incest in their world
Males separate for only a few hours at a time, to mate or forage and come back to their mothers. Closely related matrilines form loose aggregations called pods, usually consisting of one to four matrilines. Unlike matrilines, pods may separate for weeks or months at a time. DNA testing indicates resident males nearly always mate with females from other pods.

Activities in water
The killer whale activity consists of foraging, travelling, resting and socializing. Killer whales are frequently active at the surface, engaging in acrobatic behaviors such as breaching, spyhopping, and tail-slapping. These activities may have a variety of purposes, such as courtship, communication, dislodging parasites, or play. Spyhopping, a behavior in which a whale holds its head above water, helps the animal view its surroundings.

 

But they are apex predators
These whales are regarded as apex predators and feed on salmons and other varieties of fishes. They also go for mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses, and other smaller whales in the pyramid. There have been a few instances where they have tried to kill humans.

They are intelligent too
They are also regarded as the most intelligent species among marine mammals. Killer whales imitate others, and seem to deliberately teach skills to their kin. Adults sometimes pull seals off the shoreline, and then release them again near juvenile whales, allowing the younger whales to practice the difficult capture technique on the now-weakened prey. The killer whales use dialects and pass on other learned behaviors from generation to generation, thereby forming a culture.

Yet their population is shrinking
They may be apex predators in the marine ecosystem, but we are sitting on top of them in the ecological pyramid and creating havoc to their world. Pollution from large-scale oil spills, letting in untreated sewage, chemical leaching, and disturbance caused by noise and conflicts with boats are currently the most significant worldwide threats to the marine mammals. The impact of sonar waves on killer whales is potentially life-threatening.

I don’t care even if we don’t have such rides along our coast, but atleast let us not pollute their world and kill them for food and other monetary gains.

Marine Mammals – Part 2

 

The marine biologist confirmed that the passenger was indeed right and the v-shaped shower came from the blowholes on the top of the whale’s head and that he was a lone male traveling back from the Gulf of Mexico after the breeding season and feeding crustacean rich waters along the coast of Monterey.  She looked through her binoculars to confirm the species. She spotted the gray-white patterns and scars left by parasites which drop off in its cold feeding grounds and confirmed it to be a gray whale.

Gray whale is an endangered species on the west coast and there less than 200 surviving today. They travel approximately120 kms/day and cover 16,000-22,000 kms during the annual migration. They are spotted between mid-December to early January at Monterey during their journey South and found along with their calves between March and May on their journey back North.

Bio-magnification

Biopsy of Whale blubber found high levels of PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) in their body. PCBs are found in flame retardant chemicals used in lot of upholstery and home fabrics have found their way into the ocean and into the marine ecosystem. The marine biologist pointed out that whale calves were found to have high levels of PCBs in their system and many of them died young. She also confirmed that the PCB levels were found to decrease as the off springs increased. So, more the offspring better was their chance of survival.

We were in the middle of the Ocean and the marine biologist (MB) asked the captain to shut off the boat. The waves rocked the boat back and forth while the MB asked us to keep a watch out of other cousins of the gray whale. Bala found warmth under the sun, I took a nap inside, not sure if it was sea sickness or exhaustion. I suddenly woke up to a loud noise, did something happen to the boat or did they spot something exotic in the ocean? Come along...lets go deeper.

The MB spotted a humpback whale and when she pointed the crowd towards its direction the entire crowd went gaga watching the whale taking a plunge and showing off its tail fin. While we waited for another show, the MB shared more information about its social behavior and singing traits.

Unsociable but singing humpbacks

 

The humpbacks social structure is loose-knit. Typically, individuals live alone or in small, transient groups that disband after a few hours. These whales are not excessively social in most cases. Groups may stay together a little longer in summer to forage and feed cooperatively. Longer-term relationships between pairs or small groups, lasting months or even years, have rarely been observed. Some females possibly retain bonds created via cooperative feeding for a lifetime.

Both male and female humpback whales vocalize, but only males produce the long, loud, complex "songs" for which the species is famous. Each song consists of several sounds in a low register, varying in amplitude and frequency, and typically lasting from 10 to 20 minutes. Humpbacks may sing continuously for more than 24 hours. Whales within a large area sing the same song. All North Atlantic humpbacks sing the same song, and those of the North Pacific sing a different song. Each population's song changes slowly over a period of years without repeating

Before 1966, the humpsbacks were almost at the verge of extinction, and subsequent protection laws and enforcement has helped to improve their population. There are now close to 80,000 humpbacks seen along the coast of Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada and South America.

Three hours had elapsed into the trip, and by then some of the passengers were excited to catch another species in the top of the marine pyramid – the killer whale, while some passengers got sick from staying out long in the rocking boat went in for a nap. Suddenly the MB yelled 137 and pointed passengers towards eleven o’clock. What do 137 refer to? Was she referring to serial killers? Did we get a glimpse of killer whales? Come back next week.

Vist the link to view the pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/108289564546757100555/MontereyBay#

Marine Mammals – Part 1

 

The Indian peninsula (surrounded by ocean on three sides) and our rich coastline (over 4671 miles) are often mired in controversy than pride. Time and again we've read stories about Sri Lanka and Pakistan army taking away our fishermen for trespassing their waters and Olive Ridleys by getting caught in the trawler rudders and meeting their fate during the breeding season. The recent incident where the Italian marines opened fire at Kerala fishermen mistaking them for pirates the relationship between Italy and India dived into troubled waters.

Are oceans really calm waters or have we turned them into troubled waters making death and imprisonment along the Indian peninsula? To this Interesting question and I found a few parallels in the marine world during my recent trip to San Francisco, California, US.

My friend Bala, took me on take a boat ride along the Monterey Bay. During the boat ride, the two marine biologists onboard explained the behavior of mammals in water, their aggression and territorial fights, their migration patterns, and the impact of human behavior along the 870 mile Californian coastline.

We boarded the boat at 9 am, the sky was blue, the sun was shining bright and gentle breeze was blowing towards the shore. To our surprise we were welcome by two friendly dogs who wanted to play and be petted, but was restrained in the upper deck L of the boat. I had no clue how my body was going to react to the constant movement of the boat, high velocity cold wind and but was anxious to explore the marine world. Once we began the journey, I realized that Bala was damn right to get me a monkey cap at the Wharf. The thick layer of acrylic covered my bald pate and kept my ears warm. And we stood in the sun to keep ourselves warm.

Within 50 meters from the shore, we spotted sea lions, otters, few other sea birds, seagulls included. The mammals were basking in the warm sun, while the birds were busy collecting sea weeds to build their nest. While we humans fell trees and mine below the ground to get raw materials to build our homes, these birds were merely using what is easily available in the nature without causing any environmental hazard. Though some of them migrate across the globe and build new homes to breed, they still keep it small, simple, sturdy and eco friendly. There is so much to learn from nature and its creations.

Soon the shore looked very distant and suddenly the marine biologist asked us to look to the right of the boat. There were a dozen dolphins jumping out of the water and expressing their joy, excitement and social skills. The marine biologist explained that the dolphins were closely related to whales and porpoises and are the most intelligent animals in the marine world.

Sight, touch and smell: Most dolphins have acute eyesight, both in and out of the water, and they can hear frequencies ten times or more above the upper limit of adult human hearing. The dolphin's sense of touch is also well-developed, with free nerve endings densely packed in the skin, especially around the snout, pectoral fins and genital area. However, dolphins lack an olfactory nerve and lobes, and thus are believed to have no sense of smell. They do have a sense of taste and show preferences for certain kinds of fish.

Social skills: Dolphins are often regarded as one of Earth's most intelligent animals. Dolphins are social, living in pods of up to a dozen individuals. In places with a high abundance of food, pods can merge temporarily, forming a superpod; such groupings may exceed 1,000 dolphins. Individuals communicate using a variety of clicks, whistle-like sounds and other vocalizations. Membership in pods is not rigid; interchange is common. However, dolphins can establish strong social bonds; they will stay with injured or ill individuals, even helping them to breathe by bringing them to the surface if needed.

Slowly the boat ventured into deep waters of Pacific Ocean and the marine biologist was hopeful in sighting some whales today. And at a distance a fellow passenger spotted a shower in the middle of the ocean and asked the marine biologist to take a look towards two o’clock position. Was it a grey patch of cloud? Did we get lucky? Come back next week for more interesting stories, sightings and also find out if I lasted the entire trip.

Critical Insurance Policy

In today’s age and time it is critical to have medical insurance alongwith critical insurance rider before we plan our investments, vacations andcommit to EMIs. A few weeks ago my friend’s colleague was diagnosed with braintumor. He went to bed fine, but woke up with a splitting headache and swollenface the next morning. Doctor visits and subsequent tests revealed that he had a gold ball size tumor in his head. Such is life, the darkest of the hour comesat the brightest of the times.

Imagine you have a young family with 2 school going children, awhopping home loan and monthly EMI with a floating interest rate, a running carloan, credit card loan from last year’s overseas vacation with family, and everincreasing inflation. And when you just began to pay up the borrowed capital, terrorstrikes in the form of illness. How would your poor wife manage the situationif you were bed ridden for six months and the income from work stops?

Friends may come forward to help, but to expect them to help whenmajority of them are neck deep in home EMIs is being too ambitious. Relativeswon’t help and even if they do they would want you to draw up a guarantee or anagreement for repayment. The saddest part is that, Indian employers and the socalled MNCs will not pay if you go on a medical leave. They will pay you forthe vacation days you have accumulated and will unsympathetically turn theirbacks when it comes to help. So, humans what does life leave you with?

Illness doesn’t come with old age and time. Disease and desireshave conquered the population while they are still young. Today, we haveyounger people who are first time home owners as we have younger patients withstroke, multiple sclerosis, heart attack and other cardiac issues.

That brings us to the most critical part of this blog, how doesone meet the expenses at home and medical expenses from the illness at a timewhen work will not offer you a few extra pay checks? And the answer is CRITICAL INSURANCE POLICY.

The critical insurance policy pays a lump sum if you get diagnosedwith any of the listed illnesses (Cardiac arrest, stroke, paralysis, multiplesclerosis, kidney failure, cancer) and a few other surgeries. Sometimes it canbe purchased along with the medical insurance and many at times it can bebrought separately. A friend or family can be a good insurance, but none canbeat the critical insurance policy.

We don’t know when our bodies can give away and when things canfall apart. I am a living example of congenital heart issue and I could havebeen a bit more relaxed if I had a critical insurance rider. But don’t we alllearn our lessons?

Today medical care is becoming unaffordable and hospitals andillnesses can gobble up your 5 Lakh rupee policy in a week. If you have notthought about a critical insurance policy, here is a good starting point: http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/how-to-choose-the-best-critical-illness-insurance-plan/1/188491.html

 I haveprovided links to policy for your reading, comparison and research.

 HDFCERGO - 1800 2 700 700

BajajAlliance - 1800-233-3355

HDFCCritical Care - 1800 2 700 700

ICICICrisis Cover Plan - 1860 266 7766

RelianceCritical Illness - 1800 3002 8282

Some providers like Reliance offer family floaters, and some like Bajaj Alliance offer special policies targeting women (Breast, Cervical cancer, etc.) Based on my comparison and research, I find HDFC Critical Care tocover major illnesses of the day and age. Also check to see what kinds ofailments run in your family before you make a decision. Except Reliance, noneof the other providers give you “No claim bonus”. “Only HDFC Critical carecovers Brain tumor. You can call the toll-free number with your questions orpurchase the policy online.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy future!