May Issue Of Sangamam Times

Volume 1 Issue 2

May 2008

Sangamam Times MATRU DEVO BHAVA - Vidya Tadanki Contributors: •

Vidya Tadanki

•

[email protected]

•

Ravi kumar.Bobba-

•

[email protected]

•

Niraja Dorbala-

•

[email protected]

•

Kavita Paruchuri-

•

[email protected]

•

Hari-

•

[email protected]

•

Rajaram and Vijaya-

•

[email protected]

•

Sainath-

•

[email protected]

“ ‘Mother’ is the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind,” said Kahlil Gibran. Each one of us is fortunate to have a great mother who relentlessly worked over time in mothering, pampering, spoiling, and loving unconditionally. According to Chinese belief, “there is only one pretty child in the world and every mother has it.” That statement encompasses the enormous love that every mother feels for her offspring. When we think of our own mother, what is the first thought that occurs in our mind? Her face, smile, gait or her food? As a baby, the first face that we see and the first touch that we begin to notice is of our mother. Her days and nights were spent nursing, carrying and cleaning of our diapers. Cleaning diapers extended to toilet training and nursing soon gave way to showing of the moon while feeding “Pappu with tons of ghee.” Our School started and she experienced her first anxiety pangs. Personally, Class 1 for me was a year of surprises. I saw my mother in two forms. One was an extremely worried mom when I broke my leg. The second was that of a relentless slave driver who made me study 24x7 even during summer vacation while every other kid played, for I failed class 1 because of lack of attendance. My mother Kameswari was so anxious that yours truly would have to repeat class 1 (which in the Jandhyala family is unacceptable), that she visited all the temples that were in the near vicinity. My summer holidays that year were a nightmare. It was all study and no play at all. Thanks to my mother’s prayers, I passed my re-examination with flying colors and thus became the best daughter that any mother could have! Thank God! I passed that exam and was promoted to class 2! I owe my 1st class triumph truly to my amazing MOM! Mothers change their expectations and roles as their kids grow. Their showers of love turn into pangs of anxiety. The exam results of their kids become the focal point of their lives. Comparisons with cousins and peers become their second nature. Mothers of teenagers know nothing and teenagers of course know everything. Mothers of college going kids become the unpaid police force of the family and very comfortably assume the duties of night watch women and phone monitors. Mothers of married children worry about sons losing weight because of their daughters-in-laws cooking. Those same mothers chew their lips with tension while daughters are left behind in the sons-in-law’s house. Mothers become grandmothers and soon self appoint themselves to the advisory board of raising kids. To put it in a nutshell, Pears. S. Buck rightly said “some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.”

Inside This Issue A Milestone Called Motherhood

2

Health Watch

3-4

Against All Odds

5

Hearty Stuff

6

Life is Love– Live It

7

About Thailand

8-11

Travelogue

11-12

A day honoring mothers celebrated in many places around the world is Mother’s Day. Mothers often receive gifts on this day. It is interesting to note the origins of this holiday. In Ancient Greece, this day emerged from a custom of Mother Worship to Rhea, Mother of Greek Gods. In Ancient Rome, this day was dedicated to Cybele, the earth mother. In the United States, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In 1907, Anna Jarvis started a crusade to found a Memorial Day for women. The first such Mother’s day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on 10 May 1908. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the First National Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. occasions. In most countries including India, Mother’s Day is a new concept copied from western civilization. In Telugu this day is called “Thalli Kosam.” This year Mother’s Day falls on 11th of May. While Mothers day is being celebrated on 11th of May, in this issue, we have decided to throw light on our own unique mother of triplets - Niraja. Her delivery of triplets, her trials, her joy, and her triumph in raising three angels Akhila, Madhuri, and Pallavi. To all our mothers and to us (lady readers), we wish a Happy Mother’s Day! The second unique feature is profiling Rajaram and Vijaya’s journey of love. They are the only ones amongst our classmates who’ve married a fellow Nirmala graduate. This issue includes Dr. Kavita, with her article on health, Prof. Sainath on overcoming hurdles, Ravi’s travelogue on Bangkok, and finally Hari’s wishes. We hope Sangamam Times truly captures your attention and inspires you all to attend the reunion in Vijayawada on 26th & 27th July, 08.

Sangamam Times

A Milestone Called Motherhood– Niraja Dorbala Ask any child and it will proudly declare: “My mother knows everything!” And why not – motherhood is perhaps a unique school exclusively meant for women. It imparts an education for shaping a life and making a future. Find out what our friend Niraja has to say about her own wonderful experience of being the proud mother of triplets. 'Having a baby is a step in an unending series of transformations for women'. I cannot agree more with this statement as it goes to the heart of my own process of experiencing motherhood. I am the proud mother of 3 lovely girls. They are actually triplets. This is a rare phenomenon to most folks. But I consider myself blessed since I had to undergo the pangs of delivery only once. I am sure the curiosity bug has bitten you and you are wondering how I managed to do that. Actually, I had undergone a medical process called In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The kids were born at 36 weeks weighing almost 4 pounds each and they were in the ICU only for a day. They were so much like their mother! To tell the truth, we were not expecting triplets. It was therefore quite a shock to hear the news and it took us a couple of months to get used to the idea of managing three kids at one time! We even visited the Neonatal care to get ourselves prepared for preemies. I can write pages and pages regarding my experiences but I do not want to bore you all with those details. My lovely husband helped me out the first six months. But little did I know that this was going to last for 6 months only. (Ha ha ha)! As all the mothers know, babies need feeding once in about 3 hours in the beginPage 2

ning. My husband would help me with one feeding session during the night. Each feeding session took about half an hour. So there was only maybe an hour for me to relax between the sessions, not forgetting the diaper changes required in between! Sounds busy …. but I did not have a spare moment to think about all this at that time. My mother in-law was with us for a month so I was spared the chore of cooking for the family and could spend my time taking care of the kids. Feeding and changing were done at the same time for all the three kids to ensure that I did not miss any one!

“Having a baby is a step in an unending series of transformations for women”

More credit has to go to my parents. My dad used to drop by almost every day from work for an hour and spend time with the kids. That was the time I could truly relax. And on the weekends my mother was there cleaning the house and helping me with the laundry. In the first month I used to tie colored ribbons on the wrists of the kids after feeding to remind me that they were fed. After that I got used to telling them apart which meant I did not have to depend on coloured bands anymore! People tell me that it must be easier now that they are

grown up. It is never easy for parents at any stage; every stage has its own tests and tribulations. We need to adapt and improvise. I got used to feeding two kids at a time after a couple of months. So I used to put one of them (Pallavi) in the swing (which she loved) and after feeding the other two (Akila and Madhuri) I used to feed her. At six month they got used to holding the bottle and so I used to just prop the bottle which was a further relief. Mixing the milk was a big task. I used to mix all the milk for feeding in the daytime at one go and another lot for the night. There were 21 bottles (7 each) which needed to be boiled and dried out. It was like a factory’s assembly line with all the bottles lined up, measured powder poured in each, then water added and finally the mixture stirred up. I was so happy when they turned one year because it meant I did not have to do all that any more. I had and still have my own share of difficulties with 3 kids. But I would not trade the love and joy that they bring me for anything in this world. They are almost 12 years of age now and I hope I will be echoing the same sentiments in future. After you have a baby, you may be surprised by the way you perceive the people around you. You might find yourself becoming more interested in the community of women than you were in the past. Motherhood does have its moments!

Volume 1 Issue 2

Health Watch— Dr. Kavita Paruchuri I am a practicing Anesthesiologist; attached to a corporate hospital in Hyderabad. I do a lot of Plastic surgical and orthopedic work. Being married to a Plastic Surgeon and having done a lot of cosmetic surgeries, I thought something about cosmetic surgery would be more interesting to you guys. When I said ‘done a lot of surgeries’ what I actually meant was I administered anesthesia to those patients and counsel them. (Believe me some patients are very tensed up before surgery) What is anesthesia? This term was coined in the first century AD to describe some numbing effects caused by a plant. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Anesthesia as a 'defect in sensation'.

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Anesthesia as a 'defect in sensation'

They often run high dependency ICUs. They are involved in abolishing pain during child birth and emergency medicine, resuscitation, major accident care etc. Anesthesia is now very safe with almost nil mortality. This credit goes to our biomedical engineers who have brought out sophisticated monitoring techniques. With all these modern gadgets any complications related to anesthesia are drastically brought down. But as we teach our juniors the best monitor in this world is the anesthesiologist. Any patient coming in for surgery is carefully monitored by a competent person and never left alone. I will explain in brief few procedures of cosmetic surgery.

The branch of cosmetic surgery is one of the youngest surgical branches. For those of you on the other side of the equator news about cosmetic surgery must be fairly common. Hearing about Liposuction, It can be described as a sleeplike state that makes pos- Tummy tucks and nose jobs is not something new. I sible painless surgery. will briefly describe it in the Indian scenario. Anesthetic practices date from ancient times, yet the evolution of the specialty began only in the mid nine- Beauty & Wellness has been so much on everyone’s teenth century and only became firmly established less mind now as it had never been before. We have been than six decades ago. practicing for over a decade now and the number of patients coming in for cosmetic procedures has inAnesthesia has been included in general medical prac- creased by about four times. Its like no body wants tice only after William Morton publicly administered to age. ether to Gilbert Abbott on 16 October 1846 at Massachusetts General Hospital Boston.16 October happens The most commonly asked procedures in India are Rhinoplasty or Nose job to be world anesthesia day. Liposuction Tummy tuck Before anesthesia, surgery was a terrifying last resort, Face lifts thank fully none of us is in that age a final attempt to save life. Few operations were pergroup) formed. Patients were held strapped down, some fainted, and many died. I will give a brief description of Liposuction. Anesthesia allowed surgeons to take more time to be more accurate and under take more complex proceLiposuction is a procedure for men &women that dures to save lives. can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas like abdomen, hips, buttocks, Today anesthesiologists are highly trained and skilled thighs, calf, upper arms, chin, cheeks, and neck. physicians who provide a wide range of patient care. Page 3

Sangamam Times

Health Watch (Continued)

During liposuction the surgeon removes fat tissue which has a number of fat cells. The fat cell mass that was removed does not regenerate, so the results are permanent. However the remaining cells can contribute to increase in weight if not maintained by diet and exercise.

THE SURGERY Fat is removed through a small cannula (tube) inserted through one or more small incisions, placed near the area to be suctioned. These incisions, which are about 4cm long, are placed in such a way that they are hidden. The cannula is connected to a suction device to aspirate excess fat in a precise manner. Sometimes the fat is reinjected in other areas to improve the contours. There are many refinements and variations in liposuction. The surgeon chooses the best technique suited for a given patient. BEST CANDIDATES People with an almost normal weight with firm elastic skin, who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas and who are otherwise physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in their expectations. It may benefit marginally overweight individuals, in reducing weight and motivating them to further reduce weight. But this is not a procedure for weight reduction. ANAESTHESIA Type of anesthesia depends upon the extent of liposuction. For small volume liposuction, local anesthesia with sedation suffices. It can be done as a day care procedure. General anesthesia is required for large volume liposuction. A hospital stay of one or two days is required. BEFORE SURGERY It is necessary to discuss in detail the following issues: a) Combining other minor aesthetic procedures. b) Your complete medical history c) Desire to further lose weight and to undergo other aesthetic procedures like tummy tuck and liposuction of arms. AFTER SURGERY The following minor inconveniences may be experienced: #Pain, swelling, bruising, loss of sensation of that area, numbness. #you will be required to wear a pressure garment for about 34 weeks. #you will be advised to under take strenuous exercise after about 2 weeks. DURATION OF RESULTS Page 4

As I have already explained, Liposuction is not a procedure for weight reduction. We always ask our patients to get active and lose as much weight as they can before they come for surgery. Definitely a high degree of motivation is required, but it’s your body and your life. So investing in just a pair of walking shoes is all that is required. Then give yourself 30min thrice a week before you seek a Plastic Surgeons’ services.

I hope I have given an insight into what actually happens in operation theatres. I conclude and if any of you need any information regarding any surgeries or any advice regarding whom to approach please let me know.

Volume 1 Issue 2 Just to give you all a feel of our astonishment here is what some rudimentary

Against All Odds– Sainath

research threw up. Tobacco consumers in India constitute almost 17% (about 180 millions) of the global consumers. In 1996, almost 800,000 people died in India from tobacco related diseases; there were 150,000 cases of cancer,

A few months back, I had to visit the district headquarters at Anantapur, 4.2 million cardio-vascular diseases and 3.7 million chronic respiratory disAndhra Pradesh, on some personal work. I had just boarded the bus on

eases the same year (Yach and Derek; “Tobacco consumption in India; Jour-

my return journey when I heard a voice ask me, "Excuse me, can I take

nal of Public Health Policy, 2003). It is also estimated that about 20% of

the seat next to you?" I looked up and saw that it was a young girl of

Indians consume liquor in some form. The number of people consuming

about 18 years. She was evidently going back home after college. I

alcohol in India is about 1 in every 20 (“The Globe, Issues 3 & 4, 2001).

moved over and she sat down. She recognized the ensign of my Univer-

The official smilingly referred us to the village headman who explained the

sity and started grilling me about various matters related to the field of details to us. Nobody in the village minded a bit of a swig of country liquor education.

once in a while. But there was one sod who drank like a fish and soon had to kick the bucket with liver cirrhosis. Being a closely knit community, they saw

I then noticed that we had already passed the town and were way out-

how his widow had to suffer with her children and decided that they would

side the outer limits. Unable to resist, I asked her where she was going

no longer touch liquor or allow it to be entertained in their village. Later on,

to disembark. She told me a village's name and I could not but help

when the damages of smoking and chewing tobacco were shown to them,

feeling surprised. It was a clean 50 Km. from her college! A rough calcu- they added tobacco too to the list of banned items. lation showed me that she had to leave house almost at 6.00 A.M. every

The beauty of the whole story was that this principle was totally self imposed

morning, take the return bus at about 5.00 P.M. and would not be home and conducted without anybody administering it. I asked them if it was not before 7.00 P.M in the evening!

difficult to follow it. “It certainly is”, replied the headman. “But ever since we gave up on liquor and tobacco, we are able to save much

How did she put up with the rough schedule? Did she not find it taxing

money. Now we have built our own community hall and also have made our

on her ability to study? "On the contrary," she told me. "I find the chal-

own school building without depending on the government. We are waiting

lenge to be a stimulant enough. You see, I want to make something out

for a teacher to teach our children.” He further clarified that the saved money

of my life. I have seen how my parents have struggled to make me come

clearly gave a better quality of living and the people were beginning to see the

to this stage, how much they have supported me. I owe at least this

difference in their lives. So they voluntarily kept away from this stuff.

much to them." The first victory, like the very first point in the charter of Alcoholics AnonyI felt very humble sitting next to her. Often in life, we take so many

mous (AA), is more of a moral victory and is accomplished by recognizing

things for granted. All the while, out there, there are people to whom life what constitutes a debilitating influence in our lives or by recognizing what is a constant saga of struggle and strife. In truth, who is really the victor

can be a catalyst for a better quality of life. The great sportsman Michael

and who is the one who has lost? Contrary to what most people imagine, Jordan is known to have believed that the odds are always going to be our defeats are born from within us itself. Thomas Alva Edison was once stacked against us when we set out to achieve something. Self control and asked as to how he treated his failures. The famous reply was. “There

determination are perhaps the only weapons and tools that one needs to fight

are no failures – only steps to the ultimate success.”

against these odds, with oodles of patience and perseverance thrown in. Fal-

Stories of success are invariably scripted by people who admit that ob- ling is an agreeable option, but accepting failure is not. stacles are a part and parcel of life and still plough on with what needs I find no better way to end this essay than by recollecting for all of us, the last to be done. Self motivation is the key that opens the doors to working paragraph from an inspiring poem (The Winner’s Creed) which was hung in great miracles. I recollect one incident that took place when we were on the locker room of our University cricket team. It perhaps sums up the right our annual Village service program.

attitude to imbibe when facing the odds:

We had bounced along country tracks and non-existent roads on a tractor that ruthlessly threw us around in space as we hung on for dear life, before depositing us into a village - Siddapuram. As we coaxed our battered bodies back into a semblance of working condition, the revenue official who accompanied us revealed something startling. “Sir, this village is totally liquor and tobacco free” he announced. “What?” we all exclaimed. “How is that possible?”

Page 5

Life’s battles do not always go To the fastest, fittest or strongest man. Sooner or later the one who wins is He who says: “Yes, I can.”

Sangamam Times

Hearty Stuff from HARiT.

Good Morning...!!!

Sweet things are easy 2 buy, But sweet people are difficult to find. Life ends when u stop dreaming, hope ends when u stop believing, Love ends when u stop caring, Friendship ends when u stop sharing. So share this with whom ever u consider a friend. To love without condition... ......... ......... To talk without intention... ...... To give without reason...... ...... And to care without expectation. ......is the heart of a true Friend.......

Page 6

Volume 1 Issue 2

Life is Love– Live It– Rajaram & Vijaya I am reminded of a par-

spond. Find out what they have

ticular

to say!

tender

moment

Haven't come across that place...Yet.... 9) How do you relax after a stressful holiday? By taking one more holiday...:)))

from the 1989 Hollywood blockbuster

comedy

“When Harry met Sally”. The character of Harry Burns meets Sally Albright and declares, “I came because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as

possible.”

It

always

sounded to me as one of the most memorable thing you can tell someone you

1) What is the single most thing that you like about Vijaya/ Rajaram? V: Rajaram is funny and very easy going. R: Vijaya is very straight forward and tells you what is exactly on her mind. 2) When did cupid strike you both? No Idea....May be when we were in class ten. 3) When did you decide to get married?

love.

When we did not have a choice....

Well, we are giving below

4) What is Rajaram's strength and Vijaya's strength?

an account of some real candid and tender things a lovely couple has to say about each other. Rajaram and Vijaya have been happily married for 14 years

Each Other.... 5) For how long have you known each other before taking the plunge? I cannot remember, guess it is Thaaat Loooong.....

I

now and are clearly basking in mutual admiration for each other. Sangamam Times

presented

them

with a questionnaire containing 14 questions – one for each anniversary they celebrated together - and requested Page 7

them

to

re-

6) The most memorable moment When Nathan was born... 7) Give us your birthdays Rajaram: 11/09/67.. Vijaya 10/10/68 8) Favorite destination for enjoying a holiday

10) Your marriage date? 12/04/1994 11) Who chose your son's name? We both did. We named him Nathan.... 12) Who is the boss in the house? I guess we both are... 13) What is the secret of your happiness? Ignoring each other and yelling at each other.... 14) Any message to other married couples? Life is toooo Short....Have fun & Understand each other....

The Happy Family

Sangamam Times

About Thailand– Ravi I. Introduction to Thailand and Thai Culture After working for 5 years in Abu Dhabi, I decided to shift to Bangkok. Bangkok has the reputation of being a bad place for kids to grow up in. However, after staying here for 3 years, I can say with confidence that my decision to shift was not that bad. Let me start with briefly writing about Thailand. The country's official name was Siam and was later renamed as Thailand (Land of free) and officially called as “Kingdom of Thailand’. Bangkok is the main centre and capital city of Thailand. Most of the Thais (except in Bangkok) will call their capital city Bangkok as “Krung Thep” (City of Angels). Since the political reform of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the form of government has ranged from military dictatorship to electoral democracy; but all governments have acknowledged a hereditary monarch as the head of state. Currently it is His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej “King Rama IX”. Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand and a majority of Thai citizens (95%) follow the same. However, there is absolute freedom for other religions including Muslim, Christianity, Hinduism or Sikhism. For example one of the most famous temples is Wat Khaek Silom or Sri Mahamariamman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Uma, consort of Shiva. It was built around 1879 by a group of Indians and is popular even with the Thais. The Buddhist religion is considered sacred by Thai’s. Monks, temples, and Buddha images are everywhere and we should treat them with great respect. One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai, which is similar to the Indian namaste gesture. On the other hand, a notable social norm of touching someone on the head may be considered rude. It is very difficult to survive without learning Thai in Thailand. However I have managed to survive by learning just a few words. I have shared them below for your benefit! hello

sawadee (krup/ka)

you

khun

how are you

sabai dee mai (rising tone)

he, she, they

kao

i’m fine

sa-bai dee

us, we

rao

thank you

kharb khun

what is your name khun chuu a-rai

bye bye

sawadee

yes/no

chai/mai chai

see you again

pob gan mai (rising tone)

you’re welcome

yin dee

excuse me / sorry

khar toort

welcome to…

yin dee tawn rap

I, me

phom (male) dee chan (female) or simply chan

never mind

mai pen rai

II. Places to Visit in Bangkok

Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha: This is Thailand's most important and sacred temple. It houses the tiny (60 and 75 cm) Emerald Buddha, which is located high above the heads of Page 8

Volume 1 Issue 2

the worshippers and tourists. It's thought to have been made in the 15th century. The 'robe' adorning the Emerald Buddha is changed 3 times each year by the King himself, at the start of each season: A diamond encrusted gold robe during the hot season, a solid gold robe in the cool season and a gilded monk's robe in the rainy season. Also in the compound is the Royal Pantheon, housing statues of the first seven kings of the reigning Chakri dynasty (Rama I - Rama VII). The Pantheon is open only on April 6th, the anniversary of the founding of this dynasty. After exiting Wat Phra Kaew, one enters the adjoining Grand Palace. The Grand Palace: Despite its proximity to Wat Phra Kaew, there is a distinct contrast in style between the two. The Grand palace has more of a European inspired design with the roof being an exception. The Grand Palace is nowadays used only for occasional ceremonial purposes and is no longer the royal residence. Wat Pho: This place is mainly famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. At 20 acres, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok, and is technically the oldest too, as it was built around 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand's capital. The highly impressive gold plated reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, and is designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and the feet also show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha. The large grounds of Wat Pho contain more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals Ayuthaya and Sukhothai. The grounds are split in two by Chetuphon road. The northern section is generally the only one most people go to, and it includes a large bot (temple hall), enclosed by 394 bronze Buddha images. Outside the bot, there are 152 marble slabs depicting the second half of the epic Ramakian (our own Ramayana). Thai Massage: Thai massage is quite famous all over the world. Wat Pho also houses Thailand's first university and center for traditional Thai massage. If you want to experience traditional Thai massage, this is probably the best place available and is highly recommended, though be aware that it's not exactly a gentle experience! Floating Market: Totally chaotic, small canals are filled with flat boats piled with fresh fruits / vegetables each jockeying for position and paddled by ladies ready to stop and bargain at a moment’s notice! III. Places to Visit around Bangkok Pattaya: Pattaya is a popular resort 150 km south-east of Bangkok and most famous for beaches and for all kind of sports. However, some of the beaches are lackluster and rampant over-development has long since destroyed any natural charms they once held. Most are within a 2.5 hours drive from Bangkok and 1-2 nights stay is recommended for sightseeing. Main places of attraction are Underwater world pattaya, Institute of Marine Science Aquarium & Museum, Alcazar show (see photo attached), Oasis world, Elephant Village, Monkey Training Centre, International Snake Show, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden (see photo attached), Bottle Art Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Gems Gallery, Crocodile Farm, Beaches (Pattaya Bay, Jomtien), Flying, paragliding (see photo attached) and Skydiving etc. Sri Racha Zoo: Sriracha Tiger Zoo is located on the way to Pattayya, just an hour’s travel from Bangkok. Situated in an area of 10 acres, the zoo consists of more than 200 Bengal tigers and 100,000 crocodiles. In addition to various kinds of animals, it also provides many activities to enjoy. Page 9

Show”, “Elephant Show” etc.

They have several shows like “Amazing Circus”, “Crocodile

Sangamam Times

Kanchanaburi: A two day stay is recommended here. Khanchanaburi is most famous for the Bridge over the River Kwai built during World War II along Thai – Burma Railway line, JEATH War Museum, War memorial cemetery and Water falls. JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. It's an exact duplicate of the huts POWs and laborers were housed in during the process of building the famous bridge. The bridge was often attacked and destroyed by allied forces during the war. During one such attack the Japanese ordered the POW's to stand along the bridge as deterrence to the allied fighters and bombers, but to no avail; the bridge was destroyed along with the POW's. There is still a small tourist train that runs back and fourth across the bridge every fifteen minutes or so. The Kanchanaburi War memorial cemetery is located on Saengchootoe Road, opposite the Railway Station. It contains the remains of 6,982 war prisoners who lost their lives during the construction of the "Death Railway." Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls: They are located 2 km from Nam Tok station and about 62 km from Kanchanaburi. Its landscape is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. Phuket: Phuket is a popular beach resort. Domestic airlines operate several flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket. We should plan at least 2 – 3 days to cover the place. Given below are some of the places one must see while at Phuket. Fantasea: Phuket FantaSea bills itself as “the ultimate cultural theme park”. The theatre opens at 20:30 and guests start filing through security. Cameras and storage devices of any kind are strictly not allowed inside. In the magnificent Palace of Elephants - a state-of-the-art theater with wonderful acoustics and seating 3,000 persons - baby elephants and young tigers will pose for a photograph with you – for a fee! Starting at 21:00 hours, the theater puts on a spellbinding show combining culture and illusion that is almost beyond belief. While the eye is treated to modern effects like smoke, explosions, lasers, rain, soaring people, the brain gets insights into Thai culture in the form of traditional dances from different regions of the country, shadow puppets, and a fascinating wardrobe of traditional Thai dresses. The show also employs goats, roosters, water buffalo, and doves in supporting roles to elephants! Patong Beach: Patong Beach is very famous with its white sands and clear waters.

Phi-Phi Island: Phi Phi is Thailand’s island-superstar and has also been seen in a lot of Indian movies. It is reached through ferry service from Phuket. The calm beaches permit scuba diving. Sheer cliffs tower overhead and suddenly give way to beach-fronted jungles. Phi Phi is affordable contrary to identical destinations elsewhere which come with high expenses. You might be surprised – that perfect beachfront room costs much less than you expect! Page 10

Volume 1 Issue 2

Travelogue– Thailand

Page 11

Sangamam Times

Travelogue– Thailand (Continued)

Floating Market

Elephant Village

Crocodile Taking Class

Family Photo With Chimp

“Memories are the threads that hold together the patchwork of friendship” Page 12