Canada

4 Comments Posted on November 29, 2016August 15, 2024 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Victoria – Capital City of British Columbia

Our trip to British Columbia in August 2016 concluded with a visit to Victoria Island, the capital of British Columbia (BC). Victoria is an island that offers heritage architecture, colourful gardens and traditions like afternoon tea, mixed with outdoor adventure, culinary experiences, especially fish and chips. Victoria Island is located about 100 km from Vancouver and can be reached by ferry, sea plane, tourist boats or by air.

We set sail by the 9AM from Vancouver on the ferry operated by BC Ferries and it took about 90 minutes. There were about 200 vehicles and 400 passengers (and a few dogs) on board. The ferry ride offered a deck-side view of the breathtaking scenery through the Strait of Georgia. The ferry had three restaurants with various food options and viewing platforms, both inside and outside.

Our first halt was at the Parliament building. Overlooking the harbour stood the statue of Captain James Cook, the first non-aboriginal man to set foot on Vancouver Island in 1778. Many aboriginal families lived on Victoria Island, each referring to themselves by distinct family group names. In 1843, James Douglas chose Victoria (then known as Camosack), as a Hudson Bay Company trading post. The post was eventually renamed Fort Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria.

On July 21, 1871, BC became the sixth province of the Dominion of Canada and Victoria was proclaimed the Capital City. The Parliament building to house Legislative Assembly of BC opened in 1898. In the twentieth century, Victoria evolved as a city of government, retirement and tourism.

Above is a statue of homecoming of a sailor to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Navy, and was unveiled on 04 May 2010 at Victoria, capital of British Columbia.

We were thrilled to see the three statues located in front of the Parliament building. They would enthrall any military history enthusiast and veteran. The first was a statue of a soldier to commemorate BC’s fallen in World War I, World War II and the Korean war; then a statue of a Veteran Sailor and a statue of homecoming of a sailor to commemorate 100 years of Canadian Navy unveiled on 04 May 2010.

Our next destination was Butchart Garden, surely a place for a nature lover and a gardening enthusiast. Robert Pim Butchart, a pioneer in the North American cement industry, came to Victoria Island lured by its rich limestone deposits. In 1904 he developed a quarry and built a cement plant. His wife Jennie Butchart became the company’s chemist. Close to the quarry, the Butcharts established their family home with a small garden. As Mr Butchart exhausted limestone deposits, his enterprising wife Jennie, converted the gigantic quarry into a beautiful garden.

The renown of Mrs Butchart’s garden quickly spread. By the 1920s more than fifty thousand people visited her garden each year. The hospitable Butcharts christened their estate ‘Benvenuto’, the Italian word for ‘Welcome’. Their grandson Ian Ross was given the Gardens on his return from World War II. He made the garden self-sustaining, transforming the mostly neglected home and gardens into an internationally famous tourist destination. Each year over a million bedding plants in some 900 varieties give uninterrupted bloom from March through October. Almost a million people visit annually for spring’s colourful flowering bulbs; summer’s riot of colour and fall’s russets and golds.

The most impressive sight was of the Sunken Garden from the lookout. The old quarry had been transformed by Jennie into a beautiful sunken garden of massive dimensions and dramatic aesthetic qualities representing exceptional creative achievement in gardening. Deep expansive walls, beds of annuals, flowering trees, unique shrubs, central rock mound and a fountain, all added variety to the uniqueness of this marvellous garden.

We were welcomed by the luscious scents of roses to the Rose Garden. The flowerbeds bordered by magnificent delphiniums had roses of many varieties and bright colours. The garden has an extensive collection of floribundas, ramblers, climbers and Hybrid Tea Roses. Each rose variety has been marked by name, origin and year registered with the American Rose Society.

A Torii gate welcomed us into the serene Japanese Garden. Walkways by the side of streams and ponds guided us through many bridges. Japanese maples and birch trees spread abundant shade on to the well manicured lawns. Jennie, with assistant Isaburo Kishida, an expert Japanese landscaper, completed this garden in 1906.

The next stop was the Italian Garden bounded by two arched entrances. This garden was originally Butchart’s tennis court. A splendid Star Pond adorned the centre of this garden. It was originally designed to house Mr Butchart’s collection of ornamental ducks as he was an enthusiastic hobbyist who collected ornamental birds from all over the world. He kept ducks in the Star Pond, peacocks on the front lawn and had many birdhouses throughout the gardens.

Past the Italian Garden, we entered the Mediterranean Garden. This area had an enchanting arrangement of lush, exotic plants from around the world. We were all surprised to see that even a banana grove could enhance the beauty of an enchanting world renowned garden.

From the Butchart Garden, we headed straight to the Red Fish Blue Fish. It is an outdoor waterfront eatery in a modified cargo container, standing on a wooden pier in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It is one of Victoria’s most cherished eateries. There was a long queue and after about half an hour in the queue, we ordered fish and chips. We relished the battered and steaming pieces of halibut, sitting on the dock overlooking the bay. Indeed it was worth the wait standing in a long queue.

Our next destination was ‘Mile 0’ which marks the start of the over 8,000 km Trans-Canada Highway that spans the entire length of Canada – from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic. Mile 0 is also home to a statue of Terry Fox. Fox lost his right leg to cancer when he was 18 years old. He started a trans-Canada run to raise money for cancer research, beginning in Newfoundland on the East coast of Canada and was to end at the Mile 0 marker in Victoria. Unfortunately, Fox’s journey ended tragically near the halfway mark when he fell ill and passed away. Since then, hundreds of millions of dollars has been raised in his name by the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research. With the visit to Mile 0, we culminated our exploration of Alberta and BC this time.

Now it was time for us to catch the return ferry to Vancouver and say goodbye to the beautiful Victoria Island. As we cruised through the Pacific Ocean, the sun was about to set and its rays painted the islands with different shades of gold.

5 Comments Posted on November 25, 2016April 29, 2026 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Dreams, Aims & Goals

The Three Identical Answers

Interacting with our teenage nephews and nieces, I asked them, “What is your dream?”
“To become an engineer.”

“What is your aim?”
“To become an engineer.”

“What is your goal?”
“To become an engineer.“

In some cases, engineer was replaced by doctor. That was when I realised how profoundly times had changed. In our childhood, we never even thought about our future aspirations. Planning them was a far cry. Today’s generation, by contrast, has something to think about – even if that thinking is often limited to medicine and engineering, and largely dictated by parental pressure.

The Words of a Great Dreamer

“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts result in action. You have to dream before your dreams can come true. Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.” These are the words of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam—a great dreamer, and a man who proved that dreams can indeed reshape nations.

Figuratively, a dream can be defined as an idea or hope that seems impractical or unlikely to be realised given the current state of the world. But that does not mean, in any way, that such dreams have never been realised. On the contrary, history is written by those who dared to dream the impossible and then set about making it possible.

Dreams Without Boundaries

Dreams are boundless, limitless, and timeless. They are dictated only by the power of the dreamer’s imagination. Let your dreams float into infinity – they will germinate new ideas and visions.

I do not wish to quantify your dreams, but consider a student dreaming of finding a cure for cancer. Many of us have entertained such a thought while reading about the suffering of cancer patients or watching someone close battle the disease. From such a dream evolves an aim that is achievable and real-time. In this case, the aim would be to pursue a medical career – though it must be noted that some of the world’s greatest discoveries have been made by people not remotely connected to the subject they revolutionised.

From that aim, goals are born. For a high school student, the immediate goals would be to graduate with the requisite marks and to pass the necessary entrance examinations.

Single-Minded Devotion

To succeed in your aim, you must cultivate single-minded devotion. It is like a football match: you aim to win, and to succeed in that aim, you must score goals.

One must revisit aims and goals regularly- weekly, monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly – with a view to redefining them, raising the bars, changing them if necessary, and sometimes even discarding them entirely to find new ones. You may lose interest in your aims and goals if they no longer challenge you or excite you. That is not failure; that is growth.

Parental Pressure and Passion

Sometimes you may have thought of an aim, but the goals you set may not be what you truly want to achieve. In such cases, you are forcing yourself to settle for what you think you can get, rather than reaching for what your passions demand. This is often due to parental and environmental pressures – the ubiquitous expectation that you must become either a doctor or an engineer, no more and no less.

To make your aims more challenging and genuinely interesting, set an aim that is big, impressive – one that thinking about it scares you a little, that seems almost impossible, yet has the potential to transform your life if you manage to achieve it. Keeping this in mind, raise the bar for your goals little by little. Keep raising it until you reach an aim you never thought possible. By tapping into your creativity and resourcefulness, you will amaze yourself with the results.

Breaking Down the Goals

Once you have set your goals, break them into smaller, time-bound objectives. Evaluate your progress daily or weekly. Avoid distractions. Prioritise these smaller goals. But this does not mean you should not indulge in other activities. All work and no play will always make Jack a dull boy.

Believing in Yourself

You must believe in yourself. Reassure yourself that you can achieve the goals you have set, especially when the going gets tough. While undergoing training at the Military Academy, I often reassured myself with this thought: about fifteen thousand officers have successfully completed this training before me. I am in no way less than them.

Your goals must be like the shoes your parents bought while you were growing up – always a size bigger. It allows your feet to grow. Similarly, the goals you set must be a bit bigger than that you can achieve. Setting goals that are a size bigger – often called stretch goals or BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) – is essential for personal and professional development. It helps to:-

Force Innovation: When a goal is easily attainable, you rely on current habits. When it is just out of reach, you are forced to change your methods, learn new skills, and think differently.
Redefines What is Possible: If you aim for 100% and hit 80%, you are still far ahead of where you would have been if you only aimed for 60% and hit it.
Overcomes Complacency: It prevents you from settling for mediocrity simply because you have reached a comfort zone.

As the adage goes: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small.” Keep growing into that bigger size!

Kevin’s Story: A Different Path

Our nephew Kevin, who lives in the United States, took up the pre-medical course in high school. Most children at that stage do not even have a faint idea about their passions or abilities. His parents, Anu and Johnson, were in for a surprise when Kevin, in Grade 12, declared that he did not wish to pursue a career in medicine. He wanted to take up animation and graphic designing instead.

To their credit, his parents were supportive. They accepted Kevin’s new aim and advised him to begin the admission process – there was only one university offering the specific course he wanted, and admission was highly competitive.

At the high school graduation ceremony, Anu and Johnson received another surprise: Kevin was adjudged the best student in animation and graphic designing. He went on to graduate in computer animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. Today, he works as a gaming designer with a leading gaming company.

Final Words

Dream unlimited. Define your aim. Set your goals. Achieve them.

Success and happiness will surely follow – not because the path is straight, but because you had the courage to walk it on your own terms.

1 Comment Posted on November 22, 2016September 4, 2026 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Temperate Rain Forests of British Columbia

We visited the Stanley Park and Capilano Park during our visit to British Columbia (BC), mainly to see the temperate rain forests.

How is the temperate rain forests different from its tropical cousin?

The term ‘rainforest’ implies forests in high rainfall area, making them very dense and green. Tropical rainforests lie closer to the equator while temperate rainforests are found at latitudes between the two Tropics and Polar Circles. This causes temperate rainforests to be cooler, have less precipitation, contain less biodiversity and slower decomposition than their tropical counterparts. Canada’s rainforest falls between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer, forming a narrow band along the coast of the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Northern California. Other countries that have temperate rainforests are Chile, New Zealand and Norway.

In the morning we visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The park offers visitors a unique mix of adventure, history and culture. The park showcases a totem pole park, North America’s largest private collection of First Nations totem poles, period decor and costumes.

Totem pole is a monument created by Northwest Coast Aboriginal people to serve as a signboard, genealogical record and memorial. Carved of large red cedar and painted in vibrant colours, they are usually erected to reflect the history of that lineage. Theses poles are also erected as memorial poles, grave figures, house posts, house front poles, welcoming poles and mortuary poles.

The entrance to the park as the name suggests is by way of a suspension bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1889 of hemp ropes with cedar plank deck. It was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903. The bridge was completely rebuilt in 1956. We enjoyed the thrill of crossing the 450-foot long swaying bridge, suspended 230 feet above Capilano River. The bridge offered a splendid view of the river and the forest below.

An eco-guided tour is conducted by the Park every hour, which was very informative, covering various ecological aspects of the forest in the Park. The guide educated us about the rainforest, trees. trout ponds and the undergrowth.

The first stop was at a banana slug. The guide explained that there are no earthworms in these forests and these slugs contribute to the decomposition of organic matter into humus. These slugs are covered with a special slimy coating that numbs the mouth of any predator. Racoons roll the slugs in mud to coat them and then eat them.

We stopped next at a nurse log. Fallen logs are called nurse logs as they help new seedling growth by creating an elevated and moist habitat. Decomposition being comparatively slower when compared to tropical forests, results in a deep layer of decaying organic matter that forms the top layer of the forest floor. This gives a cushioning effect while walking on it.

Canada’s temperate rainforest is dominated by a relatively small number of tree species because the seeds need to regenerate in the low light levels on the forest floor caused the thick canopy. Most of the trees found in this forest are coniferous trees like the Western Hemlock, Yellow Cedar, Western Red Cedar, Douglas-fir, and Spruce. The coniferous trees are well adapted to the temperatures and shorter daylight hours of the winter as they remain green and keep their foliage in winter which helps then to photosynthesise throughout the year.

The thick and uneven tree canopies that cover the coastal rainforest allow little sunlight to reach the forest floor, so undergrowth must adapt accordingly. Indeed, the ground is mostly covered by plants that do not need much sunlight, like ferns. Small trees also grow under the shade of the taller ones. In order to get sunlight, some plants grow on bark and branches of trees, where there is more sunlight than on the forest floor.

Along lakes and rivers and gaps left by fallen trees, which lets in more sunlight in, few deciduous tree species like Bigleaf Maple, Red Alder and Black Cottonwood thrive.

The guide escorted us to the ‘Grandma of Capilano’ – the tallest tree in the forest. It is a Douglas Fir, aged over 1300 years, standing tall at 76 M.

After the guided tour, we ascended a foot bridge for Treetops Adventure Tour – a self guided tour. This leg consisted of seven footbridges suspended between magnificent 250-year-old Douglas Fir trees, forming a walkway up to 30 M above the forest floor. The elevated walkway offered a woodpecker’s eye view of the forest.

The walkway has been created without harming the trees, with no nails or bolts drilled into them. Metallic collars hold the ends of the walkway on to trees and are moved every eight years to facilitate the tree to grow.

On our way back to the parking lot was the Cliffwalk. This heart-pounding cliff-side journey took us through rainforest vegetation on a series of suspended walkways jutting out from the granite cliff face above Capilano River. The Cliffwalk is high and narrow and in some sections, very strong glass is all that separated us from the canyon below. The narrow walkway has fixed handrails supported by steel beams cantilevered from 16 anchor points in the granite rock face of the canyon. Various information boards along the walkway explained the interaction between water, granite, salmon, flora and fauna.

We then drove to Stanley Park on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, a green oasis in the midst of the heavily built urban landscape of Vancouver. The 400-hectare natural West Coast rainforest offered us rare scenic views of the ocean with ships anchored, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park’s famous Seawall. We walked around the park on the walking track which ran all along the beach, adjacent to a separate cycling track.

Our visit to the temperate rain forest parks were both educative and recreational. Hermann Hesse, a German-born Swiss poet once said “Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.”

4 Comments Posted on November 15, 2016September 15, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Whistler : Abode of the Gods

(Image Courtesy Whistler Blackcomb)

We halted at Whistler on our way to Vancouver in August09, 2016. Located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia (BC), Whistler is Canada’s favourite year-round destination. Whistler is undoubtedly the most-visited ski resort in Canada, with over 2 million visitors a year. There are two majestic mountains with a vibrant base Village. The facilities in the area include skiing and snowboarding, gondolas connecting various peaks, mountain biking trails, hiking trails, golf courses, restaurants, bars and accommodation to suit every budget. It is undoubtedly the best mountain adventure site in the world.

We headed straight to the Whistler Village Centre to buy our tickets for the Peak2Peak Gondola Ride. The area was jostling with activity, mainly by hikers and mountain bike riders. There were many stalls offering mountain bike rentals and training for novice mountain bikers. The mountain bike trainees ranged in age from five to over 50 years.
Whistler Blackcomb boasts of the largest mountain bike park in North America, officially opening in May each year. With over 4,900 vertical feet and over 60 descending trails spread over three riding zones, there is something to pump up the adrenaline for each level of riders.

The gondolas of Whistler Blackcomb are inspired by the ski lifts in Switzerland. They connect the two ridge-lines running roughly Northwest to Southeast, separated by a deep valley as shown in the diagram above.

Whistler was originally conceived as part of a Canadian bid for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Although they lost the bid, construction started and the resort opened for the first time in January 1966. Blackcomb mountain, originally a separate entity, opened for business in December 1980. The two resorts underwent a period of intense rivalry through the 1980s and 90s. Intrawest, the BC real estate firm that developed Blackcomb, purchased Whistler and fully merged their operations in 2003.

Whistler Blackcomb offered a renewed bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which they won in July 2003. They hosted the men’s and women’s Olympic and Paralympic alpine skiing events. Over the next decade, Intrawest expanded by purchasing additional ski resorts across North America, before expanding into golf and other resorts as well.

We lined up at the Whistler Village Centre for our journey up Whistler Mountain. The air was a bit chilly and misty. The gondolas were enclosed, separate for persons and equipment. Many mountain bike enthusiasts and tourists were already in queue awaiting their turns. We boarded our gondola for the first leg and the journey up the Whistler Mountain to the Roundhouse Lodge located at about 6,000 feet.

Enroute we had a fascinating view of the coniferous tree tops with their young cones blooming with a bluish tinge. It was thrilling to watch mountain bikers below, negotiating the mountain trail at a very high speed, with precision and grace. We could also see young kids being trained on mountain biking skills by their instructors.

We alighted at the Roundhouse Lodge after a thrilling 15 minutes. From there we had a 10 minute hike through a trail to the starting point of Peak Express for our journey to Top of the World Summit.

The trail had an explosion of colours offered by the wildflowers growing at that altitude. They are seen for only two to three weeks in mid-summer and we were indeed blessed to catch a glimpse of these wild beauties. Most of these flowers are poisonous to ingest, hence are not foraged on by the deer in the forest.

The flowers we saw were the Alpine Fireweed, a bright to deep pink flower that grows from 5cm to 3 metres. The yellow Mountain Buttercup is primarily found in deeper soils and among bunch grasses of undisturbed grasslands. The flower has a waxy sheen to it. The Sitka Valerian grows in moist alpine meadows with flowers that are pale pink to white and form a dense, sweet scented cluster. Partridge Foot grows in wetland areas. This shrub-like perennial has cream-coloured flowers in the summer and golden seed pods in the fall.

The Peak Express journey was on an open gondola and the cold winds blew hard on to our faces. As the elevation kept increasing, the landscape kept changing. It was a fantastic experience to view the rugged beauty of the Canadian Coast Mountains. The wildflower meadows, boulder filled slopes and towering peaks offered a picturesque view.

After about five minutes we landed at the summit at about 7200 feet. From there we could catch the glimpses of lakes under distant peaks and massive glaciers, even though there was bit of mist. We picked up cups of hot chocolate from the coffee shop and walked to giant Inukshuk. An Inukshuk is a piled-stone marker that looks like a man. Historically it was used in the Arctic as a directional marker but has now become an icon of Canada overtaking the Mountie.

After spending about 15 minutes at the summit, we returned to Roundhouse Lodge on the Whistler Mountain for our ride to the Rendezvous Lodge on the Blackcomb Mountain by the Peak2Peak Gondola. This ride was for 11 minutes and the system holds the record for the highest and longest unsupported cable car span in the world of 3.024 km. It is indeed an engineering marvel – a long steel ropeway hanging between two peaks – unsupported by any pylons.

The Peak2Peak Gondola was completed on December 12, 2008 and can transport 4,100 people per hour between the resort’s mountains. The cars for this leg of the ride are enclosed and can seat 12 persons. There are some glass bottom gondola cars, but their frequency is once every 15 minutes. The ride offers spectacular views of the village, valley and surrounding mountains – a 360 degree 3D view in fact.

From the Rendezvous Lodge we took the Solar Coaster Express and then the Wizard Express to reach the Blackcomb Base. The open-air chairlifts on these rides offer a unique experience than what a gondola provides as you get an aerial perspective of the ground directly below.

The Whistler Olympics project took nearly four decades, but the effort taken by the Canadian government in collaboration with business partners is clearly visible. It has helped to place Whistler as an excellent year-round adventure destination in the world and has generated employment for the local population and businesses. The Whistler visit showed us as to how the facilities created for a major sporting event could be exploited for the betterment of the community post event.

4 Comments Posted on November 12, 2016November 1, 2023 by Reji Koduvath Canada

Army Marches on Knees

‘Army marches on its stomach‘ is an age-old military adage attributed to both Napoleon and Frederick the Great. This saying gives out the importance of the army being well-provisioned, well –administered and well-fed. With my service of over two decades with the Indian Army, I felt that the Army marched more on its ‘knees’ more than its ‘stomach’.

During a military tactical exercise, we underwent while at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in October 1981, we were led by Captain Raj Mehta, now a retired General. We were about 12 cadets, all at their zenith of physical fitness and with real razor-sharp minds, least bothered about the scratches rendered on our skins by the wild thorny bushes and who could least be worried about many falls and rolls one had to endure during such training. The sharp mind coupled with agility ensured that all the cadets stood up and continued with the task at hand as if nothing had happened, even after ten feet fall.

Captain Raj Mehta was 33 years old, but still young at mind and physique, was training us in jungle warfare on a pitch-dark new moon night in the hilly terrains of Pune, India. He ensured participation of each and every cadet, whether it was a discussion or a tactical exercise and had a knack of extracting points of view from every cadet. This instilled a lot of confidence in us and along with learning the operational concepts, he succeeded in turning us into leaders of men. Honour, trust in the subordinates, accepting wrong doings with humility, taking on failures with a lion’s heart, being true to one-self were a few traits I imbibed from him as cadet at the age of nineteen and I am sure it was the foundation stone for my army career ahead for the next twenty-two years.

Captain Mehta stood out among all our instructors in that he had a lot of trust in the cadets and many a times accepted all our fake stories and excuses with an uncanny smile. We all thought we succeeded in ‘fooling’ him, but later in life realised his magnanimity, especially after bringing up our children through their teens. I carried this aspect of trust, and it really helped me to command my unit, where in I delegated a lot of the tasks to the junior leaders and Havildars (Sergeants) as I had to look after our children being a single parent then.

On that night, Captain Mehta was with the Cadet Ajay Sharma (now a retired Colonel), appointed as the section commander with two other cadets leading the section as the points-men. We were moving downhill through the jungle in a single-file section formation. Suddenly the section commander and Captain Mehta disappeared to be found in a ditch about 10 feet deep, with the next five falling all over them. They all came out and we continued with the exercise. At the end of the exercise at about 10 PM, Captain Mehta debriefed us and one could see a bit of discomfort on Captain Mehta’s face. The next morning, we found Captain Mehta with a bandaged knee and a plastered right hand. He had suffered a fracture of the wrist joint and was put in plaster for six weeks. He did not take a day off and he adapted to driving his Vespa with one hand. The very same knee troubled him later on too. Despite the troublesome knee, General Mehta as a Divisional Commander was known for visiting all the posts in his Division, mostly located above 10,000 feet above Mean Sea Level.

As a young Lieutenant I served under Colonel Mahaveer Singh, our Commanding Officer. Colonel Mahaveer, a Rajput and a humble man with a large heart. He looked after all the young officers as his children and many a times accepted all our pranks and (mis)adventures with a great spirit. He let the young officers take on responsibilities and encouraged and motivated us to put in our best and accomplish the impossible. No wonder that our unit was the best in the formation and young officers from other units of the formation always looked forward to getting attached to our unit and spend a few days with us. All of them were surprised to see the relationship all the young officers had with Colonel Mahaveer, how we used to play basketball with him, share a joke, narrate an incident and above all the movie stories he narrated without losing any of the expressions, especially ‘Sharabi’. Colonel Atul Mishra, Colonel Anupam Gaur, Brigadier Mike Iyer were a few I recollect enjoying these stories as young Lieutenants.

While climbing with Colonel Mahaveer to a post in the Northern Sector, located at about 12,000 feet, he found my pace a bit straining. Colonel Mahaveer was fifty years old and I was twenty-five, half his age. Colonel Mahaveer had suffered a ligament tear on his knee as a result of playing soccer. After about half an hour of climb, we sat down to rest and then Colonel Mahaveer advised me “Look after your knees, else you will suffer my plight at this age. Without a fit knee, you will be a useless soldier”. I accepted the advice, and it ensured that I kept my knee always safe and sound.

After penning down this article I decided to obtain the approval of General Raj Mehta, prior to placing it in the public domain. “While the name makes the anecdote more real you could drop the name as the message it conveys remains unaffected” was the General’s stand. I debated in my mind the General’s request of dropping his name – and at last I ruled to go ahead with the name to give the article the real “Punch” rather than talking in a general term about a real General.

3 Comments Posted on November 8, 2016May 28, 2026 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Silviculture : An Aerial View

During our trip to the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia in August 2016, we undertook a 30-minute helicopter ride over the mountain ranges and the Boreal Forests of Revelstoke, British Columbia. The town is located 641 km East of Vancouver, on the banks of the Columbia River.

A Nation of Trees

Canada is home to 10 percent of the world’s forest cover and 30 percent of the world’s Boreal Forests. About 38 percent of Canada’s land area—roughly 3.4 million of the country’s 9.1 million square kilometres—is forested. Of this, 92 percent is owned by government, highly regulated and carefully monitored. Slightly more than half is classified as commercial forest, capable of producing merchantable timber.

The 200-Year Plan

Various government agencies identify intended methods of cutting, reforesting, and managing timber resources within defined areas of responsibility. The forest management planning horizon is an astonishing 200 years—representing two full life cycles, or ‘rotations’, of the forest.

Despite being the world’s leading exporter of softwood lumber, newsprint, and wood pulp, Canada harvests less than 0.2 percent of its forest annually. On average, a tree must be 80 to 100 years old before it is ready for harvesting. If 1 percent of trees were harvested each year, the forest would have a full century to grow back before being re-harvested. In reality, the actual figure is always much less than 1 percent, though it varies annually depending on factors such as wildfire and mountain pine beetle activity.

Planting by Hand, Counting by Tree

While trees can now be felled with the help of machines, replanting must be done by hand, one sapling at a time. Certain species, such as aspen, regenerate naturally after harvesting. The number of trees in Canada works out to sixteen trees for every person. But perhaps more impressively, Canada plants an average of more than two trees for every one the industry harvests.

Silviculture: Art and Science

A silviculture system covers all management activities related to growing forests—from early planning through harvesting, replanting, and tending the new forest. Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and quality of forest vegetation to achieve a full range of forest resource objectives. Canada’s policy guideline is clear: sustain environmental and economic values for the future. By global standards, Canada’s forest management policies and practices rank among the most stringent.

The Challenge of Clearcutting

A common method of logging in Canada is clearcutting—harvesting and removal of an entire stand of trees. Although efficient, clearcutting presents environmental challenges. It can increase the harmful impact of wind and rain on local ecosystems, destroy valuable wildlife habitat for species such as pine martens and caribou, and cause soil to become dry and overheated. This, in turn, may increase the risk of fire or interfere with seedling growth. Logging operations can also alter the chemical and physical makeup of nearby water bodies, affecting the health of fish and other aquatic species.

Legal Mandates for Reforestation

Since 1949, forest companies in Canada have been legally required to reforest harvested areas. Reforestation must occur within two years of harvesting, and planting operations must promote tree survival through the winter months. Companies monitor trees for up to fourteen years after planting. In most cases, logging companies must regrow at least two trees for every one harvested. Sometimes, companies plant five or six trees per harvested tree, ensuring that enough will survive to replace those removed.

Harvesting as Renewal

Harvesting too many trees can indeed harm a forest. But with careful planning, harvesting can actually make forests healthier. Clearing out old trees makes space for new growth, continuing the life cycle. Many animals—deer, moose, and elk—prefer younger forests with fresh vegetative growth. Younger trees are also less prone to diseases and invasive insects such as the mountain pine beetle.

The Patchwork Forest

If a forest consisted only of trees of the same age, it would be neither healthy nor diverse. Above, you can see patches of forest at very different stages of growth. Older trees provide habitat for wildlife; younger trees promise renewal.

Forest harvesting involves cutting trees and delivering them to sawmills, pulp mills, and other wood-processing plants. Operations include road construction, logging, and log transportation. Years of planning go into deciding when and which parts of the forest will be harvested—and how—all to ensure protection of social and environmental values. Specific methods vary by region and forest type.

Roads Through the Woods

The forest industry builds thousands of kilometres of logging roads each year. These roads require extensive planning and surveying. They must be constructed to minimise soil erosion, protect water quality, and cause the least possible impact on the forest growing site.

Transporting Timber

Lumber and timber products are transported mostly by rail or road. Waterways are also used, with logs floated downstream in raft formations or moved by powered barges. The trans-Canadian railway line connecting the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast runs through this region.

Fire as Renewal

Forest fire is nature’s way of deforestation—but also nature’s way of renewal. These fires return valuable nutrients to the soil, enabling natural rebirth. Some pine cones need high temperatures to burst open and release their seeds. Fires also allow undergrowth exposure to sunlight, helping it grow more vigorously. Such fires naturally occur in these forests every 150 to 250 years.

A Legacy for Future Generations

Only through regulated and dedicated efforts by government agencies and the timber industry can Canada sustain its forest wealth. The efforts appear to be moving in the right direction—ensuring ecological balance while allowing forests to thrive for generations to come.

From the helicopter above Revelstoke, looking down at the patchwork green of old growth and new planting, one could see the promise of those policies playing out in real time. Not just timber, but trust. Not just trees, but tomorrow.

8 Comments Posted on November 5, 2016November 8, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Psalm 23 and Dreams

It was a ritual in our home that everyone recited the Twenty-third Psalm at the end of the evening prayer and the same was recited at our church at the end of the Holy Mass. This Psalm is applicable to one and all, irrespective of one’s religion and it reaffirms one’s faith in their God. The Twenty-third Psalm begins with “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”. In the Malayalam version which we recited as children, the “I shall not want” part was translated as “എനിക്കു മുട്ടുണ്ടാകുകയില്ല” (enikku muttundakukayilla), and I always looked at my knees after reciting it, as it literarily translated in any child’s mind as “I will not have my knees”.

God will open the door only if one knocks and hence the aspect of “I shall not want” in Psalm 23 is debatable. Without the ‘wants’ humanity would have never progressed and developed to its current stature. The modern version of the Psalm has put it more aptly as “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing”. These ‘wants’ always tempted me to dream about anything and everything I came across as a child, mostly to be rebuked by elders saying that I was wasting my time dreaming – even the act of dreaming was rationed in our childhood—‘Who can dream what and how much’ was somewhat a pre-decided issue!

As I grew up and came under the stewardship of Late Mr PT Cherian, our House Master at Sainik School, Amaravathinagar, Thamizh Nadu, who always encouraged us to dream – to dream big – that too King Size. As I grew older, I read the Wings of Fire by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam wherein he says that “Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.” This was the predicament I always faced while dreaming that it delayed my falling asleep and the same continues to date.

Veteran Commander D Reginald was my companion to operate the public address system in the school under the guidance of Mr PT Cherian while studying in Grade 9 (1974). All the amplifiers, speakers, cables, etc were kept in Mr Cherian’s Physics Lab and on Sundays after lunch we both would go there to carry out regular maintenance. Once we were accompanied by our friend S Harikrishnan (currently Manager, State Bank of India), who was an accomplished singer. The idea was to fulfill Hari’s dream of listening to his voice duly recorded on the audio cassette recorder. Being Sunday afternoon, we knew that Mr Cherian will never be around as he always enjoyed his afternoon siesta and never ever wanted to be disturbed at that time and there would be no one to stop us from (mis)using the precious cassette recorder. We recorded Hari’s song and played back the recording. That was the first time he ever heard his own singing. Hari had the brightest and the biggest eyes amongst us and he was so excited that his eyes bulged out like search lights.

After accomplishing the mission Hari left and we were on to our maintenance tasks. Reginald was always a better dreamer than I was and continues to be so till date. Our discussion was about the possibility that one day we would be able to record what we see with the same ease as we recorded Hari’s voice. That dream has come true today and we have even gone much ahead that we are able to transmit the same across the globe in real-time. Remember that ‘What you dream today will in all likelihood become a reality tomorrow.’

We have encouraged our children to dream and the effect of it is mostly heard from the washroom. I always hear their monologues, dialogues, role-playing, singing, etc while they spend their time in the washroom – the most private time one ever gets. I was really scared of doing this while growing up on the fear of what others will think about me (mad?) and so I could never give expression to my dreams.

One must dream, that too dream unlimited. That is when one gets into a creative mood and comes out with ‘out of the box’ ideas. Imagine if Newton or Shakespeare or Ved Vyasa did not dream; the world would have been surely poorer. Some of our dreams may fructify in our lifetime like the video recording dream we had as children; some we would be able to implement ourselves as we grow up.

One such dream I always carried was that of the ‘Bara Khana’ (Party for the soldiers) in the regiment. One always saw the chefs overworked in the kitchen, many soldiers toiling it out for erecting the tents, making seating arrangements, organizing entertainment, serving food and drinks, etc. Many soldiers took it as a ‘punishment’ and not as a time to make merry. My dream was that all soldiers in the regiment should be free from all chores and commitments and be free to enjoy the party with their families and friends.

On return to our permanent location in Devlali after an yearlong operational deployment, Late Col Suresh Babu approached me with the idea of party for the entire unit with the families. That was when I gave my directions based on my dreams – everything should be contracted out – from tent pitching, decorations, entertainment, food preparation and service – each and everything and no soldier would toil for it. The only hitch which Col Babu projected was that the waiters of the contractors will not be familiar with the military protocols and hence may not serve the Commanding Officer first and so on. I was fine with it as I never had any ‘doubt’ that I was commanding the unit.

On the day of the party, there were round tables laid out with chairs for all officers, soldiers and their families to sit and the contracted entertainment troupe started off with their performances. Snacks and drinks were being served by the contractor’s waiters and each and every one enjoyed the proceedings. At this time our chef came to me and said that it was the first party he attended. that too wearing his best clothes and thanked me immensely for arranging this. All the soldiers were unanimous that it was the first time they wholeheartedly enjoyed an evening, otherwise they would be running around and also closing down everything after the party. After the success of the first outsourced party, we decided that we would hold only two parties a year and would always be outsourced.

As one grows up, it would be feasible to implement one’s dreams, but many find it convenient to forget them then.

2 Comments Posted on November 1, 2016September 15, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Banff Gondola, Takakkaw Falls and Duffey Lake

After visiting the Columbia Icefields, we travelled to the town of Banff and stayed there overnight. The town of Banff was intended to be a tourist destination from its very inception. The town is situated in a valley in the Banff National Park, enclosed by the beautiful and rugged Rocky mountains. The city streets are lively with tourists and is lined with top class restaurants, bars and shops.

The town boasts of the Banff Sightseeing Gondola, located just five minutes from the Town of Banff, on the shoulder of Sulphur Mountain. The gondola ride offers a marvellous view of the town of Banff as well as the mountains around.

On the morning of August 08, 2016, we boarded a four-seater, glass enclosed gondola at the base. The glass bottom of the gondola provided us with a 360 degree panoramic view of six scenic mountain ranges around Banff. Below us, as we were moving up was the walking trail leading to the summit and there were many hikers enjoying the same view.

After about 10 minutes in the gondola, we reached Sulphur Mountain at an elevation of about 7,500 ft. It felt like being on top of the world as we stood on the spacious main level observation deck.

We got on to the Skywalk, a kilometer long walkway, created out of cedar wood platforms and steps, leading up to the Sanson’s Peak Meteorological Station. As we ascended to the top, it offered us with some incredible views into the valley. There were information boards placed at all the viewing decks explaining what we were seeing in front.

The Sundance Ranges was the most prominent of the mountains around the Sulphur Mountain, standing up majestically tall. Sundance is a sacred ceremony for the Aboriginal people who lived and travelled through these mountains for many centuries. The ranges got its name from the many Sundance sites at the base of these mountains.

On top of the summit was the Sanson’s Peak Meteorological Station. In the early 1900’s, Norman Sanson climbed a trail up the mountain every week. For nearly 30 years he recorded the weather data at the historic stone building that is still standing.

From the summit we had a mesmerising view of the Moraine Lake, cupped high among the lofty mountains and the Bow River which originates from this lake, flowing through the Banff town.

On our walk back, we were greeted by a flock of Big Horn Mountain Sheep. They were grazing on the lichens that had grown on the piers of the wooden walkway. There were many squirrels or marmots running all over the walkway as we descended.

After enjoying the scenic beauty the Sulphur Mountain offered, we returned to the base on the gondola for our onward journey to the Takakkaw Falls, the second highest falls in Canada.

Takakkaw Falls, fed by the Daly Glacier, is a waterfall located in Yoho National Park, near Field, British Columbia. Its highest point is 302 m from its base, but the water’s true ‘free-fall’ is only 260 m. It is a major tourist attraction in the summer as the melting glacier keeps the volume of the falls up during the warm summer months. In the fall, the water flow slows down and the raging falls narrows down to a ribbon of ice awaiting summer to set it free.

As we drove off the highway through many hairpin bends to the falls, we were greeted by the tremendous thunder of Takakkaw Falls. The Yoho Valley access road to the falls is closed during winter due to high-frequency of avalanches. The road is only open from June through October for the summer season.

We left our car in the parking lot and made our way through a forest track, walking for about 10 minutes, we reached the base of the falls. As we got closer to the falls, we were blasted by the deafening sound of the water pounding against the rocks. The walk was enjoyable as it offered a clear view of the falls throughout and the light spray from the falls really refreshing.

As we inched closer to the falls, we were drenched from head to toe. The falls appeared to be in slow motion as the wind in the area literally carried the water away from the rocky face. The falls being high, a large amount of water never reaches the base as it is carried away into a mist that creates many interesting shapes and swirls.

From the breathtaking falls, on our drive to Whistler, we entered the Lil’wat Territory. Lil’wat is an aboriginal group of people and also one of the largest Indian reserves by population in Canada. Líl̓wat artifacts dating back to 3,500 BC have been found in this area. Lil’wat’s connection with the land has been both economic and spiritual, with a harmonious relationship with nature — a value that remains strong today. They harvest wild fruits, hunt deer and fish. They have passed on their traditional arts, ceremonies and beliefs over the generation and teach their children St̓át̓imc language even today.

We halted at Duffey Lake. The lake is called by the Lil’wat as ‘Teq’, meaning ‘blocked’ or ‘stuck to be in the way’. This name comes from the log jam at the Eastern end of the lake.

The Western end of the lake is called Sd’akw and beyond that is the Cayoosh Mountain.

We Canadians are blessed with an abundance of natural wonders with enough lakes, mountains, waterfalls and rivers to keep us exploring for our lifetime.

3 Comments Posted on October 28, 2016August 13, 2025 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Sainik School

Suit, Boot and Tie

During our childhood the suit, boot and tie were associated with the English, the higher officials and the movie stars. We as children were mostly dressed in shorts and shirts and sometimes with rubber slippers. Most of the time we walked barefoot – to beat the water and mud splashing on to our clothes from the slippers and at many a times due to the fear of losing the slippers. May be we always forgot our slippers home as it proved to be an impediment to faster running and climbing trees. Wearing a suit and the boot always remained a distant dream.

On joining Sainik School at the age of nine, we had to wear the shoes at all times and it took me a lot of effort and time to get used to my feet being covered with the socks and the shoes. Then we were all measured by the tailors and after three months we all got our suits. A dream came true to most of my friends and me. We all wore our coats with the school insignia with a lot of pride during the winter months. In the next letter I shot off home, I wrote as to how different (smart) I looked in my coat. At that time one never realised that this piece of dress was going to be on me for a long time to come – over thirty years.

On my first vacation home I realised as what this change had done to me. I could not step out on to the courtyard of our home or walk along the paddy fields or climb trees barefooted as my soles had gone soft due to constant wearing of socks and shoes. That is when I realised that the socks and shoe had also become an integral part of me rather than being a piece of dress.

This trend with the clothes continued at different stages of my military career, at the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy and with the army unit I was commissioned into. Every where the tailors measured me and I got a new suit every time. While attending various courses in the army in different parts of the country, one realised that each military station had a set of tailors waiting to measure you and provide you with a new suit. Most of these military stations were established by the British Army and had the best climate and picturesque sceneries.

Some of these tailors stitched the suits and will put Armanis to shame, as they and their forefathers had been in this business of suit making from the era of the British Army. They were ready to finance you and accepted post-dated cheques for over a year to make good your bill. Those were the days when credit cards and credit ratings were non-existent. These tailors had a system in place and the only credit check they needed was your credibility as an Indian Army officer. The customer service they provided was exemplary compared to any standards of today. They seemed to know all the officers of our units as they also had made suits from them. They altered or repaired your suits at no cost which were send through other officers of the unit who went for the course. May be it would be an interesting research subject for the management students like the “Dabbawallahs of Mumbai”.

Wearing a suit was mandatory for us in the army for many a formal occasions. The dictum for us was that it is safer to be formally dressed in an informal occasion than being informally dressed for a formal occasion. A tie was always a saviour that at many a times it converted an informal attire into a formal one. To help me overcome this dilemma, my driver was always handy. He always carried a set of ties during the summers and a suit during the winters. While being driven, I could comfortably switch from informal attire into a formal one in minutes. On retiring from the army, I thought it was time for me to shed my formal attires and become comfortable in the informal dresses. When I took my flight to Canada, my baggage did not have any suits or ties.

On landing in Canada in the summer, I was happy to find that most men were casually dressed in their shorts and sandals and I too followed the dress code. My neck and feet must have enjoyed the wimp of fresh Canadian air. The few men I found dressed in their suits were the real-estate agents or insurance agents. The offices I went for my initial documentation all had people dressed in semi-formal clothes or work clothes and not in their suits.

On Sunday, I went to attend the Holy Mass at the Syrian Orthodox Church in Toronto and I found many men dressed in their Sunday’s best suits. The curiosity in me made me to ask a young man as to why he is wearing a suit to the church. He said as to where else will he ever wear a suit other than to the church. He narrated as to how he got two suits stitched. Based on the advice he got from a few friends that it would be much cheaper to get the suits in India than in Canada, he got two stitched. He came to Canada with the impression that every one wore suits, but after landing, he realised that he needed working-overalls and safety boots and not the suits. Now, where else will he wear the two suits he got stitched other than to the church on Sundays.

3 Comments Posted on October 25, 2016September 15, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Glaciers of the Rockies

During our trip to the Rocky Mountains in August 2016, we set out from Lake Louise to visit the Colombian Icefields. The road is rightly named as the Icefields Parkway as it offers a breathtaking view of the mountains, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, lakes and valleys as one winds the way up. There is a high chance of encounters with wildlife enroute.

After about 30 minutes of drive, we were stunned by the beauty of Bow Lake, with its cool true-blue waters and mist overhanging the water. It offered a perfect picture-postcard shot with Crowfoot Glacier in the background, whose meltwaters feed the lake. Bow Lake is right adjacent to the highway and is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park.

After spending about 30 minutes at the Bow Lake, we drove off to the Colombia Icefield Discovery Centre to undertake out trip to the Athabasca Glacier. The centre is operated only in summer (in winter the centre closes down) by Brewster Travel and located opposite the Columbia Icefields.

Straddling the boundary between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia (BC), the Columbia Icefields situated on the Rockies, is the largest ice mass in North America, south of the Arctic Circle. It is known as the ‘hydrographic apex of North America’ as the rivers emanating from these glaciers flow into three oceans – the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arctic. In effect it becomes the centre of water distribution in North America. Only one other similar divide exists and it is in Northern Siberia.

The Columbia Icefield, at an average elevation of about 3,000 m, covers an area of 365 sq km and has a maximum depth of 365 m. The highest points on the icefiled are Mount Columbia (3745 m) and Mount Athabasca (3,491 m).

Six large outlet glaciers flow from the Columbia IceField – Athabasca, Castleguard, Columbia, Dome, Saskatchewan and Stutfield Glaciers. Meltwater from the Athabasca Glacier feeds the Athabasca River which flows into the Arctic Ocean traversing about 4,000 km. Water from the Saskatchewan Glacier enters into the Saskatchewan River further flowing about 2,600 km into the Atlantic Ocean. Water from other glaciers flow into the Fraser and Columbia rivers leading to the Pacific Ocean. If these glaciers recede or disappear, it would result in a catastrophic effect on the water supply of North America.

We boarded the all-terrain Ice Explorer – a massive vehicle specially designed for glacier travel for the Glacier Adventure – a ride onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. During this thrilling trip, the experienced driver-guide shared a wealth of fascinating information about glaciers, icefields, flora, fauna and their impact on our environment.

The Ice Explorer crawled its way up and our guide showed us the trees growing close to the glacier. She said they were almost 400 years old. These trees have not grown tall as they have only two to three months of growing time. Further, the cold winds blowing away from the glacier have ensured that the branches grow away from the glacier and the side of the tree closer to the glacier is devoid of any branches.

As the Ice Explorer entered the glacier, we crossed the lateral moraines. When a glacier recedes, large amounts of debris – referred to as till – is deposited as linear ridges called moraines. As a glacier moves down a valley, the friction created by the valley sides forces deposition along the edge of the glacier. These depositions are referred to as lateral moraines. If a glacier is receding, lateral moraines provide evidence of how far the glacier has retreated.

After crossing the moraines, the Ice Explorer halted on the glacier and the tourists dismounted on to the glacier to walk on the ice and fill their water bottle with fresh glacier water. It was perfect time to capture the beauty of the icefield’s breathtaking mountain setting.

A glacier is compacted ice that is moving. Glaciers can be divided into two zones, the zone of accumulation, and the zone of melting. Where a glacier develops near the edge of an ice field, it receives great accumulations of fresh snow. At this point the glacier appears clean and a bright white in color. The elevation is high enough and cool enough to maintain the snow throughout the year. This snow compacts as ice, which becomes part of the glacier as it moves down slope

As the glacier flows farther away from the ice field and downhill, it becomes dirty and rougher in appearance. It is entering the zone of melting. Meltwater streams appear on the surface especially during the summer.

When a glacier melts more snow and ice than it receives, it begins to recede. The Athabasca Glacier is receding in length and shrinking in volume at an alarming rate. The melting rate is faster now than it has been in the last 40 years. It appears that a combination of warmer weather and a dirtier surface that absorbs the summer heat are the sources of the problem. The glacier is shrinking by 30 percent every 100 years. At this rate it would be gone in 300 years.

We boarded the bus at the glacier for the Glacier Skywalk, operated by Brewster. We were dropped at the cliff-edge walkway that extends along the Sunwapta Valley. The first 400 metres of the walk was along a cliff lined with six interpretive stations and an audio tour providing education about the area.

At the end of the walkway was a glass-floored observation platform 280 metres over the Sunwapta Valley, that extends 35 metres from the cliff. It offered a bird’s eye view and provided a unique perspective of nature at its finest. Looking down was the deep valley with the Athabasca River flowing and many waterfalls that leap from the cliffs into the river. One could see the birds flying below, feel the fresh air, relax and enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience.

6 Comments Posted on October 21, 2016December 5, 2024 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

My First Days in Canada

An essay by our son Nikhil while in Grade 4 – 2007 – three years after his arrival in Canada.

As I stepped out of the airport, I got this feeling of wonder. I saw skyscrapers that had an elegance, which could never have existed in India. The streets were so much cleaner; I could have stared at them forever. The best improvement though was the air. It didn’t smell like free flowing sewage, no, it smelled like home. All these things I could never have imagined, because they simply didn’t exist in India.

The drive to my mom’s house was long, and uncomfortable. I was excited to meet my mother after so long apart of course, but I was worried. I was worried how much she had changed, and I shuddered at the thought that I wouldn’t even recognise my own mother. As soon as I saw her, my worries melted like candle away. She kissed me, and hugged me so tight I thought my ribs would crack. She was still the same mom, and I was still her same son. I guess the important things never change, huh?

My first day of school was a nightmare. The day started of with me mouthing the words to an anthem I hadn’t even heard before. I should have known that such a rocky start was a sign of things to come. I got a crash course in everything Canadian. I had to learn words like budding (in line) and yo. I had to learn how to do those annoying knock-knock jokes, which took me forever. The day was a lesson in American culture, and it was a painful one.

Up until now, I hadn’t even thought about my radical transformation. Only now do I realise its aftermath. I had gained a flawless Canadian identity, but I had lost my Indian one along the way. I can’t even remember my home in India. I can’t speak the two Indian languages I once could. The worst consequence though is that I can’t interact with my cousins with the same familiarity anymore, it’s like there’s a wall between us. I had lost, no, I had killed my culture, and the sad part is, I didn’t even notice.

2 Comments Posted on October 18, 2016October 16, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Medicine Lake and Maligne Canyon

On our return from Maligne Lake to Jasper, we stopped by at the Medicine Lake. A geological wonder, Medicine Lake is perhaps best described as a sinking lake. In summer, the lake fills more quickly than it can drain away. The glacier melt waters flood the lake in summer, sometimes overflowing it and the body of water appears deep and expansive. In fall and winter the lake disappears, becoming a mudflat with scattered pools of water connected by a stream.

Where then does the water go?

‘Out through the bottom’ like a bathtub without a plug. The Maligne River pours into the lake from the South and the lake waters drain out through sinkholes in the bottom. The water then streams through a cave system formed in the slightly soluble limestone rock, surfacing again in the area of Maligne Canyon 16 km downstream. This is one of the largest known sinking lakes in the Western Hemisphere and may be the largest inaccessible cave system anywhere in the world.

Summer melt water coming into the lake exceeds the amount the sinkholes can drain. Decreased melt water in the late summer and fall means that the lake’s sinkholes can drain the lake faster than what the Maligne River can fill. This creates the disappearing lake phenomena.

This natural phenomenon bewildered Aboriginals and other early visitors. They found no apparent water outlet, but the lake sank in winters. Many in the early days attributed it to some spirits or demons sucking away the water in winter. Aboriginal people called the lake Medicine Lake because of its seemingly magical powers and the United Nations declared the Rocky Mountain Parks a World Heritage Site partly because of this unique drainage system.

Wolves in the region have figured out how to make it work for them. They have been known to chase caribou into the muck so they get slowed down or stuck.

Prior to the construction of the road around Medicine Lake, the irregular water levels made it difficult to get visitors to Maligne Lake. Shallow bottomed boats were employed, but they ran aground on sandbars or capsized in strong winds prevalent in the area. In an attempt to establish higher water levels, in 1930’s, the park superintendent ordered that old magazines and mattresses be thrown into the lake to plug the drainage holes and allow the lake to fill. The scheme failed to work, and no one ever tried such tricks to fool mother nature ever after.

The park officials even suggested building a dam to close the sinkholes to stem the outflow of water. It was also given up as they realised that the sinkholes were immense and needed many truckloads of soil to fill them up. It was in 1956 after Jean Corbel, a French scientist who concluded that a sinking river system had been created much before the last ice age.

These cave systems till date remain the largest inaccessible cave system in the world. In case someone attempts to go down through them, they will surely find the old magazines to read when bored.

After leaving Medicine Lake, we drove down to Maligne Canyon. The Jasper Parks have created a trail for the tourists to hike and follow the canyon as it flows down on its way to the Athabasca River which further drains into the Arctic Ocean.

The Maligne River after draining into the Medicine Lake seem to disappear and then re-emerge 16 km downstream near Maligne Canyon. Some geologists speculate that parts of the canyon were originally deep caves that have since been uncovered by glacial scraping and water erosion. This scraping of the caves lead to the canyons being narrow at the top and wider down below.

Before the last ice age ended 14,000 years ago, the Maligne Valley was buried under a glacier about a kilometre thick. Glaciers moved and the heavy ice and rock at the bottom of the glacier eroded the valley floor until it broke into the cave, later tearing the roof away. The glacial ice invaded the passage, grinding much of it away until the climate warmed and the remaining ice melted away. What was left –the geologists theorise was the Maligne Canyon.

Another interesting thing about the Maligne Canyon is that more water appears to flow out of the gorge than flows in at the ground’s surface. Most of the water in the canyon area flows underground through a cave system, 30 km long, that carries it from Medicine Lake 14 km away to Maligne Canyon’s many springs.

The underground system is extensive and during the 1970s researchers used a biodegradable dye to determine the underground river’s extent. The dye showed up in many of the lakes and rivers in the area and it became clear that the underground system was one of the most extensive in the world.

Walking on the trails along the canyon was awe-inspiring. The gorges were breathtaking, with its rushing waters and steep walls. In some places the walls narrowed, forcing the large volume of water through a series of rapids. The areas of the gorges are fenced off, as a fall here could prove fatal.

These geological wonders are one of its kind in the world and are always worth a visit.

5 Comments Posted on October 11, 2016September 15, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

Maligne Lake and Spirit Island

The first place we visited on our tour of the Rocky Mountains in our August 2016 trip was Maligne (loosely translated in French as wicked) Lake and Spirit Island. This magnificent lake is located in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The 46 km drive to the lake from the city of Jasper is on a road built along the glacier valley running between the Maligne and Queen Elizabeth mountain ranges. Towering glaciated peaks and turquoise coloured glacier lakes dot the route on the banks of rushing Maligne River. The drive offers plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife such as elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer and bears. The road ends at a Jasper National Park facility from where the boat cruises for Spirit Island begins.

We boarded a cruise boat for a 90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island. This cruise was, named the “Best Boat Tour in Canada” by Reader’s Digest. The boat was Captained by a young lady and our tour guide, also a young lady, gave us a lot of information about the lake and the surrounding areas as we cruised to the Spirit Island.

Maligne Lake, the second largest glacier-fed lake in the world and the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. Ringed by snow and ice-capped mountains, the 22 km long lake stretches past serene Spirit Island up to the melt-water channels of Coronet Glacier.

The lake was carved out by glaciers and the lake is fed and drained by the Maligne River, which enters the lake on its South side and drains the lake to the North into the Medicine Lake. An open forest of pine and spruce around the lake is home to moose, caribou and many other species of wildlife. Hiking and cross-country skiing trails abound making this a popular destination throughout the summer.

Maligne Lake was originally known as ‘Chaba Imne’ or Beaver Lake by the native tribes who lived near Jasper. In 1907 Mary Schaeffer learned of the mysterious lake and located it. She later wrote about her adventures, making the area a popular tourist attraction in years to come. She first traveled to the Canadian Rockies at the age of 18 with her friend Mary Vaux. Here Mary met Charles Schaffer, a medical doctor who was pursuing his passion for botany. They married a year later and returned to the Rockies each summer until Charles’ death in 1903. The best vantage point from where the lake can be observed with all its beauty has been aptly named as Schaffer’s Lookout after this courageous woman.

The highest peak in the area is Mount Brazeau (11,386 feet), stands at the South-East of Maligne Lake. The East side of the valley is made of steeply dipping limestone beds which is part of the Queen Elizabeth Ranges, named in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as Canada’s sovereign.

Queen Elizabeth II became queen upon the death of her father King George VI on February 6, 1952. Over the ensuing days, she received proclamations of allegiance from all of her realms – Canada being the first to do so, beating the United Kingdom by about two hours. During the coronation year in 1953, Canada offered a grand gesture to mark the occasion by naming the mountain range after her. The Queen has till date not set her foot in the area, but the mountain range stands testimony to Canada’s loyalty to the Commonwealth.

After about 14 km (30 minutes) cruise on the clear turquoise green waters of Maligne Lake, we reached the Spirit Island. One of the most popular pictures in the Canadian Rockies is the image of Spirit Island in the middle of Maligne Lake. There is no road or trail access the island. Tour boats or private, non-motorised craft are the only means of reaching Spirit Island.

According to some accounts of First Nations (Aboriginal Canadians) mythology, Spirit Island gets its name from two young lovers from feuding tribes who used to meet secretly on the island. However, when the young woman eventually confessed her affair to her father, one of the tribes’ chiefs, he banned her from ever returning to the island. Heartbroken, her lover continued to return to Spirit Island throughout his life, hoping to meet his lover. She never returned and he eventually died on the island, where his spirit still resides. The aboriginals still hold the island sacred and tourists are not allowed to step on it. The aboriginals offer prayers and conduct rituals on the island.

The boat cruised at a pretty good speed, but had to slow down to reduce the wake for the passing canoes. There were many adventurists who on their canoes were making a trip to the Spirit Island. The Jasper National Park facility rents canoes. When a tour boat crossed our boat, the Captain would warn passengers of the following wake. As our boat traversed over this wake, it gave everyone a roller-coaster effect. Had the boat not slowed down to a near stop, one can well imagine the plight of those canoes.

The lookout over Spirit Island, a small isle of trees linked to the mainland by a low, rocky isthmus, provides one of the most famous sights in the Canadian Rockies—and is surely one of the most recognised mountain scenes in all of Canada. The cruise is a must do for all nature enthusiasts visiting the Rocky Mountains.

5 Comments Posted on September 30, 2016February 14, 2023 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Skydiving Adventure

In the summer of 2009 we decided to visit Chicago for a week for sight-seeing and to meet my old Sainik School classmate Marur Mouli. Mouli had his desk next to me in the class at the especially reserved place for the abstract thinkers – the last row. We were real outstanding students in Maths that we spend most of the Math period standing outside the class where we continued discussing our teenage ‘philosophies’ of life. We both qualified the entrance exam for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Mouli was found medically unfit after the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. He had opted for the Air Force and the medicos said that he had an open sacrum – the last-vertebra in the spine. I thought they would have declared him unfit for an open mouth and not an open sacrum. Never seen Mouli quiet and would even speak while sleeping.

Mouli was a great artist in the true sense. Good at every form of art – drawing, painting, caricature, singing, playing all the instruments available in the school’s band section, acting (his playing the Pied Piper of Hamelin is still etched in my memory), debating etc. When I left school to join the NDA, I realised that Mouli was a bit dejected and in order to raise his morale I said to him “Better things are awaiting you. Better cheer up”. I never realised what I told him until he once called me while in India to say that he saw “the better thing” after a long struggle and that he was working as a graphic designer for Apple Macintosh. In 1989 he had taken up a job as a lecturer in graphic design with the Art Institute of Chicago.

During the boat cruise in the Chicago River, we came across an advertisement for skydiving and all of us decided to try our hand at it the next day. Skydiving is inherently a dangerous activity, given the unknown variables of man, nature, and machine. We reached the Chicagoland Skydiving Center located in an air-strip which was a clearing in the cornfields of Hinckley, Illinois. We reached the Center by noon and we saw a 200 Series DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft parked next to a shed which housed the office. The receptionist, a young lady, said that the minimum age for skydiving was 18 and hence Nikhil being 12 years cannot undertake the skydiving. Nikhil said that he will come back on turning 18 and wanted me also not to jump that day. So Marina and Nidhi decided to take the jump and the receptionist got all the paperwork done.

There was one man mowing the grass in the strip cleared in the cornfield and another man picking up the garbage and cleaning the washrooms and the sheds. At 12:30 PM. About 15 men came in their pickups and most appeared to be construction workers from what they were wearing. They were the instructors and after a 30 minute orientation and kitting up, they boarded the aircraft with two instructors each – one the tandem and the other the cameraman.

The man moving the grass by then had refuelled the aircraft and was seen inspecting the aircraft as he was the flight engineer. The man picking up the garbage took to the pilot seat and the young receptionist was the co-pilot. The aircraft took off and climbed to 18,000 feet and dropped the jumpers and landed back. The flight engineer, the pilot and the co-pilot – all went back to do what they were doing before the takeoff.

The freefall was for a minute and a half on a tandem with one instructor while the other was video-graphing the fall. They were taken through many manoeuvres by the instructor during the free fall. Since the jumper was in front of the skydive instructor with own altimeter and ripcord, they had the sensation of skydiving on their own. After the ripcord was pulled, the instructor offered guidance as they flew the parachute together and landed.

The greatest advantage of skydiving in the State of Illinois is that it is not mandatory to wear a helmet (even on motorcycles), but the safety goggles is a must to protect the eyes. Thus the videos come out much better without the helmet on.

After seeing as to how the Skydiving Center operated, I had to see-off a family friend from Toronto Airport by the New Delhi flight of Air India. As we reached there, a bus pulled up carrying the cabin crew and they moved to one corner. After five minutes the co-pilots arrived by a car and took position in another corner. After another five minutes the captain arrived in another car and stood in the middle. In case of all the other international carriers, all the crew and the captain all come by the same bus and move into the aircraft as a team. Now I realised why Air India is running in perpetual loss.

4 Comments Posted on September 13, 2016November 6, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada

Divine Trade on Social Media

Most netizens by now must be fed up with all the images of Gods, Godmen and their preaching which bombard their in-boxes. Generally, no one wants to show disrespect to their own Gods and also to someone else’s. The dilemma that most netizens face is that their computer systems or smartphones generally store these images by default in one folder, irrespective of the type of divine personality. Hence, these Godly images are cursed to coexist with the heavy volume of porn and nude images that one receives on the very same social media.

The senders of these Godly images did not want to show any disrespect to their Gods. Some may even be gullible enough to believe that their Gods would be happy with their actions to spread the message and image of their Gods, thereby making their Gods more saleable. The only likely beneficiary of such actions would be the Godmen whose objective is to trade this divine merchandise. Thankfully the internet does not reach the Gods, else He would have had a difficult time, sorting these messages out!

Further, these images take up a lot of bytes and is costly to download and store. The prime principle of communication is brevity which ensures speedy transmission of the message. The Generation Next have aptly taken to texting, to reduce cost and increase speed. Here there is no place for any image unless unavoidable. Most netizens sending such images on social media are generally new entrants and are still bitten by the social media bug. As time passes, many are sure to overcome this thrill, thus saving everyone money and time.

Some netizens send images of their God with an accompanying story that when they forwarded the same to 10 people, some miracle happened and this person now wants you to send it to 10 more people so that you receive such favours, else some calamity may strike you. This carrot and stick strategy again results in unwarranted traffic on the internet and sometimes it may end up as an information security risk.

Another trend observed is to publish a story about favours received by the devotees as a case of some divine intervention. I once confronted an editor of a paper publishing such paid classified advertisements and enquired as to whether he did send a copy of the newspaper to the concerned God as well. How else can you expect God to learn about the ‘earnest’ efforts of a staunch follower of His?

I requested the editor to educate the publishers about the futility of such efforts and instead if the wasted money can be paid to some charity, it would be of considerable help to the needy. Such advertisements are neither needed by God nor is it of any use to anyone except the publishing house who rake in money at the cost of the foolish believer.

Let us for a minute consider that God too was a Facebook user. Would He have approved His image or the divine article you just posted? Would He ‘like’ what you just posted? Every God would surely like a post about Him to be True, Helpful to humanity, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind to every living creations in this world, coupled with humane love.

While posting anything divine about your God, always stop to think that there are many who do not believe or follow your brand of divinity. There are atheists too who claim user-created religious content is offensive to them and many feel that it promotes forceful indoctrination into their belief systems.

Pope Francis on the 50^th World Day of Social Communications, while welcoming Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, to the Vatican said “It is not technology which determines whether or not communication is authentic, but rather the human heart and our capacity to use wisely the means at our disposal. Communication, wherever and however it takes place, has opened up broader horizons for many people. This is a gift of God which involves a great responsibility. I like to refer to this power of communication as ‘closeness’.”

Social media for sure is not a creation of God and as Pope Francis said, it is a gift of God. We all have seen it evolve before our eyes. Hence it would be the most inappropriate place for the Gods. God is counting neither the number of ‘likes’ your post has generated nor the number of times His name is tweeted. It is surely not a gateway to heaven, nirvana or moksha, but will merely help some Godmen and their cronies rake in the ‘moolah’.

Rather than beginning the day by posting our God’s image on the social media, we should rather begin each day with God. It is astonishing that those who indulge in this form of worship are unconscious of the pettiness of the whole concept. God is all knowing and all powerful and the least He needs is your reaffirmation of faith in Him through the social media.

2 Comments Posted on September 6, 2016September 8, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Living Life through an LCD Screen

Our niece Deepthi, and her fiancée, Dean exchanged their marriage vows at the picturesque Lake House Inn, Philadelphia, United States on 04 June 2016. The ceremony was presided over by Dr Alan David Fox, Professor of Asian and Comparative Philosophy and Religion in the Philosophy Department at the University of Delaware. Dr. Fox had mentored both Deepthi and Dean while at the university.

At the commencement of the ceremony, Dr. Fox requested all invitees to be seated and not to indulge in any photography. He said that the official photographer present would post the photographs on the internet for everyone to see. He also requested all the attendees to pay attention to the readings and the vows being exchanged and also participate in an important event in the life of the bride and the groom. He opined that such a solemn occasion should never be viewed through the LCD screens or the viewfinder of one’s recording device. A very profound thought.

Is there really a need to record these solemn events in one’s life?

Surely it is a once-in-a-lifetime event and it costs dearly with no upper limit. During any wedding, a great portion of the money would be spent on things that will be gone forever the day after the wedding. Only a few things remain – the rings, the dress, the photos and the memories. In this digital age, the pictures will stay until eternity, perhaps stored away in a virtual cloud, unlike our marriage album – faded, distorted and moth eaten – but the memories will fade.

Turning the pages of ones parent’s or grandparent’s wedding album is a remarkable experience. The youthful looks of the familiar haggard persona, a sort of reverse metamorphosis; the fashions, customs, traditions and rituals of a bygone era; the images of many close and not so close relatives, many of them no longer amongst the living. All of this results in a plethora of emotions flooding the sensitive mind. It is an enthralling experience to cherish. So, why on earth should this privilege be denied to the future generations?

Our son Nikhil, during his cultural exchange programme to France was very enthusiastic to visit the Louvre Museum, mainly to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. On reaching near the famous painting, he was somewhat disappointed as he felt that the original of the much revered painting now before him in ‘flesh and blood’, looked much like a fake duplicate of the many grand prints and photographs of the same painting that he had seen. Moreover, it was one of the smallest in the room. He was more bothered by some over-enthusiastic tourists, many trying to photograph or ‘selfie’ the painting. They were least bothered about others around and proved to be a real nuisance by getting in the way and sticking cameras and selfie sticks in the face of others. These ‘enthusiasts’ were merely interested in telling the world that they were there and had the least concern for others around or for the masterpieces which they had purportedly come to see!

These days it costs a mini fortune to physically witness any major sporting event. To make it a profitable experience, one must simply soak in the atmosphere of the sporting arena, get emotionally involved in the sporting action and partake of every thrilling moment of the sport. With a cell phone in hand, it appears that everyone has taken on the role of a photographer, resulting in their watching the entertaining action through LCD monitors. They would have done well to sit in the comfort of their homes and watch the same action, inclusive of slow motion replays, on their large LCD television. Then why make all the effort to go to a stadium to watch such a sporting event? Here again the selfie sticks pose a major problem and many sporting arenas in North America have rightfully banned them. These self-styled photographers should realise that all the important moments of the game have been recorded by many professional photographers with their high-resolution cameras and would be available on the websites of the newspapers and the sports organisation. Then why miss such an opportunity? Why not become part of the celebration and enjoy every moment of it?

Many parents see their children growing up through the camera lens. For them, many special events in their life slip by as they have seen them only through a lens. They do not participate with the children while on an outing or at an adventure event or at an amusement park. They fail to see the emotions and expressions on the faces of their children. They forget the prime importance of living the experience and capturing the image in one’s mind rather than in a memory stick. They forget to participate wholeheartedly, live the moment with the children and absorb the experience through every pore. Holding a costly camera or cell phone, one is sure to be scared of action and water. It would be better to take a couple of quick snapshots, then pack the camera and celebrate the occasion with one’s family. Family photos are surely a trigger for memories, but for posterity – when you are old – your eyesight will rarely be good enough for you to appreciate them. But the memory of a cherished moment, etched in one’s mind is joy forever!

I always pity those dads who video/photograph their kid’s birthday parties. They are busy adjusting camera angles and lights and hence do not participate in the celebrations. It would be prudent to call for a professional photographer to cover such events or one can request a friend to do it. Another option is to mount the camera on a tripod and get some shots with a wireless remote.

While visiting any place of interest, spend time fruitfully to learn about it. Listen attentively to the tourist guide if present or read through the information boards posted there. Help your children to understand what they are seeing and a few lines of explanation from the parents would enhance the kid’s learning. In case you are very much interested in photographing the place, reserve it for a subsequent trip.

A photograph of any object would record many a details which one would have missed while seeing it live. One may come across interesting features that the naked eye would have otherwise missed. Sophie and Joe would bear me out.

Unlike the digital cameras of today, film photography of the good old days was a pretty costly affair and one did not see the results until the all the 36 shots were taken. Many a time this would take over six months. In those days, it was easier to maintain the required balance between looking through a viewfinder and experiencing life. Today one can easily get over 200 shots in one day with hardly any effort and at no cost.

Remember that it is vitally important to maintain a right balance between viewing life through an LCD screen and experiencing it through all the senses.

5 Comments Posted on August 28, 2016August 23, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Family, Parenting, Travelogues

Climbing the CN Tower

CN (Canadian National) Tower is a 553.33 m-high (1,815.4 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in Toronto, Canada. It was completed in 1976, becoming the world’s tallest free-standing structure and world’s tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of Burj Khalifa and Canton Tower in 2010. It remains the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, a signature icon of Toronto’s skyline, and a symbol of Canada, attracting more than two million international visitors annually. Its name CN originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower, following the company’s decision to divest non-core freight railway assets.

The idea of the CN Tower originated in 1968 when the Canadian National Railway wanted to build a large TV and radio communication platform to serve the Toronto area. As Toronto grew rapidly during the late 1960s and early 1970s, multiple skyscrapers were constructed in the downtown core and the reflective nature of the new buildings compromised the quality of broadcast signals necessitating new, higher antennas that were at least 300 m tall. The CN Tower opened on 01 October 1976, but soon microwave communication and terrestrial TV/Radio transmissions were overtaken by satellite communication. Now the tower is more of a tourist attraction and is raking in more money than what it was intended for.

The 1,776 steps of the CN Tower’s main stairwell are climbed by over 20,000 people annually during two fundraising stair climbs for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Way raising well over $3 million for charity every year. A trek up one of the tallest buildings in the world, the CN Tower Climb is one of the steepest physical challenges in the city. Climbers face 144 flights of stairs with 1,776 steps, but the knowledge that all that hard work benefits a worthy cause like the United Way or the WWF, and with a bit of help from rest spots along the way, it’s sure to be a feat for over 10,000 climbers, who will look back on with pride.

Our family decided to undertake the feat on 21 April 2012, the day of the WWF climb. We all practiced for a week by climbing up and down the two flights of stairs at home and going for a jog in the evening. Our children were enthusiastic about the feat, but were a bit scared about their parents. Appa had left the army eight years before and added a few inches around his waist and Marina, a school days Kerala State 400m winner, had been out of physical activity for a long time. So each one decided to take along each of the parents and proving Sigmund Freud correct, our daughter Nidhi decided to accompany Appa and our Son Nikhil decided to go along with Marina. All set we took off early morning and reached the CN Tower. We had to shed all our jackets at the registration counter and loose objects like coins, keys, cell phones, water bottles etc are not allowed because in case anything falls off, it is sure to hurt someone climbing below.

There were thousands of people either climbing the tower or queuing up at the registration counters. We commenced our climb after a frisking for loose objects. Marina was bit slow to begin with and Nikhil kept company. Nidhi and self started well with Nidhi leading the way, until about 100 flights of stairs and then realised that Appa still had it in him and I reached the top, first amongst us in about 25 minutes. Our daughter followed a few minutes later.

The organisation enroute is worth mentioning. There is a para-medic every four flights of stairs to take care of any medical emergencies. There were posters made by school children, bringing out the importance of wild life conservation and also about the climb, placed at the landing area after each flight. As we reached on top, a bottle of water was handed over to each participant. There were climbers of all ages – from kids to grandparents, differently-able, amputees, veterans, etc.

After about 20 minutes we saw Nikhil pushing Marina out of the last step. I asked him as to how they took 45 minutes to climb up to which he Marina said that Nikhil was all the way pushing and prodding her, and waiting with her when she took breaks and she would not have completed this climb without his assistance. I felt really happy about his deed to take care of his mother and I asked him as to why he did not leave her and climb in good time as she would have somehow managed her way up. To this Nikhil said that this may be the only time when Marina would climb the tower and he can do it in a shorter time later. It was real moment of pride for all of us and I said to him that he did a great job in taking care of his mother and many teens would not have done so and I see a bright star in the sky in you.

On reaching home in the afternoon, an Indian family friend called us to enquire about the climb. He asked as to how much we paid and I said that we had to pay $100 per climber as charity to WWF. To this he said that going up the elevator costs only $25 and you pay $100 to strain yourself and climb all the way. I did not say a word in response.

In the evening another Indian friend wanted to know as to why I took the entire family for such an ordeal (in case you are mad, you could have done it yourself), and I said that it was aimed to boost self confidence and leadership qualities in children and also to encourage charity for a cause like WWF. To this he said that he did not understand the connection between climbing 1776 steps and leadership qualities to which I did not respond.

6 Comments Posted on August 26, 2016November 25, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

The Mennonites

When Gulliam Le Floch, the French exchange student came to live with us in August 2014, we visited the Mennonite community in the St Jacobs Village in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The aim of the visit was to introduce Gulliam to the Canadian culture and the people. Mennonite is a Christian group, by the name of Anabaptists, who took their name from their Dutch founder, Menno Simons. They believe that they are to follow the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ, which they held onto firmly despite being persecuted by various Roman Catholic and Protestant states. They are known as people of Peace Churches as they would rather flee a country than fight for their rights, or be forced to fight for that country, as they are committed to non-violence. Hence, they do not join the armed forces or the police. Today, there are 1,500,000 Mennonites around the world and there are congregations world-wide with large populations in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Mennonites are recognizable by the way they live and dress, with many living the way their forefathers did. They have rejected the use of modern technology and motorised transportation and have succeeded in continuing a traditional farming style. Most use tractors and mechanized equipment, though a few very conservative Mennonites use a horse. Driver’s licenses are forbidden, though motorized transportation may be hired for longer distances.

Most Mennonites have telephones, running water and electricity and use freezers and washing machines but not dryers. The community allows for two phones per family, but without accessories on the phones. They do not use cellular phones, fax machines, computers, television, or radios. They accept neither health care nor education paid by the state. Their children are reportedly doing well in mathematics as they do not use calculators and cellphones. They are considered hard working, thrifty and industrious, and live a rural, agricultural lifestyle and are often seen in local markets selling their home-baked pies, fresh eggs and home-grown vegetables.

The men wear plain trousers and jackets, and often a plain straw hat and women wear their hair long but covered by a prayer cap and have plain dresses, often dark navy blue, brown or black. The overall impression is one of simplicity and plainness, which is their aim.

On the roads of St Jacobs, you can find them in their horse drawn buggies as they go about their daily lives. They often choose to educate their children in schools they run themselves, as this ensures that their beliefs and values are passed on to the next generation, which is probably the reason for their continued growth and success. The Mennonite children are baptised in their late teens when they accept to live as a member of the community, accepting the Mennoite way of life. Those wishing to leave the community for better educational or career objectives are allowed to leave.

Due to their emphasis on the virtues of thrift, diligence, frugality, and humility, Mennonites learned to earn a living on the poorest soils to where persecution often drove them. They learned to improve the fertility of poor soil and experiment with new ways of farming. Over the centuries, they developed both skills and a reputation as expert farmers.

In Canada, the Mennonites took to maple syrup production in a big way. Maple syrup is often eaten with pancakes, waffles, French toast, or oatmeal and porridge. It is also used as an ingredient in baking and as a sweetener or flavouring agent. Culinary experts have praised its unique flavour, although the chemistry responsible is not fully understood. Maple syrup is also used in specialty products such as maple butter and candies.

Canada has a large number of sugar maple trees. Canadian national arboreal emblem is the maple tree showing Canada as a world leader in sustainable forest management. The Canadian flag is red and white, with a stylized eleven-point maple leaf at its centre.

The sugar maple trees are tapped in the spring to extract the sap of the trees. Each fall, the maple trees shed all their leaves and also produce starch that helps protect their roots from freezing during winter. The trees then convert this stored starch into sugar. When the snow melts, water penetrates the roots and mixes with this sugar to produce sugared watery sap. During the warm spring days, this sap moves up the tree to the buds in preparation for the growing season. During the cold nights, the sap moves down to the roots to avoid freezing. The spring thaw causes the wood of the tree to expand, which puts the sap in the wood under pressure. This movement of the sap lasts for about three weeks, until the tree’s buds leaf out, generally from March to April.

During this period of spring of warm days and cold nights, the sap is extracted through a hole drilled into the wood. The holes are connected with a pipeline ending at the collection tank. In the earlier days, buckets were used to collect the sap. The sap is then boiled in huge boilers to produce the maple syrup. The sap has to be boiled the same day that it is harvested, so maple producers must keep steady fires going constantly to obtain good maple syrup. On average, it takes about 32 liters of maple sap to produce one liter of maple syrup.

The visit to the Mennonite community was an interesting study for all of us and to see a close-knit community in Canada still living under the age-old traditions, customs and practices.

7 Comments Posted on August 19, 2016August 17, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Travelogues

RCMP Musical Ride

The Tavistock Agricultural Society hosted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP – fondly called ‘Mounties’ by Canadians) Musical Ride on August 15, 2016. Tavistock, part of Oxford County in Ontario, is a German/Scottish community founded in 1848 by Captain Henry and is famous for its cheese production and fresh meats. It served as a gathering place for agricultural workers and soon became equipped with taverns, flour mills, blacksmith shops and general stores. Tavistock is also home to many Mennonite families today.

An RCMP Musical Ride performance is a splendor to watch. It is exciting, full of pageantry, and truly Canadian. The ride is performed by a full troop of 32 riders and their horses. Their performance consists of intricate figures and drills choreographed to music. These movements demand utmost control, timing and coordination. It presents a first-hand view of the precision and attention to detail for which the RCMP has become famous for.

The RCMP has become a national symbol of Canada. The courage, sacrifice and steadfast determination of its members to maintain law and order have been the source of many legends. Many movies and over 300 fiction and non-fiction books have told the tale of the adventures and history of RCMP. The image of RCMP members on their trusted and faithful horses finds its righteous place on Canadian stamps, coins, souvenirs, and posters.

In early 1869, the Canadian government purchased Rupert’s Land (now Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, and Eastern Northwest Territories) from the Hudson’s Bay Company and renamed it the North-West Territories. The Canadian Government encouraged settlements in the area to harness the agricultural potential of the fertile area. In order to establish and maintain social order, North West Mounted Police (NWMP) was created in 1870.

The first officially recorded NWMP Musical Ride was performed in Regina on January 16, 1887 and the first general public display of the Musical Ride was held in 1901. In 1902, the uniform of the NWMP changed to a more modern uniform of this day. Two years later, prefix of ‘Royal’ was conferred on the NWMP by His Majesty King Edward VII, in recognition of its past service. In 1920, the name of the Force changed from the Royal Northwest Mounted Police to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was designated Canada’s national police force.

In the summer of 1921, the RCMP Musical Ride members performed their first public display in Ottawa. in 1930, the Musical Ride went to England for the first time to perform at Olympia and in London. The first Musical Ride tour to the United States was in 1934 to New York City, with a repeat performance the following year.

In 1951, a Musical Ride troop provided an escort for Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip when they visited Canada. Two years later, when Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, a Musical Ride troop acted as the RCMP contingent in her coronation procession. It was also part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Queen Elizabeth II is the Honorary Commissioner of the RCMP and she takes a keen interest in horses and is and highly knowledgeable. She has been presented with four horses as gifts from the Force.

In 1974, the RCMP Regulations changed to permit females to join the Force. Six years later, the first female members were selected for the Musical Ride. Since that time, two or more female members make up each Musical Ride.

One of the most prominent symbols of Canada is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) ‘Mountie’, wearing his red serge uniform and brown Stetson. The red tunic was chosen to emphasize the British nature of the NWMP, and to make it distinct from the blue American military uniforms.

The ceremonial uniform of the RCMP and its horses is perhaps one of the most recognised in the world. The riders wear the red serge, which consists of a high collared scarlet tunic, a Sam Browne belt with shoulder cross strap and white sidearm lanyard, dark blue breeches with a yellow stripe, brown riding boots, a brown Stetson hat with a wide, flat brim, and brown gauntlets. It is believed that Sam Steele, one of the original NWMP, introduced the style of hat, as it was a practical item to wear while on patrol, unlike the British pith helmet.

The riders carry lances, while the Officer in Charge carries a sword. The lance was carried by the men on the Long March as it was believed to be intimidating.
The horses also wear a uniform, which consists of a double bridle with a white neck strap or ‘head rope,’ white brow-band and English style saddles. The horse’s white head rope was used by the NWMP to tie the horses when dismounted. The horses’ royal blue saddle blankets, called ‘Shabrack’ are emblazoned in yellow with the fused letters MP. The horses also have a maple leaf brushed onto their rumps; this is done with a wet brush and a stencil before each performance.

in 1938, Commissioner Wood had ordered the RCMP to use only black mounts after being impressed at how the red RCMP tunics looked against black horses. Today, the horses are bred primarily for colour, temperament, and conformation. They got to be athletic, with the stamina, substance, and conformation to be able to perform the intricate movements required in the Musical Ride performance.

About 200 horses are owned by the RCMP Musical Ride. 36 travel on the Ride each year. 32 take part in each performance, one is ridden by the Officer in Charge, and three extra horses act as replacements if another gets sick or lame.

One of the most familiar Musical Ride formations is the ‘Dome’ that once featured on the back of the Canadian fifty-dollar bill.

The riders demonstrated their lance drill wherein they showcased various movements with their lances.

Another highlight is the ‘Charge,’ when lances, with their red and white pennons, are lowered, and the riders launch into the gallop.

The conclusion is the ‘March Past,’ performed to the strains of the “RCMP Regimental March” and a salute to the guest of honour.

After the much-anticipated performance was over, the troops lined up facing the fence so that young and old could pet the horses and ask the riders questions about their experiences as members of the ride and as RCMP.

The RCMP Musical Ride consists of the execution of several intricate figures, with movements being formed by horses and riders in two’s, four’s and eight’s at a trot and canter. The RCMP Musical Ride continues to provide displays of horsemanship around the world.

6 Comments Posted on August 12, 2016January 20, 2023 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Indian Army

Bicycle – Oh My Old Companion

Our family friend took part in this year’s Tour De Mississauga, a 30/60/100 KM cycling event. This year it attracted over 1600 cyclists of all abilities from all around the Toronto Area. Cyclists of every age or ability, on every kind of bike (including electric assist), participated. The aim of the event is to familiarise cyclist with the various cycling trails and lanes available in the city, to develop a spirit of adventure and also to encourage cycling, both as a sport and as a physical activity. The event was well organized and truly lived up to its motto ‘THIS IS NOT A RACE – THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION!’

As is the case with all such community activities in Toronto area like marathons, climbing the CN Tower, parades, etc, in this activity too there were hardly any participation by immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. When will we learn to amalgamate with the Canadian society? Participating in such events will not only develop community spirit in the participants, but will also raise money for some charity. It develops leadership qualities in children and encourages the spirit of adventure in them. Preparing for the event and participation will keep everyone healthy and improve one’s confidence level. Completion of the event will give you immense pride and sense of achievement. It will prove to you that you are physically healthy to undertake such difficult ordeals.

The local governments are doing their best to encourage cycling as a daily activity. Most of the roads in the Toronto Area have either a bicycle lane or off-road cycling paths. Bicycle Lanes are typically 1.5 m to 2 m wide, and designate a space on the roadway exclusively for the use of cyclists. Motor vehicles are not allowed to drive, park or stand in the bike lane. Off-Road Paths include trails through parks and along the arterial roads. Cyclists, skaters and pedestrians often share these paths.

On arrival in Canada, I saw a something like a crash-guard which we have on the front bumpers of the cars back home on the buses in the Toronto Area. On inquiry I learnt that it is a cycle carrier to carry two cycles. Many commuters feel that cycling or taking the bus just doesn’t compete with the convenience of a car. But in Toronto Area, “biking and bussing” is easy. You can cycle to a bus stop or station and then bring your bike on the bus. By biking and bussing you’ll not only improve your health, but also help reduce gas emissions.

In Toronto, bicycles are permitted on buses, trains and subways at all times except weekdays during peak hours. Bicycle transportation is a growing activity in Toronto and throughout North America, due in part because of the many benefits cycling offers. Transportation by bicycle is the most energy efficient mode of transportation, and generates no pollution, except in its manufacture. Cycling is often the fastest mode of transportation from door to door for distances up to 10 km in urban cores. Ten bicycles can be parked in the space required for a single automobile. Short distance motor-vehicle trips are the least fuel-efficient and generate the most pollution per kilometer. These trips have the greatest potential for being replaced by cycling and walking.

BIXI – Bike Share Toronto – is designed to be a convenient way to get around the city, and is ideal for short rides and one-way trips. The members get access to 2,000 bikes across the city. They can pick up a bike at one of 200 stations, and drop it off at any other station when done. One need to become an Annual Member or buy a Day Pass to be able to use Bixi. An Annual Member can insert a bike key into a dock to unlock a bike. Day Pass holders will get a ride code, which when typed into the keypad on the dock, unlocks a bike. The first 30 minutes of each ride are included in the membership or pass price. One can keep a bike out for longer, but additional usage fees will apply.

Reducing auto trips will mitigate ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect, ground level air pollution, photochemical smog, acid rain and noise pollution. Cycling contributes to personal health by enhancing fitness and providing an enjoyable, convenient and affordable means of exercise and recreation. Increased physical activity, such as walking and cycling, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and the cost of medical care, decrease workplace absenteeism, and maintain the independence of older adults. Cycling benefits one’s health regardless of the age at which one takes up cycling.

During our training at the National Defence Academy, Pune, cycling was the only mode of transportation for the cadets, else one had to run. The Academy campus is spread over 7000 acres and to reach various training event sites, a cadet had to cycle an average of 20 km per day. While cycling, one had to maintain proper squad discipline and pay proper respects to passing senior officers.

Any minor infringement ensured that the cycle was on you rather than you being on the cycle. Every semester begun with the cycle issue and always ended with the cycle return, after which was a month’s vacation. We used to have a weekly cycle maintenance parade to wash and repair the cycles. Thus even today, the cycle is the most ardent companion of every cadet at the academy, without which life would have been much more difficult.

3 Comments Posted on July 26, 2016April 8, 2024 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Selfie Menace and Images on Social Media

The youth of today seems mesmerised by the selfie trend. They take selfies anywhere and everywhere, without paying heed to the sentimentality and solemnity associated with the occasion. They do not even spare funerals.

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt selfie at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela went viral on the social media. This image showed Thorning-Schmidt flanked by a smiling Barack Obama on one side and David Cameron squeezing in on the other. All of them appeared to be having fun when everyone was paying their respects to the departed soul of a world leader. The reactions it created is well imaginable.

Here is a lesson for every netizen. The moment an image is posted, it travels at the light of speed all over the globe. Any awkward image provides an opportunity for the netizens to post their comments and most of these comments are going to be unpalatable. When you post an image on the social media or the Internet, you are responsible and accountable for it. It is for you to ensure that you do not bring in shame or touch the sensibilities of others with the image. You need to ensure that you do not hurt anyone’s career or personal life in any way. Make sure that you have the permission to post someone’s photograph on the social media. Copying and pasting someone else’s photo without prior permission, even with due credits, is a crime and violation of copyright.

In today’s world, many legal cases have emerged due to such unauthorised posting of images. Many have been charged as stalkers/ pedophiles. This makes it all the more important to avoid taking pictures of children without permission of their parents, even at public events or social gatherings. Some schools have banned photography in all their school functions, obviously to avoid misuse by unscrupulous elements. Before tagging anyone on a photograph, it is your responsibility to obtain necessary permission from the person. Many people today feel offended by such acts.

Posting the images of your children need special attention. Over exposure of your children on the social media is not recommended. Ensure that the images are not likely to be misused by anyone. Similarly, posting images with high resolution may also invite trouble. It is prudent on your part to distort or add noise to the image before posting it. You can use any photo-editor or use many free online photo-editing app for it.

Avoid posting disturbing images of sick people, accident victims, etc. This leaves a bad taste in the viewer’s mind. Selecting necessary security settings to ensure that the persons intended are only seeing the image posted is always a good idea. In case you are comfortable with the subject of your image, you can broadcast it to the whole world.

One got to be extra-careful while posting of images during distress or calamities. Some of your images may spread a feeling that you are not sensitive to the situation. Similarly, images of funerals, cremation, obituaries, etc must be minimised. You should pay special attention to the photos you post for such melancholic occasions and remove them immediately thereafter.

Before uploading, posting or sharing a photograph, always pause and think what potential damage your act can cause. Consider as to how your friend’s parents, siblings or teachers might react to the photo. There have been many instances of people losing their jobs due to such inadvertent postings by their friends. Many companies, prior to hiring, do peruse through the prospective employee’s social media sites to look for such aberrations. Photos of many politicians in their youth have come haunting them later and have often caused considerable embarrassment.

Many netizens tend to be bold on the Internet and on social networks and do things they might otherwise not do. Many create fake profiles and some use tagging to attract the unsuspecting netizens on to their web page or website. Obviously, these sites are real suspect in their content.

Geo-tagging of photos is a way of letting friends and families know where you are. At the same time you are also at risk from burglars and stalkers. Cyber criminals on the prowl can easily find out about your routine and also know when you are away from your home. If you are out of station and your photo posted with a location far away will be boon for the burglars as they can very well predict your likely time of return.

If you post a photo you did not shoot, you could be violating someone’s copyright. They reserve the right to take you to court and also sue you for damages. The Facebook Terms of Service state, “You will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else’s rights or otherwise violates the law. We can remove any content or information you post on Facebook if we believe that it violates this Statement or our policies. If you repeatedly infringe other people’s intellectual property rights, we will disable your account when appropriate.”

If you post pictures from a concert, fair, flash mob or any public gathering, you can post those photos without specific permission of the people you captured on camera. There is an expectation of privacy in places like a public washroom, swimming pool, courtroom or hospital. In many schools, photography during the public functions are strictly forbidden. In such places, obviously, you cannot shoot and will have to depend on the official photographer if any.

It is the responsibility of every netizen to take responsibility for all the photos and images posted on the Internet. Hence before posting “Always STOP and THINK” about the likely repercussions your innocent post may bring about.

Over enthusiasm to shoot a selfie must be curbed, especially at public functions as you become more of an eyesore. As per The Telegraph, more people have died in 2014 from selfies than shark attacks. An engineering student from Thamizh Nadu, India, fell to his death while taking a selfie. Seven Indian youths drowned while taking selfies on Mangrul Lake, Nagpur, India as they had tipped over while posing for a selfie.

3 Comments Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Reji Koduvath Canada

The Invictus Games

The word ‘Invictus’ means ‘unconquered’. It showcases the fighting spirit of the injured military personnel and what these tenacious men and women can achieve, post injury. The Games harness the power of sport to support recovery and rehabilitation. It has helped to generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.

The Invictus Games was the brainchild of Prince Harry, a former Apache helicopter pilot who served with the British armed forces in Afghanistan. He was inspired to launch an event after seeing three young soldiers badly injured in Afghanistan in 2008. At the time, Harry was being sent home after the news of his presence in Afghanistan as a British army officer was flashed by the media. This endangered his fellow officers, forcing him to leave, even though he wanted to stay with his soldiers.

While sitting aboard his flight home, Harry saw a coffin of a Danish solider loaded aboard. Also on that flight were three young British soldiers on stretchers in induced comas, wrapped in plastic, with missing limbs and tubes coming out of them.

On a trip to the Warrior Games in the USA in 2013 he saw how the power of sport could motivate the injured soldier physically, psychologically and socially. He formed the Invictus Foundation and hosted the inaugural Invictus Games at London from 10-14 September 2014 which was attended by over 400 competitors from 13 nations. Across four days of intense sporting action, they competed in nine sports in five venues.

Thus was born the Invictus Games, the only international adaptive sporting event for wounded and sick soldiers and veterans.

The Games started with a spectacular Opening Ceremony, with an audience of 5,000 gathering on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the special military themed opening event. With a fly past from The Red Arrows, displays by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Queen’s Colour Squadron and performances from bands in the Royal Marines, Army and RAF, the Games kicked off with all pomp and ceremony.

Prince Harry on conclusion of the first Invictus Games said “These Games have shone a spotlight on the ‘unconquerable’ character of service men and women and their families and their ‘Invictus’ spirit. These Games have been about seeing guys sprinting for the finish line and then turning round to clap the last man in. They have been about teammates choosing to cross the line together, not wanting to come second, but not wanting the other guys to either. These Games have shown the very best of the human spirit.”

According to Prince Harry, the 2014 Games were just the beginning of the Invictus story. The competitors showed grit, determination and humour with an absolute refusal to be beaten or be defined by their injuries. There the Invictus spirit was born. He was excited to see the American public supporting these inspirational men and women at the 2016 Invictus Games. Seeing so many men and women competing against each other with huge beaming smiles, made him realise the power of the concept behind Invictus Games. He is of the opinion that sports can make a huge difference and help the injured soldiers fix their lives and those of others around them.

The Invictus Games 2016 was held at Orlando, USA from 08 to 12 May 2016. The games featured 500 competitors from 15 nations: Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America. First lady Michelle Obama, Britain’s Prince Harry and Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman delivered stirring speeches during the opening ceremony.

Freeman powerfully orated the Invictus Pledge to the crowd to help conclude the ceremony:
Your service sets an example
Your bravery inspires me
It is my honor now
To support and give you courage
To fight for you as you fought for us
To keep your family close beside
To take the steps you need to take
I am here for you.

President George W Bush is the Honorary Chairman of the Games. He said “I have dedicated the rest of my life to honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women with whom I served as Commander-in-Chief. Those who wear their Nation’s uniform, some of whom have overcome both visible and invisible injuries, deserve our support. I am proud to serve as honorary Chairman of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, and to shine a spotlight on the unconquered spirit of these men and women, not just from the American team but from 15 coalition nations.”

The George W Bush Institute conducted an international symposium at Invictus Games Orlando 2016 on May 8, to discuss solutions aimed at helping returning servicemen and women improve outcomes for their transition back to civilian life.

The Invictus Games 2017 would be hosted by Toronto, Canada, from September 26 to 30. It coincides with the celebrations of the 150^thanniversary of its Confederation and 100^th anniversary of Canada’s defining rolein the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I. It will provide a unique opportunity for Canadians to commemorate and honour its injured soldiers and their families. Ontario has committed up to $10 million in support of the Invictus Games 2017. It is expected to feature more than 600 competitors from 16 nations.

The kickoff for the Invictus Games 2017 was held on 02 May 2016, by way of an exhibition sledge hockey game at Toronto. Prince Harry joined Prime Minister Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory were in attendance.

Paraplegic rehabilitation Centre (PRC), Kirkee, is a pioneer in introducing sports on wheelchair for the Indian wounded soldiers. The First National Games for disabled were also organised by PRC and were held at the Centre. Inmates of the Centre are undisputed champions in wheelchair sports at National level. At the international level, inmates from PRC have won many medals.

Will India ever hold an Invictus Games? Will someone sponsor the Games? It is ironic that the sponsor for the Invictus Games 2014 and 2016 was none other than Indian owned Jaguar Range Rover.

4 Comments Posted on July 15, 2016January 28, 2024 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Parenting

Doing it Right

Walking our dog in the mornings and evenings is a ritual undertaken every day. On such a walk, we came to a pedestrian crossing and the signal started to blink red. There was a mother with her two teenaged children trying to cross. The mother started crossing and was howling at the top of her voice in Punjabi, instructing the children to follow her. The children did not move and were advising the mother against her action. The mother crossed over and the children were left behind. Here the generation gap became evident both physically and mentally. From their diction, it was evident that the mother was brought up back home in India and the children were nurtured in Canada.

On one such walks, we were accompanied by our son and I was about to take the dog across the crossing when the light had started blinking red. Our son advised me not to do it and further added that this act was very much like running over a red light while driving. Even now I do get an itch to cross over in similar situation, but I always remember our son’s advice.

One always wondered as to how come we have that itch to break a simple law – it neither saves time nor is it any way more convenient. One can attribute it to the ethos we had practiced back home and also to the denials we faced. The spirit of winning a competition by using any means and to push forward one’s agenda could have resulted in this.

The competition we faced back home always prompted us to cross-examine our children when they came home with a report card or a test result. We always wanted to know as to who got the maximum marks, where does our child stand in the class, etc. I also followed this when our daughter came home with her first report card in Canada. She said it Is indecent to ask someone their marks in Canada and the marks are confidential and is never announced in public. My mind raced back to our school days and even our army course days; where no marks were ever kept confidential and were mostly put up on a notice board. What an injustice, especially to those who did not fare well.

In Canada, the end-of-term report cards come home in a sealed envelope and there is no discussion about the student’s performance or there is no parent interview.

The parent-teacher meeting is held after six weeks into the semester. One has heard most teachers saying that the child is doing well, whether the child had scored marks or not. In one such meeting I asked the teacher as to what he meant by saying that the child is doing well. He said that the child is doing well to his ability and your effort. My mind went back to the parent-teacher meeting we had back home where it was more of a slew of complaints than any compliments.

After an important presentation of our son in high school, I inquired as to what the teacher had commented on the presentation. He said that the teachers do not make any comment in the class and all assessment aspects would be covered on the marking sheet. The marking sheet is a rubric given to student well in advance, showing all aspects that would be assessed with complete marking scheme. This leads to more objectivity and less subjectivity. During our Long Gunnery or any Army Course teaching practices, we neither had any rubric nor were aware as to how the session would be assessed. A lot of subjectivity was left for the assessor. Each session ended with a detailed commentary by the assessor, many a times touching a high level of ridicule. The said aim of such commentary was that it would bring out the lessons for others, but at what cost?

Our course-mate from the National Defence Academy, Air Vice Marshal TD Joseph, VM, VSM, visited us in June 2016. At the end of his stay with us, I asked him as to what he is taking with him back to India. He said that the lesson he learnt in Canada was that in case everyone did everything correctly and the best way they could, this world would be a great place to live. He was convinced that in case everyone followed the rules and regulations, life would be much better, and breaking rules lead to corruption and chaos, causing inconvenience to one and all.

5 Comments Posted on July 5, 2016September 8, 2026 by Reji Koduvath Canada, Kerala

Nostalgia Induced by Free Range Eggs

Driving through the Canadian countryside, we came across a farm selling farm fresh eggs. They also offered free-range eggs at more than double the price of regular eggs. These, they claimed, were laid by hens raised without cages or other confinement housing, with access to the outdoors—weather permitting.

The Confusion of Labels

The labels on egg cartons in Canada are confusing and often misleading. Only a handful are certified by third-party agencies like SPCA Certified, which means the product comes from a farm that follows prescribed animal welfare standards, assessed annually by a trained inspector. Similarly, Certified Organic means the birds are raised on organic feed without growth hormones or antibiotics.

I am told that broiler chickens raised on growth hormones are in such terrible pain—their legs unable to support their own body weight—that we are actually doing them a favour when we slaughter them.

There are many uncertified but somewhat accepted labels, more fashion statements than guarantees. Labels like Free Range and Free-Run denote that hens can move around in open-concept barns, but they do not necessarily have access to the outdoors. Cage-Free and Pasture-Raised are also common. Labels such as Animal Friendly, Country Fresh, Naturally Raised, Non-Medicated, Raised Without Antibiotics, Raised Without Hormones, Vegetable-Fed, or Grain-Fed mean very little and are often misleading.

If there are no labels, or the label states Classic, Conventional, Regular, Farm-Fresh, or Natural, it means that the hens were kept in cages for almost their entire lives. These cages are about the size of a file cabinet drawer and can hold up to seven hens. It is estimated that 95% of eggs produced in Canada come from hens confined to such cages, where their movement is severely restricted and they are denied fundamental behavioural needs like wing-flapping, foraging, perching, and nesting.

The space provided for each hen varies but may be as little as 432 square centimetre (67 square inch) per bird—less than a standard-sized piece of notebook paper. Generally, four to six birds are housed in each cage, and cages are stacked vertically (hence the term battery) to allow thousands of hens to be housed in a single barn.

Canadian law mandates that: –

Birds must be able to stand fully upright within the enclosure.
Flooring must support the birds’ feet and not cause injuries or deformities.
All birds must have access to at least two waterers.
Automated feeding systems must minimise the risk of chicks getting caught.
Tiers must be arranged to prevent droppings from falling directly on tiers below.
The number of tiers must not exceed four.

Childhood Memories of Free-Range Poultry

In my childhood in Kerala, I was always fascinated by the brood my mother reared. The most dominant cock assumed the position of a rooster, leading the flock. There were many duels to establish supremacy, and the defeated cocks submitted to the victor. The rooster always pushed ahead of the females to have first pickings of the food while the hens stood back.

In the evenings, the brood returned and never entered the coop but perched on the tamarind tree behind it. The rooster perched on the top with the hens and other cocks below him—hence the idiom ruling the roost. The rooster was always on the lookout for intruders and predators, warning the brood about them. He also attacked and threw away intruders. The rooster crowed at the break of dawn, announcing to the world his presence and dominance. It also served as an alarm for our father, who woke us all up for morning prayers.

The rooster also crowed in response to a potential rival and, when being fed in the morning, used it as a way to assert that the food was his. It also served as a warning to other roosters in the neighbourhood not to trespass on his territory.

Our neighbour’s rooster was bigger and always bullied ours. In one such fight, I—then about four years old—barged between the two roosters in an attempt to protect ours. The neighbour’s rooster flew into a rage and pecked my forehead, leaving me bleeding and presenting me with a scar that became my identification mark. A mark of recognition! How would I be identified without the help of the neighbour’s rooster? A philosophical poser.

The Mating Ritual

Rooster Naughty Bits Explained – Bitchin' Chickens

The rooster mates with the hens during the day, like all birds. The mating ritual typically begins with a rooster performing a dance to attract his mate. He dips one wing, waves his colourful tail feathers, and dances around the hen in a circular pattern. If the hen is receptive, she crouches down and allows the rooster to mount her; otherwise, he forces himself upon her. For balance, he pecks on her comb atop her head. The entire mating lasts only a few seconds.

Both male and female chickens have one exterior sexual opening called a cloaca. When a rooster mounts a hen, he tucks his tail under the hen’s in a cloacal kiss, passing sperm to fertilise the egg. The sperm travels up the oviduct, where an egg is released every day. One mating can leave enough sperm to fertilise each egg for up to a week.

The End of the Rooster

The hens usually met their end by dying of old age, disease, or falling prey to intruders like foxes, dogs, or cats. Some got run over by vehicles on the road in front of the house. The rooster’s end, however, was another story. Amma would order us sons to butcher one to be the entrée for dinner when an uncle came calling. The cocks also met similar fates to celebrate Christmas and Easter. She indicated the cock to be butchered by its colour, and at night, one had to climb the tamarind tree with the skill of a leopard, locate the cock, and catch it. It was indeed a “surgical strike.” The operation was impossible during the day, as the cock always ran away.

We then had to butcher it and dip it in boiling water to de-feather it. Unlike the factory-reared chicken of today, these fowls, being free-range, carried no fat between their skin and muscles. Skinning them was impossible. The meat took longer to cook and was harder to bite into but always tasted much better. Similarly, the eggs from free-range hens tasted much better to my palate than the factory-produced eggs served at the Cadets’ Mess or the Officers’ Mess. It could be because these hens foraged on leaves, especially those of the herbal plants that grew abundantly around our house.

Hatching Chicks

Every other year, Amma hatched chicks to replenish the dwindling strength of her brood. She selected a healthy hen that had just entered her broody state and prepared a safe area in the storeroom, away from other hens and cats. A hen in a broody state does not lay eggs, eats hardly, remains in her nest, is very irritable, and assumes she is incubating eggs to hatch, even though there is nothing under her.

She then picked out a dozen eggs from the recent pile. She was a bit superstitious when it came to placing the eggs under the hen for incubation. She believed that anything she touched turned male—which, she claimed, was why we did not have a sister. I was presumed to be the lucky one because whenever I placed the eggs under the brooding hen, it mostly resulted in about eight females and four male chicks.

After I left home to join Sainik School, the job was given to my younger brother. It turned out that barring two, the rest of the chicks were all males. That possibly explains why he has two sons today!

The Life of the Chicks

After twenty-one days of incubation, the chicks hatched. The mother hen led them out, teaching them to eat, drink, and walk through the farm. In case of any attack from predators like cats, hawks, or crows, the mother hen tucked the chicks under her wings. She also attacked the intruder with her beak. The rooster immediately came to her rescue and joined the fight to repel the intruder. As children, we used to artificially colour the chicks red, orange, or pink to scare away predator birds.

The Annual Feast

The offering at the annual feast of our ancestral church, with St. George as the patron saint, was fowl. Many ladies in the area conditionally promised St. George that they would offer a fowl if at least ten of the dozen chicks survived. The responsibility to take care of the chicks rested with St. George—and if he failed, he lost a fowl during the annual feast!

After about six weeks of rearing the chicks, the mother hen either avoided them or pecked them away, as they had now become capable enough to take care of themselves. They now grew as free-range fowls to produce eggs or to end up as entrée at the family dinner.

The End of an Era

With rubber plantations replacing the pineapple and tapioca cultivation in our farmland, forage for the fowls reduced. A spurt in vehicular traffic on the road in front of our house made it unsafe for the birds. Easy availability of eggs and chicken meat at affordable prices without hassles made rearing fowls uneconomical. All these factors, along with my mother’s advancing age, contributed to the sad end of fowl rearing at our home—as also in much of rural Kerala.

At the very thought of those childhood days with the free-range brood around, I am flooded with a wave of nostalgia.

PS – Thanks to Late Veteran Colonel Baby Mathews – the idea for this article emanated from a telephonic conversation with him.

3 Comments Posted on July 1, 2016October 7, 2022 by Reji Koduvath Canada

Bless You!

Sneezing occurs when irritants are sneak past our nose hairs. The nose hairs act like filters, capturing and trapping most of the particles that we breathe in. If something irritating like dust or a cold virus gets past this filter, a sneeze is initiated. A sneeze is a reflex that’s both awkward and elegant. Awkward because of the sudden, involuntary spasms it sends us into, and elegant because of the unified efforts of our nervous and muscular systems. Working together, our nerves and muscles can forcefully blast irritants right out of our system before they can take hold and make us sick. “Sternutation” is the scientific word for sneezing, derived from the Latin word “sterno,” which means stretching, spreading, or scattering.

Some people experience “sun sneeze” when exposed to bright light. This is a genetic trait called ACHOO, which stands for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst Syndrome. “Snatiation” is a rarer form of sneezing triggered by a full stomach right after eating, another genetic trait.

Why Do We Say ‘Bless You’ When Someone Sneezes?

During the old ages, it was believed that one’s heart stopped beating when one sneezed. So if you are still alive after a sneeze, that’s because someone must have blessed you! It was also believed that sneezing was a way of ridding oneself of the Devil, so they said “God Bless you” to rid you of the Devil and keep evil spirits away from. Others believed that they were getting possessed by the demons so by saying “God bless you”, they were preventing evil from taking over their souls. This also originated from the common belief was that during a sneeze, the soul leaves the body and creates a vacancy for the Devil to swoop in.

When someone in your vicinity sneezes, the Germans say “gesundheit“, giving a blessing of good health. The Polsh say “na zdrowie” and most The Romans would say “Jupiter preserve you” or “Salve,” which meant “good health to you” and the Greeks would wish each other “long life.” The phrase “God bless you” is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great, who uttered it in the sixth century during a bubonic plague epidemic, as sneezing is an obvious symptom of plague. North Americans’ “Bless you!” is believed it was brought to North America by German-speaking immigrants. in the early part of the 20th century.

In India the response is by blessing the “sneezer” to live long; like in Bihar it is ‘Chattanji’, in Oriya it is ‘Buda/budi te hai tha’, in Thamizh it is ‘nooru aayisu/ deerghaayisu’, in Kashmiri it is ‘Bismillah/ Kustaan chu yaad karan’.

Does Your Heart Stop When You Sneeze?

How and from where did the myth originate? The changing pressure in your chest due to sneezing changes your blood flow, which may change the rhythm of your heartbeat. The feeling that the heart comes to a stop during a sneeze may be from the sensation of a prolonged delay in the heart beat and one may feel that the next beat to be more forceful and more noticeable.

Interesting Facts:

Sneezes are an automatic reflex that can’t be stopped once sneezing starts.
Sneezes can travel at a speed of 15 kmph and the wet spray can radiate five feet.
People don’t sneeze when they are asleep because the nerves involved in nerve reflex are also resting.
Some people sneeze when plucking their eyebrows because the nerve endings in the face are irritated and then fire an impulse that reaches the nasal nerve.
Donna Griffiths from Worcestershire, England sneezed for 978 days, sneezing once every minute at the beginning. This is the longest sneezing episode on record.

Sneeze Etiquette And Self-Care:

A sneeze itself is a mixed blessing. Though a sneeze protects the sneezer, it can make other people sick. When you sneeze, you blast all those bacterial droplets into the air and onto the skin and tissue of anyone in the vicinity of the sneeze.

Cover your mouth to catch a sneeze before it gets to someone else. Sneezing into a tissue is best. If you don’t have tissue, try not to use your hand to shield the sneeze. Rather, aim for the inside of your elbow or into the crook of your shoulder. You’re less likely to touch keypads, doorknobs and drawer handles with those parts of your body.
If you sneeze in your hand, make sure to wash with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer before touching other things.
It’s hard to avoid all sneeze triggers, especially during the contagious cold and flu season. Covering up with scarves or face-masks is how some people defend their noses.
Avoid sneeze generators like pets and try not to go out much on high pollen count days.
A polite “excuse me” doesn’t hurt after you’ve had a loud sneeze fit in a public place. When it comes to “blessing” someone after a sneeze, keep in mind that different parts of the world recognize different customs.

Superstitions Around the World

In South India, a single sneeze indicates that someone’s taking about you and two sneezes means someone’s thinking about you- most likely your mother-in-law.
In North India, a single sneeze indicates bad luck, if you sneeze twice it’s good luck. If you’re about to do some chore or thinking of it and you sneeze once, don’t go as you may not achieve the desired result or something bad may happen. Of course if you sneeze twice you should go and if you sneeze an odd number it’s also bad luck.
According to a Chinese superstition a sneeze on New Year’s Eve is ominous for the coming year; and to offset this, the sneezer must visit three families of different surnames, and beg from each a small tortoise-shaped cake, which must be eaten before midnight.
The Japanese attach significance to the number of times a man sneezes. Thus, one sneeze indicates that some one is praising him, while two betoken censure or disparagement or gossip; a triple sneeze is commonplace, and means simply that a person has taken cold.
In Mexico, also, it was formerly believed either that somebody was speaking evil of one who sneezed, or that he was being talked about by one or more persons.
Sneezing is a lucky charm for the French. when one sneezes, they say ‘May your dreams come true’.
Three sneezes in succession in Holland means its going to be a sunny day tomorrow.
Sneeze on Monday for health. Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth. Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter. Sneeze on Thursday for something better. Sneeze on Friday for sorrow. Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow. Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.

May God bless all of you all every time you sneeze.

REJINCES