Fox hunt in Manipal

Don't think that this is actual hunt for fox. Our ham club organised this interesting competition. I could not sleep due to excitement. Afternoon I met Mr. Mahabala Hegde, a senior ham from Surathkal, along with my friend Mr. Devdas Bhat. After lunch we went to his house to get our equipments. We proceeded to our hide out in his car. Eventhough he is nearing 70, Mr. Hegde, was happy and enthusiastic. He could manage different languages, even malayalam, which is my mother tongue. He is a retired bank manager.
We reached our hide out, what we call is the fox hole and started assembling various equipments. Hunters were 10 groups, each having 3 members. They have to use the antenna and the reciever to trace us.
We started transmitting, which according to Mr. Hegde, was the first howl. In every 5 minutes interval he was transmitting howls and speaking some words which they should copy. Time passed by. Mr. Bhat took out his SLR camera and started his second hobby, photography. They were transmitting in both high and low power. I tried to listen to the transmission using 2 meter hand held radio.

The teams were given grace period and in the end the hide out was disclosed. The first team we met were given hand shake. The students really enjoyed the whole exercise.
Ham radio is a really interesting hobby. But now less people are using it because of advancements in internet, like instant messenger, emails etc.
When we met the group, as a token of appreciation, they gave all 3, fantastic mementos.
Please visit my picasa web album on fox hunt.
http://picasaweb.google.com/manumohan73/FoxHunt#

Murudeshwar - must see

Kollur Mookambika temple visit got over early. We decided to move further north to our next location Murudeshwar. From kollur we reached Byndoor located on NH17. After that came Bhatkal and then Murudeshwar. From NH we took a left turn towards the sea.
A strip of land protected by rock project in to the sea. A temple is located at the foot of the hill and over the top is the Lord Shiva statue which is the land mark of this tourist location.
Sorrounding the area, near the sea is the RNS hotel. On the hill at different areas various other statues, like, Sun, Krishna and Arjuna in the chariot, Ganesha being taught by hermit, etc.
Bhukailasa is located underneath the Shiva statue which gives you really marvellous peice of art, and information regarding the myth behind this temple.
I personally feel that those who visit this place should stay for one day and enjoy the stay, with fantastic view of the beautiful arabian sea.

Children are amazing....

I saw one movie in HBO named "Daddy Day Care", today. Job lost male parents starting one day care center was the central theme. I am also a father of two kids. I know how difficult is to deal with kids and straighten the things. When you tell them something they will be doing something else. For each and every action they require our help. Some kids, particularly my elder one, now 3 years, need me for everything literally. This typing I am doing because she is busy reading and painting with her crayons. At times you feel very annoyed, but thinking about their relation with us when they grow up remind us to be more patient. As they grow, they become less attached to us. A time will come when they even hate to get them hugged by us. So better to care them gently now. My child is pulling my shirt to put her to bed. She require one story invariably at bed time. Now i am reading more, so that I can tell her stories. "Panchathantram" stories, I had asked my mother to bring when she come to visit us next time, which will help me to refresh my memories. My database of stories will increase so. Tired of her unsuccessful attempt to distract me, she started sleeping on my lap.

Manipal rain

Rainy season in Manipal is a great time. Only negative is our movements will be restricted. It pour heavily over here. One day, floor of my house was partly submerged. Many things which were kept on the floor got spoiled, including my marriage album. It took me 2 hours to clean the mess.
It is very beautiful to look out side window when it rains. By the end of May, we all will be longing for the rain. But once it start, the same mind will be praying daily for its cessation. Here it rains continuously, day and night, for initial days. Then the frequency reduces and mostly it rains at night.
Small children, they are the ones who really enjoy. Poor fellows are confined to home, not able to go out for any activities. Another sad thing is that most them will fall sick due to flu, common during this time.
Sunlight is the most welcomed guest during this period. Once in a while clouds will allow him to show his face, which will make all of us happy. Daily night you will sleep by listening to the raining music.
Talking about sleep, during this climate it is a luxury to sleep under a blanket listening to rain. I personally like this time in Manipal.

It really works

I am sending this email from my GMail account. Immediately it will be published here on blogspot. It is as simple as that. You have the option of keeping this emails as drafts, edit it later and publish. Thanks to google team.
Blogging made easy......
Hail Google

email blogging

Hello,

Daily I am surprised to see the development of Google. You cannot imagine a web browser with out google search box. Blogging is simplified by them. Now email also can be blogged. Let me see how it works...

Painting - wonderful art

Hello everyone,
Yesterday I attended one inaugural function of works done by various junior artists in manipal campus. The function was brief and well organised. The main artists whose work were put up there were of 9th and 8th standard siblings, children of our ENT surgeon. All the works were fantastic. The amount of effort they had put in creating such masterpieces are tremendous and highly appreciated. I was thinking the other way round, those artists who don't have this much facility to exhibit and support, will remain unknown to the whole world. They will stay where they are and these journalists and socialists wont bother. I bet lot many talented people shall be there in slums, like our slum dogs....
What to do to bring out these talented underprivilaged, I really don't know. Our great politicians should spare their some time. Shall try to upload some pictures of the exhibit, congratulations to all the junior artists. You have done a wonderful, extraordinary job. All the very best for you.