Saturday 23 January 2016

Children teach us concentration

Mohilee-- all of three years-- taught us a lesson the other day. She taught us how to concentrate and how to remain focused in life. Look at her concentration while using her crayons to make a butterfly on paper!



If only we adults could learn a thing or two from children! 

Dr Maria Montessori's famous words make this picturesque quote (PQ) for you. Thank you Jai and Himani-- Mohilee's parents-- for giving us the pleasure of Mohilee's company though for a short while.

Another PQ related to learning is (click the link below):
Learning is life long

Two more PQs on learning as we grow are given below. Both pictures are of Ghumakkad's MBA students.



Thank you all my students for making me learn!
Happy learning to all!

Thanks for browsing.

    Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/23rd Jan 2016

Sunday 10 January 2016

Ghumakkad reaches 40000 pageviews

Ghumakkad thanks each one of you for your continued support.
Your blog has crossed 40,000 page views.
Not a big deal.
But big deal for a non-commercial, non-political and non-celebrity blog like ours.
Thanks again.



Some of our picture stories which have had maximum page views are:
How batch-mates of 45 years celebrate?

'The Big Five' from Africa

Indian entrepreneurs from an oasis

Learn Yoga and find a life partner

We hope to receive your continued support and feedback to take the blog further.

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for browsing

  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 10th Jan 2016
  hbindia@gmail.com 

Saturday 9 January 2016

Men and Mountains

Last week we shared our story 'Boulders Speak' (click here if you missed browsing it). Many of you loved the story. Thanks for your feedback.

Talking of boulders, hills and mountains, it is always great to be out on a hike. The picture below was shot in California USA while hiking in Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve near Davis. Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve is a unique partnership between the Forest Department and University of California Davis. More on this partnership in some other story.

William Blake's golden words "Great things are done when men and mountains meet" make the picturesque quote (PQ). This quote in no manner dilutes the capability of women! Probably, 'greater' things can happen when women and mountains meet!

Other PQs on related themes posted earlier include:
Be like Water
Rivers and human beings
Learning patience from Nature

The next story will take you to a Tiger Reserve in central India.
Bye till then.

Thanks for browsing.

   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 9th Jan 2016

Friday 1 January 2016

Boulders Speak

Hiking in and around Hyderabad and Secunderabad

The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad abound with rocks, boulders and hills-- fit for hiking. Sadly many of these rocks and bouldery hills have been destroyed in the garb of development. However, few of the boulders and rocks still remain. One such landmark is Gun Rock Hill in Secunderabad. Ghumakkad had previously taken you to Moula Ali Hill (click here to read the story) also in Hyderabad.



Secunderabad named after Nawab Sikander Jah, was formed in 1798 after signing of an alliance between the Nizam and the East India Company. According to Coreena Suares' article in The Deccan Chronicle, "A water tank was built above the Gun Rock Hill to supply water to the military cantonment area and other defence establishments. The centuries-old water storage tank earlier supplied water to areas including Lal Bazaar also." This old water tank, though looks dilapidated, continues to be in use. See the pictures below.
 

The Gunrock Hill is a good spot for bouldering with both small and large boulders. Ghumakkad went for a hike on 27th December 2015 with student members of Prakriti प्रकृति , the environment club of Icfai Business School, Hyderabad. Having founded the Club in 2004, it was heartening to see its growth over the years. Pictures of the hike tell its own story.



The hill and its surroundings are in a state of neglect. Sadly, the residents of nearby bastis बस्ती (slum) use the approach path for open defecation. So be cautious if you start the climb early in the morning! Fortunately, our climb commenced after 8AM as the bus got delayed.

More pictures of the hike follow.







The view form top of the hill is truly breath taking.



Boulders tell their own story. A story full of challenges in life, how to remain steadfast, how to maintain balance even in tough times and how to weather a storm. In a way 'boulders speak'!




Taking a cue from the beauty of boulders, a golf course has been named 'The Boulder Hills Golf Club' in Gachibowli area of Hyderabad.

Thanks Prakriti IBS Hyderabad for inviting your founder faculty to join the hike. I enjoyed the morning with all of you. Continue your passion for being with Nature.



As Sir Edmund Hillary said, "It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves".


Good bye till the next hike.
Thanks for browsing.
Happy New Year to you.

  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 1st Jan 2016