Pro Fish Cutter
Originally uploaded by mohlat
I see this guy quite often at the Fish market. He is one of those guys who cuts fish. I tell you, he is a pro! No matter how big the fish is, he would cut it in no time!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
People. Each one has a story.
People. Each one has a story.
Originally uploaded by mohlat
Here's the most recent pic uploaded to Flickr.
It's interesting how your preferences change with time. You see, earlier, I liked taking nature pics alot. Then it changed to portraits and now it's street photography! And i think i'm liking the latter more, than the rest.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Not all Maldivians...
It was a typical day for me. I finished work at 4.30 and was heading home. Halfway, I saw a man dragging a suitcase on Ameenee magu. From his features, I assumed that he was a Bangladeshi. He was probably on his way to catch a ferry to the airport. I wondered why he was on foot. I wondered why he didn't find a taxi etc. Maybe he didn't have enough money?
I went near him and stopped my bike. I asked him if he needed any help. At first, he gave me a blank look. Then quickly it changed to a more suspicious sort of look. I asked him again and tried to sort of talk to him in a way he could understand what I was saying; in broken dhivehi. Again, he said no and started to walk away. He didn't look back.
I was upset that he didn't accept my offer for help. But surely, he had his reasons not to. Maybe he had met too many Maldivians who offered him "help" and finally he had no other choice but to go back home after failing to find a job or been cheated. Probably he had lost trust in all Maldivians. Probably he thought I would show him a knife and take all his remaining cash and flee.
Maybe I would never know the real reason. But that's my guess.
I wish I had the chance to explain to him that not all Maldivians are bad or would cheat on him.
It was just a small incident that spoiled my day.
I went near him and stopped my bike. I asked him if he needed any help. At first, he gave me a blank look. Then quickly it changed to a more suspicious sort of look. I asked him again and tried to sort of talk to him in a way he could understand what I was saying; in broken dhivehi. Again, he said no and started to walk away. He didn't look back.
I was upset that he didn't accept my offer for help. But surely, he had his reasons not to. Maybe he had met too many Maldivians who offered him "help" and finally he had no other choice but to go back home after failing to find a job or been cheated. Probably he had lost trust in all Maldivians. Probably he thought I would show him a knife and take all his remaining cash and flee.
Maybe I would never know the real reason. But that's my guess.
I wish I had the chance to explain to him that not all Maldivians are bad or would cheat on him.
It was just a small incident that spoiled my day.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A Forgotten Fairy-tale
Sticks, stones and torn paper,
Worth diamonds all put together
Dried flowers, leaves and shells,
Priceless to those hearts on fire
Those blissful moments,
Felt by the heavens above
The angels wept,
As time drew near
For they knew it would soon be over.
The departure filled the Iris,
With it's ocean overflowing
The moon left asunder
Pulses raced n the adrenaline gushed forth,
As the final meeting took place
The twilight lasting only seconds.
All left for the stars to witness..
It was yet another fairy tale
Lost in the sands of time.
Worth diamonds all put together
Dried flowers, leaves and shells,
Priceless to those hearts on fire
Those blissful moments,
Felt by the heavens above
The angels wept,
As time drew near
For they knew it would soon be over.
The departure filled the Iris,
With it's ocean overflowing
The moon left asunder
Pulses raced n the adrenaline gushed forth,
As the final meeting took place
The twilight lasting only seconds.
All left for the stars to witness..
It was yet another fairy tale
Lost in the sands of time.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.3.1
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Digital Newspapers Vs Printed Newspapers
Alot of debate is going on whether Digital Newspapers would replace the traditional printed Newspapers. If not now, in the near future.
Today, almost all printed newspapers have online editions. These days, it's a must sort of thing. There should be an online presence or a replica of the edition available online. If not, the edition would simply be regarded as "cheap". High income Nations are keen to have newspapers read online but the printed newspapers are not going to go away soon due to the number of people who have a high preference to read from printed newspapers. Still.
For the question whether Digital Newspapers would replace the printed Newspapers; I would say that there's no definite answer to it at this point of time. However, I think that the scale weighs more on other side; that it's not going to happen anytime sooner.
Why?
I'll try to list down a few reasons I think, It would not happen anytime sooner.
1. Digital Newspapers holds a very small market compared to the market for printed newspapers.
2. Digital Newspapers (or the internet) is considered as a luxury for the larger population of the world. Millions of people live on less than a dollar per day. And it's much cheaper to get a printed newspaper.
3. A Digital Newspaper is not portable! If you are thinking an I-pad or an E- Book reader, it's still expensive for the millions and millions of people out there!
4. The Print Industry or Publishers are very strong businesses and well established; holding the majority of the world's market. It is said that about one-third of publishers in the United States are newspaper publishers!
5. And also, Who wouldn't enjoy reading a printed newspaper with a cup of coffee in their hands! Would you rather read your morning newspaper online, glued to a LED or LCD screen, your eyes start to irritate after sometime or feel the Newspaper texture in your hands and slowly go flipping the pages! :)
6. And the last point, but not the least on the importance of it! An interesting point. Reading a newspaper has a lower impact on global warming than reading the news online for 30 minutes! Click here to see what they said Now I'm not going to go on a debate on that!
Having said all this in favor of the traditional printed newspapers, the problems faced by the publishers is also not to be ignored.
Due to the recession, in recent years, the number of newspapers slated for closure, bankruptcy or severe cutbacks rose very high and the effects of recession is still having a very negative effect on the publishing Industry.
To conclude; The digital newspapers are here to stay. And as for the traditional printed newspapers, they are not going to go away or be replaced by the digital newspapers completely and not anytime sooner!
Sources of reference:
* Wikipedia
* Slash Gear
Today, almost all printed newspapers have online editions. These days, it's a must sort of thing. There should be an online presence or a replica of the edition available online. If not, the edition would simply be regarded as "cheap". High income Nations are keen to have newspapers read online but the printed newspapers are not going to go away soon due to the number of people who have a high preference to read from printed newspapers. Still.
For the question whether Digital Newspapers would replace the printed Newspapers; I would say that there's no definite answer to it at this point of time. However, I think that the scale weighs more on other side; that it's not going to happen anytime sooner.
Why?
I'll try to list down a few reasons I think, It would not happen anytime sooner.
1. Digital Newspapers holds a very small market compared to the market for printed newspapers.
2. Digital Newspapers (or the internet) is considered as a luxury for the larger population of the world. Millions of people live on less than a dollar per day. And it's much cheaper to get a printed newspaper.
3. A Digital Newspaper is not portable! If you are thinking an I-pad or an E- Book reader, it's still expensive for the millions and millions of people out there!
4. The Print Industry or Publishers are very strong businesses and well established; holding the majority of the world's market. It is said that about one-third of publishers in the United States are newspaper publishers!
5. And also, Who wouldn't enjoy reading a printed newspaper with a cup of coffee in their hands! Would you rather read your morning newspaper online, glued to a LED or LCD screen, your eyes start to irritate after sometime or feel the Newspaper texture in your hands and slowly go flipping the pages! :)
6. And the last point, but not the least on the importance of it! An interesting point. Reading a newspaper has a lower impact on global warming than reading the news online for 30 minutes! Click here to see what they said Now I'm not going to go on a debate on that!
Having said all this in favor of the traditional printed newspapers, the problems faced by the publishers is also not to be ignored.
Due to the recession, in recent years, the number of newspapers slated for closure, bankruptcy or severe cutbacks rose very high and the effects of recession is still having a very negative effect on the publishing Industry.
To conclude; The digital newspapers are here to stay. And as for the traditional printed newspapers, they are not going to go away or be replaced by the digital newspapers completely and not anytime sooner!
Sources of reference:
* Wikipedia
* Slash Gear
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Seven Social Sins
A colleague of mine shared this with me today. The "7 Social Sins - Quoted by Mahatma Gandhi in "Young India" 1925. - A weekly journal published in English by Mahatma Gandhi from 1919 to 1932.
I was really moved reading this... Thought I would share this with you all too!
Click here for a brief visual presentation
1. Politics without principles
2. Wealth without work
3. Pleasure without conscience
4. Knowledge without character
5. Commerce without morality
6. Science without humanity
7. Worship without sacrifice
Sources:
http://sharifezzat.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.care2.com
3.bp.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Boduberu FTW!
I had heard there was going to be "Boduberu" at Seahouse cafe' last night. So I went there with a friend of mine. I never liked "Boduberu" that much, but.. thought I would still go there to enjoy the atmosphere, if not the "Boduberu".
For those who don't know what "Boduberu" is: It's a traditional musical performance unique to Maldivians, believed to to have actually originated from Africa with some elements of it coming from Sri Lanka. In Boduberu, it's just the traditional drums plus the vocals. No other musical instruments used. The drum beating is slow at the start, and then gradually, as the song leads to the end, it gets faster and faster.
I had always wondered why people (Maldivians) liked Boduberu so much. Maybe thats because I never liked it! It was sooo boring for me. For me, it was just a bunch of guys singing with no "music" in it!
But last night, all that changed! It was very different from what I had imagined it would be like! It was a very young group unlike the old boduberu groups I'm used to seeing perform. Around 15-20 young men stood there on the stage. The Boduberu Band! There was a leader as usual. He had a drum that came down in front, held from the strap around his neck. Two others also had drums. The rest of the group were singing, clapping or dancing to the beat.
What I liked most was about the group was that they were standing unlike the old traditional way of sitting together on the floor in a bunch. They all were standing together! They were not really wearing the typical traditional clothing. Some of them from the group danced & a few came from the audience. Those guys who danced up there on the stage seemed to be in an ecstatic state! completely "swallowed" by the music! Even one of the drum beaters, I could see that he could hardly open his eyes or move his hands in his ecstatic state! They were like drunk! or worse! hehe
I loved the atmosphere around me! It was wonderful! The crowd was oohing and aahing as the drums rolled and the rhythm of the drum beating got quicker. The Group was given an uproarious approval from the crowd there. It's not that common to see a Maldivian audience applauding a music band so enthusiastically. But this night, it was different. Maybe things are changing? I saw that the crowd really enjoyed themselves; clapping their hands together with the Boduberu band. I was feeling euphoric myself and right there, i felt really proud of myself being a Maldivian! This is not to say I'm not proud being a Maldivian. But It's not that often I feel it or get the chance to feel it!
I realized then, if one single group of young Maldivians performing boduberu could change the whole perspective or view of boduberu for a Maldivian who didn't like it, then there's so much the youth could do to foster other types of traditional & cultural performances or practices for the young generation. Our youth got so much talent to make things happen! And to take Maldivian entertainment to great lengths!
This again, makes me think of all the things the Ministry of Youth or the Ministry related to Youth could do for the Youth. Also, all that the Ministry could have done over the past years!
Let's hope for the best!
For those who don't know what "Boduberu" is: It's a traditional musical performance unique to Maldivians, believed to to have actually originated from Africa with some elements of it coming from Sri Lanka. In Boduberu, it's just the traditional drums plus the vocals. No other musical instruments used. The drum beating is slow at the start, and then gradually, as the song leads to the end, it gets faster and faster.
I had always wondered why people (Maldivians) liked Boduberu so much. Maybe thats because I never liked it! It was sooo boring for me. For me, it was just a bunch of guys singing with no "music" in it!
But last night, all that changed! It was very different from what I had imagined it would be like! It was a very young group unlike the old boduberu groups I'm used to seeing perform. Around 15-20 young men stood there on the stage. The Boduberu Band! There was a leader as usual. He had a drum that came down in front, held from the strap around his neck. Two others also had drums. The rest of the group were singing, clapping or dancing to the beat.
What I liked most was about the group was that they were standing unlike the old traditional way of sitting together on the floor in a bunch. They all were standing together! They were not really wearing the typical traditional clothing. Some of them from the group danced & a few came from the audience. Those guys who danced up there on the stage seemed to be in an ecstatic state! completely "swallowed" by the music! Even one of the drum beaters, I could see that he could hardly open his eyes or move his hands in his ecstatic state! They were like drunk! or worse! hehe
I loved the atmosphere around me! It was wonderful! The crowd was oohing and aahing as the drums rolled and the rhythm of the drum beating got quicker. The Group was given an uproarious approval from the crowd there. It's not that common to see a Maldivian audience applauding a music band so enthusiastically. But this night, it was different. Maybe things are changing? I saw that the crowd really enjoyed themselves; clapping their hands together with the Boduberu band. I was feeling euphoric myself and right there, i felt really proud of myself being a Maldivian! This is not to say I'm not proud being a Maldivian. But It's not that often I feel it or get the chance to feel it!
I realized then, if one single group of young Maldivians performing boduberu could change the whole perspective or view of boduberu for a Maldivian who didn't like it, then there's so much the youth could do to foster other types of traditional & cultural performances or practices for the young generation. Our youth got so much talent to make things happen! And to take Maldivian entertainment to great lengths!
This again, makes me think of all the things the Ministry of Youth or the Ministry related to Youth could do for the Youth. Also, all that the Ministry could have done over the past years!
Let's hope for the best!
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