A Content Composer

I don’t know what it is, but every new internet poker player I talk to seems to think it’s a casino setup. “Every poker hand someone has Aces or Kings,” one player told me. “How is this possible that there are all these big hands in a one table sit and go?” “Is the site setting up the game? Does it care who wins?”

The clear answers are no. The websites shouldn’t care less who wins or loses. With exception to some questionable practices (Absolute/Ultimate Bet scandals) the major sites operate with a very clear mind. They make their money on rake, not on wins and losses. No matter who wins, they make the same amount of money. In high stakes cash games, they only take a 50 cent max rake per hand. So, creating lots of action, does not affect their bottom dollar.

What is rumored is that the low stakes games are pumped with big hands so that the new players get excited about the game, whether they win or lose. If they had to sit around for hours and not get any quality hands, would they come back after a loss? Some people I’ve talked to actually claim to have read articles “by MIT” that illustrate this point of low stakes action-pumping online.

I think it’s all garbage.

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Memorial Day is held in honor of the men and women who died during military service. Since they made the sacrifice for our country you may wish to hold a charity asking people to sacrifice for the soldiers. You can easily put together a backyard BBQ as you normally would for your party, but this time put out change jars for guests to put their loose change into which can be donated to any number of veteran’s organizations to benefit the living relatives of deceased military members. If you like you can see about contacting members of a local veteran’s association to make an appearance at your party. They can enjoy some food and mingle to tell people about what its like in the military and of the nature of their cause.

If you can hang the flag at half mast on Memorial Day. It may even be possible to work a flag raising ceremony into your party schedule, with a moment of silence as you raise the flag to half mast in the memory of fallen soldiers. This will serve to bring home the importance of the holiday to so many.

For this solemn occasion raise a collection of money from your neighbors and relatives to use in the purchase of wreaths. Then on Memorial Day gather a group of volunteers to visit the graves of military members and work to clean them up. There are many places where the graves of civil war veterans are neglected and forgotten. You can set fallen tombstones upright, pull up weeds and mow the grass and put out the wreaths. The will show relatives of the deceased that people are aware of their family members sacrifice and it will leave you with a good feeling. Now you’ve got ideas, don’t sit at home, get out there and do something this Memorial Day.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

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The chances of scooping the Euromillions jackpot is a far-off 1 : 76 million but the chances of acquiring a cash prize is a fairly decent one : twenty four. When the jackpot is not won on a given lotto draw, it is carried forward to the following lotto draw which results in an ever increasing jack-pot value. New rules brought in on the 09/02/2007 restrict the amount of successive rollovers to 11, with the jackpot rolling out to smaller value levels in the 11th lotto draw when the prize is not collected.

The euromillions lotto or the Euro lotto, as it’s usually renowned, pools the lotto ticket receipts of the 9 partaking European countries presenting a whopping Euromillions jackpot. With the amount of countries joining the Euro on the increase, this will without question will lead to even more countries partaking in the EuroMillions lottery. A growth in the number of people partaking in the Euro Lottery will lead to a continuing growth of the already giant Euro Millions jackpots.

The new rules likewise initiated European Lottery Super-Draw which come about twice annually plus they offer jack-pots in the region of 100 million pounds. The difference with Super Draws is that the jack-pot has to be won during the calendar week of the draw; this means, if there is no lotto ticket corresponding, all the drawn numbers then the top prize will then be distributed to the lottery ticket holder(s) in the next winning prize level.

Each player must choose 5 primary numbers from one to fifty plus two Lucky Star numbers from one to nine. During the lottery draw, 5 main and two lucky star numbers are then picked out at random from 2 lotto draw machines containing numbered lotto balls.

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There is a comprehensive range of choices when it comes to Rome apartment accommodations. If you would like to opt out of the hotel scene, the boutiques, and so on, apartment stays are for you. Apartments afford you the full effect of being at home. They include bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, full private bathrooms, sitting rooms, and other rooms. Some even include balconies, porches, decks, etc. They are generally furnished with everything you’ll need - chairs, sofas, and other furniture; decorations and lamps; and everything else you’ll need. You should bring your own bath accessories, however, unless the owner specifies otherwise.

You can find furnished studio, one bedroom, two-bedroom, or three bedroom apartments for as little as 100 euros, or about 120 dollars, per day. The upper range can be in the thousands.

Check-in and check-out times vary. If the owner is a private entity, the rules will be more flexible. You can talk with the owner and get to know him or her and find out what rules you need to be following during your stay. Also find out whether there are other services they can offer as part of the package.

Many travelers do apartment trades for specified periods. Apartment trading is the practice of using someone’s apartment in Rome in exchange for allowing them to use yours in your hometown while you are gone. This is mutually beneficial, as there is often no money exchanged.

Rome apartment accommodations can be found in any of the locales of Rome, from the inner regions like the Pantheon and the Trevi areas, to the outer areas like Monte Verde or Camillucia.

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The 1000 Islands are in the heart of the St. Lawrence River, running along the Canadian and American sides of the border from Kingston to Cornwall in Ontario.

Exactly 1,864 Islands make up the 1000 Islands region. To become an official part of the count, an island must meet two criteria: it must be above water 365 days a year and it must support two living trees. Ferries or bridges provide access to Wellesley, Hill, Wolfe and Howe Islands. The islands are unique, offering a wonderful recreation experience that spans two nations. Each island has its own individuality with features such as stately granite cliffs, soft sandy bays, tall dark pines and vibrant maple trees-it’s a sightseer’s paradise. Many islands are privately owned but ample public access can be found at island parks and villages throughout the region.

It was French explorers who named the region. Vacationers discovered the islands in the 1870s, when wealthy people began to build summer homes while other travelers came to stay in large hotels. For more than a century the area has been a mecca for summer visitors. In the more distant past the islands were stepping stones between New York State and the Province of Ontario-in times of trouble between Canada and the United States, a place of refuge and a setting for disreputable deeds during the days of Prohibition.

On the Canadian side the Thousand Islands Parkway is one of the province’s prettiest drives and well worth the detour off the 401 freeway. It connects a string of attractive riverbank communities from Kingston to Cornwall, the most notable of which is Brockville. Brockville’s King Street is dotted with stately old homes including the remarkable Fulford Place, now a national historic site. Fulford Place was built on a fortune made in patent medicine and the family were friends with such notables as William Lyon Mackenzie King, longtime Prime Minister of Canada. The mansion is impressive and the stories about the people who lived here are fascinating.

The rich military history of Kingston is much in evidence, from the Royal Military College, seen across the bay, to Fort Henry and the 1846 Murney Martello Tower national historic site. Their most famous character is none other than the country’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and his former home, Bellevue, is now a national historic site that is maintained in brilliant period detail.

The sights and sounds of an 1860s village in the midst of the harvest are yours to discover at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg. Every September they host a traditional Fall Fair where you can see the “best of the best” in 19th century agricultural products, livestock, garden-grown vegetables, crafts, cooking and handiwork. The Apples and Art Studio and Heritage Tour in Cornwall is a great venue for starting your Christmas shopping.

For the outdoor enthusiast there is the St. Lawrence Recreational Path. This recreational path stretches over 75 kms, the majority of which follows the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River. The path begins in Lancaster travelling along the shoreline to Gray’s Creek and then travels through Cornwall to continue winding through the rolling terrain toward Long Sault. The path then follows the island causeway of the Long Sault Parkway and continues to the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ingleside, then arriving at Upper Canada Village Heritage Park. From the Village, the path continues into the village of Morrisburg, with a section also completed in Iroquois.

Here Ontario and the United States meet, their cultures blending in the waters of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, the first in the Great Lakes. The native peoples called this region the “Garden of the Great Spirit”. Today, many people still remark that this gorgeous garden of woods and waters that is the 1000 Islands is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Others will tell you its friendly atmosphere, fresh outdoors and laid-back pace makes the 1000 Islands a place that inspires the spirit and renews the soul.

At the turn-of-the-century in 1899, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full size Rhineland Castle in Alexandria Bay, on Picturesque Heart Island, on the New York State side of Lake Ontario. The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise.

Beginning in 1900, Boldt’s family shared four glorious summers on the island in the Alster Tower while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a draw bridge and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared. In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately “stop all construction”. Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love. For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the Castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and improving the Heart Island structures.

A very pleasant way to explore the 1000 islands is to take a twilight hour boat tour that unveils a beauty of the river and islands not seen at other times of the day. These romantic tours explore a section of the islands not visited during the regular day tours, including the Sport Island group and historical Grenadier Island, the site of many battles during the French and Indian War. These tours and a number of others including a dinner cruise looping around the islands through US and Canadian waters, are offered by boat tour companies out of Alexandria Bay.

And finally, also out of Alexandria Bay, there is a Hot Air Balloon company that offers two flight times a day, weather permitting. One at sunrise and the other about two hours before sunset. Their flights last about 45 minutes to an hour and the intended flight path is paralleling the river and the Islands, offering a completely different perspective on the 1000 Islands.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Canada Vacation

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Introduction

Commercial leisure is a booming industry, the market value of which continues to skyrocket year after year. Traditional leisure practices, most often constructed by participants themselves and seeded in a clan or community environment, are increasingly being supplanted by pre-packaged, commercial options. Indeed, while it is estimated that over 75% of the world’s economy revolves around service industries, this figure in the leisure sector is held to be even greater still, with suggestions of 90% or more not uncommon. Regardless of the exact figures, the proliferation of commercial leisure is utterly astounding. With very few exceptions, most notably the information technology sector, it is difficult to find any area of industry that can compare to astronomical growth of commercial leisure in recent decades.

The increasing numbers of leisure consumers has also made the sector an attractive and highly competitive marketplace for providers of leisure, resulting in the widespread pursuit of competitive advantage. There are certainly many approaches towards getting ‘the edge’ over competitors, but one of the most valuable, and most neglected, is developing a better understanding of the perspective of the leisure consumer. From these insights, the astute provider of commercial leisure can devise strategies to increase their market-share, service quality, profile and a variety of other advantageous outcomes.

This paper concerns the perspective of the leisure consumer, a complicated and dynamic concept. While far from a comprehensive analysis, the following outlines some of the universal themes that shape consumer perceptions of leisure service quality and their resulting levels of satisfaction as a customer. First and foremost however, it is important to bring into focus the concepts of ’service’ and ‘customer satisfaction’.

Understanding ‘Service’ and ‘Customer Satisfaction’

Several things differentiate a good from a service; customers do not obtain ownership of a service, a service is an intangible product, the consumer is involved in construction of the product and finally, other people may be part of the product. For the purposes of this paper, service is defined as an intangible product, constructed through the interactions of the provider and the consumer and measured/monitored through qualitative means such as thought, emotion and instinct. Another crucial term in need of elaboration is the notion of ‘customer satisfaction’.

Whether or not we enjoy the leisure experiences we consume depends on they way our expectations as a consumer stack up to a number of complex and interrelated factors. Whilst these factors are often difficult to pin-down; duration, cost, the weather conditions, comfort levels, perceived/actual risk, noise, cleanliness, authenticity, excitement, challenge and aesthetics are all contributors. For the commercial operator, the key to successful leisure provision is manipulating these factors to ensure customer expectations are met or surpassed, an end result typically deemed ‘customer satisfaction’.

To reiterate, customer satisfaction, in regards to both services and goods alike, is the measure of whether or not a consumer’s expectations have been met, and is based on the affective (emotional) evaluation of the individual consumer. As a rule, customers are likely to be satisfied if their expectations are met, and highly satisfied if you can exceed them. Dissatisfied consumers are an anathema to the commercial leisure provider as they tend to spread their disgruntlement through their social networks. Even a single unhappy customer can potentially influence dozens of others to boycott or disparage your service, and that each of them in turn, could then go on to influence dozens more. It is for this reason that ensuring customer satisfaction must always be a priority.

Some Universal Themes in the Consumer Perspective

Understanding the perspective of the consumer is not a simple task. The fact is, each consumer perceives their leisure experiences in a slightly different manner to the next, and each takes a different approach to the evaluation of how satisfied they are. We can never be entirely sure what factors contribute to a consumer’s perceptions of quality, and likewise, it is impossible to know exactly how these factors interact in the mind of the individual consumer when they come to measure their satisfaction. There are however, some universal themes in the consumption of leisure that do seem to have influence over consumer perceptions of quality and customer satisfaction.

A major draw-card of leisure experiences is that they offer consumers the opportunity to breakaway from their everyday lives. Many forms of commercial leisure attract customers by offering the opportunity to enter new worlds of wonder and discovery. For the output of some discretionary income, the consumer can partake in novel, exciting and interesting activities wherein they simply turn up and enjoy the experience, instead of enduring the associated stresses and strains that come from constructing such experiences personally.

Consumers will always want leisure activities that provide enjoyable time-outs and diversion from their everyday lives, usually seeking either leisure centered on relaxation and reflection or excitement and adventure. In doing so, consumers wish to ‘escape’ their lives for a while, to enjoy experiences that are not typically available to them. Leisure options that successfully cater to this desire for escapism, and still meet the other needs of their consumers, typically produce high levels of perceived quality and customer satisfaction.

Monetary cost is another salient factor in the perception of quality and resulting levels of customer satisfaction. Even if a leisure experience is recognized by a consumer as being enjoyable and of a high quality, the perception that the cost was excessive can detract from the overall measure of satisfaction. For some consumers, the pricing of leisure can make an outstanding experience mediocre, a mediocre experience disappointing and a disappointing experience an absolute disaster. It is important to note, although pricing can enhance the consumer evaluations of an experience, satisfactory pricing seldom salvages an unsatisfactory experience.

Another key issue in consumer evaluations of quality and satisfaction is the existence of, or the opportunity to create/acquire, vivid memories and tangible outcomes. This is because consumers seek not only to experience leisure themselves, but also to relay their experiences to others. Since the leisure experience itself is mostly intangible, that is to say that it has little in the way of physical products or take-home outcomes, storytelling becomes the key means of sharing experiences and the need for tangibles is most commonly satisfied through the taking of pictures and the purchasing or acquiring of souvenirs.

Through storytelling, the leisure experience can transcend the participants themselves and be enjoyed by others, most often family and friends. In the case of a positively evaluated experience, this is a fabulous form of endorsement. However, it should be noted that a consumer is even more likely to relate to the details of unsatisfactory leisure experiences, and often to a wider audience at that. Unfortunately, the experience from hell usually makes for a better story than the enjoyable day out.

Beyond verbal retellings, photos and film serve several purposes. Foremost, they provide a wonderful way to capture the moment, a lasting record of experiences that are often fairly brief in duration. Images excel at helping participants to remember and relive their leisure experiences, refreshing their minds as to the details and sometimes even revealing things that had previously gone unnoticed. When considering this point, it is little wonder that a camera or camcorder is seen in the hands of so many tourists.

With this in mind, leisure experiences where consumers are allowed to take along their photographic or filming equipment are typically rated in a more positive light than those that do not allow such privileges. Leisure that provides special considerations, such as the manufacture or facilitation of unique and/or special film and photography opportunities, rates even higher in consumer perceptions of quality and satisfaction. It is for these reasons that many leisure providers go out of their way to ensure consumers get frequent and interesting ‘photo ops’.

As for souvenirs, their potency lies in the fact that they embody the experience in a tangibly physical manner. Consumers who are highly satisfied by a leisure experience may go out their way to purchase or acquire souvenirs, which will often become fruitful talking points once they get home. Indeed, after partaking in a particularly special or memorable leisure experience, some consumers take souvenirs they will treasure for life.

Therefore, commercial leisure experiences that offer participants the chance to take home souvenir items are frequently rated higher in customer evaluations, although it must be noted that perceived overpricing of such items can negate this effect. If a consumer actively seeks a memento, it is likely they are a relatively satisfied customer. If a consumer is uninterested in a memento, especially if it is free of charge, they are probably not.

Conclusion

Summing up, commercial leisure is a booming industry in which providers are highly competitive in the wooing of consumers and their discretionary incomes. Getting the edge over competitors is thusly a key concern. This report has touched upon some of the universal themes that influence consumer perceptions regarding the quality of their leisure experiences and the level of satisfaction they feel as customers. Being able to step into the shoes of consumers, and gain an understanding of their perspective, is a powerful tool in building and maintaining competitive advantage in the commercial leisure sector.

Arron Stewart is 26 years old, lives in Hamilton, New Zealand, and attends the University of Waikato as a graduate student in Sport & Leisure with an additional focus on Sociology and Human Resource Management. A website has been established featuring more information and selected articles of his work: http://www.geocities.com/arron_stew_79

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Miners’ Knee, or Osteoarthritis of the knee, will be added to the prescribed diseases, enabling sufferers of the disease to claim help from the Government.

The disease would be added to the list of ‘prescribed diseases’, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, confirmed. This step means that sufferers can now seek State compensation through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The decision is expected to come into force in the summer.

Miners’ knee is a chronic knee condition resulting from working underground. Symptoms of the disease include intense pain, swelling, stiffness of the knee and restricted mobility.

Mr. Purnell was glad that this assistance should be available to coal miners suffering from this painful condition as a result of years of hard work. This disease had made life very difficult for thousands of retired miners, and was cutting short the working life of many others due to the disability, he said.

Employers, now more than ever need to arm themselves with the right advice and training though the direction of experts in the field. Find out more about the highly regarded iosh managing safely course run by the experts at Workplace Law Training which could be just the ticket for you.

Kitty Ussher, DWP Parliamentary Under Secretary, was also happy that financial help was now available to miners who were afflicted by Miners’ knee for no fault of their own. Thousands of former miners would benefit from this aid, she added.

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, an independent statutory body that advises the Secretary of State for Social Security on Industrial Injury schemes, had recommended that coal miners with the disease who have worked underground for ten years or more should be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The ministers have acted on the recommendation.

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Like many cities in India, Delhi is packed to the gills with people. Delhi is unique, however, because it mixes the old with the new.

New Delhi

If you fly into Delhi, you will inevitably end up in New Delhi. This section of the city is very modern in relation to the rest of the country. Roads are wide and organized with something other than a chaos theme. You’ll actually be able to walk without feeling like a cow in a heard, which is very unique in India. On the other hand, New Delhi just doesn’t have that ancient Indian charm found in other cities. It’s a good place to get a hotel room, but you’ll need to venture into the city proper to get a taste of India.

Old Delhi

Old Delhi is where the action is if you really want to experience India. The streets are a chaotic mass of markets, overbuilt streets, signage that would make Las Vegas blush and monuments to the past. The best way to see Old Delhi is to catch an auto rickshaw to the Red Fort and then just start wandering around the bazaars and old markets. Hotels will try to rent you mopeds, but this isn’t advisable if you’re hitting Old Delhi. The chaos will overwhelm you and you definitely don’t want to run into a sacred cow.

Things to See

Regardless of where you head, Delhi has a plenty of attractions to keep you busy for a few weeks. The great pacifist, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated in Delhi and you can visit the location at Birla House as well as pay your respect at his black marble tomb. To contemplate this great man, you can follow up the visit with a stroll through the Lodi Gardens, which are peacefully overgrown.

Delhi is the home to forts, mosques and palaces galore. The Qutab Minor Complex is a good place to see Mughal architecture. Safdarjang’s Tomb is a poor mans Taj Mahal with the same basic structure. The Red Fort and India Gate are good places to take pictures.

When it comes to sports, India is mad about cricket. Kids can be seen playing it all over the place. If you’re looking to see the professionals, try the games at Coronation Dunbar.

Delhi is undoubtedly the most comfortable of the large cities in India. This comfort, however, comes with a price. One tends to get the feeling you aren’t seeing the real India. Delhi is a good place to visit, but make sure you see other locations in India.

Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts. Visit www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles and travelogues.

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It was in the year 1977, I got my first passport after an NOC (No objection certificate) issued by the Government of India for issuing me a passport, since I was a Government employee . I was very enthusiastic about my possible ‘overseas travel’ and started to make plans for a trip to Maldives. I had another friend of mine, who also got his first passport , and was desperately banking upon me to make the tour plan to accommodate him as well.

Both of us bought airline ticket from Trivandrum to Maldives,(A group of islands in the Indian ocean, southwest of India, approximately 45minutes of flying time by a Boeing aircraft from Trivandrum.). Having successfully arranged that, we collected the information from one of my friends, who had been there to Maldives on several occasions on business trips. He informed me that Maldives Government has approved the residents of the country to entertain tourists in their houses, and could collect rent for their stay and pay a small portion as tax to the Government. My friend had also recommended me to one of his friends in Maldives, who could be my host.
Having arranged that, we planned for the travel and set out by train to reach Trivandrum from where we would catch a flight to Maldives. Everything went off very smoothly, and on the scheduled day of departure, we went through the formalities of immigration and customs and boarded our flight.

This was, incidentally, my first experience in a transport aircraft and I was thrilled ! I was looking out of the window ( I had requested for a window seat) and was waiting impatiently for the aircraft to move ! Now, suddenly , a thought struck my mind. I was an obsessive believer in ‘ cheiromancy’ and was an ardent reader of all related books. I had ‘reached a degree of proficiency’ in the related subject, in my own opinion. Now, I looked at my hand to verify whether I had the ‘travel line’ cutting across from the mount of Luna to touch the Line of Life ! It was not there ! In no uncertain terms, it clearly indicated that I had no prospect of ‘overseas’ travel ! Then, what could happen ? Will I ever land into Maldives or crash into Indian Ocean? While I was considering all these aspects and analysed for a comfortable answer, the aircraft started taxiing out. Within the next 10 minutes, we were airborne, and my thoughts had faded away, as we started cruising. Within 40minutes, I could see the green coral islands, below us, and was thrilled. The aircraft made a smooth landing at the island airport of Maldives, called ‘Hulule’. ‘Hell with this palmistry’, I thought. After quickly going through the formalities of immigration, health ( Pricked my fingers for blood samples !) and customs, we were outside. There were ferry services to the Capital city ‘Maldives’, which was 10 minutes distance by boat travel. The weather was good and I liked everything I saw. After a brief travel by the boat, we landed up on the shores of the city ‘ Maldives’. It is a 100% muslim country, has to import everything for its sustenance and most of the male community are employees of some shipping organisation. The only natural resources is the fish from the sea.

The city was very small, ( in fact, from one end of the island to the other end, we could walk within 25 to 30 minutes) and we quickly reached the place where we had made arrangements for our stay. It was something like a group of rooms in a barrack in a Military camp. Each one had one room and an attached toilet. Never mind, we could not afford much and we were happy with what we got. The owner was an elderly lady, who also stayed in one of the rooms, on the opposite side of our barrack, seperated by a paved verandah.

We set out for ’sight-seeing’ and shopping. There are no animals and there are no birds in Maldives! Therefore , there was no ’sight seeing’. My friend, who was an orthodox Hindu brahmin, insisted on buying an electric stove to prepare the food for us. I did not care much for all these, but said OK. We returned back. For the dinner, we had a loaf of bread and vegetarian sandwich.

Next day, my friend ‘prepared’ lunch for both of us. Though it was awful, I did not complain. There was a small plantain tree in the campus and my friend, without any hesitation, cut two leaves to be used as plates. We threw the plantain leaves in the dustbin, which was near the tree itself. We had planned to stay in Maldives for 3 days, and after that to fly out to Sri-lanka.

In the afternoon, my friend suggested that he would prepare
‘tea’ for us. I tried to stop him. But he would not listen. He went ahead and prepared tea, by using the electric stove in the end of
verandah. As he had finished his concoction, he tripped the kettle and the tea spilled over on the surface ! To add to the misery, the room on the opposite side opened and the owner lady appeared ! I just pulled myself inside my room and watched the proceedings. The lady was glaring at my friend and my friend was looking at her foolishly. He ,then , gathered courage and asked the lady, ‘ do you have a cleaning cloth ?’

The lady did not appear to have understood his idea. She might have thought that this arrogant guy was asking her to clean the spill ! She replied back tersely, ‘ You dirty , you clean’. I could not contain my laughter any more. After my friend cleaned up the area under her supervision, he went to throw the dirty cloth in the dust-bin. The owner lady followed him there also. She looked with disbelief the plantain tree without any leaves and the used up leaves inside the bin ! She questioned him, ‘ who do this ?’ My friend meekly replied ‘ we used it’ and went ahead to comfort her, ‘ Do you eat plantains ?’ . There was no reply. Who knows? For all you know,the lady must have thought that my friend was suggesting to her to eat the plantain leaves from the dust bin !What an arrogance ! She glared at him in anger, did not say a word and walked away. my friend was very angry with me for my ‘unfriendly’ attitude of not helping him but enjoying the fun ! What could I do ? Every one has a natural character. I could not change mine.

After three days, we again returned back to Hulule Airport and reached Colombo ,in Sri Lanka, across the indian Ocean, with a flying distance of one hour and 15 minutes. I shall share my experiences of Srilanka with you in my next news letter.

Regards
Ramani

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