Books to read to small children

Please pass on to people who have small kids. A reading habit is a gift that keeps giving, all your life.

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"Ever wondered what books would be great to read to your children? Especially the younger ones?

Saffron Tree brings to you an eclectic mix - children's books from India and the US, and pretty much all over the world that will help children connect to their cultural roots and also appreciate other cultures...."

http://www.saffrontree.org/

Interview with Prabha Ram, founder - http://www.thebetterindia.com/1481/saffron-tree-indian-books-literary-resources-children/

TOE Article on Rainwater harvesting

For house-owners in Bangalore who have to install rain water harvesting by May 27th, 2010, this Times of India article (30 April 2010) could be very useful. Page 3.

DON’T PANIC, rainwater harvesting is no rocket science

http://tiny.cc/441vs

(This is the link to the Epaper Home page - http://epaper.timesofindia.com/index.asp)

A friend mailed this info: "I also know someone who does it at a very reasonable rate.

- A Shri Narayanswamy at 9008168425 or 9740181087"

And contact numbers of http://www.rainwaterclub.org/ -

Office: 41110205
Sunil: 9845597336

Annual Health Checkup

If you have touched 40/have a history of diabetes/high BP/cancer/heart disease in the family/are overweight/have reason to worry about your health - or if you just want to make sure your parents are in good health - maybe you could consider the complete Health Checkup option available at many hospitals these days? There is a much higher chance of recovery from diseases like cancer if caught right in the beginning.

I have been getting an annual Master Health Checkup done at Mallya Hospital, Bangalore, since the last 2 years.

For details of this and the other checkups (Executive/Diabetic/Cardiac), see here - http://www.mallyahospital.net/ - Services & Facilities> Health Diagnosis Programs.

The Master Health Checkup gets over between 8 - 10.30 AM, they are really quick and efficient, you don't have to wait much. And they are polite.

And you go back at 4 PM to get all your test results, which will be explained to you in detail, and you will get advice on any follow-up, if required, and also diet counseling.

Costs Rs. 1600 for men, Rs 1750 for women (they check for breast and cervical cancers too). For a once-a-year checkup, it is well worth it.

Note: These checkups are available only from Monday to Friday, no weekends.

This is what you need to do:

1. Fast from 8 PM the previous night so that you arrive at the hospital at 8 AM the next day on an empty stomach. You can drink water.
2. Take a stool sample, and reach the hospital at 8 AM.
3. Go to the Registration Counter - they'll give you a form, then go to the Cash counter and pay. If you have a hospital card (which means you've been there before), then just go directly to Cash and say Master Health Checkup and pay.
4. Now take your receipt and go to the Reception. From now on the receptionist will tell you which room to go to, after each checkup. Breakfast is part of the package.
5. When all tests are done, come back at 4 PM to collect your results. Again, this won't take much time, unless there's a crowd.
   

Prevention is better than cure - and way less expensive!

Rain-water Harvesting in your house

My friend Kiran and his neighbours have used these guys to implement rain water harvesting in their colony, they did a great job - I can believe that, because S. Vishwanath, who started this club, is a good friend of ours - he's been campaigning passionately for rain-water harvesting, since 1995 - and we've seen how he's implemented it in his own house in Vidyaranyapura. He's married to Chitra Vishwanath, a well-known architect in Bangalore.

Why don't you give it a try too? Considering where we are headed, with all the ground water shortage in Bangalore. Please forward to friends in Bangalore.
I
http://www.rainwaterclub.org/

Neck/Shoulder pain because of excess computer usage?

If you're suffering from neck/shoulder pain because of long hours at the computer, try these simple things which helped me, though all that expensive physiotherapy and massages did not:

Raise your monitor to eye level, so that you are not looking down on it, but looking straight at it, your eyes a mid-monitor level, head help up.
I've just kept it on a big fat book both at office and at home. Made an instant difference. All damage happens because your head is bent forward and pulling your neck muscles up - the moment you lift up your head, the neck muscles relax, the tension goes.

Sleep on a firm bed without a pillow. This may seem difficult in the beginning, especially if you sleep on the side, like me - but it is amazing how quickly your body adapts. This again pushes your head back in the opposite direction, backwards - and also sideways - it all serves as a natural massage, and cures your neck pain. I sleep without a pillow all the time now, without any problem.

Both these methods were suggested by friends - thanks, guys!

Boutique matchmakers for the urban Indian :)

A friend's wife is one of the people who co-founded this -

http://www.marrygold.co.in/


I don't know anyone who has used this, just passing on the info.

Travel to Bhutan

All info from a friend -

How to get there

It's a deceptively large country! If you want to see all of Bhutan, then exit from east Bhutan to Guwahati, while entering from Phuentsholing. An overnight train from Calcutta can get you to Hasimara Junction. From there it's a short jeep or bus ride into Jaigon, the Indian border town. Stay in Jaigoan, or drive into Phuentsholing in Bhutan. Stay overnight, or drive upto Thimphu, if you can leave early enough for the 6 hr ride. Permits are done in Phuentsholing. It takes half-a-day. Within Bhutan, it is best to hire a cab and drive around. There is public transport, but is very sketchy.

Another option is to enter Bhutan from Guwahati and exit from Phuentsholing. Entry permits from Guwahati might be harder to get, but it's worth checking.

Recommendations

Contact: Mindup, an experienced tour operator at : mindupg@yahoo.com or 17609768 or Dorji, a seasoned driver and guide at 17621214

Always go with a Bhutanese Travel Agency for everything – car, guide, reservations. There are Indian operators, but they are mostly out of their depth, as we discovered rather expensively. Any operator that you pick will take care of both the permit and the accomodation.

Different regions will need separate permits, as also the different monasteries. A impulsive trip will be difficult to pull off, you're better off knowing where you want to go, at least broadly.

Prices

Coffees and teas might seem expensive (going from India), but food is affordable, and the portions are always large, and substantial. The cabs start at Rs 12 per km if you drive more than 100 kms a day or a flate rate of Rs 1200 per day. Hotels range from Rs 800 per night all the way to Rs 12,000.

Indian currency is accepted everywhere, and in fact, Bhutanese currency is accepted in Jaigaon.