Hawaii trip 2018 - Day IV

A lady in Hawaii was arrested for stealing a can of Pinapples from a store. The judge asked the lady - "How many slices were there in the can" ? " There were only 6 inside the can, my Lord", replied the lady. "So, I am sentencing you for 6 days in Prison". Her husband who was seating nearby shouted, "She also stole a can of peas".

Jokes apart - it ain't no joke that there are no snakes or rats ( to complete the food chain) on this beautiful Island. The locals have religiously adhered to strict procedures to prevent any invasive flora and fauna from getting into their paradise and spoil their ecosystem.

The Island is full of tourists and natives alike who can be seen wondering around wearing the famous "Hawaiian Shirts", loose fitting outfits with different hues and colors - so typical of the island.

Prodded by Trailokya Sir, I scoured through the literatures and booklets on hand for informations about the famous Hawaiian shirts (there is a overdose of informations available here). Though different tales have circulated over the decades over the story of these fascinating, exotic shirts, historians mainly attribute the design to a group of wonderfully creative and artistic people during the time Hawaii was emerging as an island paradise for tourists. Tentatively the time was early part of 20th century.

Most experts concur that it may have been be inspired from the Japanese Kimono and the Polynesian flowery culture in the region which includes but not limited to the islands beyond Hawaii, the likes of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa - the signs of which is very prolific on this island, shirts or otherwise. What we know for certain is the Hawaiian shirts put the Island on the global map. Widely sold and attired, it is one of the best symbols of the island's bohemian culture.

Next stop is the Big Island of Hawaii where the action is - the recent eruption of lava from a volcano which is very much in the news. This island hopping flight from Honolulu to Kona hardly took 30 minutes, one of the shortest distance flights I have ever taken. Once the flight takes off, no sooner you finish chanting Laxman Sivaramakrishnan or Chatur Mahadevan Ramalingam 108 times, than you will be at your destination.

For a small duration flight, the Hawaiian Airliner wasn't small at all - with a few front rows reserved for the Business Class folks. Seated in the very next row, the first row of Cattle class (Business class in beyond my pay grade), I playing a voyeuristic peeping Tom poked my nose at the Premium stuff being cordially served just a row ahead, while I slipped my small cup of Orange juice offered nonchalantly by the crew.

The Air Hostess immediately realised this and drew the curtains down to my reverie by closing the few inches of open drapery which enabled me to steal a look through the inside. I felt like a stray cattle viewing through the gate of a big bunglow deriving vicarious pleasure at the Alsatin dog fed well by his master with a feeling of "I am there but not yet there, so near yet so far", until the house owner notices the cow and shooes it away. More later from the Big Island of Hawaii...

Hawaii trip 2018 - Day III

On the map the Hawaii group of Islands look like a String of Pearls strewn over a dark velvet carpet. Surrounded by Corals deep inside the sea, extracting pearl from these colorful corals is a big local industry. Tourists buy a lot of pearl based jewellery - another marine product apart from the seafood and boost for local economy.

The Circled Island tour bused us out at the wee hours of the morning towards our first stop - Pearl Harbor. Historically it is juxtaposed to the famous "Pearl Harbor" attack on the wee hours of 7th December, 1941. The swift devastating blitzkrieg totally caught the Americans unaware, as it literally came as bolt from the blue when they least expected it.

The main architech of the attack, the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was not so inclined to attack Pearl Harbor, fearing its consequences. Educated in Harvard he had some idea of American capability. But drunk by the success in Indo-China, the military junta headed by General Tojo vetoed his prudent Admiral's concerns and gave the go ahead order to launch the attack.

It was a calm, sunny morning in the picturesque island when there were clear blips on the Radar announcing the approach of a string of airplanes on the horizon. It was promptly conveyed to the Headquarters who dismissed it with the now famous four words "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT" - assuming they could be the fighter planes flying from the California.

Moments later Japanese bombers a la a swarm of bees stung the Naval base, sinking one battle ship after another, taking thousands of young sailors in their teens and 20s who barely started their career with them. It was the first attack on the American soil by a foreign power, completely catching it off guard. American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor was totally devastated.

The same evening President Roosevelt declared war against Japan, marking the opening of a new front and chapter in World War II. Admiral Yamamoto knew very well that there must be an element of surprise in the attack to destroy US's superior Battleships. Ironically, less than 4 years later, his prior concern belittled by his superiors was vindicated when Americans dropped "Little Boy", the new kid in the block called Nuclear Bomb on Japan, forcing the later to surrender.

The next stop in the tour was different places of attraction on the North Shore of the Oahu island which included a trip to hundreds of acres of Plantation of varieties of tropical fruits. Being an amateur farmer, I took a keen interest in the visit. Though mostly Pineapples are grown as they love the iron containing reddish black lava soil, the plantation too included Banana, Coffee, Cocoa and Macademia nuts - the last three plants I saw for the first time.

Flanked by mountains on one side, the trade wind launched its incessant waves of attack crashing on the North shore - its sprouting black rocks shooting up geysers of bluish green water like an elephant snorting water from its trunk. It was breathtaking sight watching from a cool height of 2000 feet high, breathing lungful of fresh mountain air.

Banyan, Mango, Lychee and Papaya trees act as canopy of the Island. Many tourists who saw a mango tree for the first time in life enthusiastically took its pictures. The Mango man (AAM ADMI) in me from the land of the "King of Fruits" hardly shared their excitement. The voluptuous Papayas on dwarf trees, hanging barely feets from the ground reminded me of KURUNDAs (men with supersize Balls) - an ubiquitous sight in coastal Odisha. More later...

Hawaii trip 2018 - Day II

ALOHA and MAHALO are the two most popular words used in Hawaii. Aloha is their way of saying Hello and Mahalo means "thanks". The locals have a unique way of waving their hand to greet you, with both thumb and little finger up.

What's the similarities between the Indian state Assam and Hawaii. The people living in both places are known to be easy going, with a laidback attitude towards living. Unlike the fast paced life of their Mainland counterparts, Hawaiian time travels in a slow pace.

Out of 187 Islands of Hawaii only 8 are inhabited, forming the most isolated human habitat in the world. The closest land at the shortest distance is California at 3000 miles away, with a long 5 plus hour of flight. It is America's 50th State, a fortunate late addition to its kitty - a military assett strategically placed, handsomely contributing to US economy in form of tourism. (Amongst the late additions are the state of Texas bought from Mexico which has large reserve of oil and Alaska, which the American press then called a sucked up Orange sold by Russia at a very nominal price. Now US sucks oil and money in form of tourism out of it)

Last night we saw a spectacular show called "Magic of Polynesia" showcasing the Polynesian culture of the Hawaiian Islands. The conductor of the show requested a volunteer to come on the stage. Came forward "Kenji San", a Japanese gentleman from the audience containing a good number of his compatriots.

When asked to enter a huge box on the podium, Kenji San offered to remove his shoes. But the instructor told him not to do so, mixing his words with gesture trying to convince our man from Japan struggling with English. Taking off shoes before entering a house or a place of sacrosanct is not just Indian, it's an Asian culture too.

In USA, some of my DESI (a term used in US for persons of Indian origin) friends have attempted to enter my house wearing their shoes, only to be politely reminded to keep the shoes outside. Once a Desi BHAI (Brother) who insisted on keeping his shoes on was soundly rebuffed by me - "Sorry, I make the rule of my house and don't like shoes used outside, inside my house". The message was well taken.

Met a couple of couples from the land Down Under (Australia) when we took a Submarine tour down under water late in the afternoon. Our brief tete a tete centered around cricket and weather before they bid Adieu to us with "Gid Daey Maite". The submarine sank us 100 feet below water, enabling us to catch the rare sight of marine life - fishes of all hue, color and sizes, turtles idling on corals, intermittently flapping wings. One seemed to wink at as it swam past the curious onlookers.

Pacific Ocean is big and boisterous, but deep down it is under high pressure. A la Robert Frost's woods, it's dark and deep - It's Mariana Trench near Philippines has miles to go underwater, about 31,000 feet deep. Imagine the pressure at the bottom of the deepest place on earth. Any speculation of the force of gravity needed to hold that water won't hold any water. Can't fathom the miracle of nature more. More later...

Hawaii trip 2018 - Day I

Due to the 6 hours of time difference between Hawaii and the US East Coast, I was up early in the morning. Sandwiched in between phases of staggered sleep broken by a dash to the bathroom to empty my bowels at midnight induced by my body clock which still thinks it's early morning in Georgia - the hungry me grabbed a sandwich and egg with its sunny side up to watch the Sun go up behinds the misty mountains, as if trying to replicate the reddish hue of the poached egg.

From our 20th floor Hotel "A room with a view" the pararomic sight of the undulating mountainous landscape on one side and ocean on the other was breathtaking. Hawaii has a transactional weather - from the balcony I could see raining on the mountains on my left and tourists flocking sunny beach on the right, barely a furlong away.

The small Island chain of Hawaii is surrounded by the vast, endless Pacific Ocean which churns in rain bearing clouds, showering the islands before drifting away to bless it back with sunshine. This endless cycle continued throughout the day, reminding me of this song we used to sing during my childhood days when occasionally we used to get sun and rain coming together -
KHARA HAUCHI, BARSHA HAUCHI.
BILUA NANA, BAHA HAUCHI.
transliterated from Odia..

It's Sunny, It's Rainy.
The Daddy Jackal is having his,
Marriage Ceremony.

The Oahu Island of Hawaii has a million population, plus a quarter million tourists. Apart from the United States they come from all over the world, especially from Japan, Australia and New Zealand - the 3 nations with spending power located close to it, still thousands miles from it separated by the vast Pacific Ocean. They come to celebrate honeymoons, getting married, trips with family, with girlfriends, wives or concubines (not wife and concubine I suppose).

Amongst the tourists, the Japanese take the lead - they are everywhere, same as Bengalis in the township of Puri, Odisha. A la Puri has Bengali written all over, one can see Japanese, from the restaurant menu to billboards all over Honolulu. My hotel room has books of both "Teaching of Buddha" and "Holy Bible". If Bengalis for some reason decide to boycott Puri its economy will collapse like a pack of cards. The economy of Hawaii will take a hit if minus the Japanese tourists.

The similarities with Puri doesn't end there. Honolulu feels like Puri in the month of December sans dirt and trash. I saw tall, lanky coconut trees as well as betel nut trees bearing orange nuts - a very typical of the milieu surrounding the temple town. Though the beaches of Honolulu were a lot cleaner, it can't beat the sandy beaches and rolling sea waves, only visible in between Puri and Chandrabhaga. More later....

Off to Hawaii Vacation 2018

Variety brings the spice in life and a vacation is a much needed break from the monotony of the mundane life. It's time to recharge the batteries - nothing sounds more enchanting and energizing than travelling to Hawaii on a vacation to shrugg off the jaded nerves. 

Flanked by mountains and the sea, the tropical chain of Islands located in the Pacific and forming the 50th state of USA is a favored destination for the global tourists and Americans alike.

The direct flight from Atlanta to Honolulu, in the Oahu island of Hawaii is 10 hours long, travelling across 5 time zones as the chain of volcanic islands is 6 hours behind East Coast time. Perhaps with the exception of Russia, there is no country in world where it takes that long to travel from one part to another. The first long weekend in US after a long time. No surprise the cattle class (an euphemism for economy class) was packed like sardines.

The giant Delta airliner gently glided into the sky, leaving the Atlanta skyline. It shuddered a bit amidst the gray nimbus cloud before slowly receding in the distant diving into the bright, morning sky amidst a mix of fleecy, snow white clouds. The long flight of 10 hours made me feel like going to India, except we were flying west.

On the way spent time watching multiple movies, notably the "Darkest Hour", based on the World War II time Prime Minister of England - Winston Churchill. The movie is aptly named at a time led by a crazy man who Wakes up with scotch in morning, Champaign at lunch, never forgets his late afternoon nap. 

Chirchill took up the toughest job at the toughest time when Hitler led Germany blitzkrieg was whipping England after pulverizing Western Europe. When the Nazi bombs landed close to the "10 Downing Street", his official residence defying the advise to vacate it he went to his basement and delivered his famous speech - "We will fight on the sea, on the beach, on the land, in the air, on the hills, but we will Never never ever surrender". It was enough to motivate and rally the gritty Brits to fight back. Rest we know is history.

During the same time on the other side of the Atlantic, a nation described by Churchill as "Common people separated by a common languages" the American newspapers extensively covered the war in Europe. (It is natural human instinct to take vicarious pleasure in watching others fight - a catfight can be more tantalizing). The war time business boomed in United States, aiding in the recovery from its great recession not so long ago.

But the lull didnt last long when the Japanese stormed America by launching a surprising attack on the picturesque Pearl harbor in the Pacific island of Hawaii - farway from Europe where so far the action was, thus dragging United States into the war. It was a pleasant historic coincidence catching up with a great World War II movie on flight just before visiting the Pearl harbor museum on a Memorial day weekend. More later...

BJP Learnt from the Congress the art of horse trading

Congress talking about Horse trading reeks of hypocrisy. It takes me back to the year 1983 when NTR barged into the party's hitherto unbreakable Fortress of South India which faithfully sided with  it not long ago. Even after the excess of Emergency Congress kept on sweeping South in an era of sychopancy when our ex President Zail Singh made a sweeping statement - "I will sweep the floor if Mrs. Indira Gandhi asks me to do so".

NTR was swiftly punished by Indira for breaking her Southern firewall as Andhra voted for the first time against AMMA (Mother) Indiramma's wish. No sooner NTR completed a year, than Indira's henchmen led by her son in waiting Rajeev Gandhi dismissed the government and put a Congressi stooge to replace the actor - politician.

NTR ferried his MLAs to a resort, in the heart of the current Resort politics - a city named Bangalore to prevent further poaching of his MLAs. It was probably the first instance of resort politics in India. Bangalore was chosen as the venue at that time as there were very few non Congress party ruled states in India, R K Hegde led Karnataka was one of them.

It was perfect on the job training for the scion of the Gandhi family who was forced into politics after Indira's other son, the chosen heir Sanjay Gandhi died tragically in an air crash. Congress used to be the champion of the art of breaking opposition governments in state aided by by horse trading. Post assassinated Gandhis, Narasimha Rao continued the tradition in managing to survive his minority government.

This was a pioneering tradition set by Congress which others followed. BJP soon learnt to outsmart Congress at its own game. The Grand Old Party's whining and blaming the Saffron Party of doing exactly what it used to do before reminds me of the Odia proverb - CHALUNI KAHUCHI CHHUNCHI TO PACHHA RE GOTE KANA, transliterated, "The seive pointing to the needle of the later having a hole at its bottom". It simply means, Kettle calling the pot black.

Politicians take good care of one another

 As the elections in Karnataka get closer and heats up with the progressing summer, so also the virulent, partisan discussions on media - social or otherwise. Going forward, it is going to get worse and more rabid as the national elections approach a year from now.

Keeping that in mind, recently I posted a request on Facebook not add me to any specific political groups. I love my independence, sanity and rational thinking. These groups are highly partisan and a balanced view is frowned upon. So no hard feeling - time is very precious and I don't want to waste my time on something which hurts more than helps.

For those who love political duels and mudslinging let me remind you at a high level, the politicians have a UNNEESH - BEESH (19 - 20) difference, providing a Hobson's choice, call it Devil vs Deep Sea (Deep She if you allude to Sonia). But inside out these leaders have excellent relationship across the board, irrespective of parties.

During early 2000, Rahul Gandhi the scion of Gandhi family was caught in Boston Airport of US allegedly in possession of weeds. He was detained by the American authorities for questioning. Normally we would expect the Vajpayee government trying to take political mileage out of this incident.

But the reverse happened. Ministry of external affairs pulled up its socks and was on an emergency mission to bail Rahul out. The Gandhi dynast was not the first Indian to face harassment in an US Airport. Rarely Government of India goes overboard to bail them out. But apparently in the case of Son of Sonia, an exception was made to the rule. A la Caesar's wife, Sonia's son is beyond suspicion. The ever pliant DURBARI (Obsequious Court of Emperor) media and Lutyen's eco system was brought into service to supress the news.

Bottom line, at the top the leaders have excellent relationship. During 1980s Odisha Biju Patnaik and his last name bearing rival Janaki had a tacit understanding of pitting weak candidates against one another. When one party is in power, the other guys in the opposition is kept in good humor, lest the same guy comes handy when the ruling person lands up in opposition. It is a classic case of you scratch my back and I scratch yours kinda arrangement.

But it is their foolish supporters who fight amongst each other on the street as well as social media - often spoiling there personal relationship succumbing to passion filled debates. Once the election gets over, the NETAs (so called leaders) get back to their bonhomie, albeit in private and good friends taking care of rach other when need arises. But the bad blood among commoners will linger on further beyond 2019.

Nothing more depicts the politicians than this Oriya quip -

"NARATTOMA DASA KAHE
KOU SALA BHALA NUHE".

roughly transliterated...

Narottam Dash says,
Not a single SALA (scoundrel),
is a good Fella.

(SALA literally means wife's brother, but used in a derogatory sense meaning - seducer of your sister to vent one's frustration).

Karnataka goes to poll - 2018

In 1977 post emergency election a stong Janata wave led by late Jayaprakash Narayan (popularly known as JP) swept away Indira Gandhi from power in North India. But in spite of her Emergency excesses South India stood solidly behind her. Karnataka was one such state, where AMMA INDIRAMMA (Mother Indira) cult eked out 27 out of total 28 seats.

The state was a citadel for Congress as Indira Gandhi won the byelection from Chikmagalur to enter the Parliament as she lost her seat in 1977 earlier from her home turf of Rai Bareilly in UP to a political buffoon named Raj Narain. She again made a clean sweep of Karnataka in 1980 Lok Sabha elections bringing her back to power in Delhi.

But R Gundu Rao's misrule of the state narrowly brought Janata Party lead by R K Hegde as Chief Minister in 1983. Karnataka was no more the Congress fort it once used to be. Though it won the state several times since then the party's monopoly was long gone.

Karnataka voters are one of the smartest in India. For last 35 years, they have been making their government accountable, changing them as and when needed - so that no political party can take them for granted. As crop rotation is known for enhancing the productivity of the soil, government rotation is sometime needed to keep the balance of power in check as well as to curb the corruption and inefficiency.

The best example - In December 1984 Lok Sabha elections Congress won 24 out of 28 seats. Yet barely couple of months later in March 1985, Karnataka voted for R K Hegde, bringing Janata Party to power in the state. The other states who went to poll voted for Congress as usual replicating the just concluded Lok Sabha polls. However Karnataka decided otherwise going against the flow. It yet reinforced the notion the southern state's voters are the smarter lot.

In this context, come 12th May, it will be interesting to watch the Kannadiga's vote. Only 3 to 5% vote swing can make a major difference irrespective of what opinion polls say - so I am sure the Karnataka voters have a surprise or two in store for the poll pundits as well as the nation in general.