Snake in the Sky

I had to catch a morning flight, and had reached the airport well in advance. I was rather surprised on being told that the flight was delayed by more than 3 hours.


The airline was supposed to inform this well in advance. In fact it would have helped me to spend more time with my father who was unwell that time. I was terribly upset and started arguing with the lady at the counter, only to be informed that I could meet the Airport Manager in case of any grievance. That was how a belligerent I landed inside the office of the Airport Manager.

I saw the man hurriedly talking in more than one phone line. He offered me a seat and requested me to wait for a while till he finished some urgent calls. I sat in front of him with furious & long face as was ready to bulldoze him with a full load of complaints.

As the man kept on talking in various languages, I sensed something serious. I slowly started listening to his discussions. I did not understand what the problem was, but got a sense that there was an attempted hi jack. It appeared that the hijacker possessed a snake too. My anger had had given way to a sense of curiosity.


Finally he had finished his calls & looked at me. He apologized for having kept me waiting & politely enquired what my problem was.

By this time my tempers had cooled down & I had decided not to make an issue, but just mentioned about my grievance. He said he was sorry about the miscommunication, and offered me a room in the VIP lounge where I could spend the remaining time comfortably. He had offered a cup of coffee before leaving and we had a small chat on local affairs. While sipping the coffee, I gently asked him? “ May I know what the whole problem you were handling?”

He took a while with a naughty smile and started describing about the happenings of the day.

It all started with one flight taking off from the previous airport. The plane stabilized in the mid air & seat belt sign was switched off. However, most of the passengers had settled down and were lost in their own world.

Meanwhile one passenger got up and pulled out his bag from the overhead boot. He sat down with the bag, and requested the air hostess for a cup of milk.

The whole mid air drama unfolded then. He slowly took out a long rope like thing out of the bag. Initially no one had noticed it, but when they realized, a sudden chill went down their spine! It was a live snake!


There was chaos & panic all over, and people had a feeling that the plane was being hijacked. The airline crew lost no time in surrounding and isolating him. They exhorted him to pack the snake back and hand it over. But he was in no mood to listen. He insisted that he had the right to carry a pet & feed it. He pointed out that the snake was indeed thirsty and if you didn’t give milk, it would become furious! When the crew put pressure, he became adamant and had threatened to leave the snake loose in to the plane. This had created a fear psychosis. The crew had decided to inform the control room. They kept on engaging him during the rest of the flight while keeping the snake in status quo.


The passengers on board had a terrible time as they did not know what would happen. Eventually the plane landed & commandos had swiftly moved in. The man had offered no resistance, but refused to part with his prized possession. He said he could not be separated from his pet. The man was arrested along with his snake and lodged in a special room at the airport.

But there was a problem. The plane could not be cleared for the onward journey without a checked in passenger on board. There were hectic consultations, and at end, he was forcefully relieved off his pet, and sent back to the aircraft. The flight had eventually taken off.


The problem at ground still refused to subside. What to do with the uninvited guest? You are not supposed to release a snake in to the airport area. You cannot kill a snake as it was against the wild life rules of the state. There had to be a proper procedure & documentation for the rehabilitation of this guest from wild.

Finally a solution was worked out. The state wild life department came forward to adopt the snake. The zoo authorities came with an expert & have taken possession of it. They had issued a certificate to the airport authorities to this effect. Every one was relieved.

The airport manager was handling all these issues, while I went and sat with him. I was impressed with his cool way of handling the situation.

Ultimately the departure of my flight was announced after a delay of 5 hours, and I had occupied my allotted seat. To my dismay I saw a man with a zip bag trying sit next to me!

The first thing I have done was to call the air hostess and request for a seat change. You will never know what kinds of pets are hidden in the zippers these days! Hence, better be safe than sorry!!

Kangaroo's Speed.

A Kangaroo can hop at a staggering speed of 41 km per hour ! One of the best in its category!

More Elephant Stories

An Elephant can carry two gallons of water in its trunk. Elephats are the only animals that has been taught to stand on its head !
An Elephant can only walk, it cannot run. But it can walk faster than a man can run !

An Elephant Can't Jump !

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.This is due to their peculiar leg design.

Please feed my cute hamster by clicking in the cage

The only planet that rotates in opposite direction of others.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise in the solar system.
The picture on left is a comparaison of relative sizes of Mercury, Venus , Earth and Mars

A Snail's Sleep !

Believe it or not: A snail can sleep for 3 years.

Try this !

Try to lick your own elbow. And tell me whether you can.

A Valentine Story

I was standing at a florist in Bangalore on one valentine day, some years back. I saw a very familiar face there, but could not figure out who he was. He was busy in selecting some rose buds. I could guess to an extent, and took the initiative


“Aren’t you Mr.Rasheed?”

He looked at me like a stranger, but slowly a smiled in recognition. “Yes, I am Rasheed”.

I enquired what he was doing in Bangalore and he said he was working in Bangalore those days.

We sat together in a nearby coffee shop just refresh our acquaintance.

I was very happy to see Rasheed after a long time, that too away from our native village.

Rasheed was my junior in the school & we hailed from the same village.

It so happened that a new family bought a house near Rasheed’s house those days. It was a small family with an elderly couple & two teenaged daughters. The girls were pretty & they mingled with the local children quite effortlessly. Their father was nearing retirement & was very reserved sort of character. Their mother was a lady who took strong pride on her aristocratic Hindu family back ground.

The elderly girl started taking tuitions as she was good in mathematics. Soon, Rasheed became a student of her and a regular visitor to their house. Instead learning Mathematics, Rasheed started learning the lessons of love & sooner the teacher & student became passionate lovers.

The love affair between these teens did not bode with the families, especially with the girl’s. Rasheed was from a poor Muslim family while Raji was from an aristocratic Hindu family.

But for Rasheed & Raji, it was no holds barred. They were meeting quite frequently amid strict warnings by both families. One day as things hot up, the love birds decided to fly to their own world, away from all the detractors. As they were found missing, the entire village was on an alert. People were searching all possible places, but could not trace them. It was already night and most of the places were under the carpet of darkness. All of a sudden some one had heard a feeble cry from a thick bush of shrubs. Rasheed & Raji had emerged from that, and Rasheed pleading for help. Raji had been bitten by a snake, while they were trying to hide in the bush!

The commotion had given way to compassion, and she was immediately taken to the hospital. As she was given medical assistance on time, she was declared out of danger by the doctor. Every one was relieved, but their anger did not subside. Rasheed was caught and badly beaten up. No body was ready to listen to his version. Later on Rasheed was sent to one of his relative’s house in a distant place.Raji was subsequently married to another guy and sent to the boy's place.

I have not seen Rasheed afterwards, but I knew that the girl was later married to another boy, and they had settled down in his place.

I had asked Rasheed “Do you still cherish your love to your ex girlfriend?”

Rasheed said “Only in my memories. I buy a bunch of roses on Valentine’s Day and leave them to her memories.”

He had no complaints now, and felt it was by gone dream.

The Anti Clock Time Piece!

Our reliable time piece did not sound an alarm yesterday. To our dismay, we found that it was running anti clockwise. Hard to belive? Watch this video.

The advantage of becoming a Smoker !

In Malayalam, which is popularly spoken across God’s Own Country, there is a joke about Smokers.


As per that, a smoker will have three attributes.

1- He will not Gray

2- Dogs won’t bite him, and

3- Burglars won’t dare into his house.

Are you wondering what’s happening?

Sure, there are convincing answers.

1-Smokers will die at young age itself; hence they won’t last till they gray out.

2-Smokers will become sick and weak fast, and hence need to carry a walking stick. This will scare away the dogs, and

3-Smokers will keep on coughing in the night, even while they are asleep. The burglars will think that people at home are still awake, and hence would not dare to enter.

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Consultant

A consultant is a smart fellow. He removes the watch from you and gives you the best advice on 'time'!

Opportunity

Opportunities are not easy and they won't come to you, so don't wait.
Go after oppotunities. You have to spot and grab them!

Congratulations Indian Democracy !

It is nice to see that all the important Political Parties joined together and passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha. All the indications are that this co operation will get repeated in Loksabha also where 410 MP’s are likely to support it.


Congratulations to all concerned, as this is the second major achievement, after the Nuclear Deal, 2 years back.

Corruption - Then & Now

During a group discussion on “Corruption at public offices”, one guy enthusiastically remarked.


“In my Father’s days, they used to identify one or two guys as corrupt.

Now things have changed. It is easy to pin point one or two as non corrupt”.

Nitrogen for tyres instead of air.

Automobiles run on pneumatic [air filled] tires. The compressed air inside the tyres provides the vehicle capability to move fast on the roads. In certain types of Tractors and Cranes, a mixture of air and water is filled inside the tires to adapt it to certain specific requirement. This is also known as hydroflation.

However the latest trend is to use nitrogen gas inside high speed tires. This offer some added advantage to the conventional method of using compressed air.

They are ..
# No oxidation happening inside the tire, which enhances tire life

# No moisture, dust particles & heavy molecules, leading to a lighter weight

# The above factors reduces the chances of tire burst

# Nitrogen filled tires offer lower noise level

# Tire Rims do not get rusted inside, eliminating pitting

# Relatively cooler running

# Improves riding comfort.

Nitrogen filling is becoming common, and many tire service centers offer this facility.

Gift your society One Crore+

Plants are nature’s most coveted gift to the earth. Without trees, the earth cannot sustain life. Vegetation feeds the entire creation, one way or other.


As per the official estimate long back, a tree which lives for 50 years is worth 25.00 lac Indian Rupees. The Break up is:

#Contribution to cleansing of air pollution- about 10.50 Lacs

#Shelter to birds and animals- 5.3 Lacs

#Generating Oxygen-5.5 Lacs

#Fruits, Medicines and other products-4.3 Lacs

#These estimates had not taken into consideration the other numerous benefits given the trees, like

#Contribution in stabilizing the temperature

#Contribution in recycling fertility

# Prevention of soil erosion

# Moderation of natural calamities like storm

It will be very difficult to value all the above, and if you adjust this to present inflation, a tree that lives for 50 years should be worth at least One Crore Indian Rupees.

So why wait; Gift our society worth Rs.10000000 by planting a sapling!

Things Money can't buy..

Money can buy # # # # # #......

# A House - But not a Home

# Medicines - But not health

# A Bed - But not sleep

# Cloths - But not beauty

# Food – But not appetite

# Luxuries - But not happiness

# Books - But not knowledge

Medical assistance in running trains

It is an essential thing for any one to get medical assisstance on time. This is specially important when you are travelling, but becomes a bit difficult. What will happen if you are in a moving train when suddenly someone develops a chest pain ?
I had an intersting & gratifying experience in a moving train, way back in 1989.
Today being the Rail Budget Day, I remember this story. I had already posted this in my blog on experiences & fond memories http://www.funtravelogue.blogspot.com/
Please spare some time and read " Doctor on Wheels" split into seven small parts. This is available in January 2010 Archives.

Think Positive

Pep talks & Pep scripts always motivates one. Here is one I came across.




SAY YOURSELF EVERY MORNING

# Today is going to be Great day!

# I can handle more than what I think I can!

# Things don’t get better by worrying about them!

# I can be satisfied if I try to do my best!

# There is always something to be happy about!

# I am going to make someone happy today!

# It is not good to be down!

# Life is great, make most of it!



Be an Optimist; Have a great day!