Parambikulam - Nature lovers’ paradise

(From our Visit in October 2016)

How about living on a tree with basic amenities on the banks of a calm and serene lake amid deafening silence broken only with the roar of an elephant, call of a Malabar Langur or croaking of toads from down under?

Stress and strain of driving hundreds of kilometers on the winding roads of Western Ghats with numerous hair-pin bends dissipates within minutes as you enter the pristine Tiger Reserve of Parambikulam in Pallakkad district of Kerala. Not a dried leaf on the ground is disturbed by human beings.
With no mobile connectivity, life looks much more peaceful and you do not require a professional audio recording device to capture the scream of a peacock or alarm call of spotted
deer that roam around your ‘Tree top Hut’. Chirping of numerous birds on tall teak trees and bamboo tree-grass surrounding the water body seem to be providing right background score for nature’s song of silence.

A journey on a bamboo raft on the blue waters of Parambikulam Reservoir on Parambiyaar river provides you a sneak peek into the flora and fauna of the protected national park with an occasional gaur or elephant coming to its banks at far-end for water. Unlike its ilk, Parambikulam is not commercialized and the food prepared by the aborigines with fresh pond fish and locally grown veggies give you a different experience.

Tamil or Malayalam-speaking tribals working as forest guards accompany you on your 3-hour safari into the jungle. You could go in your own vehicle or take the Forest Department’s rickety
van. Kannimara – the 460-year- old teak tree revered as God by the locals is awe inspiring.

Early morning venture into the forest gave us a chance to watch peacocks fending themselves from attack of pack of wolves. Barking deers, wild boars, and Nilagiri Langoors were there in
large numbers. 

With only 27 tigers remaining (as 2016 census) in 277 sq.km. of core area,
sighting a big cat is a luck, says Murugan, our guide for two days in the forest. He finds them only once in a week.

We booked out stay with the forest department calling over phone Nos. 9442201690; or 9442201691. Forest Development Agency sells some handicrafts made by the locals with locally
available material and probably you could buy a hat/cap or T-Shirt with a tiger’s picture to remember the stay.

A romantic place to visit and it could get adventurous if a group books cottages on an island in the Parambikulam reservoir.

Zen of the roads

There is nothing quite so zen and perfect as hitting the road with just you and your life

partner in your dream car.

Feeble roar of engine immersed in melodies of yesteryear, feel of leather, burning of rubber on

a black serpentine boulevard or a highway embellished in a green landscape for miles together

set the right ambiance for a fortnight-long journey through Western Ghats in the second half of

October.

* Covering distances, tasting delicacies, meeting people, knowing culture, made me humble;

* Flowing rivers, dusty roads, chirping birds, flora and fauna, enjoying nature, turned me serene;

* Exploring places, taking surprises, facing challenges, shaped me into a stronger soul;

Exhaustion of months of long working hours in front of the blue electronic screens of computers

in office vanished in hours as we set out on a 3,500 – km road trip from Hyderabad to

Kanyakumari and back through lush green tracts of Western Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Once out of the concrete jungle, the journey in Honda Amaze (S) with 1.5 L i-DTEC engine

under the hood was nothing short of amazing on Asian Highway 43 – NH 44 (Old NH 7). The

arid regions of Southern Telangana and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh presented unique

rock formations that spread from Kurnool, Yaganti, Dhone, Gooty and Bellary up to Hampi.

Modern windmills dot the rocky edifice of mountains and up to the horizon in the ‘Rayalaseema’

and oasis of greenery provides the visual relief once you cross Kurnool and travel through

Anantapur. Vast tracts of yellow carpet of sunflower fields give a unique touch to the natural

landscape. Along the country’s longest National Highway (from Srinagar to Kanyakumari) and

away from home, options were innumerable for satisfying the food pallet, that suit everyone’s

pocket.

Thanks to the mobile navigation apps like ZWays and Google Maps, you are not only on the

right track, but can narrow down your choices of much-needed breaks from continuous driving

for a cup of hot coffee, tea or a bite on some healthy snacks.

Of wilderness, native culture and adventure

Driving on meandering narrow roads in the Western Ghats and reserve forests is a different ball

game compared to the smooth sailing on the broad carriageways of National Highways in the

plains. While the greenery of South Western Karnataka in Nagarhole National Park and

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in north Kerala forests was bewitching, a little carelessness on the

narrow roads could land you in a deep trouble.

Early winter morning fog greeted us on Bengaluru - Mysuru Highway. Crossing the colourful

streets of Chennapatna was a joy with small shops displaying wooden toys of all varieties. The

Wooden Rocking Horses in all sizes stacked all along the road brought back the childhood

memories.

Coffee plantations dot the roadside as we proceed from Hunsur to Kutta, a small town in

Kodagu district of Karnataka, just 2 k.m. from the entry gate of Nagarhole National Park.

Elephants and spotted deer greeted us from the roadside while passing through the 23-k.m.

road through the protected zone for the wild animals.

In the midst of a 30-acre coffee plantation owned by a Kodava family from the Coorg, our two-

day home stay in a typical tiled bungalow built about half a century ago, was a learning

experience. Understanding the culture of Kodavas or Coorgis was a fun with hosts Shyam and

Javin Cariappa was a pleasure.

Their way of praying river Kaveri, dressing for special occasions or the unique culinary

preparations like Neer Dosa, for breakfast and curry with butter beans and ganike suppu (in

Kannada) leaves from their backyard or kakya toppu (in Coorgi language) opened our eyes to a

new world. Ganike Soppu leaves are used as a good remedy for cold, cough, mouth ulcer and

stomach related problems, Jasvin tells us. Rice roti looking like a normal wheat flour roti, was

another preparation that we had never come across.

Shyam tells us how elephants had started coming into their coffee plantations (Robusta variety)

as density of forests was coming down. We could hear the roar of the elephants at night from a

distance. A safari into Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary resulted in the sighting of only some small

animals, but the tigers were nowhere to be seen.

A visit to Irupu waterfalls and then whitewater rafting was an adventure thoroughly enjoyed,

which we had not planned for. Coorg White Water Rafting in Kithu-Kakkatu River also known as

upper Barapole has the right gradient and water turbulence for a great adventure. Water levels

were low as the Monsoon had just ended, but the experience of paddling and rafting in Orange

and black inflatable boats for two hours charged up our spirits. The joy of jumping into river

without fear of getting drowned was something even youngsters enjoyed as you have a guide

and safety gear with you. Deepak (9845021605) made all arrangements.

The numerous hair-pin bends on our way to Coonoor via Sultan Bathery through Wayanad and

Mudumalai Reserve Forests gave us a thrilling experience, though keeping a keen eye on

oncoming heavy vehicles on the road was a must for a safe journey. Countless view-points,

streams and variety of trees and large tracts of Tea Plantations never made us tired.

Stay at the Singara Estate Tea Plantation (Tea Nest) on Coonoor-Kotagiri road was out of this

world experience. A deep valley overlooking the fog-covered peaks of Nilgiris and well-laid out

garden with bunch of good books in the adjoining room in a shelf instigates you to perpetually

settle at the place.

On the last leg of journey through Western Ghats from Coonoor to Mettupalayam via Kotagiri

and from Parambikulam to Kochi via Valparai in the Anamalai Reserve Forest driving skills are

put to test with close to 100 hair-pin bends challenging you. From Pollachi in Tamil Nadu to

Kochi we climbed 1,100 meters and drove down to Athirappilly Waterfalls near Ernakulam.

Adventure biking regulars on the 60-km Ghat Road section kept our company crisscrossing

each other at the 41 sharp bends. Herds of elephants crossed the road at one place, but fresh

dung was visible at many places all along the route.

The Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Departments need to be congratulated for stringently

implementing ban on plastics/pet bottles. You need to declare what you are carrying into the

forest and produce them while you come out in Kerala – this ensures none litters the pristine

eco zone. Bahubali movie shot at Athirappilly has added to its tourist attraction quotient.

Coastal road in Kerala from Ernakulam to Tiruvananthapuram via Alleppey and to Kanyakumari

was narrow compared to other National Highways, but in a good condition passing through

green countryside dotted with posh houses.

From Kanyakumari journey back to Hyderabad via Tirunelveli, Madurai, Salem, and Bengaluru

on NH 44 (old NH7) it was through some arid regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Sitting at home is sin, Hitting road is Zen

www.friends2support.org

Mega blood donation camps might inculcate the spirit of blood donation, but a large number of blood packets get wasted due to lack of blood storage facility. This website aims at reducing wastage of precious blood and providing safe blood at the right time at right place. Our slogan is `Search for blood ends at www.friends2support.org '.

This is a Windows based Internet webiste that stores reliable information of voluntary blood donors to enable people from any part of India at any time of the day/night to access contact details. People have the facility to pin-pointedly search for a donor in the place of requirement without delay.Telephonic Helpline: 0863-2351725 (Toll-free in A.P.) Normal STD Charges all over India.

This website is used in two ways: for voluntary donation of blood in case of emergencies intimated through the website or for searching a blood donor. An all India search for donors' information has been designed, which does not require any registration.

Donors' contact details are stored page wise for each blood group (including some rare sub-groups). Donors in each group can be searched State/Union Territory wise and under each State the list is divided into Revenue Districts, under each revenue district it is listed Assembly constituency wise. In Metro cities like New Delhi Mumbai and Chennai lists are available major area wise to reduce the burden of going through a large number of names in a city and ensure the donors reach the place of need/hospital quickly.

People can also post a blood request on the website providing details of the patient, hospital where he/she is undergoing treatment, telephonic contact nos. and address. Join discussion at `friends2support' group on www.googlegroups.com

Blood Components: The Right Choice

1. Introduction
2. What is better whole blood or components?
3. Why are blood components being used?
4. Why components therapy is better?
5. What is to be done?
6. Various Blood Components
7. Sources

Introduction Today if you go to a modern blood bank and ask for blood, you are very likely to be asked a question –"Which Component?" Gone are the day when the prescribed type of transfusion was whole blood. Today blood from the donor is separated into various different types of cells that it is constituted of and these are called blood components.

What is better whole blood or components? Each one of us has 60-80 ml blood per kg body weight in our body. Of this 16 ml is maintained as reserve. When a person comes to donate blood, the internationally prescribed standards say that the person may donate 8ml per kg body weight of blood. Since blood bags are available in only 350ml and 450 ml, so a person above the weight of 45 is eligible to donate 350 ml of blood and the person above 55 kg is eligible to donate 450 ml.The question is what is the real difference between donating 350 ml and 450 ml?

The answer is simple. It is the difference between saving one and saving up to 3 lives. When you donate 450 ml of blood, the blood is separated into its constituents. One unit is used to prepare red blood cells, platelet concentrate and plasma each of which can be given to three different patients and therefore one unit of blood when separated into component can save 3 lives. Why are blood components being used? Blood is a complex body fluid that has multiple roles to play within our body. Following are some of the important functions of blood.

# Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin which is carried in red cells) # Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins) # Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea and lactic acid # Immunological functions, including circulation of white cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies # Coagulation, which is one part of the body's self-repair mechanism # Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage

There are specific cells to perform each of these tasks in the blood. When the world did not have the correct understanding on how to prepare blood components, the shortage of any of the blood cells was treated by transfusing whole blood from the donor. This meant that the patient received a host of unwanted cells from someone else just to cater to the shortage of a specific cell. As transfusion medicine evolved, the blood banks learnt how to separate components and now the patient is given only the blood cells that are in shortage in his/her body.

An important thing that we must understand is that every time a person is transfused blood, it causes reactions within the donor's body. This is because some cells (white blood cells) are very specific to a patient. They are never required to be transfused into the patient but they invariably find their way into the patient's body in whole blood. These cells may cause an immunological assault on the recipient's body.

When we use blood components, only the required cells are transfused leading to the suppression of un-necessary reactions and problems for the patient. Why components therapy is better? Various reason as quoted by WHO are:- • the recipient can be treated with only those blood components that are lacking, reducing the occurrence of adverse transfusion reactions; • more than one patient can be treated with blood components derived from one donation; • therapeutic support for patients with special transfusion requirements can be provided, for example, plasma that often is not directly needed for transfusion can be used manufacturing of Factor VIII concentrate for Haemophilia A patients; • Improved quality and functional capacity of each component when varied storage conditions and shelf lives were applied. It has also been observed that infants treated with reconstituted blood (mixture of separated blood components) instead of whole blood recover faster.

(See http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Reconstituted-Blood-Better-For-Young-Hearts-3005-1/) Apart from all these facts National Blood Policy of India clearly states that component therapy should be facilitated and encouraged. Plasma fractionation is also included in the strategy plan of NBP.

(http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN009847.pdf) "Availability of blood components shall be ensured through the network of regional centres, satellite centres and other blood centres by creating adequate number of blood component separation units." "Appropriate steps shall be taken to increase the availability of plasma fractions as per the need of the country through expanding the capacity of existing centre and establishing new centres in the country."

Component therapy is followed in several other countries satisfying the increasing need of blood to great extent. Very few Blood banks in India have component separation facility. Need of the hour is to adopt this procedure and have 100% component separation. What is to be done? Individual donor to blood bank and the government, it is the effort of all which will bring a change in the prevailing practice of using whole blood to component therapy.

A donor who is eligible to donate 450ml of blood should never go for 350ml as it doesn't make any difference. The donors must insist on donating components of eligible by making sure that the blood bank uses triple bags of blood for collection. Blood bank should encourage eligible donors to donate 450ml of blood. Also they should make sure that such units are separated into components and not used as whole blood. Infrastructure has to be developed and necessary equipments should be upgraded in the blood banks so that not even a single unit is under utilized by not separating into components. Blood banks should take the initiative to educate and explain to doctors the importance and necessity of component therapy.

Policies and strict guidelines have to be enforced by the government so those blood banks optimize the available blood units. Various Blood Components Packed CellsRBCs or Red Blood Cells carry hemoglobin and thereby help in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the cells respectively is known as Packed Cells. Life - a unit of packed cells has a life of 20-40 days depending on the preserving conditions. Usage - In case of anemia, Blood loss due to bleeding PlateletsThese are the cells responsible for the clotting of blood. Life - 5-6 days Usage - Low platelets count, Clotting disorders, Dengue fever, Burn cases etc Fresh Frozen PlasmaThe fluid portion of the blood containing the essential proteins like (albumins, globulins etc), when frozen and preserved is called as Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) Life - More than a year Usage - clotting disorder Plasma derivativesProteins present in the plasma can be further separated to prepare protein concentrates using a process called fractionation. Few of the useful plasma proteins are factor VII concentrate, Factor VIII concentrate etcUsage - Factor VII and VIII helps in treatment of hemophiliac patients, replacement of knee after knee injury, for treatment of von Willebrand's disease
etc.

Sourceshttp://www.aabb.org/Content/About_Blood/Facts_About_Blood_and_Blood_Banking/fabloodwhole.htmhttp://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN009847.pdfhttp://www.who.int/bloodsafety/testing_processing/components/en/http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Reconstituted-Blood-Better-For-Young-Hearts-3005-1/

Cell Phone Tips

How to Make Your Cell Phone Battery Last Longer
While many of us now use cell phones in place of land-line phones in our homes, the primary benefit of cell phones remains their portability. A cell phone is only as portable as its power source, however, so to get the most out of your phone you need to get the most out of your battery. When it comes to battery life, there are two separate, but connected, considerations: how to make the battery last longer between charges, and how to prolong the overall life of the battery.

Increase Time between Charges
Turn the phone off. This is probably the most effective and simplest way of conserving your battery’s power. If you don't plan on answering the phone while you're sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. Do the same if you are in an area with no reception (such as a subway or remote area) or in a roaming area, since constantly searching for service depletes the battery fairly quickly. Some phones have an automatic power save feature, but it takes about 30 minutes with no service to kick in. By then, much battery power has been used.

Stop searching for a signal. When you are in an area with poor or no signal, your phone will constantly look for a better connection, and will use up all your power doing so. This is easily understood if you have ever forgotten to turn off your phone on a flight. The best way to ensure longer battery life is to make sure you have a great signal where you use your phone. If you don't have a perfect signal, get a cell phone repeater which will amplify the signal to provide near perfect reception anywhere.

Switch off the vibrate function on your phone, and use just the ring tone instead. The vibrate function uses up a lot of battery power. Keep the ring tone volume as low as possible.
Turn off your phone's back light. The back light is what makes the phone easier to read in bright light or outside. However, the light also uses battery power. If you can get by without it, your battery will last longer. If you have to use the back light, many phones will let you set the amount of time to leave the back light on. Shorten that amount of time. Usually, one or two seconds will be sufficient. Some phones have an ambient light sensor, which can turn off the back light in bright conditions and enable it in darker ones.

Avoid using unnecessary features. If you know it will be a while before your phone’s next charge, don’t use the camera or connect to the Internet. Flash photography can drain your battery especially quickly. If your phone has bluetooth capability, disable it when not in use.
Keep calls short. This is obvious, but how many times have you heard someone on their cell phone say, "I think my battery’s dying," and then continue their conversation for several minutes? Sometimes, the dying battery is just an excuse to get off the phone (and a good one, at that), but if you really need to conserve the battery, limit your talk time.

Prolong the Life of Your Battery
Initialize a new battery. New batteries should be fully charged before their first use to obtain maximum capacity. Nickel-based batteries should be charged for 16 hours initially and run through 2-4 full charge/full discharge cycles, while lithium ion batteries should be charged for about 5-6 hours. Ignore the phone telling you that the battery is full--this is normal but is not accurate if the battery is not initialized.

Keep the battery cool. Your battery will last longest if used near room temperature, and nothing wears on a battery like extended exposure to high temperatures. While you can’t control the weather, you can avoid leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight, and you don’t have to carry your phone in your pocket, where your body heat will raise its temperature. In addition, check the battery while it’s charging. If it seems excessively hot, your charger may be malfunctioning.
Charge your battery correctly, in accordance with its type. Most newer cell phones have lithium-ion batteries, while older ones generally have nickel-based batteries. Read the label on the back of the battery or in the technical specifications in the manual to determine which yours is.

Nickel-based batteries (either NiCd or NiMH) suffer from a phenomenon known as the "memory effect." If you charge the battery partially enough times, eventually the battery "forgets" that it can charge fully. A nickel-based battery suffering from memory effect can be reconditioned, which requires the battery to be completely discharged, then completely recharged (sometimes several times). The appropriate length of time between reconditionings varies. A good rule to follow for nickel-battery cell-phones is to discharge them completely once every two to three weeks, and only when you have a charger available.

Lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, do not suffer from the same memory effect. However, many devices that use lithium batteries have a battery meter, showing the user how much charge the battery has left. Starting with a battery's manufacture at the factory, lithium ions oxidize in the battery, shortening its life. After a certain amount of time, the battery exhibits slightly different electronic properties, which the device can only detect when the battery is discharged. This type of problem is known as a "virtual memory effect" and occurs when your battery meter can show a high charge, then suddenly drop to low charge when the battery is almost dead. Every thirty cumulative cycles, you should discharge lithium ion batteries until the phone gives a low battery warning, then recharge it. If you discharge lithium ion batteries to zero voltage, the internal safety circuit may open. In that case, a normal charger will be inadequate. Reconditioning ensures that the battery meter on a lithium ion cellphone is accurate (although it will not affect actual battery capacity).

Regardless of the battery type, use only a charger rated for your battery, and discontinue use of a charger that causes the battery to heat up excessively.
Store batteries properly. If your battery will be out of use for a while, disconnect it from the phone and store it in a cool place (the refrigerator is good, but freezing temperatures do not slow oxidation) and away from metal objects. Ensure that the battery is not exposed to moisture; try putting the battery in an airtight container or bag. Lithium ion batteries are not rated to operate at refrigerated temperatures, so let the battery sit outside the refrigerator for at least an hour before using it again. Lithium ion batteries oxidize least when they are stored at 40% charge. Never store a lithium battery at low voltage. Recharge batteries after storage.

Clean the battery contacts on the battery and on the phone. Over time, contacts may accumulate dirt. Clean them with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to maximize the efficiency of energy transfer. In addition, if the contacts are two different metals, such as gold and tin, accelerated corrosion known as "fretting" occurs. Cutting the corrosion from fretted contacts often requires solvents, such as acetone or nail polish remover. Be careful: these solvent dissolve plastic, so use a Q-Tip to avoid damaging the battery housing or the phone.

Battery Failure Indicators
The usable time after recharging is shortened.
The battery becomes unusually warm during a recharge cycle.
The battery becomes unusually warm during phone use.
The battery case often is swollen. This is detectable by feeling and viewing the inside/phone-side of the battery case. Also, when the battery is placed inside/phone-side down on a flat, smooth surface, it will rock and will sustain a spin motion. The case of a healthy battery is flat and will not sustain a spin motion.
The battery develops a hard spot. This is detectable on the inside/phone-side surface of the battery by gently pinching about the surface between one's fingers.

Tips
Regardless of how well you care for your battery, it will die eventually. When it does, you may be able to have it refurbished by sending it to the manufacturer or bringing it back to the retailer. If it cannot be refurbished, or if you just want to get a new battery, be sure to recycle it, either by returning it to the manufacturer or retailer, or by bringing it to a recycling center. Most major retail electronics stores have drop-off boxes for recycled phones.

You should not have to turn off your phone to charge it. Most battery chargers deliver more than enough current to power your phone and charge it at the same time. Doing so will not lengthen the charge time, and leaving a phone on allows the user to be aware of its fuel gauge, so that you can remove it when the battery is full.
When using a car charger, do not charge the battery when the inside temperature of your car is hot. Wait until the car has cooled before you plug in the phone.

Warnings
Do not store a lithium battery with a very low charge for a long time, the battery monitor will draw a small current, which might cause a 'deep discharge' which may cause damage to the battery.
Avoid cheap, knockoff chargers as they may cause excessive battery heating.
When buying lithium ion batteries, be aware that oxidation begins at the time of manufacture, not the time of first use. As such, older lithium batteries will have reduced capacity (about 20% per year stored at room temperature). If you buy a battery at a clearance sale price, expect that you will get less life out of the cell phone.
Never dispose of old batteries in the trash. Batteries contain toxic metals, and electronic waste from batteries and other electronic components is becoming a major problem. Improper disposal of toxic batteries is illegal in many countries.