The Indus Valley Civilization

The Archeological ruins of Moenjodaro located on the right bank of the Indus River, around 400 kilometers north of Karachi, in Pakistan's Sindh Province, bears witness to one of the earliest civilizations in teh world, the Indus Civilization. It flourished for about 500 years during the 3rd and 2nd millennium BCE. Its discovery in 1922 brought to light the earliest manifestations of urbanization of South Asia.
While flying to Houston from Paris, I was reading a story about Moenjodaro in the last issue of GEO magazine, there were also pictures of the Bird People, the Mohana. While driving around the expanses of Indian country in the middle of USA, I came across the BBC documentary on radio about the origins of Sanskrit and later was able to watch the long documentary on TV in Miami. It also mentioned Moenjadaro as one of the routes through which Sanskrit arrived in India. At the time of Moenjadaro, both Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations were at their peak, so was a civilization in Turkmenistan and Turkey, but not to the same extent. Thus Sanskrit has been connected through these civilization to its possible origin in Turkey, since it must have arrived in India through the peopling of India with various outsiders.
Unfortunately, Indus civilization is linked with India and the site is in Pakistan, thus it had fallen prey to the neuroticism between the countries, only 2.5% of the site has been excavated and currently the efforts are to delay the deterioration of the structures which has stood the ravages of time.
Constructed exclusively of brick this Bronze age metropolis presents a high degree of social organization, which is particularly illustrated by the sophisticated water system including wells in nearly all households, as well as the carefully designed urban plan. It was one of the first to to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Who are the MOHANA?

Manchar lake in Pakistan is one of the largest lakes in Asia, and has sustained life for the houseboat community of Mohana people for over 6,000 years. It's also a watery haven for over 1,000 different species of birds. As a result, the Mohana have evolved to live in complete harmony with birds, considering them to be blood brothers. Special skills and traditions are passed down from generation to generation, preserving knowledge taught by their ancestors.

Mohana children learn from a young age how to handle and respect different birds. Bonding starts at birth, with birds sharing the cradle with Mohana babies. These bonds are further developed as children grow up always accompanied by their own birds. In order to be considered suitable for marriage, bird school is a compulsory undertaking for boys, learning more about the birds and how to mimic the different calls.

Unfortunately the Mohana way of life and very survival is constantly under threat, not only from the dwindling fish supplies and rising salt levels in the lake, but also from neighbouring tribes. The nearby community of Zamindars are considered the owners of the lake territory and often come into conflict with the Mohana.

But the Mohana are willing to fight for their community and their ability to continue to live on the lake amongst the birds. For the Mohana the alternative, living on the banks, isn't a suitable option. As leader Razoo explains: "Asking us to leave the lake is like asking fish to live out of water."

UNESCO BUILDING IN PARIS

Situated rather nicely within view of Tour Eiffel and other grand buildings of the area, the welcoming UNESCO building was easy to find and easy to enter. A conglomeration of nationalities and languages were mixing about in the lobby and there were two exhibitions; One on Mohanja Daro Civilization and another about a Brasilian Painter, Antonio Bandeira. The Library is open to outsiders and there are computers with Internet connections as well as Wi Fi available. There is a restaurant offering multicultural cuisine, I saw a distinctly Cypriot Menu being offered the day I was there. Magazines to browse through and also information about treaties and world in figures in the library. Nice to sit and spend a little time, catching up on some of the Development and Cultural Issues. Nice place to explore about the UNESCO world heritage sites.

April in Paris

The days have been nothing short of marvellous! Blue Skies and warm temperatures and the tourists are not here yet in droves!
What a difference from February when it was cold and snowing and raining!
So it is exciting to plan a nice stay in Paris. Perhaps catch up on the Museums...and enjoy the restaurants for prolonged lunches...
And work on the details of the academic work in La Habana, Cuba. Nice to move between the original moveable feast of Paris and the moveable feast for me that is La Habana, Cuba

Fantastic Days in La Habana

What can I say except a Big GRACIAS to my family friends and other loves in La Habana! Some people meditate to cleanse themselves, some climb mountains, others flaggelate themselves, but to me I am in La Habana to cleanse myself of the dirt accumulated of living the outside world! it seems an exaggeration, but it has always been true, this is not a late realization. I love being here, was supposed to leave a week earlier. The news of Icelandic Volcano was a disappointment for many, for me an utter bliss that made me stay an extra week in La Habana!
Each and every day something new and exciting; cementing my long term friendships, making new ones, enjoying the purity of affections, to feel at home in this island. I felt cleansed of body and soul, to the other home of mine, Paris.
I am writing this from Paris and will add my recollections of days in La Habana...

Malaysia in Paris

A Bit of Malaysia in the heart of Paris
I had noticed the bold Malaisie announcing the existence of the Malaysian Tourism Office more than once as I walked along the street that leads to the magnificent Opera Garnier. Today my destination was Nespresso, but I decided to go in to see what exactly was inside. As many of you know, Malaysia is touted as one of the top 10 tourist destination for the year 2010. The welcome indeed was warm, obviously the French lady had been exposed to the Malaysian Hospitality! I collected a few brochures, was interested in the volunteer tours to Muzium Negara offered in French and English on Thursdays, a set of postcards which I will distribute among my friends in Cuba, next week when I return there. I wanted to know the address of the boutique of the Chinese Malaysian designer. When I was last in Malaysia his design did make headlines since the visiting French Minister of Economy, Christine Lagarde was seen wearing one of his designs.
Since 2008, I have been very lucky to have visited Malaysia many many times, I loose count, more than ten times, which is especially great when you think I live half way around the world! My best friend in Asia is from KL and she keeps me informed with the relevant articles relating to Malaysia and my interest in the Health of the population as well as critiques of Malaysian Millieu from inside and outside; she includes articles from The Star which makes me feel that I am close to KL. Whenever I am in Kl, I am kept very busy but each evening ends with delicious dinners from local restaurants (I never eat European food in Malaysia)..
Mr Ng the designer is a Parisian now, has his boutique at 89, Rue de Reamur, near metro station Sentier on Line 3.
Mrs J the ,marketing executive was very helpful, she had to call the manager to get details and that she did and found out the address for me; that would be my next stop in finding Malaysia in Paris!
Mrs J told me that the best months for a good fare from Paris to KL on MH is april mau june sept and October. But Eithihad; Qatar and Egyptair all offer good fares year around; For example, right now Egyptair has a round trip fare of 450€ from Paris to KL, around 2000 MYR which is an excellent fare indeed!
Last year more than 130 000 french nationals went to Malaysia, through her offices, of which she was very proud
I think it is high time the French and other Europeans discover what I have been enjoying
The Malaysian Hospitality…
And in my case, I can look forward to it in August and again in November and with a bit of luck once more in between..
www.ontmalaisie.com website in Francaise
www.tourismomalasia.com.es en espanol, para nuestros amigos hispanohablante de Espana y Hispanoamerica. MH tiene un vuelo direto desde Buenos Aires a KL via Ciudad del Cabo y Johanisburgo ;
Office National du Tourisme Malaisie é
29 ? rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris
33 1 42974171

Les Belles Asiatiques

Paris being the most visited City on earth, on rare occasions people from different parts of the world may coincide with your visit to this city of Light and Love.. I have seen my friends from Portland, Oregon and Melbourne, Australia here. But this reunion was certainly an unique one..

L had flown down from Norway to spend the weekend with her friends from Japan. I got an email from L, who is Vietnamese by origin, but had lived in Tokyo and Moscow before putting down her roots in Oslo. I had encountered her because of her interest in Cuba!

I had arrived the day before from Miami, and at the appointed time met them in front of Opera Bastille and had a very typical parisian lunch at Cafe de l'Industrie near by. The visitors from Japan did not speak any English, one of them had some rudimentary English, so L was burdened with translations throughout the long lunch. The visitors were so traditionally Japanese and innocent of western culture and customs, that it was truly charming. They had fully planned their trip before they arrived in Paris, eating and going only to places recommeneded in their guidebooks. They had maps of Paris and each of the bakeries, restaurants and tourist spots were marked clearly; Laduree and Luis Vuitton and Chatelet Shopping were clearly marked, Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur, Tour Eiffel were to be done early in the week.

The thoroughness of their preparation was impressive and I was told that it is nothing unusual. Paris is the most expensive city in the world with Tokyo coming in at no 6, but to them Paris is cheaper because Luis Vuitton and other brands that the Japanese like to have are half price here. No wonder that there is always a line to go into Luis Vuitton on Champs Elysees; they wanted to try the ¨cheap¨ croissants and pain au chocolats and had noted down the bakeries to go to from their guide books.

What is their impression of paris?

We did not expect it to be so modern, we thought all buildings would be from 17th or 18th centuries! and we thought that Paris would be dirty! it is clean and modern!

They had planned each meal, so while we are having lunch, they were thinking of dinner!

i must admire their adventurous nature in food, they wanted to try everything.. Escargots, Carpaccio, Steak Tartare, Au Gratin and they had healthy appetites!

I said goodbye to L, the typical french fashion, planting kisses on both cheeks; The japanese were horrified, one wanted to try! when i kissed her on her cheeks, she was giggling and saying that her heart was racing and that it was the first time she has done this way of saying good bye!

very cute indeed

such is a pleasant lunchtime in Paris and thank you dear friend L from Oslo!

PS their sunglasses are from vendors in front of Sacre Coeur!