Thursday, 25 February 2010
Koramangala Club 25.02.10
Follow the link below for pictures at Koramangala Club on our last evening all together before our de-brief tomorrow.
http://picasaweb.google.com/GSETeam1080/OurLastTeamEvening250210#
http://picasaweb.google.com/GSETeam1080/OurLastTeamEvening250210#
Narayana Hrudayalaya Heart Hospital 23rd Feb 2010
The name of this hospital literally translates to "Temple of the Heart" and it was founded on 8th May 2001 by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty. Since opening, over 11,228 open-heart surgeries have been performed of which half were paediatric. We visited the paeds wards and witnessed close hand the results of Dr Shetty's philosophy in action - 'treat all, no matter how poor or how remote'. It was an experience I will never forget. The tele medicine faciltiles were impressive with 323 centres currently in operation. What also stuck us about Narayana was the comittment to equality in terms of employment of women as drivers and security guards around the complex (pictured). We learned that over 300 babies are born each day with heart defects and not even 10% have access to adequate facilities. The work of the Health City led by Dr Shetty in Bangalore is unique and inspiring beyond words. This is truly an example of how one individual can make a real difference in this world.
Host Family Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/GSETeam1080/HostFamilies#
During my time in Bangalore I was hosted by five different couples. They all had children but two of the couples lived on their own as their children had grown up and flown the nest.
1. My first host Mr P.N.S (it is a sign of respect to call elders by their initials in India) had built up a property empire and his youngest son manages this. His elder son is a wizard on computers and worked for a multinational in the C.B.D (Central Business District for the non-Geographers amongst us).
2. My second host, Mr Reddy (he didn’t give me his initials which I think meant he didn’t want my respect?) was a millionaire on account of Real Estate deals which was a leisurely pursuit as he informed me. His trade was the Sugar Industry where he had worked hard to ‘earn his position in society’ as he put it. His son was an Orthopaedic Surgeon who had trained and qualified in Manchester and lived with his family in a house the floor above.
3. Mr B.N.K and his wife are a lovely couple in their 60’s and their two children are successful doctors who live in the States. Every morning I met my third host at 05.30 for a quick coffee and then we went to the local outdoor pool to join the 06.00 batch for an hour’s dook (swim for the non-Scottish amongst us). His children are successful Doctors in the States.
4. Kapil Cupta is an International Manager for IBM and turned into a good friend after four days staying with him. His wife is a Power Suit and manages her own Tutoring Consultancy which requires her to work seven days a week. They are a successful and affluent couple with a young daughter who lives at home in Palm Meadows, a gated community. In fact, they don’t actually live there but in the fenced housing estate next door (the name of which escapes me). They bought a house in Palm Meadows so that they can use the superior club there; the building is rented out to someone else.
5. My last host Noah is a Christian which was a change after living with devout Hindus previously. His house was aptly named ‘Noah’s Arc’ and all three of his children lived in it. His eldest son (27) was a Psychiatric Doctor who practised locally and the younger two children (a boy and a girl of unknown ages) were both involved in computing: he was a Software Engineer and she was a lecturer at a local College.
I really enjoyed staying with Rotarians in another culture and feel it is possibly the best way to experience a new country. The hospitality I was shown was immense and my life has been changed dramatically by this experience in two ways:
· Firstly, I’ve become a committed Vegetarian after Mr Reddy explained the supposed mind-set change that happens once you stop eating meat. The thinking is that there is a lot of bad karma involved in eating slaughtered animals which gets passed on to the consumer. ‘I can do without anger and aggression in my wee life’ I thought and am having a go at living on the green stuff.
· Secondly, on a more personal level, I’m getting a tattoo of Hanuman the flying monkey God on PNS’s recommendation but I’ll bore you with the details face to face when I see you.
All the best for now, Magnus
During my time in Bangalore I was hosted by five different couples. They all had children but two of the couples lived on their own as their children had grown up and flown the nest.
1. My first host Mr P.N.S (it is a sign of respect to call elders by their initials in India) had built up a property empire and his youngest son manages this. His elder son is a wizard on computers and worked for a multinational in the C.B.D (Central Business District for the non-Geographers amongst us).
2. My second host, Mr Reddy (he didn’t give me his initials which I think meant he didn’t want my respect?) was a millionaire on account of Real Estate deals which was a leisurely pursuit as he informed me. His trade was the Sugar Industry where he had worked hard to ‘earn his position in society’ as he put it. His son was an Orthopaedic Surgeon who had trained and qualified in Manchester and lived with his family in a house the floor above.
3. Mr B.N.K and his wife are a lovely couple in their 60’s and their two children are successful doctors who live in the States. Every morning I met my third host at 05.30 for a quick coffee and then we went to the local outdoor pool to join the 06.00 batch for an hour’s dook (swim for the non-Scottish amongst us). His children are successful Doctors in the States.
4. Kapil Cupta is an International Manager for IBM and turned into a good friend after four days staying with him. His wife is a Power Suit and manages her own Tutoring Consultancy which requires her to work seven days a week. They are a successful and affluent couple with a young daughter who lives at home in Palm Meadows, a gated community. In fact, they don’t actually live there but in the fenced housing estate next door (the name of which escapes me). They bought a house in Palm Meadows so that they can use the superior club there; the building is rented out to someone else.
5. My last host Noah is a Christian which was a change after living with devout Hindus previously. His house was aptly named ‘Noah’s Arc’ and all three of his children lived in it. His eldest son (27) was a Psychiatric Doctor who practised locally and the younger two children (a boy and a girl of unknown ages) were both involved in computing: he was a Software Engineer and she was a lecturer at a local College.
I really enjoyed staying with Rotarians in another culture and feel it is possibly the best way to experience a new country. The hospitality I was shown was immense and my life has been changed dramatically by this experience in two ways:
· Firstly, I’ve become a committed Vegetarian after Mr Reddy explained the supposed mind-set change that happens once you stop eating meat. The thinking is that there is a lot of bad karma involved in eating slaughtered animals which gets passed on to the consumer. ‘I can do without anger and aggression in my wee life’ I thought and am having a go at living on the green stuff.
· Secondly, on a more personal level, I’m getting a tattoo of Hanuman the flying monkey God on PNS’s recommendation but I’ll bore you with the details face to face when I see you.
All the best for now, Magnus
IT Corridor Meeting and Cultural Entertainment Show
On the 18th Feb, Rotary IT Corridor hosted a joint meeting with Whitefield Central and Lakeside clubs and treated us to a cultural entertainment show, X-factor style with the four of us judging best costume and act. The club members represented 16 different states between them and we enjoyed some excellent dancing - Punjab even got us up on our feet - the singing and acting were worthy of Bollywood Oscars. The whole evening was a great occasion, we must thank Sumil, the man from Himachal, for attempting to swing the judges vote with gifts of traditional hats (as modelled by Gasper above), but Orissa stole the show with Freya's tradiational dancing which was both moving and graceful.
Toilet Inauguration IT Corridor
Following our Mid Tour Rest at Horsley Hills we set off back via Kolar where we met up with our host from Horsley Hills who wanted us to have a look at his School. when we eventually arrived back In Bangalore, we met up with our fourth host IT Corridor, whose President 
advised us that we had half an hour to get to a school where the DG was going to be opening a Toilet block. This did not seem at first to be a major project until you realise that these Government schools were built with only one toilet if they were lucky, which meant that Girls would refrain from going to school when they got to a certain age. This new toilet block would enable girls to continue with their education which is so important. The toilet projects at these Government sc
hools has meant that 50% more girls are now finishing their education, for a cost of £4000. The Rotary club had also given the children two pairs of socks and a pair of shoes each at Christmas. Two of the children then told us how much the Toilets would mean to them and the Girls did some dancing which was very colourful. Just as we were leaving the DG and Myself were asked to plant a tree each which was a real honour, i only hope it survives!!.
advised us that we had half an hour to get to a school where the DG was going to be opening a Toilet block. This did not seem at first to be a major project until you realise that these Government schools were built with only one toilet if they were lucky, which meant that Girls would refrain from going to school when they got to a certain age. This new toilet block would enable girls to continue with their education which is so important. The toilet projects at these Government sc
hools has meant that 50% more girls are now finishing their education, for a cost of £4000. The Rotary club had also given the children two pairs of socks and a pair of shoes each at Christmas. Two of the children then told us how much the Toilets would mean to them and the Girls did some dancing which was very colourful. Just as we were leaving the DG and Myself were asked to plant a tree each which was a real honour, i only hope it survives!!.NC
Rotary South West 10.02.10 - 14.02.10
Thank you Rotary South West - we have wonderful memories of our time with you at Bannerghatta National Park, Vellore Temple, visiting local markets and most importantly getting to spend time with you, our hosts.
http://picasaweb.google.com/GSETeam1080/BannerghattaNationalParkAndRotarySouthWest#
http://picasaweb.google.com/GSETeam1080/BannerghattaNationalParkAndRotarySouthWest#
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