River of Five colours – Columbia

Every year in the remote backwoods of Colombia, an ordinary river erupts into a spectacular rainbow-coloured waterway. The river looks colorful. Caño Cristales in Colombia’s Serranìa de la Macarena National Park is nicknamed the “River of Five Colors,” or “liquid rainbow,” or “melted rainbow” because of the many hues you can see beneath its clear waters. In certain light and water conditions, bright greens, yellows, reds, and purples may appear to flow down the river. Sometimes, the river can also appear a bright blue, hot pink, orange, or a deep maroon. The vibrant coloration can be attributed to a weed called Macarenia clavigera, a kind of tropical aquatic plant that is different from algae or moss. The right water level and weather conditions make all the difference as to which colors you can see in the water.

Cotton Castle in Turkey

Pamukkale city is also called Cotton Castle, a perfect name for the magnificent site in southwestern Turkey. The terraces and hot springs in this area were created by carbonate minerals over centuries, leftover by streaming, calcite-weighty waters developed from a nearly 700-foot cliff overlooking the plain. The landscape is unreal, almost mysterious in its purity and intense whiteness. Terraced basins, mineral forests, and a collection of petrified waterfalls blanket the terrain creates spawned look. The Hierapolis thermal spas, part of this natural phenomenon, were created when the 2nd century BC ended during the Attalids dynasty. The Byzantine and Roman spa city, Hierapolis is one of the most fascinating ruins in Turkey, well protected and preserved by its UNESCO status. The ruins of the Greek monuments, baths, and temples are located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though visitors cannot walk directly on terraces, the small, cerulean pools are open for dips.

Upside down trees – Madagascar

One of the world’s most famous outdoor alleys, the Avenue of the Baobabs is Madagascar’s is most established natural wonder. The fairytale trees are found in the Menabe region, covering an old dirt road, and are one of the continent’s most impressive sights. Madagascar, one of Africa’s Island countries, is laden with rainforest and featuring deserts, beaches, and fantastic wildlife. Getting there is not easy. The place is known as the “Upside down trees” baobabs are also called bottle trees, boab trees, and boaboa trees, some of which are more than 800 years old. The circumference of the baobab can reach around 160 feet and the diameter of larger specimens near 40 feet, making them some of the biggest in Africa.

Caves of crystals – Chihuahua, Mexico

Located 980 feet below the Chihuahua Desert, the enormous Cave of Crystals is home to the largest formations discovered on Earth, these are formed over ages, and the biggest being 39 feet long and 55 tons in weight. I n 1910, in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico, a group of miners discovered a cave underneath the Naica mine workings. It was named the Cave of Swords. In April 2000, while miners were excavating a new tunnel, drilling through the Naica fault line, they discovered another cave which was named Cave of Crystals or Giant Crystal Cave.

The Cave of Crystals is a horseshoe-shaped cavity in limestone. Its floor is covered with perfectly faceted crystalline blocks. Huge crystal beams project out from both the blocks and the floor. The caves are accessible today because the mining company’s pumping operations keep them clear of water. If the pumping were stopped, the caves would again be submerged in water. The crystals depreciate in air, so the Naica Project is attempting to visually document the crystals before they deteriorate.

Bermuda Tringale – USA 

This stretch of Atlantic Ocean is enchantingly beautiful. It is one of the few places in the modern world that remains wrapped in an aura of superstitious mystery. It is hidden in mythos and mystery, the infamous 500,000 square miles stretch of ocean is also called the Devil’s Triangle which is physically the area between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Over the centuries, many ships and planes have been reported to have mysteriously disappeared in the region. Also, this Devil’s Triangle has been blamed for the disappearance of thousands of people in the past decades. However, the US Coastguard argues any such area exists from where about unusual magnetic readings and ships, planes and people who have disappeared here without a trace.

Blood Falls – Antarctica

While Antarctica is known for its virgin white snow cover, there is a part that stands out for its blood-red colour. Known as the Blood Falls, this unique phenomenon was first discovered by an Australian geologist Griffith Taylor. The waterfall looks red (bleeding) because of a hypersaline discharge phenomenon. And it flows bold streaks of bright-red saltwater from within the glacier onto the ice-covered surface of Lake Bonney. The rare natural phenomenon is a result of a complex chemical reaction that has occurred over 1.5 million years. When the iron-bearing saltwater meets oxygen, the iron takes on a deep red colour. Blood Falls is an outflow of an iron oxide–tainted plume of saltwater, flowing from the tongue of Taylor Glacier onto the ice-covered surface of West Lake Bonney in the Taylor Valley of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Victoria Land, East Antarctica.

Dhanushkodi – India

Once the lost land of Tamil Nadu, Dhanushkodi has once again emerged as one of the best places to visit in India. This beach destination is known for its matchless serenity that is away from hustle and bustle. Dhanushkodi is called the last land of India as Dhanushkodi is just 25 km away from Sri Lanka. Here the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet.

As per mythology, Dhanushkodi was the spot where Lord Rama and his army-built Ram Setu, otherwise known as Adam’s Bridge across the sea connecting Rameshwaram Island (Tamil Nadu) and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka), to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.  According to legend, the bridge was built using floating stones, with name of Lord Rama engraved on it, which made it unsinkable. The bridge was built by vanar-sena (troop of monkeys).  The architects of Ram Setu were Nal and Neel. Nal and Neel were the monkey sons of Lord Vishwakarma. According to the epic Ramayana, both were cursed by the sages, this curse later proved to be a boon for them.

Rainbow Mountains, Zhengyi Danxia National Geopark, China

The mountainside of Zhangye National Geopark looks like the painting on wall.  Splashes of rainbow appear in thick straight lines. It has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, the rainbow mountains have maintained their vibrancy because of the viewing platforms and trails created by the tourism of China. The steepness and peculiar looks deter tourists from stepping directly onto them. They can be viewed from far by standing on another mountain. They look stunning.  They are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. They are formed into cake shape angled by the action of the same tectonic plates responsible for creating parts of the Himalayan range of mountains.

In his maiden speech on 27^th September 2014, at 69^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated unity among various nations in the world; he advocated “G-All” grouping (group of all nations in the world), rather than participating in smaller fractional groups like the “G 8”.   Mr. Modi solicited the gatherings that in spite of existence of a body like United Nations why nations are operating in various Gs with different numbers?  Every Government will have to discharge their responsibilities for development of the world, which calls for better coordination of policies and understandings. Mr.Modi spoke astutely in the gathering and was applauded by the audience. The gathering went euphoric after his speech.

Talking about the fact that the UN is completing 70 years in 2015, the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Modi said, “We need to think how to create a G-all atmosphere when the UN is about to celebrate its 70 years next year.”

Though in the past, nations could afford to exist in isolation, today it is simply impossible for any nation to do so. The world has changed; the nations are interdependent on each other. The earlier we realize this fact the better. Each nation should realize that it is sharing the planet with others. As nations are progressing in research and development in science and technology, societies are getting unified. Another fact is no nation in the world can exist without bilateral trade; therefore, whatever happens in a nation eventually affects many others. Within the context of our interdependence, isn’t it high time that our self-interest clearly lies in considering the interest of others?

The world is getting highly complex because of the brewing politics between the mightier and smaller – less developed nations. No single nation can call the shorts. At least for the sake of   international trade, nations have to consider each other’s concerns and interests. Mr. Modi offered crisp comments on ethical base of sovereignty of nations. He said there are many pragmatic issues beyond profit and loss. “Let us pledge that 2015 will mark the year when we steer the world in a new direction. Let us work towards a sustainable world,” Mr. Modi said. He solicited a promise to reform UN Security Council by 2015.

The need of the hour is to counter terrorism which is emerging in new forms and names every day. No nation is free of terrorism. And, there are some nations that are giving protection to the terrorists. State terrorism, Bioterrorism, Cyber terrorism, Eco Terrorism, Nuclear Terrorism and Narco Terrorism are challenging law makers, law enforcing authorities and political systems to distinguish different types of terrorism as part of the larger effort to understand how to counter and dissuade it.  All countries need to unite to fight terrorism. The shadow of terrorism must end. A comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is urgently required.

On the issue of Kashmir, when Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke at length, Mr. Modi crisply made it clear to the world that the neighboring country of India needs to create an atmosphere for peaceful talks without the shadow of terrorism.  Pakistan must accept its responsibility of creating conducive atmosphere for the serious discussion. From the first day, NDA government has worked towards promoting friendship and cooperation with its neighbors, and it is keen on resolving Kasmir problem.

Every nation has its own culture and tradition in its foundation of civilization. Mr. Modi said India sees the entire world as a family; it cares for the prosperity of the world. Indian culture believes in brotherhood. Mr. Modi has paved way for world bodies like UN to ponder on restructuring sovereign rights and responsibilities of nations in an interdependent world; a serious thought needs to comprehend on how certain rights stand in the way of achieving important international objectives.

Fragile elements and cyclical alterations are tightly linked to the interdependence of world. I conclude my review of Mr. Modi’s brilliant speech at UNGA on the point of interdependence of world by giving three examples. In 1986, a chemical fire and spill in Basel, Switzerland poisoned 185 miles of the Rhine River; this incident damaged ten years of ecological recuperative work because it threatened public water supplies. The long-term consequences are a matter of debate even today.

In 2007 the subprime crisis in United States led global financial markets to topple since in August 2007; the sensex in almost all major countries fell down with a hefty loss. The American Stock Exchange lost 645 points at 14,936. The NSE Nifty ended at 4,346, down 183 points. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slumped 730 points to 22,455. Japan’s Nikkei plunged 378 points to 16,871. Taiwan’s Taiwan Weighted index crashed 395 points to 8892, and China’s Shanghai Composite index shed 170 points at 4,301. The world economy even today is suffering from this global financial and economic crisis that has become severe since the second half of 2008. Europe was the next affected, thereafter its effect spread to the rest of the world. East Asia did not escape. The depth and speed of the worst crisis is worldwide through the financial sector and trade linkages, and its severity has affected the recession particularly in emerging market economics, small countries, and East Asia.

In another episode, a nuclear reactor explosion at Chernobyl produced measurable increases in radiation in far distant places. In the immediate expanse of the reactor, agricultural fields were contaminated. In a number of European countries, crops were contaminated and preventive measures were initiated. The long-term consequences of this case are also a matter of debate and speculation. But the veracity of the convergence and interdependence of world economy can no longer be ignored.

The proverb “United we stand, divided we fall” is so true!!

How do you introduce yourself when you meet a visitor, a guest in your office or home, in an interview or when you are introduced to someone for the first time? Are you shy, are you aggressive, are you assertive, or are you to the point? It is important how one introduces himself/herself in person or in correspondence because it matters a lot in developing relationships. When we are asked to introduce ourselves, it matters how crisply and assertively we introduce our self.  Assertiveness is a skill regularly referred to in social and communication skills training.  Often it’s wrongly confused with aggression; assertive individuals aim to be neither passive nor aggressive in their interactions with other people.

Assertiveness helps in being able to express feelings, wishes, wants and desires appropriately and is an important personal and interpersonal skill. One needs to be assertive in all interactions with other people, whether at home, in a party, in a concert, or at work, with employers, customers or colleagues it avoids ambiguity of any sort.

I think we introduce and re-introduce ourselves to the world around us time and again; in all relationships of ours and in many situations we introduce our new traits, attributes to maintain validity of situation, action taken and for logical inference. And each time, assertiveness can help in expressing our self in a clear, open and reasonable way, without undermining the rights of our self or of others.

When people adopt a passive response in any situation they do it because they have a strong need to be liked by others.  Such people do not regard themselves as equals because they seek attachment with someone for a selfish reason, and also because they place greater weight on the rights, wishes and feelings of others.  Being passive results in failure to communicate thoughts or feelings and results in people doing things they really do not want to do in the hope that they might please others.  This also means that they allow others to take responsibility, to lead and make decisions for them. I call such people slimy. They are dangerous to organizations and society.

Passive responding can encourage treatment that underpins a submissive role.  While the underlying causes of passive responding are often poor self-confidence and self-esteem, therefore passive introduction responds itself in yet further reducing self-worth.

It’s very important to share relatable information every time you are introducing yourself. For example when you meet a physician for the first time you will share information regarding your age, health condition and duration of the persisting condition; when your friend introduces you to her friend you will share your name, profession etc; when you enter a police station you will share information regarding the purpose of your visit, your address, and the problem faced by you. As a student in a class room it is important for you to share unique information about yourself that will help the other students (and the teacher) to remember who you are and also to feel like you’ve got something in common with them. So, each introduction in life has a different relevance. And, each introduction establishes credibility and likability of building bond.

It is all up to us to avoid awkward conversation-stoppers like giving unwarranted details about ourselves. We should know where to draw lines – I recall this person I met in a party who dragged his information to no end; he told the group, many of whom he was meeting for the first time about his political connections, his messy divorce, and that though he looked old he was only 33 years old. He became nothing but laughing stock in the party. So cut short your introduction according the situation. Remember your actions speak louder than words do.

Some people brag about themselves while introducing and some are very sloppy. I have seen this – both make others uneasy. So it’s worth investing in learning how to introduce you to the world. A fun way to make introductions a little more comfortable is to have some fun with people around in casual situations.

When you go for a job interview, your introduction should be concise enough to hold the interest of the interviewer. Make a quick recap of your most compelling qualifications, your achievements and connectivity with the applied post and this would suffice. You could also throw in a couple of tidbits which are not essential to the job, but reflect your qualities like the fact that you are an avid reader, would throw light on your studiousness. Or, you like mountaineering shows your spirit of adventure. Your goal is to connect personally with the interviewer as well as to show that you’re qualified for the job.

Of course, your initial conversation should show your enthusiasm for the job and your interest to work in the organization. However, don’t overdo it and don’t spend too much time talking about yourself. The interviewer has an agenda and limited time; so keep it short so you can move on to the next question.

Remember, the interviewer may follow up your introduction with supplementary questions, so it’s important to remember that you will need to support whatever declaration you make during your introduction. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how and where you have utilized your characteristics and assets successfully so far in your career.

When people are in hurry to grab the limelight in get-togethers and parties – when they tell   too much about themselves – they are labeled as “bore.” You might have a lot about yourself which you want the world to learn. Don’t be in hurry.  Introduce yourself sophisticatedly. You can exchange your visiting card; design your card elaborative by giving all details of your professional networking such as your LinkedIn account, Facebook account details, and your professional memberships. I think all those who want to get connected with you for whatever reasons will get connected with you anyhow, hence be brief.

Some golden tips: brief introductions are always best. Provide the bare minimum the other person needs to know. Do not maintain distance or a cold approach – converse politely and you’ll see that during the conversation more can be revealed in a natural way. Be appropriate while introducing you. Don’t make an unnecessary fuss; you might lose some golden chances. And most importantly focus on others because to become successful you require them.

]]> https://drvidyahattangadi.com/how-do-you-introduce-yourself/feed/ 0