Exams, exams, go away ........

The month of May is the worst. January starts with a bang, February goes in preparing for the exams, March you have the exams, April goes by without a flicker and finally when May arrives, satan descends.
May, as everybody will know (at least in India) is the month for the arrival of the dreaded board results. I don't know about other students but these stupid examinations certainely make me see red. If a student is not bright enough his complete life can be spoilt by these results. The tenth boards are the real terrors an the streams (Science, commerce and arts) are alloted on the results.
A student in India has a lot to face upto. Our education system is drab, non-interactive and produces employees suited for white collar jobs only. There is no vocational training. Moreover the biggest factor which makes a student's life dump is the pressure. Pressure from your peers, teachers, parents etc. etc. Everybody is after you to perform well. You go out for a night to enjoy, meet someone and all he/she is interested in are the stupid board exams.
Fortunately I don't have much to complain about. I am not bright however I do have some brains. I face that now because I know that I have got a certain level till which I can achieve and yes maybe if I study the whole day I can get 90% but I am not interested. I don't like studying throughout the day unlike many of my friends because I feel that these moments of our childhood, teens, cannot be produced back and it's no use sitting in the room trying to cram about the Middle Ages when there is a glorious day outside. Ofcourse we have to study. But I feel that a limted number of hours (say 4-6 hours) is sufficient enough.
One more senario in which I feel I am incredibly lucky is my parents. They don't expect the sky however they do demand a good percentage (80 - 90) which I feel is neccesary. They have always encouraged me in a positive manner and I mean positive because I have seen teachers beating or humiliting a student and afterwards explaining it was meant to encourage the student.
So, touchwood till now it has been a smooth ride. The occasional challenges have been faced with hard work and I do hope for a good percentage if only to please my parents and get me my desired stream. Between you an me, I don't care a damn for these examinations. They ruined one year of my good life when I could have gone to Democratic Republic Of Congo (my father was transfered there).
Anyway let's forget this topic, I'll attack it some other day, and move on to the date of the results being released. For those who are not in the know, CBSE class 12 results will be declared on 24 of May. This can be counter-checked at Press Releases in cbse.nic.in. No official wording of the class 10 results has been released although the results are declared 2-3 after the class 12 results so one can expect the results for class 10 by 26 of May.
I hope that all the board students do extremely good as the "results" are a matter of life and death in India.
Best Of Luck to all of you out there.

Bikaner: A Heaven

Bikaner as a town has always fascinated me. The old ruins in every corner, villagers talking in their crisp and rustic language, excellent lassi and other sweets in every corner - this is how I will remember Bikaner best when I move away for this place.
The most surprising thing about Bikaner I find are the monuments. Breathtaking monuments are present in every turning and every corner and they look magnificent. The rulers of Bikaner sure did a good job in making the monuments.
Talking about the rulers I was quite surprised to learn that my Great-Grandfather, Mr. M.U Menon was the private secretary of Maharaja Ganga Singh. My Grandmother was even born here. So one can say that I have once again entered Bikaner to search out my roots.
However leaving aside the rulers and the monuments, one more equation which continue to impress and interest me are the mithai (sweet) shops. When I enter Rani Bazaar one thing which completely takes up my attention are the hordes of shops selling all kind of sweets and also the usuals such as the samsoas and other delicacies.
My advice to those who are visiting Bikaner is:
1) Travel leisurely. Don't just come for 2 days trying to see all the places in a hectic schedule and then in the last realise that you don't remember anything. Come for 1 week atleast and enjoy the sites fully.
2) Ditch your car/guide whatever, hire a cycle, buy a map and go for a exploring trip. You won't regret this (unless you are in no shape to cycle).
3) Don't eat at that Five Star hotel. Instead try the dhabba ouside.
I can just keep on giving advice on how to enjoy yourself in Bikaner. But the golden rule is follow your heart and have a blast.

EXCLUSIVE - EXCLUSIVE

Hello people

Everybody must be wondering why this hulla about, right? Well if anybody out there are abhiash fans and didn't like the dark and shady pics taken from the car and mandap and what not, well be prepared for some excellent pics. However to be on the safer side, this is the last time I am posting any photos regarding celebrities.

The following pics were taken on the Ambani's plane after the couple was married.

Sorry to Mr and Mrs Abhiash. However you guys do make an excellent jodi and congrats again on the wedding

Sorry to viewers who had come for some good photography. Don't worry be prepared for some good shots of Bikaner, Ranikhet etc. after this



And finally, enjoy the pics.

Adsense is a real pain

Adsense is a real pain, people. For the past 2 hours, I have been trying to implement adsense to my site to no avail.

Ranikhet Rules - 1

Ranikhet is truly a magical place. The pollution-free air, old churches, beautiful houses with sottish and British names - all this truly adds to the place which is known as Ranikhet.
Here I have posted some pictures which I am sure will appeal to all.


This picture is of the famous Ranikhet Club. The club is extremely comfortable, having good services and another advantage is that the mountains look a leap away















This is the symbol of the Kumaon Regimental centre which is situated in Ranikhet. In fact it is due to the army's presence that Ranikhet is still a tourist free place except for the occasional intruders and has not become like the tourist hole Nainital.








Thousand of hand made posts such as the one present in this picture are posted throughout Ranikhet begging mankind to stop cutting trees and live with harmony with nature. This one here says:
Let us plant trees together
And transform our country into a developed and prosperous one.



And finally below we have the famous Jhula Devi Mandir which is filled with thousands of bells.
Quite a sight to behold.

Bikaner's Wildlife

Hello People
My father and I had gone for a cycling tour around Bikaner when I saw this huge deer which is known as Neelgai. However it was a very shy animal because as soon as it heard the click of the camera it ran away like I was bearing a gun or something. I know the pic is quite small so if anybody needs a larger pic, leave a comment. Also do have a look at the deers running around.

Bikaner's Wildlife

Sorry

Hello People
Sorry for the last post. It was just a HTML tag file for google.
Raghu

googlec178fe6984aa27ef.html

Hello World

Hello People of this world
I, Raghuraj present this wonderful delight for the masses - Phontatic. Ok, the title name is funny but I could not think of something more interesting so you'll just have to deal with me.
Now for the blog - the blog is mainly a collection of photographs for the world to see and ponder about. The blog will also contain many articles which will be about general interest.
A little background about myself - I am a 16 yr old teen currently located in Bikaner, a town of prime importance in Rajasthan, India. I love photography, computers, all stuff tech, books, drums, music in all form and I am also a coin collector.
If anybody has any problems or queries do feel free to comment or email me at raghuraj1menon@gmail.com
Till then
Good Luck