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Manali

Manali is a resort town located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India, with a population of approximately 8,096 inhabitants. It is located north of New Delhi and it is some 547.3 km away from the nation’s capital. The town derives its name from a series of ancient texts called the Manusmriti. The texts are also alternatively known as the code of Manu. Manu in Sanskrit is used as a term of reference for the first man or the progenitor of the human race who appears at the start of each Manvantra. There are fourteen manvantras in each universal cycle and hence there are fourteen manus in total who appear when the world or life as we know it begins again. The town is located at an altitude of 2,050 m above sea level and it is surrounded by lofty snow clad peaks and lush vibrant forests. Approximately 14 km away from the town is the Solang Valley which is known for its picturesque landscapes and breathtaking views. The most widely celebrated festival in Manali is the annual Do

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are Caribbean islands located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico with a total population of approximately 98,179 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of approximately 442.6 sq. km averaging some 222 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 9.1% or 40 sq. km is arable. Almost 22.3% of the total land available or 99 sq. km is covered with forests. The islands total GDP is valued at 1.52 billion. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 77.3% of total GDP or 1.18 billion. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 20.8% or 0.32 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 1.8% or 0.03 billion of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 30,000 or 31% of the total population with 7% or 2,100 persons, employed in the agricultural sector, while 11% or 3,300 are involved in industry, and 82% or 24,600, are employed in the ser

Barbados

Barbados is an Island in the North Atlantic Ocean located northeast of Venezuela with a total population of approximately 294,560 inhabitants. The island covers an area of approximately 430 sq. km averaging some 685 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 25% or 108 sq. km is arable. Almost 19.4% of the total land available or 83 sq. km is covered with forests. The island’s total GDP is valued at 4.99 billion. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 88.7% of total GDP or 4.33 billion. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 9.8% or 0.49 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 1.5% or 0.07 billion of total GDP. The nation’s total labor force is estimated at 144,000, with 10% or 14,400 persons, employed in the agricultural sector, while 15% or 21,600 are involved in industry, and 75% or 108,000, are employed in the services sector. The island’s industries include tourism, sugar, light manufa

Madagascar

Madagascar is an Island in the Indian Ocean located east of Mozambique with a total population of approximately 29,955,737 inhabitants. The island covers an area of approximately 587,041 sq. km of which almost 99% or 581,540 sq. km is land and 1% or 5501 sq. km is water, averaging some 52 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 6% or 34,892 sq. km is arable. Almost 21.5% of the total land available or 123,286 sq. km is covered with forests. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 56.4% of total GDP or 6.49 billion. The island’s total GDP is valued at 11.5 billion. The services sector is followed by the agricultural sector which accounts for 24% or 2.76 billion of total GDP and industry which accounts for 19.5% or 2.24 billion of total GDP. The island’s industries include meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plants, paper, petroleum, tourism and mining. The island’s ag

The Siam-Burma Railway Line

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The invasion of Malaya begun just after midnight on the 8th of December 1941, a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor with a naval assault on the 8th Indian Infantry Brigade stationed in Kota Baru, Kelantan, followed by an amphibious landing supported by air strikes by Air Group III. The attack was led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita; the man selected for the job and later dubbed the Tiger of Malaya. The destruction on the Malayan side of things was total and both British and Commonwealth troops were on the retreat from the start, driven back from the north to the south and by the 31st of January 1942, British and Commonwealth forces had completely withdrawn to Singapore, and Malaya had fallen. The allies suffered massive casualties with 9,000 dead and almost 130,000 captured. Between the 31st of January 1942 to the 15th of August 1945, Malaya was administered by the Japanese and much of its wealth as were its people were used to further Japan’s war efforts. In 1943 the Jap

Spirit Trees (Shaman Tree)

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The bond between a shaman and his or her spirit tree has been a long-established principle of shamanism and many cultures of antiquity adhere to the principle that the abilities of the shaman are very much dependent on the shaman’s spirit tree, to the extent that the metaphoric tree has taken on a life of its own and has become a central feature or facet of shamanism. The shaman tree can be divided into two types. The first type or category of shaman trees are trees where spirits or spiritual entities reside. These trees have their origins in the realm of folklore and are often divided into different tiers. The strength of the spirit is dependent on the tier that the spirit occupies. Spirits that reside on higher tiers are stronger than those that occupy lower tiers. It is therefore possible, in this manner, to distinguish between inferior spirits and spirits of a higher capacity. The second type of shamanic trees are trees that have a spirit i.e. these trees have a soul and i

Goddess Ganga

The river Ganges is the third longest river in India and it is home to a host of rare aquatic species including the endangered South Asian River Dolphin which is split or divided into two exotic species, the Ganges River Dolphin and the Indus River Dolphin. Many ancient kingdoms were once situated along the river or close to its shores including the non-Vedic Kingdom of Magadha which was located in present day Bihar, just south of the Ganges River Basin. The river according to both Hindu mythology and theology is a representation of the Goddess Ganga who came to light in the Vamana Purana and she is none other than the daughter of Brahma. The story begins when Vishnu at the behest of Aditi reincarnates in the physical world to end the reign of Bali who despite being born in the asura clan is a pious devotee of Vishnu. Because of his devotion, he acquires enough powers to usurp the Devas (those who belong to the race of Gods) and conquer the three worlds (Triloka) or the three s

Brown Orchids

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Copyright © 2019 by Dyarne Ward and Kathiresan Ramachanderam