Indian Waves

SYDNEYFREE FORTNIGHTLY

Vol. 20 No (2) • November (2) 2012

COMMUNITY CONNETING

www.indianways.com.au

Olympics 2012:Gagan Narang shoots bronze;India’s 1st medal

Page 10.....

STRIP AD270mm(w) x 60mm(h)

Olympics

FP AD248mm(w) x 368mm(h)


HP AD248mm(w) x 184mm(h)

TRAVEL SYDNEY 5FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012

A trip to Ladakh, India’s cold desert is a once-in-a-

lifetime experience. With its spectacular natural beauty, the place is a visual treat for both your eyes and your digital cameras. Read on...

Nestled at an altitude of 3,500 meters above the sea level, between the Kunlun Mountain Range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, is a small, yet bustling town of Leh. Being the largest city of Ladakh, Leh enjoys the maximum tourism. It not links one of the sleepy hamlets and valleys of the district, but is also one of the few remaining Buddhist destinations inSouth Asia.

Being a cold desert, this arid terrain experiences drastic weather changes. The temperatures are so extreme that while one in winters experiences temperatures

range between 0 degrees to -28 degrees, in summers one gets to face temperatures like 3 degrees to 30 degrees. Since the temperatures are diverse and the altitude only gets higher, travellers are suggested to have preventive medication for altitude sickness before embarking on their journey.

The Leh Palace, which is situated behind the main market has eight stories and is similar to the Potala Palace of Lhasa and still belongs to the royal family of Ladakh. Just ahead of the palace is the famous Chamba Temple, which is aoneroomed shrine that has a huge icon of Maitreya, the Buddha to come. Since this temple cannot be found easily, it is essential to enquire about it in the second row of shops.

Also in the bazaar, at the top of the street, one can see the Jama Masjid. This

has been painted in green and white colour. Another place that you must visit is the SankarGompa, which is situated within the city and is one of the oldest structures here. At one time, this monastery only welcomes maximum twenty monks and is a fairly active one. Also the monks here are extremely hospitable and always offer yak butter tea to those visiting the monastery.

Also a visit to the famous Thikse Monastery is a must. This monastery is the largest such structure in central Ladakh and is primarily known for its magnanimous statue of Maitreya (future Buddha) in its Maitreya Temple. This statue is 15 meters (49 ft) high and the largest such statue in Ladakh. The Buddha here is unusually portrayed as seated in the lotus position rather than

his usual representations

as standing or in a sitting posture on a high throne.

On Old Leh Road exists the Tibetan Refugee Market which is an ideal place for shopping in Leh. Tibetan markets are popular for their metal-ware. The visitors here who have an eye for artistic pieces would find sonorous bowls made of nine metals like cymbals, decorative brass and copper trumpets. Besides, cymbals that have religious themes that are used in meditation are also found here.

Also if one is fond of jewellery, it is possible to find relevant items like unpolished silver and turquoise jewellery and chunky shell bangles worn by Ladakhi women. There are also a range of excellent rugs and carpets that have traditional Persian and Kashmiri themes. Some other attractions of these markets are the native Thangka paintings, jewellery made of semi-precious stones, small prayer wheels, shawls, stoles and music bowls. One can also find the lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and the rubies from Burma.

Paradise on theEarth at Ladakh

has been painted in green and white colour. Another place that you must visit is the SankarGompa, which is situated within the city and is one of the oldest structures here. At one time, this monastery only welcomes maximum twenty monks and

extremely hospitable and always offer yak butter tea to

his usual representations

as standing or in a sitting posture on a high throne.

Also if one is fond of jewellery, it is possible to find relevant items like unpolished silver and turquoise jewellery and

Paradise on the

SYDNEY FOOD6 FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012

Dark ChocolateCoconut Pudding

PREPARATION METHOD

Mix water and coconut milk in a saucepan and warm in slightly and ensure the mixture does not boil. Now mix the gelati n and keep sti rring ti ll it dissolves completely. Now add the fi ltered icing sugar along with cocoa powder and keep sti rring forcefully ti ll the mixture is completely blended and there are no lumps. Now add the vanilla essence and caster sugar and dried coconut powder and conti nue sti rring. Now divide the mixture equally in six pudding cups and keep it to chill in the refrigerator.

slightly and ensure the mixture does not boil. Now mix the gelati n and keep sti rring ti ll it dissolves completely. Now add the fi ltered icing sugar along with cocoa powder and keep sti rring forcefully ti ll the mixture is completely blended and there are no lumps. Now add the vanilla essence and caster sugar and dried coconut powder and conti nue sti rring. Now divide the mixture equally in six pudding cups and keep it to chill in the refrigerator.

INGREDIENTSCoconut Milk, 200 mlWater, 100 mlPowderedgelati n, 1/2 packetCocoa Powder, 60 gDesiccated Coconut, 80 gVanilla Essence, 2 tspIcing Sugar, 2 tbspCaster Sugar, 2 tbsp

TOOLS REQUIREDSaucepanPudding cups

INGREDIENTS1 ¾ cups all-purpose fl our¼ cup unsweetened cocoa½ tsp. baking soda¼ tsp. salt1 cup Nutella, plus more for frosti ng cookies4 oz. (1 sti ck) unsalted butt er or margarine, soft ened¾ cup brown sugar1 large egg½ tsp. hazelnut extract, opti onal36 whole blanched hazelnuts, for garnish

SERVING SUGGESTIONSServe chilled

Makes Cookies

PREPARATION METHOD1. Sift together fl our, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl.2. Beat Nutella and butt er with electric mixer unti l smooth and combined. Beat in brown sugar, then egg and hazelnut extract, if using. Beat in fl our mixture with mixer on low speed unti l dough forms.3. Transfer dough to large sheet of plasti c wrap or wax paper. Shape dough into 2-inch-diameter log with plasti c wrap. Wrap ti ghtly, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.4. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice dough log into 1/4-inch-thick slices, rolling log 90 degrees between slices to keep edges round. Transfer slices to greased or parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes, or unti l cookies are fi rm and dry. Transfer to wire rack to cool.5. Frost each cookie with 1/2 tsp. Nutella, and garnish with 1 hazelnut.


DT (Double Truck) Ad565mm(w) x 390mm(h)

(Edge to Edge)

DT (Double Truck) Ad565mm(w) x 390mm(h)

(Edge to Edge)

SYDNEY COVER STORY10 FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012

It can be said without a shred of doubt that 2010 was a landmark year for

27-year-old GaganNarang. He came into his own with a tally of individual medals and award-winning performances. Firmly putting the disappointment of the Beijing Olympics behind him – where the shooter missed making it to the finals by the proverbial whisker and AbhinavBindra’s individual gold made him the darling of the country – the Taurean literally shot himself into the collective limelight last year in October. His six-medal haul at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi and his feat of shooting for a double silver on the opening day of the Asian Games in Guangzhou just a few weeks later have made him a new hero of India’s sporting arena.

The Punjabi shooter, who was born in Chennai – though his family hails originally from Haryana – grew up in Hyderabad where his parents finally settled. The very city that has produced winners like badminton ace SainaNehwal and tennis wonder SaniaMirza. His father, B S Narang, was an engineer with Air India and his mother, an architect in the Military Engineering Services and they often moved base for their work.

Incidentally, Narang has become the first Indian to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics, proving that he is not one to rest on past laurels or brood over earlier disappointments. He takes both equally in his stride, with equanimity and maturity. And he has found his own ways of relaxing – in his leisure time he enjoys shooting of a different kind. In fact, his collection of photographs taken during the 2006 CWG has been published in a coffee-table book called Commonwealth Journey from Melbourne to New Delhi.

Currently world No 3 in the 10m Air Rifle category, Narang is no stranger to

records and wins. On the eve of the Asian Games as he was readying to shoot, the sharpshooter indulged in a Q and A with Verve....

Was the six-medal haul at the CWG in Delhi one of the most memorable highs of your career?

I have had similar wins at the Melbourne CWG. But this win was bigger and better firstly because there were people to cheer me – people to recognise the painstaking efforts that go into the sport and there was the media to write about me!

On the completely reverse side was your performance at the Beijing Olympics, where your peer AbhinavBindra eventually won the gold medal....

True. To have been out of the competition at the Beijing Games by countback was a very rude shock. But I recovered and eventually went on to shoot the world record the same year at the World Cup finals in Bangkok.

For a long time, particularly after the Olympics, you have lived in the shadow of AbhinavBindra. Is bonding with a competitor, even though he is a friendly rival, easy?

Abhinav is older and way senior to me in the sport. There is still a lot for me to learn. Abhinav and I share a robust relationship. Shooting is an individual sport. Unlike what is being projected in the media, we do not compete against each other; we compete against our own selves.

What are the demands of your sport?

Unlike other team sports like cricket, hockey or football, in shooting, an individual walks the route alone. Shooting may not be defined by the words ‘stronger, faster, higher’, but it is about achieving excellence. Every day one craves to grind the edges and sharpen them.

It is an arduous journey that one must do alone. I chose it so I can’t complain. On the brighter side, when I win the gold medal, I do not need to share it.

You hail from Hyderabad – a city that is home to SainaNehwal and SaniaMirza. What is it about the place that inspires sporting success?

I dare say the biryani and the haleem. Hyderabadis are foodies but we are also very focused in wanting to achieve what we have set out to. Our hunger keeps growing and that is reflected in the outcome of whatever we do.

Were your parents happy with your unusual choice of sport – rifle shooting?

Without their backing I could not have pursued my dream. My dad even sold off a plot of land in the initial years of my shooting to buy me a rifle. I have done all my education in Hyderabad, including my

Bachelors in Computers; I did not have the facilities at school or college but went to camps to practise the sport.

What triggered your passion for rifle shooting?

I took to shooting entirely as a fun and games pastime. While growing up, I was always an introvert, but fun loving. I wanted to explore new things. And I have always been a gadget freak. Like most of the people in my colony, I played the usual

‘catching the thief ’ sport. I used to go to fairs and aim at balloons. But the real deal began when, at 14, my parents introduced me to a pistol and encouraged me to take this up as a sport. When I started off it was an amateur sport. I did not know where shooting would take me so I continued my studies side by side. I am still doing my MBA. I do believe that it will help me graduate to the next level.

You are currently in the top five of the world in your speciality – 10m air rifle shooting. How important is the ranking in the sport?

The numbers don’t matter. They keep on fluctuating. What is important is that one’s game must have consistency.

And, what about records and medals?

I try to go out with my guns blazing. I have carved a place in the record books or become part of sporting history. Creating records is very special but I do not go out with that on my mind. It happens along the course when the mind and the body are in sync. That is the most desirable state for any sportsman.

What is important at that crucial moment, when you are shooting to win?

Shooting is a highly mental game. Most importantly, the mind and the body have to be in sync. It

isn’t simple because there is no template. Everyone does it in his or her own way.

Every individual has good and bad days. How do you ensure that your motivation does not dip?

The focus comes from the innate desire, the craving to excel...the craving to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It also comes from the high of rising on the podium and seeing the tricolour go up. The more wins one gets, the more one craves for. When you win one you are hungry for more...yehdilmaange more!

How stressful is the sport, physically and mentally?

I have a bad back and knee but it holds up during competitions. It is not easy to cope with stress but nothing is impossible. There are ways of dealing with it and I think I do it quite well. I do a lot of breathing exercises and have a mind trainer to train with. I cannot allow fears to colour my mind. I keep them away. The only anxiety that I have is performance anxiety and that helps me perk up my performance. But I must admit it is very tiring and can take a toll on an individual.

Off the shooting range, what do you enjoy doing?

I shoot with the camera when I do not shoot with my gun. My other hobby is aero-modelling remote controlled airplanes and helicopters.

From aiming at balloons at fairs as a child to gunning down records and shooting for medals for his coun-try, 27-year-old Gagan Narang has done himself and India proud. In an exchange with Shraddha Jahagird-ar-Saxena, the sharpshooter unwinds about the pas-sion that drives him to pursue excellence

“ “BYGAURAV KALRA


Q: Why did the ants dance on the jam jar?A: The lid said, “Twist to open.” When do you know a law-yer is telling the truth?When his lips are shut. A blonde walks into a library and says to the librar-ian, “Can I have a burger and fries?”“Sorry, this is a library.”So the blonde whispers, “Oh, sorry. May I have a burger and fries?” Q: If your wife is shouting at the front door and your dog is barking at the back door, who do you let in first?A: The dog, of course. At least he’ll shut up after you let him in. Beta- Papa, aap jaise mu-jhe marte ho, vaise dadaji bhi apko marte the kya?Papa- Bilkul marte theBeta- Toh yeh khandani gundagardi kab tak chalegi? Wife: Honey, if I die would you get married again?Husband: No dear.Wife: I’m sure you would.Annoyed husband: Okay, I would.Wife: Would you let her sleep in our bed?Husband: Ya, I guess so.Wife: Would you let her wear my clothes.Husband: No, she is taller than you. Our Santaji was filling up an application form for a job.He promptly filled the columns titled name, age, ad-dress etc.Then he came to the column sex. He was not sure as to what to be filled there. After much thought he wrote thrice a week.Clerk told him to write either male or female.Again Santa thought for a long time before coming up with the answer preferably females. A frog said to Santa jee “Tere paas aqalnahi hai”Santa: jee “Hai”Frog: “Nahi hai”Santa: “Hai”Frog: “Nahi hai”(n jumps into the river)Santa:”Is mein suicide ki kia baat thi”.. Angry Boss: Have you ever seen an owl?Man: (looking down) No Sir...Boss: Don’t look down. Look at me. Rajan: Why are you heat-ing the knife.Sajan: To do suicide.Rajan: But why are you heat-ing it?Sajan: To prevent infection.

JOKESSUDOKU CROSSWORD

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that wach row, coloum and each of the 9X9 squares contain all the digits from 1 to 9.

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20)You may be kept busy more than your normal work hours. Apprehensions about your financial situation will be unfounded. Some job on the home front can needlessly get extended. It is best not to use lame excuses on the academic front, as it may affect your reputation. Deep love exists between you and your partner.

TAURUS (Apr 21 - May 20)You may get into the grip of things at work and show your calibre to the doubting Thomases. Someone’s steady progress will give you a lot of encouragement.Using your time constructively is the key to success on the academic front, so the sooner you do so, the better.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21)You get a chance to travel out of town and meet a new set of people. A raise or promotion is on the anvil. Your impressive way with words may open many doors for you on both personal and professional fronts. Exceptional luck is likely to catapult you to fame on the academic front.

CANCER (Jun 22 - Jul 22)Your efforts on the professional front are likely to reap rich dividends. Developments on the academic front will be most encouraging and help you to reach your goal. You may get a chance of visiting an exotic place that you have never seen before.

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 23)You may be put on the defensive by someone’s straight talk, but you will manage to bounce back. Competitors threaten to hit your business hard, so preempt their moves. Someone you had lent money to may start avoiding you.

VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sept 23)You may need to start right away, if you want to catch up with others. Something you are hoping for is likely to turn out well. Your presence for an event will be most appreciated. Getting on the right side of someone who matters will be in your interest.

LIBRA (Sept 24 - Oct 23)Blindly trusting someone without ascertaining facts may put you in a spot, so be careful. Indications are that you may either host a party or attend one. In any case, you will end up having a good time! Those new on the job are likely to get into the groove.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22)Supporting someone who is trying to get established professionally will be a challenge that you may most readily undertake. Something that you have achievedwill boost your reputation on the professional front. Family will be loving and caring, and will cater to your needs.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 21)A celebration is likely to get you into the mood. You may savour the moments unravelling before you. Admission seekers may find the day favourable on the academic front. Chances of getting adjudged the best in your class or department are very real! Consider ur financial worries over.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 21)You are likely to get a head start on your rivals, so don’t leave any stone unturned to beat them. A minor financial setback is in the offing that can get you into the thinking mode. Those trying to find a suitable match for the eligible may need to lower their sights a wee bit.

AQUARIUS (Jan 22 - Feb 19)Get involved and think through the problems by serious deliberations, if you want error-free performance of your outfit. Only a little push on the academic front will bring you to the brink of success. You are likely to fulfil your expectations bysomeone’s blessings.

PISCES (Feb 21 - Mar 20)You may be assigned a different task at work that is usually given to others. A new initiative will have a bearing on how you fare. Something left unfinished at work is likely to be completed today. Those looking for a suitable job may find the day promising.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE DR GAURAV KALRA

My motherland, My beautiful land

The trees the mountainsOh my!

India’s culture and religionOh great!

This is the place where I was born,This is the place where I will die.

I love India, I love India.

Himalaya the crown of India,Ganga the holy river of India.

I love India, I love India.There are many religions here

But unity has strength.So lets all say

I love India, I love India.

Poem Answer will be publish in the next edition.

If you are genious, find the six differences between the image given below





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