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I once read Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to play Guitar Hero all evening.... If you insist on using humor . check out this college application letter I came across on the web.. I have gone on covert operations in San Francisco for the CIA. That means that you could use a full-length picture of yourself. They simply paste up their headshot and let it go at that. SELLING. A graduate of Seymour Technical Institute, Jane spent 15 years as an arbitrator for the state of Wisconsin."

The fourth example is the worst: The poor attempt at humor. This is the section of almost U Shape Shower Curtain Rod for sale every website I see, where actors come across as needy, clueless, confused, or simply unprofessional.. .. This is a crucial element of an actor's website and many actors do not pay enough attention to it. I was also honored to be caller number nine - winning a pass to see Britney's custody case.

First of all, language must have placed a psychological barrier between him and his classmates. Years of age that built up from the kinds of verbal, psychological, and social abuse that he reluctantly received. . Cho failed to get what he needed from his psychologists or psychiatrists he found no other solution.S. He looked different. In my high school days, I knew a classmate who was born with a harelip and had problems verbalizing herself clearly and effectively. His parents were poor in South Korea and decided to move to the U. It is possible that this wall was placed not only by Mr. If I interpret his video manifesto correctly, I believe that he was filled with years of torment that lead to this week's mass killings. Seung Hui Cho, a South Korean, was determined to be responsible for the massacre that occurred at Virginia Tech (VT) on April 16, 2007. A cry for help was seen in his previous writings that should have prompted university officials to bar him from attending classes pending the outcome of a thorough psychological evaluation. With pistols that he purchased several weeks ago, he turned the campus into a shooting gallery that took the lives of 32 VT students as well as his very own. His manifesto showed he had rage filled in his eyes.S. Mr.

Cho puts it. He envied their lifestyle. Because Mr. It is possible that Mr. Cho upon his arrival to the U. He envied their "gold necklaces" and their "trust funds" because he did not have them as he was growing up.It is a sad week all over the nation this week when a senior college student opened fire on fellow students at a small town college. Who would if he was stalking them? Perhaps he was jealous of the lifestyle of mainstream American society since he grew up in a poor country. First, he opened fire in a high rise dormitory. Due to his lack of command of the English language, classmates mocked him for "having something in his mouth" while he talked. Anybody who goes to that extreme seriously must have failed to get some professional help. in search of a better lifestyle. They were the subject of ridicule because their hair was too dark, or their parents spoke with funny accents, or their lunch food was untradeable because it smelled too funny. If you could hear her talk, it DID sound like she had a speech China L Shape Grab Bar for sale problem. In fact, I believe that he is referring to members of the American mainstream society in his video manifesto. It is also my belief that the school system failed to give him enough treatment for his problems.

How we choose to deal with those years of torment is the subject of this week's Virginia Tech rampage. in 1992. The fact that he is Asian, looked different, and spoke a different language than his peers may have alienated him from his fellow classmates. He did not have a lot of people who wanted to befriend him when he was 8 years old upon his arrival in 1992. One found it hard to understand her. Academically, she was the smartest person among all of us yet she was withdrawn because of her birth feature., but also by his classmates who felt that it was easier to make fun of him rather than reach out to him and be his friend. Cho's death was the ultimate price he had to pay for failing to get the treatment he so direly needed for the years of frustration bottled up in his mind, heart, and soul. In fact, vengeance was his motive against those "brats. Mr. Secondly, his foreign looks may have caused him to withdraw from the mainstream American society. Cho, being Asian in an all-white school, felt the same way. Many of my Asian friends I have known over the years reported being prejudiced by their Caucasian counterparts while they were in grade school. In fact, when I got to know her better in chemistry class in college, she studied to become an electrical engineer and is now working for one of the biggest companies in the state. Cho for the shootings or is there something more that needs to be investigated? We could speculate that Mr. Could it be surmised that years of these taunts drove Cho into depression? Is it possible that these taunts were a form of verbal bullyism inflicted on him? Did he try to fit in and was ultimately rejected because of looking too "Oriental?" Was he rejected for his supposed "speech impediment?" These are a small number of many unanswered questions that could have lead Cho to explode beyond the words he described in his creative writing classes. No doubt there will be lawsuits stemming from this week's incident against the university. Cho had a right to lash out with WORDS, but not with BULLETS.S. He felt that the only way to get revenge was with a firearm. He was "backed into a corner," as an eloquent Mr.

Cho had psychological problems stemming from his childhood. What went on in the mind of this young man? What could possibly drive him to a mentally depressed state that ultimately lead to him to snap as he did? Is it possible that he did not have a good home life? Was he a victim of bullyism in school similar to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the students to whom Cho refers as martyrs, from the Columbine incident? Is society too quick to condemn Mr." He did not have the expensive cognac nor did he know nice women who would give him the time of day. Little things like these can take its toll on a person's mind. Specifically, the "you" is the all-American rich kids that he talks about. Two hours later, he gunned down several more students in a second floor classroom. In fact, it was later reported after the shooting spree that Seung Hui Cho was a victim of taunting by fellow classmates while he was in school shortly after his arrival in the U. Not knowing what to say, how to act, or how to dress around these people could have contributed to his depression. When he tried to achieve that lifestyle by first trying to "fit in," he was rejected from the beginning 15 years ago. Fortunately, for me and my classmates, this person did not take out her frustrations with a semi-automatic. I believe that Mr. Being a foreigner in a new land and new school could have been psychologically intimidating for him. Cho simply could not take it anymore

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Alex is among the few pioneers, who introduced the concept of design art to India and continues to create avant-garde works for his audience.”After designing sculptures and creating art on canvas, Alex’s next venture is in décor where he plans to make a range of arty furniture and help local artisans by providing them with work opportunities.Artist Alex Davis derives his creative expression from extraction and amalgamation. Over the years, I have worked with both new and old materials, bringing a sculptural element into every product that I create. He mentions, “In the initial years, I wanted to bring contemporary furniture into the market. I started to teach myself, oils and last year I completed my first art series - &PVC Shower curtains Suppliers39;Herbarium Indicum'. After completing my studies I worked for Alessi, in the studio of Stefano Giovannoni. As a child of the 80s, I became a mechanical engineer and then I decided to study product design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. I have always had a creative side and I grew up watching my father sculpt pieces of wood, to de-stress from his working life as a paediatrician. The collection was called 'I went Fishing’ and was followed by his shows titled 'My Lazy Garden', 'Moonlit Safari', ‘Dented Painted’ and ‘Hyper Blooms’.

I depicted high-rise buildings coming up everywhere or old ones getting repaired or painted to showcase the changing urban landscape.”Last year, Alex did his very first exhibition of canvasses called Herbarium Indicum, which was inspired by botanical flower illustrations. One should feel that their space has something beautiful and alive in it. Since the pieces are handcrafted meticulously, it becomes that much more special. In my opinion, the biggest charity is in empowering people through work.”As a signature style, Alex loves to use mixed metal blends in his artworks and expresses his ideas with a variety of materials.

Once an individual loses touch with that very unique expression in order to appease the masses, then that innate purity in their work is lost. He is an artist, sculptor, product designer, engineer and also a visiting facility at India’s top design schools. As an artist, it helps me expand my ideas into real products. His engineering and industrial design backgrounds help him immensely to work with different metals. To me, art has always been rooted in the unique expression of the individual. Alex Davis wearing multiple hats. I felt the need to learn from the masters of design and architecture and got admission at the prestigious Domus Academy, Milano. Back in 1998, there were few people doing simple and modern furniture in India. My focus has been keeping all the artisans who work with me happy and healthy. Speaking about his artistic journey with sculptures, he says, “When I started working on my collections, I wanted to convert something as industrial as stainless steel sheets and pipes into works of art. Speaking about his recent artworks, Alex says, “Earlier this year, I created a sculptural piece called the ‘Tropical Treillage’ for an art event held in Bikaner House in March 2018. I call all my products, be it furniture, lights or accents as 'jewellery for living spaces'.

Moving from sculptures to the canvas, he says, “I toyed with the idea of working on canvasses for a while. He was also commissioned to create a wall piece for the Laura Hamilton apartment called ‘the Magnolia’, a wall sculpture in tinted # stainless steel. Through my own brand Indi store, I was able to experiment with materials and sell the pieces through it. While in October my sculpture 'Bombay' showcased my idea of Mumbai -- defined by the romance between the scaffolding and the buildings that they wrap themselves around. It is that which lies deep within that should take shape in what the artist is trying to express. He recently created a massive handcrafted sculpture for the Architecture and Design show in Mumbai called 'Bombay' using 304 stainless steel dipped in gold as an ode to the city of Mumbai. His way of looking at my work and his critique of it has always been very insightful. I have not had any mentors as such, but what has come closest to being one is my son, Agastya.. While he is famous for his exquisite wood and metal installations in India, he has also exhibited in some of the top international design fairs such as Scenes d’interieur at Maison et Objet, Paris, Salone del Mobile Milano and Abitare il Tempo, Verona.His tryst with sculptures began in 2004 when he designed a range of sculptural products using river pebbles and stainless steel. As for artists, I am often inspired by the works of Richard Sierra & David Nash

Should it snow, we could possibly extend our trip and take up a short four day course in skiing.We do not stop till we get there. So, after a hearty breakfast of puri and potatoes in the crowded common room of the GMVN Ski Resort, we take the chair lift that deposits us in ten quick minutes up a slope that the more intrepid take a few hours to climb. Down below a lake shivers in the cold breeze.The Kalpavruksh tree. We climb the rocky hills, and look down on the landscape we have left behind that seems a mix of desert and forest. And more is sure to follow despite the sunny spell. Tonight, we tell ourselves, it will snow. And snowfall happens every year! And who knows, we may yet meet a snowstorm en route!The writer is the Consulting Editor, Harper Collins Publishers India and Executive Director, EncyclomediaPhoto credit: Sathya Saran.5 metres of its circumference, bowing my head as acknowledgment to Nature’s divine strength. Time is running out.

In recent years, the tree has had to be protected from worshippers who touch, pluck leaves of pieces of bark off it, and a wire fencing surrounds it safely away from human contact. Well, I tell myself, there will be a next time. And ahead of us the climb to the Auli Bugyal stretches, its gentle slopes inviting us. Oak, rhodrendron and the snow make for a colourful picture. As morning comes, we can see the snow. Come morning, we look eagerly out of the window. I pick it up, and carry it safely nestled in my dupatta. "You have to climb up to the meadow, and then she is right there," a fellow tourist helpfully tells us. Basic skiing lessons are available for tourists, before the real season begins and the professional skiers take over. The exact age of the tree that now inspires endless selfies is unknown, but if this is the tree under which Adi Shankaracharya meditated, as the board near it proclaims, it is at least a few centuries old. The temple they are housed in is unpretentious, almost plain. The sound of rain on the roof is music; it portends snow. Legend has it that visiting the temple in winter is as good as visiting the actual shrine in summer, and we walk out energised by the darshans within. The news of impending snowfall has spread, and we can hear cars driving in, till late into the night. Contrary to a publicity pamphlet that claims the tree is eternally in bloom, bare branches stare back at me as I walk around the 21.The Shankaracharya Mutt Joshimath is also sacred in its own right, for it was here that the interpid traveller and spiritual leader, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have launched his mission of reviving Hinduism in 632 AD. But local wisdom says it may take yet another day or so for the snow to move across to Auli. Gnarled and knotted, bent and yet spreading its branches skywards, this tree has seen the centuries roll. All through the long drive, I turn this way and that, unable to look away, as the jagged slopes soften and turn Christmas card perfect in the snowfall. It is an awesome sight, and we watch transfixed. The Shiv temple at the spot where Adi Shankaracharya is said to have established a Shiv Ling.We drag on extra sweaters and smile at the sky in anticipation. A gift from a tree to a tree lover, worth preserving indeed. Children scream and jump about, throwing fistfuls at each other. And the sky is filled with clouds.We are a group in search of snow.

And then there is Nanda Devi. It is an unusual view of the mountain, seen this time from a never before angle, and it needs getting used to. As evening falls and we repair to the warmth of our room, the weather turns. No snow. Already, the clerk at reception tells us with the air of who has hosted a royal visitor, that there has been heavy snowfall just a week ago. Adi Shankaracharya also established a Shivaling here, and a temple to Shiva now stands under the shade of the tree. So, come December, we take the long road from Rishikesh, and drive through crowded villages, and deserted hillsides, and look down steep slopes at the river that rushes downslope, away from where we are going, eager to reach Auli. As we turn back, the wind rises into a sharp song and seems armed with knives that threaten to cut through our jackets. Bare till yesterday, they wear a dusting of white. 1200 years to be exact.The meadow that stretches for many kilometres into the wild, is dotted with rock outcrops that invite you to climb them. It comes like a curtain, moving over the mountains opposite. Well, almost. Unlike in many temples, he does not expect or demand money in return. For there are steps yet to be climbed and luggage to be carried up, to a room that is comfortable and snug, thank God, for in late December, Auli is preparing for snow. And ask of each other whether the cloud will move to dust us with white too. Three years in a row we have managed to see the mountain, either in all her majesty, or at least catch sight of her sister peaks, and Auli promises us the closest glimpse. in a few days, the leaf crumbles, but it nestles in a plastic box, a memento from a century old living entity. Nothing. Night is waiting to take over from a fleeting dusk as we reach Joshimath. The stars twinkle mischeviously back at us. Through the night, our trips to the window show nothing but a murky, starless sky. The road to the Badrinath shrine closes in early winter. Bare in winter it grows lush as spring comes byIt takes two hours to walk to the edge of the climb, and the meadow stretches out as a flat land with outcroppings of rocks, all the way ahead as far as eye can see.

Nor is Nanda Devi anywhere in sight. A pundit chants mantras for our welfare and hands out prasad.Barren and rough, the meadow has a wild beautyThe sun, not snow, wakes Sanitaryware factory us the third morning.A short drive later, even as the wind whisks around us briskly, we climb a series of steps and a slope to visit the Kalpavruksh. Evidence of the recent snowfall lingers, in the shady patches under the oak trees, and in strips of gleaming white in the hollows formed by the undulating slopes. Strangely, I discover, this venerable tree is neither a banyan not peepul, but a mulberry tree. And this is the last chance of experiencing snow fall. After much changing of gears and a couple of false turns, we have, as Aunty Google would put it, ‘arrived at our destination’. Auli has little else to offer.Reluctantly, we pack the car, hauling our bags in, our eyes still transfixed by the drama being played out on the mountains opposite. We climb up towards the meadow; the slope is deceptively easy on the eye, but not so on thighs and knees that are protesting at the sudden strain they are being put to. Immediately below, the land is barren, treeless — ready for snow. As I watch the last few leaves twirling in the breeze, one detaches itself to land at my feet.The last chair lift returns to the hotel at 4 pm, and resisting the tempation to explore further, we join the other tourists and turn back. Not snow settled prettily on top of mountain peaks, not glistening in the sunlight so far away that we need to argue about whether it is clouds we are seeing or a line of snow peaks; what we want is snow falling gently from the sky. We take a quick look at the monastery said to be started by one of Adi Shankaracharyas disciples in the 8 th century, but the visit leaves us strangely unmoved. And no other snowcapped peak either. And that comes with the possibility of being locked in, as driving down the winding road to Joshimath without snow chains on the tyres might be risky. And the Gods descend to Joshimath to ensure their safety and that of those who offer daily worship to them. There is just enough light left to discern the narrow road that starts on a sharp curve and climbs steeply up towards Auli. We sleep fitfully, knowing that we are to depart the next morning. Rush out to climb the slope and look into the distance. Emboldened by our expedition of the previous day, we repeat the route, and going faster with practice, have enough time on hand to venture far into the unknown. But the Gods inside are housed with much ceremony, and in regal splendour. The receptionist promises us snow, if it should rain.And most delightfully surprising is the fact that Nanda Devi stands upclose and larger than life, just beyond reach. But Nanda Devi and the unknown have a magnetism that will not be ignored. But the sky holds its secret, and we drive down to Joshimath to take in the sights the town has to offer. And yes, the sky holds a few black clouds. But the majesty of the country’s highest peak cannot be ignored

Last year, the government had opened that sector to 49% foreign ownership but saw few takers as no global company was willing to transfer its technology to a foreign (Indian) company. Ease of doing business. Per this rule, foreign companies in India, who are currently banned from setting up supermarkets, or what is known as multi-brand retail, can get a toehold into that sector as long as the only thing they sell are fruits and vegetables grown or food products manufactured in India. But even for that, up until now, they had to get government approval.)Let’s go through some of the sectors that will be impacted by these decisions: Pharmaceutical — Foreign investors can now buy up to 74% without any government approvals.“In a sense it’s part of the government’s continued drive for liberalisation and increasing ease of doing business in the country,” said Akash Gupt, partner and national leader of regulatory services and tax markets at PwC India.

The idea here, again, is to make it easy for companies to set up business and then once they are up and running and have enough volume of business, they then pull in local businesses into the production cycle.While many of Monday’s announcements were expected, at least by those who track the government's actions closely on business related matters, they were still welcome. “And it’s an important one for India as it aligns with the government’s Make in India push,” he said.Food retail — This is one policy that has caused the most angst amongst industry experts.“Don’t expect miracles and results everywhere,” warned Madan Sabnavis, chief economist and chief general manager at Credit Analysis and Research Ltd, a credit rating agency. Ease of doing business. Until this change, Indian rules required single brand retailers like Apple and Ikea to source 30% of their products from India. “This is the most liberal policy any government could have,” said PWC’s Gupt. She writes about business and development in the subcontinent. The Narendra Modi-led government took a step towards acting on those catchphrases with the slew of reforms it announced this week to open the Indian economy to foreign investment and encourage global brands like Ikea and Apple to set up shop here. MAKE IN INDIA. But the idea here, again, no matter how far-fetched it may be, is to get companies to make these food products here, and encourage the development of food processing plants and cold storage chains.. Megha Bahree is a freelance journalist based in Delhi.And now we come to a sector that may actually fall under the category of game changer (unlike all the above) — defense.

“The government still needs to make Shower Seats Suppliers doing business easy because companies that want to come in will check —can I acquire land, can I hire labour, can I get environmental clearances — and those things haven’t been addressed,” he said.Single brand retail — This has been the headline grabber thanks to recent interest by global titans, like Apple, who are finally realising there’s a market of several hundred million here that can buy their products, especially now that customers in their home markets have had their fill. Until then, this is a step in the right direction. That is now expected to change. Modi wants to show what he has been promising all along: investments and job creation. These are two catchphrases that have been tossed around a lot by this government.It’s only when some of those real issues have been addressed (and who knows how long that will take) that we can expect to really see investors, and money, rushing to the country. And if you carefully parse all the announcements, you’ll see a common theme emerge —encourage companies across sectors to manufacture in India, and let’s try to make it a little easier for them to get to that point (although the latter has a lot left to be desired to really make it easy to do business in India.While most of these decisions weren’t unexpected, and wont be called revolutionary, what they do show is a feeling of restlessness in the Modi camp, experts say.jpg Make in India. “There is no retailer in the world who focuses only on food,” said Arvind Singhal, chairman and managing director of Technopak, a retail consultancy.

As we have seen in the Arab world, getting rid of autocratic leaders is a long process..The coup that was not a coup in Zimbabwe has several unique features. In India’s vicinity, we have the example of Myanmar where the Army, after long years of rule, enacted a titled constitution which gave it real power even as it held elections to give the regime an ostensible civilian façade. First, unlike traditional coups which end up with the Army chief converting himself into a political leader, the Army’s role was to stop longtime leader Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace from taking power.The fact that the process of succession was so blatant in Zimbabwe and the long-serving leader was being increasingly guided by a far younger scheming wife made the widespread revolt possible.If Zimbabwe has set an example, will the Army in other situations and other countries exercise similar restraint? Logically, the armies’ tendency is to believe that they can do a better job of governing than civilians.Examples elsewhere in the world are not encouraging.The story begins with the sacking of Mr Mnangagwe, allegedly at the behest of Grace who was all set to take over from her ailing 93-year-old husband. In popular parlance, his wife is known as "Gucci Grace" because of her penchant for expensive shopping.

The obvious successor was thus cast aside, fuelling popular anger.How long will it take for the incipient African Spring to travel to the other parts of the continent? While the precise time is difficult to predict, the Zimbabwe events can be a lightning rod. Pakistan long ago succumbed to Army rule, periodically clothed in a civilian dispensation.To underline this message, hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans gathered on Harare’s streets seeking the sacking of Mr Mugabe. Indeed, apart from sharing privation and sacrifice in the independence struggle, he was popularly known as the "crocodile" for his ruthlessness in achieving goals. Judging by the Arab Spring, the contagion can spread quickly even as political leaders get to build coalitions to frustrate popular wishes. The key to the change in Zimbabwe was the Army’s readiness to suppress a national calamity by the ambitions of a young wife to seize power, thanks to the besotted vision of an old man.

The only exception has been Tunisia, which has been keeping the spirit of Arab Spring alive by instituting a coalition arrangement, thanks largely to the moderation and wisdom of the main Islamic party. How an independence leader has sunk so low is an object lesson in not knowing when to leave the political stage. Where his and the Army’s interests coincided was in averting a feared kleptocratic regime of Grace and her favourites, particularly among the young in the Zanu-PF ruling party. The Army then moved in last week confining Mr Mugabe to his official home but even allowing him to award degrees at a university function to suggest that he would be given a dignified farewell were he to resign from office. Both are facing calls to resign. The Arab Spring has not been a success over the years, with the dramatic change in Egypt, for instance, leading to the Army chief donning the mantle of political leadership after one-year rule of the Muslim Brotherhood following the first free elections ever held in the country’s history. The country’s economy is in a free fall, with the downturn ascribed to the hasty takeover of white farms in 2000. And in all probability, the Army will find it difficult to resist giving up power once it has brought about political change. For far too long, peoples across the continent have suffered rapacious and thieving rulers who have enriched themselves at the cost of their countries’ future.In Africa, two candidates under siege are Yoveri Museveni of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila.

It is as if the people of Africa have woken up from deep slumber and begun to see their destinies not being permanently tied to a dictatorial regime. The danger is of course that inevitably the Army has become a political player in achieving an objective that was popular.While African thinkers are cogitating on how to avoid the pitfalls of the Arab Spring, vulnerable leaders will be resorting to circuses to distract people’s minds.What has changed by the dramatic developments in Zimbabwe is that the pace of change in the autocracies will quicken.However, the cards are stacked against Mr Mugabe, with even war veterans asking him to go, and judging from the popular mood Shower Curtain Rods Manufacturers encouraged by the Army, there is widespread anger over the country’s economic situation.The picture has not been encouraging elsewhere in the Arab world, nations reverting to the rule of strongmen. Change does not come easily. The country gained independence in 1980 and Mr Mugabe has been its ruler for 37 years.A Catholic priest, Fidelis Mikonori, was mediating between Mr Mugabe and the Army and was the main figure in Sunday’s crucial negotiations, with the fallen leader still reportedly resisting.

The waves of change are indeed sending shockwaves across the continent. All signs indicate that the objective has been to restore Mr Mugabe’s vie-president and old comrade Emmerson Mnangagwe to his post and ask him to run an interim administration In the process, the ruling party has sacked Mr Mugabe as leader, replacing him by his sacked vice-president. In fact, Mr Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao, in exile in South Africa, has said the leader and his wife were "ready to die for what is correct" rather than step down.The question on everyone’s mind is whether the events in Zimbabwe are like the equivalent of an "Arab Spring" in Africa.Mr Mugabe’s time came because of the ambition of his young wife, a former secretary, who scandalised the country by engineering the ouster of his most important aide and natural successor Mrangagwe. Countries elsewhere on the continent will be guided by their own peculiarities that will determine the precise shape their revolts will take

But our travel plans drastically altered the minute we stepped out of Hakata station. What distinguishes Fukuoka’s noodles from elsewhere is its thinness. As the last rays of the sun faded out, locals lined up near the dozen other neighbouring yatais serving ramen and sticks of yakitori (grilled meat).Our first stop was a visit to one of the mobile restaurants near Naka River. And to this day, this form of al-fresco dining is considered a quintessential Fukuokan experience. As we stand admiring the statue, we spot people entering a small door to the left.Around the central temple are a series of shrines set amidst the rock gardens.

After walking around Hakata Canal City — the largest mall in Japan housing five floors of shops, multiplex cinemas, hotels, an amusement park and an abundance of overhanging vegetation — we decide to head straight to the fifth floor to accomplish our motive of visiting this commercial urban monstrosity — a visit to the Ramen Stadium.After spending an hour at a local coffee shop, watching the world go by, we walk towards Oyafuko Dori or the ‘Delinquents Street, in the older part of the city. In this part of Japan, the weather and people were warmer than most other cities and despite being a humungous metropolis, it lacked the hurried pace and had an easy-going vibe. We selected a ramen noodle broth and are soon we were assigned a corner stool with a counter when our order arrived. After having a drink or two at an Izakaya (traditional pub), we head back to the hotel and as we leave Oyafuko Dori behind, we can still feel the steady pulse of Fukuoka in this old city neighborhood.

The tetsunabe (iron pan) gyoza, with fillings varying from pork to chicken, is most commonly served in Fukuoka and is considered one of the best in Japan.Located on the northern tip of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, Fukuaka is historically split by the Naka River between the castle town of Fukuoka and the merchant quarters of Hakata.. Gyoza or dumplings originated in China and Fukuoka, being a commercial port, was where the dish was first introduced to Japanese. And like the rest of the diners at the restaurant, the background score we generated was that of slurping, considered a sign of appreciation in Japanese culture. Across the road is Tochoji temple, dedicated to the Buddhist saint Kukai who built it in 806 AD and houses a seated 33-feet-tall wooden Buddha. After a few minutes wait, my husband and I squeezed onto a bench and into each other at a makeshift stall — separated from the rest of Fukuoka by just a plastic curtain. At the entrance of each is a machine where you place the order and wait for your turn. The Yatais came into existence post the Second World War, as they lit their red lanterns and welcomed patrons with their comfort food offerings. The names are in Japanese but the price is in English. Based on our first meal in this tiny stall, we can safely vouch for the fact that one of the best ramens in the world can be sampled in this canal city. Typically Japanese, the noodles were firm, pork was tender, the broth was flavorful and the egg when separated from middle revealed a golden belly.

It is a trip through the ‘Hells of Buddhism’ where one can view the coloured reliefs of unfortunate souls burning in hell. Today, the lane is populated with nightclubs, bars and karoke joints but the neighborhood’s embedded history and unique culture ensured that the original nickname remained. Intrigued, we follow.Following a walk to the nearby temples, we were recommended a meal at Tetsunabe, a home-style joint known for their delicious gyoza. The two cities merged into Shower Chairs Suppliers one in 1889 and today, past and present co-exist peacefully and hidden amidst the modern precinct with chic boutiques and arcades, are a series of timeworn temples that reveal the history behind Fukuoka’s cosmopolitan facade. Revered Zen Master Yosai who oversaw its construction is also famed for introducing tea to Japan. Our actions were hardly romantic as we attempted to find space among the 10 other diners, mostly locals, around the u-shaped counter. Much like a food court, Ramen Stadium comprises eight restaurants, each boasting a different flavor and style of ramen from across Japan. Guided by the railing, we walk through the dark curvy passageway and emerge before a painting of three Buddhas, symbolising paradise. With eight lanes, this is one of the widest streets in Fukuoka City and is lined with as many as a dozen historical monuments on either side of the road.Locals eating out at a resturant.For most tourists, Fukuoka does not figure in their original itinerary. Not far from Hakata Station, this restaurant is also an ideal place for people watching as it is located at a busy junction.The next day, we decided to explore Taihaku-dori Avenue, a few minutes away from the Hakata train station. In the early nineties, the thin stretch was lined with prep schools and later became a centre for the Mentai rock movement. But it was worth the jostle as the familiar aroma of tonkotsu ramen broth (noodles in pork bone soup) wafted from the bare-boned kitchen behind the counter. But the most historic building in the city is the spectacular Shofukuji, the first Zen temple built in Japan, on which the others were modeled. Our first stop is Jotenji temple, one of the meticulously preserved wooden temples, built in 1242 by a Chinese merchant. A typical bowl of noodle soup is usually topped with a couple of slices of meat, mushrooms, spring onions, pickled red ginger and seaweed.Kanzeonji temple, Dazaifu, Fukuoka prefecture. It was supposed to be just a stopover before continuing to the glitzier Osaka. For those gastronomes keen on extra seasoning, at arms length was toasted sesame seeds and garlic and a couple of sauces