Minicoy Island and the Maldives!

Minicoy Island or Maliku is the only inhabited island of the Maliku Atoll. It is the second largest and the southern-most among the islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago, measuring about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point. Minicoy is a long island, almost completely covered with coconut trees.
The locals, the Malikun, call their island "Maliku," as do the Maldivians, while it is called "Minikkoy" in Malayalam. On the southern side of the main island lies the uninhabited islet of Viringili where formerly the lepers of Minicoy were banished.

This atoll is administered by India under the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The closest island to Minicoy is Thuraakunu in the Republic of Maldives. Since 1956, the Indian Government has forbidden contact between people of the two islands despite their geographic proximity and ethnographic similarities. Minicoy Islanders, like the close islands of the Maldives follow Sunni Islam. The islands were probably Buddhist before like they were in the Maldives.

Today Maliku is administered by India, but claimed by the Maldives. This claim was made in 1983, when the President of Maldives made a public speech claiming Maliku for the Maldives. Even today many Maldivians privately harbour such sentiments. At the same time India is overly cautious of any contact between people of Maliku and its Maldivian neighbours to the south.

An oral tradition of the Maldives (according to the late Magieduruge Ibrahim Didi, a Maldivian learned man) explains why Minicoy is not politically part of the Maldives anymore: Some time in the past (perhaps during the 17th century), Minicoy was devastated by a great cyclone which destroyed most houses and a great number of coconut trees. Following the catastrophe, a delegation of Minicoy islanders from the best families in the island sailed to the King in Male' asking for gold to help them through the hard times. However, the Maldive King told them that he had not enough money in his treasury and that he was not able to help them. Hence the delegation of Maliku nobles went onwards to the Malabar coast, where they found favor with the king of Cannanore (Kannur) who welcomed them and helped the Minicoy people to rebuild their island in exchange for their loyalty. Henceforth the Minicoy Islanders owed allegiance to this kingdom of the SW Indian shore.

Today, Maliku has a combined population of 9,500.
Under the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands (Laws) Regulations, 1967 of the Government of India, Maldivian nationals can only visit Maliku if they are permitted by the High Commissioner of India. The High Commissioner of India in Malé shall intimate the names of the persons whose visits are permitted and the period of their stay to the Administrator of Lakshadweep sufficiently in advance. The Administrator may, on valid grounds, extend the period of stay of Maldivain nationals.

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Balvenie Fifty limited edition whisky sold for $39,000 in Maldives duty free shop

Hyderabad, Oct 28: 

Duty-free outlet at Maldives’ Ibrahim Nasir International Airport managed by GMR Group, has sold a bottle of whisky for $39,000 (approximately Rs 21 lakh).

The Balvenie Fifty limited-edition whisky, which has just 88 bottles available all over the world, was purchased by a Chinese passenger at the airport, said Neeraj Sharma, Brand Development Manager (Indian Sub-Continent) of William Grant and Sons - makers of the fine Scotch whisky.

“We allocated two bottles of Balvenie Fifty for Indian Sub-Continent. Both bottles were kept at Male International Airport. A Chinese traveller purchased a bottle for $39,000 two weeks ago. He also purchased Balveni Forty for $5,200,” he told PTI.

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is commonly known as Male International Airport.

According to a press release issued at the time of its launch, Balvenie Fifty was unveiled to celebrate master blender David Stewart’s 50th anniversary with the company.

“Nothing for India. Because in India bulk of the business comes from arrival shops (at airports). At the arrival shop there are restrictions on quantum of purchase. So we cannot put some of the expensive products at Indian duty free shops, he explained.

According to a person familiar with customs rules, a passenger can buy only up to $500 at duty-free outlets at airports in India.

On Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky - the flagship brand of William Grant and Sons, he said, “We have almost 45 to 50 per cent share in single malt business. It has huge range within the brand. We are also launching Glenfiddich 125 shortly. It should be around during Diwali,” he said.

Duty-free retail will continue to be a prime driver for premium brands due to huge difference of pricing over domestic market, he added.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/marketing/balvenie-fifty-limited-edition-whisky-sold-for-39000-in-maldives-duty-free-shop/article4040556.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy

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A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking

Though it remains the world’s bestselling science book, A Brief History of Time has become notorious as one of the most commonly purchased but unread books. Reading it, it’s hard to see why. Hawking's prose is as smooth and accessible as Bill Bryson’s, and the ground he covers is still groundbreakingly relevant and fascinating, 20 years on. It’s hard to believe that Hawking is not only able to elucidate some of the more complexing scientific puzzles in a way that is clear, engaging, and exciting, but that he discovered and presented these notions for the first time. Perhaps when Hawking first wrote this book, the average layman understood little of some of the more advanced hypotheses and breakthroughs of physics, but it’s partly testament to the power of this, and other similarly stunning books, that these scientific ideas have become part of how we perceive our world and ourselves. No other scientist since Einstein, who, along with Newton and Galileo, is given a chapter, has had such a massive impact on the “common person” as Stephen Hawking. This book’s penetration into the mind of the reading public, whether they’ve actually read through from start to finish or not, has been the key reason for that impact.
I’m almost ashamed to admit that this is the first time that I’ve read A Brief History of Time. Like Hamlet or The Odyssey it has become so iconic, that I feel as if I had already read it before I came to the actual text. I knew that it was important, and I knew, to an extent, that it would be accessible, but what I didn’t know was that it would be as funny and engaging as any book I’ve read. Hawking is charming and self-deprecating, and his prose is both clear and intimate. This latest edition is a neat, smallish size hardcover version of the 1996 version and contains a number of black and white diagrams, images, and figures. There are also chapters on wormholes and time travel, and discussion around a unified theory of physics, which didn’t appear in the original version. From the original book are chapters on such things as the nature of space and time, the expanding universe, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle and its implications on how we view the world, quarks and other elementary particles, black holes (and how they also emit energy), the beginning and potential end of the universe, time and how it works (and doesn’t).
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STEPHEN HAWKING THE GRAND DESIGN FREE PDF DOWNLOAD

The Grand Design is a popular-science book written by physicists Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow. The book point out that a Unified Field Theory may not exist. Albert Einstein and other physicists had proposed such a theory based on an early model of the universe containing three-dimensions and time. Since then, the model of the universe has changed significantly. It is now believed that the universe has 10, or even 11 dimensions..

"The Grand Design" examines the history of scientific knowledge about the universe. It starts with the Ionian Greeks, who claimed that nature works by laws, and not by the will of the gods. It later presents the work of Nicolaus Copernicus, who advocated the concept that the Earth is not located in the center of the universe.

Stephen Hawking describe the theory of quantum mechanics using, as an example, the probable movement of an electron around a room. The presentation has been described as easy to understand by some reviewers, but also as sometimes "impenetrable," by others. The Book concludes with the statement that only some universes of the multiple universes/multiverse support life forms.

Download The Grand Design Ebook
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Martin Luther King's Speech: 'I Have a Dream' - The Full Text

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/martin-luther-kings-speech-dream-full-text/story?id=14358231#.UHpSt9c8phd

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JAABIRULollyPopsicles With Dark Chocolate Drizzle

RECIPE: Watermelon JAABIRU LolyPopsicles With Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Watermelon popsicles:
4 cups cubed, seedless watermelon
1 cup milk
2-1/2 tbps honey
Chocolate Drizzle
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/3 cup refined coconut oil

Directions:

Place watermelon, milk and honey in a blender and mix well.
Pour into ice cubes trays, making sure to fill slightly below the edges for easier removal.
Cover ice cube trays with aluminum foil and press down on the individual ice cube sections to outline them. Doing this will guide you in properly placing the toothpicks or miniature popsicle sticks.
Insert sticks.
Chill until set - approx. 3 hours.
To make the Chocolate Drizzle, melt chocolate chips in the microwave, heating in 30-second increments or melting in a double boiler. Do not overheat or the chocolate will seize up! Once melted, add the coconut oil and mix well.
Once the watermelon popsicles have set, remove and place on a lined cookie sheet.
Using a fork or spoon, drizzle the popsicles with the chocolate drizzle. The drizzle will set up quickly.
These are ready to eat or refreeze to enjoy later.
Enjoy!

 

 These Watermelon LOLYPopsicles with Dark Chocolate Drizzle turned out FANTASTIC!  Not only are they deliciously sweet, they’re super healthy since they only contain watermelon, milk, honey and a dark chocolate drizzle.  Best of all, they’re easy to make!

Frozen Treats, Recipes

RECIPE: Watermelon Popsicles With Dark Chocolate Drizzle

I have to admit when I recently made these Chocolate & Watermelon Smoothies, I’d never thought to combine these two ingredients.  But I decided to just try it.  The smoothies turned out great!

These Watermelon Popsicles with Dark Chocolate Drizzle turned out FANTASTIC!  Not only are they deliciously sweet, they’re super healthy since they only contain watermelon, milk, honey and a dark chocolate drizzle.  Best of all, they’re easy to make!

To make these watermelon popsicles, all you need is cubed, seedless watermelon, milk and honey.  Mix well in a blender.

Pour into ice cube trays.  Cover with aluminum foil and press down on the individual ice cube sections to outline them.  Doing this will guide you in properly placing the toothpicks or miniature popsicle sticks.  Be sure to place a hand on the outer edges of the foil while inserting the sticks to keep the foil from slipping out of place.

Freeze until set.  Mine took about 3 hours.

Now, you know me.  I had to incorporate chocolate into or onto these somehow.  So I made a chocolate drizzle recipe that I found in a Zoku cookbook.  This stuff rocks!  The coconut oil allows the chocolate or other added ingredients to freeze almost instantly onto your chilled items.

Awesome!

Fasting Break Coolers ~ Watermelon Smoothie

Watermelons,

Ramadan, its the season for watermelons. So this season, why not make something that tastes delicious and does wonders for your skin, too? Kimberly Snyder's recipe for watermelon slush smoothie combines just two ingredients for a delightful summer treat. "Watermelon has great cooling and hydrating properties, as well as amazing cleansing and detoxifying effects," says Kim. So not only will you be hydrating your body with one of nature's yummiest fruits, your skin will be getting a much needed moisturizing boost, which in turn leads to a brighter, clearer, and smoother complexion. Almonds are also one of the best nuts to eat, and contain plenty of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids—good for skin plumping and cell regeneration.

Watermelon Slush Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small watermelon
• 2 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
• Mint sprigs

DIRECTIONS

Cut the watermelon into small chunks and freeze overnight. When fully frozen, blend the icy watermelon pieces and the almond milk in a blender until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with a few sprigs of mint. Enjoy!

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Day #10 of My 10 Day Raw Food Challenge

Eating a raw vegan diet these past 10 days has been an overall amazing experience for me.  I would even go as far as to say life changing in some ways.  Making the food can be a little time consuming, but if you plan ahead you can make most of the food for the week ahead of time.  The one thing I recommend if you are going to go 100% raw is to plan out your food for the week. 

This journey to better health that I'm on has taken me down different paths.  I am filled with gratitude for a little raw food cafe that opened up near my home and a women I met at my local park a few years ago ( a raw foodist) for introducing me to this amazing way of eating.  It just makes sense to me.  When you cook your food it's dead.  When you eat it in the state it was provided by nature it's full of LIFE.  So when you eat foods that are full of life, you are full of life.

If you are not ready to eat a 100% diet that's ok!  Just increase the amounts of fresh raw foods you are eating!  Maybe try adding green smoothies to your diet.

I just want to touch on the most LOVING part of eating a raw vegan diet.  It feels so peaceful to know I didn't hurt any living thing when eating this way.  I think most of us are so detached to where our food comes from.  We go to the grocery store and the meat is packaged up all nice and neat for us.  I am not telling you not to ever eat meat again.  I am just asking that you STOP and THINK about where that meat came from.  I love this quote from Paul McCartney, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian".  We teach our children to love and respect each other, what about teaching them to love and respect all God's creatures?  This is something I am doing a lot of soul searching on.  I know if my sweet 6 year old son Austin who loves animals knew that he was eating a cow, or a pig he would be very upset.  Most of us turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering of the animals that we consume.  Its easier to hold our hands over our ears and look away.  Don't look away.  Animals have feelings.  Don't your  pets have feelings?  Do you eat them?  Did you know that pigs are much more intelligent than dogs?  When you eat animals that have been slaughtered in horrific ways you are also eating the fear and the upset that the animal experienced before being killed.  It's just not good energy for  your body.  There is so much beautiful peaceful food out there in God's garden for us to eat that provides all our nutritional needs.  Contrary to what the dairy and meat industries want us to believe.  You don't need to eat meat for nutritional purposes.

For breakfast I started my day out with a delicious green smoothie made in my high speed blender

•  Kale
• Romaine
• spinach
• 1 pear
• 1/2 orange
• 1 banana
• grapes
• 2 cups of water

 

For lunch I had Mexican balls with a Jalapeno-lime cream sauce.  Delicious and busting with flavors.  I will post this recipe soon!



I had a scone with chocolate butter, jam and whipped topping.



I had a salad for dinner with ginger dressing and a sandwich made with sunflower bread, garlic mayo, avocado, and tomatoes.

Everything was raw/vegan

Copyright © 2004 & 2012 Ibrahim Mohamed! Inc. All rights reserved.e-mail:ibrahimmohd@gmail.com

Top Clothing Brands 2012

Take a look at some of these top clothing brands 2012, and get to know the latest fashion trends and redo your wardrobe...

Fashion has come a long way indeed. It has never been constant, never will, and always brings some new and innovative ideas of dressing up. The enthusiasm and interest of people in experimenting with new styles boosted many fashion designers to open various clothing lines. Today, there are numerous best outdoor clothing brands, which have brought with them some unique styles and fashion trends. These clothing brands are a display all the types of clothes and accessories that helps you to set your own trends. These clothing brands also provide employment and offer a good opportunity for the struggling fashion designers to showcase their talent. Let us now take a look at some of famous clothing brands, that many people love shopping from.

Best Clothing Brands 2011

Burberry
Burberry originates from Hampshire, England and was developed to produce outdoor clothing for men and women. The founder of Burberry fashion house, Thomas Burberry, was 21 years old when he established his fashion house in the year 1856. His fashion house is known to manufacture fragrances, outdoor attire and different fashion accessories, which have gained tremendous popularity in the recent years. The brand first started selling in US and then soon spread to UK by 2007 to earn some more potential clientele. Burberry is known to have produced attire for all the occasions from casual to corporate. After years of hard work and changes, Burberry is now known to manufacture some of the innovative, stunning, stylish and elegant clothes for both men and women.

Calvin Klein
New York based Calvin Klein fashion brand was founded in the year 1968. Calvin Klein is also popularly termed as CK, an emblem which is mainly flaunted on its clothes and accessories. Calvin Klein functions under many brands such as Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Sports, Calvin Klein Jeans,Calvin Klein Home, Calvin Klein Golf and CK One Lifestyle Brand. The CK lifestyle brand mainly includes a wide range of perfumes and colognes, which are available for both men and women. The Calvin Klein collection is specialized in manufacturing elegant and chic clothes and is designed by the well-known designers However, the other Calvin Klein brands are affordable and also have a variety of clothes that suit best as outdoor clothing.

Forever New
Forever New is a fashion house originating from Melbourne, Australia. Women are a great fan of this relatively new fashion house. With its efforts in highlighting the feminine side, Forever New has come up with some stunning designer clothes, which every women desires to flaunt. The year 2006 saw the birth of Forever New, which has now functions in seven countries and has 111 stores around the world. A thorough study of fashion trends and making it accessible to the customers has brought great success to this brand.

Lacoste
Lacoste is famous for making fashionable clothing, footwear, perfumes and even sports wear. This French clothing brand came into existence in the year 1933 by Réne Lacoste and André Gillier. All the Lacoste clothes and fashion accessories are recognized by a crocodile logo, which looked similar to that of Crocodile Garment's logo. However, the latter fashion house modified its logo, while the Lacoste could keep its logo the way it is.

Guess
This brand is among the top clothing brands 2011, and is a famous American clothing line founded by Maurice, Armand, Georges and Paul Marciano. They opened there fashion house in the year 1981 and soon started creating various fashion clothes and accessories. Today, they are known to sell different clothing lines, various fashion accessories, and even perfumes. Guess Stores exist in many countries and their top-end designer clothes are now available to many fashion enthusiasts. Guess not only creates clothing line for men and women, but also designs clothes for little children. As the company started manufacturing many other fashion accessories such as watches, shoes and bags, it quickly gained popularity. Also reasonable rates made Guess one of the favorite outdoor clothing brand.

French Connection UK
Commonly termed as FCUK, French Connection UK was started by Stephen Marks, with an intention to create appealing and comfortable clothes for the people. Always in search of change and new fashion trends has prompted French Connection UK to always introduce something new and innovative into the market. The price range of its clothing line is affordable and so French Connection UK is known to have achieved maximum clientele all around the globe.

Zara
Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera, together established Zara, which is a Spanish clothing line. Zara is a compilation of many other brands such as Pull and Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti and Uterqüe. Many Zara stores were spread all around Spain and watching its success, it soon took up to international marketing. Today, Zara stores are there in many different countries and is rapidly increasing its sales. It is known to have great collection in men, women and kids apparels, which are priced at reasonable rates.

Following are some more well-known clothing brands:

• Gucci
• Chanel
• Prada
• Versace
• Valentino
• Dior
• Fendi
• Dolce and Gabbana
• Ralph Lauren
• Armani Exchange

Providing quality and variety has today made these fashion houses very successful and are rated as the top clothing brands 2011. With their ever-increasing popularity, these clothing brands are making their presence felt in many countries and trying to reach out to as many potential clients as possible. Therefore, be ready to explore the latest fashion trends, as these brands are now just a few blocks away.

Copyright © 2004 & 2012 Ibrahim Mohamed! Inc. All rights reserved.e-mail:ibrahimmohd@gmail.com