Maldives that will take your breath away..A must visit destination

The island nation of Maldives is everything that it promises to be and more discovers Mridula Dwivedi.

Maldives is a truly stunning collection of islands. In the past it might have been too expensive with only resort islands accessible to the tourists.

But after the opening up of the budget islands many will find it affordable.

We took a Delhi-Mumbai-Kochi flight.

When I was searching for tickets, Male, Port Blair and Lakshadweep, all three were going for the same price.

Without any hesitation I decided to visit Maldives.

So here you have them -- 10 amazing photographs of Maldives!

An ariel view of an island, Maldives

The main airport is close to Male but on a separate island.

So when you land at Male, you take a ferry or a speedboat to go someplace.

Speedboats are really expensive and there are too few ferries to the islands.

We were lucky that more than five people shared the speedboat to Maafushi and it cost us $39 or else the speedboat transfer would have set me back by $200.

While returning I took the early morning local ferry from Maafushi to Male.

This was the first glimpse for us of the Maafushi Island where we stayed. 

It is a budget island with guesthouse.

Locals live here too.

It also feels like an island as you can walk across it in 20 minutes or so.

At one end of it is a prison!

The guesthouses cost less if they are closer to the jail and they obviously cost more if they are closer to the beach.

Many restaurants would set tables right by the sea, so you can have dinner looking at the sky changing colors.

The service is laid back, island style.

No one was ever in a hurry to make you eat and go!

The beaches at Maafushi are gorgeous.

There are two main beaches, one frequented by the tourists and other by the locals.

This was the local beach.

If you peer hard you can see the local women in their hijabs taking a dip in the water

his coconut tree was on the 'tourist' beach of Maafushi.

It was my favorite foreground for sea shots.

It was otherwise popular too.

As it was reclining everyone would go and sit on it for a while.

We hopped over to the resort island of Fihalhohi.

On resort islands like these you will find only tourists.

No one lives there.

But it was incredibly beautiful. 

The water bungalows at Fihalhohi Island made for a mesmerising site.

There were ladders going down the sea straight from the bungalows.

Super salads: 7 tasty vegetarian recipes

Kanchan Maslekar 

These recipes are both easy to cook and good to eat. Try them!

Summers are here and it's time to binge on salads.

But if you are tired of eating the same old salads with cucumber, tomatoes and carrots, here's hope.

We've hand-picked seven tasty salad recipes which are not only good for your body but for your taste buds as well.

And there is one for each day of the week. 

Garlic Sprouts Salad

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup green moong sprouts
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup ice berg leaves
• 5-6 chopped salad leaves
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp freshly grounded white pepper
• 2 tsp mayonnaise

Method

• In a pan, saute the green sprouts in 1 tsp of butter and garlic. Set aside to cool.
• Tear the iceberg pieces to make small pieces and add them to a bowl of salad leaves, tomatoes and sprouts.
• Add the mayonnaise, salt, pepper powder and lime juice.
• Mix well and serve immediately.

Greek Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup crumbled tofu
• 1/4 cup sliced onion
• 1/4 cup diced capsicum
• 3 olives diced
• 2  tsp finely chopped garlic
• 2 jalapenos
• 1/4 cup diced tomato
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley
• Salt to taste

Method

• In a pan, mix the cucumber, tofu, onion, capsicum, olives, chopped jalapenos and tomato.
• Spice it up by adding garlic, oregano, chopped parsley and salt.
• This easy-to-make salad can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. 

Beetroot Salad

Ingredients

• 1 boiled beetroot diced
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 1/2 cup fresh cream
• 1 tsp mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup pineapple pieces
• Salt to taste
• Parsley for garnishing

Method

• In a bowl add the garlic paste, cream and mayonnaise, salt and mix together to form a smooth paste.
• Add the chopped beetroot, pineapple and give it a mix.
• Garnish with parsley and serve chilled.

Rice and Bean Salad

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chopped green  beans
• 1/4 cup boiled rice
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 4-5 mushrooms
• 2 spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup diced red and yellow capsicum
• 2 tsp parsley
• 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
• 7 to 8 cashew nuts (cut in half)
• 1/4 tsp soya sauce
• 1 tsp chopped parsley leaves
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup sliced onion
• Crushed pepper

Method

• In a pan, add butter and finely chopped garlic and heat it.
• Saute the beans on high flame. Remove and set aside.
• In the same pan add the mushrooms.
• In a bowl, add the boiled rice, beans, finely chopped spinach leaves, red and yellow peppers, saute mushrooms and sliced onion.
• Add parsley, chilli flakes and crushed pepper.
• Add olive oil, soya sauce and salt to taste.
• Garnish with cashew nuts and serve.

Cucumber Apple Salad

Ingredients

• 2 medium sized boiled potatoes
• 1 diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup sliced apples
• 1/2 cup parboiled baby corn pieces
• 1 cup lettuce leaves
• 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp freshly crushed pepper
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt to taste

Method

• For the dressing, add mustard powder, crushed pepper, garlic and olive oil in a jar and shake well.
• In a salad bowl, add the potatoes, apples, corn and cucumber and toss gently.
• Add the lettuce leaves and shredded cabbage.
• Just before serving, add the dressing on top and serve immediately.

Russian Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped carrots, beans and peas (parboiled)
• 1/2 cup boiled potatoes
• 1/4 cup pineapple pieces
• 1/4 cup apple pieces
• 1/4 tsp mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cream
• 1 tsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt to taste
• A pinch of sugar (optional)

Method

• In a small bowl, mix the fresh cream, mayonnaise, mustard powder, crushed pepper, olive oil and salt and mix well.
• In a salad bowl, add the vegetables, pineapple and apple pieces.
• Add the cream and mayonnaise mixture and lime juice and give it a nice mix.
• Add more salt and a pinch of sugar if required. Serve chilled.

Rajma Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup cooked rajma
• 1/2 cup boiled sweet corn
• 1 cup boiled pasta
• 1/2 tsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup tomato pieces
• 3 tsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp olive oil

For garnishing

• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp parsley

Method

• Strain the boiled pasta, rajma and sweet corn and add to a bowl.
• Add the olive oil, lime juices and tomato pieces and mix together.
• Add mayonnaise, salt and freshly grounded pepper and mix well.
• Garnish with chopped parsley and serve the salad on a lazy Sunday.

Easy Ways to Look Stylish on Your Beach Honeymoon

Start with the basics

A lightweight cover-up to wear over your bikini is a must. Don’t shy away from bright prints or beads. They are perfectly appropriate at the beach. Next is a wide-brimmed fedora hat, not only because it is exquisitely stylish, but it also protects the face and eyes from the burning sun. Fringes and woven raffia hats are currently a rage. You also need a fab beach bag to carry your essentials. The ones made of straw never fail to catch the eye. In case you grow tired of it later, simply embellish it with a few beads.

Be prepared for other activities

Chances are you won’t be spending every single minute lying around on the sand. To be prepared for every activity, from mountain climbing to sightseeing, pack a pair of classic denim shorts and a few cotton t-shirts or halter neck tops along with comfortable sandals. Sneakers also come in handy if you plan to go biking or hiking.

Maxi dresses never fail

Loose maxi dresses are an essential. Take a few in different prints and colours. Remember that a white one is a must-have and a classic you can’t go wrong with. Choose natural fabrics such as cotton or linen that will let you breathe and keep you cool in the hot sun. Think of bohemian chic and pair them with easy-to-walk-in flats or wedges.

Accessories add pep

Accessories can add an instant dash of colour to your look. Keep them minimal- a few bangles, bold pairs of earrings, long necklaces or a bright flower in your hair are more than enough. Keep a lightweight scarf handy in case you feel chilly when the breeze starts playing with your tresses. Don’t forget to pack bright sunglasses- classic aviators or alluring cat eyes (in bright yellow, orange or red) are just two of the endless choices available. Pop-coloured flip-flops are another fun way to add the splash colour.

Be prepared for romantic dinners

Your prince charming will probably be taking you to romantic candlelight dinners, so don’t forget to pack a few smouldering cocktail dresses. A little black one is a classic, but red makes a much stronger statement. Sequins, beads and fringes are huge trends right now and it is the perfect time to experiment

Pick the shoes depending on the location; don’t bother with uncomfortable heels for a restaurant at the beach. Instead, wear a pair of strappy sandals, which are far more comfortable in the sand and look delicate. Put your favourite red lipstick in a tiny clutch and leave the cell phone behind.

Finally, no matter what you wear, just cherish every moment and let your joy shine true. At the end of it all, a smile is the best accessory a girl can wear. As Audrey Hepburn once said, “happy girls are the prettiest.”

NIGERIAN FEMALE STUDENTS INVENT URINE-POWERED GENERATOR

Possibly one of the more unexpected products at Maker Faire Africa this year in Lagos is a urine powered generator, created by four girls. The girls are Duro-Aina Adebola (14), Akindele Abiola (14), Faleke Oluwatoyin (14) and Bello Eniola (15).

The generator is on display at an exhibition in Lagos Nigeria where people from the tiniest villages to those from big cities are talking about making stuff. This is part of an initiative by ‘Maker Faire Movement’ which seeks to showcase how traditional handicrafts can be a solution in the wake of expensive robot.

Their invention ensures that 1 Liter of urine gives you 6 hours of electricity.

The system works like this:

1. Urine is put into an electrolytic cell, which separates out the hydrogen.

2. The hydrogen goes into a water filter for purification, which then gets pushed into the gas cylinder.

3. The gas cylinder pushes hydrogen into a cylinder of liquid borax, which is used to remove the moisture from the hydrogen gas.

4. This purified hydrogen gas is pushed into the generator.

NIGERIAN 15-YEAR OLD BOY MAKES A GENERATOR ENABLED CAR

The Nigerian economy is a generator economy. Life in Nigeria practically depends on it. There is no business venture anyone can do in Nigeria without putting the cost implications of having and maintaining a generator in view. Technology is even generator dependent because electricity is almost non-existent.

Below pic is from PM-news, a 15-year old boy and his generator car along airport road in Abuja.

He Built this Helicopter From Scrap Material....

MUBARAK MUHAMMAD ABDULLAHI AND HIS HOME MADE HELICOPTER

October 27, 2007

Early this year, twas Aliyu Jelani, originally from Sokoto state Nigeria that did Nigeria Proud with his state of the art electric Chevy Volt car, in the USA news here.

This time, its a 24-year old Physics student. His name is Mubarak Muhammad Abdullahi.

KANO (AFP) – Mubarak Muhammad Abdullahi, a 24-year-old physics undergraduate in northern Nigeria, takes old cars and motorbikes to pieces in the back yard at home and builds his own helicopters from the parts.

“It took me eight months to build this one,” he said, sweat pouring from his forehead as he filled the radiator of the banana yellow four-seater which he now parks in the grounds of his university.

The chopper, which has flown briefly on six occasions, is made from scrap aluminium that Abdullahi bought with the money he makes from computer and mobile phone repairs, and a donation from his father, who teaches at Kano’s Bayero university.

It is powered by a second-hand 133 horsepower Honda Civic car engine and kitted out with seats from an old Toyota saloon car. Its other parts come from the carcass of a Boeing 747 which crashed near Kano some years ago.

For a four-seater it is a big aircraft, measuring twelve metres (39 feet) long, seven metres high by five wide. It has never attained an altitude of more than seven feet.

The cockpit consists of a push-button ignition, an accelerator lever between the seats which controls vertical thrust, a joystick that provides balance and bearing.

A small screen on the dashboard connects to a camera underneath the helicopter for ground vision, a set of six buttons adjusts the screen’s brightness while a small transmitter is used for communication.

“You start it, allow it to run for a minute or two and you then shift the accelerator forward and the propeller on top begins to spin. The further you shift the accelerator the faster it goes and once you reach 300 rmp you press the joystick and it takes off,” Abdullahi explained from the cockpit.

He said he learned the rudiments of flying a helicopter from the Internet and first got the idea of building one from the films he watches on television.

“I watched action movies a lot and I was fascinated by the way choppers fly. I decided it would be easier to build one than to build a car,” he said pacing the premises of the security division of the university which he uses as hanger for his helicopter.

He hoped — and still does hope — that the Nigerian government and his wealthy compatriots would turn to him and stop placing orders with western manufacturers.

So far, however, government response to his chopper project has been underwhelming to say the least.

Although some government officials got very excited when they saw him conduct a demonstration flight in neighbouring Katsina state, Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has so far shown no interest in his aircraft.

“No one from the NCAA has come to see what I’ve done. We don’t reward talent in this country,” he lamented.

Abdullahi does admit that his first helicopter lacks “some basic facilities like devices for measuring atmospheric pressure, altitude, humidity and the like.”

In a country with Nigeria’s abysmal air safety record officials may be loath to gamble on one student’s home-made helicopter.

But Abdullahi, undeterred, has started work on a new flying machine, which, he says, “will be a radical improvement on the first one in terms of sophistication and aesthetics.”

Currently just a spindly metal frame in the back yard, the helicopter will be a two-seater and Abdullahi calculates it will be able to fly at an altitude of 15 feet for three hours at a stretch.

It will be powered by a brand new motor — albeit Taiwan-manufactured and destined for the Jincheng motorbike so common on the streets of Kano.

Home Made Helicopter From Scrap

Farmer uses scraps of metal to make his own home-made helicopter… and even manages to get it 40cm off the ground

• Farmer Li Housheng, 52, from Ganzhou Village in Miluo, China, is determined to get his DIY aircraft flying
• He started building his very own two-rota engines last year using a dismantled motorbike
• Skeletons are made of angle iron and stainless steel tubes and each rotor is simply a welding of four steel plates
• During a test flight, Li claims he managed to get the ramshackle contraption a staggering 40cm off the ground

His friends keep telling him it will never take off.

But in the face of those who doubt him, farmer Li Housheng, 52, is determined to get his makeshift helicopter off the ground.

He began building the twin-rota aircraft at his home in Ganzhou Village of Baitang Township in Miluo, China, last year, using an engine from an agricultural motorcycle 

The skeletons are made of angle iron and stainless steel tubes while each rotor is simply a welding of four steel plates. It even includes an accelerator, a clutch and a joystick, all of which come from an agricultural motorcycle. 

The helicopter recently completed a test flight with the fuselage hopping a staggering 40cm off the ground, according to Li. 

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Inspirational: Farmer Li Housheng examines the engine of his makeshift helicopter in Ganzhou Village of Baitang Township, China. He said during a test flight the aircraft lifted 40cms off the ground

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Ready: He introduces his flight plan to friends as he sits in his cockpit. The 52-year-old started making his twin-rotor contraption last year and dreams of building a plane

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Innovative: He has used parts of an agricultural motorcycle to build the DIY chopper, including the gearbox, engine, joystick and handlebars

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Vision: The project has become his pride and joy and he believes he will one day fulfill his dream, of flying higher

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Lightning fast: The speedometer from his motorcycle is also fully operational, but he is yet to reach his desired velocity

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Supplies: He delves into his extensive shed of tools when he needs to carry out maintenance work

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Modifications: Here, he is seen working on another part of the engine. Each of the parts have been developed using scrap from vehicles he keeps on his farm

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Li makes some small adjustments to the middle of the aircraft where the two rota blades are attached. A can of petrol is attached to the top of the aircraft with a pipe

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Inspiration? Aminu Abubakar, 24, stands next to his four-seater helicopter he put together in 2007 in Nigeria

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Li's dream: Kenyan Gabriel Nderitu built this plane out of aluminum bars, bolts and plastic sheeting he salvaged before sticking it all together

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2582136/Farmer-uses-scraps-metal-make-homemade-helicopter.html#ixzz30IzjVWQv
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How to Build a Go Kart

Nothing channels the inner speed-demon like tearing around on a go-kart. Building one yourself from a kit or from scratch can be a highly-addictive project, a fun garage activity for amateur mechanics of all ages. Depending on your access to the necessary tools, you can learn to plan a cool go-kart design for yourself, weld together the right kind of chassis, and make the beast move. See Step 1 for more information.

Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Project

1. 1
   Draw up detailed plans for the go-kart you want to make. Go karts can be many different sizes, shapes, and designs. These homemade vehicles are amenable to any design elements you want to throw into it. The basic essentials are a chassis, a simple engine, and a steering/braking system.^[1]
   • Get creative in your planning for the project and produce detailed diagrams to make sure you get enough materials to complete the job. Look at other go-karts for inspiration and learn from kart-makers who've been there before.
   • Alternatively, you can find schematics and plans online for many different types of models, if you'd rather let someone else do the planning. Use a template and modify it as you see fit.
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2. 
   2
   Size the go-kart appropriately. The size of the go-kart should depend on the age and size of the driver. For young drivers, about 30 inches (0.76 m) wide by 50 inches (1.3 m) long will work, while adults will want about 40 inches (1 m) wide by 72 inches (1.8 m) long.
   • It's important to plan the go-kart accurately, using specific measurements, otherwise it'll be difficult to get the right materials and the right amount of them.
3. 
   3
   Gather your materials. If you're short on cash, visit a scrap yard and see if you can pick up any low-cost parts. Or, you may be able to salvage parts from an old riding lawnmower or a junk go kart found at a yard sale. Ask lawn mower repair services for spare parts or junked out riding lawnmowers and used 4 cycle engines in the 10 to 15 horsepower range, with horizontal shaft and a drive clutch assembly. Here's what you'll need:
   • For the chassis:
     • 30 feet (9.2 m) of 1-inch (2.5 cm) square tubing
     • 6 feet (1.8 m) of 0.75-inch (2 cm) round steel barstock
     • 6 feet (1.8 m) of 0.5-inch (1.5 cm) bar stock
     • 3/16-inch (0.5 cm) thick steel plate in a width and length slightly larger than your engine
     • Plywood or metal (for seat and floorboards)
     • Seat
   • For engine:
     • Engine (try an old lawnmower engine)
     • Chain that fits the sprocket
     • Bolts, washers
     • Gas tank
   • For the drive train:
     • Wheels
     • Steering wheel
     • Gear and handbrake
     • Drive shaft
     • Bearings
     • Steering shaft
     • Brake pedal
     • Throttle/go pedal
4. 
   4
   Obtain a welder. If you've got no experience welding, you will have to hire a welder for this project. The most essential part of the go-kart is a solid chassis that'll hold you onto it while driving and house the engine. If you're going to weld it together out of pieces of barstock, the welds should all be made with the proper heat, weld depth/penetration and uniform weld-beads. Otherwise, the welds may be weak, brittle, bubbly, cracked and/or only surface deep, making your go-kart a death trap.
   • If you don't have experience welding, don't start by putting together a go-kart. Start with other smaller projects if you want to learn.
5. 5
   Consider buying a go-kart kit. If you're not interested in welding and designing your own go-kart, purchase a no-weld kit that you can put together with simple tools, featuring detailed instructions and schematics to make the job a snap.^[2][3]
   • Available widely for about $550 dollars, you can have the satisfaction of putting together a go-kart yourself without the hassle of designing it and buying all the materials separately.

Part 2 of 3: Building the Chassis and Steering Column

1. 1
   Cut the metal tubing. Cut your lengths of tubing to the appropriate lengths, given your design or schematics.
   • For most designs, the front end will feature a camber angle, narrower than the rear, which will allow the wheels room to turn, allowing the chassis to twist slightly. To do this, mount a King Pin at the front corners where the wheels will be, to allow for easy twist.
   • For an easy eye-guide, consider marking up the floor of the garage or the area you're working with sidewalk chalk of the appropriate measurement, to keep you from having to remeasure repeatedly. You could even draw out the whole design on the ground and start laying it on top.
2. 
   2
   Weld the frame together according to your design. Use concrete blocks to keep the frame elevated while you work, making sure all your connection points are solid and the chassis is secure. It needs to be strong enough to hold your weight and the weight of the engine, so it's not the time for a shoddy weld job. For more strength, use gussets at all corners.
3. 
   3
   Assemble the front stub axles. Build your axle with a straight piece of 0.75-inch (2 cm) steel rod, and two bushings attached to your frame. Use washers and cotter pins drilled through the axle to keep the assembly in position.
   • Install the front stubs that'll allow you to turn easily before messing with the steering column and attach your King Pin, to the steering arm. You'll need to have at least 110 degrees of angle on the front wheels, so plan accordingly.^[4]
4. 4
   Install your rear axle and wheel assembly. You'll likely need to assemble a axle carrier with a bearing bracket for the rear axle, meaning that the axle itself can be welded to the frame while also spinning freely and snugly.^[5] Weld a steel plate onto the chassis, securing the pressure plate outside with high-tensile bolts and lock nuts, to squeeze the bearing.
   • Rather than making your own, you can also purchase these assemblies, sometimes called "Pillar Bearing Units."
5. 
   5
   Build your seat and floor boards out of plywood lumber or metal. You can try and salvage an old go-kart seat or an appropriately-sized car seat from the junk yard to save money, or just build a simple bucket with a cushion for support. Leave enough room for the steering and other controls.

Part 3 of 3: Mounting the Engine and Steering Column

1. 
   1
   Install the engine mount. Weld a flat piece of 3/16-inch (0.5 cm) thick steel plate to the rear frame to mount your engine. Place the engine on the plate, and mark the holes for the mounting bolts so that the engine pulley lines up with the drive pulley on your axle.
   • Attach the drive pulley on the axle prior to mounting the axle in the bushings. You can either use a set screw to hold it in position, or weld it directly to the axle, but it should be aligned with the pulley on your engine.
2. 
   2
   Assemble your steering linkage. Use the 0.5-inch (1.5 cm) steel rod for linkages, and the 0.75-inch (2 cm) for your axles. To make the 90-degree bends in the 0.75-inch rod, you may have to use a torch to heat the steel.
   • Provide adjustable links for aligning steering, because it is very important to have the proper caster and camber: front-wheel vertical and steering tilt.
3. 3
   Install the wheels and brakes. Get some small racing wheels to give your kart the optimum acceleration and control. Fix them onto the axles with hubs and start working on the brakes, so the go-kart will be safe.
   • For the brakes, fix a disc onto the rear axle and a caliper assembly onto the chassis for the most professional system possible. Often, you can acquire these assemblies in relatively good shape from junked motorbikes. They're the appropriate size and will be easy to work with.
   • Install a brake pedal to operate with your foot, regardless of what kind of acceleration you have. Don't leave too much to do with your hands other than steering.
4. 
   4
   Attach the throttle cable to the hand throttle. Depending upon your experience and the kind of engine you're working with, you may be able to put together a foot pedal, or you may just need to make it easy and throttle-up like you would a lawnmower.
5. 5
   Double check your brakes and suspension system before test-driving. Even if you're going at relatively slow speeds, it's important to make sure you're not going to slip an axle on your first go-around. Double check your welds, your brakes, and the engine's mounting. Then take 'er for a spin!