An ode to Longding river

After a long and tortuous winding journey among the hills, we came across a river. In the midst of the trees, the waters of the river flows down making melodious gurgling sound on dashing with the stones.  A narrow bamboo bridge hangs over the stream. We walk down the dancing bridge and saw the clear water. The sound of the running water was soothing and pleasant to hear. It was so natural to be drawn to the waters. I wet my hands and then feel the water with my legs. The water was so clean, cool and refreshing on touch. It awakens your soul to a new dimension of life. One does not get to feel this every day and every time. It brings back lots of carefree childhood memories of playing in the rivers. I soon realize I am somewhere far away from home among the trees, the rivers and the birds, but close to home at heart. This has been a treat after such a long time and journeying through all rough terrain, a treat that still refreshes my mind and soul.

For the love of nature

I may have made my dwellings here in the city, but I am from the mountains and the hills. That is where I was born and raised. My entire childhood days are filled with adventures into the woods and forests. Going to the mountains and hills is going home to the embracing arms of the nature. Filled with riches and the beauty of the nature, there lies the fountains of life. It is in the forest of the mountains that I get refreshed and find new life for my soul. It is the quiet surroundings listening to the chirping sound of the birds, the musical notes of the insects, the whispering of the leaves of the trees, the gurgling sound of the flowing water in the rivers and the sight far and wide that energizes and renews me.

Psalm 121

Thank you for this Psalm ( A song of ascents) and the song by Brian.

Psalm 121 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 with Brian Doerksen

I lift my eyes up
unto the mountains.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You,
Maker of heaven
Creator of the earth.

Oh, how I need You, Lord
You are my only hope.
You're my only prayer.
So I will wait for You
to come and rescue me.
Come and give me life.

Waiting for the dawn

We have been walking in the dark for long. We have been patiently waiting for the light. When do we see the break of dawn? When do we get to see the light coming? It is nowhere to be seen and we can’t hold much longer. The hope of the bright rays has kept us thus far. How much longer do we have to wait? Let the dawn breaks and the light shines on us.

Killer Mosquitoes

I sometime wonder what role the mosquitoes have in the world. They seem to be more of a problem than useful. In fact I can’t think of any meaningful role they play except perhaps may be being food for some other insects. On the other hand the havoc they create is huge compared to their tiny size. It was for this the theme for 2014 World Health Day was “Small bite, big threat,” highlighting the importance of vector-borne diseases of which mosquito is the most important one. The mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. They kill millions of people every year. In 2015 malaria alone caused 438000 deaths in the world. Some of the popular and notorious mosquitoes that cause diseases and death in man are: Anopheles (causes Malaria), Culex (causes Japanese Encephalitis, Filariasis), Aedes (causes Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, Filariasis, Zika) and Mansonia (causes Filariasis). 

Now, let us not jump to conclusion and blame the whole population of mosquitoes. Only female species are the ones responsible for transmission of diseases!! It is so because only female species bites human beings for drawing blood. A meal of blood is required by the female species for the developmental process of the eggs. The male species survives on nectars and fruits and they won’t bother us. Mosquitoes actually don’t bite with teeth like other animals or humans do, but with a special structure called as proboscis. They have four cutting edges with which they pierce the tough skin like an injecting needle. In the process of biting their saliva serves as the chemical that prevents the blood from clotting. It is their saliva that produces so much itching/swelling when they bite. This is how they also transmit deadly organisms like parasites, viruses in the blood stream of humans. 

You might also have observed that in the evening time a whole lot of mosquitoes hover over your head or over some animals like cow/buffalo. This is what is called as swarming. This swarming is basically for mating purpose. This swarm is produced by the male species where female species enters for mating.

Who says the sound that the mosquitoes produce is music? To me it is more of an annoying sound that produces immediate hand movement reflex for whatever known purposes. Have you ever wondered how the mosquitoes are able to produce that high pitch sound? Researches have concluded that mosquitoes can flap their wings 200-1000 times per second. It is predominantly the Culex mosquitoes that can flap their wings on an average of 600 times per second which produces that peculiar humming sound when it passes near your ear and get your immediate reaction. It is also said that the sound is so important for the mosquitoes to identify the other partner. The pitch is so unique and specific that if they miss that pitch they will not get their partner. So, sounding correct is important for them.

Mosquitoes can easily find you out even if you are hiding. This is because they have a strong attraction for the odour of carbon dioxide that is released when we breathe out. Perhaps they also have a visual and thermal sense to detect you wherever you are. Mosquitoes are also more attracted towards the people with blood group type O. The principle behind using the mosquito repellents containing ‘DEET’ is to dull the senses of the mosquito so that they don’t smell you and find you.

Oh mosquito so tiny creatures and yet so powerful. The fight against them is so challenging. The best way to protect ourselves from their deadly bite is by preventing them from biting us.