Citygritty 8212; Pune

On nature's trailThese days, you don't just go on a holiday. You indulge in a trip that helps you commune with nature. Wanderthirst, an o...

On nature8217;s trail
These days, you don8217;t just go on a holiday. You indulge in a trip that helps you commune with nature. Wanderthirst, an organisation engaged in eco-tourism through nature education and orientation camps at several places in the country, will hold a camp from May 9 to 14 at the Ranthambore National Park, the most unique tiger project in the country.

Though the majestic tiger is the main attraction of this dry deciduous forest, measuring 152 square miles, there are many other animals that are worth a dekko 8211; leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, sloth bear, chital, deer, porcupine8230; For those who need a break from the wild cats that roam the streets of this dry, concrete jungle, maybe star-gazing and trekking at Ranthambore is the answer.

Gender.help.com
No one likes to talk, much less do anything about it. And, perhaps, that is why people born without a gender are doomed to life as eunuchs. But not anymore. Nirmal Gadgil, a journalist and writer, has established a helpline and set up a website members.tripod.com/nirmalgadgil that would provide information, free of cost, to such people about the various medical treatment available to them.

Says he, 8220;In fact, if people born intersex are treated at birth, it is the best, but since 90 per cent of the doctors do not have a clear idea of what to do with such people, we have set up a panel of experts from the fields of genetics, psychiatry, surgery, gynaecology and the like. It is necessary to take the opinions of these experts before embarking on treatment.8221; Help is just a click away.

Their latest act
Pune sure seems to be coming on its own as far as music goes. Always known for a plethora of rock bands, the city is also making a name for itself in the world of music albums. The latest to join the bandwagon is the band Tungzsten, that claims to have over 300 rock concerts to its credit.

The duo, Shitalchandra Kulkarni and Sanjay Subramanium, is now launching its recording label, Chords India, along with the release of its debut twin cassette album and CD, plus a music video. The rock album comprises 19 original tracks recorded at the Stereo Sterec by Suhaschandra Kulkarni using multi-track digital recording devices along with special-effect processors. The result is not just powerful music but also well-produced tracks that are sheer music to the ears.

Smoked out
Here8217;s some good news for non-smokers who are usually forced to reconcile themselves to secondary smoking in public places. Holiday Inn has entered into the Courtesy of Choice Programme8217; run by the International Hotels and Restaurants Association. It will now offer its clients a choice of smoking and non-smoking tables in its restaurants.

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Tables will be thus designated keeping in mind their location vis-a-vis the hotel8217;s ventilation system and air-flow pattern. The demarcation of the smoking and non-smoking zones will be indicated by cards placed on the tables. Depending on the preference, the table will be made available. With the way things are going, smokers of the world will hardly have any place left other than their homes to take a puff without an objection being raised. And a good thing too!