Flying SpiceJet? Be wary of booking months in advance

We usually book flight tickets in advance to take advantage of price factor. In the era of dynamic pricing the early bird gets the advantage of lower fares.
In the case of SpiceJet, you are in for a surprise. I had booked a ticket for October couple of months in advance. Now I find that the same ticket is available for almost half the price on the same flight. It's akin to hitting below the belt of customers. When I contacted the SpiceJet people they had a strange explanation. It's part of dynamic pricing they say. World over in the case of dynamic pricing, the fares go up towards the travel date. In the Quixotic world of SpiceJet, passengers who book in advance pay more while those who book last minute pay less.

So guys, if you are planning to fly SpiceJet, don't book months in advance. You will be in for an unpleasant jolt. Better still, go for other airlines that does not follow skwed policies. My experience with Indigo has been great. I regret not booking with them .When I did the booking they had some technical glitches and I was not able to do the booking.
Guys, be on your guard against SpiceJet.

Book Review.

On Jim Corbett's Trail and Other Tales From The Jungle by A.J.T Johnsingh.

I have just finished reading this magnificent book by Dr A.J.T Johnsingh and I am sipping my weekend whisky and reminiscing about what I have read.

The book is a feast for those interested in India's rich natural history. Dr Johnsingh, India's first field biologist to do a PhD on a free ranging large mammal, has in his inimitable ways laid bare the intricacies of the natural world, a world he loves and has crisscrossed many times. Chapter by chapter the eminent biologist reveals the past and present scenario of India's natural world. The endnotes at the end of some chapters, is a sure fire remedy for many of our ills and has to be followed up by our administrators. Packed with fascinating snippets, the book gives us rays of hope for the future. As Dr John Seidensticker says, through his stories, we can all begin to experience Dr Johnsingh's passion and his joy in experiencing nature and being the master naturalist that he is.

I recommend this engaging, informative book unreservedly. The book is beautifully presented and produced. It is a great addition to the natural history writings of India  Go ahead and buy it. You will treasure it for years to come.

 

Attempts by coterie to run down others work

The coterie is also in to, attempts, to run down the achievements of others.
I am also a victim of this nefarious attempts. I have never staked claim to anything I have not done, but with pride I can say I have contributed significantly to Periyar and Eravikulam.
One of my boys in Periyar had overstepped, in his attempts at protection. He was a great forester and I deliberately owned up the whole thing to protect him. If I had not done it he would probability have ended up behind the bar. I had to do a tight rope walk for months to come out of the incident unscathed. It was mental and physical agony for months. The guy involved is still greatful to me, but the coterie says I have usurped credit for what this guy has done and that too after all these years.

 Similarly I can unabashedly say that  in Eravikulam it was I, who ended the poaching. Even before the rest of the country had even thought about it, I had made Eravikulam a litter free, plastic free park. Sorry guys, to bring in all this stuff here. I was forced to do this as the coterie was propagating falshood.  

More on the coterie

The coterie and their associates are a determined lot. Here is another taste of their misdemeanor. A photographer from Kochi had submitted a proposal for a photodocumentation of Munnar flora and fauna. The estimate was a mere 6 lakhs. This was rejected. Now to the utter consternation of this photographer, some associates of the infamous coterie, has come up with the same proposal for an outrageous 42 lakhs. The front for the coterie is Cdit. The new propsal is a straight lift from the Kochi photographers proposal. Some sentences have been reproduced verbatim . In two sentences there were two spelling mistakes. Even this has been reproduced verbatim. Now the coterie is using it's influence to get the project okayed. Where is biodiversity conservation in Kerala headed?

A piece of advice to the coterie

In my previous post I had indicated the disturbing trend that is sweeping Kerala, when it comes to taking decisions about wildlife affairs. I have a small piece of advice for the coterie.
What thet coterie wants is to hog the limelight. By this overeagerness to hog the limelight the coterie members are stifling the creativeness in the younger set of officers in wildlife. You can certainly be the advisors, buy do it unobstrusively without creating any problems for the younger guys. Couple of officers have complained to me about the proclivity of the coterie members to thrust decisions on the officers, using their clout in the department. This has hamstrung the younger officers .
So my dear coterie members please don't try to hog the limelight. Be an inspiration to the young set of officers and groom them to take right decisions. Right now you are doing a great disservice to wildlife by your ham-handed ways. I practice what I preach. I chip in with help whenever the officers ask for it, but I make them do the hardwork based on my inputs. This has helped in grooming the younger guys and they feel elated by the work. Giving credit where it is due really pays.

Tahrcountry Musings: The coterie that runs wildlife decisions in Kerala

Tahrcountry Musings: The coterie that runs wildlife decisions in Kerala

The coterie that runs wildlife decisions in Kerala

Kerala is famous for inclusiveness, when it comes to wildlife management. Decisions are taken based on views of experts and this has paid rich dividends for the department.

A recent disturbing development is the emergence of a coterie. It's this coterie that decides who should  be included and who should be excluded from deliberations. A case in point is the experience of Dr Rajan Verghese. Dr Rajan Verghese is a pioneer when it comes to introduction of modern  census techniques in Kerala. Recently the coterie decided that he has to be dispensed with. He was not invited for any deliberation. If the coterie wanted to hog the limelight this was not the way to go. They should have invited him and discussed with him, their new plans, if any. A very upset Dr Rajan Verghese said if the  coterie wants to take credit let them do it , but they should not do away with inclusiveness, which is the hallmark of Kerala. I think, Dr Rajan Verghese has a point here. For the first time since the inception of Nilgiri tahr census I was also not informed about it, last year. Obviously the coterie is powerful and has a stranglehold. This does not auger well for wildlife.