TRAVEL TALES of ranaruby

Blue Light Hazards The Science Behind the Screen The optical pathway in the human eye connects to the visual cortex (the part of the brain that mediates the sense of sight) via the nervous system. The nervous system comprises photoreceptors of two types: 1) Rods; 2) Cones (named based on the shapes of these nerve receptors). These photoreceptors, in turn, contribute to three types of vision with image-forming functions and are important for normal daily functioning and quality of life. Scotopic (Rod) Vision When the field luminances lie between 10⁻⁶ cd/sq. m and 10⁻² cd/sq. m.  This is a vision in the darkness. The world is grey, and there is no sensation of colour. Mesopic Vision Most important vision from a lighting designer's point of view. This occurs when the field luminance is raised upwards from 10⁻² cd/sq m  to 10⁻¹  cd/sq m.   As the luminance moves, the luminosity of red increases upward more strongly than that of th...

God's Own Country Kerala --- God’s Own Country Thali served at Thaff, Allepey How green is my country? Most of it is. In varying degrees and shades. But when we travelled from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari on a train, the green opened up. Something different from what I have hitherto seen. Enthralling. Soothingly caressed our visual system throughout the journey. We were struck by the abundant creation of nature as our train glided through the green corridor. Lined up on both sides by coconut trees, some short and some very tall. Interspersed with fleeting views of giant banana trees, with some dark green, some light green, some heavy and thick in foliage, only to be broken by sporadic patches of bright green meadows. This continued till our train reached the land’s end. We put up at Vivekananda Kendra, not far from Kanyakumari station. A serene campus that induces an aura of meditativeness. So comfortable that we longed to prolong our stay. Getting up at thr...

A Journey to one of the grandest ravines on earth --- The Grand Canyon Las Vegas As our flight started its descent over Las Vegas, I was dazzled by the lights below. Lights glittered all over like a huge, sprawling net. Appeared to be laid out for the aircraft to land on it like a trapeze artist. I frankly admit that I have never seen such a myriad of lights before. Not even when our plane hovered over glittering Manhattan while on its descent at New York JFK. Our son Arjun had already fixed up a car with a rent-a-car centre. We were transported there in shuttle service available from Terminal 1 of McCarran International Airport. Arjun completed the formalities with the car company, and then we drove towards the city centre with Arjun at the wheel. After a short drive, we were at the famous Las Vegas Strip. I must admit that the Strip looks vibrant and fascinating at night, more than any other place I have seen on our planet. Like a fairy tale world. Mandalay Bay, L...