The #Coronavirus spread is approaching pandemic proportions. Here are seven communities that are so isolated that they are least likely to be affected by #Coronavid19 (fingers crossed)
07. Barrow, Alaska - This is the northernmost point of the United States and is only accessible by plane. People live there despite the harsh weather because of large oil deposits nearby.
Watch this amazing video about Barrow - "Why the Northernmost town in America exists" -
06. Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica - Two days away from South America by boat, this is a Chilean settlement in Antarctica that boasts of a church, a public school, a souvenir shop and even a gym.
Check out this AFP News Agency short video for more on this town -
05. Palmerston, Cook Islands - Another super remote island with all the inhabitants being descendants of just one Englishman who got there in 1863. He had four wives and seventeen children and so on.
Watch and marvel at life on a remote island -
04. La Rinconada, Peru - this is the highest city in the world (altitude-wise, not because of ganja). One of the harshest places to live, they have no running water or sewage system and are six hours by road from the nearest city.
Watch as a bunch of intrepid motorbike riders make their way across to the place -
03. Tórshavn, Faroe Islands - Named after Thor (the Norse God, not the Avenger), this is the smallest capital city in the world. It is halfway between Norway and Iceland and hopefully too far for the virus to spread.
Looks a lot like the place where Thor drank a shitload of beer in Endgame, yes?
Here's a guide to the Faroe Islands -
02. Tristan da Cunha - This is the most remotely inhabited archipelago in the world and is many days away from South Africa by boat.
Here's a fascinating documentary about the airport at Helena, another island on the archipelago titled "The World's Most Useful Airport" -
01. Easter Island - most of you know this place with its awe inspiring statues. It is so expensive to get to that even viruses (or is the plural virii?) fear to tread.
For a change, this is a video of some vloggers having a shit time on the island. A cautionary tale for all globetrotters -
Remember to wash your hands and take care of your health. Stay indoors and spend time on Youtube.
#JaiBhim
Babasaheb Ambedkar is one of the greatest thinkers ever!
The architect of the Indian Constitution was undeniably a GENIUS!
A thread 🧵celebrating this icon who said "Cultivation of the mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence"
As a member in the viceroy’s council from 1942 to 1946, Dr Ambedkar was instrumental in bringing about several labour reforms.
He changed working hours from 12 to 8 in 1942.
He also introduced DA, medical leaves & periodic revision of pay.
📸@roundtableind
Babasaheb studied for two PhDs in his career in addition to his qualification as a lawyer 🤯
His PhD dissertation in Economics at @LSEnews was titled ‘The Indian Rupee’. A few years ago, @stefeich unearthed a first edition of this work with Ambedkar’s original dedication!
Anil Kumble is one of India's greatest match winners. Today we talk about a a little known story of how a very much vegetarian Kumble ate 2 bears 🐻🐻
Setting the stage - 1995, hot and dry summer in the county championships in England. Kumble is playing for Northamptonshire. A Thread🧵
They were second in the table going to take on the first placed team Warwickshire. Warwickshire, though without Brian Lara, were defending champions and were leading the table at that time.
Few years later, Kumble would dismiss Lara looking like this.
Allan Lamb won the toss for Northamptonshire and decided to bat first. They were skittled out for 152 with only David Capel managing to get to a half century.
David Capel then proceeded to take a 7fer to restrict Warwickshire to 224. Remarkably 140 of them came from Roger Twose.
Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) was incorporated in 1953 by the Government of India as a machine tool manufacturing company.
A watch division came up in Bengaluru in 1961. A guest thread 🧵about HMT by @nandyellidli
If you suffer from #CollectibleLust, the first HMT hand-wound mechanical watch is likely the most coveted treasure among mechanical watch collectors.
Believe me, India boasts a thriving community of enthusiasts!
It is said that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, now blamed for all the problems that ail our country, dedicated the first batch of hand-wound watches to the people of India - & this the “Janata” line of watches was born!
Maybe true, maybe false…but makes for one heck of a story!
Krishna Kumar was a huge fan of Sunil Gavaskar. When his son was born in 1985, this Dinesh Suitings ad was doing the rounds.
He decided to name his son Dinesh as a way to honour Sunil Gavaskar. Dinesh Karthik represented India over 170 times.
A thread about cricketers named after other cricketers. 👇
Sunil Gavaskar is adored all over Trinidad. When Shadeed had his first daughter, he wanted to name her Sunili. But his wife Christina put her foot down against it - they eventually named her Arima.
But when they had a son - there was no option. He was named Sunil. Sunil Narine has won 2 IPL's for KKR and a T20 world cup for West Indies.
Another West Indian from Windward Islands, Sunil Ambris was also named after Sunil Gavaskar.
Ambris has so far played 20+ times for the West Indies and was part of the 2019 world cup.
Here is the story of how the 1982 Asian Games started a temple ritual that continues to this day.
A thread 🧵
Here's some context: Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, hosts the vibrant Thrissur Pooram festival annually at the Vadakkunathan Temple.
It takes place when the moon aligns with the Pooram star in the Malayalam month of Medam, typically around May.
The Pooram event in Thrissur (kerala) features a stunning spectacle of over 50 decorated elephants adorned with nettipattam (golden headdress), intricately crafted Kolam, ornate bells, and other ornaments.