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Italian neurosurgeon Dr. Sergio Canavero is firm on his promise to deliver the first human head transplant to the world. He says a Chinese man will be the first patient in 2017, and now all he needs is approval and funding. Other experts are highly skeptical.No Backing OutLast year, Dr. Sergio Canavero created quite the ruckus (to put it mildly) when he vowed to be the first person to transplant a human head onto a deceased donor’s body. Yes, he is planning on attempting the world’s first human head transplant (or body transplant, depending on how you look at it).In fact, it has been about a year since his initial proclamation, and the Italian neurosurgeon still stands firm on his declaration, despite claims from other experts that it is nothing but a PR Stunt (at best) or a hoax. Some have even hypothesized it’s all just a plot meant to promote Metal Gear Solid.This last claim is due to the doctor’s uncanny resemblance to one of the game’s main characters (it must be noted that there is scant evidence to actually support this hypothesis beyond this)Honestly, it has been a story full of drama and sensationalist publicity. This whole mess went so far that talks of lawsuits were flying all over the place. But Canavero stands firm, insisting that the attempt must be made at some point.So, why not now? “Of course there will be ideas that crater. The history of mankind is trial and error. But we have to be dreamers. If you don’t dream, you’re not going anywhere. You might call me a bit crazy. A kook. I am! You have to be if you want to change everything,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.Canavero continued by asserting that such daring enterprises are part and parcel of scientific exploration. Society’s job, according to him, has always been “to tease apart the kooks from the super-kooks. And maybe you can only know that after the caper.”Starting Next Year?At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons last year, Canavero tried to recruit US surgeons to join his head transplant team. And now, it seems that he is actually moving forward with this work.He says he has assembled a team of surgeons from China, South Korea, and Russia. All they are waiting for is approval and, well, money.His collaborator, Dr Xiaoping Ren of China’s Harbin Medical University, claims that he was able to successfully transplant the head of a monkey onto another monkey in January, but that it had to be euthanized for “ethical reasons” 20 hours after. Yet notably, the spinal cord wasn’t actually attached (which raises significant questions about the viability of such an operation on a human).Although a lot of attention centered on Russian volunteer Valery Spiridonov, who suffers from a Werdnig-Hoffman disease, Canavero now clarifies that the first patient to undergo the head transplant will be a Chinese patient.“We’re looking at a date around Christmas 2017 to perform the transplant in China. The Chinese team has already experimented on human cadavers to hone the technology,” Dr. Canavero revealed.Heaven? Probably Not.Many argue (a majority of scientists working in this field) that a head transplant is currently impossible, despite advancements dealing with spinal cord problems. Recently, we covered how scientists were able to regenerate spinal cord axons, but even that procedure takes a lot of time, and it is a very recent development…one that is probably not a part of Canavero’s plan.Most say that the surgery will end in death. Others note that it may actually result in something far worse than death, as the difference in brain chemistry could overwhelm the patient and cause a level of insanity never before seen.Canavero calls the procedure the “head anastomosis venture,” code-named “HEAVEN.” But is it? It may lead to new knowledge and information, but as other experts note, it will likely also lead to the patient’s death and (very possibly) no information that we couldn’t obtain through working on cadavers.

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Many books and histories have been written about caste oppression in Kerala and the men and women who fought the injustice. Yet the story of one woman’s protest has almost faded away from the collective memory of the State. Nangeli, who lived in Cherthala in Alappuzha over 200 years ago, gained her place in history as the woman who cut off her breasts to protest against the inhuman mulakkaram the breast tax that was imposed in the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore. Kings of the time ensured the subjugation of the lower castes by imposing heavy taxes on them. Their wealth was built on some of the worst taxes imposed anywhere in the world. Besides the tax on land and crops, peasants had to pay taxes for the right to wear jewellery, the right of men to grow a moustache, and even the right of women to cover their breasts. The heavy taxes ensured that the lower castes were kept eternally in debt, while members of the upper castes flourished. Nangeli was a poor Ezhava woman from Cherthala. Her family could not afford to pay the taxes and was in debt to the rulers,says D. Sugathan, advocate and former MLA from Alappuzha. The tax collector, then called the parvathiyar, came to her house one day and demanded that she pay the tax, he says. The legend goes that Nangeli cut off her breasts and presented them to the parvathiyar on a plantain leaf. The tax collector fled in fear, while Nangeli bled to death at her doorstep. Her husband Chirukandan came home to find his wife lying dead and mutilated. He is said to have jumped into her funeral pyre out of grief. The incident happened in 1803. It created a lot of anger and the practice of collecting breast tax was put to an end here by 1812, says Mr. Sugathan, who mentions Nangeli’s story in his book Oru Desathinte Katha, Kayarinteyum. While Nangeli’s sacrifice put an end to one form of caste oppression, the land where she lived came to be known as mulachiparambu – the plot where the woman of breasts lived. Nangeli’s story is an articulation of a unique resistance and struggle against a Brahmanic patriarchy.The legend of Nangeli’s mutilation of her own body in protest against oppression has been handed down through generations. Today, however, her tale is preserved only in the memories of a few old-timers and researchers. There are no memorials to her name, no books extolling her courage. The name mulachiparambu too has been covered up, perhaps due to embarrassment. The plot, divided up between several owners, is situated near the SNDP office at Manorama Junction in Cherthala. Nangeli gained her place in history as the woman who cut off her breasts to protest against an inhuman tax imposed in erstwhile Travancore.

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Archaeologists in Jordan have made an incredible find at the World Heritage site of Petra. A massive ceremonial platform measuring 184ft (56m) by 161ft (49m), which ‘has no parallels’ in the ancient city, was discovered just half a mile from the city center using high-tech satellite scanners. The National Geographic reports that the discovery was made following high-resolution satellite scans, aerial drone photography and ground surveys, which identified the ancient monument hidden almost in plain sight. “The east side of the interior platform had been lined with a row of columns that once crowned a monumental staircase,” says National Geographic. A small 28-by-28-foot (8.5-by-8.5-meter) building was centered north-south atop the interior platform and opened to the east, facing the staircase. This enormous open platform, topped with a relatively small building and approached by a monumental facade, has no known parallels to any other structure in Petra. It most likely had a public, ceremonial function, which may make it the second largest elevated, dedicated display area yet known in Petra after the Monastery.” Petra is a magnificent site in Jordan recognised by UNESCO for its immense historical significance and outstanding universal value. It is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains dotted with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture. Petra has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is described as a Nabataean ‘caravan-city’, situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. It was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia, and has been classed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The enigmatic Nabataeans were originally a nomadic tribe, but about 2,500 years ago, they began building great settlements and cities which prospered from the first century BC to the first century AD. As well as their agricultural activities, they developed political systems, arts, engineering, astronomy, stonemasonry, and demonstrated astonishing hydraulic expertise, including the construction of wells, cisterns, and aqueducts. They expanded their trading routes, creating more than 2,000 sites in total in the areas that today are Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Archaeologists still try to unravel the history of the Nabataeans, which in large remains unknown. The newly-discovered monument has not yet been excavated, but the discovery of pottery at the site suggests that the structure could be more than 2,150 years old, a time that corresponds to the Nabataeans’ initial public building program. Along with Nabataean pottery, The Guardian reports that they also found fragments imported from the Hellenistic cultures that traded with Petra, as well as Roman-era pottery. The Nabataeans built their monuments to link with astronomical phenomena. During the winter solstice, the light of the setting sun enters through the gate of the Ad Deir Monastery at Petra and illuminates the sacred motab, a podium where some stone blocks representing divinities, such as the god Dushara, are placed. It is not known exactly what and how the newly-discovered monument was used, however, Christopher Tuttle, an archaeologist who has worked at Petra for 15 years and is a co-author of the paper, said it was probably used for “some kind of massive display function.” “To my knowledge, we don’t have anything quite like this at Petra,” he added. Courtsy:April Holloway

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People who refuse chemotherapy treatment live on average 12 and a half years longer than people who undergo chemotherapy, says Dr. Jones. According to recent statistics, approximately 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetimes. This saddening reality is made worse when it is acknowledged that modern methods of ‘treating’ the disease are often ineffective and only make the symptoms of the disease worse. In fact, according to one Berkeley doctor, chemotherapy doesn’t work 97% of the time. In the eye-opening video above, Dr. Hardin B. Jones, a former professor of medical physics and physiology at the University of California, Berkeley, discusses how ‘leading edge’ cancer treatment is a sham. He has personally studied the life expectancy of patients for more than 25 years and has come to the conclusion that chemotherapy does more harm than good. The bone-chilling realization prompted Dr. Jones to speak out against the billion-dollar cancer industry. “People who refused chemotherapy treatment live on average 12 and a half years longer than people who are undergoing chemotherapy,” said Dr. Jones of his study, which was published in the New York Academy of Science. “People who accepted chemotherapy die within three years of diagnosis, a large number dies immediately after a few weeks.” According to the physician, the only reason doctors prescribe chemotherapy is because they make money from it. Such an accusation doesn’t seem unreasonable, as cancer treatment runs, on average, between $300,000 – $1,000,000 per treatment. “Patients with breast cancer who reject conventional therapy live four times longer than those who follow the system. So this is something that you will not hear in the mass media, which will continue to carry the myth that the best chemotherapy drug in the fight against cancer!” Despite the fact that the United States spends more on healthcare than any other high-income nation in the world, diseases of affluence continue to increase in prevalence, resulting in a shorter life expectancy. Perhaps this is because mainstream media and the allopathic healthcare system don’t teach about the importance of preventative medicine. Eating a healthy diet, engaging in exercise, thinking positive thoughts, reducing stress, and enjoying the company of others – or habits that bring joy – are all proven to improve longevity and happiness. In addition, potent all natural medicines, such as cannabis oil, are also strictly regulated and illegal in many areas – despite the fact that CBD-rich oil from the marijuana plant is listed as a remedy on the U.S.’ National Cancer Institute’s website. As it is, there is no money in a healthy population, which is why fast food joints and pharmaceutical industries thrive in America. Hopefully, Dr. Jones’ efforts will inspire people to seek out alternative options if they or someone they know develops the debilitating disease. Source: Anonymous

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Okay, say you’re the leader of a country and a few scientists discover something that could change the world. You could bribe the researchers to keep their mouths shut, but wouldn’t it be easier just to kill them? I’m not saying that this happens a lot, but there has definitely been some shadiness afoot over the years. Let’s take a look at five eyebrow-raising cases of scientists dying after making important discoveries.1. GEC-MARCONI SCIENTISTSBack in the ’80s, Ronald Reagan introduced an ambitious defense program called Strategic Defense Initiative (nicknamed Star Wars), which was designed to shoot lasers at incoming missiles from space should the Russians attack. Between 1982 and 1990, 25 British scientists who worked for GEC-Marconi, the British wing of the program, mysteriously died. Some believe that they were killed by Soviet spies, and others believe that their own government had a hand in it.2. DAVID KELLYIn 2003, biological warfare expert David Kelly anonymously leaked that the British government had falsified information regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. When Prime Minister Tony Blair found out it was Kelly, a parliamentary committee was formed to question him. He was found dead in his apartment two days later. The police said it was a suicide, but because a judge ruled that the evidence had to be sealed for 70 years, we won’t know what truly happened for a long time.3. DON WILEYDon Wiley was a leading expert in chemical weaponry, most notably anthrax. During the 2001 anthrax epidemic, Wiley’s car was found on a bridge with the keys still in the ignition. His body was later found in the Mississippi River. Another anthrax scientist named Vladimir Pasechnik also died around the same time.4. RODNEY MARKSAustralian astrophysicist Rodney Marks died mysteriously at the South Pole research station while working on an observatory. His body was held by the government and security contractor Raytheon for unknown reasons. It was later revealed that Marks died of methanol poisoning.5. POLAR SCIENTISTSThree different researchers working on the same project died in 2013 while studying the effects of global warming, leading another scientist on the team named Peter Wadham to believe that they were assassinated by oil industry leaders or the United States government.courtsey:Anonymous

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The rooftop bar time is over on friendship hotel in haidian.We three stay sometime and continue our political and social discussion since we started at 6 pm.Its now 11.15 and the bar boys are busy to close their arrangement. Finally they knock on our table.We getup and collect some more Beijing beer bottle.Since evening few hundred student from qinghua,Beida and expert living in the premises came to this open sky bar and stay sometime.Its the summer holiday in 1983.I am still in language institute.The other Ifti is a medical student in bei yi san yuan medical college.Bakr came from Shanghai and he is moving to almost every student dormitory, stay there for one or two night.We know the buses of Beijing stopped at 11 p.m. But it doesn’t make any matter to us.Today evening it is really hot weather. We carried out our bottle and start walking towards Beitai pingzhuang.Gradually one after one open up our sweated T shirt. So quiet street.No sound at all.We was walking in the mid of the street.No wind at all.No building has been made to this street except many sheded slum for temporary living. We cross the rail bridge on the top of us.Suddenly a bus coming slowly and while passing through us ask us whether we need to ride on. We replied we are comfortable on walking.Only the driver and ticketman is on board.We heard a lot about this night time bus and first time we can see them.The street is almost dark as for saving energy they put a single light in the mid of the street.This is happens everywhere in the city of Beijing.Only few people comes out of their home in the evening if have some urgent things to do.I found after 7 p.m. the suburb of Beijing like our place is dead.Everyone stay at home and go to bed at 9 generally. I was really enjoy this walking with dark and no mans street in the midnight.No police or traffic and thousands of bicyclist are absent.Nobody owned a car and no govt. jeep can be found right now.Now we turn left and enter in a heavily dark street as this place is planted many trees together years ago.This street is known to me as we often go to the city center ride bus no.301.Then we change it here in Beitaipingzhuang with no.22 to Xidan.Again we take no 1 or 4 to friendship store in jianguomenwai.No jam,no harassing bring back us in due time.Few old houses both side of this street.Many people live here.Each family got one room and cook in the corridor.Simple life, simple eating,simple living was a common to a Beijinger. We turn again left and soon turn right inside the Bei yi’s area.A long way to end of the street is the foreign student dormitory.On the right is mass bath house for local staff and it is operated from 6 pm to 11 pm.For outside people many bath house is due for once in two weeks.Left side is a big football field now looks really amazing.We take a shower in hot water and take our meal order earlier by Ifti.He warm it once again , paratha the oily hand made chapatti and beef curry.After taking many bottle of beer,walking uncountable kilometers of street the food seems to be a unique meal for us. Will you join us??

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In the morning we rush to the checking counter shown yesterday.There are passenger already in the line.After hour we comes to face the counterman.But he refuse us to take our luggage though another staff already tag it.Surprise! He asked us to contact the CAAC office opposite pointing his finger.Yeah, its there an woman sitting on.She watch the ticket and show us the o/r mean on request.We are not confirmed passenger so we have to keep us in waiting.Alas this is the only flight go to Beijing once in a day. Finally the counterman start calling name watching a log book. There are five seats available and logbook listed five passenger get a chance. A case of broken heart.We are surrounded by a deep frustration. We take sit nearby and watch these tickets carefully.DAC-BKK-HKG are written okey.HKG-PEK is o/r.But why this is o/r?We start scolding travel agents mother , father alongwith 14 ancestors. After the counter been freed sayeed advanced there and start talking to some staff.He come back and say the log book for passenger in waiting just kept next to the counter.The kindman asked sayeed to come early morning and enlist our name. What an idea!! We regained our strength and deposit our luggage again.None of us taken breakfast.Its noon and rats are jumping inside the stomach.We appear before a buildings ground floor some pictures of curry can be seen.Three of us feel ashamed to get in.Sayeed become angry and enter there.Soon he comeback and said two curry and rice in a packet cost 10HKD. Wonderful ! This is a small fastfood corner.Few bar like stool there to sit.We take rice and curry with great taste.The curry was Indian type.Such a small place arranged cook and eat food for four people.Outside are the counter for takaway.Its a traiangular shape of building and they can use both side for business.We are sitting inside in a very tiny lane. I don’t feel good until we board in a Beijing bound aircraft.We start moving to watch the shops inside the airport.Most attractive are the liquor shop. Chocolate ,dryfood,dresses,flowers and many more.All are neat and clean and the lighting are excellent as I see first time.So many people are sitting in the sitting area throughout the boarding area.So many counter in different line for different airline.And conveyor belt are taking the luggage’s to the underground.How they manage the different luggage for different destination?Taxis are coming and dropping the passengers at the bay.Atleast 50 to 60 taxis can park in a line and after dropping they are moving to ground floor pickup the incoming passengers. Most important is no driver is asking the passenger for the destination.May be it will be expressed in the taxi. Traffic police working hard and none of a single driver violating the law.I took hours to watch the matter deeply.There are many couple embracing each other for hours.May be one of them will leave HongKong for overseas location.Some girls are crying and the youth carefully using tissues to wipe girls tears.Girls looks small in height so the boy or youth.Actually they are adult too.But this things are something new to me.In our country loving youth never dare to do it. Around four in the afternoon I propose them to let move in those areas where electronics items are available.We comes out and stand the nearest bus stoppage.Like a FOOL we look at the buses comes and go.The front door is for up and rear one is for down.The buses with many numbers but the destination are written in Chinese.We don’t know nothing about HongKong.I approached to a man was waiting for bus in a queue.He laugh at me and wave his hand showing that he don’t know anything. Next another man can speak some English,WOW! I told him we want to go to a electronics market! He answered “I don’t know”. Wow this is good he know some-----. I want to buy walkman.Then I display one cassette from my pocket,show my waist,then showing a earphone and singing la la la! But it didn’t work much------! Reply again “I donno “. Sayeed and Bebool were in a distance and laughing crazily. I failed but thanked the man. Now I start watching every face waiting in queues to discover and guess who can be helpful for my purpose. I catch another and ask him do you speak English?As I already learn everyone here can’t speak English! Shook his head mean no! One philosopher advised failed once try hundred time.Inspiring word indeed. Next one agreed and I start replay my last action.He said’DISCO’? I said no no, it’s a player,walkman, put here,and wire to ear and myself start dancing. He said ‘sorry’. I feel like an orphan. Both of my partners continuously laughing but not me. May god bless on us!!! Now I find someone and while talking with him a bus painted with a big walkman on the body bless me ------ask him where this item can be purchased? He said wait! Then after 5 minutes he waive his hand ask us to get on a bus just arrive.I show him the driver and ask him to tell about us.He told the driver something loudly.The driver raise his left hand to assure the man.We didn’t know there is a coin box near the driver.Sayeed noticed two of us.The bus is on the run and we took our money and coin on palm and spread in front of the driver.Next is a traffic light.The bus stopped in the red light and took his desired coins and show us the seats. We are looking both sides of the road without any blink.Its about ten minutes I found electronics shop on the both side of the road.So many people are roaming on the footpath. Now I start laughing like a winners laugh.They also join me to share.We are ready to getdown but the driver waive his hand not to.Well next stoppage he clear the signal and from middle door we jump from the bus.

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One way To Beijing

2014-08-05

Part-013 am early morning of 11th september 1982. I am standing on the over bridge attached to Bangkok airport. On the evening of 10th September we three travelled by Thai Airways to Bangkok from Dhaka. Bebool went to airlines care to Bangkok city to spend his night.Our ticket was not entitled for a hotel.What a joke !We planned to go by Thai bus for a night.Sayeed told me “its expensive in a hotel,better we stay in the airport lounge.Our luggage booked direct to HongKong.A great relive without luggage in hand. But how come Bebool’s travel agent could provide a hotel but why not we? Sayeed didn’t replied as his uncle arranged ticket for us. I was a bit worried for Bebool’s health as he vomit whatever he took inflight. I lit up one cigarette and take a long puff inside my lungs. I warned Bebool not to take many drinks together and not to take pastry in the end.He didn’t care to my advise.This was his first opportunities to see so many foreign drinks and lovely food. We are sitting in different row but can see each other. Bebool start with beer,whisky,white wine,red wine and cognac. I giveup convince him when I see he gone crazy and demand more drinks to the air hostesses. I simply take beer and Sayeed also go for whisky only. I noticed Sayeed he simply shrug and say don’t care about Bebool. Bebool start vomit and cared by the crews. Many wood log carrier passing through under our flyover. Some buses with transparent roof can be seen passengers sleeping.Very amazing for me as this is first time I can see something new.This is my first international flight. On due time we took our boarding card and gone inside. Why Bebool is not coming??We are watching the main entrance for Bebool and same time watching stuff in the dutyfree shop.The departure time is very nearby but we don’t see any gate no. in the board. Huge number of people moving . Suddenly a Thai woman with police dress come infront of me and snatch the boarding card and ask worriedly where is another one?I shout to Sayeed and the lady put one hand to my back and yell run---run to gate no.38 just there-----.She was excited and while running I look back found she was taking a deep breath standing on the rubber matted way. We run upto gate no.38 and then in a boarding tunnel. The reception in the gate of aircraft was very cloudy.Air hostess take us quickly towards seat.I found immidiet after we enter the aircraft the gate been locked behind us.The plane already start moving. We are 8 minute late and by this time the aircraft should be on the taxiway or flyaway. When the plane been stable in the sky and other passengers open seat belt we start locate Bebool.We roam the whole aircraft but alas.Whether he can come or not can’t decide. We take our food with a can of beer. Soon we two arrived in HongKong and mine stopped in the custom.They took me to their office and start asking question.They suspecting me as a heroin carrier.I said I have never seen the powder practically.Then body and luggage check and finally I meet Sayeed waiting outside the gate.We come to second floor and start cheking CAAC outlet.All the small offices are closed.Today is a half day because of Saturday.One ask us to come to check-in-counter in the morning. While we moving with uncertainty keep our luggage on a trolly suddenly we found Bebool also going very slowly looking left to right with a bit of anxiety. Actually his flight was later than ours and he did same searching for us in the aircraft and decided this two stupid fail their flight. Now what should we do? Go to a hotel and rest there? Again we discussed the matter and agreed with Sayeed that the airport is the best place for stay.The whole sitting area is fully carpeted and airconditioned.We take a wash in the large bathroom and toilet.Super clean toilet.There are clean towel.Feel relieve after a sleepless last night .Kept our luggage in the cloak room.We comes out of the airport building.A tunnel took us on the other side of the road.Inside tunnel a man playing a battery operated flute. He is a beggar. O my goodness. Such a smart beggar ! A lot of people moving around.All the shops with different items. In the evening we took seat in a tiny street restaurant on trolley. Buildings are quite old .We decide to take noodles. Now my deaf and dumb style communication started. First I show him noodles,then some vegetable.The young man acting same as me and show some meat.We were not sure of the meat of what animal so signal him not to add.Rather we show some egg.The man started his job on the four wheel trolley. There are many such food shop in each tiny lane with sitting stool, some also having big umbrella.Now in the evening we are under the sky. Soon the food prepared and we are in a bit of confusion about the taste. Ummmm,its okey-----other two also started their meal.The man standing and watching us eagerly.He shows thumb we shook our head. He smiled with joy.Now how to drink water?The bottle water is expensive than beer.We became cautious about the expenditure.We never purchase water for drinking.Suddenly the idea grows that what about wash room tap water.Certainly it will be clean as bottle ones. And we drink the water . Ummm no inconvenience feel by us, as we were afraid about the cleanness. We took shelter where less people or no people at all. Its end part of the airport.The toilet is nearby ,so the the luggage store room.The charges are different to deposit your luggage for a period of 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and 24 hours.The man in the counter helped us so much as we introduce us as student. He guide us don’t go more than 12 hours, its cheap. We put our luggage in a trolley and keep it in the middle of three triangle body sleep on the floor.The notice in the column warned us “DON’T LEAVE YOUR LUGGAGE UNATTENDED.LUGGAGE THEFT OCCURRED HERE” What a nice and transparent warning. The authority earned our respect. We slept deeply covering our body with bed sheet brought from home.Its chilled and cool.End of part01.

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