Tuesday, September 9, 2008

BARACK OBAMA

DENVER — As Senator Barack Obama took the stage on the 50-yard line to a blinding flicker of flashbulbs, toddlers waved small flags on their parents’ shoulders, tears ran down elderly faces and a roar befitting a Denver Broncos touchdown filled Invesco Field. “Change” signs formed a sea of blue, and chants of “U.S.A.” competed with “Yes, we can.”

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Related
Obama Takes the Fight to McCain (August 29, 2008)
The Caucus: Live From Denver (August 28, 2008)
The TV Watch: On the Small Screen, Intimacy and Welcome Silence for Obama’s Big Rally (August 29, 2008)
This Land: From the Theater’s Balcony to a Seat at the Edge of History (August 29, 2008)

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Times Topics: Democratic ConventionElection Guide | More Politics News
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Damon Winter/The New York Times
Senators, delegates, party bigwigs and celebrities mingled among political tourists, teenage volunteers and older voters. More Photos »
“With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States,” Mr. Obama said to begin his speech, the culmination of a marathon political carnival that bore little resemblance to any convention finale that had come before.

Under clear skies after a humid day, the crowd of nearly 80,000 was a hodgepodge of suited Democratic donors, senators, delegates, party bigwigs, celebrities, political tourists, teenage volunteers and older voters — many of them African-American — bent on seeing a moment they had thought they would never witness. Some waited for five hours in baking heat in a line up to a mile long to come to the stadium.

“I have no reason to be here other than to be a part of history,” said Janelle Murph, who had booked a last-minute flight from Baltimore to see the first African-American accept the nomination of a major party on the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “When I realized it was on that anniversary, it just felt like fate. I had to be there.”

As afternoon turned to evening, the mood evolved from giddy to serious to — by the time Mr. Obama was talking about Iraq — nearly silent. Mr. Obama’s face loomed on big video screens overhead while he spoke. About half of the crowd remained standing throughout, a group that included far more young people in the stands than delegates on the floor. An elderly African-American man removed his oversize red, white and blue hat in deference as Mr. Obama spoke.

“Yes, we can,” the man chanted at appointed moments, in concert with others in Section 126.

The night sky brought an air of majesty to replace the summery festival feel of the late afternoon. While Mr. Obama spoke, people stopped texting and twittering to hear his words.

“America, this is not a time for small plans,” Mr. Obama said, and three teenage women chanted “Tell it, Barack” in unison.

“Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that’s the essence of the American promise,” he said.

“Tell it, Barack,” the women repeated.

“We cannot walk alone,” Mr. Obama said, quoting Dr. King.

“Tell it, Barack,” said a growing group that now included much of the section that the “tell it Barack” girls were sitting in.

The occasion was part coronation, part organizing meeting, part Woodstock. Inside the stadium, the home of the Broncos, chants of “Eight is enough,” referring to President Bush’s tenure, broke out, and big delegate hats outnumbered face paint (usually preferred at a football game). To some extent, the event resembled a Broncos game, though without beer sales, no discernible opposition and Mr. Obama in the spotlight role of John Elway (the Hall of Fame Broncos quarterback).

“This is one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Jane Culkin, a 16-year-old volunteer who attends George Washington High School in Denver. Behind her, Carrie Siubutt, of Brooklyn, was eating a bowl of multicolored Dippin’ Dots while getting her first look at the stadium, which was filled by 7 p.m.

“This makes me feel very lucky to be an American,” said Ms. Siubutt, a native of Trinidad.

“I feel like I’m the only one here,” she said a few minutes later while flags filled the field, waving in rhythm to a “Sí, se puede” chant.

The scene was one of the most unusual sights in the annals of American political conventions. Overnight, the familiar trappings of the convention hall were moved outdoors, with banners from every state filling the field. As the afternoon wore on, the warm-up acts went from C- to B- to A-list, and spectators passed the time taking pictures, getting autographs and throwing the occasional Obama beach ball. By the time Al Gore came on at 6:45 p.m., the stadium was aflutter with flashbulbs, waving flags and Obama signs.

In a twist on the normal convention finale, the prominent figures — donors, elected officials and media celebrities like Dan Rather — looked somewhat like the interlopers. Younger people dressed in jeans and shorts — many not of voting age — seemed decidedly more at home, as if they were attending an open air concert and were fully versed in the festival ritual. The wave broke out in Section 338 just after Mr. Gore’s speech ended and spread quickly around the stadium.

The Obama campaign seemed to be trying to de-electrify the proceedings, keeping much of the focus on the grass roots instead of the rock star. A “Faces of America” montage flashed on a video screen in the back of a stage. There were a long procession of speakers from the military and relatively low-key musical acts and unintentionally subduing speeches from Democratic politicians.

The blue seats of the stadium gradually filled throughout the afternoon, with Democrats waiting for hours to hear Mr. Obama’s acceptance speech. The atmosphere was one of historic celebration, with a resolution read into the convention’s minutes stating, “Martin Luther King would have been proud.”

After all the lines and waits and security screenings, the first thing people found were phone banks: clusters of tables filled with phones and eager volunteers who handed out lists of names and numbers. Callers were instructed not to ask their targets for money or votes — just to turn on their televisions to watch Mr. Obama’s speech. The reward, or potential reward: a raffle with coveted floor seats as its prize.

The crowd was multiracial, and black voters, echoing one another, said they simply could not miss this moment.

Lillian Woods, 50, of Phoenix arrived at 1 p.m., seven hours before Mr. Obama would speak. “I had to be here for the whole thing,” she said, passing the time in the hot sun. “It’s history in the making.”

Alycee Nelson Ruley, a retired marine from Morton, Pa., recalled watching Walter Cronkite cover Dr. King’s March on Washington as an 8-year-old.

“I vividly remember watching, and I vividly remember not being able to go,” Ms. Ruley said. She is a Republican, but after Mr. Obama won the South Carolina primary, she vowed to go to Denver if he won the nomination.

Mr. Obama did a “God Bless America” closing and, a few minutes later, heads in the crowd shot upward to see the first pops of orange fireworks — the Obama version of the balloon drop. The Obamas, along with Mr. Obama’s running mate, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., and his wife, Jill, hugged and mingled on stage to the orchestral booms of string and percussion. Smoke from the fireworks created a building haze overhead, dotted with specks of confetti.

People filled the aisles, heads turned in every direction. They pointed cameras at the sky as they filed out.

Jodi Kantor and Michael Powell contributed reporting.

More Articles in US » A version of this article appeared in print on August 29, 2008, on page A14 of the New York edition.


Campaign remains upbeat
Still, the Obama campaign said last Thursday that it had raised $10 million over the Internet in the 24 hours after the speech by Mr. McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, at the Republican convention on Wednesday, a one-day record for the campaign.

David Plouffe, the Obama campaign manager, said the majority of the Obama campaign’s donors during the primary had yet to write checks for the general election. When they do, he said, it will be the equivalent of the large injection of cash the McCain campaign is receiving from the government — about $70 million or $80 million.

“We’re confident that we will meet our financial goals, but it’s hard work,” Mr. Plouffe said. “We have a long way to go in the next six weeks.”

Members of Mr. Obama’s national finance committee were briefed during the convention in Denver by Mr. Plouffe. Penny Pritzker, the Obama finance chairwoman, announced new state-by-state fund-raising goals. The decidedly business-oriented nature of the meeting reflected the burden on the Obama campaign in the coming weeks.

“I think McCain made the right call,” said Scott Reed, a Republican strategist who managed Bob Dole’s presidential campaign in 1996. “The Republican National Committee is strong. They have the resources to make this race almost financially on par.”

McCain makes inroads
Democratic strategists disagree, pointing out that campaign finance rules impose serious restrictions on Mr. McCain’s ability to fully make use of his party’s bank account.

“It’s not just the limitation of dollars when you accept public financing, it’s the limitations that go with that spending,” said Tad Devine, a senior strategist for Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004. Mr. Devine added that choosing to accept public financing was the Kerry campaign’s single biggest mistake because it limited the campaign’s resources.

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The McCain campaign had by far its best fund-raising month ever in August, when it collected $47 million for its coffers and $22 million for the party, finishing the month with more than $100 million in the bank that will now be at the disposal of the R.N.C., according to several finance officials.

McCain fund-raisers said they also hope to raise an additional $100 million for the party in September and in October, taking advantage of the sizable contribution limits for the party. The party’s Internet fund-raising has also picked up significantly since the announcement that Ms. Palin would join the Republican ticket. Combined with the $84 million from public financing, that would leave the McCain campaign with about $300 million at its disposal.

A recent e-mail message to McCain fund-raisers unveiled new incentives to spur them in their final push. For the primary, anyone who raised $100,000 or more earned the title of Trailblazer, while those who raised $250,000 or more became Innovators. Now Trailblazers who raise another $100,000 for the party for the general election can become Super-Trailblazers, and Innovators who raise another $250,000 earn the title of Super-Innovators.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

BALI

BALI VILLAS WITH ZEN VILLAS
Private plunge pools ( All Villas )
All Villas are 2 bedroom ( can be booked as 1 bedroom ), with limited availability for 3 bedrooms - please refer to the bottom of this page for further details.
Open plan design
Cable TV with 44 Channels ( Soon to be 63 Channels )
Full Air-conditioning
IDD phone
In villa safe
King size beds
Bath Robes
Bath & Seperate Showers
Hair dryers
Kitchen facilities
Cooked Breakfast available on request night prior
Large living area
Government controlled water supplied
Shampoo, conditioner & body lotion
Daily newspaper
Complimentary Balinese afternoon tea
Complimentary welcome drink and cooled face towel
Complimentary daily 2 free beers, 2 soft drinks and 2 fruit juices per Villa
Complimentary 1 hr massage for 1 person
DVD/CD players
Private plunge pools and lush tropical gardens
Dedicated TV channels for UK, USA, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bali, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Russia, China, Australia. Fox News, BBC News, Australian Network, Asia Business, CNBC, CNN Today, ESPN, HBO, Discovery, Nat Geo, Fashion, Nick, Multi Sports, Multi Movies.
Complex Facilities
Reception and on-site Managers
Airport Transfers ( with cooled face towels & water )
Daily Villa cleaning
Cooked Breakfast on request night prior
24 hours security
Internet cafe and CD/DVD/Book Library
Facsimile/business services
Full tour desk
Arrange private tours
Laundry service
Bicycle rental
Baby sitting
Spa, Hairdresser and Beauty salon available
Restaurant delivery service
Romantic Weddings and functions arranged with Specialist Wedding Planners
Shuttle service to shops & beach
In House Masseuse available for Facial/Reflexology etc.
BBQ facilities
Please note that some Villas do provide 3 bedroom accommodation with the third bedroom strictly a one single bed accommodation. Also that all Villas are the same floor area in size regardless of your requirement for one, two, or three bedrooms.
One bedroom maximum 2 persons
Two bedrooms 4 persons - maximum 5 persons ( extra charge for 5th person )
Three bedrooms 5 persons - maximum 6 persons ( extra charge for 6th person )

BALI VILLAS WITH ZEN VILLAS
Private plunge pools ( All Villas )
All Villas are 2 bedroom ( can be booked as 1 bedroom ), with limited availability for 3 bedrooms - please refer to the bottom of this page for further details.
Open plan design
Cable TV with 44 Channels ( Soon to be 63 Channels )
Full Air-conditioning
IDD phone
In villa safe
King size beds
Bath Robes
Bath & Seperate Showers
Hair dryers
Kitchen facilities
Cooked Breakfast available on request night prior
Large living area
Government controlled water supplied
Shampoo, conditioner & body lotion
Daily newspaper
Complimentary Balinese afternoon tea
Complimentary welcome drink and cooled face towel
Complimentary daily 2 free beers, 2 soft drinks and 2 fruit juices per Villa
Complimentary 1 hr massage for 1 person
DVD/CD players
Private plunge pools and lush tropical gardens
Dedicated TV channels for UK, USA, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bali, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Russia, China, Australia. Fox News, BBC News, Australian Network, Asia Business, CNBC, CNN Today, ESPN, HBO, Discovery, Nat Geo, Fashion, Nick, Multi Sports, Multi Movies.
Complex Facilities
Reception and on-site Managers
Airport Transfers ( with cooled face towels & water )
Daily Villa cleaning
Cooked Breakfast on request night prior
24 hours security
Internet cafe and CD/DVD/Book Library
Facsimile/business services
Full tour desk
Arrange private tours
Laundry service
Bicycle rental
Baby sitting
Spa, Hairdresser and Beauty salon available
Restaurant delivery service
Romantic Weddings and functions arranged with Specialist Wedding Planners
Shuttle service to shops & beach
In House Masseuse available for Facial/Reflexology etc.
BBQ facilities
Please note that some Villas do provide 3 bedroom accommodation with the third bedroom strictly a one single bed accommodation. Also that all Villas are the same floor area in size regardless of your requirement for one, two, or three bedrooms.
One bedroom maximum 2 persons
Two bedrooms 4 persons - maximum 5 persons ( extra charge for 5th person )
Three bedrooms 5 persons - maximum 6 persons ( extra charge for 6th person )


BALI VILLAS WITH ZEN VILLAS
Private plunge pools ( All Villas )
All Villas are 2 bedroom ( can be booked as 1 bedroom ), with limited availability for 3 bedrooms - please refer to the bottom of this page for further details.
Open plan design
Cable TV with 44 Channels ( Soon to be 63 Channels )
Full Air-conditioning
IDD phone
In villa safe
King size beds
Bath Robes
Bath & Seperate Showers
Hair dryers
Kitchen facilities
Cooked Breakfast available on request night prior
Large living area
Government controlled water supplied
Shampoo, conditioner & body lotion
Daily newspaper
Complimentary Balinese afternoon tea
Complimentary welcome drink and cooled face towel
Complimentary daily 2 free beers, 2 soft drinks and 2 fruit juices per Villa
Complimentary 1 hr massage for 1 person
DVD/CD players
Private plunge pools and lush tropical gardens
Dedicated TV channels for UK, USA, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bali, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Russia, China, Australia. Fox News, BBC News, Australian Network, Asia Business, CNBC, CNN Today, ESPN, HBO, Discovery, Nat Geo, Fashion, Nick, Multi Sports, Multi Movies.
Complex Facilities
Reception and on-site Managers
Airport Transfers ( with cooled face towels & water )
Daily Villa cleaning
Cooked Breakfast on request night prior
24 hours security
Internet cafe and CD/DVD/Book Library
Facsimile/business services
Full tour desk
Arrange private tours
Laundry service
Bicycle rental
Baby sitting
Spa, Hairdresser and Beauty salon available
Restaurant delivery service
Romantic Weddings and functions arranged with Specialist Wedding Planners
Shuttle service to shops & beach
In House Masseuse available for Facial/Reflexology etc.
BBQ facilities
Please note that some Villas do provide 3 bedroom accommodation with the third bedroom strictly a one single bed accommodation. Also that all Villas are the same floor area in size regardless of your requirement for one, two, or three bedrooms.
One bedroom maximum 2 persons
Two bedrooms 4 persons - maximum 5 persons ( extra charge for 5th person )
Three bedrooms 5 persons - maximum 6 persons ( extra charge for 6th person )

BALI VILLAS
Zen Villas for your Bali Villa Accommodation can be found in the heart of Sanur. Here you will find that Sanur is a quiet, safe and secure settled area on Bali's South Eastern Coastline. Bali is known worldwide as a top class tourist destination, and Sanur is the first choice for Accommodation by many overseas guests seeking villas in Bali.
Bali Hotels & Bali Villas such as Zen Villas are becoming the popular choice among discerning tourists looking for quality with privacy.
Zen Villas is becoming widely known as a popular Bali Wedding spot. Numerous Korean Weddings are held here, plus couples from many other parts of the world. Full wedding arrangements can be made in conjunction with a Bali Wedding Specialist. Photos on the beach are also easily arranged for the Wedding Party. All villas have a luxurious tropical garden setting with private plunge pool to make the ideal backdrop for your ceremony.
Zen Villas in Bali is close to many major shopping areas, tourist attractions and services. Spa boutiques, first class restaurants, supermarkets and banks are all conveniently located. There are several leading Bali Hotels with world class Restaurants all within easy walking distance.
A 9 hole golf course, 7 km bike track and Sanur beaches are less than 10 minutes walk away. Here you can stroll or bicycle past the numerous top class Hotels. Accommodation in Bali is changing more rapidly than one might imagine, but of all the areas most frequented by tourists Sanur has retained its serenity and is the best place to relax and enjoy the Bali attractions or just bask in the sunshine.

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Jl. Pantai Kuta , LEGIAN , KUTA
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3
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J1, PADMA LEGIAN BEACH
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Jl. Kartika Plaza, PO BOX 1012, South Kuta 80361 Bali
5
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Jl. Legian no. 153, Kuta, Bali
6
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Jl. Pantai Kuta , Legian , KUTA
7
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JL. Pantai Kuta Bali
8
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Jl. Pantai Kuta , PO BOX 3036 , Kuta , Bali
9
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Jl.Padma Legian, Kuta
10
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Melasti Beach Resort, Jl. Padma Utara
11
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Jl. Dewi Sartika - Kuta Beach
12
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Jl. Pantai Kuta , Br. Pande Mas , KUTA , BALI
13
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Jl Bakung Sari Kuta
14
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JL, Legian







BALI THE ISLAND OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
BALI ISLAND:A tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago, is so picturesque and immaculate it could almost be a painted backdrop. The rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, dense tropical jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue water, crashing surf and friendly people, this perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone.This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. The majority of Balinese are Hindu, this is still reflected in day to day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. Some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.Bali Island is a shopper's paradise particularly for casual and tailored clothing, locally made jewellery, handicrafts, antiques and artifacts. Leather ware is one of the unexpected local bargains with everything from handbags through to tailor made leather jackets and coats, all at unbelievable prices. Try bargaining at the street markets of Kuta, Sanur of Nusa Dua or fixed price shopping at a Denpasar department store. Bali has it all.For those that love the water, Bali Island has world class scuba diving, snorkelling and wonderful day trips out to Nusa Penida for beach sports and coral viewing.When the sun sets, the choices are still hard to make - a quiet romantic moon lit dinner or watch the spectacular Balinese Fire Dance or Kecak Dance. For those that want to party, Bali Island has it all with bars, discos and nightclubs.As a truly international destination attracting visitors from all over the world, restaurants in Bali are extremely cosmopolitan yet inexpensive.Experience not only local delicacies like Nasi Goreng and Sate Campur but also Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese, Italian/European Greek, Moroccan and even Mexican cuisine. We must not forget Bali's wonderful seafood - local lobster at such prices that you will want to keep coming back for more.For those more culturally inclined, Bali can offer the peace and tranquility of Ubud high in the hills; the spectacular Mother Temple at Besakih; the ancient capital of Bali, Singaraja and the floating palace at Ujung near the pretty beach area of Candi Dasa. The Scenery is nothing less than spectacular. Jungle, picturesque hillside rice terraces and the awesome magnificence of Kintamani Volcano.The more active, wanting a break from the idyllic beaches, can experience wonderful golf courses in the mountains at Bedugul and beachside at Nusa Dua, the thrill of white water rafting or kayaking down the beautiful Ayung River; mountain cycling amid scenery you will never forget and organized rice paddy and jungle treks to see the side of Bali most tourists never encounter.Bali Island, a truly international destination, offers every standard of accommodation ranging from charming yet modest bungalow style hotels in lush tropical gardens for the budget minded through to arguably amongst the most exclusive and sophisticated hotels in the world!BALI BEACHESFor the majority of tourists to Bali, time honored images of palm fringed beaches are uppermost in the mind and probably the biggest single reason for purchasing that ticket to paradise. The reality is all that and more. While those palm fringed beaches do exist, there is also the wild coastline of the west with black sand beaches and treacherous waters, as well as the dramatic surf beaches of the bukit, the aquamarine lagoons of Lembongan island and the sleepy coves in the north. kuta BeachKUTA beach remains the most popular strip and extends all the way up to Candu and down towards the airport in Tuban. Kuta proper remains the whitest stretch of sand and is a big draw for those who want to test their surfing skills with both a beach break and a reef break further out. Its popularity continues to grow and for all ages, it is a wonderful place to lay your sarong, frolic in the waves and soak up the warm sun. These days beach sellers are kept behind an invisible line, so peace is still possible on this action packed strip. Legian BeachLegian is a no-holds barred beach where locals, expatriates and tourists mingle, bargain with the best, play paddle ball and football, indulge in a massage and manicure, catch up on reading, meditate, exercise, you name it. Sunset is peak time at Legian, when the beach bars fill, the football field is at its busiest and the locals knock off work and wade fully clothes, skirts swirling, into the waves.TubanTuban, between Kuta and the airport, big hotels line this stretch of beach. A little less frantic than Kuta, it's a good place to grab a deck chair and a good book. Swimming here is safe, as the hotel, lifeguards will put up flags if there are any rips, but mostly it is pretty well protected.Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin, DreamlandThese beaches were formerly the playground of surfers almost exclusively. The former teak forest was only accessible over rough dirt tracks and the hike down to some of the beaches deterred just about everyone but the most dedicated wave ridersThis is no longer true. A number of developments planned on the barren bukit have meant that tarred roads have been put in, and slowly steps and access paths have been built down to the more popular beaches. This means that virtually anyone can take advantage of these stunning beaches, which are still very quite by Bali's standards. Small warungs offer simple food and cold drinks, the obligatory massage people have moved in and a few sellers offer basic Bali merchandises. When the surf's up you can catch some excellent rides, when there is no surf the beaches become quiet lagoons with clear water lapping the white sand.Uluwatu is still the busiest, particularly at sunset when the monkeys play on the spectacularly located temple. Nusa DuaNUSA DUA was designed for the luxury conscious with a heavy concentration of big name hotels lining the beautiful white sand beach. Some of the resorts have private beaches but most areas are accessible. The stretch past the Hilton Resort has been a public beach and during the wet season the outer reef there is a popular surf break. At present, you will still find some simple warungs selling good food at cheap prices along this beautiful stretch of white sandy beach that offers excellent swimming conditions in a protected lagoon.Sanur BeachSANUR BEACH is a calm, quiet lagoon that offers great conditions for wind surfing and parasailing. The chic address of many of Bali is rich and famous since the 1930s; Sanur has a lively history and is still a revered area. The beach often fills with brightly clad ceremonial folk honouring various auspicious days. The stretch from the Grand Bali Beach Hotel to beyond the Bali Hyatt is now serviced by a beach walk making it possible to enjoy the many hotels and restaurants along the strip. The calm waters are very popular with families. The reef off Sanur is a popular surf break but only works under limited conditions. Many watersport companies are based here, offering a number of recreational activities. JimbaranJIMBARAN is a sleepy cove fleet of fishing boats color on the scene. Formerly a relatively quiet its image has improved dramatically with the opening of the beautiful Four Season’s Resort and the intercontinental. In the last couple of years, it has become even busier still with grilled seafood restaurants going up at a rapid pace along the beach, attracting local families and tourists in droves. A popular spot for windsurfing and sailing small craft, which are available for rent, Jimbran's grey sand and calm waters are attracting more people but the beach still has a sleepy feeling. A day at Jimbaran is made even more popular because of the all the wonderful options to eat - choose from simple local food, the freshest fish or 5-star luxury. Nusa LembonganNUSA LEMBONGAN is one of the most popular destinations for day cruises on the many pleasure boats sailing from Bali. Depending on whether you sail or motor, the trip can take anywhere from one hour to two and a half. The pristine white sandy beaches with aquamarine bays are brimming with colorful sea life, so diving and snorkeling are very popular sports. The less adventurous can enjoy glass bottomed boat rides. A number of reef breaks are popular with surfers, and the view back to Bali with a looming mount Agung makes fabulous backdrop. Padang BaiPADANG BAI is the harbor, where the boats from Lombok take off, but also lovely and laid back fishing village with a few losmens for accommodation. A short walk over the headland to the headland to the north will take you to intimate white sand beach.CANDI DASA is the gateway to east Bali. The beach here has been mostly washed away die to the heavy coral picking that used to provide a livelihood for locals. This has now been a stopped and tidal walls have been erected in an effort to restore the beach. Slowly the coral is returning, and Candi Dasa is developing as popular tourist destination. Amankila at Candi Dasa has a lovely lovely beach club which tourists can visit for a daily fee – use the beach and the pool and enjoy delicious food at their restaurant.Amed And TulambenAMED and TULAMBEN are alternative destinations in East Bali. Amed is a resort town that harks back to the early days in Kuta. Simple losmens and a couple of good, small hotels sit along the shady, Grey sand beach. Bartenders tell not-so-good jokes and boys with guitars roll off standards as entertainment in the evenings.Snorkeling is popular in Amed. Tulumban is even quieter, but a favorite with local divers. A shipwreck and a drop off, that are accessible from the beach, offer easy access to a colorful underwater world. Dive courses for all levels are often conducted at Tulamben, and the single resort, Mimpi's, has wonderful facilities for anyone who wants to be based hereLovina, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, Pulau Menjangan.Between Singaraja and Seririt on Bali's wild north coast, is a busy stretch of losmen and hotels and some decent reef, but the low dark sea makes this far from the most inspiring stretch of beach in Bali. A number of coves offer tranquil, protected waters and Lovina is one of them. Although the sand is gray, it is quiet, peaceful, and popular among those who shun the glitzier beach resorts of the south- Dophins Play in water off Lovina.Diving off Pulau Menjangan, part of the Barat national park, is generally regarded as the best in Bali. The WEST COAST of Bali is very beautiful and wild. The rice fields of Tabanan are the most fertile in all of Bali, and from the wet areas, flat, stony livers dump into a thundering sea filled with treacherous rips much feared by the Balinese. Some surfing is done in this area, but is not recommended for the beginners. The beaches around Tanah Lot is great for horse riding and watching dramatic sunsets, but for safe swimming, try one of the Other beach areas described earlier. Bali's beaches are a wonderful asset and provide hours and days of entertainment for young and old. Watch for caution flags, as there are sometimes rips, particularly in the surf beaches, and make sure you have Protection - the Bali sun is very hot. And most important of all, enjoy yourself! WHERE IS BALI?The island of Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is located 8 to 9 degrees south of the equator between Java in the West and Lombok and the rest of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and Timor) in the East.Flying time to Jakarta is about 1.5 hours, to Singapore and Perth (Australia) 2.5 and 3 hours, to Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and to Sydney/Melbourne about 5.5 to 6 hours.GEOGRAPHY:The island of Bali has an area of only 5,632 square kilometers (2,175 square miles) and measures just 55 miles (90 kilometers) along the north-south axis and less than about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from East to West.Because of this it's no problem to explore the island on day tours. You can go wherever you want on the island and return to your hotel or villa in the evening.Located only two kilometers east of Java, Bali's climate, flora and fauna are quite similar to its much larger neighbour. The island is famous for its beautiful landscape. A chain of six volcanoes, between 1,350 meters and 3,014 meters high, stretches from west to east. There are lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast flowing rivers and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces, and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens.The beaches in the South consist of white sand, beaches in other parts of the island are covered with gray or black volcanic sand.FLORA:The wide variety of tropical plants is surprising. You'll see huge banyan trees in villages and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees in the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves in the South. And there are flowers, flowers everywhere. You'll see (and smell the fragrance of) hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and water lilies. Magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids are found in many front yards and gardens, along roads, and in temple grounds.Flowers are also used as decorations in temples, on statues, as offerings for the gods, and during prayers. Dancers wear blossoms in their crowns, and even the flower behind the ear of your waitress seems natural in Bali.FAUNA:Elephants and tigers don't exist any more in Bali since early this century. Wildlife, however, includes various species of monkeys, civets, barking deer and mouse deer, and 300 species of birds including wild fowl, dollar birds, blue kingfishers, sea eagles, sandpipers, white herons and egrets, cuckoos, wood swallows, sparrows, and starlings. You can watch schools of dolphins near Lovina, Candi Dasa, and Padangbai. Divers will see many colorful coral fish and small reef fish, moray eels, and plankton eating whale sharks as well as crustaceans, sponges, and colorful coral along the east coast and around Menjangan Island near Gilimanuk.CLIMATE:You can expect pleasant day temperatures between 20 to 33 degrees Celsius or 68 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.From December to March, the West monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but usually days are sunny and the rains start during the night and pass quickly. From June to September the humidity is low, and it can be quite cool in the evenings. During this time of the year, you'll have hardly any rain in the coastal areas.Even when it rains in most parts of Bali you can often enjoy sunny days on the "Bukit", the hill south of Jimbaran Beach. On the other hand, in Ubud and the mountains you must expect cloudy skies and showers throughout the year (this is why the international weather reports for "Denpasar" or "Bali" mention showers and rain storms during all times of the year). In higher regions such as in Bedugul or Kintamani you'll also need either a sweater or jacket after the sun sets.POPULATION:Bali's population has grown to over 3 million people the overwhelming majority of which are Hindus. However, the number of Muslims is steadily increasing through immigration of people from Java, Lombok and other areas of Indonesia who seek work in Bali.Most people live in the coastal areas in the South, and the island's largest town and administrative center is fast growing Denpasar with a population of now over 370,000.The villages between the town of Ubud and Denpasar, Kuta (including Jimbaran, Tuban, and Legian, Seminyak, Basangkasa, etc), Sanur, and Nusa Dua are spreading rapidly in all directions, and before long the whole area from Ubud in the North to Sanur in the East, Berawa/Canggu in the West, and Nusa Dua in the South will be urbanized.ECONOMY:This southern part of Bali is where most jobs are to be found, either in the hotel and tourist industry, the textile and garment industry, and in many small scale and home industries producing handicrafts and souvenirs.Textiles, garments, and handicrafts have become the backbone of Bali's economy providing 300,000 jobs, and exports have been increasing by around 15% per year to over US$400 million. Textiles and garments contribute about 45%, and wood products including statues, furniture and other handicrafts 22% to the province's total income from exports. Silver work is ranked third (4.65%) with 5,000 workers employed. Main buyers are the US and Europe with 38% each, and Japan with 9%.Important agricultural products besides rice are tea, coffee, tobacco, cacao, copra, vanilla, soy beans, chilies, fruit, and vegetable (there are now even vineyards near the northwest coast). Bali's fishing industry and seaweed farming provide other products which are important exports.WHAT MAKES BALI SO SPECIAL:There is the combination of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the great variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate, and the absence of security problems.And then there is Bali's special "magic", which is difficult to explain.As soon as you step off the plane you might sense the difference. In the villages you'll notice the quietness and wisdom in old people's faces, and the interest and respect in the young's.Old men sit at the road side caressing their fighting cocks. Beautifully dressed women walk proudly through rice fields and forests carrying offerings on their heads to the next temple. There is the smell of flowers, and in the distance you hear the sound of gamelan music.Gods and spirits have been an important part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years. Gunung Agung – Bali's holy mountain – is internationally regarded as one of the eight "Chakra" points of the world.Watch out, the moment you feel the magic of this island, you're addicted for the rest of your life.


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Thursday, August 28, 2008

The last battles

The last battles
Meanwhile, Whish's force completed their siege works around Multan, their batteries opened fire and made a breach in the defences, which the infantry stormed. Mulraj surrendered on January 22. He was to be imprisoned for the remainder of his life. The ending of the siege allowed Whish to reinforce Gough. In particular, Whish's division had large numbers of heavy guns, which the Sikhs lacked.
As Gough's army closed in on the Khalsa, Sher Singh attempted a last outflanking move, sending cavalry to cross the Chenab, and re-cross in Gough's rear. They were thwarted by British irregular cavalry led by Harry Burnett Lumsden and William Hodson. On February 13, Gough attacked the Khalsa at the Battle of Gujarat. Here, he began the battle with a three-hour bombardment from 100 guns, which drove the Sikhs from their hasty entrenchments. He then sent his cavalry and horse artillery after them in a pursuit which lasted for four hours.
On March 12, Chattar Singh and Sher Singh surrendered near Rawalpindi. Some 20,000 men (mainly irregular cavalry) laid down their arms. Dost Mohammed Khan of Afghanistan had half-heartedly sent some tribes into the Punjab to fight against the British. After learning of the Battle of Gujarat, they withdrew.
On March 30, Duleep Singh held his last court at Lahore, at which he signed away all claims to the rule of the Punjab. A proclamation by Dalhousie, annexing the Punjab, was then read out. For his services the Earl of Dalhousie received the thanks of the British parliament and a step in the peerage, as marquess. Gough also received rewards for his services, although his tactics at Chillianwala were to be questioned for the remainder of his life. Many of the junior British Political Agents who had organised local resistance to the Khalsa were to have distinguished later careers.

[edit] Aftermath
The Sikh defeat had resulted from several causes. Their administration of the population of the Punjab had been poor, which meant that their large armies found it difficult to find enough food. The mainly Muslim inhabitants of the frontier districts who had themselves been subjugated by the Khalsa in earlier years readily fought under British officers against the Sikhs, continually disrupting their movements. Finally, the East India Company had brought overwhelming force against them.
The Sikh Wars gave the two sides a mutual respect for each other's fighting prowess (although the war itself had been unchivalrously fought - Sikhs took no prisoners at Chillianwala, and the British had taken no prisoners at Gujarat).
There was an increased recruitment of people from various communities of the Punjab in the Punjab Irregular Force under British command. These recruits fought for the East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, against the mutineers and other opponents (mostly high-caste Hindus from Eastern provinces, and forces or loyalists of Shia, Maratha and Mughal rulers). These Punjabi recruits had especially little sympathy with the Hindu mutineers of the Bengal Army, ironically contributed to by the latter's role in helping the British in the Anglo-Sikh wars. A long history of enmity of the Sikhs with Mughal rule did not help the mutineers' cause either, given their choice of Bahadur Shah Zafar as a symbolic leader.

Course of the War

Course of the War
As the cold weather season began in November, substantial contingents from the East India Company's armies at last took the field.
A contingent from the Bombay Army (administered separately from the Bengal Army) had been ordered to reinforce Whish and besiege Multan. This force was delayed by a petty squabble over seniority and could arrive only when its first commander (who was senior to Whish and refused to serve under him) was replaced by a more junior officer. Whish's army was supplied and reinforced by sea and river transport up the rivers Indus and Chenab.
Sir Hugh Gough led his main force against Sher Singh. Sher Singh's army held the line of the River Chenab against Gough for several weeks. On November 22, the Sikhs repelled a British cavalry attack on their bridgehead at Ramnagar. Although they subsequently withdrew from their exposed bridgehead, the Sikhs regarded the battle as a victory and their morale was raised.
Gough forced his way across the Chenab in December, but then paused. Meanwhile, Chattar Singh had at last recaptured the fort at Attock by treachery, and this allowed him to march west and then south from Hazara. Dalhousie had earlier ordered Gough to halt operations while waiting for Multan to fall, which would allow Whish to reinforce him. Learning of the fall of Attock, he instead ordered Gough to destroy Sher Singh's army before it could link up with Chattar Singh.
Gough unexpectedly encountered Sher Singh's position near the Jhelum River on January 13, 1849. Sher Singh had cunningly concealed his army, and Gough was faced with the choice of withdrawing, or attacking when it was late in the day. Gough unhesitatingly took the latter course. The resulting Battle of Chillianwala was desperately fought. Gough's troops, attacking into thick scrub without artillery support, suffered heavy losses. Some units lost their colours (which was regarded as a disgrace) and part of one British cavalry regiment fled in panic, resulting in the loss of four guns, also reckoned a humiliation. Sher Singh's army was also hard hit, losing twelve of its own guns, but after both armies had faced each other for three days without renewing the action, both withdrew. Sher Singh continued northwards to join Chattar Singh near Rawalpindi, which made the battle into a strategic British defeat.
There was much alarm at the losses Gough had suffered. His tactics were severely criticised and he was replaced by General Charles James Napier, who could not arrive for several weeks. Some junior officers reckoned that the true cause of the setback lay lower down the ranks. Promotion in both the British and Bengal armies came slowly, and by the time officers were appointed to command regiments and brigades, they were too old, and worn out by harsh climate and disease. At Chillianwala, several senior officers had proved unable to command their units effectively.

Subsequent outbreaks

Subsequent outbreaks
Lieutenant Herbert Edwardes, the British Political Agent in Bannu, had been near Multan in April but was unable to save Vans Agnew. He hastily levied some Pakhtun irregular troops, and together with some loyal Sikh regiments, defeated Mulraj's army near the Chenab River on June 18 and drove them back to the city but was unable to attack the city's fortifications. On August 18, he was joined by a small force from the Bengal Army under General Whish to begin the siege of the city.
Meanwhile, on learning of the events at Multan, Currie (supported by Dalhousie, the Governor General, and Sir Hugh Gough, the Commander in Chief of the Bengal Army) declined to order up major units of the East India Company to the Punjab until the end of the hot weather and Monsoon seasons, which would not be until November. Instead, Currie ordered several detachments of the Khalsa to suppress Mulraj's rebellion. To the alarm of several Political Agents, the largest contingent was commanded by Sirdar Sher Singh Attariwalla, Chattar Singh's son.
Some Agents were already taking action to forestall outbreaks of rebellion. Captain John Nicholson, leading irregular cavalry, seized the vital fort of Attock on the Indus River from its Sikh garrison while they were still deciding whether to rebel. His force then linked up with James Abbott's local Hazara levies to capture the Margalla Hills which separated Hazara from the other parts of the Punjab. When Chattar Singh openly rebelled in August, his force was unable to leave Hazara without fighting a battle. Although Chattar Singh twice succeeded in capturing the passes through the hills, he nevertheless failed to take advantage of this (possibly because of dissension among his senior officers and continual harassment by pro-British irregulars), and retreated into Hazara.
On September 14, Sher Singh's army openly rebelled at Multan. He did not join Mulraj however. He and Mulraj conferred at a carefully chosen neutral site, at which it was agreed that Mulraj would give some money from his treasury to Sher Singh's army, which would march north into the Central Punjab and ultimately rejoin Chattar Singh. Meanwhile, Whish was forced to raise the siege until he was reinforced.

Second Anglo-Sikh War

Background to the War
The Sikh kingdom of the Punjab was consolidated and expanded by Maharaja Ranjit Singh during the early years of the nineteenth century. During the same period, the British East India Company's territories had been expanded until they were adjacent to the Punjab. Ranjit Singh maintained an uneasy alliance with the East India Company, while increasing the military strength of the Khalsa (the Sikh Army, which also saw itself as the embodiment of the state and religion), to deter the British from interference with his state.
When Ranjit Singh died in 1839, the Punjab began to fall into disorder. There was a succession of short-lived rulers at the central Durbar (court), and increasing tension between the Khalsa and the Durbar. The East India Company began to build up its strength on the borders of the Punjab. Eventually, the increasing tension goaded the Khalsa to invade British territory, under weak and very possibly treacherous leaders. After the hard-fought First Anglo-Sikh War ended in defeat for the Sikh army, the Punjab was partially governed by the East India Company.

[edit] Aftermath of the first Anglo-Sikh War
The infant Maharaja Duleep Singh was allowed to retain his throne, but a British Resident (Sir Henry Lawrence) now controlled the policy of the Durbar. The Sikhs were made to cede some valuable territory (the Jullundur Doab) to the British and the Maharaja Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu, was allowed to acquire Kashmir from the Sikh kingdom by a large cash payment to the East India Company. These conditions naturally humiliated and angered the Sikhs.
At the same time, some of the Khalsa had to be kept in being, since many predominantly Muslim areas of the Sikh kingdom threatened to ally with Dost Mohammed Khan in Afghanistan or to lapse into disorder, and only force of arms could keep them in subjugation. The British were unwilling to incur the financial and manpower costs of using large numbers of British or Bengal units for this task. The leaders of the Khalsa naturally resented carrying out the orders of comparatively junior British officers and administrators, who at the same time were imposing British administration and weakening the authority of the Sikh Sirdars (generals).
Early in 1848, Sir Henry Lawrence, who was ill, departed on leave to England. Although it was assumed that his younger brother, John Lawrence would be appointed in his place, the Governor-General of India Lord Dalhousie, appointed Sir Frederick Currie instead, who was unfamiliar with military matters and with the Punjab. While the Lawrences were comparatively informal and familiar with the junior officers who were Residents and Agents in the various districts of the Punjab, Currie was stiffer in manner, and inclined to treat his subordinates' reports with caution. In particular, he refused to act on reports from James Abbott, the Political Agent in Hazara, who was convinced that Sirdar Chattar Singh Attariwalla who commanded the troops from the Khalsa in Hazara, was actively plotting a rebellion with other Sirdars.

[edit] First outbreak
The city of Multan, although part of the Sikh kingdom, had nevertheless been governed by a Hindu viceroy, Dewan Mulraj. After the end of the First Anglo-Sikh war, Mulraj had behaved independently. When required by the British-controlled Durbar in Lahore to pay taxes and revenues which had been owed for some years, Mulraj attempted to give up power to his son, so as to maintain his family's position as rulers. Currie instead imposed a Sikh governor, with a British Political Agent, Lieutenant Patrick Vans Agnew.
On April 18, 1848, Vans Agnew arrived at Multan, with another officer, Lieutenant William Anderson, and a small escort. Mulraj handed over the keys of the fortress, but as Vans Agnew's party attempted to take possession, they were attacked by a party of Mulraj's irregular troops, and a mob from the city. When both officers were wounded, their escorts fled, and the officers were murdered by the mob the next day.
Mulraj not only instigated these attacks but was committed to rebellion because of them. He presented Vans Agnew's head to the Sirdar who Currie had tried to impose, and told him to take it back to Lahore. The news of the killings spread over the Punjab, and unrest and disquiet increased. Large numbers of Sikh soldiers deserted the regiments loyal to the Durbar to join those prepared to rebel under the leadership of Mulraj.

Outbreak and course of the war

After mutual demands and accusations between the Sikh Darbar and the East India Company, diplomatic relations were broken. An East India Company army began marching towards Ferozepur, where a division was already stationed. This army was commanded by Sir Hugh Gough, the commander in chief of the Bengal Army, and was accompanied by Sir Henry Hardinge, the British Governor General of Bengal, who placed himself beneath Gough in the military chain of command. The "British" army consisted of formations of the Bengal Army, with usually one British unit to every three or four Bengal infantry or cavalry units. Most of the British artillery consisted of light guns from the elite Bengal Horse Artillery.

In response to the British move, the Sikh army began crossing the Sutlej River on December 11, 1845. Although the leaders and principal units of the army were Sikhs, there were also Punjabi, Pakhtun and Kashmiri infantry units. The artillery consisted mainly of units of heavy guns, which had been organised and trained by European mercenaries.

The Sikhs claimed they were only moving into Sikh possessions (specifically the village of Moran) on the east side of the river, but the move was regarded by the British as clearly hostile and they declared war. One Sikh army under Tej Singh advanced towards Ferozepur but made no effort to surround or attack the exposed British division there. Another force under Lal Singh clashed with Gough's and Hardinge's advancing forces at the Battle of Mudki on December 18. The British won an untidy encounter battle.

On the next day, the British came in sight of the large Sikh entrenchment at Ferozeshah. Gough wished to attack at once, but Hardinge used his position as Governor General to overrule him and order him to wait for the division from Ferozepur. When they appeared late on December 21, Gough attacked in the few hours of daylight left. The well served Sikh artillery caused heavy casualties among the British, and their infantry fought desperately. On the other hand, the elite of the Sikh army, the irregular cavalry or Gorchurras, were comparatively ineffective against Gough's infantry and cavalry as they had been kept from the battlefield by Lal Singh.

By nightfall, some of Gough's army had fought their way into the Sikh positions, but other units had been driven back in disorder. Hardinge expected a defeat on the following day and ordered the state papers at Mudki to be burned in this event. However, on the following morning, the British and Bengal Army units rallied and drove the Sikhs from the rest of their fortifications. Lal Singh had made no effort to rally or reorganise his army. At this point, Tej Singh's army appeared. Once again, Gough's exhausted army faced defeat and disaster, but Tej Singh inexplicably withdrew.

Operations temporarily halted, mainly because Gough's army was exhausted and required rest and reinforcements. The Sikhs were temporarily dismayed by their defeats and by their commanders' actions, but rallied when fresh units and leaders joined them, and Maharani Jind Kaur exhorted 500 selected officers to make renewed efforts.

When hostilities resumed, a Sikh detachment crossed the Sutlej near Aliwal, threatening Gough's lines of supply and communications. A division under Sir Harry Smith was sent to deal with them. Sikh cavalry attacked Smith continually on his march and captured his baggage, but at the Battle of Aliwal on January 28, 1846, Smith won a model victory, eliminating the Sikh bridgehead.

Gough's main army had now been reinforced, and rejoined by Smith's division, they attacked the main Sikh bridgehead at Sobraon on February 10. Tej Singh is said to have deserted the Sikh army early in the battle. Although the Sikh army resisted as stubbornly as at Ferozeshah, Gough's troops eventually broke into their position. The bridges behind the Sikhs broke under British artillery fire, or were ordered to be destroyed behind him by Tej Singh (ostensibly to prevent British pursuit). The Sikh army was trapped. None of them surrendered, and the British troops showed little mercy. This victory effectively broke the Sikh army.


[edit] Aftermath
In the Treaty of Lahore in 1846 the Sikhs were made to give up Kashmir and had to accept a British resident in Lahore. This effectively gave the East India Company control of the region's government. The treaty also gave the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria.

Sikh historians have always maintained that, in order to retain their hold on power and maintain the figurehead rule of Duleep Singh, Lal Singh and Tej Singh embarked on the war with the deliberate intent of breaking their own army. In particular, Lal Singh was corresponding with a British political officer and betraying state and military secrets throughout the war. Lal Singh's and Tej Singh's desertion of their armies and refusal to attack when opportunity offered seem inexplicable otherwise.

First Anglo-Sikh War

Background and causes of the war
The Sikh kingdom of Punjab was expanded and consolidated by Maharaj Ranjit Singh during the early years of the nineteenth century, about the same time as the British-controlled territories were advanced by conquest or annexation to the borders of the Punjab. Ranjit Singh maintained a policy of wary friendship with the British, while at the same time building up his military forces to deter aggression both by the British and by the Afghans under Dost Mohammed Khan. He hired American and European mercenary soldiers to train his artillery, and also incorporated contingents of Hindus and subjugated Muslims into his army.

[edit] Events in the Punjab
Ranjit Singh died in 1839. Almost immediately, his kingdom fell into disorder. Ranjit's unpopular legitimate son, Kharak Singh, was removed from power within a few months, and later died in prison under mysterious circumstances. It was believed that he was murdered. He was replaced by his able but estranged son Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh, who also died within a few months in suspicious circumstances - crushed by a falling archway at the Lahore Fort while returning from his father's, Kharak Singh's, cremation. [1] There were at the time two major factions within the Punjab contending for power and influence, the Sikh Sindhanwalias and the Hindu Dogras. The Dogras succeeded in raising an illegitimate son of Ranjit Singh, Sher Singh, to the throne in January 1841. The most prominent Sindhanwalias took refuge on British territory, but had many adherents among the Army of the Punjab.
The army was expanding rapidly in the aftermath of Ranjit Singh's death, as landlords and their retainers took up arms. It now claimed itself to be the Khalsa, or embodiment of the Sikh nation. Its regimental panchayats (committees) formed an alternate power source within the kingdom, declaring that Guru Gobind Singh's ideal of the Sikh commonwealth had been revived, with the Sarbatt Khalsa or the Sikh as a whole assuming all executive, military and civil authority in the State. [2]. Whilst the British decried this as a "... dangerous military democracy ...". British representatives and visitors in the Punjab described the regiments as preserving "puritanical" order internally, but also as being in a perpetual state of mutiny or rebellion against the central Darbar (Court). In one notorious instance of unrest, Sikh soldiers ran riot, looking for anyone who looked as if they could speak Persian (the language used by the clerks who administered the Khalsa's finances) and putting them to the sword.
Maharajah Sher Singh was unable to meet the pay demands of the Khalsa, although he reportedly lavished funds on a degenerate court. In September 1843 he was murdered by his cousin, an officer of the Khalsa, Ajit Singh Sindhanwalia. The Dogras took their revenge on those responsible, and Jind Kaur, Ranjit Singh's youngest widow, became Regent for her infant son Duleep Singh. After the Vizier Hira Singh was killed attempting to flee the capital with loot from the Royal Treasury, Toshkana, by troops under Sham Singh Attariwala [3], Jind Kaur's brother Jawahir Singh became Vizier in December 1844. He apparently spent his term of office in a state of terror, trying to bribe the Khalsa with promises of treasure which could not be met. At an army parade in September 1845, he was butchered to death in the presence of Jind Kaur and Duleep Singh. [1]
The Khalsa nevertheless did not take over the kingdom at this point. Although Jind Kaur publicly vowed revenge against her brother's killers [1], she remained Regent. Lal Singh (reportedly the lover of Jind Kaur) became Vizier, and Tej Singh became commander of the army. Sikh historians have stressed that both these men were prominent in the Dogra faction. Originally high-caste Hindus from outside the Punjab, both had converted to Sikhism in 1818 just like the majority of the Sikhs in Punjab at that time.

[edit] British actions
Meanwhile, immediately after the death of Ranjit Singh, the British East India Company had begun increasing its military strength.
The actions and attitudes of the British, under Governor-Generals Lord Ellenborough and his successor, Sir Henry Hardinge, are disputed. By most British accounts, the main concern was that the Khalsa, now without strong leadership to restrain them, was a serious threat to British territories along the border. It was well known that the Khalsa had been asking Ranjit Singh for an opportunity to engage the British Army ever since their expansion had reached the borders of the Punjab.[citation needed] Sikh and Indian historians have countered that the military preparations made by these Governor-Generals were offensive in nature; for example, they prepared bridging trains and siege gun batteries, which would be unlikely to be required in a purely defensive operation.[2].
The British attitudes were affected by reports from their new Political Agent in the frontier districts, Major George Broadfoot, who stressed the disorder in the Punjab and recounted every tale of corrupt behaviour at the court. For some British officials, there was a strong desire to expand British influence and control into the Punjab, as it was the only remaining formidable force that could threaten the British hold in India and the last remaining independent kingdom not under British influence. The kingdom was also renowned for being the wealthiest, the Koh-i-noor being one of its many treasures. Despite this, it is unlikely that the British East India Company would have deliberately attempted to annex the Punjab had the war not occurred, as they simply did not have the manpower or resources to keep a hold on the territories (as proven by the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Sikh War).
Nevertheless, the unconcealed and seemingly aggressive British military build-up at the borders had the effect of increasing tension within the Punjab and the Khalsa. It is also equally well known that the British had been interfering in the intrigues at the Court or Lahore.[c

Stephen Jay Gould

Stephen Jay Gould (September 10, 1941May 20, 2002) was a prominent American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science. He was also one of the most influential and widely read writers of popular science of his generation. Gould spent most of his career teaching at Harvard University and working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Gould's greatest contribution to science was his theory of punctuated equilibrium which he developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972. In T.J.M. Schopf, ed., Models in Paleobiology. San Francisco: Freeman, Cooper and Company, pp. 82-115. The theory proposes that most evolution is marked by long periods of evolutionary stability, which is later punctuated by rare instances of branching evolution. The theory was contrasted against phyletic gradualism, the popular idea that evolutionary change is marked by a pattern of smooth and continuous change in the fossil record.
Most of Gould’s empirical research was based on the land snails Poecilozonites and Cerion. He also contributed to evolutionary developmental biology, and has recieved wide praise for his book Ontogeny and Phylogeny. In evolutionary theory, he opposed strict selectionism, sociobiology as applied to humans, and evolutionary psychology. He campaigned against creationism and proposed that science and religion should be considered two distinct fields, or "magisteria," whose authority does not overlap.
Many of Gould's Natural History essays were reprinted in collected volumes, such as Ever Since Darwin and The Panda's Thumb, while his popular treatises included books such as The Mismeasure of Man, Wonderful Life and Full House.

Genome projects

The Human Genome Project was organized to map and to sequence the human genome. Other genome projects include mouse, rice, the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the puffer fish, bacteria like E. coli, etc. In 1976, Walter Fiers at the University of Ghent (Belgium) was the first to establish the complete nucleotide sequence of a viral RNA-genome (bacteriophage MS2). The first DNA-genome project to be completed was the Phage Φ-X174, with only 5368 base pairs, which was sequenced by Fred Sanger in 1977 . The first bacterial genome to be completed was that of Haemophilus influenzae, completed by a team at The Institute for Genomic Research in 1995.

In May 2007, the New York Times announced that the full genome of DNA pioneer James D. Watson had been recorded.[1] The article noted that some scientists believe this to be the gateway to upcoming personalized genomic medicine.

Many genomes have been sequenced by various genome projects. The cost of sequencing continues to drop.


[edit] Comparison of different genome sizes
Main article: Genome size
Organism Genome size (base pairs) Note
Virus, Bacteriophage MS2 3,569 First sequenced RNA-genome[2]
Virus, SV40 5,224 [3]
Virus, Phage Φ-X174; 5,386 First sequenced DNA-genome[4]
Virus, Phage λ 50,000
Bacterium, Haemophilus influenzae 1,830,000 First genome of living organism, July 1995[5]
Bacterium, Carsonella ruddii 160,000 Smallest non-viral genome.[6]
Bacterium, Buchnera aphidicola 600,000
Bacterium, Wigglesworthia glossinidia 700,000
Bacterium, Escherichia coli 4,000,000 [7]
Amoeba, Amoeba dubia 670,000,000,000 Largest known genome.[8]
Plant, Arabidopsis thaliana 157,000,000 First plant genome sequenced, Dec 2000.[9]
Plant, Genlisea margaretae 63,400,000 Smallest recorded flowering plant genome, 2006.[9]
Plant, Fritillaria assyrica 130,000,000,000
Plant, Populus trichocarpa 480,000,000 First tree genome, Sept 2006
Yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20,000,000 [10]
Fungus, Aspergillus nidulans 30,000,000
Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans 98,000,000 First multicellular animal genome, December 1998[11]
Insect, Drosophila melanogaster aka Fruit Fly 130,000,000 [12]
Insect, Bombyx mori aka Silk Moth 530,000,000
Insect, Apis mellifera aka Honey Bee 1,770,000,000
Fish, Tetraodon nigroviridis, type of Puffer fish 385,000,000 Smallest vertebrate genome known
Mammal, Homo sapiens 3,200,000,000
Fish, Protopterus aethiopicus aka Marbled lungfish 130,000,000,000 Largest vertebrate genome known

Note: The DNA from a single human cell has a length of ~1.8 m (but at a width of ~2.4 nanometers).

Since genomes and their organisms are very complex, one research strategy is to reduce the number of genes in a genome to the bare minimum and still have the organism in question survive. There is experimental work being done on minimal genomes for single cell organisms as well as minimal genomes for multicellular organisms (see Developmental biology). The work is both in vivo and in silico.