Hello BDD,

I watched 3,000 people die on live television.
This wasn’t a well-scripted, big-budget Hollywood production. Nor was it a dramatization with special effects depicting events. This was as real as it gets.
I had an early morning conference call that day, so I decided to take it from home. After my call, and after my shower, I started getting dressed for work. I never watch tv in the morning, but for some reason I turned it on while getting ready. As the dark screen resolved into a picture, I saw the first tower on fire.
The news was reporting that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers… we called them the Twin Towers. I assumed that it was a small, private aircraft. My next thought was: those towers are huge; how can a pilot fail to avoid them?
Just as that thought finished, from the left side of the tv screen, I saw the second plane: a large commercial airliner in level flight. It flew right into the second tower, exploding in a ball of fire that blasted out of the other side of the building.
The instant I saw that plane… even before impact… I knew this was not an accident. I did not need the tv to tell me this was a terrorist attack. And I was in shock.
I did not go into work. I opened my laptop and “tried” to work, while watching the events unfold in front of me. I watched both towers collapse. I saw the wreckage of the plane in front of the Pentagon. I saw the wreckage of the plane that was destined for The White House. My son, Ian, was just 5 months old. What kind of world was he born into?
Eight years later, I feel September 11 has already slipped into history. While the memories of the event still linger for many, the patriotic feelings that were aroused have long subsided; displaced by our wants and our day-to-day routines.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,400 sailors and civilians and dragged us into WWII. While this occurred long before I was born, I remember the event and its significance in history. On its anniversary every year, I greet people with a very bland, “Happy Pearl Harbor Day.” Most people have to think for a few seconds before they realize what I’m saying… and that’s sad. (Remember this: if you don’t learn from history, you are destined to repeat it.)
I fear one day that, like Pearl Harbor, people will forget the events of September 11, 2001.
They may not remember… I’ll never forget.
Today, I’m remembering the 3,000. – doug

What actually happened during sept.11/2001?

September 11 Attacks was a coordinated terrorist strike on the United States in 2001 that killed about 3,000 people and reminded the world of the rage of terrorists.

The morning of September 11 (2001), 19 terrorists, working in teams of 4 or 5, hijacked four commercial airliners to use them as potential weapons for creating mass destruction. Two of the planes, loaded with fuel and passengers, were flown at full speed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the financial district of New York City. The buildings burst into flame and then collapsed, killing thousands.

A third terrorist crew smashed their plane into the Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. military in  Virginia. The hijackers of the fourth airliner apparently intended to hit another target in the Washington, D.C., but the airplane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

The targets that were destroyed, symbolized U.S. financial, political, and military power. Years in the planning, the attacks in New York and Washington constituted the first major foreign assault on the continental United States since 1814(when the British army invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House).

The incidents in detail:

There were four planes hijacked that day.The first two planes, American Airlines and United Airlines, left Boston within minutes of each other, around 8 am.

The first indication of trouble came at about 8:25 am, when air traffic controllers in Boston heard a strange voice from the Flight (American airlines) cockpit saying,

“We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you will be OK. We are returning to the airport.”

A few minutes later the plane turned ,heading toward New York City. The American Flight crashed into the World Trade Center north tower at 8:46 am, hitting the 110-story building,between the 93rd and 99th floors.

The hijackers of United Flight followed a similar route, they slammed their airplane into the second World Trade Center, also 110 stories tall, between the 77th and 85th floors 16 minutes later, at 9:03 am.

But that was not all,there were two other flights that were hijacked.Another American Airlines ,that took off from Washington Airport about 8:20 am ,about 40 minutes later, the hijackers turned the flight around and flew it back toward Washington, D.C.

Flying low and fast, the airplane hit the Pentagon at 9:37 am. The plane penetrated three of the Pentagon’s five concentric rings, taking a chunk out of the building and the people who worked in them. In all, 184 people died at the Pentagon, including everyone aboard the plane.

The fourth flight-United Airlines Flight 93, took off from Newark, New Jersey, at about 8:40 am, was also turned towards Washinton,D.C. but sources say that the passengers of that flight retaliated and the plane crashed,it crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 am.

It is said that a passenger told a telephone operator of the plan. After asking the operator to pray with him, the passenger set down the phone. The operator heard him say, “Are you ready?” Then, “OK, let’s roll.” The phrase “Let’s roll” became a famous phrase used in rallies on anti-terrorism.

Many died that day either caught up in the tragedy or trying to save the lives of others.There were officers,bussiness men,childern,fire fighters and rescue teams that were killed in the tragic incidents,but it passed on a strong message to people that at the time of crisis,we must stand united.

Tamhini Gath is a place near Pune. Its is approximately 75 Kms. from Pune. The way to Tamhini Gath is via Chandani Chowk through Bhu Gaon. This Tamhini Gath further goes to Goa and Konkan side. The main thing about tamhini gath is its Natural Beauty. Tamhini Gaht is very beautiful fuul of nature and trees. The road is very narrow . Its very silent out there. You will also find TATA Power Plant in Tamhini Gath. People from long distance come to visit Tamhini gath. If one really wants to observr the beauty of this gath, then he should visit this gath in Monsson season. You will find many many Couples enjoyng over there. But there you can't get any food or any Garage if your vehicle breaks down. You have to help your self. Else its worth visiting Tamhini Gath.

If you are a tourist coming to India you might have some trouble deciding what you want to see here. There is everything here from rolling foothills to deserts to beaches on the sea and even the Himalayan peaks to see. If you are looking to capture India in all its glory it will take you years to really get to know the place. At the same time, if you are looking to touch the diversity and common heritage that binds most north Indians you can do a short circuit popularly known as the Golden Triangle.

This covers the three cities of Delhi (which is India's capital and historically speaking rich with heritage landmarks), Agra (if you are coming to India you have to see the Taj Mahal else it is a wasted trip) and Jaipur (the capital of Rajasthan and the present day home of Indian traditions, which really lets you experience what it was to be royalty in ancient India). The three cities make a triangle on the map of India and so the tourist circuit is called the Golden Triangle. It is one of the most popular tourist routes around these days.

The best way to cover the three cities is to land in Delhi, as most international airlines will connect to the city. Then take a hired cab and do the local sightseeing in Delhi. If you touch just the bare essentials you will be done in about two to three days. Then move ahead in the same rented taxi to Agra. The drive is a mere three an half hours and can be enjoyed with breaks at various places en route. The essential sightseeing in Agra will take you two days. After which you can again hit the road and head out to Jaipur.

Again a couple of days sightseeing should cover the essentials here in Jaipur. After which you are free to go back to Delhi and catch your flight back home. India in a nutshell in a week, that’s what this circuit gives you. If you do have more time to spare you can head for the hill stations of Shimla and Dalhousie, if not for the scenery, then to escape the Indian heat. For those interested in the south of India there is another circuit that they can do. More about that in my next post. Till then get those light cotton shirts out and hop on a plane to do the Golden Triangle.