Visiting Bandhavgarh National Park

Formerly the interim director for High Speed 2 (HS2), the UK’s high-speed rail project, Patrick O’Connell currently serves as chief of naval personnel for the US Navy in Washington, DC. In addition to his work with HS2 and the US Navy, he has held a variety of other leadership positions in the public and private sectors. In his free time, Patrick O’Connell enjoys traveling, and has visited a number of notable places, such as the Bandhavgarh region in India. 

Located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of India’s most popular destinations. The park, which encompasses 65 square miles, features grasslands and thickly forested areas that are home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered Bengal tiger. Leopards, sloth bears, and numerous bird and deer species also inhabit the area. 

Visitors to Bandhavgarh National Park can view the diverse flora and fauna via Jeep or elephant safaris. For the best chance of spotting some of the tigers in the area, however, guides recommend going by elephant. Jeep safaris are a good option for visitors looking to see some of the harder-to-reach areas of the park.

Bandhavgarh has three major zones: Tala, Magdi, and Bamera. Of the three, Tala and Magdi are the most popular because they offer the best wildlife viewing. Park officials suggest visiting between February and June, when the weather is most fair. The park is closed from July 1 to October 15.

Bench Presses - An Ideal Way of Increasing Power and Bone Density

Presently the US Navy’s chief of naval personnel, Patrick O'Connell has a leadership background encompassing positions such as interim director with High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. His accomplishments with HS2 included positioning the transformational $85 billion rail network for long-term success. A fitness enthusiast, Patrick O'Connell is currently training to break the record for bench-press within his age group. 

The benefits of bench press exercises include activating a wide range of muscle groups in the body’s upper half, including the forearm, hand muscles, deltoids, and pectorals. With the abdomen also engaged, bench pressing boosts power for sports in general. The impact is cumulative; as upper-body power increases, both the quickness of reps and number of sets can be stepped up.

With a regular workout regimen in place, bench presses also help build bone mass. The bone cells are stimulated to deposit more tissue in the bones, which helps avoid the decreasing bone density and increasing skeletal fragility that many older people experience. The low impact nature of this free-weight, multi-joint activity makes it ideal for those seeking to increase endurance and strength as they grow older.