Nature Air: first carbon neutral airline in the world

The domestic Costa Rican carrier Nature Air was declared the first carbon neutral airline in the world. Since 2004, Nature Air has developed an aggressive conservation program at the Osa Peninsula –world-renowned for its natural resources– oriented at compensating the whole gas emissions of its entire fleet. This effort was acknowledged at the World Environment Conference held in Oslo, Norway, in May. Environmentalists hail Nature Air as an example to follow if we are to preserve the planet for coming generations.

Táriba, in Venezuela

By José Ernesto Becerra
www.expiralia.blogspot.com

Our little town, Táriba, are in Los Andes, in the South West of Venezuela. Capital of Municipality of Cárdenas in the Táchira state, at 72º 13’ LW and 7º 49’ LN. Our most important place is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, at front of the Bolívar Square.

Church of "Nuestra Señora de la Consolación"

The first european in this land was Alonso Perez de Tolosa, and one hundred men, in 1547. We call this episode “The enter of Táriba in the history”, but they don´t stop here, they go away. That year lives here perhaps three or four hundred indians, we prefer call him “aborígenes” (aboriginals), and the first spanish man who build a house in this place was Alonso Alvarez de Zamora, in 1563.

"Alonso Pérez de Tolosa in Táriba", by Uribe Quiroga

Every year in August open the fair’s season. Thousand of visitors comes to Táriba, at Bullfighting, Parade, Sports, Dancings, Shopping, Religious ceremonies, and traditionals activities.

Visitors in the Fair of Táriba

Vacation time in Denmark

July is the big vacation time in Denmark. Most Danes do have 6 weeks of annual vacations, whereas 3 normally are in the summer time. Though the summer is short and very nice, many people prefer travelling to other countries. That leaves the streets rather deserted, and the beautiful gardens that many Danes use a lot of time on, are left to birds, cats and other animals.This picture shows how a normal Danish outskirt street looks like: The houses surrounded by 'walls' of hedges. Behind those, you'll find neatly gardens. And as you can see, noone in the streets. The ones that are not on vacation, probably will be at work.

Shire River- Malawi

The biggest river in the country, Shire River takes its waters from the beautiful Lake Malawi to the popular Zambezi River which finally goes into Indian Ocean.

There are many beautiful features:
Mvuu - hippos in view along the river

Meltdown? I’ll say…

Take me, a (supposed) professional: if I worked in government, I would just about afford to pay for my transport to and from work, and not have too much left over for things like food and rent. (As you know, I’m not working). When I left Zimbabwe (three months ago I went travelling, lucky me someone bought me a ticket) bread was $850 (shocking in itself); when I got back here three weeks ago, it cost $30,000 (yes, per loaf). Now it costs $45,000. The government has just asked retailers to cut their prices, so of course goods have disappeared off the shelves. Yesterday was walking about town, looking for apple cider vinegar (for a cake I make), went downtown and there were informal (and illegal) traders selling stuff like cooking oil, sugar, toothpaste etc… They don’t sit and sell; they are always on their feet, watching for possible raids (because they of course don’t have licences). The black market is absolutely flourishing here, and most people with access to cash have resigned themselves to buying things on the black market, although the prices are shocking. The price of fuel per litre is pegged against the US dollar, and the last rate was 1USD is equivalent to ZD$300,000. Imagine what that does to prices in a landlocked country…. Inflation is currently about 5,000 %, but some people say it will top 1,500,000 by year end..

My rent was increased from ZD$200,000 to $2,700,000… The breadwinner in my family earns $400,000.. ha, ha. And yet we are actually upper middle class here... You see streams of people walking to and from work, hardly anyone uses public transport anymore… And as for pensioners, honestly their plight is absolutely desperate. My grandfather’s pension is probably about $5,000 per month (doesn’t even buy bread). Most are just hanging in there… Many are starving.

sorry, no picture at the moment, may add it later...

Cultural Institutes’ Night

Happen last night, on June the 22nd and it felt pretty good. This night only, the cultural embassies in Bucharest stood open all night long and had special shows and programs. There were traditional foods and drinks from the countries represented by each institute. For example, the Spanish Cultural Institute served its guests with sangria, the Polish with bigos, the Czech with beer and so on, while they could enjoy live jazz and blues concerts, short movies, theater plays, dancing shows, art exhibitions and many more.

At first I went to the Spanish Institute, to see an open air projection of the movie Cría Cuervos (1975), directed by Carlos Saura. There were a lot of people so we sat directly on the ground, near some flowers. It felt very good, especially because lately the weather was very hot in Bucharest and we’ve com to appreciate every little green plant and breeze.

About eleven o’clock we left at the Czech Institute where we were supposed to see horror short movies and a horror art exhibition. I was quite disappointed of it, there were only some twisted dolls with all kinds of stuff around them, painted and with their members or hair cut, trying to look scary. I saw three short movies there, and a video clip. I can’t say I liked the movies, but…maybe because I’m not an expert I didn’t understand them. They were just exhibiting a lot of violence, which they tried to criticize in this way, but it was nothing scary, creepy or fun about it (in my opinion of course). We got kind of bored so we started roaming on the streets again, in the, happily, cool night air, watching some bugs running on a building and the stray cats and dogs chasing each other.

We got to the Hungarian Institute where I think they had the best program from what I’ve seen. We arrived there in the middle of a Hungarian blues concert, performed by a band called Rackajam. I simply loved them, but again, I can’t say this is an objective opinion, as I enjoy this kind of music a lot.



And then, about two a.m. we left home, because we were very tired. There was still a lot to see, and I’m still upset for not getting to see the short movies at the Romanian Cultural Institute (Romanian short movies are pretty cool). However, I enjoyed it a lot, and I think it would be a great idea to repeat this experience.

(L.G)

Lahpet thohk or pickled tea leaf salad

With regards to Myanmar Food, we have one well known saying that "Of all fruit, mango is the best, of all meat it's pork, and of all leaves it's lahpet".

Lahpet and Laphet ohk are one set as very significant role in our Mandalay to offer as snacks to guests whom be invited or not. Sometimes, it may be just for the family and we used to eat it while we watching Television program after News broadcasting around 9:00 P.M together drinking with yei-nway jan (plain/crude hot water) or lahpet-yei jan (plain/crude tea) Have you ever been try to eat this? Lahpet (pickled tea) is served in another way as Lahpet thohk or pickled tea leaf salad. It is an exclusive snack of Myanmar Nationals. Its taste is delicious and linger in the mouth. Once you have tasted it you would crave for more. It is an unforgettable snack for those who have had once.

Now I would like to share about preparation of Lahpet thohk or pickled tea leaf salad.
First clean the pickled tea leaves with some water twice or thrice and squeeze it to discard the bitter juice. Then put the tea leaves on a plate and mix thoroughly with peanut oil and fish sauce, and keep to one side. Peel, wash and slice garlic thinly. Then wash and halve tomatoes before taking out seeds and slice thinly. Wash cabbage before chopping very thinly. Remove stalks from chillies and wash them. When the ingredients are ready, put the pickled tea leaves(laphet),cripsy fried lab-lab beans, some fish sauce, thinly sliced tomatoes and cabbage and edible peanut oil on a wide plate and mix together properly. For those who like a hot and sour taste squeeze drops of lime and thinly sliced fresh chillies when blending to make the salad. When taste of the laphet thohk meets your requirement, prepare in a plate. After that sprinkle dried shrimps and garlic on the salad before putting green chillies. Now a plate of traditional Myanmar pickled tea leaf salad is ready to be served.
Many would have lahpet together with plain white rice, again a student favorite.

INGREDIENTS:
Fine pickled tea leaves= 80g
Fried lab-lab beans = 80g
Fried garlic = 40g
Fried peanut = 80g
Roasted sesame seeds = 40g
Dried shrimps(not salted)= 40g
Garlic(large cloves) = 10cloves
Fresh chillies = 10
Tomatoes(moderate size)= 3
Cabbage = 160g
Myanmar fish sauce(sweet)= small amount
Pure edible peanut oil = 80g

Sources: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Lu Thar Kyaw

This is Dominica

I've been trying to come up with different ways to write this without coming off as too annoyed. I've lived on this island since birth and have been totally baffled at the number of instances where our rugged little mass has been mistaken for the Dominican Republic, that is, if even recognized as part of the map at all. I can't tell you how often my postal mail has been sent to the Dominica Republic in error, which I'm sure countless of my Dominican counterparts have experienced at least once. In light of this I've opted to make this piece about the different things that distinguish this lovely Caribbean island from the rest of the world.

The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica is largely covered by rain forest and is home to the world's second largest boiling lake. The island is currently headed by the youngest prime minister in the world. Roosevelt Skerrit was born in 1972 and has held the seat for the past three (3) years). We've been noted for having the oldest living person in the world (at one point) in Elizabeth Israel aka Ma Pampo, who was the daughter of a slave and we are one of the last remaining Caribbean islands still inhabited by the native Kalinago People.

The sweet sounds of Cadence-lypso originated from Dominica which was refined by the dynamic Exile One. Other original sounds include Bouyon and Jing ping. In Dominica many of the older folk still speak the traditional Creole language which is sometimes handed down to the youth, so much so that we are home to the only Creole Music Festival on the planet. It is an island that has remained quite pristine. Lack of five star hotels and large highways make it easy to appreciate this natural encasement. Here the beaches are black sand and very private.

Dominicans are treated everyday to water from a lush of 365 rivers, so its needless to mention, offcourse, we make some of the best beer in the world.

Cheers

Japanese Wind-bell

The sound of a wind-bell makes me feel cool in hot summer.

These are some of wind-bells from Japan.

Brussels Matonge Street Party

On sunday I went to Brussels to the black district called " Matonge" where a street party took place this weekend. In this district almost all people who live there are africans, coming mostly from the Congo or sometimes also from Senegal.

The congo was an ancient colony of Belgium and is independent since 1960. The Congo had been bought by the Belgian King Leopold II in 1908 and given as a gift to his country. That's why so many Congolese are living here for different reasons.

The street party takes place every year and of course is very colorful ! When I arrived I could smell the odor of exotic food and spices. There were so many stands each of them with another speciality !

A lot of african women were dressed in their home costumes, long very colorful dresses with a kind of high turban on their heads folded in a certain way from a piece of fabric. Drums and congolese songs made an enormous noise, especially the drums which went through your hole body.

People sold african jewlery, shirts, statues and masks in many stands. The streets were decorated with baloons, colored flags and everybody seemed to be in a very good mood. For the evening african danses were foreseen and other shows.

It was like going on holidays, I drove to Brussels and found myself suddenly in the middle of Africa ! Exept of the heat of course !

Kruger Park Animal Stories

My next few blogs will focus on specific animals I saw on my last visit to Kruger Park and hopefully provide some interesting information on or related to them.


This is a real photo, only cropped a bit to make it a bit more impressive (the real distance relationship in the next blog!). What was for sure was that it was a very big elephant and it was close to the bakkie (SA English for Light Delivery Vehicle - this one is a half ton load vehicle)! Obviously the bakkie is no match for an elephant of this size - luckily the elephant wasn't angry. What is also interesting is that the guys in the bakkie don't seem worried - they seem to be looking the other way! or was it a larger elephant that side?

There is currently a developing problem with an overpopulation of elephants in the Kruger Park. This is creating a controversy at the moment about how it should be handled.

In the past, say 20 years ago, elephants were routinely and quietly but openly culled. There was an abattoir in Kruger Park (is still there in fact) and you could buy tinned elephants in the shops! Then the environmentalists entered the picture and the ivory trade came under the spotlight because of poaching and things are very different.

An experiment in Kenya was based on assuming that the environment would come to an equilibrium with the elephants. I understand that was a failure and enormous damage was done turning forests and bush veld, where elephants graze, into grasslands making the balance even worse. It seems that any constraint on movement (Kruger Park is 350km long and up to 65 km wide) creates an artificial system that requires management.

At the moment there are a number of ways that the problem is being addressed:

• contraception for elephants - yes that's right!
  
• opening the fences to adjacent reserves especially in Mocambique and Zimbabwe forming transfrontier parks
• capturing and moving elephants to other reserves
• culling is still under consideration

The all have advantages, disadvantages and constraints though.

South Africa and other Southern African countries have after lots of arguing, been given permission to sell the ivory they have in stock. Seems to me this is the way to go - cull carefully and humanely and sell the ivory to help fund improved conservation.

Nass el Ghiwane

Nass el Ghiwane is a musical group of Morocco. Whenever mentioned in the Western literature, they are referred to as The Rolling Stones of Africa, as American Producer Martin Scorsese once put it. They are living legends who merged the rich repertoire of traditional music of Morocco with modern subjects.

History

Nass el Ghiwane was formed in the late 60's by four young men from the poor district of Hay el Mohammadi in industrial Casablanca. Laarbi Batma (who came from the Chaouia region to Kariane Jdid) met Boujemaa Hagour (who came form the Tata (Morocco) region to Derb Moulay Cherif) through their mutual friend Omar Essayed. They were all performing in the theater troupe of Tayeb Essidiki. While performing the piece "Al Majdoub" for Parisian crowds in the summer of 1969, they had the idea of using traditional music as a way to express themselves onstage. They had written pieces of what would later be Essiniya, Fin Ghadi Biya Khouya, and Ouach Hna Houma Hna. Later in Casablanca, and with the help of friend Allal Yaala, who was also in the theater group doing musical arrangements, Nass el Ghiwane was officially founded. They have already started gaining momentum with live appearances in the Radio Television Marocaine when they hired talented traditional arts student Moulay Abdelaziz Tahiri. Abdelaziz was a close friend and collaborator of Boujemaa. He was very interested in reviving the Malhun repertoire of traditional Moroccan music and he would later leave Nass el Ghiwane to his hometown Marrakech to be a founding member of Jil Jilala. Within Nass el Ghiwane, he played the Guembri, instrument of the Gnawa people of Morocco, in addition to singing. Then for a brief period (less than a year), Allal would leave and a friend of Abdelaziz, Mahmoud Essaadi, would replace him. He was playing the lute strings with a 1/2-step mandoline, and would leave very soon after, to reemerge later with Jil Jilala.

Music style and scope

Nass el Ghiwane specialized in writing colloquial poetry about topics related to the social and political climate, and arranging its music in the Moroccan tradition. So we find songs that take from a certain type of music, like the Aita (Echems Ettalaa, Elhassada, Sif el Bettar, Ghadi Fhali...), the Malhun (Han wa Chfeq, Mezzine Mdihek, Qalet...), and Gnawa (Ghir Khoudouni, Lebtana, Mahmouma, Essadma, Ouach Jralek...), the Hmadcha (Laayate Aalik), the Jil Jilala (Allah ya Moulana, Haoulouni)

Although there were recordings of the band with Disques Gam and the RTM being played on the radio and on TV, what is always considered their first release is Essiniya (Disque D'Or) with Disques Ouhmane in 1974.

In a time where the only music available was middle-eastern pop music that sang about love, Nass el Ghiwane had prepared something new for Morocco: they mixed the Sufi chants and litanies of Zaouias (brotherhoods) like the Hmadcha and Aissawa with the elegant colloquial poetry of Melhoun adding to it the ancient rhythms of the Berbers and the healing dances of the mystical Gnawas. Morocco has just had its independence from the French and its population, still uncertain of what the future is hiding, was shocked and moved by the texts of Nass el Ghiwane: corruption, injustice and degradation of society. They were the first Moroccan band to mix such a diverse and rich heritage and to speak their minds even about the most forbidden subjects, public discussion of which may have led to imprisonment at that time. By the release of the immortal Essiniya album, it was just a matter of time before they became veterans of Moroccan music. They were the voice of the oppressed lower class and were banned on some occasions to sell their records and play on venues for the incredible amount of energy (and rebellion) they delivered to their public.

Soon after the release of Essiniya, Abdelaziz left the band due to artistic disagreement. He was replaced by the great Abderrahmane Qirouche, also known to the west as Abderrahmane Paco or in Morocco as Maalem Abderrahmane Baca. He was a Gnawa Maalem from Essaouira working also as a carpenter. He is also believed to have played with Jil Jilala for a brief period of time in their early years. Although in Abdelaziz they lost a great Melhoun writer, in Paco they gained a solid Gnawa artist.

Instruments

The instruments they used were all simple: drums and strings. They did not use any form of technology, except of course for amplification. They used percussions like the Bendir, Derbouka, Daadou', Ta'rija and Tbila, as well the Guembri and the Arabic lute. Nass el Ghiwane were all about simplicity, far from mainstream schmaltzy middle-eastern music. They came to remind Moroccans of their country's rich musical legacy and of the reason music was played at the first time.

Although Allal is skilled at playing the Arabic lute, he chose to use a fretless banjo for playing his steel strings because it has accurate metal tuners and can be easily strapped on-stage, as opposed to the lute which can be a real hassle to tune (12 strings with wooden tuners) and whose bulkiness requires the player to always sit down in order to play effectively. So he removed the frets to be able to play 1/4-step, just like the Arabic lute. His sound is so unique it is immediately recognizable! Listen to the intro to Haoulouni (Lotfia) to know what I mean!

The Evolution of the group

In 26 October 1974 came the first deception when Boujemaa died. Some say he was assassinated by the government, and some say he was poisoned. However, Omar claims that he died of an ulcer in the stomach in his (Omar's) house. Boujemaa was a charismatic character with a distinctive and powerful alto voice. He was also skilled at writing music; he contributed to the bulk of the band's early material. He was the symbol of Nass el Ghiwane.

The next album was a tribute to Boujemaa and had songs written with him that were sung on-stage but never recorded. The rest of the band which now comprised Laarbi, Omar, Allal, and Abderrahmane was the most stable line-up and would be very active for the next twenty years. In the song "Ghir Khoudouni", they changed the words at the end to say that "Boujemaa may moute, el Ghiwane mat moute": Boujemaa never dies, and the Ghiwane never die. In the background you can hear Abderrahmane do the usual weeping Gnawa do when they are paying tribute to a defunct Maalem. Nass el Ghiwane left a microphone standing alone in every concert to pay him tribute.

In 1981, Al Hal, a movie dedicated to their musical journey produced by Ahmed el Maanouni was released worldwide, and can be found here. For the years to come, they would stick to the same simplistic and honest attitude that made their fame, and produce a steady series of innovative albums and ecstatic live shows. By the end of the 80's, Nass el Ghiwane weren't a phenomenon anymore, they became legends! Laarbi provided the band with his unstoppable beats and his deep voice that reminded the sadness and despair of a young man coming from the country-side to a big city hoping for a better life. Omar was known for his muezzin voice and sense of diplomacy: he was the spokesperson of the band. Paco with his Gnawi attitude and his Guembri bass-lines, added to Nass El Ghiwane a crucial component: the trance of the Gnawa Music of Morocco. Allal being the quieter one and the least one to sing, simply embellished their music with string melodies of Melhoun and classical Arabic. Many popular bands emerged (and disappeared) after them. Examples include Jil Jilala, Lemchaheb, Essiham, Izenzaren, Aflak, Bouchnak, Arsad...

Up until 1993, Nass el Ghiwane have indulged into long (over 12 minutes) and rebellious Gnawa epics, thanks to Paco. Examples include Nerjak Ana, Essadma, Lebtana, Mahmouma, Taghounja, Ouach Jralek, Rod Balek, Mani Ghrib, Chab Rassi and many more. Practically all the songs penned by Paco were driven by his angry words and his Guembri. This is anti-commercialism at its best!

Unfortunately, in 1993 Laarbi was diagnosed of lung cancer. There was a slight divergence within the band concerning the direction they would take. Paco deemed the band was not financially viable for him. He also grew more interested in Traditional Gnawa music of Morocco and the whole band agreed that it was in everybody's interest that he leaves the band. Paco relocated to the old fortified sea-port town of Essaouira where he founded his own "troupe of traditional dancers and healers" with his two sons. Along with Marrakech, Essaouira is known for hosting a large number of Gnawa shrines. He released a number of recordings including some traditional Gnawa hymns, some original work, some covers of Nass el Ghiwane, and a tribute to Nass el Ghiwane, Boujemaa and Laarbi called "Kounna Khemsa": We were five. To this date he plays private healing sessions in Essaouira as well as the yearly summer "Festival d'Essaouira de la Musique Gnawa".

Nass el Ghiwane hired Redouane Arif on the backing vocals and Guembri and continued, once again, as a four-piece. Redouane had the huge legacy of Paco pending on him. Not only he did not do any lead singing, but his Guembri playing was sloppy, out-of-tune and for a good reason, buried in the mix. When Paco once laid the driving music with his Guembri and came forth doing lead singing and writing, Redouane was barely filling shoes which were bigger than him. All the songs after Paco left the band are characterized by being short (rarely above 6 minutes), and mostly reminiscent of the style of the Chaouia. This doesn't mean that Nass el Ghiwane stopped making quality music. On the opposite, the music was still pure Nass el Ghiwane, and the texts spoke of the same matters.

In 1997 misery did strike again, and in 1998, Laarbi died of his lung cancer. Although he was taken in charge by the late King Hassan II, he had a terminal illness that could not be cured. He died a hero of the Moroccan popular masses and a pioneer of North African music. The band was on infinite hiatus and Omar evidently took the control of the band as he was the only original founder of the band still alive.

The years after Laarbi Batma

In 1999, Rachid Batma saves the band from extinction and takes over his older brother's Tbila. Not only that, but he also tries to sound like him! They recorded "May Doum Hal" during the same year, and included the same song as a tribute to Laarbi. They toured afterwards reaching world festivals in USA, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Tunisia and more. They re-recorded some of their most notorious songs for a best-of compilation "Ghiwaniate" in 2000.

They released a new album in 2002 titled "Haoud Enna'naa". Another younger brother of Laarbi, Hamid Batma, replaced Redouane in playing the Guembri. Hamid and Rachid previously played in Mesnawa, a band from the Batma family village, 'Abda Oulad Mesnawi. In January 2005 they received the Golden Rebab prize of achievement.

More than thirty years after their inception, Nass el Ghiwane are still faithful to themselves and to their fans; they still play the same traditional instruments and sing about the same matters disregarding the tendencies of "modern" music. Although they will never be same now that only Omar and Allal are left from the classic years, their musical output is always of the utmost quality, and is still worth bearing the name Nass el Ghiwane.

Abderrahmane Paco is currently ill. He is in complete paralysis. We wish him well.

Influence on the Maghrebi Music

They have played a big role in the renewal of the Maghrebi music. Although their music is much less instrumental than the Raï music and is mainly based on voices and chorus, they can be considered among the influences which led to this new kind of music, hence Khaled one of biggest Rai singers started by playing Nass El Ghiwane in weddings and parties. Nass El Ghiwane where also the first band to introduce modem instruments like the banjo and the first to start the modernisation of traditional Moroccan and Maghrebi music especially the Gnawa music which has influenced their music in a great a proportion, they have also contributed to its popularisation and brought it to a larger public.

Political role

In the troubled and autocratic Morocco of the 70s with no freedom of speech, their beautiful lyrics using khafia an allusive technique often targeting the political regime, in a beautiful Moroccan arabic (Darija) were very appealing to the youth.

Source

Plz wait some secs and press play

¡Noche de San Juan! Saint John’s night!...A night celebrated in Puerto Rico and around the world!

Tonight is “Noche de San Juan” in Puerto Rico. Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Puerto Rico’s capital city. Part of the festivities of Noche de San Juan include music, food, and night long camping at the many beaches around the island. At the strike of midnight everyone jumps backwards into the water three (3) consecutive times.

The jumping in the water symbolizes the Christian tradition of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river by his cousin Saint John the Baptist. Folkloric beliefs in Puerto Rico also add to this tradition the ability to wash oneself from a bad year (financial, relationship or work-wise) and is the moment to start anew.

So here I am, 30 minutes till midnight sharing a deep rooted tradition with people from around the world. May this year be better than the last!

¡Hasta pronto! See you soon! --- Yiara Sofía

picture taken by Maria Torraca - Puerto Rico

The Shortest Night in Lithuania

The night from 23rd to 24th of June has been celebrated since pagan times in Lithuania. However, the meaning has changed. In ancient times the celebration was closely connected with flora. All the plants were worshiped and believed to have magic power. There were a number of rituals performed on that night and the following day.

When the Christianity came, the day was named after St. John. Since it was hard to make people forget their old religion, church has decided to include a part of pagan symbolism into mass.

Couple of years ago the 24th of June was announced an official holiday. Though nowadays both ancient and Christian images are mixed together to represent the date, I would say it’s just an official cover for another occasion to party with friends and skip a working day.

However, the old traditions and the main idea of the celebration are really beautiful. Nevertheless, I consider the occasion to be purely pagan and to my mind, Christianity shouldn’t have anything to do with those charming ancient traditions.

Mariette and the Pharoahs!

sarcophagus and Egyptian Museum
Mariette


Mariette with his sarcophagus
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I had to take my youngest sister (10 years old) to such a wonderful place to visit her ancestors. The Egyptian Museum was founded in the 19th century by the French Egyptologist , Auguste Mariette. The museum displays a rare collection of 5000 years of art which is considered the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. Over 250,000 genuine artifacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to Tut-Ankh-Amon collection of treasure, gold and jewelry which was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before. The present museum was built in 1900, in the neo-classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon.
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When I saw the memorial tomb of Mariette embraced in the garden of the Egyptian Museum I was keen to know more of him.
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According to Wikipedia, François Auguste Ferdinand Mariette (1821- 1881) devoted himself to the study of heiroglyphs and Coptic. He came to Egypt in 1850 on a mission assigned by the Louvre to fetch ancient manuscripts. He led a number of successful discoveries and dung into the Egyptian land.
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He died in Cairo and was interred in a sarcophagus (Wikipedia) .

The legality and the illegality

Mustafa Hamido

What happened in Gaza last week is not a military coup. It is, in fact, a trial from the legal government which is elected directly from people to take the control on the security forces which the ex-government had tried to keep its controlling on it. What happened is a struggle between the legality and the illegality, between those who are with the occupation and those who are resisting it and finally between those who are with the American project in the region and those who are against it. In the coming weeks, a lot of critical documents will be published and will clarify all mysteries which happened in Gaza and the west bank and which still hidden and not clear.

Music and our minds, moods, and feelings.

Is it true that music makes one smarter?

Music controls some cells of the brain for a particular way of thinking. After listening to classical music, one can quickly perform some spatial tasks such as adults can quickly solve jigsaw puzzle. This is because the classical music pathways are similar to the pathways used in spatial reasoning. Listening to classical music, these pathways are "turned on" and are ready to be used. This is how you can solve puzzle quickly but lasts for a short time after listening to music. Playing an instrument also improves the spatial skills as research has proved that music training creates new pathways in the brain. "Olivia Andrews"

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An International Language.

Music has been called 'The International Language' - a very simple thought with much meaning behind it. Even if you can't speak the language of a country, you can move, sway, dance and most of all enjoy the music of the country. We may not understand the words of a musical selection but we do understand the beauty. ”

Essortment.com”

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Music brings up deep feelings.

Now something beautiful about music, which we all go through, has to be said, remember when you heard that old song and you felt your heart ticking and the air fresher?!! , remember when you heard that song which wasn’t so sad when your eye dropped a tear? Now I won’t talk about the physiology of the brain because I frankly am, not familiar with it, but I sure have found out something, It’s that the human brain (I can only talk about what I have :) stores several things in the memory including feelings which aren’t easy to retrieve later, but the good part is that these feelings are like salt or pepper sprayed over the other contents of the pot at a time (the brain!), and songs especially are unique things, they’re certain words going on with a certain melody and a certain voice, so they’re distinct in our memory, whenever we hear that song a long time later, we feel almost the same way we felt, (not when we heard the song at first) but while we heard the song at first!!Here’s a little experiment, it’s really easy, someday, try to turn on a song and replay it a few times, then do it the next day, and then ignore that song and help out of it for like a week or two, then listen to it and!!!, believe me there will be something, even if you didn’t know what you were feeling at the time you heard it first, now you’ll know coz your brain found out in two weeks :) Please tell me when it works with you! “Mohammed Hasan”

From time to time, we hear a song that we like so much that we keep rewinding until the day is over, it’s more likely these songs that stick with certain feelings that ones that we choose, these songs are out there and sometimes we hear an old songs that we never heard before and be so much attracted to it, how about telling us which song you once stuck to! Just give us the name and download links will be available for them on this blog :).

Best Regards,

Mohammed H. Zaid Ali

A Day At The Beach

Boat ride, anyone?

Lebanon: 21 June, Summer Begins and It's Father's Day too.

Remember how, in Lebanon, we celebrate mother's day on the first day of spring. Well, tomorrow is June 21, officially the first day of summer. We are going to have 14 hours of sunshine all in one day. It will be the longest sunlit day of the year. I guess that's why we declare the beginning of summer on this day. Tomorrow is also father's day around here. So to all fathers out there, happy father's day.

I just wish the political situation was a bit better. Enjoying the beaches wouldn't be tarnished by worries about unclear expectations.

Anyway, here's a video about the beaches and relevant summer activities that usually take place during summer. The video was made by the Ministry of Tourism and the Middle East Airlines, so one would expect it to be a bit cheesy.

But then, what the heck, enjoy the summer everyone.

This is my town: Puerto Plata

Christopher Columbus discovered this natural port in the early 1490's. History has provided a couple of explanations for its name, which translated into English, means Port of Silver . Some say it was due to the silvery appearance the mist took on the background mountain, Isabela de Torres. Others say it wasn't the mist at all, but the silvery looking leaves of the guayaba trees that grow on the mountain. Others believe it derived from the appearance of thousands of shimmering silver coins in the port's waters at sunset. The beauty of Puerto Plata is illustrated by its nickname, 'La Novia del Atlantico' (The Bride of the Atlantic).
In 1540 the first fort in the New World was built, Fuerte de San Felipe, and the port became a stop for traders between Europe and this area. During the 1600's the Spanish lost interest in the port, moving south to Santo Domingo and the neighboring Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and Cuba. Having been abandoned, illicit activities increased, and as a result, the city was later destroyed by Spanish royal decree. In the 1740's the city was rebuilt by some Spanish families who immigrated from the Canary Islands. The thriving port and a tobacco boom made this city the wealthiest and cosmopolitan in the Caribbean for a few decades, beginning in the 1870's. It lost most of its importance of that time but did grow into the largest city on the North Coast of the country. The 1970's brought tourism to the area and while the city of Puerto Plata did not itself become a major tourist destination, it continues to have many visitors from the surrounding resort areas.
Many visit the city to see the historic fort, Fuerte de San Felipe, and the Victorian gingerbread-like mansions from the late 1800's, located in the older part of the city. There is a 2 km boardwalk, or Malecón, lined with typical Dominican restaurants, where you can take a walk and enjoy views of the port and the Atlantic Ocean. Popular attractions include the Amber Museum of Puerto Plata, featuring leaves, flowers, insects and reptile fossils trapped in amber (resin) pieces; the Brugal Rum Distillery, where they offer guided tours of how their rum is made; Central & Independance Parks, where you can see city residents enjoy a break from the mid-day sun under the shade of trees; and Mount Isabel de Torres , the mountain located just behind Puerto Plata. You can take a gondola/cable car from Puerto Plata, to the top, which will provide you with spectacular views of the city and surround area. Once at the top, you'll find the statue of Christ the Redeemer and beautiful botanical gardens.

Land of a thousand smiles or Golden Land Myanmar

I am one blogger from Myanmar. I want to introduce my mother land as my first step of joining in this Topics from 192 countries blog.
Myanmar occupies a large area of land between two of the world's most heavily populated countries- China and India, covering about 676,500 square kilometers equivalent to the size of United Kingdom and France combined.

Based on the comments by foreign travelers who have visited Myanmar, it is one of the safest countries on the planet to travel. Its natural resources and exotic beauty is a draw card for tourists to come and take documentary pictures of photogenic scenes throughout the nation.
The south-east Asian country, also known as the " Golden Land", is rich in historical heritage sites, unspoilt shady beaches, sustained traditional culture, and mysterious lakes.
Populated with 54million, Myanmar has been described as an anthropologist's dream by some writers as it possesses such a great diversity of ethnic groups with distinct dresses, customs and traditions.

While the largest group of Myanmar live mainly in the rivers, valleys and plains, many of the smaller ethnic minorities reside in the mountains and hills, increasingly venturing into the urban centers for better job opportunities and livelihood.

Yangon previously known as Rangoon has become a major business center after the government designate Pyinmana, a town in central Myanmar, as the country's capital later name Nay Pyi Daw, to which all the administrative departments have recently moved.
About Myanmar, have you ever been to read George Orwell's Burmese Days? In this book, you can see a picture of young Buddhist nuns, dressed in pink with sweet and genuine smiles on their faces and another picture of two young Buddhist monks, sitting in front of a temple inside the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, one of the most peaceful and sacred places.

The people of Myanmar, whose genuine smiles are so beautiful; and whose smiles had given you so much joy and happiness on your trip to Myanmar. Here belows are some photos of Myanmar.


Proud to be Myanmar:

Big River Man - Martin Strel

We have a guy who likes to swim down the rivers. A lot.

He is attempting to swim down Amazon. The whole lot.

http://www.bigriverman.com/

¡Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico! Welcome to Puerto Rico!

¡Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico! Welcome to Puerto Rico! It is an honor to share information about my beautiful island in this international forum. Puerto Rico (translated as “rich port”) is also known by its native name (from the Taino Indians) as Borinquen. People from Puerto Rico are known as Puerto Ricans, Borinqueños or Boricuas.

Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean. Bathed on its north shore by the Atlantic Ocean and on the southern shore by the Caribbean Sea, it is a beach paradise! We are known as the Enchanted Island. However, do not be fooled by the denominated name! Puerto Rico is a collection of three (3) beautiful islands that sum up to 78 major cities and municipalities. Our territory encompasses 100 x 35 miles of coast land, which include rain forests, dry/arid forests, cosmopolitan cities, breathtaking mountains, gorgeous valleys and quiet nature getaways. We are a U.S. territory, so U.S. dollars are the main currency and English is spoken (or at least understood) almost everywhere. El Yunque Forest in Luquillo, P.R. is the biggest rainforest under the Department of Natural Resources of the United States of America.

If you plan on studying in Puerto Rico you will have a wide choice of Accredited Universities to go to. Puerto Rico has over 5 universities with campuses around the island and over 10 postgraduate institutions to choose from. It has been said that intellectual growth is Puerto Rico’s best dealing card in world economics!

There is something poetic about Puerto Rico. The island gives itself to habitants and visitors alike. The arts are important for Puerto Rico and you will find numerous art museums, many literary publications from Puerto Rican poets, novelists, storytellers and other writers, a vast amount of galleries, artisans, and town celebrations that will fill your heart with music and nostalgic memories. The food not only nourishes your belly but will nourish your soul as well. Food and eating are not just an act, they are a reason to celebrate with friends and family, a moment to have heated discussions about politics and finances, and a moment to cherish the delectable spices the island has to offer.

There is a beautiful song, by Roy Brown, that says “Yo sería borincano aunque naciera en la luna”, roughly translated means “I would be from Borinquen even if I had been born on the Moon”. Puerto Rico is not just a place, it is a state of mind, a feeling that one carries in the soul, a musical melody that fills your heart with joy, a smile that never leaves your face…and even if you were not born in Puerto Rico, your heart could choose it as its second home!

I would like to know what you think about this brief introduction and am looking forward to more instances where I can share the enchantments of my beautiful country!

¡Hasta luego! See you later! – Yiara Sofía Blanco

Photograph of El Condado (north metro area) - Y.S.B. (c) 2006

New life for an old house

It was a run down old house in Peru, Indiana. Neglected for years, it had once even housed a meth lab. But the nonprofit Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre Group had other ideas. For three years they cleaned and scraped and painted and repaired. They donated their time and money and furniture. They rebuilt this house because it was the boyhood home of one of America’s most prolific song writers: Cole Porter.
In this house, Cole Porter spent his childhood, learned to play the piano and violin, and composed his first song. So the local group, with help from Cole Porter fans across the country, rebuilt it.
The Cole Porter Museum and bed and breakfast opened June 10. What had once been an eyesore in the town is now a lovely building that pays tribute to a talented songwriter.

The reconstitution of the Battle of Waterloo

The Lion Hill in Waterloo

Each year on the weekend before 18 June date where the Battle of Waterloo took place, in 1815, a reconstitution of the battle is made. People of all participating countries gather in Waterloo, put on the uniforms of this epoch and with horses, arms, and canons are going to the battle fields and simulate to fight as if it were the real battle. There are Belgians, Dutchs, Englishs, Scottishs, Germans and Frenchs soldiers running around in their fancy uniforms.

This is quite an event in Waterloo, the hotels are full of tourists and "soldiers", restaurants, and bars make the business of the year. While shopping in our Carrefour shopping center or other supermarkets, amongst the usual clients you can suddenly see a scottish soldier in his skirt together with a German and French standing at the cashier. There are also women participating, who carried food and water for the soldiers.

It's always a great time in Waterloo and many tourists and people from the country are coming to watch the battle.

So I took my camera and went to the Lions Hill, a monument which was erected in honor of all the soldiers who died during this battle. I also live in Waterloo so for me it is a very well known place.

more of my pictures of the battle reconstitution

history of the Lions Hill

history of the battle

Dominica through the eyes of ancients

I recently went down to the Carib Territory located on the east coast of the island where I was given a tour of a Carib Model Village which the Kalinago people ( Native Caribs) have recently implemented.

I had been hearing a lot about the site and finally made it down there for a visit. It really blew my mind at how professional and informative the tour was not to mention the way the incorporated the environment into the whole thing. From the onset they gave a historical account of the Carib people and their alternate way of life and after a brief round of questions we set off on tour which is where I was most impressed. Many of the historical landmarks at that part of the island were weaved into the tour and other cultural emblems (trees, plants, animals ect.) were also introduced along the trail. I got to see the structure where the Caribs held (and still hold) official ceremonies, the ancient dwelling spaces & crafts.

The majesty of the L'Escalier Tete Chien (snake’s stairs) and the way the ocean licked at the Windward Coast left me with a deep-seated awe.

Even after I left the village I was treated to some sweet cassava bread, roasted over coals in an iron pot. I felt my earth-self manifest in that moment. We take so many little things for granted, the intricate things that define who we are. The whole experience reminded me that there is something bigger than us all out there and that the mysterious terrain of the island is still a force to be reckoned with. The ground breathes, the ocean sneezes, the Kalinago people of the Commonwealth of Dominica endures - out of time. Here are a few more photos from the experience:

World Heritage Authorization

You may understand I am interested in the World Heritage.
In Japan,NPO "World Heritage Academy" started World Heritage Authorization last year.
I took an exam today.I was surprised to see many people regardless of age and sex attended that exam.

90 questions are on the test in 80 minutes.
We choose right answer among four options.
If the percentage of correct answers is higher than 80%, we'll take "Silver".
If it is higher than 60% but lower than 80%,we'll take "Bronze".
Only "Silver" people can try next "Gold" or "Platinum" test in December.

Would you like to try?
Well..
Which country holds the greatest number of World Heritage now?

Details from Rome and Italy

Rome is a wonderful city with an incredible monuments and ancient things. There are also many places in Rome not so famous but nice and particular too.

Rome like Venice?

Tourtles fountain

My Italian blog >

The Exam for University Entrance

There will be a big examination for the university entrance on 17th of June,2007 Sunday. It will start at 9.30 a.m. and take 195 minutes. You have to take an exam and win if you want to study in University in Turkey. This year about 1,640,000 people will take an exam and 415,000 are going to get a chance to study in universities. GOOD LUCK ALL OF THEM.

Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa

Hi all, I'm Edwin from Malawi, popularly known as the Warm Heart of Africa. It's the warm of Africa because of its friendly people, beautiful scenery and most importantly the fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

A lot is to follow on the beauty of Malawi and its Culture.

BEAUTY OF SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is shaped like a giant teardrop falling from the southern tip of the vast Indian subcontinent. It is separated from India by the 50km wide Palk Strait, although there is a series of stepping-stone coral islets known as Adam's Bridge which almost form a land bridge between the two countries. The island is just 350km long and only 180km wide at its widest, and is about the same size as Ireland, West Virginia or Tasmania.

For more details Contact nish@nishshanka.net or www.nishshanka.net

San Bernabé

Few days ago there was a big fiesta here in Logroño. The origins are almost 500 years ago, in 1521 when french army, guided by Francisco I, was trying to get into the walled town, and people had to survive during two months with bread, wine and fishes.
Logroñeses dug tunnels under the walls to reach river Ebro, where they fished during the night and hardly resisted untill french retired, on San Bernabé Day, 11th of June.

Now, every 11th of june, people in this city celebrate this day in the streets, by drinking wine and eating fishes with bread.

I think almost every fiesta in Spain is some way related to food and drink ;-)

Here you can see the celebration in the news.



And here you can see this picture and more...

The Dominican Food

The typical Dominican cuisine is very rich and varied. The most common meal known as “la bandera” (the flag) consists of white rice, beans, meat, vegetables and fritos verdes (green plantains fritters). The Dominican Sancocho is a gastronomic derivative of the Spanish cocido (stew), and each region of the country has its peculiar way of preparing it. Don’t leave without tasting a sancocho prieto, made of seven different local meats.
If time permits, we suggest you try other foods of the regional kitchen that for specific circumstances, can only be found here. For example, Samana’s pescado con coco (fish with coconut sauce); chivo de Azua (goat dish from Azua); and chivo liniero (goat dish from the north western region) which has an exquisite, peculiar taste because the goat eats wild oregano daily and consequently, its meat is seasoned while the animal is alive.
Johnny Cakes and mangú, gastronomic inheritance of the cocolos, immigrants of the Windward and Leeward islands, are part of our daily diet. You can ask the fritureras (women who sell fried food) in the beaches for the former as “yaniqueques”; and the mangú (a puree made of boiled platains) is already in the native breakfast menu of most hotels.
The casabe (flat round cassava bread) and catibias (cassava flour fritters stuffed with meat) are the only Taino foods we maintain in the typical Dominican diet. Those who enjoy natural food should know that cassava bread has a high content of vegetable fiber and less than 0.35% fat per portion. You can buy casabe in almost all the colmados (small grocery stores) and supermarkets in the country. Hotels and restaurants offering native food, serve it seasoned in substitution of bread.
Dominican Locrio
This native preparation of rice is the missing link of Valencian Paella (Spanish rice with seafood and meat). Apparently, the Spanish ladies who arrived here at the time of the Conquest, not having at their disposal the necessary ingredients to make the paella, adapted the recipe to the ingredients found on the island. For example, they substituted annatto for saffron, and giving free rein to their imagination, created a basic formula which originated the Dominican locrio.
In our country, locrio is made with the most varied ingredients. For this reason, it is considered the most versatile dish of the native kitchen, allowing us to create, with a little rice and whatever else is in at hand, an exquisite meal specially designed for our guests.

Another Dwelling Area

After the previous post with a picture of shacks in Soweto, I thought it worthwhile to look at another place where people live - admittedly for only a short time.

This is one of the rest camps (Lower Sabi) viewed from the East across the Sabi River.

Kruger Park is an amazing place where one can, even though you sit safely in your car, still experience the thrill of nature on the loose. I guess conservationists won't agree with that but anyway.

For you to see Kruger Park from your computer you could use Google World (try 25° 7' 7.49" S ,31° 54' 59.14" E (-25.1198,31.91594) to see Lower Sabi from above) and maybe even see some game or tune in to the single webcam in the park - wonder why there's only one. This is trained on a waterhole and you might be lucky or just admire the water trough and the bush behind it!

There is a commercial programme that allows you to view conservation area webcams.

The Port City is in Jeopardy

My beautiful birthplace, the port city of Bangladesh, is now in deep peril. The sudden mudslide due to heavy rainfall has killed more than 100 people in Chittagong.

Walls of mud turn Ctg into city of death

FROM TOP... Law enforcers, firemen and locals join their efforts to rescue the injured and recover bodies at Kushumbagh in Chittagong city yesterday following a mudslide there. Wasa intersection in the city goes under almost knee-deep rainwater after heavy downpour. PHOTO: STAR

Reuters reported:

City officials said they were trying to supply dry or cooked food to stranded families, especially children.Floods and mudslides have killed nearly 100 people in Bangladesh, mostly in the port city of Chittagong where dozens of hillside homes were buried after monsoon rains, officials and rescuers said on Monday.

At least 84 people died in the city, including entire families, where hillside homes were swept away and many other houses collapsed in the worst such disaster in decades.

Much of the city of nearly 5 million people, Bangladesh's commercial capital, was flooded by waist to chest-high water, closing down businesses, offices and transport, city officials and witnesses said.

Rescuers including troops, firefighters, police and volunteers searched for people reported missing, but their efforts were hampered by flooded roads and no electricIty after nightfall.

"It looks like we are living in a ghost city," one rescuer said. "Never before in my life I confronted such a calamity," said another.

The dead included five members of one family.

"We are facing a hell of a situation here," one rescuer said by telephone. "It's still heavily raining and visibility has sharply declined. Roads are all under water," one rescuer said. Weather officials said nearly 275 mm (11 inches) of rain fell in Chittagong and neighbouring districts on Monday. "The disaster caught us unawares, it struck suddenly," said Mokhlesur Rahman, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner.

The Reason of such disaster:

The local newspaper daily star reported: Indiscriminate hill cutting during the last three decades has led to the disappearance of over one hundred hills and partial destruction of hundreds others in Chittagong city, causing environmental hazards and raising the incidence of landslide.

Animal (Dogs) Shelter

We have visited Dogs Shelter with my wife last weekend. There are about 2000 dogs. Ms.Meral is the responsible for the shelter. She does her job with voluntarily. The place is so clean and tidy. I really could not believe my eyes. There are many people help these dogs by delivering milk, biscuits, dog food, some cleaning jel etc. www.fatihbelediyesiyedikulehayvanbarinagi.com This is the internet web site, but in Turkish. You may click.

Endemic species in Croatia

According to a research published recently, Croatia listed itself into top 200 sites that have a high proportion of endemic and rare species.
Study was done by John E. Fa and Stephan M. Funk and was published in Endangered Species Research journal.
It is nice to be in a company of well known sites such as Galapagos, Sri Lanka, Juan Fernández, Central Andean wet puna or Albertine rift forests in Central Africa. On the other hand, this puts very high responsibility to us to preserve those plant and animal species.
In Croatia there are 21 endemic species. Most well known among them is Velebitska degenija (Degenia velebitica), shown on the picture. In the nature it is the most rare plant in Croatia and can be found only at Velebit mountain. It's pictures are, though, not so rare and can be found on a coins of 50 Croatian Lipa.

Topics192 "A greater place"

Hi everyone, This is not actually an article rather than a simple suggestion to the great people who make the structure of "Topics from 192 countries".

My suggestion is that everyone here tries to pay a little bigger attention to the other articles, like for example, If you posted your article today, you can as well post comments to someone else, it will just show the collaboration and the firm hold of the structure of this community, this will even encourage readers to go deeper through what we write.

When a reader sees a very long article he might not even bother to read it, but If he saw that there were 22 comments on it he will probably give it a try, so what I'm saying is, A better connection and relationships between this community's contributors will only make it a greater place.

Mohammed H. Zaid Ali

P.S: Please tell me what you think of this suggestion.

Best Regards.

Things that irritate

There are some things that irritate me today in Mongolia. This post is kind of negative, but I promise my next post will be far optimistic and full of light.
- Messed up deposit & credit unions. These are non-banking instutions, which supposed to be controlled by the depositors through council. Although it was quite apparent that many of these unions were destined to bankrupt, many "greedy" depositors put their money against all odds because of high interest rates. Some of the unions were promising interest rates as high as their credit interest rate. Must be possible only in Mongolia. Now many of these unions are declared bankcrupt and there 8000 depositors who have lost USD 20 million. They are hungerstriking, demonstration and demanding the government to compromize their losses. Thet would mean we tax payers will pay. Irritating, isn't it?
- Repeating commercials. If you don't live in Mongolia, you must be wondering what the heck they are. It is like you see a commercial and that commercial repeats again just after its finish. Must be a terrible marketing policy. Do they think we are very dumb and it is necessary to repeat a commercial a couple of times in a row to make us understand what they are telling. Actually their commercials are very straight forward. Something like this creme will make your skin very soft and nice, that's all.
- Garbage disposing everywhere. When I am driving I often see people throwing almost everything out through their car windows. Many tenants are leaving their garbage disposals on the steps. A friend of mine saw that someone had cleaned his or her vacuum cleaner's bag on the steps. We used to have something called subbotnik during communist years. I don't think we need that again to get rid of garbage in our city, but to put the idea of not throwing garbage anywhere in our minds.
- Politicians. Their success often depend on how well they can lie. But in most countries when they lie they use some logics, but not in Mongolia. It is often hard to see who is telling truth or lie. The same applies to opposition too. They overexaggerate too much, so people have no idea what to believe. There is trend in Mongolia that our political leaders visit old people. One goes and visits a 95 year old man, other one finds someone who is 100 years old and beats him fair. We are starting to believe that the one who finds the oldest person and visits is the best one.
- Drivers in Ulaanbaatar City. Actually mongols are calm and slow people. But when they drive they go crazy hurrying. At the crossroad when I try to go into main road someone who is very far accelerates very hard and tries not to let me to come before him. I usually break to avoid collisions when cars come into road in front of me, which must be a stupid thing to do by their standard. During the period when I shift from pane 1 to 2, there are guys who can shift from 1 to 3 and come back directly to pane 1 after discovering that pane 3 speed is actually 1 km per hour slower than pane 1. Well, they are small and alert cars, but can you believe that a public transportation bus did exactly the same movements in front of me once. That driver can make Schumacher envy. Actually there is a simple rule for driving a bus in Ulaanbaatar. When there is a crossroad look right, front and left. If there is no another bus around just drive. The most irrating thing is that the cars behind you signal when you are waiting on a red light. Must be telling you that you are too stupid to see that there is no traffic police around.

From 19 to 23 june Gnaoua World Festival

The Gnaoua World Music Festival is a Gnawa music festival held annually in Essaouira, Moroccoo.

The festival provides a platform for exchanges and a meeting point of music and dialogue between foreign artists and the mystical Gnaoua (also Gnawa) musicians. In this melting-pot of musical fusion, the Gnaoua masters invite players of jazz, pop, rock and contemporary World music to explore new avenues.

http://www.festival-gnaoua.net/

Yemen: war in Saad'a

There is a small war going on in Yemen those days, the war of Saad'a, a large group led by a man called "Al Hothy" are Shia (and the government claims they are supported by Iranian government) are in war with the government for nearly 3 years and the reasones are not clear, some say they declared war on the government some say it's all a big lie yet there is no clear reasone and each party is blaiming the other.
All we know is that this war coast us a lot of money and lives couldn't it be solved with out the use of force? We still don't know.

G. W. Bush in Sofia

The last two days in Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria) were different. The President of the USA and the First Lady were on an official visit here. After Clinton in 1999, it's the second time a US President comes to Bulgaria. The two Presidents Georgi Parvanov and George Bush talked about the case with the Bulgarian nurses in Libya, the controversial missile defense plan, American investments, and the future of Kosovo, among other topics.

As usual, there were monstrous security measures and Sofia downtown was a restricted area during Bush's visit. No cars were allowed in the so called First security zone (where the Presidency, the Council of Ministers, and the Archaeological Museum are). There are a lot of businesses in that zone and people were afraid of traffic jams and not being able to go to work. Such grim forecasts did not come true and Monday was not worse than any other Monday. The center was even more calm than in the weekends. There were no major problems and a police force of 3500 men was able to handle the visit. Some businesses closed for the day, other worked as usual.

Many people sighed with relief when Air Force One took off from Sofia Airport and life is back to normal now.

An Spideal, Galway

I've been so busy with work that a post I have been meaning to write about our recent elections here as there are probably some things that we do here in Ireland which would be unheard of in other countries. But that is a post for another day and seeing as how we haven't yet got a new Government I have a few days yet. I will explain all this soon I promise.

As things were so busy it was wonderful then to get out of Dublin where I live and head to the west of Ireland, to Spiddal which is outside Galway City and an absolutely wonderful place to visit.

Spiddal, or An Spideal as it is known in Irish, is in a Gaelteacht area. This basically means that Irish is the first language in the area. Incidentally Spiddal is also where film director John Ford was born in 1894.

It is a wonderful place to set out and explore Connemara, a magically beautiful area with breathtaking scenery.

There are two beaches in Spiddal, my favourite to go taking photographs is An Ta Mor, which means the big beach in Irish. Here's some below.







And here's a girl practising her hurley skills, I wrote about that before here and also here.



You can see more photographs here on Flickr. Bye for now, Slan go Foil, Red Mum

The Island (Dominican Republic)

How is to live in a tropical paradise?
In a magic island with beautiful beaches, warm sun & great People
The truth is, I never asked that question to myself……..
The Dominican Republic is an Island with a population of 8.5 million (2002)
8.5 million of Stories, dreams and hope.
But, this is my first post and I just want to show you some amazing places of my country
a wise men said: “a image is more eloquent than words”
Just for today, I let the images speak for me.

June ..!

It seems to be a busy summer for Egypt this year.. June carries all the air of tension ! Today 11th June, Egypt's Upper House of Parliament ( Shura Council )has launched the first round of its elections. The Governing Party Nominates standing up for the Brotherhood party!

Moreover, the Egyptian house is quite busy with exams especially those of the secondary stage, the word exam is whispered in the air, in a big "celebration" that newspapers' front page bears the top news of both elections and exams !

Both events share the same slogans : Transparency, results, success, evaluation!

The ironical part lies in the fact that how each party allocates a large sum of money for the necessary publicity for its nominee in the fierce competition of elections for his "seat" in the Council! Similarly, the poor Egyptian family strives hard to pay every penny for her son's ( or daughter's) education especially in the final stage of school , for another fierce competition to reserve his "seat" in university!

It seems that it's about "seats",,isn't it?

New start! New domain!

Hi,everyone!

I got original domain for this blog "topics192.com".

I hope our readers and writers will enjoy more than ever!

COMSN's Dishonesty

You know,Japan is the country in which society is aging.
Many company sees business chance for nursing-care for elderly people.
Goverment helps those companies.
One of the largest care company "COMSN" received the subsidy by illegal application.
They got the money by making up straw person.
COMSN was ordered to suspend business.
Now,more than 65,000 caretakers and 24,000 employees are very anxious about their future.
Of course stock price of COMSN is falling every day unfailingly.

Baghdad - The capital of Iraq.

I might not keep posting about where I live, because I might run out of words!, and may be because I have lots of other interests, but a good starter I thought would be introducing you a little bit to my world.

Baghdad

I’m not going to brag, nor complain, this article is about Baghdad, the city I always loved, the one that lies just at the center of Iraq, I wrote a lot about our sorrow and pain, our dark ages and things that don’t please the eye, for this place, I’m going to tell you how beautiful Baghdad really is, or to be frank “was” hopingly “will be” again in the future.

First I’ll give you a quick glimpse about our lovely city. In the past times it was built as a perfect circle, a rounded wall surrounded it, it was a unique style in Arabic architecture, however it expanded much beyond the circle after that, yet traces of the historical walls and gates remain still during the ages. The perfect blue river of Tigris (Dijla), pierces the city dividing it into two divisions attached by several bridges.

The River shore has always been a place were casinos are built and people went after the sunset to spend lovely evenings being either loving couples, big families, or even groups of guys spending some good time, some other people preferred to swim in the water during summer days when it’s glittering under the hot sun and running smoothly against the wobbling sand of the steaming heat.

Baghdad has always been a place were you could surprisingly make new friends about anywhere, may be you’re buying a shirt at a shop and you’re suddenly a friend to a bunch of new people, and whenever you’re lost, It’s not that they’ll show you the way, they’ll drive you there!.

Another great thing about Baghdad is the vast number of leisure places where you could relax, have fun, and spend quality time, the great hotels, the fine restaurants, the big nice clubs, and a lot of other great things.

This was the same Baghdad you hear about in the news everyday, that of course if you watch the news!, It may all be gone by now, but we always keep the good image in our minds, hoping to see it again not very far away from now.

Best Ragards,

Mohammed H. Zaid Ali.

Privatizing Synthetic Life*

*Cross posting from UrShalim (in Lebanon)

"Scientists working to build a life form from scratch have applied to patent the broad method they plan to use to create their "synthetic organism"."

"Dr Craig Venter, the man who led the private sector effort to sequence the human genome, has been working for years to create a man-made organism."

"The J Craig Venter Institute's US patent application claims exclusive ownership of a set of essential genes and a synthetic "free-living organism that can grow and replicate" made using those genes."

Those for say: "The effort could result in "designer microbes" that produce biofuels such as ethanol, and hydrogen. They could also be engineered to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere."

Those against say: "The company was pressing ahead with its work despite the fact the public had not had the chance to debate the "far-reaching social, ethical and environmental implications". And that "these monopoly claims signal the start of a high-stakes commercial race to synthesise and privatise synthetic life forms.""

I say: There is no stopping this now. If the 20th century was the century of physics, the 21st century is going to be the century of biology with outbursts in genetic sciences. Expect more tinkering.

Scientists had already assembled the first synthetic virus in 2002.

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Syrian international Rally has started

Mustafa Hamido

Syrian international rally has started in Syria onThursday . A lot of Arabic teams and international teams are participating in this rally which is considered as a fifth round of the Middle East champion chip. Qatari Nasser Al-Attiya and Emirate Al-Qasimi are the expected to win this rally due to their experience and their international participations.

HAMMAMET: The Ibiza of Tunisia.

We are already in June and the discotheques of Tunisia prepare with the opening of the season. Last year, there were several world DJ's like Tiësto, Deep Dish, David Guetta... and this year we await others as well…Don't miss the opportunity to be among us.

Global warming killing frogs

A red eyed tree frog or Agalychnis callidryas is seen on a leaf in the rainforest of the Monteverde National Park in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Tuesday, May 22, 2007. Recent climate change studies establish the link between global warming and amphibian disappearances and extinctions, according to Dr. Alan Pounds, who has been studying climate change and frog declines in Monteverde for more than 20 years. (AP Photo/Kent Gilbert)

air zimbabwe ad

This is really nostalgic for Zimbabweans.. A reminder of a time past.

Escape from Alcatraz

Last Sunday, 1800 people jumped from ferry boats near Alcatraz island into the chilly waters of San Francisco bay to begin one of the toughest triathlons in the world, known as Escape from Alcatraz. The 1.5 mile swim is followed by a short (1 mile) warm-up run, before the contestants climb on their bicycles for an 18 mile circuit of the Presidio area. They continue with an 8 mile beach run, including the notorious 400 foot sand ladder, to the finish line.
Places in the race are highly prized by athletes all around the world. Some qualify for the race by winning other triathlons, others win a place by lottery (they must exhibit physical readiness). In all, over 36 countries were represented this year as well as most of the states of the USA. Ages ranged from 12 to 74.
The city turned out to watch the race and enjoy the 13th annual Fitness Festival & Expo. The race benefits the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

LISBON DOWNTOWN

partial view

(special thanks to O JUMENTO)

EURO 2008

BELGIUM - PORTUGAL (1-2)

Nani & Postiga

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" Gavurdağı " Salad

My wife's relatives have visited us this weekend. I have made Gavurdağı salad for dinner. This is very delicious. It is very common in Southern east of Turkey ( City of Gaziantep). I have tasted it 6-7 years ago in Gaziantep. I was really shocked. It was perfect. I will only explain what I use to make Gavurdağı. We need a lot of stuff. Tomatoes, onion, garlic, fresh mint, parsley, green pepper, lemon, red pepper(powder), virgin olive oil, dried mint, salt, pomegranate water (this is special and typical Turkish souce. Pomegraneta get dried under sun and gets special souce. you can find some markets) and walnuts. I can give you 100% guarantee about its deliciousness. By the way, everbody enjoyed the salad at dinner.

Whitewater rafting at Trisuli River

141 km long Trisuli River is one of the most popular rafting river with exciting rapids, impressive views and easily accessible from Kathmandu. It's just 2 to 4 hours drive from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

Most of the rapids have names "Ladies Delight", "Upset", "Surprise" and so on. "Upset" and "Surprise" are the violent ones that get you soaking wet within few seconds. At different places, instructors may allow you to swim in the river where there are not any rocks - with life jackets though. Flowing with the river is also another exciting part - people with guts but no swimming skills may even choose to take dip in the river.

Small little houses are seen at the top of the stony hill above the river. The thick forests, spectacular views, water hitting at rocky shores add more excitement to your trip. Some local childrens can also be seen swimming. Village childrens wave and shout "hello" at you at different points. Even people in the moving buses, which can seen from the river, wave at you. Trisuli river is indeed an exciting rafting destination.

My personal account on rafting at Trishuli.

Barter Trade among 192 countries

Dear our writers

This is Shinji.
I've been thinking about trading with people from various countries.
When we travel abroad,we can find many interesting products in other countries.
I thought it's fun to do barter trade among trusted people from the world.

For the start,I've sent an invitation of the new project to the writers who have posted more than 10 posts in the past.
I don't know if this project will be successful,but I'm happy if you enjoy it.

URL is http://barter192.ning.com/
This is a closed SNS,so you can't access without an invitation.
I'm sorry for other writers who don't get an invitation now.
I'm going to send an invitation when you post more than 10 posts in the future.(please let me know)

This image is the toppage of the closed SNS.
I'm submitting Japanese towel.

You Cant Generalise About South Africa

There are such a range of people, environments and positions in South Africa

• shacks to mansions
• modern cities to poor rural areas
• eleven official languages
• the very poor to the rich
• football to jukskei to rugby
  
• real great achievements to horrible actions
• the good, the bad and the weird
• and many more....
  

that I can't hope to cover them all.

So lets start at the top and move through the list:

The shacks below


are a few kilometers from the mansions of Sandton and a few hundred meters from the only street in the world where two Nobel prize laureates have houses - Vilakazi street where Nelson Mandela and Despond Tutu both have houses, not far from the Hector Peterson Museum.

More on all these unknown? but interesting places as we go along.

Costa Rica plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero before year 2030

General view of the National Park Tapanti in Orosi, 80 miles (128km) of San Jose. Costa Rica is drawing up plans to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero before the year 2030, the government said on Thursday, and aims to be the first nation to offset all its carbon. (REUTERS Photo/Juan Carlos Ulate)

If you want to read more click here.

Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival

more pictures at http://www.lfcc.lt/ds/foto.htm

The song and dance celebration tradition has been alive in Lithuania for 79 years, starting with 1924, when the first Song Day took place. Since the first Song Day to this moment, 15 Song and Dance Festivals have been held. As time went by, the song and dance celebration tradition took deep root and developed from a one-day event, where only choirs performed, to a six-day celebration consisting of more than 10 different concerts and other events. After the restoration of the independence in Lithuania they run-up every four years at the beginning of July. This year Song and Dance Festival starts on July 5.

In total about 30 thousand people take part in the song and dance celebration events. In terms of age, they are children, young people, adults and senior citizens. In terms of social disposition they come from all the social layers. Nationality-wise, not only Lithuanian but the companies of the national minorities in Lithuania, i.e. Russian, Polish, Belarus, as well as guests from Latvia, Estonia and other neighbouring countries take part.

The complete article available at http://www.dainusvente.lt/index.php?3245165023

A Shorthike to Shivapuri, near Kathmandu

The Shivapuri hill is quite close to Kathmandu. I joined a group of friends - two swedish and a nepali in a short walk to the monastary in Shivapuri National Park. The problems with foreigners in developing countries like ours is there's always bias. They paid Rs. 250 per person while we paid only Rs.10 to enter the park. The walk was pretty short - just 2 hours or even less to reach the beautiful monastery. This north region of Kathmandu valley gets lots of rain than other parts. Even we were welcomed by mild rain, adding excitement to our clean walk; finally we got looks of hikers. The views were great from the hill - the monastery and its interior were even more breath-taking.

The monastery at Shivapuri hill, with beautiful buddhist flags on its side
More photos are posted in my blog.