Friday, August 30, 2013

SONOMA COUNTY WUNDERHAMMER

I ATTENDED THIS EVENT AT THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT AND SAW SOME RAILROAD EVENTS,  SOME EXHIBITS WERE OF DIFFERENT OF DIFFERENT RAILROAD CARS THAT WERE OF COACHES, HAND RAILS, A BICYCLE RAIL CAR AND VARIOUS OTHER STEAM POWERED.  I LEARNED FROM SMART THAT THE TRAINS ARE TRYING TO BUILD A RAILROAD SYSTEM FROM MARIN COUNTY THROUGH SONOMA COUNTY BY 2016,  THE TRAINS WILL HAVE ERGONOMIC SEATS SOME OF THE RAILS HAVE BEEN BUILT HERE.  THE ANNOUNCER WAS VERY LOUD THEY HAD A NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBIT OF SOME NONNATIVE ANIMALS AND SKULLS OF ALLIGATORS. 
THEY HAD PEOPLE DRESSED IN ANTIQUE CLOTHING IN STRANGE HATS AND EYEGLASSES AND OLD TIME PARASOLS.  SOME OF THE BOOTHS WERE FULL OF HANDMADE SOAPS, SOME HAD ESSENTIAL SPRAYS.  THEY HAD MANY TYPES OF FOOD AND DRINKS.  IT WAS A FESTIVE ACTIVITY. 

THEY EVEN HAD A HYPNOTISTS FOR CHILDREN.  THERE WERE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT I MET THERE.  THEY HAD THREE TO 5 BANDS THAT HAD JAZZ  AND ROCK.  THE CHURCH BAND WAS A YOUNG BAND THAT HAD SOME FOLKS PLAYING TUBA AS WELL AS ACCORDION AND TRUMPETS.  ONE GUY HAD A MACHINE THAT WAS FROM THE 1800'S.  THE PRESS WAS FOR MAKING JEWELRY.  J=HE CUT COINS INTO SHAPES FOR JEWELRY.  SOME FOLKS HAD BOOTHS OF CROCHETED HATS , PARASOLS, SOAPS, AND DOLLS. ETC.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

AN AUGUST LESSON WAS WITH ABUNDANCE FOR  REV.JOE HOOPER WHO SAID TO HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE BY GIVING FREELY SOMETHING YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF.  OUR AFFIRMATION WAS TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE SO TO GIVE FREELY.  HE SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY TO HAVE US CREATE WAYS TO HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCES.  HE ALSO SAID THERE ARE TIMES TO STOP GIVING WHEN YOU HAVE NO MORE TIME OR ENERGY.

SPIRITUAL LIVING

AN AUGUST LESSON WAS THAT THE YEAR SHOULD BE TO JOYOUSLY GIVE WITH ABUNDANCE KNOWING THAT AS I GIVE I DO RECEIVE.  THE SPEAKER  WAS JOE HOPPER WHO WAS A VIBRANT SPEAKER WHO TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN BECOMING A REVEREND AND THAT HE MET EDWARD IN A CONFERENCE AND HE ENJOYS COMING HERE,  HE SPREADS LOVE TO ALL WHO COME TO THE CHURCH AND EVERYONE WHO HOPES TO REVITALIZE. 

THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED HIS VITALITY.  I ENJOYED SINGING THERE.  

BLUE MOON

A BLUE MOON IS APPEARED ON AUGUST 20 AND IT BRINGS US AN AUGUST FULL MOON.  IT IS AN OBSCURE RULE OF ASTRONOMY.  THERE WERE 2 FULL MONS IN ONE MONTH .  A SECOND FULL MOON IN ONE MONTH.  A SECOND FULL MOON APPEARED  IN ONE MONTH RESULTING FROM MISINTERPRETATION.  ACCORDING TO THE PHRASE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLOR OF THE MOON.  THEIR ARE CERTAIN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS THAT OCCUR WHEN VOLCANOES ERUPT.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Thursday, August 29, 2013

IRAN CULTURE

THEIR CULTURES AND RELATED STORIES ARE ECLECTIC AND AND PART OF THE PERSIAN SPIRIT AND A CLUE TO THEIR SPIRIT.THEY SPEAK PERSIAN AND ALSO TO ITS HISTORY  THEY SPEAK PERSIAN AND ALSO IRANIAN LANGUAGE. 

THEY HAVE MANY  TRADITIONAL TEA HOUSES WITH THEIR  UNIQUE CULTURAL  PRESENTATION.  ALL HAVE STRONG CHAI TEA AND A HOOKAH. A HOOKAH IS A WATER BASED SMOKING PIPE.    THEY SERVE FAVA BEANS.  WITH SALT AND VINEGAR AND DESSERTS.

98% OF MUSLIMS LIVE IN IRAN.  THERE ARE ABOUT 89% WHO FOLLOW SHIA, SOME FOLLOW PERSIAN DESCENT.THEY HAVE MANY CHRISTIANS , ASSYRIANS,  AND  ROMAN CATHOLICS, AND SOME JUDAISM.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS THAN WE DO.  SOME ARE A PROPHET'S 'S BIRTHDAY.  THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL HOLIDAYS FOR THE VICTORY OF THE 1979 REVOLUTION.

THEIR WEDDING CEREMONIES HAVE A TYPICAL 2 STAGE CEREMONY.  THE IST IS A LEGAL PART AS THEY SIGN A CONTRACT.  THE SECOND STAGE IS A WEDDING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION WITH FEASTS.  THEY HAVE MANY ITEMS SPREAD ON THE FLOOR WITH FABRIC -HERBS, SEEDS, SPICES, ANGELICA, TEA, FRANKINCENSE, NUTS, AND APPLES, PERFUME, ETC.  A SCARF OF SILK IS ON THE BRIDE'S HEAD.  THEY ARE GIVEN A BOOK FOR GOD'S BLESSING.  GIRLS MUST BE AT LEAST 15 YEARS OLD.

THEIR PERSIAN RUGS HAVE BEEN VITAL TO THEIR CULTURE.  IRANIANS WERE SOME OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO WEAVE CARPET.  THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF FINE SILK CARPETS DERIVED FROM THE NOTION OF BASIC NEEDS.  THE COMPLEXITY OF RUGS INCREASED TO A POINT WHERE RUGS ARE NOW DECORATIVE.  IRAN PRODUCES MORE SILK WOOL RUGS  THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.  THEY HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE HISTORIC TIMES.

THEIR GARDENS ARE A REFLECTION OF PARADISE ON EART.  THE WORD GARDEN COMES FROM PERSIAN ROOTS.  THEY HAVE ANCIENT ROOTS OF FOOD TYPES.  BREAD IS IMPORTANT.  BREAD IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.  SOME OF THE POPULAR TYPES ARE BAKED IN CLAY OVEN.  YOGURT IS A FERMENTED PROCESS.  THEY MAKE MANY MANY RICE DISHES.  BY EATING RICE THEY  FEEL THEY ARE GETTING CLOSE TO GOD.  THEY EAT MEATBALLS, LAMB, BAKLAVA, EGGS, AND SPROUTED WHEAT GRAINS.  SOME OF THE POPULAR TYPES ARE BAKED IN CLAY IN CLAY OVEN.  YOGURT IS A FERMENTED PROCESS THAT IS WIDELY  USED.  TEA IS A POPULAR DRINK.
 
SINCE THEIR 1979 REVOLUTION THEY HAD MORE RESTRICTIONS WITH OTHERS.  ONE OF THE LARGE SCALE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN FROM TRADITIONAL BACKGROUNDS SO THEY COULD GET JOBS.  TODAY THEY HOLD SCIENTIFIC, ART, LITERARY POSITIONS.  THEY MADE MODERN BRICK IN 6000 B.C.   THEY DEVELOPED FRUIT OF IRANIAN ORIGIN.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG                                                                        




Wednesday, August 28, 2013

BULGARIA CULTURE

A NUMBER OF ANCIENT CULTURES WERE THE BULGARS,  THEY HAVE A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF FOLK MUSIC IN THE WORLD.  THESE THESE ARTIFACTS INCLUDE TOMBS  AND TREASURES.  THEY HAVE TRACES OF THEIR MUSIC AND ARCHITECTURE.  THEY PERFORM MANY RITUALS THAT ARE KEPT ALIVE IN THE IN MODERN BULGAR.  THE OLDEST TREASURE OF GOLD IN THE WORLD DATES BACK TO THE 5TH MILLENNIUM B,C,  AND COMES FROM THE NECROPOLIS.  DURING MIDDLE AGES BULGARIA  ALSO GAVE THE WORLD THE CYRILLIC SCRIPT, THE SECOND MOST WIDELY USED ALPHABET.

THEY HAVE MANY MUSICAL  TRADITIONS WITH HISTORIANS.  ONE OF THE EARLIEST COMPOSERS OF BULGARIA WAS YOAN KUKUZEL WHO WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS WORK.  THEY HAVE A TRADITION OF CHURCH SINGING IN BULGARIA.  ORTHODOX MUSIC IS A LIVE.  IT IS PERFORMED AT CONCERTS BY CHOIRS AND SOLOISTS.

BULGARIAN FOLK MUSIC IS UNIQUE WITH RHYTHMS OF UNUSUAL MEASURES, AND COMPLEX HARMONIES.  THEY USED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS ZUMBA OR WOODWIND AND A DRUM.

THE GUIDA OF BULGARIA IS A LONG SYMBOL OF THE COUNTRY AND IS MORE WELL KNOWN IN THE COUNTRY.  THE BAG IS OF GOAT SKIN AND HAS A HORN ON IT.  DANCES HAVE COMPLEX RHYTHMS AND MOST ARE CIRCLE DANCES.  THEY PLAY AND DANCE TO FOLK MUSIC.  SOME TROOPS ARE WORLD FAMOUS.  AFTER 1870'S THEY HAD A WAR AND SEVERAL CONFLICTS.  BY 1990 THE COMMUNIST PEOPLE TOOK OVER.  THEY HAVE 7.3 MILLION FOLKS HERE,  THEY HAVE HEAVY INDUSTRY AND POWER ENGINEERING,

THEIR PREHISTORY DATES TO 1,4 MILLION YEARS AGO.  SOME FOLKS LATER  MADE GOLD COINS AND JEWELRY OVER 6000 YEARS AGO.  THEY HAD MANY BATTLES AND CONQUESTS.  THE BALKAM MOUNTAINS RUN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.  THE SOUTHWEST OF THE COUNTRY REACHES THE BLACK SEA.  THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST PENINSULA.   BULGARIA HAS A MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE WITH MANY VARIANCES IN TEMPERATURE.  THEIR POPULATION OF EAGLES IS GROWING.  THEY OPENED AN ELECTRONIC RECYCLING PLANT THIS THE OLDEST OAK AND PINE TREES IN THE WORLD.  THEY HAVE MANY BEARS AND JACKALS.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

VIETNAM CULTURE

VIETNAM CULTURE IS BASED IS ON CULTIVATION OF WET RICE AND IS THE OLDEST TRIBES IN EAST ASIA.  IT HAS HAD CHINESE INFLUENCE ON THE CULTURE - POLITICS, SOCIALLY AND MORAL ETHICS.  IT IS PART PART OF EAST ASIA.

THEY GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA IN THE 10TH CENTURY.  NOW THEY EXPANDED THEIR LANDS TO CHAMPA CIVILIZATION. PARTS OF CIVILIZATION.  RESULTED IN MINOR REGIONAL VARIANCES IN THEIR CULTURE BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPOSED TO CHINESE CHARACTERS AND OTHER GROUPS.  DURING FRENCH COLONIAL PERIOD THEY USED A LATIN LANGUAGE AS WELL AS A VIETNAM LANGUAGE.  SINCE 1990'S VIETNAM HAS SEEN A GREATER RE EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS CULTURES AND MEDIA.  THEY BELIEVE IN ANCESTOR REVERENCE.  THEY THINK THE DEAD HAVE AN ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE FORTUNE OF THE LIVING. THEY BELIEVE IT ENSURES THE WELL BEING OF THE DEAD.  THEIR KINSHIP EMPHASIZES THE INDIVIDUAL.  EASTERN CULTURES VALUE THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY OVER CLAN AND VIETNAMESE VALUE CLAN OVER FAMILY.

DURING FRENCH COLONIAL PERIOD THEY USED A LATIN LANGUAGE AS WELL AS VIETNAM LANGUAGE.  

THEIR TRADITIONAL WEDDING IS IMPORTANT.  IT COMBINES WESTERN AND EASTERN TRADITIONS.  BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE VALUED FOR THEIR THE CONTRIBUTIONS.  THEY HAD USED ARRANGED MARR9IAGES.  TODAY THEY CHOOSE THEIR PARTNERS.  A BETROTHAL CEREMONY IS THE GROOM AND FAMILY.  WITH BETROTHAL CEREMONY THE GROOM FAMILY VISITS  THE BRIDE'S FAMILY BRINGING PRESENTS OF FOOD, MONEY AND WINE.  BOTH FAMILIES AGREE TO PICK A DATE.

ON WEDNESDAY THE GROOM'S FAMILY GOES TO THE BRIDE'S HOUSE FOR PERMISSION TO MARRY HER AND HE TAKES HER TO HIS HOUSE.  GUESTS ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE.  THE COUPLE ASKS THEIR ANCESTORS FOR PERMISSION AND EXPRESS  GRATITUDE FOR THEM FOR PERMISSION.

THE RELIGION IN VIETNAM HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A MIX OF BUDDHISM, CONFUCIUSISM, AND TAOISM.  VIETNAM BUDDHISM IS TYPICALLY VERY POPULAR.  IT IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY WHICH OF THE 3 RELIGIONS PEOPLE BELIEVE IN.  THEY VALUE EDUCATION.

THEY HAVE TRADITIONAL ART  THAT WAS INFLUENCED BY CHINESE BUDDHIST ART FROM ANCIENT TIMES.  IT WAS INFLUENCED BY BUDDHIST ART WITH TAOISM.  THE CHINESE INFLUENCED THEIR CERAMICS,  THEY MAKE LACQUER PAINTINGS.

THE VIETNAM FOLKS PLAY CLASSICAL MUSIC AND IT IS THEIR OLDEST FORM.  THEY HAVE 50 NATIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND HAVE CHAMBER AND IMPERIAL COURT MUSIC.

THEY LIKE TO HAVE DISTINCT VIETNAMESE PUPPETRY ART THAT HAD ITS ORIGIN'S IN THE NORTH.  IT IS AN ART OF USING SPECIAL WOODS AND PAINTINGS.  IT IS PART OF THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE.

VIETNAM CUISINE IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE AND THEY USE VEGETABLES, SOY SAUCE AND FISH OF MANY TIMES.  THEY USE MANY NOODLES AND SOUPS.  THEY HAVE MANY RICE AND BEAN SOUPS THAT ARE EATEN FOR BREAKFAST.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

POLAND CULTURE

POLAND HAS A HISTORY OF A 1000 YEARS.  IT IS CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH VARIOUS EUROPEAN REGIONS.  WITH ORIGINS IN GERMANIC, LATIN AND BYZATINE WORLDS.  THEY LIKE ARTISTS AND FOLLOW THEIR TRENDS.  THEY HAVE DEVELOP[ED INTO A GOOD COUNTRY.  THEIR HISTORY CAN BE TRACED TO THE MIDDLE AGES.

POLISH FOOD IS KIELBASA, PIEROGI,  PYZY KOPUTKA, GLOBAKI, SLEDIZIE, SCHALVOWY, ZUREK, ZUPA, POMIDORA.  THEY DRINK VODKA AND GORZALKA.  POLAND IS EUROPE'S 3RD LARGEST BEER PRODUCER.

THEIR CITIES  REFLECT THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF EUROPEAN STYLES.  HISTORY HAS DESTROYED SOME BUILDINGS IN WW II.  THEIR OLD TOWN WAS DAMAGED AS WELL.  THEIR CAPITAL IS KRAKOW IS BEST PRESERVED AND HAS BEEN RESTORED.  IT HAS ABOUT 40 CHURCHES OF GOTHIC, RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE INFLUENCES.

SINCE THE 1800'S POLAND HAS HAD MANY ART SCHOOLS WITH MONUMENTAL PORTRAYALS.  MUCH OF THEIR ART IS ENJOYED WORLDWIDE.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

ROMANIA CULTURE

THIS CULTURE IS A UNIQUE ONE THAT THEY HAVE ANCESTORS INDIGENOUS TO BALKANS.  THE DACIANS ARE PREDECESSORS OF PRATO ROMANIANS.  THEY SHARE TRAITS SIMILAR TO ANCIENT CULTURES.EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE BALKANS.

DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, INFLUENCES CAME FROM THE SLAVIC PEOPLE WHO WERE FROM DANUBE, GREECE, AND HUNGARY.  THE ROMANIAN CULTURE HAS BEEN FULL OF REBOUNDS.  THEY WERE TOLERATED  BY AUSTRIANS,  BY 1848 THE4 REVOLUTIONARY YEAR HAD NEW ELITE FROM THE 19TH CENTURY .  BY LATE 1980'[S THERE WAS A COMMUNIST REGIME. TODAY THERE IS AN INTEREST IN COW PARADE AND THE FESTIVALS. ARE MEDIEVAL TO HAVE A STREET THEATRE AND MUSIC AND LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT.  ROMANIA HAS STRONG FOLK TRADITIONS THAT INCLUDE WOOD CARVING, CERAMICS,  WEAVING EMBROIDERY , HOUSE DECORATIONS, DANCE  AND FOLK MUSIC.  THEY MADE MANY WOODEN OBJECTS.  LINEN WAS USED FOR MOST COMMON MATERIAL.  THEY HAD MANY CUSTOMS AND MYTHS TO DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.  SOME ARE PREPAGAN OR CHRISTIAN IN ORIGIN.  SOME ARE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX.
THEY HAVE MANY SAYINGS ABOUT THEIR FOOD.  A CHILD MIGHT SAY THANK YOU.  OR ADULTS MIGHT SAY LOVE PASSES  THROUGH THE STOMACH.  THEY HAVE SIMPLE PIE, MEATBALL SOUP, MUSACA AND HOT PRETZELS.  THEY ALSO HAVE VEGETABLE DISHES.  SOME OF THEIR DISHES ARE FROM AUSTRIA.  THEY LIKE PORK BEEF AND LAMB.  THIS DISH IS FINALLY MADE WITH CORNMEAL.  CORNMEAL MUSH IS CONSIDERED THE POOR MAN'S DISH.

ROMANIAN'S  DRINK A LOT OF WINE OF VARIETIES.  THEY PRODUCE GERMAN STYLE BEER.  THEY THRIVE OB FOLK MUSIC.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

NAPALI COAST, KAUAII

OUR FAMILY HAS TRAVELLED SEVERAL TIMES TO KAUAI,  WE WERE PREPARED TO HIKE ABOUT 5 MILES OF THE NAPALI COAST.  WE STAYED IN BED  AND BREAKFASTS.  THE BEACHES ARE NOT ALL THAT SAFE AS THEY WARN US.   THIS TRAIL IS BEAUTIFUL AS IT TUMBLES DOWN 4000' TO THE BASE OF THE SEA.  THERE ARE SEA CAVES WE DID NOT EXPLORE.  AND THEY HAVE HEIAWS OR HAWAIAN SHRINES, BUILT OF VOLCANIC TUFF PLATFORMS WHERE THEY DID MADE OFFERINGS.  THEY PLANTED TERRACED TARO FIELDS AND FISHED USING CANOES THEY HAND BUILT.  IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE  EVERYTHING IS CALLED A NAME, OR A SPIRITUAL POWER GIVEN BY THE GODS.  THIS MANA GIVES PEOPLE GOOSE BUMPS TO VISIT AN OLD VILLAGE ONLY ASSESSABLE BY BOAT.  THEY USED TO HAVE MANY CEREMONIES- KAVA WAS THEIR RITUAL DRINK.   THEY HAD SACRIFICES.  AFTER 600 YEARS 600 YEARS OF THEIR VILLAGES THE LAST LEFT FOR MORE POPULATED AREAS.

WHEN WE HIKED THE TRAIL ONE SUMMER IT HAD MANY MOSQITOS AND LARGE FROGS ON THE TRAIL AS OUR SANDALS SLID OVER THEM  THE RIVERS WERE TRICKY TO CROSS AS WELL.    

Friday, August 23, 2013

MY INTERESTS IN ART

AS EARLY AS 6TH GRADE I KNOW I LOVED ART .  I WAS COMPLIMENTED BY MY TEACHERS FOR MY ART SKILLS.  I ENJOYED MAKING CERAMICS AND ART PROJECTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND OTHER ART PROJECTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  I MADE MOSAICS, PAPER MACHE, STONE CARVINGS, OIL AND ACRYLIC PAINTINGS,  AS WELL JEWELRY FROM COPPER.  LAT ER I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE SILVER AND TURQUOISE.  I LEARNED HOW TO PAINT FABRIC AND I MADE A LARGE WALL HANGING. 

I LEARNED HOW TO CROCHET AND KNIT DOLL CLOTHES IN 4TH GRADE.  I ALSO LEARNED TO SEW ALL MY CLOTHES VERY EARLY THROUGH THE YMCA IN OHIO.  I ENJOYED TO EMBROIDER AS WELL AS EXPERIMENTED WITH THIS IN JUNIOR HIGH.  I ALSO ENJOYED MAKING SMALL CONTAINERS WITH PLANTS.   

GOOD DIALOGUE

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH MANY FOLKS.  I HAVE GOOD DIALOGUE WITH MANY FOLKS DURING MY BUSINESSES AS AN ENTREPRENUER IN MAKING AND SELLING FOUNTAINS, DOING PHONE SURVEYS, BEING A LIFE COACH AND LEADING OUTDOOR RETREATS AS WELL AS CATERING SUPERVISING ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN MANY STATES.

DIALOGUE IS IMPORTANT AS A PROFESSIONAL AND IS GOOD TOOL TO HAVE FOR BEING INDEPENDANT.  IT IS BASED ON BEING A GOOD LISTENER AND REALIZING THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES.  WE NEED TO FIND PLACES TO EXPLORE AND WAYS THAT WE ARE OURSELVES.

Monday, August 19, 2013

SPRING LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SONOMA COUNTY.  I VOLUNTEERED WITH THE PARK.  WE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THIS FEASIBILITY STUDT SHOULD COMPRE THIS INNER CITY PARK WITH OTHER PARKS IN THE BAY REGION.

FINALLY AFTER WRITING AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOR THE SMALL CENTER THE PLANNER PRESENTED IT TO THE COUNTY BOARD.  AND THE THE CENTER.  IT WAS BUILT IN THE SIDE OF A FOREST SO AS TO BE CONCEALED BY THE TREES.  THE ENTIRE CENTER HAS SOLAR PANELS TO KEEP IT COOL.  MY EFFORTS WERE TO SEE THAT THEY INCLUDED A STORYTELLER'S CAVERN THERE.  IT IS NOW USED BY MANY SCHOOL TEACHERS.  WE WERE ALL PROUD TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS OF THE CENTER.  THIS SMALL LAKE PARK LUCKILY HAS NOT HAD ANY MAJOR HIGHWAY CROSSING OVER IT.  SPRING LAKE IS A COMMON PLACE TO HIKE WHEN IT IS COOL,

REAL GOODS

REAL GOODS IS AN ALTERNATIVE STORE IN HOPLAND WHERE MY SON AN I USED TO PLAY AT AN INTERESTING SAND AREA WHERE THE KIDS COULD PUMP WATER TO MAKE A STREAM OF WATER GO THROUGH THEIR SAND SCULPTURES THEY HAVE A FUN TUNNEL WHERE ADULTS AND CHILDREN PLAY.  THEY SHOW HOW YOU CAN HAVE A LARGE FOUNTAIN IN THE YARD TO BLOCK REDUCE TRAFFIC NOISE FROM A FREEWAY.

THEY SPECIALIZE IN CREATING A SOLAR PANEL AND RENEWABLE ENERGY TYPES FORR HOMES.  THEY SHOW SOME NATIVES HOW TO LOWER THEIR BILLS FOR UTILITIES FROM 400 TO 90% LESS.  THEY SHOW THE FOLKS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF CITIES TO LIVE IN WITH ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES.  REAL GOODS TRAINS PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE GREEN ENERGY FIELDS.  IF PEOPLE LIVE WITH SOLAR IT PREVENTS GREENHOUSE GASES FROM ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE.
THEIR VISION IS TO REDUCE HUMAN ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT ON EARTH.  THEIR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE ADOPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND TO USE PROVEN TECHNIQUES.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

SQUAW ROCK

SQUAW ROCK IS A DISTINCTIVE VOLCANIC MONOLITH IN THE RUSSIAN RIVER.  IT IS POPULAR ROCK CLIMBING AND WHITEWATER ROCK CLIMBING AND KAYAKING SPOT ABOUT 870' TALL.  THERE WERE EARLY WAGON ROADS UP THE EAST SIDE OF THE CANYON THAT WERE IMPROVED TO LATER BE HWY 101.  EARLY TRAVELERS THOUGHT THE ROCK HAD A PROFILE OF A WOMAN'S FACE.  IT IS A HISTORICAL LAND MARK AND IS CALLED LOVER'S LEAP.  IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN1800'S LEGEND OF SANELL INDIAN LADY WHO HAD A FAITHLESS LOVER  AND MARRIED ANOTHER AND ALL THREE WERE KILLED HOLDING A GREAT STONE.  THERE ARE OTHER LEGENDS,

THERE ARE RAPIDS NEAR THIS AREA ALL YEAR FOR KAYAKS, BUT ARE DANGEROUS FOR CANOES.  IT IS NEAR HOPLAND THAT GOT ITS NAME FROM HOPS THAT WERE GROWN HERE FOR BEER.  THEY ARE NO LONGER GROWN HERE,

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Friday, August 16, 2013

AYERS ROCK

AYERS IS A SANDSTONE ROCK FORMATION IN AUSTRALIA CALLED ULURU.  THE ROCK IS SACRED TO THE ULURU NATIONAL PARK.  THEY HAVE MANY SPRINGS HERE AND ANCIENT CAVE PAINTINGS. AND ROCK  IT IS ON THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE.  ULURU IS A LOCAL FAMILY NAME BY THE ABORIGINALS.  AN ANGLO SIGHTED THE ROCK IN 1873.

THIS S ITE IS AUSTRALIA'S MOST NOTICEABLE AND VISITED PARK.  THE 348 M HIGH ROCK IS HAS A LOT OF ROCK BENEATH THE SOIL.  IT IS @ 6 MILES IN CIRCUMFERENCE.  ULURU HAS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO THE ANANGU FOLKS WHO LEAD TOURS HERE.  THEY TELL ABOUT FLORA  AND FAUNA AND THEIR DREAMTIME STORIES.  THE ROCK CHANGES COLORS DURING DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND YEAR WITH A GLOWING RED AT SUNSET AND AT DAWN.

MOUNT OLGA IS 16 MILES WEST OF ULURU HAS SPECIAL PARKING TO GIVE TOURISTS BEST VIEW OF BOTH SITES AT DAWN AND DUSK. ULURU IS CALLED A MONOLITH AS IT IS A SEDIMENTARY JOINTING AND BEDDING SURFACES.  IT IS A SEDIMENTARY COARSE SANDSTONE IN A HOT DESERT.  THERE ARE DECREASES IN NATIVE MAMMALS THAT ARE KNOWN TO HAVE EXISTED.  THE MULGARA IS A MAMMAL THAT'S IN DANGER  SO MANY FOLKS COME HERE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING.  THEY HAVE 7 SPECIES OF BATS IN VARIOUS CAVES.  THEY HAVE  A RICH SUPPLY OF MAMMALS AND REPTILES AND FROGS IN THE SPRING AREA FOLLOWING SUMMER RAINS.  THE ANANGU HUNT IN REMOTE AREAS OF THE PARK- KANGAROO, TURKEY, EMU AND LIZARDS  THEY HAVE CEREMONIES FOR EACH MAJOR PLANT FOOD AS THEY TALK ARE PART OF ANCESTRAL DIET.

THE FLORA IS DIVIDED INTO TREES, SHRUBS, FLOWERS, AND GRASSES.  SOME TREES ARE USED FOR  SPEARHEADS ANS BOOMERANGS AND BOWLS.  BLOODWOOD SAP IS AN INHALANT FOR COLDS AND COUGHS.  SOME OF THESE TREES ARE RARE AND ENDANGERED.  THERE ARE  34 SPECIES INTRODUCED BY FOREIGNERS.  THEY HAVE ONLY 11" OF RAIN PER YEAR.

THE ULURU HAVE 5 SEASONS DURING THE YEAR.  THEY HAVE MANY MYTHS.  ONE IS THAT THE WORLD WAS FEATURELESS.  NONE OF THE PLACES EXISTED UNTIL THE CREATOR BEINGS ARE REFERRED AS WAPA AITIA.  ANOTHER TALK SAYS THE ROCK WAS BUILT BY 2 BOYS WHO FOUGHT EACH OTHER AND ARE NOW BOULDERS.

SOME PEOPLE FEEL CURSED IF THEY TAKE ROCKS.  MANY HAVE TRIED MAILING THEM BACK TO REMOVE THE CURSE.

BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK HUMANS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 10,000 YEARS.  IN LATE 1800'S THE INTERACTION OF BETWEEN ANANGU AND ANGLOS BECAME MORE VIOLENT.  BECAUSE OF OF GRAZING AND DROUGHT BUSH FOOD STORES BECAME INCREASING DEPLETED,  POLICE PATROLS WERE WERE  INCREASED BECAUSE OF CONFLICT.  LATER IN THE 30'S ANANGU WERE INTRODUCED TO EUROPEAN FOODS AND WAYS. 

FIRST TOURISTS CAME HERE IN THE 1930'S.  BY THE 1940'S EUROPEANS SETTLED HERE TO PROMOTE TOUISM OF THE ULURU.  BY 1960 THE AYERS ROCK BECAME WELL VISITED.  IN 1985 THE GOVERNMENT RETURNED OWNERSHIP TO ABORIGINES.  THE ANAGU ARE JOINTLY MANAGING THE PARK,  THEY DO NOT CLIMB IT BECAUSE OF IT'S SPIRITUAL BELIEF.  THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT START BANNING CLIMBING THE ROCK.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

MT. EVEREST - THEHIGHEST MOUNTAIN

THIS MOUNTAIN IN THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN  - 29,000' ABOVE SEA LEVEL.  IT IS IN THE HIMALAYAS.   IT IS BETWEEN CHINA AND NEPAL.  ONLY IN THE 1850'S DID BRITISH INDIA PUBLISH THE HEIGHTS.  THIS ENGINEER NAMED THE MOUNTAIN AFTER HIS PREDECESSOR IN THE PAST.  THE MOUNTAIN ATTRACTS PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAINEERS TO HIRE GUIDES.  THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL CHALLENGES TO CLIMB IT .  THE ONLY DANGERS ARE ALTITUDE  SICKNESS, WEATHER AND WIND.  BY 1847 BRITISH BEGAN TO STUDY THE MOUNTAIN.  THEY COULD ONLY BE THERE FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.  OTHER SCIENTISTS FROM INDIA ALSO FOUND T TO BE THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.  THERE WERE TIBETAN NAMES AND IT'S NATIVE NAME WAS GAURISANKAR.  THERE WERE MANY PEAKS THEY WANTED TO ASSIGN NAMES TO IT.  ON 1865 THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY GAVE THE MOUNTAIN IT'S NAME.

IN 2002 THE CHINESE NEWSPAPER DECIDED THAT IT SHOULD BE NAMED ITS LOCAL NAME. BRITISH FOLKS DISCOVERED A NORTHERN PASS.  IN 1921 THEY WERE NOT EQUIPPED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN. MALLORY WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAINNORTHERN FLANK  OF 22,000 '.  IN 1922 THE BRITISH CLIMBED USING OXYGEN AND GOT UP THE MOUNTAIN GOING TO THE HEIGHT OF 27,000'!  SOME CLIMBERS LIKE MALLORY GOT KILLED HERE BY AVALANCHE.  THERE WERE MANY WHO WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AND ATTEMPTED TO GET TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP. IN 1953 A BRITISH CLIMBER CAME WITHN 300' OF THE SUMMIT, BUT LACKED OXYGEN.  2 DAYS LATER THEY BROUGHT A SHERPA CLIMBER AND MADE IT TO THE TOP! THEY WERE GIVEN HONORS BY THE BRITISH.

AACTUALLY MT. MCKINLEY IN ALASKA IS SOMEWHAT TLLER..  THERE HAVE BEEN EXPEDITIONS THAT HAVE REMOVED RUBBISH (8000LBS) FROM THE MOUNTAIN  THE ICE IS NOW MELTING MAKING THE MORE DANGEROUS.   MOST ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB ARE MADE IN MAY BEFORE BEFORE THE MOONSOON SEASON.CLIMBERS HAVE TO HIKE TO BASE CAMP (2800M) HIGH TO ACLIMIZE THEIR BODIES TO THE ALTITUDE.  IT TAKES 6 TO 8 DAYS.  BECAUSE OF STORMS MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED CLIMBING.  IT IS A DIFFICULT JOURNEY IF YOU WANT TO ATTEMPT IT!  

MY INTEREST IN NATURE

INTERESTS IN NATURE WAS WHEN I WAS QUITE YOUNG I USED TO STARE OUT OF MY WINDOW IN TROY AND REALIZE THAT SCHOOL WAS SO FULL OF SO MANY FACTS IN 4TH GRADE.  I GOT GOOD GRADES . READING INDIAN MYTHOLOGIES  WERE GREAT AND I FOUND THAT THE NATIVES WHO RELIED ON NATURE HAD VERY GOOD COMMON SENSE.ON WHAT TO EAT AND HOW TO MAKE THEIR INTERESTING.  EVEN IN OHIO  I CONTINUED LEARNING ABOUT THE NATURAL WAYS OF LIVING AND WENT TO A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.  WE CONTINUED TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE ANIMAL FOLKS, NATIVE PLANTS, STARS, AND ROCKS AND BEE BEHAVIOR.  WE LEARNED ABOUT VARIOUS ECOLOGICAL ZONES IN OHIO AND WERE ABLE TO EXPLORE SOME.  THEIR WERE BOGS, MARSHES AND CORN FIELDS AND MIXED WOOD FORESTS.

KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE

I GAINED KNOWLEDGE IN NUTRITION BY READING AND STUDYING ABOUT HOW OUR BODY NEEDS GOOD FOOD FOR OUR BODIES.  WE ARE GIVEN MANY COMMERCIALS ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD TO  EAT AND HOW WE NEED TO BE AS AMERICANS.  BUT NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME.  SINCE HAVING PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE HEALTH FIELD AS CHILDREN ABOUT HOW TO FUEL OUR BODIES WITH HEALTHY FOODS.I LEARNED A LOT AS I LEARNED IN MY TEENS AND FOUND THAT THE THE WORLD HAS MANY UNHEALTHY FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS.  THEY HAVE MANY ADDITIVES. TO FAST FOODS THAT DON'T AGREE WITH FAST FOODS. 

I BECAME A SELF TAUGHT NUTRITION PERSON LEARNING ABOUT HOW YOUNG AND OLDER GENERATIONS HAVE VARIOUS NEEDS.  THIS INFORMATION HELPED ME STUDY HOW NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ABLE TO LIVE IN THEIR GIVEN ENVIRONMENT WITH A KNOWLEDGE PASSED ON BY THEIR ANCESTORS.  THEY CONTINUE IN MANY TRIBES TO USE THIS OLD WAY OF HUNTING, GATHERING AND PLANTING SEEDS.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

TOKYO JAPAN

YOUR CAN VISIT ANCIENT TEMPLES AND SHRINES, GARDENS, AND BUDDHISTS TEMPLES.  THEY ALSO HAVE MANY HISTORICAL BUILDING TSHEIR BUILDINGS SUCH AS SAKURADA GATE WAS REBUILT IN THE YEAR 13 OR 1636.  IT HAD EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE AND WAS REPAIRED WITH WIRE MESH AND MUD.

THEY HAVE MANY MUSEUMS. ONE IS TAKEHISA YUMEJI MUSEUM.  IT HOUSES 3000 WORKS BY A PAINTER WHO IN 1880 - 1930'S SYMBOLIZED THE ROMANCE OF THE TAISHO PERIOD.  THESE REPRESENT THE TYPICAL HISTORIC ART PAINTINGS.  A MUSEUM THAT HOUSES MODERN ART  AND PHOTOS IS MORI ART MUSEUM.  THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.

THEY HAVE AN INTERESTING  TANABATA MATSURI STAR FESTIVAL WITH A SHRINE OF PIECES OF MATERIAL.  MANY SHRINES AND TEMPLES CELEBRATE THE OCCASION WITH A FESTIVAL.  LOVERS WRITE THEIR WISHES ON TANZAKU STRIPS OF PAPER.  THE PRIESTS PRAY FOR WISHES TO COME TRUE.  THEY HAVE SHRINES FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

THEY'RE FOODS ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM OURS.  IT HAS MUCH FISH, DIFFERENT VEGETABLES, AND RAW FISH, CLAMS, WHITE RICE AND VARIOUS STEAMED MISO SOUP AND FISH CAKES.  THEY ALSO EAT DRIED SARDINES.  AND CHEESE AND OIL FROM  FRUITS.  MISO IS A BEAN PASTE.


THEY MADE KIMONO'S OF INDIGO COLORED WITH WHITE PATTERNS DEVELOPED IN THE 1`800'S.  SILK HAS BEEN WOVEN FROM 1820'S.  THEY WERE IN VARIOUS WEAVES.  THEY BRAIDED SILK CORDS SINCE 1600'S.  THEY HAD VARIOUS METHODS OF MAKING SILK .  DURING THE 19TH CENTURY MANY DYERS WORKED UNDER SANURI LORDS.

AT EDU CASTLE THEY HAVE GARDENS DURING THE DURING THE 11TH SHOGUN.  THE GARDENS WERE GIVEN TO THE TOKYO GOVERNMENT IN 1945 AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.  THEY HAVE SOME LARGE AQUARIUMS WITH DOLPHINS AND VARIOUS OCEAN SPECIES.  AND TROPICAL FISH AT THE THE WORLD.

AT 1 TEMPLE THEY HAVE AN UNUSUAL FIRE WALKING FESTIVAL AT A BUDDHIST TEMPLE ATOP A MOUNTAIN.  TAKAO IS KNOWN FOR AS A CENTRAL TEMPLE OF SHINGON SECTION.  THE FIRE WALKING FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THE TRADITIONAL  EVENTS. HERE.  THE PRIEST'S PRAY FOR THE SAFETY AND FOLLOW MONKS TO WALK BAREFOOT OVER SACRED GONNA-FIRE THAT IS SMOLDERING.  A STILL PARTIALLY BURNING.  THE MONKS CHANT AND BRAVELY WALK  ON FIRE!  AT ANOTHER SHRINE THEY HAVE WISTERIA PLANTS OVER MANY TRELLISES.

GOTOKYO.ORG

MOAB, UTAH

THIS IS A SMALL TOWN NEAR ARCHES  AND CANYONLAND THAT ATTRACTS A LARGE NUMBER OF TOURISTS,  EACH YEAR  THEY HAVE MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERS HERE .  MOAB REFERS TO THE AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF JORDAN RIVER.  OTHERS THINK THE NAMES CAME FROM PAIUTE ORIGINS CALLING IT MOSQUITOS.

THIS WAS AN OLD MORMON TOWN IN THE 1800'S AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO ESTABLISH A FARM.  THEY HAD REPEATED INDIAN ATTACKS.  AFTER 1855 THE FORT IDEA WAS ABANDONED.  BY 1878 A NEW ROUND OF SETTLERS CAME HERE TO LIVE.  BY 1883 THE DENVER AND RIO GRANDE WEST RAILROAD WAS BUILT NEARBY  MOAB FARMERS HAD TO ADAPT FROM TRADING WITH PASSING TRAVELERS , AND HAD TO MOVE GOODS AND DISTANT MARKETS.

MOAB GOODS TO DISTANT MARKETS.  MOAB'S ECONOMY WAS ON AGRICULTURE BUT BY 1920' IT SHIFTED TO MINING URANIUM, OIL, AND GAS.   BY THE 1950'S MOAB POPULATION GREW TO 6000.  THE CITY IN THE 40'S WAS A GREAT PLACE TO SHOOT A MOVIE. 

CANYONLANDS AND ARCHES  NATIONAL PARK ARE GOOD PLACES TO VIEW UNUSUAL SANDSTONE CLIFFS.  THEY ARE NEAR THE COLORADO RIVER WHERE PEOPLE DO WHITE WATER RAFTING.  FOLKS ALSO CLIMB ROCKS HERE.

MOAB'S AREA HAS HOT SUMMERS AND COOL WINTERS.  IT HAS LESS THAN 1 " OF RAIN PER MONTH.  THEY HAD A FERRY TO CROSS COLORADO RIVER BEFORE 1911.  THEN IN 1955 THE BRIDGE WAS DESTROYED.  BY 62 A FREIGHT SPUR OF THE RAILROAD CAME HERE.

1/3 OF THE TOWN IS NATIVE AMERICAN.  MOAB IS FAMOUS FOR OFF ROAD DRIVING.  I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THESE CANYONLANDS AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

IGUANA FALLS, SA

THESE FALLS ARE ON THE IGUZU RIVER AND ARE MASSIVE COMPARED TO NIAGARA FALLS.   THE FALLS ARE BY PARANA  AND ARGENTINA.  THIS RIVER FLOWS THROUGH BRAZIL - IGUANA MEANS WATER IN TUPI LANGUAGE  THEIR LEGEND SAYS GOD PLANNED TO MARRY NAIPI WHO FLED WITH HER MORTAL LOVER.TAROBA IN A CANOE.  IN RAGE THREE GODS SLICED THE RIVER CREATING WATERFALLS AND CONDEMNING THE LOVERS TO ETERNAL FALLS.  THE FIRST EUROPEANS TO FIND THE FALLS WAS FROM SPAIN IN 1541.  IN 2000 IT WAS A ANNOUNCED AS A WONDER OF THE WORLD.  THE WATERFALLS82 METERS.  ACTUALLY IT HAS 275 FALLS.  IT HAS THE SECOND LARGEST GREATEST AVERAGE ANNUAL WATERFALL IN THE WORLD.  IT HAS A BOX CALLED CATARACT.  WATER COLLECTS IN A LOWER IGUAZU CANYON.  THAT DRAINS IN IN THE PARANA RIVER.  IT IS A REAL POPULAR ATTRACTION TO THE TOURISTS IN BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, AND ARGENTINA.  ON THE ARGENTINA SIDE ARE 80%  OF THE FALLS.  THERE ARE TWO AIRPORTS NEARBY .  THEY HAVE BUILT A LARGE WALKWAY CLOSE TO THE FALLS.  THE TWO PARKS ARE IN BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA WERE DESIGNATED NATIONAL PARKS.   THERE ARE ONLY A FEW HELICOPTER RIDES BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HERE.  AT ONE POINT A PERSON HAS 260 DEGREES OF THE FALLS.  IT IS A SUBTROPICAL ENVIRONMENT AND HIGH TEMPERATURE YEAR ROUND.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG  

Monday, August 12, 2013

NIAGARA FALLS STATE PARK

AT ONE TIME IN THE 70'S MY HUSBAND AND I VISITED NIAGARA FALLS WHEN THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE.  IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FALLS THAT MY PARENTS HAD SEEN AS WELL.  IT IS T5HE OLDEST STATE PARK IN AMERICA AS WELL AS IN NEW YORK FILED WITH EXHIBITS AND DINING POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE NEW.  THE FALLS HAS MILLIONS OF WATER SPILLING OVER THE ROCK WALLS EACH MINUTE.   WE TOOK THE MAID OF THE MIST BOAT WITH RAIN COATS THEY GAVE US AS WE WENT VERY CLOSE IN A BOAT TO THE FALLS, GETTING SPLASHED FROM THE DOWNFALL.  ONE CAN HIKE ALSO HIKE DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLS WITH RAINCOATS. 

TODAY THEY HAVE INTERACTIVE VISITOR CENTER AND APPARENTLY AN AQUARIUM WITH AQUATIC SPECIES AND FISH WHICH WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE VISITED.  THERE WERE FEW FOLKS THERE BACK IN THE 70'S!

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR NEEDS

GIVING YOURSELF SOME LOVING ATTENTION IS NOT SELFISH.  IT'S SENSIBLE.  IF YOU FEEL LOVED -CHERISHED ONLY BY YOURSELF - THEN YOU HAVE MORE LOVE TO GIVE TO OTHERS TOO.

HOW WE SEE THE WORLD

WE SEE THE WORLD IN WHICH THERE IS GENEROUS  AND CONTINUOUS SHARING OF HEART AND RESOURCES.

IT'S NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE BUT HOW MUCH LOVE WE PUT INTO GIVING.

MOTHER TERESA

RIJADH, SAUDI ARABIA

RIJADH IS THE CAPITAL OF THIS COUNTRY.  IT IS THE LARGEST CITY OF THE CAPITAL OF RIJADH PROVINCE.  IT BELONGS TO THE HISTORICAL REGIONS OF THIS AREA.  IT IS SITUATED AT THE CENTER OF RIJADH AND HAS THE LARGEST FEMALE UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD.

THE HISTORY HERE IS THAT IT WAS FOUNDED BY A TRIBE CALLED BANU HENIFU.  AFTER 1866 THE CITY WENT INTO A PERIOD OF  DECLINE.  IT BECAME A CITY OF CANALS AND TREES WITH MOST LIVING IN BANIHANIFA

BY 1744 MUHAMMAD ALLIANCE WITH ANOTHER TOWN.  THE TOWN CAPITULATED TO THE SAUDI'S IN 1774 ENDING YEARS OF WAR.  BY 1800'S THEY CLASSIFIED IT AS HAVING A DESERT CLIMATE AND IT GETS VERY HOT HERE. (118 DEGREES IN THE SUMMER.  IT IS ARID AND IN MARCH THEY GET SOME RAIN.   IT HAS MANY DUST STORMS.  THE CITY HAS 130 DISTRICTS.  THEY HAVE SOME LUSH GARDENS.  THEIR ARCHITECTURE IS A MODEL FOR ALL ISLAM CITIES IN THE WORLD.  IT HAS A 19TH CENTURY FORT HERE THAT IS A MAJOR ATTRACTION.  THEY ALSO HAVE A MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY.  THERE ARE FEW REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN.  THERE ARE FEW MUD BRICK HOUSES FROM PREHISTORY.

RIJADAH TODAY IS THE 80TH WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD.  THEY HAVE VERY MODERN ARCHITECTURE.  IT IS THE CAPITAL CITY FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTER OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THE CITY HAS 43,000 MOSQUES.  APPARENTLY OIL EXPLORATION HAS MADE THEM QUITE WEALTHY.  THEY PUT IN A LARGE TOWER FOR HOLDING COMPANY MEETINGS IN THEIR BUSINESS DISTRICT.  IT WON A SKYSCRAPER AWARD.  THEY BUILT ANOTHER SKYSCRAPER AND CONSTRUCTED IT AS A METAL TOWER WITH A GOLDEN BALL ON THE TOP.  IT HAS A RESTAURANT AND A SHOPPING CENTER ON THE GROUND.  IT HAS  HOTELS ON BOTH SIDES.

A CASTLE WAS BUILT AROUND 1865 UNDER THE RULER.  BY 1902 A RULER FROM KUWAIT, KING SAUD, SUCCEEDED IN CAPTURING THE MASMAK FORTRESS.

THIS RESTORED SAUDI CENTRAL OVER RIDJADH.  THIS STORY IS RELATED  AS A MYTH.  THIS CITY HAS BECOME A COMMERCIAL HUB.  THE NUCLEUS OF THE CITY HAS BECOME REBUILT IN A STYLE MEANT TO EVOKE THE OLD MUD BRICK BUILDINGS. OF PREHISTORIC CITY.  SINCE OIL EXPLOITATION DAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROMOTED GROWTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTION.  SAUDI ARABIA'S WEALTH HAS SHOWN MANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS CITY.IT HAS A GROUNDING DOWNTOWN AND CROWDS, ROADS ARE BUSY AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL AIRPORTS.  THE CITIES GROWTH HAS RAPIDLY INCREASED.
RIJADH TODAY IS THE 80TH  WEALTHIEST CITY IN THE WORLD.THEY HAVE VERY MODERN ARCHITECTURE.  IT IS THE CAPITAL CITY WITH THE FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTER OF MIDDLE EAST.  THE CITY HAS 43,00 MOSQUES.  APPARENTLY OIL EXPLORATION HAS MADE THEM  QUITE WEALTHY.  THEY PUT IN A LARGE TOWER  FOR HOLDING A COMPANY MEETING IN THEIR BUSINESS DISTRICT.  IT WON  A SKYSCRAPER AWARD.  THEY BUILT ANOTHER SKYSCRAPER  AND CONSTRUCTED IT AS A METAL TOWER  WITH A GOLDEN BALLOON.ON THE TOP.  IT HAS A RESTAURANT AND A SHOPPING CENTER HERE.  ON THE GROUND LEVEL THEY HAVE HOTELS. 

A CASTLE WAS BUILT AROUND 1865 UNDER THE RULER.  BY 1902 A RULER FROM KUWAIT , KING SAUD SUCCEEDED IN CAPTURING THE MASMAK FORTRESS.  THIS RESTORED SAUDI CONTROL OVER RIDLADH.  THIS STORY IS RELATED AS A MYTH.

THEY HAVE 4,300 MOSQUES.  THEY LIKE TO EAT KABSA, A DISH OF RICE AND IT IS WITH MEAT, VEGETABLES AND SPICES.  THEY SPEAK ARABIC AS WELL.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

RIJADH TODAY IS THE 80TH  WEALTHIEST CITY IN THE WORLD.THEY HAVE VERY MODERN ARCHITECTURE.  IT IS THE CAPITAL CITY WITH THE FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTER OF MIDDLE EAST.  THE CITY HAS 43,00 MOSQUES.  APPARENTLY OIL EXPLORATION HAS MADE THEM  QUITE WEALTHY.  THEY PUT IN A LARGE TOWER  FOR HOLDING A COMPANY MEETING IN THEIR BUSINESS DISTRICT.  IT WON  A SKYSCRAPER AWARD.  THEY BUILT ANOTHER SKYSCRAPER  AND CONSTRUCTED IT AS A METAL TOWER  WITH A GOLDEN BALLOON.ON THE TOP.  IT HAS A RESTAURANT AND A SHOPPING CENTER HERE.  ON THE GROUND LEVEL THEY HAVE HOTELS. 

A CASTLE WAS BUILT AROUND 1865 UNDER THE RULER.  BY 1902 A RULER FROM KUWAIT , KING SAUD SUCCEEDED IN CAPTURING THE MASMAK FORTRESS.  THIS RESTORED SAUDI CONTROL OVER RIDLADH.  THIS STORY IS RELATED AS A MYTH.

Friday, August 9, 2013

TOKYO JAPAN

TOKYO IS JAPAN'S CAPITAL AND HAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST POPULATION.  IT HAS 23 CITIES AND TOWNS.

THEIR ARE 23 TOWNS IN THE CITY CENTER.  BEFORE 1868, TOKYO WAS CALLED EDO, A SMALL CASTLE TOWN IN THE 1500'S.  AFTER A FEW DECADES EDO GREW INTO A VERY BIG CITY.  BY 1923 A LARGE PART  OF THE CITY WAS DAMAGED BY EARTHQUAKE.  CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY FOLKS THINK, THE CITY HAS NUMEROUS GREEN SPACES TO VISIT.

ASAKUSA IS A MAIN ATTRACTION  AND IT IS VERY POPULAR BUDDIST TEMLE FROM 7TH CENTURY,  YOU CAN WALK AROUND THIS CENTER OR CATCH A RICKSHAW FOR A BIKE GUIDE.  IT WAS A BIG ENTERTAINMENT CENTERFOR CENTURIES.  THEY HAVE A 1000 YEAR OLD TEMPLE FOR WORSHIP HERE.

EDO CASTLE IS A LARGE PARKSURROUNDING MOAS AND NASSIVE WALLS IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.  IT IS HOME TO JAPAN'S  IMPERIAL FAMILY.  IT IS A LARGE PARK SURROUNDED BY MOATS AND MASSIVE CASTLES.  THERE WERE MANY SKIRMISHES IN TOYKYO, THROUGHOUT  THE 1600'S - 1800'S.

THE IMPERIAL PALACE EAST OF THE GARDENS ARE PART OF INNER GARDEN AREA WITH CIRCLES  OF DEFENSE.  NONE OF THE BUILDINGS REMAIN TODAY.  SOME WALLS, GATES AND SMALL HOUSESREMAIN.  THE RULER OF JAPAN LIVED HERE 1600 TO 1860'S.  A WIDE LAWN AND FOUNDATION REMAIN OF THE FORMER TOWER.   IN 1600'S IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRES AND HAS NOT BEEN REBUILT.  THERE IS NOW A GARDEN WITH PONDS, TREES, AND SMALL HOUSES.

MAYI SHRINE WAS NOT DEDICAQTED  TO THE SPIRITS  OF EMPEROR MEIYI AND HIS CONSORT., EMPRESS SHAKEN.  IT IS LOCATED JUST BESIDE THE J R YAMOTO STATE.  THERE IS A FORESTED PARK MADE UP OF A BUILT UP CITY.  THE SHRINE GROUNDS OFFER WALKING PATHS THAT ARE GREATFOR RELAXINGSTROLL.

KLOISHUKAWA IS ONE OF TOKYOSOLDEST AND BEST JAPANESE GARDENSFOR 1600'S.  THE NAME TAIWEN IS FROM A POEM ENCORAGING A RULER TO ENJOY PLEASURE ONLY AAFTER ACHIEVING HAPPINESS FOR HIS PEOPLE   IT REPRODUCES FAMOUS LANDSCAPES IN MINIATURE  WITH  SMALL PONDS, STONES, TREES AND HILLS WITH A NETWORK OF TRAILS LEADING TO PRESCRIBED VIEWS OF THE GARDEN.  THE GARDEN IS VIBRANT IN THE YEAR WITH SPROUTING CHERRY BLOSOOMS AND PLUM  SEASON AS WELL.

LA QUA IS A NATURAL HOT SPRINGS SPA  WITH MINERAL POOLS.  THE HOT SPRING BATHS COME IN MANY VARIETIES.  MANY SPRINGS CONTAIN SULPHER.  THERE ARE FEW TOYKYO.  SOME HAVE MASSAGES AND CONVENTIONAL SWIMMING POOLS.

JAPANTOUR.ORG
WIKIPEDIA.ORG 

TAIPEI CULTURE

 TAIPEI WAS ONCE ONLY MOUNTAINS WITH A GREAT WET BASIS. BY 4000 B.C. PEOPLE SAILED HERE SETTLE FROM PORTUGAL, SPAIN, AND THE PACIFIC. SETTLERS CAME HERE FROM CHINESE COAST SLOWLY AND THE RENAMED THE ABORIGINALS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.. BY 1700 THE QUINN COURT SAID ONLY CHINESE FIJIAN PEOPLE COULD COME HERE .

TAIPEI WAS UNDER  JAPANESE RULE. TAROKO GORGE IS A GREAT WONDER HERE AND YOU MUST TAKE A PLANE TRIP. IT IS A MUST DO IN TAIPEI. IT HAS SHEER MARBLE CLIFFS WITH 38 WINDING TUNNELS. IT HAS A SWALLOWS GROTTO. THERE ARE MANY HIKING TRAILS. THERE IS AN ETERNAL SPRING WITH SHRINES. ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED IS AROUND THE GORGE. THESE SHRINES WERE BUILT TO MEMORIALIZE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES CONSTRUCTING THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS A MARBLE FACTORY NEARBY. THE NORTHEAST COAST OF TAIPEI IS THROUGH THE CHIFEN VILLAGE KNOWN AS THE CHIEFTAIN VILLAGE KNOWN AS THE SCENIC AREA FOR SWIMMING.

AT WAULAI THERE ARE ABOUT 10 MILES OF OF PLAIN WITH ABORIGINAL TRIBESMEN WHO WERE THE HEADHUNTERS OF TAIWAN. THERE ARE SCENIC ROADS FOLLOWING THE ABORIGINAL TRAILS IN THE DEEP RAVINE. THE ABORIGINAL GIRLS WILL TELL YOU OF THEIR LIVES IN GRACEFUL SONG AND

THEY HAVE FUSHUN ARTS ACADEMY THAT HAS OPERAS. BUT ONLY HERE IS WHAT THEY ARE PERFORMED. ANOTHER OPERA HOUSE IS THE RED PAVILION THEATRE. FOR CHINESE OPERA. IT IS A MULTI PURPOSE CENTER FOR VISUAL AND VOCAL ARTS.

LONELY PLANET.COM

CITY DISCOVERY.COM

Thursday, August 8, 2013

ROME ITALY

ROME IS A SPECIAL COMUNE-  ROMA CAPITALE  IT HAS 2.8 MILLION RESIDENTS AND IS THE 5TH LARGEST  POPULATION IN EUROPE.  IT IS ON THE TIBER RIVER. THE CITY IS 2.5 THOUSAND YEARS OLD.  IT IS THE NEXT AS THE NEXT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

AFTER THE MIDDLE AGES, ROME WAS RULED BY THE POPES SUCH AS ALEXANDRA. AND LEO WHO CHANGED THE CITY INTO ONE OF THE MAJOR CENTERS OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL WAS PAINTED BY MICHELANGELO.  THIS IS THE RESIDENCE OF THE POPE AND WAS BUILT  IN 1480'S.  MICHELANGELO'S ACHIEVEMENT IN PAINTING THE CEILINGS AND WALLS.  A GROUP OF PAINTERS CREATED A SERIES OF PANELS THAT SHOWED MOSES LIFE WITH CHRIST.  AFTER THE PAINTINGS WERE CREATED THEY HAD A CEREMONY  HERE.

IN 2007 ROME WAS THE 11TH MOST VISITED CITY IN EUROPE AND THE MOST POPULAR SPOT IN ITALY TO TOUR.  IT IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.  THERE IS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN ROME FROM 14000 YEARS AGO.  THEY HAVE EVIDENCE OF STONE TOOL POTTERY AND STONE WEAPONS FROM 10,000 YEARS AGO.  SOME FOLKS THINK ROME HAS PASTORAL, SETTLEMENTS ON A HILL ABOVE FUTURE ROMAN FORUM.  THE ANCIENT ROMANS TELL THEIR HISTORY IN MYTH AND LEGEND.  ONE MYTH WAS OF ROMULUS AND REMUS, TWINS WHO WERE RAISED BY A SHE WOLF.  THEY BUILT THE CITY BUT A MISFORTUNE WAS THAT THE ROMULUS KILLED HIS BROTHER.

ROME HAD MANY KINGS AND A NUMBER OF BATTLES.  BY 2 B.C.  ROME HAD SLAVE OPERATIONS ON FARMS.  THE ROMANS WERE INVOLVED WITH GREECE THEN.  ALL COUNTRIES HERE WERE DECLINE.  BY 44 B.C.  THERE WERE 200 YEARS OF RELATIVE PEACE.  IN 64 A.D. ANOTHER PERSON KILLED 1/3 OF THE POPULATION.  FOR 700 YEARS AFTER 980 A.D.  ROME BECAME THE RICHEST AND LARGEST CITY IN THE WESTERN WORLD.  AGAIN IT DECLINED AND WAS SPLIT.  DURING WW I AND WORLD WAR II IT SAW MUCH DESTRUCTION WITH BOMBING. IT BECAME OCCUPIED BY GERMANS!    BY 1870 UNDER NAPOLEON ROME BECAME THE THIRD CAPITAL OF ITALY.

ROME HAS A CLIMATE SIMILAR TO SONOMA COUNTY, MEDITERRANEAN.  ABOUT  1/2 OF THE POPULATION IS OF ROMANIAN POLISH AND UKRAINIAN AND ALBANIAN NUMBERING ABOUT 5% OF THE POPULATION.  100'S OF ROMANIAN GYPSY CAMPS LIVE IN ILLEGAL TRADE CAMPS.  ABOUT 7,000 FOLKS ARE HOMELESS!  ROME WAS THE BASE OF SEVERAL  MYSTERY CULTS.

ROME HAS ABOUT 900 CHURCHES OF DIFFERENT BELIEFS.  UNDER THE CITY ARE ANCIENT CATACOMBS.  THE BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA IS 1 OF THE LARGEST  CHURCHES HERE. 

THE PANTHEON WAS A TEMPLE BUILT FOR ALL GODS OF ANCIENT ROME. IT WAS BUILT IN 126 A.D.  IT HAS CONCRETE DOMES AND IS ONE OF THE BEST PRESERVED BUILDINGS IN ROME.  THIS CITY HAS MANY ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS.  THERE ARE MANY FOUNTAINS IN ROME.  ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS STONE DECORATED  FOUNTAINS IN ROME IS TREVI FOUNTAIN.  ROME TODAY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DESTINATIONS FOR TOURISTS BECAUSE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ARTISTIC TREASURES.  IT HAS CHARM AND IS UNIQUE IN TRADITIONS. SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ARE MUSEUMS.  7 TO 10 MILLION FOLKS TRAVEL HERE.  IT HAS MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG
                                               

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

AMSTERDAM HOLLAND

AMSTERDAM HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LEADING CENTERS OF THE IN EUROPE FOR CENTURIES.  THERE IS PLENTY OF LOW COST ENTERTAINMENT AND FESTIVLS.  IT IS HOLLANDS LARGEST CITY WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 820,000 WITH MANY VISITORS.  HOLLAND IS A NEW NAME FOR NETHERLANDS.  THIS COUNTRY HAS FEW EXTREME WEATHER DAYS.  IT IS SOMEWHAT HUMID

AMSTERDAM WAS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD FOR ECONOMY AND MOST PLANNED CITY IN EUROPE.  IN THE 17TH CENTURY IT WAS THE CENTER OF THE THE WORLDS' ECONOMY.  TODAY IT HAS A TOLERANT CHARACTER.  MY MOM, DAD, AND UNCLE VISITED THE HOLLAND AREA AS WE HAVE SOME MOVIES FROM LONG AGO. AMSTERDAM IS SOMEWHAT A SMALLER CITY THAT DEVELOPED AND IS POPULAR  WITH LOVER'S  OF ARCHITECTURE.

AMSTERDAM HAS MANY EVENTS EACH YEAR INCLUDING AN ART FAIR IN THE TRAIN STATION, A FASHION, A CHINESE NEW YORK, NATIONAL RESTAURANT WEEK TO TASTE FOODS AT A REDUCED PRICE, AND A BEACH PARTY EVENT.  THIS CITY WAS IMPORTANT TO CATHOLICS AS THE MIRACLE TOOK PLACE.    THEY CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE QUEEN MOTHER .  THEIR HOLLAND OPERA, MUSIC, THEATER AND DANCE FESTIVAL DRAWS ATTENTION TO TO FILMS AND ART SHOWS.  THEY HAVE A FESTIVAL IN JUNE WHERE CREATIVE ENERGY TAKES PLACE AND GROWS.  THEY HAVE MANY EVENTS IN THE WORLD.  THEY HAVE HISTORY MUSEUMS OF INTEREST.  MODERN ART MUSEUMS WITH THEATRES AND A HANDS ON TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM AND A HOUSEBOAT MUSEUM.  THEY ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL ZOO.

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GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

OUR FAMILY HAS TRAVELED TO BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH CANYON RIMS.  MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HIKED THE SOUTH RIM UP TO HAVISUPI CANYON .  IT IS A 10 MILE HIKE DOWN A SMALL TRAIL AND IT WAS A UNIQUE HIKE.  AT THE TIME (80'S) I BELIEVE THEY HAD HELICOPTER FLIGHTS  OVER IT TOO.  I REMEMBER MEETING OUR FRIENDS AT THE BASE WHERE WE SET UP A SMALL TENT.  WE HIKED ACROSS A TRAIL UP TO A SLIPPERY PATH TO OVER HAVASUPAI LAKE.  WE LATER SWAQM IN THE COOL WATERS.  MY SON  SAW THE CANYON FROM THE NORTH RIM WHERE THERE WAS A NICE VISITORS OLD LODGE.  WE HIKED ON A TRAIL THAT WENT OUTTO A NARROW  RIDGELINE AND BACK.  WE CONTINUED ON OUR JOURNEY TO OTHER NATIONAL PARKS.

THE PARK HAS A MUSEUM AND LODGE AT THE SOUTH RIM AS WELL. ELK ARE FOUND HERE THAT WEIGH 1000 POUNDS.  IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO APPROACH ELK.  IN 1919 THE CANYON BECAME A PAR!IT IS THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY  KNOWN RECOGNIZABLE LANDSCAPE ON EARTH AND THE MOST WONDERS TO BEHOLD.  THERE WERE PREHISTORIC PALEO INDIANS HERE 9000 B.C.

MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVELLED WITH BACKPACKS THROUGH THE HAVASUPAI AREAS.  TODAY THEY FARM THE TONTO PLAUTEAU USING CORN, BEANS AND SQUASH, MELONS, AND PUMPKINS.  THEY ONLY MET ANGLOS IN 1776.  THEY HAD A 518 ACRE RESERVATION GIVEN TO THEM BY CONGRESS IN 1975.  TODAY HAVASUPAI USE TOURISM FOR SURVIVAL TOO.


GRAND CANYON N. P.

VENICE CULTURE

VENICE IS A CITY WITH A  GROUP OF 118 ISLANDS .  IT HAS MANY MOUTHS THAT ARE RIVERS.  THE CITY IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE. 

VENICE IS THE CAPITAL OF THE 31,000 FOLKS LIVE ON OTHER ISLANDS.  THE ANCIENT VENETIANS PEOPLE LIVED HERE IN THE 10TH CENTURY B,C.  VENICE IS A MARITIME POWER PLACE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.  THEIR ARTS ARE MANY AND PLAYED A BIG ROLE HERE. 

THERE WERE FISHERMEN ON THE ISLAND.  BY THE 12TH CENTURY  B.C.  THE NAVAL  FOLKS MADE THE ELIMINATION OF PIRATES ALONG  THE DALMATION COAST.

VENICE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTANTINOPLE AND GRANTED TRADING PRIVILEGES IN EASTERN ROME EMPIRE.  AT THE PEAK THEY WERE 3000 SHIPS AND 36,000 SAILORS.  THE VENETIAN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WAS SIMILAR TO REPUBLICAN SYSTEM OF ANCIENT ROME.  THEIR GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WAS IN SOME WAYS GOOD.  THE CHURCH AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES WERE TIED TO THE MILITARY. SERVANTS.  MOST FOLKS WERE ORTHODOX  CATHOLICS. 

VENICE HAD A LONG DECLINE IN THE 15TH CENTURY WHEN IT MADE AN ATTEMPT TO TO DEFEND CONSTANTINOPLE AGAINST THE TURKS.  THEY HAD A PLAGUE THAT KILLED MANY PEOPLE.  BY 1797 NAPOLEON CONQUERED VENICE DURING THE FIRST COALITION.  NAPOLEON WAS A LIBERATOR OF THE CITY'S JEWISH POPULATION.  THEY WERE FREE TO LIVE ANYWHERE .  VENICE HAS OFTEN BEEN FLOODED BY FLOOD TIDES. IN AUTUMN AND EARLY SPRING.  THEY INVENTED A STAMP TAX TO TO HANDLE THIS.

VENICE'S ECONOMY CHANGED ALWAYS.  PORTUGAL TOOK OVER.  THERE WERE MANY BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES THROUGH TIME. BY THE 12TH CENTURY VENICE  DEVELOPED INTO A CITY/STATE, WITH THREE OTHER CITIES BEING INCLUDED.  THERE WERE GENOA, PISA, AND AMALFI.  THE REPUBLIC  OF VENICE SEIZED THE THE PLACES FOR COMMERCIAL USE.  THE SEIZURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE WAR CONTINUED AS A ON AND OFF AGAIN CONSTANT.  BY 1492 VENICE WAS THE PRINTING CAPITOL OF THE WORLD.  VENICE HAD A LONG DECLINE WHEN IT MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO HOLD SOME PROPERTY.  WAR LASTED 30 YEARS.  IN THREE YEARS THE PLAGUE KILLED SOME 150,000 PEOPLE.  NAPOLEON CONQUERED VENICE IN 1797.  THE CITY BECAME AN ELEGANT AND REFINED CITY IN EUROPE.

THE CLIMATE HERE IS SUBTROPICAL WITH HUMID SUMMERS IN THE 80'S AND WINTERS IN THE 30'S.  THE THE MIDDLE AGES IT BECAME A CENTER FOR COMMERCE AND TRADE.  PILGRIMAGES TO THE HOLY LAND WERE OFFERED IN VENICE.  OTHER EXPORTS WERE GLASS, LACE, AND NAVAL GOODS.

VENICE IS IMPORTANT IN IT'S ABILITY TO HAVE GREAT SINGERS AND OPERAS.  THERE ARE NO RECORDS BUT PEOPLE THINK THE ORIGINAL FOLKS WERE REFUGEES FROM ROME.  THERE IS A COMPLEX OF INVASIONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. 

THE PICAZZA SAN MARCO IS A GREAT SQUARE LIKE A DREAM FROM THE WATERS OF THE LAGOON.  THERE ARE PALACES  SURROUNDING IT AND MANY ARTISTS COME HERE TO DRAW AND PAINT,  AS WELL AS TOURISTS.  THEY BUILT MARBLE BRIDGES HERE.

THE UNIQUE CAFE FLORIAN IS A FAMOUS COFFEE HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE WEAR OLD TIME COSTUMNES.  ST MARKS SQUARE COULD TAKE DAYS TO EXPLORE THE SIGHTS, THE BELL AND CLOCK TOWER, THE BASILICA SAN MARCOS, AND THE CORRER MUSEUM.HEY HAVE MANY GONDOLA TOURS AND FOLKS SUGGEST A BACK CANAL VS. THE GRAND CANAL.

THE GRAND MUSEUM OF VENETIAN IN THE 14TH AND 18TH CENTURY HAS MASTERS INCLUDING THE FEAQST OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI.  THEY HAVE VARIOUS OPEN AND PRODUCT MARKETS AND FISH MARKETS.  THEY HAVE A JEWISH MUSEUM WITH ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS OF JEWS WHO LIVED HERE.  THERE HAVE TOURS OF THE HIGH RISE BUILDINGS TOO. 

THEIR GLASS OF MURANO ISLAND IS WORLD FAMOUS.  ONE CAN WATCH DEMOS OF GLASS BLOWING WITH CONVENIENCE. 

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RIJADH IN SAUDIA ARABIA

 IS THE CAPITAL OF SAUDIA ARABIA AND IT IS THE LARGEST CITY OF THE CAPITAL OF RIJADAH PROVINCE.  IT IS SITUATED AT THE CENTER OF AT THE CENTER OF RIYADH AND HAS THE HARGEST FEMALE UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD.

THE HISTORY HERE TELLS US THAT IT ISWAS FOUNDED BY A TRIBE CALLED BANU HANNIFU.  AFTER 866 THE CITY WAS WENT INTO A PERIOD OF DECLINE.  IT BECAME A CITY  OF CANALS AND TREES WITH MOST OF ITS INHABITANTS LIVING IN BANI HANIFA.

Friday, August 2, 2013

VEGETARIAN LIVING

IN THE WORLD THERE ARE 22 MILLION CHILDREN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT.  CHILDREN WHO GET THEIR FIBER FROM VEGETABLES  OTHER THAN MEATS HAVE A TREMENDOUS ADVATAGE  AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP WEIGHT PROBLEMS THAN THOSE EATING A MEAT BASED DIET EACH MEAL.  EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR FOOD AND HAVE A GOOD TIME ATTENDING A CLASS OR EATTING STIR FRY.  OR BEAN BURRITO.  CHECK OUT NEW  VEGETABLES IN THE THE GROCERY. 

WHEN IO SOLD ALVARADO STREET BREADS I USED VARIOUS TOPPINGS FOLKS LIKED THAT WERE NON MEAT AND APPEALED TO CONSUMERS.AS PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO NATURAL FOODS WE CAN FIND MANY CONVENIENT VEGAN ITEMS IN THESE AREAS OR LOOK FOR PRODUCTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE TRIED.  NOT ALL CULTURES EAT BEEF OR BELIEVE IT IS A GOOD THING TO ELIMINATE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.  A LOW FAT DIET PAIRED WITH EXERCISE CAN PROMOTE WEIGHT LOSS AND BETTER HEALTH.


IN VEG FOR LIFE

CULTURE OF INDIA

THE HISTORY OF INDIA HAS EVIDENCE OF HUMANS THERE 75,000 YEARS AGO!BY 2600 B.C.  A SOPHISTICATED CULTURE DEVELOPED.  THE BRONZE AGE SAW COLLAPSED BY 2 B.C. AND THE IRON AGE BEGAN ABOUT 5 B.C.   BY 3 B.C. A GOLDEN AGE EMERGED WITH HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM.  THESE INDIANS DIFFER FROM VARIOUS CITIES  AND FROM PLACE TO PLACE.   THEY HAVE SEVERAL CULTURES THAT HAVE THAT ARE  2 MILLENIA YEARS OLD.  MANY OF THEIR ELEMENTS HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

THEY USED SANSKRIT ORIGINALLY AND IT IS OF A WONDERFUL STRUCTURE AND MORE PERFECT THAN THE GREEKS.  HINDUISM IS INDIA'S MOST WIDELY SPOKEN LANGUAGE.  THEY HAVE OTHER LANGUAGES SUCH AS TAMIL. AND NASTELLO.

SOME OF THEIR OLDEST PRESERVED STORIES ARE FROM 400 B.C. AND BY 4 A.D. IT SAW A FINAL FARM.  IT TELLS THE STORY OF THE HINDU GOD.  THEY HAVE MANY STORIES.  THE INDIA CULTURE HAS MANY DANCERS OF CHHAU AND KUCHIPUDI.  THEY HAVE MANY DANCES AND TAUGHT IN THE ANCIENT BOOK.  THEY USE GESTURES TO COMMUNICATE THEIR FEELINGS. AND MYTHOLOGICAL TALES.  ONE OF THEIR OLDEST THEATRE TRADITIONS IS ABOUT 2000 YEARS OLD.

THEY USED MANY ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.   SOME HAVE STRINGS, SOME HAVE CYMBALS AND AIR PIPES.  ONE OF THEIR ANCIENT CLASSIFIED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS WAS A 3000 YEAR OLD LITHOPHONE,  A HIGHLY POLISHED STONE THAT COULD BE CHANGED TOGETHER. TO MAKE MUSIC.

BY 1947 INDIA WAS INDEPENDENT FROM BRITAIN.  SOME SOCIOLOGISTS BELIEVE THE AMERICANS FELL THE WESTERN PERCEPTION OF INDIA AND HAS NUMEROUS STEREOTYPES.  PEOPLE MADE STEREOTYPICAL METAPHYSICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS CULTURE.  THEY MADE ANCIENT CONTRIBUTIONS ABOUT HOW TO REFORM AND THERE IS A STANDARD OF HOW THEY GO ABOUT THEIR VARIOUS HINDU BELIEFS.

FOR MANY GENERATIONS THEY HAVE A TRADITION  OF LIFE WHERE PARENT'S CHILDREN AND THEIR SPOUSES  - 3 GENERATIONS OR MORE LIVE TOGETHER.  THE OLDEST  MALE MAKES ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS.  THE TREND TODAY IS FROM JOINT FAMILIES. TO NUCLEAR FAMILIES.

THEY PRACTICE PRESCRIBED MARRIAGE.  THE FAMILY INHERITANCE PASSED DOWN THE MALE LINE.  THEY HAVE FEW DIVORCE RATES, BUT THEY ARE RISING.  TODAY FEWER MARRIAGES. ARE ARRANGED AND "LOVE MARRIAGES" ARE ABOUT 20% NOW.

WITH THEIR CULTURAL COMPLEX THEY HAVE MORE FESTIVALS THAN 365 DAYS PER YEAR!  SOME ARE RELIGIOUS AND OTHERS ARE FOR THE HARVEST.  SOME CELEBRATED BY MULTIPLE RELIGIONS.  BUDDHISTS ARE THE LARGEST POPULATION, THEN ISLAM, THEN CHRISTIANITY.  THEY ALSO HAVE REGIONAL FAIR.
IN HINDUISM NO COW MEAT IS EATEN AS THEY ARE A SYMBOL OF NONVIOLENCE.   SOME INDIA FOLKS EAT COWS.  THERE VARIETY OF FOOD IS INFINITE.  AN OLD 1500 A.D. RECIPE SAYS HOW TO MAKE A MILK BASED ON A DESERT.  RECIPES REFLECT HUMAN KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURE, ART AND EXPRESSION OF LOVE.  THEY HAVE SPICY FOODS AND SOME BLAND.  IN HISTORY GREAT THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE TEXTURE AND COLOR AND TASTE OF EACH DISH.  THEY HAVE MANY SPICES.  THEIR CUISINE IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THE WOMAN'S DRESSES VARY ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.  NMEN WEAR EUROPEAN TROUSERS NOW.  THIS COUNTRY DISCOURAGES WEARING TIGHT CLOTHING MOST WOMEN WEAR SANDALS AND MAKE UP AND DURING A WEDDING THEY WEAR GOLD AND SILVER.  ONCE MARRIED THEY PLACED A RED MARK RED MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD,  THEY COLOR THEIR HAIR AS WELL.  THEIR SILKCLOTH WAS WIDELY TRADED.  MAHATMA GANDHI ADVOCATED CLOTHES TO DECREASE RISE OF BRITISH INDUSTRIAL CLOTHES.  DURING THE 1980'S MANY FASHION SCHOOLS WERE HERE.

THERE ARE MANY CAVES PAINTINGS AND A LOVE OF NATURALISM. IN AGANTA, BAGH, ELLORA.  THEY HAVE A LOVE OF PAINTING IN ART SHOWS AND GALLERIES.  THEY MADE MANY MARBLE SCULPTURES IN 1850 A.D.  THEY PRODUCED SOME INTRICATE BRONZES AS WELL.  THEY ALSO BUILT SHRINES CARVED FROM SOLID SOLID ROCK AS EARLY AS 5TH CENTURY. THEY USED AN ANCIENT FIGHTING STYLE FROM 12TH CENTURY B.C. AS THE OLDEST MARTIAL ARTS.  THEY ALSO MENTION INDIAN MARTIAL ARTS.  THEY ALSO MENTION INDIAN MEDITATION.  THEY LIKE TO DO AYURVEDA MASSAGE.

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