trocasices

and if you take the boat...

2011-10-15T10:34:00.005+08:00

you will find other views to capture...

or like this...

2011-09-17T13:05:00.000+08:00

views like this...

2011-09-17T12:31:00.001+08:00

some of best city views you get from...

2011-09-17T12:18:00.004+08:00

"The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design.

Under the directions of Dr J.J.C. Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by English firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough, and opened in 1932.According to the Guinness World Records, it is the world's widest long-span bridge. It is also the fifth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 metres (440 ft) from top to water level. Until 1967 the Harbour Bridge was Sydney's tallest structure."

Text: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge

Sydney...

2011-09-17T11:06:00.011+08:00

"... is the largest and most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders, comprising a cosmopolitan and international population of people from numerous places around the world.

The site of the first British colony in Australia, Sydney was established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, commodore of the First Fleet as a penal colony. The city is built on hills surrounding Port Jackson which is commonly known as Sydney Harbour, where the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge feature prominently. The hinterland of the metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches including the famous Bondi Beach. Within the city are many notable parks, including Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

In 2010, Sydney was ranked 7th in Asia and 28th globally for economic innovation in the Innovation Cities Top 100 Index by innovation agency 2thinknow. Sydney also ranks among the top 10 most liveable cities in the world according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting and The Economist.

Sydney has a reputation as an international centre for commerce, arts, fashion, culture, entertainment, music, education and tourism, making it one of GaWC's Alpha + world cities."

text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney
all photos from: O.Tavares

Next...

2011-08-07T17:23:00.003+08:00

S Y D N E Y... :)

bye bye Melbourne...

2011-08-07T17:10:00.002+08:00

it was fun!!...

commit no nuisance...

2011-05-02T18:30:00.002+08:00

Fitzroy...

2011-05-02T17:37:00.010+08:00

"Inner-suburban Fitzroy is home to Melbourne's bohemian culture. Its streets contain an edgy mix of alternative, artistic and trendy elements, and it is also one of the focal points for the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival, a celebration of the independent arts scene, held throughout September." for more information check out: http://www.visitmelbourne.com/displayObject.cfm/ObjectID.0004133B-65E0-1A6E-A1D280C476A90000/vvt.vhtml

No!!...

2011-04-07T23:38:00.002+08:00

and almost never!!...

Portuguese food...

2011-04-07T22:48:00.002+08:00

with a good taste of humour... nothing like it... to make us feel immediately at home... :)

royal colours...

2011-03-26T20:19:00.003+08:00

@ Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

another kind...

2011-03-07T22:43:00.000+08:00

of stop... :P

stop...

2011-03-07T20:41:00.001+08:00

and listen...

brings you closer...

2011-02-28T00:42:00.006+08:00

to old acquaitances...

"Ronald "Ron" Mueck (born 1958) is an Australian hyperrealist sculptor (...)

Mueck's early career was as a model maker and puppeteer for children's television and films.

Mueck moved on to establish his own company in London, making photo-realistic props and animatronics for the advertising industry.

In 1996 Mueck transitioned to fine art, collaborating with his mother-in-law, Paula Rego, to produce small figures as part of a tableau she was showing at the Hayward Gallery.(...)

Mueck's sculptures faithfully reproduce the minute detail of the human body, but play with scale to produce disconcertingly jarring visual images. His five metre high sculpture Boy 1999 was a feature in the Millennium Dome and later exhibited in the Venice Biennale.(...) (wen we first met :) ...)

A major retrospective of Mueck's work was held in his home town of Melbourne, Australia, in April 2010, at the National Gallery of Victoria." (we meet again :)...)

text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mueck

it breathes...

2011-02-28T00:14:00.002+08:00

...art...

it has...

2011-01-20T21:42:00.001+08:00

...neighbourhoods...

because this city...

2011-01-09T12:49:00.003+08:00

is like candy...

you can not get enough of it... :)

Note:
visit suga store... and their traditional way of making candy...
you can also find more in http://www.suga.com.au/

also check out: http://www.visitmelbourne.com/

if only time...

2011-01-09T12:48:00.000+08:00

could stop!!...

one of the World's Most Livable Cities... no doubt!

2011-01-02T20:37:00.004+08:00

"Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia.

(...)
was founded in 1835 (47 years after the European settlement of Australia) by settlers from Van Diemen's Land. (...) was officially declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847. In 1851, it became the capital city of the newly created colony of Victoria. During the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s, it was transformed into one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities. (...)
Today, it is a centre for the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, sport and tourism. (...) It is also a major centre for contemporary and traditional Australian music. It is often referred to as the "cultural capital of Australia".
Melbourne has been ranked as one of the top three World's Most Livable Cities by the Economist Group's Intelligence Unit (since 2002), top 10 Global University Cities by RMIT's Global University Cities Index (since 2006) and top 20 Global Innovation Cities by the 2thinknow Global Innovation Agency (since 2007)."

text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne
photo by: Olga T.

Australia...

2011-01-02T20:17:00.002+08:00

"officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

(...)
For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, formally founded on 7 February 1788 (...) The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established. On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed.

(...)

The population is 22 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The nation's capital city is Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.
A prosperous developed country, Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy. Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance such as human development, quality of life, health care, life expectancy, public education, economic freedom and the protection of civil liberties and political rights."

text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia

of when the tiger met the kangaroo..

2011-01-02T19:59:00.003+08:00

but let's start by the beginning...

Cambodja...

2010-12-07T23:55:00.001+08:00

c'est fini!...
au revoir!!...

@ school!...

2010-12-07T23:45:00.003+08:00

"Ceci c'est mon chat!"...

2010-12-07T23:35:00.002+08:00

out of ordinary...

2010-11-28T11:31:00.003+08:00

and just extraordinary...

hang tight...

2010-11-14T12:13:00.001+08:00

and please do not fall over board...

fishing...

2010-11-14T11:10:00.000+08:00

take me...

2010-11-11T23:42:00.004+08:00

to open sea...
and...

set me free...

motorcycle diaries...

2010-11-11T23:28:00.001+08:00

hahaha... nothing like eating dust! while in a human sandwich on wheels!! hahah...

traditional architecture...

2010-11-05T23:14:00.000+08:00

was it worth the walk... the wait..??

2010-11-05T23:06:00.001+08:00

do you still have any doubts?

and before the day ends...

2010-11-05T21:29:00.004+08:00

you climb one of those stone mountains...
you seat... you pay special attention to the horizon...
you record every moment... and you wait...

until is time to quickly leave... because there is still a long way ahead...

Ta Prohm...

2010-10-24T12:05:00.004+08:00

it is all about trees... and their embracing roots...

taking Mother nature back... what it is hers to take...

discussing ideas...

2010-10-24T11:18:00.001+08:00

the lost world of...

2010-10-03T12:08:00.004+08:00

Preah Khan...

indiana? lara? where did you hide??... :)

catch us!!!...

2010-10-03T11:54:00.001+08:00

if you cannnn... :)

a quick stop...

2010-09-12T20:07:00.002+08:00

at the Terrace of the Elephants...

before heading off to our next discovery...

- where do you come from?...

2010-09-12T19:36:00.006+08:00

- Portugal!

- if i guess your country capital... will you lunch at my restaurant?...

- hmmmm... ok... why not?... you got a deal!!...

and so we did... :) delicious!!

smiles...

2010-09-05T23:09:00.000+08:00

captured for eternity...

in hundreds...

2010-09-05T23:04:00.002+08:00

faces...

carved in stone...

it is...

2010-09-05T21:55:00.005+08:00

narrow...
you could also say dark...
suddenly... you look up...
and...
there they are...
facing the horizon... facing you...
your heart stops... time stands still... there is nothing but silence...
and then...
you breath...
as you just been touched by the hands of History...
and on its pace... to sum up... time... continues to be...

Prasat Bayon...

2010-09-05T12:51:00.002+08:00

"...is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom.

(...)
The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.

(...)

The Bayon was the last state temple to be built at Angkor, and the only Angkorian state temple to be built primarily as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Buddha, though a great number of minor and local deities were also encompassed as representatives of the various districts and cities of the realm. It was the centrepiece of Jayavarman VII's massive program of monumental construction and public works (...) The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces on the temple's towers to other statues of the king has led many scholars to the conclusion that the faces are representations of Jayavarman VII himself..."

text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon

beauty marked in stone...

2010-08-29T14:09:00.010+08:00

"The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half of the12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113 – c. 1150). Work seems to have ended shortly after the king's death, leaving some of the bas-relief decoration unfinished.

In 1177, approximately 27 years after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by the Chams, the traditional enemies of the Khmer. Thereafter the empire was restored by a new king, Jayavarman VII, who established a new capital and state temple (Angkor Thom and the Bayon respectively) a few kilometres to the north. In the late 13th century, King Jayavarman VIII, who was Hindu, was deposed by his son in law, Srindravarman. Srindravarman had spent the previous 10 years in Sri Lanka becoming ordained as a Buddhist monk. Hence, the new King decided to convert the official religion of the empire from Hindu to Buddhist. (...) Hence, Angkor Wat was converted from Hindu to Theravada Buddhist use, which continues to the present day. Angkor Wat is unusual among the Angkor temples in that although it was somewhat neglected after the 16th century it was never completely abandoned, its preservation being due in part to the fact that its moat also provided some protection from encroachment by the jungle.

One of the first Western visitors to the temple was Antonio da Magdalena, a Portuguese monk who visited in 1586 and said that it "is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decorations and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of".
However, the temple was popularised in the West only in the mid-19th century on the publication of Henri Mouhot's travel notes. The French explorer wrote of it: "One of these temples—a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michelangelo—might take an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome, and presents a sad contrast to the state of barbarism in which the nation is now plunged."

Text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat

Angkor Wat...

2010-08-29T13:20:00.011+08:00

"... is a Hindu temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and part of his capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation — first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. (...) The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls.
The modern name, Angkor Wat, means "City Temple"; Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the Sanskrit word नगर nagara meaning capital or city. wat is the Khmer word for temple.

Angkor Wat lies 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap, and a short distance south and slightly east of the previous capital, which was centred on the Baphuon. It is in an area of Cambodia where there is an important group of ancient structures.

Since the 1990s, Angkor Wat has seen continued conservation efforts and a massive increase in tourism. The temple is part of the Angkor World Heritage Site, established in 1992, which has provided some funding and has encouraged the Cambodian government to protect the site."

Text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat

Siem Reap...

2010-07-31T10:53:00.001+08:00

and the best 6 hours of cambdojan karaoke videos... ever...
;)

on the road...

2010-07-31T09:50:00.003+08:00

faces & smiles...

how it was...

2010-07-25T13:43:00.006+08:00

S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine

2010-07-25T11:44:00.008+08:00

"The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Tuol Sleng means "Hill of the Poisonous Trees" or "Strychnine Hill".

Formerly the Chao Ponhea Yat High School, named after a Royal ancestor of King Norodom Sihanouk, the five buildings of the complex were converted in August 1975, four months after the Khmer Rouge won the civil war, into a prison and interrogation center. The Khmer Rouge renamed the complex "Security Prison 21" (S-21) and construction began to adapt the prison to the inmates: the buildings were enclosed in electrified barbed wire, the classrooms converted into tiny prison and torture chambers, and all windows were covered with iron bars and barbed wire to prevent escapes.
From 1975 to 1979, an estimated 17,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng (some estimates suggest a number as high as 20,000, although the real number is unknown). At any one time, the prison held between 1,000-1,500 prisoners. They were repeatedly tortured and coerced into naming family members and close associates, who were in turn arrested, tortured and killed.
In 1979, the prison was uncovered by the invading Vietnamese army. In 1980, the prison was reopened by the government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea as a historical museum memorializing the actions of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Out of an estimated 17,000 people imprisoned at Tuol Sleng, there were only twelve known survivors."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Genocide_Museum

The Killing Fields...

2010-07-25T11:04:00.003+08:00

"...were a number of sites in Cambodia where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end of the Vietnam War.
At least 200,000 people were executed by the Khmer Rouge. Analysis of 309 mass grave sites by the DC-Cam Mapping Program and Yale University indicate at least 1,386,734 victims. Estimates of the total number of deaths resulting from Khmer Rouge policies, including disease and starvation, range from 1.4 to 2.2 million out of a population of around 7 million. In 1979, communist Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea and toppled the Khmer Rouge regime."

"The best known monument of the Killing Fields is Choeung Ek. Today, it is the site of a Buddhist memorial to the terror. The memorial park has been constructed around the mass graves of many thousands of victims in Choeung Ek. The utmost respect is given to the victims of the massacres through signs and tribute sections throughout the park. Many dozens of mass graves are visible above ground, several which have not been excavated as of yet. Commonly, bones and clothing surface after heavy rainfalls due to the extremely large number of bodies still buried in the area. It is not uncommon to run across the bones or teeth of the victims scattered on the surface as you tour the memorial park. If these are found, you are asked to notify a memorial park officer or guide."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields

Phnom Penh...

2010-06-20T13:37:00.004+08:00

"Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic activities. Phnom Penh has become the industrial, commercial, cultural, tourist and historical center of Cambodia.

Once known as the "Pearl of Asia", it was considered one of the loveliest of French-built cities in Indochina in the 1920s. Phnom Penh, along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, are a significant global and domestic tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city is noted for its beautiful and historical architecture and attractions. There are a number of surviving French colonial buildings, such as the Royal palace, Phsar Thmei, and other French style buildings along the grand boulevards.

Situated on the banks of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac River, Phnom Penh is home to more than 2 million of Cambodia's population of over 14 million. It is the wealthiest and most populous city in Cambodia and is home to the country's political hub."

text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phnom_Penh

The Kingdom of Cambodia...

2010-06-20T12:44:00.005+08:00

"... is a country in Southeast Asia that borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni as King. Phnom Penh is the kingdom's capital and largest city, and is the principal center for the country's economy, industry, commerce and culture. Siem Reap, a city located near the famous ruins of Angkor Wat is the gateway to the Angkor region, and is Cambodia's main destination for tourism. Battambang, the largest city in western Cambodia, is known for its rice production, and Sihanoukville, a coastal city, is the primary sea port and beach resort.
Cambodia has an area of approximately 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi) and a population of over 14 million ethnic Khmer. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists, but the country also has a substantial number of predominantly Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes.
Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Other important sectors include garments, construction and tourism - foreign visitors to Angkor Wat numbered more than 4 million in 2007. In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2011, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia

Já dizia Saramago... "Não tenhamos pressa. Mas não percamos tempo."

2010-06-20T11:51:00.005+08:00

Tibet was a memorable journey... a life change experience... and so much more was left to say... but it is time to continue and explore other ways...

i now know...

2010-06-13T16:45:00.008+08:00

i saw... i felt... i've heard... i've tasted... i've lived...

tibet... it's about innocent smiles... good hearts... clear see-through souls... joined by religion and faith... under the hardness of the laws of earth and heaven... in a search for harmony and understanding... breathing quietly and silently for a scent of peace... trying to keep their ancestral traditions alive in the essence of the younger generations... in a race against the unforgivable time... making their best to survive in a land pushing them quickly towards extinction... making their best to smile in a land that watches... controls and suffocates any other voice and every difference... making their best to live in a land said by some not theirs... making their best to be... and have a voice... not erased from the books of history...

i have a dream today...

back and forward...

2010-06-13T13:27:00.004+08:00

back and forward... back and forward...
always singing... never stopping...

it's all about...
the old ways...

when a door closes...

2010-06-06T16:11:00.003+08:00

somewhere a window opens...

and you can enjoy a new view...

"Saint Mother"...

2010-06-06T11:58:00.009+08:00

tão cedo na manhã... um frio acutilante mantém-te desperto... 4km trekking pela frente até à 1ªbase... aos poucos e poucos as sombras adormecem... as montanhas banhadas por ofuscantes raios de luz... despertam...
o ar é limpo... seria cristalino se pudesse ser material...
tudo é puro... tudo é silêncio... tudo é quieto... tudo é mineral e infinito...
é difícil respirar... é um árduo caminhar... mas é tão mais impossível parar... a Mãe chama-te... e vês que são um só...
Vida... no ponto mais virginal da sua essência...

NOTE:

"Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, and the highest point on the Earth's continental crust, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit, 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet. The Tibetan name for Mount Everest is Chomolangma or Qomolangma (which means "Saint Mother")..."

text note from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everest

and if you are lucky...

2010-05-30T18:03:00.005+08:00

by the time you awake up (if the high altitude let you had any sleep... :( ...)...

the sky will be clear and...

then...

there it will be...

Mount Everest...

in all its splendor...

at the yak land...

2010-05-30T17:22:00.003+08:00

you camp at a warm and cosy... yak fur made-of tent...

NOTE:

"There are two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest: to the south in Nepal, and to the north in Tibet. The camps are rudimentary campsites on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent. Supplies are carried to the camps by sherpas or porters, and with help of animals.

Located at an altitude of 5,208 metres (17,087 ft) North Base Camp is in Tibet.
The North Base Camp has vehicle access (at least in the summer months). Climbers typically rest at base camp for several days for acclimatization; to reduce the risks and severity of altitude sickness. Base camps usually consist of long lines of tents with food, blankets, and light.

As of 2002, a visit to the North Base Camp required a permit from the Chinese government, on top of the permit required to visit Tibet itself. At this time such permits could be arranged relatively easily via travel companies in Lhasa, typically as part of a travel package that included hiring a vehicle, driver, and translator."

text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everest_Base_Camp

make your dreams come true...

2010-05-30T15:23:00.009+08:00

but don't take shortcuts... ;)

touched...

2010-05-23T14:49:00.002+08:00

by nature...

roads...

2010-05-23T13:00:00.003+08:00

in the middle of nowhere...

in the middle of everywhere...

zig... zag... zig... zag... zig...

faces...

2010-05-21T12:18:00.012+08:00

that write memories...

it is all about... YAK...

2010-05-21T09:42:00.005+08:00

yak butter... yak milk... yak pizza... yak lasagna... yak hamburguer... yak curry... yak dumplings... yak stew... yak... :)

prayer flags...

2010-04-11T22:33:00.027+08:00

"...are so name because on each flag, there is scripture. Waving in the wind, they are also called wind flags. To the believers, each waving of the flag means reciting the scripture once, sending wishes of sentient beings to the deities. In this way, the prayer-flags serve as a connection between human being and the deities. They also believe that the deities are just behind the flags, listening to their prayers. (...) The five colors of the flags stand for different meanings. Blue is for sky, white for cloud, red for flame, green for water and yellow for earth. So the blue flag must be hung above, while the yellow one below to strictly follow the universal order." text from: "Tibetan Customs" - Li Tao & Jiang Hong Ying, China Intercontinental Press

debating...

2010-04-11T21:48:00.002+08:00

on the Buddhist doctrines, at

Sera Monastery

Prayer wheel...

2010-03-24T23:49:00.032+08:00

"A prayer wheel is a cylindrical 'wheel' (Tibetan: 'khor) on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or even coarse cotton. Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written in Sanskrit externally on the wheel. Also sometimes depicted are Dakinis, Protectors and very often the 8 auspicious symbols Ashtamangala. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers. It is said that prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit or good karma and to purify negativities such as bad karma. The practitioner most often spins the wheel clockwise, for the direction the mantras are written is that of the movement of the sun across the sky."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel

dalai lamas...

2010-03-23T23:17:00.002+08:00

History on the wall..

water is divine...

2010-03-23T22:22:00.001+08:00

and an excuse for

much fun!!!... :)

Jokhang Temple Monastery...

2010-02-28T14:21:00.007+08:00

"... is located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. It was built during the reign of king Songsten Gampo (605?-650 CE) to celebrate his marriage with Chinese Tang Dynasty princess Wencheng, who was a Buddhist.
During the Bon period of Tibet the temple was (and sometimes still is), called the 'Tsuklakang' (Tsulag Khang) — 'House of Religious Science' or 'House of Wisdom.' It is more commonly known today as the Jokhang, which means the 'House of the Buddha'.

For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan-sectarian, but is presently controlled by the Gelug school.
Along with the Potala Palace, it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Lhasa. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace," and a spiritual centre of Lhasa.

This temple has remained a key center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries. It was sacked several times by the Mongols, but the building survived. In the past several centuries the temple complex was expanded and now covers an area of about 25,000 sq. meters."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jokhang_Temple_Monastery

Potala Palace...

2010-02-28T10:54:00.011+08:00

"The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. Today the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the Chinese.

The building measures 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m (about 1,000 ft) in total above the valley floor. Before the first skyscrapers were built, the Potala Palace was the world's tallest building.

The Potala Palace was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. In 2000 and 2001, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka were added to the list as extensions to the sites.

The number of visitors to the palace was restricted to 1,600 a day, with opening hours reduced to six hours daily to avoid over-crowding from 1 May 2003. The palace was receiving an average of 1,500 a day prior to the introduction of the quota, sometimes peaking to over 5,000 in one day. Visits to the structure's roof was banned after restoration works were completed in 2006 to avoid further structural damage Visitorship quotas were raised to 2,300 daily to accommodate a 30% increase in visitorship since the opening of the Qingzang railway into Lhasa on 1 July 2006, but the quota is often reached by mid-morning. Opening hours were extended during the peak period in the months of July to September, where over 6,000 visitors would descend on the site."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potala

Lhasa...

2010-02-28T10:46:00.005+08:00

"Traditionally, the city is the seat of the Dalai Lama and the capital of Tibet, and is one of the highest capitals in the world. It is the location of the Potala and Norbulingka palaces (both are included as World Heritage Sites), and is the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism. The Jokhang in Lhasa is regarded as the holiest centre in Tibet. Lhasa literally means "place of the gods", although ancient Tibetan documents and inscriptions demonstrate that the place was called Rasa, which means "goat's place", until the early 7th century."

"At an altitude is 3,490 metres (11,450 feet), Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world, covering a flat river valley in the Himalaya Mountains. The air only contains 68% of the oxygen compared to sea level.
Lhasa and the prefecture covers an area of close to 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi). It has a central area of 544 km2 (210 sq mi) and a total population of 500,000; 250,000 of its people live in the urban area. Lhasa is home to the Tibetan, Han, and Hui peoples, as well as several other ethnic groups, but overall the Tibetan ethnic group makes up a majority of the total population."

"Lhasa features a cold steppe climate. Due to its very high altitude, Lhasa has a cool, dry climate with frosty winters. It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight annually and is sometimes called the "sunlit city" by Tibetans."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasa

walking around...

2010-02-06T22:55:00.004+08:00

Finally...

2010-02-06T22:51:00.003+08:00

there it was...

Lhasa...

train landscapes...

2010-01-24T13:50:00.003+08:00

just a note...

2010-01-24T11:28:00.004+08:00

about trains in China... to/from Lhasa...
(don't have the experience to comment on other destinations...)

tickets...
you can only buy tickets with 10/7days in advance...
you can only buy tickets in the station where you will take the train... or by yourself or by using a travel agency to go there on your behalf...
there is a limited number of soft class & hard class sleepers... and millions of chinese travel by train...

sleeping...
Hard sleeper (open 6 plan bunks) - Upper bed (cheapest... safest... hardest to climb... impossible to be in seat position...), Middle bed (middle price... safe... not hard do climb... impossible to be in seat position... but higher space...), Lower bed (the most expensive... but the only one that allows to seat on it... since is accessible... if you don't pay attention... everyone will seat and even sleep on it... because here a person doesn't ask first... a person does...)

bed sheets...
are only changed before the train departure... and after the train arrival... which means that if you took the train somewhere in between... you're not the first...

food...
this route luckily is used often by westerns... so if your destination is Lhasa there will be in the restaurant car english menus available and more dishes close to western taste... vegetables and fruit are always a saver... and in every train stop you will find street vendors with other food choices... also over the day the train staff will route thru the corridores selling drinks and snacks... but better if you travel with your own food... specially if your not in a tourist route or if you are already leaving Lhasa... because in these cases english doesn't exist and the menu falls somewhere between chicken feet or bird stew... :P ...

my "home"...

2010-01-24T11:11:00.003+08:00

for the next 45hours...

a new adventure...

2010-01-03T15:16:00.003+08:00

was about to start...
and there I was... waiting...
with my heart travelling... fast...
and my thoughts... far... awaited for me...
in Lhasa...

Hutongs...

2010-01-03T11:04:00.003+08:00

"...are a type of narrow streets or alleys, most commonly associated with Beijing, China. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such neighbourhoods.
Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history."

and in between...

2010-01-02T15:17:00.003+08:00

several unique encounters...

it's all about...

2010-01-02T14:05:00.005+08:00

going up an down...

Summer Palace...

2010-01-02T13:45:00.005+08:00

"...or Yihe yuan (literally "Gardens of Nurtured Harmony") is a palace in Beijing, China. The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill (60 meters high) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. The central Kunming Lake covering 2.2 square kilometers was entirely man made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill. In the Summer Palace, one finds a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures.

The Summer Palace started out life as the Garden of Clear Ripples in 1750 (Reign Year 15 of Emperor Qianlong). Artisans reproduced the garden architecture styles of various palaces in China. The palace complex suffered two major attacks--during the Anglo-French allied invasion of 1860 (with the Old Summer Palace also ransacked at the same time), and during the Boxer Rebellion, in an attack by the eight allied powers in 1900. The garden survived and was rebuilt in 1886 and 1902. In 1888, it was given the current name, Yihe Yuan. It served as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi, who diverted 30 million taels of silver, said to be originally designated for the Chinese navy (Beiyang Fleet), into the reconstruction and enlargement of the Summer Palace.

In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List. It declared the Summer Palace "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value." It is a popular tourist destination but also serves as a recreational park."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Palace

Lotus...

2009-11-22T10:35:00.003+08:00

at the Summer Palace...

the search...

2009-11-22T08:51:00.001+08:00

for that special find...

the woman in red...

2009-11-08T21:24:00.002+08:00

blessed Love....

2009-10-29T00:37:00.000+08:00

i'm in heaven...

2009-10-18T19:11:00.000+08:00

The surroundings...

2009-10-18T19:03:00.003+08:00

are also a very popular park for exercising... and more...

Temple of Heaven...

2009-10-18T18:38:00.005+08:00

"(...)literally the Altar of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing, in Xuanwu District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.

The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. The Temple of Heaven was renovated in the 18th century under the Qianlong Emperor.
The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and was described as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations..." as the "symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries."

The Temple grounds covers 2.73 km² of parkland, and comprises three main groups of constructions, all built according to strict philosophical requirements:
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) is a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, 32 metres in diameter and 38 metres tall, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. The building is completely wooden, with no nails.
The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇) is a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base. It is located south of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and resembles it, but is smaller. It is surrounded by a smooth circular wall, the Echo Wall, that can transmit sounds over large distances. The Imperial Vault is connected to the Hall of Prayer by the Vermilion Steps Bridge, a 360 meter long raised walkway that slowly ascends from the Vault to the Hall of Prayer.
The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛) is the altar proper, located south of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. It is an empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, where the Emperor prayed for favorable weather. It was built in 1530 by the Jiajing Emperor and rebuilt in 1740."

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven

the details...

2009-10-15T02:24:00.017+08:00

are the difference...

to be special...

words...

2009-10-13T02:01:00.001+08:00

found poetry...

sometimes...

2009-10-13T01:00:00.003+08:00

you have to loose yourself in space...

to find yourself a place...

time goes by...

2009-10-13T00:34:00.004+08:00

and nothing is eternal...
unless you work for it...

no crickets...

2009-10-07T00:51:00.005+08:00

no emperors...
no concubines...
you can feel the history... but not the stories...
Palace of Heavenly Purity...
Hall of Preserving Harmony...
Palace of Earthly Tranquility...
Hall of Union...
Hall of Mental Cultivation...
names made of beautiful words... give birth to an immense scale of spaces... where... you become terribly small... all becomes profoundly empty... and the deep silence is only interrupted by the tourists camera flashes...

not that crowded...

2009-10-07T00:34:00.002+08:00

but not alone either...

The Forbidden City...

2009-10-07T00:30:00.005+08:00

... was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.
Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms and covers 720,000 m2. The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
Since 1925, the Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Part of the museum's former collection is now located in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Both museums descend from the same institution, but were split after the Chinese Civil War.

Text in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_city

the doors were about to be open...

2009-09-20T12:14:00.003+08:00

and another dream would be fulfilled...

beijing duck...

2009-09-20T11:57:00.003+08:00

in the best kept secret in town...

10km... 4h trekking...

2009-09-18T02:11:00.005+08:00

walk... walk...
climb... climb...
many steps up...
many steps down...
countless years of man history...

sometimes you couldn't see nothing but the beginning...
sometimes you couldn't see anything but the end...
just go forward...
but always look back...
what a unforgettable day...
a dream that just became true...
and what a beautiful dream it is...

there she was on the horizon...

2009-09-06T14:57:00.005+08:00

and like a love affair...
just flyyyy... to get near her faster...