Una reliquia que permaneció bajo tierra durante más de mil años fue desenterrada en Nanjing, capital de la provincia de Jiangsu, al oriente de China el 7 de agosto. La reliquia, usada como un santuario, fue encontrada en una caja de hierro descubierta dentro de un palacio subterráneo entre las ruinas del templo Dabaoen. Este palacio subterráneo en el templo de Dabaoen fue abierto al público apenas el 17 de julio. De acuerdo con lo escrito en una de las estelas encontradas en el sitio, este palacio fue construido en el año 1011 y perteneció a un templo, llamado Templo de Changgan, durante la dinastía Song del Norte (960 – 1127).

A través de las épocas, el templo ha sido reconstruido muchas veces y fue renombrado en distintas ocasiones, incluyendo nombres como Dabaoen, durante las dinastías tardías. Los trabajos en el templo de Dabaoen comenzaron en 1412, bajo las órdenes del emperador Yongle (1360 – 1424) quien tenía la esperanza de construir un templo que conmemorara a su madre. La construcción fue obra de más de 100 mil trabajadores y casi 19 años. La pagoda de nueve niveles de este templo fue descrita en la edad media como una de las 7 maravillas del mundo junto con el anfiteatro de Roma y la Torre Inclinada de Pisa. Después de 440 años de existencia, el templo de Dabaoen fue destruido por las guerras de 1856.

Sin embargo, afortunadamente el palacio subterráneo escapó al infortunio y permaneció intacto. El descubrimiento de esta reliquia religiosa comprobó los pronosticos de los arqueólogos sobre que la información contenida en la estela era correcta y la reliquia y otros objetos deberían estar atesorados en el sitio. Ésta es la primera de las reliquias que se desentierran en China, de las que están mencionadas en esa estela. Se cree que el objeto encontrado en Nanjing, envuelto en una tela de seda, es sólo uno de los más de 80 mil artículos con forma de pagoda que se hicieron durante el reino del rey Ayu de India (273 AC – 236 DC) y en los cuales los restos de Sakyaamuni, o el Buda histórico – llamado Shelizi en chino – fueron depositados.

En budismo, el shelizi, formado a partir de las cenizas de maestros budistas que fueron cremados, es un objeto altamente preciado. Los relicarios del rey Ayu fueron construidos, originalmente, en la antigua India cuando el rey dividió los restos del cuerpo del Buda en 84 mil partes y construyó 84 mil piezas para ser distribuidas alrededor del mundo. China aloja a diecinueve de ellas. Quienes la encontraron han declarado que ha sido un milagro que la pieza se mantuviera tan bien luego de casi mil años, y aún más impresionante es que la pieza de seda no se hubiera descompuesto. Qi Haining, jefe del equipo de arqueólogos, comentó que algunas de las partes de la tela fueron bordadas y cosidas con hilo de oro, lo que en la antigüedad era considerado algo sumamente difícil de lograr. La pagoda no ha sido completamente descubierta, pero los expertos estiman que su altura es de 1,1 metros y que tiene entre cuatro y cinco niveles. De acuerdo con Hua Jianrong, restaurador del museo municipal de Nanjing, esta pagoda hecha de plata fue retocada con oro y decorada con ágatas y otras piedras preciosas.

“Ha sido un gran descubrimiento”, dijo Han Wei, investigador de la Academia de Arqueología de la provincia china de Shaanxi. “Es la reliquia de siete tesoros del rey Ayu más grande jamás encontrada en China. Es tres veces más alta y cuatro veces más ancha que la reliquia encontrada cerca de la torre Leifeng en Hangzhou”, afirmó.
Adicionalmente, otros tesoros fueron encontrados dentro de la misma caja incluyendo una especie de aparato con forma de calabaza, una pequeña barca y un gran número de monedas. Según los arqueólogos podría haber algo interesante dentro de los artículos desenterrados. Actualmente, gran parte del cuerpo y la base de esta reliquia no han sido desenterrados, no obstante, expertos han vaticinado que adentro podrían haber grandes tesoros como los restos de la cabeza de buda. Lo anterior con base en información que extrajeron de la estela. “Considero que con más investigación, tendremos descubrimientos más importantes”, confirmó.

Sin embargo, se difundió que aún es temprano para decir si los tesoros escondidos dentro de la reliquia podrían ser extraídos puesto que es probable que se hayan adherido al metal. Lo mismo ocurrió con la pieza encontrada en Hangzhou. Algunos de los arqueólogos están preocupados de que si la pieza se queda dentro de la caja que la contiene, podría oxidarse. Los métodos de remoción de la pieza están siendo examinados. Sólo hasta que la reliquia sea completamente removida del contenedor es que podrá saberse que mágicos tesoros nos oculta.

Like this photo? Check out these great pics!

• Buddha Statue - Hanoi Art Museum - Vietnam
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• Man Fishing near Hue - Vietnam

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Old Pagoda door. This pagoda is located on West Lake, Hanoi near the Intercontinental Hotel.

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And Tuesday, yesterday.
I was around Gangnam station on my way to class.
I was sipping coke, listening to my iPod on the street. I had still plenty of time before the class.
One boy approached me.
"Excuse me, are you a student?"
"Yes"
"It looks like you have positive energy generally in yourself. But, but...as a girl..sorry I'm not trying to provoke you. You are a girl..but...don't get me wrong.."
I was so annoyed so didn't even stop walking to listen to him. As I walked with my iPod on, he was talking to me that shit and kept following me.
"You are a girl..but you seem to be bloodthirsty. Sorry, Sorry!.."
And he was about to say something. I know what it was. It happened to run into his kind of people a couple of times before. They tell you different shit each time. One woman told me it seemed my grand grand grand....grand father's spirit is sill drowning in the sea and trying to bring me to her shrine, make me pay lots of money. I was listening to her about an hour, and then realize what I was doing with her.
So I just cut him and said.
"Yeah oh well, I haven't killed anyone yet. So don't worry about it."
That's not the answer he was expecting for sure. He just walked away.

    We're at the Crotchwatch Porn Festival and I too am getting a little impatient waiting for Vance to return with news of Bootie Hadley.

    Ruth and Molly approach us through the crowds of voyeurs.

    "Where have you two been?" I ask.

    "They're showing vintage movies over there in that pagoda," replies Ruth, "we've just been watching an eighties skin-flick."

    I look past her across the sprawling atrium to a giant orange pagoda. The top of the pagoda has a big slit in it that's spurting bubbles.

    "Really?" says Murray. "Which one did you see?"

    Molly looks unimpressed, "On Her Majesty's Secret Cervix."

    Murray frowns, "Don't remember that one..."

    "Ohh, you know...!" says Molly, slapping him on the back and giving him a wink, "it's the one with all the shagging."

    "You're not having a great time, are you?" I ask.

    "I can't believe I let you all talk me into coming to this..." she swings her arm around in disgust, "...cesspit of flesh."

    "I just wanted to see the expression on your face," I admit.

    Molly puts her hands on her hips and sucks her cheeks in.

    Murray suddenly grabs my arm, "Here comes Vance!"

    Vance canters towards us and places his hands on our shoulders.

    "Gentlemen," he says in what I can only assume is his best ringmaster voice, "Ms Hadley seeks an audience."

    Murray and I silently follow Vance through the sea of breasts, genitalia and memorabilia. I can almost hear Murray's mind repeating almost there almost there! over and over. We reach a closed off reasonably sized pen that is covered in a purple velvet curtain. Vance sticks his head through and then holds it open.

    "Come in, boys," says that unmistakable husky tone.

    Murray and I glance at Vance, then at eachother, and then step inside. Vance closes the curtain behind us and then the two of us are alone with the greatest British adult feature star that ever lived. And she is naked.

    "Hello, boys," she purrs, swishing her long brunette hair from her shoulders, "Vance tells me you're two of my biggest fans. That's so sweet."

    Murray is first off the mark, "I just want to say I think you're really...hot! And also that...that..."

    He stops mid-sentence and suddenly points directly at her crotch.

    "Is that...?" he peers in closer"...Is your pubic hair shaped like the Vulcan hand signal?"

    Bootie follows his gaze and smiles, "I'm a life-long fan of Star Trek. Now I don't make films anymore I can do what I like with my bush. Do you like it?"

    "Like it?!" exclaims Murray, "I love it! I love Star Trek!" He turns to me, "Don't I just love Star Trek?"

    I nod slowly, "Ohhh yes, you just love Star Trek alright."

    Bootie looks past Murray and towards me, "How about you? Do you love Star Trek too?"

    "Errr...well...The Wrath Of Khan was alright; you know, when that bug goes in the guy's ear. Actually I'm more of a Star Wars fan really." I let out an embarrassing chuckle. Then I feel myself going red.

    Bootie holds a jewelled hand up, "I don't like Star Wars."

    "You don't like Star Wars?" I say disbelievingly. "But you were in The Empire Strokes Jack! You played Chewbackdoor! You stroked Jack!"

    "Contractual obligations, darling, nothing more," she says tiresomely and, if you ask me, more than a little patronisingly. She turns to Murray, "Would you like some champagne?"

    Murray's expression makes him look like he has just had an orgasm, which in his case is a distinct possibiltiy. I myself, however, am feeling somewhat less enthused as I find myself being cannonballed out of the loop.

    "I'll...leave you to it, then," I say and edge backwards through the curtain, squeezing my eyes tightly shut so that I won't see them doing what I think they are going to start doing any time now.

    About a quarter of an hour and a diminished libido later I find Ruth propping up a bar with Vance and a twenty-something guy in Speedos.

    "Hey!" says Ruth, "So how was the big dream come true? Did she exceed your expectations?"

    I sigh,"No. Quite the opposite actually. She hates Star Wars but lurrrves Star Trek. Can you believe that? I left her and Murray to whatever."

    She laughs and gives me a peck on the cheek, "Never mind. I'll get you a drink."

    As she turns away Vance puts his hand on my shoulder, "Sorry, pal. Didn't know she was a Trekkie."

    I wave away his apology gracefully.

    "Anyway," he continues, "let me introduce you to another friend of mine." He indicates the Speedos guy. "This is Coy Johnson. He's in the business."

    "No kidding," I say and I shake hands with Coy Johnson.

    "Actually," says Coy in a Texan drawl, "I'm taking a sabbatical. I've kinda lost my groove for any kind of sex."

    "I know the feeling," I agree lamentably. I can't really be bothered to have another conversation with another porn star.

    Ruth hands me a rum and coke and turns to Coy.

    "So, Coy, tell me something. You're currently abstaining from any sexual act at all?"

    Coy nods.

    "Why is that?"

    "Oh, nothing, " shrugs Coy, "I just haven't been feeling myself lately."

    Vance starts to massage Coy's neck, "You just need to relax," he says. "What's your favourite yoghurt?"

    "Are you married?" asks Ruth.

    "Here we go," I say, rolling my eyes.

    "I used to be," replies Coy. "My ex-wife didn't take it too well when I decided to get into the adult entertainment industry."

    Ruth snorts and downs her cocktail, "Some women can be such opinionated witches."

    I finish my drink and decide to have a walk around on my own. I make my excuses and sew myself into the crowd. An hour or so later finds me desensitised to the whole shebang and so I make my way to the end of the atrium and outside. I find Molly standing by two breast-shaped pot plants, talking into her phone. She sees me coming and I wave. I reach her just as she's ringing off.

    "Seen enough pink, then?" she says as she puts her mobile in her handbag.

    I put my hands in my pockets, "I might just head home."

    "I'll come with you," she says.

    We start walking. It's a clear night for a change.

    "I really, really cannot stand porno movies," she says after a while.

    I grin and nudge her, "You think you could do better?"

    She gives me a withering stare, "Hey, I've got a sex life and an imagination. I  don't need to do better."

    "And let's face it," I say, "you'd need a hell of a lot of imagination where your current boyfriend is concerned."

    Molly punches me on the arm."You leave Randolph alone. He's a sweet guy and he treats me like a lady."

    "Well, I'm glad to hear it," I say approvingly. "Otherwise I would have to slap him with my glove."

    My mobile message alert sounds and I check my inbox.

    "Who is it?" asks Molly."Bootie Hadley?"

    "It's Ruth."

    "What's she going to do?"

    "By the looks of things, Coy Johnson."

    "Who?"

    I put my phone back in my pocket, "Oh, he's just some porn star on a sabbatical."

    Molly laughs, "Is he married?"

    "Close," I say, "he's divorced."

    "I'm not surprised," says Molly. "Still, it's not much of a challenge."

    I look at her, "What isn't much of a challenge?"

    "Pulling somebody who has sex all the time anyway. Where's all the thrill of the chase?"

    "I suppose," I ponder. "But then again, having sex with someone who's had more traffic than the M25 could be an eye-opener for some people."

    Molly shudders at the thought.

    We walk on a bit further until I can't be bothered anymore.

    "Do you want to share a cab?" I ask.

    Molly checks her watch, "Good idea."

    We stand at the side of the road and scan the traffic sailing past for an orange light. After a couple of moments a pink limo streams up towards us. It stops and one of the blacked out windows lowers and a pair of jockey shorts suddenly fly out at us. This is followed by a hairy arse which shoves itself into the window frame and starts wiggling to the chill-out music inside the car.

    "Ohhh, nooo...."I mutter.

    The arse disappears and is swiftly replaced by a very drunk and naked Murray, who raises a bottle of champagne up towards us.

    "Heeeeeeeyyyyyyy!" he drawls.

    "What the fuck are you doing?" I ask, though I'm not sure if I actually need or want to know.

    Murray winks and yells, "I'm living the dream, my friend!"

    The limo suddenly jerks away from the kerb and we hear Murray scream at the top of his drunken voice.

    "I'M LIVING THE DREAM!!!!!"

    I notice a jewelled hand grab his arm and pull him back in as the limo slips away with the traffic.

    "Do you want to know something?" I say, still staring down the street, "I think he's finally cracked."

    Molly coughs politely, "Do you want to know something?"

    "What?"

    "You have Murray's jockey shorts hanging from your shoulder."

and there are pagodas:

but I'm pretty sure there's only one Craftsman pagoda:

And naturally, it's here in Los Angeles. As it's walking distance to Spaceland and the Cha Cha Lounge, I think this would be an excellent place to hold the opening ceremony for the Hipster Olympics. Let the games begin - 讓比賽開始!

Craftsman home photo by brewbooks, pagoda photo by Fozza; via flickr

           
Considering how many people know of the Secret Garden Party – tucked away on an estate in Cambridgeshire – does it still justify the illustrious name? One weekend in the Garden and the ‘secret’ part is obvious: even those that were there aren’t sure what really happened, and any attempt to explain what went on is met with quizzical frowns and nods that say “don’t worry deary, a good night’s sleep and a cup of camomile will make you right as rain”. Can those that didn’t experience it really be blamed for not believing burning pirate ships, gangs of human ostriches, and psychedelic gypsy knights who have a soft spot for folk music? The mix of the weird, wacky, warped, and wonderful – all within an intimate and imaginative site – surely make for the year’s most fun-filled festival. Let’s just hope it remains a secret.
 

 
Magic surrounds the Secret Garden Party, from being greeted at the entrance by human colouring pencils or aristocratic grannies serving cream on a stick to the troupe of misbehaving glow-worms and their despairing master. Dressing up also adds to it: mankini-wearing taxi-drivers shuttle people around the grounds in their inflatable vehicles whilst ensuring they avoid the herds of zebra-people; but the magic goes well beyond dressing up – every aspect of the site is given its own wacky twist, and anyone with an idea is encouraged to bring it to the party and share it with fellow gardeners. Laundrettas – “a 1970s disco dating parlour with a twist” – sits along side Sparkly Nutz – “the most unusual Teddy Bear’s picnic on the globe” – to lure in the lost and curious. To see everything would need more than the allotted four days, but just being in and around the eccentricity fills the site with a unique brand of fairy dust. And then there’s the music: Adam Freeland and Zero 7 playing to a packed pirate ship; J*Star, Man Like Me, and Gentleman’s Dub Club causing the Valley of the Antics to erupt; Grace Jones, Morcheeba, and the Head Gardener illuminating the Great Stage, to name but a few.
 
The Lake
 
The site, despite being modest in size, is perfectly divided by nature (and a bit of landscape gardening) so that each part contains its own secrets. The central lake is so effectively shielded by trees – themselves decorated in various artistic expressions – that the floating pirate ship stage within purveys its own little world of high-sea shenanigans. The Pagoda is the other stage fortunate enough to have lake access, splaying out across the water from the east shore to put a spring in the step of any who dare walk its boards. Benny Bridgewater livens up the Friday with eclectic booty-wigglers, while Freddy Drabble provides a similar service on the sunny Sunday lunch-time for those still dancing. The intimate size of both stages limits how many get to see Adam Freeland and Zero 7, but those that manage it can feel privy to a collective secret. If a visit to the pirate ship isn’t achieved by Saturday, the opportunity literally goes up in smoke that evening as the planned blaze leaves only the masts still standing. The spectacle provides another group focus, the burning ship accompanied by fireworks and a flotilla of lanterns that float off into the night –yet further cause for group ‘aaaah’s.

The North Shore
 
North of the lake finds stalls, tents, and other obscure attractions that have turned up on site. One open-air workshop has children selling objects fashioned out of waste so successfully they have Derrick Trotter salivating: one plastic-box-hamster-house, “Come on guys, £2.00 for this unique item, one of a kind – what a BARGAIN!!” Final selling price 97p. Further along, the Circle of Peace provides exactly that, while a special Hula Hoop zone offers all takers the chance to acquire new skills – or those watching an opportunity for a sneaky giggle. The Waste Radio team have also established camp, broadcasting news, reviews, interviews, and general tunes from their red caravan, as well as stoking the after-party. The wealth of activities on offer means that most tents only get a look in, but The Gateway, The Living Room, and La Fée Absinthe – as well as a jazz band called Scarlett – all deserve a mention. For those with their wits about them, a wide selection of mental stimulation happily mingles with the madness: the Conspiracy Corner hosts an ex-MI5 agent while Rosie Robinson in the Science Camp explains ‘The Beauty of Fluid Dynamics’. Confusion can only follow.

Main Stage and the South Shore
 
Traversing the lake (unfortunately on a walkway as my Jesus-skills are as yet undeveloped), the Great Stage belts out an eclectic selection all weekend, beginning every day with Head Gardener Freddy and following with some rather special acts. Grace Jones amazes all onlookers on the Saturday night as she shakes her Amazonian booty, oozing the sass and sexiness that has developed over her 56 years. Morcheeba bring some entertainment on the Sunday, but mainly confusion as friends exchange puzzled looks, swearing that the current song they’re playing is exactly the same as the last? Past the Granny’s Tea Party and along the embankment, the Feast of Fools awaits: here, Bloodstone Arts “bring to life the spirit of Merry England” through an array of music, dance, jest and play. Jonathan Kay, director of the Nomadic Academy of Fools, perfectly demonstrates how to break down barriers and release inhibition as he slowly cajoles an unwitting group of watchers into bona fide ostriches who shout ‘FUCK OFF!!’ on command – he who controls the mob controls the world. 

The Valley of Antics

Over the embankment and down the hill leads us to the Valley of Antics, hosted by Wormfood, Man Make Music, and Deviate. Aside from the wild interiors and extrovert garden, the stage’s musical line-up supplies enigmatic diversity, interest, and of course entertainment, sending any before them into babbling benevolence. Crystal Fighters take to Friday’s stage in unkempt fashion, thrashing their take on dubbed-up funk through a jumping audience; their rawness screaming down the microphone and bursting out the speakers. Man Like Me, on a few hours later, summon even bigger noises: the unconventional trio cheekily combine with a trombone to emphasise their quirky calypsoed electronica. Saturday witnesses Natty and then the Gentleman’s Dub Club sending rumbles through the crowd; the 10-piece live band use every instrument at their disposal as well as a microphone mastered into submission by Jila, their emcee and raconteur. Sunday? You wouldn’t expect any less as Peggy Sue and the Pirates folk-it-up before making way for Linos and the Great Apes, a Zimbabwean reggae band – and the DJs haven’t even been mentioned: let’s just say they provided more than mere interludes, Man Make Music bringing all manner of tech-house to the tent. Too much entertainment for one small space.

Beyond the Antics
 
And there was more. The Dance Rocks tent hosted the Whips and the Infadels on Saturday, as well as a rather disappointing Kissy Sell Out – instead of pleasing the crowds with his much-loved remixes and floor-stomping selection, he got all celebrity and used the stage to promote his tediously boring band. No dancing, no fun, no good music, just cheesy American teenybopper vocals. But it’s not as if there’s nothing else to listen to: the Fish Seeks Bicycle tent – run by the SGP veterans – provides everything from ska to swing, house to horns, and to top it off, conveniently has a Moorish North African canteen next-door to banish hunger with style, legendary amongst anyone who has lived in Hyde Park, Leeds.

The last main stage, and certainly not the least, is Where The Wild Things Are: curated by Freddy the Head Gardener (and organiser of the entire festival), it sits among a tree house and a host of hammocks playing anything from ‘raggamuffin riffs’ (Hi 5 Alive) to ‘long haired French electro glam jam’ (Ratatat). Sunday evening stands out though; Lykke Li, a Swedish bombshell who specialises in electro pop brings the house down with a rather unexpected cover: the instantly-recognisable rift of Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side is played out by the band, Li takes to the mike – and pow – out of her mouth comes Q-Tip’s words of wisdom, rapping with force to the Tribe Called Quest’s Can I Kick It? Florence and the Machine follow, cranking it up with their grindcore, but to close the Party, someone special is needed: up step Noah And The Whale. Sporting a seven-piece band – including a trombone and a violin – the boys bring the seated crowd to their feet, driving energy through their drifting folk music that threatens to thrash. Their recently released Five Years Time was rapturously received, the crowd whistling away with smiles on their faces – some even shedding a tear after a roller-coaster weekend. That it most certainly was.

A serene setting with copious amounts of entertainment and inspiration in every sight one beholds, the Secret Garden Party has it all. And there was even a rumour circulating that there was a Secret Secret Garden somewhere beyond the map, but alas too many distractions to find anything intentionally. It will be interesting to see whether the magic can be retained and the right crowds kept – if such positive things continue to circulate the way they have been for the last few years, SGP tickets will be as hard to get hold of as fairy dust.

Itulah Pagoda, salah satu jenis sanseviera berdaun pendek, kalau kita amati susunan daunnya memang menyerupai pagoda, mungkin karena alasan itulah sanse ini dinamakan pagoda.

Saya beli dengan harga sekitar Rp 75.000,-. Harga tersebut merupakan harga pasaran untuk sanse jenis ini, cuma sanse pagoda ini kelihatannya salah satu jenis sanse yang agak jarang dijumpai . Akhirya saya bawa pulanglah sanse tersebut dengan harapan dapat megembang biakannya dikemudian hari.

Pucuk dicinta ulampun tiba, 3 bulan telah berlalu dan munculah tunas-tunas baru dari samping sanseviera pagoda ini, jumlahnya ada 3 tunas. Setelah dirasa agak besar akhirnya saya pisah masing-masing tunas tersebut, setahun lebih berlalu dari pertama kali saya beli sanse pagoda ini, sekarang jumlahnya ada sekitar 7-8 pot di rumah. Ada beberapa yang saya berikan ke saudara dan induknya yang pertama kali saya beli sudah meninggi dan kemarin mengeluarkan tunas baru lagi (belum sempat dipisah).

Saat di Depok ada pameran tanaman hias iseng-iseng saya menayakan harga sanse pagoda ini, ternyata harganya masih stabil sekitar Rp 70.000,- an. Saat saya menawarkan bagaimana kalau saya menjual atau menitip tanaman ke penjual tersebut. Penjual tersebut mau tapi dengan harga setengahnya. Dalam hati saya bergumam “ternyata budi daya sanse pagoda bisa dijadikan alternative usaha sampingan juga”.

Bayangkan bagiamana kalau di pekarangan rumah  kita ada 10 induk dan dalam jangka 3 bulan masing-masing induk memiliki 3 tunas, maka dalam 3 bulan kedepan kita bisa menjual 30 tanaman ini dengan harga Rp 30.000,- an, maka hasilnya adalah Rp. 30.000,- x 30 = Rp 900.000,- masih lagi indukan tadi InsyaAllah juga sudah mengeluarkan tunas lagi saat yang 30 tanaman tadi kita jual. Menarik bukan ? Bagi anda yang suka dan tertarik dengan tanaman ini tidak ada salahnya untuk mencoba mengembangbiakannya. (UWe)

There was a ceremony going on, so we didn't stay long. Instead we wandered up a narrow road where we found a cemetery.

It was beautiful and extended up and down a hill, and almost every grave stone had a small green incense jar. Down the road, we caught some monks trying to cross the street.

From there we continued down Higashiyama and found a five-tiered pagoda up another alley.

The alley led up to a cobblestone street where we saw, among other things, a rickshaw.

And we found our way to Kiyomizu-dera (a temple up on the mountainside).

We went into Tainai-meguri, a pretty strange experience. Apparently, walking down the stairs into the pitch blackness and following the rope through a hallway represents entrance into the womb of Daizuigu Bosatsu, a Bodhisattva who can grant wishes. We reached a small patch of light above a stone, which we spun around and made wishes before ascending the stairs.

We made our way to the main hall that has a veranda that sits a long way above the hillside. While we were up there, a thunderstorm rolled in over Kyoto, and the view couldn't have been better.

When the rain subsided, we started the walk down and found a shinto monk still waiting in the drizzle.

We were soaked and waited the rest of the afternoon out in Gion. That night, we walked around this Geisha district, starting on Hanami-koji, where taxis lined the street waiting for businessmen leaving the restaurants and teahouses, and a hostess waited outside her establishment.

We walked around to the Shinbashi district, a really peaceful area around more teahouses.

We found the Tatsumi shrine, which is supposed to bring luck to entertainers, in the fork in the road.

We then walked toward Pontocho, an upscale club/restaurant area and toward Kiyamachi-dori, a less expensive place to hang out. We stopped to take a picture of the statue of the first geisha.

And that's when we spotted a real one.

Kyoto Gallery

Yesterday I went exploring and discovered that right next door was a beautiful Japanese sim called Little Yoshiwara. I will write more on this sim as I explore further.

Today I was excited to meet a new neighbour - Helo Jaxxon - who is busy building a home complete with Tea House and Pagoda right next door. I couldn't be happier. Must get my Kimono on!

Aspectul orasului este dominat de prezenta lui Buddha, ale carui statui se regasesc la tot pasul. Un Buddha asezat, de 20 de metri, vegheaza interiorul manastirii Ashay Tawya. Un alt Buddha se relaxeaza, intins pe pagoda Chaukhtatgyi.
Situata pe dealul Singuttura, pagoda Shwe Dagon are o forma asemanatoare unui clopot si a fost ridicata de populatia mon din 58 de tone de aur,intre secolele al VI-lea si al X-lea.
La intrarea in pagoda, patru statui din aur ale lui Buddha, inalte de 5 metri si inconjurate de alte 10 mai mici, de numai 2 metri se lasa slavite de cativa zeci de budisti in robe rosii. Interiorul este in intregime poleit in aur si improspatat cu buchete de flori. Pagoda de Aur, inconjurata de alte temple, manastiri si sculpturi, majoritatea aurite reprezinta astazi altarul national.
Dincolo de cladirile impresionante, Yangon este unul dintre putinele orase ce si-au pastrat calmul si tihna. Localnicii uimesc adesea prin maniere elegante, politete traditionala si chiar atentia si respectul pe care le acorda femeilor.
O adevarata aventura este incursiunea intr-una din bucatariile traditionale ale Yangon-ului. Cel mai popular fel de mancare este un amestec de influente chinezesti si indiene. Acesta are ca ingredient de baza curry-ul si se prepara din pui, fructe de mare si carne de berbec. In ceea ce priveste bautura, foarte adesea sunt solicitate micile magazine de ceaiuri ce impanzesc strazile orasului. Preturile sunt relativ mici, iar bacsisul se transforma din clasica moneda in tigari sau brichete.
In Yangon se poate ajunge usor, existand spre aceasta destinatie zboruri directe din Bangkok.Cazarea se poate face la hanuri si hoteluri de toate felurile si chiar la Hotelul Strand,de cinci stele.Perioada optima pentru vacante si calatorii este din noiembrie pana in februarie.

On our second day, we spontaneously decided to visit Hiroshima, which is only about three hours away by bullet train. Hopefully that section of photos is depressing, since I was thoroughly effected by the peace monument and museum there. I couldn't really even bring myself to take that many photos, and only one in the museum. Definitely not a good time to be American, not that anyone was mean or anything, just that Corlee and I felt a bit of sideways guilt for our country.

But, we are very glad we went, and are, in all cases, still having a great time. And we haven't killed each other yet.

This laptop is burning me.

At Horyuji temple, in Nara. It was rainy so we didn't stay long.

Had a cool trough.

Another pic of Corlee's back.

I think I'm obsessed with these lanterns.

The ultimate statement at Hiroshima.

In the weirdest way, I really think the a-bomb dome is beautiful.

It says:
"Mourning the lives lost in the atomic bombing, we pledge to convey the truth of
this tragedy throughout Japan and the world, pass it on to the future, learn
the lessons of history, and build a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims"

The worst of it all.

MOVING ON

Yum. Japanese(?) junk food.

Just so you know, I'm actually in Japan. In this hotel room.

Nara park had some scary ass deer. Like, a lot of scary ass deer. Which were quite friendly.

A shrine.

This deer wanted some ice cream.

A pagoda.

These deer were hangin' with this cool lady.

Some warning signs. I think the dog is farting. Or something.

Todaiji, the horned temple where they keep the daibutsu (giant buddha).

I admit, it was huge, but it was also impossible to get a picture of. Go figure.

Cool statues everywhere. Corlee got pissed because I kept stopping to take pictures of things like this.

There were a ton of shrine guardian statues.

There was this big... building. With a bunch of school kids on it. There were so many school kids that day...

Everything's bigger in... Japan?

The school opened the first four-year course for 147 monks and nuns on June 22.

Besides its main facility at Vien Quang Pagoda, the school also has three branches in Thomit Pagoda in Tinh Bien district, Salon Pagoda in Tri Ton district and Kabaruc Pagoda in Thoai Son district.

Buddhist followers contributed 700 million VND to help build the school’s infrastructure.

In An Giang province, there is one monk holding Buddhist master degree; seven others are university graduates and three graduated from college.

Ini dia fotonya..

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Ini dia fotonya:

Anakan dari cacahan daun Sansevieria Pagoda

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Oh, It was me sitting among the pagodas of Shwe Dagon Pagoda, abt six months ago (even before the time I started my blog), in the early morning. I found this photo again in my laptop last few days and got to touch the photo so that I think I can post that in my site as I've never shown my photo to you. :D The time was about 4:30 am and I went there with my family. My sister shot me so that the photo was so clear and it made me little difficult to retouch it and on the other hand, my digital cam is damn poor and out of date now. :P

Have a nice day.

Yours faithfully,

Nanda 969 @ Tom

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The Pagoda is a private house, but the gardens will be opened specially for the party, which is in aid of the wonderful Age Exchange charity. It is on Sunday 22nd of June from 3pm-5pm and costs £7.50, including strawberries, cream and sparkling wine.

Tickets can be picked up from the Reminiscence Centre (opposite the station, next to Shepherd Foods), or by calling 020 8318 9105.

to use filters you need the HA-11 lenshood from sigma:

the 46mm B+W circ. polarizer:

all images were taken with the polarizer filter:

and last but not least...