Peace ribbon in a bamboo grove

I’m starting another series to add to ‘Colourful Characters’ and “Sense of Place’.  Worldview Window will focus on the beliefs of people and how they affect their lives and culture.  It will usually have a brief article explaining the belief or beliefs illustrated in a photograph. 

On a recent walk we noticed this ribbon hanging from a bamboo plant.   The Chinese have an almost unlimited variety of uses for bamboo (which is actually a grass).  You can eat it, eat with it, cook with it and much, much more.  But when it is growing they often feel a sense of fear around it.  Perhaps it is the creaking noise that bamboo plants make in the wind that leads them to suspect supernatural involvement.  My wife tells me that when she was a child bodies of cats found dead in her village would be strung up on bamboo plants to allow their spirits to escape (cats are generally not liked as pets because their cries resemble babies and they are thought to be possessed by the spirits of those who dies in infancy.  Dead dogs would be thrown into streams or drainage ditches).

So the ribbon has been hung here to ward off evil.  The colour red has a signifies blessing in Chinese culture.  The inscription is “Peace in this place”.  Peace, or harmony, is a fundamental desire amongst the Taiwanese and is quite wholistic.  The ribbon has been produced by a temple to Matsu, the goddess of heaven (or ‘holy heavenly mother’), who is treated with great reverence by many Taiwanese because she is believed to have expedited the safe passage of their ancestors when they came across the straights from mainland China to settle in Taiwan.  It illustrates the complex desire to manipulate the supernatural to overcome fear and achieve peace and prosperity that undergirds many of the practices of the Chinese Traditional Folk Religion which intertwines with Buddhism and Taoism here in Taiwan.

Daily International News
November 23, 2009

DPRK
N. Korea says naval skirmish demonstrates need for peace treaty with U.S. [Yonhap]
North Korea urged the United States on Monday to replace their armistice agreement with a peace treaty, citing a recent skirmish between the two Koreas’ navies as “proof” that such a treaty is necessary for peace on the peninsula

China and North Korea defence ministers pledge ties [BBC]
Chinese and North Korean defence chiefs have pledged to strengthen their long-standing military alliance

China/Taiwan
Taiwan concedes territorial waters near China [Reuters]
Taiwan retains control over the tiny island chains of Kinmen and Matsu but does not claim the ocean around them, the Taiwan government said in a notice stating its position for the first time

China families protest mine disaster; toll hits 104 [Reuters]
Relatives of miners killed by a gas blast at a coal pit in northeast China scuffled with police and demanded answers

China activist who spoke out on quake gets 3 years [AP]
A veteran dissident was sentenced Monday to three years in prison after casting a spotlight on poorly built schools that collapsed during China’s massive earthquake last year

Philippines
Philippine kidnappers kill 21 in ‘political massacre’ [AFP]
Supporters of a prominent local politician in Maguindanao province and local journalists were among those murdered

Central/South Asia
Afghan security plans ‘a tall order’ [AFP]
Afghan government plans to boost army and police numbers massively have been greeted with scepticism by diplomats and military experts who say the figures are too ambitious

India tests nuclear-capable missile after sunset [Reuters]
India’s army tested a nuclear-capable Agni missile after sunset on Monday for the first time to demonstrate it could be fired whenever required

Middle East
Israel, Hamas near swap of prisoners for soldier [AP]
Israel and Hamas are close to a deal to swap 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held for more than three years

Iraq parliament passes new vote law [Reuters]
Iraq’s fractious parliament on Monday approved an amended version of a law needed to hold a general election next year

Iran stages war games, sits on West’s nuclear offer [WP]
Military issues warning to Israel, tries to show defensive capacity

Europe
Germany attacks Israel settlement plan before visit [Reuters]
Germany on Monday criticized Israeli plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, in unusually explicit terms a week before the two countries’ leaders meet in Berlin

From Sunday>> N.Ireland on edge after huge car bomb found [AFP]
Northern Ireland was on edge Monday after a huge car bomb only just failed to cause devastation

Russia says new blast at arms depot kills 8 [Reuters]
Eight soldiers were killed and two injured Monday when munitions exploded at a Russian navy arms depot

Africa

Sudan announces slight delay to upcoming elections [Sudan Tribune]
The Sudanese NEC announced a six day delay to the elections in order to allow more time for voters to register

From Sunday>>Algeria acquits two former Guantanamo Bay detainees [BBC]
Two Algerian men held at Guantanamo Bay for seven years on terror charges have been acquitted at a trial on being returned home

Americas
Brazil: World should engage, not isolate Iran [AP]
Engaging, not isolating Iran is the way to push for peace and stability in the Middle East, said Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva

Nicole Miller Stretch Crepe Dress: This sleeveless dress has an asymmetrical ruffle neckline and an exposed back zipper, so current for the season and perfect for any event, yet remaining comfortable with a stretch material. Available at Twilight.

Don’t forget: workshop with PranaVayu Founder-David Magone this Saturday, November 21 at 1:00pm – 4:00pm Stil Studio, 740 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA 02026

NEW! A line of Hindu-inspired bracelets by Shashi. Vamped up with glittery stones and colorful strings, the bracelets symbolize Friendship, Love, and Good Luck. Shashi bracelets are casually elegant and make the perfect accessory for a subtle day time look or layered to make a statement for a night out on the town. Available at Injeanius.

TONIGHT: Twilight is hosting a “New Moon” premier party. Sink your teeth into Red Velvet Cupcakes and sip blood red punch. Plus giveaways.

TOMORROW: Don’t miss Boldfacers’ Little Black Dress Pop-Up shop. Participating boutiques include: Riccardi, Matsu, Stels, Portobello Road, Holiday, Stil, Habit, The Tannery; local designers: Daniela Corte, Sam Mendoza, Nirva, Millie Boutista.

Everyone knows that fall is boot season. Find tall and short boots from Loeffler Randall at Moxie.

Boldfacers next Pop-Up shop will feature participating boutiques: Riccardi, Matsu, Stels, Portobello Road, Holiday, Stil, Habit, and The Tannery and local designers: Daniela Corte, Sam Mendoza, Nirva, and  Millie Boutista. Keep checking BSD for more pop-up shop updates.

Who says you can’t keep warm this fall and winter while staying in style? At Twilight, you can find a fabulous assortment of cashmere sweaters from designers like Twig, Autumn Cashmere, and VKOO with flirty yet flattering silhouettes that you can wear any day of the week.

Boldfacers’ will open its doors for its second pop-up store, Street Chic, on Friday October 16 from 5-9pm and Saturday, October 17 from 11 am to 6 pm.  Street Chic will feature mini-boutiques, live performance art and DJ music.

Some of the artist and designers include:

Dava Muramatsu, Nymph Jewelry/Matsu Boutique: sparkly gems and organic stones strung together for a Moroccan wonder Ryan Lombardi, artist/painter of all things wild and wonderful. Will paint live.

 Marka 27: graffiti artist extraordinaire, performing live Darin Hager, sneaker designer

 Eric Levin: fine art and fashion photography

 Ian Travis Barnard: fine art landscape photography

 Craig Poschman: urban, hand-sewn, ripped-apart Louis-of-Boston tee shirts

 Kristina Pitaniello: leather, poetry-inscribed cuff bracelets

 Renatta Hosein/Brian Pope, PreK Apparel a la Karmaloop: edgy, adorable streetwear for tots

 Join Boldfacers on Friday, October 16 from 5-9pm for the Pop-up Open Studios kick off cocktail party, sponsored by Cold River Vodka and live DJ music. Then, on Saturday, October 17 11am-6pm pop pop pop and shop ‘til you drop at Street Chic.

Directions: http://bit.ly/Rbweo

I was encouraged to see this item from Xinhua news agency. I have long had a connection with Tin Hau/Matsu from my days on Lamma Island, in Taiwan, and from my connection with the sea (being surrounded by it in Britain).

Xinhua reports:

Matsu worshipping, a folk custom prevalent in China’s southeastern coast, has been approved as an intangible heritage in need of urgent safeguarding by the UNESCO’s intangible heritage committee at an ongoing meeting at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

This is great news for animism, for goddess worshippers, and pagans everywhere. It is the first belief-related custom to make the UNESCO heritage list. That feels to me like a ground-breaking achievement.

I once had a dream in which I was shown that in the part of the world where I currently live (Cyprus), my shamanism would only become socially acceptable if it was given recognition as a CULTURAL enterprise. This would mean that people got to see contemporary cultural activities which stemmed from shamanic practice. I took this to mean not that I have to ‘pretend’ that I don’t really ‘mean’ it, but that I need to communicate about shamanic experience with others through cultural means. We need a set of devotional paintings, of religious writings, of practices that are publicly available, that are good enough for people to want to see or read or music that they want to hear, and we also need to draw the attention of artists and poets and painters and photographers, not as some sort of ‘primitive’ look at an anachronistic anthropology, but as a real, living tradition, in our own space and time (for me, that means as Westerners.) The Chinese seem to have managed this, somewhat, with the Matsu cult. Perhaps you can speculate about the amount of tourist dollars that will be made, as China redevelops the show on offer on Meizhou Island. But who will be next? The orixa? How about the Lady of the Fishes, Yemaya? It has been my desire for the longest time to have more obvious expressions of animism in the British landscape. Shrines, to the ocean, to the spirit of certain sacred places, roadside shrines along the Ridgeway. The sort of thing that already sits well in the land, in the psyche. Moderately, and metaphorically expressed. But there. So real offerings can be made, and seen, and left for others to see.

Matsu, Matsu…Tianshang Shengmu!

Well, here we are in Kyoto, the place we are staying the longest of all – 5 nights!

This morning before breakfast we did a quick walk around the water front at Matsushima.

We stayed the night at the Century Hotel which included dinner and breakfast, both of which were superb. Apart from that we had little time for anything else. I again ventured to the public bath/onsen. The experience still freaks me out a bit, but I’m getting used to it. However I’m beginning to think bathing in the bathroom in our room is probably more practical since I just have to come back anyway to do all the other stuff, like makeup, hair etc. We’ll see..  (sorry, no photos).

We left Matsushima at 10.30am and travelled to Kyoto via Sendai and Tokyo.

We finally arrived at our hotel just after 5pm. So tonight we decided just to wander around and find a place to dine. We found a truly authentic and delightful yakitori style restaurant called Mima Deli (yes, unusual name. It had nothing to do with a delicatessen). It wasn’t on the tourist map but luckily I travel with my interpreter who came in very handy on this occasion! The menu was hand written in Japanese, a challenge even for the very experienced Peter san. He did come through with shining colours though and was once again complimented on his excellent Nihongo!

Now, to the food. We ordered the yakotori and salad set. We each received a skewer of chicken/shallots, pork/shallots, chicken leg, potato with chilli sauce and snapper. Each one was ‘truly luxurious’, with its own unique flavour enhanced by, I think, marinades and sauces, which I can never identify.

The salad, comprising lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, daikon and other tidbits was dressed with a subtle splash of something that had a kind of burnt brown sugar, buttery flavour. Perfect! Meat and three (or more) vege. Naka naka herushii!

On the way back to the hotel we stopped in at a giant bookstore and Starbucks. In my ongoing attempt to live dangerously I ordered the white chocolate mocha latte and Peter settled on the plain latte since the creme brulee latte was all “sold out”? Would it be wrong to drink white chocolate smothered with ridiculously thick swirls of whipped cream for breakfast? What if I become addicted? There is no Starbucks in WA. I love that WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA LATTE!! I think the best thing is to drink it until I am sick of the sight of it. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

Well, that’s it for today. It was a great day and we are so looking forward to our long, long stay in Kyoto.

Good night until tomorrow!

Shop: Examurai Sengoku MATSU Real Figure

ETA: November.

PVC Figure
22cm Tall
Ready Painted
Ready to Display

Shop: Examurai Sengoku MATSU Deform Figure

ETA: November.

PVC Figure
10cm Tall
Ready Painted
Ready to Display

Lukang is a one of the famous cultural towns in Taiwan. The Matsu Temple in this twon is also a famous religionary place. This pciture shows the “Firing Censer”, inferring a sign from gods in traditional culture and custom.

In Taiwan, which is surrounded by sea, almost every old town has its own Matsu temple. Matsu was a legend in coastal areas in south China. According to literature, she was thought to be a witch when she was alive. And she used to be commended and granted a nobility by more than ten kings in China after she passed away. Now she is one of the most famous Sea Gods in Eastern Asia.

Despite raining, the faithful pilgrims are to offer sacrifice for Matsu.

To offer sacrifices to deities or ancestors is a common activity in Taiwan. In some way, actually, people comfort themselves by means of praying.

The censer is like a bridge between gods and people. People place their joss sticks inside a censer after offering or praying their thanks or  implorations.

This is activity show ot greet Matsu.

Here is the second of my Sea Songs in Exile, dedicated to the spirit of the sea which exiles and unites us, and to the sea goddess Matsu, Tianshang Liangmu, known in Hong Kong as Tin Hau.

Emily and I joined her grandparents recently to visit an elderly woman who lives alone in her old farmhouse in a small village near our home in Japan. The woman is a family friend and her big house sits on a very large property with farmland extending up the side of the mountain and a large and well-cared for garden accessible from the courtyard. The old woman spends time outdoors each day tending to her kitchen garden, though she is now too old to take on more difficult tasks such as pruning the old ornamental pine trees (matsu) on her property. While we were visiting an older couple were busy trimming back the new growth on a stately 100 year old pine. The couple seemed a bit camera shy and I did not wish to make them uncomfortable so my footage is brief and simple. The woman told me that the key to pruning such a tree is to simply cut off the new grown which are clearly visible. The couple are neighbors in this very small community of just 11 houses, where most members of the village drop by often to check on the old woman and to help her with the few simple farming and household tasks which need to be done. My in-laws help out as well by bringing her fresh water from their filtered water system as the home’s only other water supply is direct from the nearby stream.

Learn more about Japan at www.Shinto-Religion.com
Or visit us on eBay at The Old Tokaido

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

G’day, friends! Remember how in one of my former posts I talked about me being Simsless? Well, guess what I am playing as I write this?The Sims 2! Wooo! That is the Sim I am playing right now. Her name is Alessa Gillespie and it appears as though she is blogging as well

On to the eats & the day’s events!

I am going to tell you all right now that I have fallen passionately in love with a new cereal. While my Kashi GLC days will never be fully over, Ezekiel Golden Flax cereal has found its way deeply into my heart. I guess this makes me a two-timing floozy. This morning’s breakfast was a 1/2 c. of Ezekiel in a dark chocolate malt Carnation Instant Breakfast. I topped this with a bunch of chopped strawberries and a banana bread Larabar. The larabar was the perfect addition to this combo!It looks like hot chocolate, doesn’t it?

My mother and grandma left for an important appointment downtown so I had to stay home and take care of my brother. He is such a character. I always enjoy spending time with him, except when he starts gyrating his hips like Justin Timberlake in his NSYNC days. Then maybe I don’t like him so much. Maybe I get a little scared. Teehee.I did nothing but hang around the house and do homework until lunch time. Today was one of those dull days when nothing worth talking about happens. Don’t you hate days like that? I just start begging the heavens to make something happen so that I won’t be bored out of my mind, but no such luck.

Since my day was so boring, I decided to have fun with my lunch and ended up making a mess out of my kitchen. I made a “Greek Taco/Wrap” thing. It was supposed to be a wrap, but I put way too much filling into the tortilla, making it too fat to roll up. So it became a taco. Contents of the Taco/Wrap: turkey, 2 chicken & sage breakfast sausages (chopped), lettuce, 1/4 c. mozarella cheese, 2 tbsp. of hummus. On the side: an apple and 1 tbsp. of almond butter.

Francesca came over for a visit.

Meet Francesca.Meet Karina.“Gosh Karina, that is so antisocial of you.”

For my snack, I had a 1/2 c. of cottage cheese mixed with almonds and pineapple. Has anyone else noticed that if you drink water after eating some pineapple, you get a really nasty chemical taste in your mouth?

By the time 4 o’ clock rolled around, I was convinced that I was sick. Every hour or so I would get stabbing pains in my stomach but I did not think much of it until I found myself running back and forth to the bathroom in pain. I was terrified that today was going to be the death of me. Oh woeful day!

That was a total exaggeration but that doesn’t matter because it got my point across . Anyways, I am a very nervous girl right now because tomorrow I have to take my orchestra final and I am so not ready. Sure, I could practice right? But I don’t feel good enough to practice! I am really upset with my mom because she did not make it clear to me that the final was tomorrow until like, 7 PM. The worst part of this is that there is a possibility that I won’t just be playing for my two orchestra directors, but possibly the sexy student teacher as well! Ugh. I am also having some issues. Ever since my dietitian told me I could exercise, I have been very dependent on that. It is like now I HAVE to exercise and if I don’t, I am immediately going to get “fat”. Or, I get scared to eat my full amount of calories if I don’t exercise. What the heck? I was fine with eating my calories and not exercising last week! Since I don’t feel good today, I am taking advantage of this and forcing myself to relax… and eat!

Dinner was sushi! I ordered the salmon and avocado roll from Matsu. I had some miso soup and 2 chicken & sage breakfast sausages dipped in maple syrup on the side. Those things are the bomb.My order is the roll in the very front. In the center is the crunchy roll, and way in the back is the california real roll. My sushi was amazing, but I was rather upset to find little crumbs of tempura on some of my pieces. It had been infected by the crunchy roll! >.<

I’m stressed. Join me for tea?

I watched The Hills for about the 7th time in my life today and it was the Spencer and Heidi wedding episode. Spencer is, pardon my french, an asshole. I can’t take that man seriously, he always has this little “I am a jerk” grin on his face and has no chemistry with Heidi whatsoever. I wish them lots of luck in their marriage though because they are really going to need it.

I snacked on a bowl of Kashi GLC and Rachel’s orange strawberry mango yogurt with some raisins on top. Dang, I flirted with both of my cereal lovers today! :O. I am just corrupt to the bone, aren’t I? Hahaha. Anyways, I am completely obsessed with these yogurts. Rachel’s has the best flavors in her Essence and Exotic yogurt lines. I’ve only tried 2 of the Exotic flavors but I already have my eye on a couple of flavors from the Essence line. Yum, doesn’t peach green tea flavored yogurt sound just divine?

I am kind of dissapointed right now and I feel like I am on the verge of having an anxiety attack. I am so nervous about my orchestra final/audition that I feel like my heart could fall out of my butt at any minute. Protect me

Before I go to bed I just wanted to mention that I am so grateful to have received this award. This time it was given to me by Tori and Determined, who just so happen to be two of my inspirations!Thanks, beautifuls!

Goodnight to all. I am sending all of my love to everyone!

Postaram się przedstawić czytelnikom pojęcie modelarstwa – może raczej w skrócie przybliżę Was do tego hobby.
Zdajemy sobie sprawę z tego, że modelarstwo – „sport”- hobby nie jest jeszcze rozpowszechnione w Krakowie tak bardzo jak na przykład w Warszawie. Jednak województwo małopolskie może się pochwalić zawodnikami w różnych klasach modeli, ale często są oni widoczni tylko w czasie zawodów, które na naszym terenie odbywają się stosunkowo rzadko.
W związku z tym, iż spoty/imprezy/zawody i rajdy z udziałem zawodników, amatorów
czy też hobbystów RC są organizowane w małopolsce bardzo rzadko, wielu mieszkańców Krakowa
i okolic jeszcze nie widziało na co stać potocznie zwane zabawkami, modele zdalnie sterowane oraz jaka jest różnorodność tych produktów i realizm ich wykonania. Większość ludzi widzi autko zdalnie sterowane – od taka zabawka dla dzieci. Jednak zainteresowanie tą „zabawką dla dużych dzieci” z każdym dniem wzrasta.
Przykładowo modele RC dzieli się na dwie główne grupy:
spalinowe,
elektryczne.

Na pierwszy rzut oka model rc to – zwykła zabawka po kilku minutach jednak widać, że nie jest tak do końca. Realizm i precyzja wykonania, niektórych modeli przekracza wyobrażenia wielu osób. Przykadowo nakręcony przez nasz team film z wyprawy trialowej do Kryspinowa pokazuje jak zachowuje się wybrany model trialowy w terenie (filmik ). Widz ogląda jeep’a pokonującego błotnisty teren, a dopiero po pewnym czasie się zastanawia czemu w tym aucie nie ma kierowcy lub dlaczego otaczające go błoto przypomina koleiny samochodu i dopiero wtedy uświadamia sobie, że to nie jest prawdziwe auto tylko model – zobacz testy modeli zdalnie sterowanych RC.
Prawie każdy człowiek jest w stanie wyobrazić sobie pojazd jadący 50-100km/h, ale ile osób jest w stanie wyobrazić sobie miniaturkę samochodu np. w skali 1:10 Subaru Imprezę jadącą 80km/h? Samochodem w skali 1:1 jadąc 80km/h łatwo się kieruje, ale czy równie łatwo się kieruje czymś co jest 10 razy mniejsze – filmik?
Mało kto wie i mało kto wierzy w to, że rekord prędkości modelem rc – nazywanym zabawką, to wynik powyżej 200km/h.
Zakłady motoryzacyjne ulepszają samochody zmieniając ich parametry techniczne oraz wygląd zewnętrzny. Z modelami RC jest podobnie. Możemy złożyć model od podstaw dostosowywując podzespoły do własnych oczekiwanych, potrzeb czy osiągów (tak jak w zwykłym pojeździe) lub kupić złożony gotowy model i stale go ulepszać dążąc do doskonałości, większego realizmu i lepszych wyników. Model może mieć świecące światła (tylne, przednie, mijania, podwozia itp.), wydawać dźwięk przy uruchamianiu lub jeździe jak prawdziwe auto, wydawać dźwięk klaksonu, mieć kilka biegów, które kierowca przerzuca według uznania, napęd na dwie lub jedną oś i wiele innych rozwiązań. Wizualnie również możemy dokonywać zmian (poza oświetleniem już wcześniej wspomnianym), można dowolnie zmieniać w modelu karoserię, jej kształt (dodatkowe spoilery, wloty powietrza) oraz barwę (od jednobarwnych przez wielokolorowe oraz tzw. lakiery kameleon – zmieniające odcienie w zależności od konta patrzenia). Nasz model może być Subaru Imprezą, a za minutę może stać się Fordem Focus’em.

Praca i modyfikacje włożone przez zawodników w swoje modele dają często im samym oraz obserwatorom wizje jak funkcjonuje prawdziwy pojazd. Wielu z nich na przykładzie modelu może nauczyć się w jaki sposób auto zachowuje się w różnych warunkach pogodowych na drodze i poza nią oraz jak zmiany techniczne wpływają na jakość jazdy (choćby zmiana opon ). My mamy w pewnym stopniu nadzieję, że to może i dla niektórych śmieszne, ale dla wielu może znależć odzwierciedlenie w bezpieczeństwie na rzeczywistej drodze.

Tak więc modele zdalnie sterowane to nie do końca zabawki. Przeważnie w różnych dziedzinach nauki wykonuje się makiety i modele, aby przeprowadzić testy. Ze względu na duży realizm modeli i makiet testy są prawie równoznaczne z realnymi obiektami. Jeżeli ktoś nie wierzy to chyba najlepszym rozwiązaniem będzie przekonanie się na własne oczy.

Matsu, an organic winery from the Toro D.O. Spanish Moruba is the design agency behind it.

Here is what that we have been waiting for all this time and I dont think any introduction is needed for this anime series. As usual. I’ll update it whenever there is a new DVD release for Sekirei, so be patient and just wait for it . In Sekirei there is a few ways they did the censoring part :

• They add fog to cover the parts especially the bath scenes
• They ‘clean off’ the nipples
• They blurred of the ecchi parts
• They block the ecchi parts with some objects
• They crop the viewing screen where the nude part is
• And some scenes that you can only view in the DVD version

You’ll notice this all from the images that I’ve uploaded below. I’ll randomly pick images to be compared since there is too many of them especially the censored ones since nobody would like to see them anyway. Enjoy – blood is precious, dont simply waste it .

EPISODE 1

Censored

Uncensored

EPISODE 2

Censored

Uncensored

Some other random uncensored scenes from episode 2

EPISODE 3

Uncensored

EPISODE 4

Uncensored

EPISODE 5

Uncensored

EPISODE 6

Uncensored

EPISODE 7

Uncensored

EPISODE 8

Uncensored

EPISODE 9

Uncensored

No need to wait for the DVD release. Titties galore HERE

EPISODE 10

Uncensored

Episode 11

Uncensored

Episode 12

Uncensored

OVA – Hajimete no Otsukai

誰有資格讓馬祖娘娘出去洽公阿?每天都在看這發呆吧!

積沙成塔但永遠都只是在打地基之後就流標了，連2F都到不了更何況想搭電梯。

牛肉沒了改吃兩隻腳的也棒了冰箱滿滿滿去習慣的7-11還是要拿購物籃才安心這部適河洛的豪氣應該會被客家人唾棄吧

吃飽睡飽看完海綿寶寶滿足的所有事情都可以忘光光

Vintae Luxury Wine Specialists is an avant-garde company, specialized in mid-range and luxury wines. Vintae is distinguished for offering singular products of the maximum quality, with a clear market focus and a high value added for its clients.

Buyers attending the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar are sure to be impressed by the Vintae range of wines.

Vintae is composed of a group of young professionals, enterprising, oenologists, specialists in marketing, commercialization, etc, all of which are in love of the world of wine and assert a dynamic and innovative spirit.

Vintae can be found behind singular and exclusive projects in Denominations of Origin so prestigious as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, and Navarra, and in new and exciting wine producing regions like those of Valles de Sadacía and Ribera del Queiles.

Our wineries are as follows: Castillo de Maetierra (VdT Valles de Sadacia), Maetierra Dominum (D.O.C. Rioja), De Bardos (D.O. Ribera del Duero), Monastir (D.O. Navarra), Winery Arts (VdT Ribera del Queiles) and Matsu (D.O. Toro). These wineries complete our ample portfolio of singular and exclusive wines, with the capacity to express all of the intricacies of their respective zones of origin.

Under the direction of Vintae, Castillo de Maetierra was the protagonist of the great ¨white revolution¨ and has been referred to as the pioneer of the IGP Valles de Sadacia, to become the only winery in La Rioja specialized in white wines.

Please contact VINTAE through their web site or join us at the Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar

My last travel photography post on Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung, Taiwan 台灣高雄 got a lot of hits, so I thought I’d share some more.  These are from a weekend I spent in the southern Taiwanese city shooting for Cathay Pacific/Dragon Air’s in-flight magazine “Silkroad” last Spring.

I had a long list of places to visit including Liuhu Night Market (六合夜市), Central Park and the new KMRT subway system, Urban Spotlight (城市光廊), Love River (愛河), The Matsu (媽祖) Temple and some other attractions on Cijin Island (旗津區).

I have a great time every time I go down there and often try to convince myself to move there for good.  It’s definitely an up-and-coming city whose image and economy should be boosted by this summer’s World Games.

Cijin Island (旗津區) is a very nice beach area that is actually a barrier island to the very busy Port of Kaohsiung.  You can take the ferry (旗津渡輪) for about 33 US cents or drive through a tunnel at the south end.  On the Island, you’ll find a nice beach, a night market renowned for its fresh seafood, and an interesting Matsu Temple.

Matsu Temple is located in the middle of the night market on Cijin Island.

Matsu Temple is located in the middle of the night market on Cijin Island.

More on travel photography from Kaohsiung, Taiwan after the jump…

Matsu Temple is located in the middle of the night market on Cijin Island.

Watch the sunset on Cijin Islands beautiful Beaches.

The ferry to Cijin Island is one of the best deals going.

Love River (愛河) is an area in central Kaohsiung that’s recently been renovated.  It offers walking and cycling paths, and some relaxing coffee and tea shops to relax at, day or night.

Love River is a beautiful area for everyone.

Love River is a beautiful area for everyone.

The Central Park stop of the KMRT subway system is the place to stop for the beautiful city park. It offers nearby shopping and The Urban Spotlight (城市光廊), a section dedicated to various arts.

Urban Spotlight is located in Central Park and features art and music.

Gaohsiung's Central Park MRT exit is a feast for the eyes.

Central Park is a perfect place to relax.

Sahashi Minato ha fallado el examen de ingreso a la Universidad dos veces, no es muy popular con las mujeres y esta desempleado. Un día, Minato se encuentra con una chica llamada Musubi, que literalmente le cae del cielo. Minato pronto aprende que él es un Ashikabi, un ser humano con genes especiales que le permite asociarse con Sekireis. L@s Sekireis son seres super-dotados, creados por la misteriosa corporación MBI. Las Sekireis pueden ser chicas lindas, mujeres maduras, hasta chicos bishounen. Las Sekireis deben entrar en una lucha o competencia denominada «Plan Sekirei». Con toda la ciudad de Tokio como el campo de batalla, las Sekireis deben buscar a los seres humanos que son destinados a convertirse en su Ashikabi. Minato pronto aprende que ser el socio de una bella muchacha no es todo diversión y juegos, sobre todo cuando descubre que un Ashikabi puede tener más de una Sekirei pareja, y ahí es donde lo mejor comienza.

差點買台會冒煙的汽車!機車加個油竟然要一千元!每日一字三天後就忘記!

羅聰明先出來給人打了!蟯蟲一年前跟鉤蟲躲在肛門裡也跑出來透透氣了!大設計師開的火車上了軌道小站還不停!歪鼻子成了科技新貴無前科無不良嗜好的黃金單身漢!矮子讀書的日子終於要畫上句點!立書竟去做苦力!壓跟也沒想到會變成這樣!?往後看看不到一丁點的痕跡往前看還在拖拖拉拉的買電池正準備裝在手電筒裡。

如圖年薪百萬長一米八微寬意者密