Ketika membuka Temu Nasional 2009, Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menekankan pentingnya jiwa kewirausahaan, inovasi teknologi, dan kreativitas. Ketiga aspek itu sebetulnya tercakup dalam nebula (megabudaya) China yang ironisnya tidak boleh diajarkan semasa Orde Baru. Dalam perjalanan sejarah di sekolah diajarkan pengaruh nebula yang berasal dari India, Arab, dan Eropa, tetapi tidak demikian halnya dengan sumbangan nebula China bagi peradaban Nusantara. Diskriminasi sejarah itu berlangsung sejak peristiwa G30S tahun 1965. Pemerintah melarang segala sesuatu yang berbau China.

Kehidupan kita sehari-hari bisa berjalan dan berkembang seperti sekarang ini antara lain berkat berkat ilmu dan teknologi yang berasal dari kebudayaan China. Orang Belanda yang berada di Jawa mulanya kurang memerhatikan pertanian. Orang Tionghoa-lah yang mengembangkan budidaya padi. Setiap tahun banyak jung (kapal besar dari kayu) datang ke sini untuk berdagang sambil membawa 1000-an orang China untuk dipekerjakan, terutama di lahan pertanian.

Abad ke-17

Pada abad ke-17, orang-orang Tionghoa di Batavia mengembangkan budidaya tebu. Penggilingan tebu itu sangat sederhana, yaitu dengan menaruh dua tabung kayu yangdiputar oleh seekor sapi dengn perantaraan sumber sistem roda gigi serta sebuah poros sepanjang 4,5 meter. Karena kekurangan bahan bakar untuk tungku, sejak tahun 1815 industri gula ini dipindahkan ke Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur.

Budidaya padi bukanlah monopoli etnis Tionghoa, tetapi mereka berjasa dalam menemukan teknik baru, seperti alat penyosoh padi tahun 1750 yang dengan dua-tiga sapi bisa mengolah sampai 500 ton padi per hari menggantikan lesung dengn kapasitas 100 ton per hari. Penyebaran alat tersebut merangsang produksi beras dan mengatasi masalah persediaan pangan di Batavia saat itu. Jadi, melalui orang Tionghoa itu lahir tipe pertanian bermesin sederhana : pompa berpedal, gilingan tebu, pemeras kelapa, penyosoh beras, dan bajak.

Dari dua komoditas di atas dibuat menjadi arak yang terdiri dari beras difermentasi, tetes tebu, dan nira sejak tahun 1611. Orang-orang Tionghoa juga berhasil membudidayakan sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan, seperti semangka. Orang Tionghoa pula yang mendatangkan ke Pulau Jawa tanaman seperti kapas dan terung. Tanaman yang mengandungprotein yang diperkenalkan oleh etnis Tionghoa adalah kacang hijau yang semua produk olahannya diberi nama China, yait taoge (kecambah), tahu, dan taoco. Dari sejenis kacang-kacangan dibuat kecap.

Orang Tionghoa juga merupakan pionir dalam bidang metalurgi dan pertambangan. Etnis Tionghoa bekerja di penambangan timah di Bangka dan emas di Kalimantan Barat (paruh pertama abad ke-19). Teknk yang digunakan penambang Tionghoa ini sangat efisien pada zamannya dan berasal dari teknik pembuatan irigasi : mengendalikan aliran air yang alami untuk mencuci mineral di sepanjang permukaan yang miring. Barang yang juga dikembangkan berkat jasa orang Tionghoa adalah jarum untuk menjahit dan perkakas dapur, yakni kuali. Etnis Tionghoa juga berperan sebagai pengecor meriam di Aceh dan Patani.

Teknologi

Etnis Tionghoa juga memiliki sumbangan dalam teknologi kelautan. Merekalah yang membuat kapal yang digunakan Pati Unus, pangeran dari Jepara, untuk menyerang Malaka. Perahu mayang dipakai nelayan lokal di pantai utara Jawa menggunakan dinding sekat kedap air khas China. Etnis Tionghoa juga aktif dalam budidaya tiram, kerang, dan ikan di tambak-tambak. Teknik pembuatan garam juga dikembangkan orang Tionghoa. Pembuatan produk ini dikuasai oleh mereka sebelum pemerintah kolonial Belanda abad ke-19 mengembangkan pembuatan garam secara modern dengan mengambil alih tambak-tambak garam besar di Gresik dan Sumenep.

Menurut hemat saya, nebula (megabudaya) China penting dimasukkan ke kurikulum sejarah karena kenyataan bahwa ia telah menyumbang bagi peradaban bangsa. Selama ini hanya diajarkan budaya India (Hindu-Budha), Arab (Islam), dan Eropa (Kristen) yang memengaruhi budaya lokal di Tanah Air. Jika dari budaya India yang menonjol adalah aspek spiritual dan kerukunan meskipun ada hierarki (kasta), dari budaya China kita bisa menanamkan kreativitas kewirausahaan dan inovasi teknologi untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat.

Sumber  :

Pendidikan Kewirausahaan dalam Diksriminasi Sejarah, Dr Asvi Warman Adam | Ahli Peneliti Utama LIPI
Kompas, 05.12.2009

Beijo bom é aquele de boca inteira no lábio de cima e debaixo, com dentes, língua e saliva.
É com mãos e lóbulos das orelhas entre as dobras dos dedos.

Beijo bom é aquele que tem pele e cabelos emaranhados.
É quando os poros arrepiam os pêlos ao sentirem as batidas do coração do outro acelerarem…

Beijo bom  é sem pressa, sem medo , sem vergonha… é safado!

Hum… beijo é bom! É bom e pronto!

(Sheila Regina – 21/11/09 – 14h31pm)

As noted in the last post, there is a page for each country in the CIA World Factbook. All have maps and and cover the same categories of facts. Additionally, there are a handful of photographs on some nations’ pages.

What is good about these is this statement that you find accompanying each thumbnail photo you click on:

Factbook photos – obtained from a wide variety of sources – are in the public domain and are copyright free.

But there are several odd things about these photos. The first is the absence of any reason why some countries have them and some don’t. For example, there are 15 photos of Jordan, and none of Iran or Iraq, 10 of Libya and none of Ethiopia, 11 each of Albania and Croatia, and none of Ukraine, Romania, or Bulgaria. The other is that by and large, these are tourist brochure shots: pyramids in Egypt, lions in Kenya.

But they are in the public domain, and it can be hard to find public domain photos of places outside the US since the understanding that photos taken by Federal employees on the job belong to the public is not an opinion globally shared.

So let’s start our world tour by meandering through Central Europe and the Balkans.

GREECE

Santorini, an island 120 miles southeast of mainland Greece.

14th century Rousanou Monastery, Meteora region, Greece

Poros, Greece

Parthenon, Athens, Greece

ALBANIA, CROATIA, SLOVENIA, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA

The central tower of Petrela Castle outside Tirana, Albania, was erected around 500 A.D.

Tirana, Albania, and Mount Dajti, Dinaric Range

Looking down on Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, a walled port city on the Adriatic Sea.

Predjama Castle, Slovenia, is built into a huge cave

Slovenia: Church of the Assumption and Bled Castle on Bled Island, and the Julian Alps.

The Danube River as seen from Buda; across the river in Pest is the Parliament Building. Buda and Pest united together are Budapest, Hungary.

Fortress outside Eger, Hungary

Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia

Tatra mountains seen from rural Slovakia

Slovakia

Slovenia

A. Pendahuluan

Indonesia memiliki sumber daya alam yang melimpah, salah satunya adalah melimpahnya ketersediaan air. Pemanfaatan sumber daya air ini sudah dimanfaatkan untuk memenuhi berbagai macam kebutuhan, salah satunya untuk pembangkit tenaga listrik. Pembangkit listrik tenaga air (PLTA) yang ada di Indonesia sudah banyak beroperasi di berbagai daerah. Tenaga listrik yang dihasilkan oleh PLTA kemudian disalurkan ke daerah-daerah sekitarnya, namun ada juga PLTA yang dioperasikan sebagai pusat tenaga listrik suatu wilayah yang luas. PLTA membutuhkan energi besar yang dihasilkan oleh air. Oleh sebab itu, PLTA membutuhkan waduk untuk menampung volume air yang besar tersebut. Hal ini tidak bisa diterapkan di daerah yang terpencil dan hanya memiliki sumber daya alam air yang tidak besar. Suatu pedesaan yang memiliki sungai yang arus airnya lumayan deras namun tidak memungkinkan dibangun suatu waduk untuk mendukung adanya PLTA sulit untuk memenuhi kebutuhan listriknya. Pembangkit listrik mikrohidro yang semakin banyak dikembangkan sekarang dapat menjadi salah satu solusi masalah tersebut. Dengan memanfaatkan aliran yang tidak sebesar seperti di waduk, diharapkan PLTM dapat menghasilkan tenaga listrik yang cukup untuk memenuhi suatu pedesaan yang masih kekurangan pasokan tenaga listrik.
PLTMH (Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Mikro Hidro) merupakan salah satu pembangkit listrik yang ramah lingkungan dan bisa sebagai alternatif menghambat pemanasan global. Jika pembangunan PLTM sepeti ini dapat berkembang di Indonesia maka akan meringankan beban operasional PT. PLN.Pada tahun 2008 ini saja disubsidi negara sebesar 35 Triliun. PT PLN juga mensosialisasikan program penggunaan lampu hemat energi secara nasional.Jika seluruh masyarakat Indonesia menggunakan lampu hemat energi, dampak positif yang rasakan sangat besar.Jika di rupiahkan bisa menghemat biaya opersional sebesar 7 triliun rupiah setiap tahunnya. ( prabono.wordpress.com)

B. Tujuan

Tujuan yang diharapkan tercapai bila alat ini selesai dibuat adalah sebagai berikut:
1. Memanfaatkan sumber atau aliran air yang cukup deras seperti saluran irigasi atau sungai yang berpotensi untuk pembangkit listrik skala kecil.
2. Meningkatkan kesadaran warga untuk menjaga kebersihan sumber air dan alirannya.
3. Sebagai alternatif sumber energi listrik, terutama untuk daerah terpencil yang memiliki saluran air yang memadai.
4. Meningkatkan kreatifitas dan pengetahuan warga akan teknologi
5. meningkatkan penyediaan dan pemerataan energi khususnya di daerah perdesaan

C. Batasan dan Asumsi

1. Karakteritik aliran air:
a. Aliran terbuka
b. Head ± 3 meter
c. Q = 20 liter/detik
d. Asumsi tidak ada sampah yang mengganggu aliran
e. Pasokan air cukup
f. Debit konstan atau tetap
2. Karakteristik turbin:
a. Asumsi low head water plant
b. Jenis turbin yang digunakan adalah cross-flow
3. Karakteristik output yang diinginkan:
a. Generator satu fasa
b. Daya yang dihasilkan 200 – 1000 Watt
c. Tidak menggunakan governor (ELC) dengan asumsi debit tetap atau konstan.
d. Tegangan AC yang dihasilkan 220 volt dan frekuensi 50 Hz

D. Pra-rancangan

Secara garis besar ada dua jenis basis dari turbin air : impuls dan reaksi. Menurut petunjuk Stapleton dan Riedy (2004), turbin impuls merupakan tipe yang paling umum yang dipasang pada sistem domestik. Cunningham dan Atkinson (1998) menjelaskan aplikasi turbin impuls pada mikrohidro sebagai berikut : Mesin-mesin impuls menggunakan nozzle pada ujung akhir daro saluran pipa yang mengkonversi air di bawah tekanan menjadi pancaran yang bergerak cepat. Pancaran ini kemudian diarahkan ke roda turbin (disebut juga runner), yang dirancang untuk mengkonversi energi kinetik sebanyak mungkin dari pancaran ke poros.
Air menabrak turbin dan mendorongnya dalam gerakan melingkar. Tipe generator air ini bekerja paling baik pada tempat yang sumber airnya mempunyai head yang tinggi. Turbin air impuls kecil memerlukan sedikit volume aliran (debit) air, jadi mereka ideal untuk tempat yang jumlah airnya relatif kecil mengair ke bawah bukit yang erjal dengan wajar, seperti di sungai lereng bukit atau air terjun kecil (ABS Alaskan, 2006).
Salah satu jenis turbin impuls ini juga dikenal dengan nama Turbin Michell-Banki yang merupakan penemunya. Selain itu juga disebut Turbin Osberger yang merupakan perusahaan yang memproduksi turbin crossflow. Turbin crossflow dapat dioperasikan pada debit 20 liter/s sehingga 10 m3/s dan head antara 1 s/d 200 m.

Gambar 1.9. Turbin Crossflow
Sumber: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/hydro/layman2.pdf
Turbin crossflow menggunakan nozzle persegi panjang yang lebarnya sesuai dengan lebar runner. Pancaran air masuk turbin dan mengenai sudu sehingga terjadi konversi energi kinetik menjadi energi mekanis. Air mengalir keluar membentur sudu dan memberikan energinya (lebih rendah dibanding saat masuk) kemudian meninggalkan turbin.
Berdasarkan riset dari Scott Suddreth, untuk sungai yang tidak mempunyai head yang banyak, ia menyimpulkan bahwa turbin Banki (Crossflow) adalah pilihan terbaik untuk mikrohidro.
Sistem mikrohidro yang akan dibuat menggunakan sebuah turbin impuls kecil bertipe turbin Banki yang dihubungkan dengan suatu generator atau alternator. Air dikumpulkan dari saluran irigasi diarahkan menuju turbin melalui pipa dan dialirkan ke turbin melalui sebuah nozzle yang berujung persegi panjang. Pada sistem ini tidak diperlukan dam, oleh karena itu disebut sistem “run of river”. Daya dihasilkan oleh generator atau alternator yang dihubungkan dengan turbin melalui puli untuk mendapatkan putaran yang diperlukan untuk menghasilkan daya yang diinginkan. Alternator yang kami gunakan adalah alternator yang ada di pasaran dengan daya output minimum 200 watt dan tegangan AC 220 volt.
Peralatan yang digunakan di dalam pembuatan alat ini adalah : obeng, kunci pas, kunci ring, tang, alat las listrik dan elektroda, gergaji, amplas, penggaris, siku, meteran, busur, dan lain-lain. Bahan yang digunakan besi profil L, mur dan baut, plat besi 3 mm dan pipa besi dengan diameter 3 inch untuk pembuatan sudu-sudu.
Turbin Banki yang akan dibuat mempunyai lebar turbin 13,5 cm dan diameter 23 cm yang terbuat dari 2 lingkaran plat besi dan 2 sudu. Kedua plat besi disatukan dengan sudu dengan cara di las dilas dengan 20 sudu yang dibuat dari pipa besi 3 inch yang di potong dengan sudut 73 derajat.
Nozzle untuk alat ini dibuat berbentuk persegi panjang dengan lebar 11 cm atau lebar turbin dikurangi 1 inch. Lebar nozzle dibuat lebih pendek 1 inch berguna untuk meminimalkan air yang tumpah. Lebar ke atasnya adalah 2,7 cm. Secara teori letak nozzle dapat dihitung dengan rumus

y1 = r2 sin(90 – α2’) – 1,89 s0 / 2 – d/2
s1 = k D1
Maka y1 = (0,1986 – 0,945)D1 – d/2
Namun,aktualnya sering kali tidak presisi maka nozzle akan dibuat lebih portable untuk digeser. Letak nozzle dapat diatur meju mundur untuk menyesuaikan arah semburan sehingga dapat diatur untuk mendapatkan daya maksimal.

E. Perhitungan Perancangan

Asumsi perhitungan
Q = 20 l/s
= 0,02 m³/s
= 0,706 cfs
H = 3m
= 9,8 ft
η = 50 %
N = 300 rpm
1. Potensi daya air
Daya potensial yang tersedia dari tenaga air dihitung dengan rumus:
P = γ x Q x H
Dengan =
γ = berat jenis air ( N/m3)
Q = debit air (m3/s)
H = tinggi jatuh air (m)

P = γ x Q x H
= 9800 x 0,02 x 3
P = 588 watt
= 0,79 watt

2. Daya output turbin
Daya output pada turbin dihitung dengan rumus :
P = g x Q x h x turbin
Dengan :
P = Daya (watt)
g = percepatan gravitasi (9.8 m/s2)
h = head (m)
Q = debit air (liter/sekon)
turbin = Efisiensi turbin (untuk tipe crossflow = 0,7-0,8)
Misal efisiensi turbin = 50%

P teoritis = (0.02x 3 x 9.81×0.5)
= 294.3 x 10-3 kW
= 0.395 hp

3. Dimensi turbin
Untuk turbin crossflow Ns = 40-200 dimana

Ns = (NxP0,5/(H1,25)
Dengan
Ns = kecepatan spesifik
N = kecepatan turbun ( rpm )
P = daya turbin ( HP )
H = head (m)
Maka kisaran rpm dengan data diatas adalah 177-888 rpm
Harapan turbin yang dibuat bisa berputar pada putaran 300, maka turbin mempunyai Ns :
Ns = ( NxP0,5)/H1,25
= ( 300 x 0,3950,5)/9,81,25
= 48,67
Maka turbin termasuk turbin crossflow

Panjang turbin didapat dengan rumus
L = 0,244 QN/H
= 0,244 x 0,706 x 300/9,8
= 5,27 inch
= 13,5cm

Sedangkan diameter turbin didapat dengan rumus :
N = (862/D1) xH0,5
D1 = (86 /N) x H0,5
= (862/300) x √9,8
= 9 inch
= 22,86 cm

Diameter dalam dari turbin didapat dari :
a = 0,17 x D1
= 0,17 x 22,86
= 3,88 cm

D2 = 22,86 – (2x 3,88)
= 15,08 cm

4. Ukuran sudu

Setelah melakukan penggambaran secara manual, maka diketahui letak titik pusat kelengkungan sudut dan jari jari sudu yang didapat dari :
r1/r2 = sin (180o – ½ δ) / sin ( 90o – (½ δ + β1))
= sin ½ δ / cos (½ δ + β1)
Tan ½ δ = cos β1 / ( sin β1 + r1/r2)
δ =73o28”
dengan jari jari sudu sebesar 3,71 atau diameter = 7,42
maka sebagai sudu akan digunakan pipa besi dengan diameter yang mempunyai ukuran sama atau mempunyai ukuran hamper sama dengan rancangan yaitu pipa besi ukuran 3”= 7,62 cm

5. Outlet nozzle
Ukuran nozzle didapat dari menghitung luas lubang nozzle
Dengan
V = kecepatan air
C = konstanta
G = gravitasi (32,152 sq ft/s)
H = head
Maka kecepatan air yang masuk ke nozzle
V = 0,9√(2 x 32,152 x 9,8)
= 22,59 ft/s
Luas outlet nozzle :
A = Q/V
= 0,706 / 22,59
= 0,031 sq ft
Panjang nozzle = L- 1 inch
= 5,27” – 1”
= 4,27”
= 10,84 cm
Sedangkan tinggi nozzle
T = A/L
= 0,031 x 144 / 4,27
= 1,04”
= 2,65 cm

6. Perbandingan rasio pulley
Perbandingan rasio puli untuk mendapatkan putaran yang diperlukan alternator dihitung dengan rumus :
n turbin : n alternator
Pada pengukuran yang kami lakukan saat survey didapat putaran turbin 300 rpm. Sedangkan putaran yang diperlukan alternator untuk menghasilkan daya minimum 200 watt adalah 1500 rpm.. Sehingga perbandingan rasio pulinya didapat :

300:1500 = 1 : 5

Dari perhitungan-perhitungan di atas kami memutuskan untuk menggunakan puli bertingkat dengan harapan mendapat ukuran puli yang lebih kecil.

7. Perhitungan ukuran poros
Untuk menentukan ukuran minimum poros, pertama-tama harus dihitung torsi yang dihasilkan turbin terlebih dulu
T = 60 P / (2πN)
= 60 x 294,3 / ( 2 π 300 )
= 9,8 Nm

Setelah torsi diketahui, maka dengan asumsi tegangan geser baja τ = 150 MPa
Maka diameter poros minimum :
d³ = 16 T /(π x τ)
= 16 x 9,8 / ( π x 150×106)
= 6,9 E-3 m
= 6,9 mm

Dengan safety factor 2 maka diameter minimum :
d = 2 x 6,9 mm
= 13,8 mm
Maka kami menggunakan yang lebih besar yaitu : 0,75 inch = 19,05 mm

F. Gambar pra-rancangan

G. Personalia dan Pembagian Kerja

H. Rencana anggaran
No. Bahan Jumlah Harga per satuan Biaya
1. Besi profil L 6 m Rp 12.000,00 Rp 72.000,00
2. Plat besi 30×60x2 mm Rp 60.000,00 Rp 60.000,00
3. Pipa besi diameter 3 inch 1 m Rp 100.000,00 Rp 40.000,00
4. Alternator 1 buah Rp 500.000,00 Rp 500.000,00
5. Pulley Diameter 2 inch 2 buah Rp 20.000,00 Rp 20.000,00
6. Pulley Diameter 4 inch 1 buah Rp 40.000,00 Rp 40.000,00
7. Pulley Diameter 6 inch 1 buah Rp 60.000,00 Rp 60.000,00
8. V-Belt 2 buah Rp 30.000,00 Rp 60.000,00
9. Bearing duduk 2 set Rp 60.000,00 Rp 120.000,00
10. Poros 0,75 inch 1 m Rp 150.000,00 Rp 150.000,00
11. Mur, baut, dan ring Rp 60.000,00
12. Biaya kesekretariatan Rp 18.000,00
TOTAL Rp 1.200.000,00

Daftar Pustaka

http://adesalbg.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/pembangkit-energi-listrik-tenaga-mikrohidro

DESIGNED by:
Rezki Anjung Mentaram
Mujammil Asdhiyoga Rahmanta
Kunto Purnajati
Dyan Wibintoro Cahyo Aji
Tony Suprapto
Bayu Arya Pramudita
Achmad Mirzarohman Zamrozi
Hanggayuh SH
Andre Pratama
Ade Febri Saputra
Barakah Pukuh
I Putu Adi Witara

A primavera chegou, mas nem tudo são flores. Com a temperatura mais alta, quem sofre com oleosidade excessiva se vê diante de problemas que costumam ser mais comuns nesta época: brilho, sensação de pele engordurada, poros visivelmente abertos e dificuldade em manter a maquiagem por muito tempo.

É nessa hora que muita gente tenta se livrar do problema e acaba agravando ainda mais a situação. Isso porque a primeira atitude costuma ser a de lavar o rosto várias vezes ao dia e é aí que mora o perigo: para se defender do ressecamento causado pela lavagem excessiva, a pele passa a produzir ainda mais oleosidade.

Confira as dicas da dermatologista Alessandra Nogueira para driblar o problema:

- Lave o rosto, no máximo, de duas a três vezes ao dia.

- Preste atenção à temperatura da água. Se estiver muito quente, pode ressecar a pele e induzi-la a produzir ainda mais oleosidade (efeito rebote).

- Utilize produtos que não causem ressecamento excessivo para evitar o tal efeito rebote. Uma boa dica é Dermotivin Foam 50ml. Formulado especialmente para limpar a pele oleosa sem ressecar, o produto possui extratos naturais e tem o tamanho ideal para ser lavado na bolsa ou nécessaire.

- Evite esfregar a toalha no rosto, prefira dar leves batidas para secar a pele.

- Nada de abrir mão do protetor solar por receio de deixar a pele ainda mais oleosa. Escolha um produto livre de óleo na fórmula e que não seja comedogênico, ou seja, não favoreça a formação de cravos.

- Evite exposição excessiva ao sol. Apesar da sensação de pele mais seca logo após a exposição solar, a pele tende a produzir ainda mais oleosidade na seqüência.

- Se você usa maquiagem, vale a mesma dica dos protetores solares: escolha as que têm fórmula oil free e não comedogênica.

• Conheça a Consultora Sacks: www.consultorasacks.com.br

“And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How evrything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll”

Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

Caminhando por entre os carros parados da rua vazia, sentia minha alma se dissolver através dos poros do meu corpo. Na noite quente, minha pele latejava numa mistura de suor, respiração e essência que purgava de mim e trazia à tona os desejos e os sentimentos.

Eu já não era dona de mim há muito tempo, mas ali tomei a consciência disso. Meu ser havia se separado do meu corpo e tinha vida própria – uma vida louca e totalmente insana. Eu andava, eu pensava, eu sentia, eu ouvia, mas parecia que meu cérebro não comandava estas minhas ações.

Eu me atirava do alto do prédio e nada acontecia comigo… Eram devaneios, eram sentimentos, eram fugas do meu consciente. Palavras não faziam nexo na minha lógica interna. Os sons não encontravam correspondentes reais. As imagens não passavam de borrões surreais e fugidios.

Minha alma se dissolvia de mim enquanto eu pensava nos deveres cotidianos, nas metas de futuro e naquilo tudo que estava pendente em minha vida. Eu perdia o meu maior tesouro – os meus sonhos, as minhas crenças, os meus amores – e não percebia isso. Estava presa nos mandamentos capitalistas e buscava apenas uma elevação social.

Isso era triste… Muito triste!

A few weeks ago I was at the Marina of Kos island at Dodecanissa. I needed to fix a sparepart of a sailing boat in a few hours as I needed to leave the port as soon as possible.  It was Saturday noon and the sparepart could only be “fixed” by a technician as there was no great possibility to find a new one to replace it.

  Ms Koula and SELAS supplies

I was lucky! I met Ms Koula at SELAS yachting supplies at the Kos Marina and she decided that a colleague of hers would give me a lift to the local turnery and machine shop of the Diallynas family. We went to their shop they did not have it, they went to another shop they fixed it for me and I was ready in less than an hour and they did not ask for a penny!!

Diallynas family shop

 I have no words to thank them, I will try to visit the Boat Show next week so that I meet Ms Koula at SELAS booth and thank her again.

Another excellent example of Greek hospitality happened to me yesterday at Poros island.

 I was walking towards a restaurant “Spyros” by  ”Theano” hotel, which is famous for the delicious generous dishes and very rational prices. As soon as I passed by the small bridge linking Spheria with Kalavria there is a small fishing club and I started taking pictures of the ducks nearby. Three pleasant men (in their mid fifties and sixties) were also sitting there and I took some pictures of them…. and I continued walking (I was not alone …)

Great Greek Modern People at Poros island

After a while one of them came with his car to drive us – as the Taverna we were looking for was closed and the next good one was far away!!

I was so amazed by his gesture! An ex marine guy full of generosity made us feeling once more proud for being Greeks.

- continuem dilatando – é o que peço a meus poros – até que de tão abertos, em vocês
brotem meu jardim.

eu culparia os olhos que me ardem
diria: é no inferno que me acho
mas aqui do lado eu vejo a calma dando tapas na tormenta.

Bueno hoy he decido abordar el tema del acne que  puede sacarnos de nuestros planes economicos , pues los tratamientos resultan muy costosos. Aqui le propongo tratamientos caseros de bajo costo pero efectivos.

Recuerde que las pieles con acne necesitan tres pasos fundamentales: Limpieza, tonificacion e hidratacion y si los combina con estos tratamientos los resultados seran mejores

(recuerde : El uso de estos tratamientos es responsabilidadd del lector)

Aspirina :

• Es la mas barata fuente de acido salicilico tan usado por los dermatologos:
• Forma de Uso: Disuelva una aspirina en agua y apliquela en el rostro limpio y seco, se retira con agua
• Tiempo de espera: 5 minutos o hasta que seque

Mascarilla de Avena:

• la avena tiene propiedades limpiadoras
• Forma de uso: haga polvo con la hojuelas de avena y mezclelas con te de manzanilla, haga una pasta,  y apliquela sobre el rostro limpio y se retira con agua
• Tiempo de pose: 10 minutos o hasta que se sienta tirante

ASTRINGENTE DE TE VERDE

• El te verde tiene propiedades antisepticas
• Forma de uso:  hacer te verde de la forma tradicional, sin azucar y aplicarlo sobre la piel, dejar que se absorba y retirar con agua
• Tiempo de pose: 2 minutos o hasta que absorba

Espero que estos 3 tratamientos le sirvan, sin muy economico yy se pueden hacer con cosas que estan en su despensa.

Que nos Ahorramos:

• Hasta 30 Dolares en contra del dermatologo o los productos cosmeticos

Otros Articulos Interesantes : 

10 tips para Ahorrar Agua

Aprenda a limpiar su computadora GRATIS !!

Cursos de Maquillaje Gratis !

Ahorra en Jabon limpieza

We had a room in Piraeus, the port city next to Athens, for only two nights.  Everything we’d read about Athens described it as big, crowded, loud, and dirty, and said that visitors could  and should see the Acropolis in a single day, and then get out.  The Acropolis is magnificent, and duly impressive, and while it took us longer than it should have to find the entrance, we enjoyed our time seeing the Parthenon, the temples, and the ancient agora.  The food was better our first full day there than it had been on our arrival, so things were looking up.

The day after seeing the Acropolis, we headed to Poros, an island about 2.5 hours by ferry from Athens.  It had been recommended on the website of a travel writer on Greece because of its convenient location, good food, beautiful villages, and nice beaches.  Our ferry arrived on time and we fought our way past the crowds of tourists to eventually make our way to the Kichli Studios, where we had a reservation for five nights.  The trouble began when we got there.

A woman at Kichli said they had no room and when I explained we had a reservation, she called her husband, who apparently owned the place (and, it seemed from their website, at least two hotels).  He explained to me that we did have a reservation but there was a problem with the room so we would have to be moved to another property with a “good room, very good room.”  We waited a few minutes for our ride to the new property to arrive, and a man drove us to a hotel where we were to have our new room for the night.  After waiting about 2 hours we were told they didn’t have a room for us (they said a pipe burst in the room), and we were moved to yet another location for the night and told we’d be brought to the Kichli the next morning.  Of course, the next morning, the owner arrived to say the Kichli was still not available but we would stay at another place, where he would take us.

Thus began our love/hate relationship with Poros.  We loved the owner of the new property, the room, the food, and the sea.  But we hated the grumpy Greeks, the move to four rooms in 24 hours, the hours of waiting, and the move to a different village (which was nice but didn’t seem to have a bank machine or a laundromat, so we had to walk about 30 minutes dodging traffic on a road with few sidewalks just to get to the village we were originally meant to be in and which had these amenities).

Our last full day on Poros exemplified the dichotomy.  The food at lunch and dinner was some of the best we’d had, and our hostess Vicky kindly arranged a taxi to the ferry for us for the next morning.  But we had to walk into Poros Village (the main village) to drop off our laundry and when we arrived to pick it up at the time we’d been told it would be ready, the place was closed and the phone number provided on the door didn’t work, necessitating a return trip later in the day.

We also had to pick up Amy’s passport, which the owner of the Kichli had taken when he dropped us at our room. We had been told (though not by the owner at the time he took it) that the passport would be at one of his hotels, and though we asked a woman at the hotel to they wouldn’t deliver it to us, despite the fact that it was their doing that we were in a different location, in a different village even.  Since we were already in Poros Village for the laundry, we went to pick the passport up and pay for the room, only to be told the price had gone up, even though we had confirmed at the time we were dumped off that it would be the same price.  More waiting for the owner to arrive and declare the original price was good, so we paid and got the passport.  Waiting, feeling lied to and mistreated, and more waiting makes up a big part of our memories of Greece.

In the end, we felt Greece was the least pleasant country we have visited, but we knew we were visiting in high season, and one local said everyone got grumpy then.  Maybe a less touristy island (is there such a thing in Greece?) in a different season, and we would have enjoyed our time, but we were mostly happy to leave.

Teus olhos me olham
longamente,
imperiosamente…
de dentro deles teu amor me espia.

Teus olhos me olham numa tortura
de alma que quer ser corpo,
de criação que anseia ser criatura

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/08/13/fecundacao-gilka-machado/

The excellent experimental / electronica download label XS Records of Portugal have several recent releases which I intend to stick in my two penn’orth about over the next few weeks. The first is a six track EP by Paulo Vicente, a Lisbon native who records under the name of Poros. Vicente is a bass player, and Labass is a collection of vignettes that feature the instrument with just the bare bones of accompaniment.

Poros operates in a space some way between early Rothko (the band) and Tortoise. The music is, on the whole, fairly laid back. “Veludo” and “Poros” skip along lightly in a slightly jazzy vein using programmed or real drums. “Anil” is a more downbeat and reflective track. “Ver O Ser” is darker, with glitchy field recordings and dub echoes. “Mutuo” is the most abstract piece, with the scratch of felt marker on paper providing a scribbling rhythm while the bass contorts into almost random squelchy sounds, all the time threatening to break into some heavy funk that never quite materialises.

Pick of the lot is the closer, “Cheiro”, a gorgeous melodic tune played over a simple, shuffling rhythm. It’s redolent of Boards of Canada in a funny kind of way. It’s a beautiful way to end a very pleasing EP. Sparks don’t fly, but this is a warm and varied little collection. It’s available as a free download from the XS website.

Tracks:
1. Veludo 2:53
2. Anil 2:46
3. Poros 4:20
4. Ver O Ser 2:51
5. Mutuo 3:30
6. Cheiro 2:33

Websites:
xsrecordsptnetlabel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/tantosporos

As ilhas sarônicas – Egina, Poros e Hydra – são o destino ideal para aqueles que sonham em navegar pelo Mar Mediterrâneo e conhecer as ilhas gregas sem gastar muito. É o caso dos mexicanos Marco Chavira e Gabriela Robles, que ficaram assustados com o preço cobrado para visitar as ilhas de Santorini e Mikonos.

Para não perder a viagem, os dois reservaram passagens em um minicruzeiro que partiu do Porto do Pireu, em Atenas, com destino às três ilhas às 8 horas da manhã. “A primeira impressão do navio foi muito agradável. Fiquei muito emocionada por estar nos mares da Grécia”, contou Gabriela à Agência Estado/Jornal do Estado.

Além de democrático, o roteiro também é caseiro. As ilhas são muito visadas pelos atenienses para descansar nos fins de semana.

Poros

A viagem de Atenas até Poros dura cerca de uma hora. A ilha – a primeira a ser visitada pelos cruzeiros que fazem o trajeto sarônico – é ideal para aqueles que buscam calmaria aliada à beleza natural de uma localidade pouco explorada.

Apesar de fazer parte do tradicional pacote de um dia, “Egina, Poros e Hydra”, a ilha pode ser visitada separadamente. Basta ficar atento ao horário do ferry boat que sai diariamente de Pireu com destino a Poros.

Hidra

A segunda ilha do pacote, Hydra, é a mais charmosa das três. Descoberta por um grupo de artistas atraídos pela beleza das casas de telhas vermelhas, das ruas pavimentadas com pedras irregulares e dos caminhos beirando a água azul, a ilha é um espaço livre de veículos motorizados – proibidos de circular em Hydra.

Egina

No caminho de volta a Atenas, o navio visita Egina, onde, segundo os gregos, estão localizados os melhores pistaches do mundo. Cultivadas na ilha desde a antiguidade, as sementes são vendidas aos montes no centro da cidade. Além das praias, outro ponto turístico que chama a atenção em Egina é o Templo de Afaia – monumento arqueológico construído no Século V a.c.

Saiba mais sobre as ilhas sarônicas lendo a matéria Cruzeiros de um dia levam turistas a três ilhas gregas, publicada no Jornal do Estado em 11/07.

Para aqueles que estão programando um cruzeiro durante o outono de 2010 (primavera e início da temporada na Europa), sugerimos a leitura da matéria É tempo de cruzeiros no outro lado do mundo, que também foi publicada no Jornal do Estado (04/09).

Pacotes TourGreece com este destino:
Apolo, Atena e Hermes.

Cuando lo has perdido todo, cruzas los dedos y empiezas a rezar todo lo que sabes, mantras de aquí para allá rezando para que se te perdonen los pecados, las faltas, las ausencias. Y miras a ver si la luna favorece a tu amada. No para hacerle el amor como antaño sino para ver si esta más receptiva y te escuche.

Cuando lo has perdido todo sientes una liberación porque sabes que ya nada importa, no hay nada que te afecte. El todo y lo supremo de esta vida es el amor, si amigos; el dinero, las posesiones no son nada frente al todo que significa el amor. Perder a la mujer de tu vida es algo grave y cuando ha sido responsabilidad tuya , se considera delito, y a veces se paga con pena capital.

Pero venga amigos, ese animo escaso levantadlo. Esta canción se la dedico a todos los que sufren de desamor. Dinganle a esa chica que la amáis, que la queréis, aunque os escupa en la cara, aunque destruya todo lo que le recuerde a ti, odie vuestra voz y ya no quiera mas veros. Os digo, sí, es crudo, pero no alberguéis esperanza, ese panorama pinta mal.

Si alguno por milagro logra girar los gritos, el rechazo de vuestra amada y recibir ese abrazo cálido de quien os ha perdonado la vida. No dudéis en escribir, seréis nuestro Dios.

Firmado: Vuestro fiel y siempre amigo que cayo en la categoría de los hombres que no supieron valorar lo que tenían hasta que lo perdieron. Uno más para el fatídico refrán. Si existe dios que se manifieste ahora !!coño!! mierda como duele…

 [Note: Travel Diary updated to include Greece!]

Get up and close to the Parthenon at the Acropolis

Keeping up with my tradition of a outlining the highlights following a big trip (like my European Adventure Round-up), here is a big fat round-up of my spectacular adventure in Greece!

Overview

As an aspiring writer who is kicking things off with a fantasy novel, I am a sucker for the ancient world.  For those who have not read my European Adventure Round-Up, my favourite attraction from that trip was Palatine Hill in Rome (a large area of ancient ruins).  Greece is full of places like that, and many of them more spectacular and better preserved, plus there are the amazing, absolutely breathtaking views.  I had never been much of a scenery kind of guy, but the things I saw on this trip just blew me away!  I had already seen too many churchs and cathedrals (to the point where they kind of all melt into one), so Greece was an exciting new experience for me.

We had roughly 8 days in total, but you need to keep in mind that my wife and I were lugging my 60 year-old parents with us (though they are in supreme shape and after often mistaken for being in their late 40s).  Hence there was a lot of starting and stopping, some decent rests in between.  We probably saw less things but it was a lot more relaxing than it would have been had it just been the two of us.  If I had more time and money, 2 weeks would have been perfect, though you could easily spend a month island hopping if you wanted to.

Places visited

• 2 days in Athens;
• 1 day cruise to the Saronic islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina;
• 1 day trip by taxi to the Peloponnese (Corinth, Mycenae and Nafplio)
• 1 day trip by taxi to Delphi;
• 1/2 a day on the Cycladic island of Milos; and
• 1 day on the Cycladic island of Santorini.

Ancient Corinth

Best experience(s)

It’s too hard to pick a single experience as the best in Greece, so I’ll pick 2.

The first of course is the marvellous island(s) of Santorini, definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world.  There’s just something magical about the place, made more mystical due to the suggestion that it may be the lost island of Atlantis.  Every picture you take in Santorini could be slapped onto a postcard.  Whether you’re into ancient archaeological sites (Ancient Thera or Akrotiri – when it opens again), beautiful scenery (Fira, Oia), volcanoes (Nea Kameni) or just like to hang out on the beach (Kamari, Perissa or the Red Beach), Santorini caters.  No wonder it is a favourite for celebrities and weddings.  It’s a place I’d very much like to visit again if I get the chance.

People waiting to catch the sunset in Oia (Santorini)

The second is the archaeological site of Delphi, one of the surprises of the trip.  Delphi is jaw-dropping because of where it is situated, the sheer size of the site, the granduer of the structures and the amazing level of preservation.  There are temples, theatres, halls, treasuries, stadiums – you name it.  If you only see one archaeological site in Greece, Delphi is the place to go (though it’s hard to skip the Acropolis in Athens).

Worst experience

Easy – our hellish ferry ride from Athens to Santorini that took 23 hours instead of the scheduled 5.  Double-booked seats, poor safety, mass vomiting, disorganisation to absolute chaos, the ride just about had it all.  I think it’s something I’ll look back upon as a fascinating experience, but it’s certainly not something I want to go through again!

Most beautiful/spectacular

Too hard to pick.  In terms of pure natural beauty, you can’t go past Santorini.  Views from both Fira and Oia are unmatched.  he volcanic island of Nea Kameni is also worth visiting.  On the other hand, the island of Hydra (though we only spent 90 minutes there) was also very pretty.  But if you prefer views over Athens, Lycabettus Hill and the top of the Acropolis are my picks.

In terms of the biggest spectacle, there’s the archaeological sites of Delphi, the Acropolis and Ancient Agora.  I just can’t make up my mind.

You can see the Acropolis atop Lycabettus Jill

Most informative

I only went to 2 museums, the massive National Archaeological Museum in Athens (near Victoria metro station) and the small but impressive Museum of Prehistoric Thira on Santorini.  Nevertheless, both were excellent and I would recommend them to anyone wanting to learn a bit about the fascinating history of Greece.

Note at the time of visiting, the highly anticipated Acropolis Museum in Athens had not yet opened, but it has now, and I hear that is a must-visit too.

Most underrated

I hadn’t heard of Palamidi Castle in Nafplio before, but if you are visiting the Peloponnese I’d recommend checking it out.  It is exceptionally well-preserved and you can explore the various bastions, climbing up to the top if you want to.  The views are also impressive.  The place gave me plenty of ideas for the settings in my fantasy novel.

Palamidi Castle was superb

Most overrated

I don’t want to call any place ‘overrated’ in Greece because they were all good in my opinion, but if I had to pick one it would probably be the Mycenaen Acropolis.  Apart from the Lion Gate at the entrance and a few grave circles here and there, there wasn’t all that much to see in terms of archaeological structures.  That said, the view from the top was still mighty impressive.  However, if you visit somewhere like Delphi then you can probably give Mycenae a miss.

Top 5 must-see attractions

It’s extremely difficult to pick 5 out of so many attractions in Greece.  Of the top of my head here are mine, in descending order.

5. Ancient Agora (Athens) – I wish I had spent more time here because it was so big and there was a museum there too, but even just an hour or so in Ancient Agora was enough to place it in my top 5.  The Temple of Hephaestus is perhaps the most complete and well-preserved structure I’ve ever seen at around 2,500 years old, but it’s not the only thing to see there.  If you’re in the area make sure you go and take a look.

4. Palamidi Castle (Nafplio) – maybe I am overrating it here, but the surprise element probably has something to do with Palamidi Castle being ranked 4th.  The scale and scope and views are all top-notch and I love how you can explore the grounds – each bastion is a mini-adventure.

3. Nea Kameni (Santorini) – you can’t really call the whole of Santorini an ‘attraction’, but it’ll be a crime to something from Santorini in the top 5 – so I’ve chosen Nea Kameni, the magnificent volcano that left me awestruck at its devastating power.  If you’re making the 90 minute trek to the top of the volcano and back, make sure you wear a hat or bring an umbrella and bring plenty of fluids, and remember to avoid wearing open-toed shoes.

Nea Kameni volcano at Santorini

2. The Acropolis (Athens) – it was a tough choice to put the Acropolis at number 2.  Typically, the number one attraction can get hyped up too much, but no amount of hype can make the Acropolis disappointing.  It needs to be seen, simple as that.  Don’t forget to check out the Theatre of Dionysos and Odeum of Herodes while you’re there.  And now, with the Acropolis Museum, it’s a must-must-visit.

1. Archaeological Site of Delphi – there’s an element of surprise with this one as well, but the archaeological site of Delphi is a true wonder of the Ancient Greek world that every visitor to Greece should experience.  When you’re there, try and imagine what it was like more than 2,600 years ago, and no matter how unbearable hot it gets, try and make it to the very top.  The view of the entire archaeological site is something I will always remember.

Delphi is No. 1

There were many other attractions that I left off the list that are worth visiting.  Just missing the cut include Lycabettus Hill, the Temple of Olympic Zeus, the island of Hydra and the National Archaeological Museum.  The towns of Fira and Oia (especially for the sunset) on Santorini aren’t too shabby either.

Places I wish I saw (or want to see next time)

My biggest disappointments on the trip were missing the theatre at Epidavros (Epidaurus) and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia at Delphi.  I would have also liked to have visited more places on the Peloponnese, such as Olympia and Sparta.  On the mainland I wish I had time to visit Meteora, which I hear is awesome, but you’d need to take a 2-day trip from Athens.  In terms of islands of course I wanted to see Mykonos and also Crete.  If I visit Athens again I’d also like to see the new Acropolis Museum and the Benzaki Museum near Syntagma Square.  Maybe next time.

Additional information

For more details see the following individual posts or my Travel Diary:

• See Athens in 2 Days!
• Review: Day Cruise to Hydra, Poros, Aegina
• Review: the Peloponnese and Delphi by Taxi!
• Ferry From Hell: Athens to Santorini (includes Milos)
• Santorini in One Day!

Beautiful Hydra

One of the more popular tours available from Athens is the day cruise to the Greek islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina off the Saronic gulf.  If you have a look around on the net for day cruises around Athens this will be the one that pops up the most, and there are plenty of companies to choose from.

Last week we (my wife, parents and myself) went on this cruise as part of our stay in Athens.  Was it any good?

Well, overall I’d say it was pretty good.  Not great, but if you have limited time and want to see some islands, then it could be worthwhile.

Details

For starters, it is a little pricey.  If you book online in advance (which we didn’t), you can probably save roughly 10 Euros or so, but we booked at our hotel and it cost 98 Euros per person (392 Euros all up).  That’s rather steep for a day, even if lunch is included.  Note we went in mid-June, which is nearing peak season, but I’m not aware of price fluctuations according to time of year.

The good thing about this tour is that there is pick-up from and drop-off to your hotel (or at least nearby), particularly important because (1) departure time is an early 8:00am; and (2) Piraeus port, from which the ship departs (about 30 minutes in morning traffic from Syntagma Square), can be darn confusing if you make your own way there.  You can expect to arrive back at Piraeus around 7:30pm, just in time to return to your hotel for dinner.

The ship

The ship we took was decent, with 3 spacious floors and lots of tables and chairs and counters selling snacks and beverages.  The bottom floor was where you would go for inquiries and where everyone has lunch.  It’s cooler but darker than the other floors.  The second floor was where we hung out, air conditioned inside but you can go outside when you wanted some sun.  There was also a little gift shop at the far end.  The third (and top_ floor was predominantly without shade, for those who want to get maximum sun exposure.  There is plenty of space and we had no trouble getting our own tables and seats.

The only time we had to share a table was during lunch, when everyone crammed into the bottom floor.  The lunch, by the way, was well organised, with 3 courses but, as expected, had very average food.

To me, it was important that the ship was comfortable, considering that we would spend most of our time on it (rather than the islands).

The islands

Different cruises take different routes.  Our one went to Hydra first, then Poros and lastly Aegina.  Others I’ve seen go the opposite way.  Hydra is hands down the best of the 3 in my humble opinion, and it’s a bit of a shame we went there first because it made the remaining islands a little disappointing in comparison (or at least too similar).  But make no mistake, all 3 islands are very beautiful (though not as spectacular as say Santorini).  The waters and the architecture are simply exquisite.

Time spent on the islands is rather limited.  We had 1 and a half hours for Hydra, 45 minutes for Poros and 1 hour and 45 minutes for Aegina (all up that equals 4 hours and 15 minutes on the islands, meaning around 7 hours on the boat).  Consequently, don’t expect to go very far inland (except for Aegina if you take the optional tour), and realistically all you have time to do is explore the coastline around the ship, taking a few happy snaps along the way.  Maybe have a drink or an ice cream.

On Aegina, you have the opportunity to pay extra to go on optional tours.  We didn’t so I don’t know if it was worth it, but it was 25 Euros for the ‘attractions’ tour (which includes the famous Temple of Athena Aphaia) and 22 Euros for the ’scenic’ tour.  While it would have been great to see the Temple, the price was a bit too much in my opinion so we decided to walk around instead, and we even had time to walk to the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, which wasn’t much to be honest.  If we wanted to we probably could have taken a local taxi to check out those same sights for a fraction of the price (as we had 4 people).

Conclusion

All up, it was a good, albeit long day, but given the price I kind of expected a little more.  They could have at least included the Aegina tour in the package.  If you are going to the other more famous  islands such as Mykonos or Santorini then you probably don’t need to see these islands if you think the cruise is too expensive or if you prefer using the day for a trip to the Peloponnese or Delphi (which is a lot more worthwhile). 

In my opinion it probably would have been better to skip Poros and allow more time on Aegina and in particular Hydra.  Or perhaps you may prefer to make your own way to those islands to spend a bit more time there (like a day or two), because you really don’t get more than just a tiny taste of them on this cruise.

Personificado, é o deus do amor.

O mais belo entre os deuses imortais, Eros transtorna o juízo dos deuses e dos homens.

Dotado de uma natureza mutável, o mito do deus do amor evoluiu muito, desde a era arcaica até a época alexandrina e romana, isto é, do século IX a.C., ao século VI d.C.

Nas mais antigas teogonias, como se vê em Hesíodo, Caos e Nix (noite) estão na origem do mundo. Nix põe um ovo, de que nasce Eros, enquanto Urano e Gaia se formam das duas metades da casca partida.

Eros, no entanto, apesar de suas múltiplas genealogias, permanecerá sempre, mesmo à época de seus disfarces e novas indumentárias da época alexandrina, a força fundamental do mundo.

Garante não apenas a continuidade das espécies, mas a coesão interna do cosmo.

Foi exatamente sobre este tema que se desenvolveram inúmeras especulações de poetas, filósofos e mitólogos.

Venus e Eros - Boucher

Para Platão, Eros é um Demônio, um intermediário entre os deuses e os homens (não do sentido pejorativo de Diabo, para os gregos, “daimónion” eram seres semideuses que vagavem entre deuses e homens, sendo como os anjos são para os cristãos hoje).

Como o deus do amor está a meia distância entre uns e outros, ele preenche o vazio, tornando-se assim, o elo que une o Todo a si mesmo.

Em face desse parentesco tão díspar, Eros tem caracteres bem definidos e significativos: sempre em busca de seu objeto, como Pobreza e carência, sabe, todavia, arquitetar um plano, como Expediente, para atingir o objetivo, a plenitude.  

Assim, longe de ser um deus todo-poderoso, Eros é uma força, uma

Venus e Cupido - Boucher

energia, perpetuamente insatisfeito e inquieto: uma carência sempre em busca de uma plenitude. Um Sujeito em busca do Objeto.Aos poucos, sob a influência da poesia, Eros se fixou e tomou sua fisionomia tradicional. Passou a ser apresentado como um garotinho louro, normalmente com asas. Sob a máscara de um menino inocente e travesso, que jamais cresceu (afinal a idade da razão, o lógos, é incompatível com o amor), esconde-se um deus perigoso, sempre pronto a traspassar com suas flechas certeiras, envenenadas de amor e paixão, o fígado e o coração de suas vítimas.

O fato de Eros ser uma criança, simboliza, sem dúvida, a eterna juventude de um amor profundo, mas também uma certa irresponsabilidade.

Em todas as culturas, a aljava, o arco, as flechas, a tocha, os olhos vendados significam que o Amor se diverte com as pessoas de que se apossa e domina, mesmo sem vê-las (o amor é cego), ferindo-as e inflamando-lhes o coração.

Venus e Amor - Holbein

Eros traduz a união dos opostos. O Amor é a pulsão fundamental do ser, a libido, que impele toda existência a se realizar na ação.

É ele que atualiza as virtualidades do ser, mas essa passagem ao ato, só se concretiza mediante o contato com o outro, através de uma série de trocas materiais, espirituais, sensíveis, o que fatalmente provoca choques e comoções.

Eros procura superar esses antagonismos, assimilando forças diferentes e contrárias, integrando-as numa só e mesma unidade.

Do ponto de vista cósmico, o Amor é a força, a alavanca que canaliza o retorno à unidade; é a reintegração do universo, marcada pela passagem da unidade inconsciente do Caos primitivo à unidade consciente da ordem definitiva.

Venus e Cupido - Velásquez

As I sit writing this on our Palagos Bay balcony with the early evening sun casting a syrupy golden blanket across the surrounding mixture of terrain – lush green mountains, empty roads and a turquoise widescreen vista of sea meeting sky – it’s satisfyingly difficult to remember the recession-torn country we left behind three days ago.

This being the third time we’ve visited the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia, it’s no secret that my girlfriend and I have fallen in love with the place and would heartily recommend it to anyone fancying a week or two of work-free bliss.

This time, we’re staying in the pretty town of Skala, the second most popular touist resort. And it appears we’ve fallen on our feet with this week’s accommodation: Pelagos Bay. Run by Billy, a man I struggle to draw any comparisons with previous foreign hotel owners (or anyone, for that matter), from the very moment we arrived we have been made to feel completely at home. Pelagos’ motto, etched across the back of the bar: ‘Arrive as strangers, leave as friends’ is rather fitting.

That last sentence was an uncomfortably one as, usually, I like nothing less than having to converse with fellow human beings during my holidays, preferring to keep myself very much to myself and my iPod earphones firmly in my ears. Billy, however, seems strikingly adept at removing the quiet indignation us Brits seem to hold onto so dear with his outwardly forthright yet not at all brash personality. He also posesses the often underrated ability to remember each one of his 40+ guests’ names and can regularly be found propping up the poolside bar of an evening, drinking as heartily as the rest of us. Quite a character. He’s even had George Best to stay, although he claims he had no idea who he was until he popped the question and received the fabulously Best-esque ‘You know Pele? Well, I was the Irish Pele.’

Anyway, after today’s extensive road trip, I have to recommend three must-visits if you’re planning on coming to Kefalonia. Myrtos beach ranks among the top ten in the world and it is simply stunning, with an almost ethereal bluey-green sea and mile-long beach hidden away in a deep alcove. Google it, it’s breathtaking.

Secondly, Assos, for it’s unspoilt village and a quiet coffee by the crystal clear waterfront. Shame ours was soundtracked by some British prat who wanted everyone within a five mile radius to hear about his intentions to buy a holiday home in the island’s capital, Argostoli. Wherever us Brits go, we always manage to bring the tone down just a little, don’t we?

Lastly, Fiskardo, which is located at the northern most tip of the island. A favourite with the likes of Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage, it oozes upper class pretentions and houses many a super yacht complete with champagne quaffing toffs. Don’t let any of that put you off though, as it is a truely gorgeous little port with some eye catching pre-earthquake ruins. It’s also where the photo you can see of my girlfriend, Lindsey, was taken. We couldn’t quite pull off the I-want-everyone-to-hear-how-many-houses-I’ve-got jargon, but we gave it a good go.

Hydra, one of the Saronic Islands in Greece, is located between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Motor vehicles are not allowed on the island except for the garbage trucks, so tourists and locals travel by foot, horse, donkey, and water taxi. On this tour you will see the island on foot as you enjoy some free time to look through the shops, take a swim, or just explore the town, known simply as Hydra port. It is made up of a crescent-shaped harbor surrounded by commercial establishments like restaurants, galleries, markets, and shops. You will notice that a large number of the visitors in the area are from Athens.

Next up on the tour is a short trip to the island of Poros, which is a small Greek island-pair in the southern portion of the Saronic Gulf. It is located about 32 miles south of Piraeus and its surface area is only about 12 miles. The two islands that make up Poros are Sphairia to the south and Kalaureia to the north. Poros is an area with rich vegetation and a mountainous landscape, and it is a popular resort for short vacations.

Finally, before heading back to Athens you will reach Aegina, where you can opt to take an excursion to the Temple of Aphaia for an extra cost or you can make your way to the main town. This is the largest of the Saronic Islands and is the closest to Attica. It is also a popular summer resort spot and a second home to many Athenians.

The total time allotted for the tour is 10 hours, and it is well worth it. You will enjoy getting a feel for the differences between each island and getting to wander around town and see how the locals live.  Visit www.athenstours.net for more information on this and other tours and activities.

NIKON D300, Nikon 18-200 VR

I’ll take a break on the pics from my last trip and share one of my favorite shots and Places 2 Explore!  Greece!  We took a trip last May to Europe for 18 days.  The first 3 days were in Greece.  The first day we recovered from jet lag and relaxed as we arrived into Athens late in the day.   The next day we took a guided tour of Athens.   A dream of mine was to visit the Parthenon…so I was excited.  The tour was fun…about 5 hours.  We saw all the sights and got to get off the bus and enjoyed taking pictures.  When we arrived at the Acropolis…anticipation grew for me to see one of the great wonders of the world.  It was amazing…but the only downfall is that its on a 10(?) year refurbishing plan.  Scafolding and workers are there while you visit.    So if you plan to visit…check when it will be complete. 

At nite we took a taxi to Lycabettis Hill….you take a tram up to the top and there is a nice restaurant on top with a small church.  From here you can view all of Athens and enjoy the sunset while eating outside….the food was decent and the sights are amazing!  On our taxi rides, it seemed as though all the taxi drivers at one time lived in New York!   They all spoke great English and we very fun to talk to!

We then had one last day in Greece before leaving for Bulgaria.  My wife had suggested a 10 hour day cruise that we saw advertised at the hotel. …so we went for it!  The bus picks you up at the hotel and bring syou to the service center to buy tickets and then onto the port of departure.  The cruise lasted 10 hours.  We were to visit Poros, Aegina and Hydra.   We arrived at the port and was amazed at how many people were on the boat…estimated 400?  It was a beautiful day as well! 

I can go on and on about this day…as it was unforgetable and amazing!  …but I will keep it short.   Each island had its own specialties.  As we docked we only had about 45 minutes at each stop.  So we had a chance to take a short walk around window shop.  Just a perfect amount of time.   Then we would depart to the next island.  Just sitting on the deck in the sun and watching the tranquil blue water travel by was very sureal.  A permanant smile were on our faces the whole day!   If you have traveled to any Greek islands…then you know well!  

One of our favorite stops on the trip was a little island called Poros.  It was very cute and small.  We walked down some alleys and took pictures and stopped for some souveniers.   When we retruend to the boat we grabbed a seat on the outside back deck.  The boat took off slowly as we pulled away from the island.  I stood up to get a bunch of pictures of Poros.  This picture is the view we had!  Fantastic!   A perfect postcard for a wonderful day!  I used the railing to brace my arm and took it hand held.  After 10 hours..of course you are tired and ready to go back to the hotel.   After this day…I am eager to go back to Greece to see more islands!!   If you enjoy traveling…Greece is a must visit!

I am not sure when we will go back…but we will make it back again one day!   The big islands suchs as Santorini, Crete, Mykonos…are on the list!

Katagori : Keajaiban & Iptek
Oleh : Redaksi 04 Mar 2009 – 3:00 am

Makkah�juga disebut Bakkah�tempat di mana umat Islam melaksanakan haji itu terbukti sebagai tempat yang pertama diciptakan. Telah menjadi kenyataan ilmiah bahwa bola bumi ini pada mulanya tenggelam di dalam air (samudera yang sangat luas).

Kemudian gunung api di dasar samudera ini meletus dengan keras dan mengirimkan lava dan magma dalam jumlah besar yang membentuk �bukit�. Dan bukit ini adalah tempat Allah memerintahkan untuk menjadikannya lantai dari Ka�bah (kiblat). Batu basal Makkah dibuktikan oleh suatu studi ilmiah sebagai batu paling purba di bumi. Jika demikian, ini berarti bahwa Allah terus-menerus memperluas dataran dari tempat ini. Jadi, ini adalah tempat yang paling tua di dunia.

Adakah hadits yang nabawi yang menunjukkan fakta yang mengejutkan ini?
Jawaban adalah ya.

Menjadi tempat yang pertama diciptakan itu menambah sisi spiritual tempat tersebut. Juga, yang mengatakan nabi yang tempat di dalam dahulu kala dari waktu menyelam di dalam air dan siapa yang mengatakan kepada dia bahwa Ka�bah adalah pemenang pertama yang untuk dibangun atas potongan dari ini tempat seperti yang didukung oleh studi dari basalt mengayun-ayun di Makkah?

http://www.chanceandchoice.com/ChanceandChoice/chapter8.html

Makkah Pusat Bumi
Prof. Hussain Kamel menemukan suatu fakta mengejutkan bahwa Makkah adalah pusat bumi. Pada mulanya ia meneliti suatu cara untuk menentukan arah kiblat di kota-kota besar di dunia.

Untuk tujuan ini, ia menarik garis-garis pada peta, dan sesudah itu ia mengamati dengan seksama posisi ketujuh benua terhadap Makkah dan jarak masing-masing. Ia memulai untuk menggambar garis-garis sejajar hanya untuk memudahkan proyeksi garis bujur dan garis lintang.

Setelah dua tahun dari pekerjaan yang sulit dan berat itu, ia terbantu oleh program-program komputer untuk menentukan jarak-jarak yang benar dan variasi-variasi yang berbeda, serta banyak hal lainnya. Ia kagum dengan apa yang ditemukan, bahwa Makkah merupakan pusat bumi.

Ia menyadari kemungkinan menggambar suatu lingkaran dengan Makkah sebagai titik pusatnya, dan garis luar lingkaran itu adalah benua-benuanya. Dan pada waktu yang sama, ia bergerak bersamaan dengan keliling luar benua-benua tersebut. (Majalah al-Arabiyyah, edisi 237, Agustus 1978).

Gambar-gambar Satelit, yang muncul kemudian pada tahun 90-an, menekankan hasil yang sama ketika studi-studi lebih lanjut mengarah kepada topografi lapisan-lapisan bumi dan geografi waktu daratan itu diciptakan.

Telah menjadi teori yang mapan secara ilmiah bahwa lempengan-lempengan bumi terbentuk selama usia geologi yang panjang, bergerak secara teratur di sekitar lempengan Arab. Lempengan-lempengan ini terus menerus memusat ke arah itu seolah-olah menunjuk ke Makkah.

Studi ilmiah ini dilaksanakan untuk tujuan yang berbeda, bukan dimaksud untuk membuktikan bahwa Makkah adalah pusat dari bumi. Bagaimanapun, studi ini diterbitkan di dalam banyak majalah sain di Barat.

Allah berfirman di dalam al-Qur�an al-Karim sebagai berikut :
�Demikianlah Kami wahyukan kepadamu Al Qur’an dalam bahasa Arab supaya kamu memberi peringatan kepada Ummul Qura (penduduk Makkah) dan penduduk (negeri-negeri) sekelilingnya..� (asy-Syura: 7)

Kata �Ummul Qura� berarti induk bagi kota-kota lain, dan kota-kota di sekelilingnya menunjukkan Makkah adalah pusat bagi kota-kota lain, dan yang lain hanyalah berada di sekelilingnya. Lebih dari itu, kata ummu (ibu) mempunyai arti yang penting di dalam kultur Islam.

Sebagaimana seorang ibu adalah sumber dari keturunan, maka Makkah juga merupakan sumber dari semua negeri lain, sebagaimana dijelaskan pada awal kajian ini. Selain itu, kata �ibu� memberi Makkah keunggulan di atas semua kota lain.

Makkah atau Greenwich
Berdasarkan pertimbangan yang seksama bahwa Makkah berada tengah-tengah bumi sebagaimana yang dikuatkan oleh studi-studi dan gambar-gambar geologi yang dihasilkan satelit, maka benar-benar diyakini bahwa Kota Suci Makkah, bukan Greenwich, yang seharusnya dijadikan rujukan waktu dunia. Hal ini akan mengakhiri kontroversi lama yang dimulai empat dekade yang lalu.

Ada banyak argumentasi ilmiah untuk membuktikan bahwa Makkah merupakan wilayah nol bujur sangkar yang melalui kota suci tersebut, dan ia tidak melewati Greenwich di Inggris. GMT dipaksakan pada dunia ketika mayoritas negeri di dunia berada di bawah jajahan Inggris. Jika waktu Makkah yang diterapkan, maka mudah bagi setiap orang untuk mengetahui waktu shalat.

Makkah adalah Pusat dari lapisan-lapisan langit
Ada beberapa ayat dan hadits nabawi yang menyiratkan fakta ini. Allah berfirman, �Hai golongan jin dan manusia, jika kamu sanggup menembus (melintasi) penjuru langit dan bumi, maka lintasilah, kamu tidak dapat menembusnya melainkan dengan kekuatan.� (ar-Rahman:33)

Kata aqthar adalah bentuk jamak dari kata �qutr� yang berarti diameter, dan ia mengacu pada langit dan bumi yang mempunyai banyak diameter.

Dari ayat ini dan dari beberapa hadits dapat dipahami bahwa diameter lapisan-lapisan langit itu di atas diameter bumi (tujuh lempengan bumi). Jika Makkah berada di tengah-tengah bumi, maka itu berarti bahwa Makkah juga berada di tengah-tengah lapisan-lapisan langit.

Selain itu ada hadits yang mengatakan bahwa Masjidil Haram di Makkah, tempat Ka�bah berada itu ada di tengah-tengah tujuh lapisan langit dan tujuh bumi (maksudnya tujuh lapisan pembentuk bumi)
Nabi bersabda, �Wahai orang-orang Makkah, wahai orang-orang Quraisy, sesungguhnya kalian berada di bawah pertengahan langit.�

Thawaf di Sekitar Makkah
Dalam Islam, ketika seseorang thawaf di sekitar Ka�bah, maka ia memulai dari Hajar Aswad, dan gerakannya harus berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Hal itu adalah penting mengingat segala sesuatu di alam semesta dari atom hingga galaksi itu bergerak berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam.

Elektron-elektron di dalam atom mengelilingi nukleus secara berlawanan dengan jarum jam. Di dalam tubuh, sitoplasma mengelilingi nukleus suatu sel berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Molekul-molekul protein-protein terbentuk dari kiri ke kanan berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Darah memulai gerakannya dari kiri ke kanan berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam.

Di dalam kandungan para ibu, telur mengelilingi diri sendiri berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Sperma ketika mencapai indung telur mengelilingi diri sendiri berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Peredaran darah manusia mulai gerakan berlawanan dengan arah jarum jamnya. Perputaran bumi pada porosnya dan di sekeliling matahari secara berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam.

Perputaran matahari pada porosnya berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Matahari dengan semua sistimnya mengelilingi suatu titik tertentu di dalam galaksi berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam. Galaksi juga berputar pada porosnya berlawanan dengan arah jarum jam.