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Excerpts – Geneva Diaries (#6-#10)
Posted byPurrnima July 26, 2020 August 7, 2020 Posted inAdventure, art, Conservation, Culture, Law, TravelsTags:art, Law, Magritte, movies, Switzerland
Letters To Roger
Letter #6
I saw a fabulous movie this weekend which immediately lifted my spirits, Good Morning England a "must see"! Its about a band of rogue DJ's broadcasting their music which was scandalous and unacceptable to the establishment of the day from a pirate ship stationed in the middle of the North Sea. I absolutely loved the movie, loved the story and loved the music!. A wonderful journey that captured the fever and excitement of the 60's, the ideas, the music and aptly put together on this 40th anniversary of Woodstock (which I have been waiting to hear more about from someone who I am sure was in the midst of all the action, but instead I ended up browsing through a coffee table book on Woodstock's 40th at Payot this weekend).
Somehow pirates and pirate ships have always excited me, as you remember from my fervent support of the Swedish pirates and our chat about cyberspace and piracy. And then of course there is my very own pirate story, adapted from Pirates of the Caribbean. I was captain Jack Sparrow and when it was possible and exciting enough, Elizabeth Swan. The problem occurred of course when they kissed…who was I? But her spirited response immediately put me into her shoes. Our black jeep Cherokee was the black pearl of course, and the crew included two half toothed brats seat belted in the back as we tore down the pirate lanes on 280 and 101! It was only when you got near Palo Alto that we all had to duck/ submerge as the police cars emerged and appeared to chase this motley crew (a California housewife, two brats and later a dog!) down the highway.
Not to be outdone or forgotten in my current story, the pirate theme continues…last week i found myself in a car without my handbag rushing to get the kids in time for tennis just across the border in France, I drove without an ID, without papers, with out cash or a license across the border praying to be spared for this very last time. As I passed the mustard fields surrounded by spectacular peaks on the Route de Thonon (my soul certainly feels good everytime I drink that water having seen its origins), I was convinced that the froggies were jumping up and down in a frenzy (I was told by the frog prince himself that The Frog always watches), saying, "shall we nab her, shall we nab her not!" I guess Not!
Route de Thonon:
https://images.app.goo.gl/kkBun79VKkDw4WS89
Then of course back home in Geneva, i have the radio blaring at 6am with Gaddafi's indignant message for the nth time after the supposed affront by the Swiss authorities on his son, "this is a mafia country, they are all mafia!" Well guess who jumps up all excited, moi of course, and the creative juices start to flow again…
A mafia country, a pirate ship…could I really be on a large hidden pirate ship! Could this be the Pearl? Incredible, I might be home! Suddenly, everyone around me starts looking the part, the postman is certainly One-eyed Jack, and then there is Blue Eyed Bob behind the meat counter at CO-OP who so deftly uses his knife as his golden earrings glisten and swing, the bankers with their eye patches and attorneys with tall tales all neatly tucked into their neatly tailored European suits and of course the guard at the border post, a female that winks every time I pass (in this bizarre upside down universe as many girls seem to wink at me as boys do!), could my world be more exciting!
On Sep 30, 2009, at 5:07 PM, Roger STEVENSON wrote:
Back in Bucharest after two days of no internet, castle hoping, fending off pickpockets and marveling at the ubiquitous poverty.
I loved your last email about possibly being in a pirate haven – truly wonderful. I'm not quite sure what to think of la Suisse after the Polanski arrest.
I have seen previews of the film about Radio Caroline and really like the actor who plays the lead. I was in Denmark when it was broadcasting and used to listen to it. The Danish authorities were going bananas over it too and tried unsuccessfully to silence it. At the time, it was the only radio station that played good music. I must go see it.
And can't wait to see your new hair color. I also have a wonderful passage to share about moving between different states of realty. I read it today on the train on the way back to Bucharest. It's from Murakami's After Dark.
Lots to share. Talk to you soon and see you on the third.
Now Your Day: a note filled with Magritte, Green Apples, and Yet another American in Paris!
Thinking of you on this special day and wishing you the very best for this day and the year through.
So, you are off once again to see an exhibit in Brussels of "our" favorite artist, I am turning apple green with envy. How can you see Magritte without me, you have to take me along! Imagine me seated swinging my legs on the tip of your spectacles. I must hear all about it.
Talking about Magritte and his green apples, I just returned to my french lessons after a break of a couple of days (bunking class to be with my brother), and guess what, I was completely "out of it", could not follow a sentence without struggling. As usual inspired by Magritte and his passion for floating bowler hats and green apples, I was imagining my head as an enlarged green apple seated on the chair staring blankly in class(ironically green suits me best- another long tale with a capital S for surreal) with a giant pip stuck in the middle of my head occupying most of my brain and blocking me from thinking and and speaking! Whatever I said sounded ridiculous…help!! I now plan to grab people on the road here in Veille Ville and just say something to start a conversation in french, what do u think? need some ideas.
See below Magritte's Green Apple:
I feel like I'm still floating in a sea of neglected chores and catch up after being gone for four days, and that after wading through the throngs of tourists in Barcelona on Sunday afternoon. We did catch a wonderful exhibit at the Barcelona Cultural Centre, "Le Siècle de Jazz" that traced the evolution of America's one true and original art form and its influence on literature and art. It was a veritable flood of images, sounds, album covers, sheet music, books, paintings, more sounds, all of which evoked a cascade of memories from different times in my life and the countless hours I have spent listening and admiring, first on those little 45 rpm records, then on 78 rpm vinyl disks, then on cassette tapes and finally on CD's and MP3 recordings.
We got home late last night after a return flight via Frankfort – an incredibly big airport, and it seemed like we had to walk for miles and miles to get to the right departure gate, but we were used to that after all the walking we did in Romania.
I have lots of ambivalent emotions about Romania. It certainly has a rich history and a colorful culture. Many of the old churches and medieval monuments are really marvelous, and then there are the grandiose remnants of the Ceausescu regime (He wanted to turn Bucharest into another Paris: there is a little Arc de Triomphe, an Avenue Charles de Gaulle, etc., etc.). The parliament building he built is huge and imposing, as are his several palaces, none of which we visited, as I don't get off on former tyrannical fear mongers who literally starved the population so he could pay off his debts through foreign exports. However, we did go see one of the remnants of the monarchical past – the Castle of Peles in Sinaia. It was the summer residence of the king Carlos and is in magnificent shape today. It is richly decorated with exquisite wood panelling on both walls and ceilings, which is very impressive. However, there is just a little too much of a mixture of architectural and decorative styles to suit my tastes. It seemed horribly cluttered with all kinds of statues, paintings, ornaments, swords and pistols and armour. The guide was very proud to announce the fact that the castle had running water and a central heating system and even a central vacuum cleaning system, but I couldn't help thinking how much it all cost and at what point the population of the country had the same kind of creature comforts in their homes.
On the other hand, the country seems like it is falling apart. The infrastructures are terribly dilapidated, and the older housing has not been very well maintained, and there seems to be litter everywhere – quite a contrast compared to Switzerland. And while the Romanian women are a mixed lot – some of the younger women are quite exquisitely beautiful and the older women seem to have let themselves go completely –, I didn't see one pair of enticing; deep brown eyes that could possibly turn my head.
And I'll wait until I see you in person to tell you about our experiences with bribing, or at least being offered the possibility of paying a small bribe to avoid a steeper fine for not having the right ticket, a bus ticket controlleur and being victims of a really talented pickpocket in a crowded bus in Brasov !
PIRATES MANIFESTO
After reading you, I can't wait to jump into bed with Kafka; Murakami's Kafka on the Shore lies by my bedside visibly, patiently.
As for The Pirates' Manifesto, I need help… guidance… direction. At this point the doors appear shut and I don't have the access codes yet. Perhaps, I need to read your highly recommended "Millennium" and fully embrace the persona of the Swedish Girl "Hacker", Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, broke the codes and got her information! Did u say u had an English version or was it Danish?
As you know, it frustrates me endlessly to find that access to information is often restricted, denied, to the very people who might need it the most: the unpaid, unaligned, unfettered. I just cannot support subscribing to every journal and offering my contact to every site before gaining access. I wish to surf seamlessly, quietly and stealthily. But, as you mentioned in your mail, the world around us wishes to track and keep tabs, make tables and profiles, all of which I vehemently reject and work covertly (at least in my mind) to expose, sabotage these very schemes of control!
Then of course, I stumble upon Diderot! With whom I find, I share the inherent conviction that knowledge should not be confined, restricted to any group, subset, academies, class. Like this enigmatic Frenchman, I am totally and completely for the free perpetuation of knowledge, yes, even in this programmed world of today… am I being naive? This militant passion drove me all the way, through many wormholes, to the doorsteps of Diderot and d'Alembert, and their incredible project of compiling the knowledge, thoughts and ideas of the world of their times, the summary of the Enlightenment: the Encyclopedie! I discovered that this compilation of knowledge went on to have a pivotal impact on the society of their times, through the expansion of knowledge and the development of the critical modes of thought, lighting the spark that culminated in the French revolution.
The Enlightenment of course was about expanding the realm of knowledge to all people which struck a blow to all those that were out to control, contain and stifle reason and free thought. Knowledge was no longer in the hands of a select few: the Academies, the Clergy and the State, the average man (and what is even more important, the average woman) had access to the ideas of the age. No longer could the cosy relationship where the Clergy ( complemented and substituted in our day and age by the gargantuan educational institutions with their power, influence and billions) supports the divine right of kings (or presidents), and the other (the State) bestows an abundance of grants, tax free income and subsidiaries for such adulation and support! Yes, Roger, now you know which side of the argument I am on. Thus through the Encyclopedie and the free dissemination of information, Diderot aimed to erase the dogmatism of government, religion and illiteracy that pervaded. An idea more relevant than ever in the world of today, in this controlled and monitored world of today, the cyberworld of today. Carving out a mission for the modern day pirates!
This of course brings us back to the pivotal question: what language should this (The Pirates Manifesto) be written in! In the time of Diderot, Paris was the intellectual capital of the world, thus many of the ideas written in this language had the ability to spread. His Encyclopedia encompassing all the novel and radical ideas of the times, easily disseminated, perpetuated. What do you think would be the universal language of tomorrow where knowledge could flow effortlessly, seamlessly, a platform for inspiration and consensus?
Surfing through the colossus, I came upon a wonderful paragraph taken from the very controversial article written by d'Alembert for the Encyclopedia on Geneva. I find this 16th century piece amusing and as relevant today, would love to hear what you think:
This is very – strange that a city with just 24,000 souls, and whose territory does not fragmented thirty villages, do not cease to be a sovereign state, and one of the most successful of Europe: rich in its liberty and its business, she often sees around her on fire and never feel it, the events which agitate Europe are a spectacle for her, she enjoys without take part: attached to the French by alliances and by his trade, his trade by Englishmen and by religion, she pronounces impartial justice of the wars that these two powerful nations are to each other, although ' it is also too wise to take no part in these wars, and judge all the sovereigns of Europe, without flattery, without injury, and without fear.
Yet another day under house arrest as the flu season has hit with a bang…"Thing 1″ is sniffling under the covers and I find myself, once again, home alone with the Cat in the Hat!
Upon revisiting your letters, I have found that many fascinating questions lie suspended and spaces unexplored, like SEX! So, let's talk about it…
I was intrigued by your statement that "…all u need for sex is mind" (I would have added an exclamation point or two). Is it really all in our heads ? Are there not different kinds of sex, and what role does love itself play in it all ? (Interesting to learn that we share something else in common – our favorite subject)
The statement "all you need for sex is mind", or as it was told to me, "it's all in the mind", words I cannot honestly claim and must correctly attribute to one of my fabulous female friends who owes humanity an encyclopedia on the subject. Yes, our very own modern day Vatsyayana, the Indian philosopher that lived during Gupta period, 4 century AD, and is known for authoring the Kama Sutra, the bible on eroticism.
Vatsyayana, returned in the most exotic female form to whisper these words in my ears as she saw me determined to embark upon this incredible journey of self exploration, anticipating the great CRASH ahead. Of course there are many other FFF fixated on SIZE…and swear that that is what its all about; how little do they know, how far they have to go…!
On the subject of eroticism, do you know that the erotic sculptures carved on the facades of the magnificent temples in Khajuraho, in central India almost a thousand years ago commissioned by the Chandella Rajput kings, depicting all forms of passion and intimacy, were reputed to have been sculpted by and possibly for the education of the "Bramacharis". Brahmacharis are young men during the initial stage of life as specified according to Vedic tradition, who live in a hermitage and absorb themselves in education leading a celibate life. This is the stage before they re-enter into the world of the "Householder" where they marry and procreate. From what i was told, the very fact that these young boys were so deprived of female relationships, the sculptures they sculpted and the forms it took were voluptuous and exaggerated, reflecting in the female form the epitome of desire. Their hands carved the fantasies they could only visualize and had not yet experienced (similarly, have we not seen many authors of what was considered at that time seductive and erotic works in literature who themselves led a very staid and puritan life). The Brahmacharis were certainly exposed to these sculptures as a way to introduce them back into the world so they may fulfill the very important social role of householder. In fact, I just read something that cannot be put into better words about these sculptures of Khajuraho which I would like to share with you:
If the temples of Khajuraho can be said to have a theme, it is woman. A celebration of woman and her myriad moods and facets. Writing letters… applying kohl to her eyes… dancing with joyous abandon… playing with her child. Woman – innocent, coquettish, smiling – infinitely seductive, infinitely beautiful.
Warrants a visit for sure, shall we?
Back to Murakami, Miro, the Surrealists and the realm lurking behind everyday reality; you could not have got it more Dot On…it's surreal, it's for me! Similarly, in the Tale of Genji, art permits assuming a persona, which in "real life" can never be you; a wormhole to transcend the physical form or personality that shackle. So Murasaki Shikibu, the author of the Tale of Genji, a medieval Japanese noblewoman constrained by her gender, status and time was able to transcend it all and assume the form and passions of Genji, a character she created, and live him for a while in another world another existence: literatures version of "Second Life". Yes, all this while retaining her own skin, her own form. For me, my expression is the escape I seek, as I realize I am entrapped not by anything else (the world, society, family), but myself and my sense of duty. And, the only escape is a journey into this surreal world, where I have "written in" The Whirlpool, permitting a return to my world. This way, I too can live, I live many lives, without relinquishing any…any piece of myself!
On the surrealists, I encountered references to your friend Andre Breton, all over Barcelona (if I have I told you how much I love that city, I could not have told you enough!). I need an introduction…please. The Miro museum was fascinating as usual, my second visit. But this time it was like rediscovering a whole new world. It seems like every visit unfolds something else, something new. This visit, I stumbled upon "The lion", essentially a single black squiggly line over a brown paper canvas portraying a lion encaged in a circus. The only difference was that there were scratch marks on the canvas which added the multi dimensional multi sensory aspect to this incredible piece of art. With the scratches, you actually heard the lion attempting to burst out of the canvas. I think with this Miro took art to another level…engaging not just the visual but stimulating all the senses at once. Surreal for sure!
I also found a lot of Miro's works remained blanked out, incomprehensible, where the title has no relevance to the art itself…much too much for my mind to encompass. Yes, unreachable, waiting for another time, an accumulation of experiences, before the doors unfold and the art unravels.
The Matador and the Tapas Bar: Barcelona, with its bustling life, wide boulevards and Art, Food, Art for Food can be quite a heady experience! The best meal yet was at a famous Tapas Bar in the Born district. The restaurant was a bar table with everyone seated side by side and the cute cooks opposite us whipping up one fabulous tapas after another. We also had the next seating, our line of spectators standing directly behind us drooling over the dishes, both the cooked and live ones! Yes, the cooks were gorgeous Spaniards! The one serving us was like a matador with a narrow waist tied in red cloth and a charming smile. His brisk movements from one end of the table to the other, from one plateful to the next, juggling multiple demands of the hordes lined with their hungry heads towards him and the deftness with which he charmed and fed everyones appetite was a spectacle worth the wait! On our end, he was completely oblivious of the ogre seated at the other end, and proceeded to show me how to eat the tapas with my hands without removing his eyes from my face. I was hot, I was red, I was embarrassed by the flattering attention. He then offered me the first clam open with its juices and watched me eat it, he proceeded to do the same with the mussel dish…I had turned crimson by this point. So, I looked up and said politely "Thank you, that was delicious". He held my gaze for a full minute before responding "YES". Absolutely MIND BLOWING!!! Talking about mind, I have not been so turned ON for a long long long time. That man had certainly mastered the art of making love in the kitchen!
One Catalan for me please!
So, I'm still hobbling but Megeve is not too far!
Hope to see you soon!
See attached Barcelona Adventures:
What a tantalizing treatise on sex, visual seduction, Miro, Barcelona and Genji. It arrived just in time to rescue me from the boredom of illness – Yes, it seems the travel bug has mutated to a malicious head cold bug. It hit me Saturday morning and I thought I could shake it off quickly, but it feels a bit worse each day. At least I have some time to read. Now that I've finished my Danish translation of volume II of the Millennium trilogy with a truly original and unique female character and a plot so complicated that you don't really fully understand what is going on until the final pages, I can move on to the next Murakami on my list, Kafka on the Shore (I'll try and find a copy for you on my next trip to Geneva).
Wow, your matador/Tapas chef sounds like a master at seduction with his mussel shell demonstrations and enchanting eyes. Too bad you were so shackled by the ogre and at the end of the bar. It is almost criminal to get someone so hot and bothered and then leave them dangling and blushing. And you didn't even have your Tale of Genji with you for bedside reading. How did you manage to get through the night ?
Your sensual pleasure from eating Tapas reminds me of the several films where food and sex are intertwined, some more successfully than others. Did you ever see Peter Greenway's The Cook,The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover ? It stars one of my favorite British actresses who can be as sultry as anyone on a given day, Helen Mirren, who can leave you panting. And then there is the famous eating scene in the film Tom Jones where each bite of a pear or chicken leg is as suggestive as a tender caress. Speaking of films about sex, did you ever see the French film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover ? It won the French Cesar award for best film two or three years ago, and was such a delightful rendition of a very lonely woman's journey of self discovery and exploration of her own sexuality, all, of course, overshadowed by the moors and customs of a puritanical Great Britain where class differences were, and are somewhat still, very important. The role of the neglected wife is played with such delicate innocence and yet delicious sensuality by a young French actress named Marianne Hands. It's one of the most refreshing, open and genuine evocations of female sexuality that I have seen on screen.
More later, but I have to go play cook tonight – I'm doing a salmon soufflé – for our week-long house guest from southern France.
Bon courage with your Florence Nightingale duties and try and keep your mind from wandering too often south to those warm climes, hearts and sexy Catalan Tapas chefs.
Yes, in spite of the solitary green apple, Brussels was a real treat. I had no idea you were a Tintin fan. There truly must be an abundance of French blood cursing through your veins – inherited no doubt from your Francophile aunt. Tintin is one of the favorites of French readers of nearly all ages, and he, of course, was omnipresent in Brussels. We went into a shop in downtown Brussels that was entirely devoted to the books, many in various translations, as well as all the other derivative products, and the place was really packed. We didn't see a Tintin museum, but I'm sure there is one there just waiting to be thoroughly explored.
I found your description of your aunt's encounters with the French extremely nostalgic. I think you are correct in saying that the French « represent an exceptional group of very cultured and sophisticated people with whom you could not ever associate racist behavior (vulgar) and profiling (too American). In fact, it is just for these reasons that they appear to take a stance that is completely and in every way contrasting with and contrary to that of the US. » In many ways that is true, but I fear that such attitudes are slowly changing, at least in the upper echelons of French society and the governing elite. In the past, France was indeed a country that was curious about and fascinated by all sorts of exotic places and peoples. Black American musicians and performers were always more readily accepted and revered here than they were in the States. Josephine Baker is probably the prime example, but there were numerous Black musicians who found a welcome home in Paris and the freedom to perform and express themselves. Many still call France home, such as Dee Dee Bridgewater and Archie Shepp, and where would Henry Miller have been able to write his wonderfully scandalous novels that form the backbone of his literary production (Quite Days in Clichy, for example), and that were banned for many years in the USA ?
However, that is not to say that there hasn't been and isn't today a certain French brand of racism, which, I'm convinced, has its roots in French colonialism. The Northern African immigrant workers who were brought to France in the 1950's and 60's to fuel the economic recovery following the war have never been fully accepted into French society. They have, instead, been shunted into housing projects on the outskirts of French cities that are today ghettos of despair – a stark reminder that the French national rallying call of « Fraternité, Liberté et Egalité » is a hollow echo in a society that is so hierarchically structured. And since Sarkozy and his pals have seized power, it seems to get worse every year. Brice Hortefeux's not very subtle joke about trouble when there are a lot of them, I'm afraid, mirrors the official attitude of the ruling class in France today. And, I should add that it has been just recently that France has begun to come to grips with the realities of the Algerian war and the outrageous atrocities committed there by French troops.
I agree that there are lots of good things coming out of the Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden and Denmark. I read a poll last week that found that the Danes were the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of any other European country (I think France was 12th on the list). And there are so many wonderful things Swedish – especially the marvelous films of Ingmar Bergmann. I've been thinking that a trip to Stockholm is in order. It's not that far away and even in the cold of winter it would be a treat to visit.
What is a sqiggle ? Whatever it is, I am always ready.
Have a good weekend. Can I take you to lunch on Tuesday ?
Letter #10
She used to call his name M- – -…M- – -…m- – -…
As the 21st of March approaches, I look back on the 17 years…
I wish to share with you a poem by Rabindranath Tagore (Lipika) translated by Aurobindo Ghosh titled Seventeen Years. I have attempted to read this to an indifferent Mirko over the last few dismal years, telling him through Tagore that our time together is coming to an end, and that one day he will look back at our seventeen years which he so mindlessly threw away and think: "She used to call his name".
And perhaps one day while leaning on his walking stick and gazing at the setting sun his mind will wander back to these years and query: "But those days and nights are no longer strung together by the binding thread of that name – they lie scattered." …"Who shall call us together and surround us with her presence?"
And I will be gone, we never make it past our 17th year of that I am sure!
Seventeen Years – by Rabindranath Tagore
I had known her for seventeen years.
So many comings and goings, so many meetings, so many tetes-a-tetes!
Surrounding those years, so many dreams, so many conjectures, so many hints.
And then, sometimes, when half asleep, the light of the morning star; sometimes the scent of the Chameli flower in the dusk of a rainy day; sometimes the tired strains of the Nahabat in the last hours of the spring night!
All this had passed round his mind in the course of those seventeen years!
And, mingling with it all, she used to call his name.
The person that used to respond to this name was not merely a creation of God – he was created out of the seventeen years of her knowing him.
Sometimes in love, sometimes in neglect,
sometimes in work, sometimes in leisure,
sometimes in the midst of all, sometimes in privacy –
thus was he built in the heart of one person.
After that, seventeen more years had gone by.
But those days and nights are no longer strung together by the binding thread of that name – they lie scattered. Therefore the days ask me daily:
"Who shall call us together and surround us with her presence?"
I can give no answer – I pause and ponder.
But they, flying away with the wind, say:
"We go searching."
"Whom?"
They know not whom.
So they wander hither and thither.
Like aimless clouds they sail across the sea of darkness and I can no longer see them.
I could not let this mail go and drift into the "unanswered". There were so many juicy openings for discussion and debate, even if I am unable to cover them all, I must struggle with some. You should see me now, bent with furrowed brow with my black rimmed glasses dangling from the tip of a rather long nose, with a sprightly ponytail bouncing in excitement at having been saved, as i pound away one finger at a time…
You had mentioned in your email that you finally managed to finish the Millennium trilogy and were left dissatisfied as the author died without completing his proposed series of 10.
"There is no provision in Swedish law for a concubine to inherit anything from her partner if they were not married".
That sounds very surprising for a progressive country like Sweden where I assume such relationships are the norm before or instead of marriage (and btw a male partner can also be a concubine!). In its most simplistic: this immensely popular work where the author has suddenly died at the peak of the fervor generated by the book which (from what you tell me) seems to have taken on a cult status. In my opinion, the ownership lies in all who embrace the story, the public. Therefore, the one who attempts to assume the authors place, edit, modify or expand the work has to not just attempt to stay true to the original, the essence but have the readers ultimate clearance. The substantial property rights of course in this instance go according to what is outlined in the law. However, the law has to accommodate, perhaps use this case to evolve, reflecting the ideas in popular culture, commitment and contribution of a partner. I, of course, would only hand over my pen to the image in the mirror!
"Or maybe Steve Jobs will have become the final arbiter of justice with a market place savvy that settles all conflicts with his new i-judge software and hand-held, touch screen, app-driven i-tort (that may actually be a better source of justice than our present, very flawed and political interest driven system or the justice frequently meted out by the religions of the day)."
Dear, dear Roger, you cannot underplay the human element to me! I cannot possibly conceive how a software program could make a judgement incorporating the essential elements of "timeframe" and "cultural context", which would vary based on the issue at hand from decades to days, as we have seen in the rapidly evolving field of cyberlaw and technology where before the issue can be brought to court and final judgement be passed, it is redundant and replaced by a competing issue. Its at times and instances like these where there is need for the human, the subjective element, which can incorporate timeframe, cultural context, and the fall back on the core issues of common law before reaching a decision.
There is a reason why the judges are selected: they are known, respected and we recognize them for more than the mechanical application of their knowledge and their ability to identify issues. They are selected because we have read their decisions, recognize their positions and defer to their judgements EVEN when it goes against us, for we are programmed with the inherent belief that when we join society and submit ourselves to the law, we are a part of the whole. And, if the judgement passed is one against us, it must be passed for the greater benefit of society, and since we are a part of it, we vicariously benefit! Otherwise, I can't imagine why we would agree to anything that binds us, making us vulnerable to decisions by men in wigs and men in frocks, can you?
You are definitely wanted, my dear, dead or alive, preferably alive, but the question you should really ask is : Am I wanted, virtual or real ?
Purnima Traversing The Blue Ridge Mountains – Virginia
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2omivt6w3f754my/The%20Blue%20Ridge%20Mountains-Virginia.mov?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbsdh2fmbnsb526/Wanted%20Dead%20Or%20Alive%20-%20Virginia.mov?dl=0
Do I wish to subsist in this virtual medium or in the real world? The ultimate question is: Where would I be more real? What is the medium of today, one that would engage a broad spectrum of ages, education, background and ethnicity? The exciting aspect of the fast evolving virtual sphere is that, the medium is not merely one of language as we are historically used to (with that familiar feel of paper between the fingers), but an all engaging 3D multi-media medium encapsulating sight, sound, text, (and soon even tactile sensations) which are enmeshed and indistinguishable from each other. The only parallel I can think of from my "old world" is the realm of comics… A sizzling Japanese comic that captivates the pulse of the youth in a world language! Yes, I think I would like to live forever (like Minnie still sprightly at 80), the heroine of a Japanese comic. You would too, if you ever got a chance to meet the hero of my comic book… Boom, Boom, Pow!!
It's well past midnight, and since I have not turned into a pumpkin, and since there is no chance of dancing with the prince, not even a little froggie, I guess i will just continue…
Apart from my favorite comics, I guess theatre has played the historic role (Roger, I need your input/feedback here…urgently) of reaching out and disseminating novel and radical thoughts, ideas and developments in the Arts, Sciences, Government. This historic role of theatre to disseminate new ideas and educate the public through a forum that was entertaining and perhaps comics permitted many radical thoughts to be so presented and disseminated which would have otherwise been strictly censored during its time. The impact of the theatre over time with its ability to permeate society in a similar multi-media format, would probably be akin to the realm that is today partially covered by the virtual world, don't you agree?
Returning to our old favorite subject of interdisciplinary studies, I believe that incorporating elements of theatre in most traditional subjects still forms the most effective form of education and dissemination of information where the onlooker/participant is entertained as he is being educated. And talking about interdisciplinary studies, the oldest and dearest example from my childhood was Alice in Wonderland, Mathematics and Literature, with my father attempting to explain the mathematics behind the madness.
In fact, Lewis Carroll, a pen name for Charles Dodgson, a professor of mathematics at Oxford University, wrote Alice in Wonderland to satirize the then radical new ideas in the world of mathematics, where mathematics was getting more abstract with imaginary numbers, abstract symbolic algebra, non Euclidean geometry. He brilliantly used this fantastical piece of literature to present what he thought was the absurdities in the new mathematics. This was his forum, his stage to present his dissent, his point of view through a memorable and much beloved piece of literature in the form of a children's book.
In order to satirize these new age ideas, he found fiction as the best forum to present his opinion, his dissent. Alice moved from a rational world through a rabbit hole to a land where even numbers behave irrationally, erratically. Thus this irrationality, reflecting the new age mathematics, was created by Dodgson as a construct of Alice's mind which exists only in Wonderland as it did not need to conform to any laws of the real world. Dodgson has Alice continuously changing in size from 9 feet to 3 inches, but when Alice calls this world absurd, the caterpillar ("the worm" in her story) who lives in this irrational world pipes up and says that "it isn't"! Here of course, I am tempted to draw the parallel with "the worm" in my story, who returns with the same response! As Dodgson through the madness that exists in Wonderland tries to highlight the dangers of the new symbolic algebra, I chant to keep my balance, my ratios constant Ignoring putty like contortions, sometimes oval, sometimes elliptical, moving from one form to another… finally looming overhead across magical glittering lake Geneva, in the smile of the Cheshire Cat that seems to know it all!
As I come near to the end of my time here in Geneva, so does my Geneva Diary which has been my friend and companion, and thanks to you, with whom I have dug up many a ghost, walked the cobbled streets of the old town and discovered the alleyways of this charming city. Like Alice in Wonderland, this has been written in a young voice, for the old and the young (I plan to reread it at 70!). And again like Alice, and my other favorite character Tintin, my stories and many (mis)adventures have aspired a light surrealistic touch with many looming body parts. Of course, I have woven in my area of experience, the law, and pivotal topical legal issues like privacy with a lot of bizarre storytelling.
In the story of Servetus, with his tombstone poignantly placed outside the university hospital, I have attempted to pose a reminder of Medicine and Ethics: Do not use Green Wood! If the case is terminal, the decision final, then let the end be painless, swift. In keeping with my mantra, this tale would cover the spectrum, the subjects of History, Theology, Medical Ethics, Law, Government and perhaps literature with a suggestion of substance abuse !
See below images of Geneva:
Excerpts – Geneva Diaries (#1-#5)
Excerpts – Geneva Diaries (#11-#15)


text:
A fehérarcú zöldfakopáncs (Colaptes rubiginosus) a madarak (Aves) osztályának harkályalakúak (Piciformes) rendjébe, ezen belül a harkályfélék (Picidae) családjába tartozó faj.

Rendszerezése
A korábbi rendszertani besorolások szerint, a Piculus nembe tartozott Piculus rubiginosus néven.

Előfordulása
Mexikó, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador, Panama, Trinidad és Tobago, valamint Argentína, Bolívia, Brazília, Kolumbia, Ecuador, Francia Guyana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname és Venezuela területén honos.

Alfajai

Colaptes rubiginosus aeruginosus (Malherbe, 1862)
Colaptes rubiginosus alleni (Bangs, 1902)
Colaptes rubiginosus buenavistae (Chapman, 1915)
Colaptes rubiginosus canipileus (Orbigny, 1840)
Colaptes rubiginosus chrysogaster (Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1902)
Colaptes rubiginosus coloratus (Chapman, 1923)
Colaptes rubiginosus deltanus Aveledo & Gines, 1953
Colaptes rubiginosus fortirostris
Colaptes rubiginosus guianae (Hellmayr, 1918)
Colaptes rubiginosus gularis (Hargitt, 1889)
Colaptes rubiginosus meridensis (Ridgway, 1911)
Colaptes rubiginosus nigriceps Blake, 1941
Colaptes rubiginosus paraquensis W. H. Phelps & W. H. Phelps Jr, 1948
Colaptes rubiginosus poliocephalus
Colaptes rubiginosus rubiginosus (Swainson, 1820)
Colaptes rubiginosus rubripileus (Salvadori & Festa, 1900)
Colaptes rubiginosus tobagensis (Ridgway, 1911)
Colaptes rubiginosus trinitatis (Ridgway, 1911)
Colaptes rubiginosus tucumanus (Cabanis, 1883)
Colaptes rubiginosus viridissimus Chapman, 1939
Colaptes rubiginosus yucatanensis (Cabot, 1844)

Megjelenése
Testhossza 20-23 centiméter, testtömege 75 gramm.

Életmódja
Hangyákkal, termeszekkel, bogarakkal és azok lárváival táplálkozik.

Szaporodása
Szaporodási időszaka február és május között van. Fészekalja 2-4 tojásból áll, melyet mind két szülő gondoz.

Jegyzetek

Források

További információk
Képek az interneten a fajról

Colaptes
Madárfajok
Mexikó madarai
Belize madarai
Costa Rica madarai
Guatemala madarai
Honduras madarai
Nicaragua madarai
Salvador madarai
Panama madarai
Trinidad és Tobago madarai
Argentína madarai
Bolívia madarai
Brazília madarai
Kolumbia madarai
Ecuador madarai
Francia Guyana madarai
Guyana madarai
Peru madarai
Suriname madarai
Venezuela madarai

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: What is the intuition behind the Poisson distribution's function? I'm trying to intuitively understand the Poisson distribution's probability mass function. When $X \sim \mathrm{Pois}(\lambda)$, then $P(X=k)=\frac{\lambda^k e^{-k}}{k!}$, but I don't see the reasoning behind this formula. In other discrete distributions, namely the binomial, geometric, negative binomial, and hypergeometric distributions, I have an intuitive, combinatorics-based understanding of why each distribution's pmf is defined the way it is.
That is, if $Y \sim\mathrm{Bin}(n,p)$ then $P(Y=k)=\binom{n}{k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k}$, and this equation is clear - there are $\binom{n}{k}$ ways to choose the $k$ successful trials, and we need the trials to succeed $k$ times and fail $n-k$ times.
What is the corresponding intuition for the Poisson distribution?

A: Let $p_k(t)$ be the probability of $k$ events in time $t$. We first find $p_0(t)$. Let $h$ be small. By independence $p_0(t+h)=p_0(t)p_0(h)$. The probability of an event in time $h$, where $h$ is very small, is roughly $\lambda h$. More accurately, $\lim_{h\to 0^+}\frac{1-p_0(h)}{h}=\lambda$.  So $p_0(h)\approx 1-\lambda h$. Substitute. We get
$$\frac{p_0(t+h)-p_0(t)}{h}\approx -\lambda p_0(t).$$
Let $h\to 0$. We conclude that $p_0'(t)=-\lambda p_0(t)$. This is a familiar differential equation. Since $p_0(0)=1$, it has solution $p_0(t)=e^{-\lambda t}$.
Now do a similar argument for general $k$. If $h$ is a small time interval, then the probability of $2$ or more events in time interval $h$ is negligible in comparison with the probability of $1$ event. Thus
$$p_k(t+h)\approx p_{k}(t)(1-\lambda h)+p_{k-1}(t)\lambda h.$$
Simplifying, and letting $h\to 0$, we find that
$$p_k'(t)=-\lambda p_k(t)+\lambda p_{k-1}(t).$$
This DE can be solved, using the induction hypothesis $p_{k-1}(t)=e^{-\lambda t}\frac{(\lambda t)^{k-1}}{(k-1)!}$. Or else we can verify by substitution that the standard expressions do satisfy the DE.

A: Explanation based on DeGroot, second edition, page 256. Consider the binomial distribution with fixed $p$
$$
P(X = k) = {n \choose k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k}
$$
Now define $\lambda = np$ and thus $p = \frac{\lambda}{n}$.
$$
\begin{align}
P(X = k) &= {n \choose k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k}\\
&=\frac{n(n-1)(n-2)\cdots(n-k+1)}{k!}\frac{\lambda^k}{n^k}\left(1-\frac{\lambda}{n}\right)^{n-k}\\
&=\frac{\lambda^k}{k!}\frac{n}{n}\cdot\frac{n-1}{n}\cdots\frac{n-k+1}{n}\left(1-\frac{\lambda}{n}\right)^n\left(1-\frac{\lambda}{n}\right)^{-k}
\end{align}
$$
Let $n \to \infty$ and $p \to 0$ so $np$ remains constant and equal to $\lambda$.
Now
$$
\lim_{n \to \infty}\frac{n}{n}\cdot\frac{n-1}{n}\cdots\frac{n-k+1}{n}\left(1-\frac{\lambda}{n}\right)^{-k} = 1
$$
since in all the fractions, $n$ climbs at the same rate in the numerator and the denominator and the last parentheses has the fraction going to $0$. Furthermore
$$
\lim_{n \to \infty}\left(1-\frac{\lambda}{n}\right)^n = e^{-\lambda}
$$
so under our definitions
$$
\lim_{n \to \infty} = {n \choose k}p^k(1-p)^{n-k} = \frac{\lambda^k}{k!}e^{-\lambda}
$$
In other words, as the probability of success becomes a rate applied to a continuum, as opposed to discrete selections, the binomial becomes the Poisson.
Update with key point from comments
Think about a Poisson process. It really is, in a sense, looking at very, very small intervals of time and seeing if something happened. The "very, very, small" comes from the need that we really only see at most one instance per interval. So what we have is pretty much an infinite sum of infinite Bernoullis. When we have a finite sum of finite Bernoullis, that is binomial. When it is infinite, but with finite probability $np=λ$, it is Poisson.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When in your life there is a whole lot of shaking going on, know that in God less is more!
Lord thank You for your wonderful word this morning. Lord place people in my life that I can share You with. Lord give me a word in season for whomever I come in contact with. Lord let my thoughts, prays, words, and actions cause people to become interested in You. In Jesus mighty and matchless name! Amen!
Amen! God is all around us. Thank you God for revealing yourself through your word and in subtle ways.


It was customary at one time in England on St. Thomas's Day for the poorer inhabitants of the parish to call on their wealthier neighbors and receive a gift or "dole" of food or money. In return, they would give their benefactors a sprig of holly or mistletoe.
The custom of "going a-gooding," as it was called, gave rise to the name Gooding Day in parts of Sussex; in other areas it was referred to as Mumping ( Begging ) Day, since those who had to beg were said to be "on the mump." Children would often spend St. Thomas's Day begging for apples.
It was known as Doleing Day or Gooding Day, but in Warwickshire it was called "Going a Corning", for the participants carried a bag around to farms where they were given corn.


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We can recover data from your desktop or laptop computer, RAID array, servers, or mass storage devices. We have a high data recovery rate. You can count on Westway PC for fast, reliable service. We are small business owners, too, and understand the impact of computer downtime and data loss. Got data loss? Call your Houston Data Recovery Specialists, Westway PC at 713-501-0500.
If you have already experienced data loss from a failed hard drive or removable media device, we can usually recover the data within one day. We have the experience, tools, and software necessary to recover data from most failed hard drives WITHOUT sending the drive across country or disassembling the drive.


In my last two blogs I talked about the sounds your drains may make as a possible indicator that you're about to have drain problems. Sometimes drains don't make a sounds before they start backing up. Another sign to look for is finding sewage residue in your bathtub or shower with or without water in it. This can happen when the drain started to back up and was flooding into the bathtub or shower and because the water pressure on the blockage became greater as the tub or shower started to fill up it pushed a little hole into the blockage and let the water go down. You may think that it fixed itself and won't back up again. But the original problem is more than likely still there and the next time you run a lot of water or put anything into the sewer line it could completely stop up and flood your home. I recommend to not clean up the tub or shower right away, so that the plumber can see the evidence of the problem and identify the best way to clean the line. Our plumbers have years of experience figuring out the best way to solve your plumbing problems. We are plumbing detectives; we look at all the clues and run tests to track down the cleanest and most efficient ways of doing the job.
This entry was posted on May 20, 2015.


text:
Chubb invests in Global Accounts team; adds senior management roles in Europe
Download: Hi Res
LONDON, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced two senior management appointments, as it continues to invest in its Global Accounts division serving large and complex clients in Europe and around the world.
Suresh Krishnan, currently Executive Vice President, Global Accounts, Overseas General Insurance, has been appointed to the newly created role of Head of Global Accounts Division, Europe. Suresh will establish and lead a single Global and Large Account segment for Europe. He will set and implement business strategy for the segment and oversee the structures, processes and performance metrics that ensure clients and brokers fully benefit from Chubb's risk and underwriting expertise and multinational network and services. Suresh will be based in London, reporting to Jeff Moghrabi, Division President for Chubb in Continental Europe and David Robinson, Division President for Chubb in the UK and Ireland.
Suresh has 25 years of insurance industry experience. He joined Chubb in 1999 and has served in several senior legal roles. Prior to his current role, he served as General Counsel, Multinational Client Group, from 2010 to 2013, with global legal oversight for matters connected with the company's multinational products and services. Previously, he was General Counsel for ACE USA, where he had management responsibilities for all legal matters connected with ACE's US commercial retail insurance business.
Tina Lakickas, currently Senior Vice President and Global Client Executive, will succeed Suresh as Executive Vice President, Global Accounts, Overseas General Insurance. Tina will lead the international Global Client Executive team that serves Chubb's Global Accounts segment. She will oversee the delivery of high quality service across all aspects of the value chain and ensure that Chubb's Global Accounts strategy and activity are aligned to client and broker needs. Tina will be based in Paris, reporting to Joseph Clabby, President, Global Accounts and David Furby, Division President, Commercial Property and Casualty, Overseas General Insurance.
Tina has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience. Prior to joining the company in 2010, she was Vice President and Regional Manager of Global Marine & Energy for AIG. She previously served in underwriting roles at AIG, Arthur J. Gallagher and St. Paul.
Both Suresh and Tina will take up their new roles in March 2017.
Andrew Kendrick, Regional President, Europe at Chubb, said:
"I am delighted that Suresh, a well-known thought-leader on multinational insurance issues and longstanding contributor to our global accounts work in Europe, is joining our team. His appointment reflects the importance of Europe as one of Chubb's global accounts hubs and his experience, proven track record and unique insights will ensure that our clients and broker partners continue to benefit from the highest levels of service. I also welcome Tina to Paris and look forward to working with her."
Joe Clabby, Vice President, Chubb Group and Division President, Bermuda and Global Accounts, said:
"In an increasingly complex international landscape and constantly evolving risk environment, Tina's deep market experience and strong client focus will ensure that our global accounts proposition, multinational capabilities and technology continue to set the standard for market excellence internationally. I greatly look forward to working with Tina and Suresh in their new roles."
Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160121/324916LOGO
For further information: Nicholas Mandalas, Regional Communications Manager, Europe, Eurasia and Africa, W +44 (0) 20 7173 7793, M 44 (0) 77 7511 7274, E nicholas.mandalas@chubb.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, panko, onion soup mix and salt. Allow to hydrate for 5 minutes. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.
Thoroughly mix ground beef into breadcrumb mixture; evenly fill each of the 12 muffin wells.
Place muffin tin on a sheet tray and bake 30 minutes or until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
While meatloaves are baking, combine beef stock, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire in a saucepan, bring to a simmer. Combine cornstarch and cold water, whisk into sauce mixture and simmer for 1 minute to thicken. Remove from heat and reserve sauce for glazing meatloaves.
Remove meatloaves from pan, glaze with sauce and serve.


text:
function make(hasOpenMP, sources)
%MAKE compiles finite element assemblers written in C
%
%   MAKE(HASOPENMP) if HASOPENMP = 1, compiles with flag -fopenmp.
%   Default is HASOPENMP = 0.
%
%   MAKE(HASOPENMP, SOURCES) SOURCES is a vector of indices specifying the
%   source files to be compiled, e.g. MAKE(1, 8) compiles source Nr 8 with
%   OpenMP enabled.
%
%   On Linux: to check whether openmp is available on your system, open a
%   terminal and type:
%   $ echo |cpp -fopenmp -dM |grep -i open

%   This file is part of redbKIT.
%   Copyright (c) 2016, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
%   Author: Federico Negri <federico.negri at epfl.ch>

if nargin < 1 || isempty(hasOpenMP)
    hasOpenMP = 0;
end

%% Compile C code

if hasOpenMP
    fprintf('\nCompiling with openmp enabled\n');
    Flags = 'CFLAGS="\$CFLAGS -fopenmp" LDFLAGS="\$LDFLAGS -fopenmp"';

else
    fprintf('\nCompiling without openmp\n');
    Flags = '';
end

source_files{1} = {'FEM_library/Models/ADR/','ADR_assembler_C_omp.c'};
dependencies{1} = {};
source_files{2} = {'FEM_library/Models/ADR/','Mass_assembler_C_omp.c'};
dependencies{2} = {};
source_files{3} = {'FEM_library/Models/CSM/','CSM_assembler_ExtForces.c'};
dependencies{3} = {};
source_files{4} = {'FEM_library/Models/CFD/','CFD_assembler_C_omp.c'};
dependencies{4} = {'../../Core/Tools.c'};
source_files{5} = {'FEM_library/Models/CFD/','CFD_assembler_ExtForces.c'};
dependencies{5} = {};
source_files{6} = {'FEM_library/Models/CSM/','CSM_assembler_C_omp.c'};
dependencies{6} = {'../../Core/Tools.c', 'MaterialModels/NeoHookeanMaterial.c',...
                   'MaterialModels/LinearElasticMaterial.c', 'MaterialModels/SEMMTMaterial.c', ...
                   'MaterialModels/StVenantKirchhoffMaterial.c',...
                   'MaterialModels/RaghavanVorpMaterial.c'};
source_files{7} = {'RB_library/Tools/RBF_interpolation/','RBF_evaluate_Fast.c'};
dependencies{7} = {};
source_files{8} = {'FEM_library/Models/ADR/','ADR_SUPGassembler_C_omp.c'};
dependencies{8} = {'../../Core/Tools.c'};

%Mexify = 0;
if nargin < 2 || isempty( sources )
    sources = 1:length(source_files);
    %Mexify  = 1;
end

n_sources = length(sources);

k = 0;

for i = sources

    k = k + 1;

    fprintf('\n ** Compiling source Nr. %d; %d of %d \n', i, k, n_sources)
    file_path = [pwd, '/', source_files{i}{1}];
    file_name = source_files{i}{2};

    all_dep = '';
    if ~isempty( dependencies{i} )
        for j = 1 : length( dependencies{i})

            this_dep =  sprintf('%s%s', file_path, dependencies{i}{j});
            all_dep = [all_dep, ' ', this_dep];
        end

    end

    mex_command = sprintf( 'mex %s%s %s %s -outdir %s', file_path, file_name, all_dep, Flags, file_path);
    eval( mex_command );
end

%% Mexify some Matlab codes

% here = pwd;
% %source_files_M{1} = {'FEM_library/Models/CSM/','mexify_CSM_Assembly_M'};
% %source_files_M{2} = {'FEM_library/Models/CFD/','mexify_SUPG'};
%
% if Mexify
%     for i = 1 : length(source_files_M)
%
%         file_path = [pwd, '/', source_files_M{i}{1}];
%         file_name = source_files_M{i}{2};
%
%         eval(['cd ', file_path]);
%         eval( file_name );
%         rmdir('codegen', 's');
%         eval(['cd ', here]);
%
%     end
% end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Did you know that Frederic Chopin slept with wooden wedges between his fingers to increase the span of notes he could cover on the piano? Or that Marilyn Monroe often wore shoes with one heel slightly lower than the other, to increase the sexiness of her famous walk? Or that Lewis Carroll kept a record of every meal given to his guests so as not to serve them the same thing twice?


text:
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Reykjavík 101: Your guide to the capital of Iceland
Reykjavík, the small capital of Iceland, with its neighbouring communities is home to two-thirds of country's population. Virtually every visitor to Iceland will spend at least some time in its vicinity. Well, there are many good reasons to do so! A plethora of accommodation and dining choices, a variety of cultural events, endless shopping possibilities, and not least numerous daily outings to every corner of the country – the city has much to offer.
Just a short suggestion: Your visit to this site would be greatly enhanced by JavaScript being turned on.
You may want to rotate your phone in order to improve your browsing experience on this site.
The following information was accurate at the time of writing in fall 2015. Please note that schedules and prices are subject to change and might be not up to date at the time of your reading.
Getting there & around
Resources on capital of Iceland
Orientation and general information
Aside from Reykjavík proper, the Capital Region of Iceland comprises municipalities of Kópavogur, Seltjarnarnes, Garðabær, Hafnarfjörður, and Mosfellsbær. Among them are three largest cities in the country, and another two are in the top ten. Over 200,000 of Iceland's 330,000 inhabitants live here. It is also pretty safe to assume that every one of over one million visitors to the country in 2014 has passed through the area at some point of his journey.
Around Reykjavík
Capital Region of Iceland, OpenStreetMap
Compared to its modest population of some 120,000, the capital of Iceland occupies a rather large area of 273 km² (105.5 sq mi).
This is for example about 1.5 times the area of Sweden's Stockholm which has 7.5 times as many inhabitants.
The early history of Iceland is well documented in its Book of Settlement, Landnámabók, according to which the modern city area was first colonised by Ingolfúr Arnarson of Norway around 870 AD. Recent archaeological excavations actually found enough evidence to support both the event and its supposed timing. The permanent exhibition dedicated to the origins of the city fittingly bears the name 871±2.
The name of the capital in its present transcription loosely translates as "smoky bay". The original spelling in use up to 14th century, Reykjarvík, or "bay of smokes", is believed to refer to hot springs in the area. Before the end of the 18th century the settlement was in no way significant and barely counted 200 inhabitnts. In 1786, Reykjavík became a town and one of six communities in the country granted a trading charter from the Danish Crown. The only street at that time, today's Aðalstræti, is the oldest ground of the city. The Tourist Information is located here in house no. 2.
In the early 19th century, several fisheries and shipbuilding enterprises moved to what today would become the Old Harbour. To its west, behind the Maritime Museum, the fishpacking district, aka Grandi, hosts some of the latest additions to Reykjavík's vivid culinary, cultural and shopping scene.
Reykjavík in the 1860s, by Sigfús Eymundsson
Tjörnin, right, reaches farther inland than it does now
The town grew from its original location to enclose these areas, as well as in the opposite direction, towards the pond Tjörnin where the present City Hall is situated. This quarter of the city, its historical centre, is now known as Kvosin.
In 1845, the Althing, Iceland's general assembly which had been holding its sessions from 930 AD to 1799 in Þingvellir, was re-established in Reykjavík as the national parliament. This event promoted the town to the de-facto capital of Iceland though still under the Danish rule. The parliament moved to its current location, Alþingishúsið by Austurvöllur square, in 1881. The name of both the square and the adjacent Austurstræti, meaning "eastern", suggests where the city core lay at the time.
Today many tourist attractions dot the continuation of Austurstræti further east. Bankastræti and Laugavegur, together with Skólavörðustígur leading to Hallgrímskirkja, constitute the main shopping area of the capital with seemingly endless food offerings to boot.
Laugavegur continues beyond Hlemmur, one of the city bus terminals just at the edge of the centre, along the outskirts of the financial district to Laugardalur. The literal "valley of hot springs" houses the Family Park and Zoo, Botanical Gardens, a geothermal swimming pool and the only camping site in the capital.
South of Hallgrím's church dominating the city from a central hill are the National Hospital and the bus terminal BSÍ where Flybus and tour buses pick up and drop off their passengers. Further south still lies the compound of the domestic airport. To its east in the hills district, another capital landmark, Perlan, is situated amid woody surroundings.
Even more than the country as a whole, the capital of Iceland is an all-year destination.
The summer – understandingly – lures the majority of visitors. All attractions in and around the city are easily accessible, all businesses open longer, and the weather is favourable for all sorts of outdoor activities. The high season generally starts in June and lasts through August. Some offerings switch to the summer schedule already in May and stay on it until as late as September.
The autumn sees most tourists leaving abruptly and the festival season slowly kicking in again. Reykjavík International Film Festival starts in the end of September. On October 9, the Imagine Peace light installation on Viðey island re-launches in an annual ceremony. Finally, country's biggest music event, the Iceland Airwaves festival, attracts many local and international interpreters and fans from all over the world to city's numerous stages on the edge of October-November.
The winter comes with the Christmas season and New Year's Eve celebration. Fireworks and traditional bonfires in the first night of the year are a sight to behold. February brings the Winter Lights Festival into beautifully illuminated streets and squares. The Food and Fun festival follows with international chefs offering their take on the Icelandic cuisine in restaurants throughout the city. If the weather plays along, magical Northern Lights make appearance in the dark skies over the city.
The spring starts with the Design March and Reykjavík Fashion Festival, the main display of country's striving creative scene. The First Day of Summer and Children's Culture Festival in April are great events for the youngest, as is the arrival of newborn animals in the Family Park and Zoo in Laugardalur. May is statistically the driest month of the year, yet ahead July and June. The sun brings numerous city dwellers out of their homes onto the terraces of street cafés. Life is back in the capital, while the new summer season is still a few weeks away.
As mentioned in the introduction to Iceland, its capital will probably be your first port of call after landing at the international airport in Keflavík, some 50 km (32 miles) away. To get into the city, hop on one of the buses available upon every arrival. The two principal services, Flybus and Airport Express, will deliver you to the BSÍ bus terminal or Lækjartorg square in the very centre, respectively, from where you can be brought to your city accommodation if desired. The entire trip including the optional drop-off shouldn't take much more than an hour.
Tickets are available in advance from both providers' websites, at their counters in the airport building or direct on the buses. Flybus tickets are also sold at a small discount on all inbound Icelandair flights.
Accommodations in Reykjavík where you can leave or board the bus slightly vary depending on the service you use. The respective lists are visible at providers' websites when you try to book a ride online. Don't fret if your preferred service is not available at your chosen lodging. The listings contain full addresses for all included options, so you can always find an alternative in the vicinity and get off or on the bus there instead. Also, when buying return tickets, you can select to arrive and depart at different locations.
If you want to save on bus fare in exchange for investing some more time, Reykjavík city bus no. 55 makes several infrequent runs between the airport and the city on weekdays. Buy your ticket at the 10/11 shop in the arrival hall. For 1,600 ISK one way, the bus will deliver you to the BSÍ calling en route at the Kringlan shopping mall, the Central Hospital, the City Hall and the University of Iceland. For a ride to the airport, catch the bus at the same locations.
Arriving in the capital on a smaller cruise ship will most likely leave you at the Miðbakki pier in the city centre.
Reykjavík city centre is compact enough for exploring by foot. For everything outside of walking distance, public buses provide a reliable and inexpensive way of transportation. They run at scheduled times every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the service and the time of day. A single ride within the capital area costs 400 ISK as of summer 2015. A 9-ticket card sells for 3,500 ISK. 1- and 3-day cards for unlimited journeys by bus within the specified period are also available, at 1,000 ISK and 2,500 ISK, respectively. Single tickets and multi-ticket cards are also available from bus drivers. You can't pay by credit/debit card on city buses in Reykjavík, and drivers do not give change on cash payments – have your ticket, mobile app, or enough coins ready when boarding. If you need to change buses en route to your final destination, ask the driver of the first bus for a transfer ticket, skiptimiði, when paying.
City sightseeing tour buses depart from Harpa every 30 minutes between 10 am and 5:30 pm during the summer (June to September). The bus stops at Lækjartorg, the City Hall, the Old Harbour, the Maritime Museum, the National Museum, Hallgrímskirkja, Perlan, the Kringlan mall, Hilton Reykjavík, Reykjavík City Hostel in Laugardalur, and Skarfabakki harbour with ferry to Viðey, before returning to Harpa along the sea shore on Sæbraut. You are free to board and leave at every stop. The ticket is valid for 24 hours and costs 3,500 ISK.
For shopping aficionados heading to Kringlan, a free bus shuttle operates between the Tourist Information in Aðalstræti 2 and the mall during the latter's opening hours, calling at Harpa en route. The shuttle departs every hour on the hour and heads back from Kringlan half an hour later.
Tags: #reykjavik #travelinfo #forstarters
Useful links about capital of Iceland
The free magazine in English is published monthly in winter and bi-weekly in summer. The focus is on local events, culture, travel, and life in general. The coverage is very subjective and not always politically correct, which is good for a change. Grab your copy whenever you see one while in the country, or download it from the website as soon as it gets printed. Also, be sure to check their extensive Best of Reykjavík listings online.
Plan your arrival at the airport voted the best in Europe in 2014.
Flybus and Airport Express
Check schedules, look for accommodations served, and book your tickets online.
Reykjavík city buses
Information on routes, schedules, tickets and prices.
Other articles about Reykjavík
Take a stroll around the town or a short ride to its neighbouring attractions.
There's always much to do in Reykjavík: make the best from your visit!
From a camping site to a 4-star hotel, there are many accommodation options for every budget. Find out which are the best.
Dining options in the capital of Iceland are plentiful, with the notable absence of fast-food chains. Good for you!
Other articles about Iceland
Of ice and fire
General information about Iceland.
Beyond Reykjavík
Read about sights and activities in different regions of Iceland.
Unattributed images on this page are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay.
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There is no doubt you will require to repair or replace your commercial roof within the shortest time possible after a hail or storm damage. It is noble that you employ the services of the expert roofing contractors who have the skills and tools needed for the assignment. Furthermore, you can be sure that you will not have to struggle with the problematic process of seeking compensation from the insurance providers when you engage a roofing firm. Many commercial roofing firms exist in Denver but the one who has stood the test of time is ECO Roof & Solar courtesy of their quality services. Content of this papers looks at the information you must not overlook when picking a commercial roofer in Denver.
Do not fail to look at the duration that the roofing firm has been in the sector when engaging them for the assignment. There is a need that you work with the commercial roofing contractor who has done such assignments for many years since they have the skills for the task. Do not hesitate to ask the commercial roofing company their years of service before you can determine if they are the best for the task.
It is necessary that you do not fail to look at the qualifications of the roofing company before you choose them for the task. There is a need to confirm that you will not hire a commercial roofing firm unless you are sure that they have a license since it means they have the required knowledge and tools. Moreover, it is wise that you work with the company that has won some professional awards in the sector because it means they are among the best roofers.
Keep in mind that your property might damage when the roofer is performing the valuable assignment. Moreover, some of the workers of the roofing contractor can sustain some severe injuries when performing the job in your commercial premises. Anyone can argue that you will not wish a situation where you are held liable for the injuries on the staff and even ruin on property. The best thing is working with the roofer who has the liability insurance and the workers' compensation plan.
Finally, it is necessary that you consider the amount of cash you will have to spend on the works of the roofing company. There is a need to ensure that you will engage the roofing firm that will not ask for more money than what you have planned to spend on the job. Do not worry if you want to know the most affordable roofer since you can ask for prices from many of them in the market.


welcome to Persis Indian Grill Satisfying your appetite is our delight.
A common ingredient in the Indian food is a wide range of spices. The secret of Persis Indian Grill is in proper use of selected spices, fresh vegetables and finest meats to bring out the rich flavor and aroma and character in Indian food. At Persis Indian Grill you will experience the finest authentic flavors fused exotically with a unique ethnic edge.
We supply food for all Ocassions. We can cater most of the Indian traditional items not listed in our menu. Please contact us for more details. We promise to make it delicious and memorable.
Phone : (515) 777-1803,(515) 309-9934.


There are many old Zombie Plague plugins but we will talk about the latest Zombie mod for Counter Strike 1.6, its Zombie Plague 5.0. Let's see what's new in this.
New Gameplay Modes: Nemesis, Survivor, Multi Infection, Swarm, Plague, Assasin, Armageddon, Raptor, Sniper.
Ammo Packs: awarded to skilled players, can be exchanged for goods.
Custom Grenades: Napalms, Frost Nades, Flares, and Infection Bombs.
Admin Menus: to easily perform the included console commands.
New version of Podbot an Zbot.
Deathmatch Mode: where zombies or humans can continually respawn.
Set zombies and humans' health, speed, models, rewards, and more.
Toggle unlimited ammo and adjustable knockback for weapons.
Change overall map lighting (lightnings available for the dark settings).
Set different colors and sizes for flashlight and nightvision.
Enable random spawning (CSDM-spawn friendly).
Extract it to your servers mod directory (cstrike) make sure to keep folder sructure.
For any furthur information on cvar and commands -> there is ReadMe.txt file.


. In: O'Connell M, Smith JA. O'Connell M, Smith J.A. Eds. Mary Beth O'Connell, and Judith A. Smith.eds. Women's Health Across the Lifespan, 2e New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; . http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2575&sectionid=213567959. Accessed April 25, 2019.
. "." Women's Health Across the Lifespan, 2e O'Connell M, Smith JA. O'Connell M, Smith J.A. Eds. Mary Beth O'Connell, and Judith A. Smith. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, , http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2575&sectionid=213567959.
Copyright © 2019 by Mary Beth O'Connell and Judith A. Smith. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the editor.


The Conroe City Council has decided that the city will continue its financial support in the fight against TexCom's injection wells.
However, the amount of that support was not discussed or decided when the council met in closed session with Montgomery County Attorney David Walker during Wednesday's workshop meeting.
The county hired the Austin firm of Kemp Smith to represent it when a lawsuit is filed in state district court in Travis County.
Montgomery County is challenging the Jan. 26 decision by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality commissioners to grant TexCom Gulf Disposal permits for the construction and operation of four Class I nonhazardous wastewater injection wells and a surface treatment facility in the vicinity of FM 3083 and Creighton Road.
Opponents of the injection wells contend the process will have a negative impact on water quality in that area.
Although financial figures were not discussed, Walker received assurances from the City Council.
"I'm confident they will provide support," he said.
"We've got to continue the fight. We don't have any choice," Councilman Guy Martin said. "Hopefully, there will be some common sense and get them (the wells) stopped.
The City Council was the first of several governmental entities and agencies Walker will approach about contributing funds as the lawsuit commences. They include the San Jacinto River Authority, The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency, The Woodlands Township and the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District.
Auto Task Force: The City Council renewed Conroe's participation in the Montgomery County Auto Theft Task Force.
The city contributes $41,846, half of the annual salary of one investigator assigned from the Police Department.
Conroe has participated in the task force for more than 10 years, Chief Philip Dupuis said.
Sign switch: The council gave CBS Outdoor Inc. its consent to erect a digital billboard on the west side of Interstate 45, just south of FM 2854.
In exchange, CBS will remove two back-to-back signs located on Texas 105 West next to Vernon's Kuntry Katfish restaurant. CBS also will remove a billboard on the east side of I-45 near Wilson Road.
The city will receive up to 40 hours per year of advertising time to promote special city events or provide public service announcements.
Proclamation: In recognition of National Volunteer Week, the city honored members of the Conroe Police Volunteers.


Oxfordshire has a great range of venues with accommodation that is ideal for company meetings and conferences. We've picked out some of our favourite venues including country houses, award-winning restaurants, and contemporary venues that all offer accommodation for delegates.
After you have dazzled clients and colleagues with a gastronomic getaway to Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, retire to one of the manor house's 32 individually-designed bedrooms. Each one drawing inspiration from Raymond Blanc's travels with imaginative décor to create an irresistible hideaway.
The 5-star Old Bank Hotel situated in the heart of Oxford houses 42 luxury bedrooms to accommodate delegates following an event at one of their meeting spaces. The Gallery is well equipped for business meetings, impressive presentations or conferences; and the Red Room, with its soft red walls and collection of contemporary British art is perfect for a private breakfast meeting, casual lunch or celebratory supper.
Egrove Park is a residential conference venue set in 37 acres of rural parkland and only 2 miles from Oxford city centre. Book and hold an event between January and July 2018 and save 20% on day delegate rates and residential conference packages. Call 01865 288846 or email to book an event.
Nestled in 440 acres of North Oxfordshire countryside, the stunning Heythrop Park Resort is the perfect location for large residential conferences – offering 358 bedrooms and several unique meeting spaces, including their purpose-built conference theatre for 400 delegates and new Archery Suite with a banqueting capacity of 800.
What could be a better way to complement your conference in Oxford than to offer your delegates the opportunity to stay in one of the University's historic colleges? Conference Oxford offers 7,000 college bedrooms, all located centrally. Contact them to book college rooms to give your delegates the quintessential Oxford experience.
Oxford Brookes Venues has inspirational spaces for any type of meeting. All meeting rooms have modern audiovisual equipment for interactive meetings and presentations, there is free wifi throughout their venue and plenty of informal breakout areas designed for networking, group work and refreshment breaks.
Eynsham Hall is perfect for residential conferences and away days. Set in 3,000 acres of gardens, they have 40 dedicated meeting and events rooms and 135 bedrooms to accommodate your delegates, making it the perfect location to book your next event.


text:
MIT's Modular Robotic Chain Is Whatever You Want It to Be
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As sensors, computers, actuators, and batteries decrease in size and increase in efficiency, it becomes possible to make robots much smaller without sacrificing a whole lot of capability. There's a lower limit on usefulness, however, if you're making a robot that needs to interact with humans or human-scale objects. You can continue to leverage shrinking components if you make robots that are modular: in other words, big robots that are made up of lots of little robots.
In some ways, it's more complicated to do this, because if one robot is complicated, n robots tend to be complicatedn. If you can get all of the communication and coordination figured out, though, a modular system offers tons of advantages: robots that come in any size you want, any configuration you want, and that are exceptionally easy to repair and reconfigure on the fly.
MIT's ChainFORM is an interesting take on this idea: it's an evolution of last year's LineFORM multifunctional snake robot that introduces modularity to the system, letting you tear of a strip of exactly how much robot you need, and then reconfigure it to do all kinds of things.
MIT Media Lab calls ChainFORM a "shape changing interface," because it comes from their Tangible Media Group, but if it came from a robotics group, it would be called a "poke-able modular snake robot with blinky lights." Each ChainFORM module includes touch detection on multiple surfaces, angular detection, blinky lights, and motor actuation via a single servo motor. The trickiest bit is the communication architecture: MIT had to invent something that can automatically determine how many modules there are, and how the modules are connected to each other, while preserving the capability for real-time input and output. Since the relative position and orientation of each module is known at all times, you can do cool things like make a dynamically reconfigurable display that will continue to function (or adaptively change its function) even as you change the shape of the modules.
ChainFORM is not totally modular, in the sense that each module is not completely self-contained at this point: it's tethered for power, and for overall control there's a master board that interfaces with a computer over USB. The power tether also imposes a limit on the total number of modules that you can use at once because of the resistance of the connectors: no more than 32, unless you also connect power from the other end. The modules are still powerful, though: each can exert 0.8 kg/cm of torque, which is enough to move small things. It won't move your limbs, but you'll feel it trying, which makes it effective for haptic feedback applications, and able to support (and move) much of its own weight.
If it looks like ChainFORM has a lot of potential for useful improvements, that's because ChainFORM has a lot of potential for useful improvements, according to the people who are developing useful improvements for it. They want to put displays on every surface, and increase their resolution. They want more joint configurations for connecting different modules and a way to split modules into different branches. And they want the modules to be able to self-assemble, like many modular robots are already able to do. The researchers also discuss things like adding different kinds of sensor modules and actuator modules, which would certainly increase the capability of the system as a whole without increasing the complexity of individual modules, but it would also make ChainFORM into more of a system of modules, which is (in my opinion) a bit less uniquely elegant than what ChainFORM is now.
"ChainFORM: A Linear Integrated Modular Hardware System for Shape Changing Interfaces," by Ken Nakagaki, Artem Dementyev, Sean Follmer, Joseph A. Paradiso, and Hiroshi Ishii from the MIT Media Lab and Stanford University was presented at UIST 2016.


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Sarawak is the largest Malaysian state is endowed with the world's richest and most diverse ecosystem.
Kuching is the capital city and the main gateway to Sarawak is via Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Malindo Air, SilkAir and Maswings, which make regular flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei and Pontianak in Indonesia.
A former British colony, Sarawak gained independence in 1963 and has since prospered into a vibrant city with an interesting skyline comprising a mixture of colonial influence and modern architecture.
Sarawak is a land of colourful cultures boasting 27 ethnic groups, 45 languages and dialects. The main groups are the Iban, Malay, Bidayuh, Chinese, Melanau, Oranga Ulu and Penan.
Situated in Malaysian Borneo, Sarawak is the largest state in the country. Its colourful history under the rule of the White Rajahs, rich tapestry of cultures and superb natural attractions make it a mesmerising holiday destination. Many heritage buildings in Kuching, the capital city, reflect its rich past. An eco-adventure land, Sarawak is great for trekking, caving, mountain climbing, kayaking, biking, rafting and diving.
The state has a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets and preferences. There are international-standard beach resorts, jungle resorts, star-reted hotels as well as longhouse-style resorts. Budget accommodation is widely avaiable. Take your pick from the variety of cuisine, from local delicacies to Continental fare.
Kuching Waterfront This 900m long esplanade, with landscaped surroundings and eateries, is a popular place for locals and foreigners alike. Places of interest here are The Square Tower, Sarwak Steamship Building and Chinese History Museum. A nearby attraction is the ornate Tua Pek Kong Temple, reputed to be the oldest in the city.
Main Bazaar This is the oldest street in the city. The shophouse here enjoy immense popularity for the bewildering variety of items, from ethnic crafts, textiles to bamboo mats and pottery. Take home exquisite souvenirs of your visit!
Sarawak Museum Sarawak Museum is hailed as one of the finest in Southeast Asia. The old Wing, designed in the style of a Normandy town house, houses an exceptional ethnographic collection. Within the grounds are an Aquarium, Botanical Gardens and Heroes' Memorial.
Sarawak Cultural Village An award-winning attraction, Sarawak Cultural Village showcases the diverse lifestyles of the state's ethnic groups. Visit the authentic dwellings and view their crafts, household items and musical instruments. The lively cultural performance is a major highlight here. Sarawak Cultural Village is the venue of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival.
More information about Sarawak cultural village
Semenggoh wildlife Centre Enjoy the amazing experience of standing close to orang utans in their natural habitat. Watch them swing gracefully as they make their way here during the feeding times. Other attractions include an arboretum, fernery, botanical garden and fruit orchard. Matang Wildlife Centre provides the opportunity to view animals in enclosures.
Cat Museum Welcome to a world dedicated to cats! Touted to be the world's first, the Cat Museum pays tribute to these adorable felines with a range of exhibits, photos, statues and souvenirs. Kucing means 'cat' in Malay.
Damai Beach Damai Beach is a major vacation spot, with some of the state's best beach resorts. Enjoy a wide range of water sports activities at the resorts. Tours can be arranged to see the rare irrawaddy dolphin. Other popular beaches include Siar, Sematan, Penyok, Bandung in Kuching as well as Luak Bay and Hawaii Beach in Miri. The National Parks of Bako, Similajau and Tanjung Datu also boast beautiful beaches.
More travel information click here
Textiles and Crafts Take a mesmerising journey to explore Sarawak's textiles and crafts. The Textile Museum and Pua Kumbu Museum are themed attractions showcasing Sarawak's handwoven fabrics. More textiles and other handicrafts can be seen at Sarakraf Pavillion and Sarawak Handicraft Centre.
Sunday Market in Satok Browse through a profusion of goods from handicrafts, flowers, local snacks to traditional delicacies. The bustling atmosphere and colourful cornucopia of things makes a trip here enjoyable.
Bako National Park Sarawak has many national parks, each teeming with a wealth of flora and fauna. Bako National Park is the state's oldest, and home to the rare long-nosed proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques and various other animals. It serves as an excellent introduction to the rainforest.
Kubah National Park The world's largest collection of palm trees, rare ferns and wild orchids are the main attractions here. The enclave is further enriched with waterfalls and crystal-clear rivers. It is a favourite location for day trips.
More travel inforamtion click here
Gunung Gading National Park Beautiful cascading waterfalls, rare foliage and a chance to see Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, are the highlights here.
Mulu National Park This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers spectacular attractions. Gunung Mulu has the world's largest cave chamber and the world's most extensive cave system with razor sharp limestone pinnacles.
Tanjung Datu National Park Breathtaking vistas of rolling hills and waters teeming with corals are remarkable attractions here. Adventurous visitors can head to the nearby Telok Melano village for a delightful homestay experience.
Niah National Park Experience the awe of standing at the archaeological site of 40,000 year-old human remains in this park.
Similajau National Park A bird-watchers' paradise, enthusiasts can see some 185 species of birds and 24 species of mammals. Lucky visitors may spot dolphins and turtles in the sea.
Lambir Hills Nationl Park the park is home to an incredible diversity of plants, trees and insects, some that are yet to be identified.
Loagan Bunut National Park A natural marvel here is its large natural lake that is said to dry up and disappear during dry seasons. The Taland and Satang island National Parks are turtle sanctuaries while Batang Ai National Park offers more jungle adventure.
Longhouse Visits Go on a river safari to visit the indigenous communities who live in longhouses along the Lemanak, Rejang, Skrang and Batang Ai Rivers. Watch how crafts are made or join in the cultural dances.
Golfing Enjoy a round of golf in a pristine rainforest setting. Major golf resorts in Sarawak are situated in Kuching, Damai, Padawan, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu.
Diving Diving enthuslasts should not miss a trip to miri, to explore one of the richest reefs in Malaysia. Belais Reef and Luconia Shoals are among the popular dive sites in the South China Sea.
Bario Lying at an elevation of 1,000m, Bario in Kelabit Highlands is home to the Kelabit People, touted to be among Borneo's best farmers. Visitors will be awed by their culture and lifestyle.
Kuching International Airport is the main entry point into the state. Sarawak is easily accessible by frequent short-haul flights from the Kuala Lumpur international Airport (KLIA) in Peninsular Malaysia. Visitors can also fly in from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah as well as other major cities in Malaysia.
Semantan – Beautiful beaches and vast countryside set against the backdrop of the picturesque Gunung Gading is perhaps one of the best features of this quiet town.
Sarawak map


Spectra is a colorful slot machine produced by the Swedish slot manufacture Thunderkick. They have finally speeded up their slot productions, and they have delivered several slots the last couple of months. Spectra has 30 paylines and is played on a 5x4 reel set. Spectra reminds me of NetEnt's Starburst in many ways, it has many of the same color combinations, and it also has a similar wild and re-spin feature, even though it's not 100% the same feature. The maximal win per spin is 600x, but because of the re-spin possibilities, the maximal win per game round is 2.400x the stake per spin. This win is highly theoretical as you will need to line up several max wins during the re-spins to win it. The payout percentage for this game is listed to be 96.20% in the game, but if you take a look at the slot sheet Thunderkick provides on their home page, the RTP is listed to be 96.40%. 96.40% is the correct number!
After giving Spectra a few spins it might confuse you a bit, as the previous wins will show on the left and the right side of the game. I think this is a pretty cool feature, but it's nothing you need to think about. It only shows the previous wins, and it will not affect anything with the game play. I can also mention that wild symbols that lands just outside of the reels, might nudge into the reels. This might also be a little confusing, but after a few game rounds this should be easy to understand.
Spectra has wild symbols that are stacked 4 and 4 symbols on all the 5 reels. These symbols substitute for all other symbols in play, and a full screen of wild symbols would pay 600x the stake per full screen combination. The wild symbols will also nudge if they appear on the reels or in a position over or under them. The wilds will then nudge one position towards filling the reel with wilds, and then activate a re-spin. If additional wilds appear, and additional nudge will be rewarded, and so will an additional re-spin.
Re-spins: The re-spin feature is activated if one or more wild symbols appear on the reels or in a position over or under them. The wild symbol will then nudge one position towards filling the reel with wilds and stick to the reel, while a re-spin is awarded. If additional wilds appear during the re-spin, all wilds will nudge one more position towards filling the reels, and an additional re-spin is awarded. As long as more wild symbols appear, they will continue to nudge one position each towards filling the reel, unless they have filled the reel already, then they work as sticky wilds for the remaining re-spins. The re-spins are finished when no more wild symbols appears.
Spectra is created by Thunderkick.