Director Lena Herzog, in collaboration with VR pioneer Nonny de la Peña and Emblematic Group, has created an immersive VR oratorio in three parts. Each part will be comprised of its own standalone VR experience and embody three distinct expressions that viscerally answer the question of how to tell an extinction whose form is silence. It is the first VR of it's kind that transports audiences into a virtual landscape composed of the fabric of vanishing voices accompanied by original animation that poetically links image and sound. Last Whispers is co-presented by UNESCO, who, along with the UN General assembly, have declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages.


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COVID-19 Update: What to Expect at Area Pools
We've been spending time at the Brandywine as we wait for pools to reopen.
What to expect at area pools this summer
June 13, 2020: Updated with new guests insights. If you've been to one of the area pools let me know what it's really been like!
It's official. We are now in yellow. Progress for sure, but a lot of questions remain as to what summer will look like under this new normal including, and perhaps in my opinion, most importantly – where will we swim?
Memorial Day has come and gone, temperatures are climbing yet, many pools except those privately owned remain closed – although, not for long. Under updated guidance from the state, pools in Pennsylvania are allowed to operate in the yellow phase as long as the facilities follow guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under this new direction, local pools are getting ready for the start of the 2020 swim season.
ACAC opened their pool for lap and recreational swim last weekend. Rosyln and Wedgewood swim clubs are planning to open today. The Waterview swim club will follow on Monday, and YMCA Water Park at Airport Road may be opening their waterpark on Saturday, June 20.
Due to the extra costs and staff needed to keep a pool operating safely this summer, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine has announced it will only be opening three of its pools this summer, one of which is their waterpark at Airport Road. And then, only if they get 500 memberships by June 11. Want to join? You can sign up here.
Ok, pools are open, but does that mean you should go? It's obviously an individual choice, and most pools are offering refunds if you prepaid and choose not to participate, but local facilities are going to great lengths to keep members safe.
Is it safe to swim?
Pools will open but social distancing requirements will be in place. Picture: Roslyn swim club (not this summer).
According to the CDC, "There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds. Additionally, proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus." So the real concern is not with the activities in the water but rather those outside of it.
What changes are being implemented?
There is little risk of transmission in the water. It's the activities out of it that are of concern. YMCA snack bar (last summer.)
Pools will be open but only under strict safety guidelines. So while the water may still be refreshing on a hot July day, much of the rest of the experience will not be the same. Here are some of the changes you can expect to see.
Masks required. Most pools are requiring masks at some point – usually when entering and leaving the facility or in shared spaces (like locker room facilities). However, masks are not required or advised to be worn in the water. We'll see how long these requirements hold up. Even now ACAC is only requiring staff to wear masks.
Social distance requirements enforced. Social distancing of at least six feet between people who don't live together needs to be maintained both in and out of the water – this includes kids.
According to one ACAC member, Sheena Ahlmer, "They have social distancing signs and tape marks for social distancing at the entrance and the snack bar, but only added markings by the slide when I requested them. They responded that, 'The CDC guidelines specifically state that guards are not to be managing the social distancing guidelines, but rather the safety of guests in the water. We will rely on parents to assist with the rules around the pool as it relates to social distancing.'"
We'll have to see how strictly this is all enforced as summer unfolds.
Plan to bring your own chairs. The YMCA and Rosyln said they are removing pool provided chairs as they are just too hard to keep disinfected. Members will need to bring their own seat. ACAC has left its chairs in place but is asking that families pick a seat and stay there. No switching, even if you leave to go to the other pool. ACAC also said they will not be providing or allowing any pools toys, noodles or kickboards. Check, similar restrictions may be in place at other locations as well.
Limited guests. Expect caps on occupancy levels to help allow for proper social distancing. Rosyln told members they would limit access to 150 members at a time. The YMCA will not be allowing pool members to bring guests to help keep the numbers down. While, ACAC is asking that members sign up ahead of time to reserve their space at the pool.
Slides will be closed. The CDC recommends slides be cleaned and disinfected after each use, which is nearly impossible to keep up with. ACAC has announced their slides are closed, as has the Y. However, the pirate ship at the Y will remain open.
No swim meets. The Southern Chester County Swim League (SCCSL) announced late last month it would cancel the 2020 swim season. Even should the county reach the "green" phase of reopening, the numbers and social distancing requirements would not add up. "We could not hold any type of meet with the number of swimmers, parents, coaches and officials in attendance at a meet, even in the green phase," League President Deb McMahon stated in a letter.
Fewer, if any events. Pool barbeques and kick off parties will likely be suspended this year. As gatherings of more than 25 people are not allowed under "yellow" and it is just too hard to maintain social distancing requirements.
Summer is here. COVID-19 or no COVID-19 there is no stopping it. We will swim. We will barbecue, We will listen to music. We will drink lemonade. Hey, we'll even dine outdoors. It will all continue just perhaps on a smaller scale than in years past.
Where are you swimming this year? Ready to brave public pools? We found this secluded spot along the Brandywine the kids are in love with.
Plus, last summer's swim guide, if like me, this is exactly the time of year you start thinking about swim memberships – a perfect time to get in line for next summer!
New to Hello West Chester? Follow along for the latest news and developments from the Borough.
Tags: entertainment, health, Parks & Rec, safety, swimming pools
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


ADVANCE™ Weight Control Large+ Breed Dry Dog Food - Chicken 13kg is an Australian made super premium food for dogs with select natural ingredients. Formulated so that your dog maintains a complete and balanced vitamin/mineral intake whilst consuming fewer calories. Formulated to support vascular health and cardiac function. Also contains nutrients to support digestive health, immune health, joint health and a healthy skin and shiny coat, ADVANCE is scientifically formulated to help improve dog health.
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Marian Wigger (Enschede, 17 augustus 1954) is een Nederlandse ontwerper.

Biografie
Wigger studeerde aan de Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Arnhem. Deze opleiding rondde zij 1978 af. In 1981 lanceerde zij het kledingmerk Turnover. Als ontwerpster voor dit  merk won ze diverse prijzen, waaronder de 'Grand Seigneur'. Met haar kleding heeft Wigger een  bijdrage geleverd aan het Nederlandse modebeeld. Het bedrijf Turnover, waarvan ze directeur was, werd ook actief op de Europese kledingmarkt.

In 2005 verkocht Marian Wigger het merk en creëerde daarna het nieuwe merk Zenggi. In december 2008 werd zij als tweede gekozen op de Emerce E-commerce Top 25, een door het publiek gekozen lijst van meest invloedrijke Nederlandse professionals in e-commerce (verkoop via internet).

Wigger, Marian

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Fully Furnished Double Storey Semi-Detached house for sale!
I'm Kelvin Lee, a Senior Negotiator/Team Leader at Kozin Real Estate Sdn Bhd since year 2000. I specialise in new developers' project sales & marketing. We provide a one stop service from project development planing till conclusion of sales. Our service can include project concept, master plan layout, building layout, project development planning (to suit the current market demand), market pricing & packaging (for sales launching), project launching, & roadshows. We regularly organize roadshows throughout Sarawak. My team concludes annual sales of over 300 units of houses/apartments/condominium.
I am Vivien Sim, a Senior Negotiator/ Team Leader with Kozin Real Estate Sdn Bhd, Kuching. I specialize in Malaysian properties, especially in East Malaysia, Sarawak. I have more than 15 years of track record in the Real Estate Industry. As a Real Estate Negotiator, my mission is to enable each customer to secure the best possible deal for their property. I strive to provide three values to every customer, that is integrity, sincerity and responsibility as I value building long-term relationships with each customer.
I am Shirley Yeo, a Senior Negotiator/ Team Leader with Kozin Real Estate Sdn Bhd, Kuching. I specialize in Malaysian properties, especially in East Malaysia, Sarawak. I have more than 13 years of track records in Real Estate Industry, specializing in Secondary Market Properties such as Sale or Rental of Detached-houses, Semi- Detached House, Terrace, Warehouses, Budget Inn, Shoplots as well as Vacant land, Land for developments and Apartments. Besides this, my team undertake New Projects Sales locally for several West Malaysia Projects. If you're looking to buy, sell or rent properties in this area or are looking for a responsive, responsible, one -stop real estate negotiator with right knowledges to advise, you've come to the right place as I am the person you are looking for. Please browse my website for more of my listings. This user-friendly website has been specially designed to help you property hunt.
I'm Peter Ling, a fellow of Australian CPA, having graduated with an economics degree in 1982 from Monash University, Melbourne. I lead Kozin's foreign property sales team. I have a long history with Australia, spanning thirty eight years. I have a second home in Perth, Western Australia for over twelve years, being a permanent resident of Australia. I have Australian property experience from sales to development. I also sell UK and Malaysian properties.


Some of you will know that I got Aaron Lego Duplo for Christmas. It took me a long time in Toys R Us to land on Lego Duplo because I was torn by Mega Bloks. Yep it was Lego Duplo versus Mega Bloks.
But there really is no comparison. My Sister In Law got Aaron mega blox and we got him Lego Duplo. I tried the Mega Blox twice and didn't like it, so it stays in the box. The colours, the feel of the plastic, the way they stick together...... nothing compares to LEGO. They really are the market leader for a reason. I just love the FEEL of the lego and the vibrant colours. And as any good toy manufacturer know, Mum needs to like the toys too!
Anyway, when presented with the lego Aaron didn't show that much interest and the only thing he liked doing was emptying the box (we got the version where it comes in a big plastic tub). If Mummy made something, even if it took an hour, his favourite thing to do, was break it bit by bit, or just quickly throw it across the room, to shatter everywhere. He has learned DESTRUCT, but he is yet to learn BUILD, even though he has been building Ikea beakers since last Summer. Anyway, I had varying reactions to his breaking of my master creations, and it was like he enjoyed watching the many reactions, seeing that they were sometimes despair, sometimes disappointment, sometimes teary, and sometimes dumbstruck, depending on the effort we'd both put in.... LOL.
Colour blocked complete with "man"
The ultimate in order - colour blocked in box!
So, now, on to some of MY creations (given that Aaron can't build yet).
The underneath to show the "foundation"
As you can see, I am loving Lego, but this blog, which I found today, is in a whole other league. The standard of the photography is awesome. If you are a lego fan, you must take a look.
Bye for now, Liska & Aaron.


It never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful ideas that out there! This idea to me is really a great way to organize and display family photos. Without feeling cluttered, this display is clean and simple and easy to change out. Just love this!
How many times have you been at a flea market, antique mall or swap meet and passed by these crates? Here this homeowner created a beautiful nook to collect books, and miscellaneous things and gave these crates a new lease on life. Stylish, chic and super functional.
I adore this! With a few mason jars, those pinchy things from Home depot, and a piece of wood, you have easy access to your necessities. I think this is not only sweet and charming but super functional as well! perfect for the bathroom and make-up area.
Ready to get your room started? Contact us. We offer an array of services to meet your design needs, whether you live in our area or not.
I'm always looking for new ways to display photos. What a clever idea!
I wish I were that clever….
I have been using the frame and clothespin idea in my breakfast room to display the ever changing photos of my grandson. I have added colorful clothespins along with some cute chicken ones just for interest but it sure is an easy way to enjoy all the photos.


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Heading for a Crash? The Future of the Automobile Industry
By Annamaria Simonazzi, Jorge Carreto Sanginés, and Margherita Russo
Dec 9, 2020 |	Business & Industry
How electric and self-driving cars could change the industry
The automotive industry is undergoing a radical transformation. New social, technological, environmental, and geopolitical challenges are redefining the characteristics of a saturated market, opening new scenarios while offering opportunities for the entry of new players. These challenges are bound to trigger reorganization of the global value chain between old and new suppliers, affecting the distribution of employment, the regionalisation of production and the dynamic evolution of the comparative advantage of nations.
Existing car manufacturers in the US, Europe, and Japan have accomplished a hierarchical regionalisation of production and trade: the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have delocalised production facilities in neighbouring countries, forming a tight network between core regions and their semi-peripheries and integrated peripheries (Krzywdzinski, 2020). China has become one of the largest car markets and still remains a competitive producer of automotive components and parts.
In our new paper we address the issue of the reorganization of these global value chains in the face of various challenges: new, large markets opening up and fresh, aggressive competitors emerging; an increasingly unpredictable global geopolitical context, translating into the forging and undoing of trade agreements; the reorganization of value chains induced by new digital technologies; the redefinition of what a "car" is, determined by electrification and increasing automatic control of driving. These simultaneous changes affect the geographical location of the industry, the distribution of power within the value chains, and between incumbents and new players entering the industry (from energy firms and power utilities to battery producers and big tech monopolists), with obvious consequences for the distribution of production and employment across countries and within manufacturing and service sectors.
In the first wave of restructuring that started in the 1990s, the big carmakers exploited the strategies of peripheral countries' governments aiming at attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) through cheap labour and fiscal concessions, while taking advantage of their geographic proximity to large markets and their participation in regional trade agreements. The main producers of components (the "tier one" suppliers) followed their customers in their delocalisation. The end result was a highly globalised industry, organised in macro-regional clusters of production networks, such as US-Canada-Mexico in North America, Germany-Southern and Eastern European Countries in Europe, Japan-China-Korea and East Asian countries, and Brazil-Argentina in Latin America (Russo et al. 2020).
While countries in these "integrated peripheries" saw incredibly fast growth in production, especially in components and parts (Pavlínek 2018), traditional core countries - Canada in North America and many countries in Europe, with the exception of Germany - lost ground in domestic car production. Competition through labour costs and government incentives in the integrated periphery put pressure on labour in the higher wage core countries. Due to cost competition they suffered a process of delocalisation of many production phases, slipping down into what has been called a "semi-periphery" (Mordue and Sweeney 2020), denoting countries that lack (or have lost) a domestically headquartered carmaker. Survival of their value chains relies basically on the ability to move to high value, high research and innovation products. However, empirical studies on the automotive industry found that R&D tends to concentrate in locations proximate to corporate headquarters (Mordue and Sweeney 2017). Thus, for countries or regions lacking a global flagship, generating R&D can be problematic. The risks faced by the industry's old core are compounded by the transition to electric vehicles (EV) and autonomous driving (AV), which entail a radical change in the quantity and quality of components. The survival of these industries relies on their ability to reinvent themselves, embarking on frontier technologies that have less to do with the traditional automotive industry but, for this very reason, are less developed in these countries. This is particularly true of software and digital technologies, which are concentrated in regions other than those dominated by incumbent carmakers.
The integrated peripheries face similar challenges. Foreign investments provided a positive contribution to the growth of production and exports as well as direct and indirect creation of jobs. However, production, organization, and strategic functions are externally controlled through foreign ownership, and there seems to be little evidence of positive spill-over effects on domestic industry. In this model of dependent development, although their automotive industry is based on state-of-the-art factories and technologies, the long-term sustainability of their development faces serious challenges. On one hand, since automotive supplier networks are by now fully established in the Eastern European Countries, new investments in the components industry are likely to continue at a significantly lower rate than in the period prior to the 2008-2009 economic crisis. On the other hand, the electric and digital transformation may represent an even greater risk for the productive structure of these countries, which is particularly focused on engines, transmissions and mechanical parts, and even more so since investment in these new fields depends on the decisions of external actors.
Mexico represents a significant case for analysis of the impact of the digital transformation on the domestic value chain in an integrated periphery, and of trade agreements on the location policies of big multinationals. The country is heavily dependent on FDI for the development of its automotive industry, and, according to some scholars (Castellanos et al. 2010; Carrillo 2018) the foreign-owned, technologically advanced part of the industry has been insulated from the rest of the value chain in Mexico. The dependency of the Mexican automotive industry on the strategic decisions of global players is considered a factor of great vulnerability, especially in a context of rapid change in the patterns of consumption, technologies and international trade agreements.
As for the latter, although the conclusion of the new Treaty between the US, Mexico, and Canada (the USMCA Agreement) brought relief to Mexican companies and policymakers and raised optimism about prospects for new investment inflows, its effects are far from certain. The new, stricter conditions on rules of origin of the Treaty will attract new firms willing to divert production from other developed or emerging economies to gain access to the US market, while taking advantage of cheap Mexican labour. Indeed, the labour clauses of the Treaty do not seem to have worried producers in Mexico too much, so far. On the other hand, digital technologies could play a key role in starting a sweeping transformation along the entire supply chain, providing better quality control and smoother flow of information within supply chains with just-in-time production, enhancing product quality control together with process and product innovation. They could also provide the flexibility required to optimize the production process without relying solely on labour flexibility, which has so far been the main resource for adjustment. To meet these challenges, changes are needed in several interrelated domains that go beyond digital traceability of products and processes: labour up-skilling, energy and digital infrastructure, logistics and integrated modernization of transport.
For Mexico, as for European producers in the integrated and semi-peripheries, the main challenge in the near future will be posed by the radical transformation the industry is going through in electrical and autonomous-driving vehicles, which sees regions and players outside the traditional automotive clusters in the lead. Environmental concerns are redefining mobility and a wave of technological innovations are changing the core competencies, calling for skills that have not so far been among the core competencies of automotive engineering. On the one hand, completely different parts and components (internal combustion engines replaced by electrical engines and batteries, for example) are liable to disrupt the fully integrated, global supply chain model, threatening the survival of a huge number of producers in the peripheries (as well as the core). On the other, digital technologies and mobility services are looming ever larger, accounting for a greater share of the value of the entire supply chain.
The transformations taking place are bound to change the global structure of automotive production. Competition is no longer just between the traditional players but extends beyond the automotive sector, to include innovation in batteries, software, connection, mobility and attracting new investors from outside the industry – tech companies, venture capital and private equity players. The rise of new competitors from the emerging economies and would-be entrants from other sectors, competing in mastering the new digital and software technologies, threatens the established structure of the industry.
The pandemic has led to a spectacular acceleration in the process of change, while heightening uncertainty about future developments. Geopolitical factors - adversarial US-China relations, a tougher American stance vis-à-vis Canada and Mexico (USMCA) and its European "allies," Brexit, as well as the struggle to secure new key resources and materials - come on top of technological factors in exacerbating uncertainty. In conclusion, the current automotive transition is likely to open the way to a radical change in the comparative advantage of nations, with important consequences for the quantity and quality of employment. This is why the governments of the leading countries are joining in the race, wielding carrots and sticks, in support of their industries, and in the endeavour to encourage risk-taking and investment in research and innovation, step up e-vehicle production while providing for the necessary infrastructures, and guarantee their companies a place in the new industry.
Carrillo, J. (2018). "Manufactura dinamica en México y possibilidades de desarrollo regional: sectores automotriz y aeroespacial." In Enrique Dussel-Peters (ed.) Cadenas Globales de Valor, Mexico: UNAM. Facultad de Economía, 89–110.
Castellanos, J., Alvarez, L., and Martin J.M. (2010). "Performance and perspectives of the automotive industry in Mexico after the 2009 economic crisis," Gerpisa Colloquium.
Krzywdzinski, M. (2020), "Automation, digitalization, and changes in occupational structures in the automobile industry in Germany, the United States and Japan," 28th Gerpisa International Colloquium
Mordue, G. and Sweeney, B. (2017). "The commoditisation of automotive assembly: Cana-da as a cautionary tale." International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 17(2), 169–189. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJATM….
Mordue G. and Sweeney B. (2020). "Neither core nor periphery: The search for competitive advantage in the automotive semi-periphery." Growth and Change 51:34–57. https ://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12354
Pavlínek, P. (2018). "Global production networks, foreign direct investment, and supplier linkages in the integrated peripheries of the automotive industry." Economic Geography, 94(2), 141–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/001300…
Russo, M., Alboni, F., Carreto, J., Righi, S., Simonazzi, A. (2020). "Mapping specialisations in the automotive international trade: a multilayer network analysis," INET Interim Report, mimeo.
Simonazzi, A., Carreto Sanginés, J., Russo, M. (2020). "The future of the automotive industry: dangerous challenges or new life for a saturated market?," INET
Annamaria Simonazzi
Professor of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome
Jorge Carreto Sanginés
Facultad de Economía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Margherita Russo
More from Annamaria Simonazzi, Jorge Carreto Sanginés, Margherita Russo
The Future of the Automotive Industry: Dangerous Challenges or New Life for a Saturated Market?
Paper Working Paper Series	By Annamaria Simonazzi, Jorge Carreto Sanginés, and Margherita Russo
The Eurozone in Crisis
Article By Annamaria Simonazzi
A Fiscal Union. Is it likely? Would it be enough?
Paper Conference paper	By Annamaria Simonazzi


Political science and film, television, and theatre major Sydney DeVoe on the set of Fox 5 News in New York City.
When Sydney DeVoe came to Notre Dame, she was convinced she would be pursuing a career in broadcast journalism.
But after four years and seven internships, DeVoe realized her political science and film, television, and theatre majors provided her with more career options than she originally thought.
In addition to providing a plethora of opportunities outside the classroom, DeVoe has found that her majors complement each other and work together to deepen her learning.
After various, wide-ranging internships at 21st Century Fox — focused on production, editing, marketing, finance, and legal work — and a valuable experience working in London with a Member of Parliament her junior year, DeVoe is encountering a problem that many students may envy.
She has too many career paths she could pursue after graduation.
Each experience has either led her rule out certain paths or add another possible trajectory to the list.
DeVoe's first internship occurred the summer after her freshman year, when she worked for Blue Sky Studios, an animation studio of 21st Century Fox. The rotational internship included roles in the story, design, marketing, finance, and human resources departments.
DeVoe with businessman and TV personality Steve Forbes during her internship with Fox Business Channel.
The following summer, DeVoe was a production intern for the Fox Business Channel program After the Bell in New York City. There, DeVoe had the chance to pitch stories and write segments for the program, learning a lot along the way.
But despite her progress throughout the summer, which led to her writing and producing her own segment, she left realizing that she didn't want to pursue broadcast journalism.
Entering her junior year, DeVoe was asked to be a teaching assistant for a first-year American politics class, a role that taught her a valuable lesson.
That spring, DeVoe accepted an internship at Parliament while studying abroad in London — an experience that opened her eyes to a whole new career path.
"I had never thought about working in government, but that's something that I'm now really considering because I loved working in Parliament," she said.
DeVoe attributed her success in her Parliament internship to the writing and research skills she learned in her Arts and Letters classes. For one project, DeVoe co-wrote a speech for MP Nigel Huddleston that ended up formulating a debate a week later.
DeVoe with a promotional display for The Peanuts Movie, produced by Blue Sky Studios, where she was part of a rotational internship program.
After DeVoe's success at Parliament, she started toying with the idea of attending law school. The summer before her senior year, she explored this further with an internship in the corporate legal department of 21st Century Fox.
Looking back on her first year when she thought she had it all figured out, DeVoe knows she has come a long way.
And while her future is more uncertain these days, that uncertainty isn't scary. It's exciting.
Originally published by Teagan Dillon at al.nd.edu on May 30, 2018.


Best things about ikea mattresses non toxic.
Home → Best things about ikea mattresses non toxic.
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By taking these factors into consideration, you will be equipped enjoy a comfy mattress. Now you have the green light to get perfect mattress.


In our Friday feature, Lipps Service, One Model Management owner Scott Lipps shares photos from his fabulous life with us once a week, right here. This week, trying to be in two places at once was par for the course with Scott: the week started out with a Nylon party with Scott's Scouted co-star Dani Stahl posing for pics; then it was some green fun around town for another St. Patty's Day bash. In between, he managed to see another Scouted star, Alwyn, appear on the streets of NYC. After artist Scott Campbell's book launch, a pop by the Electric Room after enabled Scott to snap a shot of supermodels Behati and Shannan Click, all hugs. He also stopped by John Demsey and Alina Cho's Pisces birthday bash on the Upper West Side, where he shot Liu Wen and Carola Remer. Then it was a bit of rock-'n'-roll to celebrate Scott's buddy Michael H's 50th birthday, with Cheetah Chrome from the Dead Boys, Andy Hilfiger, Frank from Guns N' Roses, and Sam Yaffa—and even more music at legendary rock photographer Mick Rock's gallery show, where Lou Reed certainly seemed happy.


Manager of Advanced Derma Laser Tech.
Jennifer, a cosmetologist for 20 years, attended and graduated from Rocky Mountain college as a certified laser specialist and decided to buy the Candela GentleLASE PlusTM; in order to establish her own laser hair removal clinic, Advanced Derma-Laser.
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Easy pick in NYC for laser hair removal….Staff is honest and the prices arent extraordinary.
Staff here is the helpful type, not some of those mosey around people in the other spas and local salons. I guess with higher treatments comes more professionalism..
Nice little end of summer deals going on to throw a finish on the season. Should grab a few sessions before I get that tattoo, hairy tattoos never look good.
This laser treatment spa is very clean, professional and knowledgeable, unlike most "spas" in NYC! Really friendly place!!
Being from Staten Island, getting to Derma Laser has never been an issue. Their hours work well with yours, even when I need to travel. Their expertise definitely correlates with the unbeatable prices, too!
im not the one who can tolerate pain at advance derma they make you feel relaxed and comfortable the staff is friendly and comforting. the facilities are clean and the prices are very reasonable!!
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With a facility well kept like this one, its hard to be disappointed. Id actually have to try hard to be quite disappointed. Friends are hearing about it, and I wont stop there.


Fancy a sing-a-long with your sushi? Or what about fish tacos with your film? Here are some ideas for some fun with your next feast.
Going out for dinner is all very well and good but these days a meal can be accessoried with any number of activities. Fancy a sing-a-long with your sushi? Or what about fish tacos with your film? Here are some ideas for some fun with your next feast.
There are many karaoke dens for die-hand fans but how many allow you to order Japanese food and quirky cocktails from a private room via a nifty touch-screen? The brilliance of Sydney's Mizuya is you spend less time at the bar and more time singing with mic in hand. With 150,000 tracks to choose from in four different languages plus 'room service', you'll be free to focus your efforts on hitting those high notes. Sipping on ginger ninja cocktails and snacking on fresh nori rolls will revive you in between tracks and let someone else take centre stage. Also check out Chaplin Karaoke in Melbourne or Ferrara Bar in Perth.
While strictly not a 'dining out' experience, you'll have so much fun working the burners in the Sydney Seafood School's top-of-the-range kitchen that you won't even notice you're cooking your own meal. The School has been educating the masses on fishy matters for 22 years but has now extended its repetoire with new Saturday night Quick'n'Delicious classes. Forget the pub this Saturday night, instead grab some friends and socialise over a cooking lesson in the heart of the Sydney Fish Market. It kicks off with seafood canapés and a glass of wine before you dive in and whip up three delicious seafood dishes. You can then relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour and enjoy more wine. What's not to love? Also worth a visit is Flavours in Canberra and James St Cooking School in Brisbane.
Moonlight Cinema has long had a reputation for showcasing the coolest cult flicks along with the latest box office hits and of course it's always fun to pack your own picnic and bottle of wine to enjoy on the grass. However with the plethora of tasty treats now on offer on-site you may want to rethink the old roast chicken and salad approach. Jumping on the trend for Latin American-style fare there are baja-style fish tacos and handmade empanadas on offer, to be washed down with a mojito or classic margarita. Add some classic New York-style street food like chilli cheese dogs and pulled pork sliders, you'll be sated before the trailers even start. Moonlight Cinema runs in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Port Douglas.


If you have ever photographed a high contrast scene, you know that even the best exposure will typically have blown out highlights and flat shadows. But you can extend the dynamic range of a single image. The HDRI is a set of techniques that has been developed to overcome the limitations of electronic devices by combining multiple exposures into one great looking image. HDR images bring out the best of both bright areas and dark, shadowy areas and can really make images stand out. To use the full potential of ImageConverter Plus you should try its ability to process HDR photos saved in EXR format. Thus you will make the impossible pictures possible.
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An Irish Red Ale made from a kit sold by American Brewmaster. Added 1 lbs. of honey.
Steep grains in muslin bag for 30 minutes at 155F. Turn off heat and add liquid extracts and honey while stirring. Apply heat to boil. Add bittering hops at start of boil. Stir periodically. Add flavoring hops and irish moss with 15 minutes left of the boil.


The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino to a Reserve/Future contract.
A rookie from the University of Washington, the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Vicaino has not previously been on a NFL team. He will not count on the Bengals' active roster until Feb. 4, the day after the Super Bowl.
On Monday, the Bengals signed five players — tight end Moritz Bohringer, safety Demetrious Cox, center Brad Lundblade, tight end Andrew Vollert and wide receiver Kermit Whitfield — to Reserve/Future contracts.


MANILA, May 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday announced the awarding of 26 skills development training grants to hotels, resorts and various tourism industries to boost the tourism industry�s competitiveness.
Awardees were chosen from the country�s main tourism destinations which include Bohol, Cebu, Davao, and Palawan, which serve as the program�s pilot areas.
�We welcome this technical assistance as it complements our National Tourism Development Plan, which targets to increase tourism revenue, employment, and arrivals to aid in job creation and poverty reduction,� said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. in a statement.
A total of US$ 7.1-million technical assistance was designed for this grant since 2013, to support the Philippine government�s effort to achieve inclusive growth and create employment opportunities in tourism.
This grants scheme program, established by the DOT, forms part of the Improving Competitiveness in Tourism project administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and funded by the Government of Canada.
�Our collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Canada for this grants scheme program proves that international institutions recognize the role of tourism as a key driver of economic development in the country,� Jimenez added.
Under the program, which will run for 38 months, various accommodation enterprises submitted proposals to help fund their skills training programs.
These include food and beverage preparation and service, front office, personality development, housekeeping, and leisure and entertainment activities.
ADB Director for Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division in the Southeast Asia Department Shigeko Hattori, for her part, said the Philippine tourism industry has grown to become a major source of quality jobs in the country.
�With the booming tourism industry, we recognize that a better skilled workforce is needed as it will lead to quality services,� she said.
Hattori also underscored the Filipinos� innate hospitality and the country�s availability of exquisite tourist spots, noting that the Philippines has all the potential to become an international travel destination.
�Through the Improving Competitiveness in Tourism program, we hope to capitalize on these assets and prove to the world that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines,� she added.


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Home / Galapagos Islands
Biodiversity, beautiful landscapes, and natural history collide in the Galapagos, making it one of the most magical places on earth. The islands are famous for inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. On a cruise or land & sea tour, embark on an adventure through the pristine national park and meet the unique animals living here. Browse our guide below for essential facts, travel tips, and top attractions on a tour to the Galapagos Islands.
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The Galapagos Islands captivate nature lovers and adventure seekers. With animal encounters and action-packed excursions galore, it's a vacation you'll be talking about long after you return home.
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos is home to some of the world's most amazing wildlife. Meet swimming iguanas, 500-pound tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and Galapagos Penguins (the only penguin to live in the tropics). Swim with friendly sea lions, colorful fish, sea turtles, and even the occasional pod of whales or dolphins.
Explore the national park with a naturalist guide and uncover the ecological wonders of the archipelago. Then spend downtime relaxing at the beach.
The oldest islands of the Galapagos are an estimated 5 million years old, while the youngest ones – Fernandina and Isabela – are still being formed by volcanic activity.
For centuries the resident animals of the Galapagos Islands remained isolated from life on mainland. The first animals likely arrived on floating bundles of reeds or were carried by the ocean currents or strong winds. Reptiles and various types of birds began to flourish in the Galapagos, evolving over the generations. There are very few mammals in the islands.
The human discovery of the Galapagos came in 1535 when Dominican Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, was on his way to Peru to mediate an argument between a Spanish conquistador and his lieutenants after their conquest of the Incas. His ship drifted to the islands when the winds died. Since then, the Galapagos Islands have been a source of various social and economic interests.
Pirates once used the islands as a hiding place for gold and silver treasures they pilfered from the Spanish. The location of the Galapagos also made it a convenient place to repair their ships and refuel food – principally tortoise meat – for future journeys.
In the late 1700s, the islands became a hotspot for whalers. Unfortunately, the crews that worked on these missions significantly diminished tortoise life – even eliminating certain species – on some islands, taking tortoises in large numbersas they used the meat of these animals for sustenance during the months they were at sea. Fur hunters were also responsible for bringing the population of this Galapagos animal close to extinction during thisera.
The Galapagos Islands became part of Ecuador in 1833.
During the mid-1800s, Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands during a scientific survey expedition aboard the HMS Beagle. He was amazed not only by how Galapagos creatures were so different from their mainland counterparts, but also by the fact that even between the islands, Galapagos species of similar characteristics still managed to adapt uniquely and perfectly to their own environment. The finch was one particular animal that caught Darwin's eye, and it is now known commonly as the Darwin Finch. These finches were vital when writing his theory of evolution in The Origin of Species as he based some of his thought in assuming that the birds shared a common ancestry.
The government of Ecuador declared the islands a national reserve in 1936 and later was declared a national park in 1959. In September of 1978, Galapagos was declared a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO for its scientific prestige.
The Galapagos Islands contain 13 primary islands and several smaller islets. The remote archipelago is located some 620 miles (1000 kilometers) off the coast of Ecuador in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Differences in elevation and wind patterns create various ecosystems on each island. There are open forests of very large cacti, subtropical forests, humid dense forests;, and treeless areas covered by low grasses and ferns. Volcanic activity on the islands has left behind thousands of cones and calderas that take on a lunar-like appearance.
San Cristobal Island is home to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos Province, Ecuador. The town houses the island's main tourist facilities. The entire island is being developed as a main tourist center, second to Santa Cruz.
Attractions include:
Galapagos National Park Visitor Center
La Loberia beach
La Galapaguera, land used for the repopulation of giant tortoises
Kicker Rock, a great snorkeling and scuba diving spot
Santa Cruz Island is home to the archipelago's largest human population. The town of Puerto Ayora on the island is the main hub for travelers – replete with hotels, shops, and restaurants. Baltra Airport connects Santa Cruz Island to mainland Ecuador.
Las Grietas, swimming gorge with crystal clear water
Bahía Tortuga (Turtle Bay), a 2-mile walk from Puerto Ayora
Garrapatero Beach
Baltra & Seymour –
Baltra is the small island with Baltra Airport. Travelers who arrive at Baltra Airport take a bus to one of two docks where they will either board a cruise ship or a common ferry that will take them to the island of Santa Cruz.
Seymour Island was formed as a result of the uplift of underwater lava formations. Situated north of Baltra, the entire island is covered with lush and low vegetation.
Isabela Island is the largest island in the Galapagos, formed by the merging of six large volcanoes into a single landform. Puerto Villamil is the main town, albiet small and quiet, with a few restaurants, hotels, and tourism offices.
Sierra Negra, hike up to the volcano crater
Los Tuneles, lava arch visited on boat tour
Tintoreras, lava field with many baby iguana colonies
Centro de Crianza, breeding center for giant tortoises
Floreana Island is one of the oldest in the Galapagos. Its nutrient-rich soil is responsible for the beautiful, lush landscape in its highland region. Only about 100 people live on the island, making it a less traveled destination in the Galapagos for land & sea tours. Devil's Crown (a volcano that is almost completely submerged under the ocean) is one of the best places to snorkel in the Galapagos.
Rabida Island has an area of almost 5 square miles and is recognized as the place to spot at least 9 species of Darwin finches.
Genovesa is nicknamed the "bird island." Its main attraction, Darwin Bay, is home to swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, red-footed boobies, lava gulls, doves, Darwin finches, and a variety of tropic birds.
Pinta Island features active volcanoes on its northernmost point. The island is home to a variety of animals, the most famous of which was Lonesome George, the Galapagos tortoise.
Española, at close to 3.5 million years old, is the oldest isle of the Galapagos. Sadly Española is dying, becoming a barren land with very little surviving vegetation. Still, the island manages to attract Galapagos sea lions since the decay process of the isle has given way to large bays.
Fernandina is considered the youngest island. Fernandina is still being formed by an active shield volcano and vegetation is sparse. Punta Espinosa, a thin stretch of land where marine iguanas lounge on black lava rocks, is a main island attraction. Out of all the islands, Fernandina actually holds the largest colony of these interesting creatures.
Santa Fe is located in the center of the Galapagos Islands. Vegetation forms a thick forest of the largest species of Opuntia cactus. Named after a Spanish city, the island is teeming with the Barrington Land Iguana. Visit Barrington Bay to spot a colony of sea lions or trek to the cliffs of Santa Fe which provide shelter for red-billed tropic birds, swallow-tailed gulls, land iguanas, and lava lizards.
Santiago Island amasses to 360 sq. miles (585 sq km), including two overlapping volcanoes. The beautiful isle has many natural landmarks. At Puerto Egas, a lava shoreline with rock formations hosts a great assortment of wildlife such as marine iguanas and lightfoot crabs. Cousin's Rock is a good dive site.
Galapagos National Park
The Galapagos National Park protects the delicate ecosystems of the archipelago and manages permanent conservation projects. About 97 percent of the entire area of the islands is protected and remain uninhabited. Explore the various terrestrial and marine sites with a certified naturist guide.
Travel to the Galapagos would not be as unforgettable as it is without its amusing creatures. Many of the animals lack any concern over anyone approaching them.
Endemic species living in the archipelago are completely different from their continental cousins. The finches that inspired the development of Darwin's theory of natural selection and the giant tortoises are among the most iconic residents of the islands.
Marine iguanas are the only sea-going lizard in the world. They can be spotted along the shores of many islands in the Galapagos.
The Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin able to live on the tropical equator. These penguins can be spotted on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina.
The Frigatebird is a large seabird. Males swell their bright red throat pouch, or gular, to attract a mate.
Go Snorkeling
The Galapagos Islands are located at the confluence of several ocean currents whose nutrient rich waters are home to magnificent marine life. While snorkeling, get up close to large schools of fish, penguins, sea turtles, and friendly sea lions. Each island has a variety of coral reefs, lagoons, and mangroves to explore. Snorkeling is a popular excursion part of a cruise package and land & sea tour.
Travel Responsibly
Eco-friendly practices are a cornerstone of tourism in the Galapagos. Stay on marked trails, leave shells and rocks in nature, and keep at least 6.5 ft (2 m) between you and birds or other wildlife.
Beach Relaxation
Enjoy the Galapagos at a slower pace. Relax on a white sand beach with turqoise waters crashing ashore. Marine iguanas may very well be there to bask in the sun alongside you!
Hike & Adventure Sports
Trek to the top of Sierra Negra, the most impressive volcano in the Galapagos on Isabela Island, or go horseback riding in the tropical highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Exciting water-based activities include kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and surfing.
If you're in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, definitely visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Spend a few hours learning about the important conservation efforts currently underway in the Galapagos and visiting the animals there. This is where Lonesome George, the last remaining subspecies of giant tortoise on Pinta Island, spent his remaining days. The research station is operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation, an international nonprofit scientific organization.
Plunge into the rich marine habitat of the Galapagos. In addition to sea turtles, brightly colored fish, rays, and various crustaceans, scuba divers have increased chances to see larger underwater residents such as reef sharks! Peak diving season is June, July, and August when the nutrient rich waters of the Humboldt current sweeps through the islands. Experienced divers should consider a cruise that's designated for scuba diving excursions each day. Ask your travel advisor about a land & sea tour package with scuba diving!
Discover More Of Ecuador
After experiencing the wonders of the Galapagos, you can extend you adventures to mainland Ecuador. It is an incredible country abound with rainforest, Andean cultures, beautiful tropical beaches, and colonial history. Ask your travel advisor for more details.
Restaurant Internet Laundry Service Room Service Bar
Galapagos Habitat
Avenida Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Habitat integrates perfectly with the coastal habitat of Santa Cruz Island. Enter the hotel through a pathway immersed by lush mangrove forest and relax on the seafront terrace where sea lions and marine iguanas bask in the sun. Recently remodeled with new interior designs, each room has air conditioning, a mini fridge, and a private bathroom with premium bath products. Fuel the day's adventures with a delicious buffet breakfast and then head out for biking, trekking, or snorkeling tours around the islands. The hotel (perviously Red Mangrove Adventura Lodge) is now managed by Eco Luxury Group.
See all Galapagos Hotels
A cruise is a convenient and all-inclusive way to explore remote regions of the Galapagos Islands. Vessels range from mid-size ships and small yachts to sailboats.
Restaurant Swimming Pool Bar
Galapagos Legend
Cruise ship (100 passenger capacity)
The Galapagos Legend is one of the most spacious ships exploring the archipelago and offers its passengers a superb, value-oriented experience. The Legend boasts five decks with a sun terrace, pool and Jacuzzi, jogging track, spacious lounge area, and an auditorium where informative lectures are presented by naturalist guides. After and between daily excursions, return to the ship to eat a flavorful Ecuadorian and international meal in the elegant restaurant or simply relax in a hammock.
The ship's cabins, 56 in total, are air conditioned and each have an LCD TV and private bathroom. From internal rooms to suites with private balconies and panoramic windows, there are many options. Single, double or triple accommodation is available.
Twin Yachts, Coral I and Coral II
Coral I and Coral II deliver exclusive service and amenities. Recently refurbished, the exterior and internal spaces of each yacht are distributed on three main decks and a fourth top deck offering stunning 360-degree views. On board features include a lounge area, boutique, library, Jacuzzi, dining room and bar. There are also kayaks for use.
Coral I has 18 cabins with a maximum capacity of 36 passengers. Slightly smaller, Coral II has 11 cabins with a maximum capacity of 20 passengers. Choose between Junior rooms with picture windows or Standard/Standard Plus rooms with round port holes to filter in natural light. Each cabin is carpeted, features wood finishings and equipped with air conditioning, an LDC TV, and a private bathroom.
See all Galapagos Cruises
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in a cruise vacation package. Snacks are generally served after excursions. Expect a variety of international and Ecuadorian dishes. Let your travel advisor know in advance if you prefer vegetarian meals.
Galapagos Restaurants
The widest variety of dining options are on Santa Cruz Island (in Puerto Ayora) and San Cristobal Island (in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno). Fresh seafood is the specialty of almost every restaurant menu. But if it's the familiar you crave, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches are also available.
The islands have a subtropical climate with pleasant temperatures throughout the year ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s (22-28°C).
Warm Season
The warm season is from December to June. During these months, there may be some scattered showers, but in general, sunny skies and warm temperatures are the norm.
The cool season is from July to November. During these months, it's typically cloudy and daily temperatures are slightly cooler. A misty-like drizzle, or Garúa, is brought from the cold Humboldt Current.
Cruise Vs. Land-based Tour
Cruises are a convenient and all-inclusive way to explore the archipelago. Many of the national park site are very isolated – such as Darwin and Wolf Islands – and can only be accessed by boat. Cruises often travel between islands at night, so you wake up at a new destination to explore each day. All meals are served on the boat. Choose from mid-size cruise ships, motor yachts, catamarans and sailboats. Itineraries vary.
Land & Sea Tours offer more trip flexibility. Enjoy guided excursions within the national park and then return to your hotel (in a port town) for a good night's sleep. There are hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and even a few night clubs in the most developed towns of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Islands) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal Island).
Peak Season is December to January and June, July, and August.
Wildlife activity varies from month-to-month and island-to-island. Ask your travel advisor what animals you're likely to encounter during your specific travel dates.
Sun seekers enjoy the Galapagos Islands during the warm season from December through June. There are occasional scattered showers druing these months, but in general travelers enjoy a sunny vacation.
When To Book
A good rule of thumb is to book early when planning a trip to the Galapagos. How early? Usually about 1 year in advance. This is particularly true if you want to visit during high season when some cruises book 12 to 18 months in advance.
How To Get To The Galapagos Islands
Nearly all travelers fly to the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador. Even cruise passengers fly there and then board their boat in the archipelago. Two main airports in the Galapagos are on Balta (near Santa Cruz Island) and San Cristobal Island. There is another airport on Isabela Island for inter-island transportation.
We recommend travelers arrive to the airport 3 hours before their flight departure. Airline weight restriction for checked luggage is 44 lbs (20 kgs).
Flight Times:
Quito – Galapagos (layover in Guayaquil) – 3.5 hours
Guayaquil – Galapagos (direct flight) – 1.5 hours
Do you have to pay a fee to enter the Galapagos National Park?
Travelers going to the Galapagos must pay the national park fee. Payment is made in US dollars at the airport in the archipelago. It's $100 for travelers 12 years and older.
What is the Tourist Card?
The tourist card (sometimes called INGALA) is an immigration control measure that enables the government of Ecuador to control immigration to the Galapagos. At the INGALA window in the domestic terminal at the Quito or Guayaquil airports, travelers going to the Galapagos need to pass their luggage through the special control checkpoint to ensure no animals, seeds, or biohazardous material ends up in the Galapagos. The cost per transit card is U$10 each way (or $20 roundtrip) per traveler. Keep you card in a safe place with your passport because you'll need both to get on the plane to the Galapagos and then again at the end of your trip.
Ask your travel advisor if the tourist card fee is included in your tour package or not.
What is a naturalist guide?
To go to most of the visitor sites in the national park, travelers must be with a certified naturalist guide. Guides are included in our Galapagos cruise and land & sea tour packages, speak English, and will definitely enhance your understanding and appreciation of the islands.
What type of money is used in the Galapagos?
Cash is king in the Galapagos. The U.S. dollar is the official currency in the Galapagos, like the rest of Ecuador. In addition to paying the national park fee (U$100 per adult ), cash is also convenient to have – ideally in small notes – to pay for meals and make small store purchases. There are ATMs in Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
What's the best tour option if you get seasick?
Land & sea tours are likely the best way to go if you get really seasick. This way you don't have to worry about any swaying motion of a boat cabin. But you'll still want to bring some seasickness remedies for shorter boat rides to explore marine sites in the national park and between inhabited islands. If you book a cruise, go with a larger, more stable boat to avoid seasickness. Smaller boats, such as yachts and catamarans, feel ocean swells more. Sailboats are the least stable in the water and most unfavorable option for passengers prone to seasickness.
Where can you scuba dive in the Galapagos Islands?
Scuba diving is permitted in the Galapagos at marine sites within the national park. Divers must be certified. Ask your travel advisor for more information about a land & sea package with an emphasis on scuba diving. Scuba diving is not permitted on every cruise. Only certain boats are dedicated to scuba diving.
What should I pack for my trip to the Galapagos?
Clothing & Footwear: shirts and shorts made of lightweight material; waterproof jacket; some long-sleeve tops and pants for cool or windy weather; bathing suits; hat and sunglasses; walking shoes or boots along with strapped sandals (Teva-style).
Essentials: passport, bank cards, US bills (official currency of Ecuador), motion sickness pills (if you get seasick!), personal medications, sunblock and any other toiletries.
Gadgets & Photography: a comfortable daypack for excursions, reusable water bottle, camera (ideally with zoom), binoculars, and (if you like) your own snorkeling or scuba diving equipment.
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Experience nature at its best in the Galapagos. No fences, cages, or zookeepers allowed.
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Weeding the garden
IssueFebruary 2011
03 Feb 2011 Comment by Jeff Cloves
The most memorable film I saw in 2010 – at the cinema or on TV – was Julien Temple's visionary TV documentary Requiem for Detroit.
The most memorable book I read was Richard Mabey's Weeds. The two are linked. Both produced a surge of hope within me which ran contra to a generalised feeling of despair against which I was battling. Still am. Both works are concerned with – to put it crudely – the survival of the natural world in the teeth of our man-made conspiracy to destroy it. Both sent me back into my own memory bank.
I can remember visits to London in the late 40s and seeing empty bomb sites wherever mum and dad took me. What struck me, however, was not to do with destruction but reclamation. Everywhere I looked, the sites were overrun by exuberant greenery and feral flowers. They looked rather like the familiar suburban undeveloped "dump" which was my playground in the semi-detached estate where we lived on the divide between London and South Hertfordshire.
I was an uninquisitive child and never thought to ask the identity of the plants which had so completely masked the ruins of the blitz. Maybe I didn't even know then that they were weeds – plants in the wrong place. Three or four years later – having passed the eleven-plus – I saw the first of the celebrated Ealing Comedies at the school film club and things began to fall into place.
Hue and Cry (Dir. Charles Crichton 1947) is an adventure story about a group of 12-13 year-old children whose London playgrounds are its bombsites. It immediately transported me back to my first glimpse of London's wounds being treated with a kind of green first aid; living compresses and bandages just getting on with it without rescue parties and stretcher bearers. When I worked near St Paul's in the early 60s there were still vacant overgrown sites close-by and it was not hemmed in by the Financial Times building and its like.
In the late 1960s I moved to the cathedral city of St Albans and revelled not only in its ancient buildings and alleys but also in its undeveloped sites close to its centre. These too had become playgrounds and natural open spaces where dogs were walked, refuse was thrown, lovers trysted, cider-drinkers blissed out and slept, and developers endlessly circled awaiting their market moment. Their moment eventually came and the various strains of convolvulus and rosebay willowherb (fireweed) gave way to hard-edged office blocks and unwanted shopping malls.
There's a scene in Iris Murdoch's first novel Under the Net in which (I write from memory) a group of three friends buy some wine at an offo, clamber into a jungled bomb site in the shadow of St Paul's, discuss the Meaning of Life until dawn and decamp for a café breakfast. A marvellous piece of writing and an implied celebration of anarchic destruction and consequent growth.
Around 1971 I saw a band at Wembley called MC Five. MC stood for the motor city, Detroit, and the band was politically inflammatory and proto-punk. I guess – if they were all still alive – its members might be dancing on the ruins of Detroit which has physically collapsed in tune with the collapse of the American motor industry. Julien Temple's film shows the most toxic of Detroit's car plants succumbing to invasive plant-life which has embraced its art deco grandeur with something akin to vegetational pizazz.
Richard Mabey's brilliantly explored chapter, 'Triffid', notes that:
There's been no horrified backlash against this invasion, no attempt to scapegoat nature for what is at root, the result of economic and political stupidity. Instead, the weeds are being read as a parable, a lesson that a monolithic, oil-based urban culture is unsustainable in the twenty-first century, and that there might be other, more ecologically gentle ways of living in cities. Families too poor to buy fresh food are starting neighbourhood organic farms on the sites of demolished local blocks. Young people from all over America – musicians, green activists, social pioneers, are flooding into the abandoned areas, keen to experiment with new patterns of urban living which accept nature – including its weedy frontiersmen – rather than attempting to drive it out.
As Julien Temple himself says:
Amid the ruins of the Motor City it is possible to find a first pioneer's map of the post-industrial future that awaits us all.
Let's hope.
Topics: Culture
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Home Discussion Stuff
The Official F1 2016 Thread - Shocking announcement page 58
Fed up talking videogames? Why?
Death's Head
PostRe: The Official F1 2016 Thread - Brazil Nov 13th
by Death's Head » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:06 am
Ad7 wrote: If Nico had a problem with it and Lewis was so slow, he should have overtaken him, but in keeping with tradition, he's not competed a single overtake on lewis so why start now eh?
He should have just tried and just taken both of them out.
by Poser » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:09 am
Totally disagree. You could define the whole of F1 as an unnecessary dangerous situation. Nothing Lewis did was in any way as dangerous as the decision to continue racing in Brazil in those conditions, but both led to an improved spectacle.
captain red dog
by captain red dog » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:24 am
Nothing wrong at all with what Lewis did. It was a no brainer to try and back him into the pack. It's just strategy, other teams do it all the time to try and get one car ahead of another, it's just it happens in the midfield and you don't see it.
Still, bit of a joke with Rosberg as champion. He wasn't as good as Mark Webber was on my view and is now ranked alongside Raikkonen. I don't recall a season where a driver has been so utterly out performed by his team mate but won purely on reliability issues. Mercedes can't talk about repercussions for Hamilton as it was entirely their fault (or perhaps design) that he found himself in that situation.
by bear » Mon Nov 28, 2016 4:51 pm
captain red dog wrote: Still, bit of a joke with Rosberg as champion. He wasn't as good as Mark Webber was on my view and is now ranked alongside Raikkonen. I don't recall a season where a driver has been so utterly out performed by his team mate but won purely on reliability issues. Mercedes can't talk about repercussions for Hamilton as it was entirely their fault (or perhaps design) that he found himself in that situation.
Rosberg ultimately ended up as champion because he has shown a mental toughness over the last 14 months that I think most of us (And I'm saying that as someone who has been more pro-Rosberg than most in here) didn't believe he had. He's made the most of his chances this season and did what he need to over the last few races to secure the championship even if it made for some outright boring races. We've seen plenty of drivers accept being the number two driver in a dominant team and it looked like Rosberg was falling into that role last year but he has battled back brilliantly this year against a driver most people accept is superior and earned the title. All this bullshit and sourness about him being an unworthy champion is pathetic.
Victor Mildew
PostRe: The Official F1 2016 Thread - It's finally done!
by Victor Mildew » Mon Nov 28, 2016 4:58 pm
Still hasn't overtaken Hamilton once.
Hexx wrote: Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
by Pancake » Mon Nov 28, 2016 5:01 pm
I agree. There is no such thing as an unworthy champion.
I think a lot of people don't rate Rosberg and therefore think this championship must have been a fluke but F1 is littered with similar drivers, I remember a lot of people said the same about Button.
Not every champion can go down in history as a legend of the sport. Button and Rosberg are unlikely to ever be remembered in the same bracket as Hamilton, Vettel, or Alonso, but they were given the opportunity to win a championship and they got it done!
by Death's Head » Mon Nov 28, 2016 5:52 pm
Pancake wrote: I agree. There is no such thing as an unworthy champion.
Yes. I would say that Rosberg's title is no worse than Button's (best car, just racing your team mate), Hill's (best car, just racing your team mate), Villeneuve (best car, racing no one), Raikkonen (McLaren couldn't get behind one driver so gave it away), Hamilton in 2008 (cheating from Renault took away Massa's win in Singapore which would have given him the championship). Those are just off the top of my head.
Return_of_the_STAR
Location: Northampton
by Return_of_the_STAR » Mon Nov 28, 2016 5:52 pm
Jackie Stewart the former team boss and not the former world champion talking here
http://talksport.com/motorsport/listen- ... -race-2016
What a load of bollocks, the first few minutes show Jackie up to be a complete moron. If you listened to this you would never have thought that Jackie was ever a driver. Keeps saying you must be a team player, you must get the one two for the team, that's what matters. He called for Lewis to get a penalty by Mercedes. I'm glad most other drivers I've heard so far have backed Lewis.
He even praises verstappen daring driving style but calls Hamilton dangerous
TigaSefi
Contact TigaSefi
by TigaSefi » Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:48 pm
Hamilton was correct. Rosberg won by beingv unspectacular
1 > 2 > 3 >>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 5
by captain red dog » Mon Nov 28, 2016 8:50 pm
Bear, I honestly believe Mercedes wanted Rosberg to win either consciously or unconsciously. Switching their engineering teams about during the off season seems highly suspicious in hindsight. The lure of having a German champion in a German team in the final year they could guarantee it seems quite enticing to me. Plus this is F1 with a history of shady goings on.
I'm probably more disappointed though that the season was so poor. I mean Hamilton and Rosberg felt like they only actually battled on track a couple of times. Viewing figures are down again apparently and the German GP is being cut. It's a worrying time.
AKA: ミドリ
by K » Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:13 am
No foul play though, Nico just got lucky.
AKA: Maurice Merleau-Ponty
by JV » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:27 pm
Just read on Twitter that Rosberg is retiring from F1 with immediate effect......
Roonmastor
by Roonmastor » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:33 pm
Give the seat to Jenson
PostRe: RE: Re: The Official F1 2016 Thread - It's finally done!
by Death's Head » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:38 pm
JV wrote: Just read on Twitter that Rosberg is retiring from F1 with immediate effect......
Just heard this on the news. WTF?
Mini E
AKA: Vampbuster
by Mini E » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:39 pm
The strawberry float?!
Maybe Lewis should bugger off from Merc as well and leave them in the lurch.
by still » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:43 pm
Advent7 wrote: Still hasn't overtaken Hamilton once.
But I only have a Seat.
by BOR » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:44 pm
What a surprise!
"The job is done, and the bitch is dead."
Harry Ola
by Harry Ola » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:44 pm
Blimey!
I think we can guarantee Toto won't feel the need to discipline Lewis after all.
PostRe: The Official F1 2016 Thread - Shocking announcement page 58
by captain red dog » Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:47 pm
What the strawberry float!
There has to be more to this and I can't believe he would retire so suddenly at that age. I wonder if Merc have someone else lined up and needed to secure them immediately.
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Knocknarae, Or Thoughts on Time and the Irish Sisyphus (A Hitchhiker's Guide)
Posted byAidan Ryan March 20, 2015 Posted inBlog, TravelsTags:Albert Camus, hill climbing, hitchhiking, Ireland, Ireland travel, Ireland west coast, Knocknarae, Myth of Sisyphus, Sligo, Strandhill, travel, travel essay
Knocknarae as seen from Sligo.
"UP THE MOUNTAIN ye were?" the woman said to me. I tried to look at her from the passenger seat, though my glasses were bedazzled with raindrops.
"Picked a day for it, too," I said, and she laughed, and clicked her tongue. She was in her mid-seventies, wearing a corded cream wool sweater and speaking to me in that rough thicket of an Irish country accent that I encountered anytime I left the main towns and met a sexa- or septuagenarian. "My name is Aidan Ryan, by the way," I said – appropriate, it seemed, now that I'd been soaking her upholstery for a few minutes. "Oh, not many Ryans here," she said. And that was all I got out of her. I never learned my driver's name.
The woman had picked me up about two and a half kilometers from Sligo Town. I had been walking the easy downhill road from Knocknarae for about three kilometers already, through intermittent mist under a white sky, and though my thumb wasn't out in the universal hitcher's gesture my smooth-soled shoes were waterlogged, my sky-blue shirt had been soaked into a royal indigo, and the camera around my neck labeled me a tourist, which in Ireland is inevitably seen as something of an innocent fool to be pitied and taken in for at least two cups of tea and a bit of advice. She pulled up to me beside some farmer's field, and I stepped out of the road for her, into thorny bushes. She didn't roll down the window or look at me; she just jerked her thumb into the empty passenger seat. I got in. And as we pulled into the busier traffic of the city, I remembered all the times that people of my parents' generation and older had told stories about catching rides across the U.S. or Europe. "Back then you could get away with it," they always told me, following this with a world-wise warning that if I dared to thumb a ride I'd be chopped up with farm implements, generally large ones like axes, honed hoes, scythes, or portable roto-tillers. I figured then, safe in that woman's car, that there was a fair chance I'd tell the same things to my children, in some gauzy future dreading whilst anticipating that they'd someday give the opposable finger to caution (preferably in Ireland). She let me out at the corner of Wine Street and O'Connell, and in the bustle of a city switching into a higher gear for the Fleadh Cheoil, Ireland's traditional music festival which was set to begin, then, in a week, the disassociation hit me: I was at once ripped out of and rooted to the spot. Somehow, I knew without comprehending, I was not still standing on the wind-swept top of Knocknarae.
IN SLIGO, Ireland, to study W.B. Yeats, I decided to take my only free Saturday to climb Knocknarae, one of the two smooth limestone sides of the town's weather-catching bowl, the other being Ben Bulben, both eulogized at one time or another by the town's (and the island's) most famous poet. Cnoc na Riabh, translated as "hill of the stripes" (sometimes "hill of the kings," or even "hill of the executions"), is a "large hill," or a Marilyn (a name for the little siblings of Scottish Monroes), although I'd prefer to say of it what Robert Louis Stevenson said about Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh: it is "a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design" – (or at least from some angles). Knocknarae, with its regal stony name, is itself a brutalist megalith of limestone that looms over the seaside surf-town of Strandhill and separates Sligo and Ballysadare bays. I admit the climb is not heroic – one doesn't need ropes and carabineers or even, as I found out, good shoes – but many have attempted the height and failed, and turned back, and grabbed a pint at some warm public house on the lower slopes. In some places Knocknarae rises at gray dramatic right angles, sweeping upward, while painted sheep wander almost to the top.
I had only one day for Knocknarae, and it was the worst day. County Sligo is not known for its gorgeous weather – in fact, the mythical "fourth season" of summer comes in its full splendor so rarely that the residents still recall, and often speak of, the last Blessèd Year, 1995, that they had enough sun to do without Vitamin D pills – but on the day I rode the 472 bus from Sligo to Strandhill, the second of August, the rain seemed to come from all sides; it spat and howled and bit at every hem and button. Advised that the skies would clear (and fortified by an Irish "fry-up," a deadly breakfast of ham, egg, tomato, sausage, potato, black and white pudding, and toast … and a Guinness) I ventured out in a blue cotton oxford and leather dress boots.
But seaside Strandhill was worse than Sligo, whipped as it was by Atlantic tides, great sea-horses baring their teeth and laughing, it seemed, at me. I was casting about for any open door, any shelter, preferably one with an iron stove and warm crowded wooden booths, but in the ocean about two dozen surfers in wetsuits battled the gray waves, paddling out again and again in a bay deemed too dangerous for swimming. I gave them a silent salute and went into The Strand Pub for a pint, hoping the rain would let up. It seemed that it had about an hour later, and after getting some scanty directions from a waitress ("Go up the road into town" – Town? I hadn't noticed a town – "And turn left, and you'll see a carpark"), I went out again into a lighter rain.
A hundred meters from the door of the pub, and fifty from the Strandhill bus stop, without thunder or lightning, without any warning sound, the clouds opened new unseen sluices and let down an even harder rain. Under a canopy of leaves, a glorified flower bush coaxed by some unsuspecting coast dweller into a shelter for travelers like me, I waited and weighed my options. I could see the mountain, but I did not know how far away it was, nor where to find the marked path. The changing weather was an even greater gamble. But the bus stop was now fifty meters away or more, and that, too, would be a trip through the rain. That walk of defeat might be longer than the walk up the rain-battered limestone slopes. I set out again.
I could not descry any "town" between The Strand Pub and the foot of the hill.
I'd gone about four kilometers, still in hissing drizzle, before I became a traffic impediment. There were no shoulders, and as I walked the left side of the curving road I listened for cars behind, and when I judged they were close enough I'd jump up into the gorse and nettles to let them zoom past. I hadn't even thought to stick out a thumb when one woman slid to a stop and asked me, leaning over her father, if I was headed to Knocknarae.
"Typical Irish pessimism, you know," she said when I mentioned all the people who had tried to dissuade me from the climb – on any day – while I'd been in Sligo. "It'll be slippery, though, so watch yourself," she said. She pulled into a near-empty carpark, and turned to me. "Heading back into Sligo town? You'll want to go left at the turn down there. Try to hitch back in."
"Not to the bus?"
"It'll be longer back to Strandhill, and then to wait on a bus. S'more direct to Sligo, and it's a busy road. Somebody'll pick you up – and if not, it's only six kilometers."
And thus in an afternoon hitchhiking went from a romantic anachronism to the beginnings of a habit. Across from me, a lady sat in a shack selling hot chocolate and coffee to climbers. Beyond her, what looked like an easy hill stretched up through pastures of sheep. The rain felt like it might be letting up.
The hill looks its best in those few minutes between rainstorms, sunny and wet at the same time.
THE RAIN was not letting up, and it was not long before I realized the importance of proper footwear. This was not the day's first sartorial epiphany: the former had come about five minutes after leaving my house on Old Cartron Hill in Sligo Town, sans jacket. The month is August, I thought; August means summer. This was naïve. As soon as I hit the bay, the wind blew slantwise doubts through my entire day's plan.
Stubbornness, bafflement, and Irish pity got me to Knocknarae's foot, but couldn't give my smooth soles more traction on the hill. Most of the going was easy enough – the incline was gradual, and softer parts were covered in a bed of rocks for grip. But there was a rainstorm, and the pebbles – really rocks the sizes of babies' balled fists – slipped and slid under me, rattling back down the path. The solid parts were made of limestone steps smoothed by millennia of climbers and eons of Irish weather. These rock knuckles were the toughest to navigate, and there were no handholds save the barbed wire strung from perilous loose fence posts to my left. I climbed on, while I stared down – not the hill's peak, in front of me, but the descent, below and beyond me in time and space. Typically, for me, I looked to the future not to plan for it, not to worry about it, not even to ignore it, but in a fascinated half-unbelief that I would actually be a participant. I high-stepped and scrabbled and clutched at the bramble bushes and slipped once or twice, and I thought: Well, this will get harder. I looked up, and saw that what earlier had been a clear straight five degree path had turned into a blank hillface with knobby black teeth biting out of it, row after broken rainwet row. I blinked the water from my eyes.
THE SIGN said six kilometers to Sligo, so I started walking north, one hand warming around a fresh cuppa from the shack at the foot of the trail. The air was light and full with oxygen, and I whistled odd Irish tunes that came to my head – the rain, a fine blowing mist now, was like holy water fallen from an aspergil shaken on an unseen peak even higher than my Knocknarae (my Knocknarae now), the white clouds great billows from some Druidic-Catholic thurible in the skies. I blinked, and I was back on the hill's bare head, seeing in three hundred and sixty degrees the Atlantic, the twin bays, the surfers at Strandhill, the sheep of the hillocks, and the fog all over the land. I blinked again, and I was back on my downsloping road. I found I could do this as many times as I liked; I was a split self; I was exultant.
The views from atop Knocknarae are diverse and each impressive in its own way. Above, the valley catches fog rolling in off the Atlantic.
I came unprepared for Knocknarae in ways other than dress, for I didn't know what sat at the top. When I crested one of the soft upper ridges, even the sheep below me then, I saw a massive pile of stones, like a crude crown on the mountain. I knew it was one of the famous cairns of the British Isles – but I hadn't known I'd find one there. As I got closer I saw that though the top was smooth this was broken by a further peak – a small thrusting upward, in the rough shape of a man. I was still too far to tell – but I wondered if it might be some Celtic yogi in contemplation on the highest height of the storm battered rock.
Locals were shocked and amused to hear that I climbed Knocknarae not knowing what I'd find at the top. Maeve's Cairn appeared over the lip of a ridge as if pushed up out of the ground as I walked toward the top.
Finally I reached it – some forty feet high, one hundred and eighty feet in diameter, a great rubble tumulus of stones head-size and bigger. A simple sign warned off climbers and vandals. I learned later that this was Maeve's Cairn, the tomb of the mythical Méabh, lover of kings and Queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish lore. Though Queen Maeve was allegedly killed with a piece of cheese sent with a particularly deft sling, her burial site could not be nobler: she is entombed in the cairn atop Knocknarae, according to lore, standing upright, so as to face her enemies in Ulster, in the north.
So I sat on a rock at the edge of the cairn and looked out on all the land and sea until both land and sea disappeared in gray oblivion. The boundary line dividing flesh from spirit, living from dead, fact from intuition, thins to a tensile permeability in Ireland. We cross these divisions without even knowing, as easily as stepping over the low stone walls that box and divide even the most barren and desolate of the country's hills – the centuries-old walls that ran near-vertically up Knocknarae, penning in the painted sheep. The cairn was one such boundary. I was sitting on it. A giant's handful of pebbles separated me from a semi-divine queen. The same rain that touched me found its way to her. A few feet away from me a couple also sat on the cairn, smoking. I jotted down one or two thoughts in a leather-bound notebook. The rain sent the ink blooming and swirling down the page.
Sometimes in melancholy wet cafes I am given – as perhaps you are, too – to indulging those sober notions that by the busy industry of our lives we hope to keep at bay. I try to find some scales in which my wishes and my choices come out even; I think of the people that I've lost, and even more on the people I've as good as lost; I doubt the totality of the human endeavor. In such cafes, in such sober calculations, one wishes for Frost's yellow wood, where paths at least diverge, where at least one has a choice, if a blind choice; instead there is the American superhighway dotted with rest stops, offering a choice of Dunkin' Donuts, Chronic Tacos, Bojangles' Famous Chicken n' Biscuits, and a clean-enough bathroom, only leading back out to the Interstate, heading in one direction – wrong or right direction having no meaning when there isn't a choice.
And then there are other times when I find myself on top of mountains resting my tired glutes on a crude rock tomb from a time before history. The human race is equally blessed and cursed, I think, by a layered, rather than a linear, experience of time. "There is no was, only is," William Faulkner wrote. "If was existed there would be no grief or sorrow." But at the same time, because of is, I will always be in some melancholy wet café; and I will always be on Knocknarae.
Only looking over my pictures later that afternoon could I be sure that the figure on top was a sort of jaunty top hat made of rocks, and not a Druidic yogi.
At first blush the cairn doesn't compare well with other wonders of the ancient world. The pyramids impress for their engineering and design, so much that some of us are not convinced of human origin. No one, on climbing Knocknarae to find Maeve's Cairn – whether they knew anything about it or, like me, were taken by surprise – would wonder how or why it was accomplished. Perhaps this is why Albert Camus chose Sisyphus as his prototypical thwarted man: because there may be nothing more essentially human than the desire to carry rocks up to high places and pile them there. I thought of his essay then, at the top, and put a twist of my own on the Greek myth, a tale as old as the tumulus I sat on.
I imagined every climber – booted or barefoot, pagan or Christian, very young or very old – carrying a rock to the top of Knocknarae. We use Sisyphus as a handy symbol of futility, because on reaching his hill's summit, his rock will always roll back down. But would his endeavor be any more meaningful if he were successful, if he left his rock on top of that hill in Hades? I think Camus would say otherwise. "The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart," he writes. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy." I imagine Sisyphus happy, and I imagine him walking back down that hill to fetch another rock; every trip down he walks lighter, every trip back up heavier still. And though his labors will never cease, will never mean anything, he'd have built something like the mute pile of rocks atop Ben Bulben's southern cousin. We Knocknarae climbers are a string of Sisyphuses. (And in fact, as a local in Thomas Connolly's pub later informed me, tradition holds that every climber ought to carry up some rock of their own, to make the pile bigger.)
So I turned to walk down – a bit lighter on my feet, head clear, empty, gray, rain-whipped. And, like Sisyphus, I knew some day I'd be back to visit Maeve's Cairn, carrying some other rock.
As I turned from the cairn and walked the first easy downslope of the summit red neon flashed past. It was a runner, and I saw him skid in the wet grass and gravel at the edge of a small cliff, a limestone lip. He stopped on his toes, swaying there, and scanned the descent, from Sligo bay in the east to the wide whitecapped Atlantic in the west, the rough slope below. And then he was off, almost falling, in a mad katabatic flight down the hill. (I opened my bag to take a drop of the golden dew, I admit – prophylaxis against the common cold. Still the rain beat sideways, gusting.) I paused on the lip he'd just left, another boundary, this time dividing journey from journey, feeling from memory, thought from poetry. Easy to cross, as easy as falling. And I followed him down, feeling "cold and passionate as the dawn."
Published by Aidan Ryan
I'm a writer, publisher, editor, and branding professional based in Buffalo, New York. I'm a founding partner and managing editor of Foundlings Press. I've written for the Buffalo News, Buffalo Spree, and other newspapers and magazines, including CNN and The Skinny in the UK, mostly about food, drink, travel, and strange people in strange places. I've also published fiction and poetry in journals like Slipstream and Traffic East, and interviews and essays in The White Review, Rain Taxi, and elsewhere.	View more posts
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67 thoughts on "Knocknarae, Or Thoughts on Time and the Irish Sisyphus (A Hitchhiker's Guide)"
Shraddha Shukla says:
Reblogged this on punkzebrayo.
giddyindigo says:
I miss home 😦 but thanks for reminding me its still there in all it's foggy damp glory.
amanpan says:
Beautiful and well written. Loved the flow of your writing.
duplicatorbooks says:
Seconded 🙂
La fabrica del te says:
Reblogged this on La Fabrica del Tè.
La Muireann says:
What a beautiful piece. You've really captured the essence of the people and the county of Sligo! It's a gorgeous, natural, almost unspoilt part of Ireland.
nessabinho says:
Reblogged this on BINHONESSA.
suneetamrute says:
http://tinyurl.com/suneetapps http://suneetamrute.com
thepharmersjournal says:
Amazing piece of writing! I'm from the West of Ireland and LOVED hearing your descriptive way with words. Hope you enjoyed your trip!
kimberlysmyth says:
What a fantastic story teller you are and I enjoyed the photos as well!
James Blennerhassett says:
All true, I grew up at the foot of Knocknarea. Wet,Wild,Windy!
tanytoon3 says:
I love your narrative. Well done!
Green Dragon Artist says:
Reblogged this on Green Dragon's Cave, Author and Artist.
indianonthestreet says:
Interesting post! You write really well. I almost felt like I was there too;)
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