Thursday 13 - Wonderful Places I've Seen - Septtember 26, 2013

I haven't participated in this meme before but it seems like fun.  Each Thursday,
you pick a theme and list thirteen things about it.  I can do that, I'm sure!

My very first time to participate, I thought I'd write about thirteen wonderful
places I've seen - though I don't have photos with me, here in India, to depict
all of them.

1.     The Taj Mahal in Agra, India - the Unesco World Heritage site which was
         built by Shah Jahan, for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving 
         birth to their 14th child

from Bing Images, domain free

The Taj Mahal

An architectural treasure,
A tribute to true love,
It almost seems to glow,
From a full moon above.

Made of pure white marble,
Mumtaz Mahal lies here,
With Emperor Shah Jahan,
Resting very near.

Such overwhelming beauty,
Reflected in its pool.
Its minarets standing guard,
Over India's treasured jewel.

Built on the River Yumana,
The Taj is an exquisite sight,
Symbolic of love for centuries,
Inspiring poets to write.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2008 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved.  . 

2.     The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok,

        Thailand.- he is 15 m high and 47 m long

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Bangkok, Thailand

What is that you contemplate
As the crowds go passing through?
You lie in gilded splendor,
With nothing else to do.

Is there meaning to your dreamy face.
Could it be nirvana near?
Can you hear the faithful praying,
As they bow before you here?

Though you lie alone, Wat Pho is filled,
With Buddhas large and small,
A thousand other figures here,
So you are not alone at all.

Your surroundings are exotic,
Chedi graceful and serene,
A vast temple of great beauty,
A never forgotten scene.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright ©  1997 

3.     Iguazu Falls - on the border of Argentina and Brazil, was named as one

        of the winners of "The New Seven Wonders of Nature" - rent "The 

        Mission" with Robert de Niro which shows the splendor of the falls

from Bing Images, domain free

4.     Mysore Palace in Mysore in southern India - the official residence of the 

        Wodeyars who ruled Mysore for over seven centuries

5.  The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa, Italy is a freestanding bell tower that

      began to lean during construction.  The ground was too soft on one side

      to support the tower's weight.

6.     The Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, in Kyoto, Japan is officially named

         Rokuon.  It is a Zen Buddhist temple built in the midst of classical

         gardens with a reflecting pond.  It is part of a World Heritage site.

7.     The Sydney Opera House, in Sydney, Australia is also a World Heritage

         site looking out at Sydney Harbor.  It is a multiple venue site and is one 

         of the world's most famous performing arts centers.

from Bing Images, domain free

8.     Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada, located at

        Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, near Victoria.  It receives over a

        millions visitors a year.

from Bing Images, domain free

9.     The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California is one of the most

         internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco.  The American 

         Society of Civil Engineers named it one of the Wonders of the Modern

         World.  I crossed this bridge, as a visitor from New Orleans when I was

         eighteen.  I'll never forget the thrill I felt - because I feel it every single 

         time I travel over it - and I have hundreds of times in the 35 + years 

         I've lived in the San Francisco area.

10.   Senso-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, located in the Asakusa

         area.  Next to it is a Shinto shrine.

11.    The Byodo-In Buddhist Temple on the island of Oahu in Hawaii is 

          a replica of a 900-year-old temple near Kyoto, Japan.  It is set in

          beautiful gardens, with the Ko'olau Mountains behind.  It has a

          9 foot Buddha and a three ton brass peace bell.  I see it every

          time I am on Oahu since it is in Kaneohe, about fifteen miles from

          Honolulu.

from Bing Images, domain free

12.    La Boquerria - (  Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria )  located on 

          La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain is my favorite of many markets I've

          visited about the world.  The produce and vegetables are so 

          artistically arranged and there are wonderful spots inside to have a

          quick meal of Padron peppers or calamari, or to sip a glass of

          Spanish wine.

13.    The Acropolis of Athens, Greece is an ancient citadel that looks out

          over the city, reminding all of its importance to history and the world.

I have been blessed to travel about much of the world so I could easily do

another post about thirteen wonderful places!!!

I am participating, for the first time in 

Thursday 13

Check it out and jointhe fun!

  

, 

Mellow Yellow Monday #137 - Individual Paella in Barcelona - September 5, 2011

Rarely a day passes that I don't think of my two favorite places -
Barcelona and India.  Today, for some reason, since breakfast, I've been
remembering my paella feasts in Barcelona!

I'm participating in Mellow Yellow #137 -

check out the site and add your yellow photo to join in the fun!!

Ruby Tuesday - How About Strawberry Shortcake? - August 2, 2011

Though Tuesday is now almost over here on the Pacific West Coast, I

thought I'd post a picture from my Barcelona files - this beautiful display

of strawberries at La Boqueria!

I'm taking part in Ruby Tuesday - check out the site and join in the fun!





Mellow Yellow Monday #132 - Barcelona Seafood from Medulio - August 1, 2011

After posting about Bacelona yesterday, I've been thinking about that great
city all day.  On my first visit there, I chanced upon a wonderful restaurant
called Medulio.  My friend, Patty, had flown out that morning but I was in
town a couple more days and it was recommended to me by my hotel.  I
went over by myself and had an incredible meal of grilled vegetables and
grilled seafood.  The owner, Jose Luis Lopez Fraga, was so kind to me and
we became friends over the years.  I never missed eating at Medulio when
I was in Barcelona - I usually emailed Jose when I was going to be in town
and I sent friends to dine there when they were headed to Barcelona. 
Sadly, when I was there for my 65th birthday, Jose did not respond to my
email and, when I tried to call the restaurant, there was no answer.  I
finally took a taxi over and found it boarded up.  I was really concerned
and was so happy when I finally got an email from him, saying he was
no longer in Barcelona, having lost his lease after 25 years.  Now we stay
in touch on Facebook!!

The yellow lemons make this qualify for my "Mellow Yellow" post!  I can

not even begin to describe how wonderful this seafood dish was.  I ate this

every time I dined at Medulio.  Besides this, we also had a couple of

appetizers and a wonderful grilled vegetable plate.

This is all that remained after the four of us were done!  Just looking at it

has me salivating!

This is my dear friend, Sherry, with whom I've traveled many places in the

world ( England, Switzerland, Japan, Hawaii, and many places in the U. S. ),

Jose Luis, Medulio owner, and his great chef.

This is Steve and Jenny Clark.  They live in England but flew over to

spend the weekend with Sherry and me in Barcelona.  I met them in 1997

on a cruise in southeast Asia.  They were tablemates for the 12 day cruise

and we have now been friends for fourteen years.  I've been to their home

in England on several occasions, they have been to California twice and

this was the second time they met me in Barcelona.  I have been so

blessed in meeting friends in my travels who have been with me the rest

of my life! 

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday #132 -

check out the site and add your photo to join in the fun!









Two for Tuesday - Metal and Glass - March 8, 2011

This is my first time to participate in this meme which is a venue to give amateur
photographers a place to display and share their photography.  Perhaps some of
you might like to participate.  Each week, a double theme will be posted.
 The themes will be opposites or antonyms. There will be a couple of options when
it comes to posting photos:


You may post a single photo that captures both themes.

You may post a single photo that captures one of the themes.

You may post two photos capturing one theme in each photo.

For more information, check out the rules at Two for Tuesday and join in the fun!

This interesting building in Barcelona, Spain has many glass windows and metal pointed
spikes atop its gables.  I thought it was quite beautiful.
 



Camera Critters - Pets of English Friends - October 2, 2010

Camera Critters - Pets of English Friends - October 2, 2010

These are photos, taken six years ago, during a visit to my dear friends, Steve and

Jenny Clark, who have a wonderful 15th century farm house in Rye.  We met when we

were tablemates on a southeast Asian cruise in 1997 and those twelve days just flew

by.  Over the past thirteen years, they've been to San Francisco twice, I've been to

England at least four times and we've met up twice in Barcelona.  They've always had

Great Danes and an assortment of other "critters".  I just came across these pictures

and thought they'd be perfect for today's blog.

Oh, yes, to answer today's Camera Critter question, I just celebrated my first blog

anniversary in September!!

I am  participating in Camera Critters - join in the fun!

The Lure of Cities

There are those who relish adventure travel that takes them to the wilds of the Amazon or battling altitude sickness to scale the highest mountain peaks. Others journey to remote Borneo or marvel at icy Antarctica. In my youth, perhaps, this type of travel appealed more to me but, in my "mature" years, I find myself seeking out the world's great cities. I am slowly getting to see a few of them.

Sydney ( Australia ) - some Sydney facts:

This spectacular multicultural city is the capital of New South Wales and was the first European settlement in Australia.


The famed Sydney Opera House is a landmark known to many cruise passengers. Its Opera Australia ranks as the 3rd busiest opera company in the world!


There are more than seventy beaches in this area so popular with young and old alike.


Sydney has a temperate climate.

It is the home of many cultural events of various ethnicities, the Sydney Film Festival, and Australian Fashion Week.


The city thrives with entertainment venues, excellent restaurants, parks, and outdoor activities.


Rugby is the most popular sport in Sydney.


The University of Sydney is Australia's oldest university and the city houses five other public universities.

Looking toward Sydney & the Circular Quay from the Sydney Opera House

photo credit http://freelargephotos.com/

The Sydney Opera House

photo credit http://freelargephotos.com

Waterways near Sydney, Australia

photo credit http://freelargephotos.com/

The Old and The New - old buildings near the Sydney Tow
photo credit http://freelargephotos.com

The Sydney Harbor Bridge

photo credit http://freelargephotos.com/

A Beautiful Moreton Bay Fig in a Sydney Park

photo credit http://freelargephotos.com

."Tokyo ( Japan )- some Tokyo facts:

One of the largest cities in the world, this is the de facto capital of Japan and is home to the Japanese Imperial Family and is the seat of the Japanese government

Tokyo grew from the small fishing village of Edo.

Tokyo prefecture is made up of twenty-three special wards, twenty-six cities which are part of western Tokyo and numerous outlying island. There are also four national parks within Tokyo.

Tokyo ranks as one of the top three financial centers in the world and its urban railway network leads the world. Tokyo trains are clean as well as efficient.

Festivals of every kind are celebrated in Tokyo, from the world famous cherry blossom events at various parks to the Sanja Festival in May. This three day event held at Asakusa Shrine draws nearly two million people, with parades of portable shrines, each carrying a deity, and drinking, dancing onlookers.

Tokyo hosts ancient and modern performing arts such as noh, a classical musical drama, beginning in the 14th century to kabuki, with its elaborate makeup, beginning in the 1600's to the symphony, rock and roll venues and other forms of entertainment.

Its restaurants are superb. In fact, it topped Paris two to one in Michelin stars in their 2007 restaurant guide, a fact I feel certain the French had difficulty living down!

Of course, we are all familiar with Japanese sumo wrestlers but Tokyo also has two baseball teams and has venues that host international sporting events of every kind - including the Olympics.

A trip to Tokyo isn't complete without a 5:30AM visit to Tsukiji Fish Market, the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. It is an area of frenzied activity, with hundreds of thousands of pounds of fish being bought and sold. After watching the action, you can stop at one of the little shops or restaurants on the periphery for a breakfast of sashimi and sake before heading home for a little sleep.

Sensoji Temple and Pagoda at Asakusa, Tokyo

Tokyo Fire Hydrant

High Tech Tokyo Toilet

Early morning at Tsukiji Fish Market

Awa Odori Dance Festival

photo credit benoist sebire@www.benoa.net

Tokyo City View From The Mori Tower

photo credit benoist sebire@www.benoa.net

Christmas Time in Shinjuku

photo credit benoist sebire@www.benoa.net

Stockholm ( Sweden ) - some Stockholm facts:

Stockholm is a beautiful city, situated on fourteen islands where the Baltic Sea and Lake Maarlen and the Baltic Sea meet.


It is Sweden's largest city, its capital, the seat of Parliament, and the home of the monarchy. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the king of Sweden and his wife, Silvia, is queen.


Because of its location in the far north, Stockholm experiences only about six hours of daylight at the winter solstice, increasing to eighteen hours of daylight by the summer solstice. Summer is a wonderful time to visit as temperatures remain mild. Winter temperatures drop into the 20's.


Because of its lack of industry and factories, Stockholm remains a clean city. It is a financial center with a number of high technology companies. Stockholm is also a multicultural area with three UNESCO world heritage sites: the Royal Palace Drottningholm,which is the private residence of the Swedish Royal family, Birka and Hovgrden, part of the Viking trading network, and the Skogskyrkogrden (The Woodland Cemetery).


Stockholm is a city of contrasts - the new and the old. The medieval city, Old Town, with its cobblestones, dates back to the 13th century. Here one finds the Stockholm Cathedral and the baroque Royal Palace. There are dozens of restaurants in this area.


Modern Stockholm, or "Venice of the North" as it is often called, is a city of broad streets, lovely parks, and a new city hall built in the early 1900's. There are very few slums in Stockholm.

The Central Inner Harbor

photo credit www.zanzig.com

Gamla Stan ( historical town center )

photo credit http://www.zanzig.com/

Kungsholmen with Stadshuset (City Hall) at night

photo credit www.zanzig.com

Old Architecture Meets New Architecture

photo credit http://www.zanzig.com/

Town Centre

photo credit www.zanzig.com

These are just three of the world's special cities that I have been privileged to visit. Others that I've seen come to mind - Mumbai, Barcelona, Paris, Honolulu, Auckland, Montevideo, Zurich, Bangkok....the list goes on and on - each one unique and special with its hidden delights. I just hope that I live long enough to see some of the others on my list of "must see" cities.

It Wasn't Love at First Sight

Okay, I thought the title might get you...but this post isn't about  romance or love at all, at least not about any hearthrob of mine.  It is about love, though - an undying, painful, terribly unsatisfying longing I have for an elusive litte fruit which I have eaten only twice in my sixty-five years!  Most of you, I would imagine, have never even tasted it unless you live in or have visited southeast Asia, India, or, perhaps, Puerto Rico or parts of the Caribbean or South America where, I understand, it is now being grown.  I am talking about the mangosteen - no relation, in any way, shape, form or taste, to the mango - or Garcinia mangostana L, an exotic fruit, known as the "queen of fruits."

picture from mangosteen.com

I met my first mangosteen at the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok, Thailand in February of 1997 ( the date is as important to me as my first kiss ).  I was there overnight, as the guest of Royal Caribbean, prior to setting sail on a twelve day cruise that was to take me to  exotic ports in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, ending up in Singapore.   We were hosted to a buffet luncheon prior to boarding buses for a city tour of Bangkok and the long drive to the port. 

I found myself in front of a huge fruit table and enjoyed slices of pineapple and mango, sections of pommelo ( which I had never eaten before ) and paused before a small purplish fruit.  I asked the server what it was and she said, "Oh, it is the queen of fruits, you must try it...it is the mangosteen but is should be called the mangoqueen."  As usual, willing to try anything, I added it to my plate.   I didn't think it looked that exciting, frankly!

When I got back to my table, one of the waiters smiled his approval and came over, took a knife, and cut my mangosteen in half, presenting it to me like a trophy, indicating I should take one of the white segments.  I put it in my mouth, chewed and swallowed.  Oh, my heavens, what was this taste?  Sheer ecstasy, sweet and sour, peach, lychee, strawberry - a myriad of wonderful fruits all rolled up into one.  I finished it in seconds while the others at the table watched.  In spite of my encouragement, not one person went to get one, even when I offered to bring them back as I went for more.  By the time we were leaving for the bus I had finished another three.  Much to my delight, the very sweet Thai waiter handed me a bag as I left the dining room - inside, a half dozen more mangosteens. 

picture from www.mangosteen.com

Throughout the rest of that southeast Asian cruise, I kept on the lookout, in all the markets I visited, but never encountered the mangosteen again.  Often, at my neighborhood grocery, Manila Market, here in Daly City, CA, I find exotic fruits such as lychee, jackfruit, longan and, even durian, that has been shipped frozen, but, thus far, no mangosteen has arrived.  After investigating, I learned that the United States had banned importing of the fresh fruit because of concern that they might be infested with the  Asian fruit fly which could damage U. S. fruit crops.  Only since 2007, have they allowed the importation of fresh, irradiated fruit from Thailand.  Otherwise, canned products may be imporated but reports are that this does not compare with the taste of the fresh fruit.

In 2008, on my birthday trip to Europe, much to my delight, when we were strolling through Barcelona's wonderful market, La Boquerria, on La Rambla, there, in the fruit section, I saw my beloved mangosteens!  Though a bit expensive, I immediately bought several which I shared with my friends who agreed that, indeed, these were the queen, if not, the king of fruits!

Mangosteens have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine and by native healers.  The rind of the fruit contains a number of complex chemicals, including tannic acid and xanthones.  At one time, when dysentery was very common, it was used to treat this.  Now, China and India used the dried fruits, shipped from Singapore, to make a number of medicines which are used to treat diarrhea, cystitis and to regulate menstruation.  There are claims, as well, that it helps support microbiological balance, helps the immune system, improves joint flexibility, and provides mental support.  Of course, none of this is really proven.

There are numerous websites and links to which you may refer for more information.  In terms of those who often, in desperation, try anything in hopes of seeking cancer cures, please go to: 

American Cancer Society - Mangosteen Juice.  That site also has some excellent sources of other articles on supplements.

After writing this today, I was so much wanting a mangosteen, I actually found a place in southern California that imports exotic fruits and, although, it is very expensive, they have fresh mangosteen from Thailand that are sent out express mail the day they arrive.  I just ordered six for my family.  Perhaps I will keep three for myself and give each of my boys one!  After all, they are still young and, in their lifetimes, maybe mangosteens will be much more accesible. 

If you are interested, check out:  http://buymangosteenfruit.com/.