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The Quest for an Abudance in Sunshine

where you find: the key to happiness, personal experience, a redhead's poetry, book reviews, new science, nature, rock'n alt. medicine

Tag: fashion

4 Hair Styles with Bandana

I have my own collection of bandana’s and this is a perfect guide to easy styles. Must-haves for extremly curly hair, not just for the bad hair days but to have more natural days.

support THE HELP

Beauty Kept Secret

“A beautiful woman will enchant you with her opinions. She never gets anxious, she’s always collected and witty. Confidence radiates under her bare skin. She’s a whirlwind who does a tremendous job and drinks coffee all she wants.”

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Fall Fashion Style

thigh gap

stripped and ripped jeans

Hey ya’ll I need help raising money for a violin. A guest violinst offered to teach me with 14 + years experience. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I’ve been rock bottom. Let me share my favorite pin interest style posts, and please consider donating a cup of tea – it’s beneficial for every one involved! Contribute to THE HELP @

DIY Macrame Bracelet

Choose your signature charms, jump rings and take a handful of bangles (who doesn’t have these somewhere?) and embroidery thread!

embroidery thread

You can make it more memoriable by taking your BFF to the nearest bead store. Beady eyed Bff’s! Lavish in your unique style ladies.

You’ll wrap the thread around the bangle, then attach the charm using a jump ring. TRY THIS: Know the square knot? This adds detail or try switching colors.)

Feel free to use the reblog feature guys (: Let me know how you do and comment below cuz I wanna see what you guys come up with<3

P.s. sorry for the lame layout, I would've taken a picture of my handmade bracelets, but i cannot find my dear usb cable.

like my posts? i try to pick things to write about that will make you smile and only you can make a huge difference in my life, please support my music THE HELP @

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Hard Love

enough enough

This is always hard to admit. You think after so much positive self talk I’d feel more confident, more loving towards myself. Right now, during these circumstances, I’m learning every day about patience. Picture me standing on my left foot and lifting my right leg as high as it could go, straining for elegance. I wobble. I try to balance on the tippy toes of my left foot, pushing my weight and insecurities hard into the floor. I faulter. When I participated in yoga, i strained as far as I could go, determined that I was flexible and strong. What you see is just skin deep. After a few sessions I stopped because my hips kept popping. (My educated guess was that after realigning myself this was the result of suction and fluids.) I stopped my breathing exercizes and drank less and less water. Desperate tears fell down my face while I fed the goats. Goats remind me of Alexander the Great. I wanted to gain an empire and do it big, Queen Elizabeth style. Patience. Don’t sell yourself short just because you can’t bend over backwards like a ballerina just yet. Hard love. Impersonal love. Love yourself, you work so hard to stay clean with no running water. The walls can be dilepated and the bathroom can rot but keep your spirits high, create music and don’t stop learning. Pick up your pencil and books again, and do so daring greatly.

Only you can help keep music close to my life. Make a generous donation, 5, 10, or 20 dollars can lighten up my life so much. Lex, professional model at , contributed to my campaign and you can too show your support.

Hear You Me

alphonse mucha

alphonse mucha

Thanks to Lexa at for her contribution. I think generosity is the greatest virtue and that’s pretty amazing in a person. With your support you can help keep music in my life. Share it on other social media to get it out there.
Scroll down further
and you’ll see great videos,
they’re my favorite songs
and confessions of a redhead.

Be Love Now –

Dirty Dog

Yepp I’m selling everything I own to help pay for 2 Greyhound bus tickets! The fare is $278.00. I signed up for Greyhound Bus Rewards for a 10% discount on my first ticket and I’m scanning RetailMeNot for additional coupons. I want to take my violin and Eduardo’s guitar….which reminds me of my desperate Indiegogo campaign in pursuit of fixing up my violin. The materials are costly. You’re invisible hands can help lift me up though! Contributing to someone else’s well being is beneficial for every body involved.

Greyhound Road Rewards
Be Love Now

Nailing Hair Like A Pro

cate b

I can’t tell you how long I’ve visualized my hair a different colour than red. I went through phases like anybody else:

Phase 1: Platinum Blond
Phase 2: Pastel Lavender
Phase 3: Teal
Phase 4: The Red Spectrum
Phase 5: Platinum Blond

I was fed up with what I saw in the mirror and desired change. Why not? My friend bought me Splash! Hair Dye from CVS but even I was skeptical and I was drawing worried looks from my boyfriend. “I think you look great the way you look now.” He rationalized. I really don’t want my hair to come out orange or yellow and I need to prevent damage, so I am researching hair tutorials. These sites have been super helpful and have precise instructions.

Let’s see how we can make this work! I’ll post before and after pictures next week! Also I’m having a huge yard sale. Everything must go. It’s liberating. I’ll be using the money to by greyhound bus tickets for me and my bad baby.

Wrap Up

I adore how chic and functional scarves are! Perfect disguise for an uncooperative hair day. These are the styles I’ve been wearing this summer around the house to keep me cool.


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Freebie Fridays – Belated Mixed Edition

Posted: 31/05/2013 in Freebie Fridays, Knitting
Tags: , , , ,

I’ve given up.  I haven’t had the time or the brain energy to deal with trying to work out why I can’t get into my Ravelry account, so I’ve just decided to go and make a new one.  It means losing my projects to-date, and although I have copies of purchased patterns saved on my computer it means losing access to any updates to those, but it has to be done.  I’ve not been able to do my Freebie Fridays or Ravely Mondays in a month, and that is far too long to go without sharing new patterns with all of you!

Freebie Friday rules are a little different to Ravelry Monday rules, and are as follows:

  • The pattern needs to be free.
  • The pattern does not HAVE to be a Ravelry download, but must be listed on Ravelry.
  • The pattern must have a photo clearly showing the item.
  • The pattern still needs to produce a professional looking item and have the necessary information for potential makers.
  • Clothing for adults must still be available in plus sizes.
  • An item showcased on Freebie Friday may still be showcased on Ravelry Monday, if it fits the brief for that day.

Because it’s been a while, this Freebie Friday is going to break from tradition in three ways.

  1. There is no theme, because there have been so many freebies since I last did one of these.
  2. There is no limit.  I will share as many of the best free patterns as I feel like.
  3. The patterns will not just be from the last week, but since the last Freebie Friday

So, without further ado, check these out!

Razorback Brioche Cowl

The Razorback Brioche cowl is an excellent example of how to achieve a very striking effect using a simple, repeating pattern and limited palette.  It’s a great gender-neutral cowl knit in a warm worsted weight, and is available as a free Ravelry download.

Stash-busting Monster

I don’t often post patterns for toys or fun items like these, simply because I so rarely make them myself.  But the stash-busting monster pattern is a fantastic, simple design that’s great for using up small amounts of leftover yarn.  While the pattern is written up for worsted-weight, it could be made in almost any yarn and is available as a free Ravelry download.

Ylva is a pattern for a simple, understated pair of fingerless mitts.  The pattern has a nice, classic look that can be worked up in all manner of different colours, and easily modified with additional colourwork or striping, making it a very versatile pattern to work from.  If you’re thinking of starting your handmade Christmas gifts soon (I know I am!  I need the time!), these would be a great gift.  The mitts are knit up in fingering weight and are available as a free Ravelry download.

Larch Bark Dyed Felted Knitted Bag

This is a really cute pattern for a felted bag with a simple, repeating colourwork pattern.  The original pattern uses hand-dyed, handspun yarn dyed using natural ingredients, but it could easily be worked in any aran weight yarn that has a high wool content. Colourwork items are another great stash-buster, as you often find you only need a full skein or multiple skeins of the main colour.  This pattern is on Ravelry and can be viewed at the designer’s website linked from this Ravelry page.

Cool Breezes Summer Lace Sweater

Regular readers will be well aware of my plus-patterns rule.  Simply put, I will only share clothing patterns here if they are available in plus as well as straight sizes.  I stand by my rule, although it often means I don’t share many free clothes patterns, simply because I refuse to promote patterns from designers who clearly don’t want my business.  So I was delighted to note that this simple, cool Summer cover-up top is available up to a 54″ chest.  The full pattern is written out on the designer’s website and can be accessed via this Ravelry page.

Shandon is a very attractive, aran-weight jumbo cowl designed to be wrapped twice around the neck.  The unusual zig-zag pattern that almost resembles cables from a distance, looks great knit in a singl colour or a yarn with a very gentle variation in colour, and is another fantastic Christmas gift project.  The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.

Northshield Pouch

Only a colourwork chart is shown on the pattern page for this pouch, but I can tell from this alone that it’d make a gorgeous finished pattern.  Intended to be used as a colourwork knitted pouch bag, it could also be added to the front of a large pocketed scarf, worked into a cushion or made into a square as part of a larger blanket-making project.  This is another great stashbuster and Christmas gift pattern offered by the Society of Creative Anachronisms, and is available as a free Ravelry download.

  1. soknitsome says:

    Lovely suggestions 🙂
    Can you not get help from administrators on Ravelry? Surely there’s a way of reinstating your access…

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As I mentioned in an earlier post I haven't hit the gym much this summer. What I've however
been doing is hitting the road for powerwalks. Powerwalks are for sure my favorite kind of workout
 during the summer months. What I've also been doing is drinking a whole lot of Fitnessguru protein
 shakes. My fave flavor is french vanilla, and I blend it with either water or this coconut drink.

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Angkor Archaeological Park

From Wikitravel
Earth : Asia : Southeast Asia : Cambodia : Angkor Archaeological Park
Jump to: navigation, search

Angkor Archaeological Park, located in northern Cambodia, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.

Stretching over some 400 square kilometres, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations .

Angkor Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. At the same time, it was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to looting, a declining water table, and unsustainable tourism. UNESCO has now set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor itself has no accommodation and few facilities; the nearby town of Siem Reap, just 6km south, is the tourist hub for the area.

The temples of Angkor are highly symbolic structures. The foremost Hindu concept is the temple-mountain, where the temple is built as a representation of the mythical Mount Meru: this is why so many temples, including Angkor Wat itself, are surrounded by moats, built in a mountain-like pyramidal shape and topped by precisely five towers, representing the five peaks of Mount Meru. The linga, representing the god Shiva, was also critical and while the lingas themselves have largely gone, linga stands (carved, table-like blocks of stone) can be found in many if not most rooms in the temples. There was also a political element to it all: most kings wanted to build their own state temples to symbolize their kingdom and their rule.

While early Angkor temples were built as Hindu temples, Jayavarman VII converted to Mahayana Buddhism c. 1200 and embarked on a prodigious building spree, building the new capital city of Angkor Thom including Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and many more as Buddhist structures. However, his successor Jayavarman VIII returned to Hinduism and embarked on an equally massive spree of destruction, systematically defacing Buddhist images and even crudely altering some to be Hindu again. Hinduism eventually lost out to Buddhism again, but the (few) Buddha images in the temples today are later Theraveda additions.

One element that continues to mystify archaeologists is the baray, or water reservoir, built in a grand scale around Angkor: for example, the West Baray is a mind-boggling 8km by 2.3km in size. While it has long been assumed that they were used for irrigation, some historians argue that their primary function was political or religious. Not a single outlet has been found, either by eye or by NASA imaging. The moat around Angkor and the West Baray still contains water, but the rest have dried up.

As you tour the temples, you will see certain mythical figures and other motifs cropping up repeatedly.

Fierce battles in the reign of Jayavarman VII, Bayon

Angkor is hot and sticky throughout the year, but the peak visitor season is November to February, when the weather is dry and temperatures are coolest (25-30°C). The flip side is that the temples are packed, especially around Christmas/New Year, and hotel rates are at their highest. March to May is brutally hot, with temperatures reaching 40°C. June to October is the rainy season, and outlying temples and the roads leading to them can turn into quagmires of mud. However, this is also when the temples are at their quietest, and it's still often possible to do a good half-day round of sightseeing before the rains start in the afternoon.

Get In[edit]

Central tower, Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor is located about 20 minutes to the north, by car or motorbike, from central Siem Reap. See the Siem Reap article for details on getting there.

For those interested in researching Angkor Wat prior to their arrival, several excellent books are available. Ancient Angkor by Michael Freeman provides detailed maps, suggested itineraries, and helpful information about all of the temples in the Angkor region. Angkor by Michael D. Coe offers an insightful history in the Khmer Empire. Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors is a wonderful work of historical fiction that brings Angkor Wat to vivid life, offering readers a glimpse into this legendary temple.

Get around[edit]

  • Tour buses feature guided, air-conditioned comfort but also are subject to large crowds and lack of options. Be sure you know which temples are being visited as some of the larger buses only go to the 2 or 3 main tourist attractions, and leave out important "secondary" sights. The cost is about USD25-70/day including driver and guide.
  • Cars with drivers can be hired for single or multiple days. While all drivers are familiar with the area and happy to suggest good routes, most speak little English and are not tour guides. For a licensed tour guide, the charge varies from US$45 per day to USD50 for a driver and English speaking guide. It is customary for the drivers to ask for USD5-10 extra for trips to further temples such as the those of the Big Circuit, Banteay Srey and more for remote sites like Beng Mealea.
    Taxis booked from the airport booth to central Siem Reap charged a fixed price of USD7 and included fliers advertising cars and drivers for Angkor Wat at USD30/day.
  • Motorbikes (with drivers) can be arranged through any guesthouse for about USD6-8/day. Again, drivers might ask for more to visit remote ruins. Some drivers can speak a bit of English, and can give you information about Angkor and Cambodian life. Drivers are required to be licensed and must wear their grey numbered vest while travelling within the confines of the Angkor park. Motorbikes can be rented by foreigners (cost: USD10-15 / day). It is recommended to carry a map with you in case of renting a motorbike.
  • Tuk tuks can be arranged through guesthouses, offering space for one or two travellers. Figure on USD12 for the main Angkor temples, and more for outlying temples. Like the motorbike drivers, they must be licensed, may speak some English, and must wear grey numbered vests while travelling within the park. Add USD3 extra fee if you would like to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Extra fee is for the tuk tuk driver to start the tour at 05:00 instead of 08:00.

It is strongly advised to use a tuk tuk recommended by the hotel, otherwise you can be scammed badly.

  • Bicycles are a very convenient option to visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the little circuit or even the big circuit - depending on time you have and how big fan of Khmer temples you are. Renting a bike in Siem Reap is easy and cheap (USD1 per day, in most of places you don't even have to leave passport, locks for bikes are provided, check the bike before and ask for some amendments if needed, eg, pumping air, oiling the chain). It is about 6km from the city to Angkor Wat (if you go first time, make sure you go by the Visitors Centre which is the only place where you can buy passes). In the little circuit most places are at most 15 minutes away from each other by bike, so it is actually not a problem for a regular tourist (without much biking experience) to visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and spots on the little circuit in one day. If you are willing to get up early and start your trip 06:00 (it is not uncommon to see a bike rentals open from 04:30) it won't be a problem to visit all above plus the big circuit (where spots are 30 minutes away each other by bike) in one day. Take into account your shape and visiting preferences. If you bike a lot at home - you can easily get around much quicker. If you enjoy Khmer architecture more than the regular Angkor visitor, it is recommended you reserve at least 3 days for the trip (and it doesn't matter if you go by tuk-tuk or by bike). It is a good idea to take a lot of water with you (rent a bike with a basket!), but not a big problem if you run out of it during your trip. Around every temple in Angkor park you can buy some food and drinks (it's just more expensive than in the city, around US$2 per big bottle of water in the Park). Cycling in Angkor Park is safe (traffic is low), pleasant (nice views and a lot of trees providing shadows in sunny days) and, last but not least, it saves you a lot of hassle of dealing with tuk-tuk drivers.

    There are also guided bicycle tours available. One operator is KKO tours (minimum donation per person: USD20), an NGO arranging a mostly off-road mountain bike trip through the park with a good mix of well-known and rarely-seen temples and ruins. In wet season this is a muddy adventure. You can also participate in the annual Angkor Wat Bike4Kids! Event, a charitable cycle adventure around the ruins of Angkor Wat. It happens on the first weekend of December each year.
  • Horse carriages and even elephants are also available within the park, but only from specific points. For example, elephants travel the route between Bayon and the nearest gate of Angkor Thom.
  • Electric cars will take you to certain areas for a round-trip price of only USD2. They can be found in front of Angkor Wat and the Terrace of the Elephants.
  • Helicopter flights are another way of seeing Angkor Archaeological Park. You can also visit outlying temples like Banteay Chhmar, Boeng Mealea, Koh Ker, Rolous Group, Phnom Bok & Tonle Sap floating village. Helistar Cambodia [2] have prices starting from USD90 per person for the basic Bangkeng Mountain, Angkor Wat. Sras Srang, Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon & Ta Som 8 minutes tour. Flights depart daily from the Military Apron, Siem Reap International Airport. Bookings essential and can be made through hotels or travel/tour agents or direct on +855 12 449 555.
  • Hot air balloon flights This is a tethered balloon; it only goes up and down. This is due to flight restrictions over Angkor Wat, so it is unlikely you can find a “proper”, free-flying balloon ride. It costs USD20 per person, takes about 4 minutes to load the carriage, and you are in the air about 6-10 minutes, going up to about 200m. The carriage can hold 8-9 people and is on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat. Sunrise (around 06:10) is a popular time to go. There is another road besides the one going through the ticket gate, so you do NOT have to pay an Angkor entrance fee (it is outside of the park itself). Their number is +851 252 0810, limited English is spoken, but enough to tell you if the weather is allowing them to go.
  • Angkor Wat Temple Visits is the only private operator to offer mixed cycling and Land Cruiser tours with their mountain bike racks mounts at the back of their 4x4s. Especially useful for all the remote Angkorian temples such as Banteay Srei, Beng Melea, Koh Ker, Preah Vihear, Banteay Chhmar, Preah Khan Kampong Svay, Sambor Pre Kuk.
  • You can also get around the complex if booking an additional attraction within the park. Flight of the Gibbon for example is a zipline canopy tour located on the North East corner of Angkor Thom and provides transportation for certain packages to Ta Phrom temple as part of their tour

See[edit][add listing]

Location of Angkor Archaeological Park and main sites

Passes are required to enter the Angkor area. They are no longer for sale at the front gate. Instead you will need to purchase them at the Ticket counter that is 7 km away. You will be turned away at the Temple if you arrive without tickets. Ticket Counter Location: 13.376825, 103.880151 Hours of operation are 5:00AM- 6:00Pm in low season (Sept.- May) and 5:00AM - 6:30PM in high season) for 1-day (USD37), 3-day (>USD60), or 7-day (formerly USD60) durations (children under 12 enter for free after showing a passport). The 3-day pass is valid for any 3 days within a week, while the 7-day pass is valid for any 7 days within a month. If you plan on using your 3 or 7 day pass on non consecutive days, make sure to get the newer version, otherwise you may be given an old one that must be used immediately. Cambodians can enter for free — you shouldn't need to buy a pass for your guide or your driver. If you buy a pass in the evening, you can enter the park after 17:00 to view the sunset without it counting as use of a day on your pass. The passes are non-transferable. You will have a photograph taken and printed on your pass to make sure they are non-transferable. Regular checks for the pass are performed at almost all sites within the park, so carry your pass with you at all times, and be certain to buy the passes only from the official Apsara Authority counters, not from other vendors, and definitely not second-hand. If you are booking attractions within the park such as Flight of the Gibbon, the pass is inclusive of the cost of the tour. "Flight of the Gibbon" is no longer in operation.

  • New entrance ticket fees are going to increase from 1st February 2017: one-day ticket: USD37, three-day ticket: USD62(valid for 10 days), seven-day ticket: US72(valid for a month).

Guides can be hired for about USD20 a day and are available for most major languages. Hiring a guide for at least the first day can help you get orientated to the temples and are particularly useful for finding and explaining the bas-reliefs, which can otherwise be rather overwhelming and/or difficult to understand.

"Ancient Angkor", the guidebook that is hawked at every temple, is surprisingly good. Particularly if you are interested in the carvings on the walls and towers, the book will keep you occupied for hours. If you don't want to pay money to hear a local tell you about the temples in broken English this is a good option. Authored by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques, the cover price is USD 27.95 at book shops, and is sold by some at much lower prices. For example, the book shop at the international airport is selling it for USD 20. Vendors located within and outside Angkor Wat sell duplicate copies of the book, for as little as 1 USD, if you haggle, or it's the end of the day.

Another excellent source of material on Angkor Wat is Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors. This best selling novel is a work of historical fiction, and brings ancient Angkor Wat back to life, as well as the celebrates the Khmer culture.

Be sure and get to the temples early. You can enter the park beginning at 05:00; the temples open at sunrise. There are fewer visitors early in the morning, and the sun isn't at full force. Arriving at the temples at 08:00 instead of 09:00 can make all the difference in staying one step ahead of the crowds.

The temples can broadly be categorized into four groups:

  • Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the grandest temple of all and the ancient capital next to it
  • Little Circuit (Le Petit Circuit), taking in major sites to the east of Angkor Thom
  • Big Circuit (Le Grand Circuit), taking in major sites north and further out east
  • Roluos group, 15km east from Siem Reap along National Highway 6
  • Outlying temples, located over 20km from Angkor Wat

You can, of course, mix and match freely, but as distances are fairly long, it makes sense to plan ahead and pick sites connected by road. Most car, tuk-tuk or moto drivers will have an itinerary ready if you don't have one in mind, and their expertise may come in handy for arriving at sites a step ahead of the big tour groups.

Angkor Wat[edit]

Central courtyard, Angkor Wat
Plan of Angkor Wat

Located six kilometre north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is one of the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple's balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

Though 'Wat' is the Khmer (Cambodian) word for temple, the westward orientation of the structure is atypical of temples. Scholars believe that the architecture and sculptures are that of a temple where Lord Vishnu was worshipped but it was also built as a mausoleum for the king after his death.

How to explore[edit]

Do your homework first. To enjoy the ruins, read articles on the sites, not just the history but also the spatial relationships and the hierarchy of importance of the ruins. The JASA Office (Japan Apsara Safeguarding Authority) - a Japanese government agency has an information office, the Bayon Information Centre in Siem Reap along Sivatha Blvd. (at the back of Hotel Le Meridien Angkor) provides a bird's eye view of the story of Angkor Wat via DVD screenings and display storyboards in English for USD2 and for another USD5, a handy, concise and very enlightening graphic booklet (in color and perfect professional-level English) is available.

The size of the monuments makes it look overwhelming when one encounters it for the first time. The following is one of the suggested plan to explore Angkor Wat. Enter through the west entrance. When you reach the entry tower, walk to the right to get a glimpse of all the five towering gopuras.

Passing the tower and the libraries on both sides of the walkway, climb down the steps towards the left side and get to the water basin. You can catch a glimpse of the temple and its reflection in the water. Go past the basin and reach the left end of the temple.

You would by now have reached the starting point of the famous bas reliefs depicting scenes from various mythological stories and historic events. Walking from left to right you will come across scenes from battle of Ramayana, battle of Mahabharata, army of Suryavarman II, scenes from judgement by Yama (the supreme judge), churning of ocean by demons and gods to get Amrita — the nectar of immortality, Vishnu's victory over demons, victory of Krishna over Bana and other scenes of battle between gods and demons.

Climb the steps to reach the second tier. One can reach the third tier and the central courtyard within by climbing the steps oriented towards any of the four cardinal points. However, it is suggested that the steps on the south (right) be taken, as these have now been fitted with a handrail — particularly useful when descending.

Note to photographers: The temple at Angkor Wat is a bit unusual in that it was built to face due West (most have been built to face the rising sun.) As a result, the iconic image of the Temple has the sun rising behind it from the East. There are just two times a year when this is possible; during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (around March 20th and September 22 each year.) This does not mean that amazing images aren't possible at other times of the year, just that if you want to have the sun rising over the spires of the complex, a date near an equinox is best.

You can also expect a lot of people to join you in your photographic adventure. It is not unusual to see tour buses lined up at the check in points well before sunrise. Make sure you have a flashlight as you have to cross a long bridge with little in the way of railing an no artificial lighting. Just in front of the Temple is a large pond that is often seen in photos reflecting the structure and the rising sun. However, this pond is frequently filled with water lilies that may obstruct its mirror qualities. Once the sun is up you will find many amazing things to shoot. Buddhist monks wearing saffron robes are frequently seen among the ruins, as are monkeys and, of course, loads of tourists. Locals will sometimes pose for you, but they often ask for money in exchange (usually a dollar or two.)

When to visit[edit]

The sight of the grand monument towering over the landscape is breath-taking at any time of day. However, to maximise the effect it is suggested that the first trip to Angkor Wat be made in optimal lighting conditions, usually around 13:00~14:00. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is a also great sight to witness. Hence most of the tourists tend to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then explore other ruins in the morning and then return to Angkor Wat later in the afternoon. The sun rises behind Angkor Wat and the best colours are seen just before the sun climbs into view. As the position of the sun as it rises varies according to the time of year, do position yourself accordingly. For example, in November-December time when you are facing Angkor Wat, the sun rises on your right hand side. Hence grab a place to the extreme left of the entry tower to see the sunrise. Sunset at Angkor Wat is best viewed either on the top tier or outside the main temple structure.

If you visit the temple at sunrise or sundown, you are advised to bring a torch since there is no lighting, and since the temple has many steps, puddles and other obstacles you can't see at night that could make you trip.

Angkor Thom[edit]

One of the 216 stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon
Plan of the Bayon

Built in the latter part of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is one of the most widely recognised temples in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon. There are 54 towers of four faces each, totalling 216 faces. There is still a debate as to who is being depicted in the faces. It could be Avalokiteshvara, Mahayana Buddhism's compassionate Bodhisattva, or perhaps a combination of King Jayavarman VII and Buddha.

How to explore[edit]

Bayon's plan can be divided into three levels — the first two are bas-reliefs and the uppermost consists of the central sanctuary. The outer gallery depicts scenes from everyday life and historical events, while the second inner gallery depicts mythical figures and stories. In total, there are more than 1km of bas-reliefs to be viewed in the Bayon.

Enter Bayon from the east. The outer gallery comes into view first. The second gallery is on the next higher level. The third level is where you will encounter many of the famous faces (and tourists). The fact that these stones are exposed to direct light makes it easy to shoot pictures throughout the day, though mid-day sun eliminates shadows. You will find fewer tourists too during this time of day. Elephants are also available to take you from the gate into Bayon for $10 per person (seats are limited and often already pre-booked by the tour groups)

When to visit[edit]

The surrounding and the tall towers makes Bayon a bit dark and flat for study and photography near sunrise and sunset. Hence, it is best to visit Bayon when there is plenty of light. 10:00 in the morning to around 16:00 in the afternoon is the most popular.

Located to the northwest of the Bayon, the Baphuon is supposed to represent Mount Meru (sacred to Hinduism), and was one of the largest and grandest structures in Angkor. Built into the western face of the Baphuon is a giant reclining Buddha, added in the 16th century after the region converted from Hinduism to Buddhism.

Archaeologists had dismantled the Baphuon to perform renovation when they were interrupted by the civil war; the records for piecing the temple back together were subsequently lost or destroyed. Today the reconstruction work is done, so visitors can now walk up to the top tier.

Other Angkor Thom sights[edit]

The Bayon and Baphuon temples form only part of what was formerly the giant city of Angkor Thom, once thought to hold a population of one million.

In addition to the Bayon and Baphuon temples, the ancient city of Angkor Thom holds a number of other sites of interest:

  • The Elephant Terrace.
  • The Terrace of the Leper King.
  • Five entrance gates, one at each ordinal compass point and the Victory Gate in the east wall. The western and the northern gate are free from tourists, and climatic. Each of the gates is topped by the face of Avalokitesvara. There is a path on top of the walls, and one along the outside wall, that can be followed to walk from gate to gate. The total distance is around 13km, about 3.5 hours long. As of March 2012, the path has been closed due to collapses in the walls.
The Elephant Terrace
  • Phnom Bakheng. The first temple-mountain constructed in Angkor, with a commanding hilltop location, presently under renovation as shown by the cranes hauling piece by piece the stones out from the structure. Extremely popular (and crowded) spot for sunsets: allow half an hour for the sweaty hike to the top, and leave early or bring a torch for the way back. The final climb to the top of the temple is steep and dangerous at dark. Elephants will carry you to the hilltop for $20 per person, but you still have to climb the temple stairs on your own. Note that the sun does not set over Angkor if seen from here, and any visible temples are in fact quite far away. Also note that you are NOT allowed to climb Phnom Bakheng after 17.30 - hence make sure you arrive earlier. An elephant ride back down the hill will cost $15 per person.

Little Circuit[edit]

In clockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the Victory Gate:

  • Ta Keo. An incomplete, largely undecorated temple built by Jayavarman V. The stairs at the east side of the monument are least steep and the easiest way to reach the top level.
The famous empty doorway of Ta Prohm — there's usually a queue of people lining up to be photographed here!
  • Ta Prohm. Built during the time of king Jayavarman VII and is best known as the temple where trees have been left intertwined with the stonework, much as it was uncovered from the jungle. It might be considered in a state of disrepair but there is a strange beauty in the marvelous strangler fig trees which provide a stunning display of the embrace between nature and the human handiwork. This is one of the most popular temples after Angkor Wat and the Bayon because of the beautiful combinations of wood and stone. Black and white film photographers especially love this site because of this and most of the stunning postcard shots of Angkor's trees come from here; pop culture fans, on the other hand, may recognise a few scenes from Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider. While the temple is very popular, most visitors follow a central route and the sides of the complex can be surprisingly quiet. Note that large sections of the temple are unstable rubble and have been cordoned off, as they are in real danger of collapse. As of 2010, authorities have started to restore Ta Prohm. All the plants and shrubs have been cleared from the site and some of trees are also getting removed. A crane has been erected and a large amount of building work is underway to rebuild the temple, much of it seemingly from scratch. Wooden walkways now block some of the previously famous postcard photos. People that want to take a pretty picture of a building overgrown by a huge tree without the crowds, walkways, cranes etc. might want to check out the gatehouse in the back of the Ta Som complex instead.
Banteay Kdei temple complex.
  • Banteay Kdei. Sprawling monastic complex in the style of Ta Prohm. In poor shape, but slowly being restored.
  • Sras Srang. Terrace leading to a pond. Located right across the road from Banteay Kdei.
  • Prasat Kravan. A little temple to end the little circuit. An inscription incised on doorways here indicates that this temple of five red, symmetrical, brick towers was dedicated to Vishnu in 921CE. The removal of the encroaching jungle was organised by Henri Marchal and Georges Trouvè in the 1930s and a spurt of restoration followed 30 years later with the new bricks being added marked with "CA" (French: "Conservation Angkor"). The interior has large bas-reliefs of Vishnu and Lakshmi carved into the walls of a type rare in Khmer structures.

Big Circuit[edit]

Crushed by the weight of history, Preah Khan

In clockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the North Gate:

  • Preah Khan. Jayavarman VII's first capital, before the completion of Angkor Wat. Large and atmospheric, yet somewhat overshadowed by Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, this temple is partly in disrepair with strangler figs crawling up the walls, but has some excellent carvings and fewer visitors, and is well worth a visit. The temple is some 3 kilometres north of Angkor Thom.
  • Neak Pean. Not really a temple, this is an interesting quick stop. It consists of four ponds surrounding a large pond that has a tower in the middle. This tower is accessible on a causeway that cuts across the pond.
  • Ta Som.
  • East Mebon. Located on what was an island in the now dry East Baray, this is a large, three-story temple-mountain crowned by five towers, like a miniature Angkor Wat. Originally built by Rajendravarman II in the 10th century, many structures are in poor shape, but the temple is best known for its massive (restored) elephant statues.
  • Pre Rup. A temple-mountain close to and quite similar in style to East Mebon, and built a decade later. A favorite spot for viewing the sun set into the jungles and rice paddies of the Cambodian countryside.
Pre Rup, one of the many temple ruins within the Angkor Archaeological Park

Roluos group[edit]

The ruins here are from the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, dating from the late 9th century and thus pre-dating Angkor itself.

  • Bakong. A five-terraced pyramid in the mountain-temple style.
  • Lolei. An island temple constructed in a baray, now dry.
  • Preah Ko. The first temple to be built here, dating from the 9th century.

Outlying temples[edit]

  • Banteay Srei, 37km north of Angkor Wat. This red coloured temple is well known for its intricate carvings, and is worth a half day trip on its own, since it is a bit further from Siem Reap than the main Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat areas. Car and motorcycle drivers will charge a bit extra (USD10) to take you to the temple.
  • Kbal Spean. 13km north of Banteay Srei. After the man-made monuments of the temples, it can be nice to get back to nature for a while. Also known as the site of a thousand Lingas, the numerous submerged carvings on the rocky river bed may fall short of that number, but it makes for a pleasant walk along the river to a small but attractive waterfall. Don't expect a big temple at the top, just some unlabelled carvings. The 1.5km walk through rain forest past, precariously perched boulders and creeping vines is not too hard but requires a modicum of fitness and care, especially if wet weather has made the steeper sections slippery. Drier weather means less water and easier viewing of the carvings. Best combined with a trip out to Banteay Srei.
  • Beng Mealea, 80km east of Siem Reap. Along with Ta Phrom and others, this is a temple which has been left to nature, but unlike Ta Phrom only a few trees have been removed. The result is the visitor clambering over ruined walls (exactly the sort of thing you are asked not to do at other ruins) and through windows to get access to areas where nature is running riot. Lots of trees growing out of walls, and creepers hanging over ruined buildings, and consequently great for some atmospheric photos. Much of the standard walk is along wooden decking for those who don't want to clamber. This can be taken in as part of a trip to the Roluos Group, or a long day trip with Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean, though this will entail about 5 hours travelling in total on some very rough roads. There is a $5 entry fee to Beng Mealea. Though you may want to cast a wary eye toward custodians bearing Äspara Authority armbands and local children following you in an attempt to extract guide fees, there are, in contrast to other temple sites, almost no vendors here.
  • Phnom Krom, 12km southwest of Siem Reap. This hilltop temple was built at the end of the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman. The gloomy atmosphere of the temple and the view over the Tonle Sap lake make the climb to the hill worth while. A visit to the site can be conveniently combined with a boat trip to the lake. The Angkor passport is needed to enter the temple so do not forget to bring your passport along when heading to Tonle Sap.

Navigating the temples[edit]

This section mainly applies to those who visit the temples on their own, without a tour guide.

  • A few temples have steep steps which you can climb to the top. If you plan to do so, and you visit Angkor early, ask the driver to bring you to those temples first, while the heat is still tolerable.
  • Some temples are very large, and while it is not possible to get lost completely - there always would be people around - it is easy to get disoriented and walk into the wrong exit. Compass is very useful when visiting the large temples.
  • Always ask the driver where he is going to wait for you (such as "west entrance") and write it down. Don't rely on your memory, you can spend an hour in a temple and forget whether the driver said "east entrance" or "west entrance", especially after hearing it several times a day. If the driver says "right here" or "on the other side" always ask which entrance it is. Several temples have multiple entrances, and they could be several kilometres apart and look the same to you until you get all the way to the exit, so you can spend an hour just trying to find your driver - all while walking in the scorching heat.
  • Some temples are through, so the driver will wait for you on the other side, but after taking several turns inside the temple it would be difficult for you to figure out which side is the other side, so it is important to know which exit the driver is waiting for you at.
  • Temple maps are not very useful, particularly because it is difficult to find your position on a map unless you literally track your every turn. There are no navigation signs inside the temples, and the landmarks are of a little help.

Buy[edit][add listing]

Souvenirs are also sold in front of all temples. Bargain, but not too hard: many souvenir sellers live within the park and, being banned from farming on their own land, have to resort to this to make a living. Please do not encourage children who pester tourists in the temples themselves to give money or buy postcards.

There are several decent souvenir shops around the old market. One of the shops called 'Black Garuda' has some original key holders and mobile straps and they donate some of your purchase to land mine victims.

Eat[edit][add listing]

Despite a ban on development and commercial activity, dozens of small noodle and snack shops have sprung up near the major attractions of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Some shopkeepers may be willing to bargain - during summer low season, you can bring the price of a good lunch down to as low as USD1 for a dish and US$0.50 for a drink. Their flocks of five year old emissaries aren't likely to hold price-cutting authority. You'll also find some local people selling fresh pineapples and mangoes (beautifully cut) for about USD1 a piece. Also try the seasonal toddy palm fruit – a hollow sack as soft as jelly at 4 pieces for $US1 sold at the roadside to Bantay Samre and at temple refreshment stalls.

  • The modern Angkor Cafe lies just outside Angkor Wat's main entrance, and also doubles as a crafts shop, with fine works from the Artisans d'Angkor shop, where they train locals in the arts. Their prices are on the high side for Cambodia but very reasonable for Western pockets (mainly USD3-5) with excellent food, nice décor and air conditioning.
  • Chez Sophea lies just outside Angkor Wat's main entrance. It is a favourite among expatriates and by many rated as the best restaurant in Siem Reap. Food prices are a bit higher than the cheapest places, USD8-15, but the standard is also much higher. Excellent place for lunch and or a coffee/wine break. Or for a romantic dinner. The owner Mathieu, a French UNESCO photographer who came to Cambodia in 1998, and the only foreigner living within the temple compound.
  • There are numbers of small restaurants located on north side of Srah Srang pond (reservoir), on the road between Banteay Kdei and Pre Rup. The restaurants sell Cambodian dishes such as amok, lok lak etc. These restaurants are popular for lunch stop among tourist that renting tuk-tuk to explore Angkor.

Drink[edit][add listing]

Soft drinks are sold at stalls in front of most temples. As you might expect, prices are inflated: USD1 for a can of soft drink or a cold 1.5 litre plastic bottle of water is more or less standard, although this can easily be bargained down to half or less.

Some local drink vendors in Angkor temples might also offering fresh coconut water, at the time of October 2016 the cheapest cold coconut water was KHR3000 around the temples, ice sticks was 2 for USD1.

Sleep[edit][add listing]

The area has seen a large increase of hotels and guest houses in 2003, with many new 3 to 4 star places opening up on the road between the airport and Siem Reap. See Siem Reap for hotels and hostels. Camping is not allowed.

  • Anantara Angkor Resort, National Road no. 6, Khum Svay Dangkom,Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia, (+85)5 63 966 788, [1]. Anantara Angkor Resort is located in Seam Reap in Cambodia. Tourists can visit ancient Cambodian tombs while engaging in various activities in the resort, Such as traditional Khmer cooking classes & Bicycle tours to city centre and Angkor Wat. USD 205. (13.376175,103.833514) edit

Stay safe[edit]

By local regulation, motorcycle and tuk-tuk drivers must at all times wear a numbered vest when on the job, which goes a long way towards preventing hassles and scams. This, unfortunately, is not enforced, and you will see a fair number of drivers without vests. However, a disturbing number of rapes continue to happen, especially after dark and in the more secluded temples, so it's not advised for women to travel alone.

Whilst visiting the temples, beware of off-duty police officers, who are in uniform, that start walking beside you and start showing you around the temples. At this point either say that you would like to see the temples yourself, or agree on a price at the start. Several people have been asked for a fee of over USD10 at the end of the temple tour and you are not going to argue with a member of the police force. The official wage for a police officer is very low, so they can easily double their salary by being tourist guides.

Whilst at the temple beware of anyone offering you incense. They will hand you the incense and then "teach" you a blessing. They will then ask for a donation (generally about USD10) for the monks and the upkeep of the temple. None of the funds will make it to either of these causes, so it's best just to say a quick "No thank you" when they try to give you the incense in the first place.

Tourists mulling over whether to rent a tour bike – have no fear. Parking is never a problem and not in the warden’s wildest dream that a bike parked besides an attraction will get lost or stolen, locked or not. In small temples it surely is easy to park and leave. But what about big sites such as Angkor Wat? Just do it! Bikes are parked across the west entrance and vendors will even compete for your attention to babysit your bike. During biking trip be aware of children standing by the roads in Angkor Park and raising their hands to give you high fives. Stay on a safe side and just wave your hand, as sometimes they try to take out a ring off your fingers when you give them a high five.

Be prepared for vast numbers of peddlers who linger around temples. It may feel difficult or rude to ignore the constant come-ons to buy souvenirs, photocopied guidebooks, t-shirts and assorted junk, but it can be necessary in order to enjoy your visit in semi-peace.

Early in the morning, when it is popular for people to take pictures of the sunrise at Angkor Wat, off-duty park employees may attempt to restrict you from accessing the third (top) level inside the main temple. They will insist that you pay them extra money for the privilege of climbing up here. They can become very aggressive towards tourists who attempt to climb the stairs without paying. Your daily pass already gives you access to this and all other public areas inside the park. One day a week, the third level IS closed in observance. However, the area is then closed to EVERYONE on this day.

Stay healthy[edit]

Touring the temples is a hot and sweaty job, so bring sunblock and keep yourself well hydrated. Some of the temples, notably the uppermost level of Angkor Wat, require climbs up very steep staircases and are best avoided if you suffer from vertigo or are not fully confident of being able to keep your footing.

Malaria is not endemic around the temple complex; however, it is recommended to seek medical advice before you travel as conditions may change.

Don't feed or approach the monkeys who lurk around some sites: many are ill-tempered and will bite at the slightest provocation.

Guests are required to remove their shoes and socks before going inside of Angkor Wat (like all temples in Asia). There may not be a shoe bin on hand so you will have to carry your shoes and socks with you.

Some of Angkor's sites were originally built as Hindu temples, while some were built as Buddhist temples, and yet others were converted over the years. Today, most of Angkor's major temples house at least a few Buddha statues (nearly all added later) and draw a steady stream of monks and worshippers. You may be approached for donations, but you are under no obligation to pay unless you actually choose to accept incense sticks or other offerings.

Because these are still holy spaces for Cambodians, it is best to follow the dress code of "long trousers or skirt, and covered shoulders". A skirt or shorts which cover the knees are also acceptable. This is the dress code that the Cambodians follow when visiting any temple or holy space. This dress code is strictly enforced in only two places: the top level of Angkor Wat (closed for restoration late September 2013), and the Phnom Bakheng temple-mountain; the required dress code there is "covered knees and shoulders, no hats" covered shoulders refers to covered with a T-shirt or long sleeve top. Scarves and wraps are prohibited to be worn on top of items such as singlets to pass as a clothing item and this is strictly enforced. Most Khmers are non-confrontational so this rule is not really enforced with the exceptions mentioned above but wearing inappropriate clothing sends a message of disrespect. A good rule of thumb is "Would I wear this to my own house of worship?" If not, it may be poor etiquette to wear it to someone else's holy site.

As an added benefit, long trousers and covered shoulders provide better protection from the sun, insects and brambles when walking around and between the sites.Create category

This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information about the park including attractions, activities, lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, and arrival/departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star!


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Al-Tiyus Al-thalathah Al-ikhwah Jruf

Al-Tiyus Al-thalathah Al-ikhwah Jruf

The Three Billy Goats Gruff [Arabic And English]

Book - 2014
Rate this:
Three clever billy goats outwit a big ugly troll that lives under the bridge they must cross on their way up the mountain.
Publisher: London : Mantra, 2014, 2007, c2001.
Edition: Dual language ed.
ISBN: 9781846112485
Additional Contributors: Johnson, Richard

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Drying Herbs for Winter Use

You’ve been tending to your herbs all summer long, and you’ve been enjoying their fresh flavor in all your summertime dishes.  Now it’s time to start planning for winter by drying them to enjoy even longer.

Here are a few harvesting tips to get you started:

  • Herbs that are harvested when their oils are at their peak will have the best flavor when dried.
  • Herbs grown for their foliage should be harvested just before they flower.
  • Harvest herbs that are grown for seeds as the seed pods change color from green to brown to gray, but before they open.
  • Collect herb flowers, such as chamomile, just before full flower.
  • Harvest herb roots, such as chicory and ginseng in the fall after the foliage fades.

To get the best flavor from dried herbs, it’s important to pick the leaves for drying at the correct point in the growing season.

When to harvest:

  • Harvest early in the morning, after the dew dries, but before the heat of the day.
  • Lavender, parsley, and tarragon: Harvest in June and July, just before flowering. Cut back the plants to half their height to encourage a second flowering in the fall.
  • Mint: Harvest in June and July.
  • Thyme, summer savory, and sweet marjoram: Harvest in July and August.
  • Basil and sage: Harvest in August and September.
  • Harvest early and frequently to encourage plants to produce new growth.
  • Chives, basil, mint, parsley, and oregano grow back quickly and benefit from the constant pruning.
“Tender herbs in the mint family – basil, tarragon, lemon balm, and the mints have a high moisture content and will mold quickly if not dried quickly, says Clemson Cooperative Extension Service.”

Preparing your herbs for drying:

If the herbs are clean, do not wet them. Otherwise, rinse dust and dirt from the foliage, shake off the excess water, and spread the herbs out to dry on paper towels or dishcloths until all surface moisture has evaporated. Remove any dead or damaged foliage.

Hang small bunches of them upside down in a dry, cool, place such as a closet.  If you are worried about them dropping leaves, suspend each bunch inside a paper bag ventilated with tears or punched holes. Close the top with a rubber band and place where the air currents will circulate through the bag.

Once the herbs are dry, their flavor is best preserved by keeping them in an airtight tin cans or tightly sealed jars.  Dried herbs should be used within a year.

For a list of over 30 herbs to add to your garden, check out our publication “Basic Guidelines for Growing Herbs.

Here at Wingard’s Market, we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your everyday gardening questions.  Stop by and visit our Beautiful Gift Shoppe and Fresh Produce Market while you stroll under century-old pecan trees.  It’s truly a Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091


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This project is read-only.

Wolfpack v2.x Docs (archive)

Note: v3 is the official release and support for v2.x has much lower priority!

There is fairly comprehensive documentation to support Wolfpack - however if you think something needs more detail or doesn't explain how it works then please get in touch so I can get you moving and improve it.

  • Getting Started - information on how to install/uninstall Wolfpack.
    • Updating Wolfpack - information on how to update your Wolfpack installation and install new plug-ins.
  • Health Checks - information on the built-in Health Checks that Wolfpack ships with.
  • Publishers - information on how to setup each type of publisher.
  • Activities - information on the built-in Activities that Wolfpack ships with including how to connect Wolfpack to Geckoboard to create an instant dashboard for your system.
  • How To - tries to answer common questions and setup scenarios you have with Wolfpack.

Advanced Features

  • AppStats - use this page to found out how Wolfpack can be used to record your application stats and KPI's.
  • Build Analytics - use this page to set up Wolfpack to monitor your build (TeamCity supported so far) and then extract and display NCover, SpecFlow & StoryQ statistics in Geckoboard.
  • Owl Energy Monitor - information on setting up an Owl home/office energy monitor and integrating it with Wolfpack and Geckoboard.

Last edited May 13, 2014 at 6:32 AM by jimbobdog, version 1


text:
by editorialmonster

Everyone remembers how he was blind, but nobody remembers the why of it. He blinded himself, when he was made a woman for seven years by pitiless gods.

 When he was young and he wasn’t yet a prophet, the gods turned Tiresius into a woman. She found, after being a man among men, that she could not live among her people as a woman. She learned the truth about the men and women of her time and place in a flash of violence: men were drunk and laughing together all the time; women endured. Tiresius could not walk the streets alone without the risk of rape. She could not stand in a doorway and say hello to the men that used to be her friends. They looked at her differently now. They had a smile that should not have been there. They had a lingering touch that promised of unwanted advances, and soon.

To the hills, then, in the night, to the ocean, Tiresius dressed as a man and fled. After so many years spent as a man, Tiresius could pass as a sailor well enough. The storms came, blew the ship to rocks, and she was not as experienced a sailor as she had claimed.

She fell ashore, among stones. Thousands upon thousands of stones. The forest of stones had faces, and arms, and all sorts of pieces broken away from the statues that had eroded. The island was made entirely of crumbling statues.

Tiresius knew where she was. She knew how to survive, there. As a woman, she had learned how to endure, and she could bear it with no shame and no pride. She put out her own eyes with a stone finger.

This is how she became the blind seer: after she put out her eyes, she wandered from rock to rock, searching for the statue’s lips. She let the stones whisper into her ear all the stories of their lives.

All the while, she heard the hissing of the gorgons all around her. They watched her, curiously, that strange woman who ate leaves off the tough vines and shipwrecked seeds that sprouted in the cracks of the marble. This strange woman did not seek the counsel of the gorgons of the island, which surprised the old goddesses, and instead this woman tried to listen to all the stories of the gorgons’ garden of stones.

The gorgons, not truly monstrous, not truly cruel, pitied the blind Tiresius. They brought her sides of roasted goat to eat, sometimes, and fresh fruit from their own gardens.

When all the stones had been listened to, and all the thousands of lives had poured into the blind woman’s ear, the gorgons made a raft for Tiresius. They touched the woman for the first time in seven years, while she was sleeping. The gorgons were strong and quick. The gorgons placed Tiresius upon a raft, stocked with food. The gorgons pushed her out to sea.

The goddesses called to their old lover, the sea, to heal the pathetic woman in the raft.

They had never spoken to Tiresius. They had never harmed her.

When the old sea god saw the woman in the raft, he assumed the woman had blinded herself and, ergo, did not want to be healed from that. Poseidon assumed that the woman wanted to return to her former life, as a man, because that was the wound she had that would harm her most of all at that time and place in the world.

And that is how Tiresius returned to his manhood after seven years spent as a woman.

That is how Tiresius became blind.

That is how Tiresius became wise.


text:
Nothing is impossible in this world…

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'Im possible'.png

Happy Sunday!

Are you feeling stuck with your career maybe or just life in general? Not taking risks or saying no to opportunities that scare you? You’re the only person that can change your life to live a happier life. Life is all about trail and errors, if you have a gut feeling, you should really try to follow it with any opportunity that might come your way!. As the Apple cofounder, visionary, and CEO Steve Job once said,  “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Each person was put on this earth for a reason and that’s really the only way you can be happy with your life is if you can find your true purpose in life. It may take a long time, but it’s the journey we all go through.

I truly believe in the belief if you work really hard at something you really want, the universe will conspire with you to make it all happen. Nothing in life is handed to you, you have to work hard to get “lucky.” What are you doing today or tomorrow to make your dreams a reality? You must take the step to find what makes your soul happy. Finding your purpose is the first step and I can honestly say the most successful people are the ones that found their purpose in life.

Get out there and find your purpose in life!

This post was written by David Chau. David is a musician, marketer, and passion chaser. He’s a tenacious young business professional that enjoys helping people any way he can. You can connect with David on Twitter @davidbchau or on Linkedin.

3 Simple Steps to Create Change Today

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present

3 Simple Steps to Create Change Today

I wanted to write this blog post due to more of a pet peeve than anything. Far to many times people wait until its too late to create a positive change. The story presented is that they will start on Monday, or on New Years Day, or after my birthday. So what’s the problem if they have a plan? Below are three simple steps to create a change the right way, right now.

1. Create a Plan

Sit down and outline exactly what you are looking to change. The first step to any improvement is to identify the problem and expose it. What is wrong and what can improve? What does your ideal state look like in 30, 60, 90 days? Do you need help, if so from who? Do not be embarrassed or scared, everyone has challenges. Remember, you could have a problem with a product you are ready to release, a drug problem, a eating disorder, financial problems…Your problems are no different than your bosses or your role model. There is no reason why you cannot create an impact on your life. No EXCUSE.

2. Start Now

Wait, like right now? YES! This very second… you have just started your plan whether you like it or not. Are you looking to quit smoking cigarettes? Guess what, you just did and you will not have one more..You will not quit after this pack. Get up right now and throw them away. This is the MOST IMPORTANT step. If you wait for 5 minutes you are already failing yourself. Is your “problem” different from someone else? NOPE, drop what you are doing and fix it now. The element of change does not exist by waiting. Change happens when you allow it to and its happening now.

3. Evaluate & Measure

Evaluate what you are doing and measure the success. Is there something you can do different to create a larger positive impact? This is a great time to evaluate your plan and identify if you are meeting your goals. Along with that, re-plan for your next goals. Measure and execute.

Get out there and make a difference today. Remember you put your pants on the same way as everyone else and can do anything you set your mind to.

This post was written by Sean Gibbons.

4 Simple Ways to Make A Difference

Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody

4 Simple Ways to Make A Difference

Greet Them with Enthusiasm

Set the tone for the day by being vibrant and enthusiastic. Keep it simple and sweet and make an impact.

Compliment Others

Take a few moments to compliment your peers or even just tell them what a good job they are doing, it will go further than you think.

Hold the Door for Someone

Not everyone should be in a rush, take the extra couple of seconds to hold the door open for the person behind you.

Don’t overlook the power of this. Your smile sets the pace for your mood, make sure you are in front.

This post was written by Sean Gibbons

3 Simple Points Why it is Important to Stand Out from the Crowd

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect

3 Simple Points Why it is Important to Stand Out from the Crowd

In any aspect of life, it is best to be as unlike other people as possible. This seems like a difficult concept to swallow because in our society we “admire” and “idolize” people as a way of flattery. There comes a time when you have to stop looking to celebrities and “role models” to shape yourself and you have to just start looking to yourself. Everyone is constantly looking for the new trend, the best diet, the “secret” to a happy life, etc. I believe the best way to do that for yourself is to look in the mirror: are you just like everybody else or are you striving to be different and make your own path?

Why its okay to be different from the majority:

Trying to be something you are not is exhausting.

To be honest, I am not quite sure how some people do it. Buying the “Kylie Jenner” lip kit or starting the “It Works!” diet plan… Sounds expensive! All of the time that you put into trying to be like someone else can be put into something better; creating a better version of YOU. Instead of getting the “It Works!” diet plan to fix what you don’t like about yourself, think about something you DO like about yourself and love on that! Praise yourself and fuel you soul with positivity.

There is no one else in the world like you.

Literally NO ONE. Your exact hair, personality, smile, ears, toes, voice, taste, opinion… Not one single person in the world has all that you have. When you really pause and reflect on who you are, it is pretty rad to think about just how unique you are. Take a look at yourself in the mirror right now. All of those features you have are unique to you: EMBRACE THEM!

It pays to be different.

Doing something out of the ordinary and not on the side of majority can have some really negative effects at first. If you decide you want to start a new budget so you can save money to pay off loans or buy a house, people will criticize you. “Why would they do that?” you say… Well because they wont understand why you “don’t go out as much anymore” or you “are not enjoying life”. I can promise you that whatever change you are making in your life to better yourself or to follow a different path than the norm is going to help you. In the end you will know that you did everything you did to make yourself the very best version of you.

While following along with the latest trends and happenings is the easier route to take; it wont be the best. If at this moment you feel like you are just “following” I need you to do something right now: Think about something about yourself that is unique. It can be anything; a physical feature, a belief, an idea, a talent, etc. and write down why that one thing helps you be you. Writing things down is the best way to make an impact. Write down how this one thing POSITIVELY effects your life & helps you be you.

Really though…. Everyone else is taken, just be you.

This post was written by Ashley Gibbons. Ashley is a motivated millennial set out to spread new & positive ways of thinking to today’s generations. You can follow her at:

3 Reasons Why Self Esteem is Your Biggest Obstacle

3 Reasons Why Self Esteem is Your Biggest Obstacle

1. If you don’t believe in yourself, who else will?

Self esteem is one of those topics that isn’t talked about enough. Most individuals fail not because their idea didn’t work out, but simply because they didn’t believe they could carry out an action before they even starting it. Can you image how silly it sounds for someone to buy something from you when you don’t even believe in the product or yourself as a representative. Convince yourself before you convince others.

2.  Don’t beat yourself at your own game

This really ties in to our points above. The idea is to give yourself the opportunity to win. Discrediting your idea before it starts doesn’t even allow your boss or customer have the opportunity to shut it down. You have already lost before you have begun.  Dianne Sawyer once said, “Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.”

3. Fear is just a feeling

I’ll reference the quote in the previous point as the basis of my argument. Every single person in this country has an equal right to success in anything. There is always this pre-conceived notion that there are privileged individuals who have a better chance of success. I cannot say this is true or not, but what I can say is that the CEO of General Mills and the student at a local community college put their pants on the same way every day. I cannot stress the importance of not fearing your peers. You can & you will succeed as long as you believe it, have the will to work for it and never quit.

This post was written by Sean Gibbons.

3 Steps to Make a Difference

Self doubt. Everyone has experienced this at one point or another. Job interviews, first dates, college exams, trying a new recipe, working out, staying healthy, the list could continue forever. These are just a few things that cause people to doubt themselves EVERY SINGLE DAY. But why?

Why is it that going into an interview you sometimes think:

“What if they don’t like me?”

“What if I don’t get the job?”

“What if there is someone better than me?”

The WHAT IF’S are eating away at your happiness, trust me.. I have learned. When you doubt yourself you are only giving everyone else a reason to doubt you. The first person you have to prove wrong is yourself. You are wrong when you think you will bomb the interview, you are wrong when you tell yourself that you didn’t study good enough for that exam and you are definitely wrong when you tell yourself that you are not good enough. I decided to break down the small steps you can take in order to start proving yourself(doubt) wrong.

Step 1 – SET A GOAL

For this particular exercise, you want to set a pretty big goal. That does not mean to land a job as a CEO within a month when you are currently an administrative assistant, it must be attainable. For instance, if you are trying to get back and shape set a goal to get in the gym and workout 4 days a week. WRITE IT DOWN on paper and tell yourself every single day that you are going to make that goal.

This is an interesting step and I think its super important. You need to tell someone about your goal. Whether it be your husband/wife, best friend or your coworker. You need someone else to keep you accountable. That way not only will you prove your self(doubt) wrong, you can also prove other people wrong when they doubt your ability to attain the goals. For example, I would tell my husband about my fitness goal so that when Wednesday rolls around and I REALLY want to sit and drink wine on the couch, he will remind me what my goals are. (Or he will sit on the couch and drink wine with me…. Let’s hope for that first option)

Step 3 – CRUSH IT

Well obviously?! Get to the gym every day you promised yourself you would. This is a small life goal and you should be crushing it. Think about what made you set this goal in the first place: are you trying to be super fit? Just trying to get healthier? Wanting to look good in that bikini? Think about it every day and make sure you meet that goal. Remember, we set a realistic goal so it will be easy to attain. You have to set small goals at first so that you can get a few small victories under your belt. That way, when it comes time to reaching a BIG goal (did somebody say CEO?) you will have the confidence you need to get there.

After proving to yourself that you CAN do that one thing that you told yourself you CANNOT do because you don’t have enough time, money, patience, etc. now you need to do it all over again. Do it all over again with something bigger. The more goals you crush the more that the self doubt in your head is going to diminish.

This post was written by Ashley Gibbons. Ashley is a motivated millennial set out to spread new & positive ways of thinking to today’s generations. You can follow her at:

3 Easy Steps to Kick Your Stress to the Curb

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen

3 Easy Steps to Kick Your Stress to the Curb

1. Clear Your Mind

Not everything we do qualifies as a life-or-death experience. Let’s be honest, some things can just wait. Typically people believe that stress is born due to having too much work, or perhaps something going wrong or potentially wrong. Now, I can’t stop any of these things and typically neither can you. So how can we reduce the pain that this causes. The first is to write down your total work load down daily. Each morning I spend 5-10 minutes creating a check list of all the action items I have due. This could be overwhelming, but I do not stop until I get everything on my piece of paper. This exercise allows you to remove the clutter of thought from your brain which prohibits the process that makes you feel overwhelmed.

2. Organize & Prioritize

Your check list is written and your mind is clear. Your next step is to prioritize your action items by most important to least important. The items that get worked on first WILL NOT be the items that have the closest due date. You will focus specifically first on the items that will create the greatest impact to what you are doing. If you are in sales like I am, I focused on my largest accounts first, then move down my list.

3. Execute

When starting a task, place 100 percent of your focus solely on that activity until it is completed. By now, you are probably asking how the heck this will reduce stress. You are probably asking why multi-tasking isn’t more effective. This exercise is not a diaper for your stress, it is a solution to kick stress to the curb. By religiously following this exercise you will start to realize the return on your investments. You will learn not to sweat the small stuff and life will move on. You will spend less time “fixing” problems, and more time executing plans.

Get out there and win.

Sean Gibbons

Investing Your Time in Professional Development is Critical

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you’re all having a great Valentines Day with your loved one. I just wanted to put this quick write up about the importance of investing in your own personal development. A lot of us get into the mode of caring for the ones that around us, which includes family and friends, which is great but everyone needs to cater to their self development as well.  Anything you want to accomplish in life won’t happen without investing in yourself and the desire to improve yourself. If you want to be a better communicator, public speaker, and leader, there is a number of professional development groups out there that has a great support system to support your goals such as Toastmasters International.  Always try to focus on making yourself a better person because life is not about being stagnant, it’s about always adapting to life because nothing every comes easy. If you want to change careers, its easier to do than past years to do that, find your passion and stick with it!. But always remember, you should always make time for yourself, because in the end, you’re one that are responsible for your life and legacy you leave behind, not your friends, family, or even your critics.  You are the only one that can motivate yourself to achieve your best self and accomplish the goals you have for yourself. Go ahead and take a look at the mirror everyday, because that’s your one and only competition. Everyday is a chance to get better so don’t lose that opportunity to improve yourself. Take more risks and don’t worry about what others are accomplishing, everyone’s journey is different  Hope you all enjoyed this post and I hope this write up lit a fire within each and every one of you to not sit around and invest time in becoming our best selves!

_If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.” -(1)

This post was written by David Chau. David is a musician, marketer, and passion chaser. He’s a tenacious young business professional that enjoys helping people any way he can. You can connect with David on Twitter @davidbchau or on Linkedin.

5 Steps to Setting & Achieving 2016 Goals

5 Steps to Setting & Achieving 2016 Goals

We all set goals and all to often lose sight of them all to quickly. As the new year kicks in full effect, I am going to give you an easy tool to set goals & reach them by being SMART.

1.Set Specific Goals

Sit down and write out 10 items that want to achieve this year. Now take a look at each individual line item and write a very specific statement. “I will loose 25 pounds by the end of 2016.” Notice this has a specific point and sets a period of time the goal needs to be reached.

2.Ensure Your Goal is Measurable

You have written down your rough draft of 10 goals you want to achieve but they still need modification (or may need). Ensure every goal is measurable and has a specific piece of information that can be formally proved. A good example is that you are looking to lose 25lbs by the end of 2016. A bad example would be “I am going to be nice to my parents.” If you have what is considered a bad example, ask your self how am I going to do this. Start with actions…”I am going to be nice to my parents by complimenting them once a week until the end of 2016.”

3. Attainable

When writing your goals, you want to ensure your goals are attainable. Now, I am not saying to go easy on yourself, but make sure they are possible. My best recommendation here is to set a good goal you can hit, then a secondary “stretch” goal that may be just out of your reach.

4. Realistic

This goes on right along side with attainable. You want to ensure your goals are realistic and not to far fetched. The idea is to challenge yourself, but at the same time hit your goals. Setting unrealistic goals not only diminishes self esteem, but it causes failure from the start.

5. Timely

The last point to note when writing your goals is to attach a time period specific to what you are trying to achieve. If you are looking to lose a specific amount of weight, when are going to do that? What is your deadline. I also recommend setting pace markers through out the year to help keep yourself on track. Break it up monthly or quarterly to help monitor your progress.

Now, I can’t promise you success with hitting your goals. However, if you follow this 5 step system, it will help align you to having a successful 2016.

-Sean Gibbons

3 Steps to Beating Anxiety

3 Steps to Beating Anxiety

1. Identify the Triggers

The most important thing to know before tackling anxiety is to understand what anxiety is (not just understand the feeling). Anxiety is a form of fear when there is no immediate threat to ones life. Essentially, it is fear of the UNKNOWN. The first step in battling your anxiety is to understand what causes it. I challenge you to carry a notebook for one week. Each time you start to feel anxious, analyze what your day looks like and get a feel of the most challenging topics/subjects/tasks of the day – document it. By the end of the week, you should have a decent amount of notes to reference back on. Where are the trends? What do you see that repeats itself? For example, my anxiety triggers are: getting a call from an unknown number, receiving a challenging email I just don’t have the answer to, and sometimes leading up to an event where I will have to speak publicly. As you can see, when you take a step back and analyze my triggers, it is fear of the unknown! Who is calling me and why? How can I answer this email honestly with the correct information? What happens if I forget the topics I am speaking about?

2. Flip the Script

Flip the script means change your perspective. This is extremely difficult for people due to the need to over-analyze a situation, so I am going to make it really simple. Anxiety is pessimistic, excitement is optimistic. While you may feel fearful about what comes next, try shifting your perspective to a form of excitement. Who is calling me? The president! How can I answer this email honestly with the correct information? Ask for help and give your honest answer – life rolls on! What happens if I forget the topics I am speaking about? I get the opportunity to speak because I have earned it, and I provide valuable information even if I miss a few small points. Life is about opportunities and being excited about those opportunities.

3. Shift Your Energy

Eliminate dwell time in your life. Try turning your TV off and do things you love, preferably active things. I really don’t have much to add other than live the life you want to live. Enjoy your life in a way that you want to enjoy it. Do the things you want to, because YOU CAN.

This post was written by Sean Gibbons. Sean is a visionary set out to challenge the thoughts of today’s generations. You can follow him at:


text:
Le Pen labels deportations of Jews from France ‘vile’

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen holds those French who took part in “vile” deportations of Jews during the Holocaust “personally responsible,” but excuses the nation.

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen set off a controversy earlier this month  when she remarked on LCI television, “I don’t think France is responsible for the Vel d’Hiv.”

More than 13,000 Jews were gathered at the Vel d’Hiv cycling track in Paris and deported to Nazi death camps.

Le Pen explained the French leaders fled and the status of the ruling Vichy government was a de facto puppet of Nazi Germany.

“I think that, generally speaking, if there are people responsible, it’s those who were in power at the time. It’s not France.”

Free France was the government-in-exile of France, led by Charles de Gaulle and forces that fought with the Allies against the Axis powers. It was seated in London from June 1940 until the end of the war and organised the “French resistance.”

Le Pen later explained, “Like Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand [have claimed] France and the Republic were in London during the occupation.” Le Pen was adamant the Vichy regime did not represent France.

Le Pen distinguished between claims that France was responsible for the deportations of Jews during the Holocaust, and individual French citizens who were responsible for their personal roles.

“This does not at all exonerate the actual personal responsibility of those French who took part in the vile Vel d’Hiv round-up and all the atrocities committed in that period,” Le Pen clarified.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin attacked Le Pen for breaking from previous French presidents who accepted general responsibility for the deportations of Jews.

“This declaration is contrary to historical truth, as expressed in the statements of successive French presidents who recognized France’s responsibility for the fate of the French Jews who perished in the Holocaust,” the statement read.

Former president Jacques Chirac and current president François Hollande both apologized for the role played by French police in the 1942 deportations ordered by the Nazi regime.

Chirac’s predecessor, François Mitterrand never apologized, claiming, like Le Pen, that France was not responsible for carrying out Nazi orders.

Of the more than 300,000 Jews living in France at the beginning of the war, some 75,000 were deported to death camps, where most perished. The survival rate of the French Jewish population was, however, among the highest in Europe.

By World Israel News staff