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Author Archives: myfamilytravelsblog

At World’s End

Ushuaia (Argentina) boasts of being the southernmost city on the planet and it’s the most convenient launching pad to visit the continent of Antarctica. We had made reservations well in advance on the “Ocean Endeavor” with Quark Expeditions. (Not to make an ad of this post but they truly are the best at this kind of travel. In case you’re wondering: wholehearted recommendation from us.) We were lucky to get on the last expedition of the season before they shut down operations for their winter when ice becomes so thick and sunlight so scarce that it is impossible to visit Antarctica.

We should have had half a day to visit Ushuaia but flying there, our small charter plane had to land to refuel mid-trip because the wind currents over the Patagonia were so strong we were burning more fuel than anticipated. This meant that we had only one hour to walk around Ushuaia before boarding.

Ushuaia is a cute town and while we would have loved to spend some time there, we didn’t feel shortchanged. Maybe we were simply too excited about the upcoming journey and eager to set out.

The Ocean Endeavor has a reinforced hull to be able to withstand the ice we would be traveling among. It has capacity for 199 guests plus crew which we thought would be way too big but turned out to be the perfect size for our 10 day adventure. I’ll make a parenthesis here to say that our boat was not at full capacity and my impression was that this is common; so for anyone with some time to spare it wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea to arrive in Ushuaia without a reservation and find a spot in a departing tour probably at a discount. We had a very specific window of time we could travel during so this was not an option for us but for any solo travelers out there my advice would be to take a chance.

The crew hails from every corner of the planet and while all speak different languages, they have in common their solicitousness which made our time aboard truly enjoyable.

Getting to Antarctica means having to cross the infamous Drake Passage.

The Drake Passage is the bane of visitors to Antarctica because it is one of the roughest stretches of sea anywhere. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans carrying 600 times more water than the Amazon River. We were lucky even in this as during our navigation, the Drake Passage was as calm as a lake and we were able to make quick time getting to the South Shetland Islands. We even got to watch a pod of Orcas swim by.

Several nations have laid claim to wedges of Antarctica, among them Argentina which maintains several outposts only occupied during the summer months. We visited Camara Station in Half Moon Island which had just been vacated for the season.

Why would nations keep deserted outposts? Well, the Antarctic Treaty says, among other things, that any nation wanting to claim a bit of the Antarctic continent must operate a research station there. Hence, several countries keep stations here which they visit only during a few days every year technically complying with this requirement. Antarctica is the only continent without an indigenous human population and is governed under the Antarctic Treaty which is scheduled to expire in 2048, not too long now. For a quick read on the precarious military situation Antarctica is in, please visit this well-written article from the World Economic Forum.

Half Moon Island is home to Fur Seal

and  Chinstrap Penguin colonies

which happily coexist.

As well as some Gentoo Penguins.

At this time of the season, penguins are almost done molting which they do to get rid of old, damaged feathers. The new feathers will be pristine and protect them through the harsh winter. They do look miserable while it’s taking place though.

We made the surprisingly fatiguing trek to the island’s peak to visit the rookery

where our guides were eager to introduce us to Kevin, a confused Macaroni Penguin who has taken residence with the Chinstraps.

While we were here they made a stunning discovery: Kevin engaging in a mating dance with a Chinstrap. Why is this stunning? Because different kinds of penguins don’t mate with each other!

Of course more observation is required before coming to any conclusions and as our guides excitedly planned for it, we enjoyed having been lucky witnesses to the event. We were quite tired from the  trek and couldn’t help wonder how the penguins make it to the top all the way from the waters’ edge:

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No wonder they sometimes break for a quick nap.

There are many other creatures living on the island. Look closely at the water in this picture, those aren’t penguins swimming in.

They are Antarctic Shags.

Like penguins, they feed on fish and are excellent swimmers but they have a leg up in that they can also fly.

While in Antarctica waters, we made off-boat excursions twice a day. We were all assigned a group and then called down to the common room when we were to disembark. All our winter gear stayed in this room where everyone was assigned a locker. Once geared up, we stood in line awaiting our turn out the “door”.

Excursions were always an adventure.

Among the weird creatures in the water are these guys:

They form long columns by latching onto each other and float around pushed by the currents until somebody eats them. They’ve got the consistency of week-old Jello and seem just as appetizing but apparently are as yummy as dessert for Antarctica inhabitants.

Being in a zodiac surrounded by ice can get extremely cold but there’s no other way to experience sights such as these:

On every excursion, we would land for a few hours to observe the local wildlife.

Antarctic Gull:

Wedell Seal:

South American Fur Seal:

Chilean Skua:

Crabeater Seal:

Penguins were always a big hit. These are part of a Gentoo rookery:

with a random Chinstrap among them.

Upon returning to the boat,

we were required to scrub ourselves thoroughly to avoid carrying any organism (plant, bacteria, moss, spores, poop, etc) from one landing to the next.

Even the soles of our boots were exhaustively inspected before being barcode-checked back on board. Many a passenger was sent back for a second scrubbing during these checks.

With world temperatures climbing, invasive species are beginning to cause major damage in  Antarctica. While Polar Bears (in the northern regions of the globe) get most of the press, Antarctic species are also suffering. For instance, an interesting fact is that there are no mosquitoes in Antarctica so far which means no mosquito-transmitted diseases. However, with temperatures rising and tourism increasing, house flies are being introduced and this means indigenous species will soon come into contact with diseases they have no defenses against. Tourism in Antarctica is governed by IAATO but this is an entirely optional association. Tourists can help keep Antarctica safe by making sure their tour operator belongs to IAATO and by following all guidelines, such as thoroughly cleaning all their gear, camera cases included.

Back on board, meals were fantastic! Imagine dining al fresco

surrounded by this scenery:

while these guys provide the entertainment:

Most of our guides were scientists or naturalists with incredibly interesting lives. Lectures were given every day on different topics, from marine life to the history of polar expeditions. Lectures were so well attended that we had to get to the audiovisual room early in order to get a seat, that’s how engrossing they were. One of our guides was a Glaciologist, specializing in the study of ice on Mars. I know what you’re thinking: “How interesting can ice actually be?” Before this trip, I would have asked the same question. Well, let me tell you it was the most interesting lecture of them all! We were lucky to get him as our zodiac guide the next day where he continued to amaze us with his expertise. Here he is explaining how scientists can figure out the concentrations of elements which existed in Earth’s atmosphere millions of years ago by analyzing the air bubbles trapped in the Antarctic ice.

Another awesome guide was Jimmy, whom we all baptized as the “whale whisperer”.

I kid you not, whenever we were lucky enough to get him for our zodiac guide, whales would invariably come calling, both Humpback

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and Minke Whales.

And of course you know what these guys eat, don’t you?

Antarctic Krill.

Fernando says it tastes like shrimp and yes, he swallowed it raw, eyes and all.

There were lots of other creatures to look at as well.

On these excursions, some guests opted for kayaking

or even paddle-boarding.

It looks awesome doesn’t it? To be honest, I think it’s one of those things that look great but maybe aren’t so much. Why am I pooh-poohing it? Most of the people who came back from those excursions didn’t look too happy. See, unless you’re super good at it already, you’ll probably fall off a few times and well, the water is a bit colder than fresh. I imagine having to continue with the group when you’re soaking wet and possibly beginning to frost all over might be just a tad inconvenient but I’m open to changing my mind so go try it and let me know how much you enjoyed it.

We landed at some historic sites where remains of early expeditions could be seen. History buffs will have to forgive me though, I didn’t pay much attention to those. I just was in it for the penguins.

This is Primavera Station (Argentinian) in Ciervo Cove which at this time of the year seems to be run by penguins.

Turns out penguins are super nosy!

As soon as we landed, they would come over immediately to investigate us.

Observing them in the water was astonishing:

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but very difficult since they are such fast swimmers. Observing them on land was much easier.

Skuas and penguins, although coexist in the same areas, are enemies.

Skuas will steal food away from the penguins

which isn’t taken lightly. A chase ensues which the skua often wins since it can simply fly away.

Skuas will also steal penguin eggs and even new chicks if their parents are careless. They don’t turn their noses up at old bits either.

While penguins seem cuddly, they’re actually kind of vicious. This youngster

relentlessly bullied this younger penguin for a full 10 minutes while we all powerlessly watched it go on.

Some of the tourists were quite upset about it but intervening is huge no-no. As always with nature, there are some other upsetting sights

as well as absorbing ones:

Penguins are simply fascinating.

Then again, in Antarctica, everything is!

Leopard Seals are some of the fiercest predators in these waters. Like every other Antarctic inhabitant, they will feed on fish and krill but much prefer penguin if it can be had. We saw a Leopard seal take a penguin right from the shore while we all stood with mouths agape. We saw another one catch a gull in flight.

Can you see the curiosity in its eyes as it looks at us?

We didn’t dare come any closer. You can tell Leopard Seals apart from all the others because their faces are more elongated, the better to hunt with.

We crossed the Lemaire Channel which is knows as the “Kodak Gap” for its stunning scenery featuring enormous icebergs.

On our last day in Antarctic waters the crew decided a “Polar Plunge” would be the perfect way to end our trip. Fernando and Alejandro were insane brave enough to go for it.

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We then began our journey back and our luck ran out.

The Drake Passage which had welcomed us so gently, woke up and attacked us. And yes, attacked is the word I’ll describe it with. The boat rocked from side to side with such force that we were thrown out of bed along with anything else that was not tied down. We could see the ocean come up to meet us through the porthole in our room and then disappear from sight until the next tilt. I was convinced we were going to capsize. None of the seasickness remedies I had carried with me worked and I spent the next two days struggling to hold down a sip of water. The boys fared just a tad better but not by much.  However, Fernando was entirely unaffected and able to enjoy the gourmet meals the crew was dishing out and attend lectures by those scientists aboard who weren’t likewise indisposed. The nerve of him!

Once we made it through the Drake Passage, we found ourselves rounding Cape Horn. This is allegedly one of the most hazardous shipping routes in the world, even known as a “sailors graveyard”, but by the time we got here, after the ordeal that the Drake Passage had been, we simply enjoyed the view. We were able to take a peek at the lighthouse for a moment before the fog descended and covered it again.

And just like that, a few short hours later, we were back in Ushuaia.

Visiting Antarctica was an incredible experience and one we would gladly embark on again, seasickness and all. If there is one thing to take away from this trip it is that Antarctica is a magical, albeit horribly fragile place and we’re doing our children’s children irreparable harm by not taking better care of it. We need to begin by taking care of our little corners of the world and making every consumption decision fully conscious, remembering that everything that we use had to come from somewhere and that the health of every place, no matter how far away, ultimately effects all of us.

“We don’t have four years to sit around and wait for better management” Robert Swan,  the first man to walk to both the North and South Poles and founder of the 2041 Foundation, admonished us. Robert and his IAE16 group (over 50 people) were on the boat with us. His group, which included Mr. Jonathan Shackleton (descendant of the famous explorer Sir Ernest H. Shackleton), came from all corners of the world and were both female and male, of all possible ages and professions, but the one thing they all had in common was the focus of the work they do in their own communities towards fostering a better planet for all. I invite you to learn more about this admirable man and his foundation, and to do what we can from wherever we are. Let’s make our great-grand kids proud!

Categories: Antarctica, Argentina, South America, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Colonia del Sacramento

Day trips to Uruguay are a common offering in Buenos Aires. You’ve got two options: Montevideo, which is the capital of Uruguay; or Colonia, a small town of about 30,000 people and a lot nearer (1hr). You can buy tickets for the Buquebus yourself or do as we did and simply walk into any of the many travel agencies located on Avenida Córdoba near Galerías Pacífico. Trying to drum up tourism, they offer packages designed exclusively for foreigners which end up being cheaper than buying tickets at the station; plus they give you a guided walking tour of Colonia’s historic downtown, a bus tour around the outskirts, and they even throw in a sandwich, not a good one but hey: free food.

Some tips about the ferry. Once you arrive at the Buquebus station, get thru security and into the waiting area immediately. Don’t be fooled by how few people are milling around pre-security. By the time we got in, the line to get on the ferry snaked around the station 3 times already. Why does this matter? Seats aren’t numbered, you simply get the one you can and it is a free-for-all once those doors open. Best is by the windows. Aisle rows are directly below the A/C vents and made us long for the heavy jackets we had left back at the hotel in Buenos Aires. A curious fact is that since this is an international trip, they’ve got duty-free shopping aboard the ferry. We wandered into the store and were shocked by what people were willing to pay for products they can’t get back home.

That’s US Dollars!

Items were flying off the shelves nevertheless.

Arriving in Colonia offers a pretty view of the lighthouse and the Uruguayan flag.

Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by Portuguese settlers who built a fort around the city. Today you can still visit some vestiges of the old city wall

as well as the drawbridge.

On the outside of the drawbridge you will find a plaque commemorating José Gervasio Artigas who led Uruguay’s struggle for independence from the four nations which claimed it for themselves: Spain, Portugal, Brazil & Argentina, and the men who courageously followed him back in 1811.

Downtown’s tallest building is the lighthouse. Buy tickets at the base and then climb the very narrow stairs all the way up to the lens.

From this height you get unobstructed views of Colonia’s water treatment plant on one side,

as well as the Rio de la Plata on the other. This is the widest river in the world and was named so for the silver the Guaraní tribes along its coast traded with the early European explorers.

Sit a while and take it all in.

Colonia’s Historic Downtown Quarter has preserved the fusion of Spanish and Portuguese architectures and for this reason UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1995 .

It’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean is never forgotten as evidenced by the exhibits in its tiny museum.

Once our walking tour ended, we rented a golf cart to drive out from the old downtown to visit one of Colonia’s most famous landmarks: the Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos. It is famous for its Moorish architecture which came about simply because the Argentinian entrepreneur who built it, liked the style. The bullring was opened in 1910 and shut down just 2 years later when Uruguay banned bullfighting as cruel to animals.

The ring sits abandoned and could be visited up to a few years ago when a small earthquake caused some wall crumbling. The authorities fenced it in and closed it to the public for their own safety. It’s nice to look at but…

More interesting is the long road leading up to it which borders the river and has access to several beach spots. Although the water is a bit smelly, it is warm and people do swim here.

You will see a few people fishing from shore but actually Uruguay is an increasingly known destination for deep-water fishing for much bigger catch: the hyper-aggressive Dorado, or Mahi-Mahi. This is due to the country’s safety and relative affordability. I do say relative because we found things in Colonia to be shockingly expensive. One could go broke on ice cream here.

While cannabis is legal in Uruguay, don’t get any ideas as it is legal ONLY to citizens and they have to register with the government for it.

We spent the entire day in Colonia and to be honest it was half a day too long. Of course you could always just sit at one of their many, many downtown cafes and pass the time, food was pretty good every place we tried.

Or stroll through their beautiful old colonial streets. Just make sure you watch your step. Colonia takes its animal love to the extreme: dozens of dogs wander the city unaccompanied leaving their mark literally everywhere.

I bet the humongous insects don’t mind.

This post concludes my interlude and now we get to the really awesome part. Why were we all the way here at the oddest time of the year? You see, the destination we were headed to can only be visited now because the ice engulfs and isolates it later. Have you guessed yet? Antarctica!! Which was absolutely incredible but you’ll have to wait until next time to read about it.

Categories: South America, UNESCO site, Uruguay | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Art in BA

Argentina has given the world several renowned artists such as Antonio Berni who is one of the creators of the impressive frescoes at Galerías Pacífico.

Berni also collaborated with Siqueiros on that cellar we talked about in the previous post. When a mall contains treasures such as these, it is well worth visiting. Don’t miss out on the extravagantly flavored ice cream (bottom level, next to the food court). You will find many other works from Berni at the Museum of Latin American Art such as “The Grand Illusion”:This work is a criticism of Capitalism and the illusions of beauty and wealth it promotes to the detriment of peace. It is certainly not meant to be pleasing to the eye. The Museum of Latin American Art was a highlight of our visit to Buenos Aires and I can’t recommend it enough. Although the museum is one of the few places in BA that charges admission, the guided tour itself is free and very much worth sticking around for. Among its many treasures is one by the most well-known Latin American artist ever: Frida Kahlo.A peculiar Argentinan artist is Xul Solar. His name means ‘light of the sun’ and he picked it himself. His former house has now been converted to a museum dedicated to his work. Solar was eccentric, believed in astrology and numerology, and was certain that flying cities were the answer to the problem of overpopulation. He wasn’t only a painter though, he invented games and musical instruments as well.He even went as far as to invent a new language: “Pan-Lingua”, even though he already had mastered 10 different ones! He believed that Pan Lingua, which is based on Mathematics and Music, would eventually become our universal language. Xul Solar was a dreamer. He was also best friends with Jorge Luis Borges, Argentina’s greatest author, and a very vocal critic of the Peróns.

A somewhat odd relationship considering that Borges was a conservative and Solar could easily be described as kooky.

And since we’re on the subject of writers, Buenos Aires is home to the second most spectacular bookstore in the world: El Ateneo. (number one is in The Netherlands in case you wondered) This bookstore is housed in the former building of the Teatro Gran Splendid which was opened in 1919. Today, the seats have been replaced with shelves, the stage has been converted to a café with occasional music acts, and the theater balconies have become reading rooms. I could easily have spent the entire day here.

Best thing was our hotel was just a few blocks away which after a long day of walking, believe me, matters.

No visit to Buenos Aires would be complete without a stroll through “El Caminito”, the iconic BA postcard.

El Caminito is situated in the Boca neighborhood and although it is very touristic and hence quite safe, take a cab here. We were told the Subte station wasn’t safe even at midday. Here you can find Maradona,

Evita and Perón,

even the Pope!

as well as the Boca Juniors stadium.

Boca Juniors is the most successful Argentinian fútbol team, although that is debatable according to our taxi driver who didn’t hesitate to make his deeply held contrary opinion known.

If you happen to be in Buenos Aires on a Sunday, you must visit the enormous open air San Telmo market. All sorts of original wares are sold here and the food is fantastic. Try the empanadas, they are cheap, fast and oh so good, particularly the Margarita ones. Stop by the plaza where you can watch couples practicing their Tango moves.

At the far end of San Telmo you will find Mafalda and her friends.

Mafalda: “her neighborhood is San Telmo, her home the world.”

Mafalda is the creation of Argentinian cartoonist Quino and as well known throughout Latin America as Snoopy is in the USA. While Mafalda is only 6 years old, she is prematurely worried about the world and concerned with politics. Mafalda taught me to be an environmentalist before I even knew the word existed. She was also the only girl I knew growing up for whom speaking her mind didn’t seem to be a problem and thus a role model, as silly as that may seem. The boys were horrified at how giddy I got when I found her sitting on a bench. Can you fault me for loving her?

“My hair is not uncombed, it has freedom of expression”

I don’t want to end this post on Buenos Aires without recommending you visit Parrilla Peña, a restaurant whose specialty is “bife de chorizo”, the best steak you’ll ever have. The portions are huge, one meal can easily feed two grown men, and very reasonably priced (cash only). Not to mention that they will serve you empanadas as an appetizer, they’ve got inexpensive house wine, and their freshly-squeezed orange juice is to die for. They’re off the tourist track and most of their patrons are locals, that’s how you know it’s good. Get there early because it fills up but if you can’t, just walk up to the owner and he’ll get you on the waiting list. It is worth the wait and that’s coming from someone who never ever waits. Don’t despair if you can’t get to Parrilla Peña though, we found food in Buenos Aires to be good every place we tried. You can not go wrong simply sitting down at one of the many corner cafés for a bit of rest and people-watching.

I’ve got one more place to show you before I let you know why we came all the way here but it will have to wait for the next time. A bit more patience, it’ll be worth it.

Categories: Argentina, South America | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Buenos Aires

We are very lucky to have summers off and thus all our travels are usually then but this time we were forced (you just feel sorry for us, don’t you?) to take an early break in Spring. I am going to keep you wondering why for just a bit though. For now, let me tell you that we found ourselves in Buenos Aires, Argentina in early March, the end of their summer.

The weather was pleasant, people nice, food yummy and the city beautiful: highly recommend it.

Our first stop was the Recoleta Cemetery which is one of the most famous and beautiful cemeteries in the world.

Why was this our first stop? They have free tours Tues-Fri at 11am & Sat-Sun at 11am and 3pm. This being Sunday, we didn’t want to miss it or else we wouldn’t be able to make it up since we wouldn’t be in BA for long. The cemetery was founded by the “Recoleto” friars (from where the neighborhood takes its name) in 1732 when they built a church here. Back then the cemetery was for Catholics only but was opened to the general public in 1822. As the wealthy people fleeing the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1870 settled in the Recoleta neighborhood, the cemetery came to harbor some of the most illustrious citizens of BA, among them politicians and athletes as well as artists, writers and actors; 15 presidents and 2 Nobel prizes are buried here. However, the cemetery’s most famous resident is without any doubt Eva Perón.

Eva Perón was the second wife of Juan Domingo Perón, Argentina’s first democratically elected president and the only one to be so elected on three different occasions.

Evita was instrumental in getting her husband to the presidency the first two times. She wasn’t around for the third as she died of cervical cancer just a few months after his reelection. In a curious coincidence, Perón’s first wife had also died of cervical cancer years before he met Evita. (PSA: HPV, do your kids a favor and get them vaccinated.) Evita came from poverty and was born out of wedlock, both circumstances earning her discrimination throughout her life. Add the disability of being a woman at that time and you gain an understanding of where her policies to help the poor, particularly women and children, came from. Were it not for her female condition, Evita would surely have held elected office herself. As it were, she had tremendous influence on her husband: Argentinian women owe her the right to vote (1947) and the right to hold shared custody of their children (1949). Evita remains even today the most beloved first lady in the entire world. She died at only 33 years old, an event which her enemies, of which she had many among the upper classes who hated her policies, celebrated with graffiti thanking Cancer and a campaign to malign her by calling her “ambitious”. Those poor souls probably had an apoplexy when her funeral lasted 16 days and more than 2 million people stood in the rain for days just for a chance to say good bye. Evita’s wake was held at Argentina’s National Congress, an honor bestowed on no other first lady. I could talk for days about Evita but instead I will encourage you to learn for yourself about this admirable woman who dared to desire an equal place in a man’s world.

The Recoleta Cemetery is the definition of a City of the Dead: it is over 5 blocks wide, divided into segments with streets and alleyways. To find any particular tomb, you must consult the map.

Visit Evita early to avoid the crowds (quick tip: she is buried in her father’s crypt among the family who despised her)

and then simply get lost while you enjoy the amazing architecture of the mausoleums.

Navigating Buenos Aires is pretty simple, the subway (called Subte) lines run on schedule and hailing a cab from the sidewalk is safe and inexpensive. Nevertheless, we ended up walking the entire city! We simply went from one attraction to the next thinking that each was too near the previous one to take transportation. At the end of the day, our feet hated us but we had seen even some attractions which don’t figure in the guide books such as this whimsical tree support in a nearby park.

Buenos Aires was founded in the 16th century by Spanish traders, the architecture of the city is a dead giveaway to its colonial past. BA is full of statues and old colonial buildings everywhere you turn to. One such monument is the one erected to remember General José de San Martín, along with Simón Bolivar, one of the liberators of South America from Spanish rule and a national hero in Argentina.

Teatro Colón is a must-see attraction.

It is the main opera house in Argentina and a beautiful building full of gorgeous details.

However, what gives it world renown are the acoustics. They are so perfect that even Luciano Pavarotti considered it to be among the top 5 concert halls in the world.

What is even cooler is that they not only hold performances for adults but also some especially designed for children to enjoy. We weren’t in BA long enough to get tickets but we were lucky that the day we were touring it, the philharmonic was practicing and we got to watch them for a bit.

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and thus is the site of the houses of government, most of them arranged around the Plaza de Mayo which makes it easy to visit them all in one day. You could begin by visiting the “Congreso de la Nacion” or National Congress at the start of Avenida de Mayo and then follow this avenue to its end at the Plaza. The National Congress has free guided tours every Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri at 12:30 & 17 hrs.

Get here early because you must sign in & show official ID to obtain tickets (they’re free); it will take a while to get in and the guide won’t wait for stragglers. We began our visit backwards and were dead tired by the time we got here but considered ourselves lucky to have gotten in to the last tour. This is the House of Representatives; there are 257 of them but only 72 senators.

We were surprised by how exhaustive the visit was. We even got to see the Library of Congress with its beautiful Walnut wood panels covering every last bit,

as well as the Eva Perón Hall which was decorated in pink by the woman herself as a reminder to the congressmen that women should also be given a place at the table.

A gold bust of Evita (left-hand corner) as well as her funeral shroud are now exhibited here.

Following the avenue, on the west side of the Plaza de Mayo lies the “Cabildo” which is where Buenos Aires government was first established by the Spanish settlers to represent them before the Crown. It is now a museum narrating the history of Buenos Aires. The old well still stands in the patio.

From its balcony you can see the Metropolitan Cathedral to the left.

The remains of General José de San Martín are kept here.

Directly across the Plaza stands the “Casa Rosada” which is pink because President Sarmiento decided to paint it so in 1868 and this tradition has been followed since.

The Casa Rosada is the workplace of the president, vice-president and their cabinets. Free guided tours are offered Sat & Sun but you must sign up online early enough (up to 15 days ahead) to get a spot. As expected of a place of such importance, the inside is a work of art although understandably pictures aren’t allowed in most rooms. This is the White Hall or “Salón Blanco” where the most important events take place, such as the transfer of power from the outgoing president to the incoming one and the signing of international treaties.

Once again, we were surprised at how comprehensive the visit was since we were taken to see even the offices of the president and vice-president, no pictures allowed of course. The only hall we weren’t shown was the one dedicated to Eva Perón from where she ran her foundation for the poor when she was alive. From her hall, the balcony on which she famously addressed the populace is accessed. I would have loved to have been able to step out unto it.

The Honor Hall is populated with the busts of Argentina’s constitutionally elected presidents (not all of them have been so). The bust of Néstor Kirchner (prez from 2003-2007) stands out because of the band-aid on his forehead. The bust was commissioned by his widow Cristina (also a former president of Argentina 2007-2015) after his death. She insisted on the band-aid to commemorate the one he had to wear at his swearing-in ceremony after an accidental run-in with a photographer’s camera when he approached the crowds gathered to take a peek at the new president.

Behind the Casa Rosada stands the Casa Rosada Museum. The museum is underground, at the site of the first fort established here in the eighteenth century.

It covers Argentinian history from its beginnings to the present day with several movies as well as artifacts, furniture and paintings. It is a well-designed and very informative museum, an absolute must-see to understand Argentina’s violent and complicated history. And its free!

It also houses an incredible piece by David Alfaro Siqueiros,

Mexican muralist who designed an entire underground alcove for his patron Natalio Botana.

Siqueiros’ murals tended to speak of the injustices suffered by the poor in being exploited by the rich and thus he was an uncomfortable guest. He was exiled in 1929 to Uruguay where he met and married his muse, Blanca Luz Brum, a writer. He was then invited to L.A. where his mural “Tropical America” caused the U.S. authorities to suggest he leave the country. At this time, Victoria Ocampo (Argentinian writer) asked him to travel to Buenos Aires for a series of lectures; he gladly accepted her invitation. During his first lecture, he exhorted Argentinian artists to let their art break free from tradition and instead mirror back to society its ills. His incendiary lecture caused the military government of Argentina to detain him for a few days (he wouldn’t be allowed to give any more lectures) after which Siqueiros found himself unable to leave the country. Botana offered him a home and asked him to decorate his wine cellar in return. The entire story is sordid…and terribly interesting! See, Siqueiros came to Argentina with his wife and he held the firm conviction that art should be free and accessible to everyone. Botana asking him to paint an underground and private cellar was jarring to him. On top of it, his wife becomes Botana’s lover and when Siqueiros finally leaves for New York City, she stays behind. Now, Botana was a married man himself but his wife was in a sanatorium in Germany addicted to ether. Turns out that when she had confessed to her then 17 year old firstborn that Botana was not his father, the son shot himself in front of his two younger brothers. The mother couldn’t take it and became addicted to opium. Ether was supposed to cure her addiction to opium but didn’t. She lived to the ripe old age of 80 outliving them all.

For the cellar, Siqueiros decided to paint a completely apolitical mural devoid of all ideology. He imagined a glass box under the sea and painted naked women swimming around the box staring at us who are standing inside this box. It is very different from every other of his murals but no less stunning. Who do you imagine served as the model for this work? His wife of course. His mural was “lost” for a time as Botana died in a car accident and his heirs lost the estate. The new owners were scandalized by the nudity in the mural and ordered it destroyed with acid and painted over. In 2001, the Argentinian government declared it a national treasure, cut it up into 7 pieces and transferred it to the museum where it can now be visited by all, just as Siqueiros would have wanted. Pictures aren’t allowed of course but here’s a link where you can take a peek at this work of art being visited by then prez Cristina Fernandez Kirchner.

Not only is Buenos Aires rich in history but also art, and I haven’t even begun telling you about the food but let’s take a pause and leave something for another day.

Categories: Argentina, South America | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Our last stop before going home was Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is made up of 7 emirates, Dubai City being the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. The UAE is a Muslim monarchy ruled by Sharia law although we were told this is only applied to Emirati citizens and not foreigners, which outnumber them 7 to 1.

We hadn’t planned on visiting Dubai but since we were flying Emirates Airlines (THE best airline we’ve ever been on), all connections go through Dubai. On our way in to South Africa we had had an 8hr nighttime layover at the Dubai airport which was a nightmare. The Dubai airport is humongous and has the feel of a never-ending shopping mall. Although some nice reclining chairs are placed all over the airport, there were none near our gate and the few which were not extremely far away, were guarded zealously by other tired passengers. You see, since ALL connections go through Dubai, the amount of passengers is such that even at 2am, it is beyond crowded. On top of that, Dubai airport is a bit quirky in its A/C usage: you might be freezing cold in some areas but step just two feet to the side and you’ll be sweating in no time. We had huddled on the floor near our gate in an attempt to sleep for a bit but truth be told, I am getting too old for that. Let’s leave it at: it wasn’t pleasant.

We had a 12hr layover on the way back! On top of which, I was beginning to develop painful pustules from the Zanzibari jellyfish stings (they would take a few weeks after getting home to clear themselves up).

We simply didn’t feel ready to deal with all that and thus decided to postpone our flight and spend the night in Dubai.

We were in Dubai in August and the temperature was nearing 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Farenheit). The streets were understandably deserted. I was raised in the desert, 40C degree (100ish F) weather doesn’t faze me but this? It was hard to breathe, and even to see since the air has a brown hazy quality to it from all the sand surrounding the city.

The unbelievable part is that hundreds of construction workers labor in this heat.

Can’t you just feel the heat waves radiating up from the concrete under them?

Most of these migrant workers come from India, Pakistan and Indonesia. When they arrive in Dubai, they sometimes have their passports taken away, effectively bonding them to their bosses as without this document they are not permitted to leave the UAE. They are housed in inhumane conditions, packed like sardines without A/C in this atrocious heat. Most of them work under unsafe conditions, deaths at construction sites are a common occurrence. Rights violations have been documented by Human Rights Watch and, as expected, denied by the government. No matter what, economics always rules and as long as there are jobs, migrants will come. Dubai is building up and out in its effort to become one of the premier touristic destinations of the world in preparation for the 2020 World Expo. The amount of construction going on blows the mind.

None of the people we met were from Dubai or even the UAE; all were foreigners, there to work, save some dirhams, and leave. We asked where the people from Dubai worked and were met with quizzical looks. According to one person we asked, Dubai citizens get a stipend from the government simply for being citizens and thus do not work. Anywhere other than in a repressive state this arrangement would spell disaster for the country as it has a majority foreign population supporting the economy which is prohibited from establishing ties to the community they live in. No wonder no one seemed to care much about the country.

We tried to escape from the overwhelming heat by taking refuge in the Dubai Mall which is dubbed a major attraction and talked about in awe. It is the largest mall in the world, it even has an “Aquarium and Underwater Zoo” inside

as well as a “ski mountain” complete with penguins.

At the end of the day though, it is but a mall

with the same stores you find in any mall

and the same delicacies in their food court.

Although these might be the fanciest sandwiches I’ve ever come across:

Don’t let my bland description put you off though, it might be simply a personal preference. See, I’ve never been much of a shopper, I don’t think I’ve even set foot inside my local mall in 5 years so you can understand why a mall, as fancy and big as it may be, could be less than impressive for me.

Still seeking A/C, we decided to see the city aboard one of those typical Red Sightseeing buses. While it did drive us around to the major attractions such as the Burj Al Arab, which is a luxury hotel in the shape of a sail located at the even more famous Palm Jumeriah Island,

and the Atlantis resort,

it turned out to have its A/C set to permanent lukewarm which lulled us into napping instead. We couldn’t wait for the bus to bring us back to the mall.

The one attraction I was dying to see was the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. It is 2,717 feet tall and has both the highest outdoor observation deck in the world as well as the elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. It houses two hotels, hundreds of residences (by Armani because of course), office space, restaurants, art gallery, wellness centers, four pools and even its own scent. Yes, that’s right, each floor of the Burj Khalifa has its own distinct proprietary scent drifting through the air; none of that plebeian air for these people. The building’s cross-section was inspired by the Spider Lily flower which grows in the desert surrounding Dubai. The Burj Khalifa took more than 22 million man-hours to build. Allowances for the extreme heat had to be made during construction such as including shards of ice in the concrete mixture and only pouring at night. It is a true marvel of engineering.

One small detail which allegedly Dubai hates is that it is named after the Abu Dhabi Khalifa who lent Dubai the money for its construction, otherwise it would be named the Burj Dubai as it was originally intended. Quick tip: buy your tickets online, with plenty of anticipation as they are timed, to get a discount.

The view from the observation deck is dizzying

and fun.

The Dubai Fountains at the foot of the Burj Khalifa put on a light and sound show every half hour from 6 to 11pm which is an indisputable free must-see attraction even if one has to sweat through it.

While Dubai was alright and had the breath-taking Burj Khalifa to visit, we don’t think we would ever choose to visit again; it’s one of those been-there, done-that, moving-on, kind of places; unless you’re really into malls that is.

P.S. This ends our summer 2016 tour, it took me a bit of a while to catch up, apologies for the lateness. We’ve been busy exploring and already have 2017 posts coming right up I promise! In the meantime: Keep Exploring!

Categories: Asia, United Arab Emirates | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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You need:
–2 cups of peeled and diced potatoes
–bacon (4 slices of center cut, diced)
–1/2 cup of finely diced onion and celery
–2T flour
–2 cups of chicken stock (I prefer dissolving a tab of buillion in 2 cups of hot water)
–1 small can creamed corn
–1/2 cup of whole milk or light cream

In my favorite bright orange Le Creuset , render the bacon until crispy. remove it from the pot, leaving most of the grease.

Using the bacon grease, soften onions and celery. Once softened, add flour and stir and cook about 3 minutes.

Slowly add a little bit of the chicken stock, stirring to thicken it (like you would start a gravy), then add the rest. Bring to a boil.

Add potatoes and bring back to boil. Turn down the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Once potatoes have softened, use a potato masher to break down some of the potatoes, making some small chunks, and leaving some bigger chunks.

Return bacon to the pot and add the creamed corn. Let simmer another 15 minutes or so.

Turn off the heat and add the milk or cream. You can vary the amount of milk depending on your liking. (I don’t do dairy so I add just enough to make it creamy)

At this point, you can add all kinds of other ingredients…chicken, shrimp, crab meat, scallops, minced clams are all delicious. Thommy likes his with chicken, and I like mine with salmon, so sometimes I’ll cook those separately and add them to our bowls. I also like roasted sweet potatoes tossed in at the end.

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text:
1980s' Fashion Clothing: Trends That Must Make it to Your Closet

80s' fashion fact
Remember Madonna in her lacy top and fishnet stockings? If you do, then you remember the '80s and the fashion that the decade brought with itself.
The Era of the 1980s
Retro Style 1980s
You mention the 1980s and the fashion of the decade in front of a group of fashionistas, and you are bound to have a debate on your hand. No other decade has managed to garner the infamy the eighties has where clothing styles and choices are concerned. And with good reason. Can you think of any other decade where you would be wearing stirrup pants and parachute pants, all in the same ten years?
The Buzz of the 1980s
Woman wearing 80's fashion clothing sitting with a cassette  player
The 1980s was about the outrageous, the mind-bogglingly bizarre, the weird-with-a-touch-of-crazy. There was something about fashion in the '80s that makes it difficult to comprehend today. It was one of those periods where people thought of shocking being a great way of making a statement. And what a statement they made. It was crazy and vivid but it was a brilliant way of breaking out of determined molds.
We, at Buzzle, take a look back at what men and women wore in the dreaded eighties and give you our list of the top most notorious looks of the decade.
Womens Fashion in the 80's
Leg Warmers
girl wearing leg warmers
Can you imagine wearing a protective covering for your legs to make a fashion statement? Well, in the eighties, the fashion-forward individuals did just that. With the popularity of dance movies like Fame and Flashdance, leg warmers became 'the' accessory to adorn amongst teenage women. They wore it over jeans, leggings, socks, with skirts... Well, you get the picture!
Mini Skirts
Girl in a mini dress from the 80's
Minis and micro minis first became popular in the mid-sixties and early seventies. The length saw a resurgence in the eighties with women taking to the trend like never before. The shorter the skirt, the better. Fabrics that were popular included leather, denim and lace. Wearing a lace skirt with fishnet stockings was quite the statement to make.
Blonde girl wearing a  black leotard with leg warmer
Another trend that originated from the dance movies craze was wearing leotards. While initially they were only used as accents to add colors and textures, in time they became the fashion statement to make for the fairer sex. With the aerobics craze, they transitioned from being dance-wear to being gym-wear. If you wore leotards you would color coordinate by wearing matching tights, legwarmers, and headbands.
Shoulder Pads
Two girls in black shoulder pad jackets
Think '80s and think out-of-the-world like fashion staples, the shoulder pads. And the credit goes completely to the soap opera Dynasty. It was the definition of power dressing and it was a way for women to show that they were equal to their men colleagues. A lot of women got Velcro attached to the inside of their outfits so that they could attach shoulder pads.
Over-sized Tops
Blonde girl in a Over-sized Top
One of the biggest trends of the 80s (literally) - over-sized tops. A lot of women took to wearing big sweaters and bigger sweatshirts and these looked large enough to house buses and trucks. Exaggeration aside, they would wear these humongous t-shirts with miniskirts or even leggings, add a low-slung belt over it, and step out in style.
Mens Fashion in the 80's
Parachute Pants
Think MC Hammer and you get an idea of the kind of trousers we are talking about. Ultra baggy pants with a drop-crotch style, these pants became the embodiment of everything that was wrong with the fashion of the 1980s.
Leather Jackets
Man in a Leather Jacket
If you didn't have one of these, you were out of the race for being called the coolest kid in the class. The faded, slouchy leather jackets sported by celebrities (Michael Jackson for one) were all the rage. Most men would team the jacket with a pair of finger-less gloves and aviator glares.
Acid-washed Jeans
This was the decade in which this style of denims made its first appearance. Denims were chemically bleached so that they would be streaked with pale white spots and lines. While they were manufactured purposely, many people also chose to play around with bleaching at home. They became a mainstream trend with the popularity of heavy metal bands soaring.
The eighties were mad, they were crazy but they were unique and individualistic. They were about color and vibrancy. They were about outlandish attire. And they were way too much fun. And the fashion of the eighties reflected just that.


text:
Archive | March, 2012

This Summer

4 Mar

The hottest time of the year is here, so lets plunge in our closet and update it with the must haves to beat the heat in style.

incorporate a lot of neon to add color this summer, go flirtatious with pastels as well.Mix and match to look the summer siren.

Shades, accessories like scarves neck pieces, armlets add to the summer vibe.

Shorts- nothing to beat the heat than a pair of comfortable shorts, take your pick to suit your style . either have one in the neon colors to amp your look, or go for the subtle romance of pastels or the chic evergreen denim grunge.

team it with denims, shorts,jacket , skirt, layer it. Its comfort and versatility makes it a summer staple.

Tote –

to carry all your summer life savers in style.


text:
GSoC 2010 IRC Channel

From FedoraProject

Revision as of 17:49, 22 February 2010 by Ynemoy (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

Got questions about GSoC or you're just looking to chat with everyone? Here's how

The irc channel is #fedora-gsoc on freenode.

TODO: Link to an IRC howto page

You are a student

Just enter the channel and start talking. People with the mode +v are there to answer questions. They are administrators or mentors.

You are a mentor

You will be automatically voiced once you enter the channel. If you would like to be added to the mentor list, ask one of the administrators. You will have op rights on request in order to moderate the channel. Please use it sparingly.

You are an administrator

You will be automatically voiced on entering the channel. You have full control rights to the channel and can modify the access lists too. There are three access lists to work with. The first two are moderator and administrator, which are obvious in meaning. The third is zodbot which is for all trusted bots. This garnts the bot automatic +o on entering in order to change the topic during a meeting.

You are a zodbot


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V For Voyage…..

April A to Z Blogging… For me V for Voyage….

Google Image
Google Image

 I’m the captain of my ship
Taking a beautiful world trip
Sailing it to the unknown
As per destiny has shown
Discovering new places
Which nature embraces

37 thoughts on “V For Voyage…..

  1. One of my most favorite movie of all time is this movie with Betty Davis,called Now Voyageur . I don’t know why but your poem made me think of it,if you have the time you should see it,it’s an easy one to find
    Thank you for visiting,next time will do lunch

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hey dear,
      I’m so glad that my poem made you think of ‘Voyageur’. I’ll definitely search this move and watch soon 🙂
      Thanks for the visit and suggesting a good movie too 😉
      Haha,,, I’ll be glad if I get the opportunity to have a lunch with you 🙂 You are so sweet, Sheldon 🙂

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text:
women should avoid trying to be versions of men

A news item caught my attention yesterday, about “the 12 strongest female characters in movies”. The list included:

#1 – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009, trilogy): Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander

#2 – The Color Purple: Whoopi Goldberg as Celie Johnson (1985)

#3 – Kill Bill, Vol. 1 & 2 (2003, 4): Uma Thurman as “The Bride”/Beatrix Kiddo

#4 – Alien(s) (1979, 1986, 1992): Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley

#5 – Silence of the Lambs (1991): Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling

#6 – Elizabeth (1998): Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth

#7 – Girlfight (2000): Michelle Rodriguez as Diana Guzman

#8 – House of Flying Daggers (2004): Ziyi Zhang as Jen Yu

#9 – Resident Evil (5 films: 2002-2012): Milla Jovovich as Alice

#10 – Columbiana (2011): Zoe Saldana as Cataleya

#11 – Aeon Flux (2005): Charlize Theron as Aeon Flux

#12 – The Matrix Revolutions (2003): Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe

The problem with this list is that, with two exceptions (#2 and #6) all the other characters are basically “macho” types who fight, shoot, beatup and kick other guy’s asses… So it seems that the authors think that in order to be considered “strong”, a woman has to be violent.

Yes, a woman can do anything a man can do. So what? Being a strong woman should not be about being a better version of a man… it should be about being a better version of a woman.

The American culture tends to put a lot of emphasis on violence. This is so valued and idealised that it becomes desired behaviour for both men and women. In other cultures the feminist movement is about enhancing qualities like caring and quality of life, and criticizing men for being “macho”; in the US it seems that (at least some sectors of) the feminist movement focus on competing with men to see who can be more of a “macho”!

Women should realize that a cultural trick is being played on them… Instead of enhancing their character as women, they are trying to prove that they can be better versions of men. Rather, they should try to get both men and women out of the stereotyped roles, and seek a greater balance of roles.

It’s not about becoming the stereotype of a woman (frail and delicate, imprisoned in the home), nor about becoming the stereotype of a man (bold and violent, insensitive). A balanced list of “strong” female movie characters might have four of the above “shooters”, four “stereotypical female types” and four characters that transcend the stereotypes.

As it is, the list seems to glorify characters that are simply good at a) being more violent than men; b) showing that they don’t need men; and c) beating up men at every opportunity.

Just look at these quotes from the films:

From #7 — “I love you. I really do.” … And then Diana punches Adrian in the face

From #6 — “I am not your Elizabeth. I am no man’s Elizabeth. And if you think to rule, you are mistaken.”

The whole thing reeks of adolescent counter-dependence: teenagers (because they are immature) go through a long phase of speaking and behaving against anything their parents say or do, just to prove to themselves that they can be independent. When they finally become mature enough to be really independent (sometimes only when they reach their thirties…) they can be more serene; they are no longer counter-dependent. Perhaps these feminists (fortunately not all feminists think that way) are still going through that teenage phase of trying to prove to themselves that they can be independent from men.

All of this is kind of stupid: men and women should get along and make love, not war. Real love, not mindless sex.They are inter-dependent. They can be independent AND depend on each other, rather than be subordinate to either one or the other.

They are not equal: they are equivalent. That means they are, indeed, different. As the French say: “vive la difference!”. We should celebrate male and female differences. And realise that men and women are equivalent: that is to say, they have the same value. Neither is more worthy than the other.

We should stop this endless competition; the “sex wars” are silly, and they are actually an expression of a “macho” culture that turns everything into a contest. That’s a cultural trap that women should not fall into, and they should help men free themselves from that same trap.

This was part of the original philosophy of the feminist movement in the 70’s. We should not allow ourselves to be diverted from those original ideals.


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FEZANA supports Sustainable Development Goal Number 14 of the United Nations

NEW YORK, April 6, 2017 – FEZANA, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America,  will participate at the Oceans Conference: Our Oceans, Our Future: Partnering for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA from June 5-9, 2017. https://oceanconference.un.org/

The FEZANA team will include: Rustom Bhopti, Sanaira Mondegarian, Behram Pastakia and Anahita Verahrami from the United States and Afreed Mistry from Canada.

There are 17 sustainable development goals (SDG’s) at the United Nations, all interconnected, so the key to the success of one involves tackling issues associated with the others. The 17 SDG’s reflect the traditions and beliefs of Zoroastrians worldwide.

At  the Oceans Conference, in New York, discussions will focus on  sustainable development goal number 14:  to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources, to reduce marine pollution, manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems, to end overfishing, and to conserve coastal and marine areas.

un-14Thursday, June 8th is World Oceans Day.  We, as Zoroastrians, celebrate the creation of water on Ava mah and Ava roj.  We give an offering and say prayers thanking God for the creation of water.  We urge all reading this message to join us in participating at the local level, wherever you live. Choices include, organizing a clean-up day at a local river, creek, lake, or pond.  If you need information on options to celebrate water as a gift of creation that promotes human well-being and life on earth, do reach out to us at: un-ngo@fezana.org

About the  United Nations

The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system.  For more information visit www.un.org

Founded in 1987 and celebrating its 30-year anniversary, FEZANA serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian member associations and 15 corresponding groups throughout the United States and Canada. The Federation promotes the study, understanding and practice of the Zoroastrian faith,  represents the interests of its member associations, and carries out philanthropic and charitable activities worldwide. www.fezana.org

FEZANA represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in North America.

Guided by the blessings of AHURA MAZDA and the teachings of our Prophet Zarathushtra; the Federation was founded in 1987 It serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 14 Corresponding Groups in the United States and Canada.

The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and unity amongst all Member associations, and with due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST and CHARITY towards all Mankind.

:+: Baname Khoda Kshnothro Ahura Mazda


text:
Camping Gear Essentials

Going camping without your camping gear can prove to be fatal. Every gear you carry needs careful consideration and only the useful stuff should be carried because keeping it light is the key to camping. At the same time, vital accessories should be taken and not left behind. If campers plan on enjoying their trip, they must keep track of certain things, the most important of which is their gear. Camping gear is strategically categorized into the following:

In and around the camp

1. Tent

It is the basic equipment without which you simply cannot go camping. It provides protection from harsh weather, insects, and small animals too.

2. Sleeping bags

Sleeping bags allow you to sleep comfortably and give you warmth as they are nicely insulated and can keep your body warm in critical temperatures.

3. Ground mattress

It is a sheet that provides an insulated surface for the sleeping bag. Without it, temperature regulation cannot be fully active. It can even provide insulation on icy grounds.

4. Flashlight/lanterns

There’s a very general perception of making fire by wood, but you never know when it might rain. So to be on the safe side, one must carry a flashlight or lantern to wade through the pitch-black darkness at night.

5. Swiss army knife

It is a multipurpose knife and is very handy as it contains various tools that might be useful. Since you cannot carry a whole toolkit, this is the best solution.

Clothing and footwear

1. Insulating jacket

Weather can be unforgiving, so preparing yourself for the worst is the best option. An insulating jacket is very useful in keeping the body warm and prevents hypothermia.

2. Raincoat, gloves, and muffler

A raincoat keeps you dry and covers the whole body. Gloves are essential as hands get numbed quickly by the cold temperature. Covering your ears and neck is also imperative, so a muffler is mandatory.

1. Fuel

Fuel is necessary for making a fire, cooking and keeping yourself warm.

2. Pot

When you want to cook or boil something or make tea, you will need a pot.

3. Dry foods

Carrying dry foods is vital as they provide instant energy, and you might not get sufficient food to eat in the wild.

4. Water

Water is the primary necessity. There’s a famous saying that one can survive days without food but not without water. Keeping this in view, campers are strictly advised to carry water at all times as the body gets dehydrated quickly after physical exertion.

1. First aid kit

Any mishap could happen when you get out into the wild and the chances of the availability of a hospital might be close to zero, so a first aid kit packs all the necessary accessories needed to combat an injury, illness, etc.

2. Hiking stick

It is an ordinary stick that serves the purpose of giving support while hiking. Moreover, it acts as a weapon if a wild animal appears out of nowhere.


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Fido Carrefour Laval Contact Number and Email Address

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For your convenience to contact Fido Carrefour Laval We have provided all possible information of Fido Carrefour Laval. You can contact Fido Carrefour Laval on the given phone number +1 450-686-7717. To know the address location of Fido Carrefour Laval it is also presented here 3035 Boulevard le Carrefour, Laval, QC H7T 1C7, Canada. Contact them by sending email to Fido Carrefour Laval you will find an email address here . To know more about Fido Carrefour Laval, go to their website and collect all possible information from there. You can contact them from their website also.

If you have any comment to post or you want to register a complaint against Fido Carrefour Laval, you are advised to go to the below box and post your view there.

Visit Fido Carrefour Laval on the Given Address:

3035 Boulevard le Carrefour, Laval, QC H7T 1C7, Canada

Contact Fido Carrefour Laval on the Given Contact Number:

+1 450-686-7717.
If the contact number or email address of Fido Carrefour Laval is incorrect, please tell us HERE

Send Fido Carrefour Laval Email on given Email Address:

Open Fido Carrefour Laval Website by given Website Address:

Was your query resolved after making call or sending email to Fido Carrefour Laval, tell us HERE

Fido Carrefour Laval is Associated With and Known as:

Fido Carrefour Laval is one of the locations of Fido Solutions which is a mobile network operator based in Canada. Fido Solutions is commonly called as Fido. Fido Solutions started its journey in December 1996. Prior to the 2004, it was owned and operated by Microcell Telecommunications. Since 2004, it is owned and managed by Rogers Communications which is the leading telecommunications and mass media company. Fido Solutions has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The company has served more than 3,372,763 subscribers till 2013. It is the 4th largest wireless Carrier around Canada in terms of customers. Fido operates in the areas of Kentville, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, London, Halifax, Hamilton, Sudbury, Windsor, Ottawa, Vancouver and more. It provides a wide range of products and services regarding mobile broadband modems, smartphones, GSM, HSPA, LTE, mobile broadband, SMS, telephony etc. As per 2013 records, the company had its Revenue around CAD$ 1.02 billion. It employs 20,000 plus employees. It serves in partnership with various world's famous companies such as Best Buy, Costco, Future Shop, Tbooth, Walmart, Wireless-Wave, Loblaw Companies and Zellers.
Opening Times of the Fido Carrefour Laval store is: Monday to Friday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm, Saturday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Fido Carrefour Laval Contact Calling User Reasoning

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Good comes.

Let light feed your soul and the wind be your spirit in flight.

There is a time and a place for heartache. But, when it is eating your soul and internally harassing the human that you are, there is an undeniable but constantly undetachable feeling of longing for another time with the one you love. Or the one you loved. When the heart hurts too much to move, you must move. That will be the most important time for you to move. When it really is seemingly impossible.

Move your feet, guide your body with steps, that maybe hurt, but will bring you to a brighter place eventually.

You do not have to know where you are going. That is the beauty of life. We never truly know where we are going. Even when we have plans. There is no guarantee of our destination. We may think we know where we will be tomorrow, or maybe we don’t think about that at all. Some of us do. Some don’t. But it is a guarantee that none of us truly know the place where we will end up. The place physically and the place mentally. The world is full of crazy errors and crazy love. The most important attribute of falling in love, is knowing that you can feel it. Sometimes it feels like it is forever, and it is a beautiful feeling to hold on to. But if, and when that forever does not last forever, it is important to remind yourself that you are capable of that feeling. That way, you can strive to have it again. Not strive, as in, try hopelessly to get it back. But strive, as in have confidence in yourself and your journey that you will feel it again.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, however uneasy that feels to you, remember that if you lean towards the light, hold onto memories, use life’s momentum to fuel more adventure, and let the wind guide you to where you will be next.

If you hurt, close your eyes, smile, even if that is the last thing you want to do, breathe and be so grateful for what you have, where you are and allow your anxious feelings to evolve into uneasiness for the unknown possibilities that can light up your life. Good comes. And there is good around, that you may not notice. Think a little less about what hurts and imagine more of what feels good. Remember that the best still has not arrived. The good is coming.

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Batman 3.18 – Louie’s Lethal Lilac Time

Last night, we were talking about bad movies with our friend David and I mentioned my belief that the very worst films are the ones that are just plain boring. Then tonight we watched this episode of Batman which, by that definition, must be the worst so far, because it’s so amazingly dull.

In other episodes, we might have seen other guest stars seem unhappy that they chose to do this show, and that tends to result in rushed, sloppy performances that come across as abrupt and grouchy. See Rudy Vallee in the Londinium episodes for a fine example. But here, Milton Berle acts like he just does not care at all. He put in his eight or ten hours on the set, perhaps learning his lines immediately before delivering them, and never again thought about this show. In his previous appearance, he at least had a twinkle in his eye even if Louie the Lilac is played oddly straight, but in this, there is nothing.

Perhaps with an interesting plot this might have worked, but no, we saw Charles Hoffman’s name in the credits and knew it wasn’t to be. This should have been a Batgirl solo mission, rescuing Bruce and Dick from Louie the Lilac, but once she finally arrives, she’s immediately captured and Batman and Robin have to save the day, thanks to a pair of – oh, come on – instant unfolding Bat-costume capsules, just add water.

There’s so little to the plot that even having just twenty-five minutes to fill, Hoffman has to add a highlight reel of exciting moments from season two and a subplot of a maintenance man almost finding Barbara’s Batgirl room. Of course we have to keep Batgirl and the cops away from the warehouse as long as possible, because once they do arrive, there’s no doubt Louie is holed up inside. He has his name painted on the side of the building! Next!

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Our Weekend Trip to Matheran

Matheran was our weekend getaway recently. I simply love the place and have enlisted all details about this quaint little hill station close to Bombay here, my travel blog.

We set out from Vidya Vihar station (Central Railway) at 6:05 am for Neral where we arrived around 7:30 am. The local/suburban train timings are available at any book stall.
It was quite chilly as it was the midst of January, and wintery, foggy, misty mornings. We ventured out of Neral station towards the share taxi stand, paid up Rs 100 (for hubby and myself) and waited for another 3 people to make up the required no. of 5. Once that was done, we made our way up the winding hilly roads to Dasturi Naka, the last point and parking space for vehicles which took 20 mins. We then made our way to the entrance to the toll tax office where it is mandatory to pay Rs 25 per person and retain the ticket which the gate keeper marks.

The long, dusty, red soil begins here at the gate where the horses and man-pulled rickshaws are lined up for hire or one can walk up which takes about 40 mins. However, one doesn't tire easily as there is so much beauty around and the unique experience of walking through a forest accompanied by several passersby, some going up and some coming down.

We stopped around the beginning of the toy train platform to have our breakfast of sandwiches and tea which we carried in a thermos flask. Picnic style!

But beware of monkeys who are all over the town and place. Take care of all your possession, hand luggage, camera etc. but enjoy yourself :)

We arrived at Matheran and carried on to our hotel Hope Hall (run by Nancy/Maria and Joseph Vaz). Lodging is Rs 320/- with taxes for a double room with attached bath. She has larger rooms too. Unfortunately she doesn't provide meals. There are several restaurants to eat n the town – Gujarat Bhavan provides meals for non-residents for Rs 150 a thali(lunch and dinner). G.B also has lodging. Another place we discovered on this trip was the Ramkrishna Restaurant in the market which also provides meals and a wonderful thali which we had. There are many many hotels in Matheran. More information here .

Hope Hall provides breakfast however prepared by her mother, Nancy Vaz and it was a hearty spread I must say. This is paid for separately and is not included in the room charges.

Our evening tea was at a little tea shop opposite the Nariman chikki mart in the marketplace. Rs 6 for a glass of steaming, hot tea.

We have visited Matheran several times before and have taken walks through the forests to the various points like Charlotte Lake, Sunset point, Alexander point etc.
The photographs are posted here.

There is a lovely church at the end of the market road. The church is so peaceful and beautiful inside. All whitewashed and pristine pure.

The evenings were spent in the market shopping for chikki to take back home. Usually we shop from Janta Chikki, but this time we decided to try another shop and we bought an assortment of chikki in a single 250 gram box at Jolly. Also bought some anjeer fudge and mango fudge, all of which was very tasty.

We spent the entire Saturday and half of Sunday there at Matheran as we had to go to work on Monday. We had our lunch and started the downward walk to Dasturi Naka at around noon, took the share taxi (another Rs 100 for both of us) to Neral railway station and took the 1:30 pm fast local to Ghatkopar.

One has to visit this tiny hill station to experience the entire effect which one carried back home and we will certainly make a trip there very soon.

Shama Nagarajan said...

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Alka said...

Ohh i got nostalgic abt our school picnic to matheran.It was in year 1988 i guess,but the memories are so fresh.The beautiful lodge,the simple but fantastic food,the pohe and upmas were to die for,and the buttermilk..yummmm the lodge tht we were put in ,served all the meals,in dining area where long benches of wood and huge tables were set,and food was unlimited.Despite of no fans in room,it was so chilly tht we stayed awake whole night near bonfire,singing and dancing .The monkeys were ofcourse the show spoilers as they used to take away all the food and even snatch the bags away.But we loved walking(and we walked like hell towards every POINT).The lake was the best part of our visit and we came back with fond memories and sooooooooo many mosquito bites ;-)

Sunshinemom said...

Can you believe? 15yrs in Mumbai and I still haven't been to Matheran:) Good virtual trip:)

Vanamala said...

Looks like nice outing...never been to this matheran..

Anonymous said...

MEET POINT HOTEL - MATHERAN-750* PP, Unlimited Food, Lodging & Boarding,
Lonely Area. We Do Only Group Bookings.

MEET said...

MEET POINT HOTEL - MATHERAN-750* PP, Unlimited Food, Lodging & Boarding,
Lonely Area. We Do Only Group Bookings.

Sunita Chaudhar said...

hotels in Matheran is located just two minutes from the main market area of Matheran, making it easily accessible conveniently located.


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College sophomore Randy Bodek is unfocused. The only thing he knows is that he loves his roommate, Jenny Gordon, who feels unappreciated as other things in his life seem to take precedence over her. He hasn't even told his parents, Diane and Joe Bodek, that he is living with a female, let alone a significant other. As such, Jenny breaks up with him at the end of the semester. While Randy is home during the summer break, Joe, against Diane's wishes, decides not to fund Randy's college education anymore as he is flunking all his classes, and hasn't yet declared a major. Not knowing what to do besides try to get back to college if only to be with Jenny, Randy gets a minimum wage job as a delivery guy at a pizza joint. During the course of his job, he meets Alex Barnett, a beautiful, older, sophisticated woman who likes pizzas with extra anchovies. To his surprise, she seduces him, after their sexual encounter which she gives him $200 to help him get back to college. Without telling him, ...
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Forever stamped tag charm cord bracelet

Forever stamped tag charm cord bracelet
£8.00 2 Available
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A lovely vintage style bronze charm bracelet with a dog tag style charm stamped with the word forever and a flower. The charm bracelet consists of two strands of faux suede cord in a lilac purple. Other colours of cord are available - please indicate clearly when ordering (in message to seller) if you want a different colour. These bracelets are always popular in summer for festivals and as gifts for young people celebrating their exam results and at Christmas as gifts. I've had lots of lovely feedback about them and lots of customers come back regularly to build their collection.

Bracelet length approx 46cm (7 1/2 inches). Note that the cord is dyed so please don't wear this bracelet in the shower, cute as it is!

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Black, White and Grey Long Ruffle Scarf. Hand Knitted Ruffle Scarf in Shades of

Black, White and Grey Long Ruffle Scarf.  Hand Knitted Ruffle Scarf in Shades of
£8.00 1 Available
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This listing if for a hand knitted ruffle scarf in shades of grey and black which would add a touch of sophistication to a winters coats. I also find this type of scarf good to wear in the early spring when you are wearing a lighter jacket but just need something to keep the chill off.

The scarf is long and measures approximately 102" or 259cm in length so can be worn in a number of ways, but looks good with it wrapped once around your neck and the remaining black and grey frills dangling down the front of your coat.

The scarf is surprisingly warm and is made from 100% acrylic that can be machine washed at 30.

Shipping & delivery

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Apparently it’s only Wednesday!

What a week so far… my stinking cold had really taken hold over the weekend and by 11am on Monday morning I was hoping for an on time or at least close to finish. Well, 11.45 and the phone rings, itv is only blooming Ofsted! Just before the cut off.  Now, we have known they are due any day but have been saying this for what feels like forever. So no early finish for me on Monday, instead it was a meeting to double check we were happy with all our lessons, a quick staff meeting to be given details for Tuesday and a last minute are we ready and i left school around 6.30. So actually not bad but some staff were much later. Thank goodness for organised teaching partners.

So 8am Tuesday morning and the car park is already full, the inspector arrives early and is met by someone asking if they are blocking him in and would it be a problem. Friendly intro to our team!

I never saw the inspector again really.  Even in my leadership role.  To me it was like any other day. Last minute cover, struggling on full of cold. By 4pm we knew they weren’t in for a second day.  A good bit of news.  Followed by more good news, I was accepted on to the TES straight to teaching course.  Starting in 4 weeks time. Excited and nervous all together.

Then today. Last minute cover all morning. Meeting this afternoon followed by finally the MRI scan I’ve been waiting for.  That wasn’t my favourite part of the day, being closed in with my head secured in place.  I felt caged. And I’m no good at lying still.  3o mins not being able to move. I did however listen to the radio in the scanner! Now I just need to wait.

2 days of this week left and then I really need to sleep this weekend.

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Tipsy Maple Corn

By • October 12, 2010 67 Comments

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Author Notes: Cracker Jacks were invented to be served at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago. Since then there have been about as many variations as boxes sold. Not one to let that stop me I jumped right in and came up with my own version. The pancetta is key for the right salty sweet combo so make sure you add all of it. And do you see what we have to deal with around here during our photo shoots. The drive by grab and go while I am looking through the view finder. - thirschfeldthirschfeld

Food52 Review: We were initially seduced by "tipsy" in the title, but once we tried thirschfeld's recipe, we fell in love with much more than the Jack-Daniels-infused syrup. There are the peanuts (we used dry roasted) and the tiny dots of pancetta -- neither of which stoops to merely accessorizing the corn. The nuts give the treat heft, the pancetta salt and richness. The most important step is the oven-crisping. Be careful not to burn the edges and don't worry if the popcorn isn't totally crisp when you take it out of the oven -- it will continue to firm up as it cools. We loved this as a Halloween treat, but it would be just as delicious paired with a good movie. - A&MThe Editors

Makes 2 quarts

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons bacon grease, or non flavored vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 1/3 cup Jack Daniels
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 3 pieces pancetta, baked until crispy and minced
  1. Place the bacon grease in a 3 quart dutch oven with a lid. Add the kernels and place the covered pot over high heat. Once the popping begins, gently shake the pot to keep the kernels from burning. Once it is done remove the lid and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In another small pot add the Jack Daniels and heat it to burn off the alcohol and reduce it by half. Add the syrup and butter and heat until the butter is melted. Season with fresh ground pepper to taste.
  3. Place the popcorn, peanuts and the pancetta into a large mixing bowl. You want to sprinkle a little of the syrup over the corn a little at a time. You want to stir as you do this. Take your time otherwise the corn will saturate with syrup and collapse and just be gooey.
  4. Once it is coated put it on a sheet tray and spread it out. Then place it in the oven and back in for 20 to 40 minutes. Sometimes it takes longer to crisp that others so just check it and stir it around about every ten minutes.

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Tag Archives: peppers

Eating Thai Chili

Here is my first ever ‘video blog’ for Foodinthesense. A while back I got some thai chili – one of my favourite peppers for flavour and seasoning – for making daily stir fry and other fun foodie randomness. So one fine day I took it upon myself to eat some raw. In strict accordance with the ancient Greek mindset of striving to experience all things at least once, I ate three.

And here is my dear brother’s loving video response:

All in good fun.

So go out and get some chili I guess. Good stuff.

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Not Just for Beef Anymore

Indeed, the cool, chilly, blustery rains of mid-August are apon us, and though summer grows weary of tormenting the inhabitants of any warm climate with blistering sun and severe dehydration, it is not too late to once again bust out the grill. There is a sort of unwritten rule regarding summer cuisine and what instruments are required to create it, and I firmly propose the grill is just the instrument necessary to comply with said rule.

However, whenever anyone mentions ‘summer grilling,’ I typically identify the charcoal- or wood-sourced flame device with beef: beef franks, hamburgers, or steak. I question, what has become of casual cuisine? Has the summer merrymaking crowd no originality, no culinary drive, no inventive spirit that calls out the fat little French chef in all of us? Okay, true, many entertainers on the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or any other summer holidy (National Cheesecake Day, for example) prefer a simple, quick, cheap, easy, and delicious entree that guests can enjoy on paper plates and napkins that will most certainly meet a toasty end during the evening’s campfire, so I can hardly blame anyone for settling with beef on the grill.

However, I can do my best to coax that psychotic little fat French chef out of you. Indeed, the grill is a beautiful instrument that brings out the natural flavour of any given meat or vegetable whilst adding a rustic, bold, and earthy flavour to the ingredients. Basically, you can use it for anything. So, in honour of our unwritten law, inner chefs, easy and delicious summer treats, and our upcoming Labour Day grill-a-thons, I shall reluctantly loosen my grip on my absolute favourite summer grill recipe: the unforgettable, the transcendent, the utterly life changing, Bacon-Wrapped, Cheese-Stuffed, Grilled Jalapeno Pepper.

I could continue to spout eloquent and indulgent verbosity regarding this treat, but there’s no point in any further prevarication. Here’s how its done.

What you need:

Jalapeno Peppers (get extras; you, your family, and your guests will probably want to eat a few handfuls. You can also use other varieties of similarly sized peppers, but I ultimately enjoy Jalapenos)

Bacon (I once created this dish using very expensive, thick-cut bacon from Miesfield’s Market in Wisconsin. This is a decision I would not recommend as it makes even cooking difficult, though I do recommend thick bacon for solo consumption. The thin, cheap, Oscar Mayer stuff will suffice for this dish)

White Mexican cheese (Fresh Mexican cheeses will not melt all over you’re beautifully scrubbed grill. Instead, it softens wonderfully and maintains shape. Queso Blanco works very well and has a flavour similar to Monterey Jack or Mozzerella. I also made a batch using Pepper Jack. The outcome was fairly positive)

That’s it. Three ingredients.

Slice the jalapenos in half from stem to tip and remove the seeds. Slice off the stems as you wish.

Slice the queso blanco into rectangular prisms that will fit into the jalapeno halves.

Wrap in bacon and fasten with a toothpick. Remember to soak the toothpicks in water to prevent combustion (and coal in your teeth).

Grill until bacon is evenly and thoroughly cooked.

Eat twelve dozen, refusing to share with hungry friends and family.

So, next time you bust out the grill for summer festivities, I would advise you not to settle for a slab of beef, a patty of ground beef, or an intestine stuffed with pureed beef. Take the inspiration you found here. Start with the peppers, then branch out to cactus and peaches. Integrate ingredients prepared on the grill with other more complex dishes. There is literally no limit to what you can cook on the grill.

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