Monday Mystery Photo – Last time Venice

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment*,  if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog, when the answer is revealed the following week.  Guest contributions to MMP are very welcome. Our guest photographer this week, comes again from Ineke in New Zealand, although it is not New Zealand in the Mystery photo.

So where is the following photograph located?

Last week, we were, as many had proposed, in Venice. There is no need for me to introduce Venice, I don’t think. It is without doubt, one of the most famous cities in Europe. A lesser known fact about Venice, is that the famous Venetian masks, worn particularly at ‘Carnevale’ time, (in the lead up to the religious observance of Lent), were first introduced as a protection against disease, and not a fun adornment, or disguise. The mask’s purpose, lies within its long beak-like proboscis, which resembles an avian beak that could be filled with perfume or other sweet-smelling items, which were thought, by some 17th century physicians, to prevent disease, particularly the plague.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/

Although I have not been to Venice, I am not at all surprised to find that many people have or at least recognize its images as indicated by our list of winners:

I scrap 2

Oosterman Treats Blog

LeDrakeNoir

Where to Next?

Ines from imonnetphoto

Travelling Matters

Thesnowmeltssomewhere

Well done!

 

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Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

Proverbs provide us with wise words, hitherto uttered  by generally anonymous people. Uttered ever so succinctly, and so eloquently that a thousand meanings can be revealed in their simple words.

I think they can often be general rules for life itself, coming from all corners of the world. Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

 

The hen knows the sun has risen, yet it still lets the rooster sing’

  – West African Proverb

 

This proverb from Somalia, may unfortunately have some sage-ful advice, but may not be well – known.

 

‘If you cannot resolve your problems in peace, you can’t solve them with war’

 – Somalian Proverb

 

And finally, a quote from the ruthless non-conformist, to balance out the proverbs –

♥

‘People who have given us their complete confidence believe that they have a right to ours. The inference is false, a gift confers no rights’

– Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Words from our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation.

Best savoured a little a time.

Always Something to Ponder About

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Monday Mystery Photo – Last week Segovia

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment*,  if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog, when the answer is revealed the following week.  Guest contributions to MMP are very welcome.

Where is the following photograph located?

*N.B. If your comment/guess isn’t showing immediately, it is because comments are released on the following Thursday or Friday of the week the Monday Mystery photo, is posted. That way, everyone gets a chance to guess, without peeking at any of the previous guesses.

Last Week’s photograph

“Built during the second half of the 1st century A.D. under the rule of the Roman Empire, [the aqueduct in Segovia, Spain], supplied water from the Frío River to the city into the 20th century. The remaining portion of the structure stands 28.5 meters tall at its maximum height and nearly 6 additional meters deep in the main section. Along 14 kilometers of rolling landscape, the aqueduct adjusts to the contours of the valley, hills, and city. The pillars and arches of its tall, two-story arcades are made of solid blocks of stone fit closely together with little or no mortar.” [Source: www.wmf.org/project/aqueduct-segovia] Given World Heritage list status in 1985, the Aqueduct of Segovia, lies one hour from Madrid, and remains one of the most intact Roman aqueducts in Europe.

And the winners who guessed correctly are:

Drake – Ledrakenoir

Tara  – After the Rain

Ted from Recipereminiscing

Peggy – Where to Next?

and an Honourable mention to Snow melts Somewhere

 

An easy location this week, don’t you think? Come on, you know it!

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

I find there’s profound wisdom in the proverbs, sayings and quotes of days past, and I marvel at the way just a few choice words are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, these sayings are passed down, to us, from generations past and from different cultures. They speak of experiences of lives lived, and valuable lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you find them thought-provoking too.

The quote this week comes from “The Risk-taker’s Book of Quotes” and the Venerable Dalai Lama:

Good quotes can also help abate the feeling of being alone. The knowledge that someone else, in some past time felt the same way I am feeling in this moment brings a sense of connectedness, and normalcy.

 -Jonathan Wunrow

  Freedom is a need. I have a cat. People feed this cat; they pet this cat; they give the cat everything he needs. But every time the window is open just a little, he runs away.

– Dalai Lama

The following Proverb is the first, in a series of Native American Proverbs, I will share each Proverbial Thursday. I think it’s very much a leveling proverb, reminding us of the inherent equality in all of mankind.  The Native American culture, might have been considered, by some, to be less developed, and yet they were well advanced in their understanding of the essential right and importance of equality to society.

“All who have died are equal.”

Native American Proverb

Does it refer to equality or even perhaps, inequality?
What do you think of the quotes?  Can you see a connection between the two?

Leave a comment and join the discussion.

It’s something to ponder about.

Monday Mystery Photo – Last Week Africa

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment*,  if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog, when the answer is revealed the following week.  Many thanks to Ineke from Iscrap2.wordpress.com for contributing last week’s mystery photo. More guest contributions to MMP are very welcome.

 

Where is the following photography located?

*N.B. If your comment/guess isn’t showing immediately, it is because comments are released on the following Thursday or Friday of the week the Monday Mystery photo, is posted. That way, everyone gets a chance to guess, without peeking at any of the previous guesses.

Last week’s Guest MMP photo came from Ineke of Iscrap2.wordpress.com was, if you remember Primary School social studies curriculum from the 2oth century, the statue of the Colonial African Explorer, David Livingstone, situated near to Victoria Falls! Surrounded by tourists in this photo, from Ineke! Well done also to the following bloggers who guessed correctly:

Tara

Mel & Suan (Google search helped!)

Leggy Peggy

Drake

Dr Livingstone

Livingstone’s statue is located on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. In recent times, the statue of David Livingstone has survived two attempts to have it removed!

First in 2001 by veterans of the Zimbabwe war of independence who regarded him as a painful reminder of a colonial past, and second by the Zambian government which, in 2003, wanted the statue moved to Zambia and erected on the other side of the river to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the explorer’s first sighting of the Falls. Resistance to the removals from the local community has ensured that Livingstone’s statue remains where it was first erected, gazing sternly out towards Devil’s Cataract.

Source: siyabona.com

 

 

I hope I have given you Something fun to Ponder About this Monday

 

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

I find there is profound wisdom in the proverbs, sayings and quotes of days past, and I marvel at the way these few words are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you find them thought-provoking too.

Proverb:

 

Patience attracts happiness;

it brings near that which is far –

(Swahili proverb)

Source: Sufiso’s blog

 

Proverbs like this are often wise words from our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation. Best savoured a little a time. At times they sound trite, yet wisdom is surely found within their concise words.

 

Quote:

Life is being on the wire. Everything else is just waiting –

(Karl Wallenda)

 

I was a bit mystified by this quote, until I learned that Wallenda was a high wire performance artist!

What is Karl really waiting for?

Is your life on living on a wire?  Unpredictable, insecure?

Do you have a similar quote that inspires you?

I would love to hear your thoughts and so invite you to join in the discussion.

Proverbial Thursday gives us all Something to Ponder About

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Monday Mystery Photo – Last week Magnolia

Who is this and where is it located?

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment*,  if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog when the answer is revealed the following week.  Many thanks to Ineke from scrapydo2.wordpress.com for contributing this week’s photo.

*N.B. If your comment/guess isn’t showing immediately, it is because comments are released on the following Thursday or Friday of the week the Monday Mystery photo, is posted. That way, everyone gets a chance to guess, without peeking at any of the previous guesses.

Last Week’s Photo:

The mystery object looks like a beguiling sea creature to some, or something edible to others, but, in fact, it was the stamens from a beautiful flower in my garden, called Magnolia Grandiflora. Here it is in its wonderous glory.

The following bloggers guessed correctly:

https://unhingedandunenlightened.wordpress.com/

Gerard from Oosterman Treats Blog

Pooja from Stories from Europe

Well done, Bloggers and thanks to everyone who commented!!

Please remember new ‘Guest’ contributions to Monday Mystery Photos, are ALWAYS very welcome. Please flick me an email if you’d like to submit a photo, to the Monday Mystery Feature. You will find me by hovering over my Gravatar.

Monday Mystery Photo – Always Something to Ponder About

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

I find there is profound wisdom in the proverbs, sayings and quotes of days past, and I marvel at the way these few words are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

This week, I continue my proverbs shared from Sifiso’s Blog.

Proverbs are used widely in African culture. Wisdom passed on from generation to generation in these short thought provoking phrases.

Money can’t talk, yet it can make lies look true

South African Proverb

and the quotes for this week come from an American Author:

“Opportunities dance with those on the dance floor.”

“Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.”

– H Jackson Brown Jr.

Who do you think of, when you read the South African Proverb?

Is the first quote about exploitation or participation?

Can you find a better description of love, than H Jackson Brown Jr.?

I would be pleased to hear your comments.

I invite you to join in the discussion.

Proverbial Thursday – Always Something to Ponder About

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Monday Mystery Photo – Last time Nepal

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog when the answer is revealed the following week.

Here is this week’s mystery object:

Can you guess what this is?

*N.B. If your comment/guess isn’t showing immediately, it is because comments are released on the following Thursday or Friday of the week the Monday Mystery photo, is posted. That way, everyone gets a chance to guess, without peeking at any of the previous guesses.

Last Week’s Photo:

Last week’s photo – NEPAL

Last week’s photo from Nepal, was submitted by Pooja of the worthwhile visiting blog:  Stories from Europe . Pooja’s photo was, in fact, located at the street view adjacent to Boudhanath Stupa, or Shrine, in Kathmandu.

“Believed to have been built in the 14th century, Boudhanath was shaken by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in April 2015 that killed almost 9,000 people and displaced millions. Its sprawling white stupa, topped with four pairs of hypnotic eyes that stare out across the capital was largely spared, but the gold spire that sits atop the dome was severely damaged.” [Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/22/nepals-earthquake-hit-boudhanath-stupa-reopens-after-restoration-private-donations]

I received a raft of very good guesses for Pooja’s photo, and those who were correct included:

Mel & Suan from Travelling Matters

Tara from After the Rain

Master of Something Yet

The Snow Melts Somewhere

New Guest contributors to Monday Mystery Photos, are ALWAYS very welcome. Please flick me an email if you’d like to submit a photo to the Monday Mystery Feature. You will find my email by hovering over my Gravatar and clicking on ‘Complete Profile.’

Monday Mystery Photo – Always Something to Ponder About

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Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

 I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

Continuing on the series of African Proverbs, we have another from Kenya this week:

An empty tin makes a lot of noise

(Kenyan Proverb)

Life, we learn too late, is in the living, in the tissue of every day and hour.

– Stephen Leacock

Stephen P. H Butler Leacock, (1869 –1944) was a Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist. Between the years 1915 and 1925, he was the best-known English-speaking humorist in the world. He is known for his light humour along with criticisms of people’s follies. [Wikipedia]

To enjoy the world without judgement is what a realized life is like

– Charlotte Joko Beck

 

What do you make of this week’s proverb? Do you find it is true, in your experience?

And the quotes this week:  Both are about life and how we live it:

Is it possible to live a life complete, without judgement?

Or is judgement a necessary, protection mechanism or an evolutionary aberration?

Please do join in the discussion.

I would be pleased to hear all thoughts and comments.

Something to Ponder About this Thursday.

Amanda Mac @Forestwoodfolk

Forestwoodfolk

Invisible Murder – Book Review

With the topic of refugees and terrorism very much in the news, this novel by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis, is written for our time and makes for illuminating reading.

 

Two impoverished Roma boys are scavenging for something to sell in the ruins of an abandoned Soviet military hospital. Purportedly to improve the lives of themselves and their poverty-stricken families in a rural village of Hungary, one of the boys embarks on a radical plan. Far away in middle class Denmark, Red cross nurse, Nina Borg inadvertently risks her own life and those of her family, to assist a group of Hungarian refugees but little does she know her actions will have disastrous ramifications.

Source: Economist.com

“Jobbik. It had to be Jobbik, taking to the streets to protest the Jews, Communists and Romas from ‘ruining out nation.’ Lusja straightened herself up pursing her lips as though she had found something disgusting on her shoe. ‘God spare us from any more racist, goose stepping idiots.’ The driver turned in his seat. ‘Jobbik aren’t racists,’ he said. ‘They’re just for Hungary.’ Lusja straightened up in her seat and stared daggers at the driver, 128 pounds of indignant humanism versus 260 pounds of overweight-but-muscular nationalism. ‘And what kind of Hungary would that be?’ she asked. ‘A Hungary clinically scrubbed of all diversity? A Hungary where you can be arrested just because you skin is a different colour? A Hungary where it’s totally okay for Romas to have a life expectancy that’s fifteen years shorter than the rest of the population?’

Source: Hungarianfreepress.com

A novel that is carefully crafted and well-balanced, allowing you to understand both sides, their personal  motives and furthermore, to feel empathy for the characters woven into the story line: The studious brother who in one brief moment is denied a legal career and betterment for himself, and his family, only because of a racially slanted agenda, his quest to save his wayward orphan brother who, by way of contrast, chooses an extremist, crash-through course of action, and the consequences for each; the innocent bystanders; the well-meaning humanitarians in Denmark, the terrorist thugs and ordinary residents of homogeneous, suburbia integrating with ‘foreigners’.

Are they all helping or hindering the cause? What toll does it take, personally, on those who help the less fortunate, the traumatized, the dangerous, and those on the fringes of society?

In the face of a changing Europe, this Scandinavian novel illuminates some salient points to ponder about inter-related events that shape our modern lives.

Rating 8/10

Other Novels by these bestselling authors: The Boy in the Suitcase

 

Picky about Pikelets – Anzac Day Traditions

Would it be crass to say that I am the Queen of Pikelets?

Well, I’ve said it, so if I am crass, it is because these Pikelets have won awards for many years at the Royal National Show. Seriously!  If the reactions of others are anything to go by, they really are impressive, well, as much as a pikelet can be, I suppose.  I have always kept my recipe a closely guarded secret, but today being April 25, Anzac Day; a significant, almost sacred national day for Australians and New Zealanders, (that you can read more about here), I’ve decided to spread the love that only an Aussie pikelet can do, and share this recipe with you!!

Pikelets are very definitely entrenched as a home bake favourite in the vernacular Australian and New Zealand cuisine and are much better than the much touted Anzac biscuits, [find that recipe here] -an oh so popular wartime ‘cookie’ that entered Australian and New Zealand folklore as one of our few traditions that are uniquely our own, but today – today it is all about Pikelets!

Meanwhile, some of you are probably thinking: ” Just, what ARE Pikelets?” Right?

Monday Mystery Photo – Last time Lima

Where is this located?

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, (shown above), or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog when the answer is revealed the following week.

*N.B. If your comment/guess isn’t showing immediately, it is because comments are released on the following Thursday or Friday of the week the Monday Mystery photo, is posted. That way, everyone gets a chance to guess, without peeking at any of the previous guesses.

Last time, on MMP,  Peggy  from the blog leggypeggy submitted a fabulous water attraction in Lima, Peru.  Drake from LeDrakeNoir and Ted from RetroRambling guessed the location correctly. Peggy tells us a little more about the structure in Lima:

“The Magic Water Tour in Lima Peru is the current record holder for the largest fountain complex in the world. With 13 distinct fountains spread over eight hectares, the tour opened in 2007 and had 2 million visitors within nine months. This pic shows the 35-metre Tunnel Fountain of Surprises that people can stroll through.”

Thanks Peggy for your wonderful contributions!

This week’s photo was submitted by Pooja of Stories from Europe. New Guest contributors to Monday Mystery Photos, are very welcome. Please flick me an email if you’d like to submit a photo to the Monday Mystery Feature. You will find my email by hovering over my Gravatar and clicking on ‘Complete Profile.’

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Monday Mystery Photo – Last time Brisbane

This week’s photo comes from Peggy, a wonderful blogger from Down Under. Do you know where it might be located? If so leave a comment below.*

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, (shown below), or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph, (posted above). If you guess correctly, I will link back to your blog when the answer is revealed the following week.

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdoms

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.