Tonlé Sap Lake, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap contains an exceptional large variety of interconnected eco-regions with a high degree of biodiversity. The area of the lake is home to many ethnic Vietnamese and numerous Cham communities, living in floating villages around the lake. Approximately 1.2 million people living in the greater Tonle Sap make their living by fishing on the local waters.

Post-processed in DxO Nik Silver Efex Pro to achieve the antique look.

“Deep ecology does not see the world as a collection of isolated objects but rather as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and interdependent. It recognizes the intrinsic value of all living beings and views humans—in the celebrated words attributed to Chief Seattle—as just one particular strand in the web of life.”

― Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism

Spiral staircase in the tower at the Lighthouse Building in Glasgow

From Wikipedia -

The Lighthouse in Glasgow is Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture. It was opened as part of Glasgow's status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999.

The Lighthouse is the renamed conversion of the former offices of the Glasgow Herald newspaper. Completed in 1895, it was designed by the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.[1] The centre's vision is to develop the links between design, architecture, and the creative industries, seeing these as interconnected social, educational, economic and cultural issues of concern to everyone.

Approaching the entrance of Sant Pau one is presented with its gorgeous main pavilion.

2 of 14.

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau came into being in 1401 with the merging of six hospitals in the city of Barcelona at that time.

Santa Creu, the Hospital of the Holy Cross, as it was called in those days, was right in the centre of the city, in what is now the Raval district, in one of the most important examples of Catalan Civil Gothic architecture.

By the late nineteenth century, due to the rapid growth of Barcelona's population and advances in medicine, the hospital became too small, and it was decided to construct a new building.

Thanks to the bequest of the Catalan banker Pau Gil, the first stone of the new hospital, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, was laid on 15 January 1902, though the new facilities would not be opened until 1930.

After eighty years of healthcare activity in the Modernista complex, in 2009 the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau moved to new premises built in the north of the precinct, thus commencing a new era for the historic pavilions of Domènech i Montaner.

Declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1997 for its singularity and artistic beauty, the Art Nouveau site comprises an architectural complex of 12 pavilions set in green space and interconnected by a kilometre of underground galleries.

© all rights reserved by B℮n

The Netherlands is a small country of 16 million people, but it boasts a quarter of a million competitive speedskaters, and millions more who skate for fun. What's the story? Natural ice in the Netherlands is a rare occurrence. In fact, some winters there's no natural ice at all. Maybe that explains why the Dutch love to skate outdoors. They hardly ever get the chance! But when a cold wave hits, and the interconnected maze of canals, rivers and lakes freeze over, it's a spontaneous celebration, a national holiday. Infinite sea of ice is perfect for ice skating journeys. Ice skating is not only a Dutch sport, it also underwrites the history, art and culture of the Netherlands. Perhaps most importantly a good freeze provides the Dutch a chance to discover the wilderness and an outdoor challenge within their own landscape. The Netherlands are a long distance skater's dream. Hundreds of kilometres of potential routes can carry the skater to the heart of a wild landscape. Today after 4 years we went ice skating on the Ankeveense Plassen.

The Ankeveense Plassen is a real skater’s paradise. As temperatures plunge across Europe, many are cursing the cold. But not in the Netherlands. Many are hoping for further frigid conditions. Photo taken of Dutch people on the lakes of Ankeveen. A first time skating in 2017 is such a rare occurrence.

Schaatsen op natuurijs is het leukste wat er is. Warm inpakken, muts op, handschoenen, schaatsen geslepen, slee mee en gaan. Helaas is het in Nederland niet zo vaak zo koud dat we echt kunnen schaatsen. Veel mensen grijpen vandaag nog even de kans om te schaatsen. Ondanks de waarschuwingen van schaatsbond KNSB om weg te blijven van meren, sloten en kanalen. Het ijs is op veel plekken niet dik genoeg. Daar lieten veel schaatsliefhebbers zich dus niet door weerhouden.. Op 26 januari 2017 verzamelden meerdere mensen op de Ankeveense plassen in de gemeente Wijdemeren. Dat is de plek waar het ijs het sterkst was. Vaak wordt er aangehouden dat het ijs een centimeter of 10 dik moet zijn om veilig op te kunnen schaatsen, en het ijs op de Ankeveense plassen is op het dikste gedeelte maar een centimeter of vijf dik, maar dat weerhield tientallen mensen er niet van om toch even het ijs op te gaan. In Ankeveen was de meest gehoorde reactie: “het is dun, maar het kan wel…”. En dat leverde mooie plaatjes op. Mensen van alle leeftijden op schaatsen, kinderen die een buikschuiver willen maken, mensen die voorzichtig even willen voelen hoe het is om op het ijs te staan. De aantrekkingskracht van het ijs is enorm. Opvallend veel Amsterdammers zoeken hun toevlucht in Ankeveen. ,,Hier kan het al, bij ons op de grachten nog lang niet”, grijnst een meneer. ,,Het is windstil, lekker zonnetje, het is ijs is goed. Wat wil je nog meer?” ,,Natuurlijk kan je door het ijs zakken, maar het leven is niet zonder risico's. Je kan ook onder een auto komen, of er kan een vliegtuig op je huis neerstorten.”

I figured we had departed enough from DC JL media since the Superfriends, so we're bringing it back to one of my all time personal favorites...

The Justice League: Animated Series (2001-2004/2006)

Off the backs of Batman and Superman's Animated series on The WB, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm had successfully created a shared TV animated universe that spanned from 1991 to 2006! Bruce and Paul both say their inspirations come from early 1950's-1970's comic books/animations. What did I tell you about things getting good again after 30-odd years! :P

The Dini/Timm-verse is one to go down in the history books. Not only was their work on Batman: The Animated Series ground breaking from an animation standpoint, but following up with two additional series, an interconnected Superman show, then capping the universe with an astounding, heartfelt, action packed, two series' Justice League show?! Man, if anyone was gonna do it right, it was them!

Watching JL, and JL:U was like literally watching re-created comic books stories! The dedication and commitment to the source material is phenomenal, while still being independent in it's own concept. It's funny, it's heartbreaking, it's emotional, and most of all, it's a blast to watch!

The cast and crew all had a very strong view of what the show was and what it meant to fans of DC and it's previous animated series'. The show understood the team's dynamics and how each member would work with one another. There was an incredible strength behind the characteristics of the main seven members. Giving each of them a reason to be on the show as a team, and that lead to some really great story work. Additionally The WB team never bit off more than they could chew! Starting small with stories that generally revolved around two or three JL members aided this series as a whole. Because when we finally got to the JL:U, episodes could feature the entire league and it never felt forced!

I'm so impressed at how smart everything was handled throughout the entire run, not just the JL series, but the entire fifteen year run! I gotta give some serious props to that production team! :P

You know, part of the reason this show was so successful was because it was fun! It had everything from action and adventure, to some great teen friendly humor, while also having a good sense of drama, and even hints of romance throughout (I'm still shipping Jon and Shayera). Plus it held some great connections to original Silver Age comic's and their writers, all the way down to sharing ties with the books being printed during the mid-2000's! It's... Dude it's unrivaled! Thinking about it now, I'm still just super impressed by how well the Dini/Timm universe was handled from the ground up!

(I feel like I'm repeating myself) :P

Undeniably, Dini and Timm may be the reason why DC's animated productions are so well funded and produced these days. I'd argue that due to the success of what they established, DC as a company really puts a lot of faith in that field of media.

On a side tangent, I totally forgot to mention what was going on in the 2000s (Comic Wise). There were a lot of weird things happening during this show's run time. We had Final Crisis, Blackest Night, All the “Year One/Year Later” stuff, The soft-core Green Lantern Corp Reboot (Rebirth), Barry Allan was Rebirthed, and basically Geoff Johns just wrote for everything and did everybody's job for a while. In a lot of these books, there was a lot of “story repair” taking place in response to what the 1990's left in it's wake. Somebody had to do something about The Metropolis Kid....

Considering all this, the 2000's were great for what they had to work with. There was a sense of legitimacy and purpose behind the stories, with deeper emotional ties to DC's past and heroes long gone. There wasn't a single series you could read without the main hero being broken up or conflicted over a deceased mentor/lover in some caliber. Not always “fun” per-say, but well needed, and welcoming for new readers.

To bring it all back on topic, this show contained a wonderful amount of nostalgic feeling for the Silver and Bronze Ages, plus they had fun with it! (I can't stop reminding you how fun of a show it was). They re-told old stories, while creating something new! :)

It was at the point where I personally joined our DC Time Line in Comic Book History. The Justice League Animated Series (and BTAS) were my entrance into DC's enormous collection of media, and it's hooked me ever since.

It'll always hold a dear place in my heart :)

___________________________________________

This photograph was part of a re-shoot!

If you want to see the original concept/idea/photos for the 2000's, go checkout my Patreon! Besides that, there is a ton of other behind the scenes content, plus sneak-peaks to the next GoJ uploads! :)

And if you have your own special tale of when, where, or what first brought you to comics, leave a comment and tell me your story! :)

___________________________________________

www.patreon.com/andrewcookston

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrewcookstonphotography/

Ngwe Saung beach is situated near Yangon city and it can be reached within a 5-hour drive from Yangon. The beach itself is approximately 9 miles long and one of the longest beach in South East Asia and newly opened beach in Ayeyarwaddy delta region interconnected with the Andaman Sea. Moreover, Ngwe Saung is located a bit south of Ngapali which is also another popular beach resorts in Myanmar.

Though, the beach itself was recently opened, due to the incredible quality of the beach, water and sand, it is getting more and more attention from tourists and becoming more popular. It is not just that the beach is good in quality but it also has incredible vistas and breathtaking view of the Bay of Bengal especially during the evening when the sun goes set.

Yin and yang (/jɪn/ and /jæŋ/) is a Chinese philosophical concept that describes opposite but interconnected forces.

A couple of my lodge brothers at a 3rd Saturday Breakfast.

On the left is WB (Worshipful Brother) Ron Allen, on the right is WB (Worshipful Brother) Wes Stokes. Both are quite different and both are great examples of what a Mason should strive to be. I have to say I've learned a lot from both and I look forward to learning more in the future.

An old shot that I came across that I took with my Nifty Fifty. When it comes to taking portraiture type shots I really do like it!.

A detail of the Miyagi bridge, connecting Miyagi island with Ikei island, the last of a string of three interconnected islands off Katsuren peninsula in Okinawa, Japan.

The Banyan tree is a large and iconic tree species that is native to India, but also found in other parts of Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It is also commonly referred to as the Indian fig tree or the strangler fig due to its unique growth habits.

Banyan trees are known for their aerial roots, which grow down from the branches and take root in the ground, giving the tree a unique and distinctive appearance. Over time, these roots can expand and grow into new trunks, creating a complex network of interconnected trunks and branches that can cover a large area.

In many cultures, Banyan trees are considered sacred and are often associated with spiritual and religious significance. They are sometimes used as a symbol of longevity, strength, and resilience, and they feature prominently in art, literature, and mythology.

Banyan trees are also valued for their many practical uses. They are used for shade, as a source of timber and fuelwood, and in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. Overall, the Banyan tree is an important and beloved species that has played a significant role in the cultures and traditions of many communities throughout Southeast Asia.

This tree's knee is in Colliery Dam Park at Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Unlike a dead stump, a tree's knee remains alive after the trunk is cut away, nurtured by an interconnected root system.

In this captivating photograph, a magnificent and colossal intertwined tree, with branches painted in a pristine white hue, stands proudly on the Caribbean island of Haiti. The sheer scale and complexity of the interwoven branches create a mesmerizing display of natural artistry. The tree's distinctive white color adds a unique and enchanting touch to the lush, tropical landscape, setting it apart in striking contrast against the vibrant greenery that surrounds it.

This arboreal giant, though its specific name remains unknown, captures the essence of the untamed beauty and resilience found in the heart of Haiti. The intricate network of branches seems to tell a story of strength, endurance, and interconnectedness, reflecting the spirit of the island itself. As sunlight filters through the foliage, creating a play of shadows and highlights, the tree becomes a focal point of serenity and wonder in the Caribbean landscape.

This photograph invites viewers to appreciate the natural wonders of Haiti, showcasing the mysterious allure of a colossal, intertwined tree that stands as a silent testament to the island's rich and diverse ecosystems. It's a visual testament to the harmonious coexistence of nature's elements, leaving observers to marvel at the beauty of this majestic and unnamed arboreal wonder in the heart of the Caribbean.

Available in the gallery here - james-insogna.pixels.com/featured/magnificent-and-colossa...

Check out My Fine Art Galleries and Shops

NEED ART?

==========================================

▶ www.JamesInsogna.com

▶ www.BoInsogna.com

▶ james-insogna.pixels.com

▶ WindowViewArt.com

▶ ColoradoNatureArt.com

==========

FOLLOW ME

==========

▶ INSTAGRAM - @strikingphoto

▶ TWITTER - www.twitter.com/bophoto

▶ FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/strikingphotographybybo

#trees

View Large On Black

Page #2, Explore

The Netherlands is a small country of 16 million people, but it boasts a quarter of a million competitive speedskaters, and millions more who skate for fun. What's the story? Natural ice in the Netherlands is a rare occurrence. In fact, some winters there's no natural ice at all. Maybe that explains why the Dutch love to skate outdoors. They hardly ever get the chance! But when a cold wave hits, and the interconnected maze of canals, rivers and lakes freeze over, it's a spontaneous celebration, a national holiday. Businesses close their doors and everyone goes skating. According to Richard van Ammerzoden, a skater from Rotterdam, skating in Holland originated as a poor man's sport. Isolated by mud and water in the damp winters, rural farmers prayed for ice. When it came, just like Hans Brinker, they strapped on their wooden skates with leather thongs, and traveled great distances to visit friends and relatives they hadn't seen in months. Then they skated home.

Perhaps that explains the origin of the Elfstedentocht or "Eleven Cities Tour", a 200-kilometer mega-tour in the province of Friesland known as "the mother of all skating tours." In the 1890s, some Frisian farmer with well-developed leg muscles tried to skate through all eleven cities of Friesland in a single day. He succeeded, and the rest is history.

Photo taken at the Holysloter Die nearby Amsterdam. Dutch skaters enjoying the kilometers of natural ice. Today I took a day off enjoying the natural ice. I did skate a tour from Amsterdam - Ransdorp - Holysloot - Uitdam - Zuiderwoude to Monnickendam and back - about 40km. I did skate a tour from Amsterdam - Ransdorp - Holysloot - Uitdam - Zuiderwoude to Monnickendam and back - about 40km. This photo I took on my way home to Amsterdam. In the distance you can see the smoke of the Power Plant "Hemweg" of Amsterdam. Tomorrow extreme low temperature of -15 degrees Celcius is expected.

Zo'n 1000 jaar geleden of eerder begon men te schaatsen . Toen hadden ze nog geen ijzer uit gevonden dus deden ze dat met botten van geslachte of dode dieren. Die maakten ze een beetje scherp, bonden ze met touwen onder hun voeten vast en zo kwamen ze al een beetje vooruit. Toen er ijzer uit werd gevonden waren er al vrij snel ijzeren schaatsen in plaats van schaatsen van botten. Nederland is het enige land waar zoveel mensen schaatsen. De schaats is ook in Nederland uitgevonden. Ook in Noorwegen schaatsen veel mensen maar lang niet zoveel als in Nederland. Er ligt daar meestal te veel sneeuw op het ijs. Als er twee nachten matige vorst is geweest slaat de gekte weer toe. Erwtensoep in de pot, schaatsen uit het vet en tochten maken. Helaas heeft het al jaren niet meer gevroren, weet een hele generatie niet wat natuurijs maar nu lijkt eindelijk de weer een vorst periode aan te breken waar op natuurijs geschaatst kan worden.

In around the 11th century, two byzantine chapels were carved directly into the rock of the Davelis cave entrance which are rather unusual in the fact that they are interconnected, converging as one church within two sanctums and are said to be dedicated to Saint Spyridon and Saint Nicolas. The smaller of the chapels contains glyphs and engravings thought to have been produced by the anchorites, and there is a mural in the larger one depicting Michael Akominatos, the last Greek archbishop of Athens.

They were used by twelfth-century Christian hermits associated with the Gnostics.

Today's outing with the Environmental Cultural Club of Attica (www.peripolo.gr) was to visit the Ancient quarries of Mount Pentelikon where the world renowned marble was taken from, which was used to build the Acropolis and other Ancient Monuments.

The ancient quarry is protected by law, and used exclusively to obtain material for the Acropolis Restoration Project. This roadway, used to transport marble blocks from the quarry to the Acropolis in antiquity, is a continual downhill, and follows the natural lay of the land. It has been researched and fully documented by the chief Acropolis restoration architect, Professor Manolis Korres, in his award-winning book "From Pentelicon to the Parthenon". A monastery is also located in the middle of the mountain, north-east of city centre.

Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανάσης Φουρναράκος

Professional Photographer, Athens, Greece

(retired in 2011, born in 1946).

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

"One North State Street was built in the early 1900s to serve as the flagship for the Mandel Brothers department store, which operated there for nearly 60 years. The property consists of two interconnected structures containing 16 stories and 11 stories, respectively, that were later combined in the 1980s when the building was converted to multi-tenant offices and retail stores." Loop.net

The Mx 42 is stationed on Denmark's island of Seeland. Although it's just as well seen as Denmark's mainland, which exists of a few large islands as well, although they are interconnected by bridges. In the southeast of the island a few unelectrified lines are served by Lokaltog. The Mx42 is used to aid for maintenance here as well to be the thunderbird loco in this area. During a normal saturday the loco was awaiting a clear signal at Store Heddinge station. The local passenger train was due any minute to clear the tracks ahead.

Day 45. It was Valentine’s day today. In my country, we don’t really have the celebration (we have a homologous celebration by the end of september), but an increasingly interconnected world makes you mor suceptible to noticing the date and, perhaps, do something special. In a romantic-but-low-profie fashion, I decided to take a photo of my girlfriend’s eyes. I’ve always loved them. They are really, really beautiful, so I wanted to keep a memory of them, especially since she hasn’t been featured in the 365 so far. So I met up with her around midday, we had some coffe and cookies, and I took her photo. It was a fun, quick escapade from the usual university work :)

The faceted glass façade of Spertus Institute’s Michigan Avenue facility offers a window into world of Jewish learning and culture. Designed by the award-winning, Chicago-based Krueck & Sexton Architects, the innovative, environmentally sustainable Spertus Institute building opened at 610 S. Michigan Avenue in November 2007. The building features interconnected interior spaces and one-of-a-kind, ten-story faceted window wall that provides spectacular views of the Chicago skyline, Grant Park, Millennium Park, and Lake Michigan.

The window wall is built from 726 individual pieces of glass in 556 different shapes. By its transparency, the façade announces the accessible and public nature of Spertus, beckoning visitors to enter and explore the educational and cultural offerings within.

Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, (4 hours or 350 km by road) around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls.

Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follow the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu. During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing.

There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are generally harmless to humans unless provoked. Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the wet season is prohibited.

Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge. The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet. There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine.

Freshwater crocodiles are widely distributed along the river year-round. During the wet season, rises in water levels may allow saltwater crocodiles to enter the gorge, where they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.

Birds that can be seen include ospreys, red-tailed black cockatoos, great bowerbirds, white-gaped honeyeaters and red-winged parrots. Part of the Yinberrie Hills Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for endangered Gouldian finches, lies in the park

Manufacturer: Citroën S.A., Groupe PSA Peugeot Citroën, Saint-Ouen - France

Type: 2CV6 Berline

Production time: mid-year 1985 - mid-year 1988

Production outlet: 1,458,465 (1979-1990: all 2CV6 models)

Production outlet 1948-1990: 3.872.583 2CV Berlines and 1.504.221 2CV derived vehicles

Engine: 602cc Citroen M28/1 twin cylinder OHV boxer air-cooled

Power: 29 bhp / 5.750 rpm

Torque: 39 Nm / 3.500 rpm

Drivetrain: front

Speed: 115 km/h

Curb weight: 560 kg

Wheelbase: 94.5 inch

Chassis: dual H-frame platform frame and aircraft-style tube framework with unitized (bolted) steel body

Steering: rack & pinion

Gearbox: four-speed manual / dashboard umbrella stick

Clutch: single dry plate disc (centrifugal)

Carburettor: Solex 26/35CSIC

Fuel tank: 20 liter

Electric system: 12 Volts / 30 Ah

Ignition system: distributor and coil

Brakes front: 9.6 inch hydraulic inboard discs

Brakes rear: Lockheed hydraulic drums

Suspension front: independent leading arm with interconnected longitudinal coil springs, transverse cross member (not an anti-roll bar) and friction dampers (frotteur) + inertia shock absorbers (horizontal mounted)

Suspension rear: independent swinging trailing arm, tie rods with transversal coil springs, friction dampers (frotteur) and suspension cylinders at the side + inertia shock absorbers

Differential: spiral-toothed final drive 4.125:1

Wheels: 4J - 15 inch 3 stud steel wheels

Tires: 125 x 380 Michelin X radial 4-ply

Options: centrifugal “Trafficlutch”, Radioën transistor radio

Special:

- André Citroën built armaments for France during World War I and after the war he had a factory and no product. In 1919, the business started to produce automobiles, beginning with the conventional type A.

- In 1924, Citroën began a business relationship with American engineer Edward G. Budd, developer of stainless steel bodies for railroad cars and in 1928, Citroën introduced the first all-steel body in Europe.

- In 1934, debt forced the company into foreclosure and it was then taken over by its biggest creditor, the tire company Michelin.

- Designed by Flaminio Bertoni as the TPV (Toute Petite Voiture: 1938) what later became the 2 CV (1948), restyled by André Lefèbvre, included headlamp beam height adjustment.

- The flat-twin air-cooled engine was designed by Walter Becchia, while the ingenious suspension was designed by Marcel Chinon.

- Only one colour was initially offered when the car came on the scene in 1948, it was grey. A second colour (blue) was offered since 1959 and then in 1960 yellow was added.

- The 2CV Series (1948-1990) was built in Levallois-Perret, France, Forest/Vorst, Belgium, Liège, Belgium, Slough, UK, Jeppener, Argentina (1960–1962), Buenos Aires, Argentina (1962–1980), Montevideo, Uruguay (Panel van & pick-up), Arica, Chile, Mangualde, Portugal (1988–1990), Vigo, Spain and in Koper, Slovenia (former Yugoslavia).

Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres (123.26 sq mi). Sintra is one of the most urbanized and densely populated municipalities of Portugal and hosts several cities albeit the seat of the municipality is the town of Sintra proper. A major tourist destination famed for its picturesqueness, the municipality has several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens.

The area includes the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park through which the Sintra Mountains run. The historic center of the Vila de Sintra is famous for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates and villas, gardens, and royal palaces and castles, which resulted in the classification of the town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra's landmarks include the medieval Castle of the Moors, the romanticist Pena National Palace and the Portuguese Renaissance Sintra National Palace.

Sintra is one of the wealthiest and most expensive municipalities in both Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole It is home to one of the largest foreign expat communities along the Portuguese Riviera and consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Portugal The earliest remnants of human occupation were discovered in Penha Verde: these vestiges testify to an occupation dating to the early Paleolithic. Comparable remnants were discovered in an open-air site in São Pedro de Canaferrim, alongside the chapel of the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle), dating back to the Neolithic, and include decorated ceramics and microlithic flint utensils from the 5th millennium BC.

Ceramic fragments found locally including many late Chalcolithic vases from the Sintra mountains suggest that between the fourth and third millennia B.C. the region (adjacent to the present village of Sintra) was occupied by a Neolithic/Chalcolithic settlement, with characteristics comparable to fortified settlements in Lisbon and Setúbal. The evidence discovered in Quinta das Sequoias and São Pedro de Canaferrim contrasts dramatically with those remnants discovered in the walled town of Penha Verde and the funerary monument of Bella Vista. Traces of several Bronze Age remains were also discovered in many places in the Sintra Mountains, including alongside the town, in the Monte do Sereno area, and a late Bronze Age settlement within the Moorish Castle dating to the 9th–6th centuries B.C.

The most famous object from this period is the so-called Sintra Collar, a middle Bronze Age gold neck-ring found near the city at the end of the nineteenth century, which since 1900 has been part of the British Museum's collection. Relatively close by, in Santa Eufémia da Serra, is an Iron Age settlement where artifacts from indigenous tribes and peoples of Mediterranean origins (principally from the Punic period) were also discovered.

These date from the early 4th century B.C., prior to the Romanization of the peninsula, which in the area of Foz do Tejo took place in the middle of the 2nd century B.C. Close proximity to a large commercial centre (Olisipo) founded by the Turduli Oppidani people in the first half of the first millennium B.C., meant that the region of Sintra was influenced by human settlement throughout various epochs, cultures that have left remains in the area to this day. The toponym Sintra derives from the medieval Suntria, and points to an association with radical Indo-European cultures; the word translates into "bright star" or "sun", commonly significant in those cultures Marcus Terentius Varro and Cadizian Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella designated the place "the sacred mountain" and Ptolemy referred to it as the "mountains of the moon"

Part of the Roman Dam of Belas complex, showing the ventilation structures (foreground) and the remaining dam segment (background).

During the Roman occupation of the peninsula, the region of Sintra was part of the vast Civitas Olisiponense which Caesar (around 49 B.C.) or more likely Octavius (around 30 B.C.) granted the status of Municipium Civium Romanorum. The various residents of the region were considered part of the Roman Galeria and in the present village of Sintra there are Roman remains testifying to a Roman presence from the 1st–2nd centuries B.C. to the 5th century A.D. A roadway along the southeast part of the Sintra Mountains and connected to the main road to Olisipo dates from this period.

Roman Bridge of Catribana.

This via followed the route of the current Rua da Ferraria, the Calçada dos Clérigos and the Calçada da Trindade. Following the Roman custom of siting tombs along their roads and near their homes, there is also evidence of inscriptions pertaining to Roman funeral monuments, dating mainly to the 2nd century. The area around the modern town of Sintra, due to its proximity to Olisipo, the ancient name of Lisbon, was always profoundly interconnected with the major settlement, to the point that the Fountain of Armés, a 1st-century fountain in the village of Armés, Terrugem, in Sintra, has been built by Lucius Iulius Maelo Caudicus, an Olisipo flamen, to honour the Roman Emperor Augustus.

It was during the Moorish occupation of Sintra (Arabic: Xintara‎) that Greco-Latin writers wrote of the explicit occupation of the area of the town centre. A description by the geographer Al-Bacr, described Sintra as "one of the towns that [are] dependent on Lisbon in Al-Andalus, in proximity to the sea", characterizing it as "permanently submersed in a fog that never dissipates".

During the Reconquista (around the 9th century), its principal centre and castle were isolated by Christian armies. Following the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba, the King of Léon, Alfonso VI received in the spring of 1093, the cities of Santarém, Lisbon and the Castle of Sintra. This followed a period of internal instability within the Muslim taifas of the peninsula, and in particular the decision by the ruler of Taifa of Badajoz, Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mutawakkil who, after hesitating from 1090 to 1091, placed his territory under the suzerainty of Alfonso VI when faced with the threat of the Almoravids. Afonso took the cities and the castle of Sintra between 30 April and 8 May 1093, but shortly after their transfer Sintra and Lisbon were conquered by the Almoravids. Santarém was saved by Henry, who Alfonso VI of León and Castile nominated Count of Portugal in 1096, to replace Raymond of Burgundy

The remnants of the chapel of São Pedro de Canaferrim, constructed by Afonso Henriques following the surrender of Moors in Sintra

In July 1109, Count Henry reconquered the Castle of Sintra This was preceded a year before by an attempt by Prince Sigurd the Crusader, son of Magnus III of Norway, to capture the castle from the Moors in the course of his trek to the Holy Land. Sigurd's forces disembarked at the mouth of the Colares River but failed to take the castle. But it was only after the conquest of Lisbon, in October 1147, by Afonso Henriques (supported by Crusaders), that the castle surrendered definitely to the Christians, in November. It was integrated into Christian dominions along with Almada and Palmela after their surrender. Afonso Henriques established the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim within the walls of the Moorish Castle to mark his success.

The municipal building of Sintra, constructed after 1154 to house the local administration

On 9 January 1154, Afonso Henriques signed a foral ("charter") for the town of Sintra, with all its respective regalia. The charter established the municipality of Sintra, whose territory encompassed a large area, eventually divided into four great parishes: São Pedro de Canaferrim (in the castle), São Martinho (in the town of Sintra), Santa Maria and São Miguel (in the ecclesiastical seat of Arrabalde). The early municipal seat, the town of Sintra, was the centre of a significant Sephardic community, with a synagogue and quarter. This community was not limited to Sintra town: enclaves are mentioned during the reign of King Denis in Colares, but were heavily pressured by the influx of Christian serfs. Throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, owing to the fertility of the land, various convents, monasteries and military orders constructed residences, estates, water-mills and vineyards. There are municipal records from this period of a number of donations and grants; between 1157 and 1158, Afonso Henriques donated to the master of the Knights Templar, Gualdim Pais, various houses and estates in the centre of Sintra.

In 1210, the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra acquired four houses in Pocilgais, releasing them in 1230, while in 1264 it controlled homes and vineyards in Almargem. In 1216 the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Lisbon) also held a vineyard in Colares and, in 1218, estates in Queluz and Barota. At some time between 1223 and 1245, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça held various privileges in the territory. The military Order of Santiago owned an estate in Arrifana in 1260 Many of Afonso Henriques' donations in the 12th century, including privileges assigned to these institutions, were confirmed in 1189 by his son, Sancho I (1185–1211), corresponding to a social, political and economic strategy during the post-Reconquista era. Consequently, after 1261, Sintra had a local administration consisting of an alcalde representing the Crown, and two local judges elected by the public. During the political conflict between King Sancho II (1223–1248) and the Church, the churches of São Pedro and São Martinho, which belonged to the King, were ceded to the Bishop of Lisbon and Sé. Yet the Crown's patrimony was defined early: in 1287, King Denis donated to Queen Elizabeth of Portugal the town, the signeurial holdings and all their associated benefits. Later, these lands were transferred to the young Infante Afonso (later King Afonso IV), and remained in his possession until 1334, before reverting to the ownership of the queen (Portuguese: Casa da Rainha).

The Black Death arrived in Sintra in the 14th century; in 1350, the disease is known to have caused the death of five municipal scribes. Far greater numbers of deaths probably resulted, perhaps owing to the cool climate and humidity, conditions that favoured the rapid spread of the disease

The Palace of Sintra, for a long time the residence of royal family during the summer

During the reign of King Ferdinand (1367–1383), Sintra played a part in the controversial marriage of the monarch to Dona Leonor Telles de Menezes. In 1374, the King donated Sintra to the Lady Telles, whom he eventually married in secret in the north of the country. Along with Sintra the King conceded the municipalities of Vila Viçosa, Abrantes and Almada, to the consternation of his private council; following a confrontation the King abandoned his duties and travelled to Sintra, where he remained for a month on the pretext of hunting. As Sintra was located relatively close to Lisbon, many of its people were called to work on projects for the Crown in the capital: in 1373, King Ferdinand decided to wall the city, and requested funds or workers from coastal lands in Almada, Sesimbra, Palmela, Setúbal, Coina, Benavente and Samora Correia, as well as all of Ribatejo, and from the inland areas of Sintra, Cascais, Torres Vedras, Alenquer, Arruda, Atouguia, Lourinhã, Telheiros and Mafra. During the Dynastic Crisis between 1383–1385, Sintra joined Leonor Telles in supporting the proclamation of her daughter, Beatrice, who married John I of Castile, as Queen of Portugal and Castile. After the defeat of the Castilian army at Aljubarrota (August 1385) by Portuguese and English troops, commanded by Nuno Álvares Pereira, Sintra became one of the last places to surrender to the Master of Aviz, later King of Portugal (after 1383).

Joanine and Philippine era

John I (1385–1433), first King of the second dynasty, broke the tradition of transferring Sintra to the Casa da Rainha (Queen's property). Probably around 1383, John I granted the lands of Sintra to Count Henrique Manuel de Vilhena, quickly revoking the decision after Henrique took the Infanta's side during the dynastic quarrel. Sintra, therefore, continued as a possession of the King, who expanded the local estate. Until the end of the 17th century, the royal palace constituted one of the principal residences and summer estates of the court: it was from here that John decided to conquer Ceuta (1415); King Afonso V was born and died at the palace (1433–1481); and here King John II (1481–1495) was acclaimed sovereign.

In a document issued in 1435 by King Edward (1433–1438), the region was described as: "A land of good air and water and of the Comarcas with an abundance in the sea and land [...] our most loyal city of Lisbon being so near, and being in it sufficient diversions, and the distractions of the mountains and hunting...".

During the Portuguese Age of Discovery, several people born in Sintra were written into history. In 1443 Gonçalo de Sintra, squire in the House of the Infante Henry, was sent by the prince as captain of a caravel to the coast of Africa. He explored the region near the Ouro River and eventually died there in 1444. Pedro de Sintra and Soeiro da Costa later mapped most of the Atlantic coast of Africa, around the time of Henry's death in 1460

At the end of the 15th century the importance of Sintra on official itineraries led Queen Eleanor of Viseu (wife of King John II), then principal benefactor of the Portuguese Misericóridas, to expand her principal institutions in Sintra. The Hospital e Gafaria do Espírito Santo, the only remnant of which left standing is a chapel to São Lázaro, was constructed to provide assistance and support to lepers in the region (the chapel still includes the signets of King John, the pelican, and Queen Leonor, the shrimp). In 1545, the hospital was transferred to the administration of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Sintra which was set up by Queen Catherine of Austria, wife of John III.

King Manuel I (1495–1521) enjoyed spending his summers in Sintra, due to its cool climate and abundance of game; as Damião de Góis, his chronicler noted: "because it is one of the places in Europe that is cooler, and cheerful for whichever King, Prince or Master to pass their time, because, in addition to its good airs, that cross its mountains, called by the older peoples the promontory of the moon, there is here much hunting of deer and other animals, and overall many and many good trout of many type, and in which in all of Hispania there can be found, and many springs of water...". Between the 15th and 16th century, after travelling to the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon when being considered as heir to the Kingdoms in 1498, the King transformed and enriched the town and its region with several public works. These included the reconstruction of the old Gothic Church of São Martinho and in 1511 the construction of the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena on the highest peak of the Sintra Mountains, which he then transferred to the Order of Saint Jerome. In the second half of the 16th century, Sintra was a centre for courtesans and members of the aristocracy began building estates and farms within the region. In this rural environment, from 1542, the Viceroy of India, D. João de Castro(1500–1548) began residing at Quinta da Penha Verde, where he collected examples of Portuguese culture of the time, including works by celebrated artist Francisco de Holanda. It was during this cultural Renaissance that the marble chancel sculpted between 1529 and 1532 by Nicolau Chanterene for the chapel of the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena was completed, as was the portico of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Ulgueira (1560).

The Convent of the Capuchos, the monastic retreat established during the primordial history of the municipality (XVI century)

Luís de Camões (1524–1580) referred to the mountains of Sintra in his Os Lusíadas chronicle, as a mythic land ruled by water nymphs. The Renaissance poet Luisa Sigea—Syntrae Aloisiae Sygeae in Paris (1566) and Madrid (1781) referred to Sintra as a "pleasant valley, between cliffs that rise into the heavens...curved in graceful hills among which one can feel the murmur of the waters...[where] everything, in fact, will enchant and perfume the environment with its fragrance and fruit.

With the death of the Cardinal-King Henry (1578–1580), Philip II of Spain inherited the Kingdom of Portugal, initiating a personal union of the crowns that would last until 1640. During this period, Portuguese political power moved from Sintra to Vila Viçosa, principal centre of the House of Braganza, whose dukes, descendants of John of Portugal, were heirs to the throne of Portugal. Following the decision of the Cortes of Tomar in 1581, Phillip as King of Portugal accepted an administration composed of the Portuguese aristocracy. He passed through Sintra around October 1581, visiting the monasteries and churches. It was during this period that cult of Sebastianism, the hope for the return of King Sebastian, came to an end, when several fake "Sebastians" were denounced. In 1585 Mateus Alvares, born on the island of Terceira in the Azores and guardian of the hermitage of São Julio, passed himself off as King Sebastian and created conflict in Sintra, Madra, Rio de Mouro and Ericeira. The Sebastian adventure ended with the hanging of thirty people and the suffering of many more. It was not surprising, therefore, that the visit in 1619 by King Phillip IV of Spain (Phillip III of Portugal) resulted in many families escaping to the hills. During this union (1580–1640), Sintra was a privileged place for Portuguese "exiles" from the Castilian court; nobles who wished to distance themselves from Spanish nobility would purchase lands in the region, away from court intrigu.

Royal Palace of Queluz.

The war with Spain (1640–1668), the affirmation of Mafra during the reign of John V of Portugal (1706–1750) through the construction of the Palace-Convent, and later the construction of Royal Palace of Queluz in 1747 during the reigns of Joseph I (1750–1777) and Maria I (1777–1816), helped diminish royal visits to the region. During this time there were only two documented visits: in 1652 and 1654, respectively the visit of Queen Luísa de Gusmão and King John IV (1640–1656), and the final burial of King Afonso VI.

Ill-fated king Afonso VI imprisoned in the Palace of Sintra, by painter Alfredo Roque Gameiro.

Alleging the insanity of the King and the incapacity of the heir, the Duke of Cadaval and the Infante Peter led a coup d'état in 1667 which resulted in the resignation of the Count of Castelo Melhor, Minister of King Afonso VI (1656-1683) and the imprisonment of the monarch. In 1668 the Cortes of Lisbon confirmed the Infante Peter, the king's brother, as regent and heir. Afonso VI lived the rest of his life imprisoned, in the Paço da Ribeira (1667–1669), in the Fortress of Saint John the Baptist in Angra, in the Azores (1669–1674) and in the end, with the discovery of a conspiracy to kill the regent, in the Paço da Vila in Sintra (1674–1683).

From the 17th to the 18th centuries, the region was centre of contemplative religious orders who established convents in Sintra. But it remained a place of myths, with a large, mysterious forest and macabre, gloomy spaces. Father Baião, in his Portugal Cuidadoso (1724) noted: "Next to the Palace of Sintra was a forest, so thick, that during the day, it cast fear in him who entered it. And [King] D. Sebastian was free from these fears, that he would walk at night, through it, many times for two or three hours." Starting in the second half of the 18th century and lasting through the 19th century Sintra became known as a nostalgic and mysterious location described by many foreigners.

Lord Byron (1788 – 1824) particularly enjoyed his stay in Sintra that is described in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage as "glorious Eden".

It was the Romantic Lord Byron's "glorious Eden"; Almeida Garrett's "pleasant resort"; Eça de Queirós's "nest of lovers [where, in] the romantic foliage, the nobles abandoned themselves in the hands of the poets"; or the place where Richard Strauss saw a garden "comparable to Italy, Sicily, Greece or Egypt, a true garden of Klingsor, and there in the heights, a castle of the Holy Grail".

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, meanwhile, caused the destruction of the centre of Sintra as well as a number of deaths, resulting in building and restoration in the second half of the 18th century. Also in the 18th century, the first industrial building was established in the town: the Fábrica de Estamparia de Rio de Mouro (Mouro River Stamping Factory) in 1778.

The front façade of Seteais Palace, expanded for the visits of the Royal family, by the Marquess of Marialva

The visit of Queen Maria I in 1787 brought about the restoration and redecoration of a few salons and chambers in the municipal buildings. The great festivities of 1795 to celebrate the baptism of the Infante António, son of John VI, resulted in grand balls at the Palace of Queluz. In 1838 the King-Consort, Ferdinand II bought the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena and a vast adjacent area, commissioning the architect José de Costa e Silva to construct an arch joining the two quarters of the Seteais Palace (owned by the Marquis of Marialva), to commemorate the 1802 visit of the Prince and Princess of Brazil, John and Carlota Joaquina, and the subsequent visit of their son, the absolutist King Miguel, in 1830.

The arabesque Monserrate Estate on another hilltop near the town of Sintra

During the third quarter of the 18th century and practically all of the 19th century, foreign travellers and Portuguese aristocrats, fired by Romanticism, rediscovered the magic of Sintra, especially in its exotic landscapes and climate. Their visits led to the establishment of several hotels, one of which, Lawrence's, opened in 1764, was still functioning in 2018. In the summer of 1787, William Beckford stayed with the Marquis of Marialva, master of the horse for the kingdom, at his residence of Seteais. At the beginning of the 19th century Princess Carlota Joaquina, wife of Prince Regent John, bought the estate and Ramalhão Palace. Between 1791 and 1793, Gerard Devisme constructed a Neo-Gothic mansion on his extensive estate in the Quinta de Monserrate (later known as the Monserrate Palace). Beckford, who remained in Sintra, rented the property from Devisme in 1794. The landscape, covered in fog, also attracted another Englishman, Sir Francis Cook, who occupied the estate, constructing an oriental pavilion.

The Pena National Palace: summer residence of the monarchs of Portugal during the 19th century

Quinta da Regaleira, an integral landmark of Sintra's UNESCO Cultural Landscape

The Palace of Pena, Sintra's exemplary Portuguese Romantic symbol, was initiated by the King-Consort Ferdinand, husband of Queen Maria II (1834-1853), a German-born member of the House of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha. The Palace was built over the remains of the 16th-century monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome, conserving many fundamental aspects, including the church, cloister and a few dependencies. The architecture is eclectic, influenced by many architectural styles, evidence of an era of Romanticism.

The intentional mixture of eclectic styles includes the Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic, Neo-Renaissance neo-Islamic, and neo-Manueline styles. Much of this has been evident since major renovations in the 1800s The design was a project of the Baron von Eschwege and Ferdinand II, to substitute the Sintra National Palace as an alternative to the summer residence in Cascais. After Sintra, the monarchs Louis of Portugal (1861-1889) and Carlos of Portugal (1863-1908) ended their summers with visits to Cascais in the months of September and October.

In 1854, the first contract was signed to construct a rail link between Sintra and Lisbon. A decree signed on 26 June 1855 regulated the contract between the government and Count Claranges Lucotte but was later rescinded in 1861. The connection was finally inaugurated on 2 April 1887.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Sintra was recognized as a summer resort visited by aristocrats and millionaires. Among these, Carvalho Monteiro, owner of a considerable fortune (known as "Monteiro dos Milhões") constructed near the main town, on an estate he bought from the Baroness of Regaleira, a luxurious revivalist palacette, based on a Neo-Manueline architecture.

From the second half of the 19th century into the first decades of the 20th century, Sintra also became a privileged place for artists: musicians such as Viana da Mota; composers such as Alfredo Keil, painters like João Cristino da Silva (author of one of the most celebrated canvases of Portuguese Romantic art, "Five Artists in Sintra [pt]"), writers such as Eça de Queirós or Ramalho Ortigão, all these people lived, worked or got inspiration from Sintra's landscape.

Part of the historic centre

The proclamation of a Portuguese Republic in 1910 transformed the bohemian climate of Sintra. Economic development was now promoted; the potential benefits to the region of growth in agriculture, industry and commerce were promoted to foster development. In 1908 a wine growing zone had been demarcated in Colares. Now a commission was established to monitor the quality of wines and promote their exportation, and in 1914 a commercial association (Portuguese: Associação Comercial e Industrial de Sintra) was set up to manage their concession. Meanwhile, in the name of secular and popular progress, parts of the cultural heritage were destroyed, including the annexes of the medieval village bordering the Palace in 1911, while the nave of the Church of the Misericórdia was reduced to the presbytery to allow the road to be widened. The first decades of the 20th century were the time of the fastest urbanization of the town, supported by its rail link to Lisbon and the influx of summer travellers.

During the 1920s damage to culturally important sites led to the creation of institutions to study and protect the vast artistic heritage. The Instituto Histórico de Sintra (Historic Institute of Sintra), under the direction of Afonso de Ornelas, played an important part in this period. Archaeological studies resulted in considerable development: in 1927, Félix Alves Pereira rediscovered the Neolithic settlements of Santa Eufémia, and the first publication of the discoveries at the prehistoric monuments of Praia das Maçãs were completed in 1929. From this time until the 1970s, coastal Sintra was becoming a summer destination, resulting in the building of Portuguese summer residences. Many important Portuguese architects developed projects in the area in the first half of the 20th century, including Raul Lino, Norte Júnior and Tertuliano de Lacerda Marques.

These projects benefited town and region, increased tourism and attracted as residents many notable Portuguese: historian Francisco Costa; writer Ferreira de Castro; sculptor Anjos Teixeira; architects Norte Júnior and Raul Lino; painters Eduardo Viana, Mily Possoz and Vieira da Silva; poet Oliva Guerra; composer and maestro Frederico de Freitas; historians Felix Alves Pereira and João Martins da Silva Marques

In 1944, prior to his arrest, Vichy France Prime Minister Pierre Laval had planned to move to an estate in Sintra, where a house had been leased for him.

The 1949 municipal plan by De Groer was devised to protect the town and its neighbourhood from uncontrolled urbanization, and resulted in the maintenance of an environment comparable to 19th century Sintra. Urban anarchy predominated until the middle of the 1980s in the areas adjacent to the main town of Sintra, resulting in the development of new neighbourhoods.

After being blasted by a day of rain, the sun beams down onto the coastline at Abel Tasman National Park.

Abel Tasman, on the northernmost coast of New Zealand's south island, incorporates a series of interconnected coastal beach and forest trails that lead to eco-lodges within the park, making it possible to do hiking or kayaking multi-day trips. There is no motor vehicle access inside Abel Tasman. You have to take a boat to start the excursion.

The Vermilion Lakes are a series of three shallow interconnected lakes situated near the Banff townsite. My 500 link 500px.com/yiannispavlis my facebook www.facebook.com/YiannisPavlis4/ my instagram www.instagram.com/yiannispavlisphoto/

Welcome to the Borg collective, where truth is stranger than science fiction. Let’s merge science and technology with flesh and blood. Woohoo! Biomanipulation of the human host. Join the transhumanist cult. Colonize your brain with nanotechnology. Embrace the interconnected nanomachines living in your body. You’ll be drones of the AI collective. You’ll be a part of the hive mind, the collective consciousness. You’ll be injected with nanoprobes—Nanobots, which will flow through your veins. They will rewrite your DNA, they will consume you. They will alter your biochemistry, they will flood your soul.

Cross my blood-brain barrier. Map my brain, take it over. Hack my central nervous system. Inject me! Microchip me! Control me! I must become one with the Borg—one with the Beast. Hot wire me! Possess me! Enslave me! My mind has been poisoned; it’s no longer mine. I’m like a puppet on a string. I’m trapped in a nightmare. Yet I immerse myself in you; I don’t want to escape.

Break me! Remake me! Hold me tight and smother me. Whisper sweet nothings in my ear and chock me. Never let me go; torment me.

Baptize me into the death and resurrection of the Beast—for even though he sustained a mortal wound, his fatal wound has healed. Indeed, the whole earth marvels and worships him.

We will evolve; we will be co-opted into the Borg. We will be born again; we will become one with the Beast. We will bear his name in unholy matrimony. We will be his forever.

666: take the Mark, join the collective. Receive your cybernetic implant, your cybernetic enhancement. Assimilate into the Borg. Worship the Borg King, worship the Beast. Bow down and worship his Image.

Why be flawed, weak, and organic? Why not evolve and include the synthetic? Why not attain perfection? Then your eyes will be opened, and you will be like the god of this world—you’ll be cursed.

Vaccine passports! The beginning of the road! Follow the road that leads to the Mark of the Beast. In a few years you’ll be unable to buy or sell without your mandatory identification—six hundred threescore and six.

Integrate with technology. Merge the artificial with the organic. You will become one with the Borg. Resistance is futile.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkFqIOKtV9U

Pyramidos of Light, Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2014

Every time I drive home from the city I'll see this beautiful architecture. It's difficult to miss during the day especially with it's gleaming silvery facade. I've admired it as long as it was built. Coming into the city, its view is overshadowed by another beautiful structure - the National Stadium. When I visited the construction, I was completely awed by the size of the retractable roof but what I'm most impressed is how strategic the view when the roof was completely opened and how the air flows into the stadium creating a natural ventilation. Both stadiums will be interconnected and known as our very own Sports Hub. This place will definitely come alive once it's officially opened with facilities like the skate park, ample spaces and eateries. Another cool place to chill and enjoy the breeze by the water.

Here are some ways we can connect on social media:-

Blog: Jamal Alias

Facebook: "Like" on my Facebook page

Google+: Circle me on Google+

Flickr: Add me as contact on Flickr

500px: Follow me on 500px

Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, (4 hours or 350 km by road) around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls.

Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follow the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu. During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing.

There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are generally harmless to humans unless provoked. Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the wet season is prohibited.

Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge. The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet. There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine.

Freshwater crocodiles are widely distributed along the river year-round. During the wet season, rises in water levels may allow saltwater crocodiles to enter the gorge, where they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.

Birds that can be seen include ospreys, red-tailed black cockatoos, great bowerbirds, white-gaped honeyeaters and red-winged parrots. Part of the Yinberrie Hills Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for endangered Gouldian finches, lies in the park

Mixed technique: toons cuttings & magazine clippings in many little pieces taken from different illustrations interconnected by water- color hues, glue, felt-tip pens, color markers on round hard cardboard (possibly a cake plate).

Notice also the creative mixing & perfect matching of colour shading.

Ref. 053-600 Fujifilm FinePix J20

Made once by child artist ©Cecce #ArtbyCecce

(see following pic for a detail close-up)

Link to media (Pinterest): ART WE LIKE

and also on: STREET Style ART

Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, (4 hours or 350 km by road) around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls.

Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follow the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu. During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing.

There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are generally harmless to humans unless provoked. Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the wet season is prohibited.

Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge. The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet. There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine.

Freshwater crocodiles are widely distributed along the river year-round. During the wet season, rises in water levels may allow saltwater crocodiles to enter the gorge, where they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.

Birds that can be seen include ospreys, red-tailed black cockatoos, great bowerbirds, white-gaped honeyeaters and red-winged parrots. Part of the Yinberrie Hills Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for endangered Gouldian finches, lies in the park

Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory, Australia.

Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls.

Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follow the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu.

During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing.

There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are harmless to humans. Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the wet season is prohibited.

Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge.The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet. There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine.

Freshwater crocodiles are widely distributed along the river year-round. During the wet season, rises in water levels may allow saltwater crocodiles to enter the gorge, where they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.

Birds that can be seen include ospreys, red-tailed black cockatoos, great bowerbirds, white-gaped honeyeaters and red-winged parrots. Part of the Yinberrie Hills Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for endangered Gouldian finches, lies in the park.

The Water Sports Resort in Čunovo is 20 km away from the centre of Bratislava, Slovakia. Its amenities comply with the international criteria of top quality and it is apt for races at the European and world levels. The resort offers training options both for top water slalom sportsmen and rafting and for amateurs.

The artificial canal in Čunovo starts at the main closure. After its opening water enters into the canal. The water feeds both the feeding canal and other two main canals.

The length of the feeding canal is 255 m. It is 14 m wide and 1.2 m deep. The water is calm. It serves to preparation of the crew before entering the main canal. Two main canals are interconnected what offers various route alternatives. Canals end by two openings right into the river Danube.

Some 35 years ago, my father brought us to this heritage of the Expo from 1958, a structure of 9 spheres interconnected with each other with tubes. Puberty brought up the rebellious side of me and I stayed in the car, while the rest of the family went up the already decaying building. Although I was already smittened by the photography bug back then, I hardly gave it a glance.

History is repeating itself, because today it's me bringing my kids to this magnificent place. Luckily, my kids haven't reached puberty yet.

It's taller than I remembered and the renovation has given it the splendor it deserves. The spheres are now plated with bling and the whole structure looks like a space craft ready to take off to Star Wars X, Battlestar Galactica XI or Star Trek XII.

Of course, this is a well known landmark in Belgium attracting thousands of tourists every year who take an equally amount of pictures. Hopefully, with this photo, I have succeeded in telling my own story about this building to my kids, so that one day they will tell theirs to their children.

Arrrrggghhhh.... why do I sound like a grandpa ??!!.... @#*&^%$

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomium

© all rights reserved

Please take your time... and enjoy it large on black

The Netherlands is a small country of 16 million people, but it boasts a quarter of a million competitive speedskaters, and millions more who skate for fun. What's the story? Natural ice in the Netherlands is a rare occurrence. In fact, some winters there's no natural ice at all. Maybe that explains why the Dutch love to skate outdoors. They hardly ever get the chance! But when a cold wave hits, and the interconnected maze of canals, rivers and lakes freeze over, it's a spontaneous celebration, a national holiday. Yesterday we had another celebration. Dutch skater Sven Kramer did won the 5 km ice skating in Vancouver with a new Olympic Record. It's our first Olympic golden medal in Vancouver. Hopefully more will come from our Dutch ice-skating team. Today same as last year we could ice skating on the Gouwsea. Ice skating can be done from Monnickendam to Marken and from Marken to Volendam. Infinite sea of ice is perfect for ice skating journeys. Besides ice skating Dutch also love Ice yachting. This is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats and is very popular in the Netherlands. Ice boats are racing at a speed of 100 km an hour over the ice of the Gouwsea.

Photo taken of three skaters on the Gouwsea near Marken. A historical moment since crossing the Gouwsea by skates is such a rare occurrence. Crossing this Gouwzee was last possible in 2009 and 1996. Today 13 February 2010, I skate from Monnickendam - Marken - Volendam and back to Monnickendam a round-trip of 16km, such a beautiful sea of ice to enjoy. Here I'm skating and taking a photo at the same time, catching the three skaters. In the distance you can see the power plant of Amsterdam with the smoke.

Op 13 februari 2010 een schaatstocht gemaakt rond de Gouwzee van Monnickendam - Volendam - Marken - Monnickendam. Een prachtige ronde van zo'n 16km met top ijs. Tot mijn verbazing was de Gouwzee helemaal dichtbevroren, dit is laatst in 2009 en 1996 gebeurd. Dus alweer een historische ijstocht gemaakt. Een groot ijsoppervlakte tussen Monnickendam en Marken met prima ijs. Een oneindig mooi gezicht op deze ijszee anno 2010. Het was genieten. Jong en oud staan op het ijs, zelfs koek en zopie is present in de haven van Monnickendam, Marken en Volendam. Ook zijn er weer ijszeilers te zien. Met spectaculaire snelheden van wel 80 tot 100 kilometer per uur razen ze over bevroren meren en plassen: ijszeilers hebben deze dagen de tijd van hun leven. De foto hierboven heb ik al mee schaatsend gemaakt. Het geeft een prachtige weids gezicht over deze zee van ijs met op de achtergrond de rookpluimen van de energie centrale de Hemweg - Amsterdam. Prachtig ijs en een hoog hollands gehalte met de pitoreske plaatsjes erom heen. Het mooiste ijs van het seizoen, geen scheuren en volledig sneeuwvrij.

César Manrique Foundation is headquartered in a spectacular dwelling designed by César Manrique himself upon his return from New York City, when he decided to locate permanently at Lanzarote. This was his home for the 20 years running from 1968 to 1988, the longest he ever lived in a single place. It is sited in the midst of a lava coulee formed during the violent eruptions that rocked the island between 1730 and 1736. This 3 000 square metre building engages in constant dialogue with the natural surrounds on its 30 000-square metre lot and beyond: here, volcano and architecture blend in mutual respect.

The upper storey draws its inspiration from Lanzarote’s traditional architecture, enhanced with modern functional elements such as wide windows, large rooms and overhead lighting.

The lower storey is built around five natural volcanic bubbles interconnected by tunnels excavated in the lava. They constitute a surprisingly habitable setting and an exemplary intervention in a natural space. The swimming pool, the small ballroom, the oven, the barbeque… are also open to visitors, all surrounded by abundant plant life and the island’s ubiquitous basalt. The room located just before the exit is the painter’s former studio, today converted into an exhibition hall for paintings.

The landscaping around the house plays on the fascinating contrast between the inorganic black lava, volcanic ash and “socos” (low wind screens) on the one hand and fruit trees and other plants on the other.

The Renaissance Center (aka GM Renaissance Center) is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, on the shore of the Detroit River. The complex is owned by General Motors, which uses it as its world headquarters. The central tower, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center with its curved glass-clad facade, is the second tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. It has been the tallest building in Michigan since it was erected in 1977. The principal architect was John Portman.

Page 2, Explore

The Netherlands is a small country of 16 million people, but it boasts a quarter of a million competitive speedskaters, and millions more who skate for fun. What's the story? Natural ice in the Netherlands is a rare occurrence. In fact, some winters there's no natural ice at all. Maybe that explains why the Dutch love to skate outdoors. They hardly ever get the chance! But when a cold wave hits, and the interconnected maze of canals, rivers and lakes freeze over, it's a spontaneous celebration, a national holiday. Businesses close their doors and everyone goes skating. According to Richard van Ammerzoden, a skater from Rotterdam, skating in Holland originated as a poor man's sport. Isolated by mud and water in the damp winters, rural farmers prayed for ice. When it came, just like Hans Brinker, they strapped on their wooden skates with leather thongs, and traveled great distances to visit friends and relatives they hadn't seen in months. Then they skated home.

Perhaps that explains the origin of the Elfstedentocht or "Eleven Cities Tour", a 200-kilometer mega-tour in the province of Friesland known as "the mother of all skating tours." In the 1890s, some Frisian farmer with well-developed leg muscles tried to skate through all eleven cities of Friesland in a single day. He succeeded, and the rest is history.

Photo taken at the Ransdorper Die nearby Amsterdam. Dutch skaters enjoying the kilometers of natural ice. During the month January and February most geese can be found here in Waterland. The geese are migratory, moving south or west in winter. The greylag geese fly in V- formation to save themselves energy. The next days extreme low temperature of -15 degrees Celcius expected. Ofcourse I do skate too and planed to have some skating holidays ;-)

Zo'n 1000 jaar geleden of eerder begon men te schaatsen . Toen hadden ze nog geen ijzer uit gevonden dus deden ze dat met botten van geslachte of dode dieren. Die maakten ze een beetje scherp, bonden ze met touwen onder hun voeten vast en zo kwamen ze al een beetje vooruit. Toen er ijzer uit werd gevonden waren er al vrij snel ijzeren schaatsen in plaats van schaatsen van botten. Nederland is het enige land waar zoveel mensen schaatsen. De schaats is ook in Nederland uitgevonden. Ook in Noorwegen schaatsen veel mensen maar lang niet zoveel als in Nederland. Er ligt daar meestal te veel sneeuw op het ijs. Als er twee nachten matige vorst is geweest slaat de gekte weer toe. Erwtensoep in de pot, schaatsen uit het vet en tochten maken. Helaas heeft het al jaren niet meer gevroren, weet een hele generatie niet wat natuurijs maar nu lijkt eindelijk de weer een vorst periode aan te breken waar op natuurijs geschaatst kan worden. De Grauwe gans, grijsbruine gans met forse oranje snavel en roze poten is te zien langs de Grote Rivieren, Zeeuwse delta, Friesland en hier in Waterland. De ganzen vliegen altijd in V-formatie waardoor de krachtsinspanningen over de groep worden verdeeld. Vanaf eind oktober strijken de ganzen neer. Ze blijven tot eind maart. Het hoogtepunt van de ganzentijd ligt in de maanden januari en februari.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel, located in Singapore, comprises three interconnected towers topped with the distinctive SkyPark. The architecture features a modern design with sleek, glass facades. The SkyPark includes lush greenery and offers panoramic views. The scene is set against a city skyline, with a soft sunset glow illuminating the sky. The surrounding area showcases urban development and greenery, emphasizing the blend of modernity and nature.

On black

I present it to you, not that you may kiss it, but that you may observe the contexture of the sinews, the close network of the muscles, the breadth and capacity of the veins, whence you may infer what must be the strength of the arm that has such a hand.

Don Quixote by Cervantes, Miguel

Taken at Tuggerah Lakes, a wetland system of three interconnected coastal lagoons, are located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia

The Renaissance Center (aka GM Renaissance Center) is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, on the shore of the Detroit River. The complex is owned by General Motors, which uses it as its world headquarters. The central tower, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center with its curved glass-clad facade, is the second tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. It has been the tallest building in Michigan since it was erected in 1977. The principal architect was John Portman.

Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Inverness. Its surface is 52 ft (16 m) above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie". It is connected at the southern end by the River Oich and a section of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. At the northern end there is the Bona Narrows which opens out into Loch Dochfour, which feeds the River Ness and a further section of canal to Inverness. It is one of a series of interconnected, murky bodies of water in Scotland; its water visibility is exceptionally low due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil.

Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 22 sq mi (56 km2) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. Its deepest point is 755 ft (230 m), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar. A 2016 survey claimed to have discovered a crevice that pushed the depth to 889 ft (271 m) but further research determined it to be a sonar anomaly. It contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, and is the largest body of water on the Great Glen Fault, which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south.

Brookfield, Massachusetts.

Typha. Cattails.

Typha are aquatic or semi-aquatic, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plants.

Typha are often among the first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud, with their abundant wind-dispersed seeds. Buried seeds can survive in the soil for long periods of time.[7] They germinate best with sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, which is typical of many wetland plants that regenerate on mud flats.[8] The plants also spread by rhizomes, forming large, interconnected stands.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha

Hong Kong Futures

Plant covered car-free

Interconnected rather than a grid

Pedestrian as priority

Electro cycles, velomotors, Segways

Kill the car

Create unique new urban experiences

Post modern

Read More: www.jjfbbennett.com/2019/07/hong-kong-scraper.html

This panel was in the room at the top of the spiral stairs. The room sits at the top of the elevator shaft, this panel was part of the system for controlling the freight elevator.

© all rights reserved by B℮n

Please take your time... to View it large on black

Ranking among the most important caves in the world, the Škocjan Caves represent the most significant underground phenomena in both the Karst region and Slovenia. Due to their exceptional significance, the Škocjan Caves were entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. International scientific circles have thus acknowledged the importance of the Caves as one of the natural treasures of planet Earth. From time immemorial, people have been attracted to the gorge where the Reka River disappears underground as well as the mysterious cave entrances. The Reka River sinks under a rocky wall; on the top of it lies the village of Škocjan after which the Caves are named. Archaeological research has shown that people lived in the caves and the surrounding area in prehistoric times – from the Mesolithic, the Neolithic, the Bronze and Iron Ages through Antiquity and the Middle Ages to the present; altogether for more than 5,000 years. The Škocjan Caves have a highly multi-branched system of cave passages totalling 6.2 kilometres. The Caves have 11 speleological structures that are interconnected by means of the Reka River or collapse dolines. The shifting of the sinkholes in contact with the underground caves caused the formation of numerous collapsed dolines. The sinkhole fascinate every visitor with their depth of 163 meters as well as great floral and faunal diversity. The best view of both sinkholes, with their natural bridge and the cave that separate them, is from Miklov skedenj, named after the local explorer Franc Cerkvenik.

In Slovenia we visit the amazing Škocjan Caves. Here the Reka River create a waterfall in the Velika dolina before plunging in the amazing deep underground canyon of the Skocjan Caves. It will emerge again after 38km in italian grounds with the name of Timavo river flowing after 2km into the Adriatic sea. Rare cave fauna are preserved in the underground system of the Reka River. The cave was formed by the disappearing Reka River that gathers most of its waters on the impermeable flysch rock. Following heavy rains, the Reka River floods in the cave, usually reaching levels up to 30 metres; the highest recorded rise in the water level was 132 metres. Falling water in the Karst sinks and drains underground through fissures. The caves are formed in this way; on the surface this occurs in different karst depressions of various sizes. The most frequent karst depressions are sinkholes. .

De Grotten van Skocjan, Skocjanske jame, liggen in het zuidwesten van Slovenië niet ver van Postojna. Het druipsteengrottenstelsel van Skocjan is ca. 6 km lang en ligt langs rivier de Reka, die hier op een diepte van 200 m door de Grotten van Skocjan stroomt. Rivier de Reka stroomt over een lengte van 38 km ondergronds door meerdere grotten in het Sloveens karstgebied. De Grotten van Skocjan vormen de grootste ondergrondse canyon ter wereld. Vanaf het bezoekerscentrum maakt men onder leiding van een gids een wandeling naar de ingang van de Grotten van Skocjan. Warme kleding en wandelschoenen zijn nodig voor de ondergrondse tocht van zo'n 2 tot 3 uur langs o.a. de Stille Grot en de Grote Zaal. In de Müllerzaal stort de Reka zich van verschillende hoogtes met woest geraas naar beneden, men loopt over een in de wand van de grot uitgehakt smal pad, over een 50 m boven de woest stromende Reka gelegen bruggetje, langs donderende watervallen en door de Martel's Chamber, de grootste grot ter wereld. De bezoeker wordt gefascineerd door de diepte van een zinkgat van maar liefst 163 meter. De Rimstone Pools' Hall is een grot met druipsteenformaties in de vorm van elfenbankjes. Men kan niet anders dan deze meesterstukken van de natuur bewonderen. Eenmaal buiten ziet men de Reka met donderend geraas de Grotten van Skocjan uitstromen. In de Grotten van Skocjan is fotograferen niet toegestaan. Maar ja dat heb ik maling aan natuurlijk. De Grotten van Skocjan werden in 1986 Werelderfgoed en staan ingeschreven op de Werelderfgoedlijst van UNESCO als: Skocjan Caves.

One North, Singapore

This match was rather hard to recognize due to the hat vs. non-hat, but she is wearing the same jacket and middle finger ring, so it looks like a match to me.

These photos were taken 2 months apart about 1.2 miles from each other at different times of day. The first photo was taken on my lunch break on the Mag Mile and the second photo was taken during the evening as I was walking down Wacker towards the train station to go home after an after work street photography walkabout.

Take an unforgettable boat tour on a peaceful canal that weaves through Thailand's picturesque countryside. Experience the lifestyle of locals who live and work on these interconnected waterways, and take in the daily bustle at Damnoen Saduak, popular floating market selling colourful handicrafts and fresh produce.

an abstract pattern under a red filter with a central glowing orb that emits a warm light. The intricate design surrounding the orb resembles organic shapes and cells in close-up detail, interconnected in a complex, mosaic-like structure. The various shades of red, from deep burgundy to bright crimson, create a sense of depth and texture. The central light source stands out distinctly, providing a stark contrast to the darker reds and casting a radiant illumination that accentuates the pattern's details.