View allAll Photos Tagged LABYRINTHINE
Dating back to the 11th century, Prague’s Old Town gushes with history and architectural wonders. Styles from Romanesque to Art Nouveau sparkle through the labyrinthine streets, alleys and passageways that seem to jump right of out Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial.
Barcelona - Espania
The Gothic Quarter (Catalan: Barri Gòtic, IPA: [ˈbari ˈɣɔtik], Spanish: Barrio Gótico) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere. It is a part of Ciutat Vella district.
Despite several changes undergone in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona.
The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.
This friendly feline was
perched high up above our heads
on this blue wooden beam over one of
many labyrinthine corridors of the C.I.A. -
the California Institute of Abnormal Arts -
on Burbank at Lankershim in
beautiful North Hollywood, or Noho
as it's sometimes called.
I took this shot from quite some distance,
looking up towards the dark interiors of the
ceiling there - I thought I saw the cat's eyes flash
in my flash - so I was surprised when I later saw
this shot - and realized that this kitty was giving me
what we call "good eye treatment" - the closed eye
feline greeting of total trust and absolute
tranquility.
One pal of mine who saw a photo of
a neighborhood cat I posted here some weeks
ago expressed to me that taking photos of cats was
an true low. I'd say it's exactly the opposite.
Barcelona - España - Spain
The Gothic Quarter (Catalan: Barri Gòtic, IPA: [ˈbari ˈɣɔtik], Spanish: Barrio Gótico) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere. It is a part of Ciutat Vella district.
Despite several changes undergone in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona.
The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.
We visited Venice for a second time in October 2015. A bright sunny day, moderately warm for the time of year.
The main areas of Venice were packed with tourists, to the point I found it a little disappointing. It is a lovely city but too many people make it difficult to manage, at least it did for me. We decided to investigate some of the quieter parts and made detours, with the use of a map, as it can be rather labyrinthine if you get lost.
I took the photograph of a gondolier on one of the less crowded canals. We'd been up a particularly dark alleyway if I recall, which is why my camera settings are a bit strange. I wouldn't normally set the ISO to 3,200 and use a shutter speed of 1/6400th!
I'd lifted my camera and was about to make some adjustments to the shutter speed and ISO but as I turned to look at the scene in front of me, the gondolier in the picture started to turn around. Rather than risk losing the shot I forgot all about making the adjustments and press the shutter.
This is the result. There was a delightful flood of light on his face and this illumination is, I think, almost perfect.
I only wish I had made some adjustments to my camera settings, but even at 3,200 ISO, the noise levels aren't too bad.
Although the eye and retina gather photons that deliver their payloads of bits of electromagnetic force, these are channeled through heavy-duty cables straight back until the actual perception of images themselves physically occurs in the back of the brain, augmented by other nearby locations, in special sections that are as vast and labyrinthine as the hallways of the Milky Way, and contain as many neurons as there are stars in the galaxy.
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s from civilization almost untouched rich in fish, fertile unique backwaters.
Water Buffalos;
The water buffalo is a large, up to 3m long & heavy, strong cattle. The head is long, narrow, with small ears & set low on the body. The horns are horizontal & sickle-shaped backwards, these can reach a span of two meters, the horns of the female are significantly narrower & shorter than the males. The water buffalo stands on long, strong legs with wide hooves, the claws are spread wide, so the water buffalo don't sink into their swampy habitat.
📍… The wild water buffalo is listed as an endangered species, estimated about only 1000 water buffalos are still living in Asia.
Grasses, herbs & aquatic plants are the main part of his diet, but also leaves & small branches, he feeds exclusively vegetarian.
If the herd lives near humans, the water buffalo will also eat cultivated grain. Water buffalos are ruminants; searching for food, wild water buffalos they usually go in small groups split off from the main group, only looking for food in the evening hours.
👉….At 7 to 8%, buffalo milk contains almost twice as much fat as cow's milk. It is used to make the real mozzarella cheese in Italy, the "Mozzarella di Bufala campana", while the delicious “Burrata” is mainly made from cow's milk & rarely from water buffalo milk.
All European domestic water buffalos descend from the Asian wild water buffalo. Their domestication probably began 3000 years BC. in China, Pakistan & Iraq. In the 6th century they reached Europe via Bulgaria & Greece.
Today the European water buffalo is mainly found in Italy, Bulgaria, Romania & Hungary.
📌…Kerala’s unique backwaters in South India, is a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
Hope Inspiring Resplendent Roses & Blossoms At Blessed Home Long Island, New York, Day Before My Birthday 2012 - IMRAN®
A dozen years ago before I penned these words in 2024, the rose bushes at my blessed home on Long Island, New York, were in full, glorious bloom. It was the early summer of 2012, the day before my 50th birthday.
The tornadoes and droughts of total economic meltdown, brought on by the policies of Republican President George W. Bush which enriched the super-wealthy with one trillion dollars of tax cuts, had wreaked havoc on my life as on millions of ordinary individuals, families, and entire towns. The next few years were spent on surviving, recovering, and rebuilding. Even then it was a rocky road.
By the time 2012 rolled in, after a labyrinthine journey of heart-sinking troughs, fleeting peaks, and unexpected drops into new valleys, life began to hint at a promising change ahead. I had to remind myself that life’s most exquisite blooms often come accompanied by the piercing thorns of reality.
The key is to persistently tend to one’s garden of dreams, rooting it in unshakeable faith, nurturing it with the water of hope, showering it with the rain of love, fortifying it with the grains of gratitude, and ceaselessly illuminating it with the lights of confidence, and perseverance.
No matter the adversities you face, remember, they are but temporary. You possess the strength to surmount them. Never let go of your dreams. Never relinquish your authentic self. Within you lies an indomitable spirit. You are capable of blooming despite the thorns. Are you ready to live the life you dream of?
© 2012-2025 IMRAN®
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Shore operated lift fishing nets are a type of stationary lift nets, commonly known in India as "Chinese fishing nets", each installation is operated by a team of 4 to 6 fishermen.
In India they are mostly found in Kerala’s Backwaters & coastal areas around the cities of Kollam & Kochi, where they became besides for fishing also a tourist attraction & a beloved photo motive.
This for India unusual fishing method is almost unique to the area of Kerala,
This fishing method was introduced by Chinese explorers who landed there in the 14th century. One assumption of the city name Kochi is “co-chin”, the interpretation is meaning “like China”
📌….unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
January 15, 2020 - Our final stop of the tour was Recoleta Cemetery.
"Over 6,400 statues, sarcophagi, coffins and crypts commemorate some of Argentina’s most celebrated sons and daughters, not least Eva "Evita" Perón, in this labyrinthine city of the dead.
Recoleta Cemetery, in the neighbourhood of the same name, was once the orchard of the adjoining Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar - the glistening white church that overlooks the square outside. The land, which belonged to the Recollect monks from which the neighbourhood took its name, became the city’s first public cemetery in 1822. Its layout was designed by French engineer Próspero Catelin, who also designed the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral in the Plaza de Mayo.
It is an eerily beautiful place, with shadowed walkways and towering marble mausoleums rich in Art Deco, Art Nouveau, baroque and neo-gothic architectural styles, Masonic symbols and powerful religious iconography. Over 90 of its tombs are listed as national historical monuments. The most visited tombs are those of Eva Perón and former Argentine presidents Sarmiento and Raúl Alfonsín." Previous text from the following website: turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en/otros-establecimientos/reco...
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s from civilization almost untouched rich in fish, fertile unique backwaters, South India, a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Paddy Fields.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Mannur.
Kerala’s from civilization almost untouched rich in fish, fertile unique backwaters & other landscapes, rivers deep & mountains high, as colourful as their people, as diverse as the taste of South Indian cuisine.
Therefor the” Keralites”, natives to Kerala, describe the land along the Malabar coast since ever very simply as;…
📍…“Gods own Country”, …now who can beat this description?.
On the way to Mannur, which is surrounded by infinite slopes of bright green tea plantations, passing this road up the mountain which could be anywhere, but do not aspect in the south Indian State of Kerala.
📌….Kerala best known for Ayurveda & its rich, fertile unique backwaters, a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
"When resting the supporting foot is set below the center of gravity. This position stresses the lateral ligaments of both knee and intertarsal joints but these ligaments are well developed in birds. ... A vertically aligned leg as is the case during bipedal standing is followed by an instable body. This means that the unipedal stance of birds should not need much muscular energy expenditure.
Most birds stand or sleep on one leg without having specializations in their legs. The leg is positioned in such a way that the body is well balanced without much additional muscle activity. Most long-legged birds like flamingos and storks have specializations in the hip joint and intertarsal joint which help stabilizing a body which is far from the ground. So far an often cited snapping mechanism has been demonstrated convincingly only in the ostrich, a long-legged bird who does not stand on one leg. Whether there is a similar mechanism in long-legged birds standing on one leg is unclear. It seems that the extra-labyrinthine sense organ of equilibrium in the lumbosacral vertebral canal plays an important role in keeping balance when standing on one leg. This sense organ may even be a prerequisite for easily standing on one leg.
A useful function of standing on one foot with hiding the non-feathered part in the plumage is to reduce heat loss. Such a function is supported by recent quantitative behavioral observations. As to standing on one foot while preening or without hiding one foot in the plumage one might argue that the ability to stand easily on one foot is used even when there is no need for a reduction in heat loss, i.e. thermoregulation is probably an important but perhaps not the only function of standing on one leg. "
“Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here… For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great.”
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=baKA1B5Ymuo
[Every year for my birthday, I give myself a gift: a self-portrait that speaks directly to me, of me. I share a bit of myself, and in doing so, I learn a bit about myself.
This year I had a vision of the image I ended up creating that you now see. I have always been obsessed with the concept of labyrinths (of course, my favorite film is also Labyrinth since I was seven years old, which is where that obsession stems from). As I’ve aged, my obsession has become more complex, more refined.
Now I see that I have been living in my own labyrinth, as have we all. Within our personal labyrinths, we are exposed and alone. Which is frightening, to be sure, but all the while, we are surrounded by beauty and magic, if we take the time to recognize it.
I imagined myself to be…not where I am right now today, ten years ago or even five years ago. And yet here I stand. It’s as if the key to my own personal maze is inscribed into my very skin, but I can’t see it. I can only ever sense it. And in sensing it, I must accept that I have to feel my way through *all* of life. Just when I think I’ve become intimately familiar with a particular corridor of my life or myself, the labyrinth shifts, and I must press on anew.
As we all know, life is riddled with hardship. Many of us hide what lies just under the surface, but each of us has our own scars, battles, failure, and victories. How frustrated I have felt over the years by the elusive and confounding quality of my own labyrinth, my own life. It has left me in tears and at times in shambles. It is only with age that I have found the grace and patience to acknowledge and embrace change within my life and within the world.
No, I’ll never see my labyrinth. I’ll only ever sense it. I’ll live in awe and wonder and sometimes I’ll feel scared—and that’s what I *want*! A life that has twists and turns and unexpected obstacles. Because that, my friends, is a life truly worth living.]
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Duck Marathon,
sitting on the embankment…ready tor the duck marathon take-offf.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Duck Marathon
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Duck Marathon.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Duck Marathon.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters. Paddy Fields.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields. After harvesting the paddy fields, they are used for ducklings where they will thrive on locusts & fishes.
The paddy fields will be used for duck farming where they will live & thrive up to 20 to30 ducks a hectare & the moment when the ducks should be removed from working in a paddy, after 8 weeks, so as not to eat the rice & …the dams will be opened at some strategic points & the shared duck marathon will begin following the farmer in his canoe to the duck farm.
In 1989, the Japanese farmer Takao Furuno, after learning about traditional Japanese rice farming method that consisted of using ducks to eliminate the weeds in rice fields, the "Aigamo Method”, he was able to identify the optimal age at which ducklings should be released into rice fields, 7 days after hatching from the egg & developed this new-traditional rice growing technique. In the meantime, it has become established in every country of Asia some European rice-growing regions & others like Cuba are also experimenting with this method.
The waterfowl turned out to be a perfect alternative to expensive pesticides, other insecticides & chemicals while protecting the soil from chemical pollution as they eat plenty of insects, weeds. The ducks also help to oxygenate the water & their droppings are the ideal fertilizer for the soil.
The "Aigamo" duck is a cross between wild & domesticated ducks. These animals are apparently optimally suited to this method of rice cultivation. They ducklings will be placed in the paddy field about two weeks after the seedlings have been planted. The ducks grow up in the rice field & eat insects, snails & weeds. As a result, the farmer does not have to laboriously remove the weeds & vermin from the fields himself; neither does he have to spray any pesticides & chemical fertilizers can therefore be saved.
After one season in the rice fields, the ducks are kept for up to 3 years to lay eggs or because they have eaten their fill in the rice fields, they can be sold profitably as ducks for roasting & other recipes.
The adoption of this method boosts farmers income by eliminating chemicals, fertilizer etc., by commercializing the ducks later & decreases their workloads by 200-250 human work hours p/hectare.
The system actually seems to work: a study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization recently showed that crop yields are increased by 20 percent with the "Aigamo Method".
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
Balanced Boulder
Little Egypt
Garfield County
Utah
Tucked away in remote southern Utah, Little Egypt is a hidden gem of towering hoodoos and sandstone formations. Shaped by millennia of wind and erosion, the landscape evokes ancient Egyptian temples and statues, earning the area its distinctive name.
It offers a serene, uncrowded escape where you can wander among crimson spires and labyrinthine rock corridors in near silence. The warm, rusty hues of the stone blaze brilliantly at sunrise and sunset, casting surreal shadows that seem to animate the land itself.
Little Egypt is a surreal, otherworldly landscape nestled in the Utah backcountry.
Recently,entrepreneurs have returned home after stints in Rome and Milan and given new life to the city, which will be 2019’s European Capital of Culture. Thankfully, they’ve allowed the place to speak for itself — opening elegant hotels with vaulted cave rooms and restaurants that offer refined takes on local classics, like orecchiette with fennel sausage served with chewy semolina bread. The best way to appreciate the city’s labyrinthine layout is on foot. Wandering the Sasso Caveoso, visitors shouldn’t be surprised to find themselves standing on a ninth-century graveyard, across from an impeccable Baroque palazzo and above an 11th-century church-turned-family home, where 700-year-old frescoes still color the calcareous walls.
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
…”Fifty Shades of Green”,
Kerala’s rich, fertile unique backwaters, South India.
A network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
Chania, Crete, Greece.
Woman and cats in Chania Old Town.
Chania Old Town ranks as one of the most famous landmarks of Crete, mainly due to its charm and architecture. The narrow, labyrinthine alleyways are dated from different periods.
Vrouw met katten in Chania, Kreta.
Chania Old Town wordt beschouwd als één van de meest pittoreske, oude steden van Griekenland. Het wordt gekarakteriseerd door smalle en schilderachtige steegjes – vergelijkbaar met een betoverend labyrint.
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s from civilization almost untouched rich in fish, fertile unique backwaters, South India, a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
Therefor the” Keralites”, natives to Kerala, describe the green paradise for fauna & flora along the Malabar coast since ever very simply as;…
📍…“Gods own Country”, …now who can beat this description?.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s unique backwaters in South India, is a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
📌…Lift fishing nets are a type of stationary operated fishing nets, commonly known in India as "Chinese fishing nets", each installation is operated by a team of 4 to 6 fishermen.
In India they are mostly found in Kerala’s Backwaters & coastal areas around the cities of Kollam & Kochi, where they became besides for fishing also a tourist attraction & a beloved photo motive.
This for India unusual fishing method is almost unique to the area of Kerala,
This fishing method was introduced by Chinese explorers who landed there in the 14th century. One assumption of the city name Kochi is “co-chin”, the interpretation is meaning “like China”
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
The Hundred Year Stone ( "Pierre hundred years" in English ) is a work of British sculptor Peter Randall-Page (in) .
The work is located on the west bank of Derwentwater 1 , 2 km south of the village of Keswick , in Cumbria county in northwestern England . It is accessible after a short walk along the B5289 road (in) . It is also known as Centenary Stone , or Millenium Stone 2 . Depending on the level of the lake, it is entirely uncovered on the pebbles of the shore, or partially submerged.
The Hundred Year Stone consists of a local andesite rock 3 , sawn in the middle, the two pieces resting next to each other, as if they had been broken; they are 130 cm high, 140 m long and 130 and 90 cm wide respectively 3 . Along the separation, the faces are polished and carved to draw a labyrinthine path that, winding, composes a circular shape.
"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds" G. K. Chesterton
The castle Rocchetta Mattei (literally "small fortress Mattei") is situated in the mountan chain of the Apennines between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. It is 45 km away from Bologna, on the SS.64 (road) that links Bologna to Porretta Terme, just after the town of Riola, in the municipality of Grizzana Morandi.
It was built by the Count Cesare Mattei (1809-1896) on the remains of an ancient medieval castle that belonged to Matilde di Canossa (a.k.a. Matilda of Tuscany).
In the beginning the Count was an army man, than a politician, than a science man, a scholar, a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. He personally directed the constuction of the castle "having on his command artisans of every trade".
The fusion of different architectural styles, such as the Medieval Gothic with the Moorish style, make the Rocchetta a mesmeric and fantastic place, full of small rooms very expertly decorated and linked together by a labyrinthine plan mixed together with lodges, spiral staircases and towers. Two of the most appealing spaces are “Il Cortile dei Leoni” (The Lions’ Courtyard), which is a reproduction of the courtyard of the Alhambra of Granada (Spain), and the chapel, which was built like the Cathedral of Cordoba (Spain).
The Count built the Rocchetta for one specific reason, he wanted it to be the cradle of his invention: Electro-Homoeopathy, a type of medicine that by using natural herbs and a secret process of preparation was meant to cure the man from all the diseases.
This type of medicine spread quickly and it made the Count and the castle very well known worldwide. Dostoevskij, in his "The Brothers Karamazov" ,states its importance when he tells the devil that he was finally healed from a very painful case of rheumatism thanks to a book and some drops from the Count Mattei.
The Foundation Carisbo bought it in 2005 and the beginning of the massive restoration of what can be visited today.
(from www.bolognawelcome.com)
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
The nature of the Kerala Backwaters immersed in the glow of the sunset, a vivacious day descends to the shadow & the calm of the night, punctuated at times by the screeching of birds.
📌….unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
I know I've uploaded quite a few Levity III Luminarium shots now, I promise not to upload too many more but this one worked well as a sq crop and the light was just so 'luminous', maybe a result of their specially formulated PVC which is said by Architects or Air to give the more intense colours possible.
“Beautiful city”: that’s what Gallipoli means, and the town certainly lives up to its name!
Situated on the west, Ionian coast of Puglia’s Salento peninsula, our Gallipoli may not be as famous as its Turkish namesake, site of the disastrous 1st World War battle, but its history is long and varied, its historic centre a delight and the beaches which flank it superb.
The old town centre sits on a tiny island connected to the mainland by a 17th century bridge. It is almost completely surrounded by defensive walls, built mainly in the 14th century.
The east side is dominated by a robust fortress dating back to the 13th century, but largely rebuilt in the 1500s when the town fell under Angevin control.
These fortifications tell us a lot about Gallipoli’s history: thanks to its strategic position, it was frequently under siege. Founded, so legend tells us, by Idomeneo from ancient Crete, the town soon became part of Magna Graecia and remained so until Pyrrhus, presumably following one too many disastrous victories, was defeated by the Romans!
After being sacked by hordes of Vandals and Goths, the Byzantines arrived, rebuilding the town much in the form we recognise today. Normans, Angevins and the Bourbons arrived in successive waves until the Unification of Italy in 1861.
The island heart of Gallipoli is home to numerous impressive Baroque churches and aristocratic palazzi, testament to the town's former wealth as a trading port. A labyrinthine weave of narrow streets all eventually lead to the broader sea-front promenade with its wonderful views.
In the summer months cafes, bars and restaurants proliferate onto the pavements making for an extremely pleasant atmosphere, while the beach, La Spiaggia della Purita, is an attraction in its own right. An evening passeggiata (pre-prandial stroll) around the walls, looking out to sea, is a great way to prepare for a fresh fish dinner.
The historical and cultural center of the Mullerthal Region - Luxembourg's Little Switzerland as well as the oldest city of Luxembourg has retained its medieval ambience: labyrinthine streets, remains and towers of the ancient city wall and a marketplace with a Gothic town house take the visitor back in time.
In the center there is a museum of prehistory and at the lake there are the remains of the largest Roman villa north of the Alps, along with a visitor center and a permanent exhibition.
The city of Echternach also has a wide cultural offer with a large calendar of events during the summer months: concerts such as Echterlive in July,concerts in September, folklore festivals and flea markets provide a lively atmosphere. The Trifolion is a generously designed cultural and congress center with a sophisticated program. A large recreational area with lake, bike and hike trails and an adventure playground make a holiday here worthwhile. In addition to hotels and restaurants, there are two campsites and a modern youth hostel situated next to the lake.
In this charming street scene from Bari, Italy, a group of people is gathered at an outdoor café, enjoying the sunny atmosphere and Italian hospitality. The café seating is situated under a historical archway, a typical architectural feature in Bari’s old town (Bari Vecchia), which is known for its winding alleys, old stone buildings, and medieval charm. The arch adds an ancient and authentic feel to the setting, connecting modern life with historical roots, as it likely dates back centuries.
The buildings surrounding the café showcase traditional Italian architecture with their aged walls and wooden shutters. The façades are painted in warm, earthy colors, reflecting the Mediterranean aesthetic that characterizes much of southern Italy. Small balconies with wrought iron railings are adorned with potted plants, adding a cozy and lived-in look to the narrow streets. Above the arch, there's a stone relief of a saint, perhaps a nod to the deep Catholic roots that permeate this region.
Bari is famous for its culinary heritage, which visitors often experience in such cozy, open-air cafes. Here, patrons are enjoying what seems to be coffee, likely Italian espresso, and possibly a selection of pastries or small bites typical of the area. The local cuisine emphasizes simple yet rich flavors, often featuring seafood, olive oil, tomatoes, and orecchiette pasta—a regional specialty. Café culture is strong in Italy, with outdoor seating creating a sense of community where people can leisurely enjoy conversations and meals.
The surrounding streets, visible through the arch, seem quiet, lined with small shops and homes that give Bari Vecchia its character. Bari’s historical center is known for its labyrinthine layout, designed to confuse invaders in ancient times. Today, it invites exploration and discovery, with each turn revealing more of the city’s layered history, picturesque scenes, and opportunities to immerse in southern Italian culture.
RX_01853_20240502_Bari
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
A Herons Lunch party at the patty fields.
The great white heron/egret are herons that have white or beige plumage, developing typically milky white, fine plumes during breeding season. The difference between a heron & an egret is rather nebulous, depending more on appearance than ecology. The word "egret" comes from the French word "aigrette" meaning both "silver heron" & "brush", referring to the long, filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back during the breeding season.
Distributed across in most regions of the world with tropical & warmer climate, building tree-nests in colonies close to water.
📌….unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
The Paddy fields in the Kerala area are below sea level. Bunds around the rice fields keep out overflowing water into the fields.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is now an official Polish Historic Monument (Pomnik Historii) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its attractions include the shafts and labyrinthine passageways, displays of historic salt-mining technology, an underground lake, four chapels and numerous statues carved by miners out of the rock salt, and more recent sculptures by contemporary artists.
Act 3
"In the hushed corridors of lost communication, where words echo and meaning flickers like an elusive flame, souls wander like ethereal specters, yearning for connection amidst the vast expanse of translation's labyrinthine void."
LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lost%20Angels/207/114/38
Tunes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BnvA8jIUbI&list=PL-1kvMPmp96...
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s from civilization almost untouched rich in fish, fertile unique backwaters.
Water Buffalos;
The water buffalo is a large, up to 3m long & heavy, strong cattle. The head is long, narrow, with small ears & set low on the body. The horns are horizontal & sickle-shaped backwards, these can reach a span of two meters, the horns of the female are significantly narrower & shorter than the males. The water buffalo stands on long, strong legs with wide hooves, the claws are spread wide, so the water buffalo don't sink into their swampy habitat.
📍… The wild water buffalo is listed as an endangered species, estimated about only 1000 water buffalos are still living in Asia.
Grasses, herbs & aquatic plants are the main part of his diet, but also leaves & small branches, he feeds exclusively vegetarian.
If the herd lives near humans, the water buffalo will also eat cultivated grain. Water buffalos are ruminants; searching for food, wild water buffalos they usually go in small groups split off from the main group, only looking for food in the evening hours.
👉….At 7 to 8%, buffalo milk contains almost twice as much fat as cow's milk. It is used to make the real mozzarella cheese in Italy, the "Mozzarella di Bufala campana", while the delicious “Burrata” is mainly made from cow's milk & rarely from water buffalo milk.
All European domestic water buffalos descend from the Asian wild water buffalo. Their domestication probably began 3000 years BC. in China, Pakistan & Iraq. In the 6th century they reached Europe via Bulgaria & Greece.
Today the European water buffalo is mainly found in Italy, Bulgaria, Romania & Hungary.
📌…Kerala’s unique backwaters in South India, is a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
India, Kerala or Kēraḷam, Backwaters.
Kerala’s rich, fertile unique backwaters, South India, a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
A Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier, preventing salt water from the sea is entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.
Numerous unique aquatic species including mudskippers, crabs, frogs, water birds such as kingfishers, darters, terns, darters & cormorants, animals like otters & turtles live in the backwaters area. Palm trees, pandanus bushes & other leafy plants grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green shade to the surrounding landscape.
📌….The unique backwaters are a network of interconnected five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade, fed by 38 rivers & brackish lagoons extending nearly half the length of Kerala state. A labyrinthine system formed by almost 1.000 km of waterways lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the “Malabar Coast”.
The backwaters have an exceptional ecosystem; freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea, formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
In the middle of this landscape there are a number of towns & cities, which serve as the starting & end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters are one of the noticeable tourist attractions in Kerala.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
There are more than 50 lodges/passages in the centre of the city of Athens, some are labyrinthine and some look like sophisticated ornate galleries.
Gwanghwamun Royal Guard, Gyeongbokgung Palace (Gyeongbok Palace), Seoul, South Korea / june 2014
© Copyright 2014 Mario Rasso
All Rights Reserved. Please contact me, if you are interested in using my work
e-mail: mariorasso@yahoo.com
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Gyeongbokgung was built three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded and it served as its main palace. With Mount Bugak as a backdrop and the Street of Six Ministries (today’s Sejongno) outside Gwanghwamun Gate, the main entrance to the palace, Gyeongbokgung was situated in the heart of the Korean capital city. It was steadily expanded before being reduced to ashes during the Japanese invasion of 1592.
For the next 273 years the palace grounds were left derelict until being rebuilt in 1867 under the leadership of Regent Heungseon Daewongun. The restoration was completed on a grand scale, with 330 buildings crowded together in a labyrinthine configuration. Within the palace walls were the Outer Court (oejeon), offices for the king and state officials, and the Inner Court (naejeon), which included living quarters for the royal family as well as gardens for leisure. Within its extensive precincts were other palaces, large and small, including Junggung (the Queen`s residence) and Donggung (the Crown prince’s residence).
Owing to its status as the symbol of national sovereignty, Gyeongbokgung was demolished during the Japanese occupation of the early 20th century. In 1911, ownership of land at the palace was transferred to the Japanese Governor-General. In 1915, on the pretext of holding an exhibition, more than 90% of the buildings were torn down. Following the exhibition the Japanese leveled whatever still remained and built their colonial headquarters, the Government-General Building (1916–26), on the site.
Restoration efforts have been ongoing since 1990. The Government-General Building was removed in 1996 and Heungnyemun Gate (2001) and Gwanghwamun Gate (2006-2010) were reconstructed in their original locations and forms. Reconstructions of the Inner Court and Crown Prince’s residence have also been completed.
Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is a labyrinthine treasure trove of history, architecture, and culture from the Roman times to modern days. Its cobblestone alleys and grand plazas have borne witness to the footsteps of artists like Picasso, and it continues to captivate travellers from around the world. After nine years, my journey back to this magnetic district was both a trip down memory lane and a rediscovery of forgotten love. Armed with my Nikon — ironically, for the last time as my primary camera — I was ready to capture the quarter in its stillness, its quiet moments before the city woke up.
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