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Sunday 20 October 2013: Yangon (ရန်ကုန်)
The first full day of the trip started with a walking tour of Yangon (ရန်ကုန်) (map), which took us west along Bogyoke Aung San Road, past betel sellers, umbrella repairers, pavement builders and modern shopping plaza and hotel complexes as far as Bogyoke (Scotts) Market where we turned south into the grid of smaller roads, thronged with stalls and shops, people and the occasional (crazy) car. Each street (or section of street) specialised in selling specific things - fruit and veg, fish and meat, flowers, sewing machines, thread and other bits, bobs and bobbins of haberdashery, books and newspapers, glasses (spectacles), bags, clothes, computers, kitchen ware ... With Josh leading the way we passed through the Chinese, Indian and Muslim quarters before arriving at Maha Bandula Park (မဟာဗန္ဓုလ ပန်းခြံ) and heading down Maha Bandula Park St to the PPQ Bakery, for coffee, cake, ice cream and loos. Then onwards through the old Colonial Quarter, and back to the hotel via St Mary's Cathedral.
All done in 90 minutes, we had the rest of the day until 4pm as free time, so I headed over to the main railway station and caught the 1.10pm anticlockwise departure on the Yangon Circular Railway (ရန်ကုန် မြို့ပတ် ရထား) which proved a good way to spend three hours, watching some of Yangon's suburbs and the surrounding countryside slide by at a suitably slow pace. I did have to leg it back to the hotel to make the 4pm rendezvous though.
Our minibus crawled through the traffic to Kandawgyi Lake (ကန်တော်ကြီး) where we made like the locals and strolled along the lakeside admiring the views out towards Shwedagon Pagoda (ရွှေတိဂုံစေတီတော်) and took photos in front of the gigantic "duck" barge (a mega restaurant in both size and prices). Then, on through the traffic to visit Shwedagon Pagoda (ရွှေတိဂုံစေတီတော်) itself where we spent a lovely hour circumnambulating the pagoda's central spire as the afternoon turned to evening. The downside of being left to our own devices was that I had very little idea what I was looking at, or indeed what specific sights to seek out - it's a vast complex of shrines. Great people watching though. An hour was nowhere near enough.
Making the most of the minibus hire, we were driven on to dine at the Padonmar restaurant, the lovely colonial villa setting compromised by the large number of tour buses and big tour groups that were there too. Eating in a sanitised, industrial scale restaurant, surrounded by lots of other tourists and with the only local people those taking our orders and serving our food was guaranteed to make me grumpy.
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Celebrate World Sight Day with Sound for Sight
Produced by TALENTBANQ in support of Sightsavers
Thursday October 11th, 2018
Doors 6:30pm. Music from 7pm.
St Paulâs Church, Bedford St
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9ED
Sound for Sight 2018 Line-up:-
Charlotte Kelly (Soul II Soul)
Mo Pleasure (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Dave Swift (Jools Holland)
Georgia and the Vintage Youth
Joe Slater
Professor Dan Reinstein
Denise Leigh
Sound for Sight is raising funds and awareness towards Sightsaversâ work eliminating the Worldâs leading cause of preventable blindness, trachoma.
Trachoma is a bacterial infection linked to inadequate water and sanitation and passed on by flies. It is referred to as âneglected tropical diseasesâ and can be prevented and ultimately eliminated entirely.
The Sound for Sight audience will be taken on a spectacular sensory experience during the show that has been carefully curated by Sound for Sight Founder, Laura Westcott and âMo Pleasureâ the former Music Director of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Charlotte Kelly, Soul II Soul
Charlotte rose to fame in the mid 1990s as one of the lead singers of British R&B group Soul II Soul, with hit songs âBack to Lifeâ and âKeep on Movinâ.
Charlotte was born blind at birth with no sight at all in her left eye and virtually none in her right eye.
âI am very excited and delighted to perform at Sound for Sight because being blind from birth, sound is one of the most important tools we possess as blind and visually impaired people. So, treatment and eradication of blindness is a blessing for the growth on the human experience.â â Charlotte Kelly
Denise Leigh
Denise made her operatic debut in 2003 by winning Channel 4âs Operatunity and playing the role of Gilda in Verdiâs Rigoletto at the London Coliseum.
Since then, Denise has sung all over the world and was honoured to headline the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
Both Denise and her husband Stefan (who will accompany Denise on piano) are visually impaired with a visually impaired son.
âThe treatment and eradication of blindness, in all itâs forms, is a cause very close to our hearts and we are delighted to be performing at Sound for Sight to help fund research and treatment.â Denise and Stefan
Mo Pleasure
Mo is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Mo began his professional music career playing bass guitar with Ray Charles. In 1993, Mo became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and ascended to become the bandâs musical director from 1994-2001.
Mo has performed with Stevie Wonder, Nile Rogers, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Amy Winehouse to name a few⦠He also played keys for Michael Jackson on his final comeback tour at the O2.
Dave Swift
Dave joined Jools Hollandâs Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in 1991 as his resident bass player, and has played with him ever since! He is one of the UKâs finest, high-profile bass players and boasts a musicianâs portfolio that is second to none, having played for an array of renowned artists, from George Benson and Chaka Khan to Eric Clapton and Paul Simon.
Professor Dan Reinstein
Dan is a pioneer in laser eye surgery and Founded the London Vision Clinic. He is also a very talented saxophonist and often accompanies Mo Pleasure at Londonâs iconic 606 Club.
Georgia & The Vintage Youth
A 22 year old Essex Girl with big blonde hair, a spine-tingling voice and a master of the retro jazz/swing style of music that is both vintage and fresh (hence the name of the band).
Georgiaâs sound is contagious and subconsciously gets you tapping your feet, whilst her ballads are stripped back allowing Georgiaâs strong and iconic vocal to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Joe Slater
A 22-year-old lad from Liverpool who blurs the lines between Blues, Soul and Rock ânâ Roll whilst taking inspiration from The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Oasis.
âWith his raspy voice, perfect pitch and soulful delivery, Slater is unquestionably destined for stardomâ¦.â London Hollywood
Donât miss what promises to be an extraordinary night for a very worthy cause on World Sight Day.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Tamil: கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம்) was built during medieval India and was erected as the capital of the Cholas by Rajendra Chola I, the son and successor of Rajaraja Chola, the great Chola who conquered a large area in South India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sumatra, Kadaram (Kedah in Malaysia), Cambodia and others at the beginning of the 11th century A.D. It occupies an important place in the history of India. As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 A.D. for about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire southern India, from the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south and other south east Asian countries. As of 2014, the ancient city exists as a small forlorn village in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The great temple of Siva at this place is next only to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur in its monumental nature and surpasses it in sculptural quality. The Gangaikondaan temple is an architectural and engineering marvel.
CITY
The city was founded by Rajendra Chola to commemorate his victory over the Pala Dynasty. The name means The town of the chola who brought Ganga (water from Ganga) or who defeated (the kings near) Ganga. It is now a small village, its past eminence only remembered by the existence of the great Siva Temple. Rajendra Chola-I (1012-1044 A.D) son of the Great Rajaraja-I, established this temple after his great victorious march to river Ganges on Northern India. He assumed the title of Rajendra during his coronation and continued to rule along with his father Rajaraja-I for a while. He was awarded the supreme title of the Cholas known as Parakesari.
Rajendra-I, a great warrior, assisted his father in numerous expeditions to elevate the Cholas to supreme power. The various expeditions he conducted, were : Gangetic expedition, eastern/Western Chalukyas expedition, war against Cheras/Pandyas, Ceylon expedition, Kataram (currently called as Kedah) expedition.
His empire included the whole of southern India to the river Thungabathra in the north. For administrative and strategic purposes he built another capital and named it Gangaikondacholapuram. The Gangaikondacholapuram temple he constructed consists of 3 stories and was surrounded by a huge fort-like wall, the outer wall largely destroyed during the English rule (1896) to reuse the building material (granite rocks) for constructing the Lower Anicut, the dam built across river Kollidam. He built around 10 temples at various places.
He assumed the title of Gangaikonda Cholan and named his new capital as Gangaikondacholapuram and he also constructed a huge Lake known as Chola Gangam that spreads 22 km mainly used for drinking and irrigation. A statue of Rajendra-I is found in Kolaram temple at Kolar of Karnataka state in India.
C. 1022 C.E. Rajendra undertook an expedition to the Ganges along the east coast of peninsular India. The emperor himself lead the army up to the banks of the Godavari river. The Chola armies conquered all the countries north of Vengi, which included Kalinga, Odda, Southern Kosala, the lower and upper Lada and finally the Vangaladesa (Bengal). The triumphant Chola armies brought back waters from the river Ganges in golden vessels. Around the same time, the Cholas under the illustrious Rajendra Chola I also vanquished the Chalukyas of Manyakheta when the Chola protectorate of Vengi was threatened by Chalukyas Jayasimha II. Rajendra Chola I defeated Jayasimha-II Chalukya at Maski (Muyangi in Chola annals) between Eluru and Visayavadai (modern Vijayawada) and subsequently engaged the Chalukya in Kannada country itself i.e. in the Chalukyas capital of Mannaikadakkam (Manyakheta) "the war in which the Chalukya Jayasimha-II, full of fear, hid like a mouse and fled the battlefield". The Chola armies seized the Chalukya flag, decapitated or slew various generals of the Chalukyas, with the Chalukyan king fleeing the battlefield. The Chalukya King surrendered his wife to the victorious Chola monarch. With the Chola coffers filling up with riches from the Chalukya country, they were able to establish their hold of the region between the Vaigai/Kaveri delta in Tamil country up to the Tungabhadra-Krishna basins in the Maharashtra-Andhra region. To commemorate this celebrated victory, Rajendra assumed the title of Gangaikonda Cholan, "Irattapadi-konda Cholan", "Mannai-kondan" (the king who possessed Irattapadi (erstwhile land of the Rashtrakutas usurped by the Salukkis (Chalukyas) and the king who possessed (the Chalukyan capital) Manyakheta (Mannaikadakkam in Chola annals) and had the Siva Temple Gangakkondacholeswaram built (***). Soon the capital was moved from Thanjavur to Gangaikondacholapuram. The city of Gangaikondacholapuram was probably founded by Rajendra before his 17th year. Most of the Chola kings who succeeded Rajendra were crowned here. They retained it as their capital, reoriented and trained the efficient Chola army.
CHOLA CULTURE
Chola rulers were active patrons of the arts. They flourished in architectures, education, science, arts, ship construction, poetry, drama, music, business trading, dance. The beautiful Nataraja figure was first conceived during the Chola empire.
They constructed enormous stone temple complexes decorated inside and out with painted sculptures. While the stone sculptures and the inner sanctum image empowering the temple remained immovable, changing religious concepts during the 10th century demanded that the deities take part in a variety of public roles similar to those of a human monarch. As a result, large bronze images were created to be carried outside the temple to participate in daily rituals, processions, and temple festivals. The round lugs and holes found on the bases of many of these sculptures are for the poles that were used to carry the heavy images. They were admired for the sensuous depiction of the figure and the detailed treatment of their clothing and jewelry in Chola-period bronzes.
FORTIFICATIONS
Nudging from the available literature and the remains we may conclude that it was an extensive city, carefully planned and laid in accordance with the architectural treatises to suit the needs of a capital.
The city seems to have had two fortifications, one inner and the other outer. The outer was probably wider. The remains of the outer fortification can be seen as a mound running all around the palace.
The outer fortification built of burnt bricks, was about six to eight feet wide. It consisted of two walls, the intervening space (the core) being filled with sand. The bricks are fairly large in size and are made of well-burnt clay. Systematic brick robbing by the local inhabitants has reduced this structure to its current state.
The outer fortification was known as Rajendra Chola Madil and is mentioned in inscriptions. The inner fortification was around the royal palace, probably identical with the Utpadi vittu madil of the inscriptions.
Probably in the reign of Kulothunga Chola I, the fortifications were renewed and the city underwent some alteration and additions. An epigraph refers to the fort wall of Kulothunga Chola (Kulottunga Cholan Thirumadil). The strengthening of the fortification and additions to the city in the reign of Kulothunga I were probably necessitated by the uprising which led to the murder of Chola king Athithakarikal Cholain the sambuvaraya's palace of Melakadambur, Kulothunga's predecessor. By the 13th century, the Chola kingdom had exhausted its resources and was on the decline. It succumbed to an attack by the Hoysalas from the west and the Pandyas from the south. The last king of the Medieval Cholas was Rajendra Chola-III.
THE CHOLA ADMINISTRATION
The Chola administration served as a model for all the other kingdoms of the South. The king had a council of ministers. The kingdom was divided into a number of provinces known as mandalams, The mandalams in turn were divided into valanadu and nadus. The next administrative sub divisions were kurrams and kottams. The special feature of the Chola administration was the Local Self Government or the autonomous administration. The villagers themselves carried out village administration. It was more or less like the modern Panchayat Raj. Each village had a village assembly known as the ur or the sabha. The members of the sabha were elected by lot, known as kudavolai system. There was a committee to look after the specified departments, such as justice, law and order, irrigation etc., which were called as variyams.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple of Gangaikondacholisvara is approached through the eastern entrance from the road. The entrance is called the "Mahaduvar" leads to the inner court. As one steps in, the great Vimana arrests the visitor's sight. The Vimana with its recessed corners and upward movement presents a striking contrast to the straight-sided pyramidal tower of Thanjavur but with octagon shape of Dravidian architecture. As it rises to a height of 55 m and is shorter than the Thanjavur tower with larger plinth, it is often described as the feminine counterpart of the Thanjavur temple. The Vimana is flanked on either side by small temples; the one in the north now housing the Goddess is fairly well preserved. The small shrine of Chandikesvara is near the steps in the north. In the north-east are a shire housing Durga, a well called lion-well (simhakeni) with a lion figure guarding its steps and a late mandapa housing the office. Nandi is in the east facing the main shrine. In the same direction is the ruined gopura, the entrance tower. The main tower surrounded by little shrines truly presents the appearance of a great Chakravarti (emperor) surrounded by chieftains and vassals. The Gangaikondacholapuram Vimana is undoubtedly a devalaya chakravarti, an emperor among temples of South India.
ROYAL PALACE
The royal palace also was built of burnt brick. The ceilings were covered with flat tiles of small size, laid in a number of courses, in fine lime mortar. The pillars were probably made of polished wood, supported on granite bases; a few pillar bases have survived to this day. Iron nails and clamps have been recovered from this palace site. There is an underground tunnel that links the palace and the temple inner 1st pragara (north).
In the reign of Virarajendra Chola, Rajendra's third son, the palace at Gangaikondacholapuram is referred to as Chola-Keralan Thirumaligai (Chola Keralan palace) evidently after one of the titles of Rajendra I. The same inscription mentions a few parts of the palace as adibhumi (the ground floor), Kilaisopana (the eastern portico), and a seat named Mavali vanadhirajan. Evidently the palace was multistoried. In an inscription dated in the 49th year of Kulothunga I (1119 C.E.) reference is made to Gangaikondacholamaligai at this place. It is likely that there were more than one royals building each having their own name.
CATASTROPHE ON GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM
As per the available evidences, the last Chola King Rajendra Chozha III’s rule did not end due to any defeat in the war field. But devastations are available underneath, which proves that some major catastrophe happened around Gangaikondacholapuram which brought the Chola’s Rule to an end. After about six/eight decades, the Chola region was taken over by Pallava from whom it was Hoysala and then to Vijaya Nagar Rule. During Vijaya Nagar Rule, lots of settlements by Telugu, Telugu Brahmins, Kannada etc.happened. It is also evident that while the farmers tried to dig wells for farming around Gangaikondacholapuram, it was revealed to the world that the Palace buildings and other constructions are underneath about 50 – 80 feet depth.
EXPEDITION TO THE GANGES
With both the Western and Eastern Chalukya fronts subdued, Rajendra’s armies undertook an extraordinary expedition. 1019 CE Rajendra’s forces continued to march through Kalinga.
Kalinga was a kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh to the river Ganges. The Emperor himself led the advance up to the river Godavari.
The Chola army eventually reach the Pala kingdom of Bengal where they met Mahipala I,considered the second founder of the Pala Empire . Gopala I established the dynastic rule of the Palas in the middle of the 8th century C.E and defeated him.
According to the Tiruvalangadu Plates, the campaign lasted less than two years in which many kingdoms of the north felt the might of the Chola army. The inscriptions further claim that Rajendra defeated the armies of Ranasura and entered the land of Dharmapala and subdued him and thereby he reached the Ganges and caused the river water to be brought back to the Chola country. The new conquests opened up new routes for the Cholas to head for distant lands like Burma by land (through what are now modern Orissa, West Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh).
It is true that Rajendra's army defeated the kings of Sakkarakottam and Dhandabhukti and Mahipala. These territories were initially added to the kingdom, while later they had the status of tribute paying subordinates and trade partners with the Chola Kingdom, an arrangement that lasted till the times of Kulothunga-III and to a limited extent, of Raja Raja-III too. It was undoubtedly an exhibition of the power and might of the Chola empire to the northern kingdoms. But the benevolent leadership of the Cholas treated them in a benevolent manner and did not permanently annexe them to the Chola dominions.
ROADS AND CITY GATES
Besides the names of the palace and fort walls, the names of a few roads and streets are preserved in the epigraphs. The entryways named Thiruvasal, the eastern gate and the Vembugudi gate, evidently the south gate leading to the village Vembugudi situated in that direction are mentioned. Reference is also found to highways named after Rajaraja and Rajendra as Rajarajan Peruvali and Rajendran Peruvali. Other streets mentioned in epigraphs are the ten streets (Pattu teru), the gateway lane (Thiruvasal Narasam) and the Suddhamali lane. The inscription also refers to the highways, Kulottungacholan Thirumadil peruvali, Vilangudaiyan Peruvali and Kulaiyanai pona Peruvali (the highway through which a short elephant passed by).
CITY LAYOUT
The epigraphs also refer to the Madhurantaka Vadavaru, now called the Vadavaru, running about six kilometers east of the ruined capital. Madhurantaka Vedavaru, named after one of the titles of Rajendra I, was a source of irrigation to a vast stretch of land bordering the capital. An irrigation channel called Anaivettuvan is also mentioned.
"Anaivettuvan" - Anai means irrigation (step irrigation) vettuvan means labour or engineer. Hence the above seque is not matching, more over Hindu dharam never allows to kill elephant.Another possible meaning of "AnaiVettuvan" - Anai means Dam, vettuvan means constructor (labour or engineer).
There were both wet and dry lands inside the Fort, used for cultivation and other purposes. The present positions of the existing temples throw some light on the lay out of the city. With the palace as the centre to the city, the great temple, and the other temples in the city seem to have been erected. Towards the northeast (Isanya) of the palace is the great temple of Siva. The Siva temple according to Vastu and traditional texts should be in the northeast of the city or village and should face east. The temple of Vishnu should be in the west.
A number of small tanks and ponds mentioned in inscriptions and a number of wells, supplied drinking water to the residents.
WIKIPEDIA
my whippets jay and bailey having a run about a feild with bonnie,bonnie is a irish racing greyhound rescue dog
The New York City Department of Transportation's Urban Art Program, New York Cares and the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit organized two Barrier Beautification painting events in conjunction with New York Cares Service Day on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The Urban Art Program is collaborating for the first time with a current student at FIT as part of the Barrier Beautification program. Brooklyn-based artist Brittany Falussy joined volunteers to beautify 200 feet of concrete barriers along Bruckner Boulevard and Gerard Avenue in the Bronx.
The illustrative design "Sight Scene" depicts different colored heads wearing various eye glasses. The design is inspired by the artists many trips on the subway and seeing no only all different types of people, but all different types of eye ware.
NYCDOT Urban Art Program, Barrier Beautification
Sight Scene by Brittany Falussy
Presented with New York Cares and the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit
Bruckner Boulevard and Bryant Avenue, Bronx
A very shiny-looking 4201 idles its engine at Moss Vale on 6L62 trip train. The train's origin was Thirlmere and was a trial trip for carriage HFS2017 (thanks to LCT for the info).
Our first port of call in Norway, on a somewhat dreary and overcast day, the old town was an enjoyable place to saunter through. There was also a fantastic collection of print style graffiti, which will follow, but for now a continuation of a very delayed set of holiday photos.
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”
~Eleanora Duse
[Day 055/365]
Pretty relaxing day for me.
my whippets jay and bailey having a run about a feild with bonnie,bonnie is a irish racing greyhound rescue dog
Kochi is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam. Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands including Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Today Kochi includes Ernakulam, old parts of Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands.
For many centuries up to and during the British Raj, the city of Kochi was the seat of the eponymous princely state. Kochi traces its history back many centuries, when it was the centre of Indian spice trade for hundreds of years, and was known to the Yavanas (Greeks and Romans), Jews, Arabs and Chinese since ancient times. Kochi earned a significant position on the world trading map after the port at Kodungallur (Cranganore) was destroyed by massive flooding of the river Periyar in 1341.
The earliest documented references to Kochi occur in the books written by Chinese voyager Ma Huan, during his visit to Kochi in the 15th century as part of the treasure fleet of Admiral Zheng He. There are also references to Kochi in accounts written by Italian traveller Niccolò Da Conti, who visited Cochin in 1440 . Today, Kochi is the commercial hub of Kerala, and one of the fastest growing second-tier metros in India.
PREHISTORY
Not much is known about the prehistory of Kochi. There has been no clear evidence of Stone Age inhabitation. Quite ironically, Kochi forms the central part of the Megalithic belt of Kerala. The only trace of prehistoric life in the region is the menhir found in Tripunithura.
Princely rule
PRINCELY RULE
The history of Kochi prior to the Portuguese is not well documented. Though places north and south of Kochi are mentioned in quite detail in many accounts by ancient travellers, even a mention of Kochi is absent prior to the arrival of the Portuguese. Kochi's prominence as a trading port grew after the collapse of the port at Kodungallur in 1341 AD.
The Cochin State came into existence in 1102 AD after the breaking up of the Kulasekhara empire.
FOREIGN RULE
Kochi was under the rule of many foreign empires, during which the Raja of Kochi still remained the titular head.
PORTUGUESE PERIOD (1503-1663)
Kochi was the scene of the first European settlement in India. In the year 1500, Portuguese Admiral Pedro Álvares Cabral, landed at Cochin after being repelled from Calicut. The King of rival Kochi welcomed his guests and a treaty of friendship was signed. Promising his support in the conquest of Calicut, the admiral coaxed the king into allowing them to build a factory at Cochin. Assured by the support, the king called war with the Zamorins of Calicut. However, the admiral retreated in panic on seeing the powers of the Zamorin. The Zamorins, on the other hand, eager to win the favor of the Portuguese, left without a war. Another captain, João da Nova was sent in place of Cabral. However, he too faltered at the sight of the Zamorin. The consecutive retreats made the King of Portugal indignant. The king sent Vasco Da Gama, who bombed Calicut and destroyed the Arab trading posts. This invited the anger of the Zamorin, who declared a war against the Kochi Raja.
The war between Calicut and Cochin began on 1 March 1503. However, the oncoming monsoons and the arrival of a small Portuguese fleet under Francisco and Afonso de Albuquerque alarmed the Zamorin, and he called back his army. The Zamorin resorted to a retreat also because the revered festival of Onam was near, and the Zamorin intended to keep the auspicious day holy. This led to a triumph for the king of Kochi, who was later re-established in the possession of his kingdom. However, much of the kingdom was burnt and destroyed by the Zamorins.
After securing the king in his throne, the Portuguese got permission to build a fort – Fort Kochi (Fort Emmanuel) (after the reigning king of Portugal) - surrounding the Portuguese factory, in order to protect it from any further attacks. The entire work was commissioned by the Cochin Raja, who supplied workers and material. The Raja continued to rule with the help of the Portuguese. Meanwhile, the Portuguese secretly tried to enter into an alliance with the Zamorins. A few later attempts by the Zamorin at conquering the Kochi port was thwarted by the Cochin Raja with the help of the Portuguese. Slowly, the Portuguese armory at Kochi was increased, with the presumed notion of helping the raja protect Kochi. However, the measured led to decrease in the power of the Cochin Raja, and an increase in the Portuguese influence. From 1503 to 1663, Kochi was ruled by Portugal through the namesake Cochin Raja. Kochi remained the capital of Portuguese India till 1510. In 1530, Saint Francis Xavier arrived and founded a Christian mission. This Portuguese period was difficult for the Jews installed in the region, since the Inquisition was active in Portuguese India. Kochi hosted the grave of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese viceroy, who was buried at St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539. Soon after the time of Albuquerque, the Portuguese rule in Kerala declined. The failure is attributed to several factors like intermarriages, forcible conversions, religious persecution etc.
DUTCH PERIOD (1663-1773)
The Portuguese rule was followed by that of the Dutch, who had by then conquered Quilon, after various encounters with the Portuguese and their allies. Discontented members of the Cochin Royal family called on the assistance of the Dutch for help in overthrowing the Cochin Raja. The Dutch successfully landed at Njarakal and headed on to capture the fort at Pallippuram, which they handed over to the Zamorin.
MYSORE INVASION
The 1773 conquest of the Mysore King Hyder Ali in the Malabar region descended to Kochi. The Kochi Raja had to pay a subsidy of one hundred thousand of Ikkeri Pagodas (equalling 400,000 modern rupees). Later on, in 1776, Haider captured Trichur, which was under the Kingdom of Kochi. Thus, the Raja was forced to become a tributary of Mysore and to pay a nuzzar of 100,000 of pagodas and 4 elephants and annual tribute of 30,000 pagodas. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Cochin came to an end during this period.
BRITISH PERIOD (1814–1947)
In 1814 according to the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, the islands of Kochi, including Fort Kochi and its territory were ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange for the island of Banca. Even prior to the signing of the treaty, there are evidence of English residents in Kochi. Towards the early 20th century, trade at the port had increased substantially, and the need to develop the port was greatly felt. Harbour Engineer Robert Bristow, was thus brought to Cochin in 1920 under the direction of Lord Willingdon, then the Governor of Madras. In a span of 21 years, he had transformed Cochin as the safest harbour in the peninsula, where ships berthed alongside the newly reclaimed inner harbour equipped with a long array of steam cranes. Meanwhile, in 1866, Fort Cochin was made a municipality, and its first Municipal Council election to a board of 18 members was conducted in 1883. The Maharajah of Cochin, in 1896 initiated local administration, by forming town councils in Mattancherry and Ernakulam. In 1925, Kochi legislative assembly was constituted due to public pressure on the state. The assembly consisted of 45 members, 10 of who were officially nominated. Thottakkattu Madhaviamma became the first woman to be a member of any legislature in India.
POST INDEPENDENCE ERA
In 1947, India gained independence from the British colonial rule. Cochin was the first princely state to join the Indian Union willingly. Post independence, E. Ikkanda Warrier became the first Prime Minister of Kochi. K. P. Madhavan Nair, P.T Jacob, C. Achutha Menon, Panampilly Govinda Menon were few of the other stalwarts who were in the forefront of the democratic movements. Then in 1949, Travancore-Cochin state came into being by the merger of Cochin and Travancore, with Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai as the first chief minister. Travancore-Cochin, was in turn merged with the Malabar district of the Madras State. Finally, the Government of India's 1 November 1956 States Reorganisation Act inaugurated a new state – Kerala – incorporating Travancore-Cochin, Malabar District, and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara. On 9 July 1960, the Mattancherry council passed a resolution that was forwarded to the government, requesting the formation of a Municipal Corporation by combining the existing municipalities of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Ernakulam. The proposal was condemned by the Fort Kochi municipality. However, the Ernakulam municipality welcomed the proposal, suggesting the inclusion of more suburban areas in the amalgamated Corporation. Major Balagangadhara Menon, the then Director of Local Bodies was appointed by the government to study the feasibility of the suggested merger. And based on the report submitted by him, the Kerala Legislative Assembly approved the formation of the Corporation. Thus, on 1 November 1967, exactly 11 years since the conception of the state of Kerala, the corporation of Cochin came into existence, by the merger of the municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, along with that of the Willingdon Island and four panchayats viz. Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally and the small islands of Gundu and Ramanthuruth.
WIKIPEDIA
Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. where leatherback turtles regularly nest. Surveyors counted 489 leatherback nests on core index beaches in 2015, and from 1989 through 2015, leatherback nests at core index beaches numbered from 27 to 641. To see more nesting data for leatherbacks, greens and loggerheads, visit our website.
Celebrate World Sight Day with Sound for Sight
Charlotte Kelly (photo by Warren Millar)
Produced by TALENTBANQ in support of Sightsavers
Thursday October 11th, 2018
Doors 6:30pm. Music from 7pm.
St Paul’s Church, Bedford St
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9ED
To buy tickets click here
BUY TICKETS
Sound for Sight 2018 Line-up:-
Charlotte Kelly (Soul II Soul)
Mo Pleasure (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Dave Swift (Jools Holland)
Georgia and the Vintage Youth
Joe Slater
Professor Dan Reinstein
Denise Leigh
Sound for Sight is raising funds and awareness towards Sightsavers’ work eliminating the World’s leading cause of preventable blindness, trachoma.
Trachoma is a bacterial infection linked to inadequate water and sanitation and passed on by flies. It is referred to as ‘neglected tropical diseases’ and can be prevented and ultimately eliminated entirely.
The Sound for Sight audience will be taken on a spectacular sensory experience during the show that has been carefully curated by Sound for Sight Founder, Laura Westcott and ‘Mo Pleasure’ the former Music Director of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Charlotte Kelly, Soul II Soul
Charlotte rose to fame in the mid 1990s as one of the lead singers of British R&B group Soul II Soul, with hit songs “Back to Life” and “Keep on Movin”.
Charlotte was born blind at birth with no sight at all in her left eye and virtually none in her right eye.
“I am very excited and delighted to perform at Sound for Sight because being blind from birth, sound is one of the most important tools we possess as blind and visually impaired people. So, treatment and eradication of blindness is a blessing for the growth on the human experience.” – Charlotte Kelly
Denise Leigh
Denise made her operatic debut in 2003 by winning Channel 4’s Operatunity and playing the role of Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the London Coliseum.
Since then, Denise has sung all over the world and was honoured to headline the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
Both Denise and her husband Stefan (who will accompany Denise on piano) are visually impaired with a visually impaired son.
“The treatment and eradication of blindness, in all it’s forms, is a cause very close to our hearts and we are delighted to be performing at Sound for Sight to help fund research and treatment.” Denise and Stefan
Mo Pleasure
Mo is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Mo began his professional music career playing bass guitar with Ray Charles. In 1993, Mo became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and ascended to become the band’s musical director from 1994-2001.
Mo has performed with Stevie Wonder, Nile Rogers, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Amy Winehouse to name a few… He also played keys for Michael Jackson on his final comeback tour at the O2.
Dave Swift
Dave joined Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in 1991 as his resident bass player, and has played with him ever since! He is one of the UK’s finest, high-profile bass players and boasts a musician’s portfolio that is second to none, having played for an array of renowned artists, from George Benson and Chaka Khan to Eric Clapton and Paul Simon.
Professor Dan Reinstein
Dan is a pioneer in laser eye surgery and Founded the London Vision Clinic. He is also a very talented saxophonist and often accompanies Mo Pleasure at London’s iconic 606 Club.
Georgia & The Vintage Youth
A 22 year old Essex Girl with big blonde hair, a spine-tingling voice and a master of the retro jazz/swing style of music that is both vintage and fresh (hence the name of the band).
Georgia’s sound is contagious and subconsciously gets you tapping your feet, whilst her ballads are stripped back allowing Georgia’s strong and iconic vocal to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Joe Slater
A 22-year-old lad from Liverpool who blurs the lines between Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll whilst taking inspiration from The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Oasis.
“With his raspy voice, perfect pitch and soulful delivery, Slater is unquestionably destined for stardom….” London Hollywood
Don’t miss what promises to be an extraordinary night for a very worthy cause on World Sight Day.
My sister Naomi, and Rosa our new pet bantam hen. Aren't they cute together!? =D
When some friends of ours rescued several dumped puppies, Rosa and her flock moved into the woods in protest, and then they disappeared. However, when our friends (and their dogs) went out of town, and temperatures dropped toward freezing, Rosa picked herself out a nice cosy spot in one of their sheds. When I went to check the house against the approaching cold front, I discovered Rosa and was afraid that she wouldn't last the night with the storm coming. So, I waited 'til the twilight deepened enough for me to approach and catch her, tucked her away in my trunk, and drove her home to our place. Rosa was quite the little lady -- she didn't even poop in my trunk! =)
And it was love at first sight between Rosa and Naomi!
Rosa is now quite tame. She sleeps in our laundry room at night, and she doesn't mind petting at all.
She is also one of the most clever bantams we've ever had. (And we think she may even prove herself to be on a par with such legendary Bavido hens of old as Eagle and Centromere!) She comes and calls to us and makes scratching noises on the rug at the front door whenever she's ready to come inside for the night. And even though she's so tame to Naomi, she cleverly escapes the attentions of the many neighborhood dogs who come courting. She even managed to fly up on a window sill and get my attention one day so that she could "tattle" on a couple of Dachunds from down the road that had snuck into our back yard. =)
P.S. Each of the shots in this mosaic is straight out of the camera.
The New York City Department of Transportation's Urban Art Program, New York Cares and the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit organized two Barrier Beautification painting events in conjunction with New York Cares Service Day on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The Urban Art Program is collaborating for the first time with a current student at FIT as part of the Barrier Beautification program. Brooklyn-based artist Brittany Falussy joined volunteers to beautify 200 feet of concrete barriers along Bruckner Boulevard and Gerard Avenue in the Bronx.
The illustrative design "Sight Scene" depicts different colored heads wearing various eye glasses. The design is inspired by the artists many trips on the subway and seeing no only all different types of people, but all different types of eye ware.
NYCDOT Urban Art Program, Barrier Beautification
Sight Scene by Brittany Falussy
Presented with New York Cares and the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit
Bruckner Boulevard and Bryant Avenue, Bronx
Scary Clown Sightings - The Hidden Impact , lomics.co/l/1hHzPeutA4
Download Lomics:
IOS - m.onelink.me/de143c61
Android - m.onelink.me/5301f4f0
Goof off shot of a friend. Taken with a Graflex Speed Graphic Press camera from WWII. Taken in Nov 2011
This is our first sighting of a Cheetah on this game farm. The excitement was and still is, huge. I had to photograph the Cheetah shots through the very dirty windscreen of our Land Rover as there was nowhere for us to go for me to get a clean shot without the possibility that it would scare and run out of our view.
1 & 2 Driving along a road I had not previously been on, suddenly this Cheetah came out into the roadway and began strolling ahead of us. It gave us the impression that it was annoyed that we had disturbed it and had the cat expression of , "We are not amused" and kept glancing back at us. On the open plains to the left of us, there were herds of Springbok and Impala, much more the size group for a Cheetah's lunch than these huge, young Kudu Bulls.
3. We suddenly became aware of a barking of sorts coming from the bush up to our right and saw a small herd of 4 young Kudu Bulls who were making the odd barking noises. I think that we may have alerted them to the Cheetah's presence as up until it exposed itself in the open, they had not made a sound and we assumed that they had been grazing as normal. I did not know that they 'barked" when in danger and warning others. I only know about their tails being held upright showing the white undersides as they run away.
4. The Cheetah again turned to give us "That look", before turning off the road and went into the bush
5. The Cheetah still casually strolling, took itself behind a rock and lay down. You can just see the top of it's head behind the rock. (note on the pic)
6. The Kudu now sensing the danger was past, stopped the barking noises and slowly moved away from the area.
Celebrate World Sight Day with Sound for Sight
Charlotte Kelly (photo by Warren Millar)
Produced by TALENTBANQ in support of Sightsavers
Thursday October 11th, 2018
Doors 6:30pm. Music from 7pm.
St Paul’s Church, Bedford St
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9ED
To buy tickets click here
BUY TICKETS
Sound for Sight 2018 Line-up:-
Charlotte Kelly (Soul II Soul)
Mo Pleasure (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Dave Swift (Jools Holland)
Georgia and the Vintage Youth
Joe Slater
Professor Dan Reinstein
Denise Leigh
Sound for Sight is raising funds and awareness towards Sightsavers’ work eliminating the World’s leading cause of preventable blindness, trachoma.
Trachoma is a bacterial infection linked to inadequate water and sanitation and passed on by flies. It is referred to as ‘neglected tropical diseases’ and can be prevented and ultimately eliminated entirely.
The Sound for Sight audience will be taken on a spectacular sensory experience during the show that has been carefully curated by Sound for Sight Founder, Laura Westcott and ‘Mo Pleasure’ the former Music Director of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Charlotte Kelly, Soul II Soul
Charlotte rose to fame in the mid 1990s as one of the lead singers of British R&B group Soul II Soul, with hit songs “Back to Life” and “Keep on Movin”.
Charlotte was born blind at birth with no sight at all in her left eye and virtually none in her right eye.
“I am very excited and delighted to perform at Sound for Sight because being blind from birth, sound is one of the most important tools we possess as blind and visually impaired people. So, treatment and eradication of blindness is a blessing for the growth on the human experience.” – Charlotte Kelly
Denise Leigh
Denise made her operatic debut in 2003 by winning Channel 4’s Operatunity and playing the role of Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the London Coliseum.
Since then, Denise has sung all over the world and was honoured to headline the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony.
Both Denise and her husband Stefan (who will accompany Denise on piano) are visually impaired with a visually impaired son.
“The treatment and eradication of blindness, in all it’s forms, is a cause very close to our hearts and we are delighted to be performing at Sound for Sight to help fund research and treatment.” Denise and Stefan
Mo Pleasure
Mo is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Mo began his professional music career playing bass guitar with Ray Charles. In 1993, Mo became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and ascended to become the band’s musical director from 1994-2001.
Mo has performed with Stevie Wonder, Nile Rogers, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Amy Winehouse to name a few… He also played keys for Michael Jackson on his final comeback tour at the O2.
Dave Swift
Dave joined Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in 1991 as his resident bass player, and has played with him ever since! He is one of the UK’s finest, high-profile bass players and boasts a musician’s portfolio that is second to none, having played for an array of renowned artists, from George Benson and Chaka Khan to Eric Clapton and Paul Simon.
Professor Dan Reinstein
Dan is a pioneer in laser eye surgery and Founded the London Vision Clinic. He is also a very talented saxophonist and often accompanies Mo Pleasure at London’s iconic 606 Club.
Georgia & The Vintage Youth
A 22 year old Essex Girl with big blonde hair, a spine-tingling voice and a master of the retro jazz/swing style of music that is both vintage and fresh (hence the name of the band).
Georgia’s sound is contagious and subconsciously gets you tapping your feet, whilst her ballads are stripped back allowing Georgia’s strong and iconic vocal to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Joe Slater
A 22-year-old lad from Liverpool who blurs the lines between Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll whilst taking inspiration from The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Oasis.
“With his raspy voice, perfect pitch and soulful delivery, Slater is unquestionably destined for stardom….” London Hollywood
Don’t miss what promises to be an extraordinary night for a very worthy cause on World Sight Day.
West Lake Xi Hu
Ripping water shimmering on sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring.
These are the words composed by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127) when he compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, the most beautiful woman in ancient China. These poetic sentiments leave one in no doubt of the glory of the scenery that inspired them.
Originally a shallow sea inlet, due to the laying down of silt this 5.68 square kilometers (about 1,404 acres) of water became the famous West Lake. With an average depth of just five feet the lake comprises five distinct sections. The largest part is known as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. Held in the embrace of hilly peaks on three sides, this water wonderland has been an attraction for centuries and it is small wonder that it was a favourite imperial retreat. The lake and its environs have all the elements of a traditional Chinese garden but on a grand scale. The natural setting of strangely shaped peaks, serene forests and springs, dense foliage and a myriad of blossoms especially in springtime are enhanced by a treasury of sculpture and architectural features. Whatever the season, the panorama is pleasing to the eye and the nuances of light shade together with the moods of the weather present an ever-changing picture that justifiably has been described as 'intoxicating'.
A number of specific features can be singled out as worthy of particular note. To the south of centre of the Outer Lake is a man made island known as the Island of Little Oceans, that encloses four small lakes. From here one can view the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon when at night candles are lit in stone lanterns jutting out of the water thus creating the impression of the reflections of three moons. The scene is truly magical on the night of the Autumn Moon Festival. Solitary Hill Island lies between the Outer Lake and the north Inner Lake and is an ideal spot from which to admire the vista. The nearby Two Peaks Embracing the Sky is another impressive sight, especially when crossing the lake by boat.
Near to the lake can be found the Ling Yin Temple in its woodland setting near to Fei Lai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar). Legend has it that this limestone peak flew from India where it had formed part of a holy mountain. These are of particular interest to Buddhists and those who have a love of sculpture and art. The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei is a monument to the patriot who was murdered in 1141 at the behest of his archrival Qin Hui, the Song prime minister. These buildings like others in the vicinity of the lake such as the slender Six Harmonies Pagoda add to the calm and beauty of their surroundings.
No visitor to the West Lake and Hangzhou can fail to learn something of this city's most famous products, namely silk and Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) silk products from Hangzhou have found their way all over the world. The National Silk Museum is the first Chinese national museum to be dedicated to silk culture and is the largest of its kind in the world. A similar museum is dedicated as homage to tea. Located at the West Lake Dragon Well Tea Plantation, the National Tea Museum provides a fascinating insight into the history and production of Chinese tea. Often referred to as the 'wonders of West Lake' Longjing (Dragon Well) tea and Hupao (Running Tiger) Fountain is each worthy of the attention of the visitor.
Another natural spectacle to be found here is the tidal bore of the Qiantang River that has enthralled people for centuries. Overlooking the river estuary stands the 13 storey high Six Harmonies Pagoda. Dating from 970 and built on the site of an earlier pagoda that served as a lighthouse, the name refers to the six codes of Buddhism i.e. harmony of the body, speech and thought and the renunciation of personal pleasure, opinions and wealth. A climb to the top of the pagoda carries the reward of an impressive view over the river.
Crossing the river is the Qiantang River Bridge. This is the first two-tier bridge to have been designed and built by Chinese engineers in modern times. The other great feat of much earlier engineering is the Grand Canal. Linking Hangzhou in the south with Beijing in the north, this is the longest man-made waterway in China and surpasses both the Suez and Panama canals.
We hope that this introduction to the delights of the area surrounding the West Lake will tempt you to visit them for yourself. You can be assured that the splendid and diverse landscape will remain long in your memory as you call to mind tour sites to be found south of the Yangtze River.
The best I could capture bearing in mind my very low standards :/
Gurdwara Mal Tekri stands at the place of Guru Nanak’s visit which is at 3 miles away in north east of the city of Nanded. A Muslim saint, Sayyad Shah Hussain used to stay at the place then. He was also known as Lakad Shah faquir.
The grave of the saint, Sayyad Shah Hussain Lakad can be seen behind the Gurdwara.
A legend told by the priest of Gurdwara Mal Tekri is as follows : ‘A Muslim saint was in deep meditation in a thatched hut and occasionally prayed. "O Wali Peer Nanak! I have heard that you are a true representative of the Lord and redeem the strayed. I cannot reach you as I am unable to walk even; I have no sight in my eyes. People say that you can reach the hearts of others. If so, please do understand my feelings and come and redeem me without further delay". Guru Nanak reached him during his prayers. Guru Nanak asked him to open his eyes and see for himself as to who was present in front of him. The saint fell at the feet of the Guru and prayed, "O Great One, I am emancipated by your effulgent presence, hearing my prayers, this hut is blessed by your presence."
Guru Nanak embraced him with affection and blessed him. "O saint! You have become like a log praying. Now your prayers are answered. Time will come when the people will come to the place where you have been meditating. This place will soon be known world over. You are quite old and unable to look after yourself. You must not do anything else except cleaning this place daily. You will get two ashrafees daily which shall meet your daily requirements."
"Whatever you say is an order for me, O Nanak", said the saint and observed the daily cleaning ritual till he died after surviving for a long period. He was buried close-by and a Gurdwara came up at the place later."