Take Long Walks With Pinay Girls on the Zambales Coast

If you have no idea of where to take Pinay girls out on a date then we have the best place for you. No romantic getaway can equal what the beautiful shores of the Zambales coast has to offer.

The Zambales coast is one of the longest and most untouched shorelines this part of the Island of Luzon. It is just a few hours away from Manila and is very accessible through a lot of modes of transportation. This coastal area offers a great mix of mountain ranges and pristine beaches still teeming with natural beauty.

First stop would be the coast of Pandaquit. This town offers a long shoreline with fishing villages. The best thing about this shoreline is you can rent one of the boats available and get a ride to the beautiful and untouched Capones and Camera Islands.

Capones island has great diving and surfing sites for visitors. The islands offer untouched natural shorelines and also one of the best beach resort in Capones Island. You are sure to get a great paradise getaway with your date here.

Going North you will find the provincial capital of Iba. There are a lot of resorts to visit here like the Ocean View Beach House in Balintog Amungan. The resort is a crescent beach surrounded by reefs on both sides. You can even rent out the resort for yourself and your date so you can get some alone time together.

Further North you will be getting to the towns of Palauig, Masinioc and Santa Cruz with extensive saltworks. There are a lot of resorts and beaches in the southern end of Dasol Bay. There are also two islands accessible from Dasol Bay by hiring a small boat. One of those islands is Hermana Mayor Island which is also known as "Miss Universe Island". The photo shoots for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1979 where done here and much of the islands natural beauty is untouched unto this day. There are no hotels in the island giving you a truly untouched resort.

Experience the best of the Philipines from the busy streets of Manila to the scenery of idyllic tourists spots. Discover the dramatic beauty and culture of Filipina Girls and everything else about the Filipinos.

Take Long Walks With Pinay Girls on the Zambales Coast

If you have no idea of where to take Pinay girls out on a date then we have the best place for you. No romantic getaway can equal what the beautiful shores of the Zambales coast has to offer.

The Zambales coast is one of the longest and most untouched shorelines this part of the Island of Luzon. It is just a few hours away from Manila and is very accessible through a lot of modes of transportation. This coastal area offers a great mix of mountain ranges and pristine beaches still teeming with natural beauty.

First stop would be the coast of Pandaquit. This town offers a long shoreline with fishing villages. The best thing about this shoreline is you can rent one of the boats available and get a ride to the beautiful and untouched Capones and Camera Islands.

Capones island has great diving and surfing sites for visitors. The islands offer untouched natural shorelines and also one of the best beach resort in Capones Island. You are sure to get a great paradise getaway with your date here.

Going North you will find the provincial capital of Iba. There are a lot of resorts to visit here like the Ocean View Beach House in Balintog Amungan. The resort is a crescent beach surrounded by reefs on both sides. You can even rent out the resort for yourself and your date so you can get some alone time together.

Further North you will be getting to the towns of Palauig, Masinioc and Santa Cruz with extensive saltworks. There are a lot of resorts and beaches in the southern end of Dasol Bay. There are also two islands accessible from Dasol Bay by hiring a small boat. One of those islands is Hermana Mayor Island which is also known as "Miss Universe Island". The photo shoots for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1979 where done here and much of the islands natural beauty is untouched unto this day. There are no hotels in the island giving you a truly untouched resort.

Experience the best of the Philipines from the busy streets of Manila to the scenery of idyllic tourists spots. Discover the dramatic beauty and culture of Filipina Girls and everything else about the Filipinos.

Snowman books and a Snowman ornament craft

I have always had a love for making homemade holiday ornaments. My inspiration came from my mother who would always hang the handmade ornaments we made her as children. No matter how old or worn, my mother proudly smiled at the handmade ornaments on her tree that reminded her of our love for her as children.Each year when we visit my Mom and Dad, looking at her tree is like looking at a family

Cd Advent Wreath for our first Sunday of Advent

This Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and the boys and I made together our of Advent Wreath from recycled materials. We are known for making recycled holiday crafts and this year is no exception. During Advent our family will be keeping CHRIST in Christmas and sharing the gift of Faith, Hope, Love, and Peace.Family ReadingWe read in our Doubleday Illustrated Children's Bible the story "Time

Mount Hua is one of the "Five Sacred Mountains" of China.

Mount Hua is located in the Shaanxi Province, about 100 kilometres east of the city of Xi'an, near the city Huayin. Hua was historically the location of several influential Taoist temples, and was known as a centre for the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts.

Minibuses that go direct to the town just north of the mountain regularly leave from near the Xi'an main train station. The Hua Shan train station is about 25 km to the east of the mountain. A cable car to near the North Peak is available from the east entrance to the area. Thousands of steps have been cut into the rock in order to facilitate ascending and descending.

Pilgrims tie red ribbons to the trees outside of the taoist temple. Recently-married locals will climb to the summits to add a lock the chains to symbolize their everlasting love. A similar practice is done on the Great Wall.

Rumours of deadliness

Rumours of the south peak being the most dangerous hiking trail on earth seem to have risen from a story put on the web page of a person called Rick Archer with the title "The Deadly Huashan Hiking Trail". The author claims it was written by an American couple who visited the trail in 2003.

The origin of the story is not known and is assumed by many Hua Shan visitors to be purely fictional. The spread and popularity of the story was aided by many videos showing the most dangerous parts of the trail.

In 2008 the website author was faced with criticism on the authenticity of the story[4], who in turn answered: "I wrote absolutely everything based on accounts I found on the Internet (some of which gave contradictory information)." "At the time, I never expected this particular page would be an Internet darling for thousands of Huashan fans.".

Thus, the story bears similarities to the KiddofSpeed story which rose big attention on the net until it was revealed to be fantasy, except for the fact that Rick Archer hasn't tried to benefit financially from the story on his site.

Nevertheless, it should be noted, that even though Hua Shan stairs are a popular tourist attraction and safety equipment is provided and obligatory, the trail is still risky due to strong winds, changing weather conditions and the physical condition required to pass some parts of the trail.

Mount Hua is one of the "Five Sacred Mountains" of China.

Mount Hua is located in the Shaanxi Province, about 100 kilometres east of the city of Xi'an, near the city Huayin. Hua was historically the location of several influential Taoist temples, and was known as a centre for the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts.

Minibuses that go direct to the town just north of the mountain regularly leave from near the Xi'an main train station. The Hua Shan train station is about 25 km to the east of the mountain. A cable car to near the North Peak is available from the east entrance to the area. Thousands of steps have been cut into the rock in order to facilitate ascending and descending.

Pilgrims tie red ribbons to the trees outside of the taoist temple. Recently-married locals will climb to the summits to add a lock the chains to symbolize their everlasting love. A similar practice is done on the Great Wall.

Rumours of deadliness

Rumours of the south peak being the most dangerous hiking trail on earth seem to have risen from a story put on the web page of a person called Rick Archer with the title "The Deadly Huashan Hiking Trail". The author claims it was written by an American couple who visited the trail in 2003.

The origin of the story is not known and is assumed by many Hua Shan visitors to be purely fictional. The spread and popularity of the story was aided by many videos showing the most dangerous parts of the trail.

In 2008 the website author was faced with criticism on the authenticity of the story[4], who in turn answered: "I wrote absolutely everything based on accounts I found on the Internet (some of which gave contradictory information)." "At the time, I never expected this particular page would be an Internet darling for thousands of Huashan fans.".

Thus, the story bears similarities to the KiddofSpeed story which rose big attention on the net until it was revealed to be fantasy, except for the fact that Rick Archer hasn't tried to benefit financially from the story on his site.

Nevertheless, it should be noted, that even though Hua Shan stairs are a popular tourist attraction and safety equipment is provided and obligatory, the trail is still risky due to strong winds, changing weather conditions and the physical condition required to pass some parts of the trail.

Of One Accord Ministry, NBC News Bowlin Project

The man who is responsible for One Accord Ministry is Sheldon Livesay.
I first met Sheldon and his wife Linda in 2005.
Following our meeting I commenced Counselling people through Sheldon's ministry. This was connected to the Shepperd Center in Rogersville, Tennessee.
God has a reason for everything. When I commenced working out in the vast community as a registered nurse I was able to connect those in need back to his ministry for help. So many people received blessings by way of food, clothing and as you will see in this video, care.
In 2009 $2,644,260 worth of goods and services was provided to 80,615 people.
Christmas is coming and Sheldon and his team will make sure every child in Hawkins county receives a gift.
May God Bless this faithful servant...

Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Xian, China

Overview

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is an ancient building that was built during the Tang Dynasty Period in Chang'an, which is presently known as Xi'an. This pagoda is well-preserved and is considered a holy place for Buddhists. There are millions of visitors to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian each year, both Buddhists and tourists alike. This structure is rated as a National Cultural Relic Preserve and also as an AAAA Tourist Attraction. Those who are tourists to this area should make sure that they visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda as well as the other two structures that are associated, which are the Da Ci'en Temple and the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

History

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the year of 652 A.D. during the rule of the Chinese Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. In ancient times, this structure functioned to collect Buddhist materials taken from India by hierarch Xuanzang. When the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally constructed, it was sixty meters tall and included five stores.

The modern pagoda is now nearly five meters taller than it once was with an additional two stories. From the outside, this building looks squarish and cone-like, a structure type that is simple, but amazing all the same. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda can be considered a masterpiece of Buddhist construction style. The pagoda was built with brick, which can help to explain why it is one of the most well preserved ancient buildings in the world. Once inside this pagoda, you will find a staircase that will lead to an overlook in which you can see much of Xi'an city. Statues of Buddha are finely engraved on the walls throughout this structure. These engravings were done by the famous artist Yan Liben, who was part of the Tang Dynasty.

Legend

The name of this pagoda also comes from ancient times, of course. Stories of Buddhists tell that there is a legend behind the name 'Big Wild Goose Pagoda'. At one point, there were two branches of Buddhists and in one branch, eating meat was not a concern. A time came when the Buddhists who did not find it taboo to eat meat could not find any meat for consumption. After searching for meat for their dinners and having no luck, these Buddhists saw a group of big wild geese flying by them. As the Buddhists were watching the geese fly over, one had silently prayed to the Bodhisattva to be merciful and allow them to have meat for their dinner. At the moment this prayer was finished, the leading goose of the flock broke his wings and fell to the ground. The Buddhists who were witness to this saw it as a sign from the Bodhisattva to be more pious. These Buddhists then built the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at the site of the fallen goose.

The history behind this landmark structure is one of great interest to Buddhists and others as well. If you find yourself visiting the great city of Xi'an, you should not miss the opportunity to view this ancient structure. You will find that is nothing less than breathtaking, even in its simplicity.

Tips

1. There is a daily music fountain show at the North Square of the Big Pagoda which is the largest in Asia. In generally runs every 2 hours from 12.00pm though times do vary according to season. Its free

2. Entrance to the Pagoda itself is from the Southern Square

3. There is a plethora of quality restaurants at both the South and West squares.

4. The Pagoda is part of the new Qujiang Culture district and is nearby the both the Shaanxi History Museum and Tang Paradise

5. It is located south of Xian City and will cost around 15-20rmb in a taxi depending on traffic

Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Xian, China

Overview

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is an ancient building that was built during the Tang Dynasty Period in Chang'an, which is presently known as Xi'an. This pagoda is well-preserved and is considered a holy place for Buddhists. There are millions of visitors to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian each year, both Buddhists and tourists alike. This structure is rated as a National Cultural Relic Preserve and also as an AAAA Tourist Attraction. Those who are tourists to this area should make sure that they visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda as well as the other two structures that are associated, which are the Da Ci'en Temple and the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

History

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the year of 652 A.D. during the rule of the Chinese Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. In ancient times, this structure functioned to collect Buddhist materials taken from India by hierarch Xuanzang. When the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally constructed, it was sixty meters tall and included five stores.

The modern pagoda is now nearly five meters taller than it once was with an additional two stories. From the outside, this building looks squarish and cone-like, a structure type that is simple, but amazing all the same. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda can be considered a masterpiece of Buddhist construction style. The pagoda was built with brick, which can help to explain why it is one of the most well preserved ancient buildings in the world. Once inside this pagoda, you will find a staircase that will lead to an overlook in which you can see much of Xi'an city. Statues of Buddha are finely engraved on the walls throughout this structure. These engravings were done by the famous artist Yan Liben, who was part of the Tang Dynasty.

Legend

The name of this pagoda also comes from ancient times, of course. Stories of Buddhists tell that there is a legend behind the name 'Big Wild Goose Pagoda'. At one point, there were two branches of Buddhists and in one branch, eating meat was not a concern. A time came when the Buddhists who did not find it taboo to eat meat could not find any meat for consumption. After searching for meat for their dinners and having no luck, these Buddhists saw a group of big wild geese flying by them. As the Buddhists were watching the geese fly over, one had silently prayed to the Bodhisattva to be merciful and allow them to have meat for their dinner. At the moment this prayer was finished, the leading goose of the flock broke his wings and fell to the ground. The Buddhists who were witness to this saw it as a sign from the Bodhisattva to be more pious. These Buddhists then built the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at the site of the fallen goose.

The history behind this landmark structure is one of great interest to Buddhists and others as well. If you find yourself visiting the great city of Xi'an, you should not miss the opportunity to view this ancient structure. You will find that is nothing less than breathtaking, even in its simplicity.

Tips

1. There is a daily music fountain show at the North Square of the Big Pagoda which is the largest in Asia. In generally runs every 2 hours from 12.00pm though times do vary according to season. Its free

2. Entrance to the Pagoda itself is from the Southern Square

3. There is a plethora of quality restaurants at both the South and West squares.

4. The Pagoda is part of the new Qujiang Culture district and is nearby the both the Shaanxi History Museum and Tang Paradise

5. It is located south of Xian City and will cost around 15-20rmb in a taxi depending on traffic

Celebrating Advent and what it means to us

This Sunday November 28 begins Advent. I look forward to celebrating this season with my children. It a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ's birth and become more excited about his coming in

Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

China's giant pandas are considered a living national treasure and are loved by not only Chinese people, but people around the world. The giant panda's natural habitat is in China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces, and due to habitat loss, the giant panda's population has dwindled to less than 1,000, 80% of which are located in Sichuan Province. Chengdu's Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has been working hard to ensure a future for these beloved creatures.

Located 10 kilometers (6 miles) from downtown Chengdu, the Breeding Center opened in 1993 for the sole purpose of breeding, researching and educating the public about China's giant pandas. The Breeding Center covers an area of over 92 acres, and is home to several species of rare and endangered animals. The Breeding Center's research center has three floors dedicated to research, and one floor used to educate the public on the research to promote China's endangered species. Their highly trained staff of 46 has collaborated with researchers from 8 different countries and currently has 15 guest experts from other countries currently working with them in the Breeding Center. The panda nursery is home to the center's infant panda population. It is many visitors to the center's favorite places. There are large open areas for the giant pandas to roam free. The Breeding Center is home to many firsts. It was the first to achieve breakthroughs in captive breeding. They have set up the largest semen and cell bank for the giant pandas as well as the first giant panda studbook in the world. Because an adult giant panda eats up to 40kg (80 pounds) of bamboo a day, a large number of plants and over ten thousand clumps of bamboo have been cultivated to provide food for the giant pandas. The center has plans to add another 500 acres of land on which to simulate a natural environment in the hopes of preparing giant pandas for release into the wild.

The center works had to promote public awareness for wildlife and environmental conservation. The Breeding Center believes that people must work together to promote conservation and protect endangered species. The Breeding Center is the first endangered species conservation institution in China to have a dedicated conservation education department with dedicated full-time educators.

Although the giant pandas are the principle species of interest, the center also houses the South China tiger, lesser or red panda, golden monkey, and black necked crane. Research in the areas of reproduction, behavior and nutrition is being done to help ensure that these endangered species survive.

Chengdu's Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. The giant pandas are adorable, and to watch them romp in their large open air enclosures is a delightful experience. The giant pandas are obviously well cared for, and the entire center is well designed and beautifully landscaped. Visitors cannot help but feel moved at the plight of China's Giant Pandas, and the center's devotion to their survival.

Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

China's giant pandas are considered a living national treasure and are loved by not only Chinese people, but people around the world. The giant panda's natural habitat is in China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces, and due to habitat loss, the giant panda's population has dwindled to less than 1,000, 80% of which are located in Sichuan Province. Chengdu's Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has been working hard to ensure a future for these beloved creatures.

Located 10 kilometers (6 miles) from downtown Chengdu, the Breeding Center opened in 1993 for the sole purpose of breeding, researching and educating the public about China's giant pandas. The Breeding Center covers an area of over 92 acres, and is home to several species of rare and endangered animals. The Breeding Center's research center has three floors dedicated to research, and one floor used to educate the public on the research to promote China's endangered species. Their highly trained staff of 46 has collaborated with researchers from 8 different countries and currently has 15 guest experts from other countries currently working with them in the Breeding Center. The panda nursery is home to the center's infant panda population. It is many visitors to the center's favorite places. There are large open areas for the giant pandas to roam free. The Breeding Center is home to many firsts. It was the first to achieve breakthroughs in captive breeding. They have set up the largest semen and cell bank for the giant pandas as well as the first giant panda studbook in the world. Because an adult giant panda eats up to 40kg (80 pounds) of bamboo a day, a large number of plants and over ten thousand clumps of bamboo have been cultivated to provide food for the giant pandas. The center has plans to add another 500 acres of land on which to simulate a natural environment in the hopes of preparing giant pandas for release into the wild.

The center works had to promote public awareness for wildlife and environmental conservation. The Breeding Center believes that people must work together to promote conservation and protect endangered species. The Breeding Center is the first endangered species conservation institution in China to have a dedicated conservation education department with dedicated full-time educators.

Although the giant pandas are the principle species of interest, the center also houses the South China tiger, lesser or red panda, golden monkey, and black necked crane. Research in the areas of reproduction, behavior and nutrition is being done to help ensure that these endangered species survive.

Chengdu's Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. The giant pandas are adorable, and to watch them romp in their large open air enclosures is a delightful experience. The giant pandas are obviously well cared for, and the entire center is well designed and beautifully landscaped. Visitors cannot help but feel moved at the plight of China's Giant Pandas, and the center's devotion to their survival.

Frazer Island....Giving Thanks

Psalm 104:5-9

Listen to this passage

"He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.

You (God) covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,

they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.


Today I rejoice in God my Savour.
I give thanks for all He is and all He has given."

A day out on Frazer Island.

Crossing the sand at Rainbow Beach to the Barge.

Carries approximately 15 vehicles.

Hubby Ray

Off the Barge and onto Frazer.

75 miles of beach sea, sun and sand to explore.

Ahhh the serenity.

Give way to aircraft landing.

Ship wreck of the S.S. Maheno 1935.

Drive down the sandy bush tracks and hope no one comes from the opposite direction. Listen to the birds. Look at the many fresh water lakes.

Spot a Dingo (Australian wild dog).

He was so pretty.

Stop at the tropical shops for refreshments.

It's nice to go out for the day, but of so nice to get home again.

*Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart... 

Exploring Mount Emei

The monasteries were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, who also left amazing cultural and historical treasures. The four scenic regions of Mountain Emei are the Baoguo Temple, the Wannian Temple, the Qingyin Pavilion and the Golden Summit. Its highest peak is the Golden Summit, with an altitude of 3,079.3 meters. Atop Emei, the sunrise is most spectacular and so is the famous Clouds Sea, as the mountain is enveloped in a wonderful blanket of clouds.

Emei was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, in 1996. One of the enchanting cultural features of the sacred Mount Emei is the largest stone Buddha in the world; the Giant Buddha of Leshan. It is carved seventy one meters high on the side of the cliff face, overlooking the river.

Emei Shan is also abundant with subtropical and subalpine vegetation. There are trees on its slopes that are over 1,000 years old! The wildlife is magnificent, with species such as the Liocichla bird and the Macaques monkeys. There are many water features, such as waterfall, streams and springs, that offer a sensational aspect to the lush green surroundings.

Human activity of Mt Emei dates back an astounding 5,000 years, and it is thought to be the birthplace of Buddhism in the Yangtze Valley. The Emperor Xuanyuan also visited Emei to learn Taoist thoughts.

Puxian is the patron bodhisattva of Emei. When looked upon from a distance, Mount Emei resembles the eyebrows of a beautiful maiden and its name means 'long eyebrows'. These cultural and natural wonders offer a most extraordinary adventure for any traveler. The towering peaks of Emei, along with its lush valleys, and the sounds of animals and birdsongs are inspirational and awe-inspiring.

Exploring Mount Emei

The monasteries were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, who also left amazing cultural and historical treasures. The four scenic regions of Mountain Emei are the Baoguo Temple, the Wannian Temple, the Qingyin Pavilion and the Golden Summit. Its highest peak is the Golden Summit, with an altitude of 3,079.3 meters. Atop Emei, the sunrise is most spectacular and so is the famous Clouds Sea, as the mountain is enveloped in a wonderful blanket of clouds.

Emei was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, in 1996. One of the enchanting cultural features of the sacred Mount Emei is the largest stone Buddha in the world; the Giant Buddha of Leshan. It is carved seventy one meters high on the side of the cliff face, overlooking the river.

Emei Shan is also abundant with subtropical and subalpine vegetation. There are trees on its slopes that are over 1,000 years old! The wildlife is magnificent, with species such as the Liocichla bird and the Macaques monkeys. There are many water features, such as waterfall, streams and springs, that offer a sensational aspect to the lush green surroundings.

Human activity of Mt Emei dates back an astounding 5,000 years, and it is thought to be the birthplace of Buddhism in the Yangtze Valley. The Emperor Xuanyuan also visited Emei to learn Taoist thoughts.

Puxian is the patron bodhisattva of Emei. When looked upon from a distance, Mount Emei resembles the eyebrows of a beautiful maiden and its name means 'long eyebrows'. These cultural and natural wonders offer a most extraordinary adventure for any traveler. The towering peaks of Emei, along with its lush valleys, and the sounds of animals and birdsongs are inspirational and awe-inspiring.

Huanglong the scenic area

Lies over 3,000 m above sea level in Minshan Mountains the Huang Long Valley is one of China’s natural heritage sites. Huang Long Valley means Yellow Dragon Valley in English and covers an area of about 700 sq. km. The area includes colorful lakes, Snow Mountains, spectacular glaciers, limestone formations, waterfalls, hot springs valleys and virgin forest. Remarkable for its landscapes it was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1992.  


Huang Long is famous for its colored terrace ponds of different sizes and shapes that follow the hiking paths up from the valley floor. Due to varied depth of the ponds and all kinds of mineral pigments and deposits on the bottom, the water reflects a variety of charming colors. The golden and greenish minerals give magical colors to the water. The valley has also waterfalls, stalactite caves and 3 ancient temples at its higher sections. With so many wonderful views gathered in one place, Huang Long is not only the treasure of China, but also the treasure of the world.

Huanglong the scenic area

Lies over 3,000 m above sea level in Minshan Mountains the Huang Long Valley is one of China’s natural heritage sites. Huang Long Valley means Yellow Dragon Valley in English and covers an area of about 700 sq. km. The area includes colorful lakes, Snow Mountains, spectacular glaciers, limestone formations, waterfalls, hot springs valleys and virgin forest. Remarkable for its landscapes it was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1992.  


Huang Long is famous for its colored terrace ponds of different sizes and shapes that follow the hiking paths up from the valley floor. Due to varied depth of the ponds and all kinds of mineral pigments and deposits on the bottom, the water reflects a variety of charming colors. The golden and greenish minerals give magical colors to the water. The valley has also waterfalls, stalactite caves and 3 ancient temples at its higher sections. With so many wonderful views gathered in one place, Huang Long is not only the treasure of China, but also the treasure of the world.

AMAZING "FIREPROOF" TESTIMONY

Eve would like to share her testimony of what the movie FIREPROOF did for her and her marriage.

Eve, (Not Crystal,) writes this.....................................................................

When you least expect it, miracles happen.

Friday night (22 Jan 2010) was just another regular Friday night. Nothing spectacular planned or anticipated. Months ago, a friend gave me a DVD called Fireproof. I've not really had any inclination to watch it, and while having nothing to do on Friday evening, everyone else fast asleep, nothing worth watching on TV, I decided to pop it into the machine. The first 30 minutes didn't really draw me in, but I stuck it out as I really had nothing better to do. Well. By the end of the movie I was sobbing like I haven't sobbed in years. The tears were literally streaming down my face, my body was shaking uncontrollably and my heart was filled with so much sadness that I honestly thought that I could die from the unbearable heartache.

I went outside, and with my eyes filled with tears, I turned my head to the heavens and asked God to heal me, to make me whole, to take my life and make it His. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and give me life. I honestly don't know how long I was sitting outside, it could have been minutes or hours, the duration is irrelevant, what I experienced was true GLORY.

It was as if I could feel the pain Jesus felt while he was hanging on the Cross, as if I shared the loneliness when His Father deserted Him so that he could bear the burden of all my sins. The pain was unreal, it was out of this world, it was something that my words will never be able to express. And then, it became warmer in my heart and soul than it had ever been. My entire being was filled with peace, love, happiness, forgiveness and above all, God's supernatural love.

I fell to my knees and worshipped God like I have never worshipped Him before.

I cannot explain what happened, or how, or why it happened. All I can do is to thank God that I now know that I will NEVER feel that type of loneliness or hurt ever again. All the glory to God!

I have realised now, that our war is not with each other, it is not here on earth, it is in the spiritual realm, and God is calling each one of us to fight for our right to the eternal life. God is saddened by the mediocrity that has become "religion" and "Christianity". God wants each one of us to experience His unconditional love - but, for that, we have to stop living for ourselves, and start living for Him.

When I testified in church this morning, I saw people's eyes filling with tears, I could see the hunger they have for that amazing love from our Heavenly Father and I prayed that each one of them could feel what I have been feeling since Friday night.

Thank you Heavenly Father for granting me the privilege of being your child. Thank you Lord Jesus for living in my heart. Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me and teaching me.

I am now, more than ever, a willing student of God.
From Eve http://clayingodshands.blogspot.com/ 24 th January 2010
(With permission.)

The Great Wall of China

The famous Great Wall of China is a must-see attraction for any visitor to Beijing. Do you have any idea how long the Great Wall of China is? The enormous wall stretches over approximately 6,400km across northern China. The carriageway has a width of about 7m and an average height of about 8m. Apart from the wall, there are fortified towers, signal beacon towers and garrisons which form the whole structure.

Here is a bit of the Great Wall of China history. The earliest stages of the building of the Great Wall occurred around the 5th century BC, but the present structure was created around 220 BC by Qin Shi Huangdi, who was the first Chinese emperor and founder of the empire. So now, you know who built the Great Wall of China! Under his direction, the smaller, previous constructions formed by some individual states were linked up and these were further extended northwards. The purpose of this project is to ward off horse-riding nomads. Soldiers and peasants from all parts of the country spent many years of their lives building this wall. The building process is extremely tedious as large blocks of rock weighing several hundred kilograms need to be heaved up the steep slopes to construct the high wall.

It is a good experience to take a Great Wall tour in one of the sites. There are many wall sites visitors can go to view this remarkable structure and these include Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Huanghua Cheng. The Badaling site is the most popular site and there are several souvenir stalls, tourist facilities and cable car in this site. Many visitors would normally stream past the souvenir stalls before surging up the wall. There is a Great Wall Circle Vision Theatre where a film on the history of the wall is shown. This show lasts for about 15 minutes. From Badaling, the view of the wall winding its way over the hills is truly breathtaking.

Mutianyu is located about 80km north of Beijing. One of the benefits of choosing the Mutianyu site to view the wall is that it is not as crowded as the Badaling site. There are quite a number of watchtowers here. Some parts of the wall here were not rebuilt and visitors can see the original structure as it is. Visitors can choose to walk up the steps (approximately 1,000 steps) or take the cable car, from the bottom of the hills to the wall.

Located about 110km northeast of Beijing, the Simatai site provides fabulous views of the wall and the mountains. The wall here has only been partially repaired. The hike at Simatai is more difficult than those at Badaling and Mutianyu as most sections of the wall are steep, uneven and dangerous to tread. The eastern section of the wall leads to very steep sections of the wall and thereafter to some impassable ruins. Many tourists chose to visit this place because the panoramic mountain views here are truly stunning.

Huanghua Cheng, located about 25km west of Mutianyu, is less developed as compared to the other sections of the wall. The wall here is split into two by a large reservoir. The right hand route is more popular with visitors because the left hand route is more difficult to reach. The crumbling sections of the wall found here can prove to be too dangerous for hikers.

The Great Wall of China

The famous Great Wall of China is a must-see attraction for any visitor to Beijing. Do you have any idea how long the Great Wall of China is? The enormous wall stretches over approximately 6,400km across northern China. The carriageway has a width of about 7m and an average height of about 8m. Apart from the wall, there are fortified towers, signal beacon towers and garrisons which form the whole structure.

Here is a bit of the Great Wall of China history. The earliest stages of the building of the Great Wall occurred around the 5th century BC, but the present structure was created around 220 BC by Qin Shi Huangdi, who was the first Chinese emperor and founder of the empire. So now, you know who built the Great Wall of China! Under his direction, the smaller, previous constructions formed by some individual states were linked up and these were further extended northwards. The purpose of this project is to ward off horse-riding nomads. Soldiers and peasants from all parts of the country spent many years of their lives building this wall. The building process is extremely tedious as large blocks of rock weighing several hundred kilograms need to be heaved up the steep slopes to construct the high wall.

It is a good experience to take a Great Wall tour in one of the sites. There are many wall sites visitors can go to view this remarkable structure and these include Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Huanghua Cheng. The Badaling site is the most popular site and there are several souvenir stalls, tourist facilities and cable car in this site. Many visitors would normally stream past the souvenir stalls before surging up the wall. There is a Great Wall Circle Vision Theatre where a film on the history of the wall is shown. This show lasts for about 15 minutes. From Badaling, the view of the wall winding its way over the hills is truly breathtaking.

Mutianyu is located about 80km north of Beijing. One of the benefits of choosing the Mutianyu site to view the wall is that it is not as crowded as the Badaling site. There are quite a number of watchtowers here. Some parts of the wall here were not rebuilt and visitors can see the original structure as it is. Visitors can choose to walk up the steps (approximately 1,000 steps) or take the cable car, from the bottom of the hills to the wall.

Located about 110km northeast of Beijing, the Simatai site provides fabulous views of the wall and the mountains. The wall here has only been partially repaired. The hike at Simatai is more difficult than those at Badaling and Mutianyu as most sections of the wall are steep, uneven and dangerous to tread. The eastern section of the wall leads to very steep sections of the wall and thereafter to some impassable ruins. Many tourists chose to visit this place because the panoramic mountain views here are truly stunning.

Huanghua Cheng, located about 25km west of Mutianyu, is less developed as compared to the other sections of the wall. The wall here is split into two by a large reservoir. The right hand route is more popular with visitors because the left hand route is more difficult to reach. The crumbling sections of the wall found here can prove to be too dangerous for hikers.

Indian Corn Pins (Thanksgiving Craft)

This past week we did a unit study on Thanksgving and learned about Indian corn from reading the book Corn is Maize: The gift of the Indians by Aliki.Inspired by our Indian Corn we set out to make our own craft versions. Together we made a fun craft with pipe cleaners, beads. and brown paper.Here's how we made ours!Materials:Chenille stems (pipe cleaners)assorted 6mm faceted beads (fall colors –

Swimming around Batu Kapal

Ship Rock' gets its name from its large central pinnacle that breaks the Banda Sea's surface and looks not surprisingly like a ship. It lies to the north west of Pulau Pisang. The main features that make this site such a favourite are its interesting topography, and enormous gorgonian fans and barrel sponges.

Batu Kapal is unique in the Banda Islands in that it is a series of pinnacles. The main pinnacle is quite large and slopes down to 22 metres. On its west and northern sides there are walls. From the bottom of this central pinnacle, you are then free to explore the deeper submerged pinnacles, 1 off to the southeast, 1 to the east, 1 to the northwest and a large boulder to the north east. The overall area of Batu Kapal is much too large to cover in 1 dive.

The southeast pinnacle drops to 34 metres on its outside, and rises to 26 metres. Here the orange gorgonians and barrel sponges are truly gargantuan. Swimming around the pinnacle, past some beautiful stands of deep purple ellisella whip coral fans, you're sure to encounter large schools of midnight snappers and bigeye bream. The eastern pinnacle is similar but slightly shallower, and the north-eastern boulder lies on 22 metres. The pinnacle in the northwest is more cylindrical, and rises from 40 metres to 10 metres, though it has less coral growth. Potato cod, moray eels, rainbow runners, longnose emperors, grey reef sharks and yellow ail barracuda are sometimes seen here, so take you pick on which suits your requirements and diving experience.

You'll no doubt end you dive by ascending back up the main pinnacle, over fields of small orange dendronephthya soft coral bushes and violet blue tunicates, home to masses of redtooth triggerfish, and blacklip butterflyfish. Up in the shallows, the rocky surface is adorned with leather corals and hosts an amazing variety of colourful reef fishes. There are lots of red fire gobies, blue goldtail demoiselles, pink and orange-finned anemonefish, and many of the different species of smaller surgeons, such as the palelipped and brown surgeonfish.

When the Banda Sea current is running, Batu Kapal acts like magnet and pulls in the big pelagics. You'll definitely want to make more than 1 dive here on your Banda liveaboard cruise.

Swimming around Batu Kapal

Ship Rock' gets its name from its large central pinnacle that breaks the Banda Sea's surface and looks not surprisingly like a ship. It lies to the north west of Pulau Pisang. The main features that make this site such a favourite are its interesting topography, and enormous gorgonian fans and barrel sponges.

Batu Kapal is unique in the Banda Islands in that it is a series of pinnacles. The main pinnacle is quite large and slopes down to 22 metres. On its west and northern sides there are walls. From the bottom of this central pinnacle, you are then free to explore the deeper submerged pinnacles, 1 off to the southeast, 1 to the east, 1 to the northwest and a large boulder to the north east. The overall area of Batu Kapal is much too large to cover in 1 dive.

The southeast pinnacle drops to 34 metres on its outside, and rises to 26 metres. Here the orange gorgonians and barrel sponges are truly gargantuan. Swimming around the pinnacle, past some beautiful stands of deep purple ellisella whip coral fans, you're sure to encounter large schools of midnight snappers and bigeye bream. The eastern pinnacle is similar but slightly shallower, and the north-eastern boulder lies on 22 metres. The pinnacle in the northwest is more cylindrical, and rises from 40 metres to 10 metres, though it has less coral growth. Potato cod, moray eels, rainbow runners, longnose emperors, grey reef sharks and yellow ail barracuda are sometimes seen here, so take you pick on which suits your requirements and diving experience.

You'll no doubt end you dive by ascending back up the main pinnacle, over fields of small orange dendronephthya soft coral bushes and violet blue tunicates, home to masses of redtooth triggerfish, and blacklip butterflyfish. Up in the shallows, the rocky surface is adorned with leather corals and hosts an amazing variety of colourful reef fishes. There are lots of red fire gobies, blue goldtail demoiselles, pink and orange-finned anemonefish, and many of the different species of smaller surgeons, such as the palelipped and brown surgeonfish.

When the Banda Sea current is running, Batu Kapal acts like magnet and pulls in the big pelagics. You'll definitely want to make more than 1 dive here on your Banda liveaboard cruise.

Sneak Peek: 'Fireproof''

The story is great, it says it all.
Men and women are different. We don't always understand the other.
Because of this, hurt can grown into a wound of discouragement.
In this movie:
Men learn how NOT, to treat a woman.
Women learn there may be more than meets the eye.
In wisdom, we all need to keep learning.
My husband and I learnt much from watching this together.
I have now given it to my son.
I pray all who earnestly seek a lasting relationship, watch!
It's worth your while...it will surprise you.
God bless your ears to hear, you eyes to see,
and your Heart to learn.

Jellyfish Lake

Known as a biological paradise the like of which you can find only at one other place on earth, this lake hosts a huge colony of jellyfish.

4 species of endemic jellyfish lives in this lagoon, including the upside down Cassiopeia Ornate,Mastigias Papua, Aurelia Aurita and Tripedalia Cystophora. These jellyfish are quite special; unlike their sea-living counterparts, they have been living in a lake, protected from their natural predators such as turtles and barracuda. Through time therefore, they have lost their ability to sting simply because they have had no need for them.

It's an otherworldly experience swimming with these jellyfish in hues of transparent pink and almost invisible blue as they gently pulsate and orb around you. Some find it eerie, others find it indescribably beautiful.

Try looking down into the depths of the lake where, among the green algae, you'll spot some snow white anemones. These are the new predators of the jellyfish; and any jellyfish which head down to the bottom of the lake are usually gobbled up by the anemones.

Lake Kakaban was created through a geological uplifting of the seabed over a period of 2,000,000 years, effectively landlocking 5 km² of sea water within a 50 metre high ridge. Over this long period of time the trapped marine life have adapted to stagnant, brackish and less saline water, low mineral levels and a simple food chain.

Fringed by mangrove and with a shallow bottom densely covered in green halimeda algae, the lake is also home to sea snakes, cardinalfish, gobies, tunicates, sea cucumbers, tube worms, crustaceans and other simple marine life forms.

Jellyfish Lake is actually a snorkelling site (you won't be allowed to dive here) comprising a lake in the middle of Kakaban Island, about 25 minutes from Sangalaki Island. You'll have to take a short trek through an untouched rainforest to the lake from the shore, after which you can snorkel to your hearts content.

Jellyfish Lake

Known as a biological paradise the like of which you can find only at one other place on earth, this lake hosts a huge colony of jellyfish.

4 species of endemic jellyfish lives in this lagoon, including the upside down Cassiopeia Ornate,Mastigias Papua, Aurelia Aurita and Tripedalia Cystophora. These jellyfish are quite special; unlike their sea-living counterparts, they have been living in a lake, protected from their natural predators such as turtles and barracuda. Through time therefore, they have lost their ability to sting simply because they have had no need for them.

It's an otherworldly experience swimming with these jellyfish in hues of transparent pink and almost invisible blue as they gently pulsate and orb around you. Some find it eerie, others find it indescribably beautiful.

Try looking down into the depths of the lake where, among the green algae, you'll spot some snow white anemones. These are the new predators of the jellyfish; and any jellyfish which head down to the bottom of the lake are usually gobbled up by the anemones.

Lake Kakaban was created through a geological uplifting of the seabed over a period of 2,000,000 years, effectively landlocking 5 km² of sea water within a 50 metre high ridge. Over this long period of time the trapped marine life have adapted to stagnant, brackish and less saline water, low mineral levels and a simple food chain.

Fringed by mangrove and with a shallow bottom densely covered in green halimeda algae, the lake is also home to sea snakes, cardinalfish, gobies, tunicates, sea cucumbers, tube worms, crustaceans and other simple marine life forms.

Jellyfish Lake is actually a snorkelling site (you won't be allowed to dive here) comprising a lake in the middle of Kakaban Island, about 25 minutes from Sangalaki Island. You'll have to take a short trek through an untouched rainforest to the lake from the shore, after which you can snorkel to your hearts content.