http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pencil2.php
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Queensland Wooo Hooo !!!
There is no place like home, we all love where we live.
Part of my heart is still in Rogersville, Tennessee, I love it there also.
But in Queensland I want to share our news.
We are (mostly) over the floods..
This is a sunburned country, and a land of diversity.
If its not floods then its bushfire's..
But life goes on and when everyone pulls together.
We share the load, and help carry each others burdens.
My beautiful friend Carol, from http://naturallycarol.blogspot.com/
has so kindly been making and sending cushions to everyone to cheer them up.
We are now into autumn yet many people wear summer clothes almost all year around.
Not me, I feel the cold, and like my jumper and hot water bottle..
This gives Ray a good laugh.
Some of the highlights of this beautiful state are:
We have hundreds of kilometres of mainland beaches..
Ours is Rainbow, on the Sunshine Coast.
Ray loves to drive along close to the rising tide.
I used to live, at Dickie beach.
Every day I'd walk or jog along the sand.
I love the smell of ocean air, and the sound of the waves crashing.
This is one beach where dogs are permitted.
They have a wonderful time, meeting and greeting each other.
The bird life is phenomenal.
Rainbow Lorakeets fly in the dozens.
Although..the cheeky things also eat our fruit.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they (people)are without excuse."
Romans 1:20 (New King James Version)
Part of my heart is still in Rogersville, Tennessee, I love it there also.
But in Queensland I want to share our news.
We are (mostly) over the floods..
This is a sunburned country, and a land of diversity.
If its not floods then its bushfire's..
But life goes on and when everyone pulls together.
We share the load, and help carry each others burdens.
My beautiful friend Carol, from http://naturallycarol.blogspot.com/
has so kindly been making and sending cushions to everyone to cheer them up.
What a beautiful heart.
Carol is an encouragement to all.
And most often, to me!!!
Our motto in Queensland is:
Beautiful one day and perfect the next.We are now into autumn yet many people wear summer clothes almost all year around.
Not me, I feel the cold, and like my jumper and hot water bottle..
This gives Ray a good laugh.
Some of the highlights of this beautiful state are:
We have hundreds of kilometres of mainland beaches..
Ours is Rainbow, on the Sunshine Coast.
Ray loves to drive along close to the rising tide.
I used to live, at Dickie beach.
Every day I'd walk or jog along the sand.
I love the smell of ocean air, and the sound of the waves crashing.
This is one beach where dogs are permitted.
They have a wonderful time, meeting and greeting each other.
The bird life is phenomenal.
Rainbow Lorakeets fly in the dozens.
Although..the cheeky things also eat our fruit.
This female King Parrot is spoilt.
Ray plants sunflowers especially for them to enjoy.
My friend Sharon snapped these yellow Crested White Cockatoo,
on her fence eating a meal.
Tropical fruit abounds.
We have mango, mandarin, and avocado trees.
This is our Paw Paw Tree...
Pineapple plantations grow close by.
I adore pineapple, and they help in weight loss.
Ray and I on a visit to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo.
This was the truck he took on all of his outback treks.
(We all miss that good natured man)
The famous crazy Ettamogah Pub.
Seeing is believing..
This is the maddest building.
A day out at the camel races is a great laugh.
You can never predict what they will do.
The Great Barrier Reef goes for hundreds of kilometres.
You can snorkel or sight the pretty coral and hundreds of fish varieties from glass bottomed boats.
Come and visit.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they (people)are without excuse."
Romans 1:20 (New King James Version)
Timberdoodle Review: Beginning Geography
I was overjoyed when we found out in February that we were accepted to be on Timber doodle's Blogger Review Panel. We were contacted by Timberdoodle to review a handful of Evan Moor titles from either the Daily Math Word Problems or the Daily Geography series, both of which are a staple in their Core Curriculum packages. We chose to review Beginning Geography from Evan Moor for grades K-2 for my
Platuk Waterfall
Platuk Waterfall is located in Sooko district, about 30 km from the centre of the city. It is a beautiful waterfall in Ponorogo, which has fresh air, calm nuance, and blow wind.
This waterfall is suitable for family recreation or just to feel the real waterfall nature. It will give the visitor a great experience to visit this waterfall. Invite your family here and get the original nature with cool water and fresh air around it.
Platuk Waterfall
Platuk Waterfall is located in Sooko district, about 30 km from the centre of the city. It is a beautiful waterfall in Ponorogo, which has fresh air, calm nuance, and blow wind.
This waterfall is suitable for family recreation or just to feel the real waterfall nature. It will give the visitor a great experience to visit this waterfall. Invite your family here and get the original nature with cool water and fresh air around it.
Zante, A Best Ionian Holiday Abroad
Zakynthos or Zante is an Island located in the Ionian sea off the western coast of Greece. Zakynthos, as the local people call it, is one of the biggest Ionian Islands. The Island provides a marvelous climate all year and is enclosed by warm waters and picture perfect Beaches. If you are planning a holiday here it's suggested you travel between April and October when the weather here is at its best.
The great way to travel to Zakynthos is by ferry or plane. Ferries set down in the Island's Capital City of Zante town and its seaport called Agios Nikolaos. Cheap flights are present from the Greek capital of Athens, and as well most major Airports in the UK. From the Airport you can get a take the bus or a taxi to your Hotel. To determine the cheapest holidays to Zante from your Country of origin call your travel agent or browse the Internet for Greek specialist tour jockeys. This postal card perfect Island provides a form of pristine Beaches, entertainment and activities for families as well as an enjoyable nightlife.
Families can enjoy a safe and delightful holiday at some of the Zakynthos's child-friendly Resorts, while singles and couples can enjoy the excitement and adventure of Zante's large selection of clubs and pubs. Zante is a best destination for Europeans and anybody traveling to Greece. The Island provides a fantabulous selection of inns, resorts and cheap Hotels for visitants. Areas which are most popular with travelers include resorts in Kalamaki, Keri and Argassi. Tourists will as well ascertain that in terms of figuring, as compared to other Islands in Greece, Zakynthos provides quality food, entertainment and accommodations perfect for a cheap holiday abroad.
What builds Zante different from several other Greek Islands is the Venetian architecture; the constructions of Zante are traditional Venetian in Architectural design, giving Zakynthos a discrete marriage of Greek and European architecture and adding to its charm. The Venetians brought in its abundant and famous olive trees.
One another, charm on the island is the religion. Greek Orthodoxy is the main religion on Zakynthos, and the Island's feared monasteries are a key attractor. A large amount of Greek Islands are popular for their local spiritual festivals and in Zante the Holiday of saint Dionysios is the very well known.
For tourists, who are looking for a bionomical adventure, divers can search the underwater marine attractions that the Island has to go through its many cave dives and the broad range of marine life environing the Island. Snorkelers can as well enjoy Zante's marine life that includes monk seals, moray eels and loggerhead turtles. Zakynthos provides are variety of attractions for couples, families and singles.
Zante, A Best Ionian Holiday Abroad
Zakynthos or Zante is an Island located in the Ionian sea off the western coast of Greece. Zakynthos, as the local people call it, is one of the biggest Ionian Islands. The Island provides a marvelous climate all year and is enclosed by warm waters and picture perfect Beaches. If you are planning a holiday here it's suggested you travel between April and October when the weather here is at its best.
The great way to travel to Zakynthos is by ferry or plane. Ferries set down in the Island's Capital City of Zante town and its seaport called Agios Nikolaos. Cheap flights are present from the Greek capital of Athens, and as well most major Airports in the UK. From the Airport you can get a take the bus or a taxi to your Hotel. To determine the cheapest holidays to Zante from your Country of origin call your travel agent or browse the Internet for Greek specialist tour jockeys. This postal card perfect Island provides a form of pristine Beaches, entertainment and activities for families as well as an enjoyable nightlife.
Families can enjoy a safe and delightful holiday at some of the Zakynthos's child-friendly Resorts, while singles and couples can enjoy the excitement and adventure of Zante's large selection of clubs and pubs. Zante is a best destination for Europeans and anybody traveling to Greece. The Island provides a fantabulous selection of inns, resorts and cheap Hotels for visitants. Areas which are most popular with travelers include resorts in Kalamaki, Keri and Argassi. Tourists will as well ascertain that in terms of figuring, as compared to other Islands in Greece, Zakynthos provides quality food, entertainment and accommodations perfect for a cheap holiday abroad.
What builds Zante different from several other Greek Islands is the Venetian architecture; the constructions of Zante are traditional Venetian in Architectural design, giving Zakynthos a discrete marriage of Greek and European architecture and adding to its charm. The Venetians brought in its abundant and famous olive trees.
One another, charm on the island is the religion. Greek Orthodoxy is the main religion on Zakynthos, and the Island's feared monasteries are a key attractor. A large amount of Greek Islands are popular for their local spiritual festivals and in Zante the Holiday of saint Dionysios is the very well known.
For tourists, who are looking for a bionomical adventure, divers can search the underwater marine attractions that the Island has to go through its many cave dives and the broad range of marine life environing the Island. Snorkelers can as well enjoy Zante's marine life that includes monk seals, moray eels and loggerhead turtles. Zakynthos provides are variety of attractions for couples, families and singles.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Darwin and Goose Green Farm
Darwin and Goose Green are situated on a narrow bridge of land linking upper and lower East Falklands with Lafonia to the south and Wickham Heights and the Onion Range to the North.
Historic Darwin settlement retains much evidence of the 1982 Conflict, with many points of interest for those interested in military history. The Argentine Cemetery is situated 10 minutes drive from the settlement. Several other important memorials are also located nearby including a small monument at the spot where Col. H. Jones fell during the battle for Goose Green.
The settlement was named after naturalist Charles Darwin who visited in the late 1830s, and is an excellent place to view remnants of early settlement - with a restored stone corral and living quarters from the late 1800s accessible by foot from the settlement.
This is also a great jump-off point for exploring the plains of Lafonia or the hills to the north which include the Islands' highest peak, Mount Usborne. For those that prefer more relaxing, indoor activities, craft workshops are also offered in the settlement.
Darwin House provides a pleasant base, offering overnight accommodation with full board, as well as casual meals and guided tours. Visitors will find Darwin a convenient alternative to Stanley due to its proximity to Mount Pleasant International Airport and central access to all areas on East Falklands.
Darwin and Goose Green Farm
Darwin and Goose Green are situated on a narrow bridge of land linking upper and lower East Falklands with Lafonia to the south and Wickham Heights and the Onion Range to the North.
Historic Darwin settlement retains much evidence of the 1982 Conflict, with many points of interest for those interested in military history. The Argentine Cemetery is situated 10 minutes drive from the settlement. Several other important memorials are also located nearby including a small monument at the spot where Col. H. Jones fell during the battle for Goose Green.
The settlement was named after naturalist Charles Darwin who visited in the late 1830s, and is an excellent place to view remnants of early settlement - with a restored stone corral and living quarters from the late 1800s accessible by foot from the settlement.
This is also a great jump-off point for exploring the plains of Lafonia or the hills to the north which include the Islands' highest peak, Mount Usborne. For those that prefer more relaxing, indoor activities, craft workshops are also offered in the settlement.
Darwin House provides a pleasant base, offering overnight accommodation with full board, as well as casual meals and guided tours. Visitors will find Darwin a convenient alternative to Stanley due to its proximity to Mount Pleasant International Airport and central access to all areas on East Falklands.
Khulna - Bangladesh
Khulna, which happens to be the third largest industrial city in Bangladesh, lies in Khulna district, on the banks of the Bhirob and Rupsha rivers. Since Khulna district happens to be a part of the largest delta of the world, this city continues to be a major source of attraction for people all over the world. The area is also well known for the southern portion of the delta which includes the largest known mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbands.
Khulna spreads over an area of about six thousand square km, and has a population of almost about two million people, including people from various communities and religions. This place is well known for a number of industries including its jute mills, shrimp processing industries, and also its news printing industry.
Khulna continues to be a major center for education in the country, with a number of reputed educational institutions that attract students from all over the country. Some of its institutions, including Daulatpur Mahshin High School, Power Development Board High School, Government Azam Khan Commerce College, Soshi Bhusan Sishu Niketan, Khulna Government Girls College (Boyra College), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, etc are particularly well known.
Khulna is one of the most sought after tourist destinations of the country, owing to its natural beauty and wildlife that is so rich in the Sunderbans area. People visit this city to enjoy watching the flora and fauna of these forests, and enjoying various wildlife related activities. The only source of transportation in this area is water transport that allows one to enjoy activities such as fishing. Here people can also enjoy watching the activities of honey collectors. However, a prior permission needs to be taken before visiting most of these areas, and there are a number of restrictions guiding the activities of the tourists within the wildlife area.
Khulna has a number of markets where people flock in together from all over the country and as well from all over the world. Some of the most well known markets include the Picture Palace Market (where one can find all kinds of goods), the Jalil Tower (particularly well known for the computer and computer parts that are available here), Khulna Shopping Complex (where various kinds of goods are available), etc.
In Khulna, many types of transport facilities are available. Owning to the fact that Khulna happens to be a very busy city, the roads have been well constructed. The city also enjoys water transport facilities, and its paddle streamer that connects it to Dhaka is particularly noteworthy. Khulna also offers air transport facilities, with the Jessore airport, that lies about 70 km away form the city. Rail transport system is another very popular means of transport.
There are many five star and budget hotels in Khulna. Two most popular ones are the Hotel Castel Salaam and Hotel Royal. It is a very convenient to stay here and visit the Sunderbans. Excellent quality of shrimp is available and the hotel has excellent catering facilities. Thus Khulna is a must visit place in Bangladesh which you must not miss.
Khulna - Bangladesh
Khulna, which happens to be the third largest industrial city in Bangladesh, lies in Khulna district, on the banks of the Bhirob and Rupsha rivers. Since Khulna district happens to be a part of the largest delta of the world, this city continues to be a major source of attraction for people all over the world. The area is also well known for the southern portion of the delta which includes the largest known mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbands.
Khulna spreads over an area of about six thousand square km, and has a population of almost about two million people, including people from various communities and religions. This place is well known for a number of industries including its jute mills, shrimp processing industries, and also its news printing industry.
Khulna continues to be a major center for education in the country, with a number of reputed educational institutions that attract students from all over the country. Some of its institutions, including Daulatpur Mahshin High School, Power Development Board High School, Government Azam Khan Commerce College, Soshi Bhusan Sishu Niketan, Khulna Government Girls College (Boyra College), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, etc are particularly well known.
Khulna is one of the most sought after tourist destinations of the country, owing to its natural beauty and wildlife that is so rich in the Sunderbans area. People visit this city to enjoy watching the flora and fauna of these forests, and enjoying various wildlife related activities. The only source of transportation in this area is water transport that allows one to enjoy activities such as fishing. Here people can also enjoy watching the activities of honey collectors. However, a prior permission needs to be taken before visiting most of these areas, and there are a number of restrictions guiding the activities of the tourists within the wildlife area.
Khulna has a number of markets where people flock in together from all over the country and as well from all over the world. Some of the most well known markets include the Picture Palace Market (where one can find all kinds of goods), the Jalil Tower (particularly well known for the computer and computer parts that are available here), Khulna Shopping Complex (where various kinds of goods are available), etc.
In Khulna, many types of transport facilities are available. Owning to the fact that Khulna happens to be a very busy city, the roads have been well constructed. The city also enjoys water transport facilities, and its paddle streamer that connects it to Dhaka is particularly noteworthy. Khulna also offers air transport facilities, with the Jessore airport, that lies about 70 km away form the city. Rail transport system is another very popular means of transport.
There are many five star and budget hotels in Khulna. Two most popular ones are the Hotel Castel Salaam and Hotel Royal. It is a very convenient to stay here and visit the Sunderbans. Excellent quality of shrimp is available and the hotel has excellent catering facilities. Thus Khulna is a must visit place in Bangladesh which you must not miss.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Never underestimate the power of a 5 year old…
Let me first begin by saying had not intended to take a week off from blogging but I had no choice. Last week started with flu like symptoms for the boys and then when it hit me and my husband, we were both very ill. My week ended with almost a trip to the ER after eating slice of pizza that had an ingredient I did not know I was allergic to. My lips. mouth swelled up, my voice was gone and my
Long Island Farm
Owners Neil and Glenda Watson are descended from a long line of Falklands farm managers and workers, and a visit to their 20,000 acre station conveys an exclusive understanding of the islands traditional sheep farming practices.
Your experience will begin with an hour-long coach drive through countryside abundant with intriguing geographical features, and fascinating historical evidence of the fierce battles of the 1982 Conflict with Argentina; all of which will be explained to you by your local guide.
On arrival at the farm you will be greeted by Neil and Glenda, along with their family, and any visiting friends. Neil’s son will demonstrate the dying art of peat-cutting, the back-breaking work of chopping sods of turf from the land in order to dry them and use them for fuel for cooking and heating.
From the ‘peat-bog’ you will take a short stroll towards the shearing shed where Neil will demonstrate the penning of a small flock of sheep by his skilled sheep dogs. These hard-working stylish collies and the noisy New Zealand hunterway are a friendly lot and won’t object to a pat of appreciation if they happen to pass you by.
At the shearing shed you will witness the shearing of a sheep (the removal of its fleece by an experienced shearer). Neil and the shearer will explain how the fleece is thrown onto the table where various parts will be removed before the fleeces is ‘rolled’ and then classed depending on its quality or fineness.
Next you will enjoy homemade tea, coffee and cakes in the family kitchen where Glenda will happily chat to you about the farm and the family history and show you the peat-fired Rayburn in which she cooks and bakes. Don’t forget to check out the colourful family photos and the gigantic antique map of the Falklands, not to mention Neil’s certificate for bravery awarded to him by the Royal Humane Society.
The Watson’s are family of horse-lovers and your final stop will be by the ‘Old-House’ which is filled to the brim with not only Falklands-style horse riding ‘gear’ but supplemented with his children’s preferences for everything from English tack to Australian and Western saddles. Outside the Old House (which also doubles up as a cow shed where Glenda milks her cows) Neil or a member of his family will saddle up a horse with traditional ‘bastos’, the saddle used throughout Falklands history by gauchos and farm-hands.
Neil owns around a dozen horses and the majority are used in the summer to carry him and his family around the vast farm in order to gather up flocks of sheep at shearing time. Feel free to ask him questions about the history of the horse tack and how their farm is run.
If time remains it is only a short stroll to the mile long sand beach in front of the farm house where you can admire a variety of land and seabirds and, if you’re very lucky, witness a curious pod of dolphins playing in the impressive surf.
Long Island Farm
Owners Neil and Glenda Watson are descended from a long line of Falklands farm managers and workers, and a visit to their 20,000 acre station conveys an exclusive understanding of the islands traditional sheep farming practices.
Your experience will begin with an hour-long coach drive through countryside abundant with intriguing geographical features, and fascinating historical evidence of the fierce battles of the 1982 Conflict with Argentina; all of which will be explained to you by your local guide.
On arrival at the farm you will be greeted by Neil and Glenda, along with their family, and any visiting friends. Neil’s son will demonstrate the dying art of peat-cutting, the back-breaking work of chopping sods of turf from the land in order to dry them and use them for fuel for cooking and heating.
From the ‘peat-bog’ you will take a short stroll towards the shearing shed where Neil will demonstrate the penning of a small flock of sheep by his skilled sheep dogs. These hard-working stylish collies and the noisy New Zealand hunterway are a friendly lot and won’t object to a pat of appreciation if they happen to pass you by.
At the shearing shed you will witness the shearing of a sheep (the removal of its fleece by an experienced shearer). Neil and the shearer will explain how the fleece is thrown onto the table where various parts will be removed before the fleeces is ‘rolled’ and then classed depending on its quality or fineness.
Next you will enjoy homemade tea, coffee and cakes in the family kitchen where Glenda will happily chat to you about the farm and the family history and show you the peat-fired Rayburn in which she cooks and bakes. Don’t forget to check out the colourful family photos and the gigantic antique map of the Falklands, not to mention Neil’s certificate for bravery awarded to him by the Royal Humane Society.
The Watson’s are family of horse-lovers and your final stop will be by the ‘Old-House’ which is filled to the brim with not only Falklands-style horse riding ‘gear’ but supplemented with his children’s preferences for everything from English tack to Australian and Western saddles. Outside the Old House (which also doubles up as a cow shed where Glenda milks her cows) Neil or a member of his family will saddle up a horse with traditional ‘bastos’, the saddle used throughout Falklands history by gauchos and farm-hands.
Neil owns around a dozen horses and the majority are used in the summer to carry him and his family around the vast farm in order to gather up flocks of sheep at shearing time. Feel free to ask him questions about the history of the horse tack and how their farm is run.
If time remains it is only a short stroll to the mile long sand beach in front of the farm house where you can admire a variety of land and seabirds and, if you’re very lucky, witness a curious pod of dolphins playing in the impressive surf.
Visit Pink Lake near Esperance
Pink Lake just out of Esperance is pink, and sometimes even purple, depending on weather conditions. In fact depending what time of the day you visit the Lake, and the current water and salinity levels, the pink has been known to change from brilliant blues to a fairy-tale pink.
The colour of the lake is attributed to high concentrations of salt tolerant algae, Dunalella Sailina. This was first definitely established in 1980 after almost 200 years of conjecture. Confirmation came when Esperance Museum Curator prompted a W.A. University biologist to analyse lake water samples. These samples and others sent earlier confirmed Dunalella Sailina in the lake as well as Coccomonas Algae. The alga has been shown responsible for similar lake colourings in the U.S.A. The salt from Pink Lake is 99.9% pure and is harvested for WA Salt Supply and sent to Fremantle for processing. Salt licks for stock, with appropriate additives, are made in Esperance. There are at present about 13 hectares divided into 8 ponds, into which water is pumped during the dry month; as it evaporates it leaves behind the salt crystals. At present 14,000 tonnes a year are harvested.
We also drive on the Great Ocean Drive which is a circular loop of 38km. Some of the highlights we visit include the Rotary Lookout; Twighlight Beach; Observatory Point and the Wind Farms at Salmon Beach. Esperance is the second windiest place in Western Australia (Geraldton being the windiest) and the wind farms help to offset local fuel prices.
Visit Pink Lake near Esperance
Pink Lake just out of Esperance is pink, and sometimes even purple, depending on weather conditions. In fact depending what time of the day you visit the Lake, and the current water and salinity levels, the pink has been known to change from brilliant blues to a fairy-tale pink.
The colour of the lake is attributed to high concentrations of salt tolerant algae, Dunalella Sailina. This was first definitely established in 1980 after almost 200 years of conjecture. Confirmation came when Esperance Museum Curator prompted a W.A. University biologist to analyse lake water samples. These samples and others sent earlier confirmed Dunalella Sailina in the lake as well as Coccomonas Algae. The alga has been shown responsible for similar lake colourings in the U.S.A. The salt from Pink Lake is 99.9% pure and is harvested for WA Salt Supply and sent to Fremantle for processing. Salt licks for stock, with appropriate additives, are made in Esperance. There are at present about 13 hectares divided into 8 ponds, into which water is pumped during the dry month; as it evaporates it leaves behind the salt crystals. At present 14,000 tonnes a year are harvested.
We also drive on the Great Ocean Drive which is a circular loop of 38km. Some of the highlights we visit include the Rotary Lookout; Twighlight Beach; Observatory Point and the Wind Farms at Salmon Beach. Esperance is the second windiest place in Western Australia (Geraldton being the windiest) and the wind farms help to offset local fuel prices.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Ggantija temple
If you think Hagar Qim and Mnajdra in Malta were the ultimate, wait until you cross over to Gozo where the oldest standing structure in the world – the Ggantija temples – awaits you. You are bound to wonder how busy and enterprising these Neolithics must have been.
Were they giants? The very Maltese name for the temples, Ggantija (derived from the word Ggant, meaning giant), says it all. Huge rocks cut and hewn into elaborate stone make up the temples, a feat difficult to do even with today’s technology. A civilisation that we may consider as too early for monumental thinking, let alone building, had nonetheless come out of the caves to create these wondrous constructions well before the Egyptians eventually gave us the pyramids.
How did they do it? What means did they use to carry those gigantic stones from the nearby quarries of the village of Xaghra? You will probably have more questions than answers, but it is this enormous gap in our knowledge of that early period in human life and civilisation that fascinates both the visitor and the researcher.
The Ggantija temples stir your senses and provoke awe and wonder, yet they testify to a humanity of early genius and, possibly, a greater material and spiritual awareness than we have hitherto dared attribute to it.
Take your time as you walk from one chamber to another, stop and ponder in front of the sacrificial stone, try and guess how the oracle worked and how these, your own ancestors, lived and loved. It means putting fun into archaeology, finding a sense of being in the very stone that seems to want to tell you a story, but somehow cannot.
In our opinion the Ggantija Temples rank up there with the other marvels of the planet like Stonehenge, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. They just don’t enjoy the same marketing…
Obviously for this one you will need to be in Gozo first of all so a quick ferry trip will be in order if you are not going to be based on Malta’s sister island. Once there, you can either follow the signs to Xaghra, if you are in a car, or catch a bus to Victoria and then another – the number 64 or 65 – to Xaghra. Well worth the effort.
Were they giants? The very Maltese name for the temples, Ggantija (derived from the word Ggant, meaning giant), says it all. Huge rocks cut and hewn into elaborate stone make up the temples, a feat difficult to do even with today’s technology. A civilisation that we may consider as too early for monumental thinking, let alone building, had nonetheless come out of the caves to create these wondrous constructions well before the Egyptians eventually gave us the pyramids.
How did they do it? What means did they use to carry those gigantic stones from the nearby quarries of the village of Xaghra? You will probably have more questions than answers, but it is this enormous gap in our knowledge of that early period in human life and civilisation that fascinates both the visitor and the researcher.
The Ggantija temples stir your senses and provoke awe and wonder, yet they testify to a humanity of early genius and, possibly, a greater material and spiritual awareness than we have hitherto dared attribute to it.
Take your time as you walk from one chamber to another, stop and ponder in front of the sacrificial stone, try and guess how the oracle worked and how these, your own ancestors, lived and loved. It means putting fun into archaeology, finding a sense of being in the very stone that seems to want to tell you a story, but somehow cannot.
In our opinion the Ggantija Temples rank up there with the other marvels of the planet like Stonehenge, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. They just don’t enjoy the same marketing…
Obviously for this one you will need to be in Gozo first of all so a quick ferry trip will be in order if you are not going to be based on Malta’s sister island. Once there, you can either follow the signs to Xaghra, if you are in a car, or catch a bus to Victoria and then another – the number 64 or 65 – to Xaghra. Well worth the effort.
Ggantija temple
If you think Hagar Qim and Mnajdra in Malta were the ultimate, wait until you cross over to Gozo where the oldest standing structure in the world – the Ggantija temples – awaits you. You are bound to wonder how busy and enterprising these Neolithics must have been.
Were they giants? The very Maltese name for the temples, Ggantija (derived from the word Ggant, meaning giant), says it all. Huge rocks cut and hewn into elaborate stone make up the temples, a feat difficult to do even with today’s technology. A civilisation that we may consider as too early for monumental thinking, let alone building, had nonetheless come out of the caves to create these wondrous constructions well before the Egyptians eventually gave us the pyramids.
How did they do it? What means did they use to carry those gigantic stones from the nearby quarries of the village of Xaghra? You will probably have more questions than answers, but it is this enormous gap in our knowledge of that early period in human life and civilisation that fascinates both the visitor and the researcher.
The Ggantija temples stir your senses and provoke awe and wonder, yet they testify to a humanity of early genius and, possibly, a greater material and spiritual awareness than we have hitherto dared attribute to it.
Take your time as you walk from one chamber to another, stop and ponder in front of the sacrificial stone, try and guess how the oracle worked and how these, your own ancestors, lived and loved. It means putting fun into archaeology, finding a sense of being in the very stone that seems to want to tell you a story, but somehow cannot.
In our opinion the Ggantija Temples rank up there with the other marvels of the planet like Stonehenge, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. They just don’t enjoy the same marketing…
Obviously for this one you will need to be in Gozo first of all so a quick ferry trip will be in order if you are not going to be based on Malta’s sister island. Once there, you can either follow the signs to Xaghra, if you are in a car, or catch a bus to Victoria and then another – the number 64 or 65 – to Xaghra. Well worth the effort.
Were they giants? The very Maltese name for the temples, Ggantija (derived from the word Ggant, meaning giant), says it all. Huge rocks cut and hewn into elaborate stone make up the temples, a feat difficult to do even with today’s technology. A civilisation that we may consider as too early for monumental thinking, let alone building, had nonetheless come out of the caves to create these wondrous constructions well before the Egyptians eventually gave us the pyramids.
How did they do it? What means did they use to carry those gigantic stones from the nearby quarries of the village of Xaghra? You will probably have more questions than answers, but it is this enormous gap in our knowledge of that early period in human life and civilisation that fascinates both the visitor and the researcher.
The Ggantija temples stir your senses and provoke awe and wonder, yet they testify to a humanity of early genius and, possibly, a greater material and spiritual awareness than we have hitherto dared attribute to it.
Take your time as you walk from one chamber to another, stop and ponder in front of the sacrificial stone, try and guess how the oracle worked and how these, your own ancestors, lived and loved. It means putting fun into archaeology, finding a sense of being in the very stone that seems to want to tell you a story, but somehow cannot.
In our opinion the Ggantija Temples rank up there with the other marvels of the planet like Stonehenge, the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. They just don’t enjoy the same marketing…
Obviously for this one you will need to be in Gozo first of all so a quick ferry trip will be in order if you are not going to be based on Malta’s sister island. Once there, you can either follow the signs to Xaghra, if you are in a car, or catch a bus to Victoria and then another – the number 64 or 65 – to Xaghra. Well worth the effort.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)