Images of Places Visited (updated 2009/08/03)
Americas:
Canada (
BC,
Prairies,
Ontario,
Quebec,
Maritimes ),
United States,
Chile
Asian Far East:
Mainland China,
Malaysia,
Singapore,
Japan,
Taiwan
Europe:
England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Ireland,
Italy,
Germany,
Austria,
Slovakia,
Hungary,
Turkey
Down Under:
Australia,
New Zealand
Northern suburbs of Santiago, Chile with agricultural fields in the foreground, Andes in the background, and a layer of smog over Santiago. July, 2009.
Other images of Santiago can be found here.
Sarcopagus purported made for Alexander the Great, uncovered at
Sidon Necropolis (in modern day Lebanon), and kept in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Turkey. May 2009.
Here are other images of this visit to Istanbul, or to the mountain lake resort city of
Egirdir north of Turkish Riviera city of Antalya, or to the Ancient city of
Efes (Ephesus) on the Aegean Sea.
Scorpions on a stick, Beijing, China, March 2009.
I saw something fascinating in the Beijing market: live scorpions stuck through with a stick
and then roasted over a grill. I tried to make a movie of the scorpions struggling around
on the stick, but my camera movie resolution is too low to see them move their pincers and legs.
In any case, here is a shot of the scorpions on the stick. You should try them. They're crunchy!
(I felt sorry for the sea horses though). Here are other images of this visit to
China in March & April 2009 including
Wuhan, Xian & surroundings, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai.
Xuanmiao Taoist Temple in Jingzhou, Hubei, China. March, 2008
A fascinating female monk tending this temple told us some of the history of this place
and the importance of Taoism in Chinese culture
Teaching Room at the City Museum, Jingzhou, Hubei, China. March, 2008.
Interesting translations from Chinese to English abound throughout
China. Here "electrified" refers to Audio-Visual capacities (e.g. internet enabled, DVD/CD players available,
computers present, etc.), but the wording brings to mind cattle prods or electric fences to motivate
students and keep them in the classroom. Here is another interesting sign encountered at an University in Yichang, Hubei, China, March, 2008. The plaque given to the University by the provincial government refers to their status in the past year as being of exemplary behaviour with no employee of the University violating any rules such as committing any crimes or having more than one child or any other undesirable behaviour.
Stele Park, Jingzhou, Hubei, China. March, 2008
This scene of flowering magnolia (Mulan hua) and Chinese lanterns
can be found in a park near the New East Gate, but serves as a teahouse with many small rooms filled
with old-style Chinese furniture
Mulan Fortress on Mulan Mountain, 70 km northeast of Wuhan, Hubei, China. February, 2008
The Disney-popularized story of Mulan has some seeds in history.
The story of the female general, Mulan, was originally a folk song dating from the Northern Wei dynasty, 386 to 534 AD.
According to legend, the aged father of a young woman named Mulan was conscripted.
Mulan disguised herself as a man and joined the army in his place.
For the next ten years she showed remarkable skill as a warrior and became a female general.
Her true identity remained hidden from her comrades until the end.
Georges Island, Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia. March, 2007
Georges Island is a small drumlin located in Halifax harbour. The glacial till
made it ideal for use as a Fort as part of the Halifax Defense Complex. The view is
from Citadel Hill which houses Fort George
Statue of Amphitrite in Montreal, Quebec. March 2007
This statue was taken from a town in Northwestern France (St-Mihiel-de-la-Meuse)
and was made sometime in the early 1700's. It is currently located near the Hotel Inter-Continental
in the Underground walkway complex of Montreal. A piece of the Berlin Wall is located very close by.
Montmorency Falls, 10 km east of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. August, 2006
A major battle between English and French forces was fought here in 1759,
and ruins from that battle are still visible. These falls are 83m/270' high. Fireworks
at night can be seen from the Dufferin Boardwalk in Quebec City.
A trip to northern Italy and southwestern Germany in May, 2006
Web Album Generator was used to create the Italy and Germany thumbnail webpages showing 52 images from Italy and 44 from Germany.
These two links will each open in a new page.
Deep sea fishing near Jacksonville, Florida, April
2006
Eight miles off shore offers easy fishing. Drop the line
to the bottom 60 feet down, and the fish are practically fighting over the
squid bait. The Gulf stream is another 50 miles out. Photo credit: D. Settle.
Condominiums on the Intracoastal Waterway,
eastern American seaboard, April 2006
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 4,800 km long recreational
and commercial waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United
States. Some parts are natural while other parts were built.
Niagara River aerial view, April 2006
Lake Erie is at the back, and Lake Ontario is at front,
with the Niagara River snaking through the Niagara Pennisula. Niagara Falls
(both the Canadian Falls and the Horseshoe Falls) are visible as small white
specks.
The Lions are mountain peaks visible from Vancouver,
Canada. March, 2006
These peaks were known by the Squamish Indians as "The Sisters".
Another view of these peaks from Mt. Cypress can be found here as seen Dec 1997. This link describes climbing
these mountain peaks. The snow is where it belongs, on mountain tops where
you can visit but then leave behind.
Engraved icicle, Guelph, January 2006
What secret writing can be found in an icicle on a cherry
tree? Is this different from what is found on a maple tree?Or a droplet
on a cherry blossom tree in the Chinese countryside near Jingzhou, Hubei, China, March 2008?
Travel near Lake Ontario and along the
St. Lawrence, September, 2005 (plus some older pictures)
This map includes most of the American Northeast plus southern
Ontario and Southern Quebec near Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Many of the larger cities in Canada plus a few in the U.S. are clickable.
A visit to Quebec City, August, 2005
Quebec City on the St. Lawrence river is among the oldest
cities in North America. This link includes a clickable map with images.
All of the sites were withing walking distane.
A visit to Dublin and vicinity, Ireland.
July, 2005
Dublin is filled with fascinating views. This link includes
a clickable map with images and some comments. Most of the sites away from
Dublin were accessed by DART, and those in the city, by foot.
A visit to Northwestern Wales, United
Kingand. July, 2005
Northwest Wales is filled with Castles from the time of
King Edward I of England who attempted to subdue the Welsh in the 12th century.
This link includes a clickable map with images and comments on the castles
and directions in finding them.
Old fishing boats and buoys at Dalian, China.
March, 2005
Dalian (formerly known as Port Arthur) is a very new modern
city, but a few touches of old China can be seen in the fishing boats
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, China. March,
2005
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, just south of the Xian city center
dates from the Tang Dynasty (600 AD) and previously housed original Sanskrit
Buddhist texts which were brought over from India. 25 Yuan entry fee.
The Terra Cotta Soldiers, Xian, China.
March, 2005
The Terra Cotta Soldiers are found near the tomb of the
"First Emperor", and the site is located to the west of Xian. Three large
buildings house the three major digs (soliders, generals, command center).
An extensive museum has very impressive artifacts, but most of the signs
are only in Chinese. Well worth the 90 Yuan
entry fee.
Tree Fossil at Bei Hai Park, Beijing, China.
March, 2005
Bei Hai park costs just 5 Yuan
to enter , and is just to the northwest of the Forbidden City. There
are lots of amazing exhibits in the park, but don't waste the 20 Yuan to
climb to the top of Jade Island next to the white Pagoda since you can get
onto Jade Island and climb up right next to the white Pagoda. The 20 Yuan
just allows you access up a short flight of steps to a small temple building
beside the White Pagoda that gives you a view of the Forbidden city, but
a better view can be seen from Jingshan Park right next door.
View of the Forbidden Palace from Jingshan
Park, Beijing, China. March, 2005
Jingshan Park is just north of the Forbidden city, and the
best bargain in town with a 2 Yuan entry fee.
The park opens until 8pm unlike many other attractions which only open until
5pm during the off season
Long Walk at the Summer Palace, Beijing,
China. March, 2005
The Summer Palace is one of the best places in Beijing to
see old Chinese architecture, at just 20
Yuan entry fee in the off season. This shows a section in the park called
the "long walk"
Offices of the MBA program at Peking University,
Beijing, China. March, 2005
Beautiful traditional buildings grace the campus of Peking
University, among the top two Universities in China. This compound houses
the MBA program with offices and lecture rooms.
Confucius Temple, Beijing, China. March,
2005
The Confucius Temple is a hidden gem just a block west of
the more popular Lama Buddhist Temple. Various emperors placed their writings
about Confucius on large blocks set on the back of Turtle-Dragons.
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Beijing,
China. March, 2005
This small temple is just behind (north of) the Temple of
Heaven, and may have been the last stop for the Emperor and his entourage
as they made their annual prayers to the Gods for good harvests in their
procession from south to north.
The Northwest Corner of the Forbidden City
with moat, Beijing, China. March, 2005
One of the most beautiful sights of the Forbidden City was
from the outside. A large part of the Forbidden City (front part) can be
entered without charge. Near the inner compound where the 40 Yuan entrance
fee is collected, you can exit through gates going west, and this leads to
a view of the south section of the moat with a road that wraps around to
allow you a view of the western wall
A piece of treasure in the Imperial Museum
of the Forbidden City, Beijing, China. March, 2005
The Forbidden City is more properly called the Imperial
Museum, and among its 9000 rooms, many of the treasures of the Emperors and
their families are housed, also some of the large pieces are treasure were
moved to Taiwan during the Civil Revolution. In addition to the 40 Yuan entry fee to enter the Forbidden City,
there is a charge of 10 Yuan to enter the
wing on the northeast corner of the Forbbiden City which contains the Art
Treasures as well as the Wall of Nine Dragons.
Jingzhou museum in Hubei Province.
March, 2005
Contains fascinating neolithic artifacts and the preserved
corpse of what could be Freddy Krueger's brother. Well worth the visit
See contact sheet (1.1 Mb, clickable thumbnails) of images from before mid-2006. Image descriptions are above.
The contact sheet was generated using MyAlbum.
20 second clip playing music from 400 BC on replicas
of the instruments from the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng