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“Pic of the Week”, August 17, 2018: Batticaloa’s Mahatma Gandhi Park
Mahatma Gandhi Park (aka ‘Gandhi Park’) is a fairly new addition to the lagoon waterfront in the heart of Batticaloa town. Built to honor the great Indian leader, the golden statue of him is definitely designed to capture your attention.
The park is popular with visitors and locals alike and is a nice place to relax. While resting on one of the benches, look for fishermen in small canoes or enjoy one of Sri Lanka’s many beautiful sunsets.
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“Pic of the Week”, July 13, 2018: The Galle Face Hotel Library and Museum
I’ve previously shared a post about one of my favorite hotels, namely Colombo’s Galle Face Hotel. Today I’d like to highlight two areas hotel guests can explore which were new to the hotel since I’d last stayed here. These were added during the hotels recent upgrades and renovations.
The hotel now has a very fine Library. A multi-room quiet place with very comfortable arm chairs and sofas, I spent some time here looking around and taking in the framed historic documents, illustrations and maps, and coffee-table books. I love libraries and had never been to one so sumptuous and inviting in a hotel before.
It was in the library that I discovered where the bust of Sir Arthur C. …
“Pic of the Week”, June 29, 2018: Al Ain Hot Springs and Lake
An oasis in any desert is viewed as a Godsend by people who live in such arid climates. The oases at Al Ain are important to the United Arab Emirates as they contribute significantly to the fresh water supply of the region (still, over 90% of Dubai’s water comes from desalination). Because of its sources of fresh water, the area has been inhabited for over 4,000 years.
Al Ain is known as the “Garden City of the Gulf” due to its greenery. It is home to extensive date palm groves which area irrigated by water from the oases.
Al Ain is one of the only areas in this desert where you can find public places with grass and greenery. People can enjoy …
Jun 28, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, June 22, 2018: Views of Lake Tahoe
Lovely Lake Tahoe! It has been described as the “gem of the Sierras” and it’s hard to argue with that.
Its statistics are impressive. Lake Tahoe is situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at 6,225 ft (1,897 m) and straddles the California/Nevada border. At 1,645 ft (501 m) deep, it is the second deepest lake in the United States — only Crater Lake in Oregon is deeper at 1,945 ft (593 m). It holds more water than any lake in the US, excluding the five Great Lakes.
And the scenery is spectacular. As are the hiking opportunities around the lake!
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Jun 21, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, June 15, 2018: An Interesting Shed, Gold Hill, Colorado
My eye was drawn to this old shed situated in someone’s back yard in the historic mining town of Gold Hill. The town is not far from Boulder, is charming and visiting it is much like stepping into the past.
I have to admit, I would love to own a shed like this, wheels, bed frame, antlers, ads and all!
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Jun 14, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, June 8, 2018: Burj Al Arabia
In a country of spectacular modern buildings and architecture, the Burj Al Arab more than holds its own. A beautiful white structure, it was built to resemble a dhow sailing into the blue waters of the Persian Gulf. The Burj Al Arab was one of the first big constructions in modern Dubai and like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York, it has come to symbolize today’s Dubai.
Some of the Particulars:
The Burj Al Arab is considered one of the world’s great luxury hotels and is the third tallest hotel in the world. It’s built on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) from Jumeirah Beach and is connected to it …
Jun 7, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, May 25, 2018: The Flood Memorial, Grand Forks
I’ve previously discussed how flat the great plains of central North America are. Like the Amazon basin in South America, when there is flooding of a river over its bank the flat topography lets the water spread a far distance before there is enough contour change to stop it. Obviously this can do a lot of damaged in populated areas.
The Red River, which flows through Minnesota and North Dakota on its way into Manitoba and on towards Lake Winnipeg, is one of the dominant rivers of the plains. It seems like the Red floods every few years and usually a small flood can be reasonably managed. But there are rare springs when the elements combine to make flooding particularly severe, …
May 24, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, May 18, 2018: The Orangerie Museum, Paris
Situated adjacent to the Seine in the Jardin des Tuileries, not far from the Louvre, you’ll find a wonderful museum. It’s next to the Place de la Concord and is housed in the palace’s old orange-tree growing greenhouse (orangery), a building completed in 1852. The building is lovely, with some statues outside including one by Rodin, but it’s what’s inside that’s truly special.
The Orangerie museum is a 20th century art gallery and its best know pieces are a series of Monet water-lily paintings known as the Nymphéas which occupy much of the upper floor. Eight huge canvases of lilies are hung in two galleries, all painted by Monet when he was an old man beginning to lose his eyesight to cataracts. …
May 17, 2018
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