The Oracle of Delphi (Greece Part 2)

My fascination with Ancient Civilizations continues in Delphi. Legends tell of Delphi's establishment when Zeus released two eagles from the opposite ends of the world; and Delphi was where they crossed paths. Believed to be the naval of the world, it was purposed as a dwelling place of the God Apollo at the end of the 8th century BC. People all over Greece and beyond visited Delphi to consult the God Apollo on the course of action to take in their lives. The Oracle of Delphi was a means where people could hear the God Apollo through the channel of priestess or sibyls. It was believed that the vapors from a  crack in the ground at the temple's altar assisted the channel into a trance and answers could be sought.

Like most places left in ruins, walking through Delphi requires the work of one's imagination. The grandeur and importance of Delhpi can definitely be realized from the presence of the different monuments such as the Main Temple Apollo itself, the Athenian Treasury and the presence of a theatre and stadium. Crowds must have come forth in search of answers from the oracle.

The Athenean Treasury.

I felt had affinity with this tree right under the Temple of Apollo.
It may seem so frail and weak, but to me, it has so much strength.

A sweltering hot day it was…

The theatre which overlooks the Temple.

Love the trees in Delphi, they are so ALIVE!

The Delphi museum housing the collection of sculptures and architectural remains of the period is also interesting to see. The main exhibit being the life size bronze statue the "Charioteer".

My own personal favorite at the museum has to be this….
The Magneto Helmet from X-Men!!! (or rather the movie must have got some inspiration from the greeks!) How cool!!

And the others i like….

An overview of what Delphi might have looked like….

And the most endearing Temple cats of Delphi…

Much love….

TBC….

Read The Oia Dream (Greece Part 1) 

(Pics taken with a Panasonic Lumix Camera, Samsung S4 and Note 2)

The Oia Dream I (Greece Part 1)

"The Universe always conspires to help the dreamer."

If life is truly a dream, then the dreamer will come to realize that he is dreaming his life when he sets foot on Santorini Island.

Daydreams do come true.
I found myself on Santorini this summer; fulfilling one of the most anticipated destinations on my bucket list.
The picturesque postcard pictures of Oia at the northern tip of Santorini we have often seen are for real.

The white washed mansions and blue domed churches overlooking the sea just brings about a surge of peace and tranquility in one's soul.

7am in Oia.

All is quiet. Just us and the sweeper.

And of course the sweet cats living at Oia.

The cat that does not get tired of watching the Oia sunrise.

There is just something special about blue domes that i cannot get enough of.

TBC….

(Pics taken with a Panasonic Lumix Camera, Samsung S4 and Note 2)

Chasing the Lights (Norway Part 2)

That night as the sun set, we got ready to attend our lecture at the Polar Light Centre. The lecture was informative as it explained all about how the aurora borealis is formed and what are the favorable conditions for her to make an appearance.

Our first night in Laukvik and we were hopeful about getting a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

We met the owners Rob and Theresa, a couple originally from Holland but moved to Laukvik to set up the Polar Light Centre all for the love of Lady Aurora. Rob is so passionate about his research on the northern lights and both are them are just so inspiring.

The wonderful perk about signing up for a lecture at the Polar Light Centre is that Rob provides a complimentary SMS service to notify us about the sightings of Lady Aurora; so we won't need to brave the cold outside to wait for her appearance.

By the way, Theresa makes the best cookies ! Couldn't get enough of them!

That night, my eyes were affixed on this device…

Spikes indicate a possible appearance of Lady Aurora.

According to Rob, that night was not a good night for sightings as the sky was not clear.

The other devices Rob uses to track her…
This maybe what passion and dedication looks like!

Rob and Theresa shared many of their encounters and stories about Lady Aurora. Like a child, i listened in awe and anticipation of meeting her. I was eager. Such is the beauty and magnificence of Nature which man has no control over. She decided not to make an appearance on the 1st night of our arrival. 

Hearing the stories, i figured the best way to meet her was to make her a gift as a token of my sincerity to meet her. Somethings have no explanation, and explanations need not be sought. 

I went into the Art Studio in the same premise where i lived, as our land lady is gracious enough to open up her art studio to those who board with her.

Even though i was never so confident about art, i whipped out the paint brushes and did my best potrait of Lady Aurora from my imagination and pictures I had seen. 

Afterwards, I braved the cold of the night and lifted up my painting to the sky as a gift to her. 

I think she must have heard me.....

Despite the disappointment of not meeting her on our first day, we were treated to this beautiful sunset…

This was just the beginning of things to come…

If you do go by Lofoten Islands, please pay Rob and Theresa a visit at their Polar Light Centre
http://www.polarlightcenter.com to maximize your chance of seeing the Northern Lights!

TBC…

Read Chasing the Lights (Norway Part 1)

pics taken with a Panasonic Lumix camera 

Today's Daydream...

The surreal Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina.

photo credit: irudi.photoshelter.com

Today's Daydream...

Gorgeous white washed Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik, Iceland.

photocredit: fabweb.com 

Today's Daydream...

Ready for Winter Wonderland on the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula, enroute to the Swiss Alps.

photo credit: google images

Today's Daydream...

Like somewhere in space in Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand.

photo credit: google images

Today's Daydream...

Need a dip in this hot weather…
Biras Creek Resort, British Virgin Islands

photo credit: luxury retreats

Today's Daydream...

Entering eternity through Heaven's Gate.
Mount Tai, China.

source: google images

The Magic of Egypt (Part 3)

Crossing the vast dessert, we made our way to Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt. Abu Simbel is  one of the most famous ancient Egyptian monuments after the Pyramids and Sphinx and is listed as a UNSECO World Heritage Site.

This temple that stands now was relocated in its entirety in 1968 from been submerged during the creation of the Lake Nasser, which is an artificial water reservoir formed after the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.

In the early days, ancient Egyptians could only reach the temple in their sails as the dessert route was inaccessible.
With worship being paramount to their lives, the ardous journey was not a deterrence to them.

Meeting the temple built by the mightiest of the pharaohs, Ramses II, the four colossi of himself carved out of a mountain is nothing short of magnificent.

The closer i walked towards it, the smaller i felt (in every sense).
The sheer size glorified the power and pride of the king during his reign.

(Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed inside the temple.)
Walking into the temple, was a humbling experience as i felt my insignificance walking through the towering row of statues leading into the main altar.

(source: google images)

The interior though less spectacular than its facade also has no wall left untouched; intricately carved with egyptian gods, rituals and beliefs.

The thing that intrigued me the most is how on the every 22nd February and 22nd October annually, the first rays of the rising sun will penetrate the temple and illuminate the Holy Quartet (except Ptah on the left).

(source: google images)

The significance of the dates are still a mystery but they are believed to be the anniversaries of Ramses's coronation and birth.
How they aligned the sun to light the temple altar is definitely an architectural genius considering the technology available in that era.

I marvel at the workmanship of the carvings.

Abu Simbel is worth the travel- journeying through the vast dessert for hours to actually seeing the temple itself has been an unforgettable experience for me.

Another one off my bucket list. :-)

On the way, don't forget to enjoy the breath-taking view of the Lake Nasser ...

and in Aswan, also do savour the Nubian cuisine unique to the region. 

A satisfying lunch it was with a view to boot!

Pictures taken with a Panasonic Lumix Camera.

TBC...

Read The Magic of Egypt (Part 2)

Read The Magic of Egypt (Part 1)