Category : Nona Hora

Kid- and Pet-Friendly Salzburg Zoo

Zoo Hellbrunn (Zoo Salzburg) welcomed us with a heavy rain… very heavy, but very short. The Zoo is based on the menagerie of the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg, who kept exotic animals. That fact makes Salzburg Zoo the oldest Zoo in the World- about 300 years old. The location of Zoo is ideal for its inhabitants and visitors. It resides …

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People of Laos. Stranger Portraits

Laos (officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic) has one of the lowest population densities in Asia (20 persons per square km). It’s estimated population is about 6 million people. Compare to Vietnamese 88 million! Nevertheless, Lao culture is very rich and many people live according to its old traditions. Today I would like to share some captured memories of strangers …

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Fountain of Joy or Joy of Trick Fountains

Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Fountains. Salzburg, Austria

It was so much fun to watch joyful faces of the visitors of Salzburg’s (Austria) 400 years old Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn). One of the attractions here is a water garden where for an admission fee of 9.50 Euros (Children- 4.50) you can get soaked by trick fountains hidden everywhere- in the benches, statues, pathways… If you like to get …

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Why Do Buddhist Monks Wear Orange Robes and Shave Heads?

How great the robe of liberation A formless field of merit. Wrapping ourselves in Buddha’s teaching, We save all beings. [Dogen. Kesa Kudoku] I have been thinking that Buddhist monks wear orange or maroon robes and shave their heads as a symbol of simplicity. But, it is not that simple! Working on this post, I have found an article which …

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Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: How I Became Red Carpet Paparazzi

The Red Carpet at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

During my trip to Hollywood I stayed at Roosevelt Hotel. It is a bit pricey place, but, life is too short! I wanted my “Hollywood Time” trip to be in the Theme, so I had to go with the best. The history of Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is amazing! The hotel hosted the presentation of the very 1st Academy Awards in …

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Monks of Laos

Luang Prabang is a city located in north central Laos, at the confluence of the Nam Khan river and Mekong River. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. This small city has almost eighty temples and monasteries and house more than 1,000 monks. Much of the monk …

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Santa Monica Pier: Route 66 Ending Point

Santa Monica Pier: Route 66's Western Point

85 years ago the numbered highway system was born in the United States. One of the first numbered highways was Route 66 – a highway from Chicago to Los Angeles, the US Mother Road. Today my Friday Flashback is from the place where “End of the Trail” sign is installed – Santa Monica pier, the ending point of Route 66. …

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Halong Bay, Vietnam: Descending Dragon’s Bay

The name Ha Long is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese, meaning “Descending Dragon”. According to local legend, when Vietnamese had just started to develop into a country, they had to fight against invaders. To assist Vietnamese in defending their country, the gods sent a family of dragons as protectors. This family of dragons began spitting out jewels and jade. These jewels …

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Romulus, Remus and Lupa (a she-wolf)

According to a legend, Rome, Italy was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, who were raised by Lupa (a she-wolf). It’s hard to imagine what would happen to our Civilization if Lupa didn’t rescue the twins from the Tiber River. It would be no Roman Art, Sculpture, Latin literature, Music… Simply no Colosseum, no Piazza Navona, no Trevi …

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London: The Jubilee Photo Walkway

The Palace of Westminster. London, England

Happy Friday! Each and Every Friday I post a photo(s) from my archive, a memory flashback. Today I would like to invite you to my Jubilee Photo Walk in London, England. The Jubilee Walkway is one of the official walkways in the city. It was originally opened as The Silver Jubilee Walkway (renamed during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee) to commemorate …

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A Story of Vietnamese Leaf Hat

Once upon a time, the legend says, when a deluge of rain was falling there descended from the sky a giant woman wearing on her head four huge round leaves as large as the sky itself and stitched together by bamboo sticks. The leaves protected humankind, then still naked, from the rain. The giant messenger from the sky twirled round …

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Le Parisien. Reading The Faces

It is Friday and we are back in Paris :) I promise to take a break after this post and get a flashback of something else. Today I combined a set of Parisian faces- Le Parisien. I love face reading! It gives you insights into others’ thoughts, feelings, and character. Click on image to view full size.

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