peaceful travel, with an open mind & a gentle heart

John Godley, standing on his plinth – complete with a sea gull on his head – didn’t appear to bat an eyelid as he watched Buddha celebrating his 2546th birthday a couple of years ago. But what would this British founding father have said could they have seen such a Buddhist spectacle in front of their Anglican Cathedral over 150 years later?

One of the great things about travel, it is not just us who travel to places, but people from ‘other places’ who travel here too - and they stay, bringing new religions, different cultural traditions and food to us.

This is a  real bonus to the armchair traveller who can’t get to visit exotic places while for people like me, it’s a reminder of places, sounds and tastes I have seen before, or places I want to get a visa for real soon.

And so it was in Christchurch’s  (NZ) Cathedral Square one day in May. Buddhists from all over the city came to celebrate the birthday of Prince Siddhattha – the personal name of Buddha.

Monks and Nuns from different Asian countries led the celebration and we all, the Mayor included, took turns in offering gifts of incense, flowers and fruit to Buddha, then washed the statue – to wash away “the dust of defilement”.

Prayers of peace followed and the cathedral bells, ringing their usual peels, seemed to join in.

It seems so long ago since I took part  in such a celebration and it was great to be able to see the colours, hear the sounds and taste the food of Asia all at the same time.

Our city is fortunate to have the wealth of such traditions being shared with us. I have no doubt that these events have been happening behind closed doors in New Zealand for sometime. However I’m happy that our fellow citizens feel secure enough in their new land to share their traditions and celebrations with us. Of course many other Kiwi also practise one of the many forms of Buddhism and religions that are not so well known or understood by many of us.

One of the advantages of being a slow-traveller is the time I can take in each place to absorb, and sometimes study, the culture and religion of various places.

I have been able to listen to Jewish lectures within the old city walls of Jerusalem, hear the Pope speak in Vatican City, be taught about Islam in America, Malaysia and Egypt, and as a freethinker, have taken what I liked and left the rest behind. It also means that with understanding I have become more tolerant of the differences between us all but am still bemused at the violence that people of religion become involved with.

Israel, Palestine, Ireland, Somalia, Afghanistan,  - to name just a few- perhaps the world cannot live without an enemy. No cold war, so let’s have a religious war – not that the Middle East is arguing about regions but about land – however as the two sides have, mostly, different religions, many observers seem to be taking sides along those lines.

I hope those prayers  to Buddha in the centre of Christchurch, for peace and understanding are heard and that all who practice regions, and all those who are agnostic or atheist will one day live in a world free of violence.

Have you heard the creed of the peaceful traveller.

Grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience the world and because peace begins with the individual, I affirm my personal responsibility and commitment to:

·     Journey with an open mind and gentle heart

·     Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter

·     Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains life

·     Appreciate all cultures I discover

·     Respect and thank my hosts for their welcome

·     Offer my hand in friendship to everyone I meet

·     Support travel services that share these views and act upon them and,

·     By my spirit, words and actions, encourage others to travel the world in peace

A locals view of Bangkok, Thailand – a heritage tale

Kudee Cheen is an old community famous not only for its desserts, but also for its historical heritage By: By Pichaya Svasti  Published: 12/07/2009 at 12:00 Newspaper section: Brunch

Nestled by the Chao Phraya River and set amidst several canals near the old palace of King Taksin the Great is Kudee Cheen, a closely knitted, multicultural community dating back to the Thon Buri period. It is also a reflection of the former capital, Ayutthaya, in terms of layout and traditions.

Since the construction of the Rama I Bridge in 1932 and the several adjacent roads thereafter, this area has expanded and changed, but not always for the better. Most of the canals have become murky and smelly, and a lot of the alleys look messy. Sadly, once-beautiful wooden houses are run down. Public spaces for local residents and children to relax and enjoy themselves are inadequate.

In a push for sustainable conservation, the Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage has been carrying out work, since 2006, in accordance with a cultural map of the riverside communities at Kudee Cheen and the nearby Ban Bu community.

“The Kudee Cheen area has several layers of historical complexity. Its value will be fulfilled with this cultural map,” says Teeranand Chuangpinit, director of the Thon Buri Historical Information Centre.

Niramon Kulsrisombat, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture who is involved in this cultural mapping project, reveals that the jigsaw was completed by the Fine Arts Department, architects and urban designers, and locals who know their community best.

Initially, opinions were gathered and three cultural maps for the Kudee Cheen area were drafted by three different groups – the Fine Arts Department, architects and urban designers, and local youths. A series of public forums were then held to enable the three parties and local villagers to exchange information and to discuss how to conserve and develop this community.

After that, the three maps were combined into a final draft, based on the findings obtained. The result listed the following landmarks: Kian Un Keng Shrine; Wat Kanlaya and its community; Wat Prayurawongsawat; Wat Buppha Ram; Bang Luang Mosque (Kudee Khao); the former Thon Buri provincial hall; Santa Cruz Church and its school and surrounding areas; and old canals, ancient wooden house, routes and walkways

Located in Thon Buri (at one time known as Venice of the East), the Kudee Cheen area consists of six communities – Wat Kanlaya, Kudee Cheen, Wat Prayurawongsawat, Wat Buppha Ram, Kudee Khao and Rong Khram. This territory stretches from the mouth of khlong Bang Luang to Wat Prayurawongsawat.

“The Kudee Cheen community consists of six sub-communities of three religions and probably seven to eight ethnic groups. Its charm lies in its clusters of old wooden houses, particularly two beautiful houses alongside khlong Bang Luang,” Mr Teeranand, director of the Thon Buri Historical Information Centre, said.

During the Ayutthaya period, the Kudee Cheen community served as a customs checkpoint and an anchorage for ships.

From the late Thon Buri period until the Bangkok period, a large part of the Thon Buri side of the city became the residential zone of royals and bureaucrats. The majority of its residents during the Thon Buri period were Hokkiens. This community was named Kudee Cheen after the local Chinese shrine.

Sarn Somdet, a compilation of letters between Prince Damrong, the founder of the modern Thai education system and an expert on Thai history, and Prince Naris, the father of Thai architecture, relates stories of this area.

“It is called Kudee Cheen and there used to be a real kudee cheen [Chinese shrine]. That shrine must have been built by the Chinese on a curve of the river according to a tradition. It was built sometime when the Chao Phraya River still flowed through Bangkok Yai Canal and when the current location of Wat Kanlayanamitr was part of the river. It was before Bangkok Canal was dug in the reign of King Chairacha. When King Taksin established Thon Buri as the capital, he gathered the war fugitives to settle down in Thon Buri. He allowed the Chinese from Ayutthaya to set up houses north of Kudee Cheen Canal where Wat Kanlayanamitr would be later built. Chao Sua Mun, father of Chao Phraya Nikornbordin, settled there, and Chao Phraya Nikorn-bordin was born there, leading to the construction of Wat Kanlayanamitr in the reign of King Rama III.”

This book also says: “The Portuguese from Ayutthaya were allowed to settle down by the river, south of Kudee Cheen, and were called farang kudee cheen. The words ‘farang kudee cheen’ indicate that the Portuguese moved in after the Chinese since the words ‘kudee cheen’ were already widely in use …”

READ THE REST OF THE BANGKOK POST ARTICLE HERE

how to behave in the air – do you need reminding?

YET ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE BY JANE LAKSY

+  If you are asked to board in groups, there’s a reason.  It is called efficiency.  Cutting in line to get on the aircraft before your group is summoned will simply delay take-off.  Indeed, this form of aircraft entry is designed so that there are not people blocking you as you try to get to your assigned seat and they try to get their carry-on luggage situated by standing in the aisles.

+  Do your best to stow your bags in the bins above your assigned seats.  If you can’t, secure a bin within reaching distance.  This is helpful not only if you need something from up above during the flight, but also after the plane has landed and you are allowed to reclaim your carry-on and deplane.  In both instances, you are apt to cause the least amount of commotion if you are easily able to grab your bag out of a bin.

+  Keep your laptop underneath the seat in front of you, for your protection as well as for the protection of the people sharing your overhead bin.  Since items tend to tumble around a bit while stowed up above, expect some fallout some of the time when the bin is opened. That said, the last thing you or your fellow passenger needs is to be knocked on the head by a flying computer.  The same goes for bottles of wine or pieces of heavy glass.

+  If you are toting any of the items mentioned above (computers, wine bottles, etc.), do not book a bulkhead seat (a seat that faces a wall) because those particular seats do not have any seat in front of them and therefore they have no under seat storage capabilities.  By default, those passengers occupying bulkhead seats must stow everything in the overhead bins.

+  If you are physically able to help someone struggling to get their bag up above in the overhead bins, do so without hesitation.  Likewise, if you need help with your load because you are not strong enough to get it up above by yourself, ask nicely if someone can help you, whether that be a flight attendant or a fellow passenger.

+  At the beginning of a flight is a good time to gab but when the lights are lowered after your meal, remember that some people like to take that opportunity to sleep or to watch a movie.  If need be, keep your talking to a minimum and whisper if you must keep the conversation going.

+  If you are one of those people yearning to sleep in peace while up in the air, consider purchasing a pair of headphones that reduces noise.  Bose offers this product and so does Pro-Tech, with their NoiseBuster (www.NoiseBuster.net). The latter is my choice since, at least for me, the quality is as good as the Bose alternative and yet the NoiseBuster is much less expensive.

+  Check this article (click here)  for more ideas from Kelly S Kelly, great travel writer and Tampa Travel Examiner.

southern skies: a starlight national park in the sky?

The Mackenzie Country is one of the special places left where you can still see the night sky and its dazzling starlight and, from the top of Mt. John, I have a 360º view of the big skies of the McKenzie Basin and its carved-by-ancient-glaciers landscape.

Fed by the glacial waters of New Zealands Southern Alps, below me is the 30-kilometre long Lake Tekapo with its remarkable turquoise colour – caused by the refraction of light through the finely ground rock particles of the melt waters.

Lake Tekapo in winter (photo from Earth & Sky)

Through-out the world stars are disappearing under the haze of light pollution and locally, a group called the Starlight Reserve project are pushing to preserve this view and gain UNESCO world heritage status for a ‘National Park’ in the Mackenzie Country sky.

Graeme Murray of Earth and Sky tells me “The local council are leading New Zealand and many parts of the world and have special ordinances about the use of lighting and light pollution.  All Lake Tekapo lights must be beamed downwards and no spillage is allowed.  It recognised the dark sky as a valuable resource to protect and value and to also encourage the responsible use of energy.”

At the international convention on the Dark Sky in Spain last year, Starlight’s proposal received total endorsement and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) nominated Mt. John and the Lake Tekapo area  as the pilot study for the first ever “World Heritage Starlight Reserve”

They are hopeful this protection and status will be formally announced during January – in Paris, during the International Year of Astronomy 2009 that marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first astronomical observation through a telescope in 1609.

Because if its latitude, astro-tourism or stargazing from the summit of Mt. John (a ‘roche moutonnee’ a braided rock mass formed by old glaciers) is considered the best in the country and seduces and captivates locals and tourist alike.

A daytime tour of the observatory tells me something of the latest scientific space research and I view Alpha Centauri, which is not only a daystar but also the earth’s closest star.

McNaughts Comet: Mt John ( photo from Earth & Sky)

Later, I join the Earth and Sky night-tour and with their powerful telescopes explore the wonders of the southern sky.  The sky seems diamond-studded and it seems as if I could reach out and touch the moon or Saturn.

We see clusters of stars, the Orion nebulas, Mars, Jewel-box cluster, the Southern Cross and clouds of glowing gas that are millions of light-years away.  The moons craters are breath taking: add the fascinating rings of Saturn and I’m amazed I’ve never looked skywards until now.

This observatory also has New Zealands largest telescope and the scientists are searching for objects such as extra solar planets and celestial bodies that constitute dark matter and black holes.

Part  of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings was filmed in this area which was first populated by Maori during eel and bird hunting expeditions in the summer, and the Mackenzie Basin really only became known to the Pakeha (European) settlers in 1855 when James Mckenzie, a Scottish shepherd, was arrested for sheep stealing in the area.

For more information:

www.earthandsky.co.nz

http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/research/mt_john/index.shtml

http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/

This article was originaly published in the South China Morning Post

One-Day Short Story Competition in Christchurch, New Zealand

One-Day Short Story Competition in Christchurch New Zealand (NOTE  you must be in Christchurch on 2nd August 2009 to enter)

As part of our 75th anniversary celebrations, and in association with the Cultural Precinct, Christchurch Art Gallery, and the Christchurch Libraries, the Canterbury branch of the NZ Society of Authors is holding a one-day short story competition.

The competition is free to enter, but we want to make sure writers have the opportunity to pre-register* and can therefore save time and start planning and writing their stories as soon as they pick up their registration packs and official numbers on the day of the competition from the Christchurch Art Gallery.

The date of the competition is 2nd August, 2009.  Registration at the Christchurch Art Gallery opens at 9:30am and entries must be returned to the Registration Desk by 4:30pm the same day.

Categories:

Youth 13 – 17 years, 1500 words max.

First prize $250 and publication of the short story in The Press.

Adults 18+, 1500 words max.

First Prize $750, publication of winning short story in The Press, one night at the Classic Villa, dinner for two at the Curator’s House and tickets for the Court Theatre.

Registration pack [distributed only on 2^nd August at the Art Gallery] contains:

Registration form

Blank CD on which to burn your entry

A list of twelve story triggers from within the Cultural Precinct, of which at least four must appear in the story

A unique registration number

NOTE: All entries submitted remain the property of the entrant.  However, The Press reserves the right to publish the winning entries without fee within one month of the competition.

Winning entries will be announced at the Christchurch Art Gallery Wednesday 19th August 2009 at the following event:

Literary Shorts with Kate De Goldi, Gavin Bishop and Sally Blundell

The judges read their favourite short stories from the past 150 years, plus the One-Day Short Story Competition winners are announced.

6pm / Philip Carter Family Auditorium / free

*To pre-register, please email canterburynzsa AT gmail.com remembering to include your name and the category you wish to enter (youth or adult). This will ensure you don’t have to wait in line at the Gallery except to pick up your registration pack.

elephant washes cars to raise funds

Elephant carwash raises zoo cash

A wildlife safari in Oregon, USA, has come up with an unusual way to raise money in the tough economic climate.

For $20, visitors can have their car washed by the zoo’s elephants, who scrub with sponges and rinse with their trunks.

Wildlife Safari Executive Director, Dan Van Slyke, and Elephant Supervisor, Carol Matthews, claim that the elephants don’t mind the work, and that the fundraiser has been a hit.

NOTE what do you think of us humans using elephants this way?Asian countries take tourists for rides… is this the same?

Hollywood star, Kiwi actress, Keisha Castle-Hughes & global warming

Mindfood Sunday 12 Jul 2009

Keisha joins Greenpeace Pacific campaign

Hollywood star and youngest-ever Best Actress Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes arrived today in Aitutaki on the Greenpeace ship Esperanza to speak up for a global climate treaty.

“I get really upset over situations that are morally unjust. Pacific Islanders have hardly contributed to climate change, and yet are bearing the brunt of the problem, ” said Ms Castle-Hughes.

The New Zealand actress, who rose to fame at the age of eleven as the lead character Paikea in the film `Whale Rider’, said she has always had a strong interest in the Pacific. Growing up, Ms Castle-Hughes’ mother was keen for her to learn about the region.

Ms Castle-Hughes is joining the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, as it visits Rarotonga and Aitutaki to highlight the impacts of climate change. She has already participated in a well attended open boat day, and met with the Cook Islands prime minister and other dignitaries.

Aitutaki is one of many small islands in the Pacific already bearing the brunt of climate change. Impacts include rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, changing weather patterns, and threats to food security due to ocean acidification and salination of soil.

Warmer temperatures are also bleaching Aitutaki’s coral reefs, a prime tourist attraction. Castle-Hughes will meet with tourism officials in Aitutaki to discuss what needs to be done to ensure climate impacts don’t destroy this crucial industry.

“The cavalier attitude of the Australian Government in blocking international moves towards climate justice will deny our Pacific neighbours their livelihoods, homes and cultures. Developed nations need to chose between propping up massive international polluters or supporting our Pacific neighbours,” said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Trish Harrup.

Earlier this year the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which includes 19 Pacific island countries, called on industrialised nations as a group to commit to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40% over the next decade.

KIWI READERS . plese sign on to encourge our govt to do the right thing re climate change http://www.signon.org.nz/join-me/7778677c

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Keisha Castle-Hughes (source: Greenpeace)

travel language tips by jane laksy

* Make every attempt to at least acknowledge the mother language. Learning to say even a few words will indicate that you respect the native tongue.

* Do not use expressions or words that have recently come into the vernacular in the United States. For instance, saying you are “out of the loop” will probably put you there if you use that expression with a colleague in Colombia and letting someone know you are giving him or her a “head’s up” will probably just cause confusion in Korea.

* Watch your references. Certain words Americans say every day in conversation may be too abstract for a foreign audience. Almost all of us who were raised stateside are familiar with taking “a red eye” but there probably isn’t a single soul in Saigon who knows that expression to mean that he or she will be flying during the  night.

* Repeat yourself. Being redundant may be the only way to ensure you are getting your message across so keep in mind that restating a concept by choosing other words to offer the same information twice is not only OK, it is almost always a good idea.

* Avoid speaking in a monotone. By raising or lowering your voice to make a point you may be helping to make yourself understood to someone whose command of English isn’t the same as your own.

* Watch your audience for any indication that you have lost them. For instance, if you are confronted by a glazed expression or two, you may want to back up and then slow down to keep communication flowing.

* Don’t continue talking, wondering if you have made yourself perfectly clear. Instead, ask directly if you sense you have lost your thread of communication and don’t take yes for an answer. Instead, dig deep by asking pertinent questions relating to the topic to make sure you are being understood.

+ Don’t be fooled by nods or smiles; these may not be signs that what you are saying has been understood, but rather that you are talking to a polite, if very confused, audience.

read the orginalarticlein full here

More stories on being culturally correct around the world:

Summer in New York? 44% off the price of top six big apple attractions

Passing this info on . Any time we can save while traveling means there is something else we can do or stay another day or two. Have a great time in New York – the only time I have been in there was during the blizzaard of ‘96 and lots of places where also closed due to a budget blowout – however I did see the Guggenhiem, and the Museum of Art, United Nations headquarters, and people skiing on Broadway!

New York Summer Vacation Deals Heat Up To Match Citypass Deep Attraction Discounts
11 Jul 09 New York CityPass delivers 44% off top six Big Apple attractions

New York is suddenly affordable. Summer in New York City is steaming up with last-minute vacation bargains and deals. First-time visitors to the U.S. should make a beeline for New York CityPass, a pocket-size booklet of must-see, bold-face attraction tickets, priced 44% less than regular admissions. Hotel rates have been slashed up to 30% and airfares are at all-time lows. The city is pulling out all the stops to make Summer 2009 a budget bonanza.

New York CityPass goes straight to the heart of the city, to the places visitors really must see. Tickets to New York’s most famous attractions are bound in a convenient one-purchase booklet that speeds visitors past most entrance lines: Empire State Building Observatory, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Statue of Liberty from Liberty Island or as admired from a cinematic Circle Line cruise, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, and the Guggenheim Museum. New York CityPass is $79 USD for adults, a savings of $61, and $59 USD for youth, age 13-17, a $42 savings. Bookets are valid for nine days, allowing plenty of time to combine these legendary landmarks with shopping, dining and other must-see city icons, parks and neighborhoods.

Times Square is now very pedestrian friendly. It’s the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson. On America’s birthday this year, the Statue of Liberty reopened the climb to the crown. Visitors seeking the thrilling experience of the climb to the top of the crown can get important information on how to reserve tickets in advance (a must) at www.citypass.com. NYC & Co, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, has created The Real Deal site with exclusive offers throughout New York City on hotels, dining, shopping and more, including many great deals for families. A Sunday Stays program discounts Sunday night bookings by 20-30%. During July and August, a Signature Collections Third Night promotion at select luxury hotels offers a free third night.

CityPass offers an e-ticket option to avoid the cost of international shipping. Vouchers are redeemable at any attraction, and booklets are sold at each attraction and at NYC & Company’s Official Visitor Information Center, 810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd and 53d Streets, North of Times Square. The new mobile application allows travelers to take CityPass information along on their iPhone. Go to http://wheretraveler.com/mobile/cp/.

CityPass saves time and money in 11 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto, Canada. For more information, to take an online page-by-page look inside a CityPass ticket booklet or to check attraction exhibits, public transportation, CityPass price savings and how to purchase an eticket, click on citypass.com.

New Zealand websites I can reccomend

History

www.nzhistory.net.nz/ -

www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz/

www.teara.govt.nz/

Tourism

www.tourismnewzealand.com

Birds

www.nzbirds.com/

www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds

Maori tourism

www.tourism.net.nz/visitor-information/maori-tourism/