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Archive for February, 2011

The Aquila Game Reserve

If you’re staying in Cape Town and would love to spend a few days on a game park but are not too happy to travel far, a visit to Aquila Game Reserve is in order. It is just outside of Cape Town, about a three-hour drive if you take your time, and is a wonderful piece of natural African bush just out of reach of the comforts of the city. Recently an acquaintance of mine was telling me that he had driven some visitors to the game reserve and while he was waiting to lift them back he experienced something that many people would never imagine. Sitting just a few metres away from him was a wild rhinoceros, and in surprise my friend jumped away. A gamer who saw the event walked up to the impressive, grey creature and began feeding it out of his hand. There are only a few places in the worlds where something like that can happen and Aquila Game Reserve is one of them. It is a four-star establishment and the staff is dedicated to wildlife conservation. An experience of the reserve includes the open air…

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The Pinkest Party On Earth Celebrates The International Cherry Blossom Festival

The “pinkest party on earth” takes place March 16 through 25, 2012, in Macon, Georgia. Yes, we’re talking about the annual International Cherry Blossom Festival. Each March, Macon becomes a pink cotton-spun paradise of delight as over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in all their glory. It all began in 1949 with a resident’s curiosity about a flowering tree in his backyard. William A. Fickling, Sr., a local realtor, eventually found a tree that looked exactly like his during a business trip to Washington, D.C. Yes, his was the same kind — a Yoshino cherry — surrounding the Tidal Basin. Fickling learned to propagate the Yoshinos and began freely sharing them with the community. One particular individual struck by their beauty was Carolyn Crayton — she worked with Fickling to organize a public planting of 500 cuttings in 1973. From then, things, well, blossomed. The numbers of Yoshino cherry trees in town keep growing as the Fickling Family Foundation continues to donate thousands of cherry trees to Macon-Bibb residents each year. (There are an estimated 300,000 now.)

(Photo courtesy of Cherry Blossom Festival)

Congressman Posts Photo of Himself in a Tiger Suit: Typical Outrage Follows

We’ve said before and we’ll say it again. Never put anything in an email or post anything online you don’t want the whole world to see. In a breaking story, seven-term Oregon Congressman David Wu is being questioned about his mental stability by loyal constituents and Republicans alike (he’s a Democrat) over a number of complaints and quirks, including this photo of himself dressed as a tiger. Of course, we all dress up at home as our favorite animals. But taking pictures of this activity and sending it to supposed friends via email (or, better yet – posting it on Facebook)…well, not cool, cat. Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Willamette Week, but also Rep. David Wu.

WineFest at St. Michael’s in Maryland

The dates for the 2011 WineFest at St Michaels, Maryland, are April 29 through May 1, 2011. This second annual WineFest, a “streescape” event that takes place throughout the town, will include more tasting venues and winemaking and cooking demonstrations, winemakers’ dinners plus an auction of rare vintage wines. (One of the venues, Kemp House, is pictured — photo courtesy of WineFest at St. Michaels)

Philly’s City Hall Illuminated on a Cold Winter Night

City Hall illuminated on a cold winter night.

Taiwanese History: The 2/28 Massacre

Taiwanese Flag flies at half-mast over the National Palace Museum 2/28/2011,

Yesterday, Taiwan commemorated the 228 Incident. It is also referred to as the 228 Massacre. The incident is called that because it took place on February 28, 1947. As recently as 1995, this incident, which was officially taboo, for many years, became the catalyst for the Anti-Chiang Kai Shek sentiment in Taiwan. Chiang Kai Shek was the leader of the Kou Ming Tang party and president of the Republic of China in 1947. This was prior to the communists under Mao Tze Tung defeating Kou Ming Tang troops and the subsequent removal of the Republic of China to the island of Taiwan. Taiwan has a somewhat complicated history. A number of countries have controlled Taiwan in the past, such as Portugal (when the island was called Formosa) and most recently, by the Japanese. prior to the Republic of China’s rule It was at the end of the Japanese rule that the events were set for this event. At the end of the Sino-Japanese war in 1895,…

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Do You Want a Veg or a Non-Veg House Madam?

Looking for a room. ‘You know sanjay, the rickshaw driver? He is finding people rooms.’ While sitting at the cocounut stand, I called Sanjay, who just happened to be sitting in his rickshaw, kitty corner from the coconut stand. I arrived in Mysore early early this morning after a very long journey. I’m now staying at an old hotel in the city, but decided my first day’s mission is to find a flat to rent. I’m exhausted at the moment. It’s 1:10 pm and I haven’t slept in days, and am a bit dehydrated, but am totally determined to find a flat in the next two days. You see, not only do I study goldsmithing here, I also study yoga. Mysore is a sort of yoga mecca and students from all over the world come here to study. January and February is the busy time and it can be difficult to find a place, but it’s always worked in the past, so I know it will work again. Sanjay came over to the coconut stand and got to work, calling this person and that person. I hopped in his rickshaw and first looked at a dingy little room… um no…

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Romania’s Lora Releases No More Tears

Today Romania’s Lora released her clip for “No More Tears” and it’s well done. The track was produced by Adrian Sina and subsequently it has that hypnotic pop feel tinged with just a touch of melancholy. “No More Tears” was directed by Florin Botea, known for his work with the Blaxy Girls, and was filmed Feb. 14 in Romania. Have a look below. (h/t monden.info).

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