Lada Ray's Blog, page 100
June 1, 2012
A Fun Little Game: The First 4 Words You See Describe You
I worked hard the whole week! The weekend is almost here and I thought, why not play a little game? It’s fun, yet thought-provoking. Check it out and have a wonderful weekend!
But first, just a quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! 
Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!
This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com
And now, game time! Check out this little entertaining game: The first 4 words you see describe YOU! I got “elegant” “eloquent” “stubborn” “outgoing.” And… “sweet” thrown in the mix, too. Interesting… I personally like to think I am more sweet than stubborn. Well, maybe when it comes to achieving a goal 
And what do you see? Have a go and share your results in comments
May 27, 2012
STEPFORD USA, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, FREE on Amazon 5/29-5/30!
5/31 quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!
This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com
Read all about the FREE PROMO below:
I am very pleased to announce that STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, is FREE on Kindle 5/29-5/30! Download your copy today!
Bestseller rank:
US: #193 Kindle FREE; #29 Mystery & thrillers; #9 Mystery; #8 Women Sleuths
UK: #358 Kindle FREE; #14 Mystery & Thrillers/ Women Sleuths
DE: #259 Kostenfrei Kindle; #5 Krimis & Thriller/ Krimis (mystery); #50 Populare Belletristik (popular fiction)
5 Star rated psychological mystery thriller, set in an idyllic Massachusetts town harboring a dark secret. Cool characters and setting, intense adventure full of surprising developments, amazing pets and humor! Check it out!
Here are the buy links:
Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L36DG6
Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L36DG6
Synopsis: Psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow US Adventure. A cool play on The Stepford Wives, STEPFORD USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish, dangerous and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, crooked politician, millionaire-nerd, or womanizing banker?
FIVE STARS
“This exciting page-turner will have you guessing from the very beginning. Lada skillfully weaves many surprises into this psychological thriller. Her exquisite scene setting together with compelling dialogue makes Stepford USA a fascinating, if at times nail-biting, read. I highly recommend Stepford USA. Jade Snow is intelligent, warm and witty. Join her as she puts the pieces together and helps release a town from its dark, hidden past.” Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall
FIVE STARS
“Psychological thrillers don’t get much better than this. Excitingly and yet chillingly gripping… plot line that surprises you at every turn and absolutely does not let you go.” J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to Freedom (UK)
FIVE STARS
“I enjoyed reading this uplifting book by Ms. Ray, filled with intrigue and irresistible characters.” Amazon review by a reader
FIVE STARS
“Very well written and gripping tale that will leave you guessing to the very end! Excellent storytelling!” Amazon review by a reader
Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and international journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries, uncover a local conspiracy and turn this sleepy paradise upside down… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer.
Warning: Contains enough suspense, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality, romance and humor to be a thrillingly delightful, yet dangerously sobering read.
Category: novel, psychological mystery/thriller
Word count: 69,800. Print pages 248
Check out Stepford USA Trailer!
Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN: rip-roaring thrill-ride mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
Green Desert: riveting story set in Iraq (Jade Snow Prequel)
Reminder: 5/28 is the last day to download GREEN DESERT for FREE! Check it out here!
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow International Adventure Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the character development and plot twists.
For more about Lada, her books and current projects, visit LadaRay.com
Cheers and happy reading to all!
STEPFORD USA is FREE on Amazon 5/29-5/30!
I am very pleased to announce that STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, is FREE on Kindle 5/29-5/30! Download your copy!
5 Star rated psychological mystery thriller, set in an idyllic Massachusetts town harboring a dark secret. Cool characters and setting, intense adventure full of surprising developments, amazing pets and humor! Check it out!
Here are the buy links:
Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L36DG6
Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L36DG6
Synopsis: Psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow US Adventure.
A cool play on The Stepford Wives, STEPFORD USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish, dangerous and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, crooked politician, millionaire-nerd, or womanizing banker?
FIVE STARS
“This exciting page-turner will have you guessing from the very beginning. Lada skillfully weaves many surprises into this psychological thriller. Her exquisite scene setting together with compelling dialogue makes Stepford USA a fascinating, if at times nail-biting, read. I highly recommend Stepford USA. Jade Snow is intelligent, warm and witty. Join her as she puts the pieces together and helps release a town from its dark, hidden past.” Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall
FIVE STARS
“Psychological thrillers don’t get much better than this. Excitingly and yet chillingly gripping… plot line that surprises you at every turn and absolutely does not let you go.” J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to Freedom (UK)
FIVE STARS
“I enjoyed reading this uplifting book by Ms. Ray, filled with intrigue and irresistible characters.” Amazon review by a reader
FIVE STARS
“Very well written and gripping tale that will leave you guessing to the very end! Excellent storytelling!” Amazon review by a reader
Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and international journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries, uncover a local conspiracy and turn this sleepy paradise upside down… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer.
Warning: Contains enough suspense, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality, romance and humor to be a thrillingly delightful, yet dangerously sobering read.
Category: novel, psychological mystery/thriller, women sleuths, paranormal, psychic, pet lovers, humor, suspense with an element of romance
Word count: 69,800. Print pages 248
Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN: rip-roaring thrill-ride mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
Green Desert: riveting story set in Iraq (Jade Snow Prequel)
Reminder: 5/28 is the last day to download GREEN DESERT for FREE! Check it out here!
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow International Adventure Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the character development and plot twists.
For more about Lada, her books and current projects, visit LadaRay.com
May 26, 2012
Book Review: The Dark Yergall by Jason Sullivan
5 Stars: A Look at What Our Society Could Evolve Into!
.
By Lada Ray “Author”
.
This review is from: The Dark Yergall (The Adventures of Nosir Rag) (Kindle Edition)
The Dark Yergall is a great dystopian fantasy set well into the future, but it has a disturbingly real resonance to the world we live in today. Much like the Orwellian society in 1984, this future world is creepy and punctured with mindless, thoughtless official propaganda designed to make the populus believe they reside in a utopia, even if the opposite is true. The author achieves his goal of presenting a grotesque, crazy, mind-numbing system, while also filling his world with aliens, nonsensical bureaucratic sound bites, futuristic terminology and even some humor. The main character, Nosir Rag, is the GenMod (genetically modified person), who is about to find out what this society is really like.
Buy THE DARK YERGALL on Amazon (ebook and print versions)
Visit Jason Sullivan’s Blog DIFFERENT OUTCOMES!
Visit Jason Sullivan’s Amazon Author Page to learn more about his other books: http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Sullivan/e/B00488V1XK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13421967-the-dark-yergall
Follow Jason on Twitter: @Jas_Chronicles
Read Jason Sullivan’s May Day blog interview with me: http://differentoutcomes.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/may-day-interview-with-lada-ray-author-of-gold-train/
May 23, 2012
GREEN DESERT, A Jade Snow Novella, FREE on Amazon 5/24-5/28!
5/31 quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!
This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com
Read all about the FREE PROMO below:
Exciting news!
Memorial Day Promotion:
GREEN DESERT is FREE on Amazon Kindle 5/24-5/28. Download today!
Here are the links:
Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0QJKQ
Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005O0QJKQ
Also FREE at Amazon: DE FR ES IT
Set in Iraq, this riveting short novella takes place prior to the start of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series.
FIVE STARS:
“Riveting story with powerful message!” Meredith Carvin
FIVE STARS:
“This story will rock your world.” Bill Tillman
International journalist Jade Snow travels to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency. In Baghdad she, as usual, finds herself in the wrong place at just the right time. After witnessing a dramatic suicide bombing, and as two unlikely letters from the opposite sides of the conflict drop in her lap, Jade must trace the shocking connection between the suicide bomber, a young Iraqi girl and American sergeant killed in the attack.
A Jade Snow Prequel. Category: suspense, mystery/thriller
So far, GREEN DESERT has reached the following highest rankings on Kindle:
US: #1780 Free on Kindle; #26 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths
UK: #760 Free on Kindle; #16 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths
DE: #1283 on Kindle; #25 Krimis (Mystery); #31 Thriller
ES: #700 on Kindle; #9 Policiaca, negra y suspense (Mystery/thriller/suspense)
IT: #811 on Kindle; #11 Gialli e Thriller (Mystery & Thriller)
Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN, rip roaring thrill-ride mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller (Jade Snow #1, US Adventure)
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the plot twists and character development.
For more about Lada Ray’s books visit LadaRay.com
GREEN DESERT, A Jade Snow Novella, is FREE on Amazon 5/24-5/28!
Exciting news!
Memorial Day Promotion:
GREEN DESERT is FREE on Amazon Kindle 5/24-5/28. Download today!
Here are the links:
Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0QJKQ
Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005O0QJKQ
Also FREE at Amazon: DE FR ES IT
Set in Iraq, it is a riveting short novella which takes place prior to the start of the Jade Snow International Adventure series.
In it, international journalist Jade Snow, who travels to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency, as usual finds herself at the wrong place at just the right time. After witnessing a dramatic suicide bombing and as two unlikely letters drop in her lap, she must trace the connection between the suicide bomber, a young Iraqi girl and American sergeant killed in the attack.
A Jade Snow Novella. Category: mystery thriller
Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN, gripping mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow Russia Adventure)
STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller (Jade Snow International Adventures Prequel)
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the plot twists and character development.
For more about Lada Ray’s books visit LadaRay.com
May 22, 2012
I Received The Versatile Blogger Award (VBA)
I received the Versatile Blogger Award (VBA) from author and blogger, Mike Edwards!
Here is the link to Mike’s post: http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/i-received-the-versatile-blogger-award/
According to my esteemed sponsor, Mike Edwards, here is what VBA is all about:
What is it?
As far as I can tell — details are rather sketchy and only the creator knows for sure — this lofty-sounding award is basically a mutual admiration society where bloggers recognize their peers for writing quality blogs that touched them in some way. The VBAs honor the blogger rather than specific posts. It’s a chance for bloggers to pat themselves on the back like the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does with the Oscars. Until someone starts giving out Blogscars, the VBAs will have to suffice.
What are the criteria?
If you are nominated, you’ve been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award. I nominated 15 outstanding bloggers below. Congratulations!
Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
Thank you, Mike! I am truly honored and touched!
Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
Link to Mike’s blog, World Adventurers: http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/
Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. (I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
The envelope, please…
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.
And the nominees/winners are (in no particular order):
1. Different Outcomes Blog by Jason Sullivan http://differentoutcomes.wordpress.com/
2. BooksReview4U by J.J. Collins http://booksreview4u.wordpress.com/
3. Jambalian by Alan McDermott http://jambalian.blogspot.com/
4. Writing Straight by Holy Michael http://writingstraight.com/
5. Kate’s Reads http://kates-reads.blogspot.com/
6. 1EarthNow by Madelaine Walsh http://1earthnow.wordpress.com/
7. Jack Whitsel http://jwhitsel.wordpress.com/
8. The Bad Luck Detective by Suzie Ivy http://badluckdetective.wordpress.com/
9. Wordsfromanelli by Anelli Purchase http://wordsfromanneli.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/all-up-in-the-hills/#comment-832
10. Life in the Realm of Fantasy by Connie Jasperson http://conniejjasperson.wordpress.com/
11. The HeSo Project by Tracy http://thehesoproject.wordpress.com/
12. Be Encouraged by Lynn Emery http://beencouraged.wordpress.com/
13. A Library of Our Own by Debbie http://alibraryofourown.blogspot.com/
14. The Manicheans by Johanna Pitcairn http://themanicheans.wordpress.com/
15. Flash Bites by Krista Bunskoek http://flashbites.wordpress.com/
Congratulations, winners!
Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
That’s a tough one… Okay, let’s try:
1. I was born in Moscow, Russia, but since the ripe age of 2 lived and traveled all over the world.
2. My entire family was connected to travel and various modes of transportation, including trains, ships and space ships. Despite that, my preferred way of getting around is plain old walking.
3. The only mode of transportation I never managed to become personal friends with is… the bicycle, despite the fact that my husband is an accomplished cyclist and I love watching Le Tour de France (primarily because of awesome castles).
4. By the age of 38 I managed to have 3 different successful careers on 3 different continents… And then I decided to follow my dreams and started writing. Little did I know what I was getting myself into 
5. My life – and writing – is intrinsically connected to 3 largest and most powerful countries on the planet: USA, Russia and China. But I would much prefer to live in the world without power struggles and borders 
6. Despite having had a high powered career and having traveled extensively, or perhaps because of that, my preferred residence is my writing retreat in the quiet Catskill Mountains, NY.
7. After I started writing, I found myself busier than I’ve ever been. And that’s saying a lot coming from a former stock broker. I have big plans for my future books, and writing is always the biggest fun, but I am equally determined to find more time to meditate and be with nature.
Congrats to the new VBA winners, and thanks again to my friend, Mike Edwards!
Lada Ray is a world traveler, nature lover, financial consultant, feng shui master and author of psychological mystery/thriller Stepford USA and GOLD TRAIN, gripping mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events. A new fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER, & mystery/thriller, DRAGON GATE, coming in 2012!
To learn more about Lada’s books and projects visit http://www.LadaRay.com
May 19, 2012
Book Review: FAMINE to FREEDOM, The Irish in the American Civil War. By J.J. Collins
A Must Read for Students of the Irish and American Civil War History!
I love history. So naturally, I was very interested in reading author J.J. Collins’ book about the unknown pages of the American Civil War. It seems the civil war subject had already been done to death. But this book is drastically different. The author presents an absolutely fresh angle of this crucial page in the American history.
The book starts with an excellent overview of the general history of the Irish immigration to the USA and the state of the country before the start of the war. The author proceeds to analyze the reasons for the clash between the North and the South, and does so in a very balanced way. The book also contains a thorough overview of various battles during this brutal war. Abe Lincoln fans will find some interesting information about the American President’s role in various stages of the conflict.
But the most important part of the book is an in-depth description of various regiments of Irish and Scots-Irish descent and their role in the war. Of course, living in the USA, I heard a lot about the role of the Irish immigrants in the history of this country. Fleeing from potato famine and their ongoing conflict with the British authorities, they sought a fresh start and paradise on earth on the other side of the Atlantic. The Irish helped build railroads and canals, toiled at mills, and played a large role in the industrialization of the USA. They came for freedom and peace. But what they didn’t bargain for was to land in the midst of someone else’s civil war.
I was particularly interested – and surprised – to learn about the Irish in the American South and their participation in the Confederate Army. I think a reader will find quite a few discoveries in the book, from the scale of the Irish participation in the conflict to the difference in motivations of those Irish who found themselves on the opposite sides of the trenches. As with all civil wars, the society was divided to the max. But the author does an excellent job describing the conflict in an even-handed manner. His approach is balanced, yet humane.
The amount of research is very impressive and the book is surprisingly easy to read. The author’s pride in the Irish heritage adds further appeal to the book. However, I would have liked to see more personable and unique anecdotes, adding a human touch to the book’s dramatic subject. That would have made it interesting to a broader audience and added even more value to this excellent work. All in all, Famine to Freedom is a must read for students of the Irish and American Civil War history! As for me, I am looking forward to the new books from this talented author!
J.J.Collins is an Indie Author, Blogger and political commentator based in the U.K. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Collins studied at Colaiste Mhuire – Dublin, University of London, Stonebridge College, and the Open University. His family has many connections with the Irish-American community in the United States, in large part due to his grandfather and great uncle’s business in Buffalo, N.Y.
Collins enjoyed a long and successful business career before a serious illness forced a change in life and career direction. This unexpected turn of events allowed Collins to rediscover his passion & love for writing.
Read J.J. Collins’ book on Amazon (available in paperback and ebook formats) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1463513518/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/J.J.-Collins/e/B0060ELSTC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Follow on Twitter: @Collinja1
May 14, 2012
A Cool America: Woodstock, NY
Original photography by Author Lada Ray
In my life I had been to just about 30 countries, including some of the most picturesque, famous, as well as exotic and rarely visited locales. Some I remember with warmth, in others I’ll always I feel at home, even after years of absence, and there are a few I wouldn’t necessarily want to go back to. I am planning a series of posts about my various travels, with lots of pics (of course) and a fresh look at destinations both well-known and rarely traversed.
But for now… I’d lived in the USA for years. So, why not do a series on something closer to my present home: the genuinely cool places of America?
Today’s destination is the town of WOODSTOCK, NY, located not too far from my home in the Catskills.
Woodstock, NY has forever been etched in the Americans’ genetic memory due to a certain event in 1969, which signaled a massive change in the mentality of this country towards the Vietnam War and which is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history.
500,000 music fans gathered between August 15 and August 18, 1969 on Max Yasgur‘s dairy farm for a weekend billed as ”An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music.” Families came with children and often slept straight on the grass during this rainy and muddy weekend. There were food shortages and sanitation problems. But in 3 days, 32 acts were performed, making many participating musicians famous overnight. Artists included Joan Baez, Santana, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and The Who, to name a few. Music performances alternated with anti-war discussions and meditations, as well as yoga, breathing and healthy living classes. Both the participants and attendees felt remarkably peaceful and inspired.
Initially, no more than 50,000 people were expected and the festival was supposed to happen on Woodstock property, not far from the town itself. Hence the name: Woodstock Festival. But after the locals rebelled against the “invasion” of the “Hippies” and when it became clear that the festival attendance would break all records, the venue was hastily moved to the extensive dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur, some 60 miles (100 kilometers) away.
New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller called festival organizer John Roberts and told him he was thinking of ordering 10,000 New York State National Guard troops to the festival. Roberts was successful in persuading Rockefeller not to do this. Meanwhile, New York’s Sullivan County declared a state of emergency.
I daresay all these authorities, who wouldn’t see the great thing if it hit them over the head, were worrying about the wrong people. Unfortunately in this regard, not much has changed since then.
The town has long been a mecca for artists, musicians (like Bob Dylan), and writers, even before the music festival made the name “Woodstock” famous. The town has a separate Artists’ Cemetery. Film, and art festivals attract big names, and hundreds of musicians have come here to record. In April 2012, Woodstock hosted the Woodstock Writers Festival. Speakers inlcuded some of the notable names in literature: Ann Hood, Augusten Burroughs, Shalom Auslander, Kurt Anderson and Ned Leavitt.
The town is also home to the new Tibetan Buddhist Monastery.
Located between the foothills of the Catskills and Hudson River, Woodstock today blends music and the arts with robust holistic and spiritual communities. And yeah, Hippies are always welcome!
Coming soon: WOODSTOCK Part 2: Tibetan Buddhist Monastery.
Bihu, Assamese New Year – Guest Post by Pranjal Borthakur
Reblogged from World Adventurers:
Bihu, Assamese New Year
Guest Post by Pranjal Borthakur
Bihu is a set of three cultural festivals celebrated in the Indian Province of Assam and other regions of the Indian subcontinent. The most popular, Rongali Bihu, celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year in mid-April (around April 15). The second, Kongali Bihu, occurs in mid-October, while the third, Bhogai Bihu, happens at the end of the harvest season in January.
Awesome post, Mike and Pranjal! Enjoyed it very much :)
