Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 35

24 December 2021 - THE VRATNA GATES IN SERBIA

 

THE VRATNA GATES

 IN SERBIA

G'day folks,

 These natural stone bridges are the largest on the European continent. 

Tucked away in mountainous regions of eastern Serbia, the Vratna river gorge hides an unusual natural phenomenon. The Vratna Gates are the largest natural stone bridges in Europe. These three gigantic rocks loom over the swerving forest stream.

Two of the stone bridges represent the remains of a former tunnel cave through which the Vratna river once flowed, while the third was created due to river sinkage.

The Small and Large Gates are located near the entrance to the gorge, not far from the Vratna monastery, which coined them the “Monastery Gates”.

 

The Small Gate is 49 feet (15 meters) long and more than 100-feet (34 meters) tall, while the Large Gate is 148 feet (45 meters) long and 85 feet (26 meters) tall. The last stone bridge the Dry Gate, is located deeper in the river gorge and is the youngest and the hardest to reach. It garnered its name because the river sinks underneath the gate. 

Vratna River Canyon is rich in flora and fauna, and is home to a vast array of herbaceous plants, countless species of birds, numerous bats, otters, badgers, mouflons, deers, and other animals. 

 

Clancy's comment: Stunning, eh?

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30 December 2021 - ELEPHANT POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEPAL

 

ELEPHANT POLO 

CHAMPIONSHIPS

 - NEPAL -

G'day folks,

Nepal used to host  the World Elephant Polo Championships, and did so  since 1982. 

These four-ton athletes are highly trained, well-kept polo machines. No more than two games are played per day, and no player is allowed to play those two games in a row. Games end at noon, and snacks and beverages are served at half-time—fresh cut grass and about 22 gallons of water. Daily baths in the river keep the competitors refreshed and clean. 

Since 1982, Tiger Tops has been hosting the World Elephant Polo Championships in Nepal, as well as serving as headquarters for the exotic variation on the popular sport. Fairly self-explanatory, the game consists of the basic polo guidelines with a few necessary changes to accommodate the size of the player’s mounts—a six-to-10-foot cane with a standard mallet head on the end, a pitch shortened to 3/4 the length to make up for the elephant’s lack of speed, and each elephant carries two riders who must rely on a mahout to do the steering as they shout out directions. 

Along with the altered guidelines come elephant-specific rules that must be put into play. An elephant who lies down in front of the goal mouth will receive a foul, and if they use their trunk to pick up the ball, that not only constitutes a foul, but earns their opponent a free hit. Rice balls enhanced with molasses and rock salt act as treats at the end of each match while riders are rewarded with a beer, and all games end by noon to avoid the afternoon heat.

While there’s debate on whether these amazing animals should be used for sport at all, the World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) keeps strict guidelines regarding the safety and well being of the elephants. PETA has targeted the sport, costing the organizations sponsorship withdrawals and the occasional match cancellation, and safety was put into question when two players were injured and the minibus of one of the visiting teams was destroyed when an elephant went on a rampage in 2007. Despite the controversy and criticism, Tiger Tops and WEPA maintain that their animals are happy, healthy, and enjoy the opportunity for social interaction and the break from their normal routine of giving safari rides to tourists. 

The tournament takes place every December on the edge of Chitwan National Park, and include 16 domesticated Asian elephants, half of them belonging to Tiger Tops and the others brought in by Nepal National Parks. The elephants are accompanied by their mahouts, who usually have been partnered with the animals for several years. 

Clancy's comment: I wish I'd seen these when they existed. 

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23 December 2021 - THE GREAT THANGKA - CHINA

 

THE GREAT THANGKA 

- CHINA  -

G'day folks,

Stretching almost 2,000 feet, this painting is one of the longest pieces of Buddhist artwork in the world. 

China’s Tibetan Medicine and Culture Museum is one of the country’s few museums dedicated entirely to Tibetan culture, history, and religion. It also contains a magnificent artistic treasure.

A nearly 2,000-foot-long thangka (a religious Buddhist painting) wraps around the interior walls of its second floor. The painting is one of the longest thangkas in the world. More than 400 Tibetan artists spent almost 30 years finishing the masterpiece.

 

Thangkas (also spelled tangkhas) are usually kept rolled up, but this one is stretched for all to see. The colorful blend of religious figures and events creates a visually stunning tapestry of Buddhist knowledge. It’s divided into a continuous and contiguous set of scenes blending one into the other. The thangka shows the entire Tibetan history, the history of Tibetan Buddhism, and famous Buddhist monks, temples, and events. It also depicts the creation of the world, astronomy, technology, science, medicine, architecture, linguistics, and poetry.

You’ll also find scenes showing the creation of humankind, with organisms crawling out of the oceans and evolving into human beings. Another segment portrays a contemporary lama that travelled to the United States, which includes images of an airplane and the American flag. The absence of the current Dalai Lama is also notable.

Clancy's comment: That is extraordinary.

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5 November 2021 - FLOATING McDONALDS BARGE ROTTING IN VANCOUVER

 

FLOATING McDONALDS BARGE 

ROTTING IN VANCOUVER

G'day folks,

Back in 1986, there was a well-known expo in Vancouver known as the Vancouver Expo otherwise known as the World Expo. A huge, world-wide fair, with the theme of “World Exposition on Transportation and Communication”. The fair started in May and went until October of that year featuring different booths and pavilions representing 54 different nations and thousands of corporations. 

 

Each innovative pavilion was designed by a specific company and they all had a unique flare to them. One of the most unique places, one that truly stood out among the rest in the fair, was what the McBarge, a floating McDonalds! 30 years ago, this floating restaurant was the talk of the crowd and thousands of people came from all over to visit the unique McDonalds. Crowds lined up outside to be able to experience luxury and fast food on the water. McDonalds was ambitious to say the least and luxury and innovation were the main goals that the fast food chain was trying to portray.

 

Unfortunately, shortly after the expo the McBarge was quickly forgotten about. The McDonalds was unlike any of its kind. There was nothing like it anywhere and it was designed with a modern nautical feel. It was so unique that people travelled from all over to visit the unique place and experience a McDonalds unlike any other.  The first ever floating McDonalds cost a whopping $8 million to build. It was marketed as a luxury dining experience for wealthy people who were increasingly rejecting fast food.

The interior design definitely did not disappoint featuring hardwood floors, real plants, and panoramic windows allowing the customer to enjoy beautiful views of the open water and the lavish surroundings.

  

After 30 years of neglect, this floating McDonalds is now a thing of the past. It would require a lot of work, money and dedication to make this a happy place again. For now, it sits in the river as a reminder of bold design, brave concepts and innovation. The floating McDonalds is sadly a thing of the past slowly being forgotten. In fact, most people don’t even know the history is behind this old attraction sitting in the waters of Vancouver.

  Clancy's comment: What a waste. Surely, it could be used for something. Maybe a floating gallery?I'm .. 

 

26 December 2021 - THE FASCINATING MOGAO CAVES - CHINA

 

THE FASCINATING 

MOGAO CAVES 

- CHINA -

G'day folks,

Hundreds of caves filled with thousands of centuries-old statues and murals exist in Mogao. 

Tucked away in a disused section of the Silk Road on the edge of the Gobi Desert, this place managed to stay under the radar for centuries. Along a one-mile long trail of cliffs beside the Dachuan River are the Mogao Caves, a complex of human-made caves and cells that preserve Buddhist statues and paintings spanning a whole millennium, from the fourth to the 14th centuries. A total of 492 of these caves have survived the test of time.

The caves house more than 2,000 statues and more than 480,000 square feet of murals, all created by monks. A keen eye will notice a fusion of different artistic influences, with hints of Roman, Indian, Persian, Turkic, Mongolian, and Tibetan traditions behind the more prominent Han Chinese style.

Each and every cave has its own artistic merits, but taken as a whole, they showcase the evolution of Buddhist art in the region. Many murals go beyond the religious theme and incorporate more mundane scenes, with valuable information about the political, economic, and cultural context of the time. Among the worldlier depictions are a camel pulling a cart and farmers at work.

 

Although the murals are in the caves, they were not painted on naked rock. The surface was covered with mud, straw, and reeds, which were commonly used for construction, and an additional layer of lime. The statues, on the other hand, are made of wood, straw, reeds and plaster. These are all easily perishable materials, and they likely survived due to the caves’ remoteness.

Part of this complex of caves and cells is also a library (Cave 17) that in addition to Chinese texts, also houses Tibetan, Turkic, and Hebrew documents. Unfortunately, most of the 50,000 documents found in the library were readily sold to foreign (mostly Western) hands. The most valuable of these was the Diamond Sutra, one of the oldest printed books in existence (now at the British Library in London).

 

 Clancy's comment: This place would be fascinating to visit.

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27 December 2021 - WHITE BUDDHA TEMPLE - THAILAND

 

WHITE BUDDHA TEMPLE

 - THAILAND -

G'day folks,

A meditative walk up 353 stairs leads to a majestic white Buddha overlooking Pai.  

With its villas and rice paddies, yoga studios and organic eats, the mountain city of Pai is a bohemian backpacker’s dream. Located roughly three to four hours from Chiang Mai by bus or car, Pai is known for its spiritual sites, including the White Buddha Temple.

Perched high up on the mountainside in the Mae Hong Son Province, you can catch a glimpse of the elegant white statue from all around the city of Pai. Getting to the top, however, requires a bit of effort—353 steps, to be exact. 

 In the rainy season, the walk up isn’t that bad—even if you’re not all that athletic. The key is to pace yourself as you ascend the stairs, especially under the hot sun at midday or when the humidity is high. Bring extra water along for the journey, just in case you get dizzy when you reach the top. You can buy beverages beforehand from a vendor at the base of the stairs.

Once you’re at the top, you can catch lush views of the surrounding mountains and rice paddies, as well as a breathtaking sunset just behind the mountains. The White Buddha faces west, so you simply have to look back to see it. It’s also a particularly peaceful place at sunrise. Visitors can light candles in front of the White Buddha and meditate anywhere on the large tiled platform that surrounds its base. 

 

Clancy's comment: It seems like a long walk up those stairs, but there are others that are much longer. Trust me!

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29 December 2021 - PAI CANYON - THAILAND

 

PAI CANYON

 - THAILAND -

 

G'day folks,

This bizarre dirt trail winds a narrow path above the tree line. 

With treacherous drops on either side of the path, the elevated trail through Pai Canyon (Kong Lan in Thai) is not a place for a casual stroll, but it will provide visitors with an unparalleled view of the surrounding landscape.  

After climbing a short staircase on the Western edge of the canyon hikers will see a narrow ridge of Earth, all that remains of a walking path through the canyon. Erosion on either side of the path has caused the forest level to drop dramatically with only the tips of the plants rising above the level of the path. With drops of up to 30 meters on either side of the strange trail, traversing it can be dangerous.

 The walk up to the first viewpoint is easily accessible to anyone even with a moderate level of fitness. However, the paths leading further vary widely in width, steepness, and danger. At points, the width of the land narrows to little more than foot wide ridges that must be scrambled across. At other points, the paths turns almost vertical and requires some climbing to go farther. Despite the slight dangers of the Pai Canyon it is a popular attraction in the region. 

Clancy's comment: A great place to view the extraordinary landscape, and wildlife.

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22 December 2021 - AMAZING THAM LOD CAVE in THAILAND

 

AMAZING THAM LOD CAVE

 - THAILAND -

G'day folks,

Here, you will find a mile-long navigable cave adorned with stalactites and stalagmites reaching up to 65 feet tall. 

Tham Lod is a cave system in Mae Hong Son province that stretches nearly a mile long. The Lang River (Nam Lang) runs through the entire length of the cave, from one side of the mountain to the other, and the only way to explore the long cavern is to hire a rickety bamboo raft and a local guide with a gas lantern.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the cave, it is obvious that you are not the first visitor to get here, but once you get inside the cave, the utter lack of artificial lights and permanent facilities adds a certain sense of adventure. In no time, stalactites and stalagmites put up a show that took millions of years to form. At different points of the trip, depending on the time of the year, guides stop to let visitors step on the muddy ground and slippery bamboo passageways to get a closer look at the rock formations, which can exceed 65 feet in height. 

 As the end of the trip approaches, a shaft of light cuts through the darkness and the emerald green of the vegetation outside can be blinding. The opening at the end of the cave is huge and thousands of birds dart in all directions.  The chirping can be deafening, but it is an impressive sight.

Lawa people used to bury their dead inside caves, and at one point 1,400-year-old coffins were found inside Tham Lod. You won’t be able to see the coffins upon visiting, but archaeological excavations in the area have proved that Tham Lod was used as a burial place by the Hoabinhian people between 5,500 and 9,000 BC.

 

Clancy's comment: This is a beautiful part of the country, but I've not yet been to this cave.

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21 December 2021 - THE COMPUTER THAT CAME BY TRUCK

 

THE COMPUTER THAT 

CAME BY TRUCK

G'day folks,

Today, a laptop would probably do the job. But back in 1957, when Norwich City Council became a pioneer among British local authorities applying computer technology to handle its payroll and tax on residents, a BIG machine was needed to handle the work, as became apparent on this day.

So big, in fact, that the computer had to be delivered on the back of a truck and then manoeuvred into the offices using ropes, pulleys – and brute strength.

The Council’s first computer came from Elliott Brothers of London and was photographed being delivered in February 1957.

It took a while before the monster was up and running. Then on 3 April that year, amid much fanfare and in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Press, Council officials gave a demonstration of the machine in action.

Within the computer was a rapidly revolving magnetic drum on which “words” could be recorded. Each “word” was equivalent to a nine-digit number or six alphabetic characters.

The films for the magnetic drum came in reels 1,000 feet long, each capable of storing about 300,000 “words”. The “words” were received onto the film from hand-punched paper tape.

The preparation of local tax bills came about through the punching on paper tape of the figures involved and the paper tape was used to control electric typewriters.

They produced the finished bill on continuous stationery which was then simply torn off and sent to the householder.

Local government involves a lot of repetitive work and Norwich Council thought that it was, therefore, “a field where the advantages of speed and accuracy inherent in electronic data processing will lead to substantial savings.”

They anticipated savings on staff alone of 20 per cent.

The possibility that they needed to lose staff to make room for such a massive amount of machinery was not mentioned.

Clancy's comment: Man, that is whopping. We have sure come a long way since then.

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19 December 2021 - COLOURIZATION OF HISTORICAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS

 

COLOURIZATION OF HISTORICAL

 BLACK AND WHITE 

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

G'day folks,

Not only do these photos jump off the screen with a vibrancy unmatched by their black and white counterparts, but some feature stories.  There are some famous people depicted in these shots.

Clancy's comment: I still love the clarity of black and white.

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